News Archive - Jun 2007 - Scarlet Magazine

David Cameron has paid tribute to departing prime minister Tony Blair this afternoon in unprecedented scenes in the Commons. The Conservative leader ... read full article

Published: 27/06/2007

Blair brings the curtain down

Tony Blair has today brought an end to a momentous and turbulent era of British politics after resigning as prime minister. Mr Blair, who is being r... read full article

Published: 27/06/2007

Ryanair slams Euro ruling on Aer Lingus

Ryanair has hit out at the European Commission over its decision to reject permission for a merger between the budget airline and national Irish carri... read full article

Published: 27/06/2007

Flooding clear-up begins

A major clear-up operation is taking place today after much of the country experienced severe flooding over the last few days. Four people have died ... read full article

Published: 27/06/2007

Rate rise hint from BoE deputy governor

The deputy governor of the Bank of England (BoE) has said he voted in favour of a rate rise earlier this month because he was "not convinced"... read full article

Published: 27/06/2007

Poll shows benefit of 'Brown bounce'

A Sky News poll will be good reading for the soon-to-be prime minister Gordon Brown as it shows Labour is now neck and neck with the Conservatives in ... read full article

Published: 27/06/2007

Call for clampdown on fake IDs

Trading standards officials are calling for a crackdown on websites that sell novelty ID cards to youngsters. According to the Trading Standards Inst... read full article

Published: 27/06/2007

Warning over teenage binge drinking

Although the number of schoolchildren buying their own alcohol is falling significantly a third of teenagers binge drink, a new study has warned. Acc... read full article

Published: 27/06/2007

Bush dismisses Blair 'poodle' talk

US president George Bush has rejected talk of Tony Blair having been his 'poodle' during the pair's time in power. On the day the prime minister l... read full article

Published: 27/06/2007

Israel targets militants in Gaza

Israeli forces have killed at least one militant from the group Islamic Jihad during military operations in Gaza. A militant was killed in the town o... read full article

Published: 27/06/2007

Man shot by police in Wales

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is launching an investigation after a man was shot by a police officer in south Wales last night. ... read full article

Published: 27/06/2007

Heart disease 'risk advice' to be offered

Family doctors would be required to identify patients most at risk of developing heart disease or stroke, under draft guidance published today by the ... read full article

Published: 27/06/2007

Teenager stabbed to death

A teenager has been stabbed to death in an incident involving a group of youths in north London. The killing is the latest in a string of recent atta... read full article

Published: 27/06/2007

Games giant rapped over violent ad

Computer games manufacturer Electronic Arts (EA) has been criticised for a computer game advert that seemingly promoted violence. A poster ad for dri... read full article

Published: 27/06/2007

Nuclear dust 'travels 6km'

Potentially-toxic particles of uranium have been found to have travelled almost 6km from where they were first emitted. A UK study has discovered tha... read full article

Published: 27/06/2007

New typhoid drug extolled

Scientists have said a new drug could help tackle the problem of drug-resistant typhoid in developing nations. Nepalese researchers claim Gatifloxaci... read full article

Published: 27/06/2007

Torrential rain leaves 1,000 properties flooded

At least 1,000 properties across England and Wales have been flooded after some areas of the country received a month's worth of rain in 24 hours. T... read full article

Published: 26/06/2007

'Blair to quit as MP'

The Labour party is anticipating confirmation from Tony Blair that he will resign as both an MP and prime minister tomorrow. According to reports Mr ... read full article

Published: 26/06/2007

Glasgow kidnap gang jailed

Six men have been jailed for the kidnapping of a Muslim businessman last year after pleading guilty at Glasgow's high court. The gang had demanded a... read full article

Published: 26/06/2007

Tory MP crosses floor to Labour

Former shadow Northern Ireland secretary Quentin Davies has defected to the Labour party due to Conservative party leader David Cameron's "lack ... read full article

Published: 26/06/2007

Parkinson quits chat show

Michael Parkinson has announced he will quit his chat show after the next series to take a break and write his autobiography. The veteran TV host wi... read full article

Published: 26/06/2007

2,800 jobs to go at Thomas Cook

Travel agent Thomas Cook has said that up to 2,800 jobs will be lost as part of its merger with MyTravel. The two travel companies completed a £... read full article

