text
stringlengths 460
15k
| highlights
stringlengths 37
3.97k
|
|---|---|
Keywords: <keyword>TRACTOR INCIDENT</keyword>, <keyword>MOTORWAY 10MPH</keyword>, <keyword>DRIVER INSURANCE</keyword>, <keyword>SEIZED POLICE</keyword>, <keyword>TONNE VEHICLE</keyword>, <keyword>SPOTTED TRAVELLING</keyword>, <keyword>BIRMINGHAM UNCLEAR</keyword>, <keyword>RED CASE</keyword>, <keyword>M6</keyword>, <keyword>CREATE HAZARD</keyword>
A tractor spotted travelling along a busy motorway at 10mph was seized by police after they discovered the driver had no insurance. The large red Case tractor was stopped between junctions 5 and 6 on the southbound carriageway of the M6 near Spaghetti Junction in Birmingham. Officers from the Central Motorway Police Group seized the eight-tonne vehicle, worth around £50,000, after they spotted it at about 5.25am today. A tractor spotted travelling along a busy motorway at 10mph was seized by police after they discovered the driver had no insurance . Inspector Mark Watkins said: 'To see such a vehicle travelling on such a busy stretch of road was both unusual and quite a surprise for the patrol officers. 'Tractors are one of the various prohibited vehicles on the motorway network - a fact that the driver seemed to be unaware of. 'We received a few calls into us at around the time that we stopped the tractor from concerned motorists who were both shocked and worried that the slow nature of the tractor could create a hazard to other road users. 'The driver was given police advice regarding the laws of the road and taken from the motorway network. The tractor was stopped between junctions 5 and 6 on the southbound carriageway of the M6 near Spaghetti Junction in Birmingham . 'It was unclear where the driver was . taking the tractor to and how far he was planning to travel along the . network for, but either way taking the tractor onto the motorway posed a . risk to himself and others, whilst breaking the law. 'The driver was left to make his own way home - minus his expensive tractor.' The incident comes just days after officers stopped two men dressed as Superman on the M42 near Shirley, West Midlands. The two men caught the attention of officers after they attached a red cape to the back of their Peugeot 106 as they drove to a fancy dress party on Saturday night. Officers stopped two men dressed as Superman on the M42 near Shirley, West Midlands, on Saturday . | The large red Case tractor was stopped on the Spaghetti Junction .
Officers seized the eight-tonne vehicle which is worth about £50,000 .
Police said tractors are one of the prohibited vehicles of motorway network . |
Keywords: <keyword>COTARD SYNDROME</keyword>, <keyword>CORPSE SYNDROME</keyword>, <keyword>WALKING CORPSE</keyword>, <keyword>REAL ILLNESS</keyword>, <keyword>MISSING SUFFERERS</keyword>, <keyword>HALEY SMITH</keyword>, <keyword>FRENCH NEUROLOGIST</keyword>, <keyword>DISCOVERED DISNEY</keyword>, <keyword>CONDITION LOSS</keyword>, <keyword>LONGER EAT</keyword>
A teenage girl spent three years of her life convinced she was dead due to a rare medical condition known as 'Walking Corpse Syndrome'. Haley Smith, 17, suffered from the ultra-rare illness Cotard’s Syndrome. Sufferers genuinely believe they are dead, or that parts of their body no longer . exist, and some die from starvation because they feel they no longer . have to eat. But with the help of a therapist – and, bizarrely, Disney films – she recovered. Haley Smith, 17, suffered from a very rare illness called Cotard’s Syndrome, also known as 'Walking Corpse Syndrome', where sufferers genuinely believe they are dead or have body parts missing . Sufferers such as Miss Smith (with her boyfriend, Jeremy) often die from starvation because they feel they no longer have to eat. But with the help of a therapist - and Disney films - she has now recovered . Cases of Cotard’s Syndrome date back to 1788 but it was formally identified by French neurologist Jules Cotard in 1880. Among the handful of cases over the years was a 53-year-old woman in New York who in 2008 claimed that she stank like rotting fish because she was dead. Like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, Cotard’s is another form of delusional psychosis, the only self-certifiable form of its kind. Those with this condition often describe a loss of blood, organs and/or body parts. This distorted reality is caused by a malfunction in an area of the brain called the fusiform gyrus, which recognses faces, and also in the amygdala - an almond-shaped set of neurons that processes your emotions. Aware the disease is incredibly rare, Miss Smith, of Alabama, in the US, has decided to speak out to support others. Cases of Cotard’s Syndrome date back to 1788 but it was formally identified by French neurologist Jules Cotard in 1880. Among the handful of cases over the years was a 53-year-old woman in New York who in 2008 claimed that she stank like rotting fish because she was dead. Like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, Cotard’s is another form of delusional psychosis, the only self-certifiable form of its kind. Those with this condition often describe a loss of blood, organs and/or body parts. This distorted reality is caused by a malfunction in an area of the brain called the fusiform gyrus, which recognizes faces, and also in the amygdala, an almond-shaped set of neurons that processes your emotions. The combination is a lack of recognition when viewing familiar faces (even the face of the sufferer), leaving the person feeling disconnected with reality. There is no current cure for Cotard’s Syndrome. Common treatments include anti-depressants and anti-psychotics, as well as the controversial electroconvulsive therapy. She said: 'My parents had just divorced and I didn’t cope with it well. 'Then one day when I was sitting in an English class I had this really weird sensation that I was dead and I couldn’t shake it.’ She went to see the school nurse, who, baffled, could not find anything wrong. Miss Smith continued: 'As I walked home I thought about visiting a graveyard, just to be close to others who were also dead. 'But because there wasn't one nearby I went straight back to my house and tried to sleep it off.' It seemed to work but a few days later, the macabre sense struck again. ‘I was out shopping when the sudden feeling returned. ‘My whole body went numb and I dropped all the dresses I was holding and ran out of the shop. I felt like I was going mad.’ This time, the feeling did not go away. Instead, Miss Smith began missing school, sleeping through the day and staying awake at night. She said: ‘I’d fantasise about having picnics in graveyards and I’d spend a lot of time watching horror films because seeing the zombies made me feel relaxed, like I was with family.’ As time went by, Haley decided to embrace her ‘new’ life. ‘I decided to eat whatever I wanted because I couldn’t put on weight if I was dead,’ she said. She stopped talking to her friends who suspected something was wrong. Miss Smith said: ‘Watching Disney films gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling. I asked my boyfriend Jeremy: “How can I be dead when Disney makes me feel this good?”' Eventually, in despair, she spoke to one of them about her situation. She said: ‘I thought he’d think I was a freak but he just nodded and listened. 'It gave me the confidence to tell my dad.’ Her father, Floyd, urged her to see a psychiatrist. But it was two years until she finally plucked up the courage - and was immediately she diagnosed with Cotard’s, or Walking Corpse Syndrome. ‘It’s a rare condition where sufferers believe they or parts of their body no longer exist,’ Miss Smith said. ‘It was so amazing to find out it was a real illness. ‘I went online and found stories of other people who suffered from it. 'They wanted to spend time in graveyards too. It made me feel so much better that I wasn’t the only one.’ Talking with the therapist set her on the road to recovery. She also discovered Disney films were a huge help in her recovery. Miss Smith said: ‘Watching Disney films gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling. 'The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty, Bambi – I watched them all. I asked my boyfriend Jeremy: “How can I be dead when Disney makes me feel this good?”.’ Gradually, she began to better. ‘Jeremy helped me so much – as did Disney – and we’re hoping to get married soon and then get jobs in Disney World,’ she said. She added: ‘Being a corpse was the most bizarre experience, but I’m so glad I managed to get out alive.’ Aware the disease is incredibly rare, Miss Smith has decided to speak out to support others suffering from it . | Haley Smith, 17, suffered from the ultra-rare illness Cotard’s Syndrome .
Sufferers genuinely believe they are dead, or body parts no longer exist .
Some die from starvation as they feel they no longer have to eat .
Miss Smith eventually overcame the condition with help of therapist .
Also credits Disney films with her recovery as they made her 'feel alive' |
Keywords: <keyword>HARTMAN ARRESTED</keyword>, <keyword>ARRESTED LOS</keyword>, <keyword>MARILYN JEAN</keyword>, <keyword>PROBATION ORDERED</keyword>, <keyword>AIRPORT LAX</keyword>, <keyword>DID TICKET</keyword>, <keyword>STOWAWAY REPEATEDLY</keyword>, <keyword>STATEMENT FLYERS</keyword>, <keyword>SCREENING CHECKPOINT</keyword>, <keyword>REFUSED REPORTERS</keyword>
(CNN) -- She just can't seem to stay away. A day after she pleaded no contest to stowing away, Marilyn Jean Hartman was re-arrested at the Los Angeles airport on Thursday. She was seen earlier in the day arriving at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), where she spent about an hour "scouting out multiple passenger terminals before being arrested. "Airport Police officers did not observe Hartman attempting to purchase an airline ticket and she did not have a ticket or boarding pass in her possession when arrested," the airport said in a statement. Airport Police Chief Patrick Gannon said in the statement that flyers were distributed with Hartman's picture on it. "When we knew she was going to be released from custody, we were prepared," he said. This week, authorities say Hartman, 62, made it through a screening checkpoint at Mineta San Jose International Airport without a ticket and boarded a Southwest Airlines flight bound for LAX. She was initially arrested there Monday. She pleaded no contest Wednesday to a misdemeanor count of stowing away, CNN affiliate KTLA reported. She was sentenced to two years probation and three days in jail. She was given credit for time served and released. Outside the courthouse, Hartman refused to detail to reporters how she got through security. "I don't think it's wise to say how I got through. I don't want to help the enemy," she said. "...I want to go with a paid ticket. ... I want to do everything legal," Hartman said then. "It was clearly wrong on my part. ... It was stupid and it is something I don't want to repeat." Hartman has been described by authorities as a serial stowaway, who has repeatedly tried to board flights to Hawaii at San Francisco International Airport without a ticket. Earlier this year, she was sentenced to probation and ordered to stay away from the San Francisco airport. CNN's Chelsea J. Carter and Randi Kaye contributed to this report. | Marilyn Jean Hartman, 62, is accused of "scouting out multiple passenger terminals"
Airport police chief: "When we knew she was going to be released ... we were prepared"
Hartman was arrested Monday after stowing away from San Jose to Los Angeles . |
Keywords: <keyword>WINGER CUADRADO</keyword>, <keyword>OSPINA RESTED</keyword>, <keyword>COLOMBIA TRIO</keyword>, <keyword>TIME CHELSEA</keyword>, <keyword>RODRIGUEZ CURRENTLY</keyword>, <keyword>MADRID JAMES</keyword>, <keyword>FOOTBALLERS DIFFICULT</keyword>, <keyword>CLUB NEW</keyword>, <keyword>MATES FORM</keyword>, <keyword>MOVES DESPITE</keyword>
Some footballers find it difficult to acclimatise to life at a new club in a new country, but Chelsea's Juan Cuadrado can at least rely on some old friends to keep him company. The Colombian winger has a weekend off with Chelsea already knocked out of the FA Cup and that gave him the opportunity to catch up with international team-mates in the form of Arsenal's David Ospina and Real Madrid's James Rodriguez. The trio all impressed enough at last summer's World Cup to earn big-money moves but despite all the uprooting in their lives it seems they are still able to make time for each other. Juan Cuadrado, James Rodriguez and David Ospina met up for a meal together at the weekend . The Colombia trio played together at last summer's World Cup in Brazil . Cuadrado started for his new club for the first time in Chelsea's 1-0 win over Everton on Wednesday ahead of Tuesday's Champions League trip to Paris-Saint Germain. And while Rodriguez is currently out injured, Ospina has had an increased role at Arsenal in place of Wojciech Szczesny - although he will be rested for the FA Cup visit of Middlesbrough. Chelsea winger Cuadrado started for the first time against Everton on Wednesday . Ospina will be rested for Sunday's FA Cup clash with Middlesbrough despite his new No 1 status . | Juan Cuadrado met up for a meal with James Rodriguez and David Ospina .
The trio played together for Colombia at last summer's World Cup .
Ospina is set to be rested for Arsenal's FA Cup clash with Middlesbrough . |
Keywords: <keyword>SCHOOLGIRL ATTACKING</keyword>, <keyword>ATTACKS ONLOOKERS</keyword>, <keyword>SHOCKING CLIP</keyword>, <keyword>INVESTIGATING SICKENING</keyword>, <keyword>UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR</keyword>, <keyword>PHONE VIDEO</keyword>, <keyword>PUPIL HEARD</keyword>, <keyword>JEERING PLAYGROUND</keyword>, <keyword>SERIOUSLY SAFER</keyword>, <keyword>WEST YORKSHIRE</keyword>
By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 10:09 EST, 14 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:14 EST, 14 February 2013 . Police are investigating a sickening video posted on Facebook showing a schoolgirl attacking female pupil in front of jeering playground mob. The shocking clip, lasting one minute and 37 seconds, shows pupils surrounding a girl before she is pulled towards the ground by her ponytail and repeatedly thumped at a school near Bradford, West Yorkshire. The attacker is heard being encouraged on by a voice behind the camera shouting expletives and saying 'hurry up.' Violent attack: This shocking mobile phone video footage of an attack on a teenage schoolgirl by another female pupil is being investigated by police after it was posted on Facebook . Sickening: The clip, lasting one minute and 37 seconds, shows pupils surrounding a girl before she is pulled towards the ground by her ponytail and repeatedly thumped at a school near Bradford, West Yorkshire . She then says to the victim 'Say it to my f****** face then' before beginning the ordeal. The defenceless pupil is heard screaming while others surround the pair and film the incident on their mobile phones. After the 15-second flurry of attacks, onlookers break the fight up, and pupils can be heard cheering. A jeering message accompanied the Facebook post of the video which has been described as an 'exceptional and serious' case of cyber bullying. Within two hours of the video being uploaded on Tuesday evening, almost 900 people had 'liked' the video and 595 users had shared the link. Mob mentality: The attacker is heard being encouraged on by a voice behind the camera shouting expletives and saying 'hurry up' Terrifying: The defenceless pupil is heard screaming while others surround the pair and film the incident on their mobile phones . The public Facebook page has been removed after the school was inundated with calls and e-mail. The school's head teacher said: 'We are aware of the incident and the school is taking appropriate action in line with its Behaviour Policy. 'We want to assure parents that we make every effort to ensure the school is a safe environment for their children and that we do not tolerate any unacceptable behaviour.' Outrage: The public Facebook page with the video has been removed after the school was inundated with calls and e-mail . The victim, who received minor facial injuries during Tuesday afternoon's attack, was interviewed by police. Sergeant Paul Robinson, of Bradford District Youth and Schools, said: "We are taking this matter extremely seriously. 'Safer Schools officers are working alongside the local Neighbourhood Policing Team and the school to resolve the matter appropriately.' Councillor Ralph Berry, Bradford Council's executive member for children and young people's services, said: 'It has to be taken very seriously and I know the school and head teacher is taking it seriously, it's been reported to the authority and everything's been done to follow it up.' Facebook would not comment about the incident but pointed out it has a tool on every page where people can report offensive material. It employs a large team of staff who look at complaints and can remove posts of harassment and close people's profile pages. | The sickening clip, lasting one minute and 37 seconds .
Girl is pulled towards the ground by her ponytail and repeatedly thumped .
Incident happened at a school near Bradford, West Yorkshire .
Pupil is heard screaming while he incident is filmed on mobile phones . |
Keywords: <keyword>CHELSEA ADVANTAGE</keyword>, <keyword>FABREGAS BELIEVES</keyword>, <keyword>COSTA SCORED</keyword>, <keyword>JOSE MOURINHO</keyword>, <keyword>BAGGING ASSISTS</keyword>, <keyword>RIVALS CESC</keyword>, <keyword>FEEL COMFORTABLE</keyword>, <keyword>ENSURE BLUES</keyword>, <keyword>PLAYED DRAW</keyword>, <keyword>SEASON TOLD</keyword>
Cesc Fabregas believes Chelsea's win against Swansea on Saturday was vital to ensure the Blues took advantage of Manchester City's draw with Arsenal. Jose Mourinho's side eventually strolled to a 4-2 win against the Swans, largely thanks to a Diego Costa hat-trick shortly after City played out a 2-2 draw with the Gunners. Fabregas bagged his third and fourth assists of the season during the Stamford Bridge clash, but was more concerned about his new side getting one over on their title rivals. Cesc Fabregas was pleased that Chelsea could take advantage of Manchester City's draw with Arsenal . The Spanish midfielder claims he feels 'comfortable' after bagging four assists this season . He told Chelsea's official website: 'Obviously we wanted three points as usual, but the more we take advantage of our rivals the better. 'We know it doesn’t mean much because there is still a long way to go but we knew [before the game] Manchester City and Arsenal had dropped points so it was very important. The Spanish midfielder also revealed how settled he feels in a Chelsea shirt after a bright start to his Blues career. He added: ‘I feel comfortable, I feel good, I feel happy,’ declared Fabregas. The Premier League season is very long so we have to keep it up until the end.' Diego Costa scored a hat-trick to help Chelsea to a 4-2 win against Swansea on Saturday . | Cesc Fabregas was pleased Chelsea could take advantage of Manchester City's draw against Arsenal .
Chelsea pounced on rival's dropped points with win against Swansea .
Fabregas grabbed two assists as Diego Costa scored a hat-trick . |
Keywords: <keyword>SHERLOCK KIRKLAND</keyword>, <keyword>BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH</keyword>, <keyword>CUMBERBATCH POLICE</keyword>, <keyword>ACTUAL BENEDICT</keyword>, <keyword>ACCUSED RAPING</keyword>, <keyword>MALE TALL</keyword>, <keyword>PROFILE BRITISH</keyword>, <keyword>ACTOR KALLIS</keyword>, <keyword>IMITATION GAME</keyword>, <keyword>22 ALBANY</keyword>
In a strange case from Georgia, investigators are trying to track down a man who is wanted for the rape of a child last month but has been living under the same name as a high-profile British actor. Kallis Shannon Kirkland, 28, is accused of raping a juvenile on or around January 22 in Albany. However Kirkland has been going by the alias 'Benedict Cumberbatch', police say. Wanted: Police in Albany, Georgia, say Kallis Shannon Kirkland, 28, is wanted for the recent rape of a juvenile, but has been calling himself 'Benedict Cumberbatch' Cumberbatch, 38, who is nominated for an Oscar this year for World War II drama The Imitation Game, became a household name for his work on detective series Sherlock. Kirkland is described as a black male of about 6'0" tall who weighs about 170-180 pounds, according to local Albany station WXFL. The alleged rape occurred in the 1400 block of 8th Avenue. Bona fide: The actual Benedict Cumberbatch is a British actor best known for his role on Sherlock . Anyone with information about Kirkland is asked to call the Albany Police Department's Criminal Investigations Bureau at (229) 431-3288. | Kallis Shannon Kirkland, 28, accused of raping a girl on January 22 .
Police say he is better known by his alias, Beneditch Cumberbatch .
Cumberbatch, 38, is a famous actor best known for TV series Sherlock . |
Keywords: <keyword>STATE HAPPINESS</keyword>, <keyword>CONTENT MIDWEST</keyword>, <keyword>KENTUCKY OREGON</keyword>, <keyword>CATEGORIES UTAH</keyword>, <keyword>SUICIDE RATES</keyword>, <keyword>RANKING WALLETHUB</keyword>, <keyword>OBESE RESIDENTS</keyword>, <keyword>STUDY WEST</keyword>, <keyword>LOOKING INCOME</keyword>, <keyword>PREVALENCE SLEEP</keyword>
If you're feeling a bit blue, it might be time to move to Utah. The state has been named the happiest in the country by a new study - while West Virginia has been named the most unhappy. After comparing 27 different factors including mental and physical health, job security, suicide rates and outlook on life, WalletHub ranked every single state by how happy its residents are. It concluded that Utah, Minnesota, North Dakota, Colorado and Nebraska are the most content states, while West Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas and Kentucky are the most miserable. And if you look at a map of the states, residents in the East and the South are generally less content than their Midwest counterparts. (Hover over each state to see its happiness ranking.) WalletHub, a personal finance social network, ranked each state in three categories to come up with the final list. The first category was 'emotional and physical well-being', which was determined by 13 factors including life expectancy, obesity, the prevalence of sleep deprivation and suicide rate. Next there was 'work', which was determined by six factors including commute time, work hours, income level and unemployment. Finally, they ranked the states by 'community, environment and recreational activities', which was determined by seven factors including weather, number of attractions, safety and divorce rate. How happy is your state? The team at WalletHub came up with the list for the happiest state after finding out how each state ranked in 27 different factors, including these pictured here . Rankings: The final list was also reached by looking at income growth, divorce rate and safety . They then looked at the ranking of each state in these three categories - in Utah's case, it was first in 'community, environment and recreational activities', second in 'work' and 3rd in 'emotional and physical well-being' - to determine which states had scored highest overall. By comparison, West Virginia came 51st in 'emotional and physical well-being', 50th in 'community, environment and recreational activities' and 46th in 'work' - putting it firmly at the bottom. WalletHub also provided rankings for each of the 27 factors used to determine the results. Among them, Hawaii, California and New Jersey lead the country in lowest prevalence of depression, while Kentucky, Oregon and Maine have the highest. If you need to catch up on some sleep, results showed you might want to head to South Dakota, Wyoming or Colorado - and stay away from Kentucky, Hawaii and West Virginia. Stunning: An image of Bryce Point in Utah. The state ranked 2nd for sports participation, 4th lowest percentage of obese residents and the lowest median of hours worked - so the landscape can be fully appreciated . Employees in Alaska and North Dakota work the most hours per week, while Utah workers have the lowest weekly median hours in the office. Utah also has the lowest divorce rate - along with North Dakota and Hawaii - while D.C., Nevada and Louisiana have the most splits. To make each ranking, the team at WalletHub used information from sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Gallup Healthways and Tripadvisor, among others. The most unhappy places in the U.S., starting with the unhappiest first: . | Research by personal finance website WalletHub has ranked all of the states from happiest to most unhappy .
It reached the final list by comparing 27 factors including mental and physical health, work hours, job security, suicide and divorce rates .
Utah, Minnesota and North Dakota top the list, while West Virginia, Albama and Mississippi are at the bottom . |
Keywords: <keyword>MADRID KIT</keyword>, <keyword>MADRID WORN</keyword>, <keyword>CHAMPIONS REAL</keyword>, <keyword>REPRESENTS CLUBS</keyword>, <keyword>ATLETICO DID</keyword>, <keyword>ADIDAS SAY</keyword>, <keyword>DRAGON INSPIRED</keyword>, <keyword>MANDZUKIC BEGAN</keyword>, <keyword>SIGNING ANGEL</keyword>, <keyword>POSES NEW</keyword>
By . Hamish Mackay for MailOnline . Follow @@H_Mackay . Real Madrid have released a new black third kit, which the Champion League winners will wear in Europe when defending their crown. The new kit, designed by Yohji Yamamoto, bears a 'dragon king' - which 'symbolizes the greatness, glory and power of the club' - and also a 'dragon bird' - which 'represents the clubs resistance, determination and agility on its way to the victory', according to Adidas. Carlo Ancelotti's side are bidding the first team in the history of the Champions League to retain their title, which they won after beating neighbours Atletico Madrid 4-1 in May. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez unveil the new dragon-inspired third Real Madrid kit . New: Adidas have released a new third kit for European Champions Real Madrid, which will be worn predominantly in the Champions League . Dragon: Gareth Bale poses in the new black kit, which as a 'dragon bird' and 'dragon king' intertwined on the front . Squad: Xabi Alonson, Gareth Bale, Iker Casillas, James Rodriguez and Marcelo pass the ball around in the Bernabeu . Poser: Colombian midfielder James Rodriguez poses in the shirt next to a dragon, which Adidas say 'symbolises the greatness, glory and power of the club' Colourful character: Bale (right) wears a pair of Yohji Yamamoto-designed Adidas boots during the launch of Real Madrid's new black kit . Timing: Real Madrid launch their new all-black kit on the day when Manchester United are expected to announce the signing of Angel di Maria from Real . Atletico did manage to get some small revenge over the local rivals when they beat them in the Super Copa. After a 1-1 draw in the first leg at the Bernabeu, where James Rodriguez and Raul Garcia got their names on the score-sheet, Diego Simeone's men won 1-0 at home. New signing Mario Mandzukic began where Diego Costa left off and scored the winning goal. Real began their league campaign with a win, though. They beat newly-promoted side Cordoba 2-0 at home, thanks to goals from Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo. Kit: Spanish newspaper As report that it is now the 'year of the dragon' Mock-up: Karim Benzema poses in the new kit, which Real Madrid will use in the Champions League . Away: As well as the new black kit Real Madrid have launched an Orange version which can be used in case they face a team playing in black . Star-man: With the notable absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale took centre stage at the new kit launch . | Adidas release new Real Madrid third kit .
The black shirt will be worn in Europe as they defend their Champions League crown .
James Rodriguez, Gareth Bale, Iker Casillas, Marcelo and Xabi Alonso posed in the new kit . |
Keywords: <keyword>SCHOOL SHOOTINGS</keyword>, <keyword>LANZA GUNNED</keyword>, <keyword>POEM ARMED</keyword>, <keyword>WEBB WROTE</keyword>, <keyword>COURTNI READING</keyword>, <keyword>KILLER ADAM</keyword>, <keyword>STUDENT SUSPENDED</keyword>, <keyword>TRAGEDY UNDERSTAND</keyword>, <keyword>SANDY HOOK</keyword>, <keyword>CONNECTICUT LIFE</keyword>
By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 05:11 EST, 31 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:50 EST, 31 December 2012 . A 17-year old high school student has been suspended for a poem she wrote about the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Courtni Webb wrote the poem in a personal notebook about Adam Lanza and what she felt were his reasons for the mass murder at the Connecticut school earlier this month. On December 14, crazed Lanza gunned down 20 students, aged just six and seven, and six adults in one of the worst school shootings in American history. Scroll down for video . Suspended: Courtni Webb, 17, who poem about the shooting tragedy . Causing controversy: 'I understand the killings in Connecticut. I know why he pulled the trigger,' wrote Courtni Webb in a poem . Action: The Life Learning Academy, a 60-pupil vocational school for students, suspended Courtni after reading the poem . He was armed with a high-powered rifle, similar to that used by US soldiers, two handguns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Many of his victims were shot several times. Authorities say he killed himself and also killed his mother at their home. Killer: Adam Lanza gunned down 20 students, aged just six and seven, in . one of the worst school shootings in American history. Many of his victims were . shot several times . The close-knit community of Newtown is . still struggling to come to terms with the scale of tragedy and to . understand what could have led to the brutal rampage. Courtni, who writes 'all types' of . poetry to express herself, told Today that she was just trying to . express 'her belief that tragedies in Sandy Hook happen because people . feel helpless.' But the contents of the poem prompted the school officials at the Life Learning Academy on Treasure Island, San Francisco, to suspend her. 'I understand the killings in Connecticut. I know why he pulled the trigger,' wrote Courtni Webb. 'Why are we oppressed by a dysfunctional community of haters and blamers?' The poem was found in a personal notebook of Courtni's by a teacher, reported examiner.com. Courtni attends Connecticut's Life Learning Academy, a 60-pupil vocational school that prides itself on being able to help students who have not been able to settle at other establishments. She says in the past she has handed in poems dealing with dark issues and has not experienced any problems. Her poems are a therapeutic way of expressing herself, explained the student, and should not be over-analysed. 'For example, the only person I can . think of would be like Stephen King. He writes weird stuff all the time. That doesn't mean he's gonna do it or act it out,' said Webb. 'I . feel like they're over reacting. Why? Because my daughter doesn't have a . history of violence. She didn't threaten anybody. She didn't threaten . herself. She simply said she understood why,' said her mother, Valerie . Statham. Outraged: 'I feel like they're over reacting. Why? Because my daughter doesn't have a history of violence. She didn't threaten anybody,' said her mother, Valerie Statham, left . They wanna hold me back . I run but still they still attack . My innocence, I won't get back . I used to smile . They took my kindness for weakness . The silence the world will never get . I understand the killing in Conecticut . I know why he pulled the trigger . The government is a shame . Society never wants to take the blame . Society puts these thoughts in our head . Misery loves company . If I can't be loved no one can . The San . Francisco Unified School District are currently deciding about Courtni's . future at the school and if she poses genuine threat to the safety to . her fellow students. But for now, she is suspended until further notice. The massacre, which President Obama yesterday described as 'the worst day of my presidency', has prompted a look into new gun controls and banning assault rifles such as AR-15 Bushmaster used by Lanza in his rampage. The National Rifle Association has . resisted those efforts vociferously, arguing instead that schools should . have armed guards for protection. Obama's comments come as the schoolroom shooting has elevated the issue of gun violence to the forefront of public attention. 'I am skeptical that the only answer is putting more guns in schools,' Obama said. 'And I think the vast majority of the American people are skeptical that that somehow is going to solve our problem.' Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy . | Courtni Webb wrote the poem about the tragedy as a 'therapeutic exercise'
'I understand the killings... I know why he pulled the trigger,' it reads .
Poem was later found by a teacher who handed it to the school principal .
Concerned school officials have suspend her until further notice . |
Keywords: <keyword>TWITTER TERRORIST</keyword>, <keyword>ISIS USING</keyword>, <keyword>AL QAEDA</keyword>, <keyword>CNN REPORTS</keyword>, <keyword>MEDIA COMPANY</keyword>, <keyword>MESSAGING RECRUITMENT</keyword>, <keyword>OFFICIAL ACCOUNTS</keyword>, <keyword>CYBERSPACE EARLIER</keyword>, <keyword>MEN ARRESTED</keyword>, <keyword>ISN JUST</keyword>
(CNN)Reports Wednesday that three men have been arrested over plans to travel from New York to join ISIS -- and that one of them allegedly posted online about his desire to shoot the President of the United States -- is simply the latest reminder that terrorist groups and their sympathizers are exploiting the freedom of cyberspace. Earlier this month, ISIS posted a video of its horrific burning of a captured Jordanian pilot. Unfortunately, this was not the first time ISIS has used Twitter, an American social media company, to broadcast its barbaric acts to the world. In August, when ISIS released the gruesome beheading of American journalist James Foley, it also used social media. In fact, ISIS has been using Twitter for years. Nor is ISIS the only terrorist group on Twitter. Hamas, Hezbollah and the al Qaeda branch in Syria, al-Nusra Front, are all on Twitter. On January 14, the al Qaeda branch in Yemen, known as al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula or simply AQAP, claimed responsibility via Twitter for the terrorist attacks in Paris that killed 17 people. The group has two official accounts on Twitter. There are many more examples from such groups, all of which have officially been listed as foreign designated terrorist organizations by the U.S. government. It's with this reality in mind that on January 27, my subcommittee held a hearing on terrorists' use of social media. At those hearings, experts detailed how terrorist use of social media platforms has long been a problem. If social media is being used to help radicalize thousands of people and raise millions of dollars from many more, the question all this raises is this: Why is no one shutting them down? Because American companies aren't. And nor is the American government. I've heard two arguments for why we should keep the status quo. The first -- and easiest to set aside -- is the claim that if the U.S. government were to shut down terrorists' social media accounts, these measures would be violating terrorists' free speech rights. My own belief is that the Constitution does not apply to terrorists. These thugs gave up their right to free speech the first time they killed innocent civilians. We should certainly not be helping them kill more. But this isn't just my thinking. The Supreme Court has already held this to be the case in Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project, when it ruled that if someone has aided a terrorist organization, their free speech rights were not protected. Indeed, free speech does not apply when it harms others, such as creating and distributing child pornography. The second argument is that terrorists' use of social media provides the intelligence community with information that they would not otherwise be able to acquire. But while terrorists may slip up from time to time, they are also aware that by its very nature, social media is about sharing, which means what they say can easily become widely shared. Nor is terrorist use of social media a new phenomenon. We have had years to weigh the kind of intelligence that we can gather about terrorist groups against the advantages in messaging and recruitment that terrorists gain from it. And from what I have heard, allowing this public, online jihad to continue has provided no significant intelligence breakthroughs. The fact that there are more terrorists using social media than ever before should say all we need to know about whether they are benefiting from it. To put it bluntly, private American companies should not be operating as the propaganda megaphone of foreign terrorist organizations. So what needs to change? For a start, social media companies themselves need to do more. It is not good enough to only pay attention when bad press threatens a company's public image after something truly horrific is posted online. Instead, companies not only have a public responsibility but a legal obligation to do more. Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act states that it is unlawful to provide a designated foreign terrorist organization with "material support or resources," including "any property, tangible or intangible, or services." That's about as comprehensive as you can get. What's more, most social media companies already have terms of service with prohibition of threats of violence that would preclude terrorist use of their platforms. But companies need to do a better job of enforcing their own terms. The lack of child pornography or stolen copyrighted material on social media platforms -- content that is quickly removed if it appears at all -- demonstrates what these companies can do. With this in mind, they would do well to consider having dedicated teams that remove terrorist content, and also streamline reporting processes for offensive content so users can easily report terrorist use on their platforms. Companies have the technology and the resources to crack down on terrorists' use of their platform; they just need the motivation to act. This is where the federal government can assist. In 2011, the White House promised a strategy to prevent online radicalization. But more than three years later -- and despite a summit last week aimed at tackling extremism -- we are still waiting on a that strategy. Without one, the federal government's efforts to combat terrorist use of social media will be as haphazard and lackluster as the efforts of private social media companies. Instead, we need a strategy that clearly articulates our goals and roles, and the responsibilities of each federal agency that needs to be involved, as well as how we are going to work with civil society. It is mindboggling to think that those who behead and burn others alive are able to use our own companies against us to further their cause. But that is exactly what is occurring. American newspapers would have never allowed the Nazis to place an ad for recruitment during World War II. Designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations should not be allowed to use private American companies to reach billions of people with their violent propaganda in an instant, all for free. | ISIS and other terrorist groups have been active on social media .
Ted Poe: Terrorist gave up right to free speech when they killed innocent civilians . |
Keywords: <keyword>MULLER GERMANY</keyword>, <keyword>ARGENTINA REACHED</keyword>, <keyword>NEYMAR ENJOYED</keyword>, <keyword>HELPED COSTA</keyword>, <keyword>LOSING MARACANA</keyword>, <keyword>LAHM EXCELLED</keyword>, <keyword>NEUER FEATURE</keyword>, <keyword>HIGHLIGHTS GIANCARLO</keyword>, <keyword>ENSURE UNDERDOGS</keyword>, <keyword>TOURNAMENT VIDEO</keyword>
Germany may have emerged victorious at the World Cup, but Joachim Low wasn't the only manager who watched his players shine in Brazil. Poster-boy Neymar enjoyed a fine tournament before injury struck, Arjen Robben tormented opposition defences in the orange of Holland and Giancarlo Gonzalez helped Costa Rica prove their credentials on the biggest stage. With the final whistle having been blown at the Maracana, Sportsmail picks its team of the tournament. VIDEO Scroll down for Muller, Schurrle and Neuer feature in epic World Champions video . MANUEL NEUER (Germany) Could have turned up with one hand tied behind his back and still probably kept out most teams at this World Cup. A formidable goalkeeper for a formidable team. Safe hands: Manuel Neuer kept Argentina out at the Maracana to help seal World Cup victory for Germany . PHILIPP LAHM (Germany) Lifting the trophy was a fitting climax to the tournament for Lahm. Excelled in his more natural role at right-back, but did we expect anything less? Mr Versatile: Philipp Lahm helped Germany lift the World Cup after playing at right-back and in midfield . VIDEO All Star XI: Philip Lahm highlights . GIANCARLO GONZALEZ (Costa Rica) A towering figure at the back who did more than any other Costa Rican player to ensure that the underdogs only conceded two goals in five games. Rock solid: Costa Rica's Giancarlo Gonzalez (left) helped his country keep three clean sheets in Brazil . MATS HUMMELS (Germany) Inspirational in the quarter-final win over France, Hummels confirmed his reputation as one of the best central defenders in world football. Magic moment: Mats Hummels celebrates scoring the winning goal against France in the quarter-finals . DALEY BLIND (Holland) Defended well and put in some wonderful balls from the left for the Dutch. Capped it off with a goal in the Third Place Playoff. Ending on a high: Daley Blind scores for Holland in their 3-0 Third Place Playoff win against hosts Brazil . JAVIER MASCHERANO (Argentina) A rock at the heart of Argentina’s run to the World Cup final, Mascherano was one player who didn’t deserve to be on the losing side at the Maracana. Man in the middle: Javier Mascherano put in a series of excellent performances as Argentina reached the final . BASTIAN SCHWEINSTEIGER (Germany) Just edges out teammate Toni Kroos based on his performance in the final. Those last 10 minutes were like a scene from Rocky. Driving force: Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger takes a breather after lifting the World Cup . ARJEN ROBBEN (Holland) The Dutchman seems to get faster with age. Too late to cut out the diving now, but there was no-one more dangerous when in possession. Wing wizard: Holland forward Arjen Robben tormented defenders during his country's run to the semi-finals . NEYMAR (Brazil) The poster boy of Brazil 2014 handled the intense pressure remarkably well with four goals in five games before he was kicked out of the World Cup, and Brazil duly followed. Talisman: Brazil forward Neymar managed four goals in five games before breaking a bone in his back . JAMES RODRIGUEZ (Colombia) Outstanding player who scored arguably the outstanding goal of the tournament. Energy and verve a joy to watch until he came up against Brazil’s hatchet men. Danger man: Colombia's James Rodriguez managed to score six goals in Brazil - more than any other player . THOMAS MULLER (Germany) Is he a false 9, false 10 or a false something else? While we debated the point, Muller put on No 13 and scored five goals for the second World Cup in a row. More to come: Thomas Muller scored five goals at the World Cup for the second consecutive tournament . | Neuer picked as Sportsmail's best goalkeeper at the World Cup .
Philipp Lahm, Mats Hummels, Giancarlo Gonzalez and Daley Blind make up our back four .
Mascherano, Robben, Bastian Schweinsteiger and James Rodriguez also picked after impressive performances .
Brazil's Neymar makes the cut despite being injured in quarter-final win against Colombia .
Thomas Muller, who scored five goals for Germany, earns a spot . |
Keywords: <keyword>CRUELTY NEWELL</keyword>, <keyword>PIG DIED</keyword>, <keyword>ANIMALS GUILTY</keyword>, <keyword>ANIMAL CENTRE</keyword>, <keyword>PROSECUTING RSPCA</keyword>, <keyword>EMACIATED VETERINARY</keyword>, <keyword>DERBYSHIRE SHOCKING</keyword>, <keyword>RESCUED COUNCIL</keyword>, <keyword>BABE FILMED</keyword>, <keyword>DISCHARGE LINDSAY</keyword>
By . Mark Duell . The owner of an animal centre set up in memory of her murdered grandparents has avoided jail despite being found guilty of cruelty to the pets she rescued. Dying or dead animals were found around the sanctuary run by 27-year-old Lindsay Newell in Etwall, Derbyshire, while others were sick or malnourished and emaciated. The veterinary nurse devoted all her spare time and money to the centre, but ‘took her eye off the ball’ and the animals suffered as a result, Stafford Magistrates’ Court heard. Scroll down for video . Conditional discharge: Lindsay Newell is approached by an RSPCA officer at her house in Staffordshire . Guilty of cruelty: One of Newell's animals, a pig named 'Babe' (pictured), who made headlines two years ago after being saved from a squalid council house, died as RSPCA officers raided the centre following a tip-off . One of them, a pig named ‘Babe’, who was featured in MailOnline in March 2012 after being saved from a squalid council house, died as RSPCA officers raided the centre following a tip-off. A trial was told Newell’s claims that she ‘didn’t notice anything wrong’ were simply ‘incredible’. Yesterday . at Burton-upon-Trent Magistrates’ Court, she was banned from keeping . animals after being found guilty of six counts of cruelty and handed a . two-year conditional discharge. But . she was cleared of a further 25 charges that she failed to feed the . animals properly after the judge decided she had done her best to feed . the animals in her care. Today . the RSPCA, which itself took sick and injured animals to the centre, . was left counting the £20,000 cost of a prosecution against a woman a . judge admitted had only ‘a desire to help.’ The . organisation charged Newell after swooping on the Burton Wildlife and . Animal Rescue Centre in Etwall, along with police and trading standards . officials. Hearing: Newell (right) leaves Burton-upon-Trent Magistrates' Court following her sentencing yesterday . They also raided Newell’s home in . nearby Stapenhill as part of a county-wide operation called Operation . Mako, set up to tackle rural crime. She had opened the centre in her own back . garden in March 2008 in memory of her grandparents, who were killed by . their nephew Richard Barlow, 29. 'Her evidence that she didn’t notice anything wrong is incredible. The responsible owner would have noticed' Dingleby Clark, prosecuting . He battered Bill Barlow, 78, and his 65 year-old wife to death in 2007 during a violent row over land. Their . granddaughter Newell said their love of animals and the countryside . inspired her. She wept as she told the judge how she cared for her . animals. She told the court . her salary went towards running the sanctuary - which cost £2,000 in . rent a year - and up to £400 a week on straw and animal food. But . the prosecution painted a very different picture, accusing her of . causing unnecessary suffering by not giving the animals enough food and . failing to seek veterinary help for them. Police and RSPCA officers raided the centre in November 2012 after members of the public raised concerns. 'Seriously undernourished': Babe was filmed at the centre in Derbyshire in a shocking state. It was the second time the pig had been found in squalor, having been rescued from that situation in Derby in March 2012 . Muddy water: The Gloucestershire old spot pig had been rescued from a council house in Derby in 2012. Video footage of the dying animal's final moments was among the evidence shown during the five-day trial . Among the animals was ‘Babe’ the pig, who was lying in muddy water in a paddock ‘seriously undernourished’. The Gloucestershire old spot pig had been rescued from a council house in Derby in March 2012. Video footage of the dying animal’s final moments was among the evidence shown at Stafford Magistrates’ Court during the five-day trial. 'These were not deliberate or intentional acts. They were a consequence of you trying to do too much' District Judge David Taylor . Dingleby Clark, prosecuting, said the pig was one of a large number of animals found to be suffering. He said: ‘This pig was being looked after by the defendant, but for some reason she did not give the required care to this pig and it died.’ Newell was accused of causing suffering to turkeys, cockerels, sheep, a Canada goose, horses, ponies and piglets. Mr Clark added: ‘She had too many animals and too few staff. She had too many different species.’ Animal centre: A trial was told Newell's claims that she 'didn't notice anything wrong' were simply 'incredible' He said that at some point in 2012, Newell started a new job and moved away after which she ‘had completely taken her eye off the ball’. 'Too few staff': Newell was accused of causing suffering to turkeys, cockerels, sheep, a Canada goose, horses, ponies and piglets . The centre was ‘out of control’, with animals suffering and dying, he said. Inspectors also found the carcass of a lamb, which had starved to death, in a field. Sarah Levy volunteered at the centre for six months until around June 2012. When she left she wrote a letter to the RSPCA expressing her concerns about the standard of care for the animals. RSPCA deputy chief inspector Jayne Bashford said there was very little grazing area for the animals and distinctly remembered no water being available. She ran her hands over animals and could feel their spines and ribs. Newell refused to comment in police interviews. She replied with ‘no comment’ to all questions during a 44-minute interview in December 2012. She told the court had been ‘intimidated’ and ‘shocked’ when the centre was raided. Giving evidence Newell said she would take animals home with her from a vet’s practice where she used to work so they were not put down. She took in wildlife and poultry that other centres turned away. She moved the sanctuary to Etwall in 2011 and said the RSPCA was among those that would take animals to the centre. ‘Rescuing is the main part of what we do, so if an animal is trapped down a drain or an animal has been shot, or on ice, or a fox is trapped in a fences we would rescue them,’ she said. ‘It’s things that normal members of the public can’t deal with.’ She told the court in June 2012 she started working on a farm at a school in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, for autistic children. But Mr Clark said Newell should have checked the animals more often. He said: ‘Her evidence that she didn’t notice anything wrong is incredible. The responsible owner would have noticed.’ Died: Babe was discovered living in a small end-terrace home by officials when they tried to evict her owner . Pigsty: Babe was discovered when council housing staff forced their way into a home in Sinfin, Derby . Newell has now been made redundant from her job, but still runs the centre, where she had 300 animals. Nigel Weller, defending, said his client now wanted to dedicate her life to running the sanctuary. 'She had too many animals and too few staff. She had too many different species' Dingleby Clark, prosecuting . The RSPCA said it cost £20,000 to investigate the case and bring Newell to court, of which she will have to pay just £2,000. District Judge David Taylor found her guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a pig, a pony, a goat and sheep. He gave Newell a two-year conditional discharge and disqualified her from keeping sheep, goats, pigs and equine animals for five years. Passing sentence, he said: ‘These were not deliberate or intentional acts. They were a consequence of you trying to do too much. Your attempts to help the animals caused you to get into this mess.’ | Dying or dead animals were found around sanctuary run by Lindsay Newell .
Veterinary nurse devoted spare time and money to centre in Derbyshire .
But 27-year-old 'took her eye off the ball' and animals suffered as a result .
Found guilty of six counts of cruelty and handed a conditional discharge .
Newell has now been made redundant from her job, but still runs centre .
WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT . |
Keywords: <keyword>BELFAST POLICE</keyword>, <keyword>THROWING FIREWORKS</keyword>, <keyword>THROWN OFFICERS</keyword>, <keyword>PROTESTS PROMPTED</keyword>, <keyword>SUSTAINED ATTACK</keyword>, <keyword>TENSIONS NORTHERN</keyword>, <keyword>BOTTLES BRICKS</keyword>, <keyword>UNION FLAG</keyword>, <keyword>HURT FRIDAY</keyword>, <keyword>DISORDER LUNCHTIME</keyword>
Belfast, Northern Ireland (CNN) -- Fresh pro-British protests erupted Saturday in the Northern Ireland city of Belfast, police said, hours after nine officers were hurt in rioting. Tensions have been high since city council members there voted a month ago to stop flying the Union flag year-round, restricting it instead to certain days. Officers came under sustained attack in east Belfast from more than 100 people, some throwing fireworks and bricks, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said Saturday. The violence continued into the night. Police said they deployed water cannon and fired plastic bullets and that a number of arrests were made. Authorities were also investigating reports that a number of shots were fired at police lines. Friday night, more than 30 petrol bombs were thrown at officers during serious disorder in the same part of the city. Officers were also pelted with ball bearings, fireworks and masonry, police said. Eight officers were hurt. Another officer was hurt Friday in the Newtownabbey area, police said, where bottles and bricks were thrown at police in the course of a protest lasting several hours. Police have arrested more than 20 people in connection with the disorder. A lunchtime demonstration outside City Hall appeared to pass without trouble. Northern Ireland's political leaders have called for an end to the pro-British protests, which were prompted by the vote on the Union flag of the United Kingdom. The disorder follows a summer of heightened tensions between Northern Ireland's Catholic and Protestant communities. Riots in September left dozens of police officers hurt. The recent violence follows more than a decade during which Northern Ireland has made steady progress toward lasting peace and stability. More: Policewoman targeted as tensions rise . More: Police -- Loyalist paramilitaries behind violence . | Further violent pro-British protests break out in Belfast, police say .
Nine police officers were injured Friday .
Protesters pelted officers with petrol bombs, fireworks and bricks, police say .
