Prince Harry apologises
Prince Harry has apologised for offensive comments he made whilst on military duty in 2006.
Videos surfaced recently filmed by the prince himself during his military service in 2006, according to the News of the World Web site.
"Ahh, our little Paki friend... Ahmed," a voice says as the camera zooms in on a soldier from across the room. The video does not show Prince Harry's face.
The soldiers were waiting for their flight to Cyprus for a mission, according to the Web site.
The Royal family said the "Paki" term was a nickname for a friend in his platoon. "There is no question that Prince Harry was in any way seeking to insult his friend," the St. James's Palace statement said.
The second video was filmed after arriving in Cyprus, according to News of the World, and shows a British soldier with a cloth over his head.
A voice, which the News of the World claims to be Harry's, is heard saying, "(expletive) me, you look like a raghead."
St. James's Palace said, "Prince Harry used the term 'raghead' to mean Taliban or Iraqi insurgent."
Source: http://edition.cnn.com
Brown Pledges Funding to Tackle U.K. Unemployment
Prime Minister Gordon Brown pledged 500 million pounds over two years to encourage hiring and curb rising unemployment as the U.K. faces its deepest recession in almost three decades.
Meeting with business and union leaders, Brown offered as part of the plan 2,500-pound payments to employers to recruit and train those who have been out of work for half a year or more.
Source: http://www.bloomberg.com
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UK film stars sweep Golden Globe awards
UK stars and film productions swept up awards at the 2008 Golden Globes ceremony held in Los Angeles, California this weekend.
Kate Winslet won two awards, taking home best actress for her film Revolutionary Road and best supporting actress for The Reader.
While collecting her second award, the Reading-born actress gushed "is this really happening?"
Winslet had been tipped to win the supporting actress award for her role in The Reader, which had her playing a former Nazi prison guard. However, her achievement for best actress in Revolutionary Road came as a surprise, as critics had expected American Anne Hathaway as the winner.
Fellow Brit Danny Boyle took home four awards at the ceremony, including the best film drama award for his film Slumdog Millionaire.
The hit film took home prizes for best screenplay and score and Boyle also took home the best director award for his Mumbai-set movie.
Other British recipients include Sally Hawkins, who was named best comedy actress after her role in the film Happy-Go-Lucky. Tom Wilkinson also won best supporting actor for his work in the mini-series John Adams.
Source: http://www.bestwestern.co.uk
UK an 'unequal place to grow up'
The UK remains an unequal place to grow up, with success in life largely determined by parents' backgrounds and earnings, a report says.
The Social Mobility Commission, set up by the Liberal Democrats, is urging the government to offer interest-free loans to struggling poorer families.
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Schools in deprived areas should also receive more money, it adds.
The government, due to publish a report on social mobility on Tuesday, said it was committed to equal opportunities.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has asked former health secretary Alan Milburn to chair a group looking into the issue.
The Social Mobility Commission's report contains 27 main recommendations to end what is referred to as "a society of persistent inequality".
Most concern a targeting of resources to deprived households and schools with the highest proportions of poorer pupils.
The report also suggests child tax credits should be available only to low-income families and that they should also have access to affordable credit such as interest-free loans.
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk
N Ireland firms 'worst hit in UK'
Northern Ireland businesses have recorded the steepest contraction in output of all UK regions as the global recession hits home and demand plunges, it was revealed.
They suffered more than anywhere in the nation in 2008 and paid off staff at a much faster rate.
The deep fall-off in business came despite the sharpest price discounting ever recorded by Ulster Bank Northern Ireland PMI (Purchase Managers' Index).
The latest report covering December signalled that business conditions remained extremely tough at the end of 2008 as the adverse economic and financial climate led to a further rapid contraction of demand. It did not hold out any hope of improvement in the near future.
Source:
http://www.google.com
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