What country was judged in 2009 by the Economist Intelligence Unit to be the safest in the world?

The Worldâ€™s Safest and Most Dangerous Countries in 2009 Named - ArtMatters.Info Home Travel The Worldâ€™s Safest and Most Dangerous Countries in 2009 Named The Worldâ€™s Safest and Most Dangerous Countries in 2009 Named Posted By: ArtMattersInfo on: Published June 22, 2009 New Zealand is the safest destination on earth while Somalia is the most dangerous.TOURISM-REVIEW.COM reports. According to the Institute for Economics and Peace in cooperation with the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Peace Index for 2009 report about peace in 144 countries, the ten world’s safest countries are 1. New Zealand, 2. Denmark, 3. Norway,Â  4. Iceland, 5. Austria,Â  6. Sweden, 7. Japan, 8. Canada, 9. Finland, and 9. Slovenia. Iceland, that was declared the safest county in 2008, was in 2009 edged out by New Zealand (it was ranked 4th in 2008) mainly because of the former’s economy that has suffered a severe hit from the global financial crisis. The ten least safe countries, according to another report by Forbes magazine,Â  are 1. Somalia, 2. Afghanistan, 3. Iraq, 4. Democratic Republic of Congo, 5. Pakistan, 6. Gaza Strip, 7. Sri Lanka, 8. Yemen, 9. Sudan, and 10. Zimbabwe. RELATED: Rio+20: World Travel & Tourism Council Urges Industry to Work Together for a Green Future As in 2008, the USA did not rank very well. It ended up as 83rd which is, however, an improvement in comparison with the previous year (going up from 97th position). Among the factors that cause the bad rankings for the USA is for example the ease of access to weapons, foreign wars or the number of imprisoned people. Peace is not only good for civilians but it is vital for many kinds of business. Lack of peace causes significant economic losses. “Thanks” to the global economic crisis, our world has become a less peaceful place, at least according to the GPI. The countries were judged by 23 indicators like arms exports, number of jailed people, wars or degree of democracy. Based on the criteria the Global Peace Index was created. The index provides measurable data that might be important to business people as well as for countries’ governments. RELATED: Kenya Airways Flies to Blantyre, Malawi The list of the most dangerous countries was created from data provided by iJet Intelligent Risk Systems and by Control Risks. Various indicators were used to determine the ranking. Crime rate, police protection, civil unrest, terrorism risk, kidnapping threat and geopolitical stability were among the assessed factors. Nevertheless, this does not mean that destinations considered to be super safe do not belong to the danger league. A perfect example is Canada, the North American paradise for standard of living, yet littered with danger. Racoons and bats freely transmit rabies, bush and forest fires are commonplace, British Colombia is an active earthquake zone and its neighbour Alberta is also famous for deadly avalanches. Furthermore, Canada’s 401 highway is one of the deadliest stretches of road on the planet and murders and firearm crimes are more common in big cities such as Toronto than the Canadians let on. email


Which ex-leader secured a book deal with Random House in March 2009 provisionally titled Decision Points?

Bush to defend decisions in memoirs | The Independent Bush to defend decisions in memoirs Friday 20 March 2009 00:00 BST Click to follow The Independent US For the past few months he has lived by proxy – depicted by Josh Brolin in the movie W, and by Will Ferrell on the Broadway stage. But soon the real Dubya will be back. He might not be celebrated for his command of the English language – but, like most of his White House predecessors, George W Bush is writing his memoirs. The former president revealed his plans this week in a speech in Canada, his first such venture since leaving office on 20 January. Just two days later, according to Robert Barnett, the Washington "super-lawyer" who negotiated Mr Bush's deal with Crown Publishing, an imprint of Random House, he started writing. Already he has penned an impressive 30,000 words. As befits the man who referred to himself as "The Decider", the book is provisionally titled Decision Points. It will deal with the most important decisions of his life – including not only the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq and his response to Hurricane Katrina, but why he gave up drinking in 1986, his embrace of religion and his relationship with his parents. The book is due out next year, after his wife Laura's own effort hits the bookstores. Indeed, of the former first couple, she is probably the hotter literary property right now. "I just don't think there's much of a market for Bush out there," a leading literary agent said recently. There is no word on the advance Mr Barnett secured for his client, but it is unlikely to match Bill Clinton's reported $15m (£10m) deal for his 2004 memoirs My Life. More about:


Who resigned in 2009 as Speaker of the UK House of Commons?

BREAKING: Speaker of the House to Resign | RedState BREAKING: Speaker of the House to Resign DIARY / Erick Erickson //  Posted at 8:37 am on May 19, 2009 by Erick Erickson Share on Facebook The Speaker of the House will, in a very historic move, resign this week. No joking at all. The Speaker, facing a rebellion from back bench members of the House over ethics problems, mismanagement, and the Speaker’s own desire to block inquiries into allegations about the ethics of members of the Speaker’s own party, has decided to announce the resignation later this week. It is historic and we’re glad the Speaker has chosen to do the right thing. This also hasn’t happened in 300 years.No, I’m not talking about Nancy Pelosi. She’s too into self-interest to care about either the reputation of the House of Representatives or the Democrat Caucus. Trending Andrea Ruth I’m talking about Speaker Michael Martin of the British House of Commons. For some time Mr. Martin has been under fire for questionable personal behavior. Historically, the British Speaker must remain above reproach and not be accused of partisan operations. In fact, the British take the role so seriously, they typically give the position to a member of the party opposite, no one runs against that person, and the Speaker is squired away in a palace away from the temptation to play partisan favorites. But when Betty Boothroy retired, Labor put up a hard charging partisan in Michael Martin. He never really abandoned the partisan hackery. It even rubbed members of Labor the wrong way. When Martin did become more fair, he also became more egocentric, abusing staff and finances. In the latest lapse, the ethically compromised Martin did not keep the reins tightly pulled and allowed members of the House of Commons to pull a fast one on the British public by abusing expense accounts. Mr Martin’s critics say he was the driving force behind repeated attempts by Commons authorities to block details of MPs’ expenses from coming out under Freedom of Information legislation. He was also criticised for attacking MPs in the Commons who had campaigned for more transparency or questioned his decision to call police to investigate the leaking of expenses details to the Daily Telegraph. Whether in the British House of Commons or the American House of Representatives, the Speaker of the House, as chief voice for the whole House, sets the tone and ethical balance. As Martin failed, so failed his House. Nancy Pelosi’s corruption, ethical lapses, and vanity set the tone for the American House. As Labour will go down in flames at the next election — in fact, the Queen is said to be looking into dissolving the House without the advice of her government — the Democrats quite possibly will too. And they will have Nancy to thank unless she takes a lesson from the other Speaker of the House and resigns. Share on Facebook


Which famous music manager of the Beatles and Rolling Stones died in 2009?

Ex-Beatles, Rolling Stones manager Allen Klein dies - CNN.com Ex-Beatles, Rolling Stones manager Allen Klein dies Story Highlights Allen Klein, who inked contracts for dozens of musicians, dies at age 77 Klein's company, ABKCO, built up catalog of copyrights to more than 2,000 songs Known for his tough negotiating style, many blame Klein for the Beatles' break-up Next Article in Entertainment » (CNN) -- Music manager Allen Klein, whose clients included the Rolling Stones and the Beatles, died Saturday after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's disease, his publicist said. Klein was 77. The son of Jewish immigrants from Hungary, Klein founded his firm Allen Klein & Co. in the late 1950s before the label evolved into ABKCO Music & Records in New York. The independent label holds the copyrights to music by the Rolling Stones, Sam Cooke, the Animals, the Kinks, Chubby Checker, Bobby Womack and hundreds of others. Klein represented dozens of artists, including Sam Cooke, the Animals, Bobby Darin and Herman's Hermits. He changed the music industry when he represented Sam Cooke in negotiations with RCA, winning the artist control of his own master recordings. Known for a tenacious and often blunt style in negotiations, Klein's greatest coups were inking contracts with the Rolling Stones and the Beatles, though both relationships ended in legal battles. ABKCO built up a catalog of copyrights to more than 2,000 songs, including much of the Stones' 1960s catalog. Klein retained ownership of those titles even after splitting with the Stones. In 1969, John Lennon persuaded the other Beatles that Klein should take over the group's business affairs, but Paul McCartney resisted the move and some music historians say the appointment hastened the Beatles' split. Lennon later fell out with Klein, who was thought to be the target of the former Beatle's 1974 song "Steel and Glass." Defending his tough style, Klein told Playboy magazine in 1971: "The music business is about 99 percent no-talent losers who can't stand a winner in their midst." In 1971, Klein worked with George Harrison to organize the "Concert for Bangladesh" at Madison Square Garden, one of the first major benefit concerts of the rock era. Ringo Starr was among the all-stars who performed at the concert. Late in his career, Klein agreed to license a sample of a Rolling Stones song to the British group the Verve for their hit single "Bittersweet Symphony." But after the song was released, ABKCO successfully argued in court that the Verve had used too much of the sample and won 100 percent of the song's royalties. Klein is survived by his wife Betty, their three children and four grandchildren. Services will be held in New York on Tuesday.


Who won the 2009 Australian men's tennis Open Championship?

