Armed forces chief Sir Jock Stirrup to quit early

This autunm 2010, Britain's Defence Secretary, Liam Fox, has said that Britain's most senior military chief will quit before the end of his term in April 2011. Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup has been chief of the defence staff since 2006 and was asked to extend his term by the previous government. The BBC's Caroline Wyatt said the move will be seen as the new government's bid to draw a line under past failings. Critics, on the other hand, say Sir Jock, a former jet pilot, has not done enough to support Britain's frontline troops.

Dr Fox told the Sunday Times he wanted the "best people to be in the appropriate posts" this autumn once the current strategic defence and security review was over. "We have to be able to maintain full stability and the full confidence of the people who work for us, not least because we're in a very dangerous armed conflict," he said.

My Opinion is...

As we do not know the exact reason for Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup's early quit, we should carefully follow the steps the government will take in the near future. While critics say 'Sir Jock has not done enough to support Britain's frontline troops', Dr Fox' explanation seems to be quite suspicious. Let's wait for the outcome...



Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/politics/10303009.stm

What would the BP oil spill look like over your home?

It kills seabirds, devastates livelihoods and is having a go at doing both to BP's share price. But how big, you may ask, is the Gulf of Mexico oil spill? Website 'If it was my home' takes an image of the oil spill and overlays it on a Google map. It will either detect where you are (newer browsers, such as Firefox, will know this) or you can add a postcode or town name in a search box when you click through to it.

Above is the spill pictured as though it surrounded the Guardian offices, in central London. As you can see, this would take it south to Brighton, west to Bristol and as far north as the upper reaches of the Wash, in Lincolnshire. East takes it right out into the North Sea.

Of course the spill is not static. An oil spill tracker from the New York Times shows it growing and changing shape since the Deepwater Horizon rig sank on 22 April.

Opinion

This is really useful to know, mainly because many people around the world are still curious about how big the split is and towards where it is heading. The website name 'if it is my home' is very catchy and I thing people would just click on it because they are curious about it. I will try it out, so should you...

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2010/jun/10/deepwater-horizon-oil-spill

JG Ballard archive acquired for British Library

Manuscripts, letters, notebooks and even the school reports of one of the most spectacularly imaginative literary minds of the 20th century, JG Ballard, have been saved for the British public.

Ballard died last year, aged 78, and is probably best known for his 1984 novel Empire of the Sun, inspired by his own childhood in a Japanese-controlled internment camp and made into a movie by Steven Spielberg.
One of the items in the archive is a school report for the 16-year-old Ballard, and extremely prescient it was too. His English tutor wrote: "He has remarkable ability and general knowledge. With greater concentration his work could be even better."

Ballard was a man of routine and, in the first instance, wrote all his work by hand, once saying he could always tell if a novel had been written on a typewriter (and later computer). One of the highlights of the archive is the far from neatly handwritten first 840-page draft of Empire of the Sun, which is a collage of crossings out, revisions, corrections and additions.

Jonathan Scott said, chairman of the AIL scheme, 'writing was not always the most financially rewarding occupation and most serious writers had decided to sell their archives – mainly to deep-pocketed US universities – as their pension.'

The culture minister, Ed Vaizey, said the government would examine whether the scheme could be extended to people who could use it while they were still alive.



Opinion

Ballard was a very famous writer and that is why this news makes it even more important. His 12 meter archive will be accessable in summer 2010, according to Jamie Andrews, the library's head of modern literary manuscripts. This discovery must be very essential for the British literacy lovers.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jun/10/jg-ballard-archive-british-library

Parent's view on genetic link to autism: 'I don't want it to be eradicated'

Picture: Charlotte Moore and her three sons, George, Jake and Sam(Sam and George are autistic)


As the mother of two sons with autism and a third son without it, do I welcome this news? Yes, if it helps kill the idea that autism is somebody's "fault". Autism isn't caused by neglectful parenting; not only that, but parents passing on autistic genes is less significant than had been thought. Although some of these gene variations are inherited, others are found only in children. This helps explain why in some cases autism "runs in the family", but in others it comes out of nowhere. If you have an autistic child, strip away those shreds of guilt. Your child is what he or she is. End of story.


