Here are some shots from the Malvern steam show. We had really bad weather.

Anyone home?

This Tractor was shot at 1/30th sec and i panned across following the tractor to get the feeling of movement.

Tractor line up.

Apollo 14: Science instruments (circled left) and the lunar module descent stage (circled right) are connected by a footprint trail

A US spacecraft has captured images of Apollo landing sites on the Moon, revealing hardware and a trail of footprints left on the lunar surface.

The release of the images coincides with the 40th anniversary of the first manned mission to land on the Moon.

The descent stages from the lunar modules which carried astronauts to and from the Moon can clearly be seen.

The image of the Apollo 14 landing site shows scientific instruments and an astronaut footpath in the lunar dust.

It is the first time hardware left on the Moon by the Apollo missions has been seen from lunar orbit.

The pictures were taken by Nasa’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft, which launched on 18 June.

The Apollo 11 mission touched down on the Moon on 20 July 1969

The spacecraft is carrying three cameras on board: one low-resolution wide-angle camera and two high-resolution narrow-angle cameras mounted side-by-side.

These are known collectively as the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) instrument.

“The LROC team anxiously awaited each image,” said the instrument’s principal investigator Mark Robinson of Arizona State University.

“We were very interested in getting our first peek at the lunar module descent stages just for the thrill – and to see how well the cameras had come into focus. Indeed, the images are fantastic and so is the focus.”

Astronaut trail

The camera instrument was able to capture five of the six Apollo sites, with the remaining Apollo 12 site expected to be photographed in the coming weeks.

Future LROC images from these sites will have two to three times greater resolution.

Long shadows from a low sun angle make the locations of the lunar modules’ descent stages particularly evident.

A long shadow is cast by the Apollo 11 descent stage

The image of the Apollo 14 landing site had a particularly desirable lighting condition that revealed additional details.

The Apollo Lunar Surface Experiment Package, a set of scientific instruments placed by the astronauts at the landing site, is discernable, as are the faint trails between the module and instrument package left by the astronauts’ footprints.

The LRO satellite reached lunar orbit on 23 June and captured the Apollo sites between 11 and 15 July.

Though it had been expected that LRO would be able to resolve the remnants of the Apollo missions, these first images were taken before the spacecraft had reached its final mapping orbit.

“Not only do these images reveal the great accomplishments of Apollo, they also show us that lunar exploration continues,” said LRO project scientist Richard Vondrak of Nasa’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, US.

“They demonstrate how LRO will be used to identify the best destinations for the next journeys to the Moon.”

Although the pictures provide a reminder of past lunar exploration, LRO’s primary focus is on paving the way for the future.

Data returned by the mission will help Nasa identify safe landing sites for future explorers, locate potential resources, describe the Moon’s radiation environment and demonstrate new technologies.

Issues Collected
The Spirit Newspaper Strip 1-31
June 1940-December 1940

The first volume in a complete series reprinting Will Eisner’s classic crimefighter The Spirit in chronological order from June 2nd to December 29, 1940. Includes “The Origin of The Spirit,” “Orang, The Ape Man,” “The Kiss of Death,” “The Prom,” the first Christmas Spirit story and 26 others in full color. Also features a preface by Eisner on how The Spirit came to be, a foreword by Alan Moore (WATCHMEN, AMERICA’S BEST COMICS) and an introduction by comics historian R.C. Harvey.

Some of the British teenagers holed up in a hotel room in Beijing

More than 100 schoolchildren and their teachers from the UK and US have been quarantined in Beijing after eight children were found to have swine flu.

The four UK and four US children are being treated in a Beijing hospital and are said to be in a stable condition.

China has this year quarantined hundreds of foreign visitors who have shown symptoms of the H1N1 virus.

The four Britons taken ill are from London schools. A further 52 UK pupils and teachers are under quarantine.

The hospitalised pupils are year nine students, aged 13 to 14; three from the Central Foundation Boys School, Clerkenwell, and one from Parliament Hill School, Camden.

High temperatures

Meanwhile, four of the British pupils under quarantine have told the news from their hotel room they are being well looked after.

The four, who attend Clevedon School in north Somerset, are all in their late teens and are part of a group of 12 from that school, plus two teachers.

“We are quarantined in the hotel and are all currently well as we have daily temperature checks which are all good,” they said in an e-mail sent from their hotel room.

“The hotel is really nice and we have proper toilets. We hope we experience more of China as we should be out within four days.”

One of the boys, Christopher Hicks, said that they had been visiting the Great Wall of China when they were called back, because they had previously shared a bus with a pupil from another school who had tested positive for the virus.

Another pupil, Joe Robinson, said: “We’re being treated very, very well. The food’s great. We’ve got our own individual tellies.”

They also had individual rooms, he said, although they had to wear protective face masks and were not allowed outside of the quarantined zone.

More than 600 Britons are on the trip, organised by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT), the Department for Children, Schools and Families, the British Council and Chinese organisation Hanban.

Speaking about the four UK pupils who have swine flu, the SSAT’s Katharine Carruthers said: “They are being extremely well looked after and cared for, to the extent where they’re getting pizza delivered to where they are. They are all happy and getting better.

“There are a number of children in quarantine in very comfortable conditions in a four-star hotel in Beijing, who have been in close contact with the swine flu cases.

“Everyone is in good spirits, getting involved in activities and carrying on their Chinese learning.”

The vast majority of the students are continuing their trip as normal, she said.

The BBC’s Quentin Sommerville, in Beijing, said three of the four UK children were found to have high temperatures when they arrived in Beijing earlier in the week.

They were taken straight from the airport to a hospital where it was confirmed they had the virus. A fourth classmate fell ill later.

Chinese health officials monitor passengers arriving in the country

The American children had been in contact with the UK group and four of them were also diagnosed as having the virus.

