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Arsonist Melanie Smith sentenced of...

The woman who murdered five members of the family by starting off a fire in a residence in Prestatyn, Wales was penalized for at least 30 years of...

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Pakistan should increase its tax re...

A committee from the parliament on the United Kingdom aid was concerned about the taxes paid by the Pakistanis. It was reported that only 0.6 perc...

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Drivers will be highly penalized fo...

The head of UK’s Police has raised his concerned on the people who still disobeys the law in driving. Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe was dismayed that a...

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A Campaign to adopt a new design f...

According to the reports, more and more cycling deaths happen in the streets in London. A group of campaigners already made their stand and campai...

Arsonist Melanie Smith sentenced of a minimum of 30 years in prison

May. 09 Law & Crime no comments

The woman who murdered five members of the family by starting off a fire in a residence in Prestatyn, Wales was penalized for at least 30 years of imprisonment. Melanie Smith, 43 was called today by her relatives as a disgraceful individual. Twenty-year-old mother Lee-Anna Shiers, together with her two-year-old niece Skye, and her nephew Bailey, 4 died after the arsonist attack their house last October 19, 2012.

Her 15-month-old baby together with her husband Liam Timbrell, 23 was saved by the firefighters in the first floor level but few hours later they died in the hospital. Smith was found guilty of five counts of murder by the judges composed of seven women and five men after 15 hours of deliberations. The father of the two victims Bailey and Skye stated that he was longing for her son and daughter to grow up but unfortunately they were taken away by a wicked persons act.

Smith lived in a house just below the victims. Investigators said that Smith got mad when Ms. Shier left a pushchair in a hallway that they both shared. As a result, she burned the pushchair which also causes the fire to spread in their flat. The court heard that the murderer was alcoholic, mad and got insecure to the family living upstairs. She also threatened to burn down a house which she thought as the lover of her partner Steve Clarkson. On the trial, Smith said that the 21 witnesses’ statement were all lies. Aside from the five counts of murder charged up against her, one count of threatening to burn a house was also added to her case.

Pakistan should increase its tax revenue to receive UK aid

Apr. 05 Finance, International Relations no comments

A committee from the parliament on the United Kingdom aid was concerned about the taxes paid by the Pakistanis. It was reported that only 0.6 percent of the Pakistani population pay their taxes and that corruption was the main cause.

The MP said that they will only increase the financial aid to Pakistan if they can increase their tax revenues. It was reported from the House of Commons that they are urging the Department for International Development to closely monitor anti-corruption and the rule of law in Pakistan. It was evident that there were a lot of Pakistanis who are below poverty line benefit from the projects of the DfID. The Committee chairman of the Department for International Development said that they are concerned about the taxes raised in Pakistan because not enough was raised to be able to pay for the growth of the poor families in Pakistan. The quality of life could not improve if the taxes were corrupted.

The Chairman also added that the people in UK are not expected to pay taxes to be able to improve the health and education of Pakistan. The rich population in Pakistan should pay enough amounts of their income taxes. The DfID already planned an increase in aid to Pakistan amounting to £446 Million expected in the year 2015. Pakistan was regarded to the largest recipient of the aid coming from the United Kingdom. Although Pakistan is described to be a middle-income country, the UK has still given them aid. This year, Pakistan will have their election and the MPs are already concerned about the system of tax in the country.

Drivers will be highly penalized for using mobile phones while driving

Mar. 29 Transport no comments

The head of UK’s Police has raised his concerned on the people who still disobeys the law in driving. Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe was dismayed that although the law was already implemented, many of the drivers continue not to follow. Using the mobile phone while driving is not allowed in the UK but many were still caught. According to the UK Police Chief, there will be a tougher penalty for those who will still disobey the law. He said that the penalties will be the only way to change this driver’s habit.

The Metropolitan Police said that when the drivers who are caught twice will already get banned from driving. The plan to increase the penalty was also suggested by the Scotland Yard Boss. He said that this has been a growing problem and drivers have already ignored the law. The current penalty will be raised to six points instead of the usual 3-point penalty. If the drivers will be doing the same thing and would be caught twice within a span of three years, they will no longer be allowed to drive. The younger drivers and those who are not well experienced in driving will also be taking the driving course again.

The growing concerns on the issue were due to the figures released on the number of road accidents that involved reckless driving. If there were cases of drunk driving, a lot were also reported that drivers were using their mobile phones while they go on the road and drive causing accident that would involve a lot of innocent casualties. The figure of road accidents was reported to have increased. This was the 1st increase for the past twenty years.

