easy walk: October 2010

Sunday, 31 October 2010

Extreme £1.3 million Pagani Zonda hits the UK

Italian hypercar specialist, Pagani, will pull the wraps off its £1.3 million Zonda Cinque at the MPH Show on November 4.
This will be the first appearance of the car in the UK. It's one of only five in existence and is the final model to leave Pagani's factory.
Power comes from a monstrous 678bhp Mercedes-Benz AMG V12 engine, which makes the car capable of 0-62mph in only 3.4 seconds. Top speed is quoted as 217mph.
Changes over and above the standard Zonda (which is extreme enough as it is) include a stronger chassis made from carbon fibre and titanium, a redesigned exhaust and a number of carbon fibre air intakes and fins all over the body.
The MPH show will take place at Earls Court in London from November 4-7. It will then move to the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham from November 11-14.
In addition to the appearance of the Zonda Cinque and all manner of high performance and rare classic cars, the MPH show will also include Top Gear Live. Clarkson, Hammond and May will take to the stage for their usual antics, this time in front of a live audience. See mphshow.co.uk for more details.
Jack Carfrae

What happened to the ‘Halloween’ cast?

The night of Trick-or-Treating is upon us, so it’s a perfect time to take a look at what the cast of the hugely influential horror film ‘Halloween’ have been up to.

Jamie Lee Curtis
Some saw it as a canny move on director John Carpenter’s part to cast Jamie Lee Curtis – daughter of the original stalker victim, ‘Psycho’s Janet Leigh – in the lead role. However, that is something of a disservice to Curtis, who proved she could convey a potent blend of vulnerability and inner strength when needed.

She was dubbed the Scream Queen after starring in other horrors including ‘Halloween II', ‘Terror Train’ and ‘Prom Night’. When those horror victim roles dried up, she showcased her comedic talents in ‘Trading Places’ and ‘A Fish Called Wanda’.

Married to comedy great Christopher Guest, other notable films include James Cameron’s action blockbuster ‘True Lies’ and ‘Freaky Friday’, in which she appeared alongside Lindsay Lohan. Curtis reprised the role of ‘Halloween’s Laurie Strode in later years - 1998’s ‘H20’ and 2002’s ‘Halloween Resurrection’. She recently starred in comedy ‘You Again’.

Donald Pleasance
Pleasance had a huge amount of screen and stage time under his belt in 1978, with his two biggies being ‘The Great Escape’ and playing Bond’s bald baddie Blofeld in ‘You Only Live Twice’. However, it’s the role of Dr Sam Loomis, the man obsessed with tracking down crazed killer Michael Myers, that he is most famous for. He played the character in five of the movies in the series.

Sadly, he died in 1995 at the age of 75.

Nick Castle
One of Carpenter’s closest friends, Castle was only too happy to put on a mask and terrorise the film’s victims, with little thought that he was creating one of horror's greatest screen villains.

He was the first actor to play Michael Myers, but wouldn’t be the last, as five more portrayed the killer in subsequent films. However, while it was Castle's one and only appearance as Myers, it was actor Tony Moran whose face we all saw when Laurie rips off the killer’s mask (Moran is very much a regular on the convention circuit nowadays).

Castle’s acting career pretty much ground to a halt there and then, but he went on to direct several films, including the live-action version of the cartoon ‘Dennis’. Castle also co-wrote ‘Escape to New York’ and Steven Spielberg’s ‘Hook’.

P.J. Soles
P.J. Soles starred in Brian De Palma’s 'Carrie', before going on to be cast as Linda in Carpenter’s ‘Halloween’. With her constant wails of “Totally!”, her screen death was very much welcome – but at least her character was a memorable, if slightly annoying one. She has been an ever-present figure on the small screen – although she did return to the horror genre in cinemas in Rob Zombie’s ‘The Devil’s Rejects’ in 2005. (Zombie, of course, would go on to direct the much-maligned 'Halloween' remake two years later.)

Soles was married to Dennis Quaid from 1978-1983.

Nancy Loomis
Nancy Kyes (Loomis was her stage name) played another of Laurie’s friends/fresh meat for Myers.
She had a cameo in the second film, and appeared as a completely different character in the third one. Before ‘Halloween’, Loomis/Kyes appeared in Carpenter’s ‘Assault on Precinct 13’, and went on to reunite with the director on ‘The Fog’. She has now retired from acting and works as a sculptor.

Charles Cyphers
Charles Cyphers played Sheriff Leigh Brackett in the movie, teaming up with Dr Loomis in a bid to track down Myers. He reprised the role for ‘Halloween II’. He had previously worked with Carpenter on ‘Assault on Precinct 13’, and would work with him again on ‘The Fog’ and ‘Escape From New York’.
Cyphers has worked constantly on the small screen, appearing in a number of shows including ‘Sliders’, ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ and ‘Seinfeld’. He has a number of projects in the pipeline, including the horror film ‘Stingy Jack’.

Bomb was flown on passenger planes

One of the two parcel bombs posted in Yemen was transported on two separate passenger planes before it was discovered, Qatar Airlines has confirmed. Skip related content

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The explosive device travelled from the Yemeni capital Sana'a to Doha International Airport before being loaded into another plane and on to Dubai.

