UK Today News

UK Today News: Mariner Energy’s Oil Rig Platform Explosion Reported In Gulf Of Mexico, 92 Miles From Vermilion Bay

Oil Rig Platform Explosion In Gulf Of Mexico Today: An oil rig explosion on a platform owned by Mariner Energy Inc. in the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday morning, saw thirteen workers escaping into the water for safety. The incident took place 92 miles south of Vermilion Bay, according to the Coast Guard .

Photo Credit: Mariner-Energy

Reports state that the thirteen workers were on board the platform when the explosion took place, and all of them are safe. Helicopters belonging to the Coast Guard helicopters are being used to transport the crew members to a nearby hospital. The blast was reported by another rig at around 9:19 a.m.

The oil rig explosion brings back memories of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion which subsequently led to the country’s worst ever oil spill in history. The Mariner Energy oil spill, pom the other hand is partly contained as of now, say reports.

The cause of the oil rig explosion is still being investigated.

UK Today News: Venice Film Festival Opens With Natalie Portman Starrer Black Swan

The Venice Film Festival opens today with ‘Black Swan’, a movie in which Natalie Portman stars. The actress was present at the festival with the film’s director, Darren Aronofsky, who is also the winner of the Italian Film Festival for the year 2008, for his film ‘The Wrestler’.

Natalie Portman at the Venice Film Festival (Photo: Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty)

The Venice Film Festival is scheduled to be 11 day long and around 79 movies are slated to be premiered in the festival. As many as 22 directors are vying for the coveted prize.

About the premiere of the new film, Natalie said, “I hadn’t seen it before last night and I watched it along with the rest of the audience, it looked completely different to how I imagined, but I was blown away by it.”

The reviews for Black Swan reported by the BBC are “Powerful, gripping and always intriguing.” Portman has been highly appreciated for her performance in the film and is expected to win loads of accolades and awards for her art.”

UK Today News: Typhoon Kompasu Hits South Korea – 3 Killed Early Thursday Morning

Typhoon Kompasu : After news of Hurricane Earl in the Atlantic, comes news of Typhoon Kompasu hitting the central region of South Korea on Thursday morning and three people have been killed in this  fury of nature. As the typhoon hit the central region, it disrupted the normal life in the cities, as metropolitan subway services have been detained.

Typhoon Kompasu (Pic:AFP)

Local reports state that many trees were toppled along with power cuts in the cities, plus airlines have been affected . The domestic and the international flights in and out of S.Korea have been either cancelled or diverted.

Typhoon Kompasu reached N.Korea too and it unleashed heavy rain and strong winds in the northern country. It was predicted that Kompasu could have devastated and destroyed the crops of North Korea, which is already gripped with food shortage. But later, the typhoon has moved out of the Korean region and has sustained wind speeds of 55 mph.

UK Today News: Hurricane Earl’s Path Moves Closer To US East Coast – Tropical Storm Gaston Forms In Caribbean

Hurricane Earl Strengthens, Tropical Storm Gaston Forms: The category 4 Hurricane Earl’s projected path is moving closer to the U.S. East Coast, and reports state that Hurricane warnings are in place for North Carolina to Delaware, as well as areas of Massachusetts since it is moving at a speed of 145 miles, as of Thursday.

A NASA image shows Hurricane Earl moving towards the U.S. East Coast. (Pic Courtesy:CBC- NASA/Associated Press)

Reports state that US President Barack Obama and Governor Bev Perdue are known to have signed a disaster declaration for the state of North on Carolina on Wednesday evening, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency said in a statement : “The president’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures.”

Evacuations are already in place for the people of Dare County, North Carolina, as well as the Outer Banks, and officials say schools and courts will remain closed on Thursday and Friday.

CNN reports that there is a likelihood of large waves along the coast – some reaching a height of 10 to 15 feet, in addition to around 3 to 4 inches of rain.

Newer reports also state that Hurricane Earl is likely to hit southern Nova Scotia, Canada, on Saturday morning, but as a major Category 1 hurricane, and Tropical Storm warnings are likely to be in place soon,

In yet another Storm of this year’s Atlantic Hurricane season, Tropical Storm Gaston has formed, and was reportedly moving west in the central Atlantic on Thursday, and will possibly makes its way into the Caribbean Sea. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said it could become a hurricane by Sunday or Monday.

Tropical Storm Fiona is expected to pass near Bermuda by Saturday.

UK Today News: Discovery Channel Gunman James Jay Lee Killed By Police

Discovery Channel hostage situation: The Person who took the hostages at the Discovery channel building was recognized as James Jay Lee and was shot by policemen who finally got an aim at him.

James Jay Lee was speaking with many negotiators while he had the hostages and all his moves were unsuccessful. Smart officers tackled him well, after reaching to a point to where Lee was seen pointing a gun to one of the hostages, he was immediately shot down by cops that opened fire at him.

James Lee was arrested once before while he was an important part of a protest in the year 2008 outside Discovery Channels office headquarters.

It is reported that James Lee was not happy with Discovery channel and specially because of footage and information given regarding weapons and other destructive related content.

