Cordons have been lifted after the London Eye and Waterloo Pier were evacuated following the reported discovery of a World War-era bomb.
A spokesman for Scotland Yard has reportedly confirmed authorites have found a bomb from World War I or II in the Thames near the tourist hotspot.
People on the London Eye were told to evacuate immediately.
One Twitter user posted that she had been asked to disembark the London Eye ten minutes after the discovery was found.
"So we barely made it on the #londoneye before everyone was evacuated. News, anyone?"
The official Thames Clipper service twitter account announced that the London Eye Pier had been re-opened after an hour, and apologised for the inconvenience.
It said the boat service would resume as per the timetable.
The area also features the popular London Aquarium and the sites see close to 4 million visitors every year.
Sunday, June 25, 2017
148 dead as Pakistan oil tanker crashes and explodes
At least 148 people - including children - have been killed after an oil tanker carrying 40,000 litres of fuel flipped over and burst into flames on a highway in Pakistan.
Residents had flocked to the tanker with jerry cans, buckets and other containers to collect leaking fuel from it after it overturned.
It was travelling from the southern port city of Karachi to Lahore when the driver lost control and it crashed near the city of Bahawalpur at around 6.30am.
Some reports suggested the tanker had suffered a burst tyre. The driver survived and is in custody.
Image:Large plumes of black smoke could be seen from a distance
Police had tried to seal off the area but became overwhelmed by the scores of people trying to reach the vehicle.
Officials said many of the victims were beyond recognition and that DNA tests were being carried out to identify the dead, adding that the number of fatalities was likely to rise.
The fire erupted after an oil tanker turned over and "victims rushed to collect spilt fuel", senior local government official Rana Mohammad Saleem Afzal told state television.
Image:It took firefighters around two hours to put out the blaze
He said residents were told about the leaking oil tanker over a loudspeaker at a local mosque.
"After about 10 minutes the tanker exploded in a huge fireball and enveloped the people collecting petrol. It was not clear how the fire started," said regional police chief Raja Riffat.
"According to the initial reports, somebody tried to light a cigarette. The spilt fuel caught fire, leading to the tanker's explosion," Jam Sajjad Hussain, spokesman for the rescue services, added.
Officials said around 140 others were injured in the explosion and were airlifted to nearby hospitals by army helicopters, some in a critical condition having suffered more than 80% burns to their bodies.
Image:Around 140 people were injured in the blast and taken to hospital
Flames and large plumes of black smoke could be seen from a distance as firefighters battled the blaze for two hours before it was out.
Witnesses described seeing the charred ruins of up to 30 motorbikes that had carried residents to the crash site.
Almost a dozen other vehicles were also destroyed by the inferno.
The tragedy happened on the eve of Eid ul-Fitr celebrations marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Pakistan.
Image:The oil tanker crashed and burst into flames near the city of Bahawalpur
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed his grief and ordered provincial leaders to ensure victims received "full medical assistance".
Pakistan has a poor record of fatal traffic accidents due to bad road conditions, poorly maintained vehicles and reckless driving.
In 2015, more than 60 people, including children, died when the bus they were travelling in collided with an oil tanker.
Residents had flocked to the tanker with jerry cans, buckets and other containers to collect leaking fuel from it after it overturned.
It was travelling from the southern port city of Karachi to Lahore when the driver lost control and it crashed near the city of Bahawalpur at around 6.30am.
Some reports suggested the tanker had suffered a burst tyre. The driver survived and is in custody.
Image:Large plumes of black smoke could be seen from a distancePolice had tried to seal off the area but became overwhelmed by the scores of people trying to reach the vehicle.
Officials said many of the victims were beyond recognition and that DNA tests were being carried out to identify the dead, adding that the number of fatalities was likely to rise.
The fire erupted after an oil tanker turned over and "victims rushed to collect spilt fuel", senior local government official Rana Mohammad Saleem Afzal told state television.
Image:It took firefighters around two hours to put out the blazeHe said residents were told about the leaking oil tanker over a loudspeaker at a local mosque.
