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Mapping damage to African lakes Africa's lakes are declining rapidly, according to a new United Nations publication, with climate change and over-use the major factors. (BBC, 31 Oct 2005) City academies accused of deserting poor Schools in the government's £5bn academy programme, designed to tackle educational underachievement in some of the country's most disadvantaged communities, were accused last night of turning their back on poor pupils and "cherry-picking" more able children from middle-class families. (Guardian, 31 Oct 2005) Agony of my arrest during peace demo An 80-year-old peace campaigner arrested at a protest march has threatened to sue Sussex Police. Veteran activist John Catt claims officers left him in agony by forcing his arms behind his back and marching him up North Street in Brighton. (Brighton Argus, 30 Oct 2005) Iran 'not planning Israel attack' Iran says it has no intention to attack Israel despite a call by its president to have it "wiped off the map". (BBC, 29 Oct 2005) UN invited to inspect Guantanamo The Pentagon has invited UN officials to visit the Guantanamo Bay prison camp, more than three years after first receiving the request. (BBC, 29 Oct 2005) Corner shops celebrate OFT U-turn Small corner shops have won a significant and surprising victory in their battle against the giant supermarket chains, after the Office of Fair Trading took the first step towards referring the whole grocery sector to the Competition Commission. (Telegraph, 29 Oct 2005) See Association of Convenience Stores. Islam feminists urge gender jihad Organisers of the first international congress on Islamic feminism are calling for a "gender jihad". (BBC, 28 Oct 2005) MoD says Iraq has cost UK £3.1bn The Iraq war and its aftermath cost the UK almost £3.1bn up to the end of March this year, new figures from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) reveal. (BBC, 28 Oct 2005) Racism still blights police despite post-Lawrence improvements Institutional racism still blights the policing of black and minority ethnic communities six years after the Stephen Lawrence inquiry report, says Home Office research published yesterday. (Guardian, 28 Oct 2005) See Assessing the impact of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry. Get Safe Online membership costs revealed A Word document sent in error to silicon.com, ZDNet UK's sister site, has revealed that the UK's National Hi-Tech Crime Unit (NHTCU) has specifically been consulting only with security and online fraud experts willing to pay between £50,000 and £150,000 in order to raise funds for its latest Get Safe Online initiative. (ZDnet, 28 Oct 2005) Iranian demonstrators back PM's 'wipe Israel off map' demand Tens of thousands of Iranians staged anti-Israel protests across the country today, repeating the calls by their president for the Jewish state's destruction. (Scotsman, 28 Oct 2005) Nine out of 10 teenage criminals reoffend The government's community punishment programme to tackle the most hardcore teenage criminals has a failure rate of 91%, it was revealed yesterday. (Guardian, 28 Oct 2005) Racism still blights police despite post-Lawrence improvements Institutional racism still blights the policing of black and minority ethnic communities six years after the Stephen Lawrence inquiry report, says Home Office research published yesterday. (Guardian, 28 Oct 2005) High oil prices enable Shell and Exxon to make $195bn Shell and Exxon Mobil earned a combined $195.4billion (£109billion) in revenues in the past three months because of high oil prices. (Telegraph, 28 Oct 2005) Tessa Jowell's husband in fraud hearing Legal proceedings against Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell's husband on allegations of tax fraud and money laundering were set to begin in Italy today. Company lawyer David Mills is alleged to have set up offshore firms that helped Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi's media company avoid £40 million tax. (Scotsman, 28 Oct 2005) Winter deaths 'a scar on society' Charities blamed Government policies yesterday for the first rise in "excess" winter deaths for five years. (Telegraph, 28 Oct 2005) Juries may be excused fraud cases Juries could disappear from some serious fraud trials in little more than two months, the Government confirmed yesterday. (Telegraph, 28 Oct 2005) Clarke hints at retreat over 90-day Terror Bill detention Charles Clarke hinted yesterday that he was ready to back