News Stories

September — December 2010

Cardiff Centre for Ethics, Law and Society

September

Friday 8th October 2010

UK university says it didn't radicalize Christmas Day bomber – CNN

Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab, who is accused of trying to detonate an explosive on an international flight into Michigan on Christmas Day last year, was not radicalized while he was a college student, according to a report released Friday.

Men perspire and women glow, science proves – The Telegraph

Men perspire while women really do just glow, claim scientists after discovering that the fairer sex needs to work much harder to build up a sweat.

White Paper goes too far too fast – On Medica

Health care reforms are needed – but the coalition Government’s proposals may be heading too far too fast, asserts health charity The King’s Fund. The think thank today questioned whether such a ‘fundamental reorganisation’ was appropriate or necessary at a time when the NHS has just gone through a period of widely acknowledged improvement.

Brain Changes Found in High School Football Players Thought to Be Concussion-Free - Science Daily

A study by researchers at Purdue University suggests that some high school football players suffer undiagnosed changes in brain function and continue playing even though they are impaired.

Women wrongly told unborn babies were dead – The Independent

Hospital bosses have apologised after two pregnant women were wrongly told that their unborn babies were dead during routine scans, it was disclosed today.

European research animal use holds steady – Nature

The use of transgenic mice is on the rise, along with non-animal alternatives.

China dissident wins Nobel peace prize – The Independent

Imprisoned Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo won the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize today for "his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China" - a prize likely to enrage the Chinese government, which warned the Nobel committee not to honour him.

Patient Personality Can Hinder Detection of Depression, Research Finds – Science Daily

Patient personality affects the accuracy of reports by friends and family members of mood history and symptoms and can cause missed diagnoses of depression, according to research published online by the journal International Psychogeriatrics.

Thursday 7th October 2010

Facebook Groups to offer users more control - The Guardian

Mark Zuckerberg says groups are 'a fundamental building block' that will enable people to share more on the social network

Hospitals to be allowed to undercut each other to attract patients – The Guardian

Unions and industry bodies warn that proposed reforms would lead to a 'race to the bottom'

Hutton warns on public sector pensions – The Finacial Times

Millions of public sector employees need to work longer and contribute more for their pensions, Lord Hutton, chairman of the government’s Independent Public Services Commission has recommended.

Hungarian officials fear toxic spill could reach Danube – Deutsche Welle

Hungary remains in a state of emergency in the wake of a toxic sludge spill that has left seven villages swamped. Fears have been raised that the sludge could pollute the nearby Danube, an important European waterway.

US publicly criticises Pakistani efforts against terror – The Telegraph

The White House has made an unprecedented public criticism of Pakistani efforts against terror, accusing Islamabad of avoiding "direct conflict" with the Afghan Taliban and al-Qaeda militants.

Alzheimer's victory for the Mail: Now just £2.50 can buy a life after U-turn on drugs banned by NICE – The Daily Mail
Hundreds of thousands of people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s will no longer be denied crucial drugs that slow the devastating disease.

Light drinking in pregnancy – NHS Choices

Contrary to the newspaper report, the researchers did not conclude that pregnant women who drink lightly will have better behaved children. They actually state their findings indicate that light drinking has no benefits and no harms to children. Also, though this was a large, well-conducted study that used accepted methods, it has several limitations, and the case for no harm from light drinking is not conclusive.

UN 'mulls expanded Somalia force' – Al Jazeera

Ugandan president says the Security Council considering his request to raise more funds for peacekeeping mission.

Chinese premier urges Europe not to join chorus on pressuring China on RMB exchange rate – The People

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Wednesday urged European political and business leaders not to join the "chorus" on pressuring China on the appreciation of the Renminbi, or RMB.

Wednesday 6th October 2010

State government halts demolition in controversial Stuttgart rail project – Deutsche Welle

In an apparent concession to the increasingly outspoken opposition to Stuttgart's train station renovation plan, the state premier of Baden-Wuerttemberg has agreed to stop demolition related to the project.

Ombudsman service puts lawyers on the receiving end of justice – The Guardian

The new sheriff in town aims to deliver swift but fair decisions through a simplified complaints process

The future of NHS Direct – On Medica

The recent flurry of media attention about the future of NHS Direct resulted from confusion between a well-trailed change of telephone number for urgent care (true) and a suggestion that NHS Direct as an organisation was to be abolished (untrue). Whilst the press attention was unsettling for our staff and patients, it has provided a welcome opportunity to open a dialogue with commissioners, particularly GPs, about the contribution of NHS Direct in the new landscape of the NHS.

The new Equality Act - do you know your rights?– The Guardian

The new rules on equality and anti-discrimination come into force today and employers are already complaining

Sociologist Ties Childhood Bullying Traits to Adult Anti-Social Behavior – Science Daily

Is an adult with a history of childhood bullying more likely to be homeless, a compulsive liar, or someone who scams another person out of money? According to a study collaborated on by an Iowa State University sociologist, the numbers indicate just that.

KILLING 100 IS LESS BAD THAN KILLING 10? – Practical Ethics News

The study finds that people judge criminals who've harmed more people less harshly than criminals who’ve harmed fewer people. What’s more they'd punish them less severely. What’s more more, subjects turned out to be less willing to blow the whistle on a crime if there are more victims. What’s more more more, these results were not just produced with hypothetical examples in the laboratory: when the authors examined how juries in the US had reacted in real court cases they discovered a similar pattern. Juries handed out more lenient punishment to those responsible for harming more people.

Neighborhoods Can Have Depressing Effect on Health, According to Study – Science Daily

The nation's poverty rate climbed to 14.3 percent -- the highest level since 1994 -- according to the Census Bureau's annual report on the economic well-being of U.S. households. That means one in seven Americans now live in poverty, and that may have an especially depressing effect on people living in bad neighborhoods, according to two Iowa State University researchers.

