Tuesday, November 30, 2010

The Independent - UK RSS Feed

The Independent - UK RSS Feed


Twenty-six lives lost – human stories of the King's Cross bombing

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

They were born in countries as far apart as Afghanistan and New Zealand, Montserrat and Iran. Aged from 19 to 60, they came from vastly different walks of life – an accountant, a cleaner, an architect, a midwife. But they were all caught in the suffocating crush of the rush-hour Piccadilly line train on the morning of 7 July 2005 – and they all perished together.

How Prince Andrew's 'rudeness' shocked American ambassador

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

Prince Andrew used a private audience with a group of British businessmen to offer his "astonishingly candid" thoughts on the shortcomings of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), journalists and France, according to leaked diplomatic dispatches.

Britain set for 'sluggish' climb out of recession

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

The prospects for Britain's economy remain "inherently uncertain" and the return to growth will be "relatively sluggish", the independent fiscal watchdog has warned.

Will Mandelson swap politics for business?

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

Instead of seeking "dignity in retirement" as Ed Miliband advised, the irrepressible Peter Mandelson is setting up in business as head of an international consultancy.

Chaos already – and now the cold will really bite

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

Hundreds of schools shut across the country yesterday, as thick snow continued to fall and temperatures plummeted to well below freezing. Thousands of homes were without power and roads and airports were closed, causing travel chaos. Forecasters were warning that temperatures could plunge even lower last night, to -20C, as snow was expected to hit London and the Home Counties .

Lib Dem backlash against tuition fees gathers pace

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

Tuition fees are likened to the poll tax by the Liberal Democrat Business Secretary Vince Cable in a leaflet circulating in Scotland, despite the leading role he is taking in raising them to up to £9,000 a year.

Afghanistan's ancient jewels to sparkle in London

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

The shimmering brightness of a collection of priceless artifacts from Afghanistan contrasts with the darkness in which they languished for most of their existence.

UK firm 'shocked' by claims it broke Iran sanctions

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

Situated on a small industrial estate in Middlesex, Insultec Ltd has few obvious attributes of an important supplier to Iran's secret nuclear programme. For the last 20 years, the company has quietly gone about its business selling insulation for oil refineries and gas plants. Then it found itself the subject of a secret American diplomatic telegram sent from Azerbaijan.

Three-day Tube strikes and Christmas walkouts loom

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

For the thousands of London commuters who were forced to squeeze into packed Tube trains, stand on overcrowded buses or trudge to work in sub-zero temperatures yesterday, it was scarcely possible to believe their Monday could get any worse.

Councils reject new £2.5m food hygiene plan

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

Many local authorities are boycotting a new national hygiene system for restaurants and cafés, claiming it is too expensive to run and not tough enough.

Two thirds of Britons are feeling underwhelmed by Royal Wedding

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

The majority of Britons feel indifferent about the announcement that Prince William is to marry Kate Middleton next spring, according to an opinion poll carried out for The Independent.

Boring Conference sells out in minutes

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

The first batch of tickets sold out in two minutes, the second in five minutes. Now the 2010 Boring Conference in London, the first of its kind, has completely sold out.

Soldier who conned help for heroes spared jail

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 09:05 AM PST

A debt-ridden soldier who conned the Help for Heroes charity walked free from court today after being shown mercy because he had served his country in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Third arrest in shopkeeper murder probe

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 09:04 AM PST

A third suspect has been arrested by detectives investigating the murder of a shopkeeper who was stabbed to death at his store.

Threat of longer strikes as Tube passengers suffer

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 09:00 AM PST

Strikes by London Underground workers could be escalated in the new year, with two or three-day walkouts considered, union leaders warned today as passengers suffered fresh delays and disruption because of the latest bout of industrial action.

Ballet teacher admits abducting boy

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 08:35 AM PST

A ballet teacher who had been accused of having sex with a 15-year-old boy today confessed to abducting the youngster.

Record price paid for perfect pink diamond

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 08:32 AM PST

A rare pink diamond sold at auction today for a record £14.86 million.

Teenager guilty of raping girl, four

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 07:56 AM PST

A teenager was found guilty today of raping a four-year-old girl while she was in a park to feed the ducks, according to police.

Family pays tribute to 'amazing' Tube victim

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 07:41 AM PST

Families of the July 7 victims spelt out the terrible toll of human misery today following the deadliest of the attacks on London's transport network.

Paedophile jailed for 18 years

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 07:27 AM PST

A man involved in a paedophile ring was branded an "evil, predatory degenerate" as he was sentenced to 18 years in prison today.

Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe to challenge 'whole-life' tariff

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 07:17 AM PST

Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe will tomorrow challenge a High Court judge's order that he can never be released.

Temperatures plunge as big freeze continues

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 06:30 AM PST

Motorists were stranded and hundreds of schools closed today as the UK continued to shiver in the grip of freezing temperatures and heavy snow.

