After years of wrangling, the government has finally given the go ahead to construct the high speed rail link between London and Birmingham... and ultimately to Leeds and Manchester. The High Speed Two (HS2) project is estimated to cost £32 billion and will carry trains speeding along at well over 200 mph. The final approval only came after many more miles of tunnels were added to the original plan in response to vigorous protests from potentially effected countryside residents. The first phase is scheduled to be commissioned only in 2026… doubt if I’ll get a trip!

The let’s make Scotland independent campaign rumbles on. Despotic Alex Salmond, Scotland’s first minister, continues bamboozling that countries wonderful populous with promises of untold wealth and better security with out the rest of the UK’s protection and support. Don’t need to be a rocket scientist to see the endless list of pitfalls such a change would create. Get real Mr Salmond!

The telephone hacking scandal rolls on. News International has paid out another 15 celebrities to the combined tune of nearly three-quarters of a million pounds. I suspect we’ve not heard the last of this as the Leveson enquiry trundles on.

World-revered British boffin extraordinaire Professor Stephen Hawkins says women are a complete mystery and remain the one thing in the universe that still baffles him

Around the World…

In Jamaica, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller declares it's time to turn republic. Although declaring great love for Queen Elizabeth, head of the Commonwealth of which the West Indies island nation is a member, the easy winner of that country’s recent election says the time has come!

Only in Italy could a cruise ship fall over! The Costa Concordia is said to have struck rocks before veering shore-wards and then listed onto its side. Apparently unrepentant captain Francesco Schettino is currently under house arrest and threatened with multiple manslaughter charges. He has claimed the reason he was ashore before his ship was evacuated was because he fell into a life boat… and before he realised what was happening he was on dry land. Yeah right!

That most American of companies, Eastman Kodak has filed for bankruptcy. From its home office in New York USA, the CEO Antonio Perez recognised the company’s failure to keep up with the digital age was the major cause of the downfall. I guess we’ve all had a Kodak camera at some time or at least bought some Kodak film. Shame.

Two amusing New Year’s quotations…

“Shakespeare obviously enjoyed sex with men as well as women” claims Sir Ian McKellen based upon his interpretation of the bard’s The Merchant of Venice.

“I get up, drink my usual four coffees, have a look at the obituaries in The Times and, if I’m not in them, I’ll get on with the day’s work” I can align with this sentiment from astronomer Sir Patrick Moore.

John Mason

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS BLOG, PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO VISIT MY FEW ADVERTISERS... YOU KNOW HOW IT HELPS TO MAINTAIN THIS UNSUPPORTED WEBSITE

There’s been a real mixture of news and happenings through the festive month and into the New Year…

…In the United Kingdom…

Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osbourne, bravely advised us in early December that we could look forward to at least another six year’s of austerity. One wonders where he has been for the last six years!

English citizens have become accustomed the regular public marches and sit-ins in the majors cities. December saw another collection of ragamuffin so-called students jumping on the bandwagon of the genuinely concerned pensions reform protesters. Organised by the various civil service unions in aid of this debatable good cause, the anticipated support from professionals in the educational, museum and legal spheres was visibly overrun but the regular band of ‘children’ out on a spree.

After a nervous four days, HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and husband of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth 2, was released from hospital following emergency heart surgery over Christmas. A stent was inserted to open a closing artery after the 90-year-old complained of chest pains during the royal family’s annual holiday at Sandringham in Norfolk. Good news.

…And around the world

That Middle East hotspot Iran continues to boil over with Britain now closing its Teheran embassy and expelling the Iranian diplomatic brigade from London. Later in the month, the regime proudly displayed a crashed American military drone claiming to have electronically downed the sophisticated aircraft.

Neighbouring Syria, not to be outdone in the violence and abuse stakes, prolongs its reign of terrorising its unhappy peoples including the torture and rape of children. In that troubled land, President Bashar al-Assad’s rule of fear and terror has already cost countless lives when Government forces seize every opportunity to carry out their meaningless and unprovoked murder. The Arab League has sent in observers but its doubtful that these monitors will be allowed to see much.

