World News joined 0010

[JohnCenaFan28]

The "devastated" parents of the Army cadet who died after he was stabbed outside a youth club have visited the scene of his murder.

Joseph Lappin, 16, suffered a single stab wound to the left side of his chest which pierced his heart.

The teenager was attacked by a gang of up to 15 youths outside the Shrewsbury House Youth Club in Everton, Liverpool, which Joseph had visited for the first time on Monday night.

Detectives investigating Joseph's death arrested a 16-year-old boy on suspicion of murder.

At the scene Joseph's mother Toni, 44, and father John, 45, carried flowers to a wall at the side of St Peter's Church Everton, just metres from the entrance to the youth club on Langrove Street.

Mr and Mrs Lappin were accompanied by the Reverend of St Peter's Henry Corbett along with family and friends.

Two notes from Joseph's parents were attached to a bunch of flowers left by the couple.

One of the cards said: "Joseph. The good die young, and we know you were one of the best, sleep tight son. Love forever Mum x."

The other said: "To my beautiful son Joseph. Words cannot express how I feel. Love you always Dad x."

On a bouquet of flowers, which included red and white carnations and white lilies, a hand-written note said: "Joseph we watched you from a beautiful baby, grow into a handsome, caring, mature young man, a credit to his mum and dad and a loving grandson we are so proud of. Will miss you. Forever Nan and Grandad."

-Ananova

[JohnCenaFan28]

A catalogue of "systemic failures" contributed to the deaths of 10 men when a Special Forces Hercules aircraft was shot down in Iraq, a coroner has ruled.

As well as British military authorities, the Americans too came in for withering criticism.

The two month inquest heard how the Ministry of Defence and RAF ignored decades of recommendations to fit ESF (explosion suppressant foam) - a key safety feature on Hercules C130s.

This was "a serious systemic failure and, accordingly, a contributory factor in the loss of the aircraft," Wiltshire Coroner David Masters said in his narrative verdict. He also said a failure to communicate intelligence about the enemy contributed to the deaths.

The families of the victims said afterwards their loved ones had been let down by an RAF that "failed to protect our boys".

Barrister John Cooper, representing three families, said they were "carefully considering their options" regarding civil action.

Had Hercules flight XV179 had ESF fitted in the wing-located fuel tanks, one in the right wing may not have exploded and blown the wing off when hit by enemy fire on January 30 2005, the hearing at Trowbridge, Wilts, was told.

"Never again should a scientific report be ignored," said the coroner in his summary.

This vulnerability had concerned UK military commanders since the Second World War, the inquest heard.

It was explicitly detailed in a 2002 Tactical Analysis Team (TAT) report which recommended ESF be fitted to Hercules. This came after a series of research papers throughout the 1990s warning of possible wing tank explosions caused by projectiles igniting the ullage, the highly flammable fuel/air mix left as the tank empties.

-Ananova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Relatives of the family of six killed on the M6 said they were "lucky to have known them" and that "they would be missed by everyone".

The families of David and Michelle Statham issued joint a statement speaking of their devastation after losing "a wonderful family".

The couple's four children - Reece, 13, Jay, nine, Mason, 20 months and Ellouise, just 10 weeks - also died in the smash in Cheshire on Monday night.

The family of Mrs Statham, 33, said: "Michelle, David, Reece, Jay, Mason, and Ellouise are a wonderful family. Michelle is the eldest of three children born to Peter and Carol, with a sister Angela and a brother Alex.

"Michelle is big hearted - she would help anyone and was always laughing. She was well liked and will be sorely missed. She was a wonderful mother to four beautiful children.

"David is a fantastic son-in-law, a pleasant, big hearted, mild mannered father and husband who loved cooking. David and Michelle have been together for 19 years and were childhood sweethearts. Michelle and the children have been recently christened and become members of the Catholic Church. They have lived in Llandudno for five years, and previously lived in Erdington, Birmingham.

"David and Reece are big Aston Villa supporters and attended the match this Saturday. Jay and Reece played and enjoyed rugby and karate. David enjoyed pool and socialising with a good network of friends, including running a local poker club. Mason liked to call Ellouise twinkletoes. Our friends are very close and are like family.