"After about 10 minutes the tanker exploded in a huge fireball and enveloped the people collecting petrol. It was not clear how the fire started," said regional police chief Raja Riffat.
"According to the initial reports, somebody tried to light a cigarette. The spilt fuel caught fire, leading to the tanker's explosion," Jam Sajjad Hussain, spokesman for the rescue services, added.
Officials said around 140 others were injured in the explosion and were airlifted to nearby hospitals by army helicopters, some in a critical condition having suffered more than 80% burns to their bodies.
Image:Around 140 people were injured in the blast and taken to hospitalFlames and large plumes of black smoke could be seen from a distance as firefighters battled the blaze for two hours before it was out.
Witnesses described seeing the charred ruins of up to 30 motorbikes that had carried residents to the crash site.
Almost a dozen other vehicles were also destroyed by the inferno.
The tragedy happened on the eve of Eid ul-Fitr celebrations marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Pakistan.
Image:The oil tanker crashed and burst into flames near the city of BahawalpurPrime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed his grief and ordered provincial leaders to ensure victims received "full medical assistance".
Pakistan has a poor record of fatal traffic accidents due to bad road conditions, poorly maintained vehicles and reckless driving.
In 2015, more than 60 people, including children, died when the bus they were travelling in collided with an oil tanker.
Saturday, June 24, 2017
The Queen reported to West Yorkshire Police for 'not wearing seat belt'
The Queen has been reported to West Yorkshire Police for not wearing a seat belt in the official car for the State Opening of Parliament.
A 999 call was made by someone saying the monarch was not strapped in while being driven through London.
The phone call was confirmed in a tweet by the West Yorkshire force, which added the hashtags #not999 #notevenwestyorkshire.
Civil and criminal proceedings cannot be taken against the Queen in UK law.
Live updates and more stories from Yorkshire
The Queen travelled to Westminster alongside Prince Charles for the formal start of the Parliamentary year.
Her press office said it would not comment on the tweet.
Tom Donohoe, of West Yorkshire Police, said too often 999 calls were made for non emergencies.
"I cannot stress enough that the 999 number is for emergencies only," he said, adding that the force typically received more than 1,000 emergency calls a day.
It has previously published a list of inappropriate 999 calls that have taken up police time, including a fly being in a bedroom and a mouse on the loose.
As for the law regarding seat belts, the government website says: "You must wear a seat belt if one is fitted in the seat you are using."
It adds you can be fined £500 for not doing so, but there are some exceptions such as drivers reversing or a vehicle being used by police, fire or rescue services.
The Royal Family website says "the Queen is careful to ensure that all her activities in her personal capacity are carried out in strict accordance with the law".
A 999 call was made by someone saying the monarch was not strapped in while being driven through London.
The phone call was confirmed in a tweet by the West Yorkshire force, which added the hashtags #not999 #notevenwestyorkshire.
Civil and criminal proceedings cannot be taken against the Queen in UK law.
Live updates and more stories from Yorkshire
The Queen travelled to Westminster alongside Prince Charles for the formal start of the Parliamentary year.
Her press office said it would not comment on the tweet.
Tom Donohoe, of West Yorkshire Police, said too often 999 calls were made for non emergencies.
"I cannot stress enough that the 999 number is for emergencies only," he said, adding that the force typically received more than 1,000 emergency calls a day.
It has previously published a list of inappropriate 999 calls that have taken up police time, including a fly being in a bedroom and a mouse on the loose.
As for the law regarding seat belts, the government website says: "You must wear a seat belt if one is fitted in the seat you are using."
It adds you can be fined £500 for not doing so, but there are some exceptions such as drivers reversing or a vehicle being used by police, fire or rescue services.
The Royal Family website says "the Queen is careful to ensure that all her activities in her personal capacity are carried out in strict accordance with the law".
Insulation boards used on Grenfell Tower block withdrawn by firm
The insulating product used to clad Grenfell Tower before a disastrous fire will no longer be used on high-rise buildings, the manufacturer has said.
