A defense source is claiming “irregularities” in the arrest of former IMF boss Dominique Strauss Kahn justas he’s to be formally arraigned today in Manhattan on charges that he sexually assaulted a hotel maid last month. The source hinted at the possible illegal interception of a telephone call by local…
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Tune in for a week of Domino Radio, featuring Wild Beasts, Franz Ferdinand and – oh yes – the Guardian Music team If there’s anyone you’d want running a radio station then it’s Domino Records, the label whose roster boasts everyone from Austra and Arctic Monkeys to Tricky and Robert Wyatt. The station takes over the airwaves for a week-long stint today and the good news is there will be no Chris Moyles. Instead, expect shows from artists including Wild Beasts, Cass McCombs, Rough Trade’s Jeanette Lee, Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie and Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos, who promises to bring “a box of records and a box of wine” (Monday 6 June, 20:00 GMT). There will also be a show from Guardian Music’s Rosie Swash and Tim Jonze (Monday 6 June, 13.30 GMT), who will be playing songs they grew up listening to. They’re also taking requests for another show on Thursday 8 June (17.30 GMT), so make sure you post your picks here . Enjoy the show and let us know what you think. SCHEDULE FOR MONDAY 6 JUNE 7am – JUSTIN SPEAR PSYCHEDELIC JAZZ 8am – HEAD NOD MUSIC – RYAN AND MIKE 9am – THE LONDON STORY 10am – BREAKFAST SHOW WITH JAMES ENDEACOTT 12pm – JACK SHANKLY – LIQUID LUNCH 1pm – JENNIFER HERREMA RTX – PARTY JAMS 1 1:30pm – GUARDIAN SHOW WITH TIM AND ROSIE 2:30pm – WILD BEASTS 3:30pm – STEVE MASON & DENNIS BOVELL 5pm – ARCTIC MONKEYS’ MATT HELDERS 7pm – JAMES FORD 8pm – FRANZ FERDINAND’S ALEX KAPRANOS 10pm – AUSTRA 11pm – BEAT STEVIE RADIO ft. MIKE SKINNER SCHEDULE FOR TUESDAY 7 JUNE 12am – OWEN PALLETT 1am – ARCHIE BRONSON OUTFIT 2am – TWIN SISTER 3am – THE NIGHT BUS – MILO MEROK RECORDS 4am – REKORDS REKORDS 4:30am – SECOUSSE FAMILY MIX 5:30am – DEAD AIR w/ ANDREW 6:30am – SMITH WESTERNS Indie Pop and rock Electronic music Dance music Urban music guardian.co.uk/music guardian.co.uk
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IMF tells the chancellor that the post-crisis repair of the British economy is underway The International Monetary Fund has come out in support of George Osborne’s austerity measures, saying the stability of the UK financial system is a “global public good” that requires close supervision. At the same time, John Lipsky, the acting managing director of the IMF, proposed “temporary tax cuts” if weak economic growth and high unemployment persist. In the IMF’s latest report on the UK , Lipsky told the chancellor that the post-crisis repair of the British economy is underway. He noted that weak economic growth and the pick-up in inflation over the last few months had been “unexpected”. “This raises the question whether it is time to adjust macroeconomic policies. The answer is no as the deviations are largely temporary,” said Lipsky. “The stability and efficiency of the UK financial system is a global public good due to potential spillovers and thus requires the highest quality of supervision and regulation.” He added that there are “significant” risks to inflation, growth and unemployment. “If they materialise, the policy response will depend on the nature of the shock.” The IMF has repeatedly downgraded the UK growth forecast for this year and cut it again on Monday, to 1.5% – down from 2.5% forecast in April 2010. Inflation is likely to remain above 4% for most of this year, it said, before gradually returning near the Bank of England’s 2% target. The comments come at a time of growing criticism of the chancellor’s drastic spending cuts . Official figures have painted a bleak picture of the economy, which flatlined over the fourth quarter of 2010 and first quarter of this year. George Osborne strongly defended his austerity measures on Monday, saying they would provide much-needed credibility and stability for the UK economy. More than 50 academics said the economy was too fragile and demanded in a letter to the Observer that the government pursue a “plan B” to boost jobs and growth. Other critics include Jonathan Portes, the director of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, who until February was chief economist at the Cabinet Office and Vicky Pryce, who was head of the government’s economic service before becoming a director at FTI Consulting. Two experts who had previously publicly backed the coalition’s cuts have also expressed profound concerns over the direction of Treasury policy: professor John Muellbauer of Oxford University, an expert on the housing market and Tim Besley, a former Bank of England monetary policy committee member. The chancellor defended his plans on BBC Radio 4′s Today programme, expressing confidence in the future of the British economy. “We have flexibility built into our plan. But what our plan provides is credibility where there was no credibility, stability where there was no stability, confidence that actually the British economy is getting its act together.” IMF Economics Global economy Economic growth (GDP) Economic policy George Osborne Liberal-Conservative coalition Julia Kollewe guardian.co.uk
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A new photo exhibition by artists Julie Henry and Debbie Bragg records the rise of community gardening in post-industrial locations
