Sunday 21 October 2012

Savile

Edwina Currie - 'nothing to hide' on Savile

More than 200 potential victims of sex abuse by Savile have come forward

Jimmy Savile abuse claims

Former health minister Edwina Currie has said she has "nothing to hide" over her involvement in giving Sir Jimmy Savile a role at Broadmoor in 1988.

The Sunday Telegraph reports she appointed him to the taskforce at the hospital where he has been accused of sexually assaulting patients.

His appointment is being investigated by the Department of Health (DoH).

Police say they have identified 200 potential victims of the late BBC presenter.

Mrs Currie, who was a health minister in 1988, said notes on the links between Savile and Broadmoor were in the archives.

She told the BBC: "The Department of Health is currently digging them out... It goes back at least 25 years, even 30 years and isn't just to do with me at all.

"But as and when documents do surface, they should be published in full. I have nothing to hide."

'Prolific offender'

A former barrister, Kate Lampard, has been appointed to oversee the DoHs' investigation into Savile's involvement with Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Leeds General Infirmary, Broadmoor and inside the DoH itself.

It comes after the Sun newspaper said Savile assaulted a 17-year-old patient during a visit to Broadmoor as a hospital fundraiser in the 1970s.

Savile died on 29 October 2011, at the age of 84.

On Friday, the Metropolitan Police announced it had started a formal criminal investigation into Savile and other living people after a "staggering" number of victims had come forward.

The police involvement began after ITV broadcast an investigation in Savile's behaviour called Exposure, the Other Side of Jimmy Savile, on 3 October, 2012.

In it, several women alleged he sexually abused them when they were under-age. Other alleged victims then came forward after the broadcast.

The NSPCC children's charity said he may have been "one of the most prolific sex offenders" it had come across.

Meanwhile, the BBC is to air a special edition of Panorama, looking into the issues surrounding the allegations about Savile, on BBC One at 20:30 BST on Monday.

The corporation has launched an internal review into Savile's time at the BBC - it is being led by former Court of Appeal judge Dame Janet Smith.

A second inquiry will examine Newsnight's shelving of an investigation into why police dropped a sexual abuse inquiry, while a third will look at sexual harassment claims and practices.

Saturday 20 October 2012

EU acts against harm from biofuel crops

Biofuel production in Gross-Gerau, Germany - file pic

Pulped maize is used for biofuel production in Gross-Gerau, Germany

The EU is changing its policy on biofuels to encourage energy production from waste rather than from food crops.

The European Commission says clearing land in order to plant biofuel crops can often cancel out the environmental benefits of biofuel. In some cases forests are chopped down.

The EU is putting a cap of 5% on the food-based biofuel allowed in the renewable energy used in transport.

The EU's total renewable energy target for transport fuel is 10% by 2020.

The Commission will change the 2009 Renewable Energy Directive and the 1998 Fuel Quality Directive.

New biofuel installations will have to meet a minimum 60% threshold in terms of their efficiency in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

BBC environment analyst Roger Harrabin says some environmentalists had supported the biofuel laws in the first instance, before the side-effects became understood.

The UN has appointed a special rapporteur on biofuels who has sharply criticised the direct and indirect effects of biofuels on the poor.

Now the EU is trying to shift biofuel production from food crops to farm waste, algae and straw.

Clearing land to plant food for biofuel releases the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) through ploughing and can involve deforestation, which reduces the "carbon sinks" - the trees that absorb CO2.

'End support for biofuels'

A spokeswoman for the poverty action group Oxfam, Tracy Carty, welcomed the EU's new 5% cap but said the proposal would not go far enough.

"The cap is higher than the current levels of biofuels use and will do nothing to reduce high food prices," she said.

"The British government must up the pressure on other European member states to scrap its current targets and end all support for biofuels. With close to 900 million people going hungry every day, we cannot continue diverting valuable food into fuel."

