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220,645 | a99ee28c33a5dd61f38efc08e9a81d219fa4f881 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 11:25 EST, 5 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:27 EST, 5 December 2012 . The countries worst hit by the European financial crisis are also perceived as being among the most corrupt in the European Union, and those perceptions appear to be getting increasingly negative, an international watchdog said in a new report released Wednesday. Transparency International's annual Corruption Perceptions Index shows Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece with the lowest scores in western Europe. The index measures the perception of corruption in the public sector and not the financial sector, but Transparency's Europe director Anne Koch said the results clearly indicate that people in the countries worst hit by the crisis perceive corruption to be widespread. Student protests in Athens: The Greek people believe that their public sector is the most corrupt in the EU . 'It seems to me to be quite blatantly obvious that the lack of transparency in public finances in these four countries has been reflected in the figures,' she said. On a scale newly introduced for this year's report, where 0 is 'highly corrupt' and 100 is 'very clean,' two-thirds of the 176 countries ranked scored below 50, which Transparency said indicates a widespread need for more openness in public institutions and more accountability for officials. 'Governments need to integrate anti-corruption actions into all public decision-making,' said Transparency International head Huguette Labelle. 'Priorities include better rules on lobbying and political financing, making public spending and contracting more transparent and making public bodies more accountable to people.' Corruption in Europe: Greece and Italy ranked worst of all EU countries for corruption, while Denmark and Finland topped the global list as the least corrupt countries . The survey, which was first conducted in 1995, draws on a variety of sources that capture perceptions of corruption, including World Bank and World Economic Forum assessments, the African Development Bank's governance ratings, and Transparency International's own Bribe Payers Survey. Afghanistan, North Korea and Somalia were ranked the worst overall on this year's list, all tied with a rating of just eight. Denmark, Finland and New Zealand were thought of as least corrupt with scores of 90. Canada scored 84, Germany 79 and Japan and Britain tied at 74. The United States was rated 73, giving it 19th place, and France scored 71. At the bottom of western European nations, Greece scored a 36, Italy 42, Portugal 63 and Spain 65. All four countries are mired in recession, and both Portugal and Greece have received EU bailouts. Riots in Athens: The countries worst hit by the European financial crisis, in particular Greece, are perceived to be the most corrupt in the EU . The Greek numbers, which put it in 94th place on the ranking, stand out in particular, Koch said. If the new 2012 methodology is applied to the 2011 results, Greece fell by 14 places. 'Greece, of course, at place 94 is the lowest state in the European Union,' she said. 'It's ranked lower than countries like Colombia, Benin and Zambia ... which gives you pause for thought.' Transparency's Managing Director Cobus de Swardt said the world's top economies should 'lead by example' and ensure 'their institutions are fully transparent and their leaders are held accountable.' 'This is crucial since their institutions play a significant role in preventing corruption from flourishing globally,' de Swardt said. 1. Denmark - 90 . 1. Finland - 90 . 1. New Zealand - 90 . 4. Sweden - 88 . 5. Singapore - 87 . 6. Switzerland - 86 . 7. Australia - 85 . 7. Norway - 85 . 9. Canada - 84 . 9. Netherlands - 84 . 11. Iceland - 82 . 12. Luxembourg - 80 . 1. Somalia - 8 . 1. North Korea - 8 . 1. Afghanistan - 8 . 4. Sudan - 13 . 5. Myanmar - 15 . 6. Uzbekistan - 17 . 6. Turkmenistan - 17 . 8. Iraq - 18 . 9. Venezuela - 19 . 9. Haiti - 19 . 9. Chad - 19 . 9. Burundi - 19 . Italian police tackle demonstrators: Public sector corruption in Italy is amongst the worst in Europe . | A survey of public sector corruption found that people in Greece and Italy believe their countries are the worst offenders in the EU .
Two-thirds of the countries surveyed as part of the global Corruption Perceptions Index were found to be 'very corrupt'
Denmark, Finland and New Zealand tied as the least corrupt countries in the world .
...while Somalia, North Korea and Afghanistan were found to be the most corrupt . |
89,230 | fd414504b292e542b1386c96fbbff5e24ec277bf | Convicted murderer Charles Manson is marrying a 25-year-old supporter, she has claimed. Star, a name given to her by the 79-year-old cult leader, moved next to California's Corcoran State Prison when she was just 19 to be closer to him and has recently carved an X into her forehead to match his swastika. 'Yeah, well, people can think I'm crazy,' she told Rolling Stone magazine in a lengthy article about her beau. 'But they don't know. This is what's right for me. This is what I was born for.' Star, who runs multiple websites calling for Manson's release, said she knows she will be his wife. Scroll down for video . 'Together': Convicted killer Charles Manson, left, has apparently found love with a 25-year-old artist and supporter he named Star, right. She has claimed that they are going to marry . Fan: Star, pictured in a support video for Manson, moved beside his California prison when she was 19 . 'I'll tell you straight up, Charlie . and I are going to get married,' she said. 'When that will be, we don't . know. But I take it very seriously. Charlie is my husband. Charlie told . me to tell you this. We haven't told anybody about that.' But Manson sounded a little more apprehensive when the interviewer asked him about his impending nuptials to Star. 'Oh . that,' he said. 'That's a bunch of garbage. You know that, man. That's . trash. We're just playing that for public consumption.' Star, . an artist, was born in St Louis, Missouri to a religious family who . locked her in her room throughout her high school years after she . refused to go to church and started taking drugs. While in high school, a friend told . her about Manson's environmental writing and she decided to contact him, . Rolling Stone reported. When she was 19, she took $2,000 she saved working in a retirement home kitchen and jumped on a train headed to California. See more of this video on YouTube . Visits: Every Saturday and Sunday she visits him at Corcoran State Prison, pictured, for up to five hours a day . She . now visits him every Saturday and Sunday for up to five hours a day and claims that her parents like him, and have even offered them to move in with the family if he ever gets out of prison. Photographs on Facebook and websites calling for his release show the couple posing . beside each other and touching during the lengthy visiting hours - which she said was not enough. 'I just want to be alone,' she said. I don't want to be always in that visiting room with people staring at me. But that's the only time I get to see him, in that room, with people staring. It's hard. But things change, you know. And who knows what could happen?' He is also pictured in the images with Craig Carlisle Hammond, 63, whom Manson called 'Gray Wolf'. In March, Hammond was accused of trying to smuggle a cell phone to Manson during visiting hours, raising questions over the apparent freedom Manson is enjoying with his visiting friends. If his marriage to Star does go ahead, it will not be the first for Manson, who has two ex-wives and at least three children. He . married Rosalie Willis in 1954 but they divorced in 1957 - a year into . his prison term for stealing cars. After leaving prison in 1958, he . married a prostitute called Candy Stevens. But again, she divorced him . when he was sent back to jail. Victim: Among those killed by Manson and his followers was actress Sharon Tate, pictured left with her husband director Roman Polanski and right. She was eight months pregnant when she was killed in 1969 . Locked up: Manson, pictured during his trial in 1970, was married twice before his murder convictions . In the interview with Rolling Stone, he also hinted that he is more fluid about his sexuality than previously thought. 'Sex to me is like going to the toilet,' he said. 'Whether it's a girl or not, it doesn't matter. I don't play that girl-guy s***. I'm not hung up in that game.' He also recounted an incident from when he was 17 in which he said he asked a man to have sex, and when the man refused, he brandished a knife and promised to take the blame if they were caught. The man agreed. Manson brainwashed members of a commune known as The Family into butchering eight people including film director Roman Polanski’s pregnant wife Sharon Tate in July and August 1969. He was convicted of the slayings as well as the murder of an acquaintance, Gary Hinman, who was stabbed to death in July 1969. He was originally given a death sentence but spared execution after the California Supreme Court declared the death penalty unconstitutional. In 1977, his sentence was commuted to life in prison with the possibility of parole. Manson will next be eligible for parole in 15 years, when he will be 92-years-old. When he was denied release in 2007 the parole board ruled that he 'continues to pose an unreasonable danger to others and may still bring harm to anyone he would come in contact with'. | 'Star' began writing to the convicted killer as a teen and moved next to Corcoran State Prison when she was 19 to be close to him .
They now see each other every weekend and she vows to marry him .
But Manson said they were playing up the relationship for 'public consumption' |
204,162 | 944c5cd67356b9c39592b9109feaf4a4949e64b6 | Singer Kesha, 27, is suing her long-term music producer and mentor Dr. Luke, TMZ claims. Dr. Luke - whose real name is Lukasz Gottwald - is responsible for all of Kesha's music and gave the singer her first record deal in 2005 when she was just 18-years-old. In a lawsuit obtained by TMZ, Kesha claims she was sexually, physically, verbally and emotionally abused by the 41-year-old producer over a period of 10 years. Scroll down for video... Abuse: Kesha - seen here this month in Venice - claims Dr. Luke called her 'fat' in a new lawsuit against the music producer, also claiming she suffered years of abuse, including one sexual incident . However, following the news, TMZ claims Dr. Luke has now filed his own lawsuit against the singer claiming she is 'lying to get out of her legally binding contract'. Dr. Luke's lawsuit claims Kesha's suit has been 'egineered' by her mother Pebe Servert and Kesha's new management company. He also claims her team have tried to extort him by threatening to 'spread lies about him' unless he released her from her contract. Kesha - real name Kesha Rose Serbert - also claims that the alleged abuse started early on when she signed her deal with the hitmaker, who is known for producing some of the biggest hits in pop music for the likes of Katy Perry and Britney Spears. Close: Kesha - real name Kesha Rose Serbert - claims that the alleged abuse started early on when she signed her deal with Dr Luke in 2005 . The suit also claims that Dr. Luke made 'repeated sexual advances' towards her and 'would use drugs and alcohol to remove her defences'. UsWeekly report that Kesha claims Dr. Luke allegedly gave her 'sober pills' and the following day she woke up naked in his bed 'sore and sick with no memory of how she got there'. After the alleged incident, Dr. Luke reportedly 'threatened that if she ever mentioned the rape to anyone, he would shut her career down, take away all her publishing and recording rights, and otherwise destroy not only her life but her entire family’s lives as well.' The lawsuit also alleges that he also 'threatened her and her family’s physical safety'. MailOnline has reached out to representative for both Kesha and Dr. Luke who have so far been unavailable for comment. Claims: In a lawsuit obtained by TMZ, Kesha claims she was 'verbally, emotionally, sexually, and physically abused' by music producer Dr. Luke . Svengali: Kesha and Dr. Luke are seen (far right) alongside Adam Lambert and producer Max Martin at the 28th Annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards at the Grand Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center in 2011 . The news comes after Kesha was sent to rehab earlier this year for a reported eating disorder, which the lawsuit claims was caused by the abuse. Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson . Wrecking Ball - Miley Cyrus . Tik Tok - Kesha . I Kissed A Girl - Katy Perry . Roar - Katy Perry . California Gurls - Katy Perry . Who Knew - Pink . Hold It Against Me - Britney Spears . Domino - Jessie J . Where Have You Been - Rihanna . About You Now - Sugababes . In April this year, TMZ reported that Dr. Luke was behind Kesha's eating disorder, after he had called her 'fat'. A source told the publication that he had told her she 'looks like a f***ing refrigerator' and Kesha was understandably affected by it. Kesha has hinted at a fall out with the producer before when she told her Twitter followers that she never wanted to record or release their hit song Die Young, which was pulled from radio stations after the devastating Sandy Hook shooting in 2012. In September last year, one of Kesha's fans set up a petition 'Free Kesha' to help release the singer from Dr. Luke's management. It followed reports that Kesha had hardly any creative control of her second album Warrior. Meanwhile, Kesha's lawyer, Mark Geragos, told TMZ in a statement: 'This lawsuit is a wholehearted effort by Kesha to regain control of her music career and her personal freedom after suffering for ten years as a victim of mental manipulation, emotional abuse and an instance of sexual assault at the hands of Dr. Luke.' Geragos added: 'The facts presented in our lawsuit paint a picture of a man who is controlling and willing to commit horrible acts of abuse in an attempt to intimidate an impressionable, talented, young female artist into submission for his personal gain. Kesha is focused on moving her life and her career beyond this terrible time.' Long-term mentor: Dr. Luke (far left) and Kesha (center) in 2010 with friends, after her hit first single Tik Tok had been released . Dr. Luke has produced all of Kesha's big hits including, Tik Tok, We R Who We R and Your Love Is My Drug. He has also produced hundreds of hits for other artists, including Roar, California Gurls and Teenage Dream by Katy Perry, as well as Till The World Ends and Hold It Against Me by Britney Spears. He's also worked with Taio Cruz, B.o.B, Jessie J, Flo Rida, Miley Cyrus,T.I., Nicki Minaj, Juicy J, Rihanna and Shakira. He was nominated for a Grammy Award for Producer of the Year at the 53rd Grammy Awards for his work on Katy Perry's Teenage Dream album. Hard time: Kesha revealed earlier this year that she had entered rehab for an eating disorder . Revealed: Kesha - seen here on October 1st this year - is suing her producer and mentor Dr. Luke for 'physical and sexual abuse that took place over the last 10 years' | Singer claims she was 'sexually, physically, verbally and emotionally abused' by the 41-year-old music producer .
Claims he gave her 'sober pills' and she woke up naked in his bed .
Dr Luke has counter-sued claiming she is 'lying to get out of her contract'
He signed Kesha aged 18 and has produced all her music to date . |
134,423 | 39d67ab3dfa49d958246995d114b5b1f54ab496e | WASHINGTON (CNN) -- An English-language immersion class failed Miriam Flores, her mother contended. A divided Supreme Court dismissed on Thursday a 17-year-old suit filed on behalf of English-deficient students. After two years of instruction in her native Spanish, Miriam entered the Nogales, Arizona schools' English Language Learner program as a third-grader. However, she continued to lag behind her classmates and was cited as a disruptive influence in the classroom because she often had to ask a fellow student for help. The girl's mother, also named Miram Flores, and other minority parents claimed school officials in Nogales, a border town about 70 miles south of Tucson, did not provide enough money to get English-deficient students up to speed in writing and reading comprehension. In 2000, a federal judge agreed, concluding Arizona violated the Equal Educational Opportunities Act, and ordering the state to rework its plan and increase funding. The English Language Learner (ELL) program was then placed under federal oversight. On Thursday, a divided Supreme Court dismissed the 17-year-old lawsuit, but ordered a federal judge to review whether Nogales officials are "providing equal opportunities" to mainly Spanish-speaking students in the community. Arizona maintained the federal court injunction delayed its plans to fix the system. It maintained it has provided enough resources to improve its ELL program, allowing it to end federal oversight. "Injunctions of this sort bind state and local officials to the policy preferences of their predecessors," wrote Justice Samuel Alito for the majority. Some legislators claim a 2006 state law essentially eliminated long-standing funding inequities. But parents say officials continue to drag their feet when it comes to complying with an appropriate classroom model for non-English-speaking students. Arizona says it increased more than twofold the amount of money it spends per non-English-speaking pupil, and that it has complied with the No Child Left Behind Act, the sweeping public classroom accountability act passed in 2002 that ties federal education funding to improvements in measurable student achievement. The current dispute has pitted the GOP-led state legislature and the school superintendent against the Democratic governor and attorney general, along with civil rights and teacher groups. Alito said a federal law guaranteeing equal opportunity in public schools "is a vitally important one, and our decision will not in any way undermine efforts to achieve that goal." He added that if state officials ultimately prevail in their reform efforts, "it will be because they have shown that the Nogales School District is doing exactly what this statute requires -- taking appropriate action to teach English to students who grew up speaking another language." Alito was backed by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy and Clarence Thomas. But in a lengthy dissent -- parts of which were read from the bench -- Justice Stephen Breyer said the ruling was "misguided," calling it "a mistaken effort to drive a wedge between review of funding plan changes and review of changes that would bring the state into compliance with federal law." He was backed by Justices John Paul Stevens, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and David Souter. The divided court seemed poised to issue a narrow ruling, fact-specific to the ELL plan in Nogales. But groups on both sides of the issue asked the high court for broader guidance on settling state-federal conflicts involving institutional reform mandates, especially those involving disadvantaged groups. Such political turf battles often end up in the courts, and can lead to decades of federal oversight, such as the fight over school desegregation beginning in the 1950s. Against that backdrop is the continuing fight over immigration and the responsibility of states to fund the education of illegal immigrants and their children. Miriam Flores is now an adult and a student at the University of Arizona. The cases are Horne v. Flores (08-289) and Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives v. Flores (08-294). | Supreme Court dismisses case that claimed schools failed English-deficient kids .
The 17-year-old case began in Nogales, Arizona, a border town .
A federal judge agreed and ordered increased funding and federal oversight .
Both sides seek help from high court in resolving political turf wars over reforms . |
20,330 | 39ac69b587b71bcb0f67d5a8a2ff6cfb70f6a899 | By . Joshua Gardner . An ultra-fit California couple intends to soon take their hardcore fitness lifestyle to the next level by rowing a boat 2,400 miles from Monterey to Hawaii. Tech entrepreneur Sami Inkinen, 38, and his former competitive gymnast wife Meredith Loring, 34, if they complete the grueling feat, will become the first couple to ever successfully make the trip across the mighty Pacific. But short of being scared to undertake a task only ever completed by a handful of adventure seekers, Inkinen and Loring are more afraid of what it may do to their relationship. Ultimate challenge: Sami Inkinen his wife Meredith Loring are pictured training for their Monterrey to Oahu trek across the Pacific in just a row boat . 'It's going to be uncomfortable. We'll be sleep-deprived and hungry and sore, so it will be easier to cross boundaries that we don't want to cross,' Loring told SFGate.com. Her husband agreed: 'The mental side is going to be the most challenging. How we deal with ourselves and with each. But these are two people accustomed to pushing boundaries and coming out on top. Finland native Inkinen started the real estate website Trulia in 2005 while pursuing his MBA at Stanford. He also became a competitive triathlete during that time. Loring grew up competing in gymnastics in New Hampshire and after receiving a master's, she had a successful run with a company that sells software to investment banks. Their decision may not be so surprising when you learn they met on Match.com before making a kayaking date in Sausalito their first meeting. The excursion will mark their fourth wedding anniversary. Inkinen and Loring want to become the first couple to row from Monterey to Hawaii . Fit: Inkinen is one of the world's greatest amateur triathletes in his age group and Loring recently won the women's division of a marathon in Nepal dubbed 'the world's highest trail running event.' The sporty couple had never rowed before they decided to cross the Pacific, but were very much in shape going into their new training . Inkinen is one of the world's greatest amateur triathletes in his age group and Loring recently won the women's division of a marathon in Nepal dubbed 'the world's highest trail running event.' Currently, their focus is on rowing, though neither had any experience with the sport before the decided to make the trip. 'Both of us were looking for a new and difficult adventure that would push our mental and physical capabilities,' said Inkinen. 'The longest I've spent rowing was six hours, and that was in a 35-pound shell, not a heavy boat like Sami and Meredith are going out in,' said Shirwin Smith of the Sausalito rowing center. 'But they have gone about their training and preparation in a really disciplined way. They were super fit to begin with, but they came here to get the right form. They learned and practiced in the heaviest boats we have,' she said. Death to sugar: Their website Fatchancerow.org will track their progress and serves as a place where donors can give money to help with the couple's pet cause - ending the epidemic of world sugar consumption . Their water-tight boat and cabin will come stocked with a desalinator that will allow them to safely drink seawater. They'll also have all the food they'll need, a GPS system, emergency beacons, and a radar system to warn them of oncoming boasts. Several others have made the trip from West Coast of America to Hawaii in a row boat. A man made the trip from Washington state in 1976 and another did the same in the 1980s. Roz Savage was the first woman to row from San Francisco to Oahu, and did it in 99 days. For their chosen route, the record is 64 days, set by Mick Bird in 1997. 'I don't think it's crazy, but it is an aggressive challenge,' Ray Dean of the San Francisco Dolphin Club told the SFGate.com. 'The mental strain is hard to imagine. It's like living locked in your car and you can't get out. 'It's a little boat in a very big ocean.' | Sami Inkinen, 38, and Meredith Loring, 34, want to push themselves physically but also raise awareness of the evils of sugar consumption . |
54,314 | 99d7afe6a84d94831676ebf041fab515c176bec3 | President Barack Obama has warmly greeted Prince Charles during a reception at the Nato summit in Newport, Wales this evening. The two men shook hands and smiled at the Celtic Manor event, which is being held to promote Wales and thank the community for its hospitality. Charles motioned to a delegation that Obama then greeted with the words 'Good to see you'. The president also met a group of children who were gathered behind the rope line. And when asked what it was like to be the first US president in office to come to Wales, Obama said he was having a great time and everyone should visit Wales. Scroll down for video . President Barack Obama has warmly greeted Prince Charles during a reception at the Nato summit in Newport, Wales this evening . The pair at the Celtic Manor event, which is being held to promote Wales and thank the community for its hospitality . Charles motioned to a delegation that Obama then greeted with the words 'Good to see you' A royal handshake for the president. During the reception, guests were entertained by the Prince of Wales's official harpist, Hannah Stone, along with the orchestra of the Welsh National Opera and students from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama . During the reception, the prince and the president were joined by other Nato dignitaries and cadets . Among those in attendance tonight were Prime Minister David Cameron, Wales' First Minister Carwyn Jones and Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb. They were joined by other Nato dignitaries and cadets. During the reception, guests were entertained by the Prince of Wales's official harpist, Hannah Stone, along with the orchestra of the Welsh National Opera and students from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Earlier today, Prince Charles visited the Royal Navy's latest destroyer, HMS Duncan, which is docked in Cardiff as part of the summit. Huge crowds gathered to see the prince, who is Admiral of the Fleet, as he boarded the £1billion Royal Navy T45 vessel, the latest destroyer in its fleet. During his tour, he inspected a dining room, where Nato defence ministers are having a working dinner this evening, and a hi-tech control room accompanied by commanding officers. The US president arrives at Cardiff Castle for a Nato leaders' dinner in Cardiff this evening. World leaders from 60 countries are coming together for a two-day summit . Prince Charles today visited the Royal Navy's latest destroyer, HMS Duncan, as well as other warships at Cardiff Docks . The prince, who is Admiral of the Fleet, also inspected French warship La Motte-Picquet, an anti-submarine destroyer. The senior royal is pictured above with its captain Patrick Cazin (right) Prince Charles boarded HMS Duncan, a £1billion Royal Navy T45 vessel, where he met officers and staff . He presented Chief Petty Officer Engineering Technician (Weapon Engineering) Wayne Peake with a long service and good conduct medal. CPO Peake, who joined the Navy in 1984, at the age of 17, was involved in Operation Desert Storm while serving on HMS Gloucester in 1991, as well as the liberation of Kuwait. 'It has been an absolutely brilliant career so far, a real eye-opener. Being presented with this medal by the Admiral of the Fleet is a pinnacle,' the father-of-two told Wales Online. As well as meeting the officers and crew, the senior royal also greeted staff from several other warships, currently docked in Roath Basin - including the French anti-submarine destroyer La Motte-Picquet. Officers and crew of La Motte-Picquet greeted the senior royal, who is hosting a reception for 60 world leaders this evening . Spectators looked on as Prince Charles visited the warships in Cardiff Docks today amid tight security . As well as meeting crew on La Motte-Picquet (above), he also visited various other warships currently docked in Cardiff . The prince posed for a picture with members of the crew of the French warship . HMS Duncan joined the M-05 Viesturs ship from Latvia, a minehunter, which was already docked at the site. They are set to be joined by the Dutch minesweeper HNLMS Urk, a missile patrol boat in camouflage colours called HNoMS Skudd from Norway, and German-built minesweeper LNS Kursis from Lithuania. In addition, the Royal Navy's HMS Biter patrol boat and HMS Express fast patrol boat will be part of the contingent . After his visit, Prince Charles briefly spoke to some of the crowd, who had been kept entertained by Her Majesty's Band of the Royal Marines. Tonight, he is hosting a reception for 60 world leaders on the first evening of the 2014 Nato Summit at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport. The summit is being dominated by the situation in Iraq, as well as the stand-off with Russia over Ukraine. There are 9,500 police officers from 43 forces involved in the security operation for the event, along with 12 miles of security fencing. After his visit, Prince Charles briefly spoke to some of the crowd, who had been kept entertained by Her Majesty's Band of the Royal Marines (above) In addition to La Motte-Picquet (staff, pictured, with the prince), among the other vessels joining HMS Duncan are the M-05 Viesturs ship from Latvia, a minehunter; a Dutch minesweeper HNLMS Urk; a missile patrol boat in camouflage colours called HNoMS Skudd from Norway; and German-built minesweeper LNS Kursis from Lithuania . In response to the Ukraine crisis, the US has vowed to contribute troops and equipment to a rapid response force in Eastern Europe that would be able to deploy within 48 hours. Nato has already stepped up its air, land and sea rotations in the region. And Mr Obama announced last night that he would send more Air Force units and aircraft to the Baltics, most likely to Estonia's Amari Air Base. The alliance is also planning to establish forward operating bases in eastern Europe where fuel, ammunition and other supplies can by stockpiled ready for use in operations. There are 9,500 police officers from 43 forces involved in the security operation for the event, along with 12 miles of security fencing . Barack Obama and David Cameron speak before taking their seats at the start of a Nato-Afghanistan round table meeting during the summit at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales today . With Britain and the US two of only four member states to meet the alliance's obligation to spend 2 per cent of GDP on defence, Prime Minister David Cameron and Mr Obama will be pressing other leaders to raise their spending on their armed forces. The US president had some harsh words for European members who had failed to deliver on their commitments in the past. 'For I think a certain period of time there was a complacency here in Europe about the demands that were required to make sure that Nato was able to function effectively,' he said. 'Obviously what's happened in Ukraine is tragic, but I do think it gives us an opportunity to look with fresh eyes and understand what it is that's necessary to make sure that our Nato commitments are met.' Mr Cameron and Mr Obama will hold talks tomorrow with president Poroshenko - together with Mr Hollande, German chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi - ahead of the main summit meeting. Leaders hold a meeting on Afghanistan during the Nato 2014 summit today. It has been billed as the most important summit since the Cold War got underway with calls to stand up to Russia over Ukraine and confront Islamic State extremists . | Reception at Celtic Manor in Newport to promote Wales and thank community for its hospitality .
It is the first visit to Wales by a US president in office .
Earlier today, Charles toured £1bn Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duncan in Cardiff Docks .
It is docked in Cardiff, along with other military vessels, including France's La Motte-Picquet .
Charles is hosting reception for 60 world leaders on first evening of the 2014 Nato Summit . |
269,600 | e93541beedc3969593bf25afa113784fc71bc0d0 | (CNN) -- Those who oppose the 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court ruling and the explosion of outside money in politics might be breathing a sigh of relief that more than $1 billion in outside spending in federal elections, which heavily favored Republicans, did not seem to buy the results that the big spenders wanted. After all, most of the candidates backed by Karl Rove's Crossroads groups and the Chamber of Commerce, beginning with Mitt Romney, lost their races. But those concerned about the role of money in politics shouldn't be relieved. Not at all. Here are three reasons to keep worrying: . 1. The biggest problem with money in politics is not that it buys election results but that it skews legislative priorities. Senators and members of Congress already spend ridiculous amounts of time raising money for their next election campaigns and to help fellow party members get elected and stay in office. Big outside money is going to make this money chase worse. It is not enough to worry about what your opponent can raise; now a billionaire across the country can put a million or more dollars up against you at the drop of a hat any time you take a position that the billionaire doesn't like. The fund-raising frenzy will never cease. This potential for massive outside spending -- which may reflect the preferences of just one or a handful of people -- will change how Congress considers and passes legislation. Sheldon Adelson, the casino magnate, dropped $60 million or more in this election without making a dent in his net worth. How many members of Congress do you think would be interested in supporting gaming legislation, which Adelson opposes? And if they want to oppose Adelson, members would have to raise even more outside money to try to level the playing field. Most worrisome when it comes to legislative skewing is what we as the public don't see: what gets left out of legislation, small favors buried in the fine print, things that get killed in committee. Sometimes a lot of money is riding on these invisible legislative choices. 2. Money still matters in campaigns. No serious student of American politics believes that the candidate with the most money always wins. After all, look at Linda McMahon, who spent more than $100 million of her own money in two bids to become senator for Connecticut. But money gets candidates second, third and fourth looks even when those candidates are lousy and don't deserve it. Consider Newt Gingrich in the Republican presidential primary. He survived as long as he did only because of the money from Adelson. In close races, money can make a difference. Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Lungren of California lost a close contest in his race thanks in part to large amounts of outside spending against him. Not coincidentally, Lungren had been one of the first Republicans in recent years to call for campaign finance reform to curb the influence of outside money. A Sunlight Foundation analysis found at least four House races where outside money may have tipped the outcome. At the presidential level, the unprecedented amount of outside money made the Obama-Romney race competitive, where it otherwise would not have been. While Obama succeeded in almost keeping up with the Republican fund-raising machine (and Obama also seemed to spend his campaign dollars more wisely), it is not clear that future Democratic candidates will be able to replicate the Obama fund-raising strategy, raising massive amounts of money from tens of millions of small donors. If big outside money in presidential elections leans toward corporate interests, it will give the candidates those interests back an edge in close elections. 3. Secret money is growing and dangerous. Thanks to holes in our disclosure laws, which Republicans in Congress so far have not seemed interested in fixing, much of this outside spending is going through groups who do not disclose their donors. The lack of disclosure is troubling for two reasons. First, voters use information about donors to evaluate campaign messages. Voters should know when Chevron or a big union is behind a "social welfare" group with a nice sounding name like "Americans for a Strong America." Even more importantly, disclosure provides the press and public with tools to smoke out some legislative sweetheart deals that members of Congress might be offering big spenders. If we are going to be in a world without effective limits on campaign spending -- and the Supreme Court seems quite unlikely to reverse course on this point anytime soon -- disclosure is a second-best solution to try to limit the legislative leanings caused by large amounts of outside money. Sunlight can help expose the worst abuses of the political system wrought by unregulated money. Rather than breathing easily, opponents of big, undisclosed outside money in politics need to continue to press the case for reform, beginning with a desperate need to fix our laws requiring disclosure by all who spend big bucks in our elections. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Richard Hasen. | Rick Hasen: Big money didn't buy the election, but it's still hugely influential .
