text
stringlengths 460
15k
| highlights
stringlengths 37
3.97k
|
|---|---|
Keywords: <keyword>SEA RESCUE</keyword>, <keyword>FEMALE PADDLING</keyword>, <keyword>WOMAN DIED</keyword>, <keyword>SWIMMERS WINDS</keyword>, <keyword>INJURIES COLLIDING</keyword>, <keyword>RUSH PUBLISHED</keyword>, <keyword>GROYNE RECOVERED</keyword>, <keyword>HASTINGS APPEARS</keyword>, <keyword>WEATHER BRIGHTON</keyword>, <keyword>26 DECEMBER</keyword>
By . James Rush . PUBLISHED: . 11:48 EST, 26 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:10 EST, 26 December 2012 . A woman has died after she got hit by a wave and swept out to sea while paddling on Christmas Day, police have said. The woman, who is believed to have suffered head injuries after colliding with a groyne, was recovered from the sea and taken to hospital, where she has today died. She was pulled out of the water after two lifeboats were sent to rescue her, following the attempts of three other people who also jumped into the sea to try and drag her back to shore. A woman has died after she was dragged out to sea while paddling at Hastings Beach on Christmas Day . A police spokesman today said: 'At 10.40am yesterday an adult female was paddling in the sea at Hastings when it appears that she was hit by a wave and taken a short distance out to sea. 'The lady was recovered from the sea and given emergency CPR before being taken to a local hospital. 'Sadly she has died as a result of this incident.' A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesman told Mail Online three people had gone into the sea to rescue her before the lifeboats arrived, but had managed to get back out safely. A Dover Coastguard spokesman told the BBC: 'She collided with a groyne, suffered head injuries and was face-down in the water for some time.' The spokesman said the winds were gusting at around 50 knots. The coastguard has said three people jumped into the water at Hastings to try and rescue the woman . Yesterday, the traditional festive swim in Brighton, just over 30 miles away from Hastings and also on the south coast, was called off after the local council closed the beach due to bad weather. Brighton and Hove City Council said conditions would be 'extremely dangerous' for even experienced swimmers, with winds of up to 30mph, a high tide and a heavy sea swell forecast. The council also said the water would be very cold at this time of year, with a temperature of around five degrees. Swimmers in Brighton were left disappointed yesterday for the second year running treacherous conditions cancelled the festive swim . | A woman has died in hospital after she was dragged out to sea at Hastings .
The woman was paddling in the sea when she was hit by a wave .
Three people attempted to rescue the woman who suffered head injuries . |
Keywords: <keyword>BRIDGE JUMPERS</keyword>, <keyword>PLANNING JUMP</keyword>, <keyword>CARRY PARACHUTES</keyword>, <keyword>RIVER GORGE</keyword>, <keyword>CATAPULT 2013</keyword>, <keyword>LARGEST EXTREME</keyword>, <keyword>PEOPLE FAYETTEVILLE</keyword>, <keyword>YEAR FESTIVAL</keyword>, <keyword>903 TIMES</keyword>, <keyword>VIEWS PROCEEDINGS</keyword>
(CNN) -- We can think of few things crazier than strapping a parachute to one's body and jumping off a bridge for a quick free fall. The 450 BASE jumpers heading to West Virginia for this weekend's 35th annual Bridge Day might disagree. On Saturday they're planning to jump off the 876-foot-tall New River Gorge Bridge, one of the world's longest steel single-span arch bridges, to prove it. It's the only day all year that BASE jumpers -- whose acronym stands for these fixed points: building, antenna, span and earth -- can legally jump off the bridge. The jumpers carry parachutes designed to deploy quickly, softening their landings. The bridge festival, billed as the largest extreme sports event in the world, is expected to attract nearly 100,000 people to Fayetteville. About 450 BASE jumpers leaped off the bridge 903 times at last year's festival, and about 80,000 spectators packed the bridge and surrounding area to watch them. For the second year, a smaller group of jumpers got to use a human catapult system in 2013 to get flung off the bridge. Rappellers get the best views of the proceedings. They like to tackle the bridge challenge, slithering on ropes attached to the bridge from the catwalk underneath the to the gorge bottom, watching the parachutists go by. Vendors surrounding the bridge will offer snacks, crafts and other ways to less strenuously celebrate the jumpers. | BASE jumpers head to West Virginia to jump off New River Gorge Bridge .
The bridge is one of the world's longest steel single-span arch bridges .
BASE jumpers like to jump off fixed points like buildings and bridges . |
Keywords: <keyword>AFRICAN TEAM</keyword>, <keyword>DROGBA CONTEMPLATING</keyword>, <keyword>STARS IVORIAN</keyword>, <keyword>BACKING IVORY</keyword>, <keyword>DRAW MALAWI</keyword>, <keyword>LIKE BRAZIL</keyword>, <keyword>GOAL ELEPHANTS</keyword>, <keyword>MAKE FINAL</keyword>, <keyword>YEAR HOPE</keyword>, <keyword>DEFINITE QUALIFIERS</keyword>
(CNN) -- Didier Drogba is backing his Ivory Coast team to make history by becoming the first African country to reach the final of the World Cup next year. Drogba is contemplating a big challenge by the Ivory Coast in South Africa. The Chelsea striker scored the decisive goal as the Elephants sealed their place in South Africa with a 1-1 draw against Malawi on Saturday, but he is now looking ahead to the finals with relish. "It is going to be a challenge," the 31-year-old told reporters. "To make it to the final will not be easy because there are great teams like Brazil and Germany who have won the World Cup for many years. "But my teammates and I want to make history and want to change the way the world sees African football. Can an African team win the World Cup next year ? "I hope that we'll be the team that is going to go to the final and win the competition." Ivory Coast have joined Ghana as definite qualifiers from Africa, with three other places up for grabs in the final round of matches in November. Drogba is one of several stars in the Ivorian squad with Champions League experience, including Barcelona's Yaya Toure who is anxious to erase memories of their failure to qualify from the group stages in the 2006 finals in Germany. "At the last World Cup we played really well in Germany, but we were unlucky because we were in a very tough group with Argentina and Holland and so went out in the first round," he said. "But I think with this kind of experience, it will be possible at South Africa 2010 to do much better. Perhaps we can make the quarterfinals and then semifinals, this is something we can achieve." Coach Vahid Halilhodzic is also upbeat after seeing his side fight back from a goal down against Malawi to top African Group E. "We are very proud to participate in the World Cup for the second consecutive time and this time it is going to be better," he added. | Didier Drogba targets World Cup glory with African powerhouses Ivory Coast .
Drogba scored crucial goal as Ivory Coast clinched qualification for South Africa .
Ivory Coast exited in group stages at the World Cup finals in Germany in 2006 . |
Keywords: <keyword>STEALING FLOWERS</keyword>, <keyword>WAYNE MAIL</keyword>, <keyword>MAIL PLANTS</keyword>, <keyword>MAIL CAUGHT</keyword>, <keyword>TRANSFORM GARDEN</keyword>, <keyword>STRIMMER LAWN</keyword>, <keyword>CAUGHT CAMERA</keyword>, <keyword>COURT MARLENE</keyword>, <keyword>AHEAD SENTENCING</keyword>, <keyword>HOMEOWNER LEAVING</keyword>
By . Chris Brooke . PUBLISHED: . 10:01 EST, 12 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 10:18 EST, 12 March 2014 . Flower thief: Wayne Mail, 49, arrives at Beverley Magistrates Court today ahead of his sentencing . Wayne Mail was proud of his garden and wanted to make it the best and brightest in the neighbourhood. Unfortunately for his neighbours, the 49-year-old found his plants by stealing from their flower beds rather than buying them from the garden centre, a court heard. He also helped himself to plants in public parks and on roundabouts. Mail lived with his poorly and widowed mother and he was determined to transform their garden to cheer her up. However, he eventually ended up in court. Marlene Stavers, a resident in the East Yorkshire village of Anlaby Common, became so concerned about her missing flowers she set mouse traps on the lawn and a CCTV camera to catch the crook. It worked and Mail was caught red-handed on camera. He was seen casually strolling into the neighbour’s garden with a bag in his hand, stooping down, scooping up handfuls of her finest plants and walking off. Police publicised the CCTV footage and Mail was quickly identified and arrested. Today he appeared before Beverley Magistrates’ Court and was sentenced to an 18 month community order with supervision and ordered to pay £85 compensation and a £60 victim surcharge. Caught on camera: Unfortunately for his neighbours, Mail found his plants by stealing from their flower beds rather than buying them from the garden centre, a court heard . Red (not green) handed: One resident in the East Yorkshire village of Anlaby Common, became so concerned about her missing flowers she set mouse traps on the lawn and a CCTV camera to catch the crook . Mail previously admitted six offences of stealing flowers, one of attempted theft and receiving stolen goods. PC Andy White, of Humberside Police, said: ‘He had a nice garden, but dozens of the plants had been stolen. 'We’ve investigated the theft of garden furniture and the odd garden ornament going missing, but this is the first time I’ve heard of plants taken like this.’ The police officer said: ‘He was stealing two or three plants at a time, usually from big displays in the hope a few missing plants wouldn’t be missed and would go unnoticed. ‘When he was arrested he was asked if there were any plants that shouldn’t be in his garden and he pulled out a box of plants. He was full of regret and admitted it was a stupid thing to do.’ Garden view: The home of Mail in Anlaby, Hull. The flower thief, who is a full-time carer for his mother, was said to have a history of drug and alcohol problems. The officer added: ‘In one incident he was caught by the homeowner leaving in his car. 'He had a nice garden, but dozens of the plants had been stolen' PC Andy White, Humberside Police . ‘Knowing he was spotted in the car, he brought the flowers back and left the plastic bag of flowers on the floor before apologising and driving off.’ And even the equipment he used to make his garden beautiful during the three-year crime spree was not legitimate. Stolen goods included a garden strimmer and lawn mower. A 62-year-old victim, who wished to remain anonymous, said outside court: ‘I wondered where he was getting all the flowers to do up his garden. Outdoors: Another view of Mail's home. Mail previously admitted six offences of stealing flowers, one of attempted theft and receiving stolen goods . ‘We assumed he’d been getting flowers from other jobs he was doing, but had no idea he was nicking them from floral displays and neighbours’ gardens. It seems so petty. 'His mother took pleasure from having a nice garden and by his actions he has deprived other people of the same pleasure he was trying to give his mother' Steve Munro, defending . ‘It’s not like anybody can see his garden from the road, it is hemmed in on every side by high walls, so his thefts are for his own selfish pleasure.’ Steve Munro, defending, said Mail felt ‘disgusted’ at what he had done and explained: ‘He stole the flowers to make the garden look nice for his ailing mother. ‘His mother took pleasure from having a nice garden and by his actions he has deprived other people of the same pleasure he was trying to give his mother.’ Mail, who is a full-time carer for his mother, was said to have a history of drug and alcohol problems. | Wayne Mail stole plants from neighbours' flower beds in East Yorkshire .
49-year-old also helped himself to plants in parks and on roundabouts .
Mail lived with widowed mother and wanted to transform their garden . |
Keywords: <keyword>YOBABA LOUNGE</keyword>, <keyword>YOGA RETREATS</keyword>, <keyword>CHATEAU FEEL</keyword>, <keyword>STATION MASSAGE</keyword>, <keyword>SANDWICHED SUNBATHING</keyword>, <keyword>MONASTIC SIMPLICITY</keyword>, <keyword>SPIRITUAL OODLES</keyword>, <keyword>COMFORTS TRENDY</keyword>, <keyword>UNINITIATED EXHALE</keyword>, <keyword>FREESTANDING BATH</keyword>
A bell chimes. A shaft of sunlight slants across the yoga shala ('studio' to the uninitiated). I exhale. And relish the opportunity provided by Yobaba Lounge to spend much of the day without mindless chitchat, in blissful, soothing silence. Putting your back into it: The Yobaba Lounge offers yoga breaks in a restored chateau in southern France . But Yobaba is no hair-shirt monastery — it's a boho chateau in southern France and new breed of retreat: simple and deeply spiritual, yet with oodles of style and plenty of creature comforts. There are no trendy yoga hybrids here and no corpulent spa menus stuffed with 'journeys' and 'rituals'. Straight hatha yoga and meditation are the main course, not an after-thought sandwiched either side of sunbathing by the pool. A wonderful place to stretch body and soul: The chateau has the feel of a 'vast, ancient temple' The house has the feel of a vast, ancient temple. The bedrooms have a certain monastic simplicity - uncluttered and candlelit - but they are huge and look as if they've been styled by Elle Decoration. Mine has a pared-back safari insouciance with a zebra throw on the carved wooden day-bed and a rocking lion guarding the freestanding bath. The one next door has a Moroccan air with a hammam-style bathroom. The food also dances a clever line between hip and healthy. Vegan, mainly raw, dairy/grain and sugar free; you'd think it would be gloomy on the eye and turgid on the palate. Instead flavours are light and bright and the presentation is artful - salads are turned into mandalas and chia porridge comes studded with star-bright blue borage and a swirl of freshly made compote. Every day ends with a pudding that tastes decadent, but which, the owner, Gertrud promises, is guilt-free. Come find yourself: As well as yoga sessions, the retreat offers day trips and oddly decadent puddings . You can spend your free time softly swinging in a hammock, but there are chances to break outside the walls. One afternoon we took a trip to Rennes-le-Chateau, of Da Vinci Code fame; on another we sat sipping chai and listening to mantras in a hilltop Cathar castle. Come the full moon, we built a fire on the shore of a nearby lake and had a moonlight dip before watching the flames for our evening meditation. Yobaba Lounge could be horribly smug and self-satisfied, but isn't. If this is the future of yoga retreats, count me in. A six-night yoga retreat at Yobaba Lounge in France (07834 963000, www.yobabalounge.com) costs from £1,150 (excluding flights, including transfers from Carcassonne airport or railway station and one massage). Ryanair (0871 246 0000, www.ryanair.com) flies to Carcassonne from Stansted from £40 return. | Yobaba Lounge sits in the small town of Chalabre, in southern France .
Chalabre is the Aude department, close to the small city of Carcassonne .
The retreat is in a restored chateau that feels like a 'vast, ancient temple' |
Keywords: <keyword>RAIDS GAZA</keyword>, <keyword>ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES</keyword>, <keyword>ISRAEL TARGET</keyword>, <keyword>TARGETS AIRSTRIKES</keyword>, <keyword>MILITANT ACTIVITY</keyword>, <keyword>CLAIMED BOMBED</keyword>, <keyword>ROCKETS FIRED</keyword>, <keyword>TEENAGERS APPARENTLY</keyword>, <keyword>SITES LINKED</keyword>, <keyword>RENDERED UNUSABLE</keyword>
By . Hugo Gye . Israel today carried out bombing raids on the Gaza Strip in revenge for a rocket attack on a factory by Islamic militants Hamas. The country's foreign minister also suggested it might be necessary to re-occupy the territory in a bid to stop the continuous low-level attacks from Palestinian militias. The latest airstrikes come at a time of high tensions in the region, after three Israeli teenagers were apparently kidnapped by Hamas. Strike: A fireball shown rising from a site in the Gaza Strip after a bombing campaign by Israel . Target: The Israeli military claimed to have bombed a dozen sites linked to militant Islamists . This month alone, there have been 60 rockets fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip and 80 strikes on Gaza by the Israeli military, according to officials from the two territories. Yesterday evening, a paint factory in the border town of Sderot was hit by two rockets fired from Gaza, setting it alight. Israel retaliated early this morning, targeting 12 sites in Gaza believed to be linked to militant activity. Among the targets of the airstrikes were weapons factories and concealed rocket launchers, according to Israeli officials. Dramatic: The sites hit apparently including weapons factories and concealed rocket launchers . Aftermath: A Palestinian militant inspects the damage today after the Israeli airstrikes . Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his cabinet today: 'Over the weekend, the Israel Defense Forces attacked multiple targets in response to firing at Israel from the Gaza Strip. 'We are ready to expand this operation, if necessary.' However, hardline foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman suggested that small-scale operations in Gaza might make Hamas stronger and that the only way to pacify the territory would be to occupy it again. 'The alternative is clear,' he said on Army Radio. 'Either with each round we attack terror infrastructure and they shoot, or we go to full occupation.' Revenge: Israel's airstrikes came after a paint factory in the town of Sderot was hit by rockets from Gaza . Destruction: The factory saw much of its supply rendered unusable after the rocket attack . Israel withdrew unilaterally from the Gaza Strip in 2005, but it has since become a haven for Hamas and a flashpoint for violence. Earlier this month, tensions between Israel and the Palestinians increased when three boys were kidnapped from the West Bank settlement where they live. Troops have been combing Palestinian neighbourhoods aggressively in an attempt to find the teenagers. | Israeli military claims to have hit 12 sites connected to Islamic militants .
Attacks came hours after a paint factory in Sderot was hit by two bombs .
Tensions are high in the wake of Israeli teenagers' kidnapping . |
Keywords: <keyword>GREG DYKE</keyword>, <keyword>SAID FOOTBALLERS</keyword>, <keyword>EVANS CONDEMNS</keyword>, <keyword>APPALLED NICK</keyword>, <keyword>BBC DIRECTOR</keyword>, <keyword>PROFILE SPORTSWOMAN</keyword>, <keyword>CLEARED RAPE</keyword>, <keyword>TALK CHED</keyword>, <keyword>CUT ASKED</keyword>, <keyword>VIDEO JESSICA</keyword>
Greg Dyke said 'it was not clear cut' when asked about convicted rapist Ched Evans returning to football . Greg Dyke controversially waded into the row over rapist footballer Ched Evans last night when he said it was ‘not an important issue’. Speaking on BBC’s Newsnight, Mr Dyke appeared unprepared for questions over Evans’ comeback despite being chairman of the Football Association, looking uncomfortable as he told presenter Laura Kuenssberg the issue was ‘not clear cut’. His gaffe came after Olympic golden girl Jessica Ennis-Hill will ask Sheffield United to remove her name from one of its stands if the club re-signs Evans. Britain’s most high-profile sportswoman, honoured by her local team after the 2012 Olympics, said she would sever her links with the club if it hands a contract to Evans, who has been allowed to train with his former teammates. Mr Dyke, 67, is a former BBC Director General and well-known Manchester United fan. His comments provoked immediate anger on social media sites with Twitter users calling the interview a ‘car crash’. Matthew Whitehouse, a professional coach and football writer, tweeted: ‘For a man with a history in media he really is awful when it comes to PR.’ Sports journalist Oliver Holt tweeted: ‘Sorry, but if Greg Dyke goes on Newsnight, he should expect to be asked about Ched Evans and he should have a coherent view. That was a fail'. Scroll down for video . Jessica Ennis-Hill said she would ask for her name to be removed from the stand if Evans is re-signed . Leyton Orient fan Andy Campbell tweeted: ‘Did Greg Dyke really just make excuses to avoid answering anything to do with Ched Evans? Spineless clown!’ Evans was released from prison after serving two and a half years of a five-year sentence for raping a teenager at a hotel in 2011. Laura Kuenssberg (LK): As the leader of football in this country, should Ched Evans, who was convicted of rape, be able to play for Sheffield United again? Greg Dyke (GD): ‘I don’t want to go into that. That’s not what I’m here for. I’m quite happy to talk about this (Fifa), I don’t really want to talk about Ched Evans. ‘I think it’s far too complicated for five minutes here'. LK: But shouldn’t you be taking the lead? GD: ‘Here’s the straight forward question: Are people who go to prison entitled to come out and rebuild their lives or aren’t they? Or is what they have done so bad and they are in an industry where their image is so important and that’s the dilemma. And it’s a dilemma and it’s not clear cut. But I would rather talk about this (Fifa) if you don’t mind. LK: But it’s an important issue. GD: No it’s not an important issue. (talks over presenter) It’s not an important issue. (Pause) It’s an important issue but not in terms of what we are here to talk about. LK: Do you think that people will accept that you just don’t have a view? GD: What I will talk about is when you phoned me up to ask me to come on here you asked me to talk about this (Fifa) not Ched Evans. Ennis-Hill’s withdrawal of support could now be the ‘death knell’ to any attempt by the Yorkshire club to allow Evans to relaunch his playing career. In a statement last night, the athlete, 28, said: ‘I believe being a role model to young people is a huge honour and those in positions of influence in communities should respect the role they play in young people’s lives and set a good example. ‘If Evans was to be re-signed by the club it would completely contradict these beliefs.’ Her comments come after the resignations of former patrons Charlie Webster, Lindsay Graham and sixties pop star Dave Berry, amid fears Evans will be resigned by the football club. Miss Webster, 32, said she herself had been a victim of sexual abuse, adding: ‘I resign as patron of Sheffield United and Sheffield United Community Foundation, which is all about inspiring the next generation through sport. ‘No convicted rapist, as in Ched Evans, should go back to the club that I am patron of. ‘He’s not just going into a job. . . he’s influencing the next generation of young men who are currently still making their decisions on how to treat women and what sexual mutual consent is.’ Later, Sixties pop star Dave Berry had resigned from the club along with its last remaining female patron, businesswoman Lindsay Graham. The League One side confirmed on Tuesday evening that it had agreed to allow Evans to take part in training with their players, but the 25-year-old has failed to appear ever since. MailOnline understands the convicted rapist was due to start training in Sheffield yesterday - but he never arrived and today he was out shopping 50 miles away in Cheshire. The return of Evans to his old team has sparked a massive backlash. The club’s two female patrons resigned in protest and there was outrage from fans, campaigners and MPs. Two of Sheffield United’s top sponsors also threatened to tear up their contracts if he was permanently signed to the team. Mrs Ennis-Hill said she would ask for her name to be removed from one of the stands at Bramall Lane if Evans is given a new contract with the League One club . Making a stand: TV presenter Charlie Webster, left , has resigned from her role as Sheffield United patron, followed by Lindsay Graham, right, after the club decided to allow convicted rapist Ched Evans to train . 'I believe being a role model to young people is a huge honour and those in positions of influence in communities should respect the role they play in young people’s lives and set a good example. 'If Evans was to be re-signed by the club it would completely contradict these beliefs.' Today Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg - a Sheffield MP - said Evans should consider moving abroad to play football because United should not take him back. Mr Clegg said footballers were not ‘just any old employee, they’re also role models’. Yesterday morning she posted on Twitter: ‘Overwhelmed by the level of your support. 'I am so heartened to see that the vast majority are standing with me & saying that this isn’t okay.’ It is unclear whether Evans, 25, will play for the club again, but he will train at its grounds. He was released last month, still protesting his innocence, after serving half of a five-year sentence for raping a 19-year-old woman in Rhyl, North Wales. Ched Evans and his fiancée, Natasha Massey, were seen emerging in exercise clothes today near their Cheshire home . Evans and Massey became engaged following the footballer's release from prison where he served half of a sentence over the rape of a teenager in Wales. Their outing came as patrons of the club resigned . The 25-year-old failed to appear at Sheffield United's training grounds despite being told he could return to train with former teammates, instead emerging in exercise clothing in Cheshire with his partner . Out and about: Evans was out in Cheshire close to the family home of partner Natasha, right yesterday, who was wearing her engagement ring . Last night campaign group the End Violence Against Women Coalition said it was ‘appalled’. Nick Clegg told LBC: 'If it was me, I wouldn't take him on. This is an incredibly serious offence, a very serious offence for which he has been convicted and that's what sets this apart. 'He maybe could play for a club abroad for a while before coming back.' Some 155,000 people have added their names to a petition demanding United, nicknamed the Blades, refuse to sign him. The team’s shirt sponsor, John Holland car sales, warned it would consider tearing up its contract if the Blades re-sign Evans as it ‘condemns rape and violence of any kind against women’. DBL Logistics, whose name is on the back of the club’s shirts, also threatened to withdraw its support. Paul Blomfield, the Labour MP for Sheffield Central, wrote in an open letter to club chairmen Kevin McCabe and Jim Phipps: ‘It’s because I care so much about our club that I am writing to urge you to reconsider your decision . . . The way this issue has been handled by the club is dragging our name through the mud and dividing fans.’ The footballer raped his victim in a Rhyl Premier Inn in 2012 after his footballer friend Clayton McDonald, who was cleared of rape, texted him saying: ‘I’ve got a bird.’ Couple: Evans, with his fiancee Natasha Massey, who he proposed to after he was released from prison last month, where he served half of a five-year sentence for raping a 19-year-old girl . Evans, who has played 13 times for Wales, admitted having sex but denied rape. The woman said she had no memory of the incident and prosecutors said she was too drunk to consent. The family of Evans’s fiancee, Natasha Massey, 25, have helped to fund a highly controversial website claiming he is innocent. Evans, a former Manchester City player, moved to third-tier Sheffield in 2009 before being convicted in April 2012. On Tuesday, Sheffield United issued a statement saying there was ‘no place for mob justice’ in the situation. It read: ‘The board has decided to respond favourably to the PFA’s request and to allow Mr Evans to train at the club’s facilities. ‘While some have speculated about whether the club will or should invite Mr Evans to return to SUFC as a registered footballer, the club is not prepared at this time to decide that issue.’ | Greg Dyke said told Newsnight presenter the issue 'was not clear cut'
Football Association chief seemed unprepared when questioned .
Jessica Ennis-Hill said re-signing Evans would 'contradict' her beliefs .
Her comments come as three of the club's former patrons resigned .
Sheffield United invited Evans back to train with the club this week .
League One club would not reveal whether it would re-sign the criminal . |
Keywords: <keyword>SIZE HEALTH</keyword>, <keyword>NINA BLAKEMORE</keyword>, <keyword>MODEL WEIGHED</keyword>, <keyword>GIRLS MODELLING</keyword>, <keyword>EAT JUST</keyword>, <keyword>PROMOTE CURVY</keyword>, <keyword>CALORIES ATTEMPT</keyword>, <keyword>LIVED APPLE</keyword>, <keyword>CAREER PLUS</keyword>, <keyword>ZERO UNACCEPTABLE</keyword>
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 07:13 EST, 29 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:08 EST, 29 October 2013 . A woman who was told she was 'too big' to be a model when she weighed just 8st has relaunched her fashion career. Nina Blakemore, who is 5ft 10in tall and is now a size 18, has carved out a successful career as a plus-size model since recovering from an eating disorder and gaining weight. At her lowest ebb, she ate only one apple a day - which comes to just 80 calories - in an attempt to starve herself down to a size zero. Scroll down for video . Nina Blakemore, who used to eat just an apple a day to starve herself in the hope of becoming a size zero model, is now a healthy size 18 and has a successful plus-size modelling career . For years Nina, 35, from Wolverhampton, West Mids, starved herself in the hope of launching a career in the fashion industry. But despite making herself ill, Nina claims she was told she was 'too big' for the modelling agency she wanted to join. 'I wanted to become a model so desperately that I thought starving myself was the only option. 'I lived off an apple a day and would exercise vigorously.' Nina said: 'My hair was falling out and I looked awful as my health started deteriorating. My mood swings were horrendous - I was so unhappy. At 5ft 10in Nina (pictured in her early 20s) would eat just an apple a day to starve herself down to a size zero but was devastated when she claims she was told she was still too big to be a model . 'My mum could see how skinny I’d become and she witnessed first-hand the effects an eating disorder were having on my body. 'We went to the doctor and from there I was referred to a therapist.' Finally, after a year-long battle, Nina began eating properly again, allowed herself to gain weight and started to regain her confidence. Since then she hasn’t looked back. Nina reverted to her natural curvy shape and has been working with Ford Models' 12-plus division. She now refuses to weigh herself as part of her healing process and has experienced a fantastic career working all over the world - including jobs in New York and India. She's modelled for household names such as Evans, M&S, House of Fraser and Harrods, as well as Italian fashion brands, doing both catwalk and catalogue work. Nina reverted to her natural curvy shape and has been working with Ford Models' 12-plus division and starring in plus-size campaigns . Nina has worked for the likes of Evans, M&S, House of Fraser and Harrods doing both catwalk and catalogue work . Nina says: 'I'm embracing who I am and I have no time for any negativity surrounding plus-size models' Since being told she still wasn't small enough to model, Nina decided to gain weight naturally and has gone from strength-to-strength modelling all over the world for top plus-size brands . Nina said: 'I’m just trying to show people that you don’t need to be size zero to be a model. 'I’m now a size 18 and use my time to help others who suffer from anorexia to face their battles with food. 'I eat healthy food and exercise in moderation - I no longer restrict myself and eat foods I enjoy.' Nina explains how she is not promoting obesity - she wants to show people that you can be happy and womanly, whatever size you are. She said: 'Women shouldn’t feel forced to be thin - we should just be happy with our natural shape.' Nina went back up to her natural shape and decided to go into plus-size modelling instead. She has experienced a fantastic career working all over the world - including work in New York and India . She says: 'There need to be more curvy girls modelling on our high street who represent natural women.' Nina has taken on critics in the past but vows that those who haven’t been in her shoes don’t have the right to judge her size or weight. She said: 'I’m embracing who I am and I have no time for any negativity surrounding plus-size models.' Nina is also currently signed with Hughes Models who promote curvy women. Director Cheryl Hughes said: 'Our Models are healthy, fit, beautifully proportioned and have that magic something in front of the camera - what more could society need for realistic role models? 'For me they prove that every woman can be healthy and attractive irrespective of size. However, health and fitness are paramount. An unfit size zero is as unacceptable as an unfit 14, 16, 18 etc. 'We would encourage all women to love their bodies.' Nina has taken on critics in the past but vows that those who haven't been in her shoes don't have the right to judge her size or weight . | Nina Blakemore, 35, from Wolverhampton, used to starve herself .
At 5ft 10in and 8st, she was told she was still too big to model .
Decided to gain weight naturally after realising she was making herself ill .
Now size 18 and has landed high-profile jobs as plus-size model .
Has worked for Evans, M&S, House of Fraser and Harrods . |
Keywords: <keyword>FARAH MEDALS</keyword>, <keyword>DOUBLE OLYMPIC</keyword>, <keyword>ATHLETE STARS</keyword>, <keyword>BORN AMANI</keyword>, <keyword>PREGNANT TWINS</keyword>, <keyword>CONFIRMING GOLD</keyword>, <keyword>NAMES ENGRAVED</keyword>, <keyword>TANIA GAVE</keyword>, <keyword>DAUGHTERS APPEARED</keyword>, <keyword>WEIGHING 5LB</keyword>
PUBLISHED: . 03:46 EST, 10 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:04 EST, 10 September 2012 . Double Olympic champion Mo Farah is to have his gold medals engraved in honour of his twin daughters, who were born just days after his remarkable Games success. The athlete was one of the stars of London 2012, winning the 10,000m event before going on to triumph in the 5,000m, cheered on by his heavily pregnant wife Tania. A fortnight after clinching that second gold, Tania gave birth to daughters Aisha and Amani, who will now each receive one of their father's medals. Scroll down for video . Double delight: Olympic champion Mo Farah is to have his medals from London 2012 engraved with the names of his twin daughters, Aisha and Amani . Thumbs-up: Mo Farah poses for photographs after confirming that he will have his gold medals engraved with the names of his twin daughters . Farah, 29, said that Aisha would receive his medal for the 10,000m because she was born first. Amani will get the 5,000m medal. The medals will have their names engraved on them, the Somali-born athlete said. Appearing on ITV's Daybreak, Farah said he had had the 'perfect' Olympics. He added: 'I could never have imagined it would be like that. As an athlete you dream of becoming an Olympic champion, but not in front of a home crowd, and also twice doing it.' The girls were born on August 25, with Aisha weighing in at 5lb 2oz, and Amani, 4lb 4oz. Their presence was felt weeks . earlier, however, when millions watched Farah throw his arms around his . heavily pregnant wife on the track moments after winning the 10,000m. Farah has a step-daughter, Rihanna, who is seven, and was seen with Tania celebrating on the track with him after the race. Family man: Farah's wife Tania (left) was heavily pregnant with the twins when the athlete won his gold medals. Here, the runner is pictured celebrating with his step-daughter Rihanna after a race . National hero: Mo Farah won the 10,000m race on a night when fellow British athletes Jessica Ennis and Greg Rutherford also took gold in the women's heptathlon and men's long jump respectively . Amazing: Mo Farah reacted with disbelief after winning the men's 5,000m final. He said he could not have imagined how successful his Olympics would be . 'Perfect' Olympics: Farah, pictured performing his trademark 'Mobot' celebration with two gold medals around his neck, was one of the stars of London 2012 . Farah . said preparations for the Olympics had been 'tough' for his family, who . moved with him to the US so he could take advantage of better training . facilities. Pictures of Farah with his daughters first appeared in Hello! magazine . 'It . hasn't been easy moving everyone there, but it was all worth it because . else I wouldn't be able to come out here and become double Olympic . champion,' he added. Farah will be among hundreds of British athletes taking part in a parade through the streets of London today. He said he was 'very excited' about the event. He added: 'It should be good. There's a lot of people out there, you know Chris Hoy and the rest of the guys, Bradley Wiggins. 'I'm looking forward to it, mixing with everyone and having a good laugh. It's time for us to enjoy it one last time, I guess.' Farah also spoke about getting children involved in sport from a young age. He said: 'It's very important that we introduce children to sport. Sport's helped me. 'I've travelled around the world. If I didn't get into sport at an early age then I wouldn't be here today.' | Athlete won gold in 10,000m and 5,000m events at London 2012 .
Twin daughters Aisha and Amani will each receive a medal with their name engraved on it .
Farah is among hundreds of British athletes due to appear in a parade through London . |
Keywords: <keyword>JULIA NISWENDER</keyword>, <keyword>NISWENDER DEAD</keyword>, <keyword>DEATH INVESTIGATION</keyword>, <keyword>TWIN DISCOVERED</keyword>, <keyword>NEWS REPORTED</keyword>, <keyword>STUDENTS INCIDENT</keyword>, <keyword>SISTER DIDN</keyword>, <keyword>BODY YPSILANTI</keyword>, <keyword>23 YEAR</keyword>, <keyword>EASTERN MICHIGAN</keyword>
By . Helen Pow . PUBLISHED: . 18:02 EST, 29 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:02 EST, 29 January 2013 . Dead: Julia Niswender, pictured, was found dead in her bedroom on December 11 . The death of a 23-year-old Eastern Michigan University student has been ruled a homicide but police still have no suspects six weeks after her body was found in her off-campus apartment. Julia Niswender was found dead in her locked bedroom on December 11 after her roommate told police they hadn't seen her for days and she failed to show up to a Christmas party. Toxicology results from the Washtenaw County Medical Examiner offered no conclusive information as to what caused her death, according to the Ypsilanti police said today. But officers confirmed it was a homicide and said they'd continue to hunt for Niswender's killer. 'The police department recognizes and understands the public’s interest in this death investigation, and Ypsilanti police detectives, the Michigan State Police, and federal agencies continue to utilize all available tools and investigate all possible sources of information regarding this case,' police said in a statement to Detroit Free Press. The 23-year-old twin was discovered lifeless in her bedroom along with evidence they dubbed 'suspicious.' They have not elaborated on what kind of evidence they found or how she was killed. Police went to Niswender's apartment at around 9:30 p.m. after her roommate called and asked them to check on her welfare as she hadn't been seen for a number of days. The communications major worked at Walmart part time and had failed to show up at the supermarket's staff Christmas celebrations that night, concerning colleagues. Officers arrived and called paramedics but she was pronounced dead at the scene. Aspiring broadcaster: Julia Niswender, pictured, was studying communications and wanted to be a broadcaster . Suspicious: Police said they found suspicious evidence surrounding Niswender's body . Ypsilanti police Detective Sgt. Thomas Eberts said immediately that police were treating Niswender's . death as suspicious, adding that the evidence found in her apartment led . to 'unanswered questions.' After the grisly discovery, the university sent out an alert to warn students of an incident near campus, Fox News reported. While she didn't live at the university, she shared a flat at the Peninsular Place Apartments, which are very near to the EMU campus. EMU police held a campus safety meeting the day after her body was discovered, taking questions from distraught students and offering safety tips to around 200 members of the community who showed up. Police asked students to take extra safety precautions, suggesting they avoid wearing . headphones while walking on campus, walk with a partner, call police . if they see something suspicious and to call authorities if they get . any unsolicited visitors. Twins: Friends and family members were flooding the Facebook page of Julia's twin, Jennifer, pictured right, with condolences after hearing the tragic news . Life cut short: A budding broadcaster, Niswender recently traveled to New York City to tour the NBC studios, pictured . Fan: Niswender, pictured centre, met her idol Anderson Cooper during a recent trip to New York . Crime scene: Niswender was found dead in her bedroom at the Peninsular Place Apartments, pictured . EMU officials also said they were adding extra police patrols. Niswender was described as a loving, outgoing and kind friend. She was a budding broadcaster who recently toured the NBC studios in New York City, where she met Anderson Cooper. Next to the picture she had taken with him, she wrote: 'Yup got a pic with Anderson Cooper :) gotta love NYC and yes i have a cheesy smile lo. (sic)' The young woman's twin sister, Jennifer, wrote a heartbreaking tribute to Julia on her Facebook page after her death, as condolences from friends and family members flooded her wall. 'No . one will ever understand what I am going through right now, but I just . want to say thank you to everyone who has been calling, texting, . emailing and posting and for all your support during this horrible . time,' she wrote. Distraught: Friends and classmates of Julia Niswender cried during a forum on campus security at the Eastern Michigan University after the murder . University alert: The university sent out an alert to warn students of an incident near campus after finding the body . 'Also, . thank you to everyone who stopped by to visit with my family and I. I . wish i could respond to each and everyone of you but words can't . describe how I feel. Julia was my twin, other half, and best friend. 'No . one will ever understand the bond we shared. I love her so much and . just don't know how I can go on. My beautiful sister didn't deserve . this. Justice will be served even if it is the last thing I do! The rest . of my life I will be living for her.' Speaking at the campus meeting, . University President Susan Martin choked up as she extended her . sympathies to Niswender's friends and family. 'Our job is to communicate directly . to you what we know and what we don't know,' she told students, many of . whom were in tears in the auditorium. One of Niswender's Walmart colleagues told Fox News the young woman was 'always smiling.' 'Best personality, loudest laugh, just wouldn't hurt anybody, always smiling,' Keith Logue said. | Eastern Michigan University student Julia Niswender, 23, was found dead in her bedroom on December 11 .
Police have ruled her death a homicide but no suspects have been identified .
Roommate called police after she hadn't been seen for days .
Police uncovered 'suspicious' evidence near her body .
Worked part time at Walmart and was due to attend the staff Christmas party but never showed up . |
Keywords: <keyword>DATING CORONATION</keyword>, <keyword>MICHAEL LE</keyword>, <keyword>VELL ACCUSED</keyword>, <keyword>DATING SOUTH</keyword>, <keyword>ACTOR MOVED</keyword>, <keyword>BLANCA FOUCHE</keyword>, <keyword>MANCHESTER MISS</keyword>, <keyword>03 40</keyword>, <keyword>MOTHER SEEN</keyword>, <keyword>FACEBOOK PROFILE</keyword>
By . Nazia Parveen . PUBLISHED: . 03:40 EST, 10 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:37 EST, 12 May 2013 . Coronation Street star Michael Le Vell has started dating a South American mother of two as he awaits trial for child rape. Blanca Fouche, 31, from Chile, said she had admired the actor, who plays mechanic Kevin Webster, ‘for a long time’. The pair have tried to keep the relationship secret but Miss Fouche confirmed she had been seeing Le Vell, who is accused of a string of sex offences, for a few weeks. Blanca Fouche: The 31-year-old is said to have met the actor after she moved to a house close to where he lives . Dating: The South American mother-of-two, seen left, confirmed she is dating Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell, 48, seen right near his home in Manchester . Miss Fouche, whose Facebook profile . says she works in a school and was once engaged in 2009, met the actor . when she moved in with a friend a few doors from his home. They have been dating for a few weeks and regularly meet at his home or The Railway, his local pub in Hale, Manchester. Le Vell – who has played Kevin Webster . in the ITV soap for the past three decades – split from his wife of 25 . years, Janette Beverley, two years ago. Miss Fouche said: ‘I’ve liked him from a distance for a long time. ‘I’ve been seeing him for a few weeks. I always go to his place and I’ve been to the pub with him. ‘We’ve held hands and walked down the . street, we’ve been careful, but we’ve not been hiding. It’s just that . there’s been no photographers here. I don’t want to say anything that . might upset him. He’s told me not to say anything.’ Friendship: 'We've been careful, but we've not been hiding,' Ms Fouche said of her relationship with the actor . Over the past few weeks Le Vell has . let Miss Fouche borrow his car while she moved house and the pair have . been affectionate in public. Miss Fouche added: ‘I go to his house . or we meet up in The Railway. He has a lot of friends. He’s a lucky man. I don’t want to say anything that will upset Michael.’ The actor declined to discuss their relationship, saying: ‘She’s a neighbour and a friend. That’s all I’m going to say.’ Le Vell, 48, faces trial in September . after being charged with 19 child sex offences – six counts of raping a . child, six counts of indecently assaulting a child, and seven counts of . sexual activity with a child. The 19 alleged offences all relate to one . complainant and all took place between 2001 and 2010. He ‘vigorously’ denies the claims. Soap star: The 48-year-old actor has played mechanic Kevin Webster on Coronation Street since 1983 . Le Vell, whose real name is Michael . Turner, is on bail on condition he surrenders his passport, does not . contact named witnesses and does not have unsupervised contact with any . child under 14. The father of two has not yet entered a . plea but has stated publicly he is innocent and will fight the . allegations through the courts. He was first arrested in September 2011 . and questioned, but the matter was later dropped. This year the Crown Prosecution . Service said it was in the public interest to charge him with 19 . offences after a review of evidence. Le Vell, who last appeared in the Street on February 8, will not be seen in any more episodes until the trial is over. He split from his wife a few months . before the allegations were first made in 2011. He married childhood . sweetheart Miss Beverley in 1986 after they appeared together in . Coronation Street. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Blanca Fouche, 31, is dating Michael Le Vell, 48, who plays Kevin Webster .
She lives just a few doors away from him and confirmed they are dating .
Mother-of-two said: 'He's told me not to say anything' |
Keywords: <keyword>HARRY DEVERT</keyword>, <keyword>ABANDONED MOTORCYCLE</keyword>, <keyword>YORK TRAVELLED</keyword>, <keyword>BURIED HUMAN</keyword>, <keyword>MEXICO TRAVELLING</keyword>, <keyword>FRENCH CITIZENSHIPS</keyword>, <keyword>KIDNAPPING VICTIMS</keyword>, <keyword>DISCOVERED STATE</keyword>, <keyword>WEBSITE ANEWYORKERTRAVELS</keyword>, <keyword>FAMILY DATE</keyword>
By . Leon Watson . The mother of a New York day trader who went missing in Mexico while travelling the world is demanding answers after human remains were found near his motorbike. Harry Devert, 32, left New York for a transcontinental motorcycle journey, only to disappear on January 25 in a deeply troubled region. Earlier this week it was revealed partially-buried human remains had been found near his rusting green Kawasaki motorbike. Ann Devert, of Pelham, New York, has travelled to the state to find out what happened to her son, but so far authorities have not revealed their findings. Harry Devert went missing after starting a lengthy road trip on a motorcycle that would take him across the U.S. and through parts of Central and South America . Devert, who held both French and U.S. citizenships, was an adventurer who had already spent five years traveling through Europe and South Asia . Campaign: Mr Devert left a comfortable life in New York for a transcontinental motorcycle journey, only to go missing January 25 . Jackie Burrell a family friend of the Deverts told that Mrs Devert was working with the U.S. Embassy, French Embassy and Mexican authorities during the search for her son. 'She's down there and she continues the search,' said Burell. 'This is not confirmed. She's in complete control, she wants answers.' Mrs Devert's lawyer Darren Del Sardo said: 'She's remaining optimistic and you know as she's doing the best she possibly could in this very trying time. 'There's still many questions unanswered. She's trying to act on a serious lead, where in [his] motorcycle was found or to get some sort of closure if in fact the remains are Harry's.' Mrs Devert said authorities took photographs of the motorcycle, including its vehicle identification number, or VIN, which matched his. Wild times; Mr Devert said he had previously been threatened with a gun in Venezuela . Adventures: Harry Devert on the motorbike he bought to drive across Mexico. He vanished in the dangerous Michoacan state. A body found next to his abandoned Kawasake has not yet been identified . A sudden break has come in the case of missing New Yorker Harry Devert, an adventurer who vanished in Mexico . Local police say they found a body wrapped in plastic next to Mr Devert's abandoned motorcycle . The Pelham man quit his job in order to follow this route through America, which was posted on his travel blog . Risks: Mr Devert is a seasoned adventurer who had previously traveled around the world for years . Mr Devert, who held both French and U.S. citizenships, was an adventurer who had already spent five years traveling through Europe and South Asia, keeping friends and family up-to-date on his website anewyorkertravels.com. One blog post begins like this: 'I’m the owner of a big smile and a broad taste for adventure.' The last his girlfriend heard from Devert was on January 25. He'd visited a monarch butterfly reserve in Michoacan state, home to a powerful organized crime group, and was headed to a beach on the Pacific coast where the final scene in the 1994 film The Shawshank Redemption was filmed. The beach is in adjacent Guerrero state. A statement from the Guerrero office of public security Friday morning said authorities found the abandoned motorcycle along a dirt road leading to La Majahua beach in the township of Union Isidoro Montes de Oca. The statement said authorities also found '10 packages of what appeared to be narcotics (marijuana and cocaine)' near the motorbike and body. A spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City said issued a brief statement: 'We are aware of the news reports that indicate a motorcycle and human remains were discovered in the state of Guerrero near the town of Lagunillas and are working closely with the authorities to get more information.' 'They’ve been great. Especially now that they’ve gotten something solid to go on,' she told me. Harry Devert was heading for Brazil on his lengthy motorcycle journey, hoping to catch part of the World Cup soccer tournament, which ends this Sunday in Rio de Janeiro. He was a 'mega' fan, his mother noted. 'He would come out of the jungle to see a game by Barcelona or Real Madrid,' she said. Devert said she believes the remains may be of her son but is holding out hope that a crime gang could have launched a 'subterfuge' to delay a pending raid on a ranch known to hold kidnapping victims. 'I’m saying 55 (per cent) that it is Harry, but I’m holding on to that 45 (percent),' she said. | Harry Devert, 32, went missing in a troubled area of Mexico on January 25 .
His mother Ann, from New York, is now in the state to find out more .
He left a job in New York to motorbike through central and South America .
Authorities found the Kawasaki and a partially-buried body nearby .
The decomposed remains have not been identified, authorities said . |
Keywords: <keyword>SERGEANT PATTON</keyword>, <keyword>SOLDIERS CARTOONS</keyword>, <keyword>WILLIE JOE</keyword>, <keyword>CARTOONISTS MAULDIN</keyword>, <keyword>DOGFACES APPEARED</keyword>, <keyword>CHARACTERS BLUNTLY</keyword>, <keyword>STATES GENERAL</keyword>, <keyword>SPIT POLISH</keyword>, <keyword>NORTON PICTURES</keyword>, <keyword>RECALLS INTERVIEW</keyword>
(CNN) -- George S. Patton did not like Willie and Joe. Bill Mauldin, on top of a jeep (his favored mode of transportation), was a hero to soldiers for his cartoons. The famed general was a spit-and-polish man, and "Willie & Joe" -- Bill Mauldin's popular cartoon dogfaces, who appeared every day in the military newspaper Stars and Stripes -- were anything but: unshaven, rumpled, their boots caked with mud, eyes weary from days on the line. The general made it known that he was not amused, and eventually Mauldin -- a 23-year-old sergeant who'd entered the Army to escape an aimless life in the rugged Southwest -- was summoned to Patton's impressive headquarters, a requisitioned palace in Luxembourg. "Now then, Sergeant," Patton said to Mauldin, as recalled in a new biography, Todd DePastino's "Bill Mauldin: A Life Up Front" (W.W. Norton). "About those pictures you draw of those god-awful things you call soldiers. ... No respect for the Army, their officers, or themselves. ... What are you trying to do, incite a goddamn mutiny?" See some of Mauldin's award-winning work » . That was the last thing on Mauldin's mind. He was trying to tell the truth. The cartoonist, who died at age 81 in 2003, had a storied career that included two Pulitzers -- including one for "Willie & Joe" -- several best-selling books and renown from veterans. But he never let his abiding concern for the regular guy stray far from his thoughts. "If I see a stuffed shirt, I want to punch it. If it's big, hit it. You can't go far wrong," he once said. DePastino, a history professor at Waynesburg College in Pennsylvania, found Mauldin's work a revelation. Like many of the postwar generation, all he knew of Mauldin were the occasional references in Charles Schulz's "Peanuts," in which Snoopy would talk about quaffing root beers at Mauldin's house. "I got 'Up Front' [Mauldin's first book], read it, and was stunned by the genius of the artwork," he recalls in an interview. "It was like a hidden transcription of the war. ... I wanted to know what was behind the cartoons, and why they were allowed to be published." Indeed, "Willie & Joe" was unlike anything that had appeared in America during World War II. In the early years of the war, the U.S. government had focused on the upbeat, but as the optimism of U.S. entry gave way to the two-steps-forward, one-step-back grind of daily battle -- coupled with stark sacrifices at home -- the strategy fell apart. Mauldin's characters were bluntly honest: War was dirty, absurd, bitter hard work. "Willie & Joe" quickly caught on with both enlisted men and -- upon syndication in the States -- the general public. "I think the home front was hungry for the truth," says DePastino. Mauldin's cartoons provided "a needed dose of realism," he says. "[The message was] the enemy is lethal and people overseas are sacrificing more than you are." But Mauldin had some officers on his side, up to and including the Supreme Allied Commander himself, Dwight D. Eisenhower. When Mauldin returned to the States, he was a hero. His first book, "Up Front" -- a memoir with cartoons -- became a tremendous best-seller, as did the follow-up, "Back Home." For a time he lived in suburban Rockland County, New York, among other successful artists and writers. But life among the creative swells gnawed at him, and in the late '50s he became an editorial cartoonist, first for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, later for the Chicago Sun-Times. He took on racism, Cold War politics, Vietnam and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. He also went through the classic changes of his generation. He struggled with alcoholism. He was twice divorced, grappled with the counterculture, watched the World War II generation become forgotten and then deified. Through it all, he maintained a healthy skepticism for the establishment, whether it be martinet officers, self-important politicians or the suits in the corner office. DePastino remains surprised that his is the first biography of Mauldin, which perhaps speaks to the low regard our culture -- even pop culture -- has for cartoonists. "If Mauldin had been a writer, there would have been a biography [by now]," he says. But the soldiers themselves -- men such as Schulz, a World War II vet who didn't meet Mauldin until years after first mentioning him in "Peanuts" -- knew Mauldin's value. When he talks about the book, DePastino says, he gets his most emotional responses from veterans and their families. "His art was about a group of men who are suffering unspeakable horrors in the trenches. His audience was those very men," he says. "It's odd -- he was kind of mirroring their lives back to them. ... He was doing this for those guys. How many artists do that?" | Bill Mauldin created award-winning "Willie & Joe," about Army grunts, in WWII .
