Joanna Yeates may have been held captive before her murder

The 25-year-old Joanna Yeates’, a landscapre architect, vanished on Friday December 17 after a pub gathering with work colleagues. Her body was found about three miles away from her flat in Bristol. The body was frozen and covered in snow, found by dog walkers on Christmas Day. A post mortem examination had revealed that she had died as a result of ‘’compression of the neck’’.
The police said that they now know how she died but that they have to find out why she was killed and who was responsible. According to the police there was no sign of forced entry to the flat, one line of inquiry officers are pursuing is that she knew her killer. Police are also doing research on the possibility that Ms Yeats may have been held captive.


Reaction: Almost every newspaper is telling stories about her, so is must be very important for England. There are also discussions about why there is so much media attention to this murder. I think mainly because she was a young professional woman that was brutally murdered. The media is spending a lot of attention to this drama. The independent charity Crimestoppers is offering an enhanced reward of £10,000 to anyone who provides information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for her death.I hope that they will find out why she was killed and who was responsible.

'Christmas terror plot' suspects are remanded in custody

Nine Bangladeshi men, aged between 19 and 28, are accused of carrying a reconnaissance missions on targets and testing incendiary devices. Between 6 November and 21 December they are charged with conspiring to cause an explosion or explosions ‘of a nature likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property in the UK’. They are remanded in custody today on charges concerning an alleged plot for Christmas bombings in the UK. The London Stock Exchange and the US embassy, as well as religious or political leaders, were among the targets. According to the today’s Telegraph the accused made a reconnaissance trip by traveling from Trafalgar Square down Whitehall to Westminster Bridge, where they studied Big Ben. The charges specifically accused the men of "downloading, researching, obtaining and discussing materials and methods; researching, discussing, carrying out reconnaissance on, and agreeing potential targets; travelling to and attending meetings; igniting and testing incendiary material"


http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/dec/27/christmas-terror-suspects-remanded

Reaction: This operation was the most high-profile-terror rain in Britain since April 2009, when 12 men were detained across northern England. All were released without charge. I hope that there is sufficient evidence for a conviction. If there is enough evidence these men should be charged for these offences. It is well-known that Britain is very protective against terrorism after the bomb attacks in London in 2005. In England there is much surveillance and monitoring by police and MI5 officers. There are very afraid that the bomb attacks in 2005 will happen again. In Holland there are also twelve men suspected for involvement in terrorism.

Hormone implant use rises five-fold, contraception figures show

NHS data shows that the number of women using hormone implants for contraception has risen five-hold in five years but the popularity of condoms is declining. Using the condom as their main form of contraception fell from 30% to 25%. The implants are especially popular with younger women and teenagers.  The figure shows that 5 years ago only 1% of girls and women aged 16-19 on some form of contraception say they prefer an implant now it is 10%.

According to sexual health experts the shift shows us that women are increasingly choosing the most effective form of contraception and are demonstrating more responsibility in their sexual behaviour. The implants cost £90 to fit,  work three years and have higher success rates than condoms or the pill.

Local NHS primary care trusts have realised that implants are cheaper and more effective than the pill. More nurses have been trained to fit them and there is more education at school that is why the use is increasing.

The popularity of this implants may be explained that they are invisible, unlike condoms or the pill. Some teenagers choose it so that parents do not know they have a regular form of contraception.

Gillian Vanhegan, a medical spokeswoman for Brook, said that it is not a coincidence that this news comes out at the same time that the lowest teenage pregnancy figures for 20 years were released last week and that the two are obviously linked.

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/dec/03/hormone-implants-contraception-condoms

My opinion: Teenage pregnancy is a big problem in the UK, so I think this is good news. This implants has a lot of benefits because there is no need to think about the pill every morning and it is invisible. I think that is also the main reason why teenagers choose this contraception. Women who choose this implants must be aware of the fact that this does not protect against sexually transmitted infections. This might encourage irresponsible behaviour or explain the rise in infections. I think the only reason more women have it is an awareness issue. I think that is why it is so important that school must educate students about sexual health.

