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Monday, 30 April, 2007

  • Newsnight
  • 30 Apr 07, 06:33 PM

Anthony Garcia (left) and Omar Khyam in Lahore, Pakistan in 2003Bomb plot analysis and reaction.

Richard Watson has two reports: on the MI5 intelligence and the plotters links to the 7 July bombers; and he goes on the trail of the terror network in the UK and Pakistan,

We have extended discussions and interviews to get answers to the key questions following the trial.

Jeremy presents - your thoughts below.

Friday, 27 April, 2007

  • Newsnight
  • 27 Apr 07, 06:46 PM

Abd al-Hadi al-IraqiMore than 170 terror suspects are arrested by Saudi authorities while the US says it has captured leading al Qaeda figure Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi. Is there a connection or is there more to these arrests than meets the eye?

Plus: Paul Mason looks at the IMF report that suggests the UK is a tax haven for the super rich; and David Lomax considers the legacy of Mstislav Rostropovich, genius and a world renowned cellist, who has died in Moscow.

Emily presents leave your comments and thoughts below.

Newsnight Review - Friday, 27 April, 2007

  • Newsnight
  • 27 Apr 07, 06:15 PM

The panel discuss:

volta_203.jpg
The film This is England; Engleby, the latest novel from Sebastian Faulks; the catchily titled Called To Account: The Indictment of Anthony Charles Lynton Blair for the crime of aggression against Iraq - a hearing; and the new album from Icelandic singer Bj枚rk.

Comment on the programme here, and let us know if you agree with the views of Dotun Abebayo, Mark Kermode, Bidisha and Peter Whittle.


Thursday, 26 April, 2007

  • Newsnight
  • 26 Apr 07, 06:27 PM

Tony Blair in ScotlandWho will be the winners and losers at next week's polls for the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and English local elections? Political Editor Michael Crick has the stark results of some Newsnight commissioned research and considers what it would mean at a general election.

Plus: Economics Editor Stephanie Flanders on what the implications would be to the Scottish economy of going independent; and the emotive issue of rubbish collections.

Join Kirsty for , and vent your spleen on the issues below.

Wednesday, 25 April, 2007

  • Newsnight
  • 25 Apr 07, 06:25 PM

A 大象传媒 investigation reveals new exploitation of migrant workers in the UK. Allen Little and Lithuanian journalist Audrius Lelkaitus report. Is the government failing to protect people who come to the UK seeking work?

Dr Rowan WilliamsPlus, we speak to the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams following his speech on morality in politics; and Economics Editor Stephanie Flanders assesses the implications for the Scottish economy of going it alone from the rest of the UK.

Gavin presents ; you thoughts and comments on the issues raised are welcome below.

Tuesday, 24 April, 2007

  • Newsnight
  • 24 Apr 07, 05:46 PM

bushz1_203.jpgPresident Bush takes on the Democrats over US troop withdrawal from Iraq; what鈥檚 going on with the public finances and what political effect might the recent hike in inflation have on Gordon Brown? Plus, the SNP look set to become the largest party in the Scottish Parliament 鈥 what does this say about Labour north of the border?

Comment on here.

Monday, 23 April, 2007

  • Newsnight
  • 23 Apr 07, 05:22 PM

Boris YeltsinFormer Russian president Boris Yeltsin dies - Tim Whewell assesses his legacy.

Plus: danger to British Challenger tanks in Iraq; social responsibility; French presidential election; and WiFi fears.

Gavin hosts - join the debate below.

'I have no future in Iraq'

  • Newsnight
  • 23 Apr 07, 04:19 PM

As part of Salam Pax's Window on Iraq - for Newsnight's continuing - Baghdad student Ahmed despairs of life in Baghdad after university.

US checkpoint in Baghdad
The security situation in Iraq is very bad and maybe this affects us young people the most. We can't find jobs, there is nothing to do for fun and even going to college is difficult.

I was hoping things would get better after the war. And in the begining they did: we saw things in Iraq which we have not seen before like satellite television and mobile phones. It was a good period but it didn't last for more than a couple of months. Then the explosions, the killings and the kidnappings began.

I never thought it would get this bad. Who would have thought that we would have curfews at six in the afternoon and all shops closing at 5pm? Shops used to stay open until 10pm at night in Baghdad.

About a year ago I had a conversation with a friend about the situation and our future. He told me that maybe by the time I graduate many local and foreign businesses would open in Iraq and we would have lots of job opportunities.

