Oscar Pistorius Judge Decides Verdict Date

Guinea Closes Borders To Stop Ebola Outbreak

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 09 Agustus 2014 | 20.48

Guinea has closed its borders with Sierra Leone and Liberia in an attempt to stop the spread of ebola in West Africa.

The outbreak - the most serious since the disease first emerged in Africa 40 years ago - has so far killed nearly 1,000 people in the three countries this year.

"We have provisionally closed the frontier between Guinea and Sierra Leone because of all the news that we have received from there recently," Health Minister Rémy Lamah told a news conference.

She said the border has also been closed with Liberia.

The World Health Organisation has declared an international health emergency and said the virus continue spreading for months.

Map showing countries affected by ebola outbreak

On Friday, Nigeria became the third African nation, after Sierra Leone and Liberia, to declare a national emergency as hospitals struggled to cope with increasing cases.

"The outbreak is moving faster than we can control it," WHO Director-General Margaret Chan told reporters at a news briefing in Geneva.

She said all countries with ebola should declare a national emergency, but said a ban on international travel is not needed.

Some 1,779 people have been infected and 961 people have died in the outbreak, according to the latest WHO figures.

Most of the cases are in the remote area where Guinea borders Sierra Leone and Liberia.

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Britain Braced For Flash Floods From Bertha

Heavy rain has caused flash flooding in parts of the UK - and forecasters are warning of further storms on Sunday as the remnants of Hurricane Bertha hit.

The Met Office says Bertha's transition from a tropical to an extra-tropical storm is a "particularly hard one to forecast" but it is expected to affect the UK tomorrow.

The British Red Cross said it was on standby and has enlisted hundreds of volunteers to help people in affected areas.

Lightning hits Eggborough Power Station in Yorkshire. Pic: Phil Lowe

Residents had to be evacuated after heavy rain flooded several streets in the Lincolnshire town of Louth on Friday.

Downpours also led to waterlogged roads in and around York and in Maidstone, Kent.

There were reports of power outages in Cambridgeshire, where the A14 was flooded.

Part of the Old Trafford cricket ground is seen under water as rain interrupted the fourth cricket test match between England and India in Manchester

Old Trafford, where England's test match has been disrupted by heavy rain

Environment Agency flood warnings and alerts remain in place in numerous parts of the country.

Friday's rainy weather - which saw more than a month's rainfall overnight - was unconnected to Hurricane Bertha, which has been travelling across the Atlantic.

Bertha wreaked havoc in the Caribbean islands with gusts of more than 90mph, leaving thousands of homes without power.

A flash flood following heavy rain in Maidstone, Kent

Sky News weather presenter Isobel Lang said: "Ex-hurricane Bertha has become more of a typical depression now, albeit with very warm, moist air wrapped up within it.

"It is looking likely that the storm will reach southwest England and Wales by around 6am on Sunday and then track northeast across northern England during the afternoon, to eventually lie off the east coast of Scotland on Sunday night.

There could be more floods on Sunday

"Gusts of 50mph to 60mph are expected, especially along the south coast with large waves, spray and the chance of some coastal flooding.

Met Office chief meteorologist Paul Gundersen said there was still a chance that the storm may pass to the south of the country, giving the UK a brighter day.

But Environment Agency flood risk manager, Craig Woolhouse, said: "Heavy rain on Sunday may lead to localised surface water flooding in some parts of England and Wales.

"On Sunday and Monday a combination of high spring tides and strong westerly winds brings a risk of large waves and spray and possible flooding to the South West coast of England and along the Severn Estuary."

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US Planes Bomb Jihadists As Food Aid Dropped

US warplanes have bombed Islamist fighters in northern Iraq for a second time - as 30,000 meals were dropped for refugees.

Aircraft launched a second round of strikes on Islamic State (IS) - previously known as ISIS or ISIL - targets in northern Iraq after President Barack Obama said Washington must act to prevent "genocide".

In his weekly address on Saturday, Mr Obama vowed to continue the action against the jihadist group if necessary.

He stressed US combat troops would not be "dragged into fighting another war in Iraq", but added the US "can't just look away".

Water bundles align a C-17 Globemaster III cargo plane at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, prior to a humanitarian air drop over Iraq

Water bundles loaded onto a plane for a humanitarian drop to refugees

"We will protect our citizens. We will work with the international community to address this humanitarian crisis. We'll help prevent these terrorists from having a permanent safe haven from which to attack America," he said.

Islamic State fighters, who have beheaded and crucified captives, have advanced to within a half an hour of Irbil, Iraq's Kurdish capital and a hub for US oil companies.

They have also seized control of Iraq's biggest dam, which could allow them to flood cities and cut off vital water and electricity supplies.

