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Bolivian leader to cut own salary The socialist president-elect of Bolivia, Evo Morales, has said he will cut his salary by half when he takes office next month. (BBC, 28 Dec 2005) Italians 'dumping grandparents' Italy's image as a family-centred society has taken a knock with the revelation that thousands of grandparents spent a lonely Christmas in hospital because their families did not want them at home. (Guardian, 28 Dec 2005) Council withdraws Asbo against boy with Tourette's A council said today it has withdrawn an Asbo against a teenager who suffers from Tourette syndrome, despite insisting that his bad behaviour was not linked to his medical condition. (Guardian, 28 Dec 2005) The Turks haven't learned the British way of denying past atrocities It is not illegal to discuss the millions who were killed under our empire. So why do so few people know about them? (Guardian, 27 Dec 2005) This is the country of Drake and Pepys, not Shaka Zulu Most of the coverage given to last week's report from the government's Qualifications and Curriculum Authority focused upon the decline of school language studies. Because I am a historian by background and inclination, my own attention fell upon its remarks about history. (Guardian, 27 Dec 2005) ! Businessman wins e-mail spam case A businessman has won what is believed to be the first victory of its kind by claiming damages from a company which sent him e-mail spam. (BBC, 27 Dec 2005) Met chief 'was not kept in dark' over de Menezes The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police denied yesterday that he was “kept in the dark” about the killing of Jean Charles de Menezes in a counter-terrorist operation. (Times, 23 Dec 2005) Police tell Christian couple view on gays 'close to hate crime' Police questioned a retired couple for 80 minutes about their “homophobic” views after they asked their local council if they could display their Christian literature next to gay rights leaflets, it was reported last night. (Times, 23 Dec 2005) Schools' failure on daily prayers More than half the secondary schools in Wales inspected in the past four years break the law by failing to pray every day, a BBC survey has revealed. (BBC, 23 Dec 2005) Showjumper lowers the hurdles for a generation of black riders Enos Mafokate, South Africa’s first black showjumper, has cleared racial hurdles all his life. “People could not believe that a black man could take part in such a sport,” he said. “At some competitions, they would not let me through the gates and would ask, ‘Whose horse box is this? And, ‘Where’s your baas?’, ” he laughs. (Times, 23 Dec 2005) Letwin: We will redistribute wealth The Tories should support the redistribution of wealth and try to narrow the gap between rich and poor, Oliver Letwin, the party's new policy chief, says today. ...He adds that the party's policy review group on social justice, chaired by Iain Duncan Smith, has been charged with drawing up proposals for reducing inequality. (Telegraph, 23 Dec 2005) State of surveillance Many people do not seem to worry that the Government is spending more and more of our money to monitor us. (Telegraph, 23 Dec 2005) Surge in cameras that can track your car planned for 2006 A massive increase in the number of roadside cameras able to identify and track every British-registered car is planned for next year. (Telegraph, 23 Dec 2005) Serbia warns fugitives' helpers Serbia's war crimes prosecutor says people helping to protect fugitives Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic have been identified. (BBC, 22 Dec 2005) Voters act like teenagers, says No 10 policy analyst A modern British government's efforts to meet the growing demands made by voters as they get "richer but not happier" are like parents dealing with teenagers, who are unwilling to be controlled but not ready to take responsibility for their lives, Whitehall policymakers have been told. (Guardian, 22 Dec 2005) Don't mention the war so often, exams watchdog tells teachers Secondary schools are concentrating too much on teaching about "Hitler and Henry" and should do more to help broaden their pupils' knowledge and understanding of history, according to a report today by the government's exam regulator. (Guardian, 22 Dec 2005) Students bear brunt of racist fury Alex Alaya, 18, has spent a lot more time sleeping in his room since that day in October when he went for a walk in the woods in Voronezh, a university city 290 miles south of Moscow. He and a fellow Peruvian student, Enrique Hurtado, and some Russian friends had just sat down in a quiet glade when 13 youths attacked them from behind, battering them with wooden sticks and metal bars. "I never saw them, just felt the blows," Mr Alaya said. (Guardian, 22 Dec 2005)