The findings will enable some families to get more precise genetic counselling, and that's good. When I debated whether to have Jake, my third child, doctors could only give me vague advice. I'm delighted I took the risk, but it's better to make such decisions armed with as much information as possible. I'm concerned, though, that the information will bolster the idea that autism is a disease that should be cured. Caring for autistic people is hard. Self-harm, destructive outbursts, intense anxiety, sleeplessness ... who wouldn't wish those away? But autism can also mean originality, creativity, an innocence ... Do I hope that early interventions can be devised to wipe the human race clean of autism? No, I do not.


What can I say?

As Charlotte Moore points out, parent should feel guilty for their autistic child, they rather have to feel happy for them. Her opinion about the link that is made with autism and genes is very normal because she has autistic children. I think other people would have another opinion, maybe a similar one but still different.


Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/jun/10/autism-parents-view-genetics

Susan Boyle 'to sing for the Pope'

In April church leaders said they wanted Ms Boyle, who would be a ''great asset'' to the events planned for the Pontiff's visit in September, to sing in Glasgow. Today a spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland said: ''Negotiations are still under way but we expect Susan Boyle to perform as part of the Papal Mass at Bellahouston Park.'' It will be the first Papal visit to Britain since 1982 when Pope John Paul II's six-day tour drew It will also be the first official Papal visit to Britain.


Yesterday it was confirmed an open mass would be held at Bellahouston Park. More than half of the 185,000 Catholics who attend Sunday services across Scotland will be able to attend the mass on September 16. The 450 parishes in Scotland will receive a pro-rata allocation of places based on their mass attendance figures. Thousands more are expected to line the route of the Pope's motorcade through Edinburgh earlier in the day. A St Ninian's Day Pageant in Edinburgh is also planned, with school children and pipe bands taking part.

Boyle, a former church worker, became an international star when her performance of I Dreamed A Dream from the musical Les Miserables stunned the audience and judges on Britain's Got Talent last year. She eventually finished runner-up in the TV talent show.



What can I say?

I really think Boyle can sing very well and lot of other people around the world thinks the same. Boyle will be honoured to sing for the pope and people in Britain. She hadn't been seen in public for moths. I'am curious.




Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/susan-boyle/7817039/Susan-Boyle-to-sing-for-the-Pope.html

BP oil spill: David Cameron backs Barack Obama's hardline stance

The oil firm has seen almost £50 billion wiped off its value since oil began leaking from one of its pipelines following an explosion on a gas platform in the Gulf of Mexico. Investors say the hardline approach taken by Mr Obama – who has promised to "kick ass" over the incident – has contributed to the share price declines.

The pension funds of millions of Britons have been hard hit – as exposure to BP, Britain's biggest company, is high. Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, this morning became the most senior UK politician to defend BP, saying "anti-British rhetoric" levelled at the company was a matter of "national concern" and that the oil giant was paying "a very, very heavy price" for what had been an accident. "I would like to see a bit of cool heads rather than endlessly buck-passing and name-calling," he said. "When you consider the huge exposure of British pension funds to BP it starts to become a matter of national concern if a great British company is being continually beaten up on the airwaves."

Speaking to reporters in Afghanistan, Mr Cameron refused to follow suit, instead offering his backing to Washington. He said: "I completely understand the US government's frustration because it's catastrophic for the environment. "The most important thing is to mitigate the effects and get to the root of the problem.
"Of course it's something I'll discuss with the American president when we next speak." BP says the cost of the clean-up and containment efforts had now hit US$1.43 billion (£979 million). The firm's dividend payments, which amount to more than £7 billion a year, account for £1 in every £6 paid out in dividends to British pension pots.


Opinion

Now the pension funds of the Britons is hard hit and the cost o the clean-up containment efforts is about 979 million pounds, both sides should take action to solve the problem. Besides no one is speaking about the damage of the oil caused to nature. Will this problem be ever solved, it has passed 50 days already.


Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/oilandgas/7817582/BP-oil-spill-David-Cameron-backs-Barack-Obamas-hardline-stance.html

Two UK students killed in road crash in South Africa

In north-eastern South Africa two British female students have been killed in a road accident, according to emergency services. In the crash east of Johannesburg, near Nespruit, at least 18 other people were injured. They do not know if they are football fans but it is thought that all the injured are British and Canadian tourists. The truck swerved and overturned on a road near Nelspruit and some of the injured were trapped under the truck for a period of time, said the local reporters. It is still not all clear whether they were actually football fans.



Opinion

I feel very sorry for the parents of the two British women who were killed in the accident and hope the people who are injured recover soon. It is very heart-braking when you read that some were trapped under the truck but they are hopefully still alive. I sincerely hope police find outs who they are and what they were doing there but I think they were foot- ball fans because the World Cup is being held in South Africa, near the place of the accident.


Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/10284966.stm

John Terry World Cup dream in Doubt Foot Injury in Training

The Chelsea captain, John Terry has injured his foot in training, raising question marks over his participation in Sunday's FA Cup Final and this summer's World Cup in South Africa. Terry has sustained a "knock" in training and had left for hospital wearing a protective foot for a "precautionary scan" , according to the club. They will receive the scan tomorrow.

Capello will be hoping that the injury is not as bas as feared, given the injury problems he already faced in central defence. Rio Ferdinant, Terry's replacement as captain, has struggled for fitness all season and Ledley King a long-standing knee problem, with concerns over whether he could play several matches in quick successions. Matthew Upson, Jamie Caragher and Michael Dawson are the other alternatives.

Capello figures out whether another of his planned first-choice players, Garreth Barry, will be fit in time to play for the World Cup. If Terry is ruled out of the World Cup it could mean that Bridge may return. Bridge retired from international football after concluding he could not be part of the same squad as the former England captain.



My Opinion

This is a very bad situation for Chelsea and for Terry because Chelsea, as well as Capello, want nothing more than win the World Cup. Terry, on the other hand, is captain of Chelsea and wants to play together with the team. If Chelsea could not go to the World Cup, I would feel very sorry for them. I therefore hope that Terry will recover soon and the scan results will be positive so that they can have success.


Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/may12/john-terry-world-cup-foot-injury

Working overtime Increases heart risk, a study finds

People who regularly put in overtime and work 10 or 11-hours day increase their heart disease risk by nearly two-thirds, research suggests. The findings come form a study of 6,000 Civil servants, published online in the European Journal.

People who work three to four hours of overtime a day ran 60% higher risk, doctors found. Even experts said the findings highlighted the importance of work-life balance. "Work-life balance plays a vital role in well-being", said John Challenor form the Society of Occupational Medicine. Overall, there were 369 cases where people suffered heart disease that causes death, had a heart attack of developed angina. The researches also said that there could be a couple of reasons for it:

1. When people spend more time at work will, they have less time to relax, unwind or exercise and therefore will be more stressed, anxious or have depression.
2. A career-minded person will also tend to be a 'A Type" personality who is highly driven, aggressive or irritable, they said.
3. "Employees who work overtime may also be likely to work while ill-that is, be reluctant to be absent from work despite illness", they add.

Cathy Ross, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, which part-funded the research said: "The study raises further question about how our working lives can influence our risk of hearth disease. Until research understand how our working lives can effect the risk of our heart health, there are simple ways to look after your heart like; taking a brisk walk at lunch, taking the stairs instead of the lift, or by swapping the biscuit for a piece of fruit.



Health is Important!!!

First of all, I am very happy that I have chosen this news topic which gives some important messages and advice us, teachers of the future. This overtime problem seems to be the most essential problem in the world but especially in Europe and America. I agree with the experts and doctors that there should be a balance between work and life because this is the only way to lead a better, happy and healthy life.

Exercise, breaks, eating fruit and vegetables instead of chocolate is much healthier for our heart. Another thing is when you are ill; you certainly do not need to work. Stay at home, if you need some rest. This is a way to keep disease completely out of our life.

I wish everyone a life without overtime but a life with full of health and happiness.

Four Lions Film Boycot Urged by 7/7 Families

Families who lost relatives in the 2005 London bomb attacks are appealing to cinemas not to show a British comedy about four aspiring suicide bombers.

