Latest news with #vigilance
Reuters
3 days ago
- General
- Reuters
China's vice premier stresses production safety after deadly chemical plant blast
BEIJING, May 29 (Reuters) - China's Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing on Thursday urged authorities to learn from recent incidents and remain vigilant about production safety, the official Xinhua news agency reported. Special attention must be paid to key industries including firefighting, hazardous chemicals, gas, mining, transportation and construction, Zhang said. The vice premier made the remarks at a production safety event after a chemical plant explosion in China's eastern province of Shandong on Tuesday killed at least five people and six remain missing.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- BBC News
Cambridgeshire bank holiday burglary 'spike' warning from police
People are being warned to be vigilant over the bank holiday weekend after a "spike" in residential burglaries at the same time last Police said there were 54 such raids in the county this time last year, which they said was a "high for 2024" - when the average number of burglaries was 26 per said while some homes were broken into, many thieves were opportunists stealing items when windows had been opened and doors Sgt Justin Parr, from the acquisitive crime team, said: "Thieves will look for any opportunity to steal from homes, so we're asking people to remain extra vigilant." He warned people to keep valuables out of sight and secure windows and doors when not in those rooms."If you're going away, please ensure your home is secure and you don't advertise your trip on social media or make it obvious you're not at home," he said."If you're spending time in your garden, please make sure windows at the front of the property are shut and your door is locked. "Many thieves are opportunists and may enter a property if they believe people are distracted."Police also suggested people considered installing a video doorbell, CCTV or an Sgt Parr added: "We have dedicated teams who are working hard to combat burglary and bring thieves to justice. "Tackling it is a force priority as we aim to make Cambridgeshire an even safer place to live." Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Telegraph
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Police tell British Jews ‘be vigilant' after DC anti-Semitic attack
Scotland Yard has urged London's Jewish community to remain vigilant in the aftermath of the killing of two Israeli embassy staff in Washington DC. The Metropolitan Police warned Jewish Londoners of the 'ever-present need' to be on their guard following the attack, carried out near the US capital's Jewish museum by a man who shouted 'free Palestine'. A Met Police spokesman said: 'We understand why the awful attack on the Jewish community in Washington DC on Wednesday evening will undoubtedly have increased concerns among Jewish Londoners. 'It comes at a time when many are already increasingly worried about their safety. 'There is nothing to indicate that events in Washington have specifically increased the risk or threat here in London, but they are a reminder of the ever-present need to be vigilant. Our message to Jewish Londoners remains the same – please be alert, but do not be alarmed. 'If you see something that doesn't feel right, trust your instincts and report it.' The spokesman added: 'Since Oct 7 2023 we have seen a concerning increase in anti-Semitic hate crime, as well as the ever-present threat from extremism or terrorism. 'Officers have been working closely with community members and key partners, including the Community Security Trust, to provide advice, reassurance and a visible presence particularly in those areas with larger Jewish populations or in the vicinity of relevant venues. That work continues.' The Community Security Trust (CST), which works to protect Jews from terrorism and anti-Semitism, has also urged British Jews to continue taking basic security measures to safeguard premises and individuals. In a statement the CST said: 'CST condemns the terrorist murder of two Israeli embassy staff outside the Jewish Museum in Washington DC. Our thoughts are with their family and colleagues at this awful time. 'This kind of terrorism is a global threat to all Jewish communities that has risen significantly since Oct 7, and it is the reason why there is so much security across the Jewish community in the UK. 'CST will continue working tirelessly with the police, government and other partners to enable a safe, proud Jewish way of life in this country.' The CST issues regular security advice to Jewish community, including to keep gates and doors closed or guarded; to be alert for suspicious people and activities, including parked cars and unattended items and to avoid congregating outside communal buildings and events. They also warned about 'tailgating' – when people follow close behind someone to gain access to a building when gates or doors are opened. Its security measures are understood to have increased significantly following Israel's response to the Oct 7 attacks and have remained at a very high level ever since. The Washington victims, a young couple planning their engagement, had left a reception for diplomats near the city's Jewish museum on Wednesday night when a stranger armed with a handgun approached them and opened fire. The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez, fled into the museum and was detained by security staff as witnesses rushed to help the victims. As he was detained by officers he was heard shouting 'free, free Palestine'. Israel named one of the victims as Yaron Lischinsky, 28, who worked in the embassy's political department. The second was named as Sarah Milgrim, a Jewish American embassy employee. Rising anti-Semitic crime The latest UK warnings followed a paint attack on a mainly Jewish office block in north Manchester on May 15. Rico House, in Prestwich – which is owned by a Jewish company and leases offices to businesses that include a jeweller and a property management firm – was targeted by the protest group Palestine Action. Red paint was thrown across the building's front, windows, and entrance and 'Happy Nakba Day' – signifying the displacement of Palestinians when the state of Israel was created in 1948 – was graffitied on an outside wall. In April, a man was arrested after allegedly attempting to break into the Israeli embassy in west London with a knife. CST recorded 3,528 anti-Semitic incidents in the UK last year, the second-highest annual total ever reported to it, after a peak the previous year. Rhetoric related to the ongoing Middle East conflict featured in 1,844 (52 per cent) of nti-Semitic incidents reported to CST in 2024. In at least 355 of the incidents the phrase 'Free Palestine' was said to have been used in an anti-Semitic way, by being targeted 'at Jewish people or institutions in a hostile manner simply because they were Jewish'.