Mauldin was young soldier like those he drew during war; they related .
Mauldin had long career, yet many only know him through "Peanuts" mentions . |
Keywords: <keyword>UK PESTS</keyword>, <keyword>BEETLES SAID</keyword>, <keyword>TREES RISK</keyword>, <keyword>REPORT SIGHTINGS</keyword>, <keyword>CHINA THREATENING</keyword>, <keyword>ASIAN LONGHORN</keyword>, <keyword>CARRYING QUARANTINE</keyword>, <keyword>CLIMATES</keyword>, <keyword>ANTENNAE TWICE</keyword>, <keyword>MARKED TREATED</keyword>
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 19:55 EST, 26 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:21 EST, 27 August 2013 . An outbreak of tree-killing beetles from China is threatening to wipe out thousands of acres of woodland, the Government has warned. Officials said Asian longhorn beetles have been spotted across the south of England – posing a ‘serious threat’ to trees and shrubs. It was thought the bugs were accidentally shipped to Britain in wood used to package goods imported from China. Officials said Asian longhorn beetles have been spotted across the south of England - posing a 'serious threat' to trees and shrubs . Conservationists have warned that thousands of plants – including under-threat ash and elm trees – will be at risk if the situation is not brought under control. The spotted black and white beetle, which has antennae twice the length of its body, infects trees during its breeding season in August and September. Officials fear thousands of the bugs could thrive in Britain’s mild, wet climate. Dr John Morgan, from the Forestry Commission’s Plant Health Service, said: ‘There are strict controls in place to protect the UK against these pests, but we need to back these up with reporting of suspected cases. ‘These beetles could threaten a wide range of our trees, and the public have a vital role to play in protecting them.’ The public was being urged to report sightings of the beetles. It was thought the bugs were accidentally shipped to Britain in wood used to package goods imported from China . Martin Ward, the UK Government’s Chief Plant Health Officer, said: 'Government plant health services cannot do this work alone, and we need the public to act as our eyes and ears in gardens, parks, woodlands and workplaces to help us spot threats quickly before they become a serious problem. 'The public can really help us at this time of year by looking out for these two potentially serious beetle pests. They thrive in climates similar to ours, and their establishment could result in losses of trees from a wide range of species.' The bugs, which are capable of flying for more than a mile at a time, were first spotted in Kent last year - leading to the felling of 2,116 trees in the county. The Government thought it had brought the problem under control until researchers recently discovered the bugs in neighbouring Sussex and in Hampshire. The Asian Longhorn and its cousin, the Citrus Longhorn, are native of China and the Korean peninsula. The spotted black and white beetle, . which has antennae twice the length of its body, infects trees during . its breeding season in August and September. The bugs, which are capable of flying . for more than a mile at a time, were first spotted in Kent last year - . leading to the felling of 2,116 trees in the county. The Asian Longhorn and its cousin, the Citrus Longhorn, are native of China and the Korean peninsula. The Forestry Commission said outbreaks have caused extensive damage to trees in the USA and Italy since being accidentally introduced there in recent years. 'It is suspected that the original beetles might have emerged from wood packaging material which had been used to import slate from China to a site next to where the Kent outbreak was located,' a spokesman said. He added: 'Untreated wood packing is a known pathway for Asian Longhorn beetles, and all wood packaging material imported into the EU should be marked to show that it has been treated to reduce the risk of carrying quarantine pests. 'It is illegal to import wood into the UK which shows signs of the beetle.' Dr John Morgan, Head of the Forestry Commission’s Plant Health Service, backed calls for the public to report sightings of the beetles. He said: 'There are strict controls in place to protect the UK against accidental introductions of these pests, but we need to back these up with constant vigilance and reporting of suspected cases. 'These beetles could threaten a wide range of ornamental, fruit and woodland trees, and the public and trade have a vital role to play in protecting our trees.' The Forestry Commission called on people who see the beetles to 'isolate' them - preferably by putting them in a glass jar - and call 01904 465625 immediately. | The beetles pose a ‘serious threat’ to trees and shrubs, experts warn .
Bugs 'could have been shipped here in imported goods packaging'
Officials fear thousands could thrive in Britain’s mild, wet climate . |
Keywords: <keyword>COFFEE BITTERNESS</keyword>, <keyword>CUPS TASTES</keyword>, <keyword>COFFEE WHITE</keyword>, <keyword>MUGS BLUE</keyword>, <keyword>MAKE DRINK</keyword>, <keyword>PERCEIVED TASTE</keyword>, <keyword>SUGAR STUDY</keyword>, <keyword>EFFECT COLOUR</keyword>, <keyword>OWNERS BARISTAS</keyword>, <keyword>CLAIM EXPERIMENT</keyword>
More than 2.25 billion cups of coffee are consumed across the globe each day, and its likely that many taste bitter. Now, a new study suggests that coffee fans can make their drink taste sweeter by simply swapping the colour of their cup. Scientists claim that blue and glass mugs, which are popular in some coffee shops, reduce a coffee’s bitterness, without any need for sugar. A study suggests that coffee fans can make their drink taste sweeter by swapping the colour of their cup. It claimed that blue and glass mugs, which are popular in some coffee shops, reduce a coffee’s bitterness, without resorting to sugar. While coffee tastes the most bitter in white cups (pictured) Researchers from Federation University Australia and the University of Oxford set out to prove whether a barista’s claim - that coffee drunk from a white cups tastes bitter - was true. They used 36 volunteers and three different coloured cups - blue, white and transparent glass - to investigate the claim. In one experiment, the white mug enhanced the rated ‘intensity’ of the coffee flavour relative to the transparent mug, according to the study published in the journal Flavour. Researchers from Federation University Australia and the University of Oxford set out to prove whether a barista’s claim, that coffee drunk from a white cups tastes bitter, is true. They used 36 volunteers and three different coloured cups - blue, white and transparent glass (pictured) - to investigate the claim . The scientists think the colour brown may be associated with bitterness. This means that coffee in a white cup appears the brownest, and therefore the least sweet. Dutch psychologist Ap Dijksterhuis previously suggested that because of the use of the word ‘strong’ in advertising, consumers often confuse a coffee’s strength or intensity with its bitterness. In the study, the scientists found a trend in bitterness ratings that mirrored intensity ratings. Then, in a second experiment, coffee consumed from the white cup was found to taste less sweet when compared to the other coloured mugs. While the blue cup made the coffee taste the sweetest. The scientists believe that the colour brown may be associated with bitterness so that coffee in a white cup appears the brownest. ‘Our study clearly shows that the colour of a mug does influence the perceived taste and flavour of coffee,’ lead author Dr George Doorn of Federation University Australia, wrote in an article for The Conversation. ‘The effect of the colour of the mug on the flavour of the coffee reported here suggests that café owners, baristas, as well as crockery manufacturers should carefully consider the colour of their mugs,’ he said. ‘The potential effects may spell the difference between a one-time purchase and a return customer.’ The idea that colour can alter the taste of food and drink is not new. A study published last year revealed that red, strawberry-flavoured mousse served on a white plate was rated as 10 per cent sweeter and 15 per cent more flavoursome than the same food presented on a black plate. | Researchers from Federation University Australia and the University of Oxford asked volunteers to drink coffee from different coloured cups .
They found that blue mugs made the drink taste the sweetest .
White cups made it taste more bitter because they make the drink appear more brown .
The colour of coffee has previously been associated with bitterness . |
Keywords: <keyword>TRIBOELECTRIC CHARGING</keyword>, <keyword>GENERATES CHARGE</keyword>, <keyword>STATIC ELECTRICITY</keyword>, <keyword>CHARGE FINGER</keyword>, <keyword>HUMAN BATTERIES</keyword>, <keyword>MOBILE DEVICE</keyword>, <keyword>GENERATOR STEG</keyword>, <keyword>MATERIALS GENERATES</keyword>, <keyword>RUBBED FRICTION</keyword>, <keyword>FUJIFILM DEMONSTRATED</keyword>
By . Victoria Woollaston . Human batteries may have seemed a little far-fetched when the Matrix film was released in 1999, but 15 years on, researchers could be about to make it a reality. Professor Bo Meng from Peking University has built a generator capable of charging a mobile phone using electrons produced by our bodies. The device, called a single-friction-surface triboelectric generator (STEG), produces a charge when a finger or palm taps a layer of conductive material attached to a device. Researchers from Beijing fitted a phone with a layer of materials that generates an electric charge when rubbed together. Tapping the phone caused electrons to move from the skin to the phone and repeated tapping caused this charge to move into a generator, diagram pictured . The single-friction-surface triboelectric generator (STEG), generates a . charge when a finger or palm taps a layer of conductive material . attached to a mobile device. It uses what’s known as the triboelectric effect, also known as triboelectric charging. When certain materials are rubbed together, the friction causes a build-up of electric charge between the two objects. Static . electricity is an example of triboelectric charging and the strength of . the charge differs depending on the materials being used. This generator uses what’s known as the triboelectric effect, also known as triboelectric charging. When certain materials are rubbed together, the friction causes a build-up of electric charge between the two objects. Static electricity is an example of triboelectric charging, and the strength of the charge differs depending on the materials being used. The Beijing-based researchers previously created a generator capable of harnessing this triboelectric charge using a grounded electrode, but recently replaced it with a ‘body contact’ version. During recent tests, published in the Applied Physics Letters, Professor Meng and his team fitted a mobile phone with a transparent layer of STEG composite material. In 1999 film The Matrix, human bodies were wired up to machines and used as batteries, still pictured. Last year, Fujifilm demonstrated a thermoelectric conversion material that turns changes in body temperature into an electrical charge . The body contact electrode was then fitted to the side of the device, and the user’s finger or palm. As a user tapped the STEG material layer, electrons were moved between the skin and the phone. Repeated tapping caused this charge to move between the charged skin and the electrode, which in turn harnessed the energy. This energy could then be used to charge the phone, or other low-power devices. Researchers also discovered that the body contact electrode performed better, and harnessed more energy, than the previous grounded electrode. The generator uses triboelectric charging. When certain materials are rubbed together, the friction causes a build-up of charge. The researchers previously created a generator capable of harnessing this charge using a grounded electrode, but recently replaced this electrode with a 'body contact electrode', diagram pictured . The team is now working on developing the STEG to act as a back-up power source for wearable devices, for example, as well as medical sensors. Future models could one day be used to power larger appliances and even buildings. In 1999 film The Matrix, human bodies were wired up to machines and used as batteries. In February last year, Fujifilm demonstrated a thermoelectric conversion material that turns changes in body temperature into an electrical charge. The material, developed in collaboration with Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), was able to turn a temperature difference of just one degree on a human hand into ‘several milliwatts’ of electricity. | The device is called a single-friction-surface triboelectric generator (STEG)
It uses materials that create an electric charge when rubbed together .
Researchers from Beijing fitted a phone with a layer of composite materials .
Tapping the phone caused electrons to move from the skin to the phone .
Repeated tapping caused this charge to move into the generator, which in turn could be used to charge a phone .
Engineers are working on improving the generator to power larger devices . |
Keywords: <keyword>DEMOTED MCDOWALL</keyword>, <keyword>CARETAKER RANGERS</keyword>, <keyword>DURRANT DEMOTED</keyword>, <keyword>DEPARTING MANAGER</keyword>, <keyword>MCCULLOCH</keyword>, <keyword>MAKE COACH</keyword>, <keyword>LET IAN</keyword>, <keyword>BOARD DECISION</keyword>, <keyword>TEMPORARY CHARGE</keyword>, <keyword>IBROX HOTSEAT</keyword>
Caretaker Rangers manager Kenny McDowall has revealed the club's board left it to him to break the news to Ian Durrant that he was being demoted. Departing manager Ally McCoist was put on gardening leave on Sunday night as the club decided it could not let him run down his 12-month notice period in the Ibrox hotseat. McDowall has now been put in temporary charge until the end of the season, with Under 20s coach Gordon Durie and skipper Lee McCulloch added to the first-team's backroom staff. Caretaker Rangers boss Kenny McDowall says the club made him let Ian Durrant know that he was demoted . McDowall (left) said he had to tell former first-team coach Durrant that he was now leading their youth side . But former Gers midfielder Durrant's future now looks to be in some doubt after McDowall explained that he was ordered to dispel with Durrant's services from his set-up and instead make him coach the club's youth team. Former Partick and St Mirren striker McDowall, who was handed the reins after late-night talks with Sandy Easdale and Derek Llambias at Ibrox on Sunday, said: 'The board intimated to myself that Ally had been put on gardening leave and they told me they were going to make some changes to the structure of the coaching team. 'Gordon was to come up from the 20s to assist me and they wanted to make Lee a player/coach and I was to start immediately. 'Was my opinion sought? No they asked me if I could make those changes immediately. But the decision was made by them. 'As for Durrant, that was the board's decision too. They asked me to carry it out which I duly did. 'I was asked to inform the guys of the changes being made.'Â . McDowall (right) has replaced Ally McCoist the Rangers hotseat after he was put on gardening leave . | Ian Durrant has been demoted to coach Rangers' youth team .
Caretaker Gers boss Kenny McDowall had to tell Durrant the news .
Under 20s coach Gordon Durie and club captain Lee McCulloch have been added to McDowall's first-team backroom staff . |
Keywords: <keyword>KITCHEN KNOXVILLE</keyword>, <keyword>HUNGRY ASHE</keyword>, <keyword>MEALS VOLUNTEERS</keyword>, <keyword>TENNESSEE HELPED</keyword>, <keyword>GROWING ABBEVILLE</keyword>, <keyword>FOUNDER LOVE</keyword>, <keyword>ENCOURAGEMENT</keyword>, <keyword>40S FAMILY</keyword>, <keyword>CNN HELEN</keyword>, <keyword>LEAVE HOMES</keyword>
Knoxville, Tennessee (CNN) -- Helen Ashe experienced many hardships growing up in Abbeville, South Carolina, during the 1930s and '40s. Her family's first house had no lights or running water. But even during tough times, she and her twin sister, Ellen, were taught to be selfless. "My daddy taught us not to take the last piece of bread from the table; somebody may come by that's hungry," Ashe remembered. Since 1986, Ashe has been leaving a whole lot more than bread on the table. As the founder of the Love Kitchen in Knoxville, Tennessee, she has helped serve more than 1 million free meals to those in need. Aided by her sister and a team of volunteers, Ashe serves those whom she calls the five Hs: the hungry, the homeless, the helpless, the hopeless and the homebound. "We have so many people that are in need," said Ashe, 83. "That's what keeps us going." The Love Kitchen prepares and distributes about 2,000 meals a week from a large community center that's equipped with a restaurant-style kitchen. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, the Love Kitchen serves a lunchtime meal where everyone is welcome. Hundreds often dine in, but the majority of meals -- 1,500 on average -- are delivered to Knoxville residents who cannot physically leave their homes. Many of these people are elderly and suffer from debilitating illnesses or diseases. "Each week, we get a list of people that are either hospitalized, too old to come in to eat, or homebound," volunteer James O'Hare said. "Then on Thursday, they take a stack of these seven meals, and the volunteers deliver to that person." Each takeout box has an entrée, a vegetable, bread and dessert so recipients receive well-rounded meals for a whole week. But they also get much more. "It feeds their body, and it also feeds their soul," O'Hare said. "They have somebody that comes and talks to them, gives them some encouragement." Do you know a hero? Nominations are open for 2011 CNN Heroes . Ashe doesn't typically deliver the meals herself. She and her sister stay at the community center, greeting volunteers, recipients and even fans who drop by to say hello. "My sister Ellen is a blessing to me," Ashe said. "She always says the Love Kitchen was in the making. And that's why the Lord sent two: because it's so much work to do for one." The two enrolled in nursing school in the late '50s, and after graduation, they began working at what is now the University of Tennessee Medical Center. At the time, Ashe said, segregation was in "full force." She saw many of her black patients struggle for food and transportation. "They didn't have money," Ashe said. "They didn't have transportation home. The Lord put it into my brain for me to do something about this." Ashe said she used her own funds when she could to help those in need. However, she dreamed of a place "where people could come and eat and wouldn't have to pay anything." In 1986, that dream became reality when the pastor of a nearby church said she could set up shop in the basement. The first day the Love Kitchen opened its doors, it served 22 meals. "I think our first meal was fried chicken with some fried potatoes and a little salad on the side," said Leroy Mundy, 66, who has been coming to the Love Kitchen since it started. The number of recipients grew over time, as did the venue size. But more than two decades later, there's still down-home Southern cooking and some good old-fashioned Southern hospitality. "You leave with love and some higher spirits when you talk to these two ladies here," Mundy said. The Love Kitchen's food is donated by an area grocery store. Local farmers and specialty shops also bring in fresh vegetables, fruit and baked goods. Meals are served fresh in a kitchen that is up to Health Department standards. Volunteers range in age, and many are local professionals who have been inspired by Ashe's vision and work. Ashe gives all the credit to God and her wonderful parents. Her motto remains the same as the day they opened their doors. "We work for what we got, and we share what we get," she said. Want to get involved? Check out the Love Kitchen's website at www.thelovekitchen.org and see how to help. | Helen Ashe has helped serve more than 1 million free meals since 1986 .
The majority of them are delivered to people who can't physically leave their homes .
The Love Kitchen "feeds their body, and it also feeds their soul," said a volunteer .
Do you know a hero? Nominations are open for 2011 CNN Heroes . |
Keywords: <keyword>NIGEL HAVERS</keyword>, <keyword>CHARMER MARRIED</keyword>, <keyword>INHERITED QUALITIES</keyword>, <keyword>COUCH ILLEGITIMATE</keyword>, <keyword>YEARS ACTOR</keyword>, <keyword>TV HEART</keyword>, <keyword>WOMAN CADDISH</keyword>, <keyword>SAYS WOMEN</keyword>, <keyword>PURSUING</keyword>, <keyword>SAVED POOR</keyword>
Hot pursuit: Actor Nigel Havers, 61, said women 'never learn' and will always be drawn to cads . TV heart-throb Nigel Havers says women 'never learn' when it comes to men - because they cannot stop pursuing 'cads'. The star of The Charmer - who married his third wife, wealthy divorcee Georgiana Bronfman, in 2007 - discovers that his family history is not as upmarket as he had assumed in a new episode of Who Do You Think You Are? He finds out that his maternal great-great-grandfather, David Couch, had an illegitimate daughter with a 19-year-old servant girl. Havers, 61, told the Radio Times: 'You can’t help but think you’ve inherited some of their qualities. David was a bit of a cad, which is the sort of part I’ve played. 'I made The Charmer in 1987, which was dangerous for me because I didn’t think viewers would warm to such a ghastly character. And yet the opposite happened. However evil he was, people liked him. 'Throughout history women tend to like cads. They want to mother and change them. It’s exciting, but always ends in tears. 'They don’t learn, do they? I don’t mean that in a sexist way. Some women prefer a stable life, but others love danger.' The Chariots Of Fire actor added: 'Men are the same. I’ve always gone for women who are exciting, dangerous and fun - and I’ve met quite a few.' Havers left his first wife Carolyn Cox after 18 years, for actor Simon Williams’s sister Polly, resulting in a much-publicised divorce. They were married from 1989 until her death from cancer in 2004. Havers admitted: 'You could say leaving one woman for another is caddish.' The actor, whose father Lord Havers was attorney general and lord chancellor, assumed he came from an upmarket legal background but was delighted to discover an Essex girl - his great-great-grandmother Elizabeth, on his father’s side, who went on to marry a wealthy shoe manufacturer. Her father, who ran a Colchester hackney cab company, went bankrupt but his family were saved from the poor house by the Provident Asylum Society. Havers, who appeared on I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here!, said: 'I am no longer posh, thank goodness...I might have ended up in the East End of London.' Unexpected attraction: Havers, pictured in the 1986 series The Charmer, said he was surprised that people were won over by his 'evil' character David . Upper crust: Havers, pictured here in a scene from Downton Abbey, said he is happy to be called 'posh' but loathes the term 'luvvie' The star also hit out at the BBC for using the word 'luvvie'. 'I was never p***ed off about being called posh but the one word I can’t stand is "luvvie". 'I was listening to (Radio 4 show) PM, and they said they had a luvvie on the programme,' he told the magazine. 'I phoned the BBC, was put through to the studio and demanded, "Stop using that word. It’s such a put-down". 'They invited me on the next day and Googled the number of times they’d used it - thousands. They promised they’d never do it again, and they haven’t,' he added. | 61-year-old actor said women 'never learn' and have been drawn to rogues throughout history .
Coronation Street star discovered his ancestry on BBC's Who Do You Think You Are?
Says he is happy to be called 'posh' but hates the term 'luvvie' |
Keywords: <keyword>QUEENSLAND POLICE</keyword>, <keyword>POLICE SEEN</keyword>, <keyword>APPEARED TWEED</keyword>, <keyword>TERRIFYING CHASE</keyword>, <keyword>ARREST ATTEMPTED</keyword>, <keyword>FOOTAGE RELEASED</keyword>, <keyword>CHARGED SHOOTING</keyword>, <keyword>MEN JUMPED</keyword>, <keyword>MOTORWAY HIT</keyword>, <keyword>VEHICLE PAIR</keyword>
Dramatic new footage released by police shows in greater detail how a four-hour long police chase which travelled across the border between two states came to a head last Thursday. The video looks like something from an action movie, and shows two men who took officers on a terrifying chase as they hijacked multiple vehicles along the way. The two men were charged with attempted murder after allegedly stealing three vehicles at gunpoint and hitting a police office with a car during their dramatic dash for freedom across south-east Queensland on Thursday. The pair were arrested in Tweed Heads following the four hour pursuit from Caboolture to Brisbane, the Gold Coast and into NSW. Scroll down for video . New police footage shows the dramatic moment a bare-chested tattooed man emerged from a stolen car and allegedly fired shots at police following a high-speed pursuit across Queensland on Thursday afternoon . Spanning 150 kilometres the chase came to a dramatic end when one of the men jumped out of a blue car and fired shots at police . Spanning 150 kilometres the chase came to a dramatic end when one of the men jumped out of a blue car and fired shots at police. The other can also be seen leaping from the car and pair make a dash across multiple lanes of traffic, weaving in between cars in an attempt to escape. The man with the gun appears to fire again at a passing car before his erratic behaviour causes one vehicle to slam into the back of another. The shirtless gunman was mowed down by a car while weaving in and out of traffic . He also caused this crash between another two vehicles when one driver slammed on their brakes . He continued to run across the motorway after being hit by a black car, still fleeing from police . After a bungled attempt to hijack yet another car, the gunman is mowed down by an oncoming car, which also flings the gun from his grip. Without his weapon he continued running away from police before he is finally pinned down by police, while another officer arrests the second man. NSW police, who had been alerted to the men's impending arrival, used road spikes to initially stop their car on the Pacific Motorway near the Tugun tunnel. The man with the gun was eventually apprehended by police . His younger accomplice was also arrested and the pair were due to front court on Friday . A Queensland police helicopter tracked the men in a blue Mitsubishi Lancer as they travelled down the motorway. Police say when the car stopped, a 32-year-old man got out armed with a semi-automatic handgun and fired a shot at an officer. 'He then allegedly fired a number of shots at a passing car,' NSW police said. The gun was knocked out of his hand when he was struck by a car and the officer was able to arrest him. Police say the car's other occupant, aged 20, was arrested without incident. The two men have been charged with shooting with intent to murder, discharging a firearm to avoid arrest, attempted carjacking and Skye's Law, which relates to the police pursuit. Both men have been refused bail an appeared at Tweed Heads Local Court on Friday. Police say when the car stopped, a 32-year-old man got out and fired a shot at an officer. The gun was knocked out of his hand when he was struck by a car and the officer was able to arrest him . The men are alleged to have begun their crime spree in Caboolture on Thursday morning when they were pulled over by police in an allegedly stolen car . Police say the men fled, hitting an officer's leg with their vehicle. The pair then allegedly stole two more vehicles at gunpoint before driving through the streets of Queensland at high speeds . The men are alleged to have begun their crime spree in Caboolture on Thursday morning when they were pulled over by police in an allegedly stolen car. Police say they fled, hitting an officer's leg with their vehicle. The men then allegedly stole two more vehicles at gunpoint. The second vehicle, a 4WD, had a woman and a young child inside, with the gunmen reportedly demanding the woman remove the child before they drove off. They are believed to have ditched the 4WD after realising it was low on fuel and stole a third car, the Lancer, then began their high-speed journey south. A Queensland police helicopter tracked the men in a blue Mitsubishi Lancer as they travelled down the motorway . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Two men have been charged with attempted murder following high-speed chase across south-east Queensland on Thursday .
They allegedly stole three vehicles and hit a police officer with their car .
New footage shows how the dramatic chase came to a head .
Pair were arrested in Tweed Heads after they crossed over to NSW .
Police used road spikes to stop vehicle after dramatic four hour chase .
Man, 32, allegedly fired a number of shots at police before he was struck by a car and officers were able to arrest him . |
Keywords: <keyword>TIA DOG</keyword>, <keyword>PAW IGNITED</keyword>, <keyword>BEEF PIES</keyword>, <keyword>OVEN ACCIDENTALLY</keyword>, <keyword>ADAM INHALED</keyword>, <keyword>PARTNER EMMA</keyword>, <keyword>SAM</keyword>, <keyword>WEBB FAMILY</keyword>, <keyword>SPURR HARTLEPOOL</keyword>, <keyword>VE LUCKY</keyword>
By . Sam Webb . A family had a lucky escape when their dog started a fire after turning the oven on - to try and get some freshly-baked pies. Tia, a seven-year-old Dogue de Bordeaux, sparked an emergency after she tried to get to the meat-filled pastries in the middle of the night. The red-haired dog could smell two corned beef pies, which had been baked by her owner Adam Spurr, from Hartlepool, and placed on the back of the hob. She tried to get at them by jumping up at the oven but she accidentally pushed one of the hob switches with her paw, and ignited one of the rings. Tia the dog beside the cooker she accidentally turned on while trying to get at some meat pies, filling her family's home with smoke . The first her owners knew of her antics were when they smelled smoke drifting up the stairs and into their bedroom as they slept at around 2.30am Tuesday. Adam’s partner Emma Llewellyn, 25, smelled the fumes and woke him up. Emma raced to get their children Kai Spurr, seven, and three-year-old Theo Spurr, out of their beds, and Adam, 31, went downstairs to investigate. He opened the kitchen door of their home and was met with plumes of thick smoke which were coming from the pies on the oven. He managed to fight his way through the wall of smoke and remove the smouldering pies from the kitchen. The family called 999 and within minutes fire brigade and ambulance crews arrived, with paramedics checking over Adam, who had inhaled a lot of smoke. The dog tried to get at the pies by jumping up at the oven but she accidentally pushed one of the hob switches with her paw, and ignited one of the rings. File picture . Adam said: 'We’ve been very lucky. We were really shocked when it dawned on us what was happening, I’m just so glad that we’re all alright because it could have been a different story. 'I’m really surprised Tia is still alive because the smoke in the kitchen was unbelievable, you basically couldn’t see in front of you at all. 'Tia jumps up at the workbenches all the time, that’s why the pies were at the back covered in tea towels, but she’s obviously still had a go at reaching them. 'I was gutted about my pies.' Emma added: 'With our cooker, all you have to do is press the knob and turn it, and it comes on. 'She’s put her paw on it and turned it and has ignited it. I thought I was dreaming when I first smelled the smoke.' The firefighters checked the house over and replaced a smoke alarm which had stopped working just two weeks before. Adam and Emma now say they will remove the knobs from the cooker when it is not in use. | Seven-year-old Tia sparked a hob as she tried to get to meat-filled pastries .
Owner Adam Spurr woken by partner who smelled smoke .
He plunged through smoke to remove smouldering pies from oven .
Mr Spurr was treated for smoke inhalation by paramedics .
He said' 'I was gutted about my pies' |
Keywords: <keyword>DIVORCE RATES</keyword>, <keyword>DIVORCE DAY</keyword>, <keyword>MEETING MEDIATION</keyword>, <keyword>LAWYERS JANUARY</keyword>, <keyword>REQUIRED PARTING</keyword>, <keyword>FAMILY JUSTICE</keyword>, <keyword>COUPLES TORY</keyword>, <keyword>TAXPAYERS MONEY</keyword>, <keyword>PRESSURE HOLIDAY</keyword>, <keyword>SAVE 500</keyword>
By . Steve Doughty . PUBLISHED: . 21:00 EST, 2 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 21:00 EST, 2 January 2013 . Ministers have promised millions in taxpayers’ money to help people end their marriages more easily. The cash will subsidise mediation services, designed to allow couples to negotiate how to divide their property and look after their children. To mark ‘divorce day’, family justice minister Lord McNally pledged an extra £10million for the services, saying they offer ‘a quicker and simpler approach which brings better outcomes’ for families. Divorce day: The pressure of the holiday season results in an annual peak of couples contacting divorce lawyers and thanks to the new £10million, the process should be quicker than ever . Divorce day is the name given by lawyers to the first working day in January, when approaches to legal firms by disenchanted couples are usually at their highest. The Ministry of Justice said on average the extra cash means that a divorce will last a quarter of the time and save £3,500 for husbands and wives claiming legal aid to pay for lawyers. Whitehall calculations say a mediated . divorce funded by the state costs £500 as opposed to £4,000 for one . argued in the courts, and that a mediated split takes 110 days rather . than the 435 days for contested divorces. Lord . McNally said mediation avoided ‘traumatic’ courtroom struggles, adding: . ‘All too often money is wasted on hearings that can take far too long . to resolve.’ Speeding things up: A mediated divorce tends to finish within four months, a quarter of the time of a non-mediated split . The extra money means mediation will be subsidised to the tune of £25million this year. Divorce rates are at their lowest . level since the 1970s, but ministers have long been pressing the case . for mediation on the grounds that it saves large sums of public money in . the courts and in benefit payments. Happy divorcing: Family justice minister Lord McNally said mediation services brings better outcomes . Politicians also say that avoiding conflict helps families overcome the impact of divorce on families. However, mediation has proved unpopular with most divorcing couples. The last Tory government tried to encourage divorce through mediation with its Family Law Act, which would have brought in fault-free divorce in all cases, and which required all parting married couples to attend at least an introductory meeting about mediation. Few couples showed interest and trials showed the new law to be unworkable. Labour later repealed the legislation. Critics of mediation say it favours the stronger and most outspoken spouse and that it makes divorce too easy. Lawyers say that last year approaches from husbands and wives about divorce went up by a quarter in early January. John Nicholson of the Irwin Mitchell law firm said: ‘Reasons for divorce vary widely but there seems to be a consensus that there is a feeling of New Year, new start for many people and that is why they talk to lawyers in January. ‘Whether people have had a turbulent Christmas period, have been planning a break-up for months or perhaps older couples growing apart due to empty-nest syndrome, January often brings the promise of a fresh life away from whatever problems they may have faced before.’ | Family justice minister Lord McNally promised £10m to improve process .
First day back at work for lawyers known as 'divorce day' as record numbers of couples split during the holiday season .
Divorce rates are at their lowest level since the 1970s . |
Keywords: <keyword>ZORRO STORY</keyword>, <keyword>OWNER MARCIE</keyword>, <keyword>GOLDEN RETRIEVER</keyword>, <keyword>DANE RETURNED</keyword>, <keyword>SNATCHED BURGLARS</keyword>, <keyword>TROGDON HOME</keyword>, <keyword>TV REPLACED</keyword>, <keyword>BEAR SURVIVING</keyword>, <keyword>WEIGHS 170LBS</keyword>, <keyword>JUST BELIEVE</keyword>
By . Matt Blake . PUBLISHED: . 07:42 EST, 11 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:03 EST, 11 February 2013 . A Great Dane has returned to his owner a year after he was snatched by burglars during an opportunistic raid on her home. The heart-warming tale began when Zorro, who weighs 170lbs, vanished from owner Marcie Trogdon's house, in Jamestown, Virginia, in November 2011 after she popped out, leaving the door on the latch. When she returned minutes later, she realised thieves had struck and Zorro was nowhere to be seen. 'A laptop or a TV can be replaced. Zorro is like a family member. All my kids are grown, so he’s my baby,' she told Fox News at the time. Nice to see you again: Zorro, who weighs 170lbs, vanished from owner Marcie Trogdon's home, in Jamestown, Virginia, after she popped out of her house, leaving the door on the latch . Despite a far-reaching 'missing dog . campaign' and extensive police search, he was never found and Marcie was . forced to move on with her life, even buying a new dog in a bid to fill . the void left by Zorro. Then on Wednesday night, a flea-bitten and mangy-looking stray who looked remarkably like Zorro appeared in her back yard. '[My neighbour] was like "Do you know who’s dog this is?" And I said, "what dog?" and . about that time Zorro comes running around the corner and I said "Oh my . God! That’s Zorro",' she told the station. 'He immediately came up to the fence and as soon as I let him in he knew he was home.' 'My baby': Marcie Trogden said Zorro appeared in her garden on Wednesday night looking mangy and over weight . Riddle: Exactly what happened to Zorro in the 16 months he was missing remains a mystery . Exactly what happened to Zorro in the 16 months he was missing remains a mystery. A trip to the vet revealed he had contracted ringworm and was overweight, but suffered no serious illness. 'My emotion was "I'm so glad", then "oh my God what's wrong with his skin?"' said Dr Joe Kinarney. 'We don't know what's happened in that time, we don't know the exposure to parasite or to diseases,' the vet added. Trogdon thinks someone stole her dog and brought him back when his care became too expensive. But she says she doesn't care what happened to him. She is just glad to have her dog at home again. 'I just can't believe that my boy is back,' she said, tears of joy filling her eyes. Distraught: Despite a far-reaching 'missing dog campaign' and extensive police search, he was never found and Marcie was forced to move on with her life, even buying a new dog in a bid to fill the void left by Zorro . New friends: Zorro now has a new playmate called Bailey, also a Great Dane . His story is remarkably similar to the 1993 movie Homeward Bound: An Incredible Journey, that follows an American bulldog, a golden retriever and a Himalayan cat as they trek across America on a quest to return to their human family. The film, which is a remake of the 1963 Disney classic The Incedible Journey, starred Michael J. Fox, Don Ameche and Sally Field as the voices of Chance, Shadow and Sassy and was so popular it spawned sequel Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco. The trio encounter a string of dangers including falling into a torrid river, facing a hungry grizzly bear, surviving a chance encounter with an angry porcupine and escaping from an animal pound. After learning to overcome adversity by working together they become friends and finally return home to their owners. Echoes of Hollywood: Zorro's story is remarkably similar to the 1993 movie Homeward Bound: An Incredible Journey, that follows an American bulldog, a golden retriever and a Himalayan cat as they trek across America on a quest to return to their human family . | Zorro vanished from owner Marcie Trogdon's home in November 2011 .
Burglars struck her house, in Jamestown, Virginia, after she popped out .
Despite 'missing dog campaign' and police search, he was never found .
He appeared in her garden on Wednesday, overweight and with ringworm . |
Keywords: <keyword>RANT BRIDE</keyword>, <keyword>CAMERAMAN INSULTING</keyword>, <keyword>HOLOCAUST MRS</keyword>, <keyword>RECORDED RACIST</keyword>, <keyword>STAN CLAUDIA</keyword>, <keyword>JEWS THINK</keyword>, <keyword>GOCMAN SAID</keyword>, <keyword>TERRIBLE COMMENTS</keyword>, <keyword>COWS UNAWARE</keyword>, <keyword>HONESTY FELT</keyword>
When newlyweds Stan and Claudia Gocman settled down to watch a video of their big day they hoped to relive precious memories. Instead they were greeted with a vile anti-Semitic rant about the bride and their guests after the cameraman accidentally recorded his racist commentary and then forgot to edit it from the tape. As he filmed the happy couple dancing at the reception, Anthony Aurelius could be heard saying: ‘I don’t think I blame Hitler.’ SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Offended couple: Stan and Claudia Gocman were blissfully happy to be married but sat down to watch their wedding video and heard the cameraman insulting her and their guests . He also told his unnamed assistant: . ‘Some of the Jewish women are very beautiful to look at. But I can tell . you, they’d be right f****** cows. Very f****** snooty, they’d be a pain . in the a***. Not a very attractive bride at all.’ Mr Gocman, 28, a senior recruiter at accountancy firm KPMG, said the video had ruined their memories of the wedding. His . wife, a 27-year-old fashion buyer for Ralph Lauren, said: ‘It’s . completely anti-Semitic and ignorant. Even the assistant, who is Asian, . was racist. I just don’t understand it. ‘At first, I was really upset but then I was furious. I think he’s a disgusting little man. ‘I can’t even stand to watch the video, it makes me so angry.’ The . couple married last August at London’s Central Synagogue. They had a . black tie reception for 150 guests at a hotel near Trafalgar Square and a . honeymoon in South Africa and Mauritius. But after the ceremony, Mr Aurelius initially sent them a video of the wrong wedding. Oblivious: Offensive videographer Anthony Aurelius called Mrs Gocman 'unattractive' and female guests 'f****** cows' unaware it was picked up by the microphone . Terrible comments: During dancing at the reception the cameraman said: 'Mental, Israeli dancing, isn't it? There's a real feeling of like, they're better than everybody else. Jewish.' Note: Anthony Aurelius sent this grovelling apology to the couple who say it completely ruined memories of their wedding day . Grand: Jewish couple Stan and Claudia Gocman were married in the heart of of London but they day has been marred by a man who said he didn't blame Hitler for the Holocaust . When . Mrs Gocman complained it took the cameraman nine months to send the . right one, but it had key moments missing and more shots of guests’ backs than their faces. As a . result. the couple, of Edgware, north London, agreed to pay extra for . the unedited version. But when it arrived they were horrified to find . the soundtrack littered with derogatory comments. In . it, Mr Aurelius remarks: ‘Mental, Israeli dancing, isn’t it? There’s a . real feeling of like, they’re better than everybody else. Jewish.’ His assistant replies: ‘That’s why Holocaust.’ Mr Aurelius responds: ‘I don’t think I blame Hitler.’ He . had earlier accidentally left the camera running in the back seat of . his car as he followed the wedding party from the synagogue to the hotel . where the reception was taking place. As . well as shots of streetlamps as they make their way through the . capital, Mr Aurelius is heard telling his assistant that Jews think . ‘they’re better than everybody else because they’re from Israel. Not a . lot of niceness about them is there? Very little warmth’. His assistant adds: ‘They are the meanest people in the world, I know very well.’ Throughout . the unedited clips, Mr Aurelius moans about how the couple spent more . on photographers and chose only his £600 ‘bronze’ video deal. ‘They paid big money for photography, but not for video,’ he says. ‘When . someone pays you a lot of money, you feel like you want to work hard . for them.’ Mr Gocman said: ‘He thought we were a lot more wealthy than . we are and he resented that. ‘I would think that, in this day and age, someone, who had done Jewish weddings in the past, would be more accepting.’ Other career: Anthony Aurelius also claims to be the UK's No 1 fitness expert and has had a DVD . Email: The cameraman has said that the incident has made him consider how he lives his life and apologised again for any offence he caused . In . an email to Mr Aurelius, Mrs Gocman said the video had ‘completely . ruined the memories of our day’ when all they wanted was a simple . ‘documentation’. ‘What we . got were two cameramen who clearly couldn’t be bothered to even be . there, who disappeared for a long period throughout the evening and . missed key footage,’ she wrote. Mr . Aurelius, who has previously marketed himself as a karate expert, gave . the couple a full refund and wrote a grovelling letter to Mrs Gocman in . which he said he needed to ‘look at myself’. He . also sent an email saying: ‘I am very sorry for our stupid, childish . conversation. I am also very sorry for offending you and possibly your . family also. ‘You did not deserve this. I am ashamed, in honesty. ‘I have felt awful about this and did not know what to say, in truth. ‘We . know, in truth, very little about what went on in the war. To be deeply . honest, I respect your strength as a culture from coming back from . this. I am trying to walk a good life, but in this instance I failed . very badly in God’s eyes.’ Mr Aurelius could not be contacted for comment. | Stan and Claudia Gocman say film 'completely ruined memories of our day'
Anthony Aurelius sent unedited video to couple of their Jewish wedding .
When asked about the Holocaust he said: 'I don't think I blame Hitler'
Branded guests 'f****** cows' and called Jews 'meanest people in the world'
Cameraman has written to apologise and sent a full refund after incident . |
Keywords: <keyword>LOGAN MARRY</keyword>, <keyword>STEVENSON DIED</keyword>, <keyword>SON PROGNOSIS</keyword>, <keyword>BUN RESTS</keyword>, <keyword>BEST WEEKS</keyword>, <keyword>SAVANNAH PARENTS</keyword>, <keyword>LOOKED DAPPER</keyword>, <keyword>ANGELS PAIN</keyword>, <keyword>13 SERVED</keyword>, <keyword>HOSPITAL SPEND</keyword>
By . Associated Press Reporter and Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 08:20 EST, 6 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:28 EST, 6 August 2013 . Just days after serving as best man at his parents' wedding, a terminally ill 2-year-old boy has died from leukemia and other complications. Logan Stevenson died in his mother's arms at 8:18 p.m. on Monday at their home in Jeannette, about 25 miles east of Pittsburgh. 'He is with angels and he's in no more pain,' wrote mom Christine Swidorsky in a tribute to her brave son on Facebook. Scroll down for video . Logan Stevenson, two, passed away on Monday night just two days after he had served as best man at his parents' wedding in Jeannette, Pa . Logan's parents had brought forward their wedding because they had wanted him to see them marry and to be part of family photos . Logan's favorite stuffed toy, Bun Bun, rests on a table with his suit jacket during Saturday's wedding, while the pair were also celebrated on his parent’s wedding cake . Logan had looked dapper in a tiny tan pinstripe suit and orange shirt for Saturday's 12-minute ceremony, as his mom carried him down the isle on her shoulder. The young boy then stood with his grandmother, Debbie Stevenson, during the ceremony uniting Logan's mom and his father, Sean Stevenson. The couple had decided to abandon an original wedding date of July 2014 after learning from doctors late last month that their son didn't have long left. They wanted Logan to see them marry and for him to be part of family photos. Newlywed Christine Stevenson and Sean Stevenson smile after sharing their first kiss at Saturday's ceremony, the couple had originally planned to marry next July but wanted to share their special day with Logan . Tribute: Mom Christine Swidorsky posted about Logan's passing on Facebook hours after his death . Logan, who was born Oct. 22, 2010, was diagnosed shortly after his first birthday with acute myeloid leukemia. He suffered from Fanconi anemia, a rare disease that often leads to cancer. He endured a stem cell transplant in July 2012 and then in March had undergone surgery to remove a kidney ravaged by a tumor. During a Make-A-Wish trip to Disney World in June, Logan had fallen ill. He was hospitalized in Florida before being flown back to Pittsburgh. During a trip to the emergency room last month, a test revealed a mass in his remaining kidney, which led to his terminal prognosis. Swidorsky's daughter, Isabella Johns, . 13, served as bridesmaid and the couple's one-year-old daughter, . Savannah, was her parents' flower girl. Doctors informed Sean Stevenson, right, and Christine Swidorsky, center, that continuing treatment would not be beneficial to their son . Logan was diagnosed shortly after his first birthday with acute myeloid leukemia . Logan spent his remaining days at home, where he was showered with attention from family members. 'It hurts so bad because Logan is such a loving child... when I cry he wipes my tears away,' Swidorsky told The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review prior to her wedding. 'Logan is a mama's boy.' 'His entire life has been nothing but hospitals,' Kellie Young, the toddler's aunt told the newspaper. Last week doctors gave the little boy at best two to three weeks to live and told his devastated parents that . continuing treatment would not be beneficial. Logan spent his final days at home, where he was showered with attention from his family . Tears: Father Sean Stevenson had said he felt helpless trying to deal with his son's prognosis . They told Swidorsky and Stevenson the best thing for Logan was to be at home with his parents, that he would be in less pain there. 'For such a small person, he has touched thousands of people,' Young said. Logan's father said he felt happy he had the chance to bring his son home from hospital and spend time with him. But at the same time he said he felt helpless. 'It'll be the hardest thing I'll ever do is bury my son. You know it's coming, and you can't do anything about it,' he said. | Logan Stevenson died from leukemia on Monday night .
On Saturday he had served as best man at his parents' wedding .
Sean Stevenson and Christine Swidorsky, of Jeannette, Pennsylvania had planned to wed next July .
But moved the ceremony so Logan, who had been given only weeks to live, could participate .
His mom had carried the brave boy down the aisle at the backyard ceremony .
that also doubled as a celebration of his short life . |
Keywords: <keyword>NUISANCE CALLS</keyword>, <keyword>COMPANIES BLITZ</keyword>, <keyword>UNSOLICITED MARKETING</keyword>, <keyword>310 COMPLAINTS</keyword>, <keyword>IMPOSE ICO</keyword>, <keyword>COMPENSATION PLANNED</keyword>, <keyword>GOVERNMENT CRACKDOWN</keyword>, <keyword>RULES SUSPENDING</keyword>, <keyword>MESSAGES FACE</keyword>, <keyword>SCOURGE COLD</keyword>
The scourge of cold calling is facing its biggest ever crackdown under plans being drawn up by ministers. Companies that blitz households with telephone calls and spam text messages face heavy fines of up to 20 per cent their annual turnover. The move will come as a particular relief to millions who are bombarded every day with offers of Payment Protection Insurance compensation. A planned Government crackdown on cold calling will come as a relief to millions bombarded every day . As part of the plan, PPI firms which use 'information gathered from unsolicited calls or texts, and provide bad service or waste time by making spurious and unsubstantiated claims' face stringent punishments. Currently nuisance calls must cause 'substantial stress' or 'substantial damage' for the Information Commissioner's Office to impose sanctions. Despite an increase to £500,000 in the maximum fine it can impose, the ICO still received 120,310 complaints about unsolicited marketing calls between April and November last year. The new rules are expected to lower the threshold required for the watchdog to take action against companies that blitz households with telephone calls and spam text messages. Culture Secretary Maria Miller said: 'Nuisance calls must stop' Culture Secretary Maria Miller said: 'Nuisance calls must stop. At best they are an irritation and an unwanted intrusion, at worst they cause real distress and fear, particularly to the elderly or housebound. 'People need to feel safe and secure in their homes. The rules are clear. People have the right to choose not to receive unsolicited marketing calls. We will work to ensure their choice is respected.' The Ministry of Justice will today launch a consultation on whether firms that break Claims Management Regulation Unit rules should face fines of up to 20 per cent of their annual turnover. Justice Secretary Chris Grayling, said: 'The Claims Management Regulator already takes tough action against companies which break the rules, suspending and closing down rogue firms, but now these fines will give us an extra weapon to drive bad behaviour out of the industry.' | Move will come as a relief to millions bombarded every day .
120,310 complaints about calls between April and November last year .
Culture Secretary Maria Miller said: 'Nuisance calls must stop' |
Keywords: <keyword>GILL ALLEGEDLY</keyword>, <keyword>MANSLAUGHTER LOSS</keyword>, <keyword>ATTACKING WIFE</keyword>, <keyword>MURDER ARGUED</keyword>, <keyword>SALKED NIRMAL</keyword>, <keyword>PRIVATE DETECTIVES</keyword>, <keyword>49 ACCUSED</keyword>, <keyword>LUKE</keyword>, <keyword>METAL DUMBBELL</keyword>, <keyword>PROPERTY BRISTOL</keyword>
By . Luke Salked . Nirmal Gill, 49, allegedly murdered his wife Rosemary Gill, 48, in the bedroom of their home on July 20 last year . A jealous husband battered his wife to death with a metal dumbbell after he hired private detectives and found out she was having an affair, a court heard. Nirmal Gill, 49, is accused of murdering wife Rosemary, 48, after becoming ‘possessive’ and suspicious of her behaviour. He contracted private investigators who fitted a tracking device to Mrs Gill’s car, a jury heard. Gill then followed his wife and spotted her embracing her ex-husband during a secret meeting at a motorway service station, the court was told. He is accused of carrying out the fatal attack three days later, using a metal dumbbell to strike his wife in the head at least 12 times at their home. Mrs Gill’s naked and bloodied body was discovered eight hours later by the couple’s daughter, Jasmine, 19, who had been sleeping in the room next door. Michael Fitton QC, prosecuting, told the jury that Gill admits manslaughter due to a loss of control, but denies murder. But he argued: ‘He didn’t lose control of himself when he beat her to death – he knew what he was doing. He was killing her in revenge for what he had discovered about her behaviour because she had been unfaithful. ‘He was killing her because he was a jealous man who was never going to forgive her, not just for the affair but for lying to him. She paid for her affair with her life.’ Mr Fitton said Mrs Gill had been married to Andrew Cooper between 1982 and 1986, before marrying Gill in 1989. ‘To the outside world, the marriage appeared to have been happy enough, but those in the house were aware that in reality it was otherwise,’ Mr Fitton said. The marriage began to struggle in 2013 and the couple began sleeping separately, Bristol Crown Court was told. Mrs Gill met with Mr Cooper at the beginning of the year and they rekindled their friendship and later their relationship, the jury was told. By June, Mrs Gill informed her husband she wanted a divorce and contacted a solicitor to begin the legal process, Mr Fitton continued. The couple argued, with Mrs Gill calling police for help on four separate occasions between June 9 and 21, the lawyer said. ‘The defendant, who had clearly expressed his love for Rosemary many times and continued to do so, was deeply upset about the decline and breakdown of the marriage,’ Mr Fitton said. On July 19, Mrs Gill and Mr Cooper met at the Gordano Services on the M5 near Portishead in Somerset, at 1.30pm, with the defendant following in a borrowed car. Later that day, Mrs Gill and Gill spoke about their relationship and agreed it was ‘coming to an end’, the jury heard. In the evening Mrs Gill left to meet Mr Cooper at a pub in the Cotswolds, where she told him Gill had agreed to leave home, it was said. Mrs Gill returned home at around 10pm, texting Mr Cooper that Gill was asleep. At 3am, neighbours heard banging noises at the three-bedroom property in Bristol. Miss Gill discovered her mother’s body at around midday, with her father sitting on the side of the bed. 'Possessive' Gill had hired a team of private investigators after he became suspicious that his wife may have been having an affair, Bristol Crown Court heard . On July 19, Mrs Gill and Mr Cooper met at Gordano Services on the M5 at 1.30pm. Gill allegedly used the agency to track his wife's Audi and followed her in a borrowed car. Later that day, Mrs Gill and Gill agreed their relationship was 'coming to an end', the jury heard . She told him to leave the property and he returned at 9pm when he was arrested by police, the court heard. In an interview, Gill initially told police he had flown into a rage after his wife called him a ‘sad, pathetic man’. He later told officers he had taken a ‘cocktail of drink and drugs’ and could not remember attacking his wife, the jury was told. The trial continues. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Nirmal Gill, 49, accused of murdering his wife Rosemary Gill, 48 .