Should we force parents to vaccinate their children? No: let's just scare them instead – Practical Ethics News

The BBC recently reported that some homeopaths are offering their patients homeopathic remedies designed to replace the MMR vaccine. Given that the efficacy of homeopathic remedies is notoriously unproven, this points to the worrying conclusion that some parents who have chosen a homeopathic alternative to the MMR vaccine believe that their children are immune to measles, mumps, and rubella, when in fact they are unprotected against these diseases.

Tuesday 5th October 2010

Prisoners Are Set To Work 40-Hour Week – Sky News
Criminals are to work a 40-hour week while in jail, according to plans to be unveiled by the Justice Secretary

Child benefit changes 'fair' insists David Cameron – The Independent
Prime Minister David Cameron insisted today that his Government's plans to scrap child benefit for high-earners were "fair".

Council takes legal action over school rebuilding rebuild axed – This is London
Waltham Forest Council said the decision to pull funding for the Building Schools for the Future programme is forcing thousands of young people who to learn in outdated classrooms.

Lansley suggests no slow down with NHS reforms – BBC
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has suggested it is full steam ahead for his NHS reforms in England - despite mounting criticisms.

How we can all help remove the stigma around mental ill health – Wales Online
As mental health charity Gofal unveils a new look and direction, Ewan Hilton explains what mental health and mental illness mean in today’s Wales

Britain's 'father of IVF' wins the Nobel Prize – The Independent
Maverick scientist is rewarded for his pioneering research into human fertility

Gulf War Veterans Study Recent Developments re Civilians with CFS/ME and XMRV Research: Why? – Veterans Today
Unanswered Questions Continue For Ill Gulf War Veterans As They Do For Civilians With CFS/ME

The downside of awareness campaigns – The Chicago Tribune
Despite the pink ribbon push, cancer deaths have dropped only slightly. And the focus on awareness may be pushing more women into treatment unnecessarily.

Monday 4th October 2010

Exclusive: Britain's £100bn mental health crisis – The Independent
Experts demand radical policy rethink, to focus on illness prevention rather than expensive and ineffective treatments

How a Trading Algorithm Went Awry – The Wall Street Journal
Flash-Crash Report Finds a 'Hot-Potato' Volume Effect From Same Positions Passed Back and Forth

British IVF pioneer Professor Robert Edwards wins Nobel Prize for medicine – The Telegraph
The British test tube baby pioneer Professor Robert Edwards has been awarded the Nobel Prize for medicine.

Settlers blamed for mosque blaze – Al Jazeera
Palestinians say Israeli settlers in the West Bank burnt prayer rugs and Quran copies in early morning attack.

European travel advice upgraded after alerts – The Independent
The move came shortly after the State Department issued guidance urging Americans to be vigilant when visiting Europe, highlighting the "potential for terrorists to attack public transportation systems and other tourist infrastructure".

Amnesty International Warns Drug Companies Involved in China's Organ Transplant Industry – The Epoch Times
China's growing organ transplant industry has attracted investments of foreign pharmaceutical companies specializing in organ transplant drugs. However, a representative from Amnesty International says these companies need to consider more than just business when engaging with China because of the illegal practices taking place there.

Ministry of Defence warns service personnel over Facebook Places – The Telegraph
Security officials have warned members of the armed forces that geo-location services, such as Facebook Places, could be used by terrorists to track potential targets.

German president uses first major speech to call for tolerance – Deutsche Welle
President Christian Wulff marked the 20th anniversary of German reunification by delivering his first major speech since taking office. He used it to call on his countrymen to be more open and more tolerant.

Friday 1st October 2010

China tightens control on housing investment – The People’s Daily
Beijing has raised the down payments for Chinese families buying a second home, and shut the door completely for mortgages on third homes, tightening control on a bubbling property market to avoid any mishaps of a US-style financial meltdown in China.

Egypt's new political dawn – Al Jazeera
The emergence of Mohamed ElBaradei as a political player has led Egyptians to dream of a more democratic society.

Judge rules mentally ill woman can be sedated for SIX days so doctors can perform life-saving surgery she doesn't want – The Daily Mail
A schizophrenic pensioner will be sedated for seven days against her will so that doctors can treat her for a potentially life-threatening medical condition.

Conflicts of interest threaten carbon-trading mechanism – Deutsche Welle
In one of the UN's most important schemes for tackling climate change, auditing companies may have too many temptations to misbehave thanks to conflicts of interests reminiscent of the financial crash.

Global unemployment to trigger further social unrest, UN agency forecasts – The Guardian
International Labour Organisation (ILO) notes that social unrest has already been reported in at least 25 countries

Health Cuts Could Hit Patient Care, BMA Warns – Sky News
Health watchdogs have warned Government reforms could harm patient care and "undermine" the future of the NHS.

Cancer fund will put £50m towards access to drugs – The Guardian
Announcement welcomed by patient groups but critics worry fund will take money from patients who have other diseases

Troops free Ecuador president – Al Jazeera
Soldiers storm hospital where Rafael Correa had been trapped by police officers protesting over plans to cut benefits.

Thursday 30th September 2010

The dogma delusion – The Times Higher
The notion of a 'war' between science and religion is a media-friendly but profoundly inaccurate model for scholars' many-hued and nuanced views of God, faith and doubt.

BT in privacy row after sending customer data to ACS:Law – The Guardian
BT sent more than 500 customers' details, unencrypted, to law firm chasing illegal file sharers

ADHD’s genetic link – Cardiff News
A team of University scientists have revealed the first direct genetic link to attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Revamped US research PhD rankings cause bewilderment – The Times Higher
A long-awaited analysis of the state of US research programmes has resulted in controversy after it arrived three years late and produced a novel form of ranking.

Cancer experts brand Lockerbie bomber release 'ridiculous' – The Telegraph
Two of America’s most prominent prostate cancer experts have told senators they are “not at all surprised” the Lockerbie bomber is still alive more than a year after his release.

Brussels blinks in legal row with Sarkozy over Roma expulsion – The Independent
The European Commission yesterday attempted to avoid a collision with one of the most powerful EU states by taking only limited action against France following its expulsions of Roma gypsies.

