James Murdoch’s testimony to members of Parliament on the tabloid scandal is again being challenged , this time by two former News International executives. An ex- News of the World editor and another exec say that contrary to what the younger Murdoch testified, they “did inform” him of an email that…
Continue reading …Apple may have found something to do with its $76 billion in cash after all—the tech giant is eyeing Hulu, reports Bloomberg . Such a buy could cost Apple more than $2 billion, which would make Hulu the most expensive company Apple has ever purchased by far, topping the $400…
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Sources say police will examine Coulson’s denial of any knowledge of phone hacking at Tommy Sheridan trial Andy Coulson, the prime minister’s former director of communications, is being investigated by police for allegedly committing perjury while working for David Cameron in Downing Street. The development renews pressure on the prime minister over his judgment in hiring the former News of the World editor and represents the third criminal investigation Coulson faces, adding to allegations that he knew of phone hacking while in charge of the tabloid and authorised bribes to police officers. Strathclyde detectives confirmed that they had opened a perjury inquiry centred on evidence Coulson gave in court last year that led to a man being jailed. Coulson was a major witness in a trial involving Tommy Sheridan, the former MSP who was accused of lying in court when winning a libel action against the News of the World. Coulson had been the editor of the Sunday tabloid when it ran a story accusing Sheridan of being an adulterer who visited swingers’ clubs. Sources say police will examine Coulson’s denial of any knowledge of phone hacking and payments to police officers at the Sheridan trial against the evidence held by the Scotland Yard investigation. At the trial Coulson also denied knowing that the paper paid corrupt police officers for tip-offs, which contradicts recent disclosures that News International has uncovered emails showing payments were made to the police during his editorship. Coulson, who was called as a witness in December 2010, told the court that he had no knowledge of illegal activities by reporters while he was editor of the newspaper. He also claimed: “I don’t accept there was a culture of phone hacking at the News of the World.” Sheridan was jailed for three years in January after being found guilty of perjury during his 2006 defamation action against the NoW. He had successfully sued the newspaper over its claims. Also giving testimony alongside Coulson were Bob Bird, the News of the World’s Scottish editor, and Douglas Wight, the Scottish edition’s former news editor. Bird denied being part of a “culture of phone tapping” and Wight, who is now the paper’s books editor, told the court he was not aware of any payment for illegal activities. Strathclyde police’s assistant chief constable, George Hamilton, said: “Following our discussions with the crown, we have now been instructed to carry out a full investigation into allegations that witnesses gave perjured evidence in the trial of Tommy Sheridan and into alleged breaches of data protection and phone hacking. “We will also be looking to see if we can uncover any evidence of corruption in the police service or any other organisation related to these inquiries. “However, I must stress that no specific allegations regarding corruption have been presented to us at this time. “We will be working with the Metropolitan police and with the other Scottish forces as we progress with the investigation. “I have put in place a structure that will allow us to work effectively together, but also to ensure that any member of the public who has a concern regarding the safety and security of their private data and information is able to register that concern and to have it properly investigated. “By its very nature, this investigation will require us to allocate varying levels of resources to it. There is a huge amount of material to consider and, potentially, a large number of people to contact. “This will mean that the investigation is likely to be a lengthy one. However, you have my absolute assurance that it will be a thorough one. We will do everything we can to find out the facts and to report all examples of wrongdoing.” Sheridan’s lawyer, Aamer Anwar, said: “Over two weeks ago we provided a detailed dossier of allegations of perjury, phone hacking and breach of data to Strathclyde police and called for a robust investigation. “Over £2m was spent by the police on investigating Mr and Mrs Sheridan and we were told it was in the public interest. I expect now to see a similar ruthlessness and determination in dealing with the News of the World.” A News International spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that we have been contacted by police on this matter. We can’t say anything else.” Earlier this month it emerged that Coulson had hired one of Scotland’s top QCs, Paul McBride. Andy Coulson Phone hacking Newspapers & magazines National newspapers News of the World Scotland Tommy Sheridan Newspapers Vikram Dodd Ben Dowell guardian.co.uk
