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Man hanged himself over council tax George Hilleard, 54, from Borough, South London, hanged himself after receiving a letter from Southwark Council demanding he pay £235 or appear in court. (South London Press, 31 Jan 2002) More than 1,000 still missing after Lagos explosions The Nigerian Red Cross says up to 1,150 people are unaccounted for following explosions at a munitions depot in which 600 people died. (Ananova, 31 Jan 2002) Smart cards for asylum seekers launched Identity smart cards for asylum seekers have been introduced in a bid to cut down on fraud and illegal working. (Ananova, 31 Jan 2002) 'Flat-pack' house that's ready in a week The ultimate in 21st century living has been unveiled in the shape of a flat-pack house made of steel and polystyrene. (Ananova, 31 Jan 2002) Immigration will push UK population rise to 66m Immigration is likely to account for nearly three-quarters of the population increase in the United Kingdom over the next 10 years, according to latest official projections released in the Social Trends report today. (Guardian, 31 Jan 2002) The hour of reckoning Just over a quarter of NHS executives now earn six figure salaries, with the top paying trust, in Hammersmith, west London, offering £139,000 a year to its management chief. Excessive salaries, bonuses and pay-offs constantly daze and amaze us, particularly if, as in parts of the private sector, they appear to reward failure as generously as they reward results. (Guardian, 30 Jan 2002) 50 Israeli reservists refuse to serve in territories FIFTY Israeli army reserve officers and soldiers have declared that they will not serve in the West Bank or Gaza Strip, claiming that the army is oppressing Palestinians. (Times, 30 Jan 2002) King Charles I endures anniversary execution for new Civil War film The execution of King Charles I has been recreated for a new film on the 353rd anniversary of the monarch's death. (Ananova, 30 Jan 2002) Warlord thumbs down for Somalia film A Somali warlord has gone to see the Hollywood blockbuster, Black Hawk Down, which portrays his arrest by United States troops and says many of the facts are wrong. (BBC, 29 Jan 2002) In the red Baked potatoes cost too much to cook, fresh fruit is a luxury and entertainment means watching TV. In the final report on her month as a night cleaner at the Savoy, Fran Abrams wonders how anyone manages to make ends meet on £4 an hour in the capital. (Guardian, 29 Jan 2002) Obituary: Pierre Bourdieu HIS international fame might not quite have equalled that of his friend Jacques Derrida, but in France the sociologist Pierre Bourdieu was probably the most convincing embodiment of the politically active intellectual since Jean-Paul Sartre or Michel Foucault. (Times, 29 Jan 2002) Children of professionals 'live years longer' Boys born into professional families are expected to live an average of seven years longer than the sons of unskilled workers. (Ananova, 28 Jan 2002) China sentences Hong Kong Bible smuggler to two years in prison A Hong Kong businessman who brought thousands of Bibles to a banned Christian group in China has been sentenced to two years in prison. (Ananova, 28 Jan 2002) '500 dead' after Nigeria blast The death toll among those who fled the Nigerian munitions blast is reported to have exceeded 500. (Ananova, 28 Jan 2002) Bishops to live on minimum wage for Lent Fifty church ministers are planning to live on the minimum wage for Lent to highlight the problem of low pay. (Ananova, 28 Jan 2002) China is leading the world in cultivation of GM crops WHILE the fate of GM crops remains contentious in Britain and many other parts of the world, China is going ahead with the technology and plans to export it. (Telegraph, 28 Jan 2002) A single room at the Savoy costs £300 a night. A cleaner there earns £150 a week In a major two-part investigation into life on the minimum wage, Fran Abrams reports on her month as a cleaner at the Savoy. (Guardian, 28 Jan 2002) Also The minimum wage in numbers Violence on rise between rival Asian groups A spate of attacks within the Asian community has increased fears that tensions are rising between Sikh, Hindu and Muslim groups in Britain in the wake of the World Trade Centre attack on 11 September last year. (Independent, 27 Jan 2002) CRE turns spotlight on race discrimination in the City The Commission for Racial Equality is considering launching a formal investigation into racism and racial discrimination by major firms in the City. (Independent, 27 Jan 2002) Down in the mouth about dental costs Many people already think they pay through the nose to get their teeth seen to. So they will feel that the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) investigation into the cost of private dental care is long overdue. (Independent, 27 Jan 2002) African entourage retrieves sacred carving Ethiopian priests and delegates have retrieved a sacred carving that was stolen from their country in a bloody battle and taken to the UK more than 130 years ago. (Ananova, 27 Jan 2002) Guy Hands: He went to Heaven's Gate, then he bought the world There is a famous story about Guy Hands, the financier whose deals to buy Britain's trains, pubs, hotels, betting shops, soldiers' homes and (nearly) the Millennium Dome for the Japanese bank Nomura have made him a near-legend. (Independent, 27 Jan 2002) EU law 'will mean more scrap cars on streets' THE number of abandoned and burnt-out vehicles in the streets and countryside is expected to soar from April when new European Union rules on car disposal could increase costs by up to ten-fold, say local authorities. (Telegraph, 28 Jan 2002) So you think Guantanamo is tough? Well, try Idaho HE is woken at 4.30 every morning, given a breakfast of powdered eggs, then left incarcerated in a tiny space for the rest of the day and night. The cell is designed to hold just one person, but there are four men sharing it. (Telegraph, 27 Jan 2002) Dengue fever hits Brazil Brazil has a worsening problem with the potentially fatal disease, dengue fever. (BBC, 26 Jan 2002) At least 55 reported dead in fighting over land rights in Somalia At least 55 people have died in fighting over land and grazing rights in Somalia. (Ananova, 26 Jan 2002) In demand: the African art pillaged by Britain When Captain James Philips was chosen to head a British trade expedition to the ancient city of Benin in 1897, he assured his superiors