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Monday 31 August 2015


Palmyra's Temple of Bel 'still standing'
music


Palmyra's ancient Temple of Bel is still standing despite an attempt by Islamic State (IS) militants to blow it up, Syria's antiquities chief has said.

A general view shows the Temple of Bel in the historical city of Palmyra 31 August 2015
The Temple of Bel is considered the most important structure of its kind at the site
Maamoun Abdulkarim confirmed there was a large explosion within its perimeter but said the basic structure of the 2,000-year-old site was intact.
But the extent of the damage is unclear with witnesses unable to get close to the temple.
The inside of the sanctuary of Baal in the ancient oasis city of Palmyra (March 2014)
The Temple of Bel, or Baal, is of unique design, according to Unesco


Initial reports said the site had been partially destroyed.
Mr Abdulkarim, head of the Syrian Department of Antiquities and Museums, said "our information is provisional, but it indicates that any damage done was partial, and the basic structure is still standing".

Last week, IS blew up the much smaller Baalshamin temple at the site. However, Mr Abdulkarim says that the explosion at the Temple of Bel was "different" to the "huge quantity of explosives" used to destroy the Baalshamin.
However, he said they would have to wait for pictures to emerge as "witnesses can't get close enough to be sure what damage was done."




























origina post found herhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-34107395



China punishes 197 over stock market and Tianjin 'rumours'

An investor looks at an electronic board showing stock information of Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index at a brokerage house in Beijing, August 26, 2015
stock market officials are among those arrested, 


Chinese authorities have punished 197 people for spreading rumours online about the recent stock market crash and fatal explosions in Tianjin, according to state news agency Xinhua.

A journalist and stock market officials are among those arrested, Xinhua said. It gave no other details.
Chinese shares fell by nearly 8% after a week of volatile trading that spread fear to global markets.
The Tianjin explosions killed 150 people - with 23 still missing.

Damaged buildings and cars are seen near the site of the explosions at the Binhai new district, Tianjin, 13 August 2015
The area around the explosions in Tianjin remains closed
A total of 367 people remain in hospital after the 12 August blast at a warehouse where large amounts of toxic chemicals were stored. Twenty are in critical condition, according to Xinhua.
Separately, the UK's Financial Times says Chinese leaders feel they mishandled their stock market rescue efforts.
The paper, quoting an account of a meeting of senior regulatory officials on Thursday, said the government had decided to abandon attempts to boost the stock market and instead step up efforts to punish people suspected of "destabilising the market".
Chinese authorities tightly control information online and have previously prosecuted internet users for spreading rumours.

The rumours described by the latest statement include reports that a man had jumped to his death in Beijing due to the stock market slump and that as many as 1,300 people were killed in Tianjin blasts, Xinhua said.
The news agency said "seditious rumours about China's upcoming commemorations of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II" were also among the offences.

























origina post found herhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-34104114




Sunday 30 August 2015



Egypt summons UK ambassador over al-Jazeera trial


WORLD NEWS

John Casson
John Casson criticised an Egyptian court's decision to jail three journalists

Britain's ambassador to Egypt has been summoned to the country's foreign ministry over his "unacceptable interference" following the trial of three al-Jazeera journalists.

Mohamed Fahmy, Baher Mohamed and Peter Greste were each jailed for three years on Saturday for "spreading false news".
Ambassador John Casson said he was "shocked and concerned" by the ruling.
Egyptian authorities objected to his remarks and Mr Casson has attended a meeting with officials.
In comments made outside the court and on Facebook, Mr Casson said the court's decision would "undermine confidence in Egypt's stability".
Egypt's foreign ministry called his words "unacceptable interference" in the country's judiciary.

Canadian-Egyptian Mohamed Fahmy (left), Australian Peter Greste and Egyptian Baher Mohamed (right)
Mohamed Fahmy (left), Peter Greste and Baher Mohamed were freed before their retrial
Twitter users in Egypt have also called for Mr Casson to be expelled over his comments, with more than 800 users tweeting the "expel_the_British_ambassador" hashtag.

Two British journalists working for al-Jazeera were sentenced in absentia in the original trial last year.

















Prince: The Lionheart






Prince Harry pictured monitoring a lion's heart in the African bush
Royal protection: Harry monitors the sedated lion's breathing while vets carry out tests 


Prince Harry is pictured fearlessly monitoring the lion's heart and helping vets to perform tests while it is sedated. He has been working with a team tracking the animals at Palmwag Reserve in Namibia's north-west Kunene region. Harry, 30, revealed he wants to do more in Africa and plans to work with his brother to encourage new conservation initiatives. The Prince opened up about the perils of living in the shadow of bodyguards and joked he was a 'bad uncle' for missing the family photographs with Princess Charlotte. His encounter with the king of the jungle came after he told his companions - two royal protection officers, two vets, a Namibian police officer, a senior tracker-guide, and Simson - that he desperately wanted to see lions up close and personal in the wild.

