Lion King

One day, son, you'll be the lion king: Father and newborn son look over their terrain at spot that inspired Disney movie

By Lucy Ballinger
Last updated at 8:04 PM on 9th August 2010

Standing tall this proud lion leads his cub over their home terrain.
His mane streaming back due to the breeze, the father looks over his tiny cub as they stand on a barren rock in Tanzania.
The little cub - just old enough to walk - took his first steps following his father on the Serengeti plains.

Incredible: A male lion shows off his tiny cub on a rock at Simba Kopjes in the Serengeti in Tanzania

In a scene straight out of the Lion King the adult lion stood on a rock overlooking the surrounding region, with his tiny cub beside him.
The picture was taken on the Simba Kopjes, a granite outcropping which the animated Disney film drew inspiration from and is known in the cartoon as Pride Rock.

Inspiration: A scene from Disney movie The Lion King

The movie, which is the highest grossing traditionally animated film in history after making £490million at the box office following its release in 1994, is the story of a cub called Simba, who is heir to the throne.
Everyone is delighted by his birth, except is Scar, King Mufasa's younger brother, who desires the throne for himself.
Scar conspired with a pack of hyenas and and manages to send the young lion to faraway badlands while arranging for Mafusa to be trampled to death so that he can assume the crown.
Years later, having grown up, Simba confronts Scar alone at the top of Pride Rock.
Scar begs Simba for mercy, accusing the hyenas of planning the exile and murder.
Simba prepares to show Scar mercy and exile him, but Scar refuses to give up, and the ensuing fight ends when Simba throws Scar off Pride Rock.
He survives the fall, but is immediately mauled to death by the hyenas, who overheard his treacherous accusations.

New to the world: The lion takes tentative steps as he explores Simba Kopjes, known as Pride Rock in the film

With Scar gone and the hyenas banished, Pride Rock is eventually restored to its previous majesty under Simba's rule.
The film, which was also famous for its score, including Elton John’s Circle Of Life, closes with Rafiki presenting the animals with Simba and Nala's newborn cub.

'Pendapatan orang kaya dan miskin terus melebar'

'Pendapatan orang kaya dan miskin terus melebar'

Ogos 2, 10 3:03pm

Kongsi 123

Perbezaan antara apa yang diperolehi oleh golongan kaya dan yang miskin (jurang perbezaan pendapatan) terus melebar dan memerlukan perhatian segera daripada kerajaan, kata Persatuan Penggun Pulau Pinang.

Presidennya, SM Mohamed Idris berkata, dalam masyarakat yang adil dan saksama, pertumbuhan ekonomi seharusnya memberikan manfaat kepada semua.

"Malangnya ini tidak berlaku di Malaysia walaupun sudah bertahun-tahun mengalami pertumbuhan ekonomi.

"Kini kita mempunyai kekayaan aristokrat di mana sekumpulan kecil rakyat Malaysia terlampau kaya (22 bilionair) manakala yang lain masih ramai lagi sekadar cukup makan.

"Malah lebih malang masih lagi ada yang hidup dalam keadaan 'kais pagi makan pagi, kais petang makan petang'.

"Di satu pihak kita mempunyai orang yang tinggal di rumah yang mempunyai ruang yang begitu luas dengan nilai berjuta ringgit.

"Mmanakala di satu pihak lagi tinggal bersama dalam keadaan sesak dengan bilangan sehingga 21 orang di flat kos rendah yang sempit," kata Mohamed.

Menurutnya, statistik membuktikan bahawa jurang yang tidak seimbang kini menjadi masalah utama:

• 40 peratus isirumah di bahagian bawah mempunyai purata pendapatan RM1,222 manakala 20 peratus sirumah di bahagian atas memperolehi pendapatan purata RM8,157.

• 58 peratus isirumah memperolehi pendapatan kurang daripada RM3,000 sebulan. (Pada 2009, kerajaan memutuskan bahawa mana-mana isirumah bandar dengan kurang daripada RM3,000 akan dianggap sebagai miskin.).

• Pertumbuhan pendapatan menjadi kuat hanya untuk mereka yang memperolehi pendapatan yang berada 20 peratus di bahagian atas terutama sekali sejak 1990.