Stan Wawrinka wins Australian Open over hobbled Rafael Nadal FacebookEmail Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest Stan Wawrinka wins Australian Open over hobbled Rafael Nadal MELBOURNE, Australia -- Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland held on to stun a hobbled Rafael Nadal 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 and win his first Grand Slam championship in his major debut at the Australian Open on Sunday. Post to Facebook Stan Wawrinka wins Australian Open over hobbled Rafael Nadal MELBOURNE, Australia -- Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland held on to stun a hobbled Rafael Nadal 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 and win his first Grand Slam championship in his major debut at the Australian Open on Sunday. Check out this story on USATODAY.com: http://usat.ly/1epfLod CancelSend A link has been sent to your friend's email address. Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. 13 To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs Stan Wawrinka wins Australian Open over hobbled Rafael Nadal Douglas Robson , USA TODAY Sports Published 6:13 a.m. ET Jan. 26, 2014 | Updated 9:39 p.m. ET Jan. 26, 2014 CLOSE x Share News, notes and highlights from the final day at Australian Open, featuring Stanislas Wawrinka, Rafael Nadal, Daniel Nestor and Kristina Mladenovic and more! Stanislas Wawrinka beat Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal for his first Grand Slam title. Stanislas Wawrinka celebrates after defeating Rafael Nadal to win his first career Grand Slam championship. (Photo: Aaron Favila, AP) Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka wins his first Grand Slam final, at 28. Spain's Rafael Nadal seemed to hurt his back early in the second set. Nadal rallied to win the third but Wawrinka, thrown off by his opponent's injury, got back on track. MELBOURNE, Australia -- An hour before the biggest match of his life, Stanislas Wawrinka sent a message. "Relaxing before the final," he tweeted before Sunday's Australian Open final. Visible were his legs and feet, crossed and splayed on a cushioned foot stool, as two members of his team looked on in the players lounge. No matter that Wawrinka was facing No. 1 Rafael Nadal, to many the best big-match player in history. No matter that Wawrinka had lost all 12 of their meetings (and all 26 of their sets). No matter that he was contesting his first Grand Slam tournament final and Nadal his 19th. Once underway, Switzerland's Wawrinka spent the first hour bullying Nadal, lost his focus when the 13-time major winner from Spain injured his back early in the second set but regained his footing to win capture his maiden major 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 at Rod Laver Arena. "Tonight was just the perfect start," eighth seed Wawrinka said. Perennially in the shadow of fellow Swiss and good friend Roger Federer, Wawrinka pulled off a feat not even Federer or any player had achieved: Beating both Nadal and No.2 Novak Djokovic in a major. Wawrinka will move to a career-high No. 3 Monday, the first time he has ranked ahead of 17-time major winner Federer, who he teamed with to win the 2008 Olympic gold medal in doubles. "I saw Roger winning so many Grand Slams in the past, so now it's my turn to win one," said Wawrinka, the first man to win a major besides Nadal, Federer, Djokovic and Andy Murray since Juan Martin del Potro in the 2009 U.S. Open. "I did have an amazing two weeks, and I was playing my best tennis ever." The transformation of Wawrinka, 28, is nothing short of remarkable.  (Photo: Eugene Hoshiko, AP) Possessed of a big serve and powerful arsenal off both wings — especially his explosive one-handed backhand — Wawrinka had been a solid top-20 player for years. But he usually came a few points shy of reaching his potential until finishing in the top 10 last year. He could pull off the occasional big win, – such as beating Wimbledon champion Murray on his way to the U.S Open semifinals last year, – but rarely strung them together. Until Sunday's win, Wawrinka owned only five minor ATP Tour titles. But after teaming up with coach Magnus Norman of Sweden last April, the late bloomer Wawrinka has come into his own. For


What pop star was jailed in 2009 for assaulting a male escort?

80s Pop Star Boy George Sentenced To 15 Months In Jail For Imprisoning A Male Escort 80s Pop Star Boy George Sentenced To 15 Months In Jail For Imprisoning A Male Escort   January 16, 2009  Culture Club , Boy George   Boy George has been sentenced to jail for 15 months. A judge has ordered the 80s pop star to the slammer for assaulting and falsely imprisoning a male prostitute in his London home. View All News The "Karma Chameleon" hitmaker - real name George Alan O'Dowd - was convicted of falsely imprisoning 29-year-old Norwegian Auden Carlsen in his apartment in April 2007. The singer admitted to handcuffing him to a wall but only did so because Carlsen stole photos from his laptop. O'Dowd and Carlsen first met through a gay social networking site. The former Culture Club frontman believed that the male escort stole data from his laptop when they met for a photo shoot. Weeks later, O'Dowd invited Carlsen back to his apartment and he and a second man chained Carlsen to his bed and beat him. Carlsen said he was handcuffed to the bed but managed to escape and ran from the premises. Judge David Radford declared the singer guilty of "gratuitous violence." The judge said, "Whilst I accept that Mr. Carlsen's physical injuries were not serious or permanent, in my view there can be no doubt that your premeditated callous and humiliating handcuffing and detention of Mr. Carlsen shocked, degraded and traumatized him." He added that the victim was deprived of his "liberty and human dignity without warning or proper explanation." O'Dowd was also ordered to pay around $7,500 for prosecution costs.


What in January 2009 did David Miliband significantly denounce as a 'mistaken concept'?

Progressives, South Bend: January 2009 Progressives, South Bend A forum to promote and discuss social action issues, ideas and events in the Michiana area. Check out our Blog Saturday, January 31, 2009 from NIEER Early childhood programs, school districts, and colleges will receive a one-time injection of $125 billion in emergency aid if the spending portion of the stimulus package approved by the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee becomes law. The Senate version mirrors much of the education spending outlined in the House stimulus bill. Both provide $1 billion in increased funding for Head Start and a $1.1 billion increase for Early Head Start. Both provide $2 billion more for Child Care and Development Block Grants. The Senate bill increases the funding for school renovation and construction from the $14 billion in the House bill to $16 billion. Another $25 billion in state and local aid would be flexible, enabling state and local entities to determine spending priorities, which could include school support. The Senate version ties early childhood programs and early childhood education together more closely than the House bill and contains important provisions for quality. New America Foundation's Sara Mead explains the nuances in her blog . http://www.truthout.org/013109A David S. Cloud, Politico.com: "President Barack Obama is saying he wants a new, more open relationship with Iranian leaders - but his new team is hoping Tehran will make the first move. They're insisting that this isn't a back-track from Obama's call during the campaign for 'tough, direct presidential diplomacy with Iran without preconditions.'" Obama Unlikely to Widen Afghan War http://www.truthout.org/013109B Anne Gearan, The Associated Press: "President Barack Obama campaigned on a promise to redirect US troops and resources to Afghanistan from Iraq, but he has done little so far to suggest he will significantly widen the grinding war with insurgents in Afghanistan. On the contrary, Obama appears likely to streamline the US focus with an eye to the worsening economy and the cautionary example of the Iraq war that sapped political support for President George W. Bush." Iraqis Stream to the Polls Amid Tight Security http://www.truthout.org/013109C Sudarsan Raghavan, The Washington Post: "Iraqis streamed past police cordons and barbed wire as they went to the polls on Saturday to vote in their first elections in four years, widely seen as a test of Iraq's stability as the US role in Iraq diminishes. The all-important provincial elections are viewed as a key indicator of whether the nation can build upon fragile security gains and address imbalances in power that still plague many areas. More than 14,000 candidates are running for 440 seats to lead councils that are the equivalent of state legislatures in the United States." Progressive Faith Groups Now Trying to Shift Debate http://www.truthout.org/013109D Jacqueline L. Salmon and Michelle Boorstein, The Washington Post: "With a president they view as more sympathetic to their causes, progressive religious activists are pushing the new Obama administration for aggressive action - on poverty, the environment and social justice issues - that would mark a significant shift in the faith agenda that dominated the Bush years. Many faith groups close to President George W. Bush focused on abortion, stem cell research and same-sex marriage. But now, liberal and centrist evangelicals and other activists say they are getting a voice and trying to turn the debate." Castro Demands Return of Guantanamo http://www.truthout.org/013109E Marc Frank, Reuters: "Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro demanded on Thursday that President Barack Obama return the US naval base at Guantanamo to Cuba without conditions, and he accused the new US leader of supporting 'Israeli genocide' against Palestinians. Castro, who had recently praised Obama as 'honest' and 'noble', lashed out at his administration for stating that Washington will not return Guantanamo if it has any military use for the United States and without concessions in


Who was nominated for the best actress Oscar in the film Doubt?

Meryl Streep - Awards - IMDb Meryl Streep Showing all 166 wins and 335 nominations Academy Awards, USA For playing: "Inga Helms Weiss". BAFTA Awards Best Foreign TV Personality - Female (Bästa utländska kvinna) Alliance of Women Film Journalists Tied with Carey Mulligan and Peter Sarsgaard for An Education (2009). Won For opening three films in the US. Lifetime Achievement Award Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film Berlin International Film Festival Tied with 'Anne Hathaway (I)' for Rachel Getting Married (2008). Nominated Best Spoken Word Album For Children Shared with: Best Spoken Word Album for Children Shared with: David S. Rapkin (produced by, as David Rapkin) For the album "A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning". For the Album The Tale of Peter Rabbit Best Recording for Children For the Album The Velveteen Rabbit Hasty Pudding Theatricals, USA For the song "Dancing Queen". Best Music, Adapted Song OFTA Film Hall of Fame Acting Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters On 22 February, 2003. For the song "Mamma Mia". Nominated Favorite Comedy Motion Picture Actress Favorite Motion Picture Actress Favorite Dramatic Motion Picture Actress Nominated Favorite Motion Picture Supporting Actress Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards Star on the Walk of Fame Motion Picture On September 16, 1998. At 7018 Hollywood Blvd. Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards Tied with Sally Hawkins for Happy-Go-Lucky (2008). Won a list of 45 people created 29 Sep 2011 a list of 28 people created 25 Apr 2012 a list of 33 people created 24 Jul 2012 a list of 31 people created 02 Feb 2013 a list of 25 images created 3 months ago   IMDb Everywhere Find showtimes, watch trailers, browse photos, track your Watchlist and rate your favorite movies and TV shows on your phone or tablet!


Which comedian received a Special Achievement Award at the 2009 BBC Sports Personality of the Year event?

BBC Sport - Sports Personality of the Year - Eddie Izzard given BBC Sports Personality special award Eddie Izzard given BBC Sports Personality special award Special award for comedian Eddie Izzard Comedian Eddie Izzard has been honoured with a special award at the 2009 BBC Sports Personality of the Year for his epic marathon feats for Sport Relief. The 47-year-old popular comedian ran an incredible 43 marathons around the UK, covering 1,100 miles in just 51 days and raised over £200,000 for charity. Izzard completed the endurance event following just five weeks of training. In 2006, fellow comedian David Walliams also received a special award for swimming the Channel for Sport Relief. 606: DEBATE


Which writer, whose works include Rumpole of the Bailey, died in January 2009?