Published: 26/06/2007

Prince of Wales reduces annual carbon footprint

Annual accounts published by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall show the household reduced its carbon emissions by nine per cent last yea... read full article

Published: 26/06/2007

Govt unveils continuing care reforms

The government has pulled back the curtain on reforms that it says will make continuing care services in the NHS "fairer, faster and easier to un... read full article

Published: 26/06/2007

Royal Mail strike on after talks fail

Further talks aimed at preventing the first national postal strike in over a decade have broken down, it has emerged. A meeting yesterday between Roy... read full article

Published: 26/06/2007

BBC directors waive bonuses

Directors at the BBC have collectively decided to waive their contractual bonuses for the financial year 2006/07 after the corporation failed to meet ... read full article

Published: 26/06/2007

Artificial skin 'heals wounds'

A British-based biotechnology company claims to have developed an artificial skin which can heal wounds more effectively than traditional skin grafts.... read full article

Published: 26/06/2007

Arnie praises Blair leadership on climate change

Arnold Schwarzenegger has praised Tony Blair for his leadership in tackling climate change at a meeting between the former actor and the prime ministe... read full article

Published: 26/06/2007

BAE faces US probe

British defence company BAE Systems has revealed that it is to be subject to an anti-corruption probe by US officials. In a statement this morning Eu... read full article

Published: 26/06/2007

Blair 'to be named Middle East envoy'

Outgoing prime minister Tony Blair is to be named as an official envoy to the Middle East, according to reports. It is claimed that the question of M... read full article

Published: 26/06/2007

Crime figures 'don't add up'

Figures used to calculate changing trends in crime across Britain are understating the number of incidents which occur, a thinktank has said. Civitas... read full article

Published: 26/06/2007

Three dead after flash floods

Three people were killed yesterday after flash flooding brought misery to residents in parts of Yorkshire. South Yorkshire police confirmed last nigh... read full article

Published: 26/06/2007

Targets 'harming crime reduction'

Performance targets and bureaucracy are preventing police officers from being able to carry out their job sufficiently, a report has concluded today. ... read full article

Published: 26/06/2007

Society 'giving up on children'

Britons are losing faith in their ability to redeem disruptive and antisocial children, according to charity Barnado's. A survey published today sho... read full article

Published: 26/06/2007

Campbell attacks 'cosy political consensus'

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell is to attack the "cosy consensus" of Labour and the Conservatives on issues including the war i... read full article

Published: 26/06/2007

Pregnant women 'bullied' at work

Pregnant women are being made to feel they have let their company down, a new survey has shown. The study from baby charity Tommy's and People Manag... read full article

Published: 26/06/2007

Paris Hilton released

Hotel heiress Paris Hilton has checked out of jail in the early hours of this morning, smiling as she walked past photographers before being greeted b... read full article

Published: 26/06/2007

Kidnapped reporter seen wearing 'bomb vest'

Kidnapped BBC journalist Alan Johnston has appeared in a second video wearing what he says is an "explosive belt" that will be detonated if ... read full article

Published: 25/06/2007

Zoellick gets nod for World Bank post

The World Bank board has approved sole nominee Robert Zoellick after ousting Paul Wolfowitz in a pay scandal. Mr Wolfowitz was forced to resign from ... read full article

Published: 25/06/2007

Cameron and Blair clash on EU treaty

David Cameron has said Tony Blair's failure to offer the British people a referendum on Europe will be remembered as one of his worst mistakes in off... read full article

Published: 25/06/2007

Beckenham stabbing victim named

The 16-year-old boy stabbed to death in south London on Saturday has been named by police as Ben Hitchcock. Up to 40 youths are believed to have been... read full article

Published: 25/06/2007

Hamas 'releases captured Israeli soldier tape'

An audio tape reportedly featuring the voice of a kidnapped Israeli soldier has been released by his captors. Corporal Gilad Shalit was seized by Pal... read full article

Published: 25/06/2007

UK's most dangerous road named

The A682 has been named as Britain's most dangerous road, killing or seriously injuring nearly 100 people in the last decade. Stretching for 15 mile... read full article

