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A roaring failure Two years ago I accused the British government in this column of nine kinds of fraud and false accounting, arising from its private finance initiative. (Guardian, 30 Nov 2004) Blair gives Blunkett his backing ? ! (BBC, 29 Nov 2004) Age-old Scots property rights end Laws abolishing 800 years of feudal property rights have come into force in Scotland. (BBC, 28 Nov 2004) Controls urged on 'lethal' tasers Taser stun guns used by British police are potentially deadly and must be strictly controlled, a leading human rights group has warned. (BBC, 30 Nov 2004) Deepcut 'abuses' leaked in report A police investigation of the Deepcut army base in Surrey has unearthed claims of rape, racism, beatings and harassment, a leaked report says. (BBC, 29 Nov 2004) UN plan demands more intervention The UN should be reformed to make intervention in failing states easier, a commission is set to recommend. (BBC, 29 Nov 2004) Suu Kyi's house arrest 'extended' Burma's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has had her house arrest extended, her party said on Monday. (BBC, 29 Nov 2004) Prescott's £50m travel site is a waste of time The Department for Transport is warning travellers not to place too much faith in its £50 million internet journey-planner project because it may be unreliable. (Telegraph, 29 Nov 2004) Children turn to the law to tackle 'poor parenting' Record numbers of children are hiring lawyers to fight their parents and their teachers in court, it was claimed yesterday. (Telegraph, 29 Nov 2004) Call for action on internet scam Phone companies are not doing enough to warn customers about internet "rogue-dialling" scams, according to premium phone line regulator Icstis. (BBC, 29 Nov 2004) DMugabe plans laws to silence critics Zimbabwe is poised to introduce draconian laws to silence its critics, both at home and abroad, who face 20 years in jail if they "publish or communicate a falsehood". (Telegraph, 29 Nov 2004) Bhopal Victims Demand Justice 20 Years On Brandishing brooms and shouting slogans, victims of the Bhopal gas leak disaster today vowed to fight for justice for hundreds of thousands of people still suffering the effects of the world's worst industrial accident 20 years ago. (Scotsman, 29 Nov 2004) Records being shredded before Information Act Government departments have been shredding record numbers of official files in the months leading up to the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act. (Telegraph, 29 Nov 2004) Sharon and Abbas 'ready to meet' Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has said he is ready to meet Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. (BBC, 28 Nov 2004) Judges win pension tax exemption The threat of a large-scale walkout by judges appears to have won them exemption from a new pensions tax, it has emerged. (BBC, 27 Nov 2004) UK urged to review terrorism laws The UK government has been urged to review its policy of detaining foreign terror suspects without trial, by the United Nations Committee on Torture. (BBC, 27 Nov 2004) 6,635 bodies in Baghdad mortuary: counting cost of crime and chaos Shot, stabbed, blown up,burnt: the bodies of Iraqis killed in Baghdad lie piled in overcrowded refrigerators at the city’s central mortuary, their ever-increasing number overwhelming both staff and storage space in a wave that marks the city’s descent into a Hobbesian world of crime and brutality. (Times, 27 Nov 2004) What Uncle Sam is up to So the Guardian thinks the US is behind the "turmoil" in Ukraine (US campaign behind the turmoil in Kiev, November 26)? (Guardian reader's letter, 27 Nov 2004) US campaign behind the turmoil in Kiev With their websites and stickers, their pranks and slogans aimed at banishing widespread fear of a corrupt regime, the democracy guerrillas of the Ukrainian Pora youth movement have already notched up a famous victory - whatever the outcome of the dangerous stand-off in Kiev. Ukraine, traditionally passive in its politics, has been mobilised by the young democracy activists and will never be the same again. (26 Nov 2004) UN blames rebels in Darfur The rebel Sudan Liberation Army was solely responsible for restarting the fighting in north Darfur, the chief UN envoy for Sudan, Jan Pronk, said yesterday. (Guardian, 26 Nov 2004) Pressure group calls for inquiry into market domination by big four supermarkets A group representing convenience stores, shoppers, farmers and environmental lobbyists have requested a full scale Office of Fair Trading investigation into the domination of the grocery market by the big four supermarkets, writes Julia Finch. (Guardian, 26 Nov 2004) World 'short of health workers' An extra four million health workers are needed if global health is going to improve over the next decade, a group of 100 health leaders says. ...There are more Malawian doctors in the British city of Manchester than in Malawi, the report said, while 550 of the 600 doctors trained in Zambia since independence have gone abroad. (BBC, 26 Nov 2004) Ethiopia backs down