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DSystem error: why UK Online failed Andrew Pinder, the civil servant in charge of getting UK government services online, has become accustomed to reading reports that criticise his department's performance. The latest to land on his desk, from the management consultants Accenture, is perhaps the most damning to date. ... The contrast between UK Online at www.ukonline.gov.uk and the website of the Canadian government, www.canada.gc.ca, is stark. With a strong focus on the user, it seems to provide everything that UK Online lacks. (Independent, 30 Apr 2003) Navy, Shell Beef Up Security Following Threat to Attack Installations THE Nigerian Navy and Anglo-Dutch oil giant Shell said yesterday they had beefed up security after a threat by armed militants to destroy a major offshore storage and export facility. (Vanguard via allafrica.com, 29 Apr 2003) Moving in the middle classes 'can transform estates' Moving middle class people into council houses can transform sink estates into places where people want to live, claims new research. ...Graham Martin, co-author of the report published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, denied such schemes were "social engineering" to get middle classes to buy council houses. "I don't want to use the words middle class, we are talking average incomes here," he said. (Ananova, 30 Apr 2003) Home internet use increases five-fold in four years Five times as many households now have access to the internet compared to four years ago. The National Statistics Omnibus Survey shows 45% of all households - 11.4 million homes - can now go online. (Ananova, 29 Apr 2003) Forces chief questioned war legality The head of the Armed Forces said yesterday that he had at first questioned the legality of invading Iraq before being satisfied by the Attorney General's ruling that the war would be legal. (Telegraph, 29 Apr 2003) Industry challenged to make 1,000-miles-per-tank car ... The task has been set by Transport Secretary Alistair Darling who says he wants the industry to produce an ultra-low carbon car within four to eight years. (Ananova, 29 Apr 2003) How much chocolate do you need to eat to get a free netball from Cadbury? The chocolate manufacturer Cadbury is launching a £9m campaign to persuade children to buy 160m chocolate bars, containing nearly 2m kg of fat, in exchange for "free" sports equipment for their schools. (Guardian, 29 Apr 2003) Tasmania carries the eco-fight by banning plastic bags carries hopes of environment Coles Bay's population of 175 and its tourist shoppers will have to depend on paper or calico bags for carrying their groceries after the town's businesses agreed to stop handing out polyethylene bags. (Guardian, 29 Apr 2003) Shoppers back plastic bag tax Researchers have found the majority of British shoppers are in favour of paying for plastic bags. (Ananova, 28 Apr 2003) How diet has dramatic effect on child behaviour An experiment involving identical twin brothers has revealed the dramatic effect an additive-free diet can have on children. (Ananova, 28 Apr 2003) Risk aversion: Why do we tolerate real dangers while panicking about a minor one? Why is there such misunderstanding of the real issues behind the battle against Sars? (Times, 27 Apr 2003) Work starts on 260ft wind turbine ...Ecotricity believes that the turbine at Swaffham, Norfolk, will be the tallest in the UK. The structure will measure nearly 260ft - Nelson's Column measures 185ft - and it should be providing electricity by August. (Ananova, 27 Apr 2003) Pope condemns execution of hijackers The Pope has denounced Cuba's recent execution of three men for attempting to hijack a ferry, while on a visit to the country. (Ananova, 26 Apr 2003) Cheap coffee threatens to wipe out wildlife and ruin farmers A global coffee crisis caused by overproduction and a slump in wholesale prices is having a devastating impact on some of the world's poorest communities and the Earth's most endangered wildlife, a study published yesterday suggests. (Independent, 26 Apr 2003) 3500 Squatters to Get Clean Water At least 3 500 people of Bapsfontein near Springs will soon be drinking clean water straight from a tap after years of drinking from boreholes. (allafrica.com, 25 Apr 2003) New push to release Camp X-Ray Britons The Government has come under renewed pressure to demand the release of British citizens being held without charge by the US at the Guantanamo Bay base. (Ananova, 25 Apr 2003) [For 'Camp X-Ray' read 'Camp Delta' - MB] Winnie Mandela jailed for five years Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, known to her supporters as "the mother of the nation," has been jailed for five years in South Africa with one year suspended for fraud and theft. (Ananova, 25 Apr 2003) Study shows council tax has doubled in 10 years New research shows council tax bills in England have almost doubled since the charge was introduced 10 years ago. (Ananova, 25 Apr 2003) EU forum backs exit clause An exit clause allowing member states to leave the European Union if they choose has been agreed by the majority of delegates at a convention on Europe's future. (BBC, 25 Apr 2003) Malaria nets 'could save thousands' Simple nets