Ripley's Blog | Ripple's Web

(CNN) — May has been a bad month for relations between Taiwan and the Philippines.

Taiwan has reacted angrily after one of its fishermen was killed by a Philippine coast guard vessel last week. It has recalled its diplomatic envoy from Manila, frozen applications from Filipinos seeking to work in Taiwan and held naval drills near Philippine waters.

The Philippine coast guard has said the crew of one of its ships fired at the Taiwanese fishing boat on May 9 after it tried to ram a Philippine boat. Manila insists that the shooting took place in waters inside its exclusive economic zone and that the loss of life was “unintended.”

But Taiwan says the Philippine vessel sprayed the fishing boat with bullets in waters claimed by the exclusive economic zones of both countries. It says the 65-year-old fisherman, Hung Shih-cheng, was fatally shot in the back.

The souring ties between the two countries are born out of the messy mix of competing territorial claims to parts of the South China Sea and nearby waters by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. The areas in dispute include fertile fishing grounds and potentially rich reserves of undersea natural resources.

President Ma Ying-jeou of Taiwan on Friday described last week’s shooting as a “cold-blooded murder,” the Taiwanese national news agency CNA reported.

Ma has so far deemed the Philippine response to the killing to be unsatisfactory. His government has demanded that Manila make a formal apology, compensate the losses, investigate and punish those responsible, and start talks between the two countries on a fishing agreement.

Among the series of measures Taiwan has imposed this week to show its displeasure is a travel alert urging its citizens not to visit to the Philippines.

The Philippine government, meanwhile, has started to show frustration with the Taiwanese stance.

“We did what a decent member, a respectable member of the international community should have done,” Edwin Lacierda, a spokesman for President Benigno Aquino III, said Thursday. “We have gone the extra mile.”

Aquino sent “a personal representative to extend his apology” and offer financial assistance to the family of the dead fisherman, Lacierda said, according to CNN affiliate ABS-CBN. Philippine authorities are investigating the shooting, he said.

He warned that the measures imposed by the Taiwanese government would hurt the economies of both countries.

Lacierda also appealed to the Taiwanese people not to hurt Filipinos living in Taiwan amid reports of harassment.

But Garfie Li, a spokeswoman for Ma, said Lacierda’s comments about going the extra mile were “were untrue and totally unacceptable,” according to CNA.

The United States, an ally of both the Philippines and Taiwan, has expressed regret” over the fisherman’s death and urged the two sides “to work together and to ensure maritime safety, and refrain from actions that could further escalate tensions.”

China has supported Taiwan, which it views as a breakaway province.

“We have repeatedly condemned the violent killing of the innocent fisherman since the incident happened,” Yang Yi, a spokesman for the State Council’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said Wednesday, according to the state-run news agency Xinhua. “We have demanded that the Philippine side take the case seriously, find out the truth as quickly as possible and punish those responsible.”

Beijing and Manila are already at odds over a different territorial dispute in the region that led to a maritime standoff last year.

Article source: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/edition_world/~3/-aLgoefKeSw/index.html

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NewsRipplesWeb/~3/7t4JvcgeoZA/fishermans-death-sours-relations-between-taiwan-philippines

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RipleysStuff/~3/zXeT3drJaR0/fishermans-death-sours-relations-between-taiwan-philippines

(CNN) — Tropical Cyclone Mahasen jogged northward Thursday prior to striking the coast of Bangladesh, averting the widespread disaster that government authorities had prepared for.

Still, at least 12 people were killed, thousands of thatched houses were damaged and trees uprooted, the state news agency said.

“The situation is turning normal and the people have started returning home after some 200,000 people took overnight refuge at cyclone shelters at Barisal Division,” divisional commissioner of Barisal Mohammad Nurul Amin told Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).

“The damage was not that much what we feared, and people who took shelters have already started moving to their houses as the weather is becoming almost normal,” he said.

Bangladeshi authorities had relocated hundreds of thousands of people in vulnerable areas to safer ground ahead of the storm’s arrival.

A man works on a tent after arriving at a camp for internally displaced people in the village of Mansi, Myanmar, on Friday, May 17. Safety concerns prompted authorities and relief agencies to try to relocate tens of thousands at these makeshift camps as Tropical Cyclone Mahasen neared. At least 12 deaths have been reported in nearby Bangladesh due to the cyclone.

Families load their belongings onto a truck before returning to a temporary relief camp at a mosque in Thetkaepyin, Myanmar, on May 17.

Members of a displaced Rohingya Muslim family rest at a camp outside Sittwe, Myanmar, on Thursday, May 16, as heavy rains and strong winds from Tropical Cyclone Mahasen lash coastal areas.

A group of Rohingya families wait for rice supplies at a temporary relief camp near Sittwe on May 16.

Rohingya family members board a truck with their belongings as they prepare to move from tents to a safer area on May 16.

Rohingya men dismantle their tent as they prepare to move to a safer area on May 16.

Rohingya men pack their belongings as they get ready for the move on May 16.

Bangladeshis pull a boat away from a beachfront in Chittagong on May 16 as Tropical Cyclone Mahasen approached.

Bangladeshi fishermen tie up their vessels in the Chittagong Harbor on Wednesday, May 15.

Fishing boats are tied up in Chittagong on May 15. The storm is forecast to make landfall late Thursday or early Friday in southeastern Bangladesh, near the port city of Chittagong.

Bangladeshi evacuees head toward shelters on May 15 in Cox’s Bazar.

Women pass time in a Rohingya displacement camp outside Sittwe, Myanmar, on May 15. Authorities and relief agencies have been relocating tens of thousands of internally displaced people at camps throughout the low-lying region.

Displaced Rohingyas dig a drainage ditch around a relief tent at the Ohnedaw camp on the outskirts of Sittwe on May 15. Rohingya people are a stateless Muslim minority who suffered during decades of military rule in Myanmar.

A Rohingya child has breakfast inside a relief tent at the Ohnedaw camp on May 15.

A man fixes his tent on May 15 at the Ohnedaw camp.

A Muslim family rests in their temporary shelter outside Sittwe on May 15.

Children pump water at the Ohnedaw camp near Sittwe on May 15.

Thandawli villagers stand by the bank of a river in a displacement camp outside Sittwe on Tuesday, May 14.

Police officers walk in the rain as they guard a Rohingya displacement camp outside Sittwe on May 14. Efforts to relocate some of the displaced appeared to be hindered by distrust of the security forces involved.

A woman from the Thandawli village walks through the rain in a Rohingya displacement camp outside Sittwe on May 14.

jpg” width=”640″ height=”360″ alt=”A boy from Thandawli shelters himself from the rain in the Rohingya camp near Sittwe on May 14.” border=”0″ /A boy from Thandawli shelters himself from the rain in the Rohingya camp near Sittwe on May 14.

Young men play soccer on the beach in Sittwe on May 14.

Muslim Rohingya women sit inside a tent at the Mansi displacement camp in Sittwe on May 14.

A boy dismantles his tent near Sittwe before moving to safer ground on Monday, May 13, in light of the approaching cyclone.

A man sits inside a tent that he has turned into a makeshift shop at a displacement camp for Muslims outside Sittwe on May 13.

A storm lights up the sky above the Yangon River in Myanmar early on May 13.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

Photos: Tropical Cyclone Mahasen

Cyclone Mahasen displaces thousands

CNN Explains: Tropical cyclones

The storm’s strongest gusts reached 90 kph (56 mph), weaker than a hurricane, BSS said.

Authorities had suspended port activities at Chittagong, a major transport and commercial hub, and canceled all flights to and from the city’s airport.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs had warned that Mahasen could put millions of people in the surrounding region at risk.

On Wednesday, aid agencies and local authorities scrambled to prepare residents and to put emergency supplies in position.

Bangladeshi authorities relocated at least half a million people from the coastal districts of southeastern Bangladesh, the top administrative officer of Chittagong Division said.

Authorities prepared thousands of buildings as cyclone shelters.

The OCHA put the number of people ordered to relocate by the Bangladeshi government at 1 million nationwide.

There was reason for the caution: In 1970, Cyclone Bhola killed some 400,000 people, according to the OCHA. Cyclone Sidr killed nearly 4,000 people in 2007, and Cyclone Aila killed about 200 people in 2009.

