April 2024 - Hoang Viet

Uncategorized

Apr 29 2024

Man admits killing 87-year-old who was fatally stabbed while riding mobility scooter | UK News

A man has admitted killing an 87-year-old mobility scooter rider in west London.

Lee Byer stabbed Thomas O’Halloran to death in Greenford in a “motiveless attack”.

A post-mortem found the victim had suffered multiple stab wounds to the neck, chest and abdomen in August 2022.

Mr O’Halloran, a grandfather who was originally from Co Clare in Ireland, was said to be a passionate musician and was described as “very popular” in Greenford, often busking for charity.

Byer, of no fixed address, denied murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility on Monday and having an offensive weapon.

Prosecutor Gareth Patterson KC accepted the pleas after mental health reports found the 45-year-old was psychotic, hearing voices, suffering from paranoid delusions and paranoid schizophrenia.

He said the defendant’s mental state provided an explanation for what was a “motiveless attack”.

On the afternoon of 16 August 2022, a member of the public found the victim on his scooter who told them he had been stabbed, with his wounds clearly visible, the Old Bailey previously heard.

Mr O’Halloran had been coming from a passageway that runs between Runnymede Gardens and Welland Gardens, and the passer-by called the police soon after 4pm.

Despite being given first aid by members of the public and later police and medics, Mr O’Halloran was pronounced at the scene at 4.54pm.

He and the defendant were seen on CCTV heading towards the passageway where their paths crossed.

Apart from Byer, no-one else went in or out of the area when the victim was attacked, the footage showed.

When he left the passageway, a knife could be seen in Byer’s hand.

He was caught on camera putting a knife handle in a drain in Haymill Close on the way back to his mother’s house. Forensic analysis discovered the victim’s blood on the handle, but the blade was not never found.

In police interviews following his arrest at his mother’s home on 18 August, he denied being the suspect caught on CCTV, claiming he was in his mum’s garden or the park at the time.

Clothes matching those seen on CCTV were found in a search of the property as well as a knife set with handles similar to the one found in the drain.

Months before the killing, footage on social media showed Mr O’Halloran busking as he raised money for Ukraine.

At the time of his death, Fine Gael senator Martin Conway said the victim had regularly visited Ireland and that his death had left his home community in Ennistymon in “deep shock and sadness”.

“Tommy, as he was known, left Ennistymon for London 71 years ago but travelled home almost every year until about 10 years ago,” he said.

Mr O’Halloran was survived by his family, including his sister, two brothers, nieces and nephews.

Old Bailey Judge Mark Lucraft adjourned sentencing until 10 May.

admin 0 Comments

Uncategorized

Apr 29 2024

‘Admin’ and ‘12345’ banned from being used as passwords in UK crackdown on cyber attacks | Science & Tech News

Common and easily guessed passwords like ‘admin’ or ‘12345’ are being banned in the UK as part of world-first laws to protect against cyber attacks.

As well as default passwords, if a user suggests a common password they will be prompted to change it on creation of a new account.

It comes as a home filled with smart devices could be exposed to more than 12,000 hacking attacks from across the world in a single week, with 2,684 attempts to guess weak passwords on five devices, according to an investigation by Which?

Password managing website NordPass found the most commonly used passwords in the UK last year were 123456 and, believe it or not, password.

The new measures come into force in the UK on Monday, making it the first country in the world to introduce the laws.

They are part of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PSTI) regime – designed to improve the UK’s resilience from cyber attacks and ensure malign interference does not impact the wider UK and global economy.

Under the law, manufacturers of all internet-connected devices – from mobile phones, smart doorbells and even high-tech fridges – will be required to implement minimum security standards.

They will also have to publish contact details so bugs and issues can be reported and resolved and tell consumers the minimum time they can expect to receive important security updates.

“As everyday life becomes increasingly dependent on connected devices, the threats generated by the internet multiply and become even greater,” Science and Technology Minister Viscount Camrose said.

“From today, consumers will have greater peace of mind that their smart devices are protected from cyber criminals… We are committed to making the UK the safest place in the world to be online and these new regulations mark a significant leap towards a more secure digital world.”

According to recent figures, 99% of UK adults own at least one smart device and UK households own an average of nine connected devices.

Read more:
UK could be brought to a halt ‘at any moment’ by cyber attack
China blamed for two ‘malicious’ cyber attack campaign
Lockbit ransomware gang’s origins, tactics and past targets

A further 57% of households own a smart TV, 53% own a voice assistant and 49% own a smart watch or fitness wristband.