that treasure looted from its king would "pay the expenses incurred". (Independent, 26 Jan 2002) DCivilian patrols to hold suspects for 30 minutes Civilian patrol officers will be able to use "reasonable force" to detain suspects for up to half an hour until the arrival of a police officer, the Home Secretary revealed yesterday. (Independent, 26 Jan 2002) Khoisan told to move from ancestral lands JOHANNESBURG, 25 Jan 2002 (IRIN) - The government of Botswana has threatened to cut off water and other essential services to the Basarwa (Khoisan) still living in the central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR), the BBC reported this week. (IRIN, 25 Jan 2002) Average debt doubles to £17,000 The average amount owed by people in debt has reached £17,000 after more than doubling during the past five years, according to new research. (Ananova, 25 Jan 2002) How training details were 'stolen' Training providers say security on the government's training accounts scheme was so poor that crooks could have accessed people's account numbers by guesswork. (BBC, 25 Jan 2002) Can't pay, won't pay Poverty is the new enemy in post-apartheid South Africa, and the government's policy of cost recovery and privatisation of basic services has created new areas of friction with the country's poor and marginalised, according to a Canadian study. (IRIN, 24 Jan 2002) London 'fifth most costly city' London is the fifth most expensive city in the world, according to new research. (Standard, 24 Jan 2002) Press watchdog: Human rights act 'little use to ordinary people' Press watchdog Lord Wakeham denies the Human Rights Act has created a privacy law by the back door. (Ananova, 23 Jan 2002) Botswana cuts Bushman services The government of Botswana is to cut off water and other essential services to several hundred Bushmen still living in the central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR). (BBC, 23 Jan 2002) Need to confront issue of natural resource extraction NAIROBI, 23 Jan 2002 (IRIN) - If the peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is to have any chance of success, it must confront the issue of natural resource extraction in a serious and explicit manner, says the international aid charity, Oxfam, in a briefing document issued on Tuesday. (IRIN, 23 Jan 2002) Unmarried couples to get right to adopt Unmarried couples would gain the right to adopt under reported changes to the law. (Ananova, 23 Jan 2002) Asylum seekers cost Eurotunnel £20m Eurotunnel says stowaway asylum seekers cost it £20 million last year. The company's operations have been disrupted by asylum seekers attempting to enter the UK via Channel Tunnel trains. (Ananova, 23 Jan 2002) House prices 'more affordable than 20 years ago' Property is more affordable now than it was 20 years ago despite last year's strong price increases, The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors says. (Ananova, 23 Jan 2002) Doubly deprived Job advertisements reveal much about the nature of New Labour's neighbourhood renewal programme and other regeneration initiatives. Of all the regeneration posts advertised in one week in Guardian Society, two specialist magazines and a Scottish daily newspaper, 62% were placed by local government. (Guardian, 23 Jan 2002) Local authority view: Partnership of equals. Space age maps unveiled Nasa has begun work on building the world's best map. (Ananova, 23 Jan 2002) Civil rights group seeks names of immigration detainees A leading civil rights group is suing two New Jersey counties. It accuses them of violating state law by not releasing names and other information for detainees held in county jails since the September 11 attacks. (Ananova, 23 Jan 2002) Human Trafficking: Charming Girls And Greedy Merchants! Trafficking in girls and women has easily become the modern parallel to the Atlantic slave trade. Ahmed Tahir explored the contours of this terrain, and wrote this revealing account, which highlights the methods and routes out of Africa, and the experiences the ladies pass through at their stations. (Daily Trust via allafrica.com, 22 Jan 2002) Kmart on verge of bankruptcy Kmart is expected to seek bankruptcy protection today. It would rank as the largest retail bankruptcy in US history. (Ananova, 22 Jan 2002) There's gold in those PPPs If everyone was as optimistic about the future of the railways as Robin Southwell, the new chief executive of WS Atkins, then transport secretary Stephen Byers would have already booked his next foreign holiday. (Guardian, 22 Jan 2002) American who fought for Taliban sent back to US The American who fought for the Taliban has been sent back to the US in shackles to face charges he conspired with terrorists to kill his countrymen. (Ananova, 22 Jan 2002) UK message for Earth Summit comes under scrutiny Britain's key messages to the forthcoming Earth Summit on sustainable development are to be put under the spotlight. Environmentalists and politicians are in London to debate issues that are set to dominate the summit agenda in Johannesburg in September. (Ananova, 22 Jan 2002) Millennium volunteer of the year 'brings people together' A woman who organises events bringing able-bodied and disabled people together has been named Millennium Volunteer of the Year. (Ananova, 22 Jan 2002) TUC calls for fairer rules for low-income savers The TUC is calling on the Government to introduce fairer rules for savers on low incomes. (Ananova, 22 Jan 2002) Information technology vital for African development ADDIS ABABA, 21 Jan 2002 (IRIN) - The head of the UN's Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) on Monday urged the continent to swing behind the information technology revolution sweeping the world. (IRIN, 21 Jan 2002) D'Met is not beating racism' Claims by the Met Commissioner that Scotland Yard is no longer "institutionally racist" have been dismissed by black staff and one of the key figures in the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry. (Standard, 21 Jan 2002) The Camp X-Ray Brit BRITISH al-Qaeda suspect Feroz Abbasi kneels chained in a hellish half-world today as he waits for his interrogators. (Mirror, 21 Jan 2002) 
