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Princess Beatrice’s BMW stolen after she leaves keys in ignition

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:49:00 -0500

The prized BMW of Princess Beatrice was stolen on January 7 after she left the keys in the ignition of the car, while she stepped into a shop.

The princess was on her way to visit a friend when she stopped at a store in Devonshire Place, central London.

Beatrice’s police protection officer had gone into the store with her, but when they emerged later, they discovered that the 15,000 pounds Beamer had vanished.

Passers-by revealed that the car had been driven off at high speed.

The theft of the car in broad daylight left the 20-year-old princess feeling very upset and extremely embarrassed.

“She is naturally very shocked and upset,” the Sun quoted a source close to her as saying.

“It is particularly embarrassing given that she is always accompanied by a police bodyguard,” the source added.

The car, which had been presented to her by her dad, Prince Andrew, on her 17th birthday in 2005, is said to have contained some personal items, though Buckingham Palace sources have said that they are not of a sensitive nature. (ANI)

Bloggers declare war against Howard for leaving Obama homeless

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:49:00 -0500

US bloggers have declared war against ex-Australian Prime Minister John Howard for kicking US president-elect Barack Obama out of a bed at Washington''s Blair House in the lead-up to the inauguration.

Last month, the Obama family asked the Bush administration if they could move into Blair House – the security home near the White House – a fortnight early to get their daughters settled at their new schools, reports the Daily Telegraph.

However, they were refused saying that it was not possible because foreign dignitaries had been booked in.

Now, it has come to light that the only dignitary staying overnight on January 12 is Howard.

Howard will be staying at the Blair House the night before he receives the US Medal of Freedom from retiring President George W Bush next week.

Meanwhile, the Obamas are staying at the Hay-Adams Hotel at Lafayette Park while they wait to move to Blair House. (ANI)

8-year-old Indian student may be world''s youngest college lecturer!

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:49:00 -0500

An eight-year-old Indian boy, who teaches adult students computer-generated animated film at Dehra Dun''s College of Interactive arts, has applied to Guinness World Records to recognise his achievement.

Aman Rehman’s family believes that he may be the world''s youngest college lecturer.

It was at the age of three, when Aman’s parents became aware of his talent.

His father, an illiterate scooter-mechanic who supports his wife and three children on 60 pounds a month, had struggled to buy a second-hand computer for their older son, and Aman was fascinated by it, watching his brother''s every move on the cursor.

By the time he was three-and-a-half, he had mastered his first animation programme and made a film with dancing alphabet letters.

Following friends’ advice, his father took Aman to Dehra Dun''s College of Interactive Arts.

Officials thought they were meeting older child and laughed when Aman''s father told them the candidate was sitting in his lap, reports the Telegraph.

However, after a week of intense lobbying Rehman persuaded the college to watch his child on a computer which convinced them to offer him a place.

Within five months he had written his own software programme.

Aman knows how to operate 18 softwares. He has also completed his animation course in span of three months, which is usually completed by others in 15 months.

Aman said: "Whenever I am having holidays, I make it a point that I should work on computer for at least eight hours. And usually I work on computer for four hours because I have to complete my schoolwork also.

"Presently I am making projects on black hole, aliens and water conservation." (ANI)

Obama likely to revise Bush’s counter-terrorism efforts

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:48:00 -0500

US President-elect Barack Obama is preparing to scrap the way President Bush oversaw domestic security in the White House and name a former Central Intelligence Agency official to coordinate future counter-terrorism efforts.

Quoting people close to the Obama transition team, the New York Times said that a plan is being discussed to eliminate the independent homeland security adviser’s office and assign those duties to the National Security Council to streamline overlapping functions.

The paper also reveals that a deputy national security adviser would be charged with overseeing the effort to guard against terrorism and to respond to natural disasters.

Democrats close to the transition said Obama’s choice for that job was John O. Brennan, a longtime C.I.A. veteran who was the front-runner to head the spy agency until withdrawing in November amid criticism of his views on interrogation and detention policies.

His appointment would not require Senate confirmation.

Though Obama has made no final decision about how to structure domestic security in his White House, his advisers plan to wait until his inauguration to conduct a formal review.

