News Stories

 

January – March   2010

Cardiff Centre for Ethics, Law and Society

 

March

 

 

Thursday 18th March 2010

University budgets to be slashed by up to 14% - The Guardain
Budget cuts trigger warnings of larger class sizes, further job losses and deterioration in quality of courses

Brown bids to end BA strike as overseas unions pledge support – The Independent
PM to hold last-ditch talks as crews in around the world vow not to co-operate with emergency staff brought in to cover walkouts

MI5 and MI6 have to deal with torturers, government says – The Telegpraph
The security services “cannot afford the luxury” of dealing only with countries which respect human rights, the government has said.

Devastating account of abuse inflicted on children – The Belfast Telegraph
Today's revelations come after months of scandal over sex abuse in the Catholic Church.

Boy of five labelled obese and given heart disease warning – The Telegraph
Cian Attwood's mother, Kriss Hodgson, was given leaflets on blood pressure, cancer and heart disease following a NHS test at his school which deemed him "very overweight."

Are ethics adrift in third-stream work? – The Times Higher
Recession may encourage knowledge exchange 'at any cost', workshop hears. Hannah Fearn reports

Brown’s Care At Home Bill suffers defeats in House of Lords – The Times
Gordon Brown’s plan to offer free care at home for the elderly was thrown into serious doubt last night after a series of defeats in the House of Lords.

High Court reverses ban on Catholic Care’s anti-gay adoption policy – The Times
A Roman Catholic child-adoption society has won a landmark High Court battle that could allow it and other Catholic agencies to discriminate legally against gay couples.

 

 

Wednesday 17th March 2010

Catholic adoption society wins exemption from using gay parents
Catholic Care has won a high court appeal not to adhere to sexual orientation regulations to use homosexual parents

Quarter of NHS trusts fail to meet hygiene standards
A quarter of NHS Trusts are compounding the risk of hospital infections by failing to meet core standards on hygiene, the UK's healthcare regulator has found.

Workforce adults with minor ills overwhelming NHS, doctors say – The Times
The “worried well” are putting the NHS under unsustainable pressure by seeing their GPs for coughs, colds and other minor ailments that they should be treating themselves, leading health professionals warn today.

Going Green Makes You Mean ... and Distracts You – The Guardian
According to a study reported in the Guardian, when people feel they have been morally virtuous by saving the planet through their purchases of organic baby food, for example, it leads to the "licensing [of] selfish and morally questionable behaviour", otherwise known as "moral balancing" or "compensatory ethics". The article came under the wonderful heading, “How going green may make you mean.”

Quick! Ban Something! – Journal of Medical Ethics Blog
It goes without saying that the deaths of Louis Wainwright and Nicholas Smith, apparently after having taken the legal high mephedrone, is a matter of deep regret. But it’s also a matter of sad predictability that the news has been hotly followed by calls for mephedrone to be banned; speaking on Today this morning, Chris Grayling, the shadow Home Secretary, spoke about launching a review into legal highs “with a view to banning some of these substances“. James Naughtie was quick to point out the uncomfortable parallels with the government’s treatment of David Nutt in the autumn; but the wider point here has been missed, which is that the default position in drugs policy is prohibitionary.

Inspirational specialist who helped set up IVF guidelines – Wales Online
Dr Jennifer Gunning, who has died at the age of 65, was a former senior research fellow at Cardiff University who was instrumental in developing IVF guidelines.

Shortfalls in CPS leads to hundreds of defendants avoiding trial – The Times
Failings in the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in London have allowed hundreds of defendants to go free without facing trial, inspectors have found.

A sustainable visit – Cardiff University News Centre
A leading Welsh politician has praised the University for its research in tackling the challenges presented by climate change.

 

Monday 15th March 2010

James Bulger's mother calls for sacking of children's commissioner – The Guardian
Denise Fergus says comments that Venables and Thompson were too young to stand trial were 'twisted and insensitive'

IVF doctors to raffle human egg – The Times
A Fertility clinic is raffling a human egg in London to promote its new “baby profiling” service, which circumvents British IVF (in vitro fertilisation) laws.

Centre for Professional Ethics at Keele PGT Open Day – Journal of Medical Ethics Blog
The Centre for Professional Ethics & the School of Law at Keele University would like to invite you to attend their postgraduate taught courses open day on the 31st of March – between 4:30 pm and 7:00 pm at the Claus Moser Research Centre, Keele University.

As Health Vote Awaits, Future of a Presidency Waits, Too – The New York Times
Washington is already debating how pivotal the vote will be to his presidency. Mr. Obama has devoted vast energy and political capital over the last 14 months to get to this point, the presidential equivalent of an all-in bet on the poker table. Should he fail to push his plan through a Congress with strong Democratic majorities, it would certainly damage his credibility as a leader for months, and maybe years. Already the fight has scarred Washington, leaving behind a polarized and angry political elite and questions about whether the system is broken.

Bioethics in NewsFilmOnline – University of Leicester
News clips relating to bioethics

Rape conviction rate figures 'misleading' – The Telegraph
Rape victims may have been put off reporting attacks because of the use of "misleading" conviction rate figures by Harriet Harman and others, a major review for the Government warns.

What really happened on Bloody Sunday? – The Independent
Twelve years ago Lord Saville began his inquiry into one of the darkest chapters in the history of Northern Ireland. Now, £200m later, he will finally deliver his report

Britons shy away from talking about death – Reuters
Britons are so reluctant to talk about death that they often fail to tell their families what they want to happen to them when they die, a survey has found.

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Friday 12th March 2010

Foreign intelligence agencies hack into British companies – The Telegraph
In evidence to a Parliamentary committee, The Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure, a Government agency, said that Government-backed hackers from China and Russia were behind a large proportion of the operations.

Disease Cause Is Pinpointed With Genome – The New York Times
Two research teams have independently decoded the entire genome of patients to find the exact genetic cause of their diseases. The approach may offer a new start in the so far disappointing effort to identify the genetic roots of major killers like heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer’s.

David Askew collapsed and died after decade of attacks – The Times
A 64-year-old man with learning difficulties was “tormented to death” after being bullied by yobs for more than a decade, neighbours claimed today.

Students swear by module of 'obscenely hard' work – The Times Higher
Studies suggest that UK students tend to put in less hard graft than their European peers, but at least one professor has found a way to get his students to work their socks off.

Asylum-seekers abused by security guards, says report – The Independent
Official investigation backs claims first raised by The Independent two years ago

Lawyer Talks of China's 'Bloody Harvest' – The Epoch Times
His latest book, Bloody Harvest: The Killing of Falun Gong for Their Organs, sums up a practice in China where the state sanctions seizures of organs from unwilling Falun Gong practitioners. Falun Gong is a peaceful meditation practice based on truth, compassion, and tolerance; it grew so popular in the late 1990s that the Communist regime vowed to eradicate it. Amnesty International and the United Nations are among the organizations which continue to report on the persecution that includes many instances of torture and killing.

Expenses four defy court and plead not guilty – The Times
Three Labour MPs and a Conservative peer pleaded not guilty to fiddling their Parliamentary expenses today as they continued to insist that they should not face justice in court.

Experiment allows scientists to 'read' volunteers' thoughts – The Independent
Neuroimaging technique gives a new insight into the location and nature of human memory.

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Thursday 11th March 2010

 

Close hospitals and wards to improve patient care, say NHS managers – The Telegraph
Closing some NHS wards and hospitals and allowing patients to email their consultants could help save money and improve patient care, according to those making the day-to-day decisions about the running of the health service.

Hysteria over a hysterectomy – Practical Ethics, University of Oxford
The Family Court in Brisbance this week authorised a hysterectomy for a severely disabled 11 year old girl. Disability groups have branded the decision an abuse of human rights and called for a law prohibiting the sterilisation of disabled children.

Probe on nurse over 'relationship' – UK Press Association
A nurse who specialised in the care of cancer sufferers is facing an investigation by a watchdog after being sacked by a hospital, health sources said.

Sisters who were raped for 30 years by 'British Fritzl' receive unreserved apology from local authorities – The Scottish Daily Record
Two women repeatedly raped by their father for 30 years - bearing seven children to him - got an unreserved apology yesterday from authorities who failed to protect them.

Libel laws silenced me, says Francisco Lacerda critic of lie detector system – The Times
England’s libel laws have been used to silence scientific critics of lie detection technology on which the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has spent £2.4 million.

Man dies after being 'tormented' by gangs of youths – The Telegraph
Police found a dead man after being called to an address where yobs were causing an ''annoyance'', a force said.

Greece hit by new general strike over austerity plan – The Guardian
Public and transport services grind to a halt as workers stage protest over spending cuts

Judges fear prisons will burst under new rules – The Times
Britain’s leading criminal judges warn that a shake-up of sentencing guidelines could push prison overcrowding to crisis levels.

French bread spiked with LSD in CIA experiment – The Telegraph
A 50-year mystery over the 'cursed bread' of Pont-Saint-Esprit, which left residents suffering hallucinations, has been solved after a writer discovered the US had spiked the bread with LSD as part of an experiment.

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Wednesday 10th March 2010

Q&A: Electronic medical records – BBC
The doctors' union claims that England's medical records database is being pushed through too fast, with details sometimes being uploaded without patients' knowledge.

Acupuncture 'does not aid fertility treatment' – The Telegraph
Acupuncture does not help women have a child through fertility treatment, new research shows.

US family seeks Israeli damages – Al Jazeera
The family of a US student activist killed by an Israeli army bulldozer in Gaza has launched a case against the Israeli government.

Terence Blacker: Jon Venables and a case of mob morality – The Independent
The spirit of what Lord Donaldson called "institutionalised vengeance" lives on

Ex-Cazenove partner found guilty of insider dealing – The Times
Malcolm Calvert, a former partner at Cazenove, the Queen’s stockbroker, has been convicted of insider dealing and faces up to seven years in prison.

Triple suicide puts pressure on PM over asylum seekers – The New Scotsman
Gordon Brown will today be urged to improve the way asylum seekers with mental health issues are handled by authorities in the wake of the "exceptional tragedy" in which a Russian family took their own lives by jumping from a Glasgow tower block.

If you think Ashcroft is a scandal, what about the attacks on the BBC? – The Guardian
No broadcaster in the world can match the BBC and its critics should stop belittling it

Divine Intervention? New Research Looks at Beliefs About God's Influence in Everyday Life – Science Daily
Most Americans believe God is concerned with their personal well-being and is directly involved in their personal affairs, according to new research out of the University of Toronto.

Facebook Under Fire for Lack of ‘Panic Button’ – The Epoch Times
The social networking site Facebook has been accused of failing to protect young British users from the threat posed by pedophiles.

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Tuesday 9th March 2010

Spanish Judge Accuses Venezuelan Gov’t of Aiding Terrorism – The Epoch Times
Heated reactions from leaders of both countries

Rethinking rehab: can 'evil' children be made good? – The Times
With Jon Venables back behind bars, child psychologist Linda Blair explains how children who commit evil can turn good

Is Prenatal Screening for Rare Diseases Like Spinal Muscular Atrophy Too Costly? – Science Daily
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is one of many serious disorders for which prenatal testing is available. SMA affects approximately 1 in 10,000 live births and is the leading genetic cause of infant mortality and the second most common autosomal recessive disorder, after cystic fibrosis. Although the American College of Medical Genetics recommends carrier testing for all couples, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has issued a recommendation to the contrary, citing lack of information about the costs and benefits of screening for SMA.

