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Industry first as BT adds telephone bill to BT click&buy payment options From today, BT click&buy, the revolutionary online payment solution, will be achieving an industry first by enabling internet users to pay for digital content and services on the internet via their BT home or business telephone bill. (Btclick&buy, 31 Mar 2003) Fighting the psy-ops war in Basra The battle for the key Iraqi city of Basra is being fought not just with guns and tanks, but on the airwaves as well, as part of a psychological operations, or "psy-ops", campaign. ...The station is overseen by Lt Colonel Mason, a part-time soldier who is also the deputy chairman of Choice FM in London. (BBC, 31 Mar 2003) Amnesty condemns 'safe haven' scheme Amnesty International last night voiced strong criticism of the government's proposals to send asylum seekers to a "transit processing centre" outside Europe while their applications are decided. (Guardian, 29 Mar 2003) Al-Jazeera tells the truth about war My station is a threat to American media control - and they know it. (Guardian, 29 Mar 2003) Hot wheels for Kenyan MPs Kenyan MPs have approved for themselves a top-of-the range new car each, just a month after large salary rises. (BBC, 27 Mar 2003) UK sets sights on spam The UK Government is determined to crack down on the menace of unwanted and unsolicited e-mail. (BBC, 27 Mar 2003) Civilians killed as US targets Iraqi missiles US military chiefs say their aircraft were targeting Iraqi missiles less than 300ft from civilian homes as more than a dozen people were killed in a Baghdad market. (Ananova, 26 Mar 2003) Call for shake-up of private dentists A major shake-up of private dentists in the UK has been recommended in a report published by the Office of Fair Trading. (Ananova, 26 Mar 2003) Pensioner died after waiting eight hours for ambulance ... Richard Rogers, 63, told how he waited in vain for paramedics to arrive to treat 86-year-old Nellie Males. But despite Mr Rogers making several calls when a crew failed to arrive, Mrs Males died at her home in Cardiff five minutes before the ambulance finally turned up. (Ananova, 25 Mar 2003) Police won't face charges over killing cigarette lighter man ...The Crown Prosecution Service says there is "insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of a conviction" against anyone involved in the death of Derek Bennett in 2001. (Ananova, 25 Mar 2003) 'The aim is to apply brutal levels of power and force' Extract from the book in which Harlan K. Ullman first spelled out his idea of 'shock and awe'. (Guardian, 25 Mar 2003) Remember Guantanamo With fury and indignation, politicians in both the UK and the US have expressed severe dismay at the public footage of American prisoners of war (American prisoners paraded by Iraqis, March 24). (Guardian, 25 Mar 2003) Compulsory broadband access mooted for new homes All new homes will be fitted with the infrastructure for broadband access, under a government proposal aimed at boosting the public's use of the internet. (Guardian, 24 Mar 2003) War Eclipses Crucial IMF Report Because of the ongoing War on Iraq, a report released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) containing grave implications on Africa's economies is receiving limited attention. So limited that nobody is actually talking about it. (The Nation, Nairobi via allafrica.com, 24 Mar 2003) Afghans freed from Guantanamo camp Two of the three Afghans released from Camp Delta last October Nineteen Afghans held at the United States high security military prison at Guantanamo Bay have been released, Afghan officials say. (BBC, 24 Mar 2003) Big Food does big U-turn Guyana will not be hauled into court for debt but other nations are still vulnerable. Bill Grimsey, the Big Food Group's genial chief executive, returned from holiday last weekend. He must have wished he had stayed away longer. (Observer, 23 Mar 2003) See After 26 years, UK food group squeezes poverty-stricken Guyana for £12 million (Observer, 16 Mar 2003). Straw aide 'quits over war' A senior adviser to Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, has resigned after an apparent disagreement over the legality of military action in Iraq. (Independent, 22 Mar 2003) DGovernment promises to name racist employers Racist employers are to be named as part of government measures aimed at ending all discrimination in the workplace within 10 years. (Independent, 22 Mar 2003) Digital TV sales may signal early demise of analogue The Government might be able to turn off the analogue television signal sooner than it had hoped after new figures showed more British households will have digital television than