Several key advisers have publicly advocated folding it into the National Security Council, and those involved in discussions said the only real questions appeared to be how to do that and how to explain it without looking like domestic security was being downgraded as a priority.

Bush’s aides, including the national security adviser, Stephen J. Hadley, have privately urged Obama’s advisers not to get rid of the separate homeland security office, warning that it would load too many responsibilities on the National Security Council and risk important matters’ falling through the cracks.

In his new capacity, Brennan would report to Marine General (retired) James L. Jones, who is slated to serve as Obama’s national security adviser.

The idea of merging the two councils has been recommended by a number of reports, most notably in November by the Center for American Progress Action Fund and by Third Way. Among those preparing their report were John D. Podesta, Obama’s transition co-chairman, and members of his team. (ANI)

Did a tentacle-shaped UFO destroy wind turbine in UK?

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:47:00 -0500

A wind turbine in Conisholme, Lincolnshire, has been destroyed – and locals are blaming UFOs for it.

Locals have reported sightings of a bizarre tentacle-shaped UFO above a local wind farm, on the night before the wind turbine was mysteriously destroyed.

Several residents said that they were woken by the smash after strange lights were spotted streaking towards the 290ft-tall generator on a wind farm.

Dorothy Willows, who stays half a mile from the scene, was in her car when ‘strange lights’ loomed in the evening sky.

She was among dozens who spotted the mysterious flashing orangey-yellow spheres over Lincolnshire — where the turbine was left wrecked.

“The lights were moving across the sky towards the wind farm. Then I saw a low flying object. It was skimming across the sky towards the turbines,” the Sun quoted Dorothy, of Louth, as saying.

Hours later there was an almighty smash.

Dorothy said: “My husband Stephen was woken at 4am by the bang.”

John Harrison, another witness, described how he looked out of his landing window and saw a “massive ball of light with tentacles going right down to the ground” over the wind farm.

“It was huge. With the tentacles it looked just like an octopus,” he said.

Baffled power chiefs said of the smash, which left one of the wind turbine’s giant 65ft blades torn off, in Conisholme, Lincs: “We have a team investigating.”

There was no trace of the missing blade.

A UFO expert said: “We are very excited.” (ANI)

Fear of Mumbai like attack grips US

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:47:00 -0500

Fears of Mumbai like attacks in the U.S. have gripped the policymakers of the United States, who believe that US cities too are vulnerable to such attacks, which shook the whole world last November.

“US cities are vulnerable to an attack like the gun-and-grenade assaults that terrorized Mumbai for three days and killed 179 people,” the News quoted Ken Wainstein, the White House Homeland Security Adviser, as saying.

"You can envision that happening in any American city, and it''s chilling when you think about it," Wainstein said.

The methodology of the Mumbai attacks has created new problems for intelligence agencies, as it considers that the November, 2008 attacks may have established a new model for terrorism.

Wainstein said that the possibility of attacks in any of the mega cities of the world has increased after Mumbai witnessed one of the deadliest terror activities recently.

"That''s the kind of thing that is all too realistic anywhere in the world,” Wainstein said while delivering a speech at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

Meanwhile, the Senate Homeland Security Committee will meet today to study the response by Indian officials in the Mumbai attacks, and what is needed to prevent such an attack in the United States.

"We''re going to go through where they screwed up, and how do we fix it - how do we make sure we don''t make the same mistakes?" committee spokesman Seamus Hughes said. (ANI)

No credible threat information related to Obama’s oath taking ceremony: DHS

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:45:00 -0500

The US Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies have released a bulletin reminding local law enforcement that the inauguration could present an enticing target for potential terrorists.

But the bulletin states that there is currently no credible threat information related to President elect Barck Obama’s oath taking ceremony on January 20, CBS News reported.

The DHS has no plans to adjust any of the national threat levels, but is reminding the public to remain vigilant.

The Secret Service also announced on Wednesday that bridges connecting Northern Virginia to Washington, D.C., will be closed to most traffic on Inauguration Day, and a 3.5 square miles corridor of the nation’s capital will be shut off starting on January 19, the day before the Inauguration.

The security perimeter is larger than what has been cordoned off for previous inaugurations.