over border The Ethiopian government says it has accepted "in principle" a long-disputed ruling on its border with Eritrea but still thinks it is illegal and unjust. (BBC, 25 Nov 2004) US 'alienating' world's Muslims The US is losing "the war of ideas" in the Islamic world, a Pentagon advisory panel has warned. A report by the Defence Science Board says official US talk of bringing democracy to Muslim nations is seen as "self-serving hypocrisy". (BBC, 25 Nov 2004) DLost chronicle of Spain's civil war agonies reappears after 60 years A highly acclaimed account of the Spanish Civil War written by a distinguished English correspondent was republished yesterday after being "lost" for more than 60 years. The Life and Death of the Spanish Republic, by The Daily Telegraph's Henry Buckley, has obtained mythical status among historians as much for its fate as its contents. (Telegraph, 25 Nov 2004) Turkish workers a mistake, claims Schmidt Helmut Schmidt, the former German chancellor, has inflamed the country's debate on immigration by saying that multiculturalism can only work under authoritarian regimes, and that bringing millions of Turkish guest workers to Germany was a mistake. ! (Telegraph, 25 Nov 2004) Malaria vaccine given a boost The Government is to buy up to 300 million doses of a pioneering British anti-malaria vaccine to help create a viable market in the product and save millions of lives. (Telegraph, 25 Nov 2004) Keeping us in our place The most interesting aspect of Prince Charles's decision to enter into the fierce political debate about education is that it focuses attention on how Britain is governed. (Guardian, 24 Nov 2004) Land rights crucial to economic, agricultural recovery In what has been described as an important step to cementing territorial rights, and thereby the country's agricultural and economic recovery, three rural communities in Angola's southern province of Huila will receive title to their land on Friday. (IRIN, 24 Nov 2004) Somalia's diaspora offers financial lifeline With up to a quarter of all Somalis now living abroad and many more having fled their homes within the country, a new Somali saying goes: "We are now a nation of immigrants who depend on other immigrants." (BBC, 24 Nov 2004) Independence, at any cost Despite the national lottery's massive success in raising money for good causes, which make a real difference in communities throughout the UK, real concerns have emerged about the running of this national institution. These concerns can be broadly summarised as: independence from government, and whether lottery funding is additional to rather than instead of government finance. (Guardian, 24 Nov 2004) Woman to lose home after loan for kitchen soars A woman who took out a £10,800 loan in 1987 for a new kitchen says she will have to sell her home to repay the debt. Amanda Jonkler, 55, spoke bitterly yesterday of her regret at taking out the loan, at an interest rate of 29.3 per cent, at a time when she had divorced and was struggling to cope financially. (Telegraph, 24 Nov 2004) 'They'll play the great game as people starve' The great Zimbabwean dilemma is still dividing opinion, even among those who know it best. Andy Flower and Henry Olonga were united in protest last year, when their black armbands provided the most resonant image of the 2003 World Cup. But now, just 18 months on, they have opposing views on the issue of England's tour. (Telegraph, 24 Nov 2004) 32 Bills 'extend Labour's security state' A sweeping extension of Government powers over the lives of ordinary citizens was unveiled in the Queen's Speech yesterday as Tony Blair sought to present Labour as the party best equipped to protect people from the threat of global terrorism and yobbish behaviour on the streets. (Telegraph, 24 Nov 2004) Business is not to blame for obesity, says CBI chief Business is under assault from an "advancing nanny state" seeking to blame food companies for the obesity crisis facing Britain, the head of the CBI said last night. ! (Guardian, 24 Nov 2004) Malverns stirred by a battle of the bottles Pam Gardner sighs as a lorry rumbles away from Coca-Cola's factory at the foot of the Malvern Hills. "There goes another one, taking our lovely water away." (Guardian, 24 Nov 2004) Fridges keep mounting up Almost three years after an EU directive banning the dumping of fridges in landfill sites came into force, Britain is struggling to keep its fridge mountains from turning into mountain ranges. On the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal a staggering 120,000 await reprocessing. (Guardian, 24 Nov 2004) New coalition to combat 'Nimbyism' The deputy prime minister, John Prescott, today gave his backing to a new broad-based coalition set up to combat 'not-in-my-backyard' opposition to increased housing development. ! (Guardian, 24 Nov 2004) Home untruths The politics of aspiration is back on the agenda. Alan Milburn, Labour minister charged with coordinating the party's manifesto, was unequivocal, even borrowing a Conservative slogan: "As we advance towards the next election, our task