Alleged to have 'battered her over head with dumbbell' in bedroom .
It came after he discovered she was having affair with her ex-husband . |
Keywords: <keyword>JOHNSON DIED</keyword>, <keyword>SITCOM GILLIGAN</keyword>, <keyword>ROLE PROFESSOR</keyword>, <keyword>ACTOR RUSSELL</keyword>, <keyword>DEPUTY CORONER</keyword>, <keyword>PLAYED MARSHAL</keyword>, <keyword>ROY HINKLEY</keyword>, <keyword>SCOTT SEASONS</keyword>, <keyword>CAREER STRANDED</keyword>, <keyword>SADDLE WESTERN</keyword>
Actor Russell Johnson, best known as Professor in the 1960s TV sitcom "Gilligan's Island," died Thursday, his agent said. Johnson was 89. Johnson played the iconic role of Professor Roy Hinkley, whose scientific schemes to get the castaways rescued were always foiled by Gilligan's bumbling. He died at his home in Washington, where he lived with his wife, Connie. She and their daughter, Kimberly, were at his side, said agent Mike Eisenstadt. Johnson is also survived by a stepson, Court, and a grandson, he said. Johnson worked up until his death, signing autographs over the holidays, said Eisenstadt. He called Johnson's death "unexpected." The chief deputy coroner in Kitsap County, Washington, told CNN that Johnson died from natural causes. Johnson was "just a positive and nice guy" who always treated people with respect, his agent said. His acting career began in the early 1950s with many jobs as a character actor on television. He played Marshal Gib Scott in two seasons of "Black Saddle," a Western that ran in 1959 and 1960. Johnson acted in dozens of television shows after the four seasons on "Gilligan's Island," but his career seemed stranded on its own island because of the popular sitcom role. A noteworthy big screen role was as a nuclear physicist in the 1955 science fiction film "This Island Earth." Share your memories . Johnson was in Ray Bradbury's 1953 sci-fi classic "It Came From Outer Space." Before becoming an actor, Johnson served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. He was on a B-24 Liberator when it was shot down during a bombing raid over the Philippines in 1945, according to his official biography, and used his G.I. Bill benefits to pay for acting school after the war. Johnson, in a 2004 interview for the Archive of American Television said the success of "Gilligan's Island, which he never expected to last more than the initial order of 13 episodes, was the result of the "great chemistry" of the cast. Tina Louise, who played the glamorous Hollywood starlet Ginger on "Gilligan's Island said she was " very saddened to hear of the passing of Russell Johnson." "My prayers and condolences go out to his wife Constance and his family," Louise said. "He will always be in our hearts and remembered from Gilligan's island as part of American pop culture history. He will truly be missed." Advice to young actors . Johnson's advice to young actors was to "prepare yourself." "Most of us have to really learn how to do what we do, and that takes some studying and being part of an acting group," he said. "Preparation is everything, and that means studying." Another important ingredient to acting success is perseverance, he said. "You can have all the talent in the world, but if you don't persevere, if you don't stick to it, it doesn't mean anything." | Johnson played the iconic role of Professor Roy Hinkley on "Gilligan's Island"
Johnson worked up until his death, signing autographs over holidays .
He was "just a positive and nice guy," his agent says .
Johnson, 89, was an Army Air Forces veteran of World War II . |
Keywords: <keyword>FLAMES POULTRY</keyword>, <keyword>FIREFIGHTERS PICTURED</keyword>, <keyword>COMPANY JIA</keyword>, <keyword>CHINA DEADLIEST</keyword>, <keyword>2013 JILIN</keyword>, <keyword>CHIEFS JAILED</keyword>, <keyword>SAFETY REGULATIONS</keyword>, <keyword>FARM BOSSES</keyword>, <keyword>KILLED 121</keyword>, <keyword>PLANT FALSIFIED</keyword>
Two fire chiefs and two poultry farm bosses have been convicted and sentenced to prison terms of up to nine years for a fire at a plant in northeastern China last year that killed 121 people. The June 2013 fire in Jilin province was China's deadliest industrial accident in five years and highlighted continuing violations of safety regulations despite recent improvements in the country's work safety record. Survivors at the time described workers, mostly women, struggling through smoke and flames in the poultry processing plant to reach doors that turned out to be locked or blocked after an electrical short ignited flammable goods. Firefighters pictured carrying body bags, one after another, from the charred wreckage of the factory . About 100 workers managed to escape the deadly smoke and flames. Those who survived said all the lights went out, the plant went dark and people started to panic . Rescue services were pulling bodies from the remains of the charred building (pictured) six hours after the fire broke out. Two fire chiefs have now been jailed for abuse of power after they falsified information . On Friday, two district courts in Changchun city sentenced two bosses of the plant and two fire officials, the official Xinhua News Agency said. The chairman of Jilin Baoyuanfeng Poultry Company, Jia Yushan, was sentenced to nine years in prison and fined 1 million yuan (£102,000) for not ensuring the working environment was safe, and former general manager Zhang Yushen was sentenced to four years for installing substandard equipment, Xinhua said. Lyu Yandong, the former chief of the local fire department, and his deputy Liu Guicai were convicted of abuse of power and sentenced to prison terms of up to 5 and a half years. Prosecutors previously said they had failed to carry out any serious inspections of the plant and falsified information after the fire to try and cover that up. While 121 people were killed in the deadly blaze, another 76 were badly injured. At the time the company was producing 67,000 tonnes of processed chicken per year and employed about 1,200 people. The fire at the plant started at around 6am, not far from the town of Dehui (illustrated), about 800 kilometers northeast of China's capital, Beijing . TV footage showed firefighters desperately attempting to douse flames inside the building's charred shell . Firemen peer into the building, which is full of thick smoke, as they look for survivors . Distraught: Family members of missing workers wait for information after the tragic and devastating fire . Two women cry as they await news of a loved one thought be have been in the building at the time . Many survivors reported scenes of panic in the immediate aftermath of the incident. Alarmingly, there were numerous reports of survivors saying they struggled to get out of the building because exits were 'blocked'. They said because of the 'complicated' design of the building, including narrow corridors, blocked exits and lights cutting out, many were unable to escape. Reports at the time claimed workers heard a loud explosion and then dark smoke and flames quickly engulfed the factory. Speaking to Chinese state media CCTV, one woman said: 'I heard a huge blast, I thought it was an earthquake, everyone started running. I fell and and had to crawl out of the building.' Relatives are overcome with grief as the poultry plant smoulders in the background . Survivors and relatives watch on in horror at the scene of the fire, praying their loved ones are safe . Another escaped by climbing out of the window. She said: 'A huge cloud of black smoke came down the corridor. It was burning hot; it engulfed me.' She collapsed unconscious as soon as she was outside. Wang Fenya, a 44-year-old female worker said: 'Soon after (the fire started) someone shouted "run away!" and we quickly ran to the exit, which is about 40metres away from my seat. Suddenly the lights went out and the plant got quite dark.' She said when she finally got outside and looked back, she could see big flames coming out of the building. | The Chinese factory fire killed 121 workers and badly injured another 76 .
Two bosses have been jailed for its unsafe conditions and poor equipment .
Survivors reported chaos as workers were trapped behind locked doors .
Company boss sentenced to nine years jail and fire chiefs given five years . |
Keywords: <keyword>KISS CAM</keyword>, <keyword>PRINCE WILLIAM</keyword>, <keyword>COUPLE PICTURED</keyword>, <keyword>PRESENTER INTRODUCED</keyword>, <keyword>KATE CELEBRATE</keyword>, <keyword>HOLDING CYCLIST</keyword>, <keyword>MATCH WASHINGTON</keyword>, <keyword>OLYMPIC EXPERIENCES</keyword>, <keyword>OBAMA GIVES</keyword>, <keyword>HOY</keyword>
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 16:29 EST, 3 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 02:16 EST, 6 August 2012 . Prince William has told how he feared being captured on a 'kiss cam' sharing an intimate moment with his wife Kate. The royal couple were pictured hugging and holding each other as cyclist Sir Chris Hoy and his team-mates raced to a gold medal. William was worried the velodrome's roving 'kiss cam' would zero in on them and force them to pucker up. Scroll down for video . Caught on camera: Prince William and his wife Kate celebrate Sir Chris Hoy and his team-mates winning gold in the velodrome . Pucker up: President Obama gives his wife Michelle a kiss after a 'kiss cam' focused on them at a U.S. basketball team match in Washington . He told the BBC: ' I was absolutely dreading they were going to come and show myself and my wife. That would have been very embarrassing.' 'Kiss cams' - TV cameras which pick out fans at big sporting events and urge them to kiss - have become popular in America with President Barack Obama the latest celebrity in the frame. Mr Obama and his wife Michelle Obama finally gave the people what they wanted while supporting the U.S. basketball Olympic team at a game in Washington. They were caught twice, but needed a little urging from the audience to smooch in front of all the fans. Eventually, the President gave in and pecked the First Lady on the lips. Princes William and Harry gave the 2012 Games a surprise boost last night when they talked to presenter Sue Barker about their Olympic experiences so far. Are you sitting comfortably? Sue Barker chats to Princes William and Harry on the BBC Sport's sofa last night . Informal: Both princes were dressed in open collar shirts with London 2012 pins on the lapels of their blazers . The Duke of Cambridge and his brother . popped up during the BBC’s primetime early evening slot to offer their . verdicts on Britain’s medal performances and give our athletes the royal . seal of approval. There . was also an affectionate tribute to their grandmother, the Queen, over . her ‘secret hobby of parachuting’ which wowed millions during the . opening ceremony. In a remarkably relaxed few minutes, the two princes chatted so informally on the sofa it could almost have been the ‘Royal One Show’. The presenter introduced her ‘very special guests’ using their full titles, but then casually directed her questions to ‘William’ and ‘Harry’. Pride: Both William and Harry spoke fo how proud they were of their cousin Zara's equestrian success . The royal siblings joked about their grandmother's 'new hobby' - parachuting - and how she has been requested for the new Bond movie . With Olympic history unfolding behind . them, the royal pair sat side by side in front of the stadium, sporting . blazers and open neck shirts, and gave the clear impression they were . having a great time at the ‘electrifying’ Games. As . Harry put it: ‘We’ve had a chance to be at quite a few events, but . just to feel the buzz of the British public getting behind the teams . is astonishing.’ The . princes spoke of their immense pride in their cousin Zara Phillips and . her equestrian medal success – and revealed they were kept ‘completely . in the dark’ about the Queen’s transformation to Bond girl in the . Olympic opening ceremony. The scenes, shot in Buckingham Palace and featuring the Queen alongside Bond star Daniel Craig, proved to be some of the most memorable in the extravaganza. William admitted that he was terrified that the velodrome's kiss cam would force him kiss wife Kate in front of the crowd . Harry told Sue: ‘Both of us were . slightly surprised with our grandmother’s secret hobby that she had of . parachuting, which went down unbelievably well.’ William said: ‘To be honest, we were kept completely in the dark about it, that’s how big the secret was.’ He . said Harry had ‘got a sniff’ of a rumour but they did not know for sure . until they saw the scenes. ‘She did such a good performance that she . has now been asked to star in the next Bond film,’ he joked. ‘You . don’t expect the Queen to do something like that,’ Harry added, . quipping: ‘What she does in her spare time is her spare time...’ The princes have been highly visible during the Games, not just enjoying themselves at the events, but acting as unofficial Olympic ambassadors for Britain’s image abroad. William described the silver medal won by their cousin Zara’s team in the three-day equestrian event as ‘absolutely fantastic’, adding: ‘Emotionally I got completely carried away in the moment.’ Harry added: ‘We as cousins are very, very proud. It explains why we never get to see her as she is always riding.’ | 'That would have been embarrassing' says Prince as he and Harry make a surprise appearance on the BBC's Olympic sofa .
Wills admits getting 'carried away' with cousin Zara's medal .
They were kept in the dark about Queen's Bond role . |
Keywords: <keyword>WORN PRINCE</keyword>, <keyword>INFANT ROYAL</keyword>, <keyword>GIFT GEORGE</keyword>, <keyword>DRESSING BABY</keyword>, <keyword>STYLES CELEBRATING</keyword>, <keyword>CHILDRENSWEAR DESIGNERS</keyword>, <keyword>BIRTHDAY PORTRAIT</keyword>, <keyword>ELGIN CASHMERE</keyword>, <keyword>EFFECT PETIT</keyword>, <keyword>SALES FIGURES</keyword>
By . Ruth Styles . He might be celebrating his first birthday today but when it comes to style, Prince George has the sort of selling power that far outstrips his years with even his mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, left trailing in his wake. Dubbed 'the world's most influential toddler' by Forbes magazine, anything the infant royal wears sells out instantly as mothers rush to add a shot of royal style to their children's wardrobes. With a mother famous for her sartorial nous, Prince George was always going to have a stylish wardrobe. But what few could have imagined is just how quickly the 'George Effect' would kick in. Scroll down for video . Adorable: Prince George, who turns one today, wore sailcloth Petit Bateau dungarees for the birthday portrait released on Sunday. They have since sold out . Adorable: Prince George's Les Abeilles rompersuit (left, beneath cardigan) and his Rachel Riley shorts and t-shirt (right) all sold out within hours of being worn . In the event, it took less than 48 hours with the white receiving blanket in which he was wrapped as he was carried from the Lindo Wing selling out almost instantly. Costing £44.95 and made by Aden + Anais, a US label run by an Australian, more than 7000 Jungle Jam swaddling wraps were sold in the first nine days of George's life, while traffic to the brand's website shot up by 1,960 per cent. And so it has continued, with the latest to benefit from the George effect being Petit Bateau, the French brand behind the striped sailcloth dungarees worn by the third in line to the throne for the birthday portrait released on Sunday. Costing just £27.50, the all-in-one sold out within hours of the photograph's publication with a £31.50 red version also selling well - much to the delight of CEO Patrick Pergament. 'Petit Bateau is extremely honoured that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge chose our brand to dress Prince George for this official photo,' he told MailOnline. Starting early: Aden + Anais sold more than 7,000 white receiving blankets in the first nine days of George's life after the baby was carried from the Lindo Wing in one . Can't copy this one: One of the few outfits not to sell out, if only because it is unique, Prince George's Victorian style lace Christening gown did spark a wave of imitations . 174280 . 71145 . 37920 . 137602 . 69101 . 26820 . 97455 . 'We are surprised and delighted and we could not imagine a better ambassador than this little boy full of life. We take this opportunity to wish him a very happy birthday.' And Pergament isn't the only CEO to have been left rubbing his hands in glee following a royal appearance. Designer Rachel Riley, almost unheard of until Prince George wore her sailboat smocked dungarees for a 'crawl-about' in New Zealand, says that the George Effect has transformed her business. 'He is such a high profile baby and he’s brought lots of attention and excitement to the brand,' the London-based designer said in an interview with Forbes magazine. 'It’s been phenomenal for the business to have Prince George wearing pieces from the collection. Personally, as a British citizen, if there’s one child I’d want to dress it’s the heir to the throne. I’m absolutely thrilled.' Others to . benefit include little known Belgian label, Les Petit Abeilles whose . white romper suit emblazoned with sailboats was worn as George arrived . in Australia, and Spain's Neck & Neck whose website crashed after . the baby royal was photographed in its pinstriped dungarees during a day . out at the polo. 'Prince . George wore the sailboat romper by Les Petites Abeilles on two . occasions, at the Dukes arrival in New Zealand (with a white cardigan) and in Australia,' remembers Les Petit Abeilles founder, Désirée von Hohenlohe. Popular: This Johnstons of Elgin cashmere jumper worn in March's Mother's Day portrait was a gift from George's doting grandfather, Prince Charles . Adorable: This pair of £33.99 Neck and Neck dungarees sold out within hours of being spotted on George at a polo match and even crashed the brand's website . 'It was a great surprise and honour to see it worn by Prince George. We had a significant increase in sales afterwards and people emailed us from all over the world to order the romper.' And it isn't just Les Petit Abeilles sales figures that have felt the Prince George effect. As Ms von Hohenlohe explains, the increased scrutiny has resulted in a makeover for the business itself., . 'We had the idea of developing our business by launching a web shop,' she explains. 'With all the publicity we received, we had to speed up setting the shop up. 'It also motivates us for our future projects. Now there are big expectations and people are following what we are doing. A fashion magazine even contacted us to photo shoot of our autumn winter collection; this has been very encouraging for us.' Most of . all though, Ms von Hohenlohe says she is thrilled by the simple fact . that the Duchess of Cambridge liked her work enough to buy it for her . baby son. 'We . are of course thrilled with such an honour and we have great admiration . for the royals,' she beams. 'The fact that they liked our sailboat . romper means a lot to us, regardless of whether the current sailboat . romper frenzy continue or not. 'We . will always remember the moment we saw the little Prince wearing our . romper, and the excitement we felt. We feel great about the fact that . Les Petites Abeilles can dress little boys all over the world like . little Princes.' Trendsetter: Prince George's Neck and Neck . dungarees were also worn in Canberra (left) while this pair of Rachel . Riley dungarees (right) were seen in Wellington . And dressing baby sons around the world is clearly popular - the young royal even has his own style blog, What Prince George Wore, dedicated to all things baby style. The blog even has a . sister site in the shape of What Kate Wore - a website devoted to the . Duchess of Cambridge's wardrobe - although Prince William is yet to find . similar favour with the fashion set. But . while the Duchess of Cambridge might still be a dab hand at selling out . whatever she wears, even she cannot compete with her son when it comes . to sheer selling power. From . £44.95 swaddling wraps to sailcloth dungarees, the George effect shows . no sign of petering out - much to the excitement of childrenswear . designers contemplating another decade of buoyant sales to come. | Prince George was less than 48 hours old when the 'George effect' first kicked, selling out Aden + Anais blankets .
Since then, everything the junior royal has worn has sold out with designer Rachel Riley among those to benefit .
The £27.50 sailcloth dungarees by Petit Bateau worn in Sunday's first birthday portrait have already sold out .
Prince George will celebrate his first birthday today with a family party at Kensington Palace . |
Keywords: <keyword>YOUTH SMOKING</keyword>, <keyword>PERCENTAGE SMOKING</keyword>, <keyword>LIFETIME ADDICTION</keyword>, <keyword>CHILDREN START</keyword>, <keyword>ADULTS USE</keyword>, <keyword>NATIONWIDE PREVENT</keyword>, <keyword>SOCIETY AMERICAN</keyword>, <keyword>EXPENDITURES RISEN</keyword>, <keyword>SAYS REPORT</keyword>, <keyword>STARTING PATH</keyword>
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 16:29 EST, 8 March 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 18:12 EST, 8 March 2012 . Smoking among America's youth has reached epidemic proportions, starting them on the path to a lifetime of addiction, according to the U.S. surgeon general's office. Among U.S. high school seniors, one in four is a regular cigarette smoker, and because few high school smokers are able to quit, some 80 percent will continue to smoke as adults, the office says in its first report on youth smoking since 1994. 'Today, more than 600,000 middle school students and 3 million high school students smoke. We don't want our children to start something now that they won't be able to change later in life,' Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin said. U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin speaks at a news conference releasing the report 'Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults today . An estimated 3,800 kids pick up their first cigarette every day and 9 in 10 current smokers started before the age of 18. Some 99 percent of all first-time tobacco use happens by the age of 26, exposing young people to the long-term health effects of smoking, such as lung cancer and heart disease. 'This report highlights the urgent need to employ proven methods nationwide that prevent young people from smoking and encourage all smokers to quit. One in four U.S. high school seniors is a regular smoker. 80 percent will continue to smoke as adults. More than 600,000 middle school students and 3 million high school students smoke. An estimated 3,800 kids pick up their first cigarette every day . 9 in 10 current smokers started before the age of 18. 99 percent of all first-time tobacco use happens by the age of 26 . Smoking kills more than 1,200 people every day. For every tobacco-related death, two new 'replacement' smokers under the age of 25 take up the habit. 'Including passage of smoke-free laws, increases in tobacco excise taxes and fully funded tobacco prevention programs,'John Seffrin, chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, said. Although U.S. smoking rates have fallen since 1964, when the surgeon general issued the first health warnings on smoking, progress in curbing youth smoking has stalled in the past decade just as marketing efforts aimed at youth continues to climb. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, killing more than 1,200 people every day. And for every tobacco-related death, two new 'replacement' smokers under the age of 25 take up the habit. The report criticized tobacco companies for targeting youth, saying the industry spends more than $1 million an hour - over $27 million per day - in marketing and promoting tobacco products. This chart, produced in a study by the University of Michigan, shows the percentage of smoking among 8th, 10th and 12th graders between 2002 and 2007 . This chart, produced in a study by the National Survey on Drug Use, shows the percentage of smoking among young adults aged 18-25 in 2010 . According to the report, advertising messages that make smoking appealing to young people are widespread, and advertising for tobacco products is prominently displayed in retail stores and online. 'Targeted marketing encourages more young people to take up this deadly addiction every day,' U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a statement. 'This administration is committed to doing everything we can do to prevent our children from using tobacco.' Tobacco companies are spending more than $10 billion a year marketing their products - almost double the amount they spent in 1998 - but they have also stepped up their efforts to block policies aimed at reducing smoking, said Danny McGoldrick, vice president for research at the Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids. According to the report, advertising messages that make smoking appealing to young people are widespread . He pointed to tobacco companies' victory last week in federal court blocking a requirement by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to add graphic warning labels to cigarette packs. McGoldrick said tobacco marketing expenditures have risen in spite of restrictions imposed by the 1998 legal settlement between U.S. states and the tobacco companies. 'We have a constant battle on our hands,' McGoldrick said by telephone. Much of tobacco marketing dollars concentrates on convenience stores, he said. Studies show that two-thirds of U.S. teenagers visit such retail outlets at least once a week and the price discounts and exposure to tobacco advertising increase youth smoking. An estimated 3,800 kids pick up their first cigarette every day and 9 in 10 current smokers started before the age of 18 . Tobacco companies were quick to defend their practices. Altria Group, parent of companies Philip Morris USA, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco and John Middleton, said it markets to adults who use to tobacco through age-verified direct communications and in retail stores. 'The vast majority of our marketing expenditures come in the form of price promotions,' the company said in a statement. Altria said its tobacco companies worked to help enact the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009, noting it was one of the few tobacco companies that did. But U.S. public health officials said more is needed to curb youth smoking. 'We can and must continue to do more to accelerate the decline in youth tobacco use,' Dr. Howard Koh, assistant secretary for health at HHS said in a statement. "Until we end the tobacco epidemic, more young people will become addicted, more people will die and more families will be devastated by the suffering and loss of loved ones.' The full report can be found at www.surgeongeneral.gov . | 80 per cent of high school smokers will continue into adulthood .
3,800 youngsters pick up their first cigarette every day .
The study slams tobacco companies for targeting youths .
It says the industry spends over $27m a day promoting tobacco products .
The report published today by the U.S surgeon general's office is the first on youth smoking since 1994 . |
Keywords: <keyword>APPRENTICESHIP COLLEGE</keyword>, <keyword>EDUCATION EMPLOYMENT</keyword>, <keyword>APPRENTICES PAID</keyword>, <keyword>BROADER LEARNING</keyword>, <keyword>PROFESSOR ECONOMICS</keyword>, <keyword>GRADUATION RATE</keyword>, <keyword>YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT</keyword>, <keyword>PRODUCTIVITY SENSE</keyword>, <keyword>POVERTY COOKING</keyword>, <keyword>WORTH LERMAN</keyword>
(CNN) -- At dinner tables throughout the United States, there are tough conversations about the exploding cost of college, the rough job market, the pain of debt. For parents and students, it adds up to the same question: Is college worth it? But American University economics Professor Robert Lerman is asking something different: If college isn't worth it, what else is out there? Lerman, an Urban Institute fellow, has studied youth unemployment for decades, and thinks the United States ought to try an updated version of an old technique for education and employment: apprenticeships. They're not the same as an after-school fast food job or a summer internship at dad's office, he said. Apprenticeships require skill development in a workplace over a number of years. The education, which might be supplemented by classroom training, leads to a credential -- maybe a title, certification or diploma -- that proves mastery of a skill. During that time, apprentices are paid, and employers are getting another worker. "In many countries, apprenticeship training and mastery is thought of as a big advantage in innovation -- you have people seeing things, but have skills to understand them, make adjustments and achieve high quality," Lerman said. It's been a long time since apprenticeship dominated in the United States. Despite the Obama administration's focus on community colleges, which often house workplace-learning programs, apprenticeship programs draw few government resources, and reach relatively few fields, mostly construction and manufacturing. In a paper published last year, Lerman said about 468,000 people were in 27,000 apprenticeship programs registered with the U.S. Department of Labor in 2008. That was about .3% of the workforce at the time. Up to 1 million more were in unregistered programs, the report said. But in Switzerland, Austria and Germany, 50% to 70% of young people are trained through apprentice programs, according to "Training Tomorrow's Workforce." Lerman suggests the United States follow the example of countries that developed apprenticeships in fields including health care, information technology, finance, advanced manufacturing and maritime occupations. But that means getting through to politicians, educators, students and parents first. A Pew Research Center study published in May said 94% of parents who responded expected their kids to go to college. The Pew study "Is College Worth It?" pointed out that the median gap in yearly earnings between those with only a high school diploma and those who have a college degree is nearly $20,000, according Census Bureau data from 2010. But students doing poorly in high school aren't likely to thrive in a college classroom, Lerman said, at least not right away. More options that don't require a traditional college education might help lead people to higher-paying jobs, he said. "The fact is that no matter how quickly we move on expanding apprenticeship, college and academics are still going to have a big draw, and that's fine," he said. "But I think what we want to see is that diversification of routes to rewarding careers." Former auto worker: 'Bypassing' college a mistake . Here's what Lerman had to say about changing the way we think about paths for students after high school. CNN: What is apprenticeship, and how is it different than an after-school job or a summer internship? Lerman: It is far more in-depth than any internship and far more structured than a standard job. It involves in-depth learning on the job, as well as related instruction in classroom work. The employer has obligation to train the individual; employers are getting production out of the apprentice. The apprentice is also being paid, and usually, almost always, there is an upward trajectory of pay over a two- to four-year period. Alain Ducasse's Weapon Against Poverty: Cooking Classes . CNN: How did apprenticeships play a larger role in our past in the United States, and why did it fade away? Lerman: I don't think we ever had the scale of apprenticeship training that existed in other countries. We have become so academic-based in our thinking that we don't take seriously the workplace learning component and occupational component. The whole field of vocational education is a very contested one. Some people see vocational education as something to divert people away from higher goals of education. We went through a period when school-based vocational education, people argued, was used to discourage minority groups from going to college. CNN: How could we implement programs that would avoid tracking certain classes, races or ethnicities into non-college programs? Lerman: I'm personally not worried. If you look at the college graduation rate of African American males, it's well under 20%. Let's say we can double that, which is not easy to do -- the other people (who don't graduate) should not be doomed to bad careers, nor should people be pushed only one way. Sameness is not equality. I see entering apprenticeship as entirely voluntarily. You can have career-focused education and training that provides education at very high levels with outlets for people to move back into a purely academic programs if they so choose. Some of the very good programs, it's harder to get into an apprenticeship than to get into elite colleges. We need more good options. (With paid apprenticeships,) there's incentive. That reward would come much faster than trying to stay in school for 16, 18 years and then maybe getting a good job. I am a professor of economics and I do not discourage people from taking higher education courses, but there are so many opportunities to do that over time. I met, for example, in Germany, a sales person in a steel mill. Before he went to college, he went through a three-year apprenticeship at the steel mill in sales management. When we went to college, college was a lot easier. He had all that background. He was probably more mature then. He could recognize which things were going to be helpful to him. Study: For grads of color, it's prison or unemployment . CNN: Is part of the issue the word apprentice? It's tied to certain professions -- manufacturing, construction -- even if it describes work-based learning in fields like medicine and teaching. Lerman: It doesn't have as good a connotation as in other countries. The current administration is using "career pathways." The problem is that "career pathways" is a vague term. It isn't clear you're doing something in a serious and concerted way. An apprentice who completes a program, they have genuine expertise. That gives people a sense that, 'If I mastered this field, I can continue learning. I can learn other things as well.' To me, one of the great advantages is the sense of confidence it can give. Ideally, we should try to make more and more fields have that high quality of productivity, but also a sense of pride. People in the welding field should have that same sense. Laser welding, the design of welding, all of that can be very complicated, technical, advanced, productive and rewarding. Maybe we should have a contest. What name would capture the full notion, and perhaps be considered snazzier than apprenticeship? Community colleges step in to fill 'skills gap' CNN: Is there an opening for apprenticeship programs now that hasn't existed in the recent past? Lerman: College costs are rising dramatically, not only for individual families, but for governments. We're seeing increasing concern that many people are not doing well at high school levels. There is starting to be an openness to these kinds of initiatives, but you cannot understate the purely academic bias that is existing in policymakers and a strong education lobby. A public initiative has to recognize it's a very different model than supporting slots in community college or training program. What apprenticeship investments require is marketing and technical assistance to get employers to adopt apprenticeship programs. That's where government investment needs to be. I'm not trying to knock college, especially for the broader learning you can get if you devote yourself to it ... but we have to create a wider range of options for people. | As college costs rise and job hunts get tougher, some question: Why go to college?
Economics professor says United States should develop more apprenticeships .
Apprenticeships teach people a skill -- and pay them -- as they work toward certification .
Lerman says apprenticeships have been valuable in other countries . |
Keywords: <keyword>BEES WASPS</keyword>, <keyword>GODFROIDBROTHERS CAPTURES</keyword>, <keyword>CROCUS FLOWER</keyword>, <keyword>CATERPILLAR PETALS</keyword>, <keyword>FAUNA CREEPING</keyword>, <keyword>POLLEN RESTING</keyword>, <keyword>FASCINATING SHAPES</keyword>, <keyword>LIFE MOSS</keyword>, <keyword>MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY</keyword>, <keyword>SNAPPER BORIS</keyword>
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 20:32 EST, 4 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 22:19 EST, 4 August 2013 . They're the tiny insects we often swat away or spray with repellent. But nature-loving snapper Boris Godfroid has used macro photography to bring to life the secret world of bees, wasps, flies and other creepy crawlies, revealing the fascinating shapes and colors of tiny bugs. The former biology student's luminous close-up shots, posted to his website boris.godfroidbrothers.be, captures a bee bathing in pollen, a mantis resting on a hibiscus flower in Guatemala and a crab spider attacking a caterpillar on the petals of a beautiful flower. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Incredible: Godfroid used 'macro photography' to capture this bee resting in the heart of a crocus flower . Up close and personal: A bee languishes in the heart of a crocus flower . Buzzing: This bee rests between the petals of a crocus flower . Beautiful: A bee completely covered with pollen, resting between the petals of a crocus flower. It was almost too loaded to fly . ‘All photos are taken from live insects . in their natural habitat with natural colors,' he said. 'The distance . between my camera and the subject is about three centimeters, so you . have to be very careful approaching the insects.’ The Belgium resident picked up his first camera on his 16th birthday. He says on his website he used his small 'compact camera', which he received as a . gift, for several months before upgrading to a DSLR. Seeking to 'expand his boundaries', the self-taught shooter bought a D700 with movie-making capability two years later. Taking a break: A wasp covered in pollen resting in a dandelion flower . Fluorescent: A thick-legged flower beetle in a dandelion flower . Grisly: A crab spider attacks a caterpillar on the petals of a crocus flower . But Godfroid, keen to broaden his horizons, has expanded his impressive portfolio with moving images. For . his final film school project, the photographer filmed snails, insects . and other micro-fauna creeping through a rain-soaked mini-forest he . built inside a tiny studio. The . four minute documentary 'Life on Moss', uploaded to Vimeo, was shot in . an afternoon and night with a Nikon D7000 and a couple of lights, . according to petapixel.com. Godfroid . used a few hundred pounds of bricks and covered a spare room with moss . to film the tiny creatures in their natural habitat. Garden: Godfroid shot his video in a studio . Life on Moss from Boris Godfroid on Vimeo. Passionate: Godfroid made his movie on a specially designed set . All-seeing: A European paper wasp in Belgium . Praying? A tiny mantis on a hibiscus flower in Guatemala . Napping: A ladybug rests in the heart of a crocus flower in Belgium . Mortein? A small fly sits on the petals of a narcissus . Peckish: A grasshopper eating the pollen of a Hibiscus flower in Guatemala . | Macro photographer Boris Godfroid has taken incredible close-up images of tiny insects .
The Belgium snapper captured bees covered in pollen, a ladybug teetering on the edge of a flower and insects eating each other . |
Keywords: <keyword>FANS SUNDERLAND</keyword>, <keyword>RELATION NEWCASTLE</keyword>, <keyword>MH17 CRASHED</keyword>, <keyword>VIDEO CHAPMAN</keyword>, <keyword>MEN DIED</keyword>, <keyword>SWEENEY PICTURED</keyword>, <keyword>LEFT LIAM</keyword>, <keyword>OFFENSIVE TWEET</keyword>, <keyword>JOHN ALDER</keyword>, <keyword>MALAYSIA AIRLINES</keyword>
By . Emma Glanfield . A man has been charged with posting an offensive tweet about two Newcastle United fans who died in the MH17 plane disaster. Mitchell Tace Chapman, 18, of Sunderland, has been charged with making a malicious communication, which Northumbria Police said was in connection to ‘remarks posted on Twitter relating to two of the men who died’ on flight MH17. It is understood the two men were Newcastle United football fans John Alder, 63, and Liam Sweeney, 28, who were flying to New Zealand to watch their team play pre-season friendlies. Scroll down for video . Chapman's offensive remark on Twitter is believed to have been in relation to Newcastle United fans John Alder, 63, (left) and Liam Sweeney, 28, (right) who died when MH17 crashed in eastern Ukraine on July 17 . More than £30,000 has been raised by both Newcastle United fans and Sunderland fans for tributes to Mr Alder and Mr Sweeney. Pictured: One tribute left to the men outside St James Park in the wake of the MH17 crash . They were killed along with 298 others when the Malaysia Airlines plane came down over eastern Ukraine. Chapman will appear before magistrates in Sunderland on August 11. An online fundraising page set up in memory of Mr Alder and Mr Sweeney has raised more than £30,000. A total of 298 people were killed when the Malaysia Airlines plane came down over eastern Ukraine on July 17 . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Mitchell Tace Chapman charged with making malicious remarks on Twitter .
The 18-year-old allegedly posted an offensive tweet about MH17 victims .
Newcastle United fans John Alder, 63, and Liam Sweeney, 28 died in crash .
298 people died when Malaysia Airlines plane came down in Ukraine . |
Keywords: <keyword>JILLIAN MICHAELS</keyword>, <keyword>FITNESS STAR</keyword>, <keyword>SELTER WORKOUT</keyword>, <keyword>NFL PLAYERS</keyword>, <keyword>PLUMP DERRIERE</keyword>, <keyword>PAID INSTAGRAM</keyword>, <keyword>VIDEO SQUATS</keyword>, <keyword>30S JEN</keyword>, <keyword>BRUNETTE TIPPED</keyword>, <keyword>CRAWFORD</keyword>
By . Sadie Whitelocks . PUBLISHED: . 11:41 EST, 22 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 17:51 EST, 22 January 2014 . An Instagram fitness star known for her noticeably round derriere, has landed a lucrative sports management deal and is being dubbed the 'next Jillian Michaels.' Jen Selter, 20, from New York City, has amassed more than two million followers on her social media account, after posting daily poses of herself working out in tight-fitting gym gear - her shapely bottom being the primary focus. The pretty brunette is now tipped to make a small fortune through product endorsements and public appearances. Book, TV and fitness video projects are also in the pipeline. Scroll down for video . The squats paid off! Instagram fitness star Jen Selter , who known for her noticeably round derriere, has landed a lucrative sports management deal and is being dubbed 'the next Jillian Michaels' Selter signed with The Legacy Agency, . which represents baseball stars Carl Crawford and Johan Santana, NFL . players Osi Umenyiora and Reggie Bush and sports broadcasters Troy . Aikman and Dan Hicks. 'We believe she can be the next Jillian Michaels,' TLA agent Andrew Witlieb told the New York Post, even though Selter, has no formal fitness training like Michaels, 39, who is a judge on NBC’s The Biggest Loser. Famous asset: The 20-year-old from New York, has amassed more than two million followers on Instagram after posing pictures of her pert behind . However, Witlieb pointed out: 'Jillian didn’t get to where she is until . her mid-30s. Jen’s going to grow as a person, as a fitness expert, in . these next years. She’s here for the long term.' Asked if Selter’s precious rear would be insured like the limbs of other top athletes, Witlieb added, 'I have no idea.' Just . one picture of Selter on a workout ball or squatting at the gym can garner . as many as 80,000 likes, and thousands consider her a fitness . inspiration. 'I'm recognized wherever I am,' Selter said. 'I don't really go to public gyms anymore . just because it is a whole big scene when I'm there. I . don't like being watched.' Naturally sculpted: Many followers have suggested her plump derriere is fake - but she insists it is real, explaining that the only cosmetic surgery she has undergone was a nose job as a teenager . Sowing them how it's done: She says she aims to be an inspiration for other people to get fit . Active: Selter, originally from Long Island, is also a spokeswoman for a nutrition supplement company and hopes to launch her own line of workout gear . She admits that her . photos are always focused on her rounded behind, explaining: 'I don't . really post a lot of face pictures... They don't want to see my face.' Selter, . who is single and lives with her mother on the Upper West Side, took . cosmetology classes while holding side jobs at a plastic surgeon's . office and a gym after graduating high school. 'I'm recognized wherever I am, I don't really go to public gyms anymore . just because it is a whole big scene when I'm there. I . don't like being watched' When . she started working out at the gym, she noticed that her behind began . getting bigger and was inspired by the transformation. She . joined Instagram in March 2012 and began posting images of her body. When she saw people reposting her images, she asked for a credit and her . number of followers boomed. Once she achieved 300,000 followers, . sponsorship offers piled up from companies including Nike, Lululemon and . New Balance, among others. She has since quit her gym job and secured deals with water company NY20 and a nutrition supplement company, Game Plan Nutrition, for which she is a spokeswoman. Stunning: Selter, who is single, says she struggles to go anywhere where she is not recognized . Proud: She says that while she has worked hard to achieve her behind, anyone can do it . While . she would not reveal how much she makes from these deals, Selter, who . did not go to college, said they give her 'a lot more money than a . graduate would be making'. Her mother, Jill Weinstein, said she couldn't be more proud of her daughter and her following. 'I'm . very proud of her because this is a girl who didn’t want to go to . college, and she was able to build up this social media in such a way . that she has become famous and she is an inspiration and motivation for . so many people,' she told the Post. Many followers have suggested her . plump derriere is fake - but she insists it is real, explaining that the . only cosmetic surgery she has undergone was a nose job as a teenager. Curvy: Selter worked in a gym until she amassed half a million followers and began getting other job offers . Close: Selter is pictured with her mother Jill, who said she is proud of how her daughter motivates others . 'I'm Jewish,' she said. 'Jewish girls have big noses. Probably 1 out of 3 girls I know [has] a nose job.' Selter, . who hopes to create a line of workout gear or even her own chain of . gyms, admits that some of the photos can be 'showy' - but said that she . simply wants to inspire people. 'I . see myself motivating and inspiring everyone around the world,' she . told the Post. 'With hard work and dedication, anyone can get to where I . am.' She is set to make her first public appearance since signing with The Legacy Agency at Super Bowl events next week. | Jen Selter, 20, from New York City, became an internet hit after posting photos of her workout and yoga sessions to Instagram .
She counts Rihanna and sports stars among her followers .
The brunette, who is single, admits that some of the pictures can be a little 'showy' but that she wants to inspire and motivate people to stay fit . |
Keywords: <keyword>WEST HAM</keyword>, <keyword>STADIUM VALUED</keyword>, <keyword>CLUB COMPLETES</keyword>, <keyword>UNDERGROUND PARKING</keyword>, <keyword>FAMOUS UPTON</keyword>, <keyword>SALE LONDONERS</keyword>, <keyword>PURCHASE BOLEYN</keyword>, <keyword>VISITING OLYMPIC</keyword>, <keyword>700 HOMES</keyword>, <keyword>UNITED RELOCATION</keyword>
West Ham have sold the Boleyn Ground, their home for 110 years, to developers Galliard, paving the way for their move to the Olympic Stadium in 2016. Plans for the site, called ‘East End Village’, include 700 homes. Fans and residents are expected to vote on naming apartment blocks after West Ham legends such as Bobby Moore, Trevor Brooking, Geoff Hurst and Billy Bonds. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Kevin Nolan and Mark Noble visiting the Olympic stadium . All change: West Ham's famous Upton Park ground has been sold to be turned into 700 flats . Local lad: West Ham star Joe Cole poses for photographers at the Olympic Stadium last year as work continues to turn the arena into West Ham's new home . The site will also feature a claret-and-blue theme to reflect West Ham’s colours. It is understood the purchase price fell short of the £71.2million the stadium is valued at in club accounts. No financial details have been disclosed but a report in the London Evening Standard suggests that the club will raise less than the £71.2 million the 35,016 all-seater stadium is valued at in its accounts. Once . the site has been fully developed experts expect it to eventually be . worth hundreds of millions of pounds with the apartments expected to . prove attractive to fans, investors and other buyers desperate to get a . foothold in the London property market. Blocks of apartments will be built . around central public gardens where the pitch is currently laid, . following the example set by Arsenal’s former Highbury stadium home in . Islington, north London. A statement on the club's website . read: 'West Ham United can confirm that Award-Winning local London . developer Galliard Group has reached an agreement to purchase the Boleyn . Ground Football Stadium once the club completes its move to the Olympic . Stadium in 2016. 'Following a competitive bidding . process, West Ham United selected Galliard Group as the purchaser for . the site ahead of a number of other national and international . companies. 'The club . was impressed with Galliard Group's links to the local community and . their commitment to honouring the history of the Hammers at the Boleyn . Ground as part of their proposed development.' Away blaze: West Ham captain Kevin Nolan (left) wheels away after scoring his and the Hammers' second in the 2-0 win at Aston Villa . The first match to be played at the iconic Boleyn Ground was against Millwall in 1904. West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady added: 'We . opted to reach an agreement with Galliard because they are a local . London developer and employer with origins in east London. We know they . are committed to working closely with the local community and Newham . Council on proposals to transform the site into a residential and retail . village, which will benefit the local community and east London's . regional economy. 'The . deal demonstrates that we have been true to our word by securing the . regeneration of two areas of east London through our move to the Olympic . Stadium in 2016. 'In . addition, and most importantly for us, we can see that Galliard are . passionate about working with West Ham United to engage their supporters . to help deliver a fitting legacy that will honour the tradition of the . famous ground. We are confident that West Ham United fans will be . excited about their vision and the way they plan to respect more than . 100 years of West Ham history at Upton Park.' Stephen . Conway, chairman and chief executive of Galliard Group, said: 'Galliard . is one of London's most successful regeneration specialists and has a . proven track record in stadium land regeneration. Home, sweet home: West Ham co-owners David Gold (left) and David Sullivan (centre) with Sir Robin Wales, Mayor of Newham (second left), Kim Bromley-Derry, Newham Council Chief Executive (second right) and club vice-chairman, Karren Brady, pose in front of the Olympic Stadium in 2011 . Hammer time: Computer-generated images show how West Ham's new stadium will look from the inside (right) and the exterior from the sky (left) ahead of the scheduled 2016/17 opening . 'Working closely with . West Ham and Newham Council, Galliard now plan to undertake extensive . consultation with local residents and businesses and the West Ham United . Supporter Advisory Board in order to create a future for the site, . which is respectful of the cultural and economic diversity of the local . area.' Galliard Group is . committed to an open and wide ranging consultation on its plans for the . iconic site, including full engagement with Newham Council, as the . relevant planning authority, as well as with local residents and . businesses. Sir Robin . Wales, Mayor of Newham, said: 'We have always maintained that West Ham . United's relocation to Stratford had the potential to deliver an Olympic . Legacy beyond Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park as a key part of the . comprehensive regeneration of Green Street and Upton Park. The prospect . of much needed homes, jobs and community spaces for this area is an . exciting one.' Galliard's . proposals seek to provide new homes and both complementary and . innovative ground floor retail and leisure facilities, complete with . underground parking. Galliard also plan to undertake discussions with . the family of Bobby Moore regarding the proposed development of a . beautiful central landscaped garden, which would be named the Bobby . Moore Memorial Garden, providing a fitting tribute to the legacy of West . Ham United at the iconic site. Under . proposals also being considered, fans and local residents would be . invited to enter a poll to name each building after a legendary player . or an historic event at the club. Tribute: A statue of Bobby Moore will form the centrepiece of the stadium's legacy on the Upton Park site . In . addition, Galliard have commissioned world-renowned sculptress, Frances . Siegelman, to create a statue of Bobby Moore and other artwork . celebrating the heritage of the football club, which would be located in . the gardens and grounds of the new village. Under the plans, the . current West Ham memorial garden by the front entrance to the grounds . would also be retained, protected and incorporated into the new . development. Bobby Moore's . daughter, Roberta Moore, is pleased that there will be a lasting tribute . to West Ham United on Green Street. She said: 'I have always believed . that there should be some form of permanent West Ham United presence at . the Boleyn Ground site after the team leave and I'm really pleased that . the centre point of the development is planned to be named in honour of . my father. 'Hopefully . the new sculptures and buildings being proposed will also help ensure . that a lasting legacy to the club, my father and his team-mates is left . at Upton Park.' The new village, which will have a construction programme of some 30 months, has an anticipated completion date of late 2018. What will be at the site to commemorate West Ham's history?We were impressed with Galliard Group's commitment to honouring the legacy of West Ham United at the site. They have plans to name the key buildings at the new site after West Ham United legends, decided through polls and competitions with fans and the local community.Subject to approval and consultation, they also plan to name the central area of the development after West Ham legend Bobby Moore and will be looking to create sculptures and works of art to remember famous players and moments from West Ham's history. These will all be created in conjunction with the players' families and fans. What will happen to the remembrance garden?One of the most important aspects for West Ham in the negotiations with potential partners was the plans for the Memorial Gardens. We are pleased that Galliard Group plan to leave the Memorial Garden as it is so relatives and friends of loved ones can continue to come and pay their respects at the site. Will the commemorative bricks be coming?Yes. All of the names and messages on the commemorative bricks currently in place at the Boleyn Ground will be transferred to the Olympic Stadium. The Club also have plans to offer fans the chance to place new bricks at West Ham's new home. What else will be coming with West Ham to the Olympic Stadium?The Club are in discussions with the Supporter Advisory Board about what they want the Club to take to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Those discussions are ongoing but the key parts of the Club's history are likely to travel alongside items like the commemorative plaques for Club legends and the West Ham Pals Battalion from the First World War. Will local residents and traders be consulted?Yes, Galliard Group are renowned for their consultation with local residents. They pride themselves on their engagement with the local community and will hold regular meetings and distribute a regular newsletter to local residents and businesses. What if I'm interested in buying one of the properties?No properties will be released for sale until consultation is undertaken and planning is provided for properties to be built on the site. Only once this is done will Galliard Group look at selling properties on the site. Galliard Group are signatories to the House Builders Federation pledge that all of their London properties are offered for sale to Londoners/UK buyers first, before being marketed/sold overseas. If you have any further questions that are not covered here, please email [email protected] and we will endeavour to answer as many as we can via whufc.com . | Boleyn Ground set to be turned into East End 'village' of 700 homes .
Gaillard Group have won the bid to buy the stadium .
West Ham will move to the Olympic Stadium in 2016 .
The Hammers have played at Upton Park since 1904 .
A tribute to Bobby Moore will form centrepiece of ground's legacy on the site .