Ineffective spending limits let big donors influence lawmakers, skew priorities, he says .
He says outside spending can't always buy elections, but it has good chance in close races .
Hasen: Unidisclosed donors keep voters from seeing who backs candidates, deals . |
202,162 | 91b68033fb2848a634eee07327fb97c9e7528766 | Frank Lampard is set to remain at Manchester City until the end of the season after the club thrashed out a deal with New York City and had it ratified by the Premier League. City had been locked in high-level with talks with the Premier League on Wednesday afternoon as they looked to secure Lampard's availability for the New Years Day match against Sunderland. It is understood that the Premier League board have now granted their approval to the amendment of Lampard's deal and he is eligible to face Sunderland tomorrow afternoon. Frank Lampard pictured in training on Wednesday. He will stay at Manchester City until the end of the season . Lampard in action for Manchester City at West Brom on Boxing Day. City won the match 3-1 . A club statement read: 'Manchester City can confirm that it has extended Frank Lampard's contract up to the end of Manchester City's season, enabling his participation in both domestic and European campaigns.' Lampard has spent the first half of the season on a short-term deal at City after signing a pre-contract agreement with sister outfit New York City FC that was due to commence on January 1. The two clubs have now reached an agreement that allows the midfielder to remain in Manchester. He remains a contracted Manchester City player and is not at this moment associated with the New York side. Lampard celebrates after scoring for City in their win at Leicester City in mid-December . It may be viewed as a blow to the credibility of the American enterprise as the needs of Manchester appear to have been placed above the growth of New York City, after Lampard was unveiled as one of their signature signings last summer. His exact starting date in New York remains to be decided. On Wednesday evening, City sources were not ruling out the possibility that Lampard could yet return to New York for the beginning of the MLS season in March or later on in Manchester City's season. For that to happen, the two clubs would have to agree a loan deal from Manchester City or a permanent transfer. It appears to be a possibility that remains open for discussion, although it seems most likely that Lampard will remain in Manchester as long as Manuel Pellegrini believes he has a role to play at the club. A New York City statement said: 'His exact starting date with New York City FC will be confirmed as the EPL and MLS seasons unfold. All parties remain in continuing dialogue to create the best outcome for all.' The Third Rail, who claim to be the first independent supporters group for New York City FC, reacted furiously to the news on Friday. On behalf of the Third Rail, we would like to publicly denounce City Football Group’s and Frank Lampard’s decision to extend his loan to Manchester City until the end of the Premier League season. Many fans, including our members, decided to support the team, committed to season tickets, and bought merchandise under the impression that Frank Lampard would be playing for New York City Football Club, not Manchester City. Many of those fans are rightly outraged by this decision, and we support any course of action they take to voice their discontent over this decision. Our support for our ownership group has been unwavering until now, but this we cannot support. We reject out of hand any suggestion that NYCFC is in any way secondary to Manchester City FC, regardless of the source, and are disappointed that City Football Group would give such an appearance. The Third Rail will forever act as a voice for the fans of New York City Football Club. | Deal agreed to keep Frank Lampard at Manchester City until end of season .
Lampard will be eligible to face Sunderland on New Year's Day .
Former England midfielder will play in Premier League and Europe .
Lampard is on loan from City's sister club in America, New York City FC . |
166,246 | 62f5feebbf96f08704482999a40b88267ed28b4e | Editor's note: The staff at CNN.com has recently been intrigued by the journalism of VICE, an independent media company and website based in Brooklyn, New York. VBS.TV is Vice's broadband television network. The reports, which are produced solely by VICE, reflect a transparent approach to journalism, where viewers are taken along on every step of the reporting process. We believe this unique reporting approach is worthy of sharing with our CNN.com readers. Brooklyn, New York (VBS.TV) -- Before I went to Sudan, I didn't know much about the conflict in Darfur beyond everyone saying, "It's the worst genocide of our time" and watching footage on CNN of the Janjaweed militia wiping out whole villages. Really, we only decided to go there because one of our favorite photographers had been chatting with an old friend of his who is now a UN press officer in Khartoum. She offered to pull some strings and get us visas and organize flights around the country, so we said, "F*** it" and got on a plane. On the flight over, I went through this huge binder of research about the situation. It really messed me up. The scale of the devastation was difficult to comprehend: . There have been 300,000 people killed and at least 2 million displaced from their homes in Darfur since fighting broke out in 2003. This comes right on the heels of another civil war in the south of Sudan that killed more than 2 million people and displaced a further 4 million over the course of the conflict. As the plane landed in Khartoum, I had the biggest "Ummmm, what the f*** am I doing here?" moment of my life. From the minute we got off the plane to the minute we flew out again, I was s***-scared. And as it turned out, I was totally right to be. I never understood the motivation of the conflict until I went there. Why are they killing all these people, cutting their arms off and throwing them in the wells? Well, obviously that's a terror tactic, but it also makes the villages and towns where they do it unlivable afterward. Why ruin the land that you're raiding? It didn't seem to be about one group claiming rights to territory; they're all Muslim, so it isn't about religion or Arabs killing blacks, like it's being portrayed in the media. What is it for? Well, as little as 30 years ago, Sudan was one of the poorest nations in Africa. It experienced a huge famine in the early 1980s, just like Ethiopia. Then they found oil in the south, so they freaked out and sent all these paramilitary groups similar to the Janjaweed down there and kicked all the people off the land. These groups were not officially affiliated with the government, so the government could safely say, "It's got nothing to do with us," but they were all secretly government-sanctioned. The civil war that this led to went on for nearly 20 years. They finally enacted a peace agreement to unite north and south Sudan, and the UN went to Sudan especially to monitor that agreement. But then -- bang! -- same thing happened again, elsewhere in the country. The Janjaweed started killing people in Darfur, and the government was saying "It's not us doing it" and doing very little to stop them. See the rest of Inside Sudan at VBS.TV . And that's the interesting thing. In fact, we could point our finger at America for the early days of it, because Chevron sank the first well in southern Sudan. When we went down south in Sudan and saw the wells, we found out that it's all Chinese companies there now. China doesn't have any of America's problems of bad press in the Middle East or Africa, or people back home saying they shouldn't buy conflict diamonds or whatever. China is in very good favor in those parts of the world. In 2009, China gave $10 billion in aid to African countries. So Africans are like, "We love China." In turn, China comes in and says, "We'll take your oil and your gold. We don't give a s*** about your conflicts or who hates who here." The work camps are all completely enclosed and staffed by Chinese and Malaysians. All the money that Sudan gets from these wells goes to the north to Khartoum. The south of Sudan is supposed to get 2 percent, but they have no auditing there, so it's like, "Two percent of how much?" It's crazy, you're in the poorest areas in the world, and you're constantly in the shadow of rigs that are pumping out oil for China. Everyone likes to say that America is addicted to oil, but at this point it's the entire world. | VBS goes to Sudan on a quest to learn the motivation behind the Darfur conflict .
Research just before the trip opened reporter Shane Smith's eyes to scale of devastation .
Smith: "From the minute we got off the plane to the minute we flew out again, I was s***-scared." |
126,080 | 2ef6fae822de7fbf552f6beeaa9534aaeed24814 | A gene linked to the amount of grey matter in our brains – and therefore our intelligence – has been identified. Scientists found a variant of the gene was associated with a thinner cerebral cortex – the outer layer of the brain known as grey matter – and that those who had it tended to do less well in verbal and non-verbal reasoning tests. Previous studies have shown the cerebral cortex plays a key role in memory, attention, perceptual awareness, thought, language and consciousness. Thinking: Scientists found a variant of the gene was associated with a thinner cerebral cortex and that those who had it tended to do less well in verbal and non-verbal reasoning tests . However, the latest research, led by scientists at King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry, is the first to identify a genetic connection between intelligence and grey matter. It is not known how the study, conducted among nearly 1,600 14-year-olds, applies to the wider population, but the results were confirmed by looking at the same gene, NPTN, in mice. Dr Sylvane Desrivieres, lead author of the study in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, said the genetic variation was linked to communication between brain cells. ‘This may help us understand what happens in certain forms of intellectual impairments, where the ability of the neurons to communicate effectively is compromised. 'The genetic variation we identified is linked to synaptic plasticity - how neurons communicate. She added: 'It's important to point out that intelligence is influenced by many genetic and environmental factors. 'The . gene we identified only explains a tiny proportion of the differences . in intellectual ability, so it's by no means a 'gene for intelligence.' Outer layer: Previous studies have shown the cerebral cortex plays a key role in memory, attention, perceptual awareness, thought, language and consciousness . Researchers studied more than 54,000 genetic variants possibly involved in brain development. It was revealed that teenagers carrying a particular gene variant had a thinner cortex in the left cerebral hemisphere, particularly in the frontal and temporal lobes. And they tended to perform less well in tests. The genetic variation affects the expression of the NPTN gene, which encodes a protein that affects how brain cells communicate. The team also looked at the NPTN gene in mouse and human brain cells. It was discovered that the NPTN gene had a different activity in the left and right hemispheres of the brain, which may cause the left hemisphere to be more sensitive to the effects of NPTN mutations. Their findings suggest that some differences in intellectual abilities can be caused by the decreased function of the NPTN gene in parts of the left brain hemisphere. The genetic variation identified in this study only accounts for an estimated 0.5 percent of the total variation in intelligence. Researchers hope that the study, published in Molecular Psychiatry may help experts understand some of the biological mechanisms behind mental disorders. And it is hoped that in future the findings may help us more effectively diagnose and treat psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and autism. | Thought the outermost layer of the brain is connected to intelligence .
Studies already proves that the cerebral cortex plays a key role in memory .
Research by Kings College London is first to prove link between intelligence and grey matter . |
216,327 | a40ecbf8fd4f653774031f53bcab35d580ea0639 | Every day Sportsmail takes a look at the European papers to see what are the biggest stories creating talking points on the continent. On Saturday, Italian newspapers Tuttosport and Corriere dello Sport both lead with reports that Juventus manager Antonio Conte could be set to leave the club this summer. Tuttosport claim that Conte, who has just led Juve to a third consecutive Serie A title but has failed to make progress in the Champions League, and club president Andrea Agnelli seem very distant and CDS says Juve and Conte are 'moving apart'. Uncertain future: Juventus manager Antonio Conte could leave the club this summer . Triple crown: Conte has led Juventus to three consecutive Serie A league titles . Conte has been linked with Monaco, who are also reportedly keen on Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and Benfica's Jorge Jesus. Elsewhere in Italy, La Gazzetta dello Sport pays tribute to Inter Milan right-back Javier Zanetti who is set to retire at the end of the season, labelling him the captain of Europe. Zanetti, 40, leads Inter's all-time appearance list with 842 and has won five Serie A titles as well as the 2010 Champions League. Il Romanista looks ahead to Sunday's Serie A fixture between champions Juve and runners-up Roma and the arrival of the capital club's owner James Pallotta in Italy for the fixture. Legend: Inter Milan all-time great Javier Zanetti is preparing to retire from football . Big boss: Roma owner James Pallotta has flown into Italy for the Serie A game against Juventus . In Spain, Mundo Deportivo talks about Lionel Messi's motivation to lead Barcelona to the La Liga title which will require the club to win their final two league games against Elche and current league leaders Atletico Madrid. Veteran defender Carles Puyol's impending departure from Barca also features, as does Atletico striker Diego Costa's hamstring injury. Marca brings Real Madrid fans good news amid concerns about the fitness of Cristiano Ronaldo, claiming that 'CR7 wants to play tomorrow' in Los Blancos game against Celta Vigo, although the paper also reports that coach Carlo Ancelotti will make the final decision on his star man's fitness. Title showdown: Barcelona and Lionel Messi are preparing for an exciting La Liga run-in . Fitness boost: Cristiano Ronaldo insists he is fit to play for Real Madrid against Celta Vigo . | Juventus and Antonio Conte could be going their separate ways .
Lionel Messi and Barcelona are gearing up for an anxious end to La Liga .
Cristiano Ronaldo has declared himself fit for Real Madrid's game against Celta Vigo . |
136,790 | 3cf55b83f4fa484e0318610d6f62f63b24a0a829 | Fernando Torres insists Atletico Madrid can threaten the duopoly of Barcelona and Real Madrid in 'any competition' - ahead of Wednesday night's Copa del Rey clash with Lionel Messi and Co. The former Chelsea and Liverpool striker appeared to end years of torment by returning to his first club and scoring twice as Atleti eliminated Los Blancos 4-2 (agg) in the previous round of the cup competition. After winning the La Liga title last season and with their Champions League campaign on track, Torres believes Atletico can consistently challenge Spain's traditional big two clubs. Fernando Torres scores as Atletico Madrid eliminate Real Madrid from the Copa del Rey . The Spain international has returned to his first club following years of underachievement . Torres insists that Atletico can challenge Spain's big two of Real Madrid and Barcelona . 'Thank God there's a third team in the form of Atletico, who have been able to beat them and who can stand up to them in every competition these days. We are a difficult team to beat,' he told TVE. The Catalans defeated Atletico Madrid 3-1 in the league earlier this month and Torres accepts Luis Enrique's side are difficult to beat if they are allowed to control the game. 'When they are feeling good, when they feel comfortable and they are in their element, then they win their games, as they did against Deportivo,' he said. Barcelona's Lionel Messi (left) and Neymar lie in wait in the quarter-finals of the Spanish Cup competition . Torres suffered lean spells in front of goal during his time at Chelsea and the on loan at AC Milan . Interest in Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone is unlikely to die down if his success continues . The success of Madrid's second club under coach Diego Simeone has led to interest in the Argentinian coach from several high profile European clubs, with Torres conceding that is unlikely to cease. 'He'll have offers. I'm sure he has had, he has, and he will have offers, whatever players he has and whatever shape the team is in.' Simeone himself claims he is happy at the Vicente Calderon, saying he would not leave for 'a great offer from Madrid or even Brazil'. | Atletico Madrid face Barcelona in Copa del Rey quarter-final on Wednesday .
Former Chelsea and Liverpool striker insists his side can consistently challenge Barca and Real Madrid an any competition .
Head coach Diego Simeone continues to attract interest from other clubs . |
205,514 | 960ad76a31381912a3ceb869c1c7d82fae2c6fd0 | By . Eloise Horsfield . PUBLISHED: . 05:15 EST, 3 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:24 EST, 3 August 2013 . A British student who has not been seen since attempting to scale a 19,000ft Peruvian mountain on his own 10 days ago is feared dead. Experienced rock and ice climber Thomas Jagger, 22, set off to climb the Pisco mountain in Peru on July 24 on his own after his climbing partner was sick. He left for the glacier in the Cordillera Blanca mountain range in western Peru without his friend Luke Dyer at around 8.30am. Fears: Thomas Jagger went missing when he tried to scale a Peruvian mountain on his own when his climbing partner was sick . The University of Warwick maths student had travelled to Peru on July 20 to carry out a hiking trip in the famous Alley of Huaylas in the Ancash region. Jagger’s sleeping bag was reportedly spotted by another trekker at the Moraine Camp, a base camp at 16,240ft where climbers spend the night before ascending the Pisco peak. A fellow climber who met the pair in Peru, and had breakfast with Mr Jagger before he set off, said: 'His plan was to solo the mountain from the Moraine Camp on the 25th. 'He was soloing the mountain because Luke was sick,' explained the 24-year-old from Washington DC. He ended up climbing alone. 'I don’t think he would have preferred to solo it,' he explained, adding that Luke had been nervous about climbing the peak. Mountain range: Mount Pisco is located in the west of Peru . 'He was on and off sick. Tom was getting frustrated with the whole thing and decided to just go and climb. 'Unfortunately, there was a big storm the day he planned to summit and we don’t know exactly what happened. He was supposed to summit and return on that same day, the 25th. 'Another climber saw his sleeping bag still at the Moraine Camp the following day. 'We suspect that he might have fallen into a crevasse. This all seems like a nightmare.' A spokesman from the British Embassy in Lima said: 'We were notified on July 27 that a British national, Thomas Jagger, has been reported missing in Huaraz, Peru. 'We are providing consular assistance to his family at this difficult time.' | Thomas Jagger, 22, attempted to climb mount Pisco in western Peru .
He hasn't been seen or heard from since setting out on July 24 .
Mr Jagger's sleeping bag was spotted at a base camp used by trekkers . |
198,524 | 8cf993f6a07a2ea5fb3de4e880fde4ed8548d03a | Cristiano Ronaldo is the best footballer in the world, according to Porto winger Ricardo Quaresma... and 'the other guy' Lionel Messi is behind him. The 31-year-old Portuguese international, who was previously at Barcelona and Chelsea, spoke to reporters ahead of his country's friendly against Argentina on Tuesday, refusing to speak about Messi by name. 'Cristiano is the best in the world. The other guy goes behind him,' Quaresma said. Ricardo Quaresma (left) thinks that Cristiano Ronaldo (right) is the best player in the world . The friendly match between Portugal and Argentina has been billed as Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi . '[It] is a match that is not of great interest but perhaps there will be extra motivation because Argentina have great players.' The match-up between two players widely regarded as the best in the world has not sold as many tickets as was first expected. Prior to the match, around 36,000 Old Trafford seats had been sold, with only the 'inner bowl' of the stadium in use. The top two blocks of the Sir Alex Ferguson stand and the top tiers of the West and East stands will both be shut. The clash sees Ronaldo return to his old hunting ground, having played at Manchester United between 2003 and 2009. The Portuguese squad trained at Old Trafford on Monday as they prepare for the Argentina game . One fan is excited at the prospect of seeing former Manchester United man Ronaldo back at Old Trafford . | Portugal face Argentina in a friendly at Old Trafford on Tuesday night .
The match sees Cristiano Ronaldo return to his old hunting ground .
Ricardo Quaresma has said that Ronaldo is the best player in the world .
He refused to refer to Lionel Messi by name, calling him 'the other guy' |
86,594 | f5c408314a64ea2508d378e4b7a400cd542923ad | By . Larisa Brown . PUBLISHED: . 07:22 EST, 8 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:41 EST, 8 November 2012 . A nine-year-old girl was flung 15ft through the air and smashed into a metal safety barrier after she came off a white-knuckle fairground ride at 50mph. Yasmin Vickery was rushed to hospital after she was catapulted out of the ride in front of her horrified mother Kim who feared she was paralysed. The youngster was treated for a suspected broken neck following the accident on November 3 but incredibly escaped with severe bruising. Scroll down for video . Yasmin Vickery was catapulted from a white-knuckle 'Twister' fairground ride at 50mph and smashed into a safety barrier in Northampton . The youngster, pictured before the accident carrying the Olympic torch, left, and injured, right, was treated for a suspected broken neck following the accident on November 3 but incredibly escaped with severe bruising. Mobile phone video footage taken by Kim, 41, shows the moment Yasmin flew off the ride at the Hollowell Steam Rally and Heavy Horse Show in Northampton. A loud thud can be clearly heard on the clip as Yasmin was slammed into a metal fence. The film shows the emergency button being pressed and the ride grinding to a halt while a frantic Kim can be heard asking 'Where’s Yasmin?' Today Kim, a company secretary, described the distressing moment she feared her daughter was dead. Captured: Yasmin approaches sat on the fast-spinning ride on the right . The nine-year-old's dark-blonde hair can be seen flung in the air as she moves from the seat . Flash: The footage shows the schoolgirl as she is thrown at 50mph from the ride . Yasmin is thrown from the ride and heads towards a metal barrier in the fast-moving clip . She said: 'Yamsin had been on the ride with her little cousin Kya and the bar came up, as she went to lean to pull it back she came flying off. 'She spun into the air because it was going so fast, then you could hear this almighty thud. She had gone flying through the barrier. 'I was filming the ride and didn’t notice until the ride stopped what had happened, we were laughing and joking at the time. 'But then I just saw my little girl . in a heap over the other side. My six-year-old daughter Talisha who had . been watching was in tears, she was petrified - she thought her sister . was dead. 'When I ran . across and Yasmin said she couldn’t feel her legs - I thought she was . paralysed, she could have quite easily have died but she took the brunt . of the force on her side rather then her head. 'The impact was sideways, but the paramedics said if she had gone through head first she probably wouldn’t be here. Yasmin, right, was rushed to hospital after she slammed into a metal safety barrier when she was catapulted out of the ride, pictured left, in front of her horrified mother Kim . 'It’s been every mother’s worst nightmare but I know she is very lucky and it could have been so much worse. 'Most people wouldn’t survive a car crash at that speed, let alone being thrown through the air off a ride.' Married . mother-of-three Kim, from Sevenoaks, Kent, is now calling for safety . checks to be made on the ride - which is believed to be run by a . travelling family from Northampton. Kim added: 'My concern is if that particular fair ride goes elsewhere the it could happen again.' Yasmin is still bed-bound, and has been vomiting due to the impact her kidneys took in the accident. The youngster said: 'It really hurts. I’m not going back to school for a week or more. I can’t put any weight on one leg.' The incident was attended by the police and ambulance service and is now the subject of a health and safety investigation. Detective . Sergeant Gavin Suttie, from Northamptonshire Police, said: 'We attended . an incident in Hollowell, where a nine-year-old girl suffered injuries . as a result of falling off an amusement ride. 'She . was admitted to Northampton General Hospital with internal bruising and . was released on Sunday. The Health and Safety Executive has been . informed and will be assisted by police in the investigation.' A Health and Safety Executive spokesman said: 'The HSE is aware of the incident and is currently making initial inquiries.' Nobody from the fairground was available for comment today. VIDEO: Schoolgirl thrown through barrier off 50mph fairground ride . | Yasmin was rushed to hospital and treated for suspected broken neck .
Mother feared she was paralysed after watching the horrific incident unfold .
'My daughter could have died if she had gone through head first', says Kim .
9-year-old still bed-bound and vomiting due to impact on her kidneys . |
204,280 | 9476fc4bf76070633b3bb475f4455c843b244c89 | Do not be fooled by the concrete exterior at 61 McLachlan Ave in Rushcutters Bay in Sydney's east, behind the grey slab lies a perfectly designed, SoHo-styled apartment that will blow your mind. The impeccable space is made up of two loft-style apartments that open up to a breath-taking New York-style courtyard which is surrounded by floor to ceiling glass windows. The home's wow-factor is attributed to it's gorgeous courtyard with lush, dripping plants and climbing greenery on the walls, offering a tropical garden escape that is perfect for out-door entertaining. Scroll down for video . Behind 61 McLachlan Ave in Rushcutters Bay in Sydney's east lies a perfectly designed, SoHo-styled apartment that will blow your mind . The impeccable space is made up of two loft style apartments that open up to a breath-taking New York-style courtyard surrounded by floor to ceiling glass windows . This two-levelled home which is exotic in it's style and vibrant in colour was featured in Belle Magazine in 2012, after Ben David, owner and creative director of the linen design company Kas, purchased the property in 2009 and transformed the decor to an 'art deco, Singapore, colonial style' apartment. He said immediately he fell in love with the home, The Daily Telegraph reported. 'It's a tropical oasis,' he said. 'It has a New York loft mezzanine; it looks over the living space.' This two-levelled home which is exotic in it's style and vibrant in colour was featured in Belle Magazine in 2012 . The home's wow-factor could be attributed to it's gorgeous courtyard with lush, dripping plants and climbing greenery on the walls, offering a tropical garden escape that is perfect for out-door entertaining . The 3-bedroom property has had a history to attract celebrity owners. Before Mr David bought the property, Roger Melik from the Roger David Group has owned the home and before that it had been home to the Gold Logie winning Australian fashion personality, Maggie Tabberer. Enormous wooden carved doors in the dining room have been preserved since Ms Tabberer's residency. 'They had to crane those door doors in... They will absolutely be staying here.' The property is expected to sell in the mid to high $3 million and is listed with Richardson & Wrench Elizabeth Bay and Bresic Whitney. The 3-bedroom property has had a history to attract celebrity owners . Ben David, owner and creative director of the linen design company Kas, purchased the property in 2009 . Before Ben David bought the property, Roger Melik from the Roger David Group has owned the home and before that it had been home to the Gold Logie winning Australian fashion personality, Maggie Tabberer . Enormous wooden carved doors in the dining room have been preserved since Maggie Tabberer's residency . 'It's a tropical oasis,' Ben David said. 'It has a New York loft mezzanine; it looks over the living space.' Ben David, owner and creative director of the linen design company Kas, purchased the property in 2009 and transformed the decor to an 'art deco, Singapore, colonial style' apartment . Walnut panels & limestone are decked in the kitchen along with appliances behind custom cabinetry . The property is expected to sell in the mid to high $3 million . The impeccable space is made up of two loft style apartments that open up to a breath-taking New York-style courtyard surrounded by floor to ceiling glass windows . It is listed with Richardson & Wrench Elizabeth Bay and Bresic Whitney . | 61 McLachlan Ave in Rushcutters Bay in Sydney's east is expected to sell in the mid to high $3 million .
The property is made up of two loft style apartments that open up to a New-York style courtyard .
The lush garden sets an oasis vibe that is perfect for entertaining .
This two-levelled home was featured in Belle Magazine in 2012 .
The stunning decor is inspired by an 'art deco, Singapore, colonial style' |
157,482 | 579d459cec08374ce918a8729ea03f668c0edbef | By . Matthew Blake . If you had just won the World Cup, what's the first thing you would do? Do a little dance? Drink a lot of Champagne? Or snap a selfie and share it with the world? The German national team did all three last night... but not necessarily in that order. In fact, long before the Eurotrance began pumping and the fizz started flowing, Germany's elated players were taking selfies with whoever would oblige. Scroll down for video . Golden memory: Mario Gotze was one of the first to post a picture online grinning happily with his World Cup winner's medal in one hand and the triophy in the other . 'Believe in your dreams': Mezut Ozil wrote an inspirational passage about believing in dreams on Facebook, while Andre Schurrle posted a picture of himself kissing the trophy on Instagram . Some, such as game-winner Mario Gotze, Mezut Ozil and Andre Schurrle, were happy enough to take a picture hugging the World Cup trophy. Lukas Podolski, however, had set his sights on a far bigger prize - a super selfie with the World Cup on one arm and his nation's chancellor, Angela Merkel, on the other. Super selfie: Lukas Podolski had set his sights on a bigger prize - a super selfie with the World Cup on one arm and his nation's chancellor, Angela Merkel, on the other . Sealed with a kiss: Earlier, Lukas Podolski took a selfie as he was kissed by team-mate Bastian Schweinsteiger . Meta-selfie: The loved-up pair were pictured at the exact moment they took the smooching selfie . 'Greatest day of my life': Eager not to be outdone by his teammate, . midfielder Sami Khedira tooka selfie with Angela Merkel and his team in the dressing room after the game, while Mezut Ozil a picture of him holding the World Cup aloft and the words, 'The greatest day of my life' 'Weltmeister': Jerome Boateng posted a picture with Podolski, who is never one to turn down the oportunity to pose for a selfie . And the German stateswoman was happy to oblige when she joined the team in their dressing room to share in their joy at just winning the biggest prize in football. Eager not to be outdone by his teammate, midfielder Sami Khedira - who is rumoured to be on the brink of joining Podolski at Arsenal next season - took his selfie campaign a step further. Not only did he manage to snare Merkel and the World Cup trophy, but later posed for a picture with singer Rihanna. Happy day: Ozil got a photo of himself with Kevin Grosskreutz and the World Cup trophy after the game the photo itself mysteriously did not appear on his Twitter feed . World Cup final! Brazilian midfielder Kaka posted a super-selfie of his own - a group photo with David Beckham and World Cup legend Pele . Greatest sporting event: Rihanna posted a picture on Facebook of herself waving a German national football shirt in the air (left) while basketballer LeBron James posted one of the sun setting over the Maracana Stadium . Happy family: David Beckham posted this picture with his sons Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz . Champions: German midfielder Sami Khedira posted a picture of himself with Rihanna after the game . It was not Rihanna's first selfie of the day either. Minutes earlier she posted a picture online of herself waving a German national football shirt in the air. Brazilian midfielder Kaka posted a super-selfie of his own - a group photo with David Beckham and World Cup legend Pele. Others to indulge in the online craze were David Beckham with his three sons, Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz, as well as basketballer LeBron James. | Lukas Podolski led the Twitter spree with a string of grinning selfies .
He posted pictures with Schweinsteiger, the World Cup and Angela Merkel .
Selfies also come from hero Gotze, Khedira, Boateng, Ozil and Schurrle .
Brazilian star Kaka got a selfie with David Beckham and Brazil legend Pele .
