It has emerged that the joint position on Brexit agreed in an article by Philip Hammond and Liam Fox was not even cleared with Brexit Secretary David Davis.
Go to Source
Author:
Aug142017
Aug142017
Yemen’s cholera epidemic surpasses half-million suspected cases, UN agency says
14 August 2017 – More than 500,000 people in Yemen are suspected of having cholera, the United Nations health agency today said, warning that the disease is spreading quickly due to a lack of clean water or health access.
“Yemen’s cholera epidemic, currently the largest in the world, has spread rapidly due to deteriorating hygiene and sanitation conditions and disruptions to the water supply across the country,” the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said in a statement.
Nearly 2,000 people have died since the outbreak began at the end of April, the UN agency added.
It blames a collapsing health system, a lack of clean water, and a build-up of human waste, which is not being collected in major cities.
Shortages in medicines and supplies is “persistent and widespread,” WHO said, adding that health workers have not been paid in nearly a year.
“Yemen’s health workers are operating in impossible conditions,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “These doctors and nurses are the backbone of the health response – without them we can do nothing in Yemen. They must be paid their wages so that they can continue to save lives.”
The UN is supporting partners to set up cholera treatment clinics, rehabilitate health facilities, deliver medical supplies, and support national health response efforts.
In his statement, Mr. Tedros called for a political solution to the conflict in Yemen.
Aug142017
Press release: Highways England supports training exercise in Birmingham
The event took place on Friday night on a closed section of the A38(M) in Birmingham for a ‘real-time’ incident involving a HGV, double-decker bus, a van and four cars. The training scenario was a road-traffic collision. To add an extra dimension to the incident, the van and one of the cars was on its side and on its roof.
The exercise – organised by West Midlands Fire Service – took place in a closed section of the carriageway which was utilised for the exercise as part of on-going repair work by Highways England at Spaghetti Junction.
Highways England has been working closely with the emergency services for the past couple of months to stage the exercise.
Highways England emergency planning officer, Frank Bird, said:
This was a really useful training exercise for us and our partners to test responses to a challenging incident. We continue to work closely with the emergency services across the West Midlands and we’re pleased to be able to help by utilising an existing closure on the road to help support their training programme.
Watch commander Andy Wagner of West Midlands Fire Service, who planned and organised the exercise, said:
We’re extremely grateful to everyone who helped make Friday night’s exercise as realistic as possible, including Highways England for ensuring we had use of the A38(M).
We aim to get to life-risk emergencies in five minutes or less, and then put in place an assertive, safe and effective plan to resolve the incident. This scenario drew on the wide range of skills and resources that would be needed in such challenging circumstances. It was a great opportunity to test and perfect how several agencies work together.
The incident also posed a challenge to paramedics called to the scene to treat nine ‘casualties’ in the form of actors that replicated wounds similar to those that would be experienced in real-life.
West Midlands Ambulance Service hazardous area response team manager, James Price, said:
The exercise on Friday night was a great opportunity to test our skills and joint-agency team work at a multi-vehicle collision.
Routine exercises like this take place across the West Midlands region regularly and are important as they enable us to test our ability to deal with large scale incidents. Thanks to Highways England and West Midlands Fire Service for organising the exercise.
General enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.
Media enquiries
Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.
Aug142017
News story: Foreign Secretary condemns murder of White Helmets volunteers
Since 2013 the White Helmets have saved thousands of lives in Syria, rescuing people from bombings and missile strikes.
The Foreign Secretary said:
I am appalled by the targeted and heinous murders of heroic White Helmets volunteers who put their own safety at risk to save lives on all sides of the Syrian conflict.
Their bravery and humanity is so inspiring and their deaths a huge loss for their families, Syria and the world.
Further information
Aug142017
Gallantry and Other Decorations for Coast Guard Personnel
On the occasion of Independence Day, the President of India has awarded one President’s Tatrakshak Medal (Distinguished Service), four Tatrakshak Medals (Gallantry) and two Tatrakshak Medals (Meritorious Service) to Indian Coast Guard personnel for displaying conspicuous acts of gallantry, distinguished and meritorious service.