down on plans to hold terrorist suspects for up to three months without being charged. (Times, 27 Oct 2005) The heat is on to save energy Emma Lunn looks at some of the best ways to fight climate change - and cut your fuel bills. Even something as painless as setting your thermostat one degree lower can save you £30 a year. (Telegraph, 26 Oct 2005) Woman who sat down and stood up for blacks At the time Rosa Parks made history by refusing to give up her bus seat in 1955, Alabama's blacks used separate public lavatories, sat on the balcony in cinemas and could not share the pavement with whites. But long before she died on Monday, aged 92, such segregation had been swept away and the political status of blacks across America had changed beyond recognition. (Telegraph, 26 Oct 2005) 20m tons of fuel 'is dumped in landfill' Burning fuel from woodlands, crops, and waste could save the same amount of carbon as taking 3.25 million cars off the road, a Government task force said yesterday. (Telegraph, 26 Oct 2005) 'Parent power' to change schools Parent power will be the driving force behind improving England's schools, says Education Secretary Ruth Kelly. (BBC, 25 Oct 2005) Moving Memorial Ninety three days after the Stockwell shooting and the De Menezes memorial is on the move. Not too far, about 20 yards to the other side of the tube station entrance. But it's shifted all the same. Something to do with planned building work next to the fruit and veg stall where the shrine first sprung up back in those crazy days of July. (Onionbag Blog, 24 Oct 2005) Film spotlights Paris night of blood In the film, there are demonstrations on a bridge in Paris. Last week there were protests on the Pont St Michel over the Seine. In the film, there are angry accusations of racism and counter-accusations of betrayal and treason. This weekend the harsh words, insults and racial slurs were as virulent as ever. Today Nuit Noire (Black Night) will be released at a select number of French cinemas. The controversial film, made by one of France's most respected directors, reconstructs the events of the night of 17 October 1961, when a protest against French policy in Algeria, then a colony on the brink of independence, sparked a huge police operation. Hundreds of demonstrators were killed or injured but there was no official acknowledgement at the time - or for decades afterwards. (Guardian, 23 Oct 2005) Anonymous hate mail sent to black archbishop The new archbishop of York, John Sentamu, said yesterday he was praying for anonymous correspondents who have sent him hate mail, including human excrement, since his appointment as the first black archbishop in the Church of England was announced in June. (Guardian, 22 Oct 2005) A&E head suspended after he lifts lid on 'nightmare' hospital The head of an accident and emergency department has been suspended after attacking the "shocking and inexcusable" conditions at his hospital. Paul Lewis wrote to his managers describing a "nightmare" weekend in his overcrowded department at Grantham Hospital, Lincs, where patients were left on trolleys in corridors because of a shortage of beds. (Telegraph, 22 Oct 2005) Fury as BBC axes new allotment series The BBC has been deluged with complaints from disappointed vegetable gardeners after it withdrew its new allotments programme from the schedules after only three weeks. The Big Dig, presented by Simon Mayo, was cancelled after researchers reported poor ratings. (Telegraph, 22 Oct 2005) Amazon 'stealth' logging revealed Scientists from Brazil and the US say new research suggests deforestation of the Brazilian Amazon has been underestimated by at least 60%. (BBC, 22 Oct 2005) WPP executive quits for calling women 'crap' and 'wimps' The advertising group WPP has accepted the resignation of a senior executive after he reportedly labelled women working in the industry as "crap" and "wimps". (Guardian, 22 Oct 2005) High Court strips animal rights activists of assets Companies under pressure from animal rights protesters won a landmark High Court victory yesterday which paves the way for the seizure of activists’ funds. The unprecedented ruling gave Huntingdon Life Sciences permission to empty the bank account of London Animal Action, heralding the enforcement of a new tactic against the assets owned by protesters. (Times, 22 Oct 2005) Watchdog probes Refco boss loan Financial watchdogs have launched an inquiry into Austrian bank BAWAG's 350m euro ($418m; £237m) loan to the ex-boss of crisis-hit US finance firm