Category Archives: UK

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Two unarmed Policewomen shot dead in Greater Manchester

18 Tuesday Sep 2012

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Police said both unarmed officers suffered fatal injuries during a “routine operation” in Hattersley, Tameside.

They were named at a police press conference as Fiona Bone,32, and Nicola Hughes, 26. (pictured at the bottom)

Fiona had five years of police service behind her, and had come out of her shell after being initially reserved.  She was planning to marry her partner.

Whilst Nicola, it was revealed, had spent three years in the police force and was known to be a chatterbox. She always had time for everyone. She loved Karate.

One of the police offiicers had died at the scene, the second at hospital.

They were attending a call that had come at 10 am, that there had been a burglary and were attacked with gun shots and a grenade.

A witness in Abbey Gardens said they had heard 10 gunshots and an explosion.

A short time after, Dale Cregan, 29, (pictured below) was arrested in connection with the officers’ deaths and two previous murders. He had walked into by Text-Enhance” href=”#”>Hyde police station shortly after the incident.

Police believe that Cregan had called police to report the burglary.

Dale Cregan

Dale Cregan: on bail over fatal pub shooting

Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan said it was “a tragic day” for Greater Manchester Police.

“A long and dark shadow has been cast across Greater Manchester and my thoughts are with the officers’ families, friends and colleagues.

“We will be doing everything we can to support them over the coming days and weeks.”

PC Fiona Bone (left) and PC Nicola Hughes were killed in the attack

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Taliban attack on Camp Bastion

17 Monday Sep 2012

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TEMPLATE ANALYSIS

The full extent of the Taliban’s audacious raid on Camp Bastion/Camp Leatherneck, a massive complex in southern Helmand province that serves as the main base for U.S. Marines and British forces only became clear on Sunday. It was a coordinated assault that destroyed six Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier jump-jets and “significantly” damaged two others, as well as some hangars.

The Taliban also destroyed three refueling stations.

Harrier jets cost an inflation-adjusted $30 million to $40 million apiece when they were acquired in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Armed with automatic rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and suicide vests, they  organized into three teams and appeared “well-equipped, trained and rehearsed.”

According to the Coalition, the militants had penetrated one point of the perimeter fence. and the damage caused represents a major loss of combat
power –  around half a Harrier squadron

To have pulled this off, reports suggest that the attack would have required advance scouting and perhaps inside assistance.

When the Taliban attempted a similar assault on Kandahar Air Field in 2010, they failed.

This attack is a powerful demonstration that they have learned from previous mistakes and are now able to penetrate a base’s defences.

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🪖 Taliban Assault on British Base was ‘aimed at Prince Harry’ 🇦🇫

15 Saturday Sep 2012

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HELMAND – Two American soldiers were killed during a Taliban attack on the British base of Camp Bastion in Southern Afghanistan  last night.

The assault involved between 18 and 20 fighters who used small arms, rockets and mortars to attack the perimeter of the British base.

Prince Harry was at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan during the attack and a Taliban spokesman said he was the target.

The Taliban spokesman had at first said that the attack was a response to a US-made film mocking Islam.

They released a video of the attack, a snatch of which is pictured above.

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The Prince, who is third in line to the British throne, is celebrating his 28th birthday and is in Afghanistan for four months on his second tour of duty.

He was not in any danger during this unprecedented assault on one of the world’s busiest airports.

Several other Nato troops were wounded, whilst one Taliban fighter was caught alive and the rest killed.

Camp Bastion which is situated in the middle of the desert is extremely heavily fortified.

An MoD spokesman said this was a significant attack adding: “there has been some damage to equipment which is still being assessed.”

“After swift action by ISAF forces, including UK personnel, the incident was contained.”

Three hundred and thirty coalition soldiers have lost their lives in Afghanistan this year, of which 252 are from the US.

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PROTESTS AGAINST FILM

11 September

1. US embassy in Cairo attacked, flag torn down and replaced with black Islamist banner

2. Mob attacks US consulate in Benghazi, US ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans killed

13 September

3. Protesters break into the US embassy compound in Sanaa, Yemen, amid clashes with security forces

14 September

4. Sudanese protesters attack US, German and UK embassies in Khartoum and clash with police. Three killed

5. One person killed in Lebanon in protest at a KFC by Text-Enhance” href=”#”>restaurant

6. Protesters in Tunis attack the US embassy, with a large fire reported and shots heard. Two killed

7. Riot police in Cairo clash with protesters near US embassy. One person killed

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🪖 US Ambassador to Libya killed in Benghazi embassy Attack 🇱🇾

12 Wednesday Sep 2012

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TEMPLATE ANALYSIS

Anyone who met Christopher Stevens said he was a very nice man who had a lot of time for you. He was also proud of the role he had taken in ousting Colonel Gaddafi and in helping the Transitional National Council into Tripoli.