I was fascinated to read about a new smart phone manufactured in India. Aimed at the Islamic market, the Enmac MQ710 comes loaded with the full multi-lingual Koran and has a compass set towards Mecca. It also cleverly self-silences during prayer times. Impressive.

What goes around comes around. In the USA, Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg found his own site had been hacked when personal photographs appeared anonymously on another website. Ouch!

Another unexplained killing rampage hit the headlines. Lone gunman Nordine Amrani killed seven people including himself and injured more than a hundred others. Using various guns and grenades, the killer brought horror and distress to the historic and usually quiet city of Liège in Belgium.

Following the sudden death of Kim Jong-il former dear leader of North Korea, Pyongyang saw the huge funeral of that dead dictator. Led by his son and unelected new, Kim Jong-un, thousands flocked the capital’s main square bowing and wailing as the cortège passed. The secretive state continues to be of concern not only to neighbouring South Korea but to the rest of the civilised world also.

My favourite quotes of the month were…

Concerning the London ‘student’ protesters encamped at ST Paul’s Cathedral. “Hemp-smoking, fornicating hippies in crusty little tents” declared London Mayor Boris Johnson and then popular TV personality Jeremy Clarkson quickly had to retract his live announcement that ”Frankly, I would have them all shot”

John Mason

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS BLOG, PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO VISIT MY FEW ADVERTISERS... YOU KNOW HOW IT HELPS TO MAINTAIN THIS UNSUPPORTED WEBSITE

…in the United Kingdom

Britain’s oddly named Border Agency ran into much difficulty and criticism when news of relaxed entry controls was released. The Home Secretary, Theresa May, had approved the slackening of the normal passport checks on British and EU travellers in an attempt to reduce the frustrating queues. Needless to say, the Minister sought a suitable scapegoat and quickly chose the Border Force head, Brodie Clark… who subsequently resigned. I foresee a huge payout for constructive dismissal on the cards.

HRH Prince William (aka Duke of Cambridge) is to be posted to the Falkland Islands in the New Year as an extension of his helicopter search and rescue role. Not surprisingly, Argentina has responded vociferously at this move which comes on the 30^th anniversary of the Falklands War.

Ever-popular Sir Jimmy Saville died in his 84^th year at his home in Yorkshire. After a public ‘laying-in-state’ in a Leeds hotel, the boisterous TV personality, tireless charity worker and devout Catholic was laid to rest overlooking the sea at Scarborough.

…and around the world

Favourite English entertainer Stephen Fry was caught up is Qantas’s second serious engine failure. His Airbus flight from Australia to London was forced to make an emergency landing in Dubai much to the actors Twittered distress.

In the USA, the long trial of Dr Conrad Murray, who was charge with the involuntary manslaughter of singer Michael Jackson, reached its conclusion. The wayward doctor was found guilty and sentenced to four years incarceration

Here’s a horror movie in the making! Anatoly Moskvin was arrested in Nizhny-Novgorod, Russia when police discovered some twenty female corpses in his parent’s house. The bodies were mummified and had been dressed as dolls.

My favourite quote of the month:

“Sean Connery is a good actor. It’s a pity I can’t understand what he’s saying”

…from a joking Roger Moore

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS BLOG, PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO VISIT MY FEW ADVERTISERS... YOU KNOW HOW IT HELPS TO MAINTAIN THIS UNSUPPORTED WEBSITE

… in the United Kingdom

As if there had not been enough dirty washing in the halls of Westminster, Dr Liam Fox, the British Defence Secretary was forced to resign. This embarrassment to the Conservative Party came about following an ongoing investigation of the Doctor’s close friend Adam Werritty. Sponsored trips and attendance at confidential military meetings and as well as Mr. Werritty’s printed claim to be an official advisor to the Minister caused the latter’s downfall… and undoubtedly gave the opposition Labour party a field day!

