 Liverpool,
UK
Residents of Liverpool were again left
reeling this week as news emerged that another scouser, 'a son
of our city, one of our
brightest and best.' as the Roman Catholic Bishop of Liverpool
Canon Thomas Williams said in an address last Sunday,
had been hit by tragedy. Young Thomas Mitcham, a seven year old
Everton fan, pictured here on a round-the-world cruise paid for
by spontaneous collections taken outside Anfield, Goodison Park
and across the cities pubs on Friday and Saturday night,
was helping his father mend a fence at the family home in Toxteth
on Thursday of last week when he accidentally hit his thumb with
a hammer, causing minor bruising and extensive tears. The news
spread through the city like wildfire and both football clubs
held a minute's silence to commemorate the tragedy before home
games against Blackburn Rovers and Southampton at the weekend.
After Sunday's services parishioners were visibly moved praising
the reported bravery of Thomas and his family in the minutes
following the incident and the speed with which the community
of this often beknighted city had responded to calls for grief
and self-doubt. Mary Sweeney of nearby Sefton Park told reporters
outside the Anglican Cathedral that the people of Liverpool had
once more demonstrated their compassion for 'one of their own'
and shown the rest of the country that even in times of trouble
the importance of family, community and friendship shone from
the city like a beacon of light calling the rest of the world
to take notice. The Mitcham family will fly back from Los Angeles
where the cruise ends in three weeks time and are expected to
speak to the press on their return. meanwhile a spokesperson
for the family has stressed to concerned Liverpudlians outside
of Merseyside that further donations should be sent directly
to David Moyes.
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Surrey,
UK
The strength of opposition to government
proposals to ban hunting with dogs has galvanised the dormant
but significant bear-baiting
community into considering similar action. Bear-baiting
has been outlawed in the UK since 1835 but is still quasi-legal
in a number of non-european countries and members of the shadowy,
British Society for Bear Baiting, the BSBB organise regular
trips for members to participate in a sport that is, according
to the BSBB's website, 'part of this countries proud rural heritage.' Recent
protests against the proposed ban on fox-hunting have led
to a move within the BSBB to bring the case for bear-baiting
back to the debating table. A spokesperson for the BSBB, who
refused to be named said, 'Bear-Baiting is no more cruel than
fox-hunting and engenders the same passionate support from it's
practitioners. We will be approaching the countryside alliance
and members of the various cock-fighting associations to see
if there is a common ground on which we can fight, although not
with the foxes and bears and cocks, obviously.'
Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia
Capitalising on it's pre-eminence in the
world of arab broadcasting, Qatar based television station Al
Jazeera has announced it's intention to broadcast the area's
first Big Brother style reality TV show. Producers have already
taken the hostages that are to appear in the
show and are promising an explosive mix of personalities and
extreme religious beliefs coupled with an intriguing 'Who's that
girl?' theme around the shows four burkah clad female participants.
Tahar El Sadani, who will direct the 10 week show told reporters
that participants had been taken from a number of arab countries
including Qatar
itself, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and Syria but that a
strict embargo was in place on revealing their identities. 'Many
families across the region will be hoping that the recent disappearance
of a loved one is down to them getting an opportunity of a life-time
on Big Brother Qatar, rather than a genuine abduction, so the
show should get off to an explosive start with some highly charged
emotional scenes when the male housemates reveal their identities.' Voting
will be by phone and text message but producers say wholesale
rioting and looting in favour of any contestant will be counted
in proportion.
If the show is a success UN officials are promising to look at
the feasibility of using it as a template for voting in the Iraqi
elections in January 2005.
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Surrey,
UK
A radical scheme to address discrepancies in the social fabric
of the UK healthcare system has resulted in proposals for investment
bankers to take in upto thirty of London's most at risk pensioners
each over the Christmas period. The scheme, dubbed, 'A warm welcome
from the banking community' has been well-received at over-strecthed
old people's homes and shelters across the capital although there
has yet to be a response from banking leaders. Under the terms
of the scheme an independent ombudsman would allocate at risk
pensioners to the London flats of the wealthiest of the city's
high-rollers over the christmas period when trading banks close
down. 'Huge areas of prime city real estate are left abandoned
during the holiday season when pensioners can be most at risk
from hypothermia. By annexing these properties we could ensure
that many of those who have served our country will survive the
cold snap and be able to indulge in some of the luxuries they
fought and sacrificed to enable others to afford.' said scheme
originator Albert Hodgkiss, 72.
London, UK
The triumphant success of the national
Lottery over the last ten years was celebrated last Monday
with an eleven-course meal and private party for executives
of Camelot, the profit
making organisation that runs the various games, rebranded
'Lotto' in 2002. Executives toasted their own bonus and shares
scheme as the party themed 'A winner every month' progressed
into the early hours. Brief mention was made of the good
works the Lotto has enabled, including the construction of
a stunning water garden in the country home of chief executive
Andrew Ocean and helping hundreds of young people into employment,
fifty alone waiting tables at the event.
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