A vulnerable group in Myanmar

Relocation efforts have also proved challenging in Myanmar’s western state of Rakhine, which borders Bangladesh.

On Rakhine’s coast, Myanmar authorities and relief agencies worked to relocate tens of thousands of Muslims who had been living in makeshift camps in low-lying areas since last year, when their homes were destroyed in sectarian violence.

Most of them are Rohingya, a stateless Muslim minority who suffered during decades of military rule in Myanmar.

Sectarian violence erupted last year in Rakhine between Buddhists and Muslims, resulting in the deaths of scores of people, most of them Rohingya. Since then, more than 100,000 Muslims have been forced to live in camps.

In a report last month, the advocacy group Human Rights Watch accused Myanmar authorities of involvement in a Buddhist campaign of “ethnic cleansing” against the Rohingya in Rakhine. The Myanmar government dismissed the report as “one-sided.”

The efforts to relocate some of the displaced Rohingya living in the camps appear to have been hindered by distrust of the security forces involved.

On Monday night, a boat ferrying people from one camp in Rakhine to safer areas hit rocks and capsized, the OCHA said, citing the government. Fifty-eight people were missing and an unspecified number died, the agency said.

CNN’s Brian Walker and journalist Farid Ahmed contributed to this report.

Article source: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/edition_world/~3/Y6g901o8pPY/index.html

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NewsRipplesWeb/~3/lV6lE1OCl8k/cyclone-mahasen-pulls-its-punch

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RipleysStuff/~3/QkNhfZWbJfM/cyclone-mahasen-pulls-its-punch

Rift already has a free-to-play option that has a level cap and other restrictions, but this will open up the entire game to free players.

Rift is the latest MMO to make the transition to a free-to-play model.

The MMO developed by Trion Worlds will make the move away from a subscription-only business model on June 12. Following the jump, players will have access to the entire game world and be able to access all current and future updates to the game.

An optional subscription will still be available and will allow players access to “Patron” benefits to enhance their experience. An in-game store will also allow players to buy additional boosts, vanity items and mounts for real-world money.

The developers of Rift are keen to keep the experience as fair as possible and do not want the free-to-play model upsetting the feel of the game.

‘As a gamer’s game, a super fun and fair experience is of the utmost importance to us,’ said Rift creative director Bill Fisher. ‘The best gear in the game will always have to be earned through playing Rift.’.

This sentiment echoes recent comments from Blizzard which reflected on their real-money auction house feature in Diablo 3. This took out part of the fun of finding new weapons and equipment through playing the game, as the achievement was lessened by the knowledge that each new piece could have easily been bought for a small fee.

Other titles from Trion Worlds suggest that the developer is staying away from the subscription model from now on. Last month it released transmedia title Defiance which requires the game to be bought but no ongoing subscription much like the Guild Wars model.

‘We have been listening to feedback from our players and watching the continuously developing MMO community,’ added Fisher. ‘We are very excited to bring an enhanced game experience to everyone, without barriers.’

Rift launched in March 2011 and received its first expansion, Storm Legion, in November 2012. A free-to-play option with a level cap of 20 and other restrictions also debuted in early 2012 in a bid to attract new players.

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bit-tech/news/~3/GvyN7FJDYcU/1

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GamingRipplesWeb/~3/geBXwBH787E/

.cnn_html_media_utility::before{color:red;content:’’;font-size:9px;line-height:12px;padding-right:1px}
.cnnstrylccimg640{margin:0 27px 14px 0}
.captionText{filter:alpha(opacity=100);opacity:1}
.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a,.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a:visited,.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a:link,.captionText a,.captionText a:visited,.captiontext a:link{color:outline:medium none}
.cnnVerticalGalleryPhoto{margin:0 auto;padding-right:68px;width:270px}
]]

For centuries, fishing has not only been a source of food, but a treasured pastime offering a quiet space for reflection and bonding. But if you thought the joys of fishing were restricted to one man and his reel, think again.

CNN takes a look at the top five fishing expeditions from across the world. Here, a fisherman gets up close and personal with some lobsters, otherwise known as the “black gold” of the sea for their prized — and elusive — flesh.

Guests can hop aboard the North Wales Lobster Safari, where they’ll be taught the fine art of catching the crustaceans in huge traps, known as pots.

If oysters are more to your liking, you might be better off heading to Ireland’s Killary Harbour — home to one of the largest and cleanest collections of shellfish in Europe.

The pretty glacial fjord is surrounded by pristine mountains, with nearby 19th century Delphi Lodge offering day trips to the many oyster and mussel farms dotted along the water.

The spectacular scenery continues at Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Luxury hotel Little Nell’s offers helicopter trips to a secluded lake, with fly-fishing showing guests the tricks of the trade.

For youngsters wanting to find their own real-life Nemo, Florida’s Disney World offers fishing in lakes within the shadow of Cinderella’s Castle.

More adventurous fishermen can cruise the Amazon River in a traditional three-deck riverboat, called the Black Water Explorer. “The boat is big and wide and fully air-conditioned — it’s like a floating hotel,” said expedition director Steve Townson.

Townson shows off one of the most ferocious freshwater fishes in the world — and the prey of his Amazon River expedition — the peacock bass. “Three of the last world-record biggest peacock bass have come from here,” he said.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Editor’s note: MainSail is CNN’s monthly sailing show, exploring the sport of sailing, luxury travel and the latest in design and technology.

(CNN) — Silently huddled on the water’s edge, waiting hours on end for a hint of action, may not be everyone’s idea of a pleasurable pastime.

But the joy of fishing — much like its catch — comes in many shapes and sizes.

From wrestling ferocious Amazonian amphibians, to casting a reel in the shadow of Cinderella’s Castle, here are our top five aquatic expeditions to expand the mind and get your pulse racing.

Pretty fly fishing

Breaking sailing boundaries in Namibia

Controlling a sailing beast

Watch speeding boat fly, crash!

A luxury Aspen hotel gives new meaning to the term “fly-fishing” by offering helicopter rides over the dramatic Rocky Mountains to a secluded lake.

Guests at Colorado’s five-star Little Nell’s Hotel are flown to a private ranch where they can fly-fish for trophy trout.

Read: Champagne and wild boar sausages — A very British boat race

Requiring a gentle touch and the stamina to withstand long hours knee-deep in water, fly-fishing is not for the fainthearted. But instructors are on hand to show beginners the tricks of this historic trade.

Those lucky enough to catch a trout can also enjoy it for dinner that night, after learning the secrets of seafood cooking in a class run by the hotel’s chef.

Lobster hunting

Called the “black gold” of the sea, lobsters are some of the most elusive — and prized — catches of the ocean.

One of the best places in the world to get up close to these monstrous delicacies is the remote Great Orme coastline in north Wales.

Read: Graffiti artists turn abandoned Welsh liner into giant, psychedelic canvas

The Lobster Safari offers boat trips beside the towering cliffs, with on-board marine biologist Carl Davies explaining the process behind catching the elusive creatures in huge traps, known as pots.

“During the trip we haul numerous lobster pots so guests can see them up close and have an opportunity to handle the lobsters — and for that matter a whole host of other marine creatures also caught in the pots,” Davies said.

“They can also spot other wildlife, like seabirds, seals, sometimes bottle nosed dolphins and the famous Kashmiri goats that live wild on the Orme.”

Finding the real Nemo

Along with playing catch and learning to ride a bike, fishing has long been viewed as a defining parent-child bonding experience.

But if the promise of the great outdoors and quality time with the folks isn’t enough to lure youngsters outside, perhaps Disney World is.

Along with magical rides and stage shows, the Florida theme park also offers waterways teeming with bass.

Families can cast their rods against the backdrop of Cinderella’s Castle, all with the help of angling experts.

Read: Circus on a sailboat — The family of acrobats swinging aboard 12-meter yacht

During the 1960s, more than 70,000 bass fingerlings were released into the Magic Kingdom’s Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon and left to grow and breed undisturbed for almost 20 years.

Today, guests can try their luck catching the adult fish, weighing up to 6.5 kilograms.

