BBC NEWS | UK | Marines 'upset' over pay blunder

BBC NEWS | UK | Marines 'upset' over pay blunder: "Marines 'upset' over pay blunder
Members of 3 Commando Brigade
Troops believed they would get up to �17 extra a day
A defence minister has admitted that Royal Marines would be 'disappointed and upset' after being falsely led to believe they would get a �3,000 bonus.

More than 4,000 marines serving in Afghanistan thought they would get the payment after a Royal Navy blunder.

Derek Twigg said: 'I understand how they might feel.'

Shadow Commons leader Theresa May said the mistake would 'have a major impact on the morale of serving troops in a very difficult and dangerous theatre'.

She said the Ministry of Defence had made a 'complete mess' of payment reforms.

Marines were given to believe they would receive up to �17 a day in extra long-term separation allowance payments, over a six-month period.

The misunderstanding derived from a mistake by the Royal Navy in explaining how the allowance would be paid under a new system.

'Dangerous job'

'We need an explanation as to why personnel were led to believe they would receive extra money only to have that money clawed back,' Ms May said.

Defence minister Derek Twigg said: 'A mistake was made but the Navy have done a good job in dealing with it.

'The error was spotted before the money was paid.

'I can understand that some of the Royal Marines expecting this will be disappointed and upset about it.'

He added: 'It doesn't detract from the admiration we hold them in terms of the job they are doing, which has been recognised by the operational bonuses which will be paid to them.

'They are a tremendous professional organisation and I believe they will continue to do a very difficult job in difficult circumstances.'
"

Telegraph | News | Philippe Noiret

Telegraph | News | Philippe Noiret: "Philippe Noiret

Last Updated: 12:01am GMT 28/11/2006

Philippe Noiret, the French actor who died on Thursday aged 76, made more than 125 films in the course of his career, of which Cinema Paradiso (1988) and Il Postino (1994) are among the best-known.

His hangdog appearance and avuncular bearing, combined with exceptional acting skills, meant that Noiret could play a wide range of parts, from bourgeois middle-class figures to haughty aristocrats.

Philippe Noiret was born on October 1 1930 at Lille, in northern France. He decided on a career in the theatre having failed several times to pass his baccalaureate exams.
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While touring with the Theatre National Populaire for seven years, he also worked as a nightclub comedian in a double act with Jean-Pierre Darras.

He made his screen debut in 1956, but first found success in Louis Malle's Zazie dans le metro in 1960. The film that made him a star was Alexandre le Bienheureux, released in 1967, after which he decided to devote himself entirely to the big screen.

Unsuited to play romantic leads, Noiret was regularly cast in middling parts, while occasionally accepting more controversial roles, as in La Grande Bouffe, about suicide brought about by overeating, which caused a sensation at Cannes in 1973.

Noiret won his first C�sar (the French equivalent of an Oscar) in 1976 for Vieux Fusil; he was awarded a second in 1990 for La Vie et Rien D'Autre.

Internationally, however, he was best known for his role in the Italian director Guiseppe Tornatore's Cinema Paradiso, in which Noiret played the village projectionist Alfredo.

In Il Postino, one of his most popular films, he played the poet and diplomat Pablo Neruda, who counsels the postman who delivers his letters.

His last film, Trois Amis, was made earlier this year.

Philippe Noiret married, in 1962, Monique Chaumette, the French comedienne who appeared in nearly a dozen of her husband's films."

BBC NEWS | England | Berkshire | Company fined for its dirty water

BBC NEWS | England | Berkshire | Company fined for its dirty water: "Company fined for its dirty water
Thames Water has been fined �24,000 for supplying water unfit for human consumption to homes in Berkshire.

Magistrates in Reading heard how people living in Shinfield and Spencer's Wood, south of the town, received brown and orange-coloured water in May 2004.

Legal action was taken by the Drinking Water Inspectorate, which monitors water supply across England and Wales, after 38 complaints were received.

Thames Water said it had improved its pipe work since the incident.

'Iron sediment'

The company said the discolouration was caused by iron sediment, which had been disturbed by an increase in flow in the pipes.

A Thames Water spokeswoman said: 'We regret this incident and the inconvenience caused to our customers.'

