Gambling Commission inquiry finds employees used inside information on phone votes to place bets on eliminations Three Virgin Media employees have been caught using inside information on telephone voting patterns during last year’s series of The X Factor to place more than £16,000 in bets on the hit ITV1 show. An investigation by the Gambling Commission found that three Virgin Media employees accessed company data on the number of telephone votes being registered by customers for each contestant on the show. The investigation found “no evidence that the integrity of the public voting or the TV shows involved were compromised”. Using the information gleaned on voting patterns the employees waged more than £16,000 in bets through online gambling platform Betfair on which contestants would be eliminated from The X Factor. Betfair alerted the Gambling Commission to suspicious activity and following an investigation the bets have been voided. “Following a multiagency investigation led by the Gambling Commission, we are satisfied that the bets placed were substantially unfair as the individuals involved had inside information,” said the Gambling Commission’s director of regulation, Nick Tofiluk. The Gambling Commission has been in consultation with Virgin Media, ITV and media regulator Ofcom to make sure such scams cannot take place in the future. “While we take this matter extremely seriously Ofcom and the broadcaster are confident that TV viewers did not suffer any financial harm, nor were the outcome of any shows or votes affected,” said an Ofcom spokesman. “We also note that Virgin Media has since terminated the employment of the individuals involved and introduced additional internal procedures to improve data monitoring.” Virgin Media said that the scam was an “isolated incident” and offered reassurance that the outcome of phone votes through the company’s system had not been affected. “We can confirm this was an isolated incident where three individuals were found to have misused their legitimate access to internal data to identify the volume of calls being made,” said a spokeswoman for Virgin Media. “At no point was any individual customer data shared and the outcome of the phone votes was not affected. However we have since introduced additional monitoring to our systems to ensure this cannot happen again.” •
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Gambling Commission inquiry finds employees used inside information on phone votes to place bets on eliminations Three Virgin Media employees have been caught using inside information on telephone voting patterns during last year’s series of The X Factor to place more than £16,000 in bets on the hit ITV1 show. An investigation by the Gambling Commission found that three Virgin Media employees accessed company data on the number of telephone votes being registered by customers for each contestant on the show. The investigation found “no evidence that the integrity of the public voting or the TV shows involved were compromised”. Using the information gleaned on voting patterns the employees waged more than £16,000 in bets through online gambling platform Betfair on which contestants would be eliminated from The X Factor. Betfair alerted the Gambling Commission to suspicious activity and following an investigation the bets have been voided. “Following a multiagency investigation led by the Gambling Commission, we are satisfied that the bets placed were substantially unfair as the individuals involved had inside information,” said the Gambling Commission’s director of regulation, Nick Tofiluk. The Gambling Commission has been in consultation with Virgin Media, ITV and media regulator Ofcom to make sure such scams cannot take place in the future. “While we take this matter extremely seriously Ofcom and the broadcaster are confident that TV viewers did not suffer any financial harm, nor were the outcome of any shows or votes affected,” said an Ofcom spokesman. “We also note that Virgin Media has since terminated the employment of the individuals involved and introduced additional internal procedures to improve data monitoring.” Virgin Media said that the scam was an “isolated incident” and offered reassurance that the outcome of phone votes through the company’s system had not been affected. “We can confirm this was an isolated incident where three individuals were found to have misused their legitimate access to internal data to identify the volume of calls being made,” said a spokeswoman for Virgin Media. “At no point was any individual customer data shared and the outcome of the phone votes was not affected. However we have since introduced additional monitoring to our systems to ensure this cannot happen again.” •
Continue reading …Why is Glenn Beck giving up his show on Fox News ? The host addressed the question at the end of his show yesterday, but left his future plans something of a mystery, Mediaite notes. Beck made it clear to his viewers that he feels “we are heading for deep…
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Anti-corruption campaigner says he will continue to ‘fast until death’ as campaign inspires millions to stage their own protests A 73-year-old Indian anti-corruption campaigner has refused to end his “fast until death” despite government concessions on his demands for a powerful new body to stamp out graft in the country. Anna Hazare ended his third day of hunger strike on Thursday saying he had lost weight and “felt a little weak” but could continue without food for at least another week. Hunger strikes – which invoke the memory of those undertaken by Mahatma Gandhi – are popular political tactics in India and are frequent features of public life. However, this most recent campaign against corruption has mobilised millions of Indians. Hazare’s Facebook page has more than 80,000 friends and supporters mobbed the Jantar Mantar observatory, the site of his hunger strike, in central Delhi on Thursday. Tens of thousands also joined the protests, ranging from hunger strikes to