Ace Worldwide News Group 11:00 on 04/12/2021
Tags: AceHealthDesk ( 246 ), CoronavirusNewsDesk ( 131 ), COVID19 ( 257 ), GOVUK ( 50 ), London ( 692 ), variants ( 5 )

(LONDON) JUST IN: GOVUK Press Statement Report: Variants Surveillance Overview UK Total Distribution on December 4th 2021: #AceHealthDesk report

#CoronavirusNewsDesk Variants: distribution of case data, 03 December 2021

Surveillance overview

UK total distribution

We have published weekly cases numbers for all #COVID19 variants in the UK. This week confirmed cases of the Omicron variant have been added for the first time. Find out more: https://t.co/fyjxdyLkpz pic.twitter.com/pSILWZVPyQ
— UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) December 3, 2021

Variant*Other names by which this variant may be known**LineageTotal confirmed (sequencing) and probable (genotyping) cases‡New cases since last update (data up to 24 Nov)AlphaVOC-20DEC-01B.1.1.7277,563-22Beta^§VOC-20DEC-02B.1.3511,107^§+1GammaVOC-21JAN-02P.12910Delta^†VOC-21APR-02B.1.617.2 AY.1 AY.21,452,519^†+82,000VUI-21OCT-01***VUI-21OCT-01A.Y 4.265,922+12,292OmicronVOC-21NOV-01B.1.1.52932+32ZetaVUI-21JAN-01P.2570EtaVUI-21FEB-03B.1.525 (previously designated UK1188)5140VUI-21FEB-04VUI-21FEB-04B.1.1.318366-1ThetaVUI-21MAR-02P.3100KappaVUI-21APR-01B.1.617.15200VUI-21APR-03VUI-21APR-03B.1.617.3180VUI-21MAY-02VUI-21MAY-02C.36.31580LambdaVUI-21JUN-01C.379+1Mu^§VUI-21JUL-01B.1.62158^§+1

*Information pertaining to VUI-21MAR-01, B1.324.1 with E484K has been removed as this variant has been reclassified as provisionally extinct. Variants VUI-21FEB-01 (A.23.1 with E484K), and VOC-21FEB-02 (Alpha with E484K) are provisionally extinct (not detected for 12 weeks in the UK or in GISAID) therefore they will no longer be included in the publication from 12 November 2021. Variant VUI-21MAY-01, AV.1 has been removed as of 3 December 2021 as it has been classified as provisionally extinct.

**WHO naming has been included where available.

† Of which 475 had the K417N mutation.

^‡Confirmed individuals are confirmed COVID-19 cases with a validated sequencing result meeting the confirmed case definitions outlined in the sections below. Probable individuals are confirmed COVID-19 cases with a genotyping result where sequencing confirmation is awaited or not available. Published figures include genotyping assay data for England, using a combination of highly specific mutations as an indicator of a probable variant. Genotyping assay data is currently only available for Alpha, Beta (for specimen dates up to and including 30 June 2021), Delta and Gamma.

^§Due to having identical genotyping profiles, since 1 July Beta and Mu cases identified by genotyping have been categorised as ‘Beta or Mu’. In addition to the above numbers, a further 12 ‘Beta or Mu’ provisional genotyping cases have been identified.

***Confirmed VOC-21APR-02 with at least 2 VUI-21OCT-01 lineage defining positions called as alternate (variant) base and all other defining positions reported as N (unknown) or mixed bases.

****Due to an earlier data reporting issue, 13 cases of Gamma reported in October 2021 have been removed from this week’s total.

Differences between a variant of concern and a variant under investigation

SARS-CoV-2 variants, if considered to have concerning epidemiological, immunological or pathogenic properties, are raised for formal investigation. At this point they are designated variant under investigation (VUI) with a year, month, and number. Following a risk assessment with the relevant expert committee, they may be designated variant of concern (VOC).

Changes in nomenclature

The previous variant names frequently include similar numbers with similar or repeating patterns. This makes referring to them verbally challenging. To overcome this challenge, a revised nomenclature has been agreed involving dropping the first 2 numbers of the year and replacing the 2-month numbers with a 3-letter abbreviation. This shortens the name and reduces the degree of repeated sequences of numbers. The table containing surveillance overview ‘UK total distribution’ contains a list of new variant names alongside previous or other names in use for VOCs and VUIs.

Alpha

Surveillance overview

This variant was first detected in the UK and was first sequenced in the UK in September 2020.Total confirmed and probable casesEngland226,790Northern Ireland9,176Scotland29,129Wales12,468Total cases277,563

Case definitions

Genomic matchCriteriaConfirmed
(sequencing)COVID-19* confirmed case with at least 5 VOC-20DEC-01 lineage defining positions are called as alternate (variant) base and all other defining positions reported as N (unknown) or mixed basesProbable (genotyping)COVID-19* confirmed case with a genotyping result where sequencing confirmation is awaited or not available*A confirmed COVID-19 case: a case where the individual is confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Beta

Surveillance overview

This variant was first detected in South Africa and was first sequenced in the UK in December 2020.Total confirmed and probable casesEngland992Northern Ireland10Scotland62Wales43Total cases1,107

Case definitions

Genomic matchCriteriaConfirmed
(sequencing)COVID-19* confirmed case where:
• at least 4 VOC-20DEC-02 lineage defining positions are called as alternate (variant) base, and
• all other defining positions reported as N (unknown) or mixed bases 
or
• at least 5 of the 9 non-synonymous changesProbable (genotyping)COVID-19* confirmed case with a genotyping result where sequencing confirmation is awaited or not available*A confirmed COVID-19 case: a case where the individual is confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Gamma

Surveillance overview

This variant was first detected in Japan in travellers from Brazil in January 2021 and was first detected in the UK in February 2021.Total confirmed and probable casesEngland266Northern Ireland0Scotland23Wales2Total cases291

Case definitions

Genomic matchCriteriaConfirmed
(sequencing)COVID-19* confirmed case with:
• at least 5 lineage defining non-synonymous changes called as alternate base, and
• all other positions either N or mixed basesProbable (genotyping)COVID-19* confirmed case with a genotyping result where sequencing confirmation is awaited or not available*A confirmed COVID-19 case: a case where the individual is confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Delta

Surveillance overview

Total confirmed and probable casesEngland1,179,127Northern Ireland81,504Scotland116,215Wales75,673Total cases1,452,519

Case definitions

Genomic matchCriteriaConfirmed
(sequencing)COVID-19* confirmed case with at least 4 variant defining changes called as alternate baseProbable (genotyping)COVID-19* confirmed case with a genotyping result where sequencing confirmation is awaited or not available*A confirmed COVID-19 case: a case where the individual is confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

VUI-21OCT-01

Surveillance overview

Total confirmed and probable casesEngland49,460Northern Ireland832Scotland7,135Wales8,495Total cases65,922

Case definitions

Genomic matchCriteriaConfirmed
(sequencing)COVID-19* confirmed case that is confirmed VOC-21APR-02 with at least 2 VUI-21OCT-01 lineage defining positions called as alternate (variant) base and all other defining positions reported as N (unknown) or mixed bases.*A confirmed COVID-19 case: a case where the individual is confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Omicron

Surveillance overview

Total confirmed and probable casesEngland22Northern Ireland-**Scotland10Wales0Total cases32

Case definitions

Genomic matchCriteriaConfirmed
(sequencing)COVID-19* confirmed case with at least 10 lineage defining non-synonymous changes called as alternate base and no more than 7 defining positions called as wild-typeProbable (genotyping)COVID-19* confirmed case with a genotyping result where sequencing confirmation is awaited or not available*A confirmed COVID-19 case: a case where the individual is confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

**Northern Ireland data was not available at the time of publishing on 3 December 2021.

Zeta

Surveillance overview

This variant was first detected in Brazil and was first sequenced in the UK in November 2020.Total confirmed and probable casesEngland51Northern Ireland0Scotland5Wales1Total cases57

Case definitions

Genomic matchCriteriaConfirmed
(sequencing)COVID-19* case confirmed as infected with VUI-21JAN-01 through whole genome sequencing (WGS) where:
• results of all lineage defining non-synonymous changes called as alternate base
or
• 6 of 7 non-synonymous changes called as alternate base, and
• remaining position either N or mixed basesProbable (genotyping)COVID-19* confirmed case with a genotyping result where sequencing confirmation is awaited or not available*A confirmed COVID-19 case: a case where the individual is confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Eta

Surveillance overview

This variant was first detected in the UK in December 2020.Total confirmed and probable casesEngland462Northern Ireland2Scotland40Wales10Total cases514

Case definitions

VUI-21FEB-04

Surveillance overview

This variant was first detected in the UK (England).Total confirmed and probable casesEngland315Northern Ireland40Scotland11Wales0Total cases366

Case definitions

Genomic matchCriteriaConfirmed
(sequencing)COVID-19* confirmed case with:
• at least 5 lineage defining non-synonymous changes called as alternate base, and
• all other positions either N or mixed base
or
• at least 5 of the 9 non-synonymous changes*A confirmed COVID-19 case: a case where the individual is confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Theta

Surveillance overview

This variant was first detected in the Philippines.Total confirmed and probable casesEngland7Northern Ireland0Scotland3Wales0Total cases10

Case definitions

Genomic matchCriteriaConfirmed
(sequencing)COVID-19* confirmed case with:
• at least 7 variant defining changes called as alternate base, and
• all other positions either N or mixed base*A confirmed COVID-19 case: a case where the individual is confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Kappa

Surveillance overview

This variant was first detected in India.Total confirmed and probable casesEngland474Northern Ireland4Scotland27Wales15Total cases520

Case definitions

Genomic matchCriteriaConfirmed
(sequencing)COVID-19* confirmed case with:
• at least 6** variant defining changes called as alternate base, and
• all other positions either N or mixed base*A confirmed COVID-19 case: a case where the individual is confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).**Due to overlap with Delta sequences, the case definition of Kappa sequences was changed on 27 August 2021.