Earlier, the EU Commissioner for Climate Action, Connie Hedegaard, said: "We must invest in biofuels that achieve real emission cuts and do not compete with food.

"We are of course not closing down first generation biofuels, but we are sending a clear signal that future increases in biofuels must come from advanced biofuels."

The European Renewable Ethanol Association (ePURE) rejected the suggestion that biofuel crops were putting too much pressure on food production.

"Global grain use for biofuels is minuscule and nowhere near enough to inflate prices significantly. Singling out biofuels for blame for rising food prices is simply reckless and only serves to damage public confidence in good biofuels", said ePURE's Secretary General Rob Vierhout.

"Europe has enough grain to produce both its food and fuel needs," he added.

Friday 12 October 2012

Disease ... London Zoo said the penguins' deaths were a 'very sad occasion' SIX penguins have died after contracting deadly malaria at London Zoo. The birds got the avian strain of the disease from mosquitoes this summer and died in August, despite extra precautions to prevent the killer infection. A London Zoo spokeswoman said avian malaria is “endemic” in the UK’s wild bird population and described their penguins’ deaths as a “very sad occasion”. Zookeepers had increased the anti-malaria medication for the Humboldt penguins – a South American species – after fears that the wet weather would create the perfect mosquito breeding ground. Avian malaria cannot be passed on to humans, nor can it be passed from bird to bird, and the zoo says the remaining penguins are “healthy and well”. Precaution ... the penguins died even after zookeepers boosted their anti-malaria medication Phil Hannaford /The Sun The spokeswoman

Malaria kills six London Zoo penguins

'Wet and muggy' summer created perfect mosquito breeding ground

An image of a pengiun and it's offspring in the water

Disease ... London Zoo said the penguins' deaths were a 'very sad occasion'

SIX penguins have died after contracting deadly malaria at London Zoo.

The birds got the avian strain of the disease from mosquitoes this summer and died in August, despite extra precautions to prevent the killer infection.

A London Zoo spokeswoman said avian malaria is “endemic” in the UK’s wild bird population and described their penguins’ deaths as a “very sad occasion”.

Zookeepers had increased the anti-malaria medication for the Humboldt penguins – a South American species – after fears that the wet weather would create the perfect mosquito breeding ground.

Avian malaria cannot be passed on to humans, nor can it be passed from bird to bird, and the zoo says the remaining penguins are “healthy and well”.

Precaution ... the penguins died even after zookeepers boosted their anti-malaria medication

Phil Hannaford /The Sun

The spokeswoman said: “They have it all the time as a daily dose, given it with their breakfast. We put a tablet in their fish and every single penguin gets one in the morning.

“The keepers also spray lavender oil in the penguins’ nest boxes which is a natural deterrent.

“We plant lavender around the enclosure and the penguins use that to build their nests. We do a lot to stop this from happening so obviously it’s a very sad occasion.”

The washout summer – the wettest in England and Wales for 100 years – created the “perfect conditions for mosquito numbers”, therefore increasing the risk of penguins contracting the disease.

Describing the remaining birds, the spokeswoman added: “All the penguins appear healthy and well. Obviously our keepers are keeping a close eye on them, working with the vets, and just making sure we watch them carefully.”

Although it was Humboldt penguins which died, the spokeswoman said no particular species is more at risk than another.

The spokeswoman

Malaria kills six London Zoo penguins

'Wet and muggy' summer created perfect mosquito breeding ground

Disease ... London Zoo said the penguins' deaths were a 'very sad occasion'

SIX penguins have died after contracting deadly malaria at London Zoo.

The birds got the avian strain of the disease from mosquitoes this summer and died in August, despite extra precautions to prevent the killer infection.

A London Zoo spokeswoman said avian malaria is “endemic” in the UK’s wild bird population and described their penguins’ deaths as a “very sad occasion”.

Zookeepers had increased the anti-malaria medication for the Humboldt penguins – a South American species – after fears that the wet weather would create the perfect mosquito breeding ground.