The ongoing saga of the traveller’s illegal 10-year encampment at Dale Farm in Essex came to a head. After on long legal wrangle, Basildon Council’s High Court plea was granted and bailiffs with a strong police escort proceeded to clear the camp. There was some resistance but, even with the attendance of the usual interfering do-gooders, some violence and much heckling, the clearance was achieved.

You either love him or hate him. The veteran British entertainer had been the subject of a long campaign for an honour from HMQ2. And so the nation rejoiced when the 83-year-old Sir Bruce Forsyth became the latest show business knight of the realm.

and around the World…

The uprising in Libya reached its long anticipated climax as General Muamnar Gadaffi was caught hiding in a storm-water drain at Sirte and summarily executed by the jubilant revolutionary militia. After several days on public display, the deposed dictator was buried alongside his son Mutassim at an undisclosed location in the desert.

In Greece, the ever-downward spiral on the Eurozone economy took a further turn for the worse. In Athens, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets to voice dissatisfaction at that country’s latest austerity measures. Needless to say, violence erupted between the public and the police as Greeks became vociferous against their government's financial moves to avoid defaulting.

Anti-capitalist protests (as they are dubbed in the media) have spread rapidly. Starting on Wall Street, New York, the demonstrations have moved nation-wide across the USA to literally every state capital.

Soon to spread worldwide and before long Britain’ s usual suspects jumped on the bandwagon and set up tented camps on the steps of London’s St Paul's Cathedral. They had been barred from reaching their target Bank of England and the Treasury Building.

In Spain, the Basque separatist group ETA declared a permanent ceasefire after some forty years of terrorism. Prime Minister Zapatero welcomed the announcement… cautiously.

Elsewhere in Iberia, the 85-year-old Spanish billionaire, Duchess Maria del Rosario Cayetana Alfonsa Victoria Eugenia Francisca Fitz-James Stuart y de Silva, married for the third time. New husband Alfonso (60) not surprisingly had signed a waterproof pre-nuptial agreement.

In my beloved South Africa, Archbishop Desmond Tutu led wide and bold criticism of the ANC government’s failure to grant his fellow Nobel prize-winner, the Dalai Lama of Tibet, a visitor’s visa to attend the renowned clergyman’s 80^th birthday celebrations. The refusal apparently was based on the government’s ever-cowering fear of China… a major trading partner.

Coincidentally, in the United Kingdom David Levin, the influential headmaster of a leading City school, stated, “London is sleepwalking towards Johannesburg” and called life in the inner city “the ghettoisation of the community”

Over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners were released in exchange for Israel’s long-term prisoner-of-war Sergeant Gilad Shalit. The people of Jerusalem rejoiced from when the news broke until long after the soldier was met back on Israel soil by the country’s Prime Minister Netanyahu and returned to his anxious family.

Hundreds died and over a thousand were reported injured when Turkey suffered a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Van province close to its border with Syria, Miraculously, some survivors were still be pulled from the rubble after several days.

Another natural disaster hit Thailand where unprecedented floods followed massive rainfall and over 400 deaths were reported. There was unconfirmed news of similar distress taking many lives in neighbouring Cambodia and Burma.

My favourite quote of the month:

 “We were working class, and we were the lowest. "There’s a level underneath that now: the can’t be bothered working class” 

said Noel Gallagher commenting on Britain’s benefits culture.

 IF YOU ENJOYED THIS BLOG, PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO VISIT MY FEW ADVERTISERS... YOU KNOW HOW IT HELPS TO MAINTAIN THIS UNSUPPORTED WEBSITE

… in the United Kingdom

During the month, the saga of Dale Farm developed. For some ten years, travellers have squatted on the site and now Basildon Council at last has legal backing for their eviction. However, as D-day approached rebels, led by an interfering has-been actress and other busybodies, have managed to delay the long overdue removal - repeatedly. Heavily equipped bailiffs are encamped next to the site awaiting further instructions.

