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Owner Comment by B-yond on April 15, 2013 at 21:51

Boston Marathon Explosions: Third Blast

Two blasts happened near the race's finish line and police confirm a third explosion at JFK library in the US city.

At least two people have been killed and 22 others injured after two explosions near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, police have said.

There was also a third blast at the JFK library about five miles away, officers confirmed.

The blasts at the marathon took place about three hours after the winners crossed the line, with one explosion on the north side of Boylston Street, just before the photo bridge that marks the finish.

Another could be heard a few seconds later, reportedly further down the street.

Some runners were making their way across the finish line as the drama unfolded.

TV helicopter footage showed blood on the pavement in the popular shopping and tourist area known as the Back Bay.

Fox News reports that ball bearings have been found on the street.

Sky's Mark White said: "The ball bearings are likely to be shrapnel, leading to a growing suspicion the blasts were deliberate."

There are also reports that police have discovered unexploded devices in the area.

Some runners who had not finished were diverted down Commonwealth Avenue and into a family meeting area, according to an emergency plan.

Runners and race volunteers were crying as they fled the chaos.

Smoke rose from the explosions, through flags lining the route of the world's oldest and most prestigious marathon.

British police are now reviewing security plans for Sunday's London Marathon after the US blasts.

Video footage has emerged which appeared to show the moment one of the explosions happened.

Police made their way through competitors as they ran towards the scene.

Bloody spectators were being carried to the medical tent that had been set up to care for tired runners.

"There are a lot of people down," said one man, whose marathon number identified him as Frank Deruyter, who was not injured.

But marathon workers were carrying one woman, who did not appear to be a runner, to the medical area whose leg was hurt.

A Boston police officer was taken from the course with a bleeding leg injury.

Runner Laura McLean of Toronto said she heard two explosions outside the medical tent.

"There are people who are really, really bloody," Ms McLean said. "They were pulling them into the medical tent."

Cherie Falgoust was waiting for her husband, who was running the race.

"I was expecting my husband any minute," she said. "I don't know what this building is ... it just blew. Just a big bomb, a loud boom, and then glass everywhere. Something hit my head. I don't know what it was. I just ducked."

The Marathon sports store in Boston was reportedly near where one of the blasts took place.

There were two boom sounds heard from inside the Fairmount Copley Plaza Hotel.

Race officials have locked down the hotel.

The White House said President Barack Obama has been notified about the explosions.

The administration said it is in contact with state and local authorities and the president told his administration to provide whatever assistance is necessary in the investigation and response.

New York police have stepped up security around key landmarks in the city after the double blasts, a top officer said.

"We're stepping up security at hotels and other prominent locations in the city through deployment of the NYPD's critical response vehicles until more about the explosion is learned," Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne said.

Foreign Secretary William Hague tweeted: "Appalled by news of explosion at Boston marathon. My thoughts are with everyone affected by it and all those waiting for news."

http://news.sky.com/story/1078597/boston-marathon-explosions-third-...

Owner Comment by B-yond on April 3, 2013 at 19:54

The US defence secretary says North Korea's recent behaviour is a real threat to America and its allies.

North Korea's rhetoric poses a "real and clear danger" to America as well as its allies South Korea and Japan, said US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel.

"They have nuclear capacity now, they have missile delivery capacity now," Mr Hagel said after giving a major strategy speech at the National Defence University.

Mr Hagel said Pyongyang's "bellicose dangerous rhetoric" was problematic.

"We take those threats seriously, we have to take those threats seriously," he said.

"We are doing everything we can, working with the Chinese and others to defuse that situation on the peninsula.

"I hope the North will ratchet its very dangerous rhetoric down."

His comments came as a senior military official was reported as saying a US missile defence system would be sent to Guam.

North Korea has threatened missile and nuclear strikes against the US and South Korea in response to UN sanctions and joint military drills.

And in a sharp escalation in the military crisis, the North on Wednesday blocked access to the key Kaesong joint industrial zone with South Korea.