Refco. (BBC, 21 Oct 2005) France Orders Positive Spin on Colonialism France, grappling for decades with its colonial past, has passed a law to put an upbeat spin on a painful era, making it mandatory to enshrine in textbooks the country's "positive role" in its far-flung colonies. (New York Times, 21 Oct 2005) 'Volunteer' provides for displaced West Demerarians -road dwellers desperate for homes, clothing From a roadside fire at Sea View, Stewartville, Marilyn Bailey feeds close to 50 people, children included and she is doing it all on her own. (Stabroek News, 21 Oct 2005) MPs to scrutinise government's 'barmy' housing strategy The government's drive to build thousands of homes in the south-east of England while demolishing them in the north is to come under scrutiny from a committee of MPs. (Guardian, 21 Oct 2005) Blasts rekindle anti-colonial sentiment Whoever carried out the deadly blasts that killed Malek Mohammad Parvizi and five other Iranians has not owned up to their handiwork, but the dead man's family voice no doubt about who is to blame. "I believe it was Britain," said Mr Parvizi's brother, Eidi Mohammad, 49, as he hosted mourners. (Guardian, 21 Oct 2005) Pakistan earthquake toll reaches 79,000 The helicopter swept up the Neelum Valley, passing one ruined village after another, before swooping towards a stony field. As it landed families rushed from the rubble of their flattened homes, scrabbling for tents, blankets and a sign that the outside world had not forgotten them. (Guardian, 21 Oct 2005) Countries turn backs on Hollywood Unesco member states have formally voted to support their own film and music industries against globalisation. ...The US had said the "deeply flawed" convention could be used to block the export of Hollywood films and other cultural exports. (BBC, 20 Oct 2005) Energy saving labels may be banned Consumers may lose the chance to be eco-friendly, if plans to ban energy efficiency labels on appliances such as washing machines, fridges and irons are successful, warns Friends of the Earth as `Energy Saving Week' approaches (24-28 October 2005). (Friends of the Earth Press Release, 20 Oct 2005) Bird flu fear grips Europe, Asia Several nations in Europe and Asia are reporting new cases of the lethal H5N1 bird flu strain among poultry, sparking new fears that humans could be at risk. (BBC, 20 Oct 2005) Ocean warming threatens Antarctic wildlife Scientists working in Antarctica have discovered an alarming rise in sea temperature that threatens to disrupt populations of penguins, whales, seals and a host of smaller creatures within a few decades. (Guardian, 19 Oct 2005) Young 'not learning how to vote' A generation of young adults is not learning the habit of voting, a report from the Electoral Commission says. (BBC, 19 Oct 2005) Johnson denies pensions U-turn The trade and industry secretary, Alan Johnson, today denied the government had done a U-turn in a deal over civil servants' pensions. The government yesterday dropped a demand for workers already in the civil service to push back their expected retirement date from 60 to 65. (Guardian, 19 Oct 2005) Children who have sex advice may be reported to police Children under 16 would be automatically reported to the police if they seek advice on contraception, pregnancy or abortion, under government proposals. (Times, 19 Oct 2005) Keeping taste of 1700s alive When Brunswick House was built in 1758 it stood in three acres of park land. But during the past 257 years, the landscape surrounding one of the capital's last riverside mansions has changed somewhat. The Georgian house is at the heart of Vauxhall Cross - one of South London's busiest traffic intersections. (South London Press, 19 Oct 2005) Wealthy 'can live an extra 10 years' Lewis Macdonald, the Deputy Health Minister, said yesterday that it may be at least a generation before the benefits of moves to tackle health inequalities are seen. (Times, 19 Oct 2005) No direction home Ryzard studied banking and finance in Warsaw. He has ended up in a bank in London - sleeping in its doorway. He speaks English, has a gentle obsession with chess, and came to London to work, to earn enough to finish his studies. He has ended up virtually destitute. (Guardian, 19 Oct 2005) China accused over Burma forests Illegal logging by Chinese timber companies is devastating large stretches of Burma's forests, an environmental watchdog has claimed. (BBC, 18 Oct 2005) No-win situation A key plank of the government's policy is putting the public