At last the UK government is getting firm on schoolchildren. Education Secretary, Michael Gove, has over-ruled old guidelines inhibiting hampered teachers from disciplining the growing numbers of unruly and disruptive pupils. Not before time!

Yet another mining disaster, this time in Britain. Four coalminers died when they were overcome by sudden floods at Glieson Colliery near Cilybebill, South Wales.

Days later, another tragedy took the life of a miner at Kellingley Colliery in North Yorkshire. A second trapped miner was rescued by fellow workers.

Never in this day and age, and especially in Britain, did I expect to hear of slavery. Twenty-four men who had apparently been picked up at homeless shelters and job centres, were being kept for manual labour at a travellers' site near Leighton Buzzard. Bedfordshire Police have arrested and charged several perpetrators.

… around the World

The apparently never-ending Libya debacle continues. Although Gaddafi and some senior cronies still avoid capture, neighbouring Algeria has given shelter to his wife and several younger children. Right under the noses of the National Transitional Council and their NATO backers.

Elsewhere in the so-called Arab Spring, some twenty-four doctors have been arrested in Bahrain and imprisoned for up to fifteen years just for treating protesters during the ongoing anti-establishment uprising.

In Yemen, the long-hunted Al-Qaeda terrorist Anwar al-Awlaki was killed with several supporters in Jawf province. Reportedly, on direct orders of US President Obama.

South Africa always catches my attention. Violent anti- Government riots shook Johannesburg. Led by Julius Malema, the leader of the ANC youth movement, crowds took to the streets demanding the removal of President Jacob Zuma. The melting pot is boiling over.

Cape Town also hit the headlines when a shark attack took both legs and almost the life of British man Michael Cohen. Having ignored the warning flags on the Western Cape’s popular Fish Hoek beach, the regular swimmer was mauled by a great white just of the shoreline

In France, a court found that naughty boy of British fashion, John Galliano, guilty of anti-Semitic behaviour. Following his verbal tirade against Jewish diners at a Paris restaurant, he cleverly avoided imprisonment and even his fine was suspended. Fame counts.

The world watched as the strange case of Amanda Knox’s appeal against her 26-year sentence for the murder of British student Meredith Kercher unfolded. With much unstable evidence, it soon became evident that the conviction had been unsafe. I suspect that at the end of the hearing, the court in Perugia, Italy will set the American and her ex-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito free.

The Russian ice hockey team perished in a plane crash by the Volga River at Yaroslavi. A statement from the International Ice Hockey Federation said the accident was a tragedy for the sport.

Somalia pirates murdered a British man and kidnapped his wife in northern Kenya.  David and Judy Tebbutt were staying at the luxury Kiwayu safari lodge when the gang arrived by sea and carried out the atrocity. British Special Forces are understood to be involved in the hunt for Mrs Tebbutt.

In the USA, at the end of September the trial of Dr Conrad Murray began. Charged with the killing of Michael Jackson, Murray’s much-anticipated trial is being attended by many Jackson family members and drawing a worldwide television audience of the late entertainer’s devoted fans.

Your blogger is watching the outcome with interest but fears another OJ Simpson fiasco is in the making.

My favourite quotes this month…

• “London is no longer an English city – that’s how they got the Olympics”    John Cleese
• “People who use the railway on average have significantly higher incomes than the population as a whole – simple fact”    Philip Hammond, UK Transport Minister.

John Mason

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS BLOG, PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO VISIT MY FEW ADVERTISERS... YOU KNOW HOW IT HELPS TO MAINTAIN THIS UNSUPPORTED WEBSITE

 In the United Kingdom…

Police in Southampton seized the UK’s biggest haul of cocaine  with an estimated street value of over £300 million. The 1.2 tons of cocaine was discovered hidden in a private yacht that was on its way from the Caribbean to Holland.