The devices, understood to contain the powerful explosive material PETN, were found in Dubai and at East Midlands Airport on Friday, after a tip off from Saudi intelligence. UK investigators at first declared the device at East Midlands "safe" before carrying out a re-examination as a "precaution".
Meanwhile, US officials have said Saudi-born bomb-maker, Ibrahim Hassan al-Asiri, is the prime suspect for constructing the devices. Al-Asiri is also believed to have been responsible for making the device involved in the failed Christmas Day bomb plot over Detroit last year.
Qatar Airways said in a statement on their website: "The explosives discovered were of a sophisticated nature whereby they could not be detected by S-ray screening or trained sniffer dogs. The explosives were only discovered after an intelligence tip off."
The difficulty of detecting the devices was also raised in the UK.
Lord Carlile, who reviews the Government's anti-terrorism legislation, told the BBC: "The one weakness I would identify from what we must regard as a success in recent days is that the technical equipment used at East Midlands Airport apparently did not detect the explosives at the first attempt. So we must have a look at the technology to ensure that it's absolutely up-to-date."
Home Secretary Theresa May the terrorists would not have known exactly where the deadly device was to strike. She also appeared to pour cold water on calls for security to be loosened for air travellers, insisting there was a "battle" going on with terrorists and it was "important" to have rigorous checks.
Yemeni police later released Hanan al-Samawi, 22, a female computer engineering student suspected of mailing the packages. She was detained after her telephone number appeared on one of the packages. Police said the release was conditional and she could still be taken in for further questioning.
According to a Yemeni security official, at least five other suspects have been arrested and interrogated over who might be behind the mail bombs and a number of employees of the shipping companies, including two from FedEx, are being investigated.

OAP dies after 'domestic incident'

An investigation has been launched after an elderly woman died in a domestic incident, police said. Skip related content

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Teenagers face third night on ship Enlarge photo

The Fryderyk Chopin came into difficulties on Friday 93 miles south west of the Isles of Scilly.

The 180ft long Polish vessel lost its two masts in high winds with 47 people onboard including 36 cadets, aged between 14 and 16.
The Nova Spiro - a large fishing vessel from Newlyn, Cornwall - began a tow operation on Friday night.
It was bringing the ship towards the shore and was expected to arrive in Falmouth at noon on Sunday, a Coastguard spokesman said.
However, due to extremely poor weather conditions, the Nova Spiro was forced to slow down from four knots to just one.
The new arrival time for the vessels was estimated to be between 6pm on Sunday night and 2am on Monday morning. However, instead of making the teenagers disembark the stricken ship in the dark, it was decided to wait until early Monday morning.
A spokesman for the Coastguard said he believed they would be arriving in Falmouth at about 7.30am after spending the night attached to deep-water anchorage's near to the coastal town. The ship is currently 34 miles out, he said.
The master of the Polish vessel requested immediate assistance at 8:03 on Friday morning stating they were experiencing severe weather conditions of Gale Force 9 winds.
Other boats managed to battle their way through the bad weather to find the ship with rigging hanging over the side.

Probe As Woman's Body Found In Brook

A woman's body has been found in a brook at a country park. Skip related content

Her death is being treated as unexplained while police work out who she was and how she died.
Officers sealed off the area in Sheldon Country Park, Birmingham following the discovery at 12.45pm yesterday.
The woman is white, with brown shoulder-length hair and wearing black trainer-type shoes, blue jeans and a black jacket.
Police appealed for information from the public, adding that a post-mortem examination would take place in due course.
Sheldon Country Park covers an area of just over 300 acres, comprising open grassland, wetlands, old hedgerows and some mature woodland.
In a separate incident police launched a murder investigation following the death of a teenage boy who was stabbed in a busy recreation ground.
Officers were called to Kingsway recreation ground in Luton at 3.10pm yesterday after receiving a report of a serious assault.
The 17-year-old victim was found with stab wounds to his body and was taken to hospital, where he died shortly afterwards.

Sunday, 10 October 2010

Sculpture unveiled to celebrate John Lennon's life

A sculpture was unveiled today to celebrate the life of John Lennon, on what would have been the music legend's 70th birthday. Skip related content

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Smoke rises from burning Lithuanian passenger and car ferry Lisco Gloria in Baltic Sea …More Enlarge photo

Some 28 people were injured and 23 were still in hospital, a police spokesman said. All the injuries were light and most were from smoke inhalation, he said.

The passenger and car ferry Lisco Gloria was en route from the northern city of Kiel to the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda when an explosion occurred on the upper deck around midnight, said the German Central Command for Maritime Emergencies based in Cuxhaven.
A technical defect in one of the trucks on the ferry may have started the fire, the police spokesman said.
"There are currently no indications at all that this could have been a terror attack," the maritime command spokesman said. "Of course the police will investigate this further, but it seems to have been an accident."
The ferry Deutschland and a police vessel had been nearby at the time of the incident and came to the rescue of passengers either swimming in the water or clinging to life rafts.
There were 204 passengers and 32 crew on board the ship, according to the passenger list, said DFDS Seaways, the Danish company that owns the Lisco Gloria.
They came from Germany, Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Denmark and Argentina, the police spokesman said.
The ferry Deutschland transported the remaining passengers and crew back to Kiel, where they would be questioned by police as part of an investigation into the incident, according to the DFDS website.
Firefighters and rescue vessels remained with the stricken Lisco Gloria, a 200-metre vessel.
Specialists entered the vessel and set anchor in Danish waters, stopping the ferry from drifting, the maritime emergencies command said.
"The vessel is ablaze ... and it is realistic to expect that it will burn the whole day," the spokesman said. "There is currently no danger for other ships."
Rescue efforts now focussed on cooling the vessel to prevent the fire from spreading further and the ship from sinking.
The Lisco Gloria, built in 2002, operated on the route between Klaipeda and Kiel three times a week, according to the DFDS Seaways website. It had space for more than 300 passengers in 73 cabins and managed a speed of 22 knots.
(Reporting by Christian Goetz and Annika Breidthardt; Editing by Janet Lawrence)

Premier League - City sign 'new Messi' from Barca

Manchester City are close to clinching the signing of Gai Assulin, dubbed the "new Lionel Messi", from Barcelona.

