A South Korean passenger ferry that capsized and sank nearly three years ago killing more than 300 people has started to be lifted from the water.
The sinking of the Sewol in violent seas on 16 April 2014 caused an outpouring of national grief, as most of those who died were students on a high school trip.
Public outrage over what was seen as a botched rescue job by the government contributed to the recent ousting of Park Geun-Hye as president.
Workers on two barges began the salvage operation of the 6,800-ton vessel on Wednesday night by slipping 66 cables underneath the ferry, which has been lying on its left side in 40m (130ft) of water.
An official from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said workers need to raise the ferry until its upper side is about 13m (42ft) above the surface.
Salvage crews will then load the ferry onto a semi-submersible vessel that will carry it to a port. The loading process, including emptying the ferry of water and fuel, is expected to take days.
Thursday, March 23, 2017
Westminster attack: Number of dead in London terror rises to five
A 75-year-old man seriously injured in the Westminster terror attack has died in hospital after his life support was turned off.
It takes the number of dead in Wednesday's atrocity in central London to five, including attacker Khalid Masood.
The man died at King's College Hospital and his family has been informed. They are receiving assistance from police family liaison officers.
Two other civilians - teacher Aysha Frade and US tourist Kurt Cochran - died when terrorist Masood drove his Hyundai into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge.
Unarmed policeman, PC Keith Palmer, 48, was then fatally stabbed by Massod, 52, who was shot dead by another officer in the grounds of Parliament.
Masood, who was born in Kent and who police said had a number of aliases, had a string of criminal convictions including possession of a knife and was investigated by MI5 some years ago over concerns of violent extremism.
:: 'We have to stick together'
But he had not been the subject of any current police investigations.
Islamic State claimed the killer was one of its "soldiers".
PC Palmer, who confronted Masood inside the gates of the Palace of Westminster, was described by Prime Minister Theresa May as "every inch a hero".
The police officer's family said he was "a friend to everyone".
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has paid tribute to Mr Cochran, who was visiting London with his wife Melissa as part of their 25th wedding anniversary celebrations.
The couple, who had been travelling in Europe, were on the last day of their trip and were due to return to the US on Thursday.
Mr Trump tweeted a tribute to 54-year-old Mr Cochran, calling him a "great American".
It takes the number of dead in Wednesday's atrocity in central London to five, including attacker Khalid Masood.
The man died at King's College Hospital and his family has been informed. They are receiving assistance from police family liaison officers.
Two other civilians - teacher Aysha Frade and US tourist Kurt Cochran - died when terrorist Masood drove his Hyundai into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge.
Unarmed policeman, PC Keith Palmer, 48, was then fatally stabbed by Massod, 52, who was shot dead by another officer in the grounds of Parliament.
Masood, who was born in Kent and who police said had a number of aliases, had a string of criminal convictions including possession of a knife and was investigated by MI5 some years ago over concerns of violent extremism.
:: 'We have to stick together'
But he had not been the subject of any current police investigations.
Islamic State claimed the killer was one of its "soldiers".
PC Palmer, who confronted Masood inside the gates of the Palace of Westminster, was described by Prime Minister Theresa May as "every inch a hero".
The police officer's family said he was "a friend to everyone".
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has paid tribute to Mr Cochran, who was visiting London with his wife Melissa as part of their 25th wedding anniversary celebrations.
The couple, who had been travelling in Europe, were on the last day of their trip and were due to return to the US on Thursday.
Mr Trump tweeted a tribute to 54-year-old Mr Cochran, calling him a "great American".
London attack: British-born attacker 'known to MI5'
The Westminster attacker was British-born and known to the police and intelligence services, the prime minister has revealed.
In a statement to the Commons, Theresa May said he had been investigated some years ago over violent extremism but had been a "peripheral figure".
"He was not part of the current intelligence picture," she said.
Eight arrests have been made following the attack on Wednesday that left four dead.
Those that died are PC Keith Palmer, Aysha Frade who worked at a London college, a man in his 50s and the attacker.
Seven of the injured are still in hospital in a critical condition.
A further 29 had been treated in hospital, Mr Rowley added.
In the attack on Wednesday afternoon, a man drove a car along a pavement on Westminster Bridge knocking down pedestrians, creating panic and leaving dozens injured.
He then ran towards Parliament where he stabbed PC Palmer who was unarmed. Armed police then shot dead the attacker in the grounds.
Mrs May paid tribute to PC Palmer saying: "He was every inch a hero and his actions will never be forgotten."
