MoD resists call for new Afghan medal
The Ministry of Defence last night resisted calls from Conservative MPs and
former soldiers for a new campaign medal to recognise the intense dangers
being faced by soldiers serving in Afghanistan.
Patrick Mercer, Conservative MP for Newark, said: “I think the operation in
Helmand needs special recognition, and it could be in the form of a medal or
a bar or a clasp.” But the MoD said it was standard practice for one medal
to be awarded for the duration of a campaign.
Des Browne, the Defence Secretary, told the Radio 4 Today programme yesterday
that Britain had a long-term commitment to ensure that Afghanistan would
never again become a training ground for terrorists.
No break for Brown
Gordon Brown has yet to take a holiday, despite travelling to Scotland after
his trip to Dorset was cut because of foot-and-mouth. He was working on
government business in his constituency office. That the Prime Minister has
yet to break from work has fuelled speculation of an early election.
Careers stereotyped
Careers advice for girls reinforces gender stereotypes, according to research.
A survey of 300 people aged 14 to 26 conducted by Girlguiding UK indicated
that girls were far more likely to be pushed towards careers in
hairdressing, teaching or childcare than jobs in business, computing or
engineering.
Hang-glider death
A record-breaking hang-glider pilot, Geoffrey Loyns, 56, has died while flying
in the United States. Mr Loyns, from Cardiff, was reported as missing after
setting off from Minden airport in Nevada on Friday. His body was found
yesterday. His daughter said that he may have suffered a heart attack.
Prank ends in jail
A student has spent almost three weeks in jail in Senegal after a prank that
went wrong. Patrick Devine, 19, from Co Donegal, a student at Queen’s
University, Belfast, was arrested after he dropped his trousers outside a
governor’s home in Saint Louis. The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs is
working on his release.
It’s porridge . . . again
Porridge is back on the menu at one of the country’s biggest prisons after
being replaced by breakfast packs containing cereal and jam. Inmates at
Pentonville jail are able to spend their own money to buy porridge oats from
the shop to prepare for breakfast after a report said that the prepared
packs were unpopular.
Students using gap year to save for fees
Research suggests growing numbers of students are using their gap years to
build up savings for university courses in an attempt to reduce student debt
(Alexandra Frean writes).
Graduate debt, after rising for six years, has dropped for the first time.
Those leaving university this summer had an average debt of £12,363, down 6
per cent on 2006, the latest NatWest Student Money Matters says. But
undergraduates who started at university last year with the introduction of
the new fee regime can expect to owe nearly £17,500 by the time they leave,
says Push.co.uk, the online university guide.
McCann trademark
The campaign to find Madeleine McCann has applied for British and European
trademarks to protect its fundraising, internet and print promotions. The
applications, which were filed on May 18, seek to protect the name
“Madeleine’s Fund: Leaving No Stone Unturned”. The European application also
seeks protection for the provision of social services and advice for people
affected by missing children.
Breast prize criticised
Plastic surgeons have criticised a radio competition that offered a breast
enhancement as a prize. The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic
Surgeons said that it was “unbelievable, dangerous and highly unethical” for
Juice FM in Liverpool to give Nadine Pude, 27, the chance to increase her
A-cup to DD. In its defence Juice FM said its final five entrants had been
deemed fit after a psychological test.
Baby snatcher hunt
Police are hunting for a couple who tried to snatch a baby girl as she was
being pushed in a pram by her mother. A man and woman attempted to grab the
four-month-old child in an apparently random incident as the mother crossed
the road. Police said that the 30-year-old mother had fended them off but
was left “horrified and traumatised” on Sunday evening in Leigh, Greater
Manchester.
Rail victim identified
Police have confirmed that a body found in undergrowth near a railway line is
that of Natasha Coombs, 17, from Dovercourt, Essex, who disappeared after a
night out with friends in Ipswich on July 27. Her body was found close to
Manningtree station in Essex. Earlier police said that she was thought to
have been hit by a train. Dental records were used to confirm her identity.
The coroner has been informed.
Legionnaires’ control
An outbreak of legionnaires’ disease at Dudley NHS Primary Care Trust that
claimed a woman’s life and left four others in hospital appeared to be under
control. A woman in her 50s died in hospital last Tuesday after contracting
the respiratory illness, prompting wet air conditioning systems and cooling
towers to be taken out of action to minimise the risk of spreading the
infection.
Businessman stabbed to death on holiday
A British businessman has been stabbed to death while on holiday in America.
Paul Lavern Ritch, from Cardiff, was on a working holiday in New Jersey when
he was stabbed in the chest at about 2am on Sunday after he reportedly tried
to intervene in an incident on the street. He was taken to the AtlantiCare
Regional Medical Centre in Atlantic City, where he was pronounced dead at
3.04am. The weapon involved has not been recovered. Mr Ritch, 37, owned
property in Penarth, South Wales, and was ranked in 2002 by Company magazine
as one of the 50 most-eligible bachelors in Britain.
Hiker found dead
A newly appointed director at the Parole Board who went missing during a hike
in the Canary Islands has been found dead. Mark Harris, 57, disappeared on
August 3 after setting off on an eight-mile walk on the island of La Palma.
His body was discovered at the bottom of a ravine. Mr Harris had been due to
begin work as director of quality and standards at the Parole Board.
Paedophile jailed
A paedophile activist who campaigned for the age of consent to be lowered was
given an indeterminate jail sentence by Leicester Crown Court after a
collection of child pornography was found at his home. David Joy, 66, a
member of the Paedophile Information Exchange, from Loughborough,
Leicestershire, must serve a minimum of 18 months before he can be
considered for parole.
Bridge jumper saved
A woman who threw herself off a 100ft-high bridge was saved by a fisherman.
The 20-year-old was seen standing on the wrong side of the railings of the
Itchin toll bridge in Southampton on Sunday night. When police cars went to
the scene, the woman, who has not been named, flung herself into the River
Itchin. She was saved by a fisherman who saw her lying in the water and
dragged her on to his boat.
Rise in EU visitors
Overseas residents made 15.32 million visits to Britain in January to June
this year - a 3 per cent increase on the first six months of 2006, the
Office for National Statistics said. While visits by North Americans fell by
5 per cent, visits by residents of the latest countries to join the EU went
up by 20 per cent. Foreign tourists spent £6.96 billion here - a 3 per cent
rise on last year.
Record high
A rollercoaster fanatic has ended a world record attempt after spending more
than a fortnight on board The Big One and The Big Dipper at Blackpool.
Richard Rodriguez, 48, covered 8,300 miles (13,400 km) in 17 days, during
which time he ate and slept on board. He broke the existing record for the
length of time on a rollercoaster a week ago, but wanted to set a record
that “would never be beaten”.
