Which comic strip footballer was re-published in a classic collection in April 2009?

Roy of the Rovers - The Full Wiki The Full Wiki More info on Roy of the Rovers   Wikis Roy of the Rovers: Wikis Advertisements       Note: Many of our articles have direct quotes from sources you can cite, within the Wikipedia article! This article doesn't yet, but we're working on it! See more info or our list of citable articles . Related top topics From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Roy of the Rovers A Roy of the Rovers annual from the comic's heyday, featuring Roy Race (centre) lifting the FA Cup Weekly Formats Original material for the series has been published as a strip in the comics anthology (s) Tiger  and a set of ongoing series . Genre The Best of Roy of the Rovers: The 1980s ISBN 1845769481 The Best of Roy of the Rovers: The 1970s ISBN 1848560249 The Bumper Book of Roy of the Rovers ISBN 1845769589 Roy of the Rovers is a British comic strip about the life and exploits of a fictional footballer named Roy Race which has run in various publications since 1954. The strip gave its name to a weekly (and later monthly) comic magazine , published by IPC and Fleetway from 1976 to 1995, in which it was the main feature. The weekly strip ran from 1954 to 1993 and followed Race's playing career until its conclusion with his loss of a foot in a helicopter crash. When the monthly comic was launched later that year, the focus switched to his son, Rocky, a player at the same club. This publication was short-lived, and folded after only 19 issues. The adventures of the Race family were featured one final time in short installments in the monthly Match of the Day football magazine, in which father and son were reunited as manager and player. These strips began in 1997 and continued until the magazine's close in May 2001; they currently represent the latest printed Roy of the Rovers stories. In February 2007, it was announced that a group of fans had obtained the rights to reprint classic strips and, eventually, publish new stories in a local football fanzine , but this arrangement came to an end soon afterwards. Football-themed stories were a staple of British comics from the 1950s onwards, and Roy of the Rovers was the most popular ever produced, with an estimated one million readers at the height of its popularity in the late 1970s and early 1980s. [1] As such, it holds a unique place in British football folklore, demonstrated most clearly by the stock media phrase "real Roy of the Rovers stuff". This is often used by football writers and commentators when describing displays of great skill, or results that go against the odds, in reference to the dramatic storylines that became the strip's trademark. [2] Contents 10 External links Publication history The Roy of the Rovers strip began on 11 September 1954 as a weekly feature in the comic magazine Tiger , debuting on the front page of the very first issue. After twenty years of continued popularity, the strip was judged successful enough to sustain its own weekly comic, which was launched on 25 September 1976. This title ran for 853 issues until 20 March 1993, [3] and featured the main Roy of the Rovers strip in addition to other football strips and features . In February 1989, the comic merged with the similarly-themed Hot Shot, and was known for a brief time as Roy of the Rovers and Hot Shot, but reverted to its original title shortly afterwards. There were also hardback annuals and holiday specials that featured a mix of reprinted and original content, and for a brief period, starting in 1986, Roy of the Rovers strips were serialised in the now-defunct Today newspaper. [4] These were all-new strips, which focused largely on the relationship between Roy and his wife rather than the action on the pitch. Between 1988 and 1993, a Best of Roy of the Rovers monthly comic was also published which reprinted older stories (although for a short time it featured fresh adventures of Billy's Boots, Goalkeeper and Hot Shot Hamish and Mighty Mouse). Following the sales slump and eventual closure of the weekly title in 1993, [5] the comic was relaunched as a monthly publication in Sept


In what country did President Hugo Chavez disagree with Coca-Cola about land for housing?

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Which fast bowler took five wickets for eleven runs in England's 51 all out against the West Indies?

West Indies surge back as 18 wickets tumble | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo West Indies v England, 3rd Test, Barbados, 2nd day May 2, 2015 West Indies surge back as 18 wickets tumble 94 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comment 94 England 257 (Cook 103, Moeen 58, Taylor 3-36) and 39 for 5 (Ballance 12*, Stokes 0*) lead West Indies 189 (Blackwood 85, Anderson 6-42) by 107 runs Play 01:24 Dobell: Ridiculous day leaves Test delicately poised On the same day that Bangladesh saved their run-fest Test against Pakistan, the other international taking place followed a very different path as 18 wickets tumbled in Barbados - the most ever to fall in a day's Test cricket in the Caribbean. James Anderson took 6 for 42, earning England a first-innings lead of 68, but they stumbled badly in their second innings as they were left tottering on 39 for 5, the advantage extended to 107 on a surface where every run was at a premium. West Indies were superb in the final period of the day: the five bowlers used conceded just four boundaries in 21 overs. Jerome Taylor , who set the tone with three morning wickets to end England's first innings, again found the fast, full swing which can make him so dangerous, Shannon Gabriel pushed 93mph and Veerasammy Permaul probed out of the rough. Amid the many subplots to the day there was the likely last innings of Jonathan Trott's Test career as he failed for a second time, completing a poor series where he has made double figures just once, when he was lbw to Taylor. His Warwickshire colleague Ian Bell completed the second pair of his Test career when he went the same way. Bell's previous pair was ten years ago, in a certain Test at The Oval . Meanwhile, Alastair Cook could not build on his cathartic hundred when he edged Gabriel to slip and Joe Root was also caught in the cordon, driving at Jason Holder. It is fair to say the quality of batting throughout the day was not the highest, but there was some impressive pace bowling (England's spin less so) and, above all, it made for thoroughly entertaining cricket - a value that should not be underestimated. Extraordinarily, when Moeen Ali dragged on a ball from Permaul which skidded low out of the footmarks in the penultimate over, West Indies could be considered to have evened the ledger for the day. If England find another 100 runs from the last five wickets chasing 200 will pose tough questions, but they will take some gouging out on the third - and probably last - day. It is worth a reminder that England resumed on 240 for 7, but they could only add another 17 runs and in all the last six wickets fell for 68, although when West Indies slipped to 21 for 3 in the face of Anderson's opening burst that became more than competitive. Anderson picked up where he had left off on the final day in Grenada; his first spell was a classy 6-4-4-3 and after tea another three-wicket burst wrapped up West Indies' innings and pushed Anderson closer to his next milestone: 400 wickets. West Indies would have been further adrift on first innings had it not been for Jermaine Blackwood's punchy 88-ball 85. It has been a mixed series for him, a maiden hundred interspersed with some reckless shots, but these were priceless runs made in a wonderfully free spirit - including three sixes, the best a straight drive off Ben Stokes - having walked in with his team a mess at 37 for 4. He was the last-man out, lofting to long-off, to give Anderson his sixth wicket. Blackwood and Shivnarine Chanderpaul hinted at a fightback after Anderson's first spell, but the latter fell to another stunning slip catch by Chris Jordan, then Stokes and Stuart Broad made good use of a ball that started to reverse to further work through the middle order. Jerome Taylor spearheaded West Indies' fightback in the final session on a bowler-dominated day © Getty Images Any disappointment England felt after a poor early morning was soon evaporating as Anderson quickly found his groove - fittingly from the Malcolm Marshall End. The removal of the openers was skilful, but the stand-out wicket was that of Marlon Sa


The crowd crush at Birmingham's Millennium Point occurred during a performance by which pop group?

BBC News - Dozens hurt in lights switch-on Dozens hurt in lights switch-on Advertisement Martin Krol and Rachel Liddiard watched the crowd surge from their flat which overlooks Millennium Point Around 60 people were injured in a crowd surge during a performance by the group JLS at Birmingham's Christmas lights switch-on. More than 20,000 people turned out for the event at Millennium Point which had been due to feature pop acts including Alexandra Burke and the Sugababes. The city council said problems arose when people tried to force their way through barriers to get into the event. Two women, a teenage girl and a boy required hospital treatment. Reports say up to 27,000 people were at the site by the time JLS finished. The council said a combination of fears over the number of people and bad weather led them to cancel the event. One person was carried out on a spinal board - and we saw a police officer injured too Martin Krol Your photos of the chaos Paramedic Barry Timms said: "There was a very large crowd, believed to be 21,000 people, in attendance and there had been a crush outside the event trying to get in as JLS started playing. "A metal fencing collapsed trapping a couple of people underneath. One of them was a female in her 30s that's got some quite serious injuries and a teenage girl also has crush injuries and was taken to hospital. "As the barrier collapsed it's believed people were trapped and trampled underneath it." He said a young boy and another woman were also taken to hospital with fractures to arms and legs. Mr Timms said the woman with more serious injuries is being treated and it is hoped she will be fine. The other three had minor injuries and would be discharged, he added. 'Absolute chaos' Martin Krol, who lives in a flat overlooking Millennium Point, said he saw people pushing at a fence at the front of the crowd. He said: "Police had already stopped people from going through into the main bit because there were so many of them, so an extra line of people had been created at the back of the main crowd. "The police were totally outnumbered - there were far too many people in the crowd for them to be able to cope. Eyewitnesses describe the crush "It was absolute chaos - the ambulances couldn't get through - and it took quite a while for them to be able to clear the area because there were so many people. "We saw people who had been knocked unconscious and carried out into ambulances. One person was carried out on a spinal board - and we saw a police officer injured too." The area around Millennium Point has now been cleared and emergency crews were urging people to stay away from the area. A council spokesman said the gates were closed after the square reached its capacity. 'Very sorry' An emergency meeting was held between the council, emergency services and the joint organisers, radio station BRMB, and a decision was made to cancel the event. Steve Hollingworth from Birmingham City Council said the event had been properly organised. He told BBC News: "We had a full meeting beforehand with all the emergency services. Everybody was comfortable with what we were doing. "We are experienced at holding events but clearly the crowd was very significant and the people outside the event were clearly determined to get in. "We'll do a full investigation and learn from what's happened." JLS first made their name as runners-up in the fifth series of ITV reality talent show The X Factor in 2008. This year, their first two singles, Beat Again and Everybody In Love, have shot to number one in the charts and the band won two Mobo (Music of Black Origin) awards. They also attract a legion of particularly fervent young female fans. In December, the band staged a free show at Croydon's Fairfield Halls and five teenage girls were injured as more than 2,000 fans turned up. Fireworks Other acts that had been scheduled to appear as part of the five-hour event in Birmingham included Calvin Harris, Tinchy Stryder, Natalie Imbruglia, Chipmunk, Girls Can't Catch, Little Boots, The Saturdays, The Noisettes, Taio Cruz and Pi


What new biodegradable product launched in the UK under the Chicza Rainforest brand?

