Film director Ridley Scott has revealed he is convinced that aliens are really out there - and one day they will come for us.
The veteran filmmaker is preparing to release the sixth film in the Alien sci-fi horror series, Alien: Covenant, next month.
He said: "I believe in superior beings. I think it is certainly likely.
"An expert I was talking to at NASA said to me 'have you ever looked in the sky at night? You mean to tell me we are it?' That's ridiculous.
"The experts have now put a number on it having assessed what is out there. They say that there are between 100 and 200 entities that could be having a similar evolution to us right now.
"So when you see a big thing in the sky, run for it. Because they are a lot smarter than we are, and if you are stupid enough to challenge them you will be taken out in three seconds."
The new film - the second prequel which is set before the 1979 original starring Sigourney Weaver, Ian Holm, John Hurt and Yaphet Kotto - is set in 2104 on board a spaceship carrying 2,000 cryogenically frozen colonists to a distant planet.
On their journey, they chance upon an uncharted paradise, but it soon turns into a nightmare.
Scott, 79, said he has never tired of scaring moviegoers.
He said: "When I did the first Alien I had to get a sense of responsibility because the reaction to the kitchen ('chestbuster') scene with John Hurt was beyond anything I expected - and it was not good.
"But the film was very successful because people are perverse.
"Everybody was half underneath the seat watching by the time you get to the kitchen scene. There was a woman underneath the seat with her husband holding her."
The director, however, is not so easily scared.
He said: "Nothing scares me. I have a 9mm (pistol).
"If there is a problem I tend to close down into calm. When you walk in in the morning on a film and 600 people turn and all look at you, that is scary."
Scott, who was knighted in 2003, is about to make a film about the Battle of Britain during World War II.
:: Alien: Covenant opens on 10 May.
Friday, April 28, 2017
Trump: Chance of 'major conflict' with N Korea
Donald Trump has said there is a chance of a "major, major conflict" with North Korea.
The US President said he would "love to solve things (the North Korean problem) diplomatically but it's very difficult".
"There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea, absolutely," he added.
Mr Trump was speaking during an Oval Office interview with Reuters ahead of his 100th day in office on Saturday.
:: Senior adviser to Trump gives an insight into his first 100 days
The North Korea nuclear threat is one of the biggest challenges facing the Trump administration, with some experts saying the country could have a nuclear missile capable of reaching the US some time after 2020.
Mr Trump also praised Chinese President Xi Jinping, who he met in Florida earlier this month, for his efforts in deterring North Korea from its nuclear programme.
"I believe he is trying very hard," he told Reuters.
"He certainly doesn't want to see turmoil and death, he doesn't want to see it.
"He is a good man, he is a very good man and I got to know him very well."
:: Hannah Thomas-Peter - Trump is milking the North Korea crisis for all it's worth
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has revealed China has warned North Korea that it will impose its own "sanctions actions" if there is another nuclear test.
Mr Tillerson was speaking to Fox News and his words suggest that China has made its toughest threat yet against its defiant neighbour and ally Pyongyang.
He said that China had asked North Korea not to conduct any more nuclear tests, adding: "In fact, we were told by the Chinese that they informed the regime that if they did conduct further nuclear tests, China would be taking sanctions actions on their own."
The US President said he would "love to solve things (the North Korean problem) diplomatically but it's very difficult".
"There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea, absolutely," he added.
Mr Trump was speaking during an Oval Office interview with Reuters ahead of his 100th day in office on Saturday.
:: Senior adviser to Trump gives an insight into his first 100 days
The North Korea nuclear threat is one of the biggest challenges facing the Trump administration, with some experts saying the country could have a nuclear missile capable of reaching the US some time after 2020.
Mr Trump also praised Chinese President Xi Jinping, who he met in Florida earlier this month, for his efforts in deterring North Korea from its nuclear programme.
"I believe he is trying very hard," he told Reuters.
"He certainly doesn't want to see turmoil and death, he doesn't want to see it.
"He is a good man, he is a very good man and I got to know him very well."
:: Hannah Thomas-Peter - Trump is milking the North Korea crisis for all it's worth
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has revealed China has warned North Korea that it will impose its own "sanctions actions" if there is another nuclear test.
Mr Tillerson was speaking to Fox News and his words suggest that China has made its toughest threat yet against its defiant neighbour and ally Pyongyang.
He said that China had asked North Korea not to conduct any more nuclear tests, adding: "In fact, we were told by the Chinese that they informed the regime that if they did conduct further nuclear tests, China would be taking sanctions actions on their own."
