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There's nae room at the inn for gay southerners A gay couple from the South have fallen under the dark shadow of Calvin and Knox that still looms over the sterner reaches of the Presbyterian North. (Times, 30 Jun 2004) Bombing of Dresden Richard Morrison (T2, June 28) suggests that criticism of the Dresden air raid is peculiarly German. (Times reader's letter, 30 Jun 2004) Russians guilty of Chechen murder Two Russian intelligence agents have been sentenced to life in jail by a Qatari court for the murder of a former Chechen leader there in February. (BBC, 30 Jun 2004) Dumped TVs and computers sold to developing world Millions of television sets and old computer monitors taken to civic amenity sites as rubbish are being collectedand shipped to Africa and Asia in an illegal trade worth £7m a year, according to an unpublished report by the Environment Agency and the recycling industry. (Guardian, 30 Jun 2004) Older people face a lonely future, thinktank warns The number of lonely and isolated older people in Britain will grow by a third to 2.2 million by 2021 due to rising rates of divorce and childlessness, according to the centre-left thinktank Demos. (Guardian, 30 Jun 2004) Tackling poverty is the priority How big a role will poverty and inequality play in the forthcoming general election? Despite adopting in 1999 a bold new goal of eradicating child poverty within 20 years - the most radical Labour social policy in decades - there was only one ministerial speech on the issue in the last election. (Guardian, 30 Jun 2004) The worm has turned A pioneering scheme to compost food waste has banished rats and rot from a London estate. (Guardian, 30 Jun 2004) Rwanda tribunal strapped for cash The international court charged with trying suspects in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda has said it is suffering a severe lack of funds. (BBC, 30 Jun 2004) Ivory Coast rebels boycott talks Former rebels are refusing to attend talks between Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo and opposition parties. (BBC, 29 Jun 2004) Plan to close 550 benefit offices More than 500 benefit offices across the UK are to close under controversial plans to axe 30,000 civil service jobs, union leaders have said. (Ananova, 29 Jun 2004) Brown sets date for spending plans Chancellor Gordon Brown will publish his comprehensive spending review on Monday July 12, it was announced in a written ministerial statement. (Ananova, 29 Jun 2004) BBC unveils charter manifesto The BBC today launched a nine-point manifesto for its future involving sweeping reforms to the board of governors, a pledge to "eliminate derivative and cynical programmes" and a challenge to the government's plans to turn off analogue TV by 2010. (Guardian, 29 Jun 2004) Iwokrama, Conservation International sign biodiversity pact Conservation International (Guyana) and the Iwokrama International Centre for Conservation and Develop-ment have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to further the effective management, conservation and sustainable use of Guyana's biodiversity. (Stabroek News, 29 Jun 2004) Britons near £1,000bn debt mark Consumers crept closer to collectively being £1,000bn in the red in May, according to a Bank of England report out today. (Guardian, 29 Jun 2004) Oil exports must triple to rebuild economy Iraq's government is relying on its terrorist-threatened oil industry to help it cope with mass unemployment, living standards which are less than a quarter of the level of 25 years ago and a debt burden as crippling as the poorest countries of Africa. (Guardian, 29 Jun 2004) Black ordered to repay $30m A judge yesterday ordered Lord Black and his holding company to repay Hollinger International $29.8m (£16.3m) immediately in disputed management fees and non-compete payments. (Guardian, 29 Jun 2004) Guantánamo plight Nicolas Kent (Letters, 28 June) makes a valid point about the plight of British resident Bisher al-Rawi, detained in Guantánamo. The foreign secretary has now "reflected further" on Bisher's case, after a meeting with his family. (Guardian, 29 Jun 2004) Vanunu's rights The so-called law breaking by Mordechai Vanunu was 18 years ago (Letters, June 26). (Guardian, 29 Jun 2004) US ends occupation at secret meeting The United States brought to an end its 15-month occupation of Iraq yesterday in a brief and secret ceremony staged two days early because of mounting security threats. (Guardian, 29 Jun 2004) Cops involved in Bennett shooting granted anonymity The High Court has granted anonymity to two cops involved in the fatal shooting of a father-of-four when they give evidence at a forthcoming inquest. (South London Press, 29 Jun 2004) Britain 'still poaching' Third World's doctors The health service was accused of shameful exploitation yesterday for poaching doctors from overseas because it failed to produce enough of its own. (Telegraph, 29 Jun 2004) Union cites 'saboteurs' for Paris rail chaos Militant French electricity workers were blamed yesterday for power cuts to the rail network around Paris that caused rush-hour disruption to the capital. The action was condemned by the power workers' own union. (Telegraph, 29 Jun 2004) Father welcomes Guantanamo ruling The father of a Briton held in Guantanamo Bay has welcomed a US court decision to allow prisoners to challenge their detention. (BBC, 29 Jun 2004) Nigeria seeks to curb union power Nigeria's powerful