Sculpture unveiled to honour Lennon

A sculpture has been unveiled to celebrate the life of John Lennon, on what would have been the music legend's 70th birthday. Skip related content

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Pollution: Hungary toxic sludge spill reaches the Danube FLASH GRAPHIC Enlarge photo

More photos: Floods

They were evacuated at dawn from Kolontar, a village close to the reservoir that burst in western Hungary Monday, killing seven people, injuring scores more and poisoning rivers in the country's worst ecological disaster.

The despairing and angry villagers were taken by bus to Ajka, the nearest major town which is 160 kilometres (100 miles) from the capital Budapest. Many placed the blame on MAL Hungarian Aluminium Production and Trade Company, which runs the plant whose sludge had swept through their homes.
"I feel really angry at the company because I feel they're responsible." said Jozsef Lengyel, who was just released from hospital on Thursday after being treated for burns on his lower body.
"I feel they think I'm stupid when they say this sludge isn't dangerous, because I've been burned up to my waist," the evacuated villager told AFP.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrived in Ajka and admitted that another flood of toxic sludge seemed inevitable.
"The reservoir is so damaged that it is likely that it will give way for a second time," Orban said.
"If the dyke of the reservoir gives way, about 500,000 cubic metres will be released. Several cracks are visible from the north side of the reservoir," he said.
The first flood on October 4 released 1.1 million cubic metres (38.8 million cubic feet) of foul-smelling, blood-red toxic sludge into villages and rivers.
Security forces also warned thousands of villagers in nearby Devecser to be ready to move if necessary, officials said.
"The evacuation of Kolontar began at six in the morning (0400 GMT) after we noticed that the dam started weakening at tank number 10," Disaster Relief Team chief Tibor Dobson told AFP.
One of the new cracks was seven centimetres (three inches) wide, officials said.
The entire area was under surveillance, with helicopters with heat-detecting cameras in the air and 650 policemen on the ground coordinating rescue operations, the national police's website said.
Some of the evacuees were to stay with friends and relatives and those with nowhere else to go would be put up in the town's sports complex, officials said.
"There is despair and sadness, but no panic," said Orban of the mood among evacuees in Ajka.
Work was under way to build a new dam in Kolontar, in case of a new flood, to save those houses that were undamaged in the previous disaster, the Hungarian News Agency MTI reported.
The dam would be four to five metres (around 13 to 16 feet) high and made of earth and rocks, and would be ready in 48 hours.
The death toll from Monday's inundation of toxic sludge rose to seven on Friday, with one person still missing. The dead included a 14-month-old girl.
Around 150 people have been injured, many suffering deep burns, and include some of the first firefighters on the scene after the flood.
The prime minister meanwhile said there would be "consequences" after the unprecedented disaster, raising the possibility of action against the company running the plant. He also indicated that the Kolontar villagers would be provided for.
"Our house was the second next to the river, and everything has been destroyed in it. We've been told we can have a new house, either in Kolontar or elsewhere," Lengyel's daughter, Noemi, who was with the rest of her evacuated family in the Ajka sports centre, told AFP.
Nature protection organisation WWF meanwhile said Saturday that the reservoir had been leaking for months, publishing photographs on its website dating back to June.
"This new evidence of the degraded state of the walls and significant leakage more than three months before the incident should be cause for an urgent investigation, not just of this disaster but of the state of Hungary?s other toxic sludge ponds," Gebor Figeczky, the acting head of WWF's Hungarian branch, was quoted as saying.
"This points to neglect and a failure of regulation as a prime contributing factor to this disaster," added Figeczky.
The pollution already wiped out all life in the smaller Marcal tributary and experts say it will take up to five years for that river to recover.
Officials have insisted there was little risk for the Danube, Europe's second-longest river after the Volga.
Water samples taken Friday in the Danube above Budapest revealed a marked decrease in pollution levels with near-normal alkali, but the ecosystem of the Danube is still threatened.
The countries bordering the Danube, including Slovakia, Croatia, Serbia and Romania, have started regular checks of the river's water quality.
The Hungarian government has set up a website to deliver information about the disaster at www.redsludge.bm.hu.

Briton wins record £113m jackpot

The winning ticket of a £113 million EuroMillions jackpot was bought in Britain, breaking the record for the country's largest ever lottery win, Camelot has confirmed. Skip related content

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Nobody has yet claimed the prize after matching the winning numbers 9, 30, 35, 39, 46, with lucky stars 6 and 8.