James Bulger's killer Jon Venables proves vengeance does not work. Now it's time for mercy – The Telegraph
The culture of retribution that followed the James Bulger murder has not stopped reoffenders

Judges told they have no power to allow secret evidence in Guantanamo case – The Times
Three of the country’s top judges were told yesterday that they had no power to allow ministers to use secret evidence in fighting a damages claim by six former Guantanamo Bay detainees over alleged ill-treatment.

Facebook security measures criticised after Ashleigh Hall murder – The Guardian
Networking site under fire after conviction of Peter Chapman, who posed as a teenager to lure and kill 17-year-old girl

Castration and conscience – Practical Ethics
But is it treatment? And if it is not, should doctors participate in it?

The NHS: Health care needs to be depoliticised and patient led – The Telegraph
Reforming the NHS is so vital that we shouldn’t have to wait until after the next election

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Monday 8th March 2010

So Much for Jobs, Jobs, Jobs – The New York Times
The job market may be hitting bottom, but it seems likely to remain mired there. And despite the insistence that their top three priorities are jobs, jobs, jobs, Congress and the Obama administration aren’t doing enough to create them.

Oxford students suspended over sexist emails – The Times
Fifteen students at an Oxford college have been suspended pending an investigation in to claims that members of a drinking society sent a series of sexist emails.

Three dead in suspected suicide leap from flats in Glasgow – The Guardian
Two men and a woman said to be Kosovan nationals whose applications to stay in UK had been rejected

Cyberwar declared as China hunts for the West’s intelligence secrets – The Times
Urgent warnings have been circulated throughout Nato and the European Union for secret intelligence material to be protected from a recent surge in cyberwar attacks originating in China.

Tories insist cuts will be needed in Assembly’s new budget – Wales Online
An independent review should look at all aspects of Assembly Government spending in anticipation of tougher future settlements from the Treasury, Nick Bourne suggested last night.

Trial cuts premature birth deaths – Nursing in Practice
The prospect of reducing the number of premature babies who die or who are born with severe disabilities has taken a step forward with the development of a "brainwashing" technique.

Three Proven Steps to Advance the World’s Women, on International Women’s Day – New York Times (Blog)
Today is International Women’s Day, and in fact the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. It’s a date that is much better known abroad but is beginning to get more traction in the U.S. as well.

Nurses to assess doctors' practice – Nursing Times
Nurses’ feedback will play an important part in deciding whether doctors are fit to continue practising, under plans being developed for revalidation.

A Greek Tragedy Haunts the World – The Epoch Times
The crisis over the solvency of Greece’s state finances is much more than a monetary issue. It raises deep questions about the European project whose broad success over the past half-century is now clouded by doubts about the future. One thing seems certain though: with the dream of united Europe receding, the EU will be too preoccupied with internal cohesion to play a significant global role.

NHS trusts 'give incorrect performance data' – Nursing Times
More than half of hospital trusts inspected last year provided the public with incorrect information on their performance and quality of care, it has been claimed.

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Friday 5th March 2010

AIG subsidiaries settle discrimination charges – The Times
Two subsidiaries of American International Group (AIG) agreed to at least $6.1 million to settle allegations that they discriminated against African-American borrowers.

I.M.F. Help for Greece Is a Risky Prospect – The New York Times
Greece skirted disaster this week by persuading investors and politicians that it is finally on track to fix its finances. But even before the dust settles, the government is setting the stage for a potential conflict with Germany, France and other European governments that may raise doubts about the sustainability of the euro project.

September 11 conspiracy theorist opens fire at Pentagon – The Times
A 9/11 conspiracy theorist walked up to two policemen at the Pentagon yesterday, pulled out a handgun and opened fire at point-blank range.

Armenian 'genocide' vote unjust, says Turkey – The Guardian
US congressional panel's resolution describing 'genocide' of Armenians could damage relations, warns Turkish PM

NHS Appraisal site back online – Eprimary Healthcare
The Department of Health has restored the NHS Appraisal Toolkit website which was taken offline last month after routine checks revealed it could be vulnerable to hackers.

Brain Scans Could Be Marketing Tool of the Future – Science Daily
Using advanced tools to see the human brain at work, a new generation of marketing experts may be able to test a product's appeal while it is still being designed, according to a new analysis by two researchers at Duke University and Emory University.

Germany says no money for Greece – Al Jazeera
Germany's economy minister has said Berlin has no intention of offering Greece a single cent in aid as it attempts to tackle its huge debt crisis.

Come Together – The New Yorker
A few days before President Obama’s big health-care “summit,” Gingrich addressed the Conservative Political Action Conference. He cited Camus’s “The Plague,” summarizing its message with Jack Nicholsonian authoritativeness: “The authorities can’t stand the truth.”

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Thursday 4th March 2010

Trojan accreditation: Private partners pose threat in the battle for students – The Times
Universities are being undercut by colleges' low-fee offerings, UUK warns. Melanie Newman reports

Obama Calls for ‘Up or Down Vote’ on Health Care Bill – The New York Times
President Obama, beginning his final push for a health care overhaul, called Wednesday for Congress to allow an “up or down vote” on the measure, and sketched out an ambitious — and, some Democrats said, unrealistic — timetable for his party to pass a bill on its own within weeks.

Bulger killer Jon Venables 'recalled to jail over fight at work' – The Times
James Bulger's killer was recalled to jail because of a violent altercation with a work colleague, it was claimed today.

Elites may get even more postgrad cash – The Times Higher
Hefce set to reassess research degree programme allocation after Smith review, writes Zoë Corbyn

Do the Arts and Humanities need to justify their existence? – Practical Ethics, University of Oxford
In my view, the Arts and Humanities must ultimately be judged in terms of what they bring to the world. The money that is spent on these fields could instead be directly saving lives if spent on the health budget, or advancing science and technology and we do need a positive reason to spend it on the Arts and Humanities. That being said, the Arts and Humanities as a whole have delivered an immense amount of value. They have helped to let us think about big issues, to learn from the past, and to foster deeply important social change such as women's liberation.

Health Care Volunteers and Disasters: First, Be Prepared – Science Daily
A surge in volunteers following a major disaster can overwhelm a response system, and without overall coordination, can actually make a situation worse instead of better.

Death Sentence Upheld for Iranian University Student – The Epoch Times
An Iranian appeals court has upheld a death sentence handed down to a 20-year-old university student, say opposition groups.

Former MI6 officer charged with exposing spy techniques – The Times
A former spy has appeared in court accused of stealing and disclosing top-secret material.

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Wednesday 3rd March 2010

'Sarah's law' pilot scheme prompts revenge fears – The Guardian
Fathers concerned about new boyfriends of ex-partners among largest groups applying for disclosure of child sex offenders, figures show

Google stands by Android despite HTC and Apple lawsuit – The Telegraph
Search giant Google ‘stands behind Android and our partners who have helped us to develop it’ after Apple announces it is to sue Nexus One-maker HTC

Former minister points to 'incompetence' in NHS – The Guardian
Service was given 'too much money too quickly', and strategy blamed for trusts' severe budget shortfalls

Trust: 'Protests could save BBC 6 Music' – Digital Spy
BBC Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons has said that a "strong reaction" against the proposed closure of digital station 6 Music could lead to a U-turn in the BBC's plans.

Jacob Zuma risks diplomatic embarrassment hours before meeting the Queen – The Telegraph
Jacob Zuma, the South African president, has risked sparking a diplomatic row after he described the British as condescending imperialists - just hours before meeting the Queen.

Anti-Turkish posters mark Bulgaria's liberation day – The Sofia Echo
The Bulgarian town of Sliven awoke on March 3 showered with nationalistic and anti-Turkish posters from the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organisation, (IMRO) as abbreviated in Bulgarian.

Mary Dejevsky: A vacuum where Germany should be – The Independent
Merkel's new coalition is a glaring example of the need to be careful what you wish for

High Court halts BAE plea deal with SFO – The Times
The High Court has filed an injunction against the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) to prevent it concluding an investigation into BAE Systems, Europe’s largest defence company, over bribery and corruption allegations.

Some Parents Weigh 'Hastening Death' for Children in Extreme Pain With Terminal Cancer – Science Daily
A survey of parents who had a child die of cancer found that one in eight considered hastening their child's death, a deliberation influenced by the amount of pain the child experienced during the last month of life, report Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers in the March issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

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Tuesday 2nd March 2010

Big jump in cocaine use 'deeply concerning' – Channel 4 News
New figures show the use of cocaine has increased five-fold among 16 to 59 year olds over the last 12 years, prompting a review into the effects of the drug.

Mandelson calls for inquiry over Lord Ashcroft tax promises – The Guardian
Business secretary is the most senior member of government to call for inquiry into non-dom Tory peer

Striving to Map the Shape-Shifting Net – The New York Times
In a dimly lit chamber festooned with wires and hidden in one of California’s largest data centers, Tim Pozar is changing the shape of the Internet.

Boomers lead on personal health records – Ehealth Insider
Personal health records have become a reality for millions of Americans, the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society's annual conference has heard.

Torture in Bosnia dismissed as a media 'conspiracy' – The Guardian
Radovan Karadzic is the latest of many to deny the existence of the horror camps

PCTs must stump up cash for revalidation retraining, GMC chief warns – PulseToday
It is likely to be up to individual PCTs to financially support GPs who require retraining under revalidation, and it is essential that they do so, the GMC has warned.

Gene test aid to cancer treatment – BBC
Scientists have developed a gene test which predicts how well chemotherapy will work in cancer patients.

Sleepy “Ordinary Ethics” – Practical Ethics, University of Oxford
It has often struck me how the most common ethical issues surround us like smog, yet we never see them. And how science and some fairly simple and uncontroversial values could go a long way to solving them.

 

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Monday 1st March 2010

Head Case - Can psychiatry be a science? – The New Yorker

There is suspicion that the pharmaceutical industry is cooking the studies that prove that antidepressant drugs are safe and effective, and that the industry’s direct-to-consumer advertising is encouraging people to demand pills to cure conditions that are not diseases (like shyness) or to get through ordinary life problems (like being laid off).

Assisted suicide: Right-to-die laws are a matter for Parliament – The Telegraph
If there are to be changes to the law regarding euthanasia they must be done through Parliament.

Frustrated Strivers in Pakistan Turn to Jihad – The New York Times
The issue is urgent. Pakistan is in the midst of a youth bulge, with more than a million people a year pouring into the job market, and the economy — at its current rate — is not growing fast enough to absorb them. Only a tiny fraction choose militancy, but acute joblessness exacerbates the risk.

Tories turn right to mend their broken poll lead – The Independent
Panic-stricken party signals less public spending and more tax cuts

Regular Exercise Reduces Patient Anxiety by 20 Percent, Study Finds – Science Daily
The anxiety that often accompanies a chronic illness can chip away at quality of life and make patients less likely to follow their treatment plan. But regular exercise can significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety, a new University of Georgia study shows.

Students let down by 'easy' degrees – The Telegraph
Telegraph View: When it comes to university places, more has meant worse

Kate Middleton set for £10,000 privacy victory – The Times
the girlfriend of Prince William, is set to win a controversial claim for alleged invasion of her privacy.

BMA says SCR roll-out ‘too hasty’ – EhealthInsider
The BMA has criticised the roll-out of the Summary Care Record programme, claiming patients do not have enough information and that it is too hard for them to opt out if they want to.

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February

 

Friday 26th February 2010

Censored Binyam Mohamed torture ruling released by court – The Times
The Court of Appeal today dealt another judicial blow to the establishment when it ruled that a controversial paragraph criticising the British Security Service should be reinstated in an earlier landmark judgment concerning the treatment of a former Guantanamo Bay detainee.

