Gair Rhydd

High hopes for ‘hash machine’

Patients in California may soon be able to obtain cannabis from public vending machines

Marijuana vending machines are said to soon become operational in the US state of California for health reasons.

Patients are expected to have to show their prescription and be fingerprinted and photographed before being allowed use of the facilities, by issue of a card. Vince Mehdizadeh, owner of the Herbal Nutrition Centre in Los Angeles, where one of the first two machines is based, spoke to KWTX 10 in the US.

Happy Birthday

Cardiff University’s ‘Year of Giving’ began last week with a light display in front of the Main Building to celebrate its 125th anniversary

January marked the start of a celebratory year to mark Cardiff University’s 125th anniversary.

The official date for the University’s 125th anniversary is not until October 24, but a whole year of celebrations are planned to mark the milestone event.

Beatles and Israel Come Together

Israel has welcomed the surviving members of The Beatles to the country’s 60th anniversary celebrations in May, having banned the group four decades ago.

The Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot has announced the news that Israel will be writing to the surviving members of the super group in an effort to apologise over a gig, which was cancelled during the band’s heyday in 1965.

University awarded Quality Mark

Cardiff University has been recognised for its dedication to students who have spent time in care.

The University has received the Quality Mark for care leavers in higher education, leaving Cardiff as the first university in Wales to receive the Frank Buttle Trust Quality Mark.

Students are go

The Students’ Union (SU) will be campaigning throughout February with a month of events for students to get involved with.

Kicking off on Monday February 4, Healthy Week will be offering advice and free giveaways related to issues such as healthy eating, and mental and sexual health.

MedClub: another forum, the same message

MedClub plans spark outcry at Heath campus as talks remain unresolved

Healthcare students have accused the Cardiff University Students’ Union (CUSU) executive team of ignoring their demands for a hybrid CF10-style café and bar at the new MedClub.

The reaction came at a MedClub forum held on the Heath Park campus last month when healthcare students and representatives of medic societies and sports teams met with sabbatical officers, the part-time Heath Park Campus officer, David Jones, and the General Manager of CUSU.

Study subsidy

Students who live at home while studying at Cardiff University are being encouraged to take advantage of a free financial help fund.

The Welsh Assembly Government offers the Financial Contingency Fund (FCF), £1.4 million of which has been allocated to Cardiff University to assist home students who are struggling financially.

Energy tips save £££s

An energy provider has released tips on how to keep bills low this winter.

The energy company SWALEC, which is part of the Scottish and Southern Energy Group, is aiming to help students save money and become more environmentally friendly.

Engineers cash in

New awards could see Cardiff engineering students eligible for £150,000 in bursaries

Students studying for a career in engineering could be eligible for financial support as the result of a new scheme introduced for undergraduates.

The Advanced Awards under the Engineering Leadership scheme could see 30 talented students each receive a £5,000 grant over the duration of their course.

Housing clampdown

The move to introduce a new licensing scheme for student housing could radically change the standard of accommodation for Cardiff students

Cardiff students could soon be enjoying a higher standard of living with the introduction of a new licence to enforce better quality housing conditions.

Intended for houses that hold five or more students over three or more floors, the licence ensures that all fire precautions, such as fire alarms and doors, must be in place and correctly installed.

Kenya suffers as violence spirals out of control

Violence in Kenya escalated last week as two MPs for the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) were killed.

More than 850 people have been killed since the disputed elections of December 27 2007, in which Presidential candidates for the ODM Raila Odinga claimed voting had been rigged by Mr Kibaki’s incumbent Party of National Unity (PNU).

Bursary funding failure

Several UK universities have failed to allocate more than £3 million of Bursary money to lower income students.

A report by the Office of Fair Access (OFFA) revealed that many Universities are neglecting to allocate bursaries to students from lower income families.

Introducing Cardiff Uni’s comic genius

Dean Burnett, a Cardiff University postgraduate, is set to star in a BBC documentary featuring fresh Welsh comedy talent later this month.

Funny Business follows a search to find Wales’ finest hidden comic talent with a £30,000 contract up for grabs for the winner.

Praying together

A Government report has called on universities to ban separate prayer and washing facilities for Muslim students due to fears that religious segregation could lead to a flourishment of illegal extremists.

Bill Rammell, Higher Education Minister, proclaimed that violent extremism is a “serious but not widespread threat”.