• Perbezaan dalam kalangan kumpulan bandar kekal tinggi dengan tiada perubahan dalam dekad yang lalu.

"Pada 2007, Pekali Gini Malaysia adalah 0.441 pada 2007 ia itu satu perubahan daripada 0.462 pada 2004. Bagaimanapun pada 1990, Pekali Gini adalah 0.442, yang bermakna bahawa tidak banyak kemajuan dalam menangani masalah ketidakseimbangan pendapatan.

(Pekali Gini adalah ukuran ketidakseimbangan daripada 0 kepada 1, dengan 0 mewakili persamaan mutlak dan 1 mewakili ketidakseimbangan mutlak).

"Lebih banyak yang perlu dilakukan untuk membolehkan penduduk miskin bandar dan luar bandar bagi mengeluarkan mereka daripada lingkaran ganas kemiskinan," tambahnya.

"Berada dalam kemiskinan menyebabkan mereka berdepan dengan pelbagai masalah yang berkaitan seperti pemakanan, kesihatan dan pendidikan.

"Sebahagian besar daripada kanak-kanak Malaysia masih lagi mengalami masalah kekurangan zat makanan dengan kira-kira 15 peratus didapati mempunyai kurang berat badan dan terencat pembesarannya.

"Apabila kanak-kanak ini membesar dengan tanpa kelayakan akademik yang baik, mereka berakhir dengan pekerjaan yang berpendapatan rendah.

Mereka terus miskin seperti ibu bapa dan begitulah seterusnya anak-anak dan cucu mereka melainkan lingkaran kemiskinan ini diatasi," tambahnya.

Mohamed berkata, ia bukan hanya persoalan ekuiti bahawa semua rakyat Malaysia perlu mendapat bahagian yang sama daripada pertumbuhan ekonomi negara.

"Jika masalah jurang perbezaan ekonomi ini tidak ditangani dengan serius, ia akan membawa kepada masalah sosial, contohnya peningkatan dalam kadar jenayah. Masyarakat yang adil dan saksama akan berkembang dengan lebih pantas berbanding dengan yang kurang adil.

"Jurang perbezaan pendapatan yang tidak diselesaikan jelas menunjukkan bahawa kita mempunyai masalah struktur.

'Kita perlu berhenti daripada meneruskan model pembangunan ekonomi yang diimport dari Barat tetapi sebagai ganti menggunakan model yang memenuhi keperluan kita sendiri dan memberikan manfaat kepada semua sektor penduduk.

"Oleh itu kerajaan perlu membelanjakan lebih banyak wang untuk pendidikan dan program penjagaan kesihatan terutama sekali khusus untuk membantu golongan miskin.

"Ia juga perlu mengurangkan jurang perbezaan antara pelaburan bandar dan luar bandar dengan memastikan peluang pekerjaan boleh diperolehi dengan banyak di kawasan luar bandar," tegasnya.

Menurutnya, lebih banyak dana diperlukan untuk menjalankan program bagi merapatkan jurang ketidakseimbangan pendapatan yang seharusnya datang daripada golongan kaya, yang mempunyai kawajipan moral untuk membantu sesama insan yang tidak bernasib baik.

"Kami menyarankan cukai berikut digunakan untuk merapatkan jurang ketidakseimbangan pendapatan:

a) Cukai Pewarisan/duti harta: Memperkenalkan sama ada cukai pewarisan (yang akan dibayar oleh orang yang mendapat faedah) atau duti harta

(yang dibayar oleh harta si mati). Banyak negara (contohnya Amerika Syarikat, United Kingdom, Perancis, Jerman, Belanda dan Kanada) telah melaksanakan cukai pewarisan atau duti harta. Malaysia juga mempunyai duti harta sehinggalah ia dimansuhkan pada 1991.

Cadangan cukai pewarisan/duti harta ini perlu mempunyai nilai permulaan yang rendah dan struktur progresif. Cukai ini akan dapat membantu negara menuju ke arah masyarakat yang lebih adil.

b) Cukai Peribadi: Kerajaan perlu menghentikan pengurangan kadar cukai pendapatan persendirian untuk mereka yang berpendapatan tinggi. Sebagai ganti ia seharusnya meningkatkan kadar untuk mengutip lebih banyak dana untuk pembahagian pendapatan.