VUI-21APR-03

Surveillance overview

This variant was first detected in India.Total confirmed and probable casesEngland15Northern Ireland0Scotland0Wales3Total cases18

Case definitions

Genomic matchCriteriaConfirmed
(sequencing)COVID-19* confirmed case with:
• at least 8 variant defining changes called as alternate base, and
• all other positions either N or mixed base*A confirmed COVID-19 case: a case where the individual is confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

VUI-21MAY-02

Surveillance overview

This variant was first detected in Thailand (in travellers from Egypt).Total confirmed and probable casesEngland148Northern Ireland2Scotland4Wales4Total cases158

Case definitions

Genomic matchCriteriaConfirmed
(sequencing)COVID-19* confirmed case with at least 5 variant defining changes called as alternate base, and
• all other positions either N or mixed base.*A confirmed COVID-19 case: a case where the individual is confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Lambda

Surveillance overview

This variant was first detected in Peru in August 2020.Total confirmed and probable casesEngland8Northern Ireland1Scotland0Wales0Total cases9

Case definitions

Genomic matchCriteriaConfirmed
(sequencing)COVID-19* confirmed case with at least 5 VUI-21JUN-01 lineage defining positions are called as alternate (variant) base and all other defining positions reported as N (unknown) or mixed bases.*A confirmed COVID-19 case: a case where the individual is confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Mu

Surveillance overview

Total confirmed and probable casesEngland52Northern Ireland2Scotland3Wales1Total cases58

Case definitions

Genomic matchCriteriaConfirmed
(sequencing)COVID-19* confirmed case with at least 5 VUI-21JUL-01 defining mutations called as alternate (variant) base and all other defining positions reported as N (unknown) or mixed bases.*A confirmed COVID-19 case: a case where the individual is confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

#AceHealthDesk report …………..Published: Dec.04: 2021:

Editor says …Sterling Publishing & Media Service Agency is not responsible for the content of external site or from any reports, posts or links, and can also be found here on Telegram: https://t.me/acenewsdaily all of our posts fromTwitter can be found here: https://acetwitternews.wordpress.com/ and all wordpress and live posts and links here: https://acenewsroom.wordpress.com/and thanks for following as always appreciate every like, reblog or retweet and free help and guidance tips on your PC software or need help & guidance from our experts AcePCHelp.WordPress.Com

#covid19, #govuk, #london, #variants

Ace Worldwide News Group 19:43 on 10/02/2021

‘Ace News Room With Kindness & Wisdom’

#AceHealthReport – Feb.10: Editor says this post provides all of the posts we have added to our newsroom on #COVID19 and #coronavirus since beginning of the year and we add to daily:

#Coronavirus With Kindness & Love’

#CoronavirusNewsDesk – See all the posts to date from today 01/01/21: https://acenewsroom.wordpress.com/?s=%23CoronavirusNewsDesk+

February 10, 2021

This just in from the cutting room floor …

#AceHealthDesk report ……….Published: Feb.10: 2021:

Editor says #AceNewsDesk reports by https://t.me/acenewsdaily and all our posts, also links can be found at here for Twitter and Live Feeds https://acenewsroom.wordpress.com/ and thanks for following as always appreciate every like, reblog or retweet and free help and guidance tips on your PC software or need help & guidance from our experts AcePCHelp.WordPress.Com

Ace Worldwide News Group 10:00 on 26/11/2020
Tags: #AceNewsDesk ( 4,940 ), #ANS2020 ( 33 ), Care2Share, Worldwide ( 17 )

(WORLDWIDE) #Care2Share ………Its not time to blame politicians or leaders for the present problems but for everyone to work together for the good of others …….🙏’s Friends, Followers and Readers Be safe Amen

Editor says …..As l read many blogs daily some are using their time and providing people of this world in may countries with information that could either save their lives or at least help someone to help another person.

But others readily tell us that governments knew that our health services were under-funded and under-staffed …OK I agree ….but blame does not allow us to gain.

If we work together to help those in our community the best way we can then maybe that will bring about the change we seek in our ❤️ And in so doing God by any name will be able to see we #Care2Share his love given by his sons crucification and help and guidance will come.

🙏’s Friends, Followers, Readers and All People of this World Amen

Editor says #AceNewsDesk reports are provided at https://t.me/acenewsdaily and all our posts, links can be found at here Live Feeds https://acenewsroom.wordpress.com/ and thanks for following as always appreciate every like, reblog or retweet and free help and guidance tips on your PC software or need help & guidance from our experts AcePCHelp.WordPress.Com

#ans2020, #worldwide

Ace Worldwide News Group 21:58 on 28/05/2020
Tags: #AceNewsDesk ( 4,940 ), pandemic ( 47 ), Truth ( 19 )

Editor says ……..Are we witnessing the media pulling apart the fabric of society just to get a story ?

The #pandemic has opened up a bio-based-weapon that can be used to politicise a story on peoples heartache over the death of a loved or to enable ‘ hard hearted ‘ journalists who want the story first to leave no stone unturned even if their intentions are not honourable……

So what of #truth this concept that alludes the media just to create sensationalism and lead people like the shepherd …herding their flock to the edge of the cliff and offering advice of what to do when the hit the bottom ….followed by blaming their stupidly of being lemmings ……

The news should be informative and place before its readers …advice and guidance to enable the public to become to form an opinion and not to place before their audience a convoluted message of misleading information ..that neither informs or provides anything but hollow words ……

People deserve better than the sum of what the media call news …..and we need to become the purveyors of #truth and not publish as bloggers what they wheel out and call the daily news …….

Be safe my friends, followers and readers God Bless 🙏’s

Ace Worldwide News Group 11:00 on 05/12/2021
Tags: #AceDailyNews ( 1,397 ), #AceNewsDesk ( 4,940 ), #AceNewsReport ( 4,893 ), Chelmsford, Court ( 191 ), jailed ( 123 ), London ( 692 ), paedophile ( 10 )

(ESSEX) Chelmsford Crown Court Report: A man who sexually abused two children in Clacton has been jailed for 16 years thanks to work by specialist officers involved #AceNewsDesk report

#AceNewsReport – Dec.05: He was also found guilty of one count of voyeurism and two counts of attempted voyeurism involving two women in a changing room.

#AceDailyNews Court Report: #Paedophile jailed for 16 years: Danny Jay Storey committed a string of offences relating to children in Clacton going back to 2005

Following a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, on 23 November the 37 year-old, of Spenser Way, Jaywick was found guilty of:

• Four counts of rape of a child under 13;
• Three counts of assault of a child under 13 by penetration;
• One count of possession of an indecent photograph or pseudo photograph of a child.

At the same court yesterday (Thursday 2 December), he was sentenced to 16 years in prison with a further year on extended licence.

Following Storey’s conviction, the victim of the attempted voyeurism said:

“In some ways I felt dirty after what happened, but I am glad that Storey was identified, and the full extent of his offending was uncovered.

“The police brought that to an end. Now no-one else needs to suffer at his hands.

“I would like to thank DC Atkins-Calver for all her support and updates throughout the investigation and trial.”

Investigating officer Detective Constable Jeanine Atkins-Claver, from our Child Abuse Investigation Team, said:

“The victims in this case have all shown incredible bravery in coming forward and reporting what had happened to them.

“They have been listened to and they have been believed.

“I hope they’re able to use this result to move forward.

“Danny Jay Storey is a dangerous sexual predator and will now face the foreseeable future behind bars.

“Essex is a safer place for it.”

#AceNewsDesk report ………..Published: Dec.05: 2021:

Editor says …Sterling Publishing & Media Service Agency is not responsible for the content of external site or from any reports, posts or links, and can also be found here on Telegram: https://t.me/acenewsdaily all of our posts fromTwitter can be found here: https://acetwitternews.wordpress.com/ and all wordpress and live posts and links here: https://acenewsroom.wordpress.com/and thanks for following as always appreciate every like, reblog or retweet and free help and guidance tips on your PC software or need help & guidance from our experts AcePCHelp.WordPress.Com

#chelmsford, #court, #jailed, #london

Ace Worldwide News Group 10:00 on 05/12/2021
Tags: #AceDailyNews ( 1,397 ), #AceNewsDesk ( 4,940 ), #AceNewsReport ( 4,893 ), Belgium ( 22 ), Court ( 191 ), Essex ( 16 ), Extradition ( 5 ), London ( 692 ), NCA ( 104 ), NERSOU, Smuggling ( 36 ), Westminster ( 13 )

(LONDON) Westminster Magistrates Court Report: A man wanted by the Belgian authorities for his role in a people smuggling plot that led to the deaths of 39 people in a lorry in Essex has had his extradition ordered #AceNewsDesk report

#AceNewsReport – Dec.05: Vietnamese national Alex Tran was detained by National Crime Agency officers at a supermarket petrol station just of the A66 in Middlesbrough on 17 June this year.

#AceDailyNews Essex Lorry Deaths Report: Court orders extradition of people smuggling suspect wanted in Belgium: The operation to arrest him was supported by the North East Regional Special Operations Unit (NERSOU)…..

COURT CASE NOTES:

Belgian prosecutors allege that Tran was a member of a people smuggling network moving migrants through Belgium and France and into the UK in the back of lorries.

A Belgian investigating magistrate issued an arrest warrant in December 2020.

Today (Thursday 2 December) Westminster Magistrates Court approved his extradition. He was remanded in custody, and has seven days to appeal.

The NCA’s Head of Organised Immigration Crime Operations, Martin Grace, said:

” This operation demonstrates our determination to get justice for those who died in October 2019 and track down all of those who played a role in the incident.

“It has been another example of our close co-operation with international partners to tackle organised immigration crime, which remains a priority for the NCA.”

The extradition follows the convictions of seven people in the UK for their roles in the events which led to the Essex deaths, including four men who were found guilty of manslaughter. The seven were given jail terms totalling more than 92 years in January 2021.

Another man wanted by the Belgians in connection with the case, Ngo Sy Tai, was extradited in November, having been arrested by the NCA in Worcestershire in December 2020.

#AceNewsDesk report …………..Published: Dec.05: 2021:

#belgium, #court, #essex, #extradition, #london, #nca, #nersou, #smuggling, #westminster

Ace Worldwide News Group 09:00 on 05/12/2021
Tags: #AceDailyNews ( 1,397 ), #AceNewsDesk ( 4,940 ), #AceNewsReport ( 4,893 ), Darlington, jailed ( 123 ), Rape ( 16 ), Teeside

(TEESSIDE) Crown Court Report: A man has been jailed for eight years for the rape of a teenage girl #AceNewsDesk report

#AceNewsReport – Dec,05: A jury sitting at Teesside Crown Court found the 41-year-old guilty following a trial last week, where he was jailed for eight years.

#AceDailyNews Crown Court Report: Stephen Gent, from Darlington, put the girl through the ordeal of a trial after denying the offence: In a victim impact statement read out in court, the girl said Gent’s actions had ruined her life, and left her scared to leave her house alone.

