MI5 'approached Woolwich suspect'
UK security service MI5 asked London street attack suspect Michael Adebolajo if he wanted to work for them half a year ago, a childhood friend claims. Fri, 24 May 2013 23:37:37 GMT
Nigeria Boko Haram camps 'destroyed'
The Nigerian army says it has destroyed a number of camps used by militant Islamist group, Boko Haram, in the north-east of the country. Fri, 24 May 2013 20:01:31 GMT
Dancer 'lied' in Berlusconi sex case
A dancer alleged to have had paid sex as a minor with Italy's ex-PM Silvio Berlusconi tells a court she lied to investigators in 2010. Fri, 24 May 2013 19:38:55 GMT
Afghan Taliban attack central Kabul
Afghan security forces battle Taliban insurgents for hours in central Kabul, following an explosion that shook the capital. Fri, 24 May 2013 19:48:03 GMT
Author investigated for 'clown' gibe
Portuguese author and journalist Miguel Sousa Tavares is being investigated for calling President Anibal Cavaco Silva "a clown" in an interview. Fri, 24 May 2013 22:28:54 GMT
MI5 'approached Woolwich suspect'
Security service MI5 asked Woolwich murder suspect Michael Adebolajo if he wanted to work for them about six months ago, a childhood friend claims. Fri, 24 May 2013 23:37:37 GMT
Tiger attack wildlife worker dies
A woman attacked by a tiger at the Cumbria wildlife park where she worked dies of her injuries. Fri, 24 May 2013 23:22:53 GMT
Two held after plane alert over UK
Two men are held on suspicion of endangerment of an aircraft after RAF jets were scrambled to escort a Pakistan Airlines plane in UK airspace. Fri, 24 May 2013 17:24:47 GMT
BBC abandons £100m digital project
The BBC is to close its Digital Media Initiative, with director general Tony Hall saying it had "wasted a huge amount of licence fee payers' money". Fri, 24 May 2013 11:51:25 GMT
Hit-and-run driver admits killing
A van driver admits killing a mother of three in a series of hit-and-run incidents around the city of Cardiff in October. Fri, 24 May 2013 16:26:49 GMT
VIDEO: Footage from on board stricken plane
Footage has emerged from on board a plane that had to return to Heathrow Airport to make an emergency landing after black smoke was seen coming from an engine. Fri, 24 May 2013 11:03:24 GMT
VIDEO: The Queen and her passion for horses
A one-off BBC documentary presented by Clare Balding charts the Queen's enduring relationship with horses and an astonishing 65-year career as one of Britain's leading breeders. Fri, 24 May 2013 23:05:20 GMT
VIDEO: Bercow 'surprised' over tweet ruling
The wife of the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sally Bercow, has said she is "surprised and disappointed" after the High Court ruled she had libelled Lord McAlpine. Fri, 24 May 2013 18:13:39 GMT
VIDEO: Nothing suspicious on diverted plane
Two men have been arrested on suspicion of endangerment of an aircraft after RAF Typhoon jets were scrambled to escort a passenger plane over the UK. Fri, 24 May 2013 18:55:13 GMT
VIDEO: BBC 'mortified' by failed project
The BBC has apologised after spending nearly £100m on a project which has been abandoned. Fri, 24 May 2013 14:47:28 GMT
From bbc.co.uk/news BBC News | Also in the news | UK Edition
Rare Superman comic 'found in wall'
A 1938 comic featuring the debut of Superman that was discovered in the wall of an abandoned home could set a new auction record, a dealer says. Fri, 24 May 2013 21:39:28 GMT
Churchill and Stalin's 'merry' night
Wartime talks between Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin went slowly until a drinking session lasting until 3am, newly released files reveal. Thu, 23 May 2013 01:57:59 GMT
Japan man climbs Everest at 80
An 80-year old Japanese man has reached the summit of Mount Everest, becoming the oldest person to scale the world's highest peak. Thu, 23 May 2013 05:04:05 GMT
Two volcanoes erupting in Alaska: Scientists are monitoring and providing alerts on Pavlof and Cleveland volcanoes
Two of Alaska's most active volcanoes -- Pavlof and Cleveland -- are currently erupting. At the time of this post, their activity continues at low levels, but energetic explosions could occur without warning. Located close to the western end of the Alaska Peninsula, Pavlof is one of the most active volcanoes in the Aleutian arc, having erupted more than 40 times since the late 1700's. Fri, 24 May 2013 18:02:02 EDT
Cosmic swirly straws: Galaxies fed by funnels of fuel
Computer simulations of galaxies growing over billions of years have revealed a likely scenario for how they feed: a cosmic version of swirly straws. The results show that cold gas -- fuel for stars -- spirals into the cores of galaxies along filaments, rapidly making its way to their "guts." Once there, the gas is converted into new stars, and the galaxies bulk up in mass. Fri, 24 May 2013 15:48:48 EDT
US: Human Rights Abuses Continue in N. Nigeria
The U.S. State Department says it is concerned about what it calls a "heavy-handed" response by some Nigerian forces in their fight against Islamic militants in the north.