Protests have rocked parts of Northern Ireland since a vote on the Union flag . |
Keywords: <keyword>FOSSILISED JAW</keyword>, <keyword>MANDIBLE BONES</keyword>, <keyword>PLEISTOCENE ASIA</keyword>, <keyword>ANCIENT HUMAN</keyword>, <keyword>HOMININ SPECIES</keyword>, <keyword>TAIWAN MANDIBLE</keyword>, <keyword>TEETH PENGHU</keyword>, <keyword>FISHERMEN PULLING</keyword>, <keyword>DIET NUTS</keyword>, <keyword>PLAUSIBLE COMPARISON</keyword>
Fishermen working off the coast of Taiwan have dredged up the jawbone of an ancient human ancestor that lived in the area around 200,000 years ago. The short, thick mandible has unusually large teeth and a strong jaw compared to other human fossils found in East Asia, according to anthropologists. The discovery suggests that it belonged to an previously unknown ancient human lineage. The fossilised lower jawbone (above) was dredged up in a fishing net 15 miles off the west coast of Taiwan . Experts say it means that there may have been several species of early human living in Asia until modern humans arrived 55,000 years ago. The fossilised jawbone is the first ancient hominin remains to be found in Taiwan. An ancient relative of humans has been dubbed 'Nutcracker Man' because of his powerful jaws and huge teeth. Paranthropus boisei lived in Africa more than one million years ago and lived side-by-side with direct ancestors of humans. It has long been assumed that this species lived on a diet of nuts, seeds and hard fruit because of its powerful jaw muscles and the biggest and flattest molars of any known hominid in the anthropological record. The latest research has compared the teeth of these ancient human relatives with those of modern sea otters - known for their ability to crack through the hard shells of mussels and other shellfish. Dr Adam van Casteren, a research fellow who led the study at the Max Planck Weizmann Center for Integrative Archaeology and Anthropology, found that P. boisei had tooth enamel that was remarkably similar in structure to those of sea otters. Tests on otter teeth suggest that the teeth of these ancient humans could have withstood extremely high pressures and could mean they had powerful bite capable of destroying bone, nuts and other hard foods. It was dredged up in a fishing net from the Penghu submarine channel, about 15 miles (25km) off the west coast of Taiwan. During the Pliestocene between 2.5 million and 11,000 years ago, periods of low sea level would have meant the area was part of the mainland of Asia. Anthropologists from the National Museum of Natural Science in Taiwan and the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo who studied the newly discovered fossils say it is unlike any of the other fossilised ancient humans that spread through out Asia. Homo erectus, remains of which have been found in Java, Indonesia, and mainland China, tended to have much narrower jawbones and smaller teeth. Researchers say that this suggests the robust-jawed 'Penghu man' had a different evolutionary origin from the 'classic' Homo erectus found in the area. It could mean that it is either an entirely new species or a rare subgroup of Homo erectus. Dr. Yousuke Kaifu, an anthropologist at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo who was involved in the study, told MailOnline: 'It is a well-preserved mandible - a small fragment but contains a lot of information useful to evaluate its evolutionary position. 'What we can say is that it is clearly different from the known Homo erectus populations from northern China and Java, and likely represent a group that has been so far unrecognized so.' He added that the species would have looked very different from modern humans. He said: ''The new Taiwan mandible is markedly different from us in robusticity, not size, of the mandible. 'Width of the bone at the lateral part of the mandible is 20.7 mm (0.8 inches) for Penghu, but on average 14 mm (0.55 inches) for fossil modern humans.' Dr Chun-Hsiang Chang, who led the research at the National Museum of Natural Science, said the fossil appeared to have quite a primitive jaw but belonged to a now extinct species that most likely lived at a time when more anatomically modern humans were around. He said the fossil either belonged to a new type of ancient hominin not previously identified or was the result of more robustly jawed immigrants from Africa moving into the region. He added that the discovery also suggests that the traditional view of Homo erectus as the only ancient human species living on the eastern Asian continent until the arrival of modern man is incorrect and it may have in fact shared the area with many other human lineages. The Penghu mandible (centre) found off the coast of Taiwan is much larger than the lower jawbones of Homo erectus from Java (left) and China (right), despite its much younger age according to the researchers . The Penghu Channel (seen above), where the jawbone was found, was once been part of mainland Asia . Dr Chang said most mandibles from Homo erectus from the early and middle Pleistocene in Asia had much thinner mandible bones and smaller molars. He said: 'Several different models can be proposed to explain this situation. First, such morphology may be primitive retention from earlier Asian Homo. 'This hypothesis implies the presence of another longstanding Homo lineage in Asia that continued from the Early Pleistocene. 'Otherwise, there may have been a migration of robust-jawed Homo from Africa, possibly bringing along Acheulean stone tool technology around the terminal Early Pleistocene, who later evolved some unique morphology locally. 'Both hypotheses cast doubt on the traditional view that H. erectus was the sole hominin species on the Asian continent in the Early to early Middle Pleistocene.' Scientists used CT scanning to create the virtual reconstruction above of the jawbone discovered in Pinghu . The teeth, seen here in CT scans, were much larger than those seen in other fossils but extensively worn . The fossil was found by local fishermen when pulling up their nets, who then sold it to a local antique shop, where collector Kun-Yu Tsai purchased it. Tsai donated his collection to the National Museum of Natural Science in Taiwan, where Dr Chang works. Analysis of the fossil, published in the journal Nature Communications, show that it is an almost complete right side of the mandible, with many of the molar and premolar teeth still in place. However, the molars were found to be extensively worn and scientists hope this may help to provide clues about what this ancient human species may have eaten. The wear also suggests that the jaw belonged to an older adult. The sockets where the incisor teeth would have sat could also be seen. Although scientists struggled to accurately date the age of the fossilised jaw found off the coast of Taiwan, using sea level data and information about vegetation, they were able to estimate its age using isotopes found in the fossil. They say it is no older than 450,000 years and is probably younger than 190,000 years and could even be as young as 10,000 years old. With such a large age range, it is difficult to pin down exactly where in the evolutionary tree the fossil may fit and opens up the possibility that it may have come into contact with modern man, Homo sapiens, which moved into Asia around 55,000-40,000 years ago. Scientists have yet to obtain DNA from the fossilised jawbone, but if they were able to, this could help them work out which species it is most closely related to. During their study, the scientists found that the teeth are much larger than other Homo erectus fossils found in Asia at the time when the new species is thought to have been alive. Instead they more resembled the teeth of fossils that were 400,000 to 800,000 years old. In general the jaws and teeth of ancient human species grow smaller over time. Yet this jaw was found to be much larger than those of other species living at the time. This graphic above shows how the Penghu 1 fossil may fit into the complex timeline of human evolution . Homo erectus remains, like the one above, have been dated to between 1.6 million and 500,000 years ago . The scientists claim that it is similar to remains of another robust-jawed fossil, identified as an early Homo erectus , in Hexian, in the Anhui Province of China.The new finding suggests that these may belong to another unique branch of the human tree. Some anthropologists, however, believe that it may be the remains of a sister group of the Neatherthals known as the Denisovan, which lived in Siberian Asia. Professor Chris Stringer, research leader in human origins at the Natural History Museum in London who was not involved in the latest study, said: 'This enigmatic fossil is difficult to classify, but it highlights the growing and not unexpected evidence of human diversity in the Far East, with the apparent co-existence of different lineages in the region prior to, and perhaps even contemporary with, the arrival of modern humans some 55,000 years ago.' He added: 'The jawbone also has some resemblances to even earlier H. erectus fossils from Africa, Java and Dmanisi (in Georgia), and to some Homo heidelbergensis fossils from Africa and Europe. 'But it does not sit easily in the latter samples, nor with other later Pleistocene archaic Chinese fossils such as Dali, Jinniushan and Xujiayao. The new fossil had a larger and more powerful jaw than this forensic reconstruction of Homo erectus . 'One plausible comparison is with the Siberian 'Denisovans', known from ancient DNA recovered from a fragmentary fossil finger bone and two very large molar teeth. 'If Penghu is indeed a long-awaited Denisovan jawbone, it looks more primitive than I would have expected.' Other scientists have said that the fossil could be an unusually enlarged example from an existing species as skull sizes are known to vary considerably within species. Dr Simon Underdown, principal lecturer in anthropology at Oxford Brookes University and vice president of the Royal Anthropological Institute, warned against rushing to attribute this fossil to a new species. He said: 'The discovery of this jaw in the fishing nets of a vessel off Taiwan while not a normal form of archaeological excavation is an exciting find. 'While the authors of the paper suggest that it could represent a new species of Homo, because it’s teeth are unlike other Asian Homo erectus, we should be careful before adding this fossil to a new species and attaching it to the family tree. 'The analysis of several Homo erectus skulls from Dmanisi in Georgia published in 2013 show that a huge amount of variation can exist in one species and reminds us that we should always take care when dealing with isolated individual fossils.' | Unusually thick lower jawbone with large teeth found 15 miles out to sea .
Fishermen working in the Penghu channel off Taiwan found it in their nets .
Fossil is thought to be around 200,000 years old and is much larger than the mandibles of other ancient human species living in Asia at the time .
Experts believe it could belong to a previously unknown primitive human .
Homo erectus was thought to be the only ancient human living in the area .
Scientists say there may have been several species of early humans living in Asia until the arrival of modern humans around 55,000 years ago .
Some experts say the jawbone could also be from a large skull of a known species or provide evidence that a Neanderthal-like species lived in Asia . |
Keywords: <keyword>KONG POLITICS</keyword>, <keyword>BANK HONG</keyword>, <keyword>DEMOCRACY REACHED</keyword>, <keyword>BEIJING SAID</keyword>, <keyword>CHA COMMENTS</keyword>, <keyword>SUGGESTING WAIT</keyword>, <keyword>SAID HSBC</keyword>, <keyword>RIGHTS SLAVERY</keyword>, <keyword>PROTESTERS SIT</keyword>, <keyword>STANDARD NEWSPAPER</keyword>
HSBC director Laura Cha was quoted as making the comments at an event in Paris . A boss at HSBC bank has sparked fury among pro-democracy campaigners in Hong Kong by suggesting they should wait to get the right to vote like slaves in the United States had to do. Laura Cha, who is a Director at the British-owned bank and sits on their Conduct and Values Committee, was quoted as making the comments at an event in Paris. 'American slaves were liberated in 1861 but did not get voting rights until 107 years later. So why can't Hong Kong wait for a while?' the Standard newspaper on Thursday quoted Cha as saying. Cha said democracy could not be reached in just one step and warned that investors' confidence in Hong Kong was at a critical point, the newspaper added. Thousands have since signed an online petition denouncing her comments and demanding an apology. Cha, who is a member of Hong Kong's policy-making Executive Council, chairwoman of the city's Financial Services Development Council and a member of China's parliament, said in a statement that she meant every country's path to democracy was evolved in its own historical context. She added she did not mean any disrespect and was sorry her comments had caused concern. HSBC's Asia-Pacific chief Peter Wong said he had noticed the speech from Cha but that he would stick to the bank's principle and 'refrain from commenting on political items and issues'. The Financial Services Development Council did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The comments triggered outrage on social media and nearly 6,000 people had signed the petition by Friday evening. The web site of the petition said it had been launched by Jeffrey Chan from Hong Kong. It only appeared to be in English. Protests: For more than a month, key roads leading into three of Hong Kong's most economically and politically important districts have been barricaded with wood and steel by thousands of protesters . 'We, the Hong Kong public, will not stand these remarks likening our rights to slavery, nor will we stand the kind of voter disenfranchisement her and her associates attempt to perpetrate on the Hong Kong public,' said the petition to HSBC, that sought an apology from Cha. The petition is addressed to the HSBC board of directors and is signed 'The People of Hong Kong'. China has ruled Hong Kong since 1997 through a 'one country, two systems' formula which allows wide-ranging autonomy and freedoms not enjoyed on the mainland and specifies universal suffrage as an eventual goal. But Beijing said in August it would screen candidates who want to run for the city's election for a chief executive in 2017, which democracy activists said rendered the notion of universal suffrage meaningless. Pro-democracy protesters sit on a barricade in the occupied area of the Mong Kok district of Hong Kong,this week . For more than a month, key roads leading into three of Hong Kong's most economically and politically important districts have been barricaded with wood and steel by thousands of protesters. The protests drew well over 100,000 at their peak. Hundreds of demonstrators remained at the main protest site in Admiralty district close to government buildings on Friday night, some dressed in Halloween costumes. A Kim Jong-Un impersonator flashes the v sign to the crowd in Hong Kong today . The highlight was an impersonator of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who showed up to support the protesters. The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, which was established in 1865 to finance growing trade between Europe, India and China, has for decades been the most prominent retail and commercial bank in Hong Kong, using the city as a bedrock for its global expansion. HSBC has the largest branch network in mainland China of a foreign bank. The controversy is the latest to drag HSBC into Hong Kong politics. Earlier this year, Next Media said HSBC and Standard Chartered PLC had pulled millions of dollars worth of advertisements from Apple Daily after they were pressured by Beijing. Apple Daily is owned by media magnate Jimmy Lai, an outspoken critic of Beijing who has supported pro-democracy activists through his publications and with donations. HSBC and Standard Chartered have said the decision to pull the advertising was for commercial reasons. Cha's comments came just days after Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying triggered a wave of criticism when he said that free elections were unacceptable partly because they risked giving Hong Kong's poor and working class a dominant voice. Financial Secretary John Tsang is due to visit Beijing on Monday to discuss issues of mutual concern, the Hong Kong government said late on Friday. | HSBC director Laura Cha made the offensive comments at an event in Paris .
She said US slaves did not get voting rights until 107 years after liberation .
Then asked: 'So why can't Hong Kong wait for a while?'
Cha is a director of HSBC and sits on its Conduct and Values Committee .
She is also a member of Hong Kong's Executive Council and a Chinese MP .
Thousands have signed an online petition demanding an apology . |
Keywords: <keyword>RESCUE TRUCK</keyword>, <keyword>TERMINATOR FILM</keyword>, <keyword>ICE ROBOTIC</keyword>, <keyword>NIFTY REMOTE</keyword>, <keyword>CAMERAS INSTALLED</keyword>, <keyword>WATCH CAR</keyword>, <keyword>PSEUDONYM TRAXXALU</keyword>, <keyword>EXPLORATORY</keyword>, <keyword>MAGOG CANADA</keyword>, <keyword>CAPTURE MINIATURE</keyword>
It's hardly worthy of a Terminator film, but the owner of the remote controlled vehicles in this video footage must have a lot of time on his hands. The oddly compelling footage, shot in Magog, Canada last month, shows a the exploits of a remote controlled car as it ventures out onto a frozen lake. Using cameras installed in the vehicle, viewers can watch as the car becomes stuck in a patch of thin ice shortly after it embarks on its exploratory mission. Luckily for the owner - who uses the online pseudonym 'Traxxalu' - help was at hand in for the form of a nifty remote controlled rescue truck, complete with a robotic arm and snow chains. Using a second on-board camera, the footage shows the modified truck retracing the steps of the first vehicle, before a nail-biting rescue bid unfolds. The owner of this remote controlled car used a camera installed in the front seat see as drives onto the lake . The oddly compelling footage was shot in Magog, Canada late last month . Shortly after embarking on its icy mission, the car gets stuck as a wheels falls through a patch of thin ice . The robotic arms can be seen struggling for a moment as it tries to attach itself to the stricken car, but eventually manages to hook a tow-lead to the bumper, before pulling it back to safety. 'Traxxalu' later wrote online: 'I hadn't realized that the stream hadn't frozen all the way, the slash broke the ice... it was a stressful situation'. The well-prepared owner then sends a remote controlled rescue truck to find the stricken vehicle . Cameras installed in the front seats of both vehicles capture the miniature rescue mission . The remote controlled resuce truck uses a robotic arm to attach a tow lead before carting the car off to safety . | On-board camera shows remote controlled car as it gets stuck in ice .
Oddly compelling footage was shot in Magog, Canada last month .
Remote controlled car is rescued by a remote controlled tow truck .
Truck uses robotic arm to attach a tow lead and pulls the car to safety . |
Keywords: <keyword>SWIMWEAR INDUSTRY</keyword>, <keyword>BIKINI UNLESS</keyword>, <keyword>SAGGY SWIMSUITS</keyword>, <keyword>PREFER WEAR</keyword>, <keyword>PERCENTAGE WOMEN</keyword>, <keyword>LEARN MODESTY</keyword>, <keyword>AVERAGE NUMBER</keyword>, <keyword>AMERICAN</keyword>, <keyword>PIECE STRING</keyword>, <keyword>2012 RESEARCHED</keyword>
(CNN) -- Do you prefer a one-piece or a string bikini? Swim trunks or a snug Speedo? Whatever you select, your choice isn't made in a vacuum under the florescent lights of a fitting room. History has informed the bathing suit styles of today, in ways we might never imagine. Click through the gallery above to learn how modesty, function and the evolution of style have affected the suits you take to the water, and look below for a collection of facts about swimwear. $17.6 billion: The estimated revenue of the worldwide swimwear industry in 2015, according to research firm Global Industry Analysts. 4: The average number of bathing suits an American woman owned in 2012, as researched by Statistics Brain statisticians. 20: The percentage of women who said they are concerned what the general public thinks when they wore a bathing suit, according to a recent survey by clothing company Land's End. 7 in 10 : The number of women who told Land's End they prefer to wear one-piece swimwear. 46: The percent of U.S. men who feel their abs aren't ready to show off at the beach or pool, according to a 2011 survey by "Anytime Fitness." 1920s: The decade Australian swimwear company Speedo makes the first non-wool bathing suit. July 5, 1946: Louis Reard introduced the "bikini" at a popular Paris swimming pool. (A similar swimsuit, called the "atome," was introduced around the same time, by fashion designer Jacques Heim.) 30 square inches: The amount of fabric in one of the first bikinis. In one of Reard's ad campaigns, he claimed a bikini wasn't a real bikini unless it could be pulled through a wedding ring. Anybody got a robe? Anyone? 1958:The year textile company Lycra says scientists created the eponymous fabric that would benefit saggy swimsuits everywhere. 1964: The first year Sports Illustrated published a swimsuit edition. $12.95: The modern price of a ladies' vintage-style rubber swim cap with flowers on it from The Vermont Country Store. Photos: Happy birthday, blue jeans! | The average American woman owns four bathing suits .
There were 30 square inches in one of the first bikinis .
The swimwear industry estimates $17.6 billion in revenue for 2015 . |
Keywords: <keyword>OFFICERS SHOT</keyword>, <keyword>SCREAM VILLAIN</keyword>, <keyword>KILLED LAPD</keyword>, <keyword>911 REPORT</keyword>, <keyword>ANGELES MAN</keyword>, <keyword>POLICE BICYCLE</keyword>, <keyword>MOVIES POSE</keyword>, <keyword>MAN KNIFE</keyword>, <keyword>VIDEO WARNING</keyword>, <keyword>INTERSECTION HORRIFIED</keyword>
A man shot and killed by Los Angeles police on Friday night in Hollywood regularly dressed up as the villain from the horror movie series Scream in order to pose with tourists in return for money, according to people who claim they knew him. LAPD have yet to release the man's name but they have described him as a young, white adult male. Two Los Angeles police bicycle officers shot and killed the man just before 7 p.m. on Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue after someone called 911 to report a man with knife. He is not believed to have been dressed as the Scream villain when he was shot. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO - WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT . Shooting: Police are pictured shooting a man near the Hollywood and Highland intersection in Los Angeles . The man shot and killed by LAPD police on Friday night in Hollywood regularly dressed up as the villain from the horror movie series Scream in order to pose with tourists in return for money . Deputy Chief Terry Hara said the suspect was threatening the crowd and the officers and was carrying a 3- to 4-inch folding knife. Cops fired several rounds, leaving his body laying on a corner as shocked witnesses looked on. The shooting occurred just a few hundred feet from the Dolby Theater, where the Academy Awards are held, and one of the most popular tourist spots in Hollywood. But some locals are saying the man was merely a street performer known as 'J' who would pose with tourists holding a prop knife made of plastic. Danny Howe, who sings on Hollywood for tips, said he saw the man three or four days in the past week working as the 'Scream' character for photo tips. Scene: The officers (pictured), who have not been named, were called to the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and North Highland Avenue on Friday evening after receiving a report of an assault with a deadly weapon . Weapon: When they arrived at the scene, they found a man wielding a weapon - belived to be this thick silver knife, pictured - and shortly after, fired at least one round at him, the police's Media Relations Office said . 'He scares people for a living,' he told KPCC. 'It kind of makes you wonder that if you scare people for a living, the cops are going to come.' The area of Hollywood Blvd where he was killed is near the famous Walk of Fame and is renowned for its street performers who dress up in costumes and play roles to the amusement of tourists. Many of the performers dress up as characters from Hollywood movies, who pose with tourists for photos in exchange for tips. The man shot was said to be impersonating the character from Scream, a 1996 horror movie, about a masked man with a knife who murders teenagers with a knife as pictured below. LAPD is not releasing any information on the shooting, except for tweeting a picture of a folding knife laying near the body, perhaps a Swiss Army Knife, carried by boy scouts everywhere. More than a thousand protesters dressed in black clothes marched up and down Hollywood Boulevard Saturday night to protest against the police shootings. Aerial view: The man was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center with serious injuries, where he remained in a critical condition for several hours before passing away. Above, an aerial view of police cars at the scene . Expressing her shock: Lisa Bregman was driving through the intersection at the exact moment of the shooting. She tweeted a couple of graphic photos of the incident, along with the comment: 'I'm in shock' Nearby: Twitter user, Raina Pratto, said she could hear police arriving at the scene, saying: 'Apparently LAPD just shot a man at Hollywood and Highland. I can see and hear the helicopters flying, sirens wailing' Intersection: Witness Jordan White posted a photo of the shooting to Facebook, accompanied by the caption: 'Police just shot a man in the head 10 times for no reason right in front of me.' Above, the intersection . Horrified: Twitter user Al Maddin expresses his shock at the inident, during which officers reportedly fired at the unnamed man 10 times. He wrote: 'Woah! #LAPD just shot a dude 10 times in the head' | Man shot by LAPD on Friday has yet to be named, but friends says he was a street performer known as 'J' who would pose with tourists .
Two officers shot and killed the man just before 7 p.m. on Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue .
Cops fired several rounds, leaving his body laying on a corner as shocked witnesses looked on .
The area of Hollywood Blvd where he was killed is near the famous Walk of Fame and is renowned for its street performers . |
Keywords: <keyword>SYED TWEET</keyword>, <keyword>AIRLINE LOST</keyword>, <keyword>FLY BRITISHAIRWAYS</keyword>, <keyword>AIRWAYS BUSINESSMAN</keyword>, <keyword>MESSAGE BAGGAGE</keyword>, <keyword>COMPLAINT HASAN</keyword>, <keyword>ABSOLUTELY PATHETIC</keyword>, <keyword>DISGRUNTLED CUSTOMER</keyword>, <keyword>BA DID</keyword>, <keyword>UNITED</keyword>
By . Ellie Buchdahl . PUBLISHED: . 11:18 EST, 3 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:36 EST, 4 September 2013 . When his airline lost his father's luggage, Hasan Syed took to Twitter to complain. But instead of griping to his friends and one or two followers about British Airways, the businessman paid to have his tweet promoted - sending it to the top of BA's Twitter feed and the feeds of related companies across the world. Under his handle @HVSVN, Mr Syed's promoted tweet read: 'Don't fly @BritishAirways. Their customer service is horrendous.' Complaint: Hasan Syed's tweet has now been removed, but not before it attracted tens of thousands of views . Mr Syed bought the promoted tweet through Twitter's self-service ad platform for an undisclosed sum of money. He then followed up his initial message with a series of posts criticising the airline for losing his parents' luggage on their weekend trip from Chicago to Paris. 'BritishAirways is the worst airline ever. Lost my luggage & can't even track it down. Absolutely pathetic' he wrote. This was followed with: 'Thanks for ruining my EU business trip #britishairways. I shouldn't have flown @BritishAirways. Never flying with you again.' Promoted tweets are usually bought by advertisers who want to reach a wider audience, and who pay for the message to appear in high prominence in the Twitter feed of relevant companies. They also appear in search results for a promoted trend and in some cases on users' timelines, while still acting as normal messages that can be retweeted by anyone. But Mr Syed's tweet, which targeted UK and New York markets related to BA, did the exact opposite of advertising the airline. The airline took four hours to respond to Mr Syed via a direct message on the social networking site that read: 'Sorry for the delay in responding, our twitter feed is open 09:00-17:00 GMT. Please DM [direct message] your baggage ref and we'll look into this.' Delay: British Airways lost Mr Syed's parents' luggage during their trip from Chicago to Paris . But the tweet had already been read by thousands of viewers, according to aviation marketing cosultants SimpliFlying, and within six hours had gained more than 25,000 impressions on Twitter - not including its coverage on popular blogs such as Mashable, which first reported the story. They blamed the delay on its Twitter feed only being open '0900-1700 GMT,' rather than 24 hours, and asked the customer to send over his luggage information in a direct message. A spokesperson for the airline said: 'We would like to apologise to the customer for the inconvenience caused. We have been in contact with the customer and the bag is due to be delivered today.' Marty St. George, senior vice president of marketing at JetBlue, tweeted: 'Interesting; a disgruntled customer is buying a . promoted tweet slamming a brand where they had a bad experience. That's a . new trend itself!' In 2009, Dave Carroll and his band, Sons of Maxwell, took on United Airlines in 2009 with the video United Breaks Guitars detailing how United had failed to reimburse Carroll after his guitar was broken in 2008. The video went viral. And a complaint letter sent to Richard Branson, complaining about the food on Virgin Atlantic planes, also went viral in 2009. Branson himself phoned the author of the letter for his 'constructive if tongue-in-cheek' email and invited him to select the food and wines for future Virgin flights. | Businessman pays 'undisclosed sum' for complaint against British Airways to be promoted on Twitter .
Tweet gained more than 25,000 impressions within six hours .
Commentators say promoted tweets herald new trend in online feedback . |
Keywords: <keyword>ALLEGATIONS UKIP</keyword>, <keyword>HARASSED GENERAL</keyword>, <keyword>NATASHA BOLTER</keyword>, <keyword>MESSAGES SAYING</keyword>, <keyword>RELATIONSHIP MISS</keyword>, <keyword>BIRD PREGNANT</keyword>, <keyword>PROPOSITIONED DINNER</keyword>, <keyword>FARAGE ARRIVED</keyword>, <keyword>ADVANCES MR</keyword>, <keyword>WASN REALLY</keyword>
The Ukip chief suspended over claims he sexually harassed a party candidate today released text messages which he claims proves they were in a relationship. Natasha Bolter, a key speaker at the party's annual conference, claimed general secretary, Roger Bird, propositioned her over dinner. But Mr Bird hit back, insisting it was a 'consensual' relationship, during which she sent him messages saying: 'I love u and miss u and think u r sort of perfect'. Exit: Natasha Bolter leaves her home today after she quit UKIP claiming she had been sexually harassed by the general secretary . Claims: Natasha Bolter, a key speaker at the party's annual conference, claimed general secretary, Roger Bird, propositioned her over dinner . Ukip was plunged into a new sleaze row after Miss Bolter claimed to have been the victim of unwanted advances from Mr Bird. She told The Times the harassment happened on the day that he interviewed her as a prospective candidate. After that evening Ms Bolter claims she was sent a string of anonymous 'bullying' emails, accusing her of having sex with Mr Bird and even being pregnant with his child. Mr Bird today claimed they were 'in a relationship briefly' and has texts and emails to clear his name. One message, from November 1, allegedly sent by Miss Bolter states: 'I love u and miss u and think u r sort of perfect...' On November 2 a text said: 'I love u bird and wish u let me look after u. Hope u feel better xx.' And a message sent on Novermber 9 said: 'I am really missing u bird...' Miss Bolter denies any romantic or sexual contact. The row is a major blow for Ukip leader Nigel Farage who has battled to show he has improved the professionalism of his party. 'Dinner invitation': Labour defector Natasha Bolter has now quit UKIP claiming she was sexually harassed by a senior official . Roger Bird today released details of these text messages sent to him by Miss Bolter to the Telegraph, which he says proves they had a 'consensual' relationship . The 35-year-old, who is of mixed race, yesterday pulled out of hustings in South Basildon, where she was expected to be selected as parliamentary candidate in the winnable seat, which is currently held by the Tories. Miss Bolter said: 'He asked if we could continue the interview at the Oxford and Cambridge Club that evening. 'I thought it was because I was nervous. [But] when I went I could see that he wasn't really interested in what I had to offer as a politician. 'He took me down to the snooker room and said, 'I find you very attractive'. He said: 'Would you like to come home with me?' Ukip suspended Mr Bird last night 'following allegations of impropriety... with regard to candidate selection'. Neil Hamilton, the former Conservative MP who is now Ukip's deputy chairman, has been parachuted in as a last-minute candidate for South Basildon. Mr Bird, 41, today claimed that he had a consensual relationship with Miss Bolter. He told the BBC: 'We were in a relationship briefly, but that relationship developed well after she had been admitted to the approved candidates list, so her selection was not connected to that.' He later told The Telegraph: 'I am going to make my case. Everything I am saying is backed by emails and text messages. There are plenty of emails and text messages between us which how it was a consensual relationship with interest on both sides. 'I have done nothing wrong. I am a single man, she is also single, we are both single people who conducted a consensual relationship outside the office. 'I'm very sorry that a story like his should have arisen because it detracts from our [Ukip's] central messages. The party had to respond in a formal way and conduct an appropriate investigation.' Miss Bolter defected to Ukip from Labour in September – a move that was seen as a huge coup for the party. She claimed that Mr Bird continued to try to sleep with her after she told him that she was not interested. The Times said that in October he invited her for a second time to visit the Oxford and Cambridge Club, where membership is limited to those who attended the two universities. 'He asked me to pop into his office first at 5pm. If the general secretary of the party rings you and says that, you go,' Miss Bolter said. Allegations: Ukip general secretary Roger Bird, 41, pictured with Dartford candidate Elizabeth Jones, has been suspended over the claims . She claimed that because she was wearing jeans and was not smart enough to eat at his club, Mr Bird bought her a £169 Ted Baker dress and shoes, telling her she 'now looked like a girl who could get in a taxi'. She claimed that at this second meeting, after a heavy meal, Mr Bird 'leant over and tried to kiss me'. 'It was obvious that he wanted to sleep with me,' she said. 'He said, 'I can help you, I'm supporting you'. 'I was quite adamant that I'm not going to sleep with him or anyone [in Ukip]. It's hard enough for women. We shouldn't have to sleep with people to get to the right place.' Miss Bolter said she left feeling 'very upset' and complained to party officials, who began an investigation that led to Mr Bird's suspension last night. She also alleged there was a catalogue of racism and sexism in the party and said she was told by another candidate that her only job was 'to look pretty and to get us votes'. On another occasion a local party chairman allegedly told her that a woman with a young baby was a 'f***ing Pole' who 'hasn't worked out the benefits system and how to get a free pushchair'. Last night, Ukip did not respond to messages from the Daily Mail. A spokesman told The Times that it would not comment on the allegations. He said the first knowledge the party had that anything was wrong was on November 5. Ukip suspended Mr Bird last night 'following allegations of impropriety... with regard to candidate selection'; pictured above is the party's leader, Nigel Farage, as he arrived for a radio interview last week . An internal inquiry was started the next day and Mr Bird was suspended following the submission of a 'draft report' by external consultants on 7 December. The spokesman said: 'The UK Independence Party took action swiftly and decisively, including steps involving external human resources consultants, as well as following due process and the party's constitution to the letter . . . [Ukip] will not tolerate impropriety of any kind amongst its staff. 'Unfortunately, Ukip has had to suspend Mr Bird pending a full investigation into allegations made against him.' Mr Bird was a Tory councillor in Wandsworth, South London, before leaving the party in 2009. He joined Ukip the next year. Prior to entering politics he was an auditor. He has been general secretary of the party since July 2014 and is also the party chairman for the South East of England. It is understood the allegations do not relate to any potential illegality and police are not involved. Mr Bird declined to comment to The Times. | Natasha Bolter claims Ukip general secretary Roger Bird propositioned her .
Alleges Bird asked her 'Would you like to come home with me?'
Claims he bought her £169 Ted Baker dress so she could dine at his club .
Bird rejects harassment claims and says they were in a relationship .
He has revealed texts which he says show it was 'consensual'
But Bolter,35, denies any romantic or sexual contact with the 41-year-old .
He was paid £75,000 by Ukip and was candidate for the Mole Valley seat .
Ukip suspended Mr Bird last night 'following allegations of impropriety'
Mr Bird's picture has already been removed from the party's website . |
Keywords: <keyword>OLYMPICS WOMEN</keyword>, <keyword>GABBY</keyword>, <keyword>UNASSUMING GYM</keyword>, <keyword>CELEBRITY EVERYDAY</keyword>, <keyword>GIRLS WENT</keyword>, <keyword>FOUNDATION GENDER</keyword>, <keyword>LONDON 2012</keyword>, <keyword>IOWA DOUGLAS</keyword>, <keyword>BOXING RECOGNIZES</keyword>, <keyword>CNN WARM</keyword>
(CNN) -- It's a warm day in West Des Moines, Iowa, a small town in America's heartland. Off a main thoroughfare, an unassuming gym sits in a strip mall. People come and go, passing a young woman sitting in a desk chair just inside the gym's front door, getting her hair and makeup done. She is Gabby Douglas, and when the women's gymnastics all-around gold medal was placed around her neck at the London 2012 Olympics, she became an instant superstar. When we met her at the gym her host family owns, she was busy smiling, jumping and posing for a photo shoot with Seventeen Magazine. Here, in the middle of Iowa, Douglas continues to work and train, and balance new-found celebrity with everyday life. One year after the 2012 Olympics, it is just one example of how everything and nothing has changed. The London event was heralded as "the Women's Games" and for good reason -- for the first time, every country and every event allowed women to compete. Exactly a century after the founder of the modern Olympics said "an Olympiad with females would be impractical, uninteresting, unaesthetic and improper," the International Olympic Committee, or IOC, celebrated the most equal Olympics to date. Some countries, like the United States and China, actually sent more women than men. And for the first time ever, Brunei, Qatar and Saudi Arabia had women on their national teams. Saudi Arabia was long seen as the last holdout, its hand eventually being forced by the IOC, which delivered an ultimatum: send women, or face a ban from all Olympic competition. In a country where women can't vote until 2015, can't play sports in public schools, and can't even drive, the Middle East country had to find female athletes to represent it. The search turned up two women -- Sarah Attar and Wodjan Sharkhani. Attar, a dual citizen of Saudi Arabia and the U.S., grew up in California. Normally a marathon runner, she was told less than two months before the Games began that she would be running the 800-meter race in London. "It was definitely a big thought process going into it," Attar told CNN's "An Uneven Playing Field" documentary in her first television interview since the Olympics. "It wasn't something that I'd been working for, for so long, which so many Olympians do, and essentially it came down to, how could I not go?" The sight of Attar on the running track dressed in leggings, long sleeves and a special head-covering brought international attention to an otherwise routine 800m heat. And while she finished dead last, she was celebrated around the world for her historic accomplishment. But not everyone was pleased with Saudi's compliance. Back in the kingdom, Attar and 16-year-old teammate Sharkhani faced criticism and threats. On Twitter, someone started the hashtag "prostitutes of the Olympics" in Arabic, and many wondered if Attar and Sharkhani -- who lost her first judo match in less than two minutes -- were truly trailblazers, or token entrants. "It really was a brilliant moment," says Alison Kervin, sports editor of The Mail on Sunday, and the UK's first female sports editor of a major British newspaper. "But when those girls went back to Saudi Arabia and all these other countries, whether that led to girls in their countries suddenly putting on trainers and throwing off their burkas and getting out on the running track, I'm not sure. "One Games, over two weeks, however wonderful it was, isn't enough to change the face of women's sport." While the IOC also admits more needs to be done, particularly in getting more women into leadership positions in sport, there is no doubt London 2012 was worth celebrating for most -- but not all. English athlete Samantha Rippington disputes the claim that all the events included women. She is a canoeist, competing at world championships but not at the Olympics -- because her sport is not included. The event of "canoe and kayak" is grouped -- allowing the IOC to say all events include women, when technically they don't. "It's very frustrating," said Rippington. "There's 36, 37 countries competing or developing women's canoe around the world, so I know there are athletes who are at standard, who want to race, and are very much capable of racing at the Olympics." It shines a light on another inequality at the Olympics -- the medal count. At London 2012, men had the chance to compete in 163 events, while the women had only 131 events. Some events, like boxing, had fewer weight classes available to women, even though women's international boxing recognizes more than the three chosen for the London Olympic program. Rippington filed a discrimination claim against the London Organizing Committee last year. And while she wasn't able to get women's canoe added to the London 2012 program, she continues the fight for the next Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2016. But the women who did get their chance last year took full advantage. Many of the most memorable faces of the 2012 Games were females -- like the UK's Jessica Ennis, Douglas and her "Fierce Five" teammates, the U.S. women's football side and Chinese swimmer Ye Shiwen. Despite the challenges that remain, London 2012 provided a foundation for gender equality in sport. It produced countless female role models, heroes, and champions -- and for 17 days in time, leveled the playing field. "It's the start isn't it," said Kervin. "Hopefully we'll look back in 20, 30 years and remember that first Olympics when it started and then go, 'Gosh you wouldn't imagine an Olympics not full of women.' "So it's just a start of a very big process, and it was a fantastic start." | A year on from the Olympics have attitudes towards women's sport changed?
Women competed in every event at 2012 and were on every single team .
Led to hopes the fight against inequality in sport could be transformed .
Games produced countless role models, heroes, and champions . |
Keywords: <keyword>NEWCASTLE DEFENDER</keyword>, <keyword>TAYLOR SUFFERED</keyword>, <keyword>SUNDERLAND SCORE</keyword>, <keyword>PREVENT STEVEN</keyword>, <keyword>WEAR DERBY</keyword>, <keyword>RETURNED PITCH</keyword>, <keyword>COLLISION POST</keyword>, <keyword>CUT EYE</keyword>, <keyword>TOUCHLINE RECEIVING</keyword>, <keyword>ST JAMES</keyword>
Newcastle defender Steven Taylor suffered due to his bravery after heavily colliding with the post during the second-half of the Tyne-Wear derby at St James' Park. The 28-year-old managed to prevent Steven Fletcher scoring for fierce rivals Sunderland with the score locked at 0-0 but clattered into the post and managed to cut his eye lid and cheekbone in the process after the brutal collision. Taylor was quickly attended to by the Newcastle medical staff before spending seven minutes on the touchline receiving treatment and returned to the pitch to a heroes welcome from the home crowd but couldn't prevent a defeat for the home side. VIDEOS Scroll down to watch . Newcastle defender Steven Taylor had a nasty collision with the post during the second-half . The incident occurred early in the second-half as the feisty derby game became more stretched. Sunderland striker Connor Wickham managed to clip in a lofted cross from the right in front of the Newcastle goal, evading the reach of Jak Alnwick in goal, leaving Taylor the last man. Taylor managed to force Fletcher's aim past the post but heavily landed and immediately fell to the ground. Mike Williamson was called to start warming up in order to replace Taylor but the local lad was determined to play on but Sunderland ran out 1-0 winners with Adam Johnson's last minute winner. Taylor receives attention from the Newcastle medical team after the collision cut his eye and cheek . TV replays show the extent of Taylor's brave defending as he lunged in front of Sunderland's Fletcher . Taylor bounces back off the post after preventing Fletcher from scoring during the Tyne-Wear derby . Both sets of players expressed their concern for Taylor's well being but he was luckily back on his feet quickly . Fortunately the Newcastle medical team quickly attended the nasty cuts on Taylor's eye lid and cheekbone . Taylor seemed in a lot of pain but was fortunately relatively unhurt after the heavy collision onto the post . | Newcastle's centre back heroically stopped Steven Fletcher scoring .
Cut eye lid and cheekbone during collision against the post .
The 28-year-old went off for treatment but returned to the pitch to play . |
Keywords: <keyword>RUSSIA INTERNET</keyword>, <keyword>ELECT PUTIN</keyword>, <keyword>ACTIVISTS RUSSIAN</keyword>, <keyword>DEMOCRATIC NETWORK</keyword>, <keyword>LEGITIMACY ELECTORAL</keyword>, <keyword>PLATFORMS IDEOLOGIES</keyword>, <keyword>KHODORKOVKSY REALISM</keyword>, <keyword>NAVALNY TWEETED</keyword>, <keyword>POWERS TECHNOLOGY</keyword>, <keyword>YESTERDAY OVERESTIMATED</keyword>
(CNN) -- The Russian spring may have been postponed this year, both on and offline. Last December, after the spontaneous popular demonstrations in Moscow against the "results" of the parliamentary elections, suggested that Russia's internet hamsters might be outfoxing Vladimir Putin. But I'm afraid that this weekend's Presidential elections have reestablished the primacy of the old regime over internet activists. Indeed, even President elect Putin may now be outsmarting popular bloggers like Alexei Navalny. So much then for the transformational power of the democratic network; so much, too, for the power of digital society to rearrange power in Russia. The problem is that the Internet doesn't have transcendental powers. Technology is just technology. It can't magically invent political parties, platforms, ideologies or leaders. And it certainly can't transform the well-intentioned democratic activists on Russian social networks like Vkonkakte and Live Journal into coherent organizations that can effectively challenge Putin's leviathan state. As one of Moscow's savviest political observers emailed me yesterday about the current political situation in Russia: "It shows that the best defense against revolution are not tanks and security forces, but a phony compromised opposition created by the government to preempt any real opposition. "It also shows that the opposition that does exist is still very much a limited Moscow phenomenon. The Internet is only a medium. It can't create an appealing opposition candidate out of a bunch of clowns. It also can't create a middle class where there is none." And as Alexei Navalny tweeted yesterday: "We overestimated ourselves. We thought the rest of the country knew what we know." So why doesn't the rest of Russia know what the anti-corruption activist Navalny knows? According to Edward Shenderovich, a Moscow based venture capitalist who runs Kite Ventures, it's because Putin controls the media. Of the 140 million people who live in Russia, Shenderovich explains, only 35 million of them are on the internet. The rest rely for their information on radio, television and newspapers which are mostly managed by Putin apologists and allies. The opposition is not only mostly limited to Moscow, but it's also politically naive. Last night, in Moscow's Pushinskaya square, protestors gathered to demonstrate against the legitimacy of Putin's electoral coronation. It was a slightly disappointing turnout (around 20,000 people) and after Alexei Navalny and presidential candidate Mikail Prokhorov spoke, a rump of the crowd became embroiled with the riot police. According to Gazeta.ru, all the talk amongst the resistors was to set up a tent city along the idealistic lines of the Occupy Wall Street movement. But haven't these Russian activists been keeping up with the news from America? If the Occupy Movement in Manhattan's Zucotti Park couldn't fight Michael Bloomberg's New York City cops, then what chance does a Moscow civic protest camp have against Vladimir Putin's tens of thousands of heavily armed militiamen? Fortunately, there are some political realists who understand that the most effective way to resist Putin isn't through a directionless Occupy Movement or via absurd theatrical stunts like the FEMEN activist in Moscow who bared her breast at the Moscow polling station where Putin had just voted. "The opposition now has to recognize the agonizing fact that creative flash-mobs won't get rid of Putin. We need to learn stubborn, routine and -- at a first hipster glance -- useless old-school political work," noted the Opposition leader Vladimir Milov yesterday . Nor will more high-tech digital technology get rid of Putin. Indeed, the regime has cynically appropriated cutting-edge technologies such as "transparent ballot boxes" to establish its honesty. Putin even installed 180,000 web cameras at Russian polling stations in a surreal attempt to prove the legitimacy of an electoral system that is anything but radically transparent. If there is to be a political spring in Russia, it may be led by the ex CEO of Yukos, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once the wealthiest man in Russia and now a prisoner in a very low tech Siberian labor camp. Khodorkovksy has penned a seven point plan for the opposition which include a focus on peaceful protest, the establishment of two or three political parties, getting activists out of Moscow into the regions and establishing working pacts with moderates within Putin's regime. Khodorkovksy' realism is echoed by the venture capitalist Edward Shenderovich. Demonstrations in Russia will continue, he explained to me. But while the internet is a great "communications platform" for organizing people and collecting money, politics, Shenderovich told me, exists "outside" the online world. The focus, he insists, should be on building a clear opposition leader and platform that will challenge what he calls "the most corrupt society in the world." "Putin beats the spread", noted Matthew Rojanksy, deputy director of the Russia and Eurasia Program. The losers in the Presidential election, he explained, were the middle class, young people and the United States. But Rojansky left out a fourth loser from Sunday's election: the Russian internet. • Follow @ajkeen on Twitter . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Andrew Keen . | Digital commentator Andrew Keen says primacy of Russia's old regime re-established .
He says opposition politically naive to think digital technology will get rid of Putin .
In country with limited internet access, politics exists outside online world, argues Keen . |
Keywords: <keyword>TREAT HAYFEVER</keyword>, <keyword>JABS PRESCRIBED</keyword>, <keyword>TOXIC INJECTION</keyword>, <keyword>ANTIHISTAMINE TABLETS</keyword>, <keyword>KENALOG JABS</keyword>, <keyword>TRIAMCINOLONE CORTICOSTEROID</keyword>, <keyword>SUPPRESSING IMMUNE</keyword>, <keyword>MEASLES WEEKS</keyword>, <keyword>NHS REJECTED</keyword>, <keyword>SYMPTOMS SUFFERERS</keyword>
By . Craig Mackenzie . PUBLISHED: . 05:57 EST, 7 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:22 EST, 8 July 2013 . As 12 million British hayfever sufferers struggle with the worst season for years, they are turning to private clinics for a 'wonder-cure' jab the NHS no longer offers because it is too 'toxic'. Internet forums have been swamped by people fuming at not being able to get the injections from their GPs. For many years, kenalog jabs were prescribed to those with the most severe symptoms, but they were withdrawn when it was realised they left patients at greater risk from contagious illnesses. Suffering: People with hayfever are turning to private clinics who inject patients with a powerful drug which the NHS has rejected as 'toxic' The injection contains the drug . triamcinolone, a corticosteroid that suppresses the body's immune system . to prevent allergic reactions to pollen. But it leaves the body open to infections such as chicken pox and measles, for three weeks after being administered. Other potential side effects include bone . pain, easy bruising and bleeding, severe stomach and abdominal pain, . shortness of breath and irregular heartbeats. The 50mg or 100mg doses are 10 or 20 times stronger than the oral steroid tablets now offered on the NHS. In tablet form the steroid can be regulated for its effect on the body. Keeping the pollen at bay: A sufferer wears a mask in a field of rape seed. Jabs have been withdrawn by GPs . By suppressing the immune system, kenalog also leaves people unable to cope with serious illness or the trauma caused by an accident or sudden shock, for example being in a car crash. Many of those posting on the internet believe the kenalog jabs have been withdrawn as a cost-cutting measure, but doctors fear the public simply does not realise how harmful this powerful drug can be. Desperate: There are 12 million people with hayfever in Britain who are suffering in the worst season for years . Dr James Cave, who edits the Drugs . And Therapeutic Bulletin, said: 'Let's be clear, it's incredibly . effective but just as you can light a barbecue with petrol, you can . treat hayfever with kenalog, and I seriously suggest you don't because . of the dangers associated with it. 'Kenalog does not have a place in treating hayfever, due to its significant side effects. 'For . three weeks after having the injection your immune system is . suppressed, which means you are seriously at risk of infections like . chicken pox and measles. 'Likewise . if you have a serious illness or a road traffic accident, you may not . be able to cope with the stress, with kenalog suppressing your own . stress reactions.' Dr Cave said oral steroid tablets when . needed, combined with daily antihistamine tablets, nasal sprays and eye . drops, work for most sufferers. This combination could be needed during the heatwave forecast for the rest of July. Dr Margaret McCartney, a GP from Glasgow, added: 'This is not a drug that is suitable for hayfever, because its side effects outweigh dramatically any possible benefits. 'You can get the benefits in far less toxic ways.' Beverley Adams-Groom, from the National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit, warned that the pollen count will return to 'very high' for the next two weeks. She said: 'The good news is that the better the weather during the main flowering season, the shorter the season will be, as the grasses become exhausted of pollen under continuing favourable conditions. 'The bad news is that very high counts mean greater symptoms for sufferers and a higher number of people are affected. 'We are now about halfway through the main grass pollen season. 'Fine weather forecast for much of July in the South means that the season should be over before the end of the month. 'In the northern regions, the weather outlook is not so good and this will extend the season a little into August, although there will be a mixture of risk over that time period.' | Twelve million people suffering in the worst season for years .
Internet swamped by people angry that GPs have withdrawn injections .
Doctors warn of jab side effects leaving the body open to infections . |
Keywords: <keyword>PUBLISHERS AUTHORS</keyword>, <keyword>AMAZON ROYALTIES</keyword>, <keyword>AMAZON ISIS</keyword>, <keyword>WYLIE SLAMMED</keyword>, <keyword>SALMAN RUSHDIE</keyword>, <keyword>REPRESENTS CLAIMS</keyword>, <keyword>SPAT LITERARY</keyword>, <keyword>INDUSTRY COWERED</keyword>, <keyword>DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL</keyword>, <keyword>JACKAL ABILITY</keyword>
Spat: Literary agent Andrew Wylie has has slammed Amazon as an 'ISIS-like distribution channel' A leading literary agent has slammed Amazon as an 'ISIS-like distribution channel' in a speech on the future of the publishing industry. Andrew Wylie, also known as 'The Jackal' for his ability to negotiate large advances from publishers for the authors he represents, made the claims in a keynote speech at a festival for authors in Toronto, Canada. His anger at the online retailer stems from Amazon's 'brutal' tactics over royalties, comparing them to the terror group which has cut a swathe of terror across Iraq and Syria. Mr Wylie, who represents heavyweights like Salman Rushdie, Philip Roth and Martin Amis, said: 'I believe with the restored health of the publishing industry and having some sense of where this sort of Isis-like distribution channel, Amazon, is going to be buried and in which plot of sand they will be stuck, [publishers] will be able to raise the author’s digital royalty to 40 per cent or 50 per cent,' he said. 'Writers will begin to make enough money to live.' He also urged publishers to take a stand against the might of Amazon over royalties, adding that publishers should never have agreed to give the company 30 per cent of digital profits. If publishers stand together they can exert influence over what he called a 'digital trucking company' to profit more from their digital book sales in the future, The Guardian reports. Mr Wylie added: 'The publishing industry, up until now, has cowered and whined and moaned and groaned and given Amazon pretty much everything they want. Now I think that’s going to stop.' His latest comments are not the first broadside he has fired at Amazon. In March he said: 'If you have a choice between the plague and Amazon, pick the plague,' and said its publishing programme 'stands out for its idiocy'. He also turned his withering gaze on the self-publishing phenomenon and EL James' 50 Shades Of Grey calling it 'one of the most embarrassing moments in western culture.' Andrew Wylie was born in 1947 in New York and raised in Sudbury, Massachusetts. He graduated from Harvard College in 1970, and in 1980 established The Wylie Agency in New York. He also urged publishers to take a stand against the might of Amazon. Pictured, the Amazon Fulfilment Centre at Rugeley, Staffordshire, one of eight in the UK . | Andrew Wylie criticised the company over royalties paid to writers .
