A judge voiced his indignation after being forced to send a vulnerable woman to prison for possession of a knife that she was preparing to cut herself with. The media mogul is still wanted on fraud charges in Russia, and points to the nine-year jail term for fraud against another oligarch, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, as a warning to those engaging in political activities against Mr Putin's regime.Mr Abramovich, 38, remains close to the Kremlin and is the governor of the Arctic region of Chukotka.Mr Berezovsky's Kommersant business daily reported yesterday that Mr Abramovich was in the final stages of negotiations to sell a majority stake in Sibneft to the state-controlled gas monopoly, Gazprom.Mr Abramovich has sold many of his Russian assets, and some investors are predicting that Sibneft would be sold as the state tightens its grip on the country's strategic assets in the wake of the trial of Mr Khodorkovsky, the head of the Yukos oil giant.. One of Russia's richest exiles set the scene for a battle of the giants by announcing that he plans to sue Roman Abramovich, the owner of Chelsea football club, for allegedly pressuring him to sell major assets at knock-down prices. Boris Berezovsky, the Russian tycoon who has obtained political asylum in Britain, said he would sue his former prot? on the ground that he was pressured into selling his stakes in his main Russian assets after he fled the country. He warned that "serial non-voters could threaten the long-term legitimacy of democracy". Speaking at a seminar organised by the Institute for Public Policy Research, a think-tank, Mr Hoon who is in charge of electoral issues, said: "Some have suggested that reform of the electoral system is required to bring in proportional representation. "Rather like the introduction of seat belt legislation, it would only require one or two cases to be brought to encourage everyone else to participate," he said..
"International experience points to compulsory voting being the most effective way to increase turnout," he said."A higher turnout is vital if we are to ensure a representative, healthy and vibrant democracy."He suggested that people who refused to vote could be fined up to £500. Reformers seized on remarks by Geoff Hoon who appeared not to rule out changing the electoral system in a speech on voting and turnout. I remain open minded on this particular issue." But he added that he had "yet to be convinced" of the need for "fundamental" change on the voting system. Almost 40,000 people have signed up to The Independent's Campaign for Democracy and demanded a review of the voting system. Mr Hoon also made the case for compulsory voting to help increase the flagging levels of turnout at general elections. If there was anybody onstage today with less charisma than him, it was Dido, whose mild, Bridget Jonesian flutterings induced somnolence before Youssou N'Dour arrived to perk matters up with another anthemic duet, of "Seven Seconds".REM's uplifting spot, blending the anthemic "Everybody Hurts" with the rousing "Man On The Moon" demonstrated how brilliantly this one-time indie garage band has redefined the essence of large-scale stadium dynamics. By contrast, Ms Dynamite seemed out of her depth, though the version of Marley's "Redemption Song" was welcome.
* Sir Alec Douglas-Home, 196365, son of a Scottish earl, Eton and Oxford. * Harold Macmillan, 19571963, son of an earl, Eton and Oxford. * Sir Anthony Eden, 1955 1957, son of landowners, Eton and Oxford. * Sir Winston Churchill, 19401955, son of a politician, boarding schools and Sandhurst.. The campaign for electoral reform received a boost after the Leader of the House of Commons said he was "open minded" about bringing in proportional representation. If we fail to take this opportunity, then our party will remain in the political wilderness." He will oppose plans for Tory members to lose their right to choose the party leader, saying that the franchise should be extended not reduced.