News archive from 3 March 2013

The Lion Sleeps Tonight and Other Stories of Africa by Rian Malan – review
Malan dwells on Nelson Mandela's flaws and suggests FW de Klerk was the true hero in the struggle to end apartheid. Photograph: Mike Hutchings /Reuters It would be fair to say that Rian Malan is not a natural salesman. In his introduction to this...

Sunderland firms get better chance at winning contracts
BUSINESSES across Wearside will get more chance to win public sector contracts after council bosses unveiled a number of new support measures. After carrying out a review of how it awards contracts, a new Supplier Charter has been drawn up which...

Teachers invite Michael Gove to come for a lesson after ‘defeatism’ slur
COME and see for yourself. That is the message today to Michael Gove after the Education Minister caused uproar by saying he could “smell the defeatism” in East Durham schools. Headteachers have been supported by pupils as they reacted to Mr Gove’s...
Short stature link to heart disease
“Short people are more likely to develop heart disease,” BBC News reported. It said that men under 5ft 4in (163cm) and women under 5ft (152cm) were 1.5 times more likely to develop and die from heart disease than tall adults. The news story is based...

Ban on discarding dead fish threatens rare birds
SOME of the world's rarest seabirds could be under renewed threat in Scotland following the controversial decision to ban fishing fleets from dumping unwanted fish. European Union countries voted last week to outlaw the discarding of millions of...
Call to ban pesticide linked to bee deaths
WILDLIFE campaigners are urging Scottish ministers to back a proposed EU ban on a pesticide blamed for killing bees. A five-strong group of leading environmental bodies have joined forces to press environment minister Richard Lochhead to support the...

Hercules the bear to get own statue
If you go down to the woods in Uist, you are in for a big surprise. The escape of Hercules – the world-famous grizzly bear who roamed the islands for almost a month 33 years ago – is being immortalised with a statue. Langass Woodland Trust in North...

Eastleigh: Farage tells Tories ‘blame your leader’
PRIME Minister David Cameron was under attack from within his own party last night, after the UK Independence Party pushed the Conservatives into third place in the Eastleigh by-election. • Lib Dem candidate secures 1,771 majority • Conservatives...

Cardinals gather in Rome as quest for Pope begins
WHEN he thanked cardinals and the faithful for their support last week he sounded like an actor accepting an Oscar. Nothing about Pope Benedict’s retirement was normal, not least the sudden outpouring of public affection for the shy German pontiff....

Amazon pulls ‘rape’ shirts after backlash
ONLINE retailer Amazon last night withdrew T-shirts advocating domestic violence from its website after worldwide condemnation. The company pulled tops – manufactured by the Solid Gold Bomb T-shirt company – with the slogan “Keep Calm And Hit Her” and...
Tweeter held over sex case claims
A TWITTER user was arrested yesterday after claims he revealed the identity of an alleged child sex case victim involving Coronation Street star Michael Le Vell. The 23-year-old man who was taken into custody yesterday morning sent the tweet on the...
Queen’s trip to Italy in doubt
THE Queen's two-day visit to Rome this week was in doubt yesterday after she was forced to cancel a planned engagement because of ill health. Buckingham Palace said the Queen was resting yesterday after developing symptoms of gastroenteritis. A palace...
More evidence for Mediterranean diet
Eating a Mediterranean diet “can reduce the risk of developing conditions such as diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure”, The Daily Telegraph has today reported. Mediterranean diets are typically high in fruit and vegetables, low in meat and use...

Bridget Christie: fun, feminism and the wind of change
Turning point… After years on the standup circuit, Bridget Christie has broken through to radio and television. Photograph: Andy Hall for the Observer Bridget Christie's face is alight. "It's come to me in the same way, I imagine, that God comes...

From the Observer archive 25 February 1968: Farewell Alf Garnett, we all knew you
Warren Mitchell as Alf Garnett - an addition to the small pantheon of immortal comic monsters. Photograph: Moviestore Collection/Rex Features It seems to be impossible for intellectuals to experience enthusiasm for an artist of popular culture without...
Realtime News
- 13:23 NHS prescription charges set to rise again
- 13:21 Timebomb ticking in river
- 13:20 Harry Potter director rolls out masterclass for students
- 13:20 Man injured after car and bike crash in Blackpool
- 13:20 South Yorkshire Police seek more specials to boost numbers
- 13:19 South Yorkshire Police seek more specials to boost numbers
- 13:19 Threatening vandal banned from keeping horses for five years
- 13:19 Heathrow says passengers can 'book with confidence', despite...
- 13:18 Unai Emery caught taking part in Arsenal training - Gunners fans...
- 13:15 Channel 4’s Location, Location, Location TV show looking for...
- 13:15 10 Leeds stabbings in six months: when and where each one happened
- 13:14 Heathrow urges passengers to continue to book flights despite...
- 13:13 Police give update on arrests after Liverpool vs Bayern Munich
- 13:13 Have your say at the Banbury police community forums
- 13:13 Fancy a dip in the North Sea? Students take the plunge in new...
- 13:12 Player of the year? How this Wolves man has become the most...
- 13:12 FMQs: Sturgeon slams "appalling" bedroom tax claims of Tory MSP
- 13:12 Vaughan Dowd admits scrawling 'No Blacks' on home of African family
- 13:12 The Jack Whitehall joke which topped fuming BRIT Awards viewers'...
- 13:11 MPs turn heat on ministers amid boiler installation slowdown
- 13:10 YP Letters: Is Honda collapse an opportunity for a British car maker?
- 13:10 Big in China? Leeds makes a splash on Chinese social media site...
- 13:10 Warwick District Council to draw up plan to improve energy...
- 13:10 Rob Cross to BEAT Michael van Gerwen? Premier League Darts shock...
- 13:09 Is Guinness vegan?
- 13:09 Heckler & Koch fined for illegal gun sales to Mexico
- 13:09 Former Swiss officer Johan Cosar on trial for fighting IS
- 13:06 Six Celtic fans arrested in Valencia after night of violence ahead...
- 13:06 Baby airlifted to hospital after three seriously injured in...
- 13:05 Warwick District Council to draw up plan to improve energy...
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