Private company loses NHS contract

The Government has cancelled the contract of Atos Origin, a major private provider to the NHS, because it had failed to meet certain conditions (David Rose writes).

Alan Johnson, the Health Secretary, announced the move yesterday and pledged that the Department of Health will not introduce another wave of private clinics to do NHS work. He will, however, give the green light to an unspecified number of new independent sector treatment centres already in the pipeline.

In his first appearance before the House of Commons Health Select Committee, Mr Johnson rejected calls to implement the full pay award for nurses and other NHS workers in England.

Soldiers are charged over barracks death

Three soldiers have been charged with manslaughter following the death of Private Gavin Williams, who was allegedly forced to go on a punishment run on one of the hottest days of last year.

Sergeant Russell Price, Sergeant Paul Blake and Lance Corporal John Edwards, all from the 2nd Battalion Royal Welsh, were released on bail and will appear at Salisbury Magistrates’ Court on August 1.

Private Williams, 22, collapsed at Lucknow barracks in Tidworth, Wiltshire, last July. He died in hospital. It was alleged that he was being punished for an incident in the officers’ mess.

‘Huckster’ Ryanair

MPs have denounced Ryanair’s “tenpenny management” for its poor treatment of passengers and “hucksterism” in concealing the true cost of its flights. The Commons Transport Select Committee criticised Michael O’Leary, the chief executive. Ryanair failed to respond to a request for comments.

Terrorism conviction

Awaab Iqbal, 20, a Bradford University student, was found guilty at the Old Bailey of having articles for terrorism. He was the fourth Bradford student to be convicted. They were arrested after a 17-year-old ran away in February last year to become a terrorist martyr. All five will be sentenced today.

Missile defence base

A second military base in Britain is to be used in the US “son of Star Wars” defence system. Des Browne, the Defence Secretary, said that RAF Menwith Hill, near Harrogate, would help in the tracking of missiles. The radar systems there would join those already in use at RAF Fylingdales in North Yorkshire.

Sheringham caution

Teddy Sheringham was cautioned for perverting the course of justice after his arrest for allegedly giving false details about a speeding offence. The former England striker, who won 51 caps, was one of three West Ham footballers arrested in May in connection with the alleged offence, which he later denied.

Sacred bull’s last day

Shambo, the sacred bull living in a Hindu temple in Llanpumsaint, west Wales, whose keepers lost a Court of Appeal case this week to save him after a positive test for exposure to bovine TB, was due to be taken away for slaughter today. However, the Skanda Vale temple told officials that they would find the bull inside a locked building and an act of worship taking place when they arrived to take it.

Superjumbo auction

Seats on the first commercial flight of the world’s biggest passenger aircraft – the Airbus A380 superjumbo – are to be auctioned on eBay. Singapore Airlines, which will fly the 555-seat aircraft from Singapore to Sydney in October, said that proceeds from ticket sales will go to charity. Wiring problems and management upheavals at Airbus have put back delivery of the A380 by two years.

Star bucks trend

The Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell has agreed an exclusive recording deal with Starbucks. Mitchell, 63, will release Shine, her first album since 1998, in September through the coffee chain’s 14,000 outlets. Sir Paul McCartney enjoyed a sales boost when he signed with Starbucks’ Hear Music label for his Memory Almost Full album.

Superjumbo auction

Tickets for the first commercial flight of the world’s biggest passenger aircraft – the Airbus A380 superjumbo – are to be auctioned on eBay. Singapore Airlines, which will fly the 555-seat, double-deck aircraft from Singapore to Sydney in October, said that proceeds from ticket sales would go to charity.

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