Shard's exorbitant ticket prices

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-18716658

Shard due for laser show amid ticket price anger

The Shard is the newest building in London. Tonight at 22.15 BST it will be inaugurated  with a light show visible across London. This beautiful beginning is shadowed by the exorbitant high price they are asking people who want to visit the viewing platform. A family of four will have to pay nearly 90 pounds for a visit. Compared to the Eiffel tower which rated just over 11 pound a person.

There had been lots of critic on the building appearance but it this tall building has created jobs and unlike the other tall building you will have access to this one.

Opinion:

This building is a matter of taste it is huge and I do not think it is very nice. But whether or not you like this building the prices for visiting are ridiculous. Who thought of this price? That person should think again. Do they even want people to visit the viewing platform? With this price I would not be surprised if no one would visit. If they would lower the price to 10 pounds a person it would be more appealing to have a look from this tall building across a beautiful city.

Suposed terrorists arrested

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-18720213

Six arrested in London anti-terror operation

Five men and one woman have been arrested this Thursday on suspicion of terrorism by police. One of the six was tasered by police but did not need medical treatment. They were taken to a police-station in south-east London. The six, who are all assumed to British nationals, are arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.Police stated that there are no links to the upcoming Olympics or Paralympics.The arrest is being marked as “significant” however there is not imminent threat. The UK terrorism threat level is unchanged and remains on “substantial” this means that that a terrorist attack is a strong possibility.

Opinion:

I am happy these people were arrested. Every time I hear news like this it scares me. I wonder if we are safe from these crazy people who obviously  want to harm people. But I am also glad that police and other government organisations keep track of what is happening. I am curious what they wanted to do and how the police found out their plans. I hope nothing will happen during the Olympics and of course after.

Toddler with an angel on her shoulder

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/toddler-was-millimetre-from-death-after-falling-1132323

One millimetre from death: Toddler miraculously survives after falling on pencil which lodged in her brain

Two-year-old Wren Bowell tripped over a stair-gate and fell into the pencil which she was carrying. Wren had just finished a drawing which she wanted to show to her parents unfortunately she fell piercing her eyelid with a pencil. Luckily for her The pencil missed the eye and any major blood vessels.

Her parents immediately called 999 and the ambulance took het to hospital. There surgeons operated four hour to remove the pencil form her brain. Doctors said she was just a millimetre a way from death. In other cases the persons had died.

Opinion:

What an amazing story. How blessed are these people. This makes you treasure life more as it can be over at any minute. Hopefully little Wren will remember the gift she was given and she will do many good things in the future.

Third time child porn offender jailed

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-18701713

Serial child porn offender Steven Perrie jailed for third time

Steven Perrie, 46, was found guilty to charges involving indecent images and videos of children. This man has been sentenced a penalty twice before. This time his sentence is eight years.

Previous time he had one of the largest hauls of child abuse material ever found in Scotland.

The judge told Perrie that the sentences he received prior had no affect on him and that he seems to be an incorrigible user of child pornography.

The court heard that the material Perrie held was the most extreme end of the scale. The judge said he found it disgusting and repulsive.

Perrie was turned in by his girlfriend who found indecent images. Perrie is on the sex offenders register for life.

Opinion:

I am happy that this man is put in prison for eight years. I do have my doubts about his previous convictions. This is the third time!! I don’t have any knowledge of law but my feeling says there should have been more severe convictions before this one. It is ironic that his girlfriend found these images. What was he trying to hide with a girlfriend? I hope she gets some help as this is a very painful event.

police ignored murder signs

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-18701884

Officers 'ignored warning signs' before Marion Millican murder

Three police officers will face disciplinary actions because they did not act on warning signs to prevent the murder of Marion Millican.

Fred McClenaghan murdered his ex-lover and was found guilty on Tuesday. However police officers should have acted on the warnings received. In counselling sessions McClenaghan talked about killing himself and Mrs Millican. Also someone provided the information that McClenaghan had bought a gun on which the police took no action.

The police Ombudsman’s Office took the view that the police did not take the right actions.

Mrs Millican, mother-of-four, was shot dead by an antique double-barrelled gun in March 2011

Opinion:

How awful to read that this man was reported to the police but they failed to take action. This 

could have saved a woman’s life. I understand that the police can’t act on everything but when there are more signs they should protect us. The police are there to protect us but in this case they failed. 

mayor resigning because of sausage

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-18699736

Louth mayor defends Olympic torch relay sausage costume

A mayor in a Lincolnshire town has rejected the suggestion to resign after she dressed in a sausage costume for the Olympic torch visit.

Jill Makinson-Sanders wore the outfit to support the Lincolnshire sausage. Unfortunately the pictures circulated the internet and inhabitants of the town of Louth accused her of making the town a laughing stock. 

Jill Makinson-Sanders only had the best of interests and hoped that this could help get the Lincolnshire sausage on the protected food list.

