Can This be true ?? will someone plaese tell me ??

Whistleblower warning on degrees

By Sean Coughlan BBC News education reporter

Degrees are being awarded to overseas students who speak almost no English, claims a whistleblowing academic.

The academic, at a world-famous UK university, says postgraduate degrees are awarded to students lacking in the most basic language skills.

There are concerns that financial pressures to recruit overseas students for cash rather than quality could threaten the credibility of degrees.

But Universities UK says there are "rigorous" checks on standards.

The number of overseas students taking higher degree courses, such as masters and doctorates, has soared - rising more than eightfold since the mid-1990s.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7358528.stm

What Rubbish !!!Conservatives and Liberal Democrats said Mr Brown could not claim to champion freedom when he was attempting to undermine it.

PM hits back over civil liberties

Gordon Brown on the 42-day terror detention limit

Gordon Brown has defended the use of CCTV, ID cards and the DNA database - saying they protect civil liberties.

In a speech to the IPPR think tank, the prime minister said they helped ensure people's right to live free from crime.

He also defended 42-day detention, saying the authorities could not afford a "head-in-the-sand" approach to it.

Both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats said Mr Brown could not claim to champion freedom when he was attempting to undermine it.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7459053.stm

No Pay Rises !!!!!! Don't worry MPs we'll get it back from second home blag !!!

Ministers give up 2008 pay rises

Ministers will give up their 2008/9 pay rises

All government ministers will give up their 1.5% pay rise for this financial year, Downing Street has announced.

The prime minister's decision was approved at this morning's Cabinet meeting, his spokesman said.

Gordon Brown said ministers would not accept a pay rise "given the importance of public sector pay restraint at a time of economic uncertainty".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7458889.stm

My warning to Iran!!!!

Bush and Brown's warning to Iran

President Bush warns Iran that "all options" are on the table

Gordon Brown and President George Bush have warned Iran to accept their "offers of partnership" or face tough sanctions and international isolation.

The UK prime minister said he wanted to maintain a dialogue with Tehran, but if Iran ignores UN resolutions then sanctions would be intensified.

Europe would freeze overseas assets of Iran's biggest bank and impose new oil and gas sanctions, he said.

But the EU foreign policy chief said no new sanctions had so far been agreed.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7456081.stm

More!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

More secret files found on train

The documents were found on a train heading to London's Waterloo station

More sensitive government files were found on a commuter train earlier this week, it has been revealed.

The Independent on Sunday says it was handed the documents, which cover fighting global terrorist funding, drugs trafficking and money laundering.

The files were found on the same day as the BBC was handed top secret papers on al-Qaeda. A Treasury spokesman said the government was "extremely concerned".

The Tories are calling for controls to protect secret official information.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7455084.stm

At McDonalds !! What next !!!!

MoD laptop stolen from McDonalds

MoD staff are banned from taking unencrypted laptops out of offices

The Ministry of Defence says a laptop has been stolen from a member of the military as he was eating in McDonalds.

The computer was taken from under the Army captain's chair, near the MoD's Whitehall headquarters on 1 April, according to the Sun newspaper.

The MoD said the data on the laptop was not sensitive, and was fully encrypted.

It comes after a laptop holding details of 600,000 people who applied to join the armed forces was stolen from a car in Edgbaston, Birmingham, in January.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7344043.stm

Oh my God !! Not again !!!Blears computer theft 'alarming'

Blears computer theft 'alarming'

The break-in took place at Hazel Blears Salford office on 14 June

A personal computer holding sensitive documents relating to defence and extremism has been stolen from Hazel Blears' constituency office in Salford.

The machine contained a combination of constituency and government information which should not have been held on it.

The theft may mean the communities secretary has broken rules on the handling of restricted information. The Tories called it "alarming".

The government is to review guidance on the storage of restricted information.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7459579.stm

Yessssss!!!!!!!! Brown wins crunch vote on 42 days

Brown wins crunch vote on 42 days

Uproar in the House of Commons as the result is announced

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has narrowly won a House of Commons vote on extending the maximum time police can hold terror suspects to 42 days.

Thirty-six Labour MPs joined forces with Conservatives and Lib Dems to vote against the proposals.

But that was not enough to defeat them - although the government still faces a battle in the House of Lords.

The 42-day proposal was passed by 315 MPs to 306 - with votes by the nine DUP MPs proving crucial.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7449268.stm

Oh God , not again !! Blair launches faith foundation

Blair launches faith foundation

Tony Blair called for more idealism and less religious extremism

Former prime minister Tony Blair has launched a faith foundation to tackle global poverty, challenge conflict and unite the world's religions.

Mr Blair, who is a Roman Catholic, unveiled the foundation in New York.

The Tony Blair Faith Foundation has three aims: to promote faith as a force for good, improve awareness between religions and tackle poverty and war.

Mr Blair said there was "nothing more important" than creating understanding between different faiths and cultures.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7427809.stm

I'm lonely !! Brown telephones voters at home

Brown telephones voters at home

Mr Brown has always telephoned voters, says No 10

Gordon Brown routinely telephones voters at home to talk about Labour policy, Downing Street has confirmed.

The prime minister is understood to ask the No 10 switchboard to put him through to people who have written to him with questions or concerns.

A BBC News website reader has told how Mr Brown called him two months ago to talk about the Iraq war.

Wajid Rafique said the PM apologised on behalf of the government "for what had happened to the people of Iraq".

'Not expecting reply'

Mr Rafique, 30, from Nelson, Lancashire, said Mr Brown called him on a Saturday afternoon when he was "still in bed after a late night on Friday".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7427297.stm

Eh !! Blair 'secretly advising Brown' First I've heard about it

Blair 'secretly advising Brown'

Mrs Blair says she has 'nothing personal' against Gordon Brown

Tony Blair is giving advice to Prime Minister Gordon Brown and has told him how to win the next election, Cherie Blair has said.

Her disclosure is made in an interview with the Times newspaper to coincide with its serialisation of her autobiography, Speaking for Myself.

In one extract from the book, she reveals how her husband suffered a crisis of confidence over the Iraq war.

But she writes he decided to stay on as PM to fight for his domestic legacy.

'Rattling the keys'

During 10 years in Downing Street, Mrs Blair, the former prime minister's wife, continued her high-flying legal career and became a high profile media figure in her own right.

Over the years she was in the headlines almost as much as her husband, and not always for the reasons she would have liked.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7393530.stm

Oh My God whatever next !!Blair 'to devote life to faith'

Blair 'to devote life to faith'

Mr Blair has recently announced his conversion to Catholicism

Former prime minister Tony Blair has promised to "spend the rest of my life" uniting the world's religions

He said faith could be a "civilising force in globalisation", bringing people together to solve problems such as malaria and extreme poverty.

Mr Blair, who is now a peace envoy to the Middle East, told Time magazine that religious belief had given him "strength" while in power.

He is launching a "faith foundation" in New York on Friday.

Mr Blair, who recently converted to Catholicism, said: "Faith is part of our future, and faith and the values it brings with it are an essential part of making globalisation work."

'Fantastic thing'

His foundation will attempt to bring religions together to tackle global issues such as the UN's eight Millennium Development Goals, which range from eradicating extreme poverty to ensuring environmental sustainability.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7426647.stm