Wednesday, November 03, 2010

The Independent - UK RSS Feed

The Independent - UK RSS Feed

Sarkozy launches new era with gaffe

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 05:00 PM PDT

David Cameron declared yesterday that a new chapter has been opened in Britain's relationship with France after the signing of a wide-ranging defence agreement. Questions remained, however, about just how faithful the new partners will be to each other.

'Disappeared' by the IRA, found at the beach his family treasured

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 05:00 PM PDT

Peter Wilson's body, which was carefully removed from beneath the sands of a picturesque Co Antrim beach yesterday, had lain there undisturbed for close on four decades.

Universities to charge fees of £7,000 to £8,000 a year

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 05:00 PM PDT

Most universities will charge between £7,000 or £8,000 a year in fees, it was forecast last night.

Gas explosion destroys four houses and leaves 15 injured

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 05:00 PM PDT

A survivor spoke of the horrific explosion which flattened four houses and injured 15 people when a suspected gas blast tore through his home.

'Husband held' over wife's disappearance

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 05:00 PM PDT

Police were searching for the body of a wealthy guesthouse owner yesterday, acting on suspicion the woman had been murdered after a divorce battle over a pre-nuptial agreement.

Landlords claim housing benefit sums are 'fiddled'

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 05:00 PM PDT

Landlords have accused the Coalition Government of "fiddling the figures" on the rising £21bn-a-year cost of housing benefit to justify its controversial cuts in payments to claimants.

Conservatives in disarray over prisoner voting

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 05:00 PM PDT

David Cameron is facing a backlash from his party after reluctantly bowing to a European court ruling that prisoners should be given the right to vote.

Marksman 'put song titles in Saunders evidence'

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 05:00 PM PDT

A Scotland Yard firearms officer is being investigated after it was alleged that he inserted song titles into his evidence at the inquest of a barrister shot dead by police. Mark Saunders died after a siege at his home in Markham Square, Chelsea, in May 2008. An inquest found he was lawfully killed.

Tube staff walk out as discontent sweeps through public sector

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 05:00 PM PDT

A new wave of strike action across the public sector began last night with massive disruption to the London Underground, as 11,000 staff began another 24-hour walkout that will affect millions of commuters. A Bonfire Night strike for firefighters also looms on Friday, as no progress was made during talks with brigade officials yesterday, according to sources close to the discussions. Tensions rose when two demonstrators were injured during the latest round of industrial action by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), after they were hit by vehicles trying to break the picket line.

After 20 years, The Ivy celebrates its own big night

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 05:00 PM PDT

One of London's most popular restaurants, The Ivy, will celebrate 20 years of five-star trendiness, celebrity-spotting and tasty food by staging a new play by Sir Ronald Harwood. For five nights next week the restaurant will be transformed into a theatre, and Sir Ronald's play, Heavenly Ivy, will be performed in front of the fortunate diners.

I'll register both births this time, vows Miliband

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 05:00 PM PDT

Ed Miliband is planning a "two for one" trip to the registry office to have his name put on the birth certificate of his newborn child – as well as for his existing son Daniel.

New kitchen probed after gas blast wrecks homes

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 10:35 AM PDT

A newly fitted kitchen was at the centre of an investigation tonight into an explosion which injured 11 people and destroyed four houses.

Remains found on beach in hunt for IRA victim

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 10:04 AM PDT

Body remains have been dug up on a beach in Northern Ireland where an IRA murder victim was secretly buried after going missing nearly 40 years ago.

Legal bid to stop export of 'execution drug'

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 09:41 AM PDT

Campaigners launched legal action today in an attempt to ban the export from Britain of an anaesthetic used to execute prisoners in the United States.

Police hunt for body of 'murdered' guesthouse owner

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 09:26 AM PDT

Detectives were hunting today for the body of a wealthy guesthouse owner believed to have been murdered following a bitter divorce battle involving a pre-nuptial agreement.

Time may have been wasted at 7/7 site, says paramedic

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 09:18 AM PDT

A paramedic admitted today that "precious time" could have been "wasted" as medical teams waited above ground for an update on casualties in a Tube train bombed in the 7/7 attacks.

Boy, 17, held over teenager's stab murder

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 09:02 AM PDT

A 17-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the death of a teenager who was stabbed in a busy recreation ground.

David Cameron hails 'new chapter' in defence co-operation

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 09:00 AM PDT

David Cameron today hailed a "new chapter" in the history of defence co-operation between Britain and France.

Witness accuses Tommy Sheridan of 'reckless' error

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 07:16 AM PDT

Former MSP Tommy Sheridan made a "reckless and suicidal" error when he decided to sue the News of the World over allegations about his private life, a former colleague told a court today.

Student who stabbed MP Stephen Timms 'inspired by al-Qa'ida cleric'

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 06:56 AM PDT

A student who tried to murder an MP was inspired by a radical al-Qa'ida cleric linked to the air cargo bomb plot, it emerged today.

Further talks in firefighters dispute

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 06:15 AM PDT

Firefighters were in talks with their brigade today following a day of strike action in which three picketers were hurt when they were hit by vehicles.

Police appeal over movements of murdered girl

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 05:46 AM PDT

Police issued a new appeal today for information about the final movements of murdered schoolgirl Rebecca Aylward.

Police marksman in inquest 'song titles' probe

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 05:45 AM PDT

A police marksman responsible for shooting a lawyer dead during an armed siege faced punishment today after it emerged that he peppered evidence about his actions with song titles.

Guns system in clear over Derrick Bird shooting spree

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 04:56 AM PDT

"No reasonable opportunities" within the gun licensing system could have stopped taxi driver Derrick Bird shooting 12 people dead, an independent review concluded today.

Second man due in court over teenager's death

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 04:19 AM PDT

A second man will appear in court today accused of killing a teenager during a suspected gang fight on an estate.

Actress Emma Thompson honoured as female role model

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 04:11 AM PDT

Emma Thompson, Florence Welch and Sam Taylor-Wood have been named Women of the Year.

Government set to concede defeat over prison voting

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 02:30 AM PDT

Prisoners are to get the right to vote as the Government is poised to throw in the towel in a long-running legal tussle with the European Court of Human Rights, it emerged today.

Boy faces court over rape of woman, 64

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 12:30 AM PDT

A teenage boy was due to appear in court today accused of raping a 64-year-old woman in her own home.

Campaigners launch civil partnership challenge

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 12:30 AM PDT

A coalition of straight and gay couples will kick off a radical attempt to overhaul Britain's marriage laws tomorrow [TUES] in what is being hailed as a final push for marriage equality.

Unions to begin third Tube strike

Posted: 02 Nov 2010 12:30 AM PDT

Millions of passengers will face more misery on the Tube today when two transport unions begin another 24-hour strike on the London Underground (LU).

posted by Greg Shaw at Wednesday, November 03, 2010