The 'village' is scheduled to be completed by 2018 . |
Keywords: <keyword>ISRAEL VOTERS</keyword>, <keyword>MEETING CLINTON</keyword>, <keyword>HILLARY BOOK</keyword>, <keyword>WORDS POLITICIAN</keyword>, <keyword>LANDS CHRISTIE</keyword>, <keyword>DISPUTED WEST</keyword>, <keyword>TRACY SEFL</keyword>, <keyword>BIBI SAYING</keyword>, <keyword>BANK MAINTAINS</keyword>, <keyword>HUSBAND NONCONSECUTIVE</keyword>
Hillary Clinton is stepping somewhere between meshuga and chutzpah with a lament in her new book about how Palestinians in Israel's West Bank are living 'under occupation.' In the memoir, due in stores on Tuesday, Clinton recounts a 1981 trip she took with her husband Bill between his nonconsecutive terms as governor of Arkansas. 'When we left the city and visited Jericho, in the West Bank,' she writes in her book Hard Choices, 'I got my first glimpse of life under occupation for Palestinians, who were denied the dignity and self-determination that Americans take for granted.' Those are fighting words for any U.S. politician who hopes to court American Jewish voters. The last elected official to make the same gaffe was Gov. Chris Christie, the constantly embattled New Jersey Republican. Dumb choices? 'Crossfire' co-host S.E. Cupp read aloud a passage from Hillary Clinton's new book on Monday, which describes the former secretary of state's feelings about Israel's alleged 'occupation' of Palestinian lands . Politically correct: Israel has built Jewish settlements on a little more than 1 per cent of the disputed West Bank territories, but it has become commonplace for politicians to refer to Tel Aviv as a wholesale 'occupier' of Palestinian lands . Christie recalled during a March 29 speech before the Republican Jewish Coalition that he had taken 'a helicopter ride from the occupied territories across' in 2012 'and just felt personally how extraordinary that was to understand, the military risk that Israel faces every day.' With the third-rail of Middle Eastern politics sparking, Christie made a hat-in-hand apology the following day to Sheldon Adelson, the über-wealthy conservative casino owner and serial campaign financier who had organizer the meeting. But Clinton isn't expected to follow suit. During a broadcast of CNN's 'Crossfire' program on Monday, a senior adviser to the Ready For Hillary political action committee, which is laying the groundwork for a 2016 presidential campaign, insisted that Clinton won't be falling on her sword. 'Does she owe Israel an apology for using the same language that Chris Christie used and then had to apologize to pro-Israel voters and pro-Israel groups?' asked S.E. Cupp, the conservative half of the show's left-right anchor desk. 'Hillary Clinton is going to stand by the words in her book,' said Tracy Sefl, the Clinton supporter. 'She is not going to apologize for something she need not apologize for.' Cupp wasn't impressed. 'Then you think that she believes that the Palestinian territory is "occupied"?' Cupp asked. 'She's not going to apologize for that, and she asserted that on purpose?' 'I'm sure that when we all actually read the book and listen to her give these interviews, her words will stand for themselves,' Sefl shot back. 'She said it twice in the book,' chimed in Tim Miller, executive director of the conservative America Rising PAC. Miller co-authored an opposition-research-heavy book for his organization, and released it to coincide with Clinton's. The title: Failed Choices . Trump card: Clinton counts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu among her public supporters, with Bibi saying in a 2012 tribute video that she 'is a strong and determined leader; she's principled and pragmatic' Co-host Paul Begala, a veteran strategist from Bill Clinton's White House days, insisted that the former first lady 'is very, very strong on' Israel. 'If that's the tree you guys want to bark up, I wish you luck,' he said. Cupp asked Sefl, 'Does (Hillary Clinton) owe Israel an apology for using the same language that Chris Christie used, then he had to apologize to pro-Israel voters and pro-Israel groups?” On Middle Eastern issues, Secretary of State Clinton painted a centrist self-portrait during her 2009-2013 time in office, and avoided clinging tightly either to Israel or to the Palestinian Authority. But on the thorny issue of West Bank settlements, she wore President Barack Obama's policy like a shield. In a May 2009 joint press conference with Egypt's foreign minister, she said the White House wanted 'to see a stop to settlements – not some settlements, not outposts, not natural growth exceptions. ... And we intend to press that point.' Palestinians living in West Bank cities like Hebron, Jericho and Nablus believe they have a sovereign claim to landlocked territories west of the Jordan river, saying that Israel is 'occupying' Palestinian lands. Israel's . position is that 'Palestine' hasn't existed as a geopolitical entity . since the British government ended its civil administration there in . 1948. At most, Tel Aviv says, the land is 'disputed,' not occupied. And that, Israel insists, means the land's status must be negotiated, not mandated at the barrel of a gun or handed over under threats from Hamas and other anti-Israel organizations that the U.S. sees as terror groups. Tracey Sefl, a senior advisor to the Ready For Hillary PAC, insisted that Clinton 'is not going to apologize for something she need not apologize for' Palestinians threw stones and burned tires on Friday as they clashed with Israeli security forces about Jewish 'occupation' of Palestinian-claimed land in the West Bank . In 1948 the West Bank was declared part of Jordan, but that country relinquished control of it 40 years later, stripping West Bank Arabs of Jordanian citizenship. Israel has built settlements on just over 1 per cent of the West Bank and maintains civilian and military control of about 7 per cent of the territory overall. Armed clashes between Israeli soldiers and pro-Palestinian protesters are common in other areas of the West Bank where Israel and the Palestinian Authority share control. Clinton, Begala pointed out Monday, won praise from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a 2012 tribute video prepared for a public forum on Middle Eastern issues. 'I've just had the opportunity to work with her to achieve a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas,' Netanyahu says in the video. 'Hillary Clinton is a strong and determined leader, she's principled and pragmatic. ... As someone who knows a thing or two about political comebacks, I can tell you that I don't think we've heard the last of Hillary Clinton.' But the maybe-running Hillary's book has already become more of a liability than an asset, with news networks procuring advance copies and interviewers leaning on her for news. In one embarrassing interview with ABC News, she complained that she and President Clinton were 'dead broke' when they left the White House in 2000. Since then she has raked in $8 million in book earnings, and now charges $200,000 for public speeches. | Hillary Clinton writes that in 1981 when she visited Jericho, Palestinians 'were denied ... dignity and self-determination'
'I got my first glimpse of life under occupation for Palestinians,' she writes in her memoir, 'Hard Choices'
NJ Gov. Chris Christie took heat in March for referring to the West Bank as 'occupied territories' during a speech to wealthy Jewish GOP donors .
Christie apologized, but an adviser to the 'Ready for Hillary' presidential campaign PAC insists Clinton has said nothing she should feel sorry for .
Palestinian partisans see territory on the West Bank of the Jordan River as their land and claim it's 'occupied' by Israel .
Israelis and most American Jews see them as 'disputed,' insisting that there was no Palestinian state to 'occupy' after the Six-Day war of 1967 .
The contentious issue and its semantics are at the heart of the Arab-Israeli conflict . |
Keywords: <keyword>PUBS EARNING</keyword>, <keyword>UK EARNS</keyword>, <keyword>EARN MONEY</keyword>, <keyword>DRUMMOND EARNS</keyword>, <keyword>GAMBLING CLEVER</keyword>, <keyword>COLOUR MONEY</keyword>, <keyword>UNUSAL VOCATION</keyword>, <keyword>40 YEAR</keyword>, <keyword>MACHINES CHRISTIAN</keyword>, <keyword>GUY PLAYING</keyword>
By . Sam Webb . PUBLISHED: . 19:12 EST, 12 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 20:18 EST, 12 November 2012 . Trivia titan Christian Drummond earns up to £60,000 a year - playing pub quiz machines. The 40-year-old, from Brighton, Sussex, makes his living solely by playing the games in pubs, bars and nightclubs all over Britain. Christian estimates he has visited well over 10,000 pubs, earning between £40 and £60 an hour, and tax free because his earnings are classified as winnings from gambling. Clever boy: Christian Drummond earns up to £60,000 a year playing pub quiz machines. He discovered the unusal vocation almost by chance . Riches: Christian estimates he has been to 10,000 pubs and bars across the UK and earns up to £60 an hour . The English literature graduate has even earned enough to pay for university, holidays abroad and his wedding from winnings. Christian, who favours the Chris Tarrant-fronted game The Colour of Money, said: 'You can earn £40,000 to £50,000 a year no problem. 'If I run out of pubs in a city, I just head to another one. 'I have measured out my life in pubs. When you get paid in coins every eight minutes you go a little crazy.' Christian can name all 500 Dickens characters, the populations of African cities and the number of sets in every Wimbledon final. He has been evicted just once by an angry landlord in Harrow on the Hill and had two machines turned off by barmen to prevent him winning. Christian takes two-week trips visiting as many pubs with a quiz machine in his chosen city as possible before travelling to the next. One of his well trodden routes is Sheffield, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, and on to Glasgow before doing the journey in reverse. Haul: His vocation has paid for his university fees, exotic holidays and even his wedding . You do what?: Most people struggle to believe Christian when he says what he does for a living . He added: 'The travelling around can be difficult and it is very taxing on the brain, staring at a screen. 'After ten hours in a row doing it you begin to get a bit flaky and crazy by the end of the day. 'I wanted to use my brain to earn money, and I am doing that, but it is not quite how I imagined I would do it.' His career began while studying English Literature at Sussex University, which he achieved a top first class degree in. But after watching punters win the jackpot on the quiz machine, he decided to give it a shot himself and has never looked back. He said: 'I was working in Scotland and saw a guy playing and realised you could win as much as £40 out of them. I had a go on my lunch hour and I won £20 on my first go. I did the maths and decided I could make a lot of money from it. 'The first day I ever did it I won £80.' After moving south from Glasgow, he struggled to find work as the recession bit. He added: 'I tried to find work but got caught in the crunch. 'I couldn’t get any job, not even a bar job, so I decided to try to ‘go pro’. I’ve been doing the quizzing for five years ever since as my main source of income.' Christian has had to deal with irate bar staff who objected to his winning ways . But Christian, who honed his general knowledge skills on long car journey’s with his map maker father, revealed people never truly believe him when he says what he does for a living. He said: 'It is very difficult when I have to tell people what I do. There are some people who simply don’t believe you. 'People think you are a gun runner or a burglar or something nefarious like that. 'My wife didn’t believe me either when I first told her what I did. But once she realised she told me to stop because she didn’t want me gambling. 'She is fine with it now, but I try to take her out for dinner with the proceeds whenever I can and we have been lucky enough to travel a lot off the back of the winnings. 'We do have one rule that is I’m not allowed to play the machines when we are out together.' Christian, who has only ever encountered one other professional quizzer, has revealed his secret to success at the pro quizzing game. He said: 'Knowing the questions is very important and possessing the sheer bloody-mindedness to keep going.' But now the former University Challenge team captain is planning his exit strategy. Christian said: 'It was very exciting at first, but now it has become work, but not just that it has become drudge work. 'It is not what I studied for, so now enough is enough and I want to get a normal job.' | Christian Drummond took up the unusual job after struggling to find work .
Now earns up to £60 an hour thanks to incredible general knowledge .
Graduate wants normal job after hitting more than 10,000 pubs and bars . |
Keywords: <keyword>OCCUPY MOVEMENT</keyword>, <keyword>RAPPER CRITICISM</keyword>, <keyword>CONSIDERING JAY</keyword>, <keyword>TMZ SPOKE</keyword>, <keyword>DIDN DONATE</keyword>, <keyword>HOVA MAKE</keyword>, <keyword>SHIRTS READ</keyword>, <keyword>SUPPOSEDLY</keyword>, <keyword>CASH POPULARITY</keyword>, <keyword>AUTHOR ZADIE</keyword>
By . Meghan Keneally . PUBLISHED: . 17:18 EST, 9 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 02:00 EST, 10 September 2012 . Jay Z said that he never supported the Occupy Wall Street movement because he thought that the group had too many issues and not enough direction. The rapper's criticism of the political protests seems particularly striking considering he briefly sold t-shirts that played on the cause's name but didn't donate anything back to the organizers. In an interview with British author Zadie Smith for The New York Times, the rapper said that he never supported the wealth inequality protests in spite of his attempts to cash in on their popularity. Empty message: Though he changed the t-shirts so they read 'Occupy All Streets' many criticized Jay Z (right, seen with Occupy-supporter Russell Simmons, left) for not donating any of the profits back to the movement . He said that after producer Russell Simmons, who was an ardent Occupy-supporter, called him to enlist 'Hova' to make an appearance at the protest tent grounds, he rejected the offer on the grounds that he didn't know what the movement was about. 'I’m not going to a park and picnic, I have no idea what to do, I don’t know what the fight is about. What do we want, do you know?' he supposedly told Simmons at the time. During The Times interview, the rapper whose real name is Shawn Carter, said that once he got a sense of what the Occupy movement stood for, he took issue with the portion of their argument that derides the success of the wealthy '1 percenters'. 'I think all those things need to really declare themselves a bit more clearly. Because when you just say that "the 1 per cent is that," that’s not true,' he said. 'Yeah, the 1 per cent that’s robbing people, and deceiving people, these fixed mortgages and all these things, and then taking their home away from them, that’s criminal, that’s bad. Not being an entrepreneur. This is free enterprise. This is what America is built on.' Considering Jay Z has worked his way up . from living in poverty and working as a drug dealer to accruing an . estimated personal wealth of $460million, it comes as no surprise that . he takes issue with slamming of the self-made-man. 99 problems: The rapper said that the protesters didn't specify their cause enough to make an impact . This is not the first run-in that Jay Z had with the movement as his clothing company Roc A Wear had to stop selling his t-shirts that played off the protest's name and changed it to read 'Occupy All Streets' once they received bad publicity after he admitted that there were no plans to donate any of the proceeds to the associated group. When they were sold, the cotton t-shirts were going for $22 each. At the time, TMZ spoke with an Occupy leader identified only as Grim who said: 'Jay-Z, as talented as he is, has the political sensibility of a hood rat and is a scrotum.' 'To attempt to profit off of the first important social moment of 50 years with an overpriced piece of cotton is an insult to the fight for economic civil rights known as #occupywallstreet.' | Jay Z criticized Occupy Wall Street because he took issue with their blasts against the wealthy .
The rapper, worth an estimated $460million, said it was wrong to fight against entrepreneurs .
Got in trouble when he made 'Occupy All Streets' t-shirts and didn't donate any of the profits to the protest movement . |
Keywords: <keyword>SMITH EAR</keyword>, <keyword>BYRNE SUFFERED</keyword>, <keyword>INVOLVING FATHER</keyword>, <keyword>PRIEST ALLEGEDLY</keyword>, <keyword>PERTH MAGISTRATES</keyword>, <keyword>BRUISING ALLEGED</keyword>, <keyword>THOMAS SURGERY</keyword>, <keyword>PHONED AMBULANCE</keyword>, <keyword>POCKET BRAWL</keyword>, <keyword>80 TOLD</keyword>
A retired priest allegedly had his ear bitten off in an unholy punch-up with another retired clergyman. Father Thomas Byrne, 80, told Father Thomas Smith, 81, to pick the flesh up off the ground and put it in his pocket after the brawl on Friday in Perth, Australia, according to police. But it was only when Father Smith returned to his retirement flat and pulled it out of his pocket that he realised it was his right ear, East Perth Magistrates Court heard. Father Thomas Byrne, 80, allegedly bit off 81-year-old Father Thomas Smith's ear in a brawl in Perth, Australia; picture posed by model . Father Byrne appeared in . court charged with grievous bodily harm over the incident involving . Father Smith, both of whom share the retirement home with a third . retired Catholic priest. The court was told that a violent brawl broke out at the retirement home complex in the Perth suburb of Dianella over a parking spot. Police told the hearing that it took some time for Father Smith to realise his ear had been bitten off. Once he realised that the flesh was his ear, Father Smith is said to have wrapped it in a tea towel and driven to a local medical centre, where staff phoned for an ambulance and police. He was kept in Perth’s Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital after surgery to try to save the severed ear. The punch-up took place over a parking spot in the Perth suburb of Dianella, pictured, the court heard . It appeared that Father Byrne had also suffered a bruising in the alleged fight. When he appeared in East Perth’s Magistrates Court he sported a black eye. Police prosecutor Chris Lawler said Father Byrne did not have a police record but he had concerns for the safety of the victim if bail was approved. ‘They live in the same complex but they are both funded by the Catholic Church,’ Mr Lawler told the court. Magistrate Greg Benn imposed strict bail conditions on Father Byrne, including an order not to go within 10 yards of Father Smith, nor act in a violent or threatening manner towards him. A neighbour living in the retirement home told PerthNow he was shocked to hear about the alleged fight ‘because we’re all in our 80s and retired priests.’ Father Byrne is due to appear in court again on December 7 to allow him to take further legal advice. Father Thomas had surgery to try to save the severed ear at Perth's Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, pictured . | Father Thomas Henry Byrne allegedly bit off Father Thomas Joseph Cameron Smith's ear in a brawl over a parking spot in Perth, Australia .
Father Smith picked up the flesh off the floor but only realised it was his right ear when he pulled it out of his pocket later, a court heard .
Father Byrne has been charged with grievous bodily harm . |
Keywords: <keyword>STATION DESIGNS</keyword>, <keyword>FARLEY BUILDING</keyword>, <keyword>FACILITY NEW</keyword>, <keyword>REIMAGINED PENN</keyword>, <keyword>ARENA CROWDS</keyword>, <keyword>RELOCATING MADISON</keyword>, <keyword>H3 PLAN</keyword>, <keyword>WALKWAY PEDESTRIANS</keyword>, <keyword>MERRILL PROPOSED</keyword>, <keyword>FUTURISTIC VISIONS</keyword>
By . Associated Press Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 21:40 EST, 29 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 22:11 EST, 29 May 2013 . Four teams of architects presented plans Wednesday for a reimagined Penn Station that would be a spacious, welcoming gateway to New York City instead of the crowded, confusing and dark transportation hub now used by hundreds of thousands of daily commuters. The four firms that took part in a design challenge sponsored by The Municipal Art Society all said the only way to improve Penn Station would be to move Madison Square Garden from its current home atop the train station. John Fantillas of H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture said the arena crowds the station 'like three fat men in a rowboat.' Futuristic visions: Four teams of architects have presented plans for a reimagined Penn Station, This is Skidmore, Owings and Merrill's proposed design. Lots of light: This is Diller, Scofidio and Renfro's proposed design for Penn Station, which would let in more light than the current design . Historic station: Train tracks run under the James A. Farley Post Office building, center, before reaching Penn Station, which sits under the familiar circular Madison Square Garden, center back . New look: The new designs aim to revamp and brighten the aging train station . Roger Duffy of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill called Penn Station 'a disaster' and said his firm has imagined 'a magnificent future' for the area with Madison Square Garden moved just to the southwest of its current location. Madison Square Garden called the plans 'pie-in-the-sky drawings.' 'It's curious to see that there are so many ideas on how to tear down a privately owned building that is a thriving New York icon, supports thousands of jobs and is currently completing a $1 billion transformation,' the company said in a statement. The design challenge was prompted by an upcoming vote by New York's City Council on renewing Madison Square Garden's permit to operate on top of Penn Station. The proposal by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) incorporates glass walls and skylights so that even 'from the tracks you know where you are.' Another alternative: SOM aims to move MSG to a spot just south of the Farley Building, on Eighth Avenue between 30th and 31st streets . Madison Square Garden wants the . permit renewed in perpetuity, while the city Planning Commission is . recommending a 15-year limit. The Municipal Art Society and some other . civic groups want the permit renewed for 10 years. In . addition to H3 Hardy and Skidmore, Owings & Merriill, architects of . the under-construction 1 World Trade Center, the firms that presented . new Penn Station designs were Diller Scofidio + Renfro, which has worked . on the High Line and renovating Lincoln Center, and SHoP Architects, . one of the firms that designed the Barclays Center arena in Brooklyn. They offered plans for an airy, light-filled Penn Station with shops, rooftop gardens and other amenities. H3 would upzone plots . all along Seventh Avenue to make way for tall office towers, four of . which would occupy the four corners of the Penn Station site . A three-acre roof garden would sit on top of the station, while all of the train lines would use the multi-layered structure whose centerpiece would be an airy 120-foot-high main hall with skylights . The H3 plan would connect MSG to the rest of the city via an elevated walkway for pedestrians and cyclists called the water line . H3 would upzone plots all along Seventh Avenue to make way for tall office towers, four of which would occupy the four corners of the Penn Station site . New home for MSG: H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture's plan involves relocating Madison Square Garden to a built-out pier along the Hudson River to the west of the Javits Center . Elizabeth Diller of Diller Scofidio + Renfro called her firm's 'city within a city' design 'a large sponge-like mass aerated in many directions.' Some plans envisioned paying for the upgrades by replacing existing buildings in the Penn Station complex with new mixed-use skyscrapers. Madison Square Garden, home to the Knicks, the Rangers and the WNBA's Liberty as well as a venue for concerts and other events, would be moved due west to a pier on the Hudson River under the H3 Hardy plan. The SHoP plan would place it a few blocks to the south and west in the Morgan mail processing facility. New home: Madison Square Garden would be moved a few blocks to the south and west in the Morgan mail processing facility in the SHoP plan . Big changes: The four firms that took part in a design challenge all said the only way to improve Penn Station would be to move Madison Square Garden from its current home atop the train station . Relocations: 'Penn Station cannot move and the Garden can,' SHoP's Vishaan Chakrabarti said in a phone interview. 'Right now everything's piled on top of everything' Funding: Some plans envisioned paying for the upgrades by replacing existing buildings in the Penn Station complex with new mixed-use skyscrapers . 'Penn Station cannot move and the Garden can,' SHoP's Vishaan Chakrabarti said in a phone interview. 'Right now everything's piled on top of everything.' Diller Scofidio + Renfro's plan puts the Garden in the back part of the Farley building directly west of Penn Station. Madison Square Garden said an earlier plan to move the arena to that spot 'collapsed for a number of reasons that did not involve MSG, but did involve many of the same people now pressuring MSG to move, including The Municipal Art Society, which created enormous obstacles to achieving the relocation.' City within a city: Diller Scofidio + Renfro took a more philosophical approach, making much of the idea that a new Penn could be 'a city within a city' Diller Scofidio + Renfro envisions Penn Station as 'a large sponge-like mass, aerated from every angle' With MSG moved to behind the Farley building on Ninth Avenue, there's room for a variety of spaces, from a spa to a micro theater to a cascading park . Inside the station, Diller Scofidio + Renfro envision drifting food vendors carrying their wares around their waist like at a baseball stadium . Also imagined are train arrival and departure times that would be projected onto the floor and real-time video footage of trains approaching and leaving the station aired onto a large screen . Its statement concluded, 'The fact that this exercise does not include anyone who actually has detailed knowledge of this issue or understands the realities of this complex project exposes this exercise for exactly what it is.' The architects said they would hope to work with the owners of the arena to the benefit of all parties. 'Madison Square Garden should not take this study as an affront,' Charles Renfro of Diller Scofidio + Renfro said in interview. 'They should be heartened by the fact that no one wanted to get rid of Madison Square Garden entirely or move it very far from its current home.' | Four teams of architects presented plans Wednesday for the reimagined train station .
The design challenge was sponsored by the Municipal Art Society .
It was prompted by an .
upcoming vote by New York's City Council on renewing Madison Square .
Garden's permit to operate on top of Penn Station . |
Keywords: <keyword>PAUL HOLLYWOOD</keyword>, <keyword>AMERICAN BAKING</keyword>, <keyword>STAR BAKER</keyword>, <keyword>CHEF MARCELA</keyword>, <keyword>LUCRATIVE TV</keyword>, <keyword>11 YEAR</keyword>, <keyword>END CBS</keyword>, <keyword>MARRIAGE SPLIT</keyword>, <keyword>FLOPPED</keyword>, <keyword>MOVED KENT</keyword>
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 18:28 EST, 15 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:20 EST, 16 July 2013 . Low ratings: Paul Hollywood's attempt to break into the lucrative U.S. TV business is on the rocks after his American Baking Competition flopped . Paul Hollywood’s attempts to conquer America appear to have fallen flat. The star baker had hoped to replicate the success of The Great British Bake Off with a U.S. version of the show. But The American Baking Competition, which was disliked by critics, attracted just 5.8million fans at its height, losing its time slot. Just 4.6million tuned in to the finale. As a result bosses at the CBS network have not committed to a second series. It is believed Hollywood, 47, had hoped to return to the US in the autumn for another run of the show to spend more time with 34-year-old Mexican pastry chef Marcela Valladolid. But a TV insider said speculation over their relationship and the breakdown of his 15-year marriage to wife Alexandra, 49, with whom he has an 11-year-old son, had not helped matters. 'Hollywood’s chances of becoming a star are on the rocks. He has not made an impression like Gordon Ramsay or Simon Cowell did in their first show,' the source said. 'The American Bake Off was not liked by critics and also the viewers tuned out at the end, which has made CBS bosses non-plussed about its future. 'They hoped that the show would become a flagship for the channel with Hollywood doing for them what Gordon Ramsay does for the rival Fox network. 'But with the marriage split, the PR drive for the show went askew and both Marcela and Hollywood stayed away from a heavy publicity drive. 'It certainly hurt the show and now they might duck PR again if it gets a second chance, which doesn’t help their cause.' At the weekend Mr Hollywood’s tearful wife told the Daily Mail there was no hope of a reconciliation and that she was divorcing him. Mr Hollywood moved out of his Kent marital home in May amid rumours he had started dating Miss Valladolid. The news created a string of negative headlines and days before The American Baking Competition launched in the US. Wife swap: An insider said speculation over Hollywood's relationship with Marcela Valladolid, left, 34, and the breakdown of his 15-year marriage to wife Alexandra, right, 49, with whom he has a son, had not helped . Mr Hollywood and Miss Valladolid have never spoken about their relationship but a few weeks ago the baker tweeted a picture of an empty plate having apparently enjoyed a romantic dinner date with the mother-of-one, who has also split from her husband Fausto Gallardo. He added the caption: ‘Great meal. Ahhh x’ Hours later, his wife posted a message to more than 2,000 followers, saying: ‘I have to say, if I went out on a romantic evening I’d be gazing lovingly at my date, not tweeting my empty plate... What do you think girls?’ Plenty of chemistry: But the American Baking Competition starring Hollywood and Miss . Valladolid attracted just 5.8million fans at its . height, losing its time slot. Just 4.6million tuned in to the finale . Although she tweets under the name ‘Hollywood wife’, the mother-of-one has changed her Twitter profile to say that she is ‘soon to belong to The First Wives Club’. Last night a CBS senior figure confirmed: 'No decision has been made on whether there will be additional series. 'No-one has been talking about the ratings.' | American Baking Competition attracted just 5.8m viewers at its height . |
Keywords: <keyword>TSUNAMI KILLED</keyword>, <keyword>MINAMI</keyword>, <keyword>RESCUED SUNDAY</keyword>, <keyword>LIFE HIROMITSU</keyword>, <keyword>JAPANESE TROOPS</keyword>, <keyword>STORIES SURVIVAL</keyword>, <keyword>LEAVE ELDERLY</keyword>, <keyword>HOUSES PEOPLE</keyword>, <keyword>ALARM WARNINGS</keyword>, <keyword>WOMAN CLUNG</keyword>
Minami Sanriku, Japan (CNN) -- A 60-year-old Japanese man was rescued Sunday more than nine miles out at sea after clinging to the swept-away remnants of his home for more than two days. "I thought today was the last day of my life," Hiromitsu Shinkawa told his rescuers, according to Kyodo News Agency. Amazing stories of survival began to emerge in Japan, even amid the horrific destruction of the massive quake and subsequent tsunami that has killed nearly 1,600, destroyed tens of thousands of homes and stoked fears of a potential nuclear power plant meltdown. Three elderly people were found alive in a smashed car that had been tossed by the tsunami. Another woman clung to branches in a tree and took her chances by grabbing onto a floor mat that drifted nearby. The rushing currents pushed her around and around, past many buildings, she said. Her daughter was washed away and remains missing. "I had been waiting for help all night," the rescued mother said. Prime Minister Naoto Kan said about 15,000 people have been rescued so far. Japanese troops were canvassing the destruction by the thousands in search of any sign of life. Hiromitsu Shinkawa, the man rescued at sea, told rescuers he and his wife had returned home shortly after the 8.9-magnitude quake to pick up some belongings when the tsunami slammed the city of Minamisoma. "I was saved by holding onto the roof, but my wife was swept away," he said, according to Kyodo. Video showed him barely visible amid heaps of splintered wood, shattered homes and other debris floating more than nine miles (15 kilometers) at sea. He could be seen waving a self-made red flag. Rescuers aboard a Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer spotted him and quickly dispatched a smaller rescue boat to pick him up. When a member of the force handed Hiromitsu something to drink on the rescue boat, he drank it and burst into tears, Kyodo reported. "No helicopters or boats that came nearby noticed me," he said. In Minami Sanriku, a town in northeastern Japan, a family photo album lay on the sodden ground, showing a beaming man holding a newborn baby -- happiness out of place amid the devastation. It's been estimated that some 9,500 people -- half the town's population -- may be unaccounted for. Only a handful of buildings were left standing, with the rest a mangled mess of rubble. A boat sat on the edge of town, carried more than two miles inland by the tsunami. When the tsunami warning sounded Friday, "most people ran away," said Choushin Takahaski, who was working in a local government office near the water. "Some had to leave the elderly or disabled behind on the second floor. I think a lot of those left behind probably died." As the wave hit, he said, it felt like a dream. "I saw the bottom of the sea when the tidal wave withdrew and houses and people were being washed out," another resident said. "I couldn't watch anymore." Forty-two people were found alive Sunday in Minami Sanriku. Search-and-rescue efforts were frequently disturbed by tsunami alerts prompted by ongoing aftershocks. When the alarm sounded, police abandoned their cars, rescue workers blew whistles and people rushed to high ground. "It's your life!" shouted one man. "Run!" It was a false alarm, but such warnings are taken seriously in the wake of the disaster. In Sendai, south of Minami Sanriku, Hiroki Otomo said his mother and uncle remain missing. They were at the family's home when the tsunami struck. "Frightening beyond belief," Otomo said. "I have no words." Many areas of the town are simply gone -- mud and boards littering an area where a row of homes used to stand. A vehicle was found upside-down among tree branches. A school, which had 450 people inside when the tsunami hit, stood with its doors blown open and a jumble of furniture -- plus a truck -- in its hallways. Some teachers and students were able to escape the building, but officials said others did not. Sendai residents said the water reached the treetops as it swept into the town. Cars were tossed like toys, windows blasted out and homes crushed or swept away completely. "As I was trying to evacuate, the tsunami was already in front of me," another young man said. "I tried to drive, but I ended up running instead." CNN's Paula Hancocks, Kyung Lah and Wayne Drash contributed to this report. | Prime Minister Naoto Kan says about 15,000 people have been rescued so far .
60-year-old man survives clinging to debris at sea; wife swept away .
Japanese troops canvass region searching for any signs of life . |
Keywords: <keyword>CAMERON NANNY</keyword>, <keyword>BRITISH CITIZEN</keyword>, <keyword>ABROAD CLEANER</keyword>, <keyword>LABOUR MIGRANTS</keyword>, <keyword>APPLICATION CITIZENSHIP</keyword>, <keyword>HOME SECRETARY</keyword>, <keyword>BORN BRAZIL</keyword>, <keyword>MINISTER NEPALESE</keyword>, <keyword>AIDES DENIED</keyword>, <keyword>GRAYLING JUSTICE</keyword>
Embarrassment: Home Secretary Theresa May has admitted employing a foreign worker . The Tories faced fresh embarrassment over immigration last night when it emerged that Home Secretary Theresa May uses a Brazilian-born cleaner. A day after Immigration Minister James Brokenshire condemned the ‘wealthy metropolitan elite’ for using cheap labour from migrants, his boss confirmed that she employs a female home help who was born abroad. The cleaner has obtained British citizenship and aides denied that Mrs May played any role in assisting her quest for a passport. But the revelation came as Downing Street admitted that Samantha Cameron helped the Prime Minister’s Nepalese nanny get British citizenship. Mrs Cameron was named on Gita Lima’s application for British citizenship in 2010 as the Nepalese nanny’s employer. In that role she would have been expected to support her claim for citizenship. A No10 spokesman said: ‘Mr and Mrs Cameron’s nanny became a British citizen in late 2010. Mr and Mrs Cameron did not write a letter supporting their nanny’s application for British citizenship. The normal application process was followed throughout.’ A spokesman for Mrs May said: ‘Theresa May’s cleaner is a British citizen but she was born in Brazil. Theresa had no role at all in her cleaner’s application for citizenship.’ But the fresh revelations will fuel the view of many voters that Cabinet ministers are part of the ‘wealthy metropolitan elite’ criticised by Tory Mr Brokenshire. And the details are likely to spark cries of hypocrisy among those who employ cleaners and nannies at the way ministers are prepared to criticise people who hire immigrant workers while doing exactly the same themselves. Criticism: Immigration minister James Brokenshire has hit out at the 'wealthy metropolitan elite' In a speech on Thursday, Mr Brokenshire said: ‘For too long, the benefits of immigration went to employers who wanted an easy supply of cheap labour, or to the wealthy metropolitan elite who wanted cheap tradesmen and services, but not to the ordinary, hard-working people of this country.’ The issue is particularly acute since Mr Brokenshire’s predecessor Mark Harper was forced to resign after it emerged that he had employed a cleaner who was working in Britain illegally. A Downing Street spokesman made clear that the Camerons employed Miss Lima not because she was cheap but because she was the best person for the job. The candour of Mrs May and the Camerons was not matched by all in the Cabinet. The Daily Mail yesterday asked 20 of its members if they employed foreign workers as cleaners, nannies, builders and home helps. However, the majority of those questioned failed to provide a substantive response. Labour MP John Mann said they should come clean, adding: ‘They should be seeking out British staff. We need every Cabinet minister to declare what staff they have employed from abroad.’ David Cameron: He and his wife have had an Australian nanny and now have one from Nepal who became a British citizen in 2010. Nick Clegg: ‘I have a lady who has a Belgian passport who helps us.’ George Osborne: The Chancellor’s spokesman had no comment, but Treasury sources indicated he has no foreign staff. Theresa May: Home Secretary’s cleaner is a British citizen who was born in Brazil. Patrick McLoughlin: The Transport Secretary doesn’t employ foreign workers ‘at the moment’. William Hague: Foreign Secretary’s aide responded with ‘not to my knowledge’. Chris Grayling: The Justice Secretary ‘doesn’t employ any foreign folk’. Justine Greening: The International Development Secretary ‘does not have a home help, cleaner, nanny or a builder’. There was no response from aides for the following: Michael Gove, Education Secretary; Iain Duncan Smith, Work and Pensions Secretary; Owen Paterson, Environment Secretary; Jeremy Hunt, Health Secretary; Francis Maude, Cabinet Office Minister; Philip Hammond, Defence Secretary; Eric Pickles, Communities Secretary; Maria Miller, Culture Secretary; Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury; Vince Cable, Business Secretary; Alistair Carmichael, Scottish Secretary; Ed Davey, Energy Secretary. | James Brokenshire blamed the 'wealthy metropolitan elite' for rising immigration because they hire foreign workers at home .
Both David Cameron and Nick Clegg have home help from abroad .
Now it has emerged that Theresa May also pays a foreign employee . |
Keywords: <keyword>BLOOD MOON</keyword>, <keyword>TETRAD ECLIPSES</keyword>, <keyword>DATES ASTRONOMERS</keyword>, <keyword>OCCURS EARTH</keyword>, <keyword>SHADOW BEGINS</keyword>, <keyword>WORLD 1493</keyword>, <keyword>BIBLE PROPHESIED</keyword>, <keyword>TIME CHANCE</keyword>, <keyword>JEWISH HOLIDAY</keyword>, <keyword>CHANGING PHASES</keyword>
By . Sarah Griffiths . and Mark Prigg . The first of four 'blood moon' eclipses lived up to expectations, proving an eerie sight across North and South America overnight as the moon was illuminated a deep red. The four-stage event, known as a 'Tetrad', is also believed to mark the the beginning of significant events - even the the end of the world - in some religions. The awe-inspiring spectacle occurs when the . Earth's shadow passes over the moon - and it will happen three more times . over the next two years as part of this cycle. The next Tetrad cycle won't occur until 2032. Scroll down for video . Extremely rare: It's only the third time the chance alignment has occurred in 500 years . The three remaining blood moons will occur in roughly six-month intervals on the following dates: . Astronomers in North and South America are viewing the blood moon from 2.06 EST (7.06 GMT) to around 4.24 EST (9.24 GMT), Sky News reported. Some Christians are concerned that the celestial event could mark the start of terrible events, based on a passage from the Bible that says: 'The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord comes.' Although lunar eclipses happen multiple times in a year during a full moon, this eclipse is a particularly fortunate viewing opportunity for North America. Blood moon rising: The opening stages of one of the world's rarest astrological events . Set alight: as the Lunar eclipse continued, it appeared as though the moon was being illuminated from within . Captivating: Stargazers the world over were transfixed by the rare event . Since the Earth's Western Hemisphere is facing the moon during the eclipse, the continent was in prime position to view it from start to finish. The eclipse also coincided with night time in North America. The entire continent won't be able to witness a full lunar eclipse in its entirety again until 2019. 'Sometimes they'll happen and you'll have to be somewhere else on Earth to see them,' Noah Petro, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter deputy project scientist at Nasa's Goddard Space Flight Centre, said before the event. Beautiful: The moment was most visible across North and South America, like here above the Independence Monument in Mexico City . Fireball: The lunar eclipse was most visible in North and South America, like El Salvador (left) and Brazil (right) A bad omen? Some Christians were concerned that the strange celestial event (pictured) could mark the start of terrible events and drew on a passage from the Bible that says: 'The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord comes' Phases: Although lunar eclipses happen multiple times in a year during a full moon, this eclipse is a particularly unusual viewing opportunity for North America. This composite image shows the transition during the total lunar eclipse from the bottom left-hand corner to the top left . A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes in the shadow of Earth. This is an area known as the umbra, where light from the sun is blocked by our planet. The light refracts differently in the atmosphere and, as it hits the moon, it appears red. This gives rise to its ‘blood red’ appearance during a total eclipse, when the entire moon is in shadow. If it skirts the shadow, known as a partial or penumbral eclipse, the effect is less dramatic. When the moon first enters the Earth's partial shadow, know as the penumbra, a dark shadow begins to creep across the moon. This gives the illusion that the moon is changing phases in a matter of minutes instead of weeks. At the eclipse's peak, the moon enters the Earth's full shadow; the umbra. At this stage, the Earth's atmosphere scatters the sun's red visible light; the same process that turns the sky red at sunset. As a result, the red light reflects off the moon's surface, casting a reddish rust hue over it. It's not often that we get a chance to see our planet's shadow, but a lunar eclipse gives us a fleeting glimpse. During these rare events, the full moon rapidly darkens and then glows red. At the eclipse's peak the moon entered the Earth's full shadow, the umbra. At this stage, the Earth's atmosphere scattered the sun's red visible light - the same process that turns the sky red at sunset. As a result, the red light reflected off the moon's surface, casting a reddish rust hue over it. 'It's a projection of all the Earth's sunsets and sunrises onto the moon,' Mr Petro said. The moon is seen as it nears a total lunar eclipse in Venice, California. People across North ad South America were able to witness the first of four in a rare Tetrad of eclipses over the next two years . An airliner crosses the moon's path above Whittier, California approximately one hour before the total lunar eclipse, which some people believe signifies the beginning of a number of significant religious event . Other-worldly: The incredible view from the Spanish Canary Island of Tenerife . Illuminating: The moon glows orange, as seen from Milwaukee in the USA . 'It's a very subtle effect, and if any part of the moon is illuminated in the sun, you can't really see it.' 'They don't happen all the time, and the sky has to be clear. It really gives you a chance to look at the moon changing.' However, some believe the eclipse has larger significance. John Hagee, a Christian pastor who has . written a book on the Tetrad called 'Four Blood Moons: Something is . About to Change' told the Daily Express that last night marked the dawn of a 'hugely significant event' for the world. 'This is not something that some religious think tank has put together,' the notoriously outspoken church founder said. 'Nasa has confirmed that the Tetrad has only happened three times in more than 500 years — and that it's going to happen now.' Taking in the view: Astronomers in North and South America are thought to be viewing the blood moon from 2.06 EST (7.06 GMT) to around 4.24 EST (9.24 GMT). Here, people watch the 'blood moon' rising over the water in Melbourne, Australia . No show: The total eclipse is visible over most of North America, but not in most of Europe, Africa and Asia, as explained by this map . Nasa has confirmed the Tetrad started on . Tuesday night and will end on September 28, 2015. Tetrads are a relatively frequent occurrence in the 21st century, with nine sets in total, but this has not always been the case. From 1600 to 1900, for example, there were none at all. The Book of Joel in the King James Bible prophesied about the blood moons and the end of the world: 'The . sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the . great and the terrible day of the Lord comes.' According to Mr Hagee, each time the Tetrad has happened during that time, there has been a significant religious event accompanied with it. The unusual alignment of the sun, Earth and Mars happened a week before the beginning of the astrological event that some believe is associated with the end of the world . In 1493, the first Tetrad saw the expulsion of Jews by the Catholic Spanish Inquisition. The . second happened in 1949, right after the State of Israel was founded and the most recent one - in 1967 - happened during the Six-Day War . between Arabs and Israelis. Mr Hagee said the first of the blood moons takes place right in the middle of the Jewish holiday of Passover. The second, on October 8, occurs during the Feast of the Tabernacle and the third will be on April 4, 2015, also during Passover. The final one happens on September 28, 2015, which is also during the Feast of the Tabernacles. | Last night marked first of four blood moons, followed by six full moons .
It's an extremely rare astrological event known as a Tetrad .
The striking red moon was most visible across North and South America .
Looks red because the Earth's atmosphere scatters the sun's red light .
It's the same process that makes the sky appear red at sunset .
The Tetrad cycle finishes at the end of September in 2015 .
Some Christians believe the Tetrad is a signal the end of the world is near . |
Keywords: <keyword>MARINO ALLEGEDLY</keyword>, <keyword>FAMER WORTH</keyword>, <keyword>AFFAIR CBS</keyword>, <keyword>SAVATTERE MARRIED</keyword>, <keyword>MILLION DAN</keyword>, <keyword>DANNY DID</keyword>, <keyword>PREGAME ANALYST</keyword>, <keyword>REVEALED SECRET</keyword>, <keyword>PICTURE PARENTS</keyword>, <keyword>AGREED</keyword>
By . Lydia Warren . PUBLISHED: . 13:05 EST, 1 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:32 EST, 1 February 2013 . NFL legend Dan Marino kept his love child secret from his CBS bosses and agent for seven years as the apparent family man continued to cut lucrative deals with the network, it has emerged. But the former Miami Dolphins star did come clean about his affair with CBS production assistant Donna Savattere to the one person to whom it mattered the most - his wife of 28 years, Claire. 'Danny did, as difficult as it was, tell his wife in 2005, when this occurred,' a source told the New York Post. On Thursday it emerged that the Hall of Famer, who is worth an estimated $35 million, paid Savattere millions of dollars to keep quiet about their daughter, Chloe, who is now seven. Secret life: Dan Marino, who is pictured filming for CBS on Thursday just hours after his affair with a network employee emerged, kept his love child hidden from his bosses and agent . Sources told the New York Post that Marino, who has worked as a pre-game analyst for CBS since 2003, even kept the child hidden from his bosses and his long-time agent-lawyer, Marvin Demoff. While Marino had used Demoff to negotiate his contracts with the Dolphins and CBS for 30 years, he turned to a different lawyer when he paid money to Savattere because he was 'embarrassed'. He only told the network about the scandal on Wednesday after The Post told Marino it would be publishing the story about his affair, a source told the paper. He then told Demoff. The source also said Marino's job is not in danger, while another source said there had not yet been any discussion about what action CBS will take, if any. Coming clean: Marino did tell his wife Claire, pictured together in November last year, about the love child . Early days: One of Marino's sons shared this picture of his parents in their younger days on Twitter . Marino confirmed yesterday that Marino will appear in the pre-game coverage on Super Bowl Sunday - just days after his affair was exposed to the world. 'Dan has said all there is to say on this matter, . and will be in his usual role on our broadcast Super Bowl Sunday,' CBS said in a statement on Thursday. Mr . Marino, 51, admitted to the affair, saying in a statement: 'This is a . personal and private matter. I take full responsibility both personally . and financially for my actions now as I did then. 'We mutually agreed to keep our arrangement private to protect all parties involved.' He . insisted that he and his wife - who celebrated their 28 year wedding . anniversary on Wednesday - are still together and 'continue to be a . strong and loving family'. Former mistress: The mother of his child, Donna Savattere, poses with the girl and her husband Nahill Younis . Family: Ms Savettere, now known as Donna Younis, with Chloe and her younger son . Marino met his mistress while . carrying out his role as a pregame analyst for CBS, where he has worked . since 2003. Ms Savattere was 35 at the time of their relationship. After . Chloe was born, Mr Marino allegedly paid her millions of dollars to . ensure her silence and take care of their daughter, the . Post reported. While the amount Marino paid her has not . been disclosed, she moved to New York and spent her time in the Upper . West Side and the Hamptons, where she became a fixture on the social . scene. The birth also came two months before . Marino was inducted into the Hall of Fame. At the ceremony, after he . was introduced by his eldest son Daniel, Marino praised his family for . their support. Weathering the storm: Marino is pictured walking to his car in New Orleans today amid taping sessions . Lavish: Marino's Fort Lauderdale, waterfront home, where his wife Claire is believed to be staying . Luxury: It is a 5 bedroom, 4 bath, 10,000 Sq Foot waterfront home valued at $5 million . Dan Marino is one of the most prolific . quarterbacks in American football league history, holding or having held . almost every major NFL passing record. He was picked in the first round of . the 1983 draft by the Los Angeles Express, but chose to sign with the . Miami Dolphins, and stayed with the team for the entirety of his career. He was best known for his quick . release and powerful arm and leading the Dolphins to the playoffs ten . times in his seventeen-season career. Although he was never part of a Super . Bowl-winning team, he is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks in . American football. He was inducted into the Hall of . Fame in 2005. Since retiring before the 2000 season, he has appeared in numerous ad campaigns and joined CBS in 2003 as an in-studio analyst. 'To Claire and the kids, you guys are my true Hall of Famers,' he said. 'You guys are my whole life. You mean everything to me.' Savattere has . since married banker Nahill Younis, whom she met on a trip to the . Bahamas. The couple had a son together before their wedding at their . home in the Hamptons in 2009. A wedding announcement for the couple in a Hamptons wedding magazine says: 'Donna was already a mother when Nahill met . her, and Donna’s daughter quickly became an important part of his life.' She . explained their choice of using orange for decorations at their . wedding, explaining: 'Nothing in our lives is traditional or about . "following the rules".' Mr Marino is believed to be in touch with his now-seven-year-old daughter. Ms . Savaterre was said to have revealed the secret to friends and showed . them photographs of her and the quarterback together at restaurants and . clubs. She is also said to have made . attempts to change the name of her and Marino’s daughter from Chloe . Alexis Savattere to Chloe Alexis Younis, according to records. Marino also has six children with his . wife Claire: Daniel, 26, Michael, 24, Joseph, 23, Ali, 20, Lia, . 17, and Niki, 16. The couple adopted Lia and Niki from China. One of their sons, Michael, was . diagnosed with autism when he was two, and the family has been striving . to bring public awareness of autism since establishing the Dan Marino . Foundation in 1992. The football hero is set to appear on . CBS this weekend as part of its coverage of Sunday's Super Bowl, where . the San Francisco 49ers will take on the Baltimore Ravens. 'Family man': Marino is pictured with his father, Dan, and two of his sons at a Miami Heat and New Orleans Hornets game in Miami in April 2004 - a year before the birth of his love child . Support: Marino and his wife are pictured left in 2008; right, his children swarm around him at an event in his honour at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida. The couple have three sons and three daughters . Together: Marino poses with his son Michael, who suffers from autism, and wife Claire in Miami in 2008 . The network's live pregame coverage . kicks of at 2 p.m. from Jackson Square. In the broadcast, CBS will air . an interview Marino conducted with San Francisco quarterback Colin . Kaepernick. Mr . Marino is one of the most prolific quarterbacks in American football . league history, holding or having held almost every major NFL passing . record. Although he was never part of a Super . Bowl-winning team, he is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks in . American football. He was best known for his quick . release and powerful arm and leading the Dolphins to the playoffs ten . times in his seventeen-season career. He was inducted into the Hall of . Fame in 2005. Family: Marino is pictured with three of his six children, (from left to right) Joe, 23, Mike, 24, and Ali, 20 . Proud: Joe Marino and his sister Lia, whom the family adopted from China, stand with their father's statue . Mr Marino starred as himself in the 1994 comedy Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. The storyline involved a football player becoming obsessed with the quarterback who taught him how to kick. In . December 2011, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees broke Dan . Marino's 27-year-old record for the number of passing yards in an NFL . season. Brees' final . pass of the 45-16 home victory over the Atlanta Falcons, a nine-yard . touchdown toss to Darren Sproles, took him to 5,087 yards, beating . Marino's 5,084 for the Miami Dolphins in 1984. Hero: The Miami Dolphins quarterback was considered one of the best players in the history of football . Dan Marino playing himself in the 1994 hit comedy Ace Ventura: Pet Detective . | Miami Dolphins star cheated on wife of 28 years with Donna Savattere .
Daughter Chloe, seven, said to be in touch with her dad .
Football hero to appear on CBS this weekend for Super Bowl coverage .
Only revealed affair to CBS and agent when story was about to break . |
Keywords: <keyword>PANDA WEI</keyword>, <keyword>ADORABLE BEAR</keyword>, <keyword>WUHAN ZOO</keyword>, <keyword>WEI PROVES</keyword>, <keyword>SNOW PERFORMING</keyword>, <keyword>FORAGING CHINESE</keyword>, <keyword>MOVES PLAYFUL</keyword>, <keyword>STICKS TONGUE</keyword>, <keyword>TUMBLED HEAD</keyword>, <keyword>EARTHQUAKE NEAR</keyword>
This is one adorable bear who really likes the snow. Nine-year-old Wei Wei likes nothing better than dancing and playing in the snow at Wuhan Zoo of Central China's Hubei province. Showing off some impressive moves, the playful panda then sticks his tongue out, apparently hoping to get land a flying snowflake. Scroll down for video . Nine-year-old Wei Wei is seen dancing and playing in the snow at Wuhan Zoo of Central China's Hubei province . Wei Wei, who came to Wuhan Zoo in 2008 after the Sichuan earthquake near his old home, is said to get very excited by the falling snow. The fun-loving bear showed off his dancing skills for his keepers and even gave them a cheeky wave from the top of his climbing frame. He then showed off his acrobatic skills as tumbled off head-first into the snow before performing a roly-poly after a thin layer of snow fell over the zoo. The panda then seems to come over all shy, and is photographed covering his head in his hands. But it doesn't last for long as Wei Wei can't resist trying to catch a snowflake on his tongue. The playful panda: Wei Wei proves a master at striking a pose in his pen . Wei Wei, who came to Wuhan Zoo in 2008 after the Sichuan earthquake near his old home, is said to get very excited by the falling snow . He showed off his acrobatic skills as he performed a roly-poly in the thin layer of snow that fell over the zoo . With his thick black and white fur, Wei Wei was perfectly wrapped up for his joyful tumble in the snow in the freezing Wuhan City. Giant pandas are solitary bears when in the wild, usually preferring their own company when foraging in Chinese bamboo forests. Giant panda bears are an endangered species, with around 1,600 left roaming free in the cool forests that are their natural habitat, according to the World Wildlife Fund. The bears are easily discernible due to their black and white coat and as a result the few left in the wild are often targeted by bounty hunters. They mostly eat bamboo, but in captivity are also enjoy being fed honey, eggs, fish, yams, leaves, oranges, bananas and other special treats. The panda then seems to come over all shy, and is photographed covering his head in his hands . But it doesn't last for long as cheeky Wei Wei can't resist trying to catch a snowflake on his tongue . With his thick black and white fur keeping him warm, there's nothing Wei Wei likes better than a joyful tumble in the snow in the freezing Wuhan City . | Wei Wei the giant panda at Wuhan Zoo in China loves playing in the snow .
These cute pictures show him sticking his tongue out to catch snowflakes .
