Nordwave Great Britain

The pound slumped to a new all-time low against the euro on Monday, edging towards parity, as the escalating violence in Gaza dominated markets, dealers said.

At 16:54 GMT, sterling was worth 1.0251 euros, down from 1.0407 at Friday’s close, while it stood at 1.4586 dollars, down from 1.4657 over the same period.

“The developments in the Middle East are likely to keep fuelling the euro at least for a day or two,” Yuji Saito, head of foreign exchange at French financial giant Societe Generale, told Dow Jones Newswires.

“The euro will probably touch parity with sterling in two weeks,” Saito added.

Sterling has hit a series of record lows versus the euro over the past month on expectations that the Bank of England will continue to slash interest rates amid gloomy economic data from Britain.

Meanwhile, London’s FTSE 100 index of leading shares ended up 2.4 percent at 4319.35, albeit with light holiday season volumes.

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), topped the blue chip risers, up 6 pence — or 14.1 percent — at 48.7, amid speculation that the bank is still in discussions with suitors over the disposal of its insurance business.

International banking group Standard Chartered was the second best performer, gaining 54 pence — or 7.15 percent — at 809.

Property group Liberty International was the day’s biggest faller, down 30 pence — or 6.05 percent — at 469.75, followed by fellow property developer Hammerson, which slipped 30.5 pence — or 5.47 percent — at 527.5.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081229/wl_uk_afp/forexbritain;_ylt=AgHt53B8IEqdgjkwZ6EEKPB0bBAF

The Mini is justifiably famous for its tight handling and ability to negotiate the smallest of spaces. But even the man who dreamed it up, the late Sir Alec Issigonis, might have been surprised to hear it will soon be making its way through the nation’s letterboxes. Concorde and the miniskirt will be following suit.

The three very different icons are to feature in a new set of stamps celebrating British design classics that will go on sale next month, it was announced today. As well as the Mini, the supersonic passenger airliner and the skirt that defined the 1960s, the set will also feature Sir Giles Gilbert Scott’s K2 telephone box and Harry Beck’s London Underground map. The Royal Mail said the first 10 stamps would be on sale from 13 January and would be followed by a different set every month throughout the year.

June will feature a different class of design classics going on sale when the Royal Mail releases a set of mythical creatures stamps, including mermaids, while the 150th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s book On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection will be marked with stamps out on 12 February.

In January Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns, will be commemorated in stamps to coincide with Burns Night and mark what would have been his 250th birthday. Wales will be celebrated a month later, followed, in March, by the pioneers of the industrial revolution, among them George Stephenson. In April the House of Tudor will be commemorated. while a month later endangered plants will get their turn.

Postboxes, the unsung heroes of the mail system, will feature in August, while the uniforms of the fire service and the Royal Navy will get an airing in September.

“Special stamps mark unique moments, great anniversaries and vital cultural themes,” said Julietta Edgar, the head of special stamps at the Royal Mail. “Next year’s programme will take stamps further than before with a unique collection of fascinating images and subjects. For many stamps are seen as one-inch square works of art, and we are confident that the 2009 stamp programme will live up to our customers’ expectations.”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/dec/29/mail-stamps-design-british

 Israel has launched a third day of air strikes on Gaza as the death toll from the wave attacks passed the 300 mark.

More than 300 bombing raids since Saturday have wreaked devastation, killing 315 people including civilians and children.

Most of those killed are reported to be members of Hamas security forces but the United Nations agency responsible for Palestinian refugees said at least 51 of the dead were civilians.

The attacks have left more than 1,400 wounded, overwhelming hospitals and exacerbating shortages of fuel, food and medicines.

Israel’s Cabinet has now approved a call-up of 6,500 reserve soldiers in apparent preparation for a ground offensive.

The country has also doubled the number of troops on the Gaza border since Saturday and also deployed an artillery battery.

It is not clear, however, whether the deployment is meant to pressure Hamas or part of a planned ground assault.

Israel has insisted it will keep up the assault until militants stop launching rockets, with defence minister Ehud Barack warning ominously that “the time has come to fight” and signalling willingness to put “boots on the ground”.

Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said: “What Israel is doing deserves the strongest condemnation of the international community.

“At the end of the day you don’t solve such problems with military means and such large-scale attacks have led to the killing of 300 people, 1,000 wounded, the total destruction of infrastructure.

“This will add to the complexity, this will enlarge the cycle of violence and counter-violence and this will really undermine the peace process, or what is left of it.”

Britain has joined international calls for an immediate halt to the violence in the region.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband said an “urgent ceasefire” was needed to stop “massive loss of life” in the territory.

He insisted that Tel Aviv must abide by its “humanitarian obligations” and Prime Minister Gordon Brown shared his “grave concern” over the situation.

“The Prime Minister and I are following developments in Gaza with grave concern,” said Mr Miliband.

