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Aids 'has killed 2m Nigerians' Nigeria has one of the world's highest numbers of people living with the Aids virus, the health minister has said. (BBC, 30 Apr 2004) DWal-Mart Turns to Smart Tags Wal-Mart Stores and a number of its suppliers are using a Dallas distribution center as the starting point for a technology that's targeted to one day replace the bar code. (Wired News, 30 Apr 2004) EU set to welcome new members Celebrations were taking place across Europe to mark the entry of 10 new member states into the European Union. (Ananova, 30 Apr 2004) Bush 'disgusted' by prisoner abuse The Allied occupation of Iraq has come under fresh scrutiny as shocking pictures of United States troops torturing prisoners prompted a wave of revulsion across the world. (Ananova, 30 Apr 2004) MoD probes Iraqi prisoner's death British troops have been investigated over 10 claims of torture and cruelty towards Iraqi prisoners of war - including allegations that soldiers beat a captive to death in Basra, the Ministry of Defence has revealed. (Ananova, 30 Apr 2004) UK soldiers face torture probe Shocking photographs apparently showing British troops torturing an Iraqi detainee have been published. (Ananova, 30 Apr 2004) See Abuse pictures are fakes - Minister (Ananova, 13 May 2004) Iraqi soldiers move into Falluja Iraqi forces have begun taking up positions vacated by US marines in the city of Falluja, scene of weeks of bloody clashes with rebels. (BBC, 30 Apr 2004) MI5 security advice goes online The security service MI5 has published its terrorist threat assessment and safety advice for the first time. (BBC, 30 Apr 2004) Ambassadors' letter to Blair Here is the letter sent by more than 50 former British ambassadors to Tony Blair, urging him either to influence US policy in the Middle East or to stop backing it: (BBC, 29 Apr 2004) Democracy, Liberty and Justice in México “Democracy, liberty, and justice for all.” These three words have become a motto for the indigenous rebels of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) as they build up their autonomous municipalities in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas. (Narco News, 29 Apr 2004) Behind Cuban prison walls It has been more than 15 years since the government last let foreign journalists take a look behind the walls and razor wire of Cuba's prisons. (BBC, 29 Apr 2004) House prices rise by £100 a day House prices rose by more than £100 a day during April as the booming property market continued to show no sign of slowing down, figures have revealed. (Ananova, 29 Apr 2004) Met 'to extend use of stun guns' Britain's largest police force has signalled its intention to extend the use of stun guns by its officers. The Metropolitan Police was one of five forces which took part in a trial of the controversial Taser weapons. (Ananova, 29 Apr 2004) Thailand on alert for more violence Thai troops are braced for new attacks after over 100 suspected militants were killed on Wednesday during fighting in the country's Muslim south. (BBC, 29 Apr 2004) 'I don't talk to tenants,' says Housing Minister Housing minister Keith Hill yesterday (Wednesday) ruled out a meeting with tenants as the deadlock over cash for council homes continues. (Camden New Journal, 29 Apr 2004) Universities 'rife with institutional sexism' A lecturer leader today claimed that universities were still rife with "institutional sexism" as a report revealed that despite being as qualified and ambitious as men, women were still failing to reach the top in academia. (Guardian, 28 Apr 2004) US renews attack on Falluja Explosions and heavy gunfire today rocked Falluja as US forces renewed their offensive against Sunni insurgents in the besieged city. (Guardian, 28 Apr 2004) Battle over south bank skyline begins Berkeley Homes hopes to build eight cylindrical residential towers between 12 and 19 storeys high on a site opposite the Tower of London. (Guardian, 28 Apr 2004) Southwark Council News Release: Potters Fields planning inquiry starts Estate agents 'must be made to put their house in order' The government was today urged to reject the recommendations for self-regulation given by an Office of Fair Trading report into estate agents, and make it mandatory for all agents to be regulated. (Guardian, 28 Apr 2004) Schools rebuff Blunkett's ID scheme David Blunkett's hopes of turning his identity card into a "citizenship entitlement" card suffered a new blow yesterday when it emerged that the cabinet has ruled out ID checks being carried out on the families of new pupils going to state schools. (Guardian, 28 Apr 2004) Journalists call on Phillips to quit Commission for Racial Equality More than half of ethnic minority journalists in Britain want Trevor Phillips to resign as head of the Commission for Racial Equality after he said the concept of multiculturalism should be ditched and minorities should strive to behave like white Britons. (Guardian, 28 Apr 2004) Women's jail 'should not be holding damaged inmates' The chief inspector of prisons, Anne Owers, today renewed her calls to remove women and girls suffering from severe mental illnesses from the prison system, after finding that yet another jail was unable to provide the help they need. (Guardian, 28 Apr 2004) Europe's Great Depression What is the cause of the sudden hysteria about migrant workers from east-central Europe among the existing EU states? Is it that politicians and their advisers have looked at the income data and suddenly realised the wage gap between east and west has not narrowed in the last 15 years? (Guardian, 28 Apr 2004) Londis retailers' bid fillip at £31k Londis shopkeepers will receive £31,266 each if they accept a new bid made by Irish firm Musgrave yesterday - three times as much as the controversial initial