Copper Horse – a company that provides mobile phone software and security expertise to a range of customers – flagged products with webcams as “weak and insecure” and are “trivial to hack into and takeover”.

The new measures intend to increase consumer confidence in the security of the products they use and buy.

It is part of the government’s £2.6bn National Cyber Strategy to protect and promote the UK online.

admin 0 Comments

Uncategorized

Apr 29 2024

Warmer weather is finally on its way, with parts of Britain set to bask in 20C heat | UK News

Highs of 20C are expected in parts of the UK this week, the Met Office has said, following a spell of cold, wet and windy weather.

Forecasters expect warmer weather to return mid-week, with southeast England set to enjoy the highest temperatures.

But there will still be scattered showers or longer spells of rain across the UK – and areas north of Newcastle, particularly the east coast of Scotland, will see the coldest temperatures this week.

Get the latest weather forecast where you are here

Senior Met Office meteorologist Amy Bokota said: “Temperatures have been below average for the last couple of weeks, so certainly by the time we get to Wednesday, and probably into next weekend, temperatures will be warmer.

“It might not be the sort of glorious sort of heatwave that we’re hoping for… but there probably will be some more pleasant and warmer weather for some people as we head towards the end of the week.”

The warmer weather comes after heavy rain interrupted sports matches and flood warnings were issued across the UK over the weekend.

Emergency services were called to assist two people inside a car that was submerged in around 50cm of floodwater under a railway bridge in Thurmaston, Leicester, on Sunday morning.

Cricket matches across the country were postponed or cancelled over the weekend because of the rain and soggy grounds, including Vitality County Championship games in County Durham, Yorkshire and Leicester.

The Environment Agency issued several flood warnings for Sunday, meaning flooding was expected, including in St Ives in Cornwall, areas on the River Wreake in Leicestershire, Water Eaton Brook at Water Eaton and several towns on the Isle of Wight.

So far this month, the maximum temperature recorded has been 21.8C in Writtle, Essex, on 13 April with a low of -6.3C recorded in Shap, Cumbria, on 26 April and a UK-wide average of 8.4C.

Grey skies and rain have made April feel unusually cold, the Met Office has said.

But it has actually been “on the warmer side of average”, said Ms Bokota.

It has been a “been a month of two halves”, she added: “Quite warm for the first half, and then quite cool up until now.”

It has definitely been “wetter than average for the UK as a whole”, however, meaning many areas of the UK have been “quite dull so far for the time of year”.

admin 0 Comments

Uncategorized

Apr 28 2024

ESL One Birmingham: Thousands of fans head to West Midlands to watch professional video gamers | Science & Tech News

The production is slick, the pundits are sharp and the players are gods.

This is no traditional tournament though. This is professional gaming. Fans are watching the best players in the world playing their favourite game, in an arena, for a cash prize.

Around 15,000 fans from across the world are in Birmingham watching pros go head-to-head (virtually) throughout the week, with many thousands more watching the competition online.

The tournament, ESL One Birmingham, is being held at the Resorts World Arena near the city’s airport.

While many people will have heard of some of the games that are played at big esports events like this, such as Fifa, the game being played this week in Birmingham will be less widely known.

Dota 2 is described to me by one gaming analyst as being ‘kind of like chess’ but with flashing lights and novelty characters.

There are two teams of five players and, before play can begin, a considerable amount of time is spent by the professionals choosing their own characters and trying to stop the other team from choosing characters which might be overly advantageous during the game.

Then, frankly, the rules of the game are lost on me but I’m told it involves a king, queens and trying to destroy the enemy’s (the other team’s) base.

The fans tell me part of the appeal of Dota is how difficult the game is, but ultimately the enjoyment of being a spectator is the same as for sports enthusiasts.

“It’s about the professional aspect of it, similar with football. You can go and play football but it’s nice to see people playing it at a level you could never play at,” says fan Ryan Freeman.

I’m here to watch the competition’s semi-final between the UK team, Tundra, and a Saudi Arabian team, Falcons. There aren’t actually any UK players in Tundra and Falcons are an equally international bunch.

Much like in professional athletic sports, esports teams are buying and selling the best players in the world. The pros in Tundra and Falcons are some of the best paid in the industry.

One expert tells me at this level, players can make $10,000 (£8,000) a month, plus tournament winnings and sponsorship deals. The prize pot at this competition is $1m (£800,000) although that is shared between the teams, with the winning team taking $300,000 (£240,000).

“I think many people think of the esports team as just five guys who like playing the game at home,” says Alvaro Sanchez Velasco, Product Manager at ESL One Birmingham.