Until Friday's draw, the largest lottery winner in the UK was an anonymous player who scooped £84.4million on the EuroMillions draw in May.
It is not known whether the latest overnight millionaire was an individual or a syndicate. Camelot has not said where they come from in the UK.
A spokeswoman said: "This is fantastic news - we're absolutely delighted to have such a massive UK win.
"This is the biggest lottery jackpot prize ever paid out to an individual in this country. We have plenty of champagne on ice and are looking forward to welcoming the lucky ticket holder to the National Lottery millionaires' club."
Nigel Page and Justine Laycock, from Barnsley, Gloucestershire, previously broke the record in February after winning £56 million on EuroMillions.
After the win, Mr Page, 43, and 41-year-old Miss Laycock, moved in to a £4 million environmentally-friendly mansion - leaving their old £400,000 home to their cleaner Denise Kelso.
The latest winner has defied odds of 76,275,360 to one to guess all seven numbers correctly.
They will now be able to enjoy the life of a rock star or Hollywood actor, with wealth to eclipse the likes of Bee Gees Barry and Robin Gibb, Rod Stewart and David Bowie

Thursday, 7 October 2010

Commonwealth Games - Athletes village accident injures three

Three Ugandan officials, including their chef de mission, spent a night in hospital after an accident during a security check at the Delhi Commonwealth Games.

Wilson Tumwine and two aides were hospitalised after their vehicle hit a barrier at the entry to the Games Village around 22:00 local time.
"The car carrying Uganda officials met with an accident at the village gate barrier," Commonwealth Games Federation president Michael Fennell said.
"The security barrier was raised unexpectedly which caused damage and injuries to the officials
"We regret the incident and it's being investigated."
Games organising committee secretary general Lalit Bhanot said the officials were first taken to the polyclinic inside the Games Village and then to a city hospital.
Tumwine and one of his aides needed stitches, but the three were released.
"I am shocked and surprised. But I am fine now," Tumwine said. "I am going to raise the issue at the chef de missions meeting tomorrow."
The Delhi Games endured a chaotic run up to the event where corruption, shoddy construction, health and security issues plagued organisers

Casting Outrages

With Superman bosses recently announcing that Zack Snyder is to helm the 'Man of Steel' reboot, we urge him to cast with extreme caution. As we have learned from films like ‘Batman’ and ‘Casino Royale’, there is no one louder than an outraged fan boy.

Here are some casting decisions that had irate fans furiously venting their anger, but were proved wrong in the end.

Daniel Craig - James Bond
The knives were certainly out for Daniel Craig upon the announcement that he would replace Pierce Brosnan as James Bond. Clive Owen, Hugh Jackman and Sam Worthington were all mooted for the role, but the man who eventually ousted the popular Brosnan was seen as a poor choice by the series’ fans.

Overlooking his fine performances in a number of films, including ‘Road to Perdition’ and ‘Layer Cake’ (which saw him play a character that had Bond-esque charm), they instead wailed their disgust at a blonde man playing the suave superspy – spawning the website danielcraigisnotbond.com that is still running today.

He got back at his detractors with the success of ‘Casino Royale’, and went on to don the famed tuxedo in 'Quantum of Solace', but it remains to be seen if Craig will come back for a third attempt after the uncertainty surrounding MGM studios.

Michael Keaton - Batman
What makes the fury that surrounded Michael Keaton’s casting as Batman interesting was that it happened pre-internet. Nowadays, any casting news in these types of films becomes heavily scrutinised, with most outbursts ending up on forums. Essentially, though, it’s just film fans venting their frustrations in the easiest way possible, and it happens so frequently now, few people take any notice.

In the late 80s however, over 50,000 letters were sent to Warner Bros, urging them to rethink the casting of Michael Keaton who was famed for his eccentric performances in ‘Night Shift’ and ‘Beetlejuice’.

It turned out to be much ado about nothing, as the protestors (branded “DC Comics fundamentalists” by Keaton) would eventually rate his performance as one of the best Bruce Wayne/Batman portrayals on-screen.

Heath Ledger - The Joker
Fans wanted Robin Williams or 'Back to the Future's Crispin Glover for 'The Joker' - the main villain in Christopher Nolan's follow-up to the well received 'Batman Begins'. News then that Heath Ledger was cast raised a few eyebrows to say the least.

Predictably, internet forums went into meltdown at the casting news - complaining that he wasn't the right size, didn't have the crazy shtick needed for the part etc. However, those fears were allayed as soon as the film's trailer aired. A short preview of Ledger's performance as the intense psycho clown elevated the film from interesting, to essential viewing.

Robert Pattinson - Edward Cullen
It might be hard to believe now but news that a relatively unknown British actor was cast as the hugely ‘swoonsome’ vampire Edward Cullen, didn’t go down well with the fans. At. All.

Pattinson said after filming, “There was a huge, universal backlash about my being cast as Edward Cullen. Seventy five thousand ‘Twilight’ fans signed a petition against me.”

Oh, what a fickle world we live in.

Renee Zellweger - Bridget Jones
Fans of Helen Fielding’s column and the subsequent book, about the adventures of a frumpy single woman in London, wanted Kate Winslet to star as Bridget Jones. Instead, they got a stick thin Texan.

They feared the much-loved character would be turned into a soya-drinking Hollywood-looking starlet. What they got, however, was a slightly frumpy Zellweger perfecting an English accent and an appealing desire to make a fool out of herself when the script called for it.

Consequently, she was Oscar-nominated for the role.

