The company that has exclusive rights to salvage the Titanic is planning a possible expedition to the world’s most famous shipwreck next year, it emerged today.
The first expedition to the North Atlantic shipwreck since 2004 is revealed in a filing by RMS Titanic in A US District Court in Norfolk, Virginia.
Four days of hearings are scheduled to begin today on the company’s claim for a salvage award.
Lawyers for RMS Titanic confirmed the expedition plans but declined to discuss them in detail with The Associated Press.
Monday, 26 October 2009
Baghdad buries its dead after massive car bombings
Services were held around the city amid heightened security that jammed traffic during the morning rush hour. The bombings targeted two government buildings, calling into question the government’s ability to protect itself as it prepares for January elections and the US military withdrawal.
“Sadness is overwhelming today in the office,” said one government employee, who asked not to be named.
“It’s as if we are sitting at a funeral in the office because many of our colleagues and people we know were killed.”
The attacks targeted the Baghdad Provincial Administration building and the Justice Ministry, wounding hundreds of people. Officials revised the number of wounded down to about 500 today, from 700. There have been no claims of responsibility or arrests so far.
Tunisian president re-elected
Tunisia’s president has been re-elected for a fifth five-year term with 89.62% of the vote, the country’s interior ministry announced today.
It was the lowest percentage of the vote by President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali since he took power in a bloodless coup in 1987.
Mr Ben Ali was last re-elected in 2004 with more than 94% of votes – a drop from his previous victories, which fluctuated between 99.2 and 99.7%.
Runner-up Mohamed Bouchiha won 5.01% of the vote and Ahmed Inoubli 3.80%, but both were viewed as largely cosmetic opposition.
The third candidate, Ahmed Brahim of the Ettajdid, or “change” movement, scored 1.57% of the vote.
“At least, we’ve established the existence of a credible opposition movement in Tunisia,” Mr Brahim said in an interview today with The Associated Press. He declined to comment on his score.
The results, which included results from Tunisians voting abroad, were announced by Interior Minister Rafik Haj Kacem at a news conference today.
The turnout rate was 89.45% of Tunisia’s 5.3 million voters, authorities said.
It was the lowest percentage of the vote by President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali since he took power in a bloodless coup in 1987.
Mr Ben Ali was last re-elected in 2004 with more than 94% of votes – a drop from his previous victories, which fluctuated between 99.2 and 99.7%.
Runner-up Mohamed Bouchiha won 5.01% of the vote and Ahmed Inoubli 3.80%, but both were viewed as largely cosmetic opposition.
The third candidate, Ahmed Brahim of the Ettajdid, or “change” movement, scored 1.57% of the vote.
“At least, we’ve established the existence of a credible opposition movement in Tunisia,” Mr Brahim said in an interview today with The Associated Press. He declined to comment on his score.
The results, which included results from Tunisians voting abroad, were announced by Interior Minister Rafik Haj Kacem at a news conference today.
The turnout rate was 89.45% of Tunisia’s 5.3 million voters, authorities said.
Villagers beat bear to death
A wild bear was battered to death by villagers in east India after it mauled seven people, including a child.
The animal entered their houses in the village of Kesarapalli in the state of Orissa from the nearby Malati forest early in the morning and attacked them, a forest official said.
It is not the first time bears have been killed by villagers this year.
In the latest incident, villagers reportedly panicked and killed the bear before forest officials arrived. Some of those attacked were taken to a nearby health centre, but their injuries were not known.
The forest department registered a criminal case, but no arrests have been made yet, the Times of India quoted forest officer P K Mallick saying.
The animal entered their houses in the village of Kesarapalli in the state of Orissa from the nearby Malati forest early in the morning and attacked them, a forest official said.
It is not the first time bears have been killed by villagers this year.
In the latest incident, villagers reportedly panicked and killed the bear before forest officials arrived. Some of those attacked were taken to a nearby health centre, but their injuries were not known.
The forest department registered a criminal case, but no arrests have been made yet, the Times of India quoted forest officer P K Mallick saying.
Sunday, 25 October 2009
Jackson memorabilia goes on show
The collection includes more than 250 objects including many that have never before been seen up close in public.
It will be exhibited for the first time at at the O2 arena where the star was planning a series of spectacular farewell shows before his sudden death in June.
As well as concert and video costumes the collection includes an original Jackson 5 contract, personally commissioned portraits and Jackson’s personal Rolls Royce.
Michael Jackson: The Official Exhibition will be on show for a limited time from Wednesday and this will be fans’ only chance to see it in the UK.
