• Figures down on £19bn paid out in 2007 • Average finance bonus of £12,500 disguises huge disparities • Base salaries rise for high-earners in City City bonuses were kept in check last year as banks and insurance companies restricted the total to £14bn, according to analysis by the Office for National Statistics. The figure reveals a dramatic fall in payments to financial sector staff since the height of the banking boom in 2007 when £19bn was paid out in bonuses, though it marks a recovery from 2008 when the figure was £12bn. Overall, £35bn was paid out in bonuses to staff across the whole economy, unchanged on the year before. The latest figure is expected to cheer Tory and Liberal Democrat politicians who have called for pay restraint in the City to help overcome public anger at the part played by bonus incentives in the banking crash. George Osborne has emphasised the need for bankers to accept lower bonuses to help restore trust in the sector. However, the average £12,500 annual bonus paid to finance staff in the year to April is likely to disguise huge disparities in the amounts paid to senior investment bankers compared with retail banking staff outside London and the south-east. Earlier this year Barclays revealed that its new chief executive Bob Diamond got a bonus of £6.5m for 2010 on top of his £250,000 annual salary. According to the bank’s remuneration report he was awarded the sum for his performance as head of Barclays’ investment banking and wealth management operations. A trend to pay higher salaries also offsets the effect of lower bonus payments in City institutions, according to a report by recruitment firm Kennedy Associates. In a recent report it found an average investment bank managing director received £300,000 to £400,000 in base salary as opposed to £175,000 four years ago, at the peak of the market. The average paid to finance staff also contrasts with the average public sector annual bonus of £180. Public sector employees, who make up 22% of the workforce, accounted for 1.5% of the £35bn bonus payments across the economy. TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said City bonuses were still too high. “The chancellor’s austerity message has failed to reach the City, where a small clique of super-rich bankers has grabbed 40% of all bonuses paid out in the UK. “City bonuses are still far too high and the incentives for risky and damaging decisions far too great, especially when bankers know that taxpayers will have to pick up the tab.” Bonuses have played an increasing role in the incomes of ordinary private sector workers after a 58% rise in payments since 2000. Most payments will be related to individual, team or company performance. Executive pay and bonuses Banking Financial sector Phillip Inman guardian.co.uk
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It’s been a long road for the Xperia Pro , but the little sliding QWERTY phone from Sony Ericsson finally appears to be nearing release. After getting manhandled , posing for a few glamor shots , and going up for pre-order , the 900MHz and 2100MHz HSPA friendly handset has, months after its unveiling, glided through the FCC. Granted, those bands don’t do American fans of SE’s Android customizations much good but, on the plus side, the Pro now appears to be sporting ANT+ for all your fitness tracking needs. Unfortunately, the September delivery date still stands, so our friends across the pond will just have remain patient. Gallery: Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro Sony Ericcson Xperia Pro slides through the FCC, gets turned inside out originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 09:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …A Florida teen killed his parents with a hammer and stashed their bodies in a bedroom before hosting a wild house party for dozens of friends, police say. Tyler Hadley, 17, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder after police acting on an anonymous tip-off arrived at the house and…
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My puzzle for Sparkles Cpt Stormpie NL – Black Ops Game Clip Combat Arms CPT Rank Up Stats! princy1255 says: howzaaattttttt !!!!!!!! cpt cleared..yipppeee…..
