Problems with the flawed computer system used to deal with claims for the government’s new disability benefit have left hundreds of callers stuck in lengthy telephone queues.The system used for new personal independence payment (PIP) claims has crashed twice in a fortnight, leaving disabled callers unable to get through to lodge their claims.On 28 July, PIP claimants were unable to reach the helpline for five hours, with call handlers not able to receive any calls, a whistle-blower has told Disability News Service (DNS).And less than two weeks later, on 9 August, there was a crash of the CAMlite software – used across DWP as part of the move towards universal credit – leaving call-handlers unable to take any calls for more than four hours.The problems have been worsened by the decision of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to send out more than 40,000 letters in August to recipients of working-age disability living allowance (DLA), telling them they need to apply for the replacement benefit PIP, as part of the process to reassess every working-age DLA claimant.The problems are just the latest to have hit the computer system used to deal with new PIP claimants, with DWP continuing to deny that it is fundamentally flawed.Earlier this summer, DWP claimed that the system – designed and maintained by IT giant Hewlett Packard Enterprise – was just being affected by minor “technical glitches”.That response came despite a whistle-blower telling DNS that the PIP CS software designed to deal specifically with PIP claims was “appallingly bad”.The whistle-blower told DNS earlier this year that the software was so poor that, at least once a month, staff were unable to process claims coming through on the helpline and had to tell callers to ring again, because of problems with the system.The whistle-blower, who works for Serco, the company that runs the telephone helpline that deals with all new PIP claims, said DWP had “messed up” by sending out too many letters to DLA claimants in August.They said: “As a result, on August 1st, 2nd and 3rd, there were over 300 callers in the queue, with waiting times well over 20 minutes.“On every day since then there have been times when the queue was over 100 callers.”A DWP spokeswoman said: “We are aware that there have been intermittent IT issues which have impacted our PIP telephony services. “As with any IT systems, it is inevitable that from time to time there will be technical issues.“We work hard to fix any issues as soon as they arise and all claims are processed with the minimum delay possible – in fact, PIP claims are now being cleared four times faster [than] they were in January 2014.”She said the latest problems “have been fixed and the PIP telephony services are working normally”.She added: “We continue to monitor the service closely and identify opportunities to improve our systems. “Our processes are kept under regular review and are closely monitored to ensure that any disruption to claimants is kept to a minimum and that claims continue to progress smoothly.”PIP, which is gradually replacing working-age DLA, has been mired in controversy, delays and backlogs ever since its launch in April 2013.DNS reported last month that Motability expected that 35,000 vehicles would have to be handed back by disabled people during 2016 as a result of the government’s programme to reassess people for PIP, and cut at least 20 per cent from spending on working-age DLA.Activists who took part in a national day of action last month – organised by Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC), WinVisible and the Mental Health Resistance Network – said they believed PIP was “rotten to the core” and pointed to growing evidence of the “shoddy nature” of PIP assessments, carried out by the government’s contractors, Capita and Atos.In February, DWP figures revealed that only two-thirds (68 per cent) of PIP claimants were satisfied with the service they received from DWP, compared with an average of 82 per cent across all 10 benefits surveyed.
Month: July 2019
83 Labour MPs have written to Jeremy Corbyn urging
83 Labour MPs have written to Jeremy Corbyn urging him not to agree any Brexit deal without laying down another referendum as a condition of his support.Last week, Theresa May reached out to the Labour leader and expressed a willingness to find a way through the Brexit impasse that has brought the process to a standstill.The Prime Minister tweeted a video over the weekend in which she said: “People didn’t vote on party lines when it came to the Brexit referendum. And I think members of the public want to see their politicians working together more often.”The cross-party negotiations have not been productive so far, but it is thought that the government could be ready to compromise on some of Corbyn’s five demands for Brexit – particularly a UK-EU customs union. Such a move would anger Tory MPs and Brexiteers in the cabinet, yet would likely allow May to push her withdrawal agreement through the Commons.Labour is understood to favour another EU referendum only in the circumstances that ‘Remain’ would be pitched against a “damaging Tory Brexit” on the ballot paper. The negotiating team has not laid down a public vote as a condition for backing any deal.Labour MPs, activist groups and shadow cabinet members Tom Watson and Emily Thornberry have argued that this approach would not align with conference policy and that any deal – even one that meets Corbyn’s demands – should be ‘put to the people’ in a ‘confirmatory ballot’.The letter signed by 83 Labour MPs and sent to Corbyn reads: “It is not Labour’s job to rescue Theresa May and usher in her successor. We need a general election to kick out the Tories. It is our job to find a find a way to break the deadlock. In our view, the only way to do that is with a public vote.”It contends that any compromise deal would only be “legitimate” if signed off