REUTERS - Irish police arrested seven people on Tuesday in connection with an alleged plot to murder a Swedish cartoonist over a drawing depicting the Prophet Muhammad with the body of a dog. The police said they had detained four men and three women in the southern counties of Waterford and Cork as part of an investigation into a "conspiracy to murder an individual in another jurisdiction". They declined to give details of the suspects except to say their ages ranged from mid 20s to late 40s. National broadcaster RTE said the detainees were originally from Morocco and Yemen.
The credibility of France's controversial anti-piracy law (known in France as "Hadopi") has taken a dive after a study revealed that its main effects were to educate illegal downloaders in new ways of viewing copyrighted material for free. Marsouin, a Brittany-based network of specialist research centres which interviewed 2,000 Internet users, yesterday published a damning report claiming that Hadopi is divorced from reality, overly repressive and has the opposite effects of those it sets out to achieve.
The credibility of France's controversial anti-piracy law (known in France as "Hadopi") has taken a dive after a study revealed that its main effects were to educate illegal downloaders in new ways of viewing copyrighted material for free.
Marsouin, a Brittany-based network of specialist research centres which interviewed 2,000 Internet users, yesterday published a damning report claiming that Hadopi is divorced from reality, overly repressive and has the opposite effects of those it sets out to achieve.
LONDON (Reuters) - Two women who were repeatedly raped and violently abused by their father, bearing him seven children over 25 years, were given a formal apology by child protection agencies on Wednesday for systemic failure. The admission was made during the publication of an executive summary into a review of the case, which acknowledged the family concerned had had contact with 28 different public agencies and 100 members of staff over 35 years. No one has been sacked or disciplined for the catalogue of errors, the multiple agencies involved said at a joint press conference in Derby where they lined up to apologise.
LONDON (Reuters) - Two women who were repeatedly raped and violently abused by their father, bearing him seven children over 25 years, were given a formal apology by child protection agencies on Wednesday for systemic failure.
The admission was made during the publication of an executive summary into a review of the case, which acknowledged the family concerned had had contact with 28 different public agencies and 100 members of staff over 35 years.
No one has been sacked or disciplined for the catalogue of errors, the multiple agencies involved said at a joint press conference in Derby where they lined up to apologise.
So, the family wasn't tracked as they moved around because nobody had the time. Equally, there was little they could have done if they had.
It's easy for politicians to preach and act pious about "broken Britain", but where are the policies ? where is the investment ? If social workers break up a family in difficult circumstances will a politician back up the social workers in the face of right wing tabloid onslaught ?
No, no and no. So these terrible events will continue without pause. keep to the Fen Causeway
Like apologizing for failing to DO THEIR DAMN JOBS is going to accomplish something.
25-35 years ago, we were really quite shockingly bad at looking after vulnerable children. Perhaps what this case highlights is that, as far as vulnerable adults are concerned, we haven't got any better. I suspect a raped adult who won't press a complaint isn't, strictly, anybody's problem...
The executive summary into the case described how the family had been in contact with 28 different agencies between 1973 and 2008, and that they had been seen by more than 100 professionals including social workers, police and housing officials.Sixteen case conferences were held and ambulance workers, a headteacher and hospital staff had all expressed concern about non-accidental injuries and the children's poor hygiene. Yet nothing was done.Seven allegations of sexual abuse were made by family members - but they were not followed up.Instead of swift intervention, a culture of having "a quiet word" was found to exist among professionals.
The executive summary into the case described how the family had been in contact with 28 different agencies between 1973 and 2008, and that they had been seen by more than 100 professionals including social workers, police and housing officials.
Sixteen case conferences were held and ambulance workers, a headteacher and hospital staff had all expressed concern about non-accidental injuries and the children's poor hygiene. Yet nothing was done.
Seven allegations of sexual abuse were made by family members - but they were not followed up.
Instead of swift intervention, a culture of having "a quiet word" was found to exist among professionals.
Interestingly, I was with a child protection delegation last week. In one talk, a reasonably high ministerial official said straight out that it takes high-profile cases like this to make governments devote money to the problem. The fact is that what we're experiencing right now is a top-down disaster. -Paul Krugman
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A serious bout with a stomach bug can raise a child's risk of having irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) later on, new research shows. People with IBS often have stomach pain, bloating, gas and altered bowel habits such as diarrhea and constipation. While the root cause of the condition isn't known, adults who have had stomach infections are known to be at greater risk. The relationship between these infections and IBS in children is not as clear.
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A serious bout with a stomach bug can raise a child's risk of having irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) later on, new research shows.
People with IBS often have stomach pain, bloating, gas and altered bowel habits such as diarrhea and constipation. While the root cause of the condition isn't known, adults who have had stomach infections are known to be at greater risk. The relationship between these infections and IBS in children is not as clear.