Any move on Kaesong - established in 2004 and a crucial source of hard currency for North Korea - carries enormous significance.

Neither of the Koreas has allowed previous crises to significantly affect the complex, which is the only surviving example of inter-Korean cooperation and seen as a bellwether for stability on the Korean peninsula.

Tensions have been soaring on the Korean peninsula since the North launched a long-range rocket in December and conducted its third nuclear test in February.

In a rare show of force in the region, Washington has deployed nuclear-capable US B-52s, B-2 stealth bombers and two US destroyers to South Korean air and sea space.

"We've been trying to work with the North Koreans to try to persuade them it's not in their interest, and certainly not in the Korean peninsula interest... to pursue nuclear weapons," Mr Hagel said.

"There is a pathway that is responsible, for the North to get on the path to peace, working with their neighbours... but they've got to be a responsible member of the world community."

China, the North's sole major ally, appealed for "calm" from all sides, repeating Beijing's oft-declared position.

http://news.sky.com/story/1073563/north-korea-poses-real-clear-dang...

Owner Comment by B-yond on March 31, 2013 at 22:27

Three people have been were killed and at least 20-25 injured after a massive 75-car pileup on Interstate 77 near the Virginia and North Carolina border Sunday afternoon, according to authorities.

Read more on NBC News - http://nbcnews.to/YW6ymh

Photo: Three dead, 25 injured in massive 75-car pileup on I-77 in Carroll County, Virginia. (William Bottomley / WXII via NBC News)
Three people have been killed and at least 20-25 are injured after a massive 75-car pileup on Interstate 77 near the Virginia and North Carolina border Sunday afternoon, according to authorities.

Read more on NBC News - http://nbcnews.to/YW6ymh

Photo: Three dead, 25 injured in massive 75-car pileup on I-77 in Carroll County, Virginia. (William Bottomley / WXII via NBC News)

Owner Comment by B-yond on March 31, 2013 at 17:31

Policewoman Sues Man Who Called 999.

A policewoman who tripped while investigating a possible break-in at a petrol station sues for damages the man who called 999.

A man who dialled 999 fearing a burglary at his petrol station is being sued by the policewoman who answered the call because she fell on the premises.

The officer, Kelly Jones, tripped over a kerbstone when she went to the station in Thetford, Norfolk, owned by Steve Jones last August.

Her lawyers say she was hurt and argue that he failed to keep her safe while she was investigating the possible break-in.

Mr Jones says the move raises bigger questions about Britain's culture of compensation.

"I think it's the compensation culture gone a little too far, this is one step too far. Something needs to be done.

"I feel we need a minister of the common sense in this country," he told Sky News.

Mr Jones said he felt "astounded, worried, slightly anxious" upon receiving notification of the lawsuit last week.

"It's implying that I virtually should have done her job for her, it's implying I didn't keep her safe on my premises," Mr Jones said.

"We really need the police to be on our side right now," he added, citing what he says is an increased numbers of shoplifters or people who drive off without paying after filling up the tank.

Ms Jones could not immediately be reached.

But Norfolk Police said in a statement that they had been "wholly unaware of this litigation which appears to be instigated privately by the individual officer".

The statement added: "We have a duty of care to any officer injured whilst on duty, to support their continued health and well-being and fitness to return to work. Officers can, in addition, receive further support from their staff association, as well as pursuing private treatment."

Mr Jones was called out late at night in August 25 after an alarm went off at the petrol station. Fearing a burglary, he called the police for backup.

"We were walking around to see if there had been any signs of entry in the premises and she tripped over the kerb," Mr Jones recalled.

"She got up and we carried on," he said, adding that the officer did not mention anything at the time and that she seemed to be "more embarrassed than hurt".

There was no burglary so Mr Jones said he didn't think about the incident until receiving the letter months later.

The lawsuit said the policewoman had suffered wrist and leg injuries.

Her lawyers say the area was not properly lit. Mr Jones counters that some lights were on and some more light was coming from a back street.

If successful, the claim could put people off calling emergency services. But Mr Jones said this was an isolated incident.