Amazon adventure

When it comes to ferocious fish, the South American peacock bass didn’t earn the nickname “freshwater bully” for nothing.

With its striking green and gold coloring, aggressive nature, and hefty size, catching the Amazonian fish can often appear as a spectacular wrestling match between man and beast.

But fearless fishermen can try their hand at the action from the comfort of a traditional three-deck river boat, while meandering down Brazil’s exotic waterways.

“The peacock bass is undoubtedly the world’s most aggressive, hard-fighting freshwater fish,” said Steve Townson, director of the Black Water Explorer expedition.

“When a peacock bass slams a topwater lure, it’s like a bomb going off.”

A real pearler

Nestled in between the windswept mountains of Ireland’s west coast, lies the dramatic Killary Harbor — a breathtaking 16-kilometer fjord, plunging 45-meters deep below the surface.

The piercing blue glacial fjord is also home to one of the largest — and cleanest — collections of shellfish in Europe.

Read: Sailing the world’s most beautiful lakes

Guests at the nearby 1830s-era Delphi Lodge country house can cruise along the spectacular waterway in a speedboat, stopping at the historic oyster and mussel farms dotted along its rim.

The day trip includes farming demonstrations and a chance to sample the freshly cooked produce with a glass of the nation’s iconic drink — Guinness.

Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/03/travel/worlds-top-fishing-holidays/index.html?eref=edition

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NewsRipplesWeb/~3/rADh1c8h4g8/worlds-top-five-fishing-holidays

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RipleysStuff/~3/Q0QrcVwknJ0/worlds-top-five-fishing-holidays

.cnn_html_media_utility::before{color:red;content:’’;font-size:9px;line-height:12px;padding-right:1px}
.cnnstrylccimg640{margin:0 27px 14px 0}
.captionText{filter:alpha(opacity=100);opacity:1}
.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a,.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a:visited,.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a:link,.captionText a,.captionText a:visited,.captiontext a:link{color:outline:medium none}
.cnnVerticalGalleryPhoto{margin:0 auto;padding-right:68px;width:270px}
]]

The Aragonese Castle clinging to the clifftop is one of Ischia’s impressive sights. You can also find Roman thermal baths here, good diving and it counts limoncello, the delicious lemon liqueur, among its homegrown consumable items.

Attractions include the 142-step staircase of the Santa Maria del Monte, built in the 17th century, featuring hand-decorated majolica from different periods.

Dubbed the Florence of South Italy, Lecce is in one of the country’s poorest regions, where sheep graze among old olive trees and stone walls line the roads. The best way to discover the city is to walk the narrow alleys, which makes the town feel like an open-air museum.

Mantova (also called Mantua) was the hometown of Rome’s most celebrated poet, Virgil. It’s been inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The foggy Mincio river and lakes create an ideal habitat for many bird species.

Matera provided part of the set of Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” and comprises a town and 155 churches cut from the local rock. For centuries up to the 1950s, farmers lived and worked in these caves while bandits took refuge there from the authorities. Cars are banned.

Narni, located in Italy’s exact geographical center, features Holy Inquisition underground tunnels with spectacular prison cells covered in graffiti, Masonic symbols and alchemic formulas. The town also reportedly inspired C.S. Lewis as he wrote “The Chronicles of Narnia.”

Pienza is the perfect Renaissance city designed by native Pope Pio II. It’s immaculate, and the streets have romantic names — “Love Street,” “Kiss Street” — echoing the concept of an ideal city. One of the best ways to see the area is on bicycle.

San Felice Circeo is a picturesque, centuries-old village built on top of Mount Circe, marked by steep walls, vertiginous ridges and peaks and pebble-stone coves. The sorceress Circe is said to have bewitched Odysseus here, keeping him prisoner for years in a grotto — and yes, you can visit that grotto.

The Ear of Dionysius is a 30-meter high rock cavern in Syracuse’s botanic garden and reportedly where the tyrant Dionysius jailed his enemies to hear what they were conspiring through a side room. The town is also home to Apollo’s temple and the magnificent Piazza del Duomo.

The Mole Antonelliana that juts out of the city is one of the symbols of Turin. It holds the National Cinema Museum and offers great views across the city. While here, visitors can also try the “bicerin,” a typical hot drink made of coffee, chocolate and cream served in a glass goblet.

North of Rome, close to the border with Tuscany, is Tuscania — a “necropolis city” where sarcophagi line the streets and tours are available to ancient tombs. The local cuisine is a high point, especially the fettuccine with wild boar.

These colorful summer houses used to hold prisoners and the island was also home to Nero’s ex-wife Claudia Octavia, when he exiled her here in the first century. The sea bed is full of ancient relics, Roman vases and other treasures, making it a popular dive spot.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

(CNN) — Tired of Rome? Done Milan? Kids start crying whenever you suggest another EM Forster tour of Florence?

Italy’s big cities are no doubt worthy and its popular regions are popular for good reason. But some of the country’s lesser known towns and villages are equally, or more, impressive. Here are our favorites.

(Scroll down towards the middle of the article for a map of all locations.)

Ischia, Campania

Lying in the Gulf of Naples, Ischia is Capri’s sister island, without the VIP status. It’s more real, more genuine.

It’s famous for its thermal baths (built by the Romans) and diving spots and features four-star luxury hotels with great prices year round.

Cheap but delicious fish restaurants lie along the harbor of Ischia Porto and the island is one of the few to make limoncello, that moreish lemon juice liqueur.

Visitors can opt for long strolls in the lush vegetation, or take a cab, bus or boat to tour the island. A must see is the majestic Aragonese Castle hanging on top of an isle-cliff, connected to the old hamlet of Ponte Ischia.

The Guevara Tower and Royal Palace (www.comuneischia.it) are worth a look for history fans, while at Fumarole beach you can see geysers of water vapor both underwater and above the ground.

With a temperature of up to 95 C, may want to test the water before diving in.

From the harbor ferries head for the neighboring fishermen island of Procida. Bellezza, one of the oldest restaurants on the island, also offers the best taste of the local cuisine.

The popular Kiwi Jam bar offers fantastic finger foods and happy-hour menus.

There’s a huge choice of hotels, but we love hotel Casa Sofia, located in the southern village of St.Angelo, where cars don’t run.

Caltagirone, Catania

Forget Palermo’s hellish traffic and Taormina’s designer boutiques — this is the heart of the real, wild Sicily famous for its artisan ceramics and the best slushies in Italy.

Getting here requires rolling across the desolate Erei hills. The top attraction is the monumental, flowery 142-step staircase of the Santa Maria del Monte, built in the 17th century, featuring hand-decorated majolica from different periods.

Once at the top the city’s streets and piazzas unravel before you, showing off the lively piazza.

Must-sees include the ceramics museum, the Borbonic jail and the crèche museum, showcasing the best of the Sicilian tradition (www.comune.caltagirone.ct.it).

The best way to savor the city is to walk along the artisans’ boutiques, which show off beautifully hand-made ceramics of live-size Christmas trees, Phoenician merchants’ faces, gigantic green, red and blue pinewoods but also miniature ceramic owls and snails.

A day of shopping can be concluded with a slushie served inside a warm brioche. The Bronte pistachio, figs and almond flavors at the central bar facing the staircase are the best.

Restaurant Il Locandiere (+39 (0)9335 8292) offers a typical lunch while BB Tre Metri Sopra il Cielo offers a cozy stay at the top of the staircase.

Lecce, Apulia

Dubbed the Florence of South Italy, Lecce can surprise even Italians. This is one of the country’s poorest regions, where sheep graze among old olive trees and stone walls line the roads.

Like a Western movie, the countryside clashes with the city’s luxurious Baroque, Roman and Renaissance elements.

The churches, like Santa Croce basilica, have golden-stone facades. Elegant fountains are scattered around. There’s the Duomo, the 72-meter-tall bell tower and the vibrant Sant’Oronzo square, the city’s pulsing heart.

Different architectural styles congregate, the most striking being the Roman column and amphitheater (www.infolecce.it). Here lies the center of the city’s lively nightlife too; for evening aperitifs and happy hours there’s the Caffè dell’Anfiteatro, right in front of the ruins.