Iraq's government says hundreds of women from the Yazidi religious minority have been taken captive by fighters for IS.

The rough outline of ISIS's "caliphate".

The rough outline of the desired IS caliphate

The Pentagon said two F/A-18 aircraft from a carrier in the Gulf had dropped laser-guided 500-pound bombs on the fighters' artillery.

Other airstrikes targeted mortar positions and an Islamic State convoy.

For the second night, the US also dropped relief supplies to members of the ancient Yazidi sect.

Tens of thousands of them are massed on a desert mountaintop seeking shelter from fighters who have ordered them to convert or die.

Iraqi military personnel distribute water to Shiite Iraqi Kurds

Three cargo planes escorted by the F/A-18 combat jets dropped the supplies - including 72 bundles, which contained 28,224 individually packaged meals. Another 16 bundles contained 1,522 gallons of fresh drinking water.

"The Iraqi men, women and children who fled to that mountain were starving and dying of thirst. The food and water we airdropped will help them survive," said Mr Obama.

"I've also approved targeted American airstrikes to help Iraqi forces break the siege and rescue these families."

Mr Obama has authorised the first US airstrikes on Iraq since he pulled all troops out in 2011.

A rally in support of Prime Minister Nuri al Maliki in Baghdad

The action is aimed at halting the Islamist advance, protecting hundreds of thousands of Christians and other religious minorities who have fled for their lives.

A British cargo plane is also on its way to Iraq to drop supplies including tents, blankets, food, water and solar lanterns - which also charge mobile phones.

UK ministers will iscuss the situation in Iraq at Cobra meeting later to dwhich will be chaired by Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond

In the hours after the airstrikes, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) banned all US civilian flights over Iraq.

Warplanes launched a second wave of airstrikes in northern Iraq overnight

British Airways also decided to stop flying over the war-torn region.

Other international airlines including Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines have halted their flights to Irbil until Monday.

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Supersonic 'Flying Saucer' Video Released By Nasa

Footage of a supersonic "flying saucer" has been released by Nasa, as the agency attempts to find a process for landing heavier spacecraft on Mars.

The video of the spinning saucer, launched from Hawaii, shows it being shot 120,000ft into orbit by a giant balloon.

A giant balloon launches the craft into space

Officially called a Low Density Supersonic Decelerator, the spacecraft is part of a system designed to slow down landings in space.

The device borrows the rapid inflation technique of the Hawaiian puffer fish to slow the landing - reducing its velocity from four times the speed of sound to two and a half times the speed of sound.

The parachute is ripped to pieces

The footage, shot on June 28, shows a giant parachute being shot out once the slower speed is reached and then being ripped to pieces as the spacecraft punches a hole in the atmosphere.

Landing exploratory vehicles on Mars presents greater problems than landing spacecraft on Earth because the planet's atmosphere is much thinner.

The flying saucer is important for the future of Mars exploration

Giant parachutes, several times the size of those used for Earth landings, and a deceleration device are needed to put the brakes on so that rovers can be landed on the Red Planet safely and in one piece.

Nasa is working on the system because future missions to Mars will need heavier landers than the current one-ton Curiosity Rover.

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US Strikes ISIS Artillery In Northern Iraq

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 08 Agustus 2014 | 20.48

The US has carried out airstrikes against artillery used by Islamist militants in northern Iraq, the Pentagon says.

Two F/A-18 aircraft dropped 500-pound laser-guided bombs on a mobile artillery piece near Irbil, the capital of the Kurdish region.

An F/A-18 fighter jet. File Pic

Rear Admiral John Kirby said in a statement that the Islamist militants had been using the artillery to shell Kurdish forces defending the city, where US personnel are located.

"The decision to strike was made by the US Central Command commander under authorisation granted him by the commander in chief," he said.

On Thursday President Barack Obama said he had authorised the strikes on Iraq to protect religious minorities and prevent a "genocide".

Some 40,000 residents from the ancient Yezidi community have been forced to leave the northern Iraqi town of Sinjar after the Sunni fighters overwhelmed Kurdish forces.

Many Yezidis are trapped on Mount Sinjar without food or water and are at risk of starvation as the militants surround the base.

The group has been advancing in Iraq

On Thursday, the US dropped thousands of gallons of drinking water and 8,000 packaged meals to Yezidis.

The airdrops were performed by one C-17 and two C-130 cargo aircraft that together delivered a total of 72 bundles of food and water.

They were escorted by two F/A-18 fighters from an undisclosed air base in the region, the Pentagon said.

In his late-night address on Thursday, Mr Obama said: "America is coming to help".

But the President, who opposed the 2003 invasion, has vowed there would be no return of ground troops to Iraq. The last US troops left in 2011.