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Rumpole's creator Mortimer dies Rumpole's creator Mortimer dies Cannot play media. Sorry, this media is not available in your territory. Sir John Mortimer's life in pictures Dramatist and author Sir John Mortimer, who created enduring character Rumpole of the Bailey, has died aged 85 after a long illness. Sir John, who began working as a barrister in the 1940s, went on to become one of the most prolific writers of books and screenplays. He first radio play was broadcast in 1957, and later wrote a TV adaptation of Laurie Lee's Cider With Rosie. Sir John, whose daughter is actress Emily Mortimer, was knighted in 1998. His other well-known screen creations included obnoxious Conservative MP Lesley Titmuss, portrayed by actor David Threlfall. 'Whiff of erudition'


Hans Bech who died in 2009 invented what popular toy figures?

Playmobil's German inventor Hans Beck dies aged 79 | World news | The Guardian Playmobil's German inventor Hans Beck dies aged 79 • Created in 1974 in response to high plastic prices from oil crisis • More than 2bn of the 7.5cm-tall dolls have been sold worldwide Hans Beck, the inventor of Playmobil toys, with one of his creations. Photograph: Playmobil/AFP/Getty Images Playmobil's German inventor Hans Beck dies aged 79 • Created in 1974 in response to high plastic prices from oil crisis • More than 2bn of the 7.5cm-tall dolls have been sold worldwide Tuesday 3 February 2009 08.43 EST First published on Tuesday 3 February 2009 08.43 EST Close This article is 7 years old The German inventor of Playmobil toys, which became an instant success when they hit the market 35 years ago, has died at the age of 79. Hans Beck, a furniture maker and model enthusiast, came up with the toy in 1974 after being asked to create a new and collectible play concept. It was initially suggested he might work on a range of cars. Instead Beck came up with the dolls and earned himself a place in toy history. He worked according to his motto "no horror, no superficial violence, no short-lived trends", the Brandstätter Group, owners of Playmobil, said in a short statement. Beck created a whole fantasy world of figures with moving arms and legs that bend at the hip, wear snap on clothes, and continue to capture the imagination of children all over the world. More than 2.2bn figures have been produced and sold in over 70 countries. At 7.5cm tall, and promoted as "ideal for a child's grip", the figures are meant to represent real life average adult height of 175cm (5ft 7ins). The original figures were a knight, a builder and a Native American. But the toy empire expanded hugely over the years and, alongside fairies, firefighters, nurses, jewel thieves, Egyptologists, prisoners, police tracking dogs and airport security staff are now part of the Playmobil firmament. The trigger for the toy's creation was the global oil crisis of the early 1970s, when the price of plastics increased sixfold. Large toys which Brandstätter had produced up until then became prohibitively expensive and it was forced to rethink its product line. Beck was asked to develop a "system of play which can be expanded and which through relatively small parts made out of the expensive synthetic material offers a high value product". Beck worked for Brandstätter for 40 years until 1998. In that time he became head of design. He lived with his wife near Lake Constance in southern Germany where he died following a serious illness on Friday. The success of Brandstätter, which employs 3,000 staff and posted €452m ($408m) in sales last year, is based on the continued popularity of Playmobil. The figures have won numerous prizes over the years for their quality as well as their educational potential. The company has resisted calls to equip the figures for the digital age by adding sound effects and mechanised features, arguing that it does not want to betray Beck's original concept. Playmobil's UK commercial director, Graham Brennan, says mystery bags have become 'big business' Published: 22 Aug 2011 In Malta, Playmobil makes 2m of the tiny precision-moulded figures every week – five times the rocky islands' total full-size population Published: 30 May 2011 Jonathan Jones: With the sad death of the inventor of innovative Playmobil, let's pay tribute to a pioneer who, with charming designs, kept innocence in the art of toymaking Published: 4 Feb 2009 A degree in art or design is a useful start, and architects and sign makers are also welcome. Hero-worship from your children is the bonus Published: 18 Apr 2014


Actor Laurence Payne who died in February 2009, aged 89, played which fictional detective on TV?

Obituary: Laurence Payne | Culture | The Guardian Laurence Payne Actor and author best known as the vintage detective Sexton Blake Laurence Payne as Sexton Blake with Roger Foss as Tinker in Sexton Blake, 1967 Photograph: Rediffusion/Thames Friday 6 March 2009 19.01 EST First published on Friday 6 March 2009 19.01 EST Share on Messenger Close Laurence Payne, who has died aged 89, was known offstage as "Larry Two" in deference to the king, "Larry" Olivier, and for a short time he was almost as well known. He was a stalwart of the Old Vic during the second world war and played Romeo opposite a 19-year-old Juliet, Daphne Slater, and Paul Scofield's Mercutio, as well as Berowne in Love's Labour's Lost at Stratford-upon-Avon in 1947 in two famous productions by Peter Brook. This fairly tall but certainly dark and handsome north London son of a carpenter found real fame, however, on television as the detective Sexton Blake, "prince of the penny dreadfuls" and seen as the office boys' Sherlock Holmes, on ITV between 1967 and 1971. Blake was the fictional creation of Harry Blyth in the pages of the Halfpenny Marvel magazine in 1893, shortly after Holmes had plunged to his death into the Reichenbach Falls. Blyth sold his rights to the character, who was then written by more than 200 different hands into the 1970s. Payne appeared in 60 episodes of the children's television series, which was set in the 1920s. He lost his left eye in a sword fight with the actor Basil Henson. But as Blake, he never lost his suavity or self-composure as he dashed about town in a Rolls-Royce with his trusty young sidekick, Edward "Tinker" Carter, and Pedro the intrepid bloodhound. Carter was played by Roger Foss, now an arts journalist, who recalled that behind the handsome features and classy, baritone voice was a very funny man who was a stickler for the highest standards, even in a children's programme. "He'd tear up pages that clearly didn't work and we would improvise better scenes ourselves." Payne's father died when he was three years old, and he and his elder brother and sister were raised in a strict fashion by their mother, a Wesleyan Methodist, in Wood Green, north London. He attended Belmont school and Tottenham grammar, leaving at 16 to take a clerical job. After training at the Old Vic School in 1939, he was exempted from war service as a conscientious objector on condition that he went on tour with the Old Vic during the war. Between 1940 and 1945 he was directed by Tyrone Guthrie in She Stoops to Conquer, by Esme Church in Twelfth Night and The Merry Wives of Windsor and in many others by John Moody and Noel Willman. Roles included Cassio in Othello, Sergius in George Bernard Shaw's Arms and the Man, Lorenzo in The Merchant of Venice and early sketches for Romeo and Berowne. After short seasons with the Chanticleer Theatre Company and at the Arts Club in London, he toured Germany for three months with the forces' entertainment organisation Ensa in 1945. Payne never worked in the West End, allegedly because he rebuffed the all-powerful producer Binkie Beaumont's invitation to appear in Brook's 1946 production of The Brothers Karamazov. Brook himself had no truck with such blackballing and invited him to Stratford to play Romeo. He toured Australia with the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre (as it was known before it became the Royal Shakespeare Company) in 1949 and returned to play Hamlet at the Guildford Rep in 1951. It was a role he spoke with "brisk certainty", according to JC Trewin, who then applauded a more detailed portrait in the same role at the Embassy, Hampstead, in 1953. Following several seasons at Guildford, and at the Bristol Old Vic, his television career was launched with D'Artagnan in The Three Musketeers in 1954. He took large roles in three series of Doctor Who before and after Sexton Blake. In the movies, Payne played supporting roles in William Wyler's Ben-Hur (1959) and Roy Ward Baker's The Singer not the Song (1960), starring Dirk Bogarde, with whom he formed a lasting friendship. He had a busy television career after


Andy Murray became the first British man to win what tennis tournament since Bunny Austin in 1938?

Wimbledon 2009: Andy Murray in the form of his life - Telegraph Wimbledon Wimbledon 2009: Andy Murray in the form of his life Andy Murray became the first British man to win the Queen's Club tournament  since Bunny Austin in 1938. Unstoppable: Andy Murray has won 12 ATP titles in his fledgling career Photo: GETTY IMAGES By Mark Hodgkinson 9:35PM BST 14 Jun 2009 The win increased hope among the British tennis public that he can do the double on the lawns of London this summer by becoming the first home champion at Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936. Murray's preparations for Wimbledon could hardly have been more encouraging at the Aegon Championships at Queen's as he scored the first grass-court title of his career, and the 12th on all surfaces, after going through the drawsheet without a dropping a set all week. On Sunday he won 7-5, 6-4 against James Blake, the world No 16 from the United States. The list of previous Queen's Club champions in modern times to have also won Wimbledon at least once in their careers features John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg, Michael Stich, Pete Sampras, Lleyton Hewitt and Rafael Nadal , who last summer won on both the grass of Queen's and the All England Club. "I don't think it's impossible for me to win Wimbledon, and I go into every tournament with that sort of mentality," said Murray, who regards Nadal and Roger Federer as two all-time greats. Related Articles


Dorothy Hughes and Winifred Phillips became at 85 years old the first what?