Dates and venues for two further exhibitions will be announced later.
Jackson’s estate administrators John Branca and John McClain said: “Michael Jackson: The Official Exhibition will let Michael’s fans celebrate his life, artistry and humanitarian efforts in a way that respects and honours his legacy.”
Miliband backs Blair as EU president
But he ruled himself out of the other high-ranking post created by the Lisbon Treaty, High Representative for Foreign Affairs, saying: “I am not a candidate for that. I am not available.”
Mr Miliband said that a Blair presidency would be “very good for Britain as well as very good for Europe” and said he was “puzzled” by Conservative opposition to the prospect of having a British politician in such a senior European role.
The Foreign Secretary, a close personal ally of Mr Blair, appeared to suggest that the former Prime Minister would be interested in the post only if it gave him real political clout in the international arena.
The leaders of the 27 EU member states meet in Brussels on Thursday to thrash out the remit of the new president, with some of the smaller states believed to favour a low-profile role involving little more than chairing meetings.
Mr Miliband indicated that Mr Blair wanted a job in which, when he arrives in foreign capitals, “the traffic does need to stop” and he is guaranteed access to political leaders at the highest level.
The Foreign Secretary told BBC1’s Andrew Marr Show: “I think it is very important for Europe that it has a strong figure in that role, it has someone able persuasively to advocate the case that is decided by the 27 member states of the EU.
“I think it would be very good for Britain as well as very good for Europe if Tony Blair was a candidate and was chosen.”
Mr Miliband said he expected the new President to be selected by the 27 EU leaders soon after the Lisbon Treaty is finally signed by Vaclav Klaus, the President of the Czech Republic, the only member-state which has not yet ratified.
“I think this is an important moment for Europe. It has got a new Commission, hopefully with the passage of the Lisbon Treaty a new system of running its affairs, a more efficient system,” said the Foreign Secretary.
“It needs to take that opportunity, otherwise we will find the world run by America and China without any reference to us.”
Death toll rises to 136 in Iraq bombings
Iraqi leaders said the attacks aimed to disrupt political progress in the months leading up to January’s crucial elections.
While violence has dropped dramatically in the country since the height of the sectarian tensions, the latest bombings underscored the precarious nature of the security gains and the insurgency’s abilities to still pull off devastating attacks in the centre of what is supposed to be one of Baghdad’s most secure areas.
The street where the blasts occurred had just been reopened to vehicle traffic a few months ago when blast walls were repositioned to allow traffic closer to the government buildings. Such changes were touted by Iraq’s prime minister as a sign that safety was returning to the city.
“The perpetrators of these treacherous and despicable acts are no longer hiding their objective but to the contrary, they publicly declare that they are targeting the state ... and aiming at blocking the political process, halting it and destroying what we have achieved in the last six years,” President Jalal Talabani said.
There have been no claims of responsibility so far, but massive car bombs have been the hallmark of the Sunni insurgents seeking to overthrow the country’s Shiite-dominated government.
Black smoke billowed from the frantic scene, as emergency service vehicles sped to the area. Even civilian cars were being commandeered to transport the wounded to hospitals.
“The walls collapsed and we had to run out,” said Yasmeen Afdhal, 24, an employee of the Baghdad provincial administration, which was targeted by one of the car bombs. “There are many wounded, and I saw them being taken away. They were pulling victims out of the rubble, and rushing them to ambulances.”
At least 25 staff members of the Baghdad Provincial Council, which runs the city, were killed in the bombing, said council member Mohammed al-Rubaiey.
The provincial council is the city government, which oversees a broad range of city services including distribution of food ration cards, a holdover from Saddam-era sanctions against Iraq. The council also administers garbage collection, electricity and the distribution of fuel for generators and is responsible for the maintenance of the cities schools. It is composed of 57 directly elected representatives.
The blasts are a blow to Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, who has staked his reputation and re-election hopes on returning security to the country.
The attacks came as Iraq was preparing for elections scheduled for January. Officials have warned that violence by insurgents intent destabilising the country could rise.
The area where the blasts occurred is just a few hundred yards from the Green Zone that houses the US Embassy as well as the prime minister’s offices.
The attacks occurred just hours before Iraq’s top leadership was scheduled to meet with heads of political parties today and reach a compromise on the disputed election law ahead of a crucial parliamentary vote in January.
The explosive-laden vehicles were sitting in parking garages next to the two government building, police said.