A Campaign to adopt a new design for lorries

Mar. 21 Transport no comments

According to the reports, more and more cycling deaths happen in the streets in London. A group of campaigners already made their stand and campaigned for a new design for Lorries. Construction Firms in London were convinced by the campaigners to create and utilize a design that would minimize the deaths pertaining to cycling on the road. This new design would give more visibility for the drivers and can enable the drivers to see a cyclist well on the road.

The London Cycling Campaign was the front runners of the campaign. They say that the new design would position high visibility and can make a lot of drivers see clearly and identify a single cyclist. The new designed lorry was already based on the technology and design that was discovered in refuse trucks. A representative from the FTA or the Freight Transport Association was delighted with the new suggestion and helpful idea.

Based on statistics from the Transport for London, there were already a number of forty cyclist killed between the years 2010 and 2012. A 2012 report coming from the London Assembly’s transport committee said that cycling casualties already increased up to fifty percent in 2006 and 2011. In Greater London, half of the deaths involved lorries. The result came as a surprise because lorries only make up about 5 percent of all the road traffics. With the reported data the campaigners wanted to see cameras that would warn the trucks of the vehicles approaching them. The cameras are early warning cameras that would provide the trucks a 360 degree of the view of the vehicle.

Pay Cap for Public Sector Employees

Mar. 14 Economy, Finance no comments

The public sector employees will not be receiving a pay increase in April as announced by the government. The 1% cap on pay would be given to the nurses, doctors, members of the armed forces, and also hospital cleaners. Unions were not that happy about the news. The Treasury has accepted the recommendations on the number of pay review bodies. Unison, one of the known employees’ unions who are representing a number of 450,000 workers from the NHS disagrees about the changes.

The union described the cap to be a squeeze on the pay and would cause financial hardship among many public sector employees especially hospital staff. The Treasury already announced the pay increase and has said that the rise would serve as an award following the wage freeze. Meanwhile, the head of the union, Christina McAnea said that the employees of the health sector are undervalued by the government. She said that the freezing of the wage and the squeezing is indeed destroying the morale of the NHS workers.

The Union’s head added that the million workers in the NHS have been receiving a low pay. It was said to be a huge issue and most of the staffs are living with an hourly rate of £7.45. The workers already turn to their welfare fund to help aid their growing bills which includes the pay for emergency loans and rising fuel. The NHS workers is already facing a lot of pressures, said the Unison’s head. She said that the rising cost of living in the UK also caused the workers not to meet their payments for mortgage and most of them are in debt.

David Cameron rejects the call to increase borrowing

Mar. 07 Economy no comments

The British Prime Minister David Cameron has rejected the argument of the Treasury coming from the Business Secretary, Vince Cable regarding the low interest rates in funding projects and fund housing. Mr. Cameron gave his speech about the economy and said that borrowing extra amount of money would jeopardize the finances of the public. He dismissed the Business Secretary’s call in increasing the British government’s borrowing. He warned that Britain doesn’t have any magic money tree that would easily allow the government to spend an extra amount.

During the Prime Minister’s speech, he also mentioned the Iron Lady, Margaret Thatcher in dismissing the said call. Adding to his statement that tax cuts can pay for itself. The Prime Minister delivered his speech in Keighkey West Yorkshire. He made it clear in his speech that he wasn’t in favor of the increased borrowing and opposing to the idea of the call. He said that when this happens it can be risky for the family’s livelihood in the country.

Mr. Cameron also answered most of the critics who were saying that the government’s economic policy has failed and has downgraded the credit rating of Britain. He said that if the government did not deal with the country’s debt, there will be a tendency that the interest rated will be increasing, tax payer’s money will only be allotted in paying for the nation’s debt, and, more businesses will have problems. He said that if there was a percent increase in mortgage interest rate, it will already cost family extra debt payments for service in the amount of £1,000.

Every Citizen’s Right to Quality Medical Care

Feb. 28 Health no comments

There has been an increasing rate of medical negligence in hospitals. This is considered a troubling case that Medical Centers are facing. When this occurs, the only way a patient can have justice is through making a compensation claim for medical negligence. According to the Chief Executive if the Law Society of England and Wales, Desmond Huston, it is the only way the patient can get justice when he or she would be a victim of medical negligence.

In April last year the risk has already increased to £18 Million. The concerned officials say that this was caused by the “No win, No Fee” for the cases. On the contrary, there are others who said that it is because of the life expectancy which is already increasing and the modern machines that are capable of curing the sickness of patients. Every citizen in the United Kingdom is entitled to make his or her own claim if they have been affected. This right should be known to all the citizens. There might be others who are unaware about the claim or how to make a claim.

The medical board is the one responsible to check on the claim on medical negligence. It is also a huge responsibility for the board to make the patient feel better or be in better shape. They would make it possible to provide the necessary equipment and new technology that is said to be expensive. Government would not put the blame on the no win, no fee cases. Mr. Huston also stressed out that every citizen deserves to be compensated if ever they experience medical negligence.  To make your claim for any accident or injury that was not your fault, go to PerfectClaims.co.

