China's 'Star' Anchorman Disappears Before Show

A popular Chinese television news presenter has disappeared from his nightly show, just weeks after his boss was detained on suspicion of taking bribes.

Rui Chenggang, a business journalist who works for the state-run broadcaster CCTV, was taken from his workplace by prosecutors, according to financial news magazine Caixin.

He was missing from the newscast he co-anchors, although producers kept two microphones wired up for the show.

It comes two months after CCTV's financial news director Guo Zhenxi was detained as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption.

Mr Guo once praised Mr Rui as the station's "star anchor", telling the New York Times his reporter was, for the first time, "examining the health of the nation" through a television programme.

Mr Rui, who is known for his nationalistic streak, has interviewed numerous political and business leaders during his career, amassing more than 10 million followers on his social networking account.

He once formed a campaign group to remove a Starbucks coffee shop from Beijing's Forbidden City and raised eyebrows when he claimed he could represent all of Asia at one of US President Barack Obama's news conferences in 2009.

As well as his prime-time role at CCTV, Mr Rui is a columnist for Beijing Youth Daily and sits on the board of the China National Symphony Orchestra.

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Tracy Morgan Sues Walmart Over Deadly Crash

Actor and comedian Tracy Morgan has sued Walmart over the crash that left him seriously injured and killed a fellow comedian.

The lawsuit claims Walmart is responsible for the June pile-up because the driver of one of its tractor-trailers, who allegedly slammed into Morgan's limousine, had not slept in over 24 hours.

It says the retail giant should have known the driver's commute of 700 miles (1,125km) from his home in Georgia to work in Delaware was "unreasonable".

The June 7 pile-up happened on the New Jersey Turnpike

"As a result of Wal-Mart's gross, reckless, wilful, wanton, and intentional conduct, it should be appropriately punished with the imposition of punitive damages," the complaint says.

Morgan suffered a broken leg and broken ribs in the June 7 accident, which flipped the Mercedes limo he was riding in on to its roof and caused a chain-reaction crash involving four other vehicles.

The 30 Rock and former Saturday Night Live star had been receiving treatment in a rehabilitation centre, but was released on Saturday.

His spokesman Lewis Kay said Morgan will continue his recovery at home with an "aggressive outpatient programme".

Sixty-two-year-old comedian James McNair, who went by the name Jimmy Mack, was killed in the New Jersey Turnpike crash.

Walmart truck driver Kevin Roper has been charged in the crash

Two other limo passengers were also injured. Both are named as plaintiffs in Morgan's lawsuit.

Walmart responded to the lawsuit with a statement, saying: "Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out" to all involved, including Mr McNair's friends and relatives.

"We are deeply sorry that one of our trucks was involved. As we've said, 'cooperating fully in the ongoing investigation.

"We know it will take some time to resolve all of the remaining issues as a result of the accident, but we're committed to doing the right thing for all involved."

Truck driver Kevin Roper, 35, has pleaded not guilty to death by auto and assault by auto charges.

Federal transportation safety investigators said Roper was driving 65mph (105kph) in the 60 seconds before he struck the limo van.

The speed limit for that stretch of the turnpike is normally 55mph (89kph), but had been lowered to 45mph (72kph) due to ongoing road work.

Investigators concluded that Roper had been on the job for about 13-and-a-half hours at the time of the crash.

Federal regulations allow truck drivers to work up to 14 hours, with a maximum of 11 hours behind the wheel.

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Israeli Troops Launch First Ground Raid On Gaza

Israeli troops have launched a ground operation in the northern Gaza Strip, the first since the offensive against Hamas began, as Palestinian deaths continue to mount.

The navy commandos' brief incursion - which ignored a United Nations call for a ceasefire - targeted a rocket launcher site, according to Israeli public radio.

The armed branch of Hamas confirmed that Israeli troops had exchanged gunfire with Palestinian fighters.

Thousands of residents in northern Gaza have fled their homes, after a warning from Israel's military that they should leave "for their own safety".

Artillery flares illuminate the sky following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is to ask the United Nations for international protection as the six-day offensive continues.

The Palestine Liberation Organisation said in a statement: "President Abbas will present a letter to the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Robert Serry, addressed to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, to officially put the State of Palestine under the UN international protection system and to form a legal committee for immediate follow-up."

Israel says it plans to step up its offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza over the next 24 hours in an effort to stop missiles being fired into Israel.

It has been massing military hardware and troops close to the border with northern Gaza.

