Thursday, December 16, 2010

The Independent - UK RSS Feed

The Independent - UK RSS Feed

End to detention of child asylum-seekers

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

The practice of locking up immigrant children ahead of their deportation from Britain will end within months, Nick Clegg will promise today.

Lib Dems call by-election early

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

The Liberal Democrats will today bring forward the date of their first big electoral test since joining the Coalition Government.

Musician admits iTunes sales fraud

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

A musician yesterday admitted using stolen credit cards to buy his own songs on iTunes and Amazon to rake in royalties.

Final flight, and vertical landing, for the Harrier

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Celebrated for their role in the Falklands War, Britain's Harrier Jump Jets made their final flight yesterday before the last 16 aircraft still in service with the Royal Air Force are scrapped under the Government's defence cuts.

Cameron given rough ride by backbench critics

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

David Cameron last night promised to reform the new body in charge of MPs' expenses unless it improves its performance by next April.

Husband strangled wife during nightmare

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

A grief-stricken husband unwittingly strangled his wife during a violent nightmare, an inquest heard yesterday. Brian Thomas, 60, believed he was wrestling an intruder, but awoke to discover he was alone with the dead body of wife Christine, 57, next to him in the bed they shared during a holiday in Aberporth, west Wales, in July 2008.

'New evidence' found in phone-hacking lawsuit

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Lawyers for Sienna Miller claim to have discovered evidence which shows that a senior News of the World executive was aware a private investigator was being paid to hack into the actress' voicemails.

Success in improving NHS productivity 'virtually static,' says Audit Commission

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

No progress has yet been made towards achieving the huge savings that will be necessary in order to maintain the NHS's services over the next four economically-constrained years, a report says today.

Man found guilty of using hypnotism to abuse girl

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

A man whose partner is accused of murdering their two children is facing jail after using hypnotism and violence to sexually abuse a girl.

Salt stockpiled as second big chill sweeps in

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

A further 250,000 tons of salt has been ordered by the Government as it makes last-minute preparations for heavy snowfalls expected to blanket Britain later this week.

All drugs should be legalised to beat dealers, says former minister

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

All illicit substances, including heroin and cocaine, should be legalised, according to a former drugs minister who will today become the most senior politician to push for a dramatic change in the strategy for tackling Britain's drug problems.

Assange back in court as bail hangs in balance

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Julian Assange will emerge from solitary confinement at Wandsworth prison this morning to attend the next stage of a legal process which could eventually lead to him being extradited to the United States on espionage charges. The founder of the whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks hopes his legal team can belatedly secure him bail at the High Court before it is decided whether to extradite him to Sweden to face allegations of rape and sexual assault.

Police officers stabbed after checking bus fare

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 09:45 AM PST

Two police officers were stabbed by a knifeman today after they stopped him to check he had paid his bus fare.

BT fined £300,000 over ladder death

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 09:03 AM PST

BT was fined £300,000 today after a judge said a "significant failing" by the company contributed to the death of one its engineers.

Speeding ban for England player King

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 07:44 AM PST

Tottenham and England footballer Ledley King was today banned from driving for 56 days after being clocked at more than 100mph in a black Mercedes CL.

Tougher penalties demanded on 'weapon dogs'

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 07:41 AM PST

MPs were urged today to put pressure on the Government for tougher legislation to tackle the growing menace of so-called "weapon dogs" and a rise on attacks against the public.

Auditor General refuses to sign off Commons accounts

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 07:31 AM PST

The Auditor General has refused to sign off last year's House of Commons accounts in full amid serious concerns about millions of pounds of expenses paid to MPs.

'Murder' mother's partner guilty of abuse

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 07:03 AM PST

A man whose partner is accused of murdering their two children in a Spanish hotel was today facing jail after using hypnotism and violence to groom and sexually abuse a young girl.

Ken Clarke: No row about criminal rehabilitation plans

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 06:48 AM PST

Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke today denied there was any Cabinet rift over his sentencing proposals which could see thousands fewer offenders jailed.

Man remanded over double axe murder

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 05:58 AM PST

A 45-year-old father has appeared in court charged with murdering his former partner and her son at their home.

'Al-Qa'ida man plotted Manchester bombing'

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 05:56 AM PST

A UK-based al-Qa'ida operative planned a bomb attack on Manchester city centre as part of a plot to mount terrorist attacks in the UK, Norway and the US, a court heard today.

Firm fined £3m for Saddam kickbacks

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 05:37 AM PST

A British engineering company was fined £3 million by a court today for paying illegal kickbacks to Saddam Hussein's regime to secure lucrative contracts.

Bumper Christmas despite freeze, predict retailers

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 05:35 AM PST

Retailers are confident of a bumper Christmas despite predictions of the final week of shopping being marred by another big freeze.

Government 'took NHS reform concerns on board'

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 04:50 AM PST

The Government insisted today it had listened to concerns about the scale and speed of its radical shake-up of the NHS.

David Cameron accused of breaking promises

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 04:40 AM PST

Labour leader Ed Miliband accused David Cameron today of breaking a string of promises, including to increase NHS spending and keep the Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA).

Appeal against Julian Assange bail to be heard tomorrow

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 04:01 AM PST

Swedish authorities will appeal against bail for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange at the High Court tomorrow, court officials said.

Counter-terrorism review at nuclear plants

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 03:49 AM PST

A secret counter-terrorism review of Britain's nuclear power plants is under way after fears arose over safety at the giant Sellafield reprocessing site.

Tory backbenchers warn against long-term coalition

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 01:48 AM PST

Disquiet on the Conservative backbenches about the prospect of prolonged coalition with Liberal Democrats surfaced today, with one MP warning David Cameron he could not take "mainstream" Tories for granted for much longer.

Jobless total rises for first time in six months

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 01:36 AM PST

The Government was given some grim pre-Christmas news on jobs today when unemployment increased by 35,000 and the number of young people out of work reached near-record levels.

Student Loans Company took £15m in overpayments

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 12:01 AM PST

The Student Loans Company took more than £15 million in overpayments last year from graduates who had already paid back all the money they borrowed, it was revealed today.

Police make fresh appeal over Shropshire rape

Posted: 14 Dec 2010 11:55 PM PST

Police investigating the rape of a teenage girl launched a fresh appeal for information on a busker who is a suspect in the case.

posted by Greg Shaw at Thursday, December 16, 2010