French Presidential Party UMP Forced to Cancel Debate on Islam – The Epoch Times
The Union for a Popular Movement (UMP), the political party of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, was forced on Tuesday to cancel a public debate organized in its headquarters, amid concerns that the debate would spark new accusations of racism and discrimination.

Bogus NHS dentist with fake qualifications earned £230,000 over nine years – The Daily Mail
A bogus dentist with no qualifications managed to fool her employers at NHS hospitals for nine years before being discovered.

Wednesday 29th September 2010

C.I.A. Steps Up Drone Attacks on Taliban in Pakistan – The New York Times
The C.I.A. has drastically increased its bombing campaign in the mountains of Pakistan in recent weeks, American officials said. The strikes are part of an effort by military and intelligence operatives to try to cripple the Taliban in a stronghold being used to plan attacks against American troops in Afghanistan.

Iranian blogger given prison term – Al Jazeera
Hossein Derakhshan, known as the "blogfather," handed nearly 20-year sentence for "propaganda" and "collaboration".

One-Child Policy in China: No End in Sight – The Epoch Times
As the one-child policy in China approached its 30-year anniversary on Sept. 25, an internal debate could be seen playing out in the Chinese media: was the policy a good or bad thing for the country? Should or should it not be rescinded?

Israel releases Gaza activists – Al Jazeera
Jewish protesters who tried to break Gaza blockade on a yacht allege Israeli marines used violence when they boarded.

Workers rally across Europe to protest against cuts – The Guardian
Demonstrations planned in Brussels and dozens of European cities against austerity measures

Doctor struck off over 'pointless' MS treatment – The Independent
A doctor who charged vulnerable multiple sclerosis patients thousands of pounds for "pointless" and "unjustifiable" stem cell treatments was struck off today by the General Medical Council.

Liam Fox: defence cuts will have 'grave consequences' – The Telegraph
“Draconian” cuts to defence spending cannot be carried out while the country is at war without “grave consequences” for the Government, Dr Liam Fox has warned the Prime Minister.

My brother will make a big contribution in the future, says Ed Miliband – The Guardian
Labour leader's comments fuel speculation that David Miliband will not seek post in shadow cabinet before 5pm deadline

Tuesdsay 28th September 2010

American Teenagers Dangerously Sleep Deprived – The Epoch Times
About 50 percent of American teenagers are not getting the sleep they need during the school year, according to a poll by the National Sleep Foundation.

Migraine Breakthrough Gives Sufferers Hope – Sky News
Scientists have identified a faulty gene responsible for causing the debilitating headaches associated with migraines.

NHS tells furious mother 'We won't send your schoolboy son to fat camp (but we WILL give him a £7,000 gastric band)' – The Daily Mail
NHS bosses have been slammed for telling a mum her 14-year-old son should have a gastric bypass - INSTEAD of losing weight exercising.

Decline in HRT Use Linked to Drop in Breast Cancer – The Epoch Times
New Canadian study adds to growing international evidence that hormone replacement therapy can increase breast cancer risk

Construction resumes in West Bank – The Washington Post
The resumption of new construction has imperiled the recently revived Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, after Palestinian warnings that continued Israeli building would spell the end of negotiations. However, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Monday that he would not make any hasty decision to withdraw from the talks, leaving time for U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to keep the negotiations alive.

Japan Probes Impact of Slowing Imports from China – The Wall Street Journal
Japan is investigating the impact on domestic companies and their overseas branches of slowing imports from China, aiming to gather information to encourage China to resolve any problems in the flow of trade, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akihiro Ohata said Tuesday.

Doctors insulate premature baby using sandwich bag – The Telegraph
A severely premature baby survived after doctors used a sandwich bag to keep her warm.

Campaign to target more organ donors – The Scotsman
A £500,000 campaign has been launched in Edinburgh to encourage more people to sign up for organ donation.

Monday 27th September 2010

Commonwealth Games: row brews over opening ceremony – The Guardian
Officials yet to decide whether Prince Charles or Indian president will preside over Delhi event's launch

Graduate tax ruled out as 'unworkable' – The Times Higher
Business secretary still seeks progressive system linking payments to earnings.

Computer worm infects Iran's nuclear station – The Telegraph
A highly-sophisticated computer worm capable of seizing control of industrial plants has infected computers at Iran's first nuclear station.

Childhood casualties of the family courts – The Guardian
Fathers still have the odds stacked against them when it comes to custody battles in the family court system, but are warring parents forgetting what and who they are fighting for?

Researchers seek to find true level of cyberstalking – BBC News
A new survey has been launched in an effort to find out the true level of cyberstalking in the UK.

Gatecrashing 'netroots' activism – Al Jazeera
Will US government led initiatives compromise net activists who seek greater freedoms within authoritarian societies?

With Warning, Obama Presses China on Currency – The New York Times
President Obama increased pressure on China to immediately revalue its currency on Thursday, devoting most of a two-hour meeting with China’s prime minister to the issue and sending the message, according to one of his top aides, that if “the Chinese don’t take actions, we have other means of protecting U.S. interests.”

Mayo Clinic Issues Warning Over Hepatitis C Scare – The Epoch Times
A Mayo Clinic employee in Jacksonville may have put patients at risk of Hepatitis C, prompting the clinic to send out a warning on Friday.

Friday 24th September 2010

Irish economy suffers shock contraction, fuels fears of a double-dip recession – The Telegraph
Ireland's struggling economy suffered a fresh blow after growth contracted in the second quarter, heigthening the risk that the indebted nation could suffer a double-dip recession

China 'places unofficial ban' on key metals exports to Japan – The Telegraph
China has been reported to have placed an unofficial ban on the export of rare earth metals to Japan as a damaging dispute between the countries deepens. The metals are essential for a host of hi-tech items from iPods to wind turbines and hybrid cars.

