Khalil Edney Wonder Shot Dedicated To Late Mum

A high school basketball player who pulled off an incredible match-winning shot just ahead of the buzzer, has dedicated his feat to his mother who died of cancer.

Khalil Edney's feet have barely touched the ground since he grabbed a loose ball for the miracle 55-footer to give New Rochelle a 61-60 victory over rival Mount Vernon in a New York sectional final.

The 17-year-old has had a ride in a limousine and a night in a Manhattan hotel, given numerous TV interviews and held a makeshift news conference since Sunday night.

Video of what has already become known as "The Shot" has become a sensation online, with high praise from the professionals.

Duke guard Seth Curry tweeted "Wow!" to go along with a YouTube link for Edney's heave, and New Rochelle alumni Ray Rice of the Baltimore Ravens also offered his congratulations online.

Edney knew who to thank at the news conference.

The teen - whose mother died from cervical cancer in 2006 when he was just 11 - showed off his tattoos, including "momma's boy", the date of her birth and the day she died.

Edney's father, Lewis said: "I thought his mother took it out of his hands and scored."

The winning sequence started when a New Rochelle pass was broken up and a Mount Vernon player tried to run out the clock by flipping the ball in the air.

But Edney brought it in and let fly for the win. The shot was initially waved off, but the referees eventually reversed the call.

The win sends New Rochelle to the state regional semifinals on Tuesday.

Their star player is still nursing a sprained ankle from before Sunday's game, but he is determined the buzz surrounding The Shot will not go to his head.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Loch Ness: Tiny Monsters In 'Lost World'

Scientists exploring a "lost world" near Loch Ness have discovered a host of tiny creatures never before recorded in the UK.

Biological surveys at conservation charity Trees for Life's Dundreggan Estate in Glenmoriston found eight new species, bringing the total number of species recorded at the site where forest restoration is taking place to more than 2,800.

The new species discovered at the 10,000-acre estate in Inverness-shire are a sawfly, an aphid, two types of aphid parasites, three fungus gnats and a type of mite.

Biologists surveying the area found an aphid among other species

Surveys in 2012 also discovered a rare Lapland marsh-orchid, which had never been found in that area of Scotland before.

It brings the total of species recorded at Dundreggan to 2,815, including 269 plants, 341 lichens, 92 birds, 20 mammals, 354 beetles, 207 moths and 125 sawflies.

Species found at the estate include black grouse, pine martens and water voles and juniper stands, while research is on-going to establish whether the Scottish wildcat is present.

The Dundreggan Estate in Glenmoriston

Trees for Life's executive director Alan Watson Featherstone said: "The surprisingly rich variety of life at Dundreggan highlights the vital importance of conservation work, and of protecting and enhancing habitats across the Highlands.

"The discoveries are not only demonstrating that the estate is a special site for biological diversity - they are also revealing that there is still much to learn about Scotland's biodiversity."

Cranefly on eared willow

Some 67 species which are considered to be a priority for conservation work have been identified on Dundreggan, which the charity said had been described as a "lost world" of wildlife.

Dundreggan was bought by Trees for Life in 2008, and with the help of volunteers, the charity is planting half a million trees on the estate as part of efforts to restore the Caledonian Forest to an area of 1,000 square miles in the Highlands.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Costa Concordia Victims' Last Moments Revealed

By Nick Pisa, Sky Reporter

Details of the final moments of the 32 people who died in the Costa Concordia cruise ship tragedy have emerged in a prosecution report.

The 60-page document makes up the official request to have captain Francesco Schettino - who was in charge at the time - sent for trial.

He is accused of multiple manslaughter, causing a disaster, failing to inform authorities of what had happened and abandoning ship while dozens of passengers were still onboard.

More than 4,000 passengers and crew were onboard the doomed Costa Concordia when it struck rocks after Schettino allegedly changed course in order to carry out a sail-by salute of a Mediterranean island to impress holidaymakers.

Victims of the Costa Concordia disaster

The 70-metre gash allowed water to pour in and the ship eventually capsized and came to rest on its side at a location known as Seagull Point, just outside the harbour on the island of Giglio in January last year, hours into a seven-day cruise.

The chaotic scenes of panic and disorganisation that gripped the ship as it started to sink are evident throughout the report.

In one part, Francecso Verusio relives the moment when the youngest victim of the disaster, five-year-old Dayana Arlotti, and her father, William, drowned.

Mr Verusio wrote that they died ''because they were unable to find any space in a lifeboat on deck four, on the left-hand side, and they were then directed to the right-hand side by crew members on the same deck but as they were crossing the inside corridor ... they fell into a hole that had been created when the ship rolled onto its right side.