offer. (Guardian, 28 Apr 2004) British libraries could shut by 2020 Britain's once-proud public libraries, founded 154 years ago as "the university of the street", are starting to die on their feet, according to a report yesterday. (Guardian, 28 Apr 2004) Tapakuma community gets help from Canada-based Guyanese Paint to the value of some $75,000 was donated to the Tapakuma Amerindian Community in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) for the pavilion which was built under the President's Youth Choice Initiative programme. (Stabroek News, 28 Apr 2004) Five hopes to extend housing boom The media is full of dour warnings about house prices crashing. But this has not stopped Channel Five from fuelling the TV property programming boom with a new show in which Million Pound Property Experiment presenters are on a mission to rid the world of "shocking 70s avocado bathroom suites, vomit-inducing swirly carpets and wood chip wallpaper". (Guardian, 28 Apr 2004) East Timor in row over oil reserves The East Timorese president, Xanana Gusmao, claimed in an interview published yesterday that Australia had snatched oil reserves which belonged to his country. (Guardian, 28 Apr 2004) Classification Surges Upward The Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO), a division of the National Archives, has released its report for fiscal year 2003, and it confirms what we've suspected: The government is classifying information at a staggering, sharply increasing rate. (Memory Blog, 28 Apr 2004) Schools rebuff Blunkett's ID scheme David Blunkett's hopes of turning his identity card into a "citizenship entitlement" card suffered a new blow yesterday when it emerged that the cabinet has ruled out ID checks being carried out on the families of new pupils going to state schools. (Guardian, 28 Apr 2004) Unreported World: Bitter Harvest I write in connection with the above named programme which was broadcast in the UK on Channel 4 on Saturday 24 April 2004 at 18:00 hours. (Government Information Agency, Guyana, Daily Bulletin, 28 Apr 2004) Women's jail 'should not be holding damaged inmates' The chief inspector of prisons, Anne Owers, today renewed her calls to remove women and girls suffering from severe mental illnesses from the prison system, after finding that yet another jail was unable to provide the help they need. (Guardian, 28 Apr 2004) Europe's Great Depression What is the cause of the sudden hysteria about migrant workers from east-central Europe among the existing EU states? Is it that politicians and their advisers have looked at the income data and suddenly realised the wage gap between east and west has not narrowed in the last 15 years? (Guardian, 28 Apr 2004) A climate of distrust Since the administration announced the housing reframing, our Labour group has made it our highest priority target. (Guardian, 28 Apr 2004) London planners shout from the roof top Giles Dolphin has the most interesting planning job in London. At least that is what his boss, mayor Ken Livingstone, tells him. In the middle of a building boom he is responsible for recommending what gets built, turning the London Plan into buildings on the ground. (Guardian, 28 Apr 2004) UK lung deaths 'twice EU average' A greater proportion of people die from lung diseases in the UK than any other EU country except the Irish Republic, a report has shown. (BBC, 27 Apr 2004) UK diplomats launch mass attack on Blair policy Tony Blair faced an unprecedented attack on foreign policy in the Middle East and Iraq yesterday, when dozens of eminent former British envoys jointly wrote a damning letter to Downing Street. (Times, 27 Apr 2004) UK lung deaths 'twice EU average' A greater proportion of people die from lung diseases in the UK than any other EU country except the Irish Republic, a report has shown. (BBC, 27 Apr 2004) Why they sent the letter Normally, missives from ex-diplomats about how policy has gone wrong are given as much attention as ranting from ex-foreign correspondents about how news has gone wrong - virtually none. (BBC, 27 Apr 2004) NIGERIA: Ethnic clashes claim 20 lives in Plateau State At least 20 people died in three days of clashes between rival ethnic militias in central Plateau State, residents and officials said on Tuesday. (IRIN, 27 Apr 2004) Straw defends relationship with US Foreign Secretary Jack Straw issued a sharp warning against attempts to undermine Britain's relationship with the United States. (Ananova, 27 Apr 2004) UK diplomats launch mass attack on Blair policy Tony Blair faced an unprecedented attack on foreign policy in the Middle East and Iraq yesterday, when dozens of eminent former British envoys jointly wrote a damning letter to Downing Street. (Times, 27 Apr 2004) New industrial revolution begins in Eastern Europe Amid the wheatfields of Slovakia, the de-industrialisation of Western Europe is gathering pace. (Times, 26 Apr 2004) 'ID cards vital to tackle terror' Home Secretary David Blunkett claims that a national identity card scheme is essential to prevent Britain becoming a "soft touch" for terrorists. (Ananova, 26 Apr 2004) Porter pays out £12m A £12 million payment by Dame Shirley Porter to settle the homes-for-votes scandal is today at the centre of a growing controversy - investigators believe she may have surrendered only half her fortune. (Evening Standard, 26 Apr 2004) More Aid Pledged for Poor Countries World finance ministers pledged to do more to deal with the crushing burden of global poverty, promising help in education, debt relief and Aids. (Scotsman, 26 Apr 2004) Building workers dying 'one a month' An Inquiry has been ordered into why Scotland's construction boom is claiming a worker's life every month, making Scottish construction workers twice as likely to die as their English counterparts. (Times, 26 Apr 2004) Portugal marks 30th