Tom Cruise - Lestat de Lioncourt
Before there was Edward Cullen there was Lestat – a seductive and passionate vampire that captivated millions of readers' hearts.

The film adaption of Anne Rice’s ‘Interview with the Vampire’ was a lavish and big budget spectacle, and to justify its expense, a star was needed. And a star they got. He may have been the biggest name on the planet, but Tom Cruise’s casting was initially met with disgruntlement from fans of the book series and its author – who felt the casting decision was based on box office performances, rather than doing the source material justice.

However, Anne Rice publically apologised after seeing the film, conceding that she couldn’t imagine any other actor playing the part.

Commonwealth Games - Swimming probe planned

The Commonwealth Games Federation has promised an immediate investigation into the water quality at the Delhi Games swimming venue following reports of swimmers falling sick.

CGF President Michael Fennell said on Thursday the federation had not received a specific complaint but was awaiting reports from the teams.
Media have reported that a significant number of English athletes had been hit by "Delhi belly" and a diarrhoea bug.
"We must handle this immediately," Fennell said.
"If there is something that is unsafe, you can't swim in that water. We have to deal with it. It's a matter we have to deal with the greatest of urgency."
Fennell said measures had been taken to ensure the safety of food and water.
"We have ensured that the water quality is tested and food and all of that ... We are concerned if athletes are not well and can't perform to their best.
"These are matters that are investigated with each team and they will give us a report," he added.
An English team spokeswoman said they had prepared for worse.
"We have 541 athletes and officials in Delhi and over the 28 days since the first ones arrived, 7-10 per cent have suffered a mild stomach bug which has lasted for 24 hours, requiring no treatment and has not prevented any athlete from missing training or competition.
"This figure is lower than what we had planned for."
Reuters

Ten of the most expensive cooking ingredients in the world

White truffles and Beluga caviar don’t feature on your average restaurant menu – but they are among the most expensive delicacies money can buy. Together with 8 other rare and exotic delicacies, they make up this list of the 10 most expensive ingredients in the world.
Beluga caviar
These tiny, black wild sturgeon eggs are sold in small quantities, although the cost per kilo works out at around £4,000. Beluga caviar is considered the height of decadence and can be spread onto cocktail blinis or eaten with a spoon straight from the tin. While caviar is available from other species of fish, Beluga is especially prized.

Caciocavallo Podolico Italian cheese
This semi-hard cheese is made from the milk of the ancient breed of Podolico cows, which produce a small amount of milk per season. The milk is very high in fat. The short season runs from spring to the beginning of summer each year and it is for this reason that the cheese is difficult to find and consequently expensive. The cheeses are hung to mature and the effect of gravity gives them a pear-shaped appearance. Caciocavallo Podolico is currently available to a lucky few at around £30 per kilo. This compares to the average supermarket cheddar, which is priced at a more modest £7.50 per kilo.

The Alba white truffle
Black truffles are now widely available, but no truffle is more elusive and more prized than the Alba white truffle. Knobbled and pale-looking, it is found in the Piedmont region of Northern Italy. While black truffles currently sell for around £189 per kilo, Alba truffles can demand a staggering £6,000 per kilo. They are used to add a woody, pungent aroma to egg dishes, pasta, meats and even pizza.
Blowfish, pufferfish or fugu
Many people recognise fugu as that cute little fish that “puffs” up when it is threatened. Although fugu is a long-standing delicacy in Japanese cuisine, parts of the fish can be highly poisonous and must not be eaten. A chef must be trained and granted a special licence to serve the fish, as eating it when it has not been prepared correctly can prove fatal. Consequently its sale is banned within the European Union but it is served in other parts of the world, including the US, South Korea and Japan. The Times reported in 2004 that the cost of a small fugu meal in Tokyo started at 13,000 Yen (£65), making it one of the most exclusive and expensive fishes eaten. Chefs like Mukoujima Hashimoto serve the fish in various forms including ‘Hot Fugu Porridge’, ‘Smoked Fugu Fins in Sake’ and ’Fugu Fried Ribs’.