Following the case of the murdered bride in a South African township last November, the English court has finally agreed to the extradition of accused husband, Shrien Dewani, to stand trial in Cape Town. He claimed mental instability and abuse of his human rights in his fight against the extradition. However, Judge Howard Riddle said he was satisfied that Mr Dewani would be well treated by the South African authorities. I wonder?

Following the shooting of an armed man in Tottenham, riots broke out across London. Jumping on the bandwagon, criminals caused mayhem by looting and burning - destroying businesses and homes at random. The violence of these thugs of all ages quickly spread to other centres across England. Following on, two men were charged with promoting unrest by posting incitements on FaceBook and sentenced to four years incarceration.

It is reported that sentencing of those criminals charged from offences during the riots has swelled Britain’s prison population by another 1,300 inmates.

In a recent study, readily available fast food and no exercise were claimed to be the main causes of Britain’s steadily rising numbers of obese men and women. The Oxford University researchers have estimated that by 2030 there will be over 25 million clinically obese people in the country.

and around the World…

In a horrendous attack in Norway, an English schoolboy Horatio Chapple was mauled to death by a polar bear.  At an adventure camp, with a group of young adventurers from British Schools, on the island of Spitsbergen four other boys were also badly injured

Deposed Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak was wheeled into his trial in Cairo’s High Court on a hospital bed. Caged with his two sons, Alaa and Gamal, he pleaded not guilty to charges including corruption and causing the deaths of protesters. We’ll see!

The Middle East turmoil continues. In Syria , President Bashar al-Assad ordered his military with tanks to move into the towns along the border with Turkey. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called for more international sanctions in the light of over 400 deaths so far across Syria at Assad’s bidding.

In the Seychelles,  a dreadful freak shark attack killed newly wed Ian Redman. This was the second such tragedy in as many weeks at the popular honeymoon destination.

Demonstrating against government corruption in his country India, Anna Hazare led a campaign by declaring the start of his hunger strike in New Delhi. A disciple of Mahatma Gandhi, the 73-year-old activist was arrested, then released following public outcry three days later to continue his fast

In Israel, a series of attacks near the border with Egypt killed eight citizens and drew swift reprisals from the ever-efficient Israeli air force. Reports said the seven killed in retaliation included Egyptian soldiers. If so, there will surely be more of this incident to come.

John Mason

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS BLOG, PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO VISIT MY FEW ADVERTISERS... YOU KNOW HOW IT HELPS TO MAINTAIN THIS UNSUPPORTED WEBSITE

…in the United Kingdom

A huge strike by teachers and civil servants. Thousands of schools were closed much to the delight of students. However, the government claimed there was little adverse impact to public services. Needless to say, comfortable union officials claimed success and were, of course, still paid.

In the never-ending story that is the News of the World and its hacking activities, the latest high profile ‘casualty’ was chief executive Rebekah Brooks who announced her resignation. This was rapidly followed in the USA by the departure of Les Hinton, Rupert Murdoch’s admitted mentor and sidekick since the beginning of News International. The saga continues.

Have gone quiet for a while, the strange case of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and his fight against extradition back to Sweden has hit the headlines again as more claims of his sexual conduct arise.

Following allegations of wastefulness and overspending, Prince Andrew has been forced to step down from his role as Britain’s special representative for international trade and investment.

… around the World

Norway was rocked by the massacre of 77 people, mostly youngsters, in an unexplained central Oslo car-bombing followed by the gunning down of innocents at an island retreat. Lone killer Anders Behring Breivik claims it was to make people aware of the growth of Muslim influence in Norway and in the West.

William & Catherine, Duke & Duchess of Cambridge, embarked on their first united official overseas tour. They arrived in Canada to an overwhelming welcome that continued wherever they travelled across that great country. William’s French and Catherine’s outfits especially drew much admiration from the throngs of well-wishers.