"They dropped into an area that was already flooded and they died from drowning," he added.

Relatives of the victims staged a memorial last month

Other stories include that of bartender Erika Fani Soria Molinala, who fell from a lifeboat as it pulled away from the Concordia but as she was not wearing a lifejacket she was dragged underwater from the current created as the Concordia tilted on its side.

It also emerged that holidaymaker Maria D'Introno - whose body has yet to be recovered - was told to get out of a lifeboat because it was too full and the tilt of the ship made it impossible to launch safely.

She was later seen terrified by the edge of the ship, jumping into the water without a lifejacket despite not being able to swim.

The last moments of musician Giuseppe Girolamo are described in another section of the report.

It emerged he had been directed to the right-hand side of the boat to get into a lifeboat and had actually got into one when he decided to give up his place - only to later drown.

The prosecution report also details how Schettino was distracted by the ''inopportune presence of unauthorised persons'' on the bridge of the Concordia, including several crew members and passenger hostess Domnica Cemortan - who was seen enjoying dinner with the captain minutes before the ship struck the rocks.

It also details how Schettino was distracted as he was speaking on the telephone while he was ''in close proximity to the coast in a dangerous situation and with the helm under manual control".

Francesco Schettino said he "tripped and fell" into a lifeboat

It goes on to list 157 passengers who are suffering from post-traumatic stress following the disaster.

Schettino, 52, has insisted he is innocent of all charges and that the rocks were not marked on his charts. He says he should be thanked as his actions in steering the ship back towards the port at Giglio saved hundreds of lives.

However, he was ridiculed by the world's media after it emerged he had told coastguards he "tripped and fell" into a lifeboat as the Concordia began to list to one side, while recordings later emerged of him refusing orders to get back onboard and co-ordinate the rescue efforts.

Some other crew members also face charges, as do management figures from the company Costa Cruises, which owns the ship that is still lying on its side and not expected to be removed until September at the earliest.

The initial part of the trial is expected to last a week and once again will take place in a theatre in the town of Grosseto.

Prosecutors have also requested the indictment of five other crew members, including two officers Ciro Ambrosio and Silvio Coronica and the Concordia's helmsman Jacob Rusli.

In an unusual move, Mr Verusio has posted details of the case on a Facebook site in various languages and invited those who may have a claim to contact him.

It has also emerged that Costa Cruises asked for a plea-bargaining agreement, which would see them pay a fine of one million euros. They insist Schettino is solely to blame.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Navy's Tennis Ball-Hunting Radar Revealed

A new radar that can detect a tennis ball travelling at three times the speed of sound from more than 15 miles away has been fitted to a Royal Navy warship.

The Artisan system, which was developed by BAE Systems, was installed on HMS Iron Duke, a Type 23 frigate.

BAE says the medium range 3D surveillance radar is five times more efficient than any other radar currently used by the fleet.

HMS Iron Duke is the first ship in the class to have received the new radar as part of its five-yearly refit and will return to service next year. 

Iron Duke has carried out anti-drug smuggling operations in the past

The Artisan system is designed to detect smaller and quicker targets against a background of electronic noise and interference that can affect radar efficiency.

The new radar is also able to navigate its way through environments that are densely populated by other signals.

BAE said another major advantage of the Artisan system is the spread and range of targets it can track.

The system is capable of monitoring more than 800 objects at the same time - from the very small to the largest aircraft carriers and destroyers - at a range of between 200 and 200,000 metres.

The radar is being installed as part of a £100m programme to equip Type 23 frigates and amphibious ships.

Artisan was tested in a special chamber before being fitted to the warship

It will also be used on the new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, where it can be used to help the ships' air traffic controllers.

Artisan has been proposed for the new Type 26 frigates, which are due to come into service after 2020.

The radar is made out of the same lightweight carbonfibre materials found in Formula One racing cars.

Weighing 700kg, the Artisan system is designed to take a single team of engineers 21 days to fit, which is said to be a vast improvement on previous systems.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Philpott Fire Trial: Petrol Traces On Clothes

By Lisa Dowd, Midlands Correspondent

A forensic scientist has told a jury that low levels of petrol were found on the clothing of three people accused of setting fire to a house and killing six children.

Mick and Mairead Philpott deny the manslaughter of their children Duwayne, 13, Jade, 10, John, nine, Jack, seven, Jessie, six, and five-year-old Jayden.

All died following the blaze at their home in Derby last year.

A third defendant, Paul Mosley also denies six counts of manslaughter.

