Confectionery companies downsizing to beat VAT rise

Poundland has negotiated a lighter Toblerone,
with one less triangle

Confectionery companies like Nestlé and Cadbury are shrinking the size of some of their biggest brands, and simultaneously nudging up prices, in a bid to preserve their profit margins as a result of rising costs and before the rise in VAT (value added tax). Chief executive Jim McCarthy has negotiated to introduce a new, lighter Toblerone in 2011, which will be about one triangle shorter than the standard bar, so that the price can be held at one pound. Mintel Analyst David Jago says it is one of the tactics being used by confectionary groups to maintain their profit margins at a time when VAT is set to rise and the cost of ingredients such as palm oil, cocoa and sugar are soaring. Chocolate prices have risen since 2007. The Grocer magazine recently reported that Cadbury and Nestlé have pushed up the recommended retail price of top selling bars like Dairy Milk, Wispa, Kit Kat and Yorkie up to 7%, more than double the rate of inflation. From February onwards, a block of Dairy Milk will be 120g instead of 140g. This bar now costs 30% more than it did three years go.

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First of all, I am glad that we do not have this problem in the Netherlands yet, because I love chocolate. I think people in Britain will buy less chocolate now, so I am wondering if the companies are really going to make more profit. I am afraid the bars will not get bigger again if the companies will be making more profit. But maybe because of this, these companies can also help to fight the growing obesity problem in the UK.

Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/dec/17/confectionery-companies-downsizing-vat

Doctors warn of flu crisis

GP (General practitioner) leaders said that because fewer people in “at-risk groups” are receiving the seasonal flu jab, Britain is facing a major flu crisis this winter. The British Medical Association (BMA) said that the increased efforts by the government and the National Health Service (NHS) are needed to persuade people to get immunized and dispel the “myths” surrounding the jab. The BMA is concerned that people whose health is vulnerable, like elderly people, pregnant women and patients with asthma, diabetes, chronic heart conditions and cancer, could get seasonal flu. The GPs are reporting that fewer of their ‘at-risk’ patients (just 40%) are coming forward to be immunized this year. The BMA asked the government to step up the public awareness campaign for seasonal flu immunization. The publicity campaign needs to encourage patients classed as “at risk” to have the jab, and highlight the risks involved in not doing so. Members of the various at-risk groups could become seriously ill if they do not protect themselves. Fourteen out of 17 people did not have the seasonal flu jab. The flu already claimed 17 lives since October, although many died from the swine flu strain.

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GPs are reporting high rates of seasonal flu,
according to the British Medical Association

I am surprised that just 40% of the people at the “at-risk groups” have received the seasonal flu jab. The flu can be dangerous, especially for those people. I think it is good to step up the campaign, to make people especially at the “at-risk groups” more aware of the risk they take if they do not get the flu jab. I hope the campaign will encourage them to take the jab.

Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/dec/17/doctors-warn-flu-crisis

Ex-private schoolgirl found guilty of manslaughter in homophobic attack

Ian Baynham

The 18 year old Ruby Thomas, a former private schoolgirl who hurled homophobic abuse at the 62-year-old gay civil servant Ian Baynham and stamped on him and kicked him during a deadly attack, was found guilty of manslaughter. Ian Baynham died from a brain injury 18 days after the drink-fuelled assault last September. His blood was found on Thomas’s handbag and shoes. She had smiled when she had put her boot into Baynham after he was knocked to the ground by teenager Joel Alexander, who also was convicted of manslaughter. When the verdicts were returned, Thomas put her head in her hands. She had a record for violence. She was 15 when she assaulted a bus driver in Northumberland Avenue in December 2007.  Both defendants will be sentenced in the new year.

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I hope that these teenagers will get the right punishment for their deeds. Even though they are just teenagers, according to me, they are old enough to realize what they are doing and take responsibility for that also. Just like every other person, gay people  should also be treated with respect. I hope that by this article, more people will realize what kind of consequences these kinds of deeds can have.

Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/dec/16/ex-public-schoolgirl-guilty-manslaughter-homophobic

UK to enjoy brief thaw before freeze returns

A man waiting for a bus in Edinburgh, which has

seen its heaviest snowfall in nearly 50 years.