Avian malaria cannot be passed on to humans, nor can it be passed from bird to bird, and the zoo says the remaining penguins are “healthy and well”.

Precaution ... the penguins died even after zookeepers boosted their anti-malaria medication

Phil Hannaford /The Sun

The spokeswoman said: “They have it all the time as a daily dose, given it with their breakfast. We put a tablet in their fish and every single penguin gets one in the morning.

“The keepers also spray lavender oil in the penguins’ nest boxes which is a natural deterrent.

“We plant lavender around the enclosure and the penguins use that to build their nests. We do a lot to stop this from happening so obviously it’s a very sad occasion.”

The washout summer – the wettest in England and Wales for 100 years – created the “perfect conditions for mosquito numbers”, therefore increasing the risk of penguins contracting the disease.

Although it was Humboldt penguins which died, the spokeswoman said no particular species is more at risk than another.

Boy, 17, died when bungling doctors misdiagnosed his blood poisoning FOUR times thinking it was flu

Greg Bear's condition was dismissed by three doctors and a paramedic six days before he died
Mother was told his condition did not warrant a hospital visit, even when he began coughing up blood
Paramedic told Elizabeth Bear: If I was to take every 17-year-old boy coughing up blood, the system would grind to a halt'

Tragic: Greg Bear, 17, had been examined by three doctors and a paramedic six days before he died of septicaemia. They all dismissed his condition

A teenager died of blood poisoning after medics dismissed his illness as flu four times, an inquest has heard.

Greg Bear, 17, had been examined by three doctors and a paramedic six days before he died.

After he began coughing up blood - a key symptom of septicaemia - his mother Elizabeth begged one paramedic to rush the teen to hospital.

But she was told his condition was not bad enough and that he should take some paracetamol.

The paramedic added: 'If I was to take every 17-year-old boy coughing up blood, the system would grind to a halt,' the inquest heard.

Mr Bear's condition worsened the following day, but when his mother phoned trainee GP Dr Christopher Cope for help he also dismissed her concerns.

Hours later Mrs Bear dialled 999 and the teen was finally taken to Kings Mill Hospital in Nottingham on December 21, 2010, by another paramedic. He died the following morning.

Mr Bear, from Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottingham, had first gone to his GP on December 16 - the day after his 17th birthday - and was told he had a 'nasty cold, possibly flu'.

Days later he developed 'uncomplicated septicaemia' which could have been cured by a course of antibiotics, but was again wrongly diagnosed with flu.

Mrs Bear told Nottingham Coroners Court she had been left frustrated by the medics who examined her son.

More...

The day before he died she said it was clear her son needed urgent medical attention.

'Greg was red and had pain in his groin and bottom, he was burning up, he was coughing up blood and bile,' Mrs Bear said.

'He was in excruciating agony, his fingers were blue, his face was red and hot. We were told to keep giving him paracetamol and to come in if he got worse.

Death: The teen was finally taken to Kings Mill Hospital in Nottingham on December 21, 2010, but died the following morning

'I thought I wasn’t getting anywhere, I was left not knowing what to do.'

Recording a narrative verdict, deputy coroner for Nottinghamshire, Heidi Connor, said: 'To Greg’s family there aren’t enough words in the dictionary to describe what you have been through.

'As a family your dignity throughout these proceedings has been nothing short of inspirational. You have done your son proud, if he was anything like his parents, he must have been quite a lad.'

After the hearing Mr Bear's parents Gary and Elizabeth said they hoped lessons had been learned.

'Hopefully we can take something positive away from the tragic catalogue of errors which took our son away from us,'” Mr Bear's father said.

'We hope medical professionals can become better at spotting the early signs of sepsis so it can be spotted early and lives can be saved. We don’t want anyone to go through what we’ve been through.