A picture tweeted by Israel claiming to target a militant rocket site

Sky's Alex Rossi said more than 100 Israeli armoured personnel carriers and tanks are in the area.

Israel began its offensive on Tuesday in response to weeks of rocket attacks from Hamas militants in Gaza, who are understood to have fired more than 600 missiles into the country.

Two more rockets shot from Gaza were destroyed over the Tel Aviv area by the Iron Dome missile defence system on Sunday, several hours after another two rockets were intercepted over Lod, close to the country's main airport.

Hamas has denied being behind a rocket attack on Israel from Lebanon on Saturday evening.

Tel Aviv residents take cover during an air raid siren warning of an attack

Earlier that day an Israeli warplane bombed the home of Gaza's police chief and damaged a nearby mosque, killing at least 18 people and wounding 50.

It was the deadliest single attack during the five-day conflict, which has now claimed 165 Palestinian lives and left more than 1,000 injured.

The injured were taken to al Shifa hospital in Gaza City as the bombardment continued.

Dr Ayman al Sahabany, director of emergency ward at the hospital, said: "Women and children are more than half of the casualties. And children form a third of the total casualties."

Israeli soldiers rest in the shade of trees near central Gaza

No Israelis have died so far in the latest conflict, and many of the rockets fired into the country have been intercepted by Iron Dome.

Speaking before an international summit in Vienna, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said there was an "urgent need" to stop the bloodshed.

Earlier, France called on Israel to order an immediate ceasefire.

"We condemn the Hamas rocket attacks against Israeli civilians," said Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.

Israeli soldiers walk across a field near central Gaza strip

"But we also call on Israel to show restraint in its response and in particular to respect international law and to ensure that civilian casualties are avoided."

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) defended its military campaign via social media.

"To warn civilians of an impending strike, the IDF drops leaflets, makes personalized phone calls & sends SMSes. How many militaries do that?" it tweeted.

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Chinese Takeaway For £900m PizzaExpress Chain

Cable Plots Tougher Foreign Takeover Rules

Updated: 12:07am UK, Sunday 13 July 2014

By Mark Kleinman, City Editor

Vince Cable is to set out new proposals to force buyers of key British companies to make watertight commitments aimed at protecting jobs and research budgets.

The Business Secretary is expected to detail plans that would oblige foreign bidders for UK businesses to offer binding guarantees to the City's takeover watchdog in order to prevent the erosion of Britain's knowledge base.

His pledge will come less than two months after the American pharmaceuticals giant Pfizer's interest in a £69bn takeover of AstraZeneca ignited a political storm in Westminster about a perceived threat to scientific research and development in Britain.

Mr Cable is understood to want to strengthen the powers of the Takeover Panel, which oversees mergers and takeovers involving British companies, but his plans will nevertheless fall short of the more stringent regulatory framework for which Labour has been calling.

The Business Secretary's proposals are expected to be set out later this weekend.

It was unclear on Saturday whether Mr Cable would require legislative change to push through his proposals or whether there would be a formal threshold above which acquirers of UK companies would be forced to adhere to any new rules.

Currently, the formal public interest test which gives politicians power to intervene in corporate deals is restricted to areas such as media plurality and financial stability.

The Takeover Panel, which regulates mergers and acquisitions, can force foreign bidders for UK companies in any sector to make or clarify public statements about their intentions.

However, it is not deemed by ministers to have sufficiently robust powers to compel companies to make legally-binding commitments on issues such as jobs and R&D.

That became a politically sensitive issue under the last Labour Government, when Kraft Foods of the US reneged on a pledge to retain a Cadbury manufacturing facility in the UK.

Speaking before a House of Lords select committee earlier this week, Mr Cable said he was not interested in introducing rules purely designed to protect the Union flag, pointing out that Britain's biggest manufacturer is Tata, the Indian conglomerate which owns Jaguar Land Rover.

"A crude nationality test has no merit," he said.

Hinting at a possible strengthening of the Takeover Panel's powers, he also said that an extension of the national interest test could risk breaching European Union law.

Ian Read, Pfizer's chief executive, said in May he regarded commitments to UK jobs made during the recent bid situation as legally enforceable.

When Pfizer abandoned its offer two months ago, Chuka Umunna, the Shadow Business Secretary, reaffirmed his commitment to subjecting the deal to a public interest test if a fresh approach was made under a Labour administration.

"While Labour was standing up for British jobs and British science throughout this takeover bid, David Cameron and his ministers were cheerleading for it when one of the primary motivations behind the deal was financial engineering - cited by the AstraZeneca board as one of the execution risks justifying rejection of the bid," he said at the time.

