Baby boy for Britain's Prince William & and Kate

London: Duchess of Cambridge Kate gave birth to a boy Monday evening, palace officials said. The baby, weighing 3.8 kg, was born at 4.24 p.m., Xinhua cited sources with the Kensington Palace as saying. Already more than a week past her due date, the 31-year-old Kate was taken to the St. Mary's Hospital in Paddington around 6 a.m. Monday. Her husband Prince William was with her during the delivery. The baby is now third in line to the British throne. This is the first time in 119 years that there have been three generations waiting in succession to the throne. "Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well and will remain in hospital overnight," said the palace in a statement. A Buckingham Palace spokesman said the queen and Duke of Edinburgh are delighted at the news that Kate has given birth to a son. The Prince 

of Wales said he was "enormously proud and happy to be a grandfather for the first time", and added that it was "an incredibly special moment for William and Catherine". Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, British Prime Minister David Cameron described the birth as "an important moment in the life of our nation". "It has been a remarkable few years for our royal family - a royal wedding that captured people's hearts, that extraordinary and magnificent jubilee and now this royal birth - all from a family that has given this nation so much incredible service," he said. As a tradition, an official notice of birth has been placed outside the Buckingham Palace. Outside St. Mary's Hospital many royal fans had camped for two weeks along with photographers from around the world. They waved national flags and sang "Happy Birthday to You" aloud for the new royal baby. Terry Hutt, a 78-year-old from Cambridge camped for 12 days. "This is my longest experience to camp," he said. "But it is lovely to be around. I am glad to see it is a healthy baby." Teba Diatta, 31, made a cake for the occasion, on which she wrote: "Come on Kate, we can't wait. Give us something to celebrate." She told Xinhua she made the cake just for fun, which she shared with reporters later. "It is not easy for them," she said. Even tourists jo ned in the revelry. Miriam, a 62-year-old from Italy, said: "I am travelling in London while my sister told me 'Kate is in labour'. So I came here immediately." When she realised that she left her camera in the hotel, Miriam bought a disposable one. "I will make a special album for the royal baby," she beamed. There will be a 41-gun salute at London's Hyde Park and 62 rounds fired at the Tower of London later Tuesday to herald news of the birth. Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, was born in the same hospital in 1982, as well as his brother Prince Harry. William and Kate held a spectacular wedding at Westminster Abbey in April 2011. Kate was confirmed as pregnant last December. Source: News-Bullet

Read More........ → July 24, 2013

Shades of John Major as the Prime Minister attempts to escape Tory eurosceptics

DAVID CAMERON gets to play the world statesman over the next few days and leave his troubles over UKIP and Nigel Farage far behind. He will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, before travelling to the States for talks with President Barack Obama. He has been given the global platform because Britain holds the current presidency of the G8 of the world's top industrialised countries and he is using it for a spot of high-flying diplomacy over Syria. It couldn't come at a better moment for Cameron, who is beginning to look more like John Major embattled by his own eurosceptics. Cameron will be glad of his three days in America, celebrating Britain's "essential" relationship with the US, and banqueting with the Obamas. But The Mole has a word of warning for Cameron, as he sips Californian wine and picks at the soft-shell New England crab. John Major was never able to leave his troubles over Europe
at home. It was during a trip to Japan that the former PM, frustrated by the Tory eurosceptics, coined the phrase "the flapping of white coats" to describe one of his own maverick MPs and confessed in an unguarded moment that the eurosceptics were "barmy". Cameron can lord it all he likes on the world stage, but the travelling press pack will soon grow bored with asking him about his ideas for bringing peace to Syria (fat chance). They will want to ask him about Nadine 'Mad Nad' Dorries who, having got back the Tory whip as predicted here, is ready to join the rebels on Wednesday night. They intend to vote for an amendment to the Queen's Speech to register their protest that the legislative programme contained not a word on a referendum on pulling out of the EU. Like Major, Cameron risks seeing his party split down the middle over Europe - unless he shows firm leadership. As he trots across the world stage, the press will be looking carefully to see whether – like Major – he's started wearing his underpants over his shirt. Source: The Week UK

Read More........ → May 11, 2013

Cameron announces same-day visa for Indian businessmen

Mumbai, Feb 18: Britain will introduce same-day visa service for Indian businessmen wanting to invest there, Prime Minister David Cameron announced Monday as he sought a “special relationship” between the two countries, saying it is about the future for which sky is the limit. Cameron, who landed this morning in the country’s financial capital, his first port of call, during his second visit to the country in less than three years after assuming office, also announced his country would introduce a same-day visa service for businessmen, in an effort to encourage Indian businesses to invest in Britain. “We have the biggest visa operations anywhere else in the world right here in India. I announce that we are going to introduce for businesses a same-day visa service to those who want to come to our country and invest…,” Cameron told India Inc at Hotel Taj, the country’s hospitality icon. Cameron is accompanied by the largest-ever business delegation to have left the British shores, as part of efforts to bolster economic ties with India. “I am heading the biggest-ever business delegation to leave British shores. India’s rise is going to be one of the great phenomena of the century and it is incredibly impressive to see the vibrancy of your democracy, the great strength of your diversity and the enormous power of your economy that is going to be one of the top three economies by 2030,” Cameron said. He said if a student got a job he could stay and work in the United Kingdom and there was no limit on the length of time for that. The British premier wanted the trade barriers restricting newer opportunities in bilateral economic cooperation to be brought down. “Britain is looking to take down the (trade) barriers …we want the Indian Government to continue to open up trade and make it easier to do business here…We have to make sure that just as we welcome Indian investments into Britain, it is easier for British companies like banking, retail etc to invest in this vibrant and fast growing economy,” he said. The British premier also said there were great opportunities for Indian companies to invest in Britain. “When I see Indian investment into Britian, I only see hope…investment like Jaguar and Land Rover, which is a massive international success story…We welcome that sort of investments,” Cameron said, adding his country seeks to be the most investor-friendly market. While seeking greater cooperation between the two countries across various spheres, Cameron said,” I am bringing with me the premier league, top universities, museums – we want to tie up in so many different ways with your culture, your companies, your businesses, your people.” Noting Britain had 1.5 million people of Indian origin which strengthened the ties between the two countries, he said the over 100-member delegation accompanying him comprised representatives of businesses and parliamentarians having roots in India. PTI, Source: Orissa Post

Read More........ → February 19, 2013