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Hoodlums Vandalise Oil Pipelines in Warri Some unknown elements in the Niger-Delta areas who specialise in vandalising oil pipelines have struck again in Warri, Delta State, thereby causing a massive spillage. The destruction of the pipeline has also affected the operations of the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), in the city. (This Day via allafrica.com, 28 Feb 2003) Call to end hospital mobile ban The ban was introduced because of fears phones could interfere with equipment. (BBC, 28 Feb 2003) Russians 'pay out a tenth of their salary in bribes' Russians reportedly pay out more than 19 billion pounds a year in bribes, with the average person paying almost a tenth of their wages in bribes. (Ananova, 28 Feb 2003) 100,000 asylum seekers arrived in UK last year The number of refugees arriving in Britain topped 100,000 in 2002. But the Prime Minister's promise to halve the number of asylum applicants by September is "realistic", David Blunkett says. (Ananova, 28 Feb 2003) Oprah becomes first female black billionaire ... Bill Gates leads the Forbes magazine rich list for the ninth straight year, but the Microsoft co-founder's net worth fell 23% from a year ago to $40.7 billion (£27 billion). (Ananova, 28 Feb 2003) Cuba Seizes U.S. Mission's Book Shipment Works by Martin Luther King Jr., John Steinbeck and Groucho Marx were among 5,101 books seized by Cuban authorities after being shipped in by the U.S. government, America's top diplomat in Havana said Thursday. (Guardian, 27 Feb 2003) 'Secret of life' discovery turns 50 Fifty years ago, on 28 February 1953, Francis Crick walked into the Eagle pub in Cambridge, UK, and announced something for which he would later share a Nobel Prize. (BBC, 27 Feb 2003) US fines veteran cyclist £5,000 for taking holiday in Cuba Joan Slote, who went on a cycling holiday to Cuba, was fined nearly $8,000 (£5,000) for breaking the US embargo of the island. Her case is one of a growing number in which the US treasury department is actively pursuing Americans who have visited the island or who are suspected of encouraging others to do so. (Guardian, 26 Feb 2003) Afghanistan Still Big Opium Producer Afghanistan remains the world's largest producer of opium poppy despite efforts by the war-battered country to stop trade and cultivation of the crop that is used to make heroin, the U.N. drug agency said Monday in a new report. (Guardian, 26 Feb 2003) UN Says World Using More Drugs, Growing More Heroin The use of synthetic drugs like ecstasy is booming among the party-goers of the rich world, the United Nations said Wednesday. The U.N. International Narcotics Control Board also said Afghanistan was back as top producer of opium used for heroin, making some 3,500 tons in 2002, 100 tons more than in 2001. (ABC News, 26 Feb 2003) Britain needs to face up to slavery past Bristol may have overtaken London in the early 1700s as the country's prime slave port, but London never left the trade (the South Sea company was set up to trade slaves), and Bristol was later superseded in its dominance by Liverpool - another city bidding for capital of culture status and one that Dr Hunt omits from his article. (Guardian Reader's Letter, 26 Feb 2003) Built with blood money The city of Bristol is currently competing to be Britain's nominee as the 2008 European capital of culture. With an impressive campaign that has already secured it a place on the shortlist, Bristol has stressed its world-famous wildlife film-making, contemporary arts community, Oscar-winning animation industry and vibrant theatre scene. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the bid has not so far stressed the city's dirty history of slavery. (Guardian, 25 Feb 2003) Push for on-job learning Ministers are appealing to more employers to offer Modern Apprenticeship vocational qualifications to young people. Announcing the new drive, the Chancellor, Gordon Brown, described skills as "Britain's Achilles heel" - critical to the success of individuals and the nation's economy. (BBC, 25 Feb 2003) How the news will be censored in this war ... A new CNN system of "script approval" – the iniquitous instruction to reporters that they have to send all their copy to anonymous officials in Atlanta to ensure it is suitably sanitised – suggests that the Pentagon and the Department of State have nothing to worry about. (Independent, 25 Feb 2003) Trust in community schemes Citizenship emphasises the practical benefits of grassroots corporate and social responsibility. "Our prime motivation for being good citizens is one of self-interest," says Dr Mary Harris, head of the National Grid Transco Foundation and