As the UK Government controversially refuses to release minutes of two Cabinet meetings held a few days prior to the War in Iraq, two conflicting reports as to the reasons for this action.
VC criticises government for ‘failing’ veterans
In quite a scathing attack, Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry VC, Britain’s most decorated serving soldier, has criticised what he sees as the Government’s failure to help soldiers suffering from mental trauma as a result of service in combat zones.
Don’t spill the coffee
Despite opposition from some local residents, Vassalboro in Maine now has a topless coffee shop, and that doesn’t mean it has no roof.
The ‘mercy rule’
There are moves afoot to try and introduce a maximum score, or ‘mercy rule’, into youth soccer in the UK. Some areas do already apply such a system, but some officials believe the system should be introduced at a national level by the Football Association. It would mean that if the gap between the scores of two teams reached nine, …
Changing with the times
Google seems to be having more effect, or influence at least, on our lives as each day passes. In France, in Normandy to be more precise, is the little market town of Eu, population 8,000. The town is the site of a nice little chateau and the powers that be are keen to attract visitors. However, ‘Googling’ Eu tends to …
Payback time….sort of
Caroline Wilson, a 44 year old benefits cheat, has been ordered to pay back the £73,294 she claimed and received under false pretenses. Are things looking up in the UK legal system? She has been ordered to pay back the money at the rate of £14 per week. It’s a step in the right direction, though, isn’t it? Even though …
What’s in a name?
Depends what you might have been lumbered with by unthinking parents. Or maybe they were thinking! It’s one thing having a name which stands out, is never forgotten, but it’s an entirely different receptacle full of aquatic creatures to have one which may be a constant source of ridicule throughout your life. A survey of British names has come up …
A dream comes true
In these times of doom and gloom, it’s nice to read something heartwarming for a change. Weta Workshop in Wellington, New Zealand, are a company specialising in special effects for films and were responsible for, amongst others, Lord of the Rings, even winning an Oscar for that one. Nadya Vessey, who lives in Auckland, is a double amputee, losing both …
It was THAT big
Ian Welch, a biologist from Aldershot, has been helping with a stingray tagging programme in Thailand. Deciding to go fishing, he ended up landing the biggest ever freshwater fish caught with a rod, a stingray no less. It took him ninety minutes to haul the monster from the water, about 10 metres deep at that point, and it required the …
Tricky one
Rather a strange poll in the Daily Mail today.