He comparing them to the terror group operating in Iraq and Syria .
Wylie is known as 'The Jackal' for his ability to negotiate large advances . |
Keywords: <keyword>RESTAURANT LILLE</keyword>, <keyword>OPENING RESTAURANTS</keyword>, <keyword>FREE BURGERS</keyword>, <keyword>QUEUES STARTED</keyword>, <keyword>KING OPENED</keyword>, <keyword>FRANCE NEW</keyword>, <keyword>SALES TIME</keyword>, <keyword>AMERICAN FAST</keyword>, <keyword>PASSER CAPTURED</keyword>, <keyword>FREEZING CONDITIONS</keyword>
It has long had a reputation as one of the fine dining capitals of the world – but fast food was the order of the day in France when a new Burger King opened its doors. Thousands waited in line for the opening of a new restaurant in Lille in the north of the country with managers promising free meals as part of an opening day promotion. A passer-by captured footage of enormous queues forming outside the new Burger King as crowds waited for hours to be among the first to walk through the doors of the outlet. Scroll down for video . Thousands waited in line for the opening of a new Burger King restaurant in Lille, northern France . A passer-by captured footage of enormous queues forming outside the new Burger King as crowds waited for hours to be among the first to walk through the doors of the outlet . According to local reports, queues started forming at about 3pm on Sunday – despite freezing conditions - after the American fast food giant offered free burgers for the first 6,000 customers. The outlet opened at about 5pm for the five-hour giveaway. Burger King has started a programme of re-opening restaurants in France – 18 years after retreating from the country. Queues started forming at about 3pm on Sunday – despite freezing conditions - after the American fast food giant offered free burgers for the first 6,000 customers . The 600 sq m restaurant, at Lille’s Euralille shopping centre, is reported to have 300 seats and is expected to employ nearly 100 people . Burger King has started a programme of re-opening restaurants in France – 18 years after retreating from the country . According to Newsflare, the company blamed poor sales at the time of the retreat in 1997. The 600 sq m restaurant, at Lille’s Euralille shopping centre, is reported to have 300 seats and is expected to employ nearly 100 people. Metronews reported that employees clapped as the doors were opened for the first time. The website quotes Burger King France CEO Jocelyn Olive as saying: ‘This restaurant is the first step in an ambitious deployment strategy in Lille.’ | Thousands queued for the opening of a new Burger King in Lille, France .
Passer-by captures video of customers waiting outside in dismal weather .
American fast food giant had offered free meals for the first 6,000 diners .
Burger King retreated from France 18 years ago blaming poor sales figures .
But the company has recently started to reinntroduce outlets in the country . |
Keywords: <keyword>SUCCESSFUL LIFE</keyword>, <keyword>COLLAPSED EXHAUSTION</keyword>, <keyword>DAILY TIPS</keyword>, <keyword>MEDITATION EXERCISE</keyword>, <keyword>FOUNDED HUFFINGTON</keyword>, <keyword>WANTED PRACTICAL</keyword>, <keyword>WAYS CREATE</keyword>, <keyword>BOOK POWER</keyword>, <keyword>WORKPLACE OPERATES</keyword>, <keyword>DEFINITION</keyword>
(CNN) -- On April 6, 2007, I woke up in the morning in a pool of blood. I had collapsed from exhaustion and hit my head on the corner of my desk, cutting my eye and breaking my cheekbone. In the weeks after, as I waited to get test results from various doctors on my health, I kept asking myself what kind of life was I living? What kind of success was I after? Even though I had founded Huffington Post two years before, I was still working 18 hours a day, seven days a week. By conventional definition of success, I was very successful. But by any sane definition, I was not living a successful life. I was on my way up in the ways that don't matter. And on my way down -- literally -- in many ways that do. My life, I realized, was out of control. I was not thriving. I realized that we need to redefine success so that it's not just about money and power. When I decided to write a book about our collective need to redefine success, I wanted it to be as practical as possible, filled with daily tips, tools and techniques that are easy to incorporate into our lives. This is no simple matter. Changing deeply ingrained habits is difficult. And when many of these habits are the product of deeply ingrained cultural norms, it is even harder. The challenge in redefining success has to do with slaying old habits and liberating ourselves from our complacency. We also have to find our individual thread. When we do that, no matter what life throws our way, we can use the thread to help us navigate the labyrinth of daily life and come back to our center. For me, the thread is something as simple as my breath. I have worked to integrate certain practices into my day -- meditation, walking, exercise -- but the connection that conscious breathing gives me is something I can return to in an instant during many times of the day. A conscious focus on breathing helps me introduce pauses into my daily life, brings me back into the moment, and helps me transcend upsets and setbacks. It has also helped me become much more aware of when I hold or constrict my breath, not just when dealing with a problem, but sometimes even when I'm doing something as mundane as putting a key in the door or reading an e-mail. When I use my breath to relax the contractions in my body, I can follow this thread back to my center. Humans lead complex lives, and one of the traits we've developed that has allowed us to be such productive creatures is the ability to make many learned traits and responses an automatic part of our lives, buried so deeply in the inner workings of our subconscious that they no longer require conscious thought. We might think we're in charge of our thoughts and behavior -- captains of our ship, turning the wheel this way and that -- but so often it's actually our autopilot that's in control. I'm reminded of the time when a friend took a family trip on a cruise ship. Her 10-year-old son kept pestering the crew, begging for a chance to drive the massive ocean liner. The captain finally invited the family up to the bridge, whereupon the boy grabbed hold of the wheel and began vigorously turning it. The boy's mother panicked until the captain leaned over and whispered to her not to worry because the ship was on autopilot; her son's maneuvers would have no effect. In the same way, if we're not able to reprogram our autopilot, all our protestations of wanting to change will be as pointless as the little boy furiously turning the wheel on the cruise ship. Reprogramming the autopilot takes different amounts of time for each of us. What makes it easier is focusing on "keystone habits"; when you change one of them, it makes changing other habits easier. "Keystone habits start a process that, over time, transforms everything," Charles Duhigg says in his book, "The Power of Habit." For me, the most powerful keystone habit has been sleep. Once I changed the amount of sleep I was getting, and started regularly getting seven to eight hours of sleep a night, other habits, such as meditation and exercise, became easier. One of the best ways to create positive keystone habits is to use our social support. Given that we're social creatures, it's much easier to create and reinforce new, positive habits in a social network, with a group of friends or colleagues who can band together for mutual encouragement. Even if the culture of your workplace still operates with the traditional definition of success, you can gather around you a group of like-minded people who want to not just succeed but thrive. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Arianna Huffington. | Arianna Huffington: On April 6, 2007, I woke up in the morning in a pool of blood .
Huffington: I realized that my life was out of control; I was working 18 hours a day .
She says we need to redefine success so that it's not just about money and power .
Huffington: In my new book, I discuss ways for how we can thrive, not just succeed . |
Keywords: <keyword>MISS SCHRODER</keyword>, <keyword>SYDNEY CRUISE</keyword>, <keyword>MISSING CARNIVAL</keyword>, <keyword>PASSENGERS DISEMBARKED</keyword>, <keyword>RAN AGROUND</keyword>, <keyword>DIED TRAGIC</keyword>, <keyword>VIDEO PAUL</keyword>, <keyword>COUPLE FEARED</keyword>, <keyword>FALL BELIEVED</keyword>, <keyword>REMAINS SEALED</keyword>
By . Harriet Arkell . and Richard Shears . The young couple feared to have plunged to their deaths from a luxury cruise liner off the coast of Australia may have died in a tragic accident, a source said today. Paul Rossington, 30, and Kristen Schroder, 27, were discovered missing when the Carnival Spirit liner docked in Sydney yesterday. As a massive sea and air search for the pair was called off today, authorities were said to be looking at the theory that Miss Schroder fell first and her panic-stricken boyfriend then jumped in to try to save her. Scroll down for video . Paul Rossington, 30, and Kristen Schroder, 27, have been missing since Wednesday from the Carnival Spirit . 'Paul was trying to save her,' a source who asked not to be identified told the Australian Associated Press. Security footage on the boat is said to show the pair falling overboard from the mid-deck of the boat as it travelled down the New South Wales' mid-north coast just before 9pm local time on Wednesday. Initially police were unable to determine who had fallen into the sea first, but after the footage had been enhanced, they could see that it was estate agent Miss Schroder who plunged first from the 65ft-high deck, followed about 20 seconds later by her boyfriend. They were reported missing 12 hours later after the boat had docked at Sydney's Circular Quay at the end of its 10-day cruise. Staff noticed the couple had failed to collect their luggage when the rest of the 2,680 passengers disembarked. Survival expert Dr Paul Luckin said if the couple, from Barraba, near Tamworth in NSW, had survived the impact of hitting the water, fatigue would be their biggest problem. Dr Luckin, who advises the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said he would not expect anyone to last as long as three days after falling from a ship. He told the Sydney Morning Herald: 'If you're stuck in the water and constantly being hit in the face by water, that is tremendously fatiguing... 'It will certainly be under three days that you would expect somebody to survive without water in those conditions.' Holiday: The couple was on holiday with a group of seven relatives and friends when they went missing on Wednesday night . Mr Rossington, a paramedic, and his . girlfriend had been on holiday on the cruise around the Pacific Islands . with a group of seven relatives and friends. Their cabin on the ship remains sealed off while forensic officers inspect it, although the ship did set sail from Sydney on its next cruise at 6.30pm last night. NSW police marine area commander Mark . Hutchings said the couple's fall was not believed to be suspicious, and . officers were inspecting the ship's CCTV footage. He said: 'It’s very unclear, but it does depict one person going over and then a short time (later) another person going over.' The ship was about 120km (75 miles) off the coastal town of Forster when the couple plunged into the sea. A statement released by Carnival Cruise Lines said: 'As part of our standard protocol, a full ship search was conducted as well as examination of closed circuit video. 'There is indication from the shipboard video of what transpired. 'There is no evidence of foul play. However, out of respect for the families, we are not going to publicly disclose the details of what occurred.' The firm's spokesman said the rails on the cabin balconies are higher than the required standard. CCTV: Police studying enhanced CCTV footage from the ship's cameras believe Miss Schroder fell into the sea first . Carnival Cruise Lines, operated by Miami-based Carnival Corp, has been beset by a . series of problems and onboard crimes including power outage, rape, . sickness and theft. Several lawsuits have been launched against Carnival - but whether complainants will have any success is doubtful as the cruise company has a legal structure that shields it from big-money lawsuits. Many passengers will have unknowingly signed Carnival's contracts prohibiting them from class action lawsuits, while the small print also bans them suing on the grounds of emotional distress. Inspection: Police combed the cruise ship while it was berthed at Sydney's Circular Quay before it set sail again . Passengers for the next Carnival Spirit cruise lined up ready to board it yesterday as the search of the ship continued . Search: Authorities had carried out a massive sea and air search for the missing couple after they fell overboard . The Carnival Spirit liner set sail again last night on another cruise, but the couple's cabin remained sealed off . VIDEO: WATCH THE POLICE STATEMENT ABOUT THE MISSING COUPLE . January 2012: The Costa Concordia ship, owned by a division of Carnival, ran aground off the coast of Italy, killing 32 . February 2012: A group of 22 passengers from the Carnival Splendor was robbed by Mexican bandits during a guided sight-seeing trip ashore in the seaside resort of Puerto Vallarta. August 2012: A teenage girl was gang-raped on board the Carnival Sensation during a four-day cruise around the Bahamas. Last month, 32-year-old Casey Dickerson was jailed for 20 years for his part in the rape. December 2012: Carnival Corporation reported a big drop in profits after what its chief executive Micky Arison called its 'most challenging year in our company's history'. The company saw a string of cancellations following the Costa Concordia tragedy, and said it was also affected by high fuel prices and a weak European economy. February 2013: Thousands of passengers endured filthy conditions aboard the Carnival Triumph after an engine room fire left the ship drifting for five days without power or sanitation. Passengers said sewage washed along corridors after toilets overflowed and fights broke out over food as supplies ran low while the boat drifted in the Gulf of Mexico before being towed in. March 2013: Passengers were flown home early after lavatories overflowed leaving human waste 'sloshing in the corridors' of Carnival Dream during Caribbean cruise. March 2013: The Carnival Elation had to be towed back to shore after its steering mechanism failed. March 2013: The Carnival Legend lost speed because of mechanical difficulties forcing crew to cancel a scheduled stop at Grand Cayman and turn the ship around, slowly heading back to port in Tampa. | Paul Rossington, 30, and Kristen Schroder, 27, fell from Carnival Spirit liner .
Ship's CCTV shows them falling at 8.50pm on Wednesday off NSW coast .
Massive sea and air search called off nearly 48 hours after pair go missing .
Carnival cruise line beset by problems including sickness and power outage . |
Keywords: <keyword>ESCAPED CAR</keyword>, <keyword>VAUXHALL TIGRA</keyword>, <keyword>LAUREN ZAJAC</keyword>, <keyword>DRIVEN SECOND</keyword>, <keyword>UNLOCKING DRIVER</keyword>, <keyword>LEAKING PETROL</keyword>, <keyword>OLD WOMAN</keyword>, <keyword>BAD BURNS</keyword>, <keyword>SUSTAINED MINOR</keyword>, <keyword>JUST BELIEVE</keyword>
By . Sara Smyth . PUBLISHED: . 03:35 EST, 10 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:48 EST, 10 May 2013 . A 20-year-old woman escaped from her car after it caught fire and automatically locked the doors and windows. Lauren Zajac, was driving from work in Clapham, South London to her family home in Sidmouth, Devon, when the engine of her Vauxhall Tigra exploded into flames. However, Miss Zajac acted quickly by turning on the car's engine, unlocking the driver's door and leaping out of the vehicle safely. This was the first and only time she has driven the second hand car, which she bought the day before. The burning Vauxhall Tigra, just moments after Miss Zajac escaped. The seven-year-old vehicle had been bought from a second hand dealer the day before . Lauren Zajac, 20, re-started the engine of her car after it caught fire, so she could unlock the doors and escape . Miss Zajac said she spent 'too much' on the second-hand Vauxhall Tigra. The car's alarm system triggered an automatic lock, leaving Miss Zajac trapped inside her vehicle. She re-started the engine so she could open the door and flee the scene, just seconds before the car exploded. She said: 'I'm lucky to be alive. It was absolutely terrifying. It was a real nightmare and I'm just thankful to still be around. 'I was driving into Sidmouth and the car just caught fire. 'I went to slow down but the alarm system went off and it shut down and locked me in. 'I tried to smash the window, but it was really difficult and I was panicking. 'It was very scary and I was terrified. 'Luckily I managed to start the car and jumped out while it was still moving. 'It was like something out of James Bond. 'I literally had seconds before the whole car blew up.' Miss Zajac, who works as a marketing area manager, suffered burns to her legs from the blaze but says she was lucky to have sustained minor injuries. She ran to a nearby friend's house to get help and firefighters were called to the scene near Sidmouth, Devon. She lost £1,400 worth of belongings in the burnt-out car, including an iPhone and clothes. The 20-year-old said she paid 'too much' for the second hand car, which she won't be able to drive again. 'There were no windows or tyres left. It was completely burnt out. I'm fully insured so that's something. 'I'm just pleased to have got out in one piece. They weren't bad burns so I got away very lightly. 'My car was gutted and I lost £1,400 worth of belongings, including my iPhone, clothes and satnav, said Lauren. It is believed that the seven-year-old Vauxhall Tigra was leaking petrol and . oil during the drive from London to Devon. Miss Zajac said: 'It didn't look like there was anything wrong with it when I bought it. I'd only bought the car 16 hours earlier in London and it was my first journey in it. 'It . must be something to do with me and cars because I wrote off my last . one, a Ford Fiesta, after rolling it. I just can't believe it.' Laurn Zajac (right) had bought a Vauxhall Tigra (pictured left) just 16 hours before it caught fire. She said she paid 'too much' for the car . | Lauren Zajac, 20, was driving car for first time when engine caught fire .
Alarm system automatically locked doors and windows of Vauxhall Tigra .
Escaped by re-starting car and climbing out before it exploded .
Lost £1,400 worth belongings in the blaze and suffered burns to legs . |
Keywords: <keyword>ENGRAVED WIMBLEDON</keyword>, <keyword>ANDY</keyword>, <keyword>RECEIVING TROPHIES</keyword>, <keyword>ZOLTOWSKI STARTED</keyword>, <keyword>DJOKOVIC</keyword>, <keyword>YEARS ENGLAND</keyword>, <keyword>RETURNED POLAND</keyword>, <keyword>MAN DRIVING</keyword>, <keyword>FATHER BELIEVED</keyword>, <keyword>WORKING HALFHIDE</keyword>
Andy Murray’s name was engraved on the Wimbledon trophy last year by a 76-year-old man who had driven 850 miles across Europe. Roman Zoltowski makes the annual odyssey from his home in Poland in his 52-year-old open-top MG sports car to perform his cherished role at the Championships. He will be back again this year to engrave the men’s and ladies' trophies for the 35th successive year. Engraver: Roman Zoltowski makes an annual odyssey from his home in Poland to perform his cherished role at the Wimbledon Championships . Mr Zoltowski said: ‘A 76-year-old man driving from Poland in his 52-year-old car to do the engraving – it’s quite surreal isn’t it?’ ‘I sit in the engraving room, under the Royal Box just off Centre Court, with the television so I can watch the game. ‘The trophy is presented to players on court. When it comes back, covered in sweat and kisses, I engrave it and return it ready for interviews with the champion.’ Married father Mr Zoltowski started the job in 1979 while living in Wimbledon, south-west London, and working for Halfhide, the jewellers who supply the trophies and silverware to the All England Club. He has continued the job even after returning to his native Poland in 1995. Mr Zoltowski cannot fly because the small, sharp chisels he uses are considered offensive weapons by airlines. Winner: Andy Murray of Britain poses with the trophy after defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia during the men's singles final match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon last July . So instead he packs them into his car – together with anglepoise lamps, dusters, silver cleaning fluid, tapes and magnifying glasses - and sets off in the middle weekend of the championship to make his trans-Europe trek to be in SW19 in time for the finals. 'A 76-year-old man driving from Poland in his 52-year-old car to do the engraving – it’s quite surreal isn’t it?' Roman Zoltowski . He also fills up with provisions including sandwiches, cheese, liver, sausages and energy drinks for the 18 hour journey which takes him through Germany, Holland and Belgium, stopping off with friends on route. His job has become harder in the last four years after the All England Club decided to include Christian names rather than initials on the trophy. He added: ‘Sunday is stressful. You learn to switch off. You don’t talk. But the weekend is the highlight of my year. I'm not ready to retire and wear slippers yet. Victory: Marion Bartoli of France hoists the championship trophy as she celebrates her victory over Sabine Lisicki of Germany in the women's final of the Wimbledon Championships in South-West London last July . ‘My year divides between before and after Wimbledons. It's a special moment receiving the trophies after they've been presented to the players.’ 'My year divides between before and after Wimbledons. It's a special moment receiving the trophies after they've been presented to the players' Roman Zoltowski . Mr Zoltowski and his family fled to Britain in 1947 after their home was seized by the Communists and turned into a collective farm. They had earlier been sent to Siberia by the invading Russians, where his father is believed to have been shot by what is now the KGB. After the fall of the Iron Curtain, Mr Zoltowski and his siblings bought back their old family home and returned to Poland. | Roman Zoltowski, 76, started the job in 1979 while living in Wimbledon .
He has continued job even after returning to his native Poland in 1995 .
This year will engrave men's and ladies' trophies for 35th year in a row .
Drives 850 miles from Poland because his chisels mean he cannot fly . |
Keywords: <keyword>SYRIAN EMBASSIES</keyword>, <keyword>SYRIA BAN</keyword>, <keyword>OMAN QATAR</keyword>, <keyword>COUNTRIES SUSPENDED</keyword>, <keyword>GULF COOPERATION</keyword>, <keyword>CIVILIANS PREVENT</keyword>, <keyword>INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE</keyword>, <keyword>COUNCIL CLOSE</keyword>, <keyword>DEATHS YEAR</keyword>, <keyword>SIGNS TORTURE</keyword>
(CNN) -- The six countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council will close their Syrian embassies, the council said Thursday, calling on the international community "to stop what is going on in Syria." The action, the council said, "confirms its position rejecting the Syrian regime's persistence in killing unarmed Syrian people and ignoring all efforts to resolve the current tragic situation in Syria." Abdullatif Al-Zayani, the council's secretary-general, "also called on the international community to take urgent and firm actions to stop what is going on in Syria including killing, torturing and flagrant violations of the human rights of the Syrian people." Council members include the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait. Nations including the United States and France previously have closed their embassies in Damascus, while Italy, Britain and Spain are among countries that have suspended embassy activities. The Syrian conflict is entering its second year, with President Bashar al-Assad's fierce crackdown against anti-government enclaves showing no signs of ending. More than 8,000 civilians have been killed during the conflict, the United Nations says, but opposition activists said the overall toll is more than 9,000, mostly civilians. The numbers have exceeded 9,700 and are "fast approaching 10,000," said Rafif Jouejati, spokeswoman for the Local Coordination Committees of Syria, an opposition activist network. International officials in a Syrian-led mission will attempt to gauge humanitarian conditions across the turbulent nation this weekend as world powers push for open entree to provide much-needed relief. Valerie Amos, U.N. under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, said Thursday the government will lead a mission to the provinces of Homs, Hama, Tartous, Latakia, Aleppo, Deir Ezzor, Rif Damashq and Daraa. U.N. and Organization of Islamic Cooperation officials will accompany the mission, she said. "It is increasingly vital that humanitarian organizations have unhindered access to identify urgent needs and provide emergency care and basic supplies," she said in a written statement. "There is no time to waste." The United States is providing over $12 million in humanitarian assistance through the U.N. and other humanitarian organizations for relief, including $5.5 million to the U.N. refugee agency, $3 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross, $3 million to the World Food Program and $1 million to non-governmental organizations, the State Department said. Iran, an ally of Syria, said it sent medicine and medical equipment to Syria, Iranian media reported. A plane carrying 40 tons of aid arrived in Damascus. Iranian Ambassador to Syria Mohammad Reza Raouf Sheibani said Iran would send more relief, such as food, ambulances, tents and blankets, "to Syria's crisis-hit areas." Iran's Red Crescent Society said Wednesday that the supplies were sent in response to a call by the Syrian Red Crescent Society. The unrest continued on the first anniversary of the Syrian uprising, the widespread grass-roots resistance to the policies and rule of al-Assad. Similar uprisings across the Arab world, from Tunisia to Yemen, and the populace's grinding political and economic grievances inspired the protests. "One year ago today, Syrians emboldened by the changing tide of history in their region stood up in the streets of Damascus to appeal for their universal rights and freedoms," U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement on Thursday. A few days later, security forces cracked down on hundreds who turned out in the southern city of Daraa, angry about the mistreatment of local children who were jailed for painting anti-government graffiti. The violence in Daraa sparked the regime crackdown and catalyzed the uprising, which spread to many cities across the country. "The Syrian authorities responded with brutal repression, which has continued unabated. Its consequences are tragically unfolding before the world's eyes," Ban said. Along with the thousands of deaths this year, countless other people are missing, thousands are injured and thousands have been displaced. And as the international community ponders a solution, the daily carnage seems endless. "It is urgent to break the cycle of violence, stop military operations against civilians and prevent a further militarization of the conflict in Syria," Ban said. The embattled regime pressed on Thursday in its assault across Idlib province, where there is strong opposition sentiment. According to the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), government security forces, which have been bombarding the city of Idlib, cleared it of "terrorist" elements, confiscated explosives and weapons and battled "armed terrorist groups" in the surrounding countryside. At least 23 people were found dead Thursday morning near a farm west of Idlib, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London-based opposition group. The bodies, which bore clear signs of torture, were found blindfolded, bound and shot, the activist group said. At least 37 people in Idlib were among the 46 who died in Syria Thursday, the LCC said. Government forces with large-caliber machine-guns, tanks and mortars fired "indiscriminately at buildings and people in the street. After they entered Idlib, government forces detained people in house-to-house searches, looted buildings, and burned down houses," Human Rights Watch said, citing witness accounts. Residents in and around Idlib are fleeing to Turkey, according to a Turkish diplomatic source, with 1,000 Syrians crossing into the country over the previous 24 hours. Syria is trying to plant mines along the border and deploy a large number of soldiers to the area, the source said. "This is the reason that prevents a mass influx of Syrians into Turkey. Otherwise it would be tens of thousands, not just thousands," the source said. At present, there are 14,000 Syrian refugees in Turkey, and the government is working to set up new camps. Two Turkish journalists who had gone missing during a visit to Idlib province have been seized by regime supporters in the village of el-Fua and handed over to the Syrian secret service, Turkey's Anadolu Ajansi news agency reported. There was no immediate comment from Turkey's Foreign Ministry. It is not known where they been taken. Aside from the deaths in Idlib, the LCC reported other deaths in Hama, Daraa, Homs and Aleppo. The opposition Free Syrian Army struck a security force vehicle in the Daraa province town of Tafas and killed the passengers inside. Security forces entered the town and clashes were reported between soldiers and the FSA -- the resistance force led and made up of military defectors. "The regime's tanks have deployed in Tafas and are firing indiscriminately leading to several martyrs," the LCC said. Al-Assad's regime routinely insists "armed terrorist groups" are behind the bloodshed in Syria. It says it has popular support for its actions, and Thursday, government news outlets reported thousands of Syrians gathering in city squares to show their "love" and loyalty" for their homeland. CNN cannot independently confirm reports of casualties or attacks in Syria because the government has severely restricted the access of international journalists. But most reports from inside the country indicate the regime is slaughtering civilians to wipe out dissidents seeking al-Assad's ouster. The al-Assad family has ruled Syria for more than four decades. World powers have slammed the al-Assad regime. The Netherlands and Bahrain are the latest countries to close their Damascus embassies. Kofi Annan, the U.N.-Arab League special envoy on Syria, will brief the U.N. Security Council on the situation in a closed teleconference Friday. Annan, who met last weekend with al-Assad in Damascus, has been trying to get responses from Syrian authorities to proposals laid out over the weekend for ending the bloodshed. SANA reported Thursday that the Syrian Foreign and Expatriates Ministry "welcomed the visit of the technical team, formed by the U.N. Special Envoy to Syria Kofi Annan, to discuss some issues related to his mission in Syria. The ministry added the step comes in the framework of the efforts exerted by Syria to make Annan's mission a success." "City after city, town after town, Syria's security forces are using their scorched earth methods while the (U.N.) Security Council's hands remain tied by Russia and China," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "One year on, the Security Council should finally stand together and send a clear message to (al-Assad) that these attacks should end." Russia and China have balked at supporting tough U.N. Security Council action against Syria. Human Rights Watch said a resolution should also "provide for targeted sanctions against officials involved in the abuse and an embargo on arms delivery to the Syrian government, and refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court." CNN's Nic Robertson, Kareem Khadder, Amir Ahmed, Ivan Watson, Joe Sterling, Ashley Hayes and journalist Anna Ozbek contributed to this report. | NEW: The six Gulf Cooperation Council countries close their Syrian embassies .
An assessment mission will start this weekend, a U.N. official says .
The death toll is "fast approaching 10,000," an activist says .
U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan will brief the U.N. Security Council on Friday . |
Keywords: <keyword>MCCOIST DEALING</keyword>, <keyword>SACKED IBROX</keyword>, <keyword>BOARD RANGERS</keyword>, <keyword>NEWCASTLE MANAGING</keyword>, <keyword>ALISTAIR LEAVE</keyword>, <keyword>MANAGER ALLY</keyword>, <keyword>FOLLOWING POOR</keyword>, <keyword>THOUGHT JIMMY</keyword>, <keyword>GARDENING LEAVE</keyword>, <keyword>ONGOING COST</keyword>
Ally McCoist decided to quit as Rangers manager after becoming increasingly dismayed and disillusioned by events behind the scenes. Friday night’s Championship defeat to Queen of the South was a fitting end to a miserable day for the Ibrox club. And Sportsmail understands McCoist has had enough following job losses to long-serving staff as part of an ongoing, cost-cutting programme . Ally McCoist watched Rangers lose 2-0 at Queen of the South on Friday night . It’s thought Jimmy Sinclair, head of the club’s youth academy at Murray Park, is set to be the next victim of the cull. McCoist has reached the point where he is willing to give up more than £400,000 of the settlement he would be due had he instead been sacked by the Ibrox board. The 52-year-old handed in his notice on Thursday but will serve out that 12-month period unless the directors negotiate a deal over his contract or place him on gardening leave. That has effectively created a stand-off with the board as Rangers are in the grip of a cash crisis — requiring fresh funding in the New Year — and cannot afford to pay up the terms of his rolling contract. Rangers chief executive Charles Green (top row centre) talks to Ally McCoist before the match . By leaving under his own accord, McCoist is understood to be due 12 months’ cash. He took a 50-per-cent pay cut to aid the club earlier this year but his severance is based on his original £800,000 salary. Had he been sacked, however, it is believed he would have been eligible for an 18-month pay-off. The dramatic development over his future emerged just hours before Rangers travelled to Dumfries for last night’s match. McCoist was in the dugout but for how long will be the question after this latest extraordinary twist in the Ibrox saga. He was already under pressure from fans following poor results this season but, as has become the norm at Rangers, finance will dictate what happens next. Last night McCoist repeatedly refused to deny he’d offered his resignation when quizzed about the day’s events after the 2-0 loss. Rangers Manager Ally McCoist (right) was the centre of attention at Queen of the South . Asked if fans deserved clarity, he said: ‘I think they will probably get some clarity. I obviously can’t comment myself. I think the club will probably comment. I would just like to take this opportunity to thank the fans for their support. They certainly didn’t get a performance tonight and I’d like to apologise for that.’ He added: ‘I’m the Rangers boss and I’ll be doing everything to make sure we get back in the fight for promotion. I have absolutely no comment on rumours.’ Pressed on whether the board had approached him upon hearing the reports, he replied: ‘I’ve no comment to make on speculation. ‘We will be back in tomorrow and I will be acting as if nothing has changed. I told them (the players) I was the Rangers manager and I’d continue to be Rangers manager.’ As for the day of fevered analysis, McCoist said: ‘I’m stating the obvious when I say it’s not ideal preparation but, in the grand scheme of things, it’s been an eventful three-and-a-half years, so nothing shocks me any more. Queen of the South's Kevin Holt rifles his free-kick into the net to break the deadlock . ‘I wouldn’t say I’m angered. I was completely focused on the game. It’s my job to manage the team and prepare them — and we did that. ‘But I have to say to the Rangers fans it was absolutely not good enough and there are no excuses. ‘You can’t make any excuses about speculation. It’s not good enough.’ Pressed on reports his players were heading for a Christmas night out tomorrow, McCoist said: ‘I wouldn’t say they are confined to barracks, but they will be in.’ Rangers are thought to be closing in on a new chief executive and finance director but Derek Llambias, former Newcastle managing director and ally of Mike Ashley, is currently playing a significant role in the running of operations. That has involved redundancies to a number of staff in recent times as all aspects of the business are analysed. McCoist is thought to have been considering his own position for weeks after feeling increasingly drained by the situation. And one source said: ‘A lot of good people have been leaving Ibrox recently and now it seems Ally will go. Gavin Reilly fires home to put his side 2-0 up against Rangers . ‘There has been an increasing level of noise around his position and that has deflected attention away from real issues. ‘Maybe he is thinking that by taking a step back, the spotlight will now shine on the club and the people responsible for its future. ‘We all know significant funding is required and the directors will have to provide answers at the AGM. ‘Many people who have Rangers at heart have been dismissed but the pay of a maintenance man or a groundsman can’t come close to the amount of money that has haemorrhaged from this place. ‘McCoist has been dealing with the trauma of good, honest people being sacked as well as keeping the team on track for promotion. ‘I’m sure he is aware his side can be better but it could be said he has done more to keep Rangers together than anyone else. ‘This is not him walking away. The club will always be a part of him. He might be taking a rest after the most physically and emotionally draining period of his life.’ Former team-mate Stuart McCall, a contender to replace McCoist, said last night: ‘When the news broke, I was gutted. For Alistair to chuck it in after what he has been through… he’s not that type. ‘Something has happened and we don’t know what. If Alistair was to leave, the legend that he is, it would be a blow. Everyone talks about dignity, he has been a great figurehead of this club.’ | Ally McCoist has had enough following job losses to long-serving staff .
He handed in his notice on Thursday and will serve out 12-month notice .
Rangers boss willing to give up more than £400,000 to aid settlement . |
Keywords: <keyword>HARASSING LETTERS</keyword>, <keyword>TARGETED MUSLIMS</keyword>, <keyword>MARGARET WALKER</keyword>, <keyword>73 ALLEGED</keyword>, <keyword>SCOTTISH ABUSIVE</keyword>, <keyword>UK CLAIMS</keyword>, <keyword>WOMAN ACCUSED</keyword>, <keyword>COMPLAINING IMMIGRATION</keyword>, <keyword>POLICE CONTINUE</keyword>, <keyword>CAMPAIGN LEAFLETS</keyword>
By . Rob Preece . PUBLISHED: . 07:36 EST, 11 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 08:10 EST, 11 September 2012 . 'Abusive': Margaret Walker, 73, is alleged to have targeted Muslims, the Chinese, Jews and the Scottish in letters sent across the UK . An elderly woman accused of sending hundreds of racist letters has told a court that she wanted to raise issues she feels 'the establishment' are ignoring. Margaret Walker, 73, is alleged to have targeted Muslims, the Chinese, Jews and the Scottish in abusive correspondence sent across the UK. She claims the letters are necessary because police in Britain are 'not doing their job properly'. Walker is contesting an attempt by police to give her an anti-social behaviour order, banning her from sending any more offensive letters. Police say that Walker told them she will continue to send the handwritten 'campaign leaflets' until she is ordered to stop by a court. The pensioner began sending letters across the country in 2007, to hospitals, businesses and local politicians. By her own admission she has sent about 500 of her handwritten letters, with many complaining about immigration and calling for Britain to pull out of the EU. The letters were reported to police, who were able to trace them back to Walker in 2009 through DNA and fingerprint evidence. Walker was then arrested at her home in Fareham, near Portsmouth, Hampshire. Julian Knowles QC, prosecuting, told Fareham Magistrates' Court: 'The letters Mrs Walker sent can be deemed as abusive, offensive, racist, obscene, distressing and harassing. 'The letters had a poisonous and corrosive effect on the recipients because they naturally thought they came from someone they knew.' Mr Knowles added: 'Mrs Walker’s attitude expressed to the police that she will continue to do this unless ordered to stop by the courts. 'She is on a crusade, for want of a better expression.' Giving evidence, Walker denied the terms she used to describe different ethnic groups are offensive. She said: 'I’m English and if you are English today with a voice, you are called racist.' Trial: Margaret Walker is said to have told police that she will continue to send her 'campaign leaflets' until she is ordered to stop by a court . Tim Rait, regional press officer for the BNP, gave evidence for the defence during the trial. The party were mentioned in several of Mrs Walker’s letters but under cross-examination Rait admitted the party did not support her campaign. He said: 'I cannot associate ourselves with it.' Walker had previously said in evidence: 'I am not a member of the BNP, but I admire and support them.' The trial continues. Evidence: Margaret Walker spoke at Fareham Magistrates' Court (pictured) as she contested an attempt by police to give her an anti-social behaviour order . Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Margaret Walker, of Fareham, Hampshire, tells court she sent letters because she wanted to raise issues ignored by 'the establishment'
She sent letters across the UK, complaining about immigration and calling for Britain to pull out of the EU .
Police seek Asbo to ban her from sending any more .
BNP press officer gives evidence for the defence . |
Keywords: <keyword>SLOOT LAWYER</keyword>, <keyword>ALLEGATIONS PERU</keyword>, <keyword>CHARGES VAN</keyword>, <keyword>ALTEZ THREATENED</keyword>, <keyword>HOLLOWAY VANISHED</keyword>, <keyword>MURDER ROBBERY</keyword>, <keyword>ENDS PROSECUTORS</keyword>, <keyword>STEPHANY FLORES</keyword>, <keyword>CORPUS CASE</keyword>, <keyword>TRIAL DATE</keyword>
(CNN) -- Joran van der Sloot's lawyer has quit defending him against murder allegations in Peru, citing unspecified differences over strategy. Van der Sloot, the onetime suspect in the 2005 disappearance of Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway, faces a possible trial on first-degree murder and robbery charges in the killing of 21-year-old Stephany Flores. His lawyer, Maximo Altez, filed papers to withdraw from the case Tuesday. "I cannot defend this case in the way he wants me to," Altez told In Session. He would not elaborate. Flores was found dead in a Lima hotel room registered to van der Sloot in May 2010. Police say van der Sloot took money and bank cards from her wallet and fled to Chile, where he was arrested a few days later. Peruvian authorities have yet to file formal charges against van der Sloot, who is expected to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on June 8. Once the discovery phase of the case ends, prosecutors will file charges and a trial date will be set. Altez has been defending van der Sloot on a pro bono basis and said he expects a public defender will be assigned to the case. He said the lack of payment did not play a role in his decision to quit. "I thought this case would be a good opportunity to show the world that in Peru detainees are abused, and the Peruvian justice system is very informal," he said. And he said he will continue to represent van der Sloot in a related habeas corpus case claiming human rights violations during his arrest -- a case that would be thrown out if Altez withdrew from that case too. Altez threatened to quit the case once before after complaining of receiving threats by phone, e-mail and Facebook. The 23-year-old van der Sloot was once the prime suspect in the disappearance of Holloway, who vanished at age 18 while on a graduation trip to the Caribbean island of Aruba. He was arrested twice but never charged in connection with her disappearance. Shortly after his 2010 arrest, a federal grand jury in Alabama indicted him on charges that he tried to extort $250,000 from the Holloway family. Van der Sloot offered to provide what turned out to be bogus information about the whereabouts of Natalee Holloway's remains in exchange for the money, according to the charges. | Onetime suspect in Natalee Holloway case faces a possible murder charge in Peru .
His attorney has quit, citing unspecified differences over strategy .
Peruvian woman found dead in hotel room registered to van der Sloot . |
Keywords: <keyword>PATERSON JOINED</keyword>, <keyword>KIWI FORWARD</keyword>, <keyword>DRAFTED ENGLAND</keyword>, <keyword>CHRISTCHURCH VISITING</keyword>, <keyword>SUPER RUGBY</keyword>, <keyword>COACH STUART</keyword>, <keyword>COVER MICHAEL</keyword>, <keyword>FOY</keyword>, <keyword>CONTENTION SELECTION</keyword>, <keyword>TEST VIEW</keyword>
By . Chris Foy . Follow @@FoyChris . England have called up Sale’s Anglo-Kiwi forward Michael Paterson to join their tour and the 29-year-old is on course to play against the Crusaders in his home city of Christchurch on Tuesday. The former New Zealand Under 21 player qualifies for England via his late English grandfather. He played Super Rugby for four years and had a successful stint with Cardiff Blues before joining Sale last summer. Called up: Michael Paterson has been drafted into the England squad ahead of Tuesday's game with Crusaders . His performances earned him a place in the national training squad at the end of the season and now he has been called in as an extra lock option, having been visiting family on the south island. Paterson joined England’s training session on Friday morning ahead of the second Test, with a view to being involved in the tour match next week. Head coach Stuart Lancaster said: ‘We wanted some second row cover and with Michael having trained with us leading up to the Barbarians game and knowing our systems, it made sense to call on him as he was in Christchurch visiting family. 'He trained well with us this morning and will be in contention for selection, for what is an important match against the Crusaders.' In the thick of it: Paterson trains with the England team after arriving on tour . | England call up Sale second row to tour as cover .
Michael Paterson was born in New Zealand but qualifies to play for England via his grandfather .
Paterson could play for England against his former club Crusaders on Tuesday . |
Keywords: <keyword>CHARLIE WHEELER</keyword>, <keyword>LOVED CHARLIE</keyword>, <keyword>TUBE SOCKS</keyword>, <keyword>MOTORCYCLES RIDING</keyword>, <keyword>FINISHES OBITUARY</keyword>, <keyword>60 YEAR</keyword>, <keyword>FASHION SENSE</keyword>, <keyword>BARBECUING HANGING</keyword>, <keyword>REPAIRING CARS</keyword>, <keyword>CHILDREN SMILING</keyword>
Charlie Wheeler's loved ones knew him for his love of tank tops, hatred of haircuts and a taste for the silly - and now, thanks to an uplifting obituary, the whole country knows him that way, too. In a tribute that has since become an internet hit, his family has painted a hilarious picture of the 60-year-old father-of-two who passed away in New Hampshire on November 16. 'Charles "Charlie" Wheeler, 60, of Weare, kicked the bucket, bought the farm and ate his last pretzel on Nov. 16, 2014,' the obituary begins. It recalls how he was 'notorious for his numerous sound effects, sense of humor, and easy smile' as well as his skills as a 'house fix-upper' and 'putterer'. Remembered: Charlie Wheeler, 60, pictured, passed away last week - and his wife and two children have commemorated him by writing a hilarious obituary that has since gone viral . 'Charlie's many talents included repairing cars and motorcycles, riding his Harley, barbecuing and hanging around the fire pit,' it continues. 'Best known for his fashion sense, Charlie consistently wore white tube socks, tank tops, shorts, flannel shirts, fleece vests, a sweaty baseball cap, and raggedy, barely wearable sneakers.' It remembers how he loved Christmas, the Three Stooges, his German Shepherds and feeding the birds but hated snow blowing 'and took such joy in dumping snow on his kids'. 'He was a hard-working man, loyal, silly, kind, gentle, respectful and incredibly generous,' it finishes. The obituary seemed the only suitable way to pay tribute to Wheeler, said his wife of 32 years, Annie Pleatsikas, his daughter Meredith, 22, and son Evan, 26. Charlie, known for his questionable dress sense, leaves behind wife Annie, daughter Meredith and son Evan . 'We did it because we thought it was so appropriate to do something funny and humorous and to paint a picture of him,' his wife Annie told WMUR. 'He was just hilarious.' After his obituary was published, it was shared by people moved by the touching tribute, with hundreds commenting on what a great man he seemed to be. 'I wish I had known you, Charlie,' one reader from Ohio wrote beneath the obituary. 'You are my kind of person....live, love, laugh! I'm sure you will be missed by all who knew you.' 'They always say "He's in a better place", but I think Charlie made "here" a better place,' another added. Loved: Charlie, pictured with his children, was remembered as a hard-working and loyal man with a great sense of humor. Readers of the obituary commented on how they would've liked to have known him . His daughter, Meredith, added to WMUR: 'People say they were laughing, crying, laughing and then crying more. I think that's a better way to read an obit than crying the whole time.' Annie said she is glad her children are smiling at the happy memories with their father. 'I think in the coming days, it's going to bring us more comfort,' she said. 'They will always remember this.' | Charlie Wheeler's wife and two children penned a touching tribute to the 60-year-old after he passed away last week .
They recalled how he was 'best known for his fashion sense' of raggedy sneakers and tank tops .
Hundreds have now shared and commented on the obituary saying they wished they had known him . |
Keywords: <keyword>SLOOT ARRESTED</keyword>, <keyword>VAN DER</keyword>, <keyword>INTERROGATION PERUVIAN</keyword>, <keyword>HOMICIDE CHARGE</keyword>, <keyword>VICTIM ALTEZ</keyword>, <keyword>DRIVERS ALLEGEDLY</keyword>, <keyword>KILLED STEPHANY</keyword>, <keyword>NATALEE HOLLOWAY</keyword>, <keyword>JIMINEZ NAVARRO</keyword>, <keyword>VIDEOTAPED</keyword>
(CNN) -- In a videotaped interrogation with Peruvian police broadcast Monday, Joran van der Sloot admitted that he hit, strangled and ultimately killed a 21-year-old woman last year in his Lima hotel room. Footage of the confession by the 24-year-old Dutch national was aired by America TV, a CNN affiliate, as well as other Peruvian news organizations. In it, an interrogator twice asks van der Sloot in Spanish whether he killed Stephany Flores. Both times, he answers yes. The admission is part of a lengthier conversation in which van der Sloot explains that he met the young woman in a casino in Miraflores, and then they went to his hotel room. There, the suspect said, he began hitting her after noticing that she had pulled up news about him on his computer. Wearing a hooded sweatshirt and smoking a cigarette, a seemingly calm van der Sloot answers a series of detailed questions about the case on the video. Among other things, he describes hitting the victim in the head with his elbow and putting two hands around her neck. Van der Sloot was arrested in June 2010 in relation to Flores' death but was not formally charged until this month. The three Peruvian drivers who allegedly helped him flee to Chile after the incident are also charged in the case. Prosecutors want five-year prison sentences for them and fines of about $1,800. Before he resigned as van der Sloot's lawyer this year, Maximo Altez told In Session that his client attacked Flores after she found something on his computer that tied him to the disappearance of Alabama teen Natalee Holloway, who vanished while on a graduation trip to the Caribbean island of Aruba in 2005. Van der Sloot was arrested twice but never charged in connection with Holloway's disappearance, which remains unsolved. "My client ... admits having murdered the victim, but not with ferocity, for profit or pleasure, nor any of the other element(s) that make up this murder, but only by violent emotion that overtook him at the time he was attacked by the victim," Altez said in a motion that was given to In Session. In a September 2010 jailhouse interview with a Dutch television station, van der Sloot refused to answer questions about the Flores case, saying it is "not in my best interest to talk about it at all." But he maintained that police tricked him into making a confession, saying they would not let him call his mother, talk to anyone or arrange for an attorney. Van der Sloot's present attorney, Luis Jiminez Navarro, said this month that this client was willing to confess to a "simple homicide" charge in relation to Flores' death but not to more serious charges that would carry longer prison terms. Both the accused and the victim's family disagree with the indictment proposed by prosecutor Miriam Riveros Castellares. She asked a three-judge panel to indict van der Sloot on charges of qualified murder and simple robbery, which carry 28-year and two-year sentences. He would also have to make a restitution payment of $73,000 to the victim's family, if convicted. The judges received a proposed counter-indictment in writing from Navarro on September 12, proposing van der Sloot would confess to the simple homicide charge that carried a 20-year maximum prison sentence. But the attorney for the family of the victim told the three judges that the prosecutor's proposed indictment against van der Sloot had "mistakes," a news release from the court said. According to Navarro, the Flores family's lawyer Edward Alvarez Yrala asked the court to charge van der Sloot with a charge similar to aggravated murder, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. | A video is aired Monday by America TV and other Peruvian news organizations .
Van der Sloot tells police he killed Stephany Flores and describes how he did it .
He was arrested in June 2010 and charged this month in the woman's death .
