Editorial
Stand by our firefighters
Fire Minister Brandon Lewis probably had a fair idea what Sir Ken Knight would deliver when he asked him to conduct an "independent" report into fire and rescue services in England.
Features
A timely reminder of the long fight ahead
As LGBT activists worldwide celebrate anti-homophobia day we are reminded of prevailing prejudice
Fighting child abuse in the community
Bradford has seen the launch of a new campaign to battle the sources of child sex exploitation - and combat far-right bids to make it a racial issue
World
US feminist activist joins rally against Guantanamo
Wednesday 06 July 2005
FEMINIST author Gloria Steinem joined over 200 protesters in New York on Monday to demand the closure of the US detention camp at Guantanamo Bay, saying that holding prisoners indefinitely without charging them violates the values upon which the United States was founded.
Vietnam plans WYF team
Wednesday 06 July 2005
VIETNAM reported yesterday that it will send 135 delegates, comprised of students and youth representing the armed forces, ethnic minorities, religions and young business people, to the 16th World Youth Festival, to be held in Venezuela from August 7-15.
Peru farmers strike against Andean free trade deal
Wednesday 06 July 2005
FARMERS blocked roads with rocks and tree trunks in several parts of Peru on Monday as part of a 24-hour strike to protest against the proposed Andean free trade pact with the United States.
Guerillas kidnap top Egypt envoy
Tuesday 05 July 2005
A CAR bomb in Baghdad killed two civilians and wounded four more yesterday, a day after Egypt's top envoy to Iraq was reported kidnapped in an apparent bid to dissuade the country's Arab neighbours from strengthening ties with the US-backed government.
Gadaffi warns on G8 aid conditions
Tuesday 05 July 2005
LIBYAN leader Muammar Gadaffi urged African leaders yesterday not to go begging to a summit of rich nations this week, telling them to embrace self-reliance and reject conditional aid from the West.
Activists launch Cuba solidarity drive
Tuesday 05 July 2005
THE 16th Cuba Friendship Caravan, organised by the Pastors for Peace, is already on its way through Canadian and US cities collecting donations and protesting against Washington's 40-year economic blockade against the socialist island.
Latin American socialists offer mediation to end 41-year-old Colombian civil war
Tuesday 05 July 2005
SOCIALIST parties from over three dozen countries meeting in Brazil on Sunday offered to mediate between Colombia's government and left-wing rebels in a bid to halt a decades long war in which thousands have died.
Venezuela wins fight against illiteracy
Tuesday 05 July 2005
VENEZUELAN President Hugo Chavez declared Venezuela virtually free of illiteracy on Sunday thanks to a two-year programme to teach the country's poorest adults to read and write.
New Iraq regime fails on electricity
Tuesday 05 July 2005
IRAQI power plants generated only 4,035 megawatts of electricity last month, according to figures compiled by US-based research group Brookings Institute.
Caricom meeting lays into donor countries
Tuesday 05 July 2005
THE 26th Summit of the Caribbean Community, or Caricom, opened in Castries St Lucia on Sunday, with regional heads of state expressing concern over the growing violence and deteriorating security situation in Haiti and anger at the international community for the slow allocation of financial aid to the country.