Published: 25/06/2007

Saga and AA in £6.15bn merger

Elderly services firm Saga and emergency rescue service AA have announced plans to merge their businesses in a deal valuing the combined company at &#... read full article

Published: 25/06/2007

Rape sentence under review

Attorney general Lord Goldsmith is to review the sentencing of a 24-year-old man who raped a ten-year-old girl for being possibly "unduly lenient... read full article

Published: 25/06/2007

UK soldier killed in Afghanistan explosion named

The British soldier killed in a roadside explosion in southern Afghanistan yesterday has been named as Drummer Thomas Wright by the Ministry of Defenc... read full article

Published: 25/06/2007

Doctors attack NHS political control

Doctors have launched a scathing attack on the state of the NHS today, claiming many of the government's health reforms and proposals are "not f... read full article

Published: 25/06/2007

Pound back above $2 mark

The pound briefly edged above the $2 mark this morning, edging close to record exchange highs. Shortly before 09:00 BST the pound hit a high of 2.006... read full article

Published: 25/06/2007

Job fears depressing consumer confidence

UK workers' confidence about the security of their jobs is at its lowest for at least 32 months, according to the Lloyds TSB consumer barometer. Jus... read full article

Published: 25/06/2007

Alzheimer's drug battle begins at high court

A two-year fight for drugs to treat Alzheimer's disease to be made available on the NHS reaches the high court today. The National Institute of Heal... read full article

Published: 25/06/2007

North Korea to shut down reactor after receiving frozen funds

North Korea has promised to shut down its nuclear reactor in Yongbyon after it confirmed the receipt of £12.5 million in frozen funds. The reclu... read full article

Published: 25/06/2007

Bon Jovi open new O2 venue

American rock band Bon Jovi entertained a 20,000 capacity crowd at the official reopening of the Millennium Dome, now known as the O2 Arena, in Greenw... read full article

Published: 25/06/2007

World has let Darfur down, says Rice

US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice has said the international community has failed to live up to its responsibilities to the people of Sudan's wa... read full article

Published: 25/06/2007

Committee slams Freedom of Information Act exemption bid

A parliamentary committee has condemned attempts made by MPs over the last two months to exempt themselves from the Freedom of Information Act. The 1... read full article

Published: 25/06/2007

Extended schools 'produce better GCSE results'

Extended schools can help pupils achieve better exam results and be more focussed in school, a new study has concluded. The schools provide access to... read full article

Published: 25/06/2007

Call for UK productivity improvement

Britain faces a "major productivity challenge" if it is to catch up with other European countries, a report claims today. The Centre for Ec... read full article

Published: 25/06/2007

Gender pay gap 'needs tackling'

More must be done to close the pay gap between men and women, a gender equality campaign group has said. The Fawcett Society makes its call on the fi... read full article

Published: 25/06/2007

Brown, Harman to lead Labour

Gordon Brown has been confirmed as leader of the Labour party, with Harriet Harman voted in as his deputy. After being introduced by outgoing leader ... read full article

Published: 24/06/2007

'Chemical Ali' to be executed

A cousin of executed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has been sentenced to death by hanging after being convicted of genocide against ethnic Kurds. Ali H... read full article

Published: 24/06/2007

'UN soldiers killed in Lebanon blast'

Five soldiers from the UN's peacekeeping force in Lebanon (Unifil) have reportedly been killed following an explosion in the volatile country's sout... read full article

Published: 24/06/2007

Fallen British soldier named

The UK soldier killed in southern Iraq on Friday has been named as Corporal John Rigby by the Ministry of Defence. Cpl Rigby, who was due to be promo... read full article

Published: 24/06/2007

Murray withdraws from Wimbledon

Andy Murray has pulled out of next week's Wimbledon because of his troublesome wrist injury. Newspaper reports today claimed the 20-year-old had pas... read full article

Published: 24/06/2007

Glasto founder hails "fantastic weekend"

The founder of the Glastonbury festival has said this year's three-day event has been a "fantastic weekend". Speaking to journalists, Mich... read full article