Downing Street condemns publication of leaked cables

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 04:59 AM PST

Downing Street today condemned the publication of leaked US diplomatic cables thought to feature embarrassing criticism of David Cameron, the Duke of York and the British military.

Snow in the UK: Your Winter 2010 pictures

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 04:37 AM PST

It's wonderful when snow blankets the UK, muffling the country and making even the dullest landmarks beautiful.

Man in court on blog murder incitement charge

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 04:11 AM PST

A 23-year-old man appeared in court today charged with soliciting murder in relation to a blog listing MPs who voted for the Iraq war.

G20 riot squad officer faces misconduct allegations

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 03:48 AM PST

A police riot squad officer who escaped prosecution over Ian Tomlinson's death during the G20 protests was served with gross misconduct allegations today.

Plan to avoid Cabinet split on terror controls

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 02:37 AM PST

Control orders could be replaced with a three-tier system of restrictions for terror suspects to avoid a Cabinet split on the issue, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation said today.

Two-month old baby killed in hit-and-run

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 01:38 AM PST

Police are appealing for men who fled the scene of a crash which killed a two-month old baby to come forward.

Lib Dems target Clegg over tuition fees

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 11:01 PM PST

More than 100 Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidates have called on leader Nick Clegg to oppose the proposed rise in tuition fees.

Man stabbed to death on night out in London

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 11:01 PM PST

A murder inquiry was under way today after a 33-year-old man was stabbed to death following a night out.

Two held over shopkeeper's stabbing death

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 11:01 PM PST

Detectives continued to quiz two people today on suspicion of murdering a shopkeeper stabbed to death as his daughter watched on the store's CCTV system.

Monday, November 29, 2010

The Independent - UK RSS Feed

The Independent - UK RSS Feed


Cable threatens banks with tax on bonuses

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

Business Secretary Vince Cable warns today that the Government will tax bankers' bonuses as a "last resort" if voluntary restraint and other "sanctions" failed to end what he calls "a very damaging bonus culture": "We have got to get this right".

Action plan on binge-drinking, but drink-drive campaign scaled back

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

Ministers were accused last night of putting lives at risk at Christmas by slashing spending on publicity campaigns about drink-driving.

Cold comfort for a Britain stuck in the deep freeze

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

Cold weather records tumbled like snowflakes at the weekend as Arctic conditions gripped Britain – and it is only going to get worse. Forecasters warned that the icy conditions would continue through the week and perhaps into next weekend, with few areas escaping at least a sprinkling of snow.

One in five children has never paddled in the sea

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

Splashing around in the waves on a summer holiday is one of the essential pleasures of childhood, the stuff of fond memories. Yet one in five children aged eight to 15 has never had the chance to dip their feet into the sea, either on the beaches around Britain's coastline or abroad, a survey has found.

Detained asylum-seeker freed after South Africa intervenes

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

A Zimbabwean asylum-seeker, whose deportation from Britain was halted when his wrist was broken while he was being restrained by security guards, has been released from detention after intervention by the South African government.

'Star chamber' to foster UK growth

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

Cabinet ministers will be "held to account" for the efforts their departments make to secure economic growth, the Business Secretary, Vince Cable has said.

Breastfeeding at work promoted

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

Companies should help new mothers to return to work by providing them with breastfeeding facilities or by allowing them to bring their babies to work, the Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, said at the weekend. He is urging firms to set up areas where they can breastfeed and to supply fridges or cool-boxes to store expressed milk.

Picture of the Day: Amazon's Christmas grotto

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

When shopping online today, spare a thought for the workers at Amazon's "fulfilment centre" in Swansea. The high point of Britain's internet Christmas spending spree – dubbed Manic Monday – will condemn staff at the website's warehouse to walk up to 10 miles per shift, helping to satisfy the booming taste for cyber retailing.

Call for longer sentences

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

Magistrates will call on the Government today to double their sentencing powers, in a move that could lead to fewer jury trials.

Tory says people have 'responsibility to exercise'

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 09:33 AM PST

He is a health minister condemned as "out of condition, overweight and a chain-smoker" by a political opponent - and he freely admits that he could lose a few pounds here and there.

Tube workers set for another 24-hour strike

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 01:52 AM PST

Thousands of London Underground workers will start a 24-hour strike tonight, threatening travel disruption for commuters and other passengers.

Charity donations direct from salary 'fall sharply'

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 01:43 AM PST

Charities have suffered a steep fall in the amount of money people donate to them directly from their salaries during the past two years, research indicated today.

Record temperatures as big freeze tightens grip

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 01:41 AM PST

Britain shivered in some record low temperatures overnight - including a "ridiculously low" minus 17C in Wales - as the big freeze maintained its grip on the country, forecasters said today.