Stop this brutality in our name, Mister BlairTHIS is what is being done in the name of humanity, civilisation and the British people. These prisoners are trapped in open cages, manacled hand and foot, brutalised, tortured and humiliated. (Mirror, 21 Jan 2002) Easy going I've lost count of the amount of times I've visited Jamaica, but I've never had a holiday there. (Observer, 20 Jan 2002) Time and place: Ken Wiwa: Innocence lost in Nigeria’s turmoil ... I remember my father being sacked from government. I was four and I remember the gloom around the house. They took the Mercedes away and it seemed as if our whole world was falling apart. I kept asking people why he had been sacked and they told me it was because of a budget that was two pence short. I would get into fights at school defending my father’s honour. (Sunday Times, 20 Jan 2002) A greener view on the home front When Sally Packer tells her friends that she lives in an eco-home, they imagine communal mud huts, or hippy-style hessian furniture. (Sunday Times, 20 Jan 2002) Somali warlords await US rematch It is little more than a dusty track now, lined by a few breeze blocks and huts with corrugated roofs. Pieces of the twisted mass of metal and rotors remain, but the bullets and carnage are long gone. (Sunday Times, 20 Jan 2002) 'University not always the answer' says industry chief It's claimed the drive to put more working class youngsters through university may not meet their needs or those of British business. (Ananova, 19 Jan 2002) Brits more concerned with 'ethical tourism' A new report suggests British tourists are growing more concerned about people and environments when travelling abroad. (Ananova, 19 Jan 2002) Lost cities show civilisation began 9,500 years ago AN ANCIENT metropolis likened to the lost city of Atlantis has been discovered off the west coast of India, suggesting that civilisation may have started 5,000 years earlier than previously believed. (Times, 19 Jan 2002) Ancient farmers may have changed history of the world HOW extraordinary if complex human civilisations began 5,000 years earlier than we believed. (Times, 19 Jan 2002) Kew bids for landmark world heritage status Kew Gardens is to bid for the prestigious heritage accolade held by landmarks such as the Great Wall of China, Taj Mahal and Grand Canyon. (Times, 19 Jan 2002) Refugee electrocuted while trying to slip through Channel Tunnel An illegal immigrant trying to sneak in to Britain was electrocuted and killed while hiding on top of a freight train headed toward the Channel Tunnel. (Ananova, 19 Jan 2002) UK snooping laws in disarray Internet snooping laws in the UK have not been implemented and are proving ineffectual in the fight against terrorism and crime. (BBC, 18 Jan 2002) China, India Forge IT Ties China and India, the two most populous nations in the world, should work together to promote each other in the IT arena and "make progress together," according to China's prime minister Zhu Rongji, who noted that India is widely recognized as "the number one in software exports." (Asia Internet.com, 18 Jan 2002) Government declares thousands are abandoning full-time farming Government figures show the exodus of people abandoning farming has continued while many who remain are forced to find second jobs. (Ananova, 18 Jan 2002) Customers too confused to switch electricity firms MPs say millions of people still pay too much for their electricity because they have not changed their supplier. (Ananova, 17 Jan 2002) Nigeria, Sao Tome set up joint oil authority ABIDJAN, 17 Jan 2002 (IRIN) - Nigeria and Sao Tome have jointly established an authority to manage offshore oil exploration in the disputed Gulf of Guinea, although there is still disagreement over the exact sea border between the two countries. (IRIN, 17 Jan 2002) NIGERIA: Focus on environmental remediation in oil region More than four decades of oil exploration and production activities have left a severely degraded environment in Nigeria's southern, Niger Delta oil region. The Centre for Environmental Resources and Sustainable Ecosystems (CERASE) a Nigerian NGO is spearheading a unique programme, with the backing of the World Bank, which aims at improving the capacity of local people in the Niger Delta to launch bio-remediation efforts without waiting for government intervention. (IRIN, 17 Jan 2002) Mathematicians produce crime-fighting equation for Met Mathematicians have devised a crime-fighting equation to help police deploy officers where they're most needed. (Ananova, 17 Jan 2002) Government unveils £100m centre for failed asylum seekers Europe's largest detention centre for asylum seekers has been unveiled in Bedfordshire. (Ananova, 17 Jan 2002) Research: religion's effect on poverty A mammoth comparison of the lifestyles of young Europeans challenges some of our basic assumptions about young people - their differences and similarities. (Guardian, 16 Jan 2002) Obesity 'killing 30,000 a year' OBESITY in England has reached "shocking" levels, contributing to 30,000 deaths a year, a committee of MPs says today. (Telegraph, 16 Jan 2002) Victims' families reach out across the great divide WITH kind words, a simple gift and a slightly awkward handshake, a group of Americans who lost relatives in the September 11 terrorist attacks yesterday attempted to bridge the gulf between themselves and Afghans who lost loved ones in the US bombing campaign. (Telegraph, 16 Jan 2002) Lord Young of Dartington THE LORD YOUNG OF DARTINGTON, who has died aged 86, was one of the most inspired innovators of his time; the Open University, the Consumers' Association and the Advisory Centre for Education are only three of the national institutions that he helped to devise. (Telegraph, 16 Jan 2002) Innovative thinker Lord Young of Dartington, who as Michael Young was one of Britain's most innovative and progressive thinkers in political and social policy, has died aged 86 after a long illness. (Guardian, 16 Jan 2002) Action man In spite of the fact that my father died on Monday night, I feel strangely lucky. Over the course of the past 20 years he had battled three types of cancer but, right up until the past day of his life, he made absolutely no concessions to old age. (Guardian, 16 Jan 2002) Lord Young of Dartington Michael Young, Lord Young of Dartington, who has died aged 86, was a man of many parts: educator, author, academic, consumer advocate, policymaker, political activist - and rebel. (Guardian, 16 Jan 2002) Lord Young of Dartington One of the most imaginative and influential pioneers of sociological research in Britain after the Second World War, Michael Young eschewed a life in politics or academia and instead became a successful one-man think-tank. (Times, 