In an interview at BBC1's The Andrew Marr Show, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair announced his support of Cameron's approach on terrorism in North Africa. He said: "It's going to be long and difficult and messy. If you don't intervene, it's also going to be long and difficult and messy and possibly a lot worse." He added that as leader of a nation it is extremely difficult to make decisions that are not very popular with the public.
Blair also admitted that he talks to Cameron and Miliband regarding the future of the country and gives advice to them when asked for his opinion. However, though Tony Blair supports Cameron on his decision regarding North Africa, he did not mince his words when it came to Cameron's nuances of leaving EU.
Regarding Ed Miliband, the ex-Prime Minister said that for the new Labour leader to win in the upcoming elections he would need to come up with new policies that will convert votes in the next 11 months. He said: "I don't think there's a problem with the vision. I think there's a big challenge with how you translate that vision into practical policy," and added, “This is a situation where the economy is very tough, where we’re going to face the situation – whoever’s in government – where they’re going to be very constrained."
He even advised Miliband to not stray away from his forward-looking philosophy, lose his modern approach to things nor shift from the centre ground of politics, for these play a key role in winning the elections.
He also pointed out that it is simply not enough to ‘protect the vulnerable’ but the party needs to be more resolute with their stance when it comes to embracing controversial reforms of hospital, schools and other public services.
Now Let Tim Ireland Be Featured
It has taken the best part of four long years.
For victims like me, Nadine Dorries MP, Anne Milton MP, Jonathan Lord MP, the minister Jeremy Hunt MP, Patrick Mercer MP, the broadcaster Iain Dale, the journalist Dennis Rice and the top blogger in the British Isles, Paul Staines (AKA Guido Fawkes), these four years have been years during which Tim Ireland has caused us extensive distress and pain.
Physicists from the University of Cambridge developed a new chip that uses the electron’s tiny magnetic movement or ‘spin’ to allow data to be passed front to back, side to side, and up and down. Currently, microchips in the market can only communicate data from side to side and front to back.
Reinhoud Lavrijsen, one of the research authors said: "Today’s chips are like bungalows – everything happens on the same floor," and added, "We’ve created the stairways allowing information to pass between floors."
The research, which was funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), the European Research Council and the Isaac Newton Trust, was published in Nature on January 31st. The documentation stated that an experimental technique called ‘sputtering’ was used to create the 3D microchip which was made out of a spintronic chip and a silicon chip made of cobalt, platinum and ruthenium atoms.
In this research, they used cobalt and platinum atoms to store digital information, while ruthenium atoms were made responsible to communicate or transfer information between cobalt and platinum atoms.
To measure and probe the data content of each layer, the researchers made use of a laser technique called MOKE and other measurement methods. Though the researchers are still working on the project they are optimistic with what the future holds.
Professor Russell Cow burn, lead researcher of the study said: “Each step on our spintronic staircase is only a few atoms high. I find it amazing that by using nanotechnology not only can we build structures with such precision in the lab but also using advanced laser instruments we can actually see the data climbing this nano-staircase step by step."
He also reiterated that the research showed how powerful advanced material science is and that by utilizing the basic usage of elements and materials we can develop greater things.
UK: Pimlico is a small area of Central London in the Westminster city. Pimlico Academy is a non-fee paying school for local children specializing in the Arts and history. Hani Abou El Kheir, a 16-year-old former student of Pimlico Academy, was stabbed to death in Lupus Street, Pimlico, on January 27th, Sunday.
Post Mortem done on January 29th, Tuesday, showed multiple stab wounds as the cause of death. The motive and other relevant details for the slaying of Hani are yet to be determined. Police authorities believed that at least 10 more youths were involved in the crime, but cannot disclose if the attack was gang-related as investigations are still going on.
A 20-year-old man, yet unnamed, was arrested on suspicion as the perpetrator of the crime, and remained in police custody pending investigation, the police reported. Hani’s mother, likewise unnamed, was too perplexed for losing her only child, and the media were unable to secure any information from her, the police said.
Neil Attewel, detective Chief Inspector of the Homecide and Serious Crime Command, said Hani suffered a “horrific and sustained vicious attack”. Attewel, heading the investigation, stated “The tragic event left the victim’s mother and relatives completely desolate and still coming to terms with the loss”. Relevant to the other 10 suspects, Attewel said “I’m appealing to the parents and guardians of those suspected of being involved in the crime. I encourage you to hand them over to the police. Failure to do so will result to pursuing them until apprehended”.
He likewise urged possible eyewitnesses to shed light on the incident with promise of police protection. Allison Newcomb, Westminster Borough Commander said that incidents like this were “extremely rare” due to relentless campaign against violent crimes, which resulted to decrease by 57% in the number of knife crime victims and youth violence down by 60%.
Police are working “round the clock” to bring those responsible to justice.
The reforms for the libel law are long overdue. Jack Straw, the then justice secretary, promised reforms but they were no quickly forthcoming. Three years on and we may just have a new defamation act to give greater protection to freedom of speech and the public interest. Of course the intricacies of defamation laws are vitally important – thus the inadequacies of the current libel law that has seen libel threats unnecessarily silence scientists, doctors and human rights activists. But, despite a new bill finally coming to fruition, the last-minute addition of a “Leveson clause”, in the wake of the Leveson report into the media, could dilute the impact of this bill.
The press regulation bill caused a lot of controversy when it was mooted following the report. It was feared that an overt press regulation bill would cause overt restrictions on Britain’s prided free press, despite the mass disgust with media mishaps in recent years including the phone hacking scandal that bought down the News of the World. The clause in the libel bill has been perceived as a “back door” way of bringing Leveson’s mooted press regulation. The government, being against the press regulation bill, are likely to be against the libel clause now that this clause has been injected. The bill is now likely to be dropped, extending the wait for the reformed libel law.
