Union officials have called off the threat of further industrial action on the London Underground after agreeing a deal with Transport for London (TfL).
The Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) announced it would be discontinuing its overtime ban and said it now expected to see "rapid improvement" in safety standards following the agreement.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union called off its own strikes at the end of January after TfL said it would restore hundreds of jobs which had been cut under the former mayor Boris Johnson.
The London Underground has been hit by repeated industrial action since Mayor Sadiq Khan came into office, causing misery for thousands of commuters.
The most recent strikes, which took place in January, caused major travel disruption in the capital and closed almost 40% of stations on the Tube network.
The unions claimed that cutbacks to staffing levels, made as a result of a £700m cut in TfL's central government grant by 2020, had resulted in dangerous conditions for both passengers and staff.
More than 800 jobs were lost as part of Mr Johnson's "modernisation" of the Underground but TfL has agreed to reinstate almost 60% of these.
Commenting on Monday's deal, TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes said: "Enormous credit must be paid to our members on our Tube.
"In refusing to work overtime for the last few months, they have proved beyond any doubt that our Tube was no longer employing enough people for stations to meet minimum legal staffing requirements to remain open, let alone deal with congestion or other major security issues.
"Boris Johnson's cull of over 800 jobs blew all safety procedures apart.
"Reassignments of staff from CCTV monitoring and evacuation responsibility on to gate lines to implement his deep cuts left staff terrified for their own safety, as well as that of passengers."
Monday, February 13, 2017
At least four killed in avalanche near Tignes ski resort in French Alps
At least four people have been killed and several others swept away in an avalanche near a major ski resort in the French Alps.
Five people remain trapped beneath the 400-metre-wide snowslide which hit an off-piste slope near the ski resort of Tignes, close to the Italian border, at 9.35am on Monday.
Two helicopters and sniffer dogs are helping around 100 rescuers - including volunteers - as they search for survivors.
Vanessa Hackman, of Edge Magazine who is in Tignes, told Sky News a "massive rescue mission" was under way.
She said the search was all the more difficult because the party "either didn't have equipment or it was ripped off them by the force of the avalanche".
"It is a pretty sombre day in Tignes," she added.
The skiing party of nine was on the slopes at an altitude of 2,100 metres (6,900ft) when the avalanche struck.
It was reportedly set off by a group of skiers higher up on the slopes.
Of the fatalities, two skiers were initially pulled out alive but died shortly after being rescued, said police.
The avalanche hit the alpine skiing station - popular with British skiers - at a busy time, with families flocking to the resorts during the school half-term holidays.
The nationalities of those among the skiing party are not yet known.
Tignes, along with the neighbour resort of Val d'Isere, is part of Espace Killy - one of the largest ski areas in the world.
Around four inches of fresh snow fell on the slopes of the resort last week and more is forecast this week.
The risk of an avalanche had been a three on a scale of five, with a strong wind and warmer temperatures increasing the likelihood of one occurring, according to experts.
Five people remain trapped beneath the 400-metre-wide snowslide which hit an off-piste slope near the ski resort of Tignes, close to the Italian border, at 9.35am on Monday.
Two helicopters and sniffer dogs are helping around 100 rescuers - including volunteers - as they search for survivors.
Vanessa Hackman, of Edge Magazine who is in Tignes, told Sky News a "massive rescue mission" was under way.
She said the search was all the more difficult because the party "either didn't have equipment or it was ripped off them by the force of the avalanche".
"It is a pretty sombre day in Tignes," she added.
The skiing party of nine was on the slopes at an altitude of 2,100 metres (6,900ft) when the avalanche struck.
It was reportedly set off by a group of skiers higher up on the slopes.
Of the fatalities, two skiers were initially pulled out alive but died shortly after being rescued, said police.
The avalanche hit the alpine skiing station - popular with British skiers - at a busy time, with families flocking to the resorts during the school half-term holidays.
The nationalities of those among the skiing party are not yet known.
Tignes, along with the neighbour resort of Val d'Isere, is part of Espace Killy - one of the largest ski areas in the world.
Around four inches of fresh snow fell on the slopes of the resort last week and more is forecast this week.
The risk of an avalanche had been a three on a scale of five, with a strong wind and warmer temperatures increasing the likelihood of one occurring, according to experts.
Sunday, February 12, 2017
Almost half of Met Police officers want more firearms specialists - poll
Almost half of Metropolitan Police officers believe there should be more specialist firearms officers, according to a staff survey.
However, the poll of almost 11,000 officers indicates that there is little support across the force's ranks for routinely carrying guns while on duty.
Most police personnel in the UK are unarmed but the question of whether officers should carry guns as a matter of course has come under scrutiny again after recent terrorist attacks in Europe.
Last year, Scotland Yard announced plans to increase the number of firearms officers on hand to protect the capital by 600 in the wake of the Paris attacks in November 2015.
According to the Met Police Federation's questionnaire, only 6% of those polled believe there is currently an "adequate" quantity of gun-carrying officers in London.