Teresa Lewis executed in Virginia despite protests – The Guardian
Lethal injection given to Teresa Lewis, a woman with low IQ who plotted to kill her husband and stepson

Ahmadinejad and the 9/11 attacks – Al Jazeera
Surveys show large segments of the world population agree with the Iranian leader's "US government involvement" claims.

Relations between China and Japan worsen over filming of military targets – The Guardian
• China investigates actions of four Japanese citizens
• Tension rises over Chinese trawler captain's detention

France Keeps On Striking Over Retirement Age – The Epoch Times
France was hit by another massive round of strikes and demonstrations against President Nicolas Sarkozy’s bill, on Thursday Sept. 22, that would raise retirement age by two years, mobilizing anywhere between 1 million and 3 million people.

Time Is Money: City Spends Big to Track Its Employees – The Epoch Times
Around 80 unionized city workers gathered on the steps of City Hall on Tuesday to protest renewal of this contract, which is slated for Sept. 30. They say this software is taking money out of their pockets while perpetuating a time-keeping payroll system that city employee Micheal Greene described as “the ominous shadow of an Orwellian time clock.”

The costs of cheap meat – The Chicago Tribune
Critics of factory farms say we pay a high price for low-cost food

Thursday 23rd September 2010

Boy, 13, arrested after teacher is shot in face – Wales Online
A schoolboy was arrested yesterday after allegedly shooting a teacher in the face with a pellet gun.

Devon woman to sue council over unsightly wheelie bin – BBC
A Devon woman is planning to sue her council because she believes its bins are lowering the value of her home.

Iain Duncan Smith promises not to 'hurt' poor – The Telegraph
Iain Duncan Smith has promised the Government has no intention to “hurt” poor Scots by cutting the welfare bill by billions of pounds.

Scotland plans Key Information Summary – EHealth Insider
NHS National Services Scotland has announced it will develop a Key Information Summary that will be fully integrated with its Emergency Palliative Care Summary record.

National strikes in France disrupt transport, schools - Deutsche Welle
French unions are staging another day of protests and strikes, hoping to bring more than two million people onto the streets to defy President Nicolas Sarkozy's plan to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62.

Antipsychotics could raise blood clot risk by 32%, UK study finds – Pharma Times
Taking antipsychotics could increase by nearly a third the risk of developing dangerous blood clots, an observational study published in the BMJ has found.

Police 'Failing To Tackle Yob Behaviour' – Sky News
Police are failing to get to grips with neighbourhood yobs because they do not take the problems they cause seriously enough, a report has concluded.

Gene variants up asthma susceptibility – Irish Health
Scientists have discovered several genetic variants that substantially increase susceptibility to asthma. It is hoped that these findings will help researchers to develop better treatments for the condition, which currently affects 470,000 people in Ireland, including one in five children.

Monday 22nd September 2010

Spineless in Saudi? – Journal of Medical Ethics Blog
A little while ago, Richard Ashcroft alerted me to this story: a judge in Saudi Arabia was considering surgical paralysis as the sentence for a man who had caused a similar injury to someone else in a fight.

A giant leap into the unknown: GM salmon that grows and grows – The Independent
A landmark in genetic modification is provoking fierce reactions

MI6 consulted David Miliband on interrogations – The Guardian
Former foreign secretary was consulted before 'difficult' attempts to gather information from detainees in certain countries

End of tuition fees is near, says Hughes – The Times Higher
coalition government agreement to abolish tuition fees in England and replace them with a system closer to a graduate tax is near and simply needs edging “over the line”, Simon Hughes, the Liberal Democrats’ deputy leader, has said.

Pope's banker faces inquiry over 'money laundering' – The Indepedent
Vatican perplexed as police launch investigation into 'suspicious' transactions.

More Americans in Poverty – The Epoch Times
Poverty is not exclusive to the nondeveloped world. It exists in the United States and it is a circumstance that more Americans are facing now. The U.S. poverty rate in 2009 was the highest it has been since 1994 according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2009 report (PHIC).

Procreative liberty – Practical Ethics News
The Social Policy Research Unit at the University of York recently released a report that found that social services are often too quick to return maltreated children to the family home. These children may be better in care, the report claims. Reflecting on this question raises the related matter of the procreative liberty of individuals who are at highly elevated risk of having children who will be very aggressive. Should we attempt to prevent them having children, or, alternatively, place them under special scrutiny?

Science funding cuts will devastate economy, warns Brian Cox – The Times Higher
One of Britain’s best-known physicists has attacked government plans to severely cut the science budget as “ludicrous”, warning of a devastating impact on the UK economy.

Tuesday 21st September 2010

Mark Saunders inquest: friend describes hearing first shot – The Telegraph
The 32 year-old died in a volley of bullets fired by police marksmen at his £2 million Chelsea home. The coroner heard that he was three -times over the drink-drive limit at the time.

Simon Hughes declares 'rock-solid' support for coalition – The Guardian
Liberal Democrat deputy leader tells conference the coalition represents the 'opportunity of a lifetime' for the party

Top surgeon 'a caricature of surgical arrogance' – The Independent
A top surgeon and former chairman of the British Medical Association left a surgical clip inside a patient, shouted at junior staff and behaved like a "caricature of surgical arrogance", watchdogs heard today.

What's the true cost of dementia? – The Telegraph
Experts are warning that dementia is the greatest health and social crisis of the century as its global financial burden continues to escalate.

NHS loses more sensitive data – ITPRO
A junior doctor working at East & North Hertfordshire NHS Trust has lost a USB stick, containing sensitive data, on a train.

Western surge in obesity may have been caused by a virus – The Independent
The obesity explosion that has swept the Western world over the past 30 years may have been caused by a virus, scientists have said.

Monday 20th September 2010

Deaths in German town shootings – Al Jazeera
Police are unsure of why a woman opened fire at a German hospital, killing one and injuring a police officer.

Far-right gains ground in Sweden – Al Jazeera
Anti-immigration party enters parliament for first time as the country's two main parties fail to win overall majority.

