Thursday, January 06, 2011

The Independent - UK RSS Feed

The Independent - UK RSS Feed

Committee opposes suspension of deep-water oil drilling

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 10:49 PM PST

A committee of MPs has opposed any moratorium on deep water drilling for oil in the UK's seas, warning such a move would undermine the country's energy security.

'News of the World' suspends executive over 'phone-hacking'

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

Rupert Murdoch's News Group suspended one of the most senior journalists at the News of the World last night following a "serious allegation" of phone-hacking, placing renewed pressure on the Conservative director of communications, Andy Coulson, the former editor of the newspaper.

Coldest December in 100 years

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

Last month was the chilliest December in 100 years and one of the coldest months ever recorded in the UK, the Met Office says.

Britain faces flu vaccine shortage

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

The Government has admitted that there is a shortage of flu vaccinations in some parts of the country.

1,000 friends, but not one of them helped her

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

The mother of a middle-aged woman who announced her intention to commit suicide to more than 1,000 of her Facebook friends has angrily demanded why not a single one of them came to her aid before she died.

Expenses watchdog hits back at MPs

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

The watchdog that oversees parliamentary expenses has hit back at criticism of it by MPs and warned they have not convinced the public the system has been cleaned up.

Joanna Yeates: the case of the missing sock

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

As the Joanna Yeates murder inquiry entered its ninth day yesterday, the focus switched to a long, grey ski sock that police said the 25-year-old was missing when her body was found.

Clegg braves chill on campaign trail – but gets the cold shoulder

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

Nobody can say that Nick Clegg has given up trying. He braved grey skies, drizzle and temperatures close to freezing yesterday to go out without an overcoat or scarf and meet voters in the constituency that is to be the first political testing ground of 2011.

Decorated fireman jailed for role in drug syndicate

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

A fireman commended for his bravery in aiding victims of the 7/7 London bombings has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for his role in a cocaine smuggling syndicate. The 33-strong gang, who been making £100m a year, received a total of 200 years in jail following a Hollywood-style police operation against them three years ago.

US 'execution drugs' row flares up again as trail points to London

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

The controversy over the use of British-made drugs in executions in the United States flared up last night after court documents emerged in Arizona which suggested that the supply could be traced to an address in west London.

Ex-KGB agent sues MI5 over 'privacy breach'

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

A former senior KGB agent is suing MI5 over invasion of his privacy, alleging his family members were victims of a campaign of harassment and unlawful surveillance.

MPs say keep drilling despite risk from oil spill

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

Britain lacks the ability to deal with a large-scale North Sea oil spill in bad weather conditions but nonetheless should allow oil companies to continue deep water drilling off the coast, MPs will say today.

Labour joins fight against prisoners' votes

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

The Coalition Government could be forced to water down controversial plans to allow prisoners to vote in elections as Conservative MPs prepare to join forces with Labour to sabotage the proposal.

Our pyramid is collapsing – send for the Welsh!

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

The guardians of Egypt's oldest step pyramid have called for the help of an unlikely saviour: an engineering company from Newport, south Wales. Cintec, which helped to restore Windsor Castle after its 1992 fire, is to try to shore up a collapsing roof in the 4,650-year-old Pyramid of Djoser, on the Nile's west bank near Cairo.

The filthy face of Suffolk

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

Tourism bosses in Suffolk have been left red-faced after a poll to find the public's favourite image of the county was won by the lead singer in heavy metal band Cradle of Filth.

Joanna Yeates 'may have been murdered with sock'

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 09:36 AM PST

Murder victim Joanna Yeates could have been strangled with her own sock which her killer might have kept as a trophy.

Principles 'should replace MPs' expenses rules'

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 08:57 AM PST

Tight expenses rules for MPs should be abandoned in favour of a set of "principles" and scrutiny by voters, the watchdog in charge of the regime suggested today.

Police officer charged over crash

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 08:51 AM PST

A police officer has been charged in connection with a road accident in which a pedestrian died.

Convicted rapist 'subjected student to sex attack'

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 08:33 AM PST

A convicted rapist broke into a university hall of residence and subjected a teenage student to a terrifying sex attack, a court heard today.

Power station plotters walk free

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 08:28 AM PST

A group of climate change activists who were convicted of conspiracy to commit aggravated trespass after they planned to shut down the UK's second largest power station walked free from court today.

Royal wedding details revealed

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 06:52 AM PST

Details about the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton were released today - including the route the bride will travel to the Westminster Abbey service and confirmation that the Archbishop of Canterbury will marry them.

2010 showed coldest December on record

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 06:29 AM PST

Last month was the chilliest December in records stretching back 100 years and one of the coldest months ever recorded in the UK, the Met Office said today.

Lottery winner urged to claim £1m prize

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 05:37 AM PST

A National Lottery jackpot prize of just under £1 million remains unclaimed.

'Honour killing' victim's sister arrested over robbery

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 04:48 AM PST

The sister of a suspected honour killing victim appeared in court today charged with robbing cash and gold jewellery worth £33,000 from her mother and father.

Malaria scare nurse bailed on sex attack charges

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 03:45 AM PST

A nurse who sparked an international search because it was feared he had malaria appeared in court today charged with sexual and common assault.

Underwater search for lecturer called off

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 03:42 AM PST

An underwater search for a former university lecturer feared dead after a boat carrying six passengers capsized was called off today.

Hero fireman jailed over £100m drug ring

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 03:30 AM PST

A hero fireman honoured for rescuing victims of one of the July 7 bombs has been jailed for 14 years for his role in a £100 million cocaine ring, it can be reported today.

Northern Ireland Water boss set to quit over crisis

Posted: 04 Jan 2011 11:45 PM PST

Chief executive of Northern Ireland Water (NIW) Laurence MacKenzie is set to resign over his organisation's mishandling of the region's water crisis.

Councils accused of complacency over rubbish

Posted: 04 Jan 2011 11:45 PM PST

Local councils have been accused of complacency over rubbish collection, amid growing public anger that bins in some areas have not been emptied for as long as four weeks.

Twitter plea teenager found by police

Posted: 04 Jan 2011 11:45 PM PST

A missing teenager whose plight was highlighted by a clutch of celebrities on Twitter was found by police today.

posted by Greg Shaw at Thursday, January 06, 2011