a key speaker at the Partners In Citizenship conference, being held today at the British Library. (Independent, 25 Feb 2003) Earthquake kills 257 in China Rescue workers and relatives dug through the rubble of homes and schools in western China today, after a powerful earthquake left at least 257 people and more than 1,000 injured. (Guardian, 24 Feb 2003) Conflict and catchphrases Faced with obstruction from the French and Germans, ransom demands from the Turks, and opposition from millions of demonstrators around the world, the desired invasion of Iraq has fallen behind schedule. (Guardian, 24 Feb 2003) Q&A: regional government The government has unveiled its white paper on regional assemblies for England. We look at what the plans would mean. (Guardian, 24 Feb 2003) Why aren't we taking our time? For much of this century, the ingenuity of technological development has extended a tantalising possibility. We have been told, again and again, that automation would liberate us from the tyranny of work. We have been promised a golden era of leisure. And yet it has never happened. In fact, in the last 15 years, we've seen the exact opposite. (Guardian, 24 Feb 2003) Blair accused of energy 'greenwash' Tony Blair was accused of attempting a "greenwash" of the government's environmental record today, as he launched a white paper on energy provision. (Guardian, 24 Feb 2003) At a glance: the energy white paper · Cut carbon dioxide emission by 60% by 2050 · £350m investment in renewable energy · "Aspiration" for 10% of energy to be renewable by 2010, and double that by 2020 · No new nuclear power stations - but a review of policy in 2005 · Bring forward to 2005 the next revision of building regulations to raise standards for energy efficiency in new buildings and refurbishments (Guardian, 24 Feb 2003) Our energy future - creating a low carbon economy The clampdown on asylum seekers echoes attempts to control domestic migrants in the past The debate over asylum seekers, refugees and economic migrants in Britain rouses ghostly echoes of our own past. This seems to confirm what many critics of globalisation have suggested: that what we are now seeing is a replay, on a world scale, of efforts to control the movement of people that took place within Britain in the 17th and 18th centuries. Such efforts were finally abandoned only when it became clear that industrialisation was unstoppable and the free movement of labour indispensable to prosperity and development. (Guardian, 24 Feb 2003) Co-op's billion-pound bid to join top travel firms The Co-op today announced plans to create a £1.1 billion buying and marketing group at the heart of its travel business, designed to promote it into travel retailing's top flight. (Ananova, 24 Feb 2003) War a pretext to dominate world, claims Mahathir Western leaders were accused by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad of being callous killers using the war on terrorism and Iraq as a pretext to dominate the world, as the 116-nation Non-Aligned Movement summit opened in Malaysia today. (Sydney Morning Herald, 24 Feb 2003) Questions About Google Acquisition Google's recent purchase of Pyra Labs, creators of the Blogger service for publishing the online soapboxes known as Weblogs, was a happy ending for a much-loved startup that at times seemed on the edge of collapse. (New York Times, 24 Feb 2003) Namibia targets land owned by white farmers The Government of Namibia has taken the first step towards a Mugabe-style seizure of land owned by white farmers. (Independent, 24 Feb 2003) Iranian women burn to death in protest Five young Iranian women from villages near the southern city of Shiraz burnt themselves to death last week because their families refused to let them go out to work. (Telegraph, 24 Feb 2003) Snoopers' charter is 'heavy-handed' ... Tony Holland, chairman of the Standards Board for England, which applies the new code of conduct, criticised MPs of both parties for botching the Act that brought it into being. (Telegraph, 24 Feb 2003) Eight die in Gaza fighting Eight Palestinians died and 28 others were wounded as Israel's military offensive against Islamic militants in the Gaza Strip intensified. (Ananova, 23 Feb 2003) Scots medics go unwillingly to war AN ARMY publicity stunt turned into a public relations disaster yesterday when reservists leaving for the Gulf condemned the war against Iraq. (Scotland on Sunday, 23 Feb 2003) Prison move gives new hope to Afghan captives The US military will soon open a new medium-security detention centre for prisoners from the war on terror in Afghanistan, a move that could lead to the eventual repatriation of many of the 650 captives held at the US Naval Base on Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. (The Age, 22 Feb 2003) Capita expects congestion charge to boost fortunes CAPITA, the support services group behind London’s congestion charge, expects revenues from its transport sector to double this year as other cities catch on to its congestion charging scheme. (Times, 21 Feb 2003) Complaints grow over school tests As the school test season approaches there are fresh rumblings of discontent about the stress on children. (BBC, 21 Feb 2003) Government wins net villain award The awards - the net industry's equivalent of the Brits - recognise the work of internet service providers and related organisations. (BBC, 21 Feb 2003) EU medical card 'by 2004' European Union officials have announced plans to introduce the electronic health card in June 2004. The card will replace a variety of forms, such as the E111 form, which entitles holders to free emergency treatment in other member states. (BBC, 21 Feb 2003) Senegal counts 1,863 ferry victims, one by one ... The sea took Francoise, 20, late one Thursday night in September when the Joola, a boat ferrying three times as many passengers as allowed, capsized into the Atlantic. By the government's last count, released this month, 1,863 people died as the Joola was en route to the capital, Dakar, putting the sinking among the worst maritime disasters ever. (International Herald Tribune, 21 Feb 2003) Zambia's ex-leader 'stole millions' The former president of Zambia Frederick Chiluba was escorted to a police station and questioned by anti-corruption officers yesterday over claims that he looted millions of pounds - possibly hundreds of millions - from state coffers. (Guardian, 21 Feb 2003) A century of ownership of Guantanamo Bay It will never compete with those Caribbean Edens just a few leagues across the deep, blue waters, where they serve drinks with tiny parasols and well-heeled tourists stroll along the white sand beaches. (Knoxville News Sentinel, 20 Feb 2003) Language study 'just for the elite' A quarter of all Britain's students studying for foreign language degrees are concentrated at only five universities as specialist learning at sixth form and in higher education becomes ever more elite, a report warned last night. (Guardian, 20 Feb 2003) A revolution for revolt This weekend's anti-war demonstration was almost certainly the largest coordinated political protest the world has seen. Events began in Melbourne, Australia, and then erupted in hundreds of cities across the world like a global Mexican wave before ending in San Francisco 48 hours later. (Guardian, 20 Feb 2003) Elderly missing out in online revolution Older people are being left behind in the government's drive to deliver public services over the internet, parliament's spending watchdog warned today. (Guardian, 20 Feb 2003) Blunkett to fight asylum ruling The home secretary, David Blunkett, last night made clear his irritation at yesterday's high court ruling that torpedoed a key part of the government's package designed to halve the number of asylum seekers coming to Britain by September. Refugee groups hailed as "a victory for human decency" the ruling by Mr Justice Collins that it was illegal to deny welfare support to asylum seekers who make "late claims" for refugee status. (Guardian, 20 Feb 2003) An empire living on credit George Monbiot argues that the US suffers from a surplus of capital (Comment, Too much of a good thing, February 18). He does not define the phrase, but I suspect that it includes both US savings and credit. But credit is not capital. (Guardian, 20 Feb 2003) Sex may not be behind Africa's Aids problem Poor medical practice may be to blame for the spread of Aids through Africa. (Ananova, 20 Feb 2003) UN Tribunal Convicts Pastor And Doctor of Aiding And Abetting in Rwanda Genocide The United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda today unanimously convicted a father and son of genocide and of crimes against humanity for participating in killings and attacks against a large number of Tutsi men, women and children who had sought refuge in a church and in the Bisesero area. Gérard Ntakirutimana, 45, a medical doctor practicing at the Mugonero Adventist hospital was sentenced to 25 years in prison while his father, Elizaphan Ntakirutimana, 78, a senior pastor of the Seventh Day Adventist church in the same area, was given a 10-year prison term by the three-judge court. (UN via allafrica.com, 19 Feb 2003) Key changes to licensing bill The Department of Culture today tried to stave off criticism of its proposed licensing bill by inviting musicians to help draw up guidelines for its implementation. (Guardian, 18 Feb 2003) One Nation Under