Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, previous founders of Kazaa and Skype, launched their new video and TV show distribution website in October 2007 called what?

Untitled Page Live satellite chat 9p.m NZ and 8.30pm Syd time onwards in the chatroom. A bit quiet today. The Freeview website is working, well sort of http://www.freeviewnz.tv/ From my Email & ICQ From Cokeman No oneB service (IS8, NZ beam) yet other than ETC Punjabi, last month they said mid Feb they would add 7 channels including Neosports for Cricket. I rang them and they said the channels will be here between the 15th and 20th of March. From the Dish Lyngsat on Holiday at the CABSAT show So check www.satcodx.com for the latest updates NEWS Not coming soon: mobile phone TV From http://www.smh.com.au/news/mobiles--handhelds/not-coming-soon-mobile-phone-tv/2007/03/05/1172943346832.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1 Technical roadblocks will likely delay the roll-out of mobile phone TV services in Sydney until at least 2010, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) said. This would place Sydneysiders further behind the United States and Europe, where mobile TV, also known as DVB-H, is already being progressively implemented. The issue stems from the fact that existing analogue and digital television services operate in channels adjacent to that proposed for mobile TV, resulting in significant signal quality degradation. A fix for the issue in Sydney was not expected to be available until analogue services are switched off during 2010-2012, ACMA wrote in a consultation paper released in December last year. The licence to provide mobile TV in Australia was due to be auctioned off later this year, with Telstra widely considered to make the winning bid. Between 12 and 32 channels would be supported, depending on the type of content offered. But it is understood the auction could be delayed, and potential bidders deterred, due to the inability to properly service customers in Sydney. The technology behind mobile TV, DVB-H, gives a handheld device the ability to access live digital broadcasts, in much the same way as the TV set in your living room. This is different to the existing array of services being marketed by all four of Australia's major mobile carriers as "mobile TV", as these services are limited to on-demand content provided over a 3G mobile network. DVB-H is widely expected to be the next killer application for mobile phones - research firm Frost & Sullivan has predicted the global DVB-H market would grow from $US60 million ($77 million) last year to $US2 billion in 2010. Last year, ABI Research signalled that by 2011 more than half a billion people would subscribe to mobile video services worldwide. According to ACMA's consultation paper, the technical issues affecting a rollout of mobile TV in Sydney could be fixed by deploying "additional repeaters to provide high signal levels in built up areas", but this would not be plausible for Sydney because it would cause interference with existing services. The issue also affects Darwin, Illawarra, Newcastle, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, but it is most difficult to fix in Sydney. "Due to the high demand for spectrum in the greater Sydney area, options to improve channel B [the channel proposed for mobile TV] do not appear to be available prior to the analogue television switchover," the report reads. Analogue television broadcasts are scheduled to be switched off during 2010-2012. At present, broadcasters are required to simulcast their programs on both analogue and digital frequencies, which is costly and chews up spectrum that could be used for other services such as mobile TV. The Communications Minister, Helen Coonan, said ACMA had assured the Government that "no such interference to free to air broadcasters will be permitted". Given ACMA's view that a fix did not appear to be available before analogue broadcasts were switched off, it is therefore likely that a Sydney mobile TV rollout will be halted until then. It was not clear whether Senator Coonan would consider moving the analogue switchover period forward as a result of the technical problems, but this is highly unlikely. The issue does not appear to have affected other countries. Italy


Which country's victory at Wembley in November 2007 put the home nation out of the European Cup?

European Championship « England Memories January 31, 2016 England are currently preparing for Euro 2016, having qualified with ease for the finals. But 40 years ago the final stages of the European Championship took place without them, England having failed to progress beyond their qualifying group. Coming after missing out on a place at the 1974 World Cup finals, it added to the gloom for England fans and proved a big disappointment for new manager Don Revie after he appeared to have started well in the job… In October 1973, England infamously drew with Poland and failed to qualify for the 1974 World Cup. In the ensuing months the Football Association parted company with Sir Alf Ramsey, with Joe Mercer looking after the shop for seven matches as he sought to help restore national pride. In July 1974 the FA unveiled the new manager, as Don Revie left First Division champions Leeds United to lead his country. Although Revie may not have had the public support of Brian Clough and his Leeds side were far from universally loved, he had a track record for success – either winning major honours or coming perilously close to doing so. Now the nation hoped he could restore that winning mentality, with England having lost the aura they had held when they won the World Cup in 1966. Their recent record at Wembley, where once they had been almost invincible, was a particular concern. They had been beaten there by West Germany in the European Championship quarter-finals in 1972 and then failed to beat Wales and Poland beneath the Twin Towers in qualifying for the 1974 World Cup. Revie’s first challenge would be to lead England to the final stages of the 1976 European Championship, although he quickly made clear what his real priority was in an era when the World Cup dwarfed the Euros. “The main object must be to build up to the World Cup of 1978,” he said upon his appointment. “Four years seems a long way off, but it isn’t.” But there was no time like the present and England would be in a Euro ’76 qualifying group with Czechoslovakia, Portugal and Cyprus. None of the four sides had made it to the 1974 World Cup finals. The Czechs had come unstuck against Scotland; England and Portugal were pale shadows of their great sides of 1966; and Cyprus were seen as just making up the numbers. When the draw was made in January 1974, Geoffrey Green in The Times described the group as “a comparatively mild sector at present-day values” given the sides would all be absent from the World Cup. Only the group winners would progress to the two-legged quarter-finals.     Don Revie with his first England captain, Emlyn Hughes. It proved a short-lived partnership. Revie’s first England match would not be until October 30. However, his first get-together was at a Manchester hotel in September when more than 80 established and potential players were invited to attend. Many of them – such as John Beck, Micky Horswill, Kevin Lock and Denis Smith – would never be capped by England at full level but Revie was certainly going to look far and wide for men who could bolster the squad. However, the rather generous number of debuts he handed out while in charge would attract criticism. So too would be the decision to axe established players, including captains Emlyn Hughes and Alan Ball. Like Ramsey, Revie showed a reluctance to pick the flair ‘Maverick’ players who had burst onto the scene and this also gave ammunition to his critics. The great start for Revie Although the late date for his first game afforded Revie time to prepare, he would not have the luxury of a friendly to ease his way into the role. His opening match would be the first qualifier against Czechoslovakia at Wembley. It felt like the dawn of a new era, with a new manager in charge who was bringing in Land of Hope and Glory as a pre-match anthem and England were donning a new-look Admiral kit that divided opinion. The Czechs held out for more than 70 minutes before Mick Channon and Colin Bell (2) found the net as  England won 3-0 . “It was a match with a beginning and ending but little in the mid


Who made the highly critical documentry film Sicko, about the US healthcare system?

Movie Review: Sicko by Michael Moore Movie Review: Sicko by Michael Moore Search the site By Kelly Montgomery Updated September 05, 2016 Sicko is a documentary film from filmmaker Michael Moore, who achieved notoriety (and, some may say, infamy) for his films Fahrenheit 9/11 and Bowling for Columbine. In Sicko, Moore examines the American healthcare system and compares it to other countries. It should come as no surprise to those familiar with Moore's work that he takes a very strong, politically liberal position on the issue of healthcare, favoring socialized, universal healthcare over the system we have currently in place. However, even if you disagree with Moore, this film is worth watching for its chilling and disturbingly accurate portrayal of the failings of healthcare in America. Perhaps Canada, Great Britain, France, and Cuba don't have all the answers, but in examining the way they do things, Moore forces us to look in the mirror and seriously question the way we take care of our own citizens. The Good Moore wisely stays behind the camera and lets real Americans tell the story of our broken healthcare system. You may want to bring your tissues for some of these stories: Financially crippled by co-pays and deductibles , one couple must sell their family home and move into their daughter's basement. Another woman has her health insurance retroactively canceled because she forgot to disclose on her application that she had years ago suffered from a common yeast infection which was completely resolved with a prescription cream. Doctors believe a man suffering from kidney cancer could be saved with a bone marrow transplant procedure, which is denied by his insurer. His family cannot afford the procedure out-of-pocket, so he forgoes care and dies shortly thereafter, leaving behind his wife and young son. A young mother calls 911 and has the ambulance rush her feverish 18-month-old daughter to the nearest emergency room, only to be denied care because it was a non-network hospital. By the time the insurance issue was straightened out, it was too late to save her daughter's life. A sick and disoriented woman is discharged from a hospital and dumped in front of a homeless shelter. She is wearing nothing but a hospital gown and wanders aimlessly up and down the street until someone from the shelter sees her and approaches her to assist. It turns out that the hospital had discharged her because her insurance benefits had run out. Ex-insurance company employees assure us that these horror stories really do happen, and that insurers are most decidedly for-profit operations with the goal of minimizing claims payouts. Patients are denied coverage for having any one of a very long list of pre-existing conditions. This list is believed to include thousands of common medical conditions, including asthma and diabetes. Even those who are able to obtain coverage cannot rest easy, as insurance company employees who can find reasons to deny claims are richly rewarded for their creativity. Moore compares our broken healthcare system with the nationalized health coverage systems in several other countries. This coverage is not exactly free –- citizens are heavily taxed to cover the health costs –- but patients owe no money at the time of service. Moore visited four countries -– Canada, Great Britain, France, and Cuba -– and interviewed several people in each country who were extremely happy with their healthcare systems. Americans tend to envision substandard care and long waiting periods when they think of socialized medicine, but there are at least some people who receive high quality, timely care under this type of system. The Bad Perhaps it is just my American bias against socialized medicine , but I was suspicious of Moore's cheery and overwhelmingly positive presentation of healthcare in other countries. He relies on anecdotal evidence to prove that emergency waiting rooms in other countries are particularly efficient, and that both doctors and patients alike are satisfied that socialized medicine a superior healthcare system. How


Which company was found officially responsible for the Suffolk Bird Flu outbreak in February 2007?

