Eight-year-old girl raped by 10-year-old boys

London, May 13 (IANS) An eight-year-old British girl tightly clutched a teddy bear as she told a court here about how she was lured and allegedly raped by two 10-year-old boys.

The girl said she was attacked after the boys took her to a field and a bin shed beside a block of flats.

Daily Express reported Thursday that the girl was given the toy to hold during an interview that was filmed and played at the Old Bailey court.

The boys deny the rape charge. They are among the youngest in Britain to be charged with rape.

The girl held an usher’s hand and was lifted into a chair. She was connected through a video link. The judge then gently asked her to take a juice bottle away from her mouth so he could hear her.

She then sat as her interviews were played to the jury.

The jury was told how the girl was playing with her younger sister near her home in October last year when the boys took her away.

The incident took place in Hayes, Middlesex.

The girl later told her mother she had been taken to some flats before being led to the field where she was allegedly raped, prosecutor Rosina Cottage said.

She later went to hospital complaining of stomach pains.

‘This case concerns rape by two boys still at primary school of a girl even younger. Together they took her to different locations near where they lived in order to find a sufficiently secluded spot to assault her,’ Cottage was quoted as saying.

The victim recalled how her scooter was thrown into a bush.

‘They said if I didn’t pull down my pants, they wouldn’t get my scooter from the bush,’ she said.

After girls school, now Taliban destroys two boys school in Bajaur

Khar, May 3 (ANI): After having destroyed scores of girls’ schools across the North West Frontier Province, the Taliban blew up two more boys’ schools in the Khar tehsil of Bajaur Agency, increasing the number of schools so far destroyed in the area to 82.

Recently, unidentified men had blown up a boys’ primary school in the Zirgiray area of Nawagai tehsil in Bajaur.

This was reportedly the first such incident after the peace deal there. According to reports, such attacks have affected the education of around 50,000 children in the region.

Last year, the Taliban had targeted female teachers, with two of them being gunned down in an ambush in Khar region of Bajaur Agency.

Shazia Begum and Shamim Bibi, teachers at the Communal Girls School, were travelling in a van when extremists opened fire at the vehicle killing the two on the spot besides injuring two others. (ANI)

Teens allegedly behind forklift escapade, car thefts

Northern Territory police have arrested a teenage boy for stealing a forklift and driving it into a shop to steal cigarettes.

The 14-year-old is alleged to have been part of a group who last month rammed the forklift into a shop in Palmerston.

The boy was arrested at a house in Moulden with another teenager, who is charged with other offences.

Police say the second teenager is charged with breaking into a Moulden home over Easter and stealing computer consoles and games.

Police in Alice Springs have charged two juveniles after a car was stolen from a hotel and turned up in a remote community.

Eight cars at the hotel were broken into on Tuesday night, and one was stolen.

Police allege the vehicle was driven to Santa Teresa, 80 kilometres on a dirt road outside of Alice Springs.

Two boys, aged 12 and 14, are expected to face court in Alice Springs today.

Police in Darwin say two cars were stolen from the same home in Berry Springs this morning.

Superintendent Rob Farmer says the home owner on Finn Crescent woke up to hear his ute being driven away.

He says when the man went out to chase one thief he was passed by other thieves driving his second car.

“The occupant of the house has tried to pursue the vehicles in his daughter’s car, but he hasn’t been able to catch up,” Supt Farmer said.

“They were last seen on Channel Island Road and a reminder to people to also secure their vehicles because it appears the keys were left in both of these cars.”

‘True Territorian’: second crash pilot farewell

The funeral of Shane Whitbread, one of the pilots who was killed in last week’s plane crash at the Darwin Airport has been held in Darwin this morning.

Shane Whitbread died when the Embraer Brasilia he was in banked sharply just after take off, and then crashed into bushland.

He was 50-years-old and leaves behind a wife and two boys.

A packed congregation at St Peter’s in Nightcliff was told of Mr Whitbread’s dedication to his family.