Almost half of respondents (43.6%) think there should be more specialist firearms officers in the Met, but not all officers should be routinely armed.
One in four (26%) said they believe all police officers should be routinely armed, while 12% said they would not carry a firearm on duty under any circumstances.
The poll also revealed three in four respondents (75%) believe all officers should be issued with the stun guns while on duty.
Met Police Federation chairman Ken Marsh said: "We live in dangerous and unpredictable times.
"It is more important than ever that Metropolitan Police officers have the right equipment to keep themselves, their colleagues and the public safe.
"And also that we have the right number of officers with that equipment available when they are required."
He added: "We often hear people talk about what police officers want and we can now say with some certainty that our members feel that more Met Police Officers should be carrying a Taser on London streets.
"We can also say that we know their views on the prospect of being armed."
However, the poll of almost 11,000 officers indicates that there is little support across the force's ranks for routinely carrying guns while on duty.
Most police personnel in the UK are unarmed but the question of whether officers should carry guns as a matter of course has come under scrutiny again after recent terrorist attacks in Europe.
Last year, Scotland Yard announced plans to increase the number of firearms officers on hand to protect the capital by 600 in the wake of the Paris attacks in November 2015.
According to the Met Police Federation's questionnaire, only 6% of those polled believe there is currently an "adequate" quantity of gun-carrying officers in London.
Almost half of respondents (43.6%) think there should be more specialist firearms officers in the Met, but not all officers should be routinely armed.
One in four (26%) said they believe all police officers should be routinely armed, while 12% said they would not carry a firearm on duty under any circumstances.
The poll also revealed three in four respondents (75%) believe all officers should be issued with the stun guns while on duty.
Met Police Federation chairman Ken Marsh said: "We live in dangerous and unpredictable times.
"It is more important than ever that Metropolitan Police officers have the right equipment to keep themselves, their colleagues and the public safe.
"And also that we have the right number of officers with that equipment available when they are required."
He added: "We often hear people talk about what police officers want and we can now say with some certainty that our members feel that more Met Police Officers should be carrying a Taser on London streets.
"We can also say that we know their views on the prospect of being armed."
Adele wins five awards at the Grammys
Adele has won best album, record and song of the year at the star-studded Grammy music awards show in Los Angeles.
The British singer's hit track Hello has beat Beyonce's Formation at the 59th annual ceremony, which saw the singer take home five awards after delivering a stirring tribute to George Michael.
The 28-year-old star was forced to stop and restart a cover of Fastlove, apologising to the audience for the pressure of honouring the late singer.
"I f**** up," she said, "I can't mess this up for him".
In her acceptance speech, Adele apologised for swearing, adding Michael meant so much to her that she didn't want to slight him with a poor performance.
She also took home best pop vocal album for 25 and best pop solo performance for Hello.
The singer becomes the second woman to win album of the year twice after Taylor Swift broke the record last year.
"I can't possibly accept this award," she said.
"I'm very humble and I'm grateful and gracious but the artist of my life is Beyonce and the Lemonade album was just so monumental - Beyonce, it was so monumental," Adele added.
"We got to see another side to you that we don't always see. We appreciate that. All us artists here, we f****** adore you."
Although overshadowed by Adele, Beyonce did not leave empty handed.
The British singer's hit track Hello has beat Beyonce's Formation at the 59th annual ceremony, which saw the singer take home five awards after delivering a stirring tribute to George Michael.
The 28-year-old star was forced to stop and restart a cover of Fastlove, apologising to the audience for the pressure of honouring the late singer.
"I f**** up," she said, "I can't mess this up for him".
In her acceptance speech, Adele apologised for swearing, adding Michael meant so much to her that she didn't want to slight him with a poor performance.
She also took home best pop vocal album for 25 and best pop solo performance for Hello.
The singer becomes the second woman to win album of the year twice after Taylor Swift broke the record last year.
"I can't possibly accept this award," she said.
"I'm very humble and I'm grateful and gracious but the artist of my life is Beyonce and the Lemonade album was just so monumental - Beyonce, it was so monumental," Adele added.
"We got to see another side to you that we don't always see. We appreciate that. All us artists here, we f****** adore you."
Although overshadowed by Adele, Beyonce did not leave empty handed.
Thousands evacuated in California as dam might collapse
At least 130,000 people living below the tallest dam in the United States have been asked to evacuate as a spillway appeared in danger of imminent collapse.
The California Department of Water Resources said on Facebook at about 00:30 GMT on Monday that the spillway of California's Oroville Dam was "predicted to fail within the next hour".
While it was still standing nearly three hours later, the Water Resources department said crews would use helicopters to drop rocks to fill a gouge in the spillway.
Authorities were also releasing water to lower the lake's level.
Officials said the cities of Oroville, Gridley, Live Oak, Marysville, Wheat land, Yuba City, Plumas Lake, and Olivehurst were all under evacuation orders.
