Thursday, November 18, 2010

The Independent - UK RSS Feed

The Independent - UK RSS Feed

Government accused of 'sleight of hand' over tuition fees

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

Thousands of the poorest graduates will be worse off under the Government's higher education reforms because of a statistical "sleight of hand" by ministers, The Independent has learnt.

Prisons: 'Execution yard' is lost in translation

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

A prison exercise area was described as an "execution yard" in a handbook for Russian inmates, inspectors said yesterday.

Four held as man found dying in van

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

Four people were under arrest on suspicion of murder last night after a dying man was discovered in the back of a van in Berkshire.

Vaizey announces an internet 'fast lane'

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

The Government plans to abandon one of the founding principles of the internet by letting service providers charge money for a "two-tier" service prioritising some websites.

World's media smitten by royal 'fairytale'

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

Prince William and his fiancée, Kate Middleton, spent much of yesterday at St James's Palace discussing their nuptials with courtiers, as the royal press machine emphasised that no further announcements were imminent. But the absence of tangible marital detail did nothing to slow Britain's new royal wedding bandwagon.

Cornwall stricken by storms

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

Heavy rain and gales have caused severe disruption in Cornwall, with flooding in areas including Mevagissey.

Police continue MI5 'torture' investigation

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

The Metropolitan Police will continue its investigation into the secret services over torture claims made by former Guantanamo inmate Binyam Mohamed, the head of the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed yesterday.

Journalists scrum down in effort to replicate the Diana effect

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

Nicholas Witchell, it seems fair to say, will not be invited to the wedding – except perhaps in his professional capacity as the BBC's royal and diplomatic correspondent. Tom Bradby, on the other hand, may well be on the bridegroom's personal guest list.

Tony's cronies to Dave's faves: Cameron repays some old debts

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

Close allies of David Cameron will be rewarded with peerages tomorrow when Downing Street issues a long-awaited list of more than 50 new working peers, The Independent has learned.

'Phone-hacking' journalists to be named in court

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

The private investigator embroiled in the News of the World phone-hacking scandal has been ordered to reveal the names of the journalists who instructed him to illegally intercept private voicemail messages.

Prescott 'spent lavishly' on office comforts

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

John Prescott's office authorised spending hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money on "indoor plant landscaping" and "silver service" waiters when he was Deputy Prime Minister.

Total of unemployed women hits 1 million

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

More than one million women in Britain are now unemployed, the highest number since 1988.

Four arrested as van murder inquiry launched

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 10:05 AM PST

Police launched a murder inquiry tonight after a dying man was found when officers pulled over a van.

Osborne considers 'all options' on Irish aid

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 08:24 AM PST

The Treasury is considering all options for financial aid to Ireland, Chancellor George Osborne said today.

Jobless women total hits 22-year high

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 07:58 AM PST

The number of unemployed women has reached a 22-year high of more than a million prompting warnings tonight of worse to come.

Four jailed after counterfeit ring smashed

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 07:54 AM PST

Four men were jailed today after a multi-million pound operation to produce counterfeit cash was smashed, police said.

Cameron pledges aid for flood-hit Cornwall

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 07:30 AM PST

David Cameron today promised flood-battered Cornwall as much help as it needs getting back on its feet.

Public sector unions warn of co-ordinated strikes

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 07:18 AM PST

Public sector union leaders today warned of co-ordinated strikes to protect jobs and services amid warnings that 10,000 firefighters posts were at risk because of "savage" public spending cuts.

'Insufficient evidence' against MI5 officer over torture claims

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 07:07 AM PST

An MI5 officer will not be prosecuted over claims he was complicit in the torture of former Guantanamo Bay detainee Binyam Mohamed.

Women held over rare Potter book theft

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 06:16 AM PST

A 36-year-old woman was arrested today by police investigating the theft of a limited first edition of a Harry Potter book.

Student remanded over fees riot

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 05:51 AM PST

A student appeared in court today accused of throwing a fire extinguisher from a seventh floor rooftop during the Millbank riot.

'Politically motivated' equality law to be scrapped

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 05:38 AM PST

An equality law dubbed "socialism in one clause" will be scrapped, Home Secretary Theresa May said today.

Blogger remanded on terror charges over MPs list

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 05:31 AM PST

A 23-year-old man appeared in court today charged with soliciting murder and other offences under the Terrorism Act in relation to a blog listing MPs it claimed voted for the Iraq war.

'Most wanted' sex offender back behind bars

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 05:29 AM PST

A convicted sex offender who fled the UK is back behind bars after featuring in an online "Most Wanted" list.

Death of policeman was 'preventable' says report

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 03:43 AM PST

The death of a policeman stabbed to death by a paranoid schizophrenic could have been prevented if he had been treated suitably, an independent report found today.

Two men arrested over woman's death

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 03:40 AM PST

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder after the death of a 27-year-old woman, police said today.

Knife raiders knock baby from mother's arms

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 03:36 AM PST

A four-month-old baby was knocked out of her mother's arms to the floor during a knifepoint robbery at their home, police said today.

Two teachers charged over child pornography

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 02:31 AM PST

Two male teachers have been charged with downloading indecent images of children, police said today.

Man charged over list of Iraq war MPs on blog

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 01:20 AM PST

A 23-year-old man was today charged with soliciting murder and other offences under the Terrorism Act in relation to a blog listing MPs it claimed voted for the Iraq war, police said.

Council job losses set to top 37,000

Posted: 16 Nov 2010 11:57 PM PST

The number of job losses planned at councils in England and Wales because of Government spending cuts has increased to over 37,000 in recent weeks, a new study revealed today.

Bid to ban export of 'execution' drug

Posted: 16 Nov 2010 11:55 PM PST

An attempt will be made at the High Court today to prevent a British company exporting a drug which could be used in the execution of US prisoners.

Firefighters to protest against 'savage' cuts

Posted: 16 Nov 2010 11:01 PM PST

Firefighters from brigades across the UK will stage a rally and lobby of MPs today to warn of the "savage" impact of Government spending cuts on jobs and safety.

Driver sought after death of pensioner

Posted: 16 Nov 2010 11:01 PM PST

A motorist who fled after his sports car was involved in an accident in which an elderly pedestrian died was being hunted by police today.

posted by Greg Shaw at Thursday, November 18, 2010