That was 2011...in news

STUDYING journalism at University, it is essential to keep updated on the latest news around the world, no matter if it has any influence on you.  2011 has been one of the most dramatic news years in recent times, but sadly – there were a lot of dark forces and the stories don’t lie.  Natural disasters, media revelations, economic crisis, uprisings in a new world and man-made riots made it a fairly depressing year for many.

         The heart of Japan was ripped out in March by a devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit the country.  An 8.9 earthquake on the Richter scale; the most powerful in Japan’s history was followed by a 30ft tsunami which swept away everything in its path.  Cars, people, buildings stood absolutely no chance against Mother Nature’s deadly power.  Many thousands were killed and it is unlikely that the total death toll will ever be recorded, due to the sheer destruction.  It was a year when natural disasters sadly came right to the forefront again.  Flash flooding recently has claimed the lives of 500 people in the Philippines; Brazil was hit by massive landslides which left 15,000 homeless in January.  Australia had to bring in the military following widespread flooding in Queensland and Brisbane, which left at least 25 people dead and nearby neighbours New Zealand were left reeling by the earthquake in Christchurch in February which left over 100 dead.   

         Back at home and the media had its own cross examinations, in the form of a gulfing scandal.  The phone hacking scandal not only stained the reputation of the British print industry, but it has left it with a lot of damage to attempt recovery from.  Andy Coulson, who was David Cameron’s former press aide, was arrested and the chief executive of News International, Rebekah Brooks, eventually resigned from her tainted position.  The Murdoch’s faced severe interrogation from MPs over the actions of rogue journalists, which spelt the end for the News of the World newspaper in July.  The voicemails of murdered teen Milly Dowler were hacked into and many celebrities, including Hugh Grant, Sienna Miller and Andy Gray reported cases of their conversations being taped.  The Leveson enquiry into this summer’s distasteful events is being held at the moment, but the implications are still far reaching for the press sector of media.

         In America, the former doctor of Michael Jackson, Conrad Murray was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.  He has since been sentenced to four years in prison.  Meanwhile, student Amanda Knox was cleared on appeal on the murder of fellow British student Meredith Kercher in Perugia.  Knox had spent four years in jail, having been initially convicted in 2007.  

      America also said goodbye to the Space Shuttle, as Atlantis made its final mission in July.  Having been in service for 30 years, the reusable spacecraft has been retired after some success and devastating disasters in American space exploration history.  In Europe, an economic meltdown has seen the Euro on the brink of collapse.  Greece, Ireland and Portugal have asked for emergency bailouts and a recent EU treaty proposal was rejected by David Cameron, which has left Britain playing a dangerous game, but a correct game against Europe.  It has seen tensions rise in the coalition though.  The Liberal Democrats might be at war with the Conservatives with this, but they also lost the AV vote referendum and suffered severe losses in May’s local elections.  In 2010, Nick Clegg was on a crest on a wave, but now, he is among one of the most unpopular politicians ever to have walked in Downing Street!

        The springtime brought about a changing of the guard in the Arab world.  It started with the rebellion in Tunisia, which led to their president, Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali fleeing to Saudi Arabia.  Bahrain’s government also faced upheaval, but survived.  Hosni Mubarak wasn’t so lucky and after weeks of tense fighting and standoff in Cairo, he fled from his position as Egyptian president.  However, there is still great uncertainly about Egypt’s future direction.  Syria, Algeria and Saudi Arabia have also seen scenes of demonstrations in 2011, but it was Libya where the biggest change happened.  Colonel Gadaffi’s cruel regime finally came under stiff attack as world leaders called for him to depart graciously.  Gadaffi held on and declared war; Cameron, Barack Obama and Nicholas Sarkozy reacted and air strikes began on the country, with NATO been called in to help out.  After months of struggle, Gadaffi was captured and killed in September and a new dawn of promise and hope for Libyans might well be on, after years of torture and doom.     

