Jenjie

So I can't open my doors and windows in the hot weather because someone might decide to come in. Its getting friggin ridiculous. I wouldn't leave my front door open, but frequently have the patio doors to the garden open whilst I'm downstairs.

A woman has been sexually assaulted in her own home by a man who let himself in through an unlocked front door. The attack happened in the kitchen of the house on Burnage Lane in Burnage, Manchester, on Thursday night. The man is described as black, 5ft 6ins tall, with a medium build, muscular arms and a short, afro haircut. He had distinctive black spots on his face. Greater Manchester Police say people should keep their doors locked during the day as a precaution. 'Nasty assault' The woman was preparing food in her kitchen when she became aware of a presence behind her. She turned around and was confronted by the man, who grabbed her but ran away when she screamed. Det Insp Koran Sellars said: "This was a nasty assault on a woman in her own home. However, we believe it was an isolated incident. "We understand that in recent weeks the weather has been very hot and it is natural for people to want to open all the window and doors to let some fresh air in, but we want them to be aware of the security issues this may present." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/5245496.stm

Speed cameras that shame drivers into slowing down rather than fining them may be introduced on English motorways. The cameras record the number plates of speeding drivers and flash them up on a screen but do not issue penalties. They were used during June along a stretch of the M42 in the West Midlands and proved a success with nearly half of speeding drivers slowing down. Now the Highways Agency has said the signs could be extended to other English motorways and major routes. A spokeswoman for the agency said it was the next step on from signs seen in many villages which flash up the speed limit and the words "Slow Down" when drivers are recorded speeding. "Once the speeding vehicle activates the sign that vehicle registration number is shown at the same time. "What we are doing is personalising it - it is moral blackmail in a way." She said the fact that the cameras did not issue fines showed they were not only "revenue raisers" as portrayed by newspapers. The trial was carried out by consultants Atkins between junctions 9 and 10 of the M42 in Warwickshire when the limit was reduced to 50mph for roadworks. 'Right direction' The system would be used on stretches of road where works were being carried out. In 2004, there were more than 700 accidents at roadworks in the UK- 12 of which were fatal. Atkins director Richard Deacon said: "All road workers are at risk from speeding drivers and we are committed to reducing this danger. "This innovative system, which brings together two well-established technologies, provides a targeted approach that has proved most effective in encouraging drivers to adhere to the speed limit in roadworks." The Highways Agency said number plate information was not stored once it has flashed on the screen. Paul Smith, from anti-speed camera pressure group Safe Speed said it was a move in the right direction. However, he added: "We will not get road safety back on track until all the speed cameras are scrapped." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/5245664.stm

Cars 8/10 would have been 9 if it wasn't for the fact its verrrrryyyyy long. 2 hour cartoons are a little too much. other than that it was a brilliant film, loved the storyline even if the moral was pushed across very strongly

we got taught some useful things in school. wiring a plug was part of one of our science lessons, and we had a question on it in our end of year exam. at the beginning of secondary school we did home ec which was split half the year into cookery and half into textiles. so I can make vegetable soup and cherry scones, and can knit reasonable squares for blankets. there are huge gaps in the curriculum though. Take history, I know about the Spanish Armada, Henry Viii, my local area, the Russian Revolution, Hitler and World War II. That's all I was ever taught in school. Anything else I've learnt from holidays my Dad took us on, and stuf I've read. I definitely couldn't name you the Kings & Queens of england because I still won't have heard of many of them. There are such huge gaps in teaching british history.