Rainforest's chewing gum tappers go organic to get out of a sticky situation | World news | The Guardian Rainforest's chewing gum tappers go organic to get out of a sticky situation Threatened industry hopes new product to be sold by Waitrose will be its saviour Tuesday 30 December 2008 19.01 EST First published on Tuesday 30 December 2008 19.01 EST Close This article is 8 years old Porfirio Baños takes the measure of the chicozapote tree that he is about to tap for its resin. He winds a rope around himself and the tall, straight trunk that stretches towards a glimpse of sky through the foliage above. He starts to climb. "I started following my dad around the rainforest when I was 10 and working when I was 12," the 50-year-old says as he cuts through the bark with a razor-sharp machete. A bright white sap called chicle runs down the wound in the wood, prompting a smile. "I am a chiclero to my core." The location is remote, the practice old, the tools rudimentary, and the chances to chat with spider monkeys high. But this is no world apart. Men like Baños were at the root of one of the great consumer phenomena of our time: chewing gum. Produced only in the jungle that straddles the southern part of Mexico's Yucatán peninsula, northern Guatemala and Belize, chicle was the basis of chewing gum, from the little balls first sold in New York 140 years ago to the sticks included in GI rations during the second world war. Then in the 1950s came synthetic substitutes that shrank the industry to a shadow of its former self. Biodegradable But just as it was beginning to look as if the chicle industry would fade away altogether, Mexico's chicleros may be on the threshold of a comeback: they are about to launch their own brand of certified organic chewing gum, which is expected to go on sale shortly in Waitrose. A bonus of the new gum for Britain's local authorities is that it will be biodegradable and start to break down almost immediately after use, potentially saving councils millions in pavement cleaning bills. The epic tale of chicle goes back to 1869 when a Mexican general called Antonio López de Santa Anna was living in exile on Staten Island trying to raise money. He enlisted a local inventor called Thomas Adams to test out his idea that chicle, long chewed by Mexican soldiers in unprocessed form, could be transformed into a lucrative rubber substitute. When vulcanisation failed the general moved on, but Adams, left with a tonne of the stuff to shift, came up with what turned out to be a brilliant idea. He added sugar and flavouring, and chewing gum was born. Within a few decades the sap once used by the ancient Maya to clean their teeth had become a symbol of modernity. Michael Redclift, author of Chicle: Fortunes of Taste, calls it "the American product for the American century". Alfonso Valdez caught the tail end of the chicle fever that invaded the still largely virgin jungle during the boom years. "The chiclero camps were like small towns and there were dances every weekend," the 69-year-old says, reminiscing about the communities accessible only by small plane and lots of walking. "Nobody dared leave before the season was over, and if they tried to walk out alone we would find their torn-up clothes and assume they'd been eaten by a jaguar." Valdez now runs a much more modest camp at the end of a logging track on the edge of the Calakmul rainforest reserve where Baños and another nine veteran chicleros have lived since July and will stay until February. The job itself has changed little, with each chiclero fanning out into the forest at dawn alone and earning according to how much chicle they bring back to camp at night. The price for the raw material is too low to attract local youths who prefer to look for dishwashing jobs in Cancún or New York. These may be the last of the chicleros. The administrators of the chiclero co-operative developed Chicza Rainforest Gum as a last-ditch attempt to save the industry. They struck a deal with Waitrose last year, they say, after touting their product around European organic food f


Which UK 'doorstep' loan company collapsed in 2009 with £2.4bn debts?

Cattles sells business loan book to pay off debts - Telegraph Banks and Finance Cattles sells business loan book to pay off debts Doorstep lender Cattles has sold its invoice finance unit - which buys unpaid  invoices from other companies at a discount - in a deal worth up to £70m in  an attempt to pay down some of its £2.4bn debt pile. 7:34PM BST 10 Aug 2009 The division was bought by private equity group AnaCap Financial Partners. Trading in Cattles shares have been suspended since April, as it has not been able to audit its 2008 accounts. It is thought to have breached its banking covenants and is still in talks with all of its banks. AnaCap will take control of the division for around £10.4m in cash and the repayment of around £59.6m in loans owed by the invoice unit to the Cattles group. The price is subject to certain conditions related to how successful the purchaser is in terms of collecting customer debts. On this basis, Cattles expects to raise £65.5m after transaction costs. Cattles is due to repay a £500m syndicated loan led by Royal Bank of Scotland at the end of this year, and another £135m loan due in December. Cattles shareholders will decide whether to approve the deal at a general meeting - expected to be held on August 27 - and the company hopes to complete the deal by mid-September. The company recently installed a new management team following a forensic review into accounting errors and provisions for bad debts. The new management team said the sale was the best opportunity to get "an attractive and certain value" for the unit.


What was the name of the British submarine which collided with the French submarine Le Triomphant in February 2009?

Nuclear submarines collide in Atlantic | UK news | The Guardian Nuclear submarines collide in Atlantic Damaged British and French vessels return to base after crash deep below ocean's surface HMS Vanguard before it suffered 'scrapes' in a collision with a French submarine. Photograph: Chris Bacon/PA Monday 16 February 2009 05.42 EST First published on Monday 16 February 2009 05.42 EST Close This article is 7 years old A Royal Navy nuclear submarine and a French vessel have been damaged in a collision deep below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean. HMS Vanguard and Le Triomphant, which were carrying nuclear missiles on routine patrols, are reported to have collided while submerged on 3 or 4 February. Between them they had about 250 sailors on board. The Ministry of Defence initially refused to confirm the incident, saying it was not policy to comment on submarine operations. This afternoon the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, issued a statement saying the two vessels hit each other while travelling at very low speeds and no one was injured. "We can confirm that the capability remained unaffected and there has been no compromise to nuclear safety," he said. The MoD said the Vanguard returned to its base in Faslane, Scotland, with only "scrapes". Defence officials told theguardian.com the two submarines collided in what they said was an extraordinary accident. "They can't see each other in the water," one official said, raising questions about the submarines' sonar and why they did not detect one another. Opposition parties asked how the accident was possible. The SNP's Westminster leader, Angus Robertson, said: "The UK Ministry of Defence needs to explain how it is possible for a submarine carrying weapons of mass destruction to collide with another submarine carrying weapons of mass destruction in the middle of the world's second-largest ocean. "In contrast to MoD secrecy, the French military authorities publicised details of the incident on a website. The MoD cannot hide behind operational secrecy and must make a statement on this as a priority." The shadow defence secretary, Liam Fox, called the incident "extremely worrying". The Liberal Democrat defence spokesman, Nick Harvey, said: "While the British nuclear fleet has a good safety record, if there were ever to be a bang it would be a mighty big one. The public entrust this equipment to the government confident that all possible precautions are being taken. Now that this incident is public knowledge, the people of Britain, France and the rest of the world need to be reassured this can never happen again and that lessons are being learned." France's defence ministry said in a brief statement on 6 February that the Triomphant had struck "a submerged object (probably a container)" during a return journey from a patrol, damaging the sonar dome on the front of the submarine. It said no crew members were injured and the nuclear security of the submarine had not been compromised. Today the ministry confirmed that another sub was involved, saying: "They briefly came into contact at a very low speed while submerged." After the accident, the French submarine returned to its base on L'Ile Longue, near Brest, under its own power and escorted by a frigate. Vanguard, one of Britain's four V-class submarines that make up the Trident nuclear deterrent, each of which is capable of carrying up to 16 missiles, was said to have visible dents on its hull as it was towed home at the weekend. Inquiries are under way on both sides of the Channel. Kate Hudson, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament chairwoman, described the incident as "a nuclear nightmare of the highest order". "The collision of two submarines, both with nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons on board, could have released vast amounts of radiation and scattered scores of nuclear warheads across the seabed," she said. "The dents reportedly visible on the British sub show the boats were no more than a couple of seconds away from total catastrophe." Hudson said it was the first time since the cold war that two nuclear-arme


What did Eric Holder (new US Attorney General) define as torture that Dick Cheney said was not?