A U.S. official said Friday the State Department has been monitoring the situation and concludes that human rights abuses are continuing. The official says Secretary of State John Kerry plans to meet with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on the sidelines of the African Union summit in Ethiopia.
Nigeria has ... Fri, 24 May 2013 19:26:22 -0400
Gunmen Kill NATO Driver in NW Pakistan
Unidentified gunmen opened fire on a convoy of NATO containers in northwestern Pakistan Friday, killing a driver and wounding another person.
Authorities say the attack took place in Shagai area, about 20 kilometers southeast of Landi Kotal, the main town of the restive Khyber region.
Local tribal police official Khan Dad said the gunmen opened fire from the nearby mountains as the convoy entered Pakistan from Afghanistan. The convoy was heading for the port city of Karachi.
Khyber is one of ... Fri, 24 May 2013 18:41:19 -0400
IMF Chief Named Key Witness In French Payoff Case
A French court has decided not to formally investigate IMF chief Christine Lagarde over her role in a controversial payoff while she was finance minister but did name her as a key witness in the continuing probe.
The court's action Friday came after prosecutors questioned Lagarde for two days about her 2007 decision that led to the payment of about $500 million to settle a legal battle between the state and a close friend of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Her status as key ... Fri, 24 May 2013 17:59:24 -0400
Obama Urges Military to Stamp Out Sexual Assaults
U.S. President Barack Obama says sexual assaults in the U.S. military undermine trust in the armed forces.
The president used a commencement speech at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland Friday to tackle recent reports of widespread sexual violence in the military.
"Those who commit sexual assault are not only committing a crime, they threaten the trust and discipline that make our military strong. That's why we have to be determined to stop these crimes, because ... Fri, 24 May 2013 17:17:33 -0400
Expert: US Foreign Policy in 'Retreat'
A former senior advisor to the late Richard Holbrooke, who served as U.S. special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, says when it comes to foreign policy, the U.S. is in "retreat."
Vali Nasr, who is now dean of Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), said the Obama administration has concluded that the best way forward for the United States is to do "less in the world."
On VOA's Press Conference USA, he said ... Fri, 24 May 2013 16:32:02 -0400
This Day in History
Fri, 24 May 2013 07:00:00 +0200
"What Hath God Wrought" (1844) Samuel F.B. Morse was originally a painter, and a good one. His portraits still rank among the finest produced in the US. However, he is best remembered for having developed the telegraph and the code of dots and dashes that bears his name. In 1844, Morse demonstrated the practicability of his instrument to Congress by transmitting the famous message "What hath God wrought" over a wire from Washington, DC, to Baltimore. Morse was also instrumental in introducing what other innovation to the US? Discuss
Fri, 24 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT
Free website contentprovided
by
The Free DictionaryUnited Nations News Centre:
Top Stories
Afghanistan: UN condemns terrorist attack on partner agencys compound
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the top United Nations envoy in Afghanistan have strongly condemned the terrorist attack on a compound of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in central Kabul, which earlier today wounded three of the agencys staff, one seriously. Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 EST
Continuing push for Great Lakes peace, UN chief in Uganda after visit to Rwanda
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today thanked the Government of Uganda for its contribution to peace and security in Africa, travelling alongside World Bank President Jim Yong Kim on a first-of-its-kind visit to support a recent peace accord and promote economic development in the Great Lakes region. Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 EST
UN agency calls on Syrias neighbours to keep borders open for refugees
The United Nations refugee agency today called on countries around Syria to keep their borders open for refugees, while also stressing the need for "urgent and robust" international support for host countries and aid agencies. Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 EST
Japan must continue efforts to deactivate Fukushima nuclear plant - UN agency
Although Japan has made progress towards stabilizing the damaged reactors of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant crippled by a devastating earthquake two years ago, there are still issues to be resolved before it can begin its deactivation, the United Nations atomic agency said in a report released today. Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 EST