Continue reading …Authorities failing to enforce law aimed at tackling sex with trafficked women
July 19, 2011 No Comment
Only 40 cases have been prosecuted since new offence came into effect in April 2010, Home Office strategy reveals The failure of police and prosecutors to enforce a law that criminalises men who pay for sex with trafficked women is jeopardising the attempt to tackle human trafficking into Britain. A Home Office strategy published on Tuesday says that only 40 cases have been prosecuted since the new offence came into effect in April 2010 and that includes prosecutions of kerb crawlers. “Enforcement of this offence would be a key part of the chain that leads to women being trafficked into the country and help deter those that may consider paying for sexual services from someone who may be trafficked, thereby reducing demand,” says the strategy. The document calls for a greater effort to target the demand for “inexpensive, unprotected and often illegal labour” and to create a business environment where it is neither considered desirable or readily available. “There is growing awareness amongst consumers of the harm caused by unethical business practices. But more needs to be done to increase understanding and encourage greater corporate moral and social responsibility within the private sector,” the strategy acknowledges. Home Office minsters are to review by the end of this year the current legislation on trafficking to ensure that it supports the effective prosecution of human traffickers. The strategy recognises that there are some problems caused by the fact that trafficking for sexual exploitation is prosecuted under the 2003 Sexual Offences Act while labour trafficking comes under the 2004 Asylum and Immigration Act which has a different standard of proof. “While there have been successful prosecutions under both, there are some disparities which make the legislative framework less straightforward than it could be for prosecutors. In addition, the different levels of proof mean that it is more difficult to prosecute for labour exploitation,” says the new strategy. Crown Prosecution figures show that just 48 people were prosecuted over trafficking offences in England and Wales. The official strategy says a key element in disrupting the market for trafficking and reducing its profitability is to target those who pay for sexual services from trafficked women. In particular it cites the 2009 Policing and Crime Act which introduced an offence of paying for the sexual services of a prostitute subjected to force, deception, threats or any other form of coercion. “This means that someone who pays for the sexual services of a woman (whether or not they know the woman has been trafficked) can be arrested and prosecuted,” says the strategy. It notes that as of June only 40 offences have involved somebody being charged since April 2010 and that includes cases of kerb crawling. The strategy confirms that from this month the Salvation Army will play a central role in the £2m-a-year programme to support the adult victims of trafficking. It also advocates a more targeted focus on the countries that are the major source of trafficking; extending the use of powers to seize the assets of traffickers and establish closer relationships with overseas law enforcement agencies. The immigration minister, Damian Green, said the new strategy would send the message that Britain was not a soft touch for traffickers. “We will pursue and disrupt trafficking networks overseas wherever possible to stop them before they ply their trade in the UK and then bring them to justice,” he said. Human rights charities have criticised Britain’s human trafficking strategy in the past, arguing that it has backfired, increased the suffering of victims and undermined attempts to prosecute the criminal gangs who abused them. The Crown Prosecution Service earlier this month issued new guidance that women and children who were suspected of having been trafficked should no longer be treated as criminals. Human trafficking Prostitution Alan Travis guardian.co.uk
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Shadow defence secretary will use speech in Washington to call for European Nato members to contribute more Britain must adopt a new, pragmatic approach to the “special relationship” with the US that is based neither on ideology nor nostalgia, the shadow defence secretary, Jim Murphy, will tell Americans in a speech in Washington. He will also challenge a growing assumption that Britain should merely buy military equipment off the shelf from the US and say that European members of Nato must contribute far more to defence and to making their armed forces more effective. “In the new security landscape we must assess where and when the UK-US partnership adds value. It is neither a prerequisite nor a luxury,” he will warn. “We have vital and historic links which foster an undoubted and important solidarity. Neither ideology nor nostalgia, however, will ensure we benefit from our close links in today’s world, and so pragmatism should define our approach.” Murphy will tell an audience of American defence industrialists on Wednesday: “Our publics are wary and weary. The US is experiencing international reticence … At the same time the financial crisis has strengthened protectionist instincts, and so while multilateralist internationalism is more necessary than ever our scope to pool power is limited by sceptical domestic populations.” Murphy is conducting a review of Labour’s defence policy, including the procurement of equipment and weapons. The government’s default position was to “buy off the shelf”, and that principally meant “buy American”. The UK will regularly buy with or from the US because of its cutting edge technology and investment in very expensive systems. Murphy says his default position is “that for our core sovereign capabilities I want to make and buy British. Rather than buy from America, I want to learn from America.” However, reinforcing comments by Liam Fox, the defence secretary, Murphy will tell his American audience that Europe must pull its weight in Nato. “We’re either all in this together, committed to playing our full parts, or we’re not an alliance that will last,” he plans to say. The EU spends about £200bn on defence a year, more than any country except the US, and has 2 million European troops in uniform, but only 5% deployable at any one time. It is important for Britain to make the case that Europe must do more on defence since the UK gained “power and influence in our relations across the world through our being a strong partner with European nations”. Murphy will add: “Contrary to much conventional wisdom back home, the UK’s transatlantic and European alliances are not alternative paths to influence – they should be mutually reinforcing.” Jim Murphy United States Nato Defence policy European Union Richard Norton-Taylor guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Shadow defence secretary will use speech in