South China Morning Post
16-05-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Remain vigilant after Covid reminds us it has never gone away
Just as the devastating Covid-19 outbreak seemed like a distant memory, the Hong Kong public has been rudely reminded that the killer virus has never really gone away. The disturbing headline of positive samples hitting a one-year high, along with 30 deaths in the past four weeks, calls for greater vigilance, especially from those who are weak and vulnerable. The Centre for Health Protection issued an alert after the proportion of respiratory samples testing positive rose from 6.2 per cent to 13.7 per cent in the four weeks since early April. Positive samples from sewage tests and patients at clinics and public hospitals have also increased. Thankfully, there are suggestions the coronavirus that once wreaked havoc in the city has become much milder. With most people having either been vaccinated or infected, or both, during the five main waves of the virus between 2020 and 2023, medical experts believe the general public needs not rush for booster shots. That is not to say Covid-19 infection is now so mild that it can be ignored. While the number of severe cases and deaths did not follow the increasing trajectory of positive samples, there were 30 deaths among 81 severe adult cases in the weeks concerned. Epidemiological investigations found that 83 per cent of the severe cases involved patients aged 65 or older, with more than 90 per cent having pre-existing health conditions. Earlier, a 17-month-old girl and a 13-year-old girl also became seriously ill. Meanwhile, some first-time Covid patients have also reportedly suffered from strong flu symptoms. There may be no cause for panic at this stage, but health officials have warned that Covid cases could continue to remain high in the coming weeks. It would do well to stay alert, particularly those who are vulnerable such as young children, the elderly and chronically ill. It is estimated that of those aged 65 or above, some 75 per cent living in homes for the elderly and 90 per cent living in the community are yet to receive a booster.
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Small business owner sounds the alarm on new scam targeting unsuspecting Aussies
A small business owner is warning others to stay vigilant after she was targeted by a sophisticated scam that almost cost her hundreds of dollars. Melanie Rose Moss, who runs a lifestyle and aromatherapy brand, took to TikTok to share her ordeal in the hopes it would help others avoid the same trap. The 38-year-old received a call from someone claiming to be from her bank, St George, who told her there was an $800 charge on her credit card. The caller then read out the first five digits of her card, details that were correct. The scammer went on to say they would freeze the transaction, before asking Melanie to confirm more personal details. Shockingly, the information they had was all accurate. 'My name, my email, my address and the first five digits of my credit,' she said. But when the caller asked her to provide the remaining numbers on her card and the expiry date, Melanie became suspicious. She told the operator she wasn't comfortable sharing that information over the phone. Trying to gain her trust, the caller asked her to search the number they were calling from on Google. When she did, it came up as a genuine number for St George Bank. Still, Melanie didn't feel right. 'I am so sorry if you genuinely work for St George and you're just doing your job. But I am not giving those details over the phone,' she told the caller. 'I want your name, your badge ID and I am going to call St George and chase this up.' The man gave her the name 'Robert Johnson' and a badge number. Melanie hung up and immediately called the bank herself - which revealed it was a scam. 'I don't know how they got all my details, everything was correct,' she said. Melanie said that when she finally spoke to a legitimate representative at St George, they were 'so proud' of how she had dealt with the scammer. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is warning Australians to stay vigilant in the face of cunning scams. A spokesperson for the National Anti-Scam Centre has urged people to follow three key steps if they suspect a scam; Stop, Check and Protect. They advise people to pause and avoid giving out money or personal information if something feels off, as scammers often create a false sense of urgency. Always verify contact by reaching out to organisations through official channels, not using details provided in a suspicious message or call.
