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Malcolm McDowellenjoys the
UJ
too!
See interview page 8.
By Cassandra Vinograd
CAN YOU crack the code?That’s the question Britain’s electroniclistening agency, GCHQ, is asking in
an online campaign to nd the next
generation of cyber specialists.GCHQ quietly launched a cryptic
website last month featuring a box of
code made up of numbers and letters.There is no branding on the site, onlythe phrase “Can you crack it?” and a
box to type in an answer.
The agency has now revealed it isbehind the campaign, and said it’s try-ing to reach individuals with “a keeninterest in code breaking and ethicalhacking” for careers at GCHQ.“It’s to arouse interest in peoplewho perhaps might not be caught byour normal recruitment campaigns,”a GCHQ spokesman said, speaking oncustomary condition of anonymity.
By David Stringer
BRITAIN’S Prince Harry was quoted last
month as conrming he will be deployed
to Afghanistan for a second time – almostfour years after his previous secret mis-sion was cut short when details leaked.
The Sun
newspaper reported that the27-year-old, who is third in line to theBritish throne, told guests at a militaryawards ceremony last month that he
would likely return next year.
“I can’t wait to get out there,” thenewspaper quoted Harry as saying.
Harry served as a battleeld air con
-troller in Afghanistan for 10 weeks fromDecember 2007, but was sent home early
after details were made public – rst by
an Australian celebrity magazine andlater on the
Drudge Report
website.
He became the rst member of the
British royal family to serve in a war zone
since his uncle, Prince Andrew, ew as a
helicopter pilot in the Falkland Islands
conict with Argentina in 1982.
A spokesman for St James’s Palace,would not discuss the details of when orwhere Harry could serve in Afghanistan.He said it would be a “matter for themilitary chain of command.”Britain’s defense ministry did not com-ment on Harry’s potential deployment.The prince returned to Britain inNovember after two months of combathelicopter pilot training in the UnitedStates.At the Naval Air Facility in El Centro,California, Harry flew Apache attackhelicopters in the desert close to the
Mexican border. During training at the
Prince Harry Plans Afghanistan Return
CNN star interviewer Piers Morgan re-fused to disclose details about the mostdamning links between himself and
Brit-ain
’
s phone hacking scandal last month –his acknowledgment that he once listenedto a phone message left by Paul McCartneyfor his then-wife Heather Mills.In a 2006 articlein the
Daily Mail
tabloid, Morgansaid he was playeda phone message leftby the former Beatleon Mills’ answeringmachine, describingit in detail and not-ing that McCartney“even sang ‘We Can Work It Out’ into theanswerphone.”Mills has said there’s no way Morgancould have obtained the message hon-estly.Morgan stubbornly refused to answeralmost any questions about how he cameto hear the message, saying that doing sowould compromise a source.“I’m not going to start any trail that
leads to the identication of a source,”
he said.Asked by inquiry chief Lord JusticeBrian Leveson whether he could supplyany information to back the assertion thathe had heard the recording legally, Morgansaid he couldn’t.Earlier Morgan said he “doesn’t be-lieve” he had ever listened to hackedvoicemail message – and dismissed earlierinterviews – in which he’d discussed phonehacking at length – as having been basedon rumor and hearsay.
He refused to say who had lled him in
about the practice.“My memory’s not great about this. Itwas a long time ago,” he said.
Morgan Refuses To NameMcCartney Voicemail Source
Before his US television career, Morganran two British tabloids – the
News of theWorld
and the
Daily Mirror
. He was givingevidence to Britain’s media ethics inquiryby video link last month from the UnitedStates – one of a host of tabloid newspaperexecutives to face the inquiry, set up in thewake of the uproar over phone hacking andother unethical newsgathering methods atthe
News of the World.