The court heard that although the water was not dangerous, the fact it was dirty made it 'unfit'.

Thames Water admitted two counts of supplying water unfit for human consumption contrary to the Water Industry Act 1991.

The company was fined �12,000 for each offence and ordered to pay �7,800 costs.
"

FT.com / World / UK - London Olympics body offers deal on cost overruns

FT.com / World / UK - London Olympics body offers deal on cost overruns: "London Olympics body offers deal on cost overruns

By Roger Blitz in London

Published: November 22 2006 22:11 | Last updated: November 22 2006 22:11

The body set up to deliver the London Olympics in 2012 promised on Wednesday that despite admitted cost over-runs on the project it would not need to call on government resources any more.

David Higgins, chief executive of the Olympic Delivery Authority, offered the UK government that in return for a �5bn ($9.5bn, €7.4bn) funding package, the budget would not overrun even though the games were almost six years away. “The costs are not going to go up on an exponential basis,” he told a regeneration conference in London.



The reputation of London 2012 officials and ministers in the government of Tony Blair, prime minister, have been damaged by recent revelations about the growing cost. Ken Livingstone, London’s mayor, said on Wednesday that “everything is going exactly to plan” and that the games would make a profit. [ When the budgets failed to include VAT how can anyone have confidence in this statement. Moreover the original budget was clearly incorrect - Barrie Segal editor]

The �5bn figure is �2bn more than the initial �2.4bn cost of construction and security in the run-up to the games and �1bn for regeneration presented to the International Olympic Committee by bid organisers two years ago. But the �5bn figure does not include money the government must allow for value added tax costs and contingencies.

Tessa Jowell, sports minister, earlier this week blamed higher steel prices and transport costs for a �900m rise to �3.3bn in the predicted cost of building the Olympic Park in east London.

Concern over the escalating costs has mounted after Jack Lemley resigned last month as chairman of the body responsible for creating the infrastructure for the event. Mr Lemley told a US newspaper the slow progress of the project and concerns over budgets were behind his decision. Britain has a history of delays and cost overruns for projects such as the Millennium Dome, the centrepiece of its millennial celebrations, and the new Wembley sports stadium."

BBC NEWS | England | Manchester | Crossbow bolt fired onto pitch

BBC NEWS | England | Manchester | Crossbow bolt fired onto pitch: "Crossbow bolt fired onto pitch
A football match was abandoned when a steel crossbow bolt was fired onto a pitch in Greater Manchester.

The game between Woodley Sports and Alsager Town at Lambeth Stadium, Stockport, was stopped when the bolt, or arrow, landed next to players.

The referee pulled it out of the ground and consulted both managers and players before calling off the game on Saturday, 12 minutes before the end.

The bolt is believed to have been fired from outside the ground.

BBC Radio Stoke's sports editor Graham McGarry, who was at the match, said the bolt landed on the artificial pitch after whistling just inches past the left full back of Woodley Sports.

No hesitation

'This was a serious incident and could have been a tragedy,' said Mr McGarry, who is also chairman of Alsager Town.

'The referee came to the penalty area, pulled out something from the ground, that we all thought was a firework.

'He consulted both managers and the players and immediately abandoned the game.

'He had no hesitation calling the game off for the safety of the players and the spectators watching.'

The bolt has been passed onto police for forensic examination and detectives are appealing for anyone with information about the incident to get in touch.
"

BBC NEWS | Programmes | Moneybox | Millions at risk in laptop theft

BBC NEWS | Programmes | Moneybox | Millions at risk in laptop theft:
WHAT WAS IT DOING ON HIS LAPTOP AT HIS HOME. HAS ANYBODY HEARD OF THE WORD SECURITY?! [Editor]
"Millions at risk in laptop theft
Nationwide branch
Nationwide said there has been no loss from customers' accounts
Eleven million Nationwide customers may have been put at risk of identity crime after an employee's laptop was stolen.

The computer with customer information on it was stolen during a domestic burglary three months ago.

But details of the serious security lapse are only just emerging.

Nationwide has informed the authorities and will be writing to its 11m customers to give them security advice in the next few weeks.

It is reassuring customers that no PIN numbers, account passwords or memorable information was on the laptop.