16 Jan 2002) Open University founder Lord Young dies Tony Blair has paid tribute to social reformer and educationalist Lord Young of Dartington, who has died aged 86. (Ananova, 15 Jan 2002) Observer article by Michael's son Toby, May 2001 The dream maker. At least 50 Chinese coal miners killed in three separate accidents Accidents blamed on natural gas leaks have killed at least 50 miners in three separate Chinese mines. (Ananova, 15 Jan 2002) Tory MP's outburst on 'scum' travellers A senior Tory backbencher says travellers who invade public places are "scum" that do not deserve the same human rights as other citizens. (Ananova, 15 Jan 2002) Researchers hope translation software can save the vanishing word A US university has embarked on an ambitious project to prevent minority languages from vanishing forever. (Ananova, 15 Jan 2002) Pittsburg Post & Gazette Scientists at CMU join forces to create a program to preserve vanishing languages Blunkett considers refugee 'buddy' scheme Home Secretary David Blunkett is considering a 'buddy scheme' for asylum seekers. The scheme could see refugees teamed up with British citizens to help them integrate into society. (Ananova, 15 Jan 2002) DPlans for Tate tower halted A planned £55million, 32-storey apartment tower next to Tate Modern has been withdrawn by developers. (Standard, 15 Jan 2002) Day 100: another raid in the bombing war without end The rocket screeches low overhead, and the world stands still for a second before US munitions slam into an Afghan mud hut and the mountains shudder in a sickening explosion. (Guardian, 15 Jan 2002) Long decline of a once mighty union The National Union of Mineworkers was the mightiest industrial force in the country for much of the 20th century and the only trade union credited with a government's scalp, when Edward Heath was voted out of power in 1974. (Guardian, 15 Jan 2002) Elgin marbles 'will never leave London' THE British Museum last night ruled out any possibility of the Elgin Marbles being returned to Greece. (Telegraph, 15 Jan 2002) Immigrant centres rise THE Government is to increase the number of immigration removal centres. (Times, 15 Jan 2002) US has not ruled out execution of Taliban Britons BRITISH diplomats have sought assurances from the American authorities that they will not impose the death penalty on any Britons caught fighting alongside the Taliban or al-Qa'eda. (Telegraph, 15 Jan 2002) 'I'm more of a fighter now' Four years after being accused of sending racist hate-mail to himself, Sgt Gurpal Virdi has finally wrung an apology - and compensation - from the Met. (Guardian, 14 Jan 2002) US doesn't have the right to decide who is or isn't a PoW Would you want your life to be in the hands of US secretary of defence Donald Rumsfeld? Hundreds of captured Taliban and al-Qaida fighters don't have a choice. Chained, manacled, hooded, even sedated, their beards shorn off against their will, they are being flown around the world to Guantanamo Bay, a century-old military outpost seized during the Spanish-American war and subsequently leased from Cuba by the US. There, they are being kept in tiny chain-link outdoor cages, without mosquito repellent, where (their captors assure us) they are likely to be rained upon. (Guardian, 14 Jan 2002) Companies can show the way to a more ethical world As globalisation has weakened and marginalised political institutions, business is asked to fill the gaps. (Guardian, 14 Jan 2002) The middle classes go by train, while poor wait for the bus Travel by rail tends to be middle-class, male and middle-aged. Poorer people and the young predominantly use buses and bikes, or walk. Older people travel less and when they do, they walk, take the bus or drive. (Guardian, 14 Jan 2002) New El Nino to bring weather chaos A new El Nino, the periodic warming of the surface of the Pacific ocean that can trigger severe worldwide weather and environmental disasters, has been observed building up by a US government agency. (Guardian, 14 Jan 2002) Survival warns UN of danger to isolated tribal peoples Survival, the worldwide organisation supporting tribal peoples, will tomorrow make a special submission to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva highlighting the grave dangers facing isolated tribal peoples in the new millennium. (Survival International Press Release, 14 Jan 2002) Wind power on the up The amount of energy produced from wind power in 2001 rose by almost a third. (Ananova, 14 Jan 2002) Woman condemned to death by stoning appeals ruling in Nigerian court A 35-year-old Nigerian woman sentenced to be stoned to death for having a child outside wedlock has appealed the ruling. (Ananova, 14 Jan 2002) Byers signals rethink on public-private partnerships Transport Secretary Stephen Byers has reportedly hinted at a rethink in the Government's attitude towards private sector involvement in public services. (Ananova, 14 Jan 2002) Blashers under fire for 'worthless' expedition THE renowned British explorer Col John Blashford-Snell has been accused of organising a flawed expedition into South America's rain forests that dynamited its way through the jungle, damaged the environment and made unsubstantiated claims about having found a lost Inca city. (Sunday Telegraph, 13 Jan 2002) Market topples Mao's last outpost FURIOUS residents of a model Chinese village devoted to Maoist ideals are being evicted to make way for a business park designed to attract foreign investors. (Sunday Telegraph, 13 Jan 2002) Militants use the markets to cripple the railways AS bleary-eyed commuters trudged past the picket line at Waterloo last week, a silver-haired man with a briefcase shouted at the railworkers: "Shame on you, you dinosaurs." (Sunday Telegraph, 13 Jan 2002) Drugs squad fumes as bookshop shields reader It never won a Pulitzer or appeared on the New York Times bestseller lists but a 400-page book about the manufacture of illicit drugs by an author known as Uncle Fester is at the centre of a legal battle over the privacy of the US book-buying public. (Observer, 13 Jan 2002) Fitton Hill: Story of an Oldham estate Oldham's a small world, and Fitton Hill estate, a mile south of the town centre, is an even smaller one. In a day or two you start to feel at home, and the place gets used to a posh southern stranger who is expressing sympathy and distaste in equal measure. (Sunday Times, 13 Jan 2002) Minette Marrin: How can the community save