Oddly Enough

William Hartston
Wednesday 10 June 1998 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Half Marx: Schools and universities in Vietnam have been ordered to increase their quotas of ideological education. The Politburo of the Communist Party issued an edict saying: "The teaching of Marxist-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh ideology has not received due attention". Concern was also expressed about the danger of not reinforcing the Communist Party's role in the academic system. "Party members' combativity and the leadership capability of party units in many schools is not high."

Medical emergency: All 445 medical students at Muhimbili University in Tanzania were suspended for "security reasons" after riot police dispersed a protest during a visit by the health minister. The students had boycotted classes last Thursday and Friday in protest against plans to upgrade the medical college to university status. They were upset because they had not been consulted.

Criminology student? Lawyers for Horace Kelly, a triple murderer facing the death penalty in a Californian jail, have won a stay of execution under a federal law prohibiting the death sentence being carried out on the insane. They say that Mr Kelly speaks gibberish all the time and seems to believe he is in college instead of on death row.

Defense de stationner: Salisbury College has begun a weekly language course for 11 new students - all car park attendants sent by the district council to help them deal with tourists. After the course, the attendants, now known as "City Ambassadors", will be able to impose parking fines in five different languages.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in