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Friday
27 February
International
Scientists investigating A
SPATE OF ILLNESSES AMONG PEOPLE LIVING CLOSE TO GM
MAIZE FIELDS
in the Philippines believe that the crop may have
triggered fevers, respiratory illnesses and skin
reactions (M&G 2004-02-27).
Europe
GAY
MARRIAGE,
likely to become a hot issue in this year's United
States presidential election, stirs little emotion
in Europe although few countries have accepted it
(M&G 2004-02-26).
United
Kingdom
An all-party committee of MPs said yesterday that it
was "deeply concerned" about
GOVERNMENT
PLANS TO PREVENT THE COURTS FROM REVIEWING DECISIONS
TO DEPORT ASYLUM SEEKERS,
even when there had been a serious error such as the
wrong person being identified for removal (Telegraph
2004-02-27).
United
States
The Bush administration plans to announce that, in a
step to lessen the dangers of land mines, it will END
THE USE OF LONG-LASTING MINES IN WARFARE
and instead concentrate on mines that go inert
within hours or days (New York Times 2004-02-27).
Thursday
26 February
PLEA
BARGAINING SENDS A DANGEROUS MESSAGE TO CRIMINALS
: it means that when they're caught it's now easy to
come to an agreement with the court and become a
State witness in return for a lighter sentence
(Finance24 2004-02-24).
Finance
Minister TREVOR
MANUEL HAS CALLED ON WORKERS AND PARTICULARLY TRADE
UNIONS TO TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR MEMBERS' PENSION
FUNDS,
and not leave them at the mercy of pension fund
managers (Finance24 2004-02-25).
SOUTH
AFRICA HAS BEEN APPROACHED BY THE UK TO TAKE OVER
ASYLUM SEEKERS
that that country wants of get rid of (News24
2004-02-26).
Wednesday
25 February
The
KZN
BUDGET SPEECH 2004/2005
is now available online.
The
COMPETITION
COMMISSION FOUND ON TUESDAY THAT TELKOM HAD
"ABUSED ITS DOMINANT POSITION
by engaging in a pattern of anti-competitive
practices" and the company now faces a fine of
billions of rands for anti-competitive practices
(M&G 2004-02-25). THE
ORGANISATION WILL RESPOND
to the Competition Tribunal once it has been served
with a notice of motion (ITWeb 2004-02-25) but has CRITICISED
REPORTS THAT IT FACES A R3BN FINE
(Finance24 2004-02-25).
The
Minister of Social Development, Dr Zola Skweyiya,
said that government has long made its submission
and intentions clear to the High Court that the
government will defend the case with regard to the
current AGE
DIFFERENCE IN THE PAYMENT OF OLD AGE PENSIONS
BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE OF 65 AND 60 RESPECTIVELY
(SA Government Online media release 2004-02-25).
A
paper giving AN
OVERVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN
AFRICA
over the past decades is available on the Legalbrief
website.
International
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) gave the green
light on Tuesday to the European Union (EU) to SLAP
SANCTIONS ON THE UNITED STATES
for its failure to revoke a 1916 anti-dumping law
that has been declared illegal by the WTO (Finance24
2004-02-24).
The
International Labour Organization's year-long
commission on globalisation has concluded that THE
DEEP-SEATED AND PERSISTENT IMBALANCES IN THE
WORKINGS OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMY ARE UNSUSTAINABLE
(M&G 2004-02-25).
United
Kingdom
A consultation paper next month will highlight ways
to RELAX
THE OWNERSHIP RULES GOVERNING LAW FIRMS
(Financial Times 2004-02-24).
High-profile
court cases have put the legal eagles who represent
their clients in the media spotlight. They are key
opinion formers, but HOW
CAN ADVERTISERS TARGET THIS CASH-RICH, TIME-POOR
MARKET?
(MediaWeek 2004-02-24).
United
States
The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that WORKERS
IN THEIR 40S CANNOT SUE EMPLOYERS FOR GIVING BETTER
BENEFITS TO OLDER COLLEAGUES
(FindLaw 2004-02-24).
Tuesday
24 February
A
landmark court ruling was made against a major bank
that it "BREACHED
ITS DUTY OF CARE" AFTER ITS CLIENT WAS ROBBED of thousands of rands shortly after
drawing money from the bank (The Herald 2004-02-23).
Following extensive research and testing at Durban
medium A and Johannesburg medium A prisons, the
department of correctional services is expected to
start A
"TAGGING" SYSTEM AMONG AWAITING-TRIAL
PRISONERS
at these prisons by the end of April (SABC News
2004-02-19).
The
Johannesburg High Court has dismissed AN
APPLICATION BY THE JUKSKEI CROCODILE CATCHMENT AREA
(JCCA) FORUM TO BLOCK THE COSMO CITY DEVELOPMENT
(SA Government Online media release 2004-02-23) and
at a media briefing at the Gauteng Legislature
today, Housing MEC Paul Mashatile said his
government had fully approved the project and once
completed, "COSMO
CITY WILL HAVE MORE THAN 15 000 HOUSING UNITS WITH
VARIOUS TENURE OPTIONS
including low cost, medium density as well as bonded
houses" (City of Johannesburg website
2004-02-25 [sic]).