BBC NEWS | UK | Timeline: Bird flu in the UK Timeline: Bird flu in the UK Fresh case of bird flu in turkeys The discovery of bird flu in turkeys at Redgrave Park Farm in Suffolk is the latest episode of the virus now affecting the UK. In April 2006 a strain was found in chickens at a Norfolk farm and the month before that the deadly H5N1 strain was found in a dead swan on the Fife coast. Below are the key developments in the UK so far: 10 January 2008 Three mute swans in Dorset are found dead with the virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu. 19 December 2007 All restrictions on bird gatherings and movements of poultry and poultry meat are lifted. 8 December 2007 Bird flu protection measures around the infected farms begin to be lifted. 23 November 2007 The national ban on bird shows and pigeon races, in place since 12 November, is lifted. Restrictions remain within the surveillance and protection zones in Suffolk and Norfolk. 21 November 2007 A further 68,000 birds are slaughtered on a sixth poultry farm in Suffolk in a bid to control the outbreak. The cull is more than double the other five combined. 19 November 2007 A case of the virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu is confirmed at Hill Meadow Farm, in Knettishall, Suffolk. The farm is near to Redgrave Park Farm where the outbreak began on 12 November. 16 November 2007 The outbreak forces organisers to axe the Royal Welsh Winter Fair, at Llanelwedd, for the second time in three years. 14 November 2007 A further 24,000 turkeys are slaughtered as a precaution on four premises run by the same company as that which operates the infected farm. 12 November 2007 About 5,000 birds slaughtered after the H5 strain of avian flu is confirmed in turkeys at Redgrave Park Farm, Suffolk. A 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone are set up. 7 June 2007 The low pathogenic H7 strain of bird flu is found at a smallholding near St Helens in Merseyside. 27 May 2007 Following the death of chickens at a farm in Conwy, North Wales, the low pathogenic H7N3 strain is confirmed. 9 March 2007 Defra announces that all remaining control measures will be lifted at one minute past midnight on 12 March. Poultry movement and sale will now be allowed in the area. The UK's chief vet urges bird keepers to remain vigilant. Bernard Matthews takes out full-page adverts in several newspapers, telling the public: "My turkey is completely safe to eat." 8 March 2007 Public Health Minister Caroline Flint reveals that 850 tons of turkey passed through the plant and into the food chain during the outbreak. Nearly 100 tons came from Hungary, she says, but the Food Standards Agency says none of the meat went near infected birds. 1 March 2007 The 3km exclusion zone around the plant is lifted, meaning turkeys no longer have to stay indoors. The wider 10km surveillance zone remains in place. 27 February 2007 Bernard Matthews lays off another 38 workers. It blames the move on a fall in demand. Anti-viral drugs are offered to 480 workers and clean-up staff. The Health Protection Agency says it is a precautionary measure. 22 February 2007 The government announces that bird flu has not been found anywhere else in the UK. 20 February 2007 Market information company AC Nielsen says turkey sales have fallen by up to one third across the UK. 19 February 2007 At least 130 Bernard Matthews workers are to be laid off. The Transport and General Workers' Union say employees at Great Witchingham, Norfolk, will be stood down for 20 days from Tuesday, but the company refuses to confirm details. Environment Secretary David Miliband says the disease inquiry is still focused on links to Hungary. He says restrictions in Suffolk will not be lifted before the second week of March and warns there is a "continual risk" of more outbreaks. 16 February 2007 Imported poultry from Hungary is the "most plausible" cause of the UK bird flu outbreak, government scientists say in a report. They also list various failings at the Bernard Matthews plant in Suffolk where the outbreak started - including gulls carrying waste from the site. 15 February 2007 Ber


On which Indonesian island was the United Nations Climate Change Conference held in December 2007?

Bali Climate Change Conference - December 2007 Bali Climate Change Conference - December 2007 The Bali Road Map The 13th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC and the 3rd session of the Conference of the       Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol took place in Bali and was hosted by the       Government of Indonesia. Also sitting were the twenty-seventh sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation       (SBI) and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and the resumed fourth session of the       Ad hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP). Exhibits The Bali Climate Change Conference brought together more than 10,000 participants, including representatives          of over 180 countries together with observers from intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations and          the media. Governments adopted the Bali Road Map, a set of decisions that represented the various tracks that were seen          as key to reaching a global climate deal. The Bali Road Map includes the Bali Action Plan, which launched a "new, comprehensive process to enable          the full, effective and sustained implementation of the Convention through long-term cooperative action, now,          up to and beyond 2012", with the aim of reaching an agreed outcome and adopting a decision at COP15 in          Copenhagen. Governments divided the plan into five main categories: shared vision, mitigation, adaptation,          technology and financing. Please click here for the full text of the Bali Action Plan . Other elements in the Bali Road Map included: A decision on deforestation and forest management; A decision on technology for developing countries; The establishment of the Adaptation Fund Board The review of the financial mechanism, going beyond the existing Global Environmental Facility.


Which world champion 400m runner successfully overturned her Olympic Games ban for missing drug tests?

Ohuruogu overturns her Olympic ban - CNN.com Ohuruogu overturns her Olympic ban Story Highlights World 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu cleared to compete at Beijing 2008 British runner overturns lifetime Olympic ban following an appeal on Monday The 23-year-old Londoner had missed three out-of-competition drugs tests LONDON, England -- World 400 meters champion Christine Ohuruogu has been cleared to compete at Beijing 2008 after winning her appeal against a lifetime Olympic ban. Christine Ohuruogu was cleared to compete for Britain at the Olympic Games in Beijing next year. The 23-year-old has overturned a British Olympic Association by-law which stops athletes found guilty of drug-test offences from competing in future Games. "I was very relieved when I heard the verdict and now I can move on," Ohuruogu said. "I would love to compete for Britain at the Beijing Olympics if I am selected for the team." The Londoner missed three out-of-competition drug tests between October 2005 and July 2006, thus incurring a one-year suspension from UK Athletics. She returned from that ban in August, and shocked the athletics world by claiming the 400m title at Osaka in Japan. Ohuruogu made her case to a Sports Dispute Resolutions Panel on Monday, where she sought to follow the precedent set by former world triathlon champion Tim Don and judo athlete Peter Cousins, who both successfully appealed against the BOA ban in similar circumstances. Ohuruogu admitted blame for missing the tests for the first time on Sunday, but said it was because she refused to let the officials come to her parents' house where she was living at the time. "I am really happy," she said on Tuesday. "I am not a drugs cheat. I have been tested constantly this year and I have proved I am clean. It has been a stressful time, but the way I ran in Osaka showed that it has not affected me." Her coach Lloyd Cowan added: "I'm so pleased for her, we now just have to move on and get this cloud over our head out of the way. "It's not only wonderful news for Christine but for the nation as well, and as her coach I will be doing everything possible to assist her to win an Olympic medal next summer. "She is such a humble person, she deserves that success. Now it is a case of walking away from what happened and looking to the future." The BOA said in a statement that there had been sufficient evidence to make an early decision in the appeal. "It was agreed that any delay in making the decision would not be in the interests of any of the involved parties," it said. "The panel decided that Ohuruogu's appeal had been successful due to significant mitigating circumstances." Chief executive Simon Clegg added: "The BOA will now be pleased to welcome Christine Ohuruogu as part of Team GB in Beijing next year in the event of her successful nomination by UK Athletics. "The BOA and the panel both stress that no-advance notice out-of-competition testing is a fundamental part of ensuring an effective fight against doping in sport. "Athletes must be fully aware of their obligations to keep their whereabouts information up to date at all times, and must ensure that they are available for testing at the designated times and places." E-mail to a friend


Monks featured strongly in the September protests in which country?

Protests « Diplopundit Follow @Diplopundit   On September 1, the US Embassy in Gabon released a security message concerning the protests and demonstrations roiling the country. It announced that it will be open for limited operations only on Friday, September 2. The U.S. Embassy in Libreville informs U.S. citizens that widespread, violent demonstrations, rioting and looting have taken place in Libreville, particularly in the area of Cite de la Democratie-Voie Express-Boulevard Triomphal, and extending through many of the city’s central and southern neighborhoods following the announcement of presidential election results.  Further protests and demonstrations are expected in the coming days. Security forces have responded to the situation with tear gas and have placed roadblocks at major arterial roads, cutting off transportation across the city. There is also debris and burned cars blocking the roads in some areas. There are reports of violence in the cities of Oyem, Bitam, Port Gentil and Lambarene. At this time the airport is open and operational and commercial flights are available.  The Embassy recommends U.S. citizens remain in a safe location and avoid non-essential movement. The Embassy continues to monitor the situation and will update you as appropriate. Review your personal security plans, remain aware of your surroundings, including local events, and monitor local news stations for updates.  Be vigilant and take appropriate steps to enhance your personal security. The U.S. Embassy in Libreville will be open with limited operations on Friday, September 2.  Routine consular services have been cancelled, but emergency consular services for U.S. citizens continue to be available.   Follow @Diplopundit   AMB Marciel presents credentials to Pres U Htin Kyaw @ the Presidential Palace & commits to work w/new #Myanmar Govt pic.twitter.com/5VFpKAzuie — U.S. Embassy Burma (@USEmbassyBurma) April 27, 2016 Meanwhile — local monks protested at the U.S. Embassy in Rangoon for its use of the word “Rohingya” in its statement ( PDF ) about the events in Rakhine State: The U.S. Embassy is deeply concerned about recent events in Rakhine State. We were saddened by the news about those who tragically lost their lives after a boat capsized near Thae Chaung in Sittwe Township on April 19 and we extend our condolences to the families of the victims, who local reports state were from the Rohingya community. Restrictions on access to markets, livelihoods, and other basic services in Rakhine State can lead to communities unnecessarily risking their lives in an attempt to improve their quality of life. VIDEO: In #Myanmar (Burma) Monks March After US Embassy Uses Term ‘ #Rohingya ’ for Bengali #Muslims : https://t.co/Ka4aeQUF1n Follow @Diplopundit   The US Ambassador to Thailand Glyn T. Davies was nominated by President Obama on April 14, 2015, confirmed by the Senate on August 5, and sworn in on September 14, 2015.  A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Ambassador Davies also served as the Permanent Representative of the United States to the International Atomic Energy Agency and the United Nations Office in Vienna from June 2009 until November 2011.  He previously served as the Special Representative of the U.S. Secretary of State for North Korea Policy from January 2012 to November 2014.  Since his arrival in Thailand in September, he has traveled and acquainted himself with his host country.  Here’s Ambassador Davies during a local celebration: On November 23 Ambassador and Mrs. Davies celebrated their first Loy Krathong with Thai and American staff. The festival featured traditional Thai dances, Thai games, krathong making contests, in addition, to Ambassador and Mrs. Davies participating in a “ram wong” with other members of the Embassy community. On Nov. 24, Ambassador Davies gave a talk at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club ofThailand. As of this writing, we have been unable to locate the transcript of Ambassador Davies’ talk at the FCCT. TONIGHT: Special program with Glyn Davies, new US Ambassador to Thailand. Talk w Q&A fr


Which northern England city was flooded by torrential rain on on 25 June 2007?

