Martin Gleeson scores a debut try as Hull FC edge out Hull KR in a pulsating derby.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Category: news
world news,online new,us news,uk news
VIDEO: US Senator McCain tours Benghazi
Libyan rebels in the eastern stronghold of Benghazi are visited by the veteran US Senator John McCain.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Japan announces emergency budget
The devastation has been described as the country’s biggest crisis since the end of World War II The Japanese government has approved a 4 trillion yen ($48.9bn; £29.6bn) emergency budget for disaster relief, after March’s earthquake and tsunami.
The budget is expected to be submitted to parliament later this month, and could be implemented in May.
Authorities say no new bonds were issued to fund the spending, to prevent adding to Japan’s huge public debt.
The government estimates it will cost as much as 25tn yen to rebuild the country.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Celtic QC condemns bomb ‘thugs’
The potential witnesses were seen near the post box in Montgomerie Terrace Related Stories
Police investigating parcel bombs sent to Celtic manager Neil Lennon and two prominent supporters of the club want to trace three potential witnesses.
A couple, thought to be in their late teens, and another man, were seen separately walking near a post box in Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, on Friday.
The post box in Montgomerie Terrace is a “focal part” of the investigation
The devices were addressed to Mr Lennon, Paul McBride QC and former Labour MSP Trish Godman.
Police said the potential witnesses were possibly near the post box at about 1400 BST on 15 April.
The man is described as being in his 30s, wearing glasses and a baseball cap and was walking with a black and brown Staffordshire terrier type dog.
The young couple are described as a man who was wearing a black hooded top and a woman who was small and slim.
They were walking with a dark-coloured Staffordshire Terrier type puppy, thought to be about eight weeks old.
Devices were sent to Neil Lennon (L), Trish Godman and Paul McBride QC
Who are the parcel bomb targets? Reaction to Lennon bomb threats
Det Ch Supt John Mitchell, of Strathclyde Police, said: “As part of our ongoing investigation we have been conducting house-to-house inquiries in Montgomerie Terrace in Kilwinning and as a result, we have identified three people that we would like to speak to as potential witnesses.
“We would like these potential witnesses to come forward as they could have vital information which might help our investigation.
“Anything they may have seen or heard on the street at that time could provide us with clues which could lead us to the person or people responsible for these crimes.”
Det Ch Supt Mitchell added: “The person or persons who are responsible for this have not just caused massive distress and worry to the intended targets, they have also placed the people who handle the mail in harms way.
“They must be caught and they must be brought to justice.”
The first device was intercepted by the Royal Mail in Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire, on 26 March and was addressed to Mr Lennon at Celtic’s training ground in nearby Lennoxtown.
Two days later, a device was delivered to Labour politician Ms Godman’s constituency office in Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire. Her staff were suspicious and contacted Strathclyde Police.
The third package was addressed to Mr McBride at the Faculty of Advocates in Edinburgh.
David Cameron condemned the threats to Neil Lennon and two Celtic fans It is believed to have been posted in Ayrshire, before being found in a letter box by a postal worker on Friday and taken to a Royal Mail sorting office in Kilwinning, where police were contacted.
Detectives are also investigating another package addressed to Neil Lennon which was found at a sorting office in Saltcoats, North Ayrshire, on 4 March but this has not been confirmed as an explosive device.
Ch Supt Ruaraidh Nicolson said: “I would like to make it absolutely clear that the people who have received these packages appear to have been targeted for comments they have made in recent weeks.
“We do not believe that this is a general threat to all Celtic supporters or other high profile supporters of the club.
“We are giving appropriate advice to people who we believe should be getting it.”
Earlier, David Cameron described the parcel bomb threats as “an appalling act”.
The prime minister, who is visiting Scotland ahead of next month’s Holyrood election, said police would be given every help to catch those involved.
“Any assistance the Strathclyde Police need the Strathclyde Police shall get because this is an absolutely appalling act,” he said.
“The most important thing is that the police pursue it with every piece of vigour they have and get to grips and find the person who is responsible for it and [ensure] they are severely punished.”