candlelit vigils in cities around the country including Mumbai, Lucknow and Jaipur. A number of Bollywood stars have also come out in support of Hazare, a former soldier and veteran social activist. Corruption in India is endemic and ranges from the small fees that need to be paid to avoid fines for trumped up traffic offences to an alleged £24bn fraud in the telecoms sector, which saw a former government minister jailed last month. “This is a corrupt government, full of corrupt ministers in a corrupt country. We have had enough,” said Peta Singh, an 18-year-old student from Noida, a satellite town of Delhi, who had travelled to the centre of the capital with friends to demonstrate. The telecoms scandal was just one of a series to hit the Congress-led coalition in the last year. Others included alleged kickbacks connected with the hugely expensive 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games. The protesters want speedy adoption of a law to create a powerful anti-corruption ombudsman which would be able to ensure rapid investigation and prosecution of offenders. Current authorities – described as either politicised or toothless by protesters – would be placed under the ombudsman’s control. The activists reject the current draft of the law as too weak. It suggests the ombudsman, known as the Lokpal, be a recommending authority without prosecuting powers. The wealthy and powerful in India usually escape any charges against them or succeed in drawing out the legal process for many years, sometimes decades. A bill to set up a powerful anti-graft mechanism has been repeatedly introduced into parliament but has never passed. Many lawmakers make huge fortunes illegally. Keshal Gunjal, 28, had come to Delhi from the southern city of Pune to support Hazare. A science graduate who had given up his government post in protest against “the system”, he said Hazare and his followers would achieve their aims. “We will definitely reach our objectives. All of India is united against corruption – except the corrupt people of course,” he said. Another demonstrator, PN Jha, said he had personal experience of “scams” while working in the oil and gas sector. “No one believes the politicians any more,” he said. In the global list of perceptions of corruption compiled by Transparency International, India is ranked the 87th least corrupt along with Albania, Jamaica and Liberia. China ranks 78th and Pakistan 143rd, local commentators have noted. Brahma Chellaney, a respected Indian international affairs analyst and author, has called corruption an “existential threat” to India. Negotiations between the campaigners and the government are set to continue on Friday. India Jason Burke guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Anti-corruption campaigner says he will continue to ‘fast until death’ as campaign inspires millions to stage their own protests A 73-year-old Indian anti-corruption campaigner has refused to end his “fast until death” despite government concessions on his demands for a powerful new body to stamp out graft in the country. Anna Hazare ended his third day of hunger strike on Thursday saying he had lost weight and “felt a little weak” but could continue without food for at least another week. Hunger strikes – which invoke the memory of those undertaken by Mahatma Gandhi – are popular political tactics in India and are frequent features of public life. However, this most recent campaign against corruption has mobilised millions of Indians. Hazare’s Facebook page has more than 80,000 friends and supporters mobbed the Jantar Mantar observatory, the site of his hunger strike, in central Delhi on Thursday. Tens of thousands also joined the protests, ranging from hunger strikes to candlelit vigils in cities around the country including Mumbai, Lucknow and Jaipur. A number of Bollywood stars have also come out in support of Hazare, a former soldier and veteran social activist. Corruption in India is endemic and ranges from the small fees that need to be paid to avoid fines for trumped up traffic offences to an alleged £24bn fraud in the telecoms sector, which saw a former government minister jailed last month. “This is a corrupt government, full of corrupt ministers in a corrupt country. We have had enough,” said Peta Singh, an 18-year-old student from Noida, a satellite town of Delhi, who had travelled to the centre of the capital with friends to demonstrate. The telecoms scandal was just one of a series to hit the Congress-led coalition in the last year. Others included alleged kickbacks connected with the hugely expensive 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games. The protesters want speedy adoption of a law to create a powerful anti-corruption ombudsman which would be able to ensure rapid investigation and prosecution of offenders. Current authorities – described as either politicised or toothless by protesters – would be placed under the ombudsman’s control. The activists reject the current draft of the law as too weak. It suggests the ombudsman, known as the Lokpal, be a recommending authority without prosecuting powers. The wealthy and powerful in India usually escape any charges against them or succeed in drawing out the legal process for many years, sometimes decades. A bill to set up a powerful anti-graft mechanism has been repeatedly introduced into parliament but has never passed. Many lawmakers make huge fortunes illegally. Keshal Gunjal, 28, had come to Delhi from the southern city of Pune to support Hazare. A science graduate who had given up his government post in protest against “the system”, he said Hazare and his followers would achieve their aims. “We will definitely reach our objectives. All of India is united against corruption – except the corrupt people of course,” he said. Another demonstrator, PN Jha, said he had personal experience of “scams” while working in the oil and gas sector. “No one believes the politicians any more,” he said. In the global list of perceptions of corruption compiled by Transparency