Amii van Amerongen, from London, told the news that her 15-year-old sister was one of the children under quarantine.

“She called me this morning telling me that she is confined in a hotel and she is being very brave about the whole thing. She said it was quite intimidating – they have these ‘guns’ that they point at your head which measure your temperature,” she said.

Chinese officials told the news that the children were being well looked after and they had regular contact with their families.

Simon Calder, travel editor for the UK’s Independent newspaper, told the news that many countries were using “thermal imaging” at airports to test travellers, and the UK was viewed as a high-risk area.

Tributes are left for those killed in the hotel attacks

Indonesian officials say there are “strong indications” a key wanted fugitive was behind Friday’s deadly attacks on two hotels in Jakarta.

Noordin Mohamed Top is wanted for plotting the Bali bombings of 2002 and 2005 and other Indonesian attacks.

Nine people, including two suicide bombers, died in the attacks on the Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott.

At least four of Friday’s victims are said to be foreigners but have not all been formally identified.

Police in the Indonesian capital are studying DNA and other evidence to try to identify those behind the attacks.

The anti-terror chief, Ansyaad Mbai, has told the News he believes there are strong indications that Noordin was the mastermind behind the blasts.

NOORDIN MOHAMED TOP Born in Malaysia, fled to Indonesia after 9/11 Wanted for planning bombings on Bali in 2002 and 2005 and other attacks Said to have split from Jemaah Islamiah over strategy disagreements and set up new group Main accomplice Azahari Husin killed by police in 2005 Escaped police raid in 2006 and continues to evade capture

Noordin was said to be a key financier for the Jemaah Islamiah militant group but is now thought to have set up his own splinter group.

Jemaah Islamiah has links to al-Qaeda and has a long track record of bomb attacks in Indonesia including the 2002 Bali bombings, which killed more than 200 people.

Friday’s bombs contained nails, ball bearings and bolts, identical to ones used by Jemaah Islamiah, police said.

Mr Mbai said he believed the aim of the attacks was to embarrass Indonesia’s government at a time when the country was enjoying a greater degree of stability than it had in the past.

The Indonesian people have been truly shocked by these attacks as they thought they had put events like this behind them.

Investigators on Friday recovered an unexploded bomb and other explosives material from what they said was the “control centre” for the attacks – room 1808 in the Marriott.

The attackers paid to stay at the hotel and smuggled in the explosives before detonating them in two restaurants on Friday.

CCTV footage showed one attacker wearing a cap pulling a bag on wheels into the Marriott restaurant, followed by a flash and smoke.

Security has been tightened across Indonesia in the wake of the attacks, with 500 troops put on standby to support police in the capital.

‘Shoulder to shoulder’

A New Zealander, businessman Tim Mackay, has been confirmed killed.

I strongly condemn the attacks that occurred… in Jakarta and extend my deepest condolences to all of the victims and their loved ones Barack Obama

Indonesian police say Australians Nathan Verity and Garth McEvoy also died.

Their countryman, diplomat Craig Senger, was at the same breakfast meeting. He is missing and feared dead.

A health ministry report said a Singaporean and an Indonesian were also confirmed dead.

At least 17 foreigners were among the wounded, including eight Americans.

Other foreign nationals wounded included visitors from Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, South Korea and the UK.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono condemned the attacks as “cruel and inhuman”.

US President Barack Obama said: “I strongly condemn the attacks that occurred… in Jakarta and extend my deepest condolences to all of the victims and their loved ones.”

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith is due to arrive in Jakarta on Saturday.

He said he wanted to stand “shoulder to shoulder with Indonesia at this terrible time”.

The Manchester United football team had been booked to stay in the Ritz-Carlton next week ahead of a game in Jakarta.

The team has cancelled the Indonesian leg of their tour.

The attacks come just weeks after the peaceful presidential elections.

The country of 240 million people has been praised in recent years for maintaining a pluralist democracy while finding and punishing radical Islamists responsible for the series of bombings more than five years ago.

Mr Sharif is one of the most popular politicians in Pakistan

Pakistan’s Supreme Court has acquitted opposition head Nawaz Sharif of hijacking charges, removing the final ban on him running for public office.

Mr Sharif was found guilty of hijacking then army chief General Pervez Musharraf’s plane in 1999, when he ordered it to be diverted.

Mr Sharif was then toppled as prime minster in a coup led by Gen Musharraf.

He was convicted by the Sindh High Court but he has always maintained that the charges were politically motivated.

Mr Sharif’s government had ordered officials to divert Gen Musharraf’s plane away from Karachi and to a smaller city in Sindh.

While he was imprisoned, Mr Sharif agreed to go into exile under a deal with Gen Musharraf who had taken over as Pakistan’s president.

Mr Sharif ended his exile ahead of the 2008 elections but was prevented from contesting due to the court conviction.

Pakistan’s president and prime minister were swift to congratulate Mr Sharif on the court ruling.

Mr Sharif’s acquittal will be viewed as a positive development which helps strengthen democracy.

It also puts Mr Sharif on an even keel with President Asif Ali Zardari of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). Charges against him were withdrawn from court by the earlier Musharraf government in the name of “national” reconciliation.

But the court verdict restores to the political stage a potentially formidable opponent to Mr Zardari, correspondents say.

Mr Sharif has held office previously and can point to substantial political support across the country.

‘Set aside’

In its ruling on Friday, the Supreme Court said there was no evidence to support the charge of hijacking and acquitted Mr Sharif.

A judgement given by a kangaroo court nine years ago has been nullified by an independent and sovereign apex court Siddique-ul-Farooq, PML-N spokesman

“Looking at the case from any angle – the charge of hijacking, attempt to hijack or terrorism – does not stand established against the petitioner,” news agency AFP quoted from the Supreme Court ruling.

“The conviction and sentence of the appellant are set aside and he is acquitted,” the order said.