Unfortunately what I see today is that the few businesses which did start up after the war are closing down.

Most of my friends who graduated can't find any work and many have left the country. Those who are working here are in professions which have nothing to do with their university degrees.

I would be lucky to find work at a private business because they pay better than the government does but then again working in government buildings is safer because they have better security.

Sun over BaghdadWherever I find a job it has to be well paid because the cost of living has gone up so much, with every salary increase everything around us gets more expensive.

Nothing I see on the news shocks me anymore. I have seen worse on the streets with my own eyes, there is so much violence and not all of it gets mentioned in the news.

I don't really see any difference in the situation since the start of the new security plan. There are more checkpoints and more house-to-house searches but the explosions are the same and so is the kidnapping and the killing. Nothing different.

I find it very difficult to talk of my future in Iraq. Who knows where the next car bomb might go off? If I do stay alive until I get my degree the first thing I want to do is leave. I don't have any hope that the situation in my country is going to get better.

Friday, 20 April, 2007

  • Newsnight
  • 20 Apr 07, 06:36 PM

ten203.jpgCash for honours. The Metropolitan police announced they have handed the 216 page long main file of evidence plus supporting material to the Crown Prosecution Service. After an Inquiry that lasted more than a year during which time 136 people were interviewed we can assume that both the police and the CPS beleive they have enough evidence to proceed.

Plus: French politics and a look ahead to the local elections from the Welsh valleys.
Comment on here.

Newsnight Review, 20 April, 2007

  • Newsnight
  • 20 Apr 07, 06:11 PM

halfnelson203.jpgThe panel discusses: Half Nelson; 大象传媒 TWO's Maxwell; The Arctic Monkeys second album - Favourite Worst Nightmare; and Compact Editions books.

Details on the

Kirsty is joined by Julie Myerson, Paul Morely, John Harris, and Sam Tanenhaus.

Watch on 大象传媒 Two at 2300BST after Newsnight and on the Review website from Saturday.

Thursday, 19th April, 2007

  • Newsnight
  • 19 Apr 07, 06:23 PM

virginia203.jpgThe Virginia Tech gunman's chilling video - should it have been broadcast? US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales; Should Tony Blair be called to account over the war in Iraq? And road safety in India.

Comment on here.

Wednesday, 18 April, 2007

  • Newsnight
  • 18 Apr 07, 06:44 PM

bombblog.jpgIraq blasts; Sellafield body parts inquiry; US shootings latest; and cricket.

Comment on here.

Tuesday, 17 April; 2007

  • Newsnight
  • 17 Apr 07, 05:46 PM

blood.jpgToday is World Haemophilia Day, but there's little to celebrate. Thousands of British haemophiliacs are living with life-threatening viruses - like HIV and hepatitis - contracted from NHS and commercial blood products. Newsnight's been given startling, and damning new evidence that suggests some doctors used haemophiliacs to test out new blood products. Our Science Editor, Susan Watts, asks if this tragedy could - and should - have been avoided.

Plus: US shooting latest; Inflation rise and Tony Blair and Gordon Brown under the spotlight.

Comment on here.

Monday, 16 April, 2007

  • Newsnight
  • 16 Apr 07, 06:36 PM

shooting_203.jpg
More on the shooting in Virginia; Des Browne survives his Commons apology; the latest on the kidnapped 大象传媒 correspondent Alan Johnston; and the JRR Tolkien book being released years after his death.

Comment on here.

Newsnight Review, 13 April, 2007

  • Newsnight
  • 13 Apr 07, 07:16 PM

The Lives of OthersThe panel discusses: The Lives Of Others - a Cold War paranoia film set in 1980s East Berlin; Joe Penhall's last play Landscape With Weapon; 大象传媒 Four's Diary Of A Nobody by Andrew Davies; and Joshua Ferris's debut novel Then We Came To the End.

Details on the .

Martha is joined by Matthew Sweet, Nikki Gemmell, Sarah Churchwell and Johann Hari.

Watch on 大象传媒 Two at 2300BST after Newsnight and on the Review website from Saturday.

Friday, 13 April, 2007

  • Newsnight
  • 13 Apr 07, 06:49 PM

calais-2005203.jpgSangatte Two? During the course of 2002 ten thousand illegal immigrants found their way across the channel to Kent. It was a number that fell dramatically - by 88% - once the French closed down the asylum centre at Sangatte. Now there is talk of broken promises and a repeat performance of that level of clandestine immigration. French authorities have given the go ahead for a welfare centre in Calais to reopen. Is this a pragmatic response to a problem that hasn't completely gone away?

