The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
London - British lawmakers voted overwhelmingly Tuesday against a ban on spanking children. Prime Minister Tony Blair's government has not supported a full ban, saying the legislation would intrude into family affairs. "There is a world of difference between a light smack and violent abuse," said Minister for Children Margaret Hodge. "A total ban on smacking could potentially criminalize most parents in this country," Hodge added. Several European countries, including Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Austria, have made all physical punishment of children illegal. Geneva - Sudanese soldiers and police have surrounded a number of refugee camps in the Darfur region and are preventing humanitarian groups from going in, prompting fears some refugees may be removed, the UN said Tuesday. The UN has called the situation in Darfur one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. In September, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell called the current situation a "genocide." Washington - The Pentagon on Tuesday ordered several thousand U.S. troops to extend their tour of duty in Iraq for two months. The 6,500 troops had been due to come home before Iraqi elections scheduled for January. American military officials say the order is to increase troop numbers and capabilities ahead of the elections, which militants have vowed to disrupt.