She also said one of three police officers injured as they returned from an event to recognise their bravery was in a stable condition.
She told MPs, many of whom had been caught up in the commotion: "We will never waver in the face of terrorism."
Mrs Frade worked at a London sixth form college just a few hundred metres from Westminster Bridge.
Principal at DLD College, Rachel Borland, said she was "highly regarded and loved by our students and by her colleagues".
Mrs May said 12 Britons were admitted to hospital and other victims included three French children, two Romanians, four South Koreans, one German, one Pole, one Irish, one Chinese, one Italian, one American and two Greeks.
Thierry Terret, who is in charge of schools in Brittany, said the three injured students were not in a life threatening condition and were expected to be back home by Friday.
In a statement made earlier outside Scotland Yard, Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Rowley said seven arrests had been made during raids in London and Birmingham - an eighth was announced several hours later.
"It is still our belief - which continues to be borne out by our investigation - that this attacker acted alone and was inspired by international terrorism.
"To be explicit, at this stage we have no specific information about further threats to the public."
He urged journalists not to publish the attacker's name while searches were continuing.
He said Londoners should expect to see more police officers on the streets, after officers' leave had been cancelled and duty hours extended.
It was initially thought that three members of the public had been killed on Westminster Bridge, but Mr Rowley referred to just two in his statement.
Director General of MI5 Andrew Parker condemned the attack as "appalling and disgusting".
The agency's operational response was "fully mobilised in support of the police", he said.
In a statement to the Commons, Theresa May said he had been investigated some years ago over violent extremism but had been a "peripheral figure".
"He was not part of the current intelligence picture," she said.
Eight arrests have been made following the attack on Wednesday that left four dead.
Those that died are PC Keith Palmer, Aysha Frade who worked at a London college, a man in his 50s and the attacker.
Seven of the injured are still in hospital in a critical condition.
A further 29 had been treated in hospital, Mr Rowley added.
In the attack on Wednesday afternoon, a man drove a car along a pavement on Westminster Bridge knocking down pedestrians, creating panic and leaving dozens injured.
He then ran towards Parliament where he stabbed PC Palmer who was unarmed. Armed police then shot dead the attacker in the grounds.
Mrs May paid tribute to PC Palmer saying: "He was every inch a hero and his actions will never be forgotten."
She also said one of three police officers injured as they returned from an event to recognise their bravery was in a stable condition.
She told MPs, many of whom had been caught up in the commotion: "We will never waver in the face of terrorism."
Mrs Frade worked at a London sixth form college just a few hundred metres from Westminster Bridge.
Principal at DLD College, Rachel Borland, said she was "highly regarded and loved by our students and by her colleagues".
Mrs May said 12 Britons were admitted to hospital and other victims included three French children, two Romanians, four South Koreans, one German, one Pole, one Irish, one Chinese, one Italian, one American and two Greeks.
Thierry Terret, who is in charge of schools in Brittany, said the three injured students were not in a life threatening condition and were expected to be back home by Friday.
In a statement made earlier outside Scotland Yard, Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Rowley said seven arrests had been made during raids in London and Birmingham - an eighth was announced several hours later.
"It is still our belief - which continues to be borne out by our investigation - that this attacker acted alone and was inspired by international terrorism.
"To be explicit, at this stage we have no specific information about further threats to the public."
He urged journalists not to publish the attacker's name while searches were continuing.
He said Londoners should expect to see more police officers on the streets, after officers' leave had been cancelled and duty hours extended.
It was initially thought that three members of the public had been killed on Westminster Bridge, but Mr Rowley referred to just two in his statement.
Director General of MI5 Andrew Parker condemned the attack as "appalling and disgusting".
The agency's operational response was "fully mobilised in support of the police", he said.
Westminster attack: Murdered officer named as PC Keith Palmer
An unarmed police officer who was among four people killed by a terrorist in Westminster has been named as PC Keith Palmer.
The 48-year-old husband and father was stabbed by a man armed with two knives in the grounds of the Houses of Parliament.
Moments earlier the assailant struck a number of pedestrians with a car on Westminster Bridge, before crashing the vehicle into railings outside Parliament. He was shot dead by armed police after attacking PC Palmer.
One of the three members of the public who died was hit by the attacker's car on Westminster Bridge.
Police say approximately 40 people were injured in the atrocity, some of whom were said to have sustained "catastrophic" injuries.
:: Live updates: Five dead in Westminster terror attack
Among those who rushed to help PC Palmer was Government minister Tobias Ellwood, who performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the injured officer.