The atmosphere turned tense withinminutes of Morgan taking his oath. Hewas quizzed about his relationship toprivate investigators and freelancers suchas “Benji the Binman,” who specializedin raking though celebrities’ trash to lookfor scoops.Morgan said he never dealt with privateinvestigators but he did acknowledge buy-ing information from Benji – and said he’dhad some qualms about it.“Did I think he was doing anythingillegal? No. Did I think he was doinganything on the cusp of unethical? Yes,”Morgan said.The stakes are high for Morgan. Morethan a dozen journalists have been arrested,senior executives with Rupert Murdoch’sNews Corp media empire have lost their jobs, and top UK police officers haveresigned over their failure to tackle thescandal.Witnesses at the inquiry have exposedthe seamy side of British journalism, withreporters accused of cooking up stories,blackmailing subjects, hacking phones
and paying bribes to police ofcers to
secure tips.
UK Spy Agency AsksHackers To Crack Code
GCHQ said the fast-moving paceof the digital arena and cybersecurity
means it must nd new ways to engage
with prospective candidates, whotypically have entered the agency asgraduates.“With the threats to informationand computer technology constantlyevolving, it is essential that GCHQallows candidates who may be self taught, but have a keen interest in codebreaking and ethical hacking, to enterthe recruitment route too,” it said in astatement.But career hackers beware: “Any-one applying who has hacked illegallywill not be eligible to continue in the re-cruitment process,” GCHQ warned.The agency said it has been usingsocial media to get the word out and
that the site has attracted about 8,000
hits.
Online: http://www.canyoucrackit.co.uk/
Piers Morgan
Ministers Say EU Veto Won’t
R
Sink UK’s Coalition
SENIOR members of Britain’s gov-ernment insist Prime Minister DavidCameron’s veto to a Europe-wide
treaty to create closer scal ties won’t
sink his coalition.But, Nick Clegg, deputy primeminister and leader of the pro-European Liberal Democrats, hassaid he was “bitterly disappointed”by Cameron’s decision.The Liberal Democrats are juniorpartners to Cameron’s Conservativesin Britain’s coalition government.Senior Liberal Democrat Danny
Alexander, Britain’s deputy Trea
-sury chief, said that differencesover Europe won’t “threaten thecoalition.”Many regard Clegg’s criticism of Cameron as a ploy aimed at placating
his restive rank and le.Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Field insouthern Arizona, the prince red mis
-siles and rockets.During a brief break from maneu-vers, the young prince rented a Harley-Davidson motorcycle in Scottsdale and
rode the six-hour trip to Las Vegas for a
weekend visit.Harry is currently completing hisApache helicopter training at BritishRoyal Air Force base Wattisham Station,in eastern England.The newspaper said the prince toldawards ceremony guests he now hoped toutilize his months of training. “I’m look-ing forward to putting it into practice,”it quoted him as saying.In a speech to the ceremony, Harry toldmilitary colleagues of his admiration forthem – and for the families left behindwhen they are deployed.“It’s often said of our armed forces
that they are ordinary people doing ex
-traordinary things. Well, I don’t entirelybuy that,” Harry said. “Ordinary peopledon’t put their lives on the line for distantfolk, such as the Afghans, who need ourhelp and are now turning their countryaround because of it.”
Britain has around 9,500 troops
in Afghanistan, based mainly in thesouthern Helmand province. In a visitTuesday, Prime Minister David Cam-
eron conrmed about 500 U.K. forces
will be withdrawn in 2012, ahead of theend of the international mission by theend of 2014.
Great Gift !
12-month Subscription To Union Jack Only $35 . . . See Page 3
Duke Of EdiburghLeaves Hospital
PRINCE PHILIP left the hospital Decem-ber 27, after undergoing treatment for ablocked coronary artery.Philip, the Queen’s 90-year-old husband,spent four nights in the hospital recoveringfrom a successful coronary stent procedure.He was taken to Papworth, a specialist hearthospital in Cambridge, December 23 aftercomplaining of chest pains.It was the most serious health scare suf-fered by Philip, who is known to be activeand robust. He has continued to appear atmany engagements, most recently taking a10-day tour of Australia with the Queen.