anniversary of revolution Portugal marks the 30-year anniversary of a military coup which toppled a long-lasting right-wing dictatorship, paving the way for the country to become a fully democratic member of the EU after years of isolation. (Channel News Asia Singapore, 25 Apr 2004) Brown dismisses housing crash fears Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown has dismissed fears of a crash in the housing market. (Ananova, 25 Apr 2004) Dozens dead in Iraq day of violence A day of violence across Iraq resulted in at least 33 Iraqis and four American soldiers being killed. (Ananova, 25 Apr 2004) PM faces huge revolt on EU - Hoey Prime Minister Tony Blair faces a rebellion of up to 50 MPs from his own party over plans for a new EU Constitution, a former minister has predicted. (Ananova, 25 Apr 2004) Dame Shirley agrees settlement Tesco heiress Dame Shirley Porter has agreed a provisional £12.3 million settlement with the local council she once led over the so-called "homes-for-votes" scandal. (Ananova, 24 Apr 2004) Beginner's guide to pinning down fraudsters Fraudsters should find life more difficult from next year when banks introduce new measures to protect credit and debit cardholders. (Telegraph, 24 Apr 2004) Jail warning over false ID papers The Government is to make carrying false identity papers a specific offence for the first time. (Ananova, 24 Apr 2004) Liberty to challenge town's youth curfew The civil rights group Liberty is to challenge the legality of a night-time curfew which banned children under 16 from a Cumbrian market town. The scheme was launched during the Easter holidays in Wigton, to clamp down on anti-social behaviour involving young people. (Guardian, 24 Apr 2004) Death by burning: the only escape for desperate Afghan women James Astill in Kabul finds a disturbing rise in suicides despite the fall of the misogynist Taliban. (Guardian, 24 Apr 2004) Seeking asylum without prejudice A report in the Guardian on April 16, under the heading "Migrants' 96 hours in police cells", was wrong to use the term "bogus asylum seekers", both in the text and in a sub-heading. (Guardian, 24 Apr 2004) France closes its last coal mine The final shovelful of coal has been mined in France, bringing to an end an industry nearly 300 years old. (BBC, 23 Apr 2004) 'Mass execution' in western Sudan New York-based group, Human Rights Watch says it has established that pro-government militias executed 136 men in a coordinated operation last month. The allegation comes as the United Nations Human Rights Commission adopted a watered down statement on Darfur. (BBC, 23 Apr 2004) Roma dare to dream of a life without poverty in EU Frantisek Kona lives with 12 relatives in a shabby two-room flat with a concrete floor for a bed and shreds of cloth in the glassless windows. He is one of the lucky ones: his building is made of breeze blocks. Across the dirt track where children play, his neighbours live in wooden and corrugated iron shacks that offer no defence against the cold. (Times, 23 Apr 2004) Heritage We reported on Tuesday that a blueprint for investing in the tourism sector had been launched the previous Friday by the Ministry of Tourism and Conservation International. (Stabroek News Editorial, 23 Apr 2004) Couples not compatible with each other's money Women are clinging on to their traditional role in controlling the family purse strings, according to research indicating that they still look after the bills in more than two thirds of couple households. (Times, 23 Apr 2004) Britain must prepare for coming of the great floods The annual cost of flood damage in Britain could soar from £1 billion to more than £20 billion if there is no new cash to build flood defences and prevent coastal erosion, a government report said yesterday. (Times, 23 Apr 2004) Public borrowing leaps to highest in a decade Public sector borrowing leapt to its highest level for almost a decade in the last financial year as the government spending spree continued to take its toll of the nation’s finances. (Times, 23 Apr 2004) Myths and reality of the draft EU constitution treaty Sir, Amid all the half truths being spread on the EU constitution (letters, April 22, etc), none is more irksome than the allegation that acceding to the treaty would irretrievably lock Britain into the EU project. In fact, the constitution creates an explicit process by which a country can leave the Union unilaterally, on two years’ notice. By contrast, the present treaties contain no provision for withdrawal, and for Britain to leave the Union would require a new treaty drafted for that purpose — a treaty which would have to be ratified by all 25 member states. (Times Readers' Letters, 23 Apr 2004) Detainee 'never quizzed in jail' A terror suspect jailed without charge has revealed he was not questioned once during his 16 months in prison. The 38-year-old Libyan, known only as M, was held under controversial anti-terrorism laws at the maximum security Belmarsh prison in south east London. (Ananova, 23 Apr 2004) New girl networks take on old boys in the workplace Professional women are successfully challenging the established power of the old boy network by setting up "new girl" organisations to provide mutual career support, according to a report today from the thinktank Demos. (Guardian, 23 Apr 2004) Blunkett targets sham marriages and bogus courses The home secretary, David Blunkett, yesterday promised action to clamp down on those who use sham marriages and non-existent language school courses to evade immigration laws. (Guardian, 23 Apr 2004) Rogue plumber jailed for rip-offs A rogue plumber who charged a pensioner more than £5,000 to unblock a drain, has been jailed for two and a half years. A judge in the case of Gary Seabrook said the public needed protection from unscrupulous tradesmen who preyed