Smallest man

The man, 40, who measures only 2ft 6in and is bidding for title of world's smallest man

By Mail Foreign Service
Last updated at 1:23 AM on 29th July 2010

A 40-year-old Chinese man who measures only 2ft 6in (76cm) is bidding for the title of the world's smallest man.
Following the death of the former record-holder earlier this year, Huang Kaiquan, from Hejiang County, Sichuan province, has stepped forward hoping to claim the record.
He Pingping was the world's smallest man until his death in March this year at the age of just 21.

Huang Kaiquan, who is only 2ft 5.91in and pictured here with mother Cheng Fuxiu, is bidding for the title of world's smallest man

Huang, or 'short brother' as he is known locally, is only 1.4cm taller than Pingping.
The 40-year-old, who weighs just 26 lb (12kg), the same as a three-year-old, is now hoping to claim the record.
According to his mother Cheng Fuxiu, Huang was born in February 1970. He is the second child and only son and all the other family members are of normal height.
Huang may never have a normal life but he takes consolation from the fact that even at 40 his mother can still pick him up for a cuddle.
He said: 'My mother always picked me up when I was little and as I'm still little she can still manage it.
'All my friends grew too big to be picked up, but I never grow any bigger which means that every day I can still get a cuddle from my mum. 
'People have always mistaken me for a toddler because of my height - and now I'm going bald I look even more like a baby,' he joked.

Following the death of former record-holder He Pingping earlier this year, Huang, from Sichuan province, has stepped forward hoping to claim the title

Former actor Huang, who retired aged 30 after falling ill, lives with his 58-year-old mother in southwest China's Sichuan province.
'He's not so heavy - he's actually lighter now that he's getting older,' she said.
'When he was three we realised he did not seem to be growing and we took him to various hospitals which were unable to help us. People in the village advised us just to abandon him but of course we didn't.
'It got really bad when he was just six-years-old and my husband died. I had the children to raise and had to earn money as well and it was very difficult.
'He has always been a good boy though. He tries to help around the house and he sweeps the floors and does whatever else he can,' Cheng explained.
Huang added: 'I guess I will always be her little boy. And although people are often cruel to me because of my height, it is good to know that there is somebody who loves me.'

Flying giants

Flying giants: Incredibly rare display as manta rays leap 9ft out of water into the air

By Mail Foreign Service
Last updated at 4:32 PM on 28th July 2010

They could be mistaken for strange-looking birds but these creatures are actually manta rays, leaping a staggering nine feet in the air.
The plucky animals, which measure just over three feet wide, demonstrate their acrobatic skills by bursting out of the water.
Once airborne they to flap their impressive fins in what looks like an attempt to fly.

Water leap! A manta ray soars out of the sea a staggering three metres in the air

Somersault: Two flying manta rays put on a display before diving back into the water

And, if they're feeling particularly playful, some even manage a somersault before plummeting back into the water with an impressive splash.

Incredibly rare: Roland and Julia Seitre were treated to an extraordinary acrobatic display

Photographers Roland and Julia Seitre captured the spectacle off the coast of Costa Rica, Central America.
The French couple had sailed six miles out to sea in the hope of catching sight of some whales but were also treated to this extraordinary rare acrobatic display.
Mr Seitre said: 'The males jumped clear out of the water, up to three metres [9ft] high.
'They flapped their wings during the few seconds of flight, before hitting the surface with a loud banging noise.
'Some think it is a way to attract female attention as we saw pairs close by.
'Numerous males take off and land one after another.
'The bangs are so loud it's like you're being close to a hunting party with guns.
'Occasionally one seems to have even more fun by doing a somersault.
'This kind of behaviour is extremely unpredictable and incredibly rare to witness.
'We were so lucky, it was a complete coincidence that we were there in the first place.' 

He added: 'These manta rays are beautiful.
'Their large wing-shaped bodies and slow motion make them excellent sea gliders.
'They not only impress with their size but also with their very elegant flight into the blue oceans.' 

The manta ray is the largest of the all the rays.
They can grow up to 25ft across and weigh around 5,100lb.