For the rst time in years he was forced to
miss the royal family’s traditional Christmasfestivities, which include attending a morn-ing church service, viewing the Queen’sannual Christmas broadcast together, and ashooting party on Boxing Day.
SMILED
Philip did not speak to reporters as hewas driven away from the hospital in aRange Rover though he smiled, and waved
to those gathered to lm his departure.
He also thanked the hospital staff fortheir care.He returned to Sandringham to join theQueen and other royal family members,
Buckingham Palace ofcials said.
It is not yet clear if Philip’s heart prob-lem will cause a reduction in his plans totravel with the Queen next year to celebrateher Diamond Jubilee. He is scheduled tomake a series of trips to England, Scotland,Wales and Northern Ireland to help hermark her 60th year on the throne.Now that Philip has been found to have
Tabloid Reporter: Phone Hacking A Regular Tool
See story Page 9
New Quarantine Laws Will
R
Please Pet Owners
QUARANTINE laws in the UK willbe relaxed from the beginning of this
month.The current laws governing themovement of pets will be brought intoline with European legislation.The Department for Environment,Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said“vastly improved rabies vaccines”
meant pets no longer had to spend six
months in quarantine when entering
the UK.
But some animal welfare groups
claim the changes could expose Brit
-ain to an increased risk of rabies.Britain’s quarantine laws were
introduced in the 19th Century to
combat the threat of rabies.Currently, any dog, cat or ferret
entering the UK must be vaccinated
against and blood tested for the dis-ease before being quarantined for
six months.
From January 2012, pets from theEU and listed non-EU countries suchas the US and Australia will no longerneed a blood test and will only have towait 21 days before they travel.Pets from unlisted non-EU coun-tries such as India, Brazil and South
Africa will be able to enter the UK
if they meet certain strict criteriato ensure they are protected againstrabies, including a blood test and athree-month wait before they enter
the UK.
The new regulations will please
many expat animal owners. Defrasaid that bringing the UK’s Pet
Travel Scheme into line with therest of the European Union had thepotential to save pet owners about£7m in fees.
Page 2 January 2012
ujnews.com
in the past month . . .
TODAY’SBRITAIN
BY LARRY GARDNER
TODAY’SBRITAIN
Passenger Takes Off With Bus During Scenes Of Mayhem
COMMUTING ON public transport in the Cityof Glasgow, can turn out to be an interest-ing ride, but it can also be a dangerous andviolent place too. Glasgow Sheriff’s Courtwas regaled with an adventure aboard thenumber 66 bus in Yoker, when two veryintoxicated men boarded. One of them gotinto a confrontation with another passenger and a nasty punch-up took place that forced the bus to pull over and let paramedicscheck out the bloodied man. Then the busdriver, who had slipped from his cab to callpolice, allowed further mayhem to ensue.The man who had not got involved in hisfriend’s physical encounter, suddenly lefthis seat, jumped in the cab, and drove off, to the astonishment of everyone on the bus.The bus driver and a local policeman found themselves thrown through the bus’ opendoors and into the street. On board for ashort and wild ride were two police officers, three paramedics, the injured man and sevenseverely stunned passengers.The unlicensed “bus driver” Frank Ken-nedy, did not get far before colliding withan ambulance, an MG Sports car and afence. He was arrested immediately wherehe curiously enquired, “What do you think I’ll get for this?”Sheriff Norman Ritchie QC, concludedwith the words “This is just madness,”Kennedy, 27, was remanded in custody andsentencing was deferred for more psycho-logical reports to be made available.
