University Language Centre

Football Game

2011-08-08T14:00:00.003-07:00

Its the annual Room 101 football match this weds 6.00pm, just come along to Room 101

Outdoor Shakespeare Trip

2011-07-18T23:12:00.001-07:00

Room 101's summer trips and events continue with a trip to see Measure for Measure at Bradford Cathedral on Thursday. Let us know if you want to join us!

News is on holiday for the summer

2011-07-18T23:11:00.001-07:00

We will resume our news service in September, but for now the news transcript and mp3 service is having a little summer holiday

Students Union Elections - International Students Officer

2011-02-20T08:44:00.000-08:00

International Students: One of the positions currently up for nomination in the Student Union Elections is International Students Officer! Helping to organise events for, and look after the interests of International Students. Why not stand for it? If you have any questions just ask at UBU Reception!

Tomorrow in Room 101

2011-02-20T08:24:00.001-08:00

Tomorrow in Room 101: -
In Room 101 tomorrow (Monday) we will have a Chinese Language Exchange, a Japanese Language Exchange and IELTS Speaking Practice Sessions. All of these events run at lunchtime 12-1ish. Everybody is welcome. Join us

News

2011-02-14T04:49:00.001-08:00

Today Programme Monday
BBC Radio 4 14 February 2011
News Bulletin 7.30 am

And the weather: well it could be fairly pleasant depending on where you are t0oday because it will be a wee bit of sunshine around, but rain and hill snow in the north and wintry showers as well the further north you go. And it is going to get colder.

You’re listening to Today on Radio 4 with John Humphrys and Justin Webb. The time’s twenty-eight minutes to eight. Let’s have a summary of the news from Harriet Cass.

David Cameron will set out a defence of his Big Society programme today, describing it as his mission in politics. The policy has been criticised by Labour and some charities. Mr Cameron will use the speech to give more details about a Big Society Bank to fund community projects.

China has formally overtaken Japan to become the world’s second largest economy. The country’s economy was worth £3.6 trillion in 2010. Analysts predict China will move into first place, above the United States, in about a decade.

There are signs that Egypt’s new military rulers may ban strikes as they try to get the country back to work, following nearly three weeks of political unrest. The country’s banks are closed today because of strikes. The military administration had said it will be in power for six months or until elections are held.

The Palestinian government in the West Bank is to carry out a reshuffle of ministers, partly in response to the uprising in Egypt. Elections are to be held by September.

The Commander of British troops in Helmand in Afghanistan has said there are signs that they’re defeating the insurgency. Brigadier James Chiswell told the BBC he was cautiously optimistic and said soldiers were reporting fewer attacks on Highway One, the road that links Afghanistan’s major cities.

A survey suggests that redundancies will increase sharply in the first quarter this year, especially in the public sector. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development questioned 750 employers and found two thirds of public sector organisations were cutting jobs.

The King Speech won seven awards at the BAFTAs in London last night, including Best Film. Colin Firth received the Best Actor award for his portrayal of King George VI and is the favourite to win Best Actor at the Oscars. At the ceremony last night, he joked that he had plenty of shelf space for the awards.

This weeks Debate

2011-02-14T04:48:00.001-08:00

4pm C101
This weeks topic for debate:-
Coping with the English

Next Week's Debate

2011-02-03T05:37:00.000-08:00

Revolution

Today's News

2011-02-03T05:34:00.001-08:00

Today Programme Thursday
BBC Radio 4 03 February 2011
News Bulletin 7.30 am

Can’t tell you the weather in Upper Norwood! – but, across the country, we are expecting heavy rain and very strong winds, particularly in the North later.

You’re listening to Today on Radio 4 with Evan Davis and John Humphrys. Twenty-eight minutes to eight. A summary of the news now from Susan Rae.

Fires are burning in Tahrir Square in central Cairo where witnesses say a number of anti-government protesters are reported to have been shot dead overnight. The US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, phoned Egypt’s new vice-president to express Washington’s shock at the violence in Cairo.

Officials in the Australian state of Queensland say there are no reports of anyone being killed during last night’s powerful cyclone. In one town almost all the buildings were wrecked.

There’s a warning that many parts of England could be left with no public transport because of spending cuts. The Campaign for Better Transport says seven out of ten councils plan to slash subsidised bus routes.

Citizen’s Advice in England and Wales says the spending cuts could devastate its services. Councils will decide their funding for advice bureaus in the next few weeks. In Birmingham all CABs are set to be closed.

A Jewish charity says acts of anti-Semitism in the UK fell last year, but remain at historically high levels. The Community Security Trust recorded more than 600 incidents of violence, threats and abuse last year.

Leaked excerpts of Donald Rumsfeld’s autobiography reveal that the former American Defence Secretary was asked to review the plans to go to war in Iraq only two weeks after the September 11th attacks on New York. President Bush claimed in his autobiography that he’d made the request six weeks after 9/11.

University College London scientists have developed a blood test for vCJD, the human form of mad cow disease. They hope it will lead to the first accurate assessment of how many people in the UK are incubating the disease.

BBC News has learned that all NHS ambulance trusts are equipping their fleets to cope with obese patients. Freedom of information requests to every ambulance service in the UK revealed they were all buying specialist equipment, ranging from wider stretchers to more lifting gear.

English Debating Group

2011-01-25T02:38:00.001-08:00

Wednesday 4pm, Room 101

Has Islamophobia passed the dinner table test?

What should we do about people who make sexist remarks about female referees?

Is it appropriate that art by mass murderers is sold to the public?

Today Programme Tuesday

2011-01-25T02:37:00.001-08:00

25 January 2011
News Bulletin 7.30 am
The weather: cloudy, outbreaks of rain.

You’re listening to Today on Radio 4 with Justin Webb and John Humphrys. Twenty-eight minutes to eight. A summary of the news now from Susan Rae.

The Foreign Office has named one British national who died in the bombing at Moscow’s main airport yesterday afternoon. He was Gordon Campbell Causland. Officials are investigating suggestions by the Russian authorities that another British male national was among the 35 people killed. More than 150 people were injured, the state run news agency in Russia says a female suicide bomber from the North Caucasus carried out the attack.

UK economic figures for the last three months of 2010 will be published this morning and it’s expected they’ll show that growth remains weak. Many analysts say they believe the estimate will be lower than 0.7% growth that was recorded in the third quarter of last year. The government insists the economy is recovering and that a ‘double dip’ recession has been avoided.

BBC News has learned that the Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, is to give Rupert Murdoch’s news corporation more time to address competition concerns about his proposed full takeover of BSkyB. A report from Ofcom, being released today, says the deal should be referred to the competition authorities.

The Arabic television station, Al Jazeera, has been revealing more secret documents about the Middle East peace process. They appear to show that Palestinian negotiators were willing to give way on the right of return of refugees to Israel, limiting the number to 10,000. Senior Palestinians seem to be changing their response to the leaks, now saying the documents have been taken out of context, rather than faked.

Opposition activists in Egypt plan to hold a day of protest today, following the popular uprising in Tunisia, which led to the president fleeing the country. Tens of thousands of people have registered their support on the internet, but it’s unclear how many demonstrators will take to the streets.

Lawyers for the man who’s accused of attempting to assassinate the American congresswoman, Gabriele Giffords and murder two of her aides, have entered a ‘not guilty’ plea on his behalf. Jared Lee Loughner was arrested after the shooting two weeks ago, outside a supermarket in Tucson, in Arizona.