UN human rights expert welcomes shift in President Obamas counter-terrorism policy
An independent United Nations human rights expert has welcomed what he said was a ground-breaking speech by President Barack Obama in which the United States leader laid out principles governing the use of counter-terrorism measures such as targeted killings. Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 EST
'Love you': Slain soldier's final text
THE family of Lee Rigby, brutally slain in the street by Muslim extremists, have ... Fri, 24 May 2013 23:02:04 GMT
'Source of all life running out' BREKKIE WRAP: AMID all the terrible news of the past week, this may ... Fri, 24 May 2013 19:40:02 GMT
Woolwich suspect's ex speaks out LATEST: A WOMAN who once dated terror suspect Michael Adebolajo is ... Fri, 24 May 2013 17:15:59 GMT
Assange wanted $1m for interview
JULIAN Assange apparently asked a documentary-maker for $1 million to do an ... Fri, 24 May 2013 15:44:27 GMT
Today's Birthday
Fri, 24 May 2013 07:00:00 +0200
Helen Brooke Taussig (1898) Now regarded as the founder of pediatric cardiology, Taussig was an American physician who, among other things, revolutionized the diagnosis and treatment of "blue babies," babies whose heart malformations cause low blood oxygen content. She pioneered the use of fluoroscopy to identify defects in the heart and great vessels and devised a surgical treatment with Alfred Blalock and Vivien Thomas that saved thousands of infants. She also helped block the approval of what dangerous drug in the US? Discuss
Watch the New Carl's Jr./Hardee's Man of Steel Commercial
As we get closer to the release date of Man of Steel , the promotional partnerships will really start to ramp up and the latest one is with Carl's Jr./Hardee's. They are launching their "Super Bacon Cheeseburger" to promote the movie. The commercial was directed by Zack Snyder and features Henry Cavill. Check it out below! Sat, 25 May 2013 01:30:18 +0200
The Domestic Trailer for Walking With Dinosaurs: The Movie
The new domestic trailer for Walking With Dinosaurs: The Movie has arrived and can be watched below. Opening in theaters on December 20, the film is directed by Neil Nightingale and Pierre De Lespinios. Sat, 25 May 2013 01:30:18 +0200
Play as Superman in Man of Steel Browser-Based Game
While there won't be a video game tie-in to the upcoming Superman reboot Man of Steel , we've got a pretty good alternative and it's free! Warner Bros. has debuted "Metropolis Mayhem," a browser-based game where you play as Superman, dodging obstacles and using your heat vision if one gets in your way (via Hero Complex ). You can play the game by clicking here or on the image below. How far did you get through Metropolis? Sat, 25 May 2013 01:30:18 +0200
New Motion Poster for Carrie Revealed
Screen Gems has released this new motion poster for Carrie on Tumblr . Opening in theaters on October 18, the film stars Chloë Grace Moretz, Judy Greer, Portia Doubleday, Alex Russell, Gabriella Wilde, Ansel Elgort and Julianne Moore. Sat, 25 May 2013 01:30:18 +0200
Lesbian drama is Cannes favourite
An intimate love story between two young women receives rave reviews in Cannes days before the winner of the Palme d'Or is announced. Fri, 24 May 2013 12:01:30 GMT
Amazon reveals fan fiction platform
Fan fiction authors will be able to publish and sell some titles in the US via new e-book platform Kindle Worlds. Fri, 24 May 2013 11:41:33 GMT
British hopefuls up for US TV awards
Damian Lewis and Sienna Miller are among the British stars nominated for the annual US Critics' Choice Awards. Fri, 24 May 2013 09:34:02 GMT
Thousands at author Achebe's funeral
Thousands of mourners attend the funeral of renowned Nigerian author Chinua Achebe in his home town of Ogidi in Anambra state. Thu, 23 May 2013 21:32:27 GMT
New jewel theft hits Cannes festival
A necklace reportedly worth 1.9m euros (£1.6m) is stolen during the Cannes film festival, the second such theft to hit this year's event. Thu, 23 May 2013 19:41:26 GMT
Leibovitz wins top Spanish award
US photographer Annie Leibovitz wins the 50,000 euro (£40,000) Prince of Asturias award for communication and humanities. Fri, 24 May 2013 08:31:17 GMT
BBC apologises over 'SF/IRA' label
Sinn Fein complains to the BBC after a Question Time floor plan refers to Northern Ireland's education minister John O'Dowd as "Sinn Fein/IRA!" Fri, 24 May 2013 13:00:02 GMT
Police confident about Big Weekend
Officers in Londonderry admit the Radio 1 event is their biggest police operation this year and they will "curb any anti-social behaviour". Fri, 24 May 2013 06:51:39 GMT
BBC abandons £100m digital project
The BBC is to close its Digital Media Initiative, with director general Tony Hall saying it had "wasted a huge amount of licence fee payers' money". Fri, 24 May 2013 11:51:25 GMT
French singer Georges Moustaki dies