is to rebuild the New Labour coalition around 'one nation politics' that recognise that, while life is hard for many, all should have the chance to succeed." (Guardian, 24 Nov 2004) Tutu warns of poverty 'powder keg' Archbishop Desmond Tutu has warned that South Africa is sitting on a "powder keg" because millions are living in "dehumanising poverty". (BBC, 23 Nov 2004) EU approves rapid reaction force European Union defence ministers have agreed to set up a military rapid reaction force, to be deployed at short notice to conflicts around the world. ...The force, to be in place within three years, will consist of a number of units each made up of 1500 troops. France, Italy, Britain and Spain will each form a unit, and other EU states will be expected to contribute troops. (BBC, 23 Nov 2004) Zimbabwe bans cricket journalists The BBC and a number of national newspapers have been denied entry to Zimbabwe to cover England's forthcoming cricket tour of one-day internationals. (BBC, 23 Nov 2004) Forget Maxwell House. Would you like a cup of Kenco Sustainable? The two largest coffee roasters in Britain, Nestlé and Kraft Foods, are planning to launch their own ethically aware brands next year in the hope that some of the success enjoyed by Fairtrade-certified products will rub off on them. Kraft's plans have outraged the Fairtrade Foundation, set up 12 years ago by a group of charities that saw multinational roasting firms squeezing meagre profits made by small-scale farmers in the developing world. Some 70% of coffee comes from small farms. (Guardian, 22 Nov 2004) Development casts shadow on Chinatown London's Chinatown is under threat from a big new development that could drive out small Asian businesses and destroy its character, say community organisers. (Guardian, 22 Nov 2004) Peru mine threat to water supply The high Andes are one of the most inhospitable places on Earth. (BBC, 22 Nov 2004) Campaign to cut UK energy bills UK consumers could save £1bn a year on energy bills by switching supplier and installing better efficiency measures, the government has estimated. ! (BBC, 22 Nov 2004) Greenspan warns over US deficit US Federal Reserve chief Alan Greenspan has warned that the deficit in US trade with the rest of the world cannot be sustained indefinitely. (BBC, 20 Nov 2004) Pensioners 'banking on property' Rocketing house prices mean many homeowners are planning their pensions around the profits, a survey suggests. (BBC, 20 Nov 2004) Civil servants in deal to avoid job losses Alan Johnson, the work and pensions secretary, unveiled a "stay of execution" agreement with the Whitehall civil service union yesterday to try to avoid compulsory redundancies, after 200,000 members went out on strike earlier this month. (Guardian, 20 Nov 2004) Sudan factions promise UN to finalise peace deal this year Hopes for an end to Africa's longest-running civil war rose yesterday when the Sudanese government and southern rebels promised the UN security council they would finalise a peace deal by December 31. (Guardian, 20 Nov 2004) Immigration surge fuels racism in Spain Official condemnation of the racist barracking suffered by England footballers in Spain this week cannot hide the fact that xenophobia is on the rise in a country now Europe's biggest magnet for immigrants, Spanish anti-racism campaigners warned yesterday. (Guardian, 20 Nov 2004) Help us save Everest park We are environmentalists and climbers from Nepal visiting the UK as part of our official application for the Everest national park to be put on the Unesco danger list because of the damage already being caused by climate change. (Guardian reader's letter, 20 Nov 2004) Minister calls for new 'prefab' boom The emergency construction of thousands of prefab houses after the second world war could provide an inspiration for tackling today's housing crisis, according to the housing minister, Keith Hill. (Guardian, 19 Nov 2004) Boost for new equality watchdog Ministerial concessions giving stronger powers to the government's proposed merged equality and human rights commission last night secured its future after the Commission for Racial Equality announced it was dropping its opposition. (Guardian, 19 Nov 2004) Politicians get a global vote of no confidence The world is becoming a much more dangerous place led by politicians who are too incompetent, dishonest and untrustworthy to deal with the challenges, according to an ambitious survey of global opinion released yesterday. (Guardian, 19 Nov 2004) Hair-trigger racists Before we get carried away deploring monkey-chanting Spanish football fans, we should look closer to home. (Guardian, 19 Nov 2004) Falluja assault 'breaks' rebels The US-led offensive in Falluja has "broken the back of the insurgency" across Iraq, a senior US marine commander has said. (BBC, 19 Nov 2004) UN warns of Afghan 'drug state' The UN has warned that Afghanistan could become a "narco-state" after opium cultivation rose by two-thirds this year. (BBC, 18 Nov 2004) Experts: Resources at Root of Conflicts in Africa African peace advocates says the continent's