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240,827 | c3c6b6891890b6995f8f442ed307ef1cd22d2380 | By . Associated Press . Ten of thousands of birds flying over California are being scorched to death each year by powerful sun beams from the world's largest solar plant. The birds have been dubbed 'streamers' by workers at the plant in the Mojave Desert, for the smoke plume that comes from them as they ignite in midair. Federal wildlife investigators visited the BrightSource Energy plant last year and watched as birds burned and fell, reporting an average of one 'streamer' every two minutes. Scroll down for video . Body count: Some experts estimate the Ivanpah Dry Lake solar plant in California scorches around 30,000 birds per year in mid-air . They are now are urging California officials to halt the operator's application to build a still-bigger version of the plant. Estimates per year now range from a low of about a thousand by BrightSource to 28,000 by an expert for the Center for Biological Diversity environmental group. The deaths are 'alarming. It's hard to say whether that's the location or the technology,' said Garry George, renewable-energy director for the California chapter of the Audubon Society. 'There needs to be some caution.' The bird deaths mark the latest instance in which the quest for clean energy sometimes has inadvertent environmental harm. Debate: Plant officials dispute that all the streamers are caused by birds. Pictured is MacGillivray's Warbler that was found at the Ivanpah solar plant . Solar farms have been criticised for their impacts on desert tortoises, and wind farms have killed birds, including numerous raptors. 'We take this issue very seriously,' said Jeff Holland, a spokesman for NRG Solar of Carlsbad, California, the second of the three companies behind the plant. The third, Google, deferred comment to its partners. Wildlife officials who witnessed the phenomena say many of the clouds of smoke were too big to come from anything but a bird, and they add that they saw the 'birds entering the solar flux and igniting, consequently become a streamer.' The $2.2 billion (£1.32 billion) plant, which launched . in February, is at Ivanpah Dry Lake near the California-Nevada border. The operator says it is the world's biggest plant to employ so-called . power towers. More than . 300,000 mirrors, each the size of a garage door, reflect solar rays onto . three boiler towers each looming up to 40 stories high. The water . inside is heated to produce steam, which turns turbines that generate . enough electricity for 140,000 homes. Sun rays sent up by the field of mirrors are bright enough to dazzle pilots flying in and out of Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Federal wildlife officials . said Ivanpah might act as a 'mega-trap' for wildlife, with the bright . light of the plant attracting insects, which in turn attract . insect-eating birds that fly to their death in the intensely focused . light rays. Federal and . state biologists call the number of deaths significant, based on . sightings of birds getting singed and falling, and on retrieval of . carcasses with feathers charred too severely for flight. Ivanpah . officials dispute the source of the so-called streamers, saying at . least some of the puffs of smoke mark insects and bits of airborne trash . being ignited by the solar rays. High tech, high mortality rate: More than 300,000 mirrors, each the size of a garage door, reflect solar rays onto three boiler towers each looming up to 40 stories high. When birds fly through the powerful reflected light, they're scorched and leave a trail of smoke . Federal wildlife officials said Ivanpah might act as a 'mega-trap' for wildlife, with the bright light of the plant attracting insects, which in turn attract insect-eating birds that fly to their death in the intensely focused rays . U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials say they want a death toll for a full year of operation. Given the apparent scale of bird deaths at Ivanpah, authorities should thoroughly track bird kills there for a year, including during annual migratory seasons, before granting any more permits for that kind of solar technology, said Mr George, of the Audubon Society. The toll on birds has been surprising, said Robert Weisenmiller, chairman of the California Energy Commission. 'We didn't see a lot of impact' on birds at the first, smaller power towers in the U.S. and Europe, Weisenmiller said. The commission is now considering the application from Oakland-based BrightSource to build a mirror field and a 75-story power tower that would reach above the sand dunes and creek washes between Joshua Tree National Park and the California-Arizona border. The proposed plant is on a flight path for birds between the Colorado River and California's largest lake, the Salton Sea — an area, experts say, is richer in avian life than the Ivanpah plant, with protected golden eagles and peregrine falcons and more than 100 other species of birds recorded there. Unsettling: Authorities at the plant call the trails of smoke left by scorched birds 'streamers' U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials warned California this month that the power-tower style of solar technology holds 'the highest lethality potential' of the many solar projects burgeoning in the deserts of California. The commission's staff estimates the proposed new tower would be almost four times as dangerous to birds as the Ivanpah plant. The agency is expected to decide this autumn on the proposal. While biologists say there is no known feasible way to curb the number of birds killed, the companies behind the projects say they are hoping to find one — studying whether lights, sounds or some other technology would scare them away, said Joseph Desmond, senior vice president at BrightSource Energy. Massive: The $2.2 billion plant part-owned by Google is the world's largest and company BrightSource Energy wants to build one even bigger . BrightSource also is offering $1.8 (£1.08) million in compensation for anticipated bird deaths at Palen, Desmond said. The company is proposing the money for programs such as those to spay and neuter domestic cats, which a government study found kill over 1.4 billion birds a year. Opponents say that would do nothing to help the desert birds at the proposed site. Power-tower proponents are fighting to keep the deaths from forcing a pause in the building of new plants when they see the technology on the verge of becoming more affordable and accessible, said Thomas Conroy, a renewable-energy expert. When it comes to powering the country's grids, 'diversity of technology ... is critical,' Mr Conroy said. 'Nobody should be arguing let's be all coal, all solar,' all wind, or all nuclear. 'And every one of those technologies has a long list of pros and cons.' The BrightSource Energy plant is located in the Mojave Desert. It is currently the largest solar thermal power plant in the world . Even bigger: The California Energy Commission is now considering the application from Oakland-based BrightSource to build a mirror field and a 75-story power tower that would reach above the sand dunes and creek washes between Joshua Tree National Park and the California-Arizona border . | Experts claim California solar array is killing nearly 30,000 birds per year .
Solar plant is the world's largest, but plans for a larger one are underway .
Proposed new 75-story plant would be located near a huge bird sanctuary .
Authorities call the smoke trails left by scorched birds 'streamers' |
118,598 | 2521d333a39a06a3abade30ada5b73b13ec1bea7 | (EW.com) -- Though a sequel for "The Muppets" has been greenlit, one star who was integral to bringing the franchise into the new millennium won't be a part of it, reports Collider. Jason Segel told the site he won't be signing up for another round with Kermit and Co. "It's true [that I won't be in the sequel]," said Segel, "but it's totally amicable. My goal was to bring the Muppets back and I did that, leaving them in very good hands." Segel said he wants "to pursue more human-related projects," adding, "All I wanted to do was to set the stage for them to do whatever they wanted. I'm sure I'll return in some capacity here and there, but that was half a decade of my life. Five years of hard work. I'm ready for a little puppet break." See the full article at EW.com. CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved. | Jason Segel told Collider he won't be signing up for another round with Kermit and Co .
"It's true [that I won't be in the sequel]," said Segel .
Segel said he wants "to pursue more human-related projects" |
172,963 | 6bd7436bcc71edcd0c4257f23f9c912b21e98f7d | The days of drones needing to return to base to top up their batteries could soon be over. An MIT student has shown off a prototype system allowing a craft to land on a power line and recharge itself. The smart system uses the magnetic forces emitted by the lines to find the perfect place to perch itself. Scroll down for video . The MIT prototype that can land of a power line and recharge itself. It uses magnetic sensors to find the perfect place to perch. The system works using the power line's magnetic field. Four metres away from it, sensors in the plane's nose sense it, and allow the plane to fly itself so it lands perfectly on the wire, exactly like a bird. 'Small and micro UAVs have enabled a number of new mission capabilities, including navigatingin and around buildings and performing perch-and-stare surveillance,' wrote Joseph Moore, a PhD. candidate at MIT, who is developing the system. 'However, one of the primary limitations of these small vehicles is endurance, simply because they cannot carry suufficient power for long missions. However, Moore, who is a student at MIT's lab dedicated to developing small flying craft, realised that power was freely available - above the ground. 'Recent advances in xed-wing perching have made it possible to consider a new solution to this problem - landing on a powerline to recharge.' The system works using the power line's magnetic field. Four metres away from it, sensors in the plane's nose sense it, and allow the plane to fly itself so it lands perfectly on the wire, exactly like a bird. As the plane approaches the wire, it raises its nose to allow it to 'perch' on the wire with clamps where wheels would usually be. The U.S. Air Force is also working on a similar system, developing tiny unmanned drones that will fly in swarms, hover like bees, crawl like spiders and even sneak up on unsuspecting targets and execute them with lethal precision. The Air Vehicles Directorate, a research arm of the Air Force, has released a computer-animated video outlining the the future capabilities of Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs). The project, announced last year, promises to revolutionize war by down-sizing the combatants. 'MAVs will become a vital element in the ever-changing war-fighting environment and will help ensure success on the battlefield of the future,' the narrator intones. 'Unobtrusive, pervasive, lethal - Micro Air Vehicles, enhancing the capabilities of the future war fighter.' One drone type soars like a pigeon and perches unobtrusively on a power line to observe a surveillance target with a camera. The Air Force is working on technology that will allow the drones to steal electricity from power cables and other sources - so they can continue to operate for days or weeks on end. Hovering: Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs) are the future of the unmanned drones program, according to a new video from the Air Force. The Air Force has already developed a drone capable of hovering like a moth . Perching: The video, released by the Air Vehicle Directorate, shows a pigeon-like drone that can draw power from an electrical wire while its camera watches a target . Crawling: The drones will be equipped with legs so that they can crawl through tight spaces like an insect . The project, which is based at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, was revealed in the March issue of the National Geographic magazine. Air Force officials said they have already produced tiny remote-control prototypes - but they consume so much power that can only operate for a few minutes. Researchers estimate that it will take several years of advances in battery technology to make the designs feasible. Still, the Air Force has a clear concept of what it hopes to accomplish with the program. The promotional video begins with a swarm of tiny drones be dropped on a city from a passing plane. The drones will work in concert to patch together a wide, detailed view of the battlefield - singling out individual targets without losing sight of the broader scene. 'Data will be communicated among the MAVs to enable real time, reliable decision-making and to provide an advanced overall picture for other platforms or operators,' the Air Force says. Killing: The video demonstrates how MAVs could be used to sneak up behind unsuspecting targets and kill them with a single, lethal shot . Lethal: The drones could be equipped with incapacitating chemicals, combustible payloads or even explosives 'for precision targeting capability' As the drones fall, they begin to fly - not like planes, but like insects. High frequency flapping wings allow the drones to hover and maneuver in tight spaces. The military has already produced a drone patterned after a hawk moth that can flap its wings 30 times a second. However, the activity exhausts the drone's tiny battery in just a few minutes, according to National Geographic. | MIT student has already developed working prototype .
Could be used by the military for long-running surveillance .
Technique uses magnetic field to land in the perfect spot .
Air force developing similar craft that could hunt in swarms . |
280,778 | f7bddc3414848e6f1586e6022fe8143cdbecb4c1 | The world’s ‘best’ airport is planning to get even better with a massive glass and steel structure that is being hailed as the terminal of the future. Construction is underway on Singapore’s Jewel Changi Airport, which will boast the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, a large indoor park with native trees and plants, and walking trails, in addition to improved check-ins and transfers for passengers. Known as Project Jewel, the £726million terminal is being constructed next to the existing Terminal 1, which is undergoing a major overhaul to bring it into the 21st century and increase its capacity to 24 million passengers a year from 17.7 million. Scroll down for video . Construction got underway this month on Singapore’s £726million Jewel Changi Airport, which will boast a glass and steel design . The breathtaking 130-ft ‘Rain Vortex’ is expected to be the world’s tallest indoor waterfall once it is complete . When it opens in 2018, Jewel will have five storeys above ground and five below ground, with a total footprint of more than 1.4 million square feet. By bringing elements of the outdoors inside, the round-shaped terminal will be unlike anything that has been built before. In addition to high-end shops and a 130-room hotel operated by YOTEL, the joint venture between Changi Airport Group (CAG) and CapitaMalls Asia has a big focus on nature with an aim of boosting Singapore’s appeal as a stopover point for travellers. Designed by a team led by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie, the visually stunning terminal features a glass and steel facade. Officials describe Jewel as an ‘idyllic valley of verdant landscaping and waterfalls’ where visitors can go for a hike in air-conditioned comfort . Officials said Jewel will be the first in Singapore to seamlessly integrate lush greenery with other attractions and facilities within the same building. It will house one of the largest indoor collections of plants in Singapore and one of its top attractions will be Forest Valley, a huge five-storey garden filled with thousands of trees, plants, ferns and shrubs. Officials describe it as an ‘idyllic valley of verdant landscaping and waterfalls’ where visitors can go for a hike in air-conditioned comfort. There will be four different gardens and an incredible 130-ft ‘Rain Vortex’ that is expected to be the world’s tallest indoor waterfall once it is complete. It will be located at the core of the complex and at night will transform into a light and sound show with special lighting effects. The ambitious project has a big focus on nature with an aim of boosting Singapore’s appeal as a stopover point for travellers . The 'Rain Vortex' will be located at the core of the complex and at night will transform into a light and sound show with special lighting effects . Jewel will be seamlessly integrated with Terminal 1’s arrival hall and it will include facilities for faster check-ins and luggage drops. Changi Airport was named the world’s best airport in 2014 by the World Airport Awards. Lee Seow Hiang, CAG’s chief executive officer and chairman of Jewel Changi Airport Devt Pte. Ltd, said: ‘An important hallmark of Changi Airport’s growth over the past thirty-odd years has been continual change and innovation. By bringing elements from the outdoors inside, the round-shaped terminal will be unlike anything that has been built before . Jewel will house one of the largest indoor collections of plants in Singapore and one of its top attractions will be a huge five-storey garden . Designed by a team led by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie, the visually stunning terminal features a glass and steel facade . ‘In charting the airport’s future, this spirit continues to underpin our strategy. Faced with intensifying competition, we challenged ourselves to rethink what an airport can be – not just as a gateway for flights, but as a tourism destination on its own.’ Philip Yim, chief executive officer of Jewel Changi Airport Trustee Pte Ltd, said: ‘Apart from distinctive design, Jewel will break new ground with its unique mix of attractions, retail and airport facilities, integrated in a way like never before to create a slew of different experiences in a single visit. ‘Located at the doorstep of the award-winning Changi Airport, it will be a place where Singapore and the World meet. For international travellers, Jewel will be an exciting tourist destination. For Singaporeans, it will be a playground near home where they can share many happy moments with their loved ones.’ | Known as Project Jewel, the £726million terminal is being constructed next to the existing Terminal 1 .
Breathtaking 130-ft ‘Rain Vortex’ is expected to be the world’s tallest indoor waterfall once it is complete .
When it opens in 2018, Jewel will have five storeys above ground and five below ground .
Terminal 1 is undergoing a major overhaul to increase its capacity to 24 million passengers a year .
Changi Airport was named the world’s best airport in 2014 by the World Airport Awards . |
226,178 | b0e1c2b4ecadf33216fe53a25720feb230814951 | PUBLISHED: . 05:41 EST, 26 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:37 EST, 26 August 2013 . Halloween costumes have been brought to life with app-enhanced technology that provides gruesome interactive illusions. The costumes are the brainchild of former Nasa engineer, Mark Rober, who, after seven years of working on the Curiosity Rover, decided to turn his engineering skills to fancy dress. Two years ago he created an incredible Halloween costume that gave the illusion that you could see through his body. Scroll down for video... The costumes are the brainchild of former Nasa engineer, Mark Robe (pictured), who previously spent seven years working on the Curiosity Rover . Video: The beating iPhone heart Halloween costume . The concept was simple. Mr Rober attached two iPads to the front and back of his body and then linked them up using Facetime. His design became an instance YouTube hit gaining 1.5 million views in a day. Over the next year, Mr Rober created a free app with different animations along with some T-shirt designs that he sold on the Digital Dudz website. The designs involve cutting a hole in fancy dress costume, placing a phone in a specially engineered Velcro pouch, and then using the Digital Dudz smartphone app to display interactive animations. The costumes involve cutting a hole in fancy dress costume, placing a phone in a specially engineered Velcro pouch, and then using the Digital Dudz smartphone app to display interactive animations . There are 31 million smartphones in the UK and Google searches for wearable technology have increased six fold in the last 6 months . Last week, the company behind the spandex Morphsuit announced that it had acquired Digital Dudz. Edinburgh-based AFG Media said it hopes the acquisition will help it become the ‘biggest player’ in the $6bn global fancy dress industry. ‘Technology has never moved faster or been more accessible to consumers,’ said Gregor Lawson, one of the co-founders of AFG Media. ‘There are 31 million smartphones in the UK and Google searches for wearable technology have increased six fold in the last 6 months. He added that as well as app-powered costumes of zombie surgeons and pirates, the group will launch a range of Digital Dudz animated clothing. Mark Rober has created a free app along along with a number some T-shirt designs that are being sold on the Digital Dudz website . Mr Rober has made headlines before with his quirky ideas. Last year, he designed an experiment in which he placed rubber animals on the side of the road to see how many cars go out of their way to run over them. Mr Rober found that about six per cent of the 1,000 drivers he observed would swerve out of their lane just so they could squish an animal, albeit a rubber one, with their vehicle. In an entertaining YouTube video presenting his findings in the form of charts drawn with colourful crayons, Rober points out that 94 per cent of the motorists stayed their course and ignored the animal in the road. Video: See-through Halloween costume . | Digital Dudz app allows you to display animations in fancy dress costumes .
Animations include a beating heart, open wounds and moving eyes .
Edinburgh-based AFG Media plans to extend range to interactive clothing . |
49,961 | 8d474254e28e83a2f9f2beafc0bbf13d674f0674 | (CNN) -- The touchdown catch that wasn't. The first touchdown interception. The inaccurate reception. Whatever you call it, don't call the controversial call by replacement refs in the Green Bay Packers-Seattle Seahwaks game a catalyst for the tentative labor deal with National Football League referees, Commissioner Roger Goodell said Thursday. "It may have pushed the parties farther along, but we were really in intensive negotiations for the last two weeks," Goodell told reporters in a conference call Thursday to discuss the agreement, reached late Wednesday. Goodell also said he was sorry the league felt it had to resort to the replacements, few of whom had any previous NFL officiating experience. Many were high school or low-level college officials who hold down myriad other jobs, from schoolteachers to attorneys. "We worked as hard as we could and we did the best we could," said Henry Zaborniak, a fill-in line judge who lives in Ohio. "None of us felt like we could replace the regular guys. You can't replace that sort of ability en masse." Zaborniak, who spent 15 years as a Big Ten official, said he and his colleagues never imagined working this long. He thought they'd work one game and go home. While the officials were excoriated in the media, Zaborniak said the players were very professional. "I can't think of one unkind thing I could say about them," he said. "They were tremendous." Goodell declined to criticize the replacements despite weeks of botched calls that raised the ire of fans nationwide. "Everything they did, every call, was magnified," Goodell said. "They kept the game going. They worked hard. They trained hard. They were incredibly focused and dedicated." The eight-year deal -- the longest ever for officials, according to the NFL -- gives the union referees a pay raise and keeps their pension program in place for five years. It suspends a lockout that began before the league's preseason, leading to a series of gaffes that climaxed in a furor over a botched call that allowed the Seahawks to walk away with a victory in Monday night's nationally televised game. The league acknowledged Tuesday that the Packers should have won, but allowed the result of the game to stand. Fans and players rejoiced in the news that regular referees would return, beginning with Thursday night's game between the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens. "Never thought I would be excited for the refs to come back to work but it's about time," Cleveland Browns receiver Josh Cribbs tweeted Thursday. "It was definitely necessary!" Photos: Blown calls . In place of the replacement referees, most of whom had officiated no more than a handful of pro games, the league put together a veteran crew with a combined 70 seasons of NFL experience to handle Thursday night's game at Baltimore. Before the game, fans stood and clapped for the officials as the seven men tipped their caps. Goodell said it was challenging to figure out how to get regular referees back on the field less than 24 hours after striking the tentative deal, but not for lack of enthusiasm among the officials to get back to work. "They wanted to do what they love doing and make a contribution to the game, and that's a tribute to them," Goodell said. While they have not called a game since last season, the league's veteran crews will be ready to go, said retired official Mason "Red" Cashion. "These guys have been working every week, really since May, to get ready for the season, through conference calls, through video, through meetings of their own," Cashion said. "And that's something that the officials have done simply because they have enough pride in what they do that they wanted to be ready. And they are ready." SI: NFL's most embarrassing moments . The eight-year deal, which must be ratified by union members, includes details about officials' pensions and retirement benefits, and adds a pay bump from $149,000 a year in 2011 to $173,000 in 2013. The pay will rise to $205,000 by 2019. The agreement will also allow the NFL to hire some officials on a year-round basis and hire additional referees so they can be trained. "This agreement supports long-term reforms that will make officiating better. The teams, players and fans want and deserve both consistency and quality in officiating," Goodell said. What the refs were negotiating . The return of the league's regular referees won't put an end to controversial calls, said retired NFL player Tiki Barber. But it will raise the respect level between coaches and players and officials, Barber said. "There's still going to be arguing with referees," he said. "They're still going to make bad calls. But now we're going to know that it's coming from a base of knowledge. These guys know what they're talking about and they're going to have an argument for why they do what they do on the field." Fired up over NFL referees? Share your thoughts. The deal came almost exactly 48 hours after the controversial ending of the Monday night game, which the Seahawks won 14-12 after replacement officials gave possession of a disputed ball, and a touchdown, to Seattle receiver Golden Tate. In what became a widely mocked symbol of the quality of officiating by the replacements, a photo from that game shows two officials in the end zone displaying competing signals: one indicating a touchdown, the other an interception. The result generated intense and immediate criticism of the league -- even President Barack Obama weighed in Tuesday urging a quick resolution. On Thursday, White House spokesman Jay Carney said Obama was "very pleased" with the resolution. Goodell said he was not surprised by the outcry. "I've come to learn in the NFL, particularly with the popularity of the game and the influence it has in today's society, not much surprises me about what happens in the NFL," he said. Despite prodding by reporters, he declined to closely dissect the play that ended Monday night's game beyond the statement the NFL issued Tuesday. In that statement, the NFL said the replacement refs should have called an offensive pass interference penalty on Seattle that would have ended the game, but supported the referees' decision not to overturn the ruling on the catch. Goodell also declined to grade the replacements, saying that wasn't part of his duties. But he warned fans that mistakes will still happen, even with the return of the veterans. "It's not realistic to think that officiating will be perfect," he said. Much as it was after the Monday game, Twitter was buzzing with discussion of the deal. For a while, in the early morning, the name of one of the NFL's more iconic officials, the heavily muscled Ed Hochuli, was one of the most-discussed topics among Twitter users in the United States. "I've never been more excited to see another man's biceps than this Sunday to see Ed Hochuli back officiating," a Twitter user named Robby Donoho wrote. "It's. About. Time." CNN's Javi Morgado and Joseph Miller contributed to this report. | NEW: Fans give officials standing ovation before Thursday game at Baltimore .
Monday night mistake didn't force settlement, NFL commissioner says .
The NFL labor deal with referees locks in pay raises, protects pensions for five years .
It comes 48 hours after furor erupted over Monday night's game . |
129,767 | 33c1094e745a85f8006206f75274a945462311e9 | Arsene Wenger has revealed he will be on 'alert until the last minute' as pressure mounts on the Arsenal boss to sign a replacement for Olivier Giroud before the transfer window closes. Giroud has been ruled out until next year with a broken foot which he sustained in Arsenal's 2-2 draw at Everton last Saturday. But while Wenger, who was speaking ahead of his side's match against Leicester on Sunday, didn't rule out movement in the market, he also hinted that he may not add to his squad before the deadline of 11pm on Monday. VIDEO Scroll down to see Wenger say he will be actively involved on transfer deadline day . In the stands: Arsene Wenger was at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday night to watch the Under 21s . 'Of course we can be successful. Why not? The success of the season does not depend on one player that you buy or not,' Wenger said. 'If I give you the number of strikers we have at the moment, it's absolutely unbelievable. We have Yaya Sanogo, Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott and Lukas Podolski. 'Giroud will be back during the season and Joel Campbell can play centre-forward as well. 'You sign players when you think it strengthens your squad. If you find the right player, then you want to do it. 'We've shown in the last two seasons that when we think money has to be spent, we do it. But we want to do it in the right way. 'I will be on alert until the last minute of the transfer deadline.' In action: Joel Campbell played in Arsenal Under 21s' 4-2 win over West Brom on Thursday night . Injury blow: Olivier Giroud has been ruled out until next year with a broken foot sustained at Everton . Former England striker Gary Lineker stated on Thursday that Arsenal must add firepower if they are to win major silverware as £35million signing Sanchez, who started as the lone striker against Everton and Besiktas, is more suited a wider role. 'We live in a society of opinions,' Wenger said. 'People are better informed these days. Many of them are better informed than I am. But all of these opinions don't mean people are right. 'Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but that doesn't mean it's right. 'In fact, when opinions have been wrong in the past, people have never come out and say "sorry I was wrong" - the easiest thing is to have an opinion.' On target: Alexis Sanchez operated the lone striker role against Besiktas. He scored on the stroke of half-time . Wenger believes if any suitable targets become available, his experience of doing business on deadline day should prove helpful. Twelve months ago Mesut Ozil completed a late £42.4million move from Real Madrid and two years prior to that Mikel Arteta was among three players signed in a last-gasp flurry of deals. 'It's harder to buy top, top players because many clubs are on the market and everybody knows each other,' Wenger said. 'The last few days are poker games. There are a lot of lies there and everyone is interested in the same player, even if you're the only one who wants the player. 'Of course (having experience of operating late in the window helps). You can call it bluff when it's bluff.' Having qualified for the group stage of the Champions League on Wednesday night, Arsenal resume their Premier League campaign at promoted Leicester on Sunday. Wenger recalls his visit to the Foxes in 1997 early in his Gunners reign when Dennis Bergkamp scored a hat-trick in a remarkable 3-3 draw. 'I remember the first sensational goal with Dennis Bergkamp. Many times I have said that that goal is one of the greatest goals I've seen in my career,' Wenger said. 'It was also my first experience with Ian Wright - he didn't understand why I took him off. 'I wanted to spare him some minutes at the end of the game, but Wright was always keen to play.' VIDEO Giroud injury scare for Wenger . | Wenger insists he'll be on 'alert until the last minute' as pressure mounts on Arsenal manager to sign a replacement for the injured Olivier Giroud .
Frenchman Giroud has been ruled out until next year with a broken foot .
Arsenal travel to the the King Power Stadium on Sunday for their Premier League clash against Leicester .
Arsenal were paired with Borussia Dortmund, Galatasaray and Anderlecht in Champions League Group D . |
282,202 | f988cde3cd5b3472f6342524ee38a9815168d06d | By . Sara Malm . PUBLISHED: . 07:55 EST, 5 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:25 EST, 5 December 2012 . The story of how one of the first SAS soldiers escaped from a German desert camp during the Second World War has emerged, 30 years after his death, as his medals for bravery are put up for auction. Sergeant Ernest Thomas Lilley – known as Bob – found himself alone and unarmed behind enemy lines after a raid on German warplanes in Libya saw him separated from his comrades. The 28-year-old sergeant was spotted by a guard but after a life-and-death struggle he overpowered his enemy and managed to escape, a brave action which awarded him the Military Medal in 1942. Brave soldier: Sgt Lilley was awarded the Military Medal for his actions during an SAS raid in Libya during the Second World War . Sgt Lilley’s group were operating as . part of the Long Range Desert Group a reconnaissance and raiding unit . of the British Army during the Second World War. Shortly before Sgt Lilley became separated from them, the Long Range Desert Group had blown up . numerous aircraft and spare engines in hangers and workshops in . Benghazi. The group was discovered by the enemy and was forced to split up. Sgt Lilley, from Wolverhampton, West . Midlands, found himself alone and unarmed inside the German camp and was trying to find a way . out when the Italian soldier saw him. Surrounded by enemy forces, he knew an . alarm would risk the lives of himself and his comrades, and had no choice but to quickly . overpower and strangle the guard. He managed to escape the camp and was reunited with his group after a 12 mile walk in the desert . Sgt Lilley had served in the SAS . since it was first formed in 1941 and won numerous awards for his . bravery and service during his time in the army. Hero: Sergeant Bob Lilley in the Western desert during his time with the 21st SAS regiment . Collectors' gold: Sergeant Bob Lilley's war medals, including the Military Medal, British Empire Medal, Africa Star, Italy Star, France Star and Germany Star, are set to fetch £50,000 at the auction later this month . Sgt Lilley won the Military Medal in . November 1942 for his bravery during the raid before continuing to serve . the SAS until his discharge in 1958. He was appointed Regimental Sergeant Major of 21 Special Air Service Regiment in 1950 and was awarded the . British Empire Medal for his services in 1952. In his recommendationm=m Commander . Lieutenant Colonel A.C. Newman, called him a ‘legendary soldier greatly . deserving the medal for his services to the 21st SAS Regiment'. Sgt Bob Lilley died in August 1981 at the age of 67. The collection of medals, which . includes the Military Medal, British Empire Medal, Africa Star, Italy . Star, France Star and Germany Star, are set to fetch £50,000 when . they are put up for auction next week. Loyal crew: Sergeant Bob Lilley (second from right) with his fellow SAS soldiers on New Year's Eve in 1942 . Christopher Hill, medal expert at . auctioneers Dix Noonan Webb said: ‘Sgt Lilley was a member of the . original SAS squad, or what is now known as the SAS. ‘They were all tough heroic-type characters, you had to be that sort of chap to be in the SAS. ‘This episode reflected his resourcefulness and his determination to do what had to be done. ‘He was a legendary soldier, a real tough character and one of the first ever SAS men. ‘These medals have always been kept in . his family, until now. It has been decided to find it a good home so . the children can use it for inheritance.’ The auction at The Washington Hotel in . London on December 13, is expected to set a new British record. The . medal collection, which includes Sgt Lilley’s awards, predicted to sell for . £1.3million . In uniform: Wearing traditional clothes in Cairo 1941, around the time of the raid on enemy planes in Libya . | SAS Sergeant Bob Lilley's medals set to fetch £50,000 at auction .
Sgt Bob Lilley escaped an enemy camp in Libya during Second World War .
He was unarmed and separated from his group when he was spotted by a guard and forced to strangle him .
Sgt Lilley was awarded the Military Medal in 1942 for his bravery . |
99,655 | 0c679d74c0c12e849da915926984b08951a1e571 | (CNN) -- Christopher Martin-Jenkins, whose commentary for BBC Radio's Test Match Special for more than four decades made him one of cricket's most respected journalists, died Tuesday of cancer. He was 67. His death on New Year's Day comes three days after the passing of another cricket great: former England captain Tony Greig on Saturday of a heart attack while fighting cancer. In his last piece for The Times -- published one day before his own death -- Martin-Jenkins called the South Africa-born bowler's courage under pressure one of his "greatest attributes." He also called the last stage of any cancer "hell on earth." Read about the passing of cricket 'revolutionary' Greig . With Martin-Jenkins' own death, "cricket has lost one of its greatest champions," said England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Chairman Giles Clarke in a statement Tuesday. "Christopher -- or CMJ -- as he was universally known was quite simply a cricketing institution," ECB chief executive David Collier added. Martin-Jenkins was cricket correspondent for the BBC from 1973-1991, with a break between 1981 and 1984. In 1981 he began a decade as editor at The Cricketer magazine. He then became cricket correspondent for the Daily Telegraph from 1991-1999 and for The Times from 1999-2008. In 2007 Martin-Jenkins became in 2007 the first -- and so far only -- career journalist to deliver the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture. The distinction had always been reserved for cricketers. Three years later he became president of the cricket club, a post he held until 2011, another rare honor. Martin-Jenkins' services to sport were cited when he was awarded Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2009. Among remembrances, Scyld Berry of The Telegraph called Martin-Jenkins' knowledge of cricket "encyclopedic," and Mike Selvey of The Guardian wrote that the initials "CMJ" were "synonymous with the very best in cricket journalism, both spoken and written," and that "the game has lost perhaps the best friend it ever had." Martin-Jenkins, who was born in Peterborough, England, on January 20, 1945, is the author of several books, including "The Complete Who's Who of Test Cricketers." He is survived by his wife of more than 40 years, Judy; and their children, James, Lucy and Robin, a former cricketer for Sussex. | Martin-Jenkins' death comes three days after passing of cricket great Tony Greig .
He was cricket correspondent for BBC, Daily Telegraph, The Times and editor of The Cricketer .
He was president of Marylebone Cricket Club from 2010-2011 .
Martin-Jenkins is being remembered as "the very best" in cricket journalism . |
26,933 | 4c6d6ae850c3a6008d16612f4be9e1b77de939f5 | By . Louise Eccles for Daily Mail . A dramatic drop in lending by Britain’s ‘risk-adverse’ banks since the economic crisis has boosted business for controversial payday loan firms, experts claim. New figures show that loans issued by five major UK banks plummeted by £365billion in the past five years. A survey by accountants KPMG revealed that lending had fallen by 14 per cent, from £2.7trillion to £2.3trillion since 2009, leaving a gap in the market for ‘shadow marketing initiatives’. The survey compared lending in the second half of 2009 to the first half of 2014 at Standard Chartered, Royal Bank of Scotland, Barclays (above), HSBC and Lloyds Banking Group . It warned that, in an effort to clean up their act after the financial crisis, banks may have gone too far in restricting lending and had forgotten that banking always included an element of risk. It means some consumers have been pushed towards high-interest payday loans in a bid to raise funds. The survey compared lending in the second half of 2009 to the first half of 2014 at Standard Chartered, Royal Bank of Scotland, Barclays, HSBC and Lloyds Banking Group. Richard McCarthy, UK head of banking at KPMG, said: ‘We have to remember that banking requires risk-taking. Yet in the rush to clean up the past, both banks and regulators have lost sight of this. A survey by accountants KPMG (visited by London mayor Boris Johnson, above) revealed that lending had fallen by 14 per cent, from £2.7trillion to £2.3trillion since 2009 . ‘The reduction in lending to customers since 2009 is testament to this risk-aversion. People need to borrow and they will look at other ways to do that if they cannot borrow through their bank.’ Citizens Advice urged banks to issue small, short-term loans at low interest – so that people did not turn to payday loan firms. Chief executive Gillian Guy, said: ‘Ultimately, people need more choice. There is a role for high-street banks to play by offering responsible, short-term micro-loans.’ China will overtake the United States to become the world’s biggest economy in just ten years, according to a report. The US has been the world’s economic leader for more than a century, but a huge rise in consumer spending in China is expected to see it passed in 2024. Chinese consumer spending is predicted to triple over the next decade, according to an IHS report – increasing from £2.14trillion to £6.4trillion. Earlier this month, the charity StepChange said the number of people struggling with payday loans had risen by 42 per cent in the past year, as customers tried to keep up with sky-high interest rates. The drop in lending reported by KPMG includes £309billion of consumer and business loans and a £56billion reduction in loans to other banks. The fall points to the continued struggle to get banks to lend to small and medium-sized businesses, a vital part of Britain’s economy. John Longworth, the director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said yesterday: ‘The banks have always been risk-adverse about lending to small and medium-sized businesses but, since the recession, they have been extraordinarily so.’ Four years ago, the Daily Mail launched its Make the Banks Lend campaign to highlight the plight of small firms that could not get the money they needed to grow. | Survey by accountants KPMG showed lending fell by 14% from £2.7trn to £2.3trn since 2009 .
Charity StepChange said number of people struggling with payday loans had risen by 42% in past year .
Citizens Advice urged banks to issue small, short-term loans at low interest . |
18,570 | 3482a931f1af49a0cf52eaa1aad55f2395967b81 | (CNN) -- Late to work this morning? Forget those excuses about traffic jams and Halloween hangovers. You might be able to blame your iPhone. Reports from Europe suggest a bug in the iPhone's alarm app caused it not to adjust to the end of Daylight Saving Time in that part of the world. Consequently, people in Europe were tweeting like crazy about waking up an hour late because of the apparent bug. "A whole hour of peace and quiet in the office this morning without any iPhone users courtesy of Apple," wrote a Twitter user named jamiei.. A user named garrettc wrote: "Daddy, do you remember where you were during the great iphone alarm calamity of 2010?" "No son, I was asleep" Daylight Saving Time ended on Sunday in Europe, causing clocks to reset to an hour earlier. Reports suggest recurring iPhone alarms did not adjust to the new time. The time change does not go into effect until November 7 in the United States and no alarm-clock problems have been reported here. Earlier in October, websites in Australia reported an iPhone software bug caused alarms to go off an hour earlier than expected. The blog Engadget writes about a way to trick your alarm into going off at the correct time: . "Deleting and re-adding the alarms will NOT fix the issue. We've now tested a number of scenarios under iOS 4.1 for ourselves. The bug appears when using a repeating alarm for anything other than 'every day.' So for example, your alarm will go off an hour late if it's set for 'weekdays' or 'weekends' or every 'Monday.' The following alarms are not affected by the bug: . "An alarm that doesn't repeat (repeat set to 'never') An alarm set to repeat 'every day'" The blog TheNextWeb says Apple should announce a software fix: . "We imagine Apple engineers will be working overtime to get this fixed before daylight saving time hits the USA next weekend." Apple did not immediately respond to a CNN request for comment. The glitch highlights what appears to be a trend of people using their phones to wake themselves up in the morning -- instead of using traditional alarm clocks. That may not come as a surprise since people seem to use their phones to do almost everything these days -- from browsing the Web to planning pregnancy. Coincidentally, the tech blog Mashable on Sunday posted a list of five of the best (non-Apple) alarm clock apps for the iPhone. If you're in the U.S., it might be smart to visit that page before Sunday. | iPhone alarm clock wakes people up late in Europe, according to reports .
The phone's alarm clock app apparently did not reset for Daylight Saving Time . |
197,367 | 8b733a263cfddaccfb779c97f611fffd018931d6 | It is widely regarded as the most expensive school in the world with fees more than double those of Eton. The Institute Le Rosey charges £80,000-a-year in fees and has taught the children of Sir Roger Moore and Elizabeth Taylor. It is also a firm favourite of European royalty and the super-rich. Scroll down for video . The Institute Le Rosey has launched a major world-wide recruitment drive for new students . The £80,000-a-year school is seeking students from Europe the middle east and north America . The Institute Le Rosey, pictured, has 179 en-suite bedrooms housing between one and three students . Officials from the school travelled to London last week in a bid to attract more students to the boarding school. The London event was one of a series of presentations across the globe with delegations heading to North America, Canada, Europe and the Middle East between now and March. Among the facilities on offer for the elite boarders, there is a 38ft yacht as well as a 1,000 seat concert hall. There is also an equestrian centre complete with 30 horses, allowing students to learn skills such as dressage as well as . According to the school's website, 'Le Rosey’s campus is set in 28 hectares of magnificent landscaped grounds where age-old trees frame our buildings and sports facilities. This exceptional environment offers a full range of academic, sports and arts facilities. 'In each boarding house, teachers living with their families ensure discipline, tidiness and are available to listen to any problems, big or small that Roseans may be faced with in their day to day life. 'Le Rosey is committed to ongoing investment to continue to improve accommodation, teaching, sports and leisure facilities.' The school is located approximately 20 miles outside Geneva with 179 en-suite bedrooms housing between one and three students. Among those who attended the school were Prince Rainier of Monaco, left, and the Shah of Iran, right . The students are taught in 53 class rooms and eight science laboratories. There are also specially designed rooms for music, orchestra, art and IT. In addition to 13 games rooms, there are two health centres. The school also features ten tennis courts, two 25-metre pools, three football pitches, rugby pitch, shooting range and archery. There is also a 'computer-regulated greenhouse. Students can also use a local 18-hole golf course and karting track. In winter, the school moves to the Gstaad ski resort. Headmaster Michael Gray told The Times: 'It happens with Swiss efficiency but is somehow mysterious. You go away for the holidays and come back to a different school.' The school has a strict rule that no country can have more than 10 percent of the student population. Former pupils have included the Shah of Iran, King Albert II of Belgium and Prince Rainier of Monaco. Mr Gray added: 'No one goes around saying "I’m richer than you". It’s completely unsnobbish. If people put on airs and graces they wouldn’t survive. We had someone recently from a famous family, and after three days it didn’t work out and he left.' | The Institute Le Rosey has taught the world's super rich for generations .
The children of Roger Moore and Elizabeth Taylor have attended the school .
Staff at the school are on a worldwide recruitment drive for new students . |
35,160 | 63f01a6428b2b8049502ac3b3803e103021155b5 | This is the dramatic moment a Syrian boy escaped from Isis - by volunteering as a suicide bomber and then handing himself in at the mosque he was meant to blow up. Usaid Barho had a bomb vest strapped to his body before travelling to a Shi'ite mosque in Baghdad, Iraq where he was supposed to detonate the explosive device. But rather than killing himself and countless others, he took the brave decision to defy his orders by unzipping his jacket and handing himself in to guards standing nearby. Syrian teenager Usaid Barho, pictured left, approached guards at a mosque in Baghdad to turn himself in. Video footage showed officers removing the bomb vest he was wearing (right) Video footage shows the tense moment an officer gently removes part of the deadly equipment strapped to his body in front of stunned onlookers. He had reportedly walked up to the gates of the mosque in the Bayaa district of Baghdad before telling guards he did not want to blow himself up. The New York Times reports how Usaid had dreamed of becoming a doctor before he said he was recruited by Isis extremists in his hometown of Manbij, Syria. He joined because he 'believed in Islam' but soon became disillusioned and was told that if he did not fight, Shi'ites would rape his mother. The New York Times quotes him as saying: 'They seduced us to join the caliphate. 'They planted the idea that Shi'ites are infidels and we had to kill them.' Video footage shows the tense moment an officer gently removes the deadly equipment strapped to Usaid's in front of stunned onlookers . The newspaper describes how he was taken to a training camp before being given a choice of becoming a fighter or a suicide bomber. He chose the latter hoping he could immediately surrender. The teenager reportedly said: 'I raised my hand to be a suicide bomber. 'If I were a fighter and tried to surrender to security forces they might kill me, with my gun in my hand.' Usaid was reportedly transferred from one Isis operative to another as he made his journey towards the mosque before he was finally given his target and informed of his target. It is believed that the teenager is currently being held at an Iraqi intelligence site. Earlier this month, experts revealed how Islamic State sees children as central to its plans for a caliphate in the Middle East and encouraged fighters to indoctrinate them to a life of violence from an early age. There was also evidence that young boys were routinely fighting in battles alongside their parents. He had reportedly walked up to the gates of the mosque in the Bayaa district of Baghdad before telling guards he did not want to blow himself up . If they are killed images of their bodies are circulated online, where they are praised as martyrs. Terror soldiers from ISIS will often post images of their youngest fighters online, some barely five or six years old, posing alongside guns, dead bodies, and the group's black and white flag. Images have also been posted on Twitter of children carrying out mock-beheadings using dolls and action figures, which are then posed to resemble captives murdered by 'Jihadi John'. In a report on children and ISIS, a spokesman for the Middle Eastern Media Research institute (MEMRI) said: 'Children are central to ISIS; they are the future generation of the defenders of the caliphate and they will continue its legacy. 'ISIS children receive military training, both in camps conducted by the organisation and individually, with ISIS fighters. 'There is little discussion, in the organization and among its supporters, over whether children should be undergoing military training, or even fighting in actual battles.' | Usaid Barho was recruited by extremists in home town of Manbij in Syria .
Teen said he was given a choice of becoming a fighter or suicide bomber .
14-year-old opted for the latter believing he could immediately surrender .
Target was a Shi'ite mosque in the Bayaa district of Iraq's capital Baghdad .
