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Friday, 30 December 2011
Australian woman survives three days trapped in car
SYDNEY: An Australian grandmother who survived three days trapped by her overturned car after a road accident on Christmas Day had become so desperate to escape she considered amputating her leg, police said.
With her mobile phone battery dying, Deborah McKnight was unable to reach emergency help after her car rolled over an embankment on an isolated country road on Sunday.
McKnight had been driving near Batlow, in southeast Australia, when she told police she swerved to miss a kangaroo and lost control of her car which careered through a guard rail and tumbled down a cliff.Read more
With her mobile phone battery dying, Deborah McKnight was unable to reach emergency help after her car rolled over an embankment on an isolated country road on Sunday.
McKnight had been driving near Batlow, in southeast Australia, when she told police she swerved to miss a kangaroo and lost control of her car which careered through a guard rail and tumbled down a cliff.Read more
Thursday, 29 December 2011
Python attacks Australian infant
SYDNEY: An Australian infant was attacked by a python which wrapped itself around his body and attempted to suffocate him, his terrified mother said Thursday, recalling his "blood-curdling scream".
The two-year-old boy was chasing a ball around his Port Douglas backyard in Australia's tropical north when the snake struck, biting his leg before looping itself around his body, his mother told the local newspaper.
"I heard this blood-curdling scream," she said.
"The snake was biting his leg and was wrapped around his whole body, to his chest. It started constricting." Read more
The two-year-old boy was chasing a ball around his Port Douglas backyard in Australia's tropical north when the snake struck, biting his leg before looping itself around his body, his mother told the local newspaper.
"I heard this blood-curdling scream," she said.
"The snake was biting his leg and was wrapped around his whole body, to his chest. It started constricting." Read more
"Elvis" the croc strikes again in Sydney
SYDNEY: Two workers at a reptile park near Sydney were all shook up Wednesday, running for their lives when a 500 kg crocodile named Elvis suddenly lunged at them, making off with their lawnmower.
Five-meter long Elvis was already not exactly a hunk of burning love, having eaten two girlfriends at another crocodile park where he lived.
He struck again, surging out of the water while the workers performed routine maintenance nearby.
"Elvis is quite a dangerous croc, he's a real firecracker," said Tim Faulkner, operations manager at the Australian Reptile Park at Gosford, about an hour's drive north of Sydney.
"He came flying out and before we knew it he had the mower in his mouth and he's taken it back into the water, dropping a couple of teeth in the process." Read more
Five-meter long Elvis was already not exactly a hunk of burning love, having eaten two girlfriends at another crocodile park where he lived.
He struck again, surging out of the water while the workers performed routine maintenance nearby.
"Elvis is quite a dangerous croc, he's a real firecracker," said Tim Faulkner, operations manager at the Australian Reptile Park at Gosford, about an hour's drive north of Sydney.
"He came flying out and before we knew it he had the mower in his mouth and he's taken it back into the water, dropping a couple of teeth in the process." Read more
Stressed Chinese fight back with pillows
The annual event marked its fifth year with such a surge in interest from stressed young office workers and students that organizers held two nights of pillow fighting before Christmas Day and plan another for Dec 30.
"Nowadays there are many white collar workers and students that are facing huge pressures at work and at school, so we hope to give them an outlet to release their stress before the end of the year," said Eleven Wang, the founder and mastermind behind the epic pillow fights.Read more
Colombian city gets giant, outdoor escalator
BOGOTA: Officials in Colombia's second-largest city inaugurated a giant, outdoor escalator for residents of one of its poorest neighborhoods.
For generations, the 12,000 residents of Medellin's tough Comuna 13, which clings to the side of a steep hillside, have had to climb hundreds of large steps authorities say is the same as going up a 28-story building.
Now they can ride an escalator Medellin's mayor says is the first massive, outdoor public escalator for use by residents of a poor area.
"It turned out very well," said Mayor Alonso Salazar, adding that he has not heard of any such project elsewhere in this world.
Salazar said officials from Rio de Janeiro plan to visit Medellin to see if such an escalator would work in that city's favelas, which also cling precariously to hillsides.
Comuna 13 residents came out to celebrate and study the $6.7 million escalator which officials say will shorten the 35-minute hike on foot up the hillside to six minutes. Use of the escalator is free.
"This is a dream come true," homemaker Olga Holguin told RCN television.
Cesar Hernandez, head of projects for Medellin, said the electric stairway is divided into six sections and has a length of 384 meters (1,260 feet). An escalator goes up and a second goes down. Authorities plan to build a covering for inclement whether.
Salazar described Comuna 13 as the city's district that has "suffered the greatest urban violence... but lately this has been receding and we hope this social package will help it move forward." (AP)
For generations, the 12,000 residents of Medellin's tough Comuna 13, which clings to the side of a steep hillside, have had to climb hundreds of large steps authorities say is the same as going up a 28-story building.