The ladies in red: Chelsea Pensioners welcome first female recruits in 300-year history | Daily Mail Online The ladies in red: Chelsea Pensioners welcome first female recruits in 300-year history comments Isn't life cruel? You wait 317 years for a sexual revolution and by the time one comes along, you're too old to do much about it.  Not that romance was uppermost on the minds of Dorothy Hughes, 85, and her companion Winifred Phillips, 82, when they broke through the centuries-old male bastion of Chelsea Pensioners. But yesterday - as they settled into life as the only two women among several hundred men - you couldn't help noticing the faintest hint of a twinkle in their eyes. Dorothy Hughes (left) and Winifred Phillips (right) pose with their fellow Chelsea Pensioners in their new home of The Royal Hospital today The sprightly octogenarians stood side by side at the Royal Hospital Chelsea to become the first females permitted to wear the bright red coat that distinguishes these proud Army veterans. To describe the pair as feisty may not adequately convey the breath of fresh air they are due to introduce from today. One was already familiar enough with a chap approaching his 90th birthday to hold his hand at a photocall. The other warned jauntily that the women might soon outnumber the men if other girls follow suit. Don't get the idea that these delightful Ladies in Red are scarlet women, however. They have earned their coveted place at the hospital through years of Army service - and they're quite capable of fitting in simply as 'just part of the team... one of the boys', as they each put it yesterday. And maybe even sorting a few of the boys out. Watching girls go by: The male occupants greet their new female companions During several hours of media interviews they mounted a barrage of tongue-in-cheek one-liners in response to inevitable questions about being so heavily outnumbered. What will it be like to be two women among 300 men? Winifred was asked. 'Wonderful,' she beamed. 'Can't wait.' Are you going to behave yourself? 'Not likely. We're both spoiled for choice here.' What are the chaps like? 'All very polite. And anyway, we've heard it all before.' Winifred (left) enjoyed a long service in the armed forces, while Dorothy (right) enlisted in 1941 Wasn't the atmosphere a bit blokey? 'Oh no. That's the reason we're here.' Then Dorothy was asked how had she enjoyed being so much in the spotlight? 'Fantastic. Never been paid so much attention in all my life.' Might she form any relationships? 'He'd have to be an older man. And a millionaire, of course.' Did she object to wearing trousers as part of the uniform? 'The men wanted us to wear leather mini-skirts and crop tops but we thought it probably wouldn't be good for their hearts.' Enlarge   Winifred and Dorothy share a joke with their new companions Why did she apply to become a Chelsea Pensioner? 'I didn't want to end up sitting in a chair and knitting.' Dorothy, a widow for 18 years, enlisted in 1941 at the age of 18. She served for a time with the Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery on the South Coast to defend the country against V1 rocket attacks, later working with a research group developing shells used against the V2s. She left in 1946 with the rank of sergeant, retrained as a teacher, and became heavily involved in voluntary work after retiring in 1982. She said everyone at the hospital had been 'extremely kind and welcoming' and added: 'I thought my life was coming to an end at one stage but now it's just beginning again. It's a great privilege.' Enlarge   The former servicewomen will wear the same distinctive scarlet uniforms as the men Winifred, whose RAF boyfriend was killed in the Second World War, trained as a nurse before joining the Auxiliary Territorial Service in 1948 and enlisted in the Women's Royal Army Corps a year later. After travelling the world for 22 years she retired with the rank of Warrant Officer Class 2 and took a variety of office and administration jobs. Admission to the hospital, which opened 11 years after King Charles II issued a roy


Which football club bought Ronaldo from Manchester United for £80m?

Manchester United receive £80m lump sum for Cristiano Ronaldo - Telegraph Manchester United Manchester United receive £80m lump sum for Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid have paid Manchester United £80 million for Cristiano Ronaldo,  formally completing the biggest tranfer in football history. Respect: Alex Ferguson has congratulated Cristiano Ronaldo for his achievements at Old Trafford Photo: AP By Telegraph staff 12:36PM BST 01 Jul 2009 That fee, paid in a single lump sum, represents an incredible profit for United, who bought Ronaldo from Sporting Lisbon for £12 million in 2003. Ronaldo became recognised as the world's best player during his time at United, helping the club to three successive Premier League titles and winning the Champions League in 2008. “Cristiano has been a marvellous player for Manchester United," said Sir Alex Ferguson. "His six years at Old Trafford have seen him develop into the best footballer in the world. "His contribution has been a major factor in the club’s success in that time and his talent, his ability to entertain and his infectious personality have enthralled fans the world over. “Everyone here wishes him well in his future career.” Related Articles


What architect and peer accused Prince Charles of unconstitutional abuse of power?

Prince Charles's meddling in planning 'unconstitutional', says Richard Rogers | UK news | The Guardian Prince Charles's meddling in planning 'unconstitutional', says Richard Rogers Monday 15 June 2009 16.46 EDT First published on Monday 15 June 2009 16.46 EDT Close This article is 7 years old Richard Rogers , the architect who was sacked last week from a multibillion pound development in London after Prince Charles complained about his designs, has accused the prince of "an abuse of power" and "unconstitutional" behaviour. Speaking for the first time since the Qatari royal family abandoned his plans to build 552 new homes on the site of Chelsea barracks, Rogers called for a national inquiry into whether the prince has a constitutional right to become involved in matters such as planning applications which have economic, political and social ramifications. The 75-year old Labour peer claimed the prince "single-handedly destroyed the project" and attacked him for using his influence behind closed doors to persuade the Qatari royal family, which owns the site, to drop his scheme. He said by interfering in the democratic planning process, the prince had broken "a bond of trust" with the British public. Last week, the Qataris withdrew a planning application that had taken two and a half years to prepare. The prince had written to Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr al-Thani, the Qatari prime minister, complaining Rogers' designs were "unsuitable" for a site so close to Sir Christopher Wren's Royal Hospital. The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment, a charity of which Charles is president, has been appointed to help design an alternative scheme at Chelsea Barracks. "Bringing in the foundation, his own boys if you like, is unbelievably questionable," said Rogers. "I absolutely don't think this is acceptable. It is directly self-serving and is unconstitutional." He called for the creation of a committee of independent constitutional experts to vet Charles's involvement not just in architecture, but in other areas where he expresses an opinion, including medicine, agriculture and the environment. "The prince always goes round the back to wield his influence, using phone calls or in the case of the Chelsea barracks, a private letter," Rogers said. "It is an abuse of power because he is not willing to debate. He has made his representations two and a half years late and anyone but him would have been shown the door. We should examine the ethics of this situation. Someone who is unelected, will not debate but will use the power bestowed by his birth-right must be questioned." The former planning minister Nick Raynsford has described the prince's intervention as "almost feudal". Speaking on BBC radio he said it was "a very dangerous precedent". "The heir to the throne intervenes in a decision that should be taken through normal democratic process." Clarence House, which has always refused to confirm or deny that Charles wrote to the Qatari prime minister, about the project, declined to comment tonight. Rogers said the prince's actions have raised a new threat to investment in the UK from abroad, at a time when the economy needs a boost."Investors put their money into Britain because they can expect a good return and transparency," he said. He added that up to 10,000 people could have worked on the construction site and that the 226 affordable homes, half of the project, may not now be built. Rogers said he was "very upset" by the decision to scrap his project, which he believed was set to be one of the best designs his office has ever produced. He revealed that when he heard, two months ago, that the prince was opposing the scheme he thought "here we go again". This is at least the third time the prince has intervened to have his practice removed from projects, he said. Other schemes include a plan for Paternoster Square beside St Paul's cathedral in 1987 and designs for the Royal Opera House. Prince Charles and Britain's architects have long had a tricky relationship. Here we look at some of his most well-known design spats a


Utegate was a political scandal involving a car dealer and the prime minister of which country?

The Real Utegate Scandal - New Matilda The Real Utegate Scandal Media & Culture Over four extraordinary days in late June, Rupert Murdoch’s flagship, The Australian, and his capital city dailies in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide waged war on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Treasurer Wayne Swan — armed only with a forged email. They savaged Rudd on the grounds that he had lied to parliament and that he and Swan had improperly lobbied for government financial assistance for a Queensland car dealer who was a mate. They were heady charges and their front-page treatment across the News Ltd stable sent a frisson of excitement through the ranks of the embattled Coalition. The orchestrated media campaign was music to the ears of Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull — if he could damage fatally the Rudd-Swan team then a voter recovery suddenly seemed possible, especially if there was an early election as widely predicted. The aggressive ambition of Turnbull plus the zealotry of the regime-changers in the editorial chairs at News Ltd made a toxic combination. There was, of course, one small snag in this breathtaking power play: the sole piece of evidence upon which the political assassins were relying — an email sent by a senior member of Rudd’s staff to a Treasury official named Godwin Grech — was a fake, a concoction, a fraud. Until the Australian Federal Police raided Grech’s Canberra home and seized his computer and its electronic entrails, Turnbull and Murdoch’s newspapers sang from the same song sheet — or email — alleging that Dr Andrew Charlton, Rudd’s senior economic adviser, had sent a message to Grech, the Treasury official in charge of organising a financial guarantee package for the credit-squeezed car industry, requesting he give special treatment to a Brisbane car dealer named John Grant. The situation was complicated because Grant had given Rudd a 1996 Mazda utility truck, aka the "Ruddmobile", to use as his campaigning vehicle in recent elections and there was no doubt that the glad-handing, knockabout car salesman had dipped into his pocket more than once to help his mate "Ruddie". Yet the record showed that Grant — along with many other car dealers and dealerships — had made representations to the Government; that Grant had not received special treatment; and, indeed, had not received a cent from the Federal Government. None of these essential facts fazed the News Ltd editorial offices. Murdoch’s papers crystallised the Prime Minister’s link with Grant into "UteGate" and a scandal leading to the highest elected office in the land was born. Sydney’s Daily Telegraph gave notice of its " exclusive " with the front-page headline on June 19, "Car Deal: PM In Spin", accompanied by this startling revelation: "The Daily Telegraph has learned of a correspondence trail involving the office of the Prime Minister and Government officials responsible for a $2 billion scheme to help cash-strapped car dealers." National Political Correspondent Steve Lewis produced further revelations the following day in another front-pager , "Rudd’s Car Crisis", which read: "The Rudd Government last night launched a full inquiry into the UteGate affair amid increasing pressure on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Treasurer Wayne Swan to resign." The early editions even published a mock-up graphic of the alleged email between Charlton and Grech. In their haste, the News Ltd embroiderers actually got the name of the email recipient wrong. It read "Godwin Grant". Turnbull fumed that Rudd and Swan were guilty of "a shocking abuse of power", adding: "The Prime Minister and the Treasurer have used their offices and taxpayers’ resources to seek advantage for one of their mates and they lied about it to parliament." Over the weekend of 20–21 June the country’s mass media focused on the email that was driving a stake into the heart of the Rudd Government, with the Prime Minister calling on the Opposition Leader to come clean and produce it. Turnbull began to look shaky when he declared that he had never seen the email and that it had not been distri


What leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) admitted ironically to receiving over £2m expenses in ten years from the EU, used chiefly for UKIP's promotion of anti-EU policies?

politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive  » A BREXIT indicator? UKIP’s National Equivalent Vote share d - Page 4 — politicalbetting politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive  » A BREXIT indicator? UKIP’s National Equivalent Vote share d runnymede said: He must be very confident about whatever future he has planned after politics, btw. EU Commissioner ? Be an appropriate reward if he "docks the UK with the EU".... can't think where that phrase came from In wonder if, five years from now, he will have outdone his hero Tony Blair in terms of becoming a despised and discredited figure. .... What do you mean in five years from now? OK, I was never taken on the great snake oil salesman and had him marked down as a charlatan long before his election in 1997 but should you be sad enough to look at my posts on here on the run-up to the 2010 GE you will find me a big Cameron supporter. Now I wouldn't piss in his ear if his brain was on fire, that Mr. Nabavi, who I respect immensely, considers Cameron one of the great post-war prime ministers is beyond my comprehension. LOL you're in full flow Mr Llama I must admit I have been amazed at just how low Cameron will sink to win this vote. The daft thing is of course he won't lance the boil, becasue he hasn't had a truthful debate. He has simply stoked the fires of people believing they have been short changed. 0 Chilcot report published after referendum shocker. What "referendum shocker" ? .... Haven't you heard the great conspiracy theory? Apparently if Chilcot drags Blair and Mandelson's names through the mud it will do immeasurable damage to Remain, so Chilcot has been leant on by Cameron and Brussels. The report is ready and complete. Chilcott and Cameron have agreed on a date after the referendum. The question then follows is why? The report will be a massive disappointment. Full of guff about Blair being wrong to think this and say that but acted in good faith or without duplicitous intent etc. Lessons will be learned waffle, drone, blah. Continue for several thousand pages. To quote a PB favourite. Unearth a great mass of no evidence. 0 Wanderer said: I've been wondering about this. I certainly expected a stronger showing from UKIP in England and also for Peter Whittle to challenge for third place in London. How to interpret it though? Is it a straw in the wind for the referendum or is it just that UKIP itself Some? Read the Ukip sympathisers on here and tell me what they have in common with Britain First please. Some ukip voters are obsessed with immigration and race and see ukip as an acceptable/respectable way of expressing their views at the ballot box. These people in many cases would never contemplate voting for an overtly racist party. Mr Palmer makes a fair point. You are correct to say ukip leaning supporters on here have little or nothing in common with Britain First. That is irrelevant to the comment made so the faux outrage was unnecessary. Some people would go so far as to say that immigration isn't (or doesn't have to be) a race issue. It currently is at the moment because (predominantly) white Europeans get favourable treatment over (predominantly) brown Asians and Africans. It could be an issue about skills, languages and utility to the country. The point I was trying to make is that part of ukips support is derived from people from whom immigration is a big deal. They wouldn't however contemplate voting for Britain First or the BNP. They also wouldn't vote for ukip if they were aligned with either of these parties. I think that was what Nick Palmer was saying. Eastern European migrants are as likely to be subjected to racism as anyone else regardless of skin colour. As are white people who attend synagogues if they're unfortunate enough to come across some Labour representatives. FFS shut up with your racist accusations, its tiring and boring and a last resort for those who are floundering. Why do you keep going on about Labour. Its weird and irrelevant as I'm a conservative. Again I'll make this really easy for you. One simple question. Would you vote for ukip if


UK 2009 summer weather conditions prompted fears of a plague of harlequins - what insects are these?

Could the ladybird plague of 1976 happen again? - BBC News BBC News Could the ladybird plague of 1976 happen again? By Justin Parkinson BBC News Magazine 5 March 2016 Read more about sharing. Close share panel The hot summer of 1976 saw swarms of ladybirds infesting towns and cities across the UK, with many people reporting being bitten by them. In the 40 years since there hasn't been a repeat, but could it happen again this summer? The drought of 1976 was unprecedented in its severity. Reservoirs dried up, as families queued to use standpipes to access drinking water. To titters worthy of a 1970s sitcom, Minister for Drought Denis Howell suggested people take baths with a friend. And, with Milton Abbas, Dorset, and Teignmouth, Devon, having no rain for 45 straight days, the government warned some industries might have to close down because of water shortages. Image copyright PA Image caption Reservoirs dried up as a result of drought in the summer of 1976 But the heat wasn't the only seemingly apocalyptic event to hit Britain that summer. A plague of starving seven-spotted ladybirds besieged villages, towns and cities. The British Entomological and Natural History Society has estimated that 23.65 billion of them were swarming on the southern and eastern coasts of England by late July. Brenda Madgwick, who spent some of the summer on holiday on Kent's Isle of Sheppey, remembered that "everywhere one put one's foot, it was thick with ladybirds . The posts along the sea-front holding up the chains were completely smothered.'' The ladybird population explosion happened at locations nationwide. "They were all over the place, on every pavement, and at times it was impossible to take a step without treading on them," recalled Frank Haiste of Leeds. The pool at Ruislip Lido in Middlesex was covered with dead ladybirds, deterring all but the hardiest swimmers. Image copyright Science Photo Library The bugs, usually liked by gardeners because they eat aphids, a class of plant-sapping pests that includes greenfly, became briefly hated. They reportedly started biting humans, particularly by the seaside. Simon Leather, professor of entomology at Harper Adams University, thinks changes to cereal production in the 1970s could have encouraged an increase in aphids , particularly the release of Maris Huntsman wheat - which they liked eating - in 1972. The main concern among agricultural scientists at the time was to prevent crops being ruined by fungi - not potential destruction by insects - he says, adding: "These days, people are much more aware of the importance of insect-resistance." In 1976 a warmer than average spring saw larger than usual populations of aphids, creating more food for ladybirds. But the hot, dry summer meant plants matured and dried early, leaving the aphids without food. Their population collapsed in late June and early July. So hungry ladybirds moved on in their billions, searching for nutrition. Swarms built up in coastal resorts as they got stuck by the sea, says Helen Roy, of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. When well-fed, ladybirds are able to travel up to 120km (75 miles), flying at altitudes of more than 1,000m above sea level, allowing them to travel abroad. But by now they were too hungry and tired to go any further. Image caption There were reports of ladybirds biting people The attacks on humans happened as thirsty ladybirds tried to rehydrate using holidaymakers' sweat, says Roy. "They were also said to be attracted by people's ice creams," Roy, who co-runs the UK Ladybird Survey , adds, "because they would have provided a much-needed source of energy in the sugar they contained." But Ian Rotherham, professor of environmental geography at Sheffield Hallam University, says it's "unlikely" the swarms went from inland Britain to the coast. "They don't tend, on a hot summer's day, to decide they want to go to Bridlington, or wherever, to cool off for a bit," he adds. Rotherham thinks the migration was more likely to have been by ladybirds coming north from continental Europe, who landed on the beache


Legal action by 30,000 Ivory Coast people was brought against which company for the allged dumping of toxic waste?

Trafigura found guilty of exporting toxic waste - BBC News BBC News Trafigura found guilty of exporting toxic waste 23 July 2010 Close share panel Image caption The case involves chemical waste dumped in 2006 A Dutch court has found multinational Trafigura guilty of illegally exporting toxic waste from Amsterdam and concealing the nature of the cargo. In 2006, Trafigura transported waste alleged to have been involved in the injury of thousands of people in Ivory Coast. Trafigura denied any wrongdoing. It expressed disappointment in the ruling and is considering an appeal. The firm was fined 1m euros (£836,894) for its ship, the Probo Koala, transiting Amsterdam with its cargo. The ship then went on to unload its cargo in Ivory Coast. It is a good thing that they have been found guilty but it would be even better if they were sent to jail Guy Oulla, Alleged waste victim Guy Oulla's full story Trafigura employee Naeem Ahmed, who was involved in the ship's operation in Amsterdam, was fined 25,000 euros and the captain of the Probo Koala, 46-year-old Sergiy Chertov, was sentenced to a five-year suspended jail term. This is the first time Trafigura has faced criminal charges since the toxic waste scandal unfolded in Ivory Coast's commercial capital, Abidjan, in 2006. Trafigura, an oil trading company, initially tried to clean up low-grade oil by tipping caustic soda into the hold of the Probo Koala. The company tried to unload the waste in Amsterdam for treatment, declaring it as "harmless slops". When the treatment company came back with a higher price for cleaning the waste, the cargo was shipped to Africa where it ended up in Abidjan to be handled at a much lower rate. Presiding Judge Frans Bauduin said: "Trafigura - which by that time knew of the exact composition [of the waste] - should never have agreed to its processing at such a price." Timeline Sept 2006 - Thousands in Ivory Coast report falling ill from waste in Abidjan Oct 2006 - About 1,000 Ivorians sue Trafigura Feb 2007 - Trafigura reaches $160m out-of-court settlement with government of Ivory Coast Oct 2008 - Ivory Coast court finds two people, not employees of Trafigura, guilty of dumping toxic waste in Abidjan Sept 2009 - Trafigura agrees to pay $50m to people in Ivory Coast who say they were poisoned by the waste June 2010 - Dutch prosecutors accuse Trafigura of illegally exporting hazardous waste to Ivory Coast Trafigura denies responsibility for the dumping of the waste and any deaths or injuries caused Trafigura said it was pleased to have been acquitted of the charge of forgery, but was "disappointed by the judges' ruling on the other two, which it believes to be incorrect". A statement from Trafigura said: "Concerning the delivery of dangerous goods, it is important that the court has noted that there was limited risk to human health from these slops, and indeed no damage occurred in Amsterdam." Trafigura said it was considering an appeal. A lawyer representing the company, Robert de Bree, said: "I think it's important to notice that the convictions relate to highly technical, complex legal matters and we will carefully study the judgement to look at the possibility of an appeal." Another Trafigura lawyer, Michael Wladimiroff, was quoted by Associated Press news agency as saying the company believed the Marine Pollution Treaty applied and that the court had incorrectly applied the terms of another waste management treaty. The firm also maintained that Mr Ahmed "did nothing wrong". Out-of-court settlement Greenpeace, which brought this case, has welcomed the outcome, saying it was a warning to firms not to export waste to developing countries. Image caption The risk posed by the waste has been heavily disputed Greenpeace toxics campaigner, Marietta Harjono, said that further legal action should be taken against Trafigura: "We must also be very clear that justice is not complete yet, because this is only the beginning, because Trafigura has not been brought to trial yet for the deliberate dumping of toxic waste in Africa." One of those who fell ill after


Which country won the 2009 rugby Six Nations Grand Slam?