Rebecca Jewell, who specialises in fire investigations, told Nottingham Crown Court, that branded fuel has a higher concentration of additives, which makes car engines run more efficiently, compared to supermarket petrol.

Ms Jewell said: "The liquid in petrol is not the part that burns, that is the vapours that sit above it.

"Petrol additives do not burn in fires, they are left behind. This means we can analyse them and unequivocally say which brand they come from."

She explained to the jury that additives remain on clothing for a long time, even when the fuel has evaporated.

Over six months, police sent the expert a series of exhibits, including clothing, from the defendants and the scene.

She said low level traces of Total and BP petrol additives were found on Mick Philpott's tracksuit bottoms, traces of Total petrol were detected on his socks, slippers and left trainer, and traces of Shell petrol additives were found on his boxer shorts and right trainer.

Ms Jewell said low levels of Total petrol additive was also found on Mairead Philpott's leggings, sandals and thong, and on Mr Mosley's jeans, jumper and right shoe.

She said that she had found no evidence of an "ignitable substance" on the door mat, but there was "limited scientific support for a low level of Total" in the U-bend of the sink.

Under cross examination, Ms Jewell admitted that petrol additives make up a "minute amount" of the product.

The court also heard that Mairead Philpott's sandals, which were found to have more additives on than her other items of clothing, were given to her by a neighbour after the blaze.

Paul Mosley's jeans showed a "moderately high" reading and the expert was unable to say when the petrol got on any of the clothing.

The trial continues.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Kate Keeps Mum Over Royal Baby's Gender

The Duchess of Cambridge can feel her unborn baby kicking but is remaining silent on whether the potential heir to the throne is a boy or a girl, it has emerged.

Kate, whose baby is due in July, made the revelation to a member of the public she met on a royal visit to Grimsby.

When asked by a woman: "Can you feel the baby kicking?", the Duchess replied: "Yes. I can feel it kicking."

The Duchess met dozens of well-wishers while on a visit to Grimsby's National Fishing Heritage Centre - her first of three engagements.

It is not known whether she knows the sex of her unborn baby, but when asked by those she met, she avoided giving any clues.

The Government has proposed changing the law of succession to allow a first-born female to become queen in the event that Prince William's wife gives birth to a girl.

The bill forcing the change is currently at the report stage in the House of Lords and is expected to become law.

The Duchess had arrived nearly one and a half hours late after her helicopter from Kensington Palace was severely delayed due to fog.

The crowds which had started to assemble early, waved flags and chanted "We want Kate".

Finally they cheered as the Duchess - her baby bump just visible beneath her chocolate-coloured three-quarter length Hobbs coat - began her visit at the North East Lincolnshire town's National Fishing Heritage Centre.

She was shown around by former trawlerman John Vincent, who is now a guide at the award-winning museum.

While there, she called into a mocked-up 1950s pub and had her photograph taken sitting next to one of the life-sized figures.

She also discussed environmental issues, such as the sustainability of North Sea fishing, with local trawler owner Kurt Christensen.

Mr Vincent said: "It's been fantastic, a great honour. She's a great lady."

The Duchess then went on to Grimsby's Peaks Lane Fire Station where she was greeted with more loud cheers from the estimated 200 who were waiting for her.

The Duchess's bump has begun to be visible

One of the women who had been waiting up to three hours to meet her, Claire Moss-Smith, 86, said she had said to the Duchess: "I'm waiting for you to be Queen."

She said Kate laughed and replied: "You might be waiting a long time."

Inside she met around 10 adults and children who were patients at nearby St Andrew's Hospice and also a number of local youngsters who had been helped by her father-in-law's Prince's Trust.

It was the first time she had met people on the ground involved with the charity. Some were past members of the scheme, while others were part-way through the 12-week programme delivered in partnership with Humberside Fire and Rescue Service.

As well as meeting with the young people, Kate was also introduced to the fire crews working at the station and shown the fleet of fire engines.

She was shown a fire pole inside the station and said: "That reminds me of the scene in the Bridget Jones film."

In the movie, the character Bridget Jones is made to slide down a fire pole as part of her job as a television journalist but makes an ungracious landing on top of the cameraman.

Also at the fire station, Kate was presented with a posy by 11-year-old Evie Oxley, whose father Pete is a firefighter but is undergoing treatment for blood cancer. Evie's mother has also been given the all clear from breast cancer.

Evie said Kate asked her about her swimming and told her she had been brave with her parents both being ill.

