- Anne Hunt -

Why should this very natural state of being be so difficult and therefore, unrewarding to both parent and child?

The UK's Spoilt Children - yet

possibly the Worlds unhappiest

Bringing up children seems pretty straight forward, and yet parents - who are at such pains to - 'do the right thing,' get it, 'oh so wrong!'  By seeing that their children don't go without and giving into their whims and tantrums just because it 'keeps the peace' and maintains that status quo in the household, goes against the grain of previous, staunch generations who would rise up in their graves in protest if they got wind of what was going on out there in 'Reality TV Land.'

Parents have always wanted to give their children everything they didn't have when they were young, innocent and still rather stupid, but they are forgetting to follow the golden rule - 'Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child.' Not something to be taken literally, of course, but a firm 'no' or at least a good talking to would do
both parent and child a world of good. So, why is it all so difficult, and why does  UNICEF think British parents have got it, 'oh so wrong' and their European  cousins have got it, 'oh so right?'

Firstly, the one thing that parents - going way back throughout the generations - did very well, and it is the thing that is now missing in Britain today, but is all so easy and involves alot of common sense - but true - time and energy, is to listen, talk and involve themselves with one's child, nurturing them into adulthood instead of indulging them into socially inadequate misfit status with the latest gadget or fashion label simply because their peer group and Reality TV show tells them to. Is it so difficult to be part of a teenager's life that you carried for nine months in the womb? Or is it the case of thinking that the hard part is done and dusted? British children are bringing themselves up these days and no wonder. They have it all laid out. Their own room, all well equipped with the latest 'stuff' - no need to even be part of the main family home. They have their own large screen TV, computer and game sole unit and if possible a compact refrigerator when one gets peckish. And, room enough to invite a few friends around when one gets bored. Mum and Dad are there to pay the bills and to see that one's stock of Coke and Crisps are refreshed and easy to get at. Communication around the family dinner table? There's no family dinner table!

the world of the Taliban who supported Bin Laden and his al Qaeda followers. The group's leader Osama bin Laden shot immediately to number one on the World's Most Wanted List. Although many countries after the 9/11 attrocities strengthened their anti-terrorism legislation and expanded their law enforcement powers, there have been similar attacks since, on much smaller scales perhaps, but still as devasting to the victims and their familes. It is ironic that ten years after the Twin Towers catastrophy Bin Laden was located and killed.

The National September 11 Memorial & Museum opened on September 11, 2011. A tremendously poignant time for all.

With the deadline for continued attacks on the Gaddafi  stronghold of Sirte looming after a ceasefire has been in place for the past week, and with the hope that the town - full of pro-Gaddafi supporters - will lay down their arms and surrender, their defiant leader continues to stand strong, giving orders and issuing threats from the wings.

Although anti-Gaddafi soldiers are still keen to get their man, leaving no doubt that all claims to Libya belong to the  Libyans  themselves there are still pockets of resistance with a split evolving between local communities and the pro-Gaddafi hardliners. In two televised messages broadcasted on Syrian Arrai news channel, co-inciding with the 42nd anniversary of the massive coup that innitially brought Colonel Muammar Gaddafi to power. His hard line rhetoric warning his detractors that his troops would keep fighting to the end, so prepare for a long drawn out Guerrilla War. "Get ready to fight the occupation."

"Get ready for a long war imposed on us," Gaddafi ordered in his broadcast to the nation.

As well as Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte, anti-Gaddafi fighters are also prepared to lay claim to the towns of Sabha and Bani Walid, both of which have been subject to the very same deadline to surrender. All three towns are mostly under the control of forces loyal to the ousted leader and all are places where Gaddafi and his remaining sons could be hiding out in after fleeing from Tripoli.

If jubilation is anything to go by, from the scale of raptuous celebrations of Libyans who clambered through the streets of Tripoli, marking the toppling of their ousted tyrant for a leader - defacing any remaining memory that exists of Gaddafi's regime and looting anything of worth or with historical significance.

World leaders have agreed to keep up Nato attacks in support of anti-Gaddafi forces, with the hope that it will bring some finale to over six months worth of conflict that has seen much death and destruction.

Prime Minister David Cameron said the Nato operation would continue for "as long we are needed to protect civilian life".

departure from this life. We all know that everyone grieves and shows joy in their own way, however, we have all now become familiar to living life through everyone elses' 'rear window' - Big Brother has seen to that - and therefore, we expect emotions to be shared, out loud for all to see.

From the cold, hard glare of Kate McCann and Lindy Chamberlain over the tragic loss of a child, to the previous downward blank gaze of our much respected Queen, we now expect much more and she has delighted us with this renewed personable image.

The Royal family are known for their intelligent high spirits and jubilant self deprecation. We want to be part of this human element, it is endearing. Long may our Queen reign and long may this change of tact remain.

nature of the Obamas and their ability to mingle with the top echelon in society and the poor alike with an awe inspiring effortlessness that has helped to make this happen.