Graceful: Looking as though it's flapping its 'wings' the amazing animal leaps through the air

The species are found in tropical waters and feed mostly on plankton, which is filtered into their bodies through their gills as swim.
Perfectly stream-lined for gliding through the water, the manta ray can reach speeds of up to 7mph.
They are often spotted swimming with divers and will sometimes surface alongside boats.

Sotong, jus oren dan matador

Sotong, jus oren dan matador

Abdul Rahim Sabri Jul 10, 10 10:38am

Dia didakwa 'pengkhianat'. Dilahirkan di England, tetapi berpaling tadah dengan menyokong pasukan Jerman.

"Apa yang England boleh buat? Dia sudah dapat kerakyatan Jerman dan memegang pasport negara," kata seorang peminat sukan sambil ketawa.

Itulah Paul, si sotong kurita yang dikatakan mempunyai kuasa psikik mampu meramalkan - kemenangan dan kekalahan - semua enam perlawanan yang membabitkan Jerman sepanjang Piala Dunia berlangsung.

Dia dilahirkan di Weymouth, England pada tahun 2006, tetapi 'membesar dan bermastautin' di akuarium Sea Life di Oberhausen di Jerman.

Ramalannya - setakat ini - semuanya tepat bahawa Jerman menang bergaya dengan negara kuasa besar bola sepak dunia iaitu England, Argentina di samping menewaskan Australia, Ghana serta meramal ketewasan Jerman di peringkat kumpulan di tangan Serbia.

Sungguh menakjubkan!

Malah perlawanan separuh akhir pun, dia turut memilih Sepanyol sebagai pemenang, dan memilih 'mengkhianati' negara sendiri.

"Marvelous, bravo, fantastic, superb!"

Itulah kata-kata yang diluahkan oleh peminat bola sepak.

“Ya, 6-0 setakat ini.” Semua ramalannya tepat belaka.

Umum mengetahui, kehadiran dan ramalannya menjadi satu fenomena dan bualan di seluruh dunia. Bahkan menjadi buah mulut dan cerita sensasi di akhbar, televisyen tentang keupayaannya sehingga cakap-cakap tentangnya berlarutan ke kedai-kedai kopi, termasuklah di Malaysia.

Ada yang marah, benci dan tidak kurang pula, ada yang sayang. Setakat ini, orang paling membencinya adalah bookie judi dan penyokong Argentina kerana ia meramalkan pasukan dari Amerika Latin dan negara lain itu tewas.

Hampir menangis

Kawan saya, hampir menangis dan kecewa kerana pasukan pilihannya, Jerman kalah dek kerana ramalan tepat si sotong kurita ini.

Saya hanya mampu berkata "sabarlah".

Begitulah kehadiran si Paul yang membentuk suasana dan fenomena baru dalam peminat sukan bola sepak.

Dan berita terbaru, Paul sudah membuat pridiksinya. Dia memilih Sepanyol sebagai juara.

Da

n sebagai 'ahli nujum' negaranya, dia memilih Jerman mengalahkan Uruguay untuk merangkul tempat ketiga.

Jadi sekarang, semua orang tertumpu kepadanya termasuklah bookie-bookie judi besar yang bertaruh untuk memilih pasukan yang bakal juara.

Persoalannya, apakah ramalan Paul itu benar-benar berlaku atau sekadar kebetulan.

Atau memang betul ia mempunyai kuasa psikik yang rasional?

Rasional atas padang

Tak mengapa, biarkan sahaja dia di dalam akuarium itu. Mari kita tengok rasional 'di atas padang'.

Realiti di atas padang, kedua-dua pasukan mempunyai kekuatan tersendiri dan kedua-dua akan menunjukkan kelebihan masing-masing kerana kedua-duanya masih belum pernah mengecapi piala yang paling berprestij itu.

Bagi Sepanyol, memetik kata-kata jurulatih Jerman Joachim Loew bahawa, pasukan itu tidak mempunyai seorang 'Messi' tetapi ada ramai pemain sepertinya yang boleh mengatur dan menentu permainan.

Bagi yang mengikuti semua perlawanan yang melibatkan pasukan 'La Roja' ini, mungkin boleh bersetuju dengan pandangan itu.