His lawyer has said his client would confess to "simple homicide" but not other charges . |
Keywords: <keyword>TRAGIC JESSICA</keyword>, <keyword>MURDER TURNER</keyword>, <keyword>SEVERE BURNS</keyword>, <keyword>AUTOPSY RESULTS</keyword>, <keyword>ALIVE DERRICK</keyword>, <keyword>FLAMES SURVEILLANCE</keyword>, <keyword>BELIEVE SUSPECT</keyword>, <keyword>ARRESTS MISSISSIPPI</keyword>, <keyword>CAUGHT ATTENTION</keyword>, <keyword>CHAMBERS TOLD</keyword>
A 31-year-old man has been questioned by police over the horrific death of teenager Jessica Chambers, as police continue to analyse surveillance footage showing her 90 minutes before she was burned alive. Derrick Turner said he was quizzed on Monday at the Panola County jail, but denied that he had anything to do with the Mississippi murder. Turner said that he had no idea why he was brought in by the authorities. Last moments: Jessica Chambers, 19, was caught on surveillance footage just 90 minutes before she was burned alive along the side of a rural road on Saturday. She is seen walking towards the store . Tragic: Jessica Chambers, 19, was doused with a flammable liquid and burned alive on Saturday night and police say they have not yet identified a suspect in her murder . Seen: A person off camera caught her attention and after waving, she walked over to say hello . Caught on camera: Jessica (seen left) then went into the shop and paid while three men chatted nearby . He told Wmcactionnews5.com: 'I was just called in for a situation I didn't know nothing about. They was just asking me did I know her or was I sleeping with her, you know. Like I said, I didn't know her like that.' He added: 'She was a sweet girl so that's why I'm messed up about it, whatever happened to her, I hate it happened you know.' Police are investigating footage that shows Chambers walking across a gas station forecourt in Courtland before waving at someone off camera and going to speak to them. She then walks into the store and pays before returning to her car. A man can be seen filling up a gasoline can beside her vehicle, but police say he has been cleared in the investigation. The footage released by police shows Jessica just before 6.30pm on Saturday. About 90 minutes later, a motorist called 911 to report a burning car a mile away and first responders arrived to find the young woman covered in flames. She fell to the ground and whispered something to one of the fire officers. Investigators have not revealed what she said but indicated that they may help find her killer, WMC reported. 'She was able to communicate. It was difficult,' said Jay Hale, an assistant district attorney who prosecutes cases in Panola County. Convenience store manager Ali Fadhel said Chambers came in frequently and he would often speak with her. He told The Associated Press that Chambers spoke with someone before entering the store to purchase gas. On her way out, Chambers got a call on her cellphone, Fadhel said. After she pumped gas, she re-entered the store, bought cigarettes, and drove away, heading south on Highway 51, he said. According to Fadhel, Chambers was wearing a dark-colored sweater and pajama pants that looked like sweatpants. Chambers said she was going to make a stop before going home, Fadhel said. 'If she knew she had a problem with somebody, she would have told me,' Fadhel said. Chambers bought $14 worth of gas, more than the $5 or so she usually purchased, he said. 'I asked her, 'Why are you putting so much gas?' She said, 'I'm going somewhere,'' Fadhel said. Hale said he could not comment on Fadhel's statements. 'We've talked to a lot of people and some of those people could end up being a suspect,' District Attorney John Champion told USA Today on Wednesday. 'But as of right now we have not questioned anybody who we believe to be a suspect.' He added: 'I feel like it's something we're going to solve. It could be in the next five minutes, five months or five years. You just don't know.' Peter Odom, an attorney who prosecuted some arson cases, told HLN's 'Nancy Grace' that investigators will be assessing the physical appearance of suspects. Questions: While she was inside, a man (seen top right) filled up a gas can close to her car (the dark vehicle in the center) but he has been cleared. After going inside the shop, she drove off . Terrifying: She had told her mother she was going out to get food when she and her car were set alight . 'They're looking for someone with singed eyebrows and maybe burned hands. Because the burner often gets burned,' he said. Police have not disclosed what Chambers said or tried to say, but her father, Ben Chambers, told the channel she told them who was responsible for the horrifying crime. 'She told them, she told them, told him who done it,' he said. When responders arrived on the scene, she was walking along Herron Road, near Highway 51, and covered in flames, and was flown to Region One Health in Memphis but later died. Authorities said initial autopsy results reveal the girl died from severe burns that covered 98 per cent of her body. 'I mean it's bad,' DA John Champion told Fox. 'I have been doing this for 21 years and as far as the means of death it is certainly the worst I have dealt with.' Panola County Sheriff Dennis Darby said she had been doused with a flammable liquid and set on fire. Her father also said she had 'a big gash on her head'. 'They squirted lighter fluid down her throat and in her nose, and apparently they knocked her out,' added Mr Chambers, a maintenance worker for the sheriff's department. 'When the fire department got there, she was walking down the road on fire ... only part of her body that wasn't burned was the bottom of her feet.' Scene: Her car was found along this dirt bank and she was found walking along the road in flames . As well as the surveillance footage, detectives have been examining the girl's cellphone, which was found at the scene. Her car was also at the scene but was left completely charred by the inferno. Authorities are also looking into reports that she went to a party before her death, Chambers said. Friends said that the family can't think of anyone that might have wanted to hurt Jessica, who didn't have a boyfriend and was not known to have been seeing anyone. They added that she had just started a new job at Goody's Department Store, which she loved. Lisa Chambers, the girl's mother, begged with anyone to come forward with any information they may have about the heinous crime. 'They have ripped everything I have,' she told Fox. 'She left to go clean out her car and was going to get [herself] something to eat.' Chambers' grandmother, Dot Boatright, said the family was doing as well as can be expected. Boatright said she 'went all to pieces' when she heard about Chambers' death. Heartbroken: Her mother, Lisa Chambers, sobbed as she pleaded with the public for information . Ripped apart: Her father Ben, right, said someone poured lighting fluid down his daughter's throat and nose before setting her alight. He has also appealed for any information in her death . Not much was immediately revealed about the woman's background by authorities, but Boatright said of her granddaughter, 'She was just a sweet little girl.' Amanda Prince, who identified herself as Jessica Chambers' older sister, told CNN Wednesday night that the family is 'shocked, lost ... confused, angry, hurt.' 'I have so many questions,' she said. 'I want to know why.' Asked if she knew of anyone who had a grudge against her sister or might want to hurt her, Prince replied, 'No one. She was loved by everybody. I don't know who would want to do this or why.' Prince described her sister as 'very athletic' and outgoing, and said that at various times she had expressed interest in becoming a nurse, a dentist and a writer. 'She was happy all the time,' she said. 'She made everyone laugh. She lit up a room. ... She was just full of life.' The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is assisting Panola authorities because of her father's connection to the police department. No arrests have yet been made. Mississippi authorities say they have received offers to help from several agencies, including the U.S. attorney's office and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Autopsy results have not been released, and it was not clear when they would be available. Anyone with information on the murder should contact the Sheriff's Office at 662-563-6230. A candle-lit vigil will be held for Jessica on Saturday. See below for video . | Jessica Chambers, 19, was burned alive on a rural Mississippi road .
Horrific incident occurred after she left her Courtland home on Saturday .
She was found covered in flames on the side of the road .
She managed to whisper something to a first responder before dying .
Gas station surveillance footage shows her waving at a friend .
Thirty-one-year-old Derrick Turner has been quizzed over the murder . |
Keywords: <keyword>OBESE SON</keyword>, <keyword>CONCERNS BOY</keyword>, <keyword>NEGLECT CHILD</keyword>, <keyword>WET ROOM</keyword>, <keyword>SIZE BLAMED</keyword>, <keyword>CRUELTY CHARGES</keyword>, <keyword>NORFOLK CAUGHT</keyword>, <keyword>ALLOWED BALLOON</keyword>, <keyword>RANGE AGE</keyword>, <keyword>7LBS FILE</keyword>
By . Belinda Robinson . and James Tozer . This is the first picture of the 11-year-old boy whose parents have been arrested on suspicion of neglect and child cruelty after allowing his weight to balloon to 15st. The couple, from Kings Lynn, Norfolk were caught out when they met with social workers with the explicit intent of trying to get a wet room installed at home - but were investigated. They claim that teachers encouraged them to contact a social worker for the state-of-the-art wet room which would have cost over £2000 as a trick to make authorities drop in. Overweight: This is the 11-year-old boy whose parents allowed him to balloon to 15 stone - but blamed genetics . According to The Sun police stepped in after doctors raised concerns about the boy’s welfare following two visits to hospital earlier this year. Yesterday the parents admitted that they called their obese son ‘Wee Chubby’ because of his size – but blamed genetics rather than his diet and lifestyle. Both parents have been arrested on child cruelty charges and been bailed. However his mum is adamant that the wet room would have made life easier for them as their son had refused to go upstairs - but it led child protection services to show up a month later. Following a meeting with social workers this week, the couple have agreed to a letter of intent over the boy’s care outlining what they will do to help him lose weight. If they fail to stick to the terms, legal proceedings will be started to take the boy into care. The 5ft 1in schoolboy has a body mass index of 41.8 – close to double the healthy level. According to the NHS’s online BMI calculator, the healthy weight range for his age and height is from 6st 14lb to 9st 7lb. A social services report is said to record that he fell over during a school swimming session and was unable to stand up by himself. It also details admissions to teachers that the boy – who is supposed to be on a strict diet – had eaten takeaways and been to a milkshake parlour. The boy’s 20st father said yesterday: ‘My son’s always been big. He was born with shovels for hands and spades for feet. Everyone on my side of the family is big. ‘There’s nothing we can do about it. I only eat occasional kebabs. Our son’s favourite snack is steamed broccoli – and he’s still big.’ The father, 49, and his unemployed wife, 43, told The Sun they try to encourage their son to play sport by giving him toy guns to fire in their garden at home. He also plays regularly on his Nintendo Wii, a computer games console in which players depend on physical movements to control actions on the screen. The couple had signed up to a voluntary plan to tackle the boy’s weight when they were threatened with legal action earlier this year, but it brought no improvement. Concerns were raised by teachers at the specialist school he attends for help with autism, and the parents agreed to see a social worker. The 5ft 1in schoolboy has a body mass index of 41.8 - close to double the healthy level - but the NHS's online BMI calculator, the healthy weight range for his age and height is between 6st 14lb and 9st 7lbs (file . picture) But doctors at the boy’s local hospital called police after he was twice admitted for treatment in March, and officers then visited the family’s home. The boy’s mother, who describes herself as ‘chubby’, said the family were trying their best to help him. ‘The idea they could take away my son scares me so much,’ she said. ‘I’m nothing without my kids. His weight isn’t that much of a big deal … it’s genetics – you can be genetically fat.’ Police said it would be ‘inappropriate’ to comment on the case, but added that a child’s welfare was ‘paramount’ in such situations and that officers only intervened when ‘other attempts to protect the child have been unsuccessful’. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Parents, from King's Lynn, Norfolk, arrested for allowing son to reach 15st .
The pair met with social workers as they wanted a wet room installed .
They claim they were tricked and set up by worried teachers .
They were questioned in March on suspicion of child neglect and cruelty .
Police were alerted by doctors who treated youngster twice in one month .
Couple are now on bail, but reportedly in danger of losing custody of son .
They claim his weight gain was genetic, saying: 'You can be genetically fat' |
Keywords: <keyword>PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS</keyword>, <keyword>IPHONE CONTEST</keyword>, <keyword>MEGAPIXEL CAMERA</keyword>, <keyword>THOUSANDS SUBMISSIONS</keyword>, <keyword>FINALISTS VISIT</keyword>, <keyword>IPP CATEGORIES</keyword>, <keyword>SMART PHONE</keyword>, <keyword>FOOD INCREDIBLE</keyword>, <keyword>LONDON EXPECTED</keyword>, <keyword>JURY COSTS</keyword>
With alot of people walking around with an 8 megapixel camera embedded into their smart phone, it's easy to think you're something of an Annie Leibovitz or a Mario Testino. Or at least try to be. Now 54 people are being recognized for the photography skills they have managed photographers behind their iPhones. Now in its seventh year, the iPhone Photography Awards (IPP AWARDS) have selected finalists from 17 countries - Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom and the United States - with a winner to be announced on June 15. Thousands of submissions are sent in every year and winners of three separate categories are selected by a jury, and it costs $3.50 to submit a photo. The finalists that were selected represent the best of different categories, such as architecture, art, flowers, children and, ofcourse, food. Incredible: Juana Chaves, of Madrid, Spain, submitted this photo for the 2014 iPhone Photography Awards and was selected as a finalist in the news/events category . This shot of Brighton Beach in the UK was taken by native Craig Harvey and submitted as a landscape . Michael O'Neal, from San Francisco, submitted this amazing photo of a fox . This hot favorite, taken by Julio Lucas of Bradenton, Florida, shoes a lone man on a trek . Melissa Barilli, of York, Canada, made the finals with this shot of her son in the bath . Dark and mysterious, this black and white shot from Jose Luis, who hails from Madrid, Spain, is also a major content to win the iPhone Photography Awards . Yilang Peng, from Madison in Washington, is a strong contender to take out the architecture category with this photo . This photo, by Jill Missner of Ridgefield Connecticut, was said to be a favorite among the jury who select the winners . Mariko Klug took this photo in her native Germany . Another tree shot, this one by Cocu Liu, who hails from Chicago . This photo was submitted by Erika Brothers of Frisco, Texas, under the 'nature' category . The finalists that were selected . represent the best of different categories, such as architecture, art, . flowers, children and, ofcourse, food. The IPPA awards are not affiliated with apple, but the contest has been around almost as long as the iPhone itself. The contest is divided in 16 categories: animals, architecture, children, flowers, food, landscape, lifestyle, nature, news/events, people, seasons, still life, sunset, travel, trees and others. All entries will compete in one of the categories, as well as in the overall contest. All entries compete for the prestigious IPP Photographer of the Year Award title, and the top 3 will receive a 16GB Wi-Fi iPad Mini. The top entry from each of the 16 IPP categories will win a Gold Bar from the most recognizable private gold mint in the world. To see the rest of the finalists, visit www.ippawards.com . Rhonda Dent of Vancouver is a finalist in the lifestyle category for this photo . This awesome photo, taken by Adrienne Pitts from London, is expected to win the travel category . Hector Navarro, from Zapopan, Mexico, submitted this shot under the 'people' category, but has strong competition . Another 'people' contender, this was sent in by Athena Tan from Singapore . This spooky image is one of three that did not fit into any of the 15 categories and was filed under 'other'. It was taken by Terry Vital of Windham in the New Hampshire . Sunsets is one of the most popular categories. This entrant was taken by Little Su of New Taipei City in Taiwan and is expected to win . This is another picture from the 'others' category . | Awards- not affiliated with Apple and organized by a private company - select three finalists across 16 categories .
Categories include sunsets, travel, people and food .
Submissions cost $3.50 and must be taken on an iPhone . |
Keywords: <keyword>LARYNGOLOGIST ZHANG</keyword>, <keyword>TONSILS XIU</keyword>, <keyword>FAKE DOCTOR</keyword>, <keyword>KILLED SCHOOLBOY</keyword>, <keyword>OPERATED FRAUDSTERS</keyword>, <keyword>CLINIC CHAOCHUAN</keyword>, <keyword>SON YANG</keyword>, <keyword>CHINA BLED</keyword>, <keyword>WENLI FACT</keyword>, <keyword>QUALIFICATIONS FLED</keyword>
A schoolboy in China bled to death when a fake doctor cut his throat with a scalpel to treat his sore tonsils. Xiu Tsao, 35, had taken her 11-year-old son Yang Chin to a clinic in Chaochuan Village, Xiaotun Town, Henan Province, unaware that it was operated by fraudsters. It was run by Zhang Wenli, 46, who claimed to be a top throat specialist, but in fact he had no qualifications at all. His nurses were also completely unqualified. Dangerous fraudster: The name card of so-called laryngologist Zhang Wenli, who in fact had no qualifications at all and fled after he killed a schoolboy by cutting his throat while supposedly treating him for sore tonsils . Tragic: A man points to where sawdust covers the blood Yang Chin shed as he was dying in the clinic . The mother said that the boy had been performing really well at school and when he had been taken ill with a sore throat, she had heard the clinic could get him back to school quicker than if she took him to the hospital. She said she had taken him inside and the doctor had announced that the inside of his throat was a bit raw, and he needed to bleed away some of the bad blood to cure the problem. 'He used a scalpel and I noticed that blood was coming out of my son's mouth,' Central European News quoted her as saying. 'He told me it was perfectly normal but he stopped the bleeding process then. 'He had already made several incisions by that point. But my son was still in difficulty and I could see him kicking his legs while the doctor held onto him.' Unsuspecting: The clinic in Chaochuan Village, Henan Province, which the fake doctor had run for years . Some of the tools used by the fake doctor: Zhang had announced that the inside of the boy's throat was a bit raw, and he needed to bleed away some of the bad blood to cure the problem . After three minutes, she said, the boy's legs had stopped moving. The doctor still insisted it was normal, but had by then called an ambulance. Emergency medics could only confirm that the boy was dead, after which the doctor and his staff fled. Police confirmed they were looking for them and also confirmed that the qualifications of the staff of the clinic which had been operating for years were completely fake. | Zhang Wenli had run his throat clinic for years but had no qualifications .
He told the boy's mother he needed to bleed the bad blood to cure him .
Instead the boy bled to death and Zhang and his staff fled . |
Keywords: <keyword>PATZ INDICTED</keyword>, <keyword>DESCRIBING HERNANDEZ</keyword>, <keyword>FACTUAL INVESTIGATION</keyword>, <keyword>1979 MURDER</keyword>, <keyword>KILLED ETAN</keyword>, <keyword>LEGAL ANALYSIS</keyword>, <keyword>KIDNAPPING CHARGES</keyword>, <keyword>HARVEY FISHBEIN</keyword>, <keyword>ALLEGEDLY TOLD</keyword>, <keyword>BIPOLAR</keyword>
New York (CNN) -- The man who confessed to the 1979 murder of 6-year-old Etan Patz was indicted Wednesday by a Manhattan grand jury, authorities said. His attorney, Harvey Fishbein, said Pedro Hernandez -- who was arrested on second degree murder and kidnapping charges -- is scheduled to appear in court Thursday. "Nothing that occurs in the course of this trial will answer what actually happened to Etan Patz," said Fishbein, who said his client has been "repeatedly diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia." "Partly as a result of that disorder, my client has an IQ in the borderline-to-mild mental retardation range," he said. Fishbein had previously told a judge that Hernandez has a history of mental disorders, suffers from hallucinations and is bipolar. Case 'awakened' America . But district attorney spokeswoman Erin Duggan said Wednesday's indictment was "the outcome of a lengthy and deliberative process, involving months of factual investigation and legal analysis." "We believe the evidence that Mr. Hernandez killed Etan Patz to be credible and persuasive, and that his statements are not the product of any mental illness," she said. This summer, he admitted that he choked the boy after luring him into the basement of a small Manhattan grocery store, police said. Hernandez allegedly told authorities that he threw away the boy's body in a garbage bag. The remains have not been found. Investigation a 33-year long roller coaster ride . After attending high school in the Camden, New Jersey, area, Hernandez moved to Manhattan at the age of 18, sharing an apartment in the city's SoHo neighborhood with his older sister. He then took a job as a stock clerk at a corner convenience store in Lower Manhattan for about a month before returning to his mother's south Jersey home in the summer of 1979, according to family members and police. Etan disappeared roughly a month earlier, on May 25. Describing Hernandez as having been a quiet young man, relatives say his demeanor changed upon his return to New Jersey. He grew further withdrawn while also frequently becoming ill, they said. Though his whereabouts after 1979 remain murky, family members say he at one point returned to New York. It's unclear for how long. Patz disappeared on his way to a New York school bus stop more than 33 years ago. The boy's plight catapulted concern for missing children to the national forefront after authorities put his image on thousands of milk cartons. Opinion: Missing children, perception vs. reality . | NEW: His attorney says Pedro Hernandez was diagnosed with schizophrenia .
NEW: Authorities say Hernandez's statements are not a result of mental illness .
Patz disappeared on his way to a New York school bus stop more than 33 years ago . |
Keywords: <keyword>CASUALTIES RACHEL</keyword>, <keyword>PMA DRUG</keyword>, <keyword>POISONING POSSIBILITY</keyword>, <keyword>RISK DRUG</keyword>, <keyword>DEATHS CHESHIRE</keyword>, <keyword>SHAPE ECSTASY</keyword>, <keyword>DEAD MYSTERIOUS</keyword>, <keyword>PARTNER EMMA</keyword>, <keyword>TESTS REVEALED</keyword>, <keyword>CRIMESTOPPERS ANONYMOUSLY</keyword>
By . Hugo Gye . PUBLISHED: . 07:28 EST, 19 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:28 EST, 19 April 2013 . Two young women found dead in mysterious circumstances are feared to have fallen victim to a deadly batch of party drugs nicknamed 'Dr Death', police revealed today. Oil rig worker Rachel Clayton and her partner Emma Speed were discovered at their home in Macclesfield earlier this month after a friend went to check up on them. It was initially believed that the women, who had been carrying out renovation work, may have succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning, but that possibility was soon ruled out. Now toxicology tests have revealed that the victims had PMA, a drug similar to ecstasy, in their system at the time of their death. Casualties: Rachel Clayton, left, and Emma Speed, right, died after taking a dangerous party drug . The discovery has prompted urgent warnings over the dangers of the drugs, as a 34-year-old men found dead in a caravan in Macclesfield in February also had traces of PMA in his body. 'While we would always urge people not to take any illegal substances, I am particularly keen to emphasise the dangers and potentially life threatening consequences of PMA,' said Ruth Purdie of Cheshire Police. 'We have now had three deaths in Cheshire which appear to be linked to the drug and therefore I feel I have a duty to warn people about the potentially fatal consequences taking this drug can have. 'It is our duty to join up with our colleagues in the health service and make as many people as possible aware of the risk this drug poses and to do all we can to ensure no one dies and prevent further heartache for any more families. 'If anyone has any information about who is supplying this drug across Cheshire I would urge them to contact police or Crimestoppers anonymously so we can respond to this potential risk and take them off the streets.' Killer: PMA, known as 'Dr Death', has been linked to a number of deaths of young people in recent months . Earlier this year, the sudden deaths of 20-year-old Charlotte Woodiwiss and four young men were also linked to a deadly batch of PMA. The drug is often shaped like a Love Heart, and is known as 'Dr Death, 'Pink Ecstasy', 'Mitsubishi Turbos' or 'Pink McDonalds', although its scientific name is para-Methoxyamphetamine. The pills are the same size and shape as an ecstasy tablet, are usually pink or white and often have the letter 'M' printed on them. It is sold to clubbers for as little as £3 a pill - dealers claim it offers a similar high to ecstasy, but it is five times as strong and can cause the body temperature to rise dangerously. In addition, because it takes effect relatively slowly, revellers sometimes take multiple pills to speed up its effect. Investigation: Police outside the house in Macclesfield where the couple were discovered on April 7 . Janet Clowes, who sits on Cheshire Council, said: 'The risks from taking potentially contaminated and unregulated drugs are very high. 'If you are concerned about someone you know who may be at risk or want help for yourself there are a number of services in Cheshire East which can help. 'You can access free confidential advice and information as well as the different types of treatment options that are available to you.' Ms Clayton, 34, and Ms Speed, 30, were found inside their terraced house on April 7 by a friend who had a key to the home. The former was on a short break from her job working on an oil rig in the North Sea, and had been proudly showing off her new Volkswagen Scirocco. She had recently posted on Facebook: 'Home tomoz thank didily I'm becoming a recluse after 3 weeks in the North Sea' [sic]. In a statement Ms Clayton's parents Malcolm and Sue said: 'Rachel enjoyed life to the full. She was a special daughter and was very family orientated. We will miss her greatly.' Ms Speed's family said: 'She had a good heart and would do anything for anyone.' | Rachel Clayton, 34, and Emma Speed, 30, found dead earlier this month .
Toxicology tests reveal they had taken PMA, a drug similar to ecstasy .
Police warn about dangers of 'Dr Death' after it is linked to string of deaths . |
Keywords: <keyword>CLAIMS ROLF</keyword>, <keyword>DETECTIVES INTERVIEWED</keyword>, <keyword>SEXUALLY ASSAULTED</keyword>, <keyword>BRITAIN CHARGES</keyword>, <keyword>WOMAN HARRIS</keyword>, <keyword>QUESTIONING LAUREN</keyword>, <keyword>LONDON MARRIED</keyword>, <keyword>NEAR SYDNEY</keyword>, <keyword>FAR YEWTREE</keyword>, <keyword>MARTELL LEFT</keyword>
British detectives have interviewed a second woman in Australia in connection with sex abuse claims against Rolf Harris. She claims the entertainer sexually assaulted her when she was a teenager living in the UK. The woman, who now lives in Wollongong, near Sydney, was quizzed by officers from Operation Yewtree, set up last year to investigate the Jimmy Savile sex scandal. Investigation: Detectives from Scotland Yard a second Australian woman after interviewing Lauren Martell (left) in connection with sex abuse allegations levelled against entertainer Rolf Harris (right, with his wife Alwen) Earlier this month another woman, . Lauren Martell, was interviewed at her home in Wiseman’s Ferry, north of . Sydney, by Scotland Yard officers. The 43-year-old mother of two says . she is a witness to an alleged ‘incident’, rather than a victim. Harris, 83, was arrested in March and . has been interviewed twice in Britain. No charges have been brought and . he has strenuously denied any wrongdoing. He was arrested after a woman told . police she was sexually assaulted by him when she was a teenager. Harris, a favourite of the Queen, is the biggest name to be arrested so . far by Yewtree officers. Lauren Martell, pictured emerging from her home, told police of an alleged 'incident' involving Mr Harris at a London recording studio more than 20 years ago . Inquiry: Mrs Martell said later that the detectives had told her they were interviewing other people in Australia . The artist, singer and children’s . entertainer was first interviewed under caution over alleged sexual . offences on November 29 after attending a police station by appointment. Five days earlier, officers searched . his home in Bray, Berkshire, while he was out of the country and took . away computer equipment and other items. On March 28, police decided to . formally arrest him over the allegations, although the news did not . become public until late last month. The allegations are not linked to the Savile inquiry. Yesterday friends of Harris broke . their silence to defend him, saying the claims against him are ‘utter . rubbish’. Musician Dana Gillespie, who has worked with Harris, said: . ‘I’m amazed that Scotland Yard are wasting their time to do this. He’s . the cleanest living man, the most un-rock’n’roll.’ Harris’s friend and producer Steve Lima said the allegations were ‘completely without foundation’. He said the entertainer had ‘aged ten . years in the last six months’ and was ‘fearful that he might take his . life’. Mr Lima added: ‘I can assure you, as his pal, he has no interest . in children.’ Following the questioning of . Lauren Martell, who lives at Wiseman's Ferry, north of Sydney, a . fortnight ago, two detectives travelled to the city of . Wollongong, 100 miles south of Sydney, to interview a second woman . Harris, who has lived in the UK for . more than 50 years and is married to Welsh sculptress and jeweller Alwen . Hughes, has not issued any formal statements over the allegations, but . denies any wrongdoing. He met his wife when both were art students in . London. They married in March 1958 and have one daughter, Bindi, an . artist. At last summer’s Diamond Jubilee . concert at Buckingham Palace, Harris led the crowd in an impromptu . rendition of Two Little Boys, his 1969 Christmas No 1 hit. His other . hits include Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport. His detention follows the arrests of . pop star Gary Glitter, comedian Freddie Starr, DJ Dave Lee Travis, . publicist Max Clifford and comedian Jim Davidson. Starr, Travis, Clifford and Davidson . publicly denied any wrongdoing and gave statements after their arrests. Clifford was charged last month with 11 indecent assaults on girls and . young women, including a 14-year-old. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Two Scotland Yard officers had travelled to Australia in March .
They first questioned Lauren Martell, who lives north of Sydney .
They then travelled to .
Wollongong to interview a second woman .
Harris has been interviewed twice in Britain but no charges have been laid .
Quizzed as part of Operation Yewtree sparked by Jimmy Savile sex abuse .
Friend Steve Lima says star has 'absolutely no interest in children' |
Keywords: <keyword>CHINA GOVERNMENT</keyword>, <keyword>INDEPENDENT NGOS</keyword>, <keyword>HUNGRY DENG</keyword>, <keyword>VILLAGE CHILDREN</keyword>, <keyword>DONGFANG ADVOCATE</keyword>, <keyword>HALF MILLION</keyword>, <keyword>CONTINUED ADVOCACY</keyword>, <keyword>FEI REFUSED</keyword>, <keyword>LABOR BULLETIN</keyword>, <keyword>FOLD REGISTERING</keyword>
He saw it first-hand on a reporting trip in Guizhou province -- scores of village children going to school hungry. But Deng Fei refused to stand by and watch. So in 2011, he left journalism and started his own private charity to provide free meals for China's village children. And in three years, his "Free Lunch for Children" campaign has fed a total of 92,000 kids across 23 Chinese provinces. "The government won't be able to solve all our problems," Deng tells CNN. "We must give up this unrealistic idea and take the initiative ourselves." China may be a single-party state run from the very top. But grassroots activism has been bubbling up from beneath, bringing about much needed social support and change. Officially, China has around half a million registered NGOs, most with government connections. As for the number of unregistered independent NGOs? According to James Miles, The Economist's Beijing Bureau Chief, it's a figure close to some two million. "These are tiny little groups of people all over the country working on trying to improve the lives of people living in those areas -- whether it's on labor issues, women's rights or the environment." Force for change . For more than two decades, Han Dongfang has been an advocate for workers' rights in China. He first gained international attention during 1989 Tiananmen Square protests when, as a railway worker, he helped set up China's first independent trade union. After the crackdown, he continued his advocacy work in Hong Kong as the founder and director of the China Labor Bulletin. Han says China's national trade union has failed to represent the needs of the nation's workers: "The official union always sees itself as, unfortunately, government officials. They don't see themselves as workers' representatives." So the workers of China have no choice but be their own force for change in the country, striking for better wages and launching civil action for just compensation. And with the rise of social media in China, the country's civil society is more connected and better resourced than ever before -- bringing people in need together, including China's once isolated coal miners suffering from deadly lung diseases. "There are a hundred thousand silicosis victims who are supposed to die in the cold and be silent, but now they're making their voices heard," Han tells me. "They're going to die soon, yes. But their voices are brought together on a platform through social media. That has changed everything. It brings people out from isolation." Social power . The power and reach of social media has played a major role in developing a civil society in China. It has also unsettled the Chinese Communist Party, which operates an Internet censorship regime that filters content and frequently takes down posts critical of Party rule. But it's also forced Beijing to take part in the online exchange. "Social media is definitely a game changer to China," says Isaac Mao, a Chinese social media researcher and Internet freedom activist. "The government and the civil society, they all participate in these platforms as their voice channels. And the government has to follow the game rules of social media, not their traditional rules." With state-run media channels like the People's Daily or CCTV actively managing social media accounts, an online civil society has forced the Party to embrace a more interactive platform. But can it lead to real world political change? Political tension . James Miles, who has had more than 20 years of experience covering China, believes civil society may very well play a critical role in changing China's political landscape. "What we might see now compared with 25 years ago during Tiananmen, is that the cells of organizations are much more quickly formed together," says Miles, who was in Beijing to cover the protests in 1989. "It would be much more difficult for the government to control information, to stop people organizing, and to stop the flow of information in these kind of critical events." Beijing is aware of the growing strength of the country's civil society, and is taking action to rein them in and take control. "The government itself is beginning to try and bring more of these small hitherto unregistered groups into the official fold -- registering them, getting to know them," says Miles. "It hopes, presumably, to get to control them better." And yet the blessing of the government has proved essential for many non-governmental organizations in China. "Government support is also very important to us," says "Free Lunch" campaigner Deng Fei. "They have the control over a lot of resources, and they decide whether or not we can access the schools." That's people power in the People's Republic of China. | A civil society is forming under single-party rule in China .
Widespread use of social media means China's civil society is more connected and better resourced than before .
Beijing is aware of growing strength of the country's civil society and is taking action to rein it in . |
Keywords: <keyword>COCAINE JAILED</keyword>, <keyword>SMUGGLING OFFICERS</keyword>, <keyword>MEN CONVICTED</keyword>, <keyword>PROVIDING CRIME</keyword>, <keyword>PORTSMOUTH DOCKS</keyword>, <keyword>SHAUN WILSON</keyword>, <keyword>GROUPS TARGETED</keyword>, <keyword>MET SEPARATELY</keyword>, <keyword>46 EXPLOIT</keyword>, <keyword>LONG TAKES</keyword>
By . Ollie Gillman for MailOnline . Two drug gangs who attempted to launch a 'vast' cocaine smuggling operation by targeting a dock worker have been jailed for a total of nearly 150 years. Ten men - nine gangsters and the worker at Portsmouth Docks, Shaun Wilson - will serve between eight-and-a-half and 20 years each for conspiring to smuggle in millions of pounds of the Class A drug in exotic fruit containers. Investigators at the National Crime Agency (NCA) said two organised crime groups targeted Wilson, 46, so they could exploit his knowledge of security procedures. Investigators covertly watched as gang members and a dock worker met at service stations and parks to plan out cocaine imports (left to right Errol Heibner, Norman Burton and Shaun Wilson) Jailed: The ten men were sentenced to a total of almost 150 years for conspiracy to smuggle million pounds of cocaine into the UK through Portsmouth Docks. (Top row from left to right) Richard Edwards, Norman Burton, Audley Powell, Shaun Wilson, Eric Ward, (bottom row from left to right) Errol Heibner, Jason Flisher, Donald Chambers, David Roberts and Roy Godber) The gangs met him separately on several occasions in service stations, pubs and parks to plan cocaine imports. Each shipment was to be timed to coincide with Wilson's shifts so he could remove the drugs from the docks without detection. However, NCA officers were watching the meetings and swooped when the first shipment - 26kg (57lb) of the drug hidden in a container of pineapples on a boat from Costa Rica - was on its way to the UK in November 2010. The drugs would have had street value of around £3million. All of the first gang members were arrested and the apprehension of Wilson stopped the second group from succeeding with their plan to bring in another huge haul in a container of bananas. The full extent of the plots was disclosed today when reporting restrictions were lifted after Audley Powell, 56, became the tenth defendant to be sentenced. He was jailed at Winchester Crown Court for eight-and-a-half years. Wilson was found guilty in September 2011 of the first conspiracy to import cocaine and was jailed for 14 years. He admitted involvement in the second plot and received a concurrent eight-year sentence. National Crime Agency investigators believe the first shipment they seized was worth £3million on the street . The NCA seized £26kg of cocaine that was stashed inside a pineapple container that set sail from Costa Rica . Gerry McGowan, of the NCA, said:'Wilson abused his position of trust by providing the crime groups with details of suitable ships, routes and times. He was going to ensure he was on duty to guarantee safe removal of the drugs. 'The long term plan was to import vast quantities of cocaine on a regular basis. 'Protecting our borders is a priority for the NCA. We will be relentless in pursuing criminals who try to bring drugs into the country, however long it takes, and wherever they try to hide.' Powell, of Catford, south London, was part of the second group. He was on the run until November last year, when investigators traced him to Jamaica and brought him back to the UK. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import cocaine in January this year. Two of the gang members involved in the 26kg plot absconded during their trial and fled to Malta, but were convicted in their absence and sentenced to 20 years in prison. The men, Roy Godber, 64, from Rainham in Essex, and David Roberts, 61, from Romford, Essex were tracked down and extradited to the UK in 2013. During the crackdown on drug smuggling, officers found a secret compartment behind a car's number plate . Others sentenced were Jason Flisher, 43, from Folkestone, Kent (16 years), Richard Edwards, 51, from Barking, east London (20 years) and Eric Ward, 51, from Portsmouth (10 years). Those involved in the second gang who were sentenced were Errol Heibner, 69, from Bow, East London and Norman Burton, 57, from Catford, south London, who were both jailed for 14 years. Donald Chambers, from Charlton, was jailed for 13 years. The total of all the men's sentences was 149-and-a-half years. A further two men were convicted of money laundering offences after being arrested at the Channel Tunnel as part of the wider operation. They were handed suspended sentences. | Ten men jailed for conspiring to smuggle millions of pounds of drugs into UK .
Two gangs targeted dock worker Shaun Wilson to help plan shipments .
Cocaine was to be stashed in containers carrying bananas and pineapples .
They met in parks and service stations to plan, but officers were watching .
Gang members jailed for between eight-and-a-half and 20 years each .
Two men fled their trial but were found hiding in Malta and extradited . |
Keywords: <keyword>MAGIC SERVICE</keyword>, <keyword>PROVIDE USERS</keyword>, <keyword>REQUEST TRAINED</keyword>, <keyword>SEND TEXT</keyword>, <keyword>NEED PHONE</keyword>, <keyword>LIFE APP</keyword>, <keyword>ENCRYPTS CALLS</keyword>, <keyword>FEES TIP</keyword>, <keyword>CALIFORNIAN COMPANY</keyword>, <keyword>ACTOR ROCK</keyword>
If you have ever wondered how it might feel to be famous actor or rock star with a team of people to satisfy your every whim, then all you need is a phone. A service called Magic aims to provide users with anything they want - providing it’s legal - and all they have to do is send a text message. Once an operator receives the message, they ask follow-up questions, say how much an item will cost and arrange its delivery as quickly as possible. A service called Magic aims to provide users with anything they want – providing it’s legal – and all they have to do is send a text message (a screenshot from the website is shown) Users can sign up to Magic’s service, which is currently only available in the US, by texting 408-217-1721. The service is the brainchild of a company called Plus Labs in Mountain View, California. ‘We have trained operators standing by 24/7 to answer every one of your requests,’ its website says. ‘Send us a text message, and we'll get you what you want.’ Trained operators answer the text message requests (examples are shown) and work out how to fulfill the request in the fastest and best way possible. For example, plane or rail tickets can be bought online and then emailed to the individual, while a service such as Instacart may be used to do the weekly shop . Users based in the US text 408-217-1721 with their request. Trained operators work out how to fulfil it and send a text back, asking more questions and then stating how much the service will cost, including a tip. The Californian company behind the service says it can be used for 'anything you want. As long as it's not illegal'. The first time someone uses it, they are send an encrypted message asking for their bank details and address etc. These details are held by another service called Stripe, so this step can be skipped after the first use. Once a message is sent, it is left to the operator to work out how to fulfill the request in the fastest way possible. For example, plane or rail tickets can be bought online and then emailed to the individual, while a service such as Instacart may be used to do the weekly shop. ‘We'll order what you need from the appropriate service (e.g. DoorDash, Instacart, Postmates, etc), and deal with them so you just automatically get what you want, like magic...’ it added. The service makes money by charging a fee, or ‘tip’ for its fixing service, which means that users pay two premiums for a supermarket shop, for example. But texting the number in the first place is free and Magic always tells the user the cost of using it to buy a product or service before it’s ordered. ‘There are no hidden fees, and tip is included,’ the website added. Users of the service have to pay a 'tip' for the convenience, but texting the number in the first place is free. Magic said it always tells the user the cost of using it to buy a product or service before it’s ordered (shown) The first time an individual uses the service they are asked for their card details and address via a 128-bit encrypted link sent by text message. These details are then stored securely to make life easier afterwards. The processing of payments is handled by a service called Stripe, which means Magic doesn’t hold bank details itself. Bitcoin is also accepted as payment. The Magic service may seem extravagant to some, but last year, a phone from luxury manufacturer Vertu launched for £6,750 ($11,380) which comes with a 24-hour concierge service. Made of titanium, the Signature Touch handset has a screen protected by sapphire crystal and leather casing. Owners get a 24-hour concierge available via voice, email and live chat, while the built-in Vertu Life app offers exclusive access to sporting events and private members’ clubs worldwide. The Magic service may seem extravagent to some, but last year, a phone from luxury manufacturer Vertu (pictured) launched for £6,750 ($11,380) which comes with a 24-hour concierge service . Each Signature Touch phone is custom made, by hand, using grade 5 titanium and finished off with calfskin in a range of colours, including Claret Calf, Seaspray Lizard, and Jet Alligator. Its 4.7-inch, 1080p HD screen is protected by sapphire crystal and it features Digital Dolby Surround sound through its Bang and Olufsen speakers. On the rear of the device is a 13MP Hassleblad-certified camera - the firm that provided the cameras for the moon landings. The phone runs on Android KitKat 4.4 and comes with Vertu Life, Certainty and Concierge. According to the firm, the Life app is a ‘passport to the world’s most exclusive events.’ Vertu’s 24-hour Concierge is a personal assistant that helps from ‘tracking down a hard-to-find item to accessing tickets for high-profile events.’ While Vertu Certainty protects and encrypts calls and date, to make the handset secure and private. | Human operators read the texts and work out the best way to fulfill wishes .
A text is sent telling the user how much their item will cost, for example .
Item will be delivered as quickly as possible and a tip added to the charge .
Service is only available in the US and only works for legal requests . |
Keywords: <keyword>DERBYSHIRE TORNADO</keyword>, <keyword>TORNADO ALFRETON</keyword>, <keyword>TORNADO UPROOTED</keyword>, <keyword>ALFRETON ROOF</keyword>, <keyword>HURRICANE DAMAGE</keyword>, <keyword>BUILDING BLOWN</keyword>, <keyword>CARS OVERTURNED</keyword>, <keyword>WAKE TORE</keyword>, <keyword>BELIEVED INCIDENT</keyword>, <keyword>POUNDS WORTH</keyword>
A tornado has left devastation in its wake after it tore through a small town in Derbyshire this afternoon. The mini-storm ripped the roof off a terraced house, flipped cars over and uprooted lampposts. Several properties suffered damages after the freak storm struck Alfreton, near Mansfield at around 3.30pm. Tornado: The mini-storm in Alfreton, Derbyshire caused thousands of pounds worth of damage and completely damaged the top floor of this building . The tornado has also uprooted trees and damaged vehicles, including at least two which were overturned, but miraculously, no injuries have been reported. Four fire engines, including a turntable ladder were called to the residential street where the roof had been ripped the roof off a house at the end of a terrace, blowing it into the neighbouring garden. It is believed the incident has caused thousands of pounds worth of damage. A spokesman for the Met Office later confirmed the weather event was a real tornado, and not a funnel cloud. Locals spoke of their shock after witnessing the tornado. Adam Broadley, 32, said: ‘I looked out of the window and for a moment I thought we were in the eye of a hurricane. Damage done: The roof of the building was blown off and into the neighbour's garden . The house at the end of a terrace has its roof ripped off, and several other houses on the street was damaged . Danger: Tiles have been ripped off several roofs in Alfreton, Derbyshire as the tornado swept through . Emergency services had to be called after properties were damaged and several cars overturned . Read deal: The Met Officehas confirmed the weather event was a real tornado, and not a funnel cloud . The tornado has also uprooted trees and damaged vehicles, but miraculously, no injuries have been reported . ‘Everywhere was dark, it was windy and it was raining like mad. There were roof tiles and wood flying all around us. ‘Thankfully our home hasn't been damaged but I can see one house with a roof missing. ‘There's a lot of shock in the area - you don't expect this type of thing to happen.’ Twitter user @Speedyred711 wrote: ‘Proper tornado in Alfreton trees and lamposts down and roof tiles off. Roads closed and three fire engines out.’ And Zoe Wilson posted: ‘Tornado in Alfreton... I'm scared.’ One user with the handle @kaphc said: ‘There's been a tornado down the road from me in Alfreton. Roof tiles gone, trees down, scary stuff! Am ok here though.’ | Tornado ripped through Alfreton, Derbyshire on Wednesday afternoon .
Several houses were damaged and lampposts uprooted from the streets .
One property saw the roof ripped off, landing in a neighbour's garden . |
Keywords: <keyword>SPURS BEAT</keyword>, <keyword>MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES</keyword>, <keyword>CONTESTED NBA</keyword>, <keyword>SAN ANTONIO</keyword>, <keyword>LEAD SUNS</keyword>, <keyword>POINTS RAPTORS</keyword>, <keyword>WIN MIAMI</keyword>, <keyword>10 REBOUNDS</keyword>, <keyword>101 OVERTIME</keyword>, <keyword>GROUPING LOSING</keyword>
San Antonio ended Memphis' long home-court winning streak while extending their own dominance of the Grizzlies, winning 107-101 on Friday in a clash of rivals from the tightly-contested NBA Southwest Division. The top four teams in the division are separated by just one game, with all have a winning percentage above .700. Dallas dropped to the bottom of that grouping of four after losing at home against Phoenix, while other key results saw LeBron James lead Cleveland to victory at Toronto, and Washington maintain its sole leadership of the Southeast Division by comfortably beating Denver. Tim Duncan recorded a triple-double as San Antonio beat the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday . Manu Ginobili scored 17 points for the Spurs as they ended Memphis' 22-game home winning streak . New York 102-103 Charlotte . Oklahoma City 103-91 Philadelphia . Denver 89-119 Washington . LA Lakers 96-113 Boston . Atlanta 98-75 Brooklyn . Cleveland 105-91 Toronto . San Antonio 107-101 Memphis . Houston 114-112 Minnesota (OT) Phoenix 118-106 Dallas . Miami 85-109 Milwaukee . Orlando 98-93 Utah . Indiana 101-102 Sacramento (OT) Memphis had won its previous 22 regular-season home games, but never led against a San Antonio team that shot 14 of 25 from 3-point range. Manu Ginobili scored 17 points, and Tim Duncan had a triple-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists as the Spurs beat Memphis for the ninth-straight time. Marc Gasol led Memphis with 28 points and 12 rebounds as the Grizzlies dropped into a tie with Houston for the Southwest lead. Phoenix's Goran Dragic had 28 points and a season-high 13 assists to lead the Suns to a 118-106 win at Dallas, ending the Mavericks' run of five consecutive wins. Markieff Morris scored 22 for the Suns, who ran out to an 18-point lead in the first quarter and held on after the hosts pulled within five in the fourth. Monta Ellis scored 33 points for the Mavericks, who had no answer to a Phoenix team that shot 56 percent for the game and an impressive 70 percent in the first quarter en route to a 69 points in the first half. Cleveland won its sixth straight, with LeBron James contributing 24 points and a season-best 13 assists to lead the Cavaliers to a 105-91 win at Toronto. LeBron James scored 24 points against Toronto to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to their sixth straight win . The Houston Rockets picked up an overtime victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves . Kevin Love added 15 points and 13 rebounds for Cleveland, which moved within half a game of Central Division leader Chicago. Amir Johnson scored a season-high 27 points for the Raptors, who at least maintained their six-game lead in the Atlantic Division. Washington racked up its biggest score and biggest win for the year, defeating Denver 119-89, with Kris Humphries scoring 20 points. Rasual Butler and Kevin Seraphin each had 16 for the Wizards, who had six players in double figures and posted their fourth-straight victory. Wilson Chandler's 20 points led the Nuggets, who had their equal lowest score of the season. Atlanta's DeMarre Carroll scored 16 of his 18 points in the first half to set up the Hawks' 98-75 win at Brooklyn. Kobe Bryant's 22 points couldn't prevent the Los Angeles Lakers from a heavy defeat in Boston . Russell Westbrook scored 27 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Philadelphia 76ers . Paul Millsap had 17 points for the Hawks, who eased up after leading by 32 points, and notched a fifth straight victory. Brook Lopez had 20 points for the Nets. Milwaukee's Kendall Marshall came off the bench and scored a season-high 20 points, including three big 3-pointers in the fourth quarter which shored up a 109-85 win against Miami. Khris Middleton had 14 points for the Bucks, who got 60 points from their bench players, as against 18 by Miami's reserves. Dwyane Wade's 28 points led the Heat, which has lost three straight. Houston escaped with a 114-112 win at Minnesota, with James Harden having 38 points before fouling out and Nick Johnson scoring the winner on a driving layup with 0.8 seconds to go. Carmelo Anthony's 32 points couldn't prevent the New York Knicks from losing to the Charlotte Hornets . Dwyane Wade (right) scored 28 points in vain for the Miami Heat as they were beaten by the Milwaukee Bucks . Sacramento's Carl Landry made the game-winning basket with 0.8 seconds left to give the kings a 102-101 overtime win over Indiana, ending a four-game skid. Orlando condemned Utah to its eighth-straight loss, beating the Jazz 98-93, with Tobias Harris scoring 22 points for the Magic. Boston's Tyler Zeller had season highs of 24 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Celtics over the Los Angeles Lakers 113-96. Charlotte ended a 10-game losing slump by beating the equally hapless New York Knicks 103-102, with Kemba Walker driving for a winning layup as time expired. Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook had 27 points in the Thunder's 103-91 win over Philadelphia. | San Antonio Spursend Memphis Grizzlies' 22-game home win streak .
Tim Duncan scores triple-double and Manu Ginobili adds 17 points .
LeBron James scores 24 points as Cleveland beat Toronto Raptors .
Cavaliers have now won six in a row after victory in Canada .
Russell Westbrook scores 27 points as Thunder beat 76ers .
Houston Rockets secure overtime victory over Minnesota Timberwolves . |
Keywords: <keyword>RUGBY CHARITABLE</keyword>, <keyword>WALES 33</keyword>, <keyword>PRINCE WILLIAM</keyword>, <keyword>THRILLING MATCH</keyword>, <keyword>PLAYER</keyword>, <keyword>NUDE SHOTS</keyword>, <keyword>DROP GOAL</keyword>, <keyword>BATEMAN PRESENTED</keyword>, <keyword>KATE VISITED</keyword>, <keyword>REALLY</keyword>
Prince William, ever a fan of rugby union, took time out of his busy schedule to watch Wales play Australia at the Millenium Stadium on Saturday. And afterwards, he was presented with a charity calender featuring women players in a variety of nude poses. William, upon looking at the photographs, was said to have declared enthusiastically: 'Very good shots... I can recommend this!' Fran Bateman (left) shows an impressed Prince William the charity calendar featuring women rugby players . After flicking through the calendar - which features women rugby players in a variety of nude poses - William declared enthusiastically: ‘Very good shots… I can recommend this!’ In the match itself, Australia came from behind to beat Wales 33-28 in a thrilling match in Cardiff. Bernard Foley kicked 18 points, the most important of which coming in the final minutes of the game, when he converted a drop goal and then a penalty in quick succession. Wales had gone in to the second-half level at 21-21, but Warren Gatland's side were unable to hold on. After the match, William attended a tea with former players, organised by the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust, of which he is Patron. In the calendar, featuring the ladies of Gwernyfed RFC, two lady players mark the month of June with strategically placed boots . In August, the girls have a kit check. When William delved inside the front cover he roared with laughter – and held up one image to show another guest at his table . William and Kate – who visited Wales yesterday – will embark on a three-day trip to New York next month to unveil their new charity, United For Wildlife . Former ladies player Fran Bateman presented him with the calendar during the event, the pages including various nude shots of the ladies of Gwernyfed RFC. Later, Bateman said: 'He thought it was outrageously funny. He was having a really good laugh.' William and Kate had earlier visited the Valero Pembroke Refinery on the Pembrokeshire coast, before travelling to the Welsh capital for the match. | Prince William and wife Kate watched Wales play Australia on Saturday .
