International

Don't Be Silly: UK Councils Asked To Reveal Policies On Ghosts, Exorcists, Dragons And Meteors

The Associated Press Darpan, 16 Aug, 2014 02:14 AM

LONDON - Is your town safe from dragon attack? Inquiring minds want to know.

A list of the top 10 strangest questions posed by Freedom of Information Act petitioners has been published Saturday by England's Local Government Association.

The group, which represents more than 350 councils, asked the public not to burden its staff with questions deemed "vexatious," a.k.a. ridiculous.

Rossendale Council was asked to detail its employment of exorcists and faith healers. Worthing Council was asked to explain its emergency plans for meteor strikes and solar flares. Birmingham was asked to reveal how many requests it's had to screen public buildings for ghosts.

And there be dragons in northwest England, apparently. One fact-seeker asked Wigan Council: "What plans are in place to protect the town from a dragon attack?"

Prev Next

MORE International ARTICLES

Humans arrived in the Americas from Asia much earlier: Study

In a ground-breaking research, archaeologists have unearthed stone tools that suggest that humans reached what is now northeast Brazil as early as 22,000 years ago - upending a belief that people first arrived in the Americas from Asia about 13,000 years ago.

Humans arrived in the Americas from Asia much earlier: Study

Russian passports to most Crimeans within months: Russia

Most Crimeans are expected to receive Russian passports within three months, Russia's Federal Migration Service (FMS) deputy head Anatoly Fomenko said.

Russian passports to most Crimeans within months: Russia

Indian-origin actress suing BBC for racism

An Indian-origin actress is suing BBC for up to one million pounds ($1.6 million) for a racist remark made by the host of a popular motor show, media reported Friday.

Indian-origin actress suing BBC for racism

Currency Corner: Aussie Kangarooing Its Way To Parity Against Dollar?

As we come to the end of the first quarter of 2014-15, there were soft movements in all the forex majors in Wednesday's trading session with the exception of the Australian dollar. The Aussie took out the 92 cents level against the US dollar and is now trading 7 percent above its mid January low of around 87 cents.

Currency Corner: Aussie Kangarooing Its Way To Parity Against Dollar?

Turkey shuts down YouTube

Turkey's Telecommunications Directorate Thursday blocked access to popular social network Youtube hours after a leaked voice recording of a high-level security meeting on Syria was published on this website, the media reported.

Turkey shuts down YouTube

Special court judge, order stay in Musharraf case

Justice Faisal Arab, who heads the special court set up to try former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf for high treason, remains part of the court and the order calling for the ex-military strongman's appearance March 31 stands, the court said Thursday.