FSA fines Lloyds over PPI delays

Feb. 25 Finance no comments

The saga concerning mis-sold PPI may be drawing to a close next year (if talks to that effect are successful) but the story is by no means over.

The latest twist in the tale involved Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) being fined £4.3 million for delays in PPI payments to claimants.

An investigation by the Financial Standards Agency (FSA) found that, amidst other faults, three LBG firms- Lloyds TSB Bank, Lloyds TSB Scotland and Bank of Scotland- failed to set in place an “adequate process” for processing PPI payments, staff had inadequate knowledge and experience in handling such payments, poor management, and that the “approach to risk management had been ineffective”.

FSA guidelines rule that PPI claims should be paid out promptly. For LBG that means within 28 days; however, between May 2011 and March 2012 140,209 claimants were paid after 28 days, a quarter of those who received decision letters concerning PPI payments. Furthermore, 56,000 received payment after 60 days.

Whilst apologising for the errors- which in 8,800 cases saw payment delayed by over six months- LBG stated that the problems were initiated by the banking industry not anticipating the sheer scale and volume of PPI claimants at first. Additionally, LBG citied “administrative errors” when the repayments program was set up two years ago. LBG stated that ”we acknowledge that this led to some customers not being compensated on time and we apologise to those customers whose payments were delayed”. LBG has subsequently reviewed and altered ins PPI payments process, and has been cooperative with the FSA in their investigation.

This latest investigation only shows just how vast the administrative scale of settling PPI claimants is for banks- not mentioning the financial cost. LBG has itself set aside £5.3 billion for PPI claims, with the banks involved setting aside a total of £13 billion. There is also the matter for both claimants and banks of legal time, effort and fees for bringing forward, and deciding on, PPI claims.

LBG’s fine comes after the Financial Ombudsman reported that there was an increasing backlog of unresolved and unpaid PPI claims, and urged banks to more to settle such claims more efficiently. Commenting after the settlement, Darren Carter of PPIClaimCo.com said “we’ve waited a long time for the FSA to take action against the big four banks on this matter, and we still don’t think they’ve gone far enough. The banks need to deal with the complaints effectively and efficiently and stop delaying the outcome by flooding the FOS with complaints that they could easily resolve themselves”

The Duchess and the Duke’s right to privacy

Feb. 14 Uncategorized no comments

The Duchess of Cambridge even before she was married to the Prince was already haunted by the media. Kate Middleton is a famous icon and most of the time an article about her is published almost everywhere. Moreover, the paparazzi follows her every move. As member of the royal family, she was known worldwide and she has gained so many supporters from anywhere in the globe. Just like Princess Diana, Kate has become more and more loved by the people.

The Duchess was the center of attraction when a photo of her was published in an Italian magazine, the Italian Gossip. The Duchess in the picture was spending a holiday with her Prince while on her bikini. This photo was also circulated in the worldwide web. The said photo taken was something private and the couple is entitled to have their privacy. After the photo was publicize, St. Jame’s palace gave their comment that it was indeed a breach of the Duchess and the Duke’s right to privacy.

The Editor of the magazine spoke on behalf of the statement from the palace. The editor was defending the photo that was sent out to the public, they labeled that the shots were not scandalous. It would also not be a breach of their privacy because both Kate and William are considered public figures and they were in a public location at the time of their vacation. The editor explained that they only wanted their avid reader to see the Royal Couple relax in an island. They have confirmed that no agreement emerges between the British and the Italian press. The magazine that published the Duchess’ photo was out in the stores last Wednesday.

A Controversial Child Abuse Case

Feb. 07 Family, Law & Crime no comments

The children and the youth are of primary importance in the society and should not be disregarded. It is very important to prioritize a case that involves child abuse for this type of case in not tolerable and people who are responsible for the abuse must answer and be punished. There are certain concerned organizations that are working with the government to promote the rights of children and make sure that they would have a peaceful environment to live.

The population is growing and there are just a few numbers of people who would care more for the general welfare of the children. In some cases, a lot of children are being neglected and sent to the care home or even the orphanage. There is no assurance that children sent to this type of facilities will experience the expected tender loving care from the people in charge of taking care of them.

Meanwhile, a controversial case occurred in the 1980’s at Elm Guest House which is now converted to a residential flat called Scotland Yard. The said case involved boys who were sexually abused by known politicians or political figures during that time. There were two men who were now aged 66 and 70 were arrested by the police because they were linked in the investigation of the case. Both accused men have connections in the said guest house. One was working in the guest house and the other one was a priest who was also going to that said guest house. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) gave their assistance and helped the police with the said investigation.