on the elderly out of "naked greed". (Ananova, 23 Apr 2004) Al Qaida suspect released on bail An Algerian suspected of being a terrorist with links to al Qaida has been released on bail and effectively placed under house arrest. (Ananova, 23 Apr 2004) Ban lifted on photos of dead soldiers' return Photographs of military coffins draped in the stars and stripes were today published in the US for the first time since the start of the war in Iraq following a successful legal challenge to a ban on publishing images of dead soldiers' homecomings. (Guardian, 23 Apr 2004) Atkinson counts cost of outburst Ron Atkinson is counting the cost of a racist outburst which shocked the world of football and forced him to resign from his post at ITV Sport. (Ananova, 22 Apr 2004) Co-op 'divi' returns for consumers after 30 years The Co-operative Group is reviving the "Co-op divi" after 30 years, paying a £10 flat rate to its consumer members. (Telegraph, 22 Apr 2004) Defiant Vanunu celebrates freedom A defiant Mordechai Vanunu has been enjoying his first hours of freedom after serving an 18-year jail sentence for leaking Israel's nuclear secrets. (BBC, 21 Apr 2004) Clashes flare in besieged Falluja Fierce clashes between US troops and militants have shaken a tentative ceasefire in the Iraqi city of Falluja. (BBC, 21 Apr 2004) Police search library computers without a warrant The mayor of Central Falls authorized two police officers to search the Central Falls Public Library's computers without a warrant yesterday morning to look for a political speech someone may have written for the previous mayor. (Providence Journal, 21 Apr 2004) Tesco rings up £55 a second Tesco, Britain's biggest supermarket, took an astonishing £90million every day last year, figures released yesterday show. (Mirror, 21 Apr 2004) Archbishop accuses Labour of damaging democracy The Archbishop of Canterbury accused Tony Blair of eroding public trust in Britain's political system yesterday as he launched a wide-ranging attack on the style and conduct of the Government. (Times, 21 Apr 2004) Not enough being done to fight world poverty, says WEF The world's governments are failing miserably to meet goals they have set themselves to reduce poverty, war and hunger, a leading business group says. (New Zealand Herald, 21 Apr 2004) Reality television When US forces recently demanded that a team from the Arabic TV station al-Jazeera leave Falluja as a condition for reaching a ceasefire with the local resistance, it came as no surprise at the network's headquarters in Doha. (Guardian, 21 Apr 2004) Guyana's High Commissioner attends launch of Bernie Grant archive Guyana's High Commissioner to London, Lal Singh was among dignitaries who attended the recent launch of the archive project which was opened on the fourth anniversary of the death of outspoken Guyanese-born British MP Bernie Grant.... A website based on the archive is also located at www.berniegrantarchive.com and it includes audio and video clips from the collection. (Stabroek News, 20 Apr 2004) DDelivering skills for sustainable communities: Egan Skills Review An ambitious vision to identify and develop the skills needed for prosperous sustainable communities, was today outlined by Sir John Egan in the Egan Skills Review. (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister News Release, 19 Apr 2004) Give up arms, Fallujah gunmen told The US and leaders of the besieged Iraqi city of Fallujah have called on Sunni gunmen to surrender their weapons or face an American marines onslaught. (Ananova, 19 Apr 2004) Who will speak out? US troops have carried out a massacre in Falluja, but MPs are silent. (Guardian, 17 Apr 2004) Profile: Hamas leader Rantissi Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi, who was killed in an Israeli missile strike on 17 April, had been one of the most forceful spokesmen against compromise with Israel. (BBC, 17 Apr 2004) Nigeria's 'respectable' slave trade "Trafficking in human beings" is a phrase guaranteed to cause a sharp intake of breath among listeners from the liberal and affluent and concerned West. (BBC, 17 Apr 2004) PCs 'infested' with spy programs The average computer is packed with hidden software that can secretly spy on online habits, a study has found. (BBC, 16 Apr 2004) Cuba slams US over Guantanamo At the UN Human Rights Commission meeting in Geneva, the Cuban delegation has tabled a resolution on arbitrary detentions in Guantanamo Bay. (BBC, 16 Apr 2004) Aboriginal leaders warn scrapping ATSIC is folly Prominent Cape York Aboriginal leader Noel Pearson says the Howard Government is making a terrible mistake by abolishing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) and mainstreaming its functions. (ABC News Online, 16 Apr 2004) Gaurav barely escapes cane crushing Movie star Kumar Gaurav, now filming "Guiana 1838" in Berbice, nearly got himself into a pickle while performing a stunt. (Stabroek News, 16 Apr 2004) Cave yields 'earliest jewellery' The oldest pieces of jewellery made by modern humans have emerged in Africa. Shell beads found in Blombos Cave on the southern tip of the continent are 75,000 years old, scientists say. (BBC, 16 Apr 2004) More on rebranding multiculturalism I was disappointed Bernard Crick (Comment, April, 12) should have misrepresented the Runnymede report on the Future of Multi-Ethnic Britain and repeated the distortions spread about it by the rightwing press. (Guardian, 16 Apr 2004) £600,000 for web pioneer The British-born scientist credited with inventing the world wide web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, has been awarded the first Millennium Technology Prize. (Guardian, 16 Apr 2004) Fallujah: Disturbing Parallel With Jenin On April 3, the second anniversary of the Israeli Army assault on Jenin in the West Bank, hundreds of Palestinian refugees