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Several large drug firms have announced big cuts to the amounts they charge for their vaccines in the developing world Some of the world’s leading pharmaceuticals companies have announced deep cuts in the price of vaccines for people in poor countries, in a move that will start to address a multibillion-dollar funding gap at the heart of the international effort to vaccinate children against killer diseases. GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Crucell and Sanofi-Aventis all offered new prices for vaccines that they supply to Gavi, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation body set up by Microsoft founder Bill Gates. GSK discounted by 67% a rotavirus vaccine, which protects against diarrhoea diseases that kill more than 500,000 children a year, and Merck also offered a deep discount on a rotavirus vaccine. Two other India-based firms Serum Institute and Panacea Biotec also offered vaccine price cuts. The price cuts won praise from aid agencies. But although they are likely to help save lives, they will only go a small way to help fill a $3.7bn (£2.2bn) shortfall that Gavi is facing. Helen Evans, Gavi’s interim chief executive, said: “These are promising offers that demonstrate industry commitment to work towards affordable and sustainable prices.” Save the Children’s chief executive, Justin Forsyth, called the big pharma initiative “a landmark move, potentially saving the lives of hundreds of thousands of children”. But he added: “It’s important that Gavi now uses this to spur other vaccine producers to reduce prices and work to foster greater competition amongst producers to drive prices down even further and help even more children.” Oxfam and Médecins sans Frontierès, whose doctors give vaccines in the field, blame the $3.7bn black hole in vaccine funds on a system in which Gavi bulk-buys vaccination programmes at unsustainable prices from western companies. David Cameron is hosting a funding conference in London next Monday, which Bill Gates is due to address. “At a time when Gavi is asking for more money, it is very important to look at these issues,” said Daniel Berman of MSF. He believes there should be more focus on basic vaccines, such as the very effective one against measles. “In some countries there is a failure of routine immunisation,” he said. Mohga Kamal-Yanni, Oxfam senior policy adviser, said: “Gavi’s funding of immunisation programmes makes a vital contribution to improving health in poor countries. We want to see this good work continue, but they could do so much more. The high prices Gavi currently pays for vaccines is one of the reasons behind the financial pressures it faces. Publishing the prices it pays for vaccines, and doing more to negotiate lower prices would drive down costs and ensure millions more people can be immunised against killer diseases such as hepatitis B, whooping cough and measles.” In the other price cuts announced, Serum and Panacea offered discounts on the price Gavi pays for pentavalent vaccines, which protect against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type B. Crucell and Sanofi Pasteur said they would extend Gavi prices on pentavalent vaccines to 16 additional countries. Sanofi Pasteur also said this would also apply to its yellow fever vaccine and a rotavirus vaccine being developed by its Indian subsidiary Shantha. Vaccines and immunisation Health Pharmaceuticals industry Bill Gates GlaxoSmithKline Aid Hepatitis B Charities Sarah Boseley guardian.co.uk
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University vice-chancellors warn banning nonviolent Islamists from addressing students will drive problem underground University vice-chancellors have warned the home secretary, Theresa May, that banning nonviolent Islamist “extremists” from speaking on college campuses is a simplistic solution that will drive the problem underground. The National Union of Students also told ministers “wild sensationalism” over claims about radicalisation on campuses would “only serve to unfairly demonise Muslim students”. They were reacting to May’s claim, in an interview with the Daily Telegraph , that universities have treated the issue of extremism with complacency. May told the paper: “I don’t think they have been sufficiently willing to recognise what can be happening on their campuses and the radicalisation that can take place. I think there is more that universities can do.” Downing Street has yet to confirm the final details of the revised counter-terrorism strategy known as Prevent , but an announcement of the policy is expected tomorrow. The Daily Mail reports that the much delayed update will identify 40 English universities where there could be a “particular risk” of radicalisation or recruitment on campus. The home secretary has particularly targeted groups associated with the Federation of Student Islamic Societies : “They need to be prepared to stand up and say that organisations that are extreme or support extremism, or have extremist speakers, should not be part of their grouping,” said May. But university vice-chancellors rejected the charge that they had been complacent, pointing to a report earlier this year that showed two-thirds of colleges had engaged with Prevent officers. Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK , told the BBC: “I simply don’t recognise this description of universities as being complacent about terrorism. The report that Universities UK published earlier this year showed the extent to which universities are engaging with the police and security services and working with student unions to deal with unlawful external speakers.” She said it was important to draw a distinction between speakers who expressed disagreeable views and speakers who were unlawful in terms of inciting violence or terrorism. “There is absolutely no place in universities for speakers who encourage violence or who in some way breach race relations legislation, whatever it may be: they should be stopped. But what we are talking about here is speakers whose views we may not agree with. They may express extreme views. We may find their views repulsive or offensive, but we say those views need to be expressed so that students