Archive for the ‘Upfront News’ Category

March13

Hope and Fear in Northern Ireland

By: Tim Neale

Three murders in Northern Ireland have brought both depression and hope. The killings of security personnel come against a background of escalating violence and threats by dissident republicans.

On the evening of Saturday Mar. 8, The Real IRA shot dead two British soldiers. Sappers Mark Quinsey, 23, from Birmingham and Patrick Azimkar, 21, from London, died in an attack at the Massereene Army base, Antrim. The attack left two pizza deliverymen wounded.

On Monday Mar. 9, the Continuity IRA shot and killed police constable Stephen Paul Carroll, 48, as he answered an emergency call in Craigavon, county Armagh. This is the first murder of a Northern Irish police officer since 1998.

Continue Reading

Popularity: 6%

Posted in: Upfront News0 comments

March7

UK to Begin Quantitative Easing

By: Tim Neale

The Bank of England, The UK’s central bank, cut interest rates to 0.5 percent yesterday. This is the sixth month in a row that the Bank has cut rates. Interest rates are now at the lowest ever in the Bank’s 315-year history.

The Governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King announced that “quantitative easing” would start next week. The Bank will add an extra £75 billion (US$100 billion) to its books then use this cash to buy government and corporate securities from commercial banks. It hopes that these banks will then invest or loan this cash back into the economy.

Continue Reading

Popularity: 4%

Posted in: Upfront News0 comments

July6

Mayoral Vote Can Not be Verified

By: Tim Neale

The Open Rights Group (ORG) will not verify the result of London’s May elections. Saying, “There is insufficient evidence available to allow independent observers to state reliably whether the results … are an accurate representation of voters’ intentions.”

The elections for the Mayor of London and the 25-member London Assembly are among the most important local elections in the UK. An independent body, London Elects, organizes them.

This year’s elections were the first in London under a new UK law allowing for officially sanctioned, independent observers. ORG was one such group.

Continue Reading

Popularity: 2%

Posted in: Upfront News0 comments

October22

The Tax Credit Chaos

By: Tim Neale

The tax credits scheme was introduced in early 2003 with the intention of encouraging those on low-incomes off benefits and into work.

Incredibly it relies on paying claims one year and correcting overpayments the next. It never occurred to policy makers that such a scheme would cause hardship.

The tax credits scheme was introduced in early 2003 with the intention of encouraging those on low-incomes off benefits and into work.

Continue Reading

Popularity: 1%

Posted in: Upfront News0 comments

© Copyright Tim Neale. All Rights Reserved.