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Leighton, 27, suspected of murdering five patients at the hospital in Stockport after saline bags were sabotaged with insulin Police continued to question nurse Rebecca Leighton over the deaths of five patients at the hospital where she worked after bags of saline solution were sabotaged with insulin. Detectives arrested the 27-year-old on Wednesday on suspicion of murder after 36 adulterated bags of saline were found at Stepping Hill hospital in Stockport. Police have been given more time to question her under a warrant of further detention. It was due to expire at 9.05pm last night, at which point she had to be either be released from custody or charged. It is understood Leighton had recently been rejected for a new job, thought to have been a promotion within the hospital. She is believed to have vehemently protested her innocence to detectives. Officers said it was likely the death toll would rise as the coroner investigates any further unexplained deaths at the hospital. An 83-year-old man who died on Thursday was named as electronic engineer Derek Weaver. A postmortem on an 84-year-old woman who died on 11 July and has not yet been identified was inconclusive, but she also had low blood sugar. Assistant chief constable Ian Hopkins sought to reassure the public that the patients who died became ill before police were called in, and said that 60 detectives were working on the case. “Since the police have been investigating, and the measures have been stepped up in terms of security at the hospital, we have had no further incidents of deliberate damage or contamination of products within Stepping Hill hospital,” he said. Both pensioners had been patients on wards A1 and A3, where the saline was tampered with. The police inquiry is focusing on patients’ treatment from 7 July. Hopkins said the police wanted to prevent further harm and once that was achieved they would look at cases before that date. Inquests have been opened and adjourned into the deaths of Tracey Arden, 44; George Keep, 84; and Arnold Lancaster, 71. Those who know Leighton portray her as a hard-working, cheerful and polite young woman who enjoys nights out with her friends but had found nightshifts difficult. She followed her mother, Lynda, into nursing after taking an Open University degree. Her mother is a manager at Stepping Hill hospital, responsible for nurse training, and her father is a bus driver. Another man in his 40s who was critically ill at the hospital after suffering a drop in blood sugar is said to be improving and a woman who suffered a seizure is also said to be recovering. Hospital staff say they are not concerned about the health of nine other patients who were affected by a fall in blood sugar levels. Chris Burke, chief executive of Stockport NHS foundation trust, said: “Our thoughts are obviously with the families of those affected by recent deaths at the hospital. Because a police investigation is still underway, at the request of the coroner, all deaths are being referred to the coroner’s office.” He said they fully support the coroner’s thorough approach to scrutinising and investigating the deaths. The General Nursing and Midwifery Council said it had begun proceedings to suspend Leighton’s registration following her arrest. Crime NHS Health Helen Carter guardian.co.uk
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Conservationists try to help 60 whales trapped near Kyle of Durness, suspected as same group from Outer Hebrides in May A rescue operation has been launched to save up to 60 pilot whales which have become stranded in a remote sea loch in the Highlands. The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, which has sent a team to the area near the Kyle of Durness, said there is a chance that the pod is the same one that became stranded in the Outer Hebrides in May , leaving two whales dead. Local residents said the whales may have followed sand eels or salmon in to the remote bay near Cape Wrath and had become stranded as the tide receded. One man from a local B&B, who asked not to be identified, said there were six boats in the loch apparently trying to guide the whales towards a narrow channel where they could be kept until the tide rises again. A small number of them had already beached, he said. “When the tide is out, it goes right back. The Kyle totally dries. It’s just a huge expanse of sand … It’s happening right in front of us. Two or three of them have beached. It’s dreadful.” The man said he understood that a team of bomb disposal experts from a nearby MoD firing range, who were divers, were helping in the rescue. Aberdeen Coastguard said they first got a call at about 11.45am from a member of one of the coastguard teams in the area. “At first it was thought there were 40 minke whales but now it is thought there is up to 60 long-finned pilot whales,” said a spokesman. “They are stuck in rock pools and the tide is receding.” Danny Groves of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society said the pod could be the same one involved in a stranding near South Uist in May. In that incident, 60 of the mammals swam into a narrow and rocky sea loch on the island’s coast prompting fears that dozens could be killed in a mass beaching. Two were found dead as the pod eventually left Loch Carnan, on the north-east corner of South Uist. A post-mortem examination carried out on one whale suggested it died of infection. Rescuers later said a second whale was found dead in the loch. At the time, officials in Ireland were warned to watch out for a mass stranding on their shores. The previous year, 35 pilot whales that appeared to be in danger of beaching in Loch Carnan left South Uist intact but less than a week later, 33 of the pod were found dead on a deserted island off County Donegal. “It could well be (the same pod),” said Groves. “That’s the group mentality. The last time, back in May, we thought one or two may have been injured. They operate in a very social group. Rather than leave, the others would come in and follow the injured.” Groves said other possible reasons for stranding behaviour could be noise pollution from sonar or drilling. Until a whale died and a post-mortem was carried out, it was difficult to say what the cause might be, he added. Whales Conservation Animal behaviour Animal welfare Scotland Kirsty Scott guardian.co.uk