News Headlines

2011-01-17T07:21:00.001-08:00

Today Programme Monday
BBC Radio 4 17 January 2011
News Bulletin 7.30 am

And er… the weather: rain in the South. Occasionally heavy rain. Showers in the North West.

You’re listening to Today on Radio 4 with John Humphrys and Evan Davies. The time is twenty-eight minutes to eight and Annie McKee has a summary of the news.

David Cameron’s giving a speech in London today defending the Government’s proposed reforms of the NHS in England. Doctors and nurses leaders say they’re extremely concerned by the plans to give greater powers to GPs. We’ll be hearing from the Prime Minister after the eight o’clock news bulletin.

The Government’s launching a consultation on a new system of parental leave which will allow mothers and fathers to share the time-off allowed after the birth of a child. Nick Clegg will also announce that the coalition is going ahead with plans originally conceived by Labour. Under the system, a woman returning to work before the end of her maternity leave will be able to transfer the remaining entitlement to the father, up to a maximum of six months.

The Tunisian army has fought gun battles late into the night with militia loyal to the ousted President. Local residents reported heavy gunfire at the presidential palace outside the capital, Tunis. Soldiers backed by tanks remain on patrol in other cities of Tunisia as political leaders work on forming a government, which could be agreed later today.

The Prime Minister of Ireland is facing a challenge to his leadership after the country’s Foreign Minister, Micheal Martin, said he would vote against him in a confidence motion. Brian Cowen is under increasing pressure to quit due to his handling of the financial crisis.

The new chief executive of Barnardo’s says a minister should be put in charge of handling the Government’s responses to child sexual exploitation. The charity work with more than a thousand victims of sexual abuse last year. Anne Marie Carrie says the average age of children it helps has fallen from 15 to 13.

A film about the creation of the Facebook website was the major winner at the Golden Globes last night. The Social Network got four awards, including best drama and best director. British hopes had rested with the King’s Speech, which was nominated in seven categories but won only one. Its star, Collin Firth, was named best actor for his portrayal of the Queen’s father, George the Sixth.

Weds 1st Dec News

2010-12-01T04:30:00.001-08:00

Today Programme Wednesday
BBC Radio 4 01 December 2010
News Bulletin 7.30 am

… Michael. The weather: you know what I’m going to say. Em… East and West, slightly different. Snow in the east. It will sort of move west. It’s going to be generally better in the west, but going right up from north of Scotland south; on the eastern side of the country: it’s going to be pretty horrible - windy, very cold and in those strong north-easterly winds, the snow is going to drift. Be very careful if you’re going out.

You’re listening to Today on Radio Four with James Naughtie and John Humphrys. Twenty-eight minutes to eight. A summary of the news now from Harriet Cass.

The Government is to outline its plans to reform police forces and tackle alcohol-related crime in England and Wales. The proposed legislation includes replacing police authorities with locally elected Police and Crime Commissioners, who would determine the overall strategy for a force and have the power to fire its Chief Constable. The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill will also give people more control over how late pubs and clubs in their areas can stay open.

Ministers are being advised to limit the pay of senior public servants to no more than 20 times that of the lowest paid worker in their organisation. The recommendation comes from a review of public sector pay by the former journalist, Will Hutton, who now runs the think tank The Work Foundation.

More snow and continuing freezing temperatures are causing further severe disruption across the UK, especially in eastern areas. Hundreds of schools will be closed for a third day. Gatwick and Edinburgh airports are also shut, while snow is cleared from runways. About 400 lorries were stranded on the M25 in Surrey overnight, and three South Eastern trains were stuck near Orpington in Kent for around 5 hours.

The government of Pakistan has said concerns by British and American diplomats about the security of its nuclear weapons are ‘misplaced’ and ‘condescending’ The fears that the country’s nuclear material could fall into the hands of terrorists were expressed in the latest classified US diplomatic cables to be published by the website Wikileaks.

More than 150 people were arrested during the latest student demonstrations in London against raising tuition fees and cutting higher education funding in England. The Metropolitan Police say a small number were detained for daubing graffiti and lighting fires on the base of Nelson’s Column.

The former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey, has warned that Christianity is in danger of being stealthily and subtly brushed aside in Britain. He’s backing a new campaign to encourage Christians to be more open about their faith, including wearing symbols like the cross prominently.

Monday's News

2010-11-29T03:51:00.000-08:00

Today Programme Monday
BBC Radio 4 29 November 2010
News Bulletin 7.30 am

The weather: well, this cold weather is going to continue. There’s going to be shh.. snow showers in many eastern areas. Other places will be mainly dry.

We will be talking about the weather in a few moments, but you’re listening to Today, on Radio Four, with Sarah Montague and Evan Davies. It’s twenty eight minutes to eight and Rory Morrison has a summary of the news.

The website Wikileaks has begun publishing hundreds of thousands of messages sent by US embassies. They include reports of Arab nations, such as Saudi Arabia, urging the US to attack Iran, to stop its nuclear programme. There are also references to widespread computer hacking by the Chinese Government and reports of US diplomats being asked to spy on UN leaders. The White House says the leaks put lives in danger, something denied by the website.

European governments are waiting to see whether Ireland’s financial bailout will calm the markets and restore confidence in the Eurozone. Details of the £70 billion bailout were announced yesterday. Most of the money will come from the EU and the IMF, but Ireland must contribute around 15 billion from its own reserves. The average interest rate on the loans will be just over 5.8%.

The Office for Budget Responsibility will release its latest forecast today. The OBR, an independent body set up by the Government to analyse the economy, is expected to say it was too cautious in June, when predicting growth of 1.2% for this year. Some analysts are expecting next year’s growth forecast to be lowered.

There’s more pressure on the Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, over his support for increased tuition fees in England. More than 100 Liberal Democrat candidates who failed to win seats in the last election have urged all LibDem MPs to vote against the policy, when it comes before Parliament next month.

There’s been more heavy snow overnight in Scotland and Eastern parts of England, with forecasters saying up to 10 inches could fall in some places today. Hundreds of schools in Scotland and Northern England are closed. Across the UK temperatures are expected to stay around or below, freezing.

The actor Lesley Neilson, best known for his roles in Airplane and the Naked Gun comedies, has died. He was 84 and had been suffering from pneumonia. Lesley Neilson began his Hollywood career in serious roles but became best known for his dead pan comic timing.

Tuesday's News

2010-11-23T03:33:00.000-08:00

This is the news transcript of the BBC Radio 4 News from 7.30. You can listen to it on the BBC's webpage.

Today Programme Tuesday
BBC Radio 4 23 November 2010
News Bulletin 7.30 am
But the weather first: cloudy in the East, brighter in the West. Twenty-seven minutes to eight now. You’re listening to Today on Radio 4 with Sarah Montague and Evan Davis. And Rory Morrison has a summary of the news.

The President of South Korea says he’s trying to stop this morning’s exchange of artillery fire with North Korea escalating into a wider conflict. South Korea has scrambled F16 fighter jets and returned fire after the North fired dozens of artillery shells at a South Korean island. Reports say soldiers and civilians have been hurt.

The BBC has learned that the Government will today announce a limit of 43,000 on the number of skilled immigrants allowed into the UK from outside Europe. Business leaders had warned that deep cuts in the number of overseas skilled workers could harm Britain’s recovery.

The Euro has been falling in value on the international currency markets despite the financial bailout accepted by Dublin to rescue its stricken economy. The Irish Prime Minister, Brian Cowen, has said the international package and his emergency austerity budget is vital to Ireland’s future.