an internet connection by the end of the year. (Independent, 22 Mar 2003) Massive airlift as dozens die in Nigeria fighting Hundreds of women, children and the elderly were flown to safety yesterday from fighting in the oil-rich Niger Delta that killed scores of people and crippled multinational oil company operations. ...The Ijaw and the Urhobo, two of the region's largest ethnic groups, accuse President Olusegun Obasanjo's government of colluding with the minority Itsekiris to draw up unfavourable voting boundaries in the region for elections next month. (Independent, 21 Mar 2003) Dunblane killer report leaves questions unanswered A police report into Dunblane killer Thomas Hamilton has failed to cast any light on why authorities did not prevent his gun licence being renewed. (Ananova, 18 Mar 2003) Pupils warned against joining anti-war rally Police are setting up extra patrols outside schools to stop pupils walking out to join an anti-war demonstration. Schoolchildren were encouraged by Leicester Students' Stop The War Coalition to leave classes for the protest at midday tomorrow. (Ananova, 18 Mar 2003) French state oil bosses in dock for sleaze worth millions Allegations of state-sponsored sleaze returned to a French courtroom yesterday as 37 people were accused of siphoning off £120m from the accounts of the former state-owned oil giant Elf Aquitaine. (Guardian, 18 Mar 2003) Israeli wall to encircle Palestine Ariel Sharon has told his cabinet that he plans to extend the "security fence" Israel is building along the length of the West Bank so that it entirely encircles any Palestinian state. (Guardian, 18 Mar 2003) Minimum wage rises to £4.50 as sop to party Tony Blair will announce tomorrow that the minimum wage for Britain's low-paid workers is to rise to £4.50 an hour as Downing Street seeks to heal the deep internal wounds within the Labour party caused by Iraq. (Guardian, 18 Mar 2003) BFG drops Guyana claim Big Food Group, which owns the Iceland chain of food stores, has abandoned its 20-year pursuit of a multi-million pound compensation claim against Guyana after third world debt campaigners threatened to launch a series of protests outside the group's stores. (Guardian, 18 Mar 2003) Council pushes to end soup runs A Tory-controlled council today faced criticism from homelessness campaigners after it called for the abolition of up to 100 schemes to feed rough sleepers in central London. (Guardian, 17 Mar 2003) Creator of world's largest rainforest preserve dies José Márcio Corrêa Ayres, a Brazilian zoologist who has been widely credited with saving the world's largest swath of protected rain forest, died March 7 in New York City. Ayres, who was 49, died of lung cancer. (The Scientist, 17 Mar 2003) Huge anti-war demo planned for capital ...The Stop The War Coalition has announced the protest plans after a weekend of anti-war demonstrations around the country. (Ananova, 16 Mar 2003) US 'human shield' protester killed by bulldozer An American woman has been killed after she was run over by a bulldozer during a protest in Gaza against Israeli operations. Witnesses said Rachel Corrie, 23, from Olympia, Washington, was trying to stop the bulldozer from tearing down a building in the Rafah refugee camp. (Ananova, 16 Mar 2003) After 26 years, UK food group squeezes poverty-stricken Guyana for £12 million Big Food Group, owner of the Iceland store chain, is demanding £12 million from the government of the tiny, poverty-stricken South American country of Guyana. (Observer, 16 Nov 2003) Asylum changes 'will bring 40,000 extra beat police' Fundamental changes to the asylum system would provide funding for new police "in every parish and neighbourhood across Britain", promised Shadow Home Secretary Oliver Letwin. (Ananova, 16 Mar 2003) Hot cross banned: councils decree buns could be 'offensive' to non-Christians Schools across Britain have been ordered by local authorities to abandon the ancient tradition of serving hot cross buns at Easter so as not to offend children of non-Christian faiths. (Telegraph, 16 Mar 2003) We'll not vote in your referendum, Chechens tell Russia Russia is forging ahead with preparations for a controversial referendum in Chechnya next Sunday despite repeated clashes with rebels and reports that voters have been intimidated. (Telegraph, 16 Mar 2003) Neo-Nazis run rings around German intelligence services Germany's biggest neo-Nazi party is to escape a legal ban after it was revealed that the party members who gave evidence against it in the country's highest court were agents provocateurs paid by the intelligence services. (Telegraph, 16 Mar 2003) Eligible men are a dying breed in chemical capital The disco lights