"Michelle, David, Reece, Jay, Mason, and Ellouise will be missed by everyone. We have been lucky to have known them."

Mr Statham's family paid tribute, saying: "David was the eldest son to Angela and Alan Statham, brother to Irene, and a much loved son.

"The families had recently celebrated Jay's ninth birthday and were looking forward to celebrating David's 39th birthday this Sunday. Reece was an animal lover and wished to become a vet. David was from a very close family and had recently lost his father. On the death of his father he became a rock and supported the family. He is loved by his family and is greatly missed."

-Ananova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Controversial new legislation allowing scientists to conduct experiments using hybrid human-animal embryos has been approved by the House of Commons despite a small rebellion by Labour backbenchers.

The staunchly Catholic former minister Ruth Kelly, who quit the Government earlier this month, was one of 16 Labour MPs who voted against the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.

But the third reading of the Bill was overshadowed by rows over "shabby" Government tactics which prevented a debate on abortion law reform.

Pro-choice MPs were furious that no time was made available to debate their calls for the law to be liberalised to allow terminations to be conducted with the approval of one doctor rather than two and for abortion to be legalised in Northern Ireland.

And pro-life campaigners were disappointed that there was no signal of Government support for their call for a special committee of MPs and peers to investigate the issue and recommend changes to abortion law.

Health minister Dawn Primarolo said the Government had "no plans" to introduce a Bill on abortion, adding that the question of a special committee was a matter for the House, not ministers.

The Bill, which now goes to the House of Lords, has attracted controversy over its key measures, which include allowing scientists to carry out research on human-animal hybrids, relaxing guidance to make it easier for lesbians and single women to have IVF treatment and letting parents choose "saviour siblings" for seriously ill children.

Conservative MP Nadine Dorries warned that loopholes in the legislation would allow scientists to attempt to create a "humanzee" - a hybrid between a human and a chimpanzee.

Recalling Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin's 1920s efforts to create "the ultimate soldier" by cross-breeding men and apes, she warned: "Of all the experimental possibilities debated in the course of this Bill, surely none is quite so utterly repulsive as the possibility of seeking to inseminate animals with human sperm."

-Ananova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Small business electricity supplier Electricity 4 Business (E4B) went into administration in a move affecting about 40,000 customer firms.

Administrator PricewaterhouseCoopers was unable to find a buyer for E4B, which is based in Milton Keynes, energy regulator Ofgem said.

But the watchdog said that E4B's customers would not be disconnected and would be transferred to another supplier as part of a process kicked off under the Utilities Act.

PwC confirmed that 100 of E4B's 140-strong workforce were made redundant.

E4B fell into trouble as a result of soaring wholesale energy prices, said administrators.

Stuart Maddison, joint administrator and partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers in the Midlands, said: "The decision by the directors of E4B to place the company into administration comes as a result of volatility in the energy market.

"We will be working closely with Ofgem to ensure an orderly wind-down of the company's activities and would like to reassure E4B's customers that the administration will not affect their supply of electricity."

Ofgem said it would use its powers to launch a supplier of last resort process for E4B's customers.

Energy firms will be invited to bid and one will be appointed by Ofgem, but customers will not be tied into deals with the new supplier and will be free to switch.

-Ananova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Police investigating the brutal killing of a grandfather have made two further arrests.

Paul Smith, 54, known as Smudge or Tall Paul, was found lying on the pavement in Rugby, Warwickshire, by a member of the public at about 1.20am on Saturday.

He had suffered a head injury and was taken to hospital but died shortly afterwards.

Mr Smith, from Biart Place, Rugby, left five children and six grandchildren.

Warwickshire Police said a 13-year-old boy and a 32-year-old man had been arrested in Rugby on Tuesday night. They are being questioned on suspicion of robbery and manslaughter.

A 15-year-old boy from Rugby who was arrested on Sunday was released on bail on Monday.

A spokesman said they continued to appeal for witnesses to come forward.