          At the beginning of May, international terrorism came back into the headlines and the world became just a little bit safer.  Barack Obama confirmed the news that Osama Bin Laden was dead.  The Al-Qaeda figurehead was captured and shot dead by US troops in Pakistan; a decade after the search for him began following the September 11^th terrorist attacks.  Ten years on, it will never bring back those who died in the appalling mass murder in America; nor those who suffered in Bali, Istanbul and London in years gone by, but a sense of justice could now be felt.  Despite Bin Laden’s death, terrorism still remains at the forefront of our lives.  In July, Anders Behring Breivik blew up government offices in Oslo, Norway and then, dressed as a policeman, committed a shooting rampage on Utoya Island, where many youngsters were spending a summer holiday at camp.  Around 70 people were thought to have been killed in the two attacks.  More recently, a man threw explosives in Liege, Belgium.  Four died and the gunman took his own life after the four explosions rocked the city centre.    

         In April, Britain had a wonderful day, as millions watched in London and on TV the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.  It was a perfect day and put a lot of affection back into our hearts for the Royal Family.  The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as they are now officially known brought a tear to many people’s eyes to show that our country can really do something that we should be proud of.

     Four months later, the dark side really came to the force as the UK riots stunned us all.  The shooting of Mark Duggan in Tottenham began a chain of events within London and spread across many other areas of the UK on a miserable Monday evening in August.  Businesses were destroyed, damage estimated to be in the billions and the leadership seemed to be lacking from the coalition; all on holiday at the time the riots escalated.  Several people died and record arrests were made, as police struggled to control the loonies who were causing such destruction on our country.  The riots disgusted many and brought shame on a worldwide scale.  The cost is still being felt now. 

       One of the greatest geniuses died in October, as founder and visionary of Apple, Steve Jobs lost his battle against pancreatic cancer.  The world also said goodbye to singer Amy Winehouse, found dead in her London apartment in July.  Elizabeth Taylor, the renowned actress passed away from ill health in March, as did Coronation Street icon Betty Driver in October.  Sport also lost three heroes in Wales’s football manager Gary Speed, who took his own life, former heavyweight world champion Joe Frazier to cancer and double Indy 500 champion Dan Wheldon, killed in a horrific 15 car pile-up at the IndyCar season finale in Las Vegas. 

           2011 has been a year full of revelations, rebellion and change.  It has brought some cheer, some justice but also, a lot of devastation and uncertainly.  That was 2011….in news.

Mubarak finally departs - A new dawn for Egypt

MILLIONS of Egyptians were celebrating in the streets of Cairo last night, after embattled president Hosni Mubarak elected to leave his controlling position.  Mubarak hands over power with immediate effect to the military after 30 years as president of Egypt.  This follows almost a month of ugly protests, violent clashes and stand-off from many protestors, supporters of the beleaguered Mubarak and riot police.  During this, Cairo has been bought to a complete standstill.  Following the upheaval of the Tunisian government last month, and talk of rebellious change in places such as Algeria, Saudi Arabia and Jordan to come, the world and Africa especially has to deal with its biggest upheaval of change since 1989.

DELIRIUM: Egyptians celebrate the departure of Hosni Mubarak

Mubarak’s resignation was confirmed in a short speech on national television by the deputy leader Omar Suleiman, recently bought in by Mubarak to try and ease the crisis.  The speech also confirmed the move into control of the country by the army.  This came just 24 hours after Mubarak himself appeared on Egyptian television and announced that he was staying on until the elections in September, after there had been wide speculation that he would go straightaway.  Worldwide, the news has been greeted with positively from world powers.  Prime Minister David Cameron admitted that all he wants to see in Egypt is a ‘peaceful transition.’  Barack Obama, a stiff critic of Mubarak’s determination to hang onto power was delighted in a televised address he gave to his nation; “Egyptians have made it clear that nothing less than general democracy will carry the day.  The military will now have to ensure a transition that is credible in the eyes of the Egyptian people.”

Egyptian flags, often burnt in frustration during the three weeks of demonstrations, were waving high last night by dancing Egyptians, scenes that haven’t been seen worldwide since the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989.  This is momentous change for Egypt, especially as they have been governed by Mubarak for so long.  The rest of the Arab world will have been watching with great interest and wonder, ‘could we do the same.’ 