The “petitioner had neither used force nor ordered its use and undisputedly no deceitful means were used,” it added.

The five-judge court headed by Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani heard the petition in June, but initially reserved judgement.

Mr Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) party has welcomed the order.

“A judgement given by a kangaroo court nine years ago has been nullified by an independent and sovereign apex court in the light of the constitution, law and evidence on record,” PML-N spokesman Siddique-ul-Farooq was quoted by AFP as saying.

In May, the Supreme Court had overturned a ban that prevented Mr Sharif and his brother Shahbaz from running for political office.

The ruling meant that Mr Sharif would be able to stand in elections due in 2013 or a parliamentary by-election before then.

The former prime minister and leader of the PML-N party is one of the most popular politicians in the country.

Local authority staff will impose fines on those breaking the ban

Turkey has extended an existing ban on smoking in public places to all bars, cafes and restaurants.

The ban has come into force despite opposition from some bar and cafe owners who fear losing business.

It comes after the government banned smoking from most enclosed public spaces in May last year in an effort to improve the nation’s health.

Turkey has more than 20 million smokers but polls suggest 95% of people support the ban.

“We are working to protect our future, to save our youth,” said Health Minister Recep Akdag.

Anyone caught lighting up in a designated smoke-free area faces a fine of 69 liras ($45:£28) while bar owners who fail to enforce the ban could be fined from 560 liras for a first offence up to 5,600 liras.

Local authorities have hired thousands of extra staff to track down smokers and impose the fines.

Many people in Istanbul said they thought the ban was a good move.

“We were being destroyed in the places where you were allowed to smoke inside,” said Istanbul cafe patron Hanife Demirm.

“I was choosing the non-smoking places automatically, but after the ban is extended I will not need to be selective. I’ll be very comfortable in every place that I go,” he told the AP news agency.

‘Unnecessary stress’

Turkey is one of the world’s heaviest smoking countries

But the BBC’s David O’Byrne in Istanbul says many Turkish people see the ban as an erosion of their democratic rights and have called for bars to be able to apply for a smoking licence.

Some cafe owners have also said they were concerned the ban would drive away customers.

“They will simply leave and never come back, or we would get in trouble for letting them smoke,” said Istanbul cafe owner Selahattin Nar.

“Then both we and they would be filled with unnecessary stresses. In the end they will not be able to relax and we will have to shut down.”

But Mr Akdag said there was no reason for cafe and bar owners to be worried about a drop in trade.

“The public supports a smoke-free environment and the only ones to suffer will be the cigarette producers and sellers,” he said.

A no smoking rule has been in place for the past 15 months in government offices, workplaces, shopping malls, schools and hospitals.

All forms of public transport, including trains, taxis and ferries, are also affected but there are exemptions for special zones in psychiatric hospitals and prisons.

Jacob Shaffer was arrested on Saturday at a house in Tennessee

A man has been charged with murder after six people were found dead in the US states of Tennessee and Alabama.

Jacob Shaffer, 30, was arrested after five bodies were found in Fayetteville, about 90 miles (145km) south of Nashville, Tennessee, on Saturday.

Another body was found in Huntsville, Alabama. Police said the victims were four adults and two juveniles.

A spokeswoman for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said it appeared to be a domestic incident.

“Most of the victims are suspected to be related. The motive of the killings is domestic,” Kristin Helm said.

Five of the bodies were found at two neighbouring homes in the town of Fayetteville.

The sixth was found at a business in Huntsville, in neighbouring Alabama, police said.

Mr Shaffer was found sitting on the porch of one of the two houses in Fayetteville.

The names of the victims and the cause of death have not been released. But Lincoln County Sheriff Murray Blackwelder described the killings as “horrendous”.

Mr Shaffer has been remanded in custody. He has been charged with five counts of murder in Tennessee and faces an additional charge in Alabama, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said.

A suppressed immune system makes pregnant women more vulnerable

The Department of Health has attempted to clarify its guidelines to expectant mothers and parents with children under five on how best to avoid swine flu.

Its advice to practise good hygiene by washing hands and surfaces regularly has been re-issued after a woman with the virus died soon after giving birth.

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) says all expectant mothers should avoid crowded places and unnecessary travel.

But the DoH says only the “particularly concerned” should consider the advice.

Concern over the effects of swine flu on new and expectant mothers has heightened since the death of Ruptara Miah, 39, in London’s Whipps Cross Hospital on 13 July. Her baby is said to be very ill in intensive care.

Good hygiene

Another child under six months old, who died in London, is also among the latest victims of the virus.

The refreshed DoH advice has been given greater prominence on its website.

Health experts say expectant mothers could suffer possible complications if they contract swine flu, such as pneumonia, breathing difficulties and dehydration, because they have suppressed immune systems. Young children are also vulnerable.

Most mothers-to-be with swine flu are being prescribed Relenza, an inhaled antiviral drug which treats the virus without reaching the foetus. However, where it is particularly severe, doctors can offer Tamiflu instead.

The NHS website stresses that most expectant mothers who contract swine flu will only have mild symptoms and recover within a week.

Belinda Phipps, chief executive of the National Childbirth Trust (NCT), said that while the risks for expectant mothers were low, women needed information to make an informed decision.

“If you are pregnant, you are slightly more susceptible to all infections. One of them is swine flu.

“It is important that pregnant women know that – and particularly other members of the population know that – so that they behave responsibly and if they are sick they don’t go and put themselves close to a pregnant woman.”

If you are pregnant, you are slightly more susceptible to all infections. One of them is swine flu Belinda Phipps, NCT

The Department of Health said it advised women to plan their pregnancy carefully, but was not advising against trying to conceive.

“Mums-to-be are more vulnerable to any type of flu. It is particularly important that anyone who has existing health problems and is thinking about starting a family should talk to their GP first, as they normally would,” a DoH spokesman said.