But it does not deny that names and account numbers could have been.

If this information was obtained by identity thieves, they could attempt to take out credit cards or open loans in customers' names.

So far there is no indication that has happened according to Nationwide and it said nobody has lost any money.

But if the data is used by criminals it could be some time before any evidence is seen and the fraud attempts may not involve Nationwide.

The names and addresses could be used to attempt fraud elsewhere.

'Appalling'

Diane Gaston of the National Consumer Council told BBC Radio 4's Money Box she is angry customers were not told sooner.

'A three month delay is appalling. People should be able to trust that if a problem has happened they will be told about it straight away.'

Nationwide is still refusing to give much detail.

It said it is following police advice and does not want to cause alarm.

It said the laptop was 'security protected' but would not explain if that meant the data was encrypted or coded to foil identity thieves.


Chat rooms are full of people trading credit card details online in real time at all hours of the day and night
Peter Wood, IT security expert
Peter Wood from computer security firm First Base Technologies told BBC Radio 4's Money Box he did not think it would be difficult for thieves to access the data.

And he warned: 'The chat rooms many people use are full of people trading credit card details online in real time at all hours of the day and night.'

The financial regulator, the FSA, and the Office of the Information Commissioner have both been informed.

They say they are continuing to discuss the situation with Nationwide.

But neither is taking any other action at this stage."

BBC NEWS | England | West Midlands | Man held over policeman shooting

BBC NEWS | England | West Midlands | Man held over policeman shooting: "Man held over policeman shooting
Shooting scene
The officer was in plain clothes when he was shot
A 25-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the shooting of a police officer in Wolverhampton.

The constable was on plain clothes duty when he was shot twice in the shoulder at close range on Saturday night in Penn Road, in the Graiseley area.

The shooting happened after he and a colleague chased a man seen acting suspiciously in nearby Oaklands Road.

The experienced 33-year-old officer is in a serious but stable condition in hospital, with family at his bedside.

The officer, who has not been named, has seven years' service with the police.

He has undergone surgery on his left shoulder, but is said to be conscious.

'Incredibly brave'

House-to-house enquiries have been carried out in Oaklands Road and Penn Road, and a large area was sealed off.

A West Midlands police spokesman said the 25-year-old man had been arrested on Sunday afternoon and was being questioned.

Earlier, Assistant Chief Constable Anil Patani said the shooting, which happened at 2230 GMT, was being treated as attempted murder.

He told a press conference: 'This demonstrates how incredibly brave our officers are.

'Sometimes we take for granted the extent we ask of police officers to keep the public safe.'


"

BBC NEWS | England | West Midlands | Policeman hurt in city shooting

BBC NEWS | England | West Midlands | Policeman hurt in city shooting: "Policeman hurt in city shooting
A police officer has been seriously injured in a late-night shooting.

The officer was shot twice in the shoulder by a man he was following for acting suspiciously in Wolverhampton.

The 33-year-old constable, who has not been named, was taken to hospital, where his condition is described as serious but stable.

Police are carrying out house-to-house enquiries in Oaklands Road and Penn Road, near the city centre. The area is sealed off.

'Incredible bravery'

A West Midlands Police spokesman said the incident happened about 2230 GMT when the Pc followed a man who had aroused suspicion at the Bromford Rise flats.

The officer followed him to Penn Road when the man produced a weapon, shooting and seriously injuring him.

Police say the offender is believed to be a black man, about 6ft 2ins tall with an athletic build and dark coloured clothing.

Assistant Chief Constable Anil Patani said: 'This incident demonstrates our officers' commitment to keeping the community safe.

'West Midlands police officers routinely challenge suspicious criminal behaviour and this demonstrates they are incredibly brave in doing so.

'Criminals resort to extreme measures and we will do all we can to protect the community.'

E-mail this to a friend Pr"

BBC NEWS | Business | Polish workers shown UK TV shows

BBC NEWS | Business | Polish workers shown UK TV shows: "Polish workers shown UK TV shows
Rodney and Del Boy Trotter
Only Fools and Horses might help drivers spot a plonker a mile off
Bus firm FirstGroup has confirmed that its new Polish drivers are being shown UK television programmes to help them understand different regional accents.