many conflicts cannot be resolved without greater attention to the management and distribution of natural resources as well as overall environmental preservation. (Voice of America, 17 Nov 2004) Margaret Hassan Margaret Hassan, who has been reported killed at the age of 59, was Care International's director in Iraq. She had been held hostage after being abducted at gunpoint in Baghdad on her way to work four weeks ago. (Guardian, 17 Nov 2004) Government 'has failed to cut adult poverty' Britain still has a "low pay culture" despite Labour's efforts to help families escape the poverty trap, a new report warned today. (Guardian, 17 Nov 2004) Government plans new key worker home venture The government is planning to launch a joint venture with mortgage lenders to offer thousands of key public sector workers interest-free loans to help crack the housing crisis, it emerged today. (Guardian, 17 Nov 2004) Space craft Design-led and 'soft' alternatives to security cameras and fencing are needed to keep vandals out and encourage people back into parks and public areas, says a new study. (Guardian, 17 Nov 2004) See also Best and worst parks Legal code to consider community Criminal prosecutors have been told for the first time to assess community confidence in the justice system when deciding whether to bring charges in cases of low-level anti-social behaviour. (Telegraph, 17 Nov 2004) Marine filmed shooting hurt insurgent A US marine, shown in a graphic videotape shooting dead a wounded insurgent as he lay apparently helpless in the mosque where he had been fighting, is under investigation for a possible breach of international law. (Telegraph, 17 Nov 2004) Earth 'heading towards another mass extinction' The Earth is losing species at a rate comparable to the mass extinction of the dinosaurs, environmentalists warn today. (Telegraph, 17 Nov 2004) Mortars pound Falluja resistance US forces in Iraq have been bombarding southern districts of Falluja with mortar fire in an attempt to flush out remaining pockets of insurgents. (BBC, 17 Nov 2004) Woman who makes 12 billion socks a year If everyone in the world visited the Chinese town of Datang, they would at least be able to come away with a fresh pair of socks. ...The transformation of an empty expanse into the place where a third of the world's socks is manufactured - it makes six billion pairs a year - is down to Hong Dongying. (Telegraph, 17 Nov 2004) Ex-councillor faces fraud accusations A former councillor has appeared in court charged with four counts relating to housing benefit fraud. Gabriel Fernandes, who was the first Portuguese councillor in the country when he took his seat in Stockwell in 2002, appeared at Acton Magistrates' Court on Thursday. (South London Press, 16 Nov 2004) Computer use link to eye disease Heavy computer use could be linked to glaucoma, especially among those who are short-sighted, fear researchers. (BBC, 16 Nov 2004) Oil fuels Asian giants' tensions The row over the intrusion into Japanese waters of one of China's nuclear submarines is the latest in a long series of awkward moments in the fraught relationship between Asia's two most powerful nations. (BBC, 16 Nov 2004) Shot dad's 'gun brag' A dad shot dead by police who thought his gunshaped lighter was a pistol had bragged "it's the real thing", a court heard. Easton Chambers told an inquest he called the police fearing Derek Bennett, 29, was about to "do something evil" with the replica weapon after the pair had smoked cannabis in a parked car. (South London Press, 15 Nov 2004) Eurostar turns 10, still sees red It is 10 years since Eurostar started offering cross-channel train services, but in that time the company is still to make a profit. (BBC, 13 Nov 2004) Berlusconi 'should get eight-year jail term' The chief prosecutor in the corruption trial of Silvio Berlusconi yesterday requested an eight-year jail sentence for the media tycoon turned prime minister. (Telegraph, 13 Nov 2004) 'Gulf War Syndrome link' A link does exist between Gulf War Syndrome and toxins including nerve gas, an American report says. (Telegraph, 13 Nov 2004) Haiti to issue Aristide warrant The interim government in Haiti says it is planning to issue a warrant for the arrest of the former president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide. (BBC, 13 Nov 2004) Reid pushes 'personal ambition' Individual ambition is the way to improving Britain, Health Secretary John Reid is to tell a conference. (BBC, 13 Nov 2004) Prison could become luxury hotel Liverpool's Bridewell prison has not had residents since 2000, but now it awaits guests of a different kind. It has been put up for sale with a possible future as a luxury hotel or flats. (Guardian, 13 Nov 2004) Unlocking the potential The UK's Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) last month released the results of a comprehensive study of the economy, which revealed that there are chronic skills shortages and that when compared with other countries in Europe as well as with the United States, the UK had the lowest level of productivity. (Stabroek News, 