Others who posted pictures at Maracana were Rihanna and LeBron James . |
143,022 | 44f5ee179f79a5774066d2eba59ab28d4bf3f676 | By . Ray Massey, Transport Editor . PUBLISHED: . 19:54 EST, 27 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:30 EST, 28 March 2013 . Forget the traditional Easter egg hunt. This year, it seems we’re hunting for the sun instead. Nearly two million Britons are preparing to fly away to escape the Arctic chill this Bank Holiday – up around 30 per cent on a typical Easter weekend. There has been a rush for last-minute holiday and short-break deals to beat the cold snap, which forecasters say will be with us until May and will send temperatures plunging to -6C this week. Forecasters expected this to be the coldest March in the UK for 51 years, with the Met Office saying from March 1 to 26, the UK mean temperature was 2.5C, which is 3C below the long-term average. Scroll down for video . Queues: Traffic at Junction 10 of the M6 in the Midlands today as people get away for the Easter weekend . Watch out: This graphic shows how road and rail travel routes will be affected over the Easter weekend . Backlog: Easter getaway traffic today on the Kent side of the Dartford toll crossing on the M25 motorway . Passengers queue at Stansted airport today as the Easter getaway begins . Holidaymakers received a boost this . morning when a planned 24-hour strike by French port control officers . was called off, allowing ferries to run as normal. French port control officers had been . due to go on a stoppage that would have hit ports such as . Calais, Dieppe and Cherbourg. The . Met Office said this March was likely to be the fourth coldest on . record for England, joint third coldest for Wales, joint eighth coldest . for Scotland and sixth coldest for Northern Ireland. This March joined 2006, 2001, 1995, 1987, 1979, 1970 and 1962 as years when the month saw some significant snowfall. The coldest March in the UK was in 1962, at 1.9C, followed by 1947, 2.2C, 1937, 2.4C , and 1916 and 1917, 2.5C. The cold weather is expected to continue through the Easter weekend and into April. P&O Ferries had warned its . passengers to expect long delays today and on Good Friday and there were . fears of traffic build-ups on routes to the port of Dover in Kent. However at 2am the strike was called . off after successful late-night talks in France. 'This is excellent news . for British holidaymakers,' said P&O Ferries spokesman Chris . Laming. But those staying at . home will have to contend with problems on the roads and railways, with . the RAC expecting more than seven million motorists to be gearing up . for an Easter break. There . will be disruption on the roads as freezing weather, jams and roadworks . take their toll, while on the railways thousands of passengers face . delays and replacement buses due to engineering works. Among the worst is the partial closure of Reading station, causing diversions and delays between London and the West Country. Pretty: A walker observes the frozen Summerhill Force in County Durham today as Britain continues to shiver . Chilly: A cyclist braves the snow near Reeth in the Yorkshire Dales, as this March is set to be the coldest in the UK since 1962 . Elsewhere: Meanwhile St Michael's Mount off Marazion, Cornwall, looked beautiful today in the Springtime sun . The Association of British Travel Agents said 1.7million Britons will get away from the continuing cold by holidaying abroad this Easter. A £5 million-plus rescue package will be offered to farmers who have lost livestock in the severe blizzards that have hit Northern Ireland, Stormont ministers have agreed. Affected farmers will be eligible for hardship payments from a pot of emergency funding while the power-sharing Executive has also agreed to pick up the tab for disposing of the thousands of animals killed in the huge snow drifts that have enveloped parts of the region. Many have snapped up last-minute offers to escape some of the coldest March conditions on record, heading for sunny spots such as the Canary Islands, Majorca, Tunisia, Egypt and Turkey. Top city break choices are Paris, Dublin, Amsterdam, Rome and New York, an ABTA spokesman said, while France and Austria are the most-popular ski destinations. Heathrow will handle 1.2million . passengers between now and Tuesday and 3.6million over the two-week . school break to April 14. Today will be the busiest day, with 116,000 . heading to the sun or the ski slopes. Some 98,000 passengers are due to take . off with British Airways tomorrow alone. Gatwick airport listed . Barcelona, Geneva and the southern Spanish city of Malaga as its top . destinations. In trouble: Cyclists ride past a car that is disappearing beneath the incoming tide at the Putney Embankment on the River Thames, two days ahead of the 159th University Boat Race on Sunday . Forecasters say there is little chance of a let up in the freezing conditions over Easter . Accommodation booking website hotels.com reported huge . rises in Britons searching for trips to Corfu and Rhodes. Other popular . spots include Orlando in Florida, Agadir in Morocco, and Mexico City and . Cancun in Mexico. Projected figures sourced from the Guardian of airline travellers for March 29 to April 1 2013 compared to April 6 to April 9 2012 . ABTA chiefs added that from now until Tuesday, a total of 214,000 will fly from Gatwick, 110,000 from Manchester, 110,000 from Stansted and 55,000 from Luton. Scottish airports will also see more than 100,000 departures. Chief executive Mark Tanzer said: ‘After two wet summers and no end in sight to the winter, many Brits are desperate for some sunshine. We’ve seen a surge in last minute bookings to warm destinations.’ For those staying in the UK, around . one in 17 still plan to have a break, with at least one overnight stay . away from home over the Easter. These trips will generate £600million . for the UK economy, according to national tourism agency VisitEngland. Motoring . groups said the seven million drivers set to take to their cars over . Easter faced jams and roadworks, as well as the bad weather. The RAC is . increasing its patrol hours by 10 per cent during the four days of ‘road . rush’ which begin on Good Friday. Traffic . information company Inrix said drivers heading to and from north-west . England and the West Country will face the longest delays, while the . Highways Agency warned that motorists have to contend with 26 sets of . roadworks covering 145 miles around the country. | There has been a rush for last-minute holiday deals to beat the cold snap .
March average has been 2.5C and freezing weather's due to last until May .
Canary Islands, Majorca and New York among most popular destinations .
French port officers' strike called off at last minute allowing ferries to run .
John Lewis is selling fake daffodils for the first time – because the .
bitterly cold weather has delayed the arrival of the real spring blooms.
The department store has also reported an 18 per cent increase on last .
year in sales of its other fake bouquets. |
270,652 | ea87d9ce6337ff51ab872b0fb83c1a6f7a13a59b | (CNN) -- More patients will soon be told that they received potentially contaminated drugs from the New England Compounding Center, whose products are associated with 308 illnesses and 23 deaths. On Monday, the Food and Drug Administration posted on its website a list of more than 1,200 hospitals and clinics that had purchased steroids and other drugs from the compounding center that, if contaminated, would be especially dangerous for patients. The agency took the list down after it realized it wasn't accurate. "FDA has found some technical problems with the list and the data are incorrect," according to a statement on the agency's website. "FDA is working to correct the list and will re-post when we are sure it is accurate." A "few" drugs are of concern, according to FDA spokeswoman Sarah Clark-Lynn. They include triamcinolone acetonide, an injectable steroid used to treat pain; injectable drugs used for eye surgery; and cardioplegic solutions, which are used during open heart surgeries. This month, dozens of hospitals were contacted about the potential danger of another injectable steroid, methylprednisolone, which is used to treat pain. The FDA warns patients who received any of these drugs to be vigilant for signs of fungal meningitis, such as headache and fever. On Tuesday, the New England Compounding Center's chief pharmacist surrendered his license to the Tennessee Pharmacy Board. Dr. Barry Cadden no longer has a license to operate in Tennessee, according to board spokesman Bill Christian. Tennessee has been the hardest-hit state in the meningitis outbreak, with 70 cases as of Tuesday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Michigan is a close second, with 68 cases as of Tuesday. | NEW: Compounding center's chief pharmacist surrenders license in Tenn.
FDA listing more sites that used drugs from the compounding center .
Center has been source of products associated with 23 deaths .
Some injectable drugs used in surgeries are of concern, FDA says . |
187,469 | 7ec8a54ccf867d2b627fd9a78820b8a94cac389e | The death of Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old boy who was shot last month by a Cleveland police officer who authorities say mistook the child's air gun for a real firearm, has been ruled a homicide, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office said Friday. The November 22 shooting outside a Cleveland recreation center is under investigation, and Tamir's family has filed a lawsuit against two officers and the city over his death. The homicide finding indicates that Tamir was killed by the police officer, rather than dying accidentally or by natural causes or by suicide. Medical examiners' homicide findings make no comment on whether the killing constitutes a crime. The cause of death was a "gunshot wound of the torso with injuries of major vessel, intestines and pelvis," according to paperwork provided by Christopher Harris in the medical examiner's communications office. Cleveland cop who shot Rice slammed for 'immaturity' in past job . Rice was pointing a pellet gun at people outside the recreation center before he was shot, police say. A witness called 911 to say that a black male -- "probably a juvenile" -- was pointing "a pistol" at people, but added twice that the gun was "probably" fake. A dispatcher asked officers to respond, but it doesn't appear the dispatcher told them of the caller's suspicions that the gun was probably fake or that the person was probably a minor. Two officers arrived in a police car. Within two seconds of exiting the car, Officer Timothy Loehmann shot Tamir, and the boy died the next day, police say. Tamir Rice's teen sister 'tackled' after his shooting, mom says . Police have said that Loehmann opened fire after Tamir reached for the gun in his waistband and that an orange tip indicating the gun was a toy had been removed. Tamir's mother, Samaria Rice, has said she didn't allow her son to play with toy guns, and one of his friends gave the air gun to him. Loehmann, 26, and the car's driver, Officer Frank Garmback, 46, are on paid leave as the investigation is conducted. Opinion: The really shocking facts about Cleveland police . | Tamir Rice, 12, was shot when, police say, he reached for a toy gun in his waistband last month .
Police: Boy pointed the gun outside a Cleveland recreation center; it turned out to be air gun .
The boy died from a gunshot wound to his torso, the medical examiner says . |
147,282 | 4a7056d22a891b87a5e1d7973d8dd79676447d35 | By . Sara Malm . var twitterVia = 'MailOnline'; . DM.has('shareLinkTop', 'shareLinks', { . 'id': '2676975', . 'title': 'Man who changed ex\'s Facebook to \'whore\' guilty of criminal damage', . 'url': 'http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2676975/Ex-boyfriend-changed-former-lovers-Facebook-status-whore-offers-guilty-causing-criminal-damage.html', . 'eTwitterStatus': ' http://dailym.ai/1o4tPJY via @' + twitterVia, . 'articleChannelFollowButton': 'MailOnline', . 'isChannel': false, . 'hideEmail': true, . 'placement': 'top', . 'anchor': 'tl'}); . 109 . shares . 28 . View comments . An Irish man who posted an offensive status update using his former partner’s Facebook account has been fined £1,600. The 30-year-old from Donegal used his ex-girlfriend’s account to post that she was a ‘whore' who would 'take any offers’, a court heard. The man admitted to taking the woman’s phone and accessing her Facebook account after he had gone to her home to confront her over an alleged infidelity in June 2011. Guilty: The 30-year-old from Donegal, Ireland was fined £1,600 after accessing his ex-girlfriend¿s Facebook account to post the offensive status . The man was arrested soon after the incident, when told police he had been upset over the woman’s new partner. His defence lawyer Isobel Kennedy SC told the court the man regretted his actions but that he admitted that he had been drinking before it took place. The man was charged under the Criminal Damage Act 1991, which imposes a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a £8,000 fine. Social media damage: The man admitted to posting as his ex, saying she was a 'whore', after visiting her home to confront her over an alleged infidelity three years ago . The man cannot be named for legal reasons, in order to protect his victim’s identity, as he was acquitted by a jury last month of raping and falsely imprisoning the woman in her home on the same date. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan called it ‘a reprehensible offence that seriously damaged the woman’s good name but said that “fortunately” the status was quickly spotted and taken down’, the Irish Mail reported. This is the first prosecution for criminal damage to a social media account in Ireland. | Irish man fined £1,600 for offensive post on woman's account .
Posted status saying ex-partner was a 'whore' using her Facebook .
The 30-year-old admitted taking her phone after a confrontation in 2011 .
First Irish prosecution for criminal damage to social media account . |
257,733 | d987c77befb33ecfaa0bed0152b19a7e52ec8e4d | By . Suzannah Hills . PUBLISHED: . 04:23 EST, 25 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:13 EST, 26 August 2013 . Syria has agreed to allow UN inspectors access to sites in suburbs of Damascus where alleged chemical attacks occurred on Wednesday. The concession follows accusations that Bashar Assad's regime is responsible for a chemical attack which killed more than 350 people - many of them children - on Wednesday. Syria has denied that it is to blame while many Western officials claim the . poisoning was caused by a chemical agent used in a rocket attack carried . out by government forces. Scroll down for video . Agreement: Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem pictured right with UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Angela Kane as the country agreed weapons inspectors may visit sites where the chemical attacks happened on Wednesday . Negotiations: UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Angela Kane, has been pushing for weapons inspectors to be able to access the site since the chemical attack on Wednesday . Ongoing conflict: Black columns of smoke rise after heavy shelling in the Jobar neighborhood, east of Damascus, Syria, today . Under fire: The heavy shelling came just hours after Syria reached an agreement with the United Nations to allow a UN team of experts to visit the site of alleged chemical weapons attacks outside Damascus . A statement released by the Syrian government said: 'The Syrian government and the United Nations agreed on a common understanding ... to allow the United Nations to investigate allegations of chemical weapons use in the Damascus suburbs.' Many hundreds of people were poisoned to death on Wednesday before dawn in what appears to have been the world's worst chemical weapons attack since Saddam Hussein's forces gassed thousands of Iraqi Kurdish villagers in 1988. The incident took place just three days after a UN chemical weapons team arrived in Syria to investigate other smaller allegations of poison gas use. The inspector team's movements must be agreed with the Syrian authorities. Chemical attack: Aid organisations claim the more than 350 people - many of them children - died after being exposed to neurotoxins in Arbeen town, Damascus, Syria, this week . The two leaders want to send a clear warning to dictator Bashar Al-Assad over the deaths of as many as 1,300 people, many of them children . The Syrian statement said that the date . and time of the inspectors' visit to the site had been agreed, but it . did not say when it would take place. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem met UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Angela Kane - who was in Damascus to negotiate access - this morning. Moualem stressed 'Syria's readiness to cooperate with a team of investigators to uncover false allegations by terrorist groups that Syrian troops used chemical weapons.' U.S. President Barack Obama and top advisers are debating options for responding to the reported use of chemical weapons in Syria amid what Britain called 'increasing signs' that the Syrian government was responsible for the attack. Warning: Iran has warned the U.S. President Barack Obama, pictured on Friday as he walked across the South Lawn of the White House, of 'severe consequences' should America cross the 'red line' on Syria . President Obama appeared on CNN's 'New Day' on Friday to discuss the alleged attack, saying it was a 'big event of grave concern' that requires American attention . A senior U.S. government official told . Reuters: 'Based on the reported number of victims, reported symptoms of . those who were killed or injured, witness accounts, and other facts . gathered by open sources, the U.S. intelligence community, and . international partners, there is very little doubt at this point that a . chemical weapon was used by the Syrian regime against civilians in this . incident. 'We are continuing to assess the facts so the president can make an informed decision about how to respond to this indiscriminate use of chemical weapons.' Meanwhile Iran has warned the United States it will face 'severe consequences' if it crosses the 'red line' on Syria. Deputy chief of staff of Iran's armed forces Massoud Jazayeri said: 'America knows the limitation of the red . line of the Syrian front and any crossing of Syria's red line will have . severe consequences for the White House.' Prepared: Chuck Hagel, right, says the President has ordered the Pentagon to prepare potential military options . David Cameron and Barack Obama discussed the plan in a 40-minute phone call at the weekend and will finalise the details within 48 hours . President Obama has been holding talks with David Cameron over the growing crisis in Syria. The Prime Minister and the U.S. President discussed the conflict by telephone last night and have ordered officials to examine 'all options'. A Downing Street spokesman said the leaders spoke for around half an hour. 'They are both gravely concerned by the attack that took place in Damascus on Wednesday and the increasing signs that this was a significant chemical weapons attack carried out by the Syrian regime against its own people,' he said. 'The UN Security Council has called for immediate access for UN investigators on the ground in Damascus. The fact that President Assad has failed to co-operate with the UN suggests that the regime has something to hide. Just one section of the huge Quru Gusik refugee camp in Iraq which is now home to thousands of displaced Syrians . Refugee siblings in the camp eat watermelons being distributed by the NGO . UN aid agencies say the number of children fleeing Syria has now reached one million . One of the Kurdish refugees protects himself from the sun with a shemagh while walking through the camp . A grandmother and mother with a disabled child who fled from Syria to the camp in Iraq . 'They reiterated that significant use of chemical weapons would merit a serious response from the international community and both have tasked officials to examine all the options. 'They agreed that it is vital that the world upholds the prohibition on the use of chemical weapons and deters further outrages. They agreed to keep in close contact on the issue.' President Obama previously suggested that the use of chemical weapons in Syria would be a 'gamechanger'. But he has stopped short of committing to direct intervention in the troubled country - a step that would risk inflaming tensions with Russia. Mr Cameron would also face domestic resistance to military action, with Tory MPs already having insisted there should be a Commons vote before arms are supplied to rebels. Bloody conflict: Medical charity Medicin Sans Frontieres said hospitals in Syria treated thousands of people for symptoms of inhaling nerve gas . Accusations: The Syrian opposition has accused the government of carrying out a deadly chemical attack on its own people . Confirmation: The charity said around 3,600 people in total were treated for nerve gas symptoms in Syria . Dispute: Syrian state television said soldiers found chemical materials on Saturday in tunnels that had been used by rebels . Battle: The bloody civil war continues to rage - pictured, an injured Syrian army soldier is evacuated following heavy clashes with rebels . However, there is speculation that the U.S., Britain and France could back limited airstrikes to demonstrate that deployment of chemical weapons will not be tolerated. Mr Cameron also spoke to Canadian PM Stephen Harper, who agreed that the 'international community must respond appropriately'. Medecins Sans Frontieres said hospitals it supports in Syria treated some 3,600 patients with 'neurotoxic symptoms', 355 of whom died. It said the patients had arrived in three hospitals in the Damascus area on Wednesday. Staff described people suffering from convulsions, extreme salivation, contracted pupils and sight and respiratory problems. However, the organisation stressed it could not 'scientifically confirm' the use of chemical weapons. Four battleships have been moved to within striking range of Syria as President Obama weighs his options following a reported use of chemical weapons against citizens on Wednesday . The Syrian regime says allegations of a chemical attack are 'absolutely baseless' The apparent chemical attack on Wednesday has led to calls for Western powers to do more to end the bloodshed in Syria . | Barack Obama has pledged a 'serious response' if Bashar Assad regime is proved to have used chemical weapons .
Aid organisations claimed this week .
that more than 350 people - many of them children - died due to the .
effects of neurotoxins .
Medicins Sans Frontieres says victims were exposed to 'neurotoxic agent'
Assad regime denies reports as 'absolutely baseless'
Iran warned U.S. of 'severe consequences' if 'red line' on Syria is crossed . |
88,506 | fb30eea108fe0f1dcfdce5c2fe32527f6b345c92 | In focus -- Reviving the pearl industry . Harvesting pearls was a major source of income for Bahrain and the region until the early 20th century when Japanese cultured pearls flooded world markets and oil was discovered. Now Bahrain is trying to revive interest in its pearl tradition. It's applying to UNESCO to list its pearl diving beds and traditional houses as a world heritage site. We explore the kingdom's pearl traditions, from diving for oysters to one of the oldest pearl retailing families in Bahrain. Facetime -- Yassir Zenagui, Moroccan Minister of Tourism . 2009 was a challenging year for the tourism sector, but now it's steadily regaining momentum. In the Middle East, Morocco boasted six percent growth in 2009. With over nine million visitors expected to the Kingdom in 2010, MME sat down with Morocco's Minister of tourism, Yassir Zenagui to find out how the country's tourism sector dodged the effects of the downturn. Watch the show this week at the times (GMT) below: . Friday: 0915, 1745 Saturday: 0445 Sunday: 0615,1745 . | Bahrain has applied to list its traditional pearl diving beds as world heritage sites.
MME explores the kingdom's pearl traditions, once a major source of its income .
Plus MME sits down with the Moroccan Minister of Tourism . |
285,446 | fde35306c22d6f6791dfba177191cd1acc5638bb | By . Pa Reporter . Pakistan succumbed to their lowest one-day score in five years as a pathetic 102 all out helped Sri Lanka claim a seven-wicket victory in the series decider in Dambulla. The tourists were badly let down by their batsmen as they were dismissed for their worst total in Sri Lanka in 32.1 overs, with just three batsmen reaching double figures and only Fawad Alam showing any sort of resolve in his 38 not out. Thisara Perera took four lower-order wickets but Pakistan's batsmen only had themselves to blame for their calamity before Sri Lanka comfortably knocked off the runs with a whopping 178 balls to spare, thanks to Tillakaratne Dilshan's unbeaten 50, as they clinched the series 2-1. High five! Sri Lanka players celebrate after sealing a 2-1 one-day series victory over Pakistan . Seventh heaven: Tillakaratne Dilshan hit an unbeaten 50 to help Sri Lanka win by seven wickets . Not good enough: Pakistan players leave the field after their lowest one-day total for five years . Read em and weep: The total of 102 was Pakistan's worst ever one-day total against Sri Lanka . Their task was made ever so slightly easier as heavy rain meant the contest was reduced to 48 overs per side and Sri Lanka's victory target narrowed down to 101. Dilshan settled into his stride with three crunching fours in the second over as Sri Lanka's opening stand put on 46 to all but ensure the win. Upul Thranga, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene were all dismissed but Dilshan led the way, taking Sri Lanka past their victory target in the 19th over with his ninth four that also brought up his half-century. But Sri Lanka were earlier grateful for the type of implosion only usually reserved for Pakistan, who chose to bat after winning the toss. Bowled over: Thisara Perera took four low order wickets s Pakistan capitulated in dramatic fashion . One man team: Fawad Alam was the only Pakistan batsman to reach double figures . Hat's off! Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga dives to take a catch to dismiss Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal . Dhammika Prasad removed openers Sharjeel Khan and Ahmed Shehzad, and Pakistan had lost their top three batsmen before the eighth over when Lasith Malinga had Mohammad Hafeez trapped in front by an inswinger that would have gone on to clip leg stump. Pakistan's efforts were further undermined when captain Misbah-ul-Haq found himself well short of his ground after attempting a quick single - with Angelo Mathews' throw from point condemning his opposite number to the third run-out in his last seven innings. Umar Akmal's needless slash to mid-on gave Perera the first of his four scalps, while Shahid Afridi fell in characteristic fashion, caught on the off-side aiming a big heave off Seekkuge Prasanna. Champions! Sri Lanka captain Angelo Matthews (C) celebrates with his teammates and the trophy . An hour's rain delay meant Sri Lanka had to wait to polish off their opponents but there was to be no wag in the tail from Pakistan, with Fawad left stranded following a resolute 73-ball innings that contained three fours. It was Pakistan's lowest total in an ODI since they crumpled to 75 all out against the same opposition in Lahore in 2009 and ultimately handed victory to Sri Lanka. It’s not too late to play MailOnline Fantasy Football… There’s £1,000 to be won EVERY WEEK by the highest scoring manager . CLICK HERE to start picking your Fantasy Football team NOW! There’s £60,000 in prizes including £1,000 up for grabs EVERY WEEK… . | Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by seven wickets to win one-day series 2-1 .
Pakistan's paltry 102 was their lowest one-day total for five years .
Thisara Perera took four wickets for Sri Lanka while Tillakaratne Dilshan scored 50 not out .
Fawad Alam was the only Pakistan batsman to reach double figures . |
107,531 | 16af6e0a1793ef2a68b05e7cfabbda1a4b334677 | Oakland, California (CNN) -- San Francisco's transit system board agreed Wednesday to put together a formal policy on when cell-phone service can be cut off to commuters, in response to widespread complaints and recent protests. The Bay Area Rapid Transit's board of directors will also have the proposed policy reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission and California Public Utilities Commission. The board's decision came during a three-hour special meeting Wednesday to discuss the agency's decision earlier this month to cut off cell-phone signals at certain underground stations to ward off protests. That decision ignited a debate about free speech and public safety. The board agreed that the new policy would define the kinds of public safety threats warranting a cutoff of commuters' cell signals. Developing the new policy could take up to four weeks. The proposed policy would also be presented to free-speech groups for their review, board members said. BART director Lynette Sweet acknowledged the controversy as a "PR nightmare." She was upset that the board didn't have a say in the staff decision -- which was widely criticized by free-speech advocates. "Obvious First Amendment rights and the right to have a communication are what people are looking for," Sweet said. "We need to defend First Amendment rights to protest us and use cell-phone communication." She found the widespread public criticism "really frustrating -- I'm held accountable for a staff decision," she said. "If we're gonna shut off cell phones, it has to be the most extraordinary circumstances that I equate to 9/11 level." On August 11, demonstrators had planned a rally to bring attention to a number of transit police officer shootings, including the death of 45-year-old Charles Hill. Hill was shot July 3 after a confrontation with officers. The transit agency said protests during rush hour endangered the safety of commuters and employees. As evidence, they cited a protest on July 11 where demonstrators had used cell phones to coordinate which stations to target. That spirited and largely peaceful rally at the city's Civic Center stop was organized by a group called "No Justice, No BART." But at the demonstration, one person climbed atop a subway train before being pulled down. BART also said protesters blocked doors and generally delayed roughly two-thirds of trains running during the rush-hour commute that day. As a result, when protesters planned another demonstration on August 11, the subway system said it cut off cell-phone signals at some stations. BART said it did so to prevent protesters from using "mobile devices to coordinate their disruptive activities and communicate about the location and number of BART Police." The August 11 protests never materialized. But the decision to cut off signals elicited criticism from civil liberty organizations, the San Francisco Chronicle's editorial page and others. "Shutting down access to mobile phones is the wrong response to political protests, whether it's halfway around the world or right here at home," the ACLU of Northern California said. The Federal Communications Commission said it is looking into the incident. "Any time communications services are interrupted, we seek to assess the situation," FCC spokesman Neil Grace said last week. "We ... will be taking steps to hear from stakeholders about the important issues those actions raised, including protecting public safety and ensuring the availability of communications networks," Grace said. Last week, hackers attacked BART's website and posted the home addresses and other information of all 102 police officers on the train system's police force. It wasn't clear who was to blame for the hacking incident. But in a prior hacking incident on August 14, members of the well-known hacking group Anonymous took credit in online messages for breaking into a link off BART's website. The hackers posted information from BART's internal network, including phone numbers of hundreds of people. Meanwhile, police alternately closed and reopened commuter train stations in downtown San Francisco Monday after demonstrators gathered to protest the recent shootings. CNN's Dan Simon reported from Oakland, California. | NEW: BART board will have FCC and others vet proposed policy .
NEW: BART staff's decision to cut off commuters' cell phones is a "PR nightmare," director says .
BART suspended cell service in spots August 11 to thwart demonstrators .
The move elicited harsh criticism from civil liberty advocates and others . |
168,791 | 665a021f6764a1e38a387c9ac667fd626b235ce0 | By . Bianca London for MailOnline . A former anorexic has beaten her demons and the bullies, to conquer her illness and become a beauty queen. Rosie Essex, 17, from Milton Keynes, was tormented for years about the way she looked. At the age of 13, her weight plummeted to just five-and-a-half stone. But after years of battling her eating disorder, Rosie is now a healthy size eight and is finally happy with her life and the way she looks. Scroll down for video . Turning her life around: Rosie Essex, 17, was tormented so severely about the way she looked but now she's beat her anorexia and become a beauty queen as a result . Illness: Rosie's weight plummeted to just five-and-a-half-stone when she was 13-years-old . Healthy: After years of suffering with her weight, Rosie is now a healthy size eight and is finally happy with her life and the way she looks . Rosie said: 'I struggled to eat as my self-esteem had become so low, I just wanted to be accepted. 'It . feels so amazing to now have the confidence to enter beauty pageants. 'It’s a long life dream that I never thought would come true.' Rosie’s . bullies made her believe she was overweight and after three years of . allowing her eating disorder to rule her life, Rosie finally beat her . illness and found the confidence to enter her first beauty pageant. She . said: 'It was such an amazing feeling being on stage and being . surrounded by other girls who finally accepted me for who I am. 'I entered Miss Teen Great Britain 2014 and was in the top five and plan to enter again this year. 'The . pageant really helped me to believe in myself and be the person that I . want to be. 'I’m really outgoing and bubbly now which is so refreshing. 'I no longer feel like I have to hide away.' Beauty queen: Rosie finally beat her illness and found the confidence to enter her first beauty pageant and thanks to the huge boost from the beauty pageants, performing arts and dancing Rosie has excelled . Support system: Rosie says her mother has been her rock throughout everything. ' I really don't think I could've beat this awful disease without her,' she said . Changing her life: Rosie says she was willing to do anything to rise above all the taunts and become an inspiration to other young women . Battle: Bullies targeted Rosie, pictured during her illness, for the puppy fat she had as a youngster, tormenting her and causing her to cry every day . Recalling how cruel the other children at school were, Rosie said: 'I’d be laughed at and called names like Trevor the bulldog. 'I had puppy fat when I was younger and I was timid so I guess I was easy prey for people. 'I remember when I started secondary school the bullying became so intense I would cry every single day. 'Once, some girls took my school uniform during our P.E. lesson and put it under the showers so it was soaking wet. 'I had to walk around for the rest of the day in my P.E. kit whilst everyone laughed and told me how fat I looked.' Rosie spent every day thinking of ways to change her appearance - she hated everything about the way she looked. So she began starving herself and putting on make-up to please her peers. She said: 'I . just wanted to be someone that no-one would pick on so I would starve . myself for days. 'When I was 14 I had a long-term relationship, I guess I felt accepted so I allowed myself to eat healthily again. 'When we broke up though I didn’t feel good enough. I relapsed as I wanted to punish myself.' Rosie . has since beat her eating disorder and is picking up lead positions in . musical theatre, modelling and singing, as well as taking part in beauty . pageants. Now and then: Rosie, pictured, right, during her illness, and, left, now she has got her life back on track and feels much happier with herself . Happy: Rosie says she is so proud of herself and what she's accomplished in the last few years since beating her eating disorder . Rosie said: 'I’m in a completely different place now, surrounded by people who love and support me. 'I have a healthy balanced diet as well as keeping fit by going to the gym. 'I’ve met so many amazing people, I've completely changed my life and have a new open perspective of things. 'I’m so proud of myself and what I’ve accomplished in the last few years. I’ve won various awards for placing second or first in singing acting and dancing competitions, which I’m particularly proud of.' Thanks to the huge boost from the beauty pageants, performing arts and dancing Rosie has excelled in the last year. Rosie said: . 'Even though I was so weak from starving myself and I still went to . every dance class because my drive for success is so powerful. 'I was willing to do anything to rise above all the taunts and become an inspiration to other young women. 'My mum has been my rock throughout everything, I really don’t think I could’ve beat this awful disease without her. 'I’m really looking forward to entering Miss Teen Great Britain again next month. Success: Since getting better, she has won various awards for placing second or first in singing acting and dancing competitions, which she's particularly proud of . Proud: Rosie's mother said: 'She really has beat the bullies, it makes me so happy to see her smiling on that stage' 'I’m such a positive person now and I hope other girls who are being bullied like I was can see past it all. 'My advice would be to try your hardest to not let other people get you down. 'Every girl is beautiful in her own right, it seems like there’s no other choice but please just speak to someone about the way you’re feeling. 'Us girls go through changes every day, don’t let the present tarnish your bright future, because my mum always told me that after a rainstorm there is always a rainbow ahead. 'I don’t want anyone to lose three years of their life like I did.' Rosie’s . mother Mariette, 51, said: 'One day Rosie came home covered in cuts and . bruises that’s when I decided to move her to a different school. 'Some boys on the bus had thrown their trainers with studs on at Rosie, I was in utter disbelief. 'I was so worried about my little girl, I hated seeing her looking so gaunt and skinny. 'She’s always been beautiful on the inside and out and I’m so proud of everything she’s achieved. 'She really has beat the bullies, it makes me so happy to see her smiling on that stage.' The charity beat helps people battling eating disorders, for more information visit their website here. Youth: Rosie, pictured at school before anorexia, would come home with cuts and bruises . Mother and daughter: Mariette said of her daughter: 'She's always been beautiful on the inside and out and I'm so proud of everything she's achieved' Empowering others: Rosie, who says she's really looking forward to entering Miss Teen Great Britain again next month, said: 'I’m such a positive person now and I hope other girls who are being bullied like I was can see past it all' | Rosie Essex battled anorexia throughout her teenage years .