Le Quattro Spezierie cocktail bar offers great finger foods on a stylish terrace overlooking the Baroque buildings.

Restaurants Arte dei Sapori and Rifugio della Buona Stella serve traditional menus at good prices (don’t miss special pasta called “orecchiette”).

A great place to stay is BB Palazzo Bernardini in the center, an historic and elegantly restyled accommodation.

Mantova, Lombardy

Mantova (or Mantua) was the hometown of Rome’s most celebrated poet, Virgil. The pearl of the rich Lombardy region, it’s loaded with artistic heritage and has been inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Splendid buildings and a great skyline echo the grandeur of the Gonzaga, a powerful Renaissance family that helped make the city a rich power and trade center.

Dubbed “Tuscany’s angel in the north,” Palazzo Ducale, the Gonzaga’s historic residence, is a city within the city: 34,000 square meters of masterpieces by artists including Rubens and Raffaello (www.turismo.mantova.it).

Guided tours offer a chance to see the frescoed Palazzo Te and the Bibien scientific theater, a baroque venue that hosted in 1769 the performance of a young Mozart.

The 1472 Clock Tower’s internal mechanism still works.

Art mingles with nature. The foggy Mincio river and lakes create an ideal habitat for many bird species.

Food is a lifestyle here. The pumpkin “tortelli” (a tortellini variant), zafran risotto and pike served with polenta at Antica Osteria della Fragoletta or La Cucina are superb.

Caffé Modì (+39 (0)37618 10111) has the best aperitifs, while the central Rechigi Hotel showcases a permanent contemporary art collection.

Matera, Basilicata

Matera is a prehistoric “underground” stone village in the middle of a desolate southern region of Basilicata.

But it’s worth driving for hours to see it.

It is one of the world’s most ancient cities, provided part of the set of Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” and its ‘sassi’ (settlements cut out of the stone) and rupestrian churches are inscribed on UNESCO’s World heritage List.

Along the streets you can’t help notice the various layers on which the town was built over the centuries: Christian, Byzantine, Greek-Roman and the Metal Ages all feature.

Some 155 stone churches have been carved out of the rocks — frescoed ashrams and crypts lie close to cathedrals and medieval and Renaissance buildings (www.comune.matera.it).

The road that circles the town, suspended above a deep gorge, provides a view of the many holes carved into the mountain on the other side.

For centuries up to the 1950s, farmers lived and worked in these caves while bandits took refuge there from the authorities. No cars are allowed in and there’s a magical “Lord of the Rings” atmosphere.

Traditional restaurants Alle Fornaci and Trattoria Lucana both serve rich menus.

It’s really worth spending the night here for the scenery: the famous Sassi Hotel, woven inside the city’s fabric, is a restyled 18th-century building.

But if you prefer to sleep in ancient cave-houses, hotel Le Grotte della Cavita offers rooms with breakfast served in a rupestral church (www.sextantio.it/grotte-civita).

Narni, Umbria

This Umbrian village was built 3,000 years ago on top of a rocky hilltop above a yawning canyon, cut through by a black river.

Conquered by the Romans who called it Narnia, the dominating Albornoz fortress and lion statue, the symbol of the town, apparently inspired C.S. Lewis in his “The Chronicles of Narnia.”

It’s worth visiting the impressive Augustus bridge, built in Roman times, and the city museum showcasing Renaissance masterpieces (www.comune.narni.tr.it).

June is the best time to visit, when a traditional festival transforms the town into a medieval carnival with horses and dressed-up warriors.

And if you’re looking for something spooky but exciting, don’t miss Narni’s Holy Inquisition underground tunnels, featuring spectacular prison cells covered in graffiti, Masonic symbols and alchemic formulas, and the guided tours in the 700-meter long Formina Roman aqueduct, one of the few open to the public in Italy (www.narnisotterranea.it).

Part of Narni’s mystical status comes from its location: right at the geographical center of Italy.

BB Podere del Cardinale offers accommodation in a former estate of Pope Giulio II, who commissioned Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel.

Il Gattamelata restaurant (+39 (0)74420 717245) facing the sculpted Cathedral has great wild boar and delicious porcini mushrooms.

Pienza, Tuscany

Set in Val D’Orcia, Tuscany’s most charming area, Pienza is a tiny jewel, the perfect Renaissance city designed by native Pope Pio II.

Everything here is clean, perfect and tidy. Incredibly restyled with a spectacular Duomo, the historic center of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and lies atop a hill with a circular path around the town walls offering a 360-degree view of the valley.

The main attractions are the cathedral featuring Gothic designs, the papal Palace Piccolomini and the Diocesan museum with breathtaking Renaissance chef d’oeuvres (www.ufficioturisticodipienza.it).

The streets have romantic names — “Love Street,” “Kiss Street” — echoing the concept of an ideal city.

La Buca delle Fate (+39 (0)5787 48448) or Latte di Luna (+39 (0)5787 48606) provide nice lunch stops, with the typical Tuscan menu items including “picci” pasta.

Hotel picks include Hotel Relais Il Chiostro di Pienza, inside a Renaissance convent, or cozier Piccolo Hotel La Valle.

Tuscan olive oil and local Pecorino cheese can be found in any of the many boutiques.

Cycling is another popular pursuit here, enhanced by the area’s green hills, vineyards and olive-trees fields. Guided tours (www.ibiketuscany.com) are popular and Siena lies just an hour’s drive away.

San Felice Circeo, Lazio

San Felice Circeo is a picturesque, centuries-old village built on top of Mount Circe, where mythology meets nature.

The place is marked by steep walls, vertiginous ridges and peaks, gorges and pebble-stone coves. Solitary lookout towers scan the ocean.

Between Rome and Naples, this promontory stretches out into the sea and rises along the coast where it is said Aeneas landed from burning Troy and the sorceress Circe bewitched Odysseus.

She kept him prisoner for years in a grotto — the Maga Circe Cave, accessible by sea. The enchantress’s profile is sculpted on the hilltop: its skyline has the shape of a sleeping woman.

At Torre Paola, 30 caves contain evidence of settlement by prehistoric men. The Templar’s Tower and impressive giant walls of the ancient Circei citadel are also noteworthy.

Bus and boat tours head out to what has been dubbed as “a Gods-kissed land,” including the nearby isles of Zannone and Ponza (www.prolococirceo.it).

Part of a lush protected reserve to explore on guided trekking trails, the promontory overlooks the miles-long sand dunes of the Mediterranean bush, buffalo-grazed fields and shimmering lakes.

La Terrazza bar (+39 (0)7735 46303), swarming with people at sunset, is suspended above a precipice. Elegant lounge Bar Centrale in the village square (+39 (0)7735 48098) has great cocktails and delicious home-made ice-cream.

For fresh fish there’s Il Grottino restaurant at the chic port while beach Hotel Maga Circe is one of the best places to bed down.

Syracuse, Sicily

A mix of Greek, Roman, Arabic and Baroque architecture can be found in the vibrant open-air market at the center of this 2,700-year-old Sicilian city.

Each winding alley has a particular beauty and there’s so much to see, from Apollo’s temple and the magnificent Piazza del Duomo to the eerie catacombs that are second only to Rome’s.

The city’s archeological park features one of the greatest Greek theaters and a Roman arena once used for gladiator fights.

The most spectacular attraction is an immense botanic garden featuring dozens of caves from which limestone was extracted to build the city.

Around 8,000 Athenian slaves died in these caves after years of forced labor — it’s said that the caves still echo the prisoners’ laments.

One of these is the Ear of Dionysius, a 30-meters high rock cavern. Legend has it that this is where the tyrant Dionysius jailed his enemies and could hear what they were conspiring through a side room (www.comune.siracusa.it).

Recommended restaurant for fresh fish and great appetizers: Archimede.

Hotel Gran Bretagna, housed in an elegantly renovated 19th century building, offers beautiful frescoed rooms.

Turin, Piedmont

Turn was Italy’s first historical capital, where the country’s kings lived. There’s a regal feel to the city’s sophisticated galleries, decorated arcades and 17th-century cafés and piazzas.

