Global Oddities

A massive rescue effort was under way Tuesday after a young child was found among the wreckage of a downed Yemeni jet off the coast of Comoros in the Indian Ocean.
“One child is alive and we hope to find more,” Yemenia Airways chairman Capt. Abdulkhalek al-Kadi told CNN. The child has been taken to a hospital.
The French Navy is sending ships and a plan to help Yemeni authorities try to find any more survivors, he said.
The Yemenia Airways flight went down early Tuesday, carrying 153 people en route to the island nation of Comoros from Yemen’s capital, Sanaa.
A reconnaissance plane spotted traces of the Airbus A310-300 in waters off the town of Mitsamiouli early Tuesday, said Comoros Vice President Idi Nadhoim. Comoros is located off the coast of east Africa, between Tanzania and Madagascar.
Al-Kadi blamed the crash on bad weather, noting that there were “high seas and windy weather” at the time.
It is the second crash involving an Airbus jet in a month. On June 1, an Air France Airbus A330 crashed off Brazil while en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, France. All 228 aboard are presumed dead. The cause remains under investigation.
Former pilot and aviation analyst Capt. John Cox said there are no similarities between the two incidents.
“These are two dramatically different airplanes flown by two different airlines,” Cox told CNN’s “American Morning.”
“The accidents happened at two different regimes of flight. And Airbus has hundreds of millions of hours flying safely. I don’t believe that … we can draw any conclusions because the manufacturer was the same in these two very different types of accidents.”
At first, Comoros officials said there were no signs of survivors among the dead bodies floating in the choppy waters. But then rescuers found the young child.
Cox said it reminded him of the 1987 crash of Northwest Flight 255 in Detroit, Michigan in which only a 4-year-old girl survived, while 156 others died.
“This has come up before and it’s where the toddler was seated (during the impact) that allowed them to survive,” he said.
“It’s a miracle and I’m glad … the toddler is safe. I’m just saddened for the loss of everybody else,” he added.
The Yemeni crash occurred as the plane approached the Hahaya airport in Comoros’ capital, Moroni. The plane tried to land, then performed a U-turn before it crashed, Nadhoim said. Officials did not know why the plane could not land, he said.
There were 142 passengers and 11 crew members aboard, Yemenia Air officials said
Source: CNN news online, June 30, 2009.

Having sex every day improves the quality of men’s sperm and is recommended for couples trying to conceive, according to new research.

Until now doctors have debated whether or not men should refrain from sex for a few days before attempting to conceive with their partner to improve the chance of pregnancy.

But a new study by Dr David Greening of Sydney IVF, an Australian center for infertility and in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, suggests abstinence is not the right approach.

He studied 118 men with above-average sperm DNA damage and found the quality of their sperm increased significantly after they were told to ejaculate daily for seven days.

On average, their DNA fragmentation index — a measure of sperm damage — fell to 26 percent from 34 percent, Greening told the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Amsterdam Tuesday.

Frequent sex does decrease semen volume but for most men this is not a problem.

“It seems safe to conclude that couples with relatively normal semen parameters should have sex daily for up to a week before the ovulation date,” he said in a statement.

“In the context of assisted reproduction, this simple treatment may assist in improving sperm quality and ultimately achieving a pregnancy.”

Greening said it was likely frequent ejaculation improved the quality of sperm by reducing the length of time they were exposed to potentially damaging molecules called reactive oxygen species in the testicular ducts.

Source: Reuters, June 30, 2009

Michael Jackson’s mother filed a petition Monday in Los Angeles Probate Court seeking legal guardianship of her son’s three children, CNN has confirmed.
A hearing was scheduled for August 3 on Katherine Jackson’s petition.
Michael Jackson’s father, Joe Jackson, told CNN on Sunday evening that he and his wife expected to keep the children.
“We’re not trying to get custody,” Jackson said. “We will get custody and have custody.”
An autopsy was performed on Michael Jackson Friday, and toxicology reports from his body will disprove rumors that the singer’s personal physician injected him with powerful painkillers, the attorney for Dr. Conrad Murray said Monday.
“Dr. Murray never prescribed Demerol, never administered Demerol, never saw him — Michael Jackson — take Demerol,” attorney Edward Chernoff told CNN’s “American Morning.”
“And that goes as well for Oxycontin. I think those are just rumors. When toxicology comes back … that’s going to be all cleared up,” Chernoff said.
Murray met voluntarily for several hours with detectives over the weekend, the Los Angeles Police Department said late Saturday.
“We’ve let them know we’re available to them any time they need us, any questions they have,” Chernoff said. “We have told them that the medical examiner is free to call us. We’ll be available to them. If they have any questions once toxicology comes out. I expect they will have some questions, and we’ll be ready to answer them.”

