Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Malian army training
Without ammunition to spare for training, soldiers in Mali make their own sounds of war.
YouTube link.
YouTube link.
Nature calls for Jason Puncheon
During last night's Premier League match between Southampton and Everton, Saints midfielder Jason Puncheon had to leave the pitch temporarily midway through the second half, returning a few minutes later.
The crowd at St Mary's had an idea where he'd been.
YouTube link.
The crowd at St Mary's had an idea where he'd been.
YouTube link.
Woman accuses neighbour of stealing dog's sperm
An Australian dog owner has been accused of stealing dog sperm from a Darwin backyard to breed puppies.
Jessica Pickering said a neighbour put their dog in her backyard in Bakewell, Palmerston, for her five-year-old Siberian husky Komet to impregnate.
Ms Pickering is on holidays in Melbourne and was shocked when she heard what happened. "I got a phone call from my house-sitter stating that someone had put their dog into my yard so that she could be bred with mine," the 24-year-old said.
"She didn't ask for permission and if she did ask for permission I would have agreed but a profit is just an added bonus. I guess she was too selfish to share the profits. I bought Komet as a pet, not to breed him. For someone to steal dog sperm is a pretty low act." Her house-sitter has since chained and locked the garden gate.
"In case (the breeding) doesn't work and she comes back to try again," she said. "What has this world come to people having to resort to this just so they can have puppies? I hope it doesn't work. I'm pretty sure I know who she is as she walks her dog every night past my house. She better pray I don't see her when I get back as I'll be confronting her about it."
Ms Pickering is on holidays in Melbourne and was shocked when she heard what happened. "I got a phone call from my house-sitter stating that someone had put their dog into my yard so that she could be bred with mine," the 24-year-old said.
"She didn't ask for permission and if she did ask for permission I would have agreed but a profit is just an added bonus. I guess she was too selfish to share the profits. I bought Komet as a pet, not to breed him. For someone to steal dog sperm is a pretty low act." Her house-sitter has since chained and locked the garden gate.
"In case (the breeding) doesn't work and she comes back to try again," she said. "What has this world come to people having to resort to this just so they can have puppies? I hope it doesn't work. I'm pretty sure I know who she is as she walks her dog every night past my house. She better pray I don't see her when I get back as I'll be confronting her about it."
Noisy stolen getaway donkey alerted police to robbery
A gang who tried to burgle a convenience store was forced to abandon its raid
when their stolen getaway donkey made too much noise and gave the game away.
The trio of Colombian criminals were forced to ditch their ill-gotten gains, during the 2am theft, after the animal started to bray and alerted police. The group had managed to steal rum, oil, rice, cans of tuna and sardines from a small shop in the tiny north Caribbean town of Juan de Acosta.
YouTube link.
They planned to load the goods onto 10-year-old Xavi, who they had stolen some 12 hours before, and make their escape. But the animal let out a series of 'hee-haws' and unfortunately for the trio alerted nearby police. They had to ditch the donkey, which was still carrying the stolen items, and ran to safety away from the officers.
Shop owner Fabio Orozco said: "They came through the roof to rob. They took rum, rice, everything." The donkey was detained in the town police station for 12 hours until owner Orlando Olivares was notified and came to collect him. All the items that had been stolen were returned to the store.
The trio of Colombian criminals were forced to ditch their ill-gotten gains, during the 2am theft, after the animal started to bray and alerted police. The group had managed to steal rum, oil, rice, cans of tuna and sardines from a small shop in the tiny north Caribbean town of Juan de Acosta.
YouTube link.
They planned to load the goods onto 10-year-old Xavi, who they had stolen some 12 hours before, and make their escape. But the animal let out a series of 'hee-haws' and unfortunately for the trio alerted nearby police. They had to ditch the donkey, which was still carrying the stolen items, and ran to safety away from the officers.
Shop owner Fabio Orozco said: "They came through the roof to rob. They took rum, rice, everything." The donkey was detained in the town police station for 12 hours until owner Orlando Olivares was notified and came to collect him. All the items that had been stolen were returned to the store.
Stalking crocodile forced four Dutchmen searching for crabs to spend night up a tree
Four Dutchmen had a harrowing night after scrambling up a tree to avoid a crocodile when their boat capsized in rough seas in Darwin, Australia. The four men, aged in their 30s, were stuck for more than 20 hours in mangroves after their boat capsized while they were trying to catch mud crabs in Darwin Harbour at about 11am (CST) on Sunday.