Wal-Mart How retailing's superpower--and our biggest Most Admired company--is changing the rules for corporate America. (Fortune, 18 Feb 2003) Too much of a good thing Underlying the US drive to war is a thirst to open up new opportunities for surplus capital. (Guardian, 18 Feb 2003) Richard Feachem, UN Global Fund chief Much of the hope of Malawi and the rest of impoverished sub-Saharan Africa - for now the portion of the globe suffering under the heaviest burden of death and misery from Aids - is vested in a middle-aged former academic whose polite British formality sits curiously over a passion to save lives. (Guardian, 18 Feb 2003) Powerful pairing Not a lot of people know about "blogging" - apart from the hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts all over the world who use their blogs (online diaries) to exchange instant views about current events, online activities, breaking news stories and a host of other things. (Guardian, 18 Feb 2003) Negative equity There were warnings this week that house prices might drop by more than a third over the next three years. As a result, an estimated 500,000 people could be plunged into negative equity. So does this mean a return to the nightmare of the 1980s? (Guardian, 18 Feb 2003) 'Gays and immigrants' are secrets of a thriving city An urban development in the US says the secret of a thriving city is having large gay and immigrant populations. (Ananova, 18 Feb 2003) Child offenders 'should not be in Holloway' Girls should be removed from Britain's most infamous women's jail, says the Government's prison watchdog. (Ananova, 18 Feb 2003) Infineon Panther Electric Bicycle What with congestion charges and traffic jams, electric bikes are winning appeal. (Times, 18 Feb 2003) D'Hitlerisation' is damaging pupils' historical knowledge History lessons for secondary pupils are now dominated by the study of Adolf Hitler and the Second World War, the Government's school inspectors have found. (Independent, 17 Feb 2003) Africa's tragedy Robert Mugabe is smiling this week. Despite all the furore over the England cricket team's World Cup boycott, despite the courage of Andy Flower and Henry Olonga wearing black armbands, and despite the millions starving in his country, it has been a good week for for the Zimbabwean president. A very good week indeed. (Observer, 16 Feb 2003) 'One million' protest in London More than one million people staged an anti-war protest in London today, making it the UK's largest ever peace demonstration, organisers claimed. (Ananova, 15 Feb 2003) Hearst gang jailed for 70s robbery Four former members of the radical group that kidnapped newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst have been jailed for a deadly 1975 bank robbery. (Ananova, 15 Feb 2003) Lordly gesture still leaves the commoners adrift The scandal of the Lord Chancellor's £2 million pension led to Britain's highest judge making an embarrassing about-turn last Saturday and an ugly row in the Commons on Monday. (Telegraph, 15 Feb 2003) Murdoch tightens grip at BSkyB Rupert Murdoch yesterday strengthened his family's position at BSkyB with the appointment of his son James to the board of the pay-TV operator. (Telegraph, 15 Feb 2003) Artificial light linked to breast cancer Researchers at a science conference in the US have produced more evidence to show how night-time activity may increase the incidence of breast cancer. (BBC, 15 Feb 2003) Human race is killing planet, says Meacher Michael Meacher, the environment minister, believes there is a real question mark over the survival of the human race, and in a lecture today compares the species to a virus which is in danger of destroying the planet. (Guardian, 14 Feb 2003) DCensus reveals the changing face of Britain Britain's slow emergence as a "rainbow nation" was vividly described yesterday as findings from the 2001 census showed parts of London have a non-white majority for the first time. (Independent, 14 Feb 2003) Black Britons find their African roots Beaula McCalla, a youth worker from the UK town of Bristol, never imagined that she would one day meet her relatives in Equatorial Guinea, 6,500 km away. (BBC, 14 Feb 2003) 60,000 Centres for National ID Card Exercise A total of 60,000 centres nationwide have been designated for the National Identity Card registration exercise, scheduled to begin on February 18. Minister of State for Internal Affairs, Elder Odion Ugbesia, told newsmen in Ibadan yesterday, that the centres would register the targeted 60 million Nigerians aged between 18 years and above during the two weeks registration period. (This Day via allafrica.com, 13 Feb 2003) Tough sentences add £100m to legal aid bill The Government's tough