may challenge these views. If we ban those speakers not only do we compromise freedom of speech in a significant way but we drive the whole issue underground, and that is not the way to deal with it.” Dandridge said bans would fail: “There is a complex and fine line to be drawn between unlawful speech that should be banned, and views that we do not agree with [but which] we have to challenge. There is no room for rhetoric for easy, simplistic solutions that will not work.” She was backed by the National Union of Students. The president, Aaron Porter, said: “Given that the law requires universities to provide freedom of speech, and the government refuses to ban the hardline group Hizb ut-Tahrir despite promises to do so, it appears irresponsible of Theresa May to try to shift the blame for nonviolent extremism on to universities or students. “Facing up to the challenges that nonviolent extremism brings to campus life requires careful support and guidance from government, not wild sensationalism that only serves to unfairly demonise Muslim students.” Higher education UK security and terrorism Islam Theresa May Alan Travis guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …University vice-chancellors warn banning nonviolent Islamists from addressing students will drive problem underground University vice-chancellors have warned the home secretary, Theresa May, that banning nonviolent Islamist “extremists” from speaking on college campuses is a simplistic solution that will drive the problem underground. The National Union of Students also told ministers “wild sensationalism” over claims about radicalisation on campuses would “only serve to unfairly demonise Muslim students”. They were reacting to May’s claim, in an interview with the Daily Telegraph , that universities have treated the issue of extremism with complacency. May told the paper: “I don’t think they have been sufficiently willing to recognise what can be happening on their campuses and the radicalisation that can take place. I think there is more that universities can do.” Downing Street has yet to confirm the final details of the revised counter-terrorism strategy known as Prevent , but an announcement of the policy is expected tomorrow. The Daily Mail reports that the much delayed update will identify 40 English universities where there could be a “particular risk” of radicalisation or recruitment on campus. The home secretary has particularly targeted groups associated with the Federation of Student Islamic Societies : “They need to be prepared to stand up and say that organisations that are extreme or support extremism, or have extremist speakers, should not be part of their grouping,” said May. But university vice-chancellors rejected the charge that they had been complacent, pointing to a report earlier this year that showed two-thirds of colleges had engaged with Prevent officers. Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK , told the BBC: “I simply don’t recognise this description of universities as being complacent about terrorism. The report that Universities UK published earlier this year showed the extent to which universities are engaging with the police and security services and working with student unions to deal with unlawful external speakers.” She said it was important to draw a distinction between speakers who expressed disagreeable views and speakers who were unlawful in terms of inciting violence or terrorism. “There is absolutely no place in universities for speakers who encourage violence or who in some way breach race relations legislation, whatever it may be: they should be stopped. But what we are talking about here is speakers whose views we may not agree with. They may express extreme views. We may find their views repulsive or offensive, but we say those views need to be expressed so that students may challenge these views. If we ban those speakers not only do we compromise freedom of speech in a significant way but we drive the whole issue underground, and that is not the way to deal with it.” Dandridge said bans would fail: “There is a complex and fine line to be drawn between unlawful speech that should be banned, and views that we do not agree with [but which] we have to challenge. There is no room for rhetoric for easy, simplistic solutions that will not work.” She was backed by the National Union of Students. The president, Aaron Porter, said: “Given that the law requires universities to provide freedom of speech, and the government refuses to ban the hardline group Hizb ut-Tahrir despite promises to do so, it appears irresponsible of Theresa May to try to shift the blame for nonviolent extremism on to universities or students. “Facing up to the challenges that nonviolent extremism brings to campus life requires careful support and guidance from government, not wild sensationalism that only serves to unfairly demonise Muslim students.” Higher education UK security and terrorism Islam Theresa May Alan Travis guardian.co.uk
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Business secretary heckled as he tells GMB conference that widespread action would increase pressure for tightening of anti-strike laws The business secretary, Vince Cable, was booed and heckled as he warned unions that widespread industrial action over spending cuts could ratchet up pressure on the government to make it harder for workers to strike. Cable’s comments – backed by the chancellor, George Osborne – prompted a furious reaction from union leaders, who accused the government of issuing “veiled threats” to deny workers the basic right to strike by tightening what they say is already among the developed world’s toughest strike legislation. The Liberal Democrat minister gave a keynote address to the GMB’s annual conference in Brighton, in which he laid out the government’s desire to have a “mature relationship” with trade unions. But