us if there isn’t one? A return to the community is the politician’s universal panacea these days. All our social problems can be traced to the breakdown of the community, so therefore we must have it back. We must rebuild it or recreate it. (Sunday Times, 13 Jan 2002) John Humphrys: The supermarkets have got to be told where to get off The middle class does not like supermarkets. That’s a bit of a sweeping statement, I grant you. It is based on a poll following a Radio 4 programme in which listeners were invited to phone in and vote on the question: “Would we be better off without supermarkets?” A remarkable 71% said we would. (Sunday Times, 13 Jan 2002) Pupils held back by teachers’ empty praise TEACHERS in many British schools are hampering pupils’ academic progress by rewarding them for mediocre work and handing out praise indiscriminately, says a new study. (Sunday Times, 13 Jan 2002) No 10 cronies under fire in sleaze report A LEAKED report from Britain’s leading sleaze watchdog has damned Tony Blair for the way he runs government and Whitehall. (Sunday Times, 13 Jan 2002) Tories want 80% of upper house elected Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith has called for a "Senate" style House of Lords where virtually all its members would be elected. (Ananova, 13 Jan 2002) 'More Falklands veterans have committed suicide than died during the war' More veterans of the Falklands War have taken their own lives than were killed in the conflict itself, a veterans support group claims. (Ananova, 13 Jan 2002) Thousands to get access to MI5 files Thousands of people who have been monitored by MI5 will be able to access their files after a ruling by Home Secretary David Blunkett. (Ananova, 13 Jan 2002) Imperial adventurers It started as a trading firm then went from a business empire to the business of empire. Huw Bowen on the East India Company Imperial adventurers From time to time, the long-dead corpse of the British Raj still twitches. When it does, Britons are presented with reminders - some nostalgic, some uncomfortable - that their postcolonial future remains firmly rooted in the imperial past. (Guardian, 12 Jan 2002) Pull the big switch and save yourself a fortune on fuel If, like me, you are one of British Gas' 13.5m customers, make a new year's resolution to find out what savings you could make on your bills by switching to another energy supplier. (Guardian, 12 Jan 2002) Consumers Association, Which magazine site Switch with Which Britons borrow against their homes to the tune of £7bn British households have capitalised on soaring property prices and low interest rates to stack up a record debt against their homes, it emerged yesterday. (Guardian, 12 Jan 2002) America's most unwanted turn to the law High-risk prisoners in US supermax jails seek legal relief from the 'living tomb' The US "supermax" prison system, which is built on the twin pillars of prolonged solitary confinement and extreme conditions, was put on trial this week by the inmates of one of the country's toughest jails, the Ohio state penitentiary at Youngstown. (Guardian, 12 Jan 2002) The fact of the matter One doesn't, of course, believe everything one reads in the Mail newspapers, but a recent story in the Mail On Sunday (MoS) about the government's "secret" preparations to get the British people to accept the euro made Tony Blair look unbelievably devious. (Guardian, 12 Jan 2002) Futuristic schools but Victorian staffing Like something out of Star Trek, the classroom of the future glides at you, a vision of space and light with rows of quietly blinking computers topped by plasma screens. (BBC, 12 Jan 2002) Polish farmers on the bread line Family farms in Poland - and there are some two million of them - survived Russians, Germans and communists, but they may well fall into ruin in the hands of the generation to take them on next. (BBC, 12 Jan 2002) Greenpeace director resigns LORD MELCHETT, the environmental campaigner, has resigned from the board of Greenpeace International following controversy over his new job with a public relations firm. (Times, 12 Jan 2002) Byers tries to wreck Livingstone car charges STEPHEN BYERS has undermined Ken Livingstone’s plan to introduce a car toll in Central London by calling on the Mayor of London to hold a public inquiry before going ahead with his scheme. The Transport Secretary signalled a retreat from the Government’s policy of supporting congestion charges, which Mr Livingstone intends to pioneer with a £5 daily charge from February next year. (Times, 12 Jan 2002) Met swoops on minicabs A surprise five-hour swoop on illegal minicab operators ended with numerous arrests and cars being towed away. (Standard, 11 Jan 2002) Councils in need of a marketing makeover The public pays for local government, and councils are supposed to act in the interests of the citizen. Yet customer experience of local authorities ranks lower than any other section of the public and private sectors - even insurers. (Guardian, 11 Jan 2002) Namibia's Herero people claim reparations The Herero community of Namibia in south-west Africa has lodged a claim for two billion dollars in reparations for what their leaders allege were crimes committed against their people in the period between 1904 and 1907. (BBC, 11 Jan 2002) D Councils think again about stock options One third of councils are likely to think again about the future of their housing stock in response to the proposed new borrowing rules for arm's-length management organisations. (Inside Housing, 11 Jan 2002) Faltering Bush defends links with bankrupt energy giant PRESIDENT Bush was forced to defend his relationship with the bankrupt energy company Enron yesterday when Democrats pressed the White House for information on links between the Republican Administration and the failed business. (Times, 11 Jan 2002) World's biggest offshore windfarm to open The Irish government has given permission for the world's biggest off-shore wind-generated power plant. (Ananova, 11 Jan 2002) Prisoners from Afghanistan arrive at US naval base in Cuba A US Air Force plane carrying 20 prisoners from Afghanistan has touched down in Cuba. (Ananova, 11 Jan 2002) Scratches that trace the ascent of man MODERN man began to emerge as a deep thinker and an artist more than twice as long ago as was previously believed, new archaeological evidence has shown. Graphic (Times, 11 Jan 2002) Vauxhall Tower branded 'too ambitious' Last