“They are targeting the government and the political process in the country,” Major General Qassim al-Mousawi, spokesman for the city’s operations command centre, told The Associated Press. He said the blasts were the work of suicide bombers who drove the vehicles into the parking lots, before blowing them up.
The coordinated bombings were the deadliest incident since a series of massive truck bombs in northern Iraq killed nearly 500 villagers from the minority Yazidi sect in August 2007. In Baghdad itself, however, it is the worst attack since a series of suicide bombings against Shiite neighbourhoods in April 2007 killed 183 people.
Mr Maliki toured the blast sites later in the day.
Today’s explosions also injured nearly 600 people who were taken to six area hospitals. Medical officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media, gave the death toll.
Video images captured on a cell phone showed the second blast going off in a massive ball of flames, followed by a burst of machine gun fire.
“This is a political struggle, the price of which we are paying,” said provincial council member Mr al-Rubaiey. “Every politician is responsible and even the government is responsible, as well as security leaders.”
Three American security contractors, working for the US embassy in Baghdad were injured in the blasts, but no American embassy personnel were killed, said Philip Frayne, an embassy spokesman. Mr Frayne could not immediately provide details about who the contractors were escorting to the site, which company they worked for or, or the nature of their injuries.
The explosions were just a few hundred yards from Iraq’s Foreign Ministry which is still rebuilding after massive bombings there in August. The bombings were a devastating blow for a country that has seen a dramatic drop in violence since the height of the sectarian fighting in 2006 and 2007.
Police examine video of police beating student
A police spokesman in California said today there will be an investigation into a mobile phone video that shows police officers repeatedly hitting an unarmed university student with batons and a Taser gun.
The video, posted by the San Jose Mercury News on its website, shows one officer hitting 20-year-old Vietnamese student Phuong Ho with a metal baton more than 10 times, including once on the head.
Another officer is seen using his Taser gun on the San Jose State maths student.
The final baton strike in last month’s incident appears to take place after handcuffs have been attached to Mr Ho’s wrists.
The video, posted by the San Jose Mercury News on its website, shows one officer hitting 20-year-old Vietnamese student Phuong Ho with a metal baton more than 10 times, including once on the head.
Another officer is seen using his Taser gun on the San Jose State maths student.
The final baton strike in last month’s incident appears to take place after handcuffs have been attached to Mr Ho’s wrists.
Miss Frank voted off X Factor
Cowell was stunned to find his protege in the bottom two after the public vote, and said he had “never been so surprised” in his life.
With Cowell and rival judge Louis Walsh both backing their own acts, and Dannii Minogue siding with Danyl, it was left to Cheryl Cole to cast the deciding vote.
But she abstained and left it up to the public count to decide, with prep school dance teacher Danyl winning through.
Miss Frank – Graziella Affinita, 25, a student, Shaniece Davis, 21, a hairdresser, and Shar Alexandra, 25, a recruitment consultant, all from London - sang Love Don’t Live Here Any More.
And Danyl gave a powerful rendition of With A Little Help From My Friends.
After Danyl’s performance Cowell said: “I’ve never been so surprised in my life.
“If this is your last performance, I’ve never heard someone going out on such a high.
“I think it’s a joke that you’re in the position you’re in, a total joke.”
He said Danyl put on an “incredible” performance.
Cole said she was “really confused” by the public decision, but then said she would leave it up to the vote count to decide.
On hearing that their dream was over, Graziella said: “It’s all a bit of a mad rush right now.”
But Miss Frank vowed to stay together, with Graziella adding: “We’re going to stay together and have our own factor.”
Walsh said: “They’ve got an awful lot more to give, they were at their best last night and I love them.”
Tonight’s show saw performances from Westlife and Michael Buble, while next week will see veteran rockers Bon Jovi and X Factor favourites JLS take to the stage.
Meanwhile, the X Factor finalists are to release a cover of Michael Jackson’s You Are Not Alone to raise money for London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Viewers will see the singers perform the track for the first time during the results show on Sunday, November 15, when fans will be able to pre-order it.
The single will go on sale from Monday, November 16.
Saturday, 24 October 2009
Residents in panic as earthquake hits Indonesia
A powerful earthquake struck deep under the sea in eastern Indonesia today, causing panic and sending residents running out of their homes, officials and witnesses said. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
The quake had a magnitude of 7.0, but at a depth of 86 miles was too far below the earth’s surface to cause a tsunami, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said.
Today’s quake came as Indonesia is still recovering from a devastating earthquake last month that killed more than 1,000 people on western Sumatra.