Under Water - Photo 6 - Pictures - CBS News Under Water Prince Charles speaks with local resident Russell Baxter during a visit to flood affected areas on June 29, 2007, in Catcliffe near Sheffield, England. The area has been ravaged by floods for two weeks. Credit: GETTY IMAGES/Daniel Berehulak A caravan sits in flood water in Upton on Severn near Worcester, England, Thursday, June 28, 2007. The UK Met (weather) Office has issued weather warnings of very heavy rain for the weekend, leading to more flooding and continued disruptions in parts of the country. Credit: GETTY IMAGES/Matt Cardy Flood defenses surround the Plough Inn in Upton on Severn near Worcester, England, on Thursday, June 28, 2007. Credit: GETTY IMAGES/Matt Cardy Ducks pass a sign in a flooded residential street in Upton on Severn near Worcester, England, Thursday, June 28, 2007. Credit: GETTY IMAGES/Matt Cardy Debris floats in flood waters at Worcestershire Cricket Ground in Worcester, England, on Thursday, June 28 2007. Credit: GETTY IMAGES/Matt Cardy Horses are rescued from fields near Derby, northern England, after the river Derwent burst its banks following heavy rain Tuesday, June 26, 2007. Floods have affected many areas of Britain following torrential rain. Flash floods killed three people and forced hundreds from their homes Tuesday. Authorities warned of more damage amid fears a leaking reservoir could burst. Credit: AP Photo/Rui Vieira/PA Wire Sheffield Wednesday Football Club Operations Manager Alan Roberts looks around Hillsborough Stadium which became flooded after the River Don burst its banks in Sheffield, England, Tuesday, June 26, 2007. Credit: AP Photo/Dave Thompson Residents who were trapped in their homes overnight were rescued in a boat near Rotherham, northern England by a Fire and Rescue Service worker Tuesday, June 26, 2007. Residents across England were mopping up Tuesday after flash floods killed three people and forced hundreds from their homes. Credit: AP Photo/John Giles/PA Wire Residents evacuated from the flooded village of Treeton look at the rising water, due to the pumping of water from the Ulley Reservoir where the dam was in danger of collapse due to torrential rain, June 26, 2007, in Rotherham, England. Engineers and emergency services were trying to strengthen the dam wall after fissures appeared due to water pressure. Down river villages and roads were been evacuated by police. Credit: GETTY IMAGES/Christopher Furlong A view of submerged streets following flooding in the Catcliffe area of Rotherham, England on June 26, 2007, in Rotherham, England. Much of Britain was under flood alert as heavy rain swept across the country. Credit: GETTY/Richard Martin-Roberts A view of submerged streets following flooding in the Catcliffe area of Rotherham, half a mile from the cracked Ulley Dam, on June 26, 2007, in Rotherham, England. In Hull, where a state of emergency in in effect, one man died after becoming trapped in a drain with rising flood waters. Credit: GETTY/Richard Martin-Roberts Residents wave as they walk through flood waters after a heavy rainfall in Beverley, North East Yorkshire, England, Monday, June 25, 2007. Much of Britain was battered by rainstorms, which were expected to dump as much as three inches of rain on a country already soggy from an exceptionally wet June, Britain's weather office said. Credit: AP Photo/Owen Humphreys,PA


In what US city did Barack Obama announce his presidential candidacy in February 2007?

Barack Obama's Candidacy Announcement Speech-Feb. 10, 2007 Senator           Barack Obama's Formal Announcement of his           Presidential Candidacy--February 10,           2007 Springfield,           Illinois Thank you so much. Praise and           honor to God for bringing us together today.           Thank you so much. I am so grateful to see all           of you. Let me begin by saying thanks           to all of you who've traveled, from far and           wide, to brave the cold today. I'm fired up. We all made this journey for           a reason. It's humbling to see a crowd like this           , but in my heart I know you didn't come here           just for me. No, you came here because you           believe in what this country can be. In the face           of war, you believe there can be peace. In the           face of despair, you believe there can be hope.           In the face of a politics that's shut you out,           that's told you to settle, that's divided us for           too long, you believe that we can be one people,           reaching for what's possible, building that more           perfect union. That's the journey we're on           today. But let me tell you how I came to be           here. As most of you know, I am not a native of           this great state. I moved to Illinois over two           decades ago. I was a young man then, just a year           out of college; I knew no one in Chicago when I           arrived, was without money or family           connections. But a group of churches had offered           me a job as a community organizer for the grand           sum of $13,000 a year. And I accepted the job,           sight unseen, motivated then by a single,           simple, powerful idea  that I might play a           small part in building a better America. My work took me to some of           Chicago's poorest neighborhoods. I joined with           pastors and lay-people to deal with communities           that had been ravaged by plant closings. I saw           that the problems people faced weren't simply           local in nature  that the decision to           close a steel mill was made by distant           executives; that the lack of textbooks and           computers in schools could be traced to the           skewed priorities of politicians a thousand           miles away; and that when a child turns to           violence, I came ot realize that there's a hole           in that boy's heart no government could ever           fill. It was in these neighborhoods           that I received the best education I ever had,           and where I learned the meaning of my Christian           faith. After three years of this           work, I went to law school, because I wanted to           understand how the law should work for those in           need. I became a civil rights lawyer, and taught           constitutional law, and after a time, I came to           understand that our cherished rights of liberty           and equality depend on the active participation           of an awakened electorate. It was with these           ideas in mind that I arrived in this capital           city as a state Senator. It was here, in Springfield,           where I saw all that is America converge  farmers and teachers, businessmen and laborers,           all of them with a story to tell, all of them           seeking a seat at the table,


Which Bollywood actor was at the centre of the 2007 Big Brother TV Show racism uproar?

Shilpa Shetty-wins Britain's "Celebrity Big Brother" television show NRI          News : Shilpa          Shetty finally admitted her relationship with          London-born NRI millionaire Raj Kundra UPDATED Shilpa          Shetty will not move UK even she marry NRI Raj Kundra London, Dec.31,        2007: Shilpa        has finally admitted her relationship with London-born NRI millionaire        Raj Kundra -        Shilpa Shetty’s publicist said, "It's too early to speculate        marriage. All I can say is that Shilpa is dating Raj. She's just        started to know him better. So let's give her some t..... The winner        of "Celebrity Big Brother" show, Shilpa receives Silver        Star Award in London London, June 17, 2007 Sushil Agnihotri Britain's House of Commons leader, Mr. Jack Straw        presented the Silver Star Award to Shilpa Shetty, 31, Bollywood        Actress for her outstanding contribution to international humanitarian        causes such as HIV/AIDS awareness. On Sunday, the gala dinner was held for the celebration        of the 20th anniversary of election of NRI leader Mr. Keith Vaz,        Labour MP. He was also former minister for (FCO) Foreign and Commonwealth        Office In January, Shilpa Shetty, Bollywood actress has been        crowned the winner of British reality television show 'Celebrity        Big Brother'. Miss Shilpa Shetty said, " Mr. Keith Vaz played        an important role when she was racially abused by some of the contestantst." Shilpa        Shetty gets UK Work Permit to make money personal appearances and        media interviews Leicester, Feb. 10, 2007 Sushil Agnihotri Without a permit she would have been unable legally        to receive payments for the countless offers of work she has received. She might have been forced to quit Britain because the original        document allowing her to earn money in the UK had expired when the        Big Brother Channel 4 reality show came to an end two weeks ago. Now Shilpa Shetty got a work permit by the British government that        would enable her to make money from lucrative personal appearances        and media interviews in the country. NRI,        Labour MP Keith Vaz wrote a covering letter for the permit application        and he said: I was delighted to support her application to stay longer in         the UK Her fans in the UK, particularly in Leicester, wanted her to         stay longer in the UK. I am disappointed she has gone back to         Mumbai as she was keen to be with her family. I hope she comes         back soon I wanted Shilpa, who also won the TV reality show, to stay on         in the UK to see the result of the investigation by watchdog Ofcom         into the racism row. On the other hand Miss Goody and other housemates has become one        of Britain's most recognized faces. Actually no body is looser from        this drama. Shilpa        Shetty actress launches Aids charity in UK Leicester, Feb. 8, 2007 Sushil Agnihotri Celebrity Big Brother winner Shilpa Shetty has launched a charitable         foundation, named- "Shilpa Shetty Foundation" to raise         awareness about Aids in India. She announced this foundation after         she visited the House of Commons in London as a special guest         of Labour MP Keith Vaz. The Bollywood actress says she will donate all her winnings from         the reality TV show to it. She said: India is the second largest affected country in the world          with Aids. So I think it's important to do something about it          and it's every person's right to live with dignity in our country,          even if it's a person who is HIV positive. It is a cause that has bee


Shinzo Abe resigned in September 2007 as prime minister of which country?