But instead of detonating the bomb he surrendered himself to the guards . |
39,672 | 7006274ceae3e664af7c6ddbdd5b48cf3c4ffd22 | Paris (CNN) -- This weekend I hosted part of the Global Summit of Women in Paris, set up by a Washington-based organization devoting its time to trying to further women's causes in the world. From politics to business, leaders of countries and industries gathered to share their views on women's empowerment and how to harness their sisters' contribution to society. Providing able and ambitious women with the tools for a successful career isn't just the right thing to do, it's good for business, as some of the biggest economies are finally beginning to grasp. After two decades spent in the financial doldrums, Japan -- one of the most socially conservative societies on the planet -- is now counting on its hidden female potential to help drag the country out of its 20-year slump. In Europe, thanks to the formidable commitment of EU commissioner Viviane Reding, among others, female participation has increased sharply. But to really take hold, moves to mobilize women into the workforce will require more than the usual one-term parliamentary pledge. They need generational commitments, major shifts in the cultural mind-set and years of adaptation. What's more, the prescription should not be the same for all countries. Women in the developing world face a myriad different pressures from those in Europe and the U.S. They also have different priorities. So getting a local perspective is key. While it's generally true that education is key to unlocking potential, girls are already doing better than boys at school in many parts of the globe. But the glass ceiling remains an ever-present stumbling block. Two-time President of Finland Tarja Halonen believes offering practical childcare options (for countries that can afford to do so) is the first step in helping to prevent women feel they have to choose between kids and a career. Having powerful female role models also gives them encouragement to overcome the bias and stigma many working mothers face. President of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca -- only the second woman to hold the post -- says the stereotypes of women as purely mother and wife material must be smashed while children are in the classroom. She believes the self-belief needed to succeed comes at a tender age. It's fair to say that the choice between having a family and a future in work isn't always a binary one. Indeed, in today's day in age more women than ever before have managed to achieve both. But, as Coleiro Preca points out, not all women have the luxury of choosing between staying home to raise their offspring and going out to work in a job they enjoy. In some nations the lack of access to contraception prevents them from planning when they want to start a family. In others, women who want to take time out to raise their children, find themselves forced by their circumstances to have to take on a job they may not want. "The reality is if you are poor you don't have a choice," she says. "So we need to think of better ways to serve these women as well." Coleiro Preca believes that having more women in positions of power politically gives governments the sensitivity and empathy to look out for the marginalized. One area where much has been achieved in a relatively short period of time is in the corporate sector. Quotas forcing boards to bring on more women have done much to smash sexism in the clubby male world of capitalism. Reding has spearheaded EU moves to make company boards 40% female. But legislature for the very top of an organization can paint an artificial picture of the demographic further down the pay scale. Women workers were particularly hardly hit during the rounds of layoffs in 2008, and an alarming number of them remain underemployed four years on -- stuck in jobs that are either part-time or lower paid than before. Women make all sorts of contributions to society in ways that aren't just related to work and money. They play the vital role of raising the next generation. But for those who also covet a rewarding career, we owe it to them to get the balance right. READ MORE: The best country for women entrepreneurs is..... READ MORE: Why we need to be smarter about quotas . | Nina dos Santos was a host at the Global Summit of Women, where she met business and political leaders .
She says countries are starting to discover how valuable able and ambitious women are in the workforce .
Yet still women face a myriad of issues including a lack of childcare and dearth of role models in senior roles .
Those in developing countries face far different issues to those in developed nations . |
29,722 | 548b546f909867e78439c50a13d745ebfbc14bce | (CNN) -- Lawyers for New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez have until Friday to respond to a letter from the Major League Baseball Players Association seeking a dismissal of Rodriguez's lawsuit claiming the union did not adequately represent him. The lawsuit stems from Rodriguez's recent 162-game steroid suspension and his efforts to get a Manhattan federal court to throw out the record-setting penalty. The players union, which represented Rodriguez in his arbitration proceeding, claims in the letter that the "union's forceful advocacy" was demonstrated by the reduction of his suspension from the 211 games sought by MLB, among other things. In a four-page letter addressed to U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos, dated Thursday, the union asked the court to throw out the claim against the union because Rodriguez "does not allege facts sufficient to overturn the [Arbitration] Award" and failed to provide evidence of a breach of the union's duties in representing him. A spokesman for Rodriguez, Ron Berkowitz, declined to comment Tuesday. In a federal lawsuit filed Jan. 13, Rodriguez accused the players union of acting in "bad faith" in representing him during the arbitration process. Rodriguez filed the lawsuit in New York's Southern District court against Major League Baseball and the union in an effort to get back on the field next season. The players union has denied that allegation. A pre-motion conference is set for February 14, and Rodriguez's lawyers were ordered to respond to the union's letter one week before. CNN sought comment from Rodriguez's lawyers but has not received a response. The suspension will not only cost Rodriguez $25 million in salary, but it also further clouds the groundbreaking career of a player who'll turn 40 in the 2015 season. Rodriguez, one of 14 players suspended in the Biogenesis scandal, was the only one who appealed his suspension. Though he was suspended in August, Rodriguez played out the 2013 season because of the appeal. Rodriguez, 38, is fifth on MLB's list of all-time home run leaders, just six homers behind Willie Mays. Rodriguez has claimed he was the target of a MLB "witch hunt." | MLB Players Association seeks dismissal of Alex Rodriguez lawsuit .
Lawsuit stems from Rodriguez's 162-game doping suspension .
Union claims its "forceful advocacy" got suspension reduced from 211 games . |
278,959 | f56ab5008160d5e353278a5156f7f52e49ce6101 | Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel dramatically upgraded the U.S. government's estimation of the threats America faces from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) on Thursday, saying its jihadi network represents 'an imminent threat to every interest we have, whether it's in Iraq or anywhere else.' ISIS is 'as sophisticated and well-funded as any group that we have seen,' Hagel told a group of reporters during a joint press conference he held with Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey. 'They're beyond just a terrorist group.They marry ideology and a sophistication of strategic and tactical military prowess. They are tremendously well funded. ...This is beyond anything we've seen, so we must prepare for everything.' 'And the only way you do that is that you take a cold, steely, hard look at it and – and – and get ready.' SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Grave threat: Secretary of Defense Chuck hagel and Chairman of the joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey at the press conference where they delivered the dire warning . Not just airstrikes: Hagel and Dempsey said that much of America's long-term involvement in Iraq will continue to consist of assistance to Iraq's nascent government as it trains volunteers like these Shi'ites, who have joined the battle against ISIS . Battling ISIS 'is going to be a very long contest,' Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey warned on Thursday . 'It's a long-term threat,' he conceded under questioning from reporters, adding moments later that 'the president has been very clear on mission creep. And he's made it very clear that he will not allow that.' Gen. Dempsey warned that America's involvement in Iraq will continue for years to come, citing the intensity of hatred among ethnic, religious and tribal groups there. 'The conflict against those groups – most of which are local, some of which are regional, and some of which are global in nature – that's going to be a very long contest,' he said. 'It's ideological. It's not political. It's religious in many cases. So, yes, it's going to be a very long contest.' At the same time the decorated general cautioned that the 'required participation' of the U.S. would remain one of coalition leadership 'to provide the unique capabilities that we provide, but not necessarily all the capabilities' – a suggestion that an unlimited release of military might to crush ISIS is off the table. Dempsey added later in the briefing that ISIS can't practically be contained in Iraq, since it also has deep roots and tremendous resources across the Syrian border. Forget about Bowe Bergdahl: State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said Thursday that the US does not 'make concessions to terrorists' – including the payment of ransom for the safe return of kidnapped hostages . The terror group 'has an apocalyptic end-of-days strategic vision that will eventually have to be defeated,' the general explained. 'Can they be defeated without addressing that part of the organization that resides in Syria? The answer is no. That will have to be addressed on both sides of what is essentially at this point a nonexistent border.' Hagel fielded a question about whether future U.S. military action could include a direct focus on Syria, answering: 'We continue to explore all options.' As American military action expands in Iraq, he said, much of that help is in the form of 'a tremendous amount of military assistance to the Peshmerga through the Iraqi security forces.' 'There's no question that we have been accelerated – as a matter of fact, all year long, we have been accelerated – [through] all the requests made by the Iraqi government for lethal assistance and equipment, and we continue to do that. He downplayed the long-term strategic value of the limited airstrikes that President Barack Obama has authorized, saying that in the long term they could be just a table-setter. Defeating ISIS 'isn't going to just come as a result of airstrikes,' Hagel said. 'Strategically, there are limits to how much you can accomplish with airstrikes. Tactically, you can accomplish a significant amount. I think we've seen that. 'ISIS will only truly be defeated when it's rejected by the 20 million disenfranchised Sunni that happen to reside between Damascus and Baghdad,' he explained. 'It requires a variety of instruments, only one small part of which is airstrikes. I'm not predicting those will occur in Syria, at least not by the United States of America. But it requires the application of all of the tools of national power – diplomatic, economic, information, military.' Hagel and Dempsey also discussed a failed mission to rescue American photojournalist James Foley and other ISIS hostages this summer. An ISIS militant with a British accent beheaded Foley this week in a shocking video that rocketed across the Internet, blaming Obama for airstrikes against ISIS positions in northern Iraq. Earlier on Thursday, State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters that winning Foley's return by paying off ISIS was never an option, and that 'the U.S. Government did not have contact with' ISIS after a warning came that Foley would be killed if airstrikes continued. 'We do not make concessions to terrorists,' she said. 'That includes – we do not pay ransoms.' 'One of the main ways ISI[S] has been funded throughout this conflict has been from ransom payments that others have paid. We believe just in 2014 that that’s in the millions of dollars.' End of the world: The terror group 'has an apocalyptic end-of-days strategic vision that will eventually have to be defeated,' Dempsey explained . R.I.P James Foley: The journalist, dressed in Guantanamo-style orange clothing, was killed on-camera by a masked Islamist belonging to ISIS, who beheaded him with a short knife . 'So we believe that paying ransoms or making concessions,' Harf said, 'would both put our – all Americans overseas – at greater risk for kidnapping and in harm’s way, but that ransoms would also fund and finance exactly the groups we are trying to degrade their capabilities.' Harf did not address the recent return of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl from Taliban forces, which was achieved through a prison swap that required the release of five high-value Taliban Islamists from the American military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The Obama administration seems to be treating ISIS as a completely different animal. 'This is not about ISI[S] versus the United States,' Harf said Thursday. 'They are killing anyone who gets in their way – Sunni, Shia Muslims, Christians, Yazidis, Iraqis, Syrians – anyone who gets in their way, and now an American. So this is not about what the United States is or isn’t doing. This is about ISIL’s stated commitment to murder, rape, enslave people who don’t agree with their ideology.' | Defense Secretary spoke alongside Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey on Thursday .
Terror network in Iraq and Syria is 'an imminent threat to every interest we have,' he said .
Tensions are high in the Obama administration following a gruesome video showing an ISIS Islamist beheading American journalist James Foley .
Earlier in the day Texas Gov. Rick Perry warned that ISIS militants could be sneaking into the US across its border with Mexico .
A State Department spokeswoman said hours earlier that 'we do not pay ransoms' for prisoners . |
99,623 | 0c5e68fb1daadf2dfc3373fe0c96bb432398016b | By . Hannah Roberts . UPDATED: . 14:34 EST, 3 March 2012 . A former student at a Roman Catholic college has filed a lawsuit against the school, after ending up with a roommate who she says repeatedly made love with her boyfriend in their shared room. Lindsay Blankmeyer, 21, claims the college in Easton, Massachusetts . didn't do enough to help her when she complained about her roommate Laura Sidla's overactive sex-life. Blankmeyer suffered from depression and attention deficit disorder before she enrolled at Stonehill College, the lawsuit alleges, but was driven into a suicidal depression after school officials failed to offer her reasonable alternative accommodation. Suing: Former student at a Roman Catholic college Lindsay Blankmeyer has filed a lawsuit against the school . Sued: Miss Blankmeyer is seeking damages form ther college over the sex life of Laura Sidla, above . Blankmeyer, now a marketing executive, . according to her Linked in profile, said her roommate had sex with her . boyfriend while she was trying to sleep just feet away and also . participated in 'sexually inappropriate video chatting' while Blankmeyer . was in the dorm room. After trying unsuccessfully to persuade school officials to force her roommate to move out or to give her an acceptable private room, Blankmeyer ended up living at a hotel, the lawsuit said. Head of College: President Rev Mark Cregan of Stonehill College where administrators are reviewing the case . 'Stonehill refused Lindsay's request for . a single room and in the following weeks and months Lindsay fell into a . dark and suicidal depression requiring her to take a leave of absence . from school and undergo extensive psychiatric and medical treatment,' the lawsuit states. Blankmeyer eventually completed her final semester of school at her home in New York and received a bachelor's of arts degree in Sept 2011. Her current Twitter profile says she is obsessed with all things Disney. Blankmeyer enrolled as a freshman in 2007 but the lawsuit said problems began her senior year. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Boston earlier this week, seeks unspecified damages. Stonehill spokeswoman Kristen Magda . said the college responded 'swiftly and professionally' to Blackmeyer's . complaints about her roommate, first trying to resolve the dispute . through mediation with a residence director, then by giving Blankmeyer . 'multiple options' for campus housing, including a private room. 'At no time did the student notify college staff that her concerns involved her roommate's sexual activity,' Magda said Friday. Complaint: The former student says Stonehill college in Easton, Massachusetts didn't do enough to help her when she complained about her roommate having sex in the bed next to her . In the lawsuit, Blankmeyer says the college offered her two options, one was moving to another dorm where she would live in a room that was previously used as a study lounge and was a 'small cubicle-like space.' The other option was to move to a dorm with a reputation as a 'party dorm' to live with a girl Blankmeyer did not know. | Lindsay Blankmeyer is suing Stonehill for $150,000 .
Former roommate Laura 'had online and actual sex, feet from her bed in shared room'
Lack of help from college aggravated depression, she claims . |
113,376 | 1e554d9d336c4533c69c4a73fec36d40e495f683 | By . Amanda Williams . Wendy White has walked free from court and has been ordered to pay back just £1 in compensation after she bought a pre school to its knees . A bingo addicted mother who ran up £20,000 worth of debts and left a children’s nursery facing bankruptcy after she stole from its bank account has been ordered to pay back just £1. Wendy White, 35, stole thousands of pounds from the pre-school after her habit of playing an online version of the game left her massively in debt. Locking Stumps, in Birchwood, near Warrington, Cheshire was left just 'days from closure' after the mother-of-three plundered its account. In a desperate bid to prevent it from going bust, the school's skeleton staff of five agreed to work for free and parents launched fund raising events to help save it. White, an assistant manager at the pre school, admitted theft by employee but a judge at Warrington Crown Court told her she only needed to pay back the 'nominal' sum of a pound due to her 'extensive debts.' Speaking after the case, Gemma Antell, a trustee at the nursery which has 29 children on its roll said: 'We appreciate she has young children and a custodial sentence would have been difficult for but we don’t see what deterrent paying back £1 will serve. ''The penalty is completely pointless, we do not understand charging her £1. We were within days of closing, the only reason we didn’t close was because staff worked unpaid for months and the pre-school had to borrow money to pay bills. 'We can never thank staff enough, to do that shows their dedication. The parents in the community have fundraised and supported us to get us where we are today.' Christopher Bringau, 28, a parent of a child at the nursery said: 'Everyone is really shocked at the fact that this woman has only had to pay a pound. 'It’s ridiculous and it just goes to show people can steal and get away with it. It seems the message from the court is go ahead and spend other people’s money and it will be ok. 'People have said if this lady was that hard up, they would have leant her the money if she had asked.' He added: 'Both my kids have been to or go to the pre-school. I went in one day to collect my son and the staff were all crying because they didn’t have enough money to pay the wages. 'The company I own do charity organising so we stepped in to help. The pre-school was on the verge of closing and all the parents wondered where would our kids go. 'We thought it was terrible what happened. We did a couple of events at the local pub like charity fundraising evenings, BBQs and raffles. Locking Stumps pre-school was almost forced to close after the mum-of-three siphoned off cash from its account to help pay her online bingo debts . 'All the parents in the area rallied . around and thankfully we did enough to keep the pre school open. If it . wasn’t for the community doing that then we wouldn’t have a preschool . for our kids now - and all the troubles were down to one woman. 'Our . fundraiser raised £1,500 in just three weeks and the school staff were . over the moon. We’re just so relieved we saved the place from closing . down.' Earlier the court was . told White was responsible for financial affairs at the pre school but . began signing cheques to herself. Her thefts emerged in May last year . when trustees realised there was no money in the account. Prosecutor John Oates said: 'White was responsible for the financial affairs and was one of two people authorised to sign cheques on the school account. The co-signee was advised by the bank on May 16 that a cheque had bounced. “She was quite sure it shouldn’t have bounced because there was substantial funds in the account.' White was arrested later and confessed she had been signing cheques as she had debts in the region of £20,000 and had already taken out pay day loans to stem her debts caujsed by online bingo. She admitted stealing £2,212. Her defence counsel Mr Simeon Evans said: 'It’s a classic tale in the modern internet age and the accessibility to users of gambling which can be accessed from the comfort of one’s home in which enormous debts can be run up. White was arrested later and confessed she had been signing cheques as she had debts in the region of £20,000 and had already taken out pay day loans to stem her debts caujsed by online bingo. She admitted stealing £2,212.18 . 'Effectively her downfall can all link back to when she first discovered the world of online gambling. She was paying herself in advance and some times she managed to pay off a significant amount in her own wages but some times she couldn’t. 'She is a pariah in the small community because so many of her neighbours have children who go to the nursery. She is not only shunned but has remarks aimed at her in the street.' White was also given a 12 month community order including supervision. The judge Mr Recorder Geoffrey Lowe told her: . 'You had financial difficulties because of your initial and growing interest in online gambling. 'Everyone knows what you have done and the fact there has been a reaction to that is a profound punishment in itself.' | Wendy White, 35, stole thousands of pounds from the pre-school .
It came after her online gambling habit spiralled out of control .
Locking Stumps pre-school, Cheshire was left just 'days from closure'
But judge said she should just repay a pound due to .
her 'extensive debts' |
91,173 | 014234b1df743ee192f83636ce3c314fad7f26ad | LONDON, England (CNN) -- Fifteen crew members of a South African Airways flight spent the night in jail after customs officials found marijuana and cocaine worth nearly half a million dollars hidden aboard a long-distance flight to London, British customs officials said Wednesday. South African Airways said it has a zero-tolerance approach towards any criminal activity. The 10 women and five men -- who include three pilots -- were detained on arrival from Johannesburg, South Africa, after customs officials found 50 kilograms (110 pounds) of marijuana and 4 kilograms (8.8 pounds) of cocaine in three pieces of baggage, HM Revenue and Customs said. The drugs are estimated to be worth a total of £310,000 ($428,000), customs officials added. Border agents arrested the crew at London's Heathrow Airport on suspicion of involvement in smuggling prohibited drugs into the United Kingdom, customs spokesman Bob Gaiger said. He said he was not able to disclose what led investigators to believe the suitcases belonged to the crew members. Customs officials interviewed the crew members overnight, and all were released on bail Wednesday pending further inquiries, Gaiger said. They were not charged, according to the airline. South African Airways said it launched its own investigation involving the airline's security and the South African Police Service. "SAA has a zero-tolerance approach towards the use of the airline's services for any criminal activity," airline spokeswoman Robyn Chalmers said. | 10 women and 5 men were detained on arrival from Johannesburg .
London customs officials found marijuana and cocaine in baggage .
Officials: The drugs are estimated to be worth $428,000 .
South African Airways said it launched its own investigation . |
82,350 | e9796ec059841c8c6aab1b04670ab07bfb3881e8 | A three-day-old girl has become the latest victim of Typhoon Haiyan because the hospital she was in had no electricity. The parents of baby Althea Mustacia were forced to keep up a day and night routine of pumping air into her lungs by hand when she was born with newborn asphyxia. Despite their round-the-clock efforts, the little girl died three days later on the first floor of the Talcoban hospital chapel, which now serves as the neonatal unit. Scroll down for video . Latest victim: The mother of Althea Mustacisa is pictured pumping oxygen into the three-day-old's lungs in an attempt to keep her alive . Tragedy: Despite their efforts, three-day-old Althea died on the floor of a Catholic chapel inside the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center in Tacloban . Power cut: Althea, pictured with her parents standing over her, was born five days after the typhoon. She had asphyxia - where a baby doesn't breathe in the first minute following birth. Doctors believe she could have been saved if their incubators had been working . Newborn asphyxia is a condition where a baby does not start breathing in the minute following birth, and is the most common cause of infant mortality in the Philippines. The Tacloban medical centre has been badly damaged by the storm. It is partly flooded, walls have collapsed, part of the roof has fallen in, and there is no power. The little girl was born five days after the strongest storm ever to make landfall ripped through the city. Althea Mustacia has died after just three days of life after she stopped breathing and there was no electricity to power incubators in order to keep her alive (file picture) The neonatal unit in Tacloban hospital (pictured) has had to be moved into the chapel after the storm flooded parts of the centre, knocking down walls and causing part of the roof to cave in . Althea's parents spent three days pumping air into her lungs by hand, but their efforts were not enough to save her. Doctors have said that if the incubators were working she could have lived (file picture) Her 18-year-old mother shared shifts working a hand air pump with the girl's father in an effort to keep her alive. However she eventually died and doctors have said that if the hospital's incubators were working, she could have been saved. Althea was one of the 24 babies in the hospital’s neonatal ward, which had to be moved from the flooded ground floor to a chapel one floor above. The chapel’s 28 pews have been turned into makeshift beds for mothers, some of whom are so weak themselves that they lie with IV drips in their arms. While the city of Tacloban is the hardest hit, other towns, such as Palo, on Leyte island province, have also been badly affected and left without aid as roads have been left strewn with debris . According to the national disaster relief agency, nearly 4 million people have been displaced by the storm . Japanese medical teams have been treating wounded and vulnerable people as they wait for mercy flights to take them away from Tacloban's ruined airport . Today the British destroyer HMS Daring arrived in Cebu, a port near to Tacloban, to start providing emergency aid. The ship is carrying 500 shelter kits, 10 tonnes of high energy biscuits and will use its water filers to fill 1,900 tankers with clean drinking water. It joins a team of 12 British doctors already helping the survivors, as donations to the UK's crisis appeal have topped £33million, with another £30million being pledged by the government. Some victims have had to wait for days to be rescued by aircraft, such as this US C-130 military cargo plane, before being taken to Manila, capital of the Philippines . Any building still standing is being used to treat survivors like Edgardo Palma, who is seen here inside a school in Palo, Leyte island province . | Althea Mustacia born five days after Typhoon Haiyan hit Philippines .
Medical centre in Tacloban left partially flooded and without power .
Althea wasn't breathing meaning parents had to pump air into lungs by hand .
The pair slept in shifts to provide constant care but baby couldn't be saved . |
258,331 | da5fd1d93449e04fe6705b2214388d8507176562 | By . Anna Hodgekiss . PUBLISHED: . 11:55 EST, 6 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:33 EST, 6 March 2013 . New recipe: Sprite is to be reformulated with a 'natural' sweetener so it contains 30 per cent fewer calories . The fizzy drink Sprite is to be scrapped as we know it in favour of a lower-calorie version that uses a 'natural' sweetener. The new formulation of the popular beverage will contain 30 per cent fewer calories - but fans fear it will have an unusual aftertaste. The drink is being altered as part of the parent company Coca-Cola's anti-obesity drive and follows a call by the government to address the issue. The company is airing its first anti-obesity TV ad in the UK tonight. In a statement today, Coca-Cola confirmed the launch of 'a new, reduced-calorie Sprite in the UK from March 2013'. 'We are introducing . Sprite with Stevia in the UK. This will contain 30 per cent fewer . calories and, instead of being added as a mid-calorie addition to the . Sprite range, it will completely replace the current Sprite,' it read. 'Stevia, a sweetener from natural . origins, is sweeter than sugar but without the calories. 'It is an . extract from the leaf of the stevia plant which is native to Paraguay. Stevia has been used for centuries as a source of intense, natural . sweetness.' The herbal sweetener, Stevia, is already available in the French version of Sprite. A plant used for centuries by Paraguay's Guarani Indians, it has shot from relative obscurity to being used as a key sweetener by large . companies such as Coca-Cola and Danone in just a few years. First introduced in 1961, Sprite is now sold in 190 countries. The lemon and lime drink contains 65 calories and 15.9g of sugar in each 150ml can. The name came from the ‘Sprite Boy’ character that had been used to advertise Coca-Cola in the 1940s and 1950s. It was launched to compete against 7UP that had first been formulated in 1929 by Charles Leiper Grigg. The Sprite slogan 'Obey Your Thirst' was launched in 1994. Sprite is the UK's seventh-biggest-selling carbonated soft drink. In 2009, its UK sales were £63.1m - almost double that of 7UP. Encouraged by a growing distrust of artificial sweeteners and an increased demand for natural products, they have turned to the plant extract that is up to 300 times sweeter than traditional beet or cane sugar. However, critics say it has a very strong aftertaste - it is often compared to liquorice - and it is far more expensive than other widely-used artificial sweeteners including aspartame, saccharin and sucralose. Coca-Cola's anti-obesity TV ads have been airing in the U.S since January (see video below) and a Coca-Cola spokeswoman said the ad will roll out to other countries throughout the year. The two-minute clip, titled 'Coming Together', 'reminds' viewers that all calories count in . managing weight, including those in Coca-Cola's products. It . will be followed by a second ad later in the evening which will tell . viewers how much physical activity they would have to do to burn those . calories up. The ad touts Coca-Cola's record of selling drinks with fewer calories over the years and notes that weight gain is the result of consuming too many calories of any kind and not just fizzy drinks. Scroll down for video . The new version of Sprite will be made from the 'natural' sweetener Stevia (left). In its new TV ad campaigns parent company Coca-Cola argues that diet as a whole - and not just fizzy drinks - are to blame for obesity . Coca-Cola says its latest marketing campaign will kick off a variety of moves that help address obesity in the upcoming year, such as providing more diet options. Diet drinks already make up nearly half of Coca-Cola's UK sales, with Diet Coke and Coke Zero accounting for 45 per cent of sales. The company also says that since 2007, it has reduced the calorie content of Fanta Orange by 30 per cent, Oasis by 35 per cent and Lilt by 56 per cent. It also plans to 'reduce the average calories per litre of our range of sparkling soft drinks by five per cent by the end of 2014'. The company is still exploring whether to bring the Sprite with stevia to the U.S. James Quincey, President of The Coca-Cola Company's Europe group, said: 'Obesity is a serious problem and I am . determined we will take more actions in Europe to help address it. The . actions announced today build on our earlier efforts and are part of a . long-term commitment.' | Regular version to be reformulated and made with 'natural' sweetener Stevia .
Herbal sweetener comes from Paraguay but its aftertaste has been criticised .
Parent company Coca-Cola claims move will reduce calorie content by 30% .
Comes as company airs its first anti-obesity TV ad in the UK . |
212,267 | 9edf637e54a80086feb646b62144b4e872fe1772 | By . Helen Pow and Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 11:09 EST, 16 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:15 EST, 16 January 2013 . Tragic: Noah Pozner, pictured, was one of 20 six and seven-year-olds killed in last month's Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre . The heartbroken mother of Sandy Hook victim Noah Pozner has opened up about the 'paralyzing' moment she learned her son was dead and revealed the six-year-old still comes to her in dreams. 'It was kind of like being told when you . wake up from a routine operation, "I'm sorry, but you're now paralyzed . below the neck and you're going to have to learn to live for the rest of . your life like that,"' Veronique Pozner said. Ponzer rushed to the Newtown elementary school from her job in nearby New Britain as soon as she heard reports about the shooting. When she arrived at the school she found her two daughters — seven-year-old Sophia and Noah's twin, Arielle — but Noah's class was unaccounted for. As authorities investigated, parents waited. She said when she noticed clergy members among the families, she began to fear the worst. 'Just in my heart of hearts I knew something really bad had happened,' she said. She asked if it was a hostage situation. No. 'I asked them if it was a morgue up there,' she said. After she was told Noah was one of the 26 shooting victims, she said she went into denial, thinking he was just hiding at school. Relatives and friends offered support. Visiting a makeshift memorial helped, too. She recently took her children out of town for a few days, and the family is getting counseling. 'But I find that grief finds me no matter how busy I keep,' she said. 'It's a very strange process. It just blindsides you when you least expect it.' Pozner said her little boy also came to her in dreams. In one, the six-year-old brushes his teeth at the sink, his dark hair wet. He looks directly at his mother and says, 'Mommy, I'm having fun.' In another, Pozner gives birth atop a . mountain, is handed the infant by a midwife and walks down a long . flight of stairs back to a village. But she drops the baby. 'When I got to the bottom, the baby was dead,' Pozner said, crying. Scroll down for video . Paralyzing: Veronique Pozner, pictured, said the moment she found out Noah was dead was like being told you were paralyzed from the neck down . Dreams: Pozner, pictured, said her little boy also came to her in dreams . Since the massacre last month, Pozner has struggled with the gaping hole left by the loss of her energetic, affectionate son. 'What's the alternative?' the 45-year-old oncology nurse told The Associated Press in an interview this week. 'Not getting out of bed? I don't think Noah would want to see me like that, although sometimes it is hard to get out of bed.' She has tried to help her other children cope and make sense of the senseless. Noah was especially close to his twin, who escaped the shooting unharmed along with sister Sophia. Arielle continues to talk about Noah in the present tense. Among donations the family received was a stuffed animal they call Noah bear. 'Every time Arielle hugs it, she says it doesn't feel anything like her brother, but she does enjoy having it around,' Pozner said. Her children are filled with . questions. Why did it happen? Where is the shooter now? Can he still . hurt Noah and the other victims? 'I tell them, "Just like some people . can be very sick in their bodies, some people can be very sick in their . souls, and they don't think the same way other people do and they can't . feel other people's pain,"' Pozner said. She assures them the gunman can't bother Noah and the other children anymore. Goodbye: Veronique Pozner, pictured left at her son's funeral, said some days it is hard to get out of bed . Struggle: Pozner, pictured at Noah's December 17 funeral, said she has tried to help her other children cope with Noah's loss . She took her children back to school in neighboring Monroe this week for the first time since the shooting. On the drive, Sophia asked her not to play music on the radio because it makes her cry. Pozner said she was reassured to see police at the school and believes such a presence can act as a deterrent. She thinks gunman Adam Lanza's mother, who owned the weapons the 20-year-old used to kill 20 six and seven-year-olds and six staff members in the December 14 assault, was negligent. 'I think he had a mother who at best was blind; at worst aided and abetted him,' she said. 'Maybe she wanted to compensate for his feelings of inadequacy by letting him handle weapons of mass carnage and taking him to shooting ranges. I think there was gross irresponsibility, and I'd like to think that maybe she was just as unwell as he was to have allowed someone as obviously compromised as he was to have access.' Those who knew Nancy Lanza have described her as a good, devoted mother. To help move on from the tragedy, Ponzer is pushing for reforms from the White House. Her . family has submitted a detailed proposal to a White House task force, . recommending a range of legal reforms including federal grants to review . security at public schools and requiring gun owners to lock weapons if . mentally ill or dangerous people could access them otherwise. Procession: Noah Pozner was laid to rest on December 17 after last month's tragedy . Change: Pozner is pushing for White House reforms after the tragedy . Pozner also said it wasn't right that the law protects the release of any mental health information on the gunman. She said she planned to challenge that because it could shed light. 'Those are all answers that I feel that we're entitled to,' she said. The family is suggesting a new law requiring people to notify police within 24 hours if they know about an imminent threat of harm or death made by a person who has access to guns or explosive devices. 'I've just been in deep admiration of her strength and her ability to try to do something positive and to try to make a difference out of what happened,' said Pozner's brother, Alexis Haller. 'She's an inspiration really for the whole family.' Pozner said she is not ready to go back to work yet. These days, she has a tattoo near her wrist with angel wings and her son's name, his birth date of November 20, 2006, and the day he died, December 14, 2012. 'He was just a very expressive little boy,' Pozner said. 'He was just a bundle of energy.' She thinks of her son's facial expressions, of him asking for a snack after school. Days before the massacre, he had come downstairs to see her shortly after being put to bed. 'I just wanted to give you one more hug,' Noah said. 'Why is your pajama top off?' his mother asked.'So I can feel your heart better,' he replied. | Veronique Pozner, 45, said some days it's 'hard to get out of bed'
She said Noah's twin Arielle continues to talk about her slain brother in the present tense and asks if the gunman can still hurt him and the other victims .
Pozner has submitted a detailed proposal to the White House task force, .
recommending a range of reforms . |
25,637 | 489a9ca5299124a480933527ebecd43c9b025f19 | By . Tamara Abraham . Lena Dunham is pictured posing in a polka dot Burberry shirt for her very first Vogue cover. The 27-year-old is hailed The New Queen of Comedy in the February issue, and sees her interview take place during the filming of season three, which premiered on Sunday. But the fact that it is just a head-shot rather than a full-body image may raise questions about the U.S. glossy's attitude towards larger body shapes. Cover girl: Lena Dunham pictured on the cover of the February issue of U.S. Vogue . Regardless, Miss Dunham looks sensational on the Annie Leibovitz-shot cover. And an inside shot does pay tribute to the curves that she is so fiercely proud of. In any case, it seems the star is very proud of the results, as she tweeted a link this morning with the words: 'Dear @voguemagazine: Thank you. Love, Lena.' The interview sees Miss Dunham share insights into her rise to fame, her on-screen alter-ego's nudity, and her relationship with Fun's Jack Antonoff. The couple were set up on a blind date by his sister, designer Rachel Antonoff, and admits falling for him came as something of a surprise. Vogue's candid interview sees Miss Dunham share insights into her rise to fame, her on-screen alter-ego's nudity, and her relationship with Fun's Jack Antonoff . 'I’d been like, If I never date again . in my whole life, I’ll be fine with it! I want to work and rescue . rabbits and be a notable eccentric!' she said. 'I had a whole romantic . idea about singledom, and then, of course, that’s the moment when you . meet someone that you really care about.' Miss Dunham also opens up about her attitude to fashion, which is far more sophisticated than her on-screen image as Hanna Horvath. In fact, she learned about style early on, as one of her babysitters was none other than the designer of her Golden Globes dress - Zac Posen. Mr Posen even made her high school graduation dress. Fashion moment: The star is very proud of the results, as she tweeted a link this morning with the words: 'Dear @voguemagazine: Thank you. Love, Lena' Of her other favorite designers, she continues: 'I’ve always loved Comme des Garçons; I’ve always loved Yohji Yamamoto. I’m into Charlotte Olympia flats. I really love a Prada bag because they always have one weird detail that you didn’t think about. I always wear J Brand jeans because the waist is high . . . a low-cut jean is a problematic thing for me.' MailOnline revealed that Miss Dunham had landed the coveted spot earlier this month. While it was yet to be announced . officially, Anna Wintour gave her seal of approval to the actress-writer . and her hit HBO show by turning up to the season three premiere in New . York earlier this month. Girls night out: Lena Dunham and Anna Wintour posed on the red carpet together at the season three premiere of the hit HBO series on January 6 . Friends in fashionable places: Zac Posen, who designed Lena Dunham's dress for the Golden Globes on Sunday, was actually her babysitter when she was a child . Miss Dunham has famously been forced to defend her pride in her body. Howard Stern called her a 'little fat chick' last year, and Judd Apatow reveals that she was 'delighted' by the label. But beyond being an inspiration to the masses of women who don't fit the supermodel physical idea, the star says there is immense purpose to each nude scene scripted into Girls. 'Seeing somebody who looks like you . having sex on television is a less comfortable experience than seeing . somebody who looks like nobody you’ve ever met' 'There was a sense that I and many women I knew had been led astray by Hollywood and television depictions of sexuality,' she explained. 'Seeing somebody who looks like you having sex on television is a less comfortable experience than seeing somebody who looks like nobody you’ve ever met.' On another scandal that broke during season two following an episode in which Hannah has a weekend-long fling with a handsome doctor played by Patrick Wilson, Miss Dunham was stunned that viewers found it so controversial. 'Critics said, "That guy . wouldn’t date that girl!"' she recalled. 'It’s like, "Have you been out . on the street lately?" Everyone dates everyone, for lots of reasons we . can’t understand. Sexuality isn’t a perfect puzzle, like, "He has a nice . nose and she has a nice nose! She’s got great breasts and he’s got . great calves. . ." It’s a complicated . thing. I want people ultimately, even if they’re disturbed by certain . moments, to feel bolstered and normalized by the sex that’s on the . show.' Showstopping: The Girls cast, from left: Zosia Mamet in Saint Laurent, Lena Dunham in Rochas, Jemima Kirke in Geminola and Allison Williams in Christian Dior . Anna Wintour's presence at the Girls . season three premiere on January 6 was a major hint that Miss Dunham . would appear on the Vogue cover. The Vogue editor-in-chief, who wore a colorful Prada fur coat from the same collection that Lena wears in the issue, attended theevent with her daughter Bee Shaffer - a big fan of Girls. She was extremely friendly with the cast, and posed on the red carpet with Lena. She also gave Alison Williams a big hug and a kiss once inside the venue. But this is not actually Miss . Dunham's first time in Vogue. In 1998, the magazine reveals, she . featured as an 11-year-old in a spread about 'a New York pack of . fashion-conscious kids'. Making a splash: Stills from season three of Girls show the quartet leaping into a swimming pool . Working woman: Miss Dunham's character, Hannah Horvath, also appears to finally catch a career break in the new season of Girls . Sporting . an outfit she had made herself, she had told the title: 'I really like . Jil Sander, but it’s so expensive. . . I find Calvin Klein really hard . to respect because he’s everywhere. I view him as a clothesmonger.' Controversial: Vogue's decision to use just a head-shot of Miss Dunham on its cover threatens to escalate into a similar controversy that surrounded Mindy Kaling's new Elle cover . Vogue's decision to use just a head-shot of Miss Dunham on the cover, however, threatens to escalate into a similar controversy that surrounded Mindy Kaling's new Elle cover. While her fellow comedienne insisted that she loved the cover, critics attacked Elle because Miss Kaling is only celebrated with a head shot, while Amy Poehler, Zooey Deschanel and Allison Williams are shown in color and nearly full-length. Fashionista observed that 'at a a self-proclaimed size 8, [Ms Kaling] is hardly "plus size" — [but] gets a close-cropped image.' Many fans also took to Twitter to voice their opinions. Danielle Odiamar tweeted: '*sigh* @mindykaling's gorgeous skin and curves deserve better.' And Sarah Lasky Elison . wrote: 'I love ELLE magazine and Mindy Kaling but am sad to see her . cover is in B&W. She's a beautiful woman of color- why dull that? [sic]' In a statement announcing the covers, Elle Editor-in-Chief Robbie Myers said: ‘There’s no denying that funny ladies are having a major moment, so devoting our Women in TV issue to the women making comedy was a must.’ In Vogue's recent history, Adele is the only other 'larger' celebrity to have featured on its cover. The title was praised for . cropping the singer's body just below the bustline after the UK edition . was slammed for dodging the opportunity to feature a larger body by only . showing her face. The February issue of Vogue hits newsstands on January 22. | An inside shot does pay tribute to the curves that the actress-writer is so fiercely proud of .
The interview sees Miss Dunham share .
insights into her rise to fame, her on-screen alter-ego's nudity, and .
her relationship with Fun's Jack Antonoff . |
267,599 | e69180db4b9d0c73140185a01a33f463414a3fae | The police force which led the investigation into murdered schoolgirl April Jones could become the first in the UK to abandon monitoring CCTV 'because it fails to cut crime', it has emerged. Dyfed Powys Police is set to receive reduced funding for CCTV after an independent investigation found they have had 'little success in deterring violent crime or anti-social behaviour'. But, it could also stop monitoring live camera footage altogether - as early as January next year - if an inquiry by the force decides it is the best course of action. It would leave the police force, which covers an area more than half the size of Wales, without any monitored CCTV cameras. Dyfed Powys Police will receive reduced funding for CCTV after an independent investigation found they have had 'little success in deterring violent crime or anti-social behaviour'. It could also stop monitoring live footage . The force's biggest investigation was the hunt for five-year-old April, who vanished while playing outside her home in Machynlleth, Mid Wales, in October 2012. CCTV images caught killer Mark Bridger's car on the night of her disappearance, ultimately leading to his arrest. Using footage from a variety of private and public cameras, police were able to piece together a complete picture of his movements which formed a central part of the prosecution case. But a report ordered by Christopher Salmon, Police and Crime Commissioner for the force, concluded that live monitoring of CCTV footage should stop. He said the removal of cameras would not result in 'significant rises' in crime. Dyfed-Powys Police records show that for the 12 months leading up until August this year, only 1.5 per cent of case files used publicly-controlled CCTV evidence. In addition, 2.2 per cent used evidence from private CCTV systems. The CCTV network in the UK is one of the largest in the world - with the Shetland Islands Council and Corby Borough Council - among the smallest local authorities in the UK - having more cameras than the San Francisco Police Department. The inquiry into CCTV systems revealed cameras which flood town centres and housing estates do not have a significant impact on crime. Instrom Security Consultants, which carried out the report, discovered that while cameras have a modest impact on crime levels, they are at their most effective in reducing car crime in car parks, especially when used alongside improved lighting and the introduction of security guards. The force's biggest investigation was the hunt for five-year-old April, who vanished while playing outside her home in Machynlleth, Mid Wales, in October 2012. CCTV footage led to the arrest of her killer Mark Bridger . Bridger (left) was caught on CCTV walking his dog (right) and his car was captured on the night of the murder . The CCTV review came at a time when many local councils are reducing funding to police due to financial pressures. Mr Salmon said: 'We must spend every pound where it delivers. In the meantime, I'm giving the public what they ask me for - more bobbies on the beat.' The crime commissioner said he will discuss the inquiry findings with chief constable Simon Prince and county council leaders before agreeing to stop the CCTV monitoring in the New Year. He said: 'I look forward to our discussions to agree a solution for CCTV that delivers value and that most of all is effective. 'This research will be an important reference point as we develop a strategy.' The Dyfed-Powys force covers more than half of Wales, from Pembrokeshire to the English border with Shropshire. But, it is sparsely populated with only 488,000 people in the force area. A Home Office report into CCTV effectiveness, whose authors include Cambridge University criminologist David Farrington, said cameras should continue to be used but have a much narrower focus, such as reducing vehicle crime. Traditionally, CCTV cameras have been funded by councils with police meeting the costs of monitoring them. The report found monitored CCTV cameras do not deter crime or anti-social behaviour and many are unable to produce evidence acceptable in court. However, the inquiry confirmed they can play a crucial role in securing convictions. The report said: 'Properly presented, relevant CCTV evidence provides a very credible witness factor when cases were judged they allowed the context of an incident to be conveyed to the court - particularly relevant in cases of violent behaviour. 'Also, they are instrumental in challenging not guilty pleas, and often led to an early admission of guilt.' | Dyfed Powys Police is set to receive reduced funding for CCTV next year .
Inquiry to be held over scrapping monitoring of CCTV footage altogether .
Force led investigation into murdered school April Jones in October 2012 .
CCTV footage helped arrest killer Mark Bridger and aided his prosecution . |
234,319 | bb555cecf22f4aa15cab8efd5e07f8588da61450 | Yachts fill the bay in front of sparkling new skyscrapers rising from the city beyond. Cross the street to the other side, and sandy beaches are lined with restaurants and nightclubs. Sunbathers lounge during the day, replaced in the evening by fine diners who think nothing of plopping down a couple hundred dollars for sushi or lobster. After a pre-disco nap, the beautiful people emerge and the music cranks up from midnight until the sun comes up again. It's not Miami or Rio, but the Ilha de Luanda, a tropical beach playground in the African country of Angola for the wealthy and increasing number of expatriates who work there. Sound like a party worth checking out? There's a catch. Visas to Angola are notoriously difficult to get and those that do get the stamp must ready themselves to swallow some whopping prices. Luanda is among the top 10 most expensive cities in the world for expats -- behind Caracas and Oslo, and well above other famously expensive cities: Geneva is 5th, Tokyo 11th, Hong Kong 29th, New York 39th. Unlike those cities, Luanda's wealthy waterfront is surrounded by grinding poverty, visible to anyone landing at the airport. That's an image that the city is trying to change, transforming its Marginal bay-front walkway and the Ilha, the thin peninsula that stretches in front of the city. For those that do make it here -- and it's worth trying, there's nowhere else like it -- here are the places to go. Naquele Lugar . Housed in a two-story house next to the Fortress of Sao Miguel, Naquele Lugar restaurant is located on the way to the Ilha. The soldier at the entrance will let guests through to the white-walled patio if they explain they're coming for dinner. Even though seafood seems like the smart choice here, the steak with pepper sauce is better. Honestly, there's better food elsewhere, but it's a unique location with an unmatched view of the city on the way out. Naquele Lugar, Rua 17 de Setembro; +244 926 322 615 . Lookal . Lookal is one of the most expensive places to eat in the city, which in Luanda is saying something. Why so pricey? Because even though guests are gazing over the Atlantic, and Angola has some of the world's least-fished waters, the seafood here is flown in from Europe. A decent meal for two costs $300, but the Portuguese lobster can cost nearly that much per kilo. Still, many people swear by the place. Those people all have expense accounts. After dinner, Lookal turns into a high-powered nightclub with dancing until sunrise. Lookal, No. 15 Rua Murtala Mohamed; +244 936 000 018 . Coconuts . Few places embody the changes on the Ilha as much as Coconuts. Fifteen years ago, this was a shell of a building, without a roof, windows or doors. A series of renovations have turned it into a luxurious spot that takes full advantage of its place at the end of the peninsula. Coconuts is now a great spot to enjoy a daytime drink or linger over an evening of seafood with friends. The chef prepares a special menu every week. It's not as expensive as some restaurants, but budget a minimum of $100 a person. Coconuts, Avenida Murtala Mohamed, Ilha do Cabo; +244 912 205 777 . Cais de Quatro . In many ways, Cais de Quatro represents Luanda's cosmopolitan aspirations. With one of the best views over the city, the international menu runs from pizza to sushi. It's a relative bargain: the pizza sets diners back just $25. If at this point they're feeling really pinched for cash, they can always have a drink and then wander to the Wimpy burger joint next door. Cais de Quatro, Avenida Murtala Mohamed, Casa do Desportista; +244 222 309 430 . Bahia . Those who'd rather walk along Luanda's newly renovated Marginal couldn't ask for a better spot than Bahia. The restaurant long predates the $350 million upgrade to the bayside boardwalk, which was once just another dusty, smelly street in a city where dusty and smelly are par for the course. Now it's got wide pedestrian trails, playgrounds and palm trees imported from Miami. Yes, palm trees imported to tropical Angola. Nonetheless, Bahia is a romantic spot to share a langoustine pizza by candlelight. And eating here won't break the bank. Bahia, 183/184 Avenida 4 de Fevereiro; +244 222 370 610 . Cabo Verde . For those who can find the place, the best thing to do on the Ilha is to hang with Luanda's Cape Verdian community at George's house. That's not the name of the venue. It's a house owned by a guy named George. Friday nights and Sunday afternoons, music lovers gather on his terrace to hear him perform Latin American classics and songs from Cape Verde legend, the late Barefoot Diva, Cesaria Evora. Friday nights and Sunday afternoons. Drive down the Ilha, exit the roundabout to the left. It's the only house with lights on the street. | Luanda's beach front is filled with restaurants where diners think nothing of dropping a few hundred dollars on seafood .
