Obama takes it easy on holiday

Tuesday, 28 December 2010

Barack Obama eats his ice cream while on holiday with his family in Kailua, Hawaii (AP)

President Barack Obama has made the first public appearance of his holiday, stopping by one of his favourite local shops for a Hawaiian snow cone known as "shave ice".

The President, dressed casually in a black polo shirt, khaki shorts and flip-flops, ordered a flavour combination of melon, lemon-lime and cherry at Island Snow, a shop Mr Obama has frequented during past trips to Hawaii.

The President chatted with excited workers and asked them about their holidays as he placed about a dozen more orders for his family and friends.

The President stood outside under cloudy, threatening skies to enjoy his shave ice with daughters Malia and Sasha, and several of the family friends from Hawaii and Chicago who have joined Mr Obama here.

The afternoon outing was the first time the President has been spotted outside his rented oceanfront home or the nearby Marine base since he arrived there late on Wednesday.

After a frenzied legislative session that forced the President to delay the start of his trip, aides say rest and relaxation is at the top of Mr Obama's agenda during his almost two-week holiday.

The President spent much of the cloudy, drizzly Hawaiian day indoors at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, bowling with his daughters and playing basketball with friends.

The base has become a sanctuary for the President on his Hawaiian vacations. The President plays golf on the base course, the first couple uses its gym for morning workouts and the first family often visits a secluded beach there.

But the Obamas have not had much in the way of beach weather since the President arrived. Clouds hung over the island of Oahu, and more rain is forecast throughout the week.

The Obamas are expected to stay in Hawaii until January 2.

Relief for Britain as thaw due

Tuesday, 28 December 2010

The Met Office is predicting that it will be the coldest December since records began 100 years ago

Britain will be offered some long-awaited respite from the bitterly cold winter weather in the coming days, as temperatures rise and the "big thaw" kicks in.

Forecasters predict daytime temperatures will "universally" be above freezing for the majority of the week, melting compacted snow and treacherous ice that has blighted the UK this Christmas.

The mercury will hit double figures in parts of the south on Wednesday, staying at a similar level during the week. And although temperatures are expected to dip again slightly at the weekend, they will not compare to the bone-chilling readings endured during the Arctic freeze earlier this month.

Forecaster Michael Lawrence, from the Met Office, said: "There will be a lot of low cloud, mist and fog (on Tuesday) and it will feel less cold with the strong winds easing.

"There will also be some spells of light rain and drizzle which will add to the thawing that has already begun. It will be much of the same into Wednesday and Thursday with large amounts of cloud keeping the temperatures across the country universally positive."

Plymouth and Exeter in south west England are expected to reach 10C on Tuesday, with temperatures reaching 4C in the Midlands. The north of England will be cooler with the mercury hitting a below average 1C in Newcastle and 2C in Leeds - but for many it will be a marked improvement on the recent spell of sub-zero conditions.

"The weather with generally be fairly benign compare to what we have had recently," added Mr Lawrence. "At the moment we are looking to get back to near normal temperatures and it will not be as extreme as the stuff we have over Christmas."

The weather expert added: "Temperatures are going to drop slightly at the weekend but the readings will not be comparable to the recent past."

Despite the break in the icy freeze, the Met Office is predicting that this month will be "by some margin" the coldest December since records began 100 years ago.

Temperatures fell as low as minus 18.2C on Christmas Day, and many areas also had a bitterly cold Boxing Day.

Two passengers killed in horror three-car pile-up

Tuesday, 28 December 2010

Two people were killed last night in a multiple-car crash in driving rain and on icy roads.

The two men were travelling in the same vehicle when they were involved in a three-car collision in Co Monaghan.

The incident happened last night about 2km outside Carrickmacross on the main N2 road at Nurebeg.

Both of the deceased men were passengers in one of the cars.

One of the deceased is from Kilmainhamwood in Co Meath while the other is from Kingscourt in Co Cavan.

Two other men who were in the same car, including the driver, were last night seriously injured in hospital.

The injured were brought to Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and Navan hospital in Co Meath.

A husband and wife who were travelling in another car were also in a serious condition last night. It is understood the woman is pregnant.

A couple, another husband and wife, who were in a third car were brought to hospital but only suffered minor injuries.

Two children, who were in the third car, were brought in for monitoring by medical staff.

A section of the road -- which is the main route between Carrickmacross and Ardee -- was last night sealed off by the emergency services.

Charity warns worse is to come

Tuesday, 28 December 2010

A homeless charity warned the worst is yet to come

A homeless charity warned the worst is yet to come as the recession takes hold of desperate homeowners struggling to pay basic bills.

As the Government fails to meets its own target to end long-term homelessness by the end of 2010, Depaul Ireland revealed the recently out of work are among the latest victims forced to sleep rough.

Kerry Anthony, chief executive of the cross-border charity, pleaded with the Irish Government and housing agencies to set a new date to create 1,200 new units of affordable accommodation to take people out of hostels and B&Bs.

An estimated 5,000 people, including families, are homeless in the Republic, with 70 sleeping rough.

Ms Anthony said those who recently fell on hard times, and have never experienced homelessness, are among the people now knocking on its door.