AFTER being paraded around the Beverly Hills Hotel with William Gallas’s No 13 squad number yesterday, Michael Ballack cast himself in the role of peacemaker as he sought to reassure Frank Lampard that there is no reason for the England midfield player to get shirty with Chelsea’s high-profile German recruit. Ballack has been the leading man in every team he has played for since joining Bayer Leverkusen seven years ago, inspiring the unfancied German side to the 2002 Champions League final before leading Bayern Munich to Bundesliga titles in three of his four years at the club, but he appears content to accept more of a supporting role at Stamford Bridge. The 29-year-old’s arrival on a three-year contract worth £130,000 a week has already upset the club’s wage structure, with Lampard and John Terry seeking improved deals as a result, and he is anxious not to disturb the dressing-room harmony even further. Having been promoted as the face of Germany 2006 in his native country, Ballack may even enjoy a spell away from the limelight. “At Bayern I was a leader, but I don’t mind being less of a leader and part of the team instead,” he said. “Bigger teams like Brazil have a lot of leaders but also play as a team. I really don’t mind. I am absolutely open-minded to not being the leader.” Terry’s ego has been pricked by the knowledge that, as club captain, he is paid £40,000 a week less than Chelsea’s latest signing, but Lampard’s position is under most scrutiny. Lampard’s dark mood has been the one cloud on the horizon in a blisteringly hot Californian summer, with the hostile look he gave certain members of the media yesterday suggesting that he is still seething at criticism of his performances during the World Cup. Having endured a disappointing tournament, the arrival of another goalscoring midfield player of even greater standing could not have come at a worse time, but Ballack insists that they can play together. “We can do well together, why not?” the German said. “He’s a great player and, just like in any team I’ve played in, I really enjoy playing with those kind of players. It won’t be a problem. We want to be successful and don’t want to compete with each other. We want to work together and it’s great to be alongside him.” José Mourinho, the Chelsea manager, intends to play the pair together in a 4-4-2 formation and has instructed them to get to know each other as quickly as possible. Having scored 73 goals between them from midfield over the past two seasons, the partnership could be devastating if they play with sufficient discipline. “In every training session we are getting closer in terms of tactics and soccer stuff, but we haven’t really talked about our compatibility,” Ballack said. “Lampard’s a great player. Because we both play in midfield doesn’t mean we’re going to harm each other, it will just be an even better duo. Frank is very much a team player.” Ballack revealed that the decision to give him his preferred shirt was taken only on Monday, thus confirming Mourinho’s determination to punish Gallas, with the No 13 ultimately proving unlucky for the France defender. “I had accepted the No 19 shirt, but two days ago the coach came and said, ‘OK, it’s fine for you to have the 13’. There was no particular reason,” Ballack said. At least Lampard will be relieved that the German was not given No 8. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,27-2296794,00.html

J. K. ROWLING has given a strong hint that two of her main characters in the Harry Potter books, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, would become an item in the final instalment of the series. The author told a New York audience that Hermione, based on herself, wanted an intimate relationship with a boy she knew well. If she looked in the Mirror of Erised, which shows one’s deepest desire, she would “see herself entwined with another person whose identity you can probably guess”. Herminone and Ron have been the Lizzie Bennett and Mr Darcy of Hogwarts for several volumes of the seven-volume series. Rowling laughed off the suggestion, by some fans, that Hermione would fall in love with Harry. “There are people who wanted Harry and Hermione,” she said, to cheers from the audience at Radio City Music Hall. “They’re still out there.” John Irving, the American author of The World According to Garp and The Cider House Rules, and Stephen King, the horror novelist, told a press conference that they wanted Rowling to be lenient after reports that she may kill Harry off. Irving said that his “fingers are crossed for Harry”. King hoped that Rowling would not emulate Arthur Conan Doyle, who killed Sherlock Holmes. “I don’t want him to go over the Reichenbach Falls,” he said. Conan Doyle had his detective die because he was tired of writing about him, but revived him after a few years. In a separate development Helena Bonham Carter was named as a villain in the next Harry Potter film. She will play Bellatrix Lestrange, a death eater, in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Imelda Staunton will play Dolores Umbridge, teacher of the dark arts. The fifth big-screen Potter adaptation is being directed by the award-winning British film-maker David Yates, whose movies include The Girl in the Café, Sex Traffic and State of Play. Daniel Radcliffe (Harry), Rupert Grint (Ron) and Emma Watson (Hermione) will reprise their roles as the teen wizards, and regulars such as Robbie Coltrane, Michael Gambon, Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Emma Thompson and Julie Walters will reappear. George Harris, who was recently a gangster in Layer Cake, will play Kingsley Shacklebolt, a member of the Order of the Phoenix. Natalia Tena is Nymphadora Tonks, Kathryn Hunter is Mrs Arabella Figg and Evanna Lynch, 14, is Luna Lovegood. The film, which will have a score by Nicholas Hooper, is being released next year. The film franchise has made £1.9 billion at the box office and its principal actors are multimillionaires. Daniel Radcliffe has amassed a fortune of £14 million, according to The Sunday Times Rich List. Rowling, who will not publish the last instalment before next year, is worth about £520 million. She said recently that she had changed her planned ending so that one character survived the series, but another much-loved hero would face the chop. “I have to say that two [characters] die that I didn’t intend to die . . . A price has to be paid. We are dealing with pure evil here. They don’t target extras, do they? They go for the main characters.” http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2296896,00.html