Japan not told of Chinese decision to cut ties – The Guardian
Tokyo calls for calm as spat deepens over Chinese trawlerman arrested after collision with Japanese coastguard vessel

Probation officers join warnings over cuts – The Telegraph
Sex offenders and abusive partners will be able to prey on more victims because of the government's planned spending cuts, probation leaders warn today.

Tesco to sell half-price Viagra over the counter – The Daily Mail
Yesterday Shona Scott, Tesco’s commercial manager for pharmacy services, said: ‘Tesco’s will be the cheapest service in the country for those who don’t have a private prescription from their GP. At the moment only Boots offer a similar service – for which they charge £55 for just four tablets.’

Prozac suggested as PMS treatment – Nursing in Practice
A daily treatment of Prozac could prevent premenstrual syndrome symptoms (PMS), new research has revealed.

For the Unemployed Over 50, Fears of Never Working Again – The New York Times
Since the economic collapse, there are not enough jobs being created for the population as a whole, much less for those in the twilight of their careers.

QResearch to predict patient cancer risk – EHealth Insider
A score to predict the risk of patients developing common cancers is to be developed by the QResearch database.

Friday 17th September 2010

More in U.S. living in poverty – The Chicago Tribune
43.6 million people, or 14.3 percent of the population, is the highest in more than a decade

Five held over Pope 'plot' – The Independent
Five men were arrested today by police investigating a suspected plot to harm the Pope.

Mao's Great Leap Forward 'killed 45 million in four years' – The Independent
State retribution for tiny thefts, such as stealing a potato, even by a child, would include being tied up and thrown into a pond; parents were forced to bury their children alive or were doused in excrement and urine, others were set alight, or had a nose or ear cut off. One record shows how a man was branded with hot metal. People were forced to work naked in the middle of winter; 80 per cent of all the villagers in one region of a quarter of a million Chinese were banned from the official canteen because they were too old or ill to be effective workers, so were deliberately starved to death.

Merkel refutes Sarkozy’s claims that Germany is set to deport Roma – Deutsche Welle
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said Germany stands behind his country's policy of closing illegal refugee camps. Berlin was quick to dismiss the claims.

Principles and practice – The Sofia Echo
The conundrum in relations between Serbia and Kosovo is that milestones are passed but no distance is travelled; there is much talk about talking, but no consensus on the topic of such talks.

Chechen separatist leader Akhmed Zakayev arrested in Poland – The Guardian
Russia demands extradition of UK-based Zakayev after Polish police arrest him in Warsaw

Nicolas Sarkozy rounds on critics and vows to keep dismantling Roma camps – The Guardian
French president denies his government is unfairly targeting Gypsies after spat with Jose Manuel Barroso at EU summit

California Braces for Showdown on Emissions – The New York Times
A ballot initiative to suspend a milestone California law curbing greenhouse gas emissions is drawing a wave of contributions from out-of-state oil companies, raising concerns among conservationists as it emerges as a test of public support for potentially costly environmental measures during tough economic times.

Thursday 16th September 2010

Inquiry into police handling of rape cases shelved – The Guardian
Funding withdrawn from major review as home secretary prepares to address police chiefs over budget cuts

The coalition 'does God', says Baroness Warsi – The Guardian
Conservative chair attacks Labour, saying they acted as though faith was confined to 'oddities, foreigners and minorities'

Pope praises UK as a 'force for good' – The Independent
Pope Benedict XVI praised the UK as a "force for good" today as thousands of people turned out to greet him on the first day of his historic visit.

Tea Party fights back with claim it can win national elections – The Telegraph
The Tea Party has fought back against accusations that it is a divisive force in Republican politics, claiming that conservative candidates can win elections in liberal states in spite of dire warnings to the contrary by the party's establishment.

'Reality check': the UK clings on to second place in global league, but experts warn of limits to doing more with less – The Times Higher
US dominates revamped Times Higher Education World University Rankings

Richard Dawkins: 'I never meet people who disagree with me' – The Independent
Woodstock's first big-name speaker charmed and ruffled feathers in equal measure last night

Middle East Peace Talks Continue as Rockets Fly From Gaza – The Epoch Times
Direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians continued Wednesday in Jerusalem, after a prior meeting held in Sharm Al Sheikh, Egypt on Tuesday. Meanwhile, rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip on Israeli cites and communities in the south.

The Beijing Power Jam – The Epoch Times
The recent several-days-long traffic north of Beijing is a symptom of another kind of jam that affects all China.

Pentagon to funnel US arms to Yemen to fight al-Qaeda – The Telegraph
The Pentagon has proposed a $1.2 billion (£778m) military aid package to Yemen for its battle against al-Qaeda, sparking a warning from some US government quarters that the extra resources would be used in the country's civil wars.

Wednesday 15th September 2010

Cambridge beats Exeter for title as UK's ultimate 'clone town' – The Independent
So the Starbucks culture has infected the groves of academe. Cambridge, university city of ancient colleges, spires and towers, of hidden gardens and river vistas, is betrayed by its high street shops, a new report claims.

Unemployment claimant count rises unexpectedly – The Guardian
• Claimant count rise confounds forecasts
• Jobless total falls 8,000 to 2.467m
• But 286,000 people secured jobs in three months to July
• Part-time workers now account for 27% of workforce

Vox populi: nine out of 10 Brits think academy should escape cuts – The Times Higher
The British public believes the government should preserve funding for universities despite its efforts to slash the nation’s budget deficit, according to a national opinion poll.

UK risked Greek-style crisis, Mervyn King tells TUC – The Independent
The Government risks plunging the UK back into crisis if it does not make cuts to slash Britain's deficit, Bank of England governor Mervyn King told unions today.

Middle East peace talks 'getting down to business' – The Guardian
Clinton remarks come ahead of day two – but she gives no clue to whether a resolution is any closer on Israeli settlements

Is the UK's HPV vaccination programme unethical and/or unlawful? – Practical Ethics
A colleague recently emailed me. Her daughter, just turned 12, had come back from school bearing an information leaflet about HPV vaccination with the Glaxo Cervarix vaccine, and a consent form for the parent to sign.