Published: 24/06/2007

Man dies on rail tracks after police chase

An investigation has been launched after a man died on a railway track after being chased on foot by two police officers. The unidentified man was ki... read full article

Published: 24/06/2007

Storms kill 220 in Pakistan says minister

More than 220 people have been killed as heavy rains and gale force winds wreaked havoc in Pakistan's largest city, Karachi, according to provincial ... read full article

Published: 24/06/2007

Israel frees up $350m for Abbas

Israel has agreed to unfreeze tax funds worth $350 million (£125 million) at the request of Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas. The Jewish stat... read full article

Published: 24/06/2007

Woman hurt in Ascot coach accident

A woman is being treated for head injuries after the coach she and 45 other passengers were travelling in crashed on its way back from Royal Ascot. ... read full article

Published: 24/06/2007

Death at Glastonbury

A festival-goer has died at Glastonbury after being found unconscious in the early hours yesterday, police have confirmed. The 26-year-old man from t... read full article

Published: 24/06/2007

Six al-Qaida operatives killed in Iraq

The US army has reported that six suspected members of al-Qaida have been killed and five have been arrested in raids in Karmah, Iraq, over the last w... read full article

Published: 24/06/2007

CIA's dirty tricks to be aired in public

The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is to publish secret documents detailing its illegal activities from the first three decades of its existence... read full article

Published: 22/06/2007

Navy officer's rape conviction overturned

A Royal Navy petty officer convicted of raping a colleague onboard a British warship has had the ruling overturned by the court of appeal. Phillip Co... read full article

Published: 22/06/2007

No prosecution for Top Gear crash

The crash which nearly killed Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond does not warrant a prosecution, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has concluded. ... read full article

Published: 22/06/2007

Rain fails to dampen Glasto spirits

It may be raining and mud squelching under foot, but the weather has not managed to dampen the spirits of Glastonbury festival-goers just yet. Music ... read full article

Published: 22/06/2007

Teenager to sue school over chastity ring

A teenage girl is lodging a high court case against her school for imposing a ban on her wearing a chastity ring under its 'no jewellery' policy. T... read full article

Published: 22/06/2007

Blair's Catholic conversion "coming soon"

Tony Blair is set to convert to Catholicism as soon as he leaves Downing Street next week, according to newspaper reports. The outgoing prime ministe... read full article

Published: 22/06/2007

Vast icebergs 'hotspots' for life

Vast, free-drifting icebergs caused by climate change in the Southern Ocean are serving as hotspots for ocean life, scientists claim today. As global... read full article

Published: 22/06/2007

Envoy reports North Korea progress

North Korea is close to dismantling its nuclear reactor after months of negotiations, a senior negotiator has said. Christopher Hill, US envoy to the... read full article

Published: 22/06/2007

House sales match peak of 1980s boom

Britain's property sales reached their highest number in 2006/07 since 1988, the year in which the property market took a nose dive, new figures show... read full article

Published: 22/06/2007

Ofwat levies £8.5m fine on United Utilities

Water services regulation authority Ofwat has imposed a £8.5 million fine on United Utilities Water for the company's "non-compliance with ... read full article

Published: 22/06/2007

Boscastle hit by 3ft flood wave

A Cornish village which was devastated by flash floods in 2004 faced a stern test of its revamped flood defences yesterday evening. Around 30mm of ra... read full article

Published: 22/06/2007

Govt wants to give phone thieves the msg

The government is launching a new publicity campaign against mobile phone robbery specifically targeted at 16 to 25-year-olds. A central message of t... read full article

Published: 22/06/2007

Watchdog launches housebuilding study

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has announced a surprise review of the UK's housebuilding industry. A statement from the watchdog today said it had... read full article

Published: 22/06/2007

EU summit deadlock persists

The first day of a two-day EU summit has ended in deadlock as Britain and Poland remain adamant in their resistance to a host of proposals. German ch... read full article

Published: 22/06/2007

Maltese police probe Madeleine sightings

Police in Malta have launched a "full scale" investigation after four people claimed to have seen Madeleine McCann on the Mediterranean isla... read full article

Published: 22/06/2007

NHS 'must reduce carbon footprint'

Action must be taken to reduce the NHS' significant contribution to carbon emissions, a new report argues. The size of the health service, with one ... read full article

