Four Italian journalists kidnapped in Syria freed: Italy

ROME (Reuters) - Four Italian journalists kidnapped and held in Syria since April 4 had been freed on Saturday, Italy's interim Foreign Minister Mario Monti said in a statement.

Monti's statement gave no details about who had taken the reporters hostage nor any regarding their release, but state news agency ANSA said they were now in Turkey and would return to Italy on Saturday evening.

Monti thanked those involved in securing the reporters' release "which was particularly complicated because of the dangerous context", the statement said. About 70,000 people have been killed in Syria's two-year-old civil war.

Monti said he had personally followed the situation since the reporters were taken hostage in northern Syria, and he thanked the media for respecting a blackout requested by RAI state television, who employs one of the four journalists.

They had been in Syria to film a documentary about a rebel faction close to al Qaeda, Italian media said.

Though the Foreign Ministry never released the names of the journalists, they have been widely reported by Italian media to be RAI journalist Amedeo Ricucci, freelancers Elio Colavolpe and Andrea Vignali, and Italian-Syrian reporter Susan Dabbous.

Ricucci told ANSA by telephone that the group had been held by an armed Islamist group, that none of them were wounded and all were in good health.

(Reporting by Steve Scherer; Editing by Louise Ireland)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/italian-journalists-held-syria-freed-ministry-120722331.html

kim kardashian pregnant papa johns dominos dominos Perez Hilton Michelle Obama Oscars Wissam Al Mana

What's the One YouTube Video You Think Everyone Should Be Required To Watch?

If you had the chance to decree that everyone—everyone—would have to watch one YouTube video all the way through and pay attention the entire time, what would it be? It could be something important, historic, funny, dumb, or just something that no one else seems to like nearly as much as you do and you desperately want to force everyone else to see it in the hope that somebody, anybody, gets it the way you do. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/_F-CCn-w_Go/whats-the-one-youtube-video-you-think-everyone-should-be-required-to-watch

us map Electoral Map concede Obama Acceptance Speech Prop 30 Election 2012 Michigan Election Results

Ashley Judd: Cast in Divergent!

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/04/ashley-judd-cast-in-divergent/

anchorman 2 kentucky basketball oaksterdam the fray national anthem dallas tornado oikos kentucky wildcats

Speaking of bitter & sweet (Powerlineblog)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/298520633?client_source=feed&format=rss

free pancakes at ihop martina navratilova high school shooting ohio school shooting sean young arrested matt kenseth bridge to nowhere

China reports new bird flu death, 2 new infections

BEIJING (AP) ? Chinese health authorities have reported another death and two new infections from a new strain of bird flu.

The new cases reported Friday in Shanghai bring the total number of deaths in China from the bird flu virus, known as H7N9, to 11. Another 29 people have been infected. All of the cases have been in eastern China.

China began reporting cases of the new virus on March 31 and has ordered preventative and containment measures. Shanghai, the center of the outbreak, has warned residents to watch for high fevers, breathing difficulties and other symptoms. Hospitals have set up special fever clinics.

China has been more open in its response to the new virus than it was a decade ago with an outbreak of SARS, when authorities were highly criticized.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/china-reports-bird-flu-death-2-infections-134744644.html

valentines day George Ferris happy valentines day all star game blue ivy carter meteorite lebron james

Modewarre clubs kick on with reserve upgrade | Surf Coast Times ...

Modewarre Cricket Club president Ash Field, Modewarre Football/Netball Club chairman Steve McGarrigle, Andrew Katos, Surf Coast Shire mayor Libby Coker, Hugh Delahunty, Member for Western Victoria Simon Ramsay and Ali Salmon from the Mount Moriac Tennis Club at Mount Moriac Reserve.

Mount Moriac Reserve will get new netball and tennis courts and a better sports pavilion through a $1.35 million upgrade.

Surf Coast Shire, the state government and two local sports clubs are all contributing money towards the project, which was announced recently. The new pavilion will feature more accessible facilities, including improved change rooms and a flexible layout with more functional community spaces. The project will also create a third netball court, two tennis courts and a new play space.

The shire and the state government are each putting in $650,000, while reserve tenants Modewarre Football/Netball Club and Modewarre Cricket Club are adding $25,000 each. South Barwon MP Andrew Katos thanked the shire and the two sports clubs for providing funding towards the upgrade.

Minister for Sport and Recreation Hugh Delahunty said Modewarre?s football, netball, cricket and tennis clubs were made up of male and female teams but the existing pavilion was ill-equipped to cater for all users. He said a key objective of the Coalition government was to build healthy and active communities.

?To achieve this goal, we need quality community facilities that encourage local people to play the sports they love for many years to come. Our investment in this project is part of our plan to build more sustainable local venues that make a difference to local people.

?Sporting facilities are important community assets and provide a social hub, particularly in regional areas. As well as the health benefits, we are also helping to stimulate the local economy and create jobs throughout the construction phase.?

The state government funding comprises $350,000 from the Community Facility Funding Program and $300,000 from the Regional Growth Fund?s Putting Locals First Program.

Source: http://www.surfcoasttimes.com.au/news/community/2013/04/12/modewarre-clubs-kick-on-with-reserve-upgrade/

tropic thunder carnie wilson missing reese witherspoon pregnant billy joel bent new york jets

Truck explodes, shuts down part of NYC bridge

Andrew Margulis

There have been no reports of injuries and the FDNY and NYPD are currently investigating the cause of this accident on the Queensboro Bridge.

By Patrick Hickey Jr., NBCNewYork.com

A truck caught fire as it approached the ramp to the Queensboro Bridge, prompting an explosion and forcing authorities to shut down the upper level of the span Sunday evening, according to the FDNY.

No injuries were immediately reported after the truck erupted in flames at about 7 p.m., the FDNY said.

Witnesses reported seeing intense flames and thick black smoke near the bridge.

Police and fire officials are investigating the cause of the fire.

?

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/653381/s/2a7171ef/l/0Lusnews0Bnbcnews0N0C0Inews0C20A130C0A40C0A70C176452430Etruck0Eexplodes0Eshuts0Edown0Epart0Eof0Enyc0Ebridge0Dlite/story01.htm

ferris state hockey mary poppins john derbyshire kinkade thomas kinkade paintings navy jet crash virginia beach isiah thomas