News

Nazi gold train: 'No evidence' of discovery in Poland

There is no evidence that a Nazi train rumoured to be carrying gems and gold has been found in Poland, experts say.

Researchers presenting findings about the alleged discovery in the Polish town of Walbrzych said there might be a tunnel but no train.

However, one of those who claimed to have found the train said he still believed it was there.

It was claimed that the train was hidden underground near Wroclaw as Soviet forces approached in 1945.

The Nazis had many miles of tunnels constructed near Walbrzych during World War Two.

In August, Deputy Culture Minister Piotr Zuchowski said that ground-penetrating radar images had left him "99% convinced" that a German military train was buried near Walbrzych.

He said images appeared to show a train equipped with gun turrets.

But on Tuesday, Professor Janusz Madej from Krakow's Academy of Mining said its geological survey of the site had found no evidence of a train.

"There may be a tunnel. There is no train," he told a press conference in Walbrzych.

Local folklore said an armoured train had been carrying gold from what is now the Polish city of Wroclaw as the Soviet army closed in at the end of World War Two.

It was said to have gone missing near Ksiaz castle, 3km (two miles) from Walbrzych.

Earlier this year, two men - a Pole and a German - told authorities that they knew the location of the train.

Through lawyers, they had said that they wanted 10% of the value of anything found.

Speaking in August, Mr Zuchowski said information about the train had apparently come in a deathbed confession from a person involved in concealing it.

News

Johnny Depp's wife Amber Heard gets 'dog smuggling' court date

A date has been set for Johnny Depp's wife Amber Heard to face a court trial in Australia for allegedly smuggling her two dogs into the country.

The case, which has been dubbed the "war on terrier", will be heard on 18 April in Queensland.

The actress is facing two counts of knowingly importing a prohibited product in breach of the Quarantine Act.

A court official told AFP that Heard is required to appear at the hearing.

Heard came under fire for failing to declare Pistol and Boo, the couple's Yorkshire terriers, to authorities on their arrival in Brisbane in April.

Under strict Australian laws designed to keep disease at bay, dogs entering from the US must be declared and have to spend 10 days in quarantine.

Hefty fine

The case sparked global attention after the terriers were threatened with death by Australia's Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce, unless they went "back to the United States".

Mr Joyce said he did not care if Depp had been voted the "sexiest man alive", he still had to adhere to quarantine rules.

The animals, which had allegedly travelled by private jet to Queensland, where Depp was filming Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, were quickly whisked out of the country as the story hit the headlines.

In July she was charged with two counts of illegally importing the dogs into Australia and one count of producing a false document.

Penalties range from a hefty fine to more than 10 years in prison.

An earlier hearing set for September was adjourned.

After the incident in May, Heard vowed never to return to Australia, although reports earlier this month said she "respected Australia's laws" and was looking forward to "attending the hearing of these matters".

Twelve witnesses are listed to give evidence but it is not known whether Depp is one of them.

News

The Color Purple: Cynthia Erivo wows critics in Broadway debut

11 December 2015

A stripped-back Broadway revival of The Color Purple has earned rave reviews for British leading lady Cynthia Erivo.

Critics were unanimous in their praise for the "remarkable" actress as Celie in the adaptation of Alice Walker's 1982 novel set in the American south.

Erivo previously played the part during a successful stint at London's Menier Chocolate Factory in July 2013.

Her Broadway debut sees her opposite Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, who plays sensual lounge singer Shug Avery.

While both women were praised for their performances, Erivo was singled out by most of the critics.

Ben Brantley of the New York Times described the Londoner as an "incandescent new star" alongside an "enchanting" Hudson.

He wrote: "The greatest joy of all, at least for longtime believers in theatre mythology, is the ascendancy of Ms Erivo, who was very good when I saw her in London but is even better here.

"Celie undergoes a drastic metamorphosis from battered, invisible wife to determined, self-reliant businesswoman. Ms Erivo escorts us through these transformations with a subtle but tensile performance that parallels her character's evolution."

From : http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35069932

News

German court lets off 'Sharia police' patrol in Wuppertal

10 December 2015

A German court has ruled that Islamists who patrolled a city's streets as "Sharia police" did not break the law and will not be prosecuted.

Nine were arrested in September 2014 after patrolling streets in Wuppertal, western Germany. They wore bright orange jackets with the words "Sharia police". They told passers-by not to frequent discos, casinos or bars.