With uproar in the Middle East coming to the fore, Afghanistan and its ongoing turmoil misses some of the headlines. However, a horrendous hotel suicide bombing, which took the lives of many civilians, brought that troubled land quickly back to mind. Later in the month Britain’s Ministry of Defence announced that it had begun the process of handing over Helmand province to the care of the Afghan Army. A risky but necessary and, some might say, overdue move.

Syria’s civil war worsens. Government troops continue to gun down protesters without hesitation in the bloodied streets. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has led worldwide calls for President Assad’s resignation and the installation of democracy.

Television news was alive with footage of the riots in Athens in the  wake of the extreme austerity measures announced be the Greek government after the International Monetary Fund announced a huge financial bailout of some €110 billion. Then behold, Greece was granted a second bailout of €109 billion later in the month

Once again, famine in Africa has arisen. This time the eastern countries including Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia and recently created Southern Sudan are crying for international aid to help feed their unbridled populations.

Off and on hotbed of unrest India suffered another huge two-centred suicide bomb attack. With 21 deaths and over 140 injured, the double bombings in Mumbai have been attributed to the Indian Mujahideen as revenge for the slaughter of Muslims at Gujarat.

A couple of interesting quotations this month…

• For my South African friends, Hollywood movie star Charlize Theron declares, “I’m single and I need a man!”
• Erstwhile wife of Westminster’s House of Commons Speaker, Sally Bercow suggests the reason for the company’s lay-off of workers is because “Thorntons chocolate is a yuck-tasting rip-off”  She should know!

John Mason

…in the United Kingdom

The punishment of dishonest peers and MPs co0ntinued. Lord Taylor of Warwick (what an insult to that fine county town was sentenced to a deserved 12 months imprisonment for fiddling over £11K on his parliamentary expenses claims.

The hacking of mobile phones belonging to celebrities and others continued to dominate Britain’s media with the latest claim coming from recently married Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.

… around the World

The e-coli outbreak that rocked Europe led to Germany blaming Spain for the source of the infected vegetable supposed to have been the cause. Spain backed by the European Commission denied the charges. Ultimately, the culprits turned out to be German bean sprouts grown on a farm at Steddorf north of Hamburg.

Dubious FIFA leader, Sepp Blatter, was ‘re-elected’ president of that ever-toothless organisation. Talk of removing themselves from FIFA by several countries was led by Britain in the wake of the fiasco that has become that so-called governing body of football.

In the turbulent Middle East, Syria and Libya lead the bad pack. Thousands of Syrians fled over the border into Turkey to escape Assad’s rampaging forces.  In Libya, the next turn of events was accusations that Gaddafi is supplying his murderous army with Viagra to aid the introduction of rape as the latest weapon of mass desecration. Elsewhere in that region, the FI Grand Prix has been cancelled in Bahrain due that country’s rising level of political unrest. To the West, Tunisia’s deposed president was tried and sentenced (in one day!) to 35 years imprisonment in absentia. He and his family are presently in Saudi Arabia and unlikely to return home to face the music.

In Pakistan, following the discovery and killing of Osama Bin Laden there last month, relationships with the USA, and specifically the CIA, have worsened. Criticism of the Pakistan government in general in particular mumbled suggestions about harbouring that fugitive are the main cause. And, leading on from Bin Laden’s death, Al-Qaeda has appointed a successor –Ayman al-Zawahiri as its head.

China finally succumbed to international pressure and released dissident artist Ai Weiwei after two month’s of mysterious detention. Observers noted that the sudden change of heart coincided with that nation’s Premier Wen Jiabao’s official visit to Europe.

I have two favourite quotes of the month…

• Obnoxious football club board member and sometime cook, Delia Smith “maybe one of the reasons I have been so successful in my career is down to the fact I haven’t had any children”
• Sarah, Duchess of York “I’m continually on the verge of bankruptcy”

 John Mason

What's caught my interest last month?

First some observations in the United Kingdom...