Kate McCann said recently from the serialised pages of her book; Madeleine, that at one point she was the most hated person in Britain. The same can be said about Lindy Chamberlain, the Australian woman who was grossly accused and wrongly convicted for the disappearance and death of her baby Azaria in 1980 although she swore that the baby was taken by a dingo.

The Queen herself was criticised for her inability to show some personality and public tenderness over the horrific death of Princess Diana. The people and media were in earnest about their own desirous need for some guidance as to how to emotionally absorb her abrupt

Is it my imagination, or has the Royal household had a 'Right Royal Shakeup!' And starting, I might ad, at the very top.

The Queen, as lovely as she is, has been smiling from ear to ear all year long, even if one of her sons - the one fourth in line to the throne, with a mis-fit for an ex-wife - was rather wayward in his attemps to keep his own home fires burning. Not quite cricket at all, but then again, he may not even play the game.

However, whether the bad press has given The Establishment a 'bustle' on, one can only guess, but the reversal of form and absolute transformation from stade to sassy and suave that has been seeping out of the resolute walls of Buckingham Palace  these last few months is not only extraordinary, but positively

Royal Pomp and Pageantry unites the country and shows the 'non-believers' how it is done!

- Anne Hunt -

One Million turned out to grace the London  streets with their flag waving presence, giving a surreal feeling of, deja vu. Yes, 30 years ago, give or take a couple of months to the day, a very similar event unfolded to the minions, when Prince Charles and Princess Diana hoisted themselves upon an ornate horse drawn carriage just as their son Prince William did, except by all accounts, the love he shares with his bride is real.

Back in 1981 it was also a spectacle to behold, but now of course we live in a very different era, 24 hr Global Television Networks most in High Definition.

Internet news beamed minute second to second with pictures and data so no-one misses out. From Twitters to Face-book, social messages gone crazy.

If one was looking for an event, then certainly look
no further than the Royal Wedding of the new Millenium.

While there has been those detractors, protestors and cynics wondering why on earth anyone should bother to watch, let alone celebrate, the union of a seemingly 'privileged' couple or of a family whose resplendent distinction which has often been sullied by adultery, divorce, disparaging innuendo and even video tapes highlighting a shady side, one has to agree, whenever they do something, they do it well.

No-one puts on a better show. Even Hollywood would have to agree!

- James Hubbard -

I recall when I was at University one of
my professors said, " You may all be Socialists and angry young people until
many of you are successful and Professionals pulling in more money than I will ever see and then you will go fromSocialism, or Communist sympathizers and moratoriums and protests to Capitalism in one very gigantic step.

Then you will have another, much bigger problem. With all the money you may and can earn, you will then be worrying how to hang on to it. That is even harder than making it. Many will look for secure investments, some of you may end up as Traders in the City of London and learn that banking offshore will be the only sure way of paying less tax. Thus, keeping the hard earned fortune you feel you deserved for your efforts. You will have choices and they will lie with you at the time."Sir Philip Green turned into an entrepreneur. A successful one. He controls a number of Retail chains and conglomerates with his wife, Tina, The Arcadia Group. He resides in Monaco, avoiding having to pay £285 M in Tax.

Although he employs over 45 thousand British People, he stands accused of Tax avoidance.

I love Monaco, so I can't say I would not choose his route, if I was ever that successful, because that is not going to happen. But, I doubt Sir Philip Green will give up his lifestyle or be forced to do it by protestors. The law is going to protect his interests, even if none of you agree with the way he has chosen to 'protect' what he has. Only legislation can do that. And, as the law is an asse, then....well, you choose how you judge the man.

GEERT WILDERS aquitted of inciting hatred - Amsterdam

- Sam Watts-

A jubilant Geert Wilders - the famously evocative 'Freedom Fighter for Freedom of Speech' - has been acquitted and cleared of all charges relating to inciting hatred, with what was seen to many Muslims as being anti-Islam protestations. His name has now been cleared by a A Dutch court who had ordered a retrial for the anti-Islam lawmaker whose remarks, included some equating Islam with fascism and violence and others calling for a ban on the Quran and a tax on Muslim headscarves.

His original trial saw Wilders accusing judges at the Amsterdam District Court of bias and called for their dismissal after they refused to recall a defense witness who wrote on a weblog that a member of an appeals panel directly involved in the case had improperly contacted him. A hastily convened substitute panel ruled that Wilders' objections were valid, which meant the trial that originally began in January had to restart from the beginning with new judges. Wilders welcomed that decision saying in an e-mail to The Associated Press, "This gives me a new chance on a new fair trial." "I am confident that I can only be acquitted because I have broken no law but spoke the truth and nothing but the truth and exercised my freedom of speech in an important public debate about the dangerous totalitarian ideology called Islam.The outspoken Dutch MP who now holds the balance of power in the Netherlands by lending parliamentary support to the minority government, and who last year released a film.

Slow moving events are seldom news

- Roger Alison -

The splashy media world of 'round-the-clock disaster' does not lend itself to footage of people standing around and waiting. High speed chases, dramatic events, anything that lends itself to the phrase "caught on tape" – that's the stuff that gets eyeballs tuning in.

