While the latest cult comedy from the United Kingdom, "Little Britain," makes irreverent fun of the UK, as far as the government is concerned, national identity is no laughing matter. 

A new citizenship and language test for immigrants was introduced in Britain on Tuesday. The test, Britain's not altogether fluent minister for immigration, Tony McNulty, told the Guardian newspaper, is "a test of their preparedness to become citizens, in keeping with the language requirement as well." 

"Life in the United Kingdom: A Journey to Citizenship" is recommended as pre-test reading and promises a riveting 120 pages on all things British: from emergency telephone numbers to what to do if you accidentally spill someone's pint -- no small matter in the UK. For anyone interested in having a go themselves to see just how British they are, the BBC has set up their own online citizenship test. 

Teachers however believe that questions such as "which kind of court uses juries: magistrates, crown, youth or county courts?" are too diffcult. In a trial only one in 20 British teachers actually passed. 

But it was a question about the head of the Church of England which caused the most confusion. Is the Queen, the Archbishop of Canterbury or Jesus actually in charge?

Immigration Minister Tony McNulty claimed to have answered all but one question correctly and told the Guardian "we certainly do not want to set the level so high that we discourage people from seeking naturalization. This should be a positive experience."

In 2004 the number of people granted British citizenship rose by 12 percent to 140,795. Applicants must score 75 percent or above on 24 questions taken from a possible 200 based on the history of the UK, government and law, religious and ethnic diversity and the role of women. If they fail, they are excluded from getting British citizenship. Although, as long as they are prepared to pay £34 each time, there is no limit to the number of times they can re-sit. 

African Women to Take Part in HIV Prevention Trials

There is a glimmer of hope in the battle against HIV and AIDS: A vaginal gel which could block the entry of HIV to human cells during sexual intercourse is about to go on clinical trial in Africa. 10,000 women are expected to participate in the programme, which is being funded by the UK's Department for International Development and Medical Research Council. The first trials of the PRO 2000 microbide start this week in South Africa and Uganda, and will expand to other sites in South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia later this year.  

Women are disproportionately affected by HIV in the developing world, largely due to the fact that they are particularly vulnerable to the heterosexual transmission of the virus. When this is coupled with a prevailing culture where women are often not able to persuade or even dare ask their men to do the decent thing and wear a condom, and where the men often have multiple partners, the result is predictably disastrous.

According to the United Nations  , in sub-Saharan Africa there are 13 women living with HIV for every 10 infected men. Among young people, the difference is even more dramatic -- in the 15 to 24 age group there are on average 36 young women living with HIV for every 10 young men. 

It is pretty clear that one solution is for young African women to be able to take control. An effective vaginal gel could provide that breakthrough. In this case female empowerment really is a matter of life and death. 

Pretty Girls Are More Fertile

Too much beer, too tight trousers, too much sitting on the sofa watching football -- there have been many theories about just why the fertility rates in the West have been tumbling quite so dramatically in recent decades. Now a new study  could shed some light on this phenomenon. Researchers at St Andrews University in Scotland measured the oestrogen levels of 56 female students and found that "female facial appearance holds detectable clues, to reproductive health, that are considered attractive in other people." In other words the women with the prettier faces -- those who had bigger eyes and lips, and a smaller jaw -- were also more fertile.