The head of Germany's Catholic bishops, Robert Zollitsch, is set for an audience with Pope Benedict XVI to discuss recent reports of sexual abuse at church schools. Zollitsch, chairman of the German Bishops Conference, is due to meet Pope Benedict XVI on Friday, to brief him on some 170 abuse cases at Catholic schools.
The head of Germany's Catholic bishops, Robert Zollitsch, is set for an audience with Pope Benedict XVI to discuss recent reports of sexual abuse at church schools.
Zollitsch, chairman of the German Bishops Conference, is due to meet Pope Benedict XVI on Friday, to brief him on some 170 abuse cases at Catholic schools.
After coming under pressure from police, small producers of cannabis have been threatened with extinction. As a result, coffee shops are selling lower quality merchandise sourced from major criminals. You hardly hear or see them any more, but the small-time growers who lovingly nurture a few plants in their homes are still common in the Netherlands. They produce cannabis for their own consumption, for the medical needs of close friends and family, or to sell to coffee shops. And they are constantly harassed by the courts and police, which have been meting out increasingly harsh treatment since 2004. "They are the ones who always get in trouble," explains Nicole Maalsté, a sociologist at Tilburg University. "It is easy for the police to organize a raid in a working class neighbourhood but the major criminals are usually not effected. Longer investigations are required to successfully prosecute the big players." According to Maalsté, the aggressive police raids have created new opportunities for organized crime. "Driving small growers out of the market has created a vacuum that is being filled by hardcore criminals, and coffee shops are forced to deal with intimidating individuals they would much rather avoid."
After coming under pressure from police, small producers of cannabis have been threatened with extinction. As a result, coffee shops are selling lower quality merchandise sourced from major criminals.
You hardly hear or see them any more, but the small-time growers who lovingly nurture a few plants in their homes are still common in the Netherlands. They produce cannabis for their own consumption, for the medical needs of close friends and family, or to sell to coffee shops. And they are constantly harassed by the courts and police, which have been meting out increasingly harsh treatment since 2004. "They are the ones who always get in trouble," explains Nicole Maalsté, a sociologist at Tilburg University.
"It is easy for the police to organize a raid in a working class neighbourhood but the major criminals are usually not effected. Longer investigations are required to successfully prosecute the big players." According to Maalsté, the aggressive police raids have created new opportunities for organized crime. "Driving small growers out of the market has created a vacuum that is being filled by hardcore criminals, and coffee shops are forced to deal with intimidating individuals they would much rather avoid."
BARCELONA, Spain -- Here in the principal city of Catalonia, the native language, Catalan, is heard just about everywhere except in the movies. But that may be about to change because the local government is expected to pass a bill requiring that at least half the copies of every film from outside Europe, including all major American productions, be dubbed in Catalan.That prompted 576 of the 790 movie houses in Catalonia, a region slightly bigger than Maryland, to close for a day last month in protest. Industry leaders recalled that Catalonia's government, which enjoys a broad measure of autonomy from Madrid, made a similar proposal in 1998 but backed down in the face of opposition from theater owners, film distributors and foreign production companies. "They say it's necessary for the government to make a rule, because the private sector doesn't do it," said Camilo Tarrazón Rodón, president of the Association of Film Businesses in Catalonia, which opposes the bill.
That prompted 576 of the 790 movie houses in Catalonia, a region slightly bigger than Maryland, to close for a day last month in protest.
Industry leaders recalled that Catalonia's government, which enjoys a broad measure of autonomy from Madrid, made a similar proposal in 1998 but backed down in the face of opposition from theater owners, film distributors and foreign production companies. "They say it's necessary for the government to make a rule, because the private sector doesn't do it," said Camilo Tarrazón Rodón, president of the Association of Film Businesses in Catalonia, which opposes the bill.
....paper would benefit greatly from operating in the same stable as the London Evening Standard. This free title could be used to help entice advertisers, he says, while operating out of the same offices in Kensington, London, would mean sharing resources and reducing costs. Limited access But the most intriguing option would be to give both titles away for free. Professor Luckhurst says this is the way Mr Lebedev would like to go: "To offer Britain's first quality free national newspaper." Mr Lebedev has already made the Standard freely available, boosting circulation from 250,000 to 600,000 in the process, Professor Luckhurst says.
But the most intriguing option would be to give both titles away for free.
Professor Luckhurst says this is the way Mr Lebedev would like to go: "To offer Britain's first quality free national newspaper." Mr Lebedev has already made the Standard freely available, boosting circulation from 250,000 to 600,000 in the process, Professor Luckhurst says.
That said, people who buy the qualities generally get their "happening" news from the web,; I generally skim the front "news" sections cos I've mostly seen those stories that might interest me. Instead I buy the papers to get context and background from the longer more-researched stories buried towards the middle. So I'd still pick it up.