Naquele Lugur is a white-walled patio restaurant with an unmatched view of the city .
Kookal imports its super-expensive seafood from Europe, despite proximity of Atlantic Ocean . |
284,867 | fd233bf5d4c0852000d2d5306850881764b004c3 | Despite her half-brother, Conor, splitting from Taylor Swift last month, Kick Kennedy has revealed that she is still a big fan of the country music star. The 24-year-old political scion told Town&Country: 'Taylor’s sweet, and so catchy I can’t believe it. I can’t get her songs out of my head.' She was snapped at her family's compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, wearing a selection of laid back styles for the December issue of the magazine. Seal of approval: Despite her half-brother, Conor, splitting from Taylor Swift last month, Kick Kennedy has revealed that she is still a fan of the country music star . Kick, who is an aspiring actress is . the only daughter of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an environmental lawyer and . the niece of President John F. Kennedy, and his first wife Emily . Black. She explained that being a member of America's most famous political dynasty can often bring unwanted attention. Dreamy setting: The photography shoot took place at the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts . Country idol: Kick rocked a laid back look for the magazine shoot . 'People . ask me, "What’s it like being a Kennedy?" Maybe it’s the temperature . of the water, but I’m just like, "I have no idea." 'When I see my face . or name in the tabloids, I get a knot in my stomach. It’s just not me – . it’s reading something that’s not real,' she explained. Kick spent the summer supporting her half-brother following his mother's suicide in May. Reflecting: Kick said that this sunner was 'rough' following the news of Mary Kennedy's suicide . Mary . Kennedy, 52, hanged herself in a barn by the family's Westchester . County home amid bitter divorce proceedings after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. won temporary custody of Conor and his three siblings. On-off romance: Taylor Swift and Conor Kennedy split last month . Describing the chain of events, Kick, who is currently based in California, said: 'It . was a rough summer. Back in April, before Mary died, it seemed like . things were slowing down in my life. 'L.A. has a lot going on for an . actor. But if you’re not happy, you’re not going to be taking advantage . of any of it.' Kick said at the time that Taylor was . also a great source of strength for her half-brother, telling New York . Magazine: 'Whatever makes Conor happy makes me happy. I love Taylor; . they're pretty cute together.' Last month Ted Kennedy Jr, also gave 22-year-old Taylor his seal of approval. He revealed that the singer has grown close to Robert F. Kennedy’s widow, Ethel, his grandmother. 'She’s a very open person…to people . of all generations. 'As I just said, she’s a very welcoming person and . she and Taylor have a genuine friendship. 'They . love spending time together. They really like spending time with one . another and, you know, they’re fascinated by each other,' Ted told Ok! magazine. When asked if Ethel listens to Taylor’s music, Ted answered affirmatively: 'Yeah, she does. Of course!' The December issue of Town&Country, now on newsstands nationwide. | The political scion was photographed at her family's compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, for Town&Country magazine . |
278,912 | f557b170e6f92ffc61648ad377e73760095ec304 | Online retailing giant Amazon has launched its own brand of diapers, opening a new front in retail battles - and a direct challenge to name-brands already selling on the site. Amazon said the first offerings in its new Amazon Elements line of consumer products would be diapers and baby wipes, and that other competitively priced, 'premium' everyday consumer products would soon follow. But the Elements line is only available to members of Amazon's Prime $99-a-year subscription club, with the lowest prices available for those who are also members of its Amazon Mom group, as the company seeks to push more shoppers into its membership programs. Time for change: Amazon is launching the line of diapers and baby wipes exclusively for its Prime members to get more shoppers to sign up for the $99 annual program . Expanding: The launch comes a year after Amazon reported it was recruiting people to help create its own brand of products in the larger category known as consumables . Amazon highlighted that the Elements line would provide quality-conscious shoppers 'an unprecedented level of information' on product origins and materials. 'The two things customers told us they want are premium products that meet their high standards, and access to information so they can make informed decisions,' said Sunny Jain, Amazon.com Consumables Vice President, in a statement. Entering the market: The first offerings in the new Amazon Elements line of consumer products will be diapers and baby wipes . The initial prices, including discounts to Prime members and the Amazon Mom club, put a size 4 diaper 10 percent more expensive than the popular Huggies brand. But it was about 27 percent cheaper than the premium Seventh Generation brand, popular with health and environmentally-conscious consumers, in the Prime and Amazon Mom pricing. Amazon has been seeking to push shoppers into Prime, originally a subscription service for free shipping aimed at frequent buyers on its website. A Prime subscription now gives members unlimited video and music streaming as Amazon takes on powerful media groups like Netflix and Spotify. In some areas, Prime is now offering same day delivery on groceries as well. | Suppliers had long feared Amazon would eventually elbow them aside .
Amazon Elements is a new line of Amazon-branded 'everyday essentials' available exclusively to Prime subscribers .
Amazon's pack of 40 diapers will sell for $7.99 - 19 cents a diaper compared to national brands like Huggies and Pampers that go for about 24 to 34 cents .
New diapers are up to 40 cents cheaper than name brand competitors . |
113,203 | 1e1f5988550d8adbece278d4ec5b38dfaeccd69b | France is considering a ban on electronic cigarettes from public places and subject them to the same tight controls as tobacco, the government has announced. The move has sparked outrage among sellers and users of the battery-powered devices which contain liquid nicotine that is turned into a vapor when inhaled. Health Minister Marisol Touraine also wants unbranded cigarette packaging, covered with at least 65 per cent health warnings. France's health minister has proposed a ban on smoking e-cigarettes in public places . And Ms Touraine intends to give smokers the right to seek hefty damage settlements from tobacco companies, similar to billion-dollar class action lawsuits in the U.S. The minister, who intends to put her bill before parliament within weeks, said: 'The e-cigarette is not an ordinary product. We need to apply the same measures as there are for tobacco. 'That means making sure it cannot be smoked in public places, that its sale is restricted to over 18s and that firms are not allowed to advertise the products.' Under French law, e-cigarettes are currently legal to use in bars, restaurants and other public places where traditional smoking has been banned for five years. A ban would harm the booming e-cigarette industry in France, where around 500,000 people use the gadgets, vendors insist. Darren Moon, the English owner of online store Vapshop.fr, said: 'If they ban it in public or in the workplace, I'll be closing my store, or moving it somewhere where there aren't restrictions like that. E-cigarette users will no longer be able to inhale the nicotine vapour if a proposed new bill in France is passed . 'Twenty per cent of our business is selling disposable e-cigarettes to restaurants, clubs, bars and hotels. So if there's a workplace ban, I'd have to start firing people.' E-cigarettes were invented in China in 2003, as many nations began imposing bans on smoking, and are aimed at giving the user a similar sensation to smoking a cigarette. They were thought to be much healthier than normal smoking is because they do not contain the tobacco and other carcinogens found in cigarettes. But many experts have since expressed concerns about certain chemicals contained in the liquid, notably the compound propylene glycol. In May 2011, the French health agency AFSSAPS advised against using the devices, saying they still contained nicotine, which even at a low concentration could lead to 'damaging side effects'. But other scientists have hit back against the report claiming it is scaremongering. Dr Konstantinos Farsalinos, a cardiology researcher at University Hospital Gathuisberg in Belgium, said: 'Findings such as these should always be compared to the risks of smoking ordinary cigarettes. 'There are also many experts who believe smoking e-cigarettes is many times less dangerous than the real thing.' A group . of leading health experts have claimed e-cigarettes could save millions . of lives and should not be classed as a tobacco product. In a letter published yesterday, ,more than 50 researchers and specialists . from around the globe signed a letter stating that e-cigarettes . have the potential to save millions of lives. The letter urges health officials to . consider the health consequences of such a move, amid fears e-cigarettes . will become harder to obtain. As a result, they should not be regulated in the same way as conventional cigarettes, they say. The signatories include the leading . smoking cessation psychologist Professor Robert West, from University . College London, and experts who have advised the National Institute for . Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on its guidelines about reducing the . harm from tobacco. Various bans on e-cigarettes are in place in several countries around the world. The countries currently with restrictions are Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Brunai, Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Panama, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the UAE, Uruguay and Venezuela. In the U.S, New York and Chicago have also banned the cigarettes from public places. Regulations were changed mean they now fall under the same set of rules as tobacco cigarettes. Louisiana has also banned e-cigarette sales to minors. In the UK, the use of e-cigarettes in public places in England is not outlawed, but plans being considered by Public Health England show proposals could be drafted to ban the devices from offices and other public spaces. The minutes from one of the organisation's meetings reveal concerns that they could 'renormalise smoking'. It has also been reported the British Medical Association now wants them included in the smoking ban. Pub chain JD Wetherspoon and some train operators have already banned the devices. Leaked documents have also suggested all electronic cigarettes that are currently on sale in Britain would be banned and removed from the shop shelves under new European Union proposals. In November, The Daily Telegraph reported that Brussels officials fear that there is a 'risk that electronic . cigarettes can develop into a gateway to normal cigarettes'. | The move has sparked outrage among sellers and users .
France's health minister also wants warnings on packaging .
Ban would harm the booming e-cigarette industry in France .
Around 500,000 people use the gadgets there, vendors claim . |
204,423 | 94a5e47d3ab181102b30e1db7b3e64cfcf8c609f | By . Andy Dolan . Last updated at 1:56 AM on 1st February 2012 . These three sisters look a picture of health – but they have had to take drastic action to stay that way. Luan Moreton, Kim Jones and Jemma Dennis lost their mother to breast cancer when she was only 32, and tests revealed that they had inherited the same faulty gene. They decided to have preventive double mastectomies as an alternative to a lifetime of monitoring.The two elder sisters have also had hysterectomies after doctors told them the faulty BRCA1 gene gave them a 50-60 per cent chance of developing ovarian cancer. (Left to right) Luan Moreton, Kim Jones and Jemma Dennis from Nuneaton: All have had double mastectomies . The youngest, 30-year-old Jemma, plans . to have the operation too, but not until she has tried for children with . husband Mark, 37, an architect. Yesterday the trio urged other women to be screened for the gene and consider pre-emptive surgery before cancer strikes. Mrs Moreton, 38, said: ‘We were all very close growing up after what . happened to Mum, but these operations have made us even closer. ‘I feel that we are lucky because we realised we all had the gene and took steps to prevent it from developing. ‘People need to know that there are things you can do to minimise the . risk. Mum must have had the gene but she was never tested for it. ‘It was too late for her – but we were able to do something about it.’ Family tragedy: Mother Rita with her daughter Luan in 1982 - Rita died from breast cancer four years later in 1986 . She was 12, her sister Kim seven and Jemma just four when their mother Rita died in 1986. In 2005 Mrs Moreton from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, discovered a lump in . her breast two weeks before she married husband Sean, a printer. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are genes that belong to a class known as tumour suppressors.In normal cells, BRCA1 and BRCA2 help ensure the stability of the cell’s DNA and help prevent uncontrolled cell growth. However, women who inherit a mutated form of these genes are at far greater risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer at a young age. Harmful BRCA1 mutations may also increase a woman’s risk of developing cervical, uterine, pancreatic, and colon cancer. Harmful BRCA2 mutations may also increase the risk of pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer, gallbladder and bile duct cancer, and melanoma. Men who carry the BRCA1 gene have a greater risk of breast cancer and possibly pancreatic and prostate cancer. However, this is more likely among men with the BRCA2 gene. Source: National Cancer Institute, U.S . Tests showed she had breast cancer and later that month doctors carried . out a lumpectomy, which was followed by a six-month course of . chemotherapy and four weeks of radiotherapy. The treatment was successful, but further examinations carried out when . she was pregnant with her son Nate, now four, revealed she was carrying . the faulty BRCA1 gene which gives an 85 per cent chance of developing . breast cancer. Her sisters took blood tests which showed that they, too, had the faulty gene. Mrs Moreton said: ‘It was daunting but we agreed that we would all . rather have the operation than not be around in a few years’ time.’ Mrs Dennis was first to have the surgery in 2007. She said: ‘For me it wasn’t even a decision. ‘It wasn’t a case of “if” I got cancer, it was a case of “when”. I didn’t want to sit and wait for it to happen. ‘I knew I wanted to have a double mastectomy, and I wanted it done quickly so I couldn’t dwell on it.’ Mrs Moreton was next in 2008 and Miss Jones, 33, followed in 2009. All recovered well, but were then told it was highly likely the faulty BRCA1 gene could go on to cause ovarian cancer. They made the heart-wrenching decision to have hysterectomies, meaning they could no longer have children. Mrs Moreton and Miss Jones, a mother of two who is engaged to graphic . designer Marc Sharman, 34, have already had their operations. Kim, Jemma and Luan as children: All three have urged women with a family history of breast cancer to get checked for the aggressive BRCA1 gene . Mrs Dennis said: ‘I will definitely have it done, but I do not know when it will be.’ The IT worker added: ‘It does play on your mind quite a bit but I try . not to think about it too much. I want to have children first – they are . the priority for me now.’ A spokesman for Cancer Research UK said: ‘The BRCA1 gene is one gene . that can contribute to a breast cell becoming cancerous if it is . mutated. ‘When a mutated BRCA1 gene is passed from parent to child, all the . breasts’ cells carry this mutation. They have a head start in the . process of collecting enough genetic mutations to enable them to become . cancerous.’ Around 100,000 British women are believed to carry dangerous versions of the BRCA1 and related BRCA2 genes. They can currently decide between a lifetime of regular monitoring or pre-emptive mastectomies. | Youngest sister, 30, will have womb removed like her siblings after she has tried for children .
The sisters found they carried the deadly BRCA1 gene after Luan was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 . |
123,320 | 2b69a54b8ed132207f6bf06a6d610720859d44af | By . Deborah Arthurs . They say that true love is hard to find. But as it is revealed that millions of us have actually been struck down by Cupid's arrow after just one glance, perhaps in reality it is not as hard as previously thought. A new study has found that a third of us have fallen in love at first sight - suggesting that we are still a nation of romantics. Sadly much of this love remains unspoken, with one in six Brits falling head over heels for a work colleague but keeping their feelings under wraps. And 11 per cent of men even confess losing their heart to a friend’s wife or girlfriend, but never letting on. Love at first sight? A third of us say we have been struck down by Cupid's arrow at first glance, a new study has revealed . The research found that in an age of social networking internet dating we still yearn for traditional romantic gestures such as a handwritten love letter. And 60 per cent of Brits have never had a one night stand as they hold out for Mr or Mrs Right. Unfortunately, there is often a difference between what we want and what we get, the study by flower delivery company Interflora revealed. While 41 per cent of women insist a handwritten card or letter is the way to their heart, men are more likely to profess their undying love by text. One in five British men (19 per cent) have said ‘I love you’ by SMS, compared to just 17 per cent who have actually written it in a letter. One in five (20 per cent) believe love should be declared with flowers, while 10 per cent say a poem is most romantic. The research into modern relationships, conducted in the run up to Valentine’s Day, found the notion of love at first sight is far from dying out. Not only do 31 per cent say they’ve been struck by Cupid’s arrow, but this rises to 37 per cent among those aged 55 and over. Romantics: We still yearn for traditional romantic gestures such as a handwritten love letter, the study found . More than a third of us - 38 per cent - have fallen in love at work, but 16 per cent have felt unable to tell the object of their affection. And 11 per cent of men admit having carried a torch for a friend’s wife or partner. Psychologist Dr Gayle Brewer, of the University of Central Lancashire, said: 'It seems a lot of people spend time thinking about being a relationship with someone other than their partner. 'It’s very easy to romanticise what a relationship could be like. 'Perhaps it’s not surprising we might fall for people we work with as we see them daily and we usually see them on their best behaviour. 'We may also see friend’s partners when they are at their best - while out, dressed up and sociable, perhaps making an effort to be more humorous. 'But of course we all worry about the ramifications of falling for someone in the workplace, such as seeing them every day if we are rejected. 'With the partner of a friend or family member the ramifications could be even greater. 'This type of undeclared love could be upsetting and prevent a person from moving on and finding true happiness.' The study, of 2,000 people, found that 12 per cent have sent a Valentine’s card or gift to someone other than their partner while in a relationship. In addition, six per cent of men confess to sending themselves one just to make their wife or girlfriend jealous. In contrast, 16 per cent of women have sent a card to a friend to cheer them up. Michael Barringer, Marketing Director at Interflora, said: 'Technology plays an increasing role in the way we communicate but when it comes to saying "I love you" we prefer loved ones to take the traditional approach. 'Huge numbers meet through dating sites and use new media but it’s reassuring to hear we love to receive a handwritten note and still fall in love at first sight. 'It indicates we are a nation of romantics, even though the research suggests many have not yet felt able to tell the object of their desire how they really feel. 'It’s also fascinating to see how many people send Valentine’s cards and gifts to people other than their partners, such as to cheer up a friend.' | Study finds 33% of Brits have been struck by Cupid's arrow at first glance .
Findings reveal we yearn for traditional love tokens like handwritten letters .
11% confess to falling in love with friend's wife or girlfriend - but never letting on . |
20,846 | 3b27ceaabfe8994373f940fa1e3a48b07587b37f | Two teenage schoolgirls were arrested over suspected terrorism offences after police believed they were trying to fly from Britain to Syria to fight in the civil war, it was revealed today. The 17-year-olds from London were grabbed at Heathrow airport this month amid concerns they had been radicalised and were going to become jihadists. A senior Scotland Yard officer has also revealed 14 young Britons have been held on charges linked to the Syrian conflict in January, compared to 24 for the whole of last year. Revelations: Scotland Yard has revealed it held two 17-year-olds believing they were going to join other women fighting in Syria (pictured) Counter-terrorism Commander Richard Walton warned today there are growing numbers of young 'boys and girls enticed' towards jihad, and some could target Britain next. 'We’ve had a number of teenagers both from London and nationally . who’ve been attempting to go to Syria,' he told the Evening Standard. 'That’s boys and girls . unfortunately. It’s not just the odd one. It’s shocking that they are . such young people.' The two teenagers held at Heathrow were later released, but Commander Walton added the chaos in Syria 'has all the ingredients' to produce terrorists also willing to try to kill people in the UK. Arrests: The two women were held at Heathrow (file picture) and the Met has held 14 teenagers on Syria-related allegations in total this month compared to 24 in all of 2013 . It came as two women accused of trying to smuggle cash from Britain to Syria to fund terrorism appeared in court. Naval Masaad, 26, and Amal El-Wahabi, 27, allegedly tried to take 20,000 Euros on a flight to Istanbul, Turkey. Masaad was arrested at Heathrow airport and found to have the cash wrapped in cling film stashed in her underwear. The two women wept and hugged each other in the dock when they appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court today. Mother of two El-Wahabi waved and blew kisses to her family in the public gallery while Masaad's mother Zora Alla ran weeping from court. Masaad, of Holloway, and El-Wahabi, of Willesden, are both charged with becoming concerned in an arrangement as a result of which money was made available or was to be made available to another, and they knew or had reasonable cause to suspect that it would or may be used for the purposes of terrorism. They were both remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on January 31 for a preliminary hearing. Neither indicated a plea to the charge. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Schoolgirls are 2 of 14 teenagers held for similar reasons this month .
'We’ve had a number of teenagers both from London and nationally .
who’ve been attempting to go to Syria', says Met Commander .
Two other woman in court accused of attempt to smuggle £16,000 to Syria . |
39,007 | 6e3609c4ef991daca8c7f5ab332a5e61e799bb25 | By . Fiona Macrae . PUBLISHED: . 19:31 EST, 3 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:00 EST, 4 April 2013 . A pill which promises a good night’s sleep without side-effects could be on its way. The drug, which has already been successfully tested on animals, could allow people to sleep soundly at night and wake up without the groggy feeling that blights many other tablets. Billed as ‘a good night’s sleep without the side-effects’, the tablet, which is known only as DORA-22, works in a different way to the existing pills taken by millions of Britons. Soundly sleeping: Billed as ¿a good night¿s sleep without the side-effects¿, the tablet, which is known only as DORA-22, works in a different way to the existing pills taken by millions of Britons (file picture) It and similar drugs could ‘usher in a new era for insomnia treatment’ the journal Science Translational Medicine reports. Some 15million prescriptions for sleeping pills are written out each year and although newer drugs produce fewer side-effects patients can still experience problems with concentration and grogginess. Concerns that Britain has become a nation of sleeping pill addicts has led to doctors being urged to first try alternative treatments such as counselling. Most of the £50million a year spent by the NHS on sleeping pills, or hypnotics, as they are known to doctors, goes on drugs that target a calming brain chemical called GABA. Insomnia: Some 15million prescriptions for sleeping pills are written out each year (file picture) In contrast, DORA-22 works on orexin, a brain compound that helps keep us awake. In tests, rats given the drug slept longer than those given a dummy pill. And after being given the drug, the creatures remained free of the memory problems that affected rats given Valium or one of two more modern sleeping pills. Similarly, monkeys given the other pills suffered problems with memory and alertness. However, DORA-22 was free of those problems and did not impact on reaction times, even when given at extremely high doses. The pharmaceutical giant, Merck, which is developing the drug, said that the tests mimicked a situation in which someone would wake up shortly after taking a sleeping pill. It added that more work is needed to check that the pill doesn’t cause grogginess the next morning. DORA-22 is only being used in lab tests at the moment. However, another drug in the same family has been tested on people and is very close to the market. An accompanying article, also in the journal Science Translational Medicine, says that such tablets could usher in a new era for insomnia treatment. However, the commentary’s author, a sleep researcher from Stanford University in the US, also urges caution, saying that the search for the perfect sleeping pill has been ‘marked by cycles of exuberance followed by disappointment, as adverse side-effects have emerged following widespread use’. He adds that only time will tell if DORA-22, and similar drugs, are ‘the perfect hypnotics’. Professor Colin Espie, founder of the sleep centre at Glasgow University, warned that tampering with orexin might produce other side-effects such as an increase in appetite. He added that the real challenge will be to find a pill that gets to the root cause of insomnia, rather than merely being a quick fix. Good morning: The drug, which has already been successfully tested on animals, could allow people to sleep soundly at night and wake up without the groggy feeling that blights many other tablets (file picture) | DORA-22 works in a different way to existing sleeping pills .
It could usher in 'new era for insomnia treatment' say experts .
The NHS currently spends £50million a year on sleeping pills . |
58,838 | a6e4ff1d77af13bea8cf1dca140fe4df4cfe1ede | Tormented: Jordan was bullied mercilessly at school and even had to move because of it . He's the Michael Bublé tribute act turned Mr England singing sensation but life hasn't always been smooth sailing for Jordan Williams. The 25-year-old has revealed that he was bullied while at school and that his experience is the reason for his insistence that proceeds from his new Christmas single go to an anti-bullying charity. Now the campaigner is calling for the Government to take action against sites like Ask.fm and says he was horrified by the suicide of Loughborough schoolgirl Hannah Smith, 14, who committed suicide after being abused online. 'It does just show how powerful these sites can be,' said Williams in an exclusive interview with MailOnline. 'When such things have happened and continue to happen, . I certainly do think they should be investigated and discussed - at the . very least heavily supervised. 'Kids are very vulnerable, some more than . others, and these kind of sites can provide an opportunity for bullies to hurt . people anonymously so I personally feel they do more . harm than good and absolutely need to be investigated.' Scroll down for video . Campaign: Jordan Williams, a.k.a Mr England, hopes his new single will make a difference to bullying victims . Williams also spoke of his own experience of bullying and spoke of his hurt at being picked on at school, although he adds that he's now moved on. 'My experience was the same as most other kids in the same situation really,' he explains. 'I was made to feel very unwelcome by certain people through that time and like many other kids found it difficult and very uncomfortable to the point where I didn't want to be there or be part of the school. 'In the end I moved school because of it,' he says, adding: 'It's the best move I ever made.' And what would he do if a young . friend came to him and revealed that they were being bullied? According . to Williams, letting them know that help is at hand is crucial. 'I would sit down with them offer to help and tell them there is help out there and that you can overcome it,' he explains. Living the dream: Despite the bullies doing their worst, Jordan went on to become this year's Mr England . Festive: Mr England, a.k.a Jordan Williams, is to release a charity Christmas single called Here We Are . 'I would suggest they . talk to someone, if not a parent, a teacher or a connections . officer, and someone will help you.' He adds: 'Bullying doesn't have to wreck your life and it . can be beaten and overcome but the most important thing is to talk to . someone.' Now, he hopes that his Christmas single, entitled Here We Are (Merry Christmas), will help children being bullied overcome their tormentors and start enjoying life again. 'I think the Government could perhaps do . more,' he adds. 'I think there is help for kids but bullying is something that can . affect a person for their whole lives so of course there's no such thing . as enough investment. 'I'm really hoping people get behind [the song] so we can all try make a . big difference and help as many kids in similar situations as possible . and, who knows, hopefully prevent tragedies like Hannah Smith from happening again.' Here We Are (Merry Christmas) is out now and all proceeds will go to Harborough Against Bulling. The track can be downloaded from iTunes for 79p. | Jordan Williams, 25, revealed he was tormented by school bullies .
Abuse became so bad, he was forced to find an alternative school .
Has released Christmas single to raise funds for anti-bully charity .
Says the Government needs to take action to support victims . |
262,456 | dffa71be3a57588b2e7d3242a28729bc5ac3f622 | With an all-day breakfast by Heston Blumenthal, a free personal shopper and the world’s only John Lewis Duty Free shop (just along from Cath Kidston), it is, surely, the poshest airport terminal in the world. In fact, it’s so grand that it will be opened by the Sovereign herself and won’t even have a number. It will have a name — although whoever came up with this one should be sent to the Tower. As of June, when this £2.5 billion monster is opened, Heathrow’s new Terminal 2 will be officially renamed The Queen’s Terminal — which sounds like a statement of republican intent or a very bleak medical prognosis. The re-opening of Terminal Two at Heathrow Airport next month will see it be renamed as The Queen's Terminal . I certainly wouldn’t advise mentioning ‘the Queen’s terminal’ anywhere near the Duke of Edinburgh. Back will come the retort: ‘No, she jolly well isn’t.’ Certainly, as terminals go, it’s very shiny and very smart. But for all the wavy roof design and Britain’s biggest indoor sculpture, not to mention a lot of PR nonsense about ‘Revolutionising The Check-In Experience’, it’s not much of a change. You’ll still end up in the same old queues to have your nail clippers confiscated by the same old jobsworths before walking half a mile to line up all over again at the gate. This week’s chaotic scenes at several British airports — fisticuffs and four-hour queues at Passport Control — are a timely reminder that when the computers go down, the colour scheme couldn’t matter less. If you’ve lost your luggage, you’re unlikely to be impressed that the desk attendants have been rebranded as ‘Passenger Service Ambassadors’ (they really have). I doubt this place will ever see quite such a good-natured band of punters as the 3,000 passengers I join for the first big rehearsal this week. After that famously inept opening of Heathrow’s Terminal 5 in 2008, the airport management are taking no chances this time around. The new terminal will include a Heston Blumenthal Cafe and the first duty free John Lewis . The builders actually finished construction work last November in order to leave a clear six months for fine-tuning everything. This week’s epic play-acting exercise is the first attempt at an ordinary day. With up to 20 million passengers on 23 airlines (including United, Lufthansa and Aer Lingus) expected through this building every year, there could be 3,000 people coming through here each hour. That is double the number using the old Terminal 2 before it was knocked down in 2009 (since when its tenant airlines have been lodging in other terminals). There was, interestingly, no problem rounding up this number of volunteers, in exchange for a packed lunch and a sneak preview. Local newspaper ads have helped to recruit 14,000 volunteers — more than at the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony — for the entire test programme. ‘It’s a nice day out, and I remember Heathrow in the days when passengers waited inside tents,’ says retired airport worker Pepina Powell, from Oxfordshire. She and her husband Les, a retired RAF navigator, are here to board an imaginary flight to Bern. The new sculpture within the terminal is called the 'Slipstream'. It was designed by British artist Richard Wilson . ‘Best of all,’ beams Pepina, ‘they’ve knocked 30 years off my age!’ Every single volunteer has been handed an individual script on arrival, complete with name, age, nationality, boarding pass and replica passport. Some are allocated an oversize cabin bag to test the reactions of staff at the gate. Others are told to dawdle in Duty Free and hold up everyone else. Retired book distributor Neil Hayman is rather sorry not to be his new alter ego. He is playing a youthful American called Kris Sun with a United Airlines ticket to Miami. Roy and Janet Haines, from Reading, Berkshire, are less thrilled. Not only have they been recast as a male couple from South Africa, but Roy has been given a First Class seat to Singapore while Janet has been plonked in Economy. The first thing we all encounter on turning up is a 256-ft, 77-ton aluminium-plated creation called Slipstream, which hangs over the covered walkway at the front of the terminal. Designed by the artist Richard Wilson, it replicates the exact path of a stunt plane swooping through the terminal. The 'Slipstream' artwork is suspended 18 meters above the ground, weighs 77 tonnes and is 78 meters in length . The £2.5 million result might best be described as a cross between a drill bit and a piece of pasta, but it is a clever concept, well-executed. Many people stop to take its photograph. ‘We wanted something which reflects Britain as a world centre of the arts and of engineering,’ explains Heathrow’s development director, John Holland-Kaye. A Cambridge-educated classicist, he explains that the new terminal is part of a 40-year plan to transform Heathrow from a hotch-potch of five ill-fitting terminals to a sleeker airport with two mega-terminals — this one and Terminal 5. Each has a main building linked to a colossal satellite annexe by tunnel. On its own, the new ‘royal’ terminal is already bigger than Stansted Airport. If Heathrow’s Spanish owners, Ferrovial, get permission for the third runway which they desperately want — and which half of London does not — then these two giants will have to grow even bigger. The much-trumpeted ‘revolutionary’ check-in is about as radical as Antiques Roadshow but the security hall is unusually big and bright. One volunteer, who works at the airport, tells me that she is dismayed by the lack of privacy. ‘I have been asked to take off several layers of clothing with a queue of men right behind me, and there are no cubicles,’ she says. ‘People from some Middle Eastern countries will be appalled.’ A construction worker puts the finishing touches to the new terminal which is due to open on June 23 . Once inside, there are some exotic additions to the usual spread of cheap fags, booze and scent. Heston Blumenthal’s Perfectionists’ Café will feature liquid nitrogen ice cream and staff will be trained to grind all the burgers along the grain of the meat for optimum juiciness. Burger King? Mcdonald’s? Forget it. The nearest thing to fast food will be a Leon’s deli, and there are no less than two Harrods stores — one for fine china and fancy tea, the other selling only watches. ‘We had five bidders for every outlet and we want to showcase the best of Britain,’ Mr Holland-Kaye says.In the atrium, things have turned even more surreal. A compere is leading 1,000 volunteers in a formation disco dance to the 1990 hit Altogether Now for a corporate video. I follow a party heading for an Air Canada flight to Toronto. It involves going down Britain’s second-longest escalator, along three travelators and up a further pair of escalators. ‘I have to say it’s a long way,’ sighs Carole Shaw from Bromley, who has become a 30-year-old Canadian called Barbie for the purposes of this journey. The check-in desks at the airport, which were put to the test during a volunteer exercise . No sooner has she made it all the way to the plane than all the outbound ‘passengers’ become inbound ones. All are handed a new identity and a new script, and are redirected into the arrivals stream. Carole morphs into a 36-year-old Kiwi called Julius Weil who has just arrived from Auckland. Half an hour and a long walk later, I meet her again at baggage reclaim where she is supposed to pick up a suitcase. Except it’s not there. ‘I’ve lost all my luggage!’ she laughs, and then remembers the point of all this. ‘I suppose I’d better try to be angry.’ The refurbished Terminal Two took five years to develop and build. The terminal is bigger than Stansted Airport alone . Heathrow’s managers are praying that all this role play will pay dividends when their swanky new glass house opens for business in June. My one reservation is that it may be a little too upmarket. It is certainly impressive, although some of its customers may find it a little elitist for passengers on some of this terminal’s resident airlines. How many of those flying on, say, . Ethiopian Airways will want a personal shopper or a little something from Bulgari? And they really must do something about the name. Why not the Queen Elizabeth II Terminal? Then, like New York’s JFK, we can all abbreviate it to ‘QE2’. And it won’t annoy the Duke of Edinburgh either. | Heathrow's new Terminal 2 will be officially opened by the Queen in June .
Will be renamed the Queen's Terminal when it opens .
Terminal is bigger than whole of Stansted Airport .
Up to 20million passengers on 23 airlines are expected each year .
14,000 volunteers were recruited to test out the new facilities . |
91,300 | 016d4d79342473297884a380dab5ee65b384fdb1 | (CNN) -- Rapper Flo Rida is out of jail after being arrested Thursday on suspicion of drunken driving. He posted bail of $2,000 and obtained a signed court order allowing him to travel to Asia for a series of previously scheduled concerts in Bangkok over the weekend, his lawyer said. Miami Beach police said officers spotted the South Florida artist, whose real name is Tramar Dillard, driving his 2008 Bugatti erratically in the early morning hours. According to the arrest report, Dillard swerved in and out of lanes about five times and drove for another two blocks after the responding officer activated his emergency lights and air horn. Police said the rapper smelled of alcohol and had bloodshot, watery eyes and slurred speech, the report said. Officers administered a field sobriety test, during which Dillard said, "Officer, I can't do this," and "I don't feel like I can walk a straight line." Dillard said, "I had a few drinks," according to the report. Police said he blew a 0.185 on a Breathalyzer exam, more than twice the legal limit. Dillard was charged with driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license for previously failing to pay a traffic fine. "Until we have an opportunity to meet with our client and conduct our own investigation into the facts, we are declining further comment on this matter," said a statement from his attorneys, Christopher Lyons and Sandy Becher. Flo Rida is perhaps best known for his 2008 hits "Low" featuring T-Pain, and "In the Ayer" featuring Will.i.am. | The rap artist was driving erratically in Miami Beach, police say .
"I had a few drinks," rapper said, according to the arrest report .
Flo Rida is known for the hits "Low" and "In the Ayer" |
167,755 | 64f9f51732c16e441e573211080cd412cea3f254 | By . Leon Watson . A stunned relative of the three victims of the Cumberland Hotel hammer attack sent out a series of desperate tweets moments after it happened, it was revealed today. Shekha Al Mauhairi, 18, was staying next door and ran down from the seventh . floor to the first screaming for help after the female tourists were hit in the face and head in a brutal attack. She said on Twitter: 'I am 18 years old and someone has attacked my family.' She then tweeted: 'I'm in London. Some foreigner from London came and attacked us.' A police car parked outside the entrance of The Cumberland Hotel in central London, where three women were attacked with a hammer by an intruder in one of the rooms inside . Four stars: The Cumberland Hotel in London, where the hammer attack on three women in their thirties took place . Botched burglary: Police believe the suspect entered a room on the seventh floor where the three women were staying with three children in adjoining rooms (stock image of a Cumberland Hotel room) In a final tweet she said that she has . now moved to another hotel and is being looked after by security. Her . tweets have since been deleted. Khalood . Al Muhairi, 36, remains in a 'critical' condition in hospital more than . 48 hours after being attacked at the four star Cumberland Hotel off . Oxford Street in central London. She is reported to have been placed in an induced coma. It . is understood two other women injured in the same incident in the early . hours of Sunday and now recovering at a London hospital are her sisters . Fatimah Al Muhairi, 31, and 34-year-old Ohoud Al Muhairi. All three women, from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), were enjoying a break in London with their children and other relatives. Their attacker is still being hunted by police. Scene: One of the women is in a critical but stable condition after the assault at the Cumberland Hotel near Oxford Street in London . Manhunt: Police are appealing for any witnesses of the incident on Sunday morning at the Cumberland Hotel, pictured, to come forward . Guests . staying at the Cumberland Hotel in Marble Arch said they have been . warned by their Embassy to be careful of thieves following the incident. Fatima . Al Hammadi, 28, who is from Abu Dhabi in the UAE and is staying at The . Cumberland with 10 family members, said: 'We came for relaxation, but . when we heard about this we were just really surprised. 'We . have heard of these things happening in Thailand, but never here. The . youngest, Shekha, has spoken about it on Twitter. Everyone knows about . it. The women, who are in their thirties, had travelled to London for a shopping spree from their home in the United Arab Emirates . 'The Embassy contacted . us about being careful of thieves. We have been to the Embassy today and . have asked them to move us to another hotel. 'We . don't care about the money - we want to get out, we don't feel safe . here. We don't know how the attackers could have got in, you need a key . card to use the lift. 'It's . all over the newspapers. A newspaper in the Gulf has an interview with . one of their brothers Badar al-Ansari, who said that London was like his . second home and completely safe, but now he's scared.' The UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has said they are closely following the case. 'There . are special agencies following up the case in co-ordination with our . embassy in London,' the MoFA official in charge of nationals, Rashid Al . Dhaahiri said. The UAE . ambassador to London, Abdulrahman Ghanim Al Mutaiwee, said they are . working 'with a number of security agencies in a bid to apprehend the . offenders.' The Ambassador . added that he was hopeful that the 'advanced technology in the hotel . will be used to identify and apprehend the offender who we believe had a . motive of robbery.' | Three victims of the Cumberland Hotel hammer attack have been named .
Assault happened on Sunday morning just yards from Oxford Street .
One woman is in a critical but stable condition following the 2am attack .
A relative, 18, was staying next door and ran downstairs screaming .
She then sent a series of stunned tweets about the attack . |
96,318 | 07e48a4b07c4f74e04dc46dd5e2fccbe80bb4625 | SEATTLE, Washington (CNN) -- The park bench facing Lake Washington is covered with flowers, poems, a pack of Lucky Strike cigarettes and graffiti. Fans leave flowers and mementos in honor of Kurt Cobain near his Seattle home. "I miss your beautiful face and voice," one dedication reads. "Thank you for inspiring me," says another. "RIP Kurt." Fifteen years ago Wednesday, at a house adjacent to the park, Kurt Cobain's dead body was discovered by an electrician. The Nirvana frontman, 27, had committed suicide, police later ruled, killing himself with a shotgun while high on heroin and pills. His death ended a battle with hard drugs and added Cobain to a long list of legendary musicians, such as Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, whose careers were cut short by their addictions. Cobain's ashes were reportedly scattered in a Washington state river and a New York Buddhist temple. Nirvana band mates Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl eventually formed other bands. Cobain's widow, Courtney Love, stayed in the limelight with an acting career and legal problems surrounding her own drug problems. Frances Bean, the couple's daughter, has largely lived outside the public eye. What was unclear when Cobain died was whether the music Nirvana created would endure or fade away like the grunge craze it helped to inspire. "At one point I thought, 15 years on, no one would really know who Kurt Cobain was outside of a group of diehard fans," said Jeff Burlingame, a Cobain biographer who grew up with the musician in Aberdeen, Washington, and knew him when he was a teenager who, without a place to sleep, crashed on mutual friends' couches. But Nirvana's music endured, and Cobain even found fans in his hometown of Aberdeen, which he had derided as a small-minded town. "The old-timers who were there when Kurt was around really took offense to some of the things he said about the area, so they had no real reason to honor him," said Burlingame, who co-founded the Kurt Cobain Memorial Committee. A famous son is a famous son, though. Now, visitors arriving in Aberdeen are greeted with a sign that reads "Come As You Are," after a famous Nirvana song. Cobain Memorial Committee members, who include Cobain's paternal grandfather, hope to establish a community center in the late rocker's honor that would give area youth a place to play music and pursue artistic interests. A concert will be held Friday in Seattle to honor Cobain and raise money for the center. When Cobain died, he left behind a fortune that was estimated in the millions. Even more money poured in over time from the royalties from his songs. But a lawyer hired by Love, Rhonda Holmes, says most of that money is missing. According to Holmes, Love recently discovered that "managers, assistants, CPAs, lawyers, people like that who were supposed to be entrusted with carrying for their well-being and finances basically looted the estate." Forensic accountants are now trying to determine where tens of millions of dollars from Cobain's estate ended up and how it could be recovered, Holmes said. | Kurt Cobain died 15 years ago, a suicide at 27 .
Cobain, frontman for band Nirvana, has been influential in music .
Even his hometown has honored him; Cobain had derided it .
Attorney for Courtney Love, Cobain's widow, says many "looted the estate" |
49,128 | 8abddd7ca9ddc23cd133f0a88b88440d45da4801 | Boulder, Colorado (CNN) -- The media have begun to make comparisons between Hurricane Katrina and the earthquake in Haiti. And in some ways, the two events are comparable. Like Katrina, the earthquake has produced effects of catastrophic proportions. Both events rank among the largest catastrophes ever experienced in the Western Hemisphere. They both have resulted in large loss of life and immense human suffering and make the coordination of emergency resources extremely difficult. Ordinary citizens are left to fend for themselves in the wreckage. And as we saw in Katrina and see now in Haiti, residents of disaster-stricken areas are the true first responders. The aftermath of such catastrophes brings more prolonged suffering and massive recovery challenges. People pay attention as the media cover them, but they turn their attention elsewhere when the cameras leave, even though many of the real challenges that victims and affected regions face emerge later. Like the Gulf region, Haiti will struggle for years and perhaps decades to rebuild and recover. But there, the comparisons end. To get an idea of the distinction between the two events, imagine that all of the U.S. west of the Mississippi were to be destroyed or extensively damaged by some immense catastrophe in one minute, with absolutely no warning. That is the situation Haiti faces. As horrific as it was, Katrina was a region-wide catastrophe, not a national one. Damage was enormous in the Gulf region, but the resources of the larger nation remained intact and available for mobilization, even though aid was slow in coming. Katrina did not flatten our nation's capital or prevent national leaders from communicating with one another. Impacts were catastrophic in areas where Katrina struck, creating significant logistics problems, but the infrastructure of the rest of the nation was untouched. Also important, it was possible to issue warnings for Katrina, which enabled the vast majority of those who were at risk to evacuate to safety. The victims of the earthquake had no such warning. In contrast, the earthquake in Haiti destroyed much of its capital, Port-au-Prince, and affected approximately one-third of the population of the entire country. The proportion of the nation's population that has been killed, injured or left homeless is enormous. The facilities that could have assisted victims, such as hospitals, clinics and the UN headquarters for the nation, were destroyed or are not operational. Aftershocks, which will continue for weeks, months and perhaps even years, will do additional damage and further compound both rescue and relief efforts. There is another distinction that makes these events non-comparable. Katrina affected the most vulnerable in the impact region: the poor, the elderly, the disabled, nursing home and hospital patients, and other at-risk groups. But the concept of vulnerability takes on a new meaning in the Haiti earthquake. The entire nation is desperately poor; 80 percent of the population lives in poverty and more than half that number in abject poverty. On almost all indicators of well-being -- health, education, literacy, income -- Haiti ranks very low. The nation has a long history of rule by dictators, political coups and savage violence. The capacity of Haiti's series of governments to provide services to its people has been abysmal for most of its history. In many ways, residents of Haiti faced a daily disaster even before the earthquake. These differences matter, and they should be kept in mind by those seeking to see parallels between the two catastrophes. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Kathleen Tierney. | Haiti quake and Katrina resulted in suffering and death for many .
