| Home |
| Library |
| Contact us |
| About |
| Site index |
|
MP defiant over cockle pickers joke Tory MP Ann Winterton has defied calls for an apology after she was suspended from the parliamentary Conservative Party for making an insensitive joke about the deaths of 20 Chinese cockle pickers. (Ananova, 27 Feb 2004) Pro-Nigerian protesters meet UN team in Bakassi Thousands of Nigerian residents of the Bakassi Peninsula protested to a United Nations team visiting the disputed territory this week that they did not want to be handed over to Cameroon. (IRIN, 26 Feb 2004) Stop bugging us says UN British bugging of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's office is illegal if proved to be true, the world body says. ...Clare Short, who resigned as international development secretary shortly after last year's campaign to topple Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, claimed British intelligence agents spied on Annan in the run-up to the Iraq war. (Ananova, 26 Feb 2004) Mentoring 'can harm youngsters' Mentoring projects may not reduce antisocial behaviour in young people, according to new research. (Ananova, 26 Feb 2004) Charge against GCHQ whistleblower dropped A charge of disclosing information against British intelligence officer Katharine Gun has been dropped at the Old Bailey. (Ananova, 25 Feb 2004) More than 500 killed in Morocco earthquake Rescue teams are continuining to search for survivous after a massive earthquake killed more than 550 people in northern Morocco. (Ananova, 25 Feb 2004) Axe TV licence fee, says broadcasting panel A radical report is expected to call for the television licence fee to be scrapped, the BBC's board of governors abolished and the corporation split up. (Ananova, 24 Feb 2004) Enter the dragon, breathing fire into economy ... Angus Maddison, the distinguished economic historian, predicts that China could become the world's largest economy by 2015, thus regaining the position it held for most of human history until the 19th century. (Times, 24 Feb 2004) Weighing up TV's digital future It is official. More than half the homes in Britain now have digital television. ...Ofcom reckons almost one million Freeview adapters were sold in the last three months - but 15% were connected to second sets in homes that already had digital on the main set. Given that most homes have second, third or fourth TVs, that implies an awful lot of televisions which are still not digitally-adapted, are unlikely to be digitally-adapted by 2010, and would be rendered useless by analogue switch-off. (BBC, 24 Feb 2004) BT wins £18m airports deal for internet kiosks Telecoms group BT has won an £18 million deal to fit up to 180 of its new Internet kiosks at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports. ...The company plans to cut the number of basic payphones around the UK by about 30,000 to about 100,000 in the next two years. (Ananova, 23 Feb 2004) 200 unarmed civilians die in camp attack Government forces are searching for rebels who killed nearly 200 unarmed civilians seeking shelter at a displaced persons' camp in northern Uganda. (Ananova, 23 Feb 2004) Standard Life 'set to keep mutual status' Senior executives at Standard Life are understood to be cooling towards the possibility of seeking a stock market listing for the mutual. (Ananova, 22 Feb 2004) More than 40% 'unable to visit dentist' More than 40% of people in the UK are unable to visit a dentist due to the expense, a survey shows. (Ananova, 22 Feb 2004) Salt branded 'hidden weapon of mass destruction' Salt is a "hidden weapon of mass destruction", according to campaigners. (Ananova, 22 Feb 2004) Shantytown blaze leaves 30,000 homeless A fire in a Nairobi slum has destroyed hundreds of tin and timber houses and leaving up to 30,000 people homeless. (Ananova, 20 Feb 2004) More spent on alcohol than fruit and veg The average UK household spends more each week on alcohol to drink at home than on fresh fruit and vegetables, according to a detailed breakdown of the nation's spending habits. (Ananova, 20 Feb 2004) British police investigate freed Guantanamo detainees British anti-terrorism officers are investigating the cases of five Britons who are to be released by the US after being held for more than two years at Guantanamo Bay. (Ananova, 20 Feb 2004) Chinese police aid cockling deaths investigation A group of Chinese police officers is travelling to the UK to help identify the cockle-pickers who died in Morecambe Bay, police have said. (Telegraph, 20 Feb 2004) Enron head surrenders himself to FBI Jeff Skilling, former head of Enron, was charged yesterday with fraud, insider trading and lying about Enron's finances after he turned himself in to the FBI at dawn. (Telegraph, 20 Feb 2004) Police detention of peace activists is ruled unlawful Peace protesters yesterday won a landmark ruling that police acted unlawfully by forcing them to return home as they made their way to an anti-Iraq war demonstration. (Telegraph, 20 Feb 2004) Britons 'must avoid Haiti' Britons are being urged to avoid travelling to Haiti at all costs. (Ananova, 19 Feb 2004) Village planned for migrant strawberry pickers One of the country's biggest strawberry growers is planning to build a new village on rural land to accommodate 1,000 migrant