Self-proclaimed “qigong master” Wang Lin, who was facing several criminal charges, has died in a hospital in east China’s Jiangxi Province following an illness.

Wang died from multiple organ failure from ANCA-related vasculitis and peripheral neuritis on Friday afternoon, said Fuzhou City Intermediate People’s Court.

The man, who claimed to be a master of qigong, a traditional martial art combined with meditation, came to public attention in 2013 when images of him posing for pictures with celebrities and stories of his supposed “supernatural powers” like conjuring snakes from thin air were posted on the Internet.

He was detained by police in July 2015 on the charge of illegal detention. In November last year, Fuzhou City People’s Procuratorate filed a public lawsuit to the court, accusing Wang of illegal detention, fraud, illegal possession of a gun and bribery.

Because of his illness, Wang was allowed out on bail and his trial postponed in January while the trials of other defendants in the case continued.

Despite Wang’s death, the court said it would issue a verdict on his case.

10 Feb 2017

The Scottish Conservatives are urging the SNP to start tackling the issue of drug-driving in Scotland after falling behind the rest of the UK on this issue.

At a Road Safety Scotland conference, it was announced that since English drug-driving laws came into effect two years ago there had been a four-fold increase in the number of drivers being charged with drug-driving.

Despite the evidence clearly highlighting that the introduction of the legislation saw improvements down south, when asked in yesterday’s First Ministers Questions, the SNP continued to swerve questions on why similar provisions are yet to be introduced in Scotland.

The SNP’s continued dismissal suggests that it is reluctant to utilise English law, which is impeding Scotland’s ability to deal with this serious issue.

Scottish Conservative shadow justice secretary Douglas Ross said:  

“It’s wrong  that Scotland is so far behind the curve, compared with the rest of the United Kingdom, on this important issue

“The SNP knows that as a result of the changes in England and Wales, the number of motorists charged with drug driving rose significantly and convictions have improved.

“Those driving under the influence of drugs should not be anywhere near the wheel – they not only put their own safety at risk, but others too.

“The SNP’s sheer stubbornness is preventing Scotland from finding a way to deal with drug-driving in the best possible way. “The evidence already exists that changes in England and Wales have had the desired effect and the SNP must act on this now.”

Scottish legal news article that clarifies the success of the English success of drug-driving laws and Scottish Government plans:

http://www.scottishlegal.com/2016/02/15/no-plans-for-drug-driving-laws-in-scotland-a-year-after-successful-introduction-in-england/#

Paul
Blomfield MP, Labour’s Shadow Brexit Minister, commenting on the leaked
Government report dividing British industries into high, medium and low
priority in the Brexit negotiations, said:

“Hard
working people, the back bone of our manufacturing sector, will be the losers
in this Tory harsh Brexit.

“Pharmaceuticals
is ranked as ‘high priority’ yet the Health Secretary has confirmed we will
likely pull out of the European Medicines Agency, threatening access to drugs
for patients and thousands of jobs.

“Steel
construction is ranked as ‘low priority’ – a shocking indictment of a
Government that claims to understand the importance of manufacturing.

“The
Government must urgently explain this ranking and confirm that jobs,
livelihoods, and speedy access to new drugs will be at the centre of its Brexit
plans.”

Angela Rayner, Labour’s Shadow Education
Secretary, commenting on reports that independent school students gain extra time for exams, said:

“Our education system
allows children with special educational needs extra time in exams to ensure
that they are not unfairly disadvantaged. The suggestion that this could be
being abused raises serious questions about the fairness of this
arrangement.

“The
Government needs to look at this urgently to make sure that no school is
abusing the system.”

Ends