Published: 22/06/2007

TUC calls for more social housing

Young workers will not be able to live in their own homes unless the government authorises more social housing construction, the Trades Union Congress... read full article

Published: 22/06/2007

Stem cells 'could repair heart muscle'

Doctors are hoping stem cells from patients' bone marrow will help repair damaged hearts after coronary bypass surgery. The trial, which will take p... read full article

Published: 22/06/2007

UK public 'wants EU treaty referendum'

The British public wants a say in whether or not the UK accepts a revised treaty for the EU, two polls suggest. National leaders are currently negoti... read full article

Published: 22/06/2007

Question-mark over heart operation drugs

Drugs commonly used to prevent heart-related complications during surgery should not be used for this purpose, Australian doctors have said. Writing ... read full article

Published: 22/06/2007

New Parkinson's treatment proposed

Scientists have developed a new treatment for Parkinson's Disease (PD) and other similar conditions which involves injecting genetic information into... read full article

Published: 22/06/2007

Ashdown: Brown offered me cabinet job

Former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown has claimed that prime minister-in waiting Gordon Brown offered him a cabinet role. The peer, who accord... read full article

Published: 21/06/2007

Postal workers set date for Royal Mail strike

Postal workers have announced plans to hold a 24-hour strike later this month in response to job and pay cuts at Royal Mail. The first national posta... read full article

Published: 21/06/2007

'Beloved major' killed in Iraq mortar

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has named the British soldier killed in southern Iraq yesterday by an "indiscriminate" mortar attack as Major ... read full article

Published: 21/06/2007

Atlantis return delayed until tomorrow

The crew of the Atlantis space shuttle will have to wait until tomorrow to bring their 13-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) to an e... read full article

Published: 21/06/2007

Two bloody days for US in Iraq

Fourteen US soldiers have been killed in the last two days in clashes with militants around Iraq, the Pentagon has revealed. The deaths mean that alm... read full article

Published: 21/06/2007

WTO Doha talks collapse again

Highest-level trade talks between countries representing the developed and developing world have collapsed again, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) h... read full article

Published: 21/06/2007

Teen charged with student murder

An 18-year-old south London woman has appeared in court today charged with the murder of an A-Level student. Chelsea Bennett, from London Road, Croyd... read full article

Published: 21/06/2007

City accept Shinawatra bid

A formal bid of £81.6 million from former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been accepted by Manchester City. The offer values each of ... read full article

Published: 21/06/2007

Seventh terror suspect absconds

A seventh person has absconded while under a control order, the Home Office has confirmed. The foreign national, who cannot be named, went missing on... read full article

Published: 21/06/2007

Cameron: NHS needs evolution

Conservative leader David Cameron has said his party would ensure "evolution, not revolution" as part of his party's plans for the future o... read full article

Published: 21/06/2007

New sugar biofuel source unveiled

Simple sugar products could become the world's dominant biofuel source after new evidence was published today. US researchers say that a catalysed v... read full article

Published: 21/06/2007

Private equity under parliamentary microscope

The bosses of some of Europe's biggest private equity firms are being quizzed by MPs on whether the sector is enjoying unfair tax breaks. At this af... read full article

Published: 20/06/2007

Dando killer given right to new appeal

The man convicted over the murder of TV presenter Jill Dando has been granted the right to a second appeal over the case. Barry George, 41, is curren... read full article

Published: 20/06/2007

Sex virus cancer jab for girls gets go ahead

Girls as young as 12 will be routinely administered with a vaccine that protects against a sexually-transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer, the... read full article

Published: 20/06/2007

Tories unveil plans for independent NHS

The Conservative party has lifted the lid on "radical plans" to make the NHS largely independent of the government. According to the Tories... read full article

Published: 20/06/2007

Blair's regrets over prison early release

Tony Blair has said he "very much regrets" the government's move to grant early release to up to 25,000 prisoners to ease overcrowding in B... read full article

Published: 20/06/2007

NHS leaders 'must pull together'

NHS leaders must work together to improve the state of the UK's health service, the NHS Confederation (NC) said today. Speaking on the first day of ... read full article