stance on crime and anti-social behaviour cost the taxpayer an extra £100m in legal aid last year as thousands more offenders faced imprisonment. (Independent, 13 Feb 2003) Woman, 88, dies after 'trauma' of being moved A woman of 88 who was moved to a cheaper nursing home after eight years because social services said it could not afford a rise in fees has died five days after her transfer.. The family of Violet Townsend, who was moved last week, said the trauma made her lose the will to live. (Telegraph, 13 Feb 2003) Moratorium called on nuclear power stations No more nuclear power stations will be built in Britain in the foreseeable future, the Government will announce. (Independent, 13 Feb 2003) Britain faces drought and floods by the 22nd century Britain's climate will heat faster in the next 100 years than at any time since the end of the Ice Age, with droughts in summer and floods in winter becoming more common in the south and east, the Government warned yesterday. (Independent, 12 Feb 2003) Mugabe signs land deal with Chinese to tackle food crisis Robert Mugabe, the President of Zimbabwe, has awarded a contract to grow food crops on more than 100,000 hectares to a Chinese company in an imaginative attempt to avert the IMF driven farming crisis. (Independent, 12 Feb 2003) No Funding for Train Disaster Victims SOME relatives of the 50 passengers killed in the Dete train disaster in which 64 others were seriously injured, about two weeks ago, allege that the government has reneged on its promise to offer them assistance. Ten families visited by The Daily News in Bulawayo said they had so far buried their relatives with assistance only from the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ). (Daily News via allafrica.com, 12 Feb 2003) How can I manage my debt Debt is a fact of life for many people but there are ways you can avoid getting into problems and escape them if you are struggling with repayments. (BBC, 12 Feb 2003) Drugs giant accused of bribing doctors Italian police have charged 72 doctors and employees of GlaxoSmithKline following a bribery investigation involving millions of pounds in gifts and cash. (Ananova, 12 Feb 2003) Olango, Flower abandon hotel TOP Zimbabwe cricketers, Henry Olonga and Andy Flower, have checked out of the national team hotel in Harare for security reasons. (Daily News via allafrica.com, 12 Feb 2003) Zimbabwe protest duo win praise Zimbabwe pressure group Organised Resistance has hailed Henry Olonga and Andy Flower after the pair's protest against Robert Mugabe's regime during the World Cup clash with Namibia. (Ananova, 11 Feb 2003) Mapfumo Has No Sympathy for Fallen Partisan Musicians CHIMURENGA music exponent, Dr Thomas Mapfumo, a fierce critic of President Mugabe's policies, says he has no sympathy for musicians who have destroyed their careers for "cheap political gain". (Daily News, 11 Feb 2003) A Broadband Hookup in Every Home Has a fast Net connection become as essential a modern utility as electricity and running water? The state of Kentucky thinks so. Taking an aggressive stance on the issue of the digital divide, the Kentucky Housing Corporation, or KHC, has listed broadband Internet access among the inalienable rights of its low-income housing residents. (Wired.com, 11 Feb 2003) Mugabe Bowled Out AS Zimbabwe opened its games in the Cricket World Cup in Harare yesterday, two of its leading cricketers launched a blistering attack on the government's appalling human rights record and its lack of commitment to democracy. (Daily News via allafrica.com, 10 Feb 2003) Asylum rights evaporate Ruud Lubbers, United Nation high commissioner for refugees, meets Tony Blair in Downing Street today to discuss much needed reforms to the international system. But before expanding on the UK's long-term plans (leaked to the Guardian last week) the prime minister has a more urgent task: clarifying the confusion which new short-term objectives, set out last Friday, have caused. (Guardian, 10 Feb 2003) Forget about the Gulf Stream: Britain is really kept warm in winter by the Rocky Mountains Generations of schoolchildren have been raised on the belief that the mild British winters and cool summers are due to the moderating influence of the Gulf Stream, a warm ocean current flowing from the Gulf of Mexico to the shores of western Europe. (Independent, 10 Feb 2003) SRA 'forcing freight from rail to lorries' Millions of tonnes of freight could be switched to Britain's congested roads as a result of the strategic rail authority's decision to halt some of its grants, the government is being warned. (Guardian, 10 Feb 2003) Inmate escapes prison ship Police are continuing to hunt a prisoner who escaped from a prison