She went on to meet students from Havelock Academy.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Justin Bieber Blames Technical Issues For Delay

Justin Bieber has blamed technical issues for his late arrival on stage at last night's gig at the O2 Arena.

In a series of tweets to his 35 million followers the teenage singer apologised to his fans.

"Last night i was scheduled after 3 opening acts to go on stage at 935 not 830 but because of some technical issues i got on at 10.10..so ...

"I  was 40 min late to stage. there is no excuse for that and I apologise for anyone we upset. However it was great show and Im proud of that.

Bieber claimed he was not due on stage until 9.35pm, not 8.30pm

"And tonight we will run on time and look forward to putting on an amazing show for everyone in attendance."

The 19-year-old Canadian - who disputed fans' claims he was two hours late - went on to grumble about the media and added he was "trying".

"My relationship with the media is not always easy but im trying. Im all about the music and the performance and i respect my fans."

The singer said that tonight's show will be 'great'

But some fans have claimed this is not the first time the star has left them disappointed. Rachel Leslie paid £330 a ticket for her and her daughter Freya, 14, to meet Bieber after he played an earlier gig at Nottingham at the weekend.

She claimed they arrived at 2.30pm to start queuing for check-in at 3.45pm but no one was allowed through until 5.55pm.

"When we eventually got in there it was 'click', 'click' and we were ushered out again - the whole thing lasted no more than 20 seconds," Mrs Leslie told the Nottingham Evening Post.

Two upset Beliebers leave the O2 after the concert

"My daughter came out and was absolutely distraught about the whole thing. She didn't even want to stay for the show.

"I spoke to so many people afterwards and they were all very disappointed, and when we came out there were kids everywhere in floods of tears, not because they'd met him, but because it was over so quickly."

At the O2, some fans claimed Bieber had not taken to the stage until 10.30pm, but the singer insisted this had been "exaggerated".

"I never have any intent to upset or let anyone down," he tweeted. "Im not okay with things being exaggerated. once again sorry for anyone upset.

Parents arrived at the O2 to collect their children before the gig started

"Now we have a show to do today and Im gonna focus on the positive and put on a great show tonight here in London.

"NIGHT 2 at the 02 is gonna be even better. get ready. thanks."

The Canadian star had infuriated parents and upset fans who waited almost two hours for him to appear on stage.

Many complained they had been left waiting with no explanation or apology from O2 staff.

Gemma Ferguson from Chessington told Sky News her five-year-old daughter was falling asleep by 10pm: "I can't quite believe what just happened.

On time? Bieber was pictured last month wearing two watches

"He spent more time changing his clothes and showing videos of his childhood than he did singing.

"When we complained were were told 'Justin will come out when he is ready,' but he had all day to get ready."

A spokesman for the O2 Arena backed up Bieber's account of what happened.

"He was due onstage at 9.30pm, which makes him 49 minutes late," the spokesman said.

"He was always due on at 9.30 - possibly the media have got the wrong end of the stick here.

"There were three support bands first who played on time - Jaden Smith (Will Smith's son) played at 7.30, followed by Cody Simpson at 8pm and Carly Rae Jepson at 8.30pm."

He added: "We will do everything in our power to make sure Justin gets on stage tonight at a reasonable time."

The singer has three more gigs planned at the O2 on March 5,7 and 8.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ikea Pulls Almond Cakes Over 'Faecal' Bacteria

Ikea has pulled a batch of almond cakes from its restaurants in 23 countries after bacteria normally found in faecal matter was discovered.

Chinese authorities confirmed that the Swedish-made cakes had failed tests "for containing excessive levels of coliform bacteria", the Shanghai Daily website wrote.

The Swedish furniture giant said 1,800 Taarta Chokladkrokant cakes – described on its website as an almond cake with chocolate, butter cream and butterscotch – were destroyed in December after being intercepted by Chinese customs.

"These cakes never reached our stores," said Ikea spokeswoman YIva Magnusson.

"There are indications that the levels of bacteria found are low but we obviously have to know the exact amount, and find out how this happened," she added.

Ikea told Sky News that the countries affected do not include the UK.

A microbiologist at the Swedish National Food Agency, Mats Lindblad, said coliform bacteria "could be an indication of faecal contamination though not always".

He said the bacteria was not normally dangerous for consumers.

Last week, Ikea pulled its trademark meatballs off the shelves in 25 countries after Czech authorities found traces of horse DNA in a batch of 1kg bags of frozen meatballs.

"It's very important to us that the products our customers buy are safe and secure to use and to eat," Ms Magnusson said.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

'Fast Eddie' Jailed For Stealing Security Van

Notorious fugitive Eddie 'Fast Eddie' Maher has been jailed for five years for stealing a security van containing £1.2m two decades ago.

