ProHostGold News

BA strike action talks under way

David — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:00:17 +0000

A deadline to reach a deal to avert strike action by BA cabin crew has been put back until Wednesday lunchtime.

The TUC, which is chairing the meetings, had set the deadline for the "close of play" on Tuesday 9 March for significant progress to be made.

In February, BA crew members voted in favour of strike action over pay and working conditions. The union must give a week’s notice of any stoppages.

It has given assurances that members will not walk out over Easter.

Should talks end without a resolution on Wednesday and the union decide to name strike dates immediately, industrial action could begin as early as 17 March.

A statement on behalf of both sides said: "It had been hoped to be able to conclude the talks today [Tuesday] but both sides have agreed that more time is needed and the negotiations will be resumed again under TUC auspices tomorrow."

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Iran attacks US over Afghanistan

David — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:00:03 +0000

Afghan President Hamid Karzai is shortly expected to meet President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran in Kabul.

It is the Iranian president’s first visit to the neighbouring country since Mr Ahmadinejad and Mr Karzai were re-elected last year.

Later, the Afghan president will head to Pakistan for a two day visit.

President Karzai has been criticised for not doing enough to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table, to end the conflict in Afghanistan.

The BBC’s Quentin Sommerville, in Kabul, says the co-operation of Iran and Pakistan is thought critical to any such deal.

Tehran has been criticised by the United States for offering "low level support" and money to the Taliban, a claim Iran denies.

But with the recent capture of leading Taliban figures, Pakistan has shown its co-operation will be essential to ending the insurgency in Afghanistan, our correspondent adds.

Later on Wednesday, Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Miliband is expected to deliver a speech in the US, urging President Karzai to do more to find a political solution to the conflict with the Taliban.

The military effort alone will not be enough to resolve the conflict, he is expected to say, and Afghanistan’s neighbours will need to play a central role in securing peace in the country.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

World’s largest meat-eating plant prefers to eat… small animal poo

David — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:41:27 +0000

The largest meat-eating plant in the world is designed not to eat small animals, but small animal poo, scientists discover.

Aid agency attacked in Pakistan

David — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:41:18 +0000

Unidentified gunmen have attacked the office of a Western aid agency in Pakistan, killing up to five people, the police said.

The victims, including two women, were all Pakistanis, reports say.

The attack took place on the office of the World Vision in Mansehra district, 65 km (40 miles), north of Islamabad, the police said.

Islamic militants have attacked offices of foreign NGOs in the past in Pakistan, correspondents say.

Police official Sajid Khan told the AFP news agency that some armed people had "stormed" the building of the NGO.

"There was firing and also an explosion inside," he said.

The police said that the gunmen opened fire and exploded grenades once inside the building.

One unidentified aid worker said the gunmen had "engaged in battle with the police" inside the building.

Attacks on aid workers are not uncommon in Pakistan.

Last year three local female aid workers and their male driver were kidnapped and killed after they left Mansehra town to inspect a school for possible funding by the American development agency, USAID.

In February 2008, British aid agency Plan International suspended its operations in Pakistan after three of its workers were killed in an attack on its office in Mansehra.

Correspondents say Mansehra had served as a base for militants operating in Afghanistan and Kashmir.

Militant groups and religious parties in Pakistan have often accused non-governmental organisations (NGOs) of spreading "vulgarity" in society.

This is because the NGOs mostly employ women workers and organise mixed social gatherings in line with their professed policy of gender equality, observers say.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Aid agency attacked in Pakistan

David — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:41:03 +0000

Unidentified gunmen have attacked the office of a Western aid agency in Pakistan, killing up to five people, the police said.

The victims, including two women, were all Pakistanis, reports say.

The attack took place on the office of the World Vision in Mansehra district, 65 km (40 miles), north of Islamabad, the police said.

Islamic militants have attacked offices of foreign NGOs in the past in Pakistan, correspondents say.

Police official Sajid Khan told the AFP news agency that some armed people had "stormed" the building of the NGO.

"There was firing and also an explosion inside," he said.

The police said that the gunmen opened fire and exploded grenades once inside the building.

One unidentified aid worker said the gunmen had "engaged in battle with the police" inside the building.

Attacks on aid workers are not uncommon in Pakistan.