So what happens when two of the most wrenching stories of the year thus far have been the ones that have unfolded at an agonizingly
suspenseful pace? First, there was
the BP Gulf disaster, which kicked off
 with a fiery explosion in April, but
developed over the last several months
into an untelegenic saga of containment
and cleanup.

More recently, there's
 been the incredible story of 33 Chilean 
miners, who were trapped underground since August 5 – The rescue was an anti-climax
compared to the daily anticipation of whether
they would emerge safely or not.
The cliff-hanger ending!

- Ange Sing -

Japan's prime minister urged China to act as a "responsible" member of the international community Friday and raised concern over its expanding maritime activity in Asia, including in disputed waters where a ship collision ignited a bitter diplomatic feud.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan's comments came after three Japanese held by China for allegedly entering a restricted military zone returned home Friday -- a sign that tension between the two Asian giants was easing somewhat.

Still, Kan took a serious tone in his first major policy speech to parliament since surviving a leadership challenge last month, stressing the need for Japan to adopt a more "active" diplomacy and defense policy that can deal with "uncertainty and instability that exists in areas surrounding our country."

British Treasury comes to Ireland's rescue

- Anne Hunt -

British treasury chief George Osborne has vowed to help Ireland out of its financial rut if needed and says it is in "Britain's national interest" that Dublin overcomes its budget woes.

Osborne joined the finance ministers of the Eurozone who had already vowed to stabilize the banks at the center of Ireland's financial crisis and keep it from spreading to other fragile euro-linked economies.

Britain is not part of the 16-nation eurozone but is part of the wider 27-country EU.

Osbourne has since stated the UK will also direcly lend billions to Ireland separately - approx 7 Billion, because not only are they neighbours, but it's in Britain's National interests to keep what one can describe as the fourth largest trader going, let alone the strong banking connections. Monetary Affairs Commissioner, Olli Rehn called it "natural" that Britain would offer help because of the robust banking and financial ties between the two nations.

Since Osbourne made that statement, Ireland's Prime Minister has been pressed to stand down by many of his own party. Like Gordon Brown however, Mr Cowen has a stubborn streak and does not want to be ushered into the wings.

Despite the discontent, Cowen's Cabinet colleagues in the Fianna Fail party said they were confident the rebels have too few votes to pursue a no-confidence motion against Cowen.

Abandoned major airport CYPRUS

-Stacey Mead-

Germany and France. Loggerheads over Gypsies.

-Alan White-

Has for decades stood as a stark symbol of conflict on war-divided Cyprus was briefly re-opened to the media on Tuesday ahead of the International Day of Peace on Sept. 21.

The din of passenger traffic has long been supplanted by the flutter of pigeons in the cavernous atrium of Nicosia's abandoned airport.

Shards of glass from shattered skylights and window panes litter the floors while a blanket of dust smothers departure lounge seats and passport control booths. Cafes, gift shops and offices stand empty.

Very few people have set foot inside since the airport shut down in 1974 when a coup by supporters of union with Greece prompted Turkey to invade and split the island into a breakaway Turkish-speaking north and an internationally recognized Greek-speaking south.

Germany sought to downplay a diplomatic incident involving French President Nicolas Sarkozy as the debate over his campaign to clear out illegal migrant camps reverberated across the European Union.

Sarkozy's attempts to defend his nation's policy against international complaints that France is being racist and unfairly targeting Gypsies threw a European Union summit into an uproar.

Sarkozy then asserted to reporters that Chancellor Angela Merkel had told him that Germany was on the verge of similar action.

Merkel's office was quick to deny that she told Sarkozy anything of the kind, but refused to be drawn on what the chancellor thought of the situation or what might have been behind Sarkozy's comments.

Chavez in Parliamentary shock

-Anne Hunt-

Israeli Police move in to stop violence

-Jan Mosse -

CARACAS, Venezuela—Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez suffered a major political blow in congressional elections, losing the ability to pass new laws at will after opposition candidates banded together.

Mr. Chávez still enjoys a congressional majority after winning at least 95 of the 165 seats. But opposition candidates won at least 59 seats, enough to strip Mr. Chávez of a two-thirds majority—the threshold needed to pass sweeping legislation in the congress. More importantly, the opposition says it won 52% of the popular vote which will give them momentum going into the 2012 presidential elections. "We are the majority," said Ramón Guillermo Aveledo, an opposition director.

Aristóbulo Istúriz, campaign chief for the socialist PSUV party, declared the results a victory. "We went for two-thirds and weren't able to reach it," he said. "But we're the majority." But there was little joy at party headquarters, which shut its doors early as the vote count dragged on into the early hours of the morning.

Israeli police forces stormed a disputed Jerusalem holy site to stop Palestinian rioters from throwing stones at Jewish worshippers.

Police briefly moved onto the hilltop compound known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and took up positions.

The site is the most explosive in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and in the past, even seemingly minor incidents, have ignited clashes and protests throughout the region.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld says the stone throwers fled into the Al Aqsa Mosque, and after the situation quieted, riot forces pulled back.
Palestinian youths have been clashing with police throughout the day following the deadly shooting of a Palestinian man by an Israeli security guard.