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World News
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
September 29 - October 5, 2012
UK floods: Homes at risk as misery continues FLOODING misery is continuing as rising waters put thousands of people’s homes at risk around the UK. The wet weather is still causing chaos in many communities, with roads, rail and buildings affected. A block of flats in Newburn, Newcastle, is said to be close to collapse and Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, was split in two after a bridge was closed. Homes and businesses in York city centre were also flooded after the River Ouse burst its banks. Local people told the BBC the flooding could be the most severe in recent memory, however the Environment Agency said the river would not breach the city’s flood defences. There are still nearly 60 flood warnings - indicating flooding is expected - and more than 100 flood alerts - meaning flooding is possible - in England and Wales, and three flood alerts in Scotland. In Wiltshire, an 11-year-old boy is in a “potentially life-threatening condition” after being struck by lightning shortly after 15:00 BST. While in Newcastle, police branded looters “despicable” after a bicycle shop in a flood-hit community was raided while roads were blocked by water and silt. The Newburn flats’ foundations were badly damaged after heavy rain deluged the area. The flats have been evacuated. Mick Murphy, technical director of Newcastle City Council, said the Spencer Court flats were “extremely unstable” and they were waiting for a break in the weather so the damage
Christine Lagarde gave Argentina three months to produce reliable data.
IMF says Argentina faces ‘red card’ Thousands of people’s home are at risk around the UK.
could be assessed. “I have never seen anything like this in 33 years of civil engineering experience,” he said. Flooding is still causing problems for roads, rail and buildings, as the most intense September storm for 30 years continues. BBC weather forecasters said the heaviest rush-hour showers were seen in south-west England, circulating around low pressure over Torbay. They said they received reports of nearly 20mm (0.75ins) of rain falling over the course of an hour in some areas. In northern England, the A1 near Catterick and the A66 near Darlington remained closed. Assistant Chief Constable Iain Spittal, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “The flooding situation across North Yorkshire continues to cause problems, with roads and the transport network affected.
“We are seeing an improving picture in parts of Hambleton and Richmondshire, although we still have lots of roads closed and all the agencies are working hard to get the A1 open again. “However, the indication is that the A1 at Catterick will remain closed throughout the day with diversions in place.” Downing Street said there were currently “no plans” for meetings of Number 10’s Cobra emergency committee but the situation was “always kept under review”. The Local Government Association has called on the government to set up an emergency fund to help pay for millions of pounds of repairs to roads left in “disarray”. BBC weather forecaster Helen Willetts said the worst of the rainfall was over but the worry was that it was still running into river systems so there could be more flooding.
INTERNATIONAL Monetary Fund head Christine Lagarde has warned Argentina it could face sanctions unless it produces reliable growth and inflation data. Ms Lagarde gave Argentina until 17 December to address the problem. The IMF head said the fund had given Argentina a “yellow card” but it could face a red. Private economists say annual inflation in Argentina is at 24%, much higher than the official 10% figure. “We had to choose between the yellow card and the red card. We chose the yellow card. If no progress has been made, then the red card will be out,” she said. Speaking in Washington, Ms Lagarde said Argentina had been given three months to provide reliable estimates on growth and inflation. ‘Free country’ Analysts in Buenos Aires say the IMF has been adopting tougher language towards the government of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. The IMF and Argentina have been
at odds over the figures since last year. Private sector economists say the government has ignored the growing pace of inflation. Last year, the authorities introduced measures restricting the purchase of US dollars. Memories among Argentinians of the days of rampant inflation in the 1980s and a devalued national currency are still vivid, correspondents say. If Argentina fails to meet IMF demands, it could face sanctions, lose voting rights and even be expelled from the organisation. “Argentina is good in football and it certainly understands what we are talking about,” said Ms Lagarde. Earlier, Ms Fernandez, who is visiting the United States this week, rejected claims that her country was facing economic disaster. And she sent a defiant message: “The rich countries don’t want partners or friends; they just want employees and subordinates.” “And we’re not going to be anybody’s employees or subordinates. We are a free country, with dignity and national pride.”
Trial date set for Brooks, Coulson in phone hacking case TWO former News of the World editors, Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson, were told Wednesday they will face trial in September next year over claims of phone hacking at the now-defunct tabloid newspaper. Brooks, Coulson and half a dozen other former News of the World managers and staffers accused of conspiring to hack voice mail messages remained free on bail after the hearing at London’s main criminal court. A proposed trial date was set at the Old Bailey for September 9, 2013. The phone hacking accusations have reverberated through the top levels of British politics and journalism and prompted a parliamentary committee to issue
damning criticism of Rupert Murdoch, whose News Corp. owned the News of the World through its UK subsidiary, News International. After the scandal, Murdoch stepped down from a string of company directorships and abandoned a multibillion-dollar bid to acquire satellite broadcaster BSkyB. Suspected hacking victims include some of the world’s biggest celebrities, including Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Jude Law, Paul McCartney and soccer star Wayne Rooney, as well as victims of crime and the July 7, 2005, London terrorist attacks. Brooks and Coulson were close to British Prime Minister David Cameron. Coulson, who edited the
News of the World from 2003 to 2007, went on to become Cameron’s director of communications before resigning early last year. Brooks was a friend of the prime minister and his wife. Brooks, formerly chief executive of News of the World’s parent company, News International, part of Murdoch’s News Corp. empire, also faces a charge of perverting the course of justice. But the most explosive charge against her is plotting in 2002 to eavesdrop illegally on the voice mail of missing British schoolgirl Milly Dowler, who was later found murdered. Public anger after the revelation last year that the missing girl’s phone
Rebekah Brooks has been charged in phone hacking scandal.
had been hacked forced Murdoch to close the News of the World, which Brooks edited at the time of the hacking. She then became editor of The Sun newspaper before taking up the chief executive role. Brooks, Coulson and fellow former News of the World employees Stuart Kuttner, Greg Miskiw, Ian Edmondson, Neville Thurlbeck and James Weatherup are accused of conspiring between
October 3, 2000, and August 9, 2006, “to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority.” Specifically, the charge asserts that they listened to “voice mail messages of well-known people.” Brooks, Coulson, Kuttner, Miskiw, Thurlbeck and Glenn Mulcaire face an additional charge of intercepting Dowler’s messages.