Stigmabase | Isles

New improved cannabis, now with genetic modifications : " "The world of cannabis is undergoing a complete change," according to Superintendent François Thierry, head of France's Central Agency for the Repression of Drug Trafficking . Photograph: Juan Mabromata/Getty Times change and cannabis is no exception, ... The Guardian "

Riots prompt new policing advice : " But she said "strong, enforceable powers" were needed to help police deal with anti-social behaviour, criminality , gangs and disorder. She said dispersal orders - which allow police to move on groups of people from certain areas - had been used "to ... BBC News "

UK price rises could increase fuel poverty to 6.6 million homes : " If all the UK's Big Six energy suppliers join the four which have already announced price rises, the number of households living in fuel poverty could rise to 6.6 million, a charity is warning. According to fuel poverty charity National Energy Action ... Energy Efficiency News "

Supporters launch petition for Ugandan asylum seeker : "The petition to allow Mr Segwanyi to stay in the UK was started by LGBT asylum campaigner Paul Canning, who has collected more than 400 signatures and is also urging people to contact Home Secretary Theresa May about the case. ... United Kingdom | Ireland

All aboard the Brangelina Express! Couple charter an entire train to take them ... Khatchik could mean today's trip to Glasgow and the items the actress bought would certainly keep the children amused. We all set? Angelina does a final head count before setting off for the train Brad's latest film is a post-apocalyptic horror film ...

Charitable housing associations resist evicting people involved in last week's ... “How fortunate it is that most social housing is provided by the voluntary sector,” he said. “And not grandstanding burghers of some local council.” An Acevo spokeswoman advised that it was not clear yet if this was a member-wide consensus. ...

Elderly 'cut back on essentials' : " Saga reported that its quality of life index for older people in the UK had fallen for the third quarter in a row, and that inflation was hitting the over 50s harder than other age groups because of their spending patterns. ... BBC News "

Inflation: pensioners are biggest victims of RPI/CPI double-dealing If that sounds like a dry technicality, then beware that new calculations from Saga show that inflation has robbed many older people of nearly a fifth of the purchasing power of their pension since the credit crisis began. How you measure the rate of ...

Cameron uses riots to target 'feckless' poor people : " This has the effect of isolating young people from entering the adult working world and creates a barrier between the young and the older people who have jobs. Create mass youth unemployment with few prospects other than a poorly paid service sector ... The Guardian "

Unions take antisocial view of NHS social enterprises : " The plan was eventually dropped, with NHS Mid and South Essex deciding to transfer its community health work to a joint mental health trust. In Gloucestershire, a similarly acrimonious campaign has recently gone the other way, with NHS South West ... The Guardian "

Police cuts 'to axe 16000 posts' : " The institute is based on a partnership between Cardiff University, South Wales Police and the University of Glamorgan. Dr Brain's study analysed the combined effect of last year's Spending Review, the police settlement grant and spending announcements ... BBC News "

Fans complain 'Michael Forever' tribute includes Jackson critic : "The fan website MJ4Justice was one of several calling for a boycott of "Michael Forever: The Tribute Concert" scheduled for October 8 in Cardiff , Wales . "Either they don't have access to computers, telephones or do not know how to use GOOGLE," ... United Kingdom | Ireland

Elderly 'cut back on essentials' : " Saga reported that its quality of life index for older people in the UK had fallen for the third quarter in a row, and that inflation was hitting the over 50s harder than other age groups because of their spending patterns. ... BBC News "

Squatters said I was dead as they drank my wine She had left her terrace home in Leytonstone on a Friday morning to go to work and spent the weekend visiting her elderly parents in Guildford. Neighbours raised the alarm on the Monday evening as she attended the Proms, and she returned to her home of ...

Nick Clegg announces 'riot payback scheme' : " "We said we were going to pioneer a rehabilitation revolution to stop this downward spiral of repeat crime. "From March 2012, every offender who leaves prison won't just be allowed to drift back into their old life, won't just be able to drift into a ... The Guardian "

Analysis: Charities divided over the potential of phone apps : "Many agree that this is one of the most important things for charities to consider when building an app. Simon Painter, founder of the online fundraising website ragabonds.org. uk , says a charity that wants to make a successful app must do something ... United Kingdom | Ireland

Ipswich: Joy for pair of charities after £670000 lottery funding boost : " ... offering help and confidential advice to victim of domestic violence. n Have you been helped by these charities ? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Stret, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co. uk . East Anglian Daily Times "

Help to fill charity shop's shelves : " A CLITHEROE charity shop is appealing for help as donations hit an all-time low. Volunteers and staff at the Age UK shop in Moor Lane are urging local people to donate unwanted items to help refill their rails and shelves, which are usually brimming ... Clitheroe Today "

Riots centenary : " The recent scenes of police clashing with rioters, fires lit on city streets and hundreds appearing in court come as Liverpool marks the centenary of similar but far worse events. A transport workers strike in August 1911 led to crowds clashing ... BBC News "

Under Construction Festival is a showcase for young musicians by David Owens, South Wales Echo A different kind of music festival takes place in Cardiff at the weekend, one organised and performed by young people as part of a thriving community project. Dave Owens found out more UNDER Construction is an event ...