The film 'Four Lions' was created by Chris Morris, who was also behind the Channel 4 show ' Brass Eye'. The story of the film is about four man travelling to London to target the marathon but Grasham Russell, whose son was killed in London Bomb attack in 2005, accused its makers of being morally bankrupt. Another parent, Graham Folkes, thinks the tragedy is still too raw for him, his familiy and other families.

"A film like this is absolutely a very strong counterpoint to the very serious side of it, which none of us condone, but there should be human stories that need to be told, which can be quite touching", said Archer Ali, actor. He also told the BBC; "It's a dynamic of bunch of guys who get together and massed everything up".

Last week many of the relatives' families attended a pre-inquest hearing. The full inquests are due to be held in October.

MY OPINION!!!

The actors as well as the producers of the film 'Four Lions" to my opinion, may have good intentions in making the film. The problem is whether the families consents the casting of the film (whether they approve it or not) Do they? The answer is No! I therefore think Chris Morris should have asked for permission first before showing it at different cinemas. The families also pointed out very clearly that the tragedy was still 'too raw' which means this will make them go back to what was happened nearly 5 years ago.

Many parents attended a pre-inquest hearing last week so I think this problem will be sorted out soon.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8663809.stm

Voters Head to Polls for UK General Election

Today millions of people across the UK have started casting their votes in the general election. At 0700 BST at of polling stations around the country opened their doors to people already and voters are able to cast their ballots until 2200 BST. More than 44 million people are registered to vote and the first announcements are expected at 2300 BST. The voting will take place in 649 constituencies with 4,150 candidates. Because of the death of one of the candidates during the campaign, polling in one constituency has been delayed. The vast majority of the constituencies will conduct their counts overnight, with about 20 not due to begin the process until after 0900 GMT on Friday.




VOTING!!

It is one of UK's most important days in history, May 6 2010.

It is a good thing that polling stations open their doors at 0700 BST, since many people around the UK are expected to vote for the general election. People who work are able to go to polling stations after work and this will be a positive thing for the voters. Only an hour after the closing of the stations, the first results will be announced and I am absolutely convinced that people will be watching BBC to hear the outcome. I wish them all Good Luck!!!


Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8663716.stm

Australia plans to Ban randing on Cigarette Packets

Tobacco companies would be forced to use plain, logo free packaging on their cigarettes to make them less attractive to they buyers. From 1 July 2012 this new rule should ban these companies from including logos, promotional text or colourful images on cigarette packages. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the folowing: "The new branding for cigarettes will be the most hard-line regime in the world and cigarette companies will hate it". It will also raise the cigarette tax by 25% driving up the price of a pack a pack of 30 cigarettes by about A$2.16 and therefore tobacco films immediately vowed to fight to reform in court.

Tim Wilson, director of intellectual property and free trade of Australa's Institute of Public Affairs said the following: "Tobacco companies were likely to demand compensation over the forced packaging changes, which will cost tax payers around A$2bn a year.




Ban or Not!!!

I personally support this attempt of the Australian governments because cigarettes are taking many lives away every year from cancer to other diseases. If it was left to me, I would ban cigarettes completely and not just ban branding packaging. Now, not only adults but also children from the ages 8-16 are using cigarettes which lead to less happy life with aggression, addiction and diseases. What do children and adults get from it, what is the use? Nothing! of course. If there is someone who gain positive result of cigarettes is must be those "innocent, compensation wanting, uncaring" tobacco company leaders who sell them to people to earn money. To a healthy and happy life...




Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/apr/29/australia-ban-branding-cigarette-packets

Many Parents Failing to read to Children, survey shows

Many children are starting school having never been read a story, a survey reveals today. Children know the stories in the Disney cartoons but are starting school with no experience of being told stories at home. Experts call it a "national disaster" and warn parents that this will fail children to develop their creative talents to lead a happy life.

Pie Corbett, an educational adviser of the government said:" This is just an economic thing-it is not just people who come from poor backgrounds, it is across the whole of society". He also included that too many children are left to watch TV, especially of those busy middle-class working parents. But children who read stories in a regular basis before starting school are more likely to succeed, researches show. Being told stories boosts language and children who read are being made to make them brainy, according Corbett.