The former security guard admitted the theft from his employer Securicor after being extradited from the United States where he had been on the run for 19 years.

Judge Mr Justice Nichol told him: "You committed a gross breach of trust. You made a very substantial gain even if, as you say, the money has now gone."

Maher, 57, was delivering cash for Securicor in Felixstowe, Suffolk, in 1993 when he left a colleague at Lloyds Bank and drove off in the van.

Eddie Maher admitted stealing a Securicor van in 1993

Witnesses later saw up to four people transferring "sacks" from one vehicle to another, before Maher's own car was found burned out some miles away.

The same day he flew to the US using his brother's passport and a green card resident's permit.

Last year Maher, originally from South Woodham Ferrers, Essex, was shopped by his daughter-in-law, who discovered his past and hoped to collect a reward.

He had denied the charges and was due to stand trial but entered a last-minute guilty plea at Southwark Crown Court in London.

Maher had bought a number of properties with the spoils of his crime

Maher, who used the false identities of Stephen King and his brother Michael Maher while on the run, intended to fight the allegation on the grounds that he had been forced to commit the crime after racking up "significant debts".

But Suffolk Police and the Crown Prosecution Service built up evidence proving that the former soldier and firefighter had profited to the tune of hundreds of thousands of pounds.

During his time on the run, Maher built a new life with his partner, Deborah Brett, and their son Lee, who was three-years-old at the time of the theft.

After his conviction, detectives revealed details of a series of property investments they say he funded from the proceeds of the crime in Suffolk.

This included a house in Colorado bought with $120,000 (£79,300) in cash just six months after the theft.

Later Maher built a ranch on 80 acres in Colorado before moving around various US states.

The false passport used by Maher

At the time of his arrest on February 9 last year, he was working as a cable engineer in Missouri.

But his attempts to escape justice unravelled as he was arrested for illegally possessing firearms.

Speaking outside court, Detective Inspector David Giles, from Suffolk Police, said: "Maher said he was forced to carry out this crime and that he only got a small amount of money from it.

"He never named the people who he claimed forced him into it and never put forward a credible story.

Another of Maher's homes

"We have succeeded in proving that he profited substantially from the theft and was a key player in the planning and execution of it.

"Since his arrest, he has displayed no remorse for what he did - but I get the impression he has spent 20 years looking over his shoulder and hoping the law would not catch up with him."

None of the £1.2m stolen from the van, which filled 30 sacks, has ever been found.

Ms Brett, 47, Maher's sister Margaret Francis, 64, and a 54-year-old man, from Woodford Green, east London, are all on bail after being arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit theft.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Deadly Florida Sinkhole Is Finally Revealed

The deadly sinkhole that swallowed a man at his home in Florida has been uncovered by demolition teams.

The remaining walls of the house were knocked down on Monday and debris was dragged towards the street to reveal the crater in Seffner, about 15 miles east of Tampa.

The authorities estimate that it now measures 30 feet (9m) across and between 30 and 100ft (30m) deep.

It has become the final resting place of Jeff Bush, whose body was never recovered after the sinkhole opened up under his bedroom on Thursday night.

The remaining walls of the Bush family home are torn down

Five other family members who were in the house escaped unharmed.

During a brief ceremony on Monday afternoon, the 37-year-old's family placed a teddy bear, a photo, notes and flowers into the bucket of a digger which dropped them into the makeshift grave.

Then the first load of gravel to stabilise the hole was poured on top.

Jeremy Bush, 35, who tried to save his brother thanked rescuers and salvage teams, but also suggested they could have "tried harder".

Jeremy Bush said more could have been done for his brother

"I tried my hardest to get you out, brother," he said through his tears at a news conference.

"I think I'm the only one that really tried to get you out. They said the ground was too unstable to do anything, but they got all this heavy equipment on there, pulling stuff out and everyone's cheering for everything that's coming out of the house. I've had enough of the cheering."

Rescue teams had halted all recovery efforts on Saturday when the site became too unstable.

Two neighbouring houses have been evacuated and could also be condemned.

Florida is highly prone to sinkholes because there are caverns below ground of limestone, a porous rock that easily dissolves in water.

A new smaller sinkhole opens up in Seffner. Pic: WTSP-TV

A second hole was reported about three miles away from the Bush family's home on Monday but aside from a piece of fence, there was no serious damage and nobody was hurt.

It is the loss of life that makes the Seffner case so highly unusual and tragic.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More