Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: "Driving growth and creating jobs through the rejuvenation of London's high streets is at the heart of my mayoralty and the Portas pilot initiative is a fantastic way to help us achieve this.
"Through our regeneration drive we have already started reversing the decay of our high streets that had been allowed set in through long-term underinvestment.
"So I'm looking forward to receiving some innovative ideas which will help lead the way in steering London out of recession and get these vital economic centres booming again."
Source: www.itv.com
Steven Fletcher deserved to be axed from Scotland squad, says Chris Iwelumo - Daily Record
May 27 2012 By Gordon Waddell
chris iwelumo Image 1
CHRIS IWELUMO stood side by side with pal Steven Fletcher as he came on to make his home debut for Scotland.
But last night he backed boss Craig Levein for axing the Wolves striker – because he knows Scotland’s unity is their strength.
The Watford giant was back home last week learning the managerial ropes, arming himself with the tools to make the big decisions when he steps from dressing-room to dugout.
If he knows one thing already, though, it’s that there can be only one leader – and everyone has to follow.
The deeply patriotic 33-year-old said: “Everyone in the country would hope the manager and Fletcher can thrash things out. We all want our country to do well.
“Fletch is a fantastic player and a great lad as well.
“But I understand the manager’s view. Sometimes your hand can be forced.
“There’s no one more clued up about things like that than Craig. He will make his decisions and he’s the leader so we’ve all got to go along with it.
“He’ll have a direction he wants to take and will want people who have the same outlook. Even if you don’t agree with him you’ve got to be open to his ideas.
“I’d say fingers crossed that something can be done – but the bigger picture is Scotland being successful.
“If you’ve got a good united group you can move forward. We’ve all shown time and again that we’re a fearless bunch.
“The unity here has been the biggest thing I’ve noticed. That will take you further than any level of ability. I’m positive there are good times ahead.”
Fletcher’s issues with Scotland started the day he sent a text saying he didn’t want to be considered for the Carling Cup clash with Northern Ireland.
Iwelumo finds that inconceivable. The four-times capped frontman said: “I would never say never.
“Last year was probably my worst season in the Championship in terms of goals. I had good performances but I usually nick a lot more goals and for whatever reason that didn’t happen.
“And it’s goals that get you noticed. You’re only going to get in to the international squad if you’re on fire.
“My regret with Scotland is that I didn’t get in earlier. I got in to Scotland B when I went to Charlton.
“I then had three or four years before I was picked while at Wolves.
“If I’d got in early, done well, got my face known – then you never know.
“But I would never say no to Scotland, I would rather just fade away instead!” Mention Iwelumo’s name in a Scotland context, though, and only one thing leaps to mind for most. THE miss.
Called on as a sub with Fletcher by George Burley as a crucial clash with Norway lay deadlocked – a decision that ironically caused Kris Boyd to throw HIS toys from the international pram – the pair did well.
Iwelumo had scored eight goals in six games leading up to the match and netted seven in the 10 following it.
But when his big chance came from a couple of yards out?
He said: “That’s the thing with football isn’t it, that centimetre? Would life be different? I’ve thought about it often.
“At least I don’t scream about it any more. It’s funny, we did a psychology session on Tuesday and were asked what our best and worst moments were – and I put that in both boxes.
“Because it is. I played for my country at Hampden on my home debut, that’s the dream – then there’s the miss.
“The month after it was a low point for me. The goals kept on coming for my club. Before that Norway game I’d been scoring a lot and had a great week prior to the match.
“If you took the miss away my performance was perfect, it was just one of those things that wasn’t meant to be. Who knows what would have happened, even to the manager, if that shot went in? It’s the sliding doors thing but you can never tell what’s round the corner.”
Iwelumo hopes management is around the corner for him – but not too soon.
With Watford exercising a year’s option on him, he still has a part to play in the Championship.
Articulate and passionate, though, he’s a natural on the training ground.
And he credits his former boss Mick McCarthy with giving him the bug for the change. He said: “I’m still in the best shape of my life, still going strong.
“But when I went to Wolves I broke my foot on the first day of pre-season and was out for four months.
“I started watching matches, Mick was great, whatever way he wanted to play he’d ask my opinion on it.
“I’d have arguments and he shot me down most of the time but was always open to it and would explain it all to me.
“So I decided then to do my licence to see if it was for me. When you’re hitting 28-29 you have years ahead – but it was only when I had so much time out of football I began to think what comes after.
“However, I plan to keep going as long as I can.”