Paul McKenna v The Daily Mail. Sadie Frost v The Mail on Sunday. Kate Hudson v the National Enquirer. Ashley Cole, Gordon Ramsay, Sir Elton John. If it seems celebrities have become keener in recent months to acquaint themselves with Britain's top libel lawyers, it is because they have — twice as keen. According to a survey by Sweet & Maxwell, the legal information provider, the number of reported defamation cases brought by celebrities against newspapers has more than doubled in the past year, from nine to twenty. Overall, there were 74 recorded cases of defamation between May 2005 and May 2006, the period of the survey, up from 66 during the previous 12 months. Gideon Benaim, a partner specialising in media law at Schillings, said that newspapers have become increasingly bold in publishing details about celebrities’ private lives, forcing celebrities to become more litigious to protect their reputations. "For the majority of famous people, the old adage that all publicity is good publicity is simply not true," Mr Benaim said. "They cannot afford to have their reputations tarnished since it could materially damage their careers and cause problems in their personal lives." Korieh Duodu, a barrister at David Price, a media law boutique, said that newspapers were becoming more cautious about fighting defamation proceedings despite the figures seeming to suggest the opposite. Mr Duodu said the increase in reported proceedings was partly because newspapers have, in many cases, sought to avoid the expense of contesting a libel action by choosing to offer compensation and apologise in open court, which does not necessarily require an admission of full liability. "It may well be that newspapers’ tactics are now more cautious when a libel case is launched," Mr Duodu said. "Instances of newspapers seeking to head off a costly and protracted full court hearing, while limiting the potential damage to their reputation that an adverse judgment might incur, by making an ‘offer of amends’ appears to be on the increase." The increase could also be due to Hollywood stars increasingly choosing to sue in Britain, where libel laws are more favourable than in the US. "It is easier for US-based celebrities to sue for defamation in the English courts than in their own country, as our libel laws are much more favourable to claimants," Mr Benaim said. "For instance, in the UK you do not have to prove malice, as you do in America. "The right to freedom of expression is enshrined in the US constitution under the First Amendment, whereas here the right is more evenly balanced with the individual’s right to their reputation. As Hollywood stars see others successfully taking this approach to protect their reputations, more are following suit." Kate Hudson, the actress, was able to pursue proceedings against the National Enquirer in London’s High Court rather than in the US because the newspaper publishes a British edition. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,200-2297451,00.html