Georges Moustaki, the French singer and composer who wrote Edith Piaf's 1958 hit song, Milord, dies aged 79. Thu, 23 May 2013 10:52:33 GMT
From bbc.co.uk/news
Article of the Day
Fri, 24 May 2013 07:00:00 +0200
Project Habakkuk It seems like pure folly to build a ship—let alone a giant aircraft carrier—out of ice, but during World War II, that is exactly what inventor Geoffrey Pyke proposed the Allies do. While plain ice—the kind put in drinks—is not strong or durable enough for such a task, Pyke believed a composite material made of wood pulp and ice would be. For much of 1943, a multinational team based in Canada toiled to realize a ship made of pykrete—a portmanteau of Pyke and concrete. Did the project succeed? Discuss
Fri, 24 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT
Andrianampoinimerina In the 16th century, the Merina people—a Malagasy ethnic group—founded the kingdom of Imerina on the central plateau of Madagascar, but it disintegrated in the early 18th century. In 1787, Andrianampoinimerina became king of one of the four continually warring Merina provinces and embarked on a campaign to reunify the kingdom. Having accomplished this, he moved on to conquer neighboring lands and peoples in an effort to become sole king of Madagascar. How did he express this political ambition?
Thu, 23 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT
Mountain Biking In many countries, the bicycle was supplanted by motorized vehicles as the preferred mode of transportation by the early 20th century. However, the mountain bike, introduced in the 1970s with rugged features meant to increase durability and improve performance in rough terrain, has done much to renew interest in cycling. Today, mountain biking is recognized as a sport in its own right and has a vast community of enthusiasts that spans the globe. When did mountain biking debut at the Olympics?
Boy Scouts of America to vote on lifting anti-gay ban
The Boy Scouts of America will vote on a proposal to lift a ban on openly gay scouts that has been in place throughout its 103-year history. Thu, 23 May 2013 19:07:00 +0200
Obama to take new look at war on terror
Barack Obama will renew his failed vow to close Guantanamo Bay and argue his drone war is legal and just. Thu, 23 May 2013 10:21:00 +0200
IMF's Lagarde in court for arbitration battle
IMF chief Christine Lagarde has arrived in court to be questioned by a French magistrate over her role in a €285-million arbitration payment. Thu, 23 May 2013 09:27:00 +0200
Man attacked, beheaded in London
An attack in which a man, presumed to be a soldier, was "beheaded" in a London street has been described by police as a possible terror attack. Wed, 22 May 2013 20:03:00 +0200
Kenya misses out as Obama's Africa tour plays catch-up
As Barack Obama embarks on his first major presidential tour of Africa, David Smith looks at how the US president's ancestral homeland will miss out. Wed, 22 May 2013 09:56:00 +0200
Oklahoma tornado: Dead, missing have been accounted for
A day after a tornado has torn through Oklahoma City's Moore, its mayor Glenn Lewis says he believes all the dead and missing have been accounted for. Wed, 22 May 2013 06:34:00 +0200
Death toll for Oklahoma tornado lowered to 24
Emergency workers have found over 100 survivors in an Oklahoma town hit by a tornado, while the death toll for the storm was lowered to 24. Tue, 21 May 2013 21:03:00 +0200
The Engine Burns Blue
This image shows a cutting-edge solar-electric propulsion thruster in development at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., that uses xenon ions for propulsion. An earlier version of this solar-electric propulsion engine has been flying on NASA's Dawn mission to the asteroid belt. This engine is being considered as part of the Asteroid Initiative, a proposal to robotically capture a small near-Earth asteroid and redirect it safely to a stable orbit in the Earth-moon system where astronauts can visit and explore it. This image was taken through a porthole in a vacuum chamber at JPL where the ion engine is being tested. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 EDT
click here for large version
of this imageQuote Of The Day
Epictetus
"The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best." Fri, 24 May 2013 22:55:50 +0200
Envoy hands over Pyongyang peace missive to Chinese president
BEIJING - A senior North Korean envoy delivered a letter from his leader Kim Jong-un to Chinese President Xi Jinping and told him that Pyongyang was ready to take "positive action" to re-join stalled six-nation nuclear disarmament talks. The letter was handed over by envoy, Vice Marshal Choe Ryong-hae. Choe told Xi that North Korea is willing to take positive actions to solve problems ... Fri, 24 May 2013 16:58:46 -0400
UK spy agencies defended over drummer soldier murder
LONDON - The British government has defended its spy agencies for failing to prevent murder of a soldier in London despite signs and revelations that the two suspects were well known to MI5.