“But the [team] organisations have boot camps, they have schedules that include training regimens, psychological visits. They usually have a team manager and team psychologist, that’s very common these days, as well as a coach and assistant coach.”

Jonas Volek is a Czech professional gamer and although he’s not taking part in this tournament in Birmingham, he’s here to commentate and analyse the games. While I’m interviewing him I see a line of fans developing, they’re clearly waiting for him to finish speaking.

When he does, they all ask for selfies.

Mr Volek, 23, played chess as a child, then switched to video games and by 12 years old he was hooked on Dota 2, becoming a professional player by his late teens. Now he competes in tournaments across the world.

“It’s not really a job, it’s more of a lifestyle because it takes so much of my time,” says Mr Volek.

Read more from Sky News:
Why are thousands of video game workers losing their jobs?
The female gamers competing for thousands of pounds
Fallout: The nuclear-powered game capturing new audiences

“When I’m really training, it takes 12 hours a day, and I’m always travelling. There’s no time for anything else.”

I didn’t see any female players on stage in Birmingham, and the audience is dominated by men.

“I do hope one day I’ll see more women up there playing the game in the best teams,” says fan Charlotte Keane.

But there isn’t the charged, often volatile atmosphere that you might find at many sporting events, particularly men’s football.

There is some comic ‘smack talk’ between players from opposing teams, egged on by the hosts for the audience’s enjoyment. But after one player criticises the other player’s hair in mock-serious fashion, one of the hosts decides that’s enough play fighting.

Of course, for the fans, there isn’t the same territorial spirit that comes with supporting a particular football team for instance. Mostly this is about respect for the individual players, who can’t hear any of the cheers or chants from the crowd during the game as they wear noise cancelling headphones so they can focus on winning.

After about an hour of play, Falcons are victorious, and the fans make their way out of the auditorium to buy hot dogs and fish and chips.

This event feels distinctly less boozy than any sporting competition I’ve ever been to. But, even for an enthusiast, Dota 2 does not seem like the kind of game it would be easy to follow after a few pints.

admin 0 Comments

Uncategorized

Apr 28 2024

Second man dies after taking ‘unusually strong batch’ of heroin in North Devon – with two people still in hospital | UK News

A second man has died after taking an “unusually strong batch” of heroin in North Devon, police have said.

The first man died as a result of taking the Class A drug on Friday and a second man, who had been admitted to hospital earlier, died on Saturday night.

Devon and Cornwall Police said his death is believed to be as a result of taking the same batch, which is thought to be a “form of heroin combined with another substance” which causes “more serious effects” than regular supplies.

A total of 10 people, including the man who died, have been treated in hospital. Two are still being treated.

Two men and two women arrested on suspicion of being involved in the supply of a controlled substance have been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

What was “locally thought to be an unusual batch of heroin” circulating in Westward Ho!, Bideford and Barnstaple became known to officers and partner agencies at 5pm on Friday, police said.

A major incident was declared, before being stood down on Saturday morning.

“We believe the substance found on Friday has been contained,” said Detective Superintendent Ben Davies.

He added: “While we believe there is no threat to the wider community, we continue to investigate the circumstances of the now two deaths as a result of taking this substance.

“We are continuing to carry out tests in order to ascertain what the substance is, but suspect it is a form of heroin combined with another substance which users will find causes more serious effects than heroin which they might usually use.”

Health workers are working with local drug users to “safeguard them as much as possible”, he said.

Users are urged to “exercise extreme caution”, he added.

“Advice remains that if you feel you are suffering an adverse reaction or are in the company of someone in need of urgent medical attention, call 999 for appropriate care and help.”

admin 0 Comments

Uncategorized

Apr 28 2024

Memorial to be built for Muslim soldiers who fought and died alongside UK troops in World Wars | UK News

A memorial is set to be built for Muslim soldiers who fought and died alongside British and Allied forces in both World Wars.

Set to be erected at the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) in Staffordshire, the 13.2m minaret-shaped structure is to be constructed with brick and terracotta sourced from different parts of the UK and inscribed with the stories of Muslim soldiers who fought for the crown.

Architect Benny O’Looney, who designed the memorial, told Sky News he was inspired by travels to the Indian subcontinent.

He said: “The idea is, as you approach the memorial, it draws you in. And you can see there’s more detail, more information, more craftsmanship.

“The idea is to show a panorama of the Muslim soldiers’ service in the World War from the gritty 1914. This incredible narrative of plugging the gap and saving the expeditionary forces on the Western Front.”