Officials in Cambodia have begun identifying the bodies of 347 people who died when thousands gathered n the capital, Phnom Penh, for a festival. The victims were crushed or drowned when panic broke out in the crowd on an island. The Prime Minister has announced a national day of mourning.

Organisers of the rescue effort for 29 men trapped underground after a mine explosion in New Zealand says the situation is bleak and getting bleaker by the hour. The rescue has stalled again after the breakdown of a robot probe which was to have reached the men and tested gas samples.

The Government says it will forcibly continue to deport failed Iraqi asylum seekers, despite what is, in effect, a call for a freeze by the European Court of Human Rights. The Foreign Office minister, Alistair Burt, who is visiting Iraq, said Britain felt the country was safe enough for people to be repatriated.

Thursday's News

2010-11-18T06:42:00.001-08:00

Today Programme Thursday
BBC Radio 4 18 November 2010
News Bulletin 7.30 am

The weather: it’s still going to be a bit rainy, but it will clear away in many places.

You’re listening to Today on Radio 4 with James Naughtie and Justin Webb; the time’s just a touch after half-past seven; Rory Morrison’s here with a summary of the news.

The first Guantanamo Bay suspect to be tried in the US civilian court has been convicted of one charge of conspiracy, but cleared of more than 200 counts of murder and terrorism. Ahmed Ghailani was accused of conspiring to bomb two US embassies in Africa in 1998, in which 224 people were killed. He’ll serve at least 20 years in jail. Critics of President Obama say the acquittal verdicts are a major blow to his policy of moving terror suspects into the civilian judicial system.

The US Government has said it expects to earn at least 11 billion dollars when shares in the car maker General Motors go on sale today, for the first time since it filed for bankruptcy. Mr Obama described the sale as a ‘major milestone in the turnaround of an iconic company’.

A clean-up operation’s beginning in Cornwall, after heavy rain and gale force winds on Tuesday night caused severe flooding to several areas. Homes and businesses were swamped with muddy water, schools were closed, and the transport network severely disrupted.

Banking experts and officials from the European Commission are going to Dublin today to discuss how to help the troubled Irish economy. The Irish prime minister, Brian Cowen, said he accepted that the crisis in the banking system needed to be tackled urgently, but he insisted that the talks were not the prelude to a bail out.

The Australian airline Qantas says up to 40 Rolls-Royce engines, powering about half the world’s fleet of Airbus A380 Superjumbos, may need to be replaced. Qantas grounded its six A380s after an engine on one of them disintegrated in mid-air two weeks ago

NATO leaders will meet in Lisbon tomorrow for a summit which has been billed as one of the most important in the alliance’s history. Britain is backing calls for radical changes to NATO’s command structure, with fewer headquarters and a big reduction in the number of personnel.

It’s emerged that huge amounts of internet traffic were taken over by a Chinese telecommunications company for 18 minutes earlier this year. A US Government report said the “routing hijack” involved messages from around 15% of all internet addresses.

The VC comes to debating group

2010-11-14T01:36:00.001-08:00

Halloween in Room 101

2010-11-13T10:51:00.000-08:00

A Very Special Debate

2010-10-28T08:11:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday (3rd Nov) we will have a very special Debating Session with a special guest; The Head of the University, Vice-Chancellor Mark Cleary
This is a great chance to meet the man who makes decisions about your education and ask him any questions you like. Mark doesn’t often meet with students face-to-face so this really is a very special opportunity. Its on at 4pm in C101 Richmond Building. Please try to join us.

Halloween Party in C101

2010-10-28T08:10:00.000-07:00

ULC in Student Central

2010-09-24T08:42:00.000-07:00

Room 101 goes to the Freshers Fair

2010-09-24T08:41:00.000-07:00

Room 101 visits Student Central

2010-09-20T08:53:00.000-07:00

ULC Trip to Ilkley - On the Cow and Calf Rocks

2010-09-20T08:52:00.000-07:00

Japanese Language Exchange is a big success as always

2010-09-14T05:45:00.000-07:00

An earlier trip to Ilkley and our introductory Tea Party

2010-09-14T05:41:00.001-07:00

The ULC goes to Ilkley

2010-09-14T05:24:00.000-07:00

This week's debate

2010-09-14T05:23:00.000-07:00

Football Tomorrow - Join us

2010-09-14T05:21:00.000-07:00

Room 101 goes down the pub

2010-09-14T04:28:00.000-07:00

C101 goes to the pub

2010-09-12T13:09:00.000-07:00

September Events

2010-09-01T07:39:00.000-07:00

Free Music Festival

2010-09-01T07:36:00.000-07:00

Languages For All Timetable 2010

2010-08-27T08:29:00.000-07:00

Afternoon Tea 2010

2010-08-06T00:11:00.000-07:00

Day trip to Haworth on Saturday. Join us!

2010-08-05T04:57:00.000-07:00

Loads of Social Events this August. Join us

2010-08-02T14:43:00.001-07:00

This week's Debate

2010-07-27T04:42:00.000-07:00

C101 goes to see Outdoor Shakespeare

2010-07-27T04:34:00.000-07:00

C101 goes to Saltaire for a day trip

2010-07-27T04:29:00.000-07:00

An Introduction to UK Culture in C101

2010-07-27T04:24:00.000-07:00

2010-07-14T07:01:00.000-07:00

This Week's Debate

2010-07-14T06:32:00.001-07:00

This week's debate will be a discussion of the Daily Mail, and whatever news stories it is running today

This Weeks Debate

2010-06-20T06:41:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks' debates have been open forums discussing anything attendees like. This week England will play Slovenia in the World Cup and the debate will be devoted to wathcing this game in C101. Hopefully debate will result. Kick off 3pm

Today's Debate

2010-05-26T03:33:00.001-07:00

English Debating Society is for people studying English, or for those who want an opportunity to practice their English. Every week we discuss a big subject in a light hearted, friendly way. All are welcome.
This Week:

OPEN MIC DEBATE:
YOU DECIDE THE SUBJECT
YOU HOST THE DEBATE

Wednesday Afternoons 4-5.30,
C101, University Language Centre

Debate - 19.5.2010

2010-05-18T03:57:00.000-07:00

This weeks debate is a mystery debate!
4pm, C101

Venice holiday

2010-05-11T12:42:00.000-07:00

Back on the main island we visit the Gesuiti (Santa Maria Assunta), which is stupefying. It is awash with green and white marble, in patterns resembling 1970's style council house wallpaper (curiously back in fashion these days). Impressive. Makes a powerful impression.

At 6 we go to mass at St Marks (it is Good Friday). The Doge is there and its all very theatrical, and a little boring (if the Doge is the one i think he is, then he was asleep through most of it). Wander the shops for a little while, then home with a cheese pie and Veneto wine.

2010-05-10T08:17:00.002-07:00

FOOTBALL FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, IS BACK!!!
MICHAEL’S ENGLAND TEAM WANT TO TAKE ON THE REST OF THE WORLD

WE WILL PLAY IN A LOVELY LOCAL PARK (SALTAIRE)
(MICHAEL WILL GIVE PEOPLE A LIFT TO THE PARK)
WEDS 19TH MAY
6pm – 8pm
If you want to play, just let Michael in C101 know

Tourism in the UK

2010-05-10T08:17:00.001-07:00

English Debating Group for International Students
This week’s debate:-
12th May, 4pm, in Room 101

Tourism in the UK

Is it easy to travel around the UK?
Is public transport easy to use?
Are people friendly?
Which places did you enjoy? Which places were disappointing?
Should the University do more to help?

