LATEST NEWS MAY2 2008

London, Monday June 23, 2008. Experts claim that too many parents are failing to put child safety knowledge into action - sometimes with fatal consequences. Their warning coincides with the launch of Child Safety Week which aims to drive home an array of life-saving safety messages to parents. Run by the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) the campaign is backed by an array of statistics underlining the deadly serious safety message. Among the most shocking is the sobering fact that six children a week die in the UK as a result of avoidable accidents. A further 2000 are rushed to hospital every week with injuries ranging from the trivial to permanent physical disfigurement. Worse affected are the under fives, an age group which suffers most from lethal accidents or otherwise avoidable injuries. More than 500 under fives are rushed to hospital casualty units every week because of burns and scalds - and hot drinks are the number one cause. Up to 20 children are admitted to hospital every day because they are thought to have swallowed something poisonous, many of them under fives. While the figures are a grim reminder of human frailty bosses with the CAPT claim that in many cases simple foresight can literally save lives. "Most families are well aware of the dangers to children. But an alarming number don't put their knowledge into practice," said Katrina Phillips, CAPT chief executive. "It's not about blame. We know it's hard when you're busy caring for a family. It's easy to think that a serious accident won't happen to your child. But taking a few simple safety precautions can make a real difference to their safety." She added: "Our theme for Child Safety Week is 'Make a change. Make a difference.' We're asking parents and grandparents to think about their everyday behaviour and routines, and see what they can change to make their children safer both at home and while out and about."

Millions 'will be plunged into poverty' Oxfam says

London, Sunday, June 22, 2008. Urgent action is needed to prevent millions of people being dragged into poverty because of rising fuel and food prices, Oxfam warned yesterday. Poor countries must slash their carbon footprint and invest in greener energies, while giving their people more of a voice, the charity said. 'Unless we act quickly, the gap between the haves and the have-nots will grow uncontrollably,' said Duncan Green, ¬author of From Poverty To Power. 'We face either catastrophic climate change or serious economic decline. ¬Either way, the poorest will be hit first and hit hardest.' Every year, 30million children are born facing a lifetime of poverty, poor nutrition and sickness. But the current crisis could leave millions more in dire straits unless states embrace a low-carbon economy, the report warns. It also calls for developing countries to give citizens a greater voice through a free media, allowing demonstrations and promoting democracy. -Oxfam stresses the book is a change from current thinking that poverty is alleviated through economic growth alone. The charity hopes it will provide valuable guidance to governments in the developing worlds. 'In telling us what can be achieved by ordinary people through organised action, this book generates hope,' added Nobel

Fears as teen crime soars by 27%

The number of youngsters being dealt with by police and the courts has rocketed by more than a quarter in the past six years.

London, Sunday, June 22, 2008. The number of youngsters being dealt with by police and the courts has increased by more than a quarter in the past six years. Children and youths under 18 being handled by the criminal justice system rocketed by 27 per cent, it emerged today. And the figure was nearly twice as high as six years ago in some areas of England and Wales, the Institute for Public Policy Research claimed. The think-tank said young criminals should be punished by a panel of victims rather than being sent to court for less serious offences. This would allow victims of crime to confront young offenders, spokesman James Crabtree said. 'Current targets have resulted in the police concentrating on easier-to-solve low-level crimes committed by children and teenagers, often with complex problems,' he added. 'We should not be soft or tolerant, but the current trend of criminalisation is not working. A truly “tough on crime” approach would give victims and community members the opportunity to challenge kids on the consequences of their actions and prevent re-offending.' There were more cautions than convictions, the figures showed. There was a 95 per cent rise in cautions in Cheshire but just a 20 per cent rise in convictions. Across England, there was a 27 per cent rise in cautions and an 11 per cent rise in convictions.

GREAT COUNCIL TAX GIVEAWAY

Council tax bills are set to be slashed for 400,000 families

COUNCIL tax bills are set to be slashed for 400,000 families. Some will be in line for refunds of up to £1,400 if the Tories win the next election. The £400million windfall was promised yesterday by Shadow Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles. He plans to use the giant database built up by Gordon Brown’s snoopers to identify homes in the wrong tax band.Officials will then write to every family explaining how they can appeal to their town hall for rebates and re-banding – cutting bills by hundreds of pounds a year.Council tax bills are set by the price band the local authority places each property in. Bands run from A to H, with H being the most expensive.

But many of the original valuations were nicknamed “second gear valuations”, because estate agents would drive slowly past a house and allocate a band without stopping to inspect it.An estimated 400,000 families are thought to be in the wrong band and paying over the odds in council tax. A family living in a Band E house will pay, on average, 22 per cent more than those living in Band D – the equivalent of £294 last year.Mr Pickles said even though the Government knows who these families are, they have been allowed to languish in the wrong band.He has led the campaign against the creation of the Big Brother database containing details of England’s 22million homes. But the mastermind of the Tories’ historic by-election victory in Crewe and Nantwich pledged an incoming Conservative government would be able to put the database to good use. “We know the Government has information on a substantial number of properties which they know are in the wrong band,” he said. “I think one of our first acts would be to inform those people so they could appeal.” Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, praised Mr Pickles’ populist proposal – then warned that Labour might pinch it.

Bishop Mark Kariuki preaching during the CCBC Swahili Service 'Pana Mahali' Convention in London. Rev. Patrick Thuku, Minister in-charge CCBC Swahili Service, is sitted on the right while Pastor Jane Njiiri is sitted on the left (with yellow dress).

This was said by the General Overseer, Deliverance Church Kenya, Bishhop Mark Kariuki during the Swahili Service 'Pana Mahali' Convention at Calvary Charismatic Baptist Church, Greatfields Temple, Barking. The Convention, which started yesterday, 29th May 2008, was attended by many people and Bishop Kariuki was the main Guest speaker. In his sermon, which was from Mathew 14: 34-36, Bishop Kariuki said that what is important is not what he says but what the Lord causes you to hear, for the final word comes from the Lord. "Jesus is interested with your situation and you should sit in faith and know that God knows your faith", he said.

The Conention, running from 29th May to 1st June 2008 from 7.00pm daily, will also be addressed by the CCBC General Overseer Rev. Francis Sarpong and Pastor Tony Gathiru King.