The US Geological Survey says the latest quake – the second strong tremor in two days – was located 225 miles south east of Ambon in the Maluku islands in the Banda Sea.
The shaking was strong and people ran to higher ground fearing a tsunami, said Ian Kotualubun, an official with Indonesia’s Meteorology and Geophysics Agency in Saumlaki, the area closest to the epicentre, about 1,700 miles east of the capital, Jakarta.
Police in Saumlaki said they had received no reports of damage or injuries.
Indonesia sits above a series of fault lines that make the vast island nation one of the most earthquake-prone places in the world. A massive quake off the coast of Indonesia’s Aceh province caused the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed 230,000 people, half of the victims on Sumatra island.
The quake had a magnitude of 7.0, but at a depth of 86 miles was too far below the earth’s surface to cause a tsunami, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said.
Today’s quake came as Indonesia is still recovering from a devastating earthquake last month that killed more than 1,000 people on western Sumatra.
The US Geological Survey says the latest quake – the second strong tremor in two days – was located 225 miles south east of Ambon in the Maluku islands in the Banda Sea.
The shaking was strong and people ran to higher ground fearing a tsunami, said Ian Kotualubun, an official with Indonesia’s Meteorology and Geophysics Agency in Saumlaki, the area closest to the epicentre, about 1,700 miles east of the capital, Jakarta.
Police in Saumlaki said they had received no reports of damage or injuries.
Indonesia sits above a series of fault lines that make the vast island nation one of the most earthquake-prone places in the world. A massive quake off the coast of Indonesia’s Aceh province caused the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed 230,000 people, half of the victims on Sumatra island.
Obama declares national swine flu emergency in the US
US President Barack Obama has declared the swine flu outbreak a US national emergency.
The White House today said Mr Obama signed a proclamation that would allow medical officials to bypass certain federal requirements.
Officials described the move as similar to a declaration ahead of a hurricane making landfall.
Swine flu is more widespread now than it’s ever been and has resulted in more than 1,000 US deaths so far.
Health authorities say almost 100 children have died from the flu, known as H1N1, and 46 states now have widespread flu activity.
The White House said Mr Obama signed the declaration on Friday evening.
Fifteen killed in Egypt train crash
A passenger train collided with the back of a second one ahead of it on the tracks just outside of Cairo tonight, destroying several passenger cars and killing at least 15 people.
At least 24 others were wounded in the accident, which occurred in Girzah district of 6th of October province, said Egypt’s official Middle East News Agency.
Emergency personnel were working to extract the dead and wounded from the trains, said a police official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to the media.
The train that caused the collision was travelling from Cairo to the southern city of Assuit, while the one that was impacted was travelling from Giza province to the oasis town of Fayoum, said the news agency.
Egypt has a poor safety record on its railways, and there are several fatal accident each year, usually blamed on poorly maintained equipment.
The worst recent disaster took place in February 2002 when a train heading to southern Egypt caught fire, killing 363 people.
At least 24 others were wounded in the accident, which occurred in Girzah district of 6th of October province, said Egypt’s official Middle East News Agency.
Emergency personnel were working to extract the dead and wounded from the trains, said a police official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to the media.
The train that caused the collision was travelling from Cairo to the southern city of Assuit, while the one that was impacted was travelling from Giza province to the oasis town of Fayoum, said the news agency.
Egypt has a poor safety record on its railways, and there are several fatal accident each year, usually blamed on poorly maintained equipment.
The worst recent disaster took place in February 2002 when a train heading to southern Egypt caught fire, killing 363 people.
Ulster go top after win over Leinster
Ulster 16 Leinster 14
Ulster’s fourth Magners League win saw them go top of the table after digging deep to see off the current Heineken Cup holders.
Three penalties and a conversion by Ian Humphreys from a second-half try from Isaac Boss saw Ulster home, though a late converted try from the last move of the game from substitute Luke Fitzgerald saw Leinster grab a valuable bonus point.
Ulster, who were without Paddy Wallace due to the Irish Rugby Football Union’s player management programme and Stephen Ferris because of an ankle injury, played the conditions with far more intelligence than their star-studded opponents, who suffered their second league defeat.
With the swirling wind and rain behind them, it was no surprise when Leinster had the opening scoring opportunity after Ian Whitten was penalised for going off his feet at a ruck, however outside half Shaun Berne was wide with his opening effort from about 40 metres.
The missed penalty certainly set the template for much of the opening half, as neither side managed to get the scoreboard ticking over until a late flurry of points at the end of the half.