The nine-year-old bear can also be seen dancing and doing roly-polys . |
Keywords: <keyword>WIN LIGUE</keyword>, <keyword>PSG QATAR</keyword>, <keyword>GERMAIN SAYS</keyword>, <keyword>BIGGEST CLUBS</keyword>, <keyword>FRENCH PLAYERS</keyword>, <keyword>COACH WENGER</keyword>, <keyword>PARIS CAPITAL</keyword>, <keyword>RECRUIT PLAYERS</keyword>, <keyword>78M STRATEGY</keyword>, <keyword>POST PROFITS</keyword>
(CNN) -- The president of Paris Saint-Germain says fans of the French club have overcome initial reservations about their new Qatari owners and have bought into their mission to make PSG the biggest team in the world. Nasser Al-Khelaifi told CNN World Sport that his vision for the club centers around attracting the finest players on the planet to ply their trade in the French capital and turning PSG into a profitable enterprise. Currently led by former AC Milan and Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti, PSG are in contention to win their first Ligue 1 title since 1994 and are close to securing their dream of competing in the European Champions League. So can PSG conquer the footballing world and become as big as Spanish and European champions Barcelona? Arsenal back coach Wenger as club post profits of $78m . "This is our strategy to bring PSG on long term to be one of the biggest in the world," he told World Sport anchor Pedro Pinto. "We are not saying we are going to be the best club in the world, because it's really tough; you've got history behind other clubs in the (English) Premier League or Spanish or Italian leagues so we are going to try and make it. "For us, of course, with the passion of football you know we love football, we love Paris. Paris is a great city and it's really that Paris deserved to have a big club in the world and that's why we came to Paris and bought PSG. "In the beginning some of the people for sure, they were against us but now I believe most of them or all of them they are with us, supporting us and PSG. Honestly I am so proud today of where we are." Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani bought a 70% share of PSG through his Qatar Sports Investments company in June 2011 and installed 38-year-old Al-Khelaifi as president. The ex-tennis professional recruited Leonardo as general manager and the Brazilian World Cup winner wasted little time in utilizing the new wealth at his disposal to splash a reputed $57 million on Argentina midfielder Javier Pastore. Ronaldo backheel keeps Real 10 points clear in Spain . Another signal of the club's intent to make waves in Europe came with their failed pursuits of Manchester City's Argentina striker Carlos Tevez and former Manchester United and Real Madrid star David Beckham. But despite the vast sums of money being spent, Al-Khelaifi insists it is a long-term target of PSG to make the club profitable, and recruit players from the pool of young talent available in the French capital. "That is our strategy," he said. "In five years we want to make money -- also you know we love football, we came to Paris as I said to be one of the biggest clubs in Europe. "You know, our advantage for sure it's Paris, it's the capital, twelve million people live in and around Paris, you have got a lot of talented kids around Paris. "You know the best French players come from Paris. If you see Thierry Henry, (Lilian) Thuram, Nicolas Anelka you know it's really worth it to look for them and look for the new (Lionel) Messi. Why not from Paris?" But for now, the immediate target is to end the club's 18-year wait for the French league title, and the lucrative rewards it would deliver in terms of a Champions League place. "It's going to be great in this stadium to see us playing against Barcelona or Real Madrid," Al-Khelaifi said. "This is one of our dreams." | Paris Saint-Germain president tells CNN he wants to make club biggest in the world .
Nasser Al-Khelaifi in charge of running club after Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani's takeover .
PSG are coached by former AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti and are second in French league .
Al-Khelaifi says it is the aim of PSG's owner to attract the best players in the world . |
Keywords: <keyword>BLAIR MARRIED</keyword>, <keyword>MURDOCH OBJECTED</keyword>, <keyword>DENG WROTE</keyword>, <keyword>LEAVING DOWNING</keyword>, <keyword>WARM FEELINGS</keyword>, <keyword>COMPARABLE CRUSH</keyword>, <keyword>EVANS RUPERT</keyword>, <keyword>SUN VALLEY</keyword>, <keyword>MEDIA TYCOON</keyword>, <keyword>YACHT OWNED</keyword>
By . Rebecca Evans . Rupert Murdoch’s ex-wife Wendi Deng wrote how she had ‘warm feelings’ like a ‘crush’ for Tony Blair, it was reported yesterday. The note was found after the 82-year-old media tycoon discovered the former Labour prime minister had spent weekends at his homes. Mr Murdoch later filed for divorce from Miss Deng, 44. Wendi Deng wrote the note to herself, expressing her 'warm feelings' comparable to a 'crush' on Tony Blair . The note was apparently written by Miss Deng to herself, expressing her ‘warm feelings’ comparable to a ‘crush’ on Mr Blair, who is married to barrister and part-time judge Cherie. Mr Murdoch and Miss Deng divorced two weeks ago following reports that she had met with Middle East envoy Mr Blair, 60, without his knowledge. Their meetings are understood to include ‘multiple’ overnight stays at Mr Murdoch’s homes, including his ranch in Carmel, California. The pair are also understood to have met on a super-yacht owned by music industry billionaire David Geffen. Such is the extent of the ‘terminal’ rift between the former allies and friends that Mr Blair was forced to avoid the prestigious US Sun Valley conference in July, where he had top billing, because Mr Murdoch objected to his presence, The Mail on Sunday reported. Rupert Murdoch later filed for divorce from Miss Deng, 44, after the note was discovered . The media finance event was attended by influential figures such as Mr Murdoch, Bill Gates and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Mr Blair, who is godfather to one of Mr Murdoch and Miss Deng’s children, has been a regular guest at Sun Valley, attending the 2007 gathering just two weeks after leaving Downing Street. Friends of Mr Murdoch insist that he ‘did not act lightly’ before ending his 14-year marriage to Miss Deng and his 20-year political and personal friendship with Mr Blair. A media executive who has known Mr Murdoch for 40 years said: ‘Rupert has supported Tony politically and personally through thick and thin. ‘He thought he could trust him, but he was wrong.’ Mr Murdoch and Miss Deng divorced two weeks ago following reports that she had met with Middle East envoy Mr Blair, 60, without his knowledge . Another friend said: ‘What really hurt was finding out that Tony had been in his homes without telling him.’ It is understood that Mr Murdoch learned of his ex-wife and Mr Blair’s encounters after she inadvertently sent an email to the wrong person, including details of his trip to the ranch. Mr Murdoch then went to Carmel and asked the household staff if it was true. They told him Mr Blair had stayed there with Miss Deng on two weekends in October 2012 and April this year. Mr Blair visited with his British police bodyguards. There is no evidence of an affair between Mr Blair and Miss Deng. Last night, Mr Blair and his office refused to comment. | Wendi Deng wrote about her 'warm feelings' for Tony Blair .
Rupert Murdoch and Deng divorced two .
weeks ago following reports that she had met .
Blair without his knowledge .
Mr Blair is godfather to one of Mr Murdoch and Miss Deng’s children . |
Keywords: <keyword>DOG TILLY</keyword>, <keyword>PETS HOLIDAYS</keyword>, <keyword>PETS SAFE</keyword>, <keyword>VETERINARY EMERGENCY</keyword>, <keyword>FOODS TREATS</keyword>, <keyword>INGESTS TOXIC</keyword>, <keyword>RELUCTANT REINDEER</keyword>, <keyword>BRISKET HANUKKAH</keyword>, <keyword>PREVENTATIVE BEHAVIOR</keyword>, <keyword>ANEMIA REMISSION</keyword>
(CNN) -- Our dog Tilly loves the holiday season. Turkey for Thanksgiving. Brisket for Hanukkah. Ham for Christmas and pot roast for New Year's. With so much food moving around the house and visitors who generously -- and covertly -- feed her under the table, Tilly has always been a happy dog during the season of giving. Two reluctant reindeer: Tilly, left, and Riley. Not anymore. After we spent much of one holiday season at the animal emergency center trying to keep Tilly alive, our holiday celebration turned into a hunt for household toxics. Tilly was diagnosed with severe anemia, which could have been caused by any one of numerous toxic items found in the refrigerators, cupboards and medicine cabinets of most homes. Now, Tilly's kibble and treats practically need their own passport to reach her mouth; human food is out of reach; visitors are asked to put away any medications and shown where the "approved" treats are kept. It may sound extreme, but veterinary medical experts say this type of preventative behavior can keep pets safe. This is especially true during the holidays, when family chaos increases and your pet's environment may change from day to day with the arrival of family and friends bearing gifts, holiday food items and exotic plants. "Dogs and cats do not know what is bad for them," said Dr. Cynthia Gaskill, associate professor and veterinary clinical toxicologist at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. "If there is medicine on the bathroom counter or food left on the table, that is irresistible to them." And unless your houseguests are conscientious pet owners themselves, chances are they aren't aware that they may be creating a toxic environment for your pet. Gaskill says it is important to let guests know not to leave their medications in an open suitcase or otherwise exposed. Over-the-counter and prescription medications can kill small animals. Because metabolic systems vary between species, a drug that may alleviate pain in humans can easily induce a toxic reaction in a dog or cat. For example, ibuprofen ingested by a dog can cause gastrointestinal damage and kidney dysfunction. Cats are especially susceptible to even small amounts of acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol); ingestion of just one tablet can result in anemia and potential liver damage. Dr. Robin Van Metre, a veterinarian at the Fort Collins Veterinary Emergency Hospital in Colorado, says that many of the emergency calls he receives involve pets that have accidentally ingested prescription medications or been given an over-the-counter medication by well-meaning owners who believe that their animal is in pain. Van Metre says these calls increase significantly over the holidays. "Dogs will eat almost anything," Van Metre said, "and there is no such thing as a dog-proof cap." Take care in the kitchen, too. Typical holiday staples such as grapes and raisins have been shown to cause renal failure when ingested by dogs. Although small amounts of onions and garlic are often used in pet foods and treats to add flavor, ingestion of large amounts can cause severe red blood cell damage; cats are especially sensitive. Macadamia nuts can cause a short-term hind-limb paralysis, and bread dough, if eaten before baking, can expand rapidly once ingested and cause ethanol poisoning. Sweets, gum and hard candies are often problematic depending on ingredients. Chocolate contains a theobromine, a chemical that can affect the heart, kidneys and central nervous system. Dark chocolate and baker's chocolate contain higher concentrations of theobromine and are more toxic than similar amounts of milk chocolate. Sugar-free gums and candies that contain the sugar-substitute xylitol can lead to quick onset of toxic clinical signs that may include a rapid decrease in blood sugar and possible seizures. Think carefully before placing mistletoe or holly in low-lying areas, but put poinsettias anywhere you like. The effects of the poinsettia, long believed poisonous, are generally benign, says Dr. Anthony Knight, author of A Guide to Poisonous House and Garden Plants and professor of clinical sciences and toxicology at Colorado State University School of Veterinary Medicine and Biological Sciences. Exposed plant bulbs such as Amaryllis and all species of lilies should be placed out of reach of pets not only during the holidays but year-round, Knight says. Lily toxicity in cats can reach critical levels almost immediately after ingestion and lead to acute kidney failure within 48 hours or less. "Lilies are one of the most poisonous houseplants that exists," Knight said. "It's not just the flower but also the leaves. ... If a cat eats any part of the plant, it would need to be treated immediately." What should you do if your pet ingests a toxic holiday treat? "Do not wait," Van Metre said. "Most people wait too long to call us, and that reduces our options for treatment." Van Metre recommends calling a local veterinarian or animal emergency hospital first, or the ASPCA national animal poison control center (888-426-4435). The ASPCA charges a $60 veterinary consultation fee, but information about toxins is free on the ASPCA Web site. Gaskill does not advise calling human poison control centers or attempting to diagnose your pet on the Internet. Human poison control "is often not aware of the species differences and could inadvertently give the wrong advice," Gaskill said. "When doing a general Internet search, make sure the site is backed by a recognized veterinary organization or veterinary medical school. If it is not referenced, it is just someone's opinion." Van Metre and Gaskill both warn against inducing vomiting in your pet before speaking with a veterinarian. Getting appropriate background information about the animal is critical to preparing a treatment plan for a particular toxin, they say, and every case -- every animal -- is different. Tilly never recovered from her anemia, but she has been in remission long enough to create another toxic scare. After learning that Tilly had ingested an entire bag of Hershey's kisses, we called our local animal emergency hospital in Atlanta. They did a quick calculation using Tilly's weight to determine whether a one-pound bag of milk chocolate would reach toxic levels in a dog of her size. It would not, but we were forced to clean up the silver-streaked evidence for many days afterwards. Melissa Tarkington is a former journalist for MSNBC, CNN.com and The Moscow Times. She is a second-year student in the professional veterinary program at Colorado State University. | Holiday food items and exotic plants can be toxic for your pets .
Grapes, raisins and macadamia nuts are dangerous for dogs .
Mistletoe, holly and Amaryllis bulbs should be kept out of reach of pets .
The ASPCA has a national animal poison control center . |
Keywords: <keyword>F1 CHAMPIONSHIP</keyword>, <keyword>LYNN FINALLY</keyword>, <keyword>TORO ROSSO</keyword>, <keyword>DRIVE RED</keyword>, <keyword>ALEX</keyword>, <keyword>HAMILTON CLAIMED</keyword>, <keyword>WHEEL FORMULA</keyword>, <keyword>PROGRAMME GP3</keyword>, <keyword>ESSEX RUNNING</keyword>, <keyword>TESTING LOTUS</keyword>
Alex Lynn will finally get the Formula One opportunity he has long craved - but not with the team he might have expected. Lynn was crowned GP3 champion over the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend, becoming part of a glorious triumvirate for British motorsport this season as Jolyon Palmer took the GP2 title, while Lewis Hamilton was crowned F1 king for the second time. The 21-year-old from Essex is now in the running for the vacant seat at Toro Rosso given he is a member of the Red Bull junior programme. GP3 champion Alex Lynn will drive in post-season testing for Lotus after his title victory . Lynn missed out on drives for Torro Rosso and Red Bull despite being part of the Red Bull junior programme . Surprisingly, Lynn was not offered a drive by either Red Bull or Toro Rosso for the two-day post-season test that began on Tuesday at the Yas Marina circuit. However, Lynn has been given an opportunity by Lotus and will take to the track in an F1 car for the first time on Wednesday. 'I can't wait to get behind the wheel of a Formula One car,' said Lynn. 'It's obviously what I've been working towards throughout my career to date, and I'm very grateful for the chance. Great Britain's Jolyon Palmer also claimed victory at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi in the GP2 category . They completed a clean sweep with Lewis Hamilton, who claimed his second F1 championship . 'It just goes to show that winning the GP3 Series opens a few doors. 'I'm really excited by this opportunity, but of course I'm very realistic about it too. I'm just going to go out there and do my best. 'Hopefully I'll be able to increase my experience and pass on some useful feedback to the engineers. 'I don't think there are any particular expectations from anybody. I just want to do a solid job and learn as much as I can about Formula One.' | Essex's Alex Lynn will drive for Lotus during post-season testing .
The GP3 champion is part of the Red Bull junior programme but wasn't offered a drive by Red Bull or Torro Rosso at Yas Marina Circuit .
Lynn was part of a British triple triumph alongside GP2 winner Jolyon Palmer and Mercedes' F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton in Abu Dhabi . |
Keywords: <keyword>ZIMMERMAN ALLEGATIONS</keyword>, <keyword>WITNESS IDENTIFIED</keyword>, <keyword>17 ALLEGED</keyword>, <keyword>TEENAGER TRAYVON</keyword>, <keyword>IMPAIR DEFENDANT</keyword>, <keyword>SHOOTING DISMISSED</keyword>, <keyword>CNN FAMILY</keyword>, <keyword>WOMAN SAID</keyword>, <keyword>REPORT WATCH</keyword>, <keyword>OLDER EVERYBODY</keyword>
(CNN) -- A woman has accused George Zimmerman, the man charged in the fatal shooting of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, of having sexually abused her for about a decade, beginning when she was 6 years old and he was 8. "He would reach under the blankets and try to do things and I would try to push him off," said the woman, who is identified only as Witness 9 and whose account was released Monday in audio recordings that a judge ordered last week be made public. "He was bigger and stronger and older. It was in front of everybody. And I don't know how I didn't say anything. But I just didn't know any better," she said. Zimmerman asks for another new judge . CNN spoke to the woman's father, who said neither he nor any other member of the family would be speaking on the subject. The woman did not respond to a request for comment. Mark O'Mara, Zimmerman's attorney, released a statement Monday responding to the allegations. In it, he said his client was not yet 8 years old when the alleged abuse began, and that he was 17 when it was alleged to have ended. O'Mara said the woman is Zimmerman's cousin. In a motion filed June 18, O'Mara called the accuser's statement "not relevant to the issues of this case," and said the allegations are inadmissible. He added that its disclosure risked leading to "widespread hostile publicity which would substantially impair the Defendant's fair trial rights, and would pose a serious threat to the administration of justice." "Now that this statement is part of the public record, the defense will vigorously defend Mr. Zimmerman against the allegations," O'Mara said in his statement Monday. While on CNN's "Piers Morgan Tonight" Monday evening, O'Mara continued to defend his client. "There actually were some other events that happened in the family dynamics that we will get into if we need to," he said, calling into question her credibility. "(S)he makes up allegations about sexual abuse, then also seemingly doesn't have any corroboration to them." Witnesses tell FBI that George Zimmerman is no racist . The 28-year-old former neighborhood watch captain is charged with second-degree murder in the February 26 death of Martin. The 17-year-old Martin was unarmed when he was killed while walking back to his father's girlfriend's house in a gated residential area of Sanford, Florida. Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty. He has said he shot in self-defense after Martin attacked him. The woman said the abuse occurred when her family visited with Zimmerman's. "Every time that we would go up there, I could just look at him and he would give me a certain look and I would know if it was going to happen when we got together for family gatherings. Because he just got this look in his eye like he was going to." Referring to Zimmerman as "Georgie," she said "he just sucked up to my dad. He was like the son he never had. And he always was just, you know, very charming and personable with everybody in the family, and just always would laugh and entertain everybody. But he was different behind closed doors with me." Trayvon Martin memorial removed but preserved . In a statement, the Martin family said the woman's testimony could be used in trial to show Zimmerman has a history of violence and manipulation. "Zimmerman's mentality is very relevant to this trial," said the statement, which was sent to CNN by family attorney Benjamin Crump. It was not immediately clear how -- or even whether -- prosecutors planned to use the woman's testimony in their case against Zimmerman. "We cannot discuss what will or will not be used," said Jackelyn Barnard, spokeswoman for Special Prosecutor Angela Corey. Judge Kenneth R. Lester Jr. ruled last week that Witness 9's statements and any jail calls turned over to the defense are part of the public record. "This statement ... will simply be another piece of the puzzle to be relied upon by those who want to believe there was a racial motive to the shooting, and will be dismissed by those who claim that there was no such motive," the judge wrote. Zimmerman is free to disclose the nature of his relationship with Witness 9, though she cannot be identified publicly, Lester said. Timeline of events in the Trayvon Martin case . CNN's Marylynn Ryan and David Mattingly contributed to this report. Watch Piers Morgan Live weeknights 9 p.m. ET. For the latest from Piers Morgan click here. | "Witness 9" accuses George Zimmerman of sexual abuse years ago .
"He was bigger and stronger and older," she says .
The accuser has not been identified publicly .
Zimmerman's lawyer calls the claim "not relevant" to Martin case . |
Keywords: <keyword>ARTIFICIAL COMA</keyword>, <keyword>SCHUMACHER REMAIN</keyword>, <keyword>SPECULATE SEVERE</keyword>, <keyword>CHANCE RECOVERY</keyword>, <keyword>PATIENTS LONGER</keyword>, <keyword>VIGIL CRASH</keyword>, <keyword>APALLIC SYNDROME</keyword>, <keyword>PARTIAL AROUSAL</keyword>, <keyword>SAID WEEKS</keyword>, <keyword>CONDITION GRENOBLE</keyword>
By . Allan Hall . Fears are growing that Michael Schumacher could remain in a 'persistent vegetative state' for the rest of his life even if he wakes up from his coma. The Formula One legend has been in intensive care since his skiing accident in France nearly four weeks ago. He was placed into an artificially induced coma shortly after the crash to help his brain heal, but such measures normally last only a maximum of two weeks. Jean-Marc . Orgogozo, Professor of Neurology at the University of Bordeaux, said: 'Every day, every week in a coma the . chances decline that the situation is improving'. One . Austrian website reported Schumacher, 45, may suffer from . Apallic Syndrome or persistent vegetative state. Scroll down for video . The news comes as Schumacher enters his fifth week of a medically induced coma, and there are fears he may remain in a 'persistent vegetative state' for the rest of his life even if the awakening treatment is successful . Michael Schumacher is being slowly brought out of his induced coma, his manager has said. His wife Corinna insists her husband is a 'fighter' who will not give up . But his family insisted he was a 'fighter' as they poured out their heartfelt thanks to fans around the world on his webpage on Tuesday. 'We all know: he is a fighter and will not give up!' said his family, adding: 'We are deeply moved that there is no let up in the good wishes for Michael from around the world. 'That gives us strength. Thank you all of you!' But the support of his wife Corinne, 44, his two teenaged children, brother and closest friends cannot mask the fact that 23 days in an artificial coma means that he is far from anywhere near recovery. A persistent vegetative state is one in which patients with severe brain damage are in a state of partial arousal rather than true awareness. 'Deeply moved': Schumacher's Rolf Schumacher and brother Ralf arrive at Grenoble Hospital earlier this month. His family have issued a heartfelt thank you to fans around the world for their support . Strain: Corinna Schumacher and their children have been maintaining a constant bedside vigil since his crash . This means that if doctors do bring him out of his artificially induced coma he would be unable to speak, move or feed himself. The . format.at news website said; 'More than three weeks after the tragic . skiing accident of the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Michael . Schumacher, hope dwindle for a full recovery. 'For more than three weeks now Schumacher lies in a medically induced coma at the University Hospital in Grenoble. He is fed there with probes, washed daily and moved again and again to avoid a bed sores.' Probe: Investigators at the site of Schumacher's crash earlier this month where he smashed his head on a rock while skiing off-piste in Meribel, France . It . goes on to speculate that the 'severe damage' he suffered to his brain . in a ski accident on December 29 could result in the permanent vegative . state suffered by around 10,000 of his German countrymen. This . would mean, if and when he is brought out of the coma by his medical . team, 'that his condition would hardly be different from the medically . induced coma'. Apallic . Syndrome is always the result of a severe brain injury. The chance of . recovery from Apallic Syndrome are far below 50 per cent.' Schumacher's . condition remains stable but there is a firewall of silence from his . medical team about the intense battle being waged to try to bring him . back to normality. Get well soon! Cologne and Schalke stars hold out a banner wishing Michael Schumacher good health . Apallic Syndrome - or persistent vegetative state - occurs when a patient with severe brain damage remains in a state of partial arousal rather than true awareness after waking from a coma. Patients can breathe on their own and circulate because their brainstem remains intact, but they are largely unresponsive to stimulation. The chance of recovery from Apallic Syndrome are far below 50 per cent. There is no treatment, but a person can live for many years with the right medical care. Brain . injury patients are placed into artificial comas to reduce the amount . of oxygen that flows into the brain, thus making it work less and giving . it time to heal. Such comas usually last for a maximum of two weeks, although there have been instances of patients being under longer. As . Schumacher enters his fourth week in such a state neurological experts . are starting to doubt whether he might ever recover sufficiently to be . brought out of his sleep. Meanwhile, his family have paid tribute to Bundesliga sides Cologne and Schalke on the Formula One legend’s official website. Players . from both sides held up a banner which read ‘Get Well Soon! You can do . it, Michael’ prior to their friendly on Saturday in honour of the . 45-year-old German, who is a Cologne supporter. The . message from the seven-time champion’s family is the first in over a . fortnight and comes just days after it was confirmed that he is in a . stable condition at Grenoble Hospital. | F1 legend has been in a medically induced coma for nearly four weeks .
Neurologist: 'Every day the .
chances decline that situation is improving'
Austrian media speculate that seven-time champion has Apallic Syndrome .
Family says they are 'deeply moved' by support from fans around the world . |
Keywords: <keyword>RACIAL PRESIDENT</keyword>, <keyword>CONTROVERSY OBAMA</keyword>, <keyword>CLINTON THINKS</keyword>, <keyword>BOYCOTT HILLARY</keyword>, <keyword>PROTESTERS SEEN</keyword>, <keyword>POLITICIAN AFRAID</keyword>, <keyword>2016 CONTENDER</keyword>, <keyword>GARNER WAITED</keyword>, <keyword>DEBATES LARGELY</keyword>, <keyword>INDICTMENTS POLICE</keyword>
(CNN) -- Barack Obama never really had a chance when dealing with issues of race in America. From the moment he ran for office, critics questioned whether he was "black enough" or an "angry black man." As the first African-American president of the United States, Obama is supposed to prove America is post-racial, be the president of "all of America" and show a special empathy for African-Americans, all while battling institutional racism but not calling it out. While these debates are largely philosophical and symbolic, the nationwide protests in the wake of the non-indictments of police officers responsible for killing Mike Brown and Eric Garner have shown that race can no longer just be an academic subject for presidents and presidential contenders. The crowds marching across America protesting the ugly intersection of racism, law enforcement and economics are some of the largest, most diverse groups of protesters seen in American history. These issues are going to be laid at the doorstep of all serious 2016 contenders. So while many are grappling with the events of the last several months, we're left to wonder: Where's Hillary Clinton? We all know that, barring some bizarre unforeseen event, Clinton is running for president in 2016, and it's only a matter of time before she announces. She will not march smoothly to the nomination; there are questions about how much she connects with the middle class, her muddled book rollout this spring and of course, for those who still care, "Benghazi." But the most serious problem for Hillary 2016 is the perception that she's an overly cautious politician who is afraid to take tough stances on anything, especially those issues the Democratic base might be passionate about. And nowhere is this more evident than in her almost utter silence on the recent protest marches across the nation. Hillary Clinton took almost 19 days before she said anything about the violence and rioting in Ferguson, Missouri, and that was after Democrats and pundits called her out for her silence. At the time she said: . "Imagine what we would feel and what we would do if white drivers were three times as likely to be searched by police during a traffic stop as black drivers instead of the other way around. If white offenders received prison sentences 10% longer than black offenders for the same crimes. If a third of all white men -- just look at this room and take one-third -- went to prison during their lifetime. Imagine that. That is the reality in the lives of so many of our fellow Americans in so many of the communities in which they live." Which was fine, at the time -- better late than never. Mind you, she slipped these comments in at a tech conference where the majority of her comments would focus on other issues. Clinton seemed to have learned her lesson after a New York grand jury did not indict officers in the killing of Eric Garner. She only waited two days to say something about the result : . "Each of us has to grapple with some hard truths about race and justice in America, because despite all the progress we've made together, African-Americans, most particularly African-American men, are still more likely to be stopped and searched by police, charged with crimes, and sentenced to long prison terms." But again, these comments were tagged onto a speech she was giving at a women's conference in Massachusetts and hardly echoed beyond the walls of the building where she was speaking. While Republican 2016 contender Rand Paul can come right out and say police militarization is a problem and that the officer who killed Garner should be fired, Hillary Clinton talks about restoring "balance." While former President George W. Bush admits that he found the grand jury decision "hard to understand," Clinton is backing limited measures, including police body cameras, contained in Obama's executive actions resulting from the Ferguson controversy. While Obama is sitting down to do a serious interview about race, law and justice on BET, Clinton is doing events with Prince William and Catherine in New York. The point is that while other political leaders who hope to lead this country can take the time out to seriously address the longest-running protests in American history since the Montgomery bus boycott, Hillary Clinton sandwiches her comments in at the tail end of paid speaking engagements and keeps it moving. That seems a little tone-deaf. And this isn't the first time Clinton has shown this penchant for avoiding thorny cultural and racial issues on the not-quite-yet-campaign trail. She assiduously avoided addressing race in a town hall interview earlier this year on CNN. And one has to wonder if she would've said anything about the George Zimmerman verdict in the killing of Trayvon Martin if she hadn't been giving a speech at the convention of Delta Sigma Theta (a black sorority) the night the verdict came in. She certainly hasn't said much about it since. If Clinton thinks she's being smart by avoiding thorny race issues on the campaign trail, she's making a huge mistake. Maybe Team Clinton thinks that whatever support she may lose in the African-American vote will be made up for by high turnout among white women. The problem with that logic is that these protests from New York to Chicago to Detroit, to Cleveland, to San Diego, Los Angeles and even St. Louis are incredibly diverse. Take a look at the crowds in Times Square after the Garner verdict and you could see white, Latino, Asian, African-American, old, young and other demonstrators all carrying signs that read "Black Lives Matter." A new NBC News/Marist poll shows that 47% of Americans believe that the justice system applies different standards to blacks and whites. In other words, the people out there marching right now are the Democratic base, with a few independents and libertarians thrown in there for good measure. This is the coalition that Clinton needs to win the presidency, and on the most important issue in decades she's not only not '"ready to lead," she doesn't seem to have much to say, and when she does speak on these issues it's always as an afterthought to some larger message. America is being wracked by nationwide protests and thousands of Americans of all colors are questioning the fundamental fairness of the American justice system. Boycotts are happening, malls are being shut down and transportation all across America is being affected by protests during the biggest shopping season of the year, because many Americans are unhappy with our justice system. No one expects Clinton to be out in Times Square marching with the #ICantBreathe hashtag plastered across her cheek. But if she decides she wants to be serious about being elected president of the United States, she needs to do more and say more than a few throwaway comments in the midst of her busy speaking and fund-raising schedule. The foot soldiers for Clinton's political future are out marching in the cold, marching toward the change they want to see in America. Clinton might want to catch up to them, because if she doesn't, I'm sure Rand Paul, Elizabeth Warren or Andrew Cuomo would be happy to do so. Join us on Facebook.com/CNNOpinion. | Jason Johnson: Hillary Clinton's supporters are protesting Ferguson, Garner verdicts .
He says Clinton's comments on the issues of police and race have been late, minimal .
Others, including Rand Paul and Elizabeth Warren, have been more forceful . |
Keywords: <keyword>CARROLL BONY</keyword>, <keyword>ALLARDYCE DENIED</keyword>, <keyword>DECISION SWANSEA</keyword>, <keyword>SIGN ANDY</keyword>, <keyword>STRIKER ABSENT</keyword>, <keyword>HAM CAREER</keyword>, <keyword>INJURY 15M</keyword>, <keyword>SULLIVAN AGREED</keyword>, <keyword>DEAL DIDN</keyword>, <keyword>TRANSFER WINDOW</keyword>
Sam Allardyce is adamant that West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan agreed with him that they should sign Andy Carroll over Wilfried Bony in 2013. The Hammers boss admitted that the club could have signed the 26-year-old Ivory Coast international - who is currently being targeted by Manchester City - for just £8m before he joined Swansea, but instead chose Carroll, whose time at the club has so far been blighted by injury. Allardyce, however, has denied recent claims by Sullivan that they chose to spend £15m on the English striker instead on his insistence, telling the Evening Standard that it was a joint decision. Swansea City striker Wilfried Bony has been targeted by Manchester City this transfer window . Andy Carroll's West Ham career has been largely blighted by injury since his £15m move . 'Bony is a player who could have come to us a couple of seasons back.' said Allardyce. 'David Sullivan has said recently that he could have signed him for £8m but that I wanted Andy Carroll. 'My recollection was that, yes, we knew about Bony but we all agreed to go for Carroll — with the caveat that if the deal didn’t work out for any reason, we would switch to Bony.' West Ham are set to travel to the Liberty Stadium to face Bony's Swansea side on Saturday, although the Ivory Coast striker will be absent on African Nations Cup duty. The 26-year-old was the Premier League's top goalscorer in 2014, bagging 20 during the calendar year, but Allardyce has insisted he has no regrets over signing Carroll instead. Sam Allardyce says the decision to sign Andy Carroll over Bony was a joint decision . West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan has said recently that the club signed Carroll on Allardyce's insistence . 'Whatever anyone says now, at the time a bid for Bony, unproven in English football, would have represented a bigger risk than Andy, an established Premier League player. 'The likelihood of achieving success, had we signed Bony, was far less than with Carroll. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but, at the time, we were looking at these two possibilities. 'In my experience over more than two decades in football management, you always have to minimise the risk.' | Sam Allardyce adamant that club chairmen agreed to sign Andy Carroll .
David Sullivan recently claimed they chose Carroll over Wilfried Bony on the insistence of West Ham boss Allardyce .
Bony has been targeted by Manchester City in this transfer window .
West Ham are set to face Swansea at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday . |
Keywords: <keyword>EDUCATORS NEWTOWN</keyword>, <keyword>SCHOOL SHOOTER</keyword>, <keyword>INVESTIGATING MASSACRE</keyword>, <keyword>LANZA SHOT</keyword>, <keyword>CHAIRMAN SANDY</keyword>, <keyword>CONNECTICUT OFFICIAL</keyword>, <keyword>FATHER GUNMAN</keyword>, <keyword>HOOK ADVISORY</keyword>, <keyword>JACKSON TOLD</keyword>, <keyword>ADAM HAMDEN</keyword>
By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 08:22 EST, 24 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 08:35 EST, 24 January 2014 . The father of the gunman in the Sandy Hook Elementary School killings has met with a Connecticut official and agreed to help find missing school and medical records that could shed more light on the tragedy. Peter Lanza met for about an hour on Thursday with the leader of a state panel that is investigating the massacre of 20 first-graders and six educators in Newtown in December 2012 by Lanza's son, Adam. Hamden Mayor Scott Jackson, chairman of the Sandy Hook Advisory Commission, said that he met with Lanza in Stamford. The commission is meeting on Friday. Peter Lanza (left), father of the Sandy Hook school shooter Adam Lanza (right), met with the leader of the advisory commission to help them learn more about his son . A spokesman for Peter Lanza said he had no comment. Commission members have said that they need more information about Adam Lanza's mental state before making recommendations to change mental health policy. Hamden Mayor Scott Jackson told the Connecticut Post that the meeting in an undisclosed Stamford location was 'cordial, business-like and friendly'. He said that Mr Lanza wants as much information as possible to be made public such as his son's school, medical and psychological records. Peter Lanza, a General Electric executive, was divorced from Adam's mother Nancy Lanza at the time of the massacre last year. Nancy Lanza was shot four times in the head by her son on December 14. The rifle used to kill her was found by police next to her bed. Peter Lanza's ex-wife Nancy Lanza was shot dead in her bed by her son before he went on a killing spree at Sandy Hook Elementary School . Lanza then went to the Sandy Hook Elementary school where he shot dead 20 first-graders and six educators before shooting himself. Late last month, Connecticut state police released their final report on the shooting . investigation - amounting to thousands of pages of reports, crime scene . photographs of the school and Lanza home as well 911 calls and chilling . video. The report also . revealed the extent of Lanza's medical illness with several witnesses . speaking of an early fascination with destruction and violence. A memorial for the victims of the Sandy Hook massacre outside a home in Newtown, Connecticut to mark the one-year anniversary of the tragedy . | Peter Lanza met for an hour on Thursday with the leader of a Connecticut state panel that is investigating the massacre .
Hamden Mayor Scott Jackson said Mr Lanza was 'cordial, business-like and friendly' |
Keywords: <keyword>FEWER GREENHOUSE</keyword>, <keyword>THERMOSTATS COST</keyword>, <keyword>BURN ELECTRICITY</keyword>, <keyword>LIGHTS COST</keyword>, <keyword>CO2 BLANKET</keyword>, <keyword>OUTDOOR SOLAR</keyword>, <keyword>SAVE MONEY</keyword>, <keyword>WARMER SUMMER</keyword>, <keyword>AL GORE</keyword>, <keyword>CONSUMED WORLDWIDE</keyword>
(Oprah.com) -- You can become a part of the fight against global warming. Former Vice President Al Gore shares the five things you can buy now that will help solve the climate crisis -- and save you a few bucks! Plus, more of his easy going green tips! Former Vice President Al Gore speaks onstage during Live Earth New York at Giants Stadium on July 7. Five things you can buy . 1. Compact fluorescent lightbulbs . These energy-efficient bulbs cost less than $4 and are produced by major corporations like GE. If every household in America switched five regular light bulbs for five fluorescent bulbs, it would be the equivalent of taking 1 million cars off the highways for a full year. 2. Outdoor solar lighting . These yard or patio lights cost less than $20, and they don't burn any electricity or produce any CO2. 3. Programmable thermostats . Though these thermostats cost from $50 to $100, they can actually cut your heating and cooling costs. Set the setting so it's a little bit cooler in the winter and warmer in the summer when you're not in the house. A difference of 2 degrees can reduce a home's CO2 emissions by up to 9 percent over the course of a year. 4. Air filters . Changing the air filters in your heating and cooling systems regularly can knock 2 percent off of your CO2 output each year. 5. Electric water heater blanket . Water heaters use a lot of energy and generate a lot of CO2. A blanket costs less than $18 and can cut your home's CO2 emissions by almost 4½ percent. Keep green in mind! Gore says that when you're shopping for major home appliances, look for the Energy Star label. "This is a signal that you're getting an environmentally efficient appliance that's going to save you money at the same time," he says. During a simple trip to the grocery store, you make hundreds of decisions that can have real environmental impacts. With just a few easy changes, you can make a positive difference in the world. Instead of regular aluminum foil or plastic wrap, buy recycled aluminum foil. It uses just 1/20th of the energy needed to produce regular foil. Look for items without extensive packaging. Most food packaging material uses some petroleum-based plastic. There are several ways to cut down on the energy and waste this produces. Look for minimally or unpackaged items instead. Experiment with bringing your own packaging or buying in bulk. Purchase brands that use bio-based instead of petroleum-based plastic. Recycle or reuse packaging materials you end up having to buy. Bring a cloth bag to the grocery store instead of using its plastic bags. An estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year. That's 1 million bags used per minute. And, according to the EPA, more than 380 billion of those are discarded in the United States. Less than 1 percent of those are actually recycled. Instead, these bags will clog landfills, create litter, choke streams and harm marine wildlife, like whales, seals and sea turtles. Buy local and organic. Buying seasonal, locally produced food helps in a number of ways. Most food travels 1,500 miles from "farm to fork." But buying local food drastically reduces the energy spent on food shipping. Local goods also tend to use minimal packaging, are fresher and come in more varieties. The best place to track down local food is at your local farmers' markets or through the Community Supported Agriculture Department. Farmers who grow produce organically use less fossil fuel and release fewer greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. Organic farming is better for the land, for the farmers and for the consumers. E-mail to a friend . Subscribe to O, The Oprah Magazine for up to 75% off the newsstand price. That's like getting 18 issues FREE. Subscribe now! TM & © 2009 Harpo Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Former Vice President Al Gore says easy things can help climate .
Using compact fluorescent lightbulbs, programmable thermostats .
Buying local, organic produce reduces energy use .
Look for Energy Star label on new appliances . |
Keywords: <keyword>BOYCOTTING CHICK</keyword>, <keyword>STAGED DEMONSTRATIONS</keyword>, <keyword>DEBATE CABLE</keyword>, <keyword>WRAPPED SANDWICHES</keyword>, <keyword>BREAK ROOM</keyword>, <keyword>SUSPICIONS DEEPENED</keyword>, <keyword>MARRIAGE ACKNOWLEDGING</keyword>, <keyword>JUDGE EATING</keyword>, <keyword>ATLANTA 1967</keyword>, <keyword>CONTEXT AMERICANS</keyword>
Atlanta (CNN) -- Call it a crisis of faith. A co-worker and I walked into the office break room Wednesday, national Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day, to find a dozen or so foil-wrapped sandwiches beckoning us from the counter. This being Atlanta, home of Chick-fil-A, we recognized them immediately, and a closer look at the puck-sized packages bearing the iconic scribbled red logo confirmed our suspicions -- and deepened our paranoia. "Is this a trick?" my co-worker asked as he stood frozen in front of the counter. "Will someone judge me if they see me eating one?" We had no idea where they had come from and still don't, but our break room is often the dumping ground of leftovers from business meetings where food is served. I also froze in silence because I knew that the answer was yes, some would judge him, at least for the time being, while the company's stance on same-sex marriage is in the spotlight, sparking impassioned op-eds and fiery debate on cable news networks and Facebook Walls across the country. Supporters on both sides of the debate have staged demonstrations, starting with Wednesday's appreciation day and Friday's same-sex "kiss day" at Chick-fil-A restaurants across the country. Are you going to "kiss day" at Chick-fil-A? Share your story with CNN iReport . Ever since Truett Cathy opened the first Chick-fil-A Restaurant at a mall in suburban Atlanta in 1967, the company has made no secret of its dedication to Christian values. Its corporate purpose is to "glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us" and "to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A." All of its locations are closed on Sunday. Chick-fil-A controversy shines light on company's charitable giving . Within this context, many Americans -- including residents of Atlanta, the ninth "gayest" American city in 2012, according The Advocate magazine -- have chosen either to enjoy Chick-fil-A's sandwich variations or to not patronize the restaurant because of its values. Or, you might be like one of my gay friends, who would ask others to stand in line for his Chick-fil-A lunch, lest his boyfriend find out. But for many, COO Dan Cathy's recent comment that he supports the "biblical definition of the family unit" has forced their hands, compelling them to publicly choose a side and politicize their eating habits. Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day was proposed by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in an effort to show support for the company's viewpoint. Those who chose to support Chick-fil-A on Wednesday led to record-breaking sales, the company said, though it did not provide specific sales numbers. "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day was not a company promotion; it was initiated by others," said Steve Robinson, executive vice president for marketing, in a statement Thursday. "The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect, regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender." Time will tell whether Chick-fil-A suffers any actual fallout from the controversy or if it's just another "media-driven controversy," as some have suggested. After all, Ben & Jerry's is still going strong despite coming out in support of same-sex marriage with flavors like Apple-y Ever After and Chubby Hubby. Californians still swear by In-N-Out Burger regardless of whether their burger comes with a large drink and a citation from a Bible passage. In the meantime, both sides have fanned the flames with high-profile demonstrations and heated rhetoric. Others are left somewhere in the middle, still craving an original chicken sandwich but reluctant to subject themselves to the scrutiny of friends and colleagues, like my co-worker. Heather Roberts of Sugar Land, Texas, made a point of patronizing at Chick-fil-A on Wednesday while visiting Atlanta for a conference. "We wanted to eat here today, especially to show support not just for Christian values but for his right to express his beliefs," Roberts said shortly after finishing a chicken sandwich and waffle fries from a Chick-fil-A stand in the CNN Center food court. She said she shared Cathy's position on same-sex marriage, acknowledging that if the controversy centered around his support for it, she wouldn't have participated in appreciation day. Normally, though, she eats at her local Chick-fil-A at least once a week because she appreciates the food and the customer service -- not because of its Christian values. "I'm allowed to eat where I want," she said. "We need to be appreciative that we live in a country where we can say what we want and eat where we want." Even some people who oppose Cathy's views didn't feel the need to boycott the restaurant, especially if those views don't lead to discrimination against customers or employees. "I don't agree with the owners' beliefs, but they publicly state that they will serve all who enter the door," CNN commenter Doug Barger said. "I believe in religious freedom," the Greenwood, Ohio, resident wrote in an e-mail. "Because the owner's personal opinions differ from mine points to a healthy society." For many, Cathy's views are secondary to his right express them, even among members of the LGBT community. "Mr. Cathy has been unfairly attacked for his statement that he doesn't support same-sex marriage," said Matt Zieminski, a 20-year-old iReporter from California. "As a gay man, I say, let him not support gays. When the gay community and gay activist groups push on anti-gay people and organizations to change their minds and opinions via bullying or forced involvement, I fear it would make whatever accomplishments taste cheap like a greasy coin. Ultimately, the acceptance of the gay community and the right of gays to marry will not be achieved through violent means, physical and verbal, but through peaceful and honest negotiations." How the Chick-fil-A same-sex marriage controversy has evolved . Predictably, Cathy's stance on same-sex marriage kept others away Wednesday. "I think the (COO) has made eating at Chick-fil-A a political statement. I wouldn't (have) had a problem eating there before, but now that the restaurant has turned into a campaign to bash the rights of the LGBT community, I realize I can put my money somewhere else," CNN commenter Wade Pierson said. "As a born-again gay Christian, it saddens me to see Christians feeding into politics. Politics just divides people and stirs up a lot of anger." As counterprotests in the form of "kiss-ins" take shape Friday, some would just as soon stay away from Chick-fil-A this week to avoid making the act of eating chicken political. "Both sides have very good points, but both sides are also wrong, and they're both making this into something far bigger than it needs to be," said an Atlanta-based CNN commenter who preferred not to be named. "Both sides just quite honestly need to grow up and stop acting like 2-year-olds just because somebody said something they didn't like." The Atlanta resident says she does not plan to boycott the chain altogether because she agrees with both sides. And she likes the food. Plus, if you start boycotting Chick-fil-A because you disagree with the COO's views, how far will you take your principles? "I'm very impressed with people that try to avoid right-wing companies from profiting off of them. Trying to avoid Koch products would be really hard. I mean, they even make asphalt!" a friend said in response to my Facebook question, "are you conflicted over buying Chick-fil-A?" "It's not a political issue for me. I think it's more of a way for people to define themselves in front of their friends," she said. "It reminds me a lot of KONY, people getting riled up over something as a way to define themselves." As for my co-worker, he quickly gobbled down his sandwich in the break room while we speculated over where they might have come from. He finished it before others entered the room, tsking as they pulled out their smartphones to take pictures. Two hours later, the rest of the sandwiches were gone. Complete coverage: Chick-fil-A debate . CNN's Nicole Saidi contributed to this report. | In wake of Chick-fil-A COO's comment, Americans choose sides and politicize eating habits .
Others prefer to avoid controversy or quietly agonize over whether to patronize chain .
Many say views are secondary to the right to express them, even within LGBT community . |
Keywords: <keyword>COACHING MURRAY</keyword>, <keyword>TENNIS WOMEN</keyword>, <keyword>MATCH ANDY</keyword>, <keyword>FEMALE INTUITION</keyword>, <keyword>SPARKED AMELIE</keyword>, <keyword>SAID EVERT</keyword>, <keyword>SLAMS URGED</keyword>, <keyword>MAURESMO MOTIVATIONAL</keyword>, <keyword>AFRAID APPOINT</keyword>, <keyword>MAKE PROFESSIONAL</keyword>
Chris Evert, who knows a few things about winning Grand Slams, has urged Andy Murray not to be afraid to appoint a woman to his coaching staff if that is what he wants. The 18-time major champion joined the debate sparked by Amelie Mauresmo watching Murray’s first-round French Open match, and well-sourced reports that the two of them have at least discussed a position working with him. ‘If Andy is thinking about having a woman like Amelie then good for him,’ said Evert. ‘There is no reason why women cannot coach men and they have the experience to coach a top player. Why not? Girl power: Andy Murray has been urged by Chris Evert to sign up a woman as his next coach . Female intuition: Murray was watched by Amelie Mauresmo during his first round match at the French Open . ‘It has not been done much before but that does not mean it would not work, it just has not been tried. If it is blocks of time then maybe that would be attractive. I don’t know how the personalities match up with Andy but she has a lot of experience to pass on. ‘I wouldn’t do it because I have my academy and media work but it is good that Andy is looking at women for coaching.’ If Murray ever wanted evidence of Mauresmo’s motivational powers then he would only have to ask his fellow reigning Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli. The 2006 Wimbledon winner and former world No 1 was a major part of Bartoli’s team when she stormed to unexpected glory at the All England Club and that level of experience appears to have drawn Murray towards the 34- year-old Frenchwoman in the wake of Ivan Lendl’s departure. Neither Murray nor Mauresmo was keen to discuss their prospective partnership yesterday, with the Murray camp declining to comment. Man behind the man: Andy Murray parted company with former coach Ivan Lendl (R) earlier this year . Golden girl: Chris Evert won 18 Grand Slams during her illustrious career . Mauresmo played down the possibility of it becoming reality, but separate sources insist that there has been discussion between them about the post. Murray — who faces Australian Marinko Matosevic on Thursday — understandably keeps his blinkers on during Grand Slams and prefers to squash potential outside distractions. It could well be that if he feels comfortable at Roland Garros with just his trusty lieutenant Dani Vallverdu by his side there will be no appointment but Mauresmo seems to have been in his thoughts.It raises the interesting question of how much impact a woman can have in the macho world of men’s tennis. Evert was not alone in being fascinated by why Mauresmo should spend so much time watching Murray, as highlighted in Sportsmail. ‘It is interesting that Amelie went to watch his entire match. I can’t think why she would do that,’ she said. Head over heels: Mauresmo coached Marion Bartoli to her 2013 Wimbledon victory . From Russia with love: Mikhail Kukushkin is coached by his wife Anastasia . Another former French Open champion, Mary Pierce, felt the same, telling the BBC: ‘Anything is possible. I did notice that she was watching and I thought to myself, “Why is she watching his match?”.’ There are not many female coaches in professional tennis, with most women opting to be guided by men and a major consideration there is that they want the power that a male hitting partner — which many coaches double up as — can provide as the best means of training. With Murray it can be argued that the best coach he ever had was his mother Judy. Against the odds and from a remote outpost of the sport, she managed to equip both him and his brother Jamie with the tools to make it in the professional game. There is actually an example already of female-on-male coaching in the men’s top 100. Mikhail Kukushkin, the world No 54 from Russia, is coached by his wife Anastasia, who began the job when they were courting. 'Mad Dog' and Englishman: Andy Murray will face Marinko Matosevic in his next match at Roland Garros . Mauresmo has been among the groundbreakers in this area. She was alongside another Frenchman, Michael Llodra, over the grass-court season of 2010 when he won the men’s title at Eastbourne. Her TV commitments at the Grand Slams have decreased since last year but she would certainly find herself on screen enough were she to replace Lendl. Around mid-afternoon on Thursday Murray faces world No 66 Matosevic. Although he rejoices in the nickname ‘Mad Dog’ he ought not to hold too many terrors on clay in a best-of-five-sets match. | Chris Evert has urged Andy Murray to choose a woman as his next coach .
Amelie Mauresmo sparked rumours by watching Murray at the French Open .
Mauresmo coached Marion Bartoli to her 2013 Wimbledon triumph .
Russian Mikhail Kukushkin has been coached by his wife Anastasia since courting .
British No 1 faces Marinko Matosevic in the second round at Roland Garros . |
Keywords: <keyword>RANGERS THUMPED</keyword>, <keyword>ALLY MCCOIST</keyword>, <keyword>SCOTSTOUN GUINNESS</keyword>, <keyword>TEAM DESPITE</keyword>, <keyword>GARDENING LEAVE</keyword>, <keyword>MCDOWALL CHARGE</keyword>, <keyword>INTERNATIONAL SPORTSMAIL</keyword>, <keyword>NOTICE KENNY</keyword>, <keyword>OLD POSITION</keyword>, <keyword>JUST MINUTES</keyword>
Ally McCoist was all smiles on Saturday as he watched Glasgow Warriors' beat Edinburgh at Scotstoun in the Guinness Pro 12. Meanwhile, in the capital, Rangers were being thumped 4-0 by Hibernian in the Scottish Championship. It didn't stop McCoist from enjoying the rugby, though, as the Warriors recorded a 16-6 win over their Scottish rivals. Ally McCoist enjoyed a day out at the rugby as Rangers were being thumped by Hibernian . McCoist was placed on gardening leave by Rangers earlier this week after handing in 12 month's notice . Kenny McDowall (right) has been placed in charge, but Rangers were beaten 4-0 by Hibs on Saturday . The former Rangers boss was spotted at the game by former Scotland rugby international and Sportsmail columnist Andy Nicol. 'Highlight of day at Scotstoun was bumping into Ally McCoist. Great to see him smiling again!' Nicol Tweeted along with a picture of McCoist. McCoist was placed on gardening leave by Rangers earlier this week after he had offered his resignation and triggered a 12 month's notice period. McCoist and the board failed to reach an agreement on an early departure last week, raising the prospect of the manager hanging around to lead the team, despite working his notice. Players watch on as David Gray's shot flies into the top left-hand corner of the net after just eight minutes . Jason Cummings celebrates with his team-mates after putting Hibs 2-0 up against Rangers at Easter Road . Steven Smith and Steve Simonsen appear dejected at the end of the defeat . But directors moved on Sunday night to remove the ‘lame duck coach’, agreeing to continue paying him the monthly instalments of his £750,000 salary to stay away — at least until they can finalise a settlement. The 52-year-old's position at the club had become untenable after a series of poor results left Rangers 12 points behind league leaders Hearts in the race for promotion back to the Premiership. Assistant manager Kenny McDowall was put in charge for the remainder of the season, according to a club statement, but his tenure got off to the worst possible start as Hibs swept Rangers aside at Easter Road. | Ally McCiost watched Glasgow Warriors beat Edinburgh 16-6 on Saturday .