PM strongly opposes actions of extremists – The Star Online
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak strongly opposes the actions of extremist groups or individuals who believe in radical views and actions against others.

Role of Contractors Growing in US Operations – The Epoch Times
A flight a couple weeks away will mark the 15th time Capt. Jeremy Morrill has deployed to countries including Iraq, Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia. As an officer assigned to finding and overseeing contractors for the U.S. Air Force, Morrill has seen a different side of the war, but one that is playing a larger and larger role in U.S. operations.

Tuesday 14th September 2010

Traditionalists outraged at Versailles' modern makeover – The Independent

Outraged traditionalists are due to demonstrate outside the Palace of Versailles tonight against an invasion of the gilded former home of French royalty by a radical contemporary art exhibition.

RAF under fire as battle for shrinking – The Independent

The official start of commemorations of the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain yesterday was an occasion of poignancy and pride with the Prime Minister meeting the pilots who saved Britain in her darkest hour. But even as the celebrations got under way the RAF faces a struggle for survival in the face of savage military cuts. defence budget turns vicious

Union leader fires broadside over higher education cuts –The Times Higher

The government is ignoring the “lessons of history” by planning huge cuts to the higher education budget, the leader of the UK’s main lecturers’ union will warn today.

Senate G.O.P. Digs In to Keep Tax Cuts – The New York Times

The Senate Republican leader proposed legislation on Monday to continue all of the Bush-era tax cuts indefinitely, testing the willingness of Democrats to allow a tax increase on the wealthiest Americans in a weak economy and making clear that a partisan fight will extend deep into the campaign season if not beyond.

Cuba to Cut State Jobs in Tilt Toward Free Market – The Wall Street Journal

Cuba will lay off more than half a million state workers and try to create hundreds of thousands of private-sector jobs, a dramatic attempt by the hemisphere's only Communist country to shift its nearly bankrupt economy toward a more market-oriented system.

Study highlights dangers of IVF treatment overseas – The Independent

A global survey of fertility treatment covering more than 100 countries has revealed wide variations in international laws governing IVF which are fuelling the growth of "fertility tourism".

Legalise cannabis sales to cut crime and save the NHS millions, says expert – The Daily Mail

Legalising cannabis and selling it alongside cigarettes and alcohol would cut crime and costs to the NHS, Britain's leading expert on the drug has said.

Half of special needs children misdiagnosed – The Guardian

Ofsted review says many pupils diagnosed as having special educational needs require better teaching or pastoral care

Monday 13th September 2010

Phil Woolas faces election challenge case – Channel 4 News

Former Labour minister Phil Woolas has been accused of stirring up racial divisions in a tightly-fought election campaign against his Liberal Democrat rival in the Oldham East and Saddleworth constituency, a court has been told.

Ocean conveyor-belt model stirred up – Nature

The accepted picture of how a massive oceanic conveyor belt of water turns has been complicated by findings published today in Nature Geoscience. The results could help to boost the precision of climate-change models.

Medics claim alternative homeopathic vaccine will put lives at risk – The Scotsman

DOCTORS have criticised the use of homeopathic remedies as an alternative to vaccinations, saying it could leave patients at risk of potentially deadly diseases.

Turkey votes for new constitution in tussle for country's future – The Independent

The Turkish government secured victory yesterday in a vote to amend the constitution drawn up by the country's military to protect their power after a coup in 1980.

European Commission upgrades UK growth forecast – The Independent

Britain's economic prospects were upgraded by the European Commission today after the country recorded the fastest three-monthly growth rate since 2001.

Unions prepare for battle over spending cuts – The Independent

Unions were preparing to do battle with the Government tonight over "obscene" cuts to public services.

Initial Hepatitis C drug trial complete – Cardiff Research News

The first clinical trials on a new investigational drug being developed to treat infections caused by Hepatitis C virus have been successfully completed.

Turn university careers services into recruitment consultants, urges think-tank – The Times Higher

Advice centres should be turned into independent not-for-profit businesses acting as “recruitment consultants” on behalf of students, Demos says in a report published today.

Friday 10th September 2010

Benefit claimants to have payments cut – The Telegraph

Benefits claimants will have their payments cut as ministers seek a further £4 billion in welfare cuts.

Vitamin B could 'delay' memory loss – Al Jazeera

British-led study suggests high doses of vitamin B can decrease brain shrinkage in elderly people with memory problems.

Jonathan Djanogly: The justice minister, the sleuths and the 'conspiracy' to oust him – The Telegraph

Jonathan Djanogly, a justice minister, hired a firm of private detectives to conduct an undercover investigation into his aides and colleagues, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.

Harmful Radioactivity Levels Found on Bulgarian Beaches – The Epoch Times

Harmful levels of radioactivity were found at beaches located near the coastal town of Chernomorets in Bulgaria. The announcement, made by Bulgarian authorities on Sept. 2, confirms previous warnings.

When Budget Axe Falls, Ireland Is Stoic, Greece Chaotic – The Epoch Times

As the summer of discontent folds into an autumn of uncertainty, many of Europe’s governments have been pushed to the wall by citizens protesting harsh austerity measures. And while some economies are boasting of earlier than expected recovery, like the United Kingdom, others are still in the depth of crisis.

Court Dismisses a Case Asserting Torture by C.I.A. – The New York Times

A federal appeals court on Wednesday ruled that former prisoners of the C.I.A. could not sue over their alleged torture in overseas prisons because such a lawsuit might expose secret government information.

Thursday 9th September 2010

Cable’s rations: ‘mediocre’ research teams need not apply – The Times Higher
The government will ensure that research funding is “rationed” according to excellence, end public support for “mediocrity” and emphasise commercialisation, Vince Cable has announced.

