Man Held Over Facebook Child Abuse Video

Police have arrested a mechanic for alleged child abuse after a video of a toddler being hit by his stepdad was put on Facebook.

A 32-year-old suspect was held over the nine-minute video which was first posted by Facebook user Vasu Amaithi Padai on Tuesday, according to the New Straits Times.

The video, which has 44,537 shares, shows the three-year-old being physically abused by his stepfather whilst a baby and another toddler are in the room.

The child is slapped to the ground, held in the air and punched repeatedly and beaten with a various objects.

He is now being treated in a Malaysian hospital and under the supervision of social welfare officers.

Many Facebook users expressed outrage and demanded the police take action against the individual and the video-maker.

Facebook user, Alice Perumal, commented: "Oh my god! It is so cruel! Is this his real father? Who is doing the shooting (the video)? I can't stop crying after watch this ..."

In a statement to the media through their Facebook account, the Royal Malaysian Police confirmed that the man in the footage was the stepfather to the three-year-old toddler, said the newspaper.

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Brazil: Team Quits Final Over 'Gun Threat'

The final of South America's second biggest football competition was abandoned after the away team claimed they were beaten and had guns pulled on them at half-time.

Brazil's Sao Paulo were awarded the Copa Sudamericana after their Argentinian opponents refused to play the second half of the final's second leg, claiming the players feared for their safety.

There were ugly scenes as players fought while leaving the pitch at the end of first half, with the Brazilian side leading 2-0 in front of their home fans.

The referee leaves the field to discuss Tigre's concerns about safety

Things apparently got worse for Tigre during the break, with coaches claiming security personnel entered the changing room and attacked their players with clubs.

Tigre manager Nestor Gorosito briefly returned to the pitch and, referring to unspecified security officials, told reporters: "They pulled two revolvers. We're not going to play any more".

Tense negotiations took place outside the changing room area

While it was unclear what happened in the changing room, Argentine television showed what appeared to be blood stains spattered on walls.

After the break, referee Enrique Osses of Chile awarded the trophy - South America's equivalent of the Europa League - to Sao Paulo after waiting around 30 minutes for Tigre to retake the field.

Tigre's coach Tigre Gorosito told reporters guns were pulled on his team

"Police entered and struck our players with sticks," Gorosito told Argentine television. "It was crazy. What happened was crazy."

Romer Osuna, a Bolivian official with Conmebol, South America's governing body of football, said Tigre players were afraid to carry on with the game.

Earlier, Sao Paulo star Lucas had given the home side the lead

"The Tigre people declined to play because they considered security was not good enough," Osuna told Fox Sports.

Fans at the 72,000 capacity Morumbi stadium celebrated Sao Paulo's first Copa Sudamericana win as if the violence had never happened, but the incident may raise questions about Brazil's ability to host the 2014 World Cup.

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Ancient Peruvian Priestess Face Reconstructed

The reconstructed face of a high ruling Peruvian priestess has been unveiled by researchers from Utah Valley University.

They revealed the reconstruction during a presentation at the Bruning Museum in Lambayeque, Peru.

Priestesses were very powerful in ancient Peru and this one is said to have governed in around 1200 AD.

"This was probably one of the most powerful people in Lambayeque 800 years ago, so she was a central person in the political and religious structure," said Haagen Klaus one of the project's land researchers.

The ruler's mummified remains were discovered in a tomb last year near the city of Lambayeque, at the Chotuna Chornancap archaeological site.

Carlos Wester, the director of the Chotuna Chornancap project, outlined the hard work behind the archaeological feat.

"This (facial reconstruction) takes an average of five or six months of hard work from our colleagues at Utah Valley University.

"We must look to other areas, not just to things of value or shiny objects, but to highlight the physical presence of people, such as we can see with this image that we are so proud of," said Mr Wester.

The reconstruction involved a combination of the priestess's mummified remains, old photographs of women from the region and computer generated images.

Investigators believe the priestess was between 30 and 40 years old when she died.

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Chef Jamie Oliver Sued In 'Pink Slime' Row

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is among those being sued in the US by a worker laid off by a beef processing firm after "pink slime" was apparently used in fast food and school lunches.

Bruce Smith is one of 750 employees fired earlier this year by Beef Products Incorporated (BPI) following a flood of reports about the substance. He is suing Oliver, ABC News, and blogger Bettina Siegel.

The lawsuit accuses them of "the dissemination of untrue facts and misinformation" about Lean Finely Textured Beef (LFTB) and argues they "engaged in negligent, wilful and reckless behaviour" against BPI.

