Airshow-Boeing Dreamliner makes first overseas landing

July 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

England, July 18 (Reuters) – Boeing’s (BA.N) new 787 Dreamliner touched down in Britain on Sunday on its first trip outside the United States, thrilling hordes of eager planespotters who came out to see the breakthrough carbon-composite plane.

It is expected to take the spotlight at next week’s Farnborough Airshow and was the talk of British TV and Twitter in the moments leading up to its landing. Last-minute technical issues had raised some fears in recent weeks that the plane might not make its long-anticipated trip to the show.

The aircraft promises greater fuel efficiency, and its lightweight materials and innovative design have captured the imagination of both the industry and the broader aviation fan community. Dozens of journalists and throngs of flight enthusiasts assembled near the runway to watch the landing. (Reporting by Kyle Peterson, Editing by Jeremy Laurence)

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Suicide attack kills 3, wound 50 in NW Pakistan

July 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Pakistan, July 9 (Reuters) – A suicide bomber killed three people and wounded nearly 50 in an attack outside the office of a senior government official in northwestern Pakistan on Friday, government and hospital officials said.

The bomber struck when dozens of people were gathered around the office in the Mohmand ethnic Pashtun tribal region on the Afghan border, where security forces have stepped up attacks on Taliban militants in recent weeks.

“The bomber blew himself up outside the office of an assistant political agent, killing himself and wounding dozens others,” a government official, Mehraj Khan, told Reuters.

Hospital officials said three people were killed and nearly 50 were being treated for multiple wounds.

Pakistan launched two major offensives in the northwest last year against homegrown Taliban militants who have killed hundreds of people in retaliatory attacks across Pakistan, mostly in the northwest, but also in major cities. (Reporting by Izaz Mohmand; Writing by Augustine Anthony; Editing by Chris Allbritton and Ron Popeski) (E-mail: augustine.anthony@thomsonreuters.com; Reuters Messaging: augustine.anthony.reuters.com@reuters.net; Islamabad newsroom: +92 51 281 0017)) (If you have a query or comment about this story, send an e-mail to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)

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Iran hangs head of Sunni Muslim rebel group -TV

June 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

June 20 (Reuters) – Iran hanged the convicted leader of a Sunni Muslim rebel group on Sunday for his involvement in “terrorist” attacks in the Islamic state, state television reported.

“Abdolmalek Rigi was hanged at dawn today … he was convicted for many crimes like being behind many deadly attacks … and killing dozens of innocent people,” state television said.

(Writing by Parisa Hafezi, Editing by Michael Roddy)

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Weiss keeps his son in check for Slovakia

June 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – Father-son chats in the Weiss family are difficult affairs, with Slovakia coach Vladimir saying on Wednesday he was being extra strict with his son of the same name as they prepare for the World Cup.

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Three generations of Vladimir Weisses have played soccer for their country, one winning an Olympic silver medal in 1964, one playing at the 1990 World Cup and one getting ready to take to the field in South Africa.

Weiss junior does not get any favors from his father.

“It’s not so easy, I am very strict with him, much stricter with him than other players,” the coach told Reuters in an interview on the pitch after the team’s first training session in Pretoria.

“It’s not so easy for him either but he’s a nice guy so he’s is very popular with the rest of the team. I hope his talent is good and he can help his team.”

Grandfather Weiss, it seems, has the easiest job.

“He is sitting at home waiting to watch the matches on the television,” said 45-year-old Weiss, straining to speak over the din of the vuvuzelas being blown by the dozens of fans watching his players train.

“The grandfather is happy now, his son is coaching the team and his grandson is 20 years old and is playing at the World Cup, it’s very good for the family.”

Slovakia face Italy, New Zealand and Paraguay in Group F, with Tuesday’s opener with the All Whites likely to offer some clues as to how far they will progress in their first World Cup appearance as an independent nation.

“We must try to win the first game, it is historic for Slovakia to be here. If we win we have the chance to progress,” said the coach.