"I've been saying for some time now that I don't think we really understand the full impact the recession is going to have on homelessness," she said. "The figures haven't fluctuated much to date, but we know there are an awful lot of people defaulting on their mortgage repayments, we know about 90,000 people are defaulting on electric payments and 23,000 on their gas payments."

She said the huge rise in numbers contacting the Money Advice and Budgeting Services (MABS) and St Vincent de Paul shows people are really starting to suffer. "All the indicators are saying there is going to be an increase, we haven't felt this in its full force yet," she added.

Depaul Ireland, which accepts donations via www.depaulireland.org, gives a bed to more than 300 homeless people in Dublin and Northern Ireland every night. Women with children are more likely to get a permanent home.

As a "wet service" it is one of the few places where the most marginalised and vulnerable, street drinkers and drug addicts, will find a bed.

Housing Minister Michael Finneran said it is his intention to prioritise the most vulnerable, disadvantaged households, such as homeless people and people with disabilities, next year. "Although it is regrettable that we haven't reached our target of ending long-term homelessness for this year, the commitment is as strong as ever and I will ensure it is pursued into 2011," he said.

Residents rally after mum dies suddenly

Tuesday, 28 December 2010

The tragic death of a mother-of-two in Bangor has prompted an outpouring of community generosity.

Marissa Casiben (39), originally from the Phillipines, was discovered dead in her bed on December 15. Her two young children, three-year-old Bernard junior and nine-year-old Christina, were found sleeping beside her.

A coroner’s report was unable to fully establish a cause of death but it is believed she may have suffered from a heart condition.

Neighbour and friend Jackie McConnell is leading efforts to raise money to fly Mrs Casiben’s family back to the Phillipines, to have her remains repatriated.

“It’s going to cost £3,200. Then they will have additional costs involved with transporting her remains home,” he said.

“The children and Marissa’s husband Bernard have stayed with us and people have brought food parcels. A local church even had a collection for her.”

Mr McConnell’s wife, Lily-Paz, is also from the Phillipines and the two families were close.

Mr McConnell has organised a service of remembrance for Marissa in Bangor which will be held at 10am tomorrow in St Galls Church on the Crawfordsburn Road.

To donate to the appeal, phone 028 9146 7681 or 07729 050206.

Ancient tooth proves man's Mid-East origins, say experts

Tuesday, 28 December 2010

Experts claim that a tooth can prove that humans originated from the Mid-East and not Africa, as previously believed.

Israeli archaeologists say they may have found the earliest evidence yet for the existence of modern man.

A Tel-Aviv University team excavating a cave in central Israel said yesterday that they found teeth about 400,000 years old.

The earliest Homo sapiens remains found until now are half that age.

Archaeologist Avi Gopher said that further research was needed to solidify the claim. If it does, he says, "this changes the whole picture of evolution".

Accepted scientific theory is that Homo sapiens originated in Africa and migrated out.

Paul Mellars, a prehistory expert at Cambridge University, said last night the find was "important," but it was premature to say the remains were from modern man.

He says they are more likely related to man's ancient relatives, the Neanderthals.

Retailers enjoy another day of bumper trade in Belfast

Tuesday, 28 December 2010

Retailers in Belfast have enjoyed another busy day as thousands of bargain hunters flocked to the city centre to take advantage of the post-Christmas sales.

The annual event has been so successful some department stores reported an increase in sales from last year.

There were concerns last week that below-freezing temperatures which left Northern Ireland covered in snow and ice would have a detrimental effect on trade right over the festive period.

Generally the week before Christmas is the busiest period for stores, however in the lead-up to the big day many shoppers stayed away as they avoided any unnecessary journeys along treacherous roads.

But as the thaw set in the bargain hunters came out, keen to get their hands on heavily discounted items before the VAT increase comes in at the end of the year.

One retailer recording an increase in trade was House of Fraser. The department store inside Victoria Square had begun its annual sale early and dozens of shoppers queued outside the Belfast premises on Boxing Day eager to get their hands on a bargain.

Store manager Michelle Jackson said there were even more customers yesterday.

She attributed this to a combination of increased trading hours and the thaw.

“Today was definitely busier than Sunday, although that is because of the trading hours. But I would still say today has had higher footfall,” she said.

“Overall the sale has been very positive for us so far.

“Last week we finished third in the company for our sale. And even though there was bad weather, it certainly didn’t impact on us.

“We had a much stronger performance than we have ever seen and we always do well at Christmas. And coming into the sale yesterday, footfall has been huge and we showed significant increase on last year.”

CastleCourt duty manager Binder Tohani said the Royal Avenue shopping complex has also fared very well in the sales.

On Sunday there were queues of customers waiting for the centre to open.

And yesterday its car park was full by 12pm.

“I haven’t got like-for-like figures but we have been extremely pleased with footfall. But certainly, it seems the numbers have been as we have expected,” she said.

“There were queues outside retailers’ doors. Our car park was full from 12pm so it’s been very busy.

“The weather hasn’t deterred people from coming in — in fact it has helped. The thaw has been better for people coming into the centre.

“Debenhams is one of our anchor stores and whenever they have their big sales it’s always a big positive for the centre.

“I would say a lot of the retailers are wanting to pull in as much trade as possible, that is why there is 50% off in a lot of stores.

“I would say both days are on par.

“Boxing Day there were queues outside the shops but today we were open for longer.

“It has been very positive and we are looking forward to the rest of the week.”