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has agreed to write off the $3.3bn (£1.89bn) owed to it by all but one of the 20 poorest countries in the world. (BBC, 21 Dec 2005) Indonesian pilot killed human rights activist by putting arsenic in noodles An Indonesian airline pilot was convicted yesterday of murdering one of the country's leading human rights activists by poisoning him with arsenic in business class. Pollycarpus Priyanto, who is rumoured to be an intelligence agent, spiked the noodles served to Munir Thalib after swapping seats with him on a flight to the Netherlands. (Telegraph, 21 Dec 2005) Head of audit commission resigns in row over councils James Strachan, the head of the Audit Commission, unexpectedly resigned yesterday after a row with local government leaders over the way the commission suggested that half of councils in England and Wales were failing to give value for money. (Guardian, 21 Dec 2005) Melting of permafrost threatens homes and roads, scientists warn Global warming could melt almost all of the top layer of Arctic permafrost by the end of the century. Scientists say the thaw would release vast stocks of carbon into the atmosphere, threaten ocean currents and wreck roads and buildings across Canada, Alaska and Russia. (Guardian, 21 Dec 2005) A sunny place for shady people but Monaco doesn't want Mark Thatcher Monaco has declared Sir Mark Thatcher persona non grata because Prince Albert wants to shake off its reputation as a haven for shady businessmen. (Guardian, 21 Dec 2005) Victors hail US evolution ruling A US court decision to ban the teaching of "intelligent design" has been hailed by anti-creationism campaigners. A federal judge ruled in favour of 11 parents in Dover, Pennsylvania, who argued that Darwinian evolution must be taught as fact in biology lessons. (BBC, 21 Dec 2005) Building blocks Opening a new school requires friends in very high places. (Guardian, 21 Dec 2005) African bloggers find their voice The first news update appeared at 1030, just over an hour after shots started ringing out in Addis Ababa's crowded open-air market, Merkato. (BBC, 20 Dec 2005) 'Remarkable' UK economy praised The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has praised the "remarkable" stability of the UK economy, despite a housing market slowdown and rising fuel prices. (BBC, 20 Dec 2005) 'Failure' on cheap homes targets Most local authorities doubt they will meet needs for affordable housing by 2007 - even with a £3.3bn cash injection - a report has warned. (BBC, 20 Dec 2005) Incoming Bolivian leader promises gas reform A former coca farmer who was elected President of Bolivia yesterday is threatening BG Group with the nationalisation of its gas assets in the Andean states. Evo Morales, who leads the Movement towards Socialism party and who describes himself as “Washington’s nightmare”, said that he would revoke the rights of natural gas producers at the well head. (Times, 20 Dec 2005) Clarke keen to usher in 'superforces' A blueprint for police "superforces" should be in place by next summer after Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, vowed to press ahead with controversial mergers as fast as possible. (Telegraph, 20 Dec 2005) Empire history 'key to UK life' School history lessons should focus more on the British Empire to explain modern UK life, a think tank says. See Fabian Society (BBC, 20 Dec 2005) 'Wild dogs' murder youths jailed Four youths who beat a man to death "like a pack of wild dogs" outside his takeaway shop have been jailed. Mi Gao Huang Chen, 41, known as Michael, was kicked, punched, stamped on and battered with wooden clubs by the gang in Wigan, Gtr Manchester. Anthony Dunleavy, 17, and Joe Sankey, Jason Hughes and Jamie Stephens, all 16, were convicted of murder and sentenced at Manchester Crown Court. (BBC, 16 Dec 2005) 2005 warmest ever year in north This year has been the warmest on record in the northern hemisphere, say scientists in Britain. (BBC, 15 Dec 2005) Edinburgh council tenants reject homes transfer Council tenants in Edinburgh today became the first in Scotland to vote against the transfer of their homes to a housing association. (Guardian, 15 Dec 2005) Pentagon in global propaganda drive The Pentagon is to spend $300m (£170m) planting pro-US messages in media outlets around the world, including those of its allies, without disclosing the US government as their source. (Guardian, 15 Dec 2005) Swoop on hospitals finds many 'unacceptably dirty' A snap inspection of hospitals found many were unacceptably dirty, including one where investigators discovered stains from bodily fluids left on a hoist chair, a report said yesterday. (Guardian, 15 Dec 2005) Europe approves CIA prison investigation Euro MPs are to investigate allegations that the United States is operating secret CIA prisons on European soil and illegally transferring terrorist suspects between countries. (Times, 15 Dec 2005) Tenants vote for transfer after acrimonious campaign A bitterly fought campaign over a council's housing stock appears to be over after tenants voted to switch their homes to housing association control just months after voting against the idea. Amid allegations of dirty tricks from both sides, Sefton council announced last night that 71% of its tenants had voted in favour of transferring their homes to a housing association. (Guardian, 14 Dec 2005) Britons named in US 'good news' furore A former British military intelligence officer and an expert in psychological warfare has emerged as a crucial strategist in the Pentagon's covert operation to pay Iraqi newspapers and journalists for publishing "good news" stories about the coalition's reconstruction efforts. (Guardian, 14 Dec 2005) It took them 11 minutes to find a vein. 