Though there are parallels, two disasters were very different, Kathleen Tierney says .
She says the Haiti quake came without warning, affected larger proportion of nation .
She says Haiti's desperate poverty made it particularly ill-equipped for the quake . |
275,598 | f10a54df9f4a698b4df87660d4d6c95c0f683466 | 'Humiliated': Jane Hampson (pictured) had to leave the Pi bar in Liverpool out of embarrassment after a bartender refused to serve her a small glass of wine because she was pregnant . A mother-to-be has said she was left 'humiliated' after she was refused a small glass of wine because she is heavily pregnant. Jane Hampson, 37, said she would usually enjoy one 125ml glass of red wine a week with a meal after reading research which suggested it was medically acceptable. But the Deutsche Bank worker, who is overdue with her first baby, was left dumbfounded after a barman at Pi bar, in Liverpool, told her: 'Sorry, I can't serve you.' When she asked him why, the bartender said: 'I refuse to have serving alcohol to pregnant women on my conscience.' The exchange attracted the attention of other customers at the busy bar as Miss Hampson and her partner Alistair Townend, 37, asked for an explanation. Miss Hampson said they eventually left the bar out of embarrassment and bought a glass of red wine elsewhere. The NHS currently advises pregnant women should drink no more than one to two units of alcohol once or twice a week - the equivalent of a 125ml glass of wine. As bar bosses today apologised for the snub, Miss Hampson, from Mossley Hill, Liverpool, said: 'I couldn’t believe it - it was so humiliating. 'There is no way I would endanger my unborn baby yet it was being insinuated that I was doing just that and being irresponsible. 'At the time the bar was packed and all the customers were looking over at us to see what all the commotion was about. We felt we had no choice but to leave because it was so embarrassing. Scroll down for video... The bartender at the Pi bar (pictured), in Liverpool, told Miss Hampson: 'I refuse to have serving alcohol to pregnant women on my conscience' 'The fact I am pregnant was none of his business. I appreciate a bar’s management reserve the right not to serve customers but obviously I wasn’t drunk or misbehaving or under 18 - so he had no reason not to serve me. 'I am not some Vicky Pollard-type binge drinker. I have done extensive research on the effects of drinking alcohol when pregnant and the fact is there’s nothing wrong with having a small glass of wine every week. 'I have enjoyed a small glass of red wine with a meal once a week throughout my pregnancy but it’s not been every week. 'I would describe myself as health-conscious. I have run two marathons in the past and I am not into filling my body with anything that shouldn’t be there. 'When you look at how much of an issue excess alcohol causes in this country, I really don’t feel that any establishment that chooses to profit from alcohol sales is in any position to judge anyone.' The incident occurred after Miss Hampson decided to take a long walk with Mr Townend around Liverpool’s Sefton Park on Tuesday night. After their stroll the couple, who have been together for 10 months, headed to nearby Pi bar. Research: Miss Hampson, who describes herself as health-conscious, said she has done 'extensive research on the effects of drinking alcohol when pregnant' Miss Hampson, who works as an intermediary business manager for Deutsche Bank and also runs her own website selling eco-friendly soaps and cosmetics, said: 'I asked the barman for a small glass of red wine and as soon as I said it I could see him pursing his lips as if taking a sharp intake of breath. 'I went to the toilet leaving Alistair at the bar and when I came back the barman came up to me and said he wouldn’t serve me because he couldn’t have serving a pregnant woman alcohol on his conscience. It was outrageous and embarrassing. 'We asked why but he wouldn’t budge. We went to another bar nearby and I drank a glass of wine there instead.' She added: 'Throughout my pregnancy I have taken good care of myself and made the best choices for my baby. I eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day and make a fresh carrot, ginger and apple juice every morning. 'I don’t even use normal deodorant because I am concerned about using environmentally friendly and ethical products. 'I have read numerous articles about the effects of drinking alcohol when pregnant and I believe one small glass of wine once a week is not harmful to me or my baby. 'I had no alcohol during first 12 weeks of pregnancy apart from one glass of bubbly and one wine in that 12 week period and then, at most one glass a week, but not every week. 'It was usually with a nice meal out or on the odd occasion, like that Tuesday just after as long-a-walk as I could manage. The barman who refused to serve me was only in his 20s. It’s not up to him to decide what I should and shouldn’t be putting in my body. According to NHS guidelines, too much exposure to alcohol can seriously affect an unborn baby's development. Pregnant women are therefore advised to avoid drinking alcohol if pregnant or trying to get pregnant. For those who do choose to drink, the NHS advises not to drink more than one to two units of alcohol once or twice a week. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) advises pregnant women should avoid alcohol in the first three months in particular. Women who drink heavily during pregnancy risk their baby developing foetal alcohol syndrome. Children with this syndrome have restricted growth, facial abnormalities and learning and behavioural disorders. Source: nhs.uk . 'I felt like asking whether he refuses to serve fat people pies, or whether the bar checks how much caffeine a woman has consumed that day before they serve her a cup of coffee. 'There is recent research that suggests baldness is linked to alcohol consumption, are they going to start measuring people’s hairlines before they serve them a pint?' Ben Reynolds, area manager of Pi Bar, described the incident as an 'unfortunate misunderstanding'. He said: 'I would first and foremost like to apologise to Ms Hampson for any upset or embarrassment caused. 'I can fully understand her grievances and can completely understand why she felt upset. 'I would like to state that we have no company policy on the serving or not serving of alcohol to pregnant people. Why would we? It’s none of our business. 'What occurred was simply the result of a junior member of staff making a mistake and getting his wires crossed. 'He is deeply sorry for upsetting Ms Hampson and assures me that he was not, as I fear she believes, making a judgment on her, but rather thought for some reason, despite his training, that licensing laws forbade the serving of alcohol to pregnant people. 'However I can understand, given the unfortunate way he appears to have said it, why Ms Hampson felt he was insinuating otherwise. I would very much like to get in contact with Ms Hampson to apologise directly.' | Jane Hampson usually has one 125ml glass of red wine a week with a meal .
Bartender at Pi bar in Liverpool told her: 'Sorry, I can't serve you'
He said he 'refused to have serving alcohol to her on his conscience'
NHS advise pregnant women should drink no more than 1-2 unites a week .
Bar has apologised to Miss Hampson 'for any upset or embarrassment' |
265,578 | e3f470be744e2a5e2ecbcf0612c0fa058bba5384 | A Nova Scotia man who nearly took his own life as a teen has reconnected with the random stranger who pulled him from the brink 12 years ago. Mark Henick took, now 27, to social media in late January to search for his rescuer. Just one day later, he connected with youth care worker Mike Richey--the man who happened to be driving on the Cape Breton overpass where Henick nearly threw his life away in 2002. Now, Henick--who has since become a mental health advocate--has shared the first letter he received from his rescuer in a touching YouTube video he hopes will serve to inspire others who've lost hope. Saved by a stranger: Mark Henick was 15 when he nearly threw himself off a Nova Scotia overpass before a random stranger passing by decided to help pull him from the brink . 'This is the first time I've had any contact with this person since [that night],' Henick says in his video, which he posted January 30. In Richey's letter, he reveals to Henick that he just a happened have been starting his career helping at-risk youths. As he drove to a late shift, Richey saw 15-year-old Henick on the overpass. 'I remember there were no other cars on the road or anyone else around,' his letter reads. 'I could see what appeared to be a person on the opposite side of the railing, looking down.' Richey quickly told a gas station attendant to call the cops, then returned to Henick. So as not to startle the troubled teen, Henick 'kept things light.' 'I just wanted him to know that I was there...I wasn’t there to try to fix things for him or anything like that, I wanted him to know that no matter what, I’m not going anywhere. I’m right behind you.' A crowd gathered as the two talked. Someone among the crowd told Henick to jump. He soon let go. Saved Henick: In 2002, Mike Richey was heading to his job as an at-risk youth care worker when he noticed then 15-year-old Henick standing at the edge of an overpass. He stopped the car and starting talking to the teen . 'As [Henick] leaned forward into nothing, I reached out and put my arm around his chest,' writes Richey. With the help of a police officer who'd showed up, they pulled Henick to safety. And Richey says his long arduous road to recovery began that day. Weeks before reaching out on social media to find his rescuer, Henick--who now works for the Ontario division of the Canadian Mental Health Association, reports the Toronto Star--he'd given a TED Talk in which he described the night in 2002. Richey, by coincidence, had seen the talk and had already written the letter when he realized Henick was searching for him. Now the two men have exchanged several correspondences and plan to meet sometime in the future. And Henick wants their intersecting lives to serve as a reminder that anyone can help instill hope in the hopeless. 'I felt so alone, so isolated and secluded on that bridge, that the most powerful thing for me was that complete stranger reaching out — and I realized I can be that stranger, too, just by telling my story and just by saying that I’ve been there,' Henick says. Emotional: Henick and Richey have recently reconnected and Henick shared the heartwrenching letter Richey wrote him in a YouTube via posted January 30 . | Mark Henick was 15 when he nearly plunged off a Nova Scotia overpass after making the decision to take his own life .
Now a mental health advocate, Henick, 27, has given a TED Talk discussing that night and began searching social media for his rescuer last month .
One day later, he was contacted by Mike Richey, who happened to be driving by that night and refused to let Henick throw his life away . |
256,595 | d81ad44b029a1971eea364c81e5679564ba93131 | By . Mark Duell . Last updated at 6:43 PM on 13th October 2011 . Wall Street bankers are enjoying an average salary more than five times higher than the rest of the private sector in New York City, a report says. The average salary last year in the city’s securities industry - in which financial workers deal in debt, equities and derivatives - was $361,330. Comparing this to the average of $66,120 in the rest of the private sector will only fuel the outrage of Occupy Wall Street protesters. Disparities: The average salary last year in the city's securities industry was $361,330, compared to the average of $66,120 in the rest of the private sector . Average salaries in the securities industry 30 years ago were only double those in the rest of the private sector, reported the New York Times. New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s report came as city protestors continued to push for the state to extend a tax on millionaires. Total bonuses paid to workers in the city’s securities industry fell last year by eight per cent to $21billion following a 27 per cent rise in 2009. But wages - including bonuses - went up by 14 per cent last year to $58billion, although they remained below the 2007 record of $74billion. Last year almost a quarter (24 per cent) of all private sector wages were in the securities industry, even though it has just 5 per cent of the jobs. Up and down: Total bonuses paid to workers in the city's securities industry fell last year by eight per cent to $21billion following a 27 per cent rise in 2009 . Anger: Members of the Occupy Wall Street movement took part in a protest march through the financial district of New York City on Wednesday . The average securities salary grew last year by 16 per cent to $361,330. The salary gap peaked in 2007 before falling for the next two years. The average compensation for S&P 500 CEOs was $11.4million last year - almost 350 times the median pay of U.S. workers ($33,190). The gap has risen around eightfold since 1980 and is still only 25:1 in Europe, reported LiveScience. But the report added: ‘In 2010, the disparity between the securities industry and other employment sectors widened. ‘The average salary in the securities industry in New York City was also much higher than in such jobs in the rest of New York State ($209,500). ‘The higher salaries in New York City reflect a greater concentration of the most highly compensated positions in the industry.’ One in three of the city's jobs lost in the recession was in finance - and 10,000 more in securities could go within 14 months, reported the New York Times. | Report on salary gaps by New York State Comptroller .
Average 2010 wage in NYC securities industry: $361,330 .
Average 2010 salary in rest of private sector: $66,120 . |
28,445 | 50b463bf45168b2906638a0f9d566ecedb562adc | They dress like allies, but they kill like enemies. Gunmen wearing Afghan military uniforms turning against coalition troops has been an ongoing nightmare for NATO's International Security Assistance Forces. It happened again Tuesday, when a man believed to be an Afghan soldier killed U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Harold Greene and shot several others at a military training facility in Kabul. It's impossible to tell if or when the next "green-on-blue" attack might occur. But here's what we do know: . How often do these attacks happen? Such assaults were rare in the first few years of the Afghan War, averaging no more than one a year through 2008, according to the New America Foundation. But after the "surge" of 33,000 U.S. troops in 2009, the number of insider attacks jumped to four. The attacks spiked in 2012 with 48, according to a Pentagon report. The incidents have declined since then, with 15 attacks in 2013 and two in the first quarter of 2014, as more troops withdraw and coalition forces try new ways of mitigating the attacks. "Despite this sharp decline, these attacks may still have strategic effects on the campaign and could jeopardize the relationship between coalition and ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces) personnel," a U.S. Defense Department report said. Who carries out these attacks? Sometimes it's actual Afghan soldiers or police officers; sometimes it's insurgents such as Taliban militants disguised as Afghan security forces. The Taliban acknowledged Gen. Greene's killing Tuesday, but hasn't claimed responsibility for it. Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said officials believe an Afghan soldier was the gunman. An ISAF official said the group of coalition forces was standing outside, and the attacker shot from inside a nearby building at a distance of about 100 yards. The Pentagon isn't commenting on the possibility of Taliban involvement, saying the Afghan military and international forces are in the early stages of an investigation. But the Taliban have claimed responsibility for previous attacks. The terror group even released a video showing how their fighters trained to break through the fence at Camp Bastion, the site of a 2012 assault that left two U.S. Marines dead and six jets destroyed. NATO said the Taliban militants were wearing U.S. Army uniforms. They also carried automatic rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers and suicide vests. What are the motives? The intentions can run the gamut. Witnessing the horrors of war sometimes inspires soldiers to turn against their onetime allies, said Philip Mudd, a CNN counterterrorism analyst and former CIA official. In 2012, the deadliest year of insider attacks, a Defense Department official said the United States estimated 40% of them were due to Afghan members' own combat or emotional stress, and 15% are a result of intimidation by the insurgency or actually being recruited by it. The official said about 10% came from impersonators who are not part of the military. But in more than 30% of the assaults, no clear motivations were found. In many cases, such as in Tuesday's attack, the answer might never be known because the assailant was killed. How does the Afghan military vet its soldiers? Military recruits are vetted by their high school grades, an entrance exam, a health screening and biometrics, said Daulat Waziri, deputy spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Defense. They must also pass a background check and provide two references who are government employees. It's still unclear whether the gunman in Tuesday's attack had Taliban ties or whether he slipped through the military's screening process. "I don't think we should look and make judgments about the vetting process too quickly," Mudd said. "You would think on the surface that maybe he was recruited by the Taliban. That's not necessarily the case." What about allied forces turning against Afghan civilians? In March 2012, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales slipped away from the camp where he was stationed and into a village in Kandahar province, where he began shooting at civilians. He returned to the base, reloaded, and went out again to target another village. He left a trail of blood and gore in both villages, with nine children among the dead. Witnesses claimed the U.S. soldier dragged some bodies of his victims' outside and set them ablaze. By the end of the rampage, 16 villagers were dead. Bales was charged with murder and eventually sentenced to life in prison. Bales described his attack as "an act of cowardice" and said he'd taken steroids and drank sporadically. The Taliban vowed to retaliate "by killing and beheading Americans anywhere in the country." What can be done to mitigate insider attacks? Coalition forces have started using what they call "guardian angels," or armed troops who oversee others during meal times and when soldiers are sleeping. Two years ago, after the deadliest spate of attacks, troops started receiving a fold-up pamphlet called "Inside the Wire Threats - Afghanistan Green on Blue" to help prevent such assaults. A Defense Department official said it advises troops under attack who have their own weapons on them to "resolve the situation with forces at hand" and not wait for backup. Unarmed troops at meetings or dining halls have been vulnerable in the past, but now, all are carrying their weapons, preloaded with a magazine of ammunition. Weapons must be within arm's reach at all times, according to U.S. military sources. The pamphlet also offers broad indicators of behaviors by Afghans that could indicate they are a threat, the Defense Department official said. Things to watch for include complaints about other countries or religions, comments that advocate violence, a personality change, becoming isolated and not wanting to be around others, speaking in favor of radical ideology or showing an undue interest in coalition base headquarters or living quarters. But Kirby said insider attacks are "a pernicious threat" that are "difficult to always ascertain, to come to grips with ... anywhere, particularly in a place like Afghanistan." "Afghanistan is still a war zone," he noted. What's the future of U.S. troops in Afghanistan? In February, the Obama administration announced it had started planning for the possible withdrawal of all U.S. troops by the end of 2014 if Afghanistan did not sign a security agreement pertaining to rights of U.S. troops operating there. President Barack Obama called for 9,800 U.S. troops to stay in Afghanistan after the end of 2014, along with some allied forces. The number would get cut roughly in half by the end of 2015, and a year later the U.S. military presence would scale down to what officials described as a "normal" embassy security contingent. | Afghan defense official: Recruits must pass background checks and provide government references .
Insider attacks are sometimes committed by Afghan soldiers, sometimes by the Taliban .
Official: Motives range from emotional stress to being influenced by insurgency .
Coalition forces use "guardian angels," or armed troops who guard at meal times and at night . |
14,064 | 27eb22d6bc33156a9fb45337de8dfdc22c8e21bb | By . Will Stewart In Moscow . PUBLISHED: . 11:37 EST, 24 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:05 EST, 24 July 2013 . Fugitive intelligence leaker Edward Snowden faces living under strict curbs imposed by the Russian security agencies when he is allowed to move from his hideaway in a Moscow airport transit zone, it emerged on Wednesday. The 30-year-old U.S. runaway remained in the zone last night after a last-minute glitch in plans to allow him to cross the border control pending a formal decision regarding his application for asylum. He is still expected to leave a cramped transit hotel soon but a senior Russian official said his movements would initially be strictly curtailed, even though President Vladimir Putin has denied his intelligence services are seeking secrets known to the former contractor for the National Security Agency. Scroll down for video... For now: Lawyer Anatoly Kucherena spoke tot he press after visiting Edward Snowden at Sheremetyevo airport. Kucherena said Snowden, who was rumored to be leaving the transit zone, will be staying 'for now' The revelation will fuel U.S. concerns that his undisclosed espionage data is in jeopardy. The White House was ‘seeking clarity’ about Snowden's status. Vladimir Volokh, the head of the public council of the Russian Federal Migration Service, insisted: ‘He will only be allowed to stay in places designated by Russian law enforcement agencies.’ Still stuck: U.S. whistleblower Snowden was said to have received the necessary documents to pass into Russia, be it now appears he's missing some documentation and must stay in Sheremetyevo Airport . It was not immediately clear why Snowden - who has been inundated with marriage proposals by Russian women - did not leave the transit zone of Sheremetyevo Airport on Wednesday. He has been holed up here for a month. It was earlier reported he had received the necessary document allowing him to cross into Russia pending his request for temporary political asylum. But his Kremlin-friendly lawyer Anatoly Kucherena insisted yesterday that he was remaining in the transit zone for now despite reports that he was poised to cross the Russian frontier and travel into central Moscow. A large media pack were awaiting the move, but it appeared a key certificate was not yet ready. ‘He is staying here,’ he said. ‘He is here in the transit zone.’ While Snowden was fingerprinted pending his move, his application was ‘not a standard process’, and this caused delays. ‘There is lots of bureaucracy to get through, the documents are still being looked over,’ said Kucherena. Paperwork: Kucherena said there is 'lots of bureacracy' they must get around before he's able to help Snowden into Russia . False rumors: Snowden has been in Sheremetyevo Airport (pictured) for a month. He was falsely rumored to have left the transit zone Tuesday. He remained in the airport Wednesday awaiting paperwork . Buzz: Reporters swarmed Russian lawyer Anatoly Kucherena prior to his meeting with Snowden at the Moscow airport . Snowden has indicated he later hopes to secure exile in South America with offers from Venezuela, Bolivia and Nicaragua, but yesterday his lawyer said he might apply for Russian citizenship. ‘Edward also asked me to thank all the women in Russia for offering him to marry them,’ added the lawyer. ‘He was in stitches of laughter when he heard that there were a lot of such proposals. ‘I passed him some clothes. I noticed that each time we meet he wears one and the same shirt. ‘So I went out and bought him some shirts and trousers so that he at least could have a chance to change. There is no laundry or ironing service in the conditions where he lives right now.’ The lawyer stressed Snowden is staying in the transit zone ‘for now’ and ‘intends to stay in Russia, study Russian culture.’ He brought the fugitive Russian classics by Anton Chekhov and Fyodor Dostoyevsky's novel ‘Crime and Punishment.’ A-OK: Though the paperwork issue that's keeping Snowden in the Moscow airport, lawyer Anatoly Kucherena indicated to reporters that the American whistleblower continues to fair decently in his cramped hotel room . Airport security staff secure an area after Edward Snowden was granted documents that will allow him to leave the transit area, though the documents ultimately proved insufficient to allow him into Russia proper . Dragging on: View of Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, which Snowden has called home for a month now. He nearly got out Tuesday night but his hopes were dashed as a bureaucratic snag halted his plans . The novel is about the mental anguish and moral dilemmas of a poor ex-student who kills a pawnbroker for her cash but Kucherena said: ‘I'm not implying he's going through a similar mental anguish.’ Russia has rejected white House calls for Snowden to be deported to the US to face espionage charges for leaking details of the NSA's wide-ranging spying activities targeting data and phone communication. Volokh confirmed Snowden would ‘not be extradited to any country where his life might be in danger, because he has applied for asylum here.’ Putin demanded that Snowden stops leaking secrets damaging to the US while he is in Russia. No change: Anticipation of Snowden's release was high as security officials sectioned off the airport, but that release never came and Snowden remains in flux, though his lawyer said he will get to leave 'soon' | The U.S. whistleblower lacked necessary document he needed to cross into Russia .
He's still expected to leave soon, but will be kept in designated security areas .
'Lots of bureacracy': Lawyer says Snowden still stuck in airport 'for now' as White House seeks clarity on his whereabouts . |
65,335 | b98a8d31d8aa030ed7d9aa0a5869736b5f8ca7c0 | AFC Wimbledon powerhouse Adebayo Akinfenwa scored against Liverpool as the League Two club fell at the hands of the Barclays Premier League outfit. But who is football's strongest man? Sportsmail's Bob Treasure tells all about The Beast. VIDEO Scroll down to see football's strongest man hit 'beast mode' in the gym . So, Akinfenwa looks like a big boy... He certainly is. The AFC Wimbledon striker is 5ft 10in and tips the scales at around 16 stone. It’s not just for show, though — FIFA 15 recognises him as the strongest player in the world. AFC Wimbledon powerhouse Adebayo Akinfenwa scored against Liverpool in the FA Cup on Monday night . But is he any good? The Beast has achieved a decent goal return at practically every club he’s played for, including eight in 22 league games for AFC Wimbledon this season. He has never been above League One in England, but played for Lithuanian top-flight side FK Atlantas between 2001 and 2003. Good touch for a big man? As his pirouette away from Philippe Coutinho and Mamadou Sakho in the first half showed, he has nimble feet. But Akinfenwa is most effective in a crowded six-yard box and his inclination to jump in where it hurts was vital to his team’s equaliser. Akinfenwa scored against Liverpool but the Premier League club escaped with a 2-1 FA Cup win . Akinfenwa (second from right) was unable to upset Liverpool's night but did his best up top for Wimbledon . Is that him with Steven Gerrard's shirt? Good eye! He wanted to wreck the Liverpool captain's FA Cup but warned his team-mates not to bother trying to get Gerrard's shirt afterwards. 'I want Gerrard's shirt,' he said. 'I've told the boys that if anyone get's his shirt before me we are going to have a problem. Especially with the announcement that this is his last FA Cup run with Liverpool.' We wouldn't argue with him... Akinfenwa pictured with his Liverpool idol Steven Gerrard's shirt after the FA Cup win for the Reds . Anything else we need to know? Yes, he owns his own clothing company — named Beast Mode On, after his imposing physique — which is ‘all about defying limitations people put on you’, according to its website. 'The Beast' Akinfenwa could not wait to take on boyhood club Liverpool in the FA Cup . | AFC Wimbledon lost 2-1 against Liverpool in the FA Cup third round .
Adebayo Akinfenwa warned team-mates he wants Steven Gerrard's shirt .
The 16-stone striker is a boyhood Reds fan and scored on Monday night . |
204,001 | 9417f818dcf235dd74624f4434bf366ea3992e13 | Stunning images of an Indonesian girl holding a pet cat, a crowd of penguins on a South Atlantic island, and a colourful hot air balloon soaring over a red desert are in the running for the Sony World Photography Awards. With just over one month remaining for photographers to enter the contest, the World Photography Organisation has revealed some of the submissions for the 2015 competition. And the collection of photos is spectacular - with one of the standouts featuring an orangutan using a large banana leaf to shield itself from the driving rain. Photographer Andrew Suryono said: ‘I was taking pictures of some orangutans in Bali and then it started to rain. ‘Just before I put my camera away, I saw this orangutan take a banana leaf and put it on top on his head to protect himself from the rain. ‘I immediately used my DSLR and telephoto lens to preserve this magic moment.’ This year's submissions include incredible images of wildlife and some of Earth's greatest landscapes. Launched in 2008, the awards are dedicated to supporting and cultivating photographic culture. They are open to photographers of all levels - from amateurs to 'fully-fledged' professionals - and winners will be selected in four categories (professional, open, student and youth). The open and youth competitions close on 5 January, while entries for the professional competition must be submitted by 8 January. The student competition closed earlier this month. Scroll down for video . Photographer Andrew Suryono captured this amazing photo of an orangutan using a banana leaf to shield itself from the rain in Bali . This photo features Indonesian photographer Arief Siswandhono's daughter, who has overcome her fear of the family's pet cat . A crowd of king penguins gathers on the island of South Georgia in the South Atlantic Ocean during photographer Lisa Vaz's visit . Photographer Nick Ng captured this moment as a man washed his feet before bathing in the Hooghly River in Kolkata, India . Cioplea Vlad was in the right place at the right time when she photographed the Romanian YAK Team at the Bucharest International Air Show . Other entries include photos of a man collecting wood for a cattle fence in Ethiopia (left) and a portrait of a person's covered face . Step by step: German photographer Ralf Wendrich said his photo of this staircase in Berlin was 'reduced to the essential' Morning hour: This fascinating photo from Georg May shows a white fallow deer standing in the morning mist in Eifel National Park, Germany . A Hindu monk is silhouetted in sunlight on a winter morning at a mango garden in Dinajpur, Bangladesh (photographer: Jubair Bin Iqbal) Hindu devotees throw vivid colour at each other during Lathmar Holi Festival in Nandgaon, India (photographer: Ioulia Chvetsova) These mother and the cub Kermode bears were photographed by Kyle Breckenridge at the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia, Canada . Photographer Miquel Artus Illana snapped this stunning image of an ancient glacier's footprint at Denali Park in Alaska . Desert dawn: A hot air balloon is pictured over sand dunes about 30 minutes after sunrise near Dubai (photographer: Gareth Lowndes) | World Photography Organisation has revealed some of the incredible submissions for the 2015 competition .
Collection of photos is spectacular, with amazing photos of wildlife and some of world's greatest landscapes .
Competition is open to photographers of all levels with professional, amateur and student categories . |
182,157 | 77d7dcaef2745fcecac88a859fa0940a6ce3a79e | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 5:08 PM on 29th November 2011 . A paedophile who posed as a gay 14-year-old girl to entice children to perform sex acts in front of a web camera has been jailed for almost seven years. Father-of-two Barry McCluskey, 40, pleaded guilty to 49 charges including lewd and libidinous behaviour. The offences were committed between March 2003 and August last year at locations in Glasgow. The former nurse often used the pseudonym 'Clare' when he contacted children, whose ages ranged between nine and 15, via online instant messenger services. Jailed: Father-of-three Barry McCluskey posed as a gay 14-year-old girl to entice children to perform sex acts in front of a web camera . In one instance he asked a 14-year-old girl to rub her naked breasts and bend over in front of the webcam while wearing grey knee-high socks. He told one girl: 'Three more videos, then I am out of your life forever.' He often blackmailed the children, telling them he would distribute the videos of them, or even commit suicide, if they did not do as he said. McCluskey was arrested after police found him on Glasgow's Erskine Bridge, apparently contemplating suicide. McCluskey also admitted two charges of surreptitiously following schoolgirls and filming up their skirts, as well as filming women and children in public changing rooms. Sentencing him today at the High Court in Glasgow, temporary Judge Rita Rae said McCluskey's actions were 'depraved' and that the case should act as a warning to parents who allow their children full access to the internet. She noted that in one case McCluskey would not leave one of his victims alone even after she pleaded with him that her mother was dying of cancer. The girl told McCluskey that she would kill herself if her mother found out. Judge Rae sentenced him to a total of six years and eight months, which will be backdated to November 1 last year when he was first taken into custody. She also imposed a lifelong restriction order on him, meaning he will be monitored after his release and can be returned to custody if a judge orders it. | Warped Barry McCluskey, 40, jailed for almost seven years .
Father-of-two preyed on girls from the home he shared with his wife and children . |
135,095 | 3ac2da3e2a0771ab74c4b734ceefb295cd7c33e7 | By . Jack Doyle . PUBLISHED: . 19:21 EST, 9 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:12 EST, 9 August 2013 . Teachers have been put on alert for pupils who could be taken out of the country and forced to marry strangers. It is thought up to four children a day are spirited out of Britain over the summer holidays to be wed against their wishes. New cards offering help to those at risk of being forced to marry will be handed out to schools, airports and GPs’ surgeries. Aneeta Prem, founder of Freedom Charity, which helps victims of forced marriage, said: ‘The “Marriage: it’s your choice” card is a concise and accessible way to receive information that could save someone’s life. Innovative: This leaflet aims to help those who are vulnerable to being abducted by their families . ‘It’s vital that young people travelling abroad for a family wedding realise it could be their own wedding – and know who they should contact should they find themselves in danger.’ Between June and August last year the government’s Forced Marriage Unit had more than 400 reported cases, compared with 1,485 cases for the whole year. Crime prevention minister Jeremy Browne said: ‘The rise in forced marriage reports over the school holidays is shocking. ‘Teenagers expecting their GCSE or A-level results should be embarking . on a bright future, not condemned to a marriage with someone they have . never met and do not want to marry. ‘This is a serious abuse of human rights and that is why we are legislating to make it illegal.' Prevention: New cards offering help to those at risk of being forced to marry will be handed out to schools, airports and GPs' surgeries. This is a file picture of a teacher in class . A new law making forced marriage illegal is currently going through Parliament and is expected to become law in March next year. At the moment it is not an offence, and police are forced to use linked . offences, such as kidnapping, false imprisonment, assault, harassment . and making threats to kill. Research suggests the number of reported cases of forced marriage in England is between 5,000 and 8,000 a year. | Four children a day are spirited out of Britain over summer holidays .
Cards offering help to those at risk will be handed out to schools and GPs . |
187,286 | 7e8cb6c42d9743df573eaea15ebfc2c45823ccdc | By . Sadie Whitelocks . Last updated at 3:14 PM on 21st November 2011 . Get set for a cyber frenzy, as today is set to be the busiest online shopping day of the year. Dubbed Mega Monday, it is anticipated that millions of UK consumers will scour the internet for festive bargains and Christmas gifts. Sales are expected to reach £424 million over the course of the day, with people spending on average around £300,000 a minute. Mega Monday: According to forecasts online shopping sales are expected to reach £424 million over the course of the day . In the run-up to Christmas it is expected that more than £13 billion will be spent online - a further blow to the high street where sales are expected to drop by 2.1 per cent. It is usually the Monday closest to December, when shoppers receive their last monthly pay packet that this internet phenomenon occurs. But according to research shopping comparison website Kelkoo, people are stocking up early as extreme weather caused a backlog of orders last December. Yule tide: Many say that online shopping is more convenient and less stressful . A spokesperson at Kelkoo, said: 'With £424 million being spent on just one day, . Monday will be a hugely significant day for online retailers. 'Overall, the six weeks in the run-up . to Christmas will be a time for e-tailers to really boost their sales . figures at the end of a challenging trading year.' The estimated figures are a considerable increase from last year. Gifts 33.7 per cent . Christmas travel 24.5 per cent . Decorations 20.6 per cent . Food and drink 6.7 per cent . According to Centre for Retail Research . According to a study commissioned by online consultancy Tealeaf, shoppers only spent £2.8bn online over the same period in 2010. Popular purchases included Apple gadgets such as the iPad and iPod Touch, televisions, video games, . Lego toys and the children's Mini Micro scooter. Lunch time was the busiest time as millions of office workers logged on at their work computers. The peak minute was at 1.15pm where e-tailers collectively took £832,000. Last year’s online Christmas sales were up 44 per cent on the previous year, and this year it is believed technological advances will further boost sales. The Centre for Retail Research forecasts that some 12 per cent, or £1.64bn worth of shopping will be done via mobile phone. A spokesperson from Kelkoo added: 'In particular, we were interested to see that this year, shopping on mobile phones is set to increase significantly, opening up more opportunities for retailers to sell any place, any time.' With a quarter of the UK public now doing Christmas shopping online, retailers are being urged to prepare their web-based store fronts for surges in demand, especially if they are offering attractive deals. It is believed 33.7 per cent of online spending will be on gifts, 24.5 per cent on Christmas travel, 20.6 per cent on decorations and 6.7 per cent on food and drink. People revealed convenience, reduced stress and cheaper prices as reasons for buying gifts on the internet. According to sales website Showroomprive.co.uk a fifth of Brits find high street shopping more stressful than commuting while others said they would prefer a trip to the dentist . | 'Mega Monday' spending boom comes early after last year's snow meant many missed out .
£424m to be spent today .
Online sales to reach £13bn between now and Christmas (that's £300,000 a minute) |
188,016 | 7f7ac77e2267eb9bab1d50b56980808132d9aa0c | (CNN) -- On Sunday, Raquel and Pedro Alvarado buried three of their children -- Erica, Alex and Jose Angel -- in the Mexican village of El Control, just five miles south of the Texas border. The final resting place for the youths -- all in their 20s -- is the place where their family originated. But this small community, administered by the larger border city of Matamoros, merely provides bookends to the lives these three Americans had north of the Rio Grande. The siblings were born in the United States, grew up in Progreso, Texas, and continued to make their lives there. They disappeared on October 13 -- kidnapped, witnesses say -- as they returned to Texas from a trip to visit their father in El Control. Their bodies were found last week. Each was bound at their hands and feet, the Tamaulipas State Attorney General's Office said, and each had a gunshot wound to the head. A fourth victim, Jose Castaneda, met the same fate. Castaneda was Erica's boyfriend, her family said. All four were killed the same day they disappeared, a spokesman for the State Attorney General's Office said, without elaborating. Some witnesses told investigators that the armed men who confronted and took the youths belonged to a new security force known as "Grupo Hercules," State Attorney General Ismael Quintanilla Acosta told reporters. Grupo Hercules was created one month before the disappearance of the youths. It is touted as an elite security force under the direction of the mayor of Matamoros, 37-year-old Leticia Salazar. In parts of Mexico like this stretch of border, where drug cartels battle each other and law enforcement, things aren't always what they seem. Drug gangs have been known to pose as cops. Cops have been known to be on cartel payrolls. Cases of mistaken identity have had deadly consequences. But what troubles Pedro and Raquel Alvarado is that no one has offered a motive or theory about why their children and Castaneda were killed. No one has accused the Alvarado siblings of being involved in criminal activity. And while nine members of Grupo Hercules were interrogated by investigators, no arrests have been made. Salazar, the Matamoros mayor, has neither defended nor disciplined her security forces -- at least publicly. Contacted by CNN, Salazar referred questions to the city's public affairs team, which earlier said it did not have any comment on the allegations against Grupo Hercules and could not confirm why the group was created or even its size. In a news release announcing the group's unveiling, Grupo Hercules is described as being tasked with combating crime and made up of forces capable of carrying out intelligence and high-risk operations. A week ago, the attorney general said his investigators would call in the mayor for questioning, but that has not happened. "I don't know why they took them," Pedro Alvarado said. "They didn't start trouble with anyone. They were quiet, not aggressive." If her children were mixed up in something criminal, there should be a record of their arrests or charges against them, but those are nonexistent, Raquel Alvarado said. "If I knew they were doing something wrong, I would have recognized it as their mother," she said. "And until someone proves otherwise, I will continue defending them." Pedro, Raquel's former husband, was the one to identify the remains of his children, which were in an advanced state of decomposition, the State Attorney General's Office said. He identified them by their clothing, shoes and some tattoos. The U.S. Consulate in Matamoros has been assisting the family. "We have been in contact with Mexican officials both in Washington and in Mexico to find out further details of the case, and will take appropriate action (if necessary) once more is known about the circumstances," a State Department official said. An FBI spokeswoman said the agency is assisting Mexican officials with any part of the investigation on the U.S. side of the border. Three lives . The final Facebook post that Erica Alvarado shared -- at least publicly -- is a fitting, if unplanned, goodbye. It is a collage of photos of her four children atop a backdrop with the words "I love you." She was born in Florida, and like her siblings, grew up in Progreso, a Texas town on the border and about as close as you can get to El Control on the U.S. side of the boundary. She was a dedicated mother, Pedro Alvarado said, and was planning to enroll in a nursing program. Her brother Alex loved his Chevy Tahoe, his father said. Alex's social media postings reflect that: photos of the Tahoe muddied, photos after a paint job, the Tahoe as a profile picture. The same armed men who took his children took the Tahoe, Pedro Alvarado said. The 22-year-old had a prominent tattoo on his left arm -- an image of St. Jude, the saint of lost causes -- the father said. By now, Alex and his brother, Jose Angel, should have been in Missouri, doing seasonal agricultural work, Pedro Alvarado said. Jose Angel was born in Houston, and Alex in Harlingen, during Pedro's own days as a seasonal migrant worker in the United States, their father said. Routine visit . The siblings visited their father in El Control each week, Pedro Alvarado said. On their short drive back to Texas, the Alvarado siblings stopped at "La Curva Texas," a small restaurant underneath the last major overpass before the Los Indios International Bridge, Pedro Alvarado said. They arrived separately, Raquel Alvarado said. According to what witnesses have told her, Alex and Jose Angel arrived at the restaurant to find armed men beating up their sister and her boyfriend. The brothers intervened, and the armed men overpowered all four and placed hoods over their heads before escorting them away, the mother said. It was there, he said, that they were last seen before their bodies were found 16 days later. Raquel Alvarado said she and Pedro have told all this to authorities, but she accuses investigators of moving slowly. The facts that are known, she said, are thanks to the investigative work of Pedro, who tracked down witnesses. There was an outpouring of support at the funeral, Raquel Alvarado said. Family from across Texas and Mexico attended, and when the funeral procession moved from the church to the burial ground, they found that the crowd wouldn't fit in the cemetery. On Monday, the mother was back in Progreso, hoping to get some sleep to recover from the whirlwind of mourning, frustration and media spotlight. "I hope when I wake up I will learn this was all a nightmare," she said. "But I know it isn't." Mexican mayor, wife arrested in case of missing students . CNN's Elwyn Lopez and Rosa Flores contributed to this report. | Three siblings from Texas, another man, went missing in Mexico on October 13 .
Some witnesses say security forces took them .
Erica, Alex and Jose Angel Alvarado, and a fourth person who was with them were found dead .
They were buried Sunday in Mexico . |
158,209 | 588ead3fb2168efb20807e37b3d514a96eee856f | Authorities investigating this week's deadly shooting spree at Fort Hood said Friday that an altercation between Spc. Ivan Lopez and his fellow soldiers, rather than a medical condition, may have led to Lopez opening fire. "The immediate precipitating factor was more likely an escalating argument in his unit area," Lt. Gen. Mark Milley, the post's commanding general, told reporters. Some of the soldiers involved in the altercation were victims in the shooting, according to Chris Grey, spokesman for the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, who appeared with Milley at a news conference on the sprawling post. Officials would not release further details about the argument, saying the investigation was still ongoing into what caused the 34-year-old to set out on a shooting spree that left three soldiers dead and 16 wounded before he killed himself. But the sister of one of the soldiers injured in the attack said that prior to the shooting Lopez stopped by the base's personnel office to pick up a form requesting leave -- or military permission to be away for a time. Armetra Otis, sister of Sgt. Jonathan Westbrook, said on CNN's "The Lead" that her brother "was at work and a guy came in and asked for a leave form." The soldier was told he would have to come back later, Otis said, . "And apparently I guess he didn't want to hear that, so he came back and just opened fire, " Otis said. "He shot the first guy he saw and killed him and then turned the gun on my brother and he was shot four times," she said. Sgt. Westbrook was released from a hospital Friday, his sister said. Both Milley and Grey said they did not know if the leave issue in itself led to the altercation. "At this time, we have not established a concrete motive," Grey said. Investigators have not uncovered any history of criminal convictions or previous criminal activity by Lopez, nor have they found any links to terrorism. On Thursday Milley said investigators believed a medical history that indicates an unstable psychiatric or psychological condition may be a "fundamental causal factor," in the shooting. But on Friday he said investigators "do not believe" that his "underlying medical conditions ... are the direct precipitating factor" The shooting blindsided victims, said Dr. Matthew Davis, medical director of trauma services at Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple. "It was a shocking episode. It felt very surreal," he said after speaking to victims. "It was a very unexpected thing in the middle of a working day." Governor, senator visit . Texas Gov. Rick Perry and the state's junior U.S. senator visited with some of the wounded Friday. Speaking to reporters at Fort Hood afterward, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz hailed the bravery of wounded survivors. He recalled the story of one soldier, shot in the abdomen, who called 911 and "stepped forward" to save others. Acknowledging the post has seen two mass shootings since 2009, Perry said there were no easy answers to what happened Wednesday, but that soldiers there will "recover from this latest tragedy." "We'll learn lessons about what occurred here and minimize the chances of this ever happening again," Perry said. Perry and Cruz declined to answer questions about whether soldiers should be able to carry concealed weapons on base. Right now, Perry said, the focus should be on those who were wounded or killed Wednesday. The conditions of three victims, who were previously listed as critical, have been upgraded to fair, Scott & White Memorial Hospital posted on Twitter on Friday morning. Five have been discharged from the hospital. Of the four remaining Friday morning, one was expected to go home later in the day, the hospital said. Milley announced Friday afternoon that the three soldiers killed will be remembered in a memorial service at the post next Wednesday, exactly one week after the attack. The rampage . The shooting started about 4 p.m. Wednesday when Lopez walked into an administration building at the base and opened fire with his .45-caliber semiautomatic pistol. He then got into a car, fired from the vehicle, got out of the car, walked into another nearby administration building and fired again. One of the locations was the medical brigade, the other the transportation battalion. Lopez was assigned to the 13th Sustainment Command, which deals with logistics. In his work, he had regular dealings with the transportation battalion. But authorities have "no indication at this time" that Lopez was targeting specific soldiers when he opened fire on the Army post, Milley said. The base, which has more than 45,000 soldiers and nearly 9,000 civilian employees, went on lockdown after the shooting began. A short time later, a military police officer came face to face with Lopez. Both he and she drew their weapons, Milley said. Lopez put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger, ending his life. At Lopez's apartment, his wife was watching news reports about the spree, worrying about her husband, from whom she had not heard all afternoon, said neighbor Xanderia Morris, who tried to console her. But Lopez's wife had no idea that he was the shooter until a local TV station identified the dead gunman. His widow became "hysterical" when she heard the news, Morris said. Officers picked up Lopez's widow at their apartment near the base in Killeen, and she was cooperating with law enforcement, an FBI official told CNN. Depression, anxiety . Lopez hailed from Puerto Rico, where he served in the National Guard from 1999 until 2010 before moving to the U.S. Army. He had two deployments as an infantryman, including a four-month stint in Iraq in 2011 as a truck driver, Milley said. Before coming to Fort Hood in February, Lopez served at Fort Bliss in Texas. He, his wife and their daughter moved into an apartment a little more than a week before the shooting. They appeared to be a normal couple, smiling "whenever they'd see someone," Morris said. But behind Lopez's smile lay a history of depression, anxiety and other psychiatric disorders, Milley told reporters. The soldier was receiving treatment and taking antidepressants, he said. Army records don't show him as having been wounded in Iraq, but Lopez reported that he had suffered a traumatic brain injury, Milley said. The shooter "had a clean record" behaviorally, Army Secretary John McHugh said. And he gave no sign during a psychiatric exam last month that he was likely to become violent. Lopez had also been prescribed the sedative Ambien, McHugh said. Investigators who searched his home have found no significant physical evidence, such as a suicide note, to indicate motive, a law enforcement official told CNN on Friday on the condition of anonymity. The official also said that Lopez purchased a "large amount" of ammunition when he bought a .45-caliber gun on March 1, and continued to buy more ammunition throughout March. U.S. law enforcement officials previously said Lopez bought his gun at Guns Galore, a store in Killeen. The casualties . All those killed in the shooting were military personnel, Milley said. Sgt. Timothy Owens was one them, his family said in a prepared statement. "He was a very outgoing person and enjoyed Taekwondo," the statement said. "He loved his job in the Army and was going to make it a career." Owens, 37, was a counselor in the Army and had served in Iraq. His mother, Mary Muntean, told CNN affiliate WICS-TV in Springfield, Illinois: "He was a good person. Why would they shoot a good person that was helping them?" Owens loved the military and planned to make it his career, his mother told the station. "He didn't answer the phone so I left a message on his phone: 'Son, call me so I know if you're OK or not.' Well, never got no call from him. I thought: 'Oh God, please don't let it be,'" his mother said. Also killed was Staff Sgt. Carlos A. Lazaney-Rodriguez of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, according to his aunt, Benny Rodriguez. Lazaney-Rodriguez, 38, planned to retire from the military soon after serving 20 years, Aguadilla Mayor Carlos Mendez told CNN en Español's Mayra Cuevas. "It was a very close-knit family," Mendez said "Excellent, decent, very good people. I know his family and his parents. They are good people." Sgt. 1st Class Danny Ferguson also was killed, his fiancée, Kristen Haley, told CNN affiliate WTSP-TV in Tampa, Florida. Ferguson died trying to hold a door shut to stop the shooter, Haley, also a soldier, told CNN affiliate WTSP-TV in Tampa, Florida. "He held that door shut because it wouldn't lock. It seems the doors would be bullet proof, but apparently they're not," Haley told the station. "If he wasn't the one standing there holding those doors closed, that shooter would have been able to get through and shoot everyone else." Haley said Ferguson was a native of Mulberry, Florida, and an outstanding athlete at Mulberry High, where he graduated in 1993. The small town is about 30 miles east of Tampa. One or two wounded victims may face long-term disabilities, but doctors are working to prevent this, said Davis, the Scott & White Memorial Hospital medical director of trauma services. Not again . When he first heard about the shooting, Davis says one thought ran through his mind: "How can this possibly happen again?" Less than five years ago, the hospital where Davis works treated casualties after Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan killed 13 people and wounded 32 more in a November 2009 shooting at Fort Hood. Hasan was convicted of 13 counts of murder and 32 counts of attempted murder, and a military jury recommended in August that he be put to death. The former military psychiatrist told a court he was on a terrorist mission to protect leading members of the Taliban. | An "escalating argument" may have led to shooting, officials say .
Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Sen. Ted Cruz visit some shooting victims .
Gunman Ivan Lopez killed three people, wounded 16 others at the Army post .
A memorial for three soldiers killed will be held at Fort Hood next Wednesday . |
71,458 | ca88ee490724021c4e81e71fd378ea50c03dbad5 | By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 03:34 EST, 16 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 03:40 EST, 16 October 2012 . Terminator star Arnold Schwarzenegger has backed Boris Johnson to become Prime Minister, bringing some Hollywood glamour to the London Mayor’s hopes of one day getting the keys to Number 10. The former California governor hailed Mr Johnson as a ‘visionary’ with all the qualities needed to be a great leader. The fulsome endorsement is the latest chapter in the duo’s bizarre relationship, just a week after Mr Johnson described the blockbuster actor as an ‘Austrian cyborg’. Boris Johnson has been hailed as 'charming, funny and very clever' by his one-time foe Arnold Schwarzenegger. The pair rode Boris Bikes in London last year . The Tory party conference in Birmingham last week was dominated by speculation about Mr Johnson’s leadership ambitions. Mr Johnson used a speech to a ConservativeHome rally to repeat his swipe at Schwarzenegger's Austrian accent. Despite giving fulsome backing to David Cameron, the London Mayor also attacked government policy on tax, aviation and housing. Opinion polls have suggested the Conservative share of the vote would go up with Mr Johnson at the helm, although he has promised to serve his full second term as Mayor of London until 2016. Now Schwarzenegger has backed him to one day become Prime Minister for having the key skill in politics: likeability. ‘He has the qualities that are essential for a leader,’ Schwarzenegger told the Daily Telegraph. ‘For politicians, it’s all about personality. Boris is charming, he’s funny, and he’s very clever. ‘But also he is a visionary and he’s very likeable — and that’s really important in politics.’ In August the duo took a ride on the Emirates cable car from Greenwich to the ExCeL in Docklands, after watching the Olympic basketball in Greenwich . Schwarzenegger is in London promoting his new film, The Last Stand. During his publicity tour he has also warned the Prime Minister against trying to copy Mr Johnson’s populist appeal. ‘Cameron must not try to imitate Johnson,’ he told The Spectator. ‘It would be a disaster. Johnson is authentic. It has to be organic. Cameron must just be himself.’ It would be a 'disaster' if David Cameron tried to imitate Boris Johnson, Arnold Schwarzenegger also warned while promoting his film in London . The Schwarzenegger-Johnson love-in is the latest stage in their flourishing relationship, which got off to a bad start in 2007 when Schwarzenegger was caught on camera describing Mr Johnson’s speech as ‘fumbling’. A year later the Tory heavyweight got his revenge, declaring: ‘It was a low moment, my friends, to have my speaking style denounced by a monosyllabic Austrian cyborg.’ The pair patched things up in 2011 when they demonstrated the popular Boris Bikes on the streets of London. And in August this year the duo took a ride on the Emirates cable car from Greenwich to the ExCeL in Docklands after watching Olympic basketball. | The Terminator star and former California governor says Boris Johnson is a 'visionary' with all the qualities needed to be PM .
Actor warns it would be a 'disaster' if David Cameron tried to imitate the London Mayor .
Enthusiastic backing marks a new chapter in the duo's relationship, after Mr Johnson took aim at the monosyllabic Austrian cyborg . |
217,299 | a550edd67db28cd1668bf2118654926ac437c280 | LONDON, England (CNN) -- With top consultancy firms charging thousands of dollars for a day's work, employing their services is a luxury most companies simply can't afford. Wharton's MBA students can act as consultants at the Small Business Development Center. But some business schools offer student consultancies for a fraction of the price, making their expertise available to a whole range of organizations. Student consultancy groups are a feature of many MBA programs, letting companies hire teams of MBA students to solve their business problems and giving the students a chance to put their education into practice. The Wharton Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is part of Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, ranked by the Financial Times as the having the world's joint best MBA program. The center employs around 40 MBA students and 40 undergraduates at any time, offering their knowledge and experience to local firms completely free of charge. Wharton SBDC says it receives hundreds of applications each year from businesses wanting their help, with more than 20,000 small businesses taking advantage of its services over the past 10 years. Leslie Mitts is managing practice leader at Wharton SBDC. She told CNN that the SBDC works with companies of all types and sizes, including small businesses that would never have the resources to hire a large consulting firm. "Last week we worked with a lady who was running a dance center for underprivileged kids. As much as she wanted to give away lots of scholarships the school wouldn't exist if she gave so much free service away," she said. "We made a couple of changes to her business, consolidated a couple of classes so teachers didn't have classes with only two students, and increased the fees by $10 a semester which isn't much, but it is when multiplied by many students. "Now the center can not only teach all the underprivileged kids in that neighborhood and continue to give scholarships, but it also has a plan for sustainability that keeps it in business." At Cambridge University's Judge Business School, part of the MBA program requires students to take part in the Global Consulting Project (GCP). The project sees teams of five MBA students spend three to four weeks offering free consultancy services. Margaret O'Neill is projects manager at Judge and says non-profit companies are among those who have benefited from its services. But it's not just small businesses that can see the advantage of student consultants -- Microsoft, Toyota, Procter and Gamble and Shell International have all taken part in the project. O'Neill told CNN that companies using the GCP benefit from the students' knowledge of up-to-date research methodology gleaned from the course and the fact that students have diverse backgrounds in a variety of disciplines. And with an average age of 32 the students can offer a wealth of experience. At Temple University's Fox School of Business in Philadelphia, MBA students can participate in the Enterprise Management Consultant Practice (EMCP). The EMCP charges companies $20,000 for a consultancy, but managing director TL Hill estimates this is only a tenth of the commercial going rate. Hill says the fee is offered on a sliding scale for non-profits, charities and smaller companies. He gives the example of a project working with a Philadelphia arts program that has created more than 2,000 murals around the city. Hill says the MBA consultants helped the arts program think about ways of using its copyrighted artwork images to generate extra revenue, including selling prints and T-shirts featuring the artworks. Robert Parikh is an MBA student at London Business School. Along with seven other students, he forms part of the London Business School (LBS) Consulting Team, a project that runs throughout the summer vacation. "The idea is to take the skills we're developing and offer them at a reasonable rate," Parikh told CNN. "The people involved with the team often go on to work for the likes of McKinsey and BCG. By hiring us for a short period over this summer our clients will get very high caliber people before they get too expensive." Parikh points out that the LBS Consulting Team has a strong background in the field. Parikh, 27, has nearly five years of experience as a general manager for BAE Systems, while other team members have worked for IBM, and in real estate and consulting. The team is run as a business and profits are kept by the students, but money isn't the motivation for Parikh. Each year the project starts from scratch and Parikh hopes that being involved from the start will teach him entrepreneurial skills, as well as providing sales and marketing experience he believes will be useful when he finishes his MBA in 2010 and embarks on his chosen career -- in consultancy. | Some business schools offer student consultancies at affordable prices .
Wharton students have helped 20,000 small businesses in the last 10 years .
MBA students can combine years of experience with academic knowledge . |
220,792 | a9d42aff289ffc61fda99109d7d55d3996447147 | Washington (CNN) -- The political scandal involving vendettas and traffic jams ensnarling New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's administration could stall the expected presidential hopeful's career ambitions if he can't convince voters his apologies are sincere. So a chastened Christie, his trademark braggadocio only somewhat in check, did what problem-plagued politicians have done in recent years when they faced scandals: offer mea culpas with a heavy emphasis on the "me" part. Bold? Yes. Effective? We'll see, said Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. "If he told the truth, he'll be fine," Sabato said. "As long as he wasn't involved in the act itself and the cover-up and he fired those involved he's fine. If he lied, it's over." But there are times when it might be more politically advantageous to lie at first, then come clean later, Sabato said. Christie drops swagger amid heat of scandal . Bill Clinton . Former President Bill Clinton was a veritable maestro of careful and calculated confessions during a career riddled with sexual scandals. His MO during these salacious sagas apparently was not to come clean until it was advantageous. Hopped in the sack with model Gennifer Flowers? Nope. Then later, "yes." That admission, following rumors of his sexual indiscretions, helped him pull off a second-place finish in the New Hampshire primary and earn the moniker of "Comeback Kid." As president he initially said, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky." Of course, that all depended on how Clinton defined sex. He later admitted to the affair and apologized to the country. We'll spare you a trip down memory lane about the affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky and just say that one stained blue dress and an impeachment later, Clinton was acquitted and remained in office. Mark Sanford . The former South Carolina governor-turned-congressman, Mark Sanford, pulled a disappearing act on the public's dime and time all in the name of love. He was able to rehabilitate his career after revelations he disappeared from office for days and, at some point, had used public funds to fly to Argentina for trysts with his mistress. He bared his soul in news conferences and interviews with the media professing his love for the woman, Maria Belen Chapur, and apologizing for the hurt he caused his family. State lawmakers censured him, but he served out his term and later was elected to Congress in a special election in 2013. Mark Sanford has a woman problem . It worked out for those guys, but more often than not, political experts say, lies and especially cover-ups tank political careers. John Edwards . Take John Edwards, a politician who did not fare as well as Clinton in a sex scandal. Edwards, a Democratic presidential candidate for 2008, initially denied tabloid reports in 2007 that he had an affair with and fathered a child by campaign worker Rielle Hunter. Then he owned up to the affair but not the kid. Then, after details emerged about a plot in which campaign staffer Andrew Young falsely claimed paternity and campaign funds used to support Edwards' secret family, the candidate finally admitted in 2010 that he was indeed the baby's daddy. Rod Blagojevich . Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich had a penchant for Charvet ties, a big personality and big hair, and he made some big promises about filling President Barack Obama's vacated Senate seat. Guess which one was illegal? Nonetheless, Blagojevich took to the networks to proclaim his innocence. Neither the U.S. attorney's office nor Illinois state lawmakers believed him; the feds indicted him for "pay to play" schemes, and Blagojevich was impeached by the state House and Senate. He has since appeared on "Celebrity Apprentice" and penned a book. Now he's in prison, with plenty of time to work on his acting and writing chops. Larry Craig . Sen. Larry Craig, a conservative lawmaker from Idaho who'd taken hardline positions against homosexuality, found himself in a gay sex scandal in 2007. His comments about having a "wide stance" became late-night TV fodder after his arrest in the men's room at the Minneapolis-St.Paul International Airport. He was accused of soliciting sex from an undercover police officer by using hand signals and tapping his foot in a bathroom stall. Craig first pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor of disorderly conduct, then said he regretted that plea. He said he was going to resign, then changed his mind about that, too. He ultimately served out the rest of his term and did not seek re-election. Then there were those baffling New York political sex scandals. Eliot Spitzer . Former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer fessed up to his involvement in a high-priced hooker ring during a 2008 scandal that rocked the Empire State. He recently lost a bid to become New York City comptroller. And, for good measure, shortly after his inauguration as governor, David Paterson, the lieutenant governor who stepped up to fill in when his boss resigned, confessed that he and his wife both had extramarital affairs and that he used cocaine in his youth. Anthony Weiner . And we all saw way too much of former Rep. Anthony Weiner during a 2011 sexting scandal. He originally denied posting a lewd selfie to one of his Twitter followers but later came clean during an uncomfortable and awkward press conference. He resigned from office, but we were treated to Weinergate part deux when, during the 2013 New York City mayor's race, more explicit pictures emerged. Can Rep. Anthony Weiner survive Weinergate? Trey Radel . And just this week, U.S. Rep. Trey Radel, R-Florida, returned to work on Capitol Hill for the first time after pleading guilty to cocaine possession in November. He went to rehab and then set about rehabilitating his career by apologizing for his actions. "I cannot express how sorry I am. I ask for your forgiveness. I've let down our entire country. I have let down my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. I've let down my family," Radel told reporters Tuesday in his office, his voice full of emotion. | When faced with scandal, some politicians fare better than others .
But it might be more politically advantageous to fess up later, political observers say .
Lies and especially cover-ups can tanks careers, they say .
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will be fine "if he told the truth," expert says . |
243,401 | c70458eaa7e8f93b0f08dd04713b651e9f4c1e2d | Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb may have some leadership vacancies. The reported deaths of two of its most effective, wealthy and ruthless commanders within just a few days would be a major blow to the group that has invested heavily in establishing a stronghold in Mali, beyond the reach of that country's weak government and army. On Saturday, Chad said its troops deployed in the remote Adrar des Ifoghas mountains in north-eastern Mali had destroyed a jihadist base and killed a number of terrorists, including their leader Moctar Belmoktar. Two days earlier another prominent jihadist -- Abdelhamid Abou Zeid -- was reported killed in the same area. The Chadian President Idriss Deby and a U.S. official subsequently confirmed his death, but the French have not. So far only the Chadians have reported the death of Belmoktar. But French officials confirm heavy fighting continues in the area where he was reported killed, and have disclosed that a French soldier has been killed in the operation. If both Abou Zeid and Belmoktar have been killed "it would be big news," according to Andrew Lebovich, a Senegal-based analyst who recently spent time in Mali, and has long followed the evolution of AQIM. "It would mean the removal of two very experienced senior commanders," he told CNN. The Ifoghas are an impenetrable range of peaks, ravines and caves with virtually no human presence beyond the nomadic Kel people -- a Tuareg tribe that raises goats, camels and sheep. Belmoktar and Zeid, while frequently bitter rivals, had both established camps in the Ifoghas as a precaution against international efforts to rid northern Mali of Islamic militants. Last week, French military spokesman Col. Thierry Burkhard said the militants were "sustained in a region they know very well. They have set up defensive underground positions, that their members can move between, and they have prepositioned weapons and food depots," he said. A year in control . A year ago, as the Malian army and government collapsed in the face of a revolt in the north led by Tuareg separatists, the al Qaeda affiliate and other militant groups had moved into the major towns of the north - effectively splitting Mali in two. Abou Zeid had established himself in the fabled city of Timbuktu, introducing Sharia law, banning music and forcing women to wear the full veil in public. Belmoktar was seen in and around the town of Gao further east. Both men are -- or were -- Algerians, but had seized new opportunities in northern Mali, enriching themselves with smuggling and kidnapping operations, and taking advantage of their intimate knowledge of the desolate geography of the region. Abou Zeid's group is thought to be still holding four French hostages kidnapped from a uranium mine in neighboring Niger in 2010. Belmoktar had reportedly made millions of dollars from smuggling between Mali, Algeria and Libya -- as well as ransoming westerners his group had captured. He was also behind the attack on the In Amenas gas plant in southern Algeria in January, in which more than thirty foreign workers were killed. The French military intervention in Mali began days before that attack, and was subsequently supported by troops from several west African states. As French forces pushed north and jihadist bases were bombed from the air, hundreds of militants retreated into the desert and mountains. And in the weeks since, much of the military action -- including airstrikes by the French and joint Franco-Chadian deployments on the ground -- has been in and around the Ifoghas. Some 1,200 French and 800 Chadian soldiers have been sent to the area, gradually tightening the noose on jihadist fighters who had not disarmed and melted into the general population. Chadian special forces, under the command of the President's son, have proved themselves effective in the difficult terrain -- no doubt helped by plenty of practice against rebels in remote parts of their own country. (Chadian militia also dealt Libyan forces a resounding defeat in the 1986 after Moammar Gadhafi tried to seize a border area.) One French official told CNN last month that the Chadians were regarded as the most useful of the west African contingents, which number some 3,000 troops. But Chad's forces have also taken heavy losses in the Ifoghas campaign. On Friday, the bodies of 26 Chadian soldiers were returned to the capital in a ceremony attended by President Deby. Leadership vacuum . Neither Belmoktar nor Abou Zeid sat at the top of AQIM's hierarchy in North Africa but they became the two most powerful al Qaeda figures in the sub-Sahara. Both commanded potent "Katiba" or brigades of fighters intensely loyal to them. Abu Zeid was promoted to a deputy leadership position in the Sahara several years ago by AQIM's Emir Abdelmalek Droukdel out of concern that Belmoktar was growing too strong. The Sahel countries of Mali, Mauretania and Niger became the new center of gravity for AQIM as Algerian security forces degraded the group in its traditional heartland. Droukdel - isolated and marginalized - struggled to exert control over his southern commanders. In an effort to restore his influence, Droukdel appointed a loyalist -- Jemal Oukacha (also known as Yahya Abou el-Hammam) -- as the overall commander of AQIM in the Sahara last autumn. He also sent an envoy to northern Mali to announce that Belmoktar had been relieved of his command. But although El Hammam was a ten year veteran of jihad, he is from the north of Algeria and according to analysts has wielded nothing like the influence of Belmoktar or Abou Zeid, who counted criminal kingpins, corrupt politicians and military officers among their contacts. El Hammam was designated as a terrorist leader by the U.S. State Department two weeks ago. It said that previous to his appointment as the Saharan emir "Hammam led another AQIM element whose members operated in Northern Mali. In that capacity, he participated in several attacks launched on behalf of AQIM in Mauritania." "As of late 2011, El Hammam reportedly had possession of multiple European hostages," the designation added. Belmokar responded to his effective "firing" by Droukdel by setting up a new commando unit called "We Sign with Blood." One of his close associates said he was setting up his own franchise of al Qaeda which would report directly to al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahiri. He vowed attacks against Western interests if the international community moved against jihadists in northern Mali. Before the bloody conclusion of the siege at In Amenas, he recorded a tape demanding the release of two prominent Jihadists from U.S. prisons. It appeared to be a calculated bid to raise his profile and popularity amongst jihadists worldwide -- and a shot across the bows of Droukdel. The operation was not without cost for Belmoktar. Several of his most experienced deputies were killed in the attack. Analysts tell CNN he either felt strong enough to risk losing them or the stakes were such that the operation was a necessity. Teh hostage attack was launched across from Libya. Both Belmoktar and Abou Zeid made trips to Libya after the fall of Gadhafi and established a network of contacts there. If they have been killed, analysts say it will set back Al Qaeda's ambitions in Libya. Lebovich told CNN that if both senior commanders have been killed it will likely set back efforts by jihadists to wage a campaign of guerrilla warfare against the French and their allies. But recognizing the scale of the mission to restore Mali's territorial integrity, French officials have indicated that some troops would stay in the country at least until July. France had been hoping to withdraw the majority this month. And it's clear that Islamists groups are far from raising the white flag in parts of northern Mali. Another faction - the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa or MUJAO - remains active around Gao, where there have been several suicide bombings. The local government headquarters was seized by militants for several hours on February 21st, provoking a long gun battle with French and Malian troops. The fighting virtually destroyed the town's market. MUJAO appears to have had close ties to Belmoktar. And Tuareg Islamist leader Iyad ag Ghali -- leader of the group Ansar Dine -- also remains at large. If Belmokar and Abo Zeid are gone, there may be one compensation for AQIM. Droukdel and his deputy al-Hammam may be able to wrestle back control of al Qaeda operations in the Sahara. In a letter Droukdel wrote last year and which was found by the Associated Press in Timbuktu last month, AQIM's leader criticized his subordinates in northern Mali for trying to introduce Islamic law too quickly in the region and for imposing harsh punishments which he said jeopardized their whole project. "Your officials need to control themselves," he wrote. "It is very probable, perhaps certain, that a military intervention will occur ... which in the end will either force us to retreat to our rear bases or will provoke the people against us," he wrote. His prediction was accurate. Now he has to deal with the consequences of AQIM's over-reach in Mali. | If both Abou Zeid and Belmoktar have been killed "it would be big news," analyst says .
They became the two most powerful al Qaeda figures in the sub-Sahara .
If confirmed, their deaths would likely set back efforts by jihadists to wage a campaign of guerrilla warfare against the French . |
37,762 | 6ae997409f76dff24d6459f3b38c63f1c41849f2 | (CNN) -- When Justice Sonia Sotomayor delivered her oath last summer, many women -- and especially Latinas -- felt renewed hope as a champion of women's rights took her place on the U.S. Supreme Court. With Democrats in the White House and both houses of Congress, we believed that we could stop playing defense and actually advance women's rights, including access to abortion. However, the health care debate quickly convinced us that we had to mobilize. First, Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Michigan, crafted the Stupak-Pitts amendment, designed to restrict women's access to abortion coverage in the proposed public health insurance marketplace. Millions of women who have access to abortion coverage through their insurance plans would lose this coverage if the insurance plans were offered in the exchange. We were told that women could use their own money to buy an abortion rider in advance: Women would have to plan for an unplanned pregnancy. An abortion can range in cost from several hundred dollars to thousands of dollars for a "threatened" pregnancy. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi allowed the amendment to move forward in the House health care bill out of fear that opponents would use abortion politics to tank health care reform. Within weeks, Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Nebraska, offered a near-exact model of the Stupak bill in the Senate. After the push for the Stupak amendment, characterized by backroom dealings among elected officials and reported pressure from the U.S Conference of Catholic Bishops, it appeared that senators might go along. Hundreds of Latinas and women of all backgrounds descended on Capitol Hill to let legislators know that they can not play politics with our reproductive health care and to advocate for abortion care coverage as a part of health care reform. For now, senators are standing up to those who would sink reform with abortion politics, voting to table the Nelson amendment, effectively killing it. But we know that these victories are often tenuous and that the growing Latina voice in favor of reproductive health care must stay strong. Over the past few weeks, I've heard from many Latinas and their families, outraged that these amendments would make a legal medical procedure financially inaccessible for many women. They called their senators and wrote letters on behalf of daughters, sisters, aunts and mothers in their communities, urging policymakers to vote for reform that includes coverage for abortion -- and also provides health care access for immigrants. They organized because they know what is at stake. The amendments claim to "simply codify" the Hyde amendment, an existing federal policy that prohibits federal government money from being used to fund abortions through Medicaid. But in reality, both amendments would create a two-tier health care system. After 30-plus years of the Hyde amendment, a Guttmacher Institute report released this year indicates that among Medicaid-eligible women -- that is, low income -- who would have an abortion if it were paid for by the government, one in four instead continue the pregnancy to term in the absence of funding. This is because politicians prevent federal tax dollars from covering the procedure. Moreover, the proposed House and Senate bills both maintain the five-year ban on legal permanent residents accessing publicly funded benefits, including Medicaid, leaving millions of legal residents without coverage for basic medical needs. According to a report by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 38 percent of Latinas are uninsured, compared with 14.7 percent non-Hispanic white women, and more than half of all immigrants are women. The U.S. Census Bureau predicts that by 2050, one in four Americans will be Latina. As Latinas, we will be disproportionately affected if we do not have a health care package that includes access to the full range of reproductive health services. Opponents argue that more women will be covered under overall health care reform, as if that should satisfy us. The fact remains: If millions of low- and moderate-income women covered under a new federally subsidized health system can't access abortion care from an insurance plan bought even partly with federal support, policymakers are essentially telling them that they do not matter -- that the reality of their lives must be ignored. The legacy of health care reform should not be to send women back into the shadows. We have worked too hard to reform our health care system for women to be worse off than they were before. There is no denying that people around the country, including many Latinas, have complex feelings about abortion. Many have conflicting feelings because of their religious faith -- Latinas are overwhelmingly Roman Catholic. But my work with Latinas during these debates reminds me that for many women confronted by the decision to terminate a pregnancy, abortion is not a political issue; it's a personal health care issue between a woman, her family and her doctor. We have an opportunity to make history in these next few weeks and months. Health care is not a luxury; it is fundamental to a healthier and stronger nation. I urge policymakers to respect women who are trying to plan their pregnancies, take control of their futures and improve the lives of their families. We demand reproductive justice for women. Anything less would be un-American. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Silvia Henriquez. | Silvia Henriquez: Many Latinas outraged over moves they say will restrict abortion coverage .
Henriquez: Latina support for reproductive rights must stay strong in health care debate .
She says millions of women who have abortion coverage in insurance plans could lose it .
Henriquez says abortion is personal issue between a woman, her family and doctor . |
106,268 | 15129aeb9f052d0d06d475d49d3e975591fce3d6 | By . James Slack and Jack Doyle . PUBLISHED: . 18:44 EST, 20 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:56 EST, 21 October 2013 . One in ten claimants stripped of the £15-a-week spare room subsidy have come off benefits altogether, figures show. The scrapping of the subsidy caused protests by Left-wing activists, who called it ‘the bedroom tax’ and claimed it would inflict misery on less well-off families. But Freedom of Information requests show that, in tens of thousands of cases, the move encouraged people to find a job. The scrapping of the subsidy caused protests by Left-wing activists who called it 'the bedroom tax' As a result, they no longer require any state support – delivering a huge saving for the taxpayer. Ministers had estimated that by removing the subsidy, paid to social housing tenants who have a spare room, the bill would be cut by around £500million a year. But, by encouraging people to stop claiming benefits such as jobseekers’ allowance altogether, this figure doubles to around £1billion-a-year. The new rules apply to housing benefit, typically worth between £50 and £100 a week. Since April, claimants of working age with a spare bedroom have received a reduced payment. The figures were revealed by Harry Phibbs, a Tory councillor, in an investigation for the ConservativeHome website. He surveyed councils across the UK and 141 responded. In their areas, 25,238 of the 233,732 people stripped of the spare bedroom subsidy – or nearly 11 per cent – were no longer claiming any benefits. Figures show the move has encouraged thousands to look for work . Mr Phibbs said that extended across the UK, it would be the equivalent of 71,000 out of the 660,000 claimants predicted to be affected stopping claiming benefits. ‘Before this change it wasn’t rewarding for people to work,’ he said. ‘This is giving people a reward for working – they are able to stay in their homes rather than downsizing into a smaller home. ‘Because work is now being rewarded, many people are coming off benefits altogether and getting full-time jobs. ‘I would expect you will see far more people coming in to jobs in the coming months.’ The ending of the subsidy means that if tenants have one spare room, the amount of rent eligible for housing benefit is cut by 14 per cent. If they have two or more spare rooms, the reduction is 25 per cent. On average, claimants receive £15 a week less from the taxpayer. Council tenants get about £14 a week less, while those in housing association properties get £16 a week less. The savings to the taxpayer from removing the subsidy are an estimated £505million in 2013-14, and £540million the year after. Figures obtained by Mr Phibbs show that in Tower Hamlets, East London, 948 out of 3,000 people (32 per cent) stopped claiming housing benefit, but in Liverpool only 300 claimants came off, out of 11,600. Bromsgrove in Worcestershire saw 178 out of 605 come off benefits (29 per cent). The responses do not give the reasons why individuals came off housing benefit, but any suggestion that the policy is helping families back into work is a huge boost for the Government. Left-wing politicians and campaign groups repeatedly said the ‘bedroom tax’ would inflict misery on thousands. Labour leader Ed Miliband pledged to reintroduce the subsidy, claiming its withdrawal was ‘unfair’ and would force families into real hardship. | Freedom of Information requests show thousands who were stripped of tax have been encouraged to find work .
Ten per cent of claimants have stopped receiving benefits altogether .
The change has given people 'reward for working' which wasn't there before, says Tory councillor . |
121,115 | 288fabf6a266820f6e77bf507bb71c895dcf5c18 | The National Basketball Association is one of the pre-eminent sport Leagues in the world and last Tuesday, the 2014-15 season commenced. Every Thursday, Bleacher Report will bring you a round-up of all the action on and off court Stateside. HEADLINE-MAKER . Lebron James - The four-time NBA MVP made his long awaited return for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Four years, three months and 21 days on from his last match for the club, the Cavs fell to a 95-90 defeat at the hands of the London-bound New York Knicks in their season-opener. LeBron James played his first game for Cleveland in over four years, after a spell with the Miami Heat . James' return has not started as well as he would have hoped, with the Cavs losing their first game . The Cavs did hit back to win one game this week, but they are 1-3, despite a promising pre-season . Never afraid of hyperbole, the 10-time NBA All-Star told reporters before the game that the match was 'probably one of the biggest sporting events that's up there ever.' The hyped Cavs, after looking so connected during the pre-season, have underwhelmed so far and their record stands at 1-3. GOOD WEEK . The Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors may still be unbeaten but the NBA's global expansion was the week's big winner. Tickets for 'NBA Global Games London 2015' featuring the Milwaukee Bucks and the New York Knicks sold out in a new record time. Stephen Curry drives to the basket as the Golden State Warriors enjoyed an unbeaten start to the season . The game, which will be played at The O2 on Thursday January 15, sold out inside an hour. It will be the fifth NBA regular-season game to be played in the capital and marks the ninth consecutive sell-out NBA contest at The O2, dating back to 2007. BAD WEEK . The Los Angeles Lakers have won five NBA titles in the 21st century but have started with five consecutive losses for the first time since 1957, when they were still in Minneapolis. Their miserable start was compounded as rookie power forward Julius Randle crumbled to the hardwood after landing awkwardly on his right leg midway through the fourth quarter of the opening 108-90 loss to the Houston Rockets. LA Lakers talisman Kobe Bryant looks unimpressed as his team slumped to their worst start since 1957 . Bryant could be tempted to leave the franchise in 2016, despite previously stating he would stay for life . The Lakers confirmed that Randle had fractured his tibia and would be out for four to six months. Star man Kobe Bryant has said he'll remain a Laker for life but there is a definite possibility that the 16-time All-Star could look to leave the franchise in 2016. BRIT WATCH . A record 101 international players from 37 countries were on opening night rosters for the 2014-15 season and they include two Brits. Luol Deng, who went to school in Croydon, made his Miami Heat debut as they defeated the Washington Wizards 107-95. Britain's only representative Luol Deng throws down a dunk for the Miami Heat against the Toronto Raptors . The two-time NBA All-Star scored 12 points as Miami began life without LeBron. Deng has averaged nearly 30 minutes on court per match as the defending champions have started the season with a 3-2 record. However Surrey's Joel Freeland, a power forward for the Portland Trail Blazers, has been sidelined because of a foot injury after playing six minutes in the opening two matches. AND FINALLY . No chance of going hungry at the Time Warner Cable Arena this season as the Charlotte Hornets are selling a massive eight pound (that's 3.6kg) burger during their home games for the 2014-15 NBA season. The $75 burger on sale at the Time Warner Cable Arena weighs almost 4kg - maybe one to share with friends! The burger is called 'Hugo's Boss,' has 14 patties and is divided into eight pieces. It will set you back $75. Bleacher Report's Mobile App 'Team Stream' helps you stay in the know with your favourite teams via hand-picked, curated sports stories from around the web. Get news for your teams all in one place and get real-time alerts for breaking stories. DOWNLOAD NOW. | LeBron James played for Cavs for first time in four years .
London tickets sell out in record time during NBA season's first week .
LA Lakers endure their worst start in more than half a century . |
154,347 | 5375667ef05168c9397e8c35a2a61fb424ec6364 | Editor's note: Erica Williams is deputy director of Campus Progress, a project of the Center for American Progress, a Washington-based organization that describes itself as dedicated to progressive causes. She works to engage the millennial generation and other underrepresented communities in the political process. She can be found at ericawilliamsonline.com and on twitter at @ericawilliamsdc. Erica Williams says Ted Kennedy consistently exemplified the hope for an open, just and inclusive America. (CNN) -- Sen. Edward "Ted" Kennedy may have been 77 years old, but he embodied the spirit, determination and core values of my generation -- the millenials -- in a way that no other senator has in our lifetime. How ironic that the passing of one of the oldest and longest serving senators has left me, a 25-year-old woman, frantically searching for a fierce, dedicated ally for causes that concern young Americans. As a young person with equal parts hope in -- and criticism of -- America's body politic, I value the length of time Kennedy spent championing the causes of those constituencies that are traditionally underrepresented in the political process and also the tenacity, savvy and consistency with which he did it. When I first began working in politics, advocating for the political empowerment and representation of young people, I quickly learned that Kennedy not only fought for us, but also eagerly and wholeheartedly worked with us. He spoke at student rallies, held press conferences with youth organizations and ensured that his staff kept an open and accessible ear to the interests, concerns and needs of those of us who worked full time to engage young people. Ultimately, the proof was in the pudding. Some of his most memorable accomplishments were those that centered on young people in an explicit way. In 1970, at the height of the Vietnam War, when young men were dying in record numbers, Kennedy championed an amendment to the Voting Rights Act that lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. He felt that those old enough to risk their lives for their country were old enough to have a voice in its elections. Kennedy was also a consistent, hard-working and effective advocate for making higher education affordable and accessible. He steadily worked toward his goal of reforming the student financial system and played a valuable role in nearly every major federal student-aid program in our nation's history, from Pell Grants in 1972 to the Academic Competitiveness and SMART Grants for high-achieving low-income students in 2006. He was also a chief architect of the federal direct-loan program, in which the government lends money to students through their colleges. He consistently opposed efforts to eliminate programs and offered dozens of budget amendments to increase the maximum Pell Grant. He worked to reauthorize the Higher Education Act in 2008, which expanded federal grant aid, put new regulations in place to prevent abuse of student lending, simplified the student application process for federal aid and established debt forgiveness for public service. Even as he neared the end of his life, Kennedy prioritized those at the beginning of their own. He championed the Serve America Act, signed into law just this year, which created 175,000 positions in public service in AmeriCorps and other organizations that work on education, health care, energy and veterans services. But these policies speak only partially to his connection to young people. The surge of young voters who came to the polls in record numbers last year weren't just voting for a candidate. Nor were they voting for an "issue." They were voting for a political philosophy, culture and core set of values that were overwhelmingly progressive. Social justice, equality, economic opportunity, accountability, openness of government, inclusiveness -- this was the foundation of the 2008 youth vote mandate. It was in this way perhaps, greater than any other, that the current generation of young people identified with and appreciated the work of Ted Kennedy. Beyond his role in advocating policies with clear implications for young people, he consistently exemplified the hope for an open, just and inclusive America -- the platform that young Americans overwhelmingly supported during the election. To Kennedy, young Americans weren't just young voters. We were young citizens, people who deserve equal access to an affordable education, a voice in our nation's political process. He didn't view our concerns and needs as fanciful, impetuous dreams of youth. He realized and valued the unique gift that we bring to this country when given the opportunities and access to make our voices heard. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Erica Williams. | Erica Williams says, "Kennedy embodied core values of my generation"
Williams notes Kennedy's work to lower voting age to 18, pass Pell Grants .
Current generation identified with and appreciated Kennedy's work, she says . |
116,161 | 21f0cf8aa09d83b04e33975364ae18b13814559a | Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has admitted becoming a more 'autocratic' manager because of the club's Champions League campaign. Rodgers and Liverpool face a make-or-break encounter with Basle on Tuesday, which echoes their famous 2004/05 win against Olympiakos which took the club through to the knockout stages and on the road to later glory in Istanbul. The congested fixture list caused by Liverpool's European games has prevented Rodgers from properly bedding in his nine new summer signings and forced him to change approach after a 3-1 defeat against Crystal Palace on November 22 left the club in 12th place. VIDEO Scroll down to see Rodgers post-match comments following Sunderland draw . Brendan Rodgers says he has had to be more 'autotratic' this season as Liverpool manager . Rodgers chases down the ball during Liverpool's 0-0 draw at home to Sunderland on Saturday . Real Madrid are winners and Liverpool must beat Basel to take second spot. For the following match in Ludogorets, which Liverpool drew 2-2 to set up the showdown with Basle, Rodgers returned to basics by leaving out new signings Emre Can, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Lazar Markovic, and says he's been far more direct with instructions to his players. 'I have had a lot less time on the training field this year. The problem I have had personally is you can’t try things, you can’t coach,' said Rodgers. 'That is alright if I'd had two years working with the same group and only added a couple of new players. But I've had nine new players and no coaching time. 'When I first came to Liverpool, I put my principles in place; this is the way I work. 'Once I was bedded in and people understood, I became a little more democratic, more educational. But after Palace, I’m thinking “Right, I need to become autocratic again.” 'I've provided even more clarity, been more concise in the ways of working. 'Ultimately, it’s about winning and after Crystal Palace I needed to look because we were nowhere near our level our standard. So I had to find the solution to win games.' Liverpool new boys Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Albert Moreno were left on the bench against Ludogorets . Captain Steven Gerrard (left) started on the bench against Sunderland to rest him for the game against Basel . Liverpool have lost three of their five Champions League group games so far – two of them to holders Real Madrid – but will progress into the last-16 if they beat Basle by a scoreline that will give them a better head-to-head record than the Swiss side, won their first game 1-0. The situation is strikingly similar to the Olympiakos game which took place exactly 10 years ago on Monday and has gone down in Anfield folklore. Liverpool needed to score three goals to progress after Brazilian legend Rivaldo had given the Greek side a half-time lead. But roared on by The Kop, unsung heroes Florent Sinama-Pongolle and Neil Mellor scored for Liverpool before Steve Gerrard scored a stunning “winner” after 86 minutes. Five months later, Liverpool were winning the trophy itself for the fifth time after an incredible comeback against AC Milan and Rodgers hopes the remarkable season can be an omen. 'It is a tough competition. But as we have seen over the years, it is not always the best team that can go on and do well in it,' said Rodgers. 'Our only concentration is to get out of the group. If we can do that, we will be better later on. 'We know what happened against Olympiakos. They went on and won it that year, having just about qualified. I am really looking forward to the atmosphere on Tuesday night.' | Brendan Rodgers says he has needed to be 'autocratic' this season .
Liverpool face a make-or-break encounter with Basel on Tuesday .
Anything but victory will see the Reds exit the Champions League .
Rodgers left out the majority of his new signings for the trip to Ludogorets . |
168,887 | 667eb18ab619e8620c151a652fd35496b19976a7 | Somewhere in America a lucky Powerball lotto player maybe be nearly half-a-billion dollars richer as the numbers for the fifth largest jackpot in U.S. history were revealed at 11 p.m. on Wednesday. The winning numbers for the $564.1 million jackpot are 11-13-25-39-54. The Powerball red number is 19 and the Powerplay is 3x. The $500 million pot - which equates to a cash value of $337.8 million - has been building steadily for two months. Are you the winner?:The winning numbers for the $564.1 million jackpot are 11-13-25-39-54 as revealed in the drawing on Wednesday night . If no one wins the Powerball tonight then the jackpot for the next drawing on February 14 could reach up to $650 million making it one of the largest lottery game jackpots in U.S. history. To win, the players needed five numbers and the Powerball number. The odds of winning are one in 175 million. Each ticket costs just $2. The lottery is played in 44 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Powerball jackpot was last won on November 29. A Washington woman who bought her first-ever lottery tickets on a whim on Thanksgiving Day won $90 million. February 2014 was the last time that the Powerball reached the current prize amount. Jackpot winners receive either payments over 29 years or . a smaller cash lump sum. The Powerball jackpot reached $500 million for Wednesday night's draw, making it the fifth largest prize in U.S. history . Powerball's biggest ever jackpot was awarded by the Multi-State . Lottery Association - a cool $590.5 million went to the holder of . a single winning ticket in 2013. The association also operates . the Mega Millions jackpot, which awarded a top prize of $656 . million three years ago. The Powerball is drawn on . Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10.59pm in Tallahassee, Florida. Powerball sales reached nearly $5 billion last year for game . tickets that are sold through more than 210,000 lottery . terminals. Each ticket costs $2. the odds of winning are slim and people are more likely to die from vending machines than win, according to the Daily Beast. The odds of matching all five normal numbers drawn without matching the sixth 'Powerball' number are one in 5million. | The winning numbers for the $564.1 million jackpot are 11-13-25-39-54 .
The Powerball red number is 19 and the Powerplay is 3x .
The cash payout reached $337.8 million for the $564.1 million jackpot drawing at 11:00 on Wednesday night .
Odds of winning are one in 175 million .