Woman sues after finding unexpected identical twin

A Spanish woman only discovered she had a long-lost identical twin when she was mistaken for someone else in a shop. The two sisters , who were not named, found they were born in the same hospital in 1973 around the same time and a DNA test subsequently showed they were identical twins. 'In 1973 there were two assistants and one supervisor for 60 babies,' Densi Calero, who worked in the maternity unit of the clinic at the time, told local radio. 'It's not impossible to imagine something like this could happen.' The woman is suing the Canary Island health services for €3 million (£2.4 million) for emotional trauma, El Pais newspaper reported. 'I wish I'd never found out about it,' the woman said.

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Madonna mother to Banda at last

Mother and son granted a happy future by judges

London. After her two and a half year battle with Malawian adoption agencies and public perception, Madonna officially became 'Mom' to precious baby David Banda today. The superstar was absent from the court to hear the happy end to the saga that has dogged her, as a judge deemed the pair family officially. Instead the singer was at home in London with Banda, 2 and his new father Guy Ritchie as the news emerged. For the mother of three, 49, it draws a line under the saga surrounding the adoption which started when she took David back to London outside a stipulated 18 to 24 month assessment period. Adoption agencies accused her of using her global status to bend the rules, an allegation she has fought to beat, first going on the Oprah Winfrey show and breaking down. Further stumbling blocks came after the child's poor father u-turned saying he didn't mean to give away his motherless son for good. Only last week, the star spoke publicly about the pain of the attacks, telling journalists at the Cannes Film festival the pain was worse than child birth. 'It was a big struggle, and I didn't understand it,' she said. 'But in the end, I rationalized that when a woman has a child and goes through natural childbirth, she suffers an enormous amount (also).' For Madonna, it surely won't be the last battle she faces in her bid to help the children from the impoverished nation, repeatedly insisting she'll adopt again. She has also ploughed millions from her own fortune into her Raising Malawi organisation, setting up an children's academy. Her joy was also coupled with the news that she can now visit the country freely after she was made an honorary citizen by the country's government for her charitable work. 'We are proud as a country to be associated with such a megastar,' said the country's deputy tourism and culture minister. 'She will have freedom of all cities here. She won't be bothered with issues like visas and other limitations.'

Hundreds of prisoners to be freed

About 550 non-violent and non-sexual offenders to be freed early

London, Wednesday, May 28, 2008. The Government has drawn up plans to release hundreds of criminals from jail early. About 550 non-violent and non-sexual offenders will be automatically freed halfway through their sentences, instead of having to wait until the two-thirds point. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) indicated that after the initial batch were freed over 14 months, there could be further releases under the same measures. Jails in England and Wales have been instructed to let out eligible offenders from June 9, and were warned by Prison Service HQ that failing to do so would amount to "unlawful detention". Former Lord Chief Justice Lord Woolf warned of a summer of "small scale rioting" due to overcrowding in an interview with the Daily Telegraph. He says tensions could be exacerbated by hot weather. He told the newspaper: "The present situation is extremely worrying. I don't think prisons will blow up tomorrow or next week but there is certainly a danger of that." Shadow justice secretary Nick Herbert described such early release schemes as "underhand", although the MoJ pointed out the plans went through Parliament unopposed. Tory Mr Herbert said: "Releasing prisoners early when they have only served half of their sentence undermines trust in the criminal justice system, even more so when the Government has introduced such underhand measures because it has failed to provide adequate prisons capacity. "Punishments should fit the crime and there should be honesty in sentencing so that every offender serves a minimum sentence handed down in court." Justice Secretary Jack Straw's plan is expected to free urgently-required space in overcrowded jails, as inmate numbers reach a record 83,000 in England and Wales. The early release plan equalises the arrangements for offenders sentenced under the 1991 Criminal Justice Act with those punished under Labour's 2003 Criminal Justice Act 2003, which came into force in April 2005.

BRITONS SUFFER AS BROWN 'USES MIGRANT LABOUR'

GRAYLING: 'Migrant workers have been allowed to take UK jobs while many Britons remain in poverty'

London.GORDON Brown has been accused of relying on an influx of migrant workers to fill British jobs.

The Tories claim the Prime Minister has used the policy as an “easy” alternative to proper welfare reform that would get many unemployed Britons back into work.In a hard-hitting speech today, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Chris Grayling will attack Gordon Brown for leaving millions of Britons stranded in poverty while using immigration as a “safety net”.Mr Brown last year promised “British jobs for British workers”. But his controversial pledge has proved to be hollow rhetoric after latest figures showed nearly nine in every 10 jobs created under Labour have gone to foreign workers. Mr Grayling will point to London as an example where economic growth and prosperity should have ensured jobs for all but where there remain “serious pockets of unemployment and welfare dependency”. “It’s not that the work hasn’t been there,” he will say. “Thousands of people have moved into all areas of London from overseas to find jobs. That is part of what makes this city so successful. “It also demonstrates how badly this Government has let down those excluded from the labour market. Why on earth are we paying out vast amounts of money to keep people out of work, when jobs are there and being filled by people from overseas?