Nick Clegg urges students to see 'true picture' on fees

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11870818

Nick Clegg has written to the NUS president arguing the new system is fair, ahead of the third tuition fees demonstration. Nick Clegg had urged students to consider about government plans to raise tuition fees. According to the Prime Minister graduates in England on lower incomes would be better off than they are now.  He told the Nation Union of Students that it was ‘crucial’ that people realised there will be no upfront fees and repayments will begin at £21,000. MP for Cardiff Central, Ms Willott, is against these plans. She said that she could not support plan to allow English universities to charge £6,000, almost double the current £3,290 cap, and up to £9,000 under certain conditions. On Tuesday MPs will debate the student finance proposals and government plan to cut university teaching budgets and support allowances for low-income further education. Student groups are afraid that higher debts will put many people off from applying to university. But research by the million + and London Economics think thanks, published on Tuesdag, suggests 60% of students will be worse of under the plan by an average of £5,000.

My opinion: I think it is not fair that students have pay higher tuition fees, especially when they were promised that the tuition fees would not increase . On the other hand I think Nick Clegg is right about that students must urged the ‘true picture’ about government plans to raise tuiton fees. The economic situation is worse and government must cut in some benefits. If it is true that lower incomes are better off with the new system than the students must consider the new plans.  Students think that that higher debt will pun many people off from applying to university while research suggests that 60% of students will be worse of under the plan by an average of £5,000.   Also I think the repayment plans are fair. If you want to go to university, then the government will support the students by way of lending student fees required. When the students graduate and earn enough money, the students can repay debts. 

Phil Woolas ejected from parliament over election slurs

An election court barred Mr Woolas from politics for three years for making false statements against his opponent. Two high court judged ruled that the former immigration minister Phil Woolas lied about his Liberal Democrat opponent during the general elections, in a judgment that is likely to have profound implication for all future campaigns. He loses automatically his seat in the Commans and is barred for three years.  Woolas knowingly misled voters in Oldham East in a desperate bid to stir up religious tensions in the last days of the elections of the election by claiming Watkins had ‘wooed’ Islamic extremists. This is what Elwyn Watkins had claimed about Woolas. He also said that Woolas lied about Watkins’s intention to live in the constituency.

Some will say that Woolas was doing what lots of other politicians have done for years. But I think this is a pretty extreme thing to claim that your opponent is a terrorist supporter. Politics can be very rough especially during campaigns. But this time I think this is beyond rough and tumble. I think it must be a clear fight.  In my opinion it is a bad thing to tell lies about your opponents to get themselves elected.  This judgment does not only affect this campaign but also in the future. This is also a warning for all politicians that they have to be very careful about what they saying about their opponents.

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

Long-term jobless 'could face compulsory manual labour'

People who are long term unemployed could be forced to do community work, like gardening or litter cleaning.  Work and Pension secretary Iain Duncun will outline plans for four week placements.  He said:  ‘One thing we can do is pull people in to do one or two weeks’ manual work – turn up at 9 am and leave at 5 PM, to give people a sense of work, but also when we think they’re doing other work’.  

The UK has one of the highest rates of workless households in Europe, with 5 million people on out-of-work benefits and 1,9 million children living in homes where no-one has a job.

Everyone who refused to take part of this plans or failing to turn up on time to work could have their jobseekers allowance stopped for at least three months.  

I think the purpose of this plan is good.  This plan are intended to support to that people back into the habit of getting up and going out to work.  I think it is of a great value to get people back into the work routine on their daily life.  In Holland you must also do some kind of community work it is called ‘Maatschappelijke activering’.  I think you must work for your money because the government pays you.  


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11704765

Royal wedding: Prince William and Kate congratulated

Last Tuesday the couple announced to get married next spring or summer.  Prince Williams proposed Kate while they were on a Holiday in Kenia in October.  Prince William gave Kate his mother Diana’s engagement ring, which he carried in a rucksack for three weeks.  The engagement was widely report in all sorts of media around the world, with The Times describing the couple as ‘The new  romantics’.  Kate Middelton and Prince Williams have met each other as students at St Andrews University, Fife.  They are together for eight years.   Prince Charles made a  joke and said, ‘They ‘ve been practicing long enough.’

This is a hot item in England.   The paparazzi in England are very suspicious and now finally they are going to get married.   In another article have read that this couple were chased by the paparazzi for months.  I think that in England the paparazzi are hungry ,relentless and fearless to get a exclusive photo for their tabloids.   This was also the big issue when Prince Diana died.   I think that Kate must get used to all the media attention. The media are describing her as a normal girl.  I wonder if she could handle all the media attention and if she would get settled in The  Royal family.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11771616