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Groups may have swung crucial vote on ambitious carbon target, says energy and climate change minister Chris Huhne has ordered a private inquiry into which fossil fuel lobbyists “got to” the Conservative MEPs who defied David Cameron and voted down an ambitious carbon emissions target in the European parliament on 5 July. “I have asked for a full analysis of what happened,” said the energy and climate change minister, speaking at an event in parliament. “We thought the vote was going to be close, but it was not close. We want to see which lobby groups managed to get to the MEPs.” New research by the Guardian and Greenpeace into lobby groups and businesses seen by Tory MEPs in 2010 reveals there were more than four times as many meetings with fossil fuel companies, carmakers and others against stronger action on global warming than with green businesses and those pushing for deeper cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. Huhne, a Liberal Democrat, has caused a storm by comparing Tory campaigning tactics on the AV referendum to those of the Nazis and by repeatedly challenging Cameron at a cabinet meeting on the issue. By investigating the EU climate vote, he risks further increasing tensions within the coalition. “It is extraordinary for Huhne to instigate an investigation into his coalition partners,” said Luciana Berger , Labour’s shadow minister for climate change. “It shows Lib Dems and Conservatives are too busy squabbling with each other to take decisive action to reduce carbon emissions.” Huhne had been successful in gathering support from other countries to increase the EU’s 2020 greenhouse gas target from 20% below 1990 levels to 30%, arguing it was in the UK’s best economic interests. But Tory MEPs were key in carrying a vote against the plan, despite Cameron promising to intervene after their intention was revealed by the Guardian. “I’m happy for Huhne to investigate whatever the hell he likes. I just wish he’d spend more time investigating the huge economic damage that his green policies will do,” said Tory MEP and climate sceptic Roger Helmer. He added: “The prime minister is in no position to ‘bring Conservative MEPs into line’. I vote in what I conceive to be the best interests of my country and my constituents: the party whip comes a poor third.” Martin Callanan, leader of the Conservatives in Europe and an environment spokesman, said: “Our position on [deeper emission cuts] has not been influenced by lobbyists and has remained unchanged since the idea was first mooted. “Europe already has the world’s most ambitious targets and, in the absence of a worldwide agreement, forcing business and industry to pay more for their CO2 emissions in Europe will merely result in them relocating outside of the EU.” But a spokesman for No 10 said: “Government policy is, and remains, to persuade the EU to adopt the 30% emissions reduction target.” Callanan said any discussions he had with No 10 were confidential but he added: “Conservative MEPs are the most open and transparent UK members. We publish details of all lobbying meetings.” Chris Davies, the Lib Dem environment spokesman in Europe, said: “The prime minister’s promises to lead the greenest government ever sound very hollow indeed when his own party fails to walk the walk on cutting carbon emissions.” The research by the Guardian and Greenpeace ( January to June and July to December ) shows that the 25 Tory MEPs met at least 300 representatives from fossil fuel businesses and their lobbyists in 2010 at more than 200 meetings, compared with about 70 representatives from green industries or lobby groups. The latter includes meetings on climate change, renewable energy and similar issues, but excludes meetings about unrelated issues such as agriculture and biodiversity. The research also found the Tory MEPs attended at least 100 meetings with gas and oil companies and 75 meetings with car manufacturers last year. Ford was one of the most hospitable companies, enjoying meetings with at least nine of the MEPs, most of them more than once. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders was also popular, alongside Jaguar Land Rover. The UK’s Association of Electricity Producers, which has strongly opposed any increase in carbon emissions cuts, was well-represented among the numerous fossil fuel energy lobbyists, along with oil industry groups such as the UK Petroleum Industry Association . Meetings with green lobbyists, aside from the many devoted to issues such as the common agricultural and fisheries policies, were far fewer, with WWF figuring a handful of times and Greenpeace once. Several renewable energy companies enjoyed a little more success, including First Solar which met three of the MEPs. One member, Giles Chichester, Tory MEP for southwest England and Gibraltar, met the European Wind Energy Association but only at a large energy dinner. Several green companies also attended a large dinner on food security and climate change attended by Chichester and fellow MEP Julie Girling last December, and a small number of other dinners. By contrast Helmer had four meetings in six months about beer. “The Conservative party in Europe is in the pocket of big oil,” said Berger. “The prime minister needs to get a grip of his
Continue reading …Sam and Diane. Ross and Rachel. And now the latest “will-they-or-won’t-they?” couple seems to be President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner. After speculation renewed yesterday that they were working on a deal, the New York Times maintains a deal is close, while the USA Today says both sides are…
Continue reading …As the News Corp scandal spreads to the US , the Justice Department is readying subpoenas tied to accusations of foreign bribery and allegations of hacking into 9/11 victims’ voicemail, an insider tells the Wall Street Journal —itself owned by Rupert Murdoch’s company. The subpoenas haven’t yet been authorized for issuance….