Afterwards, William went to a charity tea with former players .
He was given a nude calendar, which he flicked through .
The Duke afterwards declared, 'Very good shots... I can recommend this' |
Keywords: <keyword>DALEY BLIND</keyword>, <keyword>SWANSEA BLIND</keyword>, <keyword>HOLLAND MIDFIELDER</keyword>, <keyword>WALKS MANCHESTER</keyword>, <keyword>NETTING GOALS</keyword>, <keyword>DEVILS ADMITS</keyword>, <keyword>HEADS CLEAR</keyword>, <keyword>TIRED TEMPO</keyword>, <keyword>DIFFERENCE LITTLE</keyword>, <keyword>TRANSFER DEADLINE</keyword>
Daley Blind admits the high tempo of the Premier League left him feeling 'a little tired' during his first weeks at Manchester United. The 24-year-old midfielder followed his former Holland boss Louis van Gaal to Old Trafford last summer, completing a £14million deal on transfer deadline day. Blind has made 14 appearances in the Premier League this season, netting two goals for the Red Devils and he admits he was taken aback by the pace of the Premier League. Daley Blind receives a pat on the back from Louis van Gaal after Manchester United's defeat by Swansea . Blind walks out for Manchester United training with team-mate Juan Mata . 'The biggest difference is the Premier League is played at a much higher tempo,' he told Inside United. 'When I played my first games here, I noticed the difference and was a little tired. The tempo is definitely much higher here.' 'In Holland, you have some points in a game when you can say, "Okay, let's have a rest for a few minutes and play the ball around".' Blind heads clear under pressure from Swans striker Bafetimbi Gomis during the defeat on Saturday . The Holland midfielder celebrates after scoring during the Premier League clash with West Ham . Blind was also full of praise for boss Van Gaal and appreciates his manager's honesty. 'I really admire that he's always himself,' he explained. 'He's always really honest to everyone about his ideas and what he wants. 'I think that's a good thing in a person because you know where you stand as a player. That's what I really admire about him.' | Daley Blind joined Manchester United from Ajax on transfer deadline day .
Holland midfielder admits the pace of the Premier League is much higher .
The 24-year-old was left feeling 'a little tired' after first few matches .
CLICK HERE for all the latest Manchester United news . |
Keywords: <keyword>INDUSTRIAL DISASTER</keyword>, <keyword>ISOCYANATE GAS</keyword>, <keyword>STATE MADHYA</keyword>, <keyword>LEAK MOHANTY</keyword>, <keyword>CONCENTRATION CAMP</keyword>, <keyword>CARBIDE FERTILIZER</keyword>, <keyword>YEARS POISON</keyword>, <keyword>PLANT OPENED</keyword>, <keyword>ANNIVERSARY GOVERNMENT</keyword>, <keyword>ADVOCATE BHOPAL</keyword>
(CNN) -- It was to be a somber memorial, a remembrance of those who perished in a lethal milky fog. To mark the 25th anniversary of the world's worst industrial disaster, authorities planned to open up the now-dilapidated shell of the Union Carbide fertilizer plant, where in the wee hours of December 3, 1984, 40 tons of methyl isocyanate gas oozed out onto the sleeping city of Bhopal, India. About 4,000 people died instantly in the toxic leak, an event that came to be marked each year with disputes over victims' rights and government accountability. On this year's milestone anniversary, a new controversy has stirred. The state government of Madhya Pradesh planned to temporarily open the long-silent plant -- surrounded by concrete barriers and barbed wire -- to the public. It was to be part of a series of events observing the tragedy. Because everyone wanted to see, to know. For the same reason that a person visits a Nazi concentration camp or ground zero in New York. "Everyone wants to see the world's worst industrial disaster," said S.R. Mohanty, the secretary for the Relief and Rehabilitation Department for the Bhopal gas tragedy. It was going to be the government's way of reassuring its people that the plant no longer posed a threat to society. But the move sparked protests from victim rights groups and environmental activists. Just days before the anniversary, government officials backed away from the plan they had recently announced. The official reason, however, had little to do with the gas leak. Mohanty cited an election rule currently in force that prohibits acts that could be construed as attempting to influence voters ahead of the polls. Bhopal's municipal elections are scheduled for December. The plant could still be opened at a later date. Though officials representing the government of the state of Madhya Pradesh maintained the Union Carbide plant is perfectly safe, their plans drew criticism. Activists who advocate for Bhopal's victims viewed the plant tours as a publicity stunt for the government. It was another way to shirk responsibility, said Rachna Dhingra, an activist with the Bhopal Group for Information & Action, a coalition of agencies that advocates for victims. "They knew about the elections a month ago," Dhingra said, noting that on the 25th anniversary the government wanted to divert attention from the real issues. Thousands of people still suffer from exposure to the deadly gas and from land and water that became contaminated. Activists contend that neither Union Carbide nor the Indian government has done enough to help survivors. In the years since the poison cloud enclosed Bhopal, thousands more have died of contamination-related illnesses. The International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal alleges that survivors have received an average of only $500 each in compensation. Those who are drinking contaminated water or children who were born with birth defects have not received any money, the coalition said. Union Carbide, which was bought by The Dow Chemical Co. in 1999, has said it has no liability left in the disaster after it paid the Indian government a $470 million out-of-court settlement in 1989. The company has said it believes the leak was an act of sabotage. Dhingra said plans to open the plant to the public was disrespectful to Bhopal's gas victims. The government, she said, was eager to showcase the city as a shining example of recovery. | State had planned to temporarily open the plant to the public .
Officials: Plan scrapped due to rule about influencing elections .
Victims' advocates say plan was publicity stunt .
4,000 people die in the Bhopal disaster in December 1984 . |
Keywords: <keyword>CONCRETE AAC</keyword>, <keyword>BUILDING MATERIAL</keyword>, <keyword>THERMAL QUALITIES</keyword>, <keyword>ADVANTAGES HOUSES</keyword>, <keyword>HOME WILDFIRES</keyword>, <keyword>CURED AUTOCLAVE</keyword>, <keyword>COOKER USED</keyword>, <keyword>INDUSTRIAL PRESSURE</keyword>, <keyword>WASTE CREATION</keyword>, <keyword>YEARS RESISTANT</keyword>
(CNN) -- An eco-friendly building material might have saved some of the 80 homes destroyed in a recent wildfire in Southern California. But it can't be used there. Rajesh Kanwar built his Alpine, California, house out of AAC after his previous house burned down. The masonry material, called autoclaved aerated concrete or AAC, can withstand a 2,000-degree fire for four hours, according to Underwriters Laboratories' test results. "I just think the material's awesome. There's nothing like it," said Doug Edwards, an architect whose Edwards Design Group designs and builds green homes in the Scottsdale, Arizona, area. "It's the best building material in the world." AAC is a mixture of sand, water, lime, portland cement and aluminum powder that is formed into blocks and cured in an autoclave, a sort of industrial pressure cooker. It has been used in Europe, where it was invented, for more than 70 years. Besides being fire-resistant, AAC also deadens sound, is energy efficient, is impervious to termites, is bulletproof and waterproof, generates no waste in its creation, and can be recycled, its fans say. See AAC survive a fire-and-water test » . A sort of concrete bread, it's full of tiny air pockets, making it one-fifth the weight of traditional concrete, which means more can be transported with less use of fuel. Workers can cut it and shape it with hand tools, and its thermal qualities significantly lower energy use, experts say. Exton Quinn, an architect who fled her Santa Barbara, California, home as wildfires approached in early May, learned about the material at a green building seminar. "It's a natural insulator, it's completely nontoxic, it's just absolutely fabulous," she said. "And with our homes going up here, we should be building with this. ... The idea that we can't build with a fireproof material, I think, is insane." But in California, wildfires aren't the only concern. Small earthquakes are part of daily life in many areas, and stronger ones occur fairly frequently. And that's the regulators' problem with AAC. "Autoclaved aerated concrete cannot be used to resist seismic forces because it has not been seismically tested," said David Walls, executive director of the California Building Standards Commission in Sacramento. The restriction is based on guidelines from the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program, he said. The next International Building Code, slated to take effect in 2011, will permit use of AAC in more places that have minimal seismic activity, Walls said. But even under those somewhat relaxed standards, most of California would not qualify, he added. Advocates for the product say California's qualms are baseless -- and political. "We've done all the testing, and the testing showed the material works fine in any seismic area," said Felipe Babbitt, a Mesa, Arizona, engineer who helped develop code standards for AAC block. "It has not been approved by California not because it can't perform, but because they have not done a thorough review of the testing data and are not convinced that it performs." California's standards are no different from those of other states, Walls insisted. "We base ours off the national model code. For the most part, for private buildings in California, we do not add any extra stuff," he said. "So it would be strictly based on what is the national standard." That's not entirely true, Babbitt said. California is the only state that adopted the 2006 International Building Code without the companion housing code that includes acceptance of AAC in seismic areas, he said. The two documents were meant to be applied in tandem, he said. "A lot of it's politics," Babbitt said. "Everybody's protecting their own interests. You've got the wood industry protecting theirs, you've got the steel protecting theirs, and the AAC is just going up against all these people." The AAC industry hasn't been around long enough yet to earn its place in the code, he said. Wood, on the other hand, faces no challenge despite its obvious vulnerability to wind, fire, flood, pests, mold and earthquakes, he said. "Each state has different code adoption laws and processes," Walls responded by e-mail. "I cannot explain what or why any other state makes their choices. I can tell you that California has never adopted a residential code." Another architect isn't satisfied. "What is baffling is this is a product that could be enormously beneficial in California," said Michael McDonough, a world-renowned New York architect who specializes in sustainable industry. "The testing standards they are rejecting are the testing standards that are used in 49 other states, and they've been extant for 10 years. "Therefore we believe it's reasonable to assume there's some other agenda than the standards," he said. "This stuff has been tested within an inch of its life." Walls denies that politics played a role. "I have been involved in the code adoption in California for more that eight years and I am not aware of any 'agenda' in California," he wrote in an e-mail. Mike Quaka, vice president-general manager of manufacturer AERCON Florida in Haines City, Florida, defended his company's product. "From all of our independent testing, it meets all the seismic zones, just as it does in Europe," he said. "I think there's a lot of external variables floating out there when we talk about California and AAC. ... We can build anywhere else without a hiccup." Richard Klingner, an expert in earthquake-resistant design at the University of Texas at Austin, conducted what the industry considers the definitive tests of AAC in 2000 and found it more than adequate to handle seismic loading. "In my opinion, testing done by me and others has demonstrated that ductile shear walls of AAC can safely be used anywhere in the U.S.," Klingner said in an e-mail from Venezuela, where he was giving a lecture on the seismic resistance of masonry. Ductile shear walls are walls that flex slightly to resist lateral force, the main cause of damage in earthquakes. "I do not know why AAC has not had wider acceptance in California," he wrote. "It may be a combination of lack of familiarity, caution, and 'not invented here.' That's too bad, because AAC offers many advantages." A few houses made of AAC are scattered around California, built before restrictions were put in place. One is in Alpine, built by Rajesh Kanwar and Lori Ende after their previous house burned down in the 2003 Cedar Fire, which killed 13 people and destroyed more than 2,000 homes. "When our home burned down, I looked into materials that were less likely to burn down," said Kanwar, who runs a small business. "Before I went to the material, I did a substantial amount of ground work to make sure I wasn't doing something which was going to come back and bite me," he said. "So when I looked into that, I didn't just look into the fireproof aspect of it, I also looked into the seismic aspect of it, because I was really concerned about that. "And from everything I learned ... it has done very well under earthquake conditions." AERCON's Quaka admits to being a little discouraged by the long struggle for acceptance in California. "You beat your head against a door so many times, your head gets sore. And we're not there yet with California, but our heads are pretty bloody." | An eco-friendly masonry material can withstand a 2,000-degree fire for four hours .
Advocates say it may have saved some of the 80 homes destroyed in a recent wildfire .
But the product is banned in California because it hasn't passed seismic tests .
The material also is impervious to termites and is bulletproof and waterproof . |
Keywords: <keyword>VANISHED CRUISES</keyword>, <keyword>CRUISE VICTIMS</keyword>, <keyword>MISSING CITIZENS</keyword>, <keyword>MARITIME LAW</keyword>, <keyword>CORIAM MYSTERIOUS</keyword>, <keyword>EVIDENCE DISNEY</keyword>, <keyword>CRIMES INVESTIGATED</keyword>, <keyword>PASSENGERS EXPOSED</keyword>, <keyword>AMERICAN BRITISH</keyword>, <keyword>KNOW PHONECALL</keyword>
London (CNN) -- In the early hours of March 22 this year, cruise ship worker Rebecca Coriam made a mysterious phonecall. No one knows who she spoke to, or what the call was about. Minutes later she hung up, walked away -- and apparently vanished without a trace. Six months later, her parents still have no idea what happened to their 24-year-old daughter on board the Disney Wonder ship as it sailed off the coast of California. And like the loved ones of scores of others who have vanished from cruises in international waters, there is little they can do to find out. While millions of people around the world take cruises every year, at least 168 people have vanished from cruise ships and ferries in international waters since 1995, according to the International Cruise Victims Association. Maritime law states that crimes are to be investigated by police in the country where the ship is registered. So while Coriam, who is British, went missing off the coast of California, her case was taken up in the Bahamas, where the Disney Wonder is registered. Coriam's parents, Mike and Ann, were shocked to learn that rather than American or British police boarding the ship to gather evidence, Disney and then Bahamian law enforcement were to handle the investigation. The Coriams flew to Los Angeles where they were shown CCTV footage of their daughter making a phone call in the early hours of the morning she went missing -- the only piece of evidence they've been shown in the investigation into her disappearance, they say. "We don't know what was in the phonecall and when she finished the call she just walked away," Mike told CNN. "That's all we really know to this day." A single police officer from the Bahamas flew into town but failed to interview any of the roughly 3,700 passengers and crewon the cruise ship -- and that appears to be the extent of the investigation into their daughter's disappearance, her parents say. Superintendent Paul Rolle of the Bahamas police told the UK newspaper Daily Mail: "I have been in touch with the family and have no further comment." "We get very little information coming back to us as to what the investigation has found out, and that's partly because of the problems of where the ship's registered," said Mike. Rebecca's parents are demanding new regulations similar to a new U.S. law which allows the FBI and U.S. Coast Guard to investigate cases of missing U.S. citizens regardless of where the ship is registered. "The law we want is what President Barack Obama signed up to last year in the U.S.," said Mike. "We want the same in the UK and Europe and elsewhere." The Coriams have met with UK shipping minister Mike Penning, who has pledged to raise the issue with the International Maritime Organization -- but progress has been slow. "It's been absolutely awful," said Anne. "We just miss her desperately now -- it's the longest we've ever gone without seeing her, and it's not getting any easier at all." At the time of her disappearance a Disney spokeswoman said: "We have been doing everything possible to find Rebecca Coriam including conducting multiple shipboard searches. In addition, we have been working with all of the appropriate authorities. Rebecca's disappearance has been difficult for everyone at Disney Cruise Line." "We've been in close contact with the Coriam family, and we're assisting them in any way we can." Mike blames the culture of cruise ships, and not Disney or the Bahamian police, for the lack of action over Rebecca's disappearance. And with the recent news that the UK cruise line company Cunard is considering moving its ships' registrations to a different country, even more cruise passengers could be exposed to the problems the Coriams have faced. With little more support than that of their own family, the Coriams say they are focused on finding out what happened to their daughter -- and preventing others from going through the same trauma. "We've got to find out what's happened to her -- you don't just vanish off of a ship with all those people," said Anne. "We'll keep on and keep strong for her until we find answers." | Rebecca Coriam disappeared from a Disney cruise ship in March .
168 people have vanished from cruise ships and ferries in international waters since 1995 .
Missing persons at sea must be investigated by the country where the ship is registered .
Coriam's parents want new laws to protect cruise passengers in Europe . |
Keywords: <keyword>HOSPITAL WOODS</keyword>, <keyword>HOLMBERG GOVERNOR</keyword>, <keyword>DOCUMENT FLORIDA</keyword>, <keyword>GOLFER DRIVING</keyword>, <keyword>TIGER TRANSGRESSIONS</keyword>, <keyword>SWEDEN RESTING</keyword>, <keyword>PAIN CIRCUMSTANCES</keyword>, <keyword>YATES SAID</keyword>, <keyword>WITNESS REMOVED</keyword>, <keyword>CRASH PROMPTED</keyword>
Orlando, Florida (CNN) -- Tiger Woods' mother-in-law, Barbro Holmberg, was released from a hospital in "good condition" Tuesday afternoon, hours after she was admitted, a hospital spokesman said. Holmberg -- the mother of Woods' wife, Elin Nordegren -- was admitted to Health Central Hospital in Ocoee, Florida, early Tuesday morning for stomach pain. Paramedics arrived at Woods' home in Orange County, Florida, after a 911 call was made at around 2:35 a.m., dispatch information shows. Hospital spokesman Dan Yates said that Holmberg, a regional governor in Sweden, was resting at Woods' home after being released around 2 p.m. ET. Yates would not comment further on Holmberg's hospital stay, saying only that she was in a "good state and feeling much better." Health Central Hospital is the same hospital where Woods was taken after he crashed his sports utility vehicle into a fire hydrant and a tree outside his mansion near Windermere on November 27. Eva Malmborg, a spokeswoman for Gavleborg County, where Holmberg is governor, told CNN that she had been taken to the Florida hospital because of abdominal pain. "She is, after the circumstances, well," Malmborg said. "We count on her being back at work on Monday." There has been no comment on Wood's Web site regarding his mother-in-law's difficulties. Woods, 33, who tops the sport's world rankings, has been mired in controversy since the crash, which prompted authorities to cite him for careless driving and fine him $164. Woods was not required to talk to police about the wreck, and declined to talk with investigators on several occasions. A document from the Florida Highway Patrol released Monday shows that the patrol sought private medical records from Woods, saying investigators suspected the golfer may have been driving under the influence. More coverage from CNN affiliate WESH . More coverage from CNN affiliate WKMG . More coverage from CNN affiliate WFTV . Florida Highway Patrol trooper Joshua Evans filed the request to obtain Woods' blood test results because "the witness who removed the driver from the vehicle" said Woods consumed alcohol "earlier in the day" and that he had prescriptions for the painkiller Vicodin and the sleep aid Ambien. Woods' wife told investigators she pulled her husband from the vehicle after he crashed. The state attorney's office denied the subpoena request, however, citing "insufficient information provided to issue subpoena," and Florida defense attorney Mark Eiglarsh, who specializes in DUI cases, said the evidence provided in the request was "flimsy." State attorney spokeswoman Danielle Traverneir said the request for the subpoena was fairly routine in such cases and that it was not uncommon to deny them. The Florida Highway Patrol has closed the case. Sgt. Kim Montes said Tuesday that the investigative subpoenas are a normal part of the investigation. "When we meet with the state attorney, they make the final determination. It wouldn't be proper for us to comment on that," she said. In the week following the crash, the golfer apologized for "transgressions" that let his family down. The same day gossip magazine US Weekly published a report alleging Woods had an affair. "I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves," he said in a December 3 statement on his official Web site. US Weekly magazine printed a report alleging that Woods had an affair with Jaimee Grubbs, whom it identified as a 24-year-old cocktail waitress. The magazine also published what it says is a voicemail message from Woods to Grubbs. Share your thoughts on Tiger's 'transgressions' CNN could not independently confirm that the voice on the recording was Woods. The magazine's report followed a National Enquirer report that Woods was having an affair with a New York nightclub hostess, an assertion the hostess vigorously denied, according to The New York Post. CNN's John Couwels, Per Nyberg and Rich Phillips contributed to this report. | NEW: Barbro Holmberg resting at Tiger Woods' home, hospital spokesman says .
Holmberg is mother of Woods' wife, Elin Nordegren .
Holmberg, 57, was admitted to hospital early Tuesday morning with stomach pain .
Tiger Woods taken to same hospital after crashing SUV on November 27 . |
Keywords: <keyword>DISMISSED OFFICERS</keyword>, <keyword>CONSTABLE CHIEF</keyword>, <keyword>CHARGES MR</keyword>, <keyword>PERSON CONVICTED</keyword>, <keyword>SEAN PRICE</keyword>, <keyword>FUND POLICE</keyword>, <keyword>SACKED GROSS</keyword>, <keyword>INVESTIGATION COST</keyword>, <keyword>PENSIONABLE PAY</keyword>, <keyword>CORRUPTION CLEVELAND</keyword>
By . Amanda Williams . Ex Cleveland chief constable Sean Price received £336,000 after being dismissed . Two former senior police officers have received £467,000 in pension payments - despite being sacked for gross misconduct. Ex-Cleveland chief constable Sean Price and his deputy Derek Bonnard received £336,000 and £131,000 respectively after being dismissed. Both . officers were arrested in 2011 as part of Operation Sacristy, the £4.6m . investigation into allegations of corruption at the force and the . now-defunct police authority which resulted in no criminal charges. Mr Price was fired in 2012 after a hearing which found he had lied about his role in the recruitment of the former police authority chairman Dave McLuckie's daughter. In March, Mr Bonnard was dismissed in March after six counts of gross misconduct were upheld, including the misuse of a corporate credit card. Both men had denied any wrongdoing. The officers were entitled to the payments under the terms of their contracts. A police spokeswoman said the strict rules that determine when a pension can be forfeited are set out in law. 'To be considered, a person has to be convicted in court of specific criminal offences. These are: treason, offences under the Official Secrets Act with a sentence of at least ten years, or a criminal offence connected to service which is liable to lead to serious loss of public confidence, or is gravely injurious to the interests of the Secretary of State. Forfeiture proceedings have to be approved by the Home Secretary. 'Revocation or reduction of pensionable pay can therefore only occur if an officer is convicted in court of one of these criminal offences. 'It cannot be applied to police officers who are dismissed for misconduct or who choose to resign facing a misconduct hearing.' Details of their pension payments were revealed following a Freedom of Information request. The force said chief constable Jacqui Cheer and police and crime commissioner Barry Coppinger had both raised the matter but there was no indication the government planned to change the regulations. Derek Bonnard received £131,000 after being dismissed after six counts of gross misconduct against him were upheld, including the misuse of a corporate credit card . Mr Price said: 'I was in the police service for nearly 33 years rising from the rank of constable to chief constable. 'During that time paid up to 11 per cent of my salary into my pension fund, as do all other police officers.' The former chief constable said he was still looking forward to clearing his name. 'A number of witnesses have now approached me who could not help at the time, due to restrictions placed upon them by the Operation Sacristy criminal investigation, which cost £5m of taxpayers money and was ultimately completely ill founded and unsuccessful. Both officers were arrested in 2011 as part of Operation Sacristy, the £4.6m investigation into allegations of corruption at the Cleveland Police and the now-defunct police authority which resulted in no criminal charges . 'Statements are in the process of being obtained from these witnesses. The legal advice I have received is that is that this new evidence "was not or could not have been considered by the misconduct panel at the time" and provides grounds to appeal against my dismissal, even after the time that has passed.' Mr Bonnard said: 'As is the case for all police officers I made payments into the pension scheme throughout my career. The pension I receive is set by national police pension regulations'. Stockton . South MP James Wharton said: 'It is clear that Operation Sacristy has . been an expensive and disruptive failure which appears to have started . with the right intentions, but then got badly out of hand. 'Cleveland Police needs to demonstrate it has learned lessons but I fear a lot still needs to be done.' | Ex-Cleveland chief constable Sean Price and deputy Derek Bonnard received £336,000 and £131,000 respectively .
Men arrested as part of Operation Sacristy investigation into corruption .
But the £4.6m investigation resulted in no criminal charges for any involved .
Force said officers were entitled to payments under terms of their contracts . |
Keywords: <keyword>CHILDREN VITAMIN</keyword>, <keyword>LACK VITAMIN</keyword>, <keyword>MULTIVITAMINS MILK</keyword>, <keyword>DEFICIENCY OLDER</keyword>, <keyword>DIET SUN</keyword>, <keyword>HEALTH LEVELS</keyword>, <keyword>DIABETES RISK</keyword>, <keyword>CHOLESTEROL FACTORS</keyword>, <keyword>DRANK MILK</keyword>, <keyword>LOT CANCERS</keyword>
A whopping 70 percent of American kids aren't getting enough vitamin D, and such youngsters tend to have higher blood pressure and lower levels of good cholesterol than their peers, according to two new studies published this week in the journal Pediatrics. Low vitamin D levels also may increase a child's risk of developing heart disease later in life, experts say. People who drank milk less than once a week were among those most at risk for vitamin-D deficiency, a study found. "We were astounded at how common it was," says study author Dr. Michal Melamed, an assistant professor of medicine, epidemiology, and population health at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, in the Bronx, New York. "There is a lot of data that suggests adults with low vitamin-D levels are at risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and a lot of cancers, and if kids start out with low levels and never increase them, they may be putting themselves at risk for developing all of these diseases at a much earlier age." Vitamin D is often called the "sunshine vitamin" because the human body makes it only when exposed to sunlight -- although it only takes 10 to 15 minutes a day to make an adequate amount. Vitamin D, which helps the bones better absorb calcium, is also added to multivitamins and milk. In Melamed's study, the researchers looked at the vitamin D levels of more than 6,000 people ages 1 to 21. They checked for vitamin-D deficiency, which is defined as less than 15 nanograms per milliliter of blood (ng/mL), and vitamin-D insufficiency, which is defined as 15 to 29 ng/mL. Overall, 7.6 million, or 9 percent, of U.S. children were vitamin-D deficient, and another 50.8 million, or 61 percent, had insufficient levels of this important vitamin in their blood. Children with low levels of vitamin D were more likely to have high blood pressure and lower levels of high-density lipoprotein, also known as good cholesterol -- two factors that are considered major risk factors for heart disease later in life. Health.com: How cholesterol affects your heart's health . Children with low vitamin-D levels also had higher levels of parathyroid hormone than their counterparts with adequate vitamin D in their blood. Parathyroid hormone is a measure of bone health. When levels are high, it suggests that bones need more calcium to grow. Watch more on kids in the U.S. and low levels of vitamin D » . Overall, those most at risk for a vitamin-D deficiency were older, female, obese, drank milk less than once a week, and spent more than four hours a day watching TV, playing video games, or working on a computer. They were also more likely to be children with darker skin, including non-Hispanic blacks and Mexican-Americans. (Children with darker skin are more likely to be deficient in vitamin D because they have more melanin than their fairer counterparts. Melanin is the pigment that gives skin color, but it may prevent the skin from absorbing enough sunlight to produce an adequate amount of vitamin D.) Health.com: Battle aging with vitamin D . In the second study, a research team led by Jared P. Reis, Ph.D., of Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, looked at 3,577 adolescents ages 12 to 19. Those with low levels of vitamin D were more likely to have high blood pressure, high levels of blood sugar, and metabolic syndrome (a cluster of factors known to increase risk of heart disease) than their counterparts with ample vitamin D in their blood, regardless of how much they weighed. Exactly how a lack of vitamin D increases the risk of heart disease is an evolving story. In terms of blood pressure, vitamin D helps control renin, a protein that plays a role in regulating blood-pressure levels. Health.com: Why belly fat increases type 2 diabetes risk . The best vitamin-D boosting strategy involves a three-pronged approach, says Melamed. "You can get a little bit from food, but not as much as you need," she says. "Supplements are readily available, and kids like to take Flintstones or gummy-bear multivitamins, which typically contain vitamin D." Also, parents should help their children get at least 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure daily without sunscreen. "Set your watch and then apply sunscreen after 15 minutes," Melamed says. Some children, including those in high-risk groups, may need to be screened to check for low vitamin-D levels. Dr. Michael F. Holick, Ph.D., a professor of medicine, physiology, and biophysics at Boston University School of Medicine, and the author of "The Vitamin D Solution" (to be released in April 2010), has been sounding an alarm about the dangers of low vitamin-D levels for years. Health.com: Easy food swaps cut cholesterol, not taste . "This is a recipe for serious diseases occurring in our children when they are in their 20s and 30s," he says. Holick was among the first to document the return of rickets--a disorder caused by a lack of vitamin D and other minerals--which can lead to the softening and weakening of the bones. Health.com: How to get vitamin D safely . "[But] rickets is just the tip of the iceberg," Holick says. "Vitamin-D deficiency has insidious, serious long-term health consequences for children that could remain with them throughout their lives," he explains. "[Parents should know] their child is likely to be vitamin-D deficient if the child does not take a supplement of 400 IU vitamin D a day and receive some unprotected sun. It is next to impossible to get enough vitamin D from diet, and the sun-phobic attitude has made the problem much worse." Enter to win a monthly Room Makeover Giveaway from MyHomeIdeas.com . Copyright Health Magazine 2009 . | Study: 70 percent of American kids aren't getting enough vitamin D .
Children with darker skin are more likely to be deficient in vitamin D .
Vitamin D helps control the protein renin, involved in blood pressure levels .
Vitamin D also helps the bones better absorb calcium . |
Keywords: <keyword>HOVERING JELLYFISH</keyword>, <keyword>ROBOT WEIGHS</keyword>, <keyword>FRUIT FLIES</keyword>, <keyword>FLYING MACHINE</keyword>, <keyword>BEACHSIDE NUISANCE</keyword>, <keyword>MIMIC MOVEMENTS</keyword>, <keyword>FLUID DYNAMICS</keyword>, <keyword>CREATION SCIENCE</keyword>, <keyword>RISTROPH CHILDRESS</keyword>, <keyword>AMAZINGLY TINY</keyword>
By . Zoe Szathmary . PUBLISHED: . 18:22 EST, 24 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:21 EST, 25 November 2013 . A new robot that can fly and mimic the movements of a beachside nuisance was presented to the world on Sunday. At the American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics meeting in Pittsburgh, designers Leif Ristroph and Stephen Childress showed off the stunning creation, Science Codex reports. Both Ristroph and Childress are part of New York University's Courant Institute, according to a press release for their presentation 'Hovering of a jellyfish-like flying machine.' The robot, seen here, weighs a mere 2g and is 4in across . The robot's wings 'squirt,' allowing it to move as if it were a flying jellyfish . Ristroph, Science Codex reports, said the main challenge of imitating flapping wings is that they are 'inherently unstable.' He cited fruit flies, noting that they constantly tweak their motions in response to the elements. Amazingly, the tiny robot weighs a mere 2g and is 4 inches across, Discovery reports. Though it is not autonomous, Ristroph plans to build more robots that are able to fly entirely on their own. The robot's wings 'squirt air' and give it momentum to lift off, allowing it to move like the jelly, NBC News reports. The wings are connected to a power source via a wire to allow for movement. Ristroph said that his robot designs were 'sort of dumb' -- they stay afloat solely by using their wings. 'That's the beauty of the design,' told NBC News. 'It doesn't need a 'smart' design to help it recover.' Explaining the benefits of his research project, Ristroph also told the network that they could be used to monitor air pollution and quality control. Leif Ristroph, seen here, called his robot design 'sort of dumb' | TINY creation weighs 2g, measures 4in across .
Robot's four wings 'squirt' air allowing it to take flight .
Designer Leif Ristroph said his simple design was 'sort of dumb' |
Keywords: <keyword>PADRAIG HARRINGTON</keyword>, <keyword>WINNING INDONESIAN</keyword>, <keyword>268 VICTORY</keyword>, <keyword>JOHOR OPEN</keyword>, <keyword>WINNER HARINGTON</keyword>, <keyword>IRELAND TRIPLE</keyword>, <keyword>DOUBLE BOGEY</keyword>, <keyword>HOLDS ALOFT</keyword>, <keyword>POOR START</keyword>, <keyword>SHOTS CLEAR</keyword>
Padraig Harrington held off a late challenge from Thailand's Thanyakon Khrongpha to win the Asian Tour's Indonesia Open by two shots on Sunday. Ireland's triple major winner came through a stuttering start to the final round and then a thrilling 18th hole to card a winning total of 16-under-par 268. The victory is Harrington's first at a full field tournament since he lifted the Johor Open title in 2010. Padraig Harrington holds aloft the trophy after winning the Indonesian Open in Jakarta . The Irishman registered his first full field tournament win since 2010 . Treble major winner Harington raises his hand to the gallery after securing a two-shot win . It was far from plain sailing for the world number 385, who had entered the final day with a four-shot lead before a poor start allowed Thanyakon to go two shots clear after nine holes. A two-hour rain break seemed to stall the Thai's momentum, however, and Harrington fought back to restore parity with his rival heading to the 18th. The Irishman skewed his tee shot to the edge of a hazard but Khrongpha failed to capitalise, finding the water with his second and registering a double-bogey six. Harrington recovered his composure, sinking a 15-foot putt to make par and secure a dramatic victory. Harrington was forced to hold off a late charge from Thailand's Thanyakon Khrongpha . | Padraig Harrington came back to win the Indonesian Open by two shots .
The triple major winner was forced to fend off Thanyakon Khrongpha .
Harrington won his first full-field tournament since the Johor Open in 2010 . |
Keywords: <keyword>PORT MIGRANTS</keyword>, <keyword>CONTAINERS FERRIES</keyword>, <keyword>TILBURY DOCKSIDE</keyword>, <keyword>CONTAINER LIFTED</keyword>, <keyword>BELIEVED SMUGGLED</keyword>, <keyword>BELGIANS HUDDLED</keyword>, <keyword>ZEEBRUGGE YESTERDAY</keyword>, <keyword>MAKESHIFT CAMP</keyword>, <keyword>SURFERS SKIMMED</keyword>, <keyword>ENGLAND COST</keyword>
The huge container port of Zeebrugge was at rest yesterday as church bells called Sunday worshippers to prayer. Under a leaden sky, Belgians huddled against the breeze drinking tea in beach huts, while kite-surfers skimmed across the sea next to the port where hundreds of metal containers – piled like giant Lego bricks and stamped with British company names – waited on the concrete to be lifted on to ferries for Channel crossings next week. This is the port at the centre of a new immigration controversy: where 35 migrants, including children, were crammed into a container on a P&O ship which set sail to Tilbury in Essex on Friday night. On Saturday at 6.15am, when the container was lifted off the boat on to the Tilbury dockside, the exhausted migrants screamed to be let out as their air inside began to give out. Scroll down for videos . Ready to risk all: Migrants from Asia at their makeshift camp in Zeebrugge, Belgium, yesterday . Containers: It is thought between 600 and 3,000 migrants a year slip through the port's security to Britain . One man had died in the horrific conditions, and the others were taken to hospital suffering from thirst, cold and exhaustion. It had been a nightmare journey of nine hours across the Channel in the dark, airless 40ft long metal box. However the terrifying odyssey at least ended in the only country the migrants wanted to reach: the promised land of England. In recent weeks, the eyes of the world have been on Calais, the French port where 1,300 Eritreans and Sudanese migrants have rioted as they battle for control of the best spot to jump on a lorry driving on to a ferry to the UK. Yet over 15 years of mass illegal migration to Britain, other ports along the French and Belgian north coasts have also become targets for migrants hoping to smuggle themselves to England. They come from all over the world, and are mostly not Africans – like those who wait at Calais – but Afghans, Iranians, Iraqis, Chinese, Sri Lankans and Vietnamese. At Zeebrugge, security fences have been put up, and containers are searched with body-heat-seeking devices, machines to detect human breath and sniffer dogs. Fenced off: There are high security fences and containers are searched with devices that seek body heat . Hard to track: The ship on which the Afghan Sikhs hid had 50 other containers on board, all bound for Tilbury . ‘This was a result of the growing numbers,’ a port official told the Mail recently. ‘We had to do something to stop Zeebrugge becoming a target like Calais.’ Whether this has worked is another matter. The scale of the task is daunting. At one stage, the port authority admitted only one container in four could be searched because there are not enough staff. According to monitoring groups, during big waves of illegal migration 3,000 a year have slipped into containers on ferries and made it to England from Zeebrugge. It is thought the number of those getting through is now around 600 a year – but the truth is that no one knows. Grim: In makeshift camps near the port, some migrants have waited for a year or more . There are so many containers and so many ferries crossing the Channel. The ship on which the Afghan Sikhs hid had 50 other containers on board. Most migrants arriving at the Belgian coast live in decrepit makeshift camps hidden among trees dotted along the motorway from France while they wait their chance to get to England. Some have tents bought at the local supermarkets, but the majority exist in squalid improvised huts made from pieces of shed, black tarpaulin, sheets and blankets. I visited two camps on the Belgian border near Zeebrugge yesterday morning. I talked to migrants as they cooked breakfast over open fires. I met a doctor, an engineer and an architect from Iran, two Sikh students from the Indian Punjab, and dozens of Afghans who said they had not had a job in their home countries for years and were running away ‘to your England’. The migrants from different cultures and countries have little in common – except they all have family in Britain, want to get there desperately, and have been put in the ‘holding’ camps by agents who operate along the Belgian and French coasts, and also smuggle them on to lorries for fat fees. The agents are controlled by Mr Bigs in cities such as London and Paris, such shadowy figures that even the agents do not know the names of their bosses. The agents set up the illicit journeys by mobile phone, and they, too, stay anonymous. They give only their first names or even pseudonyms to the migrants, so they cannot be traced if police or border staff catch a stowaway at Zeebrugge or one of the other ports, such as Dunkirk. The British police say they are launching a homicide inquiry into the dead migrant, and hope to catch the traffickers who put him – and the other Afghan Sikhs – into the container. It will, by any standards, be a tough job. Almost certainly, the Afghan Sikhs will not even know the identity of the trafficking agents who fixed their journey, let alone the names of those who pull the strings at the top of the operation. There is one sliver of evidence: a CCTV camera caught a picture of the lorry with the container entering the port on Friday night. It is believed they were smuggled across the 4,000 miles from Afghanistan to Western Europe by truck. Once in Belgium, they were put into an empty container, due to be shipped to the UK, and driven by lorry into the port area and on to the ferry. Whether they were forced to wait in a camp until the ‘time was right’ for the illicit journey is unclear as yet. Certainly, the migrants I spoke to yesterday had not seen any Afghan Sikhs during the past two or three weeks. Ideal: Some will pay another £1,500 to cross the Channel after already paying £20,000 for their journey so far . Increased security 'was a result of the growing numbers,' a port official told the Mail recently. 'We had to do something to stop Zeebrugge becoming a target like Calais’, the official added . There are only 3,000 Sikh families in Afghanistan. They have been oppressed by successive regimes for their religious beliefs. The Taliban were particularly vicious, attacking and ostracising Sikhs for their perceived wealth as successful merchants, and their refusal to convert to Islam. No wonder this particular group has turned its eyes to London in the past decade, where there is a thriving and established Afghan Sikh community, particularly in Southall, West London. Relatives in London raise the large sums of money demanded by the trafficking organisations, often – I have been told – paying the fees into trafficking agents’ bank accounts in England. The cost of a journey from Afghanistan to the Belgian coast is currently £20,000 a person, and then £1,500 per head to be taken across the Channel. A well-used migrant route for Afghans is to head for Turkey by land and then travel over the porous border into Greece by boat, where they make their way to Italy and catch trains northwards to the Channel ports. Challenge: The road to Zeebrugge is a long one, and for many it begins with a tourist visa to Italy . One migrant, 22-year-old Indian Sikh Hara Singh, said: 'I heard what had happened to the Sikhs from Afghanistan. It is terrible news for us, too. We are worried there will be more security on the container ships' However, there is another migrant route which has become a favourite with those who have money. The illegals enter border-free Europe by plane on a tourist visa to Italy via Moscow. ‘A tourist visa into modern Europe means that you can go to any country apart from England without any trouble. Italy is full of tourists and gives the visas out easily, so it is a passport to Europe,’ an immigration official in Rome told me recently. This was just the route taken by Hira Singh, a 22-year-old Indian Sikh I found at a camp in Grande Synthe, a French town near the Belgian border yesterday. He told me: ‘I heard what had happened to the Sikhs from Afghanistan. It is terrible news for us, too. We are worried there will be more security on the container ships going out of the ports now.’ Then, with his toothbrush and toothpaste in hand as he went for a morning wash at the corner of the camp, he added emotionally: ‘I flew by Air India on a tourist visa from Delhi to Moscow, and then to Rome. I got a train here to northern France. I have been here a year and I am beginning to lose hope of getting to England.’ At a camp nearer Zeebrugge, another Indian Sikh, Ranjodh Singh, 22, his long hair tucked into a baseball cap, said: ‘I have relatives in Southall, in Birmingham and all over the north of England. I have been here for two weeks waiting for the agent to find me a place on a container or a lorry. ‘I came into Italy on a tourist visa and caught a train from there. My visa into Italy meant I could come to Belgium because there aren’t any borders in Europe any more, so it was easy. With sincerity shining from his dark eyes, he added: ‘I don’t want to be here, though, only England.’ No doubt the 35 Sikhs from Afghanistan found at Tilbury in such a desperate state felt the same when they set off on their perilous journey. And what is clear from their troubling and tragic story is that they certainly won’t be the last to take their lives in their hands in the hope of making it to their destination. | 35 Afghans were crammed into container in huge port of Zeebrugge, Belgium .
But migrants also come from Iraq, Iran, China, Sri Lanka and Vietnam .
Security fences have been put up and machines detect human breath .
But still monitoring groups say around 600 a year make journey to UK .
Doctor, engineer, architect and students cooked breakfast over open fire .
One said: 'I have been here a year and I am beginning to lose hope' |
Keywords: <keyword>DARK KNIGHT</keyword>, <keyword>PG 13</keyword>, <keyword>LANGUAGE RATING</keyword>, <keyword>MPAA COME</keyword>, <keyword>RISES INTENSE</keyword>, <keyword>FILMS SCREEN</keyword>, <keyword>DIFFERENCES VIOLENCE</keyword>, <keyword>SENSUALITY MEAN</keyword>, <keyword>DIRECTOR FINISHED</keyword>, <keyword>EXPLANATIONS INFER</keyword>
(EW.com) -- The MPAA has come under some flack of late for its one-size-fits-all rating system and vague-at-best explanations for those ratings. But there's a fun flip-side to the murkiness: Speculating on what those ratings and their explanations might infer about the movie in question — in this case, "The Dark Knight Rises." The MPAA handed a PG-13 rating today to "The Dark Knight Rises," for "intense sequences of violence and action, some sensuality and language." The rating itself does not mean the movie is totally done -- films often screen well before the director is finished with technical elements like visual effects, sound design, and color timing. But it does provide us with a tantalizing indication for what may be in store with a wildly anticipated film that has otherwise put a high premium on plot details. Namely: Language? Sensuality? Intriguing! As a point of comparison, 2008′s "The Dark Knight" won its PG-13 for "intense sequences of violence and some menace"; 2005′s "Batman Begins" was a PG-13 due to "intense action violence, disturbing images, and some thematic elements." Beyond the obvious differences between "violence and action," "violence and some menace," and "action violence [and] disturbing images," it appears that the final film in this trilogy is branching out into some new territory for the franchise. The "sensuality" could mean Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) gets horizontal with a cat-suited Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway). And "language" suggests masked villain Bane (Tom Hardy) could provoke Batman's potty mouth. If that means we get to see more of Bale's physique and legendary way with four-letter words, so much the better. See the full article at EW.com. CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved. | The MPAA handed a PG-13 rating today to "The Dark Knight Rises"
The rating is for "intense sequences of violence and action, some sensuality and language"
It does provide us with a tantalizing indication for what may be in store . |
Keywords: <keyword>HAM FANS</keyword>, <keyword>ENTERTAINED UPTON</keyword>, <keyword>ASKED WEST</keyword>, <keyword>PARK</keyword>, <keyword>ALLARDYCE PERFORMANCE</keyword>, <keyword>SEASON WEREN</keyword>, <keyword>GAMES THREATENED</keyword>, <keyword>EXPECT WIN</keyword>, <keyword>HAMMERS SITTING</keyword>, <keyword>LEAGUE POSITION</keyword>
Where are they now, it is asked, those West Ham United fans who wanted Sam Allardyce out last season? Well, they are still there — and they weren’t wrong. A year ago, West Ham played lousy football, lost a lot of games and were threatened by relegation. The supporters were understandably unhappy, so much so that they actually voiced displeasure after a rare victory, at home to Hull City. The win did not compensate for the drabness of the performance, they felt. Many criticised the fans who booed, but tickets are not cheap and the purchasers were entitled to a hearing. West Ham fans are finally being entertained at Upton Park after asking for an improvement last season . Sam Allardyce is on the up at West Ham, with the Hammers sitting fourth with five wins in nine . At Upton Park, they don’t expect to win every week; but they do have a reasonable desire to be entertained. The board listened to this request. Having not located an adequate replacement for Allardyce, they asked for a more exciting style of play. To his credit, Allardyce listened — and acted. Click here to read more from Sports Writer of the Year Martin Samuel . And what do you know? With better football came an improved league position and home victories over last season’s top two, Liverpool and Manchester City. West Ham are now fourth. It will be a shock if they stay there, but shows the fans had every right to expect more. Last season, West Ham played Manchester City four times and lost every game, 14-1 on aggregate. This season, their first meeting produced a 2-1 West Ham victory and a very decent performance. So the response to Allardyce is performance-related. Not so incomprehensible, when you think about it. West Ham United's Diafra Sakho celebrates scoring his side's second goal of the game against Man City . A section of the West Ham support were vocal in their frustration with manager Allardyce last season . | A year ago, West Ham played lousy football and lost a lot of games .
The supporters were unhappy with Sam Allardyce's style of play .
Many criticised the fans who booed, but tickets are not cheap .
It has now changed; with better football came an improved league position .
West Ham are now fourth in the Premier League with five wins from nine . |
Keywords: <keyword>CRASH TRUCKS</keyword>, <keyword>RACING VIOLATED</keyword>, <keyword>CALIFORNIA SPECTATORS</keyword>, <keyword>IMPROVE SAFETY</keyword>, <keyword>INCONSISTENT BLM</keyword>, <keyword>DUTY FAILED</keyword>, <keyword>INVESTIGATING SANCTIONING</keyword>, <keyword>PATROL SAID</keyword>, <keyword>20 PERMITS</keyword>, <keyword>MOJAVE DESERT</keyword>
(CNN) -- The federal Bureau of Land Management said Friday that it had only one ranger on duty and that it failed to follow its own procedures in permitting an off-road race in Southern California where eight spectators were killed in a crash. "This tragic accident was a call for us to take an unvarnished look at what went wrong and what BLM can do to improve safety and oversight of these types of races," said acting Bureau of Land Management State Director Jim Abbott. Since the crash during an August 14 event in Johnson Valley, near San Bernardino, the agency has taken steps to ensure all approval procedures are carefully followed, it said in a statement. The California Highway Patrol is leading the investigation into the incident, which left eight people dead and nine injured when a truck taking part in the 200-mile event crashed into a crowd of spectators along the track. The driver did not face charges, the highway patrol said at the time. The Bureau of Land Management is investigating whether sanctioning body Mojave Desert Racing violated any safety regulations, spokeswoman Jan Bedrosian told CNN. Since the crash, the agency has approved 20 permits from organizers for events across the California desert, Bedrosian said. Four were denied, and five from Mojave Desert Racing were suspended, she said. Messages for Mojave Desert Racing were not immediately returned Friday. Daniel Hesser, public information officer for the California Highway Patrol Inland Division, said the investigation is continuing and there was no timetable for submitting findings. "We're talking to everyone we can," he said. The August race was part of an amateur series on a course in the Lucerne Valley area of San Bernardino County, east of Los Angeles. Mojave Desert Racing urges spectators to stay back 100 feet from the 50-mile course, but a Highway Patrol spokesman said there were "no delineations" for the course. Images from the night of the crash show trucks speeding within feet of spectators. The bureau found its procedures for race events are appropriate, but said that offices did not always carry them out. "Adherence to these procedures was inconsistent throughout the five BLM field offices in the 11-million acre California Desert," it said in a statement. There was no pre-race review or detailed look at the August race's operating plan, Bedrosian said. And only one ranger was on duty. "Obviously, the one was not adequate that night," Bedrosian said, adding that some events now are being staffed by three to five federal rangers. The department has only 38 rangers in the desert and is "spread awfully thin," Bedrosian said. But it is committed to permitting and staffing events to ensure they are conducted in a safe manner, she added, . Bob Abbey, national director of the Bureau of Land Management, said that a directive to field offices stresses event safety. "If our field offices cannot fulfill or complete all the required steps in authorizing this event, then no permit will be issued," he said. The report concludes with specific action items. These include providing adequate Bureau of Land Management ranger and recreation staffing at all events, requiring companies to compensate the bureau for processing and administering permits that take up more than 50 hours of staff time, and requiring more oversight from the bureau's district and state offices to check for policy compliance and program consistency. "Everyone looks at this with a shared sense we all need to do better," Bedrosian said. | Bureau of Land Management didn't follow own procedures, internal report says .
Federal agency says it has taken steps to follow permitting procedures .
