Results tagged “bbcnews”

Before going for the gold, French actress and Oscar winner Marion Cotillard made some remarks in a 2007 interview regarding 9/11, and some aren't as charmed by her words as they were by her Oscar speech. Nonetheless, Cotillard sides with the conspiracy theorists when it comes to 9/11...and the moon landing! BBC News has a partial transcript:

"We see other towers of the same kind being hit by planes, are they burned?" she asks. "There was a tower, I believe it was in Spain, which burned for 24 hours. It never collapsed. None of these towers collapsed. And there [in New York], in a few minutes, the whole thing collapsed."

Continue reading "Oscar Starlet Questions 9/11 (and Moon Landing)"

Last night, President Bush addressed the country, and the world, with a speech that said American troops in Iraq could be start to be withdrawn gradually: "The principle guiding my decisions on troop levels in Iraq is 'return on success' -- the more successful we are, the more American troops can return home." In other words, there is no, as the NY Sun puts it, "no dramatic change in course."

As delays snarled Laguardia, JFK, and Newark with news that British authorities had stopped a terrorist plot to blow up airliners flying the U.S., New York City's security level remained at "elevated" - which is where it's been since September 11, 2001. Governor Pataki increased state police, Port Authority police, and National Guard presence at the airports, and said, "I want to assure all New Yorkers that we have and will continue to provide a heightened level of security, and I urge all of you to be vigilant, but to go about your normal routines. I encourage all citizens to remain alert with regard to the threat of terrorism. The eyes and ears of the public are one of the most important resources we have to help law enforcement officials deter and prevent acts of terrorism." Mayor Bloomberg noted that since the threat was focused on airports, subway security wouldn't have to be raised. And did you know that Senator Schumer is stuck at Heathrow?

Police have shot and killed a man at a London tube station. According to reports, a South Asian man was being chased by police officers. One witness told BBC News, "One of [the police officers] was carrying a black handgun - it looked like an automatic - they pushed him to the floor, bundled on top of him and unloaded five shots into him." The shooting occured at the Stockwell station in South London. The media speculates that the man had a connection to yesterday's would-be bombers. As underground travel is still disrupted in London, there are many theories about yesterday's bombings (copycats? the B team?) but investigations are still ongoing. This is wild news as NYC tries to get to work with more police in our subways.

Londoners returned to work today, as the subway system was back up (with a few stations closed) and buses were running. The death toll is now 50 people, at least, with 700 wounded. Police are investigating the blasts, noting that timers were used to set the bombs off and checking out links to Al Qaeda. There have been many distressing eyewitness accounts of being in the subway stations, in subway cars, on buses, and on the streets during the explosions. Londonist has been covering the story, with reports of hotel room gouging, how weekend shows were affected and one person's journey to work the day after. Further news on the London Attacks from BBC News and the NY Times.

During the morning rush hour, a series of explosions have blasted in downtown London, killing at least two people and casualties (which include both the wounded and dead) were hovering near a hundred. The front of a double decker bus was sheared off in one explosion, while a number of explosions (anywhere from three to seven) hit between six Underground stations (Edgware Road, King's Cross, Liverpool Street, Russell Square, Aldgate East, Moorgate). People may still be trapped underground near the King's Cross station (here's an evacuation picture), which sounds awful as the London Underground tunnels are incredibly narrow and very deep underground. Prime Minister Tony Blair feels it's "reasonable" to suspect the explosions are terror-related, and he will be leaving the G8 conference in Scotland to check on the scene; the conference, however, will go on. Here's more from BBC News, and Londonist's breaking news updates show that the Underground explosions were related to "power surges" at first.

Everyone, it's the most depressing day of the year, according to part-time tutor at Cardiff University. Now, Gothamist doesn't usually heed the advice of part-time tutors (only full-time tutors, please), but given that the Brits have stiff upper-lips and notable reserve, we do take any proof as to why we might be cranky and depressed very seriously. BBC News writes

Foul weather, debt, fading Christmas memories, failed resolutions and a lack of motivation conspire to depress, Cliff Arnalls found.

Continue reading "Everyone Has A Case Of The Mondays!"

About 49% of the population is still reeling from Senator Kerry's concession. Gothamist's own Doug Gordon (also of Planet Gordon) and his wife are in Boston, and were captured for the world to see on BBC News Front Page. He tells us, "All I can say is that there is nothing quieter than the sound of 10,000 people not saying a word." And we expect the Secret Service and FBI to be investigating many more street crimes of this nature.