After initial discouragement, counterfeiters have cracked the code of the euro and continental countries - especially France - face a rising tide of fake bank notes and coins. In the first half of this year, 300,000 dud euro notes were withdrawn from circulation. About 30 per cent of them, 90,000 notes, were discovered in France. Most - 80 per cent - were printed in other countries. After the introduction of the euro in 12 countries on 1 January 2002, police detected a fall in the amount of counterfeit notes and coins in circulation in euroland. The notes were claimed to be the most advanced in the world, incorporating anti-faking devices from holograms to special inks. Now Europe's counterfeiters - and some elsewhere in the world, including Colombia - appear to have overcome the problems. A determined faker can buy a machine which reproduces the holograms in euro notes for €50,000 (£34,000) - which would be covered by a print run of a few minutes. The amount of counterfeit currency found in the 12 euroland countries is 600,000 notes a year - about the same as before the single currency was introduced. There has been an even sharper rise in recent months of fake euro coins. France identifies more false notes than any other country but is not a large producer, according to French police. As a country with a large economy, at the crossroads of Europe, and a popular tourist destination, France sucks in euros- including the fake ones. The printing of convincing counterfeit euros appears to be big business, especially in eastern Europe, Italy and Colombia. Almost all the fake notes are in €50 and €20 denominations. Notes of €100 or €500 attract more attention in shops and tend to be shunned by counterfeiters. French police say there are a range of counterfeiters, from amateurs to organised crime gangs. With relatively cheap modern photocopying equipment, it is possible to produce crude, fake euro notes. Police say medium-sized operators can produce up to 100,000 notes a year and organised syndicates are able to churn out even more. http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article1209754.ece

Indies are good. We have an indie near us which serves an amazing latte. Nero's and Costa are only good for the cakes & pastries.

US car firm Ford is to recall 1.2 million trucks, sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and vans over concerns about potential engine fires. The recall, one of the largest ever, is over fears about the speed control deactivation switch system, which could corrode over time, overheat and ignite. It followed "exhaustive investigations" by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). And it comes after Ford announced second quarter losses of $254m (£135m). The group blamed the losses on an increase in pension curtailment costs related to job cuts. Ford also said that its luxury division will not be profitable this year. Models affected The company has been facing calls to restructure in the face of widening losses and declining vehicle sales. Like many US carmakers it has been under pressure as its large vehicles - such as SUVs - become more costly to run in the face of rising fuel prices, while its Japanese rivals have seen their smaller cars gain in popularity. The recall relates to vehicles powered by petrol or natural gas and equipped with speed control. Those models included in the recall are: 1994-2002 F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 F-Super Duty trucks; 2000-2002 Excursion SUVs; 1994-1996 Econoline vans; 1996-2002 E-450 vans and 1998 Explorers and Mountaineers. The recall does not involve similar vehicles with diesel engines. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5243136.stm

Princess Kiko, whose pregnancy could be the answer to Japan's imperial succession dilemma, has performed a ceremony to pray for a safe delivery. The princess, who is due to give birth in September, wore a red and white silk outfit for the traditional ceremony in the capital, Tokyo. The pregnancy is attracting enormous attention from the Japanese public, many of whom are hoping for a boy. Current law allows only males to ascend the throne, but there is no male heir. Crown Prince Naruhito and his wife, Princess Masako, have a daughter, Aiko. The Emperor's third child, Princess Sayako, married a commoner and so her children would not be able to ascend the throne. Princess Kiko, 39, who is married to the crown prince's younger brother, Prince Akishino, already has two daughters. The announcement of her pregnancy in February put on hold plans by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to introduce legislation allowing women to ascend the throne. Last month, it was announced that she was likely to give birth by caesarean section due to complications with the pregnancy. The princess wore an elaborate outfit for the ceremony, including a ceremonial belt from the imperial couple. The ritual was performed on the Day of the Dog in the lunar calendar, because dogs are thought to have easy deliveries. Earlier, it was announced that Prince Naruhito and Princess Masako will take a two-week holiday in The Netherlands at the end of August. This would be a rare overseas trip for the crown princess, who is reported to have suffered from depression for the last few years. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5233928.stm