Waterboarding is torture, says US attorney general nominee | US news | The Guardian Waterboarding is torture, says US attorney general nominee Eric Holder's declaration signalled a departure with the outgoing Bush administration US attorney general designee Eric Holder is sworn in prior to testifying at his confirmation hearing. Photograph: Chris Usher/EPA Thursday 15 January 2009 14.30 EST First published on Thursday 15 January 2009 14.30 EST Close This article is 7 years old Barack Obama's incoming administration made a definitive break with the Bush administration today when the Eric Holder, who is set to become the next attorney general, defined waterboarding as torture. Holder, facing a confirmation hearing in the Senate, said he and Obama had been disturbed by the practices at the US detention centre at Guantánamo Bay , Cuba, where prisoners picked up from the Middle East, Asia and Africa have been held without trial. The vice-president, Dick Cheney, in a series of interviews over the last week, has defended Guantánamo and continues to claim that waterboarding, in which drowning is simulated, does not constitute torture. The CIA subjected at least three inmates at Guantánamo to waterboarding. Holder was unequivocal today: "Waterboarding is torture." He added: "The decisions that were made by a prior administration were difficult ones. It is an easy thing for somebody to look back in hindsight and be critical of the decisions that were made. "Having said that, the president-elect and I are both disturbed by what we have seen and what we have heard." His comments came 24 hours after a Pentagon official Susan Crawford, in an interview with the Washington Post, became the first senior member of the Bush administration to acknowledge that one of the inmates had been tortured. Obama has promised to issue an order in his first week in office to close Guantánamo. He said the difficulty comes in deciding what to do with inmates at the camp who cannot be tried for crimes but are known to be dangerous. There was also the problem of where to transfer them, he said. Some could be sent to other countries but others would have to be sent to prisons on the US mainland, and some states have already expressed an unwillingness to take them. Holder is almost certain to be confirmed but Republicans were intent on ensuring it was not an entirely smooth process by raising his part in the 11th-hour pardon of the millionaire Marc Rich by President Bill Clinton. Rich had fled the US for Switzerland after being charged with evading millions in tax and illegal oil deals with Iran. Holder told the committee that decisions he had made while at the justice department had not always been perfect and that he had made mistakes. He said of the Rich pardon: "That was and remains the most intense and searing experience I've ever had. I've learned from that experience. I think, as perverse as this sounds, I will be a better attorney general." The Holder hearing came on an emotional day at the Senate. Hillary Clinton, having sailed through her confirmation hearing on her nomination as secretary of state, today delivered a speech to mark her departure as senator for New York. She devoted much of the speech recalling the impact of 9/11. Joe Biden, the vice-president-elect, also delivered a speech to mark his departure from the Senate after almost four decades. Roland Burris, the controversial choice to replace Barack Obama in the Senate, was sworn in to take his seat today.


Who replaced BBC Radio 1's daily morning show DJ Jo Wiley in 2009?

Fearne Cotton Leaves Radio 1: DJ Says Emotional Farewell As She Hosts Last Show | The Huffington Post Fearne Cotton Leaves Radio 1: DJ Says Emotional Farewell As She Hosts Last Show 22/05/2015 12:46 | Updated 22 May 2015 Ashley Percival Entertainment Reporter, The Huffington Post UK Fearne Cotton bid an emotional farewell to her Radio 1 listeners today (22 May), as she hosted her last ever show. The DJ is leaving the station after 10 years on the air, following her announcement she is pregnant with her second child. SEE ALSO: After bursting into tears during her final moments on air, she said: "I'm so utterly blown away, you have no idea, it's just been the best morning and I'm going to miss everyone so much." Fearne Cotton She was joined by a host of celeb friends including 'Celebrity Juice' co-stars Holly Willoughby and Keith Lemon, Foo Fighters frontman Dave Ghrol, and her two-year-old son Rex, who helped her celebrate her final broadcast in style. Coldplay's Chris Martin also honoured Fearne with her own song, entitled 'Gone But Not F. Cotton', which he played on the show. The DJ was also inundated with well-wishes from a number of music acts and celebs on Twitter. A photo posted by elliegoulding (@elliegoulding) on May 22, 2015 at 2:42am PDT Listening to @Fearnecotton 's final show on @BBCR1 . Gonna miss you on my wireless FC! #FarewellFearne D x — Clean Bandit (@cleanbandit) May 22, 2015 #FarewellFearne Lovely moment on @BBCR1 right now. Tune in. Love you big sis @Fearnecotton — Ella Henderson (@EllaHenderson) May 22, 2015 Many happy times on festival coverage with this lovely person. Gonna miss you @Fearnecotton #FarewellFearne #NotDead pic.twitter.com/iLaXBJ5Nti — Greg James (@gregjames) May 22, 2015 Lots of love to @Fearnecotton and all the support she's given me and so many others on @BBCR1 . You are the bestest evah — Ed Sheeran (@edsheeran) May 22, 2015 To one of my most lovely, funny and genuine radio sistas - sending hugs, high 5s & here's to good times with your babbas @Fearnecotton xxx — sara cox (@sarajcox) May 22, 2015 @Fearnecotton don't goooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!😢 big thanks and big love to you hun xxxxx — Laura Mvula (@lauramvula) May 22, 2015 . @Fearnecotton Thank you so much for all your support over the years, you are the real deal. ramble on sister xx — Alesha Dixon (@AleshaOfficial) May 22, 2015 Crying listening to @Fearnecotton on @BBCR1 ... So much has changed in the last 10 years but motherhood is the greatest adventure of all 🍼🎉💜 — Holly Willoughby (@hollywills) May 22, 2015 Best wishes for all you have ahead of you and thank you for the years of support and all the live lounges! #farewellfearne @Fearnecotton x — Professor Green (@professorgreen) May 22, 2015 Thanks so much for all ur support over the years @Fearnecotton - very flattered Ben used my song for your final LL XXX ! #FarewellFearne — Jessie Ware (@JessieWare) May 22, 2015 Good luck and congrats today to @Fearnecotton hold it together friend... X — Dermot O'Leary (@radioleary) May 22, 2015 Good luck @Fearnecotton !I know you'll wake up with collywobbles about the day ahead but as I said, enjoy every second of being celebrated x — Jo Whiley (@jowhiley) May 22, 2015 Ahead of her last show, Fearne posted a picture of herself in the studio on Instagram. "Here we go... For the last time," she wrote. Fearne announced back in February that she was leaving Radio 1 to focus on her growing family. “After much time and careful thought I have decided to leave Radio 1 after ten amazing years,” she said at the time. “I have had the most incredible decade broadcasting on Radio 1, meeting wonderful people, helping break artists and watching live music from the world’s best. However it is now time for a new chapter.” Fearne is currently pregnant with her second child Fearne first started at the station in September 2005, hosting an early morning show with Reggie Yates, later taking over the Official Chart Show together. Fearne then went solo, taking over Jo Wiley’s weekday 10am - 12.45pm slot in September 2009, but was temporarily replaced by Sara


Carol Ann Duffy became the UK's first female what?

Carol Ann Duffy | Top 100 women | Books | The Guardian Carol Ann Duffy Top 100 women: writing and academia Carol Ann Duffy First tipped for the job 10 years earlier, she finally became the first female poet laureate in 2009 Carol Ann Duffy. Photograph: Murdo Macleod for the Guardian Monday 7 March 2011 19.05 EST First published on Monday 7 March 2011 19.05 EST Share on Messenger Close The first female poet laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, 55, was first touted for the job in 1999, but was reluctant because of her status as a mother in a lesbian relationship. Ten years later she accepted, but insisted it was a prize for other women , saying: "I look on it as recognition of the great women poets we now have writing." It was certainly a long-awaited acknowledgement – the first woman to be considered for the laureate, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, was overlooked for Alfred Lord Tennyson. And after his death, rather than award it to Christina Rossetti, the position was left vacant until Alfred Austin was appointed. Yet it seems fitting the first woman would be Duffy, not just critically acclaimed, but loved for her witty ways of filling the gaps left by women's silences in her collection, The World's Wife, which saw every poem told in the voice of a wife of a great historical figure, and Feminine Gospels.


A US Airways Airbus ditched into which river after hitting a flock of birds in January 2009?

US Airways Airbus Ditches In New York River | Airwise News US Airways Airbus Ditches In New York River US Airways Airbus Ditches In New York River January 16, 2009 A US Airways jet with 155 people on board ditched in the frigid Hudson River off Manhattan after apparently hitting a flock of geese on Thursday and officials said everyone was rescued. "We've had a miracle on the Hudson," New York Governor David Paterson told a news conference, calling the pilot a hero for landing the Airbus A320 plane in the fast-moving river. "The pilot somehow, without any engines, was able to land this plane... without any serious injuries," Paterson said. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg lauded the pilot for ensuring all those on board, including a baby, were safe. "The pilot did a masterful job of landing the plane in the river and then making sure that everybody got out," Bloomberg said, noting that the pilot was calm enough to walk through the plane twice after landing to ensure everyone was out. The pilot of Flight 1549 was Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger of Danville, California, according to his wife. Sullenberger is a former Air Force fighter pilot with 40 years flying experience, according to the web site of a safety company he founded. The Federal Aviation Administration said it was investigating reports the plane hit a flock of birds after taking off from New York's LaGuardia Airport. Witnesses saw the plane glide in low for an emergency landing, kicking up a cloud of spray in the river, which runs to the west of Manhattan island. US Airways said 150 passengers and five crew were aboard the plane, headed for Charlotte, North Carolina. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot radioed flight controllers that he had hit birds, law enforcement sources said. Mark Wilkinson, a commercial pilot waiting for takeoff at LaGuardia shortly after the crash, said the ground controller told him the plane had sucked a bird into an engine after takeoff. A passenger said that a few minutes after takeoff he heard what sounded like an explosion. "The engine blew. There was fire everywhere and it smelled like gas," said Jeff Kolodjay, from Norwalk, Connecticut. He said the pilot told passengers to brace for impact. After the aircraft ditched, he said, "People were bleeding all over. We hit the water pretty hard. It was scary." "You gotta give it to the pilot, he made a hell of a landing," said a visibly shaken Kolodjay, who climbed onto a life raft with other passengers and was rescued from there. Eight ferries and water taxis rushed to rescue passengers, some of whom lined up on the half-submerged plane's wings wearing yellow life vests, before police boats arrived. Bloomberg said most passengers were plucked directly from the plane and very few were completely soaked. Police divers pulled people out of the water and searched the plane, which remained afloat and was eventually towed to shore. "We saw the plane halfway submerged," said Detective Michael Delaney. "One woman was just holding onto the side of a ferry boat, trying to get onto the ferry, but was unable to make it. We pulled the woman up on the boat." Aviation experts said that landing a commercial jet on water without the plane breaking apart was extraordinary. "A water landing is typically even more destructive than a ground landing. It is amazing an Airbus jet was able to land in the river without breaking up," said Max Vermij, an air accident investigator with Accident Cause Analysis of Ottawa, Canada. He speculated that the plane would have hit the water at a speed of about 140 knots. "Typically the wings and engines would break off on impact, water would plow into the jet and tear apart the fuselage." At St. Luke's Roosevelt hospital in Manhattan, some passengers arrived with one elderly couple still wearing their life preservers. Bank of America said 23 of its staff were on the plane and all were safe and accounted for. Reuters employee Alex Whittaker, who was on the 22nd floor of the company's Times Square building, said "I saw the plane coming in very low but under control, it splashed down


In what sport did Miyabiyama defeat Chiyotaikai in Osaka in March 2009?