Louise Silverton, deputy general secretary of the RCM, said women could not be expected to wait for the first wave of the pandemic to end before trying for a baby.

Speaking on BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show, Alan Johnson, the new home secretary, said an unexpected aspect of the virus was that it was attacking the young, not the elderly as with seasonal flu.

He called on parents to keep using their common sense, saying the “vast majority” had been following public health advice.

Twenty-nine people have now died in the UK after contracting swine flu – 26 in England and three in Scotland.

The government has warned that the number of deaths from the virus this winter in the UK could reach between 19,000 and 65,000.

However, during the 1999 to 2000 winter, seasonal flu deaths reached 21,000 and even during average winters there are normally anywhere between 6,000 to 8,000 deaths.

The National Flu Service will go live at the end of next week

I am in the third trimester of pregnancy, and I am asthmatic. I am concerned that neither Tamiflu or Relenza will be suitable for me if I contract swine flu.
Louise, Nottingham

This is such stupid advice. I am pregnant and travel to work every day on a packed Tube. How am I supposed to avoid crowded places and unnecessary travel? It’s impossible. I can’t just stop going to work can I?
Laura, Hertfordshire

My daughter has a 4yr old son who has swine flu, she is 4 months pregnant and worried in case she catches it and it harms the baby, we are also worried about the treatments used in pregnant women. There is to much contradiction going around to know what to believe.
Tina, Essex

I am currently 24 weeks pregnant and have been ill and at home for 5 days now with bad cold symptoms. After consulting the doctor by phone I was told it could possibly be swine flu but how am I to know? I am usually very level headed in these situations but not sure that not swabbing pregnant women with symptoms is wise – at least if we know if we have it we can be better informed!
Anonymous, Wales

I am 36 weeks pregnant and came into contact with Swine flu last week. I experienced a slight sore throat spoke with a nurse at NHS direct and my GP and was completely reassured that I was fine and not displaying any symptoms. There is definitely some scaremongering going on but if you seek appropriate medical advice your fears can be eased.
Jo, Romford, Essex

I have got a 14 month old child and am currently pregnant. I’m very worried we could all catch the virus as a lot of people where we live are getting it. Also it is going round schools where my niece goes. I believe there should be vaccinations soon as possible for young children and those who it could endanger more than others
Nikki, Chelmsford, Essex

Hundreds of families are still living in flooded homes

At least 26 people have been killed in monsoon rain in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi, officials say.

Most of the deaths were caused by collapsing walls and electrocution.

The downpour flooded low-lying parts of the city and left most areas without electricity on Saturday night, but power was gradually being restored.

Monsoon rains wreak havoc in Pakistan almost every year. Correspondents say an ageing drainage system leaves parts of Karachi vulnerable to flooding.

Pakistan’s chief meteorologist said nearly 14.7cm (6in) of rain fell on the city on Saturday.

Abdullah, a resident who was standing by the body of his neighbour’s son, said the child had drowned after falling into a drain.

“People pulled his body out of a rain drain which was running very fast,” he told Reuters news agency.

Russian media say the aircraft was an Mi-8 similar to this

A civilian helicopter has crashed in southern Afghanistan, killing at least 16 civilians and injuring five, Nato officials have confirmed.

The helicopter crashed at Kandahar airfield apparently as it was trying to take off, though Nato has ruled out the involvement of insurgents.

Reports from Moscow say the helicopter was a Russian-built Mi-8.

The crash is the second in a week. Six passengers died when a helicopter came down in Helmand province on Tuesday.

‘Not shot down’

Russia’s Interfax agency quoted a spokesman for Russia’s Federal Air Transportation Agency (Fata) as saying the aircraft was a Russian-built Mi-8 transport helicopter.

Fata said it was owned by the Russian air company Vertical-T.

The nationalities of the dead are not yet known.

A statement from Nato’s International Security Assistance Force said: “A civilian contracted helicopter crashed during take-off from Kandahar airfield.

“Emergency personnel are on the scene. There was no indication of the cause of the accident but insurgent action has been ruled out.”

Kandahar airfield is Nato’s largest air base in southern Afghanistan but the BBC’s Martin Patience in Kabul says a lot of civilian aircraft fly in and out so there is no surprise this was a civilian crash.

A Nato spokeswoman, Lt Cmdr Sam Truelove, told the AFP news agency it had been confirmed that all the dead were civilians and no military personnel were involved.

RECENT HELICOPTER CRASHES 14 Jul 2008: Six Ukrainian civilians and Afghan girl die in crash in Helmand. Suspected enemy fire 6 Jul 2008: One UK and two Canadian soldiers die in crash in Zabul province. Enemy fire not suspected 15 Jan 2008: Afghan general and 12 other soldiers die in crash in Herat province. Bad weather blamed 30 May 2007: Seven killed as Nato Chinook crashes in Helmand. Cause unclear

The condition of the injured was not known, she said.

Vertical-T was founded in 1992 and started to work abroad in 1998 in Italy. It has worked in countries including Germany, East Timor, Cyprus, Yemen and Greece, according to the company’s website.

The company’s helicopters are currently carrying out operations in the interests of the UN in Afghanistan and a number of other countries including Congo, Sudan and Pakistan.

The dead in Tuesday’s crash in Helmand were all civilians.

That helicopter crashed near the Sangin military base, with local people saying it had been shot down by insurgents.

Six Ukrainian crew members of the Mi-26 helicopter died, along with an Afghan girl on the ground.

A small group of protesters gathered ahead of the sailing

The controversial first scheduled Sunday ferry sailing from Stornoway on Lewis to mainland Scotland has gone ahead as planned.

There has been strong opposition on the island, where the Sabbath day has traditionally been strictly observed.

A small group of protesters prayed and sang a psalm as cars boarded the boat, but several hundred people clapped.