The process involves heating beef scraps and running them through a centrifuge to separate out fat, then treating the final product with ammonium hydroxide to prevent contamination by e.coli and other pathogens.

The company, which had produced 350,000 tons of the substance each year, insists LFTB is a "significant, safe and reliable source of lean beef meat" and that the ammonium hydroxide is not considered an ingredient.

"Pursuant to USDA and FDA regulations, LFTB was, and is, 100% beef," it said.

Mr Smith, 58, has requested $70,000 (£43,000) in compensation, saying a larger amount may mean the case is transferred out of his Nebraska community and into a US federal court.

A worker in Nebraska feeds offcuts into the processing line

He said he wants the public to understand "how consumer fears and concerns were falsely hyped and manipulated by the traditional and social media, celebrities, politicians and others".

In an episode in April 2011 of his Food Revolution show, Oliver spun beef scraps in a washing machine and doused them with ammonium hydroxide to illustrate the process, referring to the finished product as "pink slime".

"You've just turned dog food into potentially your kids' food," Oliver said at the end of the demonstration, adding "everything about this process to me is about no respect for food, or people, or children".

The following March, Ms Siegel, author of The Lunch Tray blog, launched an online petition to ban LFTB in school lunches, gathering 250,000 signatures. ABC News then ran a series of stories on the substance.

At around the same time, a picture of strawberry-coloured chicken paste was widely circulated on the internet, falsely labelled as LFTB.

ABC News and Oliver could not immediately be reached for comment, but Ms Siegel wrote on her blog that she was confident the constitutional freedom of speech protects her from "meritless attempts at censorship like this one."

She added: "I will vigorously defend my right, and the rights of all of us, to speak out on matters of public importance and to petition the federal government."

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Japan Murder Mystery: Elderly Suspect Dead

By Mark Stone, Asia Correspondent

Efforts to solve a string of murders in Japan have been complicated after the main suspect - a grandmother - was found dead.

Miyoko Sumida, 64, was the suspected mastermind behind a series of deaths in Amagasaki in Japan's Hyogo prefecture.

In an extraordinary and hugely complicated case, it is alleged that Sumida and a number of her family members murdered an unspecified number of other family members and acquaintances and concealed their bodies underground and in concrete.

In an investigation which has gripped Japan, she and eight other people including her husband, adopted sons and daughter-in-law were arrested in November 2011 for multiple murders.

She was found dead in her police cell on Wednesday having apparently taken her own life.

According to investigators in the murder case, Sumida built up a complex network of relatives and other acquaintances, who she controlled with violence.

The arrests came following the discovery of the body of 66-year-old Kazuko Oe in a concrete-filled drum at a warehouse in the city of Amagasaki.

In October this year three more bodies were discovered.

Police found them hidden underneath the home belonging to the 88-year-old grandmother of Sumida's daughter-in-law.

Local media reports have identified them as Takashi Tanimoto, 68, Mariko Nakashima, who was the 29-year-old sister of Sumida's daughter-in-law and Mitsue Ando, 71 years-old and the partner of Sumida's older brother.

A fifth body, identified as Jiro Hashimoto, 53, was found in a concrete-filled drum retrieved from the sea in Japan's Okayama prefecture at the end of October.

The sixth body, understood to be that of 88-year-old Nori Minayoshi, was found in a farm shed in early December. Other relatives are still understood to be missing.

Sumida was being held in a cell at the police headquarters in the city of Kobe. She had been placed on suicide watch after repeatedly telling police that she wanted to die.

Police found her in the cell with a long sleeve shirt around her neck. Attempts to revive her failed.

Given the complexity of the relationships between the alleged murderers, accomplices and victims, police had been struggling to piece the crime together.

Sumida's apparent suicide, before her trial, is likely to make the police and prosecution job even harder.

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Nasa Video Debunks 'End Of World' Theories

Scientists at Nasa have released a video dismissing theories that the world will end on December 21.

Experts at the American space agency are so confident of their argument, that they have posted the December 22-dated video more than a week before the supposed doomsday.

The short film, called 'Why The World Didn't End Yesterday', debunks various apocalyptic theories linked to the ancient Mayan calendar.

The video says: "If you're watching this video, it means one thing: the world didn't end yesterday.

"According to media reports of an ancient Mayan prophecy, the world was supposed to be destroyed on December 21 2012.

"But look around you. The whole thing was a misconception from the very beginning."