Hotel Honours Woman WhoWas Abandoned On Steps As A Baby In 1939
A WOMAN who was abandoned as a baby atjust three-months-old on the steps of a Car-diff Hotel in 1939, has been remembered at the Royal Hotel. The hotel recently opened itsdoors again after remodeling and renovation.Pat Fitzgerald is a grandmother of three now,but it was not until she was 27-years-old thather adopted parents Peter and Edith Ross, told her about her beginnings. Pat tried for years to discover her past without success,but the Hotel never forgot that little child on that cold December day and a close bond hasremained over the years. When the Royal putin a new plush drinking establishment wherecustomers could imbibe amidst luxury andfashionable fittings they needed a specialname for it. It did not take managementlong to decide however, they called the newrefurbishment, “the Fitz.”“The hotel is the nearest thing I have to a birthplace,” said the delighted Pat. “Ifeel very honoured they named a bar after me-it’s lovely!”
No ‘Cakewalk’ For BusinessOn Special Groupon Deal
RACHEL BROWN was looking to improvesales at her “need a Cake,” business, so sheoffered 75 percent discount on her specialcupcakes using Groupon, an online couponcompany. She usually makes around 100cakes a month, but the new cupcake dealliterally submerged the company in orders.Her twelve cupcake deal usually costs £26,but with the discount the price dropped to£6.50. The cake entrepreneur from Woodley,Reading, received orders totaling 8,500 andwas forced to use all her resources to pro-duce some 102,000 cupcakes in a month.By the time she’d brought in extra help andcontracted some of the orders out to other cake makers, her profits from the year haddisappeared and she was near to goingbroke. She finally rescinded the offer whichresulted in lots of angry telephone calls, buther cake business is likely to survive.“I’ve been running this business for twentyyears and I thought I knew what I was doing,”said the regretful Rachel. “but this offer wasnot everything it seemed to be.”
Mike And His Computer TurnTables On Thief In Spain
MIKE BIRTWHISTLE’S vacation in Tenerifein the Canaries Islands, turned sour whenhis two laptop computers were stolen andhe was forced to return to his home inStandish, Wigan, without his recreationalelectronics. Mike runs an online companycalled Stores Direct, with colleague DavidDuffy, and both being computer geeks theydiscovered that one of the stolen laptopsspent a lot of time on line. They hacked into the stolen computer, changed the password,and activated the web-cam. They were soonable to get a clear picture of the person using the stolen instrument that was transmitted toSpanish Police some 2,000 miles away and the culprit was arrested.“It was a victory for technology over crime,” said David Duffy.
Harry Ramsden’s Original Fish And Chips Shop To Close
ARE BRITONS going off their fish andchips ?One of the biggest chip shops in Britainis closing its doors. Harry Ramsden’sopened their first eatery in Guisley, Leeds,an establishment that could seat 250 dinersand on one memorable day in 1952, servedover 10,000 portions of fish and chips. Theoriginal Harry Ramsden (1888-1963) soldout years ago. John Barnes went public with the company in 1989, and pushed it to 35British locations with restaurants in Australia,Saudi-Arabia and even a franchise at Epcot inOrlando, Florida. Birmingham businessmanRanjit Boparan, bought the chain in January2010. The Guiseley chip shop was openedin 1928, and after 83 years of mushy peas,battered cod, and splashings of malt vinegar an era has come an end.Ramsden’s CEO Joe Teixera, says thedecision was not taken lightly and the 24 staffwould be offered alternative jobs.
Marmite Accident Closes Major Motorway
IT WAS NOT your typical road accident.A tanker carrying yeast extract – the keyingredient in that uniquely British spreadMarmite – overturned on a major Britishhighway, spilling the pungent-smelling liquidonto the road.The liquid had the same unique smellof Marmite and was being transported to the Marmite factory in Burton-on-Trent incentral England to be turned into the black sticky paste that generations of Britons havespread on hot buttered toast.South Yorkshire Police said the accidenthappened after the tanker collided with amotorhome on the M1 highway that linksLondon with north England. Marmite is awidely popular British food that provokesstrong feelings. Those who dislike it cannotbear to even smell the contents of a jar.