Ranger were thumped 4-0 by Hibernian at the same time .
McCoist was placed on gardening leave by Rangers earlier this week .
McCoist tendered his resignation a fortnight ago serving 12 months notice . |
Keywords: <keyword>PRISON CANNABIS</keyword>, <keyword>BRIXTON PRISON</keyword>, <keyword>DRUGS NOTICEABLE</keyword>, <keyword>CLOTHES SMELT</keyword>, <keyword>NOTICEABLE BRIXTON</keyword>, <keyword>USE LONDON</keyword>, <keyword>AVAILABILITY ILLICIT</keyword>, <keyword>CONCERNS BULLYING</keyword>, <keyword>IMB REPORT</keyword>, <keyword>GUARDS VISITORS</keyword>
By . Harriet Arkell . PUBLISHED: . 06:58 EST, 22 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:59 EST, 22 November 2013 . Marijuana use in one of London's most notorious jails was so rife that visiting officials carrying out an inspection noticed their clothes smelt of it, a shocking new report has revealed. Inmates of A and B wings in Brixton prison in south London are said to have smoked so much cannabis that its distinctive smell tainted the clothes of guards and visitors from the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB). The IMB report said the easy availability of illegal drugs in the Category C prison, which only had one sniffer dog, was a 'major concern' and was to blame for 'gambling, indebtedness, bullying and intimidation' amongst inmates. Cannabis use is so widespread at Brixton Prison, pictured, that visitors' clothes smelt of it, a new report says . Referring to concerns over bullying at the jail, it said: 'The fuel for much of the bullying was the availability of illegal drugs – much more noticeable than when Brixton was a local prison. 'Cannabis was sometimes being smoked so much on A and B wings that officers’ and IMB members’ clothes smelt of it.' The report said the drugs were largely being brought into the prison by men who had gone out on temporary licence - on day or overnight release - and said there had been a 'significant failure' by prison authorities to address this problem. It went on: 'A major concern for the Board this year has been the availability of illicit drugs, mobilephones, and other items of contraband. 'This has led to gambling, indebtedness, bullying and intimidation, resulting, in some areas, in a significant deterioration of the generally harmonious regime in the prison.' Other concerns were the availability of the synthetic marijuana drug known as Spice, and prisoners using home-made hooch. The independent report said cannabis was being brought into the jail by inmates who'd been on day release . The independent report concluded that a staff shortage at the prison was to blame. It said: 'Brixton is having to shoulder the burden of a significant headcount reduction. The prison’s staff complement fell about four per cent in the year covered by this report. 'By January 2014 there will be a 17% reduction compared with September 2012. This is bound to weaken further the regime’s effectiveness'. The report said there should be more searches of both prisoners and visitors, and said a second sniffer dog should be brought in to help. | Report noted easy availability of drugs amongst A and B wing prisoners .
Visitors from Independent Monitoring Board noticed drug smell on clothes .
Cannabis blamed for bullying, gambling,debt and intimidation of inmates .
Drugs are thought to be brought in by men coming back from day release .
Report on the Category C jail said shortage of staff was partly to blame . |
Keywords: <keyword>OBAMACARE SUFFERED</keyword>, <keyword>INSURANCE OPTIONS</keyword>, <keyword>MEDICAL EXPENSES</keyword>, <keyword>BILLING VIRGINIANS</keyword>, <keyword>RAY COST</keyword>, <keyword>COUGHING MARIA</keyword>, <keyword>PATIENTS SIGNED</keyword>, <keyword>HEALTHPLEX FACILITY</keyword>, <keyword>CONGRESSIONAL HEARING</keyword>, <keyword>TELLING CONSUMERS</keyword>
Hospital staff in Northern Virginia are turning away sick people on a frigid Thursday morning because they can't determine whether their Obamacare insurance plans are in effect. Patients in a close-in DC suburb who think they've signed up for new insurance plans are struggling to show their December enrollments are in force, and health care administrators aren't taking their word for it. In place of quick service and painless billing, these Virginians are now facing the threat of sticker-shock that comes with bills they can't afford. 'They had no idea if my insurance was active or not!' a coughing Maria Galvez told MailOnline outside the Inova Healthplex facility in the town of Springfield. She was leaving the building without getting a needed chest x-ray. 'The people in there told me that since I didn't have an insurance card, I would be billed for the whole cost of the x-ray,' Galvez said, her young daughter in tow. 'It's not fair – you know, I signed up last week like I was supposed to.' The x-ray's cost, she was told, would likely be more than $500. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Going home: One patient left the hospital without being admitted for chest pains after she was warned she might have to pay full-price. She asked MailOnline not to publish a photograph of her face . MailOnline spoke to patients outside hospitals in Virginia's Washington, D.C. suburbs, many of them confused about the state of their insurance coverage . Galvez said she enrolled in a Carefirst Blue Cross bronze plan at a cost of about $450 per month through healthcare.gov, three days before Christmas. 'No one has sent me a bill,' she said. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius testified in a December 11 congressional hearing that the federal government can't say how many new enrollees have written checks for their first month's premiums. 'Some may have paid, some may have not,' she conceded. It's unlikely that a valid insurance card would have changed Galvez' fortunes, however. Fifty-nine percent of Americans told Gallup pollsters that they have had negative experiences with the Affordable Care Act, according to the public opinion giant's latest survey. Just 39 per cent said their experiences were positive. Only 7 per cent called their Obamacare journeys 'very positive,' but 29 per cent said their interaction with the new system has been 'very negative.' Gallup interviewed 1,500 uninsured Americans in December, 450 of whom said they had visited health insurance exchange websites. As dismal as those numbers are, they represent a slight improvement: In November, Gallup found that 63 per cent of uninsured Americans had negative experiences with the president's new health care overhaul. Her Carefirst plan, identified on the Obamacare website as BlueChoice Plus Bronze, carries a $5,500 per-person deductible for 2014 – an amount she would have to pay out-of-pocket before her coverage would apply to medical expenses. The Inova radiology department wouldn't speak with MailOnline, and Carefirst did not respond to a request for comment. A similar situation frustrated Mary, an African-American small businesswoman who asked MailOnline not to publish her last name. She was leaving the Inova Alexandria Hospital in Alexandria, Virginia with two family members. 'I had chest pains last night, and they took me in the emergency room,' Mary said. 'They told me they were going to admit me, but when I told them I hadn't heard from my insurance company since I signed up, they changed their tune.' She told MailOnline that a nurse advised her that her bill would go up by at least $3,000 if she were admitted for a day, and her doctor told her the decision was up to her. No x-ray for you: This patient left a Virginia medical facility without receiving a test her doctor recommended . 'Should I be in the hospital? Probably,' she said. 'Maybe it's one of those borderline cases. I have to think that if I were really in danger, they wouldn't give me the choice. But what if I think I'm covered and I'm really not?' 'The emergency room bill is going to be bad enough.' No card, no service: Hundreds of thousands of Americans are likely in health-insurance limbo with no proof of insurance as the new year begins . The Obamacare system has suffered from a long list of setbacks since its October 1 rollout, starting with an inoperable website and ending with rampant uncertainty about whether Americans who enrolled are actually covered. 'We're telling consumers if they're not sure if they're enrolled they should call the insurer directly,' White House Press Secretary Jay Carney old reporters on December 2. The Washington Post reported that day that because of computer glitches in the 'back end' of healthcare.gov, enrollment records for as many as one-third of new insurance customers were corrupted or otherwise contain errors. Given the Obama administration's latest claim that 2.1 million have signed up nationwide, that means as many as 700,000 Americans might falsely believe they have a current health insurance policy. Mary and others like her, who took the time to enroll but may not follow the daily flood of news about Obamacare, likely don't know one way or the other. 'Why is this so complicated?' she asked. 'I had my own private insurance last year, but they cancelled me in November. I'm not sure which end is up.' Private industry estimates put the number of policy cancellations as high as 4.7 million in the last quarter of 2013, mostly involving health care plans that didn't meet the Affordable Care Act's strict minimum standards. Democrats serving on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce dispute that number, saying in a new report that no more than 10,000 will wind up without affordable insurance options after losing their old policies. The Inova Healthplex in Springfield, Virginia offers free valet parking, but if you want to see a doctor you'll need proof that you've paid your Obamacare premium . Still working: Emergency services are still being provided at Northern Virginia hospitals, whether or not patients can prove they're covered -- but getting a bed in a hospital ward could come with a tremendous sticker-shock . President Obama has attracted widespread criticism, and a 'lie of the year' award from one newspaper's fact-checker, for promising that Americans who liked their health plans would be allowed to keep them. Dr. John Venetos, a Chicago gastroenterologist, told the Associated Press on Thursday that he is seeing 'tremendous uncertainty and anxiety' among his patients who signed up for Obamacare plans but don't have insurance cards. 'They’re not sure if they have coverage,' Venetos said. 'It puts the heavy work on the physician.' 'At some point, every practice is going to make a decision about how long can they continue to see these patients for free if they are not getting paid.' | MailOnline spoke with patients who were told they would have to pay their bills in full if they couldn't prove they had insurance .
One was faced with a $3,000 hospital room charge and opted to leave the hospital after experiencing chest pains .
'Should I be in the hospital? Probably,' she said .
Another, coughing in the cold, walked out without receiving a needed chest x-ray .
Consumers face sticker-shock from medical costs under the new Obamacare system, made worse if they can't prove they're insured .
As many as one-third of new enrollees' applications have seen problems when the government transmits them to insurance companies . |
Keywords: <keyword>VALLEY STREAM</keyword>, <keyword>HEAVY DEBRIS</keyword>, <keyword>ROOF PENETRATED</keyword>, <keyword>LARGE FISSURE</keyword>, <keyword>FROZEN WASTE</keyword>, <keyword>CAUSED BLUE</keyword>, <keyword>AIRLINE FAULT</keyword>, <keyword>CALAMITOUS CRASHING</keyword>, <keyword>RESIDENTS SAID</keyword>, <keyword>HOLE LOIS</keyword>
Valley Stream sits just north east of John F Kennedy airport . By . Victoria Wellman . PUBLISHED: . 13:08 EST, 11 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 14:42 EST, 11 September 2012 . The residents of two Long Island homes were woken at 3.30am on Sunday by a calamitous crashing noise as large and heavy debris of some kind fell through both their roofs. Neighbours Lois Farella and Anne Grace of Valley Stream now have gaping holes in their roofs the cause of which is believed to be frozen waste - known as 'blue ice' - that most likely leaked from a passing aircraft. The FAA is investigating the possibility that a plane's faulty sewage tank might be responsible for the damage done to the shingles, the plywood and even the layer of insulation of the houses. Write caption here . 'It's a very huge hole. It did a lot of damage through heavy wood. I can't imagine if it hit a person,' Ms Grace told CBS of the destruction caused on her home. Her elderly neighbour who now has a basketball-sized hole in her own roof, recalled: 'We both woke up to a very loud bang. I looked around - no breeze, no rain, nothing.' Roofer Bryan Lanzello discovered a wet, brown stain inside the attic below the large fissure in Ms Grace's roof and said he couldn't imagine what, other than something from a plane, could have fallen that hard and fast. Valley Stream sits just north east of John F Kennedy airport so planes probably fly overhead frequently. Write caption here . Crater: The hole in Lois Farella's roof is roughly the shape of a basketball . Debris: Whatever came through the roof penetrated not only shingles but plywood and insulation too so must have been heavy or dropped from a great height . 'That's a lot of blunt force that did . that [and it] was coming from a distance. It blew through and inch and a . half of shingles and those shingles are tough,' he remarked. But the FAA claims on its website that reports of such incidents are rarely anything at all to do with air traffic and that brown stains could easily be attributed to large groups of migrating birds laying waste en route. In a fact sheet the Federal Aviation Administration address a list of what it refers to as 'myths' surrounding the subject, debunking the notion that planes routinely dump sewage in mid-flight. 'Manufacturers take great care to ensure this holding tank is secure,' it reads. 'It's physically impossible for a pilot to dump a tank while in flight. The apparatus to access the tank is located on the exterior of the plane. Mystery: The FAA are investigating but say that reports of such incidents are rarely anything to do with aeroplane waste as often as they are the migrating birds dropping feces . Hygiene: Aeroplane bathrooms like this one use a blue coloured deodorising chemical in the toilet bowl that also breaks down solids . 'That exterior lever means only the ground crew can operate the valve that opens the tank while the plane is on the ground. 'Even if the tank were to break it goes on, 'blue ice', named for the colour of the disinfectant liquid in plane toilet bowls, would not land in solid form. 'Modern commercial aircraft cruise at high altitudes, and the sub-zero temperatures will cause any liquid to freeze immediately, hence the term "Blue Ice,"' the site clarifies before adding, 'If any of this "Blue Ice" were to fall from an aircraft, it would melt long before it hit the ground, dissipating into miniscule droplets that are nearly invisible.' According to the FAA, phone calls claiming to report craters caused by 'blue ice' increase dramatically around Fall when birds begin to migrate. Conclusions: Roofer, Bryan Lanzello discovered a wet, brown stain inside the attic below the large frissure in Ms Grace's roof and said he couldn't imagine what else could have caused the damage . Home sweet home: The FAA will check to see if any planes passed over Anne Grace's Valley Streams neighbourhood on Sunday night . No shelter here: Lois Farella says now she has been told she has to get an entirely new roof which could cost thousands of dollars . 'Bird migration also occurs during a time when fruit trees are ripening,' claims the FAA in a final attempt to put claims of falling feces to rest. 'As the fruit goes through a bird's digestive system it loses none of its color, which means if it was blue going in, it will be blue coming out.' Authorities, have been looking into what might have caused the damage in Long Island and comparing the timing to the flight schedule over the area on Sunday night. If there were planes passing overhead at 3.30 am then they will have to investigate further to find out which airline may be at fault for having a tank in disrepair. An FAA spokesman said that at this time, the case was 'inclusive'. Arlene Salac told MailOnline: We couldn't determine if it was blue ice as radar tracks from the area showed there were no planes overhead at the time the residents said the debris fell. 'The nearest plane was three miles away. There is no blue residue and no sign of aircraft parts around the house. Unless it happened at a different time of day or we get more information we cannot tell what happened' | Damage is believed to have been made by falling 'blue ice' - the name given to frozen airplane sewage .
FAA officials are investigating but say it's more likely due to migrating birds .
Phone calls claiming 'blue ice' damage increase around the Fall when birds migrate says FAA .
Roofer says impact penetrated shingles and plywood so must have fallen from very high .
Valley Stream sits just north east of John F Kennedy airport . |
Keywords: <keyword>DJOKOVIC ACHIEVED</keyword>, <keyword>FEDERER HOLDS</keyword>, <keyword>NADAL YEARS</keyword>, <keyword>GRAND SLAMS</keyword>, <keyword>WEEKS TENNIS</keyword>, <keyword>ATP</keyword>, <keyword>RANKING</keyword>, <keyword>NINTH MAN</keyword>, <keyword>WEBSITE TAKES</keyword>, <keyword>RETURN ACTION</keyword>
(CNN) -- Novak Djokovic admitted that this year could have been better for him at the grand slams. He won the Australian Open but lost two finals and had clay-court king Rafael Nadal on the ropes at the French Open. Djokovic, though, had reason to celebrate Monday as he became just the ninth man to spend at least 100 weeks at No. 1 on the tennis tour. Djokovic achieved the top ranking in July 2011, taking over from Nadal, and has mostly held down the No. 1 position ever since. When he caught Nadal two years ago, it marked the first time since 2004 that the Spaniard or Roger Federer wasn't at the summit. "I was taught to dream big and to dream to be No. 1 in the world," Djokovic told the ATP website. "It takes years of hard work and dedication. "It is a long process to become a champion. Tennis is a very specific and unique sport, where you take all the credit or all the blame." Djokovic's major breakthrough came in 2011, when he claimed three of the four majors and started the campaign with 41 consecutive victories. Although he only landed one grand slam title in both 2012 and 2013, Djokovic appeared in a 14th straight grand slam semifinal in New York this month, moving him more than halfway past Federer's impressive record of 23. Nadal, however, is almost certain to reclaim No. 1 this fall since he trails Djokovic by less than 300 points and has no points to defend until 2014. Indeed if Nadal reaches the final of next week's China Open -- where Djokovic is the top seed -- he's guaranteed to leapfrog the Serb. "There are still a lot of tournaments to come," said Djokovic. "Calculations are not on my mind right now. I am trying to feed on the confidence that I have." Federer holds the men's record for weeks at No. 1 at 302. Federer is scheduled to return to action at October's Shanghai Masters while the other member of the 'Big Four,' Andy Murray, is set to miss the rest of 2013 with a back injury. | Novak Djokovic becomes the ninth man to spend at least 100 weeks at No. 1 .
Djokovic achieved the top ranking in July 2011 and has been mostly No. 1 ever since .
But Djokovic is now in danger of losing the No. 1 ranking to a surging Rafael Nadal .
Djokovic and Nadal are competing at next week's China Open in Beijing . |
Keywords: <keyword>KABANG SNOUT</keyword>, <keyword>DOG ZAMBOANGA</keyword>, <keyword>MONGREL DOG</keyword>, <keyword>VETERINARIANS PHILIPPINES</keyword>, <keyword>DOG ENDED</keyword>, <keyword>BREED CHEWS</keyword>, <keyword>JAW TORN</keyword>, <keyword>TREATED UNDIAGNOSED</keyword>, <keyword>SAVING GIRLS</keyword>, <keyword>CHRONICLE PROCEDURE</keyword>
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 19:17 EST, 3 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:39 EST, 4 June 2013 . A mongrel dog that lost her snout and upper jaw saving the lives of two young girls in the Philippines is heading home after being patched up at a California hospital. Sadly, doctors couldn't reconstruct Kabang's missing snout but they were able to heal the dog's wounds and treat other ailments, before she was released on Monday from the University of California, Davis veterinary hospital. Kabang had her snout and upper jaw sheared off in December 2011 when she jumped in front of a motorcycle. Scroll down for video . Cured: Kabang, a two-year-old injured mixed breed, chews on a toy after being released from the from the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at the University of California, Davis, . Wounds: Sadly, doctors couldn't reconstruct the snout of Kabang, pictured with caregiver Dawn Gillette . Home: Kabang, pictured, is heading home to the Philippines after being released from hospital on Monday . Newspapers in the Philippines reported she saved the lives of her owner's daughter and niece, who were apparently in the path of the oncoming bike. UC Davis veterinary professor Frank Verstraete said Kabang was in hospital for seven months but doctors were unable to reconstruct her snout and jaw. After the animal's heroic act, doctors discovered Kabang was also suffering life-threatening cancer, and got to work treating her with a dose of chemotherapy. After completing six weekly intravenous chemotherapy infusions, the hospital announced in December that Kabang appeared to have beaten the cancer she was suffering from, Gina Davis, the primary care veterinarian at the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital in Davis, told the San Francisco Chronicle. Procedure: Veterinary surgeon Boaz Arzi, left, describes how a nasal opening was created in the face of Kabang . Faceless dog: The dog's snout and jaw was ripped off in the motorbike accident in 2011 . Cancer: Brave Kabang was also treated for undiagnosed cancer during his seven-month hospital stay . The dog, however, was still undergoing treatment for heartworms in her arteries before she was able to have the gaping wound on her face closed. Full treatment of that condition was put on hold during cancer therapy. Kabang had the first of three arsenic-based heartworm shots on December 4 and received the other two in the second week of January. 'It will be one to two months for her to recover from that before she goes in and has the surgery,' Davis said in December. The horrific accident occurred in . December 2011 when the daughter of Kabang’s owner, nine-year-old Dina . Bunggal, and her cousin three-year old Princess Diansing, were playing . with the dog in Zamboanga City, Philippines. The dog ended up in Davis hospital in 2012 after a nurse from Buffalo, New York, spearheaded a fundraising campaign to bring her to the U.S. Veterinarians in the Philippines were apparently unable to treat her injuries. Helping a hero: Kabang's facial surgery was been postponed after veterinarians at University of California at Davis discovered a tumour and heartworm . Good girl: Kabang was hailed as a hero in the Philippines after saving two girls by jumping in front of a speeding bike, which left her severely disfigured . Treatment: Dr. Anton Lim plays with Kabang after her arrival at the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at University of California Davis . Care For Kabang raised over $20,000 from 22 countries to cover the costs of surgeries, visas and airfare. Surgeons were planning to perform two or three procedures. The first involved dental work, extractions and covering exposed roots. They then closed the dog's wound and restore nasal functions. Prior to the surgeries, the dog's bony structures were exposed to air, increasing the chance of infection, Davis said. Kabang will now return to he owners in the Philippines. The bill for her treatment is expected to top $10,000. Close call: Doctors in the Philippines suggested that Kabang's owner put her down, but he would hear none of it . Grateful dog: Kabang was found in a rice paddy as a puppy and was nearly killed for meat, but her owner's daughter and niece pleaded for her life . Global effort: A New York nurse helped raise more than $20,000 from 22 countries to pay for Kabang's medical care in the U.S. Davis said in December that despite Kabang's many conditions, the dog appeared to be in good spirits. 'She has come through everything very well,' Davis said. 'Her appetite is still good. She's still bright and happy.' Kabang's face became tangled in the spokes of the bike's wheel, and her entire upper jaw was torn off. Kabang, who became a mother to six . little puppies in April 2012, had a rough start in life when Dina's . father Rudy found her abandoned in a rice paddy. He brought the dog home to fatten her . up and feed her to the family, but his daughter and niece convinced him . to spare Kabang and keep her as a pet - a lucky move for both dog and . family. | Kabang the dog's snout and upper jaw sheared off in December 2011 when she jumped in front of a motorcycle in the Philippines .
A fundraising campaign raised enough money to send the dog to California for surgery .
Veterinarians couldn't reconstruct the animal's snout and jaw but were able to heal its wounds .
Kabang was also treated for cancer during her seven-month stay . |
Keywords: <keyword>DICKO PUSHED</keyword>, <keyword>CHARLTON DESERVED</keyword>, <keyword>ADDICKS RATTLED</keyword>, <keyword>EARLIER LOOKED</keyword>, <keyword>BROUGHT NOUHA</keyword>, <keyword>WOLVES POINT</keyword>, <keyword>DANNY BATTH</keyword>, <keyword>STRIKER DRIVING</keyword>, <keyword>CLAMBERED BENCH</keyword>, <keyword>SAVES PEETERS</keyword>
When Nouha Dicko clambered off the bench at the break, he clearly had a point to prove. Not starting for the first time in the league this season, the young striker was the driving force behind Wolves coming away from the Valley with a point. Kenny Jackett’s side struggled with the intensity of the hosts - drilled by the charismatic Bob Peeters - until the 22-year-old’s half-time inclusion. Dicko was pushed up alongside lone target man Leon Clarke - his pace frightening Charlton and tenacity yielding the corner from which Danny Batth equalised after Andre Bikey’s 25th minute opener. Danny Batth leaps highest to head in his goal which earned Wolves a point against Charlton at The Valley . Andrey Bikey jumps in celebration after giving Charlton a deserved lead after 25 minutes . The Addicks were rattled by Dicko’s ability to run in behind and Wanderers went back to the Midlands with more than had earlier looked likely. Talking of the change, Jackett said: ‘It really helped us. Dicko gave us a little bit of pace in behind their back four. We tried to get him in the game and it raised the fans. ‘I am disappointed for the players, they played very well. There was a great tempo to us. There is promise going forward and their goalkeeper has made three fantastic saves.’ Peeters, on the other hand, has already galvanised Charlton and they sat top of the Championship for a portion of the night. They press high and attempt to force mistakes in front of vociferous support. Andrey Bikey is mobbed by his teammates after putting his side in front in a first half they controlled . Charlton manager Bob Peeters has given his side a new sense of urgency and is getting positive results . Charlton: Henderson, Gomez, Ben Haim, Bikey, Wiggins, Wilson (Bulot 75), Buyens, Jackson, Cousins, Tucudean (Moussa 61), Vetokele. Subs: Morrison, Harriott, Church, Fox, Pope. Wolves: Ikeme, Doherty, Batth, Stearman, Golbourne, McDonald, Evans, Henry (Jacobs 87), Saville (Dicko), Sako, Clarke (Edwards 81). Subs: , McCarey, Rowe, van La Parra, Ricketts. Referee: Pat Miller (Bedfordshire) It does mean the football is helter-skelter at times, but they are being entertained on a weekly basis. Results have been consistently positive and there is a manager who is changing the club’s ethos. August’s mantra of mere survival will not do. ‘Every time we broke I felt we could score,’ Peeters said. ‘They brought on Dicko and he caused us a lot of problems.’ It had looked very promising indeed earlier. Igor Vetokole - a revelation since joining from FC Copenhagen - won himself a corner he had no right to, with Jordan Cousins’ resulting centre helped beyond Carl Ikeme at his near post by Bikey. The trademark somersaults ensued, and they should have been celebrating again seconds later. Almost straight from the kick-off, Vetokole - who trapped a nerve in his arm late on and has been assessed by club doctors - picked Lee Evans’ pocket in midfield before sliding in George Tucudean, but the Romanian skewed his shot wide. It was a very presentable opportunity and one in which he ought to have finished, much like earlier in the half when the striker could only send a free header wide from eight yards. Wolves manager Kenny Jackett turned the game on its head when he brought on Nouha Dicko at half time . Charlton had plenty of men in their own box when Danny Batth headed his goal but couldn't prevent him scoring . Danny Batth celebrates his goal which drew Wolves level at The Valley midway through the second half . They were almost made to pay for those misses by George Saville, but the Wolves midfielder could only find Stephen Henderson’s right-hand post from the edge of the box. It served as a warning sign for the Addicks, who saw Evans twice flash long-range efforts just wide. Wolves passed the ball competently but lacked real endeavour in the final third. Saville, Evans and Kevin McDonald are imposing in midfield but weren’t able to manufacture the ball wide to James Henry or Bakary Sako nearly enough. They improved significantly after the inclusion of Dicko. Clarke twice swept efforts wide before Sako’s fierce strike was brilliantly tipped over by Henderson. Jackett’s switch at the break had worked, if only Clarke could find the net. He again couldn’t hit the target, this time missing his kick after Dicko’s intelligent pullback. But the equaliser wasn’t far away and it was all down to Dicko’s tireless work. He chased down a lost cause, winning a corner, and central defender Danny Batth bundled home. The healthy travelling contingent in the Jimmy Seed Stand went wild, and it was just reward for their team’s efforts after the break. The manager looked fired up on the touchline, so too his players. James Henry rattled a post and they weren’t able to force a winner - even when Dicko was put clear in the stoppage time. On this basis, neither side will fall away from their lofty Championship positions anytime soon. | Andrey Bikey puts Charlton ahead with a flick in first half .
Dicko introduced at half time and changes the game .
Danny Batth scores the equaliser for Wolves after 65 minutes . |
Keywords: <keyword>MURRAY MAURESMO</keyword>, <keyword>WIMBLEDON FRUSTRATED</keyword>, <keyword>AMELIE SITUATION</keyword>, <keyword>TENNIS PLAYER</keyword>, <keyword>BARTOLI DECISION</keyword>, <keyword>MATCH ANFIELD</keyword>, <keyword>HELP ANDY</keyword>, <keyword>AUSTRALIAN OPEN</keyword>, <keyword>PRESSURE DEFENDING</keyword>, <keyword>WORLD NUMBER</keyword>
Marion Bartoli believes Amelie Mauresmo is the 'perfect' person to help Andy Murray cope with the pressure of defending his Wimbledon title. Murray took the tennis world by surprise by appointing Mauresmo, a former Australian Open and Wimbledon champion, as his coach after the French Open. Initially the deal is only for the grass-court season but both are hoping it will extend beyond that. All smiles: Marion Bartoli believes Amelie Mauresmo (left) is the perfect person to help Andy Murray (right) The partnership did not get off to the best start with Murray's third-round loss to Radek Stepanek at Queen's Club, but their focus from the start will have been Wimbledon. After ending Britain's 77-year wait for a men's singles winner 12 months ago, all eyes will be on the world number five when he steps out to begin his defence on Monday. Bartoli is well-placed to judge Mauresmo's capabilities because it was the 34-year-old to whom Bartoli turned last year for help at Wimbledon. Frustrated figure: Murray lost to Radek Stepanek in the third round at Queen's Club . With Mauresmo in her corner, Bartoli went on to become one of the most surprising champions in Wimbledon's long history. She said: 'If Andy's looking for someone who can help him deal with the pressure of defending the title and coming back again to Wimbledon then he hired the perfect person, because Amelie's really someone that is able to take all the stress away and make you feel extremely comfortable. 'I really felt that way when she was coaching me as my Fed Cup captain or as my adviser during Wimbledon. She was able to give me some small but great advice in order to deal with my stress. 'She prepares you for the worst and gives you some advice in order to deal with that, so when you start to face that situation you are ready. 'I really felt she was a tremendous help to me last year, especially in the final and semi-final.' Bartoli expects Murray and Mauresmo to hit it off on a personal level as well, saying: 'They're both extremely funny, I think they will joke around a lot. 'Amelie's been in every situation, she's been a player, a coach, on the bench as a Fed Cup captain. She knows really well what she's speaking about.' Nation expects: Murray goes into this year's Wimbledon as defending champion having won it last year . While Murray was warming up for his Wimbledon defence at Hurlingham on Thursday, Bartoli was stepping out for a public match for the first time since her shock retirement last August. The unlikely venue was Liverpool Cricket Club, with Bartoli accepting an invitation to play in the Liverpool Hope University International Tennis Tournament. Football played a big part in Bartoli's decision to accept the invitation. The 29-year-old is a huge fan and is hoping to return later in the year to watch a match at Anfield or Goodison Park. Eyes on the prize: Bartoli beat Sabine Lisicki to win the women's singles final at Wimbledon last year . 'Liverpool, soccer, tennis, grass - that's a great combination,' she said. 'If you tell me, clay court, Roland Garros, maybe it would be more tricky. But grass, England, Liverpool, that works pretty well. Wimbledon's right around the corner, there's going to be some amazing memories, it's just a great time.' Bartoli has insisted since laying down her racquet little over a month after winning Wimbledon that she has never had any regrets. She has done some media work but her main post-retirement activity has been launching a fashion business. Warm embrace: Bartoli (right) hugs her then coach Maursemo (left) after her Wimbledon triumph . Bartoli is currently working on a line of tennis bags, and she said: 'I feel extremely lucky that I've been able to realise my dream as a tennis player but I don't like to call myself a retired person, it's just like I've finished the first part of my life and now I'm starting the second part, which is as a fashion designer and creator. 'This is something I really love to do, I want to explore that and I'm working really hard, just like I did on the tennis court. 'I feel like I'm 1,000 in the rankings and I need to become a Wimbledon champion. It's a long way to go. It took me 22 years to fulfil my dream in tennis, I truly hope it won't take me that time in fashion.' | Marion Bartoli says Amelie Mauresmo is the perfect person for Andy Murray .
Murray hired Mauresmo as his coach for this grass-court season .
Mauresmo was Bartoli's coach when she won Wimbledon last year . |
Keywords: <keyword>LOST ALGERIA</keyword>, <keyword>PORTUGAL TIEBREAKERS</keyword>, <keyword>GERMANS DRAW</keyword>, <keyword>SHUT BRAZIL</keyword>, <keyword>MINUTES SOCCER</keyword>, <keyword>GROUP STAGES</keyword>, <keyword>DIFFERENCE AUSTRIA</keyword>, <keyword>SPECTACULAR SURPRISING</keyword>, <keyword>SCREENS WEEK</keyword>, <keyword>COMPUTING POSSIBLE</keyword>
(CNN) -- Let the math begin! With every team having played two matches, it's time to start computing every possible variable in which teams like the U.S. and Portugal can make it to the next round. Oh, if only the Americans were able to hold off the Portugese attack for 27 more seconds yesterday. Portugal could have hopped a flight with Spain back to the Iberian Peninsula. But alas, it wasn't to be. While we lament and scribble scenarios into our spreadsheets, here are five things to ruminate over today about this spectacular but surprising World Cup. 1. You're going to need two screens this week . That's because the last games of the group stages are played concurrently -- meaning, two games at the same time. It all began in 1982 when Algeria was on the verge of making the knockout rounds. Also in their group that year was West Germany and Austria. When they played, the Germans scored. The 1-0 result good enough to send both the Germans and the Austrians through. So, the two teams basically stopped competing. Had Germany scored two more goals (or lost), Algeria would have advanced. (It has to do with goal difference) Both Austria and Germany said, "No, not us. We didn't cheat." But get this, there were no shots in the final 80 minutes! So, FIFA wised up. And the next World Cup saw the first simultaneous matches for the last days of group play. On Thursday, the U.S. and Germany already know a 0-0 draw would get both through, so you don't think...? Nah, winning the group is too important. 2. There's a lot at stake today (read: pride) Let's go through today's matches one by one - . Netherlands v Chile: . If you're going to fixate on one match today, this is it. Both teams are phenomenal. Both are already going through. The only question is, which will top Group B? Bragging rights are a good enough reason to put up a great fight. Brazil v. Cameroon: . Cameroon is playing to not finish 32nd in a 32-team field. The Indomitable Lions? They've been more like The Skittish Kitties. Brazil hasn't exactly set the field on fire either with its performance so far. Still, there's no doubt this matchup is one they'll handily win. Spain v Australia: . Oh how the mighty have fallen. Defending champs Spain have already been knocked out of the contest. So this encounter is basically a test to see if it can salvage some of its pride. Croatia v. Mexico: . Croatia needs to score to advance to the next round. Not gonna be easy with Mexican goalie Guillermo Ochoa in the way. He's shut out Brazil and Cameroon, and inspired memes like the one where, Ochoa as Gandalf, stands before the goal proclaiming, "You shall not pass." 3. That putrid racism in soccer? Yup, still there . FIFA is not happy after pictures surfaced of two men who showed up to the Germany v. Ghana game in blackface and "Ghana" written on their shirts. Oh, at the same game, a Nazi sympathizer ran onto the field. Such a pity because the second half of Saturday's 2-2 draw was, in our opinion, the best 45 minutes of soccer in this tournament. 4. Don't rule the U.S. out just yet . If only the U.S. could have held on for a few more seconds. But it couldn't yesterday. And Portugal made history by racing down field and scoring what ESPN said was the latest World Cup goal ever in regulation. You'd think Portugal would be elated, but Cristiano Ronaldo's reaction to the dramatic equalizer was telling. He just looked down at the ground and walked back to midfield. Portugal really needed a win after putting itself in an impossible hole with a 4-0 loss in its opening match against Germany. So how will Group G play out? Germany and the U.S. each have four points, while Portugal and Ghana each have one. The Americans would prefer to just beat Germany, which would win the group. But if the Americans and Germans draw, both go through as they would if Ghana and Portugal tie. But if there are winners in each match, the loser of U.S.-Germany and the winner of Ghana-Portugal will go to tiebreakers, the first of which is goal differential. Confused? Let's simplify it for you. Just hope the U.S. wins or draws against Germany. 5. What does the fox say? Gooooal! How about them Desert Foxes? Algeria's on the verge of qualifying for the knockout round after a 4-2 victory over South Korea yesterday. Four goals for a country that hadn't scored at the finals in 28 years, hadn't won a match in 32. You know how many African teams has scored four goals in a World Cup match? Zero, until now. As for the Russia-Belgium affair, the less said the better. The Belgians looked tepid for 88 minutes before one of its youngest players scored the lone goal. You know what you call a match that doesn't have a lot of shots? Belgium's coach called it "highly tactical affair." | Monday brings two sets of two matches played at the same time .
In 1982, Algeria was denied a Round of 16 appearance after a shady match .
FIFA looks into pictures of white men with black faces .
Slumping Lions appear to be easy prey for Brazil . |
Keywords: <keyword>PLAYERS BALOTELLI</keyword>, <keyword>JUVENTUS BOSS</keyword>, <keyword>ALLEGRI STATED</keyword>, <keyword>MKHITARYAN JANUZAJ</keyword>, <keyword>SIGNING MANCHESTER</keyword>, <keyword>INSISTS MARIO</keyword>, <keyword>WORTH COACHES</keyword>, <keyword>PITCH THINK</keyword>, <keyword>TUTTOSPORT SAID</keyword>, <keyword>ANFIELD FAILING</keyword>
Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri has hinted he would be keen on linking back up with Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli by suggesting he is among the world's best players. Balotelli worked under Allegri during his brief stint at AC Milan before sealing a move back to the Premier League. The Italian international has been linked with a move away from Anfield after failing to hit the ground running on his return to England and Allegri has claimed he would be keen on coaching the 24-year-old once again. Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri insists Mario Balotelli is among the best players in the world . Balotelli, pictured playing against Sunderland, has scored just two goals in 18 appearances for the Reds . Allegri would be keen on signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Adnan Januzaj if they were made available . Allegri, speaking to Italian newspaper Tuttosport, said: 'Mario had a good season with me, I think. 'Unfortunately he's built up a character outside the world of football and everyone talks about what he does off the pitch. 'I think he has some good technical and physical qualities, but the time came when it was up to him to prove his worth. 'All coaches like to train the best players. But Balotelli is a Liverpool player and I think first he has to think about playing well, sacrificing and giving his best - especially to show everyone who says he is an important player.' Allegri has also stated he would be interested in signing Manchester United winger Adnan Januzaj and Dortmund's Henrikh Mkhitaryan if they were made available by their respective clubs. He told La Gazzetta dello Sport: 'Mkhitaryan and Januzaj are two great players but I don't know if the clubs will sell them.' | Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri has heaped praise on Mario Balotelli .
Balotelli worked under Allegri during his brief spell at AC Milan .
Allgeri has also revealed his admiration for Man United ace Adnan Januzaj . |
Keywords: <keyword>SPECIES SAOLA</keyword>, <keyword>ANIMAL PHOTOGRAPHS</keyword>, <keyword>BIODIVERSITY DANG</keyword>, <keyword>ASIAN UNICORN</keyword>, <keyword>WWF VIETNAM</keyword>, <keyword>AUSTRALIAN RAINFOREST</keyword>, <keyword>RARE MAMMAL</keyword>, <keyword>ILLEGAL WILDLIFE</keyword>, <keyword>DISCOVERED AMAZON</keyword>, <keyword>2010 LAOTIAN</keyword>
(CNN) -- Environmentalists in Vietnam were ebullient this week after remote cameras in a forest reserve snapped pictures of a live saola, one of the rarest large mammals on Earth. At most a few hundred -- and as few as a couple dozen -- of the animals are thought to exist. Because of that rarity and its elusiveness, the saola is dubbed the "Asian unicorn." That moniker comes despite the fact it has two closely spaced parallel horns. "These are the most important wild animal photographs taken in Asia, and perhaps the world, in at least the past decade," said William Robichaud, coordinator of the Saola Working Group of the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Species Survival Commission, in a World Wildlife Fund press release. Scientists discover new species in Australian rainforest . "This is an historic moment in Vietnam's efforts to protect our extraordinary biodiversity," Dang Dinh Nguyen, deputy head of the country's Quang Nam Forest Protection Department, said in the release. The picture of the animal was taken in September in a reserve in the Central Annamite Mountains and announced by the WWF on Tuesday. 441 species discovered in Amazon since 2010 . Van Ngoc Thinh, WWF-Vietnam's country director, called the picture "a breath-taking discovery." "When our team first looked at the photos we couldn't believe our eyes. Saola are the holy grail for Southeast Asian conservationists," Van said in a press release. The saola, which is a relative of cattle but looks like an antelope, was first discovered in 1992 in forests along the Vietnam-Laos border. A WWF survey team found a skull of the animal in a hunter's home. In Vietnam, a saola was last seen in the wild in 1998. In Laos, a remote camera snapped a picture of one in the wild in 1999. And in 2010, Laotian villagers captured a saola that died before word got to researchers. Olinguito: The newest rare mammal species . There are no saola in captivity. Environmentalists said Wednesday the pictures show that efforts to save the saola are working. "Saola are caught in wire snares set by hunters to catch other animals, such as deer and civets, which are largely destined for the lucrative illegal wildlife trade," Van said in the WWF release. "Since 2011, forest guard patrols ... have removed more than 30,000 snares from this critical saola habitat and destroyed more than 600 illegal hunters' camps." New legless lizards found in California . 'Chewbacca bat,' other bizarre species found in national park . | Saola caught on forest camera in Vietnam .
At most, only a few hundred saola thought to exist .
Species was first discovered in 1992 . |
Keywords: <keyword>DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY</keyword>, <keyword>INDICTED KHOBRAGADE</keyword>, <keyword>DISMISSAL FEDERAL</keyword>, <keyword>VISA FRAUD</keyword>, <keyword>DELHI CASE</keyword>, <keyword>ARREST ACQUISITION</keyword>, <keyword>CLAIMING CLOAKED</keyword>, <keyword>APPOINTED COUNSELOR</keyword>, <keyword>ATTENTION INDIAN</keyword>, <keyword>FALSE STATEMENTS</keyword>
New York (CNN) -- The Indian diplomat whose arrest sparked a testy exchange between the United States and India won a dismissal of a federal indictment Monday, according to court documents. Devyani Khobragade was arrested and strip searched by federal agents in New York City in December after federal authorities accused Khobragade of lying on a visa application about how much she paid her housekeeper. She was indicted on January 9 by a federal grand jury on one count of visa fraud and one count of making false statements. Khobragade then filed a motion to dismiss the charges, claiming she was "cloaked in diplomatic immunity at the time of her arrest," according to the motion. The court agreed, stating that Khobragade was "appointed a Counselor to the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations, a position that cloaked her with full diplomatic immunity," according to court documents. She was appointed to that position on January 8, a day before she was indicted. "Even if Khobragade had no immunity at the time of her arrest and has none now, her acquisition of immunity during the pendency of proceedings mandates dismissal," U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin wrote. "The government may not proceed on an indictment obtained when Khobragade was immune from the jurisdiction of the court," Scheindlin continued. Khobragade's attorney, Daniel Arshack, said in a statement that Khobragade is pleased that "the rule of law has prevailed." "We are heartened that the court agreed with our legal analysis and rejected the prosecution's arguments by dismissing the case," he said. India's external affairs spokesman, Syed Akbaruddin, issued a statement welcoming the ruling. James Margolin, spokesman for the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, did not rule out the possibility of further charges. "As the court indicated in its decision, and as Devyani Khobragade has conceded, there is currently no bar to a new indictment against her for her alleged criminal conduct, and we intend to proceed accordingly," he said in a statement. Khobragade, who left the United States in January, is now working for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi. Her case drew international attention, with Indian officials demanding apologies from Washington, and the United States announcing it would withdraw one official from its embassy in New Delhi. CNN's Allison Malloy in New York and Harmeet Singh in New Delhi contributed to this report. | NEW: India welcomes the ruling .
Devyani Khobragade was accused of lying on a visa application .
That search sparked outrage in India, with officials there demanding an apology .
Khobragade had diplomatic immunity, so the charges can't stand, judge finds . |
Keywords: <keyword>TRAINER GEMMA</keyword>, <keyword>FEMALE FITNESS</keyword>, <keyword>MISS MULLINGER</keyword>, <keyword>WEIGHT LOVE</keyword>, <keyword>TINA TOOK</keyword>, <keyword>LESSITER WEIGHED</keyword>, <keyword>GYM REASONED</keyword>, <keyword>WOMAN MET</keyword>, <keyword>STONE DIVORCE</keyword>, <keyword>CLOSE FRIENDS</keyword>
When Tina Lessiter joined a gym, she was hoping to lose weight, get fit and put her divorce behind her. What she hadn’t anticipated was falling in love with her female fitness instructor. But Miss Lessiter, 38, is now planning a future with the woman who helped her shed four stone. Scroll down for video . Tina Lessiter (right) gained four stone after her divorce. But after joining a gym and shedding the weight, she also found love with her fitness instructor Gemma Mullinger (left) Recalling the first time she met Miss Mullinger, Ms Lessiter said: 'I really admired the way she carried herself. She stood out, and lit up the room. I thought if I tried really hard, I could one day look as good as she did' She was introduced to personal trainer Gemma Mullinger, 26, last year when she joined a gym for the first time, and the pair soon became close friends. Miss Lessiter said: ‘I thought of her as a great mate and it hadn’t crossed my mind to be with someone of the same sex. ‘We went on a night out together as friends and by the end of the evening we were a couple.’ Miss Mullinger said: ‘I’d never thought of being with another woman until I met Tina, and neither had she, so it took us by surprise. ‘We’re both amazed at how happy we are together.’ Miss Lessiter, a community care worker from Barnstaple, Devon, became overweight and unhappy following the breakdown of her seven-year marriage in 2006. In the years that followed, her weight ballooned to nearly 18st as she fell into habits of eating junk food to make her feel better. Ms Lessiter began attending the gym six nights a week, and became goood friends with Miss Mullinger . Feeling unhealthy and unmotivated, she decided to seek out a personal trainer. She said: ‘My brother-in-law Sam handed me a leaflet for a local ladies-only gym. I reasoned that I’d been sitting around doing nothing for too long, so I decided to take the plunge and give it a go. BEFORE . Breakfast: Croissants . Lunch: Cheese and ham sandwich made on thick white bread, chocolate bar . Dinner: Indian takeaway with naan and rice . Snacks: Savoury snacks such as pasties . AFTER . Breakfast: Smoked haddock with poached eggs, fruit and vegetable juice . Lunch: Leftover home-made pork and vegetable curry . Dinner: Fresh seafood pasta . Snacks: Fruit, nuts and seeds . ‘I’ve always been big. I can’t remember a time when my weight didn’t fluctuate. ‘When I split from my husband in 2006, things rather spun out of control. I’d happily eat an extra-large bar of Galaxy chocolate all to myself. I found being in a room surrounded by so many fit people quite intimidating. ‘Luckily Gemma, who led the classes, was really welcoming. I really admired the way she carried herself. She stood out, and lit up the room. I thought that if I tried really hard, I could one day look as good as she did.’ In June 2013, Miss Lessiter weighed 17st 10lb and wore size 20 clothing. She started going to the gym up to six nights a week, and found herself bonding ever closer with Miss Mullinger. She added: ‘We both loved food, so Gemma was able to help me make the switch over from the unhealthy, fattening food I was eating to a diet plan, tailored just for me.’ Before beginning her weight-loss programme, Miss Lessiter typically ate croissants for breakfast, thick white bread with cheese and ham and a chocolate bar for lunch, and an Indian takeaway with naan bread and rice for her evening meal. She would snack on savoury snacks such as pasties during the day. Today, she often eats smoked haddock with poached eggs and fruit and vegetable juice for breakfast, followed by leftover home-made pork and vegetable curry for lunch, with fresh seafood pasta for her evening meal. When she snacks she enjoys fruit, nuts and seeds. Miss Lessiter now weighs 13st 10lb and wears size 14 dresses. Miss Mullinger said: ‘I’m really proud of the journey that Tina has been on. I would love her whatever she looked like, but having been through a similar journey myself before I became a personal trainer, I know how tough it can be to make that turnaround.’ Miss Mullinger helped Ms Lessiter's weight fall by four stone from 17st 10lbs and a size 20 . She said since meeting Miss Mullinger, she no longer watches TV. 'We prefer to spend time away in our campervan, enjoying the countryside, walking and spending time with our family and friends' | Tina Lessiter, 38, was 18st and size 20 due to overeating after her divorce .
Eventually decided to join a gym and met personal trainer Gemma Mullinger .
She helped her shed the flab in exercise classes and they became friends .
Also began eating healthily, ditching pastries and fatty takeaways .
Instead embarked on a diet containing high protein, home-cooked food .
Also no longer watches TV - instead, the couple go on walks in countryside . |
Keywords: <keyword>GENDERS MULTICELLULAR</keyword>, <keyword>ORIGIN SEXES</keyword>, <keyword>ALGAE SCIENTISTS</keyword>, <keyword>GENETIC MALES</keyword>, <keyword>SEXUAL REPRODUCTION</keyword>, <keyword>PLOS BIOLOGY</keyword>, <keyword>EVOLUTIONARY ORIGINS</keyword>, <keyword>MEN MARS</keyword>, <keyword>PHYSICALLY DISTINGUISHABLE</keyword>, <keyword>VOLVOX DIFFERED</keyword>
By . Jonathan O'Callaghan . Throughout evolution, living things have repeatedly developed physically distinct sexes, but how does this actually happen? That’s the question scientists were hoping to answer when they performed a genetic engineering trick on multicellular algae. And they were surprised to find the process through which one gender produces eggs and the other sperm was more simple than expected - and the scientists could switch the gender roles of the algae. Scientists in Missouri have revealed they could induce gender (stock image shown) in cells. They performed the trick by identifying and modifying a gene in multicellular algae. This gene was responsible for giving the algae one of two mating types, but they also made it switch gender . The study, led by Dr James Umen at the Danforth Plant Science Center in Missouri and published in Plos Biology, looked at the multicellular green algae Volvox carteri. A neuroscientist has claimed the expression 'Men are from Mars and women are from Venus' has no scientific grounding, and that instead our brains are changed by the roles society forces us to play. According to Gina Rippon, a professor at Aston University in Birmingham, stereotypes - such as women's supposed inability to read maps, or the idea men are bad at multitasking - have no links to science. Instead of being wired in different ways, Professor Rippon said that men and women are only dissimilar because the world we live in encourages gender role-playing. Speaking in March she said the differences between men and women are caused by the 'drip, drip, drip' of gender stereotypes.According to The Telegraph she said: 'You can't pick up a brain and say "that's a girl's brain, or that's a boy's brain" in the same way you can with the skeleton. They look the same.'There is pretty compelling evidence that any differences are tiny and are the result of environment not biology.' The researchers identified the master regulatory gene for sex determination in Volvox. They found that it differed from a related gene in a close relative that did not have physically distinguishable sexes. The findings may also provide a possible blueprint for how sexes in other multicellular organisms like plants and animals may have originated. For plants and animals having male and female reproductive cells - also known as gametes - is the norm. The differences between the two types of gametes in males and females are obvious. Male gametes are small mobile sperm or pollen, while female gametes are large egg cells. However, the evolutionary origins of male and female sexes are unclear because the distant relatives of plants, animals and other multicellular species generally don't have distinct sexes. Instead they have a system in which gametes of one mating type can only fuse with those with a different mating type. The researchers found they were able to identify a gene called MID that controlled two mating types labelled 'plus' and 'minus'. By forcing genetically female Volvox to express MID, the team was able to convert what would have been egg cells into packets of functional sperm cells. Conversely, by using a method of gene inactivation called RNA interference (RNAi), the scientists were able to block MID expression in genetic males causing them to develop with functional eggs in place of their sperm packets. The team was even able to use their gender-swapped strains to carry out successful matings between pairs of genetically male or genetically female Volvox. Here can be seen dishes containing various genders of the multicellular algae Volvox. Top left is a regular male, and top right a regular female. Bottom left is a male made to act as a female, and vice versa in the bottom right. The research could explain the origin of the sexes . The discovery of a master regulatory gene for sexes and mating types in this group of green algae shows that these two forms of reproduction share a common genetic origin. This also hints at a similar evolutionary scenario that may have taken place in the origin of sexes in animals, plants and other multicellular lineages. In addition to the evolutionary insights gained by Dr Umen's research team, there are also practical implications for algal biotechnology. 'Just as is the case for crop plants, breeding will be an important tool for making improved algal strains that can serve as biofuel feed stocks or other purposes,' Dr Umen, . 'However, sexual reproduction in most algal species is poorly understood. 'The identification of a conserved regulatory gene that controls sex and mating in the algae may lead to clues about how sex is controlled in other related groups of algae that are used for biotechnological applications.' | Scientists in Missouri have revealed they have induced gender in cells .