and patients at the centre of health and welfare. All the talk is of partnership and user involvement; the "expert patient" and the "active citizen". Yet evidence shows that the government's own benefits policy is pushing people in the opposite direction, discouraging them from making a contribution and perpetuating their social exclusion. (Guardian, 18 Oct 2005) 'Watch out below!' It is one of the most famous buildings in London, up there with St Paul's Cathedral and the Houses of Parliament. But radical changes are on the way at the disused Battersea Power Station. (South London Press, 18 Oct 2005) Public inquiries face the axe as Labour looks to speed up new transport projects Traditional lengthy planning inquiries could be scrapped by the Government as it looks to speed up transport projects. (Telegraph, 17 Oct 2005) Asda attacked over employees' rights Asda has come under fire from a charity accusing the supermarket group of planning a "strategic assault" on the working conditions of its staff. (Guardian, 17 Oct 2005) Addiction to TV makeover shows 'can ruin lives' The craze for television makeover shows on gardening, plastic surgery and clothing is partly responsible for a dangerous addiction to reinvention that can ruin lives, according to a study to be published next month. (Telegraph, 17 Oct 2005) Prescott plan is social cleansing, says minister A minister has told a public inquiry that the demolition of 367 mostly Victorian homes as part of a regeneration scheme funded by John Prescott's department amounts to the "social cleansing" of her constituents. The remarks by Jane Kennedy, the Labour MP for Wavertree and Minister of State for Health, reveal deep disquiet within the Government about Mr Prescott's troubled housing market renewal scheme, which has been criticised as expensive, unnecessary and based on flawed public consultation. In an inquiry which will be crucial to the future of Mr Prescott's department's plans to raze 10,000 terrace properties on Merseyside, houses in the Edge Lane area of Liverpool are to be cleared and replaced and the A5080 road into the city from the M62 upgraded, apparently in time for the city's turn as European Capital of Culture in 2008. (BBC, 17 Oct 2005) Lawrence mother hits out at police The mother of Stephen Lawrence has issued a searing attack on the government for failing to implement key lessons learnt after the racially inspired murder of her son. (Guardian, 16 Oct 2005) Judges order end to deportations to Harare Immigration judges delivered a scathing verdict yesterday on the decision of the home secretary Charles Clarke to resume the deportation of failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe, saying those sent back were handed straight over to security police. (Guardian, 15 Oct 2005) Beleaguered African villagers fearful of big game project It will cover an area equivalent to half of Scotland and cross the borders of three countries. Nearly 150 species - including elephants, rhinos and lions - will roam across its savannah landscapes. Tourists, it is hoped, will come in their thousands. (Guardian, 15 Oct 2005) Co-op pulls out of department stores The Co-operative group said yesterday it would close 10 department stores as part of its plan to exit this sector of the retail market. The group said it hoped to sell the remaining 26. (Guardian, 15 Oct 2005) Pakistan earthquake toll '38,000' Pakistan's government has said it now believes more than 38,000 of its people were killed by the South Asian earthquake a week ago. (BBC, 15 Oct 2005) Police chief faces inquiry over de Menezes shooting The police chief in command of the bungled "shoot-to-kill" operation that led to the death of Jean Charles de Menezes is among ten officers who have been formally warned that they could face disciplinary action. (Times, 15 Oct 2005) Pillows can harbour harmful fungi A small thought to help you sleep when you next get your head down - a study shows the average pillow is home to a host of potentially-harmful fungi. (BBC, 14 Oct 2005) The verbal smokescreen that hides dangerous government I have been sent a consultation paper on "planning for housing provision" which purports to set out the government's housing policy. It is from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and is a monster. (Guardian, 14 Oct 2005) Temps face 'dark age' conditions Unions have likened the working conditions of some of the UK's 600,000 temporary workers as being reminiscent of the "dark ages". (BBC, 13 Oct 2005) Funeral