umbrella trade union body will be broken up, the president has said. (BBC, 29 Jun 2004) PM asks Bush to return detainees Prime Minister Tony Blair has personally asked US President George Bush to send home the four remaining British detainees in Guantanamo Bay. (Ananova, 26 Jun 2004) Terror, Europe and others On Easter Monday I was in central London sketching locations of South Bank entertainment sites on the Waterloo South Bank footbridge in preparation for a meeting with a client to whom I hope to sell a signage system. (Independent, 26 Jun 2004) Guantanamo Bay trials unfair, says Attorney General Britain's senior law officer said yesterday that American plans for military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay were unacceptable to the Government. (Telegraph, 26 Jun 2004) GM corn product gets EU blessing The European Commission has proposed that EU governments approve a US company's genetically modified corn for use in processed foods. (Ananova, 26 Jun 2004) DElectricity rebels give power back to poor of Paris As dawn broke, rubber gloves fumbled with a fuse box and the lights in the squalid suburban flat flickered on after weeks of darkness. (Telegraph, 25 Jun 2004) Strike off as Network Rail agrees to restore pensions A rail strike that threatened to cause travel chaos across the country was called off last night after Network Rail agreed to reopen its final salary pension scheme. (The Herald, 25 Jun 2004) Wave of attacks hits Iraqi forces Eighty-five people have been killed and 320 wounded in a wave of attacks across Iraq - less than a week before the handover of power. (BBC, 24 Jun 2004) Legal bills push up cost of Queen Thousands of pounds have been spent on tying royal servants into tighter confidentiality agreements, Buckingham Palace has revealed. (BBC, 24 Jun 2004) Go on, give Neil his longed-for chance to take on Murdoch No wonder the staff at the Telegraph titles cheered at the news that the Barclay twins were their new proprietors. The brothers may not have prospered as press tycoons so far, but they have been willing to invest millions in their newspapers. ...The only genuine professional newspaperman at their disposal is Andrew Neil, the former Sunday Times editor who at present oversees the Scotsman and the Business. (Guardian, 24 Jun 2004) Capital punishment: A family business Mr Mullick says that he is haunted by the memories of some people he has hanged. (24 Jun 2004) EU ruling 'could jeopardise housing policy' The government's drive to build more affordable homes through efficiency gains has been threatened by a new European ruling that will force housing associations to comply with bureaucratic tendering regulations, they warned today. (Guardian, 24 Jun 2004) Quiet revolution catches voters' imagination A new and effective arm of government may be rekindling interest in local councils more than postal ballots and other voting reforms, a conference heard yesterday. The three-year-old "scrutiny system", which puts councillors on the spot in public grillings, has caught voters' imaginations. Its panels are modelled on parliamentary select committees. (Guardian, 24 Jun 2004) Virtual island way to green life A hi-tech attempt to stimulate the next generation to think and act green has been launched by two European groups. Honoloko is a computer game set on a virtual island, and is produced jointly by the World Health Organisation and the European Environment Agency. (BBC, 24 Jun 2004) Refugee scholars 'benefit the UK' The government is being far too negative in its treatment of refugees, an ex-chief government scientist says. (BBC, 24 Jun 2004) One in 12 UK residents born abroad ....Migration into Britain from abroad is an increasingly important factor in the country's growing population, data from the Office for National Statistics shows. (Ananova, 24 Jun 2004) Guidance on oily fish consumption The Food Standards Agency has issued advice on how much oily fish it is safe for people to eat. (BBC, 24 Jun 2004) '2m short of food' in Zimbabwe More than two million people in rural Zimbabwe will need food aid in the next year, a report has said. (BBC, 24 Jun 2004) HSBC 'buys stake in Chinese bank' Banking giant HSBC has reportedly agreed to take a 20% stake in Shanghai-based Bank of Communications. (BBC, 24 Jun 2004) Flare-up over Shell's 'double standards' Shell's battered reputation took another pounding yesterday when Friends of the Earth and activists from around the world accused the Anglo-Dutch energy group of polluting communities, damaging wildlife and endangering human health. (Guardian, 24 Jun 2004) Labour fails to stop widening of income gap Labour's tax and benefit changes since 1997 have checked Britain's rising inequality but failed to reverse the growing gulf between rich and poor that opened up during Margaret Thatcher's time as prime minister in the 1980s, the Institute for Fiscal Studies said yesterday. (Guardian, 24 Jun 2004) Diamonds to get 'ethical' label Diamonds that are "clean" will have a new label after key players in the business introduced the "5th C" stamp. (BBC, 23 Jun 2004) Moscow's rampant property scams In Moscow property prices are rising by 40% a year and construction work is everywhere. But there is a dark side to the property boom involving fraud, violence, and even murder. (BBC, 23 Jun 2004) Cocklers identified by jewellery and good luck charms A harrowing account was given yesterday of the deaths of 21 Chinese cocklepickers at Morecambe