After being targeted by school bullies over her puppy fat, the 13-year-old's weight plummeted to just five-and-a-half stone .
But now 17, Rosie has beaten her demons and the bullies conquering her eating disorder to become a healthy size eight .
She has now fulfilled a life-long dream to enter a beauty pageant, coming in the top five in Miss Teen Britain .
Inspiring teenagers said she hopes her story will help others . |
137,904 | 3e5835a58dea98f1c17d748715b2d265436f3168 | By . Alex Ward . PUBLISHED: . 14:16 EST, 28 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 15:27 EST, 28 November 2012 . A nine-month-old kitten spent two days crawling back home after she was set on fire while venturing outside for the very first time. Hetty the kitten was found by owner Liam Garrard with horrendous burns from her shoulder to her hind leg on one side after she went missing in Crawley, West Sussex. She underwent major surgery to remove a patch of badly burned skin and was due to come home on Monday but developed an infection and had to be put down. Now police and the RSPCA are appealing for witnesses because they believe she was deliberately lit. Set alight: Hetty the kitten was burned from her shoulder to her hind leg on one side and underwent major surgery but she developed an infection and had to be put down . Mr Garrard, 22, believed she was set alight by ‘horrible, cruel individuals’ because of the pattern of her injuries. The Homebase manager said: ‘You have to be a sick, sadistic person to even think about doing this. ‘How could you purposely set a small kitten on fire? ‘I was beginning to worry because it was the first time she had ever really ventured out. “She was dead silent when I found her back in the house, which thinking back to it now was strange, and when I picked her up it felt like she was covered in mud. ‘It wasn’t until I turned on the light that I saw her entire side was black. There was a huge mass of singed fur. Vets at Seers Croft Vets, in Faygate, West Sussex operated on the kitten but her little body had suffered too big a trauma. Mr Garrard said: ‘The vets said it was a big trauma for her body to handle. The skin was cooked. I have been told by the vets it looks as though it was done deliberately. ‘She was probably asleep and somebody just set her on fire. ‘They compared it to a human losing an amount of skin from their chest all the way round to their back. ‘People need to be made aware that there are some horrible, cruel individuals living in Crawley.’ First timer: The attack happened on the first time Hetty was allowed out of the house and when she returned home, two days later in Crawley, West Sussex (pictured), Mr Garrard said her 'skin was cooked' Hetty disappeared for two days on November 13 and when she returned at about 6am on November 15 Mr Garrard discovered her injuries. Sussex Police and the RSPCA are appealing for any witnesses to come forward. An RSPCA spokesman said: ‘This is the most appalling type of cruelty to this poor, defenceless kitten. ‘Young cats can be very trusting and will readily go up to strangers. ‘For someone to abuse that trust and then set light to the poor animal is heart breaking, cruel. ‘We would certainly like to find who is responsible for this and for them to get the proper punishment.’ Animal shelter The Blue Cross recommends kittens should not be allowed outside on their own until after they have been neutered at about five or six-months-old. They can go outside after their first course of vaccinations at 13 to 14-weeks-old but owners are advised to accompany them in the garden. | Hetty the kitten was found with horrendous burns down one side .
Owner Liam Garrard believes she was deliberately set alight .
She had major surgery but developed an infection and had to be put down .
Police and the RSPCA are investigating . |
214,257 | a176e4c587c7a186b3dfe9489eb98283968e6710 | Kim Watson, 32, has been charged with stealing and selling on goods worth $3.7million from Sears . A Sears clerk has been charged with stealing goods worth $3.7million from one of the department store's warehouses. Kim Watson, 32, allegedly sold on the high-end merchandise after taking it from the Sears Distribution Center in Logan Township, New Jersey. Watson, from Clementon, was arrested on Friday after a long-term investigation led detectives to believe the inventory clerk had been taking cash payments for the goods. The investigation, by Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office, found that everything from bedding to kitchen appliances had gone missing. Police believe that the merchandise was sold to a network of people around the New York tri-state area, NJ.com reported. The haul totaled roughly $3.7million at retail prices, meaning Sears had lost around $2.6million. Watson was charged with second degree theft and was held at Salem County Jail in default of a $50,000 bail. Captain Robert Leash, from Logan police, said the investigation was ongoing. He said: 'We are still looking into this. We know she had a network. She didn't do this alone, and these people knew they were receiving stolen goods.' Police say missing goods from the Sears (file picture) warehouse ranged from bedding to electrical equipment . | Kim Watson, 32, is charged with stealing $3.7million in Sears merchandise .
The department store clerk allegedly sold on the goods for a profit .
Missing merchandise included bedding and kitchen appliances, police say . |
218,863 | a74cb7e654ea844e14ed6e26e7434e9327d21bf9 | By . Ruth Styles . With six grandchildren of her own, among them the third in line to the throne, the Duchess of Cornwall is no stranger to the demands of small children. And she had ample opportunity to show off her childcare skills when a young well-wisher's hat was blown off in front of her during a walkabout in Rutland. Her face wreathed in smiles, the Duchess swiftly picked up the pink hat and tried to put it back on the little girl's head - much to her displeasure and her mother's delight. Scroll down for video . Is that yours? Camilla came to the rescue after a little girl dropped her hat during a visit to Oakham in Rutland . Time to get dressed: The Duchess, a grandmother of six, then attempted to replace the hat on the child's head . Not wearing it! Despite Camilla's best efforts, the tot pulled her hat off again each time . After three attempts, the Duchess chuckled ruefully and handed the garment to the toddler's mother before rushing to catch up with Prince Charles who was saying hello to another well-wisher. The royal couple were in the quaint market town of Oakham in the Midlands county to tour the St John and St Anne Almshouse, which provides a home for local retirees. Prince Charles is patron of the Almshouse Association and during the visit, met some of the residents as well as unveiling a commemorative plaque. Afterwards, the two were driven into Oakham where they met local well-wishers, among them the hat-averse toddler, before stopping for a beer and touring the market. Camilla, who was elegant in a cream jacket and patterned skirt, certainly seemed to enjoy hers - although perhaps not as much as Prince Charles who smiled broadly as he sipped his half pint. I give up! The Duchess gave up after a third attempt was foiled and handed the hat to the child's mother . Nice to meet you: The Duchess beamed as she chatted to young well-wishers during the walkabout . Swapping tips? Camilla, who has six grandchildren of her own, chatted to a young father of twins . Also giving the famously eco-conscious royal a reason to smile were the market stalls, which included several that showcased sustainable production methods - among them Northfield Farm, which runs a herd of rare breed Dexter Cattle on its land, and Rutland Biodynamics. Later, a troupe of Morris Dancers arrived to give a performance before a detour to Oakham Castle allowed the Duchess to take part in a local custom: presenting a floral horseshoe to the Lord of the Manor. According to tradition, any peer of the realm or senior member of the royal family visiting Oakham for the first time should present the Lord of the Manor, currently Jos Hanbury, with a horseshoe. Along with the decorative version presented by the Duchess of Cornwall, the collection at Oakham Castle includes one said to have been given by Edward IV . around 1470. Lovely pint! Prince Charles beams as he enjoys a quip with the owner of a stall selling beer in Oakham . Fascinating: Prince Charles listens intently as he hears about Rutland's long and distinguished brewing histiry . Bottoms up: The royal couple appeared to enjoy their taste of locally brewed Rutland beer . More recent additions to the hoard include ones given by the . Princess Royal in 1999, the Prince of Wales in 2003 and Princess . Alexandra in 2005. Customs satisfied, the couple were driven to the final stop on their tour, Rutland Water nature reserve. There, Charles was given the chance to show off his own childcare skills as he met youngsters taking part in the recently launched Walk a Country Mile scheme, which aims to raise funds for hard-hit rural communities. The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are currently in the middle of a busy series of engagements that began with their annual 'Wales Week' at the beginning of July. Other stops on their itinerary have included Devon and Cornwall, Wiltshire and, most recently, a visit to Glasgow to meet athletes as the Commonwealth Games kicked off. All smiles: Prince Charles beams as Camilla, a first time visitor to Oakham, signs the visitor's book . Tradition: The Duchess presents a traditional horseshoe to Oakham Castle's Lord of the Manor, Jos Hanbury . | The royal couple were visiting the market town of Oakham in Rutland .
Kind Camilla helped a little girl whose hat blew off during a walkabout .
Charles, meanwhile, met retirees at the St John and St Anne Almshouse .
Later, couple visited Oakham Castle and toured market stalls .
Ended the day with a trip to Rutland Water, a nature reserve . |
215,392 | a2cf0e8b2f4182b6b88b8a4dec27819df9df65ad | By . Ray Massey, Transport Editor and Emma Reynolds . Last updated at 5:39 PM on 25th January 2012 . Snaking queues formed on the forecourts today as petrol pumps began to run dry following the closure of one of the UK's largest refineries. Fearful motorists found themselves backed up in jams stretching out of petrol stations in the South East as pumps displayed signs warning that supplies had been drained. Drivers attempting to fill their tanks at Waitrose in Southend, Essex, were greeted by a message that diesel had run out. Chaos: Long queues formed at petrol station in the South East today - like this one at Waitrose in Southend, Essex - after Coryton refinery stopped trading . The chaos follows the closure yesterday of Coryton refinery in Essex, which supplies 10 per cent of the UK's fuel and a fifth of the petrol used in the South East. Fuel prices have risen again just 24 hours after the refinery's Swiss parent company Petroplus went bust and Coryton ceased supplies to filling stations. And petrol retailers and motoring groups have warned that more hikes are in the pipeline, adding: ‘The only way is up.’ Diesel rose to 142.32p ( from 142.21p) per litre – and is now within a fraction of 1p of a new record. Petrol rose to 134.03 (from 133.89p) per litre the previous day, the AA reported. The knock-on effects of action would have come too late to have an impact on the latest prices, but motoring groups have warned that ‘profiteering’ speculators will seize on the restricted supply to drive up the wholesale cost of petrol and diesel, pushing up prices to consumers at the pumps. Drained dry: A petrol pump displays a sign warning drivers that diesel has run out . It has sparked fears of ‘panic buying’ to avoid shortages and big price hikes. Coryton’s administrators Price Waterhouse Cooper (PwC) confirmed at lunchtime that no fuel supplies were leaving the refinery today – three days after they were stopped. But production is continuing with refined fuel being stored on site. Energy ministers insist the lost supplies are being made up from other refineries and from abroad and have urged motorists not to panic. Petrol retailers predict diesel prices in particular are set to soar by up to 3p to a new record £1.45 a litre. That would see a £100 fill-up for ‘Mondeo Man’ in a family saloon with a 70-litre tank. Record fuel prices were set in May last year when diesel hit 143.04p and petrol 137.43p. This time last year, petrol was 128.51p – around 5p per litre less than today and diesel 133.15p per litre – nearly 10p cheaper. Instability in Iran and their threat to blockade key oil tanker routes in the Straits of Hormuz the Gulf, coupled with the strong dollar, is also storing up trouble, retailers warned. Fears escalate: Retailers are worried about panic buying making shortages worse and forcing up prices further . AA president Edmund King said: ’There is no doubt that the loss of supplies from a major UK refinery, plus the problems in Iran, is going to give the speculators a field day. ‘When they speculate, the only way is up as far as fuel prices are concerned. Motorists are going to have to get used to seeing petrol and diesel prices creeping up.‘It’s only a matter of time before the diesel record is broken.’ RMI Petrol’s Brian Madderson said shortages would push up the price of fuel as traders and speculators exploit the situation for profit. ‘I expect diesel to rise 3p a litre to a new record of £1.45 by the end of the month.The first impact will be a push through on wholesale prices.’ MPs and unions joined the chorus warning of shortages while forecourt bosses said there was a risk of parts of the South East ‘grinding to a halt’ after supplies from the Coryton refinery were suspended. Crisis looms: MPs and forecourt bosses warned parts of the South East could 'grind to a halt' amid reports production had stopped at the giant Coryton refinery in Essex, pictured . No petrol, diesel or other products, including bitumen for road building, were leaving the site today. The action came when the refinery’s owner ran out of cash and was unable to extend its credit facilities. PwC said it had no idea when supplies would resume but was ‘talking to customers’. The warnings came along with the threat to up to 1,000 UK jobs at the formerly BP-owned refinery. A separate strike by more than 80 tanker drivers at the South Killingholme refinery in Lincolnshire, which supplies around 340 Jet filling stations, is exacerbating supply concerns. But energy ministers and oil industry bosses said they were doing their best to make up the shortfall from the UK’s seven remaining refineries and by buying in from abroad. If today's rush to the pumps continues, however, filling stations could run dry. PwC said refining was continuing at . Coryton but supplies were being stored rather than being sent out. It . could not say when normal service would resume. Steven Pearson, joint administrator and PwC partner, said: ‘Our immediate priority is to continue to operate the Coryton refinery and the Teesside oil storage business without disruption while the financial position is clarified and restructuring options are explored.’ Warning: East of England Euro MEP Richard Howitt said he didn't want to be alarmist but said that the suspension could impact the Olympics . The Government insisted it was doing all it could to find a buyer. Forecourts fear a repeat of the crisis which caused chaos in Scotland in 2008 when the giant Grangemouth refinery was hit by strike action – leading to pumps running dry, ‘sold out’ signs, and some cases of petrol rationing north of the border. RAC Motoring Strategist Adrian Tink said: ‘The message for motorists in the area is a simple one – don’t panic buy and potentially create a problem.’ East of England Euro MEP Richard Howitt said: ‘I don’t want to be alarmist about this, but I don’t want to be dishonest either. Supplies across London and the South East could be affected and I have been told this could impact the Olympics.’ Coryton has refining capacity for ten . million tonnes of crude oil per year. Some 36 per cent of its output is . petrol and 27 per cent diesel, the rest a mixture of other fuels. There . are seven other refineries in the UK – at South Killingholme and . Lindsey, both in North Lincolnshire; Fawley, near Southampton; . Grangemouth, near Falkirk; Stanlow in Cheshire; and Milford Haven and . Pembroke, both in Pembrokeshire. Petroplus previously owned a refinery . in Teesside, which closed in 2009. Panic stations: The refinery supplies 20 per cent of the petrol used in London and the South-East as well as other areas around the UK . The UK has 8,500 filling stations of which 2,132 are in the South East. Of these, about 600 are BP and Texaco sites supplied from Coryton. Petroplus reported a net loss of £265million in the first nine months of last year, while in December its banks withdrew a £675million portion of its £1.29billion credit facility. The other main supplier for the South East and London is the Exxon Mobil refinery in Fawley. A Department of Energy and Climate Change spokesman said it was helping to look for buyers but that the ‘immediate priority’ was to keep the Coryton refinery and Teesside storage business operating’. He added: ‘In the short term, companies have made alternative arrangements to ensure adequate supplies of products are available in the South East.’ Petroplus had been increasingly relying on its British offshoot for funds. At the end of 2009, it owed the British arm £42million. But by the end of 2010 the Swiss company’s borrowings from its British subsidiary had ballooned to £114million. The company’s fate was sealed when 13 banks, including Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank and BNP Paribas, froze a $1billion loan that was keeping it going. | Signs warn supplies of diesel run out on forecourts .
Chaos at petrol stations in South East .
Petroplus, owner of Coryton refinery in Essex, files for bankruptcy .
Diesel within a fraction of 1p of a record .
Threat to 1,000 jobs at plant .
Retailers warn: 'The only way is up'
MEP warns the disruption could affect the Olympics . |
255,240 | d66269d01d84e5b81a1004edda96d1fd9ae5a755 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . A dog belonging to a California firefighter who disappeared during a backpacking trip has been rescued after nine days in the wilderness, but his owner remains missing. Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean said Sunday that a rescue effort for Mike Herdman will be scaled back after days of searching the Los Padres National Forest. The dog, named Duke, was found Sunday in the parking lot where Herdman had parked his car. Safe: Duke, pictured after his ordeal, was found Sunday in the parking lot where Herdman had parked his car . Rescue: This picture shows the moment search crews finally rescued Duke after spotting him multiple times over the past week . Herdman and a friend were backpacking June 13 when the dog ran off and the 36-year-old Herdman chased after the pet barefoot and wearing only shorts. Search crews have put in nearly 5,000 hours and scoured 50 square miles on foot, horseback and by air. The dog had been spotted twice before but had eluded capture. Good . Samaritans found Duke around noon in a parking lot Sunday where the . missing person's vehicle had been parked, said Sgt. Kevin Donoghue of . the Ventura County Sheriff's Office. Herdman went missing June 13 while looking for his dog after the animal ran off from the campsite, according to the Whittier Daily News. Herdman is a paramedic with the Arcadia Fire Department. Tragic: Mike Herdman, pictured, was a paramedic with the Arcadia Fire Department whose body was found Friday . Scene: Rescuers spent two weeks looking for Herdman after he was reported missing in the rough terrain of the Los Padres National Forest . Co-worker . Taylor Byars, who was also on the trip, unsuccessfully looked for him . before he left the park and was able to contact authorities two days . later, the paper said. Ventura . County Sheriff's Captain Luis Obregon told the Daily News last week an . air crew was used to search for Herdman as well as volunteers on . horseback. Herdman is 'an elite athlete and family man who planned to be home on Father's Day,' NBC Los Angeles reported. Herdman went missing while only wearing a T-shirt and a pair of shorts, his companion told authorities. 'He's in incredible shape,' Sgt. Eric Buschow said of the firefighter. 'But even with experience in the back country, if you don't have the right clothing and you don't have the right gear, it can be a tough situation to get out of.' | Authorities said Sunday that a rescue effort for Mike Herdman will be scaled back after days of searching California's Los Padres National Forest .
The dog, named Duke, was found Sunday in the parking lot where Herdman had parked his car .
Herdman and a friend were camping June 13 when the dog ran off and the 36-year-old Herdman chased after the pet barefoot and wearing only shorts .
Search crews have put in nearly 5,000 hours and scoured 50 square miles on foot, horseback and by air . |
265,816 | e448bb3e309c1193cf83bc2a66dc0c5cf3c9920a | (CNN)Everything was going to plan for Cowdenbeath during its Scottish Championship clash with table-topping Heart of Midlothian Saturday. The game was 25 minutes old and the relegation threatened-side, ironically and lovingly nicknamed the Blue Brazil by Scottish football fans, had managed to shut-out their hosts and in-form opponents. Then, the goals began to arrive. Minutes 26, 27 and 29 saw Hearts Dutch striker Genero Zeefuik grab a quickfire hat-trick, the third after a penalty and red-card to Cowdenbeath defender Lewis Toshney. A brief lull followed before Hearts scored again in minutes 33 and 39 through Sam Nicholson and Jamie Walker respectively. And while half-time provided Cowdenbeath some brief respite, another torrent of goals was to come when play resumed. By the end of the 90 minutes, Hearts had scored five more times to ensure an astonishing 10-0 victory. Morgaro Gomis, Alim Ozturk Danny Wilson and substitute Osman Sow (twice) did the second-half damage. "I've never been involved in a result like that in my entire career," said Hearts head coach, Robbie Neilson after the game. "I spoke to the players at half time and told them to keep going, try to score more," he added. The result matches Cowdenbeath's heaviest ever loss, an 11-1 reverse to Clyde way back in 1951. But that's still nowhere near the record of the biggest defeat ever recorded in senior Scottish football. That distinctive honor remains in the possession of wonderfully named Bon Accord who were trounced 36-0 by Arbroath in 1880. It might be little consolation to Cowdenbeath tonight, but at least they were along way off Bon Accord levels of ineptitude. | Heart of Midlothian score ten goals in Scottish Championship match .
Result matches Cowdenbeath's biggest ever defeat . |
26,629 | 4b9a98357ef56b3afb9475daf4ddfd4ae1bd7581 | Journalist James Foley suffered horrifying torture at the hands of his ISIS captors before they killed him, including waterboarding, virtual starvation and being hung upside-down by his ankles. Foley, 40, was killed in a graphic propaganda video released in August by the terrorist organization, which calls itself the Islamic State - but new details from his two years in captivity are still emerging. Fellow captives have now spoken out about their time in prison with Foley, whom they referred to as a pillar of strength. They revealed that he received the most brutal treatment out of dozens of hostages because he was American. Scroll down for video . Tortured: Journalist James Foley, pictured left reporting on the ground and right in his ISIS beheading video, was waterboarded and hung upside down during his two-year captivity . Foley, from Rochester, New Hampshire, was captured not far from the Syrian border with Turkey in 2012 by a small jihadist group which would later swear fealty to ISIS. As the group gained strength, his treatment worsened, according to a lengthy account of his capture and captivity published by the New York Times. As early as August 2013 - before ISIS caught the world's attention with its huge land grab in Iraq - Foley would regularly be lashed to a metal bar by the ankles and left dangling from the ceiling for hours. This element of his torture was revealed by Jejoen Bontinck, a 19-year-old Belgian who shared a cell with him. He told the Times: 'You could see the scars on his ankles. He told me how they had chained his feet to a bar and then hung the bar so that he was upside down from the ceiling.' Grabbed by the border: Foley was seized by jihadists near the Syrian border with Turkey. The group was took him later swore fealty to ISIS, which now calls itself the Islamic State . Later, after Foley was handed over to a central ISIS prison in Syria, with dozens of other captives, the torture became more targeted and extreme. Initially dozens of Western captives were held together, but ISIS began to release those whose governments would pay large ransoms for them. Eventually only Britons and Americans - whose governments refuse to pay out - were left, and the regime grew harsher. Former cellmates have said that Foley was routinely the victim of mock executions - and even waterboarding. One told how when Foley was taken from his cell by his captors, they would pray for him to return covered in blood, as if he was unmarked it would be a sign of even more savage treatments, such as the waterboarding technique, which simulates drowning. Working: Foley is pictured above filming in Tripoli, Lybia, in 2011 . ISIS has said they employ that form of torture as a direct response to the U.S. government's waterboarding of Al-Qaeda captives as part of the war on terror. In particularly bleak periods of captivity, the prisoners would also be practically starved, given the equivalent of a teacup full of food every day. As the prisoners were often kept in almost total darkness, they would often spill what little food they had as they attempted to eat. Torture: ISIS has said it uses waterboarding because the U.S. did in the War on Terror. Pictured is an example waterboard at a torture museum . Despite all this, Foley would share his limited rations with other captives, and gave up his blanket to somebody else in the depths of winter, other prisoners said. In a letter to Foley's family smuggled out by a fellow captive, he gives a more positive outlook of his captivity, and makes no mention of torture. He wrote: 'I have had weak and strong days. We are so grateful when anyone is freed; but of course, yearn for our own freedom. We try to encourage each other and share strength. Threats: ISIS released the videos showing the deaths of captives such as Foley, pictured above. They have been exclusively from the United Kingdom and the U.S. - whose governments do not pay ransoms . 'We are being fed better now and daily. We have tea, occasional coffee. I have regained most of my weight lost last year.' However, the letter implies that he has an inkling of his fate to come - one sentence of the message instructs his family on what to do with any money in his bank account should he die. ISIS itself has freely admitted that it waterboards prisoners, though it claims that they are in general 'treated well'. In a new propaganda video released this week, British war photographer John Cantile was put in front of the camera to describe his captivity. He said: 'Now unless we tried something stupid like escaping or doing something we shouldn't, we were treated well by the Islamic State. Admission: A new ISIS video featuring British photographer John Cantile was released this week, in which he said captives are waterboarded if they try 'something stupid' 'Some of us who tried to escape were waterboarded by our captors as Muslim prisoners are waterboarded by their American captors. 'Our strange little community of prisoners had its share of problems but apart from the odd fight we lived together in relative harmony through uncertain times. 'We read books, played recreational games and gave lectures on our specialist subjects. It wasn't a bad life.' He then described how successive European prisoners - Spanish, French, German and Danish - were let go while the British and American governments 'stone-walled' ISIS attempts to acquire ransoms. Cantile is the latest Westerner whom ISIS have indicated they are going to murder. There are also fears for Peter Kassig, an aid worker from Indianapolis. Videos showing the murders of American journalist Steven Sotloff, British humanitarian Alan Henning and David Haines, another British aid worker, have also been released. | Foley, 40, was captured in 2012 and killed on camera this August in Syria .
New details have emerged of his harrowing treatment in captivity .
Cellmates say he was bound to metal bar and hung upside down .
Also revealed later in captivity he was waterboarded, to which ISIS admits .
Foley, a journalist from Rochester, New Hampshire, was treated harshest .
Fellow prisoners have said Americans and Britons were worst off because their countries have refused to pay huge ransoms for hostages . |
189,547 | 81720dafeec8f1dd40d0754724cae263f611a33f | Model Kate Upton managed to grab a souvenir at a baseball match in New York. This wasn’t any old souvenir as her boyfriend, Detroit pitcher Justin Verlander, tossed her a baseball. Having a ball: Justin Verlander tossed a baseball to girlfriend Kate Upton during a Tigers vs. Yankees Game . Prime position: The model was sat right behind the dugout near her boyfriend . Big fan: Upton clearly enjoyed the game with one of the best seats in the house behind the dugout . Upton, 22, was sat behind the dugout in prime position to receive the baseball from her boyfriend. The model stayed for the duration of the match and clutched her momento as she left the stadium but couldn’t inspire the Detroit Tigers to victory as the Yankees ran out 2-1 winners. Kate and Justin, 31, who were spotted at enjoying a date night at a NYC whiskey bar over the weekend, first started dating in early January 2013, but split up soon after. Souvenir to cherish: Upton left the game clutching the baseball her Detroit pitcher boyfriend threw to her . However in June, Kate decided to celebrate her 22nd birthday with Justin, quashing rumours that she was . in a relationship with Dancing With the Stars' Makism Chmerkovskiy. They enjoyed a romantic break together in Cancun, Mexico, in July. Upton . is one of the most desirable women in the world having appeared on the . cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue two years in a row. Model spectator : Kate Upton headed to the Yankees Stadium to watch her boyfriend Justin Verlander in action . Enjoying the game: Upton enjoyed watching New York Yankees taking on the Detroit Tigers . Date night: The pair were spotted at a whisky bar in midtown NYC over the weekend . | Kate wasn't a lucky charm, however - New York Yankees defeated the Detroit Tigers 2-1 at home on Monday . |
77,523 | dbceded6ea7d8a0944ab3f44263f688f644a5c37 | (CNN) -- The Japanese government has criticized former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's acknowledgment of a "territorial dispute" with China over islands in the East China Sea, with the defense minister going so far as to use the word "traitor." On his four-day private visit to China, Hatoyama told reporters in Beijing on Wednesday, "The Japanese government says there are no territorial disputes (between the two countries). But if you look at history, there is a dispute." The remarks contradict his own government's position of indisputable territorial sovereignty over the islands that it calls Senkaku and that China calls Diaoyu. "If his (Hatoyama's) remarks have been politically used by China, I'm unhappy," Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said on television Thursday. "At that moment, the word of 'traitor' arose in my mind." Dangerous waters: Behind the islands dispute . The day after his controversial remarks, Hatoyama, 66, and his wife visited the Nanjing Memorial, which is for the estimated 300,000 people killed in a 1937 massacre by Japanese forces. He is the third former Japanese prime minister to visit the memorial, following predecessors Toshiki Kaifu and Tomiichi Murayama. The tribute for Chinese victims stands in contrast to visits by Japanese officials, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and predecessor Junichiro Koizumi, to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, which is dedicated to Japan's war dead, including war criminals. "In the eyes of the Chinese public, (Hatoyama's) visit is very valuable and undermines those in China who argue that all Japanese suffer from amnesia about wartime misdeeds," said Jeff Kingston, director of Asian studies at Temple University Japan. "I think this mission is an effort by him to introduce a different tenor into bilateral relations, to show it's not all about saber-rattling," he added. Chinese media extensively covered Hatoyama's "apology for Japan's wartime crimes," with pictures of the Hatoyamas bowing and paying silent tribute at the site. On social media, the visit triggered wide discussions. According to an online poll by Phoenix Online (iFeng), 80% of the more than 222,000 people who voted said Hatoyama's visit did not have much political significance, as compared with German Chancellor Willy Brandt's kneeling before the Warsaw Ghetto Memorial in 1970. In another question, nearly two-thirds of 140,000 people surveyed said the visit by a former leader wouldn't set an example for a fellow Japanese politician. CCTV commentator Yang Yu, however, praised Hatoyama and urged the Chinese to "remember the unusual kindness due to its scarcity," saying via Weibo, the microblogging site, "We have reprimanded Japan too many times for not acknowledging the massacre." The official account from Xinhua, China's state-run news agency, warned that the nationalism of people who "scold any Japanese they see ... is in fact leading the country to distress." An editorial by the government-run Global Times said that "China shouldn't change its policy to Japan just because Hatoyama, a politician currently out of office, gave a few words of friendship." Grievances over World War II atrocities added fuel to violent anti-Japanese protests in China in September, particularly on the anniversary of the 1931 Japanese invasion of China. And it is not a coincidence, Kingston said, that a Chinese plane entered airspace over the disputed islands -- prompting Japan to scramble fighter jets -- on December 13, the 75th anniversary of the massacre. It was the first time that the territorial dispute involved planes. "The next day on the front page of the newspapers were the images of the (Nanjing) Memorial ceremony and the planes," Kingston said. The dispute over the islands stems from 1895, when, at the end of the Sino-Japanese war, Japan annexed them. China has said that the islands have been its territory for the last five centuries. CNN's Steven Jiang and Dayu Zhang in Beijing and Junko Ogura in Tokyo contributed to this report. | Hatoyama contradicts Japan's position of indisputable territorial sovereignty over islands .