Washington to call for European Nato members to contribute more Britain must adopt a new, pragmatic approach to the “special relationship” with the US that is based neither on ideology nor nostalgia, the shadow defence secretary, Jim Murphy, will tell Americans in a speech in Washington. He will also challenge a growing assumption that Britain should merely buy military equipment off the shelf from the US and say that European members of Nato must contribute far more to defence and to making their armed forces more effective. “In the new security landscape we must assess where and when the UK-US partnership adds value. It is neither a prerequisite nor a luxury,” he will warn. “We have vital and historic links which foster an undoubted and important solidarity. Neither ideology nor nostalgia, however, will ensure we benefit from our close links in today’s world, and so pragmatism should define our approach.” Murphy will tell an audience of American defence industrialists on Wednesday: “Our publics are wary and weary. The US is experiencing international reticence … At the same time the financial crisis has strengthened protectionist instincts, and so while multilateralist internationalism is more necessary than ever our scope to pool power is limited by sceptical domestic populations.” Murphy is conducting a review of Labour’s defence policy, including the procurement of equipment and weapons. The government’s default position was to “buy off the shelf”, and that principally meant “buy American”. The UK will regularly buy with or from the US because of its cutting edge technology and investment in very expensive systems. Murphy says his default position is “that for our core sovereign capabilities I want to make and buy British. Rather than buy from America, I want to learn from America.” However, reinforcing comments by Liam Fox, the defence secretary, Murphy will tell his American audience that Europe must pull its weight in Nato. “We’re either all in this together, committed to playing our full parts, or we’re not an alliance that will last,” he plans to say. The EU spends about £200bn on defence a year, more than any country except the US, and has 2 million European troops in uniform, but only 5% deployable at any one time. It is important for Britain to make the case that Europe must do more on defence since the UK gained “power and influence in our relations across the world through our being a strong partner with European nations”. Murphy will add: “Contrary to much conventional wisdom back home, the UK’s transatlantic and European alliances are not alternative paths to influence – they should be mutually reinforcing.” Jim Murphy United States Nato Defence policy European Union Richard Norton-Taylor guardian.co.uk
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Rapper Ja Rule sentenced in tax return case; Charlie Sheen to return in new sitcom; Poll says ‘Jersey Shore’ not hurting New Jersey image. (July 19)
Continue reading …The tsunami that struck Japan in March rose to a staggering 132.5 feet at its highest, taller than a 10-story building, according to researchers who have collected data from thousands of locations along the country’s east coast. The killer wave was taller than the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and…
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Environment secretary says farmers will be allowed to kill badgers if pilot schemes confirm shooting is humane and effective A controversial cull of England’s badgers was announced at lunchtime on Tuesday in parliament, when the environment secretary told MPs she was “strongly minded” to allow farmers to shoot badgers in a controlled fashion. Animal campaigners reacted furiously, and are likely to mount a legal challenge to the plans, but farming representatives welcomed the proposals. Caroline Spelman said the cull was needed to bring down the rates of infection of tuberculosis in cattle. “This is a comprehensive, balanced set of measures to tackle this terrible disease,” she said. She announced that two pilots would take place to confirm that controlled shooting would be humane and effective, and the government would consult on licensing. Once this stage is complete and, if it is deemed successful, farmers would be able to apply for licences to shoot badgers under strict limits on how it can be carried out. The location of the pilots has not yet been decided. Peter Kendall, president of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), said farmers “would heave an enormous sigh of relief”. Many farmers have been calling for a cull for more than a decade, as TB infection rates in cattle have risen rapidly, with the west and south-west of England worst affected. Badgers, though not endangered, are a protected species, and the efficacy of a cull in protecting cattle from TB is widely contested. Lord Krebs, who as a government adviser in 1997 was the architect of a 10-year experimental cull, recently rejected culling as “ineffective” . He said other measures would be more productive, such as improved security for cattle to prevent them coming into contact with badgers, and the use of a vaccine when one becomes readily available. Culling badgers, according to the trials, resulted in a 16% reduction in “confirmed new incidence” of TB in cattle herds – an outcome that farming leaders and the secretary of state hailed as a useful strategy, but that Krebs said was not enough to justify a widespread cull. He said: “You cull intensively for at least four years, you will have a net benefit of reducing TB in cattle of 12% to 16%. So you leave 85% of the problem still there, having gone to a huge amount of trouble to kill a huge number of badgers. It doesn’t seem to me an effective way of controlling the disease.” However, the NFU favours a cull, citing evidence from Ireland, where experimental culls have been allowed, and from Australia and New Zealand, where culls of other wild animals have been credited with reducing disease rates. Bovine TB causes £90m of damage annually, with affected farmers forced to discard milk, meat and other products from infected beasts, and sometimes to abandon livestock farming altogether. The worst affected areas are in the south-west of England and Wales, but “hotspots” for the disease occur around the country. Under the plans, farmers would be allowed to kill badgers using “free shooting”. This would mean trained marksmen targeting badgers, a method that would be paid for by farmers and is likely to be cheaper than the alternative of trapping and killing badgers. Farming leaders said free shooting would enable groups of farmers and landowners to club together to target areas of at least 150 sq km, the minimum to be allowed under any new culling rules, and they would only be granted a licence if it can be proven the area is a TB “hotspot”. Badgers Bovine tuberculosis Rural affairs Animals Wildlife Conservation Green politics Farming Fiona Harvey guardian.co.uk
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