Japanese Prime Minister Abe Resigns | PBS NewsHour Japanese Prime Minister Abe Resigns BY Admin   September 12, 2007 at 4:10 PM EST Prime Minister Shinzo Abe NewsHour Extra: New Japanese Leader Looks to Expand Nation's Military His resignation follows months of scandal and turmoil within the administration, including recent debate over Japan’s aid to U.S.-led military action in Afghanistan. In July elections, Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party lost control of Japan’s upper parliament. Abe listed the election defeat and recent chaos among his party as signs that he could no longer lead, reported the Associated Press. On top of disagreement regarding military involvement, Abe’s administration has been burdened with personnel difficulty. Four of Abe’s Cabinet ministers have resigned in scandals, including one who quit this month a week after being appointed, the AP reported. In May, Farm Minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka, who was allegedly involved with dishonest funding reports, hung himself. Although Abe did not specify a date for his departure, the Liberal Democratic Party announced it would use a streamlined election process to choose his successor as party president, reportedly on Sept. 19, according to the AP. Speculation has begun as to who his successor may be. Most popular is former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who led the country just before Abe. Abe’s former foreign minister, Taro Aso, also has been named as a possible contender. White House spokesman Tony Snow did not comment on the prime minister’s resignation but mentioned that Japan would remain a key ally in U.S. foreign policy. “We continue to work closely with the Japanese on a whole range of issues, obviously, and we will continue to do so,” he said, according to the AP.


Which corporation bought 1.6% of Facebook for $240m?

Microsoft invests $240 million in Facebook - Business - US business | NBC News Microsoft invests $240 million in Facebook Software maker wins in bidding war with Google, buys 1.6 percent share Below: + - SAN FRANCISCO  — Rapidly rising Internet star Facebook Inc. has sold a 1.6 percent stake to Microsoft Corp. for $240 million, spurning a competing offer from online search leader Google Inc. Culminating weeks of negotiations, the investment announced Wednesday values Palo Alto-based Facebook at $15 billion — a stunning figure for an online hangout started in a Harvard University dorm room less than four years ago. Microsoft also will sell Internet ads for Facebook as the site expands outside the United States, broadening a marketing relationship that began last year. “This is a strong statement of confidence in this partnership and in Facebook,” Kevin Johnson, president of Microsoft’s platforms and services division, said during a Wednesday conference call with reporters and analysts. Besides validating founder Mark Zuckerberg’s decision to rebuff a $1 billion takeover offer from Yahoo Inc. last year, Microsoft’s money should be more than enough to pay for Facebook’s ambitious expansion plans until the privately held company goes public. Zuckerberg, 23, has indicated he would like to hold off on an initial public offering for at least two more years. In the meantime, Facebook hopes to become an advertising magnet by substantially increasing its current worldwide audience of nearly 50 million active users, who connect with friends on the site through messaging, photo-sharing and other tools it offers. Although News Corp.’s MySpace.com remains the largest social network, Facebook has been growing much faster the past year. Advertise Facebook attracted 30.6 million U.S. visitors during September compared with 68.4 million at MySpace. Microsoft’s entry in the social networking arena — “Windows Live Spaces” — attracted 9.8 million U.S. visitors, according to comScore Inc. To support its growth, Facebook is gearing up to more than double its payroll during the next year to about 700 employees. The company currently employs about 300 workers with annual revenue believed to fall between $100 million and $150 million. The Facebook investment represents a coup for Microsoft because it strengthen for several years as it watched Google deepen its dominance of the space. During its fiscal year, ending in June, Microsoft’s online ad revenue rose 21 percent to $1.84 billion. Over the same period, Google’s ad revenue soared 64 percent to $13.3 billion. Microsoft also appears interested in Facebook’s success with “widgets” — the interactive capsules that offer applications available on other Web sites. Outside developers have created about 8,000 widgets since Facebook began soliciting the contributions in May. Johnson said Microsoft plans to work with Facebook in areas besides advertising but declined to elaborate. With the Facebook investment, Microsoft dealt a rare setback to Google, which trumped its rival in earlier bidding battles involving a stake in AOL and ownership of online video sharing pioneer YouTube and Internet ad service DoubleClick Inc. Microsoft couldn’t afford to lose the tug-of-war for the Facebook investment and advertising alliance, said Gartner analyst Allen Weiner. “This was a muscle-in from Microsoft,” Weiner said. “It would have been a nice-to-have for Google, but it was certainly not essential.” Facebook also felt more comfortable about working with Microsoft because Google has made no secret about its interest in building a more formidable social network of its own. Google’s current social network, called Orkut, has had relatively little success outside South America. Owen Van Natta, Facebook’s chief revenue officer, said the company talked to several suitors before settling on Microsoft. He declined to provide further details. Microsoft’s successful courtship of Facebook shows the 32-year-old company is becoming more savvy about the Internet, said Matt Rosoff, an analyst for the research group Directions on M


Who resigned as England cricket coach after the 2007 Ashes series 5-0 defeat?

Cricket: Moores on standby after Fletcher resigns | Sport | The Guardian Moores on standby after Fletcher resigns Thursday 19 April 2007 21.07 EDT First published on Thursday 19 April 2007 21.07 EDT Share on Messenger Close Duncan Fletcher, England's head coach for almost eight years, has resigned and will take no further part in the development of the side once they return from the Caribbean. The match against West Indies at Kensington Oval tomorrow will be his last. The 58-year-old announced his intention to stand down at a meeting with his employers 10 days ago in Barbados but only broke the news to his players during practice yesterday. An announcement about his replacement, initially anticipated to be on a caretaker basis, should be made today or tomorrow, with Peter Moores , director of the National Academy and a successful former coach of Sussex, the favourite, but for the long term it is believed that an experienced international coach, not yet available, has been targeted. This is not thought to be Sri Lanka's coach Tom Moody but rather Dav Whatmore, currently in charge of Bangladesh. Fletcher's decision was announced by the ECB chairman David Morgan, who said the departure was "not inevitable but not overly surprising" after a winter which began with a dismal Champions Trophy, continued with the 5-0 whitewash in the Ashes series and, after a surprise win in the Tri-nations series in Australia, a disastrously inept World Cup campaign. In a statement issued while the team were at practice, Fletcher said: "I always said that I would review my position nearer to the end of this winter. Earlier in the World Cup I came to a decision and I discussed stepping down as head coach with the ECB prior to England's game against Bangladesh. I feel it is in the team's best interests over the long term that I should move on and seek a new challenge. This has been a difficult winter for the team and me personally, but I believe that my record as coach over the past eight years is one in which I can take great pride." Morgan confirmed that England, whose first Test of the summer, against West Indies, begins at Lord's on May 17, will initially seek to appoint a temporary coach. "I would hope that within a very short time, to be specific in the next 48 hours, we would have appointed someone as a caretaker coach," he said, "and there is a possibility that we may appoint quite quickly Duncan Fletcher's permanent successor. We're well down the track of identifying someone who will come in and be a selector in Duncan's place, and come into position quite quickly. "The important thing is to have a competent person in charge as England head coach, either on a temporary or permanent basis, as soon as possible - and we're confident in our ability to achieve that. "The likelihood is that the person will come in on a temporary basis but I don't rule out the possibility that we could, before the start of the West Indies series, have confirmed a permanent appointment. I would have thought June or July would be the latest time we would appoint Duncan's permanent replacement. I believe we can move far more quickly than that." Fletcher's achievements with the Test sidehave been outstanding, with ground-breaking series wins on the subcontinent, in the Caribbean and South Africa as well as the Ashes triumph of 2005. Since then, however, performances of the Test side has tailed off, with only one win in five series, and he has never been able to inspire the one-day side to anything more than fleeting success, the closest to a major trophy being to reach the final of the Champions Trophy at home in 2004. England's results this winter were considered so poor that an independent committee, headed by the former PGA European Tour executive director Ken Schofield, was formed to investigate performance and structure. The results will not be known until next month but significant blame for the planning is sure to be apportioned to the coach. England had considered asking Fletcher to remain in charge until midsummer but opted instead to move on. "There has b


In May 2007 Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced the biggest what in history to date?

10 biggest Dubai initiatives 10 biggest Dubai initiatives From the Metro to nuclear power, city's revolutionary changes By Oliver Robinson 26 September 2011 What has had the biggest effect on your life in Dubai over the past 10 years? No, we’re not talking about the opening of a swanky new restaurant or spa. We’re referring to the bigger things; things that have improved thousands of lives and helped to push Dubai into the forefront of 21st-century living. Whether it’s the opening of the metro or the introduction of key labour laws, the past 10 years have seen some big social changes in the city. We look at 10 of the most significant. Free zones, 1985 onwards Dubai currently has more than 30 free zones, offering company benefits such as 100 per cent foreign ownership (companies outside the free zones must be part-owned by a local partner) and a zero per cent tax rate. Though free zones were first set up before 2001 (the oldest being Jebel Ali), their number has rapidly risen in the past decade and Dubai now has no less than 17. Abolition of child camel jockeys, 2002 Think children riding camels sounds like a laugh? Well, it isn’t – the practice of using children as jockeys for camel races (the thinking being that they’re lighter) had links to reported child slavery and abuse. The UAE was the first Gulf state to ban the use of jockeys under 15; HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, then chairman of the Emirates Camel Racing Federation, announced the ban in July 2002. Camels are now jockeyed by remote-controlled robots. Seriously. SIMILAR ARTICLES Pets services in Dubai Property ownership, 2002 Dubai’s construction boom was a result of an amended law passed in 2002 that allowed non-UAE nationals to own property (though not land) for up to 99 years. Nakheel (responsible for The Palm) and Emaar (responsible for Downtown Dubai and the Burj Khalifa) are the leading property tycoons. Rental prices soared a few years ago as companies and expats headed to Dubai in their droves to enjoy the sunshine and non-existant tax, though rises were capped to 7 per cent a year in 2007. Knowledge Village, 2003 In 2003, Dubai enhanced its educational facilities by creating a dedicated education zone (the aptly named Knowledge Village, located near Media City). As of 2010, Knowledge Village had seen a 40 per cent business growth, with 28 new companies setting up there, and has helped to fulfil the emirate’s increasing demand for higher education. The KHDA (Knowledge and Human Development Authority) actively encourages the improvement of educational standards. Dubai International Financial Centre, 2004 Since its launch in 2004, DIFC has become a business hub connecting the region’s markets with the rest of the world, and in doing so has made Dubai a business and commercial gateway into the Middle East. It has also encouraged plenty of positive economic growth and development in the region, with more than 800 companies now operating from within the centre, employing an estimated 11,000 people. Dubai Cares, 2007 In September 2007, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice-president of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, launched the Dubai Cares campaign to raise money to educate a million children in the Middle East’s poorer countries. The campaign is Dubai’s contribution to the UN Millennium Development Goals, a global scheme to provide children’s primary education to every child by 2015. Sheikh Mohammed donated more than Dhs1.65 billion to the cause. Labour laws, 2007 The UAE published its revised labour laws in 2007; the decision was made to publish the draft labour law online, thereby allowing the public to comment. The Human Rights Watch has commended the move as a step towards transparency and taking all views into consideration. In June 2011, the Ministry of Labour also issued a labour law guide in five languages. Among other issues, the guide outlines the labourers’ midday break rule, and stresses the importance of abiding by safety standards, as well as instructions on first aid and ways to deal with sunstroke. The Human Rights Watch is also


