News / UK and world by Press Association May 21, 2018, 1:56 pm FacebookTwitterLinkedInWhatsAppEmail Sign up to our Daily newsletter French energy company Total said it is looking to expand its search for natural gas off Cyprus’ south coast and seeks to secure another exploratory drilling licence, days after warning it could exit Iran over renewed US sanctions there. Stephane Michel, Total’s Middle East exploration chief, said the company has applied for a license to search for hydrocarbons in Block 8, an area south of Cyprus where Italian company Eni is already licensed to carry out exploratory drilling. Total has partnered with Eni to search for oil and gas in two other areas off Cyprus. In one of the two, Eni said in February it has discovered a “promising” gas deposit with similar geological features as that of another discovery in Egyptian waters it described as the largest ever in the Mediterranean. Cyprus energy minister Yiorgos … [Read more...] about France’s Total seeks to expand Cypriot gas plan as it eyes Iran exit
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Trump eyes breakthrough after NKorea frees Americans
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump celebrated the return Thursday of three Americans freed by North Korea and suggested their release heralded a potential breakthrough toward the goal of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.With the former detainees by his side on a dark air base tarmac, Trump said during a made-for-TV ceremony that it was a "great honor" to welcome the men back to the U.S., but he added that "the true honor is going to be if we have a victory in getting rid of nuclear weapons."Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, other top officials and first lady Melania joined the president in the highly scripted celebration in the wee hours of Thursday morning at Joint Base Andrews near Washington. The men — Kim Dong Chul, Kim Hak Song and Tony Kim — had been released Wednesday amid a warming of relations between the longtime adversaries.Trump thanked North Korean leader King Jon Un for releasing the Americans and said he believes Kim … [Read more...] about Trump eyes breakthrough after NKorea frees Americans
The Latest: NK detainees express ‘deep appreciation’ to US
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the release of three Americans from North Korea (all times local):7:20 p.m.The three American detainees freed by North Korea say they would like to express their "deep appreciation" to the United States government, President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the American people "for bringing us home."They add, "We thank God, and all our families and friends who prayed for us and for our return."The State Department released the statement as the former detainees returned to American soil.Pompeo had been in North Korea to finalize details of a summit planned between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.The three men boarded Pompeo's plane on their own. They were transferred in Japan to another plane for the trip to Joint Base Andrews outside Washington. Trump plans to greet them when they land.——6:30 p.m.North Korea's state-run media is calling U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's … [Read more...] about The Latest: NK detainees express ‘deep appreciation’ to US
Breast cancer screening scandal shows system is failing us
WE may never know exactly how many lives could have been saved or prolonged in the appalling breast cancer screening blunder that meant 450,000 women were never given routine mammograms. We do know that up to 270 women may have died from cancer as a result, and others may already have the disease growing inside them undetected, slowly draining their life away. It’s an appalling indictment of a system that has failed miserably. An over-reliance on flawed computer technology and an admin-heavy system has resulted in almost half a million women being denied potentially life-saving breast screening between 2009 and the start of this year. There are so many questions to be answered, it’s difficult to know where to start. Why is the NHS using such rubbish IT technology in the first place? Who approved it, and why did no one in authority realise that so many women were slipping through the net for almost a decade? Behind every single death in this scandal lies a tragic human … [Read more...] about Breast cancer screening scandal shows system is failing us
Half a million British children don’t have their own bed so help us change that with our Beds For Kids campaign
THERE are few things that shock Judge Rinder. From money laundering to international fraud, the criminal barrister turned TV judge has worked on some eye-opening legal battles. But he was horrified to learn that 400,000 British children do not have a bed of their own to sleep in. Judge Rinder says: “It’s a number that in the First World — in an advanced economy — should make us all think, ‘How can we solve this?’ If it doesn’t make you ask that question, you’ve got a problem. “When I first heard the figure, it gripped me. It made me want to be a part of the community determined to make a change.” That is why the 39-year-old Sun columnist is backing our Beds for Kids campaign to support desperate families. Alongside Dreams Beds and charity Buttle UK’s Chances for Children campaign, we are asking YOU to help raise money for those youngsters who do not have a bed. Without somewhere to get a good night’s sleep, a … [Read more...] about Half a million British children don’t have their own bed so help us change that with our Beds For Kids campaign