workers. (Ananova, 19 Feb 2004) Housing shake-up row THE proposed replacement of 15 neighbourhood housing offices with five centralised bureaux has sparked union opposition. Almost 98 per cent of workers surveyed were against the move. Lambeth council's "reframing exercise" would see one office for each town centre. (South London Press, 19 Feb 2004) Guantanamo Britons to be released Five of the nine British prisoners being held in Guantanamo Bay are to be released, the Foreign Office has announced. (Ananova, 19 Feb 2004) Domestic abusers 'escape justice' Fewer than three out of every 100 domestic violence incidents reported to police result in a conviction, an official inspectors' report indicates. (BBC, 19 Feb 2004) Chancellor's youth volunteer scheme wins plaudits Volunteering organisations today welcomed the chancellor, Gordon Brown's, plans for a scheme to fund school-leavers to do a year's voluntary work in the community. (Guardian, 19 Mar 2004) No plans for big three to take over - Straw Jack Straw has denied that Britain, France and Germany are getting together to try to impose their will on the rest of the European Union. (Ananova, 18 Feb 2004) MONUC focusing troop deployment in eastern regions MONUC, known as the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is now focusing its troop deployment in the eastern regions of the vast central African country following improved security conditions elsewhere, the head of the mission, William Swing, told reporters on Wednesday. (IRIN, 18 Feb 2004) Met to put 30 more officers in schools One in four schools is to have a permanent police officer. A total of 30 officers are to be deployed in schools across London - on top of 83 already patrolling playgrounds. (Evening Standard, 18 Feb 2004) World seeks biodiversity accord Environment ministers from around the world meet in Malaysia on Wednesday to try to reach a deal to save threatened habitats and species. (BBC, 18 Feb 2004) Population to fall below five million Scotland's population is expected to fall below five million by 2009, according to new figures. (BBC, 18 Feb 2004) China internet dissident arrested A Chinese internet dissident who has been in detention since October has been formally arrested on charges of subversion. (BBC, 17 Feb 2004) Deal to tackle EU migrants agreed UK is not imposing restrictions on new EU member states Tony Blair and key ministers say they have agreed a package governing access to UK jobs and benefits for people from 10 new EU member states. (BBC, 17 Feb 2004) Poverty 'is world's worst threat' The leader of Catholics in England and Wales, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, says the biggest challenge confronting the world is not terrorism but poverty. (BBC, 17 Feb 2004) Iranian MPs launch attack on leader More than 100 reformist MPs have accused Iran's supreme leader of trampling on freedom and basic rights. The MPs, who include deputy speaker Mohammad Reza Khatami, have sent a letter to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticising his support for the disqualification of about 2,400 candidates in the parliamentary elections due to be held on Friday. (Ananova, 17 Feb 2004) Prisoner numbers reach record level The number of prisoners in England and Wales has reached an all-time high of 74,543. (Ananova, 17 Feb 2004) Growing plight of UK's young asthma sufferers A Global Initiative for Asthma shows the UK has a higher percentage of 13 and 14-year-olds who suffer asthma symptoms than anywhere else in the world. (Ananova, 17 Feb 2004) Civil servants 'to begin strike over low pay' Tens of thousands of public workers are to stage a 48-hour walkout. (Ananova, 17 Feb 2004) 20th body found after bay tragedy POLICE investigating the deaths of 19 suspected Chinese immigrants who drowned while collecting shellfish off northwest England earlier this month today said a 20th body had washed ashore. (Australian, 16 Feb 2004) 'No bail' bill passed in Zimbabwe Zimbabwe's parliament has passed a bill that allows suspects to be held for up to 21 days without bail, despite opposition resistance. (BBC, 16 Feb 2004) Aborigine teen's death sparks riot ... Attackers set fire to a railway station at the height of overnight rioting in the Redfern neighbourhood following the death of 17-year-old Aborigine Thomas Hickey. (Ananova, 16 Feb 2004) Cockling death toll 'really 24' Buddhist monks have said prayers for the victims Five more Chinese cocklers drowned in Morecambe Bay than the official number of 19, it has been claimed. (Ananova, 15 Feb 2004) Water park horror: 21 dead At least 21 people have been killed and 106 injured after a glass and concrete roof covering a huge Moscow water park collapsed. (Ananova, 16 Feb 2004) 'Most Americans believe Bush lied about WMD' A majority of Americans now believe that President George Bush lied or deliberately exaggerated evidence about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction in the run up to war, a new poll suggests. (Ananova, 13 Feb 2004) Fishing boss furious over cockle tragedy claims A fishing boss arrested over the deaths of 19 Chinese cockle pickers in Morecambe Bay says he is being made "a scapegoat" for the tragedy. (Ananova, 13 Feb 2004) Early Learning Centre 'to be sold for £80m' The Early Learning Centre is close to being acquired in a deal that could be worth around £80 million. (Ananova, 13 Feb 2004) 'Vanishing oil and gas could prompt birth rate nosedive' Dwindling oil and natural gas reserves could cause birth rates to plummet over the coming decades, it has been claimed. (Ananova, 13 Feb 2004) Haiti president refuses to resign Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has vowed to serve out his term in office, despite days of unrest aimed at forcing him to resign. (BBC, 12 Feb 2004) Government defends £10m payment to unions The Government has defended plans to give trade unions up to £10 million to fund modernisation after the Conservatives complained it was a "complete waste" of taxpayers' money. (Ananova, 12 Feb 2004)