Except of course, where in my area would the pick up points be ? I don't go near the railway stations and my local newsagent would never have a free paper on the premises. So I probably wouldn't get a chance to see it. And I hate reading newspapers online cos page waiting is infuriating on a slow connection to find you don't want to read a story anyway. so he'd probably lose me as a reader. keep to the Fen Causeway
[Important updates below - Facebook says the Daily Mail knew its story was untrue, but printed it anyway. Legal action is promised. The BBC has now picked up on Global Dashboard's story. Journalism.co.uk has a piece as well.] In the early hours of this morning, the Daily Mail published an astonishing attack on Facebook under the title "I posed as a 14-year-old girl on Facebook. What followed will sicken you." Here's the opener:
[Important updates below - Facebook says the Daily Mail knew its story was untrue, but printed it anyway. Legal action is promised. The BBC has now picked up on Global Dashboard's story. Journalism.co.uk has a piece as well.]
In the early hours of this morning, the Daily Mail published an astonishing attack on Facebook under the title "I posed as a 14-year-old girl on Facebook. What followed will sicken you."
Here's the opener:
Facebook has threatened to sue the Daily Mail for damages after the paper wrongly claimed in a piece published on Wednesday that 14-year-old girls who create a profile on the social networking site could be approached "within seconds" by older men who "wanted to perform a sex act" in front of them.The paper apologised in print today and online yesterday for the error, which the author of the piece, Mark Williams-Thomas, insisted had been introduced by editors at the paper despite being told it was wrong. In fact, Williams-Thomas - a retired policeman who now works as a criminologist - had been using another, unspecified social network.
Facebook has threatened to sue the Daily Mail for damages after the paper wrongly claimed in a piece published on Wednesday that 14-year-old girls who create a profile on the social networking site could be approached "within seconds" by older men who "wanted to perform a sex act" in front of them.
The paper apologised in print today and online yesterday for the error, which the author of the piece, Mark Williams-Thomas, insisted had been introduced by editors at the paper despite being told it was wrong. In fact, Williams-Thomas - a retired policeman who now works as a criminologist - had been using another, unspecified social network.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has referred two solicitors from London firm Davenport Lyons to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal over claims that the firm sent `bullying' letters accusing hundreds of people of illegal file-sharing. Consumer group Which? complained to the SRA in 2008 that Davenport Lyons partner David Gore and former partner Brian Miller had engaged in `bullying' and `excessive' conduct, while acting on behalf of client copyright holders. It said the firm had sent out hundreds of letters, demanding compensation and costs for copyright infringements, and threatening court action. Deborah Prince, head of legal affairs at Which?, said: `We're pleased to see some action at last from the SRA and hope the tide is finally turning in favour of consumers. We want to see some decisive action to stop these bully-boy tactics.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has referred two solicitors from London firm Davenport Lyons to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal over claims that the firm sent `bullying' letters accusing hundreds of people of illegal file-sharing.
Consumer group Which? complained to the SRA in 2008 that Davenport Lyons partner David Gore and former partner Brian Miller had engaged in `bullying' and `excessive' conduct, while acting on behalf of client copyright holders.
It said the firm had sent out hundreds of letters, demanding compensation and costs for copyright infringements, and threatening court action.
Deborah Prince, head of legal affairs at Which?, said: `We're pleased to see some action at last from the SRA and hope the tide is finally turning in favour of consumers. We want to see some decisive action to stop these bully-boy tactics.
There are pasted-on half pages, numerous cross-outs and insertions in meticulous penmanship and an open acknowledgment that some of the mathematics was beyond even him. Albert Einstein personally rewrote the laws of physics in a sparsely furnished central Berlin apartment nearly a century ago and the resulting manuscript, profoundly human and surprisingly moving to examine, has been put on display here for the first time. <...> "Dear Mother!" it begins, "Today some happy news. Lorentz telegraphed me that the British expeditions have verified the deflection of light by the sun." So sorry, he adds, to hear that you are not feeling well. Einstein's relationship to Israel was complex. A self-described universalist, he became a Zionist when he witnessed anti-Semitism in Europe. Chaim Weizmann, Israel's first president, was a key influence on him. Walter Isaacson, who wrote a 2007 biography of Einstein, said by telephone that Einstein wanted Jews to move here but did not back a separate Jewish nation-state until after it was declared in 1948. ...
<...>
"Dear Mother!" it begins, "Today some happy news. Lorentz telegraphed me that the British expeditions have verified the deflection of light by the sun." So sorry, he adds, to hear that you are not feeling well.