Meanwhile, the Butte County sheriff said in a statement posted on social media: "Immediate evacuation from the low levels of Oroville and areas downstream is ordered, This is NOT A Drill."
Doug Carlson, a spokesman for the Department of Water Resources, said water levels on Friday were over 273 metres, less than 2 metres from the top.
Evacuation centers were set up at a fairgrounds in Chico, California, about 20 miles northwest of Oroville, but roads leading out of the area were jammed as residents sought to drive out of the flood zone.
The Oroville dam is nearly full after weeks of heavy rains and snow brought relief to the state after some four years of devastating drought.
At 230 metres high, the structure, built between 1962 and 1968, is the tallest dam in the US, besting the famed Hoover Dam by more than 12 metres.
The California Department of Water Resources said on Facebook at about 00:30 GMT on Monday that the spillway of California's Oroville Dam was "predicted to fail within the next hour".
While it was still standing nearly three hours later, the Water Resources department said crews would use helicopters to drop rocks to fill a gouge in the spillway.
Authorities were also releasing water to lower the lake's level.
Officials said the cities of Oroville, Gridley, Live Oak, Marysville, Wheat land, Yuba City, Plumas Lake, and Olivehurst were all under evacuation orders.
Meanwhile, the Butte County sheriff said in a statement posted on social media: "Immediate evacuation from the low levels of Oroville and areas downstream is ordered, This is NOT A Drill."
Doug Carlson, a spokesman for the Department of Water Resources, said water levels on Friday were over 273 metres, less than 2 metres from the top.
Evacuation centers were set up at a fairgrounds in Chico, California, about 20 miles northwest of Oroville, but roads leading out of the area were jammed as residents sought to drive out of the flood zone.
The Oroville dam is nearly full after weeks of heavy rains and snow brought relief to the state after some four years of devastating drought.
At 230 metres high, the structure, built between 1962 and 1968, is the tallest dam in the US, besting the famed Hoover Dam by more than 12 metres.
US band The Dillinger Escape Plan in tour bus crash in Poland
Thirteen people have been injured in a road crash involving the US band The Dillinger Escape Plan.
The tour bus carrying the heavy metal group was rammed by a lorry near the town of Radomsko, around 80 miles north of Krakow in Poland.
The musicians, who are from New Jersey, were due to play a concert in Krakow on Sunday night. The gig has been cancelled.
Band members were taken to hospital for tests but were not badly hurt. The lorry driver was more seriously injured.
Police say the bus was parked partly on the road and partly on the hard shoulder when the crash happened.
The Dillinger Escape Plan formed in 1997 but the band's line-up has changed repeatedly.
They have released six studio albums - two of which have reached the Top 100 of the UK album charts.
But they are best known for the intensity of their live performances, some of which have proven controversial.
The band have burned guitars and have continued to perform after suffering injuries on stage.
Their most controversial performance was at the 2002 Reading Festival.
Lead singer Greg Puciato defecated on stage, put it in a bag and threw it at the crowd.
The incident, which music magazine NME branded one of the "grossest" in rock history, nearly got the group banned from the UK.
The Dillinger Escape Plan have subsequently performed in the UK without incident.
They are currently touring Europe, with the next stop on their schedule due to be in Leipzig in Germany on Tuesday.
The tour bus carrying the heavy metal group was rammed by a lorry near the town of Radomsko, around 80 miles north of Krakow in Poland.
The musicians, who are from New Jersey, were due to play a concert in Krakow on Sunday night. The gig has been cancelled.
Band members were taken to hospital for tests but were not badly hurt. The lorry driver was more seriously injured.
Police say the bus was parked partly on the road and partly on the hard shoulder when the crash happened.
The Dillinger Escape Plan formed in 1997 but the band's line-up has changed repeatedly.
They have released six studio albums - two of which have reached the Top 100 of the UK album charts.
But they are best known for the intensity of their live performances, some of which have proven controversial.
The band have burned guitars and have continued to perform after suffering injuries on stage.
Their most controversial performance was at the 2002 Reading Festival.
Lead singer Greg Puciato defecated on stage, put it in a bag and threw it at the crowd.
The incident, which music magazine NME branded one of the "grossest" in rock history, nearly got the group banned from the UK.
The Dillinger Escape Plan have subsequently performed in the UK without incident.
They are currently touring Europe, with the next stop on their schedule due to be in Leipzig in Germany on Tuesday.
Film stars arrive for awards
Meryl Streep arriving. Remember she made that very anti-Trump speech at the Golden Globes last month - it will be interesting to see if she says similar things, should she win in the best actress category tonight.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive at the @RoyalAlbertHall to attend the #EEBAFTAs with @BAFTACEO Amanda Berry grabyo.com/g/v/6x2Ni1pRmky
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive at the @RoyalAlbertHall to attend the #EEBAFTAs with @BAFTACEO Amanda Berry grabyo.com/g/v/6x2Ni1pRmky
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