Bay, as police told how they were identified by good luck charms, watches, wallets, photos and jewellery found on their bodies. (Guardian, 23 Jun 2004) Environment campaigners attack house-building plans Environmental campaigners Friends of the Earth (FoE) have lambasted the government's house-building plans as unsustainable, anti-democratic and likely to worsen regional divisions. (Guardian, 23 Jun 2004) Moscow's rampant property scams In Moscow property prices are rising by 40% a year and construction work is everywhere. But there is a dark side to the property boom involving fraud, violence, and even murder. (BBC, 23 Jun 2004) Afghan detainees routinely tortured and humiliated by US troops Detainees held in Afghanistan by American troops have been routinely tortured and humiliated as part of the interrogation process, in the same way as those in Iraq, a Guardian investigation has found. (Guardian, 23 Jun 2004) 'They said this is America . . . if a soldier orders you to take off your clothes, you must obey' We know about Guantánamo and Abu Ghraib but until now Bagram and America's secret network of Afghan jails have come under little scrutiny. (Guardian, 23 Jun 2004) Dresden church rises from the ruins after 60 years Restoration work on one of Germany's most famous baroque churches was completed yesterday nearly 60 years after allied bombers destroyed it in the second world war. (Guardian, 23 Jun 2004) France launches radical green tax on bigger cars French drivers who favour large, gas-guzzling cars will have to pay up to €3,500 (£2,300) more for a new model from next January under a radical green road tax scheme unveiled by the environment ministry. (Guardian, 23 Jun 2004) Gypsies win right to sue IBM over role in Holocaust A Swiss appeals court yesterday ruled that the US computer giant IBM may have helped Adolf Hitler pursue mass murder more quickly and more efficiently than would otherwise have been possible, opening up the prospect of a $12bn lawsuit against the company by Gypsy organisations. (Guardian, 23 Jun 2004) Rumsfeld agreed prisoner threats US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld approved the use of aggressive tactics to frighten Guantanamo Bay detainees, according to newly-released documents. (BBC, 23 Jun 2004) Barclays buy Telegraph papers The Barclay brothers have ended months of uncertainty about the future of the Daily and Sunday Telegraph by buying both newspaper titles in a multi-million pound deal. (Ananova, 23 Jun 2004) Alcohol deaths double in a decade, doctors say Alcohol kills twice as many Scots as a decade ago and overall consumption has risen by 20 per cent, doctors said yesterday. (Times, 23 Jun 2004) Arms trade 'hurting development' The irresponsible sale of weapons to the developing world is diverting money from development and promoting global insecurity, Oxfam says. (BBC, 22 Jun 2004) Mexican editor killed by gunmen An editor of a Mexican newspaper that is renowned for taking on drug gangs has been ambushed and killed. Local media said Francisco Ortiz Franco, of the weekly Zeta, was gunned down by masked men in Tijuana. (BBC, 22 Jun 2004) Woman shot with nail gun A black woman bus driver was shot in the stomach with a nail gun during a race attack, police said. (Ananova, 22 Jun 2004) Mid-East coverage baffles Britons An academic study suggests that TV news coverage in the UK on the Middle East conflict confuses viewers and features a preponderance of Israeli views. (BBC, 22 Jun 2004) Glasgow Media Group News Release Bad news from Israel. Smokers 'will die 10 years early' Smoking cigarettes cuts an average of 10 years off a person's life, a landmark study suggests. (BBC, 22 Jun 2004) Country's emigrant past lies forgotten as Irish accused of racism Poll exposes xenophobia towards immigrants. (Guardian, 21 Jun 2004) The high cost of debt Not for nothing is the Adam Smith Institute known as ASI 9. (Guardian, 21 Jun 2004) Bishop calls for end to link to state A bishop today describes the Church of England's established status as indefensible, in a pamphlet arguing that the church should lose its political ties to the state. The Rt Rev Colin Buchanan, Bishop of Woolwich, says: "In this, as in so many other things, the Church of England prefers to live by fantasy rather than look coolly at the facts." (Guardian, 21 Jun 2004) Push to spread GM crops in Africa Delegates from 15 West African nations have gathered in Burkina Faso for a three-day US-backed conference on genetically-modified crops. (BBC, 21 Jun 2004) Librarian's stand against federal law As America gears up for the presidential elections more and more attention is being focussed on the so-called USA Patriot Act, which in the wake of 9/11, gave the intelligence agencies new powers to keep watch on American citizens. Jacky Griffin is not the sort of person you want to cross. (BBC, 21 Jun 2004) Saudis show slain al-Qaeda chief Saudi TV has broadcast photos of what it says is the body of a slain al-Qaeda leader, killed by security forces hours after he beheaded a US hostage. Abdul Aziz al-Muqrin and three other militants died in a shootout in Riyadh after dumping American Paul Johnson's body, Saudi officials said. (BBC, 21 Jun 2004) Euro constitution agreed by leaders A European constitution has been agreed, creating a landmark new EU rulebook, after marathon talks in Brussels. (Ananova, 19 Jun 2004) Q&A: Constitution on hold EU leaders have reached agreement on a European constitution at their summit