In February 2008, British aid agency Plan International suspended its operations in Pakistan after three of its workers were killed in an attack on its office in Mansehra.

Correspondents say Mansehra had served as a base for militants operating in Afghanistan and Kashmir.

Militant groups and religious parties in Pakistan have often accused non-governmental organisations (NGOs) of spreading "vulgarity" in society.

This is because the NGOs mostly employ women workers and organise mixed social gatherings in line with their professed policy of gender equality, observers say.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Top public servants’ pay frozen

David — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:40:52 +0000

Thousands of top-earning public sector workers, including judges, GPs and senior civil servants, are to have their pay frozen in 2010/11.

The Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) has backed a freeze as recommended by Chancellor Alastair Darling.

The SSRB suggested a rise of 2.25% for NHS managers, but that was rejected by the government. Senior military ranks will have their pay scale restructured.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the moves would save £3 billion by 2013/14.

The SSRB is independent of the government, but its recommendations are not binding and ministers will have the final say.

In a speech on Wednesday, the prime minister said: "Part of our tough approach to spending will be our tough approach to pay in the public sector.

"So today I can say that after the reports of the review bodies we will also freeze the salaries of senior staff in the civil service, senior staff in the military, the judiciary, senior managers in the health service and the pay of consultants, GPs and dentists."

Devolution-sensitive

Last October, during the Labour conference, Mr Darling recommended a pay freeze for 40,000 senior public servants in 2010/11.

"Against the backdrop of the challenges facing all sectors of the economy it is right that senior staff should show leadership in pay restraint"

Cabinet Office spokesman

He also said about 700,000 middle-ranking public servants, including doctors, dentists and prison officers, would get rises capped at 1%.

The announcement did not affect teachers, nurses and police officers, and would override the final year of a three-year pay deal previously agreed for senior public sector workers.

Mr Darling also signalled that generous public sector bonus packages might also have to be reduced.

The freeze is understood to be devolution-sensitive, meaning it applies to GPs, dentists, consultants and NHS managers in England and Wales, but not to someone working in the Scottish health department.

But some civil servants such as HM Revenue and Customs workers in Scotland will be subject to the pay restriction.

A Cabinet Office spokesman said: "Given the economic challenges we face, civil servants have important roles to play in ensuring there is financial stability and excellent public services.

"While the contribution of the Civil Service is highly valued, against the backdrop of the challenges facing all sectors of the economy it is right that senior staff should show leadership in pay restraint."

Wider freeze

Despite backing the call for a freeze, the SSRB said that cutting pay would make it harder in the long term for the public sector "to fill senior posts with people of sufficient quality".

"Our concern is that in recent years our remit groups are increasingly gaining the impression that the government takes their loyalty and goodwill for granted," it added.

The Conservatives have announced plans for an even more wide-ranging public sector pay freeze in 2011 if they win the general election.

It would affect all workers except the frontline military and anyone earning less than £18,000 a year.

The Liberal Democrats too, have said they want to see the overall public sector pay bill frozen and bonuses stopped.

Last week, MPs were awarded a pay rise of 1.5%.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Berezovsky wins poison libel case

David — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:40:40 +0000

Oligarch Boris Berezovsky has won a libel case over allegations he was behind the murder of former Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko.

He was awarded £150,000 at the High Court over a claim made by Russian state-owned TV channel RTR Planeta.

Mr Berezovsky, who said he was a friend and supporter of Mr Litvinenko, said the comments were "outrageous".

The fierce critic of former Russian President Vladimir Putin was poisoned in London in 2006.

RTR boycotted the trial, claiming the court had robbed it of the opportunity to defend itself.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Jerusalem row clouds Biden visit

David — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:40:27 +0000

US Vice-President Joe Biden is meeting the Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas, in Ramallah.

The Israeli government’s approval of plans for 1,600 more homes in a Jewish settlement in occupied East Jerusalem is expected to dominate the talks.

Mr Biden earlier said the substance and timing of the decision had undermined the trust needed for peace talks.

The Palestinian Authority said the move showed the Israelis believed US efforts had failed before they had even begun.

Both sides have agreed to hold indirect "proximity talks" in a bid to restart the peace process, which has been stalled for 17 months.