Source: CNN news online, June 28, 2009

A federal judge sentenced Bernard Madoff, the convicted mastermind of the largest and most sweeping Ponzi scheme ever, to the maximum sentence of 150 years in federal court Monday.
Judge Denny Chin of U.S. District Court in New York announced the sentence just moments after Madoff apologized to his victims.
Chin said the maximum sentence was important for deterrence, and also for the victims, many of whom erupted into applause after the judge announced the sentence. Many hugged and some of them broke down in tears.
Shortly before he received his sentence, Madoff offered an apology.
“I live in a tormented state for all the pain and suffering I created,” he said. “I left a legacy of shame. It is something I will live with for the rest of my life.”
Turning to face some of his victims, Madoff addressed them directly: “Saying I’m sorry is not enough. I turn to face you. I know it will not help. I’m sorry.”
Madoff said he was not asking for forgiveness and not offering any excuses for his behavior.
“How can you excuse betraying thousands of investors?” he asked. “How can you excuse deceiving hundreds of employees? How can you excuse lying to and deceiving your wife who still stands by you?”
Victims had urged the judge to dole out the stiffest punishment possible. “We implore you to give the maximum sentence at a maximum prison for this deplorable low life,” said one of the victims in court before Madoff spoke. “This is a violent crime without a tangible weapon.”
Many of Madoff’s investors were wiped out financially by the scam and sent letters to Judge Chin requesting he spend the rest of his life behind bars. Ten of the letter-writers spoke in court Monday.
Speaking on behalf of his wife and looking at Madoff, the same victim said, “I have a marriage made in heaven. You have [a] marriage made in hell, and that’s where you’ll return. May God spare you no mercy.”
Source: CNN news online, June 29, 2009

A teacher at an illegal South African initiation school is expected in court on a murder charge this week, after a man was allegedly beaten to death.
General Morale’s body was found hidden in bushes inside an initiation camp in North West Province on Friday.
The other initiates in the school told police the teacher had often beat them since the school opened in May.
Initiates occasionally die after being circumcised but this is believed to be the first death from physical assault.
Circumcision is a tradition in some South African cultures and is seen as a rite of passage into manhood.

Police spokesman Captain Adele Myburgh told the BBC the school has been running since 5 May with eight initiates.
“We understand that the initiates have been assaulted on a daily basis.
“They are told that to be a man you need to be able to take the punches,” she said.
Police could not say if any weapons were used during the alleged assaults.
This is the first death of this nature to the reported in the area.
“Usually we have deaths after the circumcision ritual has been conducted; either because it was done incorrectly or an unsterilized tool was used which leads to infection, but this is the first death due to actual physical assault,” Captain Myburgh said.
Last month, eight boys died after botched circumcisions in neighbouring Mpumalanga Province.
Police say they are concerned that more more lives could be lost in the coming winter months, as this is the time when most circumcisions are done.
They say they are trying to crack down on the illegal schools but admit that this is a difficult battle to win
“When we learn of an illegal school operating in the area we close it down and in most cases the initiates we find at the schools need some kind of medical attention,” Captain Myburgh said.
Initiation schools are required to register with the health department, which ensures teachers are trained how to carry out the circumcisions and makes sure that proper health standards are met.

Source: BBC news online, June 29, 2009

Sri Lankan police say they have arrested an astrologer after he predicted serious political and economic problems for the government of President Mahinda Rajapakse.

Chandrasiri Bandara, who writes an astrology column for a pro-opposition weekly, was taken in on Thursday, police spokesman Ranjith Gunasekara said.
“The CID (Criminal Investigations Department) is questioning the astrologer,” Gunasekara said Friday, adding that they wanted to find out the “basis” for the prediction.
The astrologer had predicted that a planetary change on October 8 will be inauspicious for parliament and the government may not be able to arrest rising living costs — a prediction already made by private economists.
The opposition United National Party condemned Bandara’s arrest and accused the government of heading towards a dictatorship.
“The crime which Chandrasiri Bandara committed was publishing an astrological column which was adverse to the government,” UNP general secretary, Tissa Attanayake, said.
Sri Lankan politicians take astrology seriously and most have their own personal seers who decide the auspicious times to launch any new programme or work.
The government’s popularity is at an all time high after the military crushed the Tamil Tiger rebels who fought for nearly four decades to carve out a separate state for minority Tamils from the majority Sinhalese community.
Source: AFP, June 26, 2009

Filipino jail inmates who rose to Internet fame two years ago with their exercise regime featuring “Thriller” donned their dancing shoes once more on Saturday to pay tribute to Michael Jackson.

Local and foreign tourists from Australia, England, South Korea, and Japan flocked to the provincial jail in the central Philippine province of Cebu, a known holiday destination due to its balmy beaches, to witness the two-hour show and honor the pop icon.