They performed the trick by modifying a gene in multicellular algae .
This gene was responsible for giving the algae one of two mating types .
But they altered it so that it could switch between 'male' and female'
Could explain origin of the sexes in plant and animal organisms . |
Keywords: <keyword>HOMEOWNER JUSTICE</keyword>, <keyword>BLINDSIDED EPA</keyword>, <keyword>RULING BARRING</keyword>, <keyword>WASHINGTON CNN</keyword>, <keyword>RIGHTS AMERICANS</keyword>, <keyword>IDAHO COUPLE</keyword>, <keyword>VS GOLIATH</keyword>, <keyword>SUPPORT SACKETTS</keyword>, <keyword>ORAL ARGUMENTS</keyword>, <keyword>GRAVEL LOT</keyword>
Washington (CNN) -- The Supreme Court gave an Idaho couple another chance Wednesday to challenge a government ruling barring construction of their "dream house," an important property rights defeat for the Obama administration. The justices unanimously ruled Chantell and Mike Sackett can appeal a compliance order that said wetlands on their residential lot were improperly filled with rocks and dirt. A building permit was then revoked. "Since the agency's decision was final and since the Sacketts have no other adequate remedy in a court, they may bring their suit" under federal law, said Justice Antonin Scalia. The couple's supporters had billed this as "David vs. Goliath" fight against the Environmental Protection Agency. "We're here to stand up for the property rights and the constitutional rights of all Americans," Mike Sackett told CNN in January, when the case was argued at the high court. "We felt blindsided by the EPA, and we remain determined to fight." The high court had displayed wide support for the Sacketts during oral arguments 10 weeks ago. "If you related the facts of this case -- as they come to us -- to an ordinary homeowner," Justice Samuel Alito asked the government's attorney, "don't you think most ordinary homeowners would say this kind of thing can't happen in the United States?" What happened has become a six-year fight pitting business and property rights groups against the federal government and many in the environmental community. The effect could be huge for the longstanding tension over the balance between commercial and private development, and maintaining clean air, water, and soil. The Sacketts bought a small parcel of about two-thirds of an acre in the Idaho Panhandle in 2005, near the shores of the resort community of Priest Lake. They hoped to build a three-bedroom home, surrounded by neighbors' houses, and had obtained a county permit. Gravel had already been laid for the foundation when EPA officials told them their land was a wetland. That barred any development. They were ordered to immediately "restore" the land to its natural state or risk fines of up to $37,500 a day. At issue before the high court was whether the Sacketts have a right to have a "timely and meaningful" hearing before a court to challenge a Clean Water Act wetlands-restoration order of a federal agency. About 3,000 administrative compliance orders are issued each year by the EPA. A federal appeals court agreed with the agency that the couple's only remedy was to go through a lengthy wetlands permit process, which the Sacketts said would cost thousands more than the property is worth. "EPA is not above the law," said Damien Schiff, an attorney with the Pacific Legal Foundation, representing the Sacketts in court. "That's the bottom line with today's ruling." Agency officials said in a statement: "EPA will of course fully comply with the Supreme Court's decision, which the agency is still reviewing, as we work to protect clean water for our families and future generations by using the tools provided by Congress to enforce the Clean Water Act." The EPA still maintains the land is a wetland, and says the couple passed up the chance to work with federal officials for an "after-the-fact" permit, which may have resolved the situation quickly and cheaply, a remedy the government says it uses often for individual homeowners. But Alito, in a concurring opinion Wednesday, said for "a nation that values due process," the bureaucracy the Sacketts endured was "unthinkable." "The combination of the uncertain reach of the Clean Water Act and the draconian penalties imposed for the sort of violations alleged in this case still leaves most property owners with little practical alternative but to dance to the EPA's tune," he said. Defining "wetland" and the potential impact on drainage and "discharging pollutants" from nearby land has long been a tricky, subjective process. Federal regulators for decades have had the authority to protect water quality, even when land is not directly adjacent to streams, rivers, swamps, lakes or oceans. The Sacketts property did not border Priest Lake, but the EPA determined gravel on the lot amounted to a pollutant into "waters of the Untied States." The high court in 2006 failed to reach a standard that would have redefined current wetlands mitigation laws, the laws now confronting the justices and the Sacketts. "The Supreme Court has come to our rescue," Mike Sackett said just after the decision was issued, "and reminded the EPA -- and everyone -- that this is still America, and Americans still have rights under the Constitution." "We did everything right," he told CNN about the permit process to build their home. He said the experience has been "literally terrifying." The case is Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency (10-1062). | An Idaho couple can file suit against an EPA ruling, the Supreme Court says .
The couple's supporters had billed this as "David vs. Goliath" fight .
Mike Sackett: "We're here to stand up for the property rights ... of all Americans" |
Keywords: <keyword>GADDAFI GOLDMAN</keyword>, <keyword>GOLDMAN DENIED</keyword>, <keyword>LIBYAN INVESTMENT</keyword>, <keyword>SACHS ABUSED</keyword>, <keyword>ABUSED FINANCIAL</keyword>, <keyword>BANK FACING</keyword>, <keyword>ADVISED FUND</keyword>, <keyword>PRICE CRASHED</keyword>, <keyword>LINKED COMPANIES</keyword>, <keyword>200MILLION WALL</keyword>
Clash: Goldman Sachs is facing claims that it duped Libyan officials in Colonel Gaddafi’s regime into investing almost £800m. Above, Colonel Gaddafi . Goldman Sachs is facing extraordinary claims that it duped Libyan officials in Colonel Gaddafi’s brutal regime into investing almost £800million by plying them with girls, lavish parties and luxury trips. The world’s most powerful investment bank is facing a bruising High Court battle with Libya’s giant sovereign wealth fund, set up in 2006 to invest the country’s oil riches after economic sanctions were lifted. The Libyan Investment Authority claims Goldman Sachs abused the financial illiteracy and trust of Gaddafi-era officials by persuading them to invest in complex financial instruments during the financial crisis. The investments were linked to companies whose share price crashed, including US bank Citigroup and French energy giant EDF. They proved a disaster for the Gaddafi regime, leaving it with losses of £660million, while Goldman raked in profits of more than £200million. The Wall Street giant has faced embarrassing accusations from one witness for the LIA, Catherine McDougall, an Australian lawyer who advised the fund at the time. She alleged that Goldman, spearheaded by former executive Youssef Kabbaj, courted financially illiterate LIA officials by taking them to expensive clubs in London and on a ‘lavish trip to Morocco’ that included ‘heavy drinking and girls.’ In one email exchange, Mr Kabbaj – who left Goldman in 2009 – told an LIA employee to ‘divorce your wife for the weekend’. Goldman has denied any wrongdoing. It will say that following an ‘extensive review of expenses related to LIA’, the total amount claimed by Youssef Kabbaj in 2007 and 2008 was around £50,000. It said most lunches were either in Goldman Sachs canteens or in ‘standard business restaurants’ generally charging $100 a head. According to the bank, Mr Kabbaj did accompany LIA officials on business trips to several countries, including a ‘handful of dinners’ during two trips. But it added they were ‘entirely normal dinners at respectable, traditional restaurants.’ The trial, which is expected to take place next year, will also see Goldman go head to head with Sofia Wellesley, the granddaughter of the Duke of Wellington and the wife of pop star James Blunt. Claims: The Libyan Investment Authority claims Goldman Sachs abused the financial illiteracy and trust of Gaddafi-era officials by persuading them to invest in complex financial instruments during the financial crisis . Written arguments submitted by the LIA have quoted a 2007 email sent by Ms Wellesley, who previously worked for the fund, suggesting that the Libyan officials were no match for the razor sharp minds working for Goldman Sachs. She said LIA was ‘staffed by a team of clearly naïve, unqualified individuals…doing their best in the face of extremely intelligent, ambitions and experienced individuals’ But Goldman has claimed the trades ‘were not difficult to understand’ and there is ‘no suggestion that the LIA lacked sophistication to make those investment decisions.’ Its lawyer has described the allegations about corporate hospitality as ‘tittle tattle.’ | Goldman Sachs facing High Court battle with Libya's sovereign wealth fund .
It claims bank abused financial illiteracy and trust of Gaddafi-era officials .
Investments proved disastrous for Gaddafi regime, with losses of £660m .
Wall Street giant is accused of taking Libyan officials to expensive clubs . |
Keywords: <keyword>TOWNSHIP DETECTIVE</keyword>, <keyword>RITTER ARRESTED</keyword>, <keyword>ARREST POCONO</keyword>, <keyword>DELMAR4FUN AGE</keyword>, <keyword>EMILY TOLD</keyword>, <keyword>OFFICER POSING</keyword>, <keyword>SEX AFFIDAVIT</keyword>, <keyword>RYAN VENNEMAN</keyword>, <keyword>REPORTED THURSDAY</keyword>, <keyword>NATIONS WEAPONS</keyword>
(CNN) -- Pennsylvania authorities say they arrested a former United Nations weapons inspector after he allegedly exchanged sexually explicit online messages with a police officer who was pretending to be a 15-year-old girl. Scott Ritter, the former top U.N. weapons inspector in Iraq, was arrested in November, months after police said he sent sexual messages to a police officer posing as a 15-year-old girl named Emily, the Barrett Township, Pennsylvania, Police Department said in a news release Thursday. Ritter's lawyer, Todd Henry, did not immediately respond to CNN's requests for comment about the arrest, which The Pocono Record first reported on Thursday. According to an affidavit of probable cause, "delmar4fun" contacted Barrett Township Detective Ryan Venneman -- who was posing as "Emily," from Poconos, Pennsylvania -- in an online chat room on February 7, 2009, saying he was a 44-year-old man from Albany, New York. Ritter, 48, lives in Delmar, New York, according to police. Delmar is in Albany County. "Delmar4fun," whom police identified as Ritter, sent "Emily" a link to his Web camera and then masturbated on camera and said he was fantasizing about having sex with her, the affidavit said. "Emily" told "delmar4fun" what her age was twice, the affidavit said. The second time, "delmar4fun," turned the camera off and said he didn't realize he was speaking to a 15-year-old and didn't want to get into trouble, the affidavit said. However, Ritter allegedly later resent the camera link, and masturbated and ejaculated on camera, the affidavit said. Venneman called a phone number that "delmar4fun" had given, and told him that "Emily" was a police officer. "Delmar4fun" identified himself to Venneman, the affidavit said. Ritter was arrested on November 9, 2009, on a number of charges including indecent exposure, corruption of minors and criminal solicitation, according to the police news release. Ritter is free on $25,000 unsecured bail, according to the Barrett Township Police Department. Michael Rakaczewski, Monroe County, Pennsylvania, assistant district attorney, said Ritter could face up to seven years in prison if convicted. Ritter served from 1991 to 1998 as the chief United Nations weapons inspector in Iraq. | Former top U.N. weapons inspector in Iraq arrested in November, officials say .
He allegedly exchanged sexual messages with officer posing as 15-year-old girl .
Charges include indecent exposure, corruption of minors, criminal solicitation . |
Keywords: <keyword>GATES MICROSOFT</keyword>, <keyword>DID IBM</keyword>, <keyword>FOUNDERING APPLE</keyword>, <keyword>ACCIDENTAL KEYSTROKES</keyword>, <keyword>BUTTON GUY</keyword>, <keyword>SAID INVENTED</keyword>, <keyword>LOCKING COMPUTER</keyword>, <keyword>PROGRAMMED LOW</keyword>, <keyword>HARDWARE LONG</keyword>, <keyword>ANSWER SESSION</keyword>
(CNN) -- If you pressed Control-Alt-Delete to log on before reading this, Bill Gates says he's sorry. The Microsoft founder says the triple-key login should have been made easier, Ã la Apple's Macs, but that a designer insisted on the more complicated step. "We could have had a single button. But the guy who did the IBM keyboard design didn't want to give us our single button," Gates said Saturday during a question-and-answer session to launch a Harvard University fund-raising campaign. His comments have gained attention since a video of his Harvard Q&A was posted on YouTube on Tuesday. Smiling, Gates tried to follow through on the thought, noting it was a basic security feature. But he eventually surrendered to common sense. "And so we had ... we programmed at a low level that you had to ... it was a mistake," he said, throwing up his hands to laughter and applause from the crowd. Gates defended innovation on the earliest Microsoft software though. "We did some clever stuff," he said. "We were able to experiment with a lot of stuff, but more on the software side than the hardware." Long the first interface step for PC users, Control-Alt-Delete still exists in Windows 8 as a way of either locking the computer or accessing the control panel. While the system defaults to a log-in screen, users may tweak their settings to return to the old way of logging on to Windows. Sometimes informally called the "three-fingered salute," the login required users to use both hands and was intended to avoid accidental keystrokes from rebooting a computer. Engineer David Bradley, a designer on early IBM computers, said he invented the combination as a shortcut during development. "I originally intended for it to be what we would now call an Easter egg -- just something we were using in development and it wouldn't be available elsewhere," Bradley said while appearing on a 2011 panel that included Gates. "But then (software publishers) found out about it. They were trying to figure out how to tell somebody to start up one of their programs, and they had the answer. Just put the diskette in, hit Control-Alt-Delete, and by magic your program starts." He then tried to deflect what he perhaps wryly called "credit" for its continued use. "It was like a five-minute job in doing it. I didn't realize that I was going to create a cultural icon when I did it," he said "... I may have invented it, but I think Bill made it famous." A tight-lipped Gates appears to force a smile in a video of the panel but does not respond. Gates attended Harvard until he left during his junior year to start Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975. While at Harvard, he lived down the hall from current Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. Gates received an honorary degree in 2007. Gates remains Microsoft's chairman although he stopped full-time work at the company in 2008. During Saturday's session, Gates reflected on a variety of topics, from the philanthropy he's made his life's work since stepping back from an active role at Microsoft to his company's relationship with Apple in the early days. That included helping keep what would become Microsoft's fiercest rival afloat in the 1990s when it was foundering. "In the Apple II era, we were kind of friendly competitors," he said. "We actually put more people on the Mac than Apple had." When co-founder Steve Jobs returned to Apple in 1996, "he sort of says, 'I want this, this and this and I'll give you this, this and this.' ... We did the deal in three days," Gates said. That included buying a 6% share of Apple, which lawyers convinced Gates that Microsoft shouldn't keep for antitrust reasons. "It would have been nice if we had," he said. | Bill Gates: IBM designer insisted on triple-key login on PCs for security reasons .
But Gates says Control-Alt-Delete was a "mistake"
The designer credited with the shortcut has deflected responsibility .
Gates made comments at a recent Harvard University event . |
Keywords: <keyword>TAX NAVAJO</keyword>, <keyword>CHIPS TAX</keyword>, <keyword>JUNK FOOD</keyword>, <keyword>OBESITY TRIBAL</keyword>, <keyword>RATES DIABETES</keyword>, <keyword>TARGETS SPENDING</keyword>, <keyword>FARMER MARKETS</keyword>, <keyword>DRINKS PROPOSED</keyword>, <keyword>RESERVATION ELIMINATE</keyword>, <keyword>PRESIDENT BEN</keyword>
The sales tax on cookies, chips, sodas and other junk food sold on the country's largest American Indian reservation is going up. Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly signed legislation on Friday to increase by 2 per cent the sales tax on food with little to no nutritional value, starting next year. No other sales tax on the Navajo Nation specifically targets the spending habits of consumers. It will remain in effect until 2020, but it can be extended by the Navajo Nation Council. A Navajo family outside their traditional dwelling called a hogan on a Navajo reservation - thousands of people live without electricity and have no way of storing perishable food items for too long . Navajos advocating for a junk-food tax said they wanted to pass a bill that could serve as a model for Indian Country to improve the rates of diabetes and obesity among tribal members. Proposals targeting sugary drinks with proposed bans, size limits, tax hikes and warning labels haven't gained widespread traction across the country. 'We want them to think twice about buying healthy foods instead of soda pop, potato chips and the junk food,' said Gloria Begay of the Dine Community Advocacy Alliance. 'The effort is really much more in the message of Navajo people making better choices for quality foods.' The bill cited statistics from the Navajo-area Indian Health Service that said about one-third of Navajos are diabetic or pre-diabetic, and the obesity rate for some age groups is as high as 60 percent. Diabetes was the fourth-leading cause of death in the Navajo area from 2003 to 2005, the health service said. The $1 million-a-year that the additional tax is expected to generate will pay for projects including farmer's markets, vegetable gardens and wellness and exercise equipment in the tribe's 110 communities. Begay said her group is meeting with tribal officials to figure out exactly how the money will be disbursed. The Navajo Nation (pictured) is putting a tax on junk food to try to cut obesity rates on the reservation . Another bill to eliminate the tribe's 5 percent sales tax on fresh fruit and vegetables sold on the Navajo Nation went into effect October 1. Shelly vetoed another version of the junk food tax earlier this year. His spokesman, Deswood Tome, said Friday that the latest version is clearer on how it will be implemented. Representatives of the beverage industry had lobbied the tribe to reject the tax, saying it would create problems for retailers and doesn't solve health problems. It also applies to sports drinks, fruit juice and pita chips. The tax won't add significantly to the price of junk food, but buying food on the reservation presents obstacles that don't exist in most of urban America. The reservation is a vast 27,000 square miles with few grocery stores and a population with an unemployment rate of around 50 percent. Thousands of people live without electricity and have no way of storing perishable food items for too long. | Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly signed legislation to increase by 2 per cent the sales tax on food with little to no nutritional value next year .
The obesity rate for some Navajo age groups is as high as 60 percent . |
Keywords: <keyword>KOREA SANCTION</keyword>, <keyword>METHAMPHETAMINES ACCORDING</keyword>, <keyword>CHINA NORTH</keyword>, <keyword>MEDICAL STOPPED</keyword>, <keyword>TRAFFICKING SOURCE</keyword>, <keyword>ICE KNOWN</keyword>, <keyword>OBTAIN PRESCRIPTION</keyword>, <keyword>BINGDU REPORT</keyword>, <keyword>PLAGUE INFORMANTS</keyword>, <keyword>MANUFACTURE HIGH</keyword>
Hong Kong (CNN) -- North Korea's sanction-hit regime has long been accused of drug trafficking as a source of hard currency, but a new report claims drug producers are finding a ready market closer to home and that as many as two-thirds of North Koreans have used methamphetamines. According to a report in the Spring 2013 edition of the journal North Korean Review, stricter China border controls have forced methamphetamine producers in the north to seek a local market for "ice" (known locally as "bingdu"). The report's co-author, Professor Kim Seok Hyang, of South Korea's Ewha Woman's University, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that interviews with North Korean defectors suggested that the country is in the grip of an "ice" plague. "Some informants are saying almost every adult in North Korea around the China-North Korea border are using methamphetamine," she said, adding that the drug was often used as a palliative in place of hard-to-obtain prescription medicine. "Actually, the hospital medical system (has) stopped for such a long time, so they need something to cure their pain ... physical pain," she said. "But once they get addicted to methamphetamine, there's no way for them to get out of it." The North Korean regime releases no official figures on drug addiction and Professor Kim said the scale of the problem could not be statistically verified. "But almost everybody in my interview is saying so, especially those who left North Korea after 2009," she told the ABC. She said that interviewees told her the drug could be ordered casually and easily in restaurants, and that it had become difficult to control since it had become the drug of choice of high-ranking officials and the police. While readily available, however, informants told her it was still expensive and did not indicate that North Korea had a greater level of disposable income for recreational drug use. "Using methamphetamine does not mean they have enough money to dispose (of)," Professor Kim said. "They had to get it with all the money they have." North Korea has been widely rumored to manufacture high-grade methamphetamine as a state policy for generating hard cash. Estimates on how much North Korea generates through illegal activities such as arms trades, drug sales and counterfeiting are speculative, but reports say Pyongyang's shadowy "Room 39" directs illicit trade that generates millions for the nation's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. | Report claims North Korean drug producers are finding a ready market closer to home .
North Korea Review says as many as two-thirds of North Koreans have used methamphetamines .
Author says interviewees told her the border regions of North Korea are awash with drugs .
Interviewees say methamphetamines used as a palliative in lieu of prescription drugs . |
Keywords: <keyword>CRISTINA KING</keyword>, <keyword>ACCUSED PRINCESS</keyword>, <keyword>SUSPECT CORRUPTION</keyword>, <keyword>URDANGARIN RELATIONSHIP</keyword>, <keyword>JUAN DIED</keyword>, <keyword>SPAIN YOUNGEST</keyword>, <keyword>EMBEZZLED CASH</keyword>, <keyword>COUPLE CHILDREN</keyword>, <keyword>CHAIRMAN CHARITABLE</keyword>, <keyword>IGNORED RULES</keyword>
By . Sam Adams and Lee Moran . PUBLISHED: . 11:53 EST, 3 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:58 EST, 4 April 2013 . Accused: Princess Cristina and her husband Inaki Urdangarin. She has been named as a suspect in a corruption case involving him . The King of Spain's youngest daughter has been named as a suspect in a 5 million Euro corruption scandal. Princess Cristina, 47 - one of King Juan Carlos's three children - will be called in for questioning later this month, a court in Palma de Mallorca has announced. She will be quizzed over claims her husband Inaki Urdangarin, 45, and his former business partner Diego Torres, 47, embezzled cash from public funds. The duo are accused of siphoning off the money, from their supposedly non-profit Nóos Institute - of which Princess Cristina was a board member - to their own coffers. Prosecutors claim the pair used Urdangarin’s powerful connections to win public contracts, and then over-charged councils for the sports events they organised. Urdangarin was chairman of the charitable body between 2004 and 2006. An official investigation was launched into the alleged fraud, which both men deny and have yet to be charged, last year. There had never been any suggestion that mother-of-four Cristina, who is seventh in line to the throne, was involved. But yesterday a shadow was cast over the Royal family after emails between the Princess and former Olympic handball star Urdangarin, whom she married in 1997, were leaked to Judge Jose Castro by Torres. Spanish newspaper El Pais reported that Urdangarin sent her one email, dated February 20, 2003, which asked her to look over a message to 'contributors, clients and friends' that he intended to send out on behalf of the Institute. The following day, he allegedly sent out the same email to a wider range of recipients - including Queen Sofia and King Juan Carlos - where he also asked for advice on what he was writing. While the emails alone do not prove the Princess was involved, Castro is believed to want to grill her in more detail on the issue. Allegations: The investigation into Mr Urdangarin's business dealings has caused embarrassment for the Spanish Royal Family. He is pictured here with Princess Cristina and King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia . The judge recently set joint bail of 8.2 . million euros for Mr Urdangarin and Mr Torres and said the two 'ignored . the rules of public contracting as long as they achieved their aim, . which was no other than to divert public funds for their own benefit or . that of others.' He said the two agreed to make as . much as possible out of Mr Urdangarin's relationship with the Royal . Palace in their dealings with public and private entities. Mr . Urdangarin, 45, comes from a wealthy Basque family but is not nobility; he became Duke . of Palma because Cristina is Duchess of Palma. The couple have four . children. Princess Cristina is the youngest of the king's two daughters . and the middle of his three children. The royal family decided last year to sideline Mr Urdangarin from all official royal activities, and recently removed him from the family website. Cristina is the youngest of the . King’s two daughters, behind Princess Elena, 49 . The King and wife . Sofia also have a son, Prince Felipe, 45, who is heir to the throne. The royal household has refused to . comment on the news, which comes as polls suggest support for the . monarchy has fallen to a record low of 54 per cent. It also follows the revelation that . Juan Carlos, 75, received a 2.2million Euro inheritance, deposited in . three Swiss bank accounts, when his father Juan died on April 1, 1993. Questions are now being asked as to . whether the King, under fire for going elephant-hunting in Africa last . year as recession continues to bite, paid the correct amount of tax on . the sum. The trip to Botswana only came to light after he fell and broke his hip, but sparked anger among Spain’s 5 million unemployed. It also cost him his role as honorary . president of the Spanish branch of the World Wildlife Fund and saw him . issue an unprecedented apology. It is in stark contrast to a decade ago when Juan Carlos was left virtually untouched by the media. He was held in great respect for his . role in brokering the transition from dictatorship to democracy . following the death of General Franco in 1975. | Princess Cristina, 47, to be called in for questioning later this month .
Part of probe into business dealings of her husband Inaki Urdangarin .
He and partner Diego Torres accused of embezzling cash from public funds . |
Keywords: <keyword>SOMERVILLE DETAINED</keyword>, <keyword>WILTSHIRE POLICE</keyword>, <keyword>ASSAULTING PAMELA</keyword>, <keyword>INCIDENT MS</keyword>, <keyword>CRIME COMMISSIONER</keyword>, <keyword>SACKED SGT</keyword>, <keyword>2010 SENTENCED</keyword>, <keyword>TEST CHARGES</keyword>, <keyword>MARK ANDREWS</keyword>, <keyword>HEADFIRST CELL</keyword>
By . Harriet Arkell . PUBLISHED: . 07:52 EST, 25 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:09 EST, 25 June 2013 . A police force spent more than £300,000 trying to stop an officer coming back to work after he was jailed for dragging a woman prisoner across a floor and throwing her headfirst into a cell. Mark Andrews was jailed for six months in 2010 for assaulting Pamela Somerville, 60, at Melksham Police Station but had his conviction quashed following an appeal. Today it emerged that Wiltshire Police spent the six-figure sum trying to keep him out of the force - a battle that ended in failure when he was reinstated in his £36,000-a-year job at the same police station. Scroll down for video . Sergeant Mark Andrews, 40, is back in a £36,000-a-year job despite Wiltshire Police spending more than £300,000 trying to keep him out after he threw Pamela Somerville, 60, right, headfirst into a cell, injuring her . Ms Somerville was arrested in July 2008 after she was found asleep in her car near her home in Colerne, Wiltshire, following a row with her partner. She was detained after failing to provide a sample for a breath test, but the charges were later dropped. Horrific CCTV footage captured 6ft 3ins former soldier Sgt Andrews dragging Ms Somerville across the floor of Melksham Police Station. The officer is then seen throwing 5ft 2ins Ms Somerville - who weighs just eight stone - onto the floor of a cell. She then staggers around, bleeding copiously. Sgt Andrews, 40, was later arrested . and found guilty of ABH on Ms Somerville in a hearing at Oxford . Magistrates Court in July 2010. He was sentenced to six months in prison but lodged an appeal at Oxford Crown Court. CCTV footage from Melksham police station shows Sgt Andrews roughly dragging Ms Somerville to a cell . Ms Somerville, of Colerne, Wiltshire, was left badly cut and bruised after the incident at Sgt Andrews' hands . The conviction was overturned in November 2010, with the appeal judge ruling that Sgt Andrews did not intend to throw Ms Somerville in the cell. A month later, Wiltshire police sacked Sgt Andrews from the force because of his behaviour, but a year later a five-day Police Appeals Tribunal overturned their decision and ruled that he should be handed his job back. Judges then rejected a judicial review sought by Wiltshire Police in October 2012 and the father-of-two came back to work on backroom duties. Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show that between July 2008 and April 2013 the force spent £302,924 on external lawyers and consultants for legal advice on the case. Ms Somerville had been detained for failing to provide a breath sample after being found asleep in her car following a row with her boyfriend at her home in Colerne - the charges were later dropped . CCTV footage shows Pamela Somerville being thrown into a cell and then bleeding copiously from her face . Angus Macpherson, Wiltshire’s police and crime commissioner, said: 'There was clear legal advice to the effect that there was a reasonable prospect of success. 'Any such course of action requires careful though, not least because of the sums of money involved. 'If such a case was to arise in the future, a key factor in reaching a decision would be to determine what was in the best interests of the public. It was the same consideration that applied in this case.' Sgt Andrews is now back at work in a primarily desk-based role with limited public contact. Speaking after the horrific incident, Ms Somerville - who had to have stitches on a gash above her eye - slammed Sgt Andrews as 'utterly barbaric'. The headquarters of Wiltshire Police, which spent more than £300,000 trying to keep Sgt Andrews out . Sgt Andrews is back at work while Ms Somerville says she still suffers from blurred vision after the incident . She said: 'I still find it hard to watch the images of me staggering to my feet with blood pouring from a head wound because I can remember how terrified I was. 'It seems utterly barbaric that an innocent person could be treated in such a horrific and violent way and then left alone. 'I could have died. What happened to me was extraordinary, terrifying, and no one should ever be treated in the same way again. 'My vision is still affected. It’s as if I am looking through a cloud. And the whole of the left side of my face is now lower than the right, like a stroke victim.' | Sgt Mark Andrews, 40, was jailed after assaulting Pamela Somerville, 60 .
Ms Somerville was picked up by police after falling asleep in her parked car .
Wiltshire Police spent £302, 924 trying to keep Andrews out of the force .
But attempts failed and he's doing a backroom job for £36,000 . |
Keywords: <keyword>COMMANDER SHEPARD</keyword>, <keyword>DEFEATING REAPERS</keyword>, <keyword>MASS EFFECT</keyword>, <keyword>BIOTIC ABILITIES</keyword>, <keyword>SENTINEL OPTIONS</keyword>, <keyword>PLAYING CHARACTERS</keyword>, <keyword>CHOOSE VANGUARD</keyword>, <keyword>SENTIENT MACHINES</keyword>, <keyword>BLEND CHOOSE</keyword>, <keyword>ALIEN RACES</keyword>
(CNN) -- "Mass Effect 3," the final installment in the tale of Commander Shepard and his fight to save the universe, brings the series to a resounding and satisfying crescendo with tight combat, excellent storytelling and majestic visual effects. Released in the United States on Tuesday, the game finds Shepard once again facing off against the Reapers, a race of sentient machines bent on eliminating all intelligent life in the universe. This time, the Reapers have come for Earth and Shepard must rally alien races from around the Milky Way to destroy this mechanical menace once and for all. As in other "Mass Effect" games, players take on the role of Shepard and have many options to craft him (or her) any way they want. Six different classes, from soldier to sentinel, allow players to emphasize different strengths and powers -- including "biotic" telekinetic powers. More inclined to straight-up combat? Choose a soldier or infiltrator. Would rather use the aforementioned biotics? Try being an adept or engineer. If you are looking for a good blend, choose a vanguard or sentinel. The options allow players to find a character that best suits their style of play. How you play also affects character development. As in previous games, the way Shepard talks to and treats others is measured in "paragon/renegade" bonuses. Being helpful or friendly raises your "paragon" rating while being abrasive or uncaring raises your "renegade" score. Both affect how you are treated by other characters in the future and can definitely alter events later in the game. All those options create the character that is cast into an epic story that has been eight years in the making. Players who have played "Mass Effect 2" can import characters from older games, allowing pre-existing story lines to continue and for choices made in those games to be reflected in the new one. New players will get into the major plot lines quickly and easily, though, and won't feel like they are missing anything. The game will have players hopping around the galaxy as Shepard recruits allies and builds up supplies from the multitude of races in the Milky Way. Of course, both the Reapers and Cerberus, a terrorist organization bent on human supremacy at any cost, cause problems for Shepard and his crew along the way. Old friends return, new alliances are made and players will make choices that determine their ultimate success or failure in defeating the Reapers. Despite all the side missions and interactions, the main point remains taking back Earth. Planet-scanning for "treasure" returns, but is vastly improved over what it was in "Mass Effect 2." Rather than having to survey and mine each planet for resources that may or may not be there, players can scan the system and find loot much faster than before. The treasure can be war assets (which are important in the final scenario), artifacts that can be sold or traded, intelligence about different factions or fuel for your spacecraft -- a welcome improvement from an experienced player's perspective. Invariably, there will be combat. Whether you choose to concentrate on biotic powers or weaponry, you are going to have to pick up a gun and shoot. The game offers a good selection of pistols, shotguns, rifles and sniper rifles, which are fully customizable with add-ons that grant better accuracy, more ammo-space or extra damage to certain types of enemies. Add in biotic abilities that grant other advantages and you are ready to take on the galaxy -- literally. The ammo is parsed out with thermal clips and is interchangeable between weapons, which is really helpful when you run out of one type of ammo. A single ammo pickup fills up all your weapons and ammo can easily be found on dead enemies or sitting on shelves. Shepard isn't alone, either. Along the way, friends and comrades will join his quest. Two are selected for each mission. They also have special powers that can be used in concert with Shepard's own abilities to devastating effect. Each potential squadmate falls into a particular class (soldier, engineer, etc.), so players can select those that either complement or contrast with their own abilities based on the mention. Plus, the sidekicks are often good for funny banter. The environments are rich and varied. Scenarios look unique from planet to planet. The artwork is detailed and the universe feels alive. Other races have their own unique looks, not simply appearing as human rip-offs. It all makes for a game that looks absolutely gorgeous. However, all isn't perfect in the universe. There were some unusual visual glitches involving "camera angles." Characters were looking in the wrong direction, people would disappear during dialog, and, in one instance, a character's head was turned nearly 180 degrees the wrong way. While not vital to the overall gameplay, those visual tics took me out of my immersion in the game and made for an unwelcome distraction. In addition, if you are playing the Xbox 360 version, the game allows you to use the Kinect device to issue commands to Shepard and squad members. You can voice direct weapon switches, abilities and actions. But ... if you don't want to use the Kinect, unplug it from your console. More than once, conversation in the room where I was playing had my characters doing things I wasn't expecting them to do. There are plenty of surprises throughout the game. The big one was the availability of a female Shepard, which was sought after by many fans of the franchise. But there are others. Major characters will die, entire species will be eliminated and every plot line that you can think of will get resolved. Romance options are back and causing a bit of controversy. Early critics of the game are lamenting the same-sex romance possibilities. But, hey ... with a universe as big as the Milky Way, anything can happen. And without giving any spoilers, the ending was a bit of a letdown for me, compared to all the excitement leading up to it. It left something of an unsatisfying aftertaste, but one that only ends up being a minor detraction from the entire adventure. "Mass Effect 3" does a great job of answering all the lingering questions in the ME universe and gives players the best chance to determine not just their own fate, but the fate of the galaxy. It is a fitting end to a wonderful trilogy that put the players in the driver's seat from the very beginning. "Mass Effect 3" will be available March 6 in North America, March 8 in Australia, March 9 in Europe and March 15 in Japan. It is playable on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Windows PC. It is rated M for Mature (17+) due to blood, partial nudity, sexual content, strong language, and violence. This review was done playing as a paragon infiltrator and as a renegade adept on a review copy for the Xbox 360. | Despite all the side missions and interactions, the main point remains taking back Earth .
Players can import characters from "Mass Effect 2" in order for story lines to continue .
"Mass Effect 3" will be available March 6 in North America . |
Keywords: <keyword>LIBERAL VICE</keyword>, <keyword>LIBERALS GEELONG</keyword>, <keyword>HARRISON ALLEGED</keyword>, <keyword>NAZI MOVEMENT</keyword>, <keyword>PRESIDENT YOUNG</keyword>, <keyword>AFFILIATIONS RESIGNED</keyword>, <keyword>EMERGED SCOTT</keyword>, <keyword>SALUTE SKINHEAD</keyword>, <keyword>VICTORIA AGE</keyword>, <keyword>STORMFRONT LINKED</keyword>
A former Young Liberal vice president has been forced to quit the party after it was revealed he was once involved with a neo-Nazi organisation. Pictures have emerged of Scott Harrison making a 'Heil Hitler' Nazi salute at a skinhead event in 2010, while he's previously called on white people to carry firearms for intimidating 'racial enemies'. Mr Harrison was the vice president of the Young Liberals in Geelong, 75km southwest of Melbourne, and was also active in campaigning for key marginal Liberal candidates, including Tony McManus in Lara and Ron Nelson in Bellarine, both in south-western Victoria. The Age reported on Wednesday that Mr Harrison had resigned from the Liberal Party after they learned of his former affiliation with neo-Nazis, and now more evidence has surfaced about his former affiliation with the movement. Scott Harrison (right) pictured with Victoria Premier Denis Napthine in March this year at a Deakin University Young Liberals event. News surfaced on Wednesday that Harrison was formerly affiliated with the neo Nazi movement . Scott Harrison, centre, at a neo-Nazi gathering in 2010. The image was featured on anti-facist blog which exposed more of the Liberal campaigners sordid past . An anti-fascist blog run by Andy Flemming has released some of Mr Harrison's posts on neo-Nazi community websites, as well as the salute image, which comes from a gathering of the Hammerksins group in 2010. Mr Harrison, who works as an IT Support Technician, was also an influential figure in the Church of Creativity, another white supremacist Nazi group founded in the 1970s. He was vocal on forums such as Stormfront, which was linked to a spate of anti-Semitic hate mail in Sydney that made news around the world. In an article for the Church magazine, Mr Harrison alleged that the Port Arthur massacre, the deadliest shooting in the history of the English speaking world, was 'another jewish lie'. He also claimed 'it should be a key objective of Creators to awaken the White race to the realities of the Port Arthur massacre and the need for White people to remain armed and dangerous in the eyes of our racial enemies'. Mr Harrison initially joined the white-supremacist forums in 2005, in the wake of the contentious Cronulla riots. He posted hundreds of militarist messages under various pseudonyms. Mr Harrison had resigned from the Liberal Party after the party had learned of his six-year affiliation with the neo-Nazi movement, which included being an influential figure in the Church Of Creativity movement . Hate mail posted in letterboxes of the eastern suburbs of Sydney. The notes were tied to the white supremacist forum Stormfront, which Mr Harrison used for half a decade before joining the Young Liberal party . In one post on Stormfront, he joked about images of of a female concentration camp. 'They are celebrating the girls graduation from Jewish strangulation school? Haha, jokes, haha!', he wrote. In another vile message, under the pseudonym HatemongerCA, Mr Harrisson called on all Caucasian people to join the white supremacist cause. 'History has shown us that the White Race is responsible for all that which we call progress on this earth call upon you to join with us today, to do what is right for your family and for your extended family.' Liberal state director Damien Mantach said in a statement 'the Liberal Party was unaware of Mr Harrison's previous affiliations. 'He has now resigned from the Party, effective immediately. Mr Harrison told The Age he had denounced his former views in 2010. 'I completely distance myself from my past ideology. I now realise how insane it was. I now believe in racial equality and gay marriage,' he said. Opposition scrutiny of government spokesman Martin Pakula said Mr Harrison's views may have breached racial vilification laws. He told reporters that while people make mistakes in their youth, 'I think being a neo-Nazi is in a different category.' Daily Mail Australia has been unable to contact Mr Harrison. | Scott Harrison campaigned for numerous marginal Liberal candidates .
He was revealed to have been a former neo-Nazi on Wednesday .
The Liberal Party said Mr Harrison resigned when they learned of his past .
Images have surfaced of him doing the Nazi salute at a skinhead gathering .
Vile messages he posted on white supremacist sites have also surfaced . |
Keywords: <keyword>ALLEGATIONS TERET</keyword>, <keyword>JIMMY SAVILE</keyword>, <keyword>FLATMATE RAY</keyword>, <keyword>OFFENCES 35</keyword>, <keyword>PLEA HEARING</keyword>, <keyword>PORNOGRAPHY COUNT</keyword>, <keyword>MANCHESTER FACES</keyword>, <keyword>CHAUFFEUR APPEARED</keyword>, <keyword>MEN CHARGED</keyword>, <keyword>DJ STATIONS</keyword>
By . James Tozer . PUBLISHED: . 09:18 EST, 15 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:07 EST, 15 November 2013 . Hearing: Jimmy Savile's former flatmate Ray Teret covers his mouth with gloves outside Manchester Crown Court today . Jimmy Savile's former chauffeur appeared in court today charged with 15 counts of rape against young girls dating back to the 1960s. Ray Teret, 72, a former pirate radio DJ who once shared a flat with the shamed BBC star, is accused of a series of sex offences over almost 35 years. He appeared alongside two other men also charged with sexual offences and the hearing was told the trio are expected to deny all the allegations. Teret, dressed in a dark suit and overcoat with a purple scarf, was not asked to enter any pleas during the brief hearing at which he was told his trial would take place next year. He was first arrested in November last year on suspicion of a historic rape before being charged with a total of 32 sexual offences earlier this month. Teret shared a flat with Savile in Manchester in the 1960s, working as a DJ at stations including Radio Caroline under the nickname 'Ugly Ray'. Teret faces 15 counts of rape of girls aged under 16 and one of an adult, a girl who was 17 at the time. He was also charged with one count of attempted rape, nine counts of indecent assault - three of them against girls aged under 14 - and one count of gross indecency with a child under 13. Teret, of Altrincham, Greater Manchester, also faces two counts of conspiracy to rape a girl under 16, one count of possession of extreme pornography, one count of possession of prohibited images and one count of possession of an indecent image of a child. Suspects: William Harper and Alan Ledger also appeared in court today on a series of child sex charges . Acquaintances: Jimmy Savile lived with Ray Teret in Manchester, and he was also driven by him in the 1980s . The alleged rapes and sexual assaults . date from between 1962 and 1996, with the vast majority said to have . taken place in the 1960s and '70s. They relate to a total of 15 alleged victims, all but one of them aged under 16 at the time. He appeared in the dock at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester alongside William Harper, 65, of Stretford, who is charged with conspiracy to rape a girl under 16 and attempt rape of a female under the age of 16, and Alan Ledger, 62, of Altrincham, who is accused of indecently assaulting a female under 16 and aiding and abetting the rape of a female under 16. All three were released on bail with conditions including not contacting any of the alleged victims, with a plea hearing scheduled for next April and a trial in October. Teret left court holding a pair of gloves over his mouth and did not comment to reporters before he was driven away. At the time of Teret's arrest, Greater Manchester Police emphasised that the accusations were not linked to the national inquiry into abuse by Savile. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Ray Teret, 72, accused of a series .
of sex offences over almost 35 years .
Former DJ has been charged with a total of 32 .
sexual offences .
William Harper, 65, and Alan Ledger, 62, also appeared at Manchester court . |
Keywords: <keyword>TUMMY DUCHESS</keyword>, <keyword>KATE WEIGHT</keyword>, <keyword>BIRTH FAILING</keyword>, <keyword>PREGNANCY JEANS</keyword>, <keyword>CAMBRIDGE LEAVING</keyword>, <keyword>SHOWING MUMMY</keyword>, <keyword>IMPROVE BODY</keyword>, <keyword>WARNED WOMEN</keyword>, <keyword>HOSPITAL MONDAY</keyword>, <keyword>MAGAZINES STARTED</keyword>
By . Rebecca English . PUBLISHED: . 18:14 EST, 28 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:30 EST, 29 July 2013 . Mummy tummy: The Duchess of Cambridge leaving hospital on Monday . A senior minister has attacked the ‘disgraceful focus’ on the Duchess of Cambridge’s figure following the birth of Prince George. Jo Swinson, minister for women and equalities, said yesterday that observers were expecting Kate to meet ‘impossible standards’ to reduce her weight. She was reacting after OK! Magazine’s front cover promoted the Duchess’s supposed post-natal weight-loss regime soon after she left hospital. Other publications have followed suit. Kate was much lauded by organisations such as Mumsnet for showing off her ‘mummy tummy’ on Tuesday in a designer dress as she posed with day-old baby George for the first time. Miss Swinson, who is also expecting her first child, said discussion of Kate’s weight ‘shows just how extreme society’s obsession with women’s bodies looking “perfect” has become’. The Liberal Democrat minister said it was wrong to believe that Kate and other women who have just given birth were ‘failing’ if they did not work instantly to regain their pre-pregnancy figure. ‘Publications like OK! Magazine need to get some perspective,’ she said. ‘Fitting back into pre-pregnancy jeans is not the priority after childbirth.’ Miss Swinson, who has led a campaign in Parliament to help women and girls improve their body image, warned that most women who have just given birth feel under huge pressure to regain their figures. ‘We need to move away from the idea that women have to shed their baby weight quickly and that they’re failing somehow if they don’t. Surveys show this is a concern for two-thirds of new mothers,’ she said. Kensington Palace declined to comment on the furore but a family friend described it as ‘distasteful’. ‘She was very fit and healthy before falling pregnant and I am sure she will snap back naturally but that just isn’t her priority at the moment,’ said the friend. Kate, they said, was enjoying ‘nesting’ at her parents’ home in Berkshire with William and George. ‘They just want some quiet time getting to know each other as a family and learning how this parents thing works,’ the source said. The friend also revealed that Kate’s mother, Carole Middleton, was ‘quietly rather worried’ about having a new baby in the house. Immediate pressure: Magazines have already started discussing the Duchess' post-natal weight-loss only a week after she gave birth . ‘It has obviously been a few years since she has had to do any of this,’ said the source. ‘Like any grandparent she has been terrified at the thought of dropping him on his head. ‘Fortunately she says it has all come flooding back.’ William and Kate have eschewed the services of a maternity nurse or nanny, but they have been accompanied by their housekeeper, Antonella Fresolone, who will run errands and prepare meals. While Kensington Palace will remain the Cambridges’ main residence, they are already preparing to move into their new country bolthole. It is understood the Queen has paid the tenant of Anmer Hall in Norfolk a ‘generous’ settlement to vacate the property as soon as possible, four years before his lease is up. The ten-bedroom Georgian property is situated on the monarch’s Sandringham Estate and is only two miles from Sandringham House, one of her favourite residences. The Queen is currently on her annual summer holiday in the Highlands and her new great-grandson was mentioned in prayers for the first time when the monarch attended Crathie Kirk near Balmoral Castle yesterday. All senior members of the Royal Family are named in the congregation’s prayers each week. Prince George should not grow up to be king of Scotland, says the chairman of the campaign for Scottish independence. Dennis Canavan, of Yes Scotland, said an independent nation should be given a vote to decide whether it wanted to retain the monarchy or elect a head of state. ‘Personally, I favour the latter,’ he said. | Minister Jo Swinson condemned pressure on Kate to lose weight .
She said it showed society's 'obsession' with women looking perfect . |
Keywords: <keyword>FROZEN ENCHANTED</keyword>, <keyword>ELSA SNOW</keyword>, <keyword>DISNEY STAGGERING</keyword>, <keyword>BELIEVES FAIRY</keyword>, <keyword>ISABELLA TANIKUMI</keyword>, <keyword>SYNOPSIS YEARNINGS</keyword>, <keyword>BUDGET FILM</keyword>, <keyword>SCROLL VIDEO</keyword>, <keyword>FEARLESS OPTIMIST</keyword>, <keyword>CHARACTERS PLOTS</keyword>
It might feature magical ice princesses, mythical trolls and a talking snowman. But Frozen's enchanted storyline hasn't fooled Isabella Tanikumi. The little-known Peruvian author believes that the fairy tale epic was in fact stolen from her own true-life story - and she is now suing Disney for a staggering $250 million for plagiarizing her work. According to TMZ, Ms Tanikumi insists that the popular kid's movie was not based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale The Snow Queen, but rather her on her 2010 autobiography about growing up in the Andean mountains in Peru. Scroll down for video . The 2013 film Frozen sees fearless optimist Anna set off on an epic journey - teaming up with rugged mountain man Kristoff - to find her sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter . The author claims Disney plagiarized and copied the story, characters, and plots from her book Yearnings of the Heart and turned it into Frozen - the highest grossing animated movie of all time. An Amazon synopsis of Yearnings of the Heart describes it as a 'compelling, introspective account of the life of Isabella Tanikumi, who takes her readers on a journey through various phases of her remarkable life - from her family's survival during the devastating earthquake of 1970 in Huaraz, Peru, to the trials of overcoming heartbreaks of her youth. 'Conquering personal insecurities led to exploring the reaches of her intellect while facing the tragic, and untimely death of her beloved sister Laura.' The 2013 film Frozen sees fearless optimist Anna set off on an epic journey - teamed up with rugged mountain man Kristoff and his loyal reindeer Sven - to find her sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter. Frozen has grossed a record $1.2 billion at the global box office, making a huge profit on its relatively modest $150 million budget . A little-known Peruvian author believes that the fairy tale epic was in fact stolen from her own true-life story . Encountering Everest-like conditions, mystical trolls and a hilarious snowman named Olaf, Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom. Frozen has grossed a record $1.2 billion at the global box office, making a huge profit on its relatively modest $150 million budget. The film's most famous song Let It Go, performed by Idina Menzel as Elsa the Snow Queen,has also become a chart hit in countries across the world including the US and the UK. The author claims Disney plagiarized and copied the story, characters, and plots from her book Yearnings of the Heart and turned it into Frozen - the highest grossing animated movie of all time . Isabella Tanikumi insists that the popular kid's movie was not based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, 'The Snow Queen', but rather her 2010 autobiography about growing up in the Andean mountains in Peru . | Isabella Tanikumi claims Disney epic was based on her 2010 autobiography .
Claims Disney plagiarized and copied story from her Yearnings of the Heart .
Frozen has grossed a record $1.2 billion at the global box office .