A teacher who responds to the survey said: "Where are all those parent who sing and recite nursery rhymes to their children? We are created a generation who are failing to give the phonological start they need to become a capable reader".




My Opinion!!!

I absolutely agree that it must be a "national disaster" if parents do not read to their children. This means that parents view of raising children is now based on materialistic thoughts. They are "too busy" to make time and read for them for just a half hour in a whole day. It also shows that parents are starting becoming very selfish people who only care about themselves and their work. Children are becoming less interesting individuals of parents life's. No more then 10 years ago, however, parents use to sing and recite bedtime stories and rhymes for their children. What happened to them? What is happening to the parents and how are they willing to make their children develop and go to university? Parents should make a quick change before it is too late.


Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/apr/30/childre-parents-reading-stories

Early Babies Survival Rate Static

Study has found that babies born before 24 weeks are spending longer periods in the intensive care because doctors are undergoing more intensive treatment to keep them alive. Only 20% of these babies survive of such babies but most of the time has a risc like hanidcaps. In the study they looked at 230 babies born in the week 22-23 which was published in Achieve of Disease in Childhood. In 15 years the average survival time of these babies in 1993 was 11 hours and in 2007 four days. But even with more active intervention for the last five years, the babies average survival time has not increased.

Dr. Nicholas Embleton who led the researches says: "We know anocdatley that more parents are asking for resusitation and more doctors are offering it. We are not making a value of judgement about this, and for many this may be the right to do- even if it only brings an extra three day of live".



Good or Bad?

What I have learned from this news is ,that even when doctors do their utmost to keep these babies alive the results is not always postitive. Doctors, and even parents sometimes ask for it, use the resusitation because they want one more living babies on earth, so a good intention. But is this a good option? Yes, if doctors make them exacly live and no, if they is not. According to the study, most of these babies can be left with a handicap which means they have to live with it until they die. Parents should also be careful with lifestyle and eating habits because this is extreemly important when they want to have a healty baby. And doctors should give useful advise so that these kind of issues, early births, will decrease.



Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8635955.stm

German Bishop Walter Mixa Offers ot Resign

Walter Bishop Mixa was reported to have told the Pope in a resignition letter that this diocese needs a "new start". Firstly, the bishop denied hitting children then said he may have slapped them and apologised. The Roman Catholic Church is under the spotlight since the news about abuse of children spread around Europe. The Bishop was also accused of the beatings in 1970s and 1980s but has not been accused for any sexual abuse. These problems really concern the people in Germany as well as other countries.

Furthermore, Walter Mixa wrote the following: "I ask the forgiveness fo all those to whom I may have been unfair and to those whom I may have cost heartache." He wrote this to Pope Benedict on Wednesday, according to quotes reported by Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper. He said he was "fully aware" of his "weakness". Bishop Mixa also issued an apology earlier this week, saying he was "sorry for causing many people grief" without elaborating.

It was not immediatly clear whether Pope Benedict would accept his offer of resignation. On Wednesday the Pope promised to "take action" over abuses against children by priests, in his most direct remarks to date on the recent allegations.



What Can I Say?

I think it is absolutely a right thing to accept the offer of Mixa since he has admitted his faults. The Churches should be very careful with people like Bishop Walter Mixa when appointing them as bishop. No one has the right to be treated like that, especially not children whom they learn certain things in Church. Now this problem spread to Europe and other countries in the world, it should be topic to put on table and talk about it all over to sort things out.

If I look back to Mixa, I think it can be said that these should be also a part of "sexual abuse" in his treats because he used the words "fully aware" and "weakness". This simply means that "he might be involved in sexual abuse of children". On the other hand, it is also a good thing that he apologised for his deeds after admitting. I certainly hope that no replication of this kind of issues will be seen in the future.


Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8636625.stm

Welcome to Sule Gogus' Blog!!!1

Welcome to Sule Gogus' blog

Dear Members,

Welcome to my blog. I have created this blog to share some report and important topics with you for the UKOK course.

Kind Regards,

Sule