Published: 20/06/2007

Mortgage lending cools

Mortgage lending in Britain is showing further signs of slowdown, the latest housing market research has indicated. The Council of Mortgage Lending (... read full article

Published: 20/06/2007

Bank governor outvoted on interest rates

The governor of the Bank of England was outvoted for the second time ever during this month's monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting on interest rat... read full article

Published: 20/06/2007

Care home ruling rejects human rights plea

Law lords have ruled that human rights legislation does not apply to elderly people whose places in private care homes are funded by local councils. ... read full article

Published: 20/06/2007

Bloomberg quits Republicans

New York mayor Michael Bloomberg has left the Republican party and changed his political status to unaffiliated. The move has fuelled talk that the N... read full article

Published: 20/06/2007

Madeleine's father has wallet stolen

The father of the four-year-old British child who was taken from a Portuguese holiday resort has had his wallet stolen. Gerry McCann was on a flight ... read full article

Published: 20/06/2007

Lib Dems rubbish cabinet reports

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell has dismissed reports which suggested prime minister in-waiting Gordon Brown may select one or two senior... read full article

Published: 20/06/2007

Australian gunman 'surrenders'

The man suspected of carrying out a rush-hour shooting rampage in the Australian city of Melbourne has reportedly handed himself in to police. A soli... read full article

Published: 20/06/2007

US offensive in Baquba continues

A US military offensive in the Iraqi town of Baquba is continuing after operations yesterday saw at least 30 al-Qaida militants killed. According to ... read full article

Published: 20/06/2007

China 'biggest CO2 polluter'

China has become the world's biggest producer of carbon dioxide (CO2), new figures have revealed. The far eastern country has surpassed the US in CO... read full article

Published: 20/06/2007

Sainsbury warns of "competitive" market

Supermarket chain J Sainsbury has warned that the retail market remains "competitive" after reporting a lower-than-expected growth in sales.... read full article

Published: 20/06/2007

Violent video games under fire

Violent video games have come under renewed fire following the withdrawal of one controversial title from sale and a ban imposed by British censors on... read full article

Published: 20/06/2007

Vigil for reporter on 100th day of captivity

A worldwide vigil is being held today for the kidnapped BBC reporter Alan Johnston on the 100th day of his captivity. Mr Johnston was kidnapped by a ... read full article

Published: 20/06/2007

Couples quarrel over joint accounts

The harmonious image of the joint account for couples who share their costs and operate on an equal financial footing is a myth according to new resea... read full article

Published: 20/06/2007

Smoking ban 'can cut home habit too'

The introduction of a smoking ban in the workplace and enclosed public areas such as bars can encourage people to smoke less in their own home. That ... read full article

Published: 20/06/2007

Food on the brain for green-fingered kids

More than a third of young people would like to grow their own food according to new research published by the Department for Education and Skills (Df... read full article

Published: 20/06/2007

Serving military banned from selling stories

Serving personnel, both military and civilian, have been banned from accepting payments from the media for their stories, defence secretary Des Browne... read full article

Published: 19/06/2007

UK ambassador enters Rushdie row

The British ambassador has been called to the Pakistan foreign commission over the UK's decision to knight the author Salman Rushdie. Protests have ... read full article

Published: 19/06/2007

Bush issues support for Abbas

US president George Bush has expressed his support for the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas in the wake of violence between the rival groups Hamas ... read full article

Published: 19/06/2007

Prisoner-release plan gets green light

The government has authorised plans to release certain offenders from jail early in order to ease prison overcrowding. In a widely-anticipated announ... read full article

Published: 19/06/2007

Car bomb kills dozens in Baghdad

A car bomb in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad has killed at least 78 people, reports from the scene suggest. The attack in the centre of the city took p... read full article

Published: 19/06/2007

Amazon severs contract with Royal Mail

Online retail giant Amazon has decided to move its second class mailings contract away from the Royal Mail, it has been announced. The contract is s... read full article

Published: 19/06/2007

Call for alternatives after UK abortion rise

The number of women in England and Wales having abortions has risen by 3.9 per cent within 12 months, government statistics have revealed. According ... read full article

Published: 19/06/2007