"On the whole the police do a great job."

The Police Federation said in a statement that "the Constables Central Committee is funding this particular case and the decision making for this lies with them."

It said most officers have public protection rather than any potential risk to themselves as their top priority.

It added: “On occasion private prosecutions and civil claims are made by police officers - and they must be treated each on their own merits.

"However, we share the public view that policing is a job that carries with it a reasonable amount of risk, at times much higher than that."

http://news.sky.com/story/1072059/policewoman-sues-man-who-called-999

Owner Comment by B-yond on March 31, 2013 at 14:23

Bird Flu: New Strain Kills Two In China

The strain which killed two men in Shanghai has not been seen in humans before, experts say.

Two men have died in China after contracting a strain of avian influenza that has never been passed to humans before, the Chinese official news agency has reported.

The men, aged 87 and 27, became sick late last month and died in Shanghai in early March, according to the Xinhua news agency.

The strain of the bird flu virus was identified as H7N9, which had not been transmitted to humans before, Xinhua said, quoting the national health and family planning commission.

There are no known vaccines against the H7N9 virus.

However, the strain does not seem highly contagious because no health abnormalities were detected among 88 of the victims' close contacts, the commission said.

Another woman in nearby Anhui province also contracted the virus in early March and is in a critical condition.

All three cases showed symptoms of fever and coughs that later developed into pneumonia.

It is unclear how the three were infected.

China is considered one of the nations most at risk from bird flu because it has the world's biggest poultry population and many chickens in rural areas are kept close to humans.

The World Health Organisation says more than 360 confirmed human deaths from the H5N1 strain of avian influenza have been reported globally from 2003 until March 12 this year.

http://news.sky.com/story/1071996/bird-flu-new-strain-kills-two-in-...

Owner Comment by B-yond on March 10, 2013 at 23:17

Storm Sweeps Plum Island Homes Into Ocean

Powerful waves and winds have caused two homes to collapse - and left several others severely damaged - on a US beach.

The late two-day winter storm swept into New England, dumping more than a foot of snow in some areas and sending tides crashing into the northeastern coastline of Massachusetts amid flood warnings.

High seas washed away the dune from underneath some properties, compromising their foundations and rendering them a danger to the public.

One couple on Plum Island watched the ocean wash away the foundations of their summer residence on Annapolis Way.

His wife added: "My children have been here in the summer. We got engaged here in the summer."

An empty house nearby was also ripped from its foundations and collapsed into the sea.

Some roads in coastal towns were flooded with up to 3ft of water.

Flooding at the morning high tide closed some coastal roads north and south of Boston.

Other parts of New England experienced nearly 2ft of snow - wreaking havoc on the roads and causing some motorists to be left stranded.

Schools were also affected and were either forced to close or delay opening.

National Weather Service meteorologist Alan Dunham said it was like a "conveyor belt of wave after wave of snow" coming in

http://news.sky.com/story/1062666/storm-sweeps-plum-island-homes-in...

Owner Comment by B-yond on March 6, 2013 at 23:24

NatWest Banking Services Hit By 'Problems'

NatWest customers are reporting widespread problems withdrawing cash and logging on to online banking.

Online and telephone banking, cash withdrawals and payments have been affected.

A NatWest spokesman said: "We are aware of problems that customers are having and apologise and will provide more information as soon as we have it."

One customer, Steve Ireland from London, said he discovered the problem when he tried to purchase some goods in a supermarket.

"I was out shopping after a night out with my partner to celebrate a birthday, I went into a very big chain supermarket, and unfortunately got the cash desk with all my shopping only to be told the card was declined.

"Really bad experience, very embarrassing. The evil looks you get from a cashier when you can't pay for what you’ve purchased."

It is the second time in a year that the bank has been hit by system problems.

In June millions of RBS, NatWest and Ulster Bank customers were affected after a software update failed, creating a backlog of balance and credit problems.

http://news.sky.com/story/1061199/natwest-banking-services-hit-by-p...