Intensive British forces operations in Afghanistan through 2007 were centred in which province?

Operations in Afghanistan Operations in Afghanistan Memorandum from the Ministry of Defence Contents General Background ISAF Campaign Narrative (additional information at Annex A – Security classified, not publicly available – available to Committee Members at Defence Committee Office) Current ISAF Force Laydown International Contribution to ISAF Current State of the Insurgency (additional information at Annex B – Security classified, not publicly available – available to Committee Members at Defence Committee Office) Future of the ISAF Campaign (additional information at Annex C – Security classified, not publicly available – available to Committee Members at Defence Committee Office) Development in Afghanistan Afghan National Security Forces (additional information at Annex D – Security classified, not publicly available – available to Committee Members at Defence Committee Office) Negotiations with Insurgents History of UK Troop Levels UK in Helmand UK Force Laydown and Responsibilities in Helmand UK Casualty Figures Friendly Fire Incidents and Inquiry Process Civilian Casualties and Fatalities and Inquiry Outcomes Cost of Ops Logistics Supply Current Equipment (additional information at Annex E – Security classified, not publicly available – available to Committee Members at Defence Committee Office) Personnel Harmony Communications Strategy 28 Lessons Learned (additional information at Annex F – Security classified, not publicly available – available to Committee Members at Defence Committee Office) 29 This memorandum provides evidence on the many aspects of Operations in Afghanistan requested by the House of Commons Defence Committee. Due to the sensitive nature of information relating to operations, elements of the memorandum are provided in strict confidence within a classified annex and should not be disclosed outside of the Committee. The information provided in the text is principally drawn from HM Government sources. Acknowledgment is made as appropriate for sections which draw significantly from ISAF or other sources. 1. General Background 1.1 Population Afghanistan’s population of approximately 28 million is made up of numerous ethnic groups. The largest are the Pashtuns (40%), predominantly found in the South, and the Tajiks (35%) predominantly in the North. Hazaras, Uzbeks, Chahar Aimaks and Turkmen make up the other significant ethnic groups. Islam is the predominant religion of Afghanistan, practiced by approximately 99% of the population, 80% of whom are Sunni. The major languages are Dari and Pashto. Afghanistan ranks second to last on the UN’s Human Development Index, with over a third of its people living in poverty. Thirty years of conflict have undermined the Afghan state, society and economy. However, despite ongoing conflict and security challenges, progress is being made. There is no doubt that the situation in Afghanistan is challenging: · Over a third of Afghanistan’s people live in poverty: 36% of people live under the official poverty line of under US $0.90 per day (May 2010). In the South-West region (which includes Helmand and Kandahar), the figure is less than one quarter (22%); · 1 in 6 children die before the age of five; · All Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are off track and the Afghan Government has agreed an extension until 2020 to meet them. Despite the challenges, we are starting to see real improvements in the lives of the Afghan people: · The International Monetary Fund (IMF) confirmed 2009/10 tax revenue at around US$1.26 billion - exceeding the IMF target of around $1.1 billion, for this period; · 5.2 million children attended school in 2008/09. This is an increase of 800,000 from 2007/08 and a five-fold increase since the fall of the Taleban. · 85% of Afghans now have access to basic health care, compared to only 9% in 2002. 1.2 History At the crossroads of central Asia, lying on the historic Silk Road, Afghanistan has long been of importance in regional and international politics. The roots of Afghanistan’s most recent period of instability stem from the 1970s,


Which movie star left the much publicized 'rude pig' phone message for his twelve year old daughter?

stumbleupon Email Comment There’s nothing juicier than hearing about a celebrity having a slip-up. Celebrities like to constantly remind everyone that they are just like you and I and make mistakes, because after all they are human. However, sometimes these mistakes have racist undertones. The celebrity will claim they were not in the right state of mind when they made the comment and apologize for what they said and people they might have offended. Celebrities are typically at the center of the media attention. Of course when they say something that is a bit unconventional, everyone hears about it. Some celebrities have been known to say some pretty nasty things about certain people or topics and have caused controversy. Their remarks lead to them losing fans. These remarks are almost always followed by a public apology, in which they say they regret what they said and that they did not mean the said remark. However it does make a person wonder if the celebrity is sincerely sorry for what they said or if they are just sorry for getting caught. Because, after all, nobody really says offensive things by accident; usually these remarks are made due to a deep-seeded hate they have. Below is a list of 12 celebrities who have said shocking and hateful remarks. 12. Michael Richards – The Laugh Factory Debacle via youtube.com The “Seinfeld Curse” is all too real for comedian Michael Richards , also fondly remembered as the character, Kramer. In 2006, the comedian was recorded saying some terribly racist things to an audience member during a stand-up show at the Laugh Factory in West Hollywood. In the video, Richards was interrupted and booed by an apparent heckler which he did not react to kindly. The ex-Seinfeld star went into a shocking and racist rant that proved the comedian could not handle the critiques of an audience. At first, the audience laughed at his remarks but as Richard got carried away and started to repeatedly use the N word and saying things like “Shut up! Fifty years ago we’d have you upside down with a f***ing fork up your a**,” audience members started to feel uncomfortable. Richards continued on a 3 minute rant saying that the men who were heckling him should be kicked out, but eventually audience members grew tired of the hateful comments and started to clear out the room. Richards made a public apology on the Late Night Show when he was invited by his old co-star Jerry Seinfeld , but his career and image have never recovered. 11. Michael Jackson – “The Jews Do It On Purpose” via bigstockphoto.com In 2005, ABC’s Good Morning America obtained a recorded message of Michael Jackson making some anti-Semitic remarks to one of his financial advisers. The recording was obtained as part of evidence in a lawsuit against the pop king. Apparently the singer’s business manager would handle how much money he would spend on a month and when Jackson was not given the money he wanted, he would go to one of his advisers to borrow the cash amount. When the late singer would not receive the money he wanted, he would become extremely agitated and borderline abusive. In a voice mail left to his former adviser, Marc Shaffel, Jackson was recorded saying, “they suck — they’re like leeches.” He continued his offensive rant by saying he was tired of it. Jackson believed that his lack of money was part of a conspiracy and that “…the Jews do it on purpose. “ Very harsh words coming from the man that brought us the song “We are the World.” 10. Eddie Murphy – The “Homosexual Problem” via variety.com In 1983, just as the aids epidemic had started to spread, comedian and actor Eddie Murphy thought it would be a good idea to makes some jokes on the subject. Murphy started his stand-up act by saying that one of his rules for stand-up was that f****ts were not allowed to stare at his behind. He continue his so-called joke by saying that they were the reason why he moves around on stage so much because, “you don’t know where the f****t section is.” As if that wasn’t offensive enough, he continued his act by saying that homosexuals were goin


At the end of 2007 how many England Premiership football (soccer) clubs were foreign owned?

The Premier League : History : Information More DVD's from Amazon.co.uk The Premier League (officially known as the Barclays Premier League for sponsorship reasons, colloquially known as The Premiership), is an English professional league for football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. The Premier League is currently contested by 20 clubs, operating a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League, English football's governing body. Seasons run from August to May, with teams playing 38 games each. The competition formed as the FA Premier League on 20 February 1992 and the first games were played on 15 August that year, following the decision of clubs in the Football League First Division to break away from The Football League to take advantage of a lucrative television rights deal; The Football League had served as England and Wales' primary football competition since 1888. Since then, the Premier League has become the world's most watched sporting league[1] and the most lucrative football league, with cumulative club revenues of around ï¿½1.4 billion.[2] The league is a corporation with the 20 clubs acting as shareholders. A total of 40 clubs have competed in the Premier League, but only four have won the title: Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, Arsenal, and Chelsea. The current Premier League champions are Manchester United, who won their ninth title in the 2006ï¿½07 season, the most of any Premier League team. History Origins The 1980s had marked a low point for English football. Stadiums were crumbling, supporters endured poor facilities, hooliganism was rife, and English clubs were banned from European competition following the events at Heysel in 1985.[3] The Football League First Division, which had been the top level of English football since 1888, was well behind leagues such as Italy's Serie A and Spain's La Liga in attendances and revenues, and several top English players had moved abroad.[4] However, by the turn of the 1990s the downward trend was starting to reverse; England had been successful in the 1990 FIFA World Cup, reaching the semi-finals. UEFA, European football's governing body, lifted the five-year ban on English clubs playing in European competitions in 1990 and the Taylor Report on stadium safety standards, which proposed expensive upgrades to create all-seater stadiums, was published in January of that year.[5] Television money had also become much more important; the Football League received ï¿½6.3million for a two-year agreement in 1986, but when that deal was renewed in 1988, the price rose to ï¿½44m over four years.[6] The 1988 negotiations were the first signs of a breakaway league; ten clubs threatened to leave and form a "super league", but were eventually persuaded to stay.[7] As stadiums improved and match attendance and revenues rose, the country's top teams again considered leaving the Football League in order to capitalise on the growing influx of money being pumped into the sport. More Football-Soccer From Amazon.co.uk Foundation In the 1991 close season, a proposal for the establishment of a new league was tabled that would bring more money into the game overall. The Founder Members Agreement, signed on 17 July 1991 by the game's top-flight clubs, established the basic principles for setting up the FA Premier League.[8] The newly formed top division would have commercial independence from the Football Association and the Football League, giving the FA Premier League license to negotiate its own broadcast and sponsorship agreements. This was considered necessary so that English clubs could once again compete with and beat the best of Europe, while attracting the best talent in the world, something which in 1991 seemed practically unthinkable.[9] In 1992 the First Division clubs resigned from the Football League en masse and on 27 May 1992 the FA Premier League was formed as a limited company working out of an office at the then Football Association's h