"As commander in chief, I will not allow the United States to be dragged into fighting another war in Iraq," he said.

As the situation deteriorates, Britons have been warned to leave Irbil.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon also said Britain was offering help to the Americans in their efforts to provide humanitarian support.

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Pistorius Trial: 'He Did Not Want Reeva Dead'

Oscar Pistorius' lawyer has argued that the athlete would not have tried so desperately to save his girlfriend's life if he had intended to kill her.

Setting out the key points of the defence, Barry Roux asked the judge: "Why would he beg for help, be crying if he had just deliberately killed her?"

Mr Roux's day-long closing statement focused on two main points.

Firstly that Pistorius had no motive for killing Reeva Steenkamp, with whom he was in a loving relationship.

He said Pistorius had believed he was firing on an intruder, arguing his subsequent behaviour was consistent with him having made a "huge, unfortunate mistake."

Sky's Alex Crawford said Mr Roux was on 'fine form' in his closing speech

Secondly he said the athlete's disability meant he could not be expected to respond like an able-bodied person to fear and anxiety.

He said Pistorius had developed an "exaggerated fight response" over time, because fleeing was not an option.

Pistorius, a double-amputee, spent his whole life "knowing he couldn't run away," Mr Roux said.

He referenced a number of experts who testified that Pistorius had what he called a "slow burn reaction" to having lived his life with the disability, which had left him vulnerable and anxious.

Reeva Steenkamp's father Barry Steenkamp in court

The victim's father, Barry Steenkamp, was in court again on Friday

He said that culminated in the moment he was startled by a noise and reacted, using the analogy of an abused woman who shoots her husband after years of violence.

Slamming his fist on the table, Mr Roux mimicked the noise Pistorius claims he heard and went on to explain that as an athlete he would have had a reflexive response to loud sounds which will have made him pull the trigger.

"You're standing at that door. You're vulnerable. You're anxious. You're trained as an athlete to react. Take all those factors into account," Roux said.

"He stands with his finger on the trigger, ready to fire when ready. In some instances a person will fire reflexively," he added. "That is your primal instinct."

Reeva Steenkamp on set of reality TV show Tropika Island of Treasure (Pic: Stimulii)

Oscar Pistorius claims he did not intend to shoot model Reeva Steenkamp

Mr Roux said Pistorius won't have known what he was doing and therefore not be held responsible for murder.

The athlete's lawyer was picking up where he left off on Thursday when he began summing up the defence, taking over from prosecutor Gerrie Nel.

Having put forward the crux of the defence relatively early, Mr Roux proceeded to go through a detailed timeline of events, attempting to reverse the prosecution's assertion that Pistorius' lies had "snowballed".

He used phone records and witness statements to back up Pistorius' version of events, which the prosecution had described as a "crumbling mosaic."

He listed all the areas where the prosecution had fallen short, accusing them of selectively calling in witnesses who lived far away from the crime scene and not calling in witnesses who lived nearby and had testified they heard a man screaming on the night of the murder, not a woman.

He also reiterated claims that police had mishandled evidence in the days after the killing.

Sky News' Special Correspondent Alex Crawford, who is in the courtroom in Pretoria, says Mr Roux is putting the defence case forward "hammer and tongs", having spent much of the trial in the shadow of Mr Nel who is nicknamed "the pitbull".

The prosecution alleges that Pistorius intended to shoot and kill Ms Steenkamp when he fired four shots through the bathroom door where she was hiding after an argument on February 14 last year.

In his closing argument, however, Mr Nel argued that regardless of whether he knew he was firing at his girlfriend, Pistorius intended to kill whoever he believed was behind the door.

Mr Nel said Pistorius therefore cannot escape a murder conviction.

The state is pressing for the athlete to be convicted of premeditated murder - which carries a life sentence.

Judge Thokozile Masipa has adjourned the trial to deliberate on her verdict with two legal assistants.

She has set the date for the verdict on Sept 11.

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Britons Told To Leave Kurdish Capital Irbil

Britons have been warned to leave Irbil, the capital of Kurdish Iraq, as Islamist fighters advance towards the city.

The move comes as UK Secretary of State for Defence Michael Fallon said that Britain was offering help to the Americans in their efforts to provide humanitarian support to people trapped by the advance.

About 50,000 members of the Yezidi community, including many women and children, have been left trapped on Mount Sinjar in north-west Iraq having been driven into the mountains following threats from ISIS fighters in the area.

ISIS, also known as the Islamic State, have moved across northern Iraq and are also said to be threatening Kurdish territory.

The Foreign Office has advised Britons not to travel to Kurdish Iraq, as the security situation there deteriorates.