Party with live Zimbabwean band - Thursday

2010-05-05T01:49:00.000-07:00

2010-05-04T08:34:00.001-07:00

BBC Radio 4

2010-05-04T03:32:00.001-07:00

Programme Tuesday
04 May 2010
News Bulletin 7.30 am

The weather today: sunny start for most areas. Cloud though gradually thickening through the day.

You’re listening to Today on BBC Radio 4 with Justin Webb and James Naughtie. It is twenty-seven minutes to eight. Cathy Clugston has a summary of the news.

With only 48 hours to go until the election, two members of the cabinet have hinted that Labour supporters should consider voting Liberal Democrat to keep the Tories out of power. The Children Secretary, Ed Balls, said that people should vote tactically in constituencies where Labour were unlikely to win. His comments came out of the Financial Times declared it was backing the Conservatives for the first time since 1987. The paper said that David Cameron’s party wasn’t perfect but their instincts were sound.

Detectives investigating the attempted car bomb attack in New York on Saturday night have arrested a Pakistani born man who’s now an American citizen. He’s alleged to have recently bought the vehicle which was packed with propane and petrol before being parked in Times Square. At a news conference, the US Attorney General said Faisal Shazad was taken into custody as he attempted to board a flight to Dubai.

Passengers travelling to and from Ireland and parts of Scotland are facing disruption this morning, because of volcanic ash from Iceland. All airports in the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland are currently closed until at least One o’clock this afternoon. Operations from Stornoway, Tiree, Barra and Benbecula are also suspended, until further notice.

The governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has said he no longer supports plans to expand drilling for oil in the seas off his state. He spoke out after seeing television pictures of the oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico.

Public sector workers in Greece have begun a 48 hour strike to protest at planned cuts to pay and pensions. Last night, a group of teachers disrupted a TV interview with the Education Minister, demanding that their claims be heard. The Greek government has agreed to cut spending to deal with an enormous budget deficit.

The American company which owns the O2 arena in Docklands, AEG, has said it’s interested in taking over the Olympic stadium in east London, once the games have finished in 2012. More than 100 companies have expressed an interest.

28 April 2010

2010-04-28T03:41:00.000-07:00

Today Programme Wednesday
BBC Radio 4 28 April 2010
News Bulletin 7.30 am

Now the weather: it’s going to be damp and windy in the Northwest. But warmer and drier further South.

You’re listening to Today on Radio Four, with Sarah Montague in London; Justin Webb in Bristol. A summary of the news now from Susan Rae.

The International Monetary Fund is stepping up its efforts to persuade Germany to support loans to help Greece’s struggling economy. Shares have fallen on exchanges across Asia, in response to the decision by a major credit rating agency, to reduce Greek government bonds to junk status.

The former police officer who arrested a leading Conservative during an enquiry into the leaking of government documents, has said he did the right thing. Bob Quick, who was an assistant commissioner in London, said it had been his duty to detain Damien Green, because papers had been taken from a safe in the Home Secretary’s private office. Mr Green was never charged with any offences.

More questions will be asked today about the three main parties’ plans for cutting the national deficit. Yesterday, the respected Institute for Fiscal Studies urged all three to be frank with voters about the implications for public services and tax rates.

The head of the American bank, Goldman Sachs, has been defending it against allegations that it misled people who bought its investments. Boyd Blankfine was the last member of staff to be questioned by a Senate committee. All denied accusations that they failed to tell investors about the risks associated with the investments they were selling.

Five banks have been criticised for the way they treat complaints from customers. The Financial Services Authority has told them to change their procedures. Two of the banks are still under investigation and could face fines.

Medical researchers say a straightforward, painless procedure, could save the lives of thousands of cancer patients. The scientists, writing in the Lancet, say a new test for bowel cancer could avoid 40% of the deaths caused by the disease. Cancer Research UK has hailed their work as a breakthrough.

Radio News. Tuesday 27.4.10. 7.30am

2010-04-27T02:51:00.000-07:00

Lloyds Banking Group, which is more than 40% owned by the tax payer, has said it returned to profitability in the first quarter of this year. It said it believed this trend would be sustained throughout 2010.

The central themes of the main parties in today’s election campaigning will be crime, the family and the NHS. David Cameron will argue that social breakdown is blighting the lives of millions of people. Gordon Brown will warn that children will bear the brunt of Conservative and Liberal Democrat spending cuts. Lib Dem leader, Nick Clegg is to promise nurses a greater role in how the NHS is run.

The Scottish National Party is expected to begin legal proceedings against the BBC later today. It’s challenging the corporation’s decision not to include its leader Alex Salmond in the prime ministerial debate on Thursday.

Republicans in the United States Senate last night blocked a debate on President Obama’s reforms to the American banking system. Negotiations to try to reach a bi-partisan agreement on the changes are continuing.

The Chief Executive of the investment bank, Goldman Sacks is also to appear before Congress later today. Lloyd Blankfine will answer claims that the bank made billions of dollars at the expense of its clients during the property crash.

An internal police inquiry into the death of the anti-racism activist Blair Peach at a demonstration in west London, is to be published this morning, more than three decades after he died. Campaigners have claimed members of the Met’s riot squad were responsible. Scotland Yard has said it doesn’t expect any officers to face charges.

The British manager of a company that provides security for the British Embassy in the Afghan capital, Kabul, has been fined and sentenced to two years in prison for bribery. Bill Shaw was tried by an Afghan anti-corruption court, which is partly funded by Britain.

The former military leader of Panama, General Manuel Noriega has been extradited to France, from the United States. He’s arrived in Paris where he’s wanted for money laundering. He’d been held in the US for two decades since his detention by American troops who’d invaded Panama.

St George's Day

2010-04-22T10:07:00.000-07:00

This week's Debate

2010-04-19T02:52:00.000-07:00

DEBATE MANIA

2010-04-12T03:41:00.000-07:00

This week’s DEBATING GROUP will be a crazy festival of odd and contrasting discussion

1. Food on Campus – Is it Rubbish? Is it too expensive?

2. Hinduism – What is it all about?

3. The UK Election – Would you vote for Gordon Brown or Dave Cameron? (or maybe neither)

2010-03-02T05:51:00.001-08:00

Chinese New Year Party in C101

2010-02-19T06:53:00.001-08:00

Chinese New Year in the Language Centre

2010-02-19T06:52:00.001-08:00

Chinese New Year

2010-02-19T06:50:00.000-08:00

News Bulletin 7.30 am

2010-02-17T03:54:00.001-08:00

Today Programme Wednesday
BBC Radio 4 17 February 2010

The weather: well,cold and wintry, quite a bit of precipitation in the form of rain, snow or sleet.

You’re listening to today on Radio Four with Evan davies and john Humphrys. It’s twenty seven minutes to eight. A summary of the news now, from Neil Sleat.

British citizens living in Israel, whose names were used on fraudulent passports in a plot to kill a Hamas commander in Dubai, have said they’re stunned and horrified to have been linked to the murder. Mahmoud al-Mabhouh was killed last month. Hamas has accused Israeli agents for his murder. It’s thought the people named on the passports were victims of identity theft.

A report for the Ministry of Justice has suggested that fewer than a third of jurors in criminal trials fully understand the legal directions set out by a judge. The research indicates that one or two jurors in every high profile trial find it difficult to put media coverage out of their minds. The study’s author, Professor Cheryl Thomas, told us that juries were fair and effective, but she said juries should be given a written summary of legal directions, so they’re clear about what’s required of them.