ship based on the Dorset coast. The man - the first prisoner to escape from the floating jail HMP Weare - has been named as 28-year-old David Beech from the Guildford area. (BBC, 10 Feb 2003) 'IRA-inspired' car bomb kills 25 at exclusive Bogota club A car bomb that ripped through an exclusive club in Colombia's capital on Friday night, killing at least 25 people and injuring over 150, has raised fears that left-wing rebels are making good on their threats to attack the country's ruling class. (Independent, 9 Feb 2003) MI6 and CIA: the new enemy within Tony Blair and George Bush are encountering an unexpected obstacle in their campaign for war against Iraq – their own intelligence agencies. Britain and America's spies believe that they are being politicised: that the intelligence they provide is being selectively applied to lead to the opposite conclusion from the one they have drawn, which is that Iraq is much less of a threat than their political masters claim. (Independent, 9 Feb 2003) Sounding off: David Hewson: Is the danger of chat rooms grossly overstated? Parents have always worried about strangers wandering off with their children — take a look at the stories of cannibalism, abduction and murder in any book of fairy tales if you think the present anxiety about online “grooming” is new. (Times, 9 Feb 2003) Freedom Evolves by Daniel C Dennett If natural selection had been discovered in India, China or Japan, it is hard to imagine it making much of a stir. Darwin's discovery signalled a major advance in human knowledge, but its cultural impact came from the fact that it was made in a milieu permeated by the Judaeo-Christian belief in human uniqueness. If – along with hundreds of millions of Hindus and Buddhists – you have never believed that humans differ from everything else in the natural world in having an immortal soul, you will find it hard to get worked up by a theory that shows how much we have in common with other animals. (Independent book review, 8 Feb 2003) In Foreign Parts: Magic of Mayi Mayi proves a potent force for Congo's warriors Inside a church nestling among the hills of eastern Congo, a venerable warrior gives a rare audience. He is talking about politics, war and why he is invincible to gunfire. (Independent, 8 Feb 2003) Sony attacked for glamorising gun crime to sell 'seamy' computer game Sony was accused by the Culture Minister Kim Howells last night of attempting to profit from Britain's growing problem of gun crime through a cynical advertising strategy targeted at fans of rap music and glorifying gun violence. (Independent, 8 Feb 2003) DRudd lays into 'absolutely barmy' Higgs reforms Sir Nigel Rudd, one of Britain's leading industrialists, yesterday became the first influential figure to voice growing concerns in the Square Mile that the Derek Higgs review of company boardrooms could seriously harm the City. (Independent, 8 Feb 2003) DWWF ditches oil company shares in ethical move The environmental reputation of BP suffered a blow yesterday when the UK branch of the World Wide Fund for Nature announced it was selling its shares in the oil company. (Independent, 8 Feb 2003) Train blunder costs taxpayer £100m The taxpayer is facing a bill of up to £100m after it emerged that scores of new trains will not be able to enter service because of a shortage of power on the rail network in southern England. (Independent, 7 Feb 2003) Lord Irvine gets £22,000 pay rise The Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine of Lairg, has been awarded a £22,000 pay rise. The 12.6% increase is more than four times the inflation rate, and means his annual pay will go up by £22,691 to £202,736 from April 1. (Ananova, 7 Feb 2003) Bush backs hydrogen as fuel source President Bush set out some of his energy policy yesterday, risking new rows with environmentalists who contend he is too close to the oil industry. (Telegraph, 7 Feb 2003) Internet access hits the wall Half the UK population remains offline, according to the latest research from telecoms watchdog Oftel. (BBC, 7 Feb 2003) Consumers 'fear deal' at Safeway The National Consumer Council yesterday warned that a takeover of Safeway could pose a "real threat to shoppers", and said an inquiry by the Competition Commission was essential to safeguard consumers. (Telegraph, 6 Feb 2003) Alien species 'cost Africa billions' Plants and animals introduced from other continents are placing a huge burden on Africa, conservationists say. (BBC, 5 Feb 2003) Gene science helps black Britons trace African roots Black Britons whose families came from the Caribbean have been able for the first time to trace their African roots using a genetic analysis that has also revealed the extent