in Brussels. (BBC, 18 Jun 2004) Pollution and roads kill 100,000 children a year in Europe The profound and damaging impact of Europe's environment on children has been quantified for the first time by experts who have found that a third of their ill-health and 100,000 deaths a year are caused by air pollution, unsafe water, lead and injuries. (Guardian, 18 Jun 2004) Brighton may elect first Green MP The air in Brighton's north lanes fills with the scent of incense and the sound of a didgeridoo player. Sun drenches the quaint maze of streets where shops jostle to sell "oxygen sessions" and Thai massage; herbal tinctures and lotions; vegan burgers, semi-precious gems, fair-trade goods and "recycled" clothes. (Guardian, 18 Jun 2004) Lula blow over Brazil wage vote Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has suffered a major political defeat with the Senate voting for a monthly minimum wage of $90 which the government says is higher than the country can afford. (BBC, 18 Jun 2004) What matters is what works If Labour are still in power in 2010 and you hear ministers boast that they have met a pledge to repair all council homes, don't believe them. (Guardian, 18 Jun 2004) Call to scrap means-tested pensions A charity has urged the Government to scrap means-tested pensions after it found most of those getting Pension Credit are opposed to the system. (Ananova, 18 Jun 2004) Ear, iris, odour: search for the perfect system Almost every aspect of the human body has been tested to see if it provides a unique pattern. DNA, ear shapes, odour, palm prints, the voice, retina and iris patterns, facial recognition, folds in the bottom edge of the hand, gait and the distribution of veins on the back of the hand have all been examined to see if they can provide distinctive, comparable biometrics. (Guardian, 18 Jun 2004) Review bans developers from chairing design watchdog Commercial developers will be banned from chairing the government's design watchdog, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (Cabe), after an official audit into allegations of conflicts of interest at the agency. (Guardian, 17 Jun 2004) Blunkett launches charity newswire A service to pump news from voluntary and community groups directly to the regional press has been launched by the home secretary, David Blunkett. The Community Newswire service will send out up to 20 stories a day from local voluntary and community organisations that currently have little or no contact with the media to journalists working on regional papers and in the broadcast media. (Guardian, 17 Jun 2004) Minister stands by decent homes pledge The government has reaffirmed its troubled manifesto pledge to improve all social housing to a decent standard by 2010. (Guardian, 17 Jun 2004) Full text of Keith Hill's speech Food firms exposed on salt levels Many of Britain's best-known food firms will be named and shamed by health ministers for failing to make significant cuts in the level of salt in their products. (Guardian, 17 Jun 2004) Gluttons for punishment We remain wilfully blind to the fact that this festival of credit cannot go on. (Guardian, 17 Jun 2004) Custom-built councils To make councils more responsive to ratepayers can require a sea change in their processes. That is where customer relationship management software comes into its own. (Guardian, 17 Jun 2004) Call to empower neighbourhoods Community groups should take on some of the powers of town halls to reinvigorate local government, two ministers have proposed. (Guardian, 17 Jun 2004) Mayor gets 30 years for genocide A former Rwandan mayor has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for organising the slaughter of 20,000 people during the 1994 genocide. Sylvestre Gacumbitsi led the massacre of thousands of people sheltering in Nyarubuye Church, which was one of the worst events in the genocide. (BBC, 17 Jun 2004) Sister fears Guantánamo detainee may 'confess' The sister of a Briton still being held at Guantánamo Bay said yesterday she feared he would sign a false confession because of the gruelling conditions he faced and the length of his detention. Kathleen Mubanga, speaking about her brother Martin for the first time since he was taken to the US military base more than two years ago, added: "He's obviously under that kind of pressure because of the length of time they have had him there." (Guardian, 17 Jun 2004) Enmore Martyrs served as catalyst for freedom movement - PPP The PPP says in its Enmore Martyrs' Day message that to a large extent, the shooting to death of five sugar workers in 1948 could be regarded as a major catalyst in the formation of the party, and one that profoundly triggered the independence struggle of Guyana. (Stabroek News, 16 Jun 2004) Detainees held in 'filthy' conditions The Home Office admitted last night that troublesome detainees at a "filthy and dilapidated" immigration removal centre in Doncaster had been thrown into the punishment cells at a neighbouring prison without proper authorisation. (Guardian, 16 Jun 2004) Phillips warns on ID cards The police will have new scope to inconvenience Britain's minority ethnic groups when a national identity card is introduced, the chair of the Commission for Racial Equality warned MPs yesterday. (Guardian, 16 Jun 2004) Historians say Inquisition wasn't that bad For centuries people were burned at the stake, stretched to death or otherwise tortured for failing to be Roman Catholic. But, if research released by