Plus: A World Bank chief scandal; new Russian revolutionaries; and the future of nuclear energy.

Comment onhere.

We are all ethical men and women now

  • Justin Rowlatt -
  • 13 Apr 07, 05:57 PM

family203.jpgMy year of living as the 大象传媒鈥檚 Ethical Man came to an end this week. It has been a long year (it actually started last February) but, I think, a successful one. Take a look at for us. My family鈥檚 ethical endeavours succeeded in reducing our total carbon footprint by 20%.

If that doesn鈥檛 impress you - and anyone who saw this Wednesday鈥檚 programme will know Bee wasn鈥檛 鈥 then I would urge you to look just at the first bit of the table, direct carbon emissions. That鈥檚 things like personal transport and home heating and power which we have full control over. There our total was 37%. A very creditable result I鈥檇 say - and the Professor agrees.

So here鈥檚 the big test: what things will we go on doing?

Continue reading "We are all ethical men and women now"

Thursday, 12th April, 2007

  • Newsnight
  • 12 Apr 07, 05:39 PM

baghdad.203jpeg.jpgThe bomb explosion in the Iraqi Parliament, which killed 3 politicians and injured many other people, has exposed a serious breach of security in Baghdad's heavily protected Green Zone. We look at what might have happened and are joined by the US Undersecretary of State, Nicholas Burns, But What impact this will have on the US surge and exit strategies in Iraq.

Plus: Political Editor, Michael Crick is pursuing one of the key questions in the payments to sailors story. Was Downing Street involved in fielding calls to newspapers and not just observing events? He should have the answers on the programme tonight.

With Tony Blair expected to stand down within a matter of weeks, his legacy as PM is under fierce debate. US pollster, Frank Luntz, grills a room full of former Labour voters in Birmingham on their views of the outgoing Prime Minister and how they judge his leadership.

In a rare interview, Philip Glass talks to Madeleine Holt, about the power of opera and his extraordinary career.

Comment on here.

Wednesday, 11 April, 2007

  • Newsnight
  • 11 Apr 07, 04:37 PM

ethicalfamily203.jpgNewsnight kills off its Ethical Man. After a year of trying to live with due consideration to his impact on the Planet, Justin Rowlatt is moving on to other challenges. The series concludes with a debate including the Environment Secretary David Miliband.

Plus: The Defence Secretary Des Browne admits errors were made in the handling of the Iranian hostages. Lib Dem Defence spokesman and former top RAF officer Tim Garden talks about how he sees the difficulties of adapting the modern military machine to the demands of 24 hour news.

Comment on here.

Ethical Issues - Your questions

  • Justin Rowlatt -
  • 11 Apr 07, 12:28 PM

logo_black_203_152.jpgTonight Newsnight's ethical man finally hangs up - or in fact composts - his green suit. After a year of trying to live ethically we'll be debating what his efforts have taught us.

But with elections pending in May we'll also be asking the political parties what they plan to do about environmental issues. Do you have a question you think we should put to them?

Your comments and thoughts are welcome below.

Tuesday, 10 April, 2007

  • Newsnight
  • 10 Apr 07, 05:34 PM

ahmadinejad203.jpgIran - who precisely decided what in respect of the Royal Navy personnel held by the Iranian regime? Is anyone likely to carry the can for the public relations fiasco? And given Iran's boast that it is now capable of industrial production of nuclear fuel, is it time to admit that the European strategy of engagement with the Islamic regime has failed?

Plus: A Paedophile pilot scheme, healthcare in Thailand and websites such as YouTube have come under fire for not doing enough to discourage cyber-bullies. Does the net need a new code of conduct? We'll attempt to redress some of the negative press new technology has been getting by looking at re-enactments of famous scenes from films.

Comment on here.

Thursday, 5 April, 2007

  • Newsnight
  • 5 Apr 07, 05:53 PM

faye203.jpegAfter the safe homecoming of the 15 British navy personnel from Tehran what sort of questions will the servicemen and women be answering about their experience? Will Iran be emboldened by the publicity? We also explore the anatomy of hostage taking?

Plus: Three men are charged over the 7/7 terror attacks; and Steve Smith .

Comment on here.