Saffron
Saffron is made from the stamens from the Crocus sativus flower. At the supermarket, expect to pay around £3.50-£4.00 for a few wispy stems (around £800 per kilo), although a little saffron does go a long way. Some recipes suggest soaking the saffron in a little water and then adding it, water and all, to dishes, while others recommend just dropping the stems in whole to infuse. Saffron turns the dish a characteristic yellow colour and is a basic ingredient when making paella.
Bluefin tuna
The sale of bluefin tuna continues to prove controversial, and various environmental groups campaign for either a ban on bluefin fishing completely or for much tighter restrictions to be put in place. Nonetheless, bluefin is still eaten, and is highly prized - particularly in Japan, where it is usually served as sashimi. The BBC reported in January 2010 that one 232kg bluefin was sold for the princely sum of $175,000 (£109,000) at Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish Market.
Hop asparagus
Dark green and leafy, these shoots are the vegetable of the hop plant, most commonly used in brewing. Full of antioxidants and iron, these young shoots are thought to help ease symptoms of the menopause and could even help fight against cancer, although their season is short and they are difficult to get hold of. They are best eaten steamed or blanched quickly in hot water to preserve their nutrients, and are said to taste like a combination of asparagus and spinach. The Times reported in 2009 that hop asparagus has been known to fetch around £300 per kilo.
Kobe or Wagyu beef
Real, authentic Kobe beef comes from the Wagyu species of cow that has been bred and slaughtered in the Kobe area of Japan. The Wagyu breed has a large amount of fat marbling in the flesh, making the meat especially tender to eat. However, all this comes at a price. The Sun reported in 2008 that Burger King intended to make Kobe beef burgers and sell them at a cost of £85 each. Because Japanese Kobe beef is so difficult to get hold of and expensive to export around the world, Kobe-style ranches have been set up in the US, Chile and Australia using the same Wagyu breed. Although not strictly authentic, but derived from the same cattle as in Japan, Kobe-style beef can still fetch high prices for its quality – online, one 8oz Kobe-style fillet steak from Chile costs £30.
Matcha green tea powder
Usually sold in small 100g tins or less, matcha is finely ground green tea. High in antioxidants and also caffeine, it can be used in baking, making drinks and for flavouring ice cream and other desserts. For the privilege of opening a tin of matcha and watching the light powder puff up as you do so, get ready to pay around £120-£150 per kilo.
Edible gold leaf
For those who want the crème de la crème of sprinkles, edible gold leaf can be sprinkled or layered onto food. It is made from 23-carat gold and has been licensed as a food additive (E175) by the European Union. Immensely fragile and available in the form of gold dust, flakes and gold leaf, edible gold is incredibly light and has no taste. It can be sprinkled into glasses of champagne, over cakes or on savoury foods. In leaf form, it can also be wrapped over chocolates and other foods, for show-stopping displays of extravagance. A glass jar containing a tiny 150mg of 23-carat edible gold flakes can be bought online for around £16.95.

Wednesday, 6 October 2010

Briton drowns after water park ride

A Briton drowned after a ride on a rapids attraction at a water park in Florida, it has been reported. Skip related content

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Ivan Henson, 68, from Manchester, died after being knocked unconscious on the Roa's Rapids ride at Seaworld Orlando's Aquatica, The Sun reported.

A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: "We can confirm the death of a British national, Ivan Henson, in Orlando, Florida, on October 4, 2010.
"Next of kin have been informed and the British Consulate in Orlando are providing consular assistance to the family."
The theme park's website describes the ride as an "awesome adventure through a roaring sea of high tides, swirling whirlies and gushing geysers."
A spokesman for the Foreign Office said later that Mr Henson was originally from the South East of England.
The attraction was evacuated for an hour as paramedics tried to save him.
He was later pronounced dead at the nearby Dr Phillips Hospital, in Orlando.
Seaworld issued a statement saying: "Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our guests and employees.
"Our thoughts are with the family during this difficult time."

Commonwealth Games - Aussie wrestler loses silver for middle finger salute

An Australian wrestler has lost out on a Commonwealth Games silver medal after making an obscene hand gesture at judges.

Hassene Fkiri was furious after being disqualified from the gold medal bout in the Greco-Roman wrestling for repeated dangerous play.

Indian media reported that he received three warnings before being disqualified, but was outraged at the decision in front of a boisterous and partisan crowd. Fkiri refused to shake hands with Indian opponent Anil Kumar and raised his middle finger at the judges as he stormed out of the arena in disgust.
The Tunisian-born wrestler would have been handed silver despite his disqualification, but following his gesture he was thrown out of the event completely and lost the medal.
The 36-year-old, who represented Tunisia at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney before switching nationalities, will make a personal apology to officials and his opponent on Wednesday - but it will be too late for him to claim his medal.
"Fkiri will today visit the wrestling venue to personally apologise for his actions to the opponent, referee, judges and officials involved," said Australia team spokesperson John Gatfield.
Following the disqualification South Africa's Kakoma Hugues Bella-Lufu was upgraded from bronze to silver and Canada's Eric Feunekes from fourth to bronze.
Fkiri will be restricted to the athletes' village for the rest of his time at the 'friendly Games' and on his return to Australia has agreed to undertake community service with young wrestlers once a week for a year.
"The athlete acknowledged that he had been wrong," Gatfield added.
"He is 36 years old and has never shown any unsportsmanlike behaviour ever.
"He represented Tunisia in the Sydney Olympics and was so determined to win gold for his new country Australia that he lost it."
Gatfield said no formal warning had been given to other athletes in the team on how to conduct themselves.
"The Australian athletes know how to behave. We don't expect it to happen again."
Bad-boy cyclist Shane Perkins then became the second Australian to get into trouble for making rude gestures at the Commonwealth Games after reacting angrily to his disqualification from the keirin event.
The pre-race favourite in the absence of Britain's Olympic champion Chris Hoy, Perkins failed to reach the gold medal race-off after being disqualified for dangerous riding as two of his rivals crashed.
At the conclusion of the race for seventh to 12th positions, he gave a two-fingered salute to officials.
Eurosport / Reuters

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Have your say: Weather

Sun worshippers seeking autumn rays will enjoy unseasonably warm temperatures with the mercury set to peak at 22C on Friday.