quizballs 50 -- part 2 - Google Groups quizballs 50 -- part 2   41. What Cumbrian town was used as a 2007 pilot for the digital TV switch-over?   42. It was announced in April 2007 that Lord Justice Scott Baker would replace Baroness Butler-Sloss in what position?   43. What remarkable sale price did Damien Hirst's diamond-encrusted skull achieve?   44. Which world champion 400m runner successfully overturned her Olympic Games ban for missing drug tests?   45. Monks featured strongly in the September protests in which country?   46. Which northern England city was flooded by torrential rain on on 25 June 2007?   47. In what US city did Barack Obama announce his presidential candidacy in February 2007?   48. Which Bollywood actor was at the centre of the 2007 Big Brother TV Show racism uproar?   49. Shinzo Abe resigned in September 2007 as prime minister of which country?   50. Which corporation bought 1.6% of Facebook for $240m?   51. The Kate Moss Collection was launched by what store chain?   52. The two CDs lost by the UK department HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) contained personal details of 20m people relating to claims of what?   53. Who resigned as England cricket coach after the 2007 Ashes series 5-0 defeat?   54. What nickname was used by the media for the senior policeman in charge of the Cash for Honours investigation?   55. In May 2007 Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced the biggest what in history to date?   56. Intensive British forces operations in Afghanistan through 2007 were centred in which province?   57. In what significant UK location was the August 2007 Climate Change Camp sited?   58. Which movie star left the much publicized 'rude pig' phone message for his twelve year old daughter?   59. In a bizarre 2007 confessional frenzy, Ruth Kelly, Jacqui Smith, Harriet Harman, Hazel Blears and Alistair Darling where among several British government ministers to make what admission?   60. At the end of 2007 how many England Premiership football (soccer) clubs were foreign owned?   61. In June 2007 the Millennium Dome re-opened under what name?   62. Which famous aviator and adventurer went missing over the Nevada Desert in September 2007?   63. The perfume brand 'Mwah' was launched in 2007 by which 'celebrity'?   64. What country celebrated on August 15th 2007 its 60th anniversary of independence from British rule?   65. Who resigned as World Bank President after failing to disprove allegations of his nepotism?   66. Which country won the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup?   67. Following an Ofcom investigation which TV company was judged in September 2007 to be the worst offending in the premium line phone-in scandals?   68. What film won the 2007 Academy Award for Best Picture?   69. Speculation towards the end of 2007 suggested that Rupert Murdoch's News International Group was in discussion to buy what significant business networking website?   70. Which rapper cancelled his UK tour when refused entry to the country?   71. What was the name of the Space Shuttle which launched on June 8th 2007?   72. Who made this amusing statement: "I have expressed a degree of regret that may be equated with an apology..." ?   73. Whose secret donations of over half a million pounds caused a big problem for the Labour Party when they were exposed in November 2007?   74. Who became the new French president in 2007?   75. Who was charged with fraud when he reappeared five years after going missing in a canoe off the Cleveland coast?   76. Clarence Mitchell was appointed media spokesman for whom in September 2007?   77. Which Formula One racing team was expelled from the 2007 Constructors Championship for spying on a competitor?   78. Blake Fielder-Civil achieved notoriety as whose errant husband?   79. Which former newspaper owner and business mogul was sentenced to 78 months imprisonment for fraud in December 2007?   80. Which major city switched off its lights for an hour on the evening of 31 March 2007 as a political statement about climate change?   81. What was the village and laboratory site na


Which famous aviator and adventurer went missing over the Nevada Desert in September 2007?

World’s Strangest | 9 Lost and Found Airplanes unbelievable 9 Lost and Found Airplanes You might think that an airplane would be a pretty difficult object to lose, but there are still large areas of wilderness on our planet where planes can be hidden for decades. On rare occasions they are found again, against all odds. Over the weekend, I saw an article headlined Remains of Early 1900s Plane Found in Antarctica . Wow, I thought, that’s a long time for a plane to be lost! In fact, it was the first plane ever taken to Antarctica, during an expedition in 1912. But the real story is not what I first thought. For one thing, the plane didn’t fly to Antarctica -it was hauled there. And it wasn’t lost all that time; it had last been seen in the 1970s. Still, it is a rediscovered plane, and so fits in with stories I had already collected about lost and found airplanes. 1. The Air Tractor Australian explorer Douglas Mawson led a 1912 expedition to Antarctica and took along a 1911 Vickers single-engine plane. Their plans were not to fly the plane, which had wing damage, but to use it to tow equipment. It was used in this manner until the harsh conditions left it unusable and then the “air tractor” was abandoned. There the plane sat for decades, not worth the expense of moving it. In the 1970s, researchers took pictures of it nearly encased in ice, then it was not seen again -until New Years Day, 2010 . A team from the Mawson’s Huts Foundation had been looking for the plane for three years, along with other artifacts of early Antarctic exploration. A season of low ice and a very low tide at Commonwealth Bay on Friday exposed the few parts of the plane that survive, right where it was abandoned. The parts were photographed and then taken for examination still submerged in sea water while the foundation decides the best way to preserve the air tractor in the name of history. 2. Lady B. Good A US Air Force B-24D named Lady Be Good was part of a bombing raid on Italy on April 4, 1943. It was the first mission for both the plane and the crew. Lady Be Good was the only plane of the mission that did not return to its base in Libya. Officials assumed at the time that the plane went down in the Mediterranean Sea. An extensive search was carried out, but no sign of the plane or crew was found. In 1958 an oil survey exploration crew was taking aerial photographs and spotted the plane in the Libyan desert. The plane had crashed, but was preserved well in the arid conditions. The radio and a machine gun still worked! But there was no sign of the nine-man crew. In 1959, a months-long search was conducted to find their remains. A trail was found, complete with signs left behind indicating what direction the men had gone, but the trail petered out and the search was abandoned. In 1960, the remains of eight of the nine crew members were found at various places in the desert. Among the items found with the bodies was a diary of co-pilot Robert Toner that revealed the tragic story. The nine men had bailed out before the crash; eight survived. The survivors walked 85 miles before five gave up and three continued to walk until they died. The remains of gunner Vernon L. Moore were never found. 3. The Volcano On August 15, 1976, a Vickers 785D Viscount operated by the airline SAETA took off from Quito, Ecuador en route to Cuenca. Flight 232 never made it. Searchers could find no sign of the plane, its crew of four, or any of the 55 passengers. The two most likely scenarios were that the plane crashed on the Chimborazo volcano or that it was hijacked by Colombian guerrilla fighters. Twenty-six years later, wreckage of the plane was finally found scattered across hundreds of meters on the mountainside of Chimborazo. Some think that melting glaciers on the mountain caused the wreckage to become visible by 2002. 4. Helldiver On May 28, 1945, a US Navy SB2C-4 Helldiver went down in Lower Otay Reservior near San Diego. Pilot E. D. Frazar and Army gunner Joseph Metz were on a training mission when the plane’s engine failed . They swam to shore while the bomber


What country celebrated on August 15th 2007 its 60th anniversary of independence from British rule?

India celebrates 60th anniversary of independence Associated Press Published Wednesday, August 15, 2007 7:15AM EDT NEW DELHI - India celebrated the 60th anniversary of its independence from British rule Wednesday in a triumphant mood, with many here feeling the country is finally taking its rightful place as a major global player. "I assure you that for each one of you, and for our country, the best is yet to come," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told the nation in his traditional Independence Day speech. But with many of India's 1.1 billion people being left behind by the country's lightning economic growth, Singh warned: "we must not be overconfident." Wednesday's celebration came a day after neighboring Pakistan marked its independence from Britain with colorful displays of national pride. Tens of thousands rallied throughout the world's second most populous Muslim nation, waving Pakistan's olive-green flag with a white crescent. Others held prayer gatherings at home. Britain's partition of the subcontinent in 1947 brought one of modern history's biggest mass migrations as some 10 million people crossed the newly created frontier, and one of its bloodiest chapters as sectarian and religious fighting killed hundreds of thousands. Lingering disputes -- especially over the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir -- led to three wars between the South Asian neighbors, and tensions persist. On Wednesday, the fault lines that have so long divided India also were apparent with security tight across the country, especially in places where insurgencies are simmering. In Kashmir, mobile phone service was shut down in a bid to prevent the usual Independence Day violence. Singh, however, focused on the challenges faced by a country where children are more likely to be malnourished than in Africa and that is home to about a third of the people in the world living on less than US$1 a day. "India cannot become a nation with islands of high growth and vast areas untouched by development, where the benefits of growth accrue only to a few," he told a crowd of thousands of dignitaries and schoolchildren dressed in the orange, white and green of the Indian flag. Singh spoke from behind a bulletproof screen atop the ramparts of the historic Red Fort, the massive 17th-century sandstone structure built by the Mogul emperors who ruled much of modern-day India before the British arrived. His speech touched on a range of domestic issues -- from plans to invest $6.25 billion in agriculture, which provides a livelihood for two-thirds of Indians, to improving schools in the country where a third of the people remain illiterate. "Gandhi's dream of a free India will only be fully realized when we banish poverty from our midst," Singh said, referring to independence leader Mohandas Gandhi. He also pledged to press ahead with industrialization and build "first-rate infrastructure" -- moves that in the past year have led to repeated clashes between police and farmers who don't want their land plowed under to make way for factories. Conspicuously absent from his speech was any talk of neighboring Pakistan -- India's longtime rival. Aside from its rivalry with Pakistan, India also faces dozens of insurgencies by separatist rebels claiming to represent one of the country's myriad ethnic groups. In Himalayan Kashmir, a predominantly Muslim region split between India and Pakistan, an Islamic insurgency has raged since 1989. In the remote northeast, there are dozens of rebel groups representing the region's diverse population. Five bomb blasts were reported Wednesday in Assam, the region's main state, but no one was killed or wounded. Ethnic Assamese rebels have in the past week killed 32 people, most of them migrant workers from others parts of India who speak a different language and have different customs. Photos A child holds the Indian flag as he watches a ceremony to commemorate India's 60 years of independence at the government secretariat in Mumbai, India, Aug. 15, 2007. (AP / Gautam Singh)