Wednesday, 4 April, 2007

  • Newsnight
  • 4 Apr 07, 05:52 PM

UK sailors in IranIran's president announces the release of the UK sailors held since March 23 as a "gift to the British people". Liz MacKean looks at today's events, Mark Urban provides analysis and we debate the implications in the studio.

Leave your comments below.

Plus the return of GM crops - this time for medicinal purposes. Is genetically modifying plants a good thing or too big a gamble with our health and the world around us? Join the GM debate here.

Jeremy presents .

Kidnap and veils - student life in Baghdad

  • Newsnight
  • 4 Apr 07, 05:11 PM

As part of Salam Pax's Window on Iraq - for Newsnight's continuing - Baghdad student Ahmed explains the dangers and drawbacks of university life.

Veiled young Iraqi womanUniversity isn't like it used to be. The number of students has gone down and no one keeps a record on attendance any more. We used to have 250 students, now there are less than 120 on what used to be a very popular course. Many have left the country; more took this year off. Then there are those who got kidnapped, like my friend Y.

It happened in the morning just one week after the start of the academic year. He had arrived with his two friends at the university car park when three black Hyundai Sonatas with 4 thugs in each bundled them all into the Sonatas. Quite a feat when you consider my friend Y is as big as a three-door-wardrobe.

Y later told us they were taken to a house in the east of Baghdad. The kidnappers told him they were from the Mahdi Militia and were going to kill him because he was Sunni. Then they made Y take his clothes off and beat him with plastic hosepipes.

Continue reading "Kidnap and veils - student life in Baghdad"

The return of GM crops

  • Newsnight
  • 4 Apr 07, 12:28 PM

_42760639_safflower_203b.jpgJust when you thought it was safe to go back into the countryside "GM 2.0" - the second wave of GM crops is here - making vaccines, medicines and industrial oils in their leaves. Susan Watts reports on tonight's Newsnight about GM crops which are being used to produce insulin. Read about the research and watch a preview of her film .

Supporters say this time GM crops are a force for good - with promises such as cheap drugs for the developing world. Critics say this round is even riskier than the first - one slip up and we could find a powerful drug in our cornflakes.

Do the benefits outweigh the risks and we should all give "GM 2.0" a chance? Or is "GM 2.0" the same old Monsanto-style GM industry dressed in new clothes?

Let us know what you think below.

Tuesday, 3 April, 2007

  • Newsnight
  • 3 Apr 07, 06:10 PM

ahmadinejad203clerics.jpgWho are the people in charge in Iran and what do they want? Our diplomatic editor Mark Urban and the 大象传媒's Middle East analyst Sadeq Saba are on the case to lift the lid on what is going on behind closed doors.

Plus: Local elections; women in Iraq; and a US blogger on bullying on the net.

Comment on here.

Monday, 2 April, 2007

  • Newsnight
  • 2 Apr 07, 06:08 PM

gordon-brown.jpgTen years after Gordon Brown delivered his first ever Budget, papers released under Freedom of Information laws reveal that he was warned beforehand that abolishing dividend tax relief could wipe 75 billion pounds from pension fund values. Today Lord Turner, former head of CBI, came out to deny Treasury claims that the business group had lobbied for the pension tax changes, and the current CBI boss has accused the Treasury of indulging in "spin". How much blame for the country's pension crisis can be laid at the Chancellor's door?

Plus: We'll have the latest on Iran; Scottish Parliament elections; Immigration and 25 years since the Falklands conflict.

Comment on

I鈥檒l compost your corpse

  • Justin Rowlatt -
  • 2 Apr 07, 10:35 AM

justinapril.jpg鈥淚鈥檒l compost your corpse鈥 has to be one of the most unusual offers I鈥檝e ever received. It didn鈥檛 come from some bloke whose pint I鈥檇 just knocked over but from Britain鈥檚 king of compost himself, so I had to take it seriously.

John after our first Ethical Man item to encourage me to explore the virtues of composting. He boasted of how a book called the Humanure Handbook had changed his life. He said it had inspired him to build himself a composting toilet in the back garden of his York semi and since then he鈥檚 hasn鈥檛 looked back 鈥 composting has become his life.

We first met John last summer but now, as I reach the twilight of my the deal was clear: the project would only last a year. The year was up in March so the producer, Sara, and I have been trying to come up with a suitably environmentally friendly way of disposing of Ethical Man.

Continue reading "I鈥檒l compost your corpse"

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