Berne missed two more penalty attempts before a marvellous forward effort from Ulster – when they retained the ball for around 10 phases – resulted in Leinster hooker Bernard Jackman being sent to the bin after referee Andrew Small blew with the Leinster tryline open for Humphreys and Andrew Trimble.
Humphreys landed the penalty into the teeth of the gale but then, from the restart, Leinster turned the screw and, with Brian O’Driscoll pulling the strings, they surged towards Ulster’s line in injury time.
Tamaiti Horua was binned for killing the ball, and Leinster ran the penalty with O’Driscoll putting Berne clear for the right corner. The Leinster outside half superbly converted and, suddenly, the visitors trooped off 7-3 in front.
With the conditions now behind Ulster, Humphreys narrowed the deficit with a second penalty five minutes after the resumption and then, three minutes later, Boss scooped a ball up from a ruck and broke down the blindside to run in from just short of 50 metres.
Humphreys made the tight angle conversion to give his side the lead 13-7 and was then just short with a penalty attempt from 55 metres.
Leinster were pinned at a scrum on Ulster’s line and then saw substitute Jonathan Sexton spill an inside flip pass from O’Driscoll with the Ulster line open.
All that remained was Humphreys’ 73rd-minute strike which seemed to take it beyond the visitors, until that is Isa Nacewa’s chip through for Fitzgerald, which Sexton then converted.
Win over Ballynahinch puts Dungannon second
Dungannon 13 Ballynahinch 8
Dungannon's triumph over Ballynahinch in a well-contested Ulster derby at Stevenson Park has moved them up to second place in AIB League Division 1B.
Tries in each half from winger Craig Gilroy and full-back John McGuckin, both off well-placed chip kicks, saw John Andrews' men claim their second league win.
The Tyrone side led 8-3 at the interval, thanks to Gilroy’s touchdown and a penalty from McGuckin.
‘Hinch had the wind but could only muster a penalty from their Kiwi out-half Ryan Bambry.
Both sides deserve credit for trying to cope with the heavy wind and rain and the visitors, who lost their grip on the AIB Cup last season, rose to the challenge.
They pinched a lineout in the Dungannon 22 and worked Ireland Under-20 winger Nevin Spence over in the corner for an unconverted try.
Yet the decisive moment came when McGuckin was able to run onto a chip over the top and cross for the match-winning try.
‘Gannon had many heroes on the day but flanker Ali Birch stood out, covering every blade of grass in another typically committed performance.
Scorers:
Dungannon: Tries: Craig Gilroy, John McGuckin; Pen: John McGuckin
Ballynahinch: Try: Nevin Spence; Pen: Ryan Bambry
HT: Dungannon 8 Ballynahinch 3
Dungannon's triumph over Ballynahinch in a well-contested Ulster derby at Stevenson Park has moved them up to second place in AIB League Division 1B.
Tries in each half from winger Craig Gilroy and full-back John McGuckin, both off well-placed chip kicks, saw John Andrews' men claim their second league win.
The Tyrone side led 8-3 at the interval, thanks to Gilroy’s touchdown and a penalty from McGuckin.
‘Hinch had the wind but could only muster a penalty from their Kiwi out-half Ryan Bambry.
Both sides deserve credit for trying to cope with the heavy wind and rain and the visitors, who lost their grip on the AIB Cup last season, rose to the challenge.
They pinched a lineout in the Dungannon 22 and worked Ireland Under-20 winger Nevin Spence over in the corner for an unconverted try.
Yet the decisive moment came when McGuckin was able to run onto a chip over the top and cross for the match-winning try.
‘Gannon had many heroes on the day but flanker Ali Birch stood out, covering every blade of grass in another typically committed performance.
Scorers:
Dungannon: Tries: Craig Gilroy, John McGuckin; Pen: John McGuckin
Ballynahinch: Try: Nevin Spence; Pen: Ryan Bambry
HT: Dungannon 8 Ballynahinch 3
UCC stun Galwegians with two late winning tries
Galwegians 11 UCC 19
A stunned Galwegians were left ruing missed opportunities at Crowley Park as two late converted tries saw UCC collect a smash-and-grab win.
The Cork students were 11-5 down with five minutes remaining, but a well-worked lineout saw number 8 James Ryan shunted over and in deepest injury-time, winger Brian Derham won the race to a kick-ahead to pick off UCC's third try of an end-to-end encounter.
