Family | Common News Update

Jan182019 by adminNo Comments

Lawsuits ramp up pressure on family that owns opioid company

The legal pressure on the prominent family behind the company that makes OxyContin, the prescription painkiller that helped fuel the nation's opioid epidemic, is likely to get more intense. The Sackler family came under heavy scrutiny this week when a legal filing in a Massachusetts case asserted that family members and company executives sought to push prescriptions of the drug and downplay its risks. Those revelations are likely to be a preview of the claims in a series of expanding legal challenges. Members of the family that controls Connecticut-based Purdue Pharma are also defendants in a lawsuit brought by New York's Suffolk County. Few, if any, other governments have sued the family so far. But Paul Hanly, a lawyer representing the county, said he expects to add the Sacklers to ot...

Jan152019 by adminNo Comments

Canadian's death sentence in China 'horrific', family says

World

The family of a Canadian man who has been sentenced to death in China say their "worst fears" have been realised.Robert Lloyd Schellenberg was given a 15-year jail term in November but, on Monday, a court said the sentence for drug smuggling was too lenient.The ruling is likely to worsen a diplomatic row between the countries.Last month, Canada arrested a top official at the Chinese telecoms giant Huawei, Meng Wanzhou, on a request from the United States.The detention of Ms Meng, 46, last month angered China and soured its relations with both Canada and the US.Following Schellenberg's death sentence, Canada has updated its travel advice for China, urging citizens to "exercise a high degree of caution due to the risk of arbitrary ...

Dec222018 by adminNo Comments

Take That cancel tour dates after family illness

Entertainment

Take That have cancelled plans for a world tour for their 30th anniversary tour after one of Gary Barlow's family members fell ill. The trio had wanted to do a global arena tour from April, including Australia and South America, but the group will now stay in Europe so that Barlow can be closer to home. Image: Gary Barlow asked fans to be understanding about the decision Barlow, 47, told the Daily Mirror: "We had a big ambition next year to do a world tour, but I have actually got an illness in my family and it means I am not going to travel for the next two years extensively."So all the plans for South America and Australia that were coming off..."I thank my two band mates who have been so very understanding, but I ju...

Nov222018 by adminNo Comments

John Allen Chau 'tribal death': Family forgives killers

World

The family of a US man reportedly killed by arrows fired by members of an endangered tribe in India's Andaman and Nicobar islands has said they forgive those who killed him.In a statement, they said John Allen Chau "loved God, life, helping those in need, and had nothing but love for the Sentinelese people".Seven people who helped him reach North Sentinel island have been arrested.The Indian authorities say it may take "some days" to recover Mr Chau's body. Outsiders are banned from even approaching the island to protect the people who live there and their way of life.His family released a statement on Instagram, saying he had gone to the island of "his own free will"."We also ask for the release of those friends he had in the Andaman Islands. He ventured out of his own free will and his l...

Nov172018 by adminNo Comments

Tyson Fury opens up ahead of Deontay Wilder fight about double family tragedy that caused him to spiral into depression

Sports

HEARTBREAKING The lineal heavyweight champion of the world is using the pain to help him beat Deontay Wilder on December 1 Boxing star Tyson Fury has opened up about the double family tragedy which saw him spiral into a drink and drugs-fuelled state of depression. Fury was seemingly on top of the world at the end of 2015 having gone to Germany and stunned Wladimir Klitschko to become the heavyweight champion of the world. At his lowest points, Tyson Fury turned to drink and drugs However, behind the scenes he as battling his own personal demons and bottling up lots of complex emotions – eventually causing him to turn to narcotics and alcohol to cope. And now, in his usual frank and honest manner, Fury has revealed exactly what caused it...