Police and banks in Westminster London issued a warning to bank account holders to be diligent in safeguarding their banking information after incidents of phone scams were reported.
Wealthy pensioners are being targeted by fraudsters who pose as police officers, bank personnel or members of the Serious Fraud Office. They usually call in the middle of the night to inform their victims that their accounts were compromised and needs to be cancelled. They then ask their victims to hand over their credit and debit cards, bank details and some cash to an agent who will deliver it to a 'safe house'.
On the night of January 27, Pimlico - one of London's most wealthy areas- was disturbed by a gang of knife-wielding tugs who stabbed a 16-year old boy in the middle of a busy street.
The 16-year old boy, who was later identified as Hani Abou El Kheir, was seen by witnesses running down Lupus Street with a group of males wearing bandanas, hoodies and tracksuits chasing after him. The boy then tripped and was caught by his pursuers who attacked him 'like a pack of dogs'. The attackers stabbed the boy multiple times and kicked him before running away.
As expected, MPs have voted in favour of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill by a resounding majority of 400 to 175 and the Tories remain the party that is significantly split on the matter – 136 opposed against 127 Tory MPs that supported. The debate was civil and with some amendments to the bill to be made in parliamentary scrutiny (as it was passed on the second reading which signifies MPs’ approval in principle) some of those Tory MPs may be swayed. Of course it will have to go through the largely conservative House of Lords (with some Bishops holding seats of course) but with the majority so strong in the Commons, it seems likely that the bill will be passed. Huzzah, another step in equality, even if the lock on marriage in the CofE and Catholic Church (rather than an opt in basis that allows bishops in favour of the bill to conduct marriage service in these churches) is still a boundary to be overcome. The bill will allow those in civil partnerships to get married in both civil and religious ceremonies – the latter with the consent of religious institutions.
All leaders (all important MPs as well, really) approved of the decision. Cameron tweeted that it was a “step forward” for Britain; Miliband said it was a “proud day” in the “fight for equality; David Cameron said that “marriage is about love and commitment, and it should no longer be denied to people just because they are gay”. Cameron’s approval of the bill has been as his overt attempts of modernizing his party without the consent of his party. Many believe that the fractions within the Conservatives reflect a party that is out of touch with the nation and divided into separate factions.
Chris Huhne is in trouble. Perverting the court of justice is of course a major affray and could lead to several years in trouble. At the heart of this scandal is his relationship to his former wife and how it seems she passed the story to the press as a means to revenge. Vicky Pryce, 60, took speeding points for Huhne a decade ago – something Huhne has denied and it seems lied about – and she revealed this to the press as a means of revenge after Huhne’s extra marital affair.
The jury was read an email from 2011 in which she claimed she wanted to “nail him” following her discovery of Huhne’s affair. She denies perverting the court of justice – something Huhne admitted to on Monday – despite the fact that she only played her card of truth almost a decade after the initial speeding offence – Huhne’s car was caught by speed cameras on a motorway between Stansted Airport in Essex and London in March 2003. It is alleged that Pryce falsely informed police that she was the driver in order for Huhne to avoid prosecution.
UK: Rumors of an impending endorsement assails Westminster as a plan to demand a leadership contest is being hatched allegedly by 55 Tory MPs in case Prime Minister Cameron continues to trail behind Ed Miliband, Labour’s leader, in the polls. To initiate a vote of no confidence, only 46 MPs are required to write their intent to the Party’s 1922 committee, as reported. Just a week ago, Cameron secured his highest approval rating, since June 2011, as reported by ComRes survey.
Adam Afriyie, 47-year-old British Conservative Party politician since 1990, Member of the Parliament (MP) for Windsor and dubbed as Britain’s Obama, was accused of fomenting oust of the PM.
It was revealed that multi-millionaire IT tycoon Afriyie, should their alleged plan materialize, is set to make his bid for the position once vacated, according to The Mail on January 27th, Sunday.
The information was disclosed by two Tory MPs who were asked to sign endorsing Afriyie as a leadership contender in the event the PM was forced to resign, The Mail said.
40 MPs already signed, as claimed by one of the MP, but Afriyie’s allies denied the existence of the said letter, The Mail added.
News of the unprecedented move enraged the PM’s supporters who said “It is sheer madness to talk about a leadership challenge at this time our Party is at a precarious situation in winning the next election. We have to rally behind Cameron and not plot against him”.
Tory MP Mark Field, the outspoken ally of Afriyie, confirmed having discussed leadership credentials of Afriyie with other Tory MPs and said Britain’s Obama will only take the helm if the PM lost the next election and resigned as a Conservative leader.
Other Tories claimed that Field’s move to win support for Afriyie is a prelude for an alleged coup by MP rebels before the election.
Afriyie, frustrated at failing to be appointed a minister, denied the plan for a leadership bid and told The Mail on Sunday, January 27th “I supported the PM to become a leader, I love him and wish for him to be leader for the next 20 years. This is a naughty conversation and I’m ending it now”.
“David Cameron is Prime Minister and the media is diverting the attention away from the promised referendum”, as he stated in an email sent on Feb. 1st, Friday.
However, the mentioned endorsement and MP Field canvassing for supports are factors the PM and his supporters cannot ignore.
Up to 17 Tory MPs were believed to have asked for a no confidence vote, but only one, Patrick Mercer, was named, and claims that an unnamed “coordinating MP” already acquired pledges.