Eight people died in crash during off-road event in Southern California . |
Keywords: <keyword>BARCA GOAL</keyword>, <keyword>MILESTONES MESSI</keyword>, <keyword>400 GOALS</keyword>, <keyword>SCORED 359</keyword>, <keyword>UNANSWERED GOALS</keyword>, <keyword>BREAK NEYMAR</keyword>, <keyword>TRICK 66TH</keyword>, <keyword>IMAGINED ACHIEVE</keyword>, <keyword>MINUTE NORMAL</keyword>, <keyword>TOUCHLINE BAN</keyword>
(CNN) -- It's a landmark that most players can only dream of, but for Lionel Messi it was just a matter of time. In a career already groaning under the weight of milestones, Messi duly passed another one on Saturday scoring his 400th goal for club and country as Barcelona smashed six unanswered goals past Granada at the Nou Camp. The landmark strike came in the 61st minute of the match -- heading in Dani Alves' volleyed cross -- to put Barca 4-0 up after a goal from Ivan Rakitic and two from Neymar had all but wrapped up three points before the break. Neymar completed his hat-trick in the 66th minute before Messi tucked away his 401st career goal late on to complete the rout and seal Barca's biggest win in La Liga this season. Messi, still only 27 years old, has now scored 359 goals in competitive matches for Barcelona and 42 for Argentina. "I never imagined I could achieve anything like this in my career," Messi said on his official Facebook page. "Thanks for all the congratulations on scoring 400 goals with FC Barcelona and the Argentinian National Team. I'll continue working hard to reach more targets," he added. 'Magic wand' Barca manager Luis Enrique was quick to heap praise on his midfield maestro. "I don't think if we added together the goals we have scored on the playground it would reach 400," Enrique said after the match. "Messi is someone who has been touched by a magic wand and he is desperate to enjoy playing football." The four-ton mark was passed by his La Liga rival Cristiano Ronaldo last January, but the Argentine has bragging rights after reaching the total in just 525 appearances compared to the Portuguese who took 653 games. As one landmark is reached another substantial record heaves into view as Messi looks to pass Telmo Zarra's all-time La Liga goal-scoring record of 251. Barcelona's win puts them top of the table with 16 points and a very healthy +17 goal difference -- a stat helped not only by recent high-scoring wins but also by clean sheets in their opening six league games. Two points behind are last year's champions Atletico Madrid who also romped to victory on Saturday. Diego Simeone returned to the dugout following a touchline ban to see his team maintain their unbeaten start to the La Liga season with a 4-0 win against Sevilla. First-half goals from Koke and Saul Niguez put Los Rojiblancos in control before two late second-half goals sealed all three points -- a Raul Garcia spot kick made it three in the 82nd minute before Raul Jimenez made it four in the last minute of normal time. The win keeps lifts Atletico to second, one point ahead of Valencia who travel to Real Sociedad on Sunday. City rivals Real continued their recent run of form with a 2-0 win at Villarreal -- Luka Modric and Ronaldo on target for the visitors. Carlo Ancelotti's side are now level on 12 points with Celta Vigo who beat Elche 1-0 on Friday. Chelsea march on in EPL . Meanwhile in the English Premier League, Chelsea continue to dominate proceedings this term, picking up a fifth win in six matches with a 3-0 defeat of Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge. Diego Costa's £32 million ($52 million) price tag is looking increasingly cheap as the Spanish striker netted for the eighth time since joining from Atletico Madrid in the summer. Costa's 59th minute strike gave Chelsea a two-goal cushion after Oscar had opened the scoring in the seventh minute. Willian scored a third 11 minutes from time to ensure Jose Mourinho's side remain three points clear at the top of the table with 16 points. Former Chelsea man Frank Lampard was on target again for his new club as Manchester City beat Hull City 4-2. The win keeps Manuel Pellegrini's side five points adrift of the top. Manchester United also won on Saturday beating West Ham 2-1 at Old Trafford to move up to eighth in the table. Goals from Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie gave Louis van Gaal's side only their second league win of the season. Rooney was later shown a red card for a reckless tackle on Stewart Downing and will miss the next three league matches. The day's two big derby matches ended in 1-1 draws with Liverpool and Everton sharing the points at Anfield while Arsenal had to come from behind against Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates. | Lionel Messi scores twice to pass 400 goals for club and country during career .
Argentine has taken 525 matches to reach the personal milestone .
Goals come in 6-0 thrashing as Barca continue run of clean sheets .
Chelsea continue ominous form in EPL with fifth win in six matches . |
Keywords: <keyword>IRAQI AIRSTRIKE</keyword>, <keyword>THREATENING KURDISH</keyword>, <keyword>JIHADISTS GATHERING</keyword>, <keyword>FIGHTERS USING</keyword>, <keyword>YAZIDIS BATTLING</keyword>, <keyword>SINJAR HIDING</keyword>, <keyword>LAUNCHING ATTACKS</keyword>, <keyword>HUMANITARIAN CORRIDOR</keyword>, <keyword>PROTECT AMERICANS</keyword>, <keyword>MOUNTAIN OBAMA</keyword>
American warplanes pounded extremist Sunni fighters in northern Iraq on Saturday in what officials described as an effort to defend minority Yazidis "being indiscriminately attacked," strikes that came just as President Barack Obama warned of an extended air campaign against the terror group. The series of airstrikes began with a mix of fighter jets and drones that targeted militants firing on Yazidis near the town of Sinjar, where fighters with the Islamic State, formerly known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, forced tens of thousands into hiding on nearby Sinjar Mountain. The airstrikes were the first in the Sinjar area since Obama authorized targeted attacks to protect Americans and Iraqi minorities from an ISIS advance threatening the Kurdish regional capital of Irbil. News of the latest round of airstrikes came as Obama declined to provide a timetable for U.S. airstrikes and humanitarian aid drops in Iraq. "I don't think we're going to solve this problem in weeks," the President told reporters in televised remarks, while at the same time reiterating a vow that no U.S. combat troops will join the fight. Given that Iraqi security forces still need time to ramp up and Iraqi politicians need space to form to form a more inclusive government to whittle Sunni support for ISIS, "this is going to be a long-term project," Obama said from the White House South Lawn. The airstrikes on Saturday began at about 11:20 a.m. ET, with the targeting of two ISIS armored personnel carriers (APCs) firing on Yazidis, according to a statement released by the U.S. Central Command. Another two rounds of airstrikes were carried out about 20 minutes later after more ISIS vehicles, primarily APCs, moved into the area, the statement said. A fourth round of airstrikes was carried out more than three hours later when U.S. aircraft struck another ISIS armored vehicle, it said. At the same time, health and civil defense officials said U.S. warplanes targeted ISIS fighters near the town of Makhmur, where the group has been launching attacks on the outskirts of Irbil. The Pentagon declined to comment on the claims by Iraqi health and civil defense officials in Mosul, who told CNN the airstrikes killed at least 16 of the fighters. 'Running out of time' Meanwhile, the UK and France has said it will join the United States in humanitarian airdrops for hundreds of thousands of Iraqis on the run ahead of a brutal ISIS advance. On Saturday, the United States carried out another round of airdrops. Three cargo aircraft -- supported by U.S. fighter jets -- dropped 3,804 gallons of fresh drinking water and 16,128 ready-to-eat meals, the military said. But a United Nations official said airstrikes and humanitarian airdrops aren't enough for the estimated 40,000 minority Yazidis, who are trapped on Mount Sinjar and hiding from ISIS fighters who have said they will kill the group. Only about 100 to 150 people a day have been able to be airlifted by Iraqi security forces off the mountain, said Marizio Babille of UNICEF. "We are running out of time for thousands who can obviously not be reached by these airdrops," he said, adding that UNICEF is appealing for the international support to open and secure "a humanitarian corridor over land." Dozens, including 60 children, according to UNICEF have died on the mountain where the Yazidis are battling extreme temperatures and a lack of food and water. American planes also have twice dropped food and other supplies to thousands of Yazidis, members of a minority group that fled to a northern Iraqi mountain after ISIS militants overran their town, Obama said Saturday. U.S. aircraft are poised to strike ISIS militants who have surrounded the mountain, Obama said. Any such strikes would support Kurdish forces' efforts to free the Yazidis, he said. The airstrikes have ramped up America's involvement in Iraq where ISIS is seizing control of towns and key infrastructure even as it celebrates its own slaughter along the way. The United States has hundreds of military personnel in Iraq, including advisers sent in recent weeks to coordinate with Iraqi and Kurdish military officials in response to the ISIS rampage. The USS George H.W. Bush and other Navy ships also are in the region. Obama indicated Saturday the United States' interests in targeting ISIS went well beyond protecting U.S. personnel and Iraqi minorities. "My team has been vigilant ... about foreign fighters and jihadists gathering in Syria and now Iraq, who might potentially launch attacks outside of the region against Western targets and U.S. targets," he said. "So there's going to be a counterterrorism element that we are already preparing for and have been working diligently on for a long time now." Obama: Iraq's ethnic groups need to unite . Asked Saturday if Obama felt ISIS had been underestimated, the President said the advance of the Sunni Islamic extremists has been "more rapid" than intelligence officials and policymakers, both inside and outside Iraq, had predicted. But he said ISIS' advance was made possible in part by the lack of an inclusive and functioning Iraqi government. The government forces, "when they (were) far away from Baghdad, did not have the incentive or the capacity to hold ground against an aggressive adversary," Obama said. To secure their country, Iraqis will need to build an inclusive government, Obama said, in an apparent dig at Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's Shiite-dominated government. Iraq's Sunni minority have bitterly complained of being marginalized and cut out of the political process by al-Maliki's government. The height of that marginalization coincided with months of deadly sectarian fighting throughout the country, and preceded ISIS' rout of Iraqi security forces in Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, earlier this year. Michael Rubin, a Middle East analyst with the conservative American Enterprise Institute, cautioned Saturday that even if al-Maliki's government would have been more inclusive, ISIS still would have been a problem. "No matter how magnanimous Maliki could have been in an ideal world, it would have meant nothing to ISIS, many of whose members aren't even Iraqi. Sometimes there's no magic diplomatic formula," Rubin, a Pentagon official under former President George W. Bush, told CNN. One unanswered question, according to James Jeffrey, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq from 2010 to 2012, is what the United States would do if the Iraqi government and moderate elements can't muster the political and military capability to take on ISIS in Iraq and Syria. Map: Where is ISIS? Militants using U.S.-made weapons . Even as the airstrikes were under way, there was news that ISIS militants captured Iraq's largest hydroelectric dam, just north of Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city. According to a senior Kurdish official, the militant fighters have been using U.S.-made weapons seized during fighting from the Iraqi army, including M1 Abrams tanks. There had been conflicting reports about who controlled the dam on the Tigris River, with heavy fighting under way between ISIS fighters and Kurdish forces, known as Peshmerga. U.S. officials have warned that a failure of the dam would be catastrophic, resulting in flooding all the way to Baghdad. In other fighting, an Iraqi airstrike killed 45 ISIS fighters and injured 60 Friday in the northern town of Sinjar, the country's state-run National Media Center said. ISIS militants have executed people who don't share their fanatical interpretation of Sunni Islam. The group posts videos of its savagery to the Internet. One shows a Christian man forced to his knees, surrounded by masked militants, identified in the video as members of ISIS. They force the man at gunpoint to "convert" to Islam. Then, the group beheads him. Another shows ISIS militants placing severed heads on spikes to strike terror in the population. | U.S. cargo planes carrying out another airdrop of water and food, the military says .
A series of airstrikes targets ISIS fighters attacking Yazidis, officials say .
The airstrikes are the first in the Sinjar area since ISIS forced thousands to flee .
No timetable for U.S. airstrikes in Iraq, Obama says . |
Keywords: <keyword>ALAN TURING</keyword>, <keyword>SECRET INTELLIGENCE</keyword>, <keyword>UK SECURITY</keyword>, <keyword>HIRE ECCENTRICS</keyword>, <keyword>HOMOSEXUAL CRIMINAL</keyword>, <keyword>HEAD GCHQ</keyword>, <keyword>LOBBAN TOLD</keyword>, <keyword>BROWN APOLOGISED</keyword>, <keyword>SAID SOCIALLY</keyword>, <keyword>MID TWENTIETH</keyword>
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 05:12 EST, 5 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 06:21 EST, 5 October 2012 . Iain Lobban, head of GCHQ, said the security service should hire more eccentrics and socially awkward people . The head of the top secret intelligence gathering agency GCHQ has said more socially awkward people should be hired by the UK's security services. Iain Lobban, director of the Government . listening station in Cheltenham, said he did not like the term ‘eccentric’ - but said a wide range of skills was necessary if the agency was to be successful. He said the service should not dismiss talented people just because they do not conform to a certain social stereotype. He made the comments in a speech to mark . the centenary of the birth of Alan Turing, the Second World War . codebreaker and mathematical genius. Mr Turing killed himself in 1954, two years after being convicted of homosexuality, which was then a criminal offence. In 2009, then prime minister Gordon Brown apologised for the treatment and vilification that Turing received. Mr Lobban told an audience at Leeds University: ‘Turing was not an eccentric, unless you believe that there is only one way of being normal and to be otherwise is to be peculiar. Turing wasn’t eccentric: he was unique.’ He insisted that today’s security service needed more people like Turing. ‘I strongly believe [the] agency needs the widest range of skills possible if it is to be successful, and to deny itself talent just because the person with the talent doesn't conform to a social stereotype is to starve itself of what it needs to thrive,' he said. He added that the service should not allow preconceptions and stereotypes to ‘stifle innovation and agility’. He said: ‘I want to apply and exploit their talent: in return, I think it’s fair that I don’t need to tell them how to live their lives.' Enigma codebreaker Alan Turing committed suicide in 1954 after he was prosecuted for being a homosexual , then a criminal offence . Britain's secret listening station: The Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire . Turing is regarded as the godfather of the Enigma codebreaker team, which was based at Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire in the 1940s. He also developed a machine which arguably became the model for the modern computer. He died aged 41 after taking cyanide as an alternative to jail following his prosecution for being a homosexual. Mr Loban said that if Turing was alive now, he would be working to secure the UK's interests in cyberspace. He said: "We can't rewrite the past. We can't wish mid-twentieth century Britain into a different society with different attitudes. 'We can be glad that we live in a more tolerant age. And we should remember that the cost of intolerance towards Alan Turing was his loss to the nation.' | Director of GCHQ has said security services should hire more socially awkward people .
Iain Lobban said the intelligence agency needs the 'widest range of skills possible' |
Keywords: <keyword>UNCONSCIOUS PRANK</keyword>, <keyword>DIAZ HOSPITAL</keyword>, <keyword>WORKER COLOMBIA</keyword>, <keyword>EMPLOYEES LAUGH</keyword>, <keyword>CHICKEN RESTAURANT</keyword>, <keyword>COUNTER VICTIM</keyword>, <keyword>BELIEVED INVESTIGATION</keyword>, <keyword>ELDERLY MAN</keyword>, <keyword>VIDEO CUTS</keyword>, <keyword>GOES WRONG</keyword>
By . Daily Mail Reporter . A fast food worker in Colombia is believed to be under investigation by police after playing a cruel prank on an elderly man. Video footage taken on a cellphone has surfaced from the grilled chicken restaurant in Sabaneta, an area outside the city of Medelin, showing an employee hosing down the man from behind the counter. The victim appears intoxicated and is mumbling to himself. However, when another employee pushes the old man from behind, he falls . head-first into the serving counter and is knocked unconscious. When a prank goes wrong: The footage, taken by a woman sitting at the restaurant, starts with an employee behind the counter hosing a man, who appears intoxicated . The prank goes one step further when a second employee (green shirt) sneaks up behind the man . After being pushed, the man falls straight forward, heading for the counter . Smack: The employees both laugh as the man hits the counter . The elderly man hits the ground and is knocked unconscious. Then the video cuts . Police and firefighters arrived shortly after to reports of a fight, and found the man had regained consciousness, according to Live Leak. He was transported to Venancio Diaz Diaz hospital, and was released some time later. In a public statement using the cell phone footage, the mayor of Sabaneta announced that such treatment of any person will not be tolerated. The employee in the green shirt is likely to be charged with assault. | Incident occurred in Sabaneta, Colombia, and was caught on video by a customer .
Shows one employee hosing the man and another sneaking up behind .
The second employee pushes the man, who falls to the ground .
Police and paramedics were called . |
Keywords: <keyword>BID ITV</keyword>, <keyword>LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS</keyword>, <keyword>PREMIERSHIP POTENTIAL</keyword>, <keyword>HOSTED ADRIAN</keyword>, <keyword>ANNIVERSARY BBC</keyword>, <keyword>TIME BROADCASTER</keyword>, <keyword>SKY SPORTS</keyword>, <keyword>RIGHTS SEASON</keyword>, <keyword>COVERAGE BT</keyword>, <keyword>CHILES ANCHOR</keyword>
ITV are preparing to go head-to-head with the BBC for the rights to Match of the Day as they consider a bid for the rights to Premier League highlights. The broadcaster, which last held the rights for Premier League highlights between 2001-04, is considering a bid to get them back with the BBC's current £60million per year deal set to expire at the end of next season. The potential move adds a layer of intrigue to the Premier League rights bidding that is set to take place next year, with BT Sport looking to further threaten Sky Sports stranglehold on the live broadcasting of matches. ITV presenter Adrian Chiles could anchor Premier League highlight footage as the broadcaster considers a bid . ITV's commentary pair Clive Tyldsley (left) and Andy Townsend could soon be doing Premier League coverage . ITV's team of Ally McCoist (left), Des Lynam (centre) and Terry Venables last time they held the Premier League's highlights package in 2004, with the show 'The Premiership' Any potential ITV bid comes off the back of a difficult time for the broadcaster, who lost their live Champions League coverage after BT Sport spent £897million for exclusive rights from next season, and their live FA Cup rights to the BBC this year. Last time ITV held Premier League highlights rights, they signed Des Lynam from the BBC to host and attempted to switch the show from its regular late night slot on a to Saturday prime time - but with little success. ITV have declined to comment on whether they are set to launch such a bid, but it is likely that any highlights show would be hosted by Adrian Chiles and feature regular pundits such as Lee Dixon and Andy Townsend. Chiles used to host Match of the Day 2 on the BBC until his switch to ITV ahead of the 2010 World Cup. Gary Lineker is the current host of Match of the Day on Saturday night on the BBC . The highlights show is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary on the BBC this season . In an interview with the Guardian earlier this month, the BBC's head of TV sport Philip Bernie spoke in praise of Match of the Day, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. 'It has bucked the trend. But it is a unique proposition,' explained Bernie. 'People can get the clips they want to, they can watch Football First if they want to, they can watch the 12.45pm match on a Saturday and yet they still come to Match of the Day because it’s a great digest and it’s different to all those other things.' | ITV prepare to go head-to-head with BBC for Premier League highlights .
Broadcaster considering a bid for rights to Match of the Day .
BBC's current £60million per year deal set to expire end of next season .
ITV last held the rights for Premier League highlights between 2001-04 . |
Keywords: <keyword>KOREAN CATHOLIC</keyword>, <keyword>KOREA ACCUSED</keyword>, <keyword>VATICAN SPIES</keyword>, <keyword>PYONGYANG NORTH</keyword>, <keyword>MISSIONARY DETAINED</keyword>, <keyword>NUMBER CHURCHES</keyword>, <keyword>ATHEIST APPARENT</keyword>, <keyword>CONFIDENTIAL CONVERSATION</keyword>, <keyword>GROUPS CRITICIZED</keyword>, <keyword>CHECKING BACKGROUND</keyword>
Seoul (CNN) -- They were once referred to as the "Vatican's spies." But one Christian hopes attitudes towards missionaries are changing in North Korea. Father John Park has been a welcome and regular guest at Pyongyang's only recognized Catholic Church since 2000. "When we first arrived at Changchung Church, North Korean followers came out ... then immediately rushed to a nun who traveled with me and jumped up and down bursting into tears," said Father Park, a South Korean priest with Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. "These people haven't seen a nun in 50 years. That's when I realized that they are indeed followers." North Korea is accused of widespread religious persecution and the United States claims its few state-run churches exist simply to give the appearance of religious freedom. 'Silent church' Its Catholic Church is known as the "silent church." It has no ties with the Vatican and there is not one single residing priest in the country. There are strict controls over what is permitted -- many religious processes such as confession are out of the question. A confidential one-on-one conversation between a South Korean -- even if that person is a priest -- and a North Korean is impossible and both could be accused of espionage. In the 1970s, Pyongyang proudly insisted that the country was "free from religious superstitions," according to South Korea's Unification Ministry. The reclusive regime is officially atheist. Then for no apparent reason, the authorities in the North created a small number of churches and temples in the late 1980s, all of them under very strict government control. And Changchung Catholic Church was one of them. Father Park has been holding mass annually at a church in Pyongyang for North Korean Catholic followers despite criticism that they may be "fake" believers. Over the course of 14 years traveling to the North, he said he's interacted with many of the church's congregation and believes they're genuine. He recalled one man, known only as "Mr. Cha," who died four years ago. "Mr. Cha was a follower before the Korean War and his dream since young was to become a priest. He lived alone waiting for a chance to either go to China or Rome to become a priest." In 1945, North Korea had an estimated 50,000 Catholics, according to the South Korean Catholic Bishops Conference of Korea (CBCK). Around 20,000 are believed to have defected to China before Japan's long occupation of the Korean peninsula was ended at the end of World War II. There was also around 300 foreign and local clergy in the North during the time, most of whom went missing, were executed or died in prison, according to the CBCK. Aging church . Many followers at Changchung Church were baptized before the Korean War (1950-53), and many have died, Father Park said. He believes the congregation has dropped from about 150 to 100 since 2000. "A lot of people are ailing and if followers from the older generation die, things could get difficult. There may not be too many followers in North Korea but we should open-mindedly help and support them," Father Park said. "Like a mindset of a shepherd, we should treat them with warm heart," he added. North Korea's state-run Korean Catholic Association claims it has about 3,000 "registered Catholics," while the United Nations puts the number at 800. Nevertheless, members of religious groups, as well as the groups themselves, are often criticized as being fake. "The North Korean government is tolerant of a small controlled religious presence within the country or is willing to fake such presence," said Andrei Lankov, an associate professor in social sciences at Kookmin University in South Korea. "Even if some members are true believers, they are selected by the government. The police authorities, the secret police, is checking your background," he said. North Korea's constitution does allow its people to practice religion. However, in the same constitution, it also says it won't allow it to be "used for drawing in foreign forces or for harming the State or social order." Kenneth Bae, an American citizen who was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in North Korea, was accused of bringing down the government through religious activities. And he is not the only missionary to be detained in the country. "From their (North Korea's) point of view, it is a very real threat. Right now, Christianity seems to be their most dangerous ideological challenge to the existing regime," said Lankov. | North Korea is accused of widespread religious persecution .
Father John Park has been making regular visits to a church in the North .
But many commentators say followers of the North's state-controlled church are fake . |
Keywords: <keyword>TRIPLET BIRTHS</keyword>, <keyword>WHITELEY FAMILY</keyword>, <keyword>TWINS LAUREN</keyword>, <keyword>PARENTS IDENTICAL</keyword>, <keyword>DIDN FERTILITY</keyword>, <keyword>BORN HOSPITAL</keyword>, <keyword>CLAIR SHORES</keyword>, <keyword>MIRACLE TIMES</keyword>, <keyword>NEWS SAID</keyword>, <keyword>DRUGS ULTRASOUND</keyword>
A suburban Detroit couple who have two older children are adjusting to life after becoming parents to identical triplets — a one-in-a-million birth. The Whiteley family of St. Clair Shores celebrated the one month birthdays Wednesday for Alexander, Nicholas and Timothy. The brothers were born January 25 at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, but spent nearly a month in the newborn intensive care unit. The boys are healthy, their mother Lauren Whiteley said. Their older brothers are age 3 and 2. Scroll down for video . A miracle times three: The Whiteley family of St. Clair Shores celebrated the one-month birthdays Wednesday for identical; triplets Alexander, Nicholas and Timothy . 'I always wanted a big family, and I guess this is the way to do it, get them all at once,' Whiteley joked. Many triplets are the result of fertility treatments, but Lauren Whiteley, 32, said she didn't take fertility drugs. She had an ultrasound at about eight or nine weeks to confirm the pregnancy, but didn't know what she was seeing. 'It was the ultrasound tech that kind of left the room, came back and I thought something was wrong,' Whiteley said. 'She said "No it's good news." I said "Oh my gosh! It's twins, isn't it?" She said, "No, I see three." This was the shock of a lifetime.' New parents: Michael and Lauren Whiteley, from left, check on their identical triplets Alexander, Timothy and Nicholas at their home on Wednesday . All snuggled up!: The boys were born at 34 weeks via C-section on January 25 naturally, without fertility drugs and without a history of twins in the family . Michael Whiteley, 31, said he asked his wife several times: 'Triplets? Are you sure?' It was very overwhelming.' Multiple births don't run in either of their families. 'Not even twins,' Lauren Whiteley said. Identical triplets also were born December 5 to a woman in Billings, Montana. Dr. Savitri Kumar, a neonatologist at Henry Ford Hospital, said data on identical triplet births by natural conception varies from one in 60,000 to one in 2 million. Most doctors call the chances 'one-in-a-million,' Kumar said. Four sets of triplets were born at the hospital last year, but they weren't identical, she added. 'This is the very first set of identical triplets I have ever seen,' she said. For the Whiteleys, it will help that both sets of grandparents live within a mile, while aunts and uncles also are in the area. The grandparents 'will do what they need done on a day-to-day basis — as far as feeding, getting the kids to and from where they have to go,' said Bob Whiteley. Michael and Lauren Whiteley, from left, admire their identical triplets all sleeping soundly in their cribs . | The Whiteley family of St. Clair Shores celebrated the one-month birthdays Wednesday for Alexander, Nicholas and Timothy .
Many triplets are the result of fertility treatments, but mom Lauren Whiteley, 32, said she didn't use them .
Multiple births don't run in either of their families. 'Not even twins,' Lauren Whiteley said .
Data on identical triplet births by natural conception varies from one in 60,000 to one in 2 million but most doctors call the chances 'one-in-a-million' |
Keywords: <keyword>CHAMPIONSHIP WEBSTER</keyword>, <keyword>WHITLOCK STRUGGLED</keyword>, <keyword>SWEPT ANDY</keyword>, <keyword>VICTORY AUSTRALIAN</keyword>, <keyword>MATCH DID</keyword>, <keyword>FOOTHOLD GAME</keyword>, <keyword>MCGRATH EARN</keyword>, <keyword>ANDERSON AVOIDED</keyword>, <keyword>SIMON WASN</keyword>, <keyword>PDC WORLD</keyword>
Darren Webster dumped seventh seed Simon Whitlock out of the PDC World Championship with a shock 3-1 first-round victory at Alexandra Palace on Saturday. Webster made a fantastic start to the match and did not drop a leg on his way to winning the first set as an out-of-sorts Whitlock struggled to get a foothold in the game. Whitlock cut a relieved figure when he squared the match at 1-1 but that was as good as it got for the 2010 finalist. Danny Webster gestures to the crowd in delight during his match against Simon Whitlock . Whitlock congratulates Webster after a shock defeat in the first round of the PDC World Championship . Webster upped his game to take the third and fourth sets and averaged more than 94 points to his Australian opponent's 87 for the match. 'Simon wasn't at his best but I just tried to keep concentration today,' a delighted Webster told Sky Sports after securing his place in the next round. 'I was determined to try to win one for a change. I am so happy. Unbelievable.' Gary Anderson avoided Whitlock's fate by sealing a 3-1 triumph against Scott Kirchner. American Kirchner had earlier overcome New Zealander Mark McGrath to earn his first-round encounter against number four seed and 2011 finalist Anderson. Gary Anderson avoided Scott Kirchner's fate by beating Scott Kirchner on Saturday . The Flying Scotsman, who beat Adrian Lewis to win the Players Championship last month, did not look like his usual relaxed self early on but nevertheless took the first set. Kirchner responded superbly by winning three unanswered legs to draw level at 1-1 before Anderson's third-set win set him up and the 43-year-old sealed the victory after racing into the lead - after losing the first leg to his opponent - in the fourth to progress. Robert Thornton was in impressive form as he booked his place in the next round with a 3-0 victory over Andrew Gilding. The 47-year-old Scot lost just two legs in the comprehensive victory to set up a second-round showdown against Ronnie Baxter. Thornton hit two 180s in the first set and used his last dart on all three finishes to take the lead, with Gilding pinching just the one leg in reply. Thornton grabbed another pair of maximums on his way to second-set victory, before upping his game to clinch the third set and the match by hitting tops in the first, then pulling out a superb 144 outshot and wrapping it up in the next to seal a 97.6 average. Robert Thornton punches his fists in delight during his comprehensive victory over Andrew Gilding . Another significant upset of the first round saw Lawrence Ryder edge to a 3-2 victory over Justin Pipe. Australian Ryder fought back from 2-1 down to clinch victory courtesy of a strong finish that saw him win six straight legs to stun 17th seed Pipe. Ryder will face Terry Jenkins in the second round after he was a 3-1 victor against John Weber. Jenkins, a semi-finalist in 2011, was in control from the outset with no fewer than five 180s accrued in an extremely comfortable victory against his Australian opponent. Daryl Gurney fought back from 3-0 down to claim a 4-3 preliminary-round victory against Scott Mackenzie, but he was then outclassed by Baxter who moved into the second round with a 3-1 win against the Northern Irishman. Ronnie Baxter showed his class as he saw off a valiant effort from Daryl Gurney . Gurney pushed his opponent throughout but Baxter demonstrated his class when it mattered and sealed victory with a superb 12-darter including a 180 and a 104 finish. Ronny Huybrechts won all but two legs as he swept Andy Smith aside 3-0 to seal his progression to the next round. Missed doubles cost Smith dearly, with the Englishman missing four darts at doubles in the opening set, and two more at the start of the second as Huybrechts won the first six legs to set up a comfortable victory. Kyle Anderson also won through to the next round courtesy of a 3-0 triumph against Steve Beaton - who beat him by the same scoreline in the first round of last year's tournament. Anderson managed three 180s during the match, and the 27-year-old Australian wrapped up victory with a double five to set up a second-round encounter against Andy Hamilton. | The No 7 seed Simon Whitlock suffered shock defeat to Darren Webster .
The 2010 PDC World Championship finalist lost in the first round .
Elsewhere Robert Thornton and Ronnie Baxter both advanced through . |
Keywords: <keyword>EDUCATION MINISTER</keyword>, <keyword>PYNE ARGUED</keyword>, <keyword>BUDGET SAYING</keyword>, <keyword>ABBOTT POPULARITY</keyword>, <keyword>STEFANOVIC STUCK</keyword>, <keyword>UNIVERSITIES DEFYING</keyword>, <keyword>REFORM TAKES</keyword>, <keyword>BOARD POLICY</keyword>, <keyword>MAN WEDNESDAY</keyword>, <keyword>DISMAYED VIEW</keyword>
Education Minister Chris Pyne has been told to ‘man up’ by the Today Show’s Karl Stefanovic, who blasted ‘you can’t even get your policy through your own people’. Stefanovic stuck his teeth into Pyne a day after he grilled Prime Minister Tony Abbott about the axed carbon tax and federal budget, saying: ‘No one is buying what you are selling, what you are laying down. That is the problem.’ 'The reality here is that the budget position is in a shambles and every day it does get worse,’ he told the PM, as it was revealed Abbott’s popularity has fallen. Pyne appeared on the Today Show to discuss his unpopular Higher Education reforms as the government vowed it will launch a second attempt to pass them despite a Senate defeat on Tuesday. Scroll down for video . Today Show’s Karl Stefanovic told Education Minister Chris Pyne to 'man up' on Wednesday morning . Education minister Christopher Pyne later gave a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra . When Stefanovic pointed out ‘not even your own party has any faith in your arguments for existing reforms,’ Pyne argued: ’75 per cent of the budget is through.’ ‘Here’s the issue you can’t get your own policies through the Senate - and yes it’s hostile - but you can’t even get it through your own people,’ Karl laughed. ‘That’s not right Karl… I’m not in the least bit dismayed… my view is that’s democracy… this morning I am bouncing back and puting up a new reform bill,’ Pyne said. On Tuesday night Pyne was forced to deny that he ‘harassed’ senators in order to get them to support his higher education reforms, insisting that he holds an 'excellent relationship' with the Senate's crossbenchers. Pyne commented on the Government's higher education reform, after it was voted down in the Senate . PUP Senator Glenn Lazarus speaks in the Senate chamber at Parliament House in Canberra, Tuesday . Palmer United Party Senator Glenn Lazarus accused the Education Minister of pestering him and others in a statement, saying he'd been 'inundated with text messages from Christopher Pyne' despite having never given him his mobile number. But Mr Pyne dismissed the accusations, suggesting that the 'seven or eight' messages he'd sent Senator Lazarus were entirely acceptable and telling ABC's 7.30 Report that he would be 'happy to send him more'. Asking him about the allegations, Stefanovic jibed: ‘He’s a newly minted senator with virtually no experience, he was mocking you.’ Pyne vowed he will bounce back and propose a new version of the Higher Education reforms . He denied he was being blackmailed when Stefeanovic probed him about senators who did not vote for his reforms . ‘That’s a matter for Senator Lazarus. I intend to have a great relationship with him,’ Pyne replied. Announcing: ‘Today we’ll introduce a new higher education reform bill that picks up a lot of the issues that were raised by the crossbenchers, none by Labor or the Greens they are just saying “no” and are not part of the debate at all.’ ‘Whose fault is it that the bill was rejected?,’ Stefanovic asked. ‘Well the crossbenchers, the Labors and the Greens didn’t vote for it – four of the crossbenches did… great reform takes time, there is an inevitability about it because it’s great for our universities and students,’ Pyne said. Stefanovic continued his offence: ‘Ultimately you’ve got massive dramas getting any bill passed do you think that the senators are holding the country to ransom at the moment – are they blackmailing the country?’ The Prime Minister appeared on Channel Nine's Today show on Tuesday morning and faced a barrage of questions from host Karl Stefanovic over his controversial budget decisions . Avoiding answering the question, Pyne said: ‘As I see this, it is round two. As I said to Clive Palmer if it loses the first time it will be like losing the first test of a five test series.’ ‘They are blackmailing you in a way though aren’t they?,’ Stefanovic retorted. ‘I wouldn’t say that,’ Pyne said. ‘I think the PM said something like that yesterday “this is a form of blackmail”,’ Stefanovic reasoned. ‘I think he was saying… voting no in the Senate because you can’t have your way on one particular thing is not the way to negotiate with the government or with anybody,’ Pyne said. Stefanovic finished: ‘Why don’t you just double dissolution, man up and get on with it? ‘We’ve had a great year,’ Pyne replied. Education Minister Christopher Pyne has denied that he was 'harassing' Palmer United Party Senator Glenn Lazarus in order to gain his support for his higher education reforms package . The Abbott government will have another go at overhauling universities, defying defeat and bringing a new-look bill before parliament. Pyne will on Wednesday introduce a redrafted bill to deregulate universities, after the Senate knocked back the first attempt on Tuesday. Despite pleading with crossbench senators, the government failed to convince enough to jump on board the policy. The government will have to work on the Palmer United Party, Jacqui Lambie and Nick Xenophon to get the new bill through the Senate early next year. The redrafted bill will include other crossbench amendments that dump plans to increase interest rates on HECS and freeze interest charges while new parents take time out to raise kids. It will also include a scholarship fund targeted towards disadvantaged and rural students. On Tuesday Pyne also made an ironic slip when pronouncing the name of cross bencher Zhenya 'Dio' Wang while insisting he had an 'excellent relationship' with him - a mistake that was quickly pointed out by ABC reporter Leigh Sales. ABC journalist Leigh Sales, pointed Mr Pyne's ironic slip when pronouncing the name of cross bencher Zhenya 'Dio' Wang . 'Well some people pronounce it Wang, some people pronounce it Wong; it depends where you are on the spectrum. But if you wish to pick me up on that Leigh, that's a very small thing and I'm surprised you'd bother with it. Never the less, Dio and I are good friends and I will continue to try and get their support,' he replied to the quip. Clearly put-off by the slip, Mr Pyne then scolded Ms Sales, instructing her to study a bachelor of political science after being asked about the frequency of which he met with the crossbenchers and the quality of the relationships they shared. 'I have met with some of the crossbenchers many, many times – in fact I've met with some of them six or seven or eight times, but I'm not going to go through the day-to-day machinations of how government works, Leigh,' he said. 'You can go and study that at university if you wish to, in a bachelor of political science. The reality is that I'm working closely with the cross bench, I secured four of their votes today and I'll be back at it again tomorrow with a new reform bill.' | Chris Pyne appeared on the Today Show on Wednesday morning .
He announced the government will launch a second attempt to pass education reforms after the senate rejected them on Tuesday .
Glenn Lazarus has accused the Minister of 'harassing' him and other crossbenchers in order to gain their support for higher education reforms .
Mr Pyne defended himself by saying Mr Lazarus was the only crossbencher who had refused to meet with him for discussions, forcing him to text .
Stefanovic laid into Pyne a day after he blasted Tony Abbott about his unpopular budget .
The reforms were rejected by the Senate on Tuesday night with a vote of 33-31, with Senators Lazarus amongst those who voted against the bill . |
Keywords: <keyword>CHINA SENTENCED</keyword>, <keyword>SENTENCE BRIBE</keyword>, <keyword>COURT JINAN</keyword>, <keyword>BO POLITICAL</keyword>, <keyword>WATCHED TRIAL</keyword>, <keyword>XILAI APPEALED</keyword>, <keyword>EMBEZZLEMENT ABUSE</keyword>, <keyword>OFFICIAL CHONGQING</keyword>, <keyword>SKULLDUGGERY CONVICTED</keyword>, <keyword>FELL POWER</keyword>
(CNN) -- One day after a court in eastern China sentenced him to life in prison for corruption, former Communist Party official Bo Xilai appealed his verdict and sentencing, a source with direct knowledge of the case told CNN. Bo -- a former rising political star who fell from power amid a scandal involving murder, betrayal and financial skullduggery -- was convicted Sunday of bribe-taking, embezzlement and abuse of power. 5 big moments from the trial . He received the life sentence for bribe-taking,15 years for embezzlement and seven years for abuse of power. When Bo heard the decision at Jinan Intermediate People's Court on Sunday, he called out, "This verdict seriously contradicts the facts and it is unfair" before being led out of the courtroom, the source said. The court's official account of the proceeding, posted on its microblog as well as state media reports, did not mention Bo's reaction. The sentences, which came shortly after the guilty verdicts, surprised some analysts. "I'm actually a little bit surprised. I think it's a very strong verdict" compared with some previous cases, said Yuhua Wang, a political science professor at the University of Pennsylvania. "He was a political star before falling from grace. He was ... the son of a revolutionary veteran. His father was Mao's colleague," he added. During the politically sensitive trial that took place over several days last month, Bo, 64, denied the charges and strongly challenged the prosecution's case against him, according to accounts published by the court in Jinan. The closely watched trial was considered to be much more transparent than most cases in China. But international and independent journalists weren't allowed inside the courtroom, and doubts were raised about the fullness of the court's version of events. 'I can bear the suffering' Days before the court announced the date for delivering the verdict, Bo, in a letter written to his family, reiterated his innocence but said he expected a lengthy imprisonment. "I was dragged into this and really wronged, but the truth will come out one day," Bo wrote in a letter dated September 12, referring to the bribes allegedly taken by his wife and other scandals involving her and her friends. Read more: Corruption fight a political purge? "Meanwhile I will be waiting quietly in prison," Bo continued. "Dad was thrown into prison multiple times in his lifetime and I will look up to him as my role model." Bo's late father, Bo Yibo, was a revolutionary contemporary of Chairman Mao Zedong and late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping. During the tumultuous Cultural Revolution that Mao launched in 1966, however, the senior Bo was persecuted, tortured and imprisoned for over a decade. He was "rehabilitated" in 1979 and became one of the most influential senior politicians under Deng. "Dad and Mom have passed away, but their teachings are deeply ingrained in my mind," Bo wrote. "I will never bring disgrace to them and their glory. I can bear the suffering no matter how great it is. "I have put Mom's photo by my bed. With her by my side, I don't feel lonely." Was Bo Xilai's trial in China truly transparent? A source with close ties to the Bo family confirmed to CNN the authenticity of the letter, which has been circulating on the Internet. She adds that the content online is only part of the original letter, which appears to be addressing the family members -- including a son and four siblings -- present in the courtroom during his trial. Dramatic downfall . Bo's trial brought to light a wealth of eye-opening details about the apparently lavish and emotionally fraught life of his family and inner circle, giving Chinese people insights into how some of the ruling elite live. His glittering career, during which he drew both admirers and detractors for his populist policies, fell apart last year. Bo rose to power as a city mayor, provincial governor, minister of commerce and member of the Politburo, the powerful policy-making body of the Communist Party. He had been tipped to ascend farther up the party hierarchy. A charismatic and urbane politician, Bo was credited with a spectacular, albeit brutal, crackdown on organized crime during his time as the top party official of Chongqing, a metropolis in southwestern China. But when his deputy, Wang Lijun, walked into the U.S. Consulate in the city of Chengdu in February 2012 and told American diplomats that Bo's wife, Gu Kailai, was involved in a murder case, Bo's career began to unravel. Wang's move precipitated Bo's political demise. Soon after news of the events began to emerge, Bo was removed from his party posts. A court found Gu guilty in August of last year of murdering British businessman Neil Heywood in a Chongqing hotel room in 2011. She was given a suspended death sentence. The following month, Wang was convicted of bending the law for selfish ends, defection, abuse of power and bribe-taking. He received a 15-year prison sentence. Wang and Gu both appeared as witnesses at Bo's trial last month. Bo attacked their testimony and even claimed that Wang and Gu had been romantically involved. | Source: Bo Xilai says the verdict contradicted the facts and was unfair .
A court found Bo guilty of bribe-taking, embezzlement and abuse of power .
The one-time rising star of the Communist Party is sentenced to life in prison .
A court found his wife guilty last year of murdering British businessman Neil Heywood . |
Keywords: <keyword>BUY DORTMUND</keyword>, <keyword>WENGER SUCCESSOR</keyword>, <keyword>KLOPP RELEGATION</keyword>, <keyword>UNITED CHANCE</keyword>, <keyword>FOOTBALLING MELTDOWN</keyword>, <keyword>MAN BORUSSIA</keyword>, <keyword>GUNDOGAN LIKELY</keyword>, <keyword>LEAVE REUS</keyword>, <keyword>SAFETY HUMMELS</keyword>, <keyword>FENCES APOLOGISED</keyword>
Manchester United and Arsenal are likely to be the beneficiaries of the footballing meltdown of Jurgen Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund, with Mats, Hummels, Marco Reus and Ilkay Gundogan ever more likely to leave at the end of the season after the 2012 Champions League runners-up from slumped to the bottom of the Bundesliga. Wednesday night’s 1-0 defeat against Augsburg witnessed the extraordinary scenes of goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller climbing the perimeter fence to sympathise with angry fans after the home defeat left them three points from safety. Hummels, too, was pictured talking to fans through the metal grille of the fences and apologised to fans. Manchester United's hopes of signing Mats Hummels will be boosted if Dortmund are relegated . Real Madrid, Manchester United and Arsenal would be interested in Marco Reus if he was made available . Arsenal may step up their interest in Dortmund and Germany midfielder Ilkay Gundogan . The bottom of the Bundesliga as it stands . But with Bild Zeitung, Germany’s most powerful newspaper, now asking: ‘Is Klopp still the right man for Borussia Dortmund?’ it seems clear that the next few months will mark the end of the era for the team that so charmed Europe in 2011 and 2012 with its high-energy incisive football. Klopp himself has to show improvement by the Schalke derby match at the end of the month or face the sack, according to Bild: an extraordinary fate for a man touted as Arsene Wenger’s successor just a few months ago. Klopp’s team though also looks ready to be broken up as the strongest personalities, who made up its backbone in the run up to the Champions League final, seem ready to leave. Reus’ departure in the summer is set and it was significant that the player received the worst possible mark from Bild of 6, indicating ‘awful’ for Wednesday night's display, with the comment that he was more of ‘liability than leader, more of a risk than a creative force’ and that he appeared to be ‘longing for Spain.’ Dortmund defender Hummels talks to supporters after defeat by Augsburg on Wednesday night . One fan voices his frustration at Hummels after Dortmund slumped to their 11th league defeat of the season . Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller also tried to placate angry supporters after final whistle . FEBRUARY . 7 Freiburg (A) 13 Mainz (H) 20 Stuttgart (A) 24 Juventus (A) Champions League last 16, first leg . 28 Schalke (H) MARCH . 3 Dynamo Dresden (A) German Cup Round of 16 . 7 Hamburg (A) 14 Cologne (H) 18 Juventus (H) Champions League last 16, second leg . Reus, who sustained an ankle ligament injury on the eve of the World Cup finals last year, has his heart set on a move to Barcelona, but their transfer ban means that he will no longer be able to move there in the summer. Real Madrid are likely to step into the breach as the club most likely to sign him. Bayern Munich have been the traditional destination of Dortmund players, Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski having taken that route in the past two seasons, but relations between the club are now so bad after Bayern's chief executive Karl Heinz Rummenigge publicly revealed that Reus has a £20million buy-out clause, that a deal there would be impossible. Manchester City and Manchester United’s only chance will be if Real decide not to pursue him. Arsenal and Chelsea would also bid – but Arsenal’s surplus of midfielders means they may not be willing to pay the kind of wages he will be offered elsewhere. Hummels of course has been Louis van Gaal’s No 1 choice of defender ever since he took the United job last summer and though the club was unable to buy him from Dortmund last summer, the fall-out from this calamitous season and Hummels’ own comments that he would consider his future at the end of the season mean that he is likely to end up at Old Trafford – though Dortmund will demand £30million. Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp was bewildered by his side's 11th defeat in 19 Bundesliga games . Dortmund's dejected players, trailed by coach Klopp, trudge off the field at the end of the match . Hummels is high up on Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal's transfer wish-list . Gundogan is a player who was highly-rated and desired across Europe two seasons ago – but who has since spent the best part of last season out with a back injury, which meant he missed out on last year’s World Cup triumph. Arsenal had him high up their list of targets prior to that injury and will sign a defensive midfielder in his role over the summer. The German, whose contract runs until 2016, has a buy-out clause of £16m. Arsenal are likely to look at other options first but if he can demonstrate some of the old form, he could yet end up at The Emirates. For now though all three star players and Klopp have a relegation battle with which they need to contend. Prior to the five-week winter break, almost all pundits were convinced that, bad though things were, there was no chance of Dortmund being relegated. After two games back, no goals and no wins, that certainty no longer holds. Bild ripped into Dortmund following their latest loss and suggested that Klopp has until the Revierderby with Schalke on February 28 to show there is 'light at the end of the relegation tunnel' otherwise his job is under threat. They add that the greatest example of how standards have fallen this season is star man Marco Reus, who 'displays a body language more like Bambi than Rambo.' They say his heart is already set on a Dortmund exit, most likely to Spain. Bild add that Ciro Immobile was a bad buy and doesn't fit into Klopp's system at all. Ruhr Nachrichten are scathing in their ratings, with Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin Grosskreutz, Reus and Immobile receiving a score of 5. In the German ratings system, 1 is regarded as 'excellent' and 6 as 'awful'. New signing Kevin Kampfl and defender Sokratis both receive 4.5, while the highest marks of 3.5 are given to Roman Weidenfeller, Never Subotic and Nuri Sahin. | Borussia Dortmund are currently bottom of the Bundesliga table .
Jurgen Klopp is likely to lose his side's top stars if Dortmund are relegated .
Man United are keen on signing Dortmund centre back Mats Hummels .