congregated in the camp’s flattened square. (Arab News, 16 Apr 2004) Aslef leader warns of union rift The leader of Britain's biggest train drivers' union claims he has lost day-to-day control because of a power struggle with the left-wing executive. Blairite General Secretary Shaun Brady won his job at Aslef last year by the largest majority in 10 years. (BBC, 16 Apr 2004) 1m children living in unfit homes, says Shelter More than a million children are growing up in squalid housing that is damaging their health, education and prospects, the charity Shelter said yesterday. (Guardian, 16 Apr 2004) Cabinet pushes for referendum Tony Blair is under pressure from leading members of the cabinet to call a referendum on the new European constitution amid fears that refusing to do so will massively damage Labour at this summer's European and local elections. (Guardian, 16 Apr 2004) GM soya 'miracle' turns sour in Argentina Seven years after GM soya was introduced to Argentina as an economic miracle for poor farmers, researchers claim it is causing an environmental crisis, damaging soil bacteria and allowing herbicide-resistant weeds to grow out of control. (Guardian, 16 Apr 2004) The Guardian profile: Mordechai Vanunu An imprisoned hero, a Nobel prize nominee, a victim, or a traitor: Israel's nuclear whistleblower represents many things to many people. How will he and his country react when the day of his release from jail dawns next week? (Guardian, 16 Apr 2004) Lowest unemployment for 20 years Unemployment fell by 33,000 in the three months to February to 1.43 million, the lowest total for 20 years, official figures showed. The number of people claiming unemployment benefit last month fell by 4,200 to 882,200, said the Office for National Statistics. (Ananova, 16 Apr 2004) A third of Brazilians live on $1 One-third of Brazil's population, or some 58 million people, live on less than a dollar a day, a report says. (BBC, 16 Apr 2004) Oxfam slams European sugar tariff Oxfam has called for an end to guaranteed prices for European sugar producers because it says the practice is unfair to poorer farmers. (BBC, 16 Apr 2004) Bush backs Sharon plan for West Bank President George W Bush gave his blessing to Israel's demands for annexation of parts of the West Bank yesterday in a fundamental shift of policy that will outrage the Arab world. (Telegraph, 15 Apr 2004) Fallujah Truce Shaken by Heavy Nightly Fighting US warplanes strafed gunmen in Fallujah and more than 100 guerrillas armed with rocket-propelled grenades pounded a lone US armoured vehicle – a sign of heavy battles ahead if troops resume a full assault on this besieged city. (Scotsman, 15 Apr 2004) Power in the Union ... Thirteen of the European Union's current and new members (joining on May 1) are introducing the European health insurance card from June 1. (Guardian, 15 Apr 2004) Howard axes Aboriginal body Australian Prime Minister John Howard has announced plans to abolish the country's top Aboriginal body. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) was created to represent the country's impoverished indigenous population. (BBC, 15 Apr 2004) Wind and sun power Rupununi internet café They may be miles from nowhere but residents of Bina Hill, Annai can go anywhere in the world thanks to an internet café powered by a wind and solar generation system. (Stabroek News, 15 Apr 2004) Websites 'failing' disabled users An investigation by the Disability Rights Commission shows that more than 80 percent of websites are unusable by disabled people. (BBC, 14 Apr 2004) European cities push green vehicle procurement A network representing over 100 European cities has called for the development of purchasing syndicates for clean buses. Following a meeting in Brussels, the Civitas initiative said that, in the absence of European or national legislation, it had a "unique opportunity" to use green procurement to boost the volume and quality of clean vehicles and fuels production. The European Commission's 2000 proposal for an EU target of 20% biofuels and other substitute fuels by 2020 (ED 20/08/01) "can be met", Civitas said. (Environment Daily, 14 Apr 2004) Civitas Press Release District Auditor to hear complaint over Almo A rebel tenant is to meet with the District Auditor later this month over his complaints that Camden spent too much money pushing its bid to join the government's flagship policy for council housing. (Camden New Journal, 14 Apr 2004) Disabled web access is 'being ignored' A study of 1,000 websites across the UK today revealed not only that most organisations breach guidelines on making sites accessible to disabled users and risk legal action under disability discrimination laws, but that the guidelines themselves may be inadequate. (The Register, 14 Apr 2004) M6 death crash chaos One man died and another was left fighting for life after a horror smash that closed the M6 in Birmingham today. (Birmingham Evening Mail, 13 Apr 2004) Societies reject handover demand Building societies are fighting Government proposals to force them to hand over unclaimed assets, arguing that they are legally prevented from doing so. (Telegraph, 13 Apr 2004) Treasury plans £20bn dormant accounts grab The government is considering radical legislation to force financial institutions to hand unclaimed cash held in dormant savings accounts over to the Treasury. (Telegraph, 13 Apr 2004) Egg rewards you for not using its card People who stopped using their Egg credit cards when the bank announced that it was slashing the cashback rate from 0.5 per cent to 0.1 per cent are now being offered 20 per cent cashback. (Telegraph, 13 Apr 2004) Mozambique transforms its economy Mozambique has emerged from being the poorest country in the world, virtually destroyed by civil war, into one of the top destinations for foreign investment