Supporters said it would boost the economy of the Hebridean island and offer local people freedom to travel.

A small group of about a dozen protesters gathered in Stornoway ahead of the sailing to Ullapool, which left at 1430 BST.

Equality laws

As cars lined up in the ferry terminal car park, protesters gathered in silence behind a banner.

It read: “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy”.

They sang Psalm 46 – God is our refuge and our strength – and prayed for the nation to “turn its back from sin and wickedness”.

A number of women wiped away tears as they prayed for a return to the Lord’s commandments.

The crossing was undertaken by the route’s usual ferry, the MV Isle of Lewis, after a fault in the exhaust on Friday was repaired sooner than expected.

A spokesman for ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne said: “We’re pleased to get under way after the difficulties over the last couple of days.

“It’s all gone as planned.”

The MV Isle of Arran was drafted in after the Isle of Lewis broke down.

The former boat ran a number of emergency crossings to clear the backlog of passengers.

CalMac said it could be breaking equality laws if it did not run ferries seven days a week.

It said religion or beliefs were not valid reasons to refuse to run the ferry.

Supporters of the service said it would be good for tourism.

They said it would offer more flexibility to travellers.

As the ferry left Stornoway a crowd of several hundred gathered to applaud, and wave to those on board.

A leaflet handed out by a group of local churches said that the peace and tranquillity of the islands was enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.

It said: “By and large we like it like this.

“We are not oppressed by a quiet Sunday.”

It wished tourists who came to Lewis by ferry a “happy and blessed trip to the islands”.

The PM says Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem “is unquestionable”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a reported US request that a building project in Jerusalem be halted.

The project involves building 20 apartments in the mainly Arab East Jerusalem area, which was captured by Israel in 1967.

Last week US officials told the Israeli ambassador that the project should be suspended, Israeli media said.

But Mr Netanyahu rejected this in comments at his weekly Cabinet meeting.

“We cannot accept the idea that Jews will not have the right to live and buy (homes) anywhere in Jerusalem,” he said.

“Unified Jerusalem is the capital of the Jewish people and the state of Israel. Our sovereignty over it is unquestionable.”

Israel has occupied East Jerusalem since 1967. It has annexed the city and declared its east and west Israel’s eternal capital.

This undermines the efforts being exerted to revive the peace process Saeb Erekat, Palestinian negotiator

This is not recognised by the international community, with the east of the city considered occupied territory.

Palestinians hope to establish their capital in East Jerusalem, as part of a two-state peace deal with the Israelis.

They say Israel uses settlement and demolition orders to try to force them from the area.

‘No credibility’

The project in question concerns a block of 20 apartments in the Sheikh Jarrah district of the city.

Israeli officials said the US State Department summoned Ambassador Michael Oren last week and told him that the construction should not go ahead.

There was no immediate comment from the US.

But Israel has come under pressure from the Obama administration to freeze settlement activity on land that Palestinians want for a future state.

Palestinians say peace talks cannot proceed until settlement activity halts.

A senior Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat, said Mr Netanyahu’s comments had further undermined efforts to re-start the peace process.

The decision to pursue this project, he said, reflected Israel’s defiance of international calls for a halt to settlement activity.

“This undermines the efforts being exerted to revive the peace process and this undermines the credibility of those involved in making the peace process continue,” he said.

About 268,000 Palestinians live in East Jerusalem, alongside 200,000 Israeli Jews.

Chris Hogg heads to the small Chinese village of Zhushanxia, 200km from Shanghai, to see how lives have been shaped by the economy under communist rule, the recession and the country’s economic recovery.

China’s economic roller-coaster has divided communities and villages into those who have sunk financially, and those who managed to swim

Huang Jiao Ling lives at the end of a long dusty road.

Mobile phone numbers are daubed all over the walls of her home and those of her neighbours.

It is like a strange kind of mathematical graffiti, but the numbers are, in fact, advertisements for people offering goods and services.

In modern China, it seems everyone has something to sell.

Huang Jiao Ling, too, is an entrepreneur. She is in her 50s, but she looks younger.

In her front garden, where others might have planted vegetables, she has built a small workshop.

Inside, the walls are unfinished and the floor uneven, but there is just about enough room for a work-bench and a handful of basic machine tools.

Churning out widgets

On the floor are cardboard boxes filled with piles of tiny metal widgets.

They are simple to make – her husband sits at the bench turning them out rapidly by hand.

Many Chinese run their own small businesses in order to get ahead

A few feet away, his bicycle-taxi is parked just inside the front door of the house.

The machine work is a lot less tiring than pedalling passengers around, but he still keeps the bike.

It is useful, he says, to supplement their income in leaner times.

The Huangs sell the boxes of widgets to the factory where Huang Jiao Ling has a full-time job.

For a while this year they had to shut the workshop as demand dropped, but now the machines are humming again.

They have two children, because if you live in the country and your first child is a girl, you are allowed to have another one.

The girls go to very good schools, the best Huang Jiao Ling can afford.

She spends more than half her income on school fees.

“We have to think of their future,” she tells me.

“It’s a Chinese tradition. Parents always think of their children, and when the parents get old, their children will look after them. It’s the same for every generation.”

Yu Feng Guo is Huang Jiao Ling’s brother-in-law.

She is doing well for herself in China’s new modern market economy, but he has been left behind.

He used to work in a state-owned brick factory.

Different lifestyles

When the economic reforms began 30 years ago he watched as some of his co-workers left their jobs to start up their own small businesses, many of them selling prawns or fish by the side of the road.

He decided to do what he thought was the right thing, what the communist party would expect of a loyal worker in a state-owned enterprise – he stayed.

Eventually, the brick factory went bust and he was out of a job.

Agriculture provides an income for many rural Chinese

Now, dressed in a shabby khaki jacket, he works as a security guard in an open-air food market.