13 Nov 2004) Rover chiefs attacked for 'disgusting' salaries MG Rover was yesterday embroiled in a row with its former owner after a BMW executive branded the four businessmen who bought it from the German group as "the unacceptable face of capitalism". Jim O'Donnell, managing director of BMW's British arm, said it was "disgusting" that John Towers, Peter Beale, John Edwards and Nick Stephenson paid themselves so much at a time when MG Rover was making heavy losses. (Guardian, 13 Nov 2004) EU parliament no paper tiger, says president The European parliament has a new found authority and strength that means it will never again be regarded as "a paper tiger" or "talking shop", its president said yesterday. (Guardian, 13 Nov 2004) Pardon plea for Irish volunteers shot in trenches Relatives appeal to Blair over soldiers who suffered rough justice in first world war. (Guardian, 13 Nov 2004) Americans try to bid up casino numbers American gambling giants came out fighting last night over proposals to cap the number of Las Vegas-style casinos in Britain. (Telegraph, 13 Nov 2004) 'Miracle baby' a victim - judge A "miracle baby" was the victim of child traffickers motivated by financial greed, a UK judge has ruled. The one-year-old, known as C, was taken into care after tests revealed his DNA did not match that of his "parents". ...The UK-based Kenyan evangelist Gilbert Deya is wanted in Kenya over allegations of child trafficking, which he denies. (BBC, 12 Nov 2004) What do Iraqis think about Falluja As operations in the rebel-held Iraqi city of Falluja continue, hundreds of Iraqis from across the country have been emailing the BBC News website and BBCArabic.com. (BBC, 12 Nov 2004) Man dumped after drive from Spain An English family drove from their home in southern Spain to east London to abandon an ailing grandfather in a hospital casualty department. (Telegraph, 12 Nov 2004) SA firm's 'fictitious black boss' Africa Dube's business career seemed to embody the spirit of post-apartheid South Africa. (BBC, 11 Nov 2004) Drugs firms 'are scaring people for profit' A senior member of the Royal College of General Practitioners told MPs yesterday that health scares over osteoporosis and high blood pressure were created largely by pharmaceutical companies intent on selling their drugs. (BBC, 11 Nov 2004) Gordon Brown names pre-budget day Gordon Brown has said he will deliver his pre-Budget report to Parliament on 2 December. (BBC, 11 Nov 2004) Lithuania backs EU constitution Lithuania, one of 10 countries to join the EU in May, has become the first of the union's 25 member states to approve the new EU constitution. (BBC, 11 Nov 2004) Vanunu arrested by Israeli police The Israeli former nuclear technician Mordechai Vanunu, released in April after 18 years in jail, has been re-arrested, police say. (BBC, 11 Nov 2004) Yasser Arafat From an early age, Muhammad Abdul Raouf Arafat al-Qudwa al-Husseini, the sixth child of a Palestinian spice, incense and grocery merchant, sensed that a high destiny awaited him. It did - but Yasser Arafat, who has died aged 75, assuredly earned it by his own endeavours too. (Guardian, 11 Nov 2004) Tomorrow's petrol is a gas It was billed as the "team of dreams" when in 2003 Shell, the world's second's largest oil company, linked with General Motors (GM), the largest car maker, to invest up to a billion dollars over 10 years to develop the world's "hydrogen economy". Yesterday, in a small ceremony near Washington DC, one of the fruits of the relationship was shown off. (Guardian, 11 Nov 2004) Sixth charge over barman's death A sixth youth has been accused of murdering gay barman David Morley. Reece Sargeant, 20, from Kennington, south London, is expected to appear before Camberwell Magistrates' Court on Thursday charged with murder. (BBC, 11 Nov 2004) Sudan's culture in focus An ancient lyre, once used to charm away evil spirits, sparked a heated debate on Sudan and the Darfur crisis at a public forum in the British Museum last night. (Guardian 11 Nov 2004) Public service role 'threatens charity donations' Donations to UK charities could fall if the government goes ahead with plans to encourage voluntary organisations to deliver public services, the chief executive of the Charities Aid Foundation told his annual conference today. (Guardian, 11 Nov 2004) Blunkett denies politics of fear David Blunkett is to fight claims that the government is exploiting "the politics of fear" amid increasing criticism of the high profile given to security issues. (Guardian, 11 Nov 2004) UK allies among worst abusers of human rights Buyers of British arms and Britain's close allies in the "war on terror" are named as being among the worst abusers of human rights in a government report published yesterday. (Guardian, 11 Nov 2004) Eastern European migration 'far exceeds estimate' Many more workers have arrived in Britain from Eastern Europe since enlargement of the EU in May than the Government predicted, figures showed yesterday. (Telegraph, 11 Nov 2004) TUC calls for £6 an hour minimum wage The minimum wage should be raised to £6 an hour over the next two years to help boost the pay packets of 2 million workers on low earnings in Britain, the TUC says today. (Guardian, 11 Nov 2004) A digital decade telegraph.co.uk celebrates ten years online. (Telegraph, 11 Nov 2004) We must reclaim morality from reactionary fetishists So here's the proposition: anyone who goes to church once a week must automatically hate gays and oppose abortion, and is therefore moral. (Guardian, 11 Nov 2004) Unfit recruits 'are rushed to the front line too soon' Soldiers are being sent to the front line before they are fully ready for combat because of manpower shortages, ministers have been told. (Telegraph, 11 Nov 2004) Professor 'led gang that took EU millions' A criminal gang of professionals and academics led by a Sicilian professor defrauded the European Union of millions of pounds in a fake youth training programme, Italian police claimed yesterday after a string of dawn raids across the country. (Telegraph, 11 Nov 2004) Council leaders move to block Prescott's housebuilding plan Tory council leaders in the south-east are preparing to mount the first major challenge to John Prescott's plans for substantial housing growth in a strategy designed to derail the government's expanding regional agenda, it has emerged. (Guardian, 10 Nov 2004) Scotland close to public smoking ban Scotland is this afternoon expected to take the first steps to ban smoking in public places with smokers and companies facing a £3,600 fine if they ignore the ban. (Guardian, 10 Nov 2004) Milburn under fire for home ownership pledge Homelessness campaigners have criticised Labour's chief election strategist, Alan Milburn, after he pledged to increase home ownership as a key goal of a third Labour term, it has emerged. (Guardian, 10 Nov 2004) Reforms aim to increase diversity of police force A shakeup in police recruitment will lift the ban on anyone joining the force above the rank of constable to boost the numbers of women and ethnic minority officers. (Guardian, 10 Nov 2004) Moving stories inspired by Dover 58 Watching a re-enactment of the deaths of 58 people in the back of a container lorry can be a distressing experience, but if, like Li Zhen Gui, your brother was one of the victims it can be overwhelming. (BBC, 10 Nov 2004) The Black Watch mourns the loss of its quiet Fijian Black Watch soldiers pledged to carry on with their mission to the south of Fallujah yesterday as the regiment mourned the insurgent's latest victim. Private Tukes Tukatukawaqa, 27, who was born in Fiji, and known as "Big Tukes", was killed instantly at the controls of his Warrior vehicle by a roadside bomb on Monday night. (Times, 10 Nov 2004) Serbs sorry for Srebrenica deaths Bosnian Serb leaders have apologised for the first time to relatives of up to 8,000 Muslims killed by Bosnian Serb forces in Srebrenica in 1995. (BBC, 10 Nov 2004) Lloyds TSB transfers 1,000 more jobs to India Lloyds TSB is moving another 1,000 jobs to India, increasing its workforce in Bangalore and Mumbai to 2,500 by the end of next year. (Guardian, 10 Nov 2004) Fears over expanded DNA database Plans for a universal DNA database in England and Wales should be scrapped because of the threat to civil liberties, a new report urges. (BBC, 10 Nov 2004) Battle rages in restive Falluja Up to 15,000 US and Iraqi troops are continuing a full-scale assault on the insurgent stronghold of Falluja. (BBC, 9 Nov 2004) Court Ruling Halts Guantanamo Proceedings A U.S. federal court ruled Monday that Osama bin Laden's driver was entitled to a legal hearing on whether he is a prisoner of war - a landmark opinion that could prevent military trials of alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay. (Guardian, 9 Nov 2004) Germans mark Berlin Wall's fall Ceremonies to mark the 15th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall will be held in the German capital on Tuesday. (BBC, 9 Nov 2004) China's dirty energy takes its toll China's breakneck economic growth and soaring energy demand are becoming key factors in global energy use. (BBC, 9 Nov 2004) Police to become more accountable Radical plans to make police officers more accountable to their communities are to be unveiled by the government. (BBC, 9 Nov 2004) New Europeans 'prop up rural UK' Eastern Europeans are becoming the mainstay of hard-to-fill jobs in Britain's rural areas, research published on Tuesday says. (BBC, 9 Nov 2004) Leftwing looters raid shops A group of 200 leftwing protesters wearing balaclavas, carnival masks and bandanas over their faces, went on a "proletariat shopping spree" in a Rome hypermarket at the weekend, carrying off goods and handing them out. (Guardian, 8 Nov 2004) Government 'obstructs science access' A committee of MPs has blasted as "obstructive" the government's response to its recent call for scientific research to be made more freely available to the general public. (Guardian, 8 Nov 2004) Countries that fight outsourcing are in 'cloud cuckoo land' The pressures of global competition are forcing more and more UK companies to outsource parts of their business