He added: “It is a reminder of the appalling sectarianism that exists in some people’s minds, even as we actually deal with it quite effectively in Northern Ireland, it’s still a problem and it must be sought out and crushed.”
Meanwhile, it has been reported that a live bullet was sent to the official residence of Scotland’s most senior Roman catholic, Cardinal Keith O’Brien, ahead of the Pope’s visit to Scotland last year.
The incident, which has not being linked to the parcel bomb or bullet threats to Celtic-related figures, was not reported at the time.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Quietly quaking
A burst water main can be an impressive sight Related Stories
Surfers, weekend trippers, the elderly and young children – many have left Christchurch in the two months since the quake, leaving it feeling a little too quiet and empty.
And the aftershocks are continuing.
The latest tremor plonked me from my swivel chair on to the coffee table, threw my casserole dish and plates across the kitchen and splayed CDs from their rack as if they were clay pigeons.
This was last Saturday.
Then we discovered the pipes on the hot water cylinder had broken again and water cascaded from upstairs through the wardrobe below and across the bedroom.
Anyone like to buy a house with an indoor water feature?
Water and sewage pipes fracture on a regular basis and the 5.3-magnitude quake on Saturday caused the water main in our next-door suburb, Redcliffs, to fracture and send a column of water streaking 30m (98ft) into the air.
It reminded me of the fountains of Dubai. However, there was nothing Arabian about the biting cold rain, or the road as it began to resemble a lake, with the orange road cones floating off.
But even that was not too bad. The people of Brighton suffered more liquefaction (a phenomenon that afflicts loose sediments in a quake and is akin to a lateral landslide).
The heavy rain gave the area the appearance of a wet cement lake. The stress of cleaning it all up again is becoming very wearing.
I heard that a couple of dozen water mains burst across the city of Christchurch.
We must all be grateful for water, however. We got our water restored just before April Fool’s day but are told to use it sparingly as the system is still very fragile.
“They come with binoculars and cameras and stand and stare with disbelief on their faces ”
The real problem is the sewage which is discharged into the Heathcote river estuary near us and into the sea. The treatment plant is only just coping and in danger of turning anaerobic and creating an almighty stink.
Sumner has always been a weekend destination being a beautiful seaside bay with its village ambience, sandy beaches and a plethora of cafes.
Every morning I go out on to my balcony and look down on the beach hoping to see surfers. They always used to be there, but not any more. Many have gone away and those who haven’t know the sea is polluted with sewage. I miss them.
So I take the dog for a walk on the esplanade. I meet just one person and one dog. Most of the others have gone or don’t walk their dogs any more. I miss them too.
The medical centre is still open but a little quiet; older people have been moved out of town and young families have decided to go. Numbers at school are well down and the children miss their friends.
People have mostly moved to other parts of New Zealand. Wanaka, Timaru and Ashburton are popular. Some have gone to the North Island as well, if that is where they have family.
We don’t see so many weekend trippers these days We miss the weekend trippers who brought colour and money to our little community.
Now they come with binoculars and cameras and stand and stare with disbelief, uttering “Oh my goodness”.
They have seen it on TV but now they are seeing for real the houses perched over the edge of the cliffs that have broken away, the gigantic boulders that have landed on and near houses.
They usually come to enjoy the rhythm of the sea, now they feel seasick just travelling along our broken, bumpy roads.
After two months most of us have come to terms with our lives and know repair and renewal is a long haul.
But we live in an area of very capable and very community-minded people, who have done great work already and have the spirit and tenacity to take on the challenges of the future. It is going to be very interesting.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
US sex pay probe senator resigns
A former casino manager, Mr Ensign was first elected to the Senate in 2000 Related Stories
A Republican senator from Nevada has resigned amid a probe into his admitted sexual affair with a campaign aide.
John Ensign had been under investigation after disclosures his wealthy parents paid the aide and her husband $96,000 (£58,000).