Lord Triesman, the former chairman of the British Football Association launches an attack against FIFA executive committee members.  Demanding an investigation into allegations of corruption, he quoted claims that included Jack Warner seeking a $3.5 million donation for a Trinidad football club and Paraguay’s Nicolas Leoz wanting a knighthood… in return for favourable votes in FIFA’s upcoming presidential election.

Later in the month, HRH Queen Elizabeth 11 paid a state visit to Ireland… the first by a reigning British monarch. Amidst heightened security her Majesty accompanied by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh captured the hearts of the Irish people… in a pub, at the national war memorial, in a heartfelt (almost apologetic) address at the requisite state banquet, at the fish market and even at a ceremony held in the stadium that was the scene of the 1920 Bloody Sunday Massacre.

The United States of America's President Barack Obama and his First Lady Michele paid their second state visit to Britain. Having first stopped of in Ireland where, at a small village, he learned of his distant Irish heritage, he arrived in London to a rousing welcome. Highlights of his short stay, en route to other European destinations, were his attendance at a state banquet hosted by HRH QE2 at Buckingham Palace and his historic address to both combined Houses of Parliament in the ancient Westminster Hall.

… and around the world.

After more than a decade of searching, American Special Forces located the hideout of Osama Bin Laden. Living in seclusion at a fortified compound in Pakistan, the leader of terrorist group Al-Qaeda was shot dead in a night time raid by helicopter-born elite troops.

Not surprisingly, the terror organisation quick struck back when two cowardly suicide bombers attacked a police academy in Charsadda, Pakistan. Some 80 cadets were killed and an estimated 120 more injured.

In Libya, the ongoing NATO-driven mission to protect that country’s peoples continues unabated. A night-time air strike hit a hiding place of some of the Gaddafi family in Tripoli killing the dictator’s son, Saif al-Arab, and three of his grandsons. Muammar Gaddafi himself remains well concealed.

Another hotbed of descent in the Middle East, Syria, continues to cause alarm across the international community. Government forces there have been raiding houses of suspected protesters and reports of arrests and torture abound. Whilst hundreds of Syrians are murdered by President Assad’s military assassins, the West just talks of possible sanction. Who owes whom what?

What’s this talk of the Arab Spring? Bahrain and Yemen join the ever-growing group of dessert countries facing turbulent times with public revolution and demonstrations by their citizens’ demanding democracy from their unpopular self-elected presidential families or hereditary kings.

At the end of the month, Britain’s Foreign Office recommended all United Kingdom expatriates to leave Yemen as the fighting, and the killings, increased.

War crimes suspect Ratko Mladic, commander of the Serbian forces during the Bosnian war was arrested after nearly two decades in hiding. Charged originally in 1995 he was discovered leading a quiet life with relatives in a village some 60 kilometres to the north of Belgrade. After a rushed hearing, he is to be extradited to the Netherlands to stand trial for his crimes at the Hague, base of the international war crimes court.

All loyal Britons have reacted with disgust at the revelation that a paparazzi photograph of Princess Diana dying in that horrendous and controversial Paris car crash has now been used in a tasteless movie shown at the once prestigious Cannes film festival.

On a lighter note, it seems that the Seychelles Tourist Board did not receive the secrecy status notification and proudly announced that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had arrived on honeymoon on that paradise island in the Indian Ocean. So much for Clarence House’s careful planning.

I have two favourite quotes this month:

• The first came from Sarah, Duchess of York who stated that her “past bad behaviour cost me an invitation to the royal wedding” You think?
• Even more regal was HRH the Queen's comment during her speech at that Irish state banquet “with the benefit of historical hindsight we can all see things we would wish had been done differently or not at all”

John Mason

What’s caught my attention last month?

Some observations in the United Kingdom...

Same old topic... the Members of British Parliament and their expenses. Reported in an earlier blog, Eric Illsley the former Labour MP has now been jailed for 12 months. Also at Southwark Crown Court in London, another Labour party ex-MP, Jim Devine was convicted of fiddling over eight thousand pounds in his expenses claims in March. Although vociferously claiming his innocence, Mr. Devine has now been imprisoned for 16 months.