The Church of England is divided over a proposed motion urging it to proclaim Christianity as the only way to salvation and offer strategies on how to evangelise Muslims.Senior church leaders as well as some Muslim figures have voiced anger at the motion proposed by Paul Eddy – a lay member of the church’s General Synod, according to the BBC. Eddy, along with traditionalist Anglicans, argues that the Church should stop avoiding hard questions about its beliefs.The Church of England must make it clear that it believes in what the Bible says about Jesus being the only way to salvation, he said. Currently training to become a priest, Eddy believes that being upfront about the Church’s beliefs will be helpful to Muslim-Christian relations.“Most Muslims that I’ve talked to say, ‘I really wish that Christians would stop watering down their faith and expecting us to do the same,’” Eddy said on BBC Radio Four on Sunday. “Until we start really saying what we really believe in our faith, there will be no respect.”Eddy went on to note that Muslims expect Christians to believe that Jesus is the only way to God.“They will expect us – if we’re true Christians – to try to evangelise them, in the same way they will expect us, if they’re true Muslims, to adopt their faith,” he said.But the problem is that the Church, in an effort to be inclusive and to avoid offending people of other faiths, has “lost its nerve” and is “not doing what the Bible says”, he claims."Both Christianity and Islam are missionary faiths," Eddy pointed out. "For years, we have sent missionaries throughout the whole world, but when we have the privilege of people of all nations on our doorstep, we have a responsibility as the state church to share the gospel of Jesus Christ."He urges Anglican bishops to give Church members advice on how to evangelise, and how to better support Muslims who have converted to Christianity and who are now ostracised by their communities.The proposal is expected to be discussed at the General Synod summer meeting, being held from July 4 to 8 in York.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis hailed Lewis Hamilton's dream victory in Monaco and admitted it was a relief to have triumphed in a race free from the controversies of 12 months ago. Hamilton's win on the rain-lashed streets of Monte Carlo sparked scenes of jubilation for his team. Rewind to last May and, despite a one-two for McLaren led by Fernando Alonso, the aftermath included an FIA investigation and the start of an internal feud. Team orders deprived a furious Hamilton of the chance to attack his then team-mate. Although the FIA cleared McLaren of any wrongdoing, it was the start of a power struggle between the two drivers which led to the pair falling out and Alonso leaving at the end of the season. But this year, with a third of the season gone, Hamilton is back in the lead by three points from Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen who was ninth. Even Dennis conceded the team, also fined £50million following last year's spying scandal, would 'party hard' after the race before beginning preparations began for the Canadian Grand Prix in 12 days' time. At least it was a win for Dennis to savour, compared to 12 months ago, as he said: 'There was no controversy to it all. 'It was a great race to be part of, one the whole team felt they had participated in. 'Lewis drove exceptionally well on a track that is so technically difficult. He made a mistake early on and nearly paid the price. Anywhere else on the circuit, that could have been very hard to get back. 'But after that we were in control, and winning here has fulfilled a dream for Lewis. 'For him this was his icon race and he's come out leading the championship again, although there is a long way to go.'

London, Monday 26, May 2008. Three men have been arrested after an Asian teenager was battered to death in Dewsbury. Police are investigating whether there is a link between Amar Aslam's death and reports of running battles between two gangs of youths in Crow Nest Park.A source close to the victim's family said the bank holiday had been marred by violence between the warring gangs.

The man, who lives in Dewsbury and did not wish to be named, said: "There was fighting between a white gang and a non white gang.There is a belief that there may be a link between that and the murder of this young man."

London, Monday 26, 2008. The biggest overhaul of consumer protection laws in 40 years has come into force.The new Consumer Protection Regulations will ban 31 types of unfair sales practices outright and tighten controls on traders ranging from double-glazing salesmen to fortune tellers.The changes adopt an EU directive requiring all businesses to treat customers fairly, closing loopholes that rogue traders have previously been able to exploit.The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and Trading Standards will enforce the new rules.-Businesses breaking the law face substantial fines and prison sentences, depending on the seriousness of the offending.The regulations outlaw traders using misleading statements, fake credentials and aggressive sales practices.Among the tactics that are now illegal are bogus closing down sales, limited time offers that are later extended, false testimonials on websites and high pressure sales techniques, especially those likely to harm the elderly or vulnerable.Fortune-tellers, astrologists and other mediums are among those opposing the new laws, saying they will be forced to tell customers that they are offering "entertainment only" and their work is not "experimentally proven".Consumer Affairs Minister Gareth Thomas said: "Honest traders understand the value of treating customers fairly and they've had enough of losing profit to the small minority of rogues who use underhand tactics to get ahead."The Consumer Protection Regulations will deliver better protection for consumers, cut red tape and put in place a simpler and clearer consumer law that will be easier to interpret and enforce."

London,Monday 26th, May 2008. Lorry drivers are to pour into London for what organisers hope will be the largest-ever fuel duty protest in the capital. Hauliers are angry at soaring fuel prices which have resulted in the average cost of diesel passing far beyond the 120p-a-litre mark. Led by lorry drivers from Kent, the protest is expected to attract hundreds of hauliers from all around the UK. The convoy will make its way to central London, parking close to Marble Arch. Transport for London said the A40 will be closed between White City and Edgware Road, west London, from 10am until 3pm so that demonstrators can park their lorries. The westbound carriageway of the A40, going out of London, will remain open. A delegation from the demonstrators will hand a letter to 10 Downing Street demanding the immediate introduction of an essential user rebate which would allow HGV operators to claim some of the fuel duty back. Mike Presneill, a leading member of Transaction 2007, who is helping to organise the protest, said: "Fuel is rocketing. The Government has the power to act but appears not to be listening. Hundreds of UK transport firms are being driven to the wall. Thousands of UK jobs are being lost. "Foreign hauliers are entering the UK with cheaper fuel purchased abroad. They contribute nothing to our economy." Kent-based haulier Peter Knight said: "This is the economics of the mad house. If we are wiped out, the work will be done by foreign hauliers who pay nothing to the UK in tax."

London. England's leading independent schools have launched an attack on the Government's new national curriculum for the under-fives. The Independent Schools Council has written to children's minister Beverley Hughes complaining the new arrangements would mean the education of under-fives was subject to greater government interference than that for any other age group, according to The Times newspaper, which said it had seen a leaked copy of the letter. It says the Early Years Foundation Stage framework is a "clumsy intrusion into the early years' curriculum of independent schools" and is both "unjustified and unnecessary". It adds: "More importantly, this interference conflicts with the rights of parents to privacy in their home life, which includes the freedom to choose how they educate their children and how to educate them free from the control of the state." The letter, copied to Schools Secretary Ed Balls, also complains that the framework is likely to hold back children's progress and to lower standards, the newspaper reports. The framework becomes law in the autumn and will affect all 25,000 nurseries and childcare settings in England, whether they are run by the state, charities or private companies. A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said: "It is nonsense to say that the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) breaches human rights." We consulted widely on the Early Years Foundation Stage." It was based on the evidence of qualified early years professionals and was debated both in Parliament and through a public consultation. This consultation, carried out in 2006, showed widespread support for EYFS."

The body of a 16-year-old boy was found yesterday in Crow Nest Park in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire

London, Monday 26, May 2007. A 16-year-old boy has been stabbed to death in West Yorkshire - the latest victim of a knife crime in the UK. The Asian youth's body was found in Crow Nest Park in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire. This stabbing follows the murder of Harry Potter actor Robert Knox on Saturday. The 18-year-old was killed in Sidcup, Kent and in a separate incident today, a 19-year-old male is in critical condition after being stabbed near Eastham Station in East London.