Hampir semua pemainnya, saya tahu mereka bermain di kelab mana dan selalu mengikuti cara mereka bermain.

Contohnya tiga pemain tengah mereka, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta dan Xabi Alonso.

Hampir semua gerakan dan hantaran pasukan itu dimulakan dengan ketiga-tiga pemain Sepanyol ini.

Ia dimulakan dengan hantaran-hantaran pendek kemudiannya 'dipam' kepada penyerang sama ada David Villa, Fernando Torres atau Pedro Rodriguez.

Perkara yang sama juga dilakukan - Xavi dan Iniesta - sewaktu bermain mewakili kelab Barcelona.

Sebab itu Barcelona menjadi juara liga dengan mencatatkan jumlah jaringan gol yang banyak.

Manakala Alonso juga akan bertindak 'menjolok' bola melalui lorongan 'through pass' kepada rakannya yang lain.

Atau beliau sendiri akan membuat rembatan dari jarak jauh sepertimana yang dilakukannya sewaktu mewakili Liverpool dan Real Madrid sekarang ini.

Ketiga-tiganya juga akan merancang melalui 'set pieces' dari sepakan percuma di hadapan kotak penalti atau mengambil sepakan sudut.

Xavi adalah punca kekalahan Jerman di tangan Sepanyol apabila sepakan sudut yang diambilnya membolehkan Carles Puyol membuat tandukan.

Jaga ayam tambatan

Saya yakin, mereka akan melakukannya sekali lagi dalam perlawanan akhir nanti. Belanda, kalau nak menang, jaga ayam-ayam tambatan ini!

Di bahagian midfield, Sepanyol mempunyai pbarisan pemain yang mantap. Jurulatih Vicente del Bosque tidak perlu peningkan kepala kerana 'hubungan kimia' antara Xavi-Iniesta sudah lama terbentuk.

Kedua-dua mereka ternyata berbisa dan mampu menjaringkan gol kemenangan untuk pasukan itu.

Di bahagian pertahanan, Sepanyol ada 'dua kereta kebal' - Gerard Pique dan Carles Puyol - yang tinggi, kental dan juga mampu membuat kejutan dengan menjaringkan gol.

Sekali lagi del Bosque tidak perlu peningkan kepala kerana, kedua-duanya adalah dari kelab yang sama, Barcelona - mereka tahu corak dan rentak satu sama lain.

Sergio Ramos di bek kanan, akan membuat gerakan di sebelah kanan untuk menyerang pintu gol lawan. Sebab itu jika diperhatikan dalam perlawanan, beliau akan meminta bola dari rakan, sebelum membuat hantaran lintang ke kotak penalti.

Di bahagian serangan, saya tidak perlu menghurai panjang. Peminta sukan bolasepak mana yang tidak kenal dengan Torres dan David Villa.

Prestasi Torres di Liverpool cukup membanggakan dan Villa, di Kelab Valencia, beliau menjadi antara penjaring terbanyak dalam kempen 'La Liga' di negara itu.

Jadi, saya menjangkakan permainan Sepanyol dalam perlawanan akhir kelak nanti umpama seorang matador.

Matador akan mengacah-acah lembu dengan kain berwarna merah sehingga lembu 'naik minyak' lalu menanduk. Di situlah kelembutan matador melentokkan badan - sebelah kiri dan kanan - bagi mengelak daripada ditanduk.

Sembah bumi

Akhirnya, matador akan mengambil besi tajam menikam bahagian belakang lembu itu sehingga ia tersungkur menyembah bumi mengaku kalah.

Begitu jugalah kepada Sepanyol. Dalam kelembutan permainan ada kekuatannya tersendiri mengalahkan lawan. Menyerang dari setiap sudut, bertahan dan menyerang kembali.

Apabila lembu rebah, akhirnya matador menyambut kegembiraan mengangkat tangan sambil memusing badan mengucapkan "persembahan itu untuk semua, terima kasih" seperti gaya yang dilakukan oleh David Villa meraikan jaringan gol. "Gol itu untuk semua penyokong".

Di situ, saya melihat ramalan psikik si sotong kurita itu 'nampak rasional'.