Dr John Carlson, director of the Centre for Archaeoastronomy, said the Mayan calendar did not end on that date and that the Mayans had never predicted the world would end then.

The Mayan calendar has been cited as evidence of the apocalypse

He explained that their calendar simply "rolls over" on December 21 2012.

The video also quotes Don Yeoman, head of Nasa's near-earth comet programme, as saying no known asteroids or comets were on a collision course with earth.

"Neither is a rogue planet coming to destroy us," he said.

Nasa astrobiologist David Morrison said: "If there were anything out there like a planet heading for earth, it would already be one of the brightest objects in the sky. Everybody on earth (would be able) to see it.

"You don't need to ask the Government, just go out and look. It's not there."

The video also dismissed suggestions that solar flares meant the sun posed a threat to human existence.

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Hans Christian Andersen's First Tale Discovered

A Danish historian has found a copy of a previously unknown fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen at the bottom of a box.

The historian Esben Brage accidentally found the copy in a filing box at the National Archives of Funen.

The six-page text entitled Tallow Candle is dedicated "to Mme Bunkeflod, from her devoted HC Andersen".

Mme Bunkeflod was a neighbouring widow who was very close to Andersen.

Hans Christian Andersen died in 1875

The tale is a fictional story of an unloved, unlit candle which is set alight and saved by a "little flame".

Andersen expert Ejnar Stig Askgaard said this is likely to be one of Andersen's earliest works, written in the 1920s seven years before his official debut.

Anderson wrote nearly 160 tales, including The Ugly Duckling and The Little Mermaid, which have been translated into hundreds of languages.

The Danish daily Politiken has since published the translated tale online.

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Town In Chile Struck By 170 Earthquakes

More than 170 tremors have been felt in the coastal town of Navidad in quake-prone Chile in just five weeks.

The strongest - of 5.9 magnitude - struck during a funeral and sent panicked mourners fleeing into the street.

The town, with a population of 5,500, has become one of the shakiest spots on Earth.

Seismologists cannot say whether the recent quakes have been aftershocks from Chile's devastating 8.8 magnitude earthquake two years ago - or warnings of another huge disaster to come.

The town's residents, though, have learned to take the quakes in their stride.

Navidad means Christmas in Spanish - and with the festive season in full swing Navidenos have been taking extra precautions to ensure the celebrations pass as smoothly as possible.

Families have taken to decorating their Christmas trees with quakes in mind, wiring ornaments to the branches or taking extra efforts to secure the base.

Some restaurant owners have even switched from bottled beer to cans.

Children at public schools have been practicing drills every day and everyone has been equipped with a 'quake bag' comprising flashlights and food.

"We were born, grew up and were raised with earthquakes," acting Mayor Rodrigo Soto said.

"It seems like the world for the first time has discovered Navidad. Everyone asks us if we're scared and all we can say is that we need to be prepared."

The town has an inadequate tsunami alert system - a siren that sounds like a car alarm and lacks the volume needed to reach all the townspeople. But after so many tremors, he said Navidenos know in their bones when to run.

"People are afraid because in the past weeks it shook so much," said 18-year-old waitress Karen Contreras.

"It's still trembling, but at least people know where to evacuate if it's strong," she added.

The February 2010 quake hit central Chile, killing hundreds of people and wrecking 220,000 homes.

The country suffered 150 strong aftershocks in the immediate days following the disaster, and it was also reported that the initial tremor was so powerful, it may have shifted the Earth's axis and made days slightly shorter.

No-one was killed by the huge quake in Navidad, but some 200 homes were lost or severely damaged, and most households had no power or water for a month.

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Litvinenko: Russia 'Was Involved' In Death

The UK has evidence the Russian state was involved in the murder of Alexander Litvinenko, who was working for MI6 when he died, a coroner has heard.

The pre-inquest review was told the former KGB spy had been hired by MI6 for a number of years and was also working with Spain to investigate the Russian mafia shortly before his death.

Mr Litvinenko was poisoned with polonium-210 after allegedly drinking tea at a meeting with two former Russian colleagues - Andrei Lugovoy and Dmitry Kovtun - in London's Millennium Hotel in November 2006.

Russia has refused to extradite the prime suspects, Mr Lugovoy and Mr Kovtun, both of whom deny involvement.