Those early entrepreneurs who had left his factory to try their luck in the fledgling market economy are now much richer than him and to his family this seems unfair.

“Thirty years ago everyone in the village was poor,” his son tells me.

“Now the difference in lifestyle between the rich and the poor in our village is huge.”

There is an implicit bargain in modern Chinese society between the leaders and the led.

Beijing tells its people “we will give you opportunities” – to earn more, to enjoy a better standard of living than your parents did.

But you, in return, will behave yourself.

Back on track

In Zhushanxia village quite a few cars can be seen bumping along past the fields, something you would not have seen 30 years ago.

If you have got used to having more, whether it’s a car, or a bigger house, or a more expensive school for your child, you have more to lose when times get tough.

That is why it is so important for the government to get the economy back on track.

When it first faltered, when factories started laying off workers, there was a risk that they would start to feel the government was no longer keeping to its side of the deal, so why should they?

So in Beijing, of course, there will be relief that a recovery appears to be under way.

But the next challenge for the government will be to do more to try to ensure that everyone shares the benefits.

Huang Jiao Ling is happy her workshop is busy again, but still nervous about the future.

So she, like most other Chinese, is saving as much of her income as she can.

Her brother-in-law Yu Feng Guo, has no idea how he will be able to save enough to secure a state pension on his meagre wages from his unstable job.

He and others like him will be looking to their leaders for reassurance that they will be cared for as they approach old age.

But that will costly and complicated. Fixing the economy may prove to have been the easy part.

TheCrazy88 will be performing this Thursday (23rd July 2009) at O Bar’s spanking new event called 16 Bars.
Doors open at 10 p.m.
Do come down and join TheCrazy88 and the whole of The88Movement for some “Gila, gila, gila” fun!

p.s. – Our very own blanks:36 will be giving out some of The Mammoth Shoot printouts for free that night. Do come down to get a copy!

]]> http://the88movement.wordpress.com/2009/07/19/the-oddishen-theory-by-oddxstaruka-jutsu/ Sun, 19 Jul 2009 13:36:25 +0000 the88movement http://the88movement.wordpress.com/2009/07/19/the-oddishen-theory-by-oddxstaruka-jutsu/

TheCrazy88’s Shino & Ish appear in The.XS Collective’s latest online album release, The Oddishen Theory by Oddxstaruka Jutsu.

Click here to download the album for free.

While downloading the album, do check out this video called “The Oddishen Theory: Project PolaBomb”.

]]> http://billmullins.wordpress.com/2009/07/19/tech-thoughts-daily-net-news-july-19-2009/ Sun, 19 Jul 2009 13:29:46 +0000 Bill Mullins http://billmullins.wordpress.com/2009/07/19/tech-thoughts-daily-net-news-july-19-2009/ http://pseudoperyodiko.wordpress.com/2009/07/19/typhoon-%e2%80%98isang%e2%80%99-leaves-three-dead-two-missing/ Sun, 19 Jul 2009 07:23:36 +0000 pseudoperyodiko http://pseudoperyodiko.wordpress.com/2009/07/19/typhoon-%e2%80%98isang%e2%80%99-leaves-three-dead-two-missing/ http://wsifz.wordpress.com/2009/07/19/kotak-masih-cinta/ Sun, 19 Jul 2009 04:10:14 +0000 wsifz http://wsifz.wordpress.com/2009/07/19/kotak-masih-cinta/

DOWNLOAD MP3 HERE

Tik,.,tik,.,.tik
Waktu berdetik
Tak mungkin bisa ku hentikan
Maumu jadi mauku
Pahitpun itu ku tersenyum

Kamu tak tahu rasanya hatiku
Saat berhadapan kamu

Tik,.,tik,.,.tik,.,.
Air mataku
Biar terjatuh dalam hati
Mau ku tak penting lagi
Biar ku buat bahagiamu

Kamu tak tahu rasanya hatiku
Saat berhadapan kamu
Kamu tak bisa bayangkan rasanya
Jadi diriku, yang masih cinta

Kamu tak tahu hancurnya hatiku
Saat berhadapan kamu
Kamu tak bisa bayangkan rasanya
Jadi diriku, yang masih cinta

DOWNLOAD MP3 HERE

Alyah
Kurindukan Dia
Kumahu Belaian Manja
Ku Ingin Selalu…..Disisinya

Riz
Hooo Huuoo
Inikah Bahgia
Inikah Kasih Asmara
Bernyanyi Lah Hatiku Dengan Cinta

Riz & Alyah
Ku Tak Ingin Lagi Berjauhan
Usah Kau Hampiri Perpisahan
Seharusnya
Kau Mengerti Kasih
Hanya Engkau Dihatiku
Andai Mampuku Menyentuh Awan
Akan Kupinjamkan Satu Bintang
Dan
Ku Pancar Seriang Gemilang
Itu Kasih Kewajahmu

Riz
Kuberjanji Sayang

Alyah
Ku Menunggu Dikau Pulang hei..hei

Riz
Membawa Cintamu Yang Terindah
Dengarlah Kata Hatihoo..huooo

Riz
Kurindukan Kasih Dia

Alyah
Kumahu Belaian Manja

Riz
Takkan Kulupa Cinta Pertama

Alyah
Cinta

Riz & Alyah
Ku Tak Ingin Lagi Berjauhan
Usah Kau Hampiri Perpisahan
Seharusnya Kau Mengerti Kasih
Hanya Engkau Dihatiku
Andai Mampuku Menyentuh Awan
Akan Kupinjamkan Satu Bintang
Dan
Ku Pancar Seriang Gemilang
Itu Kasih Kewajahmu..hoouooo

Riz
Kuberjanji Sayang

Alyah
Ku Menunggu Dikau Pulang

Riz & Alyah
Membawa Cintamu Yang Terindah

Alyah
Dengarlah Kata Hati

Riz
Dengarkanlah Kata Hati
Dengarkanlah Bicaraku

Michael Owen made his first appearance for Man United and with that scored an 84th-minute winner in a 3-2 victory over a Malaysia XI in Kuala Lumpur in front of 100,000 fans.