Estimates have varied over the last few weeks, but officials expect two to three million people to cram into Washington to witness Barack Obama taking the oath of office. (ANI)

Warne did not take Pietersen’s offer to be England coach seriously

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:45:00 -0500

The offer from Kevin Pietersen to replace Peter Moores as England head coach was ‘not taken seriously’ by legendary spinner Shane Warne.

Writing in The Times today, Warne reveals that he did receive a tongue-in-cheek approach from Pietersen via text message, but turned it down.

Warne, who would require a salary way beyond the 250,000 pounds earned by Moores, distanced himself from the England job.

“I could not give a full-time position the time to do it properly. Following a team around the world is what I have given up. If I was happy to do that, I would still be playing,” Warne writes.

However, Warne adds that “if an offer comes that sounds too good to be true, I would have to stop and think.”

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Pietersen, who played under the former Australia leg spinner’s captaincy at Hampshire, wanted to reassemble the successful trio of Warne, Darren Berry and Jeremy Snape, who supervised the charge of the unfancied Rajasthan Royals to the Indian Premier League title last May.

However, the managing director of England cricket Hugh Morris said that Pietersen did not mention Warne’s name in any discussions held during the breakdown of the former captain’s relationship with Moores. (ANI)

Strauss believes his troubled team has time to be ready for Ashes

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:44:00 -0500

England’s new cricket captain Andrew Strauss believes that his troubled team has time to heal before taking on Australia in the Ashes.

Strauss vowed to restore unity in the squad following Kevin Pietersen’s dramatic resignation as skipper and the sacking of coach Peter Moores on Wednesday due to a rift between the two.

“Its important to realise the Ashes is still quite a long way away. There’s time for things to heal, for England to get back to playing the kind of cricket we know we need to play to beat Australia,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Strauss, as saying.

The England players fly out for a tour of the West Indies on January 21 and opening batsman Strauss said the trip would be an important first step in the team’s bonding.

“I think I am right person to do the job. We are about playing and winning cricket matches, I''m sure that will unite us,” he said.

Strauss did not believe that the conflict had divided the England dressing room as much as some reports suggested.

“I don’t think the rifts are nearly as bad as people have made them out to be and England cricketers want to go out and play good cricket,” he said.

Strauss also revealed he had spoken to Pietersen after being approached to take over the captaincy and explained his reasons for accepting.

“KP has been very supportive of me so far. I fully believe that in everything Kevin did as England captain that he acted solely in what he felt was in the best interests of the team.

“I know Kevin extremely well and appreciate he may be bruised at the moment but he will bounce back and will be one of the most important figures going forward,” he added. (ANI)

Vettori reclaims top spot in ICC rankings for ODI bowlers

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:43:00 -0500

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has made a superb start to 2009 by becoming the number-one ranked ODI bowler in the world again.

The left-arm spinner, who turns 30 later this month, has taken six wickets in the first three matches of the current series against the West Indies at an impressive average of just 12.33 and a thrifty economy rate of 3.08.

In the process he has moved above Australia’s Nathan Bracken into top spot in the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for ODI bowlers.

It is not the first time Vettori has been at the summit, having spent much of the first half of last year in first position. But Bracken toppled him in June 2008, coincidentally also while playing against the West Indies, but now the 31-year-old New South Welshman has been consigned to second spot once again.

Nevertheless, Bracken has the perfect opportunity to retake number-one place having been named in Australia’s one-day squad for the upcoming five-ODI series against South Africa.

Things are continuing to go well for Vettori’s team-mate Kyle Mills as his four wickets claimed in the series so far have earned him another place and put him in fourth, just ahead of Mitchell Johnson of Australia.

West Indies fast bowler Daren Powell has managed to move up two places to 17th position in the bowling rankings following a good start to the ODI series in New Zealand for him.

The big mover is young Black Cap Tim Southee who has managed to gain 20 places to put him in 75th position.

Another top-class player who has not fired on all cylinders during this series to date is West Indies talisman Chris Gayle. The hard-hitting left-hander has lost one place in the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen and has dropped out of the top five, into sixth position.

His place has been taken by India’s Yuvraj Singh, who returns to the top five after a brief spell occupying sixth place. Top spot is still reserved for Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is closely followed by Michael Hussey of Australia in second place and Proteas’ captain Graeme Smith in third. (ANI)