Investigative officer Heidi Weir and Detective Constable Jacqui Robinson, from Darlington’s Safeguarding Team, led the police investigation.

Heidi said: “The victim in this case has shown enormous strength throughout the investigation. I am so proud that on the day of giving evidence she was able to face her abuser in the witness box and tell the jury what he did.

“I believe that the bravery shown will assist her in her recovery and healing process.”

Anyone who is suffering sexual abuse should come forward and report it to police – call 101, or 999 in an emergency.

Further advice and support:

NSPCC – call 0808 800 5000, email help@nspcc.org.uk, or visit nspcc.org.uk
Childline – call 0800 1111 or visit childline.org.uk
The Meadows Sexual Assault Referral Centre – call 03333 448 283, or visit themeadowsdurham.org.uk

#AceNewsDesk report ……….Published: Dec.05: 2021:

#darlington, #jailed, #rape, #teeside

Ace Worldwide News Group 08:00 on 05/12/2021
Tags: #AceDailyNews ( 1,397 ), #AceNewsDesk ( 4,940 ), #AceNewsReport ( 4,893 ), Attack ( 23 ), Gunmen ( 19 ), Mali ( 15 ), Militants ( 40 ), Women ( 17 )

(MALI) LATEST: At least 31 people have been killed in centre after militants attacked a bus carrying civilians to a market, local officials have said #AceNewsDesk report

#AceNewsReport – Dec.05: Unidentified gunmen opened fire and killed the driver, before setting the bus on fire, according to authorities: The deadly attack is the latest in Mali’s rapidly escalating jihadist insurgency.

#AceDailyNews says that according to local media news dozens of civilians have been killed after unidentified militants attack a bus: Most of the victims were women who were on their way to work at the market, local sources told EFE news agency…

Malian anti-terrorist special forces "Forsat" members — Jihadist attacks have surged in Mali after two military coups in 16 months (file image)

Armed men “shot at the vehicle, slashed the tires, and shot at the people”, Moulaye Guindo, the mayor of the nearby town of Bankass, told Reuters news agency.

He said more people were either missing or wounded.

Terror attack on bus in Mali leaves 31 dead, many more injured https://t.co/nLnHqAC0yt #Afghanistan #Iran #USA pic.twitter.com/scUA2Ry3gQ
— Ansar News Agency _ خبرگزاری انصار (@ansarpress1) December 4, 2021

Graphic images on social media following the attack show the smouldering frame of the bus still filled with bodies, however the BBC has not been able to independently verify the pictures.

The bus was targeted as it made its twice-weekly journey from the village of Songo to a market in Bandiagara, 10km (6.2 miles) away.

The attack took place at the heart of the West African nation’s Mopti region, which has seen escalating violence in recent months fuelled by fighters linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.

Mali’s transitional government, formed after a coup removed the previous administration in May, is yet to comment on the attack.

The latest assault comes just a day after insurgents attacked a UN convoy in the north of the country, killing one civilian worker and wounding another.

Jihadist attacks have surged in Mali after two military coups in 16 monthscontributed to a weak central government and saw France halt joint military operations between the military and the 5,100 troops it had in the country.

The dire security situation has reportedly seen Mali’s central government turn to the Russian mercenary collective, the Wagner group, for aid.

#AceNewsDesk report ……….Published: Dec.05: 2021:

#attack, #gunmen, #mali, #militants, #women

Ace Worldwide News Group 17:00 on 04/12/2021
Tags: #AceDailyNews ( 1,397 ), #AceNewsDesk ( 4,940 ), #AceNewsReport ( 4,893 ), arrested ( 32 ), Convicted ( 19 ), deportation ( 4 ), London ( 692 ), NCA ( 104 ), trafficker

(LONDON) NCA REPORT: Officers have located an Albanian man who was a ‘convicted human trafficker’ and arrested him on on Friday night #AceNewsDesk report

#AceNewsReport – Dec.04: A convicted human trafficker will be removed from the UK for a third time after a National Crime Agency investigation to trace him: Lala has a long list of previous convictions.

#AceDailyNews reports that a convicted human trafficker to be removed from UK for third time after he was arrested, taken into custody and handed over to colleagues from Immigration Compliance and Enforcement for deportation. The date has not yet been set….

NCA officers located Albanian Hazir Lala, 39, in Walthamstow, North London, on Friday night.

In April 2016 he was convicted in the UK of drunk driving, driving without insurance and possession and control of false ID documents – the offences were committed a few months earlier in February.

He was disqualified from driving for 15 months and jailed for six months.

He was arrested again in the UK on 4 September 2019 for organised immigration crime offences which had been committed in Belgium later in 2016. He was convicted in his absence in February 2018.

His extradition was ordered, he was arrested again and was returned to Belgium at the start of 2020 where he was sentenced for human trafficking and participating in a criminal organisation.

Despite being given a five-year sentence it was suspended and he was released after a few months. He was also ordered to pay a fine of 102,000 Euros but 51,000 was suspended.

Lala quickly returned to the UK and was arrested again under the Immigration Act 1971 on 20 February for overstaying.

A deportation order was signed on 7 April 2020 and he was deported to Albania on 19 August 2020.

But Lala slipped back into the country yet again.

NCA officers have been hunting Lala since July this year and arrested him on Friday night.

NCA regional head of investigations Jacque Beer said:

” Hazir Lala is a convicted human trafficker and has no place in the UK, his presence here presented an unacceptable risk to the public.

“Tackling organised immigration crime and human trafficking is a priority for the Agency.

“We saw with last week’s tragedy in the Channel, the horrendous dangers of organised immigration crime which the Agency and its partners are doing everything possible to combat.”

#AceNewsDesk report ………….Published: Nov.04: 2021:

#arrested, #convicted, #deportation, #london, #nca, #trafficker

Ace Worldwide News Group 16:00 on 04/12/2021
Tags: #AceDailyNews ( 1,397 ), #AceNewsDesk ( 4,940 ), #AceNewsReport ( 4,893 ), Belfast ( 58 ), Ireland ( 8 ), Organised Crime ( 8 ), PSNI ( 39 )

(BELFAST,N.I.) PSNI/HMRC Organised Crime Unit Report: Detectives working as part of the joint agency ‘Organised Crime Task Force’ conducted an operation in the Larne area in the early hours of this morning, Tuesday 30 November #AceNewsDesk report

#AceNewsReport – Dec.04: A 23 year old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a Class B controlled drug with intent to supply. He remains in police custody at this time.”

#AceDailyNews PSNI Operation DEALBREAKER Report: Over £1 million of suspected Cannabis seized: Multi-agency efforts of the Organised Crime Task Force, we will continue to carry out operations, to break the cycle of those who seek to cause harm through the illegal importation and supply of drugs in Northern Ireland, and to dismantle the organised criminals who profit from this incredibly harmful activity…..

Detective Inspector Conor Sweeney said:

” Detectives, working alongside Larne Local Policing Team and our colleagues from HMRC, stopped a lorry in the Larne Harbour area just after 1am this morning. A large quantity of suspected herbal cannabis, with an estimated street value in excess of £1 million, was seized from the vehicle during the proactive operation. The lorry and trailer have also been seized for further examination.

Detective Inspector Sweeney continued:

“This search, seizure and arrest was conducted as part of the multi-agency approach to target criminality within the haulage industry and our ongoing commitment to address the criminality linked to drug importation, supply and use that often results in drug debts, drug addiction and drug related deaths within our communities. In this year to date, we have seized over one metric tonne of herbal cannabis being brought into Northern Ireland by such method. This represents a street value of over £15 million. For anyone who thinks the illegal distribution of cannabis is not a big deal, just imagine for a second the damage an organised crime group could and would cause with £15 million worth of resources at their disposal. I have no doubt this was destined for the streets of Northern Ireland on the run up to Christmas with the potential for unimaginable harm and the funding of wider criminality.

“I appeal to anyone with information about illegal drug use or supply, to call police on the non-emergency number 101. Alternatively, you can submit a report online using our non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ . The independent charity Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/ .”

To anyone who thinks they might have a problem with alcohol and/ or drugs and would like to get help please visit www.drugsandalcoholni.info for information on support services near you.

There is also a range of services available if you are affected by someone else’s drinking and/or drug misuse. Information on these services is also available on this website. These services are available to you regardless of whether or not your loved one is receiving help for their alcohol and/or drug problem.

#AceNewsDesk report ………..Published: Dec.04: 2021:

#belfast, #ireland, #organised-crime, #psni

Ace Worldwide News Group 15:00 on 04/12/2021
Tags: #AceNewsDesk ( 4,940 ), #AceNewsReport ( 4,893 ), AceWeatherDesk ( 29 ), England ( 42 ), Scotland ( 90 ), Snow ( 11 ), Wales ( 27 ), WEATHER WARNING, winds ( 3 )

(ENGLAND) JUST IN: WEATHER WARNING: Blistering winds and five days of snow are set to send temperatures plunging across Britain this week – as thousands of vulnerable people are still without power following deadly Storm Arwen #AceNewsDesk report

#AceNewsReport – Dec.04: The latest weather data is predicting five consecutive days of snow set to start Saturday with much of it falling over higher ground in the north of the country.

#AceWeatherDesk says according to a local news report Britain braces for FIVE days of snow with brutally cold overnight wind-chill: Areas set to be most affected include eastern England, the North Yorkshire Moors and Lincolnshire while strong winds and widespread rain are also predicted for the North West.

Heading into the great outdoors #Saturdayafternoon❓

We have a mixture of #sunshine and showers🌥️🌦️ these falling as snow across the high ground of #Scotland❄️ Winds strengthening making it feel cold for all🌬️😰 pic.twitter.com/ONEakouwah
— Met Office (@metoffice) December 4, 2021

One forecast predicts a harsh overnight windchill could plunge some areas as low as -11C (12F) into the week as conditions become much more bitter.

The barrage of winter weather was also expected in the south, with parts of West London and Hereford plunging to -2C temperature overnight on Friday.

There are huge concerns for the thousands of people in northern England and Scotland who are still living without power eight days after Storm Arwen caused massive network damage to parts of the UK.

The latest national figures from industry body Energy Networks Association (ENA) showed about 9,200 homes were without power on Friday evening.

Residents are now bracing for almost freezing temperatures, with parts of northern England and Scotland expected to see lows of 1C (34F) along with sleet and rain over the next 24 hours.