The aide’s husband was on his Senate staff, and the payments coincided with the sexual affair and with the couple’s departure from his employment.
The former casino manager denied he had violated laws or Senate rules.
“I will not continue to subject my family, my constituents, or the Senate to any further rounds of investigation, depositions, drawn out proceedings, or especially public hearings,” he said in a statement.
“For my family and me, this continued personal cost is simply too great.”
Mr Ensign has been cleared of criminal wrongdoing, but the Senate Ethics Committee continues to investigate him.
Last month, Mr Ensign announced he would not run for re-election in November 2012, touching off what is expected to be a bitter fight for his seat, which analysts consider a potential gain for the Democratic Party.
In 2009, Mr Ensign admitted he had had an affair with Cynthia Hampton.
His lawyer then revealed his wealthy parents paid $96,000 to her and her husband Doug Hampton and their children “out of concern for [their] well-being”, describing the money as a gift.
In addition, Mr Ensign has acknowledged he helped Mr Hampton secure lobbying clients.
Nevada’s Republican Governor Brian Sandoval will now appoint a successor, who will then be positioned to win Mr Ensign’s seat for a full term in the November 2012 poll.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
VIDEO: Rare white lion cubs born in Belgrade
Belgrade Zoo has welcomed four new rare arrivals on Monday. The white lion cubs are a rare mutation of a species found in South Africa and are facing extinction.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
US-bound prince borrowing friend’s plane ‘to cut costs’
Prince Charles attended the 65th Anniversary of the D-Day landings with President Obama Related Stories
The Prince of Wales is to try to cut travel costs by using a personal friend’s private plane for an official visit to the US, his spokesman says.
It is thought to be the first time the heir to the throne has used an aircraft provided by a private individual for an official visit.
US financier Joe Allbritton offered him the use of his aircraft.
During the visit, from May 3 to 5, the prince will meet President Barack Obama and address an agriculture conference.
The conference on sustainable agriculture will take place at Washington’s Georgetown University .
Prince Charles’s speech is expected to encompass international sustainability, links between the British and US armed forces, the welfare of injured servicemen, and education.
During the trip, coming just days after Prince William’s wedding, he will also attend an event to support British and American armed forces deployed overseas.
The prince’s communications secretary Paddy Harverson said: “In the current economic climate it was felt it was right to accept the offer [of the plane].
“Needless to say, our friendship with the United States is one of the most important of Great Britain’s international relationships.”
In 2007, the prince took a three-day trip to the US, delivering a speech at the National Constitution Centre in Philadelphia and accepting an environmental award from Harvard Medical School’s Center for Health and the Global Environment.
On that occasion, the prince travelled to the US on a scheduled British Airways flight from Heathrow, although its departure was delayed by nearly an hour.
He was accompanied by his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, on the previous trip, but she will not be joining him on this visit.
President Obama is due to make an official state visit to the UK at the end of May.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Misplaced passport? Quick, check the rubbish
People should only carry passports when absolutely necessary, officials advise Related Stories
Some 10,000 passports a year are probably thrown in bins, says the UK’s Identity and Passport Service (IPS).
Launching a campaign urging people to keep passports safe, it warns the same number are lost in bars and clubs.
The IPS said it had had reports of passports being stolen at gunpoint in Brazil, lost in jail, and left in the pocket of a coat donated to a tramp.
The IPS based its findings on analysis of applications for replacement passports, which cost £77.50.
Men replace more than 162,500 lost and stolen passports a year compared with about 112,000 by women, the IPS says.
Of all the lost and stolen passports in the UK, people in their 20s were responsible for 40.7% of the total – almost twice as many as the next nearest age group.
Lost and stolen by ageTeenagers – 6.3%20s – 42.8%30s – 20.8%40s – 12.8%50s – 10.2%60s – 5.3%70s – 1.6%80s – 0.2%
Source: IPS
Those in their 30s lost 20.8% followed by people in their 40s, who lost 12.8%.
IPS chief executive Sarah Rapson warned that passports were becoming increasingly attractive to criminal gangs wanting to steal identities.