Japan calls disputed islands Senkaku; China claims them as "Diaoyu"
Hatoyama and his wife visited the Nanjing Memorial for victims of 1937 massacre .
Chinese media covered extensively his "apology for Japan's wartime crimes" |
91,876 | 022eac0f242fa30ba8e710979839664352632685 | Fred lit the fuse for another Brazilian victory as the World Cup hosts signed off preparations with a sturdy but certainly not spectacular 1-0 win over Serbia in Sao Paulo. Six days away from opening the World Cup on the other side of the city against Croatia, Luis Felipe Scolari's side endured a frustrating first-half that ended with the crowd on their backs. But a much improved showing after the break - with Chelsea's Willian shining after replacing the unimpressive Oscar - saw them narrowly home. To the rescue: Fred scored the only goal of the game in Brazil's final warm-up before the World Cup . Fred flicked the ball home in the 58h minute to open the scoring at Morumbi Stadium . Helpless: Branislav Ivanovic watches on but can't prevent the Brazilian forward from scoring . Brazil: Julio Cesar, Dani Alves (Maicon 71), Luiz, Thiago Silva, Marcelo (Maxwell 74), Gustavo, Paulinho (Fernandinho 64), Oscar (Willian 46), Hulk, Fred (Jo 75), Neymar. Subs Not Used: Jefferson, Dante, Henrique, Ramires, Hernanes, Bernard, Victor. Goals: Fred 58. Serbia: Stojkovic (Lukac 88), Basta (Tomovic 86), Ivanovic, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Kolarov, Dusko Tosic, Matic, Jojic, Tadic (Zoran Tosic 69), Petrovic (Mrdja 86), Markovic (Gudelj 81). Subs Not Used: Pejcinovic, Djuricic, Stefan Mitrovic, Ljajic, Bisevac, Vulicevic, Lazovic, Brkic. Booked: Petrovic, Matic. Att: 67,042 . Ref: Enrique Caceres (Paraguay). On a sodden Sao Paulo afternoon when a . subway strike crippled the metropolis of 20 million people, World Cup . cheer wasn't exactly flowing freely on the streets. But at Morumbi, the . 67,042 packed into the home of Sao Paulo FC formed a yellow wall of . noise to welcome their front-liners, six days before they begin their . quest for history. One of . the few criticisms of Scolari is that he can be loyal to a fault but . with this staring XI - the very definition of tried and trusted - it is . hard to criticise. Sculpted during last summer's barnstorming run to the . Confederations Cup title, Scolari could have named it for the opener a . full year out. The wonder is that the 2002 World Cup winning coach, who . has always had a lucky streak, has made it to six days out without a . single injury concern over any of his starters. Being . able to reunite Thiago Silva and David Luiz at the heart of the . defence, after the skipper missed Tuesday's romp against Panama, would . have been a relief too. Scolari's Brazil have never lost under the . pairing, winning ten of the previous 12 and keeping six clean sheets. On the move: Neymar (right) fights for the ball with Serbia's Dusan Basta . Challenge: Brazilian forward Neymar is closed down by Chelsea's Ivanovic . But . vital as captain Silva may be to the cause there was no doubting who . the near full house were here to see. Neymar left his home of Sao Paulo . after the Confederations Cup to try to do in Europe what he had done . here for five years previously with Santos - electrify. If his first . season at Barcelona only featured glimpses of that talent, his adoring . masses here didn't care. From . his first touch, the roars rolled around Morumbi's bowl. It took just . five minutes for him to make a first opponent look silly, Milos Jojic . hacking him down after being outfoxed. There . were to be only intermittent moments like that in the opening period as . the World Cup hosts struggled to find the rhythm and incision that . carved Panama to pieces. It was left to Manchester City's Aleksandar . Kolarov who fired the game's first shot in anger wide of Julio Cesar's . post 11 minutes in. Physical: Hulk (left) is brushed off by former Manchester United winger Zoran Tosic . Tactics: Brazil's coach Luiz Felipe Scolari gives instructions to Real Madrid left back Marcelo . Another . of the visitors' Premier League contingent, the giant Nemanja Matic, was . making his presence felt in midfield and when the Chelsea man crossed . for Aleksandar Mitrovic soon after the half hour, the lone frontman . should have done better instead of flashed his header wide. Save . for a nice turn and shot from Fred at the other end and and a David . Luiz free-kick that sailed high into the Sao Paulo sky, there was little . to cheer for a crowd that are notoriously fickle. The jeers that rung . around the arena at Enrike Kaseres' half-time whistle left Scolari's . crew in little doubt that six days before they face Croatia in the same . city, this was not good enough. Two . days after the birth of a baby daughter, the out of sorts Oscar was . withdrawn at the inter Willian on the other hand is a man in form, well . out of national team contention just 12 months ago, he now finds himself . the go-to guy off the bench. And he immediately added some much needed . spark to proceedings. The crowd were still not convinced though, . bizarrely chanting the name of Sao Paulo FC striker Luis Fabiano - long . since out of national team reckoning. Partisan: Brazilian fans in Sao Paulo cheer their team's last game before the World Cup . Passionate: The Sao Paulo crowd booed their team off at half-time after an uninspiring first period . Maybe . that was the spur for current No.9 though as less than five minutes . later it was Fred who finally broke the deadlock. Thiago Silva angled a . ball to the edge of the box where the Fuminense man outmuscled Branislav . Ivanovic and Dusko Tosic, controlled and in spite of losing his footing . and fired into the far corner. It . was a goal that was all down to strength and endeavour, what the . sometimes criticised frontman is all about. It was also the cue for a . festa in the stands, Mexican waves and chants ringing around the place . in the last half hour. Message: Serbia players held up a banner as the two teams lined up before the game . Jojic . almost broke up the party on 69 minutes but missed a great opening with . a poor header and Lazar Markovic tamely shot at Julio Cesar soon after. At the other end Hulk had a . second wrongly disallowed for offside after a superb through ball by . Neymar but it did little to delate the atmosphere. The biggest roar of . the night went up on 80 minutes as Neymar was withdrawn. It . might not have been a vintage night from him and it may not have been a . vintage night from his team but Brazil still got it done. They will . return here on Thursday with momentum. The world have been warned. | Fred's second-half goal gives hosts the win despite a poor opening 45 .
Chelsea's Willian shone after replacing the unimpressive Oscar .
Luiz Felipe Scolari's side begin their World Cup campaign in six days . |
136,304 | 3c55e3ab0648223d0f59408ea4d3d79a5acc5e10 | By . Michael Zennie . PUBLISHED: . 13:26 EST, 15 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:50 EST, 15 August 2012 . When a Long Island, New York, hedge fund manager reached out to his Congressman for help obtaining permits so he could have a fireworks show at his son's bar mitzvah, he received a request for a $10,000 donation two days later -- before the paperwork was secured, according to e-mails. Now, Rep Tim Bishop is defending himself against allegations he violated house ethics rules, accused of soliciting money in exchange for greasing the wheels of federal bureaucracy. In e-mails obtained by Politico, Eric Semler called the request from Rep Bishop's surrogate 'really gross,' but said he planned to pay up so the fireworks could go ahead as scheduled. Quid-quo-pro? Rep Tim Bishop was asked to help a constituent secure an environmental permit and two days later his daughter sent a request for a $10,000 donation to the constituent . The political news site reports that Mr Semler asked Rep Bishop, a five-term Democrat, for help with the pyrotechnics on May 21 -- five days before his son's party -- because his attempts to work with federal environmental agencies had gone nowhere. His 3,400-square-foot home in the Hamptons sits near wetlands that are used as nesting grounds by protected species like the piping plover. Several, local, state and federal departments worried that a large fireworks display would harm the nearby wildlife. The fireworks firm, Fireworks by Grucci, is owned by former Congressman Felix Grucci, a Republican who Rep Bishop unseated in 2002. Two days after making the request, Mr Semler received an e-mail from Rep Bishop's daughter Molly, asking for a donation. Wealthy: Eric Semler wanted to launch fireworks from his house in the Hamptons (center) to celebrate his son's bar mitzvah . Rep Tim Bishop won his Congressional seat in 2010 by only 593 votes after spending nearly $3.1million. This year, he faces the same Republican opponent -- local businessman Randy Altschuler -- and clearly expects the race to be another dogfight. Rep Bishop has raised $1.9million so far this year, nearly half of it from large donations. Rep Bishop serves in New York's First Congressional District, which encompasses the exceedingly wealthy Hamptons. Some of the rich and famous who live there have taken Bishop's side in his five terms in Congress and given generously to his campaign. Donors include: . 'Our Finance Chair, Bob Sillerman . suggested to my dad that you were interested in contribution to his . campaign and that I should be in touch directly with you. We are going . to be in a tough, expensive campaign and so we are very grateful for . your willingness to be of help,' the e-mail says, according to Politico. 'If you make a contribution before June 26th you and your wife may each contribute up to $5,000; after June 26th the most you can each contribute is $2,500.' When the e-mail was sent, the question of the environmental permit was still up in the air and Mr Semler didn't know whether he would be allowed to have fireworks at his son's party in three days. The permits were eventually approved and the fireworks were shot off from the roof of Mr Semler's home. However, he says, debris from one of the rocket's landed on his neighbor's Bentley and caused $7,500 worth of damage he had to pay for out of pocket. Campaign records show Mr Semler and his wife donated $2,500 each to Rep Bishop's campaign on June 26. It was the first time either of them had given to the Congressman. Politco reports that the request seems to violate Congressional rules. The House Ethics Manual says, 'a solicitation for campaign or political contributions may not be linked with an official action taken or to be taken by a House Member or employee.' Rep Bishop denied that he made asked for a donation in exchange for helping Mr Semler. The hedge fund manager's gift was simple was simply a show of gratitude, the Congressman told Politico. Mr Semler also disagreed with Polico's take and said there was no quid-pro-quo with Rep Bishop. He willingly gave to his campaign and was glad to to so, he said. Mr Semler called the issue a 'non-story.' Messages left by Mail Online with Mr Semler, Rep Bishop and Fireworks by Grucci were not immediately returned. | On May 21 Eric Semler asked Rep Tim Bishop, a Democrat, for help getting permission to launch fireworks from his Long Island, New York, home .
On May 23, before he received the permits, Mr Semler got an e-mail from Rep Bishop's daughter asking for a contribution of up to $10,000 .
House ethics rules bar members from requesting for donations that are linked to Congressional action .
Rep Bishop denies asking for quid-pro-quo . |
204,259 | 946c101334c77c06321846c76e6fb3764bbd7510 | You could blame weeds, trees, and grasses if you start itching, sneezing, coughing, and wheezing this fall. But the usual suspects aren't the only triggers. A host of household items -- candles, chemicals, stuffed animals, and spices -- may be the real culprits. From blue jeans buttons to limes to teddybears, allergy triggers come in many ways, shapes and forms. "Many homes are filled with irritants, and if there's a high enough count of an irritant, you'll react," says Christopher Randolph, M.D., an allergy expert and professor of pediatric immunology at Yale University. Here, a rundown of 11 sneaky suspects -- and how to stop them from bothering you. Candles . You can't be allergic to essential oils -- which make candles smell like autumn leaves or dune grass -- but their odors can inflame your nasal cavities, according to James Wedner, M.D., chief of allergy and immunology at the Washington University School of Medicine. "People with nasal allergies have a natural increased sensitivity, so they're likely to get a runny nose or watery eyes around candles," he says. "To the person with the sensitive nose, it's no different than cigarette smoke." What to do: If you're very sensitive, avoid candles altogether. But if you love the smell and want to use them at home, buy candles that have few ingredients and feature just one scent, such as pumpkin. By a process of elimination you may be able to pinpoint which scent or ingredient bothers you. (Smoke from candles can also be an irritant, though that usually comes from snuffing it out; open a window or blow out the flame outside.) If you have a bad reaction to a scented candle, getting some fresh air should make you feel better. Perfume . Fragrances can contain hundreds of chemicals that are mostly untested on humans, Wedner says. When those chemicals bond with the essential oils in perfumes and are then sprayed into the air, sensitive people may take offense. Sneezing, congestion, and headaches can be the result. What to do: Kindly ask your colleagues to go easy on their favorite fragrances, and bring a portable fan to keep your area as scent-free as possible. If the thought of not wearing a fragrance leaves you blue, stick with body creams and moisturizers that have light scents. These are less likely to irritate you. Soaps and detergents . You think it's the chemicals in cleaning products that make you itch? Surprise: "The majority of skin sensitivities are caused not by the cleaning agent but by a perfume additive," Wedner says. "And nearly every soap now has some sort of plant in it to make it fancy -- roses, elderberries, etc. The skin can respond with irritation, and give you a rash." Read more on how to identify a rash . What to do: Buy organic or specially marked soaps; look for "no additives," "nonscented," or "phthalate-free" on the label. Phthalates are chemicals that help improve texture, but they've been linked to allergic reactions; products that contain them may have "diethylphthalate" or something similar on the label. Dove, Tide, and Ivory all offer low-irritant products, as do many organic brands. If fabric softener seems to be giving your skin fits, try using a sheet of aluminum foil in your dryer instead; this trick will get rid of static cling. Or use a scent-free, no-additive version, like Seventh Generation Free & Clear Natural Fabric Softener. If you're in a public laundromat, wash and dry towels first, which will soak up the residue left behind by previous users. Then be sure to use that same washer and dryer to clean and dry your clothes. Stuffed animals . Dust mites living in mattresses and pillows are a huge allergy trigger. Roughly 15 percent of the population is allergic to these microscopic bugs. Encasing mattresses and pillows with impenetrable covers and cases is a useful step, but it's not enough. The mites also love kids' favorite furry toys. What to do: Wash, dry, then repeat ... and use very hot water. "Toys should be washed at 140 degrees, which will ensure that the mites are killed," Randolph says. After they're clean store them on a shelf, not on the bed. What to do with the nonwashable toys? Every two to three weeks put them in a plastic bag in the freezer for a couple of hours, which will also kill the mites. Carpeting . You may love the feel of carpeting under your feet, but mites find it just as attractive. "Even if you vacuum constantly, you've still got mites," Wedner warns. What to do: Remove wall-to-wall carpeting -- who doesn't like a beautiful wood floor? -- and use small rugs that can be washed in hot water monthly. "And keep the humidity below 50 percent" with your central air system or a dehumidifier, Randolph says. "Dust mites thrive in humidity." Read more on how to allergy-proof your house . Spices . They add nuance and zing to a variety of dishes, but there's no getting around spices' origin: pungent plants. For some people, eating the spices made from these plants leads to a just little sniffling. For others, it may cause itching, swelling, and even burning of the lips. What to do: Avoid the spices more likely to cause trouble: coriander, poppy seeds, pepper, dill, paprika, cumin, and saffron -- which, in broad strokes, means Indian and Middle Eastern food. If you're not sure which spices bother you, record what you've been exposed to each time you have symptoms and look for the common denominator. Need help planning an allergen-free Halloween? Read on for some tips . Christmas trees . A word to the wise before the holidays: Mold grows fast on Christmas trees. "When you put that tree in a bucket of water, invisible mold grows almost immediately," Wedner says. "Most people are allergic to or irritated by mold spores." What to do: Try a fake tree. Can't live without a real one? Ask when it was cut down before you buy it; trees that were cut weeks in advance are already ripe with mold. Then, starve it of water and keep it for as short a period as possible. Mold grows on houseplants, too, so keep them on the dry side. Wall paint . The solvents and synthetic resins used in paint often lead to itchy eyes and headaches. Oil-based paints are a particular problem because they can continue releasing chemicals even after they dry. What to do: Keep windows open as often as possible and allow fresh air to circulate for four weeks after painting, no matter what kind of paint you use. "Once it has dried -- and I mean really dried, weeks later -- the odor goes away, and you won't have a problem," Wedner says. If possible, use latex paint, which emits less gas than oil-based kinds due to its water base. By the way, there isn't any real latex in latex paint, so if you're allergic to latex gloves the same won't apply to the paint. What about paint with low levels of VOCs (volatile organic compounds)? They spew fewer chemicals into the air and are less smelly than regular paints. But that doesn't mean they won't bother you. To find these paints, look for the "Green Seal" certification mark on the label. Alcohol . An actual allergy to alcohol is quite rare, but being allergic to the grains and additives used in liquor is not: wheat or the preservative sulfur dioxide could cause a rash or a stuffy nose. New York City allergist Wellington Tichenor, MD, founder of the information site Sinuses.com, also blames grains like corn, barley, and rye, as well as fruit flavorings. Wine and beer may create problems, too. What to do: Stick with grain-free liquors like potato vodka, rum (made from sugar), and tequila (the agave plant). Skip all flavored liquers. And if sulfite preservatives in wine bother you, red wine tends to have fewer preservatives than white. Also, look for wine labeled "sulfite-free" (it won't stay fresh for long). And remember that anything with carbonation (like a wine cooler) increases the likelihood of an allergic reaction, Tichenor adds. Blue jeans buttons . The buttons on your jeans are probably made with the metal nickel -- a rash trigger for up to 20 percent of women. A nickel rash near your waistline is usually itchy, red, and sometimes blistery. What to do: Take your pants to a tailor and have her replace the nickel buttons with plastic ones (another metal might also cause irritation). A second option: Coat the button with clear nail polish, a remedy found to be effective in a recent St. Louis University study. Just be aware that nail polish itself may lead to a rash if you're sensitive to it. Lemons and limes . Limonene, a zesty compound in lime and other citrus fruits, gives many people watery eyes and a burning sensation in the nose, Wedner says. It might even irritate your skin, whether you touch it or eat or drink products containing limonene. What to do: If you get a rash, treat it with topical hydrocortisone creams used for bug bites and poison ivy. Skip the lemon or lime wedge with your drink or salad, and look out for lime in salad dressings, desserts, and marinades (it's used in numerous dishes). Enter to win a monthly Room Makeover Giveaway from MyHomeIdeas.com . Copyright Health Magazine 2009 . | Household items such as candles, wall paint, carpet may cause allergy symptoms .
Dust mites live in bedding and stuffed animals, irritating 15 percent of Americans .
Mold can grow on Christmas trees, household plants causing allergic reaction . |
240,373 | c32ebea14a32aae41cbee8ae4b7dfd38eb160e98 | (CNN) -- A grand jury indicted the nanny of two young children found stabbed to death in the bathtub of their Manhattan apartment for their murders, court documents show. Yoselyn Ortega, 50, was arrested earlier this month and charged with the murders of Lucia Krim, 6, and her brother Leo, 2. Court documents released Tuesday show the grand jury indicted Ortega on first- and second-degree murder charges in both deaths. Police say on October 25, the children's mother, Marina Krim, returned to the family's Upper West Side apartment, found Lucia and Leo dead in the bathroom and saw the nanny stab herself with a kitchen knife. A mother's greatest fear . Ortega has been recovering since then at Weill Cornell Medical Center under police watch, and was still there as of Tuesday, according to hospital spokeswoman Linda Kamateh. Krim left two of her children with the nanny to take her 3-year-old child, Nessie, to a swim lesson at a nearby YMCA, New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said last month. She had expected to meet the nanny around 5:30 p.m. at a dance class, but when Ortega failed to appear she went back to the apartment. The late children's father is Kevin Krim, a senior vice president for CNBC Digital and former Yahoo executive. A native of the Dominican Republic, Ortega had been a naturalized U.S. citizen for 10 years. Friends had introduced the family to Ortega, and she had worked for them since Leo's birth two years ago, police said. Ortega was not a live-in nanny, but Marina Krim's blog, "Life with the Little Krim Kids," offered the loving mother's view of a family life that included Ortega as a member. In February, the Krims traveled to the Dominican Republic, where they met Ortega's family. "We spent the past nine days in the Dominican Republic," Marina Krim wrote on February 18. "We spent half the time at our nanny, Josie's sister's home in Santiago and the rest at Balcones de Atlantico in Las Terrenas, a condo-style hotel where the 'Real Housewives of Dominican Republic' and their families hang on weekends. It was wonderful." She added, "We met Josie's amazing familia!!! And the Dominican Republic is a wonderful country!!" One photograph showed the families together, Ortega holding the girl who was learning how to swim at the time her siblings were killed. CNN's Kristina Sgueglia contributed to this report . | Nanny indicted in children's murders, court documents show .
Leo Krim had just celebrated his 2nd birthday .
The children's mother found them dead in the bathtub, police say . |
68,379 | c1e7ea6897349da2fca887fcba61848de16b8551 | (CNN) -- A popular female Pakistani singer who defied the Taliban's decree against singing and dancing was shot and killed in northwest Pakistan Monday night, police and hospital officials told CNN. Authorities described the singer's ex-husband as a suspect in the case, and said early indications were that the Taliban were not involved, according to police official Imtiaz Altaf. Ghazala Javed, who recorded scores of songs in her native Pashto language and became a household name among young, progressive ethnic Pashtuns in northwest Pakistan, had just left a beauty salon and was driving home with her father when gunmen on a motorcycle raced towards their car and sprayed it with bullets, Altaf said. Javed was hit with six bullets and pronounced dead at a hospital in Peshawar, the capital of Pakistan's Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, according to hospital official Rahim Afridi. Javed's father also was killed, police said. In recent years the rise of the Pakistani Taliban in the region and the group's ban against singing and dancing made it difficult for Javed and other musical artists to perform and record songs in Pakistan. Javed recorded and taped many of her latest songs and music videos in nearby Dubai. Last year Javed made headlines when she asked for a divorce from her husband after she reportedly found out that he had at least one other wife. It was a rare decision in a deeply conservative and male-dominated society where many view a woman's demand for a divorce as a dishonor to the husband. Shortly after Monday night's shooting police released a statement saying Javed's sister had accused her ex-husband and two of his acquaintances . Investigators said a search was underway for the three men. The woman who defied Saudi's driving ban and put it on YouTube . Journalist Aamir Iqbal contributed to this report. | Ghazala Javed recorded scores of songs in her native Pashto language .
She became a household name among young, progressive ethnic Pashtuns .
She had just left a beauty salon and was headed home with her father .
Gunmen on a motorcycle sprayed their car with bullets and both were killed, police said . |
145,410 | 480b1599ea15a22da44adbe934019a8531270912 | Soma, Turkey (CNN) -- Police in Soma, Turkey, used tear gas, plastic pellets and a water cannon Friday on protesters angry over the government's response to a coal mine fire that killed at least 298 people. Protesters chanting "Don't sleep, Soma, remember your dead!" coursed through city streets a few miles from the disaster site, trying to reach a statue honoring miners. The clash came two days after a photograph surfaced of an aide to Turkey's Prime Minister kicking a protester, an image that quickly became a symbol of the anger felt by many against the government, and amid mounting questions over safety practices at the mine. The complex exploded into fire for unknown reasons Tuesday -- trapping many miners deep underground. Among other issues, mine officials indicated Friday that workers may not have had access to an emergency refuge where they could have sheltered from the flames and choking fumes. Site manager Akin Celik told reporters that the mine had closed one emergency refuge when excavation work moved to a lower area. Miners were building, but had not finished, a new safety chamber at the lower level, he said. The owner of the company, Alp Gurman, said the mine met the highest standards laid out by the law in Turkey. The company, he said, had no legal obligation to build safety chambers. Early Satuday, the Natural Disaster and Emergency Coordination Directorate said the number of dead in the mining disaster is now 298. It wasn't immediately clear how many miners may still be inside; authorities earlier said 18 remained trapped. If and when they are found, hopes have dwindled that they'll be alive. Rescue workers haven't found anyone alive since Wednesday. Smoke and fumes were still hindering search and recovery efforts Friday, officials said. Authorities have previously said the fire was sparked by a transformer explosion, but Celik told reporters Friday that the cause of the fire was still unknown. Asked what had happened, he said, "We don't know either. Never seen anything like this before. We are trying to find out." Kicking a protester . Friday's clashes are likely to further anger Soma residents already seething over the disaster and the treatment of the protester kicked by Yusuf Yerkel, an adviser to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The man, detained by special forces, can be seen lying on the ground as the suited adviser to Erdogan appears to aim a kick at him. The shocking image outraged many in Turkey, prompting an outpouring of anger on social media, and is seen as symbolizing the increasingly polarizing impact of Erdogan's authority in the country. Yerkel was quoted by Turkey's semiofficial Anadolu news agency Thursday as saying that he had been deeply saddened by the previous day's events. "I am sad that I could not keep my calm in the face of all the provocation, insults and attacks that I was subjected to that day," he reportedly said. In another incident Wednesday, video footage showed a crowd outside a grocery store angrily booing Erdogan. As the Prime Minister entered the crowded store, he appeared to put his arm around the neck of a man who was later identified as a miner. After the confrontation, the video captured what appeared to be Erdogan's security guards beating the same man to the floor. The miner said later that Erdogan slapped him, possibly by mistake. He wants an apology for the way he was treated by the Prime Minister's staff. Huseyin Celik, a spokesman for the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, dismissed the grocery store incident and said the image of Yerkel kicking the protester was misleading. Political bonfire . Besides the anger prompted by the photo, Erdogan's comments Wednesday to relatives of dead and injured miners were seen as highly insensitive and drew scathing criticism. The Prime Minister glossed over the issue of mine safety, describing the carnage that was suffered as par for the course in the dangerous business. As public anger mounted through the evening, hundreds took to the streets in anti-government protests in Istanbul and Ankara, with police answering, in some cases, with water cannons and tear gas. As Erdogan took a stroll through the city, onlookers showered him with deafening jeers as well as chants of "Resign, Prime Minister!" Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu defended Erdogan in an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour on Thursday. "He was feeling all these pains in his heart," he said. "Everybody knows that our Prime Minister is always with the people, and always feels the pain of the people. Otherwise, he wouldn't get such a high support in eight elections in (the) last 10 years." But the disaster opened up an old political wound. Opposition politician Ozgur Ozel from the Manisa region, which includes Soma, filed a proposal in late April to investigate Turkish mines after repeated deadly accidents. Erdogan's government rejected the proposal. It claimed that the mine, owned by SOMA Komur Isletmeleri A.S., had passed recent inspections. A Turkish engineers' association criticized mine ventilation and safety equipment this week as being "insufficient and old." A lack of safety inspections has caused 100 coal mines to be closed in the last three years, according to Turkey's Energy Ministry. A 'sorrow for the whole Turkish nation' President Abdullah Gul offered words of comfort as he visited Soma on Thursday, the day after his premier attracted public ire. The disaster is a "sorrow for the whole Turkish nation," Gul told reporters, and he offered his condolences to the victims' families. An investigation has begun, Gul said, adding that he was sure this would "shed light" on what regulations are needed. "Whatever is necessary will be done," he said. Despair, anger, dwindling hope after Turkey coal mine fire . Diana Magnay, Gul Tuysuz and Ivan Watson reported from western Turkey, and Laura Smith-Spark wrote and reported from London. CNN's Ben Brumfield and Talia Kayali contributed to this report. | NEW: At least 298 have died as a result of the coal mine fire, according to disaster officials .
Mine owner says the Soma site met the standards required by Turkish law .
Ruling party spokesman says PM's aide kicked a protester after he was attacked by him .
'Remember your dead,' chant protesters angry over mine response . |
253,752 | d46fa7caaeafb6d114847ba8a08f783bfb35d7e9 | (CNN) -- Eddie Vedder has a message for his critics: "Imagine." The Pearl Jam frontman addressed recent criticism of his anti-war comments by playing the John Lennon classic at a solo show Friday in Meco, Portugal. "I think it is the most powerful song ever written, which is why I have never played it. It seems like maybe there is a reason to play it," Vedder said, according to a video posted on the website Consequence of Sound. "(Being) anti-war make(s) you pro many things. Pro peace, pro human, pro evolution," he said before introducing the song. "Makes you pro communication, pro diplomacy, pro love, pro understanding, pro forgiveness." In recent weeks, Vedder has made headlines, first with an antiwar rant at a concert in Milton Keynes, England, and later comments on Pearl Jam's website. "I swear to f****** God, there are people out there who are looking for a reason to kill!" Vedder said at the English show before singing Edwin Starr's "War." "They're looking for a reason to go across borders and take over land that doesn't belong to them." Those comments were viewed by some Israeli publications as anti-Israel, Rolling Stone reported. One Israeli DJ, who was hoping to bring Pearl Jam to Israel, said that Vedder was now "invited not to come here." In response, Vedder reiterated his anti-war beliefs on Pearl Jam's website in a post titled "Imagine That -- I'm Still Anti-War." "Call me naïve. I'd rather be naïve, heartfelt and hopeful than resigned to say nothing for fear of misinterpretation and retribution," he wrote. "War hurts. It hurts no matter which sides the bombs are falling on. ... I know that we can't let the sadness turn into apathy. And I do know we are better off when we reach out to each other." He then quoted from "Imagine": " 'I hope someday you'll join us,... ' " and added a bit of Paul McCartney: "Won't you listen to what the man said." | Eddie Vedder plays what he calls "the most powerful song ever written": "Imagine"
Vedder has been criticized for anti-war remarks .