Student rents soar : "by Gareth Evans, South Wales Echo STUDENTS heading to university in Cardiff next month face record high rents, new research has found. The average weekly student rent in the Welsh capital now stands at £61.07, up from £57.48 last year, according to a ... United Kingdom | Ireland

Life-saving charity in cash plea : " The Glasgow Humane Society needs £100000 to renew its equipment and buy a new patrol boat and support vehicle. Its "Riverman Appeal" is being launched on the society's 221st birthday. Over the last 10 years the organisation is believed to have saved ... BBC News "

Over-50s increasingly worried about rising cost of living : " Photograph: Ian Waldie/Getty Images Rising inflation, falling stock markets and low interest rates are taking an increasing toll on older people's finances, with research showing one in five over-50s have reduced spending on essentials to save money. ... The Guardian "

Alexandra Burke strong supporter of gay rights ... in New York have recently been given the right to get married but other states in America have yet to follow suit with some putting forward motions to ban gay marriage while others preferring to opt for Civil Unions of the kind available in the UK .

Reggae singer backs gay rights : " Reggae music is for everybody (and) that's why I am here to break down that wall…showing Jamaicans and the world that tolerance is needed; gay have right and they are people and they need to be respected and they are a part of society.” UK Gay rights ... The Voice "

Kettlethorpe community news : " CHARITY FUN DAY: Crigglestone Sports Club are holding a charity fun day on bank holiday Sunday, August 28, in aid of Cancer Research UK . There will be a barbecue, bouncy castle, rides etc. Evening entertainment from motown duo 'The Realistics'. ... United Kingdom | Ireland

UK riots: how can the 120000 'most troubled' families be helped? : " "You had child protection issues, you had alcohol and drug addicted parents, you had mental health issues. Very few of these families we dealt with were in a position to work." Harrison's scheme is based on getting volunteers to adopt troubled ... The Guardian "

Return of the English riot : " ... and the riot as consequent to conspiracy, criminality , collective madness and inexplicable evil. But riots have their own organisation, discipline and purpose and this needs to be recognised. The riots that have torn through England in recently are ... Independent Online "

UK riots: magistrates told 'ignore the rule book' and lock up looters Details of the memo to the courts emerged yesterday as Daniel Anderson, a 25-year- old father of three from Croydon, was jailed for six months after admitting handling stolen goods. Anderson was found with two new guitars, an amplifier and a flat-screen ...

Neighbourhood policing will be hit hardest by spending cuts : " Police patrolling the streets of Hackney, east London . Theresa May insists the cuts will be absorbed by back office efficiency savings. Photograph: Graeme Robertson Neighbourhood policing services will feel the greatest impact from government funding ... The Guardian "

Older people 'could be entitled to free energy saving advice' : "Elizabeth Simpson of Age UK Northumberland commented that energy efficiency is top of the agenda, especially with 3.5 million older people now in fuel poverty. "After two very cold winters we want to help older people prepare now so that when the ... United Kingdom | Ireland

Man dragged by train after assault at station : " Police believe the attacker got off the train at Coatbridge Sunnyside station and hit the victim, a 32-year-old man from Glasgow , causing him to fall off the edge of the platform. He was then dragged a short distance when the train moved off, ... stv.tv "

Health and social housing starts increase : " The value of social housing and health construction projects starting on site increased in the three months to July. The drop in new build work now materialising following the government's spending review last year started was more than compensated by ... The Construction Index "

England riots: anti-poverty groups question evictions and benefit cuts : " He added: "Even ignoring the administrative nightmare of removing benefits and dealing with the inevitable fresh claims by dependants, it's a recipe for exclusion and social division." Hussain accused ministers of "scrambling to show they're doing ... The Guardian "

Politicians and the riots: speaking for England : "The Labour leader is right to berate Mr Cameron for moving from the sensible position he once held that both behaviour and deprivation matter in the fostering of social exclusion and crime to his current simplistic "this was about behaviour" approach ... United Kingdom | Ireland

England riots: anti-poverty groups question evictions and benefit cuts : " Stephen Howlett, chief executive of one of London's largest housing associations, Peabody, also warned the measures could be disproportionate and unfairly stigmatise those in social housing . "The people appearing in court are not exclusively tenants of ... The Guardian "

David Cameron UK riots speech: Non-military 'national service' at 16-year-olds ... 'They work in their communities, whether that's coaching children to play football, visiting old people at the hospital or offering a bike repair service to the community.' He insisted it would instill 'old-fashioned' values of duty and decency which ...

Suffolk street lights turned off to reduce energy bills : " Daphne Savage, chief executive of Age UK in Suffolk, said: "Among older people there is this disproportionate fear of crime compared with the actual levels of crime." "If things are happening that cause you worry, then talk to your councillors and make ... BBC News "

Syria unrest: Palestinian refugees flee camp, says UN : " "We have no idea where these people are, we have no idea how many of them are wounded, are dying, are elderly , are women, are children," he said. Latakia was one of the cities to be caught up in the revolt soon after it erupted in mid-March. ... BBC News "

Thousands take part in Pride - Brighton : "One assistant chief constable and a couple of other senior officers walked with their fellow LGBT PCs. The police was just one of the emergency services. The firefighters and the paramedics were there too. The biggest cheer, though, was for an elderly ... United Kingdom | Ireland