he warned the “usual suspects” calling for general strikes and widespread disruption in response to the cuts. Cable told the conference there was currently no “compelling” reason to reform the laws – an action some rightwingers, including the London mayor, Boris Johnson, have called for. However, he said this could change if a wave of strikes caused “serious damage” to the country’s economic and social fabric. It was the first explicit acknowledgment by a coalition minister that the government could legislate to prevent widespread strikes. Other ministers refrained amid fears of increasing tensions at a crucial point in talks designed to avoid a mass walkout across the public sector. Cable said: “Later this month, we may very well witness a day of industrial action across significant parts of the public sector. “The usual suspects will call for general strikes and widespread disruption. This will excite the usual media comments about a summer or an autumn of discontent, and another group of the usual suspects will exploit the situation to call for the tightening of strike law. “We are undoubtedly entering a difficult period. Cool heads will be required all round. Despite occasional blips, I know that strike levels remain historically low, especially in the private sector. On that basis, and assuming this pattern continues, the case for changing strike law is not compelling. “However, should the position change … the pressure on us to act would ratchet up. That is something which both you, and certainly I, would wish to avoid.” The minister’s trailed comments had been endorsed by Osborne as “absolutely right” earlier in the day. “Vince Cable … speaks for the government, of course, and I agree with him,” the chancellor told the BBC News Channel. “Of course we want a constructive relationship with the public sector unions. We have got important negotiations under way, for instance on pensions. What Vince is saying is if we go into a cycle of destructive strikes we would have to think again – but let’s hope we don’t get there.” Sarah Veale, the TUC’s head of equalities and employment rights, said: “The UK already has some of the toughest strike legislation in the developed world, so there is no justification for further curbs, as the minister himself acknowledges. “Restricting the right to withhold labour would also be completely at odds with the coalition’s commitment to civil liberties. Disputes are always better settled through negotiation with unions, rather than veiled threats to rig the law in the employers’ favour.” Mark Serwotka, the leader of the Public and Commercial Services union, said: “The right to strike is a basic human right. “Public sector workers are currently facing unprecedented ideological attacks on their jobs, pensions, pay and conditions which will throw the economy into further recession. “This government, and the bankers who caused the economic crisis, are inflicting the greatest damage to our economic and social fabric by cutting public sector jobs, axing vital services and attacking communities.” The Unite leader, Len McCluskey, accused Cable of cracking down on workers’ human rights, saying: “It is no coincidence that the government is engineering this fight now. All eyes have been on our comatose economy and the government’s colossal failure to address this. “Talking tough about cracking down on working people is a circus engineered by a government that is clueless about the real problems facing this country – how do we breathe life back into our shops, businesses and high streets and how do we get the millions on the dole back to work?” Cable’s comment about the “usual suspects” calling for legislation to be strengthened appeared to be aimed at Johnson, who critics say is pressing the government to beef up anti-strike laws because of his failure to make progress on a no-strike agreement with London’s tube unions. Johnson has called for a legislative change that would only allow strikes to go ahead if supported by a majority vote of a union’s membership rather than only those opting to take part in a ballot. Talks with the unions to negotiate a new pension deal for state employees – the only issue all the public sector unions have in common, and therefore the only one in which they could launch joint industrial action – are ongoing. It is understood the discussions are making little headway, with ministers refusing to back down on increasing workers’ contributions. Other unions representing up to six million public sector workers could then edge towards industrial action. One breakaway group of unions representing 500,000 state employees – including the PCS civil service union and some of the teaching unions – is currently preparing to strike on 30 June. Schools, courts, ports and Whitehall could all come to a standstill. The developments come amid warnings over the government’s economic strategy, with a group of leading economists calling for a “plan B” alternative to the coalition’s spending cuts Osborne insisted there was no need for a plan B and said his austerity measures would provide credibility and stability for the UK economy. Vince Cable Trade unions George Osborne Economic policy Liberal-Conservative coalition Public sector cuts Public services policy Public finance Public sector pay Hélène Mulholland Polly Curtis guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Business secretary heckled as he tells GMB conference that widespread action would increase pressure for tightening of anti-strike laws The business secretary, Vince Cable, was booed and heckled as he warned unions that widespread industrial action over spending cuts could ratchet up pressure on the government to make it harder for workers to strike. Cable’s comments – backed by the chancellor, George Osborne – prompted a furious reaction from union leaders, who accused the government of issuing “veiled