Irish Grand Slam - Six Nations Rugby 2009 - YouTube Irish Grand Slam - Six Nations Rugby 2009 Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on Aug 2, 2009 Hightlights of Ireland's grandslam victory over Wales in the 2009 Six Nations Rugby Championship. Category


What was the first predominantly muslim country visited by Barak Obama after becoming US president?

Why Michelle Came Home : snopes.com Why Michelle Came Home Why Michelle Came Home Did Barack Obama's status as a Muslim prevent his wife from traveling with him to Islamic countries? - - Claim:   Barack Obama's status as a Muslim prevented his wife from traveling with him to Islamic countries in April 2009. FALSE Examples:   [Collected via e-mail, May 2009] This is a conversation between a friend of mine and two Arabs in Gainesville on May 2. We have always heard that once a Muslim always a Muslim, and it must still be true. I was at Blockbusters on Saturday renting videos, and I was going along the wall and there was a video called "Obama". I told the men next to me that I wouldn't waste my time. We talked about Obama. These guys were Arabs and I asked them why they thought Michele Obama headed home following her visit in France instead of traveling on to Saudi Arabia and Turkey with her husband. They said she couldn't go to Saudi Arabia, Turkey or Iraq. I said, "Laura Bush went to Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Dubai." They said that Obama is a Muslim and by Muslim law he would not be allowed to bring his wife into the countries that accept Sharia Law. Just thought it was interesting that the Arabs at Blockbusters accept the idea that we're being led by a Muslim who follows the Islamic creed. They also said that's the reason he bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia. It was a signal to the Muslim world. Just thought you would like to know.   Sheppard Smith, Fox News. "If you check President Obama's last trip overseas, his wife left just after their visit to France. She has yet to accompany him to any Arab country. Think about it. Why is Michelle returning to the states when 'official' trips to foreign countries generally include the First Lady." Here's one thought on the matter. While in a Blockbuster renting videos, I came across a video called "Obama". There were two men standing next to me and we talked about President Obama. These guys were Arabs, so I asked them why they thought Michelle Obama headed home following the President's recent visit to France instead of traveling on to Saudi Arabia and Turkey with her husband. They told me she could not go to Saudi Arabia, Turkey or Iraq ..... I said "Why not? Laura Bush went to Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Dubai." They said that Obama is a Muslim and therefore, he is not allowed to bring his wife into countries that adhere to Sharia Law.   Origins:   There are several ways the above-quoted anonymous account of an encounter with anonymous Arabs at an unidentified Blockbuster video store could be debunked, starting with the fact that its premise is false: Barack Obama is not a Muslim . That fact aside, the central claims of this account are still demonstrably false: The gist of this message claims that during Barack Obama's first major foreign trip as President of the United States in April 2009, his wife Michelle did not accompany him for the full duration of his visit abroad because the itinerary included Islamic countries governed by sharia law into which he, as a Muslim, was prohibited from bringing the First Lady. But President Obama did not visit any sharia law-governed countries during that trip. The countries to which President Obama traveled during his foreign visit were France, the UK, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Turkey. Of those five nations, the only one with a predominantly Islamic population is Turkey, and that country is governed by secular law, not Islamic sharia law. President Obama did not visit Saudi Arabia during that trip as claimed; he met with King Abdullah at the G20 economic summit in London, not in Saudi Arabia.  (President Obama did eventually go to Saudi Arabia, but only as part of a separate trip undertaken two months after the one referenced in the e-mail quoted above.) Sharia law varies slighty with region and custom, but in general it includes no provisions that would prohibit a woman from accompanying her husband (Muslim or otherwise) on a visit to a sharia law-governed country, As a visiting government official, a President of United


Which controversial politician resigned as Governor of Alaska in July 2009?

Palin resignation dooms presidential pipe dream - NY Daily News Alaska's governor Sarah Palin to resign, dooming her presidential pipe dream Palin resignation dooms presidential pipe dream DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF Saturday, July 4, 2009, 4:41 PM Sarah Palin announces that she is resigning as Governor of Alaska. Some Republican insiders say this dooms any hopes of a presidential bid. (DeBerry, Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman/AP) DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF Saturday, July 4, 2009, 4:41 PM What do you think of Sarah Palin 's sudden resignation? Click here and share your thoughts. WASHINGTON - Sarah Palin's bizarre bailout dooms her chances of ever being President, Republican mandarins said Friday - but she was already finished. The Alaska governor's disastrous star turn as John McCain 's running mate, followed by her lurching, controversial encore on the national scene, had already sealed her fate - except, perhaps, with the GOP 's most far-right wing. Still, the experts were unanimously stunned to hear her walk off the job with 16 months left in her term - shrinking her résumé even more and surrendering the best platform she has beyond her double-edged celebrity status. "If you aspire to the highest office in the land, then suddenly think your lieutenant governor can do a better job - not exactly a profile in courage," one party pro told the Daily News. Few GOP insiders were surprised Palin decided against running for reelection. The Alaska statehouse is too isolated a locale for any politician aspiring to high national office, they said. "You need to be in the Lower 48 to be credible politically," a senior adviser to several Republican Presidents noted. But quitting mid-term with a rambling rant is not the way to get there. "She proved she couldn't play in the big leagues last fall and now she's proven it again," one of the party's most prominent kingmakers said. "If you can't even handle a governorship, there's no way you can handle the White House . "She couldn't win - but now she can't even run," added the official, who once was among her most fervent boosters. "She has an incredibly thin résumé, a serious lack of gravitas, no coherent philosophy and the people around her are amateurs," another top Republican pol argued. "She's finished."


Manuel Zelaya was ousted by military coup as leader of what Central American country?

CENTRAL AMERICA: Ousted President or Coup Leader to Regional Parliament? | Inter Press Service CENTRAL AMERICA: Ousted President or Coup Leader to Regional Parliament? Print | Danilo Valladares GUATEMALA CITY, Mar 26 2010 (IPS) - The Central American Parliament (Parlacen) has been caught up in the political confrontation in Honduras between Manuel Zelaya, the president who was ousted on Jun. 28, and the leader of the coup government, Roberto Micheletti, because the regional body is having a hard time deciding which of the two it should accept as a member. Under the treaty that created Parlacen, all outgoing former presidents and vice presidents of the member countries – El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and the Dominican Republic – automatically become regional legislators. But the toppling of Zelaya – who was removed from his house at gunpoint and put on a plane out of the country in his pajamas – and his replacement by Micheletti – who served out the rest of Zelaya’s term, until January – has led to a quandary: which of them should join Parlacen? “Our founding treaty is very clear as to who forms part of Parlacen,” said Honduran lawmaker Hena Ligia Madrid of the centre-right Liberal Party – to which both Zelaya and Micheletti belong. “It stipulates that outgoing presidents of member states are immediately admitted,” she told IPS. “In the case of Honduras, it is obvious to me, as a politician and Parlacen legislator, that the man who should come is President José Manuel Zelaya Rosales, because he was elected in free elections and was sworn in as constitutional president of the republic,” she stated. With respect to Micheletti, she said he was in the post “as the result of a military coup, and our founding charter does not say that a de facto president can become a member of this parliament when leaving that post, when it was gained in an irregular, illegal and unconstitutional manner.” Related IPS Articles POLITICS-CENTRAL AMERICA: Falling Out and Falling Apart? Guatemalan lawmaker Rodolfo Dougherty of the right-wing Partido de Avanzada Nacional, who is deputy chair of Parlacen’s political commission, preferred to stay out of the dispute, but told IPS that it is solely up to Honduras to resolve the issue. “These decisions are up to the states,” and more specifically, to the election authorities, the parliamentarian said. Besides former presidents and vice presidents, Parlacen, created in 1991 and based in Guatemala, is made up of 20 legislators from each of the six member states. However, in December, Panama passed a law to withdraw from the regional legislature as of Nov. 24 – one of the campaign pledges of right-wing President Ricardo Martinelli, who after taking office on Jul. 1 described Parlacen as a costly, ineffective “den of immunity.” He was referring to ex-presidents taking refuge in the parliamentary immunity from prosecution conferred by Parlacen, when they are accused of corruption. Costa Rica has refused to join Parlacen, on the grounds that it entails a great deal of money spent for little or no return. Representatives of Mexico, Puerto Rico, Taiwan and Venezuela participate as observers. The dilemma with respect to which former Honduran leader has the right to a seat in the regional parliament will end up in the courts, said Parlacen legislator Víctor Manuel Galdámez of Honduras’s governing right-wing National Party. “In the case of Honduras doubts have arisen, and when such doubts are legal in nature, the appropriate authorities will have the last word,” Galdámez told IPS, referring to the Central American Court of Justice. Galdámez, who is arranging a consultation with the regional court, which forms part of the Central American Integration System (SICA), said the question should be resolved in one or two weeks. The Honduran lawmaker pointed out that former Guatemalan president Ramiro de León Carpio, appointed president by Congress for the 1993-1996 period after then president Jorge Serrano (1991-1993) led a self-coup and later resigned, took a seat in Parlacen. Despite that precedent


Which Sussex town hosted the G20 Summit in March 2009?