Curious: Prince Harry watches as a ranger checks that a male lion radio collar is properly attached during his three month mission across Africa
Curious: Prince Harry watches as a ranger checks that a male lion radio collar is properly attached during his three month mission across Africa



























origina post found herhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3215556/Harry-Lionheart-Remarkable-images-conservationist-Prince-declares-way-life-want-here.html


Thai police arrest suspect in Bangkok bombing

Phone data leads to arrest
Police say a painstaking process of tracing phone records led to Saturday’s arrest of a key suspect in the deadly Erawan Shrine bombing.


Thai police have arrested a suspect in a bombing that killed 20 people and wounded scores more at a shrine in Bangkok this month, authorities said Saturday.


The man, also suspected of involvement in a second blast a day later in Bangkok, was arrested at an apartment in a suburb of Bangkok, police spokesman Lt. Gen. Prawut Thavornsiri said.
However, he is not the man in a yellow T-shirt and dark-framed glasses who was identified from surveillance video as the chief suspect in the bombing, Prawut said.
"The man we have is not the man in the sketch, but we believe he is part of the network which carried out the two bomb incidents," he said.
"We also found many empty fake passports, also various kinds of evidences."
Prawut said investigators hunting for clues had "also found the same type of ball bearings in this man's apartment."
The apartment is in the Nong Jok suburb, an area known to house a large Muslim community.
The deadly explosion at Bangkok's Erawan Shrine -- a spot popular with tourists and locals -- wreaked havoc on August 17. The second blast, which occurred at a pier on the Chao Phraya River that flows through Bangkok, did not cause any casualties.
There has been no claim of responsibility for the bombing.










Friday 28 August 2015

MUSIC

 Essential Mix 2000-06-17 - Judge Jules - Gatecrasher

MUSIC

2001-10 Trance Energy - Judge Jules Liveset 

Giant panda cub a boy, fathered by Smithsonian National Zoo's resident male Tian Tian



The US National Zoo's surviving giant panda cub is a boy and was fathered by the zoo's male giant panda, the zoo has said.

The cub was born on Saturday to panda mother Mei Xiang, who is a top tourist draw in the US capital.
A fraternal twin died on Wednesday of pneumonia likely caused by inhaling food, the zoo said.
The surviving cub is healthy, putting on weight and crying when Mei Xiang tries to leave its den.
 cub is male & sired by Tian Tian!
Our giant panda cub is male & sired by Tian Tian!
The twins' birth captured international attention, since giant pandas are among the world's most endangered species.
The birth of the twins appeared to be a surpriseMei Xiang was artificially inseminated in April using sperm from giant male panda Tian Tian, and also from Hui Hui, a panda in China.
But Tian Tian was identified as the successful father using gene sequencing.
It weighed 157 grams early on Friday, a 16 per cent gain in about 42 hours, officials said.





















Ashley Madison founder steps down



music

Noel Biderman in between married couple
Noel Biderman (m) has left Ashley Madison's parent company Avid Life Media with immediate effect.
A statement released by the firm said his departure was "in the best interest of the company".
The senior management team will take over leadership until a new chief executive is appointed, it added.
Details of more than 33m accounts were stolen from the website, which offers people the chance to have an affair.
Ashley MAdison

"We are actively adjusting to the attack on our business and members' privacy by criminals. We will continue to provide access to our unique platforms for our worldwide members," the firm's statement said.
"We are actively co-operating with international law enforcement in an effort to bring those responsible for the theft of proprietary member and business information to justice."
Canadian parent company Avid Life Media, which owns the site, has offered a reward of C$500,000 (£240,000) for information about the Ashley Madison hackers








origina post found herhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/34090372

Are these England's most beautiful pubs?



music


Biggin Hall Hotel, Coventry
Image captionBiggin Hall Hotel, Coventry - now Grade II listed

They may not have a historical pedigree stretching back centuries, but 20 pubs across England built between World War One and World War Two have just been deemed important enough to be granted listed status.
In his 1946 essay Moon Under Water, writer George Orwell described his ideal fictional pub.
He wrote that it would be "uncompromisingly Victorian" - offering "no glass-topped tables or other modern miseries... no sham roof-beams, inglenooks or plastic panels masquerading as oak".
The latest list of pubs to be granted listed status may not have been to Orwell's taste. Certainly, there's a decent sprinkling of mock Tudor beams.

Daylight Inn at Petts Wood in south-east London

Built in 1935, The Daylight Inn at Petts Wood in south-east London was named after a local resident - William Willett - who campaigned for daylight saving.

Daylight Inn at Petts Wood in south-east London

The mock Tudor look was very popular at the time - adorning the exteriors of three-bed bay-windowed semis and parades of shops.
When this next photograph was taken The Daylight Inn was only a few years old.

