Click for bigger.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Elephant rescued from a ditch in India
Forest rangers in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri District have rescued an elephant that had fallen into a ditch.
The elephant was passing through this route when it slipped and fell into the ditch. Some of the tea garden workers saw it lying there and informed the forest officials.
Later, the forest officials rushed to the spot with a crane and rescued the majestic elephant, believed to be around 11 years in age. The pachyderm was gently hauled up by the crane.
After being pulled out of the ditch, the elephant instantly was up on its feet and without wasting a second fled from the spot towards the nearby forest. “Now, it is healthy. We are feeling very nice. We have been able to save a beautiful animal,” said Niranjita Maitra, Assistant Wildlife Warden, Jalpaiguri Range.
The elephant was passing through this route when it slipped and fell into the ditch. Some of the tea garden workers saw it lying there and informed the forest officials.
Later, the forest officials rushed to the spot with a crane and rescued the majestic elephant, believed to be around 11 years in age. The pachyderm was gently hauled up by the crane.
After being pulled out of the ditch, the elephant instantly was up on its feet and without wasting a second fled from the spot towards the nearby forest. “Now, it is healthy. We are feeling very nice. We have been able to save a beautiful animal,” said Niranjita Maitra, Assistant Wildlife Warden, Jalpaiguri Range.
Cripple drug lord jailed for 10 years
A quadraplegic whose disability was compared to the late Superman actor Christopher Reeve, has been jailed for up to 10 years in Australia for conspiring to manufacture ecstasy.
Paul Baker, 36, of Colyton in Sydney's west, is the first quadriplegic in NSW history to receive a full-time custodial sentence.
District Court Judge Robert Toner's decision last Wednesday will force jail authorities to spend thousands of dollars modifying a cell for Baker - once they find a prison that can accommodate his considerable needs.
The NSW Department of Corrective Services has admitted it is yet to find a permanent jail cell for Baker, who is morbidly obese and needs 98 hours of care per fortnight, which will be provided by an independent care agency.
He cannot eat, drink, go to the toilet or wash by himself and requires a hoist to transfer him to bed from his motorised wheelchair - which he controls with a slight movement in one hand.
The department said it would cost about $200,000 per year to look after Baker, double the cost of an average "secure" prisoner.
Paul Baker, 36, of Colyton in Sydney's west, is the first quadriplegic in NSW history to receive a full-time custodial sentence.
District Court Judge Robert Toner's decision last Wednesday will force jail authorities to spend thousands of dollars modifying a cell for Baker - once they find a prison that can accommodate his considerable needs.
The NSW Department of Corrective Services has admitted it is yet to find a permanent jail cell for Baker, who is morbidly obese and needs 98 hours of care per fortnight, which will be provided by an independent care agency.
He cannot eat, drink, go to the toilet or wash by himself and requires a hoist to transfer him to bed from his motorised wheelchair - which he controls with a slight movement in one hand.
The department said it would cost about $200,000 per year to look after Baker, double the cost of an average "secure" prisoner.
Dog's tongue gets caught in paper shredder
Last week, an 8-year-old mixed-breed named Diamond was rushed to a veterinary clinic in Miami with an alarming injury.
"She had licked a paper shredder in the house that was set on automatic," said Dr. Marc Wosar of the Miami Veterinary Specialists.
The shredder grabbed onto Diamond's tongue and pulled it deeper into the sharp blades. "I think it's a big potential risk in the house," Dr. Juan Sardinas said. Fortunately, Diamond's owners were home and responded quickly.
They disconnected the head of the shredder and carried it, with the dog's tongue still stuck inside, to Miami Veterinary Specialists.
"We anesthetized her first, then reversed the shredder off the tongue and assessed the damage," said Wosar. "There were a lot of lacerations to the tongue as well as a lot of bite wounds. In her panic, she'd also bitten her tongue."
It took more than a 100 stitches to repair Diamond's tongue. A portion that was too severely damaged had to be removed, but doctors expect her to make a full recovery.
With news video.
"She had licked a paper shredder in the house that was set on automatic," said Dr. Marc Wosar of the Miami Veterinary Specialists.
The shredder grabbed onto Diamond's tongue and pulled it deeper into the sharp blades. "I think it's a big potential risk in the house," Dr. Juan Sardinas said. Fortunately, Diamond's owners were home and responded quickly.
They disconnected the head of the shredder and carried it, with the dog's tongue still stuck inside, to Miami Veterinary Specialists.
"We anesthetized her first, then reversed the shredder off the tongue and assessed the damage," said Wosar. "There were a lot of lacerations to the tongue as well as a lot of bite wounds. In her panic, she'd also bitten her tongue."
It took more than a 100 stitches to repair Diamond's tongue. A portion that was too severely damaged had to be removed, but doctors expect her to make a full recovery.
With news video.
Bike pants dress code for school dances to ward off sex
Private school girls in Australia are being ordered to wear bike pants under their clothes at social functions to reduce the risk of being sexually assaulted. Girls' schools have issued the directive to students attending dances amid concerns that inappropriate touching by boys could lead to criminal charges.
In a recent newsletter, Catholic girls' school All Hallows, in Brisbane's inner north, detailed the dress code for students at dances.
"Girls should not wear overly revealing clothing such as very short, tight shorts or skirts or strapless, strappy, backless or plunging tops or dresses," the newsletter said. "Short skirts, dresses or shorts must only be worn over leggings or tights." The strict dress code is being enforced at entry points to school dances.
Deputy principal Richard Ward said the school had changed its dress regulations in the past 12 months at the request of girls' schools.
"We used to say they couldn't wear bike pants, leggings, that sort of stuff but then the girls' schools got in touch and said 'leggings are a good idea', so we changed our dress code".
Mr Ward said the crackdown on "provocative dress" was necessary to protect their own students from getting into strife. "As far as the boys go, you're dealing with adolescent boys. They do inappropriate things," Mr Ward said.
In a recent newsletter, Catholic girls' school All Hallows, in Brisbane's inner north, detailed the dress code for students at dances.
"Girls should not wear overly revealing clothing such as very short, tight shorts or skirts or strapless, strappy, backless or plunging tops or dresses," the newsletter said. "Short skirts, dresses or shorts must only be worn over leggings or tights." The strict dress code is being enforced at entry points to school dances.
Deputy principal Richard Ward said the school had changed its dress regulations in the past 12 months at the request of girls' schools.
"We used to say they couldn't wear bike pants, leggings, that sort of stuff but then the girls' schools got in touch and said 'leggings are a good idea', so we changed our dress code".
Mr Ward said the crackdown on "provocative dress" was necessary to protect their own students from getting into strife. "As far as the boys go, you're dealing with adolescent boys. They do inappropriate things," Mr Ward said.
Thailand's celibate pandas celebrate cub birth
Thailand's famously celibate giant pandas finally produced a cub on Wednesday, after artificial insemination succeeded where attempts to get them to mate using pornography and low-carb diets failed.
Chiang Mai zoo director Thanapath Pongpamorn said eight-year-old female Lin Hui gave birth to a cub weighing an estimated 200 grams (eight ounces), just three months after receiving semen from nine-year-old partner Chuang Chuang.
The pandas, the zoo's star residents, had shown no interest in reproducing the traditional way since they both arrived on a 10-year loan from China in 2003. "This panda cub is a success for artificial insemination and a success for panda breeding in Thailand," Thanapath said.
He said Lin Hui was being very protective of her cub and had not allowed any officials to get close, but they were monitoring her behaviour and said she was "raising her cub well."
Chiang Mai zoo director Thanapath Pongpamorn said eight-year-old female Lin Hui gave birth to a cub weighing an estimated 200 grams (eight ounces), just three months after receiving semen from nine-year-old partner Chuang Chuang.
The pandas, the zoo's star residents, had shown no interest in reproducing the traditional way since they both arrived on a 10-year loan from China in 2003. "This panda cub is a success for artificial insemination and a success for panda breeding in Thailand," Thanapath said.
He said Lin Hui was being very protective of her cub and had not allowed any officials to get close, but they were monitoring her behaviour and said she was "raising her cub well."
Man electrocuted after urinating on live wire
In an unsual incident, a 34-year-old man was electrocuted and died after he urinated on a live wire near the Chennai Harbour in India on Tuesday evening.
According to the police, K Murugan, a resident of NSK Nagar in Arumbakkam, was working as a LPG delivery man with a gas agency in Arumbakkam. The agency had a supply contract with ITC and he had gone to deliver the cylinders at the harbour on Tuesday.
While returning, he stopped his vehicle near the roadside and went to urinate. Police said there were a lot of container lorries parked on the roadside and some of them had freezer boxes.
"He walked into a narrow street, where there was a generator running to supply power for some of the freezer boxes and when he urinated he came in contact with an exposed live wire. He was rushed to the hospital where he was declared brought dead," a police official said. The police said that Murugan could have been electrocuted after he urinated on the portion of the wire where patches of the insulation were torn off.
According to the police, K Murugan, a resident of NSK Nagar in Arumbakkam, was working as a LPG delivery man with a gas agency in Arumbakkam. The agency had a supply contract with ITC and he had gone to deliver the cylinders at the harbour on Tuesday.
While returning, he stopped his vehicle near the roadside and went to urinate. Police said there were a lot of container lorries parked on the roadside and some of them had freezer boxes.
"He walked into a narrow street, where there was a generator running to supply power for some of the freezer boxes and when he urinated he came in contact with an exposed live wire. He was rushed to the hospital where he was declared brought dead," a police official said. The police said that Murugan could have been electrocuted after he urinated on the portion of the wire where patches of the insulation were torn off.
Elderly man chokes girlfriend in argument over how to load dishwasher
An 82-year-old man Deltona was charged with battery by strangulation on Friday after sheriff's deputies said he beat his 74-year-old girlfriend unconscious for loading the dishwasher wrong.
A judge ruled that Joseph Strauch is to have no contact with his live-in girlfriend, Lillian Keller.
Keller called 911 at 12:56 a.m. Friday, saying that she was bleeding and had been beaten. She was taken to Florida Hospital Fish Memorial in Orange City with bruises, cuts and redness around her neck.
According to the charging affidavit, Keller told deputies that her boyfriend interrupted her while she was loading dirty dishes into their dishwasher, put his hands around her neck and choked her until she lost consciousness.
"I thought, you know, I will go to bed and he will sober up and he'll be alright," Keller said. "He come into my bedroom, and boy listen, and he beat me and choked me. I thought I was going to die."
Keller also said that Strauch punched her and had abused her the night before. She said she is afraid he'll kill her if he gets out on bond.
With news video.
A judge ruled that Joseph Strauch is to have no contact with his live-in girlfriend, Lillian Keller.
Keller called 911 at 12:56 a.m. Friday, saying that she was bleeding and had been beaten. She was taken to Florida Hospital Fish Memorial in Orange City with bruises, cuts and redness around her neck.
According to the charging affidavit, Keller told deputies that her boyfriend interrupted her while she was loading dirty dishes into their dishwasher, put his hands around her neck and choked her until she lost consciousness.
"I thought, you know, I will go to bed and he will sober up and he'll be alright," Keller said. "He come into my bedroom, and boy listen, and he beat me and choked me. I thought I was going to die."