Basildon hospital pleads guilty over failings that led to death of disabled man – This is London
A hospital where inspectors found blood-spattered curtains and filthy conditions has pleaded guilty to health and safety failings over the death of a 20-year-old disabled man.

Terry Pratchett and Debbie Purdy back new suicide guidelines – The Times
The motivation of people who help loved ones to die will be the crucial factor in deciding if they should face prosecution under landmark guidelines issued yesterday.

Adrian Hamilton: Can we halt our slide to the margins? – The Independent
Economically hamstrung, shorn of confidence, and increasingly irrelevant on the world stage. We face hard choices if we are to recover our status

Germany to boost Afghan mission – Al Jazeera
Germany's parliament has voted to increase its troop level in Afghanistan by 850 and extend its mission in the country by one year.

Britain emerged from recession quicker than first thought – The Telegraph
Gordon Brown's election prospects have been boosted after official figures showed that Britain's economy expanded by more than expected in the final quarter of 2009.

Back pain 'eased by group therapy sessions' – BBC
A form of group "talking therapy" is a cheap, effective way to alleviate low back pain, a UK trial has shown.

Richard Dawkins in bitter web censorship row with fellow athiests – The Telegraph
Professor Richard Dawkins is embroiled in a bitter online battle over plans to rid his popular internet forum for atheists of foul language, insults and “frivolous gossip”.

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Thursday 25th February 2010

The real lessons of this NHS disaster – The Independent
The failure in Stafford is not just the tale of one badly run hospital, but the failure of a regulatory system that did little to sound the alarm until very late in the day. From 2005 to 2008 Stafford hospital was judged by regulators and the Government to be performing well. It passed many inspections and the Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust even achieved foundation status, supposedly the benchmark of excellence.

Eugenics or “reprogenetics”? Call it what you will, but let’s do it – Practical Ethics – Practical Ethics
British couples are to be offered a groundbreaking genetic test that would virtually eliminate their chances of having a baby with one of more than 100 inherited diseases.

New assisted suicide guidelines 'will not permit mercy killings' – The Independent
The assisted suicide policy will draw an important distinction between those who help a loved one to commit suicide and suspects who have ended someone else's life, the UK's top prosecutor said.

Tiger Woods, Ray Gosling - what are the legal implications of their confessions? –The Times
If you’ve been reading or watching the news at all in the past few weeks you won’t have missed the deluge of very public confessions by a variety of well-known people.

Test medicine in the lab, not in the court – The Times
A critic of chiropractic is being sued for libel. If he loses, it will be a black day for us all

Scholar vs scholar: libel case's 'disturbing implic ations' for free speech – The Times
The editor of a leading international law journal is to stand trial in a French court after he refused to pull an academic book review to which the author took exception.

Lads' magazines should be restricted to curb sexualisation of children – The Guardian
Lads' magazines such as Zoo and Nuts should be made top shelf titles with age restrictions on their sale, a report commissioned by the Home Office is to recommend tomorrow.

Greece Defaults on Debt They Helped Hide – The New York Times
Bets by some of the same banks that helped Greece shroud its mounting debts may actually now be pushing the nation closer to the brink of financial ruin.

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Wednesday 24th February 2010

Millions of part-time carers denied support – The Telegraph
Millions of people who are part-time carers for friends and family members are being denied support and financial help, it was disclosed yesterday.

Let us legally rip discs, campaigner tells govt – RegHardware
Consumer rights advocate Consumer Focus has called on the government to fix copyright laws broken by the rise of digital technology.

Google Italy ruling threatens YouTube pursuit of profitability -
Clear implication of Milan court's judgment against three executives is that every hosted video should be pre-screened

Gordon Brown: I didn't unleash 'forces of Hell' on Alistair Darling – The Times
Gordon Brown today denied that he had ordered his aides to unleash “the forces of Hell” against Alistair Darling after the Chancellor predicted the recession would be the worst for 60 years.

Inadequate Access to Opioid-Based Pain Relief Is a Human Rights Issue for Cancer Patients – ScienceDaily
Many cancer patients in Europe are being denied access to adequate pain relief because of over-zealous regulations restricting the availability and accessibility of opioid-based drugs such as morphine.

MPs' attack provokes the wrath of Murdoch – The Independent
Seminal report by Culture Select Committee outlines major changes to press regulation and libel laws. News International accused of doing 'substantial damage' to newspaper industry over phone hacking

Damning report condemns patient 'neglect' at Stafford Hospital – The Independent
Patients were "routinely neglected" at an NHS hospital after management became preoccupied with cost-cutting and targets, an independent report concluded today.

Self, Selves and Sexualities – Dublin City University
Date: Friday 19th & Saturday 20th March 2010
Location: Dublin City University
Venue: School of Nursing, Dublin City University, Ireland
Contacts: Dr Mel Duffy, Mr Jean-Philippe Imbert
The Self, Selves and Sexualities International Conference 2010 is a cross-faculty venture, in keeping with the academic ethos of Dublin City University.

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Tuesday 23rd February 2010

The true cost of bullying – The Times
As rumours of bullying at No 10 emerge, our writer looks at abusive behaviour in the workplace — and experts offer advice on how to cope with it

How Far Should Neuroscience Evidence Go in Court Trials? – Science Daily
A lawyer is trying to convince a jury that his client really is crazy. It's usually a tough argument to sell in a court of law. But what if the lawyer has a picture of his client's brain that shows there's something biologically wrong with it? Can that evidence help persuade a jury? Should it even be allowed as evidence?

Anglican bishops back end to ban on gay civil partnerships in church – The Times
Gay couples could soon be allowed to “marry” in church after a decision by Anglican bishops and other clergy to support a relaxation of the ban.

Stop funding homeopathy, MPs urge – The Guardian
There is no evidence that it is effective, says science and technology committee

Fat-busting laws are branded ‘nonsense’ – The Herald
Restaurants, fast-food outlets and supermarkets will have to cut portion sizes or face legal action under a new Government plan to combat obesity in Scotland.

AstraZeneca Settles U.K. Tax Dispute – The Wall Street Journal
Drug maker AstraZeneca PLC lifted its 2010 earnings forecast after settling a 15-year dispute with U.K. tax authorities.

FAS Children: Society's Expensive Problem – The Epoch Times
Destroying yourself with alcohol is one thing. Destroying an innocent fetus by excessive use of alcohol is maternal madness. Yet every year in Canada, alcohol-riddled babies are born suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).

Early release scheme scrapped as election looms – The Telegraph
A prisoner release scheme that has seen almost 80,000 criminals rel let out early will be scrapped next month, Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, said.

Cognitive enhancers: unfair at any dose? – Practical Ethics, University of Oxford
How should universities tackle the use of cognitive enhancement drugs by students? Professor Barbara Sahakian raised the issue in a recent talk. While hard numbers are hard to come by, it is likely that at least a few percent of university students take drugs believed to improve cognitive ability. This may give them advantages that could be unfair (if some have access while others haven't) or would have coercive effects (if you don't take the drug but your classmates are, you will be at a disadvantage). Are enhancer use among students inherently unfair and coercive?

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Monday 22nd February 2010

 

Tories Plan Discounts on U.K. Banks' Share Sales – The Wall Street Journal
The U.K.'s opposition Conservative Party would, if voted into power, offer discounts on shares to all U.K. taxpayers when it sells the government stakes in leading U.K. banks, the party's economic spokesman said Sunday.

An end to steely-eyed killing machines – The Independent
The old Bush/Blair mantras obscured a grim reality – we created the insurgency and cannot reduce it by sending in more troops

Understanding bipolar disorder – Cardiff University News Centre
Volunteers are being invited to join celebrities Stephen Fry and Kerry Katona in helping University researchers understand how genetic and environmental factors contribute to bipolar disorder.

Millions of Unemployed Face Years Without Jobs – The New York Times
Even as the American economy shows tentative signs of a rebound, the human toll of the recession continues to mount, with millions of Americans remaining out of work, out of savings and nearing the end of their unemployment benefits.

Gordon Brown hit by fresh bullying allegations – The Guardian
Pressure mounts on cabinet secretary to launch inquiry into claims prime minister abused Downing St staff
Ukraine-Russia Relations Still Unclear – The Wall Street Journal
Ukraine—Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called Viktor Yanukovych this weekend as soon as the Ukrainian president-elect's challenger dropped a legal battle to block his inauguration. According to the Kremlin, the two men agreed that Mr. Yanukovych would visit Moscow in early March.

Rich list lengthens: National pay deal 'reason' for rise in six-figure incomes – The Times Higher
It used to be an exclusive group, but despite the recession and calls for wage restraint, membership of higher education's £100,000-a-year club is rapidly expanding.

Baby P doctor is 'suicidal' – The Haringey Independent
THE doctor who failed to spot Baby Peter's broken back has fled the country at risk of suicide, a tribunal heard.

Hope for children with peanut allergy as new treatment is tested – The Times
More than 100 British children with severe peanut allergies are to be treated with an experimental desensitising therapy that has had promising early results.

Stress 'increases the risk of memory loss in diabetics' – The Telegraph
Stress increases the risk of memory loss among diabetics, a new study suggests.

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Friday 19th February 2010

Bruce Anderson: We not only have a right to use torture. We have a duty – The Independent
The Master of the Rolls has shown no understanding beyond courtroom niceties

Adrian Hamilton: Torture demeans the torturer as well as the victim – The Independent
The policy of rendition was developed, and condoned by Britain, to get round the law

No Fault of Their Own – The New York Times
AS we have just passed the 40th anniversary of that much vilified institution, the no-fault divorce, it is an appropriate moment to re-evaluate how divorce affects families, and particularly children. The California law took effect on Jan. 1, 1970, and was followed by a wave of marital separations that continues to this day — and also a wave of rhetoric condemning divorce for harming children and undermining the fabric of society.

Malaysia canes women for adultery – Al Jazeera
Three women have been caned under Islamic law for committing adultery, a Malaysian minister has said.

Best Practices in Clinical Ethics Consultation – London South Bank University
Date: 8 & 9 July 2010 - two-day conference
This conference aims to bring together all those who have an interest in ethics consultation, whether health and social care professionals or service users and carers, in order to foster and develop best practice in clinical ethics consultation across adult, maternity, children’s, older person’s, mental health and learning disabilities.

Add Meditation to Your Anti-Aging Regimen – The Epoch Times
Meditation is the best value package for your health because it gives you the most benefit for your time. Twenty minutes a day of mindfulness meditation provides inner peace, reduces disease risks, and can even add years to your life. Research shows promising evidence that meditation can slow down aging at the cellular level, prolonging your lifespan.

Scientists Find Method to Stabilize Vaccines in Heat – Voice of America
Scientists at Britain's Oxford University have found a way to keep vaccines stable without refrigeration, even in tropical temperatures. Scientists say the discovery could revolutionize vaccination efforts, especially in the developing world where infectious diseases kill millions of people every year.

Mother's joy at baby daughter after 18 miscarriages – The Telegraph
A woman who suffered a devastating 18 miscarriages has described her joy at giving birth to the baby she had longed for after being referred to a "pioneering" doctor.

Britain denies advance knowledge of Dubai killing – The Guardian
Foreign Office dismisses reports it was told beforehand about Israeli plan to assassinate Hamas official

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Thursday 18th February 2010

Falkland Islands: First it was sovereignty, now it's oil – The Independent
Ministry of Defence steps up surveillance of Argentinian navy as tensions escalate over black gold

Councils 'failing to prepare for ageing population' – The Telegraph
Local councils are failing to prepare for an explosion in the number of older people in the coming years, an official audit has found.