Who resigned as World Bank President after failing to disprove allegations of his nepotism?


Following an Ofcom investigation which TV company was judged in September 2007 to be the worst offending in the premium line phone-in scandals?


What was the name of the Space Shuttle which launched on June 8th 2007?

LiveLeak.com - STS-117 Space Shuttle Launch on June 08 2007 STS-117 Space Shuttle Launch on June 08 2007 Space Shuttle Atlantis - June 8th, 2007 REPORT THAT DEBRIS FELL FROM SHUTTLE AS IT LAUNCHED... The countdown was nearly flawless, but it appeared that something fell from the tank more than two minutes into the ascent, several seconds after the solid rocket boosters separated from Atlantis. Falling debris from the tank poses the most danger to the shuttle from liftoff to around that point in the ascent. Shuttle program manager Wayne Hale said that foam did fall off the tank, as expected, but that it happened too late in the ascent to be a problem. "The tank performed magnificently, despite having several thousands repairs to it," Hale said. The shuttle smoothly settled into orbit around the Earth. During the 11-day flight, Atlantis' astronauts will deliver a new segment and a pair of solar panels to the orbiting outpost. They will also swap out a member of the space sta Loading the player ...


Who was charged with fraud when he reappeared five years after going missing in a canoe off the Cleveland coast?

'Canoe Man' John Darwin charged - CNN.com 'Canoe Man' John Darwin charged Story Highlights John Darwin, 57, thought to have drowned at sea off northeastern England in 2002 Reappeared last week at London police station, now charged with fraud Police say he told officers:"I think I am a missing person" Will appear before magistrates court on Monday, police said Next Article in World » LONDON, England (CNN) -- "Canoe Man" John Darwin has been charged on two counts of fraud, UK police have said. The 57-year-old was charged by officers in northeastern England on Saturday with making an untrue statement to procure a passport and obtaining money transfer by deception, said Detective Sgt. Iain Henderson of Cleveland Police. Darwin will appear before Hartlepool magistrates court Monday, Henderson said, when police plan to ask for him to be remanded in custody. Henderson added that Darwin was "fit and well." Darwin came to worldwide attention after he walked into a police station in London last weekend -- five years after the remains of a red canoe he paddled into the North Sea, off northeastern England, washed up on shore near his home of Seaton Carew, leading everyone to believe he had died. A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police told CNN that Darwin had told police: "I think I am a missing person." Despite an extensive search involving police, Coast Guards and the Royal Navy, no trace was found of the prison officer and former teacher after the wreck of his canoe was found. Darwin was presumed dead, by police, the public and his two sons, Mark and Anthony, now aged 31 and 29. He was declared dead by a coroner in 2003, 13 months after his disappearance in March 2002. Henderson said the police had received many calls, both from the UK and overseas, in response to their appeals for information about Darwin's whereabouts since he was last seen. They also appealed to Anne Darwin, who sold the family home in Seaton Carew and moved to Panama recently, to come forward and contact them. She is believed to have left Panama for the United States. Shortly after he went to police, Darwin was reunited with his two sons, who released a joint statement saying the reappearance of their father was "a huge shock." E-mail to a friend


Which Formula One racing team was expelled from the 2007 Constructors Championship for spying on a competitor?

Mclaren says Alonso set to race in Malaysia grand Prix Mclaren says Alonso set to race in Malaysia grand Prix Share View photos Fernando Alonso is shielded by teammates and medical staff as he is stretchered off after crashing during testing at the Circuit de Catalunya on February 21, 2015 (AFP Photo/Quique Garcia) More Madrid (AFP) - Two-time Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso is set to return to the track for the second Grand Prix of the season in Malaysia, his McLaren-Honda team confirmed on Monday. Alonso missed the season opening race in Australia after suffering concussion in a testing accident last month. "McLaren-Honda is pleased to announce that, subject to a successful final FIA medical assessment this Thursday 26th March at the Sepang International Circuit, Fernando Alonso will return to the cockpit of his MP4-30 car for this weekendâs Malaysian Grand Prix," the team said in a statement. The Spaniard crashed into a wall when he ran wide on the final day of the second pre-season test in Barcelona on February 22nd. He had to be airlifted to hospital under sedation and spent three nights there. He then missed the final pre-season test as well as the Australian Grand Prix under doctors orders to rest and recuperate. McLaren also confirmed Alonso drove the team's simulator last week as he built-up his preparation for a return to action. On top of Alonso's crash, McLaren have suffered an awful start to their new partnership with Honda as engine suppliers. Alonso's replacement in Melbourne, Kevin Magnussen, had to retire before the race had even started due to a mechanical problems, whilst Jenson Button finished last of the 11 cars to complete the race. The 33-year-old has only just begun his second spell with the Woking-based team after an ill-fated one-season stint in 2007 when McLaren were expelled from the constructors' championship and fined a record $100 million for spying on confidential technical information from Ferrari. Reblog


Blake Fielder-Civil achieved notoriety as whose errant husband?


Which former newspaper owner and business mogul was sentenced to 78 months imprisonment for fraud in December 2007?

Conrad Black sentenced to 6-1/2 years - The Boston Globe Business Conrad Black sentenced to 6-1/2 years US District Judge Amy J. St. Eve in Chicago yesterday sentenced Conrad Black to 6 1/2 years in prison for his role in looting the Hollinger International media empire of $6 million. Black, 63, is free on a $21 million bond and was given until March 3 to report to prison. It has not been determined where he will serve his sentence. He would be eligible for parole when he is 69. Black, a member of the British House of Lords who was known for his lavish lifestyle, left the courthouse without commenting. (Tom Hanson/The Canadian Press/Associated Press) Email | Print | Text size – + By Associated Press / December 11, 2007 CHICAGO - Former newspaper mogul Conrad Black was sentenced yesterday to 6 1/2 years in prison, far less than sought by prosecutors, for swindling shareholders in his Hollinger media empire out of $6 million. "Mr. Black, you have violated your duty to Hollinger International shareholders," US District Judge Amy J. St. Eve told the silver-haired millionaire member of the British House of Lords known throughout the newspaper industry for his lavish lifestyle and flamboyant use of words. Prosecutors had asked for as many as 30 years in prison for the Canadian-born Black, saying he had not shown "one shred of remorse" for looting the company that once owned the Chicago Sun-Times, Daily Telegraph of London, Jerusalem Post, and hundreds of US and Canadian community newspapers. "Obviously, there's a great deal of relief" at the lighter-than-expected sentence, said Black attorney Jeffrey B. Steinback, who delivered a passionate, hourlong appeal for leniency. Black, currently staying at his estate in Palm Beach, Fla., on a $21 million bond, was given until March 3 to report to prison. St. Eve recommended the federal correctional center at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. "Mr. Black will be moving from Palm Beach to Eglin and anyone who has ever heard of either one knows that's a serious change in life conditions," US Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald told reporters. Within an hour of the sentencing, though, officials said the Eglin correctional facility requested by Black had been closed. Fitzgerald also was asked about the lighter-than-expected sentence. "Mr. Black is going to jail as a convicted felon, convicted of fraud. So we proved the case," Fitzgerald said. "The bottom line is Mr. Black will do 6 1/2 years in jail. That's a serious amount of time." Black left the courthouse without commenting. But defiant to the end, he told the court his main regret as he faces prison was not what happened when he was running Hollinger but "the evaporation of $1.5 billion of shareholder value under my successors." Often described as arrogant, he said the stock still was in double digits when he was removed as chairman and suggested its current value of less than $2 a share was the fault of those who came after him. Black's wife, the conservative columnist Barbara Amiel Black, and daughter, Alana, sat in the first row of spectator seats as he was sentenced. Under federal law he must serve 85 percent of the sentence. St. Eve said three factors led her to impose a sentence of just 78 months. She rejected a claim by prosecutors that Black should be held responsible for $32 million in shareholder losses. She held him responsible for $6 million - which lowered the potential sentencing range. St. Eve also said Black's sentence should be closer to that of F. David Radler, his former business partner, who became the government's star witness at the four-month trial. Under a plea agreement with prosecutors, Radler will get a 29-month sentence and $250,000 fine. © Copyright 2007 Globe Newspaper Company. more stories like this


Which major city switched off its lights for an hour on the evening of 31 March 2007 as a political statement about climate change?

