One vacancy for every 10 people

According to the Trades Union Congress there are 10 people for every job vacancy in the UK. This is just an average figure as in some parts of the country, for example in the South-East region of England, there are 60 people looking for the same job. The situation seems desperate as the UK faces the highest unemployment rate since 1998. 

Current unemployment rate indicates that there are 2 million people looking for a job in Britain. The Office for National Statistics will publish more detailed information on the matter this week. Brendan Barber, general secretary of TUC, said that these figures “blow out of the water the government's claim that there are plenty of jobs available for people who are prepared to look". 

Unfortunately, the problem is not over. The British Chambers of Commerce expects the number to jump to 3.2 million by the second half of the year. The director of BCC said that governments should do more so as to help firms struggling with the situation. 

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7945426.stm

Obama gives stem cells a go

A stem cell is a type of cell that can turn into any other type of cell in the human body. Our organs, muscles and even bones were formed out of stem cells when we were just embryos. Many say the researches on the embryonic stem cells can lead to medical breakthroughs; however, it raises ethical questions. 

Former President George W. Bush did not let anybody use government money to support researches on stem cells. Current President Barack Obama decided to lift all the restrictions on the funding of these projects, saying: “The restrictions that President Bush has placed on funding of human embryonic stem cell research have handcuffed our scientists.” This decision comes as a promise from the current president who said that if elected he would not let politics interfere with any scientific research, and he would reverse the decision of the Bush administration. 

Note that stem cells can also be created without using any embryos. But of course to develop such techniques would require again a huge amount of money, which cannot be raised without any significant support. Therefore several researches welcomed Obama’s decision. Dr George Daley of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute said: "I feel vindicated after eight years of struggle, and I know it's going to energise my research team.” 

But there will always be people who protest against stem cell researches. For example, Dr Robert Evans, a pastor and bioethicist, who expressed his views to BBC early this year: “What it signals is that the human embryo has been denied moral standing and a corresponding right to life. As an evangelical who believes all life is created equal in the image of God, and that we have moral standing from the moment of conception, I would view that as a very chilling decision." 

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7929690.stm

Kenyan government accused of assassinations

Nowadays, there is a human rights group (consortium) in Kenya that holds the government responsible for assassinating many of its own citizens. Oscar Kamau Kingara and his colleague were killed not long ago and this caused a major outcry in the country. Oscar had a foundation that had accused local police of killing thousands of people. The government and the police, obviously, denied any allegations related to their involvement of the murders. 

However, a UN investigator called Philip Alston thinks that the police have definitely something to do with this issue. As he told BBC: “It is extremely troubling when those working to defend human rights in Kenya can be assassinated in broad daylight in the middle of Nairobi. This constitutes a major threat to the rule of law, regardless of who might be responsible for the killings.” Mr Kingara gave evidence to Mr Alston, who released a report on this matter later. In the report Mr Alston wants several officers as well as the attorney general to take responsibility by handing in their resignations as soon as possible. 

One can ask the question why Mr Kingara and his colleague, both regarded as active human rights defenders, had to be assassinated. Mr Kingara’s foundation had published a report in which it had stated that almost ten thousand Kenyan had been killed since 2002 and for that the report had held the police responsible. Later, however, a government spokesman accused the foundation of raising money for the so-called Mungiki, a gang the police previously had a raid against. It should be also mentioned that after the murder of Mr Kingara and his colleague, university students gathered around their car not to release their bodies to the police. 

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7927873.stm

North Korea and UN are on speaking terms again

As there has been some tension between North Korea and the US, the two nations decided to set aside their differences. Meetings are in progress as we speak between the generals of the two countries at the border village of Panmunjom. The idea comes after a tense period: the US provoked the Koreans at the border whereas North Korea was planning to fire a missile. 

Now, these military talks are considered positive as they can lead to reduced tension between the parties as well as greater transparency so that the intentions of both sides will be clear and understandable in the future. Hostilities between the North Koreans and the Americans have existed since the 1950-53 Korean War in which the US backed-up South Korea whereas North Korea was supported by China. 

However, the two Korean countries are still not on speaking terms. Their military officials have had a few discussions lately but, unfortunately, without any success. These talks have taken place in the so-called Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), which is a 4-kilometre wide buffer strip. Recently the US has been accused of crossing the border line in the DMZ without any permission. The US and South Korea denied allegations; meanwhile, a US envoy is about to visit Beijing, Tokyo and Seoul to discuss ways in order to try to deter North Korea from the missile launch and persuade the country to start nuclear disarmament. 

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7918117.stm

Iraq awaits foreign military troops’ withdrawal

Soon British as well as US military troops will leave the country to let the local government run its own affairs. David Miliband, UK Foreign Secretary, told BBC that the Iraqi government was getting more and more impatient as they were awaiting this decision to be made. Well, even if they are impatient they have to calm down as the US troops’ withdrawal will only happen in August 2010. 

Even though current US President Barack Obama is to announce the withdrawal plan to the public, many say that the US government will leave several platoons – approximately 50,000 soldiers – behind. British soldiers will leave earlier – none will remain in the country by the end of May this year. Mr Miliband also told BBC that the situation seemed to be more sustainable now than it had been before. Finally the government can start looking into the matters of economy and public services. He firmly believes that the more time passes the more confident the government and the citizens will be. 

By announcing the establishment of a 400 million dollars worth joint venture, Mr Miliband told the world that the country was ready for business. The would-be company will carry out drilling activities to find more oil. British forces in the country amount to thousands of soldiers of whom hundreds have died so far. The number of the US troops is enormous with its almost 150,000 soldiers. 