could help reduce the human toll of malaria across Africa, campaigners say. (BBC, 25 Apr 2003) Iraqi government process to begin next week The formation of a new Iraqi government will begin by the end of next week, the American general in charge of rebuilding the country said today. (Guardian, 24 Apr 2003) Arab world now faces invasion by American TV Washington's battle to win public support in the Arab world has begun in earnest with the first broadcasts of what officials say will become a 24-hour satellite television network aimed at changing minds throughout the region by American-style morning chat-shows, sports, news and children's programmes. (Guardian, 24 Apr 2003) Multichannel TV overtakes terrestrial BBC1 and ITV have been pushed into second place in the ratings by satellite and cable channels for the first time in TV history. (Guardian, 24 Apr 2003) UN forensic experts arrive in Congo Forensic science experts arrived this week in the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of a 15-strong United Nations team investigating the alleged massacre of 350 civilians. (Guardian, 24 Apr 2003) The Great Firewall of China China wants to take advantage of the commercial benefits of the internet but is determined to block citizens' access to 'subversive' material. (Guardian, 24 Apr 2003) Public Domain Up and down England, councillors are anxiously awaiting the electorate's verdict on their fancy new websites and other electronic public services. (Guardian, 24 Apr 2003) Independent introduces web charges The Independent is following in the footsteps of the Times and the Financial Times by charging users to access parts of its website. (Guardian, 24 Apr 2003) US soldiers accused of stealing Saddam's secret cash US soldiers in Baghdad are being accused of trying to steal more than £8 million from Saddam Hussein's secret cash hoard. (Ananova, 23 Apr 2003) Economy £1 billion worse off than Brown predicted The UK's finances have plunged more than £1 billion further into the red than Gordon Brown forecast in his Budget speech. Public sector net borrowing at the end of March hit £25.2 billion for the financial year to date, according to the Office for the financial year to date, according to the Office for National Statistics. (Ananova, 23 Apr 2003) Under 16s among Cuba camp terror suspects Some children under 16 are among terror suspects held at the US detention camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a military official has confirmed. ...Human Rights Watch said the youths' situation increased concerns about the indefinite detention of 660 males from 42 countries on suspicion of links to Osama bin Laden's al Qaida terrorist network or Afghanistan's ousted Taliban regime. They have not been charged and are not allowed access to lawyers. (Ananova, 23 Apr 2003) Teens held in Guantanamo Three youths under the age of 16 are being held in the US detention centre at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the US military has revealed - sparking renewed anger among human rights groups. (BBC, 23 Apr 2003) Tesco strengthens supermarkets status Tesco has extended its position as the UK's largest supermarket chain at the same time as rival Sainsbury's saw its sector share slip, new figures suggested today. (Ananova, 22 Apr 2003) Prisons total reaches new record The number of prisoners in England and Wales reached an all-time high last week. Officials confirmed that the number of inmates rose above 73,231 but new orders from Home Secretary David Blunkett mean the figure cannot be released. (Ananova, 22 Apr 2003) Hundreds feared dead in ferry accidents Rescue workers have recovered more than 110 bodies after two ferries capsized during tropical storms on different Bangladeshi rivers. (Ananova, 22 Apr 2003) We are still racist, police chief admits The Metropolitan Police remains "institutionally racist" despite great improvements in the way the force deals with race issues, the commander of Scotland Yard's anti-racist unit admitted yesterday. (Independent, 22 Apr 2003) Is Iraq's cake cut for US? With the awarding of the first contracts to rebuild Iraq being awarded to the Californian construction giant Bechtel, the government of President George W Bush has sent a clear signal. (news24.com, 21 Apr 2003) Writing off tyrants' debt is a principle that should be extended to even poorer nations Any deal for Iraq must not be seen as favouritism for countries the US wants to cultivate. (Guardian, 21 Apr 2003) Zimbabwean activist 'dies after torture' A member of Zimbabwe's opposition has died as a result of police torture, according to the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Tonderai Machiridza, 32, died after six days in police custody, according to the MDC, which issued photographs of the unconscious Machiridza being carried to hospital. (Guardian, 21 Apr 2003) How American power girds the globe with a ring of steel Whenever America goes to war, the spoils of victory invariably include more US military bases overseas. (Guardian, 21 Apr 2003) Beware Mystery Fees for Web Services When Geoff Sigg noticed a small charge from an unfamiliar company called Spoonfull.net on his company's SBC Communications phone bill last September, he looked a little