Property market: Word on the street
The News Review:
- Property market: Word on the street
- Nigeria: As Women Celebrate International Women’s Day
- Burundi/Rwanda: Rwanda Face Burundi in CAN Championship Opener
- Patient pace of training is paying off
- Missing girl Shannon Matthews hidden in bed base
- Easter experiences: feel the frogspawn
Property market: Word on the street
Telegraph.co.uk – Mar 15, 2008
Our house prices are, in fact, even more overvalued; we are more highly indebted; our interest rates are even higher than in the US. One section of the market – the buy-to-let landlords who bought in new-build developments in places such as Manchester and Leeds in recent years – is already facing a price crash. Even leaving aside our home-grown problems, America’s current recession will serve only to depress our economy even further, as American firms cut jobs and our transatlantic exports suffer. Yet there are some thin silver linings. The first is that a collapse in the buy-to-let sector may not be as painful economically and socially as a collapse in sub-prime because, quite simply, BTL investors can sell up rather than being evicted (though not if they are in negative equity). The second – and I can’t emphasise this enough – is that while millions of families here face a sharp increase in their mortgage bills, it is as nothing compared with what many US households experienced. I don’t buy the argument that the chronic shortage of new housing will stop prices from plummeting.
Nigeria: As Women Celebrate International Women’s Day
AllAfrica.com – Mar 14, 2008
Over the years, the UN and its technical agencies have promoted the participation of women as equal partners with men in achieving sustainable development, peace, security, and full respect for human rights. Nigerian women through the civil society organisa-tions has participated in the struggle to end violence against women and has continue to promote the view that the empowerment of women must be a central feature in efforts to address social, economic and political challenges across the globe. Nigeria like other African countries has made efforts to promote gender equality and women empowerment by attesting to several regional and international commitments including: the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 2000, and the Home grown National Gender Policy 2006, all which emphasized the inclusiveness of women and the recognition of their potentials and activities in all aspect of life of any growing economy. The government of Nigeria at different fora voluntarily pledged to follow the provisions as stated in these documents. However due to lack of political will to invest in gender programmes and initiatives the public finance system often exclude the needs of the people. The analysis of government policies, National budgetary Plan, expenditure and implementation processes grossly under represent critical gender needs and concerns. As a result, the country’s economic strategies since independence have failed to benefit in large terms women and girls.
Burundi/Rwanda: Rwanda Face Burundi in CAN Championship Opener
AllAfrica.com – Mar 14, 2008
Meanwhile, Amavubi Stars’ technical committee is expected to name the team that will play in the championship today, according to assistant coach Jean Marie Ntagwabira. "We are holding a technical meeting today (yesterday) during which we will name the squad that will play the opening tie against Burundi," Ntagwabira told Times Sport yesterday. This new championship was inaugurated last September by Caf with the aim of providing home-grown talents more exposure on the international scene as well as promoting and developing football in Africa. Elsewhere at the preliminary round, Libya plays Tunisia (Northern zone), Gambia against Mauritania (West A zone), Ghana hosts Niger while Togo faces Benin (West B zone). In the Central zone, Central Africa Republic will play against Gabon as DR Congo faces Chad. Malawi faces Mozambique in Blanytre while Swaziland hosts Zambia in the preliminary fixtures for the Southern zone. The winners of each group will qualify for the final tournament, which will be held in Ivory Coast from February 22 to March 8 next year.
Patient pace of training is paying off
Stuff.co.nz – Mar 14, 2008
I've never been more than an average competitor, either. However, with my 60th birthday coming up, I thought that while I still had full use of my faculties, I'd like to know how good I could be if I trained correctly. My kids have all grown up and left home. My wife Anna is supportive, even though she's not naturally sportingly inclined, so last June I started a year-long training programme with my swim coach Lionel Padial. For the full year, Lionel would take over as my trainer and guide in planning my daily programme in all three triathlon disciplines, setting the intensity and duration of the sessions, describing the goals of each and every session, and monitoring my stress, motivation and fitness levels. This year, I moved into the 60-64 age group for triathlon competition, even though I'm still a few months away from my birthday – so I have the advantage of being younger than most of the opposition, an important fact as Father Time starts to scythe away at the old body. The first step was to race a few of the national series races around the country, and that went much better than expected, with a couple of wins and a third place.
Missing girl Shannon Matthews hidden in bed base
NEWS.com.au – Mar 15, 2008
Police smashed their way into a home and discovered the youngster hidden in a bed base overnight. It was an incredible ending to one of the biggest police operations Britain has ever seen. Officers had grown increasingly concerned for Shannon Matthews safety, with one expert saying today it was "quite rare that you would find a child alive after all this time". Man held
A 39-year-old man, believed to be related to Shannon’s stepfather, has been arrested on suspicion of abducting her. The case that has gripped Britain came to an end with a brief police statement saying: "Shannon is currently in the care of West Yorkshire Police… Police smashed their way into a home and discovered the youngster hidden in a bed base overnight. It was an incredible ending to one of the biggest police operations Britain has ever seen. Officers had grown increasingly concerned for Shannon Matthews safety, with one expert saying today it was "quite rare that you would find a child alive after all this time". Man held
A 39-year-old man, believed to be related to Shannon’s stepfather, has been arrested on suspicion of abducting her. The case that has gripped Britain came to an end with a brief police statement saying: "Shannon is currently in the care of West Yorkshire Police. Investigations are ongoing. " The youngster went missing on February 19 after going on a swimming trip in the town of Dewsbury, prompting one of the biggest investigations in the area since the Yorkshire Ripper inquiry of the late 1970s.
Easter experiences: feel the frogspawn
Telegraph.co.uk – Mar 14, 2008
uk)Relive the wartime spirit in the Derwent Valley A special 1940s weekend at Crich Tramway Village, near Matlock, offers rides on blacked-out trams to a backdrop of air-raid sirens and the Glenn Miller Band. While children go on manoeuvres in the adventure playground, grown-ups can either watch the Home Guard marching or drink for victory at the village’s Red Lion pub, which will be serving wartime meals (no powdered egg). Easter Sunday and Monday. Adults, £10 (£8 if you are in costume), children, £5. 50, family ticket, £30. Crich Tramway Village, DE4 5DP (01773 854321,.