month the South London Press revealed how developers St George plan to construct the highest residential tower in the UK on derelict land at Vauxhall Cross. But while developers hope the impressive environmental benefits of the 49-storey, 590ft, eco-tower will swing public opinion, the CABE has raised doubts over whether it can be achieved. (South London Press, 11 Jan 2002) Britain 'suffers most cold weather deaths in Europe' More people die from cold weather in Britain than in any other European country, scientists say. (Ananova, 11 Jan 2002) Train punctuality substantially deteriorated since Labour came to power ... The Public Performance Measure shows that in 1997-98, 10.3% of all trains failed to arrive within 10 minutes of their timetabled arrival time at their final destination. In 1999-00, that had increased to 12.2%, but the latest results show the figure at 20.9%, meaning that more than one in five trains on Britain's rail network failed to arrive on time. (Ananova, 11 Jan 2002) Credit union members to be given more protection The City's watchdog has published new regulations which aim to offer more protection to members of credit unions. (Ananova, 10 Jan 2002) Q&A: Violence in north Belfast BBC News Online explains the background to the current violence in north Belfast. (BBC, 10 Jan 2002) Mobiles go clockwork A wind-up charger for mobile phones could make a big impact in developing countries where power supplies are often erratic. (BBC, 10 Jan 2002) 300 'commit most London street crime' Police are to launch an undercover operation against a hardcore of 300 London muggers. It is thought they are responsible for the majority of street crime in the city's boroughs. (Ananova, 10 Jan 2002) Benin's national voodoo festival draws thousands Ten thousand people gathered in Benin for prayers, sacrifices and libations marking the African country's National Voodoo Day. (Ananova, 10 Jan 2002) Mugabe given 'dictatorial powers' by parliament The Zimbabwean parliament has passed two controversial bills critics say give President Mugabe dictatorial powers in the run up to elections. (Ananova, 10 Jan 2002) Government launches cash inducements to cut car traffic The inhabitants of Liechtenstein are being bribed to leave their cars in their garages and use electric bicycles and scooters instead. (Ananova, 10 Jan 2002) Czech government decides to keep brewery in state hands The Czech government has decided to keep the Budejovicky Budvar brewery in state hands to protect its trademark. (Ananova, 10 Jan 2002) Shocking images on packets 'help smokers to quit' GRAPHIC colour pictures of lung tumours, diseased hearts and rotting teeth printed on cigarette packets help people to quit smoking, a study has found. (Telegraph, 10 Jan 2002) Powell orders watch on 'lawless country' COLIN POWELL, the US secretary of state, singled out Somalia yesterday as a "fertile ground" for terrorism that is likely to be a target during the next phase of America's war on terrorism. (Telegraph, 10 Jun 2002) Britain's railways 'worst in Europe' BRITAIN has the worst railways in Europe and making them better is an "intractable problem", the Government conceded last night. (Telegraph, 10 Jun 2002) 3m extra cars dent transport policy ALMOST three million more cars have come on to the roads since Labour gained power despite its pledge to reduce Britain’s dependence on them. Graphic: how cars have accelerated (Times, 10 Jan 2002) Police race error 'wasted millions' POLICE wasted millions of pounds in pursuing an Asian sergeant wrongly accused of sending racist mail to colleagues, an inquiry concluded yesterday. (Times, 10 Jan 2002) Classrooms of the future A vision of a UK school of the future making extensive use of computer technology and classroom assistants has been unveiled by the Education Secretary, Estelle Morris. (BBC, 9 Jan 2002) Parental leave rules extended Thousands more couples can benefit from 13 weeks' unpaid leave, from 10 January this year. (BBC, 9 Jan 2002) Call to allow planning appeals Environmental groups are calling for people to be given more rights to challenge controversial planning decisions. (BBC, 9 Jan 2002) Support grows for train passengers' day of action Support for a passengers' day of action to highlight problems in the rail industry is growing as commuters are hit by fresh delays - despite the end of the latest train strike. (Ananova, 9 Jan 2002) Wrongly-sacked Asian policeman 'was victim of racism' An inquiry has concluded an Asian police sergeant wrongly sacked after being accused of sending racist hate mail was himself a victim of racism. (Ananova, 9 Jan 2002) 50 Muslim nations demand UN investigate Afghanistan 'massacre' Representatives of more than 50 Islamic countries have asked the UN to investigate the deaths of hundreds of foreign captives in Afghanistan. (Ananova, 9 Jan 2002) A state of war The dispute over Kashmir has brought India and Pakistan to the brink of nuclear war. But why has this beautiful state become the subcontinent's powder keg? (Times, 9 Jan 2002) Good neighbours, good friends? A Tory frontbencher has set out his vision for a more neighbourly society, in a bid to cut crime. But is this just an Australian soap opera-style fantasy. (BBC, 9 Jan 2002) Letwin sees 'neighbourly society' as the way to beat crime An attempt was launched last night by the shadow home secretary, Oliver Letwin, to shift Conservative crime policy away from the punitive "prison works" approach of his predecessors to what he called the need to "restore the neighbourly society". (Guardian, 9 Jan 2002) Councillors 'took £200,000 bribe' to approve plans A DEBT-RIDDEN property speculator bribed two senior Labour councillors with nearly £200,000 to build houses in an area of countryside where all development should have been banned, a court was told yesterday. (Times, 9 Jan 2002) Militant farmers reject Tesco offer ... Farmers For Action has warned the supermarket chain there could be the biggest mass action since the fuel protests of September 2000 unless it agreed to high level talks. (Ananova, 8 Jan 2002) 1,300 enemy men killed by handful of Green Berets AN American special forces team was credited yesterday with the deaths of 1,300 Taliban and al-Qa'eda fighters and the destruction of more than 50 tanks and other pieces of heavy weaponry. (Telegraph, 8 Jan 2002) Shock as ex-Greenpeace head takes up PR post Lord Melchett, the former head of Greenpeace UK who was arrested