Thursday, October 15

ENGLISH

Goldman boss tweets support for new Brexit vote
ENGLISH, United Kingdom

Goldman boss tweets support for new Brexit vote

    The boss of US investment bank Goldman Sachs, Lloyd Blankfein, has used his latest Twitter post on Brexit to suggest a second referendum is held. Here in UK, lots of hand-wringing from CEOs over Brexit. Better sense of the tough and risky road ahead. Reluctant to say, but many wish for a confirming vote on a decision so monumental and irreversible. So much at stake, why not make sure consensus still there. The remarks marked his third intervention in the debate around the effects of the UK's decision to leave the EU. Goldman is currently mulling shifting staff to Germany's main financial centre. Goldman Sachs, which employs 6,000 in the UK currently, has leased office space in Frankfurt - home of the European Central Bank to house up to 1,000 workers. A month ago he told h...
Retweet of Call for Trump to Resign Was Accidental
America, ENGLISH

Retweet of Call for Trump to Resign Was Accidental

    The Pentagon accidentally retweeted an activist’s tweet calling for President Donald Trump to resign. And yes, we mean that literally. The tweet from because of course said Trump should leave the White House due to sexual assault allegations against him, like those facing Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore and Democratic Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota. Col. Rob Manning, a top Pentagon spokesperson, tried to defend the mix-up by blaming it on an authorized operator. An authorized operator of the Department of Defense's official Twitter site erroneously retweeted content that would not be endorsed by the Department of Defense, he said. The operator caught this error and immediately deleted it. But that wasn’t before many noticed what happened. And it’s worth noting that the...
Tower Hamlets Council supports World Diabetes Day
ENGLISH, London

Tower Hamlets Council supports World Diabetes Day

Tower Hamlets Council in partnership with Canary Wharf Group are turning One Canada Square blue to draw attention to World Diabetes Day (14 November). The national campaign, led by the International Diabetes Federation, is this year raising awareness of women in particular and how small changes to one's lifestyle can make big differences. There are approximately 17,100 residents living with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. From March 2016 – March 2017, there were 1,159 newly diagnosed residents. It is estimated that over 1,800 individuals living in the borough have the disease but have not yet been diagnosed. Mayor John Biggs said: "Diabetes is not just a local concern, but a national one. "We work in partnership with health care providers to ensure our residents have access to high quality car...
High rise flats caught fire on outskirts of Belfast
ENGLISH, United Kingdom

High rise flats caught fire on outskirts of Belfast

    A block of high rise flats has caught fire on the outskirts of Belfast. The blaze broke out at Seymour Hill in Dunmurry near Belfast and there appears to be several floors alight with flames. One person has been taken to hospital by ambulance, according to reports, four residents needing to be rescued from the building. The tower block has been evacuated, according to witnesses with the fire now under control. Hundreds of residents have been forced to gather in the streets, with a nearby community hall opened for them to shelter in. Another witness, who was driving past the tower block said he thought he saw steam coming from the top of the building. He said: It was sort of frightening. After what happened in England [Grenfell Tower], you think to yourself, is this another...
Zimbabwe set to take power in bloodless coup against Robert Mugabe
Africa world, ENGLISH

Zimbabwe set to take power in bloodless coup against Robert Mugabe

    Zimbabwe dictator Robert Mugabe has been dramatically ousted by his own army, who are set to replace him with the vice president he sacked. Emmerson Mnangagwa, known as “the crocodile”, was expected to be formally made president later today. But the veteran of the 1970s war of independence has a fierce reputation and many fear what is to come next. Mr Mugabe, 93, was still under house arrest last night. The tyrant’s notorious wife Grace was forced to flee the country. Widely thought to be his chosen successor, the military allowed her to fly to neighbouring Namibia to ensure she had no part to play in the new regime. The army described their actions as a bloodless transition. But Zimbabwe analyst Alex Magaisa said: “Although it doesn’t look like a coup, it is a coup. While...
Indonesia unveils plan to roll out 1000 eco mosques by 2020
Asia, ENGLISH

Indonesia unveils plan to roll out 1000 eco mosques by 2020

    Worshippers in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, are set to go green with a new initiative that aims to establish 1,000 eco-mosques by 2020. Launched this week by Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla, the initiative will help the mosques to source renewable energy, manage their water and food needs sustainably, reduce and recycle waste and provide environmental education. The project will see the top Muslim clerical body work with the private sector, the government’s health and planning ministries, universities, and other religious groups in a bid to boost environmental awareness in communities across the country. Most Muslims in Indonesia listen more to religious leaders than the government, Hayu Prabowo, head of environment and natural resources at...
Alcohol – what’s the harm?
ENGLISH, London

Alcohol – what’s the harm?

Tower Hamlets Council is highlighting issues surrounding alcohol misuse during Alcohol Awareness Week, running from November 13 – 19 2017. Led by national charity Alcohol Concern, this year's campaign theme is: 'Alcohol and Families.' This theme will be used an opportunity to start a conversation around problematic alcohol use to help break the cycle of silence and stigma that is all too often experienced by families. Mayor Johns Biggs said: "Working with our partners, we aim to reduce alcohol-related problems and improve the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. "The council offers a variety of support services, counselling and treatment available to everyone in the borough." Public Health England estimates there are approximately 3,400 dependent drinkers in Tower Hamlets; the...
ENGLISH, London

Tower Hamlets Council has been shortlisted for five LGC Awards, 2018

Tower Hamlets Council has been shortlisted for five LGC Awards, 2018. The awards, run by Local Government Chronicle, are the biggest and most prestigious awards ceremony for the local government sector. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on 21 March 2018. Nearly 100 organisations have been shortlisted as finalists in the coveted awards, which recognise the best of local government innovation and service delivery. The shortlisted projects in Tower Hamlets are: TH Carbon Fund, in the environmental services category; Blackwall Reach Regeneration Project in the housing Initiative category; Poplar Baths and Dame Colet House, also in the housing initiative category; and Tabard Court Mental Health Forensic Supported Living in the health and social care category. Tower Hamlets Substance M...
25 secret WhatsApp tricks you really need to know
ENGLISH, Technology

25 secret WhatsApp tricks you really need to know

    There are over a billion WhatsApp users worldwide right now. The bad news? Even your mum knows what the two blue ticks mean. From disabling the last seen feature to bookmarking important messages, these are the 25 tricks you need to know to be a WhatsApp ninja. 1. Banish the blue ticks of tyranny Life can be stressful enough without feeling under pressure to reply to WhatsApps as soon as those two blue ticks give you away. Fortunately there’s a workaround. In the Settings menu, go to Account, then Privacy and turn off Read Receipts. The only snag is you’ll no longer get them for other people either. 2. Find out your BFFs In the year 2017, friendships aren’t measured on loyalty or time, it’s all about how much data you’ve shared. Head to Data and Storage Usage in the Settin...
Grandparents may pose cancer risk to children
ENGLISH, Life Style

Grandparents may pose cancer risk to children

    A grandmother feeds a biscuit to her granddaughter. File pic Grandparents pose a potential health risk to children and may even put them at risk of cancer, scientists say. The increased risk comes from the greater likelihood that grandmothers and grandfathers will spoil youngsters with treats. They are also more likely to expose them to second-hand tobacco smoke - a major cause of cancer, researchers say. Despite meaning well, grandparents were found to have a harmful effect on their grandchildren's health. Lead author Dr Stephanie Chambers, of the University of Glasgow's public health sciences unit, said: "While the results of this review are clear that behaviour such as exposure to smoking and regularly treating children increases cancer risks as children grow into adult...