Daylight Inn at Petts Wood in south-east London in late 1930s

At least 5,000 pubs were built in England during the inter-war years.
This is the lounge bar at The Berkeley Hotel, Scunthorpe.

The lounge bar at the Berkeley Hotel, Scunthorpe

The pub actually opened just after the start of World War Two, in 1940.

Hall and stairs at the Berkeley Hotel, Scunthorpe

Historic England, which recommended that the government list these pubs, describes The Berkeley as a fine example of a "roadhouse" inn - with a large car park to attract passing customers.

Berkeley Hotel, Scunthorpe

The 1920s and 30s saw the growth of the "improved" pub movement.
Breweries were eager to widen their customer bases, and cut the perceived links that many establishments had with drunkenness and debauchery - a hangover from the Victorian era.
When it was rebuilt in 1929 - in addition to the curved wooden bar pictured below - the Duke William in Stoke-on-Trent featured ladies toilets for the first time.

Duke William bar, Stoke-on-Trent
Duke William pub, Stoke-on-Trent

Improved pubs were generally built on a bigger scale - and often tried to offer activities beyond drinking.
At Alum Rock in Birmingham, the Brookhill Tavern had a large garden to try to attract families.

Garden at the Brookhill Tavern, Birmingham - historic image

The Mitchells and Butlers Brewery - which was built it in 1927 - was at the forefront of the improved pub movement in the Midlands.

Brookhill Tavern, Alum Rock, Birmingham

Staying in Birmingham, and with mock Tudor in spades, the Black Horse was built in 1929 by Davenports Brewery.

Black Horse pub, Birmingham

Situated on the busy A38 south of the city centre, it has a grand black and white frontage.

Inside the Black Horse pub, Birmingham

Davenports tried to offer customers a real sense of occasion and escapism.
It was already listed, but has now been upgraded from Grade II to Grade II*.

Inside the Black Horse pub, Birmingham

The White Hart at Grays in Essex was built in 1938 by Charringtons Brewery - one of the most prolific improved pub builders of the time.

White Hart, Grays, Essex

Inside the White Hart there is an impressive oak bar which stretches through five rooms.

White Hart, Grays, Essex

The next image below shows The Wheatsheaf, at Sutton Leach near St Helens on Merseyside.

The Wheatsheaf, Sutton Leach, near St Helens, Merseyside

On day the pub opened in 1938 - according to local Frank Baumber - a big crowd of people had gathered to collect a promised pint of free beer.
But they were met by campaigners warning them against entering the "house of the devil".

The Wheatsheaf, Sutton Leach, near St Helens, Merseyside

In Norwich, the Gatehouse - pictured below - was built in 1934 in the Arts and Crafts style.
There is a chequered pattern on its curved wall - made of flints alternating with pressed concrete blocks.

Gatehouse pub, Norwich

The building has changed little over the years - the chequered pattern is still there today.

Gatehouse pub, Norwich

Inside the Gatehouse, the bar has the feeling of a small-scale baronial hall.

Inside the Gatehouse pub, Norwich

Many pubs in the inter-war years were designed in what became known as Brewer's Tudor-style - intended to evoke romantic notions of "merrie England".
This wood-panelled inglenook fireplace is in the bar of the Biggin Hall Hotel in Coventry.

Biggin Hall Hotel, Coventry

At Brixton in south London, The Duke of Edinburgh was built in 1936 by the Truman Brewery.
Compared with the mock Tudor style, it has a relatively plain, red brick facade.

The Duke of Edinburgh pub, Brixton, London

North of the Thames in Hoxton, the fairly plain 1935 exterior of The Stag's Head belies the beautiful surviving features inside.

Stag's Head, Hoxton, London
Stag's Head, Hoxton, London

With it's curving roof, The Rose and Crown at Stoke Newington in London was built in 1930.

Rose and Crown, Stoke Newington, London

It is one of only a few pubs to still have a special ceiling made of Vitrolite - an opaque pigmented glass used to try to defy the notion that pubs were dingy.

Rose and Crown, Stoke Newington, London

Just a mile or so away, The Royal Oak has the famous Columbia Road Flower Market on its doorstep - and it too has a Vitrolite ceiling.

Royal Oak pub, east London

Built in 1923, it was used as a backdrop in BBC TV comedy series, Goodnight Sweetheart - and played a starring role in the British gangster film, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

Royal Oak pub, east London

The Golden Heart at Spitalfields in east London was built in 1936 - just down the road from Truman's Black Eagle Brewery on Brick Lane.
Emblazoned with a rare Truman's neon-lit sign, the pub became associated with the artistic vibrancy of the area in the 1980s and 90s.
It was the chosen local of artists such as Tracey Emin and Sarah Lucas.

Golden Heart pub, Spitalfields, London

All the pubs featured have been listed at Grade II - except the Black Horse, Birmingham, which has been upgraded from Grade II to Grade II*.
There are now 93 listed pubs in England built during the inter-war years.