News you might have missed: September 2015

From women in politics to Turkey vs Kurds vs ISIS, and from a gay version of "Hart to Hart" to the effectiveness of PrEP...

Here's the news you might have missed in September...

Politics

Hillary Clinton emails reveal David Miliband's reaction to losing Labour leadership election
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/hillary-clinton-emails-reveal-david-milibands-reaction-to-losing-labour-leadership-election-10480631.html

It's always interesting to see how others see us, or in this case, how Hilary Clinton sees UK politicians...

NUS fights back against government's 'chilling' counter-radicalisation strategy

http://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/sep/02/nus-fights-back-against-governments-chilling-counter-radicalisation-strategy

I can see problems with the counter radicalism strategy but a boycott will easily be portrayed as being “pro-terrorist”

Government warns NUS to stop opposition to Prevent strategy

http://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/sep/17/government-nus-stop-opposition-prevent-strategy

As expected…

Alex Salmond reveals he ‘prefers people of faith’
http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/alex-salmond-reveals-he-prefers-people-of-faith-1-3876408

Discrimination!

Labour may not be ready for Liz yet, but women in politics are a step closer to real power

https://englandisthehomeoflostideas.wordpress.com/2015/09/06/labour-may-not-be-ready-for-liz-yet-but-women-in-politics-are-a-step-closer-to-real-power/

I agree with Daisy! Especially this à

“In the future, at least by the time my nieces are old enough to vote we should expect all party leadership contests to involve more women and for women party leaders to be the norm.”

Diary of a witch-hunt: In his own words, Paul Gambaccini reveals the pain of being denounced as a sex attacker and demonised by police - all on fantasists' claims
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3223622/Diary-witch-hunt-words-Paul-Gambaccini-reveals-pain-denounced-sex-attacker-demonised-police-fantasists-claims.html#ixzz3oLZHkdTo

Quite a saga (warning: article from the Daily Mail)

The deportation game: What happens when refugees turn 18?

http://www.politics.co.uk/blogs/2015/09/08/the-deportation-game-what-happens-when-refugees-turn-18

An increasing problem

Tech veteran John McAfee to join 2016 US presidential race as independent
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/sep/09/john-mcafee-2016-us-presidential-race?CMP=share_btn_fb

Random!

Stepping Down

http://wilsonrichard.com/2015/09/12/stepping-down/

The Labour candidate for Guildford will wait for the party to return from the wilderness…

The political centre beckons for  the Lib Dems

http://thinkingliberal.co.uk/?p=1986

Hopefully!

Lib Dems adopt youth services as policy priority | Children & Young People Now
http://www.cypnow.co.uk/cyp/news/1153909/lib-dems-adopt-youth-services-as-policy-priority#sthash.zoVMpScx.gbpl&st_refDomain=&st_refQuery=

Youth services are vital and should be protected

Turkey, the Kurds and the fight against Islamic State

http://www.ecfr.eu/page/-/Turkey-the-Kurds-Islamic-State2.pdf

An excellent detailed briefing – short version: it’s complicated!

Revealed: British ministers tried to block EU moves to clean up air quality
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/sep/26/uk-tried-to-block-tougher-eu-car-emissions-tests?CMP=share_btn_fb

Am not surprised...

The Shoreditch Cereal Café Was Attacked By Anti-Gentrification Protesters
http://www.buzzfeed.com/alanwhite/anti-gentrification-protesters-attacked-the-cereal-cafe-in-s

The Cereal Cafe looked too hipster for me, but attacks like this just motivate me to go and spend a fortune there

TTIP update: A Liberal in charge, and a new investor dispute proposal
http://www.libdemvoice.org/ttip-update-a-liberal-in-charge-and-a-new-investor-dispute-proposal-47700.html

The US-EU trade talks continue, with some good developments

Not Satisfied With Snatching Their Milk in the 1970s, The Tories Now Seem Set to Steal the Lunches of Children
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/tim-farron/free-school-meals_b_8218856.html

But the Lib Dems did nothing in coalition...

The story of the unfortunate MoJ and Saudi commercial proposal

http://jackofkent.com/2015/09/the-story-of-the-unfortunate-moj-and-saudi-commercial-proposal/

This is very worrying

LGBT

Thailand introduces first law to protect LGBT people

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/09/10/thailand-introduces-first-law-to-protect-lgbt-people/

Good for them!

Rentboy wasn't my 'brothel'. It was a tool to stay alive in this economy of violence

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/sep/01/rentboy-online-brothel-tool-economy-sex-work

An interesting take…

Cambodia supports same-sex marriage, government spokesperson
http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/cambodia-supports-same-sex-marriage-government-spokesperson/

Good news

Nepal lawmakers approve first LGBTI protections in new constitution

http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/nepal-lawmakers-approve-first-lgbti-protections-in-new-constitution/

More good news

Serbia hosts first Belgrade Pride march without arrests

http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/serbia-hosts-first-belgrade-pride-march-without-arrests/

Progress!

Universal releases trailer for Panti Bliss documentary The Queen of Ireland

http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/watch-universal-releases-trailer-for-panti-bliss-documentary-the-queen-of-ireland/

I hope "The Queen Of Ireland" - a film about Panti Bliss - comes out in the UK

Saudi Arabia protests inclusion of LGBTI rights in UN Development Agenda
http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/saudi-arabia-protests-inclusion-of-lgbti-rights-in-un-development-agenda/

Sadly not surprising

Education

Jeremy Corbyn's higher education and science policy
http://www.wonkhe.com/blogs/jeremy-corbyns-higher-education-and-science-policy/

No major surprises - shame about the homoeopathy though

Where next for Labour’s higher education policy?
http://labourlist.org/2015/09/where-next-for-labours-higher-education-policy/

Wes Streeting makes some sensible points about tuition fees, further education and science funding. I'm not sure if they will materialise as Labour Party policies though...