two years ago after leading an attack on a genetically modified crop, startled former colleagues yesterday by announcing he had taken a job at a PR company which has represented Monsanto and the European biotech industry. (Guardian, 8 Jan 2002) 'Largest ever' increase in private finance The level of lending to housing associations is at record levels but the bulk of private finance is still provided by just a handful of banks, new research has found. A private finance bulletin for the year ending March 2001, by the National Housing Federation and the Housing Corporation, puts the value of lending at £23.2 billion. But just five lenders have provided over half the total finance. Nationwide remains the biggest lender with £3.36 billion invested in the sector while a further eight institutions each have made loans totalling over £500 million. (Inside Housing, 8 Jan 2002) Starving Afghans forced to eat grass Up to ten thousand Afghans on the brink of starvation have been reduced to eating grass to survive. (Ananova, 8 Jan 2002) Leading Tory wants 'neighbourly society' to combat crime The Shadow Home Secretary admits that recruiting more police is not necessarily the answer to rising crime levels. (Ananova, 8 Jan 2002) Chinese co takes 30% stake in Azeri onshore oilfield consortium China's National Oil and Gas Co has acquired an stake of over 30% in a consortium developing two onshore oilfields in Azerbaijan, the Turan news agency reported. (Ananova, 8 Jan 2002) Manufacturing jobs 'vanishing at rate of one a minute' A new report claims a UK manufacturing job was lost every working minute of the day during 2001. (Ananova, 8 Jan 2002) Fridge mountain dumped on farmland A farmer with a 'fridge mountain' on his land says new EU rules make it difficult for him to dispose of them. (Ananova, 8 Jan 2002) Asylum seekers undaunted by harsh picture of Britain A £140,000 scheme aimed at dissuading asylum seekers from coming to Britain only convinced 17 to turn back. (Ananova, 8 Jan 2002) Visitor numbers double at free museums Visitor numbers at Britain's national museums have doubled overall since free admission was introduced last month. (Ananova, 8 Jan 2002) Sweden Moves to End Landfilling Household Waste Swedish municipalities are preparing for a massive boost in capacity for biological processing of household waste following entry into force on January 1 of a ban on landfilling of combustible wastes. (Environmental News Service, 7 Jan 2002) Marian and me When Michael Moore's publisher insisted he rewrite his new book to be less critical of President Bush, it took an outraged librarian to get it back in the stores. (Salon.com, 7 Jan 2002) The Day Ashcroft Censored Freedom of Information THE PRESIDENT DIDN't ask the networks for television time. The attorney general didn't hold a press conference. The media didn't report any dramatic change in governmental policy. As a result, most Americans had no idea that one of their most precious freedoms disappeared on Oct. 12. (San Francisco Chronicle, 7 Jan 2002 - via Common Dreams) Serious crime by the young doubles in 7 years THE number of young people committing serious crimes, including murder and grievous bodily harm, has almost doubled in seven years. (Telegraph, 6 Jan 2002) Come to the slums - it's an offer Rio's tourists can't resist THEY appear on no maps, are controlled by drugs barons, and have long been regarded as an embarrassing eyesore. (Telegraph, 6 Jan 2002) MPs rush to join the homes-for-rent club IF you want a holiday cottage, a city flat or a place to stay in America, pop in to your local constituency office. MPs may no longer be available for hire in the post-cash-for-questions era, but their properties are. (Sunday Times, 6 Jan 2002) Child curfews were just spin A high-profile government attempt to crack down on juvenile crime by imposing night-time curfews on children is in disarray. The Home Office admitted last night that in the three years the legislation has been in place, not a single curfew has ever been implemented. (Independent, 6 Jan 2002) Museums full of modern junk, says top curator Britain has too many museums and is obsessed with preserving "trivial" objects in the mistaken belief that they are of cultural value, according to a leading Oxford academic. (Independent, 6 Jan 2002) It’s British history, but not as any of us remember it How was the 20th century for you? As I remember it, we won two world wars, created a welfare state, never had it so good, said goodbye to communism and reinvented ourselves as a more liberal society that still packs a punch above its weight. (Sunday Times, 6 Jan 2002) Britons saddled with record debts Britons have saddled themselves with a record level of debt, the Bank of England revealed yesterday. (Independent, 5 Jan 2002) Britain's corner shops dying out The Asian corner shop is dying out across Britain, research reveals. (Ananova, 4 Jan 2002) Chat show techniques replace traditional learning Techniques from TV chat and game shows are to be used in an attempt to make learning more palatable. (Ananova, 4 Jan 2002) Villagers risk their lives in rush to rebuild ... Mr Jamil is one of 1,200 Afghans employed by the Halo Trust, a British charity which has cleared mines in Afghanistan since 1988. Estimates of the number of mines in the country range from 300,000 to 10m. (Guardian, 4 Jan 2002) Sex talk 'reduces teen pregnancy rate' Teenage pregnancy in Britain will remain far above European levels because sex is regarded as "dirty" by too many parents and schools. (Guardian, 4 Jan 2002) £70,000 payoff to close post offices POST OFFICES are to be offered up to £70,000 to close in an effort to streamline the struggling network. The Government is seeking European approval to offer sub-postmasters in towns and cities lucrative compensation packages in exchange for giving up their right to offer post office services. (Times, 4 Jan 2002) School run children would prefer to walk EIGHT out of ten children who are driven to school by their parents would prefer to walk, according to new research. (Times, 4 Jan 2002) Group criticises police face recognition technology after trials US civil liberties campaigners are claiming police trials show face recognition technology is flawed. (Ananova, 4 Jan 2002) Mugabe prepares to dole out white farmland Robert Mugabe has drawn up a list of loyal Zimbabweans, to be given land owned by white farmers. (Ananova, 4 Jan 2002) Study reveals BME