Cherie Whitbread said her husband told her he “loved her everyday” and that he always had time for his two young boys.

“Shane told me he loved me everyday, and he never misses an opportunity to compliment me,” Mrs Whitbread said.

His brother, Greg Whitbread spoke about his brother’s love of flying and being a “true blue Territorian”.

“His work desk was the plane’s cockpit,” he said.

“No one can be sure what happened in those few seconds after take-off.

“The authorities will go through all the information and come up with a finding in due course.

“But nothing they say, or do, will change what’s happened.

“We have lost a loving husband, father, son, brother and mate.”

The congregation also heard Mr Whitbread was heavily involved in Masters Sport and local cricket, despite having “dodgy knees”.

Airnorth chief executive, Michael Bridge said Mr Whitbread was a talented pilot, whose death has left a hole in the small company.

Greg Seymon, who was also killed in the crash, was farewelled at a funeral in Darwin yesterday.

A preliminary Australian Transport Safety Bureau report into the crash is due in the next month.

Teens accused of Toowoomba bashing

Police have charged two teenagers over the bashing of a man in Toowoomba on Queensland’s Darling Downs over the weekend.

Police allege the 39-year-old was attacked on Saturday night and treated in hospital for cuts, fractured ribs and facial injuries.

Two boys, aged 16 and 17, have been charged with grievous bodily harm.

The 17-year-old faces further charges of stalking and assault occasioning bodily harm after an attack on the same man earlier this year.

Police search for attackers of terminally ill man

A 70 year-old man with terminal cancer has described how he was attacked by two boys who tried to break into his home in the Perth suburb of Girrawheen.

Angelo Favaro says the boys kicked in a back door at his home in Pelham way yesterday morning before attacking him.

Mr Favaro, who is undergoing chemotherapy for his cancer, says the boys knocked him to the ground before stealing his trousers.

“When I fall down he tried to take my trousers, I said why you take my trousers, leave my trousers alone.

“Take whatever you want to take but leave my trousers alone, but he not listen. I think that one was maybe 17, 18 maybe a little bit less, the other one like a school boy,” he said.

Police in Perth are searching for the two boys who escaped with Mr Favaro’s wallet.

Mr Favaro was left bruised and shaken by the ordeal.

Australian court favours release of teenage duo who attacked Indians

MELBOURNE: An Australian court today favoured release of two teenage brothers, who spent less than a year in youth detention for racially assaulting a group of Indians, even as it termed the attack which left one of the victims with permanent brain injuries as “extraordinarily grave”.

Victorian County Court judge Christine Thornton said that because the two, aged 17 and 18, were “children” she should indicate that they would not be locked up again for the December 2008 incident, according to AAP.

However, Thornton described the assault as “extraordinarily grave”.

The re-sentencing of the two boys, who served less than a year in youth detention, is set to take place shortly after Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) appealed against their sentences.

As per the appeal system, Thornton is required to re-sentence the duo, even if she does not increase their jail terms, the report said.

The two brothers carried out an unprovoked attack in an Indian convenience store in Sunshine, where eight men were injured, including one who spent 15 days in coma and was left with permanent brain injuries.

Chief Crown prosecutor Gavin Silbert SC told the court that the older youth smashed 27-year old Sukhraj Singh with a piece of wood, leaving him unconscious and bleeding with multiple skull and face fractures.

Singh had been told his injuries were permanent and there was a chance he would suffer from epilepsy.

Teens interrogated over headmistress’ underwear pics on school computers

London, May 29 (ANI): A headmistress has grabbed eyeballs as well as headlines ever since photographs showing her in underwear have been circulated on school computers.

Police are now investigating how embarrassing pictures of Sue Brearley, were accidentally loaded onto a computer at Whitecross School, in Lydney, Glos.

It is alleged that students had discovered the private images and passed them around the school IT system.

The pictures are now being treated as stolen, while police has talked to two teenage boys about the matter.