The court said they had not violated laws on uniforms and public gatherings.

Prosecutors have now lodged an appeal.

The group of Salafists - ultra-conservative Islamists - included Sven Lau, a preacher whose passport was seized this year after he visited Syria and a photo surfaced, showing him posing on a tank, with a Kalashnikov rifle slung around his neck.

He is suspected of trying to recruit Muslims to join jihadists fighting in Syria or Iraq and has spent some time in prison previously. He said he had gone to war-torn Syria in 2013 on a humanitarian mission.

Sharia requires strict adherence to Islam, and bans gambling, alcohol and male-female socialising in places such as discos.

The group's appearance at night in Wuppertal, in the industrial Ruhr region, triggered sharp criticism in Germany. A film of their "patrol" appeared on YouTube- but the action was condemned by the Central Council of Muslims in Germany, who said it was "harmful to Muslims".

The group also carried notices proclaiming in English a "Sharia Controlled Zone". The notices spelled out prohibitions like those in force in some Gulf Arab countries, outlawing alcohol, drugs, gambling, music and concerts, pornography and prostitution.

Activists in the anti-Islam Pegida movement - campaigning to stop immigration to Germany - demonstrated in Wuppertal last year. They have staged regular marches against "the Islamisation of Germany" nationwide.

News

Madonna performs impromptu Paris gig

10 December 2015


Madonna has given an impromptu performance in Paris in tribute to the victims of the 13 November attacks.
After her Bercy arena concert on Wednesday, she tweeted she was heading to the Place de la Republique, which has become a shrine to those who died.
Madonna, who is in the city for her Rebel Heart tour, was filmed singing along with her 10-year-old son David.
She began by singing Ghosttown and then moved on to John Lennon's Imagine and her classic track Like A Prayer.
Madonna's surprise appearance in the city also saw her accompanied by guitarist Monte Pittman, who is currently on tour with the artist.
"She wanted to pay tribute, she loves this city," Pittman told AFP. "It is magical. I will never forget this."
One hundred and thirty people were killed in Paris when gunmen and suicide bombers carried out a series of attacks in the French capital.
Madonna told Wednesday night's onlookers: "Everybody knows why we're here… we just want to sing a few songs about peace, just to spread love and joy, and to pay our honour and respect to the people who died almost four weeks ago.
"And to spread light… we all need it."
Pete Hall, a British tourist, told AFP: "It was inspiring, it was raw, it was real.
"She was paying her respects to Paris."
Reaction on Twitter included praise from fan MadonnaEffect, who said: "Madonna yet again reminding me why she is my absolute IDOL.
"So proud of her, she is the gift that just keeps on giving."
At her concert earlier on Wednesday evening, Madonna had wrapped herself in the French flag and sang the country's national anthem, La Marseillaise.
She told the audience: "We will not bend down to fear. I think of what happened almost four weeks ago now. The heart of Paris and the heart of France beats in the heart of each city.
"I came here when I was 20 and it was here, in Paris, that I decided to make music. Thank you Paris for planting that seed in my heart."

News

Top Thai policeman seeks Australia political asylum

The policeman who led an investigation into human trafficking in Thailand has told Australian media he plans to seek political asylum in Australia.

Paween Pongsirin was appointed to investigate trafficking networks after the discovery of mass graves at migrant camps earlier this year.

Now in Melbourne, he told the ABC and Guardian Australia he fled Thailand because influential figures implicated in trafficking wanted him killed.

He quit the Thai police last month.

Maj Gen Paween said that his investigation, which wound up after five months, was halted by influential people in the government, military and police.

His investigation resulted in more than 150 arrest warrants issued - including for politicians, policemen and military figures - and trials have begun in Thailand.

Thailand's military junta denies claims it turned a blind eye to human trafficking. There has been no official response to Maj Gen Paween's latest comments so far.

10/12/15 From : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35058414

Learning Reflection

              This course , teacher taught many strategies for reading. she taught finding main idea for the text, finding head title , finding head word and others. She taught using Oxford dictionary online and pronounced for our. She sometimes read and translated for our understood. Sometimes I don't understand the text on lesson because it had a many difficult word. I don't like this course because it many content and learning many time make me bored. And she set a difficult examination questions a new text.