Opinion:

The outfit is ridiculous and wasn’t a good choice. But I don’t understand why people overreact. This mayor had the best intentions. When people complain about their mayor or government tey should stick to relevant matters.

attempt to steal the Olympic torch

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/video/2012/jul/03/olympics-2012-children-torch-video

Olympics 2012: children attempt to take torch - video

Two boys around the age of ten tried to take the Olympic flame from the torchbearers. The convoy was travelling through Coventry when the boys slipped sight of the security and ran towards the torchbearers. The boys succeeded shortly before they were grabbed by security and were ushered away.

Opinion:

When you open the link there is a short clip of the incident. I just think it is good fun. Everyone want to be involved in the Olympics and children especially. They will remember this for the rest of their lives. 

Drugs war lost?!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jul/03/britain-losing-war-on-drugs

Britain is losing war on drugs, says Ken Clarke

Ken Clarke justice secretary says that the government has no intention of changing law and problems will not be solved by decriminalisation.

The justice secretary acknowledged to MPs that Britain is losing the war on drugs. However he insisted this was no reason for despair. He wants everyone to keep on trying to tackle the problems which will not be solved by decriminalisation. He believes that this will lead to more experimental behaviour from youngsters. There are also no plans for changing the 40-year-old drug laws.

The justice secretary has been invited by Tory MP James Clappinson to give his government experience on how the drugs problem can be tackled. The justice secretary admits he does not know how to improve the problem.

Opinion:

Drugs are a big problem in every country around the world. I believe you need strict rules en regulation to keep it controlled. The rules need to be reviewed frequently in order to keep it up to date. I was shocked to read that the drug laws were 40-years-old. How can something so outdated be part of present life. I agree with Ken Clarke when he says decriminalisation will not improve the situation. I truly hope that there will be someone with a brilliant idea which will solve the drugs issues, unfortunately we don’t live in Utopia.

Defects found on buses used for transport of pupils

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-18673448

Defects found on buses taking pupils to Blair Drummond Safari Park

During checks, between 18 and 22 June, nine buses were taken of the road after they were discovered with serious mechanical defects. The buses were checked at Blair Drummond Safari Park while the pupils were inside the park. The joined operation by central Scotland Police and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA)  found several serious defects such as an emergency door which would not shut, faulty exhausts, oil leaks and a broken seat belt. There were also several bus drivers who had been working excessive hours or were not able to show how many hours they had been working and were not allowed to drive until they had sufficient rest.Sgt Bob Murphy said that the buses were taken of the road and bus operators had to find alternative buses to collect the pupils from the park. He also said it was extremely worrying that nine buses were taken of the road immediately. Bus companies have a responsibility to protect the safety of pupils travelling to and from school.

Opinion:

I am shocked that there were so many defects and that those buses were taken from the road. Could you imagine what could have happened. We trust the bus companies with our lives but do they take it seriously! I am glad that this operation took place and I strongly hope that it will lead to improvement by the companies. I am curious about the punishment the companies were given. 

school careers talk volunteer scheme

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/jul/02/nick-clegg-careers-talk-volunteers

Nick Clegg launches school careers talk volunteer scheme

Nick Clegg has launched a scheme which encourages workers to sign up as a volunteer to give career talks to pupils at state schools. Research has suggested that pupils who were in contact with employers at school will earn 16% more on average than pupils who did not have this opportunity. Nick Clegg said it is important for pupils to hear a positive message that they can do what they want instead of hearing that the best jobs are not for them. Inspiring the Future will give pupils an idea of jobs which they can do and might not even have thought about.

Opinion:

As a teacher this is an initiative which I love. Pupils have difficulty choosing a profession but with this scheme they can be inspired. We are busy with finding companies and workers to speak at our school a scheme like this would be of great help. I think that companies should obligate their workers to do at least one talk a year. It is a good promotion for the company and it would stimulate young people to choose a career with their company. A very good initiative of Nick Clegg. 

Thames estuary airport solution or not

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18648636

Thames Estuary airport not solution: South East business report

The south east Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) commissioned a report investigating the possibilities of an estuary airport. This airport is needed to facilitate the growth of businesses in the south-east. The report however recommends expanding Gatwick and Heathrow than building a new estuary airport which will take too long and will be too expensive.

Chairman of the LEP John Spence said it is important for the south-east to increase transport possibilities to help the growth of businesses. The report confirms the need for expansions however he believes that the immediate need is to improve the use of the capacity they have.

Dai Liyanage (former DRINK member) said that en expansion of the mayor airports in the south-east is not possible for seven years. In the coalition agreement the governement said it would cancel or refuse plans for additional runway at Heathrow, Gatwick ad Stansted  He believes that a long term solution on the estuary of the Thames is the best solution. This solution will also provide jobs for the many unemployed young people living in the Medway. 


Opinion:

Either way there needs to be some way of an expansion.  Every option has its pros and cons. Creating new jobs for young people is a very strong argument for me to go with the plans for an airport on the estuary of the Thames. Government has already made it difficult to expand the big airports around London that is why I believe the Estuary airport will be the best thing in the long run.