Turin is an elegant, charming spot in the wine-rich Piedmont northern region. It’s nicknamed “Madama” (My Lady) and is good even on rainy days thanks to 14 kilometers of covered passages and a chessboard center: orthogonal streets make it impossible to get lost.

Majestic piazzas include Piazza San Carlo, a pedestrian open-air salon. Piazza Castello is worth visiting for a glimpse of the magnificent bronze horse statue and Piazza Vittoria provides Europe’s biggest square.

The architectural symbol of the city is the Mole Antonelliana, a tall building with a superb 360-degree panorama, hosting the National Cinema Museum (www.comune.torino.it).

There are guided tours through the city’s underground tunnels and passing by esoteric symbols, Masonic buildings, historic crime scenes and even some ghosts (www.somewhere.it).

Worth visiting too is the splendid royal palace Reggia di Venaria, a place of historical cafés and sophisticated aperitif lounges.

Caffé Mulassano was the meeting point of royal clerks and artists. Caffé Confetteria Al Bicerin is renowned for the “bicerin,” a typical hot drink made of coffee, chocolate and cream served in a glass goblet.

Mood Libri e Caffé offers aperitifs in a trendy lounge bar setting while traditional meals — like anchovies in green sauce — can be found at restaurant L’Acino.

For some great shopping the comfy Hotel Victoria is close to the boutiques.

Tuscania, Lazio

Tuscania offers a traveler’s cocktail of Etruscan, Roman and the Renaissance worlds. Located in the countryside north of Rome, close to Tuscany’s border, it was built by the Etruscans — an Indo-European people wiped out by the Romans.

It’s a necropolis city: once you pass the surrounding walls and enter the old city you’ll see carved sarcophagi lining the streets.

There are guided tours to the Queen’s Cave, Dado’s tomb and the archaeological area of Colle San Pietro, featuring Roman mosaics, fragments of an ancient road and museum (www.turismotuscania.it).

The Etruscan Seven Spouts Fountain is a great sight too, but there’s more to this town than medieval cathedrals and neighborhoods.

Its ancient tombs are neighbors with monumental palaces, fountains and churches of other periods. The Romanic basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore has an amazing 14th-century wall fresco dubbed by locals “The Souls-Sh***ing Devil.”

Inspired by Dante’s Inferno, it depicts Judgment Day with a devil eating and excreting sinners’ souls — a must see!

The most characteristic bars are Caffé del Duomo facing the cathedral (+39 (0)7614 35426) and Bar San Marco (+39 (0)7614 35586), both central.

Local cuisine is fabulous with strong flavors and original menus. Restaurant Sette Cannelle does a fantastic fettuccine either with wild boar or porcini mushrooms.

For accommodation hotel Tuscania Panoramico features a fabulous terrace overlooking the Etruscan hills.

Ventotene, Lazio

Ventotene is a two-kilometer-long isle close to Rome and a former jail center for lustful Roman noble women and later anti-Fascists.

This is where Nero shipped his wife Claudia Octavia in the first century on false charges of adultery, and where Altiero Spinelli co-wrote the “Ventotene Manifesto,” becoming one of the “founding fathers of the European Union.”

The sea bed here is full of ancient relics, Roman vases and other treasures. A natural marine reserve, it’s a popular diving spot.

Forget discos and wild nights, you’ll be going to bed early and waking up at sunrise.

The ancient Roman port is still used today and the former prisoners’ cells have been transformed into pink, yellow and purple summer houses.

Local boats offer tours to the abandoned, freaky Borbonic prison-fortress on the tiny neighboring isle of Santo Stefano, a sort of old times Alcatraz.

Things to make time for include: Calanave beach, the sunset from Parata Grande cliff (www.paratagrande.com), the Roman Villa of Giulia and the ancient fishery (www.comune.ventotene.lt.it).

The lighthouse cave bar has delicious eggplant sandwiches. Small family-run hotels overlook the sparkling sea and offer extraordinary cuisine and good prices.

If you’re in for something typical and snug, cliff hotel restaurant Isolabella serves homemade pasta and artistic fish dishes on a sun-kissed terrace.

The outdoor tables of Vento di Mare bar (+39 3 4561 65571) have the best grilled octopus and aperitifs on the island.

Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/03/travel/12-alternative-italian-destinations/index.html?eref=edition

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NewsRipplesWeb/~3/_XzZqxl-joI/12-alternative-italian-destinations

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RipleysStuff/~3/P9B1oMXsQoY/12-alternative-italian-destinations

(CNN) — From a young basketball hopeful in Accra, Ghana to fifth overall pick in the NFL Draft for the Detroit Lions.

Ezekiel “Ziggy” Ansah’s journey to the top of gridiron has been sprinkled with more than a hint of stardust.

When the 23-year-old, who also played soccer as a child, moved to the United States in 2008, he couldn’t have dreamed of what came to pass in New York on Thursday on the opening day of the Draft, when the NFL’s 32 teams pick up young college talent.

“I’ve worked hard toward this and I actually earned it,” Ansah, who only began playing football in 2010, told reporters on a conference call after being drafted by the Lions.

“It’s been a humbling experience and a crazy journey.”

Every year the NFL’s 32 teams get to pick, in reverse order according to the previous year’s standings, the top college talent. USC Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley is one of the most highly-rated for 2013. Follow the draft live here.

Kansas City Chiefs, the NFL’s worst team last year, will have first pick. Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o is one of the most coveted players despite last year’s controversy about his “hoax girlfriend.”

Cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, seen here training at the 2013 NFL scouting combine, was cut from Louisiana State University’s football program last year for violating team rules, and was later arrested for possessing marijuana. The 20-year-old says he wants a fresh start in the draft.

West Viriginia’s Geno Smith has been tipped by some as the best quarterback in the draft. Last year he broke the Mountaineers’ consecutive pass completions record and tied the NCAA completion percentage record.

This year’s draftees will seek to follow in the footsteps of famous predecessors. Peyton Manning, the No. 1 pick in 1998, became a Super Bowl-winning MVP with the Indianapolis Colts, where he has set numerous records.

Fellow quarterback John Elway, the No. 1 pick in 1983, won two Super Bowl rings with the Denver Broncos — where the Hall of Famer is now Executive Vice President of Football Operations.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell takes center stage at the draft, which is held each year at New York’s iconic Radio City Music Hall.

Last year Robert Griffin III was taken by the Washington Redskins as the second draft pick, and the quarterback was named offensive rookie of the year by the Associated Press.

Andrew Luck went to the Colts as 2012′s top pick, having delayed his entry by a year. Fan groups started a “Suck for Luck” campaign in the hope their team would get the quarterback. He broke a rookie record for passing yards in his debut season. Like Elway, he is a Stanford alumni.

Last year a record five non-Americans were drafted higher than the third round. Ghanaian defensive end Ziggy Ansah of Brigham Young University is one of the favored international players this year.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Who will be the top NFL draft picks?

Luke Joeckel of Texas AM prepares for a play against the Missouri Tigers on November 24, 2012, in College Station, Texas. Joeckel, an All-American offensive tackle, is expected to be selected early in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday, April 25. Click through to see more first round hopefuls as predicted by NFL.com.

Dion Jordan of the Oregon Ducks warms up before a game against the Arkansas State Red Wolves on September 1, 2012, in Eugene, Oregon.

Eric Fisher of Central Michigan watches the Senior Bowl on January 26 in Mobile, Alabama.

Defensive tackle Star Lotulelei of the Utah Utes battles Torian White of the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl on October 13, 2012, in Pasadena, California.

Lane Johnson of Oklahoma participates in the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 23 in Indianapolis.

Dee Milliner of Alabama runs the ball against the Arkansas Razorbacks on September 15, 2012, in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Ziggy Ansah of Brigham Young University works out during the 2013 NFL Combine on February 25 in Indianapolis.

Ryan Nassib of Syracuse looks to pass against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at High Point Solutions Stadium on October 13, 2012, in Piscataway, New Jersey.

Barkevious Mingo of Louisiana State University sacks quarterback Clint Moseley of the Auburn Tigers on October 22, 2011, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Sharrif Floyd of the Florida Gators warms up prior to the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at EverBank Field on October 27, 2012, in Jacksonville, Florida.