Learn and talk about 2009 G20 London summit, 2009 conferences, 2009 in London, 2009 in economics, 2009 in international relations Pittsburgh Summit, 2009 The 2009 G20 London Summit was the second meeting of the G20 heads of government/heads of state, which was held in London on 2 April 2009 at the ExCeL Exhibition Centre to discuss financial markets and the world economy . [1] It followed the first G20 Leaders Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy , which was held in Washington, D.C. on 14–15 November 2008. [2] Heads of government or heads of state from the G20 attended, with some regional and international organisations also represented. Due to the extended membership it has been referred to as the London Summit. [3] The policing tactics at the event raised some controversy , particularly over the death of Ian Tomlinson . It was revealed in June 2013 that the Government Communications Headquarters, an intelligence agency of the British government, had intercepted phone calls and monitored computers used by foreign delegates at the summit. Their actions were sanctioned by the British government and intelligence was passed to British government ministers. [4] Contents Agenda[ edit ] As hosts, the British Treasury produced an extended agenda pamphlet proposing the issues to be addressed at the London Summit. The explicit goal was "to start the process of reform so as to manage globalisation as a force for good in the medium term." [5] Engaging concerted action to counter falling demand and fragile confidence (although different countries have different room for manoeuvre on monetary policy) [5] Developing joint actions to prevent further contagion and support vulnerable emerging and developing markets [5] Working together to address the flaws in the financial and supervisory architecture that crisis has exposed Preparation[ edit ] Leaders of the member countries began to prepare for the London Summit months before the effective date, notably with two official meetings dedicated to that preparation, one held in Berlin , Germany, on 22 February 2009 for European leaders, and another in Horsham , Sussex, United Kingdom, on 14 March 2009 for Finance Ministers . European leaders summit[ edit ] Leaders of the four European Union member countries of the G20, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy along with the two largest European non-members, Spain and the Netherlands , met in Berlin on 22 February 2009 to prepare for the London Summit and to co-ordinate their actions. [6] The meeting was organised at the initiative of German Chancellor Angela Merkel . The leaders agreed that markets, financial institutions and the wide range of financial assets they create, and hedge funds should be subject to appropriate control. In addition, they called for effective sanctions against tax havens . [7] They also agreed to impose sanctions against countries that intend to undermine their work. Finally, they advocated the doubling of funds available to the IMF. [8] Finance ministers summit[ edit ] Finance ministers and central bankers of the G20 met in Horsham on 14 March 2009 to prepare for the London Summit. To restore global growth as quickly as possible, the participants decided to approve coordinated and decisive actions to stimulate demand and employment. They also pledged to fight against all forms of protectionism and to maintain trade and foreign investments. The members also committed themselves to maintain the supply of credit by providing more liquidity and recapitalising the banking system, and to implement rapidly the stimulus plans. As for central bankers, they pledged to maintain low-rates policies as long as necessary. Finally, the leaders decided to help emerging and developing countries, through a strengthening of the IMF. To strengthen the financial system, the participants proposed to regulate appropriately all important financial institutions, to register all hedge funds or their managers and to force them to provide appropriate information as to the risks they take. [9] They proposed to implement regula


John Lydon (Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols) fronted which dairy product ad campaign?

Sex Pistol anarchist Johnny Rotten softens with television commercial for butter - Telegraph Celebrity news Sex Pistol anarchist Johnny Rotten softens with television commercial for butter Punk anarchist John Lydon has softened with age, starring in a £5 million advertising campaign for a brand of butter. By Alastair Jamieson 2:23PM BST 01 Oct 2008 It is the first time the former 52-year-old Sex Pistol, also known as Johnny Rotten, has appeared in a television commercial. The 30-second advert turns Lydon's familiar punk persona on its head, showing him in various countryside locations wearing a tweed suit. "People know I only do things that I want to or that I believe in and I have to do it my way," said Lydon. "I've never done anything like this before and never thought I would, but this ad was made for me and I couldn't resist the opportunity." It is a far cry from 1977 when the Sex Pistols caused outrage by releasing God Save the Queen during the week of the Queen's silver jubilee. The anti-royal song was a hit but outraged traditionalists so much so that Lydon was reportedly attacked in the street. His latest work, for Dairy Crest's Country Life brand, will also raise eyebrows among union leaders and workers at the company's site in Nottingham where it has just announced the loss of up to 200 jobs. Related Articles 09 Oct 2014 Dairy Crest yesterday declined to say how much Lydon was being paid for the campaign. The Londoner, who grew up on a council estate, was spotted filming some of the scenes from the advert at Lurgashall Village Green in West Sussex. In recent years Lydon has led a quiet life, gaining attention in 2006 by competing in I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!, in which he was pecked by a group of ostriches before walking out before the final. Siemon Scamell-Katz, founder of retail anlaysts TNS Magasin said: "The problem with a lot of television advertising is that, while the content may be memorable, the viewer does not necessarily retain an association with the brand or product being advertised. How many times have you heard people discussing ‘that brilliant ad on television last night’ and then saying that they do not remember what it was for?"It is to be hoped that, in this case, the advertiser has developed the advert as part of a through-the-line campaign so that the emotional responses created by the ad – whatever they may be – are triggered again when shoppers arrive at the butter fixture to make their purchase."


Who was appointed European Ryder Cup Captain in 2009?

Colin Montgomerie appointed Ryder Cup captain for 2010 | Sport | The Guardian Close This article is 7 years old Colin Montgomerie has been appointed as European Ryder Cup captain for 2010. The 45-year-old Scot was the overwhelming favourite to lead the team at Celtic Manor next year and Thomas Bjorn, the chairman of the Tournament Players Committee, said that the decision had been "unanimous". The European Tour's tournament committee meeting took 1hr 10 mins and afterwards Montgomerie said: "This is obviously one of the proudest moments I can think of. Not just honoured but it's a huge responsibility as well. It's a responsibility that will hopefully result in the Ryder Cup. I promise you I'll be doing everything I can to claim back the Ryder Cup in 2010. "I want to put a smile back on faces. I can't speak for what happened in 2008 as I wasn't there. All I can say is that on every occasion I've been in the Ryder Cup I've had fun and I can say that everyone who plays for me will have fun. It's imperative that the players enjoy themselves because they will then play better. "It just seems that the time is right for me to take the helm here and be captain," said the Scot, who will come up against Corey Pavin in Wales. "When the qualification systems starts all the Ryder Cup points I make will be nullified. "It was difficult to accept the job [knowing it rules you out as a player]: I don't truthfully believe I cannot compete [as a player] in 2012 and that will be my aim. "With the wealth of talent we have on the European Tour we could field three teams of equal strength. We have a lot of new talent coming through and I feel very proud to be captain at this time." Thomas Bjorn, chairman of the Tournament Players Committee, said: "It became obvious in Abu Dhabi we wanted the right man for 2010. We thought about naming two captains because that's what we have done in the past but we decided we needed to concentrate on 2010 and the committee was unanimous in deciding Monty was the right man to lead them into battle. There were no agendas going in to the meeting. When the best man for the job came up it was Colin Montgomerie." Sandy Lyle and José María Olazábal were two of the other main contenders and the Spaniard may well be chosen to lead the team in the United States in three year's time. In the meantime, Lyle and Olazábal will be part of his team at Celtic Manor. Bjorn, who was asked whether they had spoken to Olazábal regarding the 2012 tournament, said: "We spoke to José, Woosie and Sandy Lyle. Olly thinks it was a good decision, that Monty will be a great captain and there was no bad will. He wishes Monty all the best of luck. "Olazábal is a great man and should be considered for future Ryder Cup captaincies. He's been given no assurance for the future but he'll be a consideration for 2012, that's for sure." George O'Grady, the chief executive of the European Tour, refused to say whether Lyle still had a chance of being captain for upcoming contests but said: "We wanted a captain in tune with the players. Generally speaking they want a captain more or less the same age as they are." O'Grady was also asked on the frenzied betting on who was going to be chosen as the new Ryder Cup captain, which saw a sudden swing towards Montgomerie last week: "Yes we are concerned and we investigated," he said. "Betfair entered into consultation with us and they felt the market had moved on, and that the swing was from newspaper comment, from a rumour or a leak." Montgomerie played in eight consecutive Ryder Cups between 1991-2006 while Olazábal, 42, formed the Ryder Cup's most successful pairing so far together with fellow Spaniard Seve Ballesteros.


US Jazz guitarist Huey Long who died aged 105 was a member of which famous 1940s male vocal group?

Ink Spots Biography Ink Spots Biography Find Ink Spots on Amazon.com If you would like to share Ink Spots lyrics with other users of this site, please see the bottom of this page on how to submit Ink Spots lyrics. Members included Jerry Daniels (diedNovember 7, 1995, inIndianapolis, IN), tenor and guitarist; Charlie Fuqua(born 1911, died 1971), tenor and guitarist; Orville Jones(born February 17, 1905, in Chicago, IL; died October 18, 1944, inChicago, IL), bass singer and cellist; Bill Kenny (born in1915, in Philadelphia; died of respiratory illness in March 23, 1978, inVancouver, British Columbia), tenor; Herb Kenny (born in1915, in Philadelphia, PA, died of cancer on July 11, 1992, inColumbia, MD), bass; Ivory Watson (born 1909, died1969), baritone and songwriter. A number of black male quartets have billed themselves as the Ink Spots, cashing in on thetremendous success of the original singing group which performed during the 1930s and '40s.Famous for their song "If I Didn't Care," with its smooth tenor lead and spoken refrain, they werethe best known act of their kind and served as a huge influence on later rhythm and blues groups.The Ink Spots were also one of the first black acts to become a hit with white audiences. The Ink Spots made numerous recordings, had regular radio shows, and performed with the biggestmusical stars of their time, including Count Basie and Ella Fitzgerald. While they were at their peak of popularity, the group appeared in two Hollywood movies. After the quartet split up, however, their reputation became blurred by the splinter groupsthat were created. And so the Ink Spots have lost some of the recognition they deserve, accordingto David Hinckley of the Daily News; he reflected in 1995 that "the Ink Spots are too often relegated to the wallpaper of pop music history as if they were one more group that was bright and new for a while, then got covered over by something brighter and newer." Original members of the Ink Spots struggled for many years to distinguish themselves from copycat acts and to perpetuate the reputation of the group, but were often fighting amongst themselves. Now that all of these men have passed away, several "Ink Spots" groups continue to perform, and if they do not have an authentic pedigree, they do serve to keep the many songs popularized by the Ink Spots in the public's ear. The group's founding members were all from Indianapolis. They were Jerry Daniels, who played guitar and sang lead tenor; Orville "Hoppy" Jones, who sang bass and played the cello;Ivory "Deek" Watson, a baritone and songwriter; and Charlie Fuqua, the second tenor and guitarist. The Ink Spots are sometimes described as having evolved out of the Percolating Puppies, a group that Deek Watson performed with on street corners in Indianapolis. Watson wason the road when he met up with Fuqua and Daniels, whom he knew from Indianapolis. This meeting resulted in the formation of a trio that went by the name King, Jack and the Jester; theaddition of Jones and an "s" to the name made a quartet. This foursome moved to New York with hopes of making it big, but struggled to make a living. For a time, all worked as ushers at the Paramount Theater. Subsequently, the quartet billed themselves as the Riff Brothers until one day in 1932 when, according to Deek Watson inhis book The Story of the 'Ink Spots,' the group happened upon the idea of the "Ink Spots."Watson told of how he was inspired by a splash of ink from a fountain pen and how he had to overcome the protests of his fellow members. He remembered Jones as saying that he was"always wanting us to be something colored. 'Black Dots,' 'Ink Spots'-next thing you know he'll be wanting to call us the 'Old Black Joe's'." But the members agreed to try the new name, and its adoption coincided with better fortunes for the struggling quartet. During the 1930s, the Ink Spots specialized in singing up tempo jazz or jive music. Early in the decade they traveled to England under contract with promoter and bandleader Jack Hylton,and in 1935 the group signed a recording cont


Iftikhar Chaudrey was reinstated as Minister of Justice of which country after massive protests?