Arab rape-by-deception charge 'was result of plea bargain' – The Guardian
• Israeli paper claims Palestinian man violently raped woman
• Charge was reduced to spare her court ordeal, Ha'ir reports

Niesr: Economic growth has stalled and will drop further – The Telegraph
Niesr, a leading think tank, has warned that Britain's economic growth slowed considerably over the summer and the rate of growth "will continue to decelerate" over coming months.

Muslim world asks Barack Obama to stop 9/11 Koran burning – The Telegraph
Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim country, has urged Barack Obama to stop an American pastor burning copies of the Koran as international pressure on the US authorities grows from the Islamic world.

Hillary Clinton: Mexican drugs war is Colombia-style insurgency – The Guardian
US secretary of state angers politicians and raises fears that controversial Plan Colombia may be used in Mexico

Tony Blair talks to Sir David Frost – Al Jazeera
The former British prime minister talks about faith, the war in Iraq and the prospects for Israeli-Palestinian peace.

Russia: missile tests to resume within weeks – The Sofia Echo
Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov says tests are set to resume this month on a submarine-launched ballistic missile that has failed repeatedly in earlier trials.

End of NPfIT to be announced today – EHealth Insider
The National Programme for IT in the NHS is set to end in its current form, a ministerial statement will announce this morning

Wednesday 8th September 2010

UK is eighth most charitable nation, says Charities Aid Foundation report – Third Sector

World Giving Index says Australia, New Zealand and Ireland are the three best at giving money, volunteering and helping strangers

Un-Mixing the Sexes – Practical Ethics News

The coalition government is finalizing plans for swingeing cuts in the public sector. Nonetheless, in one part of the National Health Service costs are set to rise: for the Health Minister has confirmed that the government is phasing out mixed-sex wards.

Weight-Loss Surgery 'Will Help The Economy' – Sky News

Weight-loss surgery pays for itself in just one year, according to the first economic analysis of the controversial operation.

Cockroaches could help combat MRSA and E.coli – The Telegraph

Cockroaches and locusts contain powerful antibiotic molecules in their brains that could be used to develop new treatments against MRSA and E-coli, scientists have discovered.

Tony Blair book launch party cancelled – The Guardian

Party to celebrate publication of former PM's autobiography, A Journey, is cancelled after anti-war campaigners prepared to stage demonstrations

Obama Against a Compromise on Extension of Bush Tax Cuts – The New York Times

President Obama on Wednesday will make clear that he opposes any compromise that would extend the Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthy beyond this year, officials said, adding a populist twist to an election-season economic package that is otherwise designed to entice support from big businesses and their Republican allies.

Keir Starmer backs US-style murder charges for England and Wales – The Guardian

Director of public prosecutions tells Today programme he supports introduction of different degrees of murder charges

Cholesterol drugs help in arthritis – The Mirror

Drugs to combat cholesterol - called statins - may also reduce the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

Tuesday 7th September 2010

Tuition fees to rise as Lord Browne set to reject graduate tax – The Telegraph
Students' average debt could balloon to £25,000 after a review panel led by Lord Browne of Madingley decided to raise tuition fees rather than introduce a graduate tax, it was reported.

Britain plummets in graduate league table – The Telegraph
Britain has plummeted in an international league table of the most educated nations, according to a major report.

Phone-hacking inquiry was abandoned to avoid upsetting police – The Guardian
• Leaked memo warned Met police would 'deeply resent' probe
• Ex-officer Bob Quick says new claims must be investigated
• Senior Tories start to voice doubts over Andy Coulson's future

French unions strike over Nicolas Sarkozy's pension plans – The Guardian
More than 200 street demonstrations planned as parliament debates plan to increase retirement age from 60 to 62

PhD: the gateway to employment – The Times Higher
The time and effort spent gaining a PhD is repaid handsomely in excellent career prospects, according to research presented at the Vitae researcher development conference today.

Can One Regulator Really Fit All 27 EU Member Countries? – The Wall Street Journal
Markets need regulation. Few serious voices would dissent from that simple proposition. But does a single market demand a single system of regulation? As the European Union moves closer to taking regulatory control of the territory's financial markets, there are some, particularly in the City of London, who are questioning what superficially seems a perfectly logical step.

Roma Protests Across Europe Slam French Security Measures – The Epoch Times
Dozens of Roma rights groups protested in front of the French Embassy in Bucharest, Romania, on Monday holding up banners saying: “Stop Sarkozy, Stop expulsions" and "Roma are European citizens." Similar protests took place across many cities in Europe during the weekend.

The Which Blair Project – The New Yorker
A controversial prime minister seeks to define his legacy.

Monday 6th September 2010

Recession hits US private fundraising, but others do better – The Times Higher
As alumni donations to US universities plummet, Canada and Asia forge ahead. Hannah Fearn writes

So, prison's a party, is it? – The Guardian
Ken Clarke wants to jail fewer people – this will be the first real test of the government's courage

Mandelson targeted in phone-hacking scandal -– The Indepenent
Ex-business secretary pulled into row engulfing David Cameron's spin-doctor, Andy Coulson, despite the former News of the World editor telling PM he knew nothing of law-breaking

Our patronising approach to 10 million disabled Britons – The Indepenent
Most of us say we believe in equality, but how we act suggests differently

Enhancement - Keep the Game, Change the Basis – Practical Ethics News
Paradoxically, elite sports is largely about seeking for inequality, but simultaneously trying to level the playing field in order to equalize the opponents. So, how is it possible to cultivate inequality through equality? Anti-doping activists argue that enhancing substances falsify the individual and naturally given capability to perform in a competition. As a result, there might be a lack of equal opportunities. In contrast, enhancement advocates underline that doping might be able to level the playing field by removing the effects of genetic inequality, and therefore provides equality.[1] In fact, both arguments imply the noble aspiration of equality. So then, equality must be the ultimate aim.