Hamas official accused of helping Mossad hit squad – The Guardian
A key security operative of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas was under arrest in Syria tonight on suspicion of having helped an alleged Israeli hit squad identify Mahmoud al-Mabhouh before he was assassinated in Dubai, the Guardian has learned.

Happiness wards off heart disease, study suggests – BBC
Being happy and staying positive may help ward off heart disease, a study suggests.

Chinest herbalist's tablets caused 'terrible harm' – The Times
A Chinese herbalist was given a two-year conditional discharge yesterday after having admitted selling dangerous pills to a woman who then developed kidney failure and cancer.

NHS puts targets ahead of patients reports warned – The Telegraph
A culture of fear in the NHS means targets and politically driven policies are being put before patients, according to a series of previously unseen reports commissioned by the Department of Health.

PCC rejects complaint over Jan Moir column about Stephen Gately's death – The Guardian
Commission rules that censuring 'uncomfortable' remarks would represent 'a slide towards censorship'

An Ibuprofen a Day Could Keep Parkinson's Disease Away, Study Suggests – ScienceDaily
New research shows people who regularly take ibuprofen may reduce their risk of developing Parkinson's disease, according to a study released February 17 that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 62nd Annual Meeting in Toronto April 10 to April 17, 2010.

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Wedneday 17th February 2010

 

From green warriors to eco-quarrellers – The Times
Green issues are causing more family rows than ever. Some people take this planet-saving stuff rather seriously

Murder arrest over Ray Gosling's BBC confession – BBC
TV presenter Ray Gosling has been arrested on suspicion of murder by Nottinghamshire Police after he admitted killing his lover.

The 25th Annual Medical Ethics Conference - March 7-13, 2010
Established by Notre Dame alumnus Dr. Philip Clarke, this conference enables discussion between practicing physicians and specialists in medical ethics about issues confronting the medical community

World may not be warming, say scientists – The Times
The United Nations climate panel faces a new challenge with scientists casting doubt on its claim that global temperatures are rising inexorably because of human pollution.

Research predicts 80% of men will be overweight by 2020 – Nursing Times
Obesity among adults is expected to rise sharply by 2020, when as many as eight out of 10 men and almost seven in 10 women will be overweight, research has shown.

Cholesterol-busting wonder drugs taken by millions 'increases diabetes risk' – The Telegraph
Cholesterol-busting wonder drugs taken by millions to prevent a heart attack also increase their chances of developing diabetes, according to a new study.

Are dogs the new weapon of choice for young people? –The Guardian
The number of dangerous dogs being seized by the police has soared as young people increasingly use them as 'weapons', rather than carrying knives.

Yarl's Wood children face 'extreme distress', report reveals – The Guardian
Children's commissioner highlights concerns over a failure to assess psychological wellbeing of the 1,000 children held in the Yarl's Wood centre each year.

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Tuesday 16th February 2010

Irish attempts to grapple with abuse frustrated by Rome – The Irish Times
It can only be hoped that today’s discussions in Rome on what Cardinal Claudio Hummes has memorably described as “the painful Irish happenings” will reflect on the role not just of the Irish bishops but also of the Vatican itself.

British patients 'struggling to get vital drugs because wholesalers exporting them abroad' – The Telegraph
British patients are struggling to get vital drugs because wholesalers are exporting them abroad where they can make higher profits, experts have warned.

Catholic Church sanctions some infertility treatment – St. Louis Today
There is "great confusion among lay Catholics regarding the church's teaching on human reproductive technologies," Philadelphia's Cardinal Justin Rigali said at the U.S. bishops' meeting in Baltimore in November. "There is a need to help Catholics understand specific differences between the Catholic understanding and a secular understanding of human life."

Drinks companies could be forced to put health warnings on alcohol – The Guardian
Government may make warnings compulsory after report shows industry is widely shunning voluntary code on labelling

Police to investigate BBC presenter Ray Gosling over mercy killing of lover – The Telegraph
Police are to launch an investigation after the BBC presenter Ray Gosling told television viewers that he carried out a mercy killing on a former lover who was suffering from Aids.

Bioethics Memory Aid Can Help Assess Patient Decision-Making Capacity in Medical Emergencies – Science Daily
Physicians in training and bioethicists at Johns Hopkins have created an easy-to-remember checklist to help medical students and clinicians quickly assess a patient's decision-making capacity in an emergency.

Soda Tax Would Raise Millions, Says Budget Office – The Epoch Times
Weeks after Gov. David Paterson's proposal to add a tax to sugary drinks, the New York City Independent Budget Office released a report that said the city can raise millions with such a tax.

Media asks court to reinstate criticism of MI5 in Binyam Mohamed case –
Britain’s senior judges will rethink this week their controversial decision to excise damning criticism of MI5 from a ruling published last week.

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Monday 15th February 2010

Clive Stafford Smith: A stuffed toy can't stop prisoner abuse, Mr Howells – The Independent
It is said that the very existence of the Security Services (SyS) involves violating, if not our own laws, the laws of other countries. We do not need to look at the excesses of the past eight years to know that, notwithstanding the best intentions of those involved. In a crisis, the temptation to sail close to the moral line and, often, across it, may prove too strong to resist.

Goldsmith calls for investigation into UK's role in torture – The Independent
Former attorney general demands 'clarification' from ministers on activites of intelligence agencies

TV row wrecks hopes of deal on care for elderly – The Times
Hopes of a cross-party deal on care for the elderly were in ruins today after talks between the parties descended into an on-air slanging match.

Half of women blame the victims of sexual assault – The Telegraph
More than half of women think that rape victims should take responsibility for their assault, a survey has found.

The Greek Tragedy That Changed Europe – The Wall Street Journal
Greece's dysfunctional economy is now at the heart of a rescue effort that could be disastrous for the entire continent—and the rest of the world.

How MI5 kept watchdog in the dark over detainees' claims of torture – The Guardian
It was in the middle of 2008 that Jonathan Evans, director general of MI5, delivered a bombshell confession to the previously compliant parliamentarians of the intelligence and security committee.

A clear and present danger – The Times Higher
Many scholars feel that their freedom to question is in danger of being eroded or even lost. Zoe Corbyn examines the threat in the UK, while Christoph Bode and David Gunkel consider the state of affairs in Europe and America

Drama or Reality TV: Do Medical Shows Depict Proper First Aid for Seizures? – Science Daily
Watching TV medical shows might not be the best way to learn what to do when someone has a seizure. Researchers screened the most popular medical dramas and found that doctors and nurses on the shows responded inappropriately to seizures almost half the time, according to a study that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 62nd Annual Meeting in Toronto April 10 to April 17, 2010.

George Osborne: Conservatives would allow public services to run co-operatives – The Telegraph
George Osborne, the shadow chancellor, has outlined a Conservative pledge to let public sector workers form “co-operatives” to take control of public services like primary education and NHS nursing.

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Friday 12th February 2010

Millionaire gives away fortune which made him miserable – The Telegraph
Austrian millionaire Karl Rabeder is giving away every penny of his £3 million fortune after realising his riches were making him unhappy.

Prisoner Facebook pages removed after victim taunts – BBC
Thirty Facebook pages have been taken down because prisoners were using them to taunt their victims, Justice Secretary Jack Straw has said.

Chip and PIN security busted – The Register
UnVerified by PIN attack undermines bank security assurances

Second marriage falls from favour – The Telegraph
Fewer second and third marriages are taking place, suggesting that weddings are becoming increasingly a preserve for couples celebrating for the first time.

MI5 chief denies cover-up claims over detainees – The Guardian
The head of MI5 has issued a strong defence of the Security Service, denying that his staff had withheld documents relating to Binyam Mohamed from the parliamentary intelligence and security committee (ISC) or had sought to cover up its involvement in the torture of detainees.

Angela Merkel dashes Greek hopes of rescue bid – The Guardian
German chancellor refuses to rescue Greece's ailing economy amid Berlin's domestic austerity

Football accused in homophobia row – The Independent
Players refuse to appear in video designed to combat prejudice

Young Patients With Chronic Illnesses Find Relief in Acupuncture – Science Daily
Doctors at Rush University Medical Center are offering pediatric patients diagnosed with chronic illnesses acupuncture therapy to help ease the pain and negative side effects like nausea, fatigue, and vomiting caused by chronic health conditions and intensive treatments. The confluence of Chinese and Western medicine at Rush Children's Hospital is part of a study to analyze and document how acupuncture might help in reducing pain in children and increase quality of life.

Johann Hari: Obama's secret prisons in Afghanistan endanger us all – The Independent
He was elected in part to drag us out of this trap. Instead, he's dragging us further in

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Thursday 11th February 2010

 

Appeal judge watered down Binyam Mohamed torture ruling – The Guardian
Government persuaded Lord Neuberger to delete damning references to MI5 'culture' of suppressing evidence

Autism and snake oil – thestar.com
For me, one of the most interesting things about the retraction last week by the Lancet of its discredited 1998 study linking vaccines and autism was the consensus that those who have believed the study will continue to have faith in it, despite the retraction.

NHS is facing a cold wind of change in the economic crisis – The Guardian
Sir Robert Naylor, chief executive of a leading hospital foundation trust, is being is talked of as a potential head of the NHS. But he stresses that the health service should not expect immunity from cost cuts and reform

Valentine's Day: How do I love thee? Let me the count the probabilities – The Telegrpah
A mathematics tutor at Warwick university has calculated the probability of ever finding true love.

MI5 knew Guantanamo detainee Binyam Mohamed was being tortured – The Telegraph
MI5 knew that Binyam Mohamed, the former Guantanamo detainee, was being tortured by the CIA, a Court of Appeal judgment has revealed.

Eight Turkish planes violate Greek airspace and are chased off by Greek fighters – The Sofia Echo
Turkish fighter jets violated Greek air space on February 9 2010, Greek daily Kathimeriny reported on February 10.

Obesity hospital admissions soar – UK Press Association
The number of people admitted to hospital for obesity shot up almost 60% last year while the number having weight-loss surgery rose 55%, figures have shown.

Iran opposition leaders attacked as regime floods streets – The Times
Iran’s regime sought to thwart another massive opposition protest today by turning out its own supporters in huge numbers, imposing draconian restrictions on the media and making the headline-grabbing announcement that the Islamic Republic was now a “nuclear state”.

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Wednesday 10th February 2010

Gordon Brown’s care plan misleads the elderly, say councils – The Times
More than 70 leaders of social care throughout England are warning that the Government’s plans to provide free home care are flawed, unfunded and will force cuts to current services.

Tsvangirai rejects 'indigenous' law – Al Jazeera
Zimbabwe's prime minister has dismissed the official announcement of government legislation requiring all businesses operating in the country to be 51 per cent owned by blacks.

Federal Budget Heading Toward Trillions in Debt – The Epoch Times
The federal budget is heading toward trillions of dollars in new debt in the next 10 to 20 years if nothing is done, according to statistics presented at a Senate Budget Committee hearing on Feb. 9.

Britain faces 'oil crunch' within five years, Richard Branson warns – The Telegraph
An oil crunch more serious than the financial crisis threatens to strike Britain within five years, Sir Richard Branson and other business leaders have warned.

U.S. Eyes Tougher Sanctions Over Iran Nuclear Program – The New York Times
The Obama administration is working on a series of sanctions that would take aim at the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps of Iran, publicly singling out the organization’s vast array of companies, banks and other entities in an effort to curb Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

Defence chiefs urged to tackle rise in illness among troops – The Independent
Defence chiefs must do more to tackle a sharp rise in the number of British troops in Afghanistan suffering from illness and minor injuries, the National Audit Office said today.