by the public, and that insisting on another public vote would increase the likelihood of an early general election, which is the leadership’s top priority.The original signatories of the letter form part of ‘Love Socialism, Hate Brexit’ group of pro-EU, left-wing MPs, including shadow ministers Marsha de Cordova and Clive Lewis. It is designed to show that parliamentary party pressure comes from members across all factions, not exclusively Corbynsceptics.On Monday afternoon, a Labour spokesperson said: “Following further communication between the Brexit negotiating teams over the last 48 hours, Labour Party and government officials are meeting this evening.”This story will be updated if more signatories are added…Below is the full text of the letter and list of signatories.Dear Jeremy,In a desperate move by a Prime Minister who has run out of options, the Labour Party has been invited to enter negotiations with Theresa May about reaching cross-party agreement on a Brexit deal. With no support in parliament or in her own party, the Prime Minister has turned to Labour to bail her out.But Theresa May has been clear that the legally binding part of the Brexit deal, the Withdrawal Agreement, cannot be renegotiated. This means that the only concessions Labour could obtain will be non-binding assurances about the future relationship. Any future Tory Prime Minister could simply rip up these “guarantees” after Theresa May leaves office, and it is the stated aim of the vast majority of Tory MPs to do precisely this.The only way to guarantee jobs, rights and protections – and Labour’s reputation with its membership and the electorate – is to support a confirmatory public vote on any option which is agreed by parliament, which will put additional pressure on the government to hold the early general election the country needs.Under the current leadership, Labour is offering a vision of hope which has inspired millions of people. Tory Brexit threatens this, and so does any perceived participation in delivering it. Any compromise deal which is now agreed by parliament will have no legitimacy if it is not confirmed by the public.The views of members are clear. Labour’s democratically established policy, passed at party conference in September 2018, is to oppose a Brexit deal which does not meet Labour’s six tests and put any deal that does to a public vote. It would be untenable for Labour not to insist on a public vote on a deal which did not meet these tests.It is not Labour’s job to rescue Theresa May and usher in her successor. We need a general election to kick out the Tories. It is our job to find a find a way to break the deadlock. In our view, the only way to do that is with a public vote.We – your supporters – urge you to make a confirmatory public vote your bottom line in negotiations with Theresa May and to fight to bring this government down.Original signatories from Love Socialism, Hate Brexit (18):1. Marsha de Cordova MP2. Janet Daby MP3. Anneliese Dodds MP4. Rosie Duffield MP5. Ruth George MP6. Preet Gill MP7. Ged Killen MP8. Clive Lewis MP9. Rachael Maskell MP10. Anna McMorrin MP11. Stephen Morgan MP12. Chi Onwurah MP13. Kate Osamor MP14. Luke Pollard MP15. Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP16. Alex Sobel MP17. Paul Sweeney MP18. Catherine West MPAdditional signatories that support the sentiment of this letter (65):1. Debbie Abrahams MP2. Rushanara Ali MP3. Dr Rosena Allin-Khan MP4. Tonia Antoniazzi MP5. Margaret Beckett MP6. Ben Bradshaw MP7. Chris Bryant MP8. Karen Buck MP9. Ruth Cadbury MP10. Ann Clwyd MP11. Neil Coyle MP12. Mary Creagh MP13. Stella Creasy MP14. Alex Cunningham MP15. Geraint Davies MP16. Tan Dhesi MP17. Stephen Doughty MP18. Angela Eagle MP19. Maria Eagle MP20. Dame Louise Ellman MP21. Julie Elliott MP22. James Frith MP23. Kate Green MP24. Lilian Greenwood MP25. Helen Hayes MP26. Meg Hillier MP27. Margaret Hodge MP28. George Howarth MP29. Rupa Huq MP30. Sarah Jones MP31. Susan Elan Jones MP32. Darren Jones MP33. Liz Kendall MP34. Peter Kyle MP35. David Lammy MP36. Chris Matheson MP37. Steve McCabe MP38. Kerry McCarthy MP39. Alison McGovern MP40. Catherine McKinnell MP41. Madeleine Moon MP42. Ian Murray MP43. Jess Phillips MP44. Bridget Phillipson MP45. Steve Reed MP46. Rachel Reeves MP47. Ellie Reeves MP48. Virendra Sharma MP49. Barry Shearman MP50. Andy Slaughter MP51. Owen Smith MP52. Jo Stevens MP53. Wes Streeting MP54. Gareth Thomas MP55. Stephen Timms MP56. Anna Turley MP57. Thelma Walker MP58. Matt Western MP59. Martin Whitfield MP60. Phil Wilson MP61. Dr Paul Williams MP62. Daniel Zeichner MP63. David Hanson MP64. Seema Malhotra MP65. David Drew MPTags:Labour /Jeremy Corbyn /Brexit /Public vote /
Witnesses tell how man was stabbed to death at 25th and Potrero
Update: Police have arrested Jesus Ramirez, a 48-year-old San Francisco resident, in connection with Camacho’s murder. A 59-year-old homeless man died after he was stabbed with a knife by two men estimated to be between the ages of 30 and 50, police say. The incident took place near 25th Street and Potrero Avenue around 8 p.m. Thursday. It is San Francisco’s first homicide of 2018. According to three witnesses, the victim succumbed to a stab wound to his throat before paramedics arrived on the scene and transported him to the hospital.The San Francisco Medical Examiner identified the man as Mark Camacho, 59, of San Francisco. Ricky Camacho, 61, who identified himself as the victim’s brother, said Mark was born and raised in the Mission District. 0% Tags: Homicide • stabbing Share this: FacebookTwitterRedditemail,0%