At least 2.5 million Muslim soldiers and labourers are reported to have fought with the Allied forces in the First World War and 5.5 million in the Second World War. Nearly 1.5 million Muslims were killed in action.

The memorial’s design tells the story of sacrifice while reviving traditional crafts, and Mr O’Looney says it will incorporate work from a sculptor and an Islamic calligrapher.

Its site has been chosen at the NMA, a 150-acre visitor site on the edge of the National Forest, alongside commemorative memorials for Sikhs, Gurkhas and others.

Irfan Malik’s ancestors served in both World Wars.

“Both of my great-grandfathers Captain Ghulam Mohammad and Subedar [roughly equivalent to warrant officer] Mohammad Khan were part of the Great War, and my two grandfathers were part of the Second World War serving in Burma,” the GP from Nottingham told Sky News.

“They all descended from Dulmial village, which is based in the salt range in Punjab, in present-day Pakistan, a very famous military village.”

Dr Malik said the memorial at the NMA has been a number of years in planning.

“I’m so glad we are near to fruition now, so that we can remember this forgotten history of the Muslim soldiers in both of the Great Wars and looking at Muslim contributions globally as well,” he said.

“It’ll be a symbol of remembrance of those campaigns, the sacrifices made, and also an opportunity to educate our younger generation to improve community cohesion in this country.”

admin 0 Comments

Uncategorized

Apr 28 2024

UK to develop hypersonic missiles to catch up with China and Russia by 2030 – report | UK News

Britain plans to equip its armed forces with a homegrown hypersonic cruise missile by the end of the decade, according to a report.

Military chiefs are under pressure to catch up with China, Russia and the US by developing a weapon capable of flying at speeds higher than Mach 5 – five times the speed of sound, according to The Sunday Telegraph.

The Ministry of Defence wants the missile to be designed and built in the UK and to enter service by 2030.

Plans are at an early stage, the newspaper reported, although there is no decision on whether the missile will be launched from land, sea or air.

It comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged to spend 2.5% of gross domestic product on defence by 2030.

Ballistic weapons can also reach hypersonic speeds but the difference is in manoeuvrability – ballistic weapons generally have fixed paths but the path of a hypersonic weapon can be changed after launch, making it difficult to destroy.

The US, Russia and China are the main players in the hypersonic weapons race but other countries, such as North Korea, claim to have tested hypersonic weapons.

Read more:
Sean Bell: Putin’s ‘undefeatable’ missile was a costly illusion
US tests hypersonic weapon with speeds ‘five times greater than speed of sound’

The development of hypersonic capabilities is part of Pillar Two of AUKUS – a defence and security pact between the UK, Australia and the US.

Last month the US tested a hypersonic cruise missile on an atoll in the Marshall Islands in a message to its rival in the Pacific – China. It is the latest in a number of hypersonic weapons tests the country has completed in recent years.

A spokesperson for the MoD would not comment in detail on the development of Britain’s hypersonic missile capability, citing national security, but confirmed “hypersonic technologies to further develop UK sovereign advanced capabilities” were being pursued.

“We continue to invest in our equipment to meet current and future threats,” they added.

admin 0 Comments

Uncategorized

Apr 27 2024

Pro-Palestinian protests: Man arrested for carrying swastika placard and another held for racist remarks at London march | UK News

Two men have been arrested at a pro-Palestinian march in London, according to the Metropolitan Police.

One of the men was taken into custody for carrying a swastika emblazoned placard and another for an allegedly making racist remarks towards counter-protesters, police said.

The arrests come a week after a row erupted over a video that appeared to show a police officer preventing a counter-protester crossing a road near a pro-Palestinian march in London on 13 April.

On Saturday, thousands gathered for the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) demonstration in the capital on Saturday afternoon to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

There was also a simultaneous static demonstration organised by pro-Israel group Enough is Enough, which took place along the route of the pro-Palestinian march.

Shortly before 1pm, Scotland Yard said officers had arrested a man carrying a swastika placard at Parliament Square, where the PSC march set off.

It later said another man was being held for shouting a “racist remark” towards Enough is Enough protesters on Pall Mall.

Chants of “Stop bombing Gaza, stop bombing children” were sung by the crowds and placards saying “Free Palestine, smash the racists” were displayed.

Speaking on stage at Hyde Park, Palestinian ambassador to the UK Husam Zomlot said: “Change will come, campus by campus, city by city, country by country.

“The tide is turning because this is a global movement for change, a global assertion of popular power, of people’s power.”

Protesters could be heard chanting the controversial slogan: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”.

Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn was among those holding banners at the front of the pro-Palestine protest.