flashed, the mirror-ball twirled and cheesy Russian ballads filled the room, but the party still lacked a certain something: men. Of the 30 or so middle-aged clubbers awkwardly getting down on the dance floor, only three were male. (Telegraph, 16 Mar 2003) University plans boarding school for the working class A British university plans to set up its own boarding school for deprived children in an attempt to attract more working-class undergraduates. Brunel University in Middlesex intends to build and run the school on its own campus and use it to fast-track gifted youngsters into the university. Pupils will be drawn from "deprived boroughs" and their fees would be paid by local authorities or the Department for Education and Skills, which is considering the proposal. (Telegraph, 16 Mar 2003) Men jailed over 'gay sex party' An Egyptian criminal court has sentenced 21 men to three years in jail on charges stemming from a suspected gay sex party. (Ananova, 15 Mar 2003) Tens of thousands mourn assassinated prime minister Tens of thousands of mourners have gathered at the largest Orthodox Church in the Balkans to say goodbye to Serbia's assassinated prime minister. (Ananova, 15 Mar 2003) Passengers face 'green tax' on airline fuel Britain took the first step on the road to taxing air travel for its contribution to global warming yesterday when the Treasury published a document discussing the idea. (15 Mar 2003) Perfect spot for three isolated leaders The last-chance talks to avoid a war against Iraq will be held tomorrow in the remote islands of the Azores, six hours' flying time from Washington, two and a half hours from Lisbon and very far indeed from any madding crowds of anti-war protesters. (Independent, 15 Mar 2003) DFor God's sake, let's not spit upon the ground How long is it since we discussed Norse mythology in this column? (Independent, 15 Mar 2003) Blunkett vows to fight 'hidden racism' David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, vowed yesterday to fight "hidden racism" endured by ethnic minorities in employment, housing and education. He also pledged to help poor white communities where racism was bred by "fears and insecurity". (Independent, 15 Mar 2003) Want a perfect home? Build it yourself Time was when the only members of society to regularly plunge themselves into the muddy world of building for yourself (or self-build as it is known in the trade) were builders or land-ridden farmers fancying a new farmhouse. (Independent, 15 Mar 2003) DWealth Check: Snack-seller needs recipe for security Mary Clay's father was flicking through the papers one day when he saw an advert for a mobile catering unit, on sale for £1,000. (Independent, 15 Mar 2003) Average age of first-time buyers rises First-time buyers are becoming older and putting down larger deposits as people wait longer to get on to the property ladder. (Ananova, 15 Mar 2003) Unions condemn steel chief's £550,000 pay-off Union leaders have criticised an "outrageous" £550,000 pay-off to the chief executive of Corus who resigned after the company announced huge losses. (Ananova, 14 Mar 2003) Pupils suspended after war protest Six pupils who walked out of school to protest against a possible war with Iraq have been suspended for two months. They were among 200 students who staged a demonstration outside Blatchington Mill School in Hove, West Sussex, last week. (BBC, 14 Mar 2003) Plan to stop noisy tenants' housing benefit Noisy neighbours and other anti-social tenants could have housing benefit withdrawn under Home Office plans. (Ananova, 12 Mar 2003) Guantanamo Bay prisoners lose appeal A US federal appeals court has upheld a ruling that 650 suspected Taliban and al-Qaida fighters held in Guantanamo Bay have no right to hearings in American courts. (Ananova, 12 Mar 2003) Neighbour answers complaint call about himself A man who called his local council to complain about rubbish in a neighbour's garden was surprised when his neighbour answered. Alan Dunbabin had called Exeter City Council to complain about the rusting vehicles and other rubbish in David Chambers' garden. (Ananova, 12 Mar 2003) Two thirds of women on 'below average income' Union leaders have stepped up a campaign to close the gender pay gap, after research showed almost two thirds of women have a below average income. (Ananova, 12 Mar 2003) International criminal court comes to life Under the watchful eyes of Kofi Annan and the Queen of the Netherlands, 18 judges are to be sworn in today as the most important human rights institution the world has seen in half a century is formally inaugurated. (Guardian, 11 Mar 2003) Benetton clothing to carry tracking transmitters Clothes sold at Benetton will soon