Latest news with #Horizon
ITV News
a day ago
- Business
- ITV News
New compensation scheme announced for Post Office Capture victims
Horizon scandal Politics Postmasters who suffered financial shortfalls in the 1990s due to errors of the faulty Capture IT system that preceded the Horizon scandal will be entitled to payouts from a new redress scheme. Capture, which was a precursor to Horizon developed in-house by the Post Office, led to a number of sub-postmasters being accused of 'accounting malpractice', with some having their contracts terminated. Some resigned, while others were prosecuted or had to pay money back. In a move to "right the wrongs of the past", the Department for Business and Trade has announced a new compensation scheme for those affected by the faults of Capture between 1992 and 2000. It follows the government's acceptance of findings from an independent investigation by Kroll Associates, which concluded there was a reasonable likelihood that Capture created financial shortfalls for postmasters. Kroll found that 13.5% of all branches may have used Capture, and that sub-postmasters felt pressured by network and area managers to use the system. Its report also found that legal teams had not been investigating potential "bugs or errors" in the system. At least 40 former sub-postmasters claimed they were wrongly accused of theft due to errors in the Capture system, ITV News reported last year. "Today's announcement represents another important step in righting the wrongs of the past and rebuilding trust in the Post Office," said Post Office Minister Gareth Thomas. The scheme is expected to open for applications in Autumn 2025, with an initial phased rollout for 150 claimants to ensure the process is fair, proportionate and accessible before wider implementation. It comes as the government confirmed that £1 billion has been paid out in compensation to over 7,300 postmasters affected by the Horizon IT scandal, and the opening of the Horizon Shortfalls Scheme Appeal process in May. The Capture Redress Scheme has been designed to address cases dating back over two decades, where documentation that can be used as evidence may be limited. It will include a " straightforward two-stage process", according to the government, comprising of an initial eligibility review followed by an independent panel assessment. A "holistic" approach to assessments will be taken, considering both financial losses and the wider personal impact on postmasters. The government says the scheme will also include prompt preliminary payments for eligible claimants, ensuring early acknowledgement of loss, and a guided scoring and banding model for "consistency in awards, while maintaining flexibility". Hudgell Solicitors says it is acting on behalf of more than 100 former sub-postmasters prosecuted, sacked or made to pay back alleged branch shortfalls when using the Capture accounting system. Of those cases, more than 30 are being led by relatives of former sub-postmasters who have since died, the firm said in February. They include Mark Lloyd-Holt and his mother, Agnes, who are pursuing justice on behalf of Agnes' late husband Peter, who died in 2021, aged 75, without ever having the opportunity to clear his name. He was sacked from his role as sub-postmaster of his Bolton Post Office in 1994 after accounts at his branch showed unexplained shortfalls, with his family saying the impact of all that happened "destroyed" him and left him a "shell of himself". Following a meeting with the government in February to discuss the second Post Office IT scandal, Neil Hudgell, of Hudgell Solicitors, said: "We will get redress and justice for those whose lives were affected by Capture. "There are potentially hundreds affected, and sadly a large number are likely to be people who are no longer with us, and died without ever being able to clear their name. "Our message is that people shouldn't be put off by having a lack of documentation. "If they know or suspect that they, or family members were affected by accounting issues between 1992 and 1999 which may have been due to Capture, they should come forward. "That certainly includes family members acting on behalf of loved ones who have since passed away." Who can apply to the Capture compensation scheme? Postmasters are eligible to apply if they:
Sky News
a day ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Post Office scandal redress must not only be fair - it must be fast