“I’m a lucky man because I started as a player in the 1990 World Cup and after 20 years I am a coach at the World Cup, it’s very nice for me.”

(Editing by Nigel Hunt)

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Dozens trapped after deadly building collapse

June 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – Dozens of people were feared trapped and at least 20 people died after a five-storey building collapsed in the Bangladesh capital Wednesday, police and witnesses said.

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At least 50 people were injured in the collapse of the building, which police said was badly constructed. Rescue teams were scouring through the rubble for bodies and survivors.

Nearly all the building’s tenants escaped unharmed as it started to tilt to one side, and most of the casualties were from the homes surrounding the structure, witnesses said.

“We fear the death toll may go up further as there are many people still trapped under the rubble,” a police officer on the scene said.

Dhaka is a bustling city of 12 million people, but many of its buildings are poorly constructed because of lack of supervision and enforcement of regulations.

(Reporting by Serajul Islam Quadir; Editing by David Fox)

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Dozens trapped after deadly building collapse

June 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment

June 2 (Reuters) – Dozens of people were feared trapped and at least 20 people died after a five-storey building collapsed in the Bangladesh capital on Wednesday, police and witnesses said.

At least 50 people were injured in the collapse of the building, which police said was badly constructed. Rescue teams were scouring through the rubble for bodies and survivors.

Nearly all the building’s tenants escaped unharmed as it started to tilt to one side, and most of the casualties were from the homes surrounding the structure, witnesses said.

“We fear the death toll may go up further as there are many people still trapped under the rubble,” a police officer on the scene said.

Dhaka is a bustling city of 12 million people, but many of its buildings are poorly constructed because of lack of supervision and enforcement of regulations. (Reporting by Serajul Islam Quadir; Editing by David Fox)

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Gunmen attack Pakistan hospital in Lahore, kill 12

June 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

LAHORE, Pakistan, June 1 (Reuters) – At least three gunmen attacked a hospital in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore on Tuesday, killing 12 people and holding several hostage, a senior doctor told Reuters.

“They barged into the hospital building and opened indiscriminate fire,” said Javed Ikram, Chief Executive of Jinnah hospital.

He said at least 12 people were killed in the firing while some had been held hostage.

Dozens of people wounded in Friday’s attacks on two mosques of a minority religious community in the city were being treated in the hospital, which is a major institution in the city. More than 80 people were killed in those attacks.

“We have surrounded the hospital and an operation is underway,” senior city government official, Sajjad Bhutta, said.

A witness told Reuters that a police commando team had stormed into the hospital.

One hospital official, who declined to be identified, said the gunmen killed one of the attackers from Friday’s assault who was being treated in the Intensive Care Unit. (Reporting by Mubasher Bukhari in Lahore, and Kamran Haider and Zeeshan Haider in Islamabad; Editing by Jon Boyle and Chris Allbritton)

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USA Swimming releases list of banned coaches

May 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Dozens of U.S. swimming coaches, including a former national team director, received life bans by the sport’s national body for a range of offences such as sexual misconduct, doping and fraud.

Responding to criticism after allegations of abuse were reported by U.S. media earlier this year, USA Swimming released a list this week of 46 people who have been either barred for life or resigned their membership over the last two decades.

The list included 36 people who were cited for breaching USA Swimming’s Code of Conduct rules for sexual misconduct or “other inappropriate sexually oriented behavior.”

Among the names on the list was Everett Uchiyama, who resigned as national team director in 2006.

Two others were banned for fraud, another for illegal drugs or substances, two for unspecified felonies while the remaining five were for offences before the code of conduct was introduced.

USA Swimming had previously refused to name any individuals banned by their organization but relented after months of complaints and claims they were covering up sex-related cases.

Earlier this year, a U.S. television station broadcast a report on sexual misconduct cases in the sport that led USA Swimming to announce safeguards to protect children.

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Turkish coach crash kills 16 people – reports

May 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

A coach carrying Russian tourists crashed near Turkey’s southern resort of Antalya on Tuesday, killing 16 people and injuring dozens more, broadcasters and a news agency reported.