If no one wins the Powerball tonight the next drawing on February 14 could reach up to $650 million making it the largest drawing in Powerball history . |
8,901 | 191b580aa68cce951763afc64f4cdf8ad865eeb4 | With his five goals, his bright yellow jersey and his boyish looks, James Rodriguez has attracted the attention of Brazil. Precocious and virtuoso are just two of the words used to describe the 22-year-old playmaker ahead of Colombia’s World Cup quarter final against Brazil on Friday. Just 22, he is already Colombia’s top scorer at a World Cup and is the leading scorer so far at the 2014 tournament. For many, the player who wears the name James (pronounced 'Hamez') on his jersey has been a revelation at the World Cup. VIDEO Scroll down to watch James Rodriguez's silky skills . Star in the making: Colombia's No 10 has taken the World Cup by storm with five goals in four games . Trust: Playmaker James Rodriguez (right) talks to head coach Jose Pekerman . But for those who have followed his football career, there has been no surprise. They knew that he was talented, had a winning mentality and could give Colombians something they have been awaiting for a long time. He has been consolidating himself as the replacement of Carlos 'el Pibe' Valderrama, the leading figure of a national team that played in three World Cups in the 1990s. Faustino Asprilla, an ex-Colombia player from that generation, said that Rodriguez 'can be the best Colombian footballer in history.' His technical abilities have been exceptional and he has shown them off in Brazil. He scores with surprising ease. He has scored in each of Colombia’s matches, and he has done it with both feet and his head. Focused: Colombia's James Rodriguez shows off his juggling skills during training on Thursday . Wonderstrike: Rodriguez thumps a volley past Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera in the round of 16 . In Colombia’s 2-0 win over Uruguay, he controlled the ball with his chest and shot from outside the area to score one the most stunning goals of the tournament. 'Football needs players of his characteristics for this spectacle,' Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez said. 'For the moment, he’s the best player at this World Cup. Despite his nickname, 'el Nino' arrived in Brazil with the curriculum of a veteran: eight years playing as a professional in Colombia, Argentina, Portugal and France. His professional debut came when he was 15 for Colombian team Envigado. Prepared: Rodriguez stretches during a training session in Fortaleza, Brazil . Rodriguez also became the youngest foreign player to debut, score and become a champion in Argentina, where his performances were a springboard for a move to Europe. In 2010, he moved to Porto, where he shared a dressing room with fellow Colombia team-mates Radamel Falcao, Fredy Guarin and, later on, Jackson Martinez. In Portugal, he won three league titles and the Europa League before signing with Monaco, which paid 45 million euros for his transfer last season. In Portugal, aged just 19, he married Daniela Ospina, the sister of Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina. A devout Christian, Rodriguez goes to church, as does Falcao and other members of the Colombia squad. The faith seems to be a uniting element of the team, which usually gathers in a circle on the pitch and prays before matches. Team spirit: Rodriguez and his team-mates celebrate with a dance after his goal against Ivory Coast . Book mark: Colombia coach Jose Pekerman talks tactics with Carlos Sanchez . Star man: Pekerman has built his exciting Colombian side around Rodriguez . On social media sites, Rodriguez refers to himself in profiles as a 'son of God.' Usually shy and a man of few words, he got over a mild stuttering problem during his childhood. He is the son of an ex-footballer who left the family when Rodriguez was 3. It was his step-father who took Rodriguez to a football school when he was 5 and where he usually played with boys who were advanced. 'That boy played every match as if it were the last one he would play in his life,' said Armando Calderon, coach of the Tolimense Football Academy where Rodriguez played as a youth before turning professional with Envigado. 'James doesn’t accept losing, not even in PlayStation,' his mother, Pilar Rubio, said. From Envigado, he went to play for Banfield in Argentina when he was 16. Stretch out: Colombia players look relaxed during a training session in Fortaleza . Stretch out: Colombia players look relaxed during a training session in Fortaleza . VIDEO Team Profile: Colombia highlights . At Monaco, the young playmaker was reunited with Falcao, whose serious knee injury in January meant Rodriguez assumed more goal-scoring responsibilities in the final months of the season. He finished the season with 10 goals and 13 assists. Rodriguez soon extinguished any fears that without 'El Tigre,' Colombia wouldn’t be able to find its way to goal. 'His growth is permanent, mature,' Colombia coach Jose Pekerman said. 'He has a vision for the game, a good shot.' Rodriguez’s feats are transcending football, and comments about his talent are all over social media. 'Man watching this Colombian game I think I have my fav player in the world cup!' NBA player LeBron James said. 'Obviously his name help that out.' Rodriguez will turn 23 on July 12, the eve of the World Cup final at the Maracana, and all of Colombia hopes that he will help guide the team there. 'It’s a group that wants to make history,' Rodriguez said. 'This isn’t over.' More to come: Rodriguez has vowed to continue his form against Brazil on Friday . | Rodriguez made professional debut aged 15 for Colombian team Envigado .
Just 22, he is already Colombia’s top scorer at a World Cup .
Faustino Asprilla says Rodriguez 'can be the best Colombian player ever' |
267,447 | e65c9f8e07a7a71c0e33dc9bfba0ccd490d6d92c | Sale slipped to their fifth straight defeat in Pool One of the European Champions Cup as Clermont boosted their hopes of winning the group. The French team confirmed victory late on when number eight Fritz Lee burrowed over the line for a try which Camille Lopez converted, adding to his five earlier penalties. Clermont host Saracens in their final pool match on Saturday in a winner-takes-all clash to decide who tops the group. VIDEO Scroll down for highlights as Sale Sharks lose out to Clermont Auvergne . Clermont full-back Nick Abendanon (right) makes a break in Pool One of the European Champions Cup . Fritz Lee runs in his late try during the European Champions Cup match in Pool One . Sale slipped to their fifth straight defeat in Pool One of the European Champions Cup as Clermont won . Clermont host Saracens in their final pool match in a winner-takes-all clash to decide who tops the group . Sale: Haley, Addison, Leota, Tuitupou, Cueto, Cipriani, Cusiter, Harrison, Jones, Cobilas, Mills, Hines, Braid, Seymour, Beaumont . Replacements: Taylor, Lewis-Roberts, Ingall, Easter, Lund, Cliff, MacLeod, Arscott . Clermont Auvergne: Abendanon, Nakaitaci, Rougerie, Fofana, Nalaga, Lopez, Parra, Chaume, Kayser, Zirakashvili, Cudmore, Vahaamahina, Chouly, Bonnaire, Lee . Replacements: Ulugia, Debaty, Ric, Jacquet, Bardy, Radosavljevic, Delany, Davies . Referee: Ian Davies (Wales) Danny Cipriani, seeking to impress England coach Stuart Lancaster for one last time before the RBS 6 Nations squad is announced on Wednesday, showed his defensive prowess in the eighth minute. Lopez and Aurelien Rougerie combined to find Wesley Fofana unmarked in support on the left flank, but Cipriani denied him a try with a vital cover tackle. Clermont led moments later when fly-half Lopez kicked a penalty, but the visitors were dealt a blow when Rougerie succumbed to an arm injury and was replaced by Jonathan Davies. Sale soon responded with a routine penalty from Cipriani, but Clermont remained dangerous when on the attack. In the 17th minute, it took a fine tackle to deny Nick Abendanon as the former Bath full-back threatened to burst clear inside Sale's 22-metre line. Abendanon looked to support the visitors' attack at every opportunity, but Sale were solid in defence. The French team confirmed victory late on when Lee burrowed over the line for a try . Clermont host Saracens in their final pool match on Saturday in a winner-takes-all showdown . They lost former England winger Mark Cueto to injury in the 23rd minute and he was replaced by Tom Arscott. Clermont continued to ask questions of the hosts, but they struggled to create genuine try-scoring opportunities. Cipriani had a chance to put Sale ahead in the 28th minute but his long-range penalty, after Clermont were punished for putting hands in the ruck, sailed wide of the target. Sale made another injury-enforced change six minutes before half-time when winger Will Addison was forced off and replaced by Nick MacLeod. Shortly before the break, Lopez booted another well-placed penalty to put Clermont 6-3 up at the interval. Sale began brightly after the restart and penned Clermont back inside their own half during the opening exchanges. They scored the first try of the game in the 52nd minute when a rolling maul close to Clermont's line led to Sale being awarded a penalty try which Cipriani converted. Danny Cipriani wanted to impress England's Stuart Lancaster before the RBS 6 Nations squad is announced . Sale slipped to their fifth straight defeat in Pool One of the European Champions Cup against Clermont . Clermont lost Fofana to the sin-bin shortly before the try and Jamie Cudmore followed in the aftermath of Sale's penalty try. That put the visitors down to 13 men but another penalty from Lopez cut the hosts' lead to one point as the hour mark approached. Lopez then booted another penalty to put Clermont 12-10 up before Cipriani restored Sale's lead with his third penalty in the 65th minute. Lopez then kicked his fifth penalty before a late try from Lee sealed the win for Clermont when he powered over from close range and Lopez converted. | Sale lost their fifth straight defeat in Pool One of the European Champions Cup against Clermont on Saturday .
The French team confirmed their 22-13 win with a late try from Fritz Lee before Camille Lopez converted .
Danny Cipriani had one last chance to impress England coach Stuart Lancaster before the RBS 6 Nations squad is announced on Wednesday . |
60,702 | ac862abd42fd72f58fb9d05789f3c156deaa1760 | Black and white issue: A Chinese scientist claims fossils prove prehistoric man ate giant pandas . They are large, cuddly and the most gentle of creatures - but in prehistoric times, Giant Pandas were just another source of food to primitive man. A Chinese scientist has claimed humans once included panda meat in their diet after uncovering fossils that show the animals died from wounds caused by hunters. Wei Guangbiao said an examination of excavated fossils in the southwest Chinese city of Chongqing showed pandas had been "slashed to death by man". He said prehistoric man would not have killed animals that would have been of use to them in the daily battle for survival. Pandas, then in plentiful numbers, would have been a ready source of food and a good complement to a diet that consisted mostly of berries and anything else they could trap or catch. Given their shy nature, and slow, lumbering walk, the bears would have been easy prey for hunters armed with sticks and stones, and later spears and knives. The distinctive white and black fur of the panda would also have been used by primitive man to provide warmth. Guiangbiao, head of the Institute of Three Gorges Paleoanthropology at a Chongqing museum, said the pandas who lived 10,000 to one million years ago were much smaller than those seen in captivity and the wild today. He told the Chongqing Morning Post newspaper the pandas would have been found in the city’s high mountains. Here they flourished in their natural habitat of cool, wet and cloudy mountain forest land, which is rich in bamboo. Historians believe panda meat was once a delicacy eaten by the rulers of Ancient China. Today, the Giant Panda has been on the endangered species list for more than 50 years and is called a “National Treasure” in China, where there are breeding centres tasked with helping to boost the dwindling population. Latest figures show there are 239 Pandas living in captivity, while the wild population is said to number under 3,000. Gentle giants: These panda cubs are among many born at breeding centres around China to help boost the dwindling population . | Chinese scientist claims fossils prove pandas were eaten by primitive man as part of their diet .
Distinctive black and white fur would also have been used to provide warmth .
Pandas once flourished in the high mountains of Chongqing, but are an endangered species today . |
175,457 | 6f15313b63287506fcca0404e9607df5e71959b4 | Hundreds of food outlets at Olympic venues have been forced to take chips off the menu, because of . Hundreds of food outlets at Olympic venues have been forced to take chips off the menu, because of a demand from sponsor McDonald's. Olympic chiefs have banned all 800 food retailers at the 40 Games venues across Britain from dishing up chips because of 'sponsorship obligations.' The only loophole in the agreement, announced in a memo to staff, is that chips can be served with fish - safeguarding Britain's most famous dish. But is seems the bosses have predicted an outrage about the decision, . emphasising that the move was not backed by the food retailers. The memo reads: 'Due to sponsorship obligations with . McDonalds, Locog have instructed the catering team they are no longer . allowed to serve chips on their own anywhere within the Olympic park. 'The only loophole to this is if it is served with fish.' 'Please understand . this is not the decision of the staff serving up your meals, who given . the choice would gladly give it you however they are not allowed to. 'This is being escalated through to the directors of L2012C and Locog and the IOC. 'Please do not give the staff grief; this will only lead to us removing fish and chips completely. 'Everyone has a right to work in a none abusive environment.' Commercial partners Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Cadbury, Nature Valley and Heineken will be the only branded products sold at the games. The 800 food outlets will serve a mixture of international dishes and great British dishes, with the organising committee . boasting that food outlets would 'celebrate the heritage and diversity of . British regional products and recipes.' But the chip ban mean visitors from all over the world will be stopped from enjoying firm British favourites, including sauage and chips, gammon, egg and chips, lasgane and chips, steak and chips and chicken and chips. Scroll down for video . Chips will only be allowed to be sold with fish, saving the British classic . Steak and chips will also have to be crossed off the menu . Visitors to the Olympic venues won't be able to tuck into British sausage and chips . Controversy already surrounded some of the sponsors of the Olympic Games, with organisers criticised for accepting deals with companies like McDonald's and Coca-Cola because they conflict with the 'Olympic ideal'. Jenny Jones, a Green Party assembly . member, said the Games have provided 'a glut of sponsored messages for high calorie . food and drink that are at odds with the Olympian athletic ideal.’ Last . month McDonald's revealed pictures of its biggest restaurant in the . world, newly build in London's Olympic Park where the strongest, fittest . and fastest athletes in the world will compete. The vast two-storey restaurant will serve up to 1,200 customers an hour and sell £3million of fast food during the Games. At 3,000 sq ft the building, next to the Olympic Stadium, is bigger than the current largest McDonald’s, in Moscow. The new McDonald's restaurant at the Olympic Park in Stratford will be the biggest in the world . During the Games it is expected to sell £3million pounds worth of fast-food . The Russian restaurant will regain its . title on September 9, however, when the London branch is bulldozed . after the Paralympics closing ceremony. Olympics sponsor Visa also came under fire from critics last month after effectively banning the use of rival cards at Games venues. It has ordered the closure of all cashpoints which accept Mastercard or American Express, and non-Visa customers will not even be able to use their cards to pay for goods at checkouts. The card giant, which has exclusive rights over the Games' payment system, will disable 27 LINK machines inside venues and replace them with just eight Visa-only cashpoints. Marc Gander, of the Consumer Action Group, said at the time: '‘This is shocking. It is a privilege to . be a sponsor of the Olympics and they are abusing that privilege by . exploiting consumers.' Florists have even been the subject of a crack-down on the anuthorised use of the word 'Olympics' or the famous five rings. Lisa Cross, 33, from Stoke-on-Trent, was stunned when she was visited by trading standards in May and told she could be sued by official . Games sponsors for her tissue paper tribute to the Games, and told to immediately remove it. Florist Lisa Cross was been ordered to take down her Olympic themed window display after being warned she is breaching copyright laws . VIDEO: See inside the world's largest McDonalds - INSIDE the Olympic Park in London!... | Hundreds of restaurants and food retailers expected to be affected .
Memo about the change said retailers don't back the decision .
All British favourites must be served without chips - except for fish . |
183,702 | 79f2e0212f721625c0d0bc3f495b4f741ffa1538 | Former prime minister Julia Gillard did not commit any crime in relation to an alleged corrupt slush fund operated by her one-time boyfriend, an inquiry has been told. Ms Gillard, who served as Australian Prime Minister from December 2007 and June 2010, denied that renovations to her home in 1990 were paid for by a union slush fund which her former lover, union boss Bruce Wilson established. The lawyer leading inquiries for the trade unions royal commission has recommended a finding that Ms Gillard did not commit any crime and did not know about allegedly criminal activity by Mr Wilson. Former prime minister Julia Gillard did not commit any crime in relation to an alleged corrupt slush fund operated by her one-time boyfriend, an inquiry has been told . The recommendation is among the written submissions to the commission by counsel assisting, Jeremy Stoljar SC, published on Friday. However Mr Stoljar reports that some aspects of Ms Gillard's professional conduct as a solicitor 'appear questionable'. He further said that she likely did receive money from Mr Wilson for her home renovations. Ms Gillard was questioned in the commission in September about off-the-books work she did as a young lawyer for Mr Wilson when he was an official in the Australian Workers' Union. Ms Gillard advised Mr Wilson and his union bagman, Ralph Blewitt, on setting up the AWU Workplace Reform Association (WRA) in the early 1990s. Ms Gillard was questioned in the commission in September about off-the-books work she did as a young lawyer for Mr Wilson when he was an official in the Australian Workers' Union . The commission has heard Mr Wilson used WRA as a slush fund to secretly receive thousands of dollars from a construction firm for work that was never done. Ms Gillard's failure to open a file for the work on the office system and rumours money from the fund paid for her renovations have dogged her career across two decades. Mr Stoljar wrote, 'Had she adopted a more rigorous approach to the task, it might have been more difficult for Mr Wilson and Mr Blewitt to have behaved as they did'. He concludes: 'The evidence supports a finding that Ms Gillard was the beneficiary or recipient of certain funds from Mr Wilson.' Mr Stoljar has also urged the commissioner to find that Health Services Union (HSU) whistleblower Kathy Jackson made a false claim for funds to Victoria's Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and that charges be considered. The submissions also recommend charges be considered against Victorian Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) boss John Setka. Mr Stoljar reports that Mr Setka 'committed the offence of blackmail' in a dispute where concrete firm Boral was banned from work-sites as part of a confrontation between the CFMEU and construction firm Grocon. Charges have also been recommended against NSW CFMEU state secretary Brian Parker and Cbus Superannuation officers Lisa Zanatta and Maria Butera in relation to a leak of confidential superannuation member information and 'obviously perjured evidence' to the commission. Commissioner Dyson Heydon will consider the submissions in compiling his interim report, due to be handed to the federal government on December 15. | Lawyer leading inquiries has recommended that Ms Gillard did not commit any crime and did not know about allegedly criminal activity by former lover Bruce Wilson .
Counsel said that she most likely did receive money from the slush fund for her home renovations in 1990 . |
88,597 | fb738074f1e1902103e18c78c56ff50a316d8dc4 | Businesswoman Karren Brady has criticised UKIP leader Nigel Farage over his claims some mothers are 'worth less' to employers than male colleagues. The star of TV's The Apprentice - who last week took her seat as a Tory peer - said Mr Farage's attitude made her 'shudder'. Baroness Brady, who is David Cameron's small business ambassador, spoke out at a meeting with entrepreneurs and bosses while campaigning in Rochester and Strood ahead of next week's by-election. Karren Brady has attacked Nigel Farage for his views on women who take time off work to raise their children . Baroness Brady, who is the Prime Minister's small business ambassador, pictured with Kelly Tolhurst the Conservative candidate for Rochester and Strood (right) - the by-election takes place on November 20 . The Apprentice judge criticised the comments made by Nigel Farage saying it made her 'shudder' Tory defector Mark Reckless is widely expected to take the seat from his former party - making it the second to fall to the Eurosceptics after fellow defector Douglas Carswell convincingly won the seat of Clacton last month. In comments he has subsequently stood by, the UKIP leader has said a woman who takes two or three years off to have a child 'is worth far less to her employer when she comes back' because of losing her client base. 'I do not believe there is any discrimination against women at all,' he said. 'I think young, able women that are prepared to sacrifice the family life and stick with their career will do as well, if not better, than men.' UKIP leader has stood by his comments that a woman who takes time off work is 'less useful to her employer' Karren Brady was appointed managing director of Birmingham Football Club at the 23. During her 16 years in charge the club went from almost bankrupt to being worth £82 million. In August 2006 she joined the cast of BBC's The Apprentice as one of Lord Sugar's advisors. She is now vice-chairman and CEO of West Ham United and has secured a major stadium deal, moving the club to the Olympic Stadium from 2016. In addition, she has slashed the club's debt from £100million to £20million. The couple have one daughter and a son. They live near Birmingham but have a home in Knightsbridge, central London . Baroness Brady, who became the managing director of Birmingham City FC at the age of 23, said she admired women who give up work to raise children. Today she said: 'When I read comments from UKIP MEPs saying that women "don't have the ambition to go right to the top" and when Nigel Farage says women are "worth less" in business, I shudder. 'These are the attitudes that make women less likely to put themselves forward - just as we need more of the skills and insight they can bring.' Earlier this month, Baroness Brady took a seat in the House of Lords after being appointed a Conservative member of the house. During the short ceremony of introduction she was flanked by Apprentice co-star Lord Sugar and Conservative Party co-chairman Lord Feldman of Elstree. She was introduced as ‘Baroness Brady, of Knightsbridge in our city of Westminster’, but will be known simply as Baroness Brady. She was one of 22 new party political peers announced by Prime Minister David Cameron in August. Earlier this month, Baroness Brady took a seat in the House of Lords after being appointed a Conservative member of the house . She was one of 22 new party political peers announced by Prime Minister David Cameron in August . | Businesswoman spoke out while campaigning in Rochester and Strood .
She said the UKIP leader's attitude towards mothers made her 'shudder'
Mr Farage said women who take time off work are less useful to employers .
But Baroness Brady praised women who gave up work to raise children . |
164,341 | 6080ad86c7c1baee647bae7839677cd6b7164c75 | The Hong Kong billionaire playboy who offered nearly £40 million to any man who could turn his homosexual daughter straight, has revealed the luxury lifestyle which any suitor could expect should he win her hand. Cecil Chao sparked global controversy when, refusing to accept his daughter Gigi's civil union to her lesbian partner of eight years, he offered 500 million Hong kong dollars to the man who could convince her to marry him. He now appears to have changed his stance slightly saying that she can choose whatever she wants. Lavish: Cecil Chao, chairman of Hong Kong property developer Cheuk Nang Holdings, who has a reputation for being a playboy, speaks during an interview in his house in Hong Kong . 'Young and beautiful': Gigi Chao, the daughter of Hong Kong property tycoon Cecil Chao Sze-tsung, poses at the conference room of her office in Hong Kong . But he still seems to be ignoring Gigi's woos with Sean Yeung, offering a 'moderately deluxe lifestyle' to anyone who successfully pursues his daughter. And the 76-year-old billionaire gave a glimpse of just what he means when by 'moderately deluxe' as he welcomed a reporter from the Financial Times into his Happy Lodge home on the western shore of Hong Kong. The lavish house has a staggering floorspace of some 16,000 square feet spread out over four luxurious floors. The living room has a circular glass wall affording incredible views of the bay outside, a grand piano and a pair of pricey modernist sculptures by Angel Botello. A garish custom-made double chandelier hangs from the ceiling in the centre of the room. European antique furniture adorns the rooms in contrast to Buddhist ornaments and Chinese lacquerware. Mr . Chao, who was born in relative poverty in Shanghai, ranks a painting of . cherry blossoms by Tang Bin as his favourite work of art. Extravagant: The lavish home which overlooks Sandy Bay features chandeliers and expensive art . Life of luxury: The apartment has stunning views out from the island . Despite . the offer of his daughter's hand in marriage, Mr Chao, who claimed to . have slept with around 10,000 women, is the one who has been inundated . with marriage offers. He is unlikely to accept any of them however, afraid that any potential wife is only after his money. Gigi is a director of Mr Chao's company Cheuk Nang and also runs a modelling agency. The pair are both qualified helicopter pilots. She . has long been thought of as a natural heir to her father's extensive . business empire, but it is now believed that in the absence of a . husband, he will pass the business on to one of his sons instead. But Mr Chao says it is more the lack of a grandchild that bothers him more than her relationship with Miss Yeung. He told the Financial Times: 'I would not force her to marry a man, but obviously I would from my point of view, prefer her to be married and to have grandchildren.' Mr Chao offered up the dowry for his daughter after he was a apprached by a reporter following rumours that his daughter had entered into a civil partnership with Miss Yeung. The tycoon admitted that he was shocked. Definitely not single: Gigi Chao, right, and her partner Sean Eav, have been together for nine years and married in Paris in 2012 . He said: 'Gigi is still young and beautiful. She has 70 per cent of her life to go.' Following . the dowry the 76-year-old property magnate seemed to accept 33-year-old . Gigi's 'gay tendencies' but made some heavy hints that he wants her to . 're-consider her choice'. ‘I'm not saying that she's not okay to be gay,’ he told ABC News 20/20 back in October. ‘I . mean it's her own choice and her own tendency, but she should make sure . she knows what she wants. Maybe what she wants today is different . [than] what she wants in the future.’ Ms Chao married her long-term partner Sean in a church ceremony in Paris last year. She insisted at the time that she will not be ditching her partner – no matter the quality of man her father’s millions can buy. ‘My heart is taken,’ she said. Ms Chao added that her father‘s million dollar reward was an act of love and nothing else. ‘I am happy. And he knows I am happy. He just wants me to be more happy.’ | Property magnate Cecil Chao offered a glimpse of his lavish life .
He says that any suitor for his gay daughter would live in 'moderate luxury'
Mr Chao had offered a £40 million dowry for any man who could convince Gigi to marry him .
But Gigi entered a civil partnership with her lesbian partner of eight year . |
227,190 | b22dbdf6a67a149224e8a374a5091579faf32151 | Few question that there was a major chemical attack in Syria last week, and the United States has made clear that it blames the government of President Bashar al-Assad. Now, the question is how President Barack Obama will respond. For almost two years, Obama has avoided direct military involvement in Syria's civil war, only escalating aid to rebel fighters in June after suspected smaller-scale chemical weapons attacks by Syrian government forces. However, last week's attack on a Damascus suburb that reportedly killed and wounded more than 3,000 people obliterated the "red line" Obama set just over a year ago against the use of Syria's chemical weapons stocks. At the White House, spokesman Jay Carney told reporters Monday that Obama was evaluating "a response to the clear use on a mass scale with repugnant results of chemical weapons," adding that "there is very little doubt that the Syrian regime ... used those weapons." Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called the attack "inexcusable" and "undeniable," and said there was "a clear reason that the world has banned entirely chemical weapons." He said that evidence "strongly indicates" chemical weapons were used in Syria and that "we know the Syrian regime maintains custody" of such weapons and has the rockets to use them. Read Kerry's remarks . Obama "will be making an informed decision about how to respond to this indiscriminate use" of chemical weapons, Kerry added, saying the president "believes there must be accountability" for those who use them. Options available to Obama range from ordering limited missile strikes to continued diplomatic efforts labeled by critics as a "do-nothing" approach. Obama will be presented with final options regarding actions against Syria in the next few days, a senior administration official said Monday. Assuming the president decides to go ahead with a military response, any action could come as early as mid-week, though it could be later, the official cautioned. Factors weighing into the timing of any action include a desire to get it done before the president leaves for Russia next week and before the administration has to make a decision on whether to suspend aid to Egypt because of the ongoing political turmoil there, the official explained. The administration also wants it to be a quick response to the use of chemical weapons, the senior administration official said. American officials are consulting with allies to ensure they are supportive of any U.S. action, which the senior administration official said would be very limited in scope and a direct reaction to the use of chemical weapons. And three representatives of allied governments involved in those top-level consultations said the goal is to reach a consensus as soon as possible. "No one is talking about a long process," one European diplomat told CNN. Marie Harf, a State Department spokeswoman, said any U.S. response would be "a determination on how to respond to a blatant use of chemical weapons, and it's not necessarily to change the entire situation on the ground in Syria." That might be a mistake, said Michael Doran, an analyst at the Brookings Institution's Saban Center for Middle East Policy. A U.S. strike "can't just be one and done," but should be part of a plan to remove al-Assad, he told CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360." "The president has been very reulctant to get involved. Public opinion has been against it. There's not a lot of support on the Hill," Doran said. "And yet, here we are again. Time and time again, we get dragged further and further in." The result could be "a Vietnam-type problem, where we kind of back our way into this, if we don't come up with a plan about how to win." Kerry spoke with his British, Jordanian, Qatari and Saudi counterparts Monday and with the secretary-general of the Arab League, Harf said. "Obviously, the intelligence assessment is ongoing," she said. "But he reiterated that the president is studying the facts and will be making an informed decision about how to respond going forward." The Obama administration is expected to declassify the intelligence assessment backing up its assertion that the Syrian regime was responsible for last week's chemical weapons attack, another senior administration official said. The declassification would happen before any U.S. military action would take place. A senior administration official familiar with the intelligence told CNN that the evidence "includes but is not limited to" satellite images of activity at Syrian military installations identified as including chemical weapons depots. Earlier Monday, a White House official ruled out sending ground troops to Syria or implementing a no-fly zone to blunt al-Assad's aerial superiority over rebels fighting to oust his regime. The official insisted that all other options were under consideration by Obama but put no time frame on a decision. Meanwhile, a senior Defense Department official told CNN's Chris Lawrence Monday that four U.S. Navy destroyers "maintain readiness and, if required, could execute a mission within hours" of being ordered to do so. But the official added that the U.S. military remained "in a holding pattern" as Obama considers both military and nonmilitary options. Opinion: How Al-Assad used chemical weapons to poison debate on Syria . Also, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said while visiting Indonesia that any U.S. action "will be in concert with the international community and within the framework of legal justification." While U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Monday that the use of chemical weapons was a crime against humanity and must be punished, certain opposition by Syrian ally Russia and possibly China undermined the possibility that the Security Council would support a military mission. Instead, a limited coalition of NATO partners such as Germany, France and Britain -- all of which have called for action against Syria -- and some Arab League members appeared more likely to provide the political backing needed by Obama to order U.S. missile strikes. A senior administration official told CNN on Monday that the goals of any coalition military action would be to punish al-Assad and show him that there was a cost for using chemical weapons while preventing him from doing so again. In addition, a military strike would seek to degrade the Syrian regime's capabilities enough to weaken it without causing it to fall to an opposition considered unprepared to assume power, the official said. Possible coalition partners include NATO allies Britain, France, Germany and Canada, as well as regional powers Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Last month, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey provided Congress with a list of declassified U.S. military options for Syria that emphasized the high costs and risks of what he said would amount to "an act of war" at a time of deep budget cuts. U.S. official: Almost no doubt al-Assad regime used chemical weapons . Dempsey's letter, dated July 19, listed U.S. assets in the region including Patriot missile defense batteries in Turkey and Jordan, as well as F-16 jet fighters positioned to defend Jordan from possible cross-border trouble. In addition, the Pentagon has sent four warships armed with cruise missiles to the region. According to U.S. officials, updated options offered the president in recent days included: . • Cruise missiles fired from one of four Navy destroyers deployed in the Mediterranean Sea. The missiles would be used to strike "command and control" facilities such as command bunkers, or the Syrian regime's means of delivering chemical weapons: artillery batteries and launchers. There is no indication that the missiles would strike at actual chemical weapons stockpiles. • Military jets firings weapons from outside Syrian airspace. This option carries additional risks and is considered less likely. "They have to be careful to do this in concert with our allies," Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of California, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, told CNN on Sunday, adding that "I don't think the White House is going to want to risk American lives by sending pilots over Syria, so that really limits our options to cruise strikes and think that's probably where the White House is going to go." U.N. chemical weapons inspectors reach alleged attack site . Cruise missile strikes could be "very punishing" on al-Assad's missile supplies and aircraft without going after the chemical weapons stockpiles to risk dispersing them, Schiff said. To Aaron David Miller, a vice president at the Woodrow Wilson International Center, the situation is forcing Obama to shift from being an "avoider-in-chief" regarding military involvement in Syria. "It's almost inevitable that the president will authorize some form of military action," Miller told National Public Radio in an interview broadcast Monday. He said he expected a significant response that amounts to "a warning that lays down this time a red line that the president intends to enforce, not one that turns pink." "It cannot simply be a couple of cruise missiles into a storage shed somewhere," Miller said, adding that the goal was to deter al-Assad rather than topple him or radically shift the balance in Syria at this time. "The president's not on the verge of becoming the cavalry to rescue the country." Schiff agreed that Obama has little choice but to respond strongly. "In terms of the credibility of the White House," he said, "the cost of not acting now, I think, exceeds the cost of acting." | U.S. evidence includes satellite imagery, official says .
Obama is considering how to respond to Syrian chemical attack .
Official: Obama could be presented with options within days .
A U.S. strike "can't just be one and done," a Middle East analyst says . |
91,832 | 0221799f269241f371d404e6ef15b3e5081b3035 | (CNN) -- When Hallie Leighton received the letter from her doctor with the results of her recent mammogram, she opened it tentatively, afraid of what it might say. Her mother and grandmother had both had breast cancer, and she didn't want to suffer the same fate. She was relieved, then, when she read this sentence: "We are pleased to inform you that the results of your recent breast imaging examination on 04/16/2009 are normal." A year later, during her annual visit to her gynecologist, Leighton's relief turned to shock. "My doctor felt a lump, and it was so big, she asked me if I'd gotten implants," Leighton, 39, remembers. "I said no, I don't have implants, and she had me feel it. The whole top of my breast was hard." The lump was cancer and it was large -- between 6 and 9 centimeters -- and the disease had already spread to her spine. Leighton says her breast surgeon told her the tumor was probably there when she'd had the mammogram the year before. Leighton wondered how the mammogram might have missed a tumor so large. Months later, when she saw the report from the radiologist who'd read the mammogram, she got her answer. Toward the end of the report, the radiologist made this note: "The breasts are extremely dense, which lowers the sensitivity of mammography." In layman's terms, this meant Leighton's breast tissue was so thick with fibrous tissue and milk ducts that it was hard to see any cancers that might be there. "Think of the breast as the sky," explains Dr. Mark Helvie, the chief of breast imaging at the University of Michigan Health Center. "On a clear day, you can see objects in the sky. But when a breast is dense, it's like a foggy day. There are objects in the sky, but you can't see them." One woman's breast cancer milestones . Not only is it hard to see cancers on a mammogram of a dense breast; just having dense tissue makes you more likely to get breast cancer, Helvie adds. "I wish I had known all this before," Leighton says. "This was a very important piece of information." Unfortunately, Leighton's story isn't unusual, says Courtney Bugler, spokeswoman for the Young Survival Coalition, a group of young breast cancer patients and survivors. "We hear about situations like this all the time," Bugler says. "Mammograms are not a perfect screening tool -- far from it -- but for young women especially, they are often not helpful at all." Here's how to know when a mammogram might not be enough for you. 1. If you have a strong family history of breast cancer, get an MRI. The American Cancer Society recommends that women with a strong family history of breast cancer get an MRI and a mammogram. The group also recommends MRIs (in addition to mammograms) for women with a BRCA gene mutation, or for women whose parent, brother, sister or child has a BRCA gene mutation. Helvie also recommends getting a digital mammogram, as they are more accurate than a film mammogram. If your insurance company won't pay for it, you can appeal the decision, noting the recommendation to get one from your doctor and from the Cancer Society. If you don't have insurance, contact the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, the YWCA and your local chapter of the Susan G. Komen Foundation for help finding free or low-cost screening. 2. Get a copy of your mammogram report. As Leighton learned, a letter saying your mammogram is normal isn't always enough. Ask either your gynecologist or the radiologist who performed the mammogram for a copy of the actual report, and then check it to see if there's a notation about the density of your breasts. 3. If you have dense breasts, consider having an ultrasound or MRI . The American College of Radiology recommends that women with dense breast tissue get an MRI. The American Cancer Society says that for women with dense breasts, getting either a mammogram and an ultrasound or getting a mammogram and an MRI can be more effective than getting a mammogram alone. Again, if your insurance company won't pay for an ultrasound or an MRI, appeal the decision, noting your doctor's recommendation to have one plus the information above. 4. Look for your BI-RADS score. Your radiology report should include a BI-RADS score, which indicates how likely you are to have breast cancer. A "1" on this scale means your mammogram showed no cancer, and a "5" means the mammogram is highly suspicious for cancer. "Often, a radiologist letter might say everything is fine, when in fact the BI-RADS score might suggest coming back sooner or being followed more closely," Bugler says. 5. Talk to your radiologist. Usually, a woman never meets the person who reads her mammograms, but you certainly can try. "I no longer leave my mammograms without speaking to the radiologist personally," says Bugler, whose breast cancer was diagnosed when she was 28. "I ask the doctor to come out and tell me to my face that everything is fine." Leighton, who's being treated for her cancer, says it's still not clear to her why her doctors failed to recommend she have an MRI despite her dense breasts and her family history. She says her radiologist and her gynecologist knew that her mother, grandmother, aunt, great-aunt and cousin had had breast cancer. In addition, her other grandmother had ovarian cancer, which is genetically linked to breast cancer. She now wishes she'd asked more questions and used another method of breast cancer detection: her hands. "That's how my cousin found her breast cancer -- she's an advocate now and even made a video about it," Leighton says. "In my 20s, I was vigilant about doing my breast exams, but I'd fallen out of the routine," she says. "There's a tendency to forget that we have a tool right at our disposal." CNN's Sabriya Rice contributed to this report. | If breast cancer runs in your family, get a mammogram and an MRI .
Consider getting an ultrasound or an MRI if your breasts are considered dense .
Ask the person who performed the mammogram for a copy of the radiology report . |
74,733 | d3db3d81a85e478b074862bd72e4a0819c77abc6 | Workers appear to be dwarfed by the vast tunnels being drilled beneath the streets of London for the ambitious £14.8billion Crossrail scheme which is now 60 per cent complete. After four years of subterranean drilling, the project to transform London's rail network has seen more than 23 miles - nearly 90 per cent - of the tunnels finished. The work is due to be completed in spring 2015 and by 2018 high-speed trains will be running from as far west as Reading in Berkshire, through central London to Abbey Wood in south London and as far east as Shenfield in Essex. These pictures show the vast underground caverns at Crossrail's Bond Street, Farringdon, Paddington and Liverpool Street stations. Crossrail chief executive Andrew Wolstenholme said: 'Crossrail is being delivered on time and on budget. These fantastic images show the scale of work taking place around the clock beneath the streets of London. 'We are on schedule to provide London and the South East with a fantastic new railway in 2018.' Scroll down for video . Workers appear to be dwarfed by the vast tunnels being drilled beneath the streets of London as part of the £14.8billion Crossrail project . After four years of subterranean drilling, the project to transform London's rail network has seen more than 23 miles of the tunnels finished . The work is due to be completed in spring 2015 and by 2018 high-speed trains will be running from as far west as Reading in Berkshire . Six of Crossrail's eight tunnelling machines have now completed their drives, pictured is Bond Street station in London . Crossrail aims to shorten journey times and economic forecasts suggest the project will add up to £42billion to the UK economy . Around 200 million passengers will travel on Crossrail each year and station platforms will be 250m in length to accommodate the 200m trains . Crossrail chief executive Andrew Wolstenholme said: 'These fantastic images show the scale of work taking place around the clock beneath the streets of London' New Crossrail stations are being built through the central section of the route at Paddington, Bond Street, Farringdon and Liverpool Street . | More than 23 miles - nearly 90 per cent - of the tunnels for the £14.8billion Crossrail project are now finished .
The scheme is 60 per cent complete and by 2018 high-speed trains will be running as far west as Reading .
Around 200 million passengers will travel on Crossrail each year and platforms will be 250m in length .
These pictures show the tunnels at Crossrail's Bond Street, Farringdon, Paddington and Liverpool Street stations . |
271,696 | ebee1a8746155cdd0ee7e097486228b84afe07dc | By . Kerry Mcdermott . A dog who had its front paws cut off by callous members of a Mexican drug gang is able to play and run once more after being fitted with prosthetic legs. The sweetly-named Pay de Limon - or Lemon Pie - was discovered whining and bleeding in a dumpster after its run-in with heartless criminals in Mexico City in 2011. A year on the plucky pooch has recovered well thanks to the efforts of the Milagros Caninos - Canine Miracles - rescue centre in the Mexican capital, which raised almost £4,000 to pay for Pay de Limon's new legs. Scroll down for video . Back on its feet: Pay de Limon, whose two front paws were chopped off, bounds along outside a Mexican rescue shelter with the help of his new prosthetic legs . The founder of the rescue shelter claimed Pay de Limon's horrifying injuries were the work of criminals using the dog to 'practice' the torturous treatments dished out to kidnap victims by members of Mexico's notorious drug cartels. 'Pay de Limon had the misfortune of running into an organised crime group and they used him to practice cutting off each one of his paws, like they do when they cut fingers off human beings that have been kidnapped,' Patricia Ruiz told Reuters. Kidnaps are a regular occurrence in . Mexico, with victims snatched by drug gangs to try and extort money from . their families, or sometimes to be forced into working for the cartels. The mutilated dog was brought to . Milagros Caninos after being found abandoned in a dumpster by passersby . in the Fresnillo district of Mexico City. Staff at the rescue shelter worked to . nurse Pay de Limon back to health, and raised more than $6,000 in . donations to pay for the prosthetic limbs that would allow him to walk . again. Because no facilities exist in Mexico . for fitting dogs with prosthetic legs, moulds of Pay de Limon's legs . were sent to a company in Colorado, U.S., that specialises in braces and . prosethetics for dogs and other animals. As Pay de Limon grew accustomed to . wearing the prosthetics the dog gradually spent more time each day . wearing them, and staff say it now regularly trots around with the help of its new legs. On the prowl again: A Mexican animal rescue centre raised funds to pay for Pay de Limon's new prosthetic legs . Recovery: Pay de Limon's injuries, pictured left, are believed to be the work of members of a Mexican drug gang. The pooch is now back on its feet thanks to a new pair of prosthetic legs, right . Care: A vet adjusts one of the plucky dog's prosthetic legs at the Milagros Caninos - Canine Miracles - rescue shelter in Mexico City . Dog's life: Pay de Limon looks pleased with his new legs in this photograph taken outside the rescue shelter in Mexico City . Popular pooch: Pay de Limon plays with staff at the Milagros Caninos centre, where he was brought after being discovered whining and bleeding in a dumpster in Mexico City . Mexico has been plagued by violence since President Felipe Calderon declared war on the country's drug cartels in 2006. At least 47,000 people are believed to have died since government troops were sent in to gang strongholds in the country six years ago. | Pay de Limon's horrific injuries are believed to have been inflicted by members of a Mexican drug gang .
Staff at a Mexican rescue centre raised nearly £4,000 to pay for a new pair of prosthetic legs for the mutilated dog . |
262,089 | df744ce87a446d23029273708517614cde84dcef | (CNN) -- A Russian television reporter was killed Tuesday while covering the crisis in Ukraine, according to state-run media. Igor Kornelyuk, a correspondent with Russia's state-run VGTRK, came under mortar fire along with his crew near the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk, according to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, a regional security bloc. Kornelyuk later died at a Luhansk hospital, said ITAR-Tass, a Russian government news agency. "This death is yet another horrid reminder that not enough is being done to protect journalists who risk their lives reporting from conflict zones in Ukraine," said Dunja Mijatovic, the OSCE's representative on freedom of the media. Mijatovic also said the crew's sound engineer, Anton Voloshin, is missing. Much of the conflict has been centered in Luhansk. On Monday, hundreds of pro-Russian militants carried out a coordinated assault on a border guard base there. Five of those militants were killed in the attack, said Oleg Slobodyan, the spokesman for the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service. Seven people were also killed Monday in a separate attack at a Luhansk government building, health officials said. | VGTRK correspondent Igor Kornelyuk was killed in mortar shelling Tuesday .
Kornelyuk was covering the crisis in the Ukrainian city of Luhansk .
The crew's sound engineer is missing .
Media watchdog: Death shows that "not enough is being done to protect journalists" in Ukraine . |
42,720 | 787525acbc55206655d8cec06e449319ba521ac2 | The Hague, Netherlands (CNN) -- After Bosnian Serb wartime leader Radovan Karadzic's failure to appear at the start of his trial on genocide and war crimes charges CNN Senior International Correspondent Nic Robertson explains what happens next. Q: How does the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) differ from the International Criminal Court (ICC)? A: The ICTY was set up by the United Nations in 1993 specifically to try people for crimes committed during the break up of the former Yugoslavia. The ICC is the first permanent, treaty-based, international criminal court established to prosecute the most serious crimes of concern to the global community including genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Q: Why did Karadzic fail to show up in court on Monday? A: Karadzic failed to show up because he wrote to the court several weeks ago telling judges he had not had sufficient time to prepare his defense. He is a "self-representing accused," meaning he is defending himself. But he is backed by a large number of lawyers supported by a bevy of interns from U.S. law schools. Despite all this legal support, Karadzic says there has been too much evidence for him to go through. Prosecutors say they have 490 hours of evidence to present. The judge wrote back to Karadzic last week telling him he doesn't need to present his defense yet, he can do it after the prosecution. But Karadzic still refused to show. The court cannot compel him to come even though he is held in a detention facility about seven minutes drive from the court run exclusively for those awaiting or on trial at the tribunal. The detention facility is a lot more comfortable than a conventional jail. Karadzic will be able to watch TV when he wants, he has access to books and can mix with other defendants. Indeed, detention facility staff report that members of all three ethnic groups -- Serbs, Croats and Bosnians -- mingle freely, even playing games together. Q: Can the trial proceed without a defendant in the dock? A: The trial can go ahead without Karadzic present because there is no legal reason that says he needs to be there, even though he is defending himself. But the court is bound to give him a fair trial so if the prosecution begins without him the judges may give Karadzic a video feed so he can watch proceedings unfold. Q: How long is the trial expected to last? A: The trial could last at least two years and possibly three. The court allows at least one year for the prosecution and one year for the defense as a minimum. Q: What measures have been put in place to prevent a repeat of the delays and obfuscation seen during the trial of the former Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic? A: Milosovic's trial dragged on because he defended himself, refused to accept the legitimacy of court and because of the complexity of the case and lengthy charge list -- 66 counts -- against him. Karadzic's case is less complex and this is one of the lessons prosecutors have learned from the Milosevic trial: make cases simpler and only go for those that can be readily proved. But with Karadzic defending himself and refusing to accept the court's legitimacy, the judges are still struggling to figure out how to deal with tactics designed to delay the trial. They are likely to be less lenient than they were with Milosevic. | Karadzic says he has not had sufficient time to prepare his defense .
Court cannot compel Karadzic to attend bur could put video link in cell .
Court has simplified case against Karadzic to avoid repeat of Milosevic trial .