contain microchip transmitters that allow the Italian retailer to track its garments from their point of manufacture to the moment they are sold in any of its shops. (Ananova, 11 Mar 2003) Saddam aims to drag allies into a new Stalingrad, says British forces' chief Saddam Hussein is preparing for a "Stalingrad siege" of Baghdad against advancing Allied forces which could be slowed down by the capture of prisoners of war, a displaced population, and the use of chemical weapons against civilians, the commander of UK forces in the Gulf warned yesterday. (Guardian, 11 Mar 2003) Digital voting to fight apathy A pilot project which will see people in Swindon casting their votes via cable TV in the May local elections, could help reverse the trend in young voter apathy. Eligible voters will be given a PIN number and the chance to take part in an e-voting pilot scheme via interactive digital television, the internet, telephone and special kiosks. (BBC, 11 Mar 2003) Cautious response to 'snoop' plans Following a summer of discontent and lobbying from privacy and human rights groups, the government backed down on proposals to allow a multiplicity of public bodies access to personal data. (BBC, 11 Mar 2003) Councils divert transport cash Local councils are failing to introduce much-needed but potentially unpopular traffic schemes despite being given enough cash for them, because they fear they will be voted out of power, government advisers warned yesterday. (Guardian, 10 Mar 2003) Third of academics want to quit Nearly one in three of Britain's university academic and teaching staff is seriously considering quitting the profession, because of a growing workload and poor pay, according to a new survey out today. Eight out of 10 oppose top-up fees. (Guardian, 10 Mar 2003) Polar sea ice could be gone by the end of the century Much of the Earth's frozen north will have defrosted by the end of the century, according to the latest study of the effect of global warming on the Arctic. (Independent, 10 Mar 2003) Broadband through three-pin socket ready for mass trials Full-scale commercial trials of a new technology which allows householders to connect to the internet through the three-pin electrical sockets in their homes are about to be launched. (Independent, 10 Mar 2003) Irvine 'should not choose judges' Lord Irvine of Lairg should be stripped of his powers to appoint High Court judges and Queen's Counsel, an inquiry commissioned by the Bar Council has concluded. (Independent, 10 Mar 2003) Eight in ten FTSE 100 chairmen oppose Higgs The Government will come under fresh pressure today to water down the Higgs report on boardroom reform after a poll of Britain's biggest companies revealed overwhelming hostility to some of its key recommendations. (Independent, 10 Mar 2003) The beginning of the end for an unelected anachronism For all his shirt-sleeved dynamism and his espousal of the technocratic jargon of modern business management, Tony Blair has been a constitutional conservative. (Independent, 10 Mar 2003) French women march against machismo After a month-long tour of the grimmest places in France, four young women and two young men led a march through Paris yesterday to protest against the oppression of women in the sink suburbs of French cities. (Independent, 9 Mar 2003) US Military Airplanes Arrive in Azores Base in Portugal Some 30 military transport and tanker aircraft arrived recently at the US military base in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores, local media reported Saturday. (People's Daily, 9 Mar 2003) India is the world's 'back office' India's billion-strong population has long been a source of cheap labour for manufacturing industries, especially textiles. (Independent, 9 Mar 2003) Unions accuse BT of exporting call centre work BT confirmed yesterday that it is to press ahead with plans to set up two call centres in India. At the same time Powergen and Thames Water said that they were now committed to transferring to the sub-continent. (Times, 8 Mar 2003) Serbs must pay £1m to relatives of Srebrenica victims NATO spearheaded curbs on Radovan Karadzic’s fanatical supporters yesterday as a court in Sarajevo ordered the Serb-run half of Bosnia’s Government to pay ?1.8 million (£1.17 million) to compensate relatives of Muslims massacred at Srebrenica by Bosnian Serb forces in 1995. (Times, 8 Mar 2003) 'Bribes' pushing UN waverers into support for war THE centre of gravity in the UN Security Council appeared to be moving significantly towards Britain and the United States last night after Hans Blix’s report and the passionate debate that followed. (Times, 8 Mar 2003) Council tax and local responsibilities Sir, Council tax (letters, February 28, etc) is in turmoil. If the Government is going to dictate how money should be spent by councils, as Charles Clarke is doing on education, why doesn’t the Government take over responsibility for education, policing, the fire service and repairs to A roads and above, leaving local district councils to deal with local issues for which council tax will be levied? (Times Letter, 8 Mar 2003) Enron scams fill 2,000 pages The scale of the deception at Enron, the bankrupt energy firm, was further exposed yesterday in a 2,000 page report detailing the increasingly desperate measures the company used to hide its true financial position. (Guardian, 7 Mar 2003) Afghan prisoners beaten to death at US military interrogation base Two prisoners who died while being held for interrogation at the US military base in Afghanistan had apparently been beaten, according to a military pathologist's report. (Guardian, 7 May 2003) World's water woes set to turn critical THE global water crisis will take a very serious turn for the worse in the years ahead, because of population growth, pollution and climate change. (Straits Times, 6 Mar 2003) Wealthy users dominate internet Three times as many well-off families are going online for the first time as those with low incomes, a new report has revealed. The charity Citizens Online also found more than six times as many homes were online in some parts of the country than in others. (BBC, 5 Mar 2003) Philippine rebels blamed as bomb kills 19 at airport At least 19 people were killed and 115 wounded yesterday when a bomb blamed on Muslim militants exploded at an international airport in the southern Philippines. (Telegraph, 5 Mar 2003) Pupils walk out over war Thousands of children have walked out of their schools across Britain to stage anti-war demonstrations. There were protests in London, Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool, Cambridge and Milton Keynes. (BBC, 5 Mar 2003) Nigerian leader blamed for killing The opposition All Nigeria People's Party has said it holds President Olusegun Obasanjo and the ruling party responsible for the death of one of its senior official. (BBC, 5 Mar 2003) UN warns of future water crisis The world's water crisis is so severe it could take almost 30 years to eradicate hunger, the United Nations says. A world short of water cannot grow enough food for all It believes the goal of halving the proportion of hungry people by 2015 may be unattainable. (BBC, 5 Mar 2003) Drive to help ethnic minority pupils The government yesterday launched a drive to raise achievement among pupils from ethnic minorities after new data confirmed generally low levels of attainment in GCSE exams across some groups. (Guardian, 5 Mar 2003) Deregulation may close 6,000 pharmacies More than 6,000 high street pharmacies could be lost if proposals to deregulate the industry go ahead, two reports published today warn. (Guardian, 5 Mar 2003) New advertising code cracks down on spam Companies sending email or text message adverts will have to get the permission of recipients first, under rules published yesterday by the advertising standards authority. (Guardian, 5 Mar 2003) Lessons in living Lawrence Fearon's early education was at what he calls "the academy of the street". ... As a pioneer of the Harlesden People's Community Council (HPCC), Fearon was part of a grassroots movement that in the 1980s helped lever a then unprecedented £5m of local authority, government and European funding into the neglected Stonebridge area. (Guardian, 5 Mar 2003) Half million homes buy Freeview adapters Audiences for digital TV service Freeview now outstrip those of its ill-fated predecessor ITV Digital. (Ananova, 4 Mar 2003) Three million 'addicted to alcohol' More than three million people in the UK cannot get through the day without an alcoholic drink. (Ananova, 4 Mar 2003) Taking the initiative Hidden away under February grey skies, nestled in the crook of Whitechapel are the offices of Telco (The East London Communities Organisation), a campaigning organisation that is making inroads into the teaching of citizenship in secondary schools. While some schools may be content to teach purely in the classroom, Telco believes pupils needs to experience citizenship in practice and the collective power it can bring with it. (Guardian, 4 Mar 2003) Rogers' design for Canary Wharf London is set to get its own twin towers, designed by Richard Rogers and soaring 721ft above the Thames. (Guardian, 4 Mar 2003) Bosses 'disrupting police race training' Some chief police officers are undermining attempts to improve race and diversity awareness within their forces by behaving "disruptively" during training sessions and using