UK Today News: Apple’s New iPod Nano, Touch, Shuffle Revealed – Apple TV, iTunes 10 Get New Look

Apple’s highly anticipated 2010 September music event in San Francisco on Wednesday, saw CEO Steve Jobs dishing out a new range if iPods for it’s iPod Touch, Shuffle, Nano models, in addition to a new Apple TV.

The previously released models of the Apple iPod Nano

The big winner and most talked about product at the Apple press conference has got to be the iPod. Apple’s big announcement of three new iPods is definitely great news for all iPod fans. The iPod Shuffle is set for a new look and won’t be the “no buttons” iPod anymore, the iPod Nano is set to become smallere – the downside is that it can’t play video; whereas iPod Touch is set to become sleeker and thinner with features similar to that of the iPhone 4. The best part is that the iPods will be available to all from next week onwards.

So what other new additions were announced at the Apple press conference besides the iPod? Apple announced the launch of an upgraded version of iOS called iOS 4.1. This new version will help in fixing bugs, in addition to helping developers with the Game Center API. iTunes 10 is set for a new look, thanks to a brand new logo, in addition to a social music service aptly known as “Ping”. And on the other hand, Apple TV will be a lot more smaller, and a bit cheaper at a price tag of $99.

UK Today News: Former British PM Tony Blair Calls Princess Diana a “Manipulator” In His Memoir ‘The Journey’

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair terms Princess Diana’s death as a “global event like no other”. Blair reveals many things in his memoirs on Lady Diana called as ‘The Journey’. His memoir was published today, Wednesday September 1, 2010. Diana’s 13th death anniversary was observed yesterday August 31.

Princess Diana (Photo: PA)

In his memoir, Blair writes, “I really liked her and, of course, was as big a sucker for a beautiful princess as the next man: but I was wary too.”

He also says that Diana was a manipulator, just like the way he is. “She was down to earth, charming and intelligent, but also stubborn and prone to be over-emotional. We were both, in our own way, manipulators — good at grasping the feelings of others and instinctively playing on them.”

Regarding her relationship with Dodi Fayed, he said he was uneasy with that and thought of it as a ‘problem’. He also revealed that, Diana disapproved of Blair talking about them, when they had met last before she died.

Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997 along with her then partner Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul.

UK Today News: Apple Announcement Of September 2010 Event Likely To Cover iPod Touch, iTunes Upgrade, Apple TV

Apple Announcement Today – The annual Apple September event which takes place on September 1, 2010 this year, is a much anticipated one for Apple users and people across the world, since Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs is expected to make an announcement of new Apple products as well as new features for it’s iPod Touch 4, iPod Nano, upgrades for iTunes, Apple TV among others.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs

Reports state that this year, Apple’s announcement is likely to include a new range of iPods, including the rumored retina display and front-facing camera for it’s iPod Touch. There is also a lot of speculation if Apple will speak about some brand new features for the iTunes music store, in addition to a new image for Apple TV, as well as new pricing for rentals for the TV show.

Apple states that Steve Job’s announcement will be streaming live online at 1 p.m. ET/ 10:00 a.m. PDT on its Apple website. But the catch here is that only people with Apple devices can view this live stream.

Source: AsiaBizz.com

UK Today News: Michael Douglas Speaks on the ‘David Letterman Late Show, Hopeful Of An Early Recovery

Michael Douglas, who is diagnosed with cancer, does not feel hopeless about the disease. In fact, he is very optimistic and says that he too shares the same fighting spirit as his father had. Michael’s father had survived a stroke, a few years ago.

He has gained this confidence of completely recovering from his disease after he went through his first week’s radiation and chemotherapy that showed good results, thus increasing hopes of the actor.

Douglas spoke for the first time of his disease on the ‘David Letterman Late Show’. The actor said, “Let’s just say … I’m pretty lit up right now.”

The tumor in the throat was diagnosed some three weeks ago and the biopsy report clarified that Douglas is having stage four cancer, that means, the risk level too is very intense.

The 65 year old actor said, “It is intense and so they’ve had to go at it. The cancer remains above the neck and that means expectations are good, with an 80 percent or better chance of recovery.”

UK Today News: Drug Baron Edgar Valdez Associated Aka La Barbie With The Beltran Leyva Drug Group Arrested

The Mexican police tasted success after arresting an alleged drug baron, Edgar Valdez. He is reported to be linked to the Beltran Leyva drug group. Valdez also known as Barbie is an US citizen.

There was a fight going on between the current leader of Beltran Leyva, Hector Beltran and Valdez for the control of the entire group. The group was previously controlled by Arturo, Valdez’s brother before he got killed in December last year by the police officials of Mexico.

A few days ago, police officials had found four beheaded bodies, hanging from a bridge in Cuernavaca. Their heads were found nearby with a message saying that if anybody was found supporting Edgar Valdez; the person had the same future as these unfortunates.

Valdez arrest adds on another star to the efforts of the President Felipe Calderon for his fight against the Mexican drug groups. Edgar has been charged for cocaine in the US from 2004-06 and that too in a very huge quantity.