Sarah Cullen, British radio and television journalist, died She was 62.

Sarah Cullen was a British radio and television journalist who worked for ITN, as well as BBC Radio 4's The Today Programme died She was 62.. Remembered for her distinctive red hair and volatile temperament, Cullen forged a reputation for reporting from the street, and undertook many assignments in Northern Ireland, including covering events during the closing days of The Troubles.

Life and career

Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Cullen's father was the manager of a quarry in County Durham while her mother taught mathematics at a teacher training college.^[1] Her grandfather was John Bradley, editor of the Scottish Catholic Herald.^[2] She was educated at the Sisters of Notre Dame convent school, a boarding school at Southport, before studying for A-levels at a sixth form college in Cambridge. She was a student at University College London from 1968 to 1972, graduating with a BA degree in History. She interrupted her studies from 1970 to 1971 in order to take a paid sabbatical year as editor of the University of London student newspaper then titled Sennet. Cullen joined ITN as a graduate trainee in 1972.^[1][2]
After being sent for a brief stint at the Liverpool Daily Post,^[2] she worked as a scriptwriter and desk editor for the broadcaster, before auditioning as an on-screen reporter.^[1] She was one of ITN's first female reporters along with Carol Barnes, Joan Thirkettle and Sue Lloyd-Roberts, and was appointed their Home Affairs Correspondent in 1983. However, after being made redundant from ITN in 1991 she moved to radio, freelancing for Radio 4's PM, and was the recipient of a Bronze Sony Radio Academy Award as News Reporter of the Year in 1994.^[2] She joined the morning Today Programme in 1994.^[2] During her career she developed a talent for getting the so-called "real voices" of people onto radio and television through her news reports,^[2] going out into the street to interview members of the public. Often she would be sent out to gauge opinion on issues of government policy, where she would seek out those who were most likely to be affected by a particular decision.^[1]
She was also sent to Belfast on many occasions to cover issues relating to The Troubles, and would employ the same news gathering technique, often venturing into so-called "no-go" areas of the city to speak to ordinary people caught up in the conflict. During one late-night visit to Belfast she was seized by members of the Provisional IRA who had heard she had been interviewing locals in the Falls Road. On that occasion she was ordered to telephone a senior editorial manager in London because the group's commander was unconvinced by her BBC credentials. Stephen Mitchell later recalled the telephone call: "Before I had fully woken up a man with a very strong Irish accent was explaining that he was with the Provisionals, that he and I had met years before when I was working in Belfast, and he was demanding to know whether I could vouch for this 'mad woman’ who had been found talking to people on the Falls Road in the middle of the night and who was claiming to be from the BBC." Mitchell verified her identity to which the IRA man replied: "Thank God, we can let her go. I was afraid we would have had to keep her and she’s terrifying."^[1][3]
For another series of news reports she went to Glasgow to investigate the city's illegal drug trade, and gathered her material by befriending a young woman who was a drug addict. After spending almost a week working undercover she helped the woman through the rehabilitation process.^[4]
Cullen's memoirs of her early days at ITN, In Praise of Panic were published in 1982.^[2]
Cullen left the BBC after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1998, and underwent chemotherapy. She suffered further health problems later in life.^[1][2]

Personal life

Cullen married fellow journalist Kieran Devaney in 1986. The couple had a son, Tom, and the marriage was dissolved in 1998.^[1][2]


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Massimo Baistrocchi, Italian diplomat and writer, Ambassador to Namibia (2001–2004), died from heart attack he was 69.

Massimo Baistrocchi  was an Italian writer, artist, freelance journalist and diplomat who served as Italy's Ambassador to Namibia from 2001 to 2004, as well as Ambassador to Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, and Benin died from heart attack he was 69..^[1]

(August 17, 1942 – January 22, 2012)