Adding to 'Wegians' misery, former Ireland Under-20 international Andrew Burke added a superb conversion from wide out to deny the hosts' a losing bonus point.
UCC got off to a flying start with a second minute try from prop Will O’Donovan after a ‘Wegians clearance kick was blocked down.
In-form full-back Mark Butler reduced the arrears to 5-3 for half-time, but wind-backed Galwegians could not turn their territorial advantage into points.
Kevin Tierney’s men found an extra gear or two on the resumption, with Butler kicking his second penalty and then with two UCC forwards in the sin-bin, Connacht squad member Liam Bibo dotted down for a 11-5 lead.
‘Wegians had further chances to put the game beyond UCC’s reach, but the Cork youngsters hung in there and their persistence paid off in the end.
Scorers:
Galwegians: Try: Liam Bibo; Pens: Mark Butler 2
UCC: Tries: Will O’Donovan, James Ryan, Brian Derham; Cons: Andrew Burke 2
HT: Galwegians 3 UCC 5
A stunned Galwegians were left ruing missed opportunities at Crowley Park as two late converted tries saw UCC collect a smash-and-grab win.
The Cork students were 11-5 down with five minutes remaining, but a well-worked lineout saw number 8 James Ryan shunted over and in deepest injury-time, winger Brian Derham won the race to a kick-ahead to pick off UCC's third try of an end-to-end encounter.
Adding to 'Wegians' misery, former Ireland Under-20 international Andrew Burke added a superb conversion from wide out to deny the hosts' a losing bonus point.
UCC got off to a flying start with a second minute try from prop Will O’Donovan after a ‘Wegians clearance kick was blocked down.
In-form full-back Mark Butler reduced the arrears to 5-3 for half-time, but wind-backed Galwegians could not turn their territorial advantage into points.
Kevin Tierney’s men found an extra gear or two on the resumption, with Butler kicking his second penalty and then with two UCC forwards in the sin-bin, Connacht squad member Liam Bibo dotted down for a 11-5 lead.
‘Wegians had further chances to put the game beyond UCC’s reach, but the Cork youngsters hung in there and their persistence paid off in the end.
Scorers:
Galwegians: Try: Liam Bibo; Pens: Mark Butler 2
UCC: Tries: Will O’Donovan, James Ryan, Brian Derham; Cons: Andrew Burke 2
HT: Galwegians 3 UCC 5
Ospreys come close to beating Cardiff
Cardiff Blues 20 Ospreys 12
Tries in the opening attacks of each half gave the Blues victory in a thrilling Welsh derby in front of 16,341, the highest crowd yet for a rugby match at the new Cardiff City Stadium.
With flanker Martyn Williams outstanding on his first appearance after injuring a shoulder on the Lions tour, the Blues fully deserved their triumph but needed stern defence to withstand a late onslaught as the Ospreys brought their big guns off the bench.
The home side could not have asked for a better start.
Australian fly-half Sam Norton-Knight, whose introduction in the Blues’ line-up has not been smooth, showed what he is capable of with an inch-perfect kick for left-wing Tom James to outpace the Ospreys’ cover, tap the ball forward and win the race to touch down. Ben Blair converted.
The Ospreys number 10 Dan Biggar had an opportunity to cut the deficit when the lively Shane Williams, captaining the region for the first time, was taken out as he chased a kick ahead, but the youngster was off-target with the penalty.
The Blues were doing well at the breakdown, thanks largely to the tireless Williams, but with both fly-halves relying too much on high kicks into the windy night, neither side was able to find a way through.
The only other score of the half came when Blair punished a high tackle on Jamie Roberts, though Blues’ wing Leigh Halfpenny hit a post with an injury-time penalty from his own half.
That man Williams was key to the Blues repeating their explosive opening after the restart.
The red-headed predator found a minute gap on the left touchline and sped past two tacklers to send in scrum-half Gareth Cooper, whose overall performance will have boosted his chances of facing the All Blacks in a fortnight’s time.
The Ospreys, who brought on Wales skipper Ryan Jones at half-time, made a further switch, moving Shane Williams to the scrum-half position in which he started his career.
It paid immediate dividends, a little dart by the stand-in number nine sparking a move which ended with Ireland’s Tommy Bowe crossing by the flag.
With James Hook also called into action to add his flair in midfield, the Ospreys suddenly looked a lot more creative, and hooker Richard Hibbard stretched over the line only to be called back for crossing.
But the Blues’ defence held out and they made the game safe when Norton-Knight dropped a neat goal.