'You doing that right?' Tookie asked It took guards 11 minutes to find a suitable vein in Stanley “Tookie” Williams’s arm. As he waited for the lethal injection that would end his life, the convicted killed and founder of the Crips street gang kept raising and shaking his head, as if irritated. At one point, he snapped: “You guys doing that right?” (Times, 14 Dec 2005) China set to unseat UK as fourth biggest economy China is poised to overtake the UK — and France and Italy — to become the world’s fourth largest economy after a national economic census found there was far more private sector activity than had been previously assumed. (Times, 14 Dec 2005) Third of MPs privately schooled Nearly a third of MPs and almost two thirds of members of the House of Lords were educated privately, compared to 7% in the wider population, figures show. (BBC, 12 Dec 2005) Sydney race-link violence continues Violence has erupted in Sydney for a second consecutive night, as youths battered cars and smashed store windows. (Scotsman, 12 Dec 2005) Painting over memorial demands an apology I read your article about the memorial for Jean Charles de Menezes ("Portrait of cop shooting victim is painted over", December 2). (South London Press readers' letters, 9 Dec 2005) Hong Kong summit: green or dirty? Turn left beyond the barricades protecting expensively-suited delegates at previous World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial summits, and you would likely find yourself passing through the shadow of a giant inflatable maize cob, or a banana fit for King Kong's snack time. (BBC, 9 Dec 2005) Police 'may be charged over tube shooting' The fatal shooting of Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes by anti-terror officers may lead to criminal charges, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has said. (Telegraph, 9 Dec 2005) London says farewell to monarch of the road ...The Routemaster, one of the most recognisable icons of London life, will today be withdrawn after more than 50 years of service. ...Some 10,000 Londoners joined a campaign to save the Routemaster and more than 80 per cent in a poll opposed the bus being scrapped. (Telegraph, 9 Dec 2005) Painting over memorial demands an apology I read your article about the memorial for Jean Charles de Menezes ("Portrait of cop shooting victim is painted over", South London Press, December 2). I say this was a serious mistake on the part of Lambeth council. (South London Press, 9 Dec 2005) Phone company launches home spy camera The mobile phone company 3 denied encouraging voyeurism yesterday after it unveiled a wireless, portable closed circuit television camera that can be hidden anywhere in the home. (Telegraph, 9 Dec 2005) Royal Mail in talks on possible £2 billion rights issue The Department of Trade and Industry is talking to banks about mounting a rights issue at Royal Mail that could result in a £2 billion cash injection, The Times has learnt. (Times, 9 Dec 2005) Jonathan Kozol: Listen to the Children More than a decade ago, at Saint Ann's Episcopal Church in the South Bronx, site of a thriving after-school program that now serves nearly 100 inner-city children, Jonathan Kozol encountered a 12-year-old boy named Anthony who loved to read. (The Nation, 9 Dec 2005) Complicity with torture Mention the word "torture" and ministers and their officials cannot condemn it quickly enough. They say they abhor it wherever it takes place. It is not quite as simple as that, as the growing dispute over CIA "torture flights" - what the Americans call "extraordinary rendition" - has vividly demonstrated this week. (Guardian, 8 Dec 2005) Peace protester is convicted A peace campaigner has been convicted for defying the new law banning unauthorised demonstrations within one kilometre of Westminster. Maya Anne Evans, 25, from Hastings, East Sussex, was arrested on October 25 as she stood next to the Cenotaph in Whitehall reading out the names of 97 British soldiers who had died in Iraq. (Times, 8 Dec 2005) Lords reject torture evidence use Secret evidence that might have been obtained by torture cannot be used against terror suspects in UK courts, the law lords have ruled. (BBC, 8 Dec 2005) Wikipedia bans anonymous contributors to prevent libel The online encyclopedia Wikipedia has been forced to change the way it operates after claims it had become a breeding ground for "false and malicious" information. After a week of blunders, the operators of the site - which allows anyone to write and edit articles - are banning anonymous changes and requiring contributors to register. (Guardian, 