Day: November 5, 2011

Film

Ridley Scott to Direct Blade Runner Sequel.

News of the Blade Runner sequel was greeted joyously by fans of the cyberpunk/noir 1980’s film and now comes word that Ridley Scott, director of the first film as well as the classic 1979 horror science fiction thriller Alien, will return to direct the sequel. Scott revealed in an interview that the film will be a […]

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Television

Downton Abbey to Return for Third Series.

As this blog has been viewing the ITV drama, Downton Abbey, for some time now it has come as pleasant news that the series has been renewed for a third by ITV. Downton Abbey has recently found success here in the U.S. and the first series is currently shown on the PBS network. The Edwardian […]

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News

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Peter Fuller Relieved of Duty in Afghanistan Following Disparaging Remarks about Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Maj. Gen. Peter Fuller, the number two general in charge of training in Afghanistan, has been dismissed by his commanding officer following disparaging remarks made during an interview with website Politico about Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Of note is Maj. Gen. Fuller’s comments regarding Afghanistan’s intimations that it would support Pakistan in a war against […]

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News

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou Comes from Prominent Political Family.

Greece and its Prime Minister, George Papandreou, have been at the center of the debt crisis wracking the eurozone since its beginning. In many ways, Papandreou has become the target of scorn for both Europeans and frustrated Greeks and, after narrowly surviving a confidence vote this past Friday, it is any wonder he thinks himself […]

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News

Italy’s Ruling Coalition Close to Disintegration.

Almost in lock step with the Greek crisis comes the spread of panic to its heavily indebted eurozone neighbor, Italy. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s coalition government has reportedly rebelled against him, but he has vowed to not relinquish the reins of power. Berlusconi’s government has made Italy a bit of a farcical sideshow given […]

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News

The Turkish Financial System and Islamic Banking.

Though only accounting for 5% of the $559 billion Turkish banking system, Islamic banking has been gaining ground of late in mostly secular Turkey because of the rapid growth of Anatolia province and the presence there of entrenched Islamic tradition. According to the tenets of Islam, interests rates cannot be charged on money deposited or […]

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News

Embattled Greek Prime Minister George A. Papandreou Survives Parliamentary Confidence Vote.

In a good sign for Greece’s continued membership in the eurozone currency bloc, besieged Prime Minister Papandreou has survived a confidence vote in the Greek parliament with promises to form a unity government. To quote: “I have been in contact with the president and I will visit him tomorrow (Saturday) to inform him of my intentions […]

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