Celotex, which manufactures the RS5000 insulation boards used in the block's rainscreen cladding, says it is ceasing supply of the product in buildings over 18m tall immediately.
The firm had previously advertised on its website that "Celotex RS5000... is suitable for buildings above 18m".
The inferno at 24-storey Grenfell Tower in north Kensington left 79 dead or missing presumed dead.
Nine victims have so far been formally identified.
Earlier on Friday, police said tests had been carried out on both the cladding tiles and the insulation used in the refit of the tower and they "don't pass any safety tests".
Officers also revealed that the insulation was also found to be more flammable than the cladding tiles.
Metropolitan Police Detective Superintendent Fiona McCormack said: "What we are being told at the moment by the Building Research Establishment is that the cladding and insulation failed all safety tests."
Late on Friday, Celotex posted an update on its website that said: "In view of the focus on rainscreen cladding systems and the insulation forming part of them, Celotex believes that the right thing to do is to stop the supply of Celotex RS5000 for rainscreen cladding systems in buildings over 18 metres tall with immediate effect, including in
respect of ongoing projects, pending further clarity."
Celotex, which manufactures the RS5000 insulation boards used in the block's rainscreen cladding, says it is ceasing supply of the product in buildings over 18m tall immediately.
The firm had previously advertised on its website that "Celotex RS5000... is suitable for buildings above 18m".
The inferno at 24-storey Grenfell Tower in north Kensington left 79 dead or missing presumed dead.
Nine victims have so far been formally identified.
Earlier on Friday, police said tests had been carried out on both the cladding tiles and the insulation used in the refit of the tower and they "don't pass any safety tests".
Officers also revealed that the insulation was also found to be more flammable than the cladding tiles.
Metropolitan Police Detective Superintendent Fiona McCormack said: "What we are being told at the moment by the Building Research Establishment is that the cladding and insulation failed all safety tests."
Late on Friday, Celotex posted an update on its website that said: "In view of the focus on rainscreen cladding systems and the insulation forming part of them, Celotex believes that the right thing to do is to stop the supply of Celotex RS5000 for rainscreen cladding systems in buildings over 18 metres tall with immediate effect, including in
respect of ongoing projects, pending further clarity."
Pentagon releases images of Russian jet buzzing RC-135 spy plane
Photographs released by the US show a Russian SU-27 jet apparently flying within a few metres of an RC-135 spy plane.
The Pentagon accused Russia of carrying out an unsafe intercept of the reconnaissance aircraft in international airspace over the Baltic Sea earlier this week.
But the photographs released by the US European Command on Friday showed just how close the fighter jet came to the US aircraft.
NATO aircraft are being deployed as part of the organisation's annual Baltic Operations (BALTOPS), a multinational, maritime-focused live training event which first began in 1972, in the region close to Russia's border.
Image:The photographs showed just how close the fighter jet came to the US aircraft
Referring to the 19 June incident, the US military said that "due to the high rate of closure speed and poor control of the aircraft during the intercept, this interaction was determined to be unsafe".
But according to the Russian news agency TASS, it was the RC-135 plane which "made an attempt at approaching the Russian fighter jet making a provocative turn towards it".
CNN reported that there have been more than 30 interactions between US and Russian aircraft near the Baltic Sea since in recent weeks, most of which were "safe and professional" according to a US official.
"The vast majority of interactions we have, intercepts that occur when we fly and that are intercepted by the Russians are safe," said a Pentagon spokesperson.
"This is an exception, not the norm, but we were again operating in international airspace and did nothing to provoke," they added.
The Pentagon accused Russia of carrying out an unsafe intercept of the reconnaissance aircraft in international airspace over the Baltic Sea earlier this week.
But the photographs released by the US European Command on Friday showed just how close the fighter jet came to the US aircraft.
NATO aircraft are being deployed as part of the organisation's annual Baltic Operations (BALTOPS), a multinational, maritime-focused live training event which first began in 1972, in the region close to Russia's border.