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One in five 16- to 24-year-olds are unemployed with huge numbers staying in education to avoid dole, reports ONS There are fewer young people working than at any time in the past two decades, according to new figures which show that one in five 16- to 24-year-olds are unemployed. Figures from the Office for National Statistics show the “inactive” population – which comprises young people who are neither working nor unemployed – stands at nearly 3 million, the highest level since the data was first collected in 1992. The new analysis says two-thirds of these 16- to 24-year-olds are staying on in education, perhaps to stave off unemployment. This is the first time that the inactive population – which includes people who are in education, looking after family, retired, or sick and disabled – has been broken down and analysed in this way. It shows that 77.4% of them are now students, up nearly 3% on the same time in 2008 just before the recession hit. ONS statistician Jamie Jenkins says the number of 16- to 24-year-olds in the inactive group is now so high it has pushed up the traditional unemployment percentage rate by making the workforce smaller. “The difference has widened because of the recession,” he said. “And the reason is a lot more young people have chosen to stay in education.” Meanwhile, 40% of those working are in what the ONS defines as “elementary” or “service jobs”, ie working in bars or shops. The total number of young people not in education, employment or training is also at a record high and nearing a million. The figures show also that Wales has the highest proportion of unemployed young people, 22.5% of 16-24s. The picture for 16- to 17-year-olds is bleaker still. When Labour came into power in 1997, around half of 16- to 17-year-olds were working. Now it’s just 23.3%, the lowest since figures were collected. The government has been criticised for its abandonment of the Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA), which helps poorer students into further education with a £30 per week grant. The Education Select Committee reported this month that the cuts and its replacement by a new bursary, were “rushed and ill-thought through reforms”. The NUS president, Liam Burns, says the figures show the rise in tuition fees and the scrapping of the EMA will “slam the door of education shut to those who could benefit most, when very few other doors remain open”. Unemployment Unemployment and employment statistics Economics Office for National Statistics Young people Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) Job hunting Simon Rogers guardian.co.uk
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National weather service warns people to stay indoors and electricity companies warn of power outages A swath of America from the Mexican border to Boston suffered under dangerously hot temperatures on Friday, as a heatwave that has killed at least 22 people continued into the weekend. The combination of high temperatures and excessive humidity has triggered health warnings across the country. At least 50 cities hit 110F (43C) on the heat index on Thursday. On Friday, Washington DC, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Buffalo in New York and other cities’ temperatures climbed into the triple digits by noon. The national weather service said excessive humidity would make it feel even hotter. With the heat index, Washington reached 113 degrees by 11am. Nearby Richmond and Baltimore were on track to reach 120 degrees. At least six people died in heat-related deaths on Thursday. Many of the victims have been in the midwest, including a cook in Michigan who suffered a heart attack when he was sent home from work. The heatwave has also triggered a spate of medical emergencies. A girl scout group was treated for heatstroke at a camp in Connecticut. In Pittsburgh, a man fixing the roof at his cousin’s home was stuck in the blazing sun for nearly two hours because of the melting tar, Associated Press reported. With no relief until Sunday, the national weather service issued a series of warnings, advising people to stay indoors in an air-conditioned environment and reschedule strenuous activities. Residents in several cities were warned to watch out for poor air quality. “Do not take this threat lightly,” the weather service said in a statement on its website, noting the extreme temperatures are particularly dangerous for the elderly and the very young. “The length of this heatwave will pose a very real and dangerous health risk to these already at-risk groups and those that do not have access to air-conditioning,” the statement added. Local authorities in several cities opened cooling centres. Manhattan sent a water truck to cruise the city streets. Philadelphia cancelled summer school programmes. The extreme heat was also bearing down on the electric grid, as people on the heavily populated east coast turned up their air conditioners to try to keep cool. Electricity companies in a number of localities warned of possible power outages. In New York City, meanwhile, people hoping to beat the heat with a swim outdoors were advised to stay away from city beaches after a fire in a water treatment plant sent raw sewage cascading into the Hudson river. United States Natural disasters and extreme weather Suzanne Goldenberg guardian.co.uk
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