Festering affairs.(News)

The mission statement of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) contains these words: "... ensure justice ... by prosecuting without fear, favour or prejudice".

It is hard to see how the decision to drop the charges against Jacob Zuma ensures justice; it merely entrenches the belief that justice is applied differently to those with power in the governing party.

The apparent "abuse of process" by former NPA staff is seemingly enough to leave the NPA quaking in its boots - so much for "without fear". This process has been a debacle ever since Bulelani Ngcuka's "prima facie" press conference and leaves the impression of a highly incompetent prosecuting …

ValleyCats score late to overtake Spinners.(Sports)

Byline: Staff reports

ValleyCats 9

Spinners 6

Tri-City scored six runs in the final two innings to rally for a 9-6 road win at Lowell Wednesday.

Lowell entered the series riding a four-game winning streak, but its second loss to the ValleyCats in as many days dropped it into a first-place tie with Oneonta atop the Stedler Division. …

THERAPISTS FEAR EFFECTS OF CLINTON HEALTH PLAN.(CAPITAL REGION)

Byline: DANIEL GOLEMAN New York Times

Conversations with mental health professionals across the country reveal deep fears about the limits that a new national health plan may put on payments for psychotherapy.

Psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and other psychotherapists say some limits being discussed would be calamitous for many patients and for the profession itself. And those who know what is going on in the secret proceedings of the mental health task force, part of the Task Force on National Health Care Reform, say that therapists -- and those who need therapy -- may have good reason to worry.

Most of the proposals being considered, …

UC Irvine Study Looks at Parents' Attempts to Help Teenagers Cope After Terrorist Attacks.

Byline: University of California, Irvine

IRVINE, Calif., April 21 (AScribe Newswire) -- After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, psychologists encouraged parents to talk with their children about the day's tragic events.

But parental attempts to help their teenagers cope were not always effective and sometimes even detrimental, according to a new study by UC Irvine psychologists.

The researchers found that teenagers whose parents encouraged them to cope with the events by sharing their emotions reported lower levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms over time. In contrast, teenagers who didn't talk to their parents -- either because the teens …

Canadian football player tests positive for HGH

WATERLOO, Ontario (AP) — The first athlete to positive test for human growth hormone in North America is a Canadian college football player whose team was suspended for the 2010 season because of a steroid scandal.

The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sports (CCES) says one of the 20 blood tests collected from the University of Waterloo team came back positive for HGH.

Earlier this year, the British anti-doping authority announced a two-year ban on a rugby player, who became the first athlete anywhere to be suspended for using HGH.

In June, Waterloo suspended its football program for a full season after finding evidence of nine …

Agent targets land for redevelopment

A Nailsea estate agent has launched a new business to target theowners of large gardens and persuade them to release some of theirproperty for redevelopment.

High demand for land suitable for housing has prompted estateagent Heritage to set up Land, New Homes & Developments, whichlocates potential sites for developers.

The estate agent, which has offices in Nailsea, Pill, Portisheadand Yatton, says there is increasing demand for land in villages andtowns throughout North Somerset and Bristol, for everything fromsingle plots to areas suitable for apartment development.

Paul Kingston, director of Land, New Homes & Developments, said:"Land is very hard to come …

Food prices a crime.(News)

The rising food prices have raised some comments in the media, but not much has been said.

I believe this to be a big issue and it needs some answers.

To begin with, South Africa has apparently had good crops this year, so this can't be the reason.

Secondly, and perhaps the most questionable "reason" was the petrol price hike. When the petrol price dropped, why did the food prices not adjust accordingly? Food prices rise with every petrol hike, but never drop when petrol does. Why?

Surely South Africans need to be asking themselves where the real problem lies. Food is an essential commodity. We, the public, are at …