People in the north east of England and Yorkshire will enjoy a respite from the downpours - they have already seen the average rainfall for October.
Aisling Creevey, forecaster for MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "There is a warm front moving across the country on Friday. There will be cloud for a while and some showers but it will be unseasonably warm.
"The maximum temperature in central London will be 22C and northern areas should peak at 18C. In Scotland there is a maximum of 16C and Wales is looking at 21C so we should have some very nice autumn weather."
Ms Creevey said the warm, dry weather should continue into Saturday.
She said: "It looks completely dry on Saturday. We are expecting all this warm air from the continent which should be nice.
"There is going to be some mist and fog in the morning - particularly in coastal areas of the north east of England and eastern Scotland, where it might take some time to clear.
"Southern England will have the best of the sunshine."
On Sunday temperatures are expected to peak at 18C in London and Wales

Gamu 'must return to Zimbabwe'

Rejected X Factor hopeful Gamu Nhengu must leave the UK voluntarily, the UK Border Agency has said.
The 18-year-old singer was allowed to stay in the country as a dependent while her mother, Nokuthula Ngazana, studied at university.
But the visa has now run out and the family's application to remain in the UK has been rejected as they did not meet all the criteria set down by the Home Office.
They must now leave the UK voluntarily or face deportation to their native Zimbabwe.
A spokesman for the Home Office said the decision to axe the student from X Factor was the "business" of the television show. He could not say whether the omission by judge Cheryl Cole had been decided after talks between immigration officials and the programme's bosses.
A UK Border Agency spokesman said: "The applications made by Ms Ngazana and her family were considered in line with the published immigration rules.
"Ms Ngazana's application was refused as it did not meet all of the conditions for approval. Her family, who had applied as her dependants, were therefore also refused."
So far more than 210,000 fans have signed up to a Facebook page called Gamu Should Have Got Through, protesting against the decision by Cherylon Sunday to leave Gamu out of the final 12.
At least one of the rejected contestants will be given a lifeline at the weekend as a wild card on Saturday night's programme.
Show bosses have denied reports that Cheryl was influenced by fears that Gamu's visa was due to run out. A spokeswoman for the ITV1 talent show said: "Gamu's visa being processed was not the reason that she didn't make the final 12."

Monday, 4 October 2010

Peter Andre shows off his bare finger after removing tattoo of Katie Price's name

It was meant to be a lasting reminder of their love.
But Peter Andre has undergone expensive surgery to remove a tattoo of Katie Price's name.
He revealed his now bare ring finger this morning, as he prepared to face his ex-wife in court this week.

Moving on: Peter Andre revealed he had undergone surgery to remove a tattoo of ex-wife Katie Price's name from his ring finger as he spoke on This Morning today

Spot the difference: The tattoo was clearly visible earlier this year, but has now been completely removed

Speaking on This Morning he explained that the removal was a six-month process.
'I didn’t want to have scars all over my hands... and apparently it’ll completely go and it’s a way to not have scars and things like that,' he said.
Andre commenced legal proceeding against Price last year, claiming damages for comments made in a magazine article and on BBC2's Graham Norton Show last October.
The court battle is due to start on Thursday and last for seven days.

All gone: Andre shows Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby his bare finger

But today he refused to be drawn on the battle, which is expected to be one of the biggest celebrity court cases of the year.
'There’s nothing I can really talk about,' he said. 'I can’t really say anything about it. And the thing is [reports like this] always happen the night before I’m due to come on TV to talk about something else, let’s just put it that way.
'And I know you have to ask it, but honestly I’m not allowed to talk about it.'

But while Andre, 37, refused to be drawn, he and Price, 32, are understood to have lined up witnesses and family members to take to the stands. They have also hired high-profile lawyers to fight their sides.

Court battle: Andre is set to face his ex-wife Katie Price in court this week

Andre also said he was ready for a new romance.
'I would love nothing more!' he told Holly Willoughby. 'It’s interesting because Junior said the other day, "Dad, when are you going to get a girlfriend" and I said "son, I’ll be telling you when I’ve got a girlfriend, you’ve got four, Daddy only wants one!"'
He added: 'So I’m very open to the idea and when it’s meant to happen it happens.
'For a long time I shielded myself and just had my arms around the kids basically for the first year – it was all protection, protection, protection, but then life goes on and life is good...'
Andre has two children with her ex-wife, Junior, five, and three-year-old Princess Tiaamii.

'There’s personal things you have to deal with but career wise its never been better, and for me I’m in a industry that’s so fickle and it could end tomorrow, I’ve always said that and I’m so lucky, I’ve got the best children in the world, and I can’t really complain. I have a great family around me and great management

What's new, pussycat? Diana Vickers turns into a foxy feline for her new music video

Since she shot to fame two years ago she has been looked on as the girl-next-door pop star in her cute little dresses and dainty shoes.
But Diana Vickers appears to be very keen to shake off that image, as this sexy picture from her new video shows.
The pop star, 19, proved she is all woman now as she posed in a slinky leopard skin print catsuit for the video for her new single.
Scroll down to watch the video...

Foxy feline: Diana Vickers looks slinky and sexy in her leopard skin print catsuit for her new video

The suit clung to her slender frame in all the right places as she posed for the publicity shot from the video for her song My Wicked Heart.
In other scenes from the video, Diana, clad in a pink leotard, is cuffed on to a magician's Wheel of Death with a couple of daggers precariously embedded in the board beside her.
And she revealed that filming that particular scene had left her black and blue and she had to call in a special make-up squad to cover up the marks.

Working it on the wheel: Diana, clad in a pink leotard, is shackled to a magaician's spinning board

She was also left injured after the strenuous dance routines.
An insider on the video shoot said: 'Diana left after the day's shoot covered in bruises. She felt like she'd been in a boxing match after she was thrown about by her hunky male dancers quite a lot.
'Still, it was worth it in the end.'