"There was one croc, but the sandflies, they really get you," one of the men later said. Director of CareFlight, Ian Badham, said apart from being covered in insect bites, the men were in good health despite their ordeal. "After their boat capsized they got themselves into the mangroves and spent the night in the tallest mangrove tree they could find," Mr Badham said. "They were bitten savagely by sandflies and mosquitoes and were very worried about being eaten by larger things.
"They did see crocodiles, but they [the men] stayed out of the water," he said. It was only on Monday just after 8am (CST) when the tide went out that the men were able to get back to their small craft and activate the emergency beacon, Mr Badham said. The beacon alerted the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, which alerted the Northern Territory Police, CareFlight and a commercial helicopter.
The commercial helicopter spotted the men and CareFlight then winched them up to safety and across to a sandbar to be checked out. Larry Tessman from Jayrow Helicopters, the first to spot the men, said they were relieved to see his chopper. "They were in the mangroves and mud, and one bloke came out and waved to us," he said. "They did say there was a croc watching them," he added. Mr Badham said the men were OK but feeling embarrassed.
There's a short news video here.
"There was one croc, but the sandflies, they really get you," one of the men later said. Director of CareFlight, Ian Badham, said apart from being covered in insect bites, the men were in good health despite their ordeal. "After their boat capsized they got themselves into the mangroves and spent the night in the tallest mangrove tree they could find," Mr Badham said. "They were bitten savagely by sandflies and mosquitoes and were very worried about being eaten by larger things.
"They did see crocodiles, but they [the men] stayed out of the water," he said. It was only on Monday just after 8am (CST) when the tide went out that the men were able to get back to their small craft and activate the emergency beacon, Mr Badham said. The beacon alerted the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, which alerted the Northern Territory Police, CareFlight and a commercial helicopter.
The commercial helicopter spotted the men and CareFlight then winched them up to safety and across to a sandbar to be checked out. Larry Tessman from Jayrow Helicopters, the first to spot the men, said they were relieved to see his chopper. "They were in the mangroves and mud, and one bloke came out and waved to us," he said. "They did say there was a croc watching them," he added. Mr Badham said the men were OK but feeling embarrassed.
There's a short news video here.
Outrage after school allegedly said girl, 13, should get breast reduction to stop harassment
Tammie Jackson phoned a Missouri school district to say that her daughter Gabrielle, 13, was routinely harassed because of her large breasts. But the alleged response from an employee horrified the already worried mother.
“The lady on the phone said they could transfer my daughter and said her boobs were so large she will always get teased. And the only suggestion she had for me is to have my daughter get a breast reduction,” Jackson said. Bullies at Central Middle School in Moline Acres, near St. Louis, make lewd and insensitive comments about Gabrielle’s large breasts, her mother claimed.
Jackson expected the school to look into the issue and tell the suspects to stop humiliating the sixth-grade girl. Instead, Jackson said the blame was placed unfairly on Gabrielle, the victim, rather than the bullies. “It makes me feel like now you are telling me it’s my fault, it’s God’s fault the way he made my daughter,” she said.
YouTube link.
School Superintendent Clive Coleman said that the school is currently investigating the incident and working on decreasing bullying throughout his district. He does not think, however, that Jackson’s claims are entirely accurate. “We’re still investigating it,” he said. “But to be honest with you, I think it’s maybe a product of miscommunication.”
“The lady on the phone said they could transfer my daughter and said her boobs were so large she will always get teased. And the only suggestion she had for me is to have my daughter get a breast reduction,” Jackson said. Bullies at Central Middle School in Moline Acres, near St. Louis, make lewd and insensitive comments about Gabrielle’s large breasts, her mother claimed.
Jackson expected the school to look into the issue and tell the suspects to stop humiliating the sixth-grade girl. Instead, Jackson said the blame was placed unfairly on Gabrielle, the victim, rather than the bullies. “It makes me feel like now you are telling me it’s my fault, it’s God’s fault the way he made my daughter,” she said.
YouTube link.
School Superintendent Clive Coleman said that the school is currently investigating the incident and working on decreasing bullying throughout his district. He does not think, however, that Jackson’s claims are entirely accurate. “We’re still investigating it,” he said. “But to be honest with you, I think it’s maybe a product of miscommunication.”
No joy in attempt to 'resurrect' man believed to be living underwater in river with a snake
Six days after he disappeared into the Mbuluzi River, Swaziland, Sibusiso Mavuso’s family believes he is still alive and living underwater with a snake.
On Sunday they performed rituals to appease the snake so that it could release him. In perfoming the ritual, they threw a live chicken into the river and forced a live cow to also jump into the flooded river. About 60 people watched in awe as the Mavuso family performed rituals to bring back to life the man who is believed to have drowned almost a week ago. The family are members of the Jericho Red Gown Sect.