8 Dec 2005) Mali's David v Goliath GM struggle The debate on genetically modified (GM) crops has erupted again in Africa, three years after Zambia refused genetically modified food aid. (BBC, 7 Dec 2005) India hits back in 'bio-piracy' battle In a quiet government office in the Indian capital, Delhi, some 100 doctors are hunched over computers poring over ancient medical texts and keying in information. (BBC, 7 Dec 2005) Cameron seeking 'social justice' Tory leader David Cameron has announced a social justice policy group to tackle the UK's "broken society". (BBC, 7 Dec 2005) Grasp the gravity of the 'selfish volunteer' The Year of the Volunteer, suggests a new report, has not been an overwhelming success - not least because the voluntary sector has failed to spot new trends in volunteering. (Guardian, 7 Dec 2005) See 21st Century Volunteer Report Perils of the migrant maids' daughters Pasinthu Malintha, a Sri Lankan baby is crying in his cot. He is only two weeks old. His mother is 14, and his father is also his grandfather. (BBC, 6 Dec 2005) Keep quiet about secret flights to secret jails, Rice tells Europe Condoleeza Rice challenged European leaders to back controversial American anti-terrorism tactics yesterday as she robustly defended the CIA’s extrajudicial seizure, transportation and interrogation of thousands of suspects. (Times, 6 Dec 2005) Rice defends US terror policies US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has admitted that terror suspects are flown abroad for interrogation, but denied they were tortured. (BBC, 5 Dec 2005) In pictures: Senegal's new ferry Three years after Africa's worst maritime disaster, Senegal has a new ferry service between the capital, Dakar and the southern region of Casamance. (BBC, 5 Dec 2005) Red Cross mulls 'neutral' emblem In Geneva diplomats from the 192 countries which have signed the Geneva conventions are meeting to discuss a third emblem for the international Red Cross. (BBC, 5 Dec 2005) Recyclers' rubbish dumped abroad Councils are investigating what happens to their recycled rubbish after the BBC revealed 500 tonnes had been shipped unsorted to Indonesia. (BBC, 5 Dec 2005) Where they hide the cash Five trillion dollars has been corruptly removed from the world's poorest countries and lodged permanently in the world's richest countries. That is the "conservative estimate" not of a leftwing anti-globalisation activist but of a leading American businessman and enthusiast for capitalism who has just completed a major study of how multinational corporations, wealthy individuals and unscrupulous governments are using the world's banking systems in ways that spread poverty. ...Raymond Baker is a committed capitalist whose new book, Capitalism's Achilles Heel, has already made waves in the US. In Britain he has been working with the Tax Justice Network, a London-based organisation that seeks to expose the abuse of tax havens and loopholes. (Guardian, 5 Dec 2005) Extraordinary tale of 'erroneous rendition' returns to haunt agency The story of Khaled Masri, a German citizen of Lebanese descent kidnapped by masked CIA agents and held in isolation for five months, gives an extraordinary insight into how rendition works. (Telegraph, 5 Dec 2005) Insensitivity Having seen the portrait added to the memorial ("Portrait of cop shooting victim is painted over, South London Press, November 25), I was deeply disappointed at the council action without any proper consultation, even with the artist responsible. (South London Press Letters, 2 Dec 2005) Head to head: Synthetic phonics? At the moment phonics is one recommended method among four England's schools are being told to change the way they teach children to read, with the government calling for greater use of a system called synthetic phonics. (BBC, 1 Dec 2005) Remembering Rosa's foot soldiers Proposals to place a statue of Rosa Parks on Capitol Hill symbolise her stature in US history. (BBC, 1 Dec 2005) Asylum questions for DR Congo What happens to asylum seekers who are sent home? As part of a BBC World Service investigation, Jenny Cuffe has followed the footsteps of failed asylum seekers sent back from Europe to the Democratic Republic of Congo. What she found raised questions over how European governments are treating those they deport. (BBC, 1 Dec 2005) The other smiley It was designed by a child, and rarely seen anywhere more influential than pinned to denim jacket lapels and stuck in the back window of old Citroen 2CVs. As the nuclear power debate heats up again, how did this badge become such an icon? (BBC, 1 Dec 2005) Life in jail for killers of Anthony Walker The killers of black teenager Anthony Walker have been jailed for life for what their trial judge described a "poisonous" attack. (Telegraph, 1 Dec 2005) Mosque closures counter-productive, say police Police chiefs have warned that proposed new anti-terror powers to close mosques could be counter-productive in combatting terrorism. (Telegraph, 1 Dec 2005) |
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updated:
25 Mar
2006