Paying tribute to PC Palmer, Met Police deputy commissioner Mark Rowley said: "He was someone who left for work today expecting to return home at the end of his shift - and he had every right to expect that would happen."
Conservative MP James Cleverly, who served with PC Palmer in the Royal Artillery, described the officer as "a lovely man".
He said: "I'm heartbroken. My thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of PC Keith Palmer. A brave man."
:: Westminster attack: How the terror unfolded
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the officer "personifies the brave men and women of our police and emergency services who work around the clock to keep us safe".
Theresa May has described the incident, which happened a year to the day after the Brussels attacks, as "sick and depraved" and praised the "exceptional bravery" of police and security services.
She also vowed that "the voices of hate and evil" would never be allowed "to drive us apart".
:: Witnesses recall horror of Westminster attack
Among those injured on Westminster Bridge were three police officers who were on their way back from a commendation ceremony. Two of them are in a serious condition.
Five South Koreans, three French youngsters on a school trip and two Romanians were also injured on the bridge, while a woman who fell into the Thames was rescued and given urgent treatment on a nearby pier.
Moments after the attack Parliament was placed on lockdown and the Prime Minister was bundled into a car as officers searched the building, evacuating floors one-by-one.
:: Analysis - Lone wolves keep security services up at night
Bomb squad officers were also called in to deal with a suspicious package found in a vehicle outside Parliament.
Metropolitan Police has deployed extra armed officers on the streets of the capital.
Meanwhile, Mr Rowley said the force "can call on the support of the military should we need to at a future point".
Both the House of Commons and the House of Lords will sit at their normal times later, less than 24 hours after the deadly attack.
The 48-year-old husband and father was stabbed by a man armed with two knives in the grounds of the Houses of Parliament.
Moments earlier the assailant struck a number of pedestrians with a car on Westminster Bridge, before crashing the vehicle into railings outside Parliament. He was shot dead by armed police after attacking PC Palmer.
One of the three members of the public who died was hit by the attacker's car on Westminster Bridge.
Police say approximately 40 people were injured in the atrocity, some of whom were said to have sustained "catastrophic" injuries.
:: Live updates: Five dead in Westminster terror attack
Among those who rushed to help PC Palmer was Government minister Tobias Ellwood, who performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the injured officer.
Paying tribute to PC Palmer, Met Police deputy commissioner Mark Rowley said: "He was someone who left for work today expecting to return home at the end of his shift - and he had every right to expect that would happen."
Conservative MP James Cleverly, who served with PC Palmer in the Royal Artillery, described the officer as "a lovely man".
He said: "I'm heartbroken. My thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of PC Keith Palmer. A brave man."
:: Westminster attack: How the terror unfolded
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the officer "personifies the brave men and women of our police and emergency services who work around the clock to keep us safe".
Theresa May has described the incident, which happened a year to the day after the Brussels attacks, as "sick and depraved" and praised the "exceptional bravery" of police and security services.
She also vowed that "the voices of hate and evil" would never be allowed "to drive us apart".
:: Witnesses recall horror of Westminster attack
Among those injured on Westminster Bridge were three police officers who were on their way back from a commendation ceremony. Two of them are in a serious condition.
Five South Koreans, three French youngsters on a school trip and two Romanians were also injured on the bridge, while a woman who fell into the Thames was rescued and given urgent treatment on a nearby pier.
Moments after the attack Parliament was placed on lockdown and the Prime Minister was bundled into a car as officers searched the building, evacuating floors one-by-one.
:: Analysis - Lone wolves keep security services up at night
Bomb squad officers were also called in to deal with a suspicious package found in a vehicle outside Parliament.
Metropolitan Police has deployed extra armed officers on the streets of the capital.
Meanwhile, Mr Rowley said the force "can call on the support of the military should we need to at a future point".
Both the House of Commons and the House of Lords will sit at their normal times later, less than 24 hours after the deadly attack.
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Westminster terror attack: Lone wolves keep security services up at night
A carving knife. A car. An ideology twisted into madness itself and vanity. These are the ingredients that make for the perfect terrorist.
Membership of a cell of like-minded monsters may have been a source of confidence and a source of inspiration.
But it's the lone wolves who keep the security services up at night.
The Westminster attack on ordinary civilians and police guarding the Houses of Parliament could have been predicted and it was.
:: Witness: 'I saw 8-10 people on the ground'
But short of ending democracy, of closing access to the democratic process and its trappings, short of delivering strategic effect to lunatics and death cult members, by shutting off the mother of parliaments off from the world, very little more could be done to protect the precinct.
