General News
STFC: A project established more than 30 years ago to promote collaboration between UK groups writing software for macromolecular crystallography, an X-ray technique used to study biological molecules such as proteins, viruses and nucleic acids, has been awarded the Royal Society of Chemistry's Rita and John Cornforth Award 2011.
The award was made to the CCP4 project to recognise its importance as an essential resource for macromolecular structural chemistry worldwide, and its exemplary team ethos. Over the 32 years of its existence, CCP4 has evolved to fulfil two main roles: the production and support of an integrated suite of programs for macromolecular X-ray crystallography, and the dissemination of theory and best practice to the growing international body of researchers using the technique.
DH: A new Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal, which will distinguish exemplary service from ambulance workers in the NHS, has been announced by Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley. The first medals will be awarded in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in Summer 2012. The Ambulance Service now joins the Police and Fire emergency services in having a prestigious medal for outstanding service.
Further information on the criteria for eligibility, along with details on how to nominate individuals for the Medal, will be available on the Department of Health’s website. The number of recommendations for award of the Medal which may be submitted for Her Majesty’s approval in any one year shall not exceed ‘10. 5’.
ScotGov: A dozen youngsters that took up basketball through coaching funded by the Scottish Government's CashBack for Communities programme have been selected for age-group Scotland squads. The 9 boys & 3 girls will link up with the international under 12, under-14 and under-16 teams after participating in the Jump2it and Twilight Basketball sessions run by Scottish Sports Futures and funded by money seized from criminals.
FSA: Due to a packaging error, some Donegal Catch Limited Edition Fish Fillets in a golden breadcrumb have been packed with battered fish fillets instead of breadcrumbed fish fillets. Battered fish fillets contain milk, which is not an ingredient in the breaded fillets, and is not labelled on the packets. As a result, the product presents a possible health risk for people who have an allergy or intolerance to milk. The Food Standards Agency is issuing an allergy alert.
FSA: Asda is recalling some of its Fresh Tastes Pouch Haddock, as it has been packed incorrectly, affecting part of one batch code. The pouch may contain a chicken & bacon product which contains mustard in the sauce. This makes the product a potential health risk for people who are allergic or sensitive to mustard. The Food Standards Agency has issued an Allergy Alert.
PCS: Staff who provide admin & IT support to the UK's passport offices have voted by nearly 9 to 1 to strike over an imposed pay cut, the Public and Commercial Services union has announced. More than 160 workers at Steria UK on a contract for the Identity and Passport Service (IPS), some paid as little as £13,500 a year, plan to walk out for 2 days at the end of July, and are threatening further action in August if necessary.
The PCS members voted 86% percent in favour of strike action and 90% in favour of action short of a strike. The turnout was 62%.
The PCS members voted 86% percent in favour of strike action and 90% in favour of action short of a strike. The turnout was 62%.
WO: The Welsh Secretary has said that ‘Richard Parks should be acknowledged as an ambassador for young people and charities, following his world-record breaking charity challenge’. Richard Parks has just completed the ‘737 challenge’, an epic fund-raising challenge in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care which saw him climb 7 summits on each continent & become the first person in history to stand on 3 poles in the same calendar year.
MoD: Work has begun on a new £2.4m Royal Navy Sea Survival Training Centre at Horsea Island, Portsmouth. The project will replace the old facility established in 1982 following the introduction of a statutory requirement for all Royal Navy personnel to undertake regular training in ship abandonment & sea survival procedures. Construction is due for completion in January 2012, and is being managed by the Royal Naval Infrastructure Organisation,
MoD: Service personnel operating within the landmass, airspace & territorial waters of Libya are now eligible to receive the Operational Allowance (OA), Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox announced last week. The Ministry of Defence conducts a review of the locations eligible for OA on a 6-monthly basis - the most recent of which led to this extension and means that personnel working as part of the ongoing campaign to protect civilians under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 will now receive the Operational Allowance.
The OA is already paid to all Service personnel serving in Afghanistan on Operation HERRICK. The move means that all servicemen & women deployed within the geographical confines of Libya on Operation ELLAMY will now receive the allowance, which is based on an assessment of the risk & rigour of the operating environment.
TfL: London Underground (LU) has made a revised 5-year pay offer to trade unions which would see staff get a 4.75% pay increase this year, followed by a rise of inflation (RPI) plus 0.25% in the 4 subsequent years. A further guarantee has also been given that LU would not take into account negative RPI, should such a situation occur, so staff would be guaranteed a minimum 0.25% pay increase each year.
Socitm: Socitm Insight has launched a new service to help public sector website owners to deal with the implication of the EU 'cookie' directive effective from 26 May 2011. The directive puts a new compliance burden on all website owners, including those responsible for sites that may be delivered by third parties.
Website owners are now required to provide their visitors with an opportunity to give their consent explicitly prior to having cookies downloaded on to their computers or mobile devices. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), which is responsible for enforcing the new law in the UK, has allowed all organisations one year to make the necessary changes - although complaints about serious breaches will be investigated during this period.
Newswire – HPA: Fewer new cases of Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (HUS) and bloody diarrhoea (VTEC or EHEC infection, caused by E. coli O104) were reported in Germany last week and there are no additional cases in France. This will therefore be the last update from the HPA on this issue unless there are any significant developments.