Keller also said that Strauch punched her and had abused her the night before. She said she is afraid he'll kill her if he gets out on bond.
With news video.
Rescued dog helps rescue another
Dozens of people tried to rescue Blewett this winter after he was seen huddling in the snow at the top of Blewett Pass for a week. Wary of strangers, the dog accepted food and was finally captured and adopted into a home.
On Monday, Blewett returned the favour and helped rescue another imperiled black Lab.
Jay Smith of Plain said his wife, Janie, was walking Blewett on a trail high above the Wenatchee River when Blewett started barking and raced down the steep bank to sniff out another animal close to the river’s edge. The Smiths adopted Blewett from the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society animal shelter in March.
"My wife thought it was a dead bear," Jay Smith said. Janie Smith called Blewett back up and they went home so she could get a pair of binoculars. With the binoculars, Janie could see it was a large black dog, and it was alive.
Jay Smith called Chelan County Fire District 9 and returned with a firefighter and a friend to try to reach the dog, using ropes to climb down to the river. Blewett again ran down and stayed with the dog while the dog was rescued on Monday evening. The dog was weak, old and arthritic, but otherwise uninjured. Information on his red collar led to a Plain neighbour, Carol Hurt.
"The whole thing is a miracle," said Hurt, who explained the 11-year-old dog, Pepper, had been lost since Saturday. "One big black lost dog found the other big black lost dog.It’s pretty heartwarming."
On Monday, Blewett returned the favour and helped rescue another imperiled black Lab.
Jay Smith of Plain said his wife, Janie, was walking Blewett on a trail high above the Wenatchee River when Blewett started barking and raced down the steep bank to sniff out another animal close to the river’s edge. The Smiths adopted Blewett from the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society animal shelter in March.
"My wife thought it was a dead bear," Jay Smith said. Janie Smith called Blewett back up and they went home so she could get a pair of binoculars. With the binoculars, Janie could see it was a large black dog, and it was alive.
Jay Smith called Chelan County Fire District 9 and returned with a firefighter and a friend to try to reach the dog, using ropes to climb down to the river. Blewett again ran down and stayed with the dog while the dog was rescued on Monday evening. The dog was weak, old and arthritic, but otherwise uninjured. Information on his red collar led to a Plain neighbour, Carol Hurt.
"The whole thing is a miracle," said Hurt, who explained the 11-year-old dog, Pepper, had been lost since Saturday. "One big black lost dog found the other big black lost dog.It’s pretty heartwarming."
Rare red kite chicks hatch in Scotland
Red kite chicks have hatched in the wild in Aberdeenshire for the first time in almost 150 years.
The chicks are being raised by birds released two years ago as part of a project to reintroduce the birds to the skies over the county. At least three have hatched.
Red kites were once common all over the British Isles, but were persecuted almost to the point of extinction in the 19th century.
In the UK, the population had almost died out until birds began being reintroduced from overseas via breeding programmes in the 1990s.
Jenny Lennon, the Aberdeen Red Kites project officer, said: "It's fantastic to see our recently reintroduced birds raising their first chicks.
"Being new parents they still have a lot to do to make sure their chicks successfully fledge, but we're keeping our fingers crossed that they'll make it."
The chicks are being raised by birds released two years ago as part of a project to reintroduce the birds to the skies over the county. At least three have hatched.
Red kites were once common all over the British Isles, but were persecuted almost to the point of extinction in the 19th century.
In the UK, the population had almost died out until birds began being reintroduced from overseas via breeding programmes in the 1990s.
Jenny Lennon, the Aberdeen Red Kites project officer, said: "It's fantastic to see our recently reintroduced birds raising their first chicks.
"Being new parents they still have a lot to do to make sure their chicks successfully fledge, but we're keeping our fingers crossed that they'll make it."
Opposition to nightclub name change plan
A nightclub owner is facing opposition from the police and local politicians over plans to rename his venue.
Derek Smith is considering dividing his Vita nightspot in Sudbury into two separate clubs and renaming them “FU'' and “FU2''.
But police and town councillors have united in their opposition to his plans which they fear may cause public offence and lower the tone.
Inspector Crick, of Suffolk police, said he believed the names were a publicity stunt which could cause officers problems on the streets.
“I do not support either name and feel that this is primarily a publicity stunt,” he said. “Should he proceed I will consider what options, if any, current legislation offers in terms of prosecution for causing public offence.
Sue Brotherwood, clerk of Sudbury Town Council, said they fully supported the local police's stance. “We can imagine someone being stopped by the police and them asking where they have been to be told 'FU' and it would be inappropriate,” she said. “Other individual councillors feel the same. We have got a sense of humour but this is not funny.”
Derek Smith is considering dividing his Vita nightspot in Sudbury into two separate clubs and renaming them “FU'' and “FU2''.
But police and town councillors have united in their opposition to his plans which they fear may cause public offence and lower the tone.
Inspector Crick, of Suffolk police, said he believed the names were a publicity stunt which could cause officers problems on the streets.
“I do not support either name and feel that this is primarily a publicity stunt,” he said. “Should he proceed I will consider what options, if any, current legislation offers in terms of prosecution for causing public offence.
Sue Brotherwood, clerk of Sudbury Town Council, said they fully supported the local police's stance. “We can imagine someone being stopped by the police and them asking where they have been to be told 'FU' and it would be inappropriate,” she said. “Other individual councillors feel the same. We have got a sense of humour but this is not funny.”
Airport scanner promises end to the ban on liquids in luggage
The first security scanner that can see through bottles and detect whether they contain explosive liquid will start trials next month at Newcastle Airport. The technology could allow the Department for Transport to lift restrictions on liquid in hand luggage, meaning passengers would again be allowed to carry bottles of any size on board.
The British-built scanner works by shining an X-ray through the liquid and detecting the “spectral signature” of the image recorded on the other side. Each type of liquid has a different “signature” and the machine has been programmed to distinguish between harmless ones, such as water or alcohol, and potential explosives such as hydrogen peroxide.
The Kromek bottle scanner works even if the bottle is completely sealed, with no trace or residue on the outside. It can see through any type of bottle, even those made of metal.
Arnab Basu, the company’s chief executive, declined to say how much each machine cost but said that it was “tens of thousands of pounds, not hundreds”.
The British-built scanner works by shining an X-ray through the liquid and detecting the “spectral signature” of the image recorded on the other side. Each type of liquid has a different “signature” and the machine has been programmed to distinguish between harmless ones, such as water or alcohol, and potential explosives such as hydrogen peroxide.
The Kromek bottle scanner works even if the bottle is completely sealed, with no trace or residue on the outside. It can see through any type of bottle, even those made of metal.
Arnab Basu, the company’s chief executive, declined to say how much each machine cost but said that it was “tens of thousands of pounds, not hundreds”.
Dying man wins bet he would live
A Buckinghamshire man diagnosed with terminal cancer is to collect a second winning payout of £5,000 after betting he would stay alive.
Jon Matthews, 59, from Milton Keynes, was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer linked to asbestos, in 2006 and told he had months to live.
He placed two bets, each with a £100 stake at odds of 50/1, that he would be alive in June 2008 and in June 2009. A third wager will earn him a further £10,000 if he lives until 1 June 2010. The widower will collect his second lot of £5,000 winnings tomorrow.
Mr Matthews said: "I think I'm the first person in the world to bet on my own life. When I was diagnosed I was told mesothelioma was a death sentence. I wasn't that fussed because everyone has to die some time.
"But the interesting thing for me was how long it would take - would it take weeks or years?"
Mr Matthews said he planned to give away most of his winnings to charities, including the cancer charity Macmillan.
Jon Matthews, 59, from Milton Keynes, was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer linked to asbestos, in 2006 and told he had months to live.
He placed two bets, each with a £100 stake at odds of 50/1, that he would be alive in June 2008 and in June 2009. A third wager will earn him a further £10,000 if he lives until 1 June 2010. The widower will collect his second lot of £5,000 winnings tomorrow.
Mr Matthews said: "I think I'm the first person in the world to bet on my own life. When I was diagnosed I was told mesothelioma was a death sentence. I wasn't that fussed because everyone has to die some time.
"But the interesting thing for me was how long it would take - would it take weeks or years?"
Mr Matthews said he planned to give away most of his winnings to charities, including the cancer charity Macmillan.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Clown laid to rest with highest honour from peers
Norman Thompson considered cheering people up his duty.
As a Shriner and member of the Antioch Shrine Funster Clown Unit for 15 years, Thompson took his work seriously.
The clown unit specializes in eliciting smiles from and comforting children who are burn victims or have orthopedic problems.
By all accounts, Thompson, also known as “Boppo,” was good at what he did with a great sense of humour and a ready smile.
Thompson, 79, died on Monday, May 25.
He was buried on Friday, May 29, with the highest honour a clown can receive: he was “carried to his resting spot by his fellow clowns,” said Mick (Willie the Clown) Lile, the Funsters’ director known informally as the boss clown.
Full story here with news video and large photo gallery.
As a Shriner and member of the Antioch Shrine Funster Clown Unit for 15 years, Thompson took his work seriously.
The clown unit specializes in eliciting smiles from and comforting children who are burn victims or have orthopedic problems.
By all accounts, Thompson, also known as “Boppo,” was good at what he did with a great sense of humour and a ready smile.
Thompson, 79, died on Monday, May 25.
He was buried on Friday, May 29, with the highest honour a clown can receive: he was “carried to his resting spot by his fellow clowns,” said Mick (Willie the Clown) Lile, the Funsters’ director known informally as the boss clown.
Full story here with news video and large photo gallery.
Cat falls 26 stories from high rise ledge
It's been said that cats have nine lives. Lucky may have used more than one earlier this month. The cat fell 26 stories out of his owner's apartment window.
"I guess he thought he was safer than he actually was," Keri Hostetler said.
The window in Keri's home office was only open 6 inches, but that was wide enough for Lucky, a curious cat, to squeeze through.
Lucky's terrifying fall and extraordinarily graceful landing were captured on film. A window washing crew across the street took photos.
First of Lucky perched dangerously on the ledge, and then a stomach-turning shot of Lucky midair. Finally, they captured Lucky, after landing, on his feet on a neighbour's balcony 26 stories below.
Amazingly, Lucky escaped with minor injuries.
With news video and photo gallery.
"I guess he thought he was safer than he actually was," Keri Hostetler said.
The window in Keri's home office was only open 6 inches, but that was wide enough for Lucky, a curious cat, to squeeze through.
Lucky's terrifying fall and extraordinarily graceful landing were captured on film. A window washing crew across the street took photos.
First of Lucky perched dangerously on the ledge, and then a stomach-turning shot of Lucky midair. Finally, they captured Lucky, after landing, on his feet on a neighbour's balcony 26 stories below.
Amazingly, Lucky escaped with minor injuries.
With news video and photo gallery.
Virgin Mary appears at dry cleaners
Catholics are flocking to a Rio Grande Valley dry cleaning business where many believe the image of the Virgin Mary has made an apparition.
The image appeared on a dry cleaning press at Comet Cleaners off East Harrison Avenue in Harlingen on Wednesday.
Employee Janie Guerra discovered the image.
Guerra said that she prays at work every day.