Not, that is, unless the United Kingdom turned itself into something resembling the so-called Islamic State or at the very least a nation so preoccupied with its own security that it has lost touch with what it was that was worth protecting.
This is both the physical vulnerability and the philosophical strength that extremists so wish to attack.
The latest London atrocity is an attempt to repeat the Nice mass murder-by-truck committed last year in which 86 people were killed watching Bastille Day celebrations in Nice.
:: First picture of terror attack suspect
It has fallen on the anniversary of last year's Brussels attacks too.
The Nice attack was echoed in the December Christmas market attacks in Berlin. None of them were planned by a terrorist cell following orders from Raqqa, the capital of the so-called Islamic State.
That would have meant that they were vulnerable to penetration and exposure.
:: Live updates on attack
IS and other groups have long understood that all that is required is to find, or make, a fanatic and give them a few basic hints over the internet and the world's attention will be focused on the bloody outcome.
We've seen it in London before with the murder of Lee Rigby in Woolwich. Two semi-deranged wannabe jihadists with egos in inverse proportions to their understanding of Islam can cause mayhem.
But it is worth remembering that these attacks are dramatic but they are tactical assaults. They do not result in strategic change.
Power will still come on, the wheels of commerce and industry will turn and the United Kingdom will not shudder under the impact of a fanatic with a car.
:: Witness: 'A guy ran past me and stabbed cop with big knife'
Membership of a cell of like-minded monsters may have been a source of confidence and a source of inspiration.
But it's the lone wolves who keep the security services up at night.
The Westminster attack on ordinary civilians and police guarding the Houses of Parliament could have been predicted and it was.
:: Witness: 'I saw 8-10 people on the ground'
But short of ending democracy, of closing access to the democratic process and its trappings, short of delivering strategic effect to lunatics and death cult members, by shutting off the mother of parliaments off from the world, very little more could be done to protect the precinct.
Not, that is, unless the United Kingdom turned itself into something resembling the so-called Islamic State or at the very least a nation so preoccupied with its own security that it has lost touch with what it was that was worth protecting.
This is both the physical vulnerability and the philosophical strength that extremists so wish to attack.
The latest London atrocity is an attempt to repeat the Nice mass murder-by-truck committed last year in which 86 people were killed watching Bastille Day celebrations in Nice.
:: First picture of terror attack suspect
It has fallen on the anniversary of last year's Brussels attacks too.
The Nice attack was echoed in the December Christmas market attacks in Berlin. None of them were planned by a terrorist cell following orders from Raqqa, the capital of the so-called Islamic State.
That would have meant that they were vulnerable to penetration and exposure.
:: Live updates on attack
IS and other groups have long understood that all that is required is to find, or make, a fanatic and give them a few basic hints over the internet and the world's attention will be focused on the bloody outcome.
We've seen it in London before with the murder of Lee Rigby in Woolwich. Two semi-deranged wannabe jihadists with egos in inverse proportions to their understanding of Islam can cause mayhem.
But it is worth remembering that these attacks are dramatic but they are tactical assaults. They do not result in strategic change.
Power will still come on, the wheels of commerce and industry will turn and the United Kingdom will not shudder under the impact of a fanatic with a car.
:: Witness: 'A guy ran past me and stabbed cop with big knife'
Hollywood screenwriter claims Disney 'copied' ideas for Zootopia
Disney is being sued by a Hollywood producer and screenwriter who claims to have come up with the idea for hit film Zootopia 17 years ago.
Gary L Goldman filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, accusing the animation giant of stealing his ideas for the Oscar-winning animated blockbuster.
The producer and screenwriter, who has credits in big budget films such as Arnold Schwarzenegger's Total Recall and Tom Cruise's Minority Report, says he pitched a similar idea to Disney in 2000 and 2009.
He claims there are substantial similarities between his project and Zootopia, released last year.
"The Disney Zootopia is substantially similar to the Goldman Zootopia," says the complaint filed by Mr Goldman's Esplanade Productions.
"They copied Goldman's themes, settings, plot, characters, and dialogue - some virtually verbatim," says the 37-page lawsuit.
The lawsuit says that Mr Goldman's idea saw the film pitched as a way to explore life in America through a civilised society of animals.
Zootopia was nominated for a number of awards this year, and went on to win best animated film at the Oscars.
The story explores prejudice and contemporary race issues through different types of animals.
In response to the lawsuit, Disney told Deadline that "Mr Goldman's lawsuit is riddled with patently false allegations".