Residents say Camacho was a familiar and well-liked face who spent time in front of the doorstep where he was murdered.One witness, a 25-year-old woman who asked to remain anonymous, saw the murder take place. She said she looked out of her window overlooking 25th Street when she heard one man, about 30 years old, in a loud argument with Camacho. The suspect, dressed in “nice” blue jeans and a black sweater, punched Camacho unconscious, then fled, she said.The witness said that was when the second suspect, who she described as a 60-year-old man with gray hair, approached Camacho on the ground, put him in a chokehold, slashed his throat and stabbed him multiple times.The witness recognized the second man as a homeless person who often slept near the corner of 25th Street and Potrero. At first, she yelled for the man to “help him,” then she screamed, “stop him, he’s stabbing him!”The witness said the older suspect “walked off with his cart, like normal.”She said she followed him toward the James Rolph Jr. Playground. She said she asked the suspect why he stabbed Camacho. He responded, “he owed me one.”She said the police asked her to identify a suspect last night, “but it wasn’t him.” “I’m still traumatized. I haven’t been able to sleep,” the witness said. “My daughter keeps asking me if he’s dead, and I don’t know what to tell her.”The witness remembers Camacho as respectful, and that “he gave me food before.”The murder took place in front of the house of Lou, 81, who wasn’t home at the time of the murder. Lou said Camacho would sit on his step, drink a beer and eat food.Lou said Camacho was “polite” to him and “would pick up his own garbage.”Richard Segovia, 64, who lives on the block where the murder took place, said he’s known Camacho since the 1960s. “He gave me a Christmas present,” Segovia said.Segovia had talked to Camacho shortly before he was stabbed. Camacho had fist-bumped with Segovia and asked if he was doing well.About 20 minutes later, Segovia heard police sirens and then went to check on what was happening.He said Camacho was already dead before paramedics tried to give him oxygen. Segovia estimated there were about three quarts of blood around his body from the throat wound.Segovia said he and another man on the scene began to pray and said, “come on, warrior, you’re going to be OK.”Segovia said he doesn’t know why someone would have murdered Camacho. He said the suspects didn’t take Camacho’s duffel bag, which police took as evidence.This morning, Segovia created an altar where Camacho was murdered. Ricky, the victim’s older brother, showed up at the altar this morning to put up red, white and blue tissue paper, representing Camacho’s Puerto Rican heritage.“He’s lived a life on the edge,” Camacho said of his brother. He said Mark had been homeless for at least a decade and was receiving a government disability check.Ricky said his brother was “in and out of SROs [Single Room Occupancy’s],” and was kicked out of navigation centers.Ricky, who lives in South San Francisco, drives a taxi in the city and would often pass by his brother living on the street. He said he only recently reconnected with his brother and was doing his best to help him.“It’s just sad for me, because I loved my brother and couldn’t do anything for him because he didn’t embrace the help,” he said.Ricky said he recently got angry with his brother and told him “not to get any closer to [him].”“I realized that that wasn’t the right thing to do, so we made up — we hugged and kissed,” he said.Camacho said his brother left him a voicemail last night at 7:30 p.m. asking to meet up on Saturday and grab a beer. “Had I known, I would have picked up,” he said.Ricky said he remembers when the two were boys growing up in the Mission and members of the “Mission Boys Branch, back when it was all boys.” He said Mark played football and was on the “80s” basketball team.The victim’s friends had come to leave candles, flowers and pictures of Mark. The woman who witnessed the stabbing left a candle, too, because she said, “he didn’t deserve it.”Ricky Camacho, Mark Camacho’s brother, places pictures of his brother at his altar.Mark Camacho’s altar near a doorstep where he oftentimes slept and drank beer. By JoeBill Muñoz. 
Is the Wash Club building a historic resource to SFs Mission
Tags: development • history • housing Share this: FacebookTwitterRedditemail,0% Last week, the Board of Supervisors declined to vote on an appeal of an eight-story, 75-unit project that is to replace a laundromat at 2918 Mission St. Instead, the vote will take place once a study answers the question of whether the building is a historic resource. It will take at least four months.District 9 Supervisor Hillary Ronen, in whose district the project would rise, moved to table the project “to determine its potential significance as a historic resource.”It did not take long for the pro-housing YIMBY (Yes-in-my-back-yard) camp to descend with fire and fury.“Oh good, the Board of Supervisors just voted to delay a 75-unit housing project for 4-5 months to see if the 1991 parking lot & laundromat on-site is historic b/c neighborhood groups used the land once upon a time,” tweeted YIMBY staffer (and former Mission Local reporter) Joe Rivano Barros. “It was submitted in 2014 & now won’t get a hearing till summer.” “This is not a good way to run a city,” tweeted Matthew Yglesias, a New York-based Vox.com writer, citing Rivano Barros’s tweet.The San Francisco Business Times ran an article titled: “’This is why housing is expensive in San Francisco:’ A Mission project will be delayed for months as the city studies a laundromat.”Not exactly. It’s the tenant history. In fact, from 1971 to roughly the mid-’80s, the building was something of an incubator for local organizations, some of which exist — and, in fact, thrive — today.The building was home to Mission Model Neighborhood Corporation, Mission Hiring Hall, Mission Education and Legal Defense, Mission Child Care Consortium, Mission Housing Development Corporation, and Central Accounting.All of them were offshoots of the Mission Coalition Organization, or MCO, which, in the words of Ramon Barbieri, once the executive director at the Mission Model Neighborhoods Corporation, was a “political powerhouse.”Some might even argue that the mostly-market-rate project — whose affordable component is about half the city’s requirement of 18 to 20 percent, thanks to a state loophole — is the epitome of the unchecked speculation and redevelopment the MCO had fought to ward off.But the question remains: Is the building worth saving because of that urban irony or its former tenants?