US marines fighting the Taliban in Marjah in southern Afghanistan have called in NATO helicopter gunships to provide cover. Operation Moshtarak is now into its fifth day. An Afghan commander has said insurgents are increasingly using civilians as human shields when coming under fire from coalition forces.

President Obama has formally nominated a senior US diplomat to become America’s first ambassador to Syria in five years; Robert Ford was most recently deputy Ambassador to Iraq.

The Children’s Commissioner for England has called for major improvements to the care of youngsters who are detained with their parents at Yarl's Wood immigration removal centre in Bedfordshire. Sir Al Ainslie Green said progress had been made there since last year but Yarl's Wood remained ‘no place for a child’.

A review of all the research available on flexible working has said it’s good for employees’ health because it improves their wellbeing. The study found that workers who choose their hours could have better blood pressure, heart rates and mental health.

Wildlife experts in Scotland are warning that thousands of deer are in danger of starving to death if the severe weather continues into spring. Hundreds have already died because heather and grass has been buried beneath snow and ice for months.

BBC Radio 4 News. 7.30. Tuesday 16.2.2010

2010-02-16T02:47:00.001-08:00

Within the last half hour Barclays Bank has announced record profits of eleven point six billion pounds for 2009; almost double the figure achieved the previous year. The results are likely to generate a bonus pot of around four and a half billion pounds, but the firm says that for the second year in a row its Chief Executive, John Varley and President, Bob Diamond have turned down their bonuses. During the financial crisis Barclays refused government support, choosing instead to raise money from the Middle East.

Officials in Washington say the top military commander of the Afghan Taliban has been captured in Pakistan. US and Pakistani intelligence agents detained Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in a joint operation last week. The Pakistani government has made no comment about reports that he’s in custody in the country. The development comes as a major NATO and Afghan offensive against Taliban fighters continues in southern Afghanistan.

The chairman of the body which will oversee the new expenses system for MPs has said that profits from the sale of second homes should be clawed back for the public purse. Sir Ian Kennedy of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority made the comments in an interview with the Times newspaper.

The broadcaster and gay rights campaigner, Ray Gosling has said he killed a lover who was dying from AIDS. Mr Gosling made the admission during a television film on so-called mercy killings. He said he’d agreed to help the man end his life when nothing more could be done, and was convinced he’d done the right thing.

The Scout Association says its deeply saddened by the death of a teenager in an avalanche in the Cairngorms. Stephen Young, who was eighteen and from Kent, was on an organised hill walking expedition when the incident happened yesterday afternoon. His mother was also on the trip.

We recommend

2010-02-15T08:39:00.001-08:00

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Debating Group

2010-02-15T08:30:00.001-08:00

Chinese New Year Party

2010-02-15T08:29:00.000-08:00

Debate 3.2.10. Outcome

2010-02-03T12:34:00.000-08:00

In today's debate we covered a number of different topics. Here are the decisions we came to:-
Should paedophiles have a right to privacy? We decided: No
If the world was going to end in 5 minutes what would you do? We decided: Hug/Talk to our partners/families. (No.2 was eat, No.3 prey)
Is being born into a religion a good enough reason to believe in it? We decided: No
Is it ok to speed? We decided: No (but Yes on the motorway)
Should Brad Pitt go out with Aniston or Jolie? We decided: Aniston
Is snow good or bad? We decided: Good
Would you have plastic surgery? We decided: No
Should parents have a say in their children's love lives? We decided: Yes
Should a football captain resign if he has an affair? We decided: No

Room 101 Debating Group IS BACK

2010-01-25T08:49:00.001-08:00

Room 101 Debating Group IS BACK
This Wednesday 27th Jan
4pm-6pm
This week’s topic for discussion:-

What is the biggest moral problem facing the world today?

C101 Richmond Building

News

2010-01-19T03:54:00.001-08:00

BBC Radio 4 News. Tuesday 19/01/1020
7.30am. The Today Programme
Our business editor says Cadbury has accepted a takeover bid from the American food giant Kraft. Frantic final negotiations are said to have taken place overnight. Cadbury, which was founded more than a hundred and eighty years ago, battled for months to preserve its independence. It angrily rejected Kraft’s previous offer of ten and a half billion pounds, arguing that it seriously undervalued the firm. Today Kraft valued the business at eleven and a half billion pounds. The Unite union has previously said it fears for the jobs of thousands of workers.
A week after the earthquake in Haiti, American airdrops of vital supplies for survivors have
been taking place for the first time. The United States has also said it will let orphan children enter the US temporarily for treatment.
The Government will announce new rules for alcohol retailers in England and Wales today. They include a ban on what are regarded as irresponsible promotions, such as ‘all you can drink for ten pounds’. There will also be mandatory ID checks for those who look under 18. Licensees could be jailed for six months or fined twenty thousand pounds if they break the new rules.
The parliamentary watchdog, the Cross Party Standards and Privileges Committee will this morning consider a report into the expenses claimed by the Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne. The report was prepared by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, John Lyon. It follows a six months investigation into Mr Osborne’s use of his second home allowance.
The inquiry into the Iraq War is to start hearing evidence from senior politicians who were in office when the invasion was launched in March 2003. The former Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon will be the first to appear, later this morning. Tony Blair will give evidence at the end of next week.
Japan Airlines, the countries flagship carrier is expected to be placed into bankruptcy. JAL has debts worth more than sixteen billion dollars. It’s due to be restructured losing a third of its workforce.

Christmas Party

2009-12-14T13:14:00.000-08:00

This weeks debate will be replaced with a small Christmas party. Come along and have a mince pie with us.

2009-12-08T08:13:00.000-08:00

Room 101 Debating Group
This week’s debate

Is a national referendum a good way of making decisions?
C101,Weds 4-5.30

Debate

2009-11-30T08:29:00.002-08:00

This week's debate; Are Terrorists Freedom Fighters?

Debate Today

2009-11-11T02:45:00.001-08:00

and Today's debate will be a Speed Debating session. 4-5.30

Guy Fawkes Night

2009-11-07T00:49:00.000-08:00

University of Salford

2009-11-01T06:07:00.001-08:00

As part of the possible refurbishment of the resources
area i make an appointment to visit Salford
university's resources room which is "all singing, all
dancing" (technical speak for modern).
I take a day off work and agree to be there sometime
in the afternoon before 4pm, which is when they close.
Anyway i kind of goof around in the morning and finally set off at about
12.30 thinking i've got plenty of time.
Halfway across the M62 a lorry gets blown over (it was the windiest day
of the year) and is straddling all three lanes of the motorway so i'm
pretty much stationary for the best part of two hours. I finally arrive
in Salford at about 3.30. Now, maybe i should have just turned around
and come back another day but i just kind of wanted to get it done. By
the time i got to Salford i felt like i'd come so far that there was no
way i was gonna give up now.
Anyway after 10 minutes or so i found the university and i'd rung the
lady i was supposed to meet and told her that i would be there for
sure.
So, the resources centre is on the 9th floor of a building called The
Maxwell building. I park my car and ask the Car Park attendent where
the Maxwell building is?
Attendant: "Are you here for your Graduation?"
Me: "Er, no, i'm just supposed to meet someone in the Maxwell building
before four"
Attendant: (He looks at his watch) "well, you'll be lucky, the Maxwell
building is that one over there" (and he points to a huge building far
off in the distance)
So i'm already pretty stressed out because i'm so late and now it
really looks like i'm not gonna make it, but, you know, by now i've got
that determined thing going on so off i run across the campus like some
crazed running suited man.
I get to the Maxwell building, sweaty and dishevelled, and its already
3.50. I seem to be at the rear of the building and cannot find a door.
I run along one side of the building and amazingly there are no doors
whatsoever. I'm frantic by this time, i cannot believe i've come so
far; I'm actually outside the building, but i cannot get in.
I run along the other side of the building and about half way along
finally find an entrance. It says on it 'Maxwell Building: Great Hall'.
Now you must remember that all of this is happening very fast as i'm
despirate to make that 4 oclock deadline. I think to myself "Maxwell
Building Great Hall, well at least im in the maxwell building, all i've
got to do now is look around for stairs". The door opens into a little
hallway with a cupboard at one end and large double doors at the other.
I open the double doors and step in.........
To find myself at the rear of the stage in the main hall in the middle
of the graduation ceremony.
The hall is packed full of Graduands
All of whom are looking at the strange sweaty, flustered man who has
appeared on the stage.
I'm actually on the bloody stage in the middle of a graduation ceremony.
Just infront of me is the chancellor or whoever, who is delivering a
speech to the packed hall. To the left of me along the back of the stage
are various bigwigs in their graduation finery. Everyone is looking at
me in shock and amazement.
I stand there, for what could only really be seconds. Finally i exclaim
"Whoaw" and run right back out through the doors i came in through.
I hightail it right out of there as fast as i can.