"It is an unprincipled attempt to lay claim to a successful film he didn't create, and we will vigorously defend against it in court."
Zootopia has grossed more than $1bn to date.
Gary L Goldman filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, accusing the animation giant of stealing his ideas for the Oscar-winning animated blockbuster.
The producer and screenwriter, who has credits in big budget films such as Arnold Schwarzenegger's Total Recall and Tom Cruise's Minority Report, says he pitched a similar idea to Disney in 2000 and 2009.
He claims there are substantial similarities between his project and Zootopia, released last year.
"The Disney Zootopia is substantially similar to the Goldman Zootopia," says the complaint filed by Mr Goldman's Esplanade Productions.
"They copied Goldman's themes, settings, plot, characters, and dialogue - some virtually verbatim," says the 37-page lawsuit.
The lawsuit says that Mr Goldman's idea saw the film pitched as a way to explore life in America through a civilised society of animals.
Zootopia was nominated for a number of awards this year, and went on to win best animated film at the Oscars.
The story explores prejudice and contemporary race issues through different types of animals.
In response to the lawsuit, Disney told Deadline that "Mr Goldman's lawsuit is riddled with patently false allegations".
"It is an unprincipled attempt to lay claim to a successful film he didn't create, and we will vigorously defend against it in court."
Zootopia has grossed more than $1bn to date.
Westminster attack: Social media unites with #WeAreNotAfraid and #prayforlondon
Social media users around the world have united in a show of support for the people of Britain following the terror attack in London.
As the scale of the incident became clear, driven by pictures and video of the horrors in Westminster being shared, #prayforlondon and #WeAreNotAfraid became top trends on Twitter.
There was unity in terms of condemnation, with many appealing for the actions of a single man not to divide society.
But others chose to point the finger of blame at Islamic extremism, despite a lack of confirmation of the identity of the attacker.
The vast majority preferred to offer their condolences to those killed and injured and praise the bravery of the emergency services.
:: Live updates: Death toll rises in Westminster attack
One user, @RodBishop15, wrote: "Twitter 2 short 4 me to express my outrage at today's #Westminster attack and my admiration for our police officers #parliament #prayforlondon."
There was debate too as media commentator and talkRADIO host Julia Hartley-Brewer sparked a backlash - as well as support - from a post requesting people stop "all this #prayforlondon nonsense", arguing "it's these bloody stupid beliefs that help create this violence in the first place."
She responded to her critics by adding: "Prayers don't solve anything".
As Londoners reported they were safe and well, others struck a defiant tone by saying people were not cowering from the spectre of terrorism as night fell.
@HillyFoz said: "London's just going about its business. Pubs and theatres still full. Trains packed. Everyone looks a little sadder but #WeAreNotAfraid."
Others were more concerned that the attack would be used by politicians as justification for curbing freedoms.
@TerriPaddock wrote: "Dear Americans & Trump fans. #prayforlondon if you want but don't use us to justify racism & religious hatred. #WeAreNotAfraid #Westminster.
As the scale of the incident became clear, driven by pictures and video of the horrors in Westminster being shared, #prayforlondon and #WeAreNotAfraid became top trends on Twitter.
There was unity in terms of condemnation, with many appealing for the actions of a single man not to divide society.
But others chose to point the finger of blame at Islamic extremism, despite a lack of confirmation of the identity of the attacker.
The vast majority preferred to offer their condolences to those killed and injured and praise the bravery of the emergency services.
:: Live updates: Death toll rises in Westminster attack
One user, @RodBishop15, wrote: "Twitter 2 short 4 me to express my outrage at today's #Westminster attack and my admiration for our police officers #parliament #prayforlondon."
There was debate too as media commentator and talkRADIO host Julia Hartley-Brewer sparked a backlash - as well as support - from a post requesting people stop "all this #prayforlondon nonsense", arguing "it's these bloody stupid beliefs that help create this violence in the first place."
She responded to her critics by adding: "Prayers don't solve anything".
As Londoners reported they were safe and well, others struck a defiant tone by saying people were not cowering from the spectre of terrorism as night fell.
@HillyFoz said: "London's just going about its business. Pubs and theatres still full. Trains packed. Everyone looks a little sadder but #WeAreNotAfraid."
Others were more concerned that the attack would be used by politicians as justification for curbing freedoms.
@TerriPaddock wrote: "Dear Americans & Trump fans. #prayforlondon if you want but don't use us to justify racism & religious hatred. #WeAreNotAfraid #Westminster.
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