Television pictures showed the wrecked coach lying on its roof after leaving the road and falling into a ditch in the early hours of Tuesday. The dead included the Turkish driver and tour guide while the reamining fatalities were Russian tourists.

Antalya Deputy Governor Mehmet Seyman told the state-run Anatolian news agency 16 people were killed in the accident, and 25 tourists were injured. Rescue teams were trying to get the injured out of the coach, he added.

Antalya is one of Turkey’s most popular tourist destinations, and visited every year by hundreds of thousands of mainly German, Russian and British tourists.

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British man being probed for selling Cobalt to Iran

May 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 16 (ANI): The HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of Britain recently raided the home of a British chemicals firm after a tip-off about the firm’s owner’s transactions with Iran wherein he sold lethal chemicals like cobalt to the country despite the enormous risk of Iran putting these chemicals to use in their weapons programme.

Jarrad Beddow, the firm’s owner who resides in a posh 400000 pound home, has defended his actions saying that the sales of the substance (cobalt) was not banned at the time of the transaction.

Details of the dirty bomb case are disclosed in dozens of pages of documents lodged in the High Court by Remet UK, a chemicals firm based in Rochester, Kent, The Times reports.

“HMRC are not conducting a criminal investigation against me and I have never been arrested,” said Beddow.

He claimed the company itself was under investigation, saying: “My home was searched by HMRC as part of the investigation into my employer, where I willingly supplied information.”

Remet’s managing director, Stephen Pilbury, said it had reported the “illegal” trade to the authorities and was “fully co-operating” with the criminal investigation, which involves HMRC and, it is understood, the security service MI5, the paper reports. (ANI)

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India steps in to tackle Lankan drug shortage

May 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Colombo, May 15 — India has stepped in to help Sri Lanka overcome a severe shortage of medicines including the fast depleting stock of saline in hospitals across the country. A worried Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition had to request the Sri Lankan air force (SLAF) to fly special missions to India to pick up bulks of saline bottles to supply to hospitals and health care units in cities, towns and villages. A team of senior officials from the healthcare ministry is also expected to fly to Mumbai to speed up the process of acquiring stocks of dozens of categories of life saving medicine as well.

“The first two flights came back with 27,750 bottles of saline each. The third flight from Mumbai is expected to bring back another 25,000 bottles of saline,” Healthcare Ministry’s C Samarawikrama said.

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Dozens of wedding guests electrocuted

May 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment

At least 28 people returning from a wedding were electrocuted when their bus hit a power cable in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, police said.

The accident occurred in the state’s remote Mandla district, 450 kilometres from state capital Bhopal, area police chief KK Sharma said.

“There was a metal almirah [cabinet] on top of the bus which came in contact with a high-voltage power cable, resulting in the electrocution of 28 of the wedding guests,” he said.

Most of the victims were women, he said, without giving any numbers. The United News of India agency said three children and 12 women were among those killed on the bus, which was carrying 32 people.

In a similar accident, 10 Hindus returning from a cremation were electrocuted when a live power cable fell on their bus in the eastern Indian state of Bihar.

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Yet again, Pak court acquits men accused of terror attacks for lack of evidence

May 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 14 (ANI): In a decision that raises serious questions over the Pakistan government’s ability to investigate and solve cases concerning major terror attacks, a Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court has acquitted nine men, who were accused of plotting two deadly attacks, including the one in which a top army official was killed.

All the nine men, who were charged with planning the February 2008 terror attack in which 16 people, including Lieutenant General Mushtaq Baig, were killed and dozens wounded, were set free by the court, which said there was not enough evidence against them.

“Due to lack of evidence, no charges can be proved against the accused,” BBC quoted judge Malik Akran Awan, as saying.

However, the court said the men would be held in “preventative custody” at home, saying they were still under investigation.

Commenting on the judgement, public prosecutor Bilal Ahmed claimed that ‘several witnesses and lots of evidence’ were produced in the court concerning the case, but it announced the judgement in favour of the accused persons.