There was just time for New Zealander Jerry Collins to crash over in the corner, Biggar converting, but it was not enough to earn the Ospreys a losing bonus point.
Friday, 23 October 2009
Sky+HD customers rises to 1.6 million
Sky has announced that the number of homes choosing Sky+HD has increased to 1.6 million across Ireland and the UK.
Up to 287,000 customers signed up to Sky+HD during this period - a three-fold increase on the same period of the previous year.
Mark Deering, Director, Sky Ireland said: "In what continues to be a tough economic environment, Sky continues to grow in Ireland."
In July of this year, Sky confirmed it would launch the Republic of Ireland’s first 3D service next year, offering a broad selection of 3D programming, including movies, entertainment and sport.
The service will be broadcast across Sky’s existing HD infrastructure and be available via the current generation of Sky+HD set-top boxes.
Up to 287,000 customers signed up to Sky+HD during this period - a three-fold increase on the same period of the previous year.
Mark Deering, Director, Sky Ireland said: "In what continues to be a tough economic environment, Sky continues to grow in Ireland."
In July of this year, Sky confirmed it would launch the Republic of Ireland’s first 3D service next year, offering a broad selection of 3D programming, including movies, entertainment and sport.
The service will be broadcast across Sky’s existing HD infrastructure and be available via the current generation of Sky+HD set-top boxes.
300 arrested in swoop on US drugs cartel
In the largest single strike at Mexican drug operations in the US, authorities arrested more than 300 people in a sting that demonstrates a young cartel’s vast reach north of the border.
The tentacles of La Familia extend coast to coast and deep into America’s heartland, with arrests announced in 38 cities from Boston to Seattle and from St Paul, Minnesota, to Raleigh, North Carolina.
Drug deals went down in Oklahoma parking lots, suppliers were advised to weld drugs into tyre rims for transport, and in the Dallas and Seattle areas, dozens of children were removed from houses where authorities found drugs, guns or cash derived from drug sales.
Perhaps more than any other cartel, La Familia projects a Robin Hood image. The Drug Enforcement Administration said the group is “philosophically opposed to the sale of methamphetamine to Mexicans, and instead supports its export to the United States for consumption by Americans”.
Mexican police said the gang uses religion and family morals to recruit. The gang has hung banners in towns saying they do not tolerate drug use, or attacks on women or children.
One of the gang’s alleged recruiters, detained last spring, ran drug rehabilitation centres, helping addicts to recover and then forcing them to work for the drug gang or be killed, according to Mexico Public Safety Secretary Genaro Garcia Luna.
La Familia is rarely mentioned in the same breath as the handful of other Mexican gangs that control the flow of drugs into the United States, fuelled by Colombian cocaine suppliers. The Sinaloa, Juarez, Gulf and Tijuana cartels have roots that go back many years, even decades.
But in its short history, La Familia is believed to have emerged as the biggest supplier of methamphetamine to the United States and, increasingly, a peddler of cocaine, marijuana and other drugs.
Complaints that were unsealed across the country portray an organisation that spread deep into Middle America, down to small-time sales.
The tentacles of La Familia extend coast to coast and deep into America’s heartland, with arrests announced in 38 cities from Boston to Seattle and from St Paul, Minnesota, to Raleigh, North Carolina.
Drug deals went down in Oklahoma parking lots, suppliers were advised to weld drugs into tyre rims for transport, and in the Dallas and Seattle areas, dozens of children were removed from houses where authorities found drugs, guns or cash derived from drug sales.
Perhaps more than any other cartel, La Familia projects a Robin Hood image. The Drug Enforcement Administration said the group is “philosophically opposed to the sale of methamphetamine to Mexicans, and instead supports its export to the United States for consumption by Americans”.
Mexican police said the gang uses religion and family morals to recruit. The gang has hung banners in towns saying they do not tolerate drug use, or attacks on women or children.
One of the gang’s alleged recruiters, detained last spring, ran drug rehabilitation centres, helping addicts to recover and then forcing them to work for the drug gang or be killed, according to Mexico Public Safety Secretary Genaro Garcia Luna.
La Familia is rarely mentioned in the same breath as the handful of other Mexican gangs that control the flow of drugs into the United States, fuelled by Colombian cocaine suppliers. The Sinaloa, Juarez, Gulf and Tijuana cartels have roots that go back many years, even decades.
But in its short history, La Familia is believed to have emerged as the biggest supplier of methamphetamine to the United States and, increasingly, a peddler of cocaine, marijuana and other drugs.