The Queen Meets WithYoko Ono In Liverpool
THE QUEEN met recently with Yoko Ono on avisit to the birthplace of The Beatles.The British monarch chatted with Ono,widow of John Lennon, on a visit to the Mu-seum of Liverpool in the northwest Englandport city where the Fab Four formed.Ono said she was impressed by thequeen’s burgundy coat, dress and matchinghat, saying it “made her look so young, soelegant. She is always elegant. It’s alwaysnice to meet her.”In honor of the Queen’s trip to Liverpool, the band of the Coldstream Guards played amedley of Beatles songs during the Chang-ing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace inLondon.
Mariella Tells The Neighbours ‘She’s A Swinger’
MARIELLA FROSTRUP, the broadcaster, hasspoken of her embarrassment after inadver- tently advertising herself as a swinger.The gravelly-voiced journalist has beeninundated with lusty admirers after placing two pampas grass plants on her balcony.Now, after realising the plants are recog-nised as a calling card for swingers, she is trying to get rid of the plants, reported the
Daily Telegraph.
Frostrup, 49, who is married to humanrights lawyer Jason McCue, wrote on Twitter:“Who knew that pampas grass plants are asignal to fellow swingers?“Bought two and put them on my balcony.Neighbours have been swarming!”She later added: “Anyone want a PampasGrass plant for Christmas, or better still, two?”Followers of the mother-of-two joked on the social networking site that she must livein a “swinging hot spot”.Frostrup jovially replied: “Can I borrowsome sugar and your husband?“Any tips on what to replace the clearlymisguiding Pampas with. Does a humble Yucca send subversive messages too?
Senior Citizen Lost On M25 For Two Days
DENNIS LEIGHTON got seriously lost on hisway to his daughter’s house last month – for two days.Leighton’s worried family reported him to the police after he failed to complete the 55mile journey. Police officers eventually found the 82-year-old at the wheel of his VauxhallEstate, reported
The Sun.
The pensioner, from Windsor, endedup going round in circles after missing his turn-off for his destination in Swanley, Kent.Police in Thames Valley asked colleagues inneighbouring forces to keep an eye out for Leighton after he went missing.And he was finally found safe and wellin his car in South London – more than 30hours after leaving home. A Thames ValleyPolice spokesman said: “He got a little bitlost but was found safe and well in the earlyhours of the morning.”
UK Consumer Watchdog Investigates Groupon
THE UK advertising standards watchdogsays it has reported Groupon to Britain’sOffice of Fair Trading following repeatedbreaches of the advertising code.The Advertising Standards Authority hasformally investigated – and upheld – com-plaints against the daily deal site’s advertisingon 11 occasions and informally resolved37 cases.It said last month it decided to refer com-plaints to the OFT earlier this year “because,given Groupon’s track record” it has “seriousconcerns” about the company’s ability tofollow the advertising code.The ASA said the complaints concernGroupon’s failure to conduct promotionsfairly, failure to provide evidence that offersare available and exaggeration of savingsclaims.The Office of Fair Trading confirmed ithad opened an investigation into Grouponin July.
Love-Struck Man In SearchOf ‘Cathy’ In London
THOMAS BLYTHE is overcome with affectionfor a woman he met accidentally and brieflyin London and the search is on.Restaurant manager Blythe is determined to find the woman he knows only as Cathy or Kathy, reported the
Daily Telegraph.
His blog documenting the fleeting encoun- ter has been posted on Twitter and has beenretweeted by thousands of people.Posters titled “Are you Cathy/Kathy?”have also been put up around the area inSouth London where they met as he got intoa cab about 1am.“She was beautiful, incredibly sweet andswelled with delight when she saw the flow-ers, she just said she loved flowers and howbeautiful mine were and jokingly asked if shecould have them,” he said.“I handed them to her and she said her name was Cathy, I told her mine. She saidshe lived on Coldharbour Lane. I told her Idid too.“She kissed me on both cheeks andwalked away. Before I could think to offer her my number, ask her if she might like adrink sometime. She’d gone.”He spent a frantic 20 minutes scouring thearea for any trace of where she might live but tired and dejected gave up.He finished his blog: “She was lovely, andno-one walks up to you in London and tellsyou how lovely something is and it’s rare youget to make a stranger’s day.“So perhaps she’ll email me and makemine. I’ll let you know? That or I’m lookingdown the barrel of an email inbox full ofcrazies and lots of LOLZ.”