Britain is bracing for blistering weather conditions including five days of snow and an overnight windchill that could push temperatures as low as -11C - as thousands of vulnerable people are still without power following deadly Storm Arwen. Pictured: Huge waves at Blackpool North shore

There are huge concerns for the thousands of people in northern England and Scotland who are still living without power eight days. Pictured: A welfare check is carried out on a resident of Weatherhill, County Durham on Friday - after the storm caused 'catastrophic damage' to the electricity network

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) released photographs of Royal Marines of 45 Command visiting remote communities and vulnerable households in the Banchory area of Aberdeenshire following the power outages

The latest weather data is predicting five consecutive days of snow set to start today, with much of it falling over higher ground in the north of the country. Areas set to be most affected include eastern England, the North Yorkshire Moors and Lincolnshire while strong winds and widespread rain are also predicted for the North West

Clear skies and strong winds in some areas today are set to push temperatures below freezing, while overnight chills could sending areas on higher ground plummeting as low as -11C (12F)

OFGEM Chief acknowledges ‘distress’ of those still without power

The harsh conditions even hit villages surrounding The Queen’s Balmoral Castle estate, with the skeleton staff at her Highlands home being battered by 90mph winds and blizzards, The Sun reported.

Met Office meteorologist Steve Keats said: ‘A couple of points to watch for will be winds, which under normal circumstances wouldn’t be an issue but if you’re trying to repair downed power lines it’s more sensitive.

‘Saturday is expected to be cold. There will be quite a mild windshield coming down from the northwest, so it’s going to feel not much above freezing for quite a lot of places.’

The long delays have prompted energy regulator Ofgem to warn it will take enforcement action against network companies which failed to restore power to customers quickly enough following the storm.

Ofgem announced on Friday it was launching a review of the companies’ response to the storm which left thousands of homes without electricity.

It has also agreed with firms to lift the £700 cap on compensation which could be given to customers.

The change will allow those affected to claim £70 for each 12-hour period they are left without power, after an initial £70 for the first 48 hours.

Chief executive Jonathan Brearley told the BBC Radio 4 programme: ‘We are deeply concerned about customers who for over a week have been without power.

‘We want to establish the facts and make sure we understand what has happened, whether the network companies have met their obligations. If they haven’t, we will take enforcement action.

The Met Office said the weather is predicted to be cold, windy and showery with some hilly areas experiencing snow on Saturday. Pictured: The Sunrises over Whitby, north-east England

Sunday will continue to be cold with some showers in the east of England while the west is predicted to have dry weather and some sunshine. Pictured: Whitby Abbey casts a shadow

Pictured: A tractor tries to help a bus driver after the vehicle came off the road in icy conditions near Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire

Residents react to power outages as a result of Storm Arwen chaos

The harsh conditions even hit villages surrounding The Queen's Balmoral Castle estate, with the skeleton staff at her Highlands home being battered by 90mph winds and blizzards. Pictured: Balmoral in December 2019

‘We have clear expectations of how fast they should get people back on the system.

‘We do recognise the challenging circumstances those companies are in. But what we expect from the network companies is to be relentless in connecting people, but also to be putting support in place.’

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: ‘My thoughts are with all those who are still affected by the terrible damage from Storm Arwen.

‘I want to thank the emergency responders and engineers who have been working tirelessly this week to try and restore power.

‘I also want to thank our brilliant Armed Forces who have been deployed rapidly to support those communities which are worst affected.’

The Ministry of Defence said 297 personnel from the British Army and Royal Marines are supporting civil authorities in areas impacted by Storm Arwen and are conducting door-to-door checks on vulnerable people in their homes and providing reassurance to local communities.

Eighty soldiers of 4 Royal Artillery based at Alan Brook Barracks in Topcliffe have deployed to Northumberland on Saturday to check on vulnerable people and identify where additional support is required, a statement said.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: ‘Our dedicated Armed Forces personnel are working side by side with civil authorities to provide essential support to communities impacted by Storm Arwen.Met Office forecast more wind but not as strong as Storm Arwen

‘The ability to deploy quickly to wherever in the UK assistance is requested makes us all safer and ensures we are able to look protect the most vulnerable in our society.’

The head of the energy market regulator has agreed with electricity companies to lift the cap on compensation for customers whose power was not restored quickly enough following Storm Arwen.

Ofgem announced on Friday it was launching a review of the companies’ response to the storm which left thousands of homes without electricity.

The agreement between the regulator and companies means customers could receive more than the cap of £700 if firms are found to have fallen short of their obligations.

Ofgem chief executive Jonathan Brearley told BBC Breakfast: ‘One thing we’ve done already is we’ve said to network companies, and they’ve agreed, they’ve lifted the cap on the compensation they will give customers and they’ll make sure that those customers do get some compensation for everything they’ve been through.’

He added: ‘What we want to do, simply, is establish the facts, make sure quickly that lessons are learned and, of course, if obligations haven’t been met, then we will pursue enforcement action.’

Supplier Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said 950 properties were without power as of 10pm on Friday.

Northern Powergrid announced 5,100 customers, of 240,000 who lost power, are yet to be connected.

Western Power Distribution still had 254 without power while Electricity North West, which provides energy for an area between the Scottish border and Stockport, said 700 properties were without power as of 8pm on Friday night.

Meanwhile, SP Energy Networks said it had restored power to all 200,000 customers who were disconnected.

#AceNewsDesk report ………….Published: Dec.04: 2021:

#england, #scotland, #snow, #wales, #weather-warning, #winds

Ace Worldwide News Group 14:00 on 04/12/2021
Tags: #AceDailyNews ( 1,397 ), #AceNewsDesk ( 4,940 ), #AceNewsReport ( 4,893 ), arrested ( 32 ), Detroit ( 9 ), Michigan ( 11 ), shooting ( 85 )

(DETROIT) LATEST: The parents of a teenager suspected of a deadly school shooting have been arrested in a basement hours after going on the run, police say #AceNewsDesk report

#AceNewsReport – Dec.04: The couple had failed to show up in court on Friday after being charged with involuntary manslaughter: They are accused of ignoring warning signs before their son’s alleged rampage.

#AceDailyNews says according to latest media news reports on Michigan school shooting: Suspect’s parents arrested in Detroit: James and Jennifer Crumbley were found unarmed hiding in a warehouse after a tip-off from someone who saw their car according to BBC World

Prosecutors say Ethan Crumbley, 15, used his father’s gun to shoot classmates in the nearby Michigan town of Oxford, killing four and wounding seven.

Detroit Police Chief James White told reporters that Ethan’s parents had been taken into custody without incident.

“They were very distressed as they were walking out,” he said.

He said they had been aided in getting into the building, which he said was used as an art studio, and that the person who helped them could face charges.

Earlier the US Marshals – a federal law enforcement service – had offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to their arrest.

The Crumbleys’ lawyer had told the BBC that the couple had left town on the night of the shooting “for their own safety” and were not fleeing police.

But reports in the US say police knew the couple had withdrawn $4,000 (£3,000) from an ATM in Rochester Hills on the edge of Detroit and had turned off their mobile phones.

Reuters

The Crumbleys were found in a Detroit basement

Ethan Crumbley is alleged to have opened fire on fellow students and teachers at his school in Oxford, about 35 miles (60 km) north of Detroit, on Tuesday.

The four killed were Tate Myre, 16, Madisyn Baldwin, 17, Hana St Juliana, 14, and Justin Shilling, 17.

Ethan Crumbley is being charged as an adult, and is facing one count of terrorism, four counts of first-degree murder, seven counts of assaults with intent to murder and 12 counts of possession of a firearm.

US Marshals announce reward, release wanted posters for James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of the accused Oxford HS (Michigan) shooter pic.twitter.com/CbtWwdTHuj— U.S. Marshals (@USMarshalsHQ) December 4, 2021

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on Twitter

Oakland County lead prosecutor Karen McDonald said the terrorism charge was neither “usual” nor “typical” but reflected the wider impact the shooting would have.

“What about all the children who ran, screaming, hiding under desks? What about all the children at home right now who can’t eat and can’t sleep and can’t imagine a world where they could ever step foot back in that school?” she said.

“Those are victims, too, and so are their families and so is the community. The charge of terrorism reflects that.”

Why have the parents been charged?

On Friday, Ms McDonald acknowledged that charging parents in a child’s alleged crime was also unusual.

According to her office’s investigation, the boy was with his father last Friday when Mr Crumbley bought the firearm believed to have been used in the shooting.

A post on the boy’s social media later that day showed off his dad’s new weapon as “my new beauty”, adding a heart emoji.

Just one day before the shooting, a teacher said she saw the boy searching online for ammunition, which prompted a meeting with school officials, Ms McDonald said. After being informed of the incident, Mrs Crumbley texted her son: “LOL I’m not mad at you. You have to learn not to get caught.”

And on Tuesday morning – hours before the rampage – Mr and Mrs Crumbley were called into the school for an urgent meeting after teachers found a note by their son, including several drawings of guns and bloodied people alongside captions like “the thoughts won’t stop. Help me”, and “blood everywhere”. The boy had also written “My life is useless” and “The world is dead”, according to the prosecutor.

Reuters: Thousands gathered in Oxford on Friday to remember the victims

School officials told the pair they would have to seek counselling for their son.

But the boy’s parents did not want him to be removed from school that day, Ms McDonald said, and did not ask him whether he had the gun with him, or search his backpack.

At 13:22 later that day, Mrs Crumbley texted her son to say: “Ethan, don’t do it.” Minutes later her husband called police to report his gun was missing, said the prosecutor.

But authorities say the boy had already emerged from the school bathroom and opened fire on fellow students.

Ms McDonald said the charges were meant to hold the Crumbleys accountable and to send a message about responsible gun ownership.

“The notion that a parent could read those words and also know that their son had access to a deadly weapon that they gave him is unconscionable, and it’s criminal,” she said.

The prosecutor had previously noted that, although the gun had been purchased legally, it “seems to have just been freely available” for the child’s use. According to her, the suspect took the gun from an unlocked drawer in his parents’ bedroom and brought it to school.

Neither federal nor state law requires gun owners to keep their weapons locked away from their children.

In a video message posted to YouTube on Thursday, the school’s superintendent Tim Throne said that – while the boy and his parents had been called to the office – “no discipline was warranted” at the time.

He added that the school looked like a “war zone” and would not be ready to operate again for weeks.

Ms McDonald alleged on Friday that, when James Crumbley heard about the shooting, he “drove straight to his home to look for his gun” before calling authorities to say he suspected his son was the perpetrator.

