Most of the glories of the erstwhile British Empire have crumbled to dust or have been torn apart by up and coming countries and industries. In prosperity, industrial progress, even sporting prowess in games like cricket, football and rugby, which Britain gave the world, one former colony after another, from the United States to India, Australia and Singapore, has left the United Kingdom a lame laggard.
Until now, there was just one area where Britain remained the nonpareil — in providing honest, independent, globally focused news and commentary. Stand up proudly, the BBC.
Or maybe not: BBC worldwide coverage is increasingly losing its way, suffering from budget cuts, dumbing down of content, loss of news priorities and a sacrifice of a true world view. Some days the news content of the BBC World News television service is more tabloid than Britain's infamous "red-top" populist newspapers.