She said: “It’s really important that you keep it safe both when you are at home and when you’re abroad.
“Remember to put your passport away after use. Don’t leave it in a trouser or shirt pocket in the laundry pile.”
Some of the colourful reasons given for why people were parted from their passports include:
Taxi attacked by gunman on way to airport in BrazilFell out of bag while snowboardingDrunk boyfriend (now ex) destroyed itLast seen in pocket of a coat donated to trampWallet stolen at children’s party with passport insidePassports stored in safe in Turkish villa, thieves stole safePut in bin by infant daughter; andPut on a fire with clothes
The service advised people to keep their passport in a place they can remember and to only carry it when absolutely necessary.
It said people should use alternatives if they needed to prove their age and should keep a note of the number to help speed up the issuing of replacements.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Mass grave discovered in Mexico
The bodies we, making identification difficult Related Stories
Mexican officials say they have found another mass grave in the northern state of Durango.
Police discovered 30 bodies in a residential area of Durango city.
The discovery comes as forensic experts continued to try and identify the remains of 145 people buried in mass graves in northern Tamaulipas.
The northern states are at the centre of a violent battle between rival drug gangs for control of lucrative smuggling routes to the United States.
Durango state prosecutor Ramiro Ortiz Aguirre said the search for more bodies was continuing.
He said the morgue was running out of space to store the bodies and asked for help providing extra refrigerated space.
Forensic experts said the bodies were in an advanced state of decomposition.
Durango is in an area where the powerful Sinaloa drugs cartel operates.
The cartel is led by Joaquin “Shorty” Guzman, the most wanted man in Mexico.
Almost 37,000 people have died in drug-related violence in Mexico since President Felipe Calderon declared war on the drug cartels shortly after he came into office in December 2006.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Crackdown in Bahrain criticised
By Caroline Hawley
Rights groups say four people have died in custody Human rights groups are expressing growing concern about a security crackdown in Bahrain.
A report by the campaign group Physicians for Human Rights has called for an international investigation into the use of “excessive force”.
It says at least 32 medics are among those arrested since protests began.
The government denied the reports, saying it was “false” to suggest that doctors were being indiscriminately arrested or targeted.
However, those who had been blocking care at medical facilities – which had been “overrun by political and sectarian activity” – were being investigated, a spokesperson said.
Human rights workers speak of a climate of increasing fear in Bahrain.
Physicians for Human Rights has claimed that some doctors were taken from their homes by masked men in the middle of the night.
“What such organisations have so far failed to understand is that the services of some of Bahrain’s main medical facilities… had been overrun by political and sectarian activity”
Maysoon Sabkar Government spokesperson
Among hundreds reported to have been detained are doctors and a prominent human rights activist. Others have lost their jobs for taking part in protests.
Rights groups say many of those arrested have been held incommunicado – their whereabouts unknown – and that four detainees have died in custody.
Physicians for Human Rights says it believes medics have been targeted for arrest because they have treated wounded protesters and seen evidence of abuses by security forces.
The International Committee of Red Cross has been requesting to visit detainees since March. It has had no answer.
Amid mounting concern, Amnesty International has urged Bahrain’s allies to press for an end to what it calls a spiralling human rights crisis.
William Hague, the British Foreign Secretary, has called on the Bahraini authorities to act in accordance with the law.
He said the arrests of opposition figures, reports of deaths in custody, allegations of torture and the denial of medical treatment were extremely troubling.
However Maysoon Sabkar, a government spokesperson, said the accusations made by Physicians for Human Rights was “wholly false”.
“What such organisations have so far failed to understand is that the services of some of Bahrain’s main medical facilities, including Salmaniya Medical Complex, had been overrun by political and sectarian activity,” he said.
“This extended beyond the spreading of malicious propaganda to the blocking of medical care, severely interrupting services and endangering life.
“This was totally unacceptable behaviour, by any standard. Those responsible are being investigated and will be held to account in the proper, legal manner,” he said.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