The Harlingen woman said the image appeared after she said her lunchtime prayer on Wednesday.
Word of the image spread among Catholics in the Rio Grande Valley prompting many to visit the dry cleaning business in hopes of catching a glimpse of the image.
There's a news video here.
The image appeared on a dry cleaning press at Comet Cleaners off East Harrison Avenue in Harlingen on Wednesday.
Employee Janie Guerra discovered the image.
Guerra said that she prays at work every day.
The Harlingen woman said the image appeared after she said her lunchtime prayer on Wednesday.
Word of the image spread among Catholics in the Rio Grande Valley prompting many to visit the dry cleaning business in hopes of catching a glimpse of the image.
There's a news video here.
Matador gored by bull as fight goes wrong
This is the agonising moment Israel Lancho nearly pays the ultimate price for being a glamourous matador.
A momentary slip and he is speared by an enraged bull and hoisted up on the animal’s horns in front of thousands of spectators in Madrid. Israel was conscious when he reached the bullring surgery.
But after an emergency operation on his 10in deep stomach wound he is now said to be in a “very serious condition” in hospital.
A momentary slip and he is speared by an enraged bull and hoisted up on the animal’s horns in front of thousands of spectators in Madrid. Israel was conscious when he reached the bullring surgery.
But after an emergency operation on his 10in deep stomach wound he is now said to be in a “very serious condition” in hospital.
Husband calls police after men call wife 'fat'
Fort Worth police were called after a woman says she was called fat by men handing out flyers to a health club. The incident happened in a residential area, near Heritage Trace Parkway, as the woman walked down the street with her new baby.
The woman is so upset she didn't want to speak on camera, but did say while walking with her baby, on Tuesday, she was approached by two men with flyers promoting Fitness 2000's summer slim down program.
According to the police report, the woman said the men yelled at her to stop. When she simply waved and kept on going, one of the men began following her.
The report says the man told her she "was fat" and "had a fat stomach" and "ate too many donuts".
After being followed and called fat, the woman reportedly became so upset that she called her husband and he called the non-emergency police line.
So was calling the police extreme? Fort Worth police say the man who did the name calling did not commit a crime; because the woman wasn't followed home, injured, and foul language wasn't used.
The woman is so upset she didn't want to speak on camera, but did say while walking with her baby, on Tuesday, she was approached by two men with flyers promoting Fitness 2000's summer slim down program.
According to the police report, the woman said the men yelled at her to stop. When she simply waved and kept on going, one of the men began following her.
The report says the man told her she "was fat" and "had a fat stomach" and "ate too many donuts".
After being followed and called fat, the woman reportedly became so upset that she called her husband and he called the non-emergency police line.
So was calling the police extreme? Fort Worth police say the man who did the name calling did not commit a crime; because the woman wasn't followed home, injured, and foul language wasn't used.
'Glass hold' reveals personality
The way you hold your glass can reveal much more than you might realise, a psychologist has warned.
Dr Glenn Wilson, a consultant psychologist, observed the body language of 500 drinkers and divided them into eight personality types.
These were the flirt, the gossip, fun lover, wallflower, the ice-queen, the playboy, Jack-the-lad and browbeater.
Dr Wilson, who carried out the work for the Walkabout bar chain, said glass hold "reflected the person you are".
The types of drinker are.
Dr Glenn Wilson, a consultant psychologist, observed the body language of 500 drinkers and divided them into eight personality types.
These were the flirt, the gossip, fun lover, wallflower, the ice-queen, the playboy, Jack-the-lad and browbeater.
Dr Wilson, who carried out the work for the Walkabout bar chain, said glass hold "reflected the person you are".
The types of drinker are.
Maniac kills 5 with self-made electric chair
A Russian man has killed at least 5 people with a self-made electric chair before being detained by police.
The 30-year old killer was detained in the city of Yekaterinburg, in the Urals Region in central Russia. He has pleaded guilty to killing one man whom he lured into his garage by posting a classified ad on the Internet claiming he wanted to buy some computer parts. Then, the maniac tied up his victim and put him into the car, wrapping his body in electric wire connected to a powerful capacitor. After electrocuting the victim he took the body to the outskirts of the city and burned it in a fire made with old car tyres.
Despite the fact that the murder was committed in the presence of a witness – one of the killer’s friends – the case was solved only after the police had found and managed to identify the badly burnt body. When the maniac was detained, he immediately pleaded guilty and told the investigators that he would admit all similar crimes if more bodies were found.
Investigators think that in 2008 and 2009 the maniac killed at least 5 people, since that many people had left their homes to sell computer parts and went missing since then.
Police found a small power plant installed in the garage and linked to a computer. The detained killer said that he had designed a device with which he planned to kill people who passed by in their cars – one part of the machine would remotely stop the car engine and the other part, resembling a door mat – would electrocute and kill the exiting driver.
While staying in the pre-trial detention center, the criminal said that he also planned to make a device that would erase people’s memory with an electro-magnetic ray.
The 30-year old killer was detained in the city of Yekaterinburg, in the Urals Region in central Russia. He has pleaded guilty to killing one man whom he lured into his garage by posting a classified ad on the Internet claiming he wanted to buy some computer parts. Then, the maniac tied up his victim and put him into the car, wrapping his body in electric wire connected to a powerful capacitor. After electrocuting the victim he took the body to the outskirts of the city and burned it in a fire made with old car tyres.
Despite the fact that the murder was committed in the presence of a witness – one of the killer’s friends – the case was solved only after the police had found and managed to identify the badly burnt body. When the maniac was detained, he immediately pleaded guilty and told the investigators that he would admit all similar crimes if more bodies were found.
Investigators think that in 2008 and 2009 the maniac killed at least 5 people, since that many people had left their homes to sell computer parts and went missing since then.
Police found a small power plant installed in the garage and linked to a computer. The detained killer said that he had designed a device with which he planned to kill people who passed by in their cars – one part of the machine would remotely stop the car engine and the other part, resembling a door mat – would electrocute and kill the exiting driver.
While staying in the pre-trial detention center, the criminal said that he also planned to make a device that would erase people’s memory with an electro-magnetic ray.
13-year-old held for murder and necrophilia
Chinese police have arrested a 13-year-old boy who allegedly killed a three-year-old girl and then had sex with her corpse on May 19. An official of the Haizhu district public security bureau in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, said: "We have arrested the boy and are interrogating him to determine the motive of the murder."
The police arrested the accused, whose real name has been withheld as he is a minor, on May 21, the official said. "A postmortem examination on May 21 confirmed that the girl was first killed and then sexually assaulted," he said.
According to the confession of the accused, he saw three-year-old Wang Xiaoyi playing near his apartment building while he was returning home from school on May 19. "He grabbed the girl and took her to his home while his parents were away. The accused tied the girl's hands and feet and forced her head into a basin full of water."
After Wang drowned to death, the 13-year-old allegedly had sex with her corpse before throwing it out of his fifth floor apartment. The accused confessed to the crime, admitting he had no accomplices.
Huang Aihua, a lawyer at the Guangzhou Hebang Law Firm, said the accused will not face criminal charges as he is a minor. "The court cannot punish anyone below the age of 14 with criminal sanctions," he said.
He, however, added that if found guilty, the accused will have to bear "civil liabilities". "The victim's family can request compensation for mental anguish, death and funeral charges."
The police arrested the accused, whose real name has been withheld as he is a minor, on May 21, the official said. "A postmortem examination on May 21 confirmed that the girl was first killed and then sexually assaulted," he said.
According to the confession of the accused, he saw three-year-old Wang Xiaoyi playing near his apartment building while he was returning home from school on May 19. "He grabbed the girl and took her to his home while his parents were away. The accused tied the girl's hands and feet and forced her head into a basin full of water."
After Wang drowned to death, the 13-year-old allegedly had sex with her corpse before throwing it out of his fifth floor apartment. The accused confessed to the crime, admitting he had no accomplices.
Huang Aihua, a lawyer at the Guangzhou Hebang Law Firm, said the accused will not face criminal charges as he is a minor. "The court cannot punish anyone below the age of 14 with criminal sanctions," he said.
He, however, added that if found guilty, the accused will have to bear "civil liabilities". "The victim's family can request compensation for mental anguish, death and funeral charges."
Knife man gets reduced sentence after dog bite to testicles
A 32-year-old man in southern Sweden found guilty of assaulting his ex-girlfriend has been granted a lower than usual sentence because of the suffering caused when he was bitten in the testicles by the woman's Rottweiler.
Helsingborg District Court sentenced the man to one and a half years in jail for aggravated assault after finding him guilty of stabbing his ex-girlfriend twice from behind with a knife. The court said he would have received a longer sentence had he not been severely bitten in course of the melee.
The attack took place on March 31st at an apartment in the southern Swedish city. According to the woman's version of events, her Rottweiler snapped into action after her assailant had begun wielding a knife.
During the attack the dog was stabbed twice in the throat, but not before it had succeeded in inflicting serious damage on the 32-year-old's scrotum.
The man in his turn claimed that his ex-girlfriend had set her dog on him and that he had acted in self-defence when he chose to stab the animal. He also denied stabbing his former girlfriend.
The court rejected both the self-defence claim and the assertion that he had not attacked the woman with a knife.
Helsingborg District Court sentenced the man to one and a half years in jail for aggravated assault after finding him guilty of stabbing his ex-girlfriend twice from behind with a knife. The court said he would have received a longer sentence had he not been severely bitten in course of the melee.
The attack took place on March 31st at an apartment in the southern Swedish city. According to the woman's version of events, her Rottweiler snapped into action after her assailant had begun wielding a knife.
During the attack the dog was stabbed twice in the throat, but not before it had succeeded in inflicting serious damage on the 32-year-old's scrotum.
The man in his turn claimed that his ex-girlfriend had set her dog on him and that he had acted in self-defence when he chose to stab the animal. He also denied stabbing his former girlfriend.
The court rejected both the self-defence claim and the assertion that he had not attacked the woman with a knife.
Contortionist holds bodyweight with mouth
Contortionist Iona Luvsandorj has smashed an endurance world record by holding her entire bodyweight on her mouth in an arduous backbend.
Iona, who is 28 and lives in West Hampstead, London, held a pose called the "Marinelli bend" for 33 seconds, beating the existing world record by 11 seconds.
The Marinelli is an inverted backbend where the whole body is supported by the mouth by gripping onto a short post that is held between the gums.
Teaser.
Iona was born and raised in Mongolia and has over 19 years of experience as a contortionist and has travelled the world performing in over 16 different countries at gala evenings, theatres, cabaret shows and on television.
Iona is implausibly bendy and is also capable of twisted headstands, scales and multiple body folds.
Iona was one of seven children born to a policeman and a nurse. She is currently studying for a law degree at Birbeck College, part of the University of London. She claims she is the only person in the UK who can do the Marinelli bend.
Iona, who is 28 and lives in West Hampstead, London, held a pose called the "Marinelli bend" for 33 seconds, beating the existing world record by 11 seconds.
The Marinelli is an inverted backbend where the whole body is supported by the mouth by gripping onto a short post that is held between the gums.
Teaser.