Last month, the uprising in Tunisia, which surprised many onlookers, saw the collapse of the long-standing government.  Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali has fled to Saudi Arabia, but unlike Egypt, it looks a very uncertain and insecure place at the moment.  Yemen is on the brink of civil war and political unrest.  Most of the government have already quit there, and their president has decided to step down in two years time after like Mubarak, more than three decades in power.  The hunger for change in these countries is spreading.  So much so, that the president of Syria, who has ruled for 40 years, has allowed the opening of social networking websites Twitter and Facebook.  In these extremes, that is not the smartest move he ever thought of.  

Back in Egypt, 82-year old Mubarak is believed by worldwide sources to have fled to the Red Sea, though his general whereabouts are unknown.  It is believed that Obama’s refusal to back him has left him feeling betrayed and might have been the final catalyst in his downfall.

The people of Tunisia and Egypt have managed to bring down two long-term governments to their knees in two short months.  Others may follow, and I’d expect that.  1989 saw Germany reunified, the Berlin Wall knocked down, Romania, Poland and Czechoslovakia overthrow their long-time dictators and the end of the Cold War.  This ultimately spelt the demise of Mikhail Gorbachev and the demise of the old Soviet Union.  If these recent events have anything to go by, there could be plenty more uprisings in the calendar year to come.  

However bored some may have been with this story, no-one can deny the impact that Hosni Mubarak’s departure is going to have on the world.  We must pay attention deeper than ever to this changing worldwide society.

Kiss Flights Demise Add To The Growing Travel Pain

Last week saw more misery for those passengers who wanted to get away before autumn sets in.  Kiss Flights became the third travel operator to go bust, following the after effects of the recession and the eruption of the Icelandic volcano back in April.

More than 70,000 people have been affected by the collapse of the travel operator last Tuesday, which specialised in sending travellers off to the Canary Islands, Egypt, Greece and Turkey.  Around 13,000 customers are abroad with the company, although all are set to return home under the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority).  However, delays maybe expected.  Refunds will be accepted for those who had booked flights with the doomed operator, though not for accommodation. 

The chief executive of Flight Options, the owner of Kiss Flights is devastated by the collapse, blaming the demise on late bookings, as well as the fallout from the volcanic ash disruption.  Kiss Flights catered for many of the same routes as the recently collapsed Goldtrail Holidays.  This means that some holidaymakers may be affected for a second time this summer.  Last Friday, Sun4u also collapsed, leaving 16,000 customers stuck abroad.  With these latest demises, I would expect more independent companies to go bust in the near future.

Although the Unite Union and BAA recently agreed a deal, preventing a potentially horrendous Bank Holiday strike which would have seen the shutdown of six British airports, including Stanstead and Heathrow, the aviation industry has taken a significant battering in 2010.  The effects from the Icelandic volcano are hitting hard and the fallout may only just be beginning for many in insecure jobs, and many more thousands of holidaymakers who must be feeling the pain.  

Changing of the Guard At Harrods As Al-Fayed Sells Up

Egyptian Mohamed Al-Fayed twenty-five reign of the department store Harrods came to an end on Saturday morning, as news filtered through of his decision to sell the chain, to the Qatar Royal Family’s investment company.  The deal, around £1.5billion will give Al-Fayed the chance to invest more time into Fulham football club, and the opportunity to spend more time with his family and grandchildren.

Although he will no longer be involved in the day-to-day running of the company, Al-Fayed will still promote the store in a new executive role of honorary chairman.  The deal also involves other areas of Harrods, such as the chartered airline and Harrods Estates.  Mohamed Al-Fayed bought the Harrods department store on Knightsbridge way back in 1985, in a successful takeover, costing some £615million.  His recent placing in the Sunday Times Rich List saw his earnings come in at around £650million.  His name has never really been out of the headlines, since the tragic death of his son, Dodi in the tragic car crash in Paris on August 31^st 1997, which also claimed the life of Diana, Princess of Wales.  Since then, Al-Fayed had waged a campaign, which has been lasting since 1997, claiming that Dodi and Diana were murdered as part of a conspiracy plot.  Despite living in Britain for over three decades, Mr. Al-Fayed has always been refuted a UK passport.  When Al-Fayed acquired control of Harrods in the 1980’s, he was also involved in a bitter dispute with late businessman Tiny Rowland, with allegations of tax evasion and stealing of essential documents in the control battle.