of sexual contact between white men and their female slaves. (Independent, 5 Feb 2003) 26% of UK black men 'have white ancestors' Around one in four black British men have white ancestors according to research using genetic analysis. The research, carried out for a BBC2 documentary Motherland, allows black Britons whose families come from the Caribbean to trace their African roots. (Guardian, 5 Feb 2003) Prescott makes promise of 200,000 homes, but maintains green belt will be safeguarded Ambitious plans to solve the doubled-edged housing crisis of unaffordable homes in the South and unwanted homes in the North were unveiled yesterday by John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister. (Independent, 5 Feb 2003) £500m for housing blackspots ... It is a key part of the Government's programme to create sustainable communities and meet the demand for low cost housing. (Ananova, 5 Feb 2003) Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Sustainable communities: building for the future. Safe havens plan to slash asylum numbers A confidential government plan to slash the number of asylum seekers coming to Britain by deporting most of them to UN "protection areas" in their regions of origin has been drawn up by Whitehall and is to be presented to the prime minister this week. (Guardian, 5 Feb 2003) E-mail vetting blocks MPs' sex debate A new e-mail vetting system at the House of Commons is stifling debate among MPs over serious parliamentary business such as the Sexual Offences Bill, it is claimed. (BBC, 4 Feb 2003) Fair or foul Hurrah to be British! Isn't it swell? In the Home Office's draft proposals for a UK citizenship test for immigrants, published last week, a phrase catches the eye. (Guardian, 4 Feb 2003) To crush the poor Last week, on the day George Bush delivered his state of the union address, the Pentagon received a visitor. A few hours before the president told the American people that "we will not permit the triumph of violence in the affairs of men", General Carlos Ospina, head of the Colombian army, was shaking hands with his American counterpart. He had come to discuss the latest instalment of US military aid. (Guardian, 4 Feb 2003) Cambridge told to reform or risk its crown Cambridge University risks losing its status as a world-class university if it fails to reform its "archaic" system of governance, its local MP told a meeting today. (Guardian, 4 Feb 2003) There is No Absolute Immunity Against Malaria Malaria is a kind of infestation not an infection per se. It is caused by parasite which belongs to specie of plasmodium. They are carried about by female mosquitoes. Usually when this mosquitoes bite to obtain blood because they required blood for fertilization or maturation of their eggs, in the process of feeding these parasites have something in their saliva that gets into the blood. (Vanguard via allafrica.com, 4 Feb 2003) The '68 reasons why Germany will always fail ... Germany may console itself that its position on Iraq, as Europe’s sternest critic of the Anglo-American determination to disarm President Saddam Hussein, is at least a sign of moral strength. Unfortunately, it is only the most egregious example of one of the country’s greatest political weaknesses — the hold on power now exercised by those infused with the student revolutionary spirit of 1968. (Times, 4 Feb 2003) Royal Mail angry over watchdog's food bill Royal Mail is believed to be furious at the explosion of costs at Postwatch, the consumer watchdog that it is forced to fund. (Telegraph, 4 Feb 2003) AU Summit Opens, New Conference Center Inaugurated The first Extraordinary Session of the African Union officially began yesterday with the inauguration of the African Union (AU) Conference Center. (Daily Monitor via allafrica.com, 3 Feb 2003) Doctors want to legalise bribery Polish doctors are calling for the legalisation of bribery, to combat widespread corruption in state hospitals. (Ananova, 3 Feb 2003) Black racism is every bit as bad as white racism I believe that racism and ethnic prejudice are execrable evils. I think too that I have an absolute responsibility to condemn any malign act perpetrated by xenophobes and to fight institutions which discriminate against people on grounds of their racial, religious and ethnic backgrounds. Does that mean that I should damn black and Asian people who assault and abuse victims because they are white? Yes. Do I say this often enough? No. (Independent, 3 Feb 2003) U.S. Begins Training Iraqi Dissidents The U.S. Army started training a group of Iraqis opposed to Saddam Hussein on Monday for support roles in the event of U.S.