Colin Knox, father of stabbed Robert Knox, is comforted at the scene of his son's death

The shattered father of stabbed Harry Potter actor Robert Knox warned: 'With knives there are no winners, only losers. 'If you are a person who carries a knife, think about the consequences and, for my son's sake, don't do it.' Colin Knox and Rob's mother Sally bravely went on TV to speak of their popular, talented son who died as he defended his brother from a knifeman. Mr Knox told of the explosion of emotion when he heard of the 18-year-old's death in the early hours of Saturday. Now, he said, Sally had 'run out of tears'.Sports-mad Rob, who lived in Sidcup, Kent, had just finished work on the new Harry Potter film Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince, which is due to be released in November. He had a minor role as student wizard Marcus Belby and relatives say he had already agreed to appear in the next Potter blockbuster. His parents said they hoped his screen fame would help sharpen the focus on knife crime. Mr Knox, 55, who works in media production, said: 'If it serves that purpose, then Robert will have done something else exceptional in his short life.'

Mrs Knox, 50, a Marks & Spencer buyer, added: 'It's impossible to convey the sadness and loss that we all feel, but we now realise Rob touched many people's lives. He was happy, outgoing and a fun person to be with, he was the social hub of his large circle of friends. 'Rob always put everyone before himself, he was always the first person to stand up against wrong. He achieved so much.' Their younger son Jamie, 17, said by witnesses to have been the initial target of the attack, said: 'My relationship with Rob was a very strong one. We'd do almost everything together and he just took me everywhere he went. He was just my best friend.' Both parents spoke of their last meetings with their son. In a tragic irony, Mr Knox's last words were to warn him about the dangers of being caught up in the culture of carrying a weapon, Fighting back tears, he recalled: 'We had a chat about the problems of people carrying knives and steering clear of problematical little areas that you could put yourself into.'Describing his son as 'an angel on earth without wings', he added: 'Rob was a very positive guy, nothing was ever a problem and he would turn his hand to anything.

'There was no such thing to Robert as a wall or a fence because they would be climbed or scaled.' Mrs Knox said she remembered Rob asking her how his hair looked and whether he looked fat in his T-shirt before he went out on Friday night. She said: 'There's so many good memories you can't pick just one. He was just such a happy person.' Rob was killed, and three other people injured, in a fight outside the Metro Bar in Sidcup. His friend Lee Howard, 19, who was with him, said: 'A group of friends were in the bar, just having a drink on a Friday night as normal, when word went round that someone was coming down, tooled up with knives. 'Then two men turned up outside. The bouncers didn't seem to search them and then let them into the bar. It kicked off straight away.'

Another friend told how he cradled Rob as he lay dying. Callum Turner, 18, said: 'He looked into my eyes and said " Callum, I need help, I need you to help me". I knew he was in trouble. 'I laid him down, held his hand and just kept talking to him and trying to keep him calm. 'I knew he was slipping away, it was just so sad. There was nothing I could do to save him.' In a bleak coincidence, Rob was a member of the same Sidcup rugby club as 16-year-old altar boy Jimmy Mizen, who was murdered two weeks ago in nearby Lee, South East London. The two families liveless than six miles from each other . Last night Jimmy's parents Barry and Margaret Mizen and their eldest son Danny said they were horrified to hear another young life had been lost in a knife attack. Danny, 30, said: 'It's all so senseless. We feel for his family.' Rob, who gained A-levels at Beths Grammar School, Bexley, had been rapidly building a reputation as an actor.He appeared with Roxanne Ricketts and Nicholas Lyndhurst in the 2007 BBC TV comedy After You've Gone about a family who move to Africa to help the poor.

Colin Knox, (left) father of stabbed Robert Knox, is comforted at the scene of his son's death while on the , Rob is pictured as a child with younger brother Jamie who described him as 'his best friend'

The adrenaline rush of arguments can become an addictive hobby for some couples, left. But that kiss-and-make-up conclusion to a squabble shouldn't be your sole reason for engaging in a shouting session with your partner(centre). Divorce isn't in the vocabulary of Frank and Anita Milford, right. Boasting the title of Britain's longest married couple they have the secret of a successful partnership down to a tee - an argument every day. The couple's 78-year marriage is pretty convincing proof that partaking in regular rows can give a relationship staying power.98-year-old Frank revealed: "We don't always see eye to eye and we do have a small argument every day. But that comes and goes. We are always here for each other."Relationships aren't all hearts and flowers. Along with cuddles and kisses, acrimonious arguments are common, whether you're a fledging twosome or an old married couple.

"Different points of view are essential. If we retain our individuality we're bound to have different views, opinions and ideas and these bring interest to a relationship." But Hayman notes the difference between a constructive argument and a row that will just roll on and on. "A good relationship is one in which each partner feels able to put forward their own feelings and hear their partner's," she says. "Conflict happens when people can't or won't take on board their partner's viewpoint and that isn't healthy."

Thursday, May 22, 2008. The working classes have lower IQs than those from wealthier backgrounds and should not be expected to win places at top universities, an academic has claimed. Bruce Charlton, reader in evolutionary psychiatry at Newcastle University, suggested that the low numbers of working-class students at elite universities was the "natural outcome" of IQ differences between classes. In a paper shown to the Times Higher Education magazine, Dr Charlton questioned the Government's drive to get more students from poor backgrounds into top universities like Oxford and Cambridge. He said: "The UK Government has spent a great deal of time and effort in asserting that universities, especially Oxford and Cambridge, are unfairly excluding people from low social class backgrounds and privileging those from higher social classes. "Yet in all this debate a simple and vital fact has been missed: higher social classes have a significantly higher average IQ than lower social classes." The fact that so few students from poor families get into Oxbridge is not down to "prejudice" but "meritocracy", he said. The Government criticised Dr Charlton's comments. Higher education minister Bill Rammell said: "These arguments have a definite tone of 'people should know their place'. "There are young people with talent, ability and the potential to benefit from higher education who do not currently do so. That should concern us all." Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union, said: "It should come as little surprise that people who enjoy a more privileged upbringing have a better start in life. "It is up to all of us to ensure that not having access to the social and educational benefits that money provides is not a barrier to achieving one's full potential."