Sudoku School Bus Driver Loses Job
A SCHOOL BUS driver was sacked lastmonth after being caught on camera doinga Sudoku puzzle while transporting children to school.He was captured balancing a puzzle book on his steering wheel in a picture taken by apupil on a mobile phone, reported
Metro
.The employee was also seen filling in theanswers with a pen while travelling in earlymorning traffic, according to the 12-year-old snapper. “When I saw the photo I wasreally shocked,” said the boy’s mother whoblew the whistle on the driver taking pupils to Ferndown Upper and Middle schools inDorset.“Not only was he driving, he also hadchildren on the coach and was responsiblefor their safety.“It wasn’t ever our intention that the driver should lose his job but we wanted to drawit to the company’s attention to make sure itnever happened again.”The driver, who has not been identified,was dismissed after Cavendish Liner CoachCompany launched an investigation.Cindy Lalani, business manager at Fern-down Upper School, said: “We feel that thebus company took prompt action, which weare very happy with.”
Yorkshire Teen Afflicted With‘Crumpet-Phobia’
A TEENAGER has developed an unusualphobia – a fear of crumpets.Stefani Ingamells, 19, from Scarboroughsays that just the sight of one of the delica-cies makes her feel sick, and she wants to flee.The make-up artist told
The Sun:
“If I wasforced to look at one for any length of timeI think I would be sick. My first reaction isalways to destroy the crumpet. But then Ihave a strong urge to run away.”Apparently, it’s the dimples that cause theproblem. Ingamells has been diagnosed with trypophobia – a fear of holes.“The other day I saw a group of strawspointing upwards and I was terrified. I alsohate Crunchies because of the holes in thehoneycomb,” she added.“But my biggest fear has always beencrumpets. My first memory of them waswhen I was five. My mum gave me one for breakfast and I just screamed.”After years of thinking she was alone, shefinally discovered fellow sufferers by lookingup ‘fear’ and ‘crumpets’ on the internet.“I found lots of forums and support groupsfull of other people with trypophobia. Weall have a fear of small clusters of holes,”she said.
Starbucks Expanded UK Drive-Thru Shops
STARBUCKS is hitting the road in Britain.The Seattle-based coffee company saidlast month that it is planning to open 200more drive-thru stores in the UK over the nextfive years, plus 100 walk-in ones.The company opened its first UK drive- thru in 2008 in Cardiff in Wales, and currentlyhas nine.In the United States, it has 2,500 drive- thru stores.Half of the new UK drive-thru units will beopened in partnership with Euro Garages, acompany based in northern England whichoperates service stations.Starbucks says it expects to hire 5,000people at the new stores.
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Happy New Year
ACTRESS Helena Bonham Carter, 45, whosenumerous film credits include the Oscar-winning
The King’s Speech
and wearing anape costume in
Planet of the Apes
in 2001– “I wanted to play an ape,” she says – washonoured by the British Academy of Film andTelevision Arts LA last month, with their Britan-nia Award for British Artist of the Year.On arrival on the red carpet at the BeverlyHilton hotel in Beverly Hills, Helena admittedshe didn’t know why she was chose for theaward for British actress of the year. “Theymust know more than I do,” she said with astraight-faced look.Veteran award-winning star Helen Mirrenmade the presentation on stage in the GrandBallroom. In her acceptance speech, Helena told Mirren “You also deserve this,” holdingup her trophy.
* * *
BRITISH STARS face stiff competition in the 69th annual Golden Globes Awards inBeverly Hills, on January 15, on the NBC-TVnetwork.Tilda Swinton, 51, is up against veteransGlenn Close in
Albert Nobbs
and Meryl Streepin
The Iron Lady
, Swinton was nominated in the lead dramatic category for
We Need toTalk About Kevin.