I'm spinning around: Diana sings to the camera as she rotates on the magician's wheel

Diana's wardrobe has taken on a more mature look recently, and has been seen in the front row of a couple of shows at London Fashion Week and sported a sexy little number at Cheryl Cole's jewellery launch last week.
And if the sexy new attire doesn't prove that this former X Factor finalist is all grown up, the meaning behind the song does.
My Wicked Heart, which is released on November 8, is about a woman wanting a man she can't have.
Diana said: 'It’s about sexual attraction.'

All grown up: Diana looked very mature in her short mohair dress which she wore for Cheryl Cole's jewellery launch last week

Ashley Tisdale wears a risqué swimsuit on a romantic trip to Las Vegas

Ashley Tisdale took a break from her busy acting schedule on the weekend to show off her bikini body and frolic poolside in Las Vegas.
And love was certainly in the air at the MGM Grand Hotel, which was where the High School Musical star couldn’t keep her hands off her boyfriend Scott Speer.
The 25-year-old actress was also joined by her Hellcats co-stars, Matt Barr, Heather Hemmens and Robbie Jones.

Lingerie or bikini? Ashley Tisdale's wore a bikini that looked more like underwear than a swimsuit while in Las Vegas over the weekend

Love is in the air: Ashley Tisdale couldn't keep her hands off boyfriend Scott Speer while in Las Vegas

Love is in the air: The actress couldn't keep her hands off boyfriend Scott Speer

The U.S. TV series is an American cheerleading comedy-drama, in which Tisdale plays the Hellcats’ captain, Savannah Monroe.
But Ashley looked more lingerie model than cheerleader at WET Repbulic in Vegas, as she strutted around in a pink and black lace bikini which resembled underwear.
The risqué swimwear choice certainly kept the attention of her music video director boyfriend though, who was seen holding Tisdale provocatively in the pool.
As she made her way to Nevada, Ashley tweeted: ‘On my way to Vegas!!! Can’t wait to hang with my cast and my friends that I miss so much!!!’ [sic]

Happy couple: The cute pair showed off their buff bodies in swimwear by the pool

Bikini body: Ashley's cheerleading role in Hellcats has been keeping her figure athletic and petite

Take a break: Ashley jumps onto the pool lounger to top up her tan and relax

But by Sunday night the party was over and she posted on Twitter: ‘I had the best time in Vegas!! So sad its over!
‘The best group of people to spend ur belated birthday with! It was amazing!!’ [sic]
In between cavorting around in her skimpy bikini, Ashley threw on a see-through white knit kaftan and heels to promote her new show.
She posed with her co-stars on the blue carpet and grabbed a Hellcats cheerleading megaphone to practice her cheers.
The show has been described as ‘Election meets Bring It On’ by critics and is based around the life of Marti – a pre-law college student who has to join the cheerleading team in order to maintain her scholarship.

Hellcats cast: (from left) Matt Barr, Heather Hemmens, Ashley Tisdale and Robbie Jones pose at Wet Republic in Last Vegas

Self promotion: Ashley took the opportunity to promote her new show with a cheerleading megaphone

Ice-T only has eyes for his wife Coco - well she is in a barely there floss bikini

glamour model Nicole 'Coco' Austin is known for her extraordinary curves and she wasn't shy about putting them on display in a teeny bikini.
The wife of rapper and actor Ice-T barely wore an orange string two-piece that only just about covered her assets.
The couple enjoyed a day at the beach with Ice-T clearly happy to watch his busty wife parade around in her swimwear.

Actor and rapper Ice T enjoys a day at the beach with his busty wife, model Nicole 'Coco' Austin.

Picture perfect: Ice-T takes a snap of his wife Coco as she parades around the beach at the weekend

Double trouble: The glamour model wasn't shy in showing off her assets

Coco tanned and frolicked in the water while her 52-year-old husband relaxed in the shade under a beach umbrella.
Married for 5 years, the pair seem inseparable and are always out on the town together.
Having modelled lingerie and swimwear since she was 18, Coco has embraced her curves, but staunchly denied speculation she has had butt implants.

Stretched to the limit: Coco's string bikini is just able to do its job of keep her modesty

Tan-tastic: Coco's tan just about blends with the orange two-piece making it look like she doesn't have anything on

She told Playboy: 'My butt of course is a hundred percent au naturel.
'We'll do tests; Ice will let women touch my butt, feel it, grab it, whatever they want to do, to prove that there's nothing in there.
'I've always had a big butt ever since I was young. But now I guess that's in style now.'
While her bottom is natural, Coco is open about her breast augmentation.

Chill: Although Coco has large attributes she maintains a toned flat stomach

Covered up: Coco looks unrecognisable as she throws on a beach dress and hat

Strike a pose: Coco readies herself as husband Ice-T takes more snaps of her

She explained: 'Yes, my breasts have been enhanced since I was 18. I wanted breasts that fit my shape.'
Real or fake her husband, real name Tracy Marrow, doesn't seem to be complaining.
Although having had a prolific career as a rapper, Ice-T is now more known for his acting career and his starring role in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

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Hassene Fkiri was furious after being disqualified from the gold medal bout in the Greco-Roman wrestling for repeated dangerous play.

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