Britons already in Kurdistan, including those in Irbil, have been told to remove themselves from areas close to the fighting.

A FCO said it "advises British Nationals against all travel to the areas affected by recent fighting, including those within the Kurdistan Region.

In revised travel guidance, it said: "Those British Nationals already present in the Kurdistan Region should take precautions to remove themselves from areas close to the conflict.

UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the UK was ready to offer help to the US operation.

Christian refugees who have fled to Irbil

Christian refugees who have fled Irbil, which is now threatened by ISIS

He told Sky News: "We welcome what the Americans are doing, in particular to bring humanitarian relief and to prevent any further suffering.

"But our focus is on assisting that humanitarian mission using our military in support of the Americans, in terms of refuelling and surveillance, to under pin their mission and to add to it with food drops of our own."

His comments came as it emerged that the US had carried out air strikes to hit ISIS forces on the ground after they made major advances in Iraq.

Earlier, David Cameron had insisted the world must help Iraq's Yezidi community in their "hour of desperate need".

The Prime Minister said he "utterly" condemned "the barbaric attacks", adding he was "especially concerned" for people from the religious minority trapped on Mount Sinjar.

He added that he fully back President Obama's decision to press ahead with airstrikes, which he said had been requested by the Iraqi government.

Iraqi Ambassador to the UK Faik Nerwayi said that he had heard the the air strikes had already brought a wave of optimism to some of the those who had been forced to flee.

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Oscar Pistorius Judge Decides Verdict Date

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2:46pm UK, Friday 08 August 2014

Defence lawyer Roux makes a point during closing arguments in the murder trial of South African Olympic and Paralympic sprinter Pistorius in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria

Pistorius' defence counsel, Barry Roux

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Top Footballer 'Threatened To Kill Girlfriend'

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 07 Agustus 2014 | 20.48

A Premier League footballer threatened to blow up the house of his ex-girlfriend during a four-year campaign of harassment, a court heard.

England under-21 player Ravel Morrison was also accused of threatening to throw acid in the face of 19-year-old Reah Mansoor and to have her killed.

The former Manchester United midfielder appeared at Manchester Crown Court at a preliminary hearing at which the charges were laid out.

The 21-year-old, who has played for Queens Park Rangers and now plays for West Ham, was initially arrested and charged with two counts of common assault.

His arrest came after he allegedly punched and slapped Miss Mansoor and her mother Parveen Mansoor, 39 in the early hours of July 27 in Salford.

As well as the assault charges, he was also charged with causing his ex-girlfriend to fear violence would be used against her during the period January 1, 2010, to July 20 this year.

Ravel Morrison currently plays for West Ham United

The charge alleges he threatened to throw acid in her face, blow up her house and have her killed and that he made other threats of violence.

Morrison spoke only to confirm his name, age and address.

David Fish QC, representing Morrison, said his client would be pleading not guilty to the charges.

Morrison was bailed by District Judge Khalid Qureshi to appear at Manchester Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on August 28.

The footballer, originally from Manchester, was initially remanded in custody after he was arrested last week, before being bailed.

The conditions of his bail were that he must live in Canary Wharf, London, must not contact the two women complainants directly or indirectly and must not go to the street where they live.

He was told he must also not enter the Greater Manchester area except for a court appearance, to see his lawyers or to visit for a West Ham game in the area and, if he does so, he must return to London immediately after the match.

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Five Boys Charged With Raping A Child Under 13

Five boys have been charged with the rape of a child under the age of 13, police have said.

West Yorkshire Police said two of the youngsters who have been charged are aged 13 and three aged 14.

One of the 13-year-olds and one 14-year-old have been charged with two counts of raping a child under 13.

Another 13-year-old has been charged with one count of raping a child under 13 and the sexual assault of a child under 13.

The other two, both aged 14, have been charged with one count of the rape of a child under 13.

All the charges relate to two incidents which are alleged to have taken place in July last year in the Calderdale area.

All five have been released on bail and have been told to appear at Calderdale Youth Court on August 20.

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Oscar Pistorius: 'Dropped The Baton Of Truth'

The love life of running star Oscar Pistorius and model Reeva Steenkamp in the weeks leading to her death has been picked through in court.

Chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel has told the court: "This wasn't a normal relationship - this relationship ended in death."

In summing up his case against Pistorius, he told how the pair had exchanged messages proving their romance had "ups and downs" and added: "90% of the time he made her happy, but 10% of the messages she was unhappy. And seven days later she was dead."

Reeva's parents June and Barry Steenkamp listen to the hearing

Mr Nel has also accused the athlete's lawyers of presenting a dishonest defence against the murder charge.

He made the allegation in his closing speech against the athlete who shot dead Ms Steenkamp through a toilet door at his home in February 2013.