the Vatican is right, the Inquisition was not as bad as one might think. (Guardian, 16 Jun 2004) Gun victim plans takeover revenge on manufacturer A teenager paralysed by a gun accident 10 years ago is planning to buy the company that makes the weapon fired in the incident at a bankruptcy auction tomorrow. (Guardian, 16 Jun 2004) Councils failing to tackle segregation, report warns Councils are failing to tackle racial segregation in their own housing stock, a new government report warned today. (Guardian, 16 Jun 2004) New guidance for charities on human rights Charities have been told that there are very few circumstances in which they cannot undertake campaigning on issues of human rights abuses, in revised guidance published by the Charity Commission. (Guardian, 16 Jun 2004) There's enough oil left to last for 40 years, says BP Petroleum giant BP said yesterday that world oil supplies remained plentiful, despite growing concerns about the remaining global reserves of crude. (Telegraph, 16 Jun 2004) Schools to keep snack vending machines A proposal to ban vending machines from schools has been rejected by the Government. (Telegraph, 16 Jun 2004) Library trial puts Wi-Fi hot spots on the books The DTI has put its plan to roll out Wi-Fi hot spots to libraries across the UK into action. Speaking at the Mobile Enterprise conference in London's Earls Court on Wednesday, e-commerce minister Stephen Timms said a trial is now running at 10 libraries. "We want to understand how popular it really is," said Timms, adding that three trial sites are charging for access while the other seven are offering it free." (ZDNet, 16 Jun 2004) Action urged on China's environment The founder of one of China's few environmental pressure groups is urging citizens to take a more traditional approach to their lives in order to combat the environmental damage caused by massive economic growth. Campaigner Sherry Liao, who established Global Village Of Beijing, told BBC World Service's The Interview programme that she advocated a "simple life". (BBC, 15 Jun 2004) Bank Chief Warns Of House Price Crash The Governor of the Bank of England has warned prospective house buyers to be wary of a property price crash. (Ananova, 15 Jun 2004) Brown Is Longest Serving Chancellor Gordon Brown used to joke that there were two types of Chancellor - those who fail and those who get out in time. (Ananova, 15 Jun 2004) Visa fraud whistleblower 'being smeared by Labour' The Government was yesterday accused of running a smear campaign against a British diplomat whose exposure of official tolerance of visa frauds forced a minister to resign. James Cameron, the consul in Romania, has been summoned to London to face a disciplinary hearing over allegations of "serious anomalies" in his handling of visa applications. (Telegraph, 14 Jun 2004) Army sends 83 pregnant troops home from Iraq Almost 1,700 members of the Armed Forces were medically downgraded because of service in Iraq last year, of whom 83 were pregnant, according to Government figures. (Telegraph, 14 Jun 2004) The jury is out on success of EU text Tony Blair appeared to have won key concessions in the latest draft of the European constitution released yesterday, but British officials warned that they would have to study the complex legal language before opening any champagne bottles. (Telegraph, 14 Jun 2004) NCC issues 'super-complaint' against doorstep lenders The National Consumer Council (NCC) today submitted a 'super-complaint' on doorstep lending to the Office of Fair Trading, following research it carried out into home credit which found that representatives of credit companies visit customers in their own homes. (Guardian, 14 Jun 2004) London leaps to second in cost of living table To those who live there it will come as no surprise, but now it's official: London has leapfrogged its way up the cost of living league to become the second most expensive city in the world. (Guardian, 14 Jun 2004) Police face legal action over racism failures Police forces and even the authorities meant to ensure they obey the law should face legal action for breaking race equality legislation, an official report released today will say. (Guardian, 14 Jun 2004) Saudi Arabia created the monster now devouring it The US and Britain are straining to shore up a hated autocracy. (Guardian, 14 Jun 2004) The inside track Two out of five workers believe their journey into work is getting worse, and there is good evidence to suggest they are right. (Guardian, 14 Jun 2004) 'More Britons saving than in debt' Britons are four times more likely to save money each month than struggle with debts, new research claims. (BBC, 13 Jun 2004) Trade rules 'perpetuate poverty' International rules on trade are tightening the noose around poor nations and trapping them in poverty, aid group Oxfam says. (BBC, 13 Jun 2004) Killer maize sparks Kenya alarm Several Kenyan politicians have urged the government to declare a national disaster following the death of more than 80 people from contaminated maize. (BBC, 13 Jun 2004) Suffering offers prison horrors The Suffering is where horror meets prison, says Daniel Etherington of BBC Collective in his weekly games column. (BBC, 12 Jun 2004) DGuyana Red Cross in appeal for Hispaniola flooding victims The Guyana Red Cross Society, in support of the appeal by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, is appealing to the Guyanese public to give support for the flooding victims