RHI scandal: Belfast City Council supports call for public inquiry

Image caption Former DUP councillor Ruth Patterson, who was expelled from the party in 2015, said the public were seriously concerned by the “financial squander” in the RHI scheme Belfast City Council has passed a motion calling on the government to hold a full public inquiry into Stormont"s "cash-for-ash" scandal.
The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme, set up in 2012 by the now First Minister and DUP leader Arlene Foster, is set to run £490m over its budget.
The motion, proposed by former DUP councillor Ruth Patterson, was passed by 23 votes in favour to 12 against.
The UK government has already rejected an Alliance call for a public inquiry.
Q&A: What is the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme? Timeline of Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme BBC News NI reports on the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme "Financial squander"The Treasury has refused to cover the RHI overspend and it will have to be paid from the block grant that Northern Ireland rece..

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Philippines president faces murder inquiry

Image Caption: President Duterte is waging a war against drugs in the Philippines Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte is to be investigated by an independent human rights group after he admitted killing three criminals years ago.
Mr Duterte said last week he had helped police kill three suspected kidnappers while he was mayor of the southern city of Davao..

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Phone-hacking inquiry: Ex-Crimewatch presenter makes legal challenge

Image caption Jacqui Hames joined BBC Crimewatch after 30 years with the Met Police An ex-Crimewatch presenter and phone-hacking victim is launching a legal challenge to test the government"s commitment to press regulation.
Jacqui Hames, who is also an ex-police officer, argues the recommendations of the Leveson phone-hacking inquiry are not being implemented.
She is seeking a judicial review of the terms of the public consultation on part two of the Leveson Inquiry.
“Leveson 2” would examine relationships between police and the press.
The government is expected to make a decision on whether or not that phase will go ahead by 10 January, and it said it was considering its response to the application for a review.
The government is also consulting on Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013, which offers press organisations incentives to join an independent regulator.
But many newspapers are opposed to Section 40, because it would force them to pay legal costs in cases broug..

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Phone-hacking inquiry: Ex-Crimewatch presenter demands review over part two

Image caption Jacqui Hames joined BBC Crimewatch after 30 years with the Met Police An ex-Crimewatch presenter and phone-hacking victim is launching a legal challenge to test the government"s commitment to press regulation.
Jacqui Hames, who is also an ex-police officer, argues the recommendations of the Leveson phone-hacking inquiry are not being implemented.
She is seeking a judicial review of the terms of the public consultation on part two of the Leveson Inquiry.
“Leveson 2” would examine relationships between police and the press.
The government is expected to make a decision on whether or not that phase will go ahead by 10 January, and it said it was considering its response to the application for a review.
The government is also consulting on Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013, which offers press organisations incentives to join an independent regulator.
But many newspapers are opposed to Section 40, because it would force them to pay legal costs in cases broug..

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Independent inquiry into child sexual abuse "will not be scaled back"

Image copyright PA Image caption Prof Alexis Jay said the inquiry will retain all of its investigations The chair of the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse has rejected calls for it to be scrapped or scaled back, saying its scope is “a virtue”.
Prof Alexis Jay said the broad nature of the inquiry would allow it to recommend “fundamental changes”.
None of its 13 separate investigations will be dropped, a report said, but it may stop short of examining whether the late peer Lord Janner abused children.
The inquiry has announced it will only hold four public hearings next year.
The announcements were made in a report following an internal review, ordered by Prof Jay after her appointment in August.
The report also set the troubled inquiry"s timetable for 2017.
The child sexual abuse inquiry so far Visible progress needed in inquiry Who is Prof Alexis Jay? Prof Jay said she planned to make recommendations in an interim report in 2018 and vowed to make “substantial progress”..

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Abuse inquiry "must not be scaled back"

Image copyright PA Image caption Prof Alexis Jay said the inquiry will retain all of its investigations The chair of the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse has rejected calls for it to be scrapped or scaled back, saying its scope is “a virtue”.
Prof Alexis Jay said the broad nature of the inquiry would allow it to recommend “fundamental changes”.
She said none of its 13 investigations into allegations of child abuse would be dropped, following a review of the inquiry"s work.
The inquiry has announced it will only hold four public hearings next year.
A report following the internal review – which was ordered by Prof Jay after her appointment in August – set a firm timetable for 2017.
Janner investigationShe said she planned to make recommendations in an interim report in 2018 and vowed to make “substantial progress” by 2020.
However, IICSA officials refused to say when the inquiry would end.
The inquiry also announced it could stop short of investigating whether the late..

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UK Inquiry: Russian"s Putin "probably" approved spy murder

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Putin "probably" approved killing of ex-KGB spy Litvinenko - UK inquiry

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