Yokozuna share lead | The Japan Times Yokozuna share lead SHARE OSAKA – Asashoryu did his best “Terminator” impression to kill off sekiwake Kisenosato and maintain his share of the lead with fellow Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on Saturday. Asashoryu erupted out of his crouch in the day’s finale and shook Kisenosato (3-4) around like a rag doll before forcing him into the splits on the sandy surface for a seventh win at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium. Hakuho was also all business in the preceding bout, biding his time and finding an opening to shunt out third-ranked Miyabiyama (1-6) and keep his slate clean at 7-0. Asashoryu is seeking a 24th Emperor’s Cup and second in a row after he completed a memorable comeback to the raised ring by beating Hakuho in a championship playoff on the final day of the New Year basho. In another key bout, aging ozeki Kaio dug deep to stay in touch with the front-running yokozuna, outmuscling Mongolian komusubi Kyokutenho (2-5) to register a sixth win. Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu claimed European bragging rights by getting both arms around Estonian behemoth Baruto and bundling the sekiwake over the straw ridge. Kotooshu improved to 5-2 while Baruto dropped to 3-4. Kotomitsuki (5-2) took another major step toward retaining his rank, overpowering winless No. 1 maegashira Hokutoriki with a flurry of shoves. Kotomitsuki pulled out late in the New Year meet with a 2-10 mark because of a right ankle injury and needs a majority of wins here to preserve his ozeki status. Ozeki Harumafuji rebounded from back-to-back defeats with a hard-fought win over komusubi Goeido (3-4) and also sits two wins off the pace. Meanwhile, Chiyotaikai’s disastrous start to the 15-day meet continued as the ozeki was mugged at the “tachi-ai” charge and pulled down to a sixth defeat by second-ranked maegashira Kotoshogiku, who improved his record to 2-5.


What did Russian cargo ship Sinegorsk lose 1,500 tones of in the English Channel?

BBC News Online | Ship loses timber in rough seas Ship loses timber in rough seas 19 January 09 20:41 GMT A Russian-registered cargo ship has lost 1,500 tonnes of timber in rough seas off the Sussex coast. It happened in a major English Channel shipping lane 14 miles off Newhaven, East Sussex, at 0815 GMT. The vessel was escorted to the Solent where it has been anchored, to allow the damage to be assessed and the remaining cargo to be secured. A spokeswoman said the wood could be heading towards Dungeness in Kent, not the Sussex coast as previously thought. Aerial surveillance She said: "We thought at first it was heading towards Brighton and Hastings to arrive there later today, but now it's looking to go round Dungeness. "It may actually avoid the coastline entirely and go on up through the Dover Strait." The 137m (450ft) vessel Sinegorsk, which has a 25-strong crew, was heading to Alexandria in Egypt from Oskarshamn in Sweden when the sawn timber was lost from the deck. An aerial surveillance aircraft has been sent to survey the debris and to see whether the wood remains in secure bundles. Dover Coastguard has alerted other vessels in the area about the risk of seaborne debris. The spokesperson added: "The receiver of wreck has also been kept informed of the sawn timber and its likely impact on the shoreline." Local authorities, police and the Environment Agency met in Brighton earlier to discuss contingencies if the wood was washed ashore. An East Sussex County Council spokesman said its priority was "public safety and the swift removal of any wood from the coast". In January last year more than 2,000 tonnes of timber washed up along the Sussex coast after the Greek-registered Ice Prince sank about 26 miles south of Dorset. Marine investigation Fred Caygill of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said the Sinegorsk lost its load as it came in to the south west lane of the Dover straits, approaching Newhaven. He said the Marine Accident Investigation Branch would be investigating how the ship came to lose the timber but added that the rough seas were likely to have been a factor. "We can't say that definitely caused it but generally weather has an effect," he said. He said the wood was currently "a long way off shore" but added that if it did drift towards land it could lead to a "similar" situation as the Ice Prince. A stained glass panel to commemorate the Ice Prince incident was being unveiled on Worthing Pier at noon as the start of the week-long Ice Prince Arts Festival.


The BBC and Sky refused controversially to broadcast an appeal for where in January 2009?

BBC refuses airtime to Gaza aid appeal | Media | The Guardian BBC refuses airtime to Gaza aid appeal Thursday 22 January 2009 19.01 EST First published on Thursday 22 January 2009 19.01 EST Close This article is 7 years old The BBC has refused to broadcast a national humanitarian appeal for Gaza , leaving aid agencies with a potential shortfall of millions of pounds in donations. The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), an umbrella group for 13 aid charities, launched its appeal yesterday saying the devastation in Gaza was "so huge British aid agencies were compelled to act". But the BBC made a rare breach of an agreement dating to 1963, saying it would not give free airtime to the appeal. Other broadcasters followed suit. Previously, broadcasters had agreed on the video and script to be used with the DEC, to be shown after primetime news bulletins. The BBC, which has been criticised in the past over alleged bias in its coverage of the Middle East, said it did not want to risk public confidence in its impartiality. A BBC spokesperson said: "The decision was made because of question marks about the delivery of aid in a volatile situation and also to avoid any risk of compromising public confidence in the BBC's impartiality in the context of [a] news story." The DEC's chief executive, Brendan Gormley, said: "We are totally apolitical ... this appeal is a response to humanitarian principles. The BBC seems to be confusing impartiality with equal airtime." DEC appeals have recently raised £10m for the Congo and £18m for Burma. An ITV spokesman said the broadcasters, after assessing the DEC's needs, had been unable "to reach a consensus necessary for an appeal". Sky said: "By convention, if all broadcasters do not carry the appeal, then none do. The decision was effectively made for us."


The 2009 'Bloodgate' rugby union scandal centred on which club?

Bloodgate: How the scandal unfolded when Harlequins met Leinster in April 2009 - Telegraph European Rugby Bloodgate: How the scandal unfolded when Harlequins met Leinster in April 2009 The Irish side led the Heineken Cup final 6-5 with the clock running when the  incident that scarred the name of Harlequins occured Scandal: Nick Evans re-enters the field as referee Nigel Owens talks to Harlequins coach Dean Richards Photo: GETTY IMAGES During the Heineken Cup quarter-final between Harlequins and Leinster at the Stoop on April 12, 2009. What happened? The match was close, finishing 6-5 to Leinster, Mike Brown scoring a try for Quins, Argentina’s Felipe Contepomi kicking two penalties. A successful kick one way or the other was going to settle matters. Quins had one of the best kickers in the game in Nick Evans They did, but he picked up an injury and was replaced early in the second half by Chris Malone, who could not convert Brown’s try and then got injured himself. As the clock ticked down, Quins director of rugby, Dean Richards, signalled to officials that wing Tom Williams needed treatment to a cut lip. Evans hobbled back on. That was lucky Not really. Williams had been told to come off, biting into a fake blood capsule to simulate a blood injury. TV cameras caught him winking towards the dugout, the first sign that something was amiss. TV commentary wondered if Williams had hit himself. So the scam was revealed immediately? No. It took four months for the story to emerge. European Rugby Cup set up an investigation straight away but failed to get clear answers. Related Articles


What TV show became the first cartoon series nominated for an Emmy since the Flintstones?

'Family Guy' - Show Guide 'Family Guy' By Nancy Basile Updated February 11, 2016. Family Guy premiered on January 31, 1999. Like Futurama, Family Guy originally aired on Fox. After Fox moved the show around to various timeslots, the Family Guy drew low ratings and was cancelled in 2002. Later, Adult Swim began airing re-runs. With high ratings on Adult Swim, and brisk sales of the DVDs, FOX brought the show back onto the Sunday night schedule in 2005. The success of the show has spawned straight-to-DVD episodes, including a parody of the Star Wars trilogy beginning with "Blue Harvest" . Plus, Seth MacFarlane and many of the cast members have performed in Family Guy Live! ., a live musical show that premiered on stage in Las Vegas in 2005. Family Guy Premise Family Guy is an animated comedy that centers around Peter Griffin and his Griffin family, who live in Quahog, Rhode Island. The show features boundless cutaway scenes with pop culture references and makes fun of everyone from Luke Perry to KISS. The hallmark of Family Guy is its raunchy humor and political incorrectness. continue reading below our video Profile of Family Guy While Family Guy is willing to make fun of everyone, the show still maintains very liberal views, even dedicating an entire episode to legalizing marijuana. (See episode " 420 .") My Two Cents I became of fan of Family Guy during the very first episode, "Death Has a Shadow." The set-up was the same as  The Simpsons , a family-centered, sitcom-like comedy. But the humor was much more adult-oriented. My mouth dropped open more than once at some of the racier innuendos or spot-on parodies of pop culture moments. I still enjoy the show, but I'm no longer as shocked or entertained by it. Is it the decreased involvement of Seth MacFarlane, due to his other projects? Or is it just that I've become accustomed to the style of humor and animation? The best episodes are the ones that parody other pop culture touchstones, like the Star Wars parodies, or when Luke Perry (90210) became Meg's crush. I'm also including any time the family jumps to a different time or place, like Revolutionary War Peter Griffin, or Pirate Peter Griffin. Regardless, Family Guy is a forerunner of other cartoons who mercilessly skewer our pop culture and present rude jokes on mainstream television. See also:  Take the Family Guy trivia quiz Characters Peter Griffin is the endearingly ignorant father. Lois is Peter's wife, a stay at home mom with no patience for her family's antics. 17-year-old Meg is a social outcast and the Griffin family punching bag. 13-year-old Chris is a socially awkward teen who doesn't have a clue about the opposite sex. Stewie is a diabolically clever baby. Rounding out the Griffin household is Brian, the family dog, who has a penchant for dry martinis and dumb blondes. Creator Seth MacFarlane created Family Guy. He cut his teeth in animation on Cow and Chicken, Johnny Bravo and Dexter's Laboratory. After Family Guy, he created American Dad and The Cleveland Show . He performs the voices of Peter, Stewie and Brian.