The European Union has brushed off a call from the Polish president for a Europe-wide debate on reinstating the death penalty. "The death penalty is not compatible with European values," European Commission spokesman Steffan de Rynck told reporters. Last Friday, Polish President Lech Kaczynski urged the organisation to review its policy on the issue. The abolition of the death penalty is one of the conditions of EU membership. Mr Kaczynski said countries which had abandoned capital punishment had "given an unimaginable advantage to the perpetrator over the victim". It was "the advantage of life over death", he told Polish public radio. Call for a review Most Western European countries abandoned the death penalty in the 1960s while Eastern European states did so in the 1990s. Poland abolished capital punishment in 1997, following a moratorium on executions imposed in 1988. Mr Kaczynski called for a review of that policy. "European civilisation has roads that lead us into the future, but it also has blind alleys - and this is one of them," he said. Meanwhile, the League of Polish Families, a nationalist minority party in Poland's governing coalition, launched a campaign for a partial restoration of the death penalty. "We want to collect half-a-million signatures of EU citizens on a petition demanding the death penalty for paedophile murderers," the vice-president of the party, Wojciech Wierzejski, told the Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/5239504.stm

I could, but that would be even more copying & pasting!!! :P

Afghanistan says it will deport hundreds of South Korean evangelical Christians amid fears for their safety. They have been accused by Islamic clerics of preaching Christianity. Afghanistan bans attempts to convert people to non-Islamic faiths. Around 1,500 South Koreans arrived this week for a "peace festival", and education and entertainment programme. On Wednesday, hundreds of Afghans held a protest rally against them at a mosque in the city of Mazar-e-Sharif. 'Highly sensitive' "They were given tourist visas and now it seems they are misusing their tourist visas," a government official told the AFP news agency. "The risk of them becoming a target is very high," he said. Correspondents say that the Seoul government has repeatedly urged the Christians - among them 600 children - to return home, warning of the dangers they face at the hands of the radical Taleban movement. A spokesman for the South Korean-based Institute of Asian Culture and Development (IACD) told AFP that they are only in the country to provide war-ravaged Afghanistan with medical, education and cultural programmes. He said they were in the capital and four other towns and cities. "We are not against the policies of Afghanistan. We respect and we love Afghanistan," he said. In February several thousand people protested against the release of a man who converted to Christianity, demanding he face the death penalty. He was spirited out of the country. http://www.bbc.co.uk

Do you have a Nero's or a Costa?

whaaaaatttttt??? that's just stupid! they'd better not alter anything before December

A date has been set for a libel trial involving claims about England footballer Wayne Rooney. Patricia Tierney, 50, from Whiston in Merseyside, is suing the Sun over claims she had sex with the Manchester United star in a massage parlour. Mrs Tierney says the allegations, published in August 2004, were false and have destroyed her life. The 10-day trial, which could see Rooney give evidence, will take place at Manchester High Court on 29 January. http://www.bbc.co.uk

sssssshhhhh!! you'll have 6 of them surrounding you before you know it!!!!

its so stupid!! I still can't believe that I read it right!

The Queen has turned out to be the new owner of a run-down, rat-infested house in a deprived area of east Manchester. The mid-terraced house in Parkdale Avenue, Gorton, is thought to be worth about £35,000 but has been left derelict for the last 10 years. Housing officers at Manchester City Council traced its owners, but they have no interest in reclaiming it. The property therefore falls to the Duchy of Lancaster, which is controlled by the Queen. The council has written to the Queen's solicitors Farrar & Co in London asking them to take ownership of the property with a view to selling it. The house was owned by a company which had since closed down. Historic law When the council traced the son of one of the firm's former directors, he said he had no interest in the property. The house has two bedrooms, two reception rooms, one bathroom and a small back yard. It was passed to the Duchy of Lancaster because of an historic law, dating back to 1399. As Manchester is in the County Palatine of Lancaster, ownership of "disclaimed" houses must automatically pass to the Duchy of Lancaster. The estate and jurisdiction of the duchy remains to the reigning sovereign. The situation could only arise in the County Palatine, an ancient title with royal links. In other parts of England and Wales, the Treasury solicitor handles such cases. Chief executive of the Duchy of Lancaster, Paul Clarke, said any cash raised from the sale of the house would be donated to charities the Jubilee Trust and the Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund. http://www.bbc.co.uk