“It’s only fitting that it happens today and that we’re able to celebrate him in death as in life,” said Australian expatriate Carol Ann Macdonald.

In saffron uniforms and zombie make-up, the prisoners strutted and glided to “Thriller”, knowing the steps by heart thanks to their monthly dancing exercises.

They added interpretations of other Jackson hits such as “I’ll Be There”, “We Are The World”, and “Ben”, which they choreographed overnight.

“I was affected by his death, because he was the one who gave us inspiration in prison. He made us famous,” said 36-year-old Crisanto Niere, in jail for drug trafficking. He danced and led the rest of the dancers just like Jackson in the “Thriller” number.

The prisoners’ “Thriller” dance, originally part of a physical fitness and stress-relief regime formed in 2007, became an instant You Tube hit attracting 23.4 million hits. It has been played on several television and cable networks. (here),

“I was so sad when I found out that our biggest idol, Michael Jackson, had died. All of us here really idolize him. We will miss his dance moves, especially his moonwalk,” said 19-year-old Igan Torrecampo, jailed for murder.

“The inmates consider Michael Jackson as a god here. If not for Michael Jackson, they wouldn’t have this international recognition,” said Byron Garcia, a prison security consultant.

Inmates dressed as nuns raised their arms as the rest swayed to the music of “I’ll Be There”, whose message of hope resonates with the prisoners, jail officials said.

Faced with prison terms of at least 20 years for crimes such as murder, drug trafficking and robbery, inmates numbering more than 1,500 find that dancing to uplifting music such as Jackson’s improves their lifestyle.

Jackson died of cardiac arrest on Friday at his Los Angeles home.

Source: Reuters, June 27, 2009

Los Angeles police on Saturday again questioned Michael Jackson’s doctor, while the family of the pop music icon ordered its own private autopsy two days after his death shocked fans around the world.

Jackson’s father issued a statement urging fans not to despair because the singer “will continue to live on in each and every one of you.”

The family sought a second autopsy — the official one was conducted on Friday — amid reports about the 50-year-old singer’s reliance on prescription medications.

Jackson’s personal physician, Texas cardiologist Dr. Conrad Murray, who was with the singer when he collapsed at his rented mansion on Thursday, hired an attorney to accompany him to what was expected to be a lengthy meeting with the Los Angeles Police Department late on Saturday.

“Dr. Murray is considered to be a witness to the events surrounding Michael Jackson’s death and he is not a suspect,” Houston law firm Stradley, Chernoff & Alford said in a statement.

“Dr. Murray hired legal counsel to help guide him through the police investigation process. The law firm was hired to make sure the police investigation is conducted properly.”

An LAPD spokeswoman said she had no updates on the meeting, three hours after it was scheduled to begin.

According to media reports, Jackson was injected with the narcotic painkiller Demerol shortly before he went into cardiac arrest. Murray was desperately trying to revive Jackson when paramedics arrived, and he rode with the singer in an ambulance to the hospital where the pop star was pronounced dead.

The official autopsy, conducted on Friday, failed to determine what killed Jackson, pending toxicology tests that were expected to take up to six weeks. Such tests could reveal the presence of drugs in his system.

The celebrity website TMZ.com, which first broke the news of Jackson’s death, reported that the second autopsy took place at an undisclosed location in Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon, on the orders of the Jackson family
Source: Reuters, June 27, 2009

A thief in Germany was arrested after he tried to sell a garden mower online to the man he had stolen it from, police said Wednesday.

“The owner went to inspect the goods and recognized the mower as his own,” said a spokesman for police in the southern town of Tuebingen. “Then he left and told police.”

Officers confronted the 46-year-old suspect, who confessed to stealing the mower from a shed in February. He later put it for sale on internet auction site eBay, the spokesman said.

Source: Reuters, June 25, 2009

A fight broke out on a Florida bus when news of Michael Jackson’s death sparked debate over whether he should be remembered as a great musical talent, and one passenger was charged with assault, police said on Friday.

The bus was moving through the city of North Lauderdale on Thursday when passenger James Kiernan received a text message about Jackson’s death on his cell phone, and he read it aloud on the bus, the Broward County Sheriff’s Department said.

The unidentified bus driver opined that “Michael Jackson should have been in jail long ago,” prompting Kiernan, 60, to retort that “the world just lost a great musical talent,” the police report said.

It said the last remark enraged another passenger, Henry Wideman, who started a swearing match with Kiernan, then pulled out a knife and chased Kiernan down the aisle with it.

The driver called his dispatcher and pulled over near a convenience store to wait for sheriff’s deputies, who arrested Wideman, 54. He remained in jail on Friday on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Source: Reuters, June 26, 2009