Who lost 2-1 to Chelsea in the 2009 FA Cup?

BBC SPORT | Football | FA Cup | Chelsea 2-1 Everton Chelsea 2-1 Everton BBC Sport at Wembley Winning the FA Cup crowns Hiddink's four-month spell in charge of Chelsea A stunning Frank Lampard strike ended Everton's resistance and ensured Chelsea's interim boss Guus Hiddink brought the curtain down on his brief spell in English football by collecting the FA Cup. The Toffees had made a dream start when Louis Saha put them ahead after just 25 seconds - the quickest goal in Cup final history. But Chelsea came back strongly and equalised through Didier Drogba's header before Lampard fired home the winner from 25 yards with 18 minutes left. The margin of victory should have been greater as TV replays showed that Florent Malouda's spectacular strike moments later had crossed the line after bouncing down off the bar, but referee Howard Webb did not give the goal. In the end it made no difference to Chelsea, or Hiddink, who deservedly has a trophy to show for the impressive work he has done at Stamford Bridge as he returns to his job with Russia. Victory at a sweltering Wembley brings to an end the Dutchman's brief love affair with the Blues, which began when he watched from the stands as they beat Watford in the fifth round on Valentine's Day. And his side again demonstrated the patience and power he has instilled them as they fought back to overhaul a dogged Everton side that took the lead with a terrific early strike. Steven Pienaar's cross was only half-cleared by Jon Mikel Obi and Marouane Fellaini headed down for Louis Saha to smash the ball past Petr Cech. 606: DEBATE Lamps with the winner and his usual 20th of the season. WELL DONE YOU MIGHTY BLUES. OLE OLE OLE OLE Drogba's_sniper The goal clearly rattled Chelsea and their back-four looked nervous whenever the ball came near them immediately afterwards. But the complexion of the game changed as soon as Hiddink's side settled and began coming forward themselves, using the width offered by Nicolas Anelka and, in particular, Malouda on the left. Everton right-back Tony Hibbert was given an early yellow card for clipping Malouda's heels, and he spent the rest of the half trying to keep up with the Frenchman, mostly unsuccessfully. Hibbert was not the only player at fault - he should have received more support from Leon Osman on that flank - but the amount of space they were leaving invited trouble, and Chelsea took full advantage to equalise after 21 minutes. Malouda, who was completely unmarked, ran on to Lampard's pass and, from his inviting cross, Drogba rose above Joleon Lescott to power home his header. By now, Hiddink's side were completely on top, with the Toffees unable to keep hold of the ball, let alone use it constructively. Everton did at least tighten up at the back, with the exception of the hapless Hibbert who was caught out time and time again before the break. The closest Chelsea came to punishing him further came when a deflected pass span into Cole's path, but the England defender sliced his shot well wide. Saha's opening goal, after 25 seconds, is the fastest in FA Cup final history Unsurprisingly, Toffees boss David Moyes made changes at the break - hauling off Hibbert for Lars Jacobsen and moving Tim Cahill further forward in an attempt to wrestle back the initiative. Even after his reshuffle, Chelsea were still enjoying the lions share of possession and Anelka should have done better when he lobbed over after running clear, but Everton did threaten too. They showed their intent when from a short free-kick, Leighton Baines whipped the ball into the Chelsea area and Saha's header flew only inches over the bar. Indeed, the game was still wide open until Lampard's goal on 72 minutes. The England midfielder collected Michael Ballack's pass, turned inside Phil Neville, and, despite losing his footing, let fly with a tremendous strike that was still rising as it flew into the top corner. Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard got a hand to the ball but could not stop it hitting the net - and from there, there was no way back for Everton. Malouda could have sealed victo


Which UK government minister claimed parliamentary expenses for an 88p bath plug and porn movies?

Jacqui Smith defends expense claims | Politics | The Guardian Jacqui Smith Jacqui Smith defends expense claims Home secretary says inadvertently claiming for two pornographic films was an 'embarrassing mistake' but it should not override 'good work' she has been doing Home secretary Jacqui Smith leaves her south London home. Photograph: Carl Court/AP Tuesday 7 April 2009 04.56 EDT First published on Tuesday 7 April 2009 04.56 EDT Close This article is 7 years old Jacqui Smith today defended her controversial parliamentary expenses and explained why she had not offered to resign as home secretary despite inadvertently claiming for two pornographic films. Smith said that submitting the claims for the films was a "bad mistake" and an "embarrassing mistake", but it did not override the "good work" she was doing as a minister. She also defended her decision to use the parliamentary second-home allowance to claim for costs associated with her family home in her Redditch constituency, saying that MPs needed to be able to live in two places. In an interview on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the home secretary said that she had not contemplated resignation despite the controversy about the claim for the two films, which were watched when her husband was at the family home. "I did not believe that, having apologised and having paid back the money, that it was a mistake that did override what I hope has been the good work that I have been doing," she said. "One of the things that's important to me is that I feel able to look people in the eye and say that I'm doing that work, that I've made a mistake but I have apologised for it and put it right, but actually now my priority is to get on with the work as home secretary and doing the best job possible for my constituents." Smith, who is allowed to use the second-home allowance to pay for her family home in Redditch because she designates the house she shares with her sister in London as her main home when claiming parliamentary allowances, said that some of the reporting about her arrangements had been inaccurate. "I do not live in my sister's spare room," she said. "We share a house. We share the expenses of that house. We eat together. We live together in that house. I'm not in some box room at the top of the house." Smith said that MPs needed the second-home allowance because they needed to be able to live in two places. "I have to furnish two houses; that's the point. When you are an MP, you have to live in two different places. What you are receiving the allowance for is the additional cost of having to furnish a different house in order to enable you to be able to do your job." As well as details about the claim for two pornographic films, information about many of the other items claimed by Smith using the second-home allowance has been leaked to the press. She is said to have claimed for a vast range of items, including a bath plug costing 88p. In a separate interview this morning on GMTV, Smith suggested that some of this information could be misleading because items listed on the receipts obtained by the press were not all necessarily the subject of expense claims. "When you put in a claim and you put in a receipt on which there are a number of items, obviously people can pick out one of them and say, 'Why did you claim for that?' but that is because you put in the whole of the receipt," she said. Asked whether it was fair for taxpayers to fund the cost of a flatscreen TV, scatter cushions at her Redditch home, a toothbrush holder and a bath plug, she replied: "I have always tried to claim those things that I think are fair and reasonable as expenses for having to live in two places." According to the leaked receipts, Smith has filed claims with the Commons authorities for around £150,000 towards the Redditch property since 2001. The cash reportedly went on kitting out all parts of the house, including a £550 stone sink and console for the kitchen, £568.95 on two washing machines, and £119.99 on a Vax carpet cleaner. In the bathroom, £405.37 reportedly went on plumbing, ne


Which singer-songwriter of Baker Street was mistakenly reported missing?

Gerry Rafferty – City to City Lyrics | Genius Album Bio 1 Contributor ? What is this? The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something. To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines . Loading... City to City is a 1978 album by Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty . It was Rafferty’s first solo release in six years – and first release of any kind since 1975 – due to his tenure in the band Stealers Wheel and subsequent legal proceedings which prevented Rafferty from releasing any new solo recordings for the next three years. The album was strongly received, peaking at #1 in the US and going Platinum, as well as reaching #6 in the UK and achieving Gold status. “ Baker Street ”, “ Right Down The Line ” and “Home and Dry” were successfully released as singles. “Baker Street” is widely regarded as Rafferty’s signature song and by October 2010 had reached 5 million plays on British radio. This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done. *[City to City](/albums/Gerry-rafferty/City-to-city)* is a 1978 album by Scottish singer-songwriter [Gerry Rafferty](/artists/Gerry-rafferty). It was Rafferty's first solo release in six years - and first release of any kind since 1975 - due to his tenure in the band Stealers Wheel and subsequent legal proceedings which prevented Rafferty from releasing any new solo recordings for the next three years. The album was strongly received, peaking at #1 in the US and going Platinum, as well as reaching #6 in the UK and achieving Gold status. "[Baker Street](/Gerry-rafferty-baker-street-lyrics)", "[Right Down The Line](/Gerry-rafferty-right-down-the-line-lyrics)" and "Home and Dry" were successfully released as singles. "Baker Street" is widely regarded as Rafferty's signature song and by October 2010 had reached 5 million plays on British radio.


Tycoon Allen Stanford, whose business empire collapsed in 2009, was chiefly associated with which sport?