'Something as simple as asking when someone last passed urine can save lives. If it’s a long time it’s more than likely they need to go to hospital. Greg was inspirational to his friends. He was well liked by everyone. He would literally do anything for anyone.'

Dr Jim Grey, medical director of East Midlands Ambulance Service, said all staff have been given new guidance on recognising early signs of Sepsis.

Wednesday 3 October 2012

Richard III

Richard III dig: MP calls for state funeral

The Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Rev Tim Stevens, said the city's cathedral would be the obvious choice for a burial

A Leicester MP has called for bones found under a city car park to be given a state funeral, if they prove to be those of Richard III.

The king was killed at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485 but his burial site was lost beneath later development.

A battle-scarred skeleton found by archaeologists last month is undergoing DNA tests to confirm it is the monarch.

Leicester South MP Jon Ashworth has said the ceremony should reflect his status and his Catholic faith.

Cleaved-in skull

A team from the University of Leicester, guided by contemporary documents, located the grave within a demolished church.

The skeleton has spinal abnormalities and a cleaved-in skull, thatsuggest it could be Richard III.

Wounds on the skeleton match what is known of Richard's violent death at Bosworth

Mr Ashworth said: "I think he should have a state funeral because he is the last English monarch to have died on a battlefield.

"But there are some questions we have to confront.

"He would have been a Catholic, whereas today's monarch is head of the Church of England, so I would anticipate some sort of service which involves both a Catholic priest and Church of England clergy."

Results of DNA tests against descendants of Richard's family are expected in December.

The Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Rev Tim Stevens, said details for a possible funeral service would need to be carefully worked out but he felt Leicester Cathedral were the logical choice for the burial.

He said: "My view is that if human remains are found in the location of consecrated ground then there is an obvious case for reinterring them in consecrated ground.

"If this proves to be the body of Richard III, the obvious place would be the cathedral grounds.

"There's been a memorial to Richard III in the cathedral for a long time, referring to his burial in the church of Greyfriars and that's turned out to be, as far as we can see, an accurate account.

"It's very important to us in Leicester. It will be very important, no doubt, to the palace and it's important we get it right.

"I hope it will be an uncontroversial set of decisions and I hope the Archbishop of Canterbury will be supportive of the decisions that are made."

Richard III

Richard III dig: MP calls for state funeral

The Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Rev Tim Stevens, said the city's cathedral would be the obvious choice for a burial

A Leicester MP has called for bones found under a city car park to be given a state funeral, if they prove to be those of Richard III.

The king was killed at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485 but his burial site was lost beneath later development.

A battle-scarred skeleton found by archaeologists last month is undergoing DNA tests to confirm it is the monarch.

Leicester South MP Jon Ashworth has said the ceremony should reflect his status and his Catholic faith.

Cleaved-in skull

A team from the University of Leicester, guided by contemporary documents, located the grave within a demolished church.

The skeleton has spinal abnormalities and a cleaved-in skull, thatsuggest it could be Richard III.

Wounds on the skeleton match what is known of Richard's violent death at Bosworth

Mr Ashworth said: "I think he should have a state funeral because he is the last English monarch to have died on a battlefield.

"But there are some questions we have to confront.

Results of DNA tests against descendants of Richard's family are expected in December.

He said: "My view is that if human remains are found in the location of consecrated ground then there is an obvious case for reinterring them in consecrated ground.

"If this proves to be the body of Richard III, the obvious place would be the cathedral grounds.

"There's been a memorial to Richard III in the cathedral for a long time, referring to his burial in the church of Greyfriars and that's turned out to be, as far as we can see, an accurate account.

"It's very important to us in Leicester. It will be very important, no doubt, to the palace and it's important we get it right.

"I hope it will be an uncontroversial set of decisions and I hope the Archbishop of Canterbury will be supportive of the decisions that are made."