Mr Nel said a criminal trial was a "blunt instrument for digging up the truth," adding Pistorius' lawyers argued the athlete acted in self-defence as he feared an intruder was in his house, but also suggested he shot Ms Steenkamp because he was 'startled'.

"It's two defences you can never reconcile," said Mr Nel, who went on to accuse Pistorius of being an "appalling, vague" and "deceitful" witness.

Pistorius was "more interested in defending his life than telling the truth," Mr Nel said. "His story is so improbable it's a clear indication of his mendacity."

Mr Nel used Pistorius' career as an athlete as a metaphor for the trial, which the prosecution suggested was like a race with Pistorius holding the "baton of truth".

"You started the race by giving evidence," said Mr Nel, adding: "You dropped that baton. You cannot complete the race."

As Mr Nel summed-up some 100 pages of evidence submitted to the court last week, Pistorious occasionally shook his head in disagreement and held his head in his hands.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel questions a witness during the trial of South African Olympic and Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius in Pretoria

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel accused Pistorius of being a 'deceitful' witness

Sky's Alex Crawford reporting from the court in Pretoria said: "It was like watching flashbacks from a horror film. Gerrie Nel picked up what he believed to be (Pistorius') most devastating moments in court.

"He drew a very ugly picture of Oscar Pistorius, the man and the personality. A hero who had fallen so low, in the view of Gerrie Nel."

Prosecution and defence lawyers will sum up their cases over the next two days in a final attempt to convince judge Thokozile Matilda Masipa before she reaches her verdict, expected in around two weeks' time.

Pistorius, 27, faces a minimum of 25 years in prison if found guilty of premeditated murder. He could also be convicted on lesser charges, such as culpable homicide or murder without premeditation.

The prosecution says Pistorius intentionally shot Ms Steenkamp in anger after they quarrelled. His defence insists he fired by mistake, thinking an intruder was in the toilet and that Ms Steenkamp was in the bedroom.

Ms Steenkamp's parents are in court listening intently to the closing speeches. It is the first time Ms Steenkamp's father Barry Steenkamp has attended court since the trial began.

The hearing in Pretoria has resumed after it was put on hold last month after hearing from 37 witnesses.

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Prince William To Take To The Skies Again

By Emma Birchley, East of England Correspondent

The Duke of Cambridge is preparing to take the controls of a helicopter once more - to train as an air ambulance pilot.

Prince William has made no secret of how much he enjoyed his role as an RAF Search and Rescue pilot, which he left last September.

Now, he faces five months of training before beginning his new job with the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) based in Cambridge in the spring.

A palace spokesman said the Duke was "very much looking forward to" the next step in his career.

Dr Jayne McKinlay and Dr Antonio Bellini make their way towards the East Anglian Air Ambulance at Cambridge Airport

Two doctors make their way towards the EAAA helicopter in Cambridge

But it is also great news for the EAAA which relies entirely on charitable donations to keep two helicopters in action seven days a week.

Patrick Peal, chief executive of the service, said he was "delighted" William had decided to join them.

"We're very fortunate that we currently enjoy tremendous levels of support but fundraising is always a challenge," he said.

"We're looking to raise £7.5m a year to continue the lifesaving work and I'm sure that this will help to raise the profile of the charity.

Mr Peal emphasised that the Duke would become an important part of the team.

"It is a very close-knit crew with the pilot operating closely with the doctor and paramedic so we need a strong team in every operation we go on."

William and the family will live near the base

The EC135 helicopters used by the EAAA fly out of Norwich as well as Cambridge. They have one pilot on board as well as a doctor and a critical care paramedic, covering Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire.

But it is thought Prince William will fly a new aircraft due to be delivered called the EC145 which can carry two pilots, three medical crew as well as the patient.

His base will be 50 miles south of his new home with the Duchess of Cambridge and their baby, George, at Anmer Hall on the Queen's Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.

The family is expected to split its time between that residence and an apartment at Kensington Palace in central London.

The Duke may have trained as military pilot but must pass 14 exams and a flight test to gain his air transport pilot licence, initially being employed as a co-pilot.

Last year, the EAAA's helicopters went on 1,670 call-outs ranging from traffic accidents to cardiac arrests.

An East Anglian Air Ambulance as it takes off from Cambridge Airport, in Cambridgeshire

The prince will have to have more training before he goes "live"

Alastair Wilson, the charity's medical director, said he felt the Duke was well-suited to the role.

"The pilot is part of the team and he will be looking after patients with conditions that would be horrifying for many and some pilots may not like that very much," he said.

"Compared to his role as a search and rescue pilot, he may be dealing with more injury patients than he is used to, but I'm sure he will adapt very well to that."