Arkansas executes Kenneth Williams - fourth inmate to die in eight days
Arkansas has executed Kenneth Williams, the fourth inmate it has put to death in eight days.
Williams was executed by lethal injection on Thursday night at the Cummins Unit prison in Varner.
A prison spokesman said three minutes after the injection began, Williams shook for about 10 seconds before being pronounced dead at 11.05pm.
A reporter from Associated Press who witnessed the execution said Williams had been "lurching, convulsing, coughing and jerking".
The 38-year-old was executed for the death of former deputy warden Cecil Boren, 57.
Williams had murdered Mr Boren after escaping from prison in 1999.
Williams was executed by lethal injection on Thursday night at the Cummins Unit prison in Varner.
A prison spokesman said three minutes after the injection began, Williams shook for about 10 seconds before being pronounced dead at 11.05pm.
A reporter from Associated Press who witnessed the execution said Williams had been "lurching, convulsing, coughing and jerking".
The 38-year-old was executed for the death of former deputy warden Cecil Boren, 57.
Williams had murdered Mr Boren after escaping from prison in 1999.
Thursday, April 27, 2017
Alexander Blackman who shot an injured Taliban fighter is released from jail
Alexander Blackman, who had his sentence reduced for shooting dead an injured Taliban fighter, has been released from prison.
The former Royal Marine, who spent more than three years in prison, left Erlestoke Prison, near Devizes, Wiltshire, is the early hours of the morning.
Blackman shot the insurgent, who had been seriously injured in an attack by an Apache helicopter, in the chest at close range with a 9mm pistol in Afghanistan in 2011.
He was originally convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 10 years, but this was quashed last month by the Court Martial Appeal Court and replaced with diminished responsibility manslaughter.
The judges ruled that Blackman was suffering from an "abnormality of mental functioning" at the time of the shooting, when he was serving in Afghanistan with Plymouth-based 42 Commando.
The Court Martial Appeal Court found the killing was not a "cold-blooded execution" as the court martial concluded but the result of mental illness, an "adjustment disorder".
The judges described Blackman as "an exemplary soldier" before his deployment to Afghanistan in March 2011 but said he had suffered from "exceptional stressors" during that tour.
They found his ability to "form a rational judgment" was "substantially impaired".
Blackman's sentence was reduced to seven years which meant he was likely to be freed within weeks.
The decision was described by his wife Claire Blackman as "the moment that we have all been fighting hard for".
During the original trial in 2013, Blackman was known only as Marine A.
His identity was made public after his conviction.
The former Royal Marine, who spent more than three years in prison, left Erlestoke Prison, near Devizes, Wiltshire, is the early hours of the morning.
Blackman shot the insurgent, who had been seriously injured in an attack by an Apache helicopter, in the chest at close range with a 9mm pistol in Afghanistan in 2011.
He was originally convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 10 years, but this was quashed last month by the Court Martial Appeal Court and replaced with diminished responsibility manslaughter.
The judges ruled that Blackman was suffering from an "abnormality of mental functioning" at the time of the shooting, when he was serving in Afghanistan with Plymouth-based 42 Commando.
The Court Martial Appeal Court found the killing was not a "cold-blooded execution" as the court martial concluded but the result of mental illness, an "adjustment disorder".
The judges described Blackman as "an exemplary soldier" before his deployment to Afghanistan in March 2011 but said he had suffered from "exceptional stressors" during that tour.
They found his ability to "form a rational judgment" was "substantially impaired".
Blackman's sentence was reduced to seven years which meant he was likely to be freed within weeks.
The decision was described by his wife Claire Blackman as "the moment that we have all been fighting hard for".
During the original trial in 2013, Blackman was known only as Marine A.
His identity was made public after his conviction.
Westminster terror alert: Man arrested just 100m from Downing Street
Armed officers have arrested a man in connection with preparing a terror attack just yards from Downing Street.
Police say the 27-year-old was carrying a rucksack containing several knives, which are being examined by forensic officers.
The suspect was known to police prior to his arrest, according to Sky sources.
Roads were locked down as officers carried out the arrest - pushing the man to the ground before holding him at the scene.
No one was injured in the incident, and Whitehall has since reopened northbound.
The Metropolitan Police said the man was stopped at 2.22pm as part of an ongoing operation. He has been taken to a south London police station where he is being held under the Terrorism Act.
The arrest took place at the Parliament Street junction with Parliament Square, close to the scene of last month's terror attack which killed five people, including police officer Keith Palmer, on 22 March.