Offensive lineman D.J. Fluker of Alabama lines up against Mississippi on October 15, 2011, in Oxford, Mississippi.

North Carolina Tar Heels guard Jonathan Cooper lines up against Georgia Tech in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on November 10, 2012.

Tavon Austin of the West Virginia Mountaineers runs the ball against the Oklahoma Sooners on November 17, 2012, at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia.

Safety Kenny Vaccaro of the Texas Longhorns attempts to tackle running back Joseph Randall of the Oklahoma State Cowboys on October 15, 2011, at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas.

Jarvis Jones of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates after a win against the Georgia Southern Eagles at Sanford Stadium on November 17, 2012, in Athens, Georgia.

Hilltoppers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 8, 2012, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. ” border=”0″ /Chance Warmack of the Alabama Crimson Tide walks to the sideline during a timeout against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 8, 2012, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Xavier Rhodes of Florida State takes on the Northern Illinois Huskies during the Discover Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on January 1 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Sheldon Richardson of Missouri works out during the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 25 in Indianapolis.

Florida State defensive end Cornellius Carradine takes on the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks at Doak S. Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, on September 3, 2011.

Jamar Taylor of Boise State plays against the Georgia Bulldogs at the Georgia Dome on September 3, 2011, in Atlanta.

Jonathan Cyprien of Florida International participates in the 2013 NFL Combine on February 26 in Indianapolis.

DeAndre Hopkins of the Clemson Tigers catches a touchdown pass over Chris Davis of the Auburn Tigers at the Georgia Dome on September 1, 2012, in Atlanta.

Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o prepares for a play against Alabama during the BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on January 7.

Defensive end Datone Jones of UCLA celebrates a victory over the USC Trojans at the Rose Bowl on November 17, 2012, in Pasadena, California.

Justin Hunter of Tennessee runs with the ball against Branden Smith of the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on September 29, 2012, in Athens, Georgia.

Tyler Eifert of Notre Dame runs the ball against the Purdue Boilermakers at Notre Dame Stadium on September 8, 2012, in South Bend, Indiana.

Menelik Watson of Florida State takes on the Northern Illinois Huskies during the 2013 Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens, Florida, on January 1.

North Carolina Tar Heels defensive tackle Sylvester Williams prepares for a play during the 2011 Advocare V100 Independence Bowl game against the Missouri Tigers in Shreveport, Louisiana, on December 26, 2011.

Bjoern Werner of Florida State works out during the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 25 in Indianapolis.

Cornerback Desmond Trufant of the Washington Huskies celebrates after intercepting a pass against Stanford on September 27, 2012, at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.

Defensive lineman Jesse Williams of Alabama lines up against Kent State on September 3, 2011, at Bryant Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Kansas State linebacker Arthur Brown plays against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma, on September 22, 2012.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

Photos: 2013 NFL Draft prospects

Super Bowl bets and ads

The 23-year-old Ghanaian arrived in the U.S. on an academic scholarship with the Brigham Young University in Utah, which is owned and operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints — more commonly known as the Mormon Church.

Keen to pursue his hoop dreams, Ansah tried out for the basketball team, but after failing to make the grade, he took up athletics because of his sprinting speed.

Ansah ran the 100 meters in 10.91 seconds and the 200m in 21.89 secs, according to the official website of the Lions.

When you couple that athletic speed with an imposing six feet five inches frame — Ansah weighs 275 pounds — it is not hard to see why he appealed to the school’s football team.

Despite his lack of playing experience, Lions general manager Martin Mayhew suggested he can be an immediate asset for the team.

“I do see him as an impactful player right away,” said Mayhew. “Sacks come when they come … but he’s going to be a guy that will play a big role for us on defense.”

Read: The lowdown on the NFL draft

Ansah’s adjustment to life in the NFL might be made all the easier as he has already worked with Lions head coach Jim Schwartz at the Senior Bowl — the annual game which pits the best Draft prospects against each other.

“It will be a lot easier. I’m really comfortable with them,” added Ansah, whose mother Elizabeth was flown over to join her son at New York’s Radio City Music Hall, where the Draft is held.

“I know how our coach is so, you know, just like giving me that chance is going to make it a lot easier.

“It doesn’t matter the experience that I’ve got. All I know is I’ve just got to produce and work on my technique and I know that the Detroit Lions are willing to work with me.

“I’m not going to make any promises. All I have to do is work hard and see what happens.”

Schwartz, who coached a team of prospects from schools in the south in the Senior Bowl, has been impressed with what he saw from Ansah.

Read: Lewis, Ravens fly away with Super Bowl title

The Lions coach will be hoping Ansah, who was the Senior Bowl’s most outstanding player, can improve a Detroit team which had a losing record of 4-12 in 2012.

“We watched him get better every single day,” said Schwartz. “He’s an inexperienced player, but he’s a very instinctive player. We liked everything about him. We had a good feel for him.

“He’s inexperienced, but he’s not a developmental player.”

Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/04/26/sport/ezekiel-ansah-nfl-draft-detroit-lions/index.html?eref=edition

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NewsRipplesWeb/~3/kWFx1UxmP24/nfl-says-hello-to-ghanas-ziggy

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RipleysStuff/~3/1s2gx3hfdTE/nfl-says-hello-to-ghanas-ziggy

Hong Kong (CNN) — China has urged the Philippines to “guarantee the safety and legitimate rights” of fishermen who have been taken into custody for poaching after their vessel ran aground on the protected Tubbataha Reef — the latest incident in often tense relations among nations in the South China Sea.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei made his comments on Thursday, state-run Xinhua reported, a day after Philippine authorities formally charged 12 fishermen with poaching and attempting to “corrupt public officials,” the Tubbataha management office said in a news release.

The 12 Chinese nationals were arrested on April 8 after their ship ran aground on the reef. The fishermen also faced administrative charges for for illegally entering Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park and for damage to the reefs. Crews will be sent to remove fuel from the 500-ton vessel to attempt to float it off the seabed, according to park authorities.

The coral reef was the same that a U.S. Navy minesweeper ran aground and damaged the reef on January 17. Earlier this week, Philippine officials said they would be sending the U.S. government a $1.5 million bill for damage to the reef.

The stern of the USS Guardian, the last piece of grounded ship, is removed by a crane vessel on Saturday, March 30. The U.S. Navy minesweeper became trapped on a reef off the western Philippine island of Palawan on January 17. The Navy has pledged to clean up debris and restore the reef as much as possible.

A crane vessel lifts the bow of the USS Guardian on Tuesday, March 26.

The crane vessel pulls the bow off the ship on March 26.

The crane vessel removes a hull section on Wednesday, March 27. The U.S. Navy expects the Guardian to be completely removed from Tubbataha Reef by mid-April, an official says.

The U.S. Navy and Philippines authorities are working to dismantle the ship.

Brandon Berry grinds through steel in the engine room in preparation for removing machinery.

The USS Guardian’s funnel section is lifted Tuesday, February 26, as a task force works on removing equipment.

The USS Guardian rocks in the waves on February 8.

The Malaysian tug Vos Apollo removes diesel fuel and human wastewater from the USS Guardian on January 28.

Waves crash against the USS Guardian in January. The minesweeper is estimated to have damaged 4,000 square meters of the Tubbataha Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

In this undated photo, a U.S. Navy diver moves damage control equipment and other materials to be unloaded from the USS Guardian.

The Guardian on the Tubbataha Reef on January 19 in a handout photo from the Philippines military.

Anti-riot police disperse protesters in front of the U.S. Embassy in Manila on Friday, January 25. The Filipinos were demonstrating against the grounded U.S. Navy minesweeper and called for the pullout of American troops stationed in the Philippines. They splattered the police with paint.

Malaysian tug Vos Apollo, foreground, prepares to help remove fuel from the USS Guardian while a U.S. Navy boat approaches with a salvage team on Thursday, January 24.

A U.S. Navy salvage assessment team boards the USS Guardian on Wednesday, January 23, in the Sulu Sea.

A member of the Philippines coast guard approaches the USS Guardian on Tuesday, January 22, in a handout picture from the Philippines coast guard.