“I’m angry as a mother. I’m angry as a prosecutor. I’m angry as a person that lives in this county,” she said. “There were a lot of things that could have been so simple to prevent.”

She said her office had “a mountain of digital evidence” to show the suspect had planned the attack “well before the incident”.

#AceNewsDesk report ………..Published: Dec.04: 2021:

#arrested, #detroit, #michigan, #shooting

Ace Worldwide News Group 13:00 on 04/12/2021
Tags: #AceNewsDesk ( 4,940 ), #AceNewsReport ( 4,893 ), #Alert ( 18 ), AceWeatherDesk ( 29 ), blizzard ( 2 ), Hawaii ( 7 ), Snow ( 11 ), Weather ( 23 ), winds ( 3 )

(HAWAII) JUST IN: WEATHER WARNING: Storms coming this weekend that could cause blizzard conditions on the summits of the big island with winds at over 100mph according to NWS #AceNewsDesk report

#AceNewsReport – Dec.04: The warning from the National Weather Service is in effect from 6pm Friday to 6am Sunday: More than 12 inches of snow could be coming to the mountainous regions on the big island.

#AceWeatherDesk says according to MailOnline News Report: Hawaii under blizzard warning as 12 inches of snow and winds up to 100 mph expected: The blizzard-like conditions are part of what’s known as a ‘Kona’ storm. Those are a type of seasonal cyclone on Hawaii, usually formed in the winter from winds coming from the westerly ‘Kona’ direction. Kona lows often bring about wet and ‘unsettled’ weather.

The summits of Hawaii’s Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa volcanoes both hit about 13,000 feet, which means that when cold fronts and heavy rains form, snow falls.

‘Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle,’ the National Weather Service advised.

The entire state will see dangerous weather conditions this weekend, with blizzard warnings for mountainous areas and flash flood warnings elsewhere

The summit caldera of Mauna Loa Volcano in Hawaii receives occasional snow each year

The Mauna Kea Volcano will also likely see blizzard-like conditions this weekend

As recently as last January, the mountainous regions of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa have seen snowfall. Officials said the blanket at Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area on the island of Maui is likely the first for any state park.

This is the first blizzard warning in Hawaii since 2018.

In 2019, elevations as low as 6,000 feet saw some snowfall. That storm was described by the National Weather Service office in Honolulu as ‘historic.’

Footage shows Hawaiian island Maui hit by rare flurry of snow

The land is covered with snow in Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area on Maui, Hawaii

The storm brought unusual weather to the state

Winter times: Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area on Maui, Hawaii, is seen covered in snow after a 2019 storm brought unusual weather to the state

Snow is not unheard of in mountainous parts of the tropical island chain, but officials say the 2019 coating at 6,200 feet at the state park on Maui could mark the lowest-elevation snowfall ever recorded in the state

The coldest temperature in the history of Hawaii is 12 degrees, recorded in 1979.

Much of America has been snow-free this season. In fact, more snow has already fallen in Hawaii than in Denver, Colorado, CNN reported.

The entire state is expected to see widespread heavy rains and damaging winds with possible flash flooding.

The Weather Channel said that the conditions and the stalling of the current cold front means Hawaii is in store for an extended period of inclement weather that could last through at least the first half of next week.

‘Heavy rainfall will be a threat and shower bands may line up over portions of the state for extended periods of time, increasing the threat for flooding,’ the NWS office in Honolulu said Friday.

A High Surf Warning is also in effect until Monday evening.

#AceNewsDesk report ………..Published: Dec.04: 2021:

#alert, #blizzard, #hawaii, #snow, #weather, #winds

Ace Worldwide News Group 11:55 on 04/12/2021
Tags: Immigration ( 25 ), Police ( 265 ), #AceNewsDesk ( 4,940 ), #AceDailyNews ( 1,397 ), #AceNewsReport ( 4,893 ), City of London ( 2 ), border-force ( 8 ), goods ( 2 ), GRT MANCHESTER ( 73 ), GMP ( 49 ), Counterfeit ( 3 ), NWROCU

(GRT MANCHESTER) GM Police Report: Over £3 million pounds worth of counterfeit goods have been seized over the last week following ten raids as part of a crackdown alongside City of London Police on counterfeit goods #AceNewsDesk report

#AceNewsReport – Dec.04: The warrant is the tenth raid carried out by the local officers and partners and form part of GMP’s Operation’s Magpie and Cranium – which aim to tackle the illegal distribution of counterfeit items and tackle the supply of illicit prescription drugs. The earlier warrants took place in the Cheetham Hill and Whalley Range areas.

#AceDailyNews Operation Magpie & Cranium: GM Police & Officers from City of London, North West Regional and Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU), Border Force, Immigration and local officers from the Cheetham Hill neighbourhood team carried out a warrant on Lockett Street and Bury New Road this morning (2 December) where one million pounds worth of goods including clothing, accessories, bags, perfume and jewellery were found and seized…..

Six men, aged between 36 and 61, have been arrested and released under investigation pending further enquiries.

As part of the crackdown over the last 10 days, tens of thousands of items including clothing, perfume, jewellery and accessories have been seized and an investigation alongside partners continues.

Inspector William Jennings-Wharton, of Cheetham Neighbourhood team, said:

” This is all part of our continued work to tackle organised crime taking place in Cheetham Hill and I want to reassure the local community that we are listening to their concerns and this week’s action is all part of our continued crackdown.

“Counterfeit goods and drug dealing will not be tolerated and all of these raids – which are a result of months of hard work – are a huge step in really driving a wedge in organised crime in the area.

“Counterfeit goods are not a victimless crime – though these desired items may look good and are cheap, they are funding a wider picture that involves money laundering, organised crime and cheap labour. The profits from such businesses can be used to fund other serious crime, and often with that comes violence which can have a devastating ripple effect on communities and nearby legitimate businesses.”

Detective Chief Inspector, Suzanne Ferris, of the City of London Police’s Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU), said:

” This operation will have severely disrupted organised crime groups linked to counterfeit goods. We believe the thousands of goods seized would have supplied gangs in Cheetham Hill, selling fake goods across the country this Christmas.

“Buying and selling counterfeit goods is not a victimless crime. As well as damaging legitimate businesses, it helps to fund organised crime, and with that often comes violence. This week showed the effectiveness of partnership working and I thank Greater Manchester Police, and our other partners involved, for all their help.”

A spokesperson for Manchester City Council said:

” Counterfeit crime runs far deeper than just the sale of knock-off coats and handbags. There are deep links to other criminal enterprises and the sale of fake goods only puts money in the hands of criminals.

“We remain committed to tackling this practice at the source and will continue to work with our partners in the police to secure prosecution against perpetrators, and get fake goods off our streets.”

Inspector William Jennings-Wharton added:

” The work doesn’t stop here – we have always taken action in the area and will continue to do so – especially in the run up to Christmas. We’ll be continuing to work closely with our partners including Manchester City Council who order closures on such illicit businesses and City of London police – but I would urge the public to continue to come forward to us with any information that may assist.

“Anyone with information should report it online or by using the LiveChat facility at www.gmp.police.uk or by calling 101. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

#AceNewsDesk report …………Published: Dec.04: 2021:

#border-force, #city-of-london, #counterfeit, #gmp, #goods, #grt-manchester, #immigration, #nwrocu, #police

Ace Worldwide News Group 10:00 on 04/12/2021
Tags: #AceDailyNews ( 1,397 ), #AceNewsDesk ( 4,940 ), #AceNewsReport ( 4,893 ), Aberdeen, climate-change ( 39 ), Gas ( 18 ), Oil ( 41 ), oilfield, Scotland ( 90 )

(SCOTLAND) Cambo Oilfield Report: Business leaders have warned that thousands of oil and gas jobs could be at risk in the UK after Shell pulled out #AceNewsDesk report

#AceNewsReport – Dec.04: Aberdeen’s Chamber of Commerce said a “premature” end to domestic production could see some areas suffer the fate of mining communities in the 1980s.

#AceDailyNews Cambo Oilfield Report: Jobs warning as Shell pulls out of oil field development Environmentalists say new fossil fuel projects like Cambo are incompatible with action on climate change according to BBC Business says Cambo’s majority stakeholder said it was “disappointed” by Shell’s decision.

Getty Images: Industry leaders argue oil and gas extraction cannot be scaled back too quickly

Siccar Point Energy said it would continue talks with the UK government about developing the oil field, located west of Shetland.

Shell, which has faced widespread criticism over its 30% stake in Cambo, said it now believed the economic case for investment was “not strong enough”.

Greenpeace welcomed the announcement, describing it as the “death blow” for the plans.

But industry body Oil and Gas UK insisted developments such as Cambo were needed during the transition to sustainable energy.

External relations director Jenny Stanning said: “This is a commercial decision between partners but doesn’t change the facts that the UK will continue to need new oil and gas projects if we are to protect security of supply, avoid increasing reliance on imports and support jobs.”

It is too early to write the obituary of the North Sea oil and gas industry, despite claims by some environmental campaigners that Shell’s decision marks the beginning of the end.

That’s because, whatever Shell says in public, this is about reputational cost not conventional economics.

Battling environmentalists and the Scottish government for the right to drill for oil is not a good look for a company that claims to be transitioning away from fossil fuels.

But the Cambo oilfield is reckoned to hold hundreds of millions of barrels of oil, each worth some $70 at current prices, and there are lots of less high-profile companies who would be willing to suffer some bad publicity for a cut of that prize.

So, the real question Shell’s decision raises is whether the UK government is willing to put its net-zero ambitions ahead of the huge tax revenues the project could deliver and deny a licence to develop the oilfield.

The chief executive of Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce called for a “reasoned debate” about oil and gas extraction, which he said directly supported more than 120,000 UK jobs.

Russell Borthwick said there was enormous potential for the renewable energy sector in the region but he warned against a “knee jerk” reaction to climate change.

He told the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland programme: “If we get this wrong, all of those people and organisations demanding a premature end to domestic oil and gas production might want to be able to reflect back to their role in scripting a repeat of what happened to our mining communities in the 1980s.”

The fallout from the 1984/85 miners strike and the long term decline of UK coal mining left many communities facing high unemployment and other problems that were still being felt decades later.

Businessman Sir Ian Wood chairs Aberdeen’s Energy Transition Zone, a not-for-profit company set up to support the shift to renewable energy. He said: “We must not create an adverse investment environment at this crucial moment in our energy transition journey.

“The future prosperity of our region and the country’s ability to meet net zero, depends on it.”