In the Male Supporting roles, KennethBranagh, 51, is in contention with such“heavies” as Nick Nolte in
Warrior
and Chris- topher Plummer in
Beginners
. Branagh playsLaurence Olivier in
My Week with Marilyn,
which follows the making of Olivier’s comedy
The Prince and the Showgirl,
and the deeply troubled star’s “battles” with the director.Branagh spent a great deal of time in the make-up chair listening to an audioperformance of Olivier reading the Bible. He told
Daily Variety,
“It was a wildly dramaticvocal performance, to hear about God via Sir Laurence. When I was done, I’d open my eyesand he would be starting to appear.”In the Female Supporting category, JanetMcTeer is a nominee for Albert Nobbs.A big surprise was that the critically ac-claimed British spy drama
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
, starring Gary Oldman, was overlooked.
* * *
COMIC ACTOR Ben Stiller who received theBAFTA-LA Charlie Chaplin Britannia Awardfor Excellence in Comedy, was another star who never expected it. “I’ve long been aCharlie Chaplin fan, and it’s a great honour to win it.” Robert Downey Jr who portrayedChaplin in the film
Chaplin
in 1992, made thepresentation.Other honorees included Warrant Beatty,73, who was awarded the Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film, who thanked his sister, veteran star Shirley Ma-cLaine for guiding him to become an actor.Shirley stood up to an applauding star-studdedaudience and blew a few kisses to her brother.It was a delightful moment, and a delightfulevening.
* * *
ONE OF Santa Monica’s best British restau-rants, The Tudor House, is celebrating its
Union Calls On BBC ToFire Jeremy Clarkson
A TRADE UNION last month denounceda low blow from the host of the popular TVshow
Top Gear.
The UNISON union demanded the BBC
re Jeremy Clarkson after the opinionated
TV presenter said striking public sectorworkers should be shot.Clarkson apologized later, saying he hadnot meant anyone to take him seriouslywhen he said strikers who had participatedin Britain’s largest public sector walkoutin 30 years last month, should be executed“in front of their families.”“I’d have them all shot,” Clarkson saidon BBC television’s
One Show
. “I mean,how dare they go on strike when they’vegot these gilt-edged pensions that are goingto be guaranteed while the rest of us haveto work for a living?”The BBC apologized for the remarksand said it had received around 4,700complaints.
SORRY
And Clarkson said he was sorry – sortof.“I didn’t for a moment intend theseremarks to be taken seriously – as I believeis clear if they’re seen in context,” hesaid. “If the BBC and I have caused anyoffense, I’m quite happy to apologize forit alongside them.”UNISON, which represents more thanone million public sector workers, said
Clarkson should be red immediately. It
said it was seeking legal advice and consid-ering referring the comments to police.The union’s general secretary, DavePrentis, said Clarkson’s comments “weretotally outrageous, and they cannot betolerated.”The furor even drew a response fromPrime Minister David Cameron, whobranded the comments “silly.”“It was obviously a silly thing to sayand I am sure he didn’t mean that,” Cam-eron – a friend of Clarkson – told ITVtelevision.
COMPLAINTS
The BBC in the past has elded com
-plaints over irreverent quips by Clarkson,one of the hosts of the popular car show,which is broadcast in more than 100countries.Clarkson’s jokey machismo and gibesabout environmentalists, cyclists and theperceived forces of political correctnessare part of the show’s formula for suc-cess, but have landed
Top Gear
in troublebefore.The BBC fielded complaints afterClarkson made a joke linking truck driv-ers with prostitute murders and when hedescribed former Prime Minister GordonBrown as a “one-eyed Scottish idiot.”Earlier this year the BBC apologizedto Mexico’s ambassador after Clarksonand his co-hosts described Mexicans as
lazy and oash.