held for refugee father The funeral of an Angolan refugee who committed suicide while facing deportation has been held in Leeds. Manuel Bravo, 35, hanged himself at Yarl's Wood detention centre in Bedfordshire in September. He had been taken there with his 13-year-old son. (BBC, 13 Oct 2005) Emigration has had 'heavy influence' -census -40% of those born near 1980 no longer here Emigration has had a "heavy influence" on Guyana's recent population trends, according to the final report of the 2002 Population and Housing Census, which shows evidence of a firm outflow despite a population growth. ...Guyana's population at 2002 was 751, 223, 3.8% or 27,500 more than at 1991, reversing the -4.7% decline in the 1980s. The Preliminary Census count completed in February last year gave the total population as 749,190. But apart from the growth, the final census report has also found that the survival figures over the last twenty years showed that almost 40% of the people born in 1980 are no longer in the country. (Stabroek News, 13 Oct 2005) Time in jail to be slashed for prisoners Thousands of prisoners will be released early in an attempt to ease prison overcrowding, under plans approved by Charles Clarke. The latest figures show that the service is less than 1,000 spaces away from being full and prison staff have estimated that there are only 700 useable cells available for offenders sent to jail by the courts. A record 77,599 people were in jail yesterday morning, an increase of 119 overnight and a rise of 226 since last Friday. (Times, 13 Oct 2005) Give community groups right to buy derelict land, says minister Community groups should be given the right to buy disused or derelict council property to build parks, children's playgrounds, youth centres and food cooperatives, David Miliband, the local government minister, said yesterday. (Guardian, 13 Oct 2005) Sole UK prison ship closes down The UK's only prison ship has officially closed, eight years after it was opened as a temporary measure. (BBC, 12 Aug 2005) Top judge warns off politicians The top judge in England and Wales has warned politicians not to interfere with the judiciary or browbeat judges. (BBC, 11 Oct 2005) How Chinese takeaway could serve as post office Customers at the local Chinese takeaway could pick up their weekly pension with their prawn crackers if the Government heeds a call for more innovative solutions to the rural post office crisis. (Telegraph, 11 Oct 2005) Shoppers told to learn card 'pin' or be refused at till Hundreds of thousands of people who have been reluctant to use their new chip and pin bank cards were yesterday given a four-month deadline to make the switch. (Telegraph, 11 Oct 2005) Benefit losses are 'astronomical' Benefits fraud and mistakes are so "astronomical" the figures are rounded up to the nearest half-a-billion pounds, say MPs. (BBC, 10 Oct 2005) 'Whole generation' lost in quake Pakistan's military spokesman has said an entire generation of young people has been wiped out in the areas worst hit by a massive earthquake. (BBC, 10 Oct 2005) EU support for Turkey 'genocide' writer A senior European Union official has underlined concern for Turkey's human rights record by joining the acclaimed author, Orhan Pamuk, for lunch in Istanbul. An Istanbul court provoked outrage last month when it charged Mr Pamuk with violating laws that forbid description of the mass killings of Armenians during the last days of the Ottoman Empire as genocide. (Telegraph, 10 Oct 2005) Top state schools 'serve wealthy' The most successful state secondary schools in England are admitting too few children from poorer families, says a report from an education charity. (BBC, 10 Oct 2005) 1,400 killed as mudslide wipes out village in Guatemala Up to 1,400 villagers have died in a Mayan Indian settlement engulfed by a 40ft-thick mudslide, according to the first rescuers to reach the site in south-west Guatemala. (Telegraph, 9 Oct 2005) China summit targets poverty gap China's Communist party leaders are beginning a four-day, closed-door meeting in Beijing to map out policy for the next five years. (BBC, 8 Oct 2005) Italian journalist posing as migrant reports abuse at detention camp Prosecutors in Sicily opened a criminal investigation yesterday following the publication of a horrific account by a journalist who disguised himself as an illegal immigrant and spent a week in detention. (Guardian, 8 Oct 2005) School plan for 364-day opening A school is to consult teachers and parents on the idea