threats” to deny workers the basic right to strike by tightening what they say is already among the developed world’s toughest strike legislation. The Liberal Democrat minister gave a keynote address to the GMB’s annual conference in Brighton, in which he laid out the government’s desire to have a “mature relationship” with trade unions. But he warned the “usual suspects” calling for general strikes and widespread disruption in response to the cuts. Cable told the conference there was currently no “compelling” reason to reform the laws – an action some rightwingers, including the London mayor, Boris Johnson, have called for. However, he said this could change if a wave of strikes caused “serious damage” to the country’s economic and social fabric. It was the first explicit acknowledgment by a coalition minister that the government could legislate to prevent widespread strikes. Other ministers refrained amid fears of increasing tensions at a crucial point in talks designed to avoid a mass walkout across the public sector. Cable said: “Later this month, we may very well witness a day of industrial action across significant parts of the public sector. “The usual suspects will call for general strikes and widespread disruption. This will excite the usual media comments about a summer or an autumn of discontent, and another group of the usual suspects will exploit the situation to call for the tightening of strike law. “We are undoubtedly entering a difficult period. Cool heads will be required all round. Despite occasional blips, I know that strike levels remain historically low, especially in the private sector. On that basis, and assuming this pattern continues, the case for changing strike law is not compelling. “However, should the position change … the pressure on us to act would ratchet up. That is something which both you, and certainly I, would wish to avoid.” The minister’s trailed comments had been endorsed by Osborne as “absolutely right” earlier in the day. “Vince Cable … speaks for the government, of course, and I agree with him,” the chancellor told the BBC News Channel. “Of course we want a constructive relationship with the public sector unions. We have got important negotiations under way, for instance on pensions. What Vince is saying is if we go into a cycle of destructive strikes we would have to think again – but let’s hope we don’t get there.” Sarah Veale, the TUC’s head of equalities and employment rights, said: “The UK already has some of the toughest strike legislation in the developed world, so there is no justification for further curbs, as the minister himself acknowledges. “Restricting the right to withhold labour would also be completely at odds with the coalition’s commitment to civil liberties. Disputes are always better settled through negotiation with unions, rather than veiled threats to rig the law in the employers’ favour.” Mark Serwotka, the leader of the Public and Commercial Services union, said: “The right to strike is a basic human right. “Public sector workers are currently facing unprecedented ideological attacks on their jobs, pensions, pay and conditions which will throw the economy into further recession. “This government, and the bankers who caused the economic crisis, are inflicting the greatest damage to our economic and social fabric by cutting public sector jobs, axing vital services and attacking communities.” The Unite leader, Len McCluskey, accused Cable of cracking down on workers’ human rights, saying: “It is no coincidence that the government is engineering this fight now. All eyes have been on our comatose economy and the government’s colossal failure to address this. “Talking tough about cracking down on working people is a circus engineered by a government that is clueless about the real problems facing this country – how do we breathe life back into our shops, businesses and high streets and how do we get the millions on the dole back to work?” Cable’s comment about the “usual suspects” calling for legislation to be strengthened appeared to be aimed at Johnson, who critics say is pressing the government to beef up anti-strike laws because of his failure to make progress on a no-strike agreement with London’s tube unions. Johnson has called for a legislative change that would only allow strikes to go ahead if supported by a majority vote of a union’s membership rather than only those opting to take part in a ballot. Talks with the unions to negotiate a new pension deal for state employees – the only issue all the public sector unions have in common, and therefore the only one in which they could launch joint industrial action – are ongoing. It is understood the discussions are making little headway, with ministers refusing to back down on increasing workers’ contributions. Other unions representing up to six million public sector workers could then edge towards industrial action. One breakaway group of unions representing 500,000 state employees – including the PCS civil service union and some of the teaching unions – is currently preparing to strike on 30 June. Schools, courts, ports and Whitehall could all come to a standstill. The developments come amid warnings over the government’s economic strategy, with a group of leading economists calling for a “plan B” alternative to the coalition’s spending cuts Osborne insisted there was no need for a plan B and said his austerity measures would provide credibility and stability for the UK economy. Vince Cable Trade unions George Osborne Economic policy Liberal-Conservative coalition Public sector cuts Public services policy Public finance Public sector pay Hélène Mulholland Polly Curtis guardian.co.uk
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Poll: We asked for your suggestions for the best goal scored in Europe this season, now it’s your chance to vote
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