Thousands of jubilant Manchester United fans and deflated Chelsea supporters are making the long journey back from Moscow to England.A nail-biting penalty shoot-out clinched the Champions League title for the Reds after a closely fought all-English final in front of 42,000 British fans. Both teams had thought victory was within their grasp as the match played out, so Chelsea fans said they felt stunned when a save by United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar destroyed their dreams. Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring for United after 26 minutes, but England international Frank Lampard equalised for Chelsea on the stroke of half-time.Chelsea's 21,000 travelling fans endured seeing their side hit the woodwork twice - and their hopes faded when striker Didier Drogba was sent off for striking Nemanja Vidic.There was only despair for the Blues when United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar saved the final penalty at 1.35am local time.Seconds after United became the champions of Europe for the third time in their history, manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: "That is the first penalty shoot-out I have ever won."The triumphant team were led up to collect the trophy by Manchester United legend and England World Cup winner Sir Bobby Charlton.United fans streaming away from the stadium were in jubilant mood. Simon Green, 50, a self-employed bricklayer from Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, said: "I'm absolutely ecstatic. I don't think I have ever been so nervous in my entire life as during the penalty shoot-out."Chelsea fan Peter Slade, 56, a printer from Surbiton, Surrey, said: "I am just stunned. I just can't believe this has happened."

Thousands more Manchester United and Chelsea fans are arriving in Moscow as excitement mounts ahead of the historic all-English Champions League final.They are being met by a huge security operation - and a zero tolerance approach from the Russian police.Tonight, the two best clubs in England will battle it out to be crowned champions of Europe.Most fans have spent more than £1,000 for the privilege of watching their teams - more than 42,000 fans are expected in the city. The majority will land on charter flights through the day, staying for less than 24 hours in the city. Fans have been warned to arrive early at the Luzhniki Stadium because of security checks - and not to drink too much.Kick-off is at 10.45pm local time, raising fears fans may kill time in the city's bars.Mobile sobering up units are on hand for those who have overindulged.Last night most fans already here drank in their hotels - after braving lengthy hotel check-in queues - and Red Square was quiet.Manchester United fan Rob Best was simply drinking up the atmosphere: "It means absolutely everything."We've paid lots of money but that's the dedication to get here at any cost."Chelsea fans, like Ben Swift, were equally complimentary."It has been fantastic," he said, "The Russians have been really getting into the spirit loads of Chelsea fans, loads of United fans. We are having a great time."But there was last-minute drama for 200 fans at Stanstead airport this morning.They arrived from Manchester and were due to fly at 4am this morning - only to be told their flight was now leaving from Manchester.Some 7,000 Russian riot police are keeping the peace - a police contingent from the UK is also helping the Russians.Seventeen plain-clothed officers from the Metropolitan and Greater Manchester forces will act as spotters to prevent trouble.Assistant Chief Constable Steve Thomas thinks the Russians can handle the number of England fans and any problems that may arise."With our banning orders very few troublemakers and hooligans will be able to leave the country," he explained."We will be interpreting our fans behaviour to the Russian officers and will advise them when to intervene and when to take a more hands off approach."But not everybody is convinced that Moscow is up to the job.Fiona McGee from the Football Supporters' Federation says fans should be cautious about personal security.Her organisation claims large numbers of England fans were victims of crime when they travelled to Moscow to watch the Euro 2008 qualification match between Russia and England in October."There were people who were victims of mugging and attacks," said Ms McGee, "More than we would expect to see in other areas so we are urging people to be extra vigilant."

London, Wednesday 21, May 2008. The US President, George Bush is to visit Britain next month during a tour of European nations, the White House has announced.The trip, from June 9 to 16, is intended to mark the 60th anniversary of the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe after the Second World War and the Berlin Airlift.Mr Bush will also visit Germany, Italy, the Vatican, and France, as well as attending the annual US-EU summit in Slovenia.The trip follows Prime Minister Gordon's visit to the United States last month.

Pictured: World's first pregnant man mows his lawn just weeks before giving birth

Trim around the edges: His pregnant belly bulging through his T-shirt, Thomas Beatie sets about his weekend chores. Below, broom in hand he clears away the cuttings and, bottom, he surveys his handiwork

Tuesday,20th May 2008. Keeping the lawn in tip-top shape is a matter of pride for many men and bearded transsexual Thomas Beatie is no different - despite being seven months' pregnant.Sporting a T-shirt with the logo of his company "Define Normal", the 34-year-old gets stuck into his gardening chores while wife Nancy does her weekend duties at their Bend home in the U.S. state of Oregon.Thomas, who was born Tracy Lagondino, said he first felt he was trapped in the wrong body when he was in his 20s and quickly went from a Miss Teen Hawaii finalist to taking testosterone and growing a beard.

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey in April, Thomas revealed that he used a donor's sperm to conceive. He added it was Nancy who inseminated him at home with a syringe-like device. The transsexual says he is carrying a child on behalf of his wife because she has had a hysterectomy. Thomas said his first attempt to have a child resulted in an ectopic pregnancy with triplets. They had to be aborted, he said, and he lost his right fallopian tube. He is legally classified a man after having had testosterone treatment and surgery to remove his breasts. He was able to conceive because he decided not to have reconstructive surgery so that he could have a child someday. The couple, who have been together for over a decade and married for five years, are expecting a baby girl on July 3.Thomas said his first attempt at conceiving resulted in an ectopic pregnancy with triplets. They had to be aborted, he said, and he lost his right fallopian tube." Despite the fact that my belly is growing with a new life inside me, I am stable and confident being the man that I am," Thomas said when news of the pregnancy broke in March." I will be my daughter's father and Nancy will be her mother. We will be a family. "Mr Beatie said doctors, friends and family had all opposed his plans to start a family. While there are not believed to be any previous recorded cases of such a pregnancy, experts said it was perfectly possible." A transgender man can be pregnant because he has the same organs as a woman," said Dr Lisa Masterson, an obstetrician at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Beverly Hills.