Monday 1 October 2012

new deadly Salmonella

HIV 'made' new deadly Salmonella - study

By James GallagherHealth and science reporter, BBC News

A new strain of deadly Salmonella may have emerged in the wake of HIV

An epidemic of a deadly strain of Salmonella has swept across the whole of Africa by "taking advantage" of the spread of HIV, according to an international team of researchers.

Their study, published in Nature Genetics, is the first to identify the separate cases as a single epidemic.

One in four people in Africa infected with the strain died.

It is thought to be the first time a single strain of an infection has spread so widely in the wake of HIV.

Cases of this form of invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella have been recognised in Africa for more than a decade. It causes fever, headaches, respiratory problems and sometimes death.

“Start Quote

It quite clearly parallels the emergence of HIV in Africa”

Prof Gordon DouganSanger Institute

The research team analysed the genetic code of 179 batches of Salmonella from different parts of Africa and the rest of the globe. Using techniques similar to a large-scale DNA paternity test, they were able to construct the strain's "family tree" and then how it spread.

It happened in two waves. The first started in south-eastern Africa about 52 years ago and the second wave started 35 years ago from the Congo Basin.

Prof Gordon Dougan, from the Sanger Institute in Cambridge in the UK, told the BBC: "It quite clearly parallels the emergence of HIV in Africa."

HIV attacks the immune system and leaves people more vulnerable to other infections. It is thought the strain of Salmonella Typhimurium took advantage of this weakness and spread. The research team said the bacterium was given the chance to "enter, adapt, circulate and thrive".

There is poor monitoring data for the disease across the whole of the continent, but Prof Dougan said it was affecting "thousands and thousands" of people and that 98% of adult cases were in people with HIV.

“Start Quote

It's actually quite a huge problem and it seems to be getting worse because there are many susceptible people, it's got a grip in Africa”

Prof Brendan WrenLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

He said this spread of Salmonella Typhimurium had been different to that of other infections commonly associated with HIV, as it had been a single epidemic "people were completely unaware" of and there "were not really any other examples" of that happening.

Dr Melita Gordon, a gastro-enterologist at the University of Liverpool, said: "It's the first time this has been described right across a continent in such an obvious way."

She added: "The highest mortality associated with the disease is 80%. What's happened over the years is mortality has fallen down and down and down to between 20% and 25% as doctors inside Africa recognise it."

The genetic analysis also showed the strain was resistant to the first choice antibiotic, chloramphenicol, which means more expensive drugs would be needed to treat the infection.

It is thought that improving HIV treatment across Africa could reduce the prevalence of the Salmonella infection, as it would reduce the number of people with vulnerable immune systems. However, the researchers urged "vigilance" in case the Salmonella strain mutated again to become able to infect people with healthy immune systems.

Commenting on the study, Prof Brendan Wren, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, told the BBC: "It's actually quite a huge problem and it seems to be getting worse because there are many susceptible people, it's got a grip in Africa.

"HIV, I think it's fair to say, provided a springboard for it to take off."

However, he thought the disease was "near its peak" as HIV was more controlled in other continents giving it little room to spread.

Sunday 21 October 2012

Edwina Currie - 'nothing to hide' on Savile

Jimmy Savile abuse claims

Saturday 20 October 2012

EU acts against harm from biofuel crops

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Friday 12 October 2012

Malaria kills six London Zoo penguins

'Wet and muggy' summer created perfect mosquito breeding ground

SIX penguins have died after contracting deadly malaria at London Zoo.

Malaria kills six London Zoo penguins

'Wet and muggy' summer created perfect mosquito breeding ground

SIX penguins have died after contracting deadly malaria at London Zoo.

Boy, 17, died when bungling doctors misdiagnosed his blood poisoning FOUR times thinking it was flu

More...

Wednesday 3 October 2012

Richard III dig: MP calls for state funeral

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Richard III dig: MP calls for state funeral

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Around the BBC

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Monday 1 October 2012

HIV 'made' new deadly Salmonella - study

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