Thursday, December 23, 2010

The Independent - UK RSS Feed

The Independent - UK RSS Feed

The great Christmas trek

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

The Christmas hopes of millions of Britons hang the balance today as travellers, undeterred by continuing Arctic conditions and the prospect of further snowfalls, begin their holiday travels across the UK by road, rail and coach.

Independent Appeal: The girls interrupted by a teenage pregnancy

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Sophia Bullick giggles quite a lot, is besotted with her little daughter Amelia, loves fashion and is busy studying beauty therapy with the intention of becoming a beautician. She has made an early start in the business of life for she is just 16 years old. She became pregnant when she was only 14 and had Amelia, who will be two in March, just after her 15th birthday.

BAA in war of words with BA as Heathrow disruption continues

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

As 50,000 more travellers saw their Christmas plans wrecked by yesterday's flight cancellations at Heathrow, a war of words broke out between the airport owner, BAA, and its biggest customer. British Airways cancelled 150 flights on the basis of what it says turned out to be misleading guidance from the airport operator about when the second runway would reopen.

Hunt ruling will be open to legal challenge after past Murdoch support

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Jeremy Hunt, the Culture Secretary, could face a legal challenge if he approves Rupert Murdoch's controversial takeover of BSkyB, because of his past comments in support of the media mogul, lawyers and opposition politicians warned last night.

First the sting, now recriminations sink in for the Barclays

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

It took only a few moments for the air of satisfaction to dissipate on the editorial floor of The Daily Telegraph, which is based close to Buckingham Palace in London.

Cable to lose battle over bankers' pay as further tapes raise party tensions

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

The prospect of a tough government crackdown on bankers' pay and bonuses has receded as a result of Vince Cable's weakened position in the Cabinet.

MI6 spy 'visited bondage sites' before his death

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Photofits have been released of a man and a woman whom police want to question in connection with the death of an MI6 spy found dead in a padlocked holdall in his central London flat.

1 in 3 'believes in guardian angels'

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Nearly a third of Britons believe they have a guardian angel, a survey from the Bible Society and Christian Research claims.

Judge Pickles dies aged 85

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

The controversial judge James Pickles has died aged 85, his son said yesterday.

Abbey Road crossing steps into safer future

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

The zebra crossing in north London that features on the cover of The Beatles' Abbey Road album has been given listed status.

Christmas travellers given glimmer of hope

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 10:52 AM PST

Christmas travel misery began to ease today - a day late for Heathrow Airport's boss who decided to sacrifice his 2010 bonus.

'Crossbow cannibal' sparks mental health review call

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 08:46 AM PST

An MP in the constituency where serial killer Stephen Griffiths dumped body parts has called for a review of how people with personality disorders are dealt with.

Tommy Sheridan perjury trial jury retires

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 08:40 AM PST

The jury in the Tommy Sheridan perjury trial has retired to consider its verdict.

Parliament expenses file handed to prosecutors

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 07:30 AM PST

Detectives investigating the Parliamentary expenses scandal handed an additional file of evidence to prosecutors today.

Woman and dog found dead in frozen river

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 07:04 AM PST

Police searching for a missing pensioner have found the bodies of a woman and a dog under ice in a river.

Road chiefs warn over grit stocks

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 07:04 AM PST

Highway chiefs are warning they have already used almost half their winter stocks of salt.

Boris Johnson: 'Heathrow chaos must teach BAA serious lesson'

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 06:57 AM PST

Mayor of London Boris Johnson said airport operator BAA had "very serious lessons" to learn from the chaos caused at Heathrow by this month's snowfall.

Nick Clegg fends off coalition rift reports

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 06:51 AM PST

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg was today forced to fend off reports of rifts within the coalition amid fresh disclosures that Liberal Democrat ministers had privately criticised coalition policies.

MP will not face charges over sex assault claims

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 06:50 AM PST

MP Mike Hancock will not face charges over allegations he sexually assaulted a female constituent, Hampshire Police said today.

Retrial ordered for dog walker murder

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 06:21 AM PST

A labourer jailed for life for the murder of a dog walker had his conviction quashed today and will stand trial again.

On-the-run child abuse suspect arrested in Thailand

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 05:31 AM PST

A British man accused of abusing children as young as 18-months-old has been arrested in Thailand after more than 10 years on the run.

No charges in police torture claims case

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 05:26 AM PST

No-one will be prosecuted over claims that detectives tortured and abused two suspects during a drugs raid.

Bondage clue to spy Gareth Williams' death

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 04:57 AM PST

Mystery death spy Gareth Williams visited a series of bondage websites in the months before his death, police revealed today.

Man held after child's crash death

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 03:19 AM PST

A man has been arrested after a 10-year-old girl died when she was hit by a car on a pedestrian crossing.

Man shot dead on Cheshire street

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 02:29 AM PST

A man has died after being shot in the street.

Economic growth weaker than previously thought

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 02:12 AM PST

The UK economy has not grown as strongly this year as previously thought, revised figures revealed today.

Man and boy killed following chip pan fire

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 01:44 AM PST

A man and a young boy have died after a house fire caused by a chip pan left unattended on a cooker, emergency services said today.

Hundreds expected at Stonehenge for Winter Solstice

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 01:40 AM PST

Hundreds of people are expected at Stonehenge in Wiltshire to see the sun rise on the winter solstice.

Video: George Osborne accused of homophobic remark

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 01:34 AM PST

George Osborne is under fire after appearing to call an openly gay Labour MP a "pantomime dame" in parliament.

Minor earthquake rumbles through Cumbria

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 01:30 AM PST

No injuries or damage have been reported following an earthquake in Cumbria measuring 3.5 on the Richter scale, emergency services said today.

Met facing 'most challenging time' says commissioner

Posted: 22 Dec 2010 12:33 AM PST

The Metropolitan Police is facing its most challenging period since Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson took over, he has said.

posted by Greg Shaw at Thursday, December 23, 2010