of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. (Stabroek News, 12 Jun 2004) OBE for BBC website founder The man who founded the BBC news website has dedicated his OBE, for services to broadcasting, to the staff. Mike Smartt, 55, supervised the launch of BBC News Interactive, as it is now known, in 1997. (BBC, 11 Jun 2004) SEC probing Halliburton 'bribes' A Halliburton subsidiary is under investigation by the US stock market regulator over allegations it paid bribes for Nigerian gas contracts. (BBC, 11 Jun 2004) Antisocial louts to get red card Police are to use new powers to clean-up public spaces blighted by cannabis dealing and antisocial behaviour. From Monday, officers will have the power to move people on from a number of areas in Brixton if their behaviour deters others from using the gardens and squares. (South London Press, 11 Jun 2004) 'Special offers': £18k fine for Sainsbury's Sainsburys has been fined more than £18,000 for overcharging customers purchasing "special offers". Magistrates fined the supermarket giant after it admitted 10 counts of giving misleading price indications in three of its Sainsbury's Local stores in Lambeth. (South London Press, 11 Jun 2004) China and India groomed for membership The G8 may be about to open its doors to more states, including China and India, to reflect their growing importance in global affairs. (Guardian, 11 Jun 2004) London cabbies get £5,000 tip Thousands of London cabbies will get windfalls worth nearly £5,000 after voting for a demutualisation of Radio Taxis, the capital's second biggest black cab network. (Guardian, 11 Jun 2004) Supermarkets fire first shots in petrol price war A petrol price war broke out among supermarkets across the country yesterday in response to falling oil prices, offering motorists some relief from the recent surge, writes Ashley Seager. (Guardian, 11 Jun 2004) Shell admits fuelling corruption Oil giant Shell has admitted it inadvertently fed conflict, poverty and corruption through its oil activities in Nigeria. (BBC, 11 Jun 2004) China creates web vigilante site The Chinese authorities have begun a new website for people to report on what officials describe as illegal or unhealthy information on the internet. (BBC, 11 Jun 2004) See net.china China had first complex machines Craftsmen in ancient China were using complex machines to work jewellery long before such devices are traditionally thought to have been invented. (BBC, 10 Jun 2004) Oil brings new sparkle to Caspian Sea The Caspian is the world's largest inland sea, but it is still relatively unknown. (BBC, 10 Jun 2004) Bank Keeps Eye On Inflation The Bank of England has raised the interest rate for the second month running. (Ananova, 10 Jun 2004) Internet and information technology A website run by volunteers is making parliament more accessible to the public. (Guardian, 10 Jun 2004) See theyworkforyou.com. You've been volunteered The Home Office's latest tinker with the great asylum-seeker merry-go-round is to make failed applicants who can't, at the moment, go home do compulsory, unpaid community service in exchange for benefits. (Guardian, 10 Jun 2004) Minister admits: Choice is limited, and so are rights A senior government minister left Labour supporters unimpressed as he stumbled into the row over funding for council homes. Quizzed on the decision by his colleagues to withhold cash needed to repair Camden's crumbling council estates, Dr John Reid, health secretary and ally to Tony Blair, told party members in Gospel Oak on Tuesday night that they could not get everything they wanted. (Camden New Journal, 10 Jun 2004) Government backtracks on target 'fiddle' Government attempts to "fiddle" a key manifesto target on council housing were circulated by mistake, officials have claimed today. (Guardian, 10 Jun 2004) Jamaican gay activist murdered Jamaica's best-known gay rights activist has been found dead at his home with multiple stab wounds. Brian Williamson, 59, was discovered by a neighbour, lying in a pool of blood. (BBC, 10 Jun 2004) Government's housing transfer policy 'undemocratic' The government's "ideological crusade" against council housing is splitting the Labour party and alienating the party's core support on council estates, a group of MPs warned today. (Guardian, 9 Jun 2004) Ten Chinese killed in Afghanistan Ten Chinese aid workers have been killed in Afghanistan, in what China's official Xinhua news agency called a "terrorist attack". (BBC, 9 Jun 2004) Israel readies new cruise missile Israel has developed its first surface-to-surface cruise missile, according to a report to be published in Jane's Defence Weekly. (BBC, 9 Jun 2004) Books a waste of time, say teenagers One in three Scottish teenagers does not read for pleasure and one in five considers books a waste of their time, according to Scottish Executive research published yesterday. (Times, 9 Jun 2004) BSkyB launches rival to Freeview Broadcaster BSkyB is planning to launch a free-to-air satellite package offering 200 TV and radio channels and interactive services. (BBC, 9 Jun 2004) 'Shameful waste' on e-university A Labour MP has condemned a failed online degree scheme as a "shameful waste" of tens of millions of pounds of public money. (BBC, 9 Jun 2004) Shipwrecks cast new light on the Dark Ages Research has overturned centuries-old theories that the Dark Ages came soon after the turbulent decline of the Roman Empire in the 4th century AD. (Times, 9 Jun 2004) Zimbabwe says it will nationalise