Police believe Mr Smith may have been the victim of a robbery and are still appealing for anyone who has found a silver Motorola Timesport x250 mobile phone or a black leather foldover square wallet.

-Ananova

[Black Widow]

TAIPEI, Taiwan - A student died just as he was about to win a university binge-eating contest, officials said Friday.

The 23-year-old man vomited, passed out and died on Thursday during the "Big Stomach King" contest at Dayeh University in central Taiwan. He had pulled ahead of 30 other teams.

Officials said the student — who was described as tall and strong — had scoffed two buns filled with rice and cheese as well as some of his teammate's food.

"I can't say why he died," said Huang Te-hsiang, the university's dean of student affairs. "He had been in the contest before. He was a strong guy."

The graduate student, surnamed Chen, may have eaten too fast rather than too much, a campus publicist said. Chen was on course to win the annual competition, she said. He would have won $60.

Taiwan's education ministry has halted campus-based eating contests while an investigation is launched.


MSNBC

[Black Widow]

CTV.ca News Staff

Police in Barrie, Ont., said Wednesday that a witness spoke to a 15-year-old boy on the day he went missing after an argument with his parents over his Xbox.

Sgt. Dave Goodbrand said a woman has come forward, saying she spoke with Brandon Crisp on Monday, Oct. 13 and that she noticed he was having trouble with his bicycle. Police found the bicycle in a ditch northeast of Barrie later that day.

"We've confirmed that a person walking in the area on the path on the day he was missing did in fact speak to him and confirms that he was here, and he was having problems with his bike at the time," Goodbrand told The Canadian Press.

"We're focusing (the search) here because it's really the only concrete evidence we have to his possible whereabouts."

Brandon's parents fear their son may have become mixed up with people he met while playing video games online. The teen has been missing since Oct. 13 when be became upset and left his parents' house after they confiscated his gaming system.

His mother called the situation "every parent's worst nightmare."

"It's terrifying," Angelika Crisp told CTV's Canada AM from their home in Barrie. "And we think he might have met someone online through this game that he befriended and got himself into a lot of trouble he wasn't expecting, and might be in danger now."

Brandon's father Steve Crisp said the couple becomes more anxious with each day that passes.

"The fact we haven't heard a single thing in 10 days now is distressing," he said.

Brandon had become addicted to the game "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare," his parents said.

He skipped school on the Thursday prior to Thanksgiving weekend, causing his parents to revoke his Xbox privileges -- a disciplinary measure they had used, his father said.

"We had basically taken his Xbox away. He took it back, and the catalyst for this was I took it away for good the second time and at that point, that was when he said he couldn't handle it anymore, he said he was leaving," said Steve Crisp.

Brandon's friend said he is dismayed his friend ran away from home.

"We are all in shock because he just isn't the type of guy who would run away," said Zach Frechette.

An intensive search operation has been underway in the Barrie area since Crisp was reported missing.

Three teams conducted ground searches Wednesday in the 2nd Line area of Oro-Medonte along an abandoned railway line where Crisp's bicycle was last seen. Police concluded their search Wednesday evening and will resume Thursday morning.

Police still have little to go on, Goodbrand told CTV Newsnet on Wednesday.

"No information has come in that has led us in the direction of where Brandon could possibly be, so the only concrete piece of information that we do have that we've confirmed is where his bike was located. So we do have some reason to believe Brandon was there sometime after he left home so we're going to continue to search that area today," Goodbrand said.

Crisp was last seen riding away from home on a yellow and black mountain bike at about 3 p.m. on Oct. 13 after asking his parents for directions to Shanty Bay.

Police have been tracking the teen's user name on the online Xbox account but said he has not logged in.

His parents described him as an average teenage boy and said he has never done anything like this before.

"He's a great kid," Angelika Crisp said. "He's a little bit shier than some kids but he's always been a great kid -- good at school, loves sports, or he used to love sports before he got addicted to this game."

Goodbrand said Crisp comes from a good family and running away is simply out of character.