■ Iwelumo was speaking at the SFA’s A Licence coaching course at the sportscotland National Centre in Inverclyde.
The SFA provides education to thousands of coaches at all levels of the game every year.
Source: www.dailyrecord.co.uk
Lloyd's of London preparing for euro collapse - Daily Telegraph
A spokesman for Euler Hermes, Bettina Sattler, told Bloomberg: "The outcome of the new elections in June remains highly uncertain. Consequently, the situation is further deteriorating. The risk of Greece exiting the eurozone has been revived.
"In light of the recent developments, Euler Hermes will most probably have to switch to a more prudent approach. [We have] maintained a high level of cover for [our] customers until today. But now we are confronted with a changing situation."
Lloyd's fears are likely to be shared by a number of European businesses, which are watching developments in Greece.
On Saturday, Juergen Fitschen, co-chief executive of Deutsche Bank, described Greece as a "failed state" run by corrupt politicians.
"I'm quite worried about Europe," Mr Ward said in one of the first admissions by a major UK business leader of the scale of the crisis that would be prompted by a eurozone collapse.
"With all the concerns around the eurozone at the moment, we've got to be careful doing business in Europe and there are a lot of question marks over writing business in the future in euros.
"I don't think that if Greece exited the euro it would lead to the collapse of the eurozone, but what we need to do is prepare for that eventuality."
Mr Ward says Lloyd's had been working hard on contingency planning and had the capability to switch settlement of European underwriting from euros to other currencies.
"We've got multi-currency functionality and we would switch to multi-currency settlement if the Greeks abandoned the euro and started using the drachma again," he said.
Lloyd's has de-risked its asset portfolio in recent years, with investments split equally into cash, corporate bonds and government bonds, mostly in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. "We have de-risked the asset portfolio as much as possible," he said.
The contingency planning comes as German politicians piled the pressure on Greece ahead of elections on June 17.
A conservative member of German chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet said today Germany would not "pour money into a bottomless pit".
On Sunday, Swiss central bank chief Thomas Jordan admitted his country is drawing up an action plan in the event of the euro's collapse.
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Watford's mayor and MP to abseil off 170ft off Meriden high rise - Watford Observer
Watford's mayor and MP to abseil off 170ft off Meriden high rise
10:30am Sunday 27th May 2012 in News By Mike Wright
Watford’s directly elected mayor and MP have signed up to drop 170ft of a Meriden high-rise flat to raise money for the Peace Hospice in a charity abseil.
The event, planned for September, is being organised by Watford Community Housing Trust to mark its fifth birthday and aims to raise £50,000 for the Hospice.
Among other Watford dignitaries who will climbing off the edge of the 17-storey Munden View will be new Watford Borough Council Chairman Shirena Counter.
Mayor Thornhill said: "I'm pleased to help celebrate the Trust's fifth birthday and proud of the bold decision we took six years ago that meant that tenants could decide to have their own local housing trust, with all the extra investment this has brought.
“I can't pretend I'm not nervous about the abseil, but what better way to celebrate than helping to raise money for the Peace Hospice.”
In addition to the abseil, the trust’s staff will also be out and about in Meriden on September 10 doing work to improve the local community as part of the celebrations.
MP Richard Harrington said: “I am delighted to be supporting Watford Community Housing Trust as they celebrate their fifth anniversary."
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Source: www.watfordobserver.co.uk
Catalan Dragons survive London Broncos fightback - BBC News
Catalan fought off a spirited second-half comeback by London Broncos to move up to third in Super League.
First half scores from Lopini Paea, Leon Pryce (two) and Remi Casty, all converted by Scott Dureau, gave the French side a 24-0 half-time lead.
London came back after the interval and Antonio Kaufusi, Ben Bolger and Chad Randall crossed to give them hope.
But it was not to be for Broncos as Casty, Steve Menzies and Jamal Fakir all went over to secure victory.
London Broncos' Shane Rodney spills the ball
Broncos were looking for just their third Super League victory of the season and their first since hammering Wakefield 36-0 in March.
Despite being the first game on in the second day of the Magic Weekend programme, the match was attended by an encouragingly-sized crowd in the Etihad, as many fans arrived early to enjoy the excellent conditions.
The Perpignan side had run in seven tries in a comprehensive 36-18 victory in London last month but had to weather early pressure from the strugglers before taking the lead when Paea crashed over from close in following Dureau's neat hand off.
Before Broncos had a chance to recover they were further behind, Pryce waltzing past a static defence after Catalans had regained possession from a London error.