every farm Zimbabwe is to nationalise all farms in the country after forcing more than 5,000 white farmers from their properties in an often violent redistribution programme. (Times, 9 Jun 2004) £31m pool may never open again Fears are growing that a £31m leisure centre identified as one of the buildings of the millennium will never reopen. (Guardian, 9 Jun 2004) Iraqi civilian death inquiries Military police have investigated more than twice the number of civilian deaths and injuries to Iraqis involving British troops than ministers have previously admitted, it was disclosed yesterday. (Guardian, 9 Jun 2004) Average home now costs £157,900 as boom shows no sign of abating The booming housing market is continuing to accelerate, with average prices up another 2.2% last month, the Halifax said yesterday. The increase added £3,400 to the typical value of a home and pushed the annual rate of house price growth over the 20% mark. (Guardian, 9 Jun 2004) How the postal voting trials were sullied by bullying and trickery Britain's tradition of the secret ballot is under threat from fears of intimidation, vote-stealing and trickery in parts of the country experimenting with all-postal balloting. (Times, 9 Jun 2004) Pot plants and pastel at jail for women Potted plants and trees are to line the upper landing of the central hallway in the first purpose-built jail for women prisoners in England and Wales. (Times, 9 Jun 2004) Watchdog's 'alarm' over ID cards Plans for a national ID card scheme risk changing the relationship between the British state and its citizens, the information watchdog has warned. (BBC, 8 Jun 2004) Humble cup of tea served up with the Magna Carta as Britain's cultural icons France has the Mona Lisa. Italians are rightly proud of Michelangelo's beautiful Sistine Chapel. Britons, on the other hand, are being handed a cup of tea as the country's cultural icon. (Independent, 7 Jun 2004) Why did Canada support a U.S. coup in Haiti? Even progressive Canadians know little about the Canadian complicity with a U.S. occupation. (Rabble News, 7 Jun 2004) Jobcentre workers to strike again Thousands of Jobcentre and Benefit Office workers are to stage a fresh wave of strikes in an increasingly bitter row over pay. (Ananova, 7 Jun 2004) Retirement plans may 'cause havoc' Baby boomers could cause havoc in the housing market if they use the value of their properties to fund their retirement, a report has warned. (Ananova, 7 Jun 2004) Sikhs remember temple massacre Thousands of British Sikhs are converging on central London to mark the 20th anniversary of the Indian Army's storming of their holiest shrine, the Golden Temple of Amritsar. (Ananova, 6 Jun 2004) Plans on track for new British Rail Network Rail is poised to take control of Britain's private train operating companies in a move that virtually recreates British Rail 10 years after it was scrapped by the Tory government. The move follows a long-standing power struggle in the industry. (Guardian, 6 Jun 2004) BT puts block on child porn sites British Telecom has taken the unprecedented step of blocking all illegal child pornography websites in a crackdown on abuse online. The decision by Britain's largest high-speed internet provider will lead to the first mass censorship of the web attempted in a Western democracy. (Guardian, 6 Jun 2004) Fat profits are bad for you The obesity crisis is the sharpest (no, weightiest) test yet of the contradictions at the heart of the corporate social responsibility movement. (Guardian, 6 Jun 2004) The IT revolutionaries that shocked a capitalist world It is a well-known fact that, according to the laws of aerodynamics, bumble bees should not be able to fly. Yet fly they manifestly do. Much the same is true of open source software (OSS), which, according to conventional wisdom, the laws of economics and prevailing theories of organisational behaviour, ought not to exist. (Guardian, 6 Jun 2004) DCongo on the brink of new civil war amid genocide accusations The rebel commander who could re-ignite Africa's bloodiest war relaxed in his deckchair yesterday, admiring the view across Lake Kivu. (Telegraph, 5 Jun 2004) Congo on the brink as rebels terrorise town Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo were on the verge of war last night as rebel soldiers marauded through the eastern Congolese town of Bukavu for a second day - raping, killing and looting. (Telegraph, 4 Jun 2004) Lone parent families 'harm the health of children' More children in Britain live in single parent families than almost anywhere else in Europe, according to a survey of 162,000 children living in 35 countries. (Telegraph, 4 Jun 2004) Teen gangs' terror dogs Dangerous dogs are being used as weapons of intimidation by teenage gangs. (South London Press, 4 Jun 2004) First war crimes trial starts at UN-backed court A Special Court that includes five judges appointed by the United Nations has begun the trial of those deemed primarily responsible for war crimes and human rights abuse committed during Sierra Leone's 10-year civil war. (IRIN, 4 Jun 2004) Overshadowed by Overlord The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, is taking part in the celebrations to mark D-Day, the opening of the "Second Front" in the war against Nazi Germany. ...The Russian - and before that, the Soviet - attitude to Operation Overlord has always been that the Western allies have never given proper recognition to the part played by the USSR in the defeat of