The Duke is coming to the end of what was described as "a transitional year" while working out what to do next and carrying out Royal duties, which he will continue.

His salary from his new job will be donated back to the EAAA.

A palace spokesman said: "The job will build on the Duke's operational experience in the Royal Air Force Search and Rescue force.

"During this time he undertook more than 150 search and rescue operations."

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Woman Arrested After Elderly People 'Poisoned'

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 06 Agustus 2014 | 20.49

A woman has been arrested for "administering a noxious substance" after 16 people fell ill at a care home, police have said.

The 23-year-old was held after a number of people at Goldfield Court in West Bromwich were taken ill with what police described as food poisoning symptoms.

Four of the people were taken to hospital for treatment, with two being kept in overnight.

The woman was arrested on Monday and is now at a secure unit after she was released on bail while investigations continue, a force spokeswoman said.

West Midlands Police spokeswoman Keiley Gartland said: "Further tests and enquires are underway to determine the exact nature and cause of the illness.

"An individual has been arrested and is currently assisting the police with their enquires.

"Anyone with information in relation to the investigation should contact Sandwell Police by dialling 101, anyone with any concerns should contact the extra care unit."

Goldfield Court, which is run by Housing & Care 21, is described as "extra care housing" for older people. There are 93 flats at the site.

In a statement issued on its website, Housing & Care 21 confirmed a care worker had been suspended.

It said: "Housing and Care 21 can confirm that a care worker has been suspended from Goldfield independent living scheme in West Bromwich.

"We are providing information and assistance to the police and Sandwell Social Services and will support them with any further investigation.

"Our thoughts are with both residents and staff at the Goldfield community and we will ensure they are fully supported during this difficult time."

Police said they were working with Goldfield Court's management and with Sandwell social services department.

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Commuters Push Train Off Trapped Passenger

"People power" has saved a commuter after he became trapped between a train and a station platform.

Dozens of passengers helped tilt the carriage on Wednesday to free the man, who slipped as he was boarding just moments before the train was due to leave Sterling Station in western Australia for Perth.

Security cameras captured the fall which resulted in the passenger's left leg becoming wedged in a two-inch gap between the carriage and platform.

Station staff's attempts to pull him free failed, and passengers were initially told to move to the opposite side of the carriage in the hope their weight would shift it away from his leg, without success.

Passengers push to tilt a train to help free a trapped man

The man slipped as he was boarding the Perth-bound train

Eventually, they were asked to get off the vehicle and help push the train to free up enough space for him to be lifted back up to safety.

Claire Krol, a spokeswoman for train operator Transperth, said: "It is the first time we've seen something like this happen.

"We were really fortunate that the staff were there straight away ... and all of the passengers not only listened to the instructions from staff, but pitched in and helped.

"This is a real case of passengers of working together ... and people power are the perfect words to describe it."

The man was treated by paramedics but was able to catch a later train.

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Boris Johnson: 'I Will Stand As MP In 2015'

Six People Who Will Not Welcome Boris MP

Updated: 2:39pm UK, Wednesday 06 August 2014

By Jason Farrell, Political Correspondent

As Boris Johnson finally announces he will try for a return to Parliament, here are six people who will not welcome his decision:

:: George Osborne – The other man in the race to succeed David Cameron will be glancing up from his economic figures with a sigh and the certain knowledge that whatever he achieves in number 11, his jokes don't rival the Mayor's and he doesn't have the same popular touch that so often helps in a leadership race.

The Chancellor recently suggested he had urged Boris to make a Commons comeback, and Boris immediately accused him of making it up, suggesting the Osborne camp was engaging in a "dirty tricks plot".

The Chancellor has had four years pushing through austerity measures while watching Boris abseilling and opening Olympic ceremonies. He'll be bracing himself for the blond bombshell's arrival.

:: Nigel Farage – Just choked on his pint of bitter. Last year Boris claimed he was invited to speak at UKIP's party conference by Nigel Farage's wife. He said: "My message to the charming Mrs Farage is don't vote UKIP, don't even think about it."

Some of Farage's followers will appreciate the Johnson humour and the conservative values behind it, even if it is aimed at their camp. The UKIP leader, knowing how well light banter worked to win his voters, will worry Boris might outwit him.

:: Michael Gove - The Former Education Secretary is now Chief Whip and has to contemplate trying to control the man he one described as not being "a team player".

It's reported that the strong supporter of George Osborne recently stunned guests at a private dinner saying: "The whole Boris routine will wear thin the electorate very quickly if he became PM. And he can't make tough decisions."

Mr Gove thought Education was tough to reform.

:: Nick Clegg – The Deputy Prime Minister will not welcome the prospect of a coalition Government with Boris in it should the cards fall that way come May 2015.