“Anything that needed to be organized in the Mission at that time, happened there,” said Barbieri of the building.Barbieri said he remembers when his and the other organizations moved into the building in 1971. Earlier, they had worked out of a temporary office on Shotwell Street.The Model Neighborhood Corporation wanted to buy it, he said, but did not have enough cash in its coffers. “So the best thing we could do was remodel the place,” he said. “We made a deal with the [landlord] for very cheap rent to remodel it, and we got permission from the city to use money to do so.”He also said it was a gathering place for artist and musicians. “There was a group of ladies, Mujeres Muralistas,” he said. “We gave them permission to put up a mural.”Patricia Rodriguez was one of the “mujeres” in that group.The mural that she and other muralistas created has since been painted over, but Rodriguez said that erasure sparked a movement to protect city murals.“When Mission Model Cities moved out, the laundry moved in, and they erased it — it was a shock,” she said. “There were no laws then. We rallied the group of artists with Precita Eyes, and we made sure the art commission was protecting the murals. Now they’re protected.”Mario Cabrera worked at Central Accounting, which did the books for organizations in the building. “It provided so many opportunities for people,” he said of the center where he worked from 1974 to 1977.“When I got here (from Venezuela), I was lucky to get a job at the Model Cities building, and that helped me pay for bachelor’s and master’s degrees,” he said.On an average day, he said, the center was very much abuzz with activity and a sense of solidarity. “There was a conviction that we were doing something great for our community,” he said. “We were creating unity among the Latin Americans.”However, all of this history was difficult to notice during a recent stroll through the Wash Club. Several people milled around, minding their own business, glancing periodically at a small flat-screen TV playing Spanish music videos.The whole place was an anachronism, although not of the period in question. Its washing machines and arcade games — Pac Man, Street Fighter, Metal Slug 3, and a claw machine — surely belonged in some kind of museum, but not one dedicated to community organizing in Mission in the ‘70s.One patron, Kevin, said it was his first time there, and he had only come because he had a haircut next door and wanted to kill two birds with one stone.Another man with dreadlocks was folding his clothes. He didn’t want to comment because he was just passing through.Elizabeth, 20, said she was unaware of the building’s history, but she said the building carried some personal history for her. “I used to come here as a kid,” she said, noting that she grew up in Bernal Heights. “My parents used to take us here on Saturday and Sunday.”Just that afternoon, her mom had told her the laundromat was slated to come down. “I would miss it, it’s sad,” she said. “But it is what it is — San Francisco is not the same as when we were kids.”She was impressed when told about the building’s history. “Maybe they could make it into a community resource,” she said.Told that it would become housing, she asked if it would be affordable. When informed that it would be 11 percent affordable, she said: “Then, no. We don’t want more development that doesn’t have the community at heart.”Cabrera, the accountant, Rodriguez, the muralist and Barbieri of the Model Neighborhoods, thought wiping the building off the map for market-rate housing would be tragic.However, Mike Miller, the lead organizer with the Mission Coalition Organization in its earliest days, who literally wrote the book on the movement, showed no attachment to the building.“I have no reason to think that building is a historic resource,” he said in an email. “The activities that took place within it are historically important, but that’s not about the building.” 
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THE Typhoo Legends will take on the Ginetta Allsta
THE Typhoo Legends will take on the Ginetta Allstars in a fantastic Celebrity Football Event for Jon Wilkin’s Testimonial.Held at Langtree Park on Sunday November 25 with a 1.30pm kick-off, the Typhoo Legends will feature the likes of Mark Wright, Mike Newell, Dennis Irwin, Frank Stapleton and Lee Martin as well as Saints Legends Sean Long and Paul Sculthorpe.Jon Wilkin and Paul Wellens will be on the Allstars team with TV and Soap stars from Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks.Wilkin said: “It’s going to be a fantastic day of family fun, laughs and football with a twist as rugby players show how tough the round ball is to master.“Please get you tickets early as only one stand is open for the game and a high demand has been shown to date.”The South Stand at Langtree Park will be open for the event and tickets can be bought from the Ticket Office, by calling 01744 455 052 or online.Kids go free! Every adult that buys a ticket will receive one free child’s ticket for a child aged under 16. The adult tickets cost £10. Extra children’s tickets they can be purchased at £5 each. Students and Concessions are £5 each.Sunday lunch hospitality in the Players’ Lounge and Lookers Vauxhall Premier Lounge is available at £25 per head for a Sunday Lunch and you can meet the players and get best seats in the house! Children’s seats in the hospitality lounge are £15.To book hospitality please email: info@jonwilkin.co.uk
SAINTS Scholarship U16s made it seven wins out of