Comments at UK concert perceived as anti-Israel by some .
"Call me naïve," Vedder said in website post . |
91,149 | 013c07aec46cdc3df0269c3cc1ca5fde4e00a891 | WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A man who his attorney says was the youngest prisoner sent to the Guantanamo Bay detention center -- captured in Pakistan at 14 -- was ordered freed by a federal judge Wednesday. A guard keeps watch from a tower at the military facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The judge ruled Mohammad el-Gharani was not an enemy combatant and directed the military "to take all necessary and appropriate diplomatic steps to facilitate the release" of el-Gharani from the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. El-Gharani, now 21, was among the first terrorism suspects and enemy fighters sent to the U.S. military prison camp. His arrival in 2002 came after he was seized by Pakistanis at a mosque and transferred to the U.S.-led coalition. He has been in custody since. El-Gharani's lawyers filed a habeas corpus petition in federal court, demanding the government justify its continued detention or release him. Details of his case have not been widely released, but his lawyer said he was accused of working with al Qaeda 10 years ago, at age 11. The court ruling also alleges el-Gharani, a citizen of Chad, was an al Qaeda courier and participated in the battle of Tora Bora in late 2001 in Afghanistan. But U.S. District Judge Richard Leon noted serious questions were raised about another detainee who implicated el-Gharani. Leon said that given the "substantial and troubling uncertainties regarding petitioner's conduct and whereabouts prior to his detention by Pakistani forces, the [U.S.] government has failed to establish a preponderance of the evidence" that el-Gharani was an al Qaeda agent. The judge gave no timetable on when the suspect -- also called Yousef -- must be freed. Under U.S. and international policy, he could not be sent to a country where he might face torture or severe physical mistreatment. The Bush administration has said it has had difficulties finding countries willing to take many Guantanamo prisoners awaiting release. El-Gharani's lawyers have alleged mistreatment by his captors, including cigarette burns and verbal abuse. Court records allege he was a native of Saudi Arabia who left that country around 2001 and moved to Pakistan. He denied that he was fleeing the fighting in Afghanistan when he was captured across the border in Pakistan. Another Guantanamo detainee, Canadian Omar Khadr, was 14 or 15 when he was captured six years ago. Military prosecutors formally charged him in April 2007 with killing Sgt. Christopher James Speer, a U.S. soldier whose reconnaissance patrol was ambushed in Afghanistan in 2002. The American died nearly two weeks later. Khadr and el-Gharani remain among the youngest of Guantanamo's approximately 250 prisoners. The civil case is el-Gharani v. Bush (05-429). | Mohammad el-Gharani, now 21, not an enemy combatant, U.S. judge rules .
El-Gharani was 14 when he was captured in Pakistan, detained at U.S. base in Cuba .
Judge notes questions raised about a detainee who implicated el-Gharani .
El-Gharani was accused of being al Qaeda courier, Tora Bora battle participant . |
144,586 | 46fa04370b469197091306267be245886d425bf9 | (CNN) -- Huddled around a table for hours, a handful of top journalists at CNN's political unit has been poring over YouTube videos by the thousands. The Republican hopefuls will face off Wednesday in the CNN/YouTube debate. It's a laborious process, but it's necessary to ensure the best questions make the cut for the CNN/YouTube debate between Republican presidential hopefuls in St. Petersburg, Florida, which will take place Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET. "The questions are funny. Some of them are striking. Some of them are sad. They are incredibly meaningful," said Sam Feist, CNN's political director. "You watch hundreds of these questions and you really get a sense of what's on people's minds." The CNN producers have viewed more than 3,500 video submissions from people around the world. They'll continue sifting through more, through the submission deadline of November 25, right up to the debate. Only about 40 will pass muster. Watch some of the questions sent in so far » . It's only the second time such a debate has taken place -- Democratic candidates duked it out in a similar format this past summer. That debate christened YouTube as a venue for prodding politicians and a way to get the public involved. While the GOP debate will also face a YouTube audience, don't expect to hear the same questions. "This debate is to let Republican voters pick from among their eight candidates," said David Bohrman, Washington bureau chief and senior vice president for CNN. "We are trying to focus mostly on questions where there are differences among these candidates." The White House hopefuls -- accustomed to the political tradition of stump speeches followed by queries from journalists -- have no idea exactly what to expect. "There is some sense of the unknown and so they're going to be a little bit out of their normal comfort zone, which is a good thing," Bohrman said. Each of the eight GOP hopefuls will answer to real people displayed on a 25-foot screen (or their animated creations, as witnessed in the Democratic debate). The candidates will have to deal with the person asking the question as if that person were in the room. "They really need to relate to these as people because they are very human. They are somebody somewhere who's taken the time to submit these questions," Bohrman said. And some of those submitters will be in the room -- creators of some of the most compelling questions will be flown to St. Petersburg to watch the debate in person and offer reactions afterward. The user-generated format marks a major step toward involving people in the process of selecting a nominee. It's also changed the way people view presidential debates. Unless someone happened to be in an Iowa farmhouse or a New Hampshire coffee shop, having an impact on the nominating process was "impenetrable" to outsiders Bohrman said, referring to the first two states to hold caucuses or a primary. That's no longer the case because questions asked during the Democratic CNN/YouTube debate continue to resonate on the campaign trail, according to Feist. "We've really begun to find a way for people around the country and even around the world to play a significant role in the process. There's no going back from this. It may not look like this in 2012, but I think never again will there be no participation from the public," Bohrman said. So will any stars be born during this week's debate, like when Billiam the Snowman made a guest appearance during the Democratic debate? Will Jackie Broyles and Dunlap be back with the Red State update? CNN's political unit is keeping the questions a secret, but those selecting them say viewers should be prepared for presentations that are funny, questions that are poignant and a format that is unprecedented for the GOP. "I'm not going to give you any hints about what sorts of questions we're going to pick or we're not going to pick," Feist said. "There are plenty of animated figures out there, there are certainly some funny questions, but more importantly, there are hundreds, if not thousands of really, really good, solid questions from real people on real issues." E-mail to a friend . | CNN/YouTube GOP presidential debate is Wednesday, 8 p.m.
Candidates face some of the thousands of questions sent in via YouTube .
User-generated format allows people to become players in the nominating process .
Questions can be submitted through November 25 . |
229,341 | b4f4faa17f25551cf9b8d647675fe36abb9a0af2 | The chief of Virgin Galactic has revealed that a replacement spaceship will be flying by April - just six months after last week's disastrous crash in the Mojave Desert in which the co-pilot was killed. George Whitesides, the company's chief executive, said construction of the second spaceship is already 65 per cent complete. Like its doomed predecessor, Enterprise, the new spaceship's name is a tribute to both Nasa and Star Trek. It will be called SS Voyager, the Sunday Times reports. Scroll down for video . In the week after their catastrohpic crash, Virgin Galactic Chief Executive George Whitesides (left) has revealed that a replacement spaceship will be flying by April . Replacement: The second spaceship, known as SS Voyager, is already 65 per cent complete . Just nine days ago, Virgin Galactic's experimental space craft disintegrated over the Californian desert when its feathering system deployed prematurely and aerodynamic forces tore it apart. Co-pilot Michael Alsbury was killed in the accident and pilot Peter Siebold was seriously injured but managed to escape after activating his parachute system. An inquiry into the crash is said to be focusing on the decision by Mr Alsbury to push a lever allowing the spaceship's two wings to be moved as it broke the sound barrier. Per Wimmer, an adventurer who knew both pilots, said they were both 'extremely competent' and claimed the action would be 'a very strange error to make'. Wreckage: Nine days ago, Virgin Galactic's experimental space craft disintegrated over the Californian desert when its feathering system deployed prematurely and aerodynamic forces tore it apart . Killed: Co-pilot Michael Alsbury, who was a father-of-two, died in last week's . Disaster: An investigation has revealed that Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo did not explode in mid-air due to fuel ignition - but it could have come apart for mechanical reasons after one of the pilots pulled a lever . It has emerged that nine months ago, a group of ten of the firm's customers had written to Virgin Galactic expressing their concerns over the space programme's delays. Each had paid a £125,00 deposit to be among the first to be taken into space - and two of the group have now asked for refunds. At least 24 of the wealthy investors who signed up to be among Richard Branson's first space tourists have given up their tickets. Tragedy: The broken hull of SpaceShipTwo (above) in the Mojave desert after it exploded last Friday . Peter Ulrich von May, an asset manager based in Switzerland, told The Independent he no longer wishes to travel into space with Virgin Galactic and he has demanded his money back. He said: 'I want out. I subscribed seven years ago at 63, am still an active private pilot and in good health but who knows how long it will now take. I have already informed VG of my wish - no reply yet. The Daily Mail reported that one of the program's highest-profile customers, Princess Beatrice, will not be boarding the Virgin Galactic spacecraft after the disaster last week. Investigation: Agents from the NTSB are shown picking through debris in the Mojave Desert, California . A-list astronauts: Ashton Kucther (left) and Leonardo DiCaprio (right) are set to travel on the Virgin Galactic vessel . 'Beatrice was excited by the idea of space tourism, but there is no way she will be going on one of the flights, if they are ever allowed to take place,' a source close to Buckingham Palace revealed. Many celebrities continue to support the programme and among the ticket holders are Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Justin Bieber. Chief Executive Mr Whitesides also revealed that the company is 18 months away from unveiling another test vehicle, called LauncherOne. It is a 50ft long unmanned rocket that will carry small satellites into orbit. And a Scottish test pilot, David Mackay, is expected to fly Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnight Two over the Mojave Desert in the next few days. The two-hulled plane is designed to carry spaceships into the upper atmosphere and is known as Eve after Richard Branson's mother. | George Whitesides says new SS Voyager spaceship is 65 per cent complete .
Just nine days ago firm's Enterprise craft disintegrated during first flight .
Co-pilot Michael Alsbury was killed and pilot Peter Siebold seriously injured .
Accident inquiry focusing on Mr Alsbury's decision to move wings with lever .
More than 20 customers have requested refunds on deposits following crash . |
56,511 | a027d612031bcd3fa6c3c106aa4baed9973647a7 | By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 07:35 EST, 11 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:41 EST, 14 April 2013 . Len Duvall, leader of the Labour group on the London Assembly, claimed Baroness Thatcher caused 'great harm' to London . Boris Johnson yesterday led calls for a statue of Baroness Thatcher to be erected in Parliament Square. The Major of London suggested a permanent memorial to Lady Thatcher should be placed alongside other prominent figures, including Winston Churchill. His comments came after Ken Livingstone said the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square – the previous forerunner for the site – was being reserved for the Queen. Mr Johnson said that ‘it is right that she should be properly commemorated’. He added that he has instructed City Hall officials to find ‘the right kind of place’ in the capital to erect a statue. He said: ‘People say put it on the fourth plinth – I think we’ve been around that a lot. Actually, there are better sites than that. I think we should look at Parliament Square. ‘There are other places in the heart of the capital that would do very well.’ But Labour today dismissed the idea of using the scene of poll tax riots as 'crass triumphalism', claiming Baroness Thatcher 'great harm to many people in London'. David Cameron today said he wanted to 'take some time' before any decisions are made on a permanent monument to the former Tory Premier who died on Monday aged 87. Mr Johnson's support of the idea of a statue has been publicly backed by former military personnel who served in the victorious Falklands campaign in 1982. The London Mayor has ordered staff to start looking for a suitable site in the captial. But Len Duvall, leader of the Labour group on the London Assembly, said: 'I don’t think it is appropriate to have a statue of Margaret Thatcher on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square. 'She was a significant figure, but she was a divisive figure. 'I would argue that Margaret Thatcher did great harm to many people in London, and to place a statue of her at the site of the Poll Tax riots, which symbolised just how divisive she was, would be crass triumphalism.' He went on: 'Boris needs to think carefully about this, rather than just jumping on a bandwagon. We all know he is trying to increase his standing within the Conservative Party, but abusing his position as Mayor of London for purely internal party political ends would demean him, the office of Mayor and our great city. 'This would also mean the fourth plinth would not be available for future artworks, which has been hugely successful and popular.' Supporters of Baroness Thatcher are calling for a permanent statue to be erected on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square . David Cameron said there would be 'lots of memorials' to Baroness Thatcher . Amid a growing clamour for a . statue to be placed in central London on public view, Mr Cameron confirmed there would be numerous tributes. He told Sky News: 'I think there will be lots of memorials. I think we should take some time and think about this to make sure we get it right.' Using the vacant plinth in the shadow of . Nelson's column in Trafalgar Square, at the opposite end of Whitehall . from the Houses of Parliament, has been backed by senior ministers. However, . there are concerns that any memorial could become the target of vandals . and protests, after police clashed with revellers at hate-filled street . parties ‘celebrating’ Baroness Thatcher’s death on Monday at the age of . 87. There is already a . statue of the former Tory leader in the member’s lobby outside the main . doors to the chamber of the House of Commons. London Mayor Boris Johnson (left) and Defence Secretary Philip Hammond have given their backing to the idea of a permanent memorial in central London . When the 7ft 6in statue was unveiled in 2007, Baroness Thatcher was the first living former Prime Minister to be honoured in such a way by the Commons . However, in 2002 a marble statue of the three-times election winner was decapitated after it went on show at London’’s Guidhall. Theatre producer Paul Kelleher was jailed for three months after attacking the £150,000 work of art. The court heard that when police arrived minutes after the vandalism, Kelleher said: ‘I think it looks better like that.’ Ministers backed the idea of a statue which could act as a long-lasting tribute to Baroness Thatcher. Mr Hammond said: ‘I think it would be very appropriate to have a memorial to Margaret Thatcher somewhere in London. ‘I haven’t personally given any thought yet to where that should be, but certainly the fourth plinth could be one of the options. Let’s look at that in slower time, I think these things are better thought about in slightly slower time after the event.’ Write caption here . David Cameron’s official spokesman yesterday said the Prime Minister thought it was a ‘good idea to think of ways of how in due course Lady Thatcher can be best commemorated’. The London Mayor’s office also revealed Mr Johnson’s office is now exploring options of a site for a statue. A spokesman for the GLA said: ‘The Mayor believes Baroness Thatcher deserves a prominent statue in a central London location and his team will assist with exploring suitable options.’ Lord Tebbit said that using the plinth in Trafalgar Square would enable Nelson to 'keep an eye on' Baroness Thatcher . The fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square has remained unfilled, but since 1998 has been used to showcase a rotating collection of artworks. Since Baroness Thatcher’s death from a stroke was announced on Monday, the plinth has become the focus of calls for a permanent statue. John Muxworthy, a Lt Commander on the SS Canberra during the Falklands War, said: ‘Let's have a full scale statue next to Nelson to recognise that she was at the heart of the nation. She was a great Briton, let's put her at the centre. Former Tory party chairman Lord Tebbit added: 'I think it would be appropriate for her to be honoured publicly in the centre of London. She could be in Trafalgar, where Nelson could keep an eye on her.' Tory MP Conor Burns, who visited Baroness Thatcher weekly, said the statue in the Commons already served to highlight her political impact. ‘I always say to young people when we go around Parliament, there are only two Prime Ministers of the twentieth century who are not wartime leaders who have statues in Members’ Lobby, they are Clement Attlee and Margaret Thatcher - arguably the only two Prime Ministers of the twentieth century to use their office to fundamentally try and change the country they governed, and I think that might inspire some young people.’ | Boris Johnson and Philip Hammond lead calls for central London statue .
David Cameron says there will be 'lots of memorials' to the former Premier .
Fears a public tribute could become the target of vandalism . |
134,047 | 394eadd06329ed2d9d3093d3d159f5830f9bd49f | Islamist militants in Nigeria's restive north have taken the lives of 34 people since Christmas, including 27 Christians attending church services. On Tuesday, the country's military took the fight to Boko Haram's stronghold, killing 13 suspected combatants. Read more: Nigeria guilty of abuses in pursuing Boko Haram militants . Joint Task Force Operation Restore Order lost one soldier during the afternoon gunfight in the isolated town of Maiduguri in Nigeria's far northwest corner, said spokesman Sagir Musa. The task force condemned alleged Boko Haram attacks going back to July 2012 in a statement, calling them "incessant callous, brutal, barbaric and impious killings." These included attacks on mosques, churches and businesses. Human Rights Watch said the militant group has killed more than 2,800 people in all. On Christmas Eve, attackers raided two churches, killing 12 people and setting one of the churches alight. Six days later, suspected Boko Haram fighters killed at least 15 Christian worshipers, slitting some of their throats, according to Nigerian authorities. Read more: 22 killed in three attacks in Nigeria . Boko Haram carried out its largest known massacre in January 2012 killing 211 through coordinated bombings and gun assaults in the northern city of Kano, a popular target. The group often attacks Nigerian police stations. The name Boko Haram means "Western education is sacrilege." In the past, they have attacked other Muslims they felt were on an immoral path but have increasingly killed Christians. The U.S. State Department has accused Boko Haram of attacking mosques and churches to incite tensions between the two religious groups, hoping to drive a wedge between them. It has condemned some of the group's leaders for alleged ties to al Qaeda. Read more: Opinion: Nigeria is a sinking ship, but we must not desert it . | One soldier is killed in the gunfight .
Boko Haram's name means "Western education is sacrilege"
A January 2012 militant attack killed 211 .
State Dept.: Group has ties to al Qaeda . |
145,010 | 478f47c69f0e656fd79e908ae6526f760c80962d | By . Ellie Zolfagharifard . Mount Etna erupted this week spewing plumes of volcanic ash that disrupted flights into and out of the Italian city of Catania. The eruption, which began on Sunday, wasn’t serious enough to trigger an evacuation of the mountain villages nearby. It did, however, cause a temporary closure of two air space corridors in Catania - the busiest airport on Sicily and one of the most frequently used within Italy. Mount Etna has erupted spewing plumes of volcanic ash that disrupted flights into and out of the Italian city of Catania. The eruption, which began on Sunday, wasn’t serious enough to trigger an evacuation of the mountain villages nearby . The stunning pyrotechnic display was the first of the year, with much of the activity coming from a region in the south-east side of the volcano. The latest update from Volcano Discovery says: 'There are no significant variations in activity have occurred during the past days. Small lava flows are being fed by the new fissure vent at the eastern base of the North East crater.' Mount Etna stands almost 11,000ft (3.4km) above sea level, looming over the whole Italian island of Sicily. It has been active for thousands of years, although its first eruption of modern times was thought to be in 475 BC. It is so well-known it was written about by the Ancient Roman poet Virgil, who called its eruptions a 'roar of frightful rain'. It did, however, cause a temporary closure of two air space corridors in Catania - the busiest airport on Sicily and one of the most frequently used within Italy . The stunning pyrotechnics display was the first of the year, with much of the activity coming from a region in the south-east side of the volcano . Mount Etna stands almost 11,000 feet above sea level, looming over the whole Italian island of Sicily. It has been active for thousands of years, although its first eruption of modern times was thought to be in 475 BC . The latest update from Volcano Discovery claims: 'There are no significant variations in activity have occurred during the past days. Small lava flows are being fed by the new fissure vent at the eastern base of the North East crater' Technology to help aircraft detect volcanic ash is set to go into commercial production, with easyJet planning to be the first airline to use it. Effectively a weather radar for ash, the Avoid system has been supported by easyJet and should reduce the chances of a repeat of the Icelandic volcanic ash-cloud crisis of spring 2010. Created by Dr Fred Prata of Nicarnica Aviation, the system utilises infra-red technology fitted to aircraft to supply images to pilots. This will enable themto see an ash cloud up to 60 miles ahead of the aircraft and at altitudes between 5,000ft and 50,000ft, to help avoid ash clouds. Eruptions are rarely dangerous, but they can kill. Etna's most deadly moment came in 1669, when a series of blasts killed 20,000 people and destroyed the town of Catania. But farmers stayed in the area because the constant eruptions made the ground fertile. In 1992, Etna posed another serious threat when lava streams headed towards Zafferana, a town of 7,000 people. In a spectacular operation, Italian and U.S. soldiers used controlled explosions to divert the flow. Etna's blasts are known as Strombolian eruptions - caused when gas bubbles in molten magma accumulate underground and rise to the surface. These pockets of molten earth then burst in a fiery show, sending plumes of lava and ash hundreds of feet into the air. Volcanic ash clouds can pose problems for aircraft. The immense ash clouds that erupted from Iceland’s Eyjafjallajoekull volcano in 2010 caused chaos for the airline industry. No one really knew if it would be safe to fly, and technology to accurately detect the plumes of ash had yet to be developed. Since then, a number of ash detection systems have been created to make flying around volcanic sites safer. Mount Etna is so well-known it was written about by the Ancient Roman poet Virgil, who called its eruptions a 'roar of frightful rain'. Eruptions are rarely dangerous, but they can kill. Etna's most deadly moment came in 1669, when a series of blasts killed 20,000 people and destroyed the town of Catania . In 1992, Etna posed another serious threat when lava streams headed towards Zafferana, a town of 7,000 people.In a spectacular operation, Italian and U.S. soldiers used controlled explosions to divert the flow . Etna's blasts are known as Strombolian eruptions - caused when gas bubbles in molten magma accumulate underground and rise to the surface.These pockets of molten earth then burst in a fiery show, sending plumes of lava and ash hundreds of feet into the air . | Eruption began on Sunday but wasn’t serious enough to trigger an evacuation of the mountain villages nearby .
It did, however, cause a temporary closure of two air space corridors in Catania, the busiest airport on Sicily .
The stunning pyrotechnic display was the first of the year, with much of the activity coming from a region in the south-east side of the volcano . |
153,720 | 52a8ae7d26454985e8de8cf4114c533da4e71a54 | By . Mark Duell . These Commonwealth Games have been the first to see boxers fighting without protective headgear - and it certainly showed today as blood poured down competitors' faces. The International Boxing Association decided last year to stop the use of headgear in male bouts, citing medical experts who said it would help reduce concussions. The organisation said medical studies showed wearing headgear diffused blows to the head and allowed boxers to sustain more head shots - and potential brain damage - for longer periods of time. Scroll down for video... Bloody: Paul Schafer of South Africa (blue) and Efe Ajagba of Nigeria compete in the men's super-heavy boxing at the Scottish Exhibition Conference Centre in Glasgow today . Punch: Efe Ajagba of Nigeria (right) and Paul Schafer of South Africa (left). The bout today was stopped due to the injury on Schafer's face . England boxing team leader John Hallam . said he has only heard positive comments about the move, which will not . affect female fighters and younger boxers. But its critics include British pro George Groves, who said last year: 'They need the protection headguards give at this stage of their careers. I get paid to get hit in the head. These kids don't.' Today, . south London super-heavyweight Joe Joyce guaranteed at least a bronze . medal for England after pummelling Scotland's Ross Henderson to defeat . in Glasgow. Joyce . clubbed Henderson to the canvas four times and forced five standing . counts before the referee had seen enough and waved off the contest in . the dying seconds. It was an . emphatic performance from the European bronze medallist who will face . Uganda's Mike Sekabembe for a place in the final later this week. Red: Blood covers the face of Brody Blair of Canada during his men's middleweight boxing fight against Benny Muziyo of Zambia at the Commonwealth Games . Halt: Canada's Brody Blair looks down after his fight was stopped due to injury following their men's boxing welterweight preliminaries round bout . Joyce said: ‘That's one more down and two more to go. I've fought him twice before and I knew he'd come forward having a go so I knew what I needed to do. ‘Obviously I want to go in and finish him off, but I don't want to go in and catch a shot on the way in so had to stay switched on and watch out for the big hook to the jaw.’ Motherwell's flyweight firebrand Reece McFadden also guaranteed a medal after beating Botswana's Oteng Oteng via a unanimous decision. It was another confident performance from McFadden who had already beaten world number one Andrew Selby and England's European bronze medallist Charlie Edwards. Winner: Scotland's Charlie Flynn,with blood on his face, celebrates his victory over Nick Cooney of Australia . Pummelled: Malaysia's Muhammad Alnazirul Othman bleeds in his match against Australia's Nick Cooney in the Men's light Round of 32 at the SECC . McFadden boxed in a much more controlled manner, mindful of a cut he sustained above his left eye in the first round. McFadden said: ‘That was the toughest fight I've had so far and I knew I just had to hold it in and especially when I got the cut. ‘I'd like to think I can cope with the pressure, I definitely feel like I'm getting closer and there's no reason that gold shouldn't be mine.’ Northern Ireland's Ruari Dalton failed to book a semi-final meeting with McFadden when he was outpointed by Australia's Andrew Moloney in the quarter-finals. Big hit: Kenya's Denis Okoth lands a punch on England's Samuel Maxwell during their men's light welterweight boxing fight on Sunday . Left hook: Joseph Joyce (blue vest) of England fighting Ross Henderson (red vest) of Scotland on Tuesday . England's Natasha Jonas crashed out of the women's lightweight competition after a split-decision loss to Shelley Watts of Australia. Jonas took an early lead in the contest but struggled to repel her opponent's busy challenge in the three remaining rounds and came up short. Two judges scored the bout a draw and the third found in Watts' favour, and Jonas had no complaints with the verdict. Jonas said: ‘I think the nervous energy got to me a bit but I'm an experienced athlete and there's no excuses. I'm in the shape of my life but the better person just beat me on the day.’ | International Boxing Association decides to stop headgear use in bouts .
Group cites medical experts who claim it will help reduce concussions .
London-based Joe Joyce today guaranteed at least a bronze for England . |
185,379 | 7c1cfc80ee20638b2e4aefd875df585f6b22fbb8 | By . Associated Press Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 01:07 EST, 8 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:13 EST, 8 May 2013 . The vast majority of the $1 million reward offered in the manhunt for rogue ex-cop Christopher Dorner will go to a couple who he tied up in their Big Bear cabin, police said Tuesday. The Los Angeles Police Department posted a document on its website in which a panel of three judges detailed the payouts for the much-sought reward. They decided that about $800,000 will go to James and Karen Reynolds. Daniel McGowan, who found Dorner's burning truck in the Big Bear area where he eventually was discovered, will get $150,000, and $50,000 will go to tow truck driver R.L. McDaniel, who reported spotting Dorner at a gas station earlier in the manhunt. Windfall: Karen Reynolds, 57, and her husband, Jim Reynolds, 66, are set to receive $800,000 after they were tied up by Chris Dorner and called police when they freed themselves . The $1 million reward was announced by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa during Dorner's rampage in February. Dorner had vowed warfare on LAPD officers and their families for what he called an unfair firing. He killed four people, including two law enforcement officers, during his nearly one-week run from authorities that ended with his death on Feb. 12. A dozen parties came forward claiming they provided the key tip that ultimately led Dorner to hole up in a vacant mountain cabin where he apparently took his own life after a shootout with law enforcement. The reward was coordinated through more than 30 agencies or entities, including the FBI, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the University of Southern California - but details of the offer were never written down, so it lacked specifics. Murderer: Chris Dorner, a combat-trained disgraced LAPD cop, became enemy number one in Southern California after he killed two police officers and two civilians earlier this year . The uncertainty and competing legal claims have caused controversy in the months since the manhunt ended. Some entities that contributed money for the reward withdrew their pledges because Dorner wasn't captured or convicted. The judges' memorandum said in awarding the money, they decided the 'comparative value of the information provided and how directly it causally led to Dorner's capture.' The manhunt was underway Feb. 7 when McDaniel spotted Dorner at an AM/PM gas station in Corona. He was about to call police when he spotted an LAPD squad car and alerted the officers. 'As the officers interviewed Mr. McDaniel, Dorner's vehicle turned back ... and passed by the AM/PM en route to Interstate 15 northbound. Mr. McDaniel positively identified the truck,' and officers gave chase immediately, according to the document. That chase led to two shootouts between Dorner and law enforcement. One officer was injured in the first shootout, and one was killed and another was critically wounded in the second. Rick Heltebrake filed a lawsuit last week seeking the $1 million reward but did not submit a claim under the reward's process . Dorner then escaped 50 miles northeast . to Big Bear, but that wouldn't be known until the next breakthrough in . the investigation, the document said. McGowan, who works for the Snow Summit ski resort in Big Bear Lake, called authorities Feb. 7 after he spotted a burning truck on the side of a rarely used, unpaved fire route. He called authorities, who discovered the truck belonged to Dorner. That information initiated an intensive, focused search for Dorner, with hundreds of Southern California law enforcement officials descending on the Big Bear Lake area. Officers went door to door hunting for Dorner in the following days, but it wasn't until Feb. 12 that they received their next fruitful tip. Karen Reynolds called authorities to say Dorner had held her and her husband at gunpoint and tied them up before stealing their purple Nissan SUV to escape. Dead: Dorner shot and killed himself in a burning cabin in the mountains above Los Angeles during a standoff with police on February 12 . Karen Reynolds identified Dorner, gave the location of the cabin and the Nissan's description. Less than half an hour later, he was spotted by Fish and Wildlife wardens and a chase ensued. Dorner then crashed the Reynolds' vehicle and carjacked camp ranger Rick Heltebrake, and it was his vehicle that was tracked to a cabin where Dorner later died. A message seeking comment was left for James Reynolds on Tuesday night. Heltebrake filed a lawsuit last week seeking the $1 million reward but did not submit a claim under the reward's process, according to the document. To qualify for the reward, claimants had to have contacted law enforcement and provide information that furthered the investigation and led to capture. A message seeking comment was left for Heltebrake's lawyer. Dozens of groups and municipalities pledged money for the reward during the intense nine-day manhunt . | Dorner shot and killed himself in a burning cabin in the mountains above Los Angeles during a standoff with police on February 12 .
James and Karen Reynolds set to get $800,000 in reward money after they were tied up in their cabin by Dorner .