Complaints that were unsealed across the country portray an organisation that spread deep into Middle America, down to small-time sales.
New York set to legalise same-sex marriage
Mr Paterson said he expects the state Senate to give the measure final legislative approval in the coming weeks and then he will sign it.
That would make New York the seventh state to legalise same-sex marriage.
Mr Paterson’s statements to the Empire State Pride Agenda fall dinner in Manhattan come as advocates and sponsors of the bill in Albany have been quietly working to build support.
The bill was blocked by a coup in the Senate in the final days of the regular session in June.
The Democrat-led Assembly has already passed the measure.
Mr Paterson says he will place the bill on the agenda for a special session in the weeks ahead.
Seven killed in suicide attack near suspected nuclear base
A suicide bomber struck a checkpoint near a military complex reportedly linked to Pakistan’s nuclear weapons programme today, killing seven people as the army pressed ahead with a major anti-Taliban offensive in the northwest.
The attack took place near the sprawling aeronautical complex in Kamra, around 30 miles from the capital, Islamabad, and is sure to raise renewed concerns about the safety of Pakistan’s nuclear programme.
The Kamra site is often mentioned by foreign military experts and researchers as a likely place to keep planes that can carry nuclear warheads.
The army, which does not reveal where its nuclear weapons are stored, has denied that the facility is tied to the programme.
The attacker was apparently riding a bicycle and detonated his explosives at a checkpoint on a road leading to the complex, police officer Akbar Abbas said, blaming the Taliban.
The seven dead included two security troops, while 13 people were wounded.
“The attacker wanted to go inside. He exploded himself when officials wanted to search his body,” Attock police chief Fakhar Sultan Raja said.
The attack is the latest in a wave of violence sweeping Pakistan as its army pushes forth with its offensive against Islamist militants in the northwestern tribal region of South Waziristan.
More than 170 people have died in bombings and raids on Western and security-related targets in the past three weeks.
The complex at Kamra or its workers have been targeted at least once before. In December 2007, a suicide car bomber struck near a bus carrying children of Pakistan Air Force employees, wounding five of them.
Pakistan has long insisted its nuclear programme is safe and secure, and has sought to protect it from from attack by militants by storing the warheads, detonators and missiles separately in facilities patrolled by elite troops.
The attack took place near the sprawling aeronautical complex in Kamra, around 30 miles from the capital, Islamabad, and is sure to raise renewed concerns about the safety of Pakistan’s nuclear programme.
The Kamra site is often mentioned by foreign military experts and researchers as a likely place to keep planes that can carry nuclear warheads.
The army, which does not reveal where its nuclear weapons are stored, has denied that the facility is tied to the programme.
The attacker was apparently riding a bicycle and detonated his explosives at a checkpoint on a road leading to the complex, police officer Akbar Abbas said, blaming the Taliban.
The seven dead included two security troops, while 13 people were wounded.
“The attacker wanted to go inside. He exploded himself when officials wanted to search his body,” Attock police chief Fakhar Sultan Raja said.
The attack is the latest in a wave of violence sweeping Pakistan as its army pushes forth with its offensive against Islamist militants in the northwestern tribal region of South Waziristan.
More than 170 people have died in bombings and raids on Western and security-related targets in the past three weeks.
The complex at Kamra or its workers have been targeted at least once before. In December 2007, a suicide car bomber struck near a bus carrying children of Pakistan Air Force employees, wounding five of them.
Pakistan has long insisted its nuclear programme is safe and secure, and has sought to protect it from from attack by militants by storing the warheads, detonators and missiles separately in facilities patrolled by elite troops.
Cowen urges unions not to strike
The Taoiseach Brian Cowen is warning that strikes will do nothing to help the economy.
Brian Cowen was speaking in Offaly today after trade unions this week stepped up their opposition to public sector pay cuts, expected in December's Budget.
Yesterday the Frontline Service Alliance, which represents gardaí, nurses and prison officers, announced that members who are permitted to ballot for industrial action will do so.
Meanwhile the Irish Congress of Trade Unions is to hold mass rallies on November 6 in protest at the Government's economic strategy, while IMPACT wants to hold a one-day strike on November 24.
Speaking at the opening of the new Tullamore by-pass today the Taoiseach said he is hopeful of a positive outcome from talks with the social partners in the coming weeks.
“I think everyone recognises that industrial relations problems will do nothing to assist recovery.
“There is an issue here that we have to deal with.
“We have set out our assessments to the social partners and there will be intensive discussions with the social partners in the coming weeks,” he said.
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