For Qatar Holding, the investment arm behind the Royal Family, the acquisition of Harrods is another note onto their increasing UK portfolio.  They failed in a lucrative takeover attempt of supermarket chain, Sainsbury’s three years ago.  However, they own significant stakes in the German manufacturer Volkswagen and Porsche.  Last October, they sold £1.4billion of their shares in Barclays Bank, and their assets are estimated at £40.5billion.  Harrods store was established in 1849 and over 15million shoppers are expected to pass through every year.  The store has 330 departments, ranging from electrical goods and toys, to luxurious coffee shops and restaurants.  The motto for the company is ‘Omnia Omnibus Ubique,’ – All Things for All People, Everywhere.

For Harrods, this is a clear changing of the guard and for Mohamed Al-Fayed, the end of a successful era at the helm.  However, with Qatar Holding firmly behind Harrods now, plus they have the ability to strengthen its financial clout with its new venture, this takeover should go through swiftly, without much, if any disruption at all for regular shoppers.

  

England 3-1 Egypt - More Positives for Fabio

Last night, England put aside the problems that have been washed up by the British media of recent weeks, with a decent second half performance, giving Fabio Capello more encouragement that his side can go all the way in South Africa this summer.

Despite this, the first half display against African Nations Cup holders Egypt was very flat and lacklustre.  It will have concerned the boss how many wayward passes were happening and the amount of time that the Egyptians were being allowed on the ball.  It will also be notified of Matthew Upson’s stumble and trip which led to Egypt’s opening goal from the Borussia Dortmund striker, Mohamed Zidan.  Although Zidan’s finish was cool and impressive, he shouldn’t have been allowed the chance to shoot in the first place.  The cover for Rio Ferdinand at the back is very worrying. 

For John Terry, last night was a step in the right direction.  He has received his criticisms and boo-boys and rightly so, and his mistakes at Chelsea of late have been repetitive and very costly.  He was booed by many on the team line-up, but those who continued during the national anthems and the game, were largely drowned out by cheers from the majority.  His performance wasn’t error-free, but it had far more conviction than the rest of the back four and he seemed to be the only one able to organize the mess around the team in the first 45 minutes.

England’s 500^th win in their history was sealed by an impressive 2^nd half display.  Substitutes Peter Crouch and Shaun-Wright Phillips were very impressive, surely having done enough now for their place on the plane to South Africa.  Tottenham striker Crouch, who has recently lost his place in the North London side, Roman Pavyluchenko helped himself to two more international goals.  In 38 appearances, the ex-Liverpool hitman now has an impressive 20 goals to his name – a staggering statistic.  Now, Emile Heskey cannot be considered as first choice alongside Wayne Rooney.  Wright-Phillips, considered by many as 4^th choice on the right-side of midfield, behind Aaron Lennon, David Beckham and Theo Walcott did his chances no harm at all, by setting up a goal and scoring one for himself.  James Milner once again gave a solid and committed performance when he came off the bench.  The Aston Villa playmaker is the most in-form English midfielder in the Premiership and his consistency has to put him in line for a place in Capello’s final cut.

So, who will miss out on the World Cup?  Both Glen Johnson and Ashley Cole face a race against time to be fit, whilst Joe Cole needs first team action desperately at Chelsea, otherwise he could be shock exclusion.  Once again, Walcott’s performance last night was dismal.  After a promising start, he faded badly and must have blown his chance now of playing in South Africa.  If I was Theo, I’d think about booking a summer holiday to the Bahamas, at least he will get a decent tan!

Last night’s 3-1 result was satisfactory and there were more positives than negatives.  After the trauma and scandal that has dogged English football in recent weeks, it was nice to see some much-needed unity last night.  South Africa is inching closer and Fabio Capello can lookback on last night at a job well done. 

See below for my 23-man prediction squad for the World Cup in 2010:

Robert Green, David James, Joe Hart, Glen Johnson, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Matthew Upson, Joleon Lescott, Ashley Cole, Leighton Baines, Aaron Lennon, David Beckham, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Michael Carrick, Gareth Barry, James Milner, Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch, Carlton Cole, Gabriel Agbonlahor