Category Archives: UK

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JOURNALIST NAYAB CHOHAN INTERVIEWS STEWART PURVIS in TEMPLATE EXCLUSIVE – Why OFCOM took Press TV off the Airwaves

15 Thursday Mar 2012

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LONDON – Press TV could be back on the UK airwaves, Professor Stewart Purvis who was on the OFCOM board that made the decision to take the Iranian-owned broadcaster off air said today in an exclusive Template interview.

Prof Purvis said Press TV had not been able to meet European standards and regulations, highlighting the interview broadcast with a man who later said he had been under duress from the Iranian authorities as an example of this.

He did not however rule out a time when OFCOM and Press TV could meet and iron out the problems, that mean that viewers can only see the channel on the deregulated web.

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⚽️ Why English Clubs fail in Europe 🏟

09 Friday Mar 2012

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The Manchester Clubs were defeated in the first legs of their Europa League fixtures yesterday. In the case of City, losing by one goal to Sporting Lisbon may have had more to do with their own internal issues than with the quality of their opposition who were well organised and held back only by the resolute goalkeeper that is Joe Hart. City looked tired and out of sorts, and still appear to have problems adjusting to Europe, which given the speed of their progress is understandable.

United however, were outplayed outclassed and well out…everything by a team from Spain called Athletic Bilbao.  That United have a one-goal deficit had more to do more with Athletic missing a number of chances than how Alex Ferguson’s men played on the night.

Yes, we have seen the emergence of a new Spanish powerhouse, however, the question has to asked as to what is to become of the English clubs – the Europa League was meant to be Europe’s First Division, well try telling that Athletic who taught the once great European side that was Manchester United how to play with speed, skill and sheer talent.

Arsenal heroics the other night against AC Milan in the Champions League may have been celebrated by the fans, however the truth is they were completely outplayed in the first leg and all Milan had to do was sit back and soak up the pressure for the return fixture at the Emirates.

Robin Van Persie’s miss at the end was not a real reflection of the gap between the two sides.

And Chelsea, who have never really looked like winning the Champions League title ever, have it all to do against Napoli if they are to progress into the quarter-final.

It’s going to take more than getting rid of AVB to come back from a 3-1 defeat here.

Years ago, 2004 if my memory serves me right, a  cab driver gave me the low down on the English game. He believed that English football just did not cut it against the Europeans, something you could clearly see reflected by the continued failure of the national side  and that those foreign players that were lured by the money to play here lost their vitality so that they never the same players ever again.

Trouble is he was right then, and what he said then, is also true today.

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404 British Soldiers and counting…

07 Wednesday Mar 2012

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KANDAHAR – Six British soldiers have been killed in southern Afghanistan after their vehicle was hit by an explosion, taking the total past 400 to 404. Five of soldiers were from 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment and one from 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment had been on patrol in Kandahar province on Tuesday, the MoD confirmed.  Their families have been told.

This is the biggest single loss of UK life at one time in Afghanistan since a Nimrod crash killed 14 in 2006.

The MoD said the six soldiers were on a security patrol in a Warrior armoured fighting vehicle when it was caught in an explosion in Kandahar province. They had been travelling as part of a two Warrior patrol when the vehicle was hit at the junction of a road travelling east from Gereshk and another heading north to Lashkar Gah, the MoD said.

Most of the 9,500 UK troops in Afghanistan are expected to be withdrawn by the end of 2014. The last British soldier to be killed in Afghanistan was Senior Aircraftman Ryan Tomlin, of 2 Squadron, Royal Air Force Regiment, who died from gunshot wounds in Helmand on 13 February.

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Brazil overtakes Britain’s Economy 🇧🇷

06 Tuesday Mar 2012

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Brazil has become the sixth-biggest economy in the world, the BBC’s website reports. It says the country’s finance minister Guido Mantega said the Brazilian economy is now worth $2.5tn (£1.6tn).

The Latin American nation’s economy grew 2.7% last year, official figures show, more than the UK’s 0.8% growth.

The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) and other economic forecasters also said that Brazil had now overtaken the UK.

Mantega said: “It is not important to be the world’s sixth-biggest economy, but to be among the most dynamic economies, and with sustainable growth.”

Brazil is enjoying an economic boom because of high food and oil prices, which has led to rapid growth.

In 2010, the Brazilian economy was worth $2.09tn, compared with the UK’s $2.25tn total output, in current US dollars, according to the International Monetary Fund.

However, according to NIESR, using the IMF’s figures at current exchange rates, Brazil’s economy is now $2.52tn and the UK’s is $2.48tn.

The larger increase in the nominal size of both economies is explained by domestic inflation.

The Centre for Economics and Business Research has also said that Brazil’s economy has overtaken the UK’s.

In the fourth quarter of last year, Brazil’s economy grew by 0.3% from the previous quarter, according to Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia de Estatistica.

Brazil, the largest Latin American economy and one of the so-called Bric nations together with Russia, India and China, has seen its economy soar in recent years, with growth far outpacing the US and western Europe, but sending inflation higher.

The currency, the real, fell 11% against the US dollar last year.

That is after two years of huge gains – up 5% in 2010 and 34% in 2009. The currency is worth more than double what it was 10 years ago.

With substantial oil and gas reserves continuing to be discovered off Brazil’s coast in recent years, the country is now the world’s ninth largest oil producer, and the government wishes to ultimately enter the top five.

The country will also host the 2014 World Cup, and Rio de Janeiro will be home to the 2016 summer Olympics.

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17272716

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England v Holland, Wembley Stadium, 2-3

01 Thursday Mar 2012

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Stuart Pearce, England’s stand in coach, fielded a young side for this warm up for the Euros and it was not a complete failure by any means.