Iona was born and raised in Mongolia and has over 19 years of experience as a contortionist and has travelled the world performing in over 16 different countries at gala evenings, theatres, cabaret shows and on television.
Iona is implausibly bendy and is also capable of twisted headstands, scales and multiple body folds.
Iona was one of seven children born to a policeman and a nurse. She is currently studying for a law degree at Birbeck College, part of the University of London. She claims she is the only person in the UK who can do the Marinelli bend.
Grey squirrel hunter follows UK pie demand south
A pest controller on a mission to rid the UK of grey squirrels is moving south - to feed the demand for squirrel pie.
Paul Parker, 45, has helped catch and kill more than 22,000 grey squirrels in the past 18 months.
The father of three is a founder of conservation group the Red Squirrel Protection Partnership (RSPP), which says trapping and shooting is the only way to save the native reds from extinction.
His method has been so successful grey squirrels have been eradicated in many parts of Northumberland, and the reds have returned.
The Defra-funded group relies on an army of volunteers - many of them pensioners - to help spot and trap the squirrels. They have caught 22,622 greys so far.
Parker, from Newcastle, said: "We are hoping to move down south. We have asked landowners down there if they need any help to get rid of the greys, to educate them as to our methods and how we catch them, using spring loaded box traps and catch live traps."
Paul Parker, 45, has helped catch and kill more than 22,000 grey squirrels in the past 18 months.
The father of three is a founder of conservation group the Red Squirrel Protection Partnership (RSPP), which says trapping and shooting is the only way to save the native reds from extinction.
His method has been so successful grey squirrels have been eradicated in many parts of Northumberland, and the reds have returned.
The Defra-funded group relies on an army of volunteers - many of them pensioners - to help spot and trap the squirrels. They have caught 22,622 greys so far.
Parker, from Newcastle, said: "We are hoping to move down south. We have asked landowners down there if they need any help to get rid of the greys, to educate them as to our methods and how we catch them, using spring loaded box traps and catch live traps."
Security warning after pease pudding seized
Airport staff issued a security warning after a passenger tried to carry pease pudding on to a plane. The traditional northern snack – made from boiled split peas and ham fat – was confiscated from hand luggage at Newcastle International airport. It was part of the 450 litres of banned liquids seized by staff each day, including suntan lotion and jars of Marmite.
Chris Davis, the head of operations, said it was costing the airport a fortune in recycling and waste disposal. He said: "We're asking our customers to make sure they're aware of what can and can't be taken through the security search in their hand luggage."
Chris Davis, the head of operations, said it was costing the airport a fortune in recycling and waste disposal. He said: "We're asking our customers to make sure they're aware of what can and can't be taken through the security search in their hand luggage."
Liverpool school to have 12-word name after row
A new school is to have a whopping 12-word name because of a spat over what it should be called.
From September pupils face enrolling at Knowsley Park Centre for Learning – serving Prescot, Whiston and the wider community.
The far from catchy title – believed to be among the world’s longest school names – will be the name adopted by a new secondary in Prescot.
The school will be a combination of Prescot school and Whiston’s Higher Side comprehensive, one of seven new multi-million secondaries the council refer to as centres for learning. Governors have confirmed the mouthful name will be used on the school exterior as well as signs, stationery, marketing and letters.
From September pupils face enrolling at Knowsley Park Centre for Learning – serving Prescot, Whiston and the wider community.
The far from catchy title – believed to be among the world’s longest school names – will be the name adopted by a new secondary in Prescot.
The school will be a combination of Prescot school and Whiston’s Higher Side comprehensive, one of seven new multi-million secondaries the council refer to as centres for learning. Governors have confirmed the mouthful name will be used on the school exterior as well as signs, stationery, marketing and letters.
Woman jailed for enslaving sons' brides
A woman who used her three daughters-in-law as slaves and was preparing a similar fate for a fourth young woman was yesterday sentenced to seven years in jail.
Naseebah Bibi, who beat her victims and treated them "like dogs", was said by a judge at Preston crown court to have psychologically and physically traumatised the women, condemning them to live in fear.
She used her house in Blackburn, Lancashire, as a prison and factory, forcing her oldest son Fahim's wife to make clothes for 13 years and keeping the money from their sale. Nagina Akhtar was given little more than a month off for the births of each of her three children, and was beaten into doing cleaning and cooking chores when the clothing business collapsed.
Bibi was convicted earlier this year of falsely imprisoning Nagina between 1993 and 2006, Tazeem Akhtar from 2001 to 2003 and Nisbah Akhtar between 2005 and 2007. The women had come to Britain after arranged marriages to three of Bibi's six children, who are their cousins.
None of them spoke English, and Bibi's trial in April heard that they had seldom been allowed to leave the house. The brutality came to light after Nagina's three-year-old son told staff at his nursery that his grandmother had caused the severe bruising they had noticed on his mother's hands.
The judge said he had taken account of cultural differences and accepted that Bibi followed her own parents' views on arranged marriages. But he said: "That can be no excuse for the degree of cruelty and imprisonment to which the victims were subjected."
Naseebah Bibi, who beat her victims and treated them "like dogs", was said by a judge at Preston crown court to have psychologically and physically traumatised the women, condemning them to live in fear.
She used her house in Blackburn, Lancashire, as a prison and factory, forcing her oldest son Fahim's wife to make clothes for 13 years and keeping the money from their sale. Nagina Akhtar was given little more than a month off for the births of each of her three children, and was beaten into doing cleaning and cooking chores when the clothing business collapsed.
Bibi was convicted earlier this year of falsely imprisoning Nagina between 1993 and 2006, Tazeem Akhtar from 2001 to 2003 and Nisbah Akhtar between 2005 and 2007. The women had come to Britain after arranged marriages to three of Bibi's six children, who are their cousins.
None of them spoke English, and Bibi's trial in April heard that they had seldom been allowed to leave the house. The brutality came to light after Nagina's three-year-old son told staff at his nursery that his grandmother had caused the severe bruising they had noticed on his mother's hands.
The judge said he had taken account of cultural differences and accepted that Bibi followed her own parents' views on arranged marriages. But he said: "That can be no excuse for the degree of cruelty and imprisonment to which the victims were subjected."
Friday, May 29, 2009
British tourist's passport stolen by parrot in New Zealand
Police said the Scottish visitor reported the theft from a tour bus on its way to Milford Sound, a coastal beauty spot in South Island's rugged Fiordland region.
A police spokesman in Te Anau, the nearest town, said the kea had swooped on a brightly coloured courier bag containing the man's passport when the coach made a stop and the driver opened the luggage compartment.
The passport has not been recovered and, given the 4,600 square mile size of Fiordland's alpine national park, the officer feared it was unlikely to be.
The Scotsman, who did not want to be identified, said he had been told by the British High Commission in Wellington that there could be a wait of up to six weeks before he receives a replacement passport.
He said he was planning to return home to Scotland in August.
"Being Scottish, I've got a sense of humour, so I did take it with humour, but obviously there is a side of me that is still raging," he said. "My passport is somewhere out there in Fiordland. The kea is probably using it for fraudulent claims or something."
A police spokesman in Te Anau, the nearest town, said the kea had swooped on a brightly coloured courier bag containing the man's passport when the coach made a stop and the driver opened the luggage compartment.
The passport has not been recovered and, given the 4,600 square mile size of Fiordland's alpine national park, the officer feared it was unlikely to be.
The Scotsman, who did not want to be identified, said he had been told by the British High Commission in Wellington that there could be a wait of up to six weeks before he receives a replacement passport.
He said he was planning to return home to Scotland in August.
"Being Scottish, I've got a sense of humour, so I did take it with humour, but obviously there is a side of me that is still raging," he said. "My passport is somewhere out there in Fiordland. The kea is probably using it for fraudulent claims or something."
Couple in bizarre stripping game speak out - Update
An 18-year-old woman and 23-year-old man accused of dropping big rocks off a railroad trestle onto more than a dozen cars below have apologized for their behaviour.
In an interview with Amanda Madison and Joshua Sizemore from their jail cells, they didn't deny tossing the rocks, but said they never thought it would hurt anyone. "I didn't think it could kill somebody," Sizemore said. "I wasn't aiming for death."
Previously.
In an interview with Amanda Madison and Joshua Sizemore from their jail cells, they didn't deny tossing the rocks, but said they never thought it would hurt anyone. "I didn't think it could kill somebody," Sizemore said. "I wasn't aiming for death."
Previously.
Calling your wife ugly may become offence in Malaysia
Calling your wife ugly to humiliate her may soon be considered an offence under proposed amendments to the Domestic Violence Act 1994.
The amendments will include a clause on emotional violence against women who are currently only protected against physical abuse.
Women’s Development Depart- ment director-general Datuk Dr Noorul Ainur Mohd Nur said the aim of proposing the amendment was to safeguard women both physically and emotionally.
She said emotional violence was a form of abuse that would scar women deeply and lower their self-esteem, dignity and self-confidence.
“It could be a case when a husband tells his wife she is ugly or humiliates her until she feels emotionally pressured,” she told reporters at the end of a seminar on how to curb violence against women at Wisma Wanita yesterday.
She added that they were in the process of bringing the proposed amendments to Parliament.
The amendments will include a clause on emotional violence against women who are currently only protected against physical abuse.
Women’s Development Depart- ment director-general Datuk Dr Noorul Ainur Mohd Nur said the aim of proposing the amendment was to safeguard women both physically and emotionally.
She said emotional violence was a form of abuse that would scar women deeply and lower their self-esteem, dignity and self-confidence.
“It could be a case when a husband tells his wife she is ugly or humiliates her until she feels emotionally pressured,” she told reporters at the end of a seminar on how to curb violence against women at Wisma Wanita yesterday.
She added that they were in the process of bringing the proposed amendments to Parliament.
Man forced wife to breastfeed puppies
He offered two cows for her hand in marriage 11 years ago. So when Nathan Awoloi needed milk for his five puppies, the hunter from Okurutok village in the Eastern Uganda district of Pallisa forced his wife, Jennifer Alupot, to breastfeed the quintet since his cows were taken by her family.
The act, however, turned disastrous when the family lost its third born child, who was sharing his mother’s breasts with the puppies, to suspected rabies early last year. Rabies is a fatal viral disease that causes acute inflammation of the brain in humans and other mammals. Police in Pallisa District arrested Mr Awoloi on May 4 but their decision to release him the next day and later label his wife an insane woman has been condemned by a civil society organisation that has taken interest in the case.
According to Ms Caroline Odoi, the Country Development Initiative Coordinator of global anti-poverty agency, ActionAid International, the police have not handled the case with the seriousness it should be accorded. “This poor woman reported this case to police. The man was arrested but released in a day. No medical examination was made and neither were the puppies got as evidence,” she said.
Ms Alupot, who currently lives in a grass thatched house that doubles as a counselling room for Pentecostal Revival Ministries after her husband threw her out, said that she started breastfeeding the puppies three years ago.
“My husband is a hunter. When people killed his dogs, he bought five puppies but feeding them was a problem. One night I woke up and found a puppy on my breast feeding. My husband was standing nearby with a panga and threatened to cut me into pieces if I resisted,” Ms Alupot narrated. “He told me the cows that would have produced milk for the puppies were used to pay my bride price. This continued for some time until my third born of four months developed rashes. I reported the case to Apopong Police Post,” she added.