Disney has said film is based on Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen . |
Keywords: <keyword>KOREA CAPTAINED</keyword>, <keyword>AFRICA KOREANS</keyword>, <keyword>NIGERIA BEAT</keyword>, <keyword>IVORIANS CHELSEA</keyword>, <keyword>DEFENSE DROGBA</keyword>, <keyword>KWAK HEADED</keyword>, <keyword>ELEPHANTS CRASHED</keyword>, <keyword>GOOK EARLY</keyword>, <keyword>PARK JI</keyword>, <keyword>RANGERS CHEER</keyword>
(CNN) -- South Korea beat fellow World Cup finalists Ivory Coast 2-0 in a friendly international at Loftus Road in London on Wednesday. Lee Dong-gook's early strike put the Koreans on their way to victory which was sealed by Kwak Tae-hwi's late header. Both teams had several English Premier League stars in their ranks, with Korea captained by Manchester United's Park Ji-sung while the Ivorians had Chelsea's Didier Drogba and Portsmouth's Aruna Dindane in attack and Arsenal's Emmanuel Eboue in defense. Drogba came close several times for the Elephants, who crashed out in the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations to Algeria, and are without a coach after the subsequent sacking of Vahid Halihodzic. The Ivory Coast have been linked with former Chelsea and Russia boss Guus Hiddink and need to show an improvement with Brazil and Portugal in a tough group in South Africa. It was the Koreans who gave their rowdy supporters at the home of second flight English side Queens Park Rangers the most to cheer and they were ahead in the fourth minute. A free-kick from Cha Du-ri was only partially cleared and Dong-gook showed superb technique by volleying it past Boubacar Barry. Park nearly gave the Koreans a two-goal cushion but he was denied by an excellent block by Souleman Bamba. United ace Park also saw a shot drift just wide after the break, but in the dying moments they grabbed a deserved second as Kwak headed in Kim Jae-sung's free-kick. It proved a generally round of friendlies for Africa's World Cup qualifiers with Algeria, who are in England's group, thrashed 3-0 at home by Serbia, who are also in the finals. Marko Pantelic, Zdravko Kuzmanovic and Dusko Tosic scored as Rabah Saadane's team were easily beaten . Meanwhile, World Cup hosts South Africa were held 1-1 at home my minnows Namiba who saw Rudolf Bester give them a shock 42nd minute lead. Ghana were beaten 2-1 by Bosnia despite going ahead through Sulley Muntari after 22 minutes but the Super Eagles of Nigeria beat the DR Congo 5-2 as they build up to the finals. Cameroon also received a boost as they held world champions Italy goalless in a later match held in Monte Carlo. Marcelo Lippi fielded an experimental Italian side but they had the better chances although it needed a last-ditch tackle from substitute Gennaro Gattuso to deny Samuel Eto'o a late winner for Cameroon. | South Korea beat Ivory Coast 2-0 in friendly international at Loftus Road in London .
Goals from Lee Dong-gook and Kwak Tae-hwi seal victory for Koreans .
Both sides qualified for the World Cup finals with Ivory Coast ranked 31 places higher .
African World Cup qualifiers endure mixed night but Cameroon draw in Italy . |
Keywords: <keyword>HATE GROUPS</keyword>, <keyword>ELECTION RACIST</keyword>, <keyword>YEAR HATE</keyword>, <keyword>IMMIGRANTS TARGET</keyword>, <keyword>CNN DON</keyword>, <keyword>BELIEVES ILLEGAL</keyword>, <keyword>REPORT SCAPEGOATING</keyword>, <keyword>84 OBAMA</keyword>, <keyword>PROUD NEBRASKA</keyword>, <keyword>CROSS SWASTIKA</keyword>
(CNN) -- Don Black said he despises Barack Obama. And he said he believes illegal aliens undermine the economic fabric of the United States. A cross and swastika are burned at an event called Hated and Proud in Nebraska in July 2008. Black, a 55-year-old former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard, isn't the only person who holds such firm beliefs, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which Thursday released its annual hate group report. The center's report, "The Year in Hate," found the number of hate groups grew by 54 percent since 2000. The study identified 926 hate groups -- defined as groups with beliefs or practices that attack or malign an entire class of people -- active in 2008. That's a 4 percent jump, adding 38 more than the year before. What makes this year's report different is that hate groups have found two more things to be angry about -- the nation's first African-American president and an economy that is hemorrhaging jobs. For the past decade, Latino immigration has fueled the growth of hate groups. Watch what the family of a hate crime victim has to say » . "We fear these conditions will favor the growth of these groups in the future," said Mark Potok, director of the Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Project. "In the long arch of history, we are definitely moving forward, but these kinds of events can produce backlashes." Black claims the number of registered members and readers on his white nationalist Web site surged to unprecedented levels in recent months. On the day after Obama's historic election, more than 2,000 people joined his Web site, a remarkable increase from the approximately 80 new members a day he was getting, Black said. His Web site, which was started in 1995, is one of the oldest and largest hate group sites. The site received so many hits that it crashed after election results were announced. The site boasts 110,000 registered members today, Black said. "People who had been a little more complacent and kind of upset became more motivated to do something," said Black, who also said he joined his first hate group at age 15. Hate groups cited by the law center include white nationalists as well as neo-Confederates, neo-Nazis, skinheads, Klansman and black separatists. Skinheads and Klansman saw an increase in membership, while neo-Nazi groups saw a slight decline, according to the law center's report. Most of the hate groups are located in the South, but the state with the highest number of documented hate groups is California with 84. Obama serves as a "visual aid" that is helping respark a sense of purpose in current supporters and lure new members, said neo-Nazi David Duke, the former Klan leader who was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in the 1980s. Duke said he fears "the white European-American" heritage will soon be destroyed. He added that his Web site sees around 40,000 unique visitors a day, up from 15,000 a day before Obama won the election. Racist anger toward Obama was evident even before he became president. Two weeks before Obama won, authorities said they foiled a skinhead plot to assassinate him. The two suspects, based in Tennessee, also apparently planned to shoot and decapitate dozens of African-Americans, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said. Police say a man in Brockton, Massachusetts, allegedly targeted minorities after President Obama's inauguration. They say the man raped a woman, killed her sister and another man after several months of researching white supremacist groups on the Internet. White supremacist groups have gained traction, a reversal from the decline the groups experienced since 2000, according to the law center report. One of the smaller Ku Klux Klan groups, the United Northern and Southern Knights, more than doubled its chapters, widening its geographic reach from eight to 24 states, according to the report. The image of a black man in the White House angers white racists, who fear nonwhites gaining too much power, said Jack Glaser, associate professor of public policy at the University of California-Berkeley. But racist fears can also be more mundane and personal: Nonwhites in the White House could lead to nonwhites in their neighborhoods, which could lead to interracial dating, a great taboo among hate groups. "Obama poses a large cultural threat to white racists," Glaser said. "This may explain some of the uptick in hate groups." Immigrants are another target of hate groups, according to the report. In a deteriorating economy, illegal immigrants have been blamed by hate groups for allegedly taking subprime loans, according to the report. Scapegoating occurs most often in times of economic distress, according to experts studying hate crimes. From the Holocaust in Europe to abuses against Irish Catholic immigrants in the 1830s in the United States, people are most likely to lash out against others when they feel vulnerable or need to displace their economic frustrations on others, psychologists say. In the city of Detroit, Michigan, where the weak economy has taken a particularly devastating toll, Jeff Schoep serves as the commander for the National Socialist Movement, one of the largest neo-Nazi groups in the United States. Schoep said he has seen membership grow by 40 percent in recent months, mostly because of the dire economic circumstances. It is the "most dramatic growth" he has seen since he joined the movement in the mid-1990s. The group does not reveal membership numbers to the media, he said. "You have an American work force facing massive unemployment," Schoep said. "And you have presidents and politicians flinging open the borders telling them to take the few jobs left while our men are in soup kitchens." Experts studying hate crimes say there is no reliable way to link the growing number of hate groups with an increase in hate crimes, since many of the attacks go unreported. The FBI's uniform crime report found 7,163 hate crime incidents in 2005. However, a special report by the government that same year said the number could be 10 times higher because many of the crimes aren't reported. The most recent FBI statistics in 2007 saw a slight uptick in hate crimes to 7,624. Some hate groups such as the National Socialist Movement do not publicly condone violence or terrorist acts."Violence is absolutely counterproductive," said Duke, the former Louisiana legislator and neo-Nazi. But experts say there is a link between joining a hate group and committing violent crimes. Last week in New Orleans, Louisiana, a grand jury indicted four people in the alleged shooting of a woman who tried to leave a Ku Klux Klan initiation, the Southern Poverty Law Center reported. More commonly, members of hate groups engage in vandalism such as an incident in Los Angeles, California, this month where vandals slashed tires and sprayed the word "Nazi" on two cars and a house, according to the center. The attack occurred in a neighborhood with signs displaying support for Obama. Dr. Alvin F. Poussaint, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School who studied the issue of hate crimes, said people in hate groups can feel paranoid about a specific group of people. This panic leads them to feel threatened, and they may react with violence, he said. Alternately, individuals in a hate group may sometimes transplant their own personal rage onto a particular group that has no real connection to the cause of that rage, he said. "Their thinking is very distorted," Poussaint said. CNN's Stephen Samaniego contributed to this report. | Report: the number of hate groups grew by 54 percent since 2000 .
Obama's election win fueled some to join hate groups, study found .
The FBI's uniform crime report found 7,624 hate crime incidents in 2007 .
Obama is a "visual aid" that helps lure new members, says neo-Nazi . |
Keywords: <keyword>SLANG WORDS</keyword>, <keyword>LANGUAGE TRENDS</keyword>, <keyword>POPULATION TWITTER</keyword>, <keyword>EMOTICON SPREAD</keyword>, <keyword>AFRICAN AMERICANS</keyword>, <keyword>AREAS AMERICAN</keyword>, <keyword>ORIGINATED SOUTHEAST</keyword>, <keyword>HOTBEDS NEW</keyword>, <keyword>WIDELY CONFIRMS</keyword>, <keyword>SMARTPHONE METADATA</keyword>
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 15:07 EST, 18 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:37 EST, 19 November 2012 . The majority of slang used in America today originates in cities with large African American populations, it has been suggested. A study of language used on Twitter found that popular terms begin in specific urban areas are the ones that then spread more widely. It confirms the long-held view that African-American slang - with words such as cool and dig - has a strong influence on the rest of the population. A study of around 40million tweets provides valuable insight into the use of local slang terms across the U.S., explaining how terms such as 'bruh' and the emoticon '-_-' can spread from region to region over time. Enlightening: This map shows the areas where American slang terms tend to originate, and the paths they take across the country as they grow in popularity . Jacob Eisenstein at the Georgia . Institute of Technology in Atlanta and his colleagues examined millions . of tweets sent from locations in the U.S. between December 2009 and May . 2011 to find out where commonly used slang words were originating and . how they were migrating to other parts of the country. They found that certain regions, such as . Atlanta, Southern California and New York, are hotbeds for new slang . terms, and that those cities often share and exchange slang words. 'Bruh,' for example, originated in the Southeast and eventually jumped . to Southern California. Tracking slang: Researcher Jacob Eisenstein examined millions of tweets for the linguistic study . The emoticon '-_-', implying indifference or mild annoyance, began in New York and Florida before leaping to Arizona and Texas. And more often than not, New Yorker tend to type 'nuttin' in place of 'nothing.' Residents of Cleveland, Ohio, were the first to use "ctfu", an abbreviation of "cracking the fuck up", usage that has since spread into Pennsylvania, the New Scientist reported. They collected around 40million messages from around 400,000 individuals between June 2009 and May 2011 that could be tied to a particular geographical location in the USA because of the smartphone metadata optionally included with the message. After collecting the data, the team built a mathematical model that captures the large-scale flow of new words between cities.The model revealed that cities with big African American populations tend to lead the way in linguistic innovation. Eisenstein and his colleagues are tracing the origins and spread of colloquialisms to understand better understand how Twitter is affecting written language. As part of their research, they have produced a map illustrating the migration of language trends and how different regions affect one another. They are also trying to determine how and why certain words catch on and become trendy whereas others never leave the cities of their origin. The researchers are hoping to present their preliminary findings at a workshop on Social Network and Social Media Analysis in December organised by the Neural Information Processing Systems Foundation. However, one expert suggested that the results don't necessarily reflect the wider population as Twitter has a higher rate of adoption among African Americans than other ethnic groups. | Researchers use Twitter as a tool to study spread of language .
It reveals the influence of African American culture . |
Keywords: <keyword>HAVING STROKE</keyword>, <keyword>NUMBNESS CONFUSION</keyword>, <keyword>VIDEO SYMPTOMS</keyword>, <keyword>STACEY YEPES</keyword>, <keyword>TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC</keyword>, <keyword>PLAQUE BUILDUP</keyword>, <keyword>RECORDING DOCTORS</keyword>, <keyword>USUAL SELFIE</keyword>, <keyword>TORONTO DISMISSED</keyword>, <keyword>CHOLESTEROL LOWERING</keyword>
It's not your usual selfie. "The sensation is happening again," Stacey Yepes tells the camera. "It's all tingling on left side." "I don't know why this is happening to me." The Toronto-area woman was having her third stroke in three days. And this time, she refused to suffer in private. Yepes recorded a selfie video of her symptoms after pulling over while driving. The next day, the video would help doctors at Toronto Western Hospital correctly diagnose her with transient ischemic attacks, or "mini-strokes," due to plaque buildup in her arteries. Now, according to Yepes, she is on cholesterol-lowering medication and blood thinners, and hasn't had any more strokes. The video may have saved her life. No two strokes are alike: My story . Two days before the recording, doctors at a local emergency room in Toronto dismissed her face numbness and slurred speech as stress-related. They told her stroke tests had come back negative and counseled the 49-year-old legal secretary on breathing techniques. Those were ineffective, and Yepes suffered two additional mini-strokes in consecutive days -- the first leaving the hospital parking lot on April 1. She knew something had to be done. "I think it was just to show somebody, because I knew it was not stress-related," she said in an interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. "And I thought if I could show somebody what was happening, they would have a better understanding." That was exactly what happened. Yepes filmed the third "mini-stroke" the next day en route to work. After arriving, she showed the video to co-workers, who immediately suggested she go to a different hospital. Still, Dr. Markku Kaste with the World Stroke Organization said he believes Yepes was lucky. His advice: "Don't waste time on a video, just call 911." He said, "It's the same thing for everyone. If you're having a stroke, think you're having a stroke or see someone having one -- just call 911." Kaste and his organization are working on an upcoming campaign targeting women and their likelihood for strokes. According to the National Stroke Organization, 55,000 women have strokes each year. As in Yepes' case, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said signs of stroke generally include sudden numbness, confusion and difficulty walking. The American Stroke Association uses the acronym F.A.S.T -- meaning face dropping, arm weakness and speech difficulty are all signs that it's time to call 911. Usually, paramedics, emergency responders and doctors correctly identify the situation and will get individuals the help they need. "It's hard to say why there was an incorrect diagnosis (initially), but things like that can happen," Kaste said. "Still, the quicker you are to the hospital, the higher the likelihood of a good outcome." Related: Recovering from a stroke . What happens during a stroke . | Toronto-area woman documents stroke with a selfie video .
Video helped her receive treatment after she was initially misdiagnosed .
Doctor's advice: "Don't waste time on a video, just call 911" |
Keywords: <keyword>LIONS OVERSEAS</keyword>, <keyword>CUPS RUGBY</keyword>, <keyword>AFRICA TRIP</keyword>, <keyword>TOURS COACHING</keyword>, <keyword>PAIRING GARETH</keyword>, <keyword>MATCHES MIDWEEK</keyword>, <keyword>WEAKER TEAMS</keyword>, <keyword>MUNSTER LOCK</keyword>, <keyword>AUSTRALIA ROTATION</keyword>, <keyword>TESTS 2009</keyword>
(CNN) -- Forget World Cups. For many rugby union players the ultimate accomplishment is being selected to appear for the famed British Lions on their overseas tours. Giant Munster lock Paul O'Connell is leading the 2009 Lions in South Africa. The Lions are comprised of the best players from the four home unions of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland and competition for places in the squad is fierce as club and country loyalties are put aside. In the modern professional era, Lions tours take place every four years, visiting the southern-hemisphere Tri-Nations powers of New Zealand, South Africa and Australia in rotation. A typical tour will see a series of matches against provincial or regional sides, interspersed with international or Test matches. Midweek fixtures are normally against weaker teams, with the Lions giving all their squad members a chance to play, with stronger opposition for the weekend matches which would include the Tests. The 2009 Lions are touring world champions South Africa, looking to improve on the dismal performance of the 2005 side, which visited New Zealand. Under England's 2003 World Cup winning coach Clive Woodward, the 2005 squad were expected to prosper, but slipped to defeat in all three Test matches against the All Blacks. The team was captained by Brian O'Driscoll, but his tour ended after just two minutes of the first Test when he was controversially 'spear' tackled by Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu and dislocated his shoulder. O'Driscoll, who led Ireland to the Six Nations Grand Slam this year, was expected to captain the Lions to South Africa, but coach Ian McGeechan gave the job to Munster lock Paul O'Connell. McGeechan has already gone into Lions history, playing on the 1974 and 1977 tours, and coaching winning teams to Australia and South Africa in 1989 and 1997. He also took them to New Zealand in 1993 where the Test series was lost 2-1. The Lions enjoyed their most successful period in the early 1970s with the 1971 team -- inspired by the Welsh half-back pairing of Gareth Edwards and Barry John -- triumphing against the All Blacks in New Zealand. The 1974 Lions were arguably the best-known and most successful of all time, winning three Tests and drawing one in South Africa and going through the tour unbeaten. Under Irish captain Willie John McBride, their uncompromising forward play set up the victories, with their now infamous catch phrase "get your retaliation in first" leading to brutal early exchanges in most games. The modern era is a far cry from the first Lions tour back in 1888 which visited Australia and New Zealand with just 21 players from England, Scotland and Wales. They played provincial and local sides without formal Test matches. But it had established a precedent, and the 1891 side was sanctioned by the sport's ruling body the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and played three Tests against South Africa. The 1924 tour to South Africa was the first trip when the term "the Lions" became common currency and it has grown from strength to strength since, despite the growing influence of international rugby competitions such as the Tri and Six Nations and the World Cup. | British and Irish Lions are selected from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland .
Tours now take place every four years to Australia, South Africa and New Zealand .
Selection for the British Lions is highly-coveted by leading rugby players . |
Keywords: <keyword>FIFA BLATTER</keyword>, <keyword>SUSPENDED FIFA</keyword>, <keyword>SEPP BLAME</keyword>, <keyword>BRIBERY ALLEGATIONS</keyword>, <keyword>PRESIDENCY SWISS</keyword>, <keyword>ELECTED UNOPPOSED</keyword>, <keyword>HAMMAM PULLED</keyword>, <keyword>QATAR FINANCIAL</keyword>, <keyword>TOLERANCE AGENDA</keyword>, <keyword>REBUILD IMAGE</keyword>
(CNN) -- Sepp Blatter has told CNN that his main aim in his fourth and final term as FIFA president is to restore the battered credibility of world football's governing body. The 75-year-old was re-elected unopposed as head of the organization on June 1 after the only other candidate, Asian Federation chief Mohamed Bin Hammam, pulled out of the race before being provisionally suspended by FIFA over bribery allegations. The vote drew widespread criticism as Blatter received 186 votes from football's 208 member associations, with critics saying it should not have gone ahead until the investigation into Hammam and FIFA vice-president Jack Warner -- who was also subject to suspension -- had been completed. "I have said 'zero tolerance' is one thing, but I have also said the social and cultural implementation of football is important -- but now it's to rebuild the image of FIFA, that's number one, and I have already started," Blatter told CNN in his first sit-down interview since the election. Never mind Saint Sepp, the system is to blame . "We are now somewhere where football needs a little bit more credibility because we came building up football, bringing so much money in to this game. "Automatically a lot of devils came in to the game and now we are in a situation where we have to go forward and we have to cut all these allegations, criticism, whatever. We can't do it in one day, but we will do it." Blatter -- who described his election win as "the title without glory" and called the ruling body "my FIFA" -- ruled out blanket life bans for any FIFA member found guilty of corruption. "It's not a killing instinct that we have to kill people! Zero tolerance means that if you commit something outside the play of field, you will have a punishment," the Swiss administrator said. "But it can be a yellow card, it can be a red card, it can be a suspension for two games, three games ... lifetime." Maradona attacks 'corrupt' FIFA chiefs . Despite recent turmoil and opposition to Blatter in the race for the presidency, the Swiss insisted that both Hammam and Warner were longtime friends who remain on good terms. "We are friends, but friends going together when it is in the interest of some of the people. For me, going together with people it's only for the interest of FIFA because I have represented FIFA for 36 years -- it's my FIFA," Blatter said. Warner has since backed down, for legal reasons, on threats to release "a football tsunami" by making public his email correspondence with Blatter. "This is a question of character. If you have a problem inside your family you are not going to disclose if there is anything to be disclosed to the public," Blatter said. "But I don't know what he means by the tsunami! It's easy to say, it's like allegations made by (England's former 2018 bid leader) Lord Triesman -- these are allegations and there is no evidence, so if somebody says it's a tsunami, you know there are also very little tsunamis." Blatter commits to 'change' after winning FIFA's presidential vote . Blatter said he would not open an investigation into the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar -- Hammam's native country, which has been accused of bribing delegates ahead of last December's controversial vote -- unless his proposed new "solutions committee" or FIFA's existing ethics panel recommended such a probe. FIFA's own secretary general Jerome Valcke wrote an email suggesting that Qatar's financial clout had been behind its success. "Let me work now on this new approach of the ethics committee, let me work with this committee of solutions. And if this committee of solutions or the ethics committee have the impression that they should do something then let them take the decisions," Blatter said. Blatter has vowed to bring in a panel of experts to form the solutions committee and help address FIFA's problems, including 88-year-old former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Dutch football legend Johan Cruyff, 64, and 70-year-old opera great Placido Domingo. "These gentlemen are more or less advisers. They are not the experts but advisers, and what they should be also is the kind of council of wisdom -- which my Executive Committee would not like because they think they are the council of wisdom," Blatter said. "Placido Domingo will be part -- he is happy, he is proud that he is part -- as Kissinger also! People say he (Kissinger) is an old man, but he is a wise man." The solutions committee will be chaired by a FIFA official, with Blatter dismissing suggestions that it should be an entirely independent body. "The football family has asked me to solve the solution inside FIFA and not outside FIFA," he said. "And if we have to go and open our borders and say everyone can come in ... we are a very organized institution with 208 associations, six continents. I've put already zero tolerance in the agenda!" | Sepp Blatter admits that FIFA's reputation has been tainted by recent scandals .
President says FIFA's financial wealth has brought in "a lot of devils"
But he rules out blanket life bans for any FIFA members guilty of corruption .
Henry Kissinger and Placido Domingo to form part of new "solutions committee" |
Keywords: <keyword>PLAYING CARDIFF</keyword>, <keyword>WILLIAMS CONDITION</keyword>, <keyword>PARENTS WALES</keyword>, <keyword>NECK INJURY</keyword>, <keyword>BLUES ISSUED</keyword>, <keyword>PACIFIC DRAGONS</keyword>, <keyword>JOSH TURNBULL</keyword>, <keyword>STAYSTRONGFOROWS INTERNATIONAL</keyword>, <keyword>COOK REMAINED</keyword>, <keyword>MESSAGES SUPPORT</keyword>
The parents of Wales international centre Owen Williams have arrived in Singapore to be with their son after he suffered a serious injury. Williams was hurt while playing for Cardiff Blues in the inaugural World Club 10s tournament two days ago. No details of Williams' condition have so far been released, but he is understood to have suffered a neck injury. In full flight: Cardiff Blues centre Owen Williams avoids a tackle during the LV Cup match against Bath in January . Messages of support have poured in for the 22-year-old on social media from international team-mates like Alex Cuthbert, Jamie Roberts, George North, Dan Lydiate, Ken Owens and Josh Turnbull, in addition to Australia back-row star David Pocock. Gloucester Rugby Club, Leinster, the Scarlets and Newport Gwent Dragons have also expressed support on Twitter for Williams, in addition to Cardiff City Football Club under the hashtag #StayStrongForOws. International: Williams makes a strong run during Wales' friendly against Japan in Tokyo last summer . While the Blues squad has now returned home, Williams' playing colleague Macauley Cook has remained with him in a Singapore hospital, alongside two members of the Blues' back-room staff, Press Association Sport understands. Williams was injured in a third and fourth place play-off game between the Blues and Asia Pacific Dragons, which took place at Singapore National Stadium. The Blues issued an initial statement on Monday, in which they thanked fans for their support of Williams, but there has since been no further comment. Powerful: The centre bursts past the challenge of two Japan players during another friendly in June last year . Williams has won four Wales caps, making his debut during last year's tour to Japan and then scoring a try in a 17-7 Millennium Stadium victory over Tonga seven months ago. Williams has also represented Wales at under-20 level and on the international world sevens circuit, while he joined the Blues' senior set-up after progressing through the region's academy system. His former club Aberdare, meanwhile, have postponed a presentation event that was planned for next Saturday to recognise ex-Aberdare players who achieved international honours. | Williams was injured while playing in inaugural World Club 10s tournament .
No details of the Wales international's condition have been released so far .
It is understood the Cardiff Blues centre suffered a neck injury .
A number of his Wales team-mates have sent their support via Twitter .
The player's family have flown out to Singapore to be by his side . |
Keywords: <keyword>HINCKLEY INSANE</keyword>, <keyword>LENGTH VISITS</keyword>, <keyword>WOUNDING PRESIDENT</keyword>, <keyword>REAGAN LEFT</keyword>, <keyword>LEAVE HOSPITAL</keyword>, <keyword>VISIT MOTHER</keyword>, <keyword>JR SOON</keyword>, <keyword>JUDGE ORDER</keyword>, <keyword>REPORTER PUBLISHED</keyword>, <keyword>HOME VARYING</keyword>
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 13:05 EST, 27 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 14:32 EST, 27 February 2014 . John Hinckley Jr will soon be spending more than half of every month outside of his Washington mental hospital as his monthly visits to his mother's house have been extended to 17-days per trip. Hinckley was found to be insane when he shot and wounded President Ronald Reagan in 1981. Since 2006, he has been allowed to leave the hospital to visit his mother's Virginia home but for varying amounts of time. Being held: John Hinckley Jr, seen here in 2003, was ruled insane after shooting and wounding President Ronald Reagan in 1981 and has been in a mental institution since . The length of those visits has increased over the years with the goal that Hinckley ultimately live outside the hospital full time. In December, a judge ruled that Hinckley should be allowed to make visits of up to 17 days, an increase from previous 10-day visits. The judge laid out the parameters of the monthly visits in an order Tuesday. Hinckley's lawyer says he expects the 17-day visits to start in March and called the judge's order a 'milestone.' The moment before: President Reagan was leaving the Washington D.C. Hilton when Hinckley attacked . Aftermath: Hinckley did not hit Reagan directly but a bullet hit the presidential limousine and it then ricocheted and hit the President in the chest . Hinckley was 25-years-old when he opened fire as President Reagan as he left a Washington D.C. hotel on March 30, 1931 in an attempt to impress actress Jodi Foster after becoming obsessed with her in the film Taxi Driver. He fired six shots and one of the bullets ricocheted off the presidential limousine and hit Reagan. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity and was ordered to be confined at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in D.C. | Would-be assassin John Hinckley Jr now needs to only spend about half of every month in a mental institution .
He was confined to St Elizabeth's Hospital after being found not guilty by reason of insanity from the 1981 shooting .
Has been allowed to leave the D.C. hospital to visit his mother's home in Virginia for varying amounts of time starting in 2006 .
Started with three- to four-day visits and now up to 17-day visits . |
Keywords: <keyword>FRUSTRATE MOURINHO</keyword>, <keyword>DOWD TRIES</keyword>, <keyword>PAULINHO FOUL</keyword>, <keyword>PENALTY DISPUTED</keyword>, <keyword>KANE INSIDE</keyword>, <keyword>CAHILL MISSED</keyword>, <keyword>HAZARD BROKE</keyword>, <keyword>KICKS HARRY</keyword>, <keyword>OFFICIALS DISPLAY</keyword>, <keyword>ACT RETROSPECTIVELY</keyword>
With Jose Mourinho’s talk of a campaign against Chelsea highlighted after Anthony Taylor’s refusal to award them a penalty in their last game and my Sportsmail colleague Martin Keown questioning Phil Dowd’s big-match temperament, the official went in to this match under a lot of pressure. His performance and that of his assistants was very good. Phil Dowd steps in as tempers flare following Paulinho's foul on Nemanja Matic . In the right position . Often criticised for a lack of mobility, Dowd used all of his experience to ensure he was in the right place to judge key decisions. He’ll never be the quickest around the pitch but knows the game and that came to his aid when caught well behind play when Eden Hazard broke away but was dispossessed by Federico Fazio. Keeping discipline . Getting through until the 65th minute before issuing a first yellow card always helps. The only player to escape when he should have been disciplined was Gary Cahill when he kicked out at Harry Kane. The FA could well act retrospectively to further frustrate Mourinho. Gary Cahill kicks Harry Kane while he is on the floor - something he could face retrospective action for . Dowd is on hand again as Jan Vertonghen (left) and Cesc Fabregas square up . Getting the big decisions spot on . Referees are judged on the big decisions and here Dowd did very well. Chelsea wanted a penalty when the ball hit Jan Vertonghen’s hand in the first half. But Vertonghen had his arm in a natural position and with his body weight holding him down he could not avoid contact with the ball. Spurs’ penalty cannot be disputed as Cahill missed the ball and brought Kane down inside the area. In the second half, Hazard appeared to be tripped by Fazio when clean through. Replays showed the Spurs man got the ball first and there had been no infringement. Overall assessment . An excellent performance in which the officials got every big decision right and did nothing to adversely affect the outcome of the game. Mourinho might do better to work with his defenders rather than focus on officials after this display, and perhaps his ‘campaign’ theory is merely an attempt to protect his stuttering team. Dowd tries to calm Fabregas down as the game begins to slip away from Chelsea . | Tottenham beat Chelsea 5-3 at White Hart Lane on New Year's Day .
Referee Phil Dowd avoided any major controversies . |
Keywords: <keyword>AMERICANS FISA</keyword>, <keyword>AGENCIES SPYING</keyword>, <keyword>EAVESDROPPING LAWMAKERS</keyword>, <keyword>SURVEILLANCE REQUIRES</keyword>, <keyword>NEW TECHNOLOGIES</keyword>, <keyword>28 CNN</keyword>, <keyword>LEGISLATION MEANT</keyword>, <keyword>TARGETING INTELLIGENCE</keyword>, <keyword>CALLS CHANGE</keyword>, <keyword>EXPIRES 2012</keyword>
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Senate Wednesday passed legislation meant to update the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Mobile phones are one of the technologies that did not exist when the original FISA law was written. The vote was 69-28. Below, CNN's National Security Producer Pam Benson explains what is in the bill, why the bill is controversial, how the bill may affect Americans' civil liberties and why privacy advocates object to it. Question: What is the purpose of FISA and why is it being changed? Benson: FISA governs the way the United States gathers foreign intelligence through the interception of electronic communications. The law was enacted in 1978, partially in response to the intelligence community and other U.S. agencies spying on Vietnam anti-war protesters and other Americans. The FISA law requires court orders when the target of any eavesdropping is an American citizen or individual living in the U.S. Warrants are not necessary if the target is overseas. Watch Bush call the bill 'long overdue' » . The law is considered outdated. New technologies such as e-mail, the Internet, cell phones and fiber optics have dramatically changed communications. The new technologies have raised legal issues that the original law did not address. For instance, the U.S. intelligence community can target phone calls of an Iraqi citizen overseas, but that person's call to someone in Pakistan might be routed through a telecommunications switch in the United States. Under the current law, a FISA warrant would be required since the communication is passing through the U.S. [Some say] the current law unnecessarily slows down U.S. intelligence officials as they track foreigners. The controversy over President Bush's warrantless domestic eavesdropping program also prompted calls for change in the FISA law. The so-called Terrorist Surveillance Program was ordered by the president after the 9/11 attacks. It allowed for spying on the communications between U.S. residents and people overseas if it was believed one of the parties was linked to terrorism. Telephone carriers now face lawsuits for assisting the government in eavesdropping on suspected terrorists after 9/11. The plaintiffs claim their privacy rights were violated when the companies provided communication records to the National Security Agency without a court warrant. Question: What are the key provisions in the FISA bill? Benson: The bill explicitly establishes FISA as the exclusive means for authorizing electronic surveillance; requires a court order for the surveillance of any targeted American, whether the person is in the United States or abroad; [and] requires a secret court set up to oversee FISA issues to sign off on provisions for removing the name of any American inadvertently captured in a communication with a foreign target. [It] prohibits reverse targeting, which is when intelligence officials eavesdrop on a foreigner's communications overseas as a means to spy on someone in the United States, and sets up a procedure for federal judges to determine whether a telecommunications company can be sued for providing the intelligence community access to its networks without a court order. Question: Under the proposed FISA bill, can Americans be spied on without a court warrant? Are their civil liberties protected? Benson: Under the new revised law, a warrant is required to spy on an American, including, for the first time, Americans who are abroad. If the intelligence community should unintentionally intercept a phone call or an e-mail involving an American, the agency involved must get a warrant if the person is of interest or take steps to erase that person's name from any report. The court will annually review procedures for protecting communications, but it will not oversee individual cases. Opponents claim this represents minimal court oversight and enables the government to spy on innocent Americans' phone calls and e-mails. The bill states that domestic electronic surveillance is authorized exclusively by the provisions of FISA. This is an effort to prevent the president from secretly authorizing warrantless eavesdropping, which some lawmakers and civil rights groups claim violates the public's Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable searches. However, the bill does not address President George Bush's claim that he has Article 2 constitutional authority as the commander-in-chief to order such activity during times of war. Question: Will telecommunications firms be prosecuted for helping the intelligence community conduct no-warrant surveillance of Americans? Benson: Although the Bush administration had wanted the telephone providers who cooperated with the surveillance program to receive outright retroactive immunity, this bill sets up a process for judicial review. A U.S. District Court judge hearing a pending case will determine whether the telecommunications provider received from the government letters which indicated the president had authorized the warrantless surveillance and that the program was considered lawful. If so, the lawsuit will be thrown out. Opponents argue this is a sham and say that the telecommunications are essentially being granted retroactive immunity because Mike McConnell, the director of national intelligence (DNI), testified at a congressional hearing that all of the telephone carriers did receive government certifications. Some Republican supporters have called this process a "formality" and even Democratic proponents indicate it is likely that most, if not all, of the cases against the telephone companies will be dismissed. Question: Will there be periodic reviews of the law? Benson: The new law expires in 2012, enabling the next administration to review the program. In the meantime, the attorney general, the DNI and the inspectors general of the major intelligence agencies must provide periodic reviews of the surveillance program. The bill also requires the inspectors general of the agencies involved in the president's warrantless surveillance program to conduct a comprehensive review and issue an unclassified report to Congress within one year. | NEW: Senate votes 69-28 to update of to intelligence law Wednesday .
NEW: Sen. Obama votes for bill; Sen. McCain not in Senate for vote .
Technological changes require update of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act .
Opponents object to the bill's de facto immunity for telecom companies . |
Keywords: <keyword>FABREGAS ARSENAL</keyword>, <keyword>GROUND CHELSEA</keyword>, <keyword>MOURINHO BELIEVES</keyword>, <keyword>CHELSEA REGRETS</keyword>, <keyword>LEAVE BARCELONA</keyword>, <keyword>WENGER INSISTED</keyword>, <keyword>EDEN HAZARD</keyword>, <keyword>HAMSTRING INJURY</keyword>, <keyword>ZOUMA LOOKS</keyword>, <keyword>COBHAM TRAINING</keyword>
Jose Mourinho has landed a provocative blow ahead of Sunday's Stamford Bridge clash with Arsenal, claiming Cesc Fabregas already ‘loves Chelsea’ and has ‘no regrets’ about returning to a different part of London. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has claimed his former star’s priority was a summer move back to the Emirates from Barcelona. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Arsene Wenger: We bought Ozil to replace Fabregas . Cesc Fabregas has flourished at Chelsea following his £30million switch from Barcelona last summer . Fabregas (left) fends off a challenge from Loic Remy during Chelsea's training session on Friday . Diego Costa (right) and John Obi Mikel look on as Fabregas races away with the ball . Diego Costa shows no signs of his niggling hamstring injury as the Spaniard trains on Friday afternoon . Fabregas in action for the Gunners back in 2003 before celebrating their FA Cup triumph two years later . Fabregas and his girlfriend Daniella Semaan have settled back into life in London . But Chelsea boss Mourinho said: ‘I think he loves Chelsea already. He’s so happy: the way he plays, the way he’s a member of the squad, the way he lives in this little blue village. It is like he’s here for a long time. ‘If you ask him now if he regrets the move, I’m sure he’d say no. If you ask him if he’d choose a different option, he’d say no. And if you ask him where he thinks he’ll be in five years, he’d say he sees himself here in five years. He is Chelsea.’ Despite the protracted and unsavoury manner of Fabregas’s Arsenal departure in 2011, Wenger insisted ‘he is a person I love’ and called for fans to give him a ‘respectful’ reception. Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is hopeful noise from the Blues fans will drown out '3,000 red fans' The Spanish midfielder has scored one goal and picked up seven assists since the start of the season . But Wenger also claimed it was his decision to ignore Fabregas — and the buy-back option Arsenal held — once he learned he was willing to leave Barcelona. Wenger’s call was shaped by the £42million signing of Mesut Ozil as a replacement, although the Arsenal manager also indicated that Chelsea had wrapped up a £30m deal by the time he was aware of his former captain’s availability. Wenger even suggested that the deal had been agreed ‘in early 2014’. Asked if Fabregas wanted to return to Arsenal, Wenger said: ‘Certainly, yes. I don’t want to make a big story of that because you have to accept that. When he left, we bought Ozil. We were not in need of offensive players. ‘Cesc, when he looks back at his career, will find that Arsenal and myself had a very positive influence. I have no personal animosity against Fabregas. He is a person I love and a player I love.’ Eden Hazard (left) gets a shot away as Kurt Zouma looks to challenge at Chelsea's Cobham training ground . Chelsea youngster Charly Musonda (left) holds off Branislav Ivanovic as the Blues train . Arsene Wenger decided not to buy back Fabregas when he found out he was willing to leave Barcelona . Wenger indicated that Chelsea had wrapped up a £30m deal by the time he was aware of his availability . Mourinho believes the reception Fabregas receives from Arsenal fans will be insignificant if the home supporters get behind the former Gunner. Mourinho said: 'If Chelsea fans want, the reaction from Arsenal fans, nobody will listen. It depends on Chelsea fans. 'If 40,000 blue fans want, no-one will listen to 3,000 red fans. It depends on the club culture. As you saw with Chelsea fans and Frank Lampard. He added: 'Fabregas was – I don’t say born – but made at Arsenal and the feeling should be good between the fans and him but I don’t know.' Like our Arsenal Facebook page. | Cesc Fabregas will face his old club on Sunday when Chelsea take on Arsenal at Stamford Bridge .
Arsenal had first refusal on Fabregas in the summer but snubbed move for former captain .
The Spaniard subsequently joined Chelsea in £30m deal and has starred for the Jose Mourinho's side .
Wenger says midfielder deserves warm reception from travelling supporters . |
Keywords: <keyword>CREATURE FOSSILIZED</keyword>, <keyword>GROUPS ARTHROPODS</keyword>, <keyword>ANCESTORS SPIDERS</keyword>, <keyword>ALALCOMENAEUS RELATED</keyword>, <keyword>SCORPIONS RESEARCHERS</keyword>, <keyword>CRUSTACEANS AUTHOR</keyword>, <keyword>INSIGHTS EVOLUTIONARY</keyword>, <keyword>RELATIONSHIPS ANIMALS</keyword>, <keyword>NEURAL ANATOMY</keyword>, <keyword>MEGACHEIRAN GREAT</keyword>
The ancient world was full of strange animals that have gone extinct, such as a group of marine species with claw-like structures emerging from their heads. A new study suggests that these creatures were related to spiders and scorpions. Researchers discovered the fossilized remains of a species in southwest China that provides new insights into the evolution of animals in the modern era, scientists said. They report their findings in the journal Nature. Scientists believe that the creature -- 1 inch long, and with two pairs of eyes -- lived 520 million years ago and that it crawled or swam in the ocean. They were able to reconstruct the creature's nervous system to gain insights about its evolutionary relationships to animals familiar to us. "For the first time, we are able to use fossilised neural anatomy to sort out how fossil animals are related to animals today," study co-author Xiaoya Ma of the Department of Earth Sciences at the Natural History Museum in London wrote in an e-mail. This creature belongs to the Alalcomenaeus genus, and its place in the animal kingdom lies in "a group of weird extinct animals" called the "megacheiran" or "great appendage" arthropods, Ma said. The species of the Alalcomenaeus group had elongated, segmented bodies with about 12 pairs of appendages they used for swimming or crawling. They also had a pair of long, scissor-like head claws, most likely for grabbing or sensing. Scientists say the reconstruction of the new creature's nervous system is the most complete for an arthropod living at that time, in the Cambrian geological period. Discovery makes a splash: The rarest whale . The brain and central nervous system of the creature are organized in a way that is similar to those of the chelicerata, the group that includes horseshoe crabs and scorpions. This suggests a close evolutionary relationship between the ancient Alalcomenaeus and the living chelicerata. A distinct group of arthropods called the mandibulates includes lobsters, insects, centipedes and millipedes. Last year at the same site in China -- called the Chengjiang formation near Kunming -- Ma and colleagues discovered a 520 million-year-old crustacean-type nervous system in an animal called Fuxianhuia. Taken together, these discoveries suggest that by 520 million years ago, the two major groups of arthropods had diverged. Their common ancestor must have been older, researchers said. "This means the ancestors of spiders and their kin lived side by side with the ancestors of crustaceans," co-author Nick Strausfeld, neuroscience professor at the University of Arizona, said in a statement. Strausfeld's team used sophisticated imaging techniques to look at the inch-long Alalcomenaeus fossil. One kind of scan revealed that iron had built up in the nervous system as the creature fossilized. They also used a technique called computed tomography that reconstructs 3-D features. By combining these images and discarding any data that weren't in both, they were able to create a sort of negative X-ray photograph, "and out popped this beautiful nervous system in startling detail," Strausfeld said. It confirmed what scientists had believed from the creature's outward appearance: The extinct genus Alalcomenaeus was related to chelicerates (spiders, scorpions and others). They also saw that the brain in the fossil was like the brains found in modern scorpions and spiders. If researchers find a fossil with features shared by this creature and the crustacean-like fossil Ma and colleagues found last year, that could be a common ancestor of both. There's plenty more weirdness from ancient history to uncover. 18-foot oarfish discovered . | The fossil is 520 million years old and was found in China .
Using multiple images of the animal, the researchers discovered the nervous system .
They also saw the brain was like those of today's spiders, scorpions .
The work shows the early evolutionary differences, researcher says . |
Keywords: <keyword>SUNSPOT BREATHTAKING</keyword>, <keyword>VISIBLE AUSTRALIA</keyword>, <keyword>ASTRONOMERS GATHERED</keyword>, <keyword>PRESENCE SUNLIGHT</keyword>, <keyword>ECLIPSE OBSERVED</keyword>, <keyword>SKY CAUSES</keyword>, <keyword>PHENOMENON PEAK</keyword>, <keyword>PACIFIC MOON</keyword>, <keyword>DARKNESS FORECASTERS</keyword>, <keyword>WATCHED AWE</keyword>
By . Mark Prigg . PUBLISHED: . 12:55 EST, 13 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:32 EST, 14 November 2012 . From boats bobbing on the Great Barrier Reef to hot air balloons hovering over the rainforest, and the hilltops and beaches in between, tens of thousands of scientists, tourists and amateur astronomers watched in awe as the sun, moon and Earth aligned and plunged northern Australia into darkness. Forecasters were predicting cloudy skies around dawn Wednesday, but it didn't materialise, allowing stargazers to experience it unhindered. The eclipse began at . 05.45 in the far north of the Australian state, with totality occurring . at 06.38 on November 14 (20.38 GMT). Scroll down for video . Sunspot: The breathtaking phenomenon at its peak. Tens of thousands of tourists, scientists and amateur astronomers gathered for the incredible display . Awe-inspiring: The sun is veiled by the moon, only a spot at the rim betrays its presence . Sunlight: A crescent of sun appears behind the moon as cloud drifts across the darkened sky . Clouds obscure the moon passing in front of the sun as it approaches a full solar eclipse in the northern Australian city of Cairns . 'Immediately before, I was thinking, `Are we gonna see this?' And we just had a fantastic display - it was just beautiful," said Terry Cuttle of the Astronomical Association of Queensland, who has seen a dozen total solar eclipses over the years. 'And right after it finished, the clouds came back again. 'It really adds to the drama of it.' Spectators whooped and clapped with delight as the moon passed between the sun and Earth, leaving a slice of the continent's northeast in sudden darkness. Spectators line the beach to view the eclipse. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in parts of North Queensland to enjoy it . The total solar eclipse seen from Ellis Beach north of Cairns in far north Queensland. Thousands gathered across northern Australia to watch the phenomenon . Palm Cove beach in Queensland where similar scenes were repeated as people flocked to beaches to watch the rare eclipse . NASA scientists ran a live feed in the US from Ellis Beach north of Cairns . Hank Harper, 61, and his two children flew from Los Angeles just to see the eclipse, and feared the clouds would ruin their adventure. The three of them hopped on board a hot air balloon with other eager tourists and staff from Hot Air Balloon Cairns, crossed their fingers - and were rewarded with a perfect view. 'We gambled everything - drove through the rain and didn't even know if the balloon was going to go up," he said by phone from the hot air balloon as he and Harrison, 10, and Reilly, 12, watched the sun's rays re-emerge from behind the moon while kangaroos hopped on the ground below. 'It was everything I could have hoped for.' Hank Harper, right, of Los Angeles flew to Australia with his two children to watch the full eclipse . A hot air balloon floats in the air as a solar eclipse is observed near Cairns, in Queensland . People prepare to view a total solar eclipse while on a tour boat at Michelmas Cay on the Great Barrier Reef . On a dive-boat drifting along the blue waters of the Great Barrier Reef, a cheer of relief erupted as the clouds moved away at the moment of total eclipse, followed by a hush as darkness fell across the water. One scuba diver floated on his back in the sea, watching the phenomenon unfold as he bobbed in the waves. Birds on a nearby island, startled by the sudden lack of light, began to stir. 'It was absolutely amazing. 'We were coming out this morning and there was a wee bit of cloud around and we were apprehensive,' Adam O'Malley of the Passions of Paradise dive company said by phone from his boat. 'We got a full view - absolutely breathtaking.' An eclipse occurs when the moon passes in front of the sun, which darkens the sky and causes temperatures to drop. The eclipse will cast its 150-kilometer . (95-mile) wide shadow starting at dawn in Australia's Northern Territory . and then cross the northeast tip of the country before swooping east . across the South Pacific. The Moon's penumbral shadow produces a partial eclipse visible from a much larger region covering the South Pacific (including Australia and New Zealand), southern South America, and part of Antarctica. Many worried that they would miss a rare chance to view the celestial phenomenon. 'There will be breaks in (the clouds), but it's just a matter of the luck of the draw whether you get a break at the right time,' said Queensland state Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Andrew Mostyn. The eclipse cast its 150-kilometer (95-mile) wide shadow starting at dawn in Australia's Northern Territory and then crossed the northeast tip of the country before swooping east across the South Pacific. No islands are in its direct path, so northern Australia is the only land where the full eclipse could be seen, said Geoff Wyatt, an astronomer with Sydney Observatory. A partial eclipse was expected to be visible from east Indonesia, the eastern half of Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and southern parts of Chile and Argentina. Totality - the darkness that happens at the peak of the eclipse - lasted just over two minutes. Among those sweating out the forecast was U.S. astronomer Jay Pasachoff, who traveled to Australia in hopes of viewing his 56th solar eclipse. Pasachoff, an astronomy professor at Williams College in Massachusetts, and a team of about 50 scientists and students fanned out across the region to improve the odds that at least some of them will see the eclipse. Near totality is seen during the solar eclipse at Palm Cove. It is the first solar eclipse in Australia in a decade . The total solar eclipse seen from Ellis Beach north of Cairns . Anticipation: Tourists watched the cloudy sky as a full solar eclipse begins in Cairns . Rain showers fall as tourists scan the sky while waiting for the eclipse . A tourist watches as the moon passes in front of the sun as it approaches a full solar eclipse . Sungazer: A spectator views the solar eclipse through special eclipse viewing glasses in Palm Cove . Spectators line the beach to view the eclipse. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in parts of North Queensland to enjoy it . The group is planning to study the sun's corona, the glowing white ring around the sun that is visible only during an eclipse. Despite the anxiety over the weather and the long journey to get there, Pasachoff said he wouldn't miss it. 'Just imagine you were a heart surgeon and someone actually told you you could look inside a human heart only for two minutes, and only if you went halfway around the world, he said. 'You would do it.' Some Queensland hotels have been booked up for more than three years and more than 50,000 people flooded into the region to watch the solar spectacle, said Jeff Gillies, regional director of Queensland Tourism. Memento: Tourists take photographs to capture the rare and visually stunning occurrence . Many stargazers used telescopes to fully take advantage of the experience . Glow: A spectator attempts to take a picture with his phone, while another uses special eclipse viewing glasses to protect his eyes . Sun, sand and sea: Some took to the beach to witness the solar phenomenon . Telescopic cameras and computer equipment are set up on Palm Cove beach in preparation to run a live stream via NASA of the total solar eclipse from Cairns . The path of the total eclipse. The path of the Moon's umbral shadow begins in northern Australia and crosses the South Pacific Ocean with on other no landfall. The eclipse was visible in Northern Australia, with Cairns being the most popular spot . Skygazers crowded beaches, boats, fields and hot air balloons to watch the event. Fitness fanatics raced in the Solar Eclipse Marathon, where the first rays of the sun re-emerging from behind the moon served as the starting gun. Some have already been partying for days at a weeklong eclipse festival. Scientists will be studying how animals respond to the eclipse, with underwater cameras capturing the effects of sudden darkness on the creatures of the Great Barrier Reef. 'It's an unknown with how they'll react,' Gillies said. 'A little bit of flora and fauna confusion, I would imagine.' The last total solar eclipse visible in Australia was 10 years ago, in the South Australia Outback. VIDEO: Amazing! Tourists from all over the world gather on the beach to see the eclipse... | Totality - the darkness that happens at the peak of the eclipse - will last just over two minutes.
Forecasted cloud cover failed to ruin view of incredible cosmic display .
Stargazers gather in northern Australia to witness it . |
Subsets and Splits