A diver from the Philippines coast guard measures coral damage on the Tubbataha Reef on January 22 in another handout photo. The reef is a Philippines national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Student activists scuffle with police in front of the U.S. Embassy in Manila during a January 19 protest condemning the minesweeper’s grounding.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

Photos: End of the USS Guardian

READ MORE: Navy owes $1.5 million for damage to reef

Tubbahata Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage site that is home to about 500 species of fish and 350 species of coral as well as whales, dolphins, sharks, turtles and breeding seabirds.

Elsewhere in the region, an agreement between Japan and Taiwan on fishing rights among disputed islands in the East China Sea has angered Beijing. Lei told reporters Beijing is China is “seriously concerned” about the fishery agreement, Xinhua reported.

The islands — known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China — is a periodic flashpoint between Tokyo and Beijing, which have competing claims to ownership. Anti-Japanese demonstrations in China turned violent last September, with Japanese businesses and cars damaged, dragging relations between Asia’s two largest economies to their lowest level since World War II.

Article source: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/edition_world/~3/atAywDO4w0U/index.html

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NewsRipplesWeb/~3/VvSCw2ozvmY/philippines-arrests-chinese-poachers-after-reef-collision

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RipleysStuff/~3/LhaZiuhEpzE/philippines-arrests-chinese-poachers-after-reef-collision

Windows XP is officially serving its twelve month notice, with security updates to cease on the 8th of April 2014.

Microsoft has reiterated its plans to kill off Windows XP – the operating system that just won’t die – stating that support for the platform will come to an end exactly one year from today.

While Windows XP had its detractors at launch, largely thanks to a colourful user interface that saw it dubbed the FisherPrice My First Operating System, it has proved a persistent presence in the market. By market share the operating system commands an impressive 38.73 per cent – beaten only by Windows 7, with Windows Vista, Windows 8, OS X, Linux and the enigmatic ‘other’ making up a mere 18.3 per cent combined. This despite it being three full releases out of date and an impressive eleven years old.

It’s not a platform Microsoft particularly likes supporting, however. The company has made numerous moves to kill it off in the past, officially phasing it out in 2007 only to change its mind following the poor reception of Windows Vista. Its support lifetime, originally planned to expire on the 30th of June 2008, was boosted to April 2014 – a date which is now drawing worryingly close for those who still rely on the platform.

Microsoft has done much to convince businesses and home users to make the move to a more modern operating system, introducing business-friendly features – including a virtualised Windows XP mode for otherwise incompatible legacy applications – to Windows 7 as a way of making up for the flop that was Vista. More recently, it’s been going on something of a PR offensive: back in 2012 the company claimed that Windows XP was costing companies millions that could be saved with a switch to Windows 7.

For the third of the world that’s still using Windows XP, however, the 8th of April 2014 marks a major deadline: after that date, Microsoft will make good on its threats and cease to publish security updates for the operating system. While it has long since stopped offering new features for the OS – you can’t get DirectX 11 on Windows XP, for example, or Internet Explorer 10 – it still publishes security updates and bug-fixes, but that will stop dead next year.

That is, unless the company changes its mind. With more than a third of the internet still sticking with Windows XP, the company would leave a lot of clients high and dry with a complete cessation of patching – and while it’s eager to convince people to pick up a copy of Windows 8, it’s less eager to be seen as the reason why worms, viruses and other malware suddenly exploded in April 2014. Officially, this deadline is the very last for Windows XP – but, then again, we’ve heard that before.

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bit-tech/news/~3/u6pcE5KWDes/1

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GamingRipplesWeb/~3/hC2LI-I89c0/

.cnn_html_media_utility::before{color:red;content:’’;font-size:9px;line-height:12px;padding-right:1px}
.cnnstrylccimg640{margin:0 27px 14px 0}
.captionText{filter:alpha(opacity=100);opacity:1}
.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a,.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a:visited,.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a:link,.captionText a,.captionText a:visited,.captiontext a:link{color:outline:medium none}
.cnnVerticalGalleryPhoto{margin:0 auto;padding-right:68px;width:270px}
]]

“I believe it’s time to recapture the sense of wonder and inspiration my grandfather and father felt when they gazed on (the ocean’s) surface,” says Philippe Cousteau.

Cousteau is urging people to take a step back and ponder what a healthy ocean provides: half the world’s oxygen, protein for an estimated one billion people as well as regulating our climate.

In Going Green: Oceans, Philippe Cousteau (pictured) joins the Catlin Seaview Survey team as they map the Great Barrier Reef. Watch on Friday March 29 at 15:30 GMT (11:30 ET).

Join Cousteau for a Twitter chat immediately after the show. Post your questions to the CNN Special Correspondent here #CousteauCNN

Cousteau is the grandson of legendary ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau (pictured).

“For the ocean to continue to do what’s it’s done for millions of years and serve the needs of a rapidly expanding human population, it needs to be healthy. Biodiversity, coral reefs, wetlands and trash free seas aren’t just terms on a page they are environmental imperatives that dictate the future of the planet,” Cousteau says.

“Every hour of every day each of us have the opportunity to make choices with impact, from what we eat and the things we buy to the examples we set for our children and friends,” Cousteau says.

Ensuring the oceans continue to provide inspiration, wonder and services to humankind will come down to personal and collective will, says Cousteau.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Editor’s note: Explorer, social entrepreneur and environmental advocate, Philippe Cousteau is a special correspondent for CNN International. He is also the co-founder and president of the leading environmental education nonprofit EarthEcho International.

(CNN) — My grandfather Jacques Cousteau and my father Philippe dedicated their lives to revealing the ocean’s wonders and helping us understand our connection to this vast expanse of water. Their work inspired generations and filled people with awe.

Times have changed and so have circumstances and perceptions about the ocean. In recent years, the focus has been on the very serious challenges the ocean faces and the impact these challenges are already having on our daily lives.

The effects of climate change, pollution and overfishing should be making headlines because the ocean and all of us — and I literally mean all humankind — who depend on its resources are facing the very real prospect of the catastrophic collapse of ocean ecosystems if we continue on our current course.

Watch: Going Green: Oceans on Friday March 29 at 15:30 GMT

Despite the challenges our ocean faces, I believe it’s time to recapture the sense of wonder and inspiration my grandfather and father felt when they gazed on its surface. In fact, the ocean can and should be a source of hope and solutions for a brighter future.

Before you accuse of me of eschewing cold hard reality for a world view through rose-colored glasses, hear me out. What I’m proposing is that we step back and look at the potential a healthy ocean has to provide us with a prosperous and sustainable future.

Just take a moment to think about what the ocean does for us on a daily basis: it produces half of the world’s oxygen; it provides more than one billion people with their primary source of protein; its natural eco-systems like coral reefs, mangroves and wetlands provide protection against coastal erosion and natural disasters such as tsunamis; it regulates our climate; and a healthy ocean fuels sustainable businesses and a strong economy in industries such as seafood, tourism, pharmaceuticals and shipping.

Read/Watch: ‘The most imaginative person I’ve ever met’

That’s really only the beginning. Check out Ocean Conservancy’s “Why the Ocean Matters” feature if you want to be truly amazed. My point is the answers to many of our greatest environmental and social challenges literally surrounds us.

For the ocean to continue to do what’s it’s done for millions of years and serve the needs of a rapidly expanding human population, it needs to be healthy. Biodiversity, coral reefs, wetlands and trash-free seas aren’t just terms on a page they are environmental imperatives that dictate the future of the planet.

We have the know-how and resources to conserve and restore the aquatic and marine systems that keep the ocean and us healthy. As my grandfather once said, “The technology that we use to abuse the planet is the same technology that can help us to heal it.”

Read: Robots probe sea’s hidden depths

Big technology like renewable energy, carbon sequestration and advances in aquaculture certainly have a major role in restoring the ocean and the planet to a healthy balance, but in many cases it’s a matter of giving nature the space and time to do what it needs to do with a helping hand from all of us.

Regulations that help replenish and protect fish stocks, restoration and conservation projects to protect and nurture natural barriers like reefs and wetlands, and reforestation efforts are all things that can have a huge impact on ocean health with no rocket science necessary.