Still, trial will last at least two -- and possibly three -- years . |
74,245 | d2879e6488c7dc911be0218eb1e28efca6fa06b8 | Opponent: Doctor Chaand Nagpaul, the chairman of the British Medical Association's GP committee and a family GP in north-west London . GPs are to hold a vote on charging for appointments. The idea is to deter patients from missing consultations – a problem that costs £160million a year. The fees – possibly between £10 and £25 – would be the first since the NHS was founded in 1948. One GP said an entire morning's work was lost when 14 patients failed to turn up. Others believe the free care offered by the Health Service is unsustainable in the face of an aging and increasingly obese population. It is feared however that charging would stop patients seeking help or encourage them to go to overstretched casualty units. The proposal is to be debated at the British Medical Association's local medical committee conference in York on May 22. If . the vote is passed, the BMA would then have to decide whether to ask . the Department of Health to impose a national charging system. It is likely that the elderly, children, pregnant women and others will be exempt or charged less. Patients could be charged when they book an appointment – an incentive to turn up. The . GP practice would pocket the money – as happens with charges for . writing letters or signing forms – to be reinvested into services. In France patients pay a flat rate of 23 euros (£19) to see a GP and most are reimbursed by insurers, leaving them with a bill of about six euros (£5). But campaigners and many family doctors – including the leaders of the BMA – oppose the idea in Britain. Dr Mike Smith, who chairs the Patients Association, said: 'A move to charge for routine appointments will have a devastating impact on many vulnerable patients. 'This will put pressure on already stretched A&E services as people would be reluctant to pay to visit their GP and will present themselves at the emergency services. 'There are many people today who cannot afford to pay for every GP appointment. 'This practice can be seen as nothing less than profiteering from the most vulnerable as they attempt to access healthcare which is theirs by right.' But there are fears that charging would stop patients seeking help or encourage them to go to overstretched casualty units . Chaand Nagpaul, chairman of the British Medical Association's GP committee and a family doctor in North West London, said: 'The BMA policy still is that we do not support charging patients because it is against the NHS's care being provided at the point of delivery. Anyone who is ill should not have to consider cost as a barrier to seeing their GP.' But Alex Wild, of the TaxPayers' Alliance campaign group, said: 'Missed and unnecessary GP appointments cost taxpayers a fortune so it's no wonder that charges are being considered. 'But until GPs drastically improve the service they provide by working out of office hours and reintroducing more responsive appointments, they should not be asking hard-pressed families to cough up even more cash for a substandard system. 'Primary care must be run for patients, not for doctors.' Dr Nigel Watson, chief executive of the Wessex local medical committee, which is proposing the motion, said: 'Personally I feel that services should be free at the point of access. 'The problem we have at the moment is that the resources that are available don't meet the demand. This is about having a debate about how we move things forward. 'General practice is still seen around the world as one of the strengths of the NHS. To continue this and to build on out-of-hospital care we need more resources. 'If that can't be obtained by taxation it's going to have to come either from closing hospitals down – which is incredibly difficult – or resources need to come from elsewhere. 'Many of us wouldn't want it to come from charging patients but that's why we need a debate.' The motion – uncovered by Pulse magazine – calls on the BMA to 'explore national charging for general practice services with the UK governments'. GPs will also vote on whether to defy the Government's plans for them to keep surgeries open from 8am to 8pm to make it easier for patients to get appointments. | The fee would be the first since the NHS was founded in 1948 .
Missed appointments cost the NHS £160million a year .
One GP said a morning's work was lost when 14 failed to turn up .
It is feared however that charging would stop patients seeking help . |
60,565 | ac203e33ae36a0a3e7fb86dff378b76713d1a6c1 | For months now, his name has gone hand-in-hand with that of Newt Gingrich. But as the former House speaker prepares to leave the Republican nomination race next week, Sheldon Adelson has to decide what political causes -- and which candidates -- to support. Adelson's not wasting time. The Nevada billionaire and mogul and his wife, Miriam, are two of the hosts for a fundraiser on Friday for House Speaker John Boehner's re-election campaign at Adelson's casino, The Venetian, along with fellow magnate Steve Wynn and the American Gaming Association. The Adelsons have made a big political splash, giving $20 million to the super PAC Winning Our Future that was largely responsible for keeping Gingrich's candidacy alive in the past few months. That includes a $5 million contribution late last month. Adelson dropped some hints Thursday evening telling Jon Ralston of the Las Vegas Sun he wanted to become less visible in the political world and that references to him being a mogul when his donations were reported were "not helpful to that person." When asked if he was going to give to the Republican super PAC American Crossroads or its nonprofit affiliate Crossroads GPS, he initially would not answer. Later, he said to Ralston "I'm going to give one more small donation -- you might not think it's that small -- to a super PAC and then if I give it will be to a C4," referring to 501(c)(4) non-profit groups, such as Crossroads GPS, which are not required to disclose their donors. Adelson refused to say if his reference to one "small" donation to a super PAC was referring to the pro-Mitt Romney Restore Our Future group. "I'm not going to tell you...you'll find out when it's reported." Adelson previously told some supporters of Mitt Romney he would back his candidacy if he became the Republican nominee, according to sources familiar with the matter. What is not clear is how much he and his wife will end up donating or when. Associates have said a major motivation for him is preventing the re-election of President Barack Obama. He thinks Republicans would be stronger proponents for Israel's safety, which friends have said trumps all other concerns for him. "When the presidential campaign started he said his goal was to defeat Barack Obama, and he was going to do whatever he could to do that," one friend told CNN. The future financial support from Adelson is something Romney and his allies would like to see and have sought. The two men met right before the February 4 Nevada caucuses and have spoken on the phone many times. About a dozen donors to the super PAC Restore Our Future met with Adelson in Las Vegas in late March while they were in town for the Republican Jewish Coalition to convince him to "come on board." He indicated to them, according to one of the participants, "it is just a matter of time." While he was complimentary of Romney in that session, according to one source familiar with the matter, he also has publicly criticized him as not being a bold decision-maker. "He's not the bold decision-maker like Newt Gingrich is. He doesn't want to -- every time I talk to him, he says, 'Well, let me think about it,' " he told JewishJournal.com at the end of March. Adelson has been a prolific donor to Republican causes in past years. Earlier this year, he and his wife each donated $2.5 million to the Congressional Leadership Fund, a group dedicated to keeping the Republican majority in the House of Representatives. Adelson was a bundler for John McCain's 2008 presidential candidacy, helping to bring in $219,000 for that campaign. He and his wife contributed almost $215,000 to the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee, aimed at electing GOP candidates. Nevada Republicans also expect Adelson to be involved in some fashion to support Republican Sen. Dean Heller's re-election effort against Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley, according to one Nevada Republican source, and he and his wife last year maxed out their allowed donations to Heller and U.S. Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nevada. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan group that tracks the role of money in politics, Sheldon and Miriam Adelson rank as the top individuals funding outside spending groups this election cycle. In February, when Gingrich looked to have a serious chance at getting the Republican nomination, he told Forbes magazine he might give as much as $100 million to support the former House speaker. What is unclear is whether he will follow through with that amount and where it may go now that Gingrich will no longer be in the race. In that interview, he defended his donations and said he had nothing for which to apologize. "I'm against very wealthy people attempting to influence elections," he said. "But as long as it's doable, I'm going to do it. Because I know that guys like (George) Soros have been doing it for years, if not decades. And they stay below the radar by creating a network of corporations to funnel their money. I have my own philosophy, and I'm not ashamed of it. I gave the money because there is no other legal way to do it. I don't want to go through 10 different corporations to hide my name. I'm proud of what I do, and I'm not looking to escape recognition." The Adelsons came under some criticism from Republicans for their support of the super PAC backing Gingrich, especially when it was airing bitter ads in January questioning Romney's record at Bain Capital and also when it became clear that Gingrich's candidacy stalled. Adelson reacted to the critics in the Forbes interview: "Those people are either jealous or professional critics." He added: "They like to trash other people. It's unfair that I've been treated unfair -- but it doesn't stop me." Adelson was longtime friends with Gingrich from the time he served as House speaker, and the two shared common beliefs regarding Israel and the need to protect it. "I am in favor of Newt Gingrich because I like people who make decisions. He is a decision-maker," he told the Jewish Journal publication. He also was motivated because he did not want Rick Santorum to become the nominee. "Rick Santorum ... is too social," he also said. "This man has no history creating anything or taking risks." He said he knew Santorum and liked him, but "I don't want him to run my country." A spokesman for Adelson did not return calls seeking comment on the plans for future donations. | Sheldon Adelson and his wife, Miriam, gave big to pro-Newt Gingrich super PAC .
With Gingrich planning to bow out, which Republicans will be aided by the billionaire?
Financial support from Adelson is something Mitt Romney and his allies would like to see .
In past, Adelson has criticized Romney for not being a bold decision-maker . |
72,199 | cca1b74271cdd822622a3c07ab3bf339e0a0300c | A late afternoon ocean swim for a mother and her children turned into a complete nightmare which almost cost her young son his life. Raelene Murphy and her two children Ruth, 9, and Sebastian, 6, were enjoying the 'warm bath water' at Wellington Point beach, Brisbane, at about 4pm on New Year's Eve. But it wasn't long before Raelene realised she had been stung by a creature and when Sebastian came towards her in the knee-deep water he began to scream in pain. Paramedics revived the young boy on the way to the hospital after he lost consciousness, the Brisbane Times reported. Raelene Murphy and her son, Sebastian, thought they were going to die after being stung by a rare jellyfish . Sebastian, 6, with his burn scars from the irukandji morbakka fenneri that he encountered in the water . 'I took off my reef shoes and pulled the tentacles off my feet,' Raelene told Daily Mail Australia. 'The tentacle that was wrapped around my shoe was about 50cm long in total.' She said her son must have walked straight into the creature as he was only about a metre away from her as he walked towards his mother after she was stung. 'Then I asked people nearby to take care of Sebastian and make sure he was OK because I was having problems breathing and I had pains in my chest,' she said. Raelene was convinced that she was having a heart attack as the unbearable pain spread to her lower back, legs and arms. 'I thought I was dying and my son said he thought he was dying too,' she said. 'The first ambulance took my son who was vomiting, frothing at the mouth and his lips had turned blue.' Sebastian needed three shots of adrenalin and one shot of morphine before being monitored in hospital for the night. While Raelene received two shots of morphine for the excruciating pain to begin to subside. 'Sebastian is a very healthy and fit kid but if it was someone half his size - it would have been a very different situation,' his mother said. 'Initially we were terribly worried as he is quite a talented pianist and cellist, however, he will make a full recovery.' Sebastian with a small part of a tentacle of the creature that almost killed him on New Years Eve . More evidence of the highly-potent jellyfish that caused him to vomit, froth at the mouth as his lips turned blue . Royal Life Saving Society national medical adviser Professor John Pearn and world marine stinger expert Lisa-ann Gershwin were sent a sample of the creature's tentacles and identified it as an irukandji morbakka fenneri, which is coincidentally the species Gershwin discovered in Moreton Bay and named in 2008. 'The specimen that stung Sebastian was unusual and the second most potent I've ever seen,' Dr Gershwin told the Brisbane Times. This incident follows, Dr Gershwin's warning back in August that the dangerous creatures were around Broadwater beach on the Gold Coast and that the numbers would increase as the earth warmed. Dr Gershwin said the Morbakka species was responsible for a diver being put on life supports off Cairns in 2000. 'In this case the woman saw the critter whack into her while she was diving, and then the specimen was captured by her dive buddy so the ID was pretty reliable,' she told the Gold Coast Bulletin. A lifelong Wellington Point resident who has swum at the beach since she was child, Raelene wanted to share her story to warn others about the dangers of the beach as she had never heard of this specific creature ever sighted in the area. 'I don't want anyone else to go through it,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'I would never have taken my son into the water and put him at risk if I had have known. 'I don't think we were unlucky we were stung, we are lucky to have survived and gained an appreciation of the sea and have been able to warn others.' Redland council erected warning signs at Wellington Point within hours of being notified about the incident and were unaware of the species ever being sighted along the council's beaches. The creature has been described by an expert as: 'unusual and the second most potent I've ever seen' | Raelene Murphy and her son Sebastian were both stung by a rare jellyfish .
They both experienced trouble breathing and severe chest pain .
Sebastian was vomiting, frothing at the mouth and then turned blue .
He was finally stable after three adrenalin shots and one shot of morphine .
His mother received two shots of morphine before the pain subsided .
The creature was identified as a rare and deadly type of jellyfish . |
51,914 | 930841aa432b59ae7e52bef31318b56b14d19911 | SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- As a symbol of national pride and success, South Korea and Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-Sung, carries more weight on his shoulders than the need to perform. South Korea's Park Ji-Sung celebrates after at the 2006 World Cup against France. Park, once rejected from his country's own K-League, is now considered the ambassador of Korean football. A responsibility he seems to able carry. "I want to push my way through Manchester United's star players and put my name on the list of the best 11 team. Park Ji-Sung talks to CNN . "I want to show the world how good Korean players are by playing well in the top flight," Park wrote in his book "Neverending Challenge" before he joined United. Park's autobiography, which illustrates his life as a football player since he started out at the age of ten, became a bestseller after being published in 2006. It is no surprise. Park is a celebrity in South Korea and is swamped with fans wherever he goes. His hometown, Suwon, near to Seoul, built a park and named a road after Park to commemorate him becoming the first Premier League-r in South Korean history. Park may even become the first Asian to win a Championship League medal after this season. Nicknamed "Three-lung Park" for his seemingly overflowing energy supply, the South Korean papers plaster their front pages with Park if he scores and give out the smallest details of how many minutes he ran in each match. But Park's football career had not really drawn much attention until the recent years. He was mostly unknown to the public until he scored the winning goal to defeat Portugal in the 2002 World Cup in which South Korea reached the semifinals for the first time ever. "People like him because there's a touching story behind him," football commentator Park Moon Sung at SBS, one of Korea's major broadcasters, said. "They can see how this player, who never really got much attention, is maturing over the years." The South Korea player, after receiving no calls from the K-League, started his professional career in Japan with Kyoto Purple in 2000. It was only after the 2002 World Cup that he joined PSV Eindhoven and proceeded to join Manchester United in 2005. Park has so far managed to keep his private life out of spotlight, most likely due to his quiet personality, a quality that is also reflected in his performances. "He's someone who pumps energy into the entire team. He's not like a magician who can save the team from its worst moments with dazzling skills," the SBS commentator said. "It's more like he plays for the others and brings the team together which is something very much needed in a team like Manchester United with all its stars." Park's joining of Manchester United has enriched the football culture in Korea. Many who started watching European games because of Park have now become avid fans. "I would like Park Ji-Sung to become a symbol of challenge for all Koreans," 30-year-old Kim Young Woo, who is a great fan of Park, said. Kim said he admires Park for never giving up and admits to watching at least 70 percent of all Manchester United games even if it means staying up until three in the morning on weekdays. "I think young people will look at him and tell themselves that they want to take on challenges, too," Kim said. Something Park wants to see as well. The midfielder signed on a deal to build a Park Ji-Sung football center in his hometown fully equipped with training areas and football fields. He believes there should be a better future for Korean football. | Park scored the winning goal against Portugal in the 2002 World Cup .
Played for PSV Eindhoven before joining Manchester United .
The midfielder plans to build a Park Ji-Sung football center in his hometown . |
60,425 | abc432350a8cd86e7517fe6c68661dbd9f69d853 | A supercar has become the world's fastest production model after reaching a top speed of 270mph. American firm Hennessey has claimed for some time that its Venom GT is the fastest thing on four wheels. But until now the firm hadn't been able to attempt beating the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport's record-breaking 269mph because it was on VW's private test track. Scroll down for video . The need for speed: American firm Hennessey has claimed for some time that its Venom GT (pictured)is the fastest thing on four wheels, but now they have managed to prove it . 1. Hennessey Venom GT: 270 mph (434 km/h) 2. Bugatti Veyron Super Sport: 269 mph (431 km/h) 3. Koenigsegg Agera R: 260 mph (418 km/h) 4. SSC Ultimate Aero: 257 mph (413 km/h) and the 9ff GT9-R: 257 mph (413 km/h) 5. Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo: 248 mph (399 km/h) 6. Koenigsegg CCX: 245 mph (394 km/h) 7. McLaren F1: 240 mph (386 km/h) 8. Zenvo ST1: 233 mph (374 km/h), . 9. Pagani Huayra: 230 mph (370 km/h) 10.Gumpert Apollo and Noble M600: both at 225 mph (362 km/h) However, it emerged today that the Texan manufacturer was given access to Nasa's space shuttle landing runway in Florida for a one-off blitz in the 1,200bhp machine. The Venom GT managed to reach 270.49mph compared to the average top speed of 200mph in a Formula 1 car. The speed makes it slightly quicker than the 269.86mph achieved by Bugatti in 2010. The record was revealed to TopGear.com, with test pilot Brian Smith telling the website that the car was capable of going even faster. He said: 'At the very top end, there was a little wandering, but hey, we're going 270mph. Full throttle: The Texan manufacturer was given access to Nasa's space shuttle landing runway in Florida for a one-off blitz in the 1,200bhp machine (pictured) Pilot Brian Smith said he could get another 5-10mph out of the Venom GT (pictured), but the runway in Florida was just 3.22 miles long . The £800,000 Hennessey Venom GT is powered by a twin-turbocharged, 7-litre V8 engine which develops a whopping 1,244bhp. This gives it a 0-62mph time of just 2.7 seconds. In Florida, it went from 20mph to 120mph in 7.71 seconds. Since . its launch in 2011, it has been praised by the motoring press while . Steve Tyler, from Aerosmith, is among the 11 people to take delivery so . far. The car reached 270.49mph - making it slightly quicker than the 269.86 achieved by Bugatti in 2010. Pilot Brian Smith claims he could have got another 5-10mph out of the car, but the runway in Florida was just 3.22 miles long. 'It was still pulling. If we could run on an eight-mile oval, we could go faster than that.' Smith claims he could get another 5-10mph out of the Venom GT, but the runway in Florida was just 3.22 miles long. Bugatti, meanwhile, can make use of Volkswagen's Ehra-Lessien test track which has a straight of 5.5 miles. Despite the jaw-dropping top speed - . which is almost four times the UK motorway and three times the highest US highway speed limit - the Venom GT . won't be entering next year's Guinness World Record book. They . only took the car on one run, and for a record to stand, the driver must perform two runs. Nasa would only allow the one run so, for now, the . Veyron Super Sport retains the official top spot. The £800,000 Hennessey Venom GT is powered by a twin-turbocharged, 7-litre V8 engine which develops a whopping 1,244bhp. Competitor: Until now Hennessey hadn't been able to attempt beating the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport's (pictured) record-breaking 269mph because it was on VW's private test track . Despite the jaw-dropping top speed, which is almost four times the UK motorway speed limit, the Venom GT won't be entering next year's Guinness World Record book. Hennessey only took the car on one run, and for a record to stand, the driver has to drive in two directions. Nasa would only allow the one run. This gives it a 0-62mph time of just 2.7 seconds. In Florida, it went from 20mph to 120mph in 7.71 seconds. Since its launch in 2011, it has been praised by the motoring press while Steve Tyler, from Aerosmith, is among the 11 people to take delivery so far. Romans International, the high end sports car dealership in Surrey, sold the UK's only Venom GT last year. | The supercar has become the world's fastest production model after reaching a top speed of 270.49mph on a Nasa runway .
The £800,000 Hennessey Venom GT is powered by a twin-turbocharged, seven-litre V8 engine which develops an incredible 1,244bhp .
Pilot Brian Smith claims he could get another 5-10mph out of the car, but the runway in Florida was just 3.22 miles long . |
229,651 | b562d199cfb12a51c627e96639142993904ffea9 | Plans are underway to make the biggest heavyweight fight on British soil since Frank Bruno fought Lennox Lewis, with Anthony Joshua’s camp hopeful of delivering a domestic blockbuster against Tyson Fury next summer. Much will depend on whether Wladimir Klitschko honours Fury’s status as mandatory challenger for his WBO title. But with Fury admitting significant doubts that the Ukrainian great will meet him next summer, Sportsmail has been told Joshua’s team are now actively considering the possibility of a fight that would pose an enormous challenge in what has so far been a devastating surge through the professional ranks. Anthony Joshua (left) is hoping to take on Tyson Fury in summer 2015 in what will be his biggest test yet . Fury (right) demolished Dereck Chisora (left) at the weekend and has his sights set on world titles . Joshua v Fury would be an all-English blockbuster with both unbeaten in 10 and 23 fights respectively . Age: 25 (Watford) Fights: 10 Wins: 10 . Losses: 0 KOs: 10 . Age: 26 (Manchester) Fights: 23 Wins: 23 . Losses: 0 KOs: 17 . Whatever reservations there might have been over Joshua’s readiness for a dangerous opponent such as Fury seem to have all but disappeared, with both men extending their unbeaten records to 10 and 23 fights respectively in the past fortnight. Joshua, 25, will on Wednesday hold a press conference to discuss his January 31 fight with America’s Kevin Johnson at London’s 02 Arena – a bout first revealed by Sportsmail in October. A huge match-up with one of the most divisive figures in the sport would then possibly take place at the O2 in London, with each man certain to land the biggest paydays of their careers to date. Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, wrote in his MailOnline column: ‘Tyson Fury is on the horizon for next summer. 'We are moving towards the inevitable, which is a fight with Fury and the other top domestic fighters. It's going to be great times for British boxing. 'I watched the main event from the show at the ExCel at the weekend and I have to say Fury-Dereck Chisora (which Fury won when Chisora retired at the end of the 10th) was one of the dullest heavyweight fights I have seen. Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn says a Fury bout for the young heavyweight is inevitable . 'Fury is a great character and a quality fighter but do you really see him coping with Anthony’s power, speed and work rate? Do you not think Anthony would have blasted Chisora out of there far earlier? 'People ask if AJ is ready to fight Fury but, to be honest, is Fury ready to fight AJ? I believe this is a fight that will bring both men to new levels in terms of financial rewards. It's a numbers game and these numbers add up.' Klitschko remains a significant obstacle to the fight, with the 38-year-old expected to defend his WBO, WBA and IBF belts in March. He would then have four months to fight Fury, 26, whose convincing yet unspectacular dismantling on Chisora made him the mandatory challenger for the WBO strap. Fury is convinced Klistchko will sidestep him before retiring, saying: ‘I believe he’s got one or two more fights. I don’t believe he’s going to fight me. ‘He will fight some American and he will probably try to get the unification fight with (WBC champion) Bermane Stiverne. ‘He will probably beat Stiverne and then retire as a great, great champion. If he does that, good luck to him. If he doesn’t, I’m here. Fury's win came after Chisora retired at the end of the 10th round at the Excel in London . Joshua (left) batters Michael Sprott at Liverpool's Echo Arena on his way to a first round win in November . ‘He’s made around 20 title defences - he’s ruled the division for a long time. It’s time for new blood in the division and that new blood is me.’ That much is open to debate, such has been Joshua’s rapid and dramatic rise since turning professional after winning gold in the London Olympics. Only one of Joshua’s 10 fights to date has reached the third round, with faded former European champion Michael Sprott demolished within two minutes in his last outing on November 22. Johnson will surely provide more of a test, having gone the distance with Vitali Klitschko, Fury and Chisora. There is then the possibility of a final fight before he steps in with Fury in what would be one of the most anticipated match-ups in British boxing’s recent history. Fury used his Twitter account in October to challenge Joshua to meet him in the ring, with the giant Mancunian desperate to fight more regularly after missing out on a £5million payday when David Haye pulled out of their scheduled fight last year. | Anthony Joshua's camp is hoping to make fight against Tyson Fury .
Fury is mandatory challenger for Wladimir Klitschko's heavyweight titles .
With question marks over that bout happening, Joshua hopes to step in .
Joshua fights Kevin Johnson at London’s O2 Arena on January 31 .
Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury: Plan underway for Battle of Britain . |
119,018 | 25affe40f63ce134ec8aeedd5c43bf5e5e9f36ab | Washington (CNN) -- The United States expressed concern Thursday about recent arrests in Zimbabwe of political and civil society activists and allegations by their lawyer that some of them were tortured. On February 19, former Movement for Democratic Change Member of Parliament Munyaradzi Gwisai and 45 other labor union and student activists "who had gathered peacefully to discuss recent events in Egypt" were arrested and charged with treason, State Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley said in a statement. Other political and civil society activists have also been arrested, he said. "Gwisai's defense attorney has reported that several of the 46 people were tortured while in custody, and we understand that the magistrate has ordered physical examinations to substantiate those claims," he said. "We call on the government to provide medical attention for those who need it and, if torture occurred, to take immediate action to hold the perpetrators accountable." A ruling on the charges' merits is to be delivered March 7. Crowley called on the government of Zimbabwe to uphold rights spelled out under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and to ensure that those arrested are guaranteed due process. Zimbabwean authorities said the 46 people were arrested and charged with treason after they were caught watching footage of the protests that led to the ouster of Tunisian leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. "On 16 February they held a meeting and the purpose of the meeting was to organize, strategize and implement the removal of a constitutional government of Zimbabwe by unconstitutional means, the Tunisian-Egyptian way," prosecutor Edmore Nyazamba said last week in court. At least 12 of the activists were beaten with broomsticks on their buttocks and the soles of their feet, defense attorney Alec Muchadehama told a packed courtroom on Thursday. All 46 defendants were charged with treason, a charge that carries a death sentence in Zimbabwe. "If watching television footage of the uprisings was treason, most Zimbabweans would be guilty of it because we watch news daily," Muchadehama said. Robert Mugabe, 87, has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980. Like Mubarak and Ben Ali, he has been accused of rigging elections and instituting repressive laws to tighten his grip on power. The arrests may be an indication that authorities are worried that the changes sweeping across north Africa may inspire Zimbabweans to rise up. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change, MDC, which is in a troubled unity government with Mugabe's ZANU-PF, has called the arrests "an abuse of state machinery by ZANU-PF to suppress the people's views." Mugabe's policies over the past decade have been blamed for plunging the once-prosperous country into economic crisis. Mugabe has called for an election this year, but his political rival and leader of the MDC, Morgan Tsvangirai, has threatened to boycott the poll if a referendum on a new constitution is not held. | Allegations that some activists beaten on their buttocks and soles of their feet .
A ruling on the charges' merits is expected March 7 .
U.S. State Department spokesman calls for "immediate action" if torture occurred . |
13,225 | 2592ab17b444e6e23669c2bfb5ac7fe7416031a2 | An 11-year-old boy is reported to have fathered a child with the 36-year-old mother of a schoolfriend (file picture) An 11-year-old boy in New Zealand has fathered a child with the 36-year-old mother of his schoolfriend. The revelation has prompted sexual abuse counsellors to call for a reform in the country's rape laws after details of the case first emerged when the boy informed the principal at his school, in South Auckland. The schoolboy and the baby are now both believed to be in care and Justice Minister Judith Collins has said she will look into present legislation which makes it impossible for a woman to be accused of rape. She said the case raised an 'important point', adding: 'I will seek advice from officials on whether or not a law change is required,' The Weekend Herald has reported. The current law states only a man can be accused of rape when they force sex. Women who have sex without consent can be charged with sexual violation. Both carry a maximum sentence of 20 years. Child Youth and Family confirmed it was dealing with a case at the school which was going before the courts. The paper has reported the boy approached his principal about two-thirds of the way through the 2012 school year. The contact is understood to have started in April last year when the boy and his friend took a day off school. They spent the day at the friend's home where the woman gave the boy alcohol and took part in a sexual encounter with him. It is understood the contact lasted for a number of months and the boy had turned 12 by the time the child was born. 'I will seek advice from officials on whether or not a law change is required' - Justice Minister Judith Collins . A CYF worker, who has since retired, told the paper the agency was involved in the case, adding the police would also be making inquiries, although the woman denied the sexual contact. Ken Clearwater, manager of Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse, said if the allegations were true the woman should be held accountable, adding the gender-dependent laws should be changed. Meanwhile, family lawyer Jeremy Sutton said the boy would not have rights to the child unless he was present at birth and that he would have to make a case for access. MailOnline yesterday reported how an elementary school teacher and mother-of-two, from Southern California, admitted performing sex acts on a student under the age of 14, claiming it was brought on by a manic episode. Malia Brooks, 32, pleaded guilty on Thursday to three counts of committing lewd acts with a child under 14, despite pleading not guilty the day before. Under the plea change deal, she'll face up to 12 years in prison instead of a possible 16. Her lawyer is seeking a four-to-six-year sentence. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Schoolboy started contact with woman after spending day at friend's house .
Case was revealed when boy informed the principal at his school .
Justice Minister Judith Collins is now looking into country's rape laws . |
148,418 | 4bebd76684a81268907a2cae421be5ed71919230 | (CNN) -- While Rafael Nadal enjoys a fishing trip in his native Mallorca, Roger Federer is closing on his Spanish rival's No. 2 ranking and his Masters titles record after reaching the final in Madrid. Nadal, like Novak Djokovic, couldn't wait to get away from the controversial blue clay at the Caja Magica but Federer has made the best of the situation and thrashed Janko Tipsarevic 6-2, 6-3 on Saturday in a one-sided semifinal. Waiting in the final is Tomas Berdych, who beat a tetchy Juan Martin del Potro 7-6 (5), 7-6 (6) earlier in the day. Federer will move above Nadal in the rankings if he wins his third Madrid title, and will also equal the Spaniard's record of 20 Masters titles. "I didn't even know actually about the No. 2 ranking," Federer said. "I'm focused on what I am doing here this week, trying to play well and get on a bit of a roll and I have played better and better as the tournament went on." Tipsarevic had knocked out fellow Serb Djokovic a day earlier, taking advantage of his compatriot's dislike of the blue clay surface. But in a match watched by Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, Tipsarevic was no match for Federer, who hit 25 winners to take his head-to-head record over the Serb to 5-0. Federer's possible rise to No. 2 in the rankings is even more significant with the French Open looming. It means the 16-time Grand Slam champion could avoid playing Djokovic or Nadal until the final. The victory also took Federer past the $70m mark in career prize money. Federer will play in his 33rd Masters final on Sunday, while Berdych competes in his third. The Czech sixth seed took advantage of several lapses by Del Potro, who was broken while serving for the first set and then disputed a series of line calls in the second set. "He was my toughest match of the week," Berdych said. Del Potro refused to shake hands with the umpire after the match but said later: "I lost because Berdych played better, and that's the only reason." Berdych trails Federer 4-10 in head-to-heads byt has won three of their last five meetings. Meanwhile, the ATP has confirmed that Australian journeyman player Sam Groth served a 263kph (163 mph) ace that broke the record for the fastest recorded serve. Groth, ranked No. 340, delivered the serve at a Challenger tournament in South Korea to smash the previous record held by Ivo Karlovic at 251 kph (156 mph). Federer described Groth's effort as an "incredible number." | Roger Federer beats Janko Tipsarevic 6-2, 6-3 to reach Madrid Masters final .
Federer is chasing a record-equaling 20th Masters title and the No. 2 ranking .
Tomas Berdych will play Federer after beating Juan Martin del Potro 7-6 (5), 7-6 (6)
Fastest serve record broken in South Korea by Australian journeyman . |
194,812 | 88304bf904c6e1df8eccb9358a95316b1c637f2d | Washington (CNN) -- The Chinese military continues to expand its reach and capabilities beyond its immediate geographical area, a new report from the U.S. Department of Defense concludes. The report, an annual assessment sent to Congress, notes that some of those capabilities have been positive, like humanitarian and anti-piracy efforts, but others are meant to give China "extended-range power projection." While China's continued effort to be able to sustain military operations far from its shore are concerning to the U.S. military, "China's ability to sustain military power at a distance, today, remains limited," the report says. As in the past, the U.S. program to sell military equipment to Taiwan continues to create tension with China and has led to cessation at times of military relations between the two countries. The assessment notes that China has the most active ballistic and cruise missile program in the world, including developing anti-missile technology. Also of concern are Chinese efforts to develop a long-range anti-ship ballistic missile with a reach of more than 900 miles, which would include areas in which the U.S. Navy is active. Such a measure would give the Chinese military "the capability to attack ships, including aircraft carriers, in the Western Pacific Ocean," according to the report. The Chinese could start building their first aircraft carrier this year, and China has started to train pilots to operate off such carriers. It already has a Russian carrier that it is refurbishing. Its naval muscle is also being flexed with additional nuclear powered submarines, and it has nearly completed a navy base on Hainan Island, "with direct access to vital international sea lanes," which will allow for "stealthy deployment of submarines," the report says. | A Pentagon report on China's military cites the U.S. military's concerns .
China has the most active ballistic and cruise missile program in the world .
China could start building its first aircraft carrier this year .
But China's ability to sustain military power at a distance remains limited for now . |
238,597 | c0d905ce98e881a7b7ddb83eada6a4a24abb324d | (CNN) -- Somebody took Jessica Heeringa from a Michigan gas station Friday night. Police seem certain of that but say they're "grasping at straws" for other evidence that might help them find the 25-year-old cashier. Norton Shores, Michigan, Police Chief Daniel Shaw said that by Tuesday morning authorities had gotten 150 tips in the Heeringa case, but nothing conclusive. "A lot of interesting tips that we can follow up on. Whether or not they're solid, it's hard to say because we have so little to work on with physical evidence. We're just grasping at straws. ... We're grasping for straws with whatever we can find at the scene," Shaw told CNN affiliate WOOD. Shaw said a DNA sample was found at the gas station, but he could not tie it to Heeringa's disappearance, WOOD reported. That sample is being tested. Heeringa was scheduled to close the Exxon station where she was working alone at 11:30 p.m. Friday. But at 11:15, police got a 911 call that the station was unmanned. "It's very suspicious why there's nobody here," the 911 caller says in a tape police released Monday. Based on the way the station was left, police say they believe somebody abducted Heeringa. "Her purse and other belongings were undisturbed. In addition, the store's cash drawer was found out and no money was missing," police said in a statement. Police are looking for the driver of a silver minivan who was seen in the store's parking area late Friday, they said. A press release describes him as a white male, between 30 and 40, with wavy hair parted in the middle. The van could have been a Chrysler Town and Country, police said. The Exxon station did not have security cameras, but late Monday police released video they think shows the van driving by a nearby business. The video is blurry, the van is only seen for a few seconds, and neither a driver nor license plate can be seen. "I wish I had the technology like you see on TV where you could blow it up and I could see the driver inside. But that doesn't exist for me," Shaw told WOOD. But it is something. "It does give us some hope that we've got some accurate information out there to work with," he told the station. Heeringa's family and friends in the community of 22,500 near Lake Michigan were posting missing posters around the area, and a Facebook page was set up for people to offer clues or support. "We are searching! Hang tight! The whole Country wants you home!" said a Facebook post from Monday morning. Heeringa is described as 5-foot-1, 110 pounds with blond hair, blue eyes and wearing wire-rimmed glasses. Heeringa's mother, Shelly Heeringa, told CNN affiliate WZZM that she thinks her daughter's abductor was a past customer who knew Jessica and the store. "She's very helpful, that's why I think he lured her out of the gas station," the mother told the station. "He knew there wasn't security cameras." People with information that may help find Heeringa are asked to call the Norton Shores police at 231-733-2691. | Police say there's scant evidence to go on .
Blurry video shows van whose driver police are looking for .
"I wish I had the technology like you see on TV," chief says .
Jessica Heeringa, 25, missing since Friday night . |
82,781 | eabb6a77e508ef1b6b88aee88048991190eaca20 | Rio Ferdinand is an interviewer, . programme-maker and football expert for BT Sport . By . Rio Ferdinand . Former England captain Rio Ferdinand runs the rule over England's most threatening opponents from a group containing Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica... and how to stop them at the World Cup. A brilliant nuisance! England's best hope of stopping Luis Suarez is to let him make his move first and then react . The man is a nuisance. A brilliant nuisance, but an absolute pain because he never stops running at you. Every time he gets the ball, he asks you questions as a defender. He has an uncanny way of playing that I’ve never seen before — trying to run the ball through you, either with a nutmeg or by kicking the ball at your legs knowing you won’t expect it, and he then picks up the ricochet. And when he’s past you and in sight of goal he pulls the trigger. Will he, won't he? Luis Suarez is facing a race against time to be fit for the World Cup following knee surgery . As defenders we always move our feet, it’s like a mantra. Feet. Position. Read the opponent. Move. Having the ball kicked at your feet is confusing! The way to stop him is to let him make his move and, aware he’ll perhaps try to knock it past, take it away. But it’s not easy. He’s a livewire, a fan of the feint and shot, and dangerous from many positions. As a defender, I’d normally be 25-30 yards away from Pirlo’s sphere of operations as the heartbeat of his club and country. But having faced him and watched him up close for many years, I know he can put the ball on a sixpence from anywhere. Italy's heartbeat: Andrea Pirlo's can be stopped by sitting on him and not allowing him to to distribute the ball . I’m always thinking of the space behind me when he’s on the field because if the opposition have a runner down the channels — Mario Balotelli for Italy, for example, who gave England the runaround at Euro 2012 — then the runner is Pirlo’s moving target. And he rarely misses. Pirlo is awesomely good and can slice you open with a kick. From 50 yards he can send a killer ball behind a defence. That combination of a runner in behind and the laser ball are a nightmare to defend. So how do you stop him? You sit on him! You stop him getting the ball or block him distributing it. Easier said than done. Left-footed Berbatov: England should not take Costa Rica forward Bryan Ruiz for granted in Brazil . There’s a truism of no easy games in football and that’s never more true than the World Cup. So England can’t take anything for granted against Costa Rica and their major threat, if firing, will be Ruiz. He’s undoubtedly talented, a left-footed Berbatov almost. Great technique and stronger than he looks. | Rio Ferdinand runs the rule over England's World Cup Group D opponents .
Former Three Lions captain explains how to stop the dangermen .
Uruguay's Luis Suarez needs to be allowed to make his move first .
Italy lynchpin Andrea Pirlo can't be given space to distribute the ball .
Costa Rican striker Bryan Ruiz shouldn't be taken for granted in Brazil .
Rio Ferdinand is an interviewer, .
programme-maker and football expert for BT Sport . |
111,531 | 1bd1b173f3a9b5b20a64071d12c2de3d41a82131 | SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (CNN) -- It wasn't long after the Illinois state Senate voted unanimously to remove Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich from office that Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn put his hand on a Bible and took the oath of office to replace him. New Gov. Patrick Quinn says he hopes "to restore the faith of the people of Illinois." Quinn, a 60-year-old tax attorney, has spent most of the last 27 years in public office. On Thursday, he took up his greatest challenge yet. "In this moment our hearts are hurt," Quinn said after the swearing in. "It is very important that all of us understand that we have a duty, a mission, to restore the faith of the people of Illinois in the integrity of our government and to make sure that all of our elected officials have the confidence of the voters. "I think this is our highest calling," he said. "I think that is what we have to do in the coming days." Blagojevich was arrested in December on federal corruption charges. Federal authorities allege, among other things, that he was trying to sell or trade the Senate seat that became vacant after Barack Obama was elected president. "When I woke up on the morning of December 9, it was quite a shock, I think for all of the people of Illinois," Quinn said, "And I think it is something that you have to accustom yourself to. But I'm an organizer. Early to bed, early to rise, organize, organize, organize and that's what we've got to do for Illinois for everyday people." Quinn, a Democrat, was elected to the office of lieutenant governor in 2002 and was re-elected in 2006. "His priorities include advocating for taxpayers and consumers, protecting the environment, promoting decent health care, and helping members of the armed services and their families," his official Web site said. He served a term as Illinois state treasurer from 1991 to 1995, leaving office after an unsuccessful campaign for secretary of state in 1994. Quinn waged another losing campaign in 1996 when Dick Durbin beat him in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat opened by the retirement of Sen. Paul Simon. Durbin went on to win the seat and is now Illinois' senior senator. His political career began in Chicago in 1982, when Quinn, then a practicing tax attorney, was elected Commissioner of the Cook County Board of (Property) Tax Appeals. He later served as Chicago's revenue director. Quinn, who is divorced, has two sons. He grew up in Hinsdale, Illinois, but now lives in Chicago. Quinn called for Blagojevich to step down in the weeks after his arrest and supported the Illinois House of Representatives when it voted to impeach the embattled governor. On Thursday, he said the state's elected representatives carried out their duties faithfully. "I want to say to the people of Illinois, the ordeal is over," he said. "The citizens of Illinois can be extremely proud of our elected representatives in the House of Representatives and in the Senate, the senators who today carried out their responsibilities with serious purpose and due process. "I think the people of the land of Lincoln are very, very proud of our elected representatives, who reflected the will of the people." | Illinois Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn, a Democrat, takes oath to become governor .
Impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich ousted by state Senate .
Quinn, 60, is a tax attorney who spent most of the last 27 years in public office . |
28,013 | 4f63367ac8be05acb133a5281e5a2f171278599d | Editor's note: Ivan Watson is CNN's correspondent based in Istanbul, Turkey. The Bamiyan Valley is a visually and archaeologically stunning part of Afghanistan. The region hopes to build its tourism industry. (CNN) -- Thursday is "Chinese night" at the Hotel Silk Road in Afghanistan's Bamiyan province. Hungry guests sip cans of Coke and nonalcoholic beer and pick at a buffet that includes General Tsao's chicken, egg drop soup and slices of sweet green melon grown in nearby fields. When a vegetarian diner arrives, the hotel's Japanese owner, Hiromi Yasui, runs back to the kitchen to whip up a dish of spinach, garlic and steamed rice. "This is the most clean kitchen in Bamiyan," she boasts in heavily accented English, as she directs her staff of Afghan assistants in fluent Dari. Yasui proudly points to an electric dishwasher, perhaps the only one of its kind in this battle-scarred Afghan province. The Hotel Silk Road has been open for less than two years. The green concrete walls of this compound jar somewhat with the brown, mud brick architecture of Bamiyan Valley. But the hotel is probably the largest foreign private investment in Bamiyan's fledgling tourism industry since the overthrow of the Taliban eight years ago. See photos of the Bamiyan Province » . Aid workers say tourism is one of the greatest economic hopes for reviving this isolated, yet visually -- and archaeologically -- stunning part of Afghanistan, a region that has seen little infrastructure development over the last eight years, even though Bamiyan is one of the safest parts of the country. Tour the Bamiyan Valley's caves » . "The natural resources and cultural resources here are probably the single best place for economic development to happen, around revitalizing the tourism industry here," says Bob Thelen, the representative for the Aga Khan Development Network in Bamiyan. The nonprofit organization has been working with the government of New Zealand to distribute $1.2 million over a three-year period to develop eco-tourism as an industry in Bamiyan. Bamiyan first attracted widespread international attention in 2001, when Taliban militants spent weeks blowing up two giant statues of Buddha. For more than 1,500 years, these colossal figures -- one was 53 meters (174 feet) high, the other 35 meters (115 feet) -- stood like sentries overlooking this alpine valley. Today, the massive caves where the Buddhas once stood are huge, empty pockets carved into cliffs that dominate the countryside. Despite the loss of these archaeological treasures, the cave network of monasteries that honeycomb the cliffs, as well as Bamiyan's breathtaking mountains and alpine lakes, continue to attract a trickle of both Afghan and foreign tourists. Hotel Silk Road owner Yasui spotted Bamiyan's potential when she first traveled here as a photojournalist in 1996. "Before the war, this was a touristic place," she says. "More than 7,000 cars a day visited here." In the '60s and '70s, Afghanistan was a Central Asian stop on the Hippie Trail, a destination favored by hash-smoking Western visitors driving Volkswagen vans. But the Soviet invasion of 1979 plunged the country into a decades-long spiral of conflict. Bamiyan became the site of horrific massacres during the civil war of the 1990s and the subsequent rise of the Taliban. The Taliban's overthrow in 2001 seemed to open the door to new opportunity. In 2002, with the help of her Afghan husband and a Japanese investor who fronted hundreds of thousands of dollars, Yasui purchased a plot of land next to a bend in the river that runs through the valley. The couple then spent the next five years building their hotel. "I like Afghanistan, I like Bamiyan," Yasui explains. "[But in the past,] I didn't want to stay more than three days, because there was no shower, no place to sleep." Yasui's hotel opened in 2007. Rooms cost $100 a night, pricing them far out of the range of most Afghans. Guests must remove their shoes at the entrance and wear slippers, in accordance with Yasui's strict standards of hygiene. "The furniture has all been imported from Pakistan," Yasui said. "I bought the water glasses from the PX [American military supermarket] in Kabul." Yasui is not the only hotelier in Bamiyan. In 2003, an Afghan businessman named Raziq got a jump-start on the local tourism industry, when he and several partners rented a house on a plateau offering a spectacular view of the Buddha cliffs. The building had been housing American special forces soldiers. Raziq and his partners rechristened it the Roof of Bamiyan Hotel. Raziq, an ethnic Hazara who learned American-accented English catering to foreigners on Kabul's touristic Chicken Street, says he got his inspiration to open a hotel after he saw female Western backpackers paying to sleep on the floor of a grimy tea shop in Bamiyan's dusty bazaar. Over the last year, the Afghan government declared Bamiyan's Band-i-Amir lake, which sits 3,000 meters (9,843 feet) above sea level, the country's first national park. The New Zealand-funded eco-tourism project, in conjunction with the Aga Khan Foundation, also recently trained 22 young male and female Afghans to be professional tour guides. The three-month course included "the relevant topics for this area, geology, archaeology, history, hospitality, English, communication skills," said Thelen, of the Aga Khan Development Network. One of these guides is former Roof of Bamiyan employee Jawad Wafa. Though only 23 years old, this ambitious young Afghan plans to launch a tourism and logistics company, complete with a fleet of rental vehicles and guides. "The first thing we need to have more tourists in Bamiyan, we need security and peace. The second one is roads," Wafa says. Eight years after the overthrow of the Taliban, the entire province of Bamiyan has barely 3 kilometers (about 2 miles) of paved roads. Travel here from Kabul requires at least seven hours driving on a bone-jarring dirt track. But even this isolated oasis is feeling the threat of the mounting violence spreading across the country. "Every time there is a bomb in Kabul, visitors cancel reservations," says Raziq, operator of the Roof of Bamiyan Hotel. And in recent months, troops from New Zealand have documented a spike in insurgent attacks, mostly along Bamiyan's border with Baghlan province, a region where Taliban insurgents have grown increasingly active. "As much as on the one hand you can promote Bamiyan and other pockets throughout Afghanistan as secure and peaceful, there's always the very real threat of violence," Thelen said. Tour operators saw a dramatic drop in foreign visitors this summer, due to the uncertainty and violence surrounding the August 20 presidential elections. In fact, the handful of people seen touring the remains of the Buddha statues last week were mostly American aid workers. They were sent by their organizations from less secure parts of Afghanistan, to take temporary shelter within the mountain walls of Bamiyan Valley. | Bamiyan is one of the safest parts of Afghanistan .