The remaining $200,000 will be shared by two others who came forward . |
270,332 | ea1d984b21f3220d21c62b807c9d0ef1d045ad50 | The engineer whose commuter rail train was speeding when it derailed in the Bronx, killing four people, went 24 mph over the speed limit on the same run a few days earlier, a federal agency indicated Friday. Charts released by the National Transportation Safety Board showed the results of tests that used data recorders to look back at the speeds of trains run by Metro-North Railroad engineer William Rockefeller in the week before the accident. The chart shows that Rockefeller broke the speed limit on four of the six runs tested. And at one point his train was going 54 mph in a 30 mph zone. Scroll down for video . A report by the National Transportation Safety Board found William Rockefeller (pictured during the aftermath of the Bronx, New York, derailment in December) had broken the speed limit four times before . In the December 1 derailment, the train was heading into a 30 mph curve at 82 mph. More than 70 people were injured. The NTSB would not comment Friday on the findings. Spokesman Peter Knudson said the charts speak for themselves. The agency has not yet determined a cause for the derailment, but reported earlier that Rockefeller suffered from sleep apnea and said he felt 'dazed' right before the crash. Rockefeller's lawyer, Jeffrey Chartier, said, 'There's more information than these tidbits that have been released and I will comment at the appropriate time.' The speed charts were among dozens of documents involving several accidents that the NTSB released Friday. A report on the condition of the train after the derailment found that blood stained the seats, floors and doors. The cars were littered with dirt, rocks and even tree branches and lost almost all their windows on one side. A New York City police detective who entered one of the damaged cars right after the accident told the NTSB, 'There was people's personal items and there was people laying around. ... There was not one window left on the train.' Four people were killed when the commuter train went off the tracks. Subsequent investigations showed it had been travelling at 84mph to a 30mph curve . Another document listed the crews' cellphone calls and texts and appeared to confirm that the engineer and conductors were not using phones at the time of the crash. In a document relating to an accident in March, a Metro-North engineer told investigators that an electrician who was struck and killed by a train while working on tracks in Manhattan never looked up despite the blast of the train's horn. William Maher said he was coming out of a tunnel when he noticed three workers too close to the track. He said two got out of the way, but one, later identified as James Romansoff, 58, leaned or fell into the train's path. Maher also told investigators that track workers used to stop what they were doing when a train passed, acknowledge the engineer, and go back to work once the train has passed. He said most workers now continue what they are doing without ever looking up. 'To me,' he said. 'That's a little discomforting.' The other two workers on the tracks that night told investigators they were informed the track they were working on was out of service and were surprised when the train switched from another track. --- . | Records show William Rockefeller had sped on four out of six tested runs .
During the train was travelling at going 54mph in a 30mph zone .
Derailment in December led to deaths of four passengers in the Bronx .
Train headed into 30mph curve at 82mph. More than 70 people were injured . |
238,050 | c01c73f563461e90297fb0c8b53358f05459f1d3 | By . Associated Press . Rescuers have pulled two survivors from the huge pile of broken concrete left by the collapse of an 11-storey apartment building that killed at least 19 in the south of India. Seasonal monsoon rains were complicating the search, but rescuers said they hoped to find more people alive after rescuing a woman and a man on Monday - two days after the collapse. Three backhoes were working to clear the area, but more than 100 rescuers wearing hard hats on site were trying to avoid upsetting the debris, which was in a huge pile of dust, crumbled concrete, slabs and twisted iron girders that could still settle further. Instead, they were listening for sounds to help guide their search. Scroll down for video . Rescue workers carry a survivor pulled from the wreckage of the collapse apartment building in Chennai . Diggers clear rubble from the wreckage but are moving slowly for fear of shifting the debris dramatically . 'We heard voices coming from the debris' on Sunday, said S.P. Selvan of the National Disaster Response Force. 'Following the voice ... one lady was retrieved alive yesterday evening.' So far, 39 people have been rescued, and police have arrested six construction company officials for alleged criminal negligence and violation of building codes. The building crashed down Saturday night while in the final stages of construction outside Chennai, the south-coast capital of Tamil Nadu state. Nearly 90 contract workers were believed to have been in the basement collecting wages. Building collapses are common in India, where high housing demand and lax regulations have encouraged builders to cut corners, use substandard materials or add unauthorized floors. Five building firm bosses have been arrested over the disaster, which happened when the 11-storey building was still under contruction. It was the second deadly building collapse in India within a single day as the heavy monsoon rains had a devastating effect on shoddily built structures. Disaster: 11 people died when a block of flats which was under construction collapsed . Mission: Dozens of rescuers were deployed at the scene to save workers who were trapped inside . Victim: An injured woman is removed from the rubble of the building and taken to hospital . Rescuers at the scene of the disaster in the Chennai suburb of Porur were today using gas cutters and shovels to hunt for those believed still to be trapped inside. The building came down yesterday at a time when 90 contract workers were in the basement collecting their wages. Four people were found dead in the ruins and seven more were taken to hospital where they later died. As many as 60 people could still be trapped in the rubble, according to police, with some heard crying out for help. Operation: Diggers were used to clear large concrete blocks and allow rescuers to dig deeper . Help: One survivor who was able to stand up received the attention of the volunteers . Officials used cranes to shift concrete blocks before dozens of rescuers deployed smallers tools to dig deeper inside. One of the builders, Balaguru, suggested that the building might have collapsed after being struck by lightning. 'Usually, once the construction gets over we install the equipment to prevent the building from a thunder strike. It was nearing completion,' he said. A police officer said that five officials from Prime Sristi, the construction firm building the complex, had been arrested as part of the investigation into the tragedy. Building: The complex was located in the suburb of Porur on the outskirts of Chennai . Earlier on Saturday, 11 people were killed when a smaller building collapsed in a slum area of the country's capital New Delhi. The spate of building collapses has been blamed on runaway demand for housing and weak regulations, which encourage builders to cut corners and use substandard materials. Last year, India saw its worst building disaster for decades when an eight-story complex in Mumbai collapsed, killing 74 people. | The 11-storey block of flats was being built in a suburb of the Indian city .
It collapsed after heavy monsoon rains and 'being hit by lightning'
At least 19 have been killed as officials from building firm arrested . |
260,711 | dd9b6720a21b27b00c6e0f94a6e8d979a303f041 | By . Emma Innes . PUBLISHED: . 06:36 EST, 7 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:01 EST, 7 August 2013 . A mother has vowed that family life will carry on life as normal despite being told that her husband and baby son are both fighting for their lives. Nahella Hard, 32, was told her husband has brain tumour just eight days after she learnt her baby has brain damage. But the mother-of-two is refusing to let the double tragedy affect their daily lives. Nahella Hard, 32, was told her husband, Anthony, 33, has brain tumour just eight days after she learnt her baby, 18-month-old Casey, has severe brain damage . She said: ‘We were a happy family before this and we will carry on the same way. ‘Every moment with my boys is a blessing and we just take each day as it comes.’ Mrs Hard went into labour in November 2011 with her husband Anthony, 33, at her side. There were complications during the birth but the couple took baby Casey home unaware there was anything wrong. However, when he didn’t develop normally doctors carried out an MRI scan and found that he had extensive brain damage. The couple were still reeling from the blow when Mr Hard had a seizure at his RAF base, after suffering from headaches. Casey was born in November 2011 and despite a traumatic birth, his parents took him home without knowing there was anything wrong with him. When he failed to develop normally, tests revealed he had brain damage . Just eight days after the couple learnt that Casey had brain damage, Mr Hard had a seizure at work and was taken for a scan which revealed he has a brain tumour . He was sent to hospital for a brain scan where a grade two tumour was discovered. Mrs Hard said: ‘It was devastating - one minute I thought I had a healthy husband and son, the next I was told I could lose them both. ‘The doctors said the left side of Casey’s brain had dissolved and the remaining right side looked smashed and moth eaten. ‘Anthony had been struggling with headaches for a while, then he had a seizure in front of one of his senior officers in the RAF. Mr Hard (pictured with Casey) had surgery to remove the tumour but after a brief period of remission, it returned. He will now have further surgery and radiotherapy but the cancer is not curable . Mrs Hard said: 'It was devastating - one minute I thought I had a healthy husband and son, the next I was told I could lose them both' ‘They sent to him to a military hospital where they found the tumour. It was just dreadful.’ But the couple, from Newport, South Wales, promised each other they would carry on as normal, especially for their daughter Teagan, nine. Mrs Hard said: ‘Casey is 18-months-old now and he has beaten the odds to get here. ‘Doctors said he’d never smile or laugh or engage with us but he is a survivor. Mr Hard (pictured) had a seizure infront of a senior officer at his RAF base. He was diagnosed with cancer at a military hospital. He had also been suffering from headaches . ‘Anthony is the backbone of our family. He is so calm, so positive. He helps me to keep going day to day. ‘Treatment will buy us more time together but there is no cure now. ‘Anthony is a fighter, if the doctor’s give him ten years he’ll want twenty.’ Mr Hard underwent brain surgery to remove the tumour but after a brief period of remission the aggressive cancer returned. Mrs Hard says that she will do everything possible to ensure that family life carries on as normal for the sake of the couple's daughter, Teagan, nine . Mr Hard said: 'I'm so proud of our family. We've been through so much and Nahella has been incredible. She's the most amazing wife and mum' Now doctors can only buy Mr Hard time with radiotherapy and surgery to ‘chip away’ at the tumour. Mrs Hard spends her days caring for her two ‘boys’ while getting on with the job of being a housewife and mother to Teagan. Whatever the future holds the family say they will stay positive. Mr Hard said: ‘It’s the only way we can be - it really makes you appreciate the small things, the smiles, the cuddles. ‘I’m so proud of our family. We’ve been through so much and Nahella has been incredible. She’s the most amazing wife and mum.’ | Nahella Hard was told her son, 18-month-old Casey, has brain damage .
Casey's birth was traumatic but he wasn't diagnosed until later .
Eight days later her husband, Anthony, experienced a seizure at work .
Was diagnosed with a brain tumour, had surgery and went into remission .
But later found out that the cancer had returned and that it was incurable . |
8,655 | 1867106f2966daf61461125a6a44a15f31e18797 | Mistreated: Filipino care home worker Jonathan Aquino, picured arriving at Blackfriars Crown Court, was jailed for 18 months . A nurse secretly filmed attacking an elderly Alzheimer’s sufferer in her care home bed was jailed yesterday. Jonathan . Aquino, 30, was caught when Jane Worroll suspected her mother Maria, . 80, was being mistreated and hid a camera in her bedroom. In . the harrowing images, Aquino is seen to suddenly strike the retired . school canteen manager in the face before slapping her arms repeatedly. The Filipino, who has an 18 month-old daughter, then finishes the attack by hitting Mrs Worroll in her abdomen four times. Sentencing Aquino to 18 months in jail, Judge Henry Blacksell QC told the nurse he was guilty of a ‘dreadful breach of trust’. ‘It . is distressing for anybody to have to watch what’s contained on the . footage,’ he said at Blackfriars Crown Court, central London. ‘This poor woman had been transferred to this institution in the hope that she should receive proper care and attention. ‘Quite . rightly, society in general is extremely concerned about the treatment . of the elderly and vulnerable in institutions such as this. 'They should . be able to expect better, and I am afraid those who are caught misusing . their responsibility should be held to account.’ The assaults took place at the Ash Court care home in Kentish Town, North London on June 21 last year. Mrs Worroll, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2008, had been living at the home since July 2010. She . has since been moved to another care home. After being told of the . film’s existence, Aquino, who has no previous convictions, burst into . tears and apologised. He was later sacked. Blackfriars Crown Court heard that the footage of Aquino hitting Ms Worroll was 'distressing' for anyone who had to watch it . Brinder Soora, prosecuting, said it was clearly evident that the home’s own rules were frequently breached by its care staff. Caught: Mr Aquino was caught when Maria Worroll's daugher Jane . (pictured) suspected she was being neglected and installed a secret . camera in her room . ‘Two care workers must be present when . a resident is put to bed, and bathing and cleaning should be carried . out by a female care worker,’ she said. ‘Again, . that was not adhered to. This is not a complaint lodged at Mr Aquino’s . feet – it was a problem that was clearly evident at the care home . itself.’ Despite this, it emerged that the care home had been given an . excellent rating by regulators in 2009. Speaking . outside court, Jane Worroll said: ‘Nobody as vulnerable as my mother . should ever have to suffer or endure the unprovoked attack and . mistreatment she has experienced at the hands of her supposed carers. ‘Had . it not been for my actions, this abuse may never have been exposed, as I . do not believe the existing safeguarding measures provide adequate . protection. ‘The emotional . impact this experience has had on me has been completely devastating. If . this happened to my mother and was only discovered because of a hidden . camera, what else is happening to other elderly people in care? ‘I . believe the current care system for these people needs a complete . review; we need robust strategies put in place to put an end to this . suffering.’ A spokesman for Ash Court said staff had been shocked by the case, adding: ‘We are pleased justice has been done.’ Aquino, of Tottenham, North London, admitted common assault and ill treatment of a vulnerable person. | Jonathan Aquino hit frail Maria Worroll in the face and abdomen .
He was caught when pensioner's daughter hid a camera in her bedroom . |
96,812 | 0897a6845f76bf597078a45e4f7be8854c779bad | A husband and wife have been charged in the death of their 9-year-old son, whose decomposing body was found in a 'feces-covered room' in their home this past August. Police filed criminal homicide charges earlier today against Kimberly A. Tutko and Jarrod N. Tutko Sr., of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, saying their neglect caused the death of their son Jarrod Jr. Jarrod Jr., who was diagnosed with Fragile X syndrome as an infant, weighed just 17 pounds at the time of his death, and had been locked in his bedroom by his parents. charged: Kimberly (left) and Jarrod Tutko Sr. (right) have been charged in the death of their son, Jarrod Jr. Appalling conditions: Jarrod Jr.'s decomposing body was found in his 'feces covered room' (above) Special needs: Jarrod Jr. (above as an infant) had been diagnosed with Fragile X Syndrome . His cause of death was determined to be malnutrition and neglect. Dauphin County District Attorney Ed Marsico said Monday that Jarrod Jr. was in what he called a horrible condition at the time of his death in July. 'To think of this young boy in that room day in and day out, locked in there like an animal, left to fend without food, without nourishment,' Marsico told WHTM-TV. 'It's as horrific a case as we can imagine for someone that innocent.' A 10-year-old girl who was close to death was also found in the home and needed urgent medical attention. Authorities allege that both parents failed to provide 'even the most basic needs' of the child. Jarrod Jr. suffered from a range of developmental problems including learning disabilities and cognitive impairment as a result of his syndrome. Mother from hell: An emotional Kimberly (above) cries during a vigil for her son earlier this year . Pristine: Another room in the home (above) is show to be well kept and perfectly clean . According to The Patriot-News the couple, who have six children between the ages of three and 13, have a lengthy, and chilling, history with Children and Youth services. Kimberly, 39, also has three children from her first marriage she gave up her parental rights to. Jarrod Jr. was taken from his parents custody multiple times over the course of his life, and when, in 2005, a doctor advised Jarrod Sr., 38, to take his son to the hospital because of his 'history of losing weight and developmental delays,' he said 'No' and hung up the phone according to court records. Another court document states that a sibling told one case worker who recently visited the home that Jared Jr. had a wet forehead because he 'had feces on himself which the father had attempted to wash off.' Remembering Jarrod: Many in the neighborhood remembered Jarrod at a vigil earlier this year (above), leaving stuffed animals in memory of the boy . She also stated, 'dad doesn't care about Jarrod Junior anymore,' according to the complaint. The room the boy was found in had 'feces-covered floors and walls, a non-working light, no furniture but a television and a doorknob that locked from the outside.' Both parents were aware of their son's deplorable living conditions. | Kimberly and Jarrod Tutko of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, have been charged in the death of their son, Jarrod Jr.
Jarrod Jr., who was diagnosed with Fragile X syndrome as a child, died in August weighing just 17 pounds .
His body was found decomposing in his 'feces-covered room'
Other siblings had reported that Jarrod Sr. 'didn't care' about his son to case workers .
A 10-year-old girl who was close to death was also found in the home and needed urgent medical attention . |
38,843 | 6dca8f77a1e265c96366a6b9193637ad84951a85 | By . Chris Greenwood . PUBLISHED: . 08:36 EST, 29 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 06:39 EST, 30 November 2012 . A secret schoolboy lover who abused and killed his girlfriend’s disabled son was jailed for five years yesterday. Cameron Rose was 16 when he swung three-year-old Rhys Lawrie into a wall, breaking his leg and causing fatal injuries. Just four days earlier the little boy, who could barely speak and was . prone to seizures, had been discharged from hospital despite being hit . so hard in the face that he suffered brain damage. Three-year-old Rhys Lawrie suffered a series of injuries at the hand of his mother's boyfriend, Cameron Rose . Rhys' mother Sadie Henry, pictured outside the . Old Bailey today (left), lied repeatedly to paramedics and . police to try to cover up the relationship with Cameron Rose, right, . Detectives found Rhys suffered 54 injuries during Rose’s affair with his . 28-year-old mother Sadie Henry, including damage to his ears suggesting . that he had been lifted by them. Miss Henry, a former Army medic who had her lover’s name tattooed on her . back, lied to police, paramedics and hospital staff in an effort to . cover up the relationship. At the Old Bailey yesterday, Rose grinned and gave a thumbs-up to Judge Peter Beaumont QC before he was jailed. Now 18 and with convictions for criminal damage and arson, he is likely . to be released in less than two years. Tragic: Three-year-old Rhys Lawrie, who was killed at his home in Eltham, south east London . Trevor Lawrie, pictured leaving the Old Bailey, tried unsuccessfully to mount a legal challenge against the Crown Prosecution Service after they decided not to charge Henry . He has been kept in solitary . confinement at Feltham Young Offenders’ Institution after other inmates . learned of his crimes. Rhys’s grandparents said the ‘absolutely adorable little boy’ was let down at every turn by those charged with protecting him. Retired construction boss Trevor Lawrie, 64, said he would go to the . High Court in a renewed bid to force Miss Henry to face justice. He is convinced that his former daughter-in-law, who was cautioned for . perverting the course of justice, played a role in the killing. And he said more should have been done after Miss Henry admitted physically abusing her other young son four years ago. Mr Lawrie said: ‘The boy was just the fall guy. There have been a lot of cover-ups in this case.’ Rose, of Eltham, south-east London, met Miss Henry at a Bonfire Night barbecue in 2010. The teenager began staying every weekend at the flat in nearby Erith . that Miss Henry shared with Rhys, who attended a school for children . with learning difficulties, and her other son, telling his mother he was . with friends. On January 17 last year, Miss Henry came home to find . Rhys with a badly swollen face. Rose claimed he had accidently elbowed . him and the boy then fell off a kitchen counter. Henry called an ambulance, claiming Rhys had suffered fits. Doctors discharged him, but experts later found he had probably suffered brain damage. Rose killed the youngster four days later, on January 21, after Miss Henry left them watching TV. When she came home the teenager claimed Rhys had suffered a fit and he . had put him in bed. When she pulled back the bedclothes he was dead. Rose later changed his story, claiming Miss Henry had inflicted the injuries. He was cleared of murder but was convicted of manslaughter and the January 17 assault. Bexley Council said an inquiry into the circumstances of Rhys’s death will be published later today. | Cameron Rose was jailed for five years after being found guilty of manslaughter but cleared of the murder of Rhys Lawrie last month .
Rhys’s .
mother Sadie Henry, 28, lied to police about relationship with Rose . |
267,400 | e64e8da9f8f2c9fd853d22b51d15a55bba6f4fa8 | I believe it is time to start educating Jack Wilshere after his latest smoking incident. He needs somebody explaining to him how to behave. If he was smoking that pipe, even if it doesn’t do him any serious damage as a player... well, I wouldn’t put myself in that position. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Jack Wilshere shows his fitness in an intense gym session . Jack Wilshere (right) appeared to be holding a shisha pipe during a night out in London . The England footballer spotted chatting up a mystery woman and smoking outside Dstrkt Club in London . Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has already lost his place over a smoking issue so you would never dream of being seen with something — cigarette, shisha, lager, anything. Being in the team should mean so much to you, and is such a reward for all your efforts, that it’s not worth that risk. Wilshere is obviously going out and thinks he is in a private situation — but you never are as a footballer. There is always somebody on the look-out. You have to be squeaky clean and if you are serious about your football that’s how you should want to live anyway. Wilshere is still out injured, of course, and will be sad to miss a north London derby that has got all the makings of a cracking match. After beating Chelsea 5-3 on New Year’s Day, Tottenham will be thinking they go into the game as Arsenal’s equals. A puffed out Wilshere takes a breather during training as he looks to regain fitness following injury . Pochettino insists it is time for fans to get behind their forward ahead of the game against Arsenal . Mauricio Pochettino’s side will be confident, the crowd will be expectant and there will be greater belief among the players. But Arsenal put in their best away performance in five years against Manchester City at the Etihad — they were happy to concede possession and were clinical in attack. I think they will go into the game with a better balance and if there’s any naivety in Tottenham’s play, Arsenal will punish them. It’s the Merseyside derby as well this weekend and another of my old sides, Everton, got a vital win last week. There might be some momentum from that while Liverpool had a tricky game against Bolton and will have less time to prepare. For people to question Roberto Martinez’s position is ridiculous. He just needs to be more consistent. And there’s no better place to make a mark than in a derby game. | Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere needs to be educated on his behaviour .
Wojciech Szczesny has lost his place in team because of smoking issue .
Wilshere should know that footballers need to be squeaky clean .
Tottenham will go into north London derby thinking they are equals . |
104,776 | 132c132ee5661e69ca62781eba0111692a32a21c | As Ebola fades from the headlines, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other top federal health officials made their case for a multi-billion dollar emergency fund to fight the virus in a congressional hearing Tuesday. CDC director Thomas Frieden defended President Barack Obama's $6.2 billion proposal to combat Ebola, pointing out that the CDC is working on "borrowed dollars." "The only way to protect us in the U.S. is to stop it at the source, and to build systems both in Africa and the U.S. that will find, stop and prevent Ebola," said Frieden, likening the spread of Ebola virus to a wild fire. Band Aid's Geldof on Ebola: 'We're going to stop this thing' If secured, the funding will be spent in part on increased foreign aid to halt the spread of Ebola in West Africa. Another portion of the money could build new safeguards to help American hospitals respond swiftly to potential future outbreaks. Currently, not all American medical centers are equipped to treat Ebola. With more funding, officials, say, hospital training can be expanded beyond the four medical centers where patients are funneled. CDC director reflects on how his agency is handling Ebola . Obama made his pitch for increased funding just before a meeting with top health officials earlier Tuesday. In his remarks, the President admitted that media attention over the crisis has ebbed in recent weeks as the number of American Ebola patients has decreased -- but insisted that future risks can be minimized if Congress acts now. "We are nowhere near out of the woods yet in West Africa," Obama said, noting the increasing number of Ebola contractions in Sierra Leone. "The more we can catch these things early where they begin, the less risks we have over the long term." Should cities be reimbursed for Ebola costs? The second death from Ebola in the U.S. occurred this week: Martin Salia, a doctor who contracted the disease when treating patients in Sierra Leone, died Monday in Nebraska. For additional funding to be secured, Congress will need to pass a new budget by Dec. 11 before the GOP Senate majority is sworn in -- or risk a government shutdown. Complete coverage on Ebola . | The CDC director made a case before Congress for $6.2 billion .
President Barack Obama has said funding will prevent spread of the virus .
The federal budget must be approved by Dec. 11 . |
250,256 | cfe0f1a77ded9890b65a00128caa052542dfc45c | The wheels may have come off Texas Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Wendy Davis' campaign with a video ad that uses an empty wheelchair to target Republican Greg Abbott, the Lone Star state's partially paralyzed attorney general. The two pols are locked in a bitter struggle to succeed Gov. Rick Perry; the ad, which Davis unveiled Friday has attracted widespread criticism from everywhere except her campaign office. Abbott, 56, has been a paraplegic since age 26 when he was paralyzed by a falling tree during a run. The Davis ad uses an empty wheelchair to symbolize her critique of his handling of victims' legal claims. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Texas Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott's wheelchair is the centerpiece of an attack ad from his opponent for the governor's mansion, Democratic legislator Wendy Davis . Davis, a rising star in the Democratic Party, shot to fame with a 13-hour filibuster last year to protest legislation that restricted abortions . Republican Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has been a wheelchair-bound paraplegic since a tree fell on him during a run three decades ago . 'A tree fell on Greg Abbott. He sued and got millions,' the ad's narrator says. 'Since then, he's spent his career working against other victims.' 'Abbott argued a woman whose leg was amputated was not disabled because she had an artificial limb,' the ad alleges. 'He ruled against a rape victim who sued a corporation for failing to do a background check on a sexual predator. He sided with a hospital that failed to stop a dangerous surgeon who paralyzed patients.' Abbott's campaign fired at Davis, a state senator, with both barrels after the ad went viral for all the wrong reasons. 'It is challenging to find language strong enough to condemn Sen. Davis' disgusting television ad, which represents a historic low for someone seeking to represent Texans,' the campaign's deputy communications director, Amelia Chasse, said in a statement. 'Sen. Davis' ad shows a disturbing lack of judgment from a desperate politician,' she said, 'and completely disqualifies her from seeking higher office in Texas.' Her campaign stood its ground, claiming the ad shows that 'after rightly seeking justice for himself, Greg Abbott turned around and spent his entire career denying that same kind of justice to other victims.' The three most recent published polls show Abbott leading the race by an average of 11.3 percentage points, according to Real Clear Politics. Davis stepped away from a backbench in the Texas legislature in 2013 when she spent 13 hours filibustering a law written to limit the number of clinics in the state that could perform abortions. After she successfully ran out the clock on the legislative session, Gov. Perry called lawmakers back for a special session to pass the bill anyway. The pink sneakers she wore during the marathon as supporters flooded the capitol rotunda became a rallying cry for the state's liberal minority, and she was quickly urged to run for governor. A right-wing pundit labeled her 'Abortion Barbie' weeks later. That epithet has stuck. It appeared on 20 posters that showed up in Hollywood, California in May when Davis traveled there to raise money. A Republican donor paid for the posters, designed by street artist Sabo – the same anonymous man who created posters mocking Barack Obama and actress Gwyneth Paltrow this week when the president spoke a a fundraiser she hosted at her expansive Los Angeles home. Lightning rod: Davis' May 2014 fundraising trip to California brought political jabs out of the woodwork, including this mocking poster . A star is born: Abortion rights activists packed the state capitol to congratulate Davis after her 13-hour filibuster . Online reactions ranged from the angry to the sarcastic, including this tweet . Journalists, usually impartial observers, got in on the act by mocking the Davis campaign's ad strategy . The wheelchair ad has attracted slings and arrows from both right and left. Republican National Committee spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski called it 'ridiculous.' Fox News Channel co-host Bob Beckel, a liberal voice who managed the 1984 presidential campaign of Walter Mondale, offered some of the harshest words. 'This isn't a Hail Mary,' he said during a broadcast of 'The Five.' 'This is a Hail Mary to lose. This is like running the other way with the ball.' 'This is the kind of thing that you never, ever do, is take advantage of some of your opponents physical or mental ... conditions,' Beckel said. 'It's almost certain to backfire in every direction you could possibly imagine.' | State Sen. Wendy Davis produced an ad slamming Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott's record defending victims in court .
Most of the ad's narration happens over a picture of an empty wheelchair .
Abbott, a Republican, has been a wheelchair-bound paraplegic for 30 years .
Davis, a Democrat, shot to fame after a 2013 legislative filibuster for abortion rights .
She's trailing by double digits in the race to succeed Gov. Rick Perry . |
217,666 | a5d1343390ecb2907770966720dbbd89fdb181ea | Actress Victoria Rowell is suing CBS and Sony, claiming that they refused to re-hire her on soap opera The Young And The Restless because she publicly reprimanded them over a lack of racial diversity on the show. Rowell, 55, joined the cast of the show as Drucilla Barber Winters in 1990. But she claims that experiences of racial discrimination on set led to her 'reluctantly' leaving in 2007 after starring in 2,000 episodes. In 2010, Rowell, from Maine, approached the show – made by Sony and broadcast by CBS – in the hope that her role could be reprised, or that her character could appear on sister production The Bold And The Beautiful. Scroll down for video . Actress Victoria Rowell is suing CBS and Sony, claiming that they refused to re-hire her on soap opera The Young And The Restless because she publicly reprimanded them over a lack of racial diversity on the show . However, she claims that she was denied re-employment and blackballed ‘because of her public appeals to hire more African Americans in front of and behind the camera’, according to a statement. It said: 'She knew she was being impoverished and blackballed because she had chosen to speak out against discrimination and injustice that she had endured and witnessed happen to other African Americans.' Last year, for example, she wrote on Twitter: ‘Young & Restless on air for 40 years, loyally watched by their absolute competitive-edge audience (blacks) & not one black Exec Producer?’ Her attorney Cyrus Mehri said: ‘All Ms Rowell is seeking is basic fairness. We are confident that Ms Rowell will be rehired if the issue is considered in a serious and non-retaliatory manner. Rowell (left) was on the show from 1990 to 2007, appearing in 2,000 episodes . 'Ms Rowell made Drucilla Winters one of the most compelling characters ever to appear on daytime television. In refusing to re-employ her, the defendants aren’t just hurting Ms Rowell, they’re acting against their own economic self-interest.’ Ms Rowell said: ‘The Young And The Restless holds such a special place for the millions of viewers who tune in to watch these characters every day. It’s unfortunate that the cast and crew do not reflect this diverse audience. 'The character Drucilla was popular because she represented a positive role model for African Americans and audiences need to have that represented in their favorite shows.’ Rowell claims in the suit that ‘racial discrimination is blatant at The Young And The Restless’, pointing out that as of 2010, over 100 writers had been used, but not one was African American. The suit claims that the defendants’ retaliation 'has caused substantial financial and monetary harm to Ms Rowell', forcing her to ‘tap into employee benefits’ - and caused 'mental anguish'. When MailOnline asked Ms Rowell whether she was confident of winning the case, she explained that throwing the spotlight on the perceived issue was victory in itself. She said: 'As for winning, I have won, exposing this unacceptable racist and retaliatory behavior in 21st century America.' CBS, quoted by People.com, said: ‘We were disappointed to learn that, after leaving the cast of The Young and the Restless on her own initiative, Ms Rowell has attempted to rewrite that history through lawyers' letters and a lawsuit that has no merit. We harbor no ill will toward Ms. Rowell, but we will vigorously defend this case.’ Rowell received 11 NAACP Image Awards and two Daytime EMMY nominations for her role as Drucilla. | Victoria Rowell starred in 2,000 episodes of The Young And The Restless .