Photographer was speared through the leg by a javelin when he got a little too close to the action at a school sports event.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008. Newspaper photographer Ryan McGeeney of the Standard-Examiner in Utah in the US was spared serious injury in the mishap, and even managed to snap a photo of his speared leg while others worked to help him. "If I didn't, it would probably be my editor's first question when I got back," McGeeney said. The 33-year-old, an ex-Marine who spent six months in Afghanistan, was taking pictures of the discus event and apparently wandered into off-limits area set aside for the javelin throw. Striking just below the knee, the javelin tip went through the skin and emerged on the other side of his leg. "It wasn't real painful. ... I was very lucky in that it didn't hit any blood vessels, nerves, ligaments or tendons," McGeeney said. Much of the javelin was cut off at the scene. The piece in McGeeney's leg was removed at a hospital, and he received 13 stitches. The javelin was thrown by Anthony Miles, a Provo High School student who said when he saw what had happened, "my heart just stopped." "One of the first things that came to my mind was, 'Good thing we brought a second javelin,"' Miles' coach, Richard Vance, said Monday. He said Miles was "in a little bit of shock," but he assured the athlete that it was not his fault. With a subsequent throw, Miles went on to win the state title in javelin for teams in Provo High's size classification, 4-A.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008. A donkey is doing time in southern Mexico for assault and battery. The animal was locked up at a local jail that normally holds people for public drunkenness and other disturbances after it bit and kicked two men near a ranch in Chiapas state, police said Monday.Officer Sinar Gomez said the donkey will remain behind bars until its owner agrees to pay the men's medical bills. "Around here, if someone commits a crime they are jailed," Gomez said - "no matter who they are." The owner, Mauro Gutierrez, said he would try to reach a friendly arrangement to pay the men's bills, estimated at £210. The victims said the donkey bit Genaro Vazquez, 63, in the chest on Sunday and then kicked 52-year-old Andres Hernandez as he tried to come to the rescue, fracturing his ankle. "All of a sudden, the animal was on top of us like it was rabid," Hernandez said. Police said it took a half-dozen men to control the enraged burro. Chiapas police have thrown animals in the slammer before, including a bull that devoured corn crops and destroyed two wooden vending stands in March. In 2006, a dog was locked up for 12 days after biting someone. His owners were fined £9.

The scene in central London where a bus (left) crashed into a tree, killing this lady (right), Emily Diamond, 23.oman.

Tuesday, May20, 2008. A young woman died today and 19 people were injured when a bus crashed into a tree. Emily Diamond, 23, was walking by the double decker bus when it hit a tree in central London. Miss Diamond, who lived with her parents in Bexleyheath, south-east London, is thought to have died when the tree trunk was wrenched from the ground and struck her as she walked behind. The film and television studies graduate is reported to have just left her office at a lettings agency when the tragedy, involving a route 188 double decker bus, happened. The accident happened on Tower Bridge Road in central London at 9.23am. It hit the front right-hand corner of the 188 to North Greenwich, denting the roof and shattering glass in the front windows both in the top and bottom deck. Police, ambulance and fire service were at the scene, Scotland Yard said. The dead woman is believed to be a pedestrian, Scotland Yard said. The majority of those hurt sustained minor injuries. Police put the number injured at 19 and said two were taken to hospital. Eyewitness builder Tom Riley, 32, of Tottenham, North London, said: "There was about 20 people in total on the bus and quite a few were old people. At first we thought it was a bomb. It was as if the tree was just falling and was slowing the bus down." He added: "We did not realise that there was somebody under the tree. We just thought that it was the people in the bus who needed help. "We did not realise that there was somebody under the tree. We just thought that it was the people in the bus who needed help." He said that he spotted a woman who was "ashen-faced" with blood coming out of her head under the tree. "She was a beautiful-looking girl," Mr Riley said. Marketing assistant Charlie Fayinka, 28, ran out of his office at Interior Design Management and saw people running from the bus. He said he saw the bus driver fainting shortly after the crash. "I think it was due to shock," he said. The 188 double decker was travelling from North Greenwich station in south east London to Russell Square in central London. The accident happened at the junction with Tanner Street. A Transport for London spokeswoman said: "We understand no other vehicle was involved."

London, Sunday, May 18, 2008. Rising numbers of middle-class homeowners are being tipped into crippling debt and despair by the credit crunch, advisers have warned. White collar workers, rather than benefit claimants, are the ones now begging for help increasingly, according to debt charities. Well-to-do towns such as Tunbridge Wells in Kent, Haywards Heath in West Sussex and Congleton in Cheshire are among those feeling the pinch. Jamie Elliott, co-ordinator of financial advice charity Transact, said: 'Our services, with the credit crunch, are being overwhelmed by a whole new breed of debtor: middle-class people.' The latest figures show the number of people seeking help from just one charity, Community Money Advice, has leapt by 85 per cent. In Haywards Heath, CMA has been forced to turn away new cases; in Tunbridge Wells, cases are up 234 per cent. The CMA centre in Congleton – close to the footballers' wives enclave of Alderley Edge, has seen demand rise five-fold, with just 135 clients amassing a total £5.1million debt. CMA senior debt adviser Emma Russell said: 'I've had at least two clients sit in front of me and tell me they would have killed themselves if they hadn't found out we were here.' The figures come on the back of more gloomy property market news – house sales could fall at least 40 per cent this year and the number of mortgages available has more than halved.

Argy-bhaji: A customer wrecked the front of the restaurant as he collected a meal

London, Sunday, May 18, 2008. A hungry motorist was in such a hurry to collect his curry he accidentally smashed straight through the front of the restaurant. The driver – who was a regular customer – failed to hit the brakes and drove his Mercedes Benz through the windows of the Raj Bari curry house. 'It sounded like a bomb exploding,' said restaurant owner Mahfuz Ahmed. Thankfully, this happened at 6.30pm and we are usually still quiet. If it had happened an hour later, people could have been killed.' No one was seriously hurt in the smash in Yarm, North Yorkshire, on Friday.

Pregnant women who use mobile phones are 'more likely to have children with behavioural problems', say scientists

The study found that mothers who used their mobile phone while pregnant were 54 per cent more likely to report their children had behavioural problems