Allen & Overy brings 'magic circle' touch to Australia – The Times
Allen & Overy, Britain’s fifth-biggest law firm, is expanding into Australia after hiring 17 partners from leading local firms.

London SCR roll out complete in a year – EhealthInsider
NHS London is aiming to create Summary Care Records for 100% of the people living in the capital that want one by March 2011.

Potential Evolutionary Role for Same-Sex Attraction – ScienceDaily
One possible explanation is what evolutionary psychologists call the "kin selection hypothesis." What that means is that homosexuality may convey an indirect benefit by enhancing the survival prospects of close relatives. Specifically, the theory holds that homosexual men might enhance their own genetic prospects by being "helpers in the nest." By acting altruistically toward nieces and nephews, homosexual men would perpetuate the family genes, including some of their own.

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Tuesday 9th February 2010

Iran starts processing nuclear fuel towards weapons-grade – The Times
Iran today started to enrich its existing nuclear fuel stockpile towards weapons grade strength.

Google translation phone "two years away" – The Telegraph
Search giant Google has said that it is working on a phone that can translate live, automatically between languages

Safer Internet Day targets 5-7 year olds and Microsoft's web browser – The Guardian
On Safer Internet Day, the UK's Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre is promoting a cartoon to help children stay safe online, and making information and advice available via Microsoft's Internet Explorer 8

Religion on the BBC – BBC
On Wednesday this week, the Church Of England's Synod will debate a motion tabled by Nigel Holmes on the issue of religious broadcasting on television. The motion says coverage that was, "once exemplary, now marginalises the few such programmes which remain" and "completely ignored the Christian significance of Good Friday 2009". In a background paper that accompanies this motion, Nigel says the hours of religious and ethical TV broadcast on the BBC have fallen from 177 in 1987, to 155 in 2007.

Terminally ill patients 'being penalised by Nice for having rare conditions' – The Telegraph
Terminally ill patients are being “penalised” for having rare conditions charities have warned after a kidney cancer medication was ruled too expensive for the NHS.

The golden age of GP care – that never actually happened – The Independent
Ah, the good old days. Always bathed in the golden glow of selective hindsight. The scandal of out-of-hours GP care, exposed last week by the case of Daniel Ubani, the doctor who flew in from Germany and within 24 hours had killed a man, 70-year-old David Gray, with an injection of morphine 10 times the correct dose, has triggered rose-tinted memories of the past – and panicked promises to recreate it.

For Kremlin, an Election in Ukraine Cuts Two Ways – The New York Times
The apparent victory of Russia’s preferred candidate in the Ukrainian presidential race may be a relief to Vladimir V. Putin, who has long sought to discredit his neighbor’s raucous democracy and its drift to the West.

Church of England exits Vedanta over ‘ethics' – The Hindu Business Line
“We are not satisfied that Vedanta has shown, or is likely in future to show, the level of respect for human rights and local communities that we expect of companies in whom the Church investing bodies hold shares,” said Mr John Reynolds, the chairman of the Church's Economic Investment Advisory Group, which acts as the main advisor to the Church Commissioners and the Church of England Pensions Board.

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Monday 7th February 2010

 

John Terry’s ‘£750,000’ legal gag – The Times
John Terry paid hundreds of thousands of pounds to his former mistress to guarantee her silence in his bid to remain England’s football captain.

Humans' Unreliable Judgments – The Epoch Times
Our judgments are not trustworthy, recent studies show. We misjudge objects’ proximity to us because of our wish to possess them, the time between events because of our perceived connection between them, and the value of prices because of how they are pronounced.

Modern men 'struggling with Chivalry' – The Independent
Men are struggling when it comes to modern chivalry, according to a report published today.

I thought of killing myself, says climate scandal professor Phil Jones – The Times
The scientist at the centre of the “climategate” email scandal has revealed that he was so traumatised by the global backlash against him that he contemplated suicide.

Ahmadinejad orders nuclear work – Al Jazeera
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, has instructed Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation to begin enriching uranium for use as nuclear fuel, casting doubt on the prospect of a deal with the West.

RAF 'relying' on drones in Afghanistan – The Guardian
Freedom of information request reveals unmanned weapons more prominent in RAF strategy

Lamb sets out ideas for NHS and IT – EhealthInsider
Liberal Democrat shadow health secretary Norman Lamb has called for NHS Connecting for Health to be scrapped, the Care Records Service to be abandoned, and Choose and Book to be revamped as a simple online booking system.

Bleak Portrait of Haiti Orphanages Raises Fears – The New York Times
But the Foyer of Patience here is like hundreds of places that pass as orphanages for thousands of children in the poorest country in the hemisphere. Many are barely habitable, much less licensed. They have no means to provide real schooling or basic medical care, so children spend their days engaged in mindless activities, and many die from treatable illnesses.

Doctors and lawyers fight over ownership of meteorite from asteroid belt – The Times
Late last month Marc Gallini got out of his chair in his medical examination room when a chunk of meteorite smashed through the roof and hit the spot where he would have been sitting, had a patient not just cancelled his appointment.

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Friday 5th February 2010

Midnight deal rescues power-sharing in the North – The Irish Independent
Taoiseach Brian Cowen and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will today formally announce details of the deal to save the power-sharing government in the North.

MPs’ expenses: former MPs may refuse to pay up – The Telegraph
More than a dozen former MPs have failed to repay over-claimed expenses running into tens of thousands of pounds, raising the prospect that the money will never be recovered.

Out-of-hours GP services 'lamentable' – The Independent
Case of patient given fatal morphine overdose prompts coroner's outburst

‘Artificial pancreas’ cuts children's nocturnal hypos – OnMedica
Closed-loop systems that directly link blood glucose measurements to insulin delivery could reduce the risk of nocturnal hypoglycaemia in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes, research published today in The Lancet Online First concludes.

Do we want brain scanners to read our minds? – The Telegraph
As 'vegetative' patients ‘talk’ to scientists, Professor Colin Blakemore assesses the profound implications this has for the sick - and the healthy

Patients 'More Likely To Die At Weekend' – Sky News
Casualties are more likely to die if they have an accident at the weekend because of a treatment lottery in hospitals, according to a damning report.

Crime figures row stoked by data chief's attack on 'misleading' Tory leaflets – The Guardian
Britain's head of statistics rebukes Conservatives for wrongly claiming violent crime has skyrocketed under Labour

Emotions and Your Health, Part 1 – The Epoch Times
How emotions can cause ‘dis’-ease

More Americans Receiving Food Relief – The Epoch Times
Increase may illustrate effects of economic downturn
A study published by Feeding America (FA) this week shows a 46 percent increase in the number of Americans receiving emergency food relief since 2006.

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Thursday 4th February 2010

Justice 'may be devolved to Northern Ireland in April' – BBC
Policing and justice powers could be transferred to Northern Ireland in April if the DUP and Sinn Fein are able to reach a deal, the BBC understands.

Bank of England halts quantitative easing scheme – The Independent
Further economy-boosting measures were put on hold today after the Bank of England opted not to extend its quantitative easing scheme.

Failure to charge overseas locum 'scandalous', says MP – The Telegraph
Norman Lamb, the Liberal Democrat health spokesman has said it is "scandalous" that German locum Dr Daniel Ubani, who gave a patient a fatal overdose will not face criminal charges in the UK.

Anger as Cherie Blair spares devout man from jail – The Times
Cherie Blair has been reported to the office overseeing judges' behaviour for apparently sentencing a man convicted of assault more leniently because he was religious.

China hits back at Obama's claims that yuan is undervalued – Guardian
US president suggests Beijing artificially depressing its currency to give exporters unfair price advantage

Vegetative State Patient Says "Yes" And "No" Via Brain Scan – Medical News Today
Researchers in the UK and Belgium who scanned the brains of patients in a vegetative or minimally conscious state while they were asked to perform mental tasks found that some of them were able to control brain activity in a way that suggested signs of awareness and cognition, and in one case, the patient was even able to communicate "yes" and "no" via the brain scan.

Funding row erupts over dementia care – Wales Online
Health chiefs have been criticised for failing to fund a support service for people with dementia.

Iran Sends Mixed Messages as Tension Mounts – The Epoch Times
Iran fired a test rocket capable of carrying a nuclear warhead just hours after appearing to accept an international deal over its nuclear program.

Baker's Yeast: A Promising, Natural Therapy for Cancer? – Science Daily
A researcher at Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science is investigating the potential use of non-pathogenic baker's yeast as a promising, natural therapy for cancer.

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Wednesday 3rd February 2010

Top officers in the firing line as MoD forced to face cuts – The Times
Fewer top officers, a closer relationship with France and a major overhaul of billions of pounds in equipment projects were all put forward as options for Britain's armed forces by the Government today.

Excessive internet use linked to depression, research shows – The Guardian
Leeds University study finds people classified as internet addicts are more likely to be depressed than non-addicted users

Short relives the day Blair silenced her for criticising the Iraq war – The Independent
Former PM 'was willing to be deceitful because he thought conflict was right'

EU Says Greek Budget Achievable, Warns Of Risks – The Wall Street Journal
The European Commission Wednesday put Greece under more pressure to slash its deficit, saying the country should have until mid-March to spell out its budget program for the year.

Britain may need national 'energy buyer' to avoid shortages, regulator warns – The Telegraph
Britain may need to reverse its liberalisation of the energy market and create a “central buyer” of national supplies to avoid shortages in the next decade.

Terry Pratchett Shakes Hands with Death – JME Blog

Hedge fund manager banned and fined for inflating trading positions – The Guardian
A senior hedge fund manager has been banned from working in the City and fined £140,000 by the Financial Services Authority for deliberately inflating the value of trading positions which caused his former employer BlueBay to pay $650,000 (£407,000) in compensation to customers.

Persons of the Sea? – Practical Ethics
At an upcoming AAAS conference in San Diego, White will be arguing that dolphins deserve the status of “nonhuman persons”.

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Tuesday 2nd February 2010

England is 'cesspit' breeding Islamists, says Soyinka – The Guardian
England is a "cesspit" and breeding ground for fundamentalist Muslims, the Nobel laureate and political activist Wole Soyinka has said in an interview in which he also accused Britain of allowing the existence of "indoctrination schools".

NHS trusts 'breaking law' on out-of-hours GP services – The Guardian
Some trusts not checking English skills, says review set up after man was killed by German locum's painkiller overdose

Goldsmith 'misled Government over Iraq war' – The Independent
The Attorney General "misled" the Government over the case for going to war with Iraq, Clare Short told the inquiry into the conflict today.

Homeopathy: medicine that's hard to swallow? – The Telegraph
Protesters have staged a mass 'overdose' of homeopathic remedies but, asks Laura Donnelly, what did they prove?

Report: UN evidence counters Israel's account of Gaza war – Haaretz
Israel's account of its conduct during the Gaza war was challenged on Monday after evidence emerged apparently contradicting one of the army's key findings, The Guardian reported.

MP blasts charity's fine over Ashleigh death – ChronicalLive.co.uk
Anger was mounting today over the needless death of mental health worker Ashleigh Ewing.

Pope criticised for attack on UK Equality Bill – BBC
The Pope has faced a backlash after urging Catholic bishops in England and Wales to fight the UK's Equality Bill with "missionary zeal".

On the Lack of Socialised Healthcare – Journal of Medical Ethics Blog
It’s very easy for a European to feel very smug about socialised medicine. Maybe the American system isn’t as bad as all that. Maybe we should be a bit more open about its merits. And maybe we should, in the process, ignore cases like that of JoAnn Knutson.