What is going on in C101 these days?

2009-11-01T04:23:00.000-08:00

What is going on in C101 these days? It is so often so busy. These days, even on a friday afternoon in reading week we are busy.

English Debate with the Vice-Chancellor

2009-10-29T15:08:00.001-07:00

The VC visits the Debating Group

2009-10-29T15:05:00.001-07:00

Proofreaders

2009-10-29T14:47:00.000-07:00

In the ULC we often get asked about Proofreaders. We have added a link opposite to the Frizinghall Campus' list of University recommended proofreaders. Please check them out. Have a really good look through as there are great differences in price and in the method of charging.

The VC joins the Debating Society

2009-10-29T14:28:00.000-07:00

Today Programme

2009-10-29T10:01:00.000-07:00

Thursday BBC Radio 4 29 October 2009 News Bulletin 7.30 am

The weather: it’s going to be wet in the Northwest. Mild and fair elsewhere and the brightest in the Southwest.

You’re listening to Today on BBC Radio 4 with Evan Davis and James Naughtie. Just after seven thirty. Here’s Neil Sleet with a news summary.

European leaders are heading for Brussels to take part in a crucial summit on climate change and the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. There are differing views on how much developing nations should be subsidized to cut emissions.

Members of the House of Lords are to have their expenses cut as part of the changes to parliamentary allowances. BBC News understands the amount peers will be able to claim for overnight accommodation will be reduced, and receipts will now be required.

The former Employment Minister, Tony McNulty, is to be told that he must apologise to the House of Commons and repay some of his expenses. A cross party committee has been looking into claims that he designated his parent’s house as his second home.

A second round of national strikes by postal workers at Royal Mail is underway. The industrial action will last three days. Both the Communication Workers Union and managers have blamed each other for yesterday’s breakdown in talks. The managing director of Royal Mail’s letters business, Mark Higson, told this program that there’s been continuous resistance by some parts of the union to a modernisation program agreed in 2007.

The Foreign Secretary, David Milliband has described reports that an Iranian employee of the British Embassy in Tehran has been jailed for four years, as deeply concerning. Hussain Rassan was arrested during protests after the disputed Presidential Election in the summer.

The chair of the official inquiry into the Iraq war has said he expects politicians, senior civil servants and military officers to give evidence in public. Sir John Chilcot said the only exceptions would be if there were genuine concerns about national or personal security.

The Swiss authorities have put forward a number of proposals to try to tackle the number of people travelling to the country to commit suicide. The government will investigate whether to make the practice illegal, or limit it to the terminally ill.

A report into the impact of climate change on Wales has suggested some homes in coastal areas may have to be abandoned. The Auditor General, Jeremy Coleman, says there will be a serious risk of flooding.

Programme Tuesday

2009-10-27T03:11:00.000-07:00

BBC Radio 4 27 October 2009
News Bulletin 7.30 am

And the weather: rain in the North, but dry and warm further South, it says though it was raining in London. In fact, I think it still is. Anyway, you can look out of the window and check.

You’re listening to Today on Radio 4 with John Humphrys and Evan Davies. The time is twenty-eight minutes to eight. And now a summary of the news from Charlotte Green.

A steep rise in the number of foetuses being diagnosed with Down’s Syndrome is being attributed to changing demographics, with more parents choosing to have children later in life. A paper published in the British Medical Journal says there are more than 18,000 diagnoses a year in England and Wales, that’s a 70% rise on 20 years ago. The higher number of foetuses with the condition has also led to more abortions. But the proportion of parents choosing to abort has stayed the same.

The Communication Workers Union says it will go to the High Court to try to prevent Royal Mail using agency staff to clear the backlog of post caused by last week’s industrial action. The Union claims the company’s decision to recruit thousands of temporary staff to do the work of employees on strike is illegal.

A group of senators in the Czech Republic opposed to the Lisbon Treaty are to bring their case before the country’s Constitutional Court. They say the Treaty, which will streamline the way the European Union is governed, infringes Czech sovereignty. The Czech republic is the only country still to ratify the agreement.

A group linked to Al Quaeda says it was responsible for two suicide bombings in Baghdad on Sunday, which killed 155 people. A statement by the Islamic State in Iraq has been posted online.

Proposals to crack down on what Gordon Brown calls ‘sharp practices’ in the credit card industry, are going out for consultation. They include raising minimum payments, so that borrowers are forced to pay back more of their debt earlier and placing restrictions on the ability of card providers to raise interest rates on existing debt.

Two more teenage boys have been arrested in connection with a homophobic attack on a trainee police officer, in Liverpool city centre. Four other boys have been released on bail. A large gang attacked James Parkes, who’s twenty two, outside a gay club on Sunday, inflicting life threatening head injuries.

Today Programme Monday

2009-10-26T08:36:00.000-07:00

BBC Radio 4 26 October 2009
News Bulletin 7.30 am

Um, now, the weather: well, apart, er, from the odd shower most places will be dry – except rain will start reaching the south-west later.

You’re listening to Today on Radio 4 with Evan Davies and Justin Webb; the time is twenty-eight minutes to eight; a summary of the news now from Cathy Clugston.

The former Bosnian Serb leader, Radovan Karadzic, will go on trial today accused of eleven counts of war crimes and genocide. The charges date back to the Bosnian war in the mid-1990s. Mr Karadzic is defending himself at the International War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague, but has said he will boycott the proceedings because he’s not been given enough time to prepare his defence.

Senior executives of Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union are meeting at the TUC this morning in a further attempt to settle the postal dispute. It’s hoped a deal will be reached to avert three more days of national strikes, which are due to begin on Thursday.

The Conservatives are to urge the Government to temporarily ban large cash bonuses paid to the staff of high street banks. The Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne, believes more bonuses should be paid in shares, so that banks can keep more of their capital to provide loans for customers.

The US military has said that a crash between two of its helicopters in Afghanistan has killed four American troops and injured another two. The aircraft collided this morning in the south of the country.

A South Korean scientist who claimed to have made a major breakthrough in the field of human embryo cloning has been found guilty of fraud. Hwang Woo-suk is said to have faked key aspects of his work. He’s still to be sentenced.

A teaching union claims a significant number of staff working in schools could have been the subject of a false allegation by a pupil. The Association of Teachers and Lecturers surveyed eleven hundred of its 160,000 members, and found that 28% had been the victim of a false claim.