Pregnant women who use mobile phones are more likely to have children with behavioural problems, a shocking study has found. Using handsets just two or three times a day is enough to raise the risk of hyperactivity and emotional problems. Letting children use mobiles before the age of seven also puts them at risk, scientists warn. he research is the latest in a series of health fears linked to mobile phones and yet another worry for expectant mothers, who have already been warned about drinking, smoking, pesticides, food allergies and stress. The study follows a finding by the official Russian radiation watchdog that the danger posed by mobile phones is "not much lower than the risk to children's health from tobacco or alcohol". The UK's Health Protection Agency said the study's findings were unexpected and highlighted the need for caution over mobiles. But it stopped short of telling pregnant women not to use them. A spokesman said: "Its findings need to be investigated thoroughly. There may be another cause for the effect observed." The agency has already warned against "excessive" use of mobile phones by children. The study, the first of its kind in the world, covered more than 13,000 women. It found that those who used phones while pregnant were 54 per cent more likely to report behavioural problems in their children, including hyperactivity and emotional and relationship difficulties. Problems were even more likely among children whose mothers had used phones while pregnant and who had used mobiles themselves before the age of seven. They were 80 per cent more likely to suffer from behavioural difficulties compared to youngsters who had not been exposed to mobile phone use at all. They were 25 per cent more at risk of emotional problems, 24 per cent more likely to have difficulties relating to other children, 35 per cent more likely to be hyperactive and 49 per cent more likely to have problems with behaviour. The risks increased with the amount of phone use and potential radiation. Experts said the results were particularly significant as one of the study's authors has been a leading sceptic over claims that mobile phones were a health risk. Professor Leeka Kheifets of the University of California, Los Angeles, had previously written that there was no proof of "any adverse health effect". But she and her three co-authors concluded that there did appear to be an association between mobile phone exposure and behavioural problems. They warned, however, that there were other possible explanations, including that mothers who were frequently on the phone through pregnancy might continue the pattern after birth, spending less time with their babies. Previous studies have suggested a link between children being left unattended for long periods and later behavioural problems. The research, conducted jointly with academics in Aarhus, Denmark, is due to be published in the respected medical journal Epidemiology in July. Radiation from mobile phones is thought to penetrate only one or two centimetres into the skin and not to reach the unborn child. But previous studies have shown it can affect levels of melatonin, a sleep- controlling hormone that mothers pass to unborn babies through the placenta.

Millions of Christians around the world raised their hands up in united prayer and worship on Pentecost Sunday as part of the fourth annual Global Day of Prayer. The UK was among 212 nations registered to take part, with major prayer and cathedral events taking place across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland under the common theme of “Your Kingdom come … on Earth as in Heaven". In London, thousands of Christians gathered at Millwall football stadium in central London to pray for God’s love and Holy Spirit to fall upon London, particularly communities blighted by gun and knife crime. The message on the day was overwhelmingly one of hope and unity. “When the church unites in prayer there is no stopping it,” said Jonathan Oloyede, senior Associate Pastor of Glory House and visionary of Global Day of Prayer London. “Prayer changes things,” he added. Last week, Prime Minister Gordon Brown hosted a reception at 10 Downing Street in honour of Global Day of Prayer in which he praised the contribution of faith groups to the United Kingdom." When our government leaders begin to value what the church is doing in this country, we are in for revival,” continued Pastor Oloyede. Newly elected London Mayor Boris Johnson took to the stage to ask that Christians pray for young victims of gun and knife attacks as well as their families. A total of thirteen young people have been shot or stabbed to death in the capital so far this year. He paid tribute to devout Catholic teenager Jimmy Mizen, who was murdered on Saturday in an unprovoked attack in a south-east London bakery the day after his 16th birthday, and Borough teenager Lyle Tulloch, who was murdered a week ago. The event saw 11,000 London Christians worshipping and praying in sweltering heat, and organisers say they are going full-steam-ahead with their plans to encourage mini-regional prayer days next Pentecost Sunday, as well as a North London stadium venue event, and a national Prayer Event at the new Wembley Stadium on Pentecost Sunday 2010. The event, which also encouraged Christians to become part of the answer to their prayer as they live out their faith in the communities in which they serve, was fully covered by national newspapers, the Press Association, BBC, ITV, Sky News and IRN. The London event is linked to the worldwide Global Day of Prayer which this year saw co-ordinated events in 211 countries. It was a great honour on Sunday for everyone to pray for Mr Johnson as he starts his term of office.”


Thousands of Christians packed Millwall football stadium in central London for the Global Day of Prayer..	A Christian Group entertaining the participants of Global Day of Prayer at Millwall Football Stadium	Over 11,000 London Christians worshipping and praying ‘Your Kingdom come’ on Global Day of Prayer in sweltering heat.

Christians pray in memory of murdered schoolboy Damilola Taylor, for young victims of gun and knife crime in London. Thirteen young people have died in gun and knife attacks in the capital this year so far.	Late Damilola Taylor's father, (right), and the family's Pastor during the Global Day of Prayers at Millwall Football Stadium	His Worship the Mayor of London, right, Boris Johnson, addressing the participants during the Global Day of Prayer at Millwall Football Stadium.

Rev. Edwin Kibathi, the PCEA representative in UK, with friends during the Global Day of Prayer at MIllwall Football Stadium	Christians raised their hands up in united prayer and worship on Pentecost Sunday as part of the fourth annual Global Day of Prayer at Millwall Football Stadium	United in Christ we stand-lets hold hands and pray together for God's love, unity and peace in this country.

Mr. Duncan Ngari, (right), with some of the volunteers during the Millwall Football Stadium prayers. Mr Ngari is one of the Ambassadors of the Global Day of Prayer Organisation.	Rev. Ashley Evans, Minister in-charge Plaistow Christian Church, London, poses for a picture with two members of his church after attending the Global day of Prayer at Millway Football Stadium	Thousands of Christians gathered at Millwall football stadium in central London to pray for God’s love and Holy Spirit to fall upon London, particularly communities blighted by gun and knife crime.

A study has found that 96% of people eat between meals but regard it as a guilty secret and go to great lengths to hide proof of their nibbling.The survey, carried out by Fly research on behalf of food giant Kellogg's, says people in Birmingham are the healthiest snackers in the UK with almost 37% opting for a piece of fruit.Chocoholics are most likely to be found in Glasgow, where almost half of respondents opted for a chocolate bar to fill the hunger gap In a report on the survey's findings, Kellogg's said sensible snackers should not feel guilty.Its nutritionists say eating three meals a day plus two snacks can be healthy and help weight loss.Nutritionist Nigel Denby, who worked on the study, said: "Too many of us feel guilty about snacking believing it is unhealthy and will make us put on weight." This research suggests quite the reverse." Snacking between meals isn't bad for you as long as you're sensible. We need to get back to basics by eating three main meals plus two nutritious snacks a day - it's as simple as that."Kellogg's nutritionist Stevie Reid added: "What is important is to make snacks count towards our dietary recommendations of the good things like vitamins, minerals and fibre - this is Smarter Snacking."