"He's a little introverted, he only has three or four core-group friends and those are the people he plays with on the video game network. But no, he's never run away before, he's well received at the school," Goodbrand said after speaking to school administrators and teachers.

"There's lots of missing kids out there but this particular case is unique because Brandon is not the type to run away, especially for this period of time."

Brandon's friends at his Barrie high school started a graffiti wall where everyone has written a message to him, praying for his safe return.

Barrie police, along with members of the Crisp family, will be participating in a Ceremony of Hope being hosted by the staff and students of St. Josephs Secondary School, according to a Barrie Police news release. The event takes place on Cundles Rd in Barrie tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m.

Police have asked locals to search their residences and cottages for any sign of Crisp.

He is described as male, white, 100 pounds, 5'2", with short sandy blond hair. When he was last seen, he was wearing a yellow and grey jacket, a grey American Eagle-brand hoodie, blue jeans, white runners with a camouflage stripe on the sides. He may also be carrying a yellow and grey back pack.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Barrie police at 705-725-7025.

With a report from CTV Toronto's Dana Levenson

[Black Widow]

thestar.com

Teen who ran away after Xbox dispute 'addicted' to playing online war game, father says
Oct 22, 2008 04:30 AM
Theresa Boyle
Staff Reporter

Steve Crisp's best hope for his missing 15-year-old son is that the lad is hiding out in a luxury cottage somewhere northeast of Barrie.

But his worst fear is that Brandon, a Grade 10 student, has ventured too far into the fantasy world of a video game to which he was "addicted" and has run into trouble.

"I'm worried he has met someone online through this game. It could be organized crime or someone involved in Internet gambling. Pedophiles can stalk kids through these games," the tormented father said in an interview last night.

Brandon ran away from home in north Barrie nine days ago and has not been seen or heard from since. He left home following a dispute with his parents over the Xbox online war game, Call of Duty 4, which he spent countless hours and days playing over the last 18 months.

"I told him he wouldn't be getting his Xbox back. He said, `Then I'm going to leave home.'"

Steve called his son's bluff and even helped him pack his knapsack.

"I really thought he would be home later that day with his tail between his legs," said Steve, who remembers running away from home once when he was a boy.

Brandon took off on his yellow bike, which was spotted just hours later in a ditch about eight kilometres northeast of the family's home. Steve suspects the 5-foot-3, 100-pound boy was on his way to meet some friends in Oro-Medonte Township. His three best buddies from school were also members of his "Call of Duty Clan."

Steve has since learned from these friends that Brandon may be part of another clan, but the friends have no idea who those members are. He fears the boy was lured into meeting someone from that clan and is now being held against his will.

Barrie police and OPP have conducted ground and aerial searches and yesterday added reinforcements, The Canadian Press reported. Police and the Crisp family yesterday urged cottagers and homeowners in the area to check their properties for any sign of Brandon.

"It's a very high-end area of Barrie where there are multi-million-dollar cottages owned by (people) who only use them two or three months a year. My best hope is that Brandon is having a great time, eating all their food," Steve said.

Brandon has never run away before and would've called if he knew of his family's distress, he added.

"He has a good heart," Steve said of his son, who was a straight-A student until his obsession with gaming started in 2006. The boy purchased Call of Duty with Christmas money and Steve subscribed to Xbox online at his son's urging.

"It was peer pressure. He wanted to play with his three best friends but they live half an hour away. So they would put their headsets on, meet up online and play a game," Steve explained.

But he said the game became an "addiction" and "obsession" for the teen who played against other teams around the world, staying up all night and spending his summer holidays indoors.

Steve said he had taken the game away from Brandon more than 20 times in the past, including the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend after learning the boy had skipped school the day before and taken $20 off the kitchen table, meant for one of his two sisters. But the following day, Brandon was playing the game again after finding it hidden in his father's bathroom vanity. So Steve, a renovator, removed it for good, this time taking it out of the house to his workshop.

"I just want him to know we love him dearly. It doesn't matter what he's done. He won't be in trouble when he comes home. We're going to work things out," his father said.

[John]

All this publicity isn't going to make him want to come back.