The
Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein was packed
on Monday with CLAIMANTS
FIGHTING FOR THE RETURN OF THE NORTHERN CAPE ARMY
BASE LOHATLA
as their ancestral land (News24 2004-02-23).
Monday
23 February
Employees
who have USED
THEIR TRAVEL ALLOWANCES TO SUBSIDISE THE PURCHASE OF
EXPENSIVE CARS
could find themselves with less available cash to
fund repayments if the government has its way
(Sunday Times 2004-02-22).
Judges
in the Eastern Cape have taken bold steps to ENSURE
THAT THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT COMPLIES WITH ITS
CONSTITUTIONAL DUTIES TOWARDS CHILDREN
(Sunday Times 2004-02-22).
The
DURBAN
LABOUR COURT HAS ORDERED A NEWCASTLE TEXTILE FIRM TO
PAY OVER R120 000 TO ITS 60 EMPLOYEES
after failing to comply with the minimum wage
(Finance24 2004-02-20).
The
AL-IVE campaign against violent crime has THREATENED
TO TAKE PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI TO COURT
in a class-action suit that could involve thousands
of people if he fails to respond to a memorandum
within 10 days (News24 2004-02-20).
Student
CHEATS
ARE TO BE NAMED AND SHAMED
on all the campuses of the University of
KwaZulu-Natal in an attempt to stamp out the
increasing number of cases of plagiarism (News24
2004-02-22).
The
Western Cape community of Elandskloof, SOUTH
AFRICA'S FIRST LAND RESTITUTION BENEFICIARY,
has been chosen to pilot an innovative project
involving local people in commercial fynbos
cultivation (iAfrica 2004-02-21).
International
The International Court of Justice (ICJ - http://www.icj-cij.org/)
began its hearing into the legality of Israel's
controversial separation wall this morning. The
barrier being built by Israel on the West Bank is A
LAND GRAB NOT A SECURITY FENCE,
the head of the Palestinian delegation at a world
court hearing said this morning (Times Online
2004-02-23). A video stream of current sittings is
available via http://www.icj-cij.org/videostream.html.
Unlike
Israel, THE
EU DOES NOT QUESTION THE COURT'S RIGHT TO EXAMINE
THE ISSUE
of what Palestinians call the "Apartheid
Wall". Its
objections are rather motivated by what the court's
opinion - which although not binding on Israel will
be politically significant - would have on the
stalled Middle East peace process (News24
2004-02-23).
SADDAM
HUSSEIN MADE CONTACT WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD FOR THE
FIRST TIME SINCE HIS CAPTURE
when he sent a note to his family at the weekend via
the International Committee of the Red Cross
(Telegraph 2004-02-23).
United
Kingdom
'TESCO
Law', where LAWYERS
EMPLOYED BY NON-SOLICITOR-OWNED PRACTICES AND FIRMS
would be allowed to provide legal advice direct to
the market, is set to become a burning issue this
year (Scotsman 2004-02-22).
High-level
talks over the fate of four Britons still being STILL
BEING HELD WITHOUT TRIAL IN GUANTANAMO BAY
are deadlocked after ministers refused to accept
fresh concessions by the Pentagon (Independent
2004-02-22). Meanwhile the Telegraph reports that
the five Britons being returned from Guantanamo Bay
will be held in custody and COULD
BE TRIED FOR OFFENCES INCLUDING TREASON UNDER LAWS
BEING PREPARED BY THE GOVERNMENT
(2004-02-22).
Pupils
as young as 14 will be ALLOWED
TO LEAVE THE CLASSROOM FOR TWO DAYS A WEEK
to learn a trade under plans to tackle skill
shortages and motivate disillusioned children
(Telegraph 2004-02-21).
Canada
The Law Society of Upper Canada has issued a REPORT
THAT CALLS FOR A COMPLETE PROHIBITION ON ANY
INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LAWYER AND CLIENT
(National Post 2004-02-21).
United
States
THE
PENTAGON'S WEATHER NIGHTMARE
presents one view of a story that is capturing
imaginations around the world : a secret report,
suppressed by US defence chiefs but obtained by THE
OBSERVER,
warns that major European cities will be sunk
beneath rising seas as Britain is plunged into a
'Siberian' climate by 2020. Greenpeace
published a comment on this report, WORLD
BANK, PENTAGON : GLOBAL WARMING RED ALERT,
on 22 February.
In
similar vein, last week 60 prominent scientists
stated that NO
ADMINISTRATION IN RECENT MEMORY HAS SO SHAMELESSLY
DISTORTED SCIENTIFIC FINDINGS FOR POLICY REASONS
or suppressed them when they conflict with political
goals (New York Times 2004-02-23).
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