'We're in a global era. We need global governance' – The Guardian
Luis Moreno-Ocampo, prosecutor for the international criminal court, on the limitations of his power and why it's positive that the US isn't a signatory to the Rome statute

New powers to block Britons from extradition – The Telegraph
New powers to block extradition could be given to ministers to better protect Britons wanted by foreign courts

Friday 3rd September 2010

Israeli Peace Effort Rests on Netanyahu – The New York Times
As Mr. Netanyahu joins Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, at the State Department on Thursday to start direct peace negotiations, Mr. Rubinger’s theory — and it is not his alone — will be tested. Will the Israeli leader who built a career opposing a Palestinian state be the one to help bring it into being?

A law that should not be – Practical Ethics News
In New York state last week legislators passed an extraordinary bill that, effectively, indicts the practice of New York doctors. That the bill was thought necessary, and, even more so, that it was opposed by the Medical Society of New York is a sad reflection of medical practice in that part of the world.

Four energy companies investigated for misselling – The Telegraph
Four of Britain's biggest energy companies are being investigated after suspicions they have been mis-selling gas and electricity contracts to customers.

Phone-hacking row returns to haunt Cameron's chief spin doctor – The Independent
The Prime Minister's media adviser Andy Coulson faces being summoned to court to give evidence over further allegations of phone-hacking by reporters from the News of the World during the time he was editing the newspaper.

UK housing data underpins recession fears – The Telegraph
Weak housing data has stoked concerns that the UK may be dragged back into recession.

Cricket anti-corruption chief denies failures over Pakistan betting scandal – The Guardian
Comments came as cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were being questioned by police

'Seething' Brown claims moral high ground – but will not attack his old ally – The Independent
No comment on Tony Blair's book as he reveals he will help poor nations for free

British extradition agreements to be reviewed – The Guardian
Home Office to announce review of arrangements with US and EU after rows over McKinnon and Ubani cases

Thursday 2nd September 2010

Two arrested over 'assisted suicide' – The Telegraph
Two people have been arrested on suspicion of assisting the suicide of a severely disabled 76-year-old man who travelled from Britain to Switzerland to die.

Hospitals failing to follow up hip fractures – WalesOnline
Only a fraction of patients who suffer a hip fracture in Wales go on to receive a falls assessment.

Exercise, genetics and obesity – NHS News
This news report is based on a study that looked at how much physical activity over 20,000 people in Norfolk did and whether they were genetically more likely to be overweight. The researchers found that, although some genes increased the likelihood of having a higher BMI (body mass index), being active meant that these “genetically predisposed” individuals were less likely to be overweight. At the same time, being inactive increased the amount of weight they were likely to gain.

£130,000 to quit now for NHS bosses facing axe as plans are drawn up to sack up to 20,000 managers – The Daily Mail
Thousands of NHS managers facing the axe are to be offered payouts of up to £130,000 if they take voluntary redundancy, it has emerged.

Tony Blair's prescription for economy rejected by Labour candidates – The Guardian
David and Ed Miliband distance themselves from former PM's statement of support for coalition's deficit strategy

Maker of Botox Settles Inquiry – The New York Times
Allergan, the maker of Botox, agreed on Wednesday to pay $600 million to settle charges that it illegally promoted and sold the drug through 2005 for unapproved uses like treating headaches.

Child’s Ordeal Shows Risks of Psychosis Drugs for Young – The New York Times
More than 500,000 children and adolescents in America are now taking antipsychotic drugs, according to a September 2009 report by the Food and Drug Administration. Their use is growing not only among older teenagers, when schizophrenia is believed to emerge, but also among tens of thousands of preschoolers.

Free market on fees threatens rough ride in 'perfect storm' – The Times Higher
Paul Benneworth, of the University of Twente in the Netherlands, said a free market in fees could have this adverse effect due to a "perfect storm" of factors, including the end of widening participation in higher education and the growth of private universities.

Broken hearts and obsession, why giving up on your ex mate is so hard as overcoming drug addiction – Practical Ethics News
A study recently published on the Journal of Neurophysiology investigated a group of 15 people recently abandoned by their partners to understand the process of unreciprocated love and romantic rejection. The researchers “used functional magnetic resonance imaging to study 10 women and 5 men who had recently been rejected by a partner but reported they were still intensely "in love." Participants alternately viewed a photograph of their rejecting beloved and a photograph of a familiar, individual, interspersed with a distraction-attention task. Their responses while looking at their rejecter included love, despair, good, and bad memories, and wondering why this happened”.

Wednesday 1st September 2010

Robert Mugabe allies face rare legal challenge – The Telegraph
Jestina Mukoko, the Zimbabwe human rights activist, and 17 others have launched an extremely rare legal challenge against President Robert Mugabe's closest colleagues for £14 million associated with claims of kidnap, torture and illegal detention.

Google adds ‘priority inbox’ to Gmail – The Telegraph
Google said that its email algorithms analysed a variety of factors, including a user’s most frequently emailed contacts, and the number of other people copied in to the same message.

France defends Roma expulsions – The Guardian
Deportation of Gypsies is in line with EU law, says minister

Illegal Organ Harvesting Worse Under Chinese Reforms – The Epoch Times
Illegal organ harvesting has become worse under reforms put in place by the Chinese leadership to stop it, says a Canadian human rights lawyer.

Bedbugs are booming: Bloodsucker invades 24% more homes – The Daily Mail
Britain is facing a pandemic of bedbugs that could leave millions of homes infested.

Companies, Governments See an Electric-Vehicle Revolution – The Epoch Times
With mainstream automakers such as Chevrolet and Nissan set to release electric vehicles into the market, interest in electric cars is on the rise among Americans.

Tony Blair: I knew Gordon Brown would be a disaster – The Guardian
World exclusive: As he publishes memoir, ex-PM urges party not to shift to the left

Cyprus leaders to 'intensify' UN-led reunification talks – report – The Sofia Echo
The leaders of Cyprus’ Greek and Turkish communities will hold intensive talks next week as part of United Nations-led reunification negotiations, a senior official with the world body announced on August 31 2010, the UN News Service said.

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