Tax cuts boost the economy
The German cabinet has agreed upon a series of tax
cuts that were initially proposed by Hans Eichel,
the country’s finance minister. According to
Eichel, the cuts are designed to boost Germany’s
stagnant economy.
Across the border, the President of France Jacques
Chirac has urged his parliament to adopt similar
measures in his own nation, for exactly the same
reasons.
Britain home of new “Modern Wonder of the World”
The Royal Botanic Gardens in London, known as Kew Gardens,
is to be included as a modern wonder of the world,
alongside such famous landmarks as the Taj Mahal and
the Great Wall of China.
The United Nations has recognised the gardens as
having a “unique cultural landscape” and
has bestowed it with World Heritage Site status.
The site, which covers 132 hectares, contains some
of the largest and best-known botanical glasshouses,
historic buildings and gardens that are visited each
year by over a million people.
Stem cell research: To be, or not to be?
European nations opposed to research on embryonic stem
cells could block proposals by the European Union to
fund further research into the use of frozen human
embryos.
The European Commission has said the EU should fund
embryonic stem cell research on cells, which are
taken from frozen human embryos, but not in countries
where the technique is banned.
However, those countries currently banning stem
cell research may still oppose the introduction of
the EU’s plans by voting against the proposal.
Sweden, Finland, Greece, the Netherlands and Britain
currently allow stem cells to be harvested from 'spare'
IVF embryos, but this practise is still illegal in
Germany, France, Ireland and Spain.
A moratorium on EU funding for stem cell research
ends on December 31, by which time the European Commission
hopes the new funding rules can be introduced.
Computer viruses on the rise
Business internet services firm Via Net.Works UK has
released figures that show the number of viruses affecting
the computer systems of small businesses in the UK reached
a record high last month.
The figures show that the number of virus-infected emails
received by small firms and detected by the company's
anti-virus software rose to one in every 120 during the
month of June.
This is in comparison to just one in 420 the month
before.
Via Net.Works UK also said that the number of new
viruses increased from 24 to 35 in June, which is the
highest number to be detected in a single month so
far in 2003.
The firm advised small businesses to ensure their
computer security systems are regularly updated against
potential new threats to make sure they have the best
protection.
According to the Department of Trade and Industry
(DTI), 44 per cent of UK businesses are subject to
electronic attacks at least once a year, and the average
cost of an attack is estimated to be £30,000.
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