So, it is a cruel irony that he has been killed in a country he helped to free, in the place where the rebellion began and of course on the eleventh anniversary of those infamous attacks on America.

The cause for the rocket attacks on the US consulate in Benghazi is a film that clearly insults the Prophet Muhammad and the Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt have today called for worldwide condemnation of the movie made by Israeli film maker Sam Bacile.

Post-Gaddafi Libya has of course been a disaster with the ruling government in Tripoli largely ignored as armed gangs control large parts of the capital, and outside.

Libya is in danger of breaking into three – all of which calls into question Nato’s decision to intervene as Gaddafi’s Libyan forces were amassed outside Benghazi.

Yesterday’s brutal actions that resulted in the deaths of Stevens and three other consular members have been condemned by Hilary Clinton. This was, of course, the same Hilary Clinton who jumped for joy on hearing of Colonel Gaddafi’s death.

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‘You are lying about Syria’, Citizen tells BBC Reporter

10 Monday Sep 2012

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⚽️ Chelsea boss wins ‘Battle of the Oligarchs’ Trial 🇷🇺

31 Friday Aug 2012

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What an attack on Syria would mean

22 Wednesday Aug 2012

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🏏 South Africa win at Lords to become Number One Test Side 🏟 🇿🇦

20 Monday Aug 2012

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Third Test Analysis

South Africa beat England by 51 wins in Third Test at Lords, to take series 2-0 and become the number one ranked Test team in the World.

So, are South Africa the best team in the world – well the rankings would suggest so, and some have even suggested that this team compares favourably with the Australian side captained by Steve Waugh.

Truth is that there at least three teams who on their day can claim to be the best in the world – South Africa is one, England, Pakistan, and then there those who can not be ignored, India, Sri Lanka and of course Australia who are by no means a spent force.

The age of a single power dominating world cricket has long gone – and that is a good thing for everyone.

Current ICC Test rankings

 1. South Africa – 120 points

2. England – 117

3. Australia – 116

4. Pakistan – 109

5. India – 104

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Who won in today’s ‘honour killing’ verdict?

03 Friday Aug 2012

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ANALYSIS

No one won in today’s verdict at Chester Crown Court.

Not the parents of Shafilea Ahmed who have lost liberty as well as their daughter.

Nor the remaining children, one of whom was the chief prosecution witness.

That her parents were acting out of a sense of duty to their family is something that has been highlighted through out this case, from the day when the wayward teenager went missing.

That sense of honour was of course misplaced and resulted in them committing murder.

Although, this was a criminal act, Shafilea’s parents were not criminals.

They felt they were doing the best they could for their daughter who they do still love.

Trouble is we live in a culture where children are encouraged to rebel against their parents, and often that rebellion leads to actions that affects their long-term health and welfare.

The streets of Britain are full of such sad souls

Often they have been thrown out, sometimes they simply have run away.

In this case, Iftikhar and Farzana Ahmed just wanted their daughter to stay.

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Ist Test at Oval: England slide to innings defeat

23 Monday Jul 2012

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MATCH REPORT

The First Test at the Oval was billed as the contest between the best two teams in the world. Pakistan, who whitewashed England during the winter, may have had something to say about that. But they are not the team facing England this summer, South Africa are and they comprehensively beat their opponents here.

England posted a competitive score in their first innings of 385, which was perhaps a hundred or so below par on what appeared to be a friendly enough pitch.

But South Africa’s batting response laid bare England’s bowling and in the process completely knocked the stuffing out of the batting line up for the second innings.

Hashim Amla is a wristy player who is pleasant to watch – the way he was playing England’s bowling he looked like super man.

In the end he finished with the highest score ever made by a South African, 311 not out.  He was ably supported by a Jacques Kallis’ 182 not out and a century from the likeable South African Captain Graeme Smith.

Then it was left to Dale Steyn – the great fast bowler – to take five wickets and Imran Tahir  to wrap the game up for the tourists.

England cracked when it became clear that they were not going to get past Amla and Kallis.

The game became a formality after.

World champions don’t fold like that.

This could be a long hot summer.

South Africa beat England by innings and 12 runs

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