Newslip Episode 7 22.02.09

Welcome to Newslip. Today is Sunday, 22nd of February. I'm Wesley Gerrard and here are the top stories making the news this week.

Civil liberties group Human Rights Watch have released a report claiming that at least ten British citizens have been tortured in foreign countries in collusion with the British security services. In Pakistan it is said that after torture, MI5 has been interviewing terrorism suspects. David Milliband, the foreign secretary is already under pressure after refusing to release documents relating to the treatment of Binyam Mohamed, the British Guantánamo detainee, who is imminently due to return to Britain. A foreign office spokesman claimed "Our policy is not to participate in, solicit, encourage or condone the use of torture, or inhumane or degrading treatment, for any purpose."

Claims were made this week that Google Earth's new ocean mapping feature had discovered the lost city of Atlantis. Images were produced of a series of underwater grid lines indicating a city. The find, 600 miles off the African coast, was thought to have solved the riddle of the fabled civilisation, first mentioned by Plato. However, Google explained later in the week that the features were just idiosyncracies of their data collection and were nothing more than the paths of boats that were recording their data.

It looks as though David Beckham's desire to extend his loan spell at AC Milan is on the rocks after the club refused to pay he £9 million valuation of LA Galaxy. Milan tried to extend Beckham's loan until his contract expires in November for a fee of £2 million. LA Galaxy have refused to budge, however, and want their star to return in time for the start of the new season. Claims have been made that Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi is lining up Leonardo to replace Beckham.

President Bush left office with a record high 73% domestic disapproval rate. The general feelings around the globe was that he was the worst US President in history. However, there are some isolated corners which felt that Bush did good service. Kosovo has named a street after him after he supported their independence. Many new children in Darfur are named George Bush and his extreme pro-Israeli support meant that he was given constant standing ovations on state visits there. The overall African approval rate, even in Muslim countries is a resounding 80% mainly due to the doubling of state aid during his time in office.

A memorial service has been held in Victoria state capital, Melbourne, to commemorate the lives of 209 people who lost their lives in the Australian fires. Many people from the grief-stricken communities had to be bussed to the service after their vehicles were destroyed in the fire, along with their homes. Princess Anne was present at the service to represent the Queen.

European leaders, gathered in Berlin, have agreed the need to regulate all financial markets, including hedge funds. Warnings were made about economic protectionism and German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, highlighted that they faced 'an extraordinary international crisis.' The meeting was seen as a precursor to the imminent meeting of the G20 where the rules of the global financial system are planned to be rewritten.

The Colombian secret police, the DAS, have been accused of allowing rogue agents to leak information to criminals. Magistrates, politicians, officials and journalists may have had phones tapped. Data on apparent rebel sympathisers has been passed to right-wing paramilitary death squads. There is an ongoing civil war in Colombia between government forces and left-wing rebel militia, the FARC.

The terminally ill reality TV superstar Jade Goody has married her fionce, Jack Tweed, to the echoes of a standing ovation by the watching crowd. The twenty-seven year old, bald from her chemotherapy treatment, is suffering from Ovarian cancer. She signed the papers with her two sons sat on her lap. Tweedy, tagged after being released form jail following an assault charge, propsed to Miss Goody immediately after doctors had diagnosed her with the incurable disease.

Banking minister Lord Myners has said banks were "foolish" to offer 100% mortgages, after Gordon Brown called for "prudent and careful" lending. Liberal Democrats and Tories claimed that the government's actions came too late. When chancellor, Gordon Brown said that Britain was strong because of its light-touch regulatory environment, which encouraged investment and created jobs and wealth. He has since changed his stance.

And this week's top story...

A bomb has exploded in a crowded tourist area of Cairo, killing one and injuring seventeen. A device was thrown from a balcony into a crowd of predominantly French tourists at a cafe in the historic Khan al-Khalili area. The are was the target in previous attacks in 2005. The Egyptian government has been criticised for its stance over over the recent conflict in Gaza and has many enemies.

That's all for this week. Thanks for tuning in. See you again soon.

Newslip Episode 2 18.01.09

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Welcome to the second episode of Newslip. Today is Sunday, 18th January 2009. I am Wesley Gerrard and I'm here to present a brief outline of stories making the news this week.