Owner Comment by B-yond on March 4, 2013 at 13:44

A suspect wanted in Bradford has been handed in to police by a man dressed as the Caped Crusader.

A police spokesman said: "The person who brought the wanted man into the station was dressed in a full Batman outfit.

"His identity, however; remains unknown."

http://news.sky.com/story/1059826/bradford

Owner Comment by B-yond on March 1, 2013 at 22:31

Passengers Stop Crash As Bus Driver Collapses

Two women grab the wheel of a bus carrying 20 passengers after the driver passes out.

A bus driver in Poland passed out at the wheel, with the vehicle crossing into the opposite lane until two women rushed to his seat and took control.

The dramatic sequence was caught by CCTV cameras on board the bus near the town of Kiezmark in the north of the country.

The footage shows the driver sway from his seat and collapse to the side. Passengers are heard screaming as the bus crosses to the opposite lane.

A woman screaming "can anyone drive?" grabs the wheel, and another woman helps her.

A man then manages to bring the bus, carrying about 20 passengers, to a halt.

Gabriela Donke-Banach was one of the two women who rushed to the wheel.

"This lady reacted first, then I ran to her. Something made me do it," she said, adding that the other woman does not want to be identified.

"Thanks to her instincts and reactions I am able to stand here today and talk about it."

The two women struggled to take control of the vehicle and the camera to the front of the bus shows it straddling lanes and hitting a road sign, cracking its window.

"I saw that she turned left and as we know this is not a good idea as we have right-hand traffic. I automatically turned right. It was an instinct. I was wondering for how long I will have to drive like that," said Ms Donke-Banach.

"Then there was this lady that nobody talks about who screamed to the other passengers to help us stop the bus. Then this young man stepped in and that’s the last thing I remember."

The head of bus company PKS Gdansk, Piotr Topolewicz, said the women had prevented a major crash.

The driver was unhurt but was taken to hospital for tests.

Police spokeswoman Marzena Szwed-Sobanska said that the bus did collide with a passenger car, but no one was hurt.

http://news.sky.com/story/1058895/passengers-stop-crash-as-bus-driv...

Owner Comment by B-yond on March 1, 2013 at 18:01

Sinkhole Swallows Up Man At Florida

36-year-old is feared dead after desperate attempts to pull him out of the 100ft chasm under the house failed

A man in Florida has been swallowed up by a sinkhole measuring 30 metres (100 feet) across which opened up under his bedroom.

Jeff Bush was trapped under rubble after the home in Brandon, east of Tampa Bay, began to collapse into the 15m deep hole on Thursday night.

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue officials told reporters the 36-year-old missing man was now presumed to have died.

"It's not confirmed, but I think it's safe to presume," spokeswoman Jessica Damico told reporters.

There were five adults and one child inside the house at the time.

The victim's brother, Jerry Bush, tried unsuccessfully to pull him from the sinkhole after hearing a loud crash at around 11pm and screams for help.

"I know in my heart, he's dead," he told CNN.

"I heard a loud crash like a car coming through the house and I heard my brother screaming," he explained.

"All I seen was this big hole, real big hole and all I seen was his mattress."

He jumped into the hole and started digging.

"I couldn't find him. I thought I could hear him holler for me to help him," he said.

The brother then had to be rescued by a sheriff's deputy.

"I went into the bedroom and I saw the sinkhole in the entire bedroom," Deputy Douglas Duvall said.

"I saw the family member inside the hole who was trying to get the victim out. I reached out and was able to grab his hand and pull him out of the hole."

Engineers determined the sinkhole extends for 15 metres in both directions from the central point in the bedroom.

But it is not visible above ground except from inside the house.

Overnight the home became too unstable to continue rescue efforts. People living in neighbouring homes were also evacuated.

Authorities said they used equipment that can detect sounds as faint as a mouse running over a floor in an attempt to find the missing man, but nothing was detected.

Sinkholes are common in seaside Florida, where underlying limestone and dolomite can be worn away by water and chemicals, leading to a collapse.

http://news.sky.com/story/1058706/sinkhole-swallows-up-man-at-flori...

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