World Latest News

Royal Mail quality tests ‘rigged’

admin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 06:55:02 +0000

Postcomm conducted a 10-month investigation into the allegations The postal watchdog is considering taking action against Royal Mail after finding quality tests had been rigged.Postcomm, acting on an insider tip-off, found that addresses involved in testing deliveries in some areas had been passed on to staff. Staff had also learned to recognise test mail and were able to prioritise it to ensure it arrived on time. Royal Mail said the matter was a "local issue" and there had been no material impact on its performance figures. Postcomm’s preliminary report said it was "minded" to find the company had breached its licence conditions for quality of service since 2006. Royal Mail was obliged to use market research firm Research International to monitor the standard of its service. Part of this clause also meant Royal Mail should make sure that the panellists used to send mail between each other to test delivery times remained anonymous. But a 10-month investigation, launched after the tip-off, found test delivery addresses were circulated to Royal Mail workers and senior managers.[Read more...]

Call to raise age of criminality

admin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 06:40:03 +0000

Jon Venables served eight years for murdering James Bulger The age of criminal responsibility should be raised from 10 to 12, says England’s children’s commissioner.Maggie Atkinson said the killers of James Bulger should have undergone "programmes" to help turn their lives around, rather than being prosecuted. Most criminals under 12 did not fully understand their actions, she said. She told the Times civilised society should recognise that children who commit offences needed to be treated differently from adult criminals. The age of criminal responsibility in many European countries ranges between 14 and 16, but in England, Wales and Northern Ireland remains at 10. In Scotland, the age is currently eight, but legislation is being passed to raise it to 12. AGES OF CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY 7 - Switzerland, Nigeria, S Africa 8 - Scotland, Sri Lanka 10 - England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Australia, New Zealand 12 - The Netherlands, Canada, Greece, Turkey 13 - France 14 - Italy, Germany, Bulgaria, Romania, China 15 - Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Czech Republic, New York (US), South Carolina (USA) 16 - Spain, Japan, Texas (US), Poland 18 - Belgium, Luxembourg, most US states "Even the most hardened of youngsters who have committed some very difficult crimes are not beyond being frightened," Dr Atkinson told the newspaper.[Read more...]

Authorities: Corey Haim had illegal prescription (AP)

admin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:55:02 +0000

AP - Authorities say actor Corey Haim had a fraudulent prescription when he died that was linked to a major drug ring.[Read more...]

Review: Mission Workshop Vandal weather-proof backpack

admin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:40:03 +0000

Short version: Versatile but not particularly compact, the Vandal is a good choice for the hardcore urban biker who needs to fit everything in his backpack, rain or shine. Features: Three weather-sealed cargo compartments One expandable huuuge compartment Lifetime warranty MSRP: $229 Pros: Hugely expandable Weather sealing works just fine Laptop fits fine in middle compartment Cons: No logical place for fragile items like cameras Could use a little strap management Expandable portion not weather-proof Full review: The right bag can make all the difference, and there are a hell of a lot to choose from, as we saw during Bag Week.[Read more...]

Dems seek agreement, quick vote on health care (AP)

admin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:10:02 +0000

AP - Under White House pressure to act swiftly, House and Senate Democratic leaders reached for agreement Friday on President Barack Obama’s health care bill, sweetened suddenly by fresh billions for student aid and a sense that breakthroughs are at hand.[Read more...]

Lindsey Vonn clinches 3rd World Cup overall title (AP)

admin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:25:04 +0000

AP - Lindsey Vonn finished with a fitting flourish, the perfect way to cap a nearly perfect season, one chock full of victories, medals, trophies — and injuries.[Read more...]

Women on the pill may live longer, study says (AP)

admin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:55:25 +0000

AP - Women who took the birth control pill beginning in the late 1960s lived longer than those never on the pill, a new study says.[Read more...]

Apple gives chief operating officer $5M bonus (AP)

admin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:55:22 +0000

AP - Apple Inc. is giving its chief operating officer a $5 million bonus for “outstanding performance” running the company while CEO Steve Jobs was on medical leave.[Read more...]

Bookmaker slashes odds on Pope’s resignation

admin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:55:19 +0000

LONDON (Reuters) - Irish bookmaker Paddy Power said Friday it had cut the odds on Pope Benedict XVI resigning after allegations of child abuse by priests in Germany gripped the Roman Catholic Church.[Read more...]

Lawyers urge WTC workers to take $657M settlement (AP)

admin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:55:09 +0000

AP - Lawyers and city officials expressed confidence Friday that they can get ground zero responders to sign on to a settlement that would pay up to $657 million to workers who developed health problems after toiling in the ruins of the World Trade Center.[Read more...]