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said it was impossible to control everyone all the time.
"Peers and MPs will do a thorough investigation in terms of what the security forces knew but I've seen ... Fri, 24 May 2013 16:52:28 -0400
Vehicles, people plunge into river after bridge collapse
WASHINGTON - A handful of vehicles and some people plunged into a river after a more than half a century old bridge that links Seattle in the US with Canada collapsed, throwing the movement on the highway into disarray.
Authorities said there were no deaths in the bridge collapse on the Skagit River in the US state of Washington. Three people were rescued and taken to hospitals, they said.
... Fri, 24 May 2013 16:45:25 -0400
Another jewellery heist hits Cannes as $2.6 mn necklace stolen
CANNES - A second suspected jewellery heist was reported at the Cannes Film Festival, with a single necklace by Swiss jeweller De Grisogono worth nearly $2.6 million reported missing. In the case of the first gem loot at the Cannes Film Festival, thieves literally tore out a safe filled with roughly $1 million-worth of jewels from a hotel room. The second time around the event took place at ... Fri, 24 May 2013 16:52:38 -0400
Amnesty laments lack of support for refugees globally
LONDON - Global rights body Amnesty International has said that the world is "increasingly" becoming "dangerous place" for refugees due to inaction on human rights.
The London-based group in its annual report cited the increasing number of refugees around the world, and highlighted the lack of support for them, as the key human rights issue for the past year.
It said that the number of ... Fri, 24 May 2013 16:46:37 -0400
Vietnam Veterans Wash Their Own Memorial
Welcome to American Mosaic from VOA Learning English.
I’m June Simms.
Today, we play some Billboard Award-winning hits.
We also tell about an organization that helps music students prepare for a career in music.
But first, we visit the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC, as it gets a clean-up from volunteers.
Washing “The Wall”
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC is one of the most-visited places in the nation’s capital. It honors ... Fri, 24 May 2013 00:50:21 +0000
New Study Predicts Huge Species Loss from Climate Change
From VOA Learning English, this is At It Is.
Welcome! I’m Caty Weaver.
This week, American scientists said carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere had risen to its highest level in 2.5 million years. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration measured carbon dioxide at more 400 parts per million. The Scripps Institution of Oceanography recorded a similar measurement.
The announcement led to renewed fears and discussion of climate change. But the 400 level ... Thu, 23 May 2013 23:51:08 +0000
Jefferson Suspends Trade with Europe - Pgm No.34
From VOA Learning English, welcome to The Making of a Nation, our weekly program of American history for people learning English. I’m Steve Ember.
Last time, we talked about the presidential election of 1804. Thomas Jefferson, the nation's third president, was easily re-elected. Jefferson was head of the Democratic-Republican Party, known today as the Democratic Party.
Thomas Jefferson had a very good record during his first term as president. He ended many taxes. He paid ... Thu, 23 May 2013 00:30:47 +0000
Pollution Forces Residents from California Town
Hello. I’m Jim Tedder in Washington. Welcome to a special edition of “As It Is.”
Seventeen years ago, an American energy company paid hundreds of millions of dollars to settle legal claims brought by people in the town of Hinkley, California. The people claimed that Pacific Gas & Electric poisoned their well water by putting industrial waste into the ground. Their story was told in the film “Erin Brockovich.” But the legal settlement is not the end of the ... Thu, 23 May 2013 00:30:24 +0000
Proverbs Tell About Love, War and Money
Now, the VOA Special English program Words and Their Stories.
Today we talk about proverbs. A proverb is a short, well known saying that expresses a common truth or belief. Proverbs are found in most cultures and are often very old.
In American history, Benjamin Franklin was famous for his proverbs. Franklin lived in the 1700s. He was a leader of the American Revolution against English rule. He was also a scientist, inventor and writer.
For many years, Franklin published a book ... Wed, 22 May 2013 00:30:46 +0000
ooBdoo
is not associated with or endorsed by any of the linked sites on this page nor
are any of the linked sites on this page associated with or endorsed by ooBdoo.
ooBdoo name, design and associated marks are trade marks (™) and / or
registered trade marks (®) of Inter-Change Media Ltd. Copyright 2013 Inter-Change
Media Ltd All Rights Reserved