Mavuso drowned while he had gone to pray at the river with his sister.
Police scuba divers have been trying to locate his body since his disappearance but their efforts haven’t yielded fruit. The Mavuso family hails from Luhlangotsini, Pigg’s Peak in the northern Hhohho region. A man of the cloth who preferred to be identified only as Reverend Kunene performed the ritual. Explaining the logic behind the ritual, Sibusiso’s grandmother, Sarah Maseko, said they believed Sibusiso was still alive under the water. She disclosed that her family believes Sibusiso was taken by a spiritual river snake she identified as inzuzu for an underworld internship for traditional healing (kwetfasa). She could not shed more details describing the snake except for disclosing that it (snake) is the king of the underworld and water (silo semanti).
She said the ritual was to appease the snake so that it released Sibusiso back to the family. "Sibusiso is my daughter’s son. And my belief as a Jericho Zion Church member is that he is still alive under the water. He is under strict supervision of the king of the underworld and water (silo semanti) which we refer to as inzuzu. He is alive, we are certain of that. This ritual is to plead with the king of the underworld and water to release him back to us," said Maseko. Reverend Kunene flatly refused to respond to questions about the ritual. Before the ritual was carried out a white chicken, candles, five cents coins, sweets, and a cow (black in colour) were bought. Kunene first lit the candles and placed them near the almost flooding river. This was followed by an ancestral prayer but he was carrying and referring to a Bible as he went about his mission.
After the prayer, Reverend Kunene then tossed the coins and sweets into the river, followed by sprinkling a liquid substance into the river. He then threw Sibusiso’s grand-mother’s kanga and the white chicken into the river. Thereafter he called for the cow to be brought to him. He carried out what appeared to be an ancestral prayer on the cow before it was forced to jump into the river. To onlookers’ surprise, the cow swam to safety before it was eventually swept away by the flooded river. The cow did not appear on the far side of the river. Bishop Khanyakwezwe Vilakati, leader of the faction of The Jericho Red Gown Sect which Sibusiso Mavuso’s family claims to belong to rubbished claims that his church supports the rituals the family was carrying out in a bid to bring back to life the man who is believed to have drowned. "This is grossly wrong. The Jericho Church in Zion should not be mixed with satanic practices like the ones you are referring to," he said.
Police scuba divers have been trying to locate his body since his disappearance but their efforts haven’t yielded fruit. The Mavuso family hails from Luhlangotsini, Pigg’s Peak in the northern Hhohho region. A man of the cloth who preferred to be identified only as Reverend Kunene performed the ritual. Explaining the logic behind the ritual, Sibusiso’s grandmother, Sarah Maseko, said they believed Sibusiso was still alive under the water. She disclosed that her family believes Sibusiso was taken by a spiritual river snake she identified as inzuzu for an underworld internship for traditional healing (kwetfasa). She could not shed more details describing the snake except for disclosing that it (snake) is the king of the underworld and water (silo semanti).
She said the ritual was to appease the snake so that it released Sibusiso back to the family. "Sibusiso is my daughter’s son. And my belief as a Jericho Zion Church member is that he is still alive under the water. He is under strict supervision of the king of the underworld and water (silo semanti) which we refer to as inzuzu. He is alive, we are certain of that. This ritual is to plead with the king of the underworld and water to release him back to us," said Maseko. Reverend Kunene flatly refused to respond to questions about the ritual. Before the ritual was carried out a white chicken, candles, five cents coins, sweets, and a cow (black in colour) were bought. Kunene first lit the candles and placed them near the almost flooding river. This was followed by an ancestral prayer but he was carrying and referring to a Bible as he went about his mission.
After the prayer, Reverend Kunene then tossed the coins and sweets into the river, followed by sprinkling a liquid substance into the river. He then threw Sibusiso’s grand-mother’s kanga and the white chicken into the river. Thereafter he called for the cow to be brought to him. He carried out what appeared to be an ancestral prayer on the cow before it was forced to jump into the river. To onlookers’ surprise, the cow swam to safety before it was eventually swept away by the flooded river. The cow did not appear on the far side of the river. Bishop Khanyakwezwe Vilakati, leader of the faction of The Jericho Red Gown Sect which Sibusiso Mavuso’s family claims to belong to rubbished claims that his church supports the rituals the family was carrying out in a bid to bring back to life the man who is believed to have drowned. "This is grossly wrong. The Jericho Church in Zion should not be mixed with satanic practices like the ones you are referring to," he said.