Tapi harus diingat, kelebihan skuad 'The Oranje' Belanda pimpinan jurulatih Bert Van Marwijk tidak harus diketepikan begitu sahaja.

Mereka ada kelebihan tersendiri. Setakat ini pasukan Belanda tidak pernah tewas semua enam perlawanan dalam kempen Piala Dunia ini.

Saya tidak fikir mereka juga akan meleburkan rekod cemerlang itu, tambahan pula inilah penantian selama 32 tahun sejak 1978.

Wesley Scneijder dan Arjen Robben - akan menjadi tonggak dan penggerak di barisan tengah.

Malah Scneijder akan bertindak melorong bola kepada Robin van Persie dan kepada Robben sendiri untuk menjaringkan gol.

Ini bermakna, pada pandangan saya, pertembungan pada 11 Julai nanti adalah perseteruan 'kuasa' di bahagian tengah.

Bahagian inilah yang menentukan kemenangan pasukan masing-masing di samping tidak menafikan fungsi bahagian lain.

Jika diperhatikan prestasi kedua-dua pemain ini, yang mana kedua-duanya menjaringkan gol pada tiga perlawanan terakhir menentang Uruguay, Brazil dan Slovakia.

Ia hasil gerakan yang diciptakan mereka, melalui hantaran panjang dan dekat, 'one-touch football' dan 'counter attack' sendiri akan dilakukan oleh Robben atau Scneijder.

Dirk Kuyt, yang rajin mengejar bola akan membuat hantaran-hantaran jauh malah beliau sendiri akan menggelecek bagi mengucar-ngacirkan pertahanan pihak lawan. Van Persie pula akan bergerak di sebelah kiri pintu gol lawan.

Pendek kata semuanya dalam pasukan Belanda, dilihat 'juicy' seolah-olah meminum jus 'Oranje' manis.

Kita menghirupnya dengan lancar, penuh nikmat untuk menghilangkan dahaga.

Begitulah kita melihat permainan Belanda yang lancar hantaran dan gerakannya, tepat hantarannya dan 'juicy' gaya gelecek pemainnya, pastinya akan membuatkan kita terhibur.

Jadi, apakah Belanda mampu memberi tentangan sengit kepada Sepanyol dalam perlawanan akhir nanti?

Atau kita terus sahaja menerima bulat-bulat ramalan Paul, si sotong kurita atau sudah membuat pilihan tersendiri?

Terserah dan kita saksikan nanti.

Oh ya, tidak lupa bagi peminat yang mana pasukannya tidak layak, gagal dan tersingkir, hanya satu cara sahaja untuk mengubat kekecewaan.

"Makan sotong goreng tepung sambil minum jus oren dan tengok filem Matador. Dan selepas itu, ketawa puas-puas."

Unmanned stealth

Taranis: The £143million unmanned stealth jet that will hit targets in another continent

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 5:22 PM on 12th July 2010
Looming ominously like a space ship from Star Wars, this is the future of unmanned flight.
Defence firm BAE Systems today officially unveiled its first ever high-tech unmanned stealth jet.
The Taranis, named after the Celtic god of thunder, is about the same size as a Hawk jet and is equipped with stealth equipment and an 'autonomous' artificial intelligence system.
The plane will test the possibility of developing the first ever autonomous stealthy Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) that would ultimately be capable of precisely striking targets at long range, even in another continent.

Taranis, the prototype of an unmanned combat aircraft of the future, which was unveiled today

The trial aircraft cost £143 million pounds to construct and spearheads BAE's drive to convince the Ministry of Defence to invest in the next generation of unmanned aircraft.
Almost invisible to ground radar, it is designed to travel at high jet speeds and cover massive distances between continents.
The plane is built to carry out intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance on enemy territory using onboard sensors.
And it has been designed to carry a cache of weapons - including bombs and missiles -, giving it a potential long-range strike capability.
It can be controlled from anywhere in the world with satellite communications.
Experts say the cutting-edge design is at the forefront of world technology and as advanced as any US development.
The plane began development in December 2006, and is intended to prove the UK's ability to produce a stealthy UAV.
Taranis will be stealthy, fast, able to carry out use a number of on-board weapons systems and be able to defend itself against manned and other unmanned enemy aircraft.