SAINTS Scholarship U16s made it seven wins out of eight finishing the season off in style with a twelve try 58-0 demolition of a game Cumbrian outfit, writes Graham Henthorne.Although the result was probably never in doubt, the Saints made it hard for themselves in the first 15 minutes with a completion rate of less than 20%. This meant that for much of that time they were camped in their own 30 metre zone defending for their lives.The fact that they didn’t concede any points in this period and still scored three tries of their own speaks volumes for the Saints resilience under pressure.A great penalty kick to touch from Lewis Fairhurst gave the Saints their first opportunity of the game. Jordan Darwin opened the scoring in his first game back from many months out due to injury, taking Ben Morris’ lovely miss pass to dive over in the right corner.After another sustained period of defending a quick tap restart allowed Fairhurst to put Lewis Hatton through and he in turn put Ricky Bailey clear to sprint 50 metres to increase the lead.Fairhurst then got on the scoresheet himself but in bizarre fashion as an awful high pass bounced away from the defence giving him an easy run to the line.The Saints were finally settling into a semblance of normality allowing their forwards to get on top of the Cumbrian six.Bailey should have scored his second dropping the ball in the act of scoring, but Kieron Herbert did increase the lead further plucking the ball out of the air from a sublime cross field kick from Fairhurst.The stand-off, along with partners in crime Danny Richardson and Josh Houghton were conducting a bit of a masterclass and they combined to whip three great passes out to give Bailey a walk in for his second.On the stroke of the interval Josh Jenkins put the game beyond doubt scoring his first ever competitive try charging onto the ball and taking three over the line with him.The second half started with a flurry from the home side resulting in a try being disallowed for a double movement but the Saints had already extended the lead with a try from Liam Cooper from a great double pumped Richardson pass.That proved to be it from the Cumbrians and there then followed a steady stream of tries from the Saints.Jake Spedding emulated Herbert with an aerial take of Richardson’s cross kick to score before Chris Worrall was rewarded for another solid performance with a try from a barnstorming drive.Joey Brady showed his pace finishing Spedding’s break from his own line going the final 70 metres to score by the sticks. Jenkins got his second collecting an Aaron Smith offload to plunge over before Richardson scored a great individual try jinking his way past 6 defenders to score.Some difficult and some wayward kicking meant the score remained of the respectable side but once the Saints realised they were in a game there was only ever going to be one winner.Josh Jenkins went well, Morgan Knowles gave another gritty display to his Cumbrian counterparts but the pick of the forwards was Kieron Atherton whose drives and, in particular, his defence showed a real bite. Richardson and Houghton both directed play well but the star of the show was most definitely Lewis Fairhurst who showed a deftness of touch both in hand and with boot not seen for a while at this level.Match Summary:Cumbria U16s:Tries:Goals:St Helens U16s:Tries: Rickie Bailey 2, Jordan Darwin, Joey Brady, Kieron Herbert, Lewis Fairhurst, Danny Richardson, Jake Spedding, Liam Cooper, Chris Worrall, Josh Jenkins 2.Goals: Lewis Fairhurst 4, Danny Richardson.Half Time: 28-0Full Time: 58-0Teams:Cumbria:1. Joe Wright; 2. Liam Hunsdale, 3. Liam Armstrong, 4. Jon Cameron, 5. Kieran Mews; 6. Jordan Johnson, 7. Ross Barker; 8. Brad Bouch, 9. Luke McIntee, 10. Danny Cain, 26. Matt While, 30. Liam Kirkbride, 37. Brad Walker.Subs: 15. Kieran Haleron, 16. Liam McNicholas, 17. Ryan Smith, 18. Connor Fitzsimons, 19. Grady Slater, 38. Kieran Walker, 39. Jack Gordon.Saints:1. Rickie Bailey; 2. Jordan Darwin, 3. Ryan Lynch, 4. Joey Brady, 5. Kieron Herbert; 6. Lewis Fairhurst, 7. Josh Houghton; 8. Kieron Atherton, 9. Aaron Smith, 10. James Nicholl, 11. Ben Morris, 12. Lewis Hatton, 13. Morgan Knowles.Subs: 14. Danny Richardson, 15. Jake Spedding, 16. Jake Campbell, 17. Phil Atherton, 18. Chris Worrall, 19. Josh Jenkins, 21. Liam Cooper.Thank you to Gary Richardson @09gaz_rich for the picture.
His side are five from five whilst the Rhinos have
His side are five from five whilst the Rhinos have only dropped one game this season.But the head coach says last season’s premiers are still the team to watch.“They are the defending champions,” he said. “They are the ones everyone has to chase. They are a good quality side and it will be a hard game.“They are a hard-working team and pop up everywhere in defence. They also play some good second phase type rugby and they have strong outside backs.“They are a strong side and continue to show that. They’ve only lost one game this year so we know it will be a tough game. But it is one we are looking forward to.”Saints have been receiving the plaudits for their unbeaten start to the season – and Holbrook says there is more to come.“Every team will improve and although we are winning, we will get better,” he added. “We’re picking things up in our video sessions and the players agree with them. We’ll definitely keep on getting better.“The players are working hard and are getting their rewards.“We’re enjoying our start but are remaining level headed. We set high standards here and are training and playing well. We need to continue to do that and we will work hard to do so.”Saints welcome Jon Wilkin back on Friday but will be without Alex Walmsley who came off the field against Warrington with a neck problem.Tickets for the game, which kicks off at 7:45pm at the Totally Wicked Stadium, remain on sale from the Ticket Office, by calling 01744 455 052 or online here.