to low-cost destinations in Asia and eastern Europe. (Guardian, 8 Nov 2004) MPs demand Gypsy site law change Councils should provide caravan sites for Gypsies to prevent illegal encampments and clashes with locals, says a Parliamentary committee. The Gypsy Bonfire Society was formed after Firle Bonfire Society members were not charged with inciting racial hatred for burning the caravan effigy. (BBC, 7 Nov 2004) The £1.6 million mosque ... at Hook's jail Britain's toughest jail is to build a £1.6million mosque for prisoners including hook-handed preacher Abu Hamza. Muslim inmates at Belmarsh Prison, who include Hamza and other suspected al-Qaeda terrorists, have objected to praying in a Òmulti-denominationalÓ chapel where they have to cover up Christian crosses. ! (Mirror, 7 Nov 2004) Ivory Coast seethes after attack Armed mobs of government loyalists took to the streets of Ivory Coast's main city, Abidjan, in anger against France. (BBC, 7 Nov 2004) Lottery cash diverted 'to help Labour pet projects' More than half the National Lottery money raised for good causes is being diverted into a fund which props up the Government’s pet projects, charity leaders said last night. (Times, 6 Nov 2004) Inquiry into cash machine fees The Treasury Select Committee has launched an inquiry into cash machine charges, just weeks after a national survey by Nationwide revealed that more than one in three machines were levying fees, costing consumers an estimated £60 million a year. (Times, 6 Nov 2004) Population boom set to stabilise at 9bn by 2300 Fears that the human race may drive itself to extinction through over-population are challenged by new United Nations figures suggesting an eventual equilibrium as people in poorer countries come to understand the need for smaller families. (Guardian, 6 Nov 2004) Ireland wakens to plight of the forgotten million Con Scully lit a candle in the gloom of his decaying house in Coventry. There was no heating, electricity or natural light. The windows were boarded up against vandals and drug addicts. See also 'We worked from 4am to 9pm, sending all our wages home'. (Guardian, 6 Nov 2004) Kofi Annan's letter: Falluja warning UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has sent a letter to the leaders of the US, UK and Iraq expressing concern that the planned assault on the Iraqi city of Falluja could undermine elections due in January. (BBC, 6 Nov 2004) Blair vows to oversee clampdown on illegal gipsy camps Tony Blair has become personally involved in moves to stop travellers setting up illegal campsites. (Telegraph, 4 Nov 2004) New law to silence peace protest A peace demonstrator will be forced to abandon his permanent protest outside Parliament after the Government confirmed yesterday that it would use legislation to get rid of him. The Home Office will propose a new law to stop Brian Haw, a former carpenter, heckling MPs with a loudspeaker from the gates of the House of Commons. (Telegraph, 4 Nov 2004) 'Prompt action' needed in Darfur United Nations head Kofi Annan has urged the Security Council to take "prompt action" to stop intensifying violence in the Sudan's Darfur region. (BBC, 4 Nov 2004) President may turn attention to Iran With Iran believed to be coming ever closer to developing nuclear weapons, President Bush may have to decide in the next four years whether to order pre-emptive military action against another "rogue" state. (Telegraph, 4 Nov 2004) Schools 'need not fear inclusion' Schools which admit many pupils with special educational needs do not have lower attainment as a result, say researchers. (BBC, 4 Nov 2004) Reggae star Sizzla gigs cancelled Three UK concerts by reggae star Sizzla have been cancelled after police launched an investigation into "anti-gay" reggae lyrics. (BBC, 4 Nov 2004) 'Costly' prison ship may be shut The UK's first prison ship for 200 years could be closed unless an expensive facelift is carried out. (BBC, 4 Nov 2004) See HMP Weare. The gunpowder plot Chinese migrant workers have gone from cockles to crackers, but despite the Morecambe Bay tragedy and changes in the law, Hsiao-Hung Pai finds their rights, safety and pay remain questionable. (Guardian, 3 Nov 2004) UN in warning on Sudanese camps The UN food relief agency claimed yesterday that Sudanese security forces were surrounding refugee camps in Darfur and blocking access to humanitarian groups. (Guardian, 3 Nov 2004) Bodies of dead cocklers returned Eleven survivors are allowed to stay in the UK to help with prosecutions The bodies of the 21 cockle pickers who drowned in Morecambe Bay earlier this year have been repatriated to China. (BBC, 3 Nov 2004) Barman's murder brings call to ban homophobic singer Gay rights campaigners want police to ban a controversial Jamaican reggae artist from appearing in Britain today after the suspected "gay bashing" murder of a London barman. Detectives from the Metropolitan police's racial and violent crime taskforce have been analysing the lyrics of Sizzla, real name Miguel Collins, along with seven other dance hall artists, for several months over claims