The UK firm, which now has 1,000 Polish drivers working across Britain, said programmes being shown included Only Fools and Horses and Coronation Street.

FirstGroup is airing the shows at its new training centre in Poland, where Polish staff are first recruited.

The company said it needed to import staff from Poland to fill vacancies.

Billy Connolly DVDs


We are not showing Only Fools and Horses so the new recruits would think everyone in London drives a three-wheeled van and speaks very bad French
First Group spokesman

A FirstGroup spokesman said new Polish staff were shown different TV programmes depending upon where they were going to be posted in the UK.

For example, a new recruit going to Glasgow may be shown a DVD of Scottish comedian Billy Connolly.

While someone heading to the English capital might be shown an episode of much-loved sitcom Only Fools and Horses, which is set in the London borough of Peckham.

And Coronation Street would be aired to those going to Manchester.

Scottish comedian Billy Connolly
Billy Connolly may find he has a fast-growing fan base in Poland

'It is solely about helping the new recruits get to grips with different regional UK accents, it is not a cultural exercise,' said the FirstGroup spokesman.

'We are not showing Only Fools and Horses so the new recruits would think everyone in London drives a three-wheeled van and speaks very bad French.'

FirstGroup, which as 20,000 drivers across the UK, first started hiring Polish workers 18 months ago.

One of the UK's largest bus companies, it also has a number of train operations. "

BBC NEWS | Education | Blind pupils 'denied text books'

BBC NEWS | Education | Blind pupils 'denied text books'

Purchase Postage Stamps on Line

Three simple steps

Step 1 – Purchase your postage

• Decide where your item is going and what delivery service you require
• Fill in the recipient’s address - and your own address, if you like
• Choose to print out either a label, envelope or paper
• Log in or register to use Online Postage
• Make secure payments online using your prepay account, credit card (or debit card if you’re spending more than £3.50).

Step 2 – Print your labels

• Print your postage* onto a label (A4, A5 or A6), envelope or paper
• If you have any problems printing you can re-print your postage at no extra cost, as long as it’s before the expiry date of your label.
  

Step 3 – Send your mail

• Put your postage onto the item you’re sending
• Post your mail by the end of the next working day after purchase
• For International mail, you can print out pre-populated customs forms
• A pre-populated Certificate of Posting can also be printed (you’ll need get this validated at a Post Office® branch)
• Remember: you can only use your postage once.
  

*You will need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or higher to print your postage. Download it from the Adobe website

Barrie runs the parking ticket appeal website AppealNow.com™
Remember you can fight back against illegally issued parking tickets.
If you want to appeal such a parking ticket but don't know how - then
visit http://www.appealnow.com
where you can appeal online in 4½ minutes.

© 2006 Barrie Segal All Rights reserved

Barrie Segal is the founder of AppealNow.com™ and is a regular radio broadcaster in the UK.

APPEALNOW.COM

BBC NEWS | England | Staffordshire | Police flush 2,500 cans of beer

BBC NEWS | England | Staffordshire | Police flush 2,500 cans of beer: "Police flush 2,500 cans of beer
Police officer pouring the alcohol down a toilet
It will take an officer up to three days to pour away the alcohol
Police officers in Staffordshire have been working in shifts to pour 2,500 cans of beer and hundreds of bottles of spirits and champagne down a toilet.

The alcohol was confiscated from an off licence that was trading illegally and a judge ordered it to be destroyed.

Severn Trent said it could not be poured into the drains so officers at Hanley police station will spend the next week flushing it away.

Staffordshire Police said it was the only viable way to carry out the order.

'It's incredulous'

'We are going to have to open every single can and bottle and tip them down the toilet,' Sgt David Wright told BBC News.

'We will be staggering it over a two or three day period, but it is probably going to take the best part of a whole shift of two to three days for one officer.'

But the former secretary of the Police Federation criticised the move saying it was a waste of tax payers' money.

Kevin Waters said: 'I find it incredulous to think that this is going to be taking place within our force when it is paid for by the people of Staffordshire.

'Community taxes are going to be spent on police officers having to do this rather than having to look after the community of Staffordshire.'
"