Monday, 29 March 2010

Tally ho! 'Barbour cavalry' rides to Tories' rescue

Hundreds of hunt supporters are under orders to ride into action in key marginal seats within hours of a general election being called, in the knowledge that David Cameron will allow a return to hunting with dogs if he gets to Downing Street.

Documents seen by The Independent show that hunt masters have been rounding up supporters and sending them to the most fiercely contested seats, ahead of a big push planned for the first 72 hours of campaigning. A letter from one Tory candidate, while thanking the huntsmen and women for their support, pleaded with them not to invade his constituency like the cavalry, "cantering into town in pink chinos and Barbours".

Hunt organisers have told supporters that the sport needs a decisive Conservative victory – Mr Cameron is expected to allow MPs a free vote on letting traditional hunting resume. A message to members of the Avon Vale Hunt, which has operated in Wiltshire for 122 years, warns that it could soon cease to exist unless the Tories secure an outright majority. The hunt chairman, Tim Page, wrote: "I would like us all to reflect on what is at stake if we do not succeed in helping get a Conservative government elected at the forthcoming general election, and, importantly with a sufficient majority to give the time to a free vote on the repeal of the Hunting Act 2004." ...

@'The Independent'

In a word - TWATS!!!

...and all the more reason to stop the Tories getting into power.

Rio Tinto sacks four executives jailed in China for bribery

Head - Sin Bin

Featuring Gareth Sagar (ex The Pop Group & Rip Rig & Panic)

(Tip o'the hat to Martin!)

Truly amazing mummies

Perils of the Silk Road

The Silk Road was a legendarily dangerous 4,600-mile route connecting Asia and the Mediterranean, used by traders who for centuries traversed deserts and mountains, in temperatures ranging from minus-50 to 120 degrees. The exhibition at the Bowers features more than 150 objects excavated from the trail, including this infant mummy, believed to be from around the 8th century BCE (Before the Christian Era). Even more remarkable about the mummies in the Bowers exhibition is that, although found in the arid western reaches of China, the features are noticeably Caucasian.

More @'Life'

HERE

Breaking News: Rio Tinto employees sentenced in Chinese bribery case

Four employees of the British-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto, including an Australian citizen, were convicted by a Chinese court on Monday and sentenced to seven to 14 years in prison for accepting millions of dollars in bribes and stealing commercial secrets.

A three-judge panel at the Shanghai No. 1 Intermediate Court sentenced Stern Hu, an Australian citizen, to seven years in jail for bribery and five years on stealing secrets, but he will serve 10 years in prison.

The case has drawn international attention and even led to diplomatic wrangling between China and Australia over concerns that the four employees had been arrested on trumped up charges and questions about whether they could get a fair trial here.

At a three-day trial that took place here early last week, the four employees all pleaded guilty to accepting some bribes, though several of the men denied stealing commercial secrets.

The four employees — three of whom are Chinese citizens — were detained in Shanghai last July on suspicions of espionage and stealing state secrets from Chinese state-owned steel companies.

But after protests from Australia and foreign executives about the nature of the accusations, the men were formally charged with bribery and stealing commercial secrets, which are lesser charges.

Some Australian officials and foreign executives said the arrests looked like retaliation against Rio Tinto because of its tough negotiations over iron ore prices with Chinese state-run steel mills and the company’s decision last summer to scrap plans to accept a $19.5 billion investment from one of China’s biggest mining companies.

The Australian government was due to issue a statement shortly after the verdict was released.

Lawyers for the four employees have said they were considering an appeal.

@'NY Times'

Live on Radio National's Australia Talks

Stephen Conroy says he knows nothing about the US objection to Australia's internet filter...

The federal government will introduce mandatory internet filtering this year. And after recent abuse appearing on Facebook memorial sites, the government is also looking at establishing an internet ombudsman. So how far should control of the internet go for the sake of making the online world safer for children? Is it actually possible to make the internet safe?

Download link:
Internet filtering with Minister for Communications Stephen Conroy

Suicide bombers strike central Moscow metro, at least 37 dead

At least 37 people died as two suspected terrorist bombs ripped through the central Moscow metro system during Monday morning's rush hour, the emergencies ministry said.

The first blast occurred at around 8:00 a.m. (05:00 GMT), killing at least 23 people and injuring 18, many of them seriously.

A RIA Novosti employee who was on the train said the blast occurred between the Lubyanka and Okhotny Ryad metro stations close to the Kremlin.

The second blast occurred some 20 minutes later at the nearby Park Kultury station and killed at least 14 and injured at least 7. The carriage hit by the blast in still on the platform.

Prosecutors said the bombs, each with the equivalent strength of 2 kg of TNT, were denoted by suicide bombers.

A police source told RIA Novosti that the blasts bore all the hallmarks of "a well-planned terrorist attack."

With central Moscow at a standstill, helicopters are being used to evacuate the injured.

Russia's top investigator Vladimir Markin said that an investigation on terrorism charges had been launched.

If terrorism is confirmed as the cause of the blasts, this will be the first major terrorist incident in Russia outside of the North Caucasus since 2004, when hundreds of people died in two plane bombings. The same series of attacks culminated in the deaths of over 300 people, many of then children, when Chechen terrorists seized a school in Beslan.

A telephone hotline has been opened - +7 495 622 1430 and + 7 495 624 3440.

@'RIANOVOSTI'

Meh, the weekend is almost over...

Another weekend comes to an end. Bummer...

The Catholic church seems to be crumbling, or at least cracking under the pressures of the truth. I read some great commentaries regarding treating the church as a criminal organization, and rejecting them as a moral authority.

No kidding!

But there is more happening in the world... we all have the lives we live every day. And we don't need the Pope or any other religious "authority" to tell us how or who or what to do.

We just DO. And we know what is right or wrong in our hearts.

I plant things in my garden, because it will feed my family in a few months, and there is a great satisfaction in that. Close to the earth! Food that came from our hard work and care.

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Stagger Lee (White Room)

Audio @'The Vinyl Villian'

Peter Brookes @'The Times'

Very useful that 'faith in g*d'!

The pontiff said faith in God helps lead one "toward the courage of not allowing oneself to be intimidated by the petty gossip of dominant opinion."

jayrosen_nyu

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