GPs across the UK will begin receiving the swine flu vaccine from today. Anyone with an underlying health problem, and pregnant women, will be among the first to get the jabs. The Department of Health in England says a high uptake of vaccination could reduce the number of deaths by 30%.

Debate

2009-10-23T03:47:00.001-07:00

Friday

2009-10-23T03:44:00.000-07:00

Today Programme BBC Radio 4 23 October 2009 News Bulletin 7.30 am
The weather: rain across Scotland and later Southwest England, everywhere else… well actually there will be some rain in the form of showers.

You’re listening to Today on radio 4 with John Humphrys and Justin Webb. The time is twenty-nine minutes to eight. Let’s have a summary of the news from Chris Aldridge.

The British National Party leader Nick Griffin has appeared on BBC’s Question Time despite protests outside Television Centre in London. He said under his leadership the BNP was no longer the anti-semantic and racist organisation it once was. But he faced angry opposition from both the audience and his fellow panel members. The Welsh Secretary Peter Hain, who made a last ditch appeal to the BBC to drop the BNP leader has denounced the broadcast.

A report published in the past few minutes has condemned Children Services in Cornwall as inadequate with ineffective leadership. Ofsted made an unannounced inspection in July and uncovered problems including delays in referring children who were potentially at risk, incorrectly updated files and inconsistency in procedure. The Director of Children Services, Dean Ashton, has already resigned.

Analysts believe figures for UK gross domestic product being published this morning will show that the economic grew between July and September. If that’s xxx out, it would mean the economy is technically out of recession.

Postal workers are beginning the second day of a 48 hours strike over pay conditions and modernisation. Deliveries will be affected by today’s action which coincides with the deadline for parents in parts of England to submit application forms for secondary schools. The Communication Workers Union has served notice of further walk-out starting next Thursday.

A suicide bomber has killed at least seven people in an attack on a military base in Pakistan. The facility, about 40 miles northwest of the capital Islamabad, provides maintenance facilities for Pakistan Air Force.

Federal agents in the United States have arrested more than 300 suspected members of a powerful Mexican drug cartel called La Familia. They also seized a hundred vehicles, hundreds of weapons and large amount of drugs in an operation across 19 states. The Attorney General Eric Holder said the arrests dealt a significant blow to the group’s supply chain.

Thursday BBC Radio 4

2009-10-22T06:45:00.001-07:00

Today Programme 22 October 2009 News Bulletin 7.30 am

The weather: there’s going to be rain in the east of Scotland,; elsewhere, very autumnal, sunshine and showers.

You’re listening to Today on Radio Four, with Sarah Montague and John Humphrys. Twenty eight minutes to eight. A summary of the news now, from Rory Morrison.

Postal workers have begun two days of national strike action, after the collapse of talks between Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union. Mail centre staff and drivers have walked out today; delivery and collection staff are set to take action tomorrow. Both sides have blamed the other for the breakdown in talks over pay and modernisation.
Speaking on this programme, the operations director of Royal Mail, Paul Tolhurst, accused the union of trying to ‘maximise damage to customer service ‘, while minimising the impact on individual postal workers’ pay packets.

The Director-General of the BBC, Mark Thompson, has defended its decision to invite the leader of the British National Party, Nick Griffin, to appear on Question Time tonight. The invitation’s been condemned by the cabinet minister Peter Hain and anti-racisim campaigners. But Mr Thompson says the public has the right ‘to hear the full range of political perspectives’.

Companies in the United States, which benefitted from billions of dollars of government aid during the global financial crisis, are being ordered to introduce pay cuts to some of their top executives. The Obama administration says some company bosses will have their pay cut by up to 90 per cent.

Two Pakistani soldiers, one of them a brigadier, have been shot dead in the capital, Islamabad. They were travelling in an army vehicle, when it was attacked by gunmen on a motorcycle. The attack come as the Pakistani army continues its drive against Taliban bases in South Waziristan, near the border with Afghanistan.

The government in Ethiopia is expected to confirm today that it needs emergency food aid for more than six million people, because of the effects of a prolonged drought on crops and grazing for animals. Earlier this week, the International Development Secretary, Douglas Alexander, warned that Ethiopia could tip over into a humanitarian catastrophe.

British scientists say there.. believe they’re a step closer to carrying out the world’s first successful womb transplant. They say the operation could be done within two years, if enough funds were raised. But, the British Fertility ociety believes the procedure is unlikely to be available in clinical practice for some years to come.

2009-10-22T02:41:00.002-07:00

Programme Tuesday
BBC Radio 4 20 October 2009
News Bulletin 7.30 am

The weather: wet and windy towards the West. Drier in the East.

Time is twenty-five to eight. You’re listening to Today on Radio 4 with James Naughtie and Evan Davis, and Harriet Cass with a summary of news.

Disciplinary action is being taken against five senior prison managers who are said to have transferred vulnerable inmates before inspections. The Chief Inspector of Prisons, Dame Anne Owers, has described it as an attempt to subvert the work of her staff. The Justice Secretary, Jack Straw, has ordered an investigation to determine whether the practice is more widespread.

Four retired generals have signed a letter criticising far right political groups for using symbols of British military history to promote their aims. Their letter is part of a campaign against the BNP, which featured Second World War imagery in its European election literature. The former Army top brass say the reputation of Britain’s armed forces is being tarnished by political extremists.

A group of MPs has raised new concerns about the state of the accommodation provided to service personnel. Despite a renovation programme by the Government, the Public Accounts Committee says a third of military families describe the condition of their home as “poor”. Nearly a quarter say their accommodation is badly maintained. The MPs also found that almost a fifth of service properties are standing empty, which they say is costing millions of pounds each year.

The Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, is expected to make a statement later on the results of August’s elections. Yesterday, a UN-backed fraud panel invalidated thousands of votes, meaning Mr Karzai failed to have reached the 50% necessary for an outright win in the recent presidential election. Officials in the United States say they are confident he will agree to a second round run-off against his main rival, Abdullah Abdullah.

Royal Mail and the Communication Workers’ Union are preparing to return to the negotiating table to try to resolve a dispute about modernisation which has prompted postal workers to vote for industrial action. MPs are pressing the two sides to bring in the conciliation service Acas. Royal Mail says it would welcome third party mediation, but only if the Union calls off the strikes.

2009-10-22T02:41:00.001-07:00

Today Programme Wednesday
BBC Radio 4 21 October 2009
News Bulletin 7.30 am

The weather: Rain in the East, sunshine and showers elsewhere.

You’re listening to Today on Radio 4 with James Naughtie and Sarah Montague. Twenty-eight minutes to eight. Let’s have a summary of the news from Neil Sleet.

The Governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King, has once again called for stricter regulations of the banking industry. Speaking to business leaders in Edinburgh last night, Mr King sharply criticised the banking industry for failing to reform, despite what he called “breathtaking tax payers’ support”. He suggested that some banks may have to split their core business from riskier practices.

A leading economic research group has said annual city bonuses are due to go up by 50% this year. The Centre for Economics and Business Research has said bonus payout for 2009 could exceed £6 billion up from £4 billion last year. But it believes it could be five years before bonus return to the levels they reach in 2007.

United Kingdom vaccinations programme against swine flu begins today. Fourteen million people in the priority group will be offered the injection. Serious ill hospital patients and the health staff caring for them will be the first to be vaccinated. Next week, GPs will begin inviting people with health problems and pregnant women to come forward for immunisation.