‘Disastrous situation’

Mr Abbas has refused to resume direct negotiations with the Israeli government because of its refusal to put a complete stop to the expansion of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

"The only message we are getting from the Israelis is their determination to undermine the American efforts and to undermine these negotiations before they even begin"

Saeb Erekat
Chief Palestinian negotiator

In the shadow of a settlement

An Israeli settlement in close-up

Middle East ‘haunted by the past’

In November, Israel announced a 10-month suspension of new building in the West Bank, under heavy US pressure. But it considers areas within the Jerusalem municipality as its territory and the restrictions do not apply.

Close to 500,000 Jews live in more than 100 settlements built since Israel’s 1967 occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. They are considered illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this.

During their dinner on Tuesday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Mr Biden that he had no prior knowledge of the decision to authorise the new housing units in the ultra-Orthodox settlement of Ramat Shlomo, officials said.

He said the plans had been submitted three years ago and had only received initial approval that day.

‘Working relationship’

But the US government has not accepted Israel’s explanation that the announcement was essentially part of a bureaucratic process that had no connection with Mr Biden’s visit, says BBC Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen in Jerusalem.

Israel, deliberately or not, inflicted something close to a humiliation on the Obama administration and the words they chose in reaction reflected that, our correspondent says.

"The substance and timing of the announcement, particularly with the launching of proximity talks, is precisely the kind of step that undermines the trust we need right now and runs counter to the constructive discussions that I’ve had here in Israel," Mr Biden said.

"We must build an atmosphere to support negotiations, not complicate them. This announcement underscores the need to get negotiations under way that can resolve all the outstanding issues of the conflict."

"Unilateral action taken by either party cannot prejudge the outcome of negotiations on permanent status issues," he added.

The chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat, said the Israeli announcement would dominate the meeting between Mr Biden and President Abbas.

"This is a disastrous step on behalf of the Israelis – it is catastrophic," he told the BBC. "The only message we are getting from the Israelis is their determination to undermine the American efforts and to undermine these negotiations before they even begin."

"But we hope that the Americans will move another step in the direction of having the Israelis revoke this order, if they want to give the process the chance it deserves."

FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME

Insurers ‘face $7bn Chile bill’

David — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:40:16 +0000

The earthquake in Chile may cost the global insurance industry as much as $7bn (£4.7bn), Swiss Re has estimated.

The company, the world’s second-largest reinsurer, said the impact on the sector would between $4bn and $7bn.

Swiss Re said its own losses from last month’s 8.8 magnitude quake would total about $500m.

Chile’s president has said it will take his country up to four years to recover, but economists say Chile is well placed to do this.

The country is regarded as having one of the best-run economies in Latin America.

Led by its substantial copper production – which was relatively unaffected by the quake – economists predict the country’s economy will still grow by 5% this year.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

More schools fail Ofsted checks

David — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:40:03 +0000

More schools are being judged inadequate under a new inspection regime, figures from England’s schools watchdog Ofsted show.

Half of the 2140 schools inspected in the autumn were found to be either satisfactory or inadequate.

The proportion of schools classed as inadequate has more than doubled to 10% , compared with 4% in the 2008/2009 inspection period.

Schools now have to achieve higher results to be good or outstanding.

The watchdog has insisted its new-style inspections would "raise the bar" on its expectations of schools.

Only 9% of schools have been given the top rating of outstanding – compared with 19% of those inspected in the academic year of 2008/9.

A total of 40% of the schools inspected were marked down as satisfactory.

A spokesman for Ofsted has said: "We have made it clear that every time an inspection framework is revised, expectations are raised too."

But John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, told BBC News: "I don’t think it [Ofsted] is serving parents very well in the comparative views it is providing."

Opinion divided

Chris Richardson, head teacher at the Kings of Wessex School in Somerset, said the new inspection framework brought "significant improvements", particularly a sharper focus on student achievement.

"A new self-evaluation form meant we felt well prepared for inspection and it gave the inspectors a good overview of the school.

"Our students valued the opportunities to engage with the inspectors and give their perspective on the school."

But John Fairhurst, head of Shenfield High School in Essex, said the new inspection framework had downgraded his school from good with outstanding features to satisfactory, simply because the school’s GCSE results in 2008 were weak.

"It’s become a rather skimpy inspection with an altered agenda – heavily data driven," he said.

"The framework proved, in our case, superficial and underestimated the good work of the school."

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.