£16million-rated Ilkay Gundogan is attracting interest from Arsenal . |
Keywords: <keyword>SAATCHI GALLERY</keyword>, <keyword>PHOTOGRAPHER FILM</keyword>, <keyword>COMPETITION ARTISTS</keyword>, <keyword>GIFS CREATE</keyword>, <keyword>DIRECTOR ATTRACTED</keyword>, <keyword>VIEWERS TRANCE</keyword>, <keyword>PRACTICE ANIMATION</keyword>, <keyword>CHRISTINA RINALDI</keyword>, <keyword>CATEGORIES LANDSCAPE</keyword>, <keyword>CNN THINK</keyword>
(CNN) -- When you think of GIFs, those never-ending sequences of looping motion, you're more likely to associate them with lightly humorous viral content than a respectable art form. However, their hypnotic movement has been gaining favor with the artistic community, and now one of the most high profile museums in the world, London's Saatchi Gallery, has teamed up with Google+ to explore their more reflective side. They gathered a roster of impressive judges, such as film director Baz Luhrmann, artists Shezad Dawood, Tracey Emin and Cindy Sherman, and Saatchi Gallery CEO Nigel Hurst, for The Motion Photography Prize, the first global competition for artists working with animated GIFs. Over 4,000 people from 52 countries entered their work, which fitted into six categories - landscape, lifestyle, action, people, night and urban. The top gong went to a Brooklyn-based creative director Christina Rinaldi, whose mesmerizing GIF of a New York City window cleaner, shown above, draws the viewers in with its almost trance-inducing repetition. Cindy Sherman, American photographer and film director, was attracted to the vibrancy of Rinaldi's work: "It almost transcends the GIF medium by turning the soapy water into brushstrokes, so it seems more like creating a painting," she explained. Rinaldi herself said that choosing motion rather than still photography was crucial to capturing the rhythm of the window cleaner at work: "I was inspired by his brush strokes and the texture of the suds," she said," I watched him as if he were a performance artist -- his work temporary and only to be witnessed within a few seconds. I quickly became enamored with his efficient rhythm. Surviving in New York City requires an elevated sense of efficiency and an innate hustle." The work of other finalists -- Kostas Agiannitis, Micaël Reynaud, Matthew Clarke, Emma Critchley and Stefanie Schneider, highlighted the diverse and creative nature of a GIF as an art form. "There is incredible potential in this technology, and many photographers are now using GIFs to create motion in their work", says Saatchi Gallery's CEO and one of the judges Nigel Hurst. "You're looking at an image that floats somewhere between a still photograph and film, it has elements of both but sometimes incorporated in an unexpected way, which makes it even more compelling," Hurst says. He added that the judging process was no different than when looking at other, more conventional, art: "What stood out for us were images which were arresting, and used the parameters of the GIF in an imaginative way." Artist and illustrator Clay Rodery, whose work has appeared in the New York Times, The Atlantic and on HBO, initially started creating GIFs to practice animation, but soon started making entire pieces for the format drawn by the chance to more eloquently express ideas he had inside his head. He says:" First and foremost I'm conscious of it looping. Its duration might be very short, sometimes only several frames, but in a loop there is the potential for its content to be endless." Moreover, Rodery says that GIFs helped him develop as an artist: "It most certainly has expanded the breadth of my work and its emotional impact. These days you need to work very hard to get your work to stand out, and a moving image really does wonders to get you noticed." The exhibition will be featured online on Saatchi Art, a web gallery for emerging artists. Too haute to handle - inside the world's biggest furniture fair . Korean artist creates fantasy worlds in her studio without Photoshop . Pimp my fish tank: This is the eerie, beautiful world of aquascaping . | Saatchi Gallery has teamed up with Google plus for the first GIF art award .
The Motion Photography Prize went to Brooklyn artist Christina Rinaldi .
Artists are increasingly looking to GIFs as bona-fide channels for self-expression . |
Keywords: <keyword>FUENTES EXTRADITED</keyword>, <keyword>WARRANT SPANISH</keyword>, <keyword>TODAY RAUL</keyword>, <keyword>ARRESTED 1991</keyword>, <keyword>SPAIN DESPITE</keyword>, <keyword>EXTRADITION PARTNER</keyword>, <keyword>TORTURED HELD</keyword>, <keyword>HANDS BARRISTER</keyword>, <keyword>VILLOTA SENT</keyword>, <keyword>FOILED CAR</keyword>
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 12:46 EST, 7 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:59 EST, 7 May 2013 . Raul Sanchez Fuentes Villota can be sent back to Spain despite claiming he had previously been tortured there . A suspected terrorist who spent 17 years on the run can be sent back to Spain despite claiming he had previously been tortured with pencils there, a court ruled today. Raul Sanchez Fuentes Villota, 46, allegedly a member of the separatist group ETA, is wanted over charges linked to a foiled car bomb attack on a police officer in June 1991. He skipped bail in 1995 and was arrested in Liverpool in November last year after a European Arrest Warrant was made in the Spanish courts. He told a hearing last month he was tortured while being held in 'incommunicado' detention by Spanish police in 1991, including having pencils placed between his fingers and squeezed to inflict pain on his hands. His barrister argued at that hearing that the British courts could not be confident that Spain would deal with the torture allegations properly. But District Judge Nicholas Evans, sitting at Westminster Magistrates' Court today, said Spain was a 'trusted extradition partner' and a decision on whether any evidence had been obtained by torture should be left to a court there. He also questioned whether ill-treatment suffered by Fuentes could be deemed "torture". Ordering Fuentes be extradited, District Judge Evans said: 'I'm persuaded by such evidence that I have heard that it is more likely than not the requested person (Fuentes) suffered the pencil treatment. 'I'm not persuaded he was tortured.' Fuentes is wanted in Spain to face allegations of membership of a terrorist organisation (ETA), an attack in conjunction with attempted murder, possession of guns and possession of explosives. He skipped bail in 1995 and was arrested in Liverpool in November last year after a European Arrest Warrant was made in the Spanish courts . He was initially arrested in 1991 on suspicion of attempting to place explosives in a police officer's car and possession of a firearm. He was released on bail in June 1995 but went missing two months later. It is not known how long he was living in Liverpool. He appeared via videolink for today's hearing. Wearing a blue polo shirt and glasses he displayed no emotion when the judge ordered his extradition. He has seven days to lodge an appeal. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Raul Sanchez Fuentes Villota, 46, allegedly member of separatist group ETA .
Wanted over link to a foiled car bomb attack on a police officer in June 1991 .
He claimed he was tortured with pencils by Spanish police in 1991 .
But judge has said he is 'not persuaded he was tortured' |
Keywords: <keyword>BLAIR MINISTERS</keyword>, <keyword>STRAW INTERVIEWED</keyword>, <keyword>SECRETARY JACK</keyword>, <keyword>INVESTIGATIONS LIBYAN</keyword>, <keyword>LABOUR BENCH</keyword>, <keyword>MPS ACCUSE</keyword>, <keyword>TORTURE INTERVENTION</keyword>, <keyword>LAY CHARGES</keyword>, <keyword>FAMILIES DISSIDENTS</keyword>, <keyword>MISS COOPER</keyword>
Leading Labour figures yesterday demanded that Tony Blair face a grilling over torture. As the clamour for a judge-led inquiry grew, Alan Johnson and Yvette Cooper called for the former prime minister to be quizzed on Britain’s role in the barbaric treatment of prisoners by the US. It comes as the Daily Mail publishes a letter from more than 40 prominent figures, including politicians and authors, calling for David Cameron to secure the release of a British father of four held for 13 years without trial in Guantanamo Bay. Scroll down for video . Former Prime Minister Tony Blair and the then Foreign Secretary Jack Straw are facing questions over what they knew about CIA torture . Shadow home secretary Miss Cooper also broke ranks to say she believed an investigation by a judge might be needed to get to the truth about torture. Her intervention means the Labour front bench is on the verge of supporting an inquiry that could be hugely embarrassing for both Mr Blair and David Miliband – the brother of the party’s current leader. MPs said former foreign secretary Jack Straw – who has been interviewed Jack Straw – who has been interviewed as a ‘witness’ by detectives investigating the rendition of two Libyan dissidents – must also be held to account. Last night, former Tory Attorney General Dominic Grieve backed the calls for a judge-led inquiry once the police investigations are over, saying it was needed to provide ‘finality’. And former shadow home secretary David Davis told Sky News a judge must take charge. He said: ‘One must understand the sheer weight of pressure that comes from the Establishment to try and stop this sort of stuff coming out, so I think this needs to be a judicial inquiry.’ At Westminster, the weekend was dominated by the continued fallout from last week’s Senate Intelligence Committee report, which detailed how detainees had been subjected to torture such as waterboarding. Mr Cameron continues to cling to the position that an inquiry by Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee is the best way of finding out the level of Britain’s involvement. In a publicity blitz, ISC chairman Sir Malcolm Rifkind yesterday said he had asked the Senate committee to reveal the redactions, requested by British security officials, which led to all mention of MI5 and MI6 being removed from the 499-page report. Sir Malcolm Rifkind told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show this morning that he would seek to question former ministers over Britain's role or complicity in torture . Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said her 'instinct' was to call for a full judicial inquiry into UK torture . Former foreign secretary Jack Straw was grilled by police investigating the abductions of two Libyan dissidents who claim they were handed to Colonel Muammar Gadaffi and tortured by his regime. Mr Straw was interviewed as a 'witness' by Scotland Yard amid claims the British government was complicit in the 'rendition' of the two men and their families. The dissidents, Abdel Hakim Belhadj and Sami al-Saadi, have accused Mr Straw of signing off on the operations in 2004. A decision on whether to lay any charges could be made in the new year. He also said his committee would ask any former or serving minister with a contribution to make to give evidence – putting the spotlight firmly on Mr Blair, Mr Straw and Mr Miliband. Sir Malcolm added: ‘If they refuse to do so, that in itself would imply they have something to hide. If there is evidence they knew or were involved then of course they would be priority figures for our investigation. ‘If people deserve to be embarrassed it’s our job to embarrass them. We have a statutory obligation to carry out this task without fear or favour.’ However, he admitted that he had no way of compelling the Americans to hand over an uncensored copy of the report. He also conceded he could not say he was ‘confident’ of success. Home Secretary Theresa May will be grilled today by the Home Affairs Select Committee on the extent of her contact with the Senate committee and whether she personally lobbied for any redactions. ISC member George Howarth said it was right to seek details of redacted material but questioned why it should come from the US. He said the priority should be to seek answers directly from the Government and intelligence agencies. The Labour MP added: ‘It could take months and what we are asking for already exists in London.’ Miss Cooper said she doubted the ISC ‘have the capacity and the scope’ to carry out an inquiry, adding that her ‘instinct’ was that a judge-led process would still be required to ensure confidence. She told the BBC that Mr Blair and other former ministers had ‘always said that they would co-operate with all investigations and have said that they would be very keen to do so’. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair met the former Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi at his desert base outside Sirte south of Tripoli in 2007 . A Parliamentary committee has called on the US government to hand over any evidence of British complicity in torture. Last week a US Senate report exposed the "brutal" treatment of al-Qaeda terror suspects in the wake of 9/11. Downing Street has admitted that some material was removed from the report at the UK's request, for national security reasons. But it said no redactions related to British involvement in the mistreatment of prisoners. The House of Commons Intelligence and Security Committee is conducting an inquiry into the treatment of detainees by British intelligence agencies in the decade following 9/11. Sir Malcolm Rifkind, who heads the intelligence committee, told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show it would request to see redacted material in the Senate's public report if it referenced the UK. He said that if British intelligence officials were present when people were being tortured then they were complicit in that torture. "That would be quite against all the standards of this country, it would be something that ought to be brought into the public domain," Sir Malcolm added. Miss Cooper added that it was important to get to the truth to make sure there was no ‘shadow of innuendo or allegations cast over the vital work that the [security] agencies rightly do to keep us all safe every day of the week’. Former home secretary Mr Johnson said Mr Straw and Mr Blair should go before the committee. Asked on the Andrew Marr show if they should give evidence, he said: ‘Yes, absolutely, yes.’ Former deputy prime minister Lord Prescott also called for a judicial inquiry. He wrote in his Sunday Mirror column: ‘We must have a transparent system that reflects our values of fair play and justice, not one that turns a blind eye and deaf ear to claims of the abduction and torture of innocent people.’ Tory Defence Secretary Michael Fallon called for Mr Straw and Mr Blair to reveal what they knew about the CIA’s torture and rendition programme when they were in office. He said: ‘Obviously it’s for them, it’s for former ministers to account for the relationship then. I hope they will co-operate with any parliamentary inquiry.’ Civil liberties groups and campaigning MPs accuse Britain of repeatedly turning a blind eye to torture during Mr Blair’s ‘war on terror’ – when he worked hand in glove with the Bush administration. There are allegations that British agents were present when torture took place and that the UK helped with rendition flights. Yesterday, one of the two psychologists who were paid to run the interrogation programme by the CIA insisted UK agents were at torture sites. Dr James Mitchell, who devised the brutal ‘enhanced interrogation’ programmes, said: ‘I’d see their special operations people at the sites I would visit.’ Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable said the ISC and police investigations into the Libyan renditions should be allowed to ‘run their course’. He added: ‘If at the end of it, it doesn’t appear that the truth is emerging, that people imagine there is some kind of cover-up, then of course a judge-led inquiry is the right way to proceed.’ Isabella Sankey of human rights group Liberty said: ‘Until our Government sets up a transparent, judicial inquiry, cover-up and official impunity will persist.’ | Former PM and Foreign Secretary face Parliamentary grilling over torture .
Comes after US report revealed scale of 'enhanced interrogation' by CIA .
But the report redacted all evidence of British complicity with the CIA .
It has led to calls for a full judicial inquiry into what the Government knew .
A Parliamentary committee has launched a probe of British complicity .
Its chairman Sir Malcolm Rifkind said he would call former ministers . |
Keywords: <keyword>ITALIAN FOOTBALL</keyword>, <keyword>PRACTISING FOOTBALL</keyword>, <keyword>FOOTBALL TARNISHED</keyword>, <keyword>VIRTUES SPORT</keyword>, <keyword>REPUTEDLY BAYERN</keyword>, <keyword>VALUES POPE</keyword>, <keyword>COMMITTED ANCONA</keyword>, <keyword>XVI SAID</keyword>, <keyword>NEWSPAPER COMMENTS</keyword>, <keyword>ESPECIALLY YOUNGER</keyword>
(CNN) -- Football should be used to teach young people moral lessons, Pope Benedict XVI said during an audience with representatives from the Italian football league and lower division clubs. Pope Benedict XVI is presented with a football by Ancona club officials. Italian football has been tarnished in recent seasons by corruption, match-fixing scandals and crowd trouble, but the pope insisted the sport celebrated positive virtues as well. "The sport of football can be a vehicle of education for the values of honesty, solidarity and fraternity, especially for the younger generation," the pope said, according to Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper. The comments are not the first foray by the Bavarian-born pope -- reputedly a Bayern Munich supporter -- into Italian football. In October, he was presented with a No. 16 shirt by officials of the lower league club Ancona after the Vatican endorsed its campaign to turn itself into a "beacon of morality" by adopting an "innovative, ethical model of practising football," Reuters reported. The code committed Ancona to promoting fair play in a family atmosphere. The club is currently second in Serie C1/B, Italian football's third tier league. "Football should increasingly become a tool for the teaching of life's ethical and spiritual values," the pope said. Pope Benedict XVI's predecessor, Pope John Paul II, was also a keen football fan, reportedly playing in goal during his youth in Poland. All Italian football matches were cancelled on the weekend following his death in 2005. E-mail to a friend . | Pope says football can teach values of "honesty, solidarity and fraternity"
Sport should be used as a vehicle of education for young people, he says .
Vatican has endorsed lower league club Ancona's adoption of ethical code .
German-born pope is reputed to be a Bayern Munich fan . |
Keywords: <keyword>UKIP POLL</keyword>, <keyword>TORY MP</keyword>, <keyword>ASHCROFT PUTS</keyword>, <keyword>CAMERON VISIT</keyword>, <keyword>ROCHESTER VOTERS</keyword>, <keyword>SUPPORTERS LEND</keyword>, <keyword>CONSERVATIVE PUSH</keyword>, <keyword>DEMS CENT</keyword>, <keyword>SUGGESTS COMFORTABLE</keyword>, <keyword>BOOST UNCERTAINTY</keyword>
David Cameron last night issued a desperate appeal to voters in the Rochester by-election to vote tactically to keep out Ukip – as a poll showed the anti-EU party with a 12-point lead. In a highly unusual move, the Prime Minister urged Labour, Liberal Democrat and even Green supporters to lend their votes to the Tory candidate Kelly Tolhurst to prevent a ‘Ukip boost, and all the uncertainty and instability that leads to’. The poll, commissioned by the former Tory treasurer Lord Ashcroft, put Ukip on 44 per cent, the Conservatives on 32, Labour on 17 and the Lib Dems on only 2 per cent. Scroll down for video . David Cameron, on a visit to Strood Academy in Rochester, urged Labour, Liberal Democrat and even Green supporters to lend their votes to the Tories . A new poll by Lord Ashcroft puts Ukip comfortably ahead of thee Conservatives by 12 points . The finding represents a slight narrowing of Ukip’s lead since the last survey a fortnight ago, when it was 15 points. But it still suggests a comfortable win for Ukip’s Mark Reckless, the Kent seat’s former Tory MP, despite a massive Conservative push. However, the poll also produced a glimmer of good news for Mr Cameron by showing the Tories could re-take the seat at the general election. Thirty-six per cent of Rochester voters said they would probably vote Conservative next year, compared with 35 per cent backing Ukip. This could curb the enthusiasm of some Eurosceptic Tory MPs, who are weighing up whether to follow Mr Reckless and Clacton MP Douglas Carswell by defecting to Ukip. Defeat in Rochester and Strood on Thursday of next week would be a serious setback for the Prime Minister. During another visit to the seat yesterday, he made a direct appeal to non-Tory voters to lend their votes to the Conservatives to keep Ukip out. The Prime Minister said the seat was now a ‘two-horse race’ between Ukip's Mark Reckless (left) and Tory candidate Kelly Tolhurst (right) Mr Cameron told the Kent Messenger that the seat was now a ‘two-horse race’. Voters faced a ‘very clear choice’. He said: ‘You can vote for Ukip and be part of the national campaign and another notch for them in their development and then the great caravan will move on, or you can vote for Kelly, who is a hard-working person, born and raised locally. ‘I would say to people who have previously voted Labour, Liberal, Green or anything, that if you want a strong local candidate and don’t want some Ukip boost and all the uncertainty and instability that leads to, then Kelly is the choice.’ Ukip said it was extraordinary that Mr Cameron was trying to ‘shoehorn Labour voters into his survival strategy’. Mr Reckless said: ‘Every time David Cameron, his ministers, and his MPs come to this constituency they show us that, for them, this election is not about the people of Rochester and Strood, but about their own political careers, and whether they can survive a shift to Ukip here in Rochester and Strood next Thursday, and across the country next May.’ | David Cameron urged people in Rochester by-election to vote tactically .
Wants Labour, Lib Dem and Green voters to back Tory Kelly Tolhurst .
PM insists it is a two-horse race with Ukip candidate Mark Reckless .
Poll puts Ukip on 44%, Tories 32%, Labour 17% and Lib Dems 2% . |
Keywords: <keyword>TELEVISION DANIELLE</keyword>, <keyword>MURDER WEIGHT</keyword>, <keyword>COURTROOM CBS</keyword>, <keyword>THOMAS REPORTED</keyword>, <keyword>JASON BOHN</keyword>, <keyword>MOTHER DEVASTATED</keyword>, <keyword>HOURS STORY</keyword>, <keyword>HAUNTING VOICEMAIL</keyword>, <keyword>FOLLOW INSTINCTS</keyword>, <keyword>FREEDOM INFORMATION</keyword>
CBS show 48 Hours this weekend will air parts of a haunting voicemail recorded during the last minutes of a young woman's life as she was murdered - despite the victim's mother expressing her outrage. The Saturday-night crime series which airs at 10pm (EDT) focuses on the 2012 murder of Weight Watchers executive Danielle Thomas by her live-in boyfriend, lawyer Jason Bohn, in New York. During Bohn's trial, it was revealed that Thomas' phone recorded a four-minute message that includes her screams and pleas for her life. Danielle Thomas was murdered by her live-in boyfriend Jason Bohn (seen right, weeping at his murder trial) at their Queens apartment in 2012. Her mother is devastated that CBS plan to play her daughter's pleas for her life from a voicemail that recorded her last moments . At one point she says, 'Jason, I love you,' and there are seven seconds of silence - except for a barking dog - possibly the moment she was strangled. The recording was played during Bohn's trial earlier this year but because the court proceedings weren't televised, it hasn't been heard publicly outside the courtroom. CBS requested a copy through the Freedom of Information Act because its contents were crucial to the jury's deliberations and were used by both the defense and prosecution, said Susan Zirinsky, senior executive producer of 48 Hours. 'We do not use an enormous amount of it, less than some of the people who put the whole text out,' Ms Zirinsky said. 'Hearing it is pretty chilling.' Janie Thomas Bright, Miss Thomas' mother and a special education teacher in Danville, Kentucky, said she made it a point to leave the courtroom when the recording was being played during the trial. Ms Bright, who was interviewed for the 48 Hours story, doesn't want to hear it on television, either. Danielle Thomas pictured with her mother Jamie Thomas Bright, left, and her grandmother Juanita Hardgrove, right, during a family trip to Disney. The Florida business executive was murdered by her boyfriend in their Queens apartment in 2012 . 'My mother and I begged them not to use it,' Bright said. 'But once the trial was complete it was in the public record.' She said CBS has told them at about which points the recording will be used on Saturday's show, and she plans to mute her television when those moments come up. Bohn had been violent in the past and Miss Thomas had a protection order against him at the time of her death . 'I don't think I can bear to hear her voice,' she said. The recording isn't used extensively, but snippets are sprinkled throughout the story. Bright said she has already heard part of it on a promotion that CBS aired in advance of the show, with Bohn, an Ivy League-educated lawyer, saying: 'In five seconds I'm going to let you up, and you need to answer quickly, or else you die.' At another point, he tells his girlfriend: 'You're so stupid, you think I'm going to stop. I'm not going to stop.' Bohn's defense team argued that Bohn was mentally ill because he had been abandoned by his mother as a child. The prosecution says this doesn't excuse murder. The recording was used as evidence of Bohn's state of mind. 'If no one felt this wasn't the important element in the case, we would not have gone after it,' Ms Zirinsky said. She said CBS does not use the material randomly or gratuitously. The story itself raises many issues, including the role of mental illness and childhood trauma in criminal actions and the need for people not to follow their instincts. Thomas had reported Bohn to authorities for abusive behavior before the night of the murder but stayed with him, even telling her mother she'd say yes if he asked her to marry him. | The Saturday-night crime series focuses on the 2012 murder of Danielle Thomas by her boyfriend, Ivy League lawyer Jason Bohn, .
in New York .
During Bohn's trial, it was revealed that .
Thomas' phone recorded a four-minute message that includes her screams .
and pleas for her life .
At one point she says, 'Jason, I love .
you,' and there are seven seconds of silence - except for a barking dog - .
possibly the moment she was strangled .
Thomas died of neck compression and blunt-force trauma and was found in the bathtub full of ice in the couple's Queens apartment .
Bohn was sentenced to life in prison without parole in April . |
Keywords: <keyword>TRANSFER MANCHESTER</keyword>, <keyword>NEVILLE THOUGHTS</keyword>, <keyword>COMPETITOR ARSENAL</keyword>, <keyword>UNITED BIZARRE</keyword>, <keyword>ANDER HERRERA</keyword>, <keyword>STRIKER WORRY</keyword>, <keyword>SIGNED DANNY</keyword>, <keyword>WELBECK EXPECTED</keyword>, <keyword>SALE STRANGE</keyword>, <keyword>SPENT FORTUNES</keyword>
Gary Neville has attacked Manchester United’s bizarre transfer policy after claiming the sale of Danny Welbeck for just £16m is ‘strange’. United have spent fortunes this summer to sign Falcao, Angel di Maria, Daley Blind, Ander Herrera, Luke Shaw and Marco Rojo. Neville said: ‘It’s not the way I would expect United to go about their business, I thought it would be more controlled. VIDEO Scroll down to see Phil Neville's thoughts on Welbeck's transfer . Manchester United sold Danny Welbeck to rivals Arsenal for £16million after the arrival of Radamel Falcao . ‘I can’t work it out and I know I worked with Danny Welbeck last week [with England], but it’s odd. I have to admit I thought the Danny Welbeck sale was a strange one, but that’s just me. ‘Of all the prices paid this summer, there are right backs and left-backs galore who have been bought for £14m, £15m, £16m? ‘How have Arsenal got him [Welbeck] for £16m? I can’t work it out. It has helped out a competitor because Arsenal are the team they are fighting for fourth possibly. ‘I am struggling to work out the logic, I can’t understand it. It’s odd in two or three ways. ‘Falcao tipped them over the edge, it surprised and shocked everyone. How he gets them in that team I don’t know. How they get Rooney, Di Maria, Robin van Persie, Falcao, Herrera, Januzaj and Mata into that team I don’t know.’ Arsene Wenger signed Danny Welbeck after first choice striker Olivier Giroud fractured his ankle . Radamel Falcao joined Manchester United on a season-long loan deal with the option of a permanent deal . Neville went on to claim United have over-paid for players after their seventh placed finish in the Barclays Premier League last season. He told talkSPORT: ‘In one sense I am excited because they have signed world class players. People jumped on the bandwagon last year and said they wouldn’t attract players, but they have a massive commercial operation. ‘They have overpaid, there is no doubt about that but people will still go there.’ Welbeck is expected to start for Arsenal on Saturday when they take on Manchester City at the Emirates in the Barclays Premier League. The England striker, who scored twice for his country against Switzerland on Tuesday, admitted he needs a run of games up front to prove he is a top player for club and country. Arsenal’s £16m signing said: ‘It is well known I prefer to play through the middle so when I get my opportunity I just want to show what I can do. Once I get into the box and getting the opportunities I have got faith in my ability. Manchester United broke the British transfer record when they paid £60m for Angel di Maria . ‘Before I wasn’t getting into the box because I wasn’t playing too much as a striker and I had to worry about my defensive work. I just know once I get the opportunity and a run of games up front I will do my best. ‘That’s definitely what I need. It is good for any footballer to get a run of games. You become more confident and play much more ease and to get a run of games would be absolutely perfect. That is my first 90 minutes this season so it is just the start of things and really looking forward to it.’ VIDEO Arsenal spending doesn't guarantee success - Dein . | Gary Neville attacked Manchester United's transfer policy .
Former England star branded Danny Welbeck's sale to Arsenal 'strange'
Neville also claimed United overpaid for their summer signings .
Radamel Falcao, Ander Herrera, Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo, Angel di Maria, Daley Blind all signed this summer . |
Keywords: <keyword>KILLINGS RAUL</keyword>, <keyword>VEHICLE SHOOTING</keyword>, <keyword>TEXAS GUNNED</keyword>, <keyword>XAZZIEL RAMIREZ</keyword>, <keyword>PASO COUNTY</keyword>, <keyword>DIED DRIVER</keyword>, <keyword>YOUNGEST VICTIM</keyword>, <keyword>FRIDAY ARRESTS</keyword>, <keyword>TARGETED SANDOVAL</keyword>, <keyword>TOLD CNN</keyword>
(CNN) -- A 7-year-old boy from El Paso, Texas, was gunned down across the border in the violent city of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, a spokesman for the Chihuahua state attorney general's office told CNN Tuesday. Raul Xazziel Ramirez had been visiting his father in Juarez on Friday evening when unknown gunmen fired on their vehicle at a roundabout, spokesman Arturo Sandoval said. At least 18 rounds from a 9 mm weapon were shot at the white 2000 Geo Tracker driven by Ramirez's dad, Sandoval said. The father, Raul Ramirez Alvarado, 35, died in the driver's seat. The younger Raul escaped from the vehicle, but was apparently shot in the back, Sandoval said. The boy's body fell forward in front of the vehicle. The shooting happened just before 8 p.m. Friday. No arrests had been made as of Tuesday, the spokesman said. Raul Xazziel Ramirez was a third-grader at Glen Cove Elementary School in El Paso, Ysleta Independent School District spokeswoman Patricia Ayala told CNN. "It's a senseless tragedy that we're trying to come to terms with," she said. According to El Paso County records, Raul was just three weeks shy of his eighth birthday when he was killed. The boy lived with his aunt and uncle in El Paso, Ayala said. It was the first semester that Raul was registered with the district. Raul's classmates were spared the details of his death, but the school was nonetheless shocked at the boy's passing. Grief counselors were made available for both students and teachers, Ayala said. More than 2,200 killings have been recorded this year in Ciudad Juarez, out of a population of approximately 1.5 million people. A bloody turf war between warring drug cartels that started last year has made the city one of the most violent in the world. According to statistics from local prosecutors, Ciudad Juarez records about 10 murders a day. The bloodiest month this year has been September, with 476 killings reported. The violence has not spilled over significantly across the border to El Paso, but as Friday's shooting showed, the pain of one of the sister cities is shared by the other. Because of the ongoing investigation, Sandoval declined to say whether drug cartel activity was suspected in the killings of Raul and his father, but added that at least 90 percent of the city's homicides are drug-related. Raul was not the youngest victim slain this year. In early 2009, a 3-year-old girl was killed together with her father inside a vehicle that was targeted, Sandoval said. | NEW: Raul Xazziel Ramirez was just three weeks shy of his eighth birthday, records show .
Ramirez was killed Friday along with his father in Ciudad Juarez.
The boy managed to escape the vehicle but was shot in the back, police say .
More than 2,200 slain this year in Juarez; Ramirez was not the youngest . |
Keywords: <keyword>STEVE PETERS</keyword>, <keyword>SPORTS PSYCHIATRIST</keyword>, <keyword>SNOOKER RONNIE</keyword>, <keyword>TRANSFORMED HODGSON</keyword>, <keyword>NEVILLE EXPLAINED</keyword>, <keyword>PLAYER SWITZERLAND</keyword>, <keyword>BITES MENTAL</keyword>, <keyword>ENJOY ENGLAND</keyword>, <keyword>DISCUSSION TRAINING</keyword>, <keyword>SAID DAILY</keyword>
Every England player had a half-hour private meeting with team psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters before the Euro 2016 qualifying win in Switzerland. Coach Gary Neville said the sessions were part of a plan to take away the fear of failing from Roy Hodgson’s team. ‘Over the years I have seen young players overwhelmed by fear of the consequences when things go wrong. It really bites you. The mental side of playing for England is different and we can no longer leave anything to chance,’ Neville said in his Daily Telegraph column. Steve Peters (far left), Trevor Brooking and England manager Roy Hodgson hold a discussion during training . Steve Peters talks to England's Steven Gerrard and did so with every player before the Switzerland match . Dr Steve Peters is the sports psychiatrist who began working with Liverpool - and Luis Suarez - in November 2012. Peters is the ‘mind mechanic’ credited with helping star cyclists Sir Chris Hoy, Sir Bradley Wiggins and Victoria Pendleton achieve their success. The 59-year-old has also worked with striker Craig Bellamy, snooker’s Ronnie O’Sullivan and the England rugby union team which reached the 2007 World Cup final. ‘Last week Steve Peters, the team psychiatrist, had a 30-minute session with every single player. People wouldn’t know that. 'I played for Manchester United for 17 years but there is nothing like England for scrutiny and brutality. It really bites you. So how do we nurture this generation so they actually enjoy it?' England beat Switzerland 2-0 thanks to two goals from Arsenal's newest striker, Danny Welbeck. And Neville reckons England have been transformed by Hodgson as the Three Lions embark on their new killer strategy. ‘Roy has transitioned the side into a more adventurous outfit. It’s virtually a brand new team,' Neville continued. 'As we gathered to discuss the options for the Switzerland game he was categorical about using the diamond, which is one of the most complex formations to get right. He was adamant that he wanted Wilshere to play in that role. 'He was enthusing about his talent and arguing that he wanted to see him pass creatively from a deep position. It might fail. We might be out on our ears in two years. But to claim there’s no progress is just plain wrong.' Roy Hodgson and Gary Neville talk tactics before England beat Switzerland 2-0 in their Euro 2016 qualifier . Gary Neville has explained how he has seen players get 'overwhelmed' by the pressure of playing for England . Danny Welbeck scores against Switzerland as England win 2-0 in their opening Euro 2016 qualifier . Danny Welbeck became Arsena's newest striker and had a 30-minute session with Dr Steve Peters before . | Gary Neville reveals Dr Steve Peters had 30 minutes with each player .
Neville says he has seen players become 'overwhelmed' during his career with Manchester United and England in his column for the Telegraph .
'I played for Manchester United for 17 years but there is nothing like England for scrutiny and brutality. It really bites you,' says Neville .
The England coach insists Roy Hodgson has 'transitioned' the side to become more adventurous through a diamond formation .
England beat Switzerland 2-0 in their opening Euro 2016 qualifier . |
Keywords: <keyword>RAHEEM STERLING</keyword>, <keyword>GERRARD HAPPENS</keyword>, <keyword>VALENCIA REACTED</keyword>, <keyword>WINGER SAW</keyword>, <keyword>DISMISSED ECUADOR</keyword>, <keyword>BECKHAM JUNE</keyword>, <keyword>VS PORTUGAL</keyword>, <keyword>PLAYERS SENT</keyword>, <keyword>RED EARLIER</keyword>, <keyword>OFFENCE THROWING</keyword>
By . Phil Gradwell . Follow @@GraddersOnline . Raheem Sterling became the 13th player to be sent off for England when he was dismissed against Ecuador in Miami. The Liverpool winger saw red following a clash with Antonio Valencia, who reacted furiously to a wild lunge by the 19-year-old. Valencia also walked for his part in the incident. Sterling was consoled as he walked down the tunnel by Steven Gerrard - who, as it happens, is one of the other 12 players to be sent off while on England duty. Seeing red: Raheem Sterling is sent off for England after his grapple with Antonio Valencia (below) Stranglehold: Valencia grabs Sterling round the throat before the pair are dismissed . Alan Mullery, June 1968 vs Yugoslavia . Alan Ball, June 1973 vs Poland . Trevor Cherry, June 1977 vs Argentina . Ray Wilkins, June 1986 vs Morocco . David Beckham, June 1998 vs Argentina . Paul Ince, September 1998 vs Sweden . Paul Scholes, June 1999 vs Sweden . David Batty, September 1999 vs Poland . Alan Smith, October 2002 vs Macedonia . David Beckham, October 2005 vs Austria . Wayne Rooney, July 2006 vs Portugal . Rob Green, October 2009 vs Ukraine . Wayne Rooney, October 2011 vs Montenegro . Steven Gerrard, September 2012 vs Ukraine . The first player to see red as an England player was Alan Mullery, in 1968 against Yugoslavia. Alan Ball was next, in Poland five years later, and then came Trevor Cherry, the only other England man apart from Sterling to be shown a red card in a friendly. Ray Wilkins was the first England player to be dismissed at a World Cup, against Morocco in 1986 and he compounded the offence by throwing the ball towards the Paraguayan official and hitting him with it. That was it until the most famous red card in England's international history. In St Etienne in 1998, David Beckham was felled by Diego Simeone and instinctively and petulantly flicked his leg back at the Argentine, who went down rather theatrically. Danish referee Kim Milton Nielsen sent off Beckham, England went out on penalties and effigies of the Manchester United star, who would go on to captain his country with distinction, were burned. That began a spate of sendings-off (in relative terms) at the end of the 1990s. Beckham's former United team-mate Paul Ince was dismissed against Sweden in 1998 and a year later Paul Scholes saw red against the same opponents and should have seen red earlier in the match for an horrendous challenge on Hakan Mild. David Batty met with the same fate later that year against Poland. We were two years into the new millennium before the next England player was sent off, Alan Smith for a ludicrous late challenge during a draw with Macedonia. End of the World (Cup): David Beckham is sent off against Argentina at France 98 . Red mist: Wayne Rooney (second right) reacts incredulously to being sent off against Portugal . Off you go: Steven Gerrard (second left) cannot believe it after being sent off against Ukraine . Three years later Beckham had the dubious honour of being the first England player to be sent off twice for his country when he had to go after picking up two bookings in two second-half minutes against Austria. Next came another famous case of the World Cup red mist. A barely-fit Wayne Rooney saw his frustration boil over against Portugal and he went after stamping on a sensitive area of Ricardo Carvalho - with a wink from Cristiano Ronaldo to send him on his way. The next sending-off was nowhere near as crucial, as Rob Green was given his marching orders within the first 15 minutes of a dead rubber in Ukraine, which the home side won 1-0. He did, however, become the first England goalkeeper to be dismissed. Horror tackle: Paul Scholes was only booked for this challenge on Hakan Mild but was later sent off . Walk of shame: Alan Mullery trudges off after becoming the first England player to be sent off . Rooney joined Beckham in the double red card club when he famously and ridiculously kicked out at Montenegro defender Miodrag Dzudovic during a turbulent time in his personal life. The dismissal meant Rooney missed the first two matches of Euro 2012. And finally, Gerrard was given two yellow cards against Ukraine in 2012. Now Sterling has become the unlucky 13th - at least he is in some illustrious company. | Sterling dismissed following a clash with Antonio Valencia .
He became the 13th player to be sent off for England .
Mullery was the first in 1968 and Gerrard the most recent in 2012 .
Likes of Paul Scholes, Paul Ince and Ray Wilkins also on list . |
Keywords: <keyword>SUNDER ELEPHANT</keyword>, <keyword>ELEPHANT VIOLENTLY</keyword>, <keyword>ANIMAL EVIDENCE</keyword>, <keyword>PETA INDIA</keyword>, <keyword>CHAINED ABUSED</keyword>, <keyword>COWERING FEAR</keyword>, <keyword>JYOTIBA TEMPLE</keyword>, <keyword>REHABILITATION FOREST</keyword>, <keyword>INDIA FILED</keyword>, <keyword>HANDLERS KNOWN</keyword>
By . Tara Brady . PUBLISHED: . 08:47 EST, 5 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:01 EST, 5 December 2013 . Shocking footage has emerged of an elephant being violently beaten in India following an undercover investigation. The malnourished 14-year-old elephant called Sunder is chained by two legs, writhing in pain and struggling to stand as its handlers, known as a mahouts, strike it repeatedly with the pole. Sunder visibly recoils in fear from the weapon-wielding young men who continue to threaten the animal with violence after it has finally managed to stand. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . An undercover investigation has uncovered footage of an elephant being violently beaten in India . Sunder was chained and abused for six years at the Jyotiba Temple in Kolhapur. The animal was dragged from a forest in the south-west of the country and presented as a 'gift'. Following orders by the Maharashtra Forest Department and Project Elephant the temple was told to send Sunder to a sanctuary. But he is being kept in an old dark poultry shed in Warananagar instead. The investigation was carried out by campaign group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). It says the Nagpur-based principal chief conservator of forests and current head of forest force, SWH Naqvi, has failed to implement the state and central government orders. Peta say Indian politicians are claiming Sunder is fine and healthy. The Kolhapur division of the Forest Department also says 'every month a veterinary doctor visits the place to check the elephant,' according to PETA. Cruel: The young men are seen hitting the elephant so hard it falls to the ground unable to stand up . Plea: The malnourished 14-year-old elephant called Sunder is chained by its two legs while it is violently beaten . Fear: Sunder visibly recoils in fear from the weapon-wielding young men who continue to threaten the animal . Evidence: A distressed Sunder collapses to the ground after taking a beating from its handlers . These claims are in spite of scarring on Sunder's legs from abuse, he has a low weight and he is being forced to stand on concrete all day with no opportunity for exercise. This new video shows the animal is also being beaten. Dr Mel Richardson, elephant expert who examined the footage, said: 'He is fearful of the mahout.' 'From what I can see his legs and feet are in bad shape. Suffering: Sunder tethered in the temple shed, where he was taken after being dragged from a forest in the South-West of the country . 'He is in a dangerous situation and needs relief – no chains, natural substrate, and space to exercise.' 'Vinay Kore and the Kolhapur division of the Forest Department seem to be trying to fool the public, but an elephant needs space to roam and the companionship of other elephants – not more years of being chained on concrete, cowering in fear of a violent mahout', says PETA UK Associate Director Mimi Bekhechi. 'It's long past time to follow through on their promises: Sunder needs to be sent to a sanctuary today.' Former Beatle Paul McCartney and Hollywood actress Pamela Anderson have previously written to authorities calling for Sunder's release. Brutal: Sunder's feet are chained with spiked manacles so he cannot take a single step in any direction . McCartney wrote: ‘I have seen photographs of young Sunder, the elephant kept alone in a shed at Jyotiba Temple and put in chains with spikes. ‘I appeal to you to do what is right here and get Sunder post-haste to rehabilitation in the forest. ‘Years of his life have been ruined by keeping him and abusing him in this way and enough is enough. ‘I most respectfully call on you to use your authority to get Sunder out, placed in your protective custody and eventually integrated into a herd in the forest.’ PETA India has filed a petition with the High Court of Bombay asking the Maharashtra Forest Department (MFD) to implement its previous order – as well as the recommendation from Project Elephant under the Ministry of Environment and Forests – and retire Sunder to a sanctuary. Following pressure from PETA India, more than 26,000 people who have signed the online petition. The petition filed at the High Court of Bombay is listed for its first hearing on December 10 this year. To support the campaign visit http://petauk.org/sunder . | Video shows animal recoiling in fear as it is violently whipped with stick .
Sunder was chained and abused for six years at Jyotiba Temple in India .
The temple was ordered to send the animal to a sanctuary .
But the animal is being holed up in a shed where it is now chained .
Petition calling for Sunder to be rescued will be heard at High Court .
Campaign has the support of celebrities including Sir Paul McCartney . |
Keywords: <keyword>HEROES MARTIN</keyword>, <keyword>GEORGE WASHINGTON</keyword>, <keyword>AMERICAN STUDIES</keyword>, <keyword>MULLIGAN FORGOTTEN</keyword>, <keyword>JOURNALIST VIETNAM</keyword>, <keyword>AUTHOR FAMED</keyword>, <keyword>CAPTIVITY JONATHAN</keyword>, <keyword>INVENTION MIRACLE</keyword>, <keyword>MILITARY MEDAL</keyword>, <keyword>BOOKS SECRET</keyword>
(CNN) -- For Paul Martin, fascinating history is a loud discovery in a quiet library. The stories sneak up on him while he's on other quests, such as the time Martin was trying to find the first American awarded a military medal and found Hercules Mulligan, a forgotten spy who saved George Washington's life twice. Martin has collected the stories of 30 Americans left out of the history textbooks in his new book, "Secret Heroes: Everyday Americans Who Shaped Our World." Some other characters Martin brings to life include Henry Beachell, whose invention of "miracle rice" fed and supported Asia, Cynthia Ann Parker's steadfast endurance of 24 years of Native American captivity and Jonathan Letterman, whose medical organization on the battlefield revolutionized the treatment of wounded soldiers and saved countless lives during the Civil War. "These characters were relatively unknown, but what they did has had ripples that continue to affect us," Martin said. "Hercules Mulligan saved the life of the father of our country. Think of what would have happened if he hadn't been a tailor in New York City. "Everyday Americans have had a huge impact on our history -- it isn't always presidents and generals who set the course for the country." The characters called to him from the pages of history books, whispered from brief mentions of TV shows and clambered from the pages of historical society records, all begging to share their stories with someone who would listen. "Secret Heroes" is the latest offering in a continuous genre of books that aim to remind us of our forgotten past and changes how we understand it. Martin has lived through history and has been captivated by it. He worked as a journalist during the Vietnam War, chronicling Vietnam's struggle to reconnect itself. Then he worked for the National Geographic Society for 30 years, the last 10 as executive editor for National Geographic Traveler. Throughout the years, a single running theme has connected his experiences: lifting the underdog. Unearthing forgotten stories from the country's founding is a way to remind us what everyday people are capable of accomplishing. But why do people care today? Kenneth C. Davis, author of the famed "Don't Know Much About ..." series and "America's Hidden History," says that history isn't a dead thing of the past but an actively created and revised thing that affects our decisions every day. "In school, we focus on the 'important people' and Founding Fathers, but what that 'great man version' of history does is really leave out an awful lot of people who have tremendous impact," Davis said. When Davis was in high school history class in 1968, women, African-Americans and Native Americans were noticeably absent from the textbook. Revisionism is a dirty word to some, but Davis said it's an important aspect of history. Teachers and textbook writers still struggle today to include ethnic heritage, but some school districts aim to keep the same version of history we've always been taught, case being Tuscon's suspension of Mexican-American studies. "We need to revise history because we learn things all of the time about the stories and people who were left out," he said. This is especially the case in elementary school history classes, he said. Myths about George Washington chopping down a cherry tree are taught in the place of truth, so history starts on a shaky foundation of fiction, Davis said. Learning truth in the place of fiction later in high school makes history harder to grasp. "People want to paint a picture of the past that is filled with pride and patriotism, especially for children, and that is a valuable thing," he said. "It gives us a sense of national identity and character, but it creates a very false history that is sanitized of the stories that don't fit in neatly with the real history." Retired American history teacher Jane Serkedakis watched textbooks change dramatically during her 33-year career. She doesn't believe that children are necessarily taught "wrong" information at a young age, she said, but there's an unbalanced emphasis on certain aspects of American history. "It would be difficult to deal with third-graders and American history's real nuances of slavery," she said. "It is in high school where we examine Thomas Jefferson as a paradox -- he owned slaves but was a complete champion of democracy. They aren't taught wrong, it's just that they can't go into all of that detail at such a young age." The emphasis on military history consumes the curriculum for high school history classes. The emphasis turned off students who wanted to learn more than dates and battles; people, places and facts, not dates, make history come to life, Serkedakis said. In her Advanced Placement U.S. history class for 11th-graders, Serkedakis included a "visitors" assignment for each era, where students played the part of important figures in American history and brought them to life in the classroom. Books such as "Secret Heroes" can be a resource for teachers to use in this way, she said. It is this approach to teaching history that Rick Beyer, author of "The Greatest Stories Never Told" and "The Ghost Army of World War II," finds most beneficial to students. Realizing that names and figures of the past were living, breathing human beings makes them as relatable as finding your grandfather's address in the newly released the 1940 census documents, he said. John Quincy Adams, son of second President John Adams, is a prime example, Beyer said. Fact tells us that Adams walked out of the White House and went skinny-dipping in the Potomac River each day. "It doesn't change your understanding of American history, but suddenly that guy seems less like an old black-and-white photograph, and a little more like a person," Beyer said. "If you restrict yourself to the Wikipedia version of history, you lose all of the color, delight and excitement of the adventure that is the lives of each one of these people." Because history is everything that ever happened, from every war to every love affair, the untold stories that turn expectations upside down are the ones worth exploring, Beyer said. And because what we care about at 26 or 36 differs greatly from the portrait of our interest at 16, discovering history for the first time a decade or two after high school can make those stories even more important. That is what Davis, Beyer and Martin aim to remind us with their books, bursting with the people and places lost to time and rekindled in lifelike detail. Every good story is one worth retelling, and our own history is full of them, many filled with the undeniable spirit and tenacity of the patriotic principles we learn from myths. "There really are two large categories of heroes," Martin said of his book's title. "Most of us think of someone as a hero who risks his or her life when there is some immediate danger -- a soldier rescuing a fellow on the battlefield. "But the other type of hero is one who simply perseveres, who overcomes overwhelming odds, even if it might take an entire lifetime." | Authors: Everyday Americans have influenced history as much as presidents, generals .
Reviving forgotten history allows people to connect with their pasts .
