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Wednesday, 14 November, 2007

  • Newsnight
  • 14 Nov 07, 05:04 PM

Tonight's programme is presented by .

SOUTHERN WATER
OFWAT has fined Southern Water ÂŁ20.3 million - their biggest ever fine - for misreporting of information and providing a poor service to customers. The Serious Fraud Office dropped its fraud investigation earlier this year because of lack of evidence. So what has happened to those responsible? The new CEO Les Dawson has admitted it was dreadful conduct and that they had betrayed the trust of its customers. We'll be asking if anyone has been held to account for this scandal.

If you are a Southern Water customer and have been affected by this please contact us, we'd like to hear from you

LORD WEST
Are you confused by Lord West's comments on the terror laws this morning? We are. First he was running on a good wind one way on Radio 4 this morning saying he had yet to see the evidence that detention beyond 28 days was necessary, only to be tacking back in the opposite direction an hour later. Lord West describes himself as a "simple sailor" and not a politician. So is Gordon Brown's strategy of inviting non-politicians into the fold making it more difficult for the government to get its message across? David Grossman will be investigating.

ECONOMY
The governor of the Bank of England gave his assessment of the strength of the economy today - amid continuing uncertainty in the financial sector. Stephanie Flanders assesses what the latest inflation figures signal for the economic outlook.

FOOTBALL
We have a fascinating interview with the President of UEFA, Michel Platini, who makes an extraordinary attack on the billionaire American owners of leading English football clubs. He says they're only interested in money and predicts they'll even try to change the rules to allow TV advert breaks.

IRA LEVIN
Ira Levin, the author of the best selling horror and suspense novels Rosemary's Baby and The Stepford Wives - both made into popular films - has died at the age of 78. He also wrote The Boys From Brazil, published in 1976, featuring the infamous Nazi doctor, Josef Mengele, seeking to clone a new Third Reich. Steve Smith will be looking back over the life of the writer.

Are you a Southern Water customer?

  • Newsnight
  • 14 Nov 07, 04:07 PM

OFWAT has ÂŁ20.3 million - it's the biggest ever fine on a water company for misreporting of information and providing a poor service to customers. The SFO dropped its fraud investigation earlier this year. So what has happened to those responsible?

And what about the many customers who have been overcharged and had to wait for a compensation payout? If you are a Southern Water customer and have been affected by this please do contact us now here at Newsnight.

“Enough” say the Lebanese, but who is listening?

  • Richard Colebourn
  • 14 Nov 07, 02:00 PM

BEIRUT --- The music was upbeat, the young audience enthusiastic, but a concert in Beirut on Friday night was an expression of the doom that is felt in Lebanon. A car park was the venue for an event staged by – Arabic for “Enough!”

concert_203.jpgConcertgoers desperately want their politicians to resolve Lebanon’s latest political standoff. The country’s constitution requires the election of a new President by November 24th. As the days pass, compromise between Lebanon’s pro-Western/anti-Syrian government and pro-Syrian/Hizbullah-dominated opposition seems distant. No acceptable candidate has been found and the election has been delayed three times. There seem to be as many theories as to the possible outcome of this crisis as there are Lebanese, .

Continue reading "“Enough” say the Lebanese, but who is listening?"

Wednesday prospects

  • Newsnight
  • 14 Nov 07, 10:19 AM

Today's programme editor is Carol Rubra - here's her early e-mail to the programme team:

Good morning,

tap_203.jpgOFWAT have fined Southern Water ÂŁ20.3 million, their biggest ever fine on a water company for misreporting of information and providing a poor service to customers. The SFO dropped its fraud investigation earlier this year. So what has happened to those responsible?

Mervyn King will be speaking to journalists this morning at the launch of the quarterly inflation report. He will give his assessment of the strength of the British economy and the continuing fallout from the credit crunch. Meanwhile there are more details on the costs to the taxpayer of the Northern Rock bail out.

Gordon Brown will announce the results of Admiral Sir Alan West's review of security arrangements in crowded spaces. He will also talk about measures to prevent the rise of Muslim extremism in local communities.

The UN nuclear monitoring body, the IAEA is expected to report today on how far Iran has complied with its requests to monitor the country's nuclear activity. Gordon Brown has threatened further sanctions if it fails to comply. Is Iran serious about co-operating? We have an interview with Iran's Ambassador to the IAEA.

Peter Marshall has done an interesting interview with Michel Platini, President of UEFA. He's accusing billionaire American owners of leading English football clubs of being in football to make a fast buck.

Other things happening today:
Pakistan - Imran Khan has been arrested, Scottish budget, PMQs.

Any other stories around you think we should look at?

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