Baistrocchi was born on August 17, 1942, in Karuizawa, Japan.^[1] He worked as journalist, and wrote articles for Italian and overseas magazines and other publications.^[1] His books and articles focused on numerous subjects, such as travel, culture and socio-economic issues.^[1] His books were often influenced by his diplomatic postings, including "Namibian Elegy," which included poems focusing on key Namibian geographical features, including the Spitzkoppe, the Orange River, the Fish River Canyon and Sossusvlei.^[1] He held art exhibitions around the world including Spain, Japan, South Korea, Ghana, Portugal, Egypt, and Hong Kong.^[1]
He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a press officer in 1970.^[1] He was appointed as Italian ambassador to Ghana and Togo in May 1996, holding that diplomatic post until 2001. Massimo Baistrocchi was appointed Ambassador from Namibia from 2001 to 2004. He was reportedly so fond of the country that he purchased a Namibian home.^[1] Baistrochhi returned to Italy following the end of his posting in Namibia, where he served as President of the Interministerial Commission for the Recovering of Works of Art.^[1] During the late 2000s, Baistrocchi was once again sent to Africa, serving first as Italy's ambassador to Nigeria and then as ambassador to Benin.^[1] He the retired from the diplomatic corp, but returned to their home in Windhoek, Namibia, once a year.^[2]
Baistrocchi died from a heart attack in Windhoek, Namibia, on January 22, 2012, at the age of 69.^[1] He was survived by his wife, driana, and his daughter Allegra. An exhibition of his art was held at the National Art Gallery of Namibia on January 27, 2012, as a tribute.^[2]


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Slavko Ziherl, Slovenian psychiatrist and politician, died he was 66.

Slavko Ziherl MD PhD was a Slovenian specialist in psychiatry died he was 66.. He graduated from the Ljubljana Faculty of Medicine in 1970, and specialised in neuropsychiatry at the University Psychiatric Clinic Ljubljana in 1976 and in psychiatry in the Netherlands in 1993. He had a Ph.D in the field of psychiatry. He was specialising in psychiatry in Great Britain for one year, and attended advanced studies in the USA, Great Britain and Canada.

(September 23, 1945 – January 21, 2012) 

From 1978 to 1990 Ziherl was the Head of the Centre for Treatment of Alcohol Addiction of the University Psychiatric Hospital in Ljubljana, and from 1994 to 1996 he was the Head of the Centre for Clinical Psychiatry of the University Psychiatric Hospital, and until 1998 he was the Medical Director of the Psychiatric Hospital of the University Medical Centre. After the independence of the Ljubljana Psychiatric Hospital, he was the general director until 2000, and since 2004, he was the medical director of this hospital. Since 1976, he was working in the outpatient clinic for treating sexual disorders, and since 1996, he was the head of the clinic.
Ziherl had been a university teacher of psychiatry at the Ljubljana Faculty of Medicine since 1997, and since 1996 he was the holder of the subject Forensic Psychopathology at the Ljubljana Faculty of Law. He was heading postgraduate studies for psychotherapy at the Ljubljana Faculty of Medicine since 1994. He was the holder of the subject Forensic Psychiatry for the master’s degree in criminal law at the Faculty of Law. He also held lectures in psychopathology at the postgraduate level at the Ljubljana Faculty of Medicine. He was the national coordinator for specialisation in psychiatry and the chief mentor to specialists of psychiatry.
Ziherl was a member of the Health Council at the Ministry of Health (1997–2002). Since 1999, he was a member of the Committee for Expert Medical Issues at the Medical Chamber of Slovenia. From 1996 to 2000 he was the President of the Association of Psychiatrists for the first time, and since 2004 he was re-elected for the President of the Association of Psychiatrists. He was the President of the Extended Expert Council for Psychiatry. Since 1995, he was the representative of the Association of Psychiatrists and Slovenian health care centres in the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS), Section of Psychiatry and the European Board of Psychiatry (EBP). Since 2001, he was the Vice-President of the EBP.
Ziherl was the author of books on controlling alcohol, on autohypnosis, several chapters in professional literature, as well as the co-editor and author of several chapters in a textbook on psychiatry, and he translated 10 psychological handbooks from English. His bibliography amounts to more than 190 units. He published his articles in newspapers and magazines as well as appears on radio and television.
Ziherl was born in Ljubljana in 1945. He lived in Ljubljana, and he was married with two children. In last years, he was an active member of the Liberal Democracy of Slovenia party. He died in Ljubljana on 21 January 2012 due to a heart disease.^[1]

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Tang Xiaodan, Chinese film director, died he was 101.