sexist and other inappropriate language at internal and public meetings, a report said yesterday. (Guardian, 4 Mar 2003) Pioneer rambler dies in road accident The last survivor of the great Kinder Scout mass trespass of 1932 has been killed in a road accident close to the Pennine hills he loved. (Guardian, 4 Mar 2003) Worth shouting about Among the reading material on the shelves of adult literacy classrooms lurk booklets written by students, put together by tutors and turned into reading material for other learners. Dating from the 1980s and sometimes written in non-standard English, many consist of the life stories of students from the Commonwealth Caribbean. (Guardian, 4 Mar 2003) We take just 2% of world's refugees Migrants pay out £2.5billion in taxes We are 10th in EC refugee stakes It is the most hotly debated issue of our time, a debate driven by fear, myth and the hysteria of the right-wing press. (Mirror, 3 Mar 2003) WHO takes on soft drinks industry The World Health Organisation today launches a major assault on the food industry with a scientific report blaming sugar in soft drinks and television advertising aimed at children - as well as fat intake and sedentary lifestyles - for a dangerous global rise in obesity. (Guardian, 3 Mar 2003) Sale of Fairtrade products doubles Sales of goods that promise a better deal for farmers in developing countries have more than doubled in three years, it was announced at the weekend. (Guardian, 3 Mar 2003) Conference aims to drive racism out of football Europe's leading football clubs are to adopt new guidelines on combating racism on and off the pitch when they meet in London this week for one of the largest and most high profile conferences on racism within the game. (Guardian, 3 Mar 2003) Child poverty: it's the delivery test Deadlines are looming for the government, and it's not just over disarming Saddam Hussein. With the next election likely in 2005, it is already fretting over how voters will judge its record. (Guardian, 3 Mar 2003) City survey highlights Europe-Africa divide The stark divide between Europe and Africa is set out in a survey of quality of life and personal safety throughout the world published today. (Guardian, 3 Mar 2003) Congo's war refuses to end Pro-government forces have slaughtered hundreds of civilians in the Democratic Republic of Congo in one of the worst massacres since a peace deal was signed, rebels claimed yesterday. (Guardian, 3 Mar 2003) Thai leader justifies 1,100 drug war deaths Thailand's populist prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, has admitted for the first time that mistakes have been made in his month-long "eye-for-an-eye" war on drugs that has claimed more than 1,140 lives. (Guardian, 3 Mar 2003) Further thoughts on coming to terms with slavery Dr Celeste-Marie Bernier (Letters, March 1) may have reviewed the 1999 slavery exhibition in Bristol but she apparently never visited it. (Guardian, 3 Mar 2003) DWorkmates win new life for refugee An asylum seeker who escaped deportation after a campaign by his British workmates has won the right to stay in the country. The arrest last year of Luli Zefaj, 25, a Kosovan Albanian who came to Britain five years ago after being shot for refusing to take up arms in his country's civil war, sparked a protest outside immigration offices by all 100 of his colleagues. ... Shortly before he was to be flown out, immigration officials relented and released Mr Zefaj into the care of his colleagues at Digital Dream, a digital camera supplier based in Dover. (Telegraph, 3 Mar 2003) Further thoughts on coming to terms with slavery To make this horrendous past fully meaningful, society needs to see the representation of the impact of slavery and exploitation not only in terms of past suffering, but also in terms of what happened to the descendants of slaves, and what the descendants of the slavers did with the generated wealth. (Guardian reader's letter, 3 Mar 2003) Elsewhere, around the globe, the conflicts continue ... From Colombia to Congo, Afghanistan to Thailand - a world of turmoil. (Independent, 2 Mar 2003) US accused of spying on Security Council The United States was accused last night of launching an aggressive telephone and email bugging operation on UN Security Council members whose votes will be critical to international support for a US-led war on Iraq. (Independent, 2 Mar 2003) Pensioner poverty 'getting worse' Pensioners have been failed by the government because millions continue to live in poverty, a charity has said. (BBC, 2 Mar 2003) Free museums attract 'the better off' Free admission to major museums is generally failing to attract more visitors from lower-income groups, according