As the waters on what the Chinese now call Ghost Beach rose to his shoulders, one of the cocklepickers used his mobile phone to make a last call to his wife 5,000 miles away. "I am in great danger," Guo Binglong told her. "I am up to my chest in water. Maybe I am going to die. (Telegraph, 11 Feb 2004) Resident Involvement: The Corporation Expects... The Housing Corporation has launched its Involvement Policy for the housing association sector. Housing associations, no matter how large or small must demonstrate how their services are influenced by the people living in their homes - or risk regulatory action. (Housing Corporation Press Release, 11 Feb 2004) Subdued workers return to the cockle bay Locals, back on the sand at dawn, tell of the rivalry that has turned to sympathy. (Telegraph, 11 Feb 2004) France bans Islamic school scarves France's lower house of parliament has voted overwhelmingly to ban students from wearing Islamic head scarves and other religious apparel in state schools. (Ananova, 10 Feb 2004) Dozens killed while queuing for police jobs At least 50 people have been killed and many injured after a car bomb exploded outside an Iraqi police station south of Baghdad. (Ananova, 10 Feb 2004) The dance of responsibility The philanthropic tradition is, historically, a much-praised component of Britain's civil society, and there are good reasons for pride. (Guardian, 10 Feb 2004) Kelly made most important contribution to politics - poll Dr David Kelly has been voted the person who made the most important contribution to politics last year. (Ananova, 10 Feb 2004) MPs to publish recipe book to help the poor Czech MPs who struggled to meet a challenge to live on the country's minimum wage are to publish a guide to cooking on a low budget. (Ananova, 10 Feb 2004) Four killed as rebels seize town in Haiti Rebels seized control of a key town in Haiti, burning a police station and emptying its prison in clashes which left four people dead. The violence, unleashed by the "Cannibal Army", rid Gonaives of the last vestige of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's authority over the town. (Telegraph, 7 Feb 2004) Trapped by the tide and sinking sands in night of growing horror The first indication of trouble came at 9.30pm on Thursday when someone dialled 999 and told police that between 23 and 25 people were stranded on the sands. The Lancashire helicopter and two helicopters from RAF Valley in north Wales were scrambled. (Guardian, 7 Feb 2004) Blair praises MP's work on New Cross Fire case TONY Blair said he hoped the second inquest into the New Cross fire, which happened 23 years ago, would be a conclusive resolution. (South London Press, 6 Feb 2004) DJ scraps show to talk boy out of suicide threat A late-night radio talkshow host who abandoned his programme to help a teenage boy who was threatening to kill himself has been praised by the police. (Ananova, 6 Feb 2004) Thousands of Jobcentre workers to strike Tens of thousands of workers in jobcentres and benefit offices are to stage a two-day strike following the collapse of pay talks. (Ananova, 5 Feb 2004) Call to improve additive labels on food ... Consumer magazine Which? believes a better system would give shoppers a clearer warning if they were anxious to avoid additives. (Ananova, 5 Feb 2004) National Rail Enquiries diverted to India Half of all calls to National Rail Enquiries are to be handled from India under a £100 million contract. (Ananova, 4 Feb 2004) Inquest begins into 14 victims of 1981 fire More than 23 years after fire swept through a house in south-east London killing 13 black youngsters at a birthday party, a second inquest was yesterday formally opened into their deaths. (Guardian, 3 Feb 2004) Rebranding signals push for community action The government unit that deals with charities and community action has launched a new logo and "brand identity" in a bid to boost its profile. The new logo for the Home Office's Active Communities Directorate (ACD) follows a reorganisation at the Home Office that has pushed the communities brief up the government agenda. (Guardian, 2 Feb 2004) Scores dead in double suicide bombing At least 57 people have been killed and 235 wounded in a double suicide bombing at the offices of two rival Kurdish parties in northern Iraq. (Ananova, 1 Feb 2004) Hundreds dead in Hajj stampede Authorities in Saudi Arabia say 244 worshippers have been crushed to death in a stampede at the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. (Ananova, 1 Feb 2004) |
| Cuttings |
|
|
|
|
|
|
updated:
24 Jul
2004