Ms Alupot says by the time her baby died, its skin had developed rashes akin to hot water burns. She said the baby barked like a dog while crying. Ms Alupot, who says she was pregnant at the time the other baby died, currently has another baby that she says had started developing the same symptoms as her late brother until the intervention of ActionAid. The Medical Superintendent of Entebbe Hospital, Dr Moses Mwanga, says when a dog infected with rabies bites someone and its saliva mixes with blood of the person, the victim contracts the disease.
The act, however, turned disastrous when the family lost its third born child, who was sharing his mother’s breasts with the puppies, to suspected rabies early last year. Rabies is a fatal viral disease that causes acute inflammation of the brain in humans and other mammals. Police in Pallisa District arrested Mr Awoloi on May 4 but their decision to release him the next day and later label his wife an insane woman has been condemned by a civil society organisation that has taken interest in the case.
According to Ms Caroline Odoi, the Country Development Initiative Coordinator of global anti-poverty agency, ActionAid International, the police have not handled the case with the seriousness it should be accorded. “This poor woman reported this case to police. The man was arrested but released in a day. No medical examination was made and neither were the puppies got as evidence,” she said.
Ms Alupot, who currently lives in a grass thatched house that doubles as a counselling room for Pentecostal Revival Ministries after her husband threw her out, said that she started breastfeeding the puppies three years ago.
“My husband is a hunter. When people killed his dogs, he bought five puppies but feeding them was a problem. One night I woke up and found a puppy on my breast feeding. My husband was standing nearby with a panga and threatened to cut me into pieces if I resisted,” Ms Alupot narrated. “He told me the cows that would have produced milk for the puppies were used to pay my bride price. This continued for some time until my third born of four months developed rashes. I reported the case to Apopong Police Post,” she added.
Ms Alupot says by the time her baby died, its skin had developed rashes akin to hot water burns. She said the baby barked like a dog while crying. Ms Alupot, who says she was pregnant at the time the other baby died, currently has another baby that she says had started developing the same symptoms as her late brother until the intervention of ActionAid. The Medical Superintendent of Entebbe Hospital, Dr Moses Mwanga, says when a dog infected with rabies bites someone and its saliva mixes with blood of the person, the victim contracts the disease.
3-year-old girl accidentally shoots and kills brother
A 3-year-old California girl accidentally shot and killed her two year old brother after finding a pistol under her parents' bed.
Police said the children's mother was in another part of the apartment when the shooting took place on Wednesday, and their father was at work. The boy, who was shot with a .45-calibre semi-automatic handgun, was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
According to the US centres for disease control, American children 14 or younger are nine times more likely to die in a gun accident than children in Britain and 24 other industrialised nations combined. In 2006, at least 32 American children three years old or younger were killed with firearms, according to the agency.
In the past six weeks, a 3-year-old Chicago boy was shot in the chest and killed at a relative's home in what officials called a homicide, a 2-year-old Jacksonville, Florida boy was accidentally shot in the stomach by a teenager who was showing off a handgun to a friend and thought it was unloaded, and a 2-year-old Milltown, Indiana girl shot herself in the head with a gun she found in her parents' bedroom.
There's a news video here.
Police said the children's mother was in another part of the apartment when the shooting took place on Wednesday, and their father was at work. The boy, who was shot with a .45-calibre semi-automatic handgun, was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
According to the US centres for disease control, American children 14 or younger are nine times more likely to die in a gun accident than children in Britain and 24 other industrialised nations combined. In 2006, at least 32 American children three years old or younger were killed with firearms, according to the agency.
In the past six weeks, a 3-year-old Chicago boy was shot in the chest and killed at a relative's home in what officials called a homicide, a 2-year-old Jacksonville, Florida boy was accidentally shot in the stomach by a teenager who was showing off a handgun to a friend and thought it was unloaded, and a 2-year-old Milltown, Indiana girl shot herself in the head with a gun she found in her parents' bedroom.
There's a news video here.
Jesus found in jar of Marmite
A south Wales mum believes she has spotted the face of Jesus – in a jar of Marmite.
Claire Allen saw the likeness on the underside of the yellow lid when she opened a jar of the yeast spread to put on toast for her four-year-old son Robbie.
“I couldn’t believe it,” said 36-year-old Claire. “I opened the Marmite jar and put it on the breakfast bar, and the lid caught my eye. I just looked at it and immediately thought, that’s Jesus Christ.
Click for bigger.
“It wasn’t a new jar, but I’d never noticed that before.”
Claire, who runs a company specialising in disabled access, says she is “not particularly religious” but said she took comfort from seeing the image.
She said: “People might think I’m nuts, but I like to think it’s Jesus looking out for us.”
Claire Allen saw the likeness on the underside of the yellow lid when she opened a jar of the yeast spread to put on toast for her four-year-old son Robbie.
“I couldn’t believe it,” said 36-year-old Claire. “I opened the Marmite jar and put it on the breakfast bar, and the lid caught my eye. I just looked at it and immediately thought, that’s Jesus Christ.
Click for bigger.
“It wasn’t a new jar, but I’d never noticed that before.”
Claire, who runs a company specialising in disabled access, says she is “not particularly religious” but said she took comfort from seeing the image.
She said: “People might think I’m nuts, but I like to think it’s Jesus looking out for us.”
Facebook allows breast cancer patient's pictures after complaints
After having a mastectomy, Sharon Adams decided to raise awareness of breast cancer by posting photographs of her scar on Facebook.
They were accompanied by a description of the mother of four's fight against the disease and encouragement from her for other women to go for regular check-ups.
But within a day, the social networking site removed the photos after describing them as 'sexual and abusive'.
The action triggered a wave of protest, with nearly 900 people joining an online group calling for the ban to be lifted. 'I put these pictures out on Facebook to put a message out to women - check your breasts regularly and do not ever be ashamed of a mastectomy,' said Miss Adams, 45, yesterday.
'For Facebook to claim they were sexual and abusive was absurd. Facebook has online groups about sexual positions and some groups which are bordering on racist - but they ban this.'
Facebook, which has more than 120million members, has admitted that it made a mistake. A spokesman said: 'Our user operations team reviews thousands of reported photos a day and may occasionally remove something-that doesn't actually violate our policies. This is what happened here. We apologise.'
They were accompanied by a description of the mother of four's fight against the disease and encouragement from her for other women to go for regular check-ups.
But within a day, the social networking site removed the photos after describing them as 'sexual and abusive'.
The action triggered a wave of protest, with nearly 900 people joining an online group calling for the ban to be lifted. 'I put these pictures out on Facebook to put a message out to women - check your breasts regularly and do not ever be ashamed of a mastectomy,' said Miss Adams, 45, yesterday.
'For Facebook to claim they were sexual and abusive was absurd. Facebook has online groups about sexual positions and some groups which are bordering on racist - but they ban this.'
Facebook, which has more than 120million members, has admitted that it made a mistake. A spokesman said: 'Our user operations team reviews thousands of reported photos a day and may occasionally remove something-that doesn't actually violate our policies. This is what happened here. We apologise.'
Bird of prey blown out of nest
A bird of prey was caught on camera being blown out of her nest by a gust of wind.
The female Goshawk is being watched by thousands of people across the globe as she raises her chicks in Hampshire's New Forest.
A tiny camera in her nest that is perched 50 feet up a tree has recorded the ups and downs of the maternal process.
That included the mishap that saw the wind blow her from behind and turn her upside down and out tumbling of the nest.
With her feathers ruffled she managed to regain her composure and return to her chicks.
Peter Dobson, whose company Carnyx Wild specialises in videoing events like this, said the bird caught being blown from her nest was "probably a first".
The female Goshawk is being watched by thousands of people across the globe as she raises her chicks in Hampshire's New Forest.
A tiny camera in her nest that is perched 50 feet up a tree has recorded the ups and downs of the maternal process.
That included the mishap that saw the wind blow her from behind and turn her upside down and out tumbling of the nest.
With her feathers ruffled she managed to regain her composure and return to her chicks.
Peter Dobson, whose company Carnyx Wild specialises in videoing events like this, said the bird caught being blown from her nest was "probably a first".
Spinster, 83, 'hid her mother's body in a freezer for 30 years' - Update
An 83-year-old woman who kept her mum’s body in a freezer has told neighbours she is hugely relieved her secret is out in the open. Frail Daulat Irani, known as Dot, spoke to friends as police revealed her mother, Gulbai Freedoon Murzan, may have been in the chest freezer for almost 30 years.
Dot told how the body in the garage preyed on her mind for decades but she waited until her sister Parvis and brother-in-law Arthur died before she confessed.
One neighbour said: “Dot lived with her sister and brother-in-law until a few years ago. She confided in another neighbour who told the police and then the police came round and found the body.
“I said to Dot, ‘It must be a great relief knowing it’s all out in the open’. She said, ‘Yes it is.’ “She told me, ‘I waited until my sister and brother-in-law had gone. I thought it was the right time. I had to protect my family’.”
Parvis, a gynaecologist, died last year, two years after her engineer husband. It is not known if the couple were the ones responsible for hiding the body. A police source said it was possible that Mrs Murzan, born in December 1901, was put in freezer as early as 1980.
A post-mortem had to be delayed until tomorrow because the body had not fully defrosted.
Dot told how the body in the garage preyed on her mind for decades but she waited until her sister Parvis and brother-in-law Arthur died before she confessed.
One neighbour said: “Dot lived with her sister and brother-in-law until a few years ago. She confided in another neighbour who told the police and then the police came round and found the body.
“I said to Dot, ‘It must be a great relief knowing it’s all out in the open’. She said, ‘Yes it is.’ “She told me, ‘I waited until my sister and brother-in-law had gone. I thought it was the right time. I had to protect my family’.”
Parvis, a gynaecologist, died last year, two years after her engineer husband. It is not known if the couple were the ones responsible for hiding the body. A police source said it was possible that Mrs Murzan, born in December 1901, was put in freezer as early as 1980.
A post-mortem had to be delayed until tomorrow because the body had not fully defrosted.
Couple marry 50 years after getting engaged
John Searle and Maggie Crook have married half a century after splitting up as teenagers. Mrs Searle was 13 when she first set eyes on John way back in 1952 in their hometown of Exmouth, Devon.
The teenagers met at a life-saving club held at the popular seaside resort's long-closed seafront swimming pool. They got engaged at 18 but spilt up before they could name the day after their careers caused them to drift apart.
The couple, both 69, married on Wednesday more than five decades after vowing to walk down the aisle. Mr Searle, a former Royal Marine, said: "Being married to Maggie is going to be very nice. We are very happy together. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with my first true love."
His new wife said: "It's all been very easy. We knew each other's family from before. It's one of those nice relationships. It's all been very simple and straightforward."
They sadly parted as teenagers when Mrs Searle went to Canada to work as a nurse while Mr Searle carried out national service with the Royal Marines.
However, Mrs Searle never forgot her childhood sweetheart, who became a salesman and married twice before he was widowed four years ago. She never married.
The teenagers met at a life-saving club held at the popular seaside resort's long-closed seafront swimming pool. They got engaged at 18 but spilt up before they could name the day after their careers caused them to drift apart.