MoM: Between 3 Players -

• Yahyah ( 2 goals)
• Gibson ( Played some great balls to set up attacks, never put a foot wrong)
• Owen ( For clincing that winnerm that could ave left a few red faces at the United camp)

Match: Malaysia V Manchester United
Competition: Friendly
Date: 18th Jul 2009
Time: 10:30 KO
Venue: Penang City Stadium
Final Score: Malaysia 2-3 Manchester United
Scorers(Malaysia): Yahyah(2)
Scorers(Manchester United): Rooney, Nani, Owen
Highlights:

Next Game:

FC Seoul  v  Man Utd

Fri 24th Jul – Anyang Stadium

So who am I? What the hell am I doing here? Read more and you’ll find out, I’ll keep it short and sweet…Promise Actually probably won’t, but what can you do? “Make it shorter”….Too Late, Sorry.

Well First of all my name is Aaron Mc Closkey (r-on mik-clus-key) – Why I did that was because a lot of people tend to pronounce it wrong, it’s simple, trust me. I live in Loughgiel (Where?) a small, small village in Northern Ireland in the County of Antrim, you could seriously search it on Wiki if you could find it any benefit. I am 17 years old, fastly approaching 18, yes I can hardly wait either…

So I play games, quite a bit I must admit, but considering where I live, it passes the time pretty well. My first console was a Gameboy, never even heard about videogames until I picked up that bad boy. Really all I remember playing on it was Pokemon…Like c’mon who didn’t have that game? I am a bit vague in years but I think I got that when I was 6 or 7 but those were good times, that game has never been matched in my eyes by the sheer enjoyment and re playability. Mario games of course I have had on every Nintendo console, do I even need to mention how awesome they are?

Next I moved onto consoles and begged Santa to get me a PS1 in the year 1999. First game I got was Rayman, I don’t even think I completed the first 10 levels, have a vague memory of trying to jump over the rising water, but simply my ability would not allow for that to happen and failed, miserably at that game. I also had a Casper game, but was to scared to play it, the big fat one would make noises and would pass my controller to my mum to try and finish that level for me. I had a few other games, but not worth noting as they were not enjoyable, not did I know how to complete them, probably my problem with most games when I was younger. First game I believe I completed was Hogs of War, absolutely loved that game, truly if you ever find yourself splashing out your spare change on a PS1 get it. I was a big fan of the FIFA series and have been since FIFA 2000 which was favourite game on that console.

The beast that was the PS2 was next in 2001 ( Yeah got it a bit late ) So many games that I just can’t be bothered mentioning, but it had it’s fair share or brilliant games, All the WWE games, Tekkan, FIFA where those annual games I got. I never really had many shooters except black, which I never got into finishing but was one of the best looking games on that system. Had Gran Turismo 3 which I almost completed I remember it pretty well, there was a 24 hour race which lasted quite a lot less, but still was a good 8 hours long I think, and to cap it all of it was like circling a plug hole continuously without stopping, Frustrating? Yes! Very much so, but was worth it, was a really good game. Well of course I could not forgot to mention one of the best games ever and one of the best IP’s, that is GTA, GTA: San Andreas had me hooked, and not just the storyline, but following a binco van around the whole game, attempting to find big foot and driving a caravan full of those “dirty” women of Mount Chiliad and of course get fat, its easy in game as it’s easy in reality unfortunately.

The Game cube was next, quite a “meh” console for me, when I purchased it the Christmas of 2002 (Yes I actually had to buy my own Gamecube, for Christmas). Good as it was, the PS2 had better games that suited me personally. Of course I had to have the Mario games, they were so enjoyable, Mario Party I found to be my Favourite as I could play with my family, which is fun and really a game that has to played with others. Other than that I found nothing enjoyable enough to finish or to be contempt with.

So, next was the Gamboy Advance SP in the year 2004, the upgrade from the Gameboy advance, and another chance to delve into the latest Pokemon game, really, was just awesome playing Gold, which I then lost, then got Silver. (Sad I know) Never really got into any other game except Yu-Gi-Oh which supported Link up so I could beat (or in most cases, get my behind smack continuously by my friends) my mates.

I was a late comer to the whole XBOX thing. Bought a pre owned XBOX in 2006, I even have the receipt somewhere (Trust me, it’s good to keep your receipts), but I am lazy and trying to search for it would almost be redundant. I do remember it costing me only £80 along with; Halo 2, Loved the games story, I never got LIVE to experience it online, but the story was great and I think it was the first shooter I completed and I enjoyed it and felt confident with my FPS ability ( that was until I came up against a few of my friends). Splinter Cell, Not worth talking about (Never got past the first level lol ) and it took me a week until I played this game, but wow, what a game, Fable. Honestly one of the best games I ever played of that Genre and Fable 2 is nothing compared to the experience of the first installment, played that game over twice, awesome, awesome, awesome game, seriously recommend buying that game, well worth the money(You can buy it from the XBOX Originals on the XBOX360 marketplace)

NintendoDS, was the next handheld I got on release date, 2005. I remember opening it up on the way home I though I got a pink, God Damn the pink packaging they had, really would not of affecting the gaming but, I’m a guy, you have to understand we need the hardcore metallic to show our manliness. Super Mario 64 DS was the first game, again, like any Mario game really enjoyed it, hated those bunnies though, found them hard to catch. Although as a whole didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would, the games were too childish and Pokemon was too babyish for me now and never purchased. To be honest I don’t think I enjoyed another game on the DS, never had many game on it to enjoy on it in the first place. But now my aunt and my sister play them both to death, must be a girly console then?