Police say the 27-year-old was carrying a rucksack containing several knives, which are being examined by forensic officers.
The suspect was known to police prior to his arrest, according to Sky sources.
Roads were locked down as officers carried out the arrest - pushing the man to the ground before holding him at the scene.
No one was injured in the incident, and Whitehall has since reopened northbound.
The Metropolitan Police said the man was stopped at 2.22pm as part of an ongoing operation. He has been taken to a south London police station where he is being held under the Terrorism Act.
The arrest took place at the Parliament Street junction with Parliament Square, close to the scene of last month's terror attack which killed five people, including police officer Keith Palmer, on 22 March.
United Airlines to offer passengers up to $10,000 to give up seats
United Airlines has said it will offer passengers who volunteer to give up their seats on an overbooked flight up to $10,000 (£7,700).
It is one of several new policies it has unveiled in its efforts to avoid a repeat of the controversy and public relations disaster in which a passenger was dragged off one of its flights earlier this month.
Dr David Dao, 69, was filmed being forcibly removed from an overbooked US domestic flight on 9 April after refusing to give up his seat.
United offered until now $800 (£622) in compensation for passengers who agree to forfeit their seats.
The new offer comes after rival Delta raised to $9,950 (£7,733) the amount it would pay for volunteers to get off overbooked flights.
United also promised fewer oversold flights and better staff training.
It said passengers who were already seated would no longer be required to give up their seats on overbooked flights.
The airline also said it would adopt a "no questions asked" policy on permanently lost baggage, paying customers $1,500 (£1,165) for the value of the bag and its contents, from June.
Mr Dao was a paying passenger who was already in his seat when he was removed from the Chicago to Louisville flight to make way for additional crew members.
The raft of changes announced by the airline on Thursday following a two-week review of the incident included a pledge to ensure crews in future are booked onto flights at least an hour before departure, unless there are available seats.
United again apologised for its initial response to the incident and confirmed it would no longer use police to remove passengers.
"This is a turning point for all of us at United and it signals a culture shift toward becoming a better, more customer-focused airline," said Chief Executive Oscar Munoz, who has faced calls to step down after referring to Dr Dao as "disruptive and belligerent" immediately after the incident.
"Our policies got in the way of our values and procedures interfered with doing what's right," Mr Munoz added.
Footage of a bloodied Dr Dao - who suffered concussion, lost two front teeth and broke his nose in the scuffle - quickly went viral and sparked a public outcry.
Videos of his treatment caused millions of dollars to be wiped off the value of United's parent company United Continental Holdings and social media users from around the world called for a boycott of the airline.
Dr Dao's lawyers appear to be preparing to launch legal action against the airline.
His lawyers have filed an emergency request with an Illinois court to make sure the airline preserves evidence such as videos, cockpit voice recordings, passenger and crew lists and other materials related to United Flight 3411.
It is one of several new policies it has unveiled in its efforts to avoid a repeat of the controversy and public relations disaster in which a passenger was dragged off one of its flights earlier this month.
Dr David Dao, 69, was filmed being forcibly removed from an overbooked US domestic flight on 9 April after refusing to give up his seat.
United offered until now $800 (£622) in compensation for passengers who agree to forfeit their seats.
The new offer comes after rival Delta raised to $9,950 (£7,733) the amount it would pay for volunteers to get off overbooked flights.
United also promised fewer oversold flights and better staff training.
It said passengers who were already seated would no longer be required to give up their seats on overbooked flights.
The airline also said it would adopt a "no questions asked" policy on permanently lost baggage, paying customers $1,500 (£1,165) for the value of the bag and its contents, from June.
Mr Dao was a paying passenger who was already in his seat when he was removed from the Chicago to Louisville flight to make way for additional crew members.
The raft of changes announced by the airline on Thursday following a two-week review of the incident included a pledge to ensure crews in future are booked onto flights at least an hour before departure, unless there are available seats.
United again apologised for its initial response to the incident and confirmed it would no longer use police to remove passengers.
"This is a turning point for all of us at United and it signals a culture shift toward becoming a better, more customer-focused airline," said Chief Executive Oscar Munoz, who has faced calls to step down after referring to Dr Dao as "disruptive and belligerent" immediately after the incident.
"Our policies got in the way of our values and procedures interfered with doing what's right," Mr Munoz added.
Footage of a bloodied Dr Dao - who suffered concussion, lost two front teeth and broke his nose in the scuffle - quickly went viral and sparked a public outcry.