Lights out: Cities worldwide mark the 10th annual Earth Hour - WOW! WOW! Lights out: Cities worldwide mark the 10th annual Earth Hour The Associated Press March 20, 2016 2:44am CORRECTS CITY TO BEIRUT INSTEAD OF BEIJING - COMBINATION PHOTO - In this two photo combination picture, the government headquarters is shown before and after having its lighting switched off to mark Earth Hour in Beirut on Saturday, March 19, 2016. Individuals, businesses, cities, and landmarks around the world are switching off their lights for one hour on Saturday to focus attention on climate change. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein) The government headquarters is illuminated before having the lighting switched off to mark Earth Hour, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, March 19, 2016. Individuals, businesses, cities, and landmarks around the world are switching off their lights for one hour on Saturday to focus attention on climate change. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein) The great Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha in the Citadel and the great Pyramids, in rear left, are illuminated before having the light switched off to mark Earth Hour, in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, March 19, 2016. Individuals, businesses, cities, and landmarks around the world are switching off their lights for one hour on Saturday to focus attention on climate change. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) The great Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha in the Citadel and the great Pyramids, in rear left, are in darkness after having the main lighting switched off to mark Earth Hour, in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, March 19, 2016. Individuals, businesses, cities, and landmarks around the world are switching off their lights for one hour on Saturday to focus attention on climate change. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) COMBINATION PHOTO - In this two photo combination picture, the temple of the Parthenon is pictured before and after having its lighting switched off to mark the Earth Hour in Athens on Saturday, March 19, 2016. Individuals, businesses, cities, and landmarks around the world are switching off their lights for one hour on Saturday to focus attention on climate change.  (AP Photo/ Yorgos Karahalis) The temple of the Parthenon is pictured with its lighting switched off during the Earth Hour in Athens on Saturday, March 19, 2016. Individuals, businesses, cities, and landmarks around the world are switching off their lights for one hour on Saturday to focus attention on climate change.  (AP Photo/ Yorgos Karahalis) The temple of the Parthenon is pictured with its lighting switched on before the Earth Hour in Athens on Saturday, March 19, 2016. Individuals, businesses, cities, and landmarks around the world are switching off their lights for one hour on Saturday to focus attention on climate change.  (AP Photo/ Yorgos Karahalis) COMBINATION PHOTO - This combination photo shows the Eiffel Tower before and after its lights were turned off to mark Earth Hour in Paris, France, Saturday, March 19, 2016. Cities around the world were turning out the lights Saturday evening to mark the 10th annual Earth Hour, a global movement dedicated to protecting the planet and highlighting the effects of climate change. (AP Photo/Kamil Zihnioglu) COMBINATION PHOTO - This two photo combination picture shows after and before lighting is switched off to mark Earth Hour, with the Kremlin, left, and st. Basil Cathedral, right, on Red Square in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, March 19, 2016. The participants said they also used the event to pay tributes to the victims of the Dubai plane crash in southern Russia that killed all 62 people aboard on Saturday. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) This picture taken after lighting is switched on to mark Earth Hour, shows the Kremlin, left, and st. Basil Cathedral, right, on Red Square in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, March 19, 2016. The participants said they also used the event to pay tributes to the victims of the Dubai plane crash in southern Russia that killed all 62 people aboard on Saturday. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) People holding candles mark Earth Hour after the lights are switched off in front of S


What was the village and laboratory site name connected with the August 2007 foot-and-mouth desease outbreak near Guildford in Surrey?

Secret Bases Part 5 • WWW.SECRET-BASES.CO.UK © 1999, Richard Lamont BT Tower - the London landmark It was noticed that by fluke, the microwave beam between the Gwaenysgor and Pale Heights towers also went right through the BNFL Capenhurst site and so bingo. GCHQ were in business. Try joining the dots on a map (further below) to see what I mean. The tower was crammed with electronic eavesdropping equipment on many floors. It was fitted with special dielectric windows which didn't allow light in, but which allowed microwave transmissions to pass through. The microwave beam was broken down into individual telephone channels and the conversations were fed into Echelon computers which scutinised them for "hot" keywords and "watched" telephone numbers. It has been suggested that the tower was also fitted with satellite communications equipment on the top floor, so that all the data could be passed on to Menwith Hill and GCHQ in Cheltenham for further detailed analysis. It is thought that neither BT nor BNFL were actually aware of the GCHQ workers' activities right under their noses. Indeed it has been reported that GCHQ operatives even brought the equipment to the site in vehicles dressed in BT livery. After the telecoms system for the Irish Republic was changed, the Capenhurst Tower was then made redundant anyway and GCHQ had to make other arrangements. The tower was finally demolished in 2004 but it is pictured in the centre of the aerial photo below, which was shot by Getmapping in 1999. For the definitive account of the original research and investigation into the GCHQ Tower at BNFL Capenhurst, visit Richard Lamont's website:- RAF Staxton Wold radar facility emerges from farmers' fields Click on the image above to zoom in to an aerial photo and then out again. Map images generated from the Get-a-map service with permission of Ordnance Survey Aerial photo data: www.getmapping.com © Getmapping plc Still in the North East of England, most people in the area will be familiar with the helicopter search and rescue (SAR) base at RAF Boulmer near the historic town of Alnwick in Northumberland. However, take a step back, consult the 1:25000 map (pictured below) and consider the little village of Lesbury just south west of the helicopter SAR base. On the northern outskirts of the village, you'll stumble upon yet another of those high security SIGINT enclaves that you'll now be an expert in spotting. The Lesbury site houses one of the United Kingdom's Air Surveillance and Control System (ASACS) Centres and also the RAF's School of Fighter Control. An additional Remote Radar Head (RRH) is located high up on Alnwick Moor at Brizlee Wood (also pictured below). If you travel north on the trains along the east coast main line between London King's Cross and Edinburgh, the big white radome at the centre of the Lesbury SIGINT site can be spotted high up on the hill over to the right, as you pass through Alnmouth Station. But the Boulmer ASACS facility also has two remote outposts nearby that are much harder to spot from the train windows. They are the UHF/VHF transmitter and receiver stations at High Buston near Shilbottle, to enable Boulmer controllers to communicate with intercept aircraft from within their bunker underneath the Lesbury countryside. Look a little to the north of the Boulmer UHF/VHF transmitter station and you'll see a hill called Spy Law. Further north on the same train journey, look out to the right again for another radome alongside the train tracks - this time at the "disused airfield" at Brunton . This signals unit liaises with the Electronic Counter Measures and Warfare Tactics Test Range at RAF Spadeadam. A similar Remote Radar Head also performing an ASACS role can be found at RAF Trimingham at Beacon Hill near Cromer on the Norfolk coast (pictured below in one of my exclusive Pilot's Eye Views). It is a very old radar station originally dating back to 1941 and is now connected into the air defence network between Boulmer and Neatishead. Map and aerial view of RAF Boulmer's ASACS SIGINT enclave (left and middle) an


Garments of which famous clothes label were found being made by child labour in India in October 2007?

stumbleupon Email Comment Clothing is something we buy when we either need it or when we are having impulses telling us to buy a nice shirt even if it might be a little more pricey than we’d like. But more often than not, we buy it without taking into account where it’s coming from and what kinds of people are making it. Unfortunately, many clothing brands tend to have their products manufactured in sweatshops in impoverished areas of the world, with young children found working in dangerous working conditions and with the factories they work in not being well-constructed. Even more sad is the fact that so many big-name brands rely on the services of sweatshops in countries like Bangladesh to manufacture their clothes. However, many companies have been caught doing such practices and have suffered the consequences as a result. With this top 10 list, we’ll be talking about 10 of those major companies that have done exactly that, and the fallout they suffered after being caught. Some companies are known mainly in their home territory (in the case of Marks and Spencer, that home country is the United Kingdom) while others such as Nike and Gap are brands that are staples in multiple countries worldwide. Furthermore, some companies have responded emphatically (for example, Nike) to accusations of sweatshop labour, while others haven’t responded nearly as quickly or as effectively. Whatever the end result is, it’s still a controversial issue in the sense that these workers get paid extremely minimal amounts of money and work many hours a week for the sake of designing the newest trendy pieces of clothing. Whether you buy clothing from these companies often or you don’t buy them at all, it’s still shocking enough to make you think twice about where your newest threads come from. Here are 10 of the most shocking examples of major clothing companies and sweatshop labour. 10. H&M Via commons.wikimedia.org One flaw of factories that house sweatshop workers, as we show you further on in this list, is that they can occasionally be shoddily constructed and therefore cause the building to eventually collapse. In 2010, it was revealed that a factory in Bangladesh supplying to Swedish-based clothing retailer H&M had caught fire – with the fire exits blocked and with inefficient equipment to stop the fire – and killed 21 workers. Although it has tried to advertise itself as a pro-green company, H&M has a spotty track record overall, with a 1997 TV documentary in Sweden accusing the company of putting young children in the Philippines through child labour to produce their clothes. 9. Nike Via commons.wikimedia.org Although Nike has since been a proponent of ethical practices and workers’ rights, their track record in the ‘90s was not nearly as bright. In fact, it was a global campaign boycotting the company that caused Nike to wise up and re-think its attitude towards unethical working conditions, improving its transparency and frequently producing reports on its inspections of factories. However, their use of sweatshop labour has gone back to the ‘70s, with reports of labour workers in several Asian countries. Furthermore, Nike’s director Todd McKean admitted in an interview that the company’s attitude was “we don’t own the factories, we don’t control what goes on in there.” 8. Walmart Via newswire.ca After a factory building in Bangladesh collapsed in April of 2013, it was reported shortly after that Walmart was one of the major companies that the factory building supplied to. The company said after the collapse that the use of the factory to manufacture their clothing wasn’t even authorized. Before that, Walmart was accused in 2008 of forcing Bangladeshi workers to work 19-hour shifts while only earning about $20 or so a month – lower than the legal minimum wage in Bangladesh. The incident caused the company to issue biannual ethical sourcing reports after it had stopped doing so in 2004. 7. The Gap Via thenextweb.com One of the most recognizable jean brands in the world, The Gap was caught up in a scandal involving workers in India in