The Cambo oil field

Located in the North Atlantic, about 125km (75 miles) west of the Shetland islands.
Contains an estimated 800 million barrels of oil.
The exploration licence dates back to 2001, but UK government must approve drilling – which could start as early as 2022.
Major stakeholder is Siccar Point Energy, with a 70% stake, backed by private equity firm investors.

Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie welcomed Shell’s announcement and said it made it less likely Cambo would go ahead in the “near term”.

“It’s absurd to suggest that our transition to a zero carbon economy depends on drilling for ever more oil and gas,” he said.

He said Scotland had a quarter of Europe’s wind energy potential, and that investment should be focused on renewables instead.

“We could be exporting renewable resources and make that the backbone of Scotland’s economy,” he told the BBC.

He continued: “The idea of keeping global warming below 2 degrees and 1.5 degrees if we possibly can – this is not optional.

“This is not a normal political choice. This is mission critical for our survival.

“It is humanity’s only survival strategy and we need to invest now in the transition that has to be fair, but it has to be fast.”

Activists at the COP26 summit called for the Cambo development to be blocked

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, now in a power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens, has recently signalled her opposition to Cambo.

Having previously stopped short of opposing it outright, she said last month it should “not get the green light”.

“The presumption would be that Cambo could not and should not pass any rigorous climate assessment,” she told MSPs.

The UK government, which makes the final decision on whether to allow drilling, insists an environmental impact assessment will be carried out but appears far more supportive: Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has said the new field should “100%” get the go-ahead.

#AceNewsDesk report ………….Published: Dec.04: 2021:

#aberdeen, #climate-change, #gas, #oil, #oilfield, #scotland

Ace Worldwide News Group 09:00 on 04/12/2021
Tags: #AceDailyNews ( 1,397 ), #AceNewsDesk ( 4,940 ), #AceNewsReport ( 4,893 ), Court ( 191 ), GRT MANCHESTER ( 73 ), jailed ( 123 ), Oldham ( 4 )

( GRT MANCHESTER) Minshull Crown Court Report: Two men have been jailed for a total of 35 years after pleading guilty to drugs and weapons offences #AceNewsDesk report

#AceNewsReport – Dec.04: The verdict follows a lengthy investigation by GMPs Challenger team who work to tackle serious and organised crime in Greater Manchester.

#AceDailyNews Court Report: Two men jailed for their part in a £61m ‘Industrial Scale’ Oldham drug conspiracy…….

Ashley Dissington, (15/8/86), of Helvelyn Drive, Middleton, was sentenced to 20 years at Minshull Street Crown Court this afternoon (2nd December 2021) for being knowingly concerned in the importation of heroin & cocaine, conspiracy to supply heroin & cocaine and possession of a blade in a public place.

Co-conspirator Connor Jackson Westwood, (14/9/96), of Bamford Street, Royton, was sentenced to 15 years at an earlier sentencing date (6^thOctober 2021) for being knowingly concerned in the importation of heroin & cocaine and possession of a prohibited weapon.

During the trial, the court heard how on the 1^st October 2020, a package from Belgium was intercepted by the UK Border Force. Once opened, the package was found to contain a total of 15kg of Class A drugs, namely 6kgs of cocaine and 9kgs of diamorphine, all equalling an estimated street value of around £1.5 million.

The seized items were handed over to police and detectives then made the decision to let the package continue to its intended destination at Wheatfield Industrial Estate in Royton, Oldham, with the contents removed and a decoy put in place of the drugs.

On the 6^th October 2020, officers surveilled the industrial estate in anticipation of the packages arrival and it was then that Dissington arrived at the scene in his car, parking on a nearby street with Jackson-Westwood arriving by foot shortly after.

Jackson-Westwood was observed collecting the parcel before leaving the industrial estate and walking in the opposite direction of the parked car.

Dissington’s sentence today also incorporates separate drug and money laundering offences. During the course of their investigation, detectives from Oldham Challenger identified that Dissington had also been the user of the ‘EncroChat’ platform, which forms part of the National Crime Agency led ‘Operation Venetic’. He was further interviewed for these additional offences in June 2021.

Dissington then drove his vehicle away from the area in what prosecutor David James described as a ‘route clearly adopted as an anti-surveillance technique’.

Jackson-Westwood was picked up by Dissington at a ‘pre-arranged pick up point’ shortly after.

The two travelled to Royton Park before proceeding to open the parcel while still in the car, removing the delivery labels using a craft knife.

It was then that police arrived and arrested the pair.

Following a search of Jackson-Westwood’s home address in Royton, a number of cellophane bags containing cocaine and digital weighing scales were found in his bedroom. A stun gun was also found in a kitchen cupboard, while goods including a £15,000 watch were also seized from the address.

While in custody, both defendants denied all knowledge of the drugs before later pleading guilty to their involvement.

Police identified a further 16 deliveries consisting of 40 packages all being delivered from the same Belgium mail drop location to the Oldham industrial estate’s storage unit within a three month period from June to October 2020 which totalled 578.5kgs.

Judge John Potter said that ‘on the reasonable interface’ it was likely that each contained a similar amount, type and purity of drugs and would be worth a wholesale value of up to £19.5m and a street value of up to £61.5m. He described the importation of drugs to have been ‘on an industrial scale’.

Dissington was found to have been using the alias ‘Dizzierascal’ while messaging other OCG members using encrypted mobile devices to prevent police from detecting their conversations.

He was found to be involved in dealings of Class A drugs with a potential maximum street value of £725,000 and was responsible for the collection, storing and passing of money in excess of £100,000.

Detective Sergeant Alex Brown, of GMPs Oldham Challenger Team, said: “Today’s sentencing is a fantastic result not only for the Operation Challenger team and ongoing Operation Venetic investigations but also for our local communities who are effected by the drug trade.

“We work tirelessly to make sure these people are brought to justice and will continue to do so. I would urge any members of the public with information on the supply of drugs in their local area to please get in touch with police as we need your help to uncover those involved in this type of crime”.

Anyone with information is asked to call 101, or use our Live Chat service on our website www.gmp.police.uk

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

#AceNewsDesk report …………..Published: Dec.04: 2021:

#court, #grt-manchester, #jailed, #oldham

Ace Worldwide News Group 08:00 on 04/12/2021
Tags: #AceDailyNews ( 1,397 ), #AceNewsDesk ( 4,940 ), #AceNewsReport ( 4,893 ), #bribery ( 5 ), DOJ ( 157 ), Laundering ( 11 ), New York ( 124 ), Panamanian ( 5 )

(NEW YORK) Justice Dept Court Report: Panamanian Intermediary Pleads Guilty in Connection with International Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme #AceNewsDesk report

#AceNewsReport – Dec.04: The FBI’s International Corruption Unit in New York is investigating this case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Luis Martinelli Linares.

#AceDailyNews DOJ Court Report: Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares (Luis Martinelli Linares), 39, a citizen of Panama and Italy, pleaded guilty today in the Eastern District of New York before U.S. District Judge Raymond J. Dearie for laundering $28 million in connection with a massive bribery and money laundering scheme involving Odebrecht S.A. (Odebrecht), a Brazil-based global construction conglomerate.

According to court documents, the scheme involved the payment of more than $700 million in bribes to government officials, public servants, political parties, and others in Panama and other countries around the world to obtain and retain business for the company. On Dec. 21, 2016, Odebrecht pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of New York to a criminal information charging it with conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) for its involvement in the bribery and money laundering scheme.

Luis Martinelli Linares admitted that he agreed with his brother, Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Linares, and others to establish offshore bank accounts in the names of shell companies to receive and disguise over $28 million in bribe proceeds from Odebrecht for the benefit of his close relative, a high-ranking public official in Panama. To advance the scheme, Luis Martinelli Linares agreed with others to cause the wiring of the Odebrecht bribe funds into and out of the United States, and used some of the proceeds of the scheme to purchase a yacht and a condominium in the United States.

Luis Martinelli Linares pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. He also agreed to a forfeiture amount of approximately $18.9 million. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 20, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Judge Dearie will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Linares was arrested, along with his brother Luis Martinelli Linares, at el Aeropuerto Internacional la Aurora in Guatemala on July 6, 2020, pursuant to a provisional arrest request from the United States as they were attempting to depart Guatemala on a private plane. The defendants were charged on Feb. 4, 2021, in a five-count indictment in connection with this bribery and money laundering scheme. The United States continues its efforts to have Ricardo Martinelli Linares returned to the United States to face justice.

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York, and Acting Assistant Director Jay Greenberg of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division made the announcement.

Trial Attorney Michael Culhane Harper of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, Trial Attorneys Barbara Levy and Michael Redmann of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alixandra E. Smith of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Mantell of U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York’s Civil Division is handling forfeiture matters.

The Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting all FCPA matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.

The Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative in MLARS was formed to prosecute money launderers and forfeit the proceeds of foreign official corruption and, where appropriate, to use those recovered asset to benefit the people harmed by the corruption and abuse of office. Individuals with information about possible proceeds of foreign corruption located in or laundered through the United States should contact federal law enforcement or send an email to kleptocracy@usdoj.gov.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Linares is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

#AceNewsDesk report ……………Published: Dec.04: 2021:

#bribery, #doj, #laundering, #new-york, #panamanian

Ace Worldwide News Group 16:00 on 03/12/2021
Tags: #AceDailyNews ( 1,397 ), #AceNewsDesk ( 4,940 ), #AceNewsReport ( 4,893 ), Court ( 191 ), Coventry ( 12 ), guilty ( 32 ), sentenced ( 75 )

(COVENTRY) Crown Court Report: Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: Stepmother jailed for minimum 29 years and father for 21 years over boy’s killing #AceNewsDesk report

#AceNewsReport – Dec.03: Arthur’s death on 17 June last year, came after a campaign of cruelty inflicted by both Tustin and Hughes during which Arthur was forced to stand for hours on end and suffered repeated assaults.Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, aged six..

#AceDailyNews Crown Court Full Report: The stepmother of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 29 years for starving, poisoning and then murdering the six-year-old boy….

COURT CASE NOTES:

Stepmother Emma Tustin has today (Wednesday 2 December) been convicted of the murder of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, who was just six years old when he died from a severe blow to his head.

His father Thomas Hughes has been convicted of his manslaughter.

On 16 June 2020, officers were called to Tustin’s home in Cranmore Road, Shirley, where Arthur was unconscious on the floor. Paramedics tended to him having arrived to find a neighbour performing CPR on the six-year-old.

