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