Since the overthrow of the Taliban in 2001, hotels have opened in the region .
Colossal Buddha statues destroyed by the Taliban once towered over the valley .
Stunning terrain and a cave network of monasteries draw tourists . |
257,555 | d956e5847dc43d990992dc5072c9b7fad371213a | By . Jaya Narain . PUBLISHED: . 10:04 EST, 8 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:00 EST, 8 February 2013 . The families of two unarmed policewomen killed in an ambush wept in court yesterday as the details of the women’s final moments were revealed. They heard how PC Fiona Bone, 32, and PC Nicola Hughes, 23, were shot at 32 times less than a minute after arriving to investigate a fictitious burglary. As they approached the property, the court was told, the front door was opened by a gunman. Scroll down for videos . Trial: Dale Cregan (left in police mugshot, . right in court yesterday) is accused of murdering two unarmed police officers . Emotional: The families of Pcs Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes (foreground) sobbed in the public gallery today as they heard an account of how Dale Cregan shot them both dead (court sketch)) Nicholas Clarke QC, prosecuting, said the pair were shot in the chest with a Glock pistol by one-eyed Dale Cregan, 29. He said: ‘The body armour that they were wearing protected them and the bullets did not penetrate. ‘After the first shots both officers . made a tactical retreat. PC Fiona Bone moved to her left and PC Nicola . Hughes turned to run back up the path. ‘But as she retreated more shots were . fired. Nicola was shot, just below her armoured vest, in the middle of . her back, causing her to fall forwards paralysed on to the path. As she was falling or lying flat on her stomach, she was shot three more times. ‘Cregan then turned his attention to . PC Fiona Bone. She was trapped in front of the lounge window and he . discharged 24 shots at her. Deaths: Cregan is accused of killing PCs Fiona . Bone (left), 32, and Nicola Hughes (right), 23, and in a gun and grenade . attack on September 18 last year . Accused: Cregan sat in the dock flanked by security staff at Preston Crown Court . ‘She managed to draw and fire her Taser but it was discharged into a hard surface, probably the paving. ‘Fiona was shot between five and eight times, receiving a total of eight gunshot-related injuries. ‘As she turned and fell, one bullet . managed to get through under her arm, by her body armour. She was killed . by a perforating shot to the upper side of her chest which caused fatal . injuries to the top of her heart.’ Mr Clarke continued: ‘Cregan was not . finished. He turned his attention back to PC Hughes and fired three more . shots into the back and side of her head. ‘She was shot eight times. Four shots . caused potentially fatal wounds. One had severed her spinal cord, . causing instant paralysis and a potentially fatal wound to her abdominal . aorta. 'The three final shots fired into the head severely damaged her brain.’ Earlier, Preston Crown Court heard . that Cregan – who was already wanted for the murder of father and son . David and Mark Short – lured the two officers to the house in Mottram, . Manchester last September by calling police and reporting a burglary. Family: Clare Curran (left), the partner of PC . Fiona Bone, and June and Paul Bone (right), the late police constable's . parents, arrive at Preston Crown Court . Relatives: Bryn Hughes, the father of PC Nicola . Hughes, and his partner Natalie (left) arrive at Preston Crown Court . with PC Hughes's mother Susan Hughes (right) Using the name Adam Gartree, Cregan . said someone had thrown a concrete slab through his back window and then . escaped across a field on foot. When told that officers would be round to investigate shortly, the court heard that Cregan replied: ‘I’ll be waiting.’ Mr Clarke said Cregan only stopped . shooting the officers when his pistol ran out of ammunition. He then . threw a hand grenade at them as they lay prone on the ground. He said: ‘Such was the speed of the . attack upon the two officers that only a matter of 31 seconds had . elapsed between Nicola Hughes switching off the engine of their vehicle . and Fiona Bone firing the Taser.’ Afterwards, it is alleged, Cregan . jumped in a car and drove to a police station, where he is said to have . told the counter clerk: ‘I’m wanted by the police and I’ve just done two . coppers.’ Victims: Cregan is accused of the murders of David Short (left), 46, and his son, Mark (right), 23, in the months before allegedly killing the Greater Manchester Police constables . Asked whether he had any weapons on . him he reportedly replied: ‘I dropped the gun at the scene and I’ve . murdered two police officers. 'You were hounding my family so I took . it out on yous.’ Later he is said to have added: ‘Sorry about those two . that have been killed. I wish it was men.’ Dale Cregan, originally from . Droylsden, Manchester, pleaded not guilty to four charges of murder, . four attempted murders and one of causing an explosion. Nine other defendants have pleaded not . guilty to a variety of offences, including murder, attempted murder, . causing an explosion and assisting an offender. The case continues. Watching out: Armed police officers stand guard outside Preston Crown Court (identities obscured) Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Dale Cregan, 29, accused of murdering PCs Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes .
Officers shot between five to eight times each during the attack .
PC Hughes allegedly shot three times in the head as she lay paralysed .
Cregan allegedly fired 24 shots at PC Bone as she attempted to deploy Taser . |
260 | 00cbf6c491d54dfbbe06c18d8ec2a728b82c3e16 | By . Amie Keeley . and Rob Cooper . PUBLISHED: . 22:32 EST, 13 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 06:05 EST, 14 January 2014 . A Coronation Street actress who is seen in the soap taking a cocktail of drugs to kill herself after being diagnosed with a terminal illness has said that assisted suicide should be legalised. Julie Hesmondhalgh, 43, plays Hayley Cropper who is suffering from incurable pancreatic cancer and decides to end her life to stop the pain. Viewers will see her drink a cocktail of drugs before dying in the arms of her weeping husband Roy, who did not want her to give up her fight against the illness. Scroll down for video . Actress Julie Hesmondhalgh, seen here playing Hayley Cropper alongside her husband, Roy, in Coronation Street, has spoken out in favour of legalising assisted suicide . Hayley, who has been in the programme since 1998, will use a cocktail of drugs to kill herself . The controversial episode will be aired on ITV next week after a series of high-profile so called right to die cases have gone before the courts. Locked-in syndrome sufferer Tony Nicklinson asked the courts for permission to end his own life with a doctor's help. The 58-year-old was left paralysed from the neck down and unable to speak after having a major stroke. Unlike Julie Hesmondhalgh's on-screen character, he was unable to commit suicide unassisted because of his disabilities. He died from ill health last year after the High Court ruled doctors could not help him kill himself - although his case will still go before the Supreme Court so they can rule on the issue. Mrs Hesmondhalgh – a member of the Humanist . Association, which supports assisted suicides – said she could not . imagine how anyone dealing with such an illness in either themselves or a . family member could be against the right to die. Emotional scenes: Hayley Cropper, played by Julie Hesmondhalgh, silently looks out of the flat window holding her husband Roy Cropper's hand before she takes her own life in a controversial episode of Coronation Street to be aired next week . She said: ‘I would like to see it . legalised, very much so. But I have to put the caveat that it has to be . properly done; you have to make sure that people don’t go around killing . elderly people, say, just for the inheritance. ‘But I can’t imagine how anyone can look at the Tony Nicklinson case and see his suffering and be against it,’ she told the Daily Telegraph. ‘It’s quite a simple thing for me – and I understand it isn’t for everybody – but we need to look at this issue seriously.' Official guidance was published which said people who help loved ones end their lives may escape prosecution even if they benefit financially from the death. Cancer battle: Viewers have seen Hayley Cropper (right) struggling to get out of bed as she battles with pancreatic cancer . The rules, set out by the Director for Public Prosecutions, make clear that anyone acting out of 'compassion' is unlikely to face court action. Mrs Hesmondhalgh said there was an ‘almost holy atmosphere’ as she filmed her controversial last scene. The star, who joined Coronation Street in 1998 to play the soap’s first transsexual, won the hearts of viewers with her on-screen romance with cafe owner Roy. Away from the screen, she is married to writer and actor Ian Kershaw, taking time off in 2001 to give birth to her daughter Martha Mo. She has now decided to leave for good to concentrate on theatre roles. Right to die: Hayley Cropper, played by Julie Hesmondhalgh, is seen ending her own life in the controversial episode of Coronation Street which is due to air next week . The star's character, who is suffering from incurable cancer, will kill herself in Monday's episode . She told Radio Times that the scenes were not ‘beautiful’ and were ‘necessarily agonising, because of her steely determination to end her own life’. But she added that the storyline was ‘timely and appropriate’ and that ‘there are no easy answers’. ‘This is a conversation that needs to be had,’ she said. The . actress also said she had no problem being written out in such dramatic . fashion. ‘It would have been more convenient for me as an actor if I . could have come back later on if work wasn’t working out for me, but it . would have been a complete betrayal of everything that we’ve done . because they [Hayley and Roy] are the most steadfast and loyal and . loving couple... they just would not have separated for any other reason . apart from death.’ Keiran . Roberts, Coronation Street’s executive producer, said: ‘We’re not an . issue-based show but sometimes a story will highlight an issue and this . is such a case. ‘Pancreatic cancer is an illness . that people may not know a lot about and the right-to-die issue will . spark a debate, I’m sure, and that’s right and proper.’ The . storyline will reflect the split in opinion in the right-to-die debate . with Roy and Hayley’s friend Fiz Stape struggling to deal with Hayley’s . decision. The actress said: 'I can't imagine how anyone can look at the Tony Nicklinson (right) case [the paralysed stroke victim who lost a case in 2012 to end his life by assisted suicide] and see his suffering and be against it' Coronation Street producer Stuart Blackburn said: ‘This is a very sensitive issue and we will be exploring the effects of her decision on husband Roy who has a huge emotional and moral dilemma over her choice to die this way. ‘Not everyone will feel Hayley’s decision is the right one and we fully respect this. ‘For that reason we will be exploring both sides of the debate on screen.’ The Samaritans have warned that the storyline could create copycat suicides among vulnerable viewers. The on-screen controversy comes as a YouGov survey found almost three quarters of those questioned supported a change to existing laws regarding assisted suicide. | Julie Hesmondhalgh plays Hayley Cropper who is suffering from cancer .
She ends her own life in the soap despite her husband's objections .
The actress, 43, said she is in favour of allowing assisted suicides .
Hayley Cropper's final moments will be screened across two episodes next Monday . |
246,020 | ca6ee4ef3060d4560197ba86519c2001f5f16d22 | (CNN) -- A French Red Cross official abducted by militants in Yemen has been freed, according to a statement from the International Committee of the Red Cross. Benjamin Malbrancke had been kidnapped the evening of April 21 about 30 kilometers outside the western municipality of Hodeida, while traveling in a Red Cross vehicle. "We are relieved and extremely happy to have our colleague back with us, in good health. His return marks the end of many long, hard days, full of anxiety for him and his family, as well as for the team here in Yemen and for his friends," said Eric Marclay, who heads the ICRC operations in Yemen. "We would like to express our deep gratitude to all those who have lent us their support during these long weeks, so that Benjamin can now look forward to soon rejoining his family." Malbrancke had been traveling with two Yemeni drivers, who were also taken but then released unharmed. Kidnappings are common in Yemen, which has been beset by political turbulence for more than a year. Protests led to the departure of President Ali Abdullah Saleh from office, and the government has battled Islamic militants. | A French Red Cross official abducted by militants in Yemen has been freed, the ICRC says .
Benjamin Malbrancke was kidnapped the evening of April 21 about 30 kilometers outside Hodeida .
Malbrancke was traveling with two Yemeni drivers, who were also taken but then released unharmed .
Kidnappings are common in Yemen . |
205,981 | 96a5e3879e0a9f4aa231ff1253b8a2948a05aed8 | Real Madrid defender Pepe got over the disappointment of being an unused substitute in Tuesday's 1-0 win over Liverpool with some retail therapy alongside his wife Ana Sofia Moreira. The couple were spotted shopping in Madrid on Wednesday, with Pepe's garishly colourful jumper not doing much to help him blend in with the general public. The jumper will probably not become as iconic as the white shirt of Madrid which he regularly wears on the pitch. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Sportsmail's Big Match Stats: Real Madrid vs Liverpool . Pepe (right) was an unused substitute in Real Madrid's 1-0 win over Liverpool on Tuesday . The Real Madrid defender was seen indulging in some retail therapy with wife Ana Sofia Moreira (left) in Madrid . The Portugal international was left on the bench by manager Carlo Ancelotti as Madrid secured their route to the knockout stages of the Champions League with victory over a weakened Liverpool team selected in controversial circumstances by Brendan Rodgers. The defender will hope to return to the starting line-up for Saturday's clash against Rayo Vallecano, where victory would be enough to see Madrid remain top of La Liga. Pepe should then join up with the Portugal squad before travelling to Manchester for a mouth-watering friendly at Old Trafford on November 18 against Argentina, where Cristiano Ronaldo will return to Old Trafford to take on Lionel Messi's World Cup runners-up. Pepe (right) scored a header in Madrid's 3-1 comeback victory over Barcelona in El Clasico last month . Pepe will be back in action for Portugal later in November, when they take on Argentina at Old Trafford . VIDEO Ronaldo 'perfect heir' to Di Stefano - Perez . | The defender was an unused substitute in the 1-0 win over Liverpool .
He went shopping in Madrid on Wednesday with wife Ana Sofia Moreira .
He did not go unnoticed due to his flamboyant choice of clothing . |
78,560 | de9d6e7a4da7ab59f91679810791a47485d5cdd0 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 1:36 AM on 10th December 2011 . Almost 100 years after they were sent, telegrams declaring the sinking of the Titanic have been put up for sale. The eight messages were sent by Bruce Ismay, head of the ship’s owners White Star Line, after he was rescued in the 1912 disaster. The first telegram to the shipping company’s New York office was set at 1pm on April 15 – 11 hours after the Titanic sunk with the loss of 1,517 lives. First word: Bruce Ismay's telegram, the first following the disaster, will go on sale in New York . In it, Mr Ismay wrote: ‘Deeply regret [to] advise you Titanic sank this morning fifteenth after collision [with] iceberg resulting serious loss [of] life. Further particulars later.’ The world's largest passenger liner of the age sank 400 miles south of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland after it struck an iceberg on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York. Ismay wrote: 'Deeply regret [to] advise you Titanic sank this morning fifteenth after collision (with) iceberg resulting serious loss (of) life. Further particulars later.' Bruce Ismay was dubbed 'Brute Ismay' by the press after claims that he deserted the Titanic while women and children were still on board . Soon after he wrote the telegrams Ismay - who was later dubbed the Coward of the Titanic - had to be treated with opiates to help him cope with the shock of the sinking. Ismay was the managing director of White Star Line and he was depicted in the 1997 Kate Winslett movie Titanic encouraging the liner's captain to go faster. He later told the official enquiry into the disaster that he had to turn and look away in the lifeboat at the moment the Titanic sunk at 2.20am on April 15. The Carpathia arrived at the scene of the sinking in the north Atlantic at 4.10am and began picking up the 711 survivors. Following the disaster Ismay was . savaged by both the American and the British press for deserting the . ship while women and children were still on board. Some papers called him the 'Coward of the Titanic'. In the hours that followed a radio operator in Philadelphia picked up signals broadcast by Carpathia that listed the nams of the survivors and this news of the disaster was then dispatched to the world's press. It is thought Ismay's was the first official telegram that broke the news of the disaster. The first message has Ismay's full name at the top and the rest bear the name 'Yamsi' - Ismay spelled backwards. His second message stated: 'Most desirable Titanic crew aboard Carpathia should be returned home earliest moment possible / propose returning her myself please send outfit of clothes including shoes for me to Cedric [a ship]/ have nothing of my own.' Doomed ship: The Titanic sank off Newfoundland on 15 April 1912, resulting in the deaths of 1,517 people . The telegrams are printed on paper headed 'The Marconi International Marine Communication Company Ltd' and were retained by the staff at the White Star Line's New York office. Also included in the sale are replies sent by White Star Line officials in New York. One reads: 'So thankful you are saved but grieving with you over terrible calamity... '...accept my deepest sympathy horrible catastrophe.' And: 'Concise marconigram account of actual accident greatly needed for enlightenment public and ourselves / this is most important.' 6 ... The number of iceberg warnings received before the collision . 269.1m .. Length of the Titanic . 825 .. tonnes of coal used each day on the liner . 10,000 .. number of lightbulbs . $7.5million .. cost of the build . 20 horses .. needed to transport the main anchor . 13 .. honeymooning couples on board . 40,000 .. fresh eggs in the ship's stores for the trip . 64 .. the number of life rafts the Titanic was equipped to take . 20 .. the number of life rafts actually on board for the maiden voyage . Marsha Malinowski, from auctioneers Sotheby's who are selling the telegrams, said: 'The owner thought with the 100th anniversary of the sinking coming up it was a good time to sell. 'They have been kept in an album and are in beautiful condition. They are actually quite chilling because they are very matter-of-fact. 'They had to be written as such because they were telegrams and they are pretty much a statement of facts. 'Ismay sent the first shortly after he was rescued by the Carpathia on April 15 and the others followed until the 18th. 'They discuss getting Titanic staff back home and also mention George Widener, a Philadelphia streetcar magnate who was lost in the sinking." After he was rescued Ismay was led to the cabin belonging to the ship's doctor, which he reportedly did not leave for the entire journey to New York. Miss Malinowski added: 'The disaster had a profound affect on Bruce Ismay who resigned from White Star Line and lived as a recluse in Ireland.' Ismay died in 1937 aged 75. The auction takes place in New York on December 13. | Marconi messages from rescue ship expected to fetch £100,000 .
Sale to mark impending 100 year anniversary of the sinking .
White Star Line businessman Bruce Ismay later dubbed the 'Coward of the Titanic' over claims he was rescued with women and children still on board . |
35,437 | 64b546c0581a36c6ccb871bf9390d938f62f3540 | By . Nick Enoch . A woman is suing three police officers and the city of Chicago for $1.35million (£800,000) after an off-duty officer shot dead her pit bull puppy as her five-year-old daughter looked on in horror. Video footage of the aftermath of the incident last year shows distraught owner Samantha Maglaya wearing blood-soaked clothes as she hugs neighbours. Ms Maglaya's daughter saw the officer shoot the four-month-old puppy eight times outside their home in Norwood Park just after 3pm on May 17, 2013, according to a federal lawsuit filed on Friday in the US District Court. Scroll down for video (warning: story contains graphic content) Samantha Maglaya is suing three police officers and the city of Chicago for $1.35m (£800,000) after an off-duty officer shot dead her pit bull puppy as her five-year-old daughter watched. Above, Ms Maglaya, with blood-soaked clothes, just after the incident, which occurred on May 17 last year . Ms Maglaya's daughter saw the officer shoot the four-month-old puppy, Maximus (above) eight times outside their home in Norwood Park, Chicago, according to a federal lawsuit filed on Friday in the US District Court . Ms Maglaya's daughter is seen wearing her beloved pet's dog collar . 'He was just like my baby. I carried him around. I fed him with a bottle.' Ms Maglaya told the Chicago Sun-Times at the time. She added: 'I heard my kid screaming, "They're shooting the dog in the front yard."' The officer claimed the dog, named Maximus, had been chasing his five-year-old son, who had been riding a bicycle nearby, NBC Chicago reported. And his wife had earlier voiced concern about their child's safety, requesting that the puppy be kept on a leash. Ms Maglaya said: 'He [Maximus] would sit in the yard and listen to the birds. He didn't even bark. He never growled.' According to the lawsuit filed by Ms Maglaya, Maximus had not posed as a threat; he had been playfully wagging his tail; and there was no child on a bike in the vicinity. Just after the shooting, Ms Maglaya's husband was fined for having the puppy off a leash and without a dog-tag, according to the suit. Above left, Maximus after the incident. Right, outside the Maglaya home . Just after the shooting, Ms Maglaya's husband was fined for having the puppy off a leash and without a dog-tag, according to the suit. It is also alleged the Chicago Police didn't accurately record the scene before cleaning it up. Ms Maglaya claimed the off-duty officer, and two fellow law enforcers, wanted her to leave the neighbourhood due to her race, and housing status, adding that one of the officers had been racially abusive to her. The three officers conspired to kill the dog as they didn't want it in the area, according to the suit. Ms Maglaya is comforted by neighbours after her dog was killed . The 22-count lawsuit claims include negligence; excessive force; illegal seizure; aggravated cruelty to animals; hate crimes against Maglaya and her daughter; criminal trespass to property; and intentional infliction of emotional distress, among other things. It also seeks to hold the city responsible. All three policemen are listed as . defendants in the suit, which claims the two officers who did not shoot Maximus helped the third one cover it up. The Independent Police Review Authority, which has been investigating the incident, has yet to comment. The city has not yet been served with the suit, according to a Department of Law spokesman. | Samantha Maglaya's four-month-old dog was shot eight .
times outside her home in Norwood Park last May, .
according to federal lawsuit .
Officer claimed dog, Maximus, was chasing his five-year-old son, who was riding bicycle nearby .
Mrs Maglaya: 'I heard my kid screaming, "They're shooting the dog in the front yard"' |
210,398 | 9c7fa923d717ce9f20af336b0df9b2be43c548a3 | Los Angeles (CNN) -- I had just pulled up in front of my hotel in Los Angeles when I heard Whitney Houston had died at the Beverly Hilton, just a few blocks from where I was staying. I sat motionless in the car for a brief moment, not in shock, but temporarily paralyzed by a profound sense of sadness. She was only 48. Later that night, a large crowd of people hovered outside the site of her passing, some holding lit candles, others holding one another. It may be weeks before we officially know what happened. The autopsy is complete, but the toxicology report is still pending. But many of us have already drawn our own conclusions based upon Whitney's well-documented -- and sometimes mocked -- struggle with drug addiction. I hope she can at last have the peace that seemed to avoid her over the last 15 years of her life: the marriage to Bobby Brown, the reality show, the erratic interviews and appearances, and the heartbreaking live performances that served only to remind us that her voice, The Voice, was gone, and Whitney was lost. We all could see she needed help -- but only she could seek it. That's why if you didn't get goosebumps during Jennifer Hudson's Grammy tribute on Sunday, you may not be fully human. Hudson sang "I Will Always Love You," in a lower key than Whitney's signature version, but with a delivery that served a much higher purpose. We need to say our goodbyes and Hudson's performance was part of this process. Buying Whitney's music is another, as evidenced by the presence of all of her classic singles currently occupying the iTunes chart. My favorite? "The Greatest Love of All," mostly for the line,"Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all." So prophetic, so empowering. I can't help but think if she had lived by those words she might never have lost her magnificent voice. She might still be with us today. All weekend long, we've seen clips of her Diane Sawyer interview from 2002, in which she talked about her struggles. Many of us were not very kind afterward, joking about her "crack is wack" line, and wondered how someone so beautiful and talented, rich and famous, could struggle. From the outside looking in, it looked as if she had it all. If there's ever been an example of money not buying happiness, the Whitney Houston tragedy would be it. There was a moment when no other singer on the planet possessed her range, power and vocal clarity. True, she didn't always record the most groundbreaking material. In fact, an argument can be made that the arrangement of some of her most successful singles epitomized the radio-friendly manufacturing that choked a lot of creativity out of late '80s music. And certainly the rise of grunge and hip-hop in the '90s served as a rebellion against the numbing sound of that predictability. But there was always room for Whitney because her voice made room. Two of her biggest hits -- "The Greatest Love of All" and "I Will Always Love You" -- were originally recorded by George Benson and Dolly Parton, two very successful artists. But once Whitney got hold of those songs they became hers. So, with all due respect to Adele and Hudson and all the other powerhouse vocalists today, it's doubtful anyone can take a Whitney Houston song and make us forget it is a Whitney Houston song. In fact, the kiss of death for any contestant competing on "American Idol" or any of its copycats is to try to sing Whitney. I don't know why they even try. The competition is tough enough without the added, self-imposed pressure of trying to reach a bar so high that many use the word "angelic" to describe it. If I remember correctly, there was a time in which the angels themselves would gather round to hear Whitney sing. Follow CNN Opinion on Twitter. Join the conversation on Facebook. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of LZ Granderson. | We don't know why Whitney Houston died; toxicology report due in a few weeks .
LZ Granderson: Her struggles with addiction over the past years were well-known .
But nobody matched her voice, he writes, and nobody can sing a Whitney song .
LZ says Houston's tragedy is a prime example of money not buying happiness . |
242,450 | c5d1bdc083b28efc23d02a1ead8eb09ad751b30b | Queensland police have seized a guitar signed by AC/DC, a motorbike, $100,000 cash and a bag of gold jewellery hidden in an apartment wall during a two-day search warrant. The crime squad searched a Parkwood property and a Broadbeach unit, both Gold Coast suburbs in southeastern Queensland, as part of a major investigation into a gang which allegedly transports cannabis from Victoria to Queensland on domestic flights. Police also believe one of the primary syndicate members is also continuing to commit burglary and property offences. Police searched a Parkwood property and a Broadbeach unit, both Gold Coast suburbs in southeastern Queensland . Police say it's part of their investigation into a criminal syndicate which allegedly transports cannabis from Victoria to Queensland . Police say they found a significant amount of industrial tools, computer equipment, a motorcycle, bicycles, gold jewellery, $94,000 in cash and a guitar autographed by AC/DC. Police say the items were secreted in the walls and a refrigerator of the Parkwood address. Consequently, a 30-year-old Parkwood man has been charged with break and enter and possession of tainted property offences. He is expected to appear before the Southport Magistrates Court next week. A 39-year-old man, also from Parkwood, has been charged with similar charges and is expected to face the Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday. Anyone who may recognise the recovered property and believe they are the rightful owner of any of the items should contact Policelink on 131 444. Police believe one of the primary syndicate members is continuing to commit burglary and property offences . Anyone who may recognise the recovered property and believe they are the rightful owner of any of the items should contact Policelink on 131 444 . | Police searched a Parkwood property and a Broadbeach unit, both Gold Coast suburbs in southeastern Queensland .
They say it's part of their investigation into a criminal syndicate which allegedly transports cannabis from Victoria to Queensland .
Police believe one of the primary syndicate members is continuing to commit burglary and property offences . |
182,737 | 78a79b675ac82d2152b2db0224c25832665f0553 | By . Matt Blake . PUBLISHED: . 05:02 EST, 24 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 11:23 EST, 24 January 2014 . Edward Snowden has denied stealing co-workers' passwords to illegally access the National Security Agency's database and leak its secrets to the world. The 30-year-old refuted the claim during an online Q&A session yesterday, adding that while returning to the US would be the 'best resolution' for everyone, doing so is impossible because he has 'no chance' of a fair trial. The whistleblower is currently living under temporary asylum in Russia after revealing U.S. government secrets on surveillance programs and other activities last year. No fair: The 30-year-old refuted the claim during a Q&A session on the 'Free Snowden' website yesterday, adding that while returning to the US would be the 'best resolution' for everyone, doing so is impossible because he has 'no chance' of a fair trial . 'I'm not a spy': Snowden in October 11, 2013 during a WikiLeaks press conference. He has denied stealing co-workers' passwords to illegally access the National Security Agency's database and leak its secrets to the world . A Reuters . report in November that quoted unnamed sources as saying Snowden used login . credentials and passwords provided unwittingly by colleagues at a spy . base in Hawaii to access some of the classified material he leaked to . the media. But Snowden branded that report 'simply wrong,' adding, 'I never stole any passwords, nor did I trick an army of co-workers.' And yesterday he claimed the nearly 100-year-old Espionage Act, under which he is charged, 'forbids a public interest defense.' 'This is especially frustrating, because it means there’s no chance to have a fair trial, and no way I can come home and make my case to a jury,' he said. 'Returning to the US, I think, is the . best resolution for the government, the public, and myself, but it's . unfortunately not possible in the face of current whistleblower . protection laws, which, through a failure in law, did not cover national . security contractors like myself,' he told the 'Free Snowden' website. Earlier, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said that if Snowden wanted to return to the U.S. and enter a guilty plea, the Justice Department would 'engage with his lawyers.' 'Of course if Mr. Snowden’s lawyers informed us their client was prepared to take accountability by pleading guilty to the charges filed against him, we would engage with his lawyers on that, as we would with any other defendant,' a Department of Justice spokesperson echoed later. Snowden has denied the accusations of the House Intelligence Committee that he worked with the Russian security services to leak documents about U.S national security . It comes after Snowden denied . accusations that he worked in cahoots with the Russian government to . leak secrets, calling the theories 'absurd'. Before . that, the House Intelligence Committee chair, Rep. Mike Rogers, who is . in charge of an ongoing investigations into Snowden's relationship with . Russia, said: 'I believe there's a reason he . ended up in their hands, the "loving arms" of an FSB (Russian security) agent in Moscow. I don't think that's a coincidence.' In response to the allegations, Snowden . said: 'I clearly and unambiguously acted alone, with no assistance from . anyone, much less a government. 'It won't stick, because it's clearly . false, and the American people are smarter than politicians think they . are. This Russian spy push is absurd.' In addition, a top member of the the House's Homeland Security Committee, Rep. Rachel McCaul, said: 'I personally believe that he was cultivated by a foreign power to do what he did. US President Barack Obama speaks about the National Security Agency (NSA) and intelligence agencies surveillance techniques in the US, reacting to leaks by former N.S.A contractor Edward Snowden . In the speech Obama said more could be done to protect the civil liberties of his citizens, and also pledged to end spying on friendly heads of state . 'I can't give a definitive statement . on that, but I've been given all the evidence I know Mike Rogers has . access to. I don't think he was working alone.' Speaking in an interview with the New Yorker, . Snowden pointed to the forty days he spent trapped in Sheremetyevo . Airport in Moscow after he fled the U.S., as evidence that he had worked . alone. He said: 'Spies get treated better than that.' This . is not the first allegation against Snowden claiming he is a spy. Last . July he was accused of working for the Chinese, and has come out against . the media for reporting the allegations both last year, and today. He . said: 'If I were a Chinese spy, why wouldn't I have flown directly to . Beijing? I could be living in a palace petting a Phoenix by now. The . media has a major role to play in American society, and they're really . abdicating their responsibility to hold power to account.' In danger: Snowden took refuge in Moscow to evade treason charges after disclosing U.S. state secrets on NSA intelligence gathering, and now fears for his life and wants to increase security . The allegations have come only days after President Barack Obama spoke last Friday about the trimming the power of U.S. intelligence services, reacting to the leaks by Snowden. Speaking at the U.S. Department of Justice on January 17, he called for new privacy safeguards and said he had stopped the NSA spy taps on friendly world leaders. The president said he would be ending the NSA's hoarding of telephone "metadata", informaion that shows the detail and destination of calls, but not their content, agreeing with critics who said that the program could open the door to more intrusion. However, Obama has decided that he . will allow bulk phone data sweeps of the citizens living in the U.S. to . continue as an anti-terror tool. He said: 'I believe we need a new approach. I am therefore ordering a transition that will end the Section 215 bulk metadata program as it currently exists, and establish a mechanism that preserves the capabilities we need without the government holding this bulk meta-data. Since Obama's long awaited speech, Snowden has had fears for his life according to his Russian lawyer. Explicit threats to kill him were made anonymously by Pentagon and National Security Agency officials, alleged Anatoly Kucherena. In an interview with Russian news channel Vesti, he said: 'There are real threats to his life out there that actually do exist. ‘These statements call for physical retribution against Edward Snowden.’ | Snowden was accused of stealing colleagues' passwords to get secrets .
He says: 'I never stole passwords, nor did I trick an army of co-workers'
Says fair trial is hopeless as Espionage Act 'forbids public interest defense'
In the past, he has also been accused of working with Chinese spies . |
237,253 | bf0eef0cdef7930d2f4f7ca7b19be84237acfee5 | A pharmacy tech who makes $12 an hour but drives a Mercedes. A rumor that a pharmacist may be trading sex for drugs. A prescription note with handwriting that's a little too easy to read. The Drug Enforcement Administration in Atlanta says all of these scenarios should leave pharmacy workers suspicious of illegal activity at their store. And they hope pharmacy employees -- or anyone, for that matter -- will report such activity to its new prescription drug abuse tip line. The agency launched an initiative, TIP411, this week to allow the public to quickly and anonymously report suspicious activity. Tipsters can text TIP411, or 847-411, and then use the keyword PILLTIP. The message will be forwarded to a DEA agent who will investigate. Georgia is one of the first states in the country to try the texting effort. The city of Philadelphia is also experimenting with the program. Agents hope it will become a successful weapon to fight the war on prescription drug abuse, a war they feel they are losing. "It really is out of control here," said Rick Allen, director of the Georgia Drug and Narcotics Agency. Prescription drug abuse is a national epidemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Overdose rates in the United States have more than tripled since 1990, and prescription drugs are to blame for a number of those deaths. The rise in overdoses parallels a 300% increase in the sale of strong opioid painkillers since 1999. In 2008, prescription pain pills actually killed more people than all those who died from taking cocaine or heroin. The pain pills, unlike cocaine or heroin, are often bought legally -- at least at first. Very few come from someone robbing a pharmacy. Most abusers get the pills from a friend or family member who had the initial prescription. Only 2.3% say they bought them from a drug dealer or stranger, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which used 2010 data. "The illegal prescription drug market and relative ease of which pharmaceutical substances can be obtained has resulted in a sharp increase in prescription drug abuse," said Harry Sommers, special agent in charge of the DEA's Atlanta division. The issue can become an even bigger problem when the friend or family member runs out of the pills, according to Sommers. Then, often, people will either forge prescriptions from doctors or -- if they can't get access to legal drugs -- turn to another opioid like heroin, which is sometimes even easier to get. With the announcement of the tip line, the DEA said it is sending education materials to 1,200 pharmacies in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The packet includes tip line information and a guide that points out suspicious signs to monitor. The guide, a pamphlet, suggests that people get these drugs illegally by stealing doctors' prescription pads or altering a legitimate prescription with a different callback number that can ring to an accomplice that would verify the prescription. Other tricks include people calling the pharmacy masquerading as doctors. The pamphlet warns pharmacists to watch for customers who come back a little too regularly or people who come in with a prescription for a stimulant and a depressant at the same time. Often, abusers will seek both "uppers" and "downers" when they are addicted to prescription painkillers. A prescription with all the words spelled out or with perfect handwriting is also suspicious, according to the DEA. Most doctors are in such a hurry, they will use abbreviations, and doctors are not typically known for neat handwriting. The CDC suggests that pharmacists talk with patients about safely using, storing and disposing of prescription painkillers. It also recommends that health professionals consult their state's prescription drug monitoring programs. Sommers said he doesn't think his agency will get a ton of tips through the new tip line, but he believes the tips it does get will yield good results. | DEA creates a tip line to fight prescription drug abuse .
Painkiller abuse killed more people in 2008 than cocaine and heroin combined .
Georgia DEA hopes the tip line will be a model for the rest of the country . |
248,575 | cda28a1dcd459444739fefeef0085a8034d7ddff | By . James Daniel . PUBLISHED: . 13:50 EST, 22 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 21:44 EST, 23 May 2013 . A man was rescued by a father and his daughter after jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge and managing to survive the 220-foot plunge. Scott Walecka, 56, of Santa Cruz, was sailing his 38-foot vessel Animal to San Francisco to prepare for Friday's Spinnaker Cup race from the city to Monterey when his daughter, 23-year-old Hilary, said she saw a person jump from the bridge shortly before 2 p.m. on Monday. The duo heard a Coast Guard radio call for a jumper in the water moments later and sailed toward the man after spotting him underneath a California Highway Patrol helicopter. Survived: A man jumped 220 feet off the Golden Gate Bridge lived to be picked up by a father and daughter who were sailing nearby . Eagle-eyed: Hilary Walecka spotted the man plunging into San Francisco Bay as she sailed into port with her father Scott . 'He was alive and wanted to be rescued,' Walecka said. Mr Walecka said the man grabbed a life sling they threw overboard. His legs appeared to be broken, but he was able to grab the sling and pull himself to the back of the boat. He described the man, who authorities said was 31 and homeless, as 'buff' and 'fit.' The man said he was from Alabama, but appeared incapable of saying much else, Walecka said. They sailed to a Coast Guard station in Sausalito accompanied by a Coast Guard vessel. Man overboard: This sailboat, called Animal, is the the very boat on which the unidentified man was pulled onboard . More than 1,600 people have jumped from the Golden gate bridge since it opened in 1937. At least 33 people died by suicide by jumping off the span in 2012. In 2011, 37 people jumped to their . deaths off the bridge. At least 30 have died every year since 2008, . according to the Bridge Rail Foundation, an organization that advocates . for a suicide-prevention barrier on the span. In 2008, the bridge transit district approved plans to build a $50 million suicide-prevention system. However, the system would not be funded with bridge toll revenue, and it currently faces a $45 million shortfall. From there, the man was transferred to Marin General Hospital by fire officials. Southern Marin Fire Protection District Chief Jim Irving said yesterday he did not know the man’s condition. More than 1,500 people have jumped to their death from the span since it opened in 1937, making it one of the world’s most active suicide spots. It’s not clear what prompted the man to jump on Monday, but few people ever survive the plunge. Most jumpers die a grisly death, with massive internal injuries and broken bones, while others simply drown in the frigid waters of San Francisco Bay. The bridge’s board of directors has approved a net system to prevent suicides. The final design for the project is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Safety measures: To try and discourage suicides, the bridge is closed to pedestrians at night and there are signs posted alone the bridge offering people a phone number if they need to talk to someone . If you are in crisis or suicidal and need someone to talk to, call the Samaritans branch in your area on 1 (800) 273-TALK in the United States or through their website at samaritansusa.org. Readers in the UK can reach The Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 or via email samaritans.org. | Unidentified man miraculously survived the 220-foot fall .
Hilary Walecka spotted the man plunging into the water from her dads boat .
Jumper was pulled aboard and taken to shore .
Less than 30 people have survived the fall out of more than 1,600 who have jumped . |
126,315 | 2f407227979fa85af84a7fef02dde0f0371ac0a9 | By . Daniel Martin . PUBLISHED: . 16:00 EST, 3 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:00 EST, 3 May 2013 . Speaking out: Anna Soubry said midwives should return to routinely weighing pregnant women to help fight the obesity epidemic . Midwives should return to routinely weighing pregnant women to help fight the obesity epidemic, a health minister has said. Anna Soubry said it was ‘absolutely bonkers’ that the NHS had stopped the practice. The mother-of-two said women need not feel such weigh-ins were intrusive – and said that she was happy to be weighed when she was pregnant because it helped her ‘keep an eye on things’. Midwives could then use the information to give women advice on eating more healthily and taking more exercise. The Health Service is having to deal with more and more overweight women having children – putting them at increased risk of pregnancy complications. There is also a concern fat mothers can pass their obesity on to their children. A third of children are now overweight or obese. Yet despite the risks of harm to mother and baby, the NHS stopped routinely weighing pregnant women around the turn of the millennium for fear of stigmatising the obese. Miss Soubry, the public health minister, revealed she was looking at the issue of weighing mothers-to-be during a debate on childhood obesity in Westminster Hall. She also said she wanted updated advice for new mothers to ensure they are better at feeding their babies rather than putting them at unnecessary risk of obesity. Obesity puts mothers at risk of high blood pressure and gestational diabetes, which can make pregnancies more dangerous. There is a higher risk of early induction and Caesarean sections, and a greater threat of pre-eclampsia, which can lead to life-threatening seizures. Maternal obesity also makes babies more likely to be obese in later life, and it can lead to a range of birth defects such as spina bifida. Way forward: It is claimed that midwives could use the information from weighing women to give them advice on eating more healthily and taking more exercise. This picture is posed by a model . The minister’s call was welcomed by Tam Fry, from the National Obesity Forum. He said: ‘Weighing stopped around the beginning of the last Labour administration when it was considered the practice was unduly concerning women about their size. ‘Measuring them frequently was considered to be non-PC, but what they did was throw the baby out with the bathwater. It has fuelled the consequences of obesity, with effects for mothers, babies and huge expense to the NHS.’ The Royal College of Midwives however said there was no reason to weigh all women, and that it was usual practice to weigh those who are clearly obese. Janet Fyle, a midwife adviser to the college, said: ‘We stopped weighing women because it didn’t make much difference in terms of assessing the state of the pregnancy and foetal wellbeing. ‘You can visibly see if a woman is getting obese, and there are protocols in place so that sometimes we may need to weigh them.’ She added that it was more important to help mothers feed their child healthily. | Anna Soubry said NHS should return to weighing pregnant women .
NHS is dealing .
with more and more overweight women having children .
This puts them at .
increased risk of pregnancy complications . |
129,834 | 33d28fe001f4733fe55c35a5466aee55762f927b | By . Hugo Gye . PUBLISHED: . 07:17 EST, 28 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:17 EST, 28 March 2013 . A couple found dead holding hands in a burnt-out car killed themselves when the a care home that they owned was facing closure, an inquest heard yesterday. Isabel Ibanez-Mahiques and Jaswant Singh Beeharry were discovered dead in their BMW in a field in Cambridgeshire in June last year. A day earlier, they had been due to announce to staff at the Maria-Helena home in Spalding, Lincolnshire that it was being shut down. Instead, they were found dead in an isolated sugar beet field. Suicide: Jaswant Singh Beharry and Isabel Ibanez-Mahiques killed themselves in June last year . The inquest in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire heard that the couple, who also owned a home near King's Lynn in Norfolk, had run into trouble when inspectors delivered a critical report on their business. Mr Beeharry, 48, and Ms Ibanez-Mahiques, 53, had struggled to attract residents to their homes, but there were still 35 people living at Marina-Helena at the time of their death. The week before they committed suicide, the pair told the council they would have to shut down their business. 'They were devastated about the business,' said care home manager Lisa Farr, who worked for the couple for 12 years. Desperate: The pair were about to announce the closure of one of the care homes they operated . Doomed: The Maria-Helena home in Spalding, Lincolnshire was scheduled to shut down . 'I first noticed a change in Mr Beeharry earlier on in the year, identifying those problems as depression. 'He told me as I drove him to the car home the day before he was found that he was due a breakdown.' In a statement Glen Garrod, Lincolnshire's assistant director for adult social care, said: 'Safeguarding concerns had been put in place in November 2011. 'The council also expressed concerns about medicine management in September 2011. In October there was a suspension order put in place. 'In February 2012 this was lifted but the couple continued to struggle to make payments. Business: They also ran Terrington Lodge, a care home near King's Lynn in Norfolk . 'Mr Beeharry sent two letters, one on June 1 and one on June 6. He stated they were struggling financially due to lower occupancy rates. 'He expressed concerns about the lack of referrals to the care home and expressed concerns about late payments from residents widening the deficit.' The couple were found dead on June 9, 2012. The Maria-Helena home closed down a month later. Cambridgeshire Coroner William Morris said he was satisfied that the pair, who lived in Wisbech, took their own lives, and recorded a verdict of suicide. For . confidential support about depression, call the Samaritans on 0845 790 . 9090 or visit a local Samaritans branch. See www.samaritans.org for . details. | Isabel Ibanez-Mahiques and Jaswant Singh Beeharry ran two care homes .
One was about to shut down when couple killed themselves in June 2012 . |
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