Some Recent Reading

- French, German and Swiss police want to expand the use of Tasers against anti-globalisation protesters, immigrant youth, and immigrants who resist deportation.

- The total area planted with genetically modified maize in Europe has grown by 77% since last year.

- The TUC is launching a website for Polish workers, in partnership with Citizens Advice and Polish trades union Solidarnosc. It will explain rights such as the minimum wage, holiday entitlement and sick pay.

- The Government promised to halve child poverty by 2010 (relative to 1998-1999, when Tony Blair made the pledge), and eradicate it by 2020. Save the Children, however, thinks that the government is as much as 14 years behind the 2010 target. The IFS estimates it will cost another £3.5 billion to £4 billion in tax credits by autumn 2009 to fulfil the promise – which the Chancellor is unlikely to be able to afford.