Global News Summary 7 August 2009
Tesco lies about missing plastic bag targets
Tesco promotes itself as a leading green retailer but it has been revealed that the leading supermarket chain has published misleading figures about its credentials. Tesco claimed that it had halved the number of plastic bags used by customers; however The Times has learnt that it had in fact missed the target set by the government. Many plastic bags are only used once and take up to 1,000 years to decompose, and supermarkets issue more than 4,700 tonnes each month. Tesco has issued a statement claiming the false figures are reportedly a result of a miscalculation, as it had not used the recommended calculation method; however it has refused to release the new, recalculated figure.
Man found guilty of killing daughter
A jury has found a man guilty of killing his 11-year-old daughter. The girl had been suffering from undiagnosed diabetes but her father believed God would heal her. He chose the power of prayer over modern medicine and refused to seek medical aid. The child died last year in her home in Wisconsin, US, in a room full of people praying for her. The girl’s parents have now been convicted of second degree reckless homicide – her mother was convicted earlier in the year. The parents are to be sentenced in October later this year and could face up to 25 years in prison.
Outbreak of pneumonic plague leads to quarantine of town
A town in China has been forced to quarantine its 10,000 residents. So far the outbreak of pneumonic plague has killed two men in Ziketan, a small town in China and in an effort to stop the spreading of the disease their entire town has been put under quarantine. It is believed the first victim caught the disease from his dog that died suddenly and the second victim was his neighbour. Out of the family and friends that attended the funeral, 11 fell ill and are now being treated in isolation. The police have placed checkpoints around Ziketan in a 17 mile radius to stop people from leaving.
Ketamine catches on in Hong Kong
The number of drug takers under the age of 21 has risen sharply in Hong Kong and now stands at 57%, with ketamine becoming a popular choice among younger users. Ketamine, an animal tranquiliser, induces a dazed or ‘spaced out’ sensation in humans for up to two hours. Long-term effects can impair cognitive function and can lead to internal organ damage. An over-supply in Hong Kong has led to the drug being readily available and cheap. The latest effort to curb this drug abuse is random school drug tests, where selected children have their urine tested. Ketamine can be found in a user’s urine up to three days after consumption.
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India wants developed nations to pay for solar technology
India has announced an ambitious green energy target, which looks to out-do most developed countries’ efforts. It is planning to capture solar energy and use it as clean energy instead of heavily relying on coal to produce electricity, but has requested that richer nations provide the technology and financial help for their solar development project. Four-hundred million Indians live without electricity and it is anticipated that once this project is at full capacity – by 2020 – the overall development of the country will be improved.
President Zuma promises help for unemployed
As South Africa enters its first recession for 17 years, President Jacob Zuma has promised his government will set aside 2.4 billion rand (£177 million) for a training scheme to help workers facing redundancy. The scheme, which will benefit low-paid workers, will provide up to three months of paid training and will allow companies to temporarily suspend employees rather than dismiss them. The training will cover basic literacy, numeracy and computer skills.
Afghan bomb kills wedding party guests
A roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan has killed 21 people who were en route to a wedding party on a tractor-trailer, according to police in the Helmand Province. The Taliban is being blamed for the atrocity. Women and children were among the dead and according to reports at least five other people were injured. In a separate incident on the same day, five Afghan police were killed by a roadside bomb in the Nadali district of Helmand. Afghans go to the polls in two weeks and the Taliban has pledged to increase its use of roadside bombs this year.
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Mumbai bombers given death sentence
Three Indians who were found guilty of conspiring with a Pakistan-based militant group to carry out serial blasts in Mumbai have been given the death sentence. At least 54 people died and 200 were injured in the blasts at a jewellery market and popular tourist spot in August 2003. It is alleged the trio conspired with Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), who are also blamed for the attacks in Mumbai in 2008 that killed 166 and raised tensions between India and Pakistan.
US firm shuts French factory amid security concerns
US firm Molex has closed a car parts factory in Villemur-sur-Tarn, southern France, on security grounds after angry workers allegedly assaulted a manager. Workers at the plant are protesting over plans to relocate production to the US in October. According to union officials, the managers did not receive any direct punches and “a few eggs were thrown”. Molex is currently in talks with union representatives about the proposals which could see 283 workers lose their jobs.
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Clinton visit secures release of US journalists
Ex-US President Bill Clinton’s visit to North Korea has secured the release of two American journalists who have been imprisoned in the country for 140 days. Laura Ling and Euna Lee described the experience as “the most difficult, heart-wrenching days of our lives.” The journalists were imprisoned for crossing illegally into North Korea from China. Mr Clinton labelled the 24-hour visit to the country a personal and humanitarian mission – entirely separate from America’s long-running dispute over North Korea’s nuclear and missile testing.
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