The two sides were separated by 16 points at kick off and it was becoming increasingly apparent why, prop Casty barging in after poor defence from an up and under by Pryce.
Pryce effectively put the game beyond Rob Powell's side after he finished between the posts following Steve Menzies' quick hands on Dureau's kick into space.
With the first attack of the second period, Kaufusi got London on the scoreboard, going over from close in from Chad Randall's pass.
Ian Henderson tackles London's Chris Melling
The arrears were further reduced soon after thanks to Bolger's score from Mark Bryant's good hands under pressure.
Improbably, Randall then dived over from dummy half, after Catalans had forward Jason Baitieri sin-binned for a late challenge on Craig Gower, and Shane Rodney kicked his third conversion to reduce the deficit to 24-18.
Powell's side, winless since the Challenge Cup victory over Batley on 29 April, were in the ascendency but, before they could mount a further attack to level the match, Casty powerfully forced his way across from the 10 to give Trent Robinson's side much needed breathing space once more.
That score changed the complexion of the game and veteran Menzies finished off despite being under heavy pressure from two Broncos players as the French side ran in their sixth try.
With the Broncos looking deflated it was Fakir who grabbed perhaps the best try of the day to round off the win, diving over after an incisive attack cut through the London backline.
Catalans' victory means they close the gap on current leaders Warrington to just one point, having played one game less.
VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Catalan Dragons coach Trent Robinson said:
"We defended well in the first half but we lost a bit of that in the second and that was disappointing.
"I thought that Jason Baitieri hit Gower late but I think it's a poor rule that it's an automatic sin bin. It was silly but not dangerous.
"Jamal Fakir has been in good form all season and it looks like a groin injury. How bad it is, I don't know.
"Our front row group were outstanding. I thought Scott Dureau and Leon Pryce played well but I always judge them slightly harder because of their ability."
London Broncos coach Rob Powell said:
"At 24-18 I really thought we had the chance to go on and win the game.
"It was disappointing to get caught out the way we did when we'd come back so well.
"At half-time we talked about pride and fighting back. We know Catalans are capable of putting 60 or 70 points up.
"We just need to keep working hard and keep believing in what we're trying to achieve here."
SUNDAY'S LINE-UPS
Catalan Dragons: Greenshields, Bosc, Duport, Pala, Stacul, Pryce, Dureau, Paea, Fisher, Casty, Menzies, Anderson, Baitieri.
Replacements: Raguin, Henderson, Simon, Fakir.
London Broncos: Robertson, Dixon, Caro, O'Callaghan, Channing, Sarginson, Gower, Kaufusi, Witt, Wheeldon, Rodney, Melling, Clubb.
Replacements: Randall, Lovell, Bryant, B. Bolger.
Referee: James Child (Dewsbury)
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
London 2012 - Sotherton retires from athletics - Yahoo! Eurosport
Kelly Sotherton has retired from athletics after conceding her ambitious bid to qualify for a third consecutive Olympic team was doomed to failure.
Sotherton won Olympic heptathlon bronze in 2004 but quit the multi-event discipline after Beijing to focus on the 400m.
After failing to make last year's World Championships she was dropped from lottery funding but the 35-year old claimed she was determined to still make the London 2012 Games after returning to heptathlon.
But she pulled out of her first competition for nearly four years in Italy earlier this month after breaking down during the fourth event, the 200m.
"I'm heartbroken if I'm honest but I'm looking forward to the new challenges that lie ahead," said Sotherton, who underwent surgery for back problems that have blighted her recent career last week.
"After losing my funding at the end of the 2011 season, having been forced to concentrate on the 400m for a year because of injury, I decided if I was going to do this myself then I would have one final shot at my first love - the heptathlon - and really go for the chance to compete at a home Olympics.
"Sadly it wasn't meant to be and the body didn't quite hold out long enough for me."
In addition to her Olympic bronze, Sotherton also won the Commonwealth Games title in 2006 and bronze at the World Championships in Osaka one year later. She finished fifth in Beijing but was later upgraded to fourth when Lyudmyla Blonska, the silver medallist, failed a doping test.
She was also successful indoors, winning world pentathlon silver in 2008 and finishing second at the European Indoor Championships in 2005 and 2007.
"I'm so proud to have represented my country and to have won an Olympic medal, among other accolades, and am grateful to all the support I have received over the years from those around me," she added.
"It's a really exciting time for sport in this country so I'm looking forward to enjoying it over the next few months."
Source: uk.eurosport.yahoo.com
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