Sure, England’s lack of experience when pitted against world-class opposition that included Arjen Robben and Arsenal’s Robin van Persie was clear for all who were present at Wembley last night.

The Dutch – who were awful in that World Cup final defeat to Spain – played with in themselves and always looked as if they could step up a gear when they needed to.

And they grabbed two excellent goals within three minutes to take the lead in the second half.

However, England got two back with some well worked moves which should be something that a future coach could build on.

Of course, Holland were the better team, everyone could see that, however there was enough to hint at a brighter future if you are an England fan.

It’s too early to start talking about emerging stars and based on previous experience not a good idea – so the best that can be said of this game is that a highly experimental England side worked hard, played with spirit and at the end left enough to encourage the home of football.

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Trapped in the UK in the year 2012 🇬🇧

29 Wednesday Feb 2012

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China and India are said to be the rising stars of the economic world and if last night’s Piers Morgan’s programme on Shanghai is anything to go by, this will all mean some people are going to get incredibly rich.

Trouble is that in this arena of winners and losers, there are an even larger number who will not and who will suffer in this brave new world.

BBC News carried a report through out the day about illegal workers from India who had come to Britian to get work and perhaps a better life.

Well, the recession has paid put that idea and since those illegals burned their passports when they arrived here, they are trapped because the Indian government says that since they do not have the correct paperwork they can’t return home either.

The pictures of despair and sheer desperation that were broadcast were perhaps the most disturbing to be shown on terrestrial television yet.

One young man who said he was 21 had just been released from prison and was back on the streets – clearly for him the free world had nothing to offer. How did he get into trouble in the first place  – shop lifting to get him the drugs that get him through the day.

Then, the reporter took us to the place where many of these illegals, non existents, spend the night in the cold exposed to the weather, with little more than drugs and an appalling sound born of misery to get them by.

It just so happened that these poor people are from India, there are others also Russia Today broadcast report last December about Polish people getting by eating rats.

No doubt there are others from every corner of the Third World, including of course China.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17198879

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Munich Brawl

22 Wednesday Feb 2012

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Over the weekend, some one called David Haye started to shout abuse at a press conference held for someone who had just lost to Wladimir Klitschko.

The defeated contender one Dereck Chisora was filmed threatening to shoot that person called Haye.

Before his defeat to Klitschko, Chisora had spat in the face of his opponent. Kiltschko, with the grace that has marked the career of the giant Russian, just left his talking for inside the ring.

Now, there is talk of banning the two clowns who think that by acting like Mike Tyson they are the great man.

Well things are a bit more complicated than that – Klitschko does in every way resemble Evander Holyfield, Tyson’s one truly worthy opponent.

And that’s where the similarities end.

For until the emergence of Holyfield, Tyson had floored everyone in sight – take a good look at Trevor Berbick’s reaction to meeting that famously sharp fist, see also Larry Holmes who remarked that he felt his fight with Tyson was something personal – it was mate, he was getting you back for what you did to his hero Muhammad Ali.

Then, two things happened.

First,  of course there was the emergence of Holyfield and there was also Tyson’s personal life which was on a downward spiral following the death of his trainer, a messy divorce which was followed a period in prison for rape. The Tyson that met Holyfield after all that was slower and far more frustrated and angrier as a result.

Those who hate and taunt Tyson for what he has done, may also want to consider that the World of Boxing has never been same since his departure.

You only have to look at those ludicrous events of the weekend in Munich to know that.

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General Assembly votes for an end to violence in Syria

17 Friday Feb 2012

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Posted by | Filed under Analysis 🙌, Arab World 🌎, Europe 🇪🇺, International News, Latin America, Politics 💼 🗳 🪖, Terrorism, UK

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AC Milan v Arsenal, Champions League, Ist Leg

16 Thursday Feb 2012

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Arsenal were outplayed, outclassed and were completely out of their depth last night. AC Milan actually struggled to get to this stage – there again who wouldn’t with Barcelona in your group – you would never have guessed it by the way they took apart Arsene Wenger’s men last night – 4-0 was being kind, this was men against boys, and the appearance of their legend Thierry Henry for one last hurrah only hinted that this was Arsenal that was on  the field at the San Siro and that this was one of the best teams in Europe.

Robinho netted two – the first of which came after a stunning volley from Kevin Prince Boeting, and everytime you looked at the coach’s corner, the usually authoritative Arsene Wenger looked more lost than the rest of us.

If rumours that Henry wants to continue prove to be true, then this Arsenal team will need him for Robin Van Persie is currently carrying this side and that can’t last forever.

Those who thought Arsenal had moved on from that 8-2 drubbing from Manchester United, may want to think again.

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Puppet Master (When Journalists get it Right!)

10 Friday Feb 2012

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ANALYSIS – With the Leveson Inquiry currently revealing everything that is wrong at the heart of journalism, one case has just concluded that has just shown exactly the opposite, namely when a newspaper gets all the elements right, public interest and a cracking story which you can sell.

Banker Nathaniel Rothschild has just lost his libel action against the Daily Mail who reported that he had set up a meeting between  Lord Mandelson and Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska.

The newspaper portrayed him as a ‘puppet-master and  suggested that he had helped smooth a £500 million aluminium deal in 2005.

The article claimed that Mr Rothschild used Lord Mandelson – then European Commissioner for Trade – to impress Oleg Deripaska, the billionaire owner of Russia’s biggest aluminium plant, during a visit to Siberia.

The 40-year-old heir to the Rothschild banking dynasty had demanded ‘very substantial’ damages.

Anyone want to regulate the press now?

 

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