“The rise in rocket attacks on Israel since December 19, and yesterday’s massive loss of life, make this a dangerous moment which should be of concern to the whole of the international community. The UK supports an urgent ceasefire and immediate halt to all violence.”

According to the BBC, Ms Smith said some people were obtaining fake passports from neighbouring countries where, unlike Zimbabwe, citizens do not need UK entry visas.

Cholera has already killed 800 and affected 16,000 people in Zimbabwe, according to the United Nations.

In Angola, some 10,000 people have been hit, with 229 deaths, while Mozambique has more than 8,000 registered cases and 93 deaths.

In the past two weeks, volunteers have reached more than 11,000 people with health and hygiene information.

“Prevention is based on basic hygiene such as washing your hands after using the bathroom.

“It’s an awful illness. You can lose 10% of the water in your body every hour. 

“Within six hours you’re chronically dehydrated and, within a day, you can die.”

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Zimbabwe-Cholera-May-Spur-UK-Influx-Outbreak-Kills-800-And-Affects-16000/Article/200812215177904?f=rss

The cast of VALKYRIE lightened the mood on the set of the World War II by abusing Nazi memorabilia and mocking ADOLF HITLER.

Stars Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Wilkinson and Bill Nighy, were forced to spend hours at a time dressed in Nazi and surrounded by props from the Third Reich – while shooting the movie about a plot to kill Hitler The experience was so mentally tough, the actors relieved tension by dishonouring the dictator.

Nighy reveal, “If you are in a Nazi uniform, you’re tempted to do stupid and disgusting things in it, to dishonour Nazis as much as you can.” He adds that a bust of the Fuhrer became a particular target: “I would spit in his eye, and everyone would give him the middle finger and a few choice words as they walked by.”

http://www.enationalist.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21274

A Christmas Day message of peace and goodwill from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran must be “treated very carefully”, Jewish groups have said.

The speech by the hardline leader whose anti-Western rhetoric and views on Israel have strained international relations with the country, will be broadcast by Channel 4. The Alternative Christmas Message is not scheduled at the same time as the Queen’s Speech on BBC and ITV as in previous years but will go out at 7.15pm.

The president uses the message to express his wish for a peaceful New Year and greater spirituality among governments, leaders and society as a whole.

Speaking in Farsi with English subtitles he will say: “Upon the anniversary of the birth of Jesus, Son of Mary, the Word of God, the Messenger of mercy, I would like to congratulate the followers of Abrahamic faiths, especially the followers of Jesus Christ, and the people of Britain.”

He will add: “Jesus, the Son of Mary, is the standard bearer of justice, of love for our fellow human beings, of the fight against tyranny, discrimination and injustice. All the problems that have bedevilled humanity throughout the ages came about because humanity followed an evil path and disregarded the message of the Prophets.

“If Christ were on earth today, undoubtedly He would stand with the people in opposition to bullying, ill-tempered and expansionist powers. If Christ were on earth today, undoubtedly He would hoist the banner of justice and love for humanity to oppose warmongers, occupiers, terrorists and bullies the world over.

“If Christ were on earth today, undoubtedly He would fight against the tyrannical policies of prevailing global economic and political systems, as He did in His lifetime.”

He will conclude by saying: “I pray for the New Year to be a year of happiness, prosperity, peace and brotherhood for humanity. I wish you every success and happiness.”

Stephen Smith, director of the Holocaust Centre, said the message should be treated with caution. President Ahmadinejad’s views on the state of Israel and his claims that the Holocaust is a “myth” have angered Jewish groups.

Mr Smith said: “I think this benign message is deceptive. People need to be alert to the fact that this is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Many of his political and historical views are very dangerous and do not uphold the views in his message.”

As Sweden opens its borders to a new wave of labour migration, the country is becoming more diverse than ever before, writes Olle Wästberg, director-general of the Swedish Institute.

Saffron and dates have long been part of the Swedish Christmas food tradition. But nowadays many families in Sweden can be found mixing their dates and saffron with meze and bulgur, rather than the usual lutefisk, herring and ham.

In December, Sweden’s major supermarkets and food stores stock plenty of Christmas alternatives for people rooted in food traditions other than the typically Swedish. This mirrors a new Sweden.

Formally, the Evangelical Lutheran Swedish Church is the biggest religion in Sweden, even though most of its members are religiously indifferent. This is probably not the case with most of the 250,000 Muslims or the 35,000 Syrian Orthodox.

The different religions sometimes meet and create new Christmas traditions. In the Stockholm suburb of Fisksätra, Lutherans and Muslims – who last year held joint ceremonies – now have a crib together.

To many Swedes, Christmas is more of a food and family gathering than a religious holiday. But Swedes really have different backgrounds. Every third newborn Swede has at least one parent or grandparent born in another country.

http://www.thelocal.se/16394/