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7914291.stm

North Korea to launch satellite

Soon the communist North Korea will launch a rocket that will carry a communications satellite. This piece of news is official; however, leaders of the country gave no information on the date of the launch that will obviously be a “great step forward for the communist state.” 

According to BBC this is not the first occasion that such a statement has been made. At the end of the 1990’s North Korea tested its short-range missile called Taepodong-1 and it announced that it would launch a satellite into orbit. That, however, has not happened so far. 

Nevertheless, North Korea has not given up his idea to put a satellite on the sky. It is said that the successor of the first Taepodong missile, Taepodong-2 will be launched from the site in the northeast of the country. BBC quoted the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA): „Full-scale preparations are under way to launch a rocket Unha-2 to put communication satellite Kwangmyongsong-2 into orbit. When this satellite is successfully launched, our space technology will make a great step forward toward becoming an economically strong country.” 

Some say that since Taepodong-2 is a long-range missile it has a theoretical range of almost 7,000 km, which is just enough to target the USA. The missile was tested back in 2006 and the test seemed to be a failure: Taepodong-2 exploded. It was not long ago when new US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton visited Asia, including North Korea and gave a warning in terms of „rash moves”. 

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7907039.stm

Japanese finance minister - drunk or ill?

Current Japanese finance minister, Shoichi Nakagawa, was blamed that he had been drunk while being interviewed during a recent news conference in Rome. 

Mr. Nakagawa, however, denied the allegations and said that he had only drunk one sip of alcohol before facing the media. He apologised for his behaviour, which seemed a bit unusual, but the minister blamed the pills he had been taking in order to recover from cold. 

But what exactly happened? During the interview he misunderstood a question and gave a wrong answer, and at one point he almost fell into a doze. He did not seem to be confident while having a speech, either, as some of his sentences were beyond all understanding. 

One of the members of the opposition party, Yukio Hatoyama, told BBC that "It's embarrassing. This has sent a message to the whole world. He's damaged the national interest." In spite of the fact that the opposition party wants him to resign, Mr Nakagawa is reluctant to do so, after all, Prime Minister Taro Aso himself asked him to stay. 

Some reports said that the finance minister is a regular drinker, but Mr. Nakagawa, yet again, did not admit these claims and as he said: "What I want the most now is to completely recover from my cold." 

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7892653.stm

Obama defends his plan

With the idea of reviving the American economy, the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, had come up with a so-called stimulus plan. 

However, many Democratic and Republican politicians found the 900 billion dollars rescue package "too much", therefore the Senate held a special Saturday session to modify it. Eventually, both sides agreed on changing the bill and reducing the numbers from 900 to 700. 

Mr Obama expressed his gratitude because the idea of the Democrats had been supported by the opposition. The parties could quickly make a decision on a plan that "will provide jobs and tax relief for the American people". 

The President said that "The scale and scope of this plan is right, and the time for action is now." Then he added: "If we don't move swiftly to put this plan in motion, our economic crisis could become a national catastrophe." 

Note that Mr Obama can only sign the bill if it has been passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives. The deadline of the bill to be sent to the President is February 16. 

The situation in the US is desperate. Only in January more than half a million employees and workers were made redundant, making the unemployment rate reach 7.6%, the highest in 17 years. 

The Republicans expressed their concern that the improved version of the bill involved too much spending and too less tax cuts. More tax cuts are needed to help American families save more of their money. 

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7877160.stm

Pirates of the 21st Century

After months of negotiations Somali pirates were given their ransom, after which they decided to leave the Ukrainian ship that they had previously hijacked last September. 

Although these pirates of the 21st Century originally wanted 20 million dollars, they were reportedly given only 3.2 million. 

According to BBC the pirates took control of the vessel called MV-Faina and held its crew of 20 as hostages. The ship was supposed to reach its destination, Kenya, at the end of last September with its cargo consisting of tanks, rocket launchers and other smaller weapons. 

After receiving their ransom the gunmen decided to leave the ship one by one and also started releasing the hostages. In the end only three boys remained, but eventually they were released, nobody got hurt. Among the crew of Faina there were mainly Ukrainians and also some Russians and Latvians. The ship can continue its journey to reach Kenya with its cargo of weaponry. 

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7871510.stm

President Hugo Chavez in doubt

When it comes to finding alternative energy sources President Hugo Chavez is among those who support Barack Obama's aim for this, however, the Venezuelan President does not think that the 44th US President can make it happen.

According to CNN, the channel Mr Chavez gave an exclusive interview to, the Venezuelan politician thinks that US needs petroleum "like air, like oxygen to live, to survive".

He also thinks that the decreasing crude oil prices can only do good to the globe as "the world will need to sustain its industrial rhythm".

Mr Chavez, who called the former US President George W. Bush "the devil" wishes to improve the relations between the two countries so that it can be on the same level as it was during the Clinton era.

The Venezuelan President has been fulfilling his political role for almost 10 years now. Although the current constitution of the Latin-American country only allows him to have two consecutive six-year terms, Mr Chavez wishes to amend it so that he can be elected for the third time in 2012.

Some major changes happened since Hugo Chavez was elected as President. There are more General Practitioners available per 100,000 Venezuelans and 95% of the population is entitled to have free health coverage compared to the 25% a decade ago.

During a celebration, held in the capital Caracas, to mark this period as a successful decade Mr Chavez expressed his gratitude to the former Cuban President Fidel Castro, who has been ill for quite some time therefore did not appear.

Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/02/03/venezuela.chavez/index.html