It's understandable. The mayor did call him the Prime Minister's "lapdog-cum-prophylactic protection device".

He also called him a "wobbling jelly of indecision and vacillation" - and an "idle bum".

Mr Clegg, meanwhile, refers to Boris as "Slacker Johnson".

They share little common ground.

:: David Cameron – The poor Prime Minister has been battered by the revolving door of politics as he tries to quietly point at fish on his family holiday.

Warsi out, Boris in. He will have whole-heartedly welcomed neither.

Cameron and Boris are widely considered the "best of enemies" and the mayor's return to Parliament is a double-edged sword.

No doubt the PM recognises the power of Brand Boris in an election campaign could help him win outright.

But how long before the Tories tire of him and the popular Mr Johnson becomes the more appealing option?

Friends close, enemies closer.

:: David Axelrod – Barack Obama's former adviser and strategist in the Labour election campaign machine might want a rethink.

"The axe" was working on the basis the Tories would be "hard put to say they are in touch with the experience of everyday people" and had been pushed further right by UKIP.

Despite being anything but (Eton, Bullingdon), Boris manages to pull off "man of the people" in a way that more than matches Nigel Farage's "pint down the pub popularity".

Labour will be painfully aware of Boris's star appeal and the party's message will have to be loud if it is to be heard over the politics of personality.

Strange that another white, male Etonian in the Tory party has helped broaden its appeal.

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Two British Nationals Killed In Borneo

Two British nationals have been killed in Borneo, Malaysia, the Foreign Office has confirmed.

The two men are understood to be medical students from Newcastle University, with reports claiming they are aged 22 and 23 and died after suffering stab wounds when they were attacked by a group of men.

The National News Agency Of Malaysia reported that four men had been arrested following the murders at Jalan Padungan, in Kuching.

Sarawak Deputy Police Commissioner Datuk Dr Chai Khin Chung said the arrests were made two hours after the 4.15am attack, the agency reported. A knife was also recovered.

The city of Kuching in Borneo where the two men died. Pic: CoolCityCat

Dr Chai said a police forensic team found the first victim lying face down on the road with two stab wounds in the chest and two in the back.

The second victim was lying on a path, about two metres from the first victim, with a single stab wound to his chest.

The Borneo Post reported that the Britons were attached to a hospital on the island.

It claimed they were attacked by a group of men as they made their way back to a backpacker lodge from a bar in the early hours.

The students' identities have not be revealed and their bodies are at Sarawak General Hospital for post-mortem examinations.

An FCO spokesman said: "We are providing consular assistance to their families at this difficult time."

More follows...

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'British Aid Worker Killed In Gaza Strip'

Written By Unknown on Senin, 04 Agustus 2014 | 20.48

Key Dates In The Gaza-Israel Conflict

Updated: 10:36am UK, Monday 04 August 2014

Israel's ground offensive in the Gaza Strip continues with forces attempting to destroy Hamas' weapons arsenal and rocketing-firing capabilities.

Here are the key events from the fighting that preceded and have followed Israel's operation:

:: July 8 - Israel launches "Operation Protective Edge" in a bid to quell near-daily militant rocket attacks in the aftermath of the abduction and killing of a Palestinian teenager in what appeared to be a revenge attack for the seizure and slaying of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank in June.

:: July 9 - Hamas rockets rain deep into Israel as the military pummels Palestinian targets. The military says 74 rockets landed in Israel, including in the northern city of Hadera, the deepest rocket strike ever from Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Hamas will pay a "heavy price".

:: July 10 - Israel intensifies its bombardment. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urges an immediate ceasefire but neither side shows much interest in halting the fighting.

:: July 11 - Mr Netanyahu vows to press forward with a broad military offensive. The Israeli military says it has hit more than 1,100 targets, mostly rocket-launching sites, while Palestinian militants fired more than 600 rockets at Israel. The Lebanese military says militants there fired three rockets toward Israel and the Israelis retaliated with about 25 artillery shells.

:: July 12 - Gaza City becomes a virtual ghost town as streets empty, shops close and hundreds of thousands of people keep close to home. The death toll rises to more than 156 Palestinians after more than 1,200 Israeli air strikes.

:: July 13 - Israel widens its campaign, targeting civilian institutions with suspected Hamas ties, and briefly deploys ground troops inside Gaza to raid a rocket launching site. Four Israeli soldiers are hurt during the brief incursion. Egypt, a key mediator between Israel and Hamas, continues to work behind the scenes.