closer. He discovered that for two months, he had paid $4.31 including taxes to a company he'd never heard of. (PCworld.com, 21 Apr 2003) Black people 27 times more likely to be stopped Afro-Caribbean people are more than 27 times more likely than white people to be stopped and searched under a special police power designed to tackle ravers and football hooligans, according to research seen by the Guardian. (Guardian, 21 Apr 2003) Sugar industry threatens to scupper WHO The sugar industry in the US is threatening to bring the World Health Organisation to its knees by demanding that Congress end its funding unless the WHO scraps guidelines on healthy eating, due to be published on Wednesday. (Guardian, 21 Apr 2003) Poverty hits exam scores Stark evidence of the impact of poverty and inequality in English education will be demonstrated in new research on schools to be presented by the Liberal Democrats this week. In the 100 schools with the highest percentage of pupils on free school meals, 29% of students gain five Cs at GCSE or better - just over half the 50% national average, according to official figures obtained by Phil Willis, the party's education spokesman. (Guardian, 21 Apr 2003) Victims of a brutal war A Truth and Reconciliation Commission has begun taking evidence to establish what happened during Sierra Leone's bloody civil war. (BBC, 20 Apr 2003) South Carolina guardsmen monitor detainees held in Cuba Dealing with the 650 detainees at this isolated U.S. base in southeast Cuba is tough, but the S.C. National Guard's 132nd Military Police Company is doing an outstanding job. (thestate.com, 20 Apr 2003) Home equity 'will fund 12-month work holiday' House prices will have risen so much by 2020 that homeowners will be able to take a year off work on full pay funded by the equity in their property. (Ananova, 20 Apr 2003) Ethiopia's worst famine in 20 years Charities say 20m people may need food aid to survive, as measles and malaria sweep countryside. (Guardian, 18 Apr 2003) Muslim cancer victim's body found covered in bacon A £5,000 reward is being offered by police after the body of a Muslim grandmother was found in a hospital mortuary covered with rashers of bacon. (Ananova, 18 Apr 2003) US threatens Cuba sanctions US officials say George Bush is planning to impose sanctions on Cuba to punish Fidel Castro for his recent crackdown on dissidents. (Ananova, 17 Apr 2003) Email 'becomes huge burden' to computer users Researchers have concluded email has become an increasing burden on computer users - with the power to ruin their personal lives. (Ananova, 17 Apr 2003) Army helped target Finucane Sir John Stevens, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, has revealed that rogue elements of the security forces colluded with loyalist paramilitaries to carry out sectarian murders in Northern Ireland. (Telegraph, 17 Apr 2003) Australian detention centre officially closed The remote detention centre that came to symbolise Australia's tough stance towards asylum seekers has officially closed. Woomera, where detainees have sewn their lips together and held numerous hunger strikes to protest at their isolation, was widely seen as a blight on Australia's human rights record.(Ananova, 17 Apr 2003) US forces accused of killing 17 civilians in Mosul US forces are being accused of killing 17 Iraqi civilians in Mosul during two days of confrontations. (Ananova, 17 Apr 2003) 13-point statement on a democratic Iraq This statement was agreed at the end of the first day of talks steering Iraq towards a democratic future. (Guardian, 16 Apr 2003) Unreality television Friends has its first non-white character, but US TV shows remain deeply racially segregated. (Guardian, 16 Apr 2003) UN sends antiquities experts to Iraq The United Nations' cultural agency is sending experts to Iraq to help in the recovery and restoration of looted antiquities. (BBC, 15 Apr 2003) Payout for apartheid victims South Africa is to pay final reparations to thousands of people identified by the country's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) as victims of apartheid. (BBC, 15 Apr 2003) New £50m police training centre opens The centre will offer police riot and crowd control training A £50m specialist firearms training centre for the police opens in Kent on Tuesday. The complex in Gravesend features what is effectively a small town, with a pub, football stadium, trains and a passenger jet. (BBC, 15 Apr 2003) Library books, letters and priceless documents are set ablaze in final chapter of the sacking of Baghdad So yesterday was the burning of books. First came the looters, then the arsonists. It was the final chapter in the sacking of Baghdad. The National Library and Archives a priceless treasure of Ottoman historical documents, including the old royal archives of Iraq were turned to ashes in 3,000 degrees of heat. Then the library of Korans at the Ministry of Religious Endowment was set ablaze. (Independent, 15 Apr 2003) Senegal ferry disaster probed French prosecutors have launched an inquiry into the sinking of the Senegalese Joola ferry off the coast of Gambia. (BBC, 15 Apr 2003) Left turn: 'Revolution' hits Venezuela's oil culture At the gleaming offices of Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), the country's state-owned oil giant, a corporate revolution is under way. Nine-to-fivers have come to think of themselves as patriots. Senior managers now eat at the same cafeteria tables as secretaries. And former soldiers have left the battlefield for the boardroom. (Christian Science Monitor, 15 Apr 2003) The fallen grand 'e' and why UK Online needs reinventing ... There are now signs that Labour's grand plan to put all government services on the internet by 2005, under the UK Online banner, is beginning to unravel. ...With the Treasury's purse strings tightening and demand increasing for investment in traditional services such as schools and hospitals, the commitment to spend £6bn on wiring up the Government's services is starting to look a little frivolous. Much of this money will be spent on upgrading each department's computers so they can interact on the web. But the Government is burning cash like a boom-time dot.com on its flagship web-site, ukonline.gov.uk. ...Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt recently told the House of Commons that in the two years to March 2002 it had spent almost £17m on the site. The budget for 2002-03 is £8.4m. (Independent, 14 Apr 2003) Service to mark Lawrence anniversary The 10th anniversary of the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence is to be commemorated at a church service in central London. (BBC, 14 Apr 2003) Scientists seek basic water facts In Jaffna, Sri Lanka, where Murugesu Sivapalan grew up, every house had its own well, which was unusual compared with other towns. The water, however, was undrinkable. (BBC, 14 Apr 2003) India set for flood of jobs from the West INDIA is set for the next stage of a revolution that could result in the creation of up to four million jobs. The trigger is the seismic shift of labour from the developed nations of Europe and America. (Times, 12 Apr 2003) Germans to shop longer GERHARD SCHRODER, the Chancellor of Germany, is to allow shops to open for an extra four hours on Saturdays in an effort to revive the flagging heart of the eurozone economy. From June, in a symbolic act of deregulation, shops will be allowed to trade until 8pm, ending the ill-tempered 4pm rush for families to stock up for the weekend. (Times, 12 Apr 2003) Cuba Executes Ferry Hijackers Three men charged with terrorism in last week's hijacking of a passenger ferry were executed Friday after a quick trial this week, the government reported. (CBS News, 11 Apr 2003) Scientists identify SARS virus Scientists have identified the virus behind the deadly SARS disease as a mutant relative of the cause of the common cold. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome has infected more than 2,700 people worldwide, and killed at least 106, according to the WHO. (Ananova, 10 Apr 2003) Voodoo recognised as official religion in Haiti Voodoo has been recognised as an official religion in Haiti allowing priests to perform ceremonies from baptisms to marriages. (Ananova, 10 Apr 2003) Will the World Finance the Imperium Americanum? The initial preparations by the US for post-war Iraq leave no doubt that American taxpayers will be footing the bill for the war, or that the UN will be footing the bill for the reconstruction of the country. (Heise, 9 Apr 2003) BNP pays out for race crime A CONVICTED racist has accepted a £1,500 cheque from the BNP - just months after promising to keep clear of the right-wing group. David Wilson took the "gift" after serving just half of a four-month jail term for posting hate-fuelled leaflets to residents in Glasgow’s Pollokshields. (Scotsman, 8 Apr 2003) Digital take-up encourages Jowell to stick to analogue switch-off date The Government has insisted that it may be able to hit its much-derided target date of 2010 for switching off the analogue television signal. (Independent, 7 Apr 2003) Congo massacre 'leaves 1,000 dead' Survivors of a massacre in north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have told UN human rights investigators that nearly 1,000 civilians were killed last Thursday on the eve of talks to bring peace to the war-ravaged Ituri district. (BBC, 6 Apr 2003) Human remains 'are Iranian soldiers' Human remains found in an abandoned Iraqi military base are those of Iranian soldiers killed in the Iran-Iraq war, an Iranian general has said. (BBC, 6 Apr 2003) 60 drown as boat capsizes At least 60 people, including women and children, have drowned when a boat packed with more than 170 passengers capsized in Bangladesh. Officials said around 100 people swam to safety or were rescued by local villagers when the overcrowded boat sank after hitting a barge near the industrial town of Chatak in Sunamganj district, north-eastern Bangladesh. (Ananova, 5 Apr 2003) Seven dead as Marines fire on truck at checkpoint Seven civilians, including three children, were killed when US Marines fired on a truck that refused to stop at a checkpoint south of Baghdad. (Ananova, 5 Apr 2003) Nail bomber attacked Police are investigating allegations that nail bomber David Copeland had been attacked at Broadmoor Hospital. (Ananova, 5 Apr 2003) Warrant issued for arrest of Milosevic's wife A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Slobodan