in Africa. (BBC, 13 Apr 2004) 100 road deaths shock More than 100 people were killed and more than 8,000 injured on South London's roads in a five year period. (South London Press, 13 Apr 2004) Move out call hits 30-year occupiers Squatters who have lived in a street for three decades are facing eviction to make way for homeless people on a South London council's housing waiting list. Residents moved into empty houses in St Agnes Place, Kennington, in 1974 and the road is now home to about 70 families. (South London Press, 13 Apr 2004) Teachers to oppose any hijab ban Schools in England and Wales must not follow the example of France and ban Muslim girls from wearing the hijab in class, teachers are to argue. (Ananova, 12 Apr 2004) Priest's crusade to return African treasures When a Scottish priest returned a 400-year-old carved wooden object he found in the back of a vestry cupboard to Ethiopia, he thought it might have some religious significance to the people of the African nation. (Scotsman, 12 Apr 2004) Maths gives you a head start People with a gift for maths really are better at using their heads, scientists have revealed. (Ananova, 12 Apr 2004) Violence erupts in Iraq Violence has erupted in Iraq despite a fragile ceasefire between Sunni militants and US marines in the besieged city of Fallujah, where Iraqis said more than 600 civilians were killed in the past week. (Ananova, 12 Apr 2004) All this talk of Britain is so ... English Before New Labour bins multiculturalism it should take heart from the history of the British Isles. (Guardian, 12 Apr 2004) How British do you want to be? Trevor Phillips, chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, has called for an end to multiculturalism in Britain. Separateness is over, he said last week. It is time to rediscover the nation's belief in 'core British values' and integrate under an umbrella marked with the colours of the Union flag. (Guardian, 11 Apr 2004) Workers find voice on the net A leafy suburb of north London may seem an unlikely spot for an international radio station devoted to workers' rights. (BBC, 11 Apr 2004) 1,600 rural post offices threatened More than 1,600 rural post offices could face closure under recommendations from the Post Office regulator. (Ananova, 10 Apr 2004) 'US is bigger threat than terror' Globalisation and the US pose a more serious threat to the world than war and terrorism, according to a BBC poll. (BBC, 9 Apr 2004) Managers line up to run private stock Major house builders are considering plans for social housing that would be built and managed entirely by the private sector. Developers have already begun poaching housing association staff as they gear up for government plans to hand them social housing grant (Inside Housing, 9 April). 'Bigger threat than terrorism' The US and globalisation pose a bigger threat to the world than terrorism and war, according to an international poll. (Ananova, 9 Apr 2004) Parents' views on testing Most parents in England and Wales do not think it is right to put seven-year-olds through formal exams. (Ananova, 9 Apr 2004) France blamed as Rwanda marks genocide date France's representative at a commemoration to mark the 10th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide yesterday left early after accusations that France was partly responsible for the tragedy. (Guardian, 8 Apr 2004) Amazon shrinkage alarms activists Much Amazon destruction occurs due to logging to create farms Environmental groups are calling for urgent action to slow deforestation in Brazil's Amazon jungle. (BBC, 8 Apr 2004) Asylum laws 'hitting vulnerable' A woman made pregnant by a rapist was among the asylum seekers denied financial support under tough new Government rules, it has been claimed. (Ananova, 8 Apr 2004) LA voters send Wal-Mart packing Wal-Mart wanted 40 new megastores across California Voters in the Los Angeles suburb of Inglewood have delivered a decisive snub to supermarket giant Wal-Mart. (BBC, 7 Apr 2004) School transport 'is in crisis' Too many buses are sub-standard, MPs were told MPs say the school transport system in England is in crisis, with old buses and poor services driving more parents to use their cars. (BBC, 7 Apr 2004) TV food adverts target children Some of Britain's biggest food companies are targeting children with up to 40% of their television adverts, the BBC has learned. (BBC, 7 Apr 2004) Press at odds over Hong Kong move The decision by a Chinese parliamentary committee that Beijing has the final say over Hong Kong's political future has sparked a fierce debate in the region's press. (BBC, 7 Apr 2004) Australia 'helped send refugees to their death at sea' More than 350 refugees who were drowned in one of the worst maritime disasters of recent years were put on their boat by Indonesian police officers acting in cooperation with the Australian police, it was alleged in a Brisbane court yesterday. (Guardian, 7 Apr 2004) Planners in cleft stick over kids on the block Developers in London are trying to squeeze more, smaller flats into new blocks, a trend planners believe will exclude families from large areas of the city centre. (Guardian, 7 Apr 2004) Inmates outnumber usable jail places The crisis in jail overcrowding has reached its worst point since 2002 as the number of inmates exceeded the official number of usable places the prison service has. A total of 75,544 people were in jails across England and Wales yesterday morning, itself a record and 107 above the prison service's "usable operational capacity" of 75,437, the supposed maximum level. (Guardian, 7 Apr 2004) Over a million killed on world's roads Over 1.2m people are killed in road traffic accidents around the world each year, according to a report. (BBC, 6 Apr 2004) Mobile phones 'harm blood cells' Mobile phone radiation may damage cells by