to the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions. It says the end of charges has brought many more people through museum doors, but most are from middle and upper socio-economic groups. (BBC, 2 Mar 2003) Time to come to terms with slavery Like Paul Stephenson (Letters, February 27) I too was interested in Tristram Hunt's call for Bristol to establish a museum of slavery (Comment, February 26). (Guardian, 1 Mar 2003) Misery of rag-trade slaves in America's Pacific outpost When Thanh Nguyen was offered the chance to quit her poorly paid factory job in Vietnam and work in one of America's Pacific territories, she saw it as an easy way to a good income. (Guardian, 1 Mar 2003) The Iraqi crisis is not about oil - it's much worse than that IT IS hard for the Brits to get the point of George Bush. We just don’t get how important religion is in his and Amerca’s world-view. Even religious Britons are uneasy about connecting faith and politics. (Times, 1 Mar 2003) Inventing the modern idea of progress ROBERT HOOKE had, according to his long-standing friend John Aubrey, raconteur and author of Brief Lives, the most “prodigious inventive head” of the age. (Times, 1 Mar 2003) The best parts of a partnership ... A new company format offers all the benefits of a traditional partnership, but with the financial safety net of limited liability. The so-called “limited liability partnership” (Llp) was initially targeted at accountants and legal firms. But experts say that it could also provide the best format for hundreds of people who go into business together. (Times, 1 Mar 2003) France takes on new wave of anti-semitism in schools France began an effort to stamp out anti-semitism and racism in its schools yesterday, fearing that a war in Iraq could seriously heighten the tension between its Muslim and Jewish communities. (Guardian, 1 Mar 2003) Ethical homes for your cash CASH savers with a conscience are often tempted to open account with the Co-operative Bank, which makes much of its ethical credentials. But financial advisers say that better ethics and returns are to be found elsewhere. To avoid the issue, savers can put their cash in a building society, which is barred by law from commercial lending. (Times, 1 Mar 2003) 'Road map for peace' with Palestine at its heart A MIDDLE East peace plan endorsed by the US calls for the creation of an independent Palestinian state within a year. (Times, 1 Mar 2003) We have police in our sights, says race watchdog Trevor Phillips, the new head of Britain's race watchdog, yesterday said he would tackle the police over the disproportionately high number of black people they stop and search. Mr Phillips, who takes over as chairman of the commission for racial equality this weekend, told the Guardian that police racial "bias" would be "very much in our sights". (Guardian, 1 Mar 2003) Traffic still light in London charge zone LEVELS of traffic during the second week of congestion charging in Central London were a fifth lower than a month ago. (Times, 1 Mar 2003) Mural? We thought it was graffiti COUNCIL workers painted over part of a £10,000 art project sponsored by The Prince’s Trust because they thought it was graffiti. The mural, in Peterborough, was the handiwork of local youths who spray-painted it as part of an art project almost two years ago. (Times, 1 Mar 2003) Flow of asylum-seekers costs £3.5bn in two years THE cost of dealing with asylum-seekers in the past two years reached £3.5 billion as the Government struggled to deal with record numbers of applicants entering the country. (Times, 1 Mar 2003) Graphic. Cost of the migration revolution WHILE the asylum crisis is dominating the national consciousness, a revolution is quietly taking place in another aspect of immigration. The Government has been clamping down on illegal immigration but massively expanding legal migration, most noticeably through expanding the work permit scheme to about 200,000 people this year. (Times, 1 Mar 2003) Bell tolls for yet another corner of the British Empire The death knell sounded for a forgotten corner of the British Empire yesterday as the United Nations deadline for a peace deal in Cyprus passed with neither side giving ground. (Independent, 1 Mar 2003) Which Price is Right? It is an urgent question: How can we increase profits if we can't raise prices? The answer demands revolutionary thinking -- new insights about strategy and human behavior, turbocharged with software, mathematics, and rapid-fire experimentation. Is your company ready to master the new era of pricing? Are you prepared to pay the price of failure? (Fast Company, Mar 2003) |
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updated:
7 Jun
2004