Forecasters said that Britain will enjoy a brief respite after more than a week of snow, ice and transport chaos. It is the worst December weather in almost 30 years in Britain. The temperatures will fall again at the beginning of next week and will stay low for the rest of the year. The army was called in to help clear up in Edinburgh city centre after major snowfalls. Soldiers from the First Battalion of Scotland were on the streets of the Scottish capital after being given formal clearance by the Ministry of Defence. The soldiers have been joined by personnel from the Royal Navy and the RAF. The temperature was -13C across northern England overnight, and the conditions on the roads were and still are extremely poor with delays throughout the country. The advice is still not to travel unless necessary. By the start of next week, north-easterly winds are expected to return the cold weather once more, with an increasing risk of snow showers, especially in the northern and eastern parts of the UK. It would stay cold for much of the rest of the month, with widespread risk of ice, frost and snow showers. 



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I was surprised to see so much snow in Britain and I am even a little jealous. I understand it must cause a lot of trouble on the roads, which is not nice for the people over there. I saw on the news that there were many accidents, but after reading this news article I think there will be many more accidents the coming weeks. 

Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/dec/09/uk-brief-thaw-temperatures

Shrien Dewani held on suspicion of conspiring to murder wife

Shrien and Anni Dewani

Shrien Dewani, the widower of Anni Hindocha (28), who got killed on their honeymoon in South Africa on the 13^th of November, was accused of ordering her death by taxi driver Zola Tongo as he was sentenced for his part in the killing in the South African court. Dewani voluntarily went to a Bristol police station where he was arrested by the Metropolitan police on behalf of South African  authorities. Dewani said that the allegation that he was involved in his wife’s murder is “absurd and obscene”, and that he is “totally innocent of the horrendous crime”. He is expected to appear at the court in Westminster. Tonga pleaded guilty in South Africa and claimed that Dewani was the instigator of the murder and paid him 1,000 rand (about £92) for staging a carjacking that would end in the murder of his wife in a township. He also said that Dewani was willing to pay 15,000 rand (£1,380) in total. Tongo was found guilty for kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, murder and obstructing justice. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison. Two other suspects, Mziwamadodo Qwabe and Xolile Mngeni have denied involvement and are due to stand trial on the 25^th of February.

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Some weeks ago I heard about the death of Anni Dewani during her honeymoon. I think it is terrible what happened. I do not believe that her husband paid other people to kill his wife. I just cannot imagine that a man would kill his wife on their honeymoon. I think the taxi driver made the whole story up to lower his punishment. 

Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/dec/08/shrien-dewani-suspicion-conspiracy-murder-wife

Figures show poorest boys in England still let down by school system

Government figures show that just 52.6% of 11-year old boys on free school meals (which is a key indicator of poverty) obtained level four in English and maths, which is the expected standard of children in their last year of primary school. At this level, children are able to write proper English sentences with commas and tackle basic mental arithmetic in maths. 55.8% of pupils (boys and girls) on free school meals obtained level four, compared to 77.1% from wealthier homes. This is the same as last year. With 50.1% reaching level four in both subjects, white boys from poor homes are the furthest behind, followed by poor black boys (56.4%), poor boys from mixed backgrounds (57.6%), poor Asian boys (62.9%) and poor Chinese boys (66.1%). School minister Nick Gibbs said that the figures were unacceptable and that the poorest boys were being let down by the education system. In 2018, the number of pupils in primary schools in England is expected to reach 4.5 million, an increase from 3.96 million right now.

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I think it is a bad thing that just 52.6% of these boys reach level four. I am wondering if this is a mistake from the government because they do not spend enough money on education, or if there is no good control at the education system. Probably these boys do not study enough, which according to me, is the responsibility of their parents. But I also think teachers can have influence on that. I hope these figures will improve soon.

Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/dec/09/poorest-boys-english-maths-sats

School sports: Half a million pupils protest against Michael Gove’s cuts

School sports day

Education secretary Michael Gove is under nationwide attack from children, headteachers and celebrities because of his plan to axe School Sport Partnerships (SSPs). SSPs share resources and ideas, overseen by school sport co-ordinators. It raises the standards of school sport and gives pupils the opportunity to try sports that in the old days only privately educated kids might have had access to. David Cameron will be urged this week by more than half a million students and teachers to drop all plans to reduce sports in school. They will do this by launching a “peaceful protest” in Westminster on Tuesday, lobbying their MPs and delivering a petition with more than half a million signatures. Since the plans to axe 162 million pounds in funding were announced in October, 450 SSPs are under threat. Cameron has said that ministers would look again at Gove’s decision to end the ring-fenced funding to SSPs. Gove said that the SSP system is too bureaucratic and locks schools into meeting unnecessary targets.

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I understand that the government have to cut money sometimes, but I do not think that this is the right place to cut money. Pupils should not become the victim of it. It is very important that kids get the chance to sport at school in a nice way. This gives them enthusiasm to keep sporting, which is good for their health. It is also better for kids to sport than watching television or playing videogames all day.

Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/dec/05/school-sport-partnerships-protests-michael-gove

Husband is jailed for ordering machete murder

Geeta Aulakh

Harpreet Aulukh (32), an Indian-born Sikh was jailed for at least 28 years for ordering the murder of his 28 year old British Hindu wife, Geeta. On the 16^th of November last year, she was hacked to death with a 14-inch machete in a suburban street in Greenford as she walked to collect the couple’s sons from their childminder. She suffered appalling injuries to her head and body. Aulukh became obsessed with the idea that he had lost respect among his peers because his wife had left him and was seeking a divorce, which would not be tolerated. He also thought she was seeing another man. Aulukh insisted his innocence, but the court heard he had carefully planned the killing, at one point offering a group of friends 5,000 pounds to “do a job” for him. Also jailed for murder was Sher Singh (19), who wielded the machete under Aulakh’s instructions and Jaswant Dhillon (30), who acted as a look-out. Both received minimum sentences of 22 years.

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This case is already going on since November last year and I am happy that the husband has finally been jailed. I cannot imagine that someone can kill his own wife like this. She was just 28 years old and mother of his two children. This is a terrible story and I think 28 years in prison is too short for a person like him. I feel most sad for the children who lost both of their parents.

Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/dec/03/husband-jailed-machete-murder

Tributes to Scottish men feared dead in New Zealand mine

Peter Rodger and Malcolm Campbell were working

in the mine at the time of the explosion

The Queen has passed on her condolences after 29 men are believed to have died in a mining blas in New Zealand’s south island. Among the men were two Scots, Peter Rodger, 40, and Malcolm Campbell, 25. The Queen said that her heart goes out to the families and friends of the 29 brave miners and to all who have been touched by this national disaster. Also Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron and First Minister Alex Salmond passed their condolences. The first explosion hit the  Pike River mine on the 19^th of November, probably because of explosive methane. Two workers emerged within hours, but there was no contact with the remaining group. On the 23^rd, a second blast hit the mine overnight. Police have said there is no hope of survivors. Pike River mine chief executive Peter Whittall said initial tests showed it was “extremely high in carbon monoxide, very high in methane and fairly low in oxygen”. Mr Rodger moved to New Zealand two years ago to be near his mother and sister. Mr Campbell had also worked at the mine for two years and was due to get married on the 18^th of December.

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I think it is a big shock for everybody who hears what has happened in New Zealand. You do not expect it so soon after the successful rescue of the miners in Mexico. It is terrible for the family and friends of the minors, especially because it will probably take some time before the minors can really be taken out of the mine. Till that time, they do not have any prove that their relatives have really passed away. The two minors who survived have been so lucky. Often, you hear stories about explosions in mines, or about minors getting stuck. I really think there should come more or better security rules for mines, to save lives.

Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-11828142

Long waits for adoption have nothing to do with ethnic matching

Hugh Muir (diary editor) thinks there are two ways of looking at the debate triggered by Tim Loughton (children’s minister) after he said that there should be no barrier to minority children being adopted by white parents. One is the voice of sanity. For ethnic minority children, the wait is three times longer as for white children. His alternative conclusion is that Loughton may have been angling for an appreciative headline in the rightwing press. The columns by different writers that followed were long on opinion and anecdote but short on evidence. Loughton said that too many children languish in care because social workers hold out for ‘the perfect match’. The result is that ethnic minority children are over-represented among the young people in care who never find permanent homes. Jane Rowe’s studies (published in 1973 and 1989) showed that the black and minority ethnic children and the disabled children, had to wait longer. Improvement in the past has often been associated with community action or development of specific provision. It is of concern that an ill-informed debate will not address the real issues.

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I agree with Tim Loughton, who said that there should not be any hindrance to the adoption of minority children by white parents. I think it is sad that minority children, black children and disabled children have to wait longer to get adopted, or do not even find a permanent home. According to me, social workers should get better instructions about adoption procedures and their work should also be checked in a better way.

Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/nov/18/long-wait-adoption-nothing-ethnic-matching

Four arrested after man found dying in van in Berkshire

On the 18^th of November, a fatally injured man was found in the back of a van that was being chased by the police and had pulled over in Berkshire. Police had been searching for the vehicle after receiving a tip-off. According to witnesses, the victim had been badly beaten and wrapped in plastic, and was barefoot. An officer said the man appeared to have been tortured. When the police found the man, officers immediately commenced first aid and called an ambulance. Witnesses said the ambulance arrived 45 minutes after the van was pulled over. They tried  to save his life, but he died shortly after being found. Apart from the victim, there were four men in the van. Officers suspected that the occupants may be involved in the crime. Two got arrested right away. The other two men fled, but were arrested later. The four men were taking into custody and a murder investigation has been launched.