Welsh TV presenter and singer, Charlotte Church has named her new baby boy. Her second child to rugby star, Gavin Henson, born on Sunday, 11th January, will be called Dexter Lloyd. At birth the new baby weighed 7lb 5oz, and was delivered with Henson present at the Welsh couple's Vale of Glamorgan farmhouse. The baby is a brother for the couple's 15-month-old daughter Ruby Megan. Charlotte and Henson have been together for four years but have said that they do not plan to marry "any time soon".

Former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has received the United States' highest civil award - the Medal of Freedom. In his final week of office, President George W Bush gave the medal to Mr Blair in the company of fellow recipients, Colombian President, Alvaro Uribe, and former Australian PM, John Howard. Bush praised Blair and thanked him for his "staunch" support for the US after the attacks of 9/11. Mr Blair's spokesman said the medal was a "great honour".

After the race row instigated by Prince Harry last week, his royal father followed in his footsteps as it emerged that he had been calling an Asian polo player by the nickname, 'Sooty'. Kolin Dillon responded to the media uproar by saying it was a "term of affection with no offence meant or felt." Republicans have seized the opportunity to criticise the royal family but in contrast with Harry's more controversial remarks last week, Prince Charles' actions appear frivolous.

Tourism officials in Australia are inviting applicants to apply for "the best job in the world". They want someone to work on a tropical island off the Queensland coast. In return for six months work, the successful applicant will receive a salary of £70 000 and get to live rent-free in a three-bedroom villa, complete with pool. The new recruit will work for just 12 hours a month. Duties include feeding some of the hundreds of species of fish and collecting Hamilton Island's mail. The job is being advertised around the world. Candidates have until 22 February to submit an online video application.

Outgoing US president, George Bush has spent the week delivering final farewells. He spoke to the press for the last time and then went on to deliver a final television address to the American people. In his speech he reflected on eight years of office, defending the decisions he made, in particular those concerning the wars in which he has been involved. He warned of the future terrorist threat and wished president elect, Obama, a happy future term.

Transport minister, Geoff Hoon, has announced government approval for a third runway to be built at London's Heathrow airport. The increased capacity would mean that the annual takeoffs and landings could rise from 480 000 a year today to 720 000 by 2030. Building the new runway would mean the loss of around 700 homes. Environmental activists have expressed their deep concerns and Conservative and Liberal Democrats are opposed to the scheme. Labour also faces a potential backbench revolt in parliament.

Manchester City have tabled a bid in the region of £107 million for Brazil and AC Milan football star, Kaka. The bid, if accepted will more than double the present world record fee of £46 million, paid for Zinedine Zidane. Whereas Mark Hughes, the Manchester City manager has stated that the deal is far from certain, AC Milan owner, Silvio Berlusconi has said that the sheer scale of the bid makes it very difficult for Milan to retain the services of the talented midfielder. It is believed that Kaka's potential wages will be £500 000 a week.

A US Airways plane has crashed into the Hudson river in New York City harbour. Pilot, Chesley Sullenberger, said that the plane hit birds, causing both engines to fail. After the emergency landing, all 155 passengers survived with about half of them being treated for minor injuries. The pilot is unable to speak publicly while an investigation into the crash continues but has the keys of the city waiting to be presented to him for his heroic actions.

Eighties pop star and DJ, Boy George, has been jailed for 15 months following a conviction for imprisoning a rent boy at his London flat. The Norwegian, Audun Carlsen, was beaten with a chain and escaped in only his boxer shorts and trainers while still handcuffed. Boy George claimed that he was trying to recover some stolen items from the victim but the judge said that the pop star was guilty of 'gratuitous violence.'

And this week's top story:

Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, has declared a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict. The three week campaign came to an end at midnight today. the conflict has taken the lives of nearly 1200 Palestinians, many of them women and chttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhildren. It is understood that Israeli forces will stay in the region and not pull out immediately, something which Hamas has branded as unacceptable. The threat to return to force should rocket attacks continue has been promised. Israel claims that their objectives in destroying the Hamas military infrastructure have been achieved.

That's all for this week. Thanks a lot for tuning in and I hope to see you all soon.

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