Sports shirts may feature EU flag

2 February 2012 Last updated at 16:49 GMT The wearing of the EU flag on shirts would not be made compulsory The European Parliament has voted to back a call for national sports teams to wear the EU flag on their shirts.

It also endorsed a plan for the EU flag to be flown at major international sporting events in Europe, but neither of the measures would be compulsory.

Both ideas are contained in a report that also urges action against doping, hooliganism, match-fixing and shady deals by players' agents.

The recommendations will now be considered by the European Commission.

The vote was passed by 550 votes to 73, with seven abstentions.

British Conservative MEPs voiced concern that the new measures might offend loyal fans and interfere with professional sport.

'Artificial European identity'

Emma McClarkin, the party's spokesperson on sport and culture in the European Parliament, said the EU flag proposal was "outrageous and unnecessary".

"Sport has a special place in my country, and our national teams form a key part of our identities and heritage," she told the parliament.

"The EU cannot impose an artificial European identity on us by forcing our athletes to wear its emblem."

The party objected when Speaker Martin Schulz refused to allow MEPs to vote on individual clauses in the report "in the interests of efficiency".

Irish Fianna Fail MEP Liam Aylward said the dispute over the EU flag should not overshadow the report's other provisions.

He commended the report as a "strong framework to create a European sports policy that is based on social inclusion and enhancing sport in Europe".

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Pilkington to close one UK line

3 February 2012 Last updated at 05:53 GMT Pilkington automotive glass is used by most of the world's major carmakers The owner of the glass manufacturer Pilkington, Nippon Sheet Glass (NSG), says it will close one of its three UK production lines as it cuts costs.

The move is part of NSG's plans to cut 3,500 jobs worldwide. The company employs 3,000 people in the UK.

NSG, Japan's second biggest glass maker, bought Pilkington in 2006. It did not specify which line would close.

The company, which makes 40% of its sales in Europe, demand for building and automotive glass drop sharply.

It is aiming to cut costs by 20bn yen ($262.5m, £166m, 199m euros) annually as it now faces losses of 3bn yen for the year to March - a sharp turnaround from its previous hopes for a 14bn yen profit.

The job cuts are the second major headcount reduction in two years.

In March 2010 the firm cut 6,700 jobs in the wake of the global financial crisis.

NSG said in a statement: "The group has experienced a reduction in many of its core markets, including its significant European building products and automotive markets."

Its automotive business line operates under the Pilkington Automotive name and is one of the world's largest suppliers of motor vehicle glass.

It also said that the global market for solar energy glass had "worsened significantly".

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Redknapp lies 'extremely telling'

3 February 2012 Last updated at 13:22 GMT Harry Redknapp admitted lying to a News of the World Reporter Harry Redknapp's admission of lying to a News of the World reporter is "extremely telling", a court has heard.

In closing statements, prosecution lawyers asked the jury for a "cold, clinical analysis of the issues".

Mr Redknapp, 64, denies allegations £189,000 paid into his account was a bonus for profits on transfers while at Portsmouth FC.

He and ex-Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric, 73, deny cheating the public revenue.

The prosecution said while Mr Redknapp had "many qualities", the key question surrounded the Monaco account, named Rosie 47 after Mr Redknapp's dog.

'Tell police truth'

"Did it arise from employment income? Was it a bonus?," they asked. "If [it was a] bonus, [it] should have been taxed."

The prosecution explained that during a taped interview with the News of the World, Mr Redknapp "couldn't have made it plainer" that the money was a bonus.

Jurors were told the way Mr Redknapp answered the reporter's questions was "extremely telling ... and will assist you enormously in determining the truth".

Under cross examination on Thursday, Mr Redknapp said he lied to reporter Rob Beasley about the source of payments to the account because he did not want negative stories ahead of a cup final.

The Tottenham boss said: "I have to tell police the truth, not Mr Beasley - he's a News of the World reporter."

The jury has been told it will retire to consider its verdicts on Tuesday.

The trial continues.

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Panasonic predicts a record loss

3 February 2012 Last updated at 07:11 GMT Panasonic has been hit by the strong yen Japanese electronics giant Panasonic has forecast a record annual net loss of 780bn yen ($10.2bn; £6.3bn) for the year to March.

The poor result is being put down to the strong yen, flooding in Thailand and acquisition costs.

It comes after rivals Sony and Sharp predicted combined losses of $6.7bn.

Panasonic posted a net loss of 333.82bn yen for the nine months to December, compared with a 114.7bn yen profit a year earlier.

For the third quarter it posted a net loss of 197.6bn yen.

The figures were worst than analysts had been expecting.

Panasonic and other Japanese exporters are being hit by the strong yen, as well as competition from foreign rivals such as South Korea's Samsung.

The Japanese firm is the world's fourth-largest television manufacturer after Samsung, LG Electronics and Sony.

Shares in Panasonic have fallen by 45% in the past year and hit their lowest close in more than 30 years on Thursday

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Mobility aid sellers in spotlight

3 February 2012 Last updated at 12:25 GMT Some elderly people and their families have complained about doorstep sales of mobility aids Action has been taken against mobility aid traders in the UK following a warning from the regulator over sales of the products.

In September, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) raised concerns about sales of stairlifts and other aids to elderly and disabled people.

Now it has removed the credit licences of two people, and overseen a revamp of contracts by another firm.

Investigations are also continuing into doorstep sales by a national trader.

Licence removal

Last year, the OFT said it had received thousands of complaints about sales of these aids, such as stairlifts, scooters, special chairs and adjustable beds.

Some victims found the equipment they were promised failed to turn up or was overpriced.

There is nothing to prevent traders knocking on doors, although there are rules on what they can do once they gain entry to a potential customer's home.

The regulator has now revoked the consumer credit licences of Amarjit Gill and his business associate Ranjit Dhami over concerns about how they sold mobility aids.

Amarjit Gill, who traded as ABM Mobility, breached consumer protection legislation, including using aggressive sales techniques, despite warnings from Derbyshire Trading Standards.

Ranjit Dhami held a separate licence and had traded as A.B.M., Phoenix 1000, Eurostar, Star Enterprises and Phoenix Enterprises. She was judged unfit to hold a credit licence by the OFT because of her association with Amarjit Gill's business.

A separate investigation into Yorkshire-based Acorn Mobility Services Limited has led to the company amending its contracts to change potentially unfair terms, and to overhaul its customer service procedures.

"We warned traders that unless they stopped using aggressive sales techniques and unfair business practices to sell mobility aids they would face enforcement, and that is what we are doing," said OFT director David Fisher.

"We will take further action, working in partnership with local trading standards services, if there is evidence of unfair trading or where fitness to hold a credit licence is called into question."

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