Tang Xiaodan was a Chinese film director died he was 101..^[1] In 1984, he won the Golden Rooster Award for Best Director.

(February 22, 1910 – January 21, 2012)


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Jeffrey Ntuka, South African footballer, died from being stabbed he was 26.

Jeffrey Ntuka-Pule was a South African footballer who played at both professional and international levels as a defender  died from being stabbed he was 26..

(10 May 1985 – 21 January 2012)

Club career

Born in Kroonstad, Free State,^[1] Ntuka joined English club Chelsea in 2003 and spent five years on loan at Belgium club Westerlo,^[2] making 93 league appearances for them.^[3] Ntuka returned to South Africa in 2009, making his debut for Kaizer Chiefs in May 2009.^[4] After battling alcohol problems,^[5] Ntuka later played for SuperSport United.^[3] He was released by United in 2011.

International career

Ntuka earned five caps for South Africa between 2004 and 2007.^[3] Ntuka was a member of South Africa's squad at the 2005 COSAFA Cup, but had to withdraw due to injury.^[6]

Death

Ntuka was stabbed to death in Kroonstad during the early hours of 21 January 2012.^[2]

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Salma Mumtaz, Pakistani actress, died from diabetes she was 85.

Salma Mumtaz  was a Pakistani film actress, dancer, director and producer died from diabetes she was 85.. Mumtaz made her film debut as an actress in the 1960 Urdu language film, Neelofar.^[1]

(1926 – January 21, 2012)

A dancer in addition to an actor, Mumtaz danced in more than three hundred predominantly Punjabi language films during her career.^[1] She also became known for portraying mothers and motherly figures opposite well known Pakistani and Indian actors, including Waheed Murad, Mohammad Ali, and Shahid.^[1] Some of her best known films included Dil Mera Dharkan Teri, Puttar Dai Piyar, Heer Ranjha, and Sheran Di Jori. Mumtaz also worked behind the camera as a film director and producer.^[1]
Mumtaz was born in Jalandhar, present-day India, in 1926.^[1] Mumtaz's brother, Pervaiz Nasir, was a film producer. Her younger sister was the late actress, Shammi.^[1] Mumtaz moved to the city of Lahore, Pakistan, with her family following the Partition of India in 1947.^[1]
Salma Mumtaz died in Lahore on January 21, 2012, from complications of a long battle with diabetes at the age of 85.^[1] Her survivors included her daughter, television actress Nida Mumtaz.^[1]



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Dave Lee, British comedian, died from cancer he was 64.

Dave Lee MBE was a British comedian known for his work in pantomimes around Kent and his work on television  died from cancer he was 64.. Lee also founded his own charity to help disadvantaged children.

(1948-2012)

Career

Lee was born in Broadstairs. At the age of 5, he suffered a bout of tuberculosis and later on, Lee also suffered from a burst appendix, peritonitis, pleurisy, double pneumonia and had his tonsils and adenoids out. Subsequently Lee was sent to a convalescent home in Margate and hated the idea.^[1]
He began his career as a drummer at the Chartham Secondary Modern School at the age of 13. He worked as a warm-up man for Michael Parkinson, Michael Aspel and Jimmy Tarbuck.^[2] He also appeared on television on the shows The Generation Game, Celebrity Squares, Live from the Palladum and his own golfing series.^[3] Lee was also a non-executive director of Gillingham F.C., having been a fan of the club.^[4]
In 1994, Lee founded the Dave Lee Happy Holidays Charity and during his lifetime, it raised £2 million for many of Kent's sick, disabled and under-privileged children to enjoy holidays and outings with their families. In 2003, Lee was awarded the MBE for his charity work.^[5]

Illness and Death

On 9 November 2011, it was announced that Lee had pulled out of the pantomime for Cinderella due to his ailing health days before the rehearsals began. In his absence, Lee's role was rewritten and filled by Sion Tudor Owen.^[6]
Lee died of pancreatic cancer on 16 January 2012.^[7] His funeral was held at Canterbury Cathedral on 30 January 2012 with Jim Davidson, Richard Digance, and the Lord Mayor of Canterbury in attendance.^[3]


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