PSP, came after, later in the same year, again hyped it up too much, didn’t enjoy it ever game I would have had an interest in was multi platform and everything multi-platform went into the PS2’s disk tray as he gobbled away all those games. Only game I really enjoyed was Football Manager, best thing was I didn’t have to have my computer on to play it and I could play it anywhere, even at night when I coouldn’t get to sleep I would my team to glory….Yeah, didn’t sound right to me either, but I’ll go along with it.

Then it was beast V2 that entered my room and still remains there, unlike everything else which is in someone else’s room, who knows you might even have my tea stained PS1, do you? Of course it was the XBOX360, got it in late 2007, again was a little late but I have done more to make up for it (Sorry Playstation, Fanboys you come next). When we talk about console wars, the only solution is which one do you have most mates on, that’s the one you’ll enjoy the most, guarantee it, Ill even bet my broken door knob on it. Where do I start? “Your first game”, cheers for that… Yes my first game was Halo 3, played it too death, got boring and the constant 12 year olds destroying my precious ears kind of lead me of that and onto another game that does the same thing, Call of Duty, for me I need friends to play this game, lucky I have a lot, so I play it quite often and enjoy it, sorry for using the word enjoy so much, English is not my strongest point, but I got a B in my GCSE’s so I’m happy. Other stand out games that I just would recommend you buying for the sheer gameplay and most re playability and especially, you need friends, or even a friend to enjoy most games, I’ll make a wee list here to make it easy on the eyes.

• Bioshock

• Mass Effect

• Gears of War (1+2)

• FIFA

• Crackdown

• GTA4 (iffy one, but you’ll probably like it if your a fan of GTA, but there’s too many out there that are similar)

• Guitar Hero (All of them) Same for Rockband

• Orange Box (If your the puzzlyFPSTactical kind of guy or girl)

• Fallout and Oblivion(Never really played Oblivion but if it’s anything like Fallout it can only be good)

• Fable 2

• Assassins Creed

Of course, it’s arguable, but so is everything in life just got to think to everyone has their own opinion and to each their own and you must respect that.

So my final installment was the PS3, very recently actually, a month ago, can’t remember the date but a month is a month and it’ll stay like that. Have enjoyed it so far, except for online, where no one speaks the either fear my presence or just don’t have a mic. Only had a few games, but I have been pleasantly surprised but Uncharted, loved it and can’t wait for the second, especially with the online functionality which from the beta was pretty good. LittleBigPlanet, was awesome as well, can get tricky but really fun and it’s a simple pick up and play, or create in this case. Also got Call of Duty WaW, no real difference from skill levels on each console, just different when playing with other friends but still pretty good. Killzone 2 was…alright, the story was lacklustre and just tried to finish it, but was a game I fell away from, online was great though, I found it pretty easy as well (Either because I’m awesome or I was against similar ranked players, who knows), despite the aiming problems. Well maybe it’s not the games fault, it’s mine for playing with COD controls for too long.

Notice anything missing? Yea, the Nintendo 64, Want to know why? Of course you do, I don’t, but laugh to you’re heart is content. I was so stupid back then. I had money saved up for one and really, really wanted one, I even drew a picture of me playing one and slipping it under my parents bedroom door, in some sort of attempt for them to buy it for me, unfortunatly didn’t work .

But I went to argos with money in hand close to Christmas, although they were out of stock but I could get it delivered on Christmas eve, but I was, aforementioned, stupid and wanted then and there so I declined. Though later I used that well earned cash to purchase to buy my sister a me-mo-mo, and a typewriter, yes if this was someone else I would have been like WTF?? Only case I can put forward was that I didn’t have a computer, nope? Didn’t think that was a very good excuse, I never even used the damned thing. Although my good mate had one and played it quite a lot, games such as FIFA, Goldeneye, Pokemon (Of Course!) and Southpark, were the weapons of choice. Although he pulled it out a few years ago to have a play and I think I broke it lol! That was the end of that chapter unfortunately.

So yeah, that’s a background to my Gaming life, my main objective to write gaming reviews but I may spread out a bit, but I’ll start once I get a few games as it may be a bit late to start on the games I currently own. Hopefully you reached it all the way to end, if you did, I’ll give you a treat, a smilie face will do for know

Hopefully you stay tuned, Follow me on twitter, will update that thing if I add a blog.

Also add me on XBOXLIVE if you have a 360 mine is

mccloskey14

My PS3ID is

Noldy1991

Happy Gaming

]]> http://wildstormarchives.com/2009/07/18/gen-13-february-1994/ Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:28:26 +0000 tightsandcapesforever http://wildstormarchives.com/2009/07/18/gen-13-february-1994/

Issues Collected
Gen 13 1-5
February 1994-July 1994

This collection presents the original 5-issue miniseries that launched the phenomenal Gen 13  team and the career of J. Scott Campbell! Aided by former Team Seven leader John Lynch, five teenagers with remarkable power must make their escape from the clutches of Ivana Baiul’s array of killers from Internal Operations!

I am proud to announce Our Latest Disaster have joined MetalX

For those who don’t know them, heres the info!

“Our Latest Disaster are a five piece band based in the Surrey/Heathrow area, coming from various backgrounds to create a unique blend of ‘post punk/metal’ which is beginning to grab many peoples attention! We take influences from Avenged Sevenfold’s intricate guitar work, to the melodic workings of a Muse or Placebo song to the screaming of Atreyu or A Day To Remember.
Everything we write and perform is for you; the fans We love all of you“

With their fan base stretching to Australia! These guys are on the way to hit hard in late 2009 to early 2010 with fresh new recordings and a EP that will knock your head off your shoulders.

Check out our area on MetalX UK for gig dates and tunes.’ Drop us a comment and we will be more than happy to reply’.