"Exonerate and acknowledge" say victims of the Post Office Capture scandal. And it's easy to see why patience is wearing thin. To understand what happened with Capture, you must first understand Horizon. Both scandals centre not on flawed software alone, but how the Post Office reacted to it. 11:28 A business that used its powers to privately prosecute sub-postmasters, forcing them to pay back unexplained accounting shortfalls. Any suggestion that the system itself was at fault was dismissed. Capture is not a separate scandal - it's part of the same one. That's why Capture victims now want "parity" with Horizon victims when it comes to redress and exoneration. "It should now be a given," says Steve Lewis, who was sacked from his job as a sub-postmaster after raising concerns about shortfalls linked to Capture software. The government has promised an Autumn 2025 redress scheme. But Steve wants proposed interim payments to be "paid swiftly due to demographics, age, and well-being of the Capture group". And beyond compensation lie even more urgent demands: for those wrongfully convicted under Capture to be exonerated. Many of these individuals remain ineligible for redress, their names still tarnished. They're calling for blanket exonerations - just as in the Horizon scandal - to finally quash their convictions. The judiciary will push back, undoubtedly, against this. But, as Steve puts it, "time is not on our side" for redress and exoneration. Too many Capture victims have already died without ever knowing justice - as have many Horizon victims. If governments have learned anything over the years, it's this: justice delayed is justice denied.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Post Office scandal: Compensation scheme for Capture victims announced
The government has announced a compensation scheme for postmasters who suffered financial shortfalls due to a faulty Post Office IT system that preceded the Horizon scandal. The Capture software was a faulty computer system used by postmasters in more than 2,000 branches in the 1990s. It comes as Sky News revealed that a damning report into the system has been unearthed after nearly 30 years and could help overturn criminal convictions. In a statement, the government said it would "provide fair compensation" for those who suffered financial shortfalls due to the Capture software between 1992 and 2000. The scheme is expected to open for applications in Autumn 2025 and will have an "initial phased rollout" for 150 claimants to ensure the process is "fair, proportionate and accessible before wider implementation". Post Office minister Gareth Thomas said: "We are committed to delivering fair and swift redress for all postmasters affected by Post Office software failures. "Today's announcement represents another important step in righting the wrongs of the past and rebuilding trust in the Post Office." Read more from Sky News: The government said all eligible claims will be reviewed by an independent panel of experts operating entirely separately from the government. It said the panel will take a holistic view of each claim, avoiding drawn-out legal processes and providing fair redress even where evidence is low. It will also use a balance of probabilities standard of proof, recommend appropriate payment levels and provide claimants the right to appeal in certain circumstances.
Borneo Post
4 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Energy demand continues to rise across Shell's energy scenarios
Wood is seen during the presentation of Shell's 2025 Energy Security Scenarios during Energy Asia 2025. KUALA LUMPUR (June 17): As demand for energy continues to rise steadily ahead, international energy player Shell predicts energy systems will see subtle shifts that will lead to a more substantial transformation by the year 2060. Shell chief energy advisor, Peter Wood, said this during a special showcase of Shell's 2025 Energy Security Scenarios during Energy Asia 2025 at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on Monday. Shell outlined three AI-driven energy scenarios, all exceeding the 1.5 degrees celsius Paris Agreement limit but projecting progress in decarbonisation and carbon removal. Shell's latest energy scenarios offer a nuanced look at potential global energy pathways, outlining three distinct futures: Horizon, Surge, and Archipelagos, each providing different frameworks for the possible interplay of economic, social, and technological factors that will shape the world's energy landscape until 2040. 'While the historical trend of rapid energy growth is not expected to continue at the same pace, all three scenarios project steadily more energy demand,' he said. Horizon demands constrained growth; Archipelagos faces trade-related limitations; and Surge allows for further growth due to economic expansion. He noted that the composition of energy is consistently changing towards more non-fossil sources, with renewables (solar and wind) playing an increasingly significant role. 'The energy system within both the Archipelagos and Surge scenarios, is not significantly different from the energy system observed today in terms of total fossil fuel demand,' Wood said. 'However, a closer examination reveals subtle shifts within this overall demand. Specifically, there will be less coal, broadly the same amount of oil, and slightly more gas. 'It is these underlying changes, combined with new additions to the energy system, that will lead to more substantial transformations by 2060.' A key observation regarding the energy system, he said, is that people tend to overestimate change in the short run but underestimate it in the long run. This phenomenon is largely due to the pervasive nature of long-lived capital stock. 