Brearley has allegedly told colleagues that the snaps were originally taken on her mobile phone and loaded onto her laptop, which was then plugged into the school system.

“We believe the photos were stolen. They are private,” the Telegraph quoted her fiance David Gaston, the previous head teacher, as telling the Daily Mirror:

A Gloucestershire County Council spokesman said: “As far as Sue is concerned the photos were stolen. They are just of Sue, not both of them, and show her in underwear and are not of a pornographic nature. She will not face disciplinary action. Two boys, one of whom is over 16, have been spoken to by police.” (ANI)

Australia banishes flu-hit cruise ship

Sydney – A cruise ship whose crew contracted swine flu was Thursday refused permission to dock on Australia’s east coast to disembark its 2,000 passengers.

The Pacific Dawn was ordered to anchor off a tiny island 420 kilometres off Cairns following confirmation that three crew members were infected.

“Because the ship owners are cooperating, there is no need for the government to use any quarantine powers,” Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said. “The ship is doing the right thing by its passengers and the right thing by the public.”

The do-not-land order follows the controversy caused after the Pacific Dawn was allowed to let people off in Sydney and take on new passengers when two boys aboard had tested positive for the new H1N1 virus.

Disembarking passengers were allowed to fan out across Australia and infected others.

There are now over 100 cases nationwide and four people are in hospital. Five schools are closed.

Rosemary Lester, acting chief medical officer in the state of Victoria, said it was possible that two in 10 could become infected as Australia enters the southern-hemisphere-winter flu season.

“Next year, this may well be the predominant (influenza virus),” she said. (dpa)

British mum gives birth to six babies in five minutes!

London, May 23 (ANI): A British woman has given birth to six babies within the space of five minutes.

The babies were conceived naturally and weighed between 1lb 7oz and 2lb 2oz.

Nuala Conway had four girls and two boys delivered by Caesarean.

Their condition is as well as could be expected after being born 14 weeks early, doctors said, reports The Sun.

Shop assistant Nuala and kitchen fitter hubby Austin, in their 20s, were said to be “delighted”.

The pair, from Cookstown, Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland, married only within the past year.

Proud grandmum Briege said: “We’re all over the moon. We’re focusing on the babies, hoping they’re all going to be OK.”

Lead midwife sister Patricia Denvir said: “The mother was very composed, under a very stressful situation. Both parents dealt with it very well.”

Dr Clifford Mayes, who led the team of 30 medical staff, said: “It is an extraordinary thing to have witnessed.” (ANI)

Sextuplets born in Northern Ireland

London – A woman in Northern Ireland has given birth to six babies – four girls and two boys – in a caesarian section delivery involving 30 medical staff, the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital in Belfast said Friday.

The mother conceived the babies naturally and not had undergone fertility treatment. The babies weighed between 500 grams and 1 kilo, the hospital said.

The family had requested privacy and would not be available for photographs.

The birth of sextuplets is rare across the world, occurring in about one out of 4.5 million pregnancies.

Previously, the largest multiple birth in Northern Ireland was quintuplets, born in 2002. (dpa)

When high-school boys tried hitting on Kate Winslet

p
New York, Apr 27 (ANI): At 33 years of age, Kate Winslet is not only the quintessential beauty for men all over the world, but even high school boys seem to have hots for the British actress./pp
Recently, the ‘Titanic’ star was spotted being followed by two high-school guys./pp
According to a source, the Oscar winning actress was walking down Sixth Avenue at 26th Street the other day with a male friend, wearing working-out gear as two boys tried hitting on her./pp
Two high-school guys, who had no idea who she was, were totally hitting on her. They followed her to Seventh Avenue and kept commenting on her big, hot booty and how sexy she was, the New York Post quoted a source as saying./pp
But, the onlooker said that the composed mother of two completely ignored them. (ANI)/p

Parents, 3 children found dead in US home: Police

MIDDLETOWN (US): Authorities say a couple and their three children have been found dead in a Maryland home in an apparent murder-suicide.