Greek farmers resume 'total' blockade – The Sofia Echo
Protesting Greek farmers will resume their total border blockade at 11pm on February 2 2010. The border will be shut for all traffic, lorries and private vehicles, Bulgarian media reported.

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Monday 1st February 2010

 

US raises stakes on Iran by sending in ships and missiles –The Guardian
Pentagon says Patriot shield will deter strike on American allies in the Gulf

Faulty science risks obscuring 'larger truth' of climate change – The Telegraph
Faulty science published by the United Nations' climate change body is in danger of obscuring a “much larger truth”, a senior Government official warned yesterday, amid fears of growing public scepticism about the reality of global warming.

Government targets cigarette packaging – The Independent
Tobacco companies may be forced to sell cigarettes in plain packaging as part of a raft of measures designed to halve the number of smokers in England by 2020.

Sir Terry Pratchett calls for euthanasia tribunals – The Guardian
Author wants euthanasia tribunals to give sufferers from incurable diseases the right to medical help to end their lives

‘Callous, unethical and dishonest’: Dr Andrew Wakefield – The Times
It began with a few murmurs. As Surendra Kumar, a Cheshire GP, read out the verdict of the General Medical Council (GMC) panel on the conduct of Dr Andrew Wakefield and two colleagues last Thursday there was muttering in the public seats. “Disgraceful,” grunted one woman. “Rubbish,” spat another.

Tony Blair 'marginalised' Gordon Brown over Iraq, claims Clare Short – The Daily Record
Gordon Brown was "marginalised" by Tony Blair in the build-up to the Iraq war, former international development secretary Clare Short has claimed.

Sector faces £10 million fine for over-recruitment – The Times Higher
Hefce announces penalty for breaching student cap and reveals where First Secretary’s axe will fall. Melanie Newman reports

Chinese premier pledges support for Copenhagen Accord – Xinhuanet
In separate replies to letters from Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Wen said the Copenhagen Accord resulting from the UN climate change conference in the Danish capital last year laid the foundation for advancing international cooperation on climate change and pointed the direction for future negotiations.

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January

Friday 29th January 2010

Participation gap narrows between young rich and poor – The Times Higher
Major Hefce study also shows that the gender divide is closing. Rebecca Attwood reports

Johann Hari: This corruption in Washington is smothering America's future – The Independent
How do you regulate banks effectively, if the Senate is owned by Wall Street?

I shot US abortion doctor to protect children, Scott Roeder tells court – The Guardian
Judge in Kansas rules born-again Christian who killed George Tiller with .22-calibre gun must stand trial for murder

Judges throw out measures to freeze assets of terror suspects – The Times
Ministers will rush anti-terrorist legislation through Parliament after the Supreme Court yesterday quashed measures introduced by Gordon Brown to freeze the assets of al-Qaeda suspects.

Scientists in stolen e-mail scandal hid climate data – The Times
The University of East Anglia breached the Freedom of Information Act by refusing to comply with requests for data concerning claims by its scientists that man-made emissions were causing global warming.

You are right to be angry. The banks should have to pay for state backing – The Guardian
The UK is leading global efforts to rebalance an economic model that privileges the interests of investment banks

Misconduct doctor Jane Barton escapes being struck off – BBC
A doctor who prescribed "potentially hazardous" levels of drugs to elderly patients who later died has escaped being struck off.

It is official - Ethicists will still be here in 20 years time – JME Blog

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Thursday 28th January 2010

Identity – Ruder Finn Ethics Blog
The issue of identity has been pondered by philosophers since antiquity. In the 5th Century BC, the philosopher Socrates gave us a good advice when he wrote “know Thyself.” However few, if any, have been able to reach that understanding.

Research is robust but communication is weak – The Times
For Britain’s climate science community, the past few months have come as a profound shock.

Did Obama Move Health Care Forward? – The New York Times
President Obama’s speech to Congress did nothing to resolve differences between the House and the Senate on health care legislation, which is now stalled by internal disputes among the Democrats and lock-step opposition from the Republicans. But he defended his proposal as a vast improvement over the status quo, and warned Democrats not to “run for the hills.”

Iran executes two over poll unrest – Al Jazeera
Iran has hanged two men over widespread protests that followed the country's disputed presidential election in June last year, an Iranian news agency has said.

Is it time to chuck out sell-by dates? – The Independent
Half of us throw food away when the label says, while the rest just sniff it and see. The result is confusion, waste – and a booming new market in out-of-date produce.

From the Lancet to the GMC: how Dr Andrew Wakefield fell from grace – The Guardian
Sarah Boseley charts the downfall of the consultant whose report led to a drop in MMR uptake and divided medical opinion

French ex-PM cleared of smear plot – Al Jazeera
A French court has cleared Dominique de Villepin, the former prime minister, of plotting a smear campaign against Nicolas Sarkozy, the current president.

Pharmacists given tight IG deadlines – Ehealth Insider
Community pharmacists in England have been given until the end of March to assess their compliance with NHS Connecting for Health’s information governance requirements.

BNP gets last chance to scrap whites-only policy – The Independent
The British National Party was warned today that it had one last chance to scrap its whites-only membership policy or face a possible court injunction.

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Wednesday 27th January 2010

Gordon Brown misses PMQs to remain at precarious Northen Ireland talks – The Times
Gordon Brown will miss Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons today after deciding to remain in Northern Ireland, where he spent the night in negotiations to avert a collapse of its power-sharing institutions.

Wealth gap in Britain is wider than ever – The Telegraph
The gulf between the richest and poorest in society is at its widest since the Second World War, an official report has found.

Fears over rise in violence at schools involving weapons – The Daily Record
Government figures show 404 pupils were excluded for physical assault with a weapon in 2008-09. This was a 10 per cent jump on the previous year.

U.N. Panel’s Himalayan Glacier Meltdown Claims Erroneous – The Epoch Times
A claim that the Himalayan glaciers would melt by 2035 as a result of global warming has been retracted by the U.N. body that made it after it was found to have no scientific basis.

Moderation recommended for diabetes – Nursing Practice
Researchers have suggested that a moderate approach appears to the best solution to controlling blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes, as lowering it too far can be as dangerous as keeping it too high.

Women lose 90 per cent of 'eggs' by 30 – The Telegraph
Scientists have discovered the reason why women find it difficult to conceive later in life - they have used up 90 per cent of their "ovarian reserve" by the age of 30.

Don't stay together for the kids, rowing parents told – The Independent
Children's Society finds that family conflict is the biggest source of misery

U.S. military teams, intelligence deeply involved in aiding Yemen on strikes – The Washington Post
U.S. military teams and intelligence agencies are deeply involved in secret joint operations with Yemeni troops who in the past six weeks have killed scores of people, among them six of 15 top leaders of a regional al-Qaeda affiliate, according to senior administration officials.

Hong Kong Visa Denial Reflects Fragility of Freedom –The Epoch Times
The struggle to define China’s culture recently took center stage in a denial of visa applications to enter Hong Kong, revealing both how fragile Hong Kong’s freedoms have become and how fragile the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) considers its hold on the hearts of the people of China.

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Tuesday 26th January 2010

Brown seeks Northern Ireland breakthrough after all-night talks – The Telegraph
Gordon Brown and Brian Cowen, the Irish Taoiseach, are searching for a breakthrough in the Northern Ireland peace process after being locked in talks with party leaders into the early hours of the morning.

Nigerians trade blame over violence – Al Jazeera
Christians and Muslims in central Nigeria are accusing each other of starting the recent clashes in which hundreds of people were killed in and around the city of Jos in Plateau state.

Bank chief raps 'inflated' bonus culture – The Independent
The head of the UK's biggest bank hit out at the "inflated" bonus culture today and predicted smaller payouts for the industry in future.

Ambidextrous children ‘at more risk of having learning difficulties’ – The Times
Children who are ambidextrous are more likely to have learning and language difficulties than those who are right or left-handed, according to research.

Disabled man gets £2m from Tameside General Hospital – BBC
A severely disabled man who says a hospital made mistakes during his birth has received £2m in compensation.

96,000 Welsh children live in severe poverty – WalesOnline
Wales has the highest rate of children living in severe poverty of any UK nation, according to Save the Children.

Slow Breathing Reduces Pain – ScienceDaily
Research performed by a scientist at Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center has shown that controlled breathing at a slowed rate can significantly reduce feelings of pain.

British economy will take years to recover despite end of recession, says CBI – The Telegraph
Britain's economy will take until 2012 to get back to where it was before the financial crisis, despite the end of Britain's worst recession since the 1930s, the CBI has warned

The Freethinker: Circumcision “should be abhorred” – JME Blog

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Monday 25th January 2010

Whistleblower: Foreign Office officials thought war 'illegal' – The Independent
Chilcot inquiry will be told Lord Goldsmith's top lawyer advised invasion was against the law

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth 'leaks' date of general election – The Times
Bob Ainsworth, the Defence Secretary, today appeared to accidentally leak the date of the next general election, indicating that voters will go to the ballot box on May 6.

Urbanization: Out of Balance and Growing – The Epoch Times
When observing the chaotic, burgeoning growth of the modern city, the more erudite of urban planners will reminisce wistfully on how different it is from its ancient Greek counterpart, the polis, which Italian architectural historian Leonardo Benevolo once described as “dynamic but stable, in balance with nature, and growing manageably even after reaching large dimensions.”

Crunch time for NI talks – Politics.co.uk
Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness are meeting for crucial talks on the future of Northern Ireland's Assembly.

Test 'predicts breast cancer resistance' – BBC
A genetic test could one day spot breast cancer patients most at risk of relapsing after treatment with a commonly used powerful chemotherapy.

The questions faced by Tony Blair at Iraq Inquiry – The Telegraph
Tony Blair makes his long-awaited appearance before the Iraq Inquiry on Friday. These are some of the key questions he is likely to face.

Retirement age 'should be scrapped' – The Guardian
Equality commission says an ageing population and increased willingness among older people to work should see default retirement age scrapped

Experts back HPV test for cervical cancer screening – Pulse
The UK may be poised to switch to HPV testing as the primary screening tool for cervical cancer in women over 35, Pulse has learned.

'Sarah's Law' pilot scheme to be extended – The Independent
A pilot scheme allowing parents to check if someone has a history of child sex offences is expected to be rolled out nationally, it was revealed today.

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Friday 22nd January 2010

China hits back at US over internet censorship – The Guardian
Hillary Clinton's call for Beijing to investigate Google cyber-attack claims could damage bilateral relations, China warns

European Stocks Lower; Banks Weigh – The Wall Street Journal
European stocks posted moderate losses Friday, led lower by banks after U.S. President Barack Obama proposed stricter regulations on the sector.

'Nowt to do'... How boredom turned sadistic brothers into torturers – The Yorkshire Post
Two young brothers who tortured and beat their child victims until their "arms ached" told police they did so simply because they were bored and had nothing to do.

Music Industry Counts the Cost of Piracy – The New York Times
Worldwide sales of recorded music fell by about 10 percent last year, a trade group said Thursday, as revenue growth from digital services was insufficient to compensate for a continuing fall in sales of compact discs.

Rickets risk for indoor children – Nursing Practice
Medical experts at Newcastle University have warned that children are spending too much time indoors, leading to a marked rise in the number of cases of rickets.

Anti-obesity drug Reductil banned across Europe – The Guardian
Sibutramine blamed for increasing patients' chances of suffering a heart attack or stroke

Allen & Overy adapts to encourage women – The Times
Allen & Overy, the fourth-largest of the City’s “magic circle” law firms, said yesterday it would allow its top partners to work part-time in an effort to encourage more women into the role.