Massive boulder gave woman rude awakening
When Scot Denhalter moved into a new rented home in St. George, Utah, last month, he told his wife, Wanda, that he was a little worried about the boulder-laden red rock ridge hovering above the backyard.
Denhalter, feared that one day the rocks might loosen and come tumbling down upon them. "She said, ‘no it won't’," said Denhalter, 62.
Early on Saturday, those fears came true when a huge oblong rock barrelled down the hillside at about 3am crashing into the couple’s bedroom. The boulder, which is about 12 feet long, 9 feet high and 9 feet thick, smashed through the corner of the home, pushing the bed and other furniture more than 4 feet.
Wanda Denhalter, who was sleeping alone, narrowly missed being crushed under the rock. "I guess she heard the rumbling as it came down the hill and woke up," said Scot, who was staying at his son’s nearby home overnight. "She rolled away from the oncoming noise to my side of the bed. If she had decided to swing her legs over the side of the bed and get up to investigate, it would have killed her."
YouTube link.
Wanda, 63, was struck and injured - her jaw and sternum broken and a gash on her leg. Bleeding and in pain, however, she managed to get up and call 911. Doctors wired Wanda Denhalter’s jaw shut and sewed up her leg. She is expected to make a full recovery. "She’s very lucky," Scot said.
Early on Saturday, those fears came true when a huge oblong rock barrelled down the hillside at about 3am crashing into the couple’s bedroom. The boulder, which is about 12 feet long, 9 feet high and 9 feet thick, smashed through the corner of the home, pushing the bed and other furniture more than 4 feet.
Wanda Denhalter, who was sleeping alone, narrowly missed being crushed under the rock. "I guess she heard the rumbling as it came down the hill and woke up," said Scot, who was staying at his son’s nearby home overnight. "She rolled away from the oncoming noise to my side of the bed. If she had decided to swing her legs over the side of the bed and get up to investigate, it would have killed her."
YouTube link.
Wanda, 63, was struck and injured - her jaw and sternum broken and a gash on her leg. Bleeding and in pain, however, she managed to get up and call 911. Doctors wired Wanda Denhalter’s jaw shut and sewed up her leg. She is expected to make a full recovery. "She’s very lucky," Scot said.
Lemurs on the loose cause havoc in Miami
It was a case of lemurs on the loose in a North Miami Beach neighbourhood early on Monday morning. North Miami Beach Police say they received a call at around 2am of two monkeys attacking a girl.
The 2-year-old girl had been getting out of a car with her mother when she was scratched in the face by one of the lemurs, police said. Officers were able to capture one of the lemurs after it jumped on top of a police car. The owner was able to catch the other lemur. The girl was treated by fire rescue workers at the scene and wasn't hospitalised.
The owner of lemurs, Julia Hincapie, who keeps them in cage in his backyard, said someone broke in and that's how they got loose. He added that he has a permit for the lemurs. "They were just, they were scared, that's it, they were running around, everyone was chasing them, a lot of lights, they were scared," Hincapie said.
YouTube link.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was at the scene investigating. "We have called out FWC who is gonna come out and make sure that he is licensed, inspect the cages to make sure that their integrity hasn't been compromised because of a possible attempted burglary," North Miami Beach Police Sgt. Richard Rand said. "Our main concern right now is to make sure that the neighbourhood is kept safe."
The 2-year-old girl had been getting out of a car with her mother when she was scratched in the face by one of the lemurs, police said. Officers were able to capture one of the lemurs after it jumped on top of a police car. The owner was able to catch the other lemur. The girl was treated by fire rescue workers at the scene and wasn't hospitalised.
The owner of lemurs, Julia Hincapie, who keeps them in cage in his backyard, said someone broke in and that's how they got loose. He added that he has a permit for the lemurs. "They were just, they were scared, that's it, they were running around, everyone was chasing them, a lot of lights, they were scared," Hincapie said.
YouTube link.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was at the scene investigating. "We have called out FWC who is gonna come out and make sure that he is licensed, inspect the cages to make sure that their integrity hasn't been compromised because of a possible attempted burglary," North Miami Beach Police Sgt. Richard Rand said. "Our main concern right now is to make sure that the neighbourhood is kept safe."
Woman ‘held in room and fed via cat flap for years’
Detectives in Northern Ireland are investigating the case of a woman allegedly held prisoner in a house in Co Armagh for years – and fed through a cat flap. The shocking case was reportedly discovered when the PSNI were called to a house to investigate a “domestic row”, thought to be in the Craigavon area.