Image:The photographs showed just how close the fighter jet came to the US aircraftReferring to the 19 June incident, the US military said that "due to the high rate of closure speed and poor control of the aircraft during the intercept, this interaction was determined to be unsafe".
But according to the Russian news agency TASS, it was the RC-135 plane which "made an attempt at approaching the Russian fighter jet making a provocative turn towards it".
CNN reported that there have been more than 30 interactions between US and Russian aircraft near the Baltic Sea since in recent weeks, most of which were "safe and professional" according to a US official.
"The vast majority of interactions we have, intercepts that occur when we fly and that are intercepted by the Russians are safe," said a Pentagon spokesperson.
"This is an exception, not the norm, but we were again operating in international airspace and did nothing to provoke," they added.
Friday, June 23, 2017
Twitter users hit back at Saudi-bloc's list of demands
Earlier on Friday, the Saudi-bloc submitted a 13-point list of demands to Qatar [Kacper Pempel/Reuters]Social media users have hit back with humour and their own list of grievances after reports emerged that Saudi Arabia and its allies issued a list of demands.
Almost immediately after the Saudi-led bloc's 13-point list of demands was made public on Friday, some Twitter users began posting their reactions under the hashtag "the list is refused".
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain cut ties with Qatar on June 5 over allegations the country funds "terrorism" and is too close to Iran - allegations Qatar has repeatedly denied.
Their steep list of demands, published by news agencies on Friday, includes calls on Qatar to shut down Al Jazeera Media Network, close a Turkish military base, scale down ties with Iran, and pay an unspecified sum in compensation.
Qatar now has 10 days to comply, according to the reports.
"Qatar refuses Saudi and the Emirates' conditions and answers them with this voice message," wrote one Twitter user, embedding a man singing an old Gulf song, asking his wife to "take your bag of clothes and leave my house for good" and telling her she has a "long tongue", implying she talks too much.
London Underground superbugs warning prompts deep-cleaning
Parts of the London Underground network will be deep-cleaned every night this summer after dangerous superbugs were discovered.
As part of air quality improvement measures announced by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, the intensified cleaning regime will aim to reduce commuters' exposure to dust and particles.
It comes after researchers at London Metropolitan University found 121 different types of bacteria and mould on public transport in the capital.
Eight of all the bacteria discovered were found to be among the most threatening to human health, with the Victoria Line deemed to be the dirtiest.
Image:1.37 billion passengers travel on the Tube every year
Around 50 Tube stations will be cleaned each night with magnetic wands and industrial vacuum cleaners used to remove dust, oil, grease and metal particles.
Mr Khan said: "I've asked for an updated scientific analysis of pollution on the Tube so we can fully assess the air quality levels and take appropriate measures to ensure that the air is clean."
The movement of trains along rail lines, engineering works and skin particles all contribute to dust on the network.
London Underground managing director Mark Wild said: "As scientific understanding of the effects of particles develops, we are ensuring that we're both using the very latest research and that we're doing everything possible to keep the air underground clean for our customers and staff."
As part of air quality improvement measures announced by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, the intensified cleaning regime will aim to reduce commuters' exposure to dust and particles.
It comes after researchers at London Metropolitan University found 121 different types of bacteria and mould on public transport in the capital.
Eight of all the bacteria discovered were found to be among the most threatening to human health, with the Victoria Line deemed to be the dirtiest.
Image:1.37 billion passengers travel on the Tube every yearAround 50 Tube stations will be cleaned each night with magnetic wands and industrial vacuum cleaners used to remove dust, oil, grease and metal particles.
Mr Khan said: "I've asked for an updated scientific analysis of pollution on the Tube so we can fully assess the air quality levels and take appropriate measures to ensure that the air is clean."
The movement of trains along rail lines, engineering works and skin particles all contribute to dust on the network.
London Underground managing director Mark Wild said: "As scientific understanding of the effects of particles develops, we are ensuring that we're both using the very latest research and that we're doing everything possible to keep the air underground clean for our customers and staff."
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