The couple, both 69, married on Wednesday more than five decades after vowing to walk down the aisle. Mr Searle, a former Royal Marine, said: "Being married to Maggie is going to be very nice. We are very happy together. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with my first true love."
His new wife said: "It's all been very easy. We knew each other's family from before. It's one of those nice relationships. It's all been very simple and straightforward."
They sadly parted as teenagers when Mrs Searle went to Canada to work as a nurse while Mr Searle carried out national service with the Royal Marines.
However, Mrs Searle never forgot her childhood sweetheart, who became a salesman and married twice before he was widowed four years ago. She never married.
Britain's oldest mum gives birth to baby boy - Update
Businesswoman Elizabeth Adeney has become Britain's oldest mum after giving birth to a son.
She secretly checked in to hospital this week and her baby was born on Tuesday.
Divorced Elizabeth - who turns 67 in July - and her son are being cared for at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.
Both are believed to be healthy, but are being monitored by specialist doctors.
She is understood to have chosen to give birth at the hospital because a private clinic might have been unable to deal with serious complications.
Weighing 5lb 3oz, her baby was delivered by Caesarean section. She was due to give birth next month but doctors brought the procedure forward.
She secretly checked in to hospital this week and her baby was born on Tuesday.
Divorced Elizabeth - who turns 67 in July - and her son are being cared for at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.
Both are believed to be healthy, but are being monitored by specialist doctors.
She is understood to have chosen to give birth at the hospital because a private clinic might have been unable to deal with serious complications.
Weighing 5lb 3oz, her baby was delivered by Caesarean section. She was due to give birth next month but doctors brought the procedure forward.
Bank customer smashed ATM machine after card 'swallowed'
A bank customer was so frustrated when a cash machine swallowed his card that he dialled 999 and threw a brick at the screen.
Mark Britten was arrested for criminal damage to the Lloyds TSB machine in Browtowe Lane, Broxtowe Estate.
He had already tried two cash machines, in Nuthall Road and Bells Lane, when he got to the TSB and was denied cash again.
The 45-year-old, of Stockhill Lane, Basford, said: "I was incensed by it all. I wanted the police to shut the machine down so it would not happen to anyone else. And they said they were too busy... so I smashed it with a brick."
Britten was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court to a 12-month community order. He must pay £200 towards the cost of the prosecution. No order for compensation was made because the judge had insufficient information about the cost of a replacement machine.
Judge Michael Stokes QC told Britten: "These days, we can all get annoyed with bankers and banks. But it is not appropriate to put bricks through their machines. It not only inconveniences them but members of the public."
Mark Britten was arrested for criminal damage to the Lloyds TSB machine in Browtowe Lane, Broxtowe Estate.
He had already tried two cash machines, in Nuthall Road and Bells Lane, when he got to the TSB and was denied cash again.
The 45-year-old, of Stockhill Lane, Basford, said: "I was incensed by it all. I wanted the police to shut the machine down so it would not happen to anyone else. And they said they were too busy... so I smashed it with a brick."
Britten was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court to a 12-month community order. He must pay £200 towards the cost of the prosecution. No order for compensation was made because the judge had insufficient information about the cost of a replacement machine.
Judge Michael Stokes QC told Britten: "These days, we can all get annoyed with bankers and banks. But it is not appropriate to put bricks through their machines. It not only inconveniences them but members of the public."
Workers lifted car, painted yellow lines under it and put it down ... then the wardens came and towed it away
Ruth Ducker always legally parks her Volkswagen Golf around the corner from her house, so it came as a shock when she discovered it had disappeared from its spot - and in its place was double yellow lines.
Her confusion deepened when Lambeth council claimed to have no knowledge of where her car was.
It took three weeks for the council to admit its contractors were behind the disappearance, and then add insult to injury by telling the 44-year-old graphic designer she owed more than £800 in fines.
In fact the car had been carefully lifted out of the way for the double yellows to be painted in Gordon Grove in Camberwell, then replaced on the new restrictions by the contractors responsible.
The same day a different set of parking enforcers spotted the 'illegally parked' car, and had it towed away - after photographing it on the newly painted double yellows.
'What they did was disgraceful,' said Mrs Ducker. “When I saw the photos of my car on the yellow lines I was furious. 'I knew that to pay up would be an admission of guilt, so I decided to fight them. But I didn’t get the car back until the middle of February and they offered a paltry £100 to compensate for lost road tax, insurance and inconvenience. Needless to say I still haven’t received a penny.'
Her confusion deepened when Lambeth council claimed to have no knowledge of where her car was.
It took three weeks for the council to admit its contractors were behind the disappearance, and then add insult to injury by telling the 44-year-old graphic designer she owed more than £800 in fines.
In fact the car had been carefully lifted out of the way for the double yellows to be painted in Gordon Grove in Camberwell, then replaced on the new restrictions by the contractors responsible.
The same day a different set of parking enforcers spotted the 'illegally parked' car, and had it towed away - after photographing it on the newly painted double yellows.
'What they did was disgraceful,' said Mrs Ducker. “When I saw the photos of my car on the yellow lines I was furious. 'I knew that to pay up would be an admission of guilt, so I decided to fight them. But I didn’t get the car back until the middle of February and they offered a paltry £100 to compensate for lost road tax, insurance and inconvenience. Needless to say I still haven’t received a penny.'
Man 'driven to drugs' when girlfriend forgot the gravy
A reformed drug addict turned to crack cocaine because his girlfriend didn't make any gravy for their Sunday roast dinner.
Paul Dibble, 30 of Galway Road, Knowle, then went on to steal 44 chocolate bars to sell for drugs, Bristol Magistrates' Court heard yesterday.
Sam Stevens, defending, said: "He has been out of trouble for quite a while by his standards.
"He has been using heroin for 15 years, since he was 15-years-old. He received a prison sentence towards the end of 2007 but two days after his release he was remanded in custody for an offence he hadn't committed. It took five months in custody to find out he was innocent. When he came out he was clean from heroin and has been clean ever since.
"His girlfriend was a cooking a Sunday roast and she committed the cardinal sin of not putting any gravy on it. That prompted an argument and she asked him to leave.
"A friend of his had a problem with crack cocaine, and he took it while feeling at a low ebb. The good news is he's back on track. He's clean and is back with his girlfriend." Magistrates gave him a conditional discharge and ordered he pay £60 in prosecution costs.
Paul Dibble, 30 of Galway Road, Knowle, then went on to steal 44 chocolate bars to sell for drugs, Bristol Magistrates' Court heard yesterday.
Sam Stevens, defending, said: "He has been out of trouble for quite a while by his standards.
"He has been using heroin for 15 years, since he was 15-years-old. He received a prison sentence towards the end of 2007 but two days after his release he was remanded in custody for an offence he hadn't committed. It took five months in custody to find out he was innocent. When he came out he was clean from heroin and has been clean ever since.
"His girlfriend was a cooking a Sunday roast and she committed the cardinal sin of not putting any gravy on it. That prompted an argument and she asked him to leave.
"A friend of his had a problem with crack cocaine, and he took it while feeling at a low ebb. The good news is he's back on track. He's clean and is back with his girlfriend." Magistrates gave him a conditional discharge and ordered he pay £60 in prosecution costs.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
'Feral' child barks and hisses after being raised as a pet
A "feral" five-year-old girl who hisses and barks after being forced by her family to live as one of their many pets has been rescued from a home in far eastern Russia.
According to police, the child, who has only been identified as "Natasha", was so neglected that she had barely developed a human vocabulary, communicating instead through animal noises.
Although she lived with her father, grandparents and other relatives, Natasha was essentially treated like one of a large number of dogs and cats that shared a small flat in the isolated city of Chita.
Like the other pets, she lapped at her food from a bowl on the floor and had never learned how to use cutlery.
Welfare officers, who were led to the flat by concerned neighbours, have placed Natasha in an orphanage. Although malnourished and small for her age, she appeared to be relatively healthy considering her ordeal, a police spokesman said.
He said the police were looking for the girl's parents, who are believed to be divorced.
According to police, the child, who has only been identified as "Natasha", was so neglected that she had barely developed a human vocabulary, communicating instead through animal noises.
Although she lived with her father, grandparents and other relatives, Natasha was essentially treated like one of a large number of dogs and cats that shared a small flat in the isolated city of Chita.
Like the other pets, she lapped at her food from a bowl on the floor and had never learned how to use cutlery.
Welfare officers, who were led to the flat by concerned neighbours, have placed Natasha in an orphanage. Although malnourished and small for her age, she appeared to be relatively healthy considering her ordeal, a police spokesman said.
He said the police were looking for the girl's parents, who are believed to be divorced.
Woman suffering headaches had bullet lodged in face for 42 years
Doctors have removed a bullet that was lodged in a housewife's face for 42 years. Hou Guoying, 65, had been complaining of an agonising headache before the operation in China.
X-ray pictures at Daping Hospital in Chongqing showed the bullet embedded near her right jaw and ear. She was accidentally shot with a pistol during the proletarian Cultural Revolution in 1967.
The bullet apparently hit her when it ricocheted through a wall during a fight in between rival factions of Red Guards. But doctors initially told her that her wound was only superficial.
Constant headaches and difficulty eating eventually led to an x-ray in 1978 that revealed the bullet.
She had refused an operation because of poor medical facilities in Chongqing at the time - resulting in three more decades of discomfort. But earlier this year, pain from the wound started spreading over her entire body.
Hou underwent surgery earlier this month to remove the 3.3cm-long bullet and is now recovering at home in Chongqing.
X-ray pictures at Daping Hospital in Chongqing showed the bullet embedded near her right jaw and ear. She was accidentally shot with a pistol during the proletarian Cultural Revolution in 1967.
The bullet apparently hit her when it ricocheted through a wall during a fight in between rival factions of Red Guards. But doctors initially told her that her wound was only superficial.
Constant headaches and difficulty eating eventually led to an x-ray in 1978 that revealed the bullet.
She had refused an operation because of poor medical facilities in Chongqing at the time - resulting in three more decades of discomfort. But earlier this year, pain from the wound started spreading over her entire body.
Hou underwent surgery earlier this month to remove the 3.3cm-long bullet and is now recovering at home in Chongqing.
Japan's stressed salarymen suffer halitosis epidemic during recession
As if looming unemployment were not enough to cause sleepless nights for legions of the country's businessmen, they are now falling victim to an unfortunate side effect of work-related stress.
Ichiro Saito, a professor of dentistry at Tsurumi University, said that he has witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of people experiencing "dry mouth" syndrome and he believes that as many as 30 million of his countrymen are now afflicted.
According to Prof Saito, humans secrete around 1.5 litres of saliva every day, a response that is controlled by the nervous system. Stress - brought on by an irate boss or a missed deadline - affects the nervous system and inhibits the secretion of saliva, meaning that less naturally occurring "mouthwash" is available.
A dry mouth is a dirty mouth and one that quickly develops an unpleasant odour, Prof Saito said.
The complaint is exacerbated by the ageing process and the side effects of medicines, as well as the individual's diet.
In a recent book on the complaint, Prof Saito suggested that people chew gum and carry a bottle of water to keep the mouth lubricated. He also suggests that food be chewed thoroughly and, in these testing economic times, that teeth be brushed more frequently.