'For instance, cars, airplanes and ships – these assets persist for extended periods, though not indefinitely.' Regarding Shell's outlook on oil demand, Wood noted that there is a projected spread between the Archipelagos and Surge scenarios on the higher end, with Horizon projecting slightly lower demand. Current global oil demand stands at approximately 100 million barrels per day. 'Shell anticipates a modest amount of further growth for perhaps another five to seven years, influenced by economic conditions and, to a lesser extent, weather patterns. This growth will not be linear, as global demand will fluctuate,' he said. 'However, Shell does not foresee substantial growth in oil demand beyond 2030, nor does it expect a precipitous decline. In a truly net-zero world, oil demand would evidently need to begin a downward trajectory, yet current forecasts do not indicate this is happening.' Meanwhile, 'hard-to-abate' sectors like aviation, marine, and petrochemicals are particularly challenging to decarbonise through electrification, and their demand could even increase beyond 2050. The high cost competitiveness of traditional fuels compared to alternatives (biofuels, sustainable aviation fuels) for these sectors presents a significant hurdle. Meanwhile, the future of natural gas demand shows a greater spread across the scenarios due to varying levels of competition from low-carbon electricity and coal. 'In Surge, natural gas plays a crucial role in complementing renewables, while in Archipelagos, demand is lower due to trade constraints. 'Notably, new gas demand is projected to come primarily from 'gas starters' – lower-middle and upper-middle-income countries whose economies are industrialising.' energy Energy Asia 2025 oil and gas Shell
Fox News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Kevin Costner dismisses retirement talk as he pushes forward with new projects at 70
Kevin Costner isn't looking to retire anytime soon. The "Yellowstone" star, 70, has enjoyed a long, successful career in Hollywood, and with his ongoing "Horizon" western saga, he's not showing any signs of slowing down. In a new interview, he explained why retirement isn't on the table for him. "I don't even think about retiring, because I'll just move to the next thing that captures my imagination," Costner admitted to People. He explained that "imagination is what determines what I do, not a boss." The actor continued, "I think we're all different and we have different things happening for us. I've felt really lucky in my life. I'd like to think that I worked for all of it, but not everybody can live by the same blueprint." Costner made his film debut in 1981 with "Malibu Hot Summer," and he's been working steadily ever since. With acting roles in movies like "The Postman" and "The Bodyguard," as well as projects like the four-part "Horizon" saga and the classic "Dances with Wolves" that he's directed as well as starred in, it seems clear that he has worked for what he has. He explained to People that he doesn't have a "bucket list" per se, "but certainly my eyes and my enthusiasms are wide open and very big." Costner said, "I've so enjoyed life and imagining what I can do, what can I be about and what makes a difference. Not only to me, but to other people. What just satisfies me?" "I go through that whole idea, and you realize it's about time. It's a rush to get to all of them," he concluded. Costner currently has a number of projects in the works. Last year, he released the first two parts of "Horizon," the western film series he's writing, directing and starring in. The third movie is currently in production, with a fourth slated to follow. He's also writing and starring in two additional movies that are currently in pre-production, and is producing four television projects. The "Field of Dreams" star is also busy in his personal life as a father of seven. He shares his oldest children — Annie, 41, Lily, 38, and Joe, 37 — with ex-wife Cindy Silva. He shares his son, Liam, 28, with ex-girlfriend Bridget Rooney. He also shares children Cayden, 18, Hayes, 16, and Grace, 14, with ex-wife Christine Baumgartner. WATCH: KEVIN COSTNER WILL 'NEVER FORGET' WORKING WITH SON HAYES IN 'HORIZON' When it comes to parenting, Costner told Fox News Digital last month, "I don't know, the advice thing, I'd like them to see how I do my work. I take it seriously. I'm a public school guy. I was often at the wrong end of the bell curve. There was too much math, and there was not enough history. And I was made to feel like a dumbbell." "Because if you don't do well in that thing, you're a dumbbell. So, I always thought I was a daydreamer. I think I don't know what advice I give them, other than I hope they can find that yellow brick road, you know, to land on it and have the courage to go forward and don't let the economics drive their decisions in their lives. Find what they love."