Fraud SQUAD 09:58   Ebola virus a threat   No comments "The risk to UK travellers and people working in [affected countries] of contracting Ebola is very low but we have alerted UK medical practitioners about the situation in West Africa and requested they remain vigilant for unexplained illness in those who have visited the affected area. "It is important to stress that no cases of imported Ebola have ever been reported in the UK and the risk of a traveller going to West Africa and contracting Ebola remains very low since Ebola is transmitted by direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person." BBC global health correspondent Tulip Mazumdar said the West African outbreak had been going on for four months. In that time local people had been looking after the sick and carrying out burials, which could actually help to spread the virus, she added. Ebola kills up to 90% of those infected, but patients have a better chance of survival if they receive early treatment. The outbreak - the world's deadliest to date - was first reported in Guinea in February. It then spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone. Ebola virus disease (EVD) Symptoms include high fever, bleeding and central nervous system damage Fatality rate can reach 90% Incubation period is two to 21 days There is no vaccine or cure Supportive care such as rehydrating patients who have diarrhoea and vomiting can help recovery Fruit bats are considered to be virus' natural host 09:26   Massive increase in Brits abroad drug arrests   No comments DRUG arrests of Britons in Spain have soared, with an incredible 68% increase on the previous year. In total, 708 Brits have been arrested overseas on drug charges already this year – a shocking 173 of which were in Spain, according to the UK’s Foreign Office. A worrying trend is the reported rise in the use of a party drug named ‘Cannibal’ – due to its tendency to dramatically increase aggressiveness. It is apparently being distributed widely in parts of Spain, including the Balearics. A British man was arrested in Magaluf, after biting beachgoers while high on the drug. The rapid rise in drug-related arrests is due to a serious crackdown on dealers launched by police this year. The second-largest number of drug arrests involving Britons last year was in America, with 102 cases. 09:03   EU Must Investigate CIA European Prisons Case   No comments EU member states should carry out a thorough investigation into CIA-run prisons in Europe, where the inmates were subjected to torture, Russian diplomat Konstantin Dolgov said Monday. "Human rights activists are reasonably demanding the government of Poland to finally conduct an effective investigation into secret CIA prisons on its territory. Similar steps should be taken by other EU member states on which territories CIA torture camps operated," the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Special Representative for Human Rights wrote on his Twitter page. Last week, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that Poland violated an international treaty to protect human rights by hosting secret CIA prisons on its territory. The case was filed by two men who charge they were taken to a secret CIA black site in a Polish forest and subjected to torture before being transferred to Guantanamo Bay. An investigation into the detainees' treatment was opened in Poland in 2008 but is still not concluded – a situation that has been condemned by the UN's anti-torture body. Poland is one of a number of European countries accused of hosting secret CIA prisons. Meanwhile, Romania, Bulgaria, and Lithuania also have had allegations made against them for being part of the CIA black site network. 05:32   Lionel Messi to be prosecuted for alleged tax evasion   No comments A Spanish court will push ahead with prosecuting the Barcelona forward Lionel Messi for alleged tax evasion despite a recommendation from the public prosecutor the charges be dismissed. The prosecutor argued in June that Messi’s father Jorge was responsible for the family’s finances and not the four-times World Player of the Year.


Ngati Toa, a New Zealand tribal group won the intellectual property rights to what?

Maori win battle to control All Blacks' haka ritual | World news | The Guardian Maori win battle to control All Blacks' haka ritual A Maori performs a traditional haka. Photograph: MJ Kim/Getty Images Wednesday 11 February 2009 19.01 EST First published on Wednesday 11 February 2009 19.01 EST Close This article is 7 years old The eye-rolling, tongue-flicking haka war dance made famous by the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team was officially handed back to a Maori tribe yesterday to stop it being ripped off by Hollywood directors and international advertising campaigns. The New Zealand government assigned intellectual property rights in the traditional Maori haka, the Ka Mate, to Ngati Toa, a North Island tribal group. The new agreement is largely symbolic, but it is considered immensely significant by Maori leaders. "Ngati Toa's primary objective is to prevent the misappropriation and culturally inappropriate use of the Ka Mate haka," the official settlement letter read. The tribe has been battling for a decade to stop commercial exploitation of the haka, saying its use in film and television has been culturally insensitive and has undermined its traditional significance. Among uses it objected to was a 2006 television advertisement by the car maker Fiat in which Italian women performed a slapdash rendition of the haka, which is traditionally performed only by men. There was outrage the following year when New Zealand's bakery of the year awards featured a mock performance by gingerbread men. Ngati Toa elders were also incensed when the haka was performed in the Hollywood movie Forever Strong, about a high school rugby team in the US. The tribe has tried to trademark the Ka Mate several times over the past decade to limit commercial abuse but has failed, largely because of concerns it might charge the All Blacks for performing it. John Key, New Zealand's prime minister, said the issue was cultural redress and not money. If a company wanted to use the haka for commercial reasons there should be a recognition of the tribe's cultural interests. How this would be handled in the final treaty settlement was still a matter of discussion, he told the New Zealand Herald. He said he did not believe the All Blacks would be considered as commercially exploiting the haka. "They are our national sports team and they have had the rendition of Ka Mate for a long time ... There will neither be any restrictions on them in terms of their use or rendition of Ka Mate, nor any charge for doing so," he added. The agreement was a special provision in a $NZ121m (£44m) compensation package awarded to eight tribes over land and human rights abuses dating back 160 years. • The headline of this article was amended on Thursday February 12 2009.


Mon Mome wins 2009 Grand National at Aintree - Telegraph Horse Racing Mon Mome wins 2009 Grand National at Aintree A rookie jockey, a former bridge international and only the second woman to  train a Grand National winner on Saturday delivered the biggest shock in  more than 40 years at Aintree when 100-1 shot Mon Mome won racing's biggest  prize. Long shot: Mon Mome is the biggest-priced winner since Foinavon in 1967 Photo: PA By Paul Kelso, Chief Sports Reporter 4:45PM BST 04 Apr 2009 1st: Mon Mome (100-1) 2nd: Comply or Die (14-1) 3rd: My Will (8-1) 4th: State of Play (14-1) Mon Mome, trained by Venetia Williams and owned by Vida Bingham, who twice represented England at bridge, is the longest-priced horse to win the National since Foinavon famously avoided a mass pile-up to triumph at the same price in 1967. Jockey Liam Treadwell was having his first ride in the race. No horse in the 162-year history of the race has ever won at a longer price and the result was a huge relief to bookmakers, who estimated a recession-defying £250 million was gambled on the race nationwide. Williams, who was knocked unconscious when becoming one of only 14 women to ride in the race in 1988, joins Jenny Pitman as the only women to train a Grand National winner. Mon Mome's 10th place last year was her previous best result. Related Articles Grand National 04 Apr 2009 After the action was delayed by two false starts that were met with boos from the 70,000 crowd, Mon Mome spent much of the race anonymously tucked on the inside rail as more-fancied horses made the running. As the field crossed the Melling Road for the last time, Mon Mome was among a dozen horses in with a chance, and after becoming briefly boxed in emerged strongest on the run-in to win by 12 lengths. Last year's winner, Comply or Die, was second, with Ruby Walsh's mount, My Will, third and former Hennessy winner State of Play fourth. Pre-race favourite Butler's Cabin, ridden by Tony McCoy, was hampered by errors and could finish only seventh, leaving the champion jockey still searching for his first National winner after 14 attempts. Treadwell, who only turned to jumps racing after conceding he could not consistently make the weight as a Flat jockey, revealed that he had rejected his mother's pre-race suggestion that he get a haircut in case he was interviewed on television as the winner. "I said 'Don't be silly, I'd be happy just to get round'. It's an absolutely unbelievable finish, I had the perfect run through the race, he jumped brilliant for me. It hasn't sunk in yet. All I can say at this moment in time is it is unbelievable." Williams said: "It was just unbelievable. I'm so proud of the horse. I'm so proud of Liam for giving him such a good ride.''


Farah Fawcett, who died in 2009, played which character in TV's Charlie's Angels?