First Team Match SAINTS TV
The boss praised the defensive efforts of the team before picking out Lachlan Coote, Jonny Lomax and Theo Fages for praise after the trio inspired the Saints to a sixth win in six.Watch what the boss had to say below.
Fair Bluff exploring development in less floodprone areas
FAIR BLUFF, NC (WWAY) — Flooding during Hurricane Matthew devastated the town of Fair Bluff.The disaster sparked discussion in the town about development in areas less prone to flooding.- Advertisement – A vote was recently held about annexing property four tenths of a mile from the city limits.The Lumber River Council of Governments would build an apartment complex on that land.They received $5 million from the North Carolina General Assembly for the project, but the development can only happen if the town of Fair Bluff owns that land.Related Article: Brunswick Co. lifts evacuation, helps restaurants reopeningWe’ll have much more on this story Tuesday night on WWAY.
ONLY ON WWAY Family wants answers after Pender child raped murdered
LUMBERTON, NC (WWAY) — A family of the Pender County child raped and murdered is still without answers in the disturbing death case.We heard from the child’s father and family in a story you will only see on WWAY.- Advertisement – It has been almost three weeks since Paitin Fields died at New Hanover Regional Medical Center.“We can’t even sleep at night knowing that this is just revolving around like nobody cares,” Cassady Fields, Paitin’s cousin, said. “She is relying on us to have some kind of answers for her, we just need some kind of answers.”(Photo: Family)According to the incident report, her death came after allegedly being strangled and raped. Fields was living with her maternal grandmother at the time. Her father says the courts had her placed with the grandmother.Related Article: Juror goes into labor, resulting in murder case mistrial“If they don’t want to do it right then somebody else needs to take the case over and do it right,” father Robert Fields said.Field was laid to rest over the weekend and now her father’s family wants to know why no person of interest has been named. They say the only thing they’ve heard lately is that the DNA results are still being processed.“To sit there at your baby’s funeral that’s only five years old and didn’t do no wrong. She was always happy and good going and to see that done is hurtful,” Robert said.WWAY reporter Andrew James reached out to the sheriff’s office as well as the district attorney, but neither had new information or was willing to comment on the case.“Our family is not giving up, we need answers and we need some type of justice,” Cassady said.
Bladen deputies investigate shooting near Kelly
Scene of Kelly Shooting (Photo: Larry Guyton) BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Sheriff’s James McVicker said today his office is currently investigating a shooting in the Kelly area that happened around 10:30 Saturday morning.“Our investigation is still ongoing and we are working to get all the details in this case,” McVicker said. “What we know at this time is that a boat was stolen in New Hanover County on December 17, and the owner of the shop where the boat had been left for repair received information the boat might be located in Bladen County.”- Advertisement – McVicker said the owner of the shop went to Bladen County looking for leads on the boat and came upon some men at an abandoned lumber mill on NC 210. The lumber mill, Squires Timber, was closed several years ago but had several building large enough to hide a boat.The shop owner, David Wayne Gore 57 of Wilmington came across two men loading scrap metal in a truck. Gore confronted them and during this confrontation he shot one of the individuals in the head.The man who was shot, Allen W. Blanchard, 34, of Wilmington, was airlifted to New Hanover Regional Medical Center from the scene in critical condition.Related Article: Funeral services held for man killed by policeThe third man involved, Ryan Ciro Thau, 33, of Wilmington was not injured.“The owners of Squires Timber did not know any of the individuals involved and did not know they were on the property and had given no one permission to be on the property,” McVicker said. “Based on the information as we know it now, we have arrested and charged Gore with one count of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury. Gore is currently being held in Bladen County Detention Center under a $100,000 secured bond. We have also arrested and charged Thau with Felonious larceny. Thau is being held on a $5,000 secured bond.”The stolen boat was not found.McVicker emphasized the investigation was ongoing and would update the situation as the case evolved.
Concert set for Leland singer Ian Davis
BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — He was born and raised in Leland and now he is performing next week at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, and he is only 21 years old.Ian Davis joined WWAY’s Amanda Fitzpatrick live in the studio to talk about the event and sing a song.- Advertisement – Ian Davis’ debut album “Dream Come True” debuted in 2015 and has sold over 20,000 copies worldwide. In 2016 he released a song entitled ‘Stand Up’ which gained national attention as an “anthem to end violence.”His show will be February 2, 2018 at the Leland Cultural Arts Center beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10. Related Article: Mariah Carey’s Christmas classic sets new record on Spotify For more information about the concert, click here.