By Meera Selva
AUSTERITY measures, prolonged eco-nomic weakness and a eurozone crisishave taken their toll on Britain’s work
force, with gures published last month
showing that unemployment has reacheda 17-year high.Britain’s government has staked itsreputation on a strategy of cutting costsand jobs in the public sector while trying toboost private sector growth. Last month’sunemployment data, which show that un-employment is rising and that women andyoung people are hardest hit, raise doubtsover whether that strategy is working, andleave Prime Minister David Cameron opento criticism that he is taking away opportu-nities for some parts of society.The highest level since 1994, 2.64 mil-lion people were unemployed in Britain atthe end of October – 128,000 more than inthe previous quarter, according to govern-ment statistics.
HIGHEST
Britain’s unemployment rate is now 8.3percent, up 0.4 percent on the quarter andat its highest level since 1996.In particular, unemployment among 16to 24-year-olds has reached the highestlevel since records of youth employmentbegan to be kept in 1992 with 1.03 millionyoung people out of work.“I’ve applied for hundreds and hundreds jobs and not got anything,” said 17-year-old Tamika Dodd of North London. “Ikeep getting told I don’t have experience,but they won’t let me get any.”This section of society – labeled NEETs(Not in Education, Employment or Train-ing) – was held widely responsible forthe riots and looting across Britain in the
summer and is now nding it hard to get
work.
REPUTATION
The gures open old wounds – unem
-ployment under Prime Minister MargaretThatcher hit three million in the early1980s and gave the Conservative partya reputation for not caring about jobless-ness.Statistics show that in the third quarterof the year, 67,000 jobs were cut in thepublic sector, while only 5,000 privatesector jobs were created. The public sectorcuts also hit women hard because they aremore likely than men to work in the publicsector, pushing the number of womenunemployed up by 45,000 to 1.1 million,the highest since 1988.Another contributing factor appears to
be that the longer it takes to nd work, the
UK’s Unemployment At
Highest Level In 17 Years
harder it becomes.“When I go for a job, people ask mewhat I’ve been doing in the last few monthsand if I tell them I’ve been looking for a job I can see they don’t believe me,” said16-year-old Asharani Kaur, who has beenseeking work since the summer. “They askwhy I don’t get a job in a shop or some-thing when that’s what I’m trying to do.”
50
th
anniversary this year, with an entirelynew menu for breakfast, lunch and high af- ternoon tea.It’s also one of my favourite British restau-rants for having the finest Scottish smokedsalmon (lox), equaling that served at theleading five-star dining spots in Europe and the US which I have visited.Owners Stephen and Teresa Dulley, whohave been running the restaurant and adjoin-ing British gift shop since 2006, stocked withall kinds of biscuits, chocolates, jams andjellies, frozen foods, and the list goes on andon. Their baker supplies 14 different kinds offreshly baked British pies daily, and their fishand chips are served the British way – the fishis fried with beer.If you’re a tourist from overseas or in theUS visiting Southern California, it’s well worthyour visiting to sample the best of British fareat The Tudor House where they also cater toprivate parties in true British tradition.The Tudor House – 1403 Second Street,Santa Monica, CA 90401. (310) 451-4107,and mention the
Union Jack.
Duke Of EdiburghLeaves Hospital
Continued from page 1
coronary artery blockages, he is likely tobe treated with several medications that areroutinely prescribed for heart patients.In most cases these medicines wouldinclude a daily dosage of aspirin to thinthe blood, a statin to lower cholesterol,and possibly a beta-blocker and a separatemedicine to control his blood pressure.Philip would also be expected to have hisheart function tested every six months orso to check for any changes.Philip had already announced when heturned 90 that he intended to slow down hisextremely active schedule. The Diamond
Jubilee plans reected this desire, with the
Queen deciding to send her children andgrandchildren on grueling overseas tripsto Commonwealth countries while she andher husband made less-demanding tripsthroughout the United Kingdom.
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Union Jack News — January 2012
News, articles, entertainment, sports, advertisers plus loads of information for the British expat living in the United States.
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