Heavy rain continues to wreak havoc
THOUSANDS of drivers and residents face further chaos today after heavy rain continued to fall across the UK overnight, adding to the flooding crisis.
The Environment Agency has 198 flood alerts and 276 flood warnings in place in England and Wales, as persistent rain hit already saturated areas increasing the risk of river flooding.
But forecasters say the wind and rain will finally begin to ease today and instead freezing temperatures will take hold of the UK.
‘Invest billions in growth plan’
BRITAIN will suffer a decade of low productivity growth and stagnating living standards without billions of pounds of investment, the Government has been warned.
The Work Foundation said £4.5 billion should be spent on science, technology, innovation and regional growth.
In a submission ahead of next week’s Autumn Statement, the research group called for a new plan for growth, including an extra £1 billion for the regions and £300 million for science and technology schemes.
Yasser Arafat’s remains exhumed
THE remains of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat were exhumed from his grave today so international forensic experts could search for additional clues to his death, Palestinian officials said.
The remains were taken from the massive mausoleum in the West Bank city of Ramallah where Arafat was buried and moved to a nearby mosque so Palestinian doctors can take samples from his bones, the officials said.
Under Islam, only Muslims can handle a Muslim’s remains.
Eurozone approves money for Greece
THE 17 European Union nations that use the euro have struck an agreement with the International Monetary Fund on a programme to reduce Greek debt and put Athens on the way to get the next instalment of its much-needed bailout loans.
The first disbursement is set to take place on December 13, said Jean-Claude Juncker, head of the eurogroup of finance ministers, after today’s decision.
Mario Draghi, president of the European Central Bank, said markets should pay heed.
Foster row couple condemn council
A COUPLE who had three foster children removed from their care because of their membership of the UK Independence Party (Ukip) have said council leaders should consider resigning after they failed to apologise.
The South Yorkshire couple said Rotherham Council had told them they can only care for white children.
They said they would not have taken on the three children – a baby girl, a boy and an older girl – from an ethnic minority background if they were racist.