Pfizer was forced to walk away from its bid after a string of rejections by the AstraZeneca board, despite a desire from some of the UK company's shareholders for it to engage with its suitor.

AstraZeneca could invite Pfizer to enter fresh talks towards the end of August, although it would be late November before the US company could make a new unsolicited approach under Takeover Panel rules.

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Australia: 'Critical Steam' Solar Breakthrough

By Jonathan Samuels, Australia Correspondent

For the first time ever scientists have managed to use the Sun's rays to create the same energy that is currently produced in coal or gas-fired power stations.

The breakthrough in Australia means one day the Sun could compete with fossil fuels to provide our energy needs.

Using solar energy, scientists have reached temperatures and pressures never before achieved to create "supercritical steam".

Robbie McNaughton: 'The real challenge is to prove it's going to last'

"It's like breaking the sound barrier," said Dr Alex Wonhas from Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

"Instead of relying on burning fossil fuels to produce supercritical steam, this breakthrough demonstrates that the power plants of the future could instead be using the free, zero-emission energy of the Sun to achieve the same result."

At a research centre in Newcastle, north of Sydney, a field of mirrors is angled to catch the Sun's rays and reflect them onto a receiving tower.

The field of beams creates temperatures up to 570C, which combined with high pressure produces the steam which current solar power plants have been unable to make.

Project leader Robbie McNaughton told Sky News: "The real challenge now is to prove that it's going to last. We've proved that we can actually do the optical side of it and produce the temperature and conditions, we just need to make sure that we can produce a power plant that might last for 20 years."

Ivor Frischknecht, CEO of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), said there was still a great deal of work to be done before the technology could be used on a commercial scale, but "it's a potential game changer for the world".

"The steam can also be stored relatively easily in a big thermos so you've got renewable energy which can be used in existing infrastructure which is now also storable," he added.

Australia is one of the world's worst emitters of greenhouse gas per capita

The milestone comes at a crucial time for Australia, one of the world's worst emitters of greenhouse gases per capita largely due to its reliance on coal-fired power stations.

The government is about to scrap a carbon tax on the country's worst polluters which was only introduced a couple of years ago.

Conservative Prime Minister Tony Abbott made getting rid of the tax a pre-election promise.

He recently said the tax was "9% on the price of power; it is a $9bn handbrake on our economy, a $550 hit on every household's cost of living".

But without the balance of power in Australia's senate, Mr Abbott requires the support of crossbench senators to get the repeal of the tax through.

Amanda McKenzie, CEO of the Climate Council, told Sky News: "The US has a target to reduce coal emissions by 30% by 2020.

"China has indicated that they'll put absolute targets on their emission reductions, they have an emissions trading scheme that will cover a quarter of a billion people.

"The Indian prime minister wants to put solar panels on every roof in India. Australia is part of a global community that is acting - and we need to play our part."

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Iraq: Gunmen Shoot Dead 29 In 'Brothel'

At least 29 people have been shot dead in the Iraqi capital Baghdad in a building that police believe was being used as a brothel.

Twenty of them were said to be women.

Gunmen carried out the raid on two rundown apartments in a housing complex in the east of the city on Saturday evening.

A police officer told Reuters that the words: "This is the punishment of those practising prostitution" were scrawled in black on the walls on at least one of the flats where the bodies of the women were found.

Shia militia members have been accused by locals of carrying out killings of women branded as prostitutes in that district of Baghdad.

At least 18 people were wounded, police said.

The apartment block where the attacks took place

The attack happened in Zayouna neighbourhood and local people said it was was carried out by men wearing a mix of plain clothes and camouflage.

The exact number killed has yet to be confirmed but some locally said the figure could be much higher.

Dhafir Abdullah, a local resident said: "While I was having a picnic at 8.30pm yesterday, I saw police vehicles parked. Then I heard that 35 women were killed in vague circumstances."

Video footage of the scene showed bloodstains on the path leading to the apartment doorways and discarded clothing and medical equipment left by the emergency services.

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World Cup: Day Of Reckoning For Lionel Messi

World Cup Final Preview

Updated: 10:48am UK, Sunday 13 July 2014

A wonderful World Cup will draw to a close at the Maracana tonight, with a kick-off of 8pm, as Germany and Argentina battle it out to become champions.

A thrilling tournament has served up attacking football and goals galore, with many of the star names producing their best form.

