This Week in the News| 29/10/2018

The footballing world had to come to terms with two shocking events this week. English football icon Glenn Hoddle had a heart attack while working at the BT sport studios. This incident occurred mere hours before Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, Leicester City’s billionaire owner, died in a fatal helicopter crash that took the lives of four other people outside the Kingpower Stadium. 

An infamous Boston gangster, whose life had been made into an award-winning film, was murdered in prison. James “Whitey” Bulger was convicted of 11 murders in 2013 after he had been on the run for 16 years. The 89-year-old’s life inspired several films including “Black Mass” in which Johnny Depp played James Bulger. An inmate with mafia ties is under investigation for the murder. 

Medical cannabis can now be legally prescribed to some patients across the UK. The decision to relax the rules on the use of cannabis oils comes after the outcry after two young boys who suffered from severe epilepsy were denied the treatment. The cannabis-based treatments will be prescribed by specialist doctors and they will not be available from the GP. 

A young mum claims that her children, aged two and five, were “given ecstasy pills” whilst out trick or treating in North Tyneside. In a video posted online, Amy Dixon said she was “mortified” after her young daughters came home with a packet full of what the mother believed to be ecstasy. The pink pills have been handed to the police and they are currently trying to establish whether the pills were harmful or not. 

Both the Democrats and Republicans are making their closing statements as the US mid-term elections are set to take place next week. The migrant caravan has been dominating both campaigns as it makes its way closer to the America-Mexico border. Trump is looking to tighten both immigration laws and the border with Mexico if the Republicans win in the mid-terms.