Einstein's relationship to Israel was complex. A self-described universalist, he became a Zionist when he witnessed anti-Semitism in Europe. Chaim Weizmann, Israel's first president, was a key influence on him. Walter Isaacson, who wrote a 2007 biography of Einstein, said by telephone that Einstein wanted Jews to move here but did not back a separate Jewish nation-state until after it was declared in 1948. ...
The current visit of Menachem Begin, leader of this party, to the United States is obviously calculated to give the impression of American support for his party in the coming Israeli elections, and to cement political ties with conservative Zionist elements in the United States. Several Americans of national repute have lent their names to welcome his visit. It is inconceivable that those who oppose fascism throughout the world, if correctly informed as to Mr. Begin's political record and perspectives, could add their names and support to the movement he represents
Einstein on Israel and Zionism focuses on correcting a widely accepted story - that Einstein was a major supporter, a "champion" of the state of Israel - a story told and retold primarily by the mainstream media. While Einstein was a secular Jew, had mixed feelings about Zionism, and supported the goal of a Jewish "homeland" within Palestine, he never wavered from arguing forcefully for equal rights and equal power for the Arabs -- whom he called "kinfolk" of the Jews. His nationalism had no room for any kind of aggressiveness or chauvinism. For him, the domination of Jew over Arab in Palestine, or the perpetuation of a state of mutual hostility between the two peoples would mean the failure of Zionism.
Einstein on Israel and Zionism focuses on correcting a widely accepted story - that Einstein was a major supporter, a "champion" of the state of Israel - a story told and retold primarily by the mainstream media.
While Einstein was a secular Jew, had mixed feelings about Zionism, and supported the goal of a Jewish "homeland" within Palestine, he never wavered from arguing forcefully for equal rights and equal power for the Arabs -- whom he called "kinfolk" of the Jews. His nationalism had no room for any kind of aggressiveness or chauvinism. For him, the domination of Jew over Arab in Palestine, or the perpetuation of a state of mutual hostility between the two peoples would mean the failure of Zionism.
Last year, I had mumps. I blame the libel laws.The recent case of Simon Singh being sued by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) is one example of the out-of-control libel laws in this country, and how they can stop people telling good information from bad. This week is Libel Reform Week and there is no shortage of cases bringing the health risks of such lawsuits to light.Public discussion - journalism included - involves freely debating topics in the public interest. It is similar to what scientists do in peer-reviewed journals. But because most people don't read those, we depend on trusted sources like Singh to bring the facts and arguments to us.
Last year, I had mumps. I blame the libel laws.
The recent case of Simon Singh being sued by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) is one example of the out-of-control libel laws in this country, and how they can stop people telling good information from bad. This week is Libel Reform Week and there is no shortage of cases bringing the health risks of such lawsuits to light.
Public discussion - journalism included - involves freely debating topics in the public interest. It is similar to what scientists do in peer-reviewed journals. But because most people don't read those, we depend on trusted sources like Singh to bring the facts and arguments to us.
Pink Floyd have won a High Court battle to stop their record label EMI selling individual songs online.The rock legends, signed to EMI since 1967, said their contract meant their albums could not be split up without their permission. A judge agreed, saying the contract contained a clause to "preserve the artistic integrity of the albums". EMI has been ordered to pay £40,000 ($60,000) in costs, with a further fine to be decided. The group, whose latest contract was signed before download stores like iTunes appeared, also disputed the way royalties for digital sales were calculated.
Pink Floyd have won a High Court battle to stop their record label EMI selling individual songs online.
The rock legends, signed to EMI since 1967, said their contract meant their albums could not be split up without their permission.
A judge agreed, saying the contract contained a clause to "preserve the artistic integrity of the albums".
EMI has been ordered to pay £40,000 ($60,000) in costs, with a further fine to be decided.
The group, whose latest contract was signed before download stores like iTunes appeared, also disputed the way royalties for digital sales were calculated.
Almost 200 shows broadcast on Welsh TV channel S4C last month attracted zero viewers, according to a report.The Western Mail claimed leaked figures showed 196 out of 890 programmes in a three week period had less than 1,000 viewers - an official zero. S4C chairman, John Walter Jones, said it was important to consider the wider contribution of the channel to Wales. The Welsh-language broadcaster is funded by a grant of more than £100m a year from the UK government. Most of the programmes with a zero viewer rating were children's shows, the newspaper added
Almost 200 shows broadcast on Welsh TV channel S4C last month attracted zero viewers, according to a report.
The Western Mail claimed leaked figures showed 196 out of 890 programmes in a three week period had less than 1,000 viewers - an official zero.
S4C chairman, John Walter Jones, said it was important to consider the wider contribution of the channel to Wales.
The Welsh-language broadcaster is funded by a grant of more than £100m a year from the UK government.
Most of the programmes with a zero viewer rating were children's shows, the newspaper added