The court’s verdict came just days after an anti-terrorism court acquitted four people involved in the 2008 Marriott Hotel bombing in which about 60 people, including five foreigners were killed and over a hundred injured, over lack of evidence. (ANI)

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Average woman dates dozen men, spends over $2K before finding Mr Right

May 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Wellington, May 10 (ANI): An average woman would date dozens of men and shell out thousands of dollars before finding her Mr Right, according to a Kiwi dating expert.

A survey by a British dating site found the average woman goes out with two dozen men and spends more than 2000 pounds before finding that special someone.

But Verity Molloy, owner of Auckland”s Speed Date, claimed that these results are conservative.

Molloy, 37, said that a woman on the prowl for a lengthy period could date “at least” that many suitors.

And Molloy said that she could easily spend 440 dollars to look her best for one of her company”s singles events, although she wouldn”t spend that much for every date.

This could include 40 dollars for a spray tan, 60 dollars for hair, up to 100 dollars on an outfit, 40 dollars for accessories, 100 dollars for taxis and another 100 dollars for drinks.

“Everybody”s different but 4200 dollars is not excessive at all,” the New Zealand Herald quoted her as saying.

The British survey of 2173 women found 7 per cent went on between 41 and 60 dates before finding someone and 1per cent had up to 80.

Sasha Madarasz, dating agent and owner of Auckland matchmaking agency Two”s Company, says most Kiwi women might have between one and five “matches” before finding a relationship, and may go on two or three dates with each person.

She said it was hard to pin down how much money her clients might spend, but suggested women would spend “thousands” making themselves look good.

“If you go on first dates with four men you can wear the same outfit and save money, but if you”re going on three, four, five dates with the same man you”ll want a new outfit each time,” she added. (ANI)

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Romanian ‘shoe architect’ makes heels to help women grow 12 inches!

May 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 7 (ANI): A Romanian “shoe architect” has created towering heels that promise to help increase the wearer’s height by 12 inches.

Mihai Albu’s shoes are twice the height of the highest heels available, and the handcrafted sandals do not come cheap, selling for up to 1,200 euros, which is more than twice the average monthly salary in Romania.

“Heels have an advantage because (many women) don’t have long legs,” the Telegraph quoted him as saying.

“They reposition the waist,” he stated.

Albu, a former architect, who draws inspiration from Romanian sculptor Constantin Brancusi and Spanish architect Antonio Gaudi, blends math, architecture and art in his creations.

He uses French leather and encrusts the shoes with jewels, feathers and mirrors.

But the designer believes his shoes are worth the high price, and he says he has received dozens of orders for the new sandals from Romania’s well heeled.

“I am creating a constructed chaos,” he said, describing his extravagant sandals in architectural terms.

In addition to their breathtaking height, his footwear features special effects and its appearance varies, depending on the angle.

One sandal featured an emerald heel topped by a skull mask out of which bursts a shock of peacock feathers, while another featured three heels, two of which are decorative.

There are boots that resemble a glass vase and unicorn-like boots with a heel in front, and his latest creation, the 12.2-inch heel sandal, is a construction of three black wedge sandals. (ANI)

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Navy makes changes after SIEV 36 inquiry

May 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Royal Australian Navy says operational changes are being made to ensure the SIEV 36 tragedy is not repeated.

The asylum seeker boat exploded near Ashmore Reef last year. Five asylum seekers were killed and dozens more were injured in the blast.

Crew from HMAS Albany provided treatment to 13 Afghan casualties in a makeshift burns unit on board their vessel.

The last of 51 commendations were today presented to Defence personnel who were involved in the rescue of asylum seekers.

Two patrol boat crews received a commendation, while Corporal Sharon Jagher received an individual gold commendation for her efforts on the day she described as the worst of her life.

A coronial inquiry found asylum seekers had lit petrol after being warned they would be returned to Indonesia.

But the inquiry also heard the incident could have been prevented if Defence personnel had properly searched the boat for petrol and matches and not agitated the asylum seekers by asking them to return to Indonesia.