How to read: Jo Johnson’s speech to Universities UK

http://wonkhe.com/blogs/how-to-read-jo-johnsons-speech-to-universities-uk/

More questions!

Ernst & Young Removes Degree Classification From Entry Criteria As There's 'No Evidence' University Equals Success

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/08/04/ernst-and-young-removes-degree-classification-entry-criteria_n_7932590.html

Evidence-based policy making for the win!

Texas’ Atrocious Sex Ed Shows What Happens When Conservatives Alter Textbooks

http://www.slate.com/blogs/schooled/2015/09/23/conservative_textbook_changes_texas_sex_ed_curriculum_alteration_over_10.html

Politicians shouldn’t be approving textbooks – they should leave it to educators to decide what to use.

TEF fees link is ‘daft’ and ‘stupid’, say Coventry University leaders

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/tef-fees-link-daft-and-stupid-say-coventry-leaders

Brave University leaders criticising Government policy (declaration: I work at Coventry Uni)

Ex-Muslim speaker's Warwick University ban overturned following public pressure - Coventry Telegraph
http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/ex-muslim-speakers-warwick-university-10145068#ICID=sharebar_facebook

Good news

Entertainment

Amazon Prime to allow offline viewing
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-34114490?SThisFB

I will appreciate this when travelling!

Alex Kingston is returning to Doctor Who as River Song for this year's Christmas special
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s7/doctor-who/news/a666442/alex-kingston-is-returning-to-doctor-who-as-river-song-for-this-years-christmas-special.html

Spoilers!

The Britcom Roots of the sitcom Vicious

http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2015/09/11/the_britcom_roots_of_pbs_sitcom_vicious_video.html

Gogglebox series 6: Scarlett Moffatt quotes to live your life by
http://metro.co.uk/2015/09/11/12-quotes-by-scarlett-from-gogglebox-to-live-your-life-by-5384820/

Can't wait for the new series tonight!

BBC iPlayer - Doctor Who - New Series Prologue
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0326pdj/doctor-who-new-series-prologue

Intriguing...

Iconic TV show Hart to Hart to get gay makeover
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/09/16/iconic-tv-show-hart-to-hart-to-get-gay-makeover/

Random!

Everyone Thinks Sam Smith's New Bond Tune is Rubbish
http://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2015/09/everyone-thinks-sam-smiths-new-bond-tune-is-rubbish/

This--> Imagine the world's most generic man writing a slightly off-key song that is supposed to sound like a Bond theme tune while not breaking any copyright rules, and you'll end up with what we are presented with today.

Sandi Toksvig Live! Politically Incorrect
https://womensequality.org.uk/news/2015/09/29/sandi-toksvig-live-politically-incorrect/

Might be worth going to...

BBC unveils biggest song search ever for 2016 UK entry
http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=bbc_unveils_biggest_song_search_ever_for_2016_uk_entry

Fingers crossed this improves our next entry

Science / Technology

Singapore ends ban on visitors with HIV

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/09/01/singapore-ends-ban-on-visitors-with-hiv/

Progress!

Contactless card limit rises to £30 as card use surges
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34110348?SThisFB

I still find this technology scary

Instagram images no longer all square
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-34087336?SThisFB

Progress ;-)

Sex Health Clinic 56 Dean Street 'Mistakenly' Reveals HIV Positive Status Of Nearly 800 Patients
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/02/sexual-health-clinic-56-dean-street-mistakenly-reveals-identity-of-hiv-positive-patients_n_8075716.html

Not good

London sexual health clinic makes reforms after HIV patient data leak

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/09/08/london-sexual-health-clinic-makes-reforms-after-hiv-patient-data-leak/

Hopefully it won’t happen again

Zero gay men contract HIV in two and a half year PrEP study

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/09/08/zero-gay-men-contract-hiv-in-two-and-a-half-year-prep-study/

Good news!

Public given the chance to name UK and Irish storms
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34181468?SThisFB

I think there should be retro names - Storms Ethel and Maud have a British ring to them!

Argentina gay blood ban: It’s abolished.
http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2015/09/17/argentina_gay_blood_ban_it_s_abolished.html?wpsrc=sh_all_dt_tw_bot

Individual risk assessment makes much more sense than "risk groups"

And finally…

Grandmother prefers iPad to grandchildren
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/science-technology/grandmother-prefers-ipad-to-grandchildren-20150902101661?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=socialnetwork

LOL! Not in my experience...

Sphero's BB-8 is the 'Star Wars' toy everyone will want
http://www.engadget.com/2015/09/03/sphero-bb-8-star-wars-toy/

OMG!!

32 Things You'll Only Understand If You Went To University In The '90s
http://www.buzzfeed.com/lukelewis/things-youll-only-understand-if-you-went-to-university-in#.xrol8yDOO

The kids today don't know what they missed out on - queuing to use a payphone in halls and discussing Mysterious Cities of Gold!

Tom Daley Innuendo Bingo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG4ayZtY4Y0&feature=share

Tom Daley playing Innuendo Bingo... "“I need more explosive power in my mouth!” I'm sure he will get plenty of offers...

Scots 'have 421 words' for snow
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-34323967?SThisFB

:-)