Farrah Fawcett, of TV’s 'Charlie's Angels,' Dies at 62 | Playbill By Robert Simonson Jun 25, 2009 Farrah Fawcett, who became an instant celebrity and a cultural icon of the late 1970s as one of the original stars of the television phenomenon "Charlie's Angels," died June 25 after a long battle with cancer. She was 62. Farrah Fawcett Ms. Fawcett had a brief brush with theatre, appearing in Off-Broadway's Extremities. Few predicted the widespread appeal of "Charlie's Angels," a 1976 Aaron Spelling-produced action drama with a fairly preposterous premise. After graduating from the police academy, three tall, beautiful women (originally Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett-Majors and Jaclyn Smith), dissatisfied by the menial work they're given by the police force, go to work for the Charles Townsend Agency as private investigators. They never see their mysterious boss, Charlie (voiced with stately timber by John Forsythe), who calls them his Angels, and communicated only through speakerphone and by way of his eunuch-like factotum (played by David Doyle). With each episode, they're given a new assignment, many of which caused them to go undercover in skimpy, sexy costumes, such as a beauty pageant contestant or roller derby girl. Critics called the series "Jiggle TV." The show's impact was instant. The three actresses appeared on the cover of Time magazine in 1976. Much of the series' instant success could be credited to Ms. Fawcett (then called Farrah Fawcett-Majors, owing to her marriage to actor Lee Majors). She played Jill Munroe. In her sunny, tan, California-style good looks and wavy mane of blond hair, men found a new sex symbol and women a new style. Thousands of women emulated her hair style, asking their hairdressers for a "Farrah Do." Her fame was further boosted by a popular poster at the time, in which she appeared in a red bikini. It sold 12 million copies — a record that still stands. As a late-'70s-style sex symbol, she was rivaled perhaps only by model Cheryl Tiegs, with whom she shared feathered blonde hair and a dazzling, wide smile. Unhappy with her salary, Ms. Fawcett left the series after only one season. A lawsuit ensued, causing her to appear three times during the third and fourth years of the show. She was replaced by Cheryl Ladd. Little respected by critics for her acting work in "Charlie's Angels," Ms. Fawcett had a tough time gaining credibility in the years to come. She acted in the Off-Broadway stage production, and later the movie version (for which she received a Golden Globe nomination), of the play Extremities, in which she played a rape victim who turns the tables on her attacker. A turning point came with her applauded performance as a battered wife in the 1984 television movie "The Burning Bed." The high-profile TV film became her forte, in which she gravitated toward portrayals of women in troubling circumstances. She acted in "Two Women" with Colleen Dewhurst, played Nazi-hunter Beate Klarsfeld in "Nazi Hunter," unhappy heiress Barbara Hutton in "Poor Little Rich Girl," and Life Magazine photojournalist Margaret Bourke-White. She won an Emmy nomination for playing a killer in the 1989 miniseries "Small Sacrifices." Following less-than-challenging early film roles in "Saturn 3" and "The Cannonball Run," she won parts in Robert Altman's "Dr. T. & the Women" and the Robert Duvall feature "The Apostle." She was to make her debut on Broadway in the 2003 Nancy Hasty comedy Bobbi Boland, but the production was bedeviled, and became one of the few plays in recent Broadway history to close during previews (the Playbills are coveted by collectors and fans). Ferrah Leni Fawcett was born Feb. 2, 1947, in Corpus Christi, TX. She was voted "Beautiful Woman" by her high school, and, while studying microbiology at the University of Texas in Austin, won a campus beauty contest that got her noticed by an agent. She moved to Los Angeles after graduating. From the beginning, he career was focused on a clean, fresh, wholesome, yet sexy, American beauty that she seemed to exemplify. She appeared in commercials for U


Who was the first female president of the Philipines, who died in August 2009?

Corazon C. Aquino - Wikipilipinas: The Hip 'n Free Philippine Encyclopedia Corazon C. Aquino Last President of the 4th Republic President of the Revolutionary Government of 1986 1st President of the 5th Republic In office Benigno Aquino, Jr. † Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco Aquino (25 January 1933-1 August 2009), more popularly known as "Cory Aquino", was Asia's first female President . She held office as the 11th President of the Philippines from 1986 to 1992, after the EDSA Revolution of 1986 . The widow of popular opposition senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. , she became the focus of the opposition to the autocratic rule of President Ferdinand Marcos after Ninoy was assassinated at then Manila International Airport on his return from exile on 21 August 1983. Contents 14 Citation Early life and education Corazon Cojuangco was born the sixth of eight children in Tarlac,<ref name=sb/> a member of one of the richest Chinese-mestizo families in the Philippines.<ref name=campaign>Branigin, William. "Aquino's 'Flesh-to-Flesh Campaign'", The Washington Post , 1986-02-02, p. A1. Retrieved on 2009-07-28 . </ref><ref name=pi>Pico Iyer. " Corazon Aquino ", Time Magazine, 1987-01-05. Retrieved on 2008-03-26 . </ref> She was born to Jose Cojuangco of Tarlac and Demetria Sumulong of Antipolo , Rizal . Her ancestry was one-eighth Tagalog in maternal side, one-eighth Kapampangan and one-fourth Spanish in her paternal side, and half- Chinese in both maternal and paternal sides. She was sent to St. Scholastica's College Manila and finished grade school as class valedictorian in 1943. In 1946, she studied high school for one year in Assumption Convent Manila. Later she was sent overseas to study in Ravenhill Academy in Philadelphia , the Notre Dame Convent School in New York , and the College of Mount Saint Vincent , also in New York.<ref name=campaign/> She worked as a volunteer in the 1948 United States presidential campaign of Republican Thomas Dewey against President Harry Truman .<ref name=sb>Sandra Burton. " Time 100: Corazon Aquino ", Time Magazine, 1999-08-23. Retrieved on 2008-03-26 . </ref> She studied liberal arts and graduated in 1953 with a Bachelor of Arts in French Language, with a minor in mathematics. She intended to become a math teacher and language interpreter. Married life Corazon Aquino and Benigno Aquino Jr. get married in 1954. Aquino returned to the Philippines to study law at the Far Eastern University , owned by the family of the late Nicanor Reyes, Sr. , who had been the father-in-law of her older sister Josephine. She gave up her law studies<ref name=fbio> Biography of Corazon C. Aquino . Fulbright Association. Retrieved on 2008-04-15 .</ref> when in 1954, she married Benigno Servillano "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. , the son of a former Speaker of the National Assembly . They had five children together: a son, Benigno Simeon Aquino III , who was elected to the Philippine Senate in 2007, and four daughters, Maria Elena A. Cruz, Aurora Corazon A. Abellada, Victoria Eliza A. Dee, and actress-television host Kristina Bernadette A. Yap . Aquino had initial difficulty adjusting to provincial life when she and her husband moved to Concepcion, Tarlac in 1955, after her husband had been elected the town's mayor at the age of 22. The American-educated Aquino found herself bored in Concepcion, welcoming opportunities when she and her husband would have dinner inside the American military facility at nearby Clark Field .<ref name=lt> Lorna Kalaw-Tirol (2000). Public Faces, Private Lives. Pasig City, Philippines: Anvil Publishing, Inc., 2–23. ISBN 971-27-0851-9 .  </ref> A member of the Liberal Party , Aquino's husband rose to be governor of Tarlac , and was elected to the Philippine Senate in 1967. During her husband's political career, Aquino remained a housewife who helped raise the children and played hostess to her spouse's political allies who would frequent their Quezon City home.<ref name=pi/> She would decline to join her husband on stage during campaign rallies, preferring instead to stand at the back of the audienc


Which club did Thierry Henri play for in the 2008-9 European Champions League?

Arsenal v Barcelona: Thierry Henry ready for an emotional night in Champions League - Telegraph Arsenal Arsenal v Barcelona: Thierry Henry ready for an emotional night in Champions League Barcelona striker Thierry Henry admitted that it will be both “strange” and “emotional” for him to face Arsenal on Wednesday. Favourite son: Thierry Henry will have mixed emotions at the Emirates Stadium Photo: AFP/GETTY IMAGES By Telegraph staff and agencies 7:00AM BST 29 Mar 2010 The defending champions travel to Emirates Stadium for the first leg of their quarter-final tie, and for Henry, 32, it will be the chance to play against the club where he spent eight hugely successful seasons. Having joined Arsenal from Juventus in 1999, the France international would go on to score a club record 226 goals in 369 games, finishing as the top scorer in the Premier League on four occasions and as the European Golden Boot winner twice. He also helped Arsenal become league champions twice and FA Cup winners on three occasions before moving to Barcelona in 2007, a year after defeat at their hands in the 2006 final. Although it was the draw he had hoped to avoid, he admits it will be a special occasion for him. “I’m very emotional, but also staying calm. It will be a strange game for me. Before the draw I said that I did not want to face Arsenal. That was my wish. But now that’s the game we’ve got and we’ll have to give everything,” Henry said. Related Articles


In December 2009 Ford agreed to sell which famous car subsidiary to China's Zhejiang Geely group?

Volvo in a Deal to Be Sold to Company in China - The New York Times The New York Times Global Business |Ford Agrees to Sell Volvo to a Fast-Rising Chinese Company Search Continue reading the main story HONG KONG — Ford Motor reached an agreement on Sunday to sell its Volvo subsidiary to a Chinese conglomerate, in the clearest confirmation yet of China’s global ambitions in the auto industry. The Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, based in Hangzhou, agreed to pay $1.8 billion for Volvo, with $1.6 billion in cash and the rest in a note payable to Ford . Ford paid $6 billion in 1999 to acquire Volvo, leaving the company with a substantial loss on its investment. Ford has shifted its strategy to focus on its core brands and has already sold off other luxury brands, including Jaguar and Land Rover to the Tata Group of India for $2.3 billion a year ago. The purchase of one of Europe’s most storied brands shows how China has emerged not just as the largest auto market by number of vehicles sold in the last year, but also as a country determined to capture market share around the globe. Continue reading the main story Zhejiang Geely said it planned to retain production of Volvo cars in Sweden, but it is expected to build another factory for them in China, most likely near Beijing or Shanghai. Ford already builds small numbers of Volvos for the Chinese market at an assembly plant in Chongqing. Most of the vehicles built at that factory are Fords and Mazdas for sale in China. Advertisement Continue reading the main story China overtook the United States in 2009 as the world’s largest auto market in terms of the number of family vehicles sold. But the average car in China sold for $17,000 last year while the average price tag in the United States was close to $30,000, according to the consulting firm J. D. Power & Associates. So the American car market is still bigger by value than China’s. Zhejiang Geely’s majority-owned automotive subsidiary, Geely Automobile Holdings, is China’s 12th-largest automaker based on production so far this year. But it is China’s second-largest automaker, after the BYD Group, that is not at least partly state-owned. Michael Dunne, an independent auto analyst based in Bangkok, said that acquiring a well-known brand was the fastest way for a company like Geely Auto to move up from making affordable cars for the masses to building respected cars for the affluent. Photo Stephen Odell, left, chief of Volvo, with Li Shufu, chairman of Zhejiang Geely, during a news conference on Sunday at Volvo's headquarters in Sweden. Credit Erik Abel/Bloomberg News “This is all about Geely’s efforts to bust out of the basement,” Mr. Dunne said. “Volvo happens to be available.” Many automakers in China are loaded with ambition, but Geely Auto stands out even by Chinese standards. While making most of its money on inexpensive compacts and subcompacts, it has turned heads at auto shows with ambitious concept cars that look like Western sports cars and even Rolls-Royces. Last fall, Ford said that Geely was the preferred bidder for Volvo, but there were a number of problems that needed to be overcome, including ones involving trade secrets, financing and the initial hostility of Swedish labor and political leaders. In late December, the two had settled on most of the details of a deal, but financing and government approvals remained to be completed. The parent company has said repeatedly that it planned to keep Volvo as a separate unit from Geely Auto. The company promised again on Sunday to retain Volvo’s existing management, but according to people in the industry, the company had already hired several executives with international automotive experience to help it oversee the new subsidiary. Zhejiang Geely is dominated by its founder, Li Shufu, the son of farmers from Taizhou, in southeastern China, who turned a small business building motorcycle parts there into one of China’s fastest-growing companies. Advertisement Continue reading the main story “I want to emphasize that Volvo is Volvo and Geely is Geely — Volvo will be run


Which past heavyweight world champion boxer visited his great grandfather's birthplace, Ennis, Ireland?