Arthur had bruising to his head and body, appeared under-weight and his gums were bleeding. He was taken to hospital but sadly despite the best efforts of medical staff he died at 1am the following morning.

The accounts given by Hughes and his partner Tustin, differed but revolved around Arthur’s behaviour being poor and him banging his own head off the floor.

But due to the nature of Arthur’s injuries and the accounts given by Tustin and Hughes, they were arrested on suspicion of murder.

We were able to painstakingly piece together what had happened with investigators trawling through hours of CCTV from inside the home in Cranmore Road.

We also studied hundreds of videos, audio files and photos found on Tustin’s and Hughes’ mobile phones, and analysed thousands of messages they sent each other.

And the compelling evidence they revealed clearly illustrated the systematic cruelty inflicted on Arthur by both Tustin and Hughes.

We worked painstakingly with medical experts from various areas of clinical medicine and pathology to show that the six-year-old’s death had been caused by a head trauma inflicted on him by an adult.

And that the most likely way that happened was by him being vigorously shaken and his head banged repeatedly against a hard surface.Emma Tustin

Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Laura Harrison, said:

This has been a truly heartbreaking case and has deeply affected everyone who has been involved in it.

“An innocent boy was subjected to a campaign of cruelty by the very people who were meant to be loving and protecting him.

“Despite the lies they told, we carefully built a case against the two of them. We were able to seize their phones and found the messages they exchanged which showed their anger towards Arthur.

“As part of our investigations we were able to access their home where we found a CCTV camera set up in their living room. And the footage from that helped us build up a picture of the grim reality of Arthur’s life inside that house.”

Campaign of cruelty

The court was shown footage of Arthur spending hours at a time forcibly standing in isolation and he would be punished for unauthorised movement including attempts to sit down, to ease his discomfort.

And they heard many examples of audio recordings, where Arthur is being sworn at, insulted, and subjected to numerous threats of violence.

Sadly we found no evidence of a space in the house in Cranmore Road that Arthur could have called his own. Officers found his duvet shoved in a cupboard under the stairs, because he was made to sleep on the floor in the living room each night.

Tustin alone had more than 200 audio recordings of Arthur on her phone. In many he can be heard asking to go and see other members of his family. In others he can be heard begging for help; saying that he’s not being fed and he needs food and a drink.

After Arthur’s death a neighbour told us that she’d heard Tustin shouting ‘face the wall’. On another occasion Hughes told her that if she heard someone saying ‘don’t kill me’ she should ignore it, assuring her that he wasn’t hurting Arthur.

We took evidence from another witness who commented that when she’d seen Arthur in February he’d seemed healthy, but by June he appeared physically weak, struggling to stand and he had difficulty in climbing stairs.

Another described the child as ‘broken’.

We also found a string of furious text messages between Tustin and Hughes on the day before Arthur was fatally injured. Then evidence of a short phone call, before another text from Hughes to Tustin’s saying: “Just end him”.Thomas Hughes

Det Insp Harrison said: “It’s not clear why Tustin and Hughes started to make Arthur’s place in his family home so truly awful and why they caused him such harm and suffering – but that harm and suffering was sustained and escalated over time.

“Nor is it clear why the couple installed a CCTV camera in their own living room, but sadly that footage has proved invaluable in demonstrating some of the hardships, emotional abuse and physical violence Arthur endured behind closed doors.”

Fatal blow

On the day Arthur was fatally injured Hughes had left the house at just after 1pm, leaving his son alone with Tustin. So it is only she who will ever know exactly how Arthur suffered the blow that killed him.

But we used CCTV, as well as the calls and messages the couple exchanged, to provide the court with a compelling case that she had inflicted that injury and then failed to call an ambulance for 12 minutes.

During those 12 minutes, Tustin is seen to carry Arthur into the living room, into the kitchen and back into the living room, before propping him up on the sofa

Hughes then arrives back home, and the pair try to give Arthur a drink and some children’s paracetamol medicine, before 999 is finally called.

Det Insp Harrison said: “We believe that both Tustin and then Hughes, understood how seriously Arthur was injured. Only the pair of them can explain why it took so long for an ambulance to be called, but we’d suggest it was the final act of cruelty they inflicted on Arthur.”

Medical evidence

Hospital tests revealed Arthur had abnormally high salt-levels and he was seen to have bruising in many areas uncommon for accidental bruising in a child.

A post mortem later revealed that Arthur had over 100 marks and bruises on his head, body and limbs including bruising of different ages.

A number of medical experts told the court that they did not believe the injuries Arthur had could have been self-inflicted; that a child of six simply could not have generated enough force to have caused the fatal injury to his own head.

A specialist kidney consultant, said that for Arthur to have had such high levels of salt in his system could only be explained by one of two situations.

Either Arthur had ingested at least six and half tablespoons of salt on the day he was fatally injured; and the expert couldn’t see how a child would have done this, other than if he was deliberately force-fed a mix of salt and water by an adult.

Or that Arthur had repeatedly been poisoned with heavily contaminated food and/or water over a longer period of time.

The conviction

The jury at Coventry Crown Court today found Emma Tustin, aged 32, of Cranmore Road, Solihull guilty of the murder of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Thomas Hughes aged 29, of Stroud Road, Solihull, guilty of manslaughter.

The couple also faced four charges of cruelty to a child.

On the opening day of the trial on 5 October Tustin pleaded guilty to one of those charges – wilfully ill-treating Arthur on multiple occasions by forced standing, isolation and intimidation.

In the final days of the trial Tustin admitted a second charge of child cruelty, namely assaulting Arthur on multiple occasions.

Today she was convicted of two further charges of cruelty by withholding food and drink and by administering salt.

Hughes was also convicted on two counts of cruelty, by forced standing, isolation and intimidation, and also by assaulting Arthur. Hughes was cleared of murder, cruelty by withholding food and drink and by administering salt.

#AceNewsDesk report ………..Published: Dec.03: 2021:

#court, #coventry, #guilty, #sentenced

Ace Worldwide News Group 15:00 on 03/12/2021
Tags: #AceDailyNews ( 1,397 ), #AceNewsDesk ( 4,940 ), #AceNewsReport ( 4,893 ), #bribery ( 5 ), Contracts ( 3 ), DOJ ( 157 ), guilty ( 32 ), Puerto Rico ( 25 ), Washington ( 494 )

(WASHINGTON) Justice Dept Court Report: Puerto Rico Mayor Pleads Guilty to Accepting Bribes in Exchange for Millions in Municipal Contracts #AceNewsDesk report

#AceNewsReport – Dec.03: Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico, and Acting Assistant Director Jay Greenberg of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division made the announcement.

#AceDailyNews DOJ Court Report: Contractor Arrested for Paying Bribes: A mayor pleaded guilty yesterday in Puerto Rico to engaging in a bribery scheme in which he received cash payments in exchange for awarding municipal contracts to a particular company (Company A). Relatedly, a Puerto Rico contractor was arrested today for allegedly paying bribes and kickbacks to the mayor.

Felix Delgado-Montalvo, 40, was the mayor of and highest-ranking government official in the municipality of Cataño. Delgado-Montalvo resigned his position as mayor on Tuesday. According to court documents, Delgado-Montalvo unjustly enriched himself by accepting bribes, including cash payments from a particular person, whose business, Company A, would then benefit by being rewarded municipal contracts, including a contract worth nearly $50,000. As part of his plea agreement, Delgado-Montalvo agreed to forfeit $105,820 as proceeds of his illegal conduct.

Relatedly, Mario Villegas-Vargas, 42, of Gurabo, who owned an asphalt and paving company in Puerto Rico, was indicted for allegedly paying kickbacks and bribes to Delgado-Montalvo in exchange for valuable municipal contracts. According to the indictment, beginning in or around June 2017, Villegas-Vargas paid kickbacks and bribes in exchange for Delgado-Montalvo exerting his influence on municipal officials in Cataño, resulting in Villegas-Vargas’s business receiving over $9.9 million in municipal contracts.

Delgado-Montalvo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to solicit and accept bribes. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 8, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Chief Judge Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach for the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Villegas-Vargas is charged with conspiracy to pay bribes, bribery, and use of an interstate facility in aid of racketeering. If convicted of all counts, Villegas-Vargas faces a maximum total penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s San Juan Field Office.

The cases are being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Ryan R. Crosswell of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott H. Anderson and Nicholas W. Cannon of U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and Villegas-Vargas is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

#AceNewsDesk report ……………..Published: Dec.03: 2021:

#bribery, #contracts, #doj, #guilty, #puerto-rico, #washington

Ace Worldwide News Group 14:00 on 03/12/2021
Tags: #AceDailyNews ( 1,397 ), #AceNewsDesk ( 4,940 ), #AceNewsReport ( 4,893 ), DOJ ( 157 ), Houston ( 14 ), Safe Water Act, Washington ( 494 )

(WASHINGTON) Justice Dept Court Report: Barge Company Will Pay Over $15 Million for Injuries to Natural Resources Resulting from Oil Spill in Houston Ship Channel #AceNewsDesk report

#AceNewsReport – Dec.03: The United States and Texas concurrently filed a civil complaint along with a proposed consent decree. The complaint seeks money damages and costs under the Oil Pollution Act for injuries to natural resources resulting from Kirby’s March 2014 discharge of approximately 4,000 barrels (168,000 gallons) of oil from one of its barges into the Houston Ship Channel at the Texas City “Y” crossing. The complaint alleges that the spill resulted from a collision that occurred while a Kirby towboat, the Miss Susan, attempted to push two 300-foot-long oil barges across the Houston Ship Channel in front of the oncoming M/V Summer Wind, a 585-foot-long deep-draft bulk cargo ship that was already underway in the Channel.

#AceDailyNews DOJ Court Report: Safe Water Act: Houston, Texas-based Kirby Inland Marine LP has agreed to pay $15.3 million in damages and assessment costs under the Oil Pollution Act to resolve federal and state claims for injuries to natural resources resulting from an oil spill from a Kirby barge, after a collision Kirby caused.

The oil flowed from the Houston Ship Channel into Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, polluting waters and washing onshore from the collision site down to Padre Island National Seashore near Corpus Christi. The oil spill caused significant impacts and injuries to the Texas coastline including the wildlife refuge on Matagorda Island, and to aquatic and terrestrial habitats, as well as to dolphins and migratory birds. The oil spill also forced the closure of the Houston Ship Channel and disrupted recreational uses of the Texas coastline, resulting in lost recreational opportunities from Galveston-area beaches to beaches as far south as Padre Island National Seashore. Kirby, the Coast Guard, and the State were involved in extensive response and cleanup efforts, and Kirby has cooperated in the assessment of injuries to natural resources.