of opening for lessons 364 days a year. (BBC, 7 Oct 2005) African migrants 'left in desert' An aid agency says it has found more than 500 migrants abandoned in the Moroccan desert after being expelled from Spain's North African enclaves. (BBC, 7 Oct 2005) Guantanamo food strike 'serious' The situation at Guantanamo Bay - where dozens of detainees are on hunger strike - is serious, the International Committee of the Red Cross has warned. (BBC, 7 Oct 2005) Report names 17,000 over Srebrenica massacre The Bosnian state prosecutor's office said yesterday it would handle as a priority a list, identified by a Bosnian Serb commission, of more than 17,000 participants in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, Europe's worst slaughter of civilians since the second world war. (Guardian, 6 Oct 2005) Cities bypass broadband providers to put everyone on the web Philadelphia is to become the first big "wireless city" next year with a scheme for web access for all its citizens, putting the wind up cable, telephone and internet companies. (Times, 6 Oct 2005) Plea over Guantanamo protesters Human rights groups are calling on the UK Government to intervene in the hunger strike at Guantanamo Bay. (BBC, 6 Oct 2005) US Senate backs detainee rights US senators have voted overwhelmingly to outlaw cruel or degrading treatment of detainees held in US custody abroad. (BBC, 6 Oct 2005) Capita gains Outsourcing, a major part of state-run industries, has mostly been a success. But one of the major players in the merging of public and private provision of services tells David Brindle it's not happening fast enough. ...It was the CBI's second annual public services dinner, held at University College London, next door to the spanking new hospital of the same name, product of the largest operational private finance initiative scheme in the country. And presiding was the man who has come to embody the private sector's encroachment on to the sacred turf of state services: Rod Aldridge, executive chairman of Capita. ...So the future should look rosy and Aldridge - whose total remuneration package of £2.2m last year placed him eighth in the Guardian pay survey of executive chairs - ought to be a contented man. (Guardian, 6 Oct 2005) Beachgoers 'should have to pay' A tourism chief has suggested holidaymakers should be charged a fee if they want to visit the beach. (BBC, 5 Oct 2005) Deportation or death? A man who drowned in Salford Quays was a failed asylum seeker who may have been fleeing oppression in Zimbabwe. Edmore Ngwenya, 26, appeared to commit suicide last month by stepping into the Manchester Ship Canal. (Manchester Online, 5 Oct 2005) EU opens Turkey membership talks Turkey has officially begun membership talks with the European Union - the culmination of a 40-year campaign. (BBC, 4 Sep 2005) When a reporter got too close to the story Al-Jazeera journalist Taysir Alouni was jailed by a Spanish court last week after being found guilty of collaborating with al-Qaida. Is he a terrorist sympathiser or just very good at his job? (Guardian, 3 Oct 2005) Al-Jazeera lines up David Frost Sir David Frost is understood to have been signed up by Arabic satellite television news channel al-Jazeera for its new English-language service. (Guardian, 3 Oct 2005) Oil 'would have fuelled independence boom' A previously secret document which stated how North Sea oil might enable an independent Scotland to prosper is among papers released today. (Times, 3 Oct 2005) When a slogan equals terrorism Legally speaking, Walter Wolfgang's experience at the Labour party conference was even more bizarre than it first seemed. After being forcibly ejected he wanted to get back in but was stopped from doing so by the police, under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000. (Guardian, 3 Oct 2005) Academies facing £7m VAT trap Tony Blair's flagship academies programme is at risk of failing to fulfil one of its core aims because of a "tax trap" that will cost individual schools millions of pounds in VAT. (Times, 3 Oct 2005) Amazon dries out as worst ever drought hits rainforest Large parts of the Amazon rainforest are at their driest in living memory, a direct consequence, scientists say, of the severe hurricane season off the US Gulf coast. (Guardian, 1 Oct 2005) Sex harassment law strengthened New sexual harassment legislation, aimed at tackling discrimination in the workplace, has come into force. (BBC, 1 Oct 2005) |
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updated:
21 Oct
2006