:: July 14 - Israel says it's downed an unmanned drone along its southern coastline. Egypt presents a cease-fire plan that is praised by President Barack Obama at a White House dinner celebrating the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

:: July 15 - Israeli Cabinet accepts Egypt's truce plan, halting fire for six hours but Hamas rejects the proposal, instead unleashing more rockets at Israel and prompting Israel to resume heavy bombardment. Rocket fire kills an Israeli man delivering food to soldiers, the first Israeli fatality in the fighting. Four Gaza boys, all cousins, are killed on a beach by shells fired from a navy ship.

:: July 16 - Hamas fires dozens of rockets into Israel, vowing not to agree to a ceasefire until its demands are met. The Gaza Interior Ministry's website says Israeli warplanes carried out dozens of airstrikes, targeting 30 houses, including those of four senior Hamas leaders. Later, both Israel and Hamas agree to a five-hour UN brokered "humanitarian" pause to start the following day.

:: July 17 - both sides trade fire in run-up to the brief truce, which Gazans use to restock on food and other supplies. Israel says it foiled an attack by 13 Gaza militants who infiltrated through a tunnel. Fierce fighting resumes after the truce expires, including an airstrike that kills three Palestinian children. After nightfall, the Israeli military launches a ground invasion into Gaza Strip.

:: July 18 - eight members of the same Palestinian family - two men, two women and four children - are killed by Israeli tank fire as the ground offensive to date claims the lives of 51 Palestinians and one Israeli soldier.

:: July 19 - Mr Ban says he wants to meet both sides to try to secure a truce as Israel pledges to step up its ground offensive. Hamas says its fighters are "behind enemy lines" as security alerts are triggered in southern Israel.

:: July 20 - Fresh airstrikes, artillery shelling and gun battles overnight kill 12 Palestinians and two more Israeli soldiers, as Israel intensifies its ground offensive in Gaza. Israeli minister Naftali Bennett defends the ground offensive in Gaza and accuses Hamas of "self-genocide" by using women and children as human shields.

:: July 21 - another airstrike kills 26 members of the same family, while seven more Israeli soldiers die in gun battles with Hamas fighters. Thirty of those wounded in the attack are reportedly medical staff.

:: July 22 - the Palestinian leadership proposes a ceasefire plan to mediators in Egypt which would be followed by five days of negotiations to stop the fighting which has claimed the lives of more than 600 Palestinians, many of them women and children, and 29 Israelis, including 27 soldiers.

:: July 23 - an international inquiry into Israel's actions in Gaza is launched, after the UN's Human Rights Commissioner says there is a "strong possibility" the country is guilty of war crimes. Several major airlines from the US, Europe and Canada suspend flights to and from Israel after a rocket fired from Gaza lands near Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion international airport.

:: July 24 - British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond warns Mr Netanyahu the West is losing sympathy for Israel amid the rising number of civilian deaths during its offensive in Gaza, as international efforts to end the conflict intensify. However, hopes of an effective ceasefire quickly diminish after Israel vows to continue hunting Palestinian cross-border tunnels under any humanitarian truce, while Hamas also rejects a truce without the lifting of Israel's eight-year blockade of Gaza.

:: July 26 - the number of Palestinians killed in the Gaza offensive reaches 1,000, according to the territory's health ministry. Meanwhile, Israel agrees to extend a temporary humanitarian ceasefire for a further day.

:: July 27 - Hamas agrees to a 24-hour temporary truce ahead of the Muslim festival of Eid.

:: July 28 - the UN Security Council calls for an "immediate and unconditional humanitarian ceasefire" in Gaza following an emergency session in New York. Both sides criticise the presidential statement, which is one step below a legally-binding resolution.

:: July 30 - a reported 128 Palestinians die in the bloodiest day of the three-week conflict. One attack, on the Jebalya refugee camp, provokes international condemnation, with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon saying there is "nothing more shameful than attacking sleeping children".

:: July 31 - the UN says the total number of displaced people in Gaza now stands at 440,000.

:: August 1 - the Israeli army says 23-year-old Second Lieutenant Hadar Goldin has been kidnapped as a three-day ceasefire collapses within minutes.

:: August 2 - tanks and troops begin withdrawing from some parts of the Gaza Strip as an army spokesman says Israel is "quite close to completing" the destruction of Hamas' tunnels.

:: August 3 - Israel confirms missing soldier Second Lieutenant Hadar Goldin died in combat.

:: August 3 - Ban Ki-moon describes an apparent Israeli airstrike on a UN school-turned-shelter in Rafah as a "moral outrage and a criminal act". The US says it is "appalled" by reports of a "disgraceful shelling" in which 10 casualties are reported.

:: August 4 - Israel begins a seven-hour humanitarian truce but is immediately accused of breaching it with an attack on a refugee camp in Gaza City.

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Digger Topples Bus In Israel 'Terror Attack'