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PETER CAVE: There's anger in Britain after some of the 15 British sailors and marines held captive by Iran sold their stories for six-figure sums.

Their decision to make money from their ordeal has been described as "tacky and undignified".

Stephanie Kennedy reports from London.

STEPHANIE KENNEDY: For 13 days they were held captive in Iran. They were blindfolded, bound and kept in isolation. Some of the sailors and marines feared for their lives.

The only woman in the group, Faye Turney, was separated from her colleagues. For the first four days she was told they had gone home, only she was left.

Now they've returned to Britain safely they've been bombarded with cash offers to sell their stories. And the UK's defence ministry has now given permission for them to accept money.

Fix 20 Free Hours or Scrap It

It is time for the government to fix or scrap its proposed policy of providing 20 free hours of early childhood education for 3 and 4 year olds, according to Education Forum policy advisor Norman LaRocque.

Revelations today that ECE services would not be allowed to take steps to recoup some of the costs of the 20 free hours policy by charging higher fees for other groups, mean the policy must be fixed or scrapped. Otherwise irreparable damage to both the kindergarten and education and care sectors is likely, Mr LaRocque said.

"Centres are likely to go under, meaning limits on parental choice, a reduction in the quality of education and care provided and fewer incentives to invest in the ECE sector.

"To fix the policy, the government should allow ECE centres to charge top-up fees for the 20 free hours.

Computer glitch means big bill for vacant home

For the past three months I received a $0 bill at an address on South Bendix Drive (my mother is deceased and I am the estate holder). I had the gas turned on in October in my name. The home is vacant at this time and has been since Sept. 22. I asked NIPSCO if should I send something in and was told no, the bill is correct. I told them the bill said I would be billed later and I explained I did not want a large surprise for their mistake.

March 16: I cashed a check from NIPSCO for my mother's address in the amount of $25.32. They told me a credit on my mother's account was left.

March 17: I received a gas bill for $695.85 at my mother's address. When I contacted NIPSCO on March 20, I was told this was a correct bill. I was also told if it was paid after April 2, I would have to pay $716.60, because of a late fee.

On-The-Record Briefing on the Release of the Annual Report ...

LAWFUEL - US Legal Affairs - Paula Dobriansky, Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs; Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Barry F. Lowenkron

Washington, DC
April 5, 2007

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(10:07 a.m. EDT)

MR. GALLEGOS: Good morning. I want to thank you all for coming. Today the Department of State is releasing the Annual Report, Supporting Human Rights and Democracy: The U.S. Record - 2006. We have opening remarks from Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Paul Dobriansky. And then following her will be Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Barry Lowenkron.

UNDER SECRETARY DOBRIANSKY: Good morning. It is my pleasure to help launch the Supporting Human Rights and Democracy Report for 2006.

Formula Ford Driver Sponsored by Power Pill

Rising Formula Ford star Linton Stutely starts the new season with high hopes. With a new chassis from Mygale and engine from Premier Power things are looking extremely positive. New sponsorship from Power Pill UK Ltd for the seasons opening races has also boosted confidence.

Power Pill is a unique product which improves fuel economy in any petrol or diesel driven vehicle, whilst at the same time increases engine power and reduces many of the harmful emissions which come from vehicles exhaust systems.

A mortgage is 'good' debt for those who get the right one

All debt is not created equal. While financial advisers almost reflexively urge consumers to avoid carrying credit-card balances from month to month and to go easy on boat loans, car loans and other forms of debt, they usually make an exception for a mortgage to buy your home. A home mortgage is one of the best uses of credit.

The fundamental reasoning is simple: Although you can save your money and pay for clothes, cars and maybe even a college degree with cash, few people could ever hope to save enough to buy a home for cash, especially during their child-rearing years when they have the greatest need. A mortgage allows you to buy a home after having saved a relatively small amount of its value, perhaps 5 percent or less, and to reap the financial gains as the home's value grows over the years.

Grappling with Jonestown

Monday night, Stanley Nelson's excellent documentary, "Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple," proves once again that answers remain stubbornly elusive.

Nelson is a fine documentary producer ("The Murder of Emmett Till"; "The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords") whose subject matter is most often the African-American experience, as opposed to simply the American one. But he's not much given to proselytizing, and instead lets his subjects do the talking. Invariably, that's more than enough.

With "Jonestown," Nelson tries to get behind those emblematic sunglasses of Jim Jones to understand the man, but can get only so far before Jones' growing insanity blocks fuller comprehension.

Relying on first-person accounts (including that of Jones' own adopted black son, Jim Jones Jr.), "Jonestown" offers up a portrait of an impoverished boy who was preoccupied with religion and death to the point of killing a cat so he could hold a funeral for it.