The concept demonstrator will test the possibility of developing the first ever autonomous stealthy Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) that would ultimately be capable of precisely striking targets at long range, even in another continent

Any future need hinges on the outcome of the Strategic Defence and Security Review, which will conclude around October.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony at BAE Systems in Warton, Lancashire, Minister for International Security Strategy Gerald Howarth said: 'Taranis is a truly trailblazing project.
'The first of its kind in the UK, it reflects the best of our nation’s advanced design and technology skills and is a leading programme on the global stage.'
He added: 'Taranis shows the UK's advanced engineering, research, technology and innovation sector at its world-beating best.'
Taranis is an informal partnership of the UK MoD and industry  British engineering firms including BAE Systems, Rolls Royce, QinetiQ and GE Aviation.
Rolls-Royce will focus on the next generation propulsion system for the Taranis demonstrator.
Speaking on behalf of the industry team, Nigel Whitehead, Group managing director of BAE Systems' Programmes & Support business, said: 'Taranis has been three and a half years in the making and is the product of more than a million man-hours.
'It represents a significant step forward in this country's fast-jet capability. This technology is key to sustaining a strong industrial base and to maintain the UK's leading position as a centre for engineering excellence and innovation."
The Taranis prototype will provide the MOD with knowledge on the technical and manufacturing challenges and the potential capabilities of Unmanned Combat Air Systems.
Test flights for the Taranis plane are due to start in 2011.

Giant unmanned airships

Giant unmanned airships to patrol Afghanistan skies for up to three weeks at a time

By Niall Firth
Last updated at 10:19 AM on 12th July 2010

Giant unmanned airships that can fly for up to three weeks at a time could soon be providing cover for British soldiers in Afghanistan.
The LEMV (long endurance multi intelligence vehicle) is being developed by a team of British and American engineers and will give troops on the ground valuable surveillance information.
The helium-filled drone will, when it takes to the skies sometime next summer, become the world’s longest endurance UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle).
Packed with reconnaissance systems, the LEMV will be able to operate autonomously at altitudes of around 22000 feet for 21 days at a time, and travelling at speeds of up to 80 knots.

The LEMV will be able to stay in the sky for up to three weeks at a time, constantly beaming back information for troops on the ground

Alan Metzger, director for airship programmes at defence firm Northrop Grumman, which received half a billion dollars from the US military for the project, said that the airship’s ability to stay in the air for long periods make it perfect for surveillance missions.
Mr Metzger told The Engineer magazine: ‘This is going to be the longest endurance UAV in the world, it’s got the ability to stay up for three weeks with unblinking stare.
‘There will be no gaps in the data that gets put down to the war-fighter.  I don’t know of anything equivalent that could stay up for three or four weeks.’
The firm claims that the LEMV’s skin - a blend of Vectran, Kevlar and Mylar - will be able to cope with a reasonable amount of small arms fire from Taliban fighters on the ground.
British engineering firm Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd is developing much of the key technology behind the aircraft which, officially, is not a true airship.
Instead it is known as a hybrid air vehicle (HAV) and it has a number of advantages over fixed-wing UAVS like the Global Hawk.
A HAV uses aerodynamic lift like a conventional plane to take off before using helium to keep it in the sky once it is airborne. Engines on board are then used to move while it monitors events on the ground.

The project has received half a billion dollars of US funding and involves British engineers

The LEMV could also be used to move heavy equipment while in Afghanistan, a massive advantage over competing UAVS.
HAV’s Gordon Taylor told The Engineer: ‘Traditional airships only float when they’re in equilibrium.  If you put ten people on board you’ve got to take ballast off before you go anywhere.
‘Then, as you fly you burn off fuel becoming too light and making it hard to land: a hybrid overcomes these issues.’
The aircraft - the first of three similar three similar vehicles - is expected to make its maiden flight next summer and will be deployed in Afghanistan by January 2012.
There are 7,000 unmanned aerial vehicles in use by the armed forces and the Predator UAV has already been used on many occasions to carry out attacks on Taliban positions in Afghanistan
In March last year an attack by an Israeli UAV was blamed for the deaths of 48 Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.
The current world record for unmanned flight stands at 31 hours held by Global Hawk, also developed by Northrop Grumman.