-led war with Iraq. (Guardian, 3 Feb 2003) Maoris accept huge pay-out for Victorian false-accusation A tribe of Maori has accepted a multi-million dollar settlement and a formal apology from the New Zealand government nearly 140 years after being stripped of its land. (Ananova, 3 Feb 2003) Asylum madness? Look who's talking Gather round, media studies students, and consider the confused messages. Listen first to the people: the majority don't want refugees to enter Britain and the majority don't want war in Iraq. Now look at the newspapers: most of them don't want refugees either, but most do want war. (Guardian, 3 Feb 2003) Two-thirds of workers 'on less than average pay' Two-thirds of the workforce are now earning less than the average wage as a result of soaraway pay deals for executives and directors. Pay researchers at Incomes Data Services say that wage inequality is rising, despite Labour's introduction of the minimum wage because top pay is increasing faster than for the rest of the workforce. The widening divide is wrecking the government's drive to engineer a fairer society. (Guardian, 3 Feb 2003) EU plans crackdown on food health 'slogans' Food manufacturers could be banned from using vague terms such as "light" and "low-fat" to describe their products as part of tough new rules being drawn up by the European Union. (Guardian, 3 Feb 2003) Iraqis and Kurds fear ethnic bloodletting when bombing stops A settling of scores among ethnic groups is of more concern in northern Iraq than expected attacks by the RAF. (Telegraph, 2 Feb 2003) Contractors gagged over deportations The Home Office has gagged civilian contractors responsible for deporting failed asylum seekers from Britain as ministerial concern grows at the scale of the public backlash over illegal immigration. (Telegraph, 2 Feb 2003) Chappell speaks up for pioneer Aboriginals Ian Chappell, the outspoken former Australian cricket captain, lived up to his reputation for straight talking by calling for the Aboriginal team that toured England in 1868 - nine years before the birth of Test cricket - to be officially recognised as Australian players. (Telegraph, 2 Feb 2003) At least 30 die in Zimbabwe train crash At least 30 people died and many were injured when a passenger train crashed into a freight train in northwestern Zimbabwe, state radio reported. (Ananova, 1 Feb 2003) Littlewoods drops ethical trading code The Barclay twins, new owners of the Littlewoods mail order and clothing store empire, have torn up the retail group's commitments to industry recognised ethical trading standards which are designed to ban suppliers from using child or forced labour. (Guardian, 1 Feb 2003) Citizenship test to be practical A controversial citizenship test for immigrants to Britain should focus on practical issues, such as housing and the NHS, rather than on British history, a Home Office panel recommended yesterday. (Guardian, 1 Feb 2003) DNew citizens to be taught traditions of 'toleration, fair play and free speech' ... New citizens will be told to respect the equality of women and people of different cultures, and to adopt British "values of toleration, fair play, freedom of speech and of the press". They will be told about the legal system and the democratic process. (Independent, 1 Feb 2003) Where security council members stand The US is engaged in a diplomatic arm-twisting exercise designed to ensure that members of the UN security council will support a second resolution sanctioning military action in Iraq. This is where the council members stand, what pressures they are facing and what decision they are most likely to make. (Guardian, 1 Feb 2003) IT expert named as new head of GCHQ The government yesterday named David Pepper, an expert in information technology, to be the new head of GCHQ, its electronic eavesdropping centre based in Cheltenham. (Guardian, 1 Feb 2003) 'Vicious racism' costs Met £250,000 A middle-aged black man with no criminal record who was violently assaulted by police officers, subjected to racist abuse and prosecuted on trumped-up charges won nearly £250,000 damages yesterday, one of the biggest awards ever made for police misconduct. (Guardian, 1 Feb 2003) Taskforce aims to boost supply of low-cost homes Plans for a big increase in low-cost home ownership, using government grants to free up badly needed council housing in property "hotspots", will be unveiled by ministers shortly. (Guardian, 1 Feb 2003) Composer reinvents the piano In what appears to be the musical equivalent of splitting the atom, a British musician has created a device that can adapt a piano to play the "microtones" that are usually beyond the capability of the instrument. (Guardian, 1 Feb 2003) |
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updated:
3 Sep
2004