Within the past half hour, the airport operator, BAA, has announced that it is selling Gatwick to the owners of London City Airport. The deal is worth over just… just over £1.5 billion. The Competition Commission had ordered BAA to sell three of the seven UK airports it runs.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said the UN intends to replace more than half the top officials involved in Afghanistan’s presidential election. 200 officials who have been complicit in fraud will go to ensure the second round is transparent and creditable.

English Debating Society~

2009-10-19T13:16:00.000-07:00

Would you like to live forever?

21/10/2009
Wednesday
4-6pm
In C101

It is easier to be a woman than a man.

Are we overmedicated for happiness?

Dogs or Cats?

Today Programme Monday

2009-10-19T13:15:00.000-07:00

BBC Radio 4 19 October 2009
News Bulletin 7.30 am

The weather: broadly speaking, there will be rain in the North, it will be drier and brighter in the South. And not very warm.

You’re listening to Today on Radio 4 with James Naughtie and Evan Davis. It’s twenty-six minutes to eight. Time for a summary of the news from Cathy Clugston.

New regulations are set to change the way banks and credit card companies lend money. The Financial Services Authority will announce the changes shortly and is expected to outlaw self-certified mortgages and unsolicited pre-approved loans. The FSA had been asked by the Government to clamp down on the kinds of irresponsible lending practices which left borrowers unable to make repayments and threatened to bring down the banks.

A third day of fierce fighting is taking place in Pakistan’s mountainous border region. The Pakistani army is attempting to destroy Taliban and Al Queda strongholds in South Waziristan. An army spokesman said 60 militants and six soldiers had been killed since Saturday. Thousands of civilians have been displaced.

Royal Mail will again meet the communication workers union, to try to avert national postal strikes, due to take place on Thursday and Friday. The two sides have already met 80 times to discuss pay, conditions and postal reforms. Meanwhile, Britain’s largest private mail company, TNT, has said it wants to put its own staff on the streets to carry out deliveries if the strikes go ahead.

The Children’s Secretary, Ed Balls, has defied a select committee of MPs by appointing a new Children’s Commissioner for England, despite its objections. The Select committee for Children, Schools and Families had refused to endorse Maggie Atkinson, who’s the former head of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services.

Iranian officials are in Vienna today, to discuss a deal over Iran’s nuclear programme. Representatives from France, Russia, the United States and the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, are hoping to persuade the Iranians to allow their uranium to be transported abroad for treatment, before being returned for peaceful use. But there are indications this morning that Iran will reject the plan.

Internet security experts are warning web users to beware of cyber scams masquerading as computer viruses. In the last year, they say 50 million people have been conned into giving out their credit card details by a message which told them their computer was infected and they should download anti-virus technology to fix it.

Friday 16 Oct 2009. Radio 4 News 7.30am

2009-10-16T01:38:00.001-07:00

The most comprehensive review of primary education in England for 40 years, says children should not begin formal lessons until the age of six. The Cambridge Review argues that children respond better to play based learning at a young age. It also calls for the abandonment of the National SATS tests. The government has dismissed the report as out-of-date, describing it as a backward step.
As Royal Mail prepares for two days of national strikes next week, the company has rejected claims that it has been planning to confront the Communication Workers Union and impose modernization without agreement. Internal documents seen by BBC News, suggest Royal Mail had drawn up plans to no longer recognize the union. The company said it had never had such a strategy. Speaking on this program, Billy Hayes, the General Secretary of the CWU called on the Business Secretary, Lord Mandelson, to assist in setting up talks between the two sides at the arbitration service ACAS.
Five men have been convicted of plotting to carry out a terrorist attack in Australia. A jury in Sydney deliberated for a month before finding the men guilty of possessing bomb making instructions, explosive chemicals and guns. During their trial the prosecution said the plotters had violence (sic) with the aim of forcing Australia to change its policy in the Middle East.
The Commons Speaker, John Burko has defended the investigation into parliamentary allowances. Many MPs have criticized Sir Thomas Legg’s inquiry, accusing him of imposing unfair retrospective rules on their claims. But in an interview for The Week in Westminster, to be broadcast tomorrow on BBC Radio 4, Mr. Burko says the public has to see, and be satisfied, that MPs have got the message.
A six year old boy from the American state of Colorado, who was thought to have floated away in a home made helium balloon, has been found safe and well, hiding in a cardboard box at his home. His disappearance led to a huge search and rescue operation after his brother said he’d seen him climb aboard the balloon before it broke free of its tether in the garden.

English Debating Society

2009-10-13T04:12:00.000-07:00

Weds 14th Oct 2009-10-13
Four Subjects, half an hour each, join us!

Should immigrants have to pass a test on knowledge of Britain?
Would you marry someone from a different cultural background?
Has Obama been a disappointment?
Is romance dead?

C101. 4pm

Today Programme Friday

2009-10-09T02:28:00.001-07:00

BBC Radio 4 09 October 2009 News Bulletin 7.30 am
And the weather: rain spreading East and getting heavy in places.

You’re listening to Today on Radio 4 with John Humphrys and James Naughtie. Twenty-seven minutes to eight is the time. Corrie Corfield has the news summary.

General Sir Richard Dannatt has said his decision to join the Conservatives Defence team is not part of a long term plot. Before retiring in August, General Dannatt criticised the Government’s policies in Afghanistan. But he said David Cameron only offered him the job recently because the Party lacked expert understanding.

The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and other members of the Royal family will attend a service at St. Paul’s Cathedral today to commemorate the British operation in Iraq. 179 British lives were lost in the six-year campaign. Before the service, Gordon Brown will hold talks with the Iraqi President.

The gas and electricity regulator Ofgen has said the UK mainly to invest more than £100bn on new power sources to secure its future energy supply. The long awaited report said prices may rise by between 14 and 25% over the next ten years on top of inflation. It also said by 2020, the UK could import 80% of its gas.

Postal workers will hold several local strikes today. Members of the Communication Workers Union will walk out in London, Bristol, Swindon and Stoke. The Union approved a national strike yesterday.

A deal to devolve policing and justice to the Northern Ireland Executive appears to have moved closer. A budget for running the services is said to have been agreed during four hours of talks late last night between Gordon Brown and Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson and his deputy Martin McGuinness. Mr McGuinness said massive progress had been made. Mr Robinson said he’d discuss the offer with his Party.

A study in the US has discovered a link between a virus and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or ME, which affects an estimate of one quarter of a million people in Britain. Researchers found the virus known as XMRV in 68 of the one hundred and one ME patients they tested, compared to 4% of healthy people.

NASA is to crash two unmanned spacecrafts into the moon to see if it contains any water ice. The first rocket will send debris high above the moon’s surface. The second craft, fitted with scientific instruments , will then analyse the debris before it crashes.

Afternoons in c101

2009-10-08T12:38:00.001-07:00

Afternoons in c101

2009-10-08T12:36:00.001-07:00

The c101 car

2009-10-08T12:35:00.000-07:00

ENGLISH DEBATING SOCIETY

2009-10-06T05:05:00.000-07:00

This week, three topics for discussion:-

The Future does not exist. The Past does not exist.

Is there is too much respect for Cultural Relativism?

Is Pornography degrading to women?

C101 Richmond, Wednesday 4.00-6.00

Mid-Autumn Festival - Moon Cake Party

2009-10-05T05:23:00.000-07:00

Debating Group this week

2009-10-05T05:14:00.000-07:00

This weeks debate on whether racist parties should be allowed to appear on TV

Wednesday's Party in C101 for new International Students

2009-10-02T05:12:00.001-07:00