The hearing revealed for the first time that Mr Lugovoy - now a Russian MP - was double-crossing his government and helping with an investigation into the Russian mafia's links with the Kremlin and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The former spy's wife Marina arrives at the pre-inquest review

Hugh Davies, counsel to the inquest into Mr Litvinenko's death, said assessments of confidential material submitted by the British Government had "established a prima facie case as to the culpability of the Russian state in the death of Alexander Litvinenko".

After the hearing, Mr Litvinenko's wife Marina said she was pleased the alleged involvement of the Russian government in her husband's murder would now be considered by the inquest.

"We've been saying this many times but this is the first time this question has been raised in court," she said.

"I appreciate all that was done today and I'm looking forward to any decision, which will be taken by the coroner after today's hearing."

It was also heard that Mr Litvinenko would regularly meet with an MI6 handler, named only as Martin, in central London and was paid by both the British and Spanish secret services into a joint bank account he held with his wife, the hearing was told.

Dmitry Kovtun (L) and Andrei Lugovoy (R) deny involvement in the murder

Ben Emmerson QC, representing Mrs Litvinenko, said the inquest should also consider whether MI6 failed in its duty to protect against a "real and immediate risk to life".

Mr Davies said assessments of confidential material that was submitted by the British Government showed there was no evidence to suggest the UK was involved in the poisoning of Mr Litvinenko or that it failed to take necessary steps to protect him.

The evidence also ruled out the involvement of other parties, including friend Boris Berezovsky, Chechen-related groups and the Spanish mafia, he added.

Mr Emmerson said Mr Litvinenko had been asked by MI6 to work with the Spanish secret service and the inquest should consider whether "detailed risk assessments" were carried out.

Mr Litvinenko in 1998

He had been due to travel to Spain with Mr Lugovoy shortly before his death to provide intelligence in the Russian mafia investigation, Mr Emmerson said.

The investigation was looking at links between Russian political parties, organised crime and arms trafficking, he added.

Neil Garnham QC, representing the Home Office, told the hearing he could "neither confirm nor deny" whether Mr Litvinenko was employed by British intelligence services.

The Russian Federation has now indicated its wish to become an interested party in the inquest, which is to be held on May 1.

The inquest will be held before High Court judge Sir Robert Owen, who has been appointed assistant deputy coroner.

Mr Litvinenko died three weeks after he was poisoned - after authorising the release of a photo showing the devastating impact of radiation poisoning on his body.

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Royal Hoax Radio Staff 'Moved Into Safehouses'

Staff at a radio station behind a hoax call that led to the apparent suicide of nurse Jacintha Saldanha have been moved to safehouses, according to reports.

Managers at Sydney radio station 2Day FM have also recruited 24-hour bodyguards to protect employees.

Mrs Saldanha was found dead days after the DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian called London's King Edward VII hospital, where the Duchess of Cambridge was being treated for severe morning sickness.

They impersonated the Queen and Prince Charles, with the "monarch" making enquiries about her "granddaughter".

Nurse Jacintha Saldanha was found dead after receiving a hoax call

Australian news website news.co.au said police have launched an investigation due to staff receiving death threats, with one letter specifically targeting Christian.

The letter reportedly said there are "bullets out there with your (Christian's) name on" and contained further threats involving a shotgun.

An inquest into the 46-year-old's death opened at Westminster Coroner's Court on Thursday, and heard injuries were found on her wrists and that she had left three notes.

Two of the notes were found in her room at the hospital. The other was among her possessions.

The mother-of-two's body was released to undertakers on behalf of the family after the hearing.

The court heard that police are exploring emails and texts sent by the 46-year-old, who was discovered by a colleague and a security guard on Friday.

Officers are also interviewing Ms Saldanha's friends and family, and staff at the Australian radio station responsible for the prank.

Detective Chief Inspector James Harman said: "On Friday December 7 Jacintha Saldanha was found by a colleague and a member of security staff. Sadly she was found hanging.

"There were also injuries to her wrists. The London Ambulance Service was called to the scene. At this time there are no suspicious circumstances."

The inquest came as pressure mounted on bosses at the radio station to name the executives responsible for airing the hoax call.

Sky News understands Australia's independent media watchdog, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), has had 2,500 complaints from around the world over the 2Day FM segment.

ACMA has announced a rare fast-track investigation into the prank, which saw Ms Saldanha put two radio hosts through to a fellow nurse who unwittingly revealed details about Kate's treatment.

Australia's radio broadcasting code stipulates that it is a breach to record a person in conversation, and also air it, without their knowledge.

The radio station insists it did not break the law and says it tried to contact the hospital on five separate occasions. The hospital disputes any contact was ever sought.

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