International, India is ranked the 87th least corrupt along with Albania, Jamaica and Liberia. China ranks 78th and Pakistan 143rd, local commentators have noted. Brahma Chellaney, a respected Indian international affairs analyst and author, has called corruption an “existential threat” to India. Negotiations between the campaigners and the government are set to continue on Friday. India Jason Burke guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Anti-corruption campaigner says he will continue to ‘fast until death’ as campaign inspires millions to stage their own protests A 73-year-old Indian anti-corruption campaigner has refused to end his “fast until death” despite government concessions on his demands for a powerful new body to stamp out graft in the country. Anna Hazare ended his third day of hunger strike on Thursday saying he had lost weight and “felt a little weak” but could continue without food for at least another week. Hunger strikes – which invoke the memory of those undertaken by Mahatma Gandhi – are popular political tactics in India and are frequent features of public life. However, this most recent campaign against corruption has mobilised millions of Indians. Hazare’s Facebook page has more than 80,000 friends and supporters mobbed the Jantar Mantar observatory, the site of his hunger strike, in central Delhi on Thursday. Tens of thousands also joined the protests, ranging from hunger strikes to candlelit vigils in cities around the country including Mumbai, Lucknow and Jaipur. A number of Bollywood stars have also come out in support of Hazare, a former soldier and veteran social activist. Corruption in India is endemic and ranges from the small fees that need to be paid to avoid fines for trumped up traffic offences to an alleged £24bn fraud in the telecoms sector, which saw a former government minister jailed last month. “This is a corrupt government, full of corrupt ministers in a corrupt country. We have had enough,” said Peta Singh, an 18-year-old student from Noida, a satellite town of Delhi, who had travelled to the centre of the capital with friends to demonstrate. The telecoms scandal was just one of a series to hit the Congress-led coalition in the last year. Others included alleged kickbacks connected with the hugely expensive 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games. The protesters want speedy adoption of a law to create a powerful anti-corruption ombudsman which would be able to ensure rapid investigation and prosecution of offenders. Current authorities – described as either politicised or toothless by protesters – would be placed under the ombudsman’s control. The activists reject the current draft of the law as too weak. It suggests the ombudsman, known as the Lokpal, be a recommending authority without prosecuting powers. The wealthy and powerful in India usually escape any charges against them or succeed in drawing out the legal process for many years, sometimes decades. A bill to set up a powerful anti-graft mechanism has been repeatedly introduced into parliament but has never passed. Many lawmakers make huge fortunes illegally. Keshal Gunjal, 28, had come to Delhi from the southern city of Pune to support Hazare. A science graduate who had given up his government post in protest against “the system”, he said Hazare and his followers would achieve their aims. “We will definitely reach our objectives. All of India is united against corruption – except the corrupt people of course,” he said. Another demonstrator, PN Jha, said he had personal experience of “scams” while working in the oil and gas sector. “No one believes the politicians any more,” he said. In the global list of perceptions of corruption compiled by Transparency International, India is ranked the 87th least corrupt along with Albania, Jamaica and Liberia. China ranks 78th and Pakistan 143rd, local commentators have noted. Brahma Chellaney, a respected Indian international affairs analyst and author, has called corruption an “existential threat” to India. Negotiations between the campaigners and the government are set to continue on Friday. India Jason Burke guardian.co.uk
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One in six secondary schools now an academy, figures show The number of academy schools in England has trebled over the last year to one in six secondary schools, government figures show. Statistics from the Department for Education reveal that the majority of secondary schools are academies in six local authorities. These include Southwark and Bromley, in south London, and Plymouth and Reading. Academies are schools that have opted out of the control of their local authority and may receive funds from charities or corporate sponsors. Under Labour, the academies programme focused on turning weak or underperforming schools into academies. Michael Gove, the education secretary, envisages that the majority of schools are expected to turn into academies in the near future. He has used emergency anti-terrorism legislation to change the law to allow all schools to acquire academy status. Academies can set their own pay and conditions for staff, set aside parts of the curriculum and change the length of the school day. The statistics show that the academy model is far more popular in secondary schools than primaries. Some 547 secondary schools are now academies – 16.5% of the total. But just 82 primary schools are academies – 0.5% of the total. There are now 629 Academies open, compared to 203 in May last year. In London, the south-west and the east of England, schools are particularly likely to become academies. They are least likely to convert to become academies in the north-east of the country. The government said it would now consider applications from schools for children with special needs that wanted to become academies. Lord Hill, minister for schools, said that “by setting good schools free and improving performance in weak schools, we will raise standards for all children no matter what their background”. Academies