Fans from across the globe have helped to create a fantastic atmosphere in all the host cities, with Brazil living up to its reputation as the spiritual home of football.

If Brazil had made it through to tonight's showpiece it would have made the occasion even more special, but incredible results are also an ingredient of a great World Cup and the hosts were on the wrong end of a stunning scoreline in the semi-finals as they were demolished 7-1 by Germany.

Germany now go on to the majestic setting of the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro and they will have the support of the locals as they take on Brazil's fierce rivals Argentina.

It is the third time the two countries will have met in a World Cup final and presents a clash of continents as Germany aim to become the first European side to triumph on South American soil.

Argentina came out on top in Mexico in 1986 before West Germany won in Italy four years later, and Germany have also knocked out Argentina at the quarter-final stage in the last two tournaments.

Germany were superb as they beat Argentina 4-0 in South Africa four years ago, but they could not go on to lift the trophy, and they will be aware that their performances so far in Brazil will count for nothing unless they are crowned champions.

Joachim Low's side have been made to work hard along the way, but when they have clicked they have been ruthlessly efficient.

Having crushed Portugal 4-0, drawn 2-2 with Ghana and edged out USA 1-0 to win Group G, Germany then needed extra-time to see off Algeria 2-1 and overcame France 1-0 before their annihilation of Brazil.

Low is unlikely to change such a successful formula now, meaning that Miroslav Klose will again lead the line after becoming the World Cup's all-time leading scorer with his 16th finals goal against Brazil.

Thomas Muller has 10 World Cup goals, and five at this tournament, and he will provide a major threat in support of Klose, along with the impressive Toni Kroos, while Arsenal's Mesut Ozil will hope to make an impact after a quiet World Cup.

Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira have provided midfield stability in front of a back four of Philipp Lahm, Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels and Benedikt Howedes, while Manuel Neuer has reinforced his standing as the No.1 goalkeeper in the world.

Hummels, Kroos, Muller and captain Lahm are all on a 10-man shortlist for the Golden Ball - the World Cup's best player - but they could all be pipped to the prize if Argentina win the final.

Angel Di Maria and Javier Mascherano are among the nominees, but it may be Lionel Messi who is the most likely to challenge one of the Germans, or Colombia's James Rodriguez, if he can deliver one of his most dazzling displays on what has been described as a day of destiny for the Barcelona forward.

Messi caught the eye with four goals as Argentina topped their group by defeating Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-1, Iran 1-0 and Nigeria 3-2, but it has since been suggested that he is suffering with fatigue following a long season.

Argentina have continued to win by narrow margins in the knockout stages, having scraped past Switzerland 1-0 after extra-time, beaten Belgium 1-0 and then required penalties to progress at the Netherlands' expense after a 0-0 draw in the semi-finals.

Di Maria missed the semi-final with a thigh injury and his fitness will continue to be monitored ahead of kick-off, with Enzo Perez most likely to make way if he is available.

Head coach Alejandro Sabella said: "He (Di Maria) has improved, that is obvious. After training, we will know better. Just now I couldn't give you an answer."

Sabella has a wealth of attacking talent in his preferred starting line-up, with Gonzalo Higuain and Ezequiel Lavezzi as well as Messi and Di Maria.

The midfield discipline comes from Mascherano and Lucas Biglia, while Manchester City duo Pablo Zabaleta and Martin Demichelis are joined in defence by Ezequiel Garay and Marcos Rojo. Sergio Romero has also excelled in goal, notably with his penalty saves against the Dutch.

Another key figure will be Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli, who follows in the footsteps of Howard Webb and will hope the final is less fiery than the match in South Africa between Spain and the Netherlands.

It would be a fitting end if tonight's game delivers a classic final, but regardless of the outcome Brazil 2014 will live long in the memory.

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Pope: One In 50 Clergy Involved In Paedophilia

Pope Francis has condemned child sex abuse as a "leprosy" and believes one in 50 people in the Church is involved in paedophilia.

In an interview with Italy's La Repubblica newspaper, he also promised "solutions" to the issue of priestly celibacy and raised the possibility the Catholic Church may eventually lift its ban on married priests.

The Pope, who has previously said he would show zero tolerance for clergy who abused children, cited his aides as saying that "the level of paedophilia in the Church is at 2%".

"That 2% includes priests and even bishops and cardinals," he said.

Francis arrives to lead prayers in Isernia, southern Italy

Asked whether priests might one day be allowed to marry, Francis pointed out that celibacy was instituted "900 years after Our Lord's death" and that clerics can marry in some Eastern Churches under Vatican tutelage.