“All oil transporters must take care to operate safely and prevent spills into our nation’s waters,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This case illustrates that the stakes are high, the harms are serious, and the United States and its state partners will diligently pursue and secure compensation for injuries to natural resources resulting from oil spills.”

“We are pleased to join our co-trustees to restore vital habitats, dolphins, birds and recreational areas injured by this oil spill,” said Director Nicole LeBoeuf of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s National Ocean Service. “Local communities and economies depend on resilient coastal ecosystems, and we look forward to working with the public on projects to restore them.”

“The Texas City Y oil spill impacted shoreline and marsh habitat on Matagorda Island, which is part of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge,” said Amy Lueders, the Service’s Southwest Regional Director. “This settlement will provide for restoration of these injured resources as well as helping to recover shorebirds and other birds and their habitats impacted by the oil and cleanup activities.”

Under the proposed consent decree, Kirby will pay $15.3 million as natural resource damages for the spill, which the federal and State trustees will jointly use to plan, design and perform projects to restore or ameliorate the impacts to dolphins and other aquatic life, birds, beaches, marshes, and recreational uses along the Texas coast. Kirby also has been paying the federal and State trustees for their assessment work and will reimburse the last remaining unpaid costs, as required under the Oil Pollution Act.

Today’s action was filed by the Department of Justice and the Office of the Texas Attorney General on behalf of the federal and State trustees for natural resources. The designated federal trustees for the natural resources impacted by Kirby’s oil spill are the U.S. Department of Commerce through the NOAA and the U.S. Department of the Interior through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service. The designated State trustees are the Texas General Land Office, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The federal and State trustees have worked together to perform their injury assessment work and are engaged in joint restoration planning efforts.

In a related Clean Water Act enforcement action in 2016, the United States on behalf of the Coast Guard secured a settlement with Kirby for $4.9 million in civil penalties and injunctive relief measures to improve the company’s operations to help prevent future spills.

The proposed consent decree is subject to a 30-day public comment period and court review and approval. A copy of the consent decree is available on the Department of Justice website at www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html.

#AceNewsDesk report ……………Published: Dec.03: 2021:

#doj, #houston, #safe-water-act, #washington

Ace Worldwide News Group 13:00 on 03/12/2021
Tags: #AceDailyNews ( 1,397 ), #AceNewsDesk ( 4,940 ), #AceNewsReport ( 4,893 ), #Russia ( 275 ), Belarus ( 23 ), EU ( 94 ), Oil ( 41 ), pipeline ( 7 )

(BELARUS) Statement Report: Has announced “unscheduled repairs” are needed on a branch of the ‘Friendship’ pipeline carrying oil supplies from Russia through the country to a number of EU states, insisting that maintenance work will take three days #AceNewsDesk report

#AceNewsReport – Dec.03: In a statement issued on Wednesday, Russian energy export giant Transneft said supplies could face short-term disruption: Spokesman Igor Demin told journalists he had been informed the impromptu repair work should be finished by the weekend. The pipeline connects oil fields in Central Russia to consumers in Poland, Hungary, Czechia and Germany.

#AceDailyNews says Belarus announces ‘temporary’ closure of oil pipeline to EU according to RT News Report:

17 Nov, 2021 10:42 / Updated 15 days ago

The Belarusian operator, Gomeltransneft Druzhba, reportedly began work on Tuesday evening, with supplies set to decrease. However, officials say, monthly export volumes shouldn’t be affected, and Demin insisted Transneft hopes to ensure its delivery quotas are met.

Putin warns Belarus of major fallout if it cuts off gas to EU

The news comes just days after Belarus’ embattled leader, Alexander Lukashenko, warned that his country could cut off gas flowing to Central and Western Europe in response to a worsening row over illegal migration on the border with Poland.

Thousands of refugees have set up camps along the frontier, with the EU accusing Minsk of putting on flights from troubled nations like Syria and Iraq, and encouraging desperate people to try to cross over in retribution for sanctions levied against its government. Belarus denies the claims, insisting that it is simply no longer able to prevent migrants reaching the border.

Lukashenko said last week that, when considering potential future sanctions, European leaders should remember that he could “cut off”energy supplies through the Yamal-Europe pipeline, which delivers gas from Siberia to Germany and other EU states.

The suggestion that the country could begin restricting Russian gas exports prompted criticism on Saturday from President Vladimir Putin, who said that “nothing good will come” from the suggestions. “It will be a violation of our transit agreement, and I hope it will not come to that,”the Russian leader added.

On Monday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen asked EU member states to approve additional sanctions against Belarus over what she said was a “hybrid attack” on the bloc. Meanwhile, Lukashenko has accused Brussels of engaging in a hybrid war of its own against his country by supporting Belarusian opposition figures and media outlets based abroad.

#AceNewsDesk report ……………Published: Dec.03: 2021:

#russia, #belarus, #eu, #oil, #pipeline

Ace Worldwide News Group 12:30 on 03/12/2021
Tags: AceHealthDesk ( 246 ), AceHealthReport ( 242 ), CoronavirusNewsDesk ( 131 ), COVID19 ( 257 ), GOVUK ( 50 ), Health ( 82 ), London ( 692 ), MHRA ( 3 )

(LONDON) GOVUK Press Release Statement Report: MHRA approves Xevudy (sotrovimab), a #COVID19 treatment found to cut hospitalisation and death by 79% #AceHealthDesk report

#AceHealthReport – Dec.03: Another #COVID19 treatment, Xevudy (sotrovimab), has today been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) after it was found to be safe and effective at reducing the risk of hospitalisation and death in people with mild to moderate COVID-19 infection who are at an increased risk of developing severe disease.

#CoronavirusNewsDesk says this monoclonal antibody – the second to be authorised by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency – is for people with mild to moderate #COVID19 who are at high risk of developing severe disease according to Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

This follows a rigorous review of its safety, quality and effectiveness by the UK regulator and the government’s independent expert scientific advisory body, the Commission on Human Medicines, making it the second monoclonal antibody therapeutic to be approved following Ronapreve.

Developed by GSK and Vir Biotechnology, sotrovimab is a single monoclonal antibody. The drug works by binding to the spike protein on the outside of the COVID-19 virus. This in turn prevents the virus from attaching to and entering human cells, so that it cannot replicate in the body.

In a clinical trial, a single dose of the monoclonal antibody was found to reduce the risk of hospitalisation and death by 79% in high-risk adults with symptomatic COVID-19 infection.

Based on the clinical trial data, sotrovimab is most effective when taken during the early stages of infection and so the MHRA recommends its use as soon as possible and within five days of symptom onset.

Like molnupiravir, it has been authorised for use in people who have mild to moderate COVID-19 infection and at least one risk factor for developing severe illness. Such risk factors include obesity, older age (>55 years), diabetes mellitus, or heart disease.

Unlike molnupiravir, sotrovimab is administered by intravenous infusion over 30 minutes. It is approved for individuals aged 12 and above who weigh more than 40kg.

It is too early to know whether the omicron variant has any impact on sotrovimab’s effectiveness but the MHRA will work with the company to establish this.

Dr June Raine, MHRA Chief Executive said:

“I am pleased to say that we now have another safe and effective COVID-19 treatment, Xevudy (sotrovimab), for those at risk of developing severe illness.

“This is yet another therapeutic that has been shown to be effective at protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19, and signals another significant step forward in our fight against this devastating disease.

“With no compromises on quality, safety and effectiveness, the public can trust that the MHRA have conducted a robust and thorough assessment of all the available data.”

Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed, Chair of the Commission on Human Medicines, said:

“The Commission on Human Medicines and its COVID-19 Therapeutics Expert Working Group has independently reviewed the data and agrees with the MHRA’s regulatory approval of Xevudy (sotrovimab).

“When administered in the early stages of infection, sotrovimab was found to be effective at reducing the risk of hospitalisation and death in high-risk individuals with symptomatic COVID-19. Based on the data reviewed by the Commission and its expert group, it is clear sotrovimab is another safe and effective treatment to help us in our fight against COVID-19.”

Sotrovimab is not intended to be used as a substitute for vaccination against COVID-19.

The government and the NHS will confirm how this COVID-19 treatment will be deployed to patients in due course.

Additional Notes:

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agencyis responsible for protecting and improving the health of millions of people every day through the effective regulation of all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe. All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.
The MHRA is a centre of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency which also includes theNational Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC)and theClinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). MHRA is an executive agency of theDepartment of Health and Social Care.
TheCommission on Human Medicines (CHM) advises ministers on the safety, efficacy and quality of medicinal products. The CHM is an advisory non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department of Health and Social Care.
The MHRA’s Conditional Marketing Authorisation for sotrovimab is valid in Great Britain only. An emergency use authorisation has been granted for Northern Ireland to ensure access across the whole of the United Kingdom. Both authorisations were made on the basis of the same rigorous evaluation.
More information can be found in the product information

#AceHealthDesk report …………..Published: Dec.03: 2021:

#govuk, #health, #london, #mhra

Ace Worldwide News Group 11:55 on 03/12/2021
Tags: #AceDailyNews ( 1,397 ), #AceNewsDesk ( 4,940 ), #AceNewsReport ( 4,893 ), guilty ( 32 ), HSI ( 55 ), Ice ( 64 ), Police ( 265 ), South Dakota ( 4 )

(SIOUX FALLS, S.D.) Justice Dept Court Report: An eastern South Dakota man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a charge of receiving and distributing child pornography #AceNewsDesk report

#AceNewsReport – Dec.03: The case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Madison (South Dakota) Police Department.

#AceDailyNews DOJ Court Report: South Dakota man indicted for child pornography following HSI investigation: Jordan Charles Opdahl, 29, was indicted Nov. 9. He pleaded not guilty Nov. 24 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy.

The indictment alleges that on or about Oct. 20, 2020, Opdahl knowingly received and distributed, and attempted to receive and distribute, child pornography.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 20 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, a lifetime of supervised release, and $100 fine to be paid to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.

The charge is merely an accusation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper is prosecuting the case.

Opdahl was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not yet been set.

HSI is a directorate of ICE and the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 employees consists of more than 7,100 Special Agents assigned to 220 cities throughout the United States, and 80 overseas locations in 53 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.

#AceNewsDesk report ………….Published: Dec.03: 2021:

#guilty, #hsi, #ice, #police, #south-dakota