Frederick County sheriff’s office spokeswoman Jennifer Bailey says 34-year-old Christopher Alan Wood died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. She says his 33-year-old wife, Francis, and their three children had suffered “traumatic cuts,” but the causes of their deaths hasn’t been confirmed.

Two boys ages 5 and 4 were found in their beds, and a 2-year-old girl was found with the mother in the master bedroom. The father’s body was also in the master bedroom.

Investigators also found a shotgun and other items they believed were used to cut the victims. A note was also found, but authorities haven’t disclosed what the note says.

Attack boy ‘too bruised for hugs’

The father of one of two young boys seriously injured in a horrific attack says his son is too bruised to be hugged, according to reports. Skip related content
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Police at the scene in Edlington, near Doncaster, where two boys were attacked
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The nine-year-old and the 11-year-old were continuing to recover in hospital and will not be formally interviewed by detectives until they leave.

Two brothers, aged 10 and 11, appeared at Doncaster Youth Court on Tuesday accused of attempting to murder the boys at Edlington, near Doncaster, on Saturday.

The father of the older victim said his son was still so traumatised by his ordeal that he cries when he sees an unfamiliar face, the Daily Mirror reported.

He also said: “We’ve been giving him loads of hugs and love. But there are only so many hugs you can give him as the poor lad is bruised to death. If you tap him on the shoulder he groans in pain.

“He’s still not eating or drinking very well. But he’s healing and doing a lot better and we’re over the moon. It could have been so much worse.”

A South Yorkshire Police spokesman confirmed the younger boy had undergone a second operation on his injured arm on Tuesday. He said neither of the boys will be formally interviewed until they leave hospital.

The younger of the boys has given a brief account of what happened to investigating officers but the other boy, who is his uncle, has not spoken to police at all.

The older boy was originally airlifted to Sheffield Children’s Hospital in a critical condition but he was transferred to Doncaster Royal Infirmary after showing improvement. He is now said to be “stable and improving”.

The two victims suffered a series of assaults, which allegedly included being burned with cigarettes, attacked with bricks and slashed.

Two British youngsters charged after “sickening” attack

London – Two brothers, as young as 10 and 11, appeared in court in Britain Tuesday charged with the attempted murder of two boys of similar age who were subjected to a “sickening” attack involving bricks, a knife and burning cigarettes.

The two victims, aged 9 and 11, are continuing to receive hospital treatment after suffering serious injuries following the attack in Doncaster, in the northern county of Yorkshire, Saturday.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has condemned what he called a “shocking incident.” Locals said the attackers, who had recently moved in with foster parents in the town, had been notorious troublemakers.

Police were alerted when the younger victim was spotted wandering in Doncaster Saturday afternoon dazed, covered in blood, without socks and shoes, and looking for his friend.

The youngster told the people who found him where to find his 11-year-old friend and uncle, who was discovered semi-conscious in a nearby wooded ravine.

Media reports, quoting residents, said they believed the boys had been hit with bricks, slashed with a knife and burned with cigarettes in a “sickening” assault during which the attackers demanded that they hand over money, their mobile phones and sneakers.

The two alleged attackers appeared before magistrates at Doncaster Youth Court Tuesday accused of attempted murder and robbery.

They were flanked by security officers but showed no emotion when the charges were read to them. They were remanded in custody until a later date. (dpa)

Madonna back in Britain after failed adoption bid in Malawi

Johannesburg/Lilongwe – US popstar Madonna has left Malawi after having failed in her bid to adopt another child in the south- east African country, according to media reports in South Africa and Britain on Monday.

The 50-year-old and her children took off in her private jet in a quiet part of the airport in the capital Lilongwe on Sunday. She had been shielded from the media by security guards, South African radio reported.

Madonna later landed in London where she handed her son Rocco as well as her adoptive child David Banda over to her ex-husband Guy Richie, 40, according to British media.

She and her daughter Lourdes then went to their apartment in London while Ritchie and the two boys flew to his country home, the reports said.