Ichiro Saito, a professor of dentistry at Tsurumi University, said that he has witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of people experiencing "dry mouth" syndrome and he believes that as many as 30 million of his countrymen are now afflicted.
According to Prof Saito, humans secrete around 1.5 litres of saliva every day, a response that is controlled by the nervous system. Stress - brought on by an irate boss or a missed deadline - affects the nervous system and inhibits the secretion of saliva, meaning that less naturally occurring "mouthwash" is available.
A dry mouth is a dirty mouth and one that quickly develops an unpleasant odour, Prof Saito said.
The complaint is exacerbated by the ageing process and the side effects of medicines, as well as the individual's diet.
In a recent book on the complaint, Prof Saito suggested that people chew gum and carry a bottle of water to keep the mouth lubricated. He also suggests that food be chewed thoroughly and, in these testing economic times, that teeth be brushed more frequently.
'No land rights' for hippy Danes
Residents of Copenhagen's famed Christiania neighbourhood have no right to use the land they have occupied for four decades, a Danish court has ruled.
The 900-odd residents had expected the ruling from the Eastern High Court and planned to appeal, a spokesman said.
The court dismissed a lawsuit by them that they had the right to use the former naval base in the Danish capital even if they did not own it.
Government plans to regain control of the hippy enclave, including demolishing the squats to make way for apartments, prompted a court case in 2006. Christiania spokesman Thomas Ertman said: "I believe that we will appeal the case."
According to the Copenhagen Post, the residents have permission to remain temporarily and will not be evicted immediately. The neighbourhood was created in 1971 when hippies squatted at a derelict 18th-Century naval base on state-owned land.
With consent from civic authorities, the squatters were allowed to lead lives free from official interference, as long as they paid their taxes and utility bills. But in 2004 police cracked down on drug dealers in the area, a move which prompted battles on the streets between riot police and residents.
The 900-odd residents had expected the ruling from the Eastern High Court and planned to appeal, a spokesman said.
The court dismissed a lawsuit by them that they had the right to use the former naval base in the Danish capital even if they did not own it.
Government plans to regain control of the hippy enclave, including demolishing the squats to make way for apartments, prompted a court case in 2006. Christiania spokesman Thomas Ertman said: "I believe that we will appeal the case."
According to the Copenhagen Post, the residents have permission to remain temporarily and will not be evicted immediately. The neighbourhood was created in 1971 when hippies squatted at a derelict 18th-Century naval base on state-owned land.
With consent from civic authorities, the squatters were allowed to lead lives free from official interference, as long as they paid their taxes and utility bills. But in 2004 police cracked down on drug dealers in the area, a move which prompted battles on the streets between riot police and residents.
Man without fingerprints detained at airport
A man was held by immigration officials at a US airport - because a cancer drug had caused his fingerprints to disappear.
The 62-year-old, known had recently won his battle against head and neck cancer when he was given capecitabine to prevent a relapse. However, one of the anti-metabolite drug's side-effects is hand-foot syndrome where skin on a patient's palms or soles can peel, bleed and develop ulcers or blisters.
When Mr S attempted to fly from Singapore, Hong Kong, to visit relatives in America in December 2008, he was detained at customs for four hours.
Dr Eng-Huat Tan, his doctor at Singapore's National Cancer Centre, revealed officials believed he was a criminal trying to hide his identity. He said: "He was detained at the airport customs for four hours because the immigration officers could not detect his fingerprints.
"He was allowed to enter after the custom officers were satisfied that he was not a security threat. It is possible that there may be a growing number of such patients as Mr S who may benefit from maintenance capecitabine for disseminated malignancy."
Dr Tan advised all cancer patients who are being treated with capecitabine to carry a doctor's letter with them in a letter to the journal Annals of Oncology last week.
The 62-year-old, known had recently won his battle against head and neck cancer when he was given capecitabine to prevent a relapse. However, one of the anti-metabolite drug's side-effects is hand-foot syndrome where skin on a patient's palms or soles can peel, bleed and develop ulcers or blisters.
When Mr S attempted to fly from Singapore, Hong Kong, to visit relatives in America in December 2008, he was detained at customs for four hours.
Dr Eng-Huat Tan, his doctor at Singapore's National Cancer Centre, revealed officials believed he was a criminal trying to hide his identity. He said: "He was detained at the airport customs for four hours because the immigration officers could not detect his fingerprints.
"He was allowed to enter after the custom officers were satisfied that he was not a security threat. It is possible that there may be a growing number of such patients as Mr S who may benefit from maintenance capecitabine for disseminated malignancy."
Dr Tan advised all cancer patients who are being treated with capecitabine to carry a doctor's letter with them in a letter to the journal Annals of Oncology last week.
Artist gets 22 days for air rage attack - Update
A US court has convicted a Russian-born artist of assault in a bizarre incident aboard a plane in which she drank a bottle of liquid hand soap and attempted to bite the flight crew.
A court in Bangor, Maine, convicted Galina Rusanova, 54, on three counts of assault and sentenced her to 22 days in jail for her drunken outburst last month aboard a London-bound United Airlines flight from Los Angeles.
Rusanova, who has a British passport and lives in London, was released after her conviction because she had already spent 22 days in custody while awaiting trial. Roughly three hours into the April 29 flight, the plane had to be diverted to Bangor after an intoxicated Rusanova became unruly and scuffled with flight attendants.
According to an FBI report, she began punching and kicking until she fell to the floor of the cabin, at which point she began "snapping like a dog" while attempting to bite a crew member's leg.
Court papers revealed that Rusanova ran into the bathroom and consumed an entire container of liquid soap while a flight attendant looked on.
According to investigators, she was in the United States to visit a man she met on the internet. She said that because of a fear of flying, she consumed sleeping pills, antidepressants and wine, thus sparking her erratic behaviour. "It's typical of me. I sometimes do crazy things," she told investigators.
Previously.
A court in Bangor, Maine, convicted Galina Rusanova, 54, on three counts of assault and sentenced her to 22 days in jail for her drunken outburst last month aboard a London-bound United Airlines flight from Los Angeles.
Rusanova, who has a British passport and lives in London, was released after her conviction because she had already spent 22 days in custody while awaiting trial. Roughly three hours into the April 29 flight, the plane had to be diverted to Bangor after an intoxicated Rusanova became unruly and scuffled with flight attendants.
According to an FBI report, she began punching and kicking until she fell to the floor of the cabin, at which point she began "snapping like a dog" while attempting to bite a crew member's leg.
Court papers revealed that Rusanova ran into the bathroom and consumed an entire container of liquid soap while a flight attendant looked on.
According to investigators, she was in the United States to visit a man she met on the internet. She said that because of a fear of flying, she consumed sleeping pills, antidepressants and wine, thus sparking her erratic behaviour. "It's typical of me. I sometimes do crazy things," she told investigators.
Previously.
Sex Spider killed in Dutch supermarket
A toxic spider crawled out of a bunch of bananas at the jumbo hypermarket in the Netherlands. This species of banana spider has poison that causes infernal pains and paralysis phenomena. Men bitten by the Phoneutria nigriventer experience long and painful erections, which can lead to impotence.
The spider was captured by a hypermarket employee and nobody was bitten, according to Johan Dijkstra manager of the vegetable department.
The very toxic Brazilian wandering spider (phoneutria nigriventer) travelled together with a bunch of bananas from Costa Rica to the Netherlands. An employee of the vegetable department put the spider on display in a glass jar.
The store handed the spider over to a vet who killed the spider by drowning. “we must think of our own health, according to the vet”.
The spider was captured by a hypermarket employee and nobody was bitten, according to Johan Dijkstra manager of the vegetable department.
The very toxic Brazilian wandering spider (phoneutria nigriventer) travelled together with a bunch of bananas from Costa Rica to the Netherlands. An employee of the vegetable department put the spider on display in a glass jar.
The store handed the spider over to a vet who killed the spider by drowning. “we must think of our own health, according to the vet”.
Woman may have kept mother's body in freezer for 20 years
An elderly woman has been questioned by police after allegedly keeping her mother's body in a freezer for up to two decades. Police found the body wrapped in a black bin liner in a chest freezer at a semi-detached house in Sidcup, south-east London.
Officers interviewed Daulat Irani, 83, under caution after the body was discovered and identified as that of her mother Gulbai Freedoon Murzan, who was born in 1901. Police believe she may have been dead for up to 20 years.
Metropolitan police said the death was being treated as unexplained, rather than suspicious. Postmortem results are expected later this week.
Photo from here.
It is understood that officers were called to the property in Park Mead on 10 May after being alerted by a neighbour, and forensic officers removed the corpse.
It is unclear why the body was kept in the freezer, but neighbours of the elderly woman suggested she may have been worried that immigration authorities would discover her mother had been living illegally in the UK.
A neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said Irani was a "very private person" who kept her garden in pristine condition. "Obviously it was shocking when the police came and told me what happened. They said they believed she had been in the freezer for more than 20 years," the neighbour said. "I think it was an immigration thing because her mum was illegal and they didn't want anyone to know."
Officers interviewed Daulat Irani, 83, under caution after the body was discovered and identified as that of her mother Gulbai Freedoon Murzan, who was born in 1901. Police believe she may have been dead for up to 20 years.
Metropolitan police said the death was being treated as unexplained, rather than suspicious. Postmortem results are expected later this week.
Photo from here.
It is understood that officers were called to the property in Park Mead on 10 May after being alerted by a neighbour, and forensic officers removed the corpse.
It is unclear why the body was kept in the freezer, but neighbours of the elderly woman suggested she may have been worried that immigration authorities would discover her mother had been living illegally in the UK.
A neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said Irani was a "very private person" who kept her garden in pristine condition. "Obviously it was shocking when the police came and told me what happened. They said they believed she had been in the freezer for more than 20 years," the neighbour said. "I think it was an immigration thing because her mum was illegal and they didn't want anyone to know."
Semi-nude image 'not provocative'
A photograph of a scantily-clad woman was "not overtly sexual" and unlikely to cause offence, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ruled. The clothing catalogue picture showed a model on a bed wearing only knickers and with one of her breasts visible.
The watchdog rejected a complaint the image in a Jack Wills University Outfitters brochure was gratuitous and inappropriate for its target audience. The Salcombe-based company in Devon said its image was "tasteful".
It said customers had to be at least aged 18 to sign up for the catalogue which was intended to have an interesting and artistic impact to appeal to its 18 to 22-year-old target audience and their lifestyle.
Such images were tasteful and well liked by their target market and not meant to offend, the company said
In its ruling, the ASA said the model did not seem to be striking a "particularly provocative pose". "Although we understood that some younger teenagers might view the catalogue, or sign up to receive it, we concluded the images were not so provocative as to present a risk to teenagers or be unsuitable for the target audience.
"We considered the image was not overtly sexual in content and was unlikely to cause widespread offence."
The watchdog rejected a complaint the image in a Jack Wills University Outfitters brochure was gratuitous and inappropriate for its target audience. The Salcombe-based company in Devon said its image was "tasteful".
It said customers had to be at least aged 18 to sign up for the catalogue which was intended to have an interesting and artistic impact to appeal to its 18 to 22-year-old target audience and their lifestyle.