Author Kenneth C. Davis believes history must be constantly revised . |
Keywords: <keyword>CAR CHASE</keyword>, <keyword>MCQUEEN MICHAEL</keyword>, <keyword>FAST FURIOUS</keyword>, <keyword>DRIVING PEUGEOT</keyword>, <keyword>FILM GOLDFINGER</keyword>, <keyword>RUN 1981</keyword>, <keyword>AUTOS STAR</keyword>, <keyword>10 CANNONBALL</keyword>, <keyword>MINIS MOTORING</keyword>, <keyword>HACKMAN BUMPING</keyword>
(AOL Autos) -- Which star do you most associate with car-chase movies: Steve McQueen or Michael Caine? Gene Hackman or Burt Reynolds? Honor Blackman, star of the James Bond film "Goldfinger," poses on an Aston Martin DB5 car in 2002. Although most car-chase movies pack some serious A-list talent, we like to think that in many cases the real star in this particular movie genre is the car: from McQueen's super-tight Ford Mustang in "Bullitt" to the stripped-down Dodge Charger in Quentin Tarantino's "Death Proof." But which movie has the best car-chase scene in history? We take a look. 10. "Cannonball Run" (1981) Almost everyone knows that Hollywood's cheesy celebration of America's intercoastal car culture is one big car chase involving spectacular cars, including a Ferrari 308 GTS, an Aston Martin DB5 and a gorgeous opening sequence where a Lamborghini Countach makes short work of a Pontiac Firebird police cruiser. But perhaps less well known is the original coast-to-coast sprint run undertaken by speed racer Erwin George Baker in 1914. The 11-day drive made his name in the New York press, who forever associated him with the Chicago Express steam train christened "The Cannon Ball." Trivia: The ambulance driven in the movie by Burt Reynolds and sidekick Dom DeLuise was a modified Dodge Tradesman used by Car and Driver editor Brock Yates when he tried to resurrect the famous race in the 1970s, as part of a protest against the onset of 55 mph speeding limits nationwide. 9. "Death Proof" (2007) Quentin Tarantino continues to push the limits of speed and taste in "Death Proof." The film is a stock car- and violence-infused tale that features for a quarter of its run-time a fantastic chase sequence involving a stripped down bad-ass 1969 Dodge Charger and a heavily modified 1970 Dodge Challenger with a girl -- actress and former stuntwoman Zoe Bell -- splayed on its hood. Apparently, Tarantino came upon the idea for a "death proof" car after filming the car-crash scene in Pulp Fiction and telling a friend he wanted to buy a Volvo for safety reasons. AOL Autos: 2009 Dodge Charger . The friend informed him that a decent movie stunt team could easily "death proof" any car for him. Hence was born the "Death Proof" movie concept. And Stuntman Mike. Doesn't that name still give you chills? 8. "The Fast and the Furious" (2001) Car chases ostensibly over a half mile, otherwise known as street racing, received attention when "The Fast and Furious" lifted the lid on a high-adrenaline Tokyo Drift racing scene that burgeoned in popularity in Japan and the U.S. in the late 1990s. The movie explored the phenomenon through a fictional world of ultra-hip hijackers who used heavily modified Japanese cars to steal high-end electronic components. It's a cops and criminals yarn with a high-octane twist that features some seriously customized old-school cars including a Honda Civic, Toyota Supra and a Mazda RX7 -- though if you look closely, a retro Dodge Charger also features, too. AOL Autos: Honda Civic . Tokyo Drift racing, where drivers work in teams while skidding all four wheels around a tight circuit, now features at many events on the IRL circuit, catching a tailwind from the movie's popularity. Look out for the new "Fast and Furious" film soon. 7. "Mad Max II: The Road Warrior" (1981) You'd be hard pressed to name any of Mel Gibson's cobbled-together vehicles in his 1981 sequel to "Mad Max" -- which may boast the highest number of chopped and recharged V8s outside of Havana, Cuba -- but that doesn't stop "The Road Warrior" being considered a car-chase classic and one of the best action movies out there. Motley collections of cut-throat bandits, nomads and braggarts populate Australia's barren, dystopian landscape and blow-up any number of heavy machines, including police cars, motorbikes and a big-rig fuel tanker. It's all in their quest for that all-important and -- in a post-apocalyptic world -- rare substance: fuel. The explosive 20-minute chase scene to end the movie still exhilarates nearly 30 years after the movie's release. And don't we all want an engine intake like Max's infamous "blower?" 6. "Vanishing Point" (1971) A Dodge Challenger R/T gives you some serious leverage when you're involved in a bump-and-run two-car contest on a one-track road in the middle of the American west -- and it's the only road out of the desert heat. AOL Autos: Dodge Challenger . Stanley Kowalski, a renegade Barry Newman, used five separate first-generation Challengers, including the 375-horsepower 440 Magnum, to full effect in forcing numerous hapless drivers off the road on the hazard-ridden 15-hour sprint from Denver, Colorado, to San Francisco, California, as he's pursued by cops, racers and bandits alike. Dodge released its highly anticipated and heavily retrofitted Challenger update in 2008, with the film's cult following no doubt waiting patiently for any word on a commemorative "Vanishing Point" model. 5. "Gone in 60 Seconds" (1974) We're not talking about the remake starring Nicolas Cage and Angelina Jolie, which boasts some pretty spectacular car-chase sequences itself, but the 1974 original that features a 34-minute chase sequence over the Long Beach, California, ports complex that some consider the best ever captured on celluloid. A mediocre cast and stilted dialog may put off many, but the film that centers around a group of car thieves and their bid to steal 48 cars over a couple of days accomplishes what it set out to do: Exhilarate viewers in movie theaters and destroy as many cars as possible (in this case, 93). An amazing collection of Ford Mustangs, Rolls-Royces and Cadillac limos make up the list that car thief H.B. "Toby" Halicki -- who did all his own stunts -- is given to steal for a South American drug lord. Few, though, compare to the film's famous 1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1, christened "Eleanor" and driven by Halicki. 4. "The French Connection" (1971) Gene Hackman bumping and weaving his way around the intersection of Stillwell Avenue and 86th St of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, while pursuing a bandit on a subway train offers to this day a fantastic driver's eye perspective of driving through New York at rush hour. We're just kidding. But the chase featuring a 1971 Pontiac LeMans remains a classic as a result of its impromptu crashes that weren't supposed to be part of the action but were left in the sequence after several stunt drivers mistimed their entrance into the car chase, striking Hackman's car instead of narrowly avoiding it as he chases a train-bound drug dealer. The sequence took several days to shoot even though the chase's screen time is barely two-and-a-half minutes. Director William Friedkin also put together a similarly fantastic car chase in 1985's "To Live and Die in L.A." 3. "The Italian Job" (1969) Michael Caine's famous "You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off," has become a familiar refrain among "Italian Job" fans who love the British actor's Cockney twang and the 1969 comic car caper that saw a collection of car thieves attempting a high-stakes bank heist in the Italian city of Turin. Indescribably hip on its release, and a personification of Cool Britannia, the famous car chase featuring three red-white-and-blue Minis motoring through tight streets -- and even indoors -- was a landmark in quirky and fun car-chase sequencing and cinematography. The 2003 remake cleverly twinned audience appeal with the film following the 2001 release of BMW's new MINI Cooper that featured in the updated film, leading some to suggest it was merely a two-hour commercial for the new model. AOL Autos: MINI Cooper . Trivia: Turin, or Torino, forms part of Italian car giant Fiat's moniker-- Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino. 2. "Ronin" (1998) Although it will never be regarded as Robert de Niro's best dramatic performance, 1998's "Ronin" doesn't land on our list for its dialogue. In unbelievable realism, viewers are treated to chase scenes with sport sedans such as a BMW M5, Peugeot 406 and, perhaps most famously, an Audi S8. Plenty of police cars, trucks and motorcycles meet their end and more than 300 stunt drivers were employed to give the real-time chases scene an air of metal-crunching realism amid a character-driven plot that involves CIA operatives, mercenaries and multiple double-crosses surrounding a mysteriously valuable briefcase. There are few actors that can capture the mixture of terror and exhilaration involved in a car chase quite like De Niro, while Jean Reno is the only actor who could make driving a Peugeot an exercise in steely manhood. Director John Frankenheimer pretty nearly perfected the art of filming gritty car chase sequences in 1966's "Grand Prix." 1. "Bullitt" (1968) "Bullitt" is perennially voted one of the best car movies of all time and we're comfortable following suit. In the 1968 classic, real-life racing enthusiast Steve McQueen barrels after bad guys on the streets of San Francisco in an epically cool 1968 Ford Mustang in a delicious "Highland Green" color. AOL Autos: Ford Mustang . In a cityscape that gets most drivers nervous for its ups and downs, San Francisco proves the ultimate car chase backdrop. Lieutenant Frank Bullitt is not only one of the coolest cops of all time, he proves to be one of the best wheelmen we've ever seen. This is a must-see film and hands-down the best car chase movie of all time. | In most car-chase movies, the real star is the car, author says .
The chase in "The French Connection" features a 1971 Pontiac LeMans .
More than 300 stunt drivers were employed for the 1998 "Ronin" film .
"Bullitt" is perennially voted one of the best car movies of all time . |
Keywords: <keyword>SHANGHAI SKYLINE</keyword>, <keyword>RISE BUILDINGS</keyword>, <keyword>GROWTH VIDEO</keyword>, <keyword>PROGRESS CRANE</keyword>, <keyword>FUTURISTIC LOOK</keyword>, <keyword>FILMED 23RD</keyword>, <keyword>MAKE WAY</keyword>, <keyword>CLOUDS MARCH</keyword>, <keyword>HIGH FASTEST</keyword>, <keyword>DEMOLISHES OLD</keyword>
As one of the fastest growing cities in the world, Shanghai's mushrooming skylie should come as no surprise. Yet a cinematographer has managed to capture the Chinese city's growth with a video so stunning it makes the jaw drop. Taken from the 23rd floor of a building, producer Joe Nifas used a time-lapse video to document the surge in sky-high buildings which lends the city its futuristic look. Scroll down for video . From the beginning: The video charts the rise of Shanghai's skyline, which has boomed in recent years . Crumbling buildings with terracotta-coloured rooftops are demolished to make way for the unique high rise office blocks . Make way for the march of progress: A crane demolishes old offices and former homes to make space for the new buildings . The inventive video shows the dramatic extent to which the landscape has changed . The two-minute long video showcases how from a sparse piece of land iconic buildings have popped up, making the district one of China's most powerful financial and commercial hubs. Mr Nafis, who has lived in the city since 2004, told the NY Daily News he wanted to convey the awe-inspiring progress of Shanghai. The 27-year-old, from California, said: 'My motivation for this video was really to show my family the view from my apartment and the things I've seen over the years.' 'They've visited once, but it's hard to grasp what it's like living in such a huge, vibrant city in only a few days.' Crumbling buildings with terracotta-coloured rooftops are demolished to make way for the unique high rise office blocks. By the beginning of 2005 some 6,704 buildings of 11 stories or more had been constructed in just 15 years . Joe Nafis, 27, says he wanted to show the change and growth of the 'huge, vibrant city' Joe Nafis shows how the Shanghai Toweer bloomed as he filmed from the 23rd floor of his apartment . The city's financial hub is perched on the bank of the Yangtze Rover, and is a focal point of Shanghai . As the city continues to bloom, the number of skyscrapers continues to multiply . 1. Shanghai World Financial Center 1,614ft 2. Oriental Pearl Tower 1,535ft3. Jin Mao Tower 1,380ft 4. Shimao International Plaza 1,093ft5. Shanghai Wheelock Square 974.5ft . Dust and earth billow out in clouds as the march of progress continues, with green spaces wiped away for the concrete and glass structures. Cranes can be seen perched on the top of the towering blocks as constructors work to make the constructions even taller. The easily-recognised Shanghai Tower emerges from the ground to join the surrounding skycrapers in the Pudong district. During the video the district goes from being a neglected-looking neighbourhood to a nest of office blocks perched on the bank of the Yangtze river. The video shoots the city at a variety of . times, from sunset when the morning mist burns over the polluted . streets, to nighttime when the whole place is lit up by office blocks. Shanghai's unstoppable skyline rise has boomed within the last 23 years. By the beginning of 2005 some 6,704 buildings of 11 stories or more had been constructed in just 15 years. Shanghai's unstoppable rise has boomed within the last 23 years, and the city lights up the night sky . By the start of 2012, there are 165 high-rise buildings either under construction, approved for construction, or proposed for construction . By 2011 there more this figure had risen to an astonishing 20,000 buildings with 11 stories or higher and the city housed more than 1,000 buildings exceeding 30 stories. By the start of 2012, there are 165 high-rise buildings either under construction, approved for construction, or proposed for construction. Three of these are expected to reach over 300m (980 ft) high. As one of the fastest-growing cities in the world, Shanghai is said to have an economy that competes with Finland, The Huffington Post reported. Today the city is home to more than 23 million people, compared to just 11 million in 1987. It is now one of the world's most populated cities and one of China's largest. But while the construction industry booms and the skyscrapers grow, there have been dire consequences for residents' health. Smog in China’s most populated city is being blamed for a fertility crisis as the incidence of low sperm counts among its men reaches record levels. Doctors in financial capital Shanghai say air and water pollution is a ‘major culprit’ for the city’s predicament and warn that action needs to be taken urgently. ‘If we don’t protect the environment now, mankind will face a worsening infertility predicament,’ Dr Li Zheng, a sperm expert at the city’s Renji Hospital told the Shanghai Morning Post. From the 23rd from Joe Nafis on Vimeo. | Shanghai skyline has ballooned in last 23 years as skyscrapers soar .
Time lapse video shows how Chinese city has dramatically changed . |
Keywords: <keyword>BLAMED CASINO</keyword>, <keyword>VEGAS TOOK</keyword>, <keyword>INEBRIATED NEVADA</keyword>, <keyword>JOHNSTON VISITED</keyword>, <keyword>DRUNK RETIREE</keyword>, <keyword>MARKERS INTOXICATED</keyword>, <keyword>SIN CITY</keyword>, <keyword>GRAND LOANING</keyword>, <keyword>POCKETS GRAB</keyword>, <keyword>CUT SAID</keyword>
'They should have cut me off!': Mark Johnston says the Dowtown Grand in Las Vegas took advantage of his drunken stupor when they gave him a $500,000 loan . A California man who lost $500,000 during a Las Vegas trip over the Super Bowl weekend is suing the casino for his losses because he was blackout drunk. Retiree Mark Johnston is suing the brand new Downtown Grand for loaning him the money and allowing him to play while he was inebriated. Nevada law bars casinos from allowing visibly drunk patrons to gamble and from serving them comped drinks. 'I feel like they picked my pockets,' Johnston told MyNews3. 'I feel like they took a drunk guy...like a . drunk guy walking down the street, and you reach in his pockets and grab . all his money.' According to Johnston's complaint, he drank at the airport and on the way to the hotel. He and his friends at at a restaurant, then things get fuzzy for Johnston. 'After that, I don't remember anything,' he said. But memory or no, Johnston appears to have had quite the time in Sin City. So much so that he took out a loan with the hotel for $500,000. And promptly lost it all. And therein lies their claim, said Johnston's attorney Sean Lyttle. 'You certainly arent't to issue half a million dollars in markers to someone who's intoxicated,' he said. The state Gaming Control Board is investigating. The . Downton Grand does not comment on pending litigation but Lyttle says . the Grand, which opened late last year, is countersuing Johnston for . trying to shirk his gambling debts. Johnston says this all boils down to responsibility and, not surprisingly, he blamed the casino. 'They . should have cut me off,' he said. 'The bottom line is the casinos are . supposed to not gamble to you and not overserve you in alcohol. That's . gaming regulation.' Just opened: The Downtown Grand had only been open for a couple of months when Johnston visited there from California in February. The casino is counter-suing Johnston for shirking his gambling debt . | Mark Johnston says the Downtown Grand should have cut him off and certainly should not have loaned him the $500,000 .
The Downtown Grand is countersuing Johnston for trying to shirk his debt . |
Keywords: <keyword>KARDASHIAN MARRIED</keyword>, <keyword>DAUGHTER KOURTNEY</keyword>, <keyword>JENNER BRINGS</keyword>, <keyword>CHILD SCOTT</keyword>, <keyword>KRIS SAY</keyword>, <keyword>PREGNANT SINGLE</keyword>, <keyword>COMMITTING PARENT</keyword>, <keyword>35 CONFIRMED</keyword>, <keyword>DISICK YEARS</keyword>, <keyword>SHARE UPS</keyword>
By . Maggie Harbour . Kris Jenner has someone she’d like her daughter Kourtney Kardashian's partner Scott Disick to call: Her pastor! The momager was all smiles in the premiere episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians on Sunday night when Kourtney, 35, confirmed that she is indeed pregnant with her third child with Scott, 31. They are already the parents of four-year-old son Mason and daughter Penelope, 23 months. Scroll down for video . Not married, three children: And then there were five. Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick have been together for eight years and have two children, soon to be three. But the numbers don't add up for Kris Jenner. She thinks they ought to commit to each other by getting married . Calling the shots: Kris Jenner brings a smile to LAX this afternoon as she gets ready to fly out of town. She's delighted to be a grandma again, but want Kourtney and Scott to seal the deal . But although momager Kris is thrilled she’s going to be a grandma again in December; behind the scenes she’s not so thrilled that her daughter and her boyfriend of the past eight years have still not made it down the aisle. ‘Committing to parent three kids, when you haven’t even committed to each other doesn’t cut it in Kris’s book,’ says a family friend. ‘She comes from a time when, if a girl got pregnant and was still single, she got married as soon as possible. 'And although she understands times have changed, she still has religious values and feels it’s only right that Scott make an "honest woman" out of her little girl.’ In fact, 58-year-old Kris regularly attends church services at the California Community Church in Agoura Hills, California - a church founded by… her. She used to attend a Baptist Church in Westlake where she listened to sermons by Rev. Brad Johnson. Married, no children: They've split now, but Khloe Kardashian married Lamar Odem even though they didn't have kids. The ceremony was presided over by pastor Brad Johnson, the man Kris would like to perform Kourtney's ceremony . Married, one child: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West waited only a year after baby North was born before they walked down an Italian aisle last month . But when the pastor resigned in disgrace over his affair with a mistress – who he has since married – Kris tracked him down at his new job serving up coffee at Starbucks, and made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. Now they are partners in a church that boasts giving people second chances. But besides that, he can marry people. In fact, he performed the September 2009 marriage ceremony between Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom, making him only a phone call away should Scott and Kourtney decide to tie the knot. Kourtney and Scott have been together since 2006. And although he bought her a ring in 2011 he says she is the one who didn’t want to get married. ‘Up until now Kourtney hasn’t been interested in getting married, but at 35, she’s beginning to feel it’s time. She’s expecting the couple’s third child and if Scott would agree to a small, quiet ceremony – nothing like the one Kim just had – I think she’d be up for it.' Pressure: If Kris has anything to say about it, Kourtney and Scott will be married by the time the new baby is born. Says a family friend: 'Maybe there's still a part of Kourtney that wants to make sure that at 31, Scott has outgrown his bad behavior before she agrees to make it legal' But suddenly Scott is saying, ‘Why fix it if it’s not broken?’ so the subject of marriage once again seems at a standstill. Kris on the other hand fears the old adage still rings true; why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?’ And she says if Kourtney doesn’t stand up to Scott and insist on a wedding, she’ll end up a lonely 40-year-old woman with three kids and no husband. ‘It’s no secret that Scott and Kourtney have had their share of ups and downs,’ adds the source. ‘All you have to do is watch their reality show to know that. He’s been arrested for DUI, he’s been in and out of rehab, and he’s had anger issues where he’s put his fist through a mirror while arguing with Kourtney. ‘So maybe there’s still a part of Kourtney that wants to make sure that at 31, Scott has outgrown his bad behavior and is ready to be a proper husband, before she agrees to make it legal.’ Not a great holiday? Meanwhile, Scott was seen leaving his Hamptons house with a Louis Vuitton duffel bag Monday . | Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick have been together for eight years and they are about to have their third child. The numbers don't add up for mom Kris Jenner .
Committing to have three kids when you can't commit to each other doesn't cut it for Kris .
Kris regularly attends services at The California Community Church founded by... Kris .
She handpicked the pastor, who performed Khloe's ceremony, and she wants him to perform Kourtney's too . |
Keywords: <keyword>NORTHERN LIGHTS</keyword>, <keyword>PHOTOGRAPH STORMS</keyword>, <keyword>CAPTURE SKY</keyword>, <keyword>MIDWEST STUNNING</keyword>, <keyword>STARS APPEAR</keyword>, <keyword>RANDY FOOTAGE</keyword>, <keyword>IMPRESSIVE TIMELAPSE</keyword>, <keyword>SILHOUETTED TREES</keyword>, <keyword>SETTING MILKY</keyword>, <keyword>LAKES LAKE</keyword>
The Milky Way, the Northern Lights and raging night storms illuminate the night sky in America's Midwest in this stunning timelapse video captured by South Dakota photographer and videographer Randy Halverson. The ever-changing canopy of clouds and constellations provides an ethereal backdrop to otherwise everyday scenes of fields, farms and tranquil lakes. One lake is bathed in a green, eerie glow while in another shot, the stars appear to spin in the sky behind silhouetted trees. Scroll down for video . Out of this world: Randy's impressive timelapse shots capture the sky over America's Midwest in all its glory . Purple haze: A satellite streaks across the night sky, which is bathed in the ethereal glow of the Northern Lights . Nature's light show: An ever-changing canopy of clouds and constellations provides an ethereal backdrop to otherwise ordinary scenes of fields and farms . Halverson captured the footage in some of the most isolated regions of the States, including South Dakota, Wyoming and Utah, between spring and autumn 2013. The 47-year-old spent 40 nights across eight-months using a wide-angle lens and long exposures to obtain the crystal-clear footage. Randy, from Kennebec, South Dakota, started up a stock footage company selling pictures of storms in the 1990s but decided to started shooting timelapse videos four years ago. ‘I just decided I was looking for something a little bit different other than storms so that’s how I got into the long exposure timelapse', he explains. Branching out: Halverson used to photograph storms but decided to started shooting timelapse videos four years ago . Remote: Halverson captured the footage in some of the most isolated regions of the States, including South Dakota, Wyoming and Utah . Dedicated: The photographer spent 40 nights across eight-months using a wide-angle lens and long exposures to obtain the crystal-clear footage . Shock and awe: Halverson put his experience of shooting storms to good use, capturing this impressive shot of lightning in the night sky . The dedicated videographer battled with cloudy weather conditions to achieve the amazing footage of the dramatic Midwestern night sky. He said: 'I use DSLR [digital single-lens reflex] cameras to shoot long exposure timelapse at night with up to 30-seconds per frame. 'I then assembled the individual frames into the timelapse on my computer. I spent a lot of time with the hue settings and white balance during the month-and-a-half edit. 'The weather in 2013 made it difficult for me to get some of the shots I wanted. There were many times I planned to shoot the Milky Way or Aurora, and the clouds would roll in.' Seeing things with a new eye: Randy's images bring a whole new dimension to everyday landscapes . Back to nature: The photographer uses a DSLR camera on a 6ft metal rail, that is set up to move the camera smoothly in time with the sky . Crystal-clear: The dedicated videographer battled with all weather conditions to achieve the amazing footage of the dramatic Midwestern night sky . Red sky at night: Randy said there were many times when he planned to shoot the Milky Way or Aurora, and the clouds would roll in . Randy, who also owns a farm in South Dakota, takes hundreds of still photos over several hours and then ‘stitches’ them together to create amazing sequences. 'At a normal rate you don’t notice how the Earth is rotating and it looks like the stars are moving across the sky. 'It just speeds up everything so much more than you’re used to seeing', he said. Halverson said he got some of his best shots of the Milky Way in Wyoming but he was often hampered by cloud. He also captured several satellites and a couple of meteors in the shots: ‘The meteors are hard to see in time-lapse, but you may see a quick flash because they only last one frame. If you see a light moving across the sky, it is either an airplane or satellite, not a meteor.’ And he explained that capturing the stunning red or green glow of the Aurora was often not planned: 'Some of the Aurora I shot were unexpected with no advanced notice. Several nights I was setting up Milky Way shots, when I noticed the glow in the sky to the north.' A new direction: Randy used to photograph storms but decided to opt for a more serene subject matter four years ago . Labour of love: Halverson takes hundreds of still photos over several hours and then ‘stitches’ them together to create amazing sequences . Perfect timing: Randy said there were many times when it was difficult for him to get the shot he wanted but here he captures the night sky in all its glory . Most of Randy's footage is shot at night and, if you can see stars and it looks like the sun setting or rising, it is actually the moon: 'It will light up the landscape just like the sun with long exposures', he explains. He used a dolly, a 6ft metal rail, that is set up to move the camera smoothly in time with the sky and gives it what Halverson calls the ‘walking through it look’. Randy says: 'People love my pictures - some even say they are blown away. 'I do get the occasional comment from someone who thinks it is fake and it is a Hubble spaceship picture inserted into the background. 'But it would actually take more time to do that than shoot the real time-lapse.' Those who want to learn Randy’s techniques can join him for a photography workshop in Badlands National Park in South Dakota. Students can learn the basics of timelapse photography, along with how to scout the best locations and deal with changing weather conditions. Halverson says: 'At a normal rate you don’t notice how the Earth is rotating and it looks like the stars are moving across the sky' New horizons: The 47-year-old is a farmer by day but spent 40 nights across eight-months capturing the stunning images . | Footage was captured by South Dakota photographer and videographer Randy Halverson .
Halverson captured the shots in isolated regions including South Dakota, Wyoming and Utah .
The 47-year-old spent 40 nights across eight-months using a wide-angle lens and long exposures .
Dedicated videographer battled with cloudy weather conditions to achieve the amazing footage . |
Keywords: <keyword>HELENS CAPTAIN</keyword>, <keyword>HUDDERSFIELD ST</keyword>, <keyword>ASSISTANTS BROWN</keyword>, <keyword>SUCCESSOR NATHAN</keyword>, <keyword>COACH SAINTS</keyword>, <keyword>LEAGUE GRAND</keyword>, <keyword>JAMAHL LOLESI</keyword>, <keyword>MIKE RUSH</keyword>, <keyword>UNVEIL NEW</keyword>, <keyword>MONTHS EARLY</keyword>
Super League champions St Helens are poised to announce their new head coach. Saints have acted quickly to appoint a successor to Nathan Brown, who stepped down after his club's 14-6 Grand Final triumph over Wigan last weekend, with an announcement set to be made at a press conference at Langtree Park on Monday morning. The former St George and Huddersfield boss was released 12 months early from his three-year contract in order to take his young family back to Australia. Nathan Brown departed the club after their Grand Final win to head back to Australia with his family . Another Australian, Daniel Anderson, has been linked with the vacancy following his successful stint at St Helens from 2005-08 but the speed with which the club have put themselves in a position to unveil their new man suggests a domestic appointment, with former hooker Keiron Cunningham the bookmakers' favourite. Jamahl Lolesi, a former New Zealand international centre who followed Brown from Huddersfield to St Helens two years ago, could also be a contender. Cunningham and Lolesi were assistants to Brown for the last two years while Cunningham coached the team alongside then general manager Mike Rush for most of the 2012 season following the departure of Royce Simmons. Keiron Cunningham, who has been Brown's assistant for two years, is the bookmakers' favourite to take over . The appointment of Cunningham would go down particularly well with supporters, who in 2010 voted overwhelmingly to immortalise him with a bronze, life-size statue, which was erected in the town centre and moved to Langtree Park when St Helens moved into their new stadium three years ago. Cunningham, who turns 38 next week, made 419 appearances for his home-town club from 1993 to 2010. He would become St Helens' first British head coach since Ellery Hanley held the reins from 1998 to 2000, since when Australians Ian Millward, Anderson, Mick Potter and Simmons held the post. St Helens captain Paul Wellens lifts the trophy after beating Wigan in the Super League Grand Final . | St Helens are set to name their new head coach .
Nathan Brown departed after Grand Final Triumph over Wigan .
Announcement will be made on Monday morning .
Keiron Cunningham is bookies' favourite to take over . |
Keywords: <keyword>COUNCILS COMPENSATION</keyword>, <keyword>POTHOLES SURREY</keyword>, <keyword>DAMAGE UK</keyword>, <keyword>BRITANNIA RESCUE</keyword>, <keyword>DRIVER SPENT</keyword>, <keyword>8MILLION CLAIMS</keyword>, <keyword>DATA RESPONSIBLE</keyword>, <keyword>MOTORISTS PROTECT</keyword>, <keyword>REQUESTS 434</keyword>, <keyword>BOROUGH COUNTY</keyword>
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 15:35 EST, 23 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 18:48 EST, 23 August 2012 . One in eight motorists have suffered damage to their cars from neglected roads and potholes in the past two years, with millions of pounds being paid out in compensation by cash-strapped councils. The one in three local authorities that responded to a nationwide survey revealed that they had paid out £4.8million after claims by drivers following two harsh winters. With data lacking from two out of three councils, this means the compensation bill for this period could well be up to £15million. Cash-strapped councils are paying out million of pounds in compensation to drivers who claim their vehicles have been damaged by potholes . Surrey County Council alone has spent more than £630,000 of taxpayers’ money since 2010 on 3,650 payouts to motorists for vehicle damage caused by neglected roads and potholes. Britannia Rescue issued Freedom of Information requests to 434 city, district, borough and county councils. Some 143 responded with at least one . piece of data, while 291 are either yet to respond, said that they did . not keep the data, or that they were not responsible for road . maintenance in their area. Since 2010, more than 54,000 compensation claims have been made to the councils in Britain that supplied figures to the survey. Warning: The combination of a wet summer and a cold winter has particularly harmed road surfaces . The claims ranged from potholes ruining wheel rims to punctured tyres and damaged suspension between 2010-11 and 2011-12. The combination of a wet summer and a cold winter has particularly harmed road surfaces, with potholes forming after water seeps down below the road surface and freezes, loosening the asphalt. According to the data, the average repair bill is £132, with some claims as high as £3,000. At the same time, the average cost of repairing a pothole is around £50, meaning the amount paid out by councils in compensation could have been used to repair more than 96,000 potholes. Road maintenance is severely under-funded with estimates that just £17 per driver is spent on maintaining road surfaces and fixing potholes – amounting to 11 per cent of the annual road tax bill. Peter Horton, managing director of Britannia Rescue, said: ‘The past two harsh winters caused significant damage to the UK’s roads, which has not been fully repaired yet. ‘Cuts in road maintenance funding mean that local authorities face very difficult choices on the roads they prioritise for repair. Motorists should protect themselves by keeping an eye out for potholes and keeping speeds down, particularly in wet weather when holes may be filled by rain.’ | Surrey County Council has spent more than £630,000 on such claims since 2010 .
Combination of a wet summer and a cold winter has particularly harmed road surfaces . |
Keywords: <keyword>DECAPITATED ISLAMIC</keyword>, <keyword>ISIS SYRIAN</keyword>, <keyword>EXECUTED MILITANT</keyword>, <keyword>SOLDIER BELIEVED</keyword>, <keyword>ASSAD FOOTAGE</keyword>, <keyword>FARES INJURED</keyword>, <keyword>FATHERS SHIA</keyword>, <keyword>80 VICTIM</keyword>, <keyword>HEAD CROWD</keyword>, <keyword>FORGIVENESS SICKENING</keyword>
In a sickening video posted on YouTube, soldiers from the Syrian-based group Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) were seen holding up the decapitated head of a soldier they believed was a supporter of President Bashar al-Assad. But, after the footage was made public, the victim was recognised by an extremist as a fellow rebel fighter who had been wounded during a battle. The militants have now asked . for forgiveness. Sickening: Soldiers then held the severed head up in front of a crowd in Aleppo . Error: Mohammed Fares, left, who was mistakenly decapitated by Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham militants . After an investigation the soldier was identified as Mohammed Fares, a commander of Ahrar al-Sham, a group who fight alongside the ISIS. The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights said ISIS fighters misunderstood comments Mr Fares made about the founding fathers of Shia Islam, Imams Ali and Hussein, according to The Daily Telegraph. It is thought Mr Fares was injured while fighting pro-Assad forces for the control of military site Base 80 near Aleppo, before he was mistakenly executed. The militant group tried to explain their error by referring to a story in which the prophet Mohammed said Allah would forgive a man who killed a believer by mistake. An ISIS spokesman, Oma al-Qahtani, confirmed Mr fares had been injured in fighting and had been captured by soldiers who believed he was fighting against them. He has now said an investigation into the death would be carried out by the appropriate authorities. The huge mistake has highlighted chaos within the rebel ranks in Syria, which Assad has taken advantage of in recent weeks during a push by his forces south-east of Aleppo. Violence: Free Syrian Army fighters carry a fellow fighter who was wounded during clashes near Base 80. Victim Mohammed Fares was injured during the same battle . Offensive: The advance into Base 80, a large military position which rebels have held since February, is part of a surge by Assad's forces who are exploiting weaknesses in the opposition . Loss: Soldiers carry the body of a fellow rebel who was killed near Aleppo International airport after clashing with Assad's forces . | Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham severed the head of a fighter in Syria .
Believed he was a pro-Assad soldier but turned out to be a fellow rebel .
Group 'misunderstood' comments he made about Shia founding fathers . |
Keywords: <keyword>WIRE BONSAI</keyword>, <keyword>TREES WIRE</keyword>, <keyword>TREE CREATIONS</keyword>, <keyword>WIRE SCULPTURE</keyword>, <keyword>TURNING COPPER</keyword>, <keyword>MAKE INTRICATE</keyword>, <keyword>STRANDS STRAIGHTENS</keyword>, <keyword>KEN PATIENCE</keyword>, <keyword>USING MINIATURE</keyword>, <keyword>HINDERS CREATIVITY</keyword>
By . Leon Watson . PUBLISHED: . 11:59 EST, 1 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:59 EST, 1 April 2013 . An artist has shown tree-mendous patience twisting and turning copper wire 1,000 times to make these intricate bonsai plants. Ken To, 39, spends between three and 12 hours making each tree, which he sells around the world for up to £200. His painstaking creations stand as little as one inch tall, and have extremely thin branches of just 1/8 of an inch. Artist Ken To patience twisted and turned copper wire 1,000 times to make these intricate bonsai plants . Mr To was originally a fan of real bonsai - a Japanese art form using miniature trees grown in containers - before he started to recreate them from wire. He uses different colours of copper-plated wire, which he bends with a pair of pliers he specially filed down to a tiny size to give him ultimate control. Each model is 'planted' in real bonsai pots or attached to little rocks to 'create a more dramatic effect'. Mr To, from California, U.S., said: 'I apply the same shaping principles to both real and wire trees. 'The wire trees require a much higher degree of attention to detail in the shaping process, but it is a one-time process. 'With real bonsai, the shaping process is ongoing - I shape the tree, let the foliage grow back, then shape again and again.' The 39-year-old spends between three and 12 hours making each tree, which he sells around the world for up to 200lbs . Mr To's painstaking creations stand as little as one inch tall, and have extremely thin branches of just 1/8 of an inch . Mr To said: 'My designs are inspired by real bonsai trees, but I don't copy them exactly' Mr To cuts the wire into individual strands, straightens them out, and then twists them together by hand to form the basic shape of the tree. He shapes the foliage with his pliers. Mr To added: 'My designs are inspired by real bonsai trees, but I don't copy them exactly. 'If I see a bonsai tree that I like, I would just keep the basic structure in my mind and use that mental image when I'm making a wire sculpture. 'I believe actually copying a tree hinders your creativity and this shows in the end product.' Mr To was originally a fan of real bonsai before he started to recreate them from wire . Each model is 'planted' in real bonsai pots or attached to little rocks to 'create a more dramatic effect' Mr To said: 'I believe actually copying a tree hinders your creativity and this shows in the end product' One of Ken To's stunning wire bonsai tree creations . | Ken To, from California, sells around the world for up to £200 .
39-year-old's painstaking creations stand as little as one inch tall .
Bonsai is a Japanese art form using miniature trees grown in containers . |
Keywords: <keyword>ADOPTED FRIDAY</keyword>, <keyword>MONROY ADOPTION</keyword>, <keyword>SONS WANTED</keyword>, <keyword>GODBOLD JUDGE</keyword>, <keyword>SMILING CHILD</keyword>, <keyword>GRIFFIN WAIT</keyword>, <keyword>SAN DIEGO</keyword>, <keyword>MUSCULAR MOHAWK</keyword>, <keyword>CARE OFFICIALS</keyword>, <keyword>BIRACIAL COUPLE</keyword>
San Diego, California (CNN) -- A boyhood wish finally came true. But Maurice Griffin had to wait until he was a man for it to happen. At age 32, the California man was adopted Friday. "It was the best day in my life," Griffin said after the proceeding in San Diego Juvenile Court. "I fought for 10 years and finally the day came." Adopting the burly, muscular, mohawk-sporting man is Lisa Godbold, his one-time foster mother. "I was just overwhelmed with emotion," Godbold added. With a few pen strokes by Griffin, Godbold and Judge Richard Monroy, the adoption became official. "This is going to be quite quick," the judge told mom and son, all seated at a table. "If you blink, you miss it." Then son hugged mom. Mom cried. "Congratulations to you both," the judge declared. Then a deputy took a photograph of three of them, a tradition that the judge noted is always done with small children and their adoptive parents. Good time . The story dates to the early 1980s, when Godbold and her husband saw Griffin at an orphanage near their Sacramento home. The smiling child seemed to fit perfectly with their family: Godbold is white. Her late previous husband was black, and the couple had two children who were, like Griffin, biracial. The couple took Griffin in as a foster child. He quickly bonded with their sons, Gideon and Spencer. "We were best friends," Griffin said. "We'd run around, we did mischievous things and fun things. It was a good time." He lived with the family as a foster child for four years, until he was 13. Then, just two months shy of being adopted by them, it all fell apart. Griffin said he wanted to be treated like a "real" son: He wanted to be disciplined like the couple's other sons. He wanted to be spanked, he said. So he innocently told a social worker that was what was going to happen. The social worker then told her superiors, and soon Griffin was about to be removed from the household, he said. Family ripped apart . One day, foster care officials took Griffin away, saying he could not live with Godbold's family anymore. "You can't spank foster children. Maurice very much wanted that," Godbold said. "We wanted him to feel like the rest of our kids. And there was a difference of opinion with some of the (child welfare) supervisors." Godbold said she fought to keep Griffin and was told she could lose her biological children, too. CNN contacted the state agency responsible for the case, but its officials would not comment because it's still considered a juvenile matter. So Godbold had to let go. And as time moved on, Griffin says, he lost touch with what he felt was his only family. "It was just an emptiness," he said. "I couldn't talk to anybody about it because nobody was there. I couldn't call somebody; there was just a void in me." Griffin said that he acted out every chance he got in hopes the state would reunite him with the people he considered to be family. He bounced from one foster home to another, never finding what he lost. "I didn't let anybody get close to me again," Griffin said, holding back tears. "I hurt a lot of people. It was a rough road." Searching for each other . Despite several obstacles, Griffin and Godbold never stopped searching for one another. Godbold's husband died in 1998. She remarried and changed her last name, and moved. But six years ago, Godbold found Griffin on social media. They communicated online and then one day she called him. "She said, 'hey baby,' and I said I got to call you back," Griffin said, trying to explain how overwhelmed he was by the reunion. As she entered the courtroom Friday, Godbold harbored fear that a surprise would halt the proceeding. "I was actually really nervous before walking in, even though signing on the line was a formality," Godbold said. "I thought something might happen to keep it from becoming official today." Griffin is an example of triumph in foster care. "I'm a living example of it, that I have been through it," Griffin said. "I just never stopped. It will all work out." CNN's Lateef Mungin contributed to this report. | Maurice Griffin, 32, is finally able to call her "mom" legally .
A Juvenile Court judge okays his adoption by foster parent Lisa Godbold .
Griffin had to leave his foster family at 13; he has been searching for them ever since .
Years later, his one-time foster mom adopts him . |
Keywords: <keyword>WILLIAMS DAUGHTER</keyword>, <keyword>MURDER MELBOURNE</keyword>, <keyword>MORAN CRIME</keyword>, <keyword>ALLEGEDLY DROVE</keyword>, <keyword>CUSTODY CHARGED</keyword>, <keyword>OWES MS</keyword>, <keyword>GHANIN STEPHEN</keyword>, <keyword>INMATE BARWON</keyword>, <keyword>DEVASTATED LATEST</keyword>, <keyword>DISPUTE BROADMEADOWS</keyword>
Robert Williams, the ex wife of slain gangland figure Carl Williams, has admitted to being devastated by the latest news her eldest daughter has been charged with attempted murder. Danielle Stephens Williams was granted conditional bail in Melbourne's magistrates court on Friday after being charged with the attempted murder of a Melbourne man, who was taken to hospital with several gunshot wounds. The Herald Sun reported Sanar Ghanin, Stephen's boyfriend, is in custody after also being charged with the murder Serkan Kala in Melbourne. Roberta williams (pictured) daughter Danielle Stephens Williams has been charged with attempted murder of a Melbourne man . Danielle Stephens Williams, charged with attempted murder, is the step daughter of slain gangland figure, Carl Williams (pictured) Nine News reported The court was told the 22-year-old allegedly drove Mr Ghanin and his friend to confront the man, over a dispute, in Broadmeadows on Monday night. Robert Williams said she didn't want her children to follow in her footsteps and tried to give them the best of everything. 'Hence the reason why I have tried to give them that private school education, the things I didn't have in life, the mum that is there if they need someone to talk to,' she told the Herald Sun. 'I often say to my kids, 'society owes you nothing.' Ms Williams who has vowed to stand by her daughter has described her as a 'good kid', hoping they can get past these accusations. Once the wife of criminal kingpin, Carl Williams, she said her life has now changed dramatically and it's now all about being a mum. 'I feel I was put on this earth to be a mum, that is a job I take very seriously,' she said. Danielle is one of three children from Ms Williams' relationship with Dean Stephens, a close associate of the Moran crime family. Danielle Stepehen Williams who has been charged with attempted murder, is one of three children from Roberta Williams' (pictured) relationship with Dean Stephens, a close associate of the Moran crime family . Last month it was found that Roberta Williams and daughter Dhakota could be eligible for up to $740,000 in victims of crime payouts due to Carl Williams' death in Barwon prison . She also has daughter Dhakota, now 13, to Carl Williams, who was beaten to death with the stem of an exercise bike by another inmate at Barwon prison in April 2010. Ms Williams' youngest child is three year old son, Giuseppe, with her current partner, Rob Carpenter. Last month it was found that Ms Williams and daughter Dhakota could be eligible for up to $740,000 in victims of crime payouts . Fairfax media reported the pair have been assessed as suffering severe mental impairment after the brutal death of Carl Williams in prison four years ago. An independent panel of psychologists and psychiatrists reportedly found they had a level of impairment which was believed to be at least 50 per cent. Although Victorian premier Denis Napthine says the government would protect taxpayers' interests at 'every opportunity' and fight the decision if there were any compensation payments to Roberta Williams, a convicted drug dealer. Ms Stephens is scheduled to return to court on Monday to sign an intervention order and will be scheduled to back in court again in February. | Danielle Stephens Williams, step daughter of slain crime figure, Carl Williams has been charged with attempted murder .
Mother, Roberta is devastated by the accusations saying she's a 'good kid'
Ms Stephens boyfriend, Sanar Ghanin is in custody, after also being charged .
Last month, it was found Roberta Williams and 13 year old daughter, Dhakota, could be eligible for victims of crime payouts . |
Keywords: <keyword>GORILLA CONSERVATION</keyword>, <keyword>CONGO WILDLIFE</keyword>, <keyword>UGANDA SAID</keyword>, <keyword>KILLING MOUNTAIN</keyword>, <keyword>DEATHS FEMALES</keyword>, <keyword>ORGANIZATION UNESCO</keyword>, <keyword>VIRUNGA NATIONAL</keyword>, <keyword>CNN SHOOTING</keyword>, <keyword>NAMED SAFARI</keyword>, <keyword>PROVIDE SUPPORT</keyword>
(CNN) -- The shooting deaths of four mountain gorillas -- three females and an alpha male silverback -- are prompting a United Nations agency to send a mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Park rangers found the three females and an alpha male silverback earlier this week. Rangers made the gruesome find in the southern sector of Virunga National Park earlier this week, said Flora and Fauna International, an organization that acts to conserve threatened species and ecosystems. The group said it is unclear who shot the gorillas or why. "Just over 700 mountain gorillas survive in the wild today, and none exist in captivity," Flora and Fauna International said in a statement. "For such a small population, the unnecessary and indiscriminate killing of four mountain gorillas is a huge loss." The U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said Friday it will send a mission to the site as soon as possible "to provide support to those fighting to preserve the integrity of Virunga National Park." The agency said it will try to find out the reasons behind the slayings and work with Congolese authorities and the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation to prevent future deaths. The females, named Safari, Neeza and Mburanumwe, and the male, Rugendo, were shot Sunday night, UNESCO said. They belonged to a group that was frequently visited by tourists, providing an economic boon to the area. "The situation threatens to become an ecological and economic disaster for the neighboring local communities," the agency said in a statement. The chief executive of Flora and Fauna International expressed deep concern about the killings, which he said follow more than 20 years of successful collaboration for mountain gorilla conservation. "Whatever the motive underlying this tragedy, the gorillas are helpless pawns in a feud between individuals," Mark Rose said. The death of Rugendo could have a ripple effect, the organization said. "Alpha males fulfill a leadership role within a group, and in their absence the integrity of the group is often compromised." Rugendo's group contained 12 gorillas before he was killed, the group said. Now, six have been found safe, but two -- a female and an infant -- are missing. Seven gorillas have been killed in the park so far this year, Flora and Fauna International said. At least two of them were believed killed by supporters of rebel leader Gen. Laurent Nkunda, Flora and Fauna International said. The skin of one was found in a latrine in a nearby rebel camp. The infant of another female gorilla is being hand-raised by the nature conservation institute, which oversees the Democratic Republic of Congo's wildlife and protected areas. Nkunda's rebels have been fighting government troops in the eastern part of the country for several years. Conservation institute patrols were increased in the park's southern sector with support from the DRC army, the organization said, and guard posts are being built to enable 24-hour park surveillance. The bodies of the four gorillas will undergo post-mortem examinations, Flora and Fauna International said, and will be buried near Bukima, a park outpost. "Just two months ago, we celebrated the increase of the gorilla population in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda," said Kwame Koranteng, a regional representative of the World Wildlife Fund's Eastern Africa Regional Program Office, in the Flora and Fauna statement. "Seven gorillas killed in seven months is a horrifying statistic and a trend that cannot continue." E-mail to a friend . | Deaths of 4 mountain gorillas bring number killed this year in national park to 7 .
Gorillas belonged to a group that was frequently visited by tourists .
U.N. agency: The situation threatens to become an ecological disaster . |
Keywords: <keyword>FRANK PHILLIPS</keyword>, <keyword>CORRESPONDENT RICHARD</keyword>, <keyword>1944 MR</keyword>, <keyword>KNOWN GERMANS</keyword>, <keyword>MARKED MAN</keyword>, <keyword>BBC WAR</keyword>, <keyword>NEWSREADER MARKED</keyword>, <keyword>1963 DOCUMENTS</keyword>, <keyword>ANNOTATION ERSTKLASSE</keyword>, <keyword>DIMBLEBY CARD</keyword>
By . Jonathan Petre . PUBLISHED: . 17:19 EST, 10 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 17:19 EST, 10 November 2012 . He was known to millions during World War II as one the BBC voices who announced the twists and turns of the conflict in reassuringly unflappable tones. But it now appears the Nazis also took a chilling interest in senior newsreader Frank Phillips - his details were discovered on a hand-written index card in propaganda chief Dr Joseph Goebbels’s files soon after the capture of Berlin. Found by BBC war correspondent Richard Dimbleby, the card contains Mr Phillips’s name in capital letters, followed by the annotation ‘Erstklasse Verleser‘, first class newsreader. A marked man: Frank Phillips would have been well known to the Germans because he was the first BBC presenter to announce his name before reading the news . Mr Phillips’s son, Jonathan, 58, said the existence of card probably meant his father - who features in BBC 1’s Antiques Roadshow on Sunday evening - was ’a marked man’ had Adolph Hitler successfully invaded Britain. Mr Phillips’s fluent baritone would have been well known to the Germans - as well as to the 16 million Britons who regularly listened to the Home Service - because he became the first BBC presenter to announce his name before reading the news, ending a long-standing practice of anonymity. The change was introduced in July 1940 amid fears that Nazi fifth-columnists could somehow infiltrate the Corporation and put out false news broadcasts to undermine morale, a deception made far harder by genuine newsreaders identifying themselves. Concerns that the Corporation could be infiltrated by spies persisted right up to the final stages of the war, and secrecy was especially tight on D-Day. On the morning of the allied landings in France, Mr Phillips collected a highly secret script, hand-written rather than typed, from a safe in Bush House which he was instructed to read during a special bulletin which began with his then boss John Snagge announcing the invasion. In the bulletin, on June 6 1944, Mr Snagge declared: ‘Allied naval forces, supported by strong air forces, began landing Allied armies this morning on the northern coat of France.’ Mr Phillips‘s script started: ‘From the BBC in Great Britain, we are now sending an alert for the countries on the coast of Western Europe occupied by the enemy. John Snagge, pictured second from left with other BBC presenters, was Mr Phillips's boss and then the BBC's presentation director . ‘The people of France are being told of communique No1, which you have just heard, and warned to stand by for an important broadcast from supreme headquarters allied expeditionary force. It continued: ‘The important message to the peoples of the Western Seaboard of occupied Europe which will follow … will be heard by their compatriots throughout the world. ‘It will be carried by all services of the British Broadcasting station in Europe and in the United States by the short wave stations of the Voice of America.’ Mr Snagge, then the BBC’s presentation director who later became famous for his commentaries on the University Boat Race, found the original scripts when clearing out offices in 1959. He sent them Mr Phillips, explaining in an accompanying letter that the scripts, which had presumably been hand written by an official in the Government’s Ministry of Information, could not have been dictated or typed by a secretary because they were so secret. Mr Phillips, who worked at the BBC between 1935 and 1963, had the documents framed, including a copy of the script of the historic announcement made by Mr Snagge which had been autographed by Britain’s wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill and American military leader Dwight Eisenhower. Chilling: The Nazis seemed to have taken an interest in Frank Phillips as his details were discovered on a card in Dr Joseph Goebbel's files . Mr Phillips’s son Jonathan, who will be seen with the scripts on the Antiques Roadshow on Sunday night, said his father belonged to the era when newsreaders wore dinner jackets to read news bulletins on the radio, presumably to encourage as much formality as possible. He said: ‘He became a big name. I can remember walking around London with him and no one recognised him until he spoke, and then people said “I know that voice”.’ His father, a former professional singer who died in 1980, made several other historic broadcasts, including the announcement of the dropping of the atom bomb on Hiroshima in Japan in 1945 and the assassination of US President J F Kennedy in 1963. Jonathan said he had come across about 60 touching letters written to his father after the war by people in occupied Europe who had said that the sound of Mr Phillips’s voice had boosted their spirits in difficult times. One was from a former concentration camp prisoner and another was from a Dutchman who said the broadcasts had been so important to him that he had named his son after the newsreader. During the Antiques Roadshow, the expert Jon Baddeley cites the letter from Holland, adding: ‘Obviously during the war, the radio was such an important part of society, both here in the UK and presumably across Europe.’ Mr Badderley valued the documents at about £2,000, but Mr Phillips said he would never part with them. | Frank Phillips was the first presenter to announce his name on the news .
His son said the card probably indicated that he was 'a marked man' |
Subsets and Splits