Take fisheries for example, with two billion people joining us on this planet over the next 40 years, there will be a huge need for more sources of protein. If these needed protein sources were to come primarily from livestock there is the very real potential for catastrophic pollution of water and land, not to mention the exponential increase in carbon emissions.

Read: Overfished and under-protected

But, by some estimates, simply managing fisheries better could feed up to one billion of those people and remember, seafood is 7-10 times more efficient as a source of protein than land-based meat sources … if managed properly.

If you are thinking this all sounds like the future of the ocean is in the hands of policymakers and big industry, please think again. Every hour of every day each of us have the opportunity to make choices with impact, from what we eat and the things we buy to the examples we set for our children and friends.

The good news is technology and future-focused groups are providing us with some great tools and resources to get inspired and make smart decisions. For example: the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch pocket guide and Ocean Conservancy’s Rippl app or EarthEcho’s Water Planet Challenge.

We can make sure the ocean continues to provide inspiration, wonder and solutions for generations, however, it all comes down to personal and collective will. Ask yourself this question: When you look upon the ocean 10 years from now, do you want to see a sad reminder of what could have been; or do you want to be filled with awe and inspired by a sense of endless possibilities?

The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of Philippe Cousteau

Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/03/24/opinion/cousteau-oceans-opinion/index.html?eref=edition

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NewsRipplesWeb/~3/XQrY5C8QOtg/why-oceans-cannot-wait-for-rescue

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RipleysStuff/~3/sZy2U801jVk/why-oceans-cannot-wait-for-rescue

.cnn_html_media_utility::before{color:red;content:’’;font-size:9px;line-height:12px;padding-right:1px}
.cnnstrylccimg640{margin:0 27px 14px 0}
.captionText{filter:alpha(opacity=100);opacity:1}
.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a,.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a:visited,.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a:link,.captionText a,.captionText a:visited,.captiontext a:link{color:outline:medium none}
.cnnVerticalGalleryPhoto{margin:0 auto;padding-right:68px;width:270px}
]]

The young band pose for a portrait in a boat, 1964. From left to right are: Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts, Brian Jones, Keith Richards and Bill Wyman. Bassist Wyman joined the Stones in 1962 before leaving in 1993.

Brian Jones performs at Alexandra Palace, London, in 1964. One of the founding members of the band, Jones was found dead in his pool at Cotchford Farm, Sussex, on July 2, 1969. He was 27.

Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts joined the band in 1963, earning a reputation as the more staid member. He married Shirley Ann Shepherd in 1964, remaining with her to this day.

Lead singer Mick Jagger is remanded in custody after being found guilty of possesion of drugs in 1967. He appeared before court in West Sussex after a police raid at fellow band member Keith Richards’ house.

Keith Richards with girlfriend Anita Pallenberg and their two children at the Cannes Film Festival in 1971. Italian model Anita orginally dated Brian Jones before becoming Keith’s partner from 1967 to 1979.

Mick Jagger and Nicaraguan girlfriend Bianca Perez Moreno De Macias marry in a small fisherman’s church in St. Tropez, France, in 1971. Among the guests pictured are film director Roger Vadim, actress Nathalie Delon, photographer Patrick Lichfield, Keith Richards and Anita Pallenberg.

Ronnie Wood, pictured in Brussels, Belgium, in 1976. The guitarist joined the band the previous year, though he continued to collaborate with artists including Rod Stewart, Bob Dylan, Prince and Eric Clapton.

Guitarist Keith Richards performs at the Aragone Ballroom in Chicago, Illinois, in 1987. The songwriter collaborated with Mick Jagger on their first international number 1 hit “(I can’t get no) Satisfaction” in 1965.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Editor’s note: Ruben Navarrette Jr. is a CNN contributor and a nationally syndicated columnist with the Washington Post Writers Group. Follow him on Twitter: @rubennavarrette.

San Diego (CNN) — Here are six words I thought I’d never hear myself say: “I can relate to Mick Jagger.”

You might think that there wouldn’t be much common ground between a 69-year-old British rock ‘n’ roll icon and a 45-year-old Mexican-American columnist. But there is. Apparently, our philosophies on raisingkids without spoiling them with parental handouts are quite similar.

This information comes courtesy of Jagger’s chatty ex-wife, Jerry Hall. According to the British tabloid newspaper The Daily Mail, Hall said she has been pressuring Jagger — unsuccessfully, I might add — to dip into his fortune (estimated at about $300 million) and buy houses for three of his kids who are in their 20s.

Stay up to date on the latest opinion, analysis and conversations through social media. Join us at Facebook/CNNOpinion and follow us @CNNOpinion on Twitter. We welcome your ideas and comments.

Yes, that’s right. I said houses. Not cars or clothes or jet skis.

Hall is going for broke and asking Jagger to purchase houses for the three children — Lizzie, 29, James, 27, and Georgia, 21. The daughters are models, and the son is a musician. The couple has a fourth child, Gabriel, 15, but he still lives at home with his mom.

The way that Jerry sees it, Mick can easily afford the purchase. The multimillionaire reportedly has five homes of his own. So what’s the problem?

The problem, according to the tabloid newspaper, is that Jagger, who is known to be “famously careful with his pennies,” is firmly opposed to these types of “parental housing subsidies.” According to the newspaper, the Jagger thinks that his children have already enjoyed many advantages in life and that setting them up in their own homes will do more harm than good.

Those who know Jagger well — including his oldest daughter, Jade, who is the only child of his marriage to ex-wife Bianca — say that he strongly believes that children ought not think themselves entitled to their parents’ money and that they have to make their own way in life.

Jade, who has her own jewelry store, told the newspaper: “I was never a trust-fund child. Dad’s got a healthy attitude toward work. You have to look after yourself.”

Bravo. Americans really need to hear that message. And not just our kids; all of us should get an earful. At a time when runaway entitlement spending and a national debt of more than $16 trillion threaten the economic future of the United States, the national motto has become “Where’s mine?”

Now more than ever, Americans need to understand that part of being a good parent is teaching their adult children to stand on their own two feet.

As a parent of three young children, I can imagine that this isn’t easy to do. My kids know that I’m an easy mark. And I struggle daily with saying no — or, in some cases, with making them do chores and save their allowances to buy things on their own.

But I understand where Jagger is coming from, and I applaud him. He’s on the right track, and a lot of other people are on the wrong one.

Rolling Stones: Never-before-seen photos

Somewhere, in the vast universe of parenting, we lost our way. We’ve convinced ourselves that loving our kids also means supporting them more than we need to. That is not so. Caring for our children is one thing, but making them dependent on us well into adulthood is another. The former is the sign of a good parent; the latter is a recipe for trouble.

Billionaire Warren Buffet refers to it as the “lottery of the womb” — this sense that some people have that they are entitled to their parents’ money through inheritance or lavish gifts.

Sexual exploits of Mick Jagger revealed

Jagger gives Wiig ‘SNL’ send-off

In writing about parenting over the years, and talking about it with other parents, I’ve become convinced that a lot of parents with young children worry more that they’re giving their kids too much rather than too little. The concern is that in trying to keep their kids from struggling, they’re making their lives too comfy. At the very least, most of us are probably giving our kids much more than what we were given by our parents when we were growing up. We need to ask: What harm is this doing?

These days, when you’re raising kids, materialism doesn’t merely knock on your door. It busts through. Ten-year-olds are asking for cell phones.

When our kids want something and ask us for it, we might ask ourselves three questions: Is it a good price? Can we afford it? Do they deserve it?

But those are the wrong questions. We need ask ourselves only one question: Will buying my child this item teach him positive values or negative ones?

You see, it doesn’t matter how much money Mick Jagger has or what he can afford. That is not the issue. The issue is that he’s trying to teach his children some values, something that isn’t always easy to do when you’re one of the megawealthy.

Like the saying goes, you want to leave your kids enough money so they can do something with their lives — but not so much that they can do nothing.

Follow @CNNOpinion on Twitter.

Join us at Facebook/CNNOpinion.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Ruben Navarrette.

Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/03/22/opinion/navarrette-mick-jagger/index.html?eref=edition

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NewsRipplesWeb/~3/7E1AtPUxonc/life-lessons-from-jagger

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RipleysStuff/~3/_7sdpHSv7jo/life-lessons-from-jagger