Police spoke to children in the house, and they innocently pointed them towards the room where the traumatised woman was incarcerated. The officers were deeply shocked by what confronted them. The reason for the woman’s imprisonment is unclear, and police sources say that she was unable to make herself understood to them when they freed her.
A man has been arrested in connection with the allegations, and the Southern Health and Social Care Trust has been called in. A statement from the PSNI said: “Detectives are conducting an investigation into allegations of neglect and abuse. “Given the sensitive nature of the investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment any further.
“This is a complex and lengthy investigation and we would ask for the continued support of the community.” The police statement added that a 56-year-old man has been arrested and has been released on bail pending further inquiries. The health trust has asked that the family are not identified in order to protect the children involved.
Police spoke to children in the house, and they innocently pointed them towards the room where the traumatised woman was incarcerated. The officers were deeply shocked by what confronted them. The reason for the woman’s imprisonment is unclear, and police sources say that she was unable to make herself understood to them when they freed her.
A man has been arrested in connection with the allegations, and the Southern Health and Social Care Trust has been called in. A statement from the PSNI said: “Detectives are conducting an investigation into allegations of neglect and abuse. “Given the sensitive nature of the investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment any further.
“This is a complex and lengthy investigation and we would ask for the continued support of the community.” The police statement added that a 56-year-old man has been arrested and has been released on bail pending further inquiries. The health trust has asked that the family are not identified in order to protect the children involved.
Man, 80, handcuffed and his daughter hit with spanner by men looking for cannabis farm
A woman has spoken of her horror after four raiders forced their way into her 80-year-old father's home and handcuffed him. She was hit on the head with a metal bat and spanner during the incident in Moorgreen, near Eastwood, Nottinghamshire.
Her father was handcuffed as the raiders searched the house during the 15-minute ordeal. The woman said: "It was just so frightening – when they tried to come in through the door and they hit me. I just thought 'what have I done to deserve this?' One of the men hit me over the head and there was blood all over my shirt.
"I tried pushing him back out of the door but he was too strong for me – it was so frightening. I was frightened too for my dad. He is being strong and trying to carry on as normal, but I was so worried for him. I just don't understand why they came here and did what they did."
Police said the men told the victims they were looking for a cannabis farm but when they discovered there were no plants they left the house and drove off. The men were white and in their early 20s to mid 30s.
Her father was handcuffed as the raiders searched the house during the 15-minute ordeal. The woman said: "It was just so frightening – when they tried to come in through the door and they hit me. I just thought 'what have I done to deserve this?' One of the men hit me over the head and there was blood all over my shirt.
"I tried pushing him back out of the door but he was too strong for me – it was so frightening. I was frightened too for my dad. He is being strong and trying to carry on as normal, but I was so worried for him. I just don't understand why they came here and did what they did."
Police said the men told the victims they were looking for a cannabis farm but when they discovered there were no plants they left the house and drove off. The men were white and in their early 20s to mid 30s.
Row over defrosting waffles led to man's drug conviction
A man turned to drugs to de-stress following a heated row with his girlfriend over defrosting waffles. Jamie Paddison of Grantham, Lincolnshire admitted possession of cannabis after being found carrying the Class B drug on December 19.
Bill Fraser, defending, told the court Paddison had made good progress in reducing his use of the drug but had a habit of turning to it in times of stress, as he did following a row with his girlfriend. Mr Fraser added: “The row was about how they should have defrosted their waffles - which seems a bit bizarre to me.”
Police officers approached Mr Paddison as he was a passenger in a car parked in Bridge End Road in Grantham. The driver was also found with cannabis but received only a warning. Paddison, 23, had to be charged because of a previous conviction.
Mr Fraser said: “The officer did indicate he wished he did not have to charge Mr Paddison but because of his previous convictions he had to.” Paddison, who has recently been made redundant, was ordered to complete 40 hours of unpaid work and pay £85 in costs and a £60 surcharge.
Bill Fraser, defending, told the court Paddison had made good progress in reducing his use of the drug but had a habit of turning to it in times of stress, as he did following a row with his girlfriend. Mr Fraser added: “The row was about how they should have defrosted their waffles - which seems a bit bizarre to me.”
Police officers approached Mr Paddison as he was a passenger in a car parked in Bridge End Road in Grantham. The driver was also found with cannabis but received only a warning. Paddison, 23, had to be charged because of a previous conviction.
Mr Fraser said: “The officer did indicate he wished he did not have to charge Mr Paddison but because of his previous convictions he had to.” Paddison, who has recently been made redundant, was ordered to complete 40 hours of unpaid work and pay £85 in costs and a £60 surcharge.
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