Milosevic's wife in relation to the murder of a former Serbian president. Police would not specify what charges were included in the warrant to arrest Mirjana Markovic, but have accused her and her husband of being behind the murder of Ivan Stambolic. (Ananova, 5 Apr 2003) Web firm cuts al-Jazeera ties The English language website of the Arabic news network Al-Jazeera has been left more vulnerable to hackers after a US web delivery firm cancelled its contract with the station. (BBC, 5 Apr 2003) Is it the end of the road for UpMyStreet? UpMyStreet, the innovative Rupert Murdoch-backed dotcom that gives street by street information on local schools, MPs, crime rates and house prices, is looking for a buyer after running out of cash. (Guardian, 4 Apr 2003) 'Justice? I think not' The irony is I see little difference between Palestine and Iraq today. Illegal invasion, occupation and soon settlement (by America; Israel has already done that in its vicinity). (Guardian, 4 Apr 2003) VCs 'embarrassed' by large pay rises Vice-chancellors are sometimes embarrassed to take large pay rises in case they attract the hostility of badly paid academics, researchers said today. (Guardian, 4 Apr 2003) Al-Jazeera resumes work in Iraq Al-Jazeera, the Arabic news channel, has resumed full coverage from Iraq after Baghdad lifted its ban on two of its correspondents. (BBC, 4 Apr 2003) Universities 'nervous' of staff anti-war action Universities are getting increasingly nervous about their staff's anti-war activities, lecturers claimed today. At some institutions staff have been asked to keep the war debate out of the lecture hall and to not use their university email system for "personal/political" activities. (Guardian, 4 Apr 2003) Ministry blamed for learning scheme fraud Education officials who took short-cuts and ignored risks are being blamed for a learning scheme fraud which cost tens of millions of pounds. In the latest report on the scandal over Individual Learning Accounts (ILAs), MPs say the scheme was wide open to fraud. (BBC, 3 Apr 2003) Plastic bullet alternative 'in sight' The government hopes to have an alternative for plastic bullets before the end of this year and the riot control weapon could be withdrawn by then, the BBC has learned. The issue is part of the continuing discussions between Sinn Fein and the UK government. (BBC, 3 Apr 2003) Trial Adjourned As Bagambiki Completes Testimony The "Cyangugu trial", on Thursday adjourned after the prosecutor finished cross-examining one of the suspects Emmanuel Bagambiki, the former prefect of Cyangugu at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, (ICTR). (Hirondelle News Agency via allafrica.com, 3 Apr 2003) Record numbers cash in on equity boom The Bank of England says Britons withdrew a record £13.3 billion from the value of their homes during the final quarter of 2002. (Ananova, 3 Apr 2003) Irvine may no longer select judges Lord Irvine, the Lord Chancellor, may give up the power to appoint judges if a consultation exercise he announced yesterday persuades him of the need for change. (Telegraph, 3 Apr 2003) New school tables are derided as 'statistical nonsense' Four months late, the Government yesterday published school league tables based on the results of last year's "reformed" and calamitous A-level exams. (Telegraph, 3 Apr 2003) Secret Army unit aided loyalist assassins A covert Army unit colluded with loyalist paramilitaries to target suspected IRA terrorists for assassination, according to an official police report to be published later this month. (Telegraph, 3 Apr 2003) 'I saw the heads of my two little girls come off' An Iraqi mother in a van fired on by US soldiers says she saw her two young daughters decapitated in the incident that also killed her son and eight other members of her family. (Sydney Morning Herald, 2 Apr 2003) Civilian deaths rock campaign The killing of at least nine civilians at three checkpoints - by United States marines facing the threat of terrorist attacks - has severely damaged the allies' battle for Iraqi "hearts and minds". (Sydney Morning Herald, 2 Apr 2003) Lord Sainsbury gives £2.5m to Labour Lord Sainsbury of Turville, the science minister and former supermarket chief, has donated £2.5 million to the Labour Party, it was announced last night. It comes at a time when the Sainsbury supermarket chain has just had its bid for Safeways' supermarkets referred to the Competition Commission along with three other bids. However, Lord Sainsbury's business interests are held in a blind trust while he is in government. (Telegraph, 1 Apr 2003) Deal to Sell Water All Wet, Critics Charge The U.S. military came up with a solution yesterday for the penniless people of this port town begging for water: Sell it. Despite general mayhem at distribution points - including knife fights - the Army has struck a hasty agreement with local Iraqis to expedite distribution of water to the roughly 40,000 living here. Under the deal, the military will provide water free to locals with access to tanker trucks, who then will be allowed to sell the water for a "reasonable" fee. (New York Daily News via Common Dreams, 1 Apr 2003) |
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updated:
11 May
2003