The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra is to begin the search for a new conductor after announcing that music director Sakari Oramo will stand down in 2008.

The Finnish conductor, who was appointed principal conductor in 1998 and was given the title music director a year later, will continue with the CBSO as chief guest conductor.

Oramo, who told The Birmingham Post last year that he believed ten years was long enough to be in charge of an orchestra, commented: "After ten years at the helm I feel it is a good time to stand aside, but I love the CBSO and am glad that I will be able to continue working closely with it as principal guest conductor."

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Police and fire services have been urged to follow the Government's example and buy Birmingham-built Jaguars.

Earlier this week it was revealed every Cabinet Minister is to be offered a Birmingham-built Jaguar limousine.

A review of the Ministerial fleet has concluded Ministers should receive a choice between a #50,000 XJ saloon, built in Castle Bromwich, or a Toyota Prius, made in Japan.

It followed a campaign by Jaguar and MPs including Sion Simon (Lab Erdington) and John Spellar (Lab Warley), who were concerned civil servants conducting the review might choose the Japanese vehicle.

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Men are more prone to catching colds and flu because of changes laid down during puberty, according to new research.

The differences in the male and female immune response means that men have a lower "immediate defence" against viruses.

Women, on the other hand, are more prone to autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Researchers in the United States found that these differences were laid down during puberty and are controlled by the female sex hormone oestrogen.

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An independent commission into the state of housing in Birmingham has called for radical changes to city council policy.

But the report, published by London School of Economics academic Professor Anne Power, was criticised by the city council.

The report identifies financial, organisational and community gaps in the council's current policy and made five recommendations to fill them.

These included devolved management, local environment and neighbourhood renewal, alternatives to demolition, new ways to achieve decent homes, and the introduction of mixed-income communities.

If the steps are followed, the report suggests housing would improve in the city.

See Thursday's Birmingham Post for more on these stories