increasing the forces they exert on each other, scientists have said. (BBC, 6 Apr 2004) Cop's 'rape' was made up A police officer falsely claimed she was raped by a black youth because she was upset over the end of a relationship. Sarah Hunter, 22, said she was attacked by a gang after a night out with friends. Colleagues launched a "painstaking" investigation to track down the alleged rapist, Inner London Crown Court heard on Friday. (South London Press, 6 Apr 2004) Rwanda marks genocide anniversary Rwanda is marking the 10th anniversary of the 1994 genocide. The slaughter was triggered by the shooting down of a plane with Rwanda's Hutu President Juvenal Habyarimana onboard on 6 April 1994. (BBC, 6 Apr 2004) Black women in US 23 times as likely to get Aids virus African-American women are 23 times as likely to be infected with the Aids virus as white women and account for 71.8% of new HIV cases among women in 29 US states, government research shows. (Guardian, 6 Apr 2004) Obesity 'as big a cancer risk as smoking' Obesity may soon be a factor in one in three deaths from cancer, making it a threat as big as smoking, the charity Cancer Research UK said yesterday. (Guardian, 6 Apr 2004) Infants weaned on TV 'cannot concentrate' Children under two should not watch television because it increases the risk of them developing attention deficit disorder, a US scientific report argued yesterday. (Guardian, 6 Apr 2004) The lost children of Nigeria's sex trade Rita's eyes opened wide as she described the voodoo ceremony intended to condemn her to a life of prostitution. (Times, 5 Apr 2004) Ex-rulers win Guinea-Bissau poll Guinea-Bissau has announced preliminary results of last week's general election, which has brought victory for the former ruling party. Electoral commission head Higinio Cardoso said the PAIGC had won, but without a majority in parliament. (BBC, 5 Apr 2004) Dozens killed in Iraq violence At least 22 Iraqis, eight US troops and one Salvadoran soldier died in one of the worst days of violence in Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein. The riots were ignited by the arrest on Saturday of an aide to anti-US cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, known to his reverent followers as "al-Sayed" or "Master". Mustafa al-Yacoubi, a senior aide to Al-Sadr, was arrested in connection with the murder of Abdel-Majid al-Khoei, a rival Shiite cleric. (Ananova, 5 Apr 2004) Shiites angered by newspaper's closure With the United States planning to surrender political power to Iraqis by the end of June, Washington can little afford a new front in the increasingly violent battle to pacify the country. Closing al-Hawza, the weekly newspaper of the zealously anti-US Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, threatens to open one. (Scotsman, 5 Apr 2004) Rwanda remembers 1994 genocide Ten days to commemorate the Rwandan genocide 10 years ago have begun as foreigners and locals visited churches where thousands were slaughtered and a conference heard a plea to end global indifference. (Al-Jazeera, 4 Apr 2004) A brand new age of silver service Pension credit could become easier to claim if plans materialise for a one-stop 'third age service'. The brainchild of the Department of Health, the service would operate through offices set up by local authorities where pensioners could seek assistance on a range of issues. Pension credit application line: 0800 99 1234. See also www.pensions.gov.uk. (Guardian, 4 Apr 2004) Youth accused of murdering man, 80 A teenager will appear in court accused of murdering an 80-year-old Asian man in a street attack. ...Akberali Tayabali Mohamedally, of Radcliffe Way, Southall, was pronounced dead in hospital after an assault in an underpass at a roundabout in Northolt on Friday evening. (Ananova, 4 Apr 2004) Prison demo over anti-terrorism law Civil rights groups campaigning for the release of inmates held without trial under anti-terrorism laws were holding a demonstration at a prison. (Ananova, 4 Apr 2004) Equality chief branded as 'right wing' Britain's race relations chief Trevor Phillips was attacked by politicians, community leaders and commentators yesterday after he called for the country to abandon its attempts to be more multicultural. (Guardian, 4 Apr 2004) Unique tribe on edge of extinction On a small group of islands near the coast of Burma, the days of a unique tribal people are numbered. Settlers are moving into their patches of virgin forest and threatening to drive them out of existence. Enmay belongs to the Jarawa tribe. It is not known exactly how old he is, but he is thought to be about 15 or 16. (BBC, 3 Apr 2004) Thirteen workers die as safety standards are ignored in race to build Olympic sites Immigrant workers racing against the clock to build Greece's Olympic dream in Athens have been dying in shockingly large numbers in industrial accidents, according to a confidential report obtained by The Independent. (Independent, 3 Apr 2004) DCredit card marketing condemned by charity Citizens Advice, the nationwide charity which gives free advice to people in financial difficulty, this week accused the major credit card companies of "irresponsible marketing". (Independent, 3 Apr 2004) DCouncil tenants may face curbs on buying homes Council house tenants may have less than a year to exercise the right to buy their properties before new restrictions are put in place, according to a leading mortgage broker. (Independent, 3 Apr 2004) Europe's pensioners hit streets Hundreds of thousands of people across Europe, many of them elderly, have marched in protest at plans to reform welfare systems. (BBC, 3 Apr 2004) The bitter cost of one nation's coffee boom In just 20 years, Vietnamese coffee has come from nowhere to dominate the global market. Its success has left a nasty taste in many mouths. (Independent, 