Chinese Vice Minister of Health Dodges Questions on Organ Harvesting – The Epoch Times
Chinese Vice Minister of Health, Huang Jiefu, visited Taiwan on Jan. 19 to attend the H1N1 Prevention Symposium in Taipei. While attending the symposium, he was confronted with questions related to the allegations of live organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners in China, but avoided answering them.

Juicy twist in Vivian Imerman's divorce – The Times
A business tycoon’s estranged wife has won the right to use 20,000 documents stolen from his computer in her battle for a slice of his £300 million fortune.

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Thursday 21th January 2010

Chastened Obama admits voter neglect – Voice of America
The chastened US President Barack Obama concedes he has made some mistakes in his first year in office.

Judge's 'act of mercy' on Munir Hussain fuels row on self-defence – The Times
The political debate on the right to defend one’s home and family was inflamed last night after a man jailed for a violent attack on a burglar was freed by the Court of Appeal.

Crime programme funding cut, leaked letter shows – The Telegraph
The Government is cutting the budget of a key crime reduction programme, according to a leaked letter.

Gordon Brown under pressure over counter-terror measures cutbacks – The Times
Gordon Brown was under pressure today to explain why there had been cutbacks in counter-terrorism programmes in Pakistan because of the falling value of the pound.

Obese patients 'encouraged to eat more' to qualify for surgery – Nursing Times
Senior doctors have branded NHS weight-loss surgery criteria “inconsistent and unethical” after it emerged that some patients were being made to suffer further weight gain in order to be eligible for surgery.

Robert Fisk: The tree-lined bunkers that could change the face of the Middle East – The Independent
The border looks peaceful, but Hizbollah and Israel are preparing for war

One in ten child prescriptions wrong – EHealthInsider
More than one in ten prescriptions given to children in hospitals contain errors and almost a fifth of drugs are incorrectly administered, according to a newly published study by the University of London.

Britain follows US with national data website – The Guardian
First Barack Obama dived in. Today sees Gordon Brown's turn to open up government information to the public with the launch of a new website: data.gov.uk

Harriet Harman puts class at heart of election battle – The Guardian
Labour deputy leader to make inequality a key dividing line with Conservatives

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Wednesday 20th January 2010

Massachusetts vote: how the Democrat dynasty took hold – The Telegraph
The foundations of the Kennedy political dynasty and the tradition of Democratic liberalism in Massachusetts were laid in the early 20th Century.

Clashes near Nigerian city of Jos – Al Jazeera
Sporadic violence has countinued around the central Nigerian city of Jos after four days of fighting between groups of Christians and Muslims.

Fewer Americans think Obama has advanced race relations, poll shows – The Washington Post
Soaring expectations about the effect of the first black president on U.S. race relations have collided with a more mundane reality, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

UK FSA Fines Standard Life GBP2.45M For Misleading Investors – The Wall Street Journal
Standard Life PLC (SL.LN) was slapped with a GBP2.45 million fine Wednesday for misrepresenting the riskiness of an investment fund that buyers thought was mainly holding cash.

Report says Welsh NHS falling behind England – Wales Online
“TROUBLING” and striking differences between the performance of the NHS in Wales and England are today highlighted in a report.

‘Baby P effect’ could cost taxpayers extra £226m as social workers intervene to take more children into care – The Telegraph
A “Baby P effect” could cost taxpayers an additional £226million this year as social workers try to avoid a repeat of the tragedy by taking more children into care, it is claimed.

Gene Linked to Schizophrenia May Reduce Cancer Risk – Science Daily
People who inherit a specific form of a gene that puts them on a road to schizophrenia may be protected against some forms of cancer, according to a new study by scientists at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research.

Stop dribbling – your country needs you on the jury – The Times
Last week the trial of four men accused of an armed raid at a Heathrow warehouse began in London. And for the first time in any criminal case in England and Wales for nearly 400 years, no jury was sworn in.

Evidence found of Chinese attack on Google – CNet
An American computer security researcher has found what he says he believes is strong evidence of the digital fingerprints of Chinese authors in the software programs used in attacks against Google.

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Tuesday 19th January 2010

Cadbury to accept takeover bid from Kraft – The Telegraph
Cadbury will be taken over by US food maker Kraft ending more than 150 years of independence for the British chocolate company.

Oxford University kicks out Spotify – ITPortal
The Oxford University has banned its students from using the popular online music streaming service, Spotify, as the Oxford University Computing Services (OCUS) believes that the huge amount of data that went into streaming music from the website was slowing down the network for those who wanted to use the internet for academic research. 
Children’s lives 'being put at risk by prescription errors in hospitals' –   The Telegraph
Children’s lives are being put at risk in hospitals across the country, according to a new study which found mistakes in one in eight drug prescriptions.
Japan Airlines files for bankruptcy protection – BBC
Japan Airlines (JAL), Asia's biggest air carrier, has filed for bankruptcy protection, in one of the country's biggest corporate failures.
Exxon Valdez oil 'still persists' – BBC
Large quantities of oil spilled during the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster still persist beneath gravel beaches in Alaska, a study has found.
Labour's computer blunders cost £26bn – The Independent
A series of botched IT projects has left taxpayers with a bill of more than £26bn for computer systems that have suffered severe delays, run millions of pounds over budget or have been cancelled altogether.
Edlington report finds multiple failings by numerous agencies – The Times An horrific assault in which two children were almost killed by brothers aged 10 and 11 should have been prevented by the agencies that were supposed to be caring for the young attackers, a report has found.

RSPB Cymru's inquiry call over 'wildlife loss' – BBC
A conservation group wants an inquiry into why ministers have "failed to stop the loss of Welsh wildlife".
Artificial muscle help patients with facial paralysis – The Times of India
In a breakthrough study, surgeons from UC Davis Medical Centre have used artificial muscles to restore the ability of patients with facial paralysis to blink.
Apart from lack of exercise, prolonged periods of sitting are harmful – Medical News Today
In an issue of the British Journal of Sports Medicine, specialists argue that prolonged periods of sitting are truly detrimental. In addition, we should focus on the harms caused by daily inactivity rather than on the lack of regular exercise alone.

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Monday 18th January 2010

 

Leading surgeon wants to ban butter – UK Press
Butter should be banned in a bid to save thousands of lives, a leading heart surgeon has claimed.
Shyam Kolvekar, of the University College London Hospital, is leading a campaign to reduce saturated fat in diets after treating patients as young as 33 for heart bypass operations.
Haiti quake: Death toll may be 200,000 US general says – BBC
The leading US general in Haiti has said it is a "reasonable assumption" that up to 200,000 people may have died in last Tuesday's earthquake.
UK meeting aims for new global biodiversity deal – BBC
Ingredients of a new deal on protecting global biodiversity are likely to be decided this week at a London meeting.
More British businesses in critical state, report warns – The Guardian
Insolvency specialist says 140,000 firms are in financial difficulties and warns that those in trouble are collapsing faster than in previous recessions.
Gas bills: more than a third worried about paying – The Telegraph
More than a third of British households – equating to 9 million – are worried about paying their winter gas bills, according to one of the country's leading watchdogs.
'Chemical Ali' to be hanged within days – The Guardian
One of Saddam Hussein's most loathed henchman, Ali Hassan al-Majid, otherwise known as Chemical Ali, will be hanged within days, a senior official said tonight, setting the scene for Iraq's highest profile execution since Saddam himself was put to death more than three years ago.
‘I’m blowing the airport sky-high’ – Twitter joke leads to Terror Act arrest – Metro
After posting a joke on Twitter about blowing up Doncaster’s Robin Hood airport, Paul Chambers was arrested and banned from the airport for life.
Germany warns against using Microsoft Internet Explorer – The Telegraph
The German government has warned against using Microsoft's Internet Explorer to browse the web because of security flaws.
Scottish Government approves over 215 MW of onshore wind energy - GreenWise
The Scottish Government has approved two onshore wind farms and an extension to an existing one – adding up to a combined capacity of more than 215 megawatts (MW) of additional renewable energy.
Newport faces 'tough' recession – BBC
Newport has been named as one of the cities that may be worst affected by the recession.

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Friday 15th January 2010

Have white working-class Britons been left behind by New Labour? – The Telegraph
The list of Government initiatives and publicly-funded projects aimed at ethnic minorities in John Denham’s report certainly suggests that the white working-class has been left behind by New Labour.
Poor 'more likely to have late cancer diagnosis' – BBC
Patients from deprived areas in England are more likely to have a late cancer diagnosis and be admitted to hospital as an emergency, a study suggests.
Clerics threaten to declare holy war if foreign troops land on Yemeni soil – The Times
A group of influential religious leaders in Yemen has threatened to declare jihad — holy war — if foreign troops intervene to stem the spread of al-Qaeda in the country. The edict is a clear warning to the United States as it plans to step up its military involvement in the country.
UK plans 'trust fund' to woo Taliban fighters – The Guardian
Taliban fighters who lay down their arms will be offered money from an international trust fund under a plan being drawn up by British government officials, it emerged today.
Public Health: the risks of the UK's flying doctors – The Chief Officers’ Network
A perfect storm of legal, political and commercial interests came together with the result that two people who called for a home visit from a doctor are dead.
Private hospitals cash for Conservative health spokesman – The Times
The Conservative health team is being funded by the wife of the chairman of one of Britain’s largest private hospital companies.
Thalidomide statement in full – The Independent
"Mr Speaker, between 1958 and 1961 the drug thalidomide was used by expectant mothers to control symptoms of morning sickness. Tragically, this led to many babies being born with often severe physical disabilities…"
MOFCOM: Google's decision not to affect Sino-US economic and trade relations – The People’s Daily
Google's final decision for its operations in China will not affect Sino-US economic and trade relations，a Chinese official with Ministry of Commerce said Friday.
Help arrives in Haiti – Al Jazeera
Rescue teams and emergency supplies are slowly getting on the ground in Haiti as the Caribbean nation begins burying thousands killed in Tuesday's devastating earthquake.

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Thurday 14th January 2010

Should the cost of alcohol rise? – The Telegraph
The Government is drawing up radical plans to cut Britain’s growing binge-drinking problem by increasing the minimum price of a unit of alcohol.

Fallout from Copenhagen: Has the EU Lost Its Global Relevance? – The Epoch Times
The Copenhagen Climate Change Conference marked the end of a decade of numerous global conferences and summits not with a bang but with a fairly pathetic whimper. What they underlined were the profound transformations in the global balance of power that had taken place in a decade. None perhaps was more visible than the decline of the European Union, a major “victim” of Copenhagen.

China set to ignore Google demands for end to censorship – The Times
China made clear today that it will ignore an ultimatum from Google to relax internet censorship and reminded all companies that they must abide by state controls of the country’s cyberspace.

Locum doctor inquest hears of patient's last moments – BBC
An inquest into the deaths of two patients treated by an overseas out-of-hours doctor has heard details of how he gave a fatal overdose to one.

Government has failed on its dementia promises, says spending watchdog – The Guardian
Labour promised to make dementia "a national priority" but primary health care trusts are still not upgrading patient care

Five-year-old stabbed 52 times by mother was 'let down' by health service – The Guardian
Care of family 'lacking' but Chloe's death could not have been prevented, says report

Some Antiviral Drugs Could Make Diseases Worse, New Study Suggests – Science Daily
As the flu season continues in full-swing, most people can appreciate the need for drugs that stop viruses after they take hold in the body. Despite this serious need for new drugs, a team of researchers from the University of Texas at Austin raise serious concerns about an emerging strategy for stopping viral infections.