Such images were tasteful and well liked by their target market and not meant to offend, the company said
In its ruling, the ASA said the model did not seem to be striking a "particularly provocative pose". "Although we understood that some younger teenagers might view the catalogue, or sign up to receive it, we concluded the images were not so provocative as to present a risk to teenagers or be unsuitable for the target audience.
"We considered the image was not overtly sexual in content and was unlikely to cause widespread offence."
Dog's enforced diet gets him out of a hole
A dog was trapped underground in a rabbit warren for 25 days until he lost so much weight in his enforced diet that he was able to crawl out.
The well-fed Jack Russell called Jake was feared dead after he disappeared into the tunnel chasing a rabbit near Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire.
For nearly a month he was trapped until he lost an estimated quarter of his weight and was able to scramble out.
Grateful owner Jill Thomas, 52, said it was "incredible he survived".
Mrs Thomas said she and husband Rick were "so glad" to have the six-year-old home.
"He's a lot thinner but very happy."
The well-fed Jack Russell called Jake was feared dead after he disappeared into the tunnel chasing a rabbit near Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire.
For nearly a month he was trapped until he lost an estimated quarter of his weight and was able to scramble out.
Grateful owner Jill Thomas, 52, said it was "incredible he survived".
Mrs Thomas said she and husband Rick were "so glad" to have the six-year-old home.
"He's a lot thinner but very happy."
Pensioner banned from fish and chip run over safety fears
A grandfather was banned from buying fish and chips for friends in his sheltered housing block, after wardens ruled that the food might pose a health and safety risk if it got cold.
George Pretty, 72, was ordered to stop his weekly lunch run for fellow residents at the sheltered housing complex, even though the drive back from the local fish shop only took him five minutes.
Managers at the council-run Lakenfields centre in Norwich decided to suspend the long-running Wednesday lunch club after attending a food hygiene course.
Photo from here.
They said that the lunches would not resume until they had could secure heat-proof boxes to protect the fish and chips during their short journey from shop to plate.
The decision disappointed pensioners at the centre who have been forced to go without their traditional British treat.
Mr Pretty, who sits on the centre's social committee and has been buying the fish and chips for months, accused staff of "going over the top" and said he had never received complaints about the temperature of the food.
George Pretty, 72, was ordered to stop his weekly lunch run for fellow residents at the sheltered housing complex, even though the drive back from the local fish shop only took him five minutes.
Managers at the council-run Lakenfields centre in Norwich decided to suspend the long-running Wednesday lunch club after attending a food hygiene course.
Photo from here.
They said that the lunches would not resume until they had could secure heat-proof boxes to protect the fish and chips during their short journey from shop to plate.
The decision disappointed pensioners at the centre who have been forced to go without their traditional British treat.
Mr Pretty, who sits on the centre's social committee and has been buying the fish and chips for months, accused staff of "going over the top" and said he had never received complaints about the temperature of the food.
Police hunting hit-and-run mobility scooter driver
Police are hunting for a hit-and-run mobility scooter driver who knocked a man off a ladder.
The man was toppled from the ladder outside ESK Wholesale in Cambridge Road, Hastings, and suffered fractures and a serious head injury. The driver of the scooter failed to stop.
The incident, which has only recently been reported to police, happened at about 3pm on May 13.
Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Trevor Scott at Polegate Road Policing Unit.
The man was toppled from the ladder outside ESK Wholesale in Cambridge Road, Hastings, and suffered fractures and a serious head injury. The driver of the scooter failed to stop.
The incident, which has only recently been reported to police, happened at about 3pm on May 13.
Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Trevor Scott at Polegate Road Policing Unit.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Caterpillar invasion turns Dutch city into a horror scene
An invasion of caterpillars has turned the Spui in the Dutch city of Rotterdam into a scene from a horror movie, stripped of their leaves and covered in gluey sheets of silk. The Ermine moth eat the leaves on the trees for six weeks long, then the larvae cover the trees in cocoons of silk like giant spider webs and change into a white butterfly with black dots.
The city now looks as it would in the middle of winter with trees without a leaf on them in the streets of the Spui, Rotterdam.
When the tree has no leaves left, the caterpillars will search for new plants, and crawl with thousands on bikes or cars parked under the trees.
There are several hundred species of ermine moths, most of them in the tropics, and the larvae are known for forming communal webs.
The silk web cocoons that they make are designed to protect them from birds and parasitic wasps so they can eat leaves undisturbed. Some species of the moth are considered minor pests in farming, forestry and horticulture because of infestations.
Statistics show an increase in the number of caterpillar pests in the last twenty years. The eggs survive much better with the softer and wetter winters. Many people are disgusted with the creepy creatures.
There's a photo gallery here.
The city now looks as it would in the middle of winter with trees without a leaf on them in the streets of the Spui, Rotterdam.
When the tree has no leaves left, the caterpillars will search for new plants, and crawl with thousands on bikes or cars parked under the trees.
There are several hundred species of ermine moths, most of them in the tropics, and the larvae are known for forming communal webs.
The silk web cocoons that they make are designed to protect them from birds and parasitic wasps so they can eat leaves undisturbed. Some species of the moth are considered minor pests in farming, forestry and horticulture because of infestations.
Statistics show an increase in the number of caterpillar pests in the last twenty years. The eggs survive much better with the softer and wetter winters. Many people are disgusted with the creepy creatures.
There's a photo gallery here.
Woman blasts off boyfriend’s penis with firecrackers
A Russian woman got so upset by the news that her boyfriend intended to leave her that she tied several firecrackers to his penis and exploded them.
The 33-year-old victim, identified as Alik D. had lived with the woman whose name was reported as Kira V. for about two years, but when the girlfriend started suggesting that they should marry, the man refused and said that he would rather return to his first wife with whom he had a son.
When Alik started moving out Kira suggested that they had a farewell dinner. After a hearty meal and some heavy drinking Alik fell asleep. The girlfriend tied several firecrackers to Alik’s penis and exploded them. The man was rushed to intensive care and doctors are reported to be fighting for his life.
Even if the man survives the girl will face up to 12 years imprisonment.
The 33-year-old victim, identified as Alik D. had lived with the woman whose name was reported as Kira V. for about two years, but when the girlfriend started suggesting that they should marry, the man refused and said that he would rather return to his first wife with whom he had a son.
When Alik started moving out Kira suggested that they had a farewell dinner. After a hearty meal and some heavy drinking Alik fell asleep. The girlfriend tied several firecrackers to Alik’s penis and exploded them. The man was rushed to intensive care and doctors are reported to be fighting for his life.
Even if the man survives the girl will face up to 12 years imprisonment.
Marcel Marceau's black hat and red rose to be auctioned in Paris
Marcel Marceau's scruffy black top hat, red flower and striped pullover are among hundreds of personal belongings of the late mime artist that have gone under the hammer in a sale designed to pay off his considerable debts.
His family had hoped until the last moment to persuade the French state to pay for the items and turn his home in Bercheres-sur-Vesgre, west of Paris, into a museum - to no avail.
Besides the white sailor suit with a striped shirt, Marceau's tight-fitting jacket is among the 900 possessions in the sale at Drouot Richelieu auction house in Paris, which began yesterday, and continues today.
Marceau's hat, in worn burlap, is estimated at 1,000 - 1,500 euros (£875 - 1,300), while the sailor suit is expected to fetch 1,500 - 2,000 euros. One of the most expensive items is an intricate late 19th century wind-up figurine of a turbaned fortune teller, estimated at 7,000 - 9,000 euros.
The mime, whose white-faced stage persona Bip the Clown mesmerised international audiences for 60 years, died in September 2007, aged 84.
His family admitted, however, that he was a "better artist than he was a businessman". Marceau's daughter, Camille, said she was obliged to organise the sale given her late father's outstanding debts, describing the auction as a "real heartbreaker".
His family had hoped until the last moment to persuade the French state to pay for the items and turn his home in Bercheres-sur-Vesgre, west of Paris, into a museum - to no avail.
Besides the white sailor suit with a striped shirt, Marceau's tight-fitting jacket is among the 900 possessions in the sale at Drouot Richelieu auction house in Paris, which began yesterday, and continues today.
Marceau's hat, in worn burlap, is estimated at 1,000 - 1,500 euros (£875 - 1,300), while the sailor suit is expected to fetch 1,500 - 2,000 euros. One of the most expensive items is an intricate late 19th century wind-up figurine of a turbaned fortune teller, estimated at 7,000 - 9,000 euros.
The mime, whose white-faced stage persona Bip the Clown mesmerised international audiences for 60 years, died in September 2007, aged 84.
His family admitted, however, that he was a "better artist than he was a businessman". Marceau's daughter, Camille, said she was obliged to organise the sale given her late father's outstanding debts, describing the auction as a "real heartbreaker".
Wolf project seeks volunteers to howl in the woods
Wanted: a few dozen individuals willing to spend a night howling like wolves in Maine’s North Woods, and who won’t be scared off if they get a response.
The Wolf Inquiry Project, a collaboration of several conservation groups and biologists with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, plans to conduct “howling surveys” in select spots this summer in hopes of discovering whether wolves are resettling in Maine.
The project’s coordinators will hold a training and information session for interested volunteers from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 30, at the Fields Pond Audubon Center in Holden.
The methodology to be used in the surveys is fairly simple: Go out into the woods at night, howl like a wolf (or coyote, for that matter) and record the results, if there are any. After several minutes, the pair of volunteers will head to the next location and repeat the process.
Full story here.
The Wolf Inquiry Project, a collaboration of several conservation groups and biologists with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, plans to conduct “howling surveys” in select spots this summer in hopes of discovering whether wolves are resettling in Maine.
The project’s coordinators will hold a training and information session for interested volunteers from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 30, at the Fields Pond Audubon Center in Holden.
The methodology to be used in the surveys is fairly simple: Go out into the woods at night, howl like a wolf (or coyote, for that matter) and record the results, if there are any. After several minutes, the pair of volunteers will head to the next location and repeat the process.
Full story here.
Canadian official guts seal then eats heart over ban
Canada's governor general, Michaelle Jean, has helped to butcher and eat a seal in an apparent act of solidarity with hunters.
Ms Jean used a traditional Inuit knife to help gut the animal then ate a slice of raw heart.
It came weeks after the EU voted to ban Canadian seal products, but Ms Jean did not say if her actions were in response to the EU proposals.
An EU spokeswoman said the story was "too bizarre to acknowledge".
Ms Jean was touring northern Canadian communities and was at a festival at Rankin Inlet on Monday attended by hundreds of Inuit when she ate the seal heart.
Asked later if her actions were a message to the EU, she said: "Take from it what you will."
Ms Jean used a traditional Inuit knife to help gut the animal then ate a slice of raw heart.
It came weeks after the EU voted to ban Canadian seal products, but Ms Jean did not say if her actions were in response to the EU proposals.
An EU spokeswoman said the story was "too bizarre to acknowledge".
Ms Jean was touring northern Canadian communities and was at a festival at Rankin Inlet on Monday attended by hundreds of Inuit when she ate the seal heart.
Asked later if her actions were a message to the EU, she said: "Take from it what you will."
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)