Now they can ride an escalator Medellin's mayor says is the first massive, outdoor public escalator for use by residents of a poor area.
"It turned out very well," said Mayor Alonso Salazar, adding that he has not heard of any such project elsewhere in this world.
Salazar said officials from Rio de Janeiro plan to visit Medellin to see if such an escalator would work in that city's favelas, which also cling precariously to hillsides.
Comuna 13 residents came out to celebrate and study the $6.7 million escalator which officials say will shorten the 35-minute hike on foot up the hillside to six minutes. Use of the escalator is free.
"This is a dream come true," homemaker Olga Holguin told RCN television.
Cesar Hernandez, head of projects for Medellin, said the electric stairway is divided into six sections and has a length of 384 meters (1,260 feet). An escalator goes up and a second goes down. Authorities plan to build a covering for inclement whether.
Salazar described Comuna 13 as the city's district that has "suffered the greatest urban violence... but lately this has been receding and we hope this social package will help it move forward." (AP)
Stressed Chinese fight back- with pillows
The annual event marked its fifth year with such a surge in interest from stressed young office workers and students that organizers held two nights of pillow fighting before Christmas Day and plans another for Dec 30.
"Nowadays there are many white collar workers and students that are facing huge pressures at work and at school, so we hope to give them an outlet to release their stress before the end of the year," said Eleven Wang, the founder and mastermind behind the epic pillow fights. Read more
Boston student re-united with $170,000 violin
Muchen Hsieh, a student at the New England Conservatory in Boston, had traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, arriving at roughly 11 p.m. on Tuesday.
Christine O'Brien, a spokeswoman for the Philadelphia police, who helped Hsieh track down the missing instrument, said then came a moment of sheer panic for the student.
O'Brien said Hsieh realized she had forgotten the instrument after she was picked up from the bus station. She blamed her absent-mindedness on travel fatigue.Read more
Singapore's SPH says Yahoo! plagiarised content
SINGAPORE: Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), which is suing Yahoo! for copyright infringement, has accused the US Internet giant of plagiarising its works.
SPH, which publishes Singapore's Straits Times newspaper and other dailies, also vowed to fight a counterclaim filed this month by Yahoo! Southeast Asia alleging the media group infringed on its copyright, the statement said.
"SPH is determined to pursue this suit vigorously and to protect its copyrighted works," the statement said, adding its defence has been filed Wednesday at the High Court to the counterclaim by Yahoo!.
"It cannot allow a third party to plagiarise its works without regard to the effort and resources that go into producing its content."
SPH said in November it was suing Yahoo! for copyright infringement and wants the California-based web group to pay unspecified damages for infringement. Read more
SPH, which publishes Singapore's Straits Times newspaper and other dailies, also vowed to fight a counterclaim filed this month by Yahoo! Southeast Asia alleging the media group infringed on its copyright, the statement said.
"SPH is determined to pursue this suit vigorously and to protect its copyrighted works," the statement said, adding its defence has been filed Wednesday at the High Court to the counterclaim by Yahoo!.
"It cannot allow a third party to plagiarise its works without regard to the effort and resources that go into producing its content."
SPH said in November it was suing Yahoo! for copyright infringement and wants the California-based web group to pay unspecified damages for infringement. Read more
'Silence of the Lambs', 'Bambi', among US film treasures
NEW YORK: The U.S. National Film Registry has named 25 films to be preserved as cultural treasures ranging from the 1942 Walt Disney classic, "Bambi," to the 1991 psychological thriller "The Silence of the Lambs."
The film list also includes the Academy Award-winning "Forrest Gump" starring Tom Hanks and the post-war noir film "The Big Heat," set in a fictional US town that examined domestic life in the 1950s. It includes Hollywood features, documentaries and animation, spanning the period 1912 to 1994.
The latest films were selected from 2,228 films nominated by the public, bringing the total number of films in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress to 575.
"These films are selected because of their enduring significance to American culture," said Librarian of Congress James Billington in a statement.Read more
The film list also includes the Academy Award-winning "Forrest Gump" starring Tom Hanks and the post-war noir film "The Big Heat," set in a fictional US town that examined domestic life in the 1950s. It includes Hollywood features, documentaries and animation, spanning the period 1912 to 1994.
The latest films were selected from 2,228 films nominated by the public, bringing the total number of films in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress to 575.
"These films are selected because of their enduring significance to American culture," said Librarian of Congress James Billington in a statement.Read more
Oscar nomination ballots sent to voters
LOS ANGELES: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Tuesday sent out Oscar ballots to its members, who will select the nominees for Hollywood's top film honors.
The academy's 5,783 voting members must cast their ballots by January 13 to determine the Oscar nominations, which will be announced on January 24.
The Oscar statuettes will be handed out at the 84th Academy Awards ceremony, which will be held on February 26 at Hollywood's Kodak Theater.