ICO spells out £500,000 penalty plans – E Health Insider
The Information Commissioner’s Office has issued guidance on how it will use its new powers to impose penalties of up to £500,000 for breaches of the Data Protection Act.

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Wednesday 13th January 2010

Police forces dominate list of gay-friendly employers in survey – The Times
Although IBM, the technology company, won the overall title of gay-friendly employer of the year, Hampshire Constabulary were in second place and the forces in Kent, Merseyside, West Midlands and the Metropolitan Police were placed in the Top 20. A further six forces earned places in the Top 50.

Food costs to soar as big freeze deepens – The Guardian
Britons have been warned to brace themselves for an increase in food prices as plunging temperatures leave farmers unable to harvest vegetables and hauliers struggle to distribute fresh produce.

How would you feel if you were an animal caged for scientific testing? – The Times
With animal experiments on the increase, we enter Britain’s secret labs to put the scientists’ rationale to the test

Blood pressure drug offers fresh hope for dementia – BBC
Researchers believe a drug used to lower blood pressure could be even more effective against Alzheimer's disease than they previously thought.

Bible gave me psalm comfort, says Alastair Campbell – This Is London
Alastair Campbell said today he was inspired by the Bible when he gave evidence to the Iraq inquiry.

Heart Risk of BPA Confirmed – MedPage Today
Researchers have confirmed that the bisphenol A (BPA) -- widely used in plastics including baby bottles and other drink containers -- increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Hamish McRae: Enjoy the cheap money while it lasts – The Independent
There is a troubling possibility that rising interest rates will choke off the recovery

Google to Stop Censorship on Chinese Search Engine – The Epoch Times
Internet search giant Google stunned industry analysts, market watchers, as well as its critics on Jan. 12 by announcing that it would stop censoring its search results on Google.cn, the mainland Chinese version of Google tailored for a Chinese audience and launched in 2006.

People's Racial Biases Can Skew Perceptions of How Much Help Victims Need – ScienceDaily
When assessing the amount of help someone needs, people's perceptions can be skewed by their racial biases, according to a Kansas State University study.

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Tuesday 12th January 2010

Marco Pierre White challenge could change divorce battles for ever – The Times
Marco Pierre White, the former Michelin-starred chef and television presenter, is pursuing his estranged wife’s lawyers in a test case that could change for ever the way that divorce battles are fought. Family lawyers warn that the chef’s lawsuit could end the practice by spouses of turning detective to unearth evidence.

Chavez Warns Businesses after Currency Devaluation – The Epoch Times
Venezuela's Hugo Chavez ordered soldiers to seek out businesses that raise prices after a sharp devaluation of the bolivar currency last week, saying he will expropriate firms that engage in price gouging.

Medical ethics and law for doctors of tomorrow: the 1998 Consensus Statement updated – Journal of Medical Ethics

Alastair Campbell denies Bush changed Blair's views – BBC
Tony Blair did not change his policy on Iraq following a meeting with President Bush in April 2002, his former spokesman Alastair Campbell has said.

Cameron: Don’t believe Google scare – EHealthInsider
David Cameron has said people should not believe “scare stories” about patients’ medical records being handed over to companies such as Google and Microsoft, if the Conservatives are elected.

Chinese hand Rio Tinto case to prosecutors – The Times
Chinese investigators have concluded their investigation into four executives of Rio Tinto, the dual-listed mining group, and turned the case to prosecutors, increasing the likelihood that they will face jail.

Middle class targeted in new war on tax evaders – The Telegraph
Middle-class professionals are facing an unprecedented campaign against tax evasion by government revenue inspectors.

Islam4UK to be banned, says Alan Johnson – The Guardian
Membership of Islamist group Islam4UK and al-Muhajiroun to become criminal offence punishable by up to 10 years' jail

New Jersey Lawmakers Pass Medical Marijuana Bill – The New York Times
The New Jersey Legislature approved a measure on Monday that would make the state the 14th in the nation, but one of the few on the East Coast, to legalize the use of marijuana to help patients with chronic illnesses.

Senior police officer falsely arrested businessman in revenge – The Telegraph
A senior Scotland Yard officer assaulted, bullied and falsely arrested a businessman to settle a personal score, after threatening him “I’ll show you what I can do”, a court has heard.

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Monday 11th January 2010

North Korea calls for peace treaty with US – The Guardian
Pyongyang wants nuclear talks in exchange for treaty as US envoy describes North Korea's human rights record as appalling

Why light intensifies the pain of migraine even among the blind discovered – The Telegraph
Scientists have discovered why light intensifies the pain of migraine even among the blind, potentially offering hope to millions.

Second-Hand Pollution – ScienceDaily
Everything from simple tools to complete factories is available for export from the US and Europe to the developing world. At first site, such "recycling" of equipment sounds laudable, but a European research team argues in a forthcoming issue of the International Journal of Global Environmental Issues that such exports are slowing the adoption of more environmentally friendly and non-polluting technology across the globe.

Tory adviser Julia Manning wants end to minor treatments on NHS – The Times
The Conservatives should end NHS fertility treatment, introduce new prescription charges and fine drunk patients, a report by one of the party’s “A-list” candidates claims.

Black Iraqis claim discrimination – Al Jazeera
Black Iraqis in the southern province of Basra are complaining of discrimination, saying they are not fairly represented in the state.

Sites link up for mental health ratings – EhealthInsider
The patient feedback site Patient Opinion has linked up with NHS Choices to enable patients to comment online on mental health services.

US judge to hear apartheid appeal – Al Jazeera
A US court is set to begin hearing arguments in a lawsuit against several international corporations accused of aiding South Africa's apartheid-era government.

Wrong to Give Bomb Suspect Civilian Rights, Says McCain – The Epoch Times
The Nigerian man who attempted to blow up a commercial jet outside Detroit on Christmas Day should be tried as an enemy combatant in a military court, a leading Republican Senator said on Sunday.

More Evidence That Autism Is a Brain 'Connectivity' Disorder – ScienceDaily
Studying a rare disorder known as tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), researchers at Children's Hospital Boston add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that autism spectrum disorders, which affect 25 to 50 percent of TSC patients, result from a miswiring of connections in the developing brain, leading to improper information flow. The finding may also help explain why many people with TSC have seizures and intellectual disabilities.

The love that still dare not speak its name – Independent
In the week that two Malawians go on trial for violating anti-gay laws, Daniel Howden finds that their experience is all too common in a continent of legalised homophobia.

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Friday 8th January 2010

 

'Google tax' proposed on web firms' online ad revenue in France – The Guardian
Online giants including Google and Yahoo are facing a tax on advertising revenue in France under controversial proposals being examined by Nicolas Sarkozy as a way of saving the creative industry from a "free-for-all" internet culture.
Nanotechnology 'secrets' condemned – UK Press
Food companies have been urged to come clean about secret research into potentially harmful nanotechnology.
Anti-whaling ship sinks after collision – Xinhua
The New Zealand-registered whaling protest ship Ady Gil, which collided on Wednesday with a Japanese whaling ship in Australia's Antarctic waters, has sunk while being towed, New Zealand media reported on Friday.
UK freezes in South Pole weather – UK Press
Temperatures in big-freeze Britain are on a par with the South Pole after the country suffered its coldest night of the winter so far.
Raise alcohol price to save lives, MPs argue – The Telegraph
Minimum pricing on alcohol should be introduced as successive governments have failed to tackle Britain drinking culture and politicians are more influenced by industry than health experts, a powerful group of MPs said in a damning report.
Transport problems continue as grit runs out – The Telegraph
The cold weather is causing continuing problems for travel, with widespread concerns that many areas are running short of grit.
Two offshore wind farm plans due – BBC
Plans for two massive new wind farms off the north and south coasts of Wales will be unveiled later.
Virgin Money deal paves way for developing UK bank – BBC
Virgin Money has said it now has a means of developing a UK retail banking business after buying regional bank Church House Trust.
Intelligence employees receive orders for reform – CNN
U.S. intelligence employees have received a letter from their boss mandating procedural changes intended to prevent future terrorist plots from succeeding.

Gas supply rationed as temperature drops to -21C – The Times
The gas was turned off for nearly 100 businesses yesterday to protect domestic power supplies after unprecedented demand brought on by the cold weather.
Attacks after Malaysian court rules Christians can worship Allah – The Times
Churches in Malaysia were bracing themselves for further attacks by Muslim protesters today, hours after two arson attacks, apparently provoked by a controversy over the use by Christians of the word Allah.

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Thursday 7th January 2010

 

Dour schools 'are stifling pupils' – The Independent
Many state secondary schools are offering pupils a "dour" education which stifles their enjoyment of learning, a former head of the Government's education service said yesterday.

Government launches consultation on next-generation broadband – The Guardian
The government is seeking public advice on how to spend £1bn to ensure that almost all of Britain gets superfast broadband this decade – should it hook up rural communities first, or the suburbs?
London launches open data website for developers – Computer Weekly
London Mayor Boris Johnson is launching London's open data project. He will appear alongside Barack Obama's CTO Aneesh Chopra and NASA's CIO Linda Cureton via a live link to the Consumer Electronics Show.
Tories claim broadband tax will cost business £70m – The Times
The government’s plan to boost rural broadband access by launching a £1billion fund will cost UK businesses £70 million a year and push a number of small companies into the red according to the Conservatives.
National pension scheme gets new name – Which?
The government has unveiled a new name for its proposed national pension saving scheme due to launch in 2012, changing the brand from a working name of 'Personal Accounts' to the 'National Employment Savings Trust' (Nest).
Coral reefs crucial to origin of new marine species, finds study – The Guardian
New research provides a new incentive to protect reefs, overturning ideas that coral sealife originated elsewhere.
Trafigura returns to court in attempt to suppress lawsuit documents – The Guardian
Oil trader wants to prevent public and media from reading allegations made in £6m lawsuit brought by consultant.

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Wednesday 6th January 2010

 

Methane release 'looks stronger' – BBC
Scientists have uncovered what appears to be a further dramatic increase in the leakage of methane gas that is seeping from the Arctic seabed.
Scientists' claim to have found the cause of ME is 'premature' – The Independent
British scientists have failed to find a link between a new kind of retrovirus and chronic fatigue syndrome in a study that contradicts previous findings by American researchers claiming to have found a possible viral cause of the debilitating condition.

Power line upgrade given go-ahead – BBC
Controversial plans for a line of giant pylons from the Highlands to central Scotland have been approved by the Scottish government.
Five heroin users die from anthrax, six more infected – The Times
A major police investigation is under way after the number of heroin users across Scotland infected with anthrax rose to 11, including five who are now dead.

Iceland’s president fights to contain fallout – Financial Times

Iceland’s president scrambled on Wednesday to contain the fallout from his decision to block legislation to repay Britain and the Netherlands more than €3.8bn ($5.5bn, £3.4bn) lost in a failed bank as the government proposed a date next month for the referendum on the controversial deal.

Cancer survivors feel let down by health and social services – OnMedica
Long term cancer survivors are suffering other serious health conditions in silence because services do not meet their expectations, a survey by a leading cancer charity has found.
Carey in plea over immigration – UK Press
New immigrants coming to Britain should have an understanding of the country's Christian heritage, a former Archbishop of Canterbury has said.
FSA charges former iSOFT directors over misleading statements – The Times

The FSA has started the New Year with a bang charging the founder and three other former directors of iSOFT, the healthcare software group, for misleading the market.

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