"There definitely is a problem, but it is not a major one. This needs time but there are solutions and I will find them," he said, without giving further details.

In May, Francis likened paedophilia by priests to a "satanic Mass" - and announced his first meeting with a group of victims at the Vatican.

Asked about his approach to bishops accused of sexual abuse, he said "there will be no daddy's boys".

He said three bishops were currently being investigated.

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Putin Tells Britain To Resolve Falklands Row

Vladimir Putin has waded into the Falkland Islands row, telling Britain it must sit down with Argentina for fresh talks to resolve the dispute.

The Russian president, who has faced international criticism over the annexation of Crimea and continuing tensions on the Ukraine border, said his country supported "the necessity" to find a solution to the 200-year-old feud.

Speaking at a dinner with Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner on a one-day visit to the country, Mr Putin added: "I'd like to draw attention to the words of the president regarding double discourse in international affairs."

Ms Fernandez has previously accused Britain of double standards for criticising a pro-Russian secession vote in Crimea, while using last year's Falklands referendum, in which islanders voted in favour of remaining British, to justify its rule of the archipelago.

Mr Putin shared a drink with Ms Fernandez and also played an accordion tune

At the dinner with Mr Putin, she thanked the Russian leader for supporting her country's "national cause".

"Colonisation is a dark cloud over the 20th and 19th centuries and something that should be totally wiped out," she said.

"We thank the position of Russia regarding the Falkland Islands and I am going to call a toast in the name of, as you put it, a world without double discourse ... where the international rights are the same for everyone and applied the same way everywhere."

Britain has controlled the Falklands since 1833 - except for 74 days of occupation in 1982 - but Argentina claims it inherited rights to the islands in 1816.

The sovereignty of the Falkland Islands has long been disputed

More than 900 people were killed and 2,000 injured during the war triggered by an Argentine invasion 32 years ago.

Last month, a UN committee approved a resolution calling on the UK and Argentina to negotiate over the Falkland Islands.

Argentina's foreign minister Hector Timerman told the UN special committee on decolonisation the UK's refusal to "fulfil its obligations to negotiate" over the islands' sovereignty went against the founding principle of the UN.

However, Falklands residents gave speeches at the meeting, saying they were "happy with the current status and don't want to change it".

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Search For Body As Costa Concordia Refloated

The Man Who Raised Costa Concordia

Updated: 6:30am UK, Tuesday 17 September 2013

By Tom Kington, on Giglio

The man who raised the Costa Concordia was given a hero's welcome on Tuesday by colleagues and residents of the island of Giglio, where the cruise ship capsized 20 months ago.

After running a control room on a barge near the wrecked vessel, salvage master Nick Sloane was greeted by a cheering crowd in the pre-dawn hours of Tuesday as he returned to Giglio port after the successful 19-hour operation to right the ship.

Around 100 members of the 500-strong salvage team toasted the 52-year-old South African salvage veteran with beer and prosecco outside a café on the quayside, shortly after the Costa Concordia was pulled upright onto undersea platforms with giant pulleys.

"This has been the most satisfying job of my life," said DJ Degraaff, 35, a Dutch salvage master. "It's been a hard job but now we are relaxed and satisfied. The ship is resting and that was the goal."

Mr Degraaff said his biggest concern as the ship was rolled upright was that her bilge tanks would collapse. "But we had reinforced them and they held," he said.

There would be no time off now, he said, since work must now start on adding flotation tanks to the starboard side of the ship before she can be refloated and towed away from Giglio.

But Denny Hoffschlag, 34, a Dutch diver, said there was a "lot of joy" among the salvage team after righting the ship. "This has given me goosebumps," he said.

Mr Sloane was accompanied on the quayside by Rich Habib, CEO of Titan Salvage, which won the contract to raise the Costa Concordia.

"The stakes were so high, but it went just the way we planned it," said Mr Habib. The so-called parbuckling did last longer than predicted, 19 hours compared to the 12 forecast, something Mr Habib put down to the need to use slightly more force in the pulleys than had been predicted.

"It needed more oomph," he said.

Habib also said that after inspecting the side of the ship he had seen that the two granite outcrops on which the boat had rested for 20 months had not pierced the hull of the ship. "The steel of the ship compacted on the rocks rather than being pierced by it," he said.

The care taken in raising the Costa Concordia without breaking it up had been done to respect the surrounding martime park, in contract to the common salvage practise of blowing up vessels said Habib. "It's a little bit easier to blow things up," he said.

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