Oscars veteran Billy Crystal has stepped in to host this year's Academy Awards show, after actor Eddie Murphy pulled out following a row over a producer's anti-gay comments.
Crystal has hosted the top Hollywood awards show eight times before. He last hosted the event in 2004. (AFP)
Islamabad stocks stay bullish
Islamabad stays bullish
ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Stock Exchange (ISE-10) here on Thursday witnessed bullish trend as the index gained 6.75 points to close at 2587.01 as compared the previous day's trading.
A stock analyst, talking to news agency expected positive announcement of financial results of corporate sectors caused the positive sentiments in the local markets.
He said that the December was the month of closing accounts of companies listed in all stock exchanges of the country and the investors were expecting more returns from corporate sectors.
"The buying was seemed in the oil sector because it is performing better than other sectors", he added.
In today's trading, the volume of shares was 4,910, which was down by 64,590 as compared to previous day's closing.
A total of 106 companies' shares were traded Thursday, out of which 66 scrips gained while 40 lost, and the share prices of the rest remained unchanged.
The price of top gainer Siemens Pakistan Engineering increased by Rs.16.54 while the price of top loser Fauji Fertilizer Bin Qasim (FFBL) decreased by Rs.1.47.
Lotte Pakistan PTA, National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and FFBL remained volume leaders, with volume of 2,000, 1,800 and 1,000
shares respectively. (APP)
ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Stock Exchange (ISE-10) here on Thursday witnessed bullish trend as the index gained 6.75 points to close at 2587.01 as compared the previous day's trading.
A stock analyst, talking to news agency expected positive announcement of financial results of corporate sectors caused the positive sentiments in the local markets.
He said that the December was the month of closing accounts of companies listed in all stock exchanges of the country and the investors were expecting more returns from corporate sectors.
"The buying was seemed in the oil sector because it is performing better than other sectors", he added.
In today's trading, the volume of shares was 4,910, which was down by 64,590 as compared to previous day's closing.
A total of 106 companies' shares were traded Thursday, out of which 66 scrips gained while 40 lost, and the share prices of the rest remained unchanged.
The price of top gainer Siemens Pakistan Engineering increased by Rs.16.54 while the price of top loser Fauji Fertilizer Bin Qasim (FFBL) decreased by Rs.1.47.
Lotte Pakistan PTA, National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and FFBL remained volume leaders, with volume of 2,000, 1,800 and 1,000
shares respectively. (APP)
KSE up on bargain hunting
KARACHI: Equities in the country’s top bourse Thursday rose on bargain hunting, Geo News reported.
The Karachi Stock Exchange's (KSE) benchmark 100-share index was up by 0.73 percent, or 83.08 points, to reach 11435.67.
On the other hand the turnover tuned out to be only 33.84 million shares.
The Karachi Stock Exchange's (KSE) benchmark 100-share index was up by 0.73 percent, or 83.08 points, to reach 11435.67.
On the other hand the turnover tuned out to be only 33.84 million shares.
Euro falls sharply in Asia
TOKYO: The euro fell sharply against major currencies in thin Asian trade Thursday after it hit a 10-year low against the Japanese unit in New York.
The euro fell to $1.2903 and 100.49 yen in early Tokyo trade, down from $1.2912 and 100.80 yen late Wednesday in New York.
The dollar stood at 77.86 yen, barely changed from 77.90 in New York.
A senior dealer at a major bank in Tokyo said the overall selling volume was not large, meaning the impact of euro sell orders was being magnified due to thin year-end flows in Asian markets.
In New York Wednesday, the single European currency fell to 100.73 yen, its lowest level since June 2001, while also plunging against the greenback below the $1.30 line to its lowest level since January 11.
The euro fell to $1.2903 and 100.49 yen in early Tokyo trade, down from $1.2912 and 100.80 yen late Wednesday in New York.
The dollar stood at 77.86 yen, barely changed from 77.90 in New York.
A senior dealer at a major bank in Tokyo said the overall selling volume was not large, meaning the impact of euro sell orders was being magnified due to thin year-end flows in Asian markets.
In New York Wednesday, the single European currency fell to 100.73 yen, its lowest level since June 2001, while also plunging against the greenback below the $1.30 line to its lowest level since January 11.
Myanmar warehouse blast kills 17
"It was not a bomb explosion," the official said, though the cause of the blast, which sparked a large fire that destroyed many nearby storage places and homes, was still unknown.
At least 17 people, including four firefighters, had died, while 79 people were injured, including around 30 firemen, another government official told.
Residents in several areas of the city were woken by the blast around 2:00 am local time (1930 GMT), which appeared to have hit a medical warehouse in the eastern township of Mingalar Taung Nyunt, witnesses told.
Firefighters battled for hours to douse the flames and finally succeeded in extinguishing the massive fire at around 6:45am, leaving behind a scene of utter devastation.
The second government official said the blast had created a large crater and damaged several warehouses and around 50 houses in the area, most of them wooden dwellings.