The van in which the fatally injured man was found.

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This is a terrible story. I am wondering what exactly happened and why this man was tortured so much. Even though the police started an investigation, this could easily be a case that will never get solved. I do not understand that it took 45 minutes for an ambulance to come. The ambulance should have come much faster. Maybe if they would have come earlier, the man would still be alive.

Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/nov/18/man-van-sunningdale-berkshire-police

Cornwall mops up after devastating flash floods

Children sit on a wall above floodwater in St Blazey, Cornwall

After flash floods in Cornwall, hundreds of people were evacuated from their homes and had to spend the night in an emergency accommodation. Residents in the worst-hit areas expressed frustration at the lack of warnings and inadequacy of flood defenses. Environment ministers are expected to make a statement to parliament, setting out extra support for some of the worst-hit areas. Warnings were issued by television, radio and the Flood Forecasting Centre, run by the Met Office and the Environment Agency. However, the Met Office did not issue a severe weather warning until 10.30 pm, and the Environment Agency only send flood warnings to people who had signed up to its warning scheme. Liberal Democrat MP Stephen Gilbert said that the flood warnings for some areas had been inadequate and that he would be meeting the Environment Agency to “press them” on the issues. Ann Bailey, who runs the Harbour Trading Company in Mevagissev, said that the culverts get blocked with leaves and other debris this time of the year, so the drains cannot cope. The system cannot handle huge amounts of water coming down the hill. Prime minister David Cameron promised the government would do all it could to help the affected areas to recover. A multimillion-pound mopping-up operation has started.

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It must be terrible to be evacuated from your house because of a flood. It is not the first time this has happened in Cornwall. Ann Bailey tells in the article the reason for the floods, so it should be possible to find a solution for this problem. Peter Tatlow of Cornwall highway services said it is “almost impossible” to keep gullies clear of leaves and debris during the autumns. I think if the community spends more time on that, they can solve the problem. I hope that will happen also, so that the occurrence of floods will decrease.

Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/nov/18/cornwall-flash-floods-weather

Cameron criticises police for not protecting Tory HQ against students

Prime Minister David Cameron has criticized the police for failing to protect the Conservative headquarters and also for underestimating the strength of a student protest which turned into a riot. It was a protest against student fees, organized by the National Union of Students and the University and College Union, which started peacefully. About 50,000 students, lecturers and supporters (the police expected 5,000 people) were marching from Whitehall past Downing Street and Parliament. Around an hour after the demonstration started, the protesters started to use more violence at Millbank Tower. In the violence, ten people, including three police officers, were injured. Senior officers admitted they made a mistake. According to Met Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson, the force should have anticipated the level of violence “better”. He said it is an embarrassment for London and for the police.



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Windows were smashed in the office block of Millbank

I understand the anger and the protest of the students. If they don’t do anything, less students will go to college or university, because it will be too expensive to pay to study. I think the whole protest got out of hand by using violence, which was not necessary according to me. I agree with David Cameron that the police failed by expecting just 5,000 people. That’s why there wasn’t enough riot police. I also agree with Peter Smyth, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, who said that police officers must be supported when dealing with such unprovoked violence. 

   

Link:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/8124971/Cameron-criticises-police-for-not-protecting-Tory-HQ-against-students.html

Phil Woolas ejected from parliament over election slurs

 

The leaflet that cost Phil Woolas his Oldham East seat.

Phil Woolas, former minister of immigration, is ejected from parliament, in a judgment that will have consequences for all future campaigns. Elwyn Watkins (Woolas’ opponent) claimed that Woolas knowingly misled voters in Oldham East by claiming that Watkins had provoked Islamic extremists. He also claimed that Woolas lied about the intention of Watkins to live in the constituency.  The  high court ruled that Woolas knowingly made false and misleading statements about his Liberal Democrat opponent during the general election. Woolas lost his seat in the Commons and is barred for three years. He is also ordered to pay all costs.

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According to me, the high court took the right decision. Politicians are very important for a country. If they lie to make themselves more popular than the opponent, the nation does not know what to believe anymore. People can lose their trust in politics, because of situations like this.  I agree with Watkins, who said: “If you know you have lied about your opponent, then simply you have no part to play in democracy.”

Link:http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/nov/05/phil-woolas-ejected-parliament-election