neglect Housing associations are continuing to fail to represent tenants from ethnic minorities, despite increasing pressure to perform on race. (Inside Housing, 4 Jan 2002) Face recognition technology a proven farce Crowd surveillance kit using face recognition technology by Visionics has been a comic failure in tests by the Tampa, Florida police, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has discovered. (Register, 4 Jan 2002) Housing Corporation Report (pdf) Sector Study 11: Black and minority ethnic communities: key data Poorest Thai villagers turn down government loan Thailand's poorest village has turned down a government loan because it doesn't want to get into debt. Villagers from Ban Kok in Nan province say they are not familiar with the concept of borrowing. The average wage in the village is £7 a year. (Ananova, 3 Jan 2002) Police to test stink bombs and noise machines Laser guns to dazzle criminals and a noise machine that calms or frightens rowdy demonstrators are among the new weapons being considered for use by the police. (Independent, 3 Jan 2002) DTaste and not ethics sees coffee renamed A fair trade coffee supplier is changing the name of its instant coffee brand because research showed customers were more concerned with taste than helping Third World producers. (Independent, 3 Jan 2002) Low-paid workers deprived of four-week holiday right Low-paid workers are having problems enforcing their right to take four weeks' paid holiday, a report has revealed. (Ananova, 3 Jan 2002) Police fear crime explosion as school-age muggers graduate to guns THE shooting of a young student in a street robbery illustrates the growing willingness of today's muggers to use guns. ... The victims in Trident shootings tend to be split 50-50 between British-born black men and Jamaican nationals and by far the heaviest incidence of muggings is in Lambeth. (Telegraph, 3 Jan 2002) GMB union to axe £2m for Labour Party ONE of Labour's biggest union backers is to cut its donations to the party by £2 million over four years, it said yesterday. The GMB will use the money to fund its campaign against privatisation of public services. (Telegraph, 3 Jan 2002) Freedom of information must be more than just a phrase for ministers The hypocrisy of this Government is sometimes breathtaking, not least because it tries so hard to persuade us that it is full of good intentions. (Independent, 3 Jan 2002) Ombudsman accuses Government of secrecy The official watchdog on freedom of information has accused the Government of becoming more secretive despite its repeated public pledges to bring in more openness. (Independent, 3 Jan 2002) SNP defends right to home education THE SNP defended the right of parents to offer a home education yesterday after it emerged that the Scottish Executive was planning to track down more than 5,000 children not attending schools. (Times, 3 Jan 2002) Britain planned to divide Afghanistan AFGHANISTAN was threatened with extinction in the 1950s in a secret British plan to divide up its territory between Russia and Pakistan. (Times, 3 Jan 2002) Afghanistan's civilian deaths mount The number of Afghan civilians killed by US bombs has surpassed the death toll of the 11 September attacks, according to a study by an American academic. (BBC, 3 Jan 2002) 'Weaknesses' in dental treatment complaints procedure Serious "weaknesses" in the complaints procedure for dental treatment are being highlighted in a survey by Which? (Ananova, 3 Jan 2002) Golden handshakes 'for record number of executives' ... Fourteen executives were paid sums ranging from just over £1 million to £9 million. (Ananova, 3 Jan 2002) Jurors offered 'virtual tour' of courtroom Jurors can now take a "virtual tour" of a courtroom to prepare themselves for their stint in the jury box. The virtual tour is at www.cjsonline.org. (Ananova, 2 Jan 2002) Civilian death toll is not big news More than 100 civilians were killed in a small village, Qalaye Naizi, in eastern Afghanistan by bombs dropped from US aircraft on Sunday. (Irish Times, 2 Jan 2001) Heroin boom fears as Afghan poppy fields return Afghan farmers have begun growing poppies again sparking fears of a boom in the international heroin trade. ... The trade was almost eradicated by the Taliban which banned poppy growing last year. (Ananova, 2 Jan 2002) Raising a 'middle class' child in London 'costs £317,587' ... It works out as an average of £15,136 every year for the first 21 years, or £291 every week. (Ananova, 2 Jan 2002) Which? advises on switching from British Gas A consumer magazine has launched a website advising people how to switch from British Gas. The supplier is introducing new price increases. (Ananova, 2 Jan 2002) Census goes online The complete 1901 census for England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man is going online. (Ananova, 1 Jan 2002) Census site http://www.census.pro.gov.uk/. Housing benefit changed 90 times under Labour Labour has changed the rules governing the £12bn-a-year housing benefit scheme at least 90 times since it took office in 1997 - forcing Whitehall to issue an average of one new circular a week to councils in order to explain the amendments. (Guardian, 1 Jan 2002) Safety fears shut oldest nuclear plant Calder Hall in Cumbria, the world's oldest nuclear power station, which was opened by the Queen in 1956 to herald the start of the atomic age, has closed because of safety fears. It will probably never be reopened. (Guardian, 1 Jan 2002) Take on the Government and win Yes, we are going to build the dam, boomed an official at Turkey’s giant energy department in March 2000. I had gone to Turkey to write a story on the Ilisu Dam project, which would displace tens of thousands of Kurds in the south east and drown the ancient and beautiful town of Hasenkeyf on the Tigris River. (Times, 1 Jan 2002) Willetts goes slumming it for new policy on poverty DAVID WILLETTS, the Shadow Social Security Secretary, is to stay overnight on some of Britain’s worst sink estates. (Times, 1 Jan 2002) Immigrant laws were planned as hurdle for blacks IMMIGRATION legislation was devised to make it harder for black and Asian immigrants to settle in Britain. (Times, 1 Jan 2002) Privacy fears over school census A large amount of personal data about individual pupils in England is about to be collected by central government. (BBC, 1 Jan 2002) |
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updated:
29 Dec
2004