Schools Jessica Shepherd guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …One in six secondary schools now an academy, figures show The number of academy schools in England has trebled over the last year to one in six secondary schools, government figures show. Statistics from the Department for Education reveal that the majority of secondary schools are academies in six local authorities. These include Southwark and Bromley, in south London, and Plymouth and Reading. Academies are schools that have opted out of the control of their local authority and may receive funds from charities or corporate sponsors. Under Labour, the academies programme focused on turning weak or underperforming schools into academies. Michael Gove, the education secretary, envisages that the majority of schools are expected to turn into academies in the near future. He has used emergency anti-terrorism legislation to change the law to allow all schools to acquire academy status. Academies can set their own pay and conditions for staff, set aside parts of the curriculum and change the length of the school day. The statistics show that the academy model is far more popular in secondary schools than primaries. Some 547 secondary schools are now academies – 16.5% of the total. But just 82 primary schools are academies – 0.5% of the total. There are now 629 Academies open, compared to 203 in May last year. In London, the south-west and the east of England, schools are particularly likely to become academies. They are least likely to convert to become academies in the north-east of the country. The government said it would now consider applications from schools for children with special needs that wanted to become academies. Lord Hill, minister for schools, said that “by setting good schools free and improving performance in weak schools, we will raise standards for all children no matter what their background”. Academies Schools Jessica Shepherd guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …One in six secondary schools now an academy, figures show The number of academy schools in England has trebled over the last year to one in six secondary schools, government figures show. Statistics from the Department for Education reveal that the majority of secondary schools are academies in six local authorities. These include Southwark and Bromley, in south London, and Plymouth and Reading. Academies are schools that have opted out of the control of their local authority and may receive funds from charities or corporate sponsors. Under Labour, the academies programme focused on turning weak or underperforming schools into academies. Michael Gove, the education secretary, envisages that the majority of schools are expected to turn into academies in the near future. He has used emergency anti-terrorism legislation to change the law to allow all schools to acquire academy status. Academies can set their own pay and conditions for staff, set aside parts of the curriculum and change the length of the school day. The statistics show that the academy model is far more popular in secondary schools than primaries. Some 547 secondary schools are now academies – 16.5% of the total. But just 82 primary schools are academies – 0.5% of the total. There are now 629 Academies open, compared to 203 in May last year. In London, the south-west and the east of England, schools are particularly likely to become academies. They are least likely to convert to become academies in the north-east of the country. The government said it would now consider applications from schools for children with special needs that wanted to become academies. Lord Hill, minister for schools, said that “by setting good schools free and improving performance in weak schools, we will raise standards for all children no matter what their background”. Academies Schools Jessica Shepherd guardian.co.uk
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Omar Fathi bin Shatwan says members of Libyan leader’s inner circle also want to defect but fear for their lives Libya’s former energy minister has fled to Europe, and says that several other key political figures also want to defect. Omar Fathi bin Shatwan, who was energy minister from 2004 to 2006, said members of Muammar Gaddafi’s inner circle also wanted to leave Libya, but feared for their lives. Shatwan, who also served as industry minister, fled to Malta on Friday from the besieged city of Misrata, the Maltese foreign ministry said. He arrived in the country but his presence had been kept a secret, it said. He said he remained in contact with members of Gaddafi’s government, who found themselves and their families under siege. “Those whose families are outside Libya will flee if they get a chance,” Shatwan said. “But many can’t leave, and all the families of ministers are under siege.” The former minister described how he had witnessed the widespread destruction of Misrata and had seen government forces fire on civilians indiscriminately , during a 40-day period in which he could not leave his home. He finally managed to escape Libya’s third city on a small fishing vessel. “There has been a big bombardment and there is total destruction. After this, they occupied some streets with tanks, and put snipers in the buildings,” he said. He added that government forces were mainly foreign mercenaries, led by a small number of Libyans loyal to Gaddafi. Shatwan is a long-standing figure in Libyan politics, and held various government posts between 1987 and 2006. He returned to his academic career after leaving government in 2007. “At the beginning Gaddafi’s regime was good. The first 10 years saw vast improvements, the middle 20 years less so, and the last 10 years have seen terrible decline,” he said. Shatwan is the most recent political figure to flee Libya. The country’s foreign minister, Moussa Koussa, defected to the UK last week. Muammar Gaddafi Libya Middle East Arab and Middle East unrest Alexandra Topping guardian.co.uk
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