Madonna and film director Richie were divorced at the end of 2008. Photos published after the singer’s trip to Malawi showed the singer looking quite depressed.

In a surprise move Friday, the High Court in Lilongwe turned down Madonna’s application for an interim 18-month custody order for Chifundo (Mercy) James, three years after she was given custody of the Malawi-born infant Banda.

Judge Esmie Chombo told Madonna she could not adopt the 4-year-old because she has not been resident in Malawi for 18 months as required by the law

Soccer millionaire Rio Ferdinand says fame and fortune can be boring

London, Mar.26 (ANI): Manchester United and England star Rio Ferdinand has said that though he is a millionaire, he finds fame and fortune boring, and prefers slippers and Corrie to a night of partying.

England hero Rio, 30, who rakes in 120,000 pounds a week, said: “People have a vision of what footballers do in their spare time and it’s nothing like that. I’m not in nightclubs every night, that’s for sure.

“I spend a lot of time looking after my two boys Lorenz and Tate, who was only born in August. I also spend a lot of time listening to music and watching Corrie and EastEnders. That’s all I do,”The Sun quoted him, as saying.

“People think footballers have a flash lifestyle. But most of the top players at the top teams haven’t got the time to be going on the red carpet for new movies and big fancy nightclubs. Our lives are quite boring compared to what people expect,” he added.

Rio is also spending time planning his wedding to fiancie Rebecca Ellison, 29. They are expected to tie the knot in August. (ANI)

Patrick Swayze pays tribute to late Natasha Richardson

Washington, Mar 24 (ANI): Patrick Swayze, who is battling pancreatic cancer, paid tribute to late actress Natasha Richardson by stating “the world will be a different place” without her.

Patrick acted with the late Natasha in the flick ‘Waking Up in Reno’.

The actor feels devastated that the talented actress died after a skiing accident.

“It is such a great loss to this community to lose an actress and person such as Natasha. Gifts like her don’t come along very often. It’s a rare thing in this industry to have someone with so much talent, beauty, and dedication and yet is imbued with such humility,” Contactmusic quoted Patrick, as saying.

“I know for me and many other people, the world will be a different place without her. My heart goes out to Liam and his two boys, but I’m sure that Natasha’s light is shining down on them,” Patrick added. (ANI)

Obama to meet Queen ahead of G-20

London, Mar. 6 (ANI): Ahead of G-20 economic summit, Queen Elizabeth is expected to hold a private “getting-to-know-you” meeting with Obama.

The Sun quoted a source, as saying, “There is a wish to do these things as discreetly as possible in the first instance.”

Her Majesty will meet the new US President in advance of an economic summit in London.

President Obama will fly with wife Michelle on Air Force One to Stansted, Essex. The private talks will be held the next day at Buckingham Palace.

Obama will then join G-20 leaders for a Downing Street dinner on the eve of the summit on April 2.

The private meeting is highly unusual because Obama will not be on a State visit.

But advisers believe it is important the Queen, who opened an interchange in Hull yesterday, meets him before any official trip.

On Thursday, Obama reportedly gave Gordon Brown 25 top US movies as a gift after talks in the US.

Brown’s wife Sarah gave Obama’s two daughters Topshop outfits. And the First Lady gave Brown’s two boys toy helicopters. (ANI)

Ram Sena suspected active again in Mangalore

Mangalore, Feb 27 (ANI): Two couples, who were present at a juice centre in Balmatta, were questioned by a group of members last evening, and later the group was taken to police station.

Two boys and two girls were talking to each other when a group of men entered suddenly and began talking to them, said a person who was present at the spot.

He also said that they look like Sri Ram Sena members, speaking about religion.

Another eyewitness said, one boy ran away when the group entered and another one was questioned by beating up with holding his collar of his shirt.

The boys are said to be from a computer-training institute and the girls are employees of the same organisation.

The police in Mangalore east (Kadri) Police Station said that they were collecting information from girls and a boy.

There is no report of beating, the police claimed. (ANI)