But of course, it doesn’t stop there. Now Elliot Morley, former Labour MP for Scunthorpe, has been found guilty of defrauding the government paymaster. Illegally claiming over £30,000, Mr. Morley has become the biggest expenses cheat… so far!

Nowhere is really safe it seems. The inexplicable shooting of naval officers on board a British nuclear submarine whilst docked at Southampton is proof. Lt Cmdr Ian Molyneux died from his wounds and another officer was seriously injured. A junior sailor was arrested and is awaiting trial. Several council dignitaries, including Southampton’s Mayor, were on board whilst many visiting schoolchildren were nearby on the quayside at the time.

I was amused to hear that Hugh Grant, actor and rascal, had turned his recent misfortune into a crack back against the tabloid media. Having broken down in his motor-car he was appreciatively rescued by a local publican. However, this good Samaritan turned out to be a semi-retired Fleet Street journalist who promptly sold his story on to his old newspaper. Undeterred, Hugh visited the pub shortly thereafter armed with a hidden tape recorder. Undoubtedly over some fine ale or other good tipple, the landlord obliged the actor with full details of how the phone tapping of royals and celebrities was carried out. You can imagine who had the last laugh and I suspect we’ll hear more of this tale.

Where do they get these statistics? Latest statements claim that children who read more get better jobs in later life, British children are the worst losers at sport and shopping can help you live longer. Courtesy of the Sunday Times.

Oh Yes. At the end of the month, there was a wedding!

HRH Prince William of Wales married Catherine (Kate) Middleton at London’s glorious Westminster Abbey with all the pomp and ceremony for which the British are famed. Like clockwork, the day’s events occurred from the perfectly timed arrivals of the guests… royal and otherwise through to the impeccable fly past and the double kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. Now entitled the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, why not Prince William & Princess Catherine, the happy couple danced the night away with several hundred party guests before flying off the a secret weekend retreat in the morning.

Watched by an estimated two billion television viewers worldwide, the wedding of the decade surely lived up to the pre-hype.

The dress, the service, the music, the fashions, the crowds, the kisses and even the weather. But oh dear, some of those hats!!

… and around the world

The Middle East continues to erupt. Whilst the Syrian cabinet has resigned en masse, President Bashar al-Assad still orders his military to stamp out the people’s uprising by whatever means necessary and s0 the toll of murdered protesters rises.

Around the corner, the Libyan debacle continues with news of nightly NATO air strikes as well as the daily pushing and retreating of rebel forces leading our day by day news bulletins.

Belgium is about to be the second country in Europe to ban the wearing of the burqa – the Islamic face veil – in public. A Belgium government spokesman stated “The burqa is not a religious symbol; it’s a symbol of the subjugation of women, of the inequalities of which they are victims”

Japan’s Sony Corporation hit the headlines again. But not this time for the launch of some astounding new gadget but, for a huge lapse in their online security. Apparently, hackers have stolen personal details of some 77 million PlayStation online gamers... including credit card numbers and passwords. Nice one!

Portugal has now followed Ireland and Greece is securing an EU funded bailout. Some €80 billion was requested by acting Prime Minister Jose Socrates stating the loan ‘was in the national interest’.

Like a bad horror movie, America is aghast at the latest serial killings. Dubbed the Craigslist Killer, that’s the website where he sources his victims, the culprit has Long Island police on full alert after a string of prostitutes have been found murdered and dumped along the Ocean Parkway.

China’s most controversial artist, Ai Weiwei, has joined a growing list of intellectuals and activists arrested by the Beijing authorities this year. His recent ‘floor of seeds’ work at London’s Tate Modern art gallery is to be turned into a pyramid of support for the imprisoned artist when the current exhibition ends in early May.

My quote of the week: “For those of you concerned that we are unusual parents, don’t worry, it’s not like we are the only two people involved in the child’s life. His godmother is Lady Gaga”

John Mason

The Hotel Sage