Manchester United's Ryan Giggs has been appointed as an ambassador for the children's charity Unicef. The Welsh international has spent six years working with the charity through the club's "United for Unicef" partnership. He has recently returned from a trip to Soweto, South Africa, where he met young people affected by HIV as part of the Unicef Children and Aids campaign. Mr Giggs said: "As a father, the future of my child is always on my mind." He added: "To be asked to become a Unicef Ambassador, and to have the opportunity to help other children, who so desperately need it, is a great honour and one that I am proud to accept. "HIV and Aids is having a devastating effect on children across the world, so through my position, I hope to help Unicef raise awareness about these important issues." The player visited China with Manchester United last year where he met young girls from Sichuan Province who are part of a trafficking prevention programme funded by the club. In 2003, he was among the players who met UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. He has also helped Unicef raise money by fronting several TV appeals during emergencies such as the Asian Tsunami disaster. Giggs joins David Beckham and Angelina Jolie, who are also ambassadors for the international children's organisation. http://www.bbc.co.uk

A six-year-old girl died after being burnt during a fire-eating display while on holiday at a Turkish hotel. Eden Galvani-Skeete, thought to be from Ilford, east London, was hurt watching the show at the Gemini Resort in Didim. The father of another child injured in the show said fireballs flew into the audience when entertainers created a "wall of flame" on the dance floor. Eden was taken to hospital on Saturday but died later. Six other Britons, including three children, were hurt. Mark Hunter, from Carlisle, the father of 13-year-old Sarah Hunter, who suffered burns during the display, described what he saw. He said: "There's a record at the minute called 'Hyper, Hyper' which is like the summer dance routine which is going round in Turkey. "It was at this point when the record came on that a trail of, I would imagine, alcohol-based inflammable liquid was laid across the front of the dance floor. "This produced a wall of flame of about 18 inches to two feet high which I would imagine extinguished after about 10 to 15 seconds. At that point there was no problem. "It was then repeated and it was at this point there was a massive explosion and the fireballs produced into the audience, and it was this time that there was total chaos and that people suffered their injuries." Eden, who was the most seriously injured, was taken to a local hospital, then transferred to a burns unit in Kusadasi. From there she was taken to a teaching hospital in Izmir where she died. The injured were not in a serious condition, a hospital official told the AP news agency late on Wednesday. Eden had been on holiday with her mother Helen Zachariou in the resort since 25 July. The Foreign Office confirmed the other injured Britons were being treated at a hospital in Kusadasi. A spokesman said: "A six-year-old girl died in Izmir on 31 July after receiving burns during a fire-based entertainment display at a hotel. "Next of kin have been informed and consular staff are providing assistance. "We can confirm that six British nationals - including three minors - also received burns during the incident. "They are currently in hospital in Kusadasi receiving treatment. Consular staff have visited the hospital." http://www.bbc.co.uk

So its nothing to do with the fact that our local Starbucks has had a broken ice machine for the last week, and are therefore having to ship in ice via taxi so that they can serve Frappucinos for the first part of the day? Coz nobody would want frappucinos in the middle of a heatwave, would they?

Starbucks has blamed a rise in the popularity of frozen drinks for disappointing July sales figures. The firm said July sales missed targets because in the hot weather more chilled drinks, such as Frappuccinos, were ordered which take longer to prepare. As a result, its sales in stores open more than a year rose by just 4% during the month, below the 6% expected by Wall Street and last year's 7% growth. The news saw Starbuck's shares fall 9% in after-hours trading on Wednesday. Starbuck's chief executive Jim Donald said the company was working to solve the problem of the extra time it takes to make frozen drinks compared with standard hot coffees by bringing in extra staff during peak hours. The firm's chief financial officer added that while it was an issue, "we're working on it, and we're going to get it solved". For the 13 weeks to 2 July, Starbucks saw its net profits rise 16% to $145m (£77m) from $126m a year earlier. Revenue increased to $1.96bn, up from $1.6bn. http://www.bbc.co.uk