his songs incite people to kill gays and lesbians. As Sizzla starts his UK tour, Peter Tatchell, from Outrage!, demanded his shows be cancelled after the weekend murder of 37-year-old David Morley near a gay nightclub in London. (Guardian, 3 Nov 2004) Passport cost to double in 2007 The cost of a passport will more than double to £85 as new biometric identity cards are issued within three years, the Home Secretary said yesterday. (Times, 3 Nov 2004) Nations squabble as Arctic shrinks A thaw of the Arctic ice-cap is accelerating because of global warming but nations in the region are divided on how to reverse the trend, scientists have said. (Times, 3 Nov 2004) Inuit language finds home on net Inuktitut speakers will soon be able to have their say online as the Canadian aboriginal language goes on the web. Browser settings on normal computers have not supported the language to date, but attavik.net has changed that. (BBC, 3 Nov 2004) Council must pay for ASBO family A Council is paying £700 a week to house a single mother and her five children in a Travelodge hotel after they were evicted from their home for antisocial behaviour. Sharon Griffiths, 34, and her family have been living in two double rooms at the hotel for the past 13 weeks at a cost of more than £9,200 to St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council. (Times, 3 Nov 2004) Key India riot witness backtracks The most high profile trial following the Hindu-Muslim riots in the Indian state of Gujarat two years ago has again been thrown into confusion. (BBC, 3 Nov 2004) Shooting police anonymity ruling Two police officers involved in the fatal shooting of a man are entitled to remain anonymous when giving evidence at his inquest, a court has ruled. Derek Bennett, 29, was shot dead in Brixton, south London, in July 2001 after officers thought his gun-shaped cigarette lighter was a handgun. (BBC, 2 Nov 2004) DShops criticised for importing water from Fiji Shops which import food products from around the world, such as water from Fiji, have come in for criticism from environmentalists. (Telegraph, 2 Nov 2004) Marconi chief to quit after pocketing £8.5m Marconi's chief operating officer, Mike Donovan, is to leave the telecoms equipment maker by the end of the year, taking with him more than £4m in compensation and share options on top of the £3.14m of options he exercised in August. (Telegraph, 2 Nov 2004) Civil servants take two weeks off sick Sick leave taken by civil servants grew to an average of two weeks per person last year despite a Government campaign to cut it, an official report said yesterday. (Telegraph, 2 Nov 2004) Drug den 'threat to safety' A filthy subway used as a drug den could threaten passenger safety at a landmark new transport interchange, a councillor has warned. The subway, at Vauxhall Cross, is shut to the public but its sloping entrance ramp has become a night-time haunt for drug addicts and vagrants. (South London Press, 2 Nov 2004) Ethnic violence hits China region Martial law has been imposed in parts of the Chinese province of Henan after ethnic clashes in which at least seven people were killed. (BBC, 1 Nov 2004) Main post offices could be axed More than 160 High Street post offices could be shut down or sold off under plans being considered by Royal Mail. (BBC, 1 Nov 2004) US whistleblower urges civil servants to leak Iraq secrets One of the world's best-known whistleblowers is in London this week in a mission to encourage public servants with vital information about the war in Iraq or any future conflicts to come forward. His arrival coincides with the prosecutions in Denmark and Ireland of people who took action in opposition to the war. Daniel Ellsberg, whose disclosure of the Pentagon Papers in 1971 helped end the war in Vietnam, said he hoped to encourage people with access to official information regarding the war and questions about its legality to come forward. (Guardian, 1 Nov 2004) New police powers for on-the-spot fines Police will today gain the powers to hand out £80 on-the-spot fines to adults and teenagers for vandalism, shoplifting and underage drinking, the Home Office announced. (Guardian, 1 Nov 2004) Academies 'gagging' teachers Teachers in some of the government's new academy schools are being made to sign gagging clauses, the Guardian has learned. (Guardian, 1 Nov 2004) Asbestos claims 'could hit £20bn' The cost of asbestos claims in the UK could reach £20bn in the next 30 years, research by an actuarial body has said. (BBC, 1 Nov 2004) Gay man dies after South Bank attack Police were last night searching for two teenage assailants who launched a series of brutal attacks on gay men along London's South Bank, leaving one dead and others injured. David Morley, 37, who lived and worked at a pub in Chiswick, west London, suffered serious head injuries and died in hospital following the 15-minute frenzy of assaults close to the Royal Festival Hall on Saturday. (Guardian, 1 Nov 2004) |
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updated:
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2004