Iftikhar Chaudhry misused office to fulfil personal agenda, says Aitzaz Ahsan - Pakistan - DAWN.COM Iftikhar Chaudhry misused office to fulfil personal agenda, says Aitzaz Ahsan  Print ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Aitzaz Ahsan on Tuesday said former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry misused his office and the opportunity he received after reinstatement for fulfilling “personal aggrandizement”. “Pakistan had never seen such a powerful chief justice nor will it see in future,” Aitzaz said in an interview to Capital TV. “We forced a president, army chief and a democratic government to get him reinstated but [Iftikhar Chaudhry] wasted the opportunity and used it to fulfil his personal agenda. I still regret this.” Read: Ex-CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry accused of having misused HBFC loan The PPP senator said he would have been a happy man if Chaudhry had done something to reform lower judiciary. “A common citizen’s first contact with the legal system happens at lower judiciary,” he said. He added that the former chief justice got involved in Memogate scandal, National Reconciliation Ordinance case and even directed the Election Commission of Pakistan to hold presidential elections before the announced date on the behest of Nawaz Sharif. Despite his grievances with Chaudhry, Aitzaz maintained that he had no qualms over being a part of the lawyers’ movement launched for the independence of judiciary in the country. “My commitment was with the institution of judiciary and not with the former chief justice,” he said.


England's humiliating defeat in their first game of the cricket World Twenty20 Championship was by whom?

England turn to Trevor Bayliss after humiliation by Holland in World Twenty20 - Telegraph England England turn to Trevor Bayliss after humiliation by Holland in World Twenty20 Australian is surprise name on head-coach shortlist as Ashley Giles’s audition  ends with 45-run defeat by Holland England captain Stuart Broad trudges off after being dismissed by Holland's Mudassar Bukhari Photo: AP By Nick Hoult and Jonathan Liew, Chittagong 10:30PM BST 31 Mar 2014 Australian Trevor Bayliss will be one of four candidates interviewed for the position of England’s new head coach after Ashley Giles’ audition for the role ended with a humiliating 45-run defeat by minnows Holland at the World Twenty20. England’s dismal winter sank to a fresh nadir when they were skittled for 88 by a Dutch bowling attack led by Mudassar Bukhari, a former assistant manager of Burger King at Amsterdam Schiphol airport. It was an acutely embarrassing defeat for Giles in the final match before the England and Wales Cricket Board begin interviewing potential successors to Andy Flower, who resigned as head coach after the Ashes whitewash. Giles will still be interviewed over the next fortnight, as will Bayliss, who is coach of both New South Wales and Kolkata Knight Riders, former England head coach Peter Moores, and Mick Newell, the coach of Nottinghamshire. Bayliss, who would be the first Australian to coach England, has emerged as the surprise name on the shortlist following a worldwide search by a specialist headhunting firm. Related Articles Broad: Heartbreak drives new era 29 Mar 2014 Although he lacks playing experience at the top level he has enjoyed coaching success in both domestic and international cricket and in all formats of the game. In one-day cricket he led Sri Lanka to the World Cup final in 2011, and coached Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title in 2012. At first-class level he won his second Sheffield Shield last week with New South Wales, where he returned as head coach a year ago. The 51-year-old, who had a modest playing career, spent four years as Sri Lanka head coach before standing down after the 2011 World Cup to spend more time with his family in Sydney. Bayliss has more international experience than his competitors but lacks the knowledge of the English game and the county system. The ECB has invested heavily in its coaching structures, prompting a desire to appoint an Englishman to the role and Moores retains strong high-level support at the board despite the failure of his previous tenure in charge of the team. One of the key challenges for the ECB will be to integrate the new head coach with the role being sketched out for Flower. He will retain a powerful voice in English cricket and the ECB are reluctant to move away completely from an era which produced success before the winter’s capitulation. Moores appointed Flower as his assistant and retains a good relationship with him while Giles was a key member of his set-up. The defeat by Holland stunned Giles, just 24 hours after he insisted he was the right man to replace Flower. “I believed I was 24 hours ago, I’m not sure that one performance has changed my mind. “You have bad days at the office and this is a real bad one. I still believe I can do the job for England, it’s for other people to decide if I can or not,” he said. Giles has a contract to be England’s limited-overs coach until the 2015 World Cup, but the ECB is now committed to having only one head coach across all formats of the game. Should it decide that it cannot give the wider role to Giles, it will have to pay up the remainder of his contract. Giles’s record this winter now reads 10 defeats in 15 matches across all formats. “Today was pretty embarrassing, and complacent. It was a poor performance,” he said. “None of us are very happy. With all due respect to the Dutch, we shouldn’t be losing to them. We’re too good a side. It was ugly in the end and embarrassing. All we can do is apologise to everyone at home. “You can’t just pick and choose when you are up for it. You have to be up for it all the time.


In 2009 Coca-Cola paid £30m for a minority share of which UK 'smoothie' drinks company?

Innocent sells £30m stake to Coca Cola - Telegraph Retail and Consumer Innocent sells £30m stake to Coca Cola The owners of Innocent have agreed to sell a minority stake in the smoothie  maker to Coca Cola for £30m in a deal that will fuel the company's expansion  but raise questions over its long-trumpeted ethical credentials. Innocent's Adam Balon, Jon Wright and Richard Reed  By Jonathan Sibun 12:26PM BST 06 Apr 2009 Coca-Cola, which has faced criticism for selling unhealthy drinks, will take a 10pc to 20pc stake in Innocent following the deal. Innocent said the deal would help finance its drive "to get more natural healthy products to more people across Europe". Innocent co-founder Richard Reed sought to play down Coca-Cola's influence on the smoothie company following the multinational's investment. "All the money is coming into the business to fund our European expansion and the founders will continue to lead and run the company - we will be the same people, in the same offices, making the same products in the same way," Mr Reed said. "We chose Coca Cola because... they can help us get our products out to more people in more places," he added. "They have been in business for 120 years, so there will be things we can learn from them. And in some small ways, we may be able to influence their thinking too." Related Articles


Which banker drew strong negative publicity relating to his failed leadership of RBS and substantial pension arrangements?

Changing Banking for Good - Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards 22.1 33.6 Source: The Kay Review of UK Equity Markets and Long-term Decision Making, Final Report, p 31 662. Investors that hold shares for a short period are less likely to be concerned by the long-term prospects of the company they own, other than to the extent that it affects short-term movements in the share price. Because they trade more frequently, short-term investors can exercise an influence on share prices that is disproportionate to their holdings. The rise of shareholder short-termism and disengagement from the responsibilities of ownership has been exacerbated by the growth of intermediaries that have distanced the ultimate beneficial owner of shares from investee companies. 663. The Kay review and Sir David Walker's review of corporate governance in UK banks both considered these developments, and proposed measures to reflect better shareholders' responsibilities as company owners. Among other recommendations, the Walker review proposed a new Stewardship Code setting out best practice in stewardship by institutional investors and fund managers.[ 1121 ] The Kay review recommended the inclusion of a commitment to responsible engagement within the investment management industry code.[ 1122 ] However, Professor Kay and Sir David both acknowledged in evidence to the Commission that the investment environment that they ultimately sought, in which the "anonymous trader" was replaced by the "concerned investor", remained a long way off.[ 1123 ] Professor Kay spoke of "philosophical leaps that are needed to take us to the world we would like",[ 1124 ] while Sir David told us that "it will not happen overnight, and it may never happen".[ 1125 ] WHO OWNS THE BANKS AND WHY? 664. The situation facing UK equity markets generally also applies to banks specifically. In Annex 5 we consider further evidence on bank ownership. The main points emerging from that evidence are that: ·  Few entities hold large single stakes in UK banks and many have holdings in each of the large banks; ·  Bank shareholdings are often held for a short time, encouraging short-term risk-taking; ·  There are reasons for scepticism as to whether shareholders could spot the risks which a bank's own leadership misses; and ·  Active investment can lead to higher returns, but potential active investors are wary of seeking insider knowledge. Institutional shareholders have not done enough to encourage banks to maintain high levels of banking standards. SHAREHOLDER PRESSURE AND LEVERAGE 665. Where shareholders did engage with banks in recent years, it was sometimes to pressurise them to take on additional risk and increase leverage to boost equity returns. RBS told us that "in some instances investors pressed for what were arguably unsustainable levels of return, creating pressure to increase leverage and take on additional risk".[ 1126 ] Lloyds said that: Shareholder behaviour "pre-crunch" focused on a drive for growth with emphasis placed on delivering potentially unsustainable returns, without recognition of the downside risks. This was a factor in creating a culture that arguably led to failure in the sector.[ 1127 ] In its evidence, HSBC wrote of a "very strong public call for leverage and structuring from many institutional shareholders",[ 1128 ] while its Chairman Douglas Flint told the Treasury Committee that: There was a great deal of pressure coming from shareholders who were looking for enhanced returns and were pointing to business models that have, with hindsight, been shown to be flawed and in particular very leveraged business models and saying, "You guys are inefficient. You have a lazy balance sheet. There are people out there that are doing much better than you are", and there was tremendous pressure during 2006/07.[ 1129 ] A number of witnesses noted that this misalignment of interests between shareholders and society was further exacerbated in banks deemed too big to fail because bondholders perceived to be insured against failure did not rein in the more risky ins