Videos of his treatment caused millions of dollars to be wiped off the value of United's parent company United Continental Holdings and social media users from around the world called for a boycott of the airline.
Dr Dao's lawyers appear to be preparing to launch legal action against the airline.
His lawyers have filed an emergency request with an Illinois court to make sure the airline preserves evidence such as videos, cockpit voice recordings, passenger and crew lists and other materials related to United Flight 3411.
Scan showing brain age can predict early death, study finds
Neuroscientists say they can predict whether or not someone will die young simply by scanning their brains.
Researchers working at Imperial College London looked at the MRI brain scans of thousands of individuals alongside long-term studies of hundreds of elderly patients and found that the older a person's brain age, the more likely they are to develop negative health traits.
So detailed is the research that they say they can predict a person is likely to die before they reach 80 if they have a brain age eight years older than their real age for a man or two years older for a woman.
The potential for doctors to predict and prevent early death is huge but there are obvious implications for individual patients too.
I went along to get my brain scanned and waited patiently for the 20 minutes it took lead researcher Dr James Cole to analyse my brain using specialist software.
It turns out I have the brain age of a teenager despite being 31.
As amused as the Sky newsroom was about my 15-year-old brain, it was good to hear.
There will no doubt be ethical questions about whether or not patients would want to know their future health but the tests are still many years off being ready for mass-use.
"In the long run it would be great if we could do this accurately enough so that we could do it at an individual level," said Dr James Cole.
"Someone could go to their doctor, have a brain scan and the doctor could say 'your brain is 10 years older than it should be', and potentially advise them to change their diet or lifestyle or to start a course of treatment.
"However, at the moment, it's not sufficiently accurate to be used at that sort of individual level."
At the heart of the method is a technique first developed in 2010 that measures brain volume and uses machine learning to estimate the overall loss of grey and white matter - a hallmark of the ageing process in the brain.
Dr Cole took this basic technique and refined it by testing it on publicly available datasets of MRI scans of more than 2,000 healthy people's brains, resulting in normalised maps which accurately predicted the person's age.
Following this fine-tuning, it was then applied to scans of 669 people from the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936, a well-studied group of adults all born in 1936 who had undergone MRI scans at age 73, giving them a score for predicted brain age.
Scientists say the factors that could alter a person's brain are to do with healthy eating and exercise as well as alcohol intake and smoking.
GP Dr Andrew Boyd told Sky News: "It's just another bit of scientific evidence that adds to the whole host of other things that are out there that say that if you look after your health then the brain's going to look after itself as well."
Researchers working at Imperial College London looked at the MRI brain scans of thousands of individuals alongside long-term studies of hundreds of elderly patients and found that the older a person's brain age, the more likely they are to develop negative health traits.
So detailed is the research that they say they can predict a person is likely to die before they reach 80 if they have a brain age eight years older than their real age for a man or two years older for a woman.
The potential for doctors to predict and prevent early death is huge but there are obvious implications for individual patients too.
I went along to get my brain scanned and waited patiently for the 20 minutes it took lead researcher Dr James Cole to analyse my brain using specialist software.
It turns out I have the brain age of a teenager despite being 31.
As amused as the Sky newsroom was about my 15-year-old brain, it was good to hear.
There will no doubt be ethical questions about whether or not patients would want to know their future health but the tests are still many years off being ready for mass-use.
"In the long run it would be great if we could do this accurately enough so that we could do it at an individual level," said Dr James Cole.
"Someone could go to their doctor, have a brain scan and the doctor could say 'your brain is 10 years older than it should be', and potentially advise them to change their diet or lifestyle or to start a course of treatment.
"However, at the moment, it's not sufficiently accurate to be used at that sort of individual level."
At the heart of the method is a technique first developed in 2010 that measures brain volume and uses machine learning to estimate the overall loss of grey and white matter - a hallmark of the ageing process in the brain.
Dr Cole took this basic technique and refined it by testing it on publicly available datasets of MRI scans of more than 2,000 healthy people's brains, resulting in normalised maps which accurately predicted the person's age.
Following this fine-tuning, it was then applied to scans of 669 people from the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936, a well-studied group of adults all born in 1936 who had undergone MRI scans at age 73, giving them a score for predicted brain age.
Scientists say the factors that could alter a person's brain are to do with healthy eating and exercise as well as alcohol intake and smoking.
GP Dr Andrew Boyd told Sky News: "It's just another bit of scientific evidence that adds to the whole host of other things that are out there that say that if you look after your health then the brain's going to look after itself as well."
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