3 Apr 2004) Mugabe aiding Namibia land grab Namibia has enlisted the help of Robert Mugabe's land "experts" as it intensifies its own land seizure programme. The news has further unsettled the white farmers and severely dented investor confidence in southern Africa. (Independent, 3 Apr 2004) University refuses to return looted manuscripts A campaign for the return of treasure looted by British soldiers in Ethiopia more than 130 years ago suffered a blow when organisers were told that four valuable manuscripts were unlikely to be returned. Edinburgh University's director of collections rejected a plea for the return of the documents, taken as spoils of war by victorious troops after the bloody siege of Magdala in 1868. (Independent, 3 Apr 2004) Plan to end home repossessions Home repossessions could be a thing of the past under proposals set out by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML), which represents the £750 billlion home loans industry. (Times, 3 Apr 2004) DSixty reasons why Britain needs immigrants Next month's expansion of the EU will see scores of young, highly educated Poles arriving in Britain to do jobs we don't want to do. (Independent, 3 Apr 2004) Five years on, 200,000 workers are paid less than the minimum wage The minimum wage was hailed as one of the great achievements of New Labour. But five years after it was introduced, more than 200,000 people in Britain are still on illegally low rates of pay. (Independent, 3 Apr 2004) Expert warns of obesity timebomb Tens of thousands of obese children are in danger of dying before their parents, a leading health expert has warned. (Ananova, 3 Apr 2004) Algeria, staging post for the world of terror In the smart middle-class district of Kouba, the man who once posed the greatest threat to the survival of the modern Algerian state, is now a discreet symbol of the failure of home-grown fundamentalism. (Times, 3 Apr 2004) Britain 'must scrap multiculturalism' Britain’s race relations chief last night called for the abandonment of the policy pursued by successive governments since the 1960s of building a “multicultural society”. Trevor Phillips, the chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, said that multiculturalism was out of date and no longer useful, not least because it encouraged “separateness” between communities. (!!) (Times, 3 Apr 2004) South India suicide is world high Researchers focused on young men and women in Tamil Nadu Suicide rates among young people in southern India are the highest in the world, researchers say. (BBC, 2 Apr 2004) Dentist who cheated NHS jailed A dentist who cheated the NHS out of thousands of pounds by submitting bogus payment forms has been jailed for nine months and also faces being banned from his profession. Michael Bolsin, 52, created fictitious patients, claimed for treatment twice, both from patients and the NHS, and forged his patients' signatures in a £10,000 scam from his dental surgery in Wivenhoe, Essex. (Ananova, 2 Apr 2004) Nato marks its eastward expansion The flags of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia were raised for the first time at the Nato headquarters in Brussels. (BBC, 2 Apr 2004) House prices feed debt Homeowners cashed in on the rising value of their properties at breakneck pace last year, taking out £53 billion to spend on foreign holidays, home improvements and credit card repayments. (Times, 2 Apr 2004) 'Thousands raped' in Congo Tribal fighters and former rebels have raped thousands of women in eastern Congo despite a year-old peace deal that was supposed to restore order in the region, an international aid group said yesterday. (Guardian, 2 Apr 2004) Demand for beef speeds destruction of Amazon forest Europe's demand for beef made 2003 one of the worst years ever for Amazonian deforestation, according to an international research report that quotes Brazilian government figures due to be released soon. (Guardian, 2 Apr 2004) Focus on victims of a 30-year dirty war On February 12 1989, the solicitor Pat Finucane sat down to dinner at his Belfast home with his wife, Geraldine, and their three children. (Guardian, 2 Apr 2004) Lords yield on trials for all-postal voting The Government won a long-runing battle with the Lords at the eleventh hour yesterday when the Upper House backed down over all-postal voting trials. (Times, 2 Apr 2004) Unit trust dealing 'costs £1.7bn' Share dealing by unit trust managers is costing savers about £1.7 billion a year, taking their total expenses to beyond £5 billion, according a survey published yesterday. (Times, 2 Apr 2004) Now minister blames the New Journal The housing minister who called tenants fighting the government’s flagship plans for council housing as “communists” and “Trotskyists” has also unleashed an attack on the New Journal for its extensive coverage of the debate. ... It was only after 77 per cent tenants and leaseholders who took part in the referendum voted against the scheme that the New Journal joined the united campaign for direct investment formed by residents and politicians from all parties, including Holborn and St Pancras MP Frank Dobson. The campaign, which includes the popular petition circulated in the newspaper over the past two months, demands £283 million earmarked for the now aborted Almo plan is sent to Camden immediately. (Camden New Journal, 1 Apr 2004) Powerful police complaints body launched ... The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), while monitoring police performance, will focus on cases of high public concern, a Home Office statement said on Thursday. (Mirror, 1 Apr 2004) PM hints at ID card move Tony Blair has signalled that the Government was preparing to draw up further anti-terrorist legislation. (Ananova, 1 Apr 2004) |
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updated:
22 Dec
2004