Muhammad Ali - 'The Greatest of All Time' - dies aged... Image: PA / PA Archive/Press Association Images 11:53 4 Jun 2016 Newstalk 11:53 Saturday 4 June 2016 Boxing legend Muhammad Ali has died at the age of 74, a spokesman for his family has confirmed. The three-time world heavyweight champion was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1984 - three years after he retired from the sport. In the days before his death, Ali had been admitted to hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, suffering from respiratory issues. Reports had suggested his breathing problems had been complicated by the neurological disorder, which had long impaired his speech. Boxing stars past and present, including Mike Tyson, George Foreman and Amir Khan are among those  who have paid tribute to Ali . Spokesman Bob Gunnell said Ali's funeral will take place in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, on Wednesday. "The Ali family would like to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers, and support and asks for privacy at this time," his statement added. News of Ali's death first emerged following a baseball game in Florida, when the Miami Marlins displayed a tribute to Ali on video screens around the stadium.  The team's president, David Samson, claimed he was told of Ali's passing by someone close to the family - but said he was unaware that the news had not been officially announced. Ali had a personal connection to the club, and threw the first pitch at their new ballpark when it opened in 2012. Although he had shied away from public life in recent years, Ali spoke out against Donald Trump's calls for Muslims to be banned from entering the United States. Back in December, he urged people to "stand up to those who use Islam to advance their own personal agenda", adding: "True Muslims know that the ruthless violence of so called Islamic Jihadists goes against the very tenets of our religion". One of the boxing legend's final public appearances was in April, when he attended a Celebrity Fight Night to benefit a Parkinson's treatment facility in his name. Ali is survived by his fourth wife Lonnie, along with his nine children. Many of his loved ones reportedly flew to Arizona to be by his bedside following his admission to hospital on Thursday. Former World Boxing champion Barry McGuigan says today should be about celebrating Muhammad Ali's life. Irish connection Boxing legend Muhammad Ali and his wife Lonnie Ali (right) and daughter Hana (left) unveiling the plaque on Turnpike Road to his ancestors after he was honoured today as the first Freeman of his ancestral home in Ireland. Image: Niall Carson / PA Archive/Press Association Images Ali had visited Ireland a number of times, including his fight against Al Blue Lewis in Croke Park in 1972. He returned in 2003, when he took part in the opening ceremony for the Special Olympics. In 2009 he visited Ennis, County Clare, the birthplace of his great-grandfather, Abe Grady, who emigrated from the town to the US in the 1860s. Thousands of people turned out to see Ali, who was made the first honorary freeman of Ennis. President Michael D Higgins has been leading the Irish tributes to the iconic boxer, saying the news of his death has been heard with the "greatest sadness by Irish people of all generations". In a statement, President Higgins said: "Many will remember the wit, grace and beauty he brought to boxing and some will recall his visits to Ireland. "All over the world people also flocked to hear him offer his view on the achievement of democracy and particularly equal rights when they were so strikingly missing in some of the richest countries of the world. He brought his message of freedom and respect for people of all races to all the continents of the world". 'The Greatest' Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay in Louisville, Kentucky, on 17 January 1942. He took up boxing at the age of 12 after someone stole his bike, and within six years had become Olympic light heavyweight champion. Clay, then 22, was the underdog when he met Sonny Liston for the world heavyweight championship in Miami on 25 February 1964. B


The European Union banned the manufacture of which wattage incandescent light-bulb in 2009?

US ban of the incandescent bulbs More information on the phase out of incandescent lamps can be found in this pdf-file: The Light Bulb 'Ban' - Here are the facts . As one can ascertain, from 2012 on, the lamps have to be 25 - 30% more energy efficient than before. Also, the phase out of the 100 watt bulb will start on 1/1/2012; the 75 watt bulb will start on 1/1/2013; and the 60 watt and 40 watt bulbs will start on 1/1/2014. Moreover: If the Secretary fails to complete a rulemaking in accordance with clauses (i) through (iv) or if the final rule does not produce savings that are greater than or equal to the savings from a minimum efficacy standard of 45 lumens per watt, effective beginning January 1, 2020, the Secretary shall prohibit the sale of any general service lamp that does not meet a minimum efficacy standard of 45 lumens per watt. (Energy Independence and Security Act of 200, sec. 321, H.R.6-88 to 89) This means that, after 2014, more restrictions will be proclamed with the consequence that not only common incandescent light bulbs but even halogen light bulbs will be banned. In 2006, 1.7 billion lamps were sold in the US, from which 1.5 billion incandescent light bulbs (Felipe Carlos Bastos, Análise da política de banimento de lâmpadas incandescentes do mercado brasileiro , March 2011). If the Act of 2007 will not be adapted, in 2020 no common incandescent lamps will be sold! The US will then be the only western country where the free market has been restrained so drastically. Has a new age dawn where government intervention in private affairs has become justified by law? But, you will say, will these incandescent light bulbs only be substituted by mercury containing CFLs? What does the Act prescribe about the mercury in these lamps? On two places in section 321, the word "mercury" is mentioned. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in cooperation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall submit to Congress a report describing recommendations relating to the means by which the Federal Government may reduce or prevent the release of mercury during the manufacture, transportation, storage, or disposal of light bulbs. (HR6-95) The Administrator shall develop guidelines for the use of energy efficient lighting technologies that contain mercury in child care centers in public buildings. (H.R.6-100) Are you reassured after these elucidations? I don't think so. Even worse, a large budget will be spend to promote these mercury containing lamps! There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2012. And for what purpose? Will consumers be informed about the dangers of the mercury containing CFLs? No, quite the reverse, the budget of $40,000,000 (during 4 years) will (among other things) help consumers understand the lamp labels and make energy-efficient lighting choices that meet the needs of consumers. Yes, you just read the word "choice". Choice between which lamp types, when only CFLs will be affordable for the average household? Meanwhile, the ban on incandescent light bulbs has been under fire twice in 2011: 7/15/2011: The House of Representatives Lawmakers passed an amendment to the energy- spending legislation for fiscal year 2012 barring the Energy Department from implementing or enforcing lighting-efficiency standards set by 2007 legislation. The law would effectively push the traditional bulbs off store shelves, starting with the 100-watt version next year. ( www.bloomberg.com ) The House has voted to delay the de facto ban on incandescent light bulbs for at least a year. It is the first step in restoring consumer choice and ending government intrusion into our homes. ( Rep. Joe Barton ) 12/16/2011: House and Senate negotiators on Thursday night reached a tentative agreement on a $1 trillion omnibus spending bill that would avert a government shutdown, the Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee announced. ( thehill/com ) The deal agreed to in Congre


Which country reversed a ruling banning Muslims from attending a Black-Eyed Peas concert in 2009?

Muslims can see Black Eyed Peas, Malaysia says Muslims can see Black Eyed Peas, Malaysia says By IBT Staff Reporter On 09/03/09 AT 8:58 AM Close (L to R) Apl.de.ap, Fergie, will.i.am and Taboo of U.S. hip-hop group The Black Eyed Peas perform during the Isle of MTV concert in Floriana, outside Valletta, July 8, 2009. REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi Malaysia has reversed an earlier ban on Muslims attending a concert by U.S. hip-hop band the Black Eyed Peas, saying it had no right to keep people from entertainment events. The September 25 concert is sponsored by Guinness as part of celebrations of the alcoholic brew's 250th birthday. Guinness is owned by the world's biggest spirits group, Diageo. Information Minister Rais Yatim said it was up to the individuals' better judgment to decide whether they should attend events organized by an alcoholic beverage company. We have no legal powers actually to bar people from attending functions, The Star newspaper quoted Rais as saying on Wednesday. Muslims account for 55 percent of the 27 million people in this Southeast Asian country and are barred from consuming alcohol, although the rules are regularly flouted, especially in big cities like the capital, Kuala Lumpur. However, a 32-year old Muslim woman caught drinking beer at a hotel was sentenced to six strokes of the cane by an Islamic court recently in a case that sparked debate about growing Islamization in the country. Malaysia has a dual-track legal system, with Islamic criminal and family laws that are applicable to Muslims existing alongside civil laws. Foreign music acts often draw protests by Malaysia's opposition Pan Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS). Last week the party called for Danish soft rock band Michael Learns To Rock to be banned from performing because it was a grave insult to Muslims observing the fasting month of Ramadan. Since 2007, PAS has campaigned against performances by singers including Beyonce, Rihanna, Gwen Stefani, Avril Lavigne and Mariah Carey. Malaysia's Guinness Anchor, which sells Guinness and other brands here, had sales of 1.2 billion ringgit ($339.8 million) in 2008.