Rear Admiral Tim Barrett says the coroner’s recommendations are being implemented despite claims to the contrary from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre.

“Most if not all of those actions are either complete or are very much underway to being complete,” he said.

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Defence crew commended for SIEV 36 rescue

May 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Twenty defence personnel have received commendations for their bravery during a fatal boat explosion near Ashmore Reef last year.

The asylum seeker boat known as SIEV 36 exploded near Ashmore reef last year.

Five asylum seekers were killed and dozens more were injured in the blast.

Crew from HMAS Albany provided treatment to 13 Afghan casualties in a makeshift burns unit on board their vessel.

Today, Rear Admiral Tim Barrett praised their skill and compassion for human life.

Two patrol boat crews received a commendation, while Corporal Sharon Jagher received an individual gold commendation for her efforts on the day she described as the worst of her life.

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Dinamo win fifth successive Croatian league title

May 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Dinamo Zagreb won their fifth successive Croatian league title with two games to spare after a 0-0 home draw against traditional rivals Hajduk Split on Saturday.

The result gave Dinamo an unassailable seven-point lead over the season’s surprise package Cibalia Vinkovci, who were 2-0 winners at second-bottom Medjimurje Cakovec.

The drab Croatian derby produced few fireworks on the pitch but plenty on the terraces, where the home fans clashed with riot police at halftime.

The violence broke out after Dinamo supporters hurled flares on to the pitch, forcing police to move in and expel dozens of fans from the stadium’s north tier.

“We didn’t play for a draw, we wanted to celebrate the title with a win against our arch rivals but the most important thing is that we are the champions again,” Dinamo coach Krunoslav Jurcic told Croatian television.

“It was a difficult second half of the season because we have been plagued by injuries and we are delighted to have sealed the title with two games left,” he said.

(Reporting by Zoran Milosavljevic in Belgrade; editing by Justin Palmer

To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Tiger Woods ‘meets divorce lawyer’

May 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 3 (ANI): Tiger Woods seems to have finally realized his marriage is over.

The scandal-ridden golfer — who cheated on wife Elin Nordegren with dozens of different women — recently met with divorce lawyer Jeff Fisher.

Fisher is the same attorney who represented golf god Greg Norman in his split from his first wife Laura.

According to sources, Tiger and Elin — who is currently in her native, Sweden, with the couple’s two young children — are set to came face to face later this month for a divorce showdown.

Elin is said to be keen to return to Sweden permanently — but Tiger has issues with this, as he wants to be able to see his children regularly.

“She”s returning from Sweden within two weeks and that”s when events with Tiger will come to a showdown,” the Sun quoted a source as saying.

Meanwhile, sources are adamant that Elin, 30, is definitely divorcing Tiger.

An insider said: “It”s 100 per cent happening. Elin and her mum met with a lawyer before they went to Sweden. It”s going to take a long time to go through. But she will go through with it. She will do it slowly and carefully.” (ANI)

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Blind boy, 4, has ‘dolphin’ vision

April 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, April 30 (ANI): A four-year-old blind boy named Jamie Aspland uses echolocation to see – just like dolphins.

Jamie makes clicking noises with his tongue that makes him virtually know where things around him are lying.

“It””s amazing,” his 39-year-old mother Deborah says, “Since learning the skill we can walk to the park and Jamie no longer has to hold my hand.”

Jamie – a twin who was born blind – was taught the revolutionary technique by a US expert.

Deborah says that Jamie became an expert of the technique after taking just three lessons, reports The Sun.

Jamie is one of the few children in the world who have been taught how to copy dolphins by Californian Daniel Kish, who is himself blind.

Kish names his echo-location skill as “flash-sonar”.

“It provides one with information of a fair amount of detail at distances of dozens of metres.

“Working with Jamie and his family was terrific. He he was very responsive,” he said.

“Knowing Jamie can be safe and will understand what is happening, where the traffic is and what””s around him, will really help,” Deborah said. (ANI)

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