Three days after stealing a rare collection of coins, a thief in Germany took them to the bank for safe keeping - and delivered them into the hands of the man he had robbed. Soon after the deposit, a bank worker handling the coins recognised them as the set worth around £40,000 that had been stolen from his house. Police tracked down the 36-year-old suspect and arrested him, finding a haul of other stolen goods in the process.

Bishop Donald Harvey, moderator of the Anglican Network in Canada, and Archbishop Gregory Venables, primate of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone

Tuesday, Apr 29, 2008 Bishop Donald Harvey, moderator of the Anglican Network in Canada, and Archbishop Gregory Venables, primate of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone.The South American primate who has welcomed dissenting Canadian Anglican parishes into his province says he sees the beginning of the end of the world-wide Anglican Communion. “I believe we’re in the early stages of divorce,” Archbishop Gregory Venables, presiding (national) bishop of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone, told a news conference during a meeting of the Anglican Network in Canada from April 25 to 26. “I think there comes a point when a marriage is no longer a marriage and you have to recognize it,” he said. But Archbishop Venables suggested that Anglican churches could still stay together in some form. “Maybe we can have an Anglican federation,” he said. In an interview with the Anglican Journal, Archbishop Venables noted that air travel and the Internet have radically re-structured international networks. “We’re no longer living in a world where everything is done locally,” Archbishop Venables said.

“The church is a little late in coming to that.” Instead of insisting on geographical church provinces, “hopefully, this will be resolved so we can realign or restructure so everyone can follow their concerns.” Meanwhile, a former Canadian Anglican bishop who is now licensed by the Southern Cone said that the network contacted other foreign primates as possible leaders but aligned itself with the British-born Archbishop Venables because of his background. “We did talk to a couple of primates of different colours,” said Bishop Donald Harvey, formerly of the diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador, in an interview. But Archbishop Venables was willing to take on the job, is well respected by other primates, and brings few cultural barriers and no language limitations, he said. (Some Episcopal church parishes in the U.S. have aligned themselves with churches in Africa.) The South American primate who has welcomed dissenting Canadian Anglican parishes into his province says he sees the beginning of the end of the world-wide Anglican Communion.

“I believe we’re in the early stages of divorce,” Archbishop Gregory Venables, presiding (national) bishop of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone, told a news conference during a meeting of the Anglican Network in Canada from April 25 to 26. “I think there comes a point when a marriage is no longer a marriage and you have to recognize it,” he said. But Archbishop Venables suggested that Anglican churches could still stay together in some form. “Maybe we can have an Anglican federation,” he said. In an interview with the Anglican Journal, Archbishop Venables noted that air travel and the Internet have radically re-structured international networks. “We’re no longer living in a world where everything is done locally,” Archbishop Venables said. “The church is a little late in coming to that.” Instead of insisting on geographical church provinces, “hopefully, this will be resolved so we can realign or restructure so everyone can follow their concerns.” Meanwhile, a former Canadian Anglican bishop who is now licensed by the Southern Cone said that the network contacted other foreign primates as possible leaders but aligned itself with the British-born Archbishop Venables because of his background.

“We did talk to a couple of primates of different colours,” said Bishop Donald Harvey, formerly of the diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador, in an interview. But Archbishop Venables was willing to take on the job, is well respected by other primates, and brings few cultural barriers and no language limitations, he said. (Some Episcopal church parishes in the U.S. have aligned themselves with churches in Africa.) Bishop Harvey, who is moderator of the network, told the conference that Archbishop Venables’ offer of primatial oversight meant the network would be “part of the world-wide Anglican Communion,” and, “without being under his wing, we would simply be a breakaway group,” he said. “Thank you, God,” Bishop Harvey added, to loud applause. “You have freed us from the bondage that has been holding us back …We are free at last.” The conference was attended by about 340 delegates. Network membership includes 15 churches, 10 of which have left the Anglican Church of Canada over theological issues, including the blessing of same-sex unions.

The delegates also heard from theologian Rev. James Packer, who focused on the need for deeper Bible understanding; Bishop Albert Vun of Malaysia; youth minister Ken Moser of St. John’s Shaughnessy church in Vancouver and Bishop Bill Atwood of Kenya. Mr. Packer called Archbishop Venables’ presence a “watershed,” telling delegates the “principle of geographical exclusiveness has been breached and I think it has been breached in such a way that it cannot be restored.” Addressing the question of whether the network should encourage more breakaway parishes, Bishop Harvey said, “that is categorically wrong.” He added that the network “has always gone in response to an invitation.” At a two-hour service on April 26, Archbishop Venables commissioned Bishop Harvey and another former Canadian prelate, Malcolm Harding. The three bishops gave Anglican Network in Canada licenses to 29 clergy and four deacons, according to the network Web site. Archbishop Venables told the Journal he felt an April 21 letter from Archbishop Fred Hiltz, the Canadian primate, asking him not to come to Canada was little more than a gesture. “I didn’t get the letter until one of the (Canadian) reporters read it over the phone,” he said. “It came through on my fax the next morning and that shocked me.”

Archbishop Hiltz could simply have picked up the telephone, Archbishop Venables said. “I would have talked about it.” However, he added, the matter “has nothing to do with the Anglican Church of Canada. These people (the members of the network) didn’t approach me until after they had left.” Archbishop Hiltz was out of the country and could not be reached for comment. Archdeacon Paul Feheley, the primate’s principal secretary, said efforts were made by fax and e-mail to deliver the letter to Archbishop Venables first. “As for picking up the telephone, it seems to me that if you are a foreign primate visiting another country, the onus is on you to pick up the phone and call the primate of that country,” said Archdeacon Feheley, adding that no one from the network informed Archbishop Hiltz’ office that the South American primate was coming. Archbishop Venables said he has talked to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, about his actions. “I’m not seeking endorsement but we have open dialogue.” But he stopped short of divulging details. “It was a private conversation.” Archbishop Venables, who is 58, was headmaster of an Anglican college in Paraguay before his ordination in 1984. As bishop of Argentina based in Buenos Aires and primate since 2001, he oversees seven bishops and about 30,000 parishioners in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. The ANiC congregations constitute less than one per cent of the 2,800 parishes in the Canadian church. But Archbishop Venables is confident the network won’t wither away. “It’s got a future because this small group here is in common with the vast majority of the Anglican church,” including Africa and the global South, “… who don’t have a western cultural mindset,” he said.