Speed limit reduced to 35 mph throughout Topsail Beach
In September 2017, Town Manager Michael Rose said the North Carolina Department of Transportation sent the town a letter saying the DOT was going to reduce the speed limit to 35 during the tourist season.Rose said in January of this year, the town decided to vote to reduce the speed to 35 mph for the entire year. Rose said there is still a port of Anderson Boulevard near town hall where the speed limit is 25 mph.Rose said signs were changed last week and residents have been notified through the town’s website and on Facebook. Topsail Beach speed limit reduced to 35 mph TOPSAIL BEACH, NC (WWAY) — After years of debate, the speed limit along the main stretch in Topsail Beach has been reduced to 35 mph.For years, a portion of N. Anderson Boulevard was a 45 mph zone. The town voted on lowering it several times over the years, but it never passed until this year. – Advertisement – 
Azalea Garden Tour gets plant delivery months ahead of annual event
Encore Azalea and Southern Living Plant Collection dropped them off at Airlie Gardens Thursday morning.“We have a ribbon cutting at a private home on Friday morning,” Garden Tour Chair Signa Stalvey said. “And the Azalea Festival Queen and her court are there. The Citadel, we have bells. It’s just a beautiful event.”There are 11 homes on this year’s garden tour.Related Article: Local fans meet royal wedding cake bakerThe tour will be April 5-7.Tickets will go on sale in January. The delivery of plants for the Azalea Garden Tour arrived in Wilmington on November 15, 2018. (Photo: WWAY) WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — It was quite the rainy morning, but that did not stop the preparations for the 2019 Azalea Garden Tour.The delivery of plants for the Azalea Garden Tour arrived in Wilmington.- Advertisement – 
EU aims to complete top jobs jigsaw puzzle on June 30
European Council President Donald Tusk, Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis attend the European Union leaders summit in Brussels, Belgium, June 20, 2019. REUTERS/Piroschka van de WouwEuropean Council President Donald Tusk, Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis attend the European Union leaders summit in Brussels, Belgium, June 20, 2019. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw European Union leaders will meet again on June 30 to seek agreement on who should inherit the bloc’s top jobs – including the head of its central bank – after failing to get a deal in talks dragging into the small hours on Friday.The 28 national leaders meeting in Brussels for secret deliberations – no aides or phones allowed – remained at odds over who should next steer the EU, with French President Emmanuel Macron blocking German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s pick.“There was no majority for any candidate,” chairman Donald Tusk told a news conference. “We will meet again on June 30.”The prominent positions, including the head of the European Central Bank (ECB) and the EU’s executive European Commission, lead the bloc’s policies on issues ranging from monetary policy to migration and Brexit to trade.German, French, Spanish, Italian and Dutch leaders are aiming to prepare a deal on the package of the five senior EU jobs when they travel to Japan on June 28-29 for a G20 summit of major global economies.For the European Union, the Commission presidency is a pivotal role. The body acts as the bloc’s competition watchdog, oversees national budgets and proposes policies from climate change to tech regulation – big areas as member states struggle with a range of challenges at home and abroad.The bloc’s top jobs – including the head of the European Council tasked with crafting compromises between member states, whose particular interests often vary – are all changing hands later this year after an EU-wide election.Power centres Berlin and Paris clashed over who should take over at the helm of the Commission, with Merkel backing compatriot Manfred Weber, a deputy head of her centre-right sister party CSU.Macron pushed to block Weber over lack of government experience. Paris and Madrid want more prominent EU postings for liberal and socialist candidates after a change of the parliamentary guard.‘ELECTING A POPE IS EASIER’Any new Commission chief must not only get the backing of a clear majority of – or, preferably, all – national leaders but also be accepted by the new European Parliament, which will sit for the first time on July 2.National leaders want to have their proposal on the jobs puzzle ready before that and put it to the chamber, which votes on laws proposed by the European Commission.“We suggest the person, but we definitely don’t want to see a crisis with parliament, to realise that what we suggest is not being accepted,” Merkel said. “This wouldn’t be good for the work of the Commission in the next five years.”The newly elected legislature has refused to rally behind Weber, even though he heads the biggest faction there, the European People’s Party (EPP). This should give Merkel enough grounds to drop him, diplomats said.“Weber’s claim is imploding. The Parliament is more divided than before and has missed the boat. And EPP national leaders are turning their back on him as well,” said a senior EU diplomat. “If the Germans lose Weber, the French don’t get the job either, it’s tit for tat.”Seeking to narrow a wide gender gap in the bloc’s leadership is also a factor in a complex race that seeks to balance out party politics and regional influence in the EU. The fifth prominent posting up for grabs is the EU’s chief diplomat.Other names in the frame include Frenchman Michel Barnier, currently the EU’s Brexit negotiator, Denmark’s Margrethe Vestager, currently the bloc’s top competition official, and Belgium’s caretaker Prime Minister Charles Michel.Vestager – previously publicly praised by both Merkel and Macron – could help avoid a tug-of-war between the national leaders and the European Parliament as the liberal faction there has proposed her for the Commission chief.Macron, however, suggested after the summit that no more parliament candidates would be considered.Two of the leading contenders to head the ECB are German Jens Weidmann and French central bank governor Francois Villeroy de Galhau.“It’s quicker to elect the pope very often than it is to fill these particular positions,” Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar quipped.WhatsApp <a href=’http://revive.newsbook.com.mt/www/delivery/ck.php?n=ab2c8853&cb={random}’ target=’_blank’><img src=’https://revive.newsbook.com.mt/www/delivery/avw.php?zoneid=97&cb={random}&n=ab2c8853&ct0={clickurl_enc}’ border=’0′ alt=” /></a> SharePrint