The PSC march was the 13th national protest since the first was staged on 9 October, two days after the Hamas-led attack on Israel which claimed the lives of more than 1,200 people.

Read more from Sky News:
Hostage’s parents tell him ‘stay strong’ after video shows him alive
Dozens arrested in US as student protests over Gaza spread

Police said these protests have cost around £38.4m and required 44,722 officer shifts as well as 6,399 officer rest days to be cancelled.

Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said the Met aimed to police “without fear or favour”, adding that protests in London had “been a particular cause of fear and uncertainty in Jewish communities”.

He said the marches caused some Jewish people to stay away from the capital’s centre on protest days, avoid the Tube, hide their religion or otherwise change their behaviour.

A third demonstration organised by the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) was due to take place on Saturday from 12pm until 2pm but was cancelled.

The organisation said it cancelled the “walk together” event – expected to attract thousands of people – after receiving threats and identifying “hostile actors” who threatened the safety of Jews.

The latest protest in central London comes as student protests against Israel’s war in Gaza continue to spread across the US, following last week’s arrest of more than 100 demonstrators at Columbia University.

admin 0 Comments

Uncategorized

Apr 27 2024

Man dies and eight treated in hospital after using ‘unusually strong ‘ heroin | UK News

A man has died and four people have been arrested after taking an “unusually strong batch” of heroin in North Devon.

Devon police declared a major incident early Friday evening when they discovered the batch of class A drugs had been circulated.

By midnight, the man had died and eight others who were also believed to have taken the drug had been treated in hospital, police said. They said the drugs were circulated in Westward Ho!, Bideford and Barnstaple.

Police said the man died despite receiving medical treatment at the scene.

Two men and two women have been arrested on suspicion of being involved in the supply of a controlled substance and the major incident was stood down on Saturday morning, police added.

All currently remain in police custody. The condition of the eight people who needed hospital treatment was not immediately disclosed by police.

Read more:
Four arrested over alleged people smuggling Facebook adverts
Social media influencer shot dead by gunman posing as food delivery driver

North and West Devon superintendent Toby Davies said: “As soon as we were made aware of the issue this substance was likely to cause on Friday evening, we did everything possible with partners to reach out to the drug-using community to warn them of potential danger they were facing.

“We continue to work with health partners to warn those who may be substance users to exercise extreme caution.

“However, we would reassure the community we believe this is now contained.”

He added: “If anyone fears they are in danger or are in the company of someone suffering a medical episode, we would ask they contact 999 to seek appropriate medical help.”

The College of Policing defines a major incident as “an event or situation requiring a response under one or more of the emergency services’ major incident plans” and one that “will usually include involving large numbers of people, either directly or indirectly.”

admin 0 Comments

Uncategorized

Apr 27 2024

Gold watch recovered from body of richest man on the Titanic to be auctioned | UK News

A gold pocket watch that was recovered from the body of the richest man on the Titanic will be auctioned on Saturday.

John Jacob Astor, 47, went down with the ship in 1912 after helping his wife on to a lifeboat.

Rather than try his luck with another lifeboat, the impeccably dressed businessman, a prominent member of the wealthy Astor family, was last seen smoking a cigarette and chatting with a fellow passenger.

His body was recovered from the Atlantic Ocean seven days after the sinking of the ship, which hit an iceberg on its maiden voyage to New York, and his 14-carat gold Waltham pocket watch, engraved with the initials JJA, was found.

The watch is expected to fetch between £100,000 and £150,000 when it goes under the hammer at auctioneers Henry Aldridge & Son in Wiltshire on Saturday.

Mr Astor was thought to be one of the richest people in the world at the time of the Titanic‘s sinking, with a net worth of about $87m – equivalent to several billion dollars today, auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said.

“At first, Astor did not believe the ship was in any serious danger but later it was apparent she was sinking and the captain had started an evacuation after midnight, so he helped his wife into lifeboat four,” Mr Aldridge said.

Mrs Astor survived. Her husband’s body was recovered not far from the sinking.

Read more from Sky News:
ITV newsreader ‘receiving medical care’ after behaviour worries viewers
Jewish campaign group cancels walk over safety fears

The watch was passed by Mr Astor’s son Vincent to the son of his father’s executive secretary, William Dobbyn.

“The watch itself was completely restored after being returned to Mr Astor’s family and worn by his son,” Mr Aldridge added.

He called it “a unique part of the Titanic story and one of the most important pieces of horological history relating to the most famous ship in the world”.

admin 0 Comments

Hoang Viet

Hoang Viet

UK’s 10 most commonly used passwords in 2023