Hitler's armies. (BBC, 4 Jun 2004) £4m repairs at British Library The £500million British Library, which was opened by the Queen only six years ago, is already in need of major repairs and upgrading, it can be revealed today. (Evening Standard, 4 Jun 2004) Homeless children 'miss school' Children in temporary accommodation miss on average 11 weeks of schooling annually due to the disruption, a charity report says. (BBC, 4 Jun 2004) Islamophobia to create 'timebomb of extremism' A time bomb of extremism could result from the rising Islamophobia created by September 11, according to a report published yesterday. (Times, 3 Jun 2004) Black guardsman seen as 'mascot' The first black guardsman to take part in the Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace said yesterday that the Army had treated him as "a mascot" to promote a false impression of racial harmony in the ranks. Richard Stokes, 34, left the Grenadier Guards in 1990 fed up with years of racist taunts and abuse. (Times, 3 Jun 2004) A quick guide to how the global oil business works Russia recently passed Saudi Arabia as the world's largest producer of crude oil, pumping more than 9 million barrels per day in April, against Saudi Arabia's 8.96 million. (Times, 3 Jun 2004) DPrisoners walked out to get to stricter closed jail Charges against two convicts who fled from an open prison because it was "rife with drugs" and handed themselves into a closed jail were dropped yesterday. (Telegraph, 3 Jun 2004) Could red wine help us keep fit and thin at 120? The day when people can eat their favourite foods, stay thin and live to be 120 without getting diabetes or cancer may be nearer than many realise, according to a study published today. (Telegraph, 3 Jun 2004) Bilderberg: The ultimate conspiracy theory The Bilderberg group, an elite coterie of Western thinkers and power-brokers, has been accused of fixing the fate of the world behind closed doors. (BBC, 3 Jun 2004) Ethnic cleansing blights Sudan It is being called the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Arab militia men have driven an estimate one million black Sudanese villagers from their homes and there have been massacres on an unknown scale. (BBC, 3 Jun 2004) Broadband hits four million mark The broadband market is growing steadily, suggest the latest statistics from telecoms regulator Ofcom. Over half of UK homes have internet access and a quarter of these have broadband. (BBC, 3 Jun 2004) Cherie's pal signs up for housing cash Campaigning Labour party members, including a former Downing Street aide, have added their support to the New Journal's housing cash campaign. (Camden New Journal, 3 Jun 2004) Africa's 'tragic' economic record Africa's growth record in the post-colonial era has been an "economic tragedy," according to a report from the World Economic Forum. (BBC, 2 Jun 2004) National Trust criticises BNP The British National Party’s use of the White Cliffs of Dover in a party political broadcast has landed them in trouble with the National Trust. (Times, 2 Jun 2004) Coalition to press ministers to listen to tenants A broad-based coalition of MPs, councils, unions and tenant groups has been formed to urge ministers to respect council tenants' choice if they vote against hiving-off their homes to new management. (Guardian, 2 Jun 2004) Tenants reject homes transfer for second time In the latest blow to the government's policy of selling off council housing, tenants in the royal borough of Kingston upon Thames have rejected transferring their homes to a housing association for the second time of asking. (Guardian, 2 Jun 2004) Tatchell demands equal opportunities in charity law Outspoken human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell is demanding that new legislation must make charities sign up to equal opportunities as a condition of charitable status. (Guardian, 2 Jun 2004) Immigration crackdown in Chinese kitchens serves up jobs crisis for restaurants Takeaways are hardest hit as undocumented workers sacked. (Guardian, 2 Jun 2004) Thirty killed in Brazil prison riot Police entering a prison in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, after a three-day rebellion found the bodies of at least 38 inmates, some of them mutilated. (Guardian, 2 Jun 2004) Zanzibar's gay community fears tough new law will force it into twilight zone .... Last month, legislators passed a bill bringing in stiffer penalties for gay sex, a sign that a mood of conservatism may be creeping over the traditionally tolerant island. (Guardian, 2 Jun 2004) The heavy price of seeing food as a commodity According to recent government findings, Britain suffers from the highest rate of obesity in Europe. (Guardian, 2 Jun 2004) Islamophobia pervades UK - report Persistent and untackled Islamophobia in the UK could lead to 'time-bombs' of backlash and bitterness, according to a major report. (BBC, 2 Jun 2004) Opec to meet as oil price rockets Oil exporters' cartel Opec will meet on Thursday to discuss raising output in an effort to offset soaring oil prices. (BBC, 2 Jun 2004) Online newspapers tempt readers The number of newspaper websites around the world has doubled since 1999, a study has found. (BBC, 1 Jun 2004) Why we must thank the Turks, not Drake, for defeating the Armada For four centuries, Sir Francis Drake has symbolised English nonchalance and cunning in the face of danger. (Guardian, 1 Jun 2004) |
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updated:
26 Nov
2004