Borussia Dortmund are close to signing Zaha
<a href=’http://revive.newsbook.com.mt/www/delivery/ck.php?n=a7617b59&cb={random}’ target=’_blank’><img src=’https://revive.newsbook.com.mt/www/delivery/avw.php?zoneid=128&cb={random}&n=a7617b59&ct0={clickurl_enc}’ border=’0′ alt=” /></a> Borussia Dortmund are set to sell Andriy Yarmolenko so as to raise funds for the transfer of Wilfried Zaha who plays for Crystal Palace.Yarmolenko joined Borussia Dormtund in 2017 and made 30 appearances for the Bundesliga side but is expected to sign for West Ham in a deal worth £17.5 million.The sale of the Ukranian forward could open up the doors for Zaha whose performances helped Crystal Palace avoid relegation from the English Premier League. The Ivory Coast international scored 9 goals and provided 5 assists in 29 appearances for Roy Hodgson’s side but failed to impress when he moved to Manchester United in 2013.Brought to you by Hublot <a href=”http://revive.newsbook.com.mt/www/delivery/ck.php?n=a01a3708&cb={random}” target=”_blank”><img src=”https://revive.newsbook.com.mt/www/delivery/avw.php?zoneid=34&cb={random}&n=a01a3708&ct0={clickurl_enc}” border=”0″ alt=”” /></a>WhatsApp SharePrint
Messi How can you say no to Messi – Pirelli CEO
<a href=’http://revive.newsbook.com.mt/www/delivery/ck.php?n=a7617b59&cb={random}’ target=’_blank’><img src=’https://revive.newsbook.com.mt/www/delivery/avw.php?zoneid=128&cb={random}&n=a7617b59&ct0={clickurl_enc}’ border=’0′ alt=” /></a> SharePrint Football fans in Italy are enthusiastic at the fact that Cristiano Ronaldo will be competing in Serie A. The Portuguese striker ended his long-standing La Liga duel with Lionel Messi after accepting Juventus’ offer. However, Pirelli’s Chief Executive Officer Marco Tronchetti Provera hinted that the duel could soon resume since Inter Milan are planning an outstanding bid which would enable Messi to move to the San Siro.Tronchetti Provera suggested that Suning Group, the Italian club’s owners, want to make a marquee signing now that they’re back in the UEFA Champions League. Messi has a contract, which includes a £626million buyout clause, until the summer of 2021 and Inter will definitely have to make a huge financial investment if they want to one sign of the greatest players of all time.WhatsApp
Gervinho returns to Italy
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Parma have confirmed the signing of Gervinho from Chinese side Hebei China Fortune. The former Lille, Arsenal and Roma player has put pen to paper on a three-year contract. Gervinho previously spent two-and-a-half years in the Italian capital before heading to Asia in January 2016 for €18m. He scored 26 times in 88 appearances for the Giallorossi.Parma are currently preparing for their return to Serie A after achieving three successive promotions. The Italian club was declared bankrupt in 2015 but managed to return to the top-flight after a 2-0 win at Spezia saw them finish second in Serie B.
Send Google Maps directions to your Android from a PC
Advertisement You can now send directions to your Android-powered smartphone from a PC, thanks to Google.This means you can use the larger dispay of your PC to find your destination then pass the directions to your phone without having to perform a second search.The new feature is available inside the latest version of Google Maps for Android — version 9.11.0. Once it is installed on your smartphone or tablet, you’ll see a “Send to device” option in Google Maps on your desktop. It appears at the bottom of the location card. – Advertisement – Click this option, and directions to the location will be sent to your Android device. The notification includes options for “Navigation” and “Directions,” so it’s ideal if you want turn-by-turn instructions or just want to see an overview of your route.You can also just tap the address to see the location in Google Maps without automatically loading the route or navigation.However, those who use Google Maps in “Lite mode” won’t see the “Send to device” button — even if they have the latest Maps update installed on their device.[Via]
MTN services you may not be aware of
Photo Credit: Memeburn Advertisement Telecom companies are constantly innovating in order to stay relevant and grow their subscription.This innovation brings about more unique services for the customer to enjoy.Below are some MTN services you may not be aware of, but are of great benefit to businesses, individuals, and families. – Advertisement – MTN WebPhone MTN WebPhone is a service that allows you to make calls over the internet either from a laptop, tablet or smartphone. It is ideal for the business traveller, especially when outside the country.One of the main benefits is Cost control: Instead of accumulating telephone bills while outside the country, use MTN WebPhone to make cheaper calls over the internet MTN WebPhone is available for Windows PC, Android and iOS devices.To get set up, Contact talkbusiness@mtn.co.ug to sign up for your 032 number, and start using the service. Alternatively you can contact any Service Centres or visit MTN Business at Plots 1 – 4 Nyonyi Gardens to get signed up for the service.Mobile Money Bulk Payments MTN Mobile Money bulk payments service is a web-based funds transfer tool that facilitates disbursement of funds to multiple recipients. The service is currently used for salary processing, payment of allowances for field staff, loan disbursement, employee benefits, refunds to customers, supplier payments etc.MTN Uni-Presence MTN Uni-Presence is a service that brings all your communication devices together under one number. With MTN Uni-Presence, users can make and receive calls wherever they are over any available connections, and instead of receiving calls on multiple numbers, they use one.International Bundles International bundles make it easy to keep in touch with your friends and family abroad. Activate an international bundle of your choice and make calls to friends abroad at affordable rates.To activate, Dial *160*2*6#. See the bundle pricing rates here.MTN Internet Me2U Internet Me2U is a service that enables MTN customers to send a portion of their Internet bundle to another MTN customer. You can send 5MB to 1000MB to any MTN number. The bundle received is valid for 7 days from date and time of receipt.