She left 'reluctantly' in 2007 claiming she experienced racial discrimination .
Rowell has publicly reprimanded the show for lack of racial diversity .
The actress believes this has led to her being denied a comeback .
CBS, which broadcasts the show, said it will 'vigorously defend the case' |
60,308 | ab65d23036ad0e9093a3131538b9d504bc6cf4ef | Gaza (CNN) -- An Israeli delegation has been ordered home from talks in Cairo aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza, a senior Israeli official said Tuesday, shortly after the Israeli military blamed militants in Gaza for breaking a truce. Palestinian negotiators placed the blame for the lack of progress in the talks on the Israelis. "The Israeli delegation is still trying to impose (upon us) what they want, and this would be impossible for us to accept as Palestinians," said Azzam Al Ahmad, head of the Palestinian negotiators. The Palestinians introduced their latest position to Egyptian and Israeli negotiators on Tuesday, and are awaiting a response, Al Ahmad said. By late Tuesday, the armed wing of Hamas -- the Qassam Brigades -- said on its website that it had fired 29 rockets into Israel in 20 minutes. The Israel Defense Forces, in response, launched airstrikes and ordered bomb shelters open within a 40- to 80-kilometer range of Gaza. At least three people, including one infant, have been killed, and 52 people have been injured since the breakdown of the ceasefire, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza. As rocket attacks and airstrikes resumed, one interpretation of the Israelis leaving Cairo was that they had given up on negotiations. Another Palestinian leader, Izzat Risheq, looked at it another way, saying the Israelis took the newest proposal home with them to share with their government. "The chances of an agreement are very slim, and the situation is very difficult," he said. In the talks, Israel was calling for Gaza to be demilitarized, demanding that Hamas, which controls the territory, and other militant groups lay down their arms. Risheq said Monday that the group's weapons were "for self-defense" against Israel. "But when we have our own Palestinian state with its own national army to protect its citizens, there will be no need for any party to carry any kind of weapons," he said. Palestinians say Israel's blockade is throttling the economy of the small, impoverished strip of land and the lives of its inhabitants. Among their demands are the rebuilding and reopening of Gaza's airport and the establishment of a seaport. But Israeli authorities -- who retain control of Gaza's airspace, Mediterranean waters and their shared border -- say releasing their grip on what goes into and out of the territory isn't feasible while Hamas and other groups are still building up their arsenals of weapons. Cease-fire unravels . The rocket fire came only hours after the ceasefire was extended until the end of the day, as Palestinian and Israeli negotiators, struggling to reach a more lasting agreement, reported little progress. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the IDF to respond to the rockets, a senior Israeli official told CNN. An IDF statement shortly afterward said strikes were being carried out against targets in Gaza. Nine Palestinians, including three children, were wounded in an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, Ashraf el-Qedra, spokesman for the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza, told CNN. Al Aqsa TV reported airstrikes in northern and central Gaza, as well. The United States condemned the renewed rocket attacks, with a State Department official reiterating the U.S. position that Israel has a right to defend itself against such attacks. "We hope that the parties can reach an agreement on a sustainable ceasefire, or if necessary, agree to yet another extension of their temporary ceasefire so they can continue in conversations," Marie Harf, deputy spokeswoman, said. "But as of right now, today's developments, we are very concerned about and it is our understanding that ... the ceasefire has broken down." Hamas blames Israel . A thick plume of smoke could be seen rising from a building in southern Gaza apparently hit by an Israeli airstrike. A CNN team on the ground also saw earlier what appeared to be three rockets being fired from Gaza into Israel, leaving smoke trails in the sky. Shortly before the rockets were launched, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said in an e-mailed statement to CNN: "If Netanyahu does not understand our message and people's demands in Gaza through political language, we know a way to make him understand." A banner on the Hamas-run Al-Aqsa TV blamed Israel for violating the truce. The conflict, which began in early July, has killed more than 2,000 Palestinians, leaving entire Gaza neighborhoods in rubble. The violence has killed 67 people on the Israeli side, with militants in Gaza firing roughly 3,500 rockets toward Israel. CNN's Frederik Pleitgen reported from Gaza, Jethro Mullen reported and wrote from Hong Kong, and Laura Smith-Spark wrote in London. CNN's Reza Sayah, John Vause, Amir Tal and Andrew Carey contributed to this report. | NEW: Three people, including an infant, are reported killed in Gaza .
Armed wing of Hamas says it fired 29 rockets into Israel .
"It's our understanding that ... the ceasefire has broken down," a U.S. official says .
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders the Israeli military to respond to rocket fire . |
129,469 | 3358dd40b07d95f5e7f6d9ee65206fe81bae75bb | (CNN) -- Houston Rockets team physician Tom Clanton has said the foot injury currently sidelining Chinese center Yao Ming could threaten the seven-foot-six-inch player's career. Yao Ming's entire basketball future could be in danger due to his persistent foot injury. "At this point, the injury has the potential for him missing this next season and could be career-threatening," Clanton told the Houston Chronicle regional newspaper. "One of the things we are trying to get is a consensus opinion on that, to make certain there is no option we are overlooking that would provide an earlier return or would be an option for treatment that he would prefer rather than doing additional surgery," he added. Yao fractured his left foot last month during a semifinal match against the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Western Conference semifinals and has been visiting specialists ahead of treatment since then. Clanton continued: "At this stage, he is having no symptoms or physical signs, he has no tenderness, no swelling, no redness. When he came back in, he was feeling like everything was perfect, and he would start rehabilitation and get ready to play. "The findings on the CT were shocking for him and for us. You don't treat a CT scan; you treat a patient. We are looking for every reason to treat this on clinical findings but don't want to put him at risk for a greater fracture," he added. The diagnosis raises doubt over the playing future of one of the biggest stars in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and one of the most famous celebrities to hail from China. Yao is a national hero in his homeland, and the news has prompted a frenzy of postings on the internet, arguing about the why's and wherefore's of his injury. "He is really tired," says one Netizen posting on Sina.com. "He needs to rest, we cannot let the giant fall!" "I wish everything will work out well for Yao Ming," says another teenage basketball fan. "There is always a way to deal with injuries. We should not give up." Some Yao supporters think he should take a long break -- even for the whole season -- and make a comeback later. "I think his injury is very bad," opines Ma Jian, a TV commentator who played for the Chinese national team. "With all the weight training the team have put him through in the past seven years, Yao has gained about 20 kilos in his upper body. But his lower body, especially his feet, did not gain much strength to hold his large frame." The 28-year-old Yao has been a perennial pick for the NBA All-Star teams since moving from the Shanghai Sharks to the Rockets in 2002. Yao also captained the Chinese team as hosts at the 2008 Beijing Games, as well as taking the role of flag-bearer in the opening ceremony. Yao was awarded the honor of "model worker" in 2005 by China's ruling Communist Party. However, despite his popularity, Yao still has his share of detractors. Known as "Yao hei" -- they are people who are out to smear the player. "He is a man made of glass," says one posting on Sina.com. "Should we call him Yao the glass or Yao the porcelain?" asks one rhetorically. Yao is now a multi-millionaire, earning millions of dollars yearly, not just from his NBA team but from lucrative commercial endorsements. Admirers say Yao has done more for improving China's image overseas than any modern-day politician or diplomat. Next to the giant panda, Yao is perhaps China's best known and much loved, icon, in part because exudes a wholesome, feel-good image. "He is such an affable, likeable guy," recalls Colin Pine, who used to serve as his personal translator during his years as an NBA rookie in Houston. His demeanor on and off the court has endeared him to the media and multitude of basketball fans overseas, who admire his modesty and maturity. His loyal fans hope Yao will get an extension of his already long and successful career. | Houston Rockets physician says Yao Ming injury could "threaten his career"
Yao fractured his left foot playing for Houston against the L.A. Lakers in May .
The 28-year-old was flag-bearer for China at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games .
Yao has been perennial All-Star selection since he moved to the U.S. in 2002 . |
167,702 | 64e44f3a8e8084dfe969729e07ce2f02c4b73614 | By . Amanda Williams . PUBLISHED: . 03:37 EST, 11 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:27 EST, 11 April 2013 . With every battered line, scrape and knock, each coin has been rendered as individual as the many thousands of hands they have passed through. Now, as governments across the world debate whether to do away with their lowest value coins, one photographer is on a mission to save as many pennies as he can before they are consigned forever to history, . Photographer Martin John Callanan is busy working on a photo project . entitled The Fundamental Units - a series of extremely large . prints showing the lowest value coins of countries around the world. He has teamed up with National Physical . Laboratory in Teddington, to use 'Europe’s . best microscope' to show each coin in all its worn charm. An English Penny, photographed using Europe's best microscope to show it in all its battered glory . 5 cents coin from Swaziland. Photographer Martin John Callanan is working hard to preserve the coins for future generations, with this unique picture project . A Chilean peso. Each coin is photographed with 4,000 individual tiny exposures, and it takes three days to expose the images . Each coin is photographed with 4,000 individual tiny exposures, and it takes three days of processing to turn the individual photos into a single composite photograph weighing 400 megapixels. Printed out, each photo measures 1.2 and 1.2 meters (~3.9 square feet). The resulting photographs are meant to shown the 'materiality of the coins and all the wear, tear, damage and corrosion.' Pau Waelder, Curator of the y Horrach Moyà Gallery, said: 'The economic system, which has raised to such notorious prominence in recent years because of its obvious impact on our lives, is a complex structure whose functioning is increasingly necessary to understand and, as much as possible, to predict or even control. A one Euro cent. Each humble metal disc acquires a planetary dimension as they are enlarged hundreds of times . The lowest denomination Bulgarian coin. The photographs are meant to shown the 'materiality of the coins and all the wear, tear, damage and corrosion . A Croatian Kukuruz. Printed out, each photo measures 1.2 and 1.2 meters (3.9 square feet) A Swedish krona. Mr Callanan has teamed up with National Physical Laboratory in Teddington for the project . The Burmese Pya. There are many precedents for scrapping small coins. The US abolished the half-cent in 1857 and the UK's halfpenny was withdrawn in 1984 . The lowest denomination Australian coin. New Zealand and Australia abandoned the one-cent and two-cent coin in the 1990s . 'In this sense, and in response to . the dominance of macroeconomics in the discourse of the media, the . artist chooses a microscopic view of the world economy. 'The Fundamental Units, a series that . begins with the works produced by Horrach Moyà Gallery for this . exhibition, is an exploration of the lowest denomination coins from the . world’s currencies using an infinite focus 3D optical microscope at the . National Physical Laboratory in Teddington.' 'The images obtained with the . microscope have been combined to form an extremely detailed large scale . reproduction of the least valuable coins from Australia, Chile, the . Euro, Myanmar and the Kingdom of Swaziland. 'In these images the humble metal acquires a planetary dimension and is displayed as the atoms that shape the global economy.' The Fundamental Units was produced by Horrach Moyà Gallery . There are many precedents for scrapping small coins. In America, the half-cent was abolished in 1857, and in 1984 the UK's halfpenny was withdrawn. New Zealand and Australia abandoned the one-cent and two-cent coin in the 1990s. Campaigners in the US and UK also . want the penny and cent coins to be consigned to history, because . nothing can be bought with a one-cent or one-penny coin. | The Fundamental Units is a project by photographer Martin John Callanan .
Used Europe’s .
best microscope' to show each coin in all its worn charm .
Comes as governments debate whether to do away with lowest value coins . |
218,334 | a6a83aa1ff5bed9ca9165fae4a4005eda816fcd5 | By . Paul Thompson . PUBLISHED: . 15:01 EST, 18 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:09 EST, 19 March 2013 . Hard questions are being asked in Springdale, Washington County, after a 24-year-old father appeared in court today charged with the violent murders of his two infant sons - 18-months apart. Travis Fox admitted to police in the Arkansas city that last week he shook his seven-month old son William to death after consuming five beers on Wednesday and then confessed to killing his son Travis Fox II the exact same way in 2011 after a tequila binge. And despite his fiancee's shock at his admission, it has emerged that Washington County sheriff's suspected him of murdering his first child as did the couple's church pastor - but no charges were pressed and he was allowed to return home to ultimately kill again. Scroll Down for Video . Charged with murder: Travis Fox, 24, confessed to killing his two newborn sons in two separate incidents . Seven month-old William Fox, died at Northwest Medical Center from injuries as a result of being violently shaken in his parents home on Wednesday last week. Questioned by Springdale police, immediately after, Fox told investigators 'that he violently shook the child for an extended amount of time because the child was `fussing,' said officers in a news release. 'He demonstrated the shake and it was violent,' said officials, who added that Fox said he had been heavily drinking before shaking his infant son to death. While Springdale police officers were investigating the death they learned Fox was already under investigation by Washington County sheriff's for the death of his other son Travis II 18 months ago. Travis Fox appeared in court in Springdale today charged with murdering his two infant sons Travis Fox II 18 months ago and William Fox on Wednesday of last week . Tiffany Fox (left) and (right with Travis Fox) is currently two-months pregnant with twins - but has disowned her husband after he admitted killing their two infant sons 18-months apart . Family picture: Travis is seen here at his Arkansas home with wife Tiffany and one of their late sons . An undated photograph from Tiffany Foxes myspace page believed to be one of her deceased sons - Travis Fox II or William Fox . Travis II died from 'suspicious' injuries in September 2011. An autopsy was inconclusive and Fox was never charged with any crime - despite the strong suspicion of the Washington County Coroner. Indeed, after the death of his latest son, the coroner remembered Fox and contacted police. In addition, the Foxes pastor, Tim Estes admitted to 40/29 News in Arkansas that after the memorial service for the couple's first child, he felt uneasy about the circumstances. 'I have to tell you some alarm bells went off in my mind when the first baby was brought in. Something felt uneasy in my spirit,' said Estes. But in the aftermath of the terrible crimes against two defenseless children, hindsight is proving no help for those who knew Travis Fox. Estes told 40/29 that Fox had been known to suffer from drug and anger issues and he had tried to help him as a youth. Neighbors also said that they sometimes heard the Foxes argue. Angela Robison who lived in the same Olivewood Apartments as the Foxes said she would hear him argue with his wife Tiffany - who is currently pregnant with twins. Family home: Travis lived at his Springdale, Arkansas, home with his wife Tiffany and their sons . 'She would say ‘he hit me’ and he would say ‘I didn’t,’ said Robinson to 5newsonline. 'I would tell him ‘come to my house before you hit her, come down and talk to me’ because we were close.' 'Just, poor babies and I don’t understand how he could do it. I know he admitted it but still hard to actually think of him because he wasn’t like that. 'My kids picked on him and played around with him and he never got mad.' His wife has claimed she knew never saw this coming and has disowned her husband, labeling him a 'baby killer'. Incredibly, having escaped punishment for the murder of his first son, Fox and Tiffany had an falling out around a year-ago and he begged his wife to let him come home. Judging by the dates on his wife's myspace.com page where he posted his apology, Tiffany would have been four-months pregnant with William. Travis Fox begged his wife Tiffany to let him come home after an undetermined argument - claiming to love his unborn child William - who he admitted killing last week . Travis Fox, 24, is facing two first-degree murder charges for killing his two infant sons 18-months apart . 'I miss him so much thats (sic) also my son,' wrote Fox. 'I love the hell out of him. Babygurl I love u (sic) so much too.' It was while being questioned, Fox allegedly confessed to killing both his children. He told investigators his first child died after he shook him for 30-45 seconds. 'Mr. Fox said he was angered and tired because he was up for two days without sleep,' a prosecutor wrote in his report. The report says Fox told the investigator that he admitted drinking tequila the day of the first death and that he'd tossed the child on a chair. Travis Fox faces two counts of first-degree murder. It is unclear whether Fox has an attorney. He s being held without bond at the Washington County Jail. Fox also faces a charge of probation violation. According to court documents, he was sentenced to five years . probation in 2009 after pleading guilty to residential burglary and . several other theft-related charges. Fox will not be formally charged until his arraignment on April 17 and A funeral for William Fox is being planned at Wasson Funeral Home in Siloam Springs. | Travis Fox confessed to killing his two infant sons Travis Fox II and William Fox - 18-months apart .
He was under investigation for his first child's death by shaking when his second son was hospitalized and died the same way .
Fox has a history with drugs and anger issues . |
284,818 | fd0de160c9fd719b3118b5a1b2baa0e721905c32 | Honolulu (CNN)His weeks-long stay in Hawaii largely uninterrupted by major news, President Barack Obama flies back to a redrawn Washington late Saturday prepared for a renewed economic push he hopes will set up a productive final presidential quarter. He faces an uphill battle: Newly powerful Republicans take control of both chambers of Congress next week, and the nation's political attention will quickly turn to the next presidential contest as candidates declare their intentions in the next few months. Expecting to receive GOP-passed measures gutting his health care law, approving the Keystone XL pipeline, and undoing his executive actions, Obama has said he's ready to wield veto power that's largely been unused during his presidency. But his aides say Obama is hoping to avoid a year of reaction focused solely on rebutting the GOP. Instead, the White House says, he'll look to present an affirmative agenda that builds upon the nation's economic gains. On areas like tax reform and trade, Obama has said he's open to working with Republicans, who made major gains in November's elections and now control the Senate. But administration officials say they're not under any illusions that Republicans in the next Congress will be more willing to work with Obama than those in the last. That means the go-it-alone strategy of last year, which relied on unilateral action to exact change, hasn't been completely retired, officials say. In a bid to jump start the year's governing — and exploit momentum following the raft of late-2014 executive actions — Obama next week will start a three-week preview period for his late-January State of the Union address. Obama's chief speechwriter, Cody Keenan, was kept busy drafting the annual speech while along with Obama for his Hawaii vacation. The President will make targeted stops in Detroit, Phoenix and Tennessee next week to promote, respectively, advances in the American auto industry, housing gains, and his education platform. The White House said during Obama's tour he would promote both executive actions and proposals for legislation. "The President is eager to get to work, and looks forward to working with the new Congress on policies that will make sure middle class Americans are sharing in the economic recovery," said Eric Schultz, a White House spokesman. "There are a number of issues we could make progress on, but the President is clear that he will not let this Congress undo important protections gained - particularly in areas of health care, Wall Street reform and the environment," Schultz said. Obama has only vetoed two measures in his six years in office, though White House officials expect that to change quickly as Republicans assume power on Capitol Hill. One of the first measures lawmakers will debate is a bill approving the controversial Keystone pipeline, which environmentalists oppose. The White House has suggested it would reject any measure from Congress approving the pipeline, since the review process in place at the State Department is still underway. Areas of compromise exist: both Republicans and Obama say they're interested in overhauling the corporate tax structure and pushing through major trade deals with Europe and Asia. But those projects face opposition from Democrats, who worry they could favor large companies over working class Americans. "We certainly hope they work with Congress instead of continuing to campaign against it," said Don Stewart, a spokesman for the incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. "But remember, the biggest hangup on things like trade has been the President's own party. They oppose entitlement reform, trade, revenue neutral tax reform." Stewart said that could mean Obama is forced to spend negotiating time with both Republicans and Democrats — "something he's been reluctant to do." | President Barack Obama arrives back in Washington with the Hill under Republican control .
Obama will soon start a three-week preview period for his State of the Union address .
The President will make stops in Detroit, Phoenix and Tennessee next week . |
234,744 | bbe9c1022b942e4f32b917e4d21c8d62e06340fb | (CNN) -- The family of a Chicago teenager whose beating death was caught on video hope that the attention the incident has garnered will spur healing locally, a relative said at a news conference Wednesday evening. Derrion Albert, 16, was beaten to death last week. His death was captured on video. "It should've never happened, but it's never too late," said Rose Braxton, great-aunt of 16-year-old Derrion Albert. "It's time for healing to start getting our communities together so this won't happen to anyone else's child ever again." Four suspects have been charged with first-degree murder in the September 24 killing of Albert, and police say they are looking for three more people in connection with the beating captured on videotape. Prosecutors said that Albert, an honors student, was an innocent bystander who ended up in the middle of a street fight between two factions of students from Fenger High School. The incident caught the attention of the White House, too. The footage of the incident, which shows Albert being hit by a railroad tie, "is "chilling" and one of the most shocking things "you can ever see," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Wednesday. President Obama's concern over the killing didn't provide additional comfort to the family, "but I'm glad that it's out there so everyone can see it and they know that, yes, this is happening," Braxton said. "This was vicious. How do you just come out and decide that you're going to attack someone with a two-by-four?" Braxton said. She spoke to reporters together with area community and church leaders. "Maybe this will wake up and shake up people," the Rev. Jesse Jackson said at the press conference, noting that three teens were killed in Chicago this week. Braxton said her message to the White House was simply, "Do something." "We need to get to our children," she said. "Why are they so angry, so full of venom, that you would even consider doing something like that to another human being?" Albert's funeral was scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. at Greater Mount Hebron Baptist Church in Chicago. An amateur videotape shot by a witness, which has been broadcast widely, showed the attack unfolding. A local TV station that received the tape turned it over to police. When school let out at 2:50 p.m. on Thursday, Albert was on his way to a bus stop when two groups of students converged on the street, said Tandra Simonton, spokeswoman for the Cook County States Attorney. The factions, one that lived near the Altgeld Gardens housing development and one in an area known as "The Ville," began fighting after an earlier shooting that police called gang-related. According to Simonton, Albert was approached by two members of "The Ville" faction and struck in the head with a long wooden railroad tie, then punched in the face. After being briefly knocked unconscious, Albert regained consciousness and tried to move from the fight, but was then attacked by a second group of five members from the opposing faction, Simonton said. Albert was taken to Roseland Community Hospital and then to Advocate Christ Hospital and Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis said he asked the U.S. Secret Service to try to enhance the video so that others involved in the fight can be identified. Weis pleaded with anyone who may have information not to withhold it. "The culture of 'no-snitch' is unacceptable," he said. "On Thursday, a young man with a promising future lost his life to senseless violence, yet few have come forward." Authorities are also considering charging people who participated in the fight but did not come into contact with Albert, he said. Asked about the killing as Obama prepares to travel to Copenhagen, Denmark, to lobby the International Olympic Committee to award Chicago the 2016 Games, Gibbs described the videotape of the attack as "among the most shocking that you can ever see." "The killing of an honor student ... who's beaten to death, is chilling, chilling video," Gibbs said. Obama has emphasized parental responsibility in addressing chronic problems in low-income urban communities including school dropouts, drug use, gang activity and violence. Gibbs offered no explanation for the Chicago killing, saying, "in many ways a lot of these crimes are amazingly hard to explain." Whatever led to this specific attack, "you can't regulate the hard issue," Gibbs said. "This is not a problem that government alone, as the president often says, at any level is going to be able to solve," Gibbs said. "This is going to take community involvement, it's going to take parental involvement, it's going to take the involvement of everyone to address what is obviously a sad and shocking problem." | Victim's great-aunt: Stop this from happening to "anyone else's child ever again"
"Maybe this will wake up and shake up people," the Rev. Jesse Jackson says .
Derrion Albert, 16, was beaten to death last week; beating was captured on video .
Police still seeking other suspects related to Albert's death . |
121,777 | 29699392805990bd1079c4ddd73ae403d1337077 | Washington (CNN)Sen. Rand Paul declared the war against ISIS "illegal" in a new opinion piece Monday, urging conservatives to speak out against President Barack Obama's decision not to seek congressional authorization for military action against the terrorist group. "This war is now illegal. It must be declared and made valid, or it must be ended," the Kentucky Republican wrote in an op-ed published Monday by The Daily Beast. The U.S. began airstrikes in Iraq in August and in Syria in September, citing a 2001 measure known as the Authorization for the Use of Military Force as the president's legal basis for going after terrorist threats. Paul cites the War Powers Resolution of 1973 in stressing his long-held position that all military action must be approved by Congress. The exception is when a situation is considered urgent. In that case, a president has 60 days to get authorization after military action. If there's no approval from Congress, the president has 30 days to end the mission. Rand Paul plants feet between both sides of foreign policy debate . While Paul said he doesn't think the War Powers Resolution specifically applies to the ISIS situation -- because the U.S. had not been attacked -- he notes that even if it did, the president's time would be up. "Taking military action against ISIS is justified. The president acting without Congress is not," he wrote, reiterating a stance he's held since September. This fall Paul has described the airstrikes against Syria as appropriate action but said Obama's method for doing so was "unconstitutional." The op-ed comes as Paul, who's seen as a likely presidential candidate in 2016, has been trying to shed his isolationist image yet maintain his libertarian-leaning roots. In the new op-ed, he specifically reached out to conservatives, saying they "they should end their conspicuous silence about the president's usurpation of Congress' sole authority to declare war." Paul blasts Obama as arrogant 'autocrat' He suggested conservatives are being hypocritical in their criticism of Obama by lambasting him for acting alone through executive actions but staying quiet when he authorizes military action without approval. "Conservatives who blast the president for ignoring the separation of powers on immigration display a fatal inconsistency by embracing unlimited war-making powers," he wrote. Paul: Washington's 'barnacled enablers' push for constant war . His piece comes as a report from Politico lists new details about his all-but-certain presidential campaign. The report says he would likely headquarter his campaign in Louisville, Kentucky, and would move forward with a 2016 re-election bid for the Senate on top of a presidential run. Paul, who's attempting to sharpen his foreign policy brand, also raises questions about Hillary Clinton's physical stamina as well as her record as secretary of state and her involvement in Libya. | Rand Paul calls on conservatives to decry the President's use of military action without authorization .
The senator said the war is "illegal" and must be made valid "or it must be ended" |
6,784 | 133c3842d1bd081a76a70854bb4afcce26005cfc | England won their World Cup dress rehearsal against Wales by getting their RBS 6 Nations off to a perfect start with a 21-16 victory at the Millennium Stadium. Wales took a 10-0 lead inside eight minutes, with Rhys Webb scoring the game's first try, and led 16-8 at the interval. But Bath pair Anthony Watson and Jonathan Joseph both grabbed tries as England shut out Wales in the second half and won for the first time in Cardiff after trailing at the break. England centre Jonathan Joseph scored the decisive try of the game as they got the better of Wales on Friday . Wales . Leigh Halfpenny – 7 . A world-class performer who settled Welsh nerves with superb early penalty and was solid throughout. Alex Cuthbert (yellow card 61) – 5 . Tackled well and a couple of good early carries. Second half yellow card blotted copy book. Jonathan Davies – 7 . Decent carrying game and rock solid defence from one of the world’s very best centres. Jamie Roberts – 7 . Man marked by England but still made some telling dents. Impressive contribution from top player. George North – 7 . Serious question will be asked about why he was allowed to play on after appearing to be knocked out twice. Dan Biggar – 7 . Another player to suffer a nasty head injury but shrugged it off to make an extremely assured contribution. England fly-half George Ford scored two penalty kicks to seal the victory in Six Nations . Rhys Webb (Phillips 69) – 8 . Fantastic first try appeared to set Wales on their way. Showed why he is now first-choice No9 ahead of Mike Phillips. Gethin Jenkins (James 59) – 5 . Struggled in the tight for second year running and came as no surprise when he was substituted. Richard Hibbard – 6 . Some powerful carries and determined tackling but not enough of a contribution in loose. Samson Lee – 6 . Another who struggled in the scrum but recovered from early setback to make a strong contribution. Jake Ball – 6 . Welsh line out functioned reasonably well and Ball was also prominent in the loose. A fine player. Alun Wyn Jones – 7 . The dominant lock in British rugby had his hands full with Dave Attwood. Went toe-to-toe and held his own. Dan Lydiate – 5 . Typically tenacious tackling display from the committed blindside forward. No impact in loose. Sam Warburton – 7 . A fine battle with Chris Robshaw and Wales definitely edged the breakdown battle in the first half. Taulupe Faletau – 7 . Brilliant pick up and pass from early scrum set up first try. Could have been penalised but took chance. Mike Brown (centre) celebrates England's 21-16 victory over Wales in their opening Six Nations fixture . England . Mike Brown – 8 . Caught everything that came his way and tackled superbly. A fine display from England full back. Anthony Watson – 8 . Took his try brilliantly and looked a threat every time he got the ball. Very encouraging. Jonathan Joseph – 9 . Had his hands full against Wales powerhouse defence. A couple of sloppy passes but took try brilliantly and tackled superbly. Luther Burrell (Twelvetrees 77) – 7 . The man charged with stopping Jamie Roberts did the job pretty effectively. More at home at inside centre. Jonny May – 6 . Again struggled to find the ball in open play as England’s limited attacking game failed to locate him. George Ford – 9 . A couple of early charge downs but recovered to kick important first half penalties. Managed game superbly well. Ben Youngs – 6 . Tidy display but concerns linger over his service and he does not pose running threat of old. England celebrate their memorable win against Wales on Friday in the changing room . Joe Marler (Vunipola 55) – 7 . Excellent scrummaging display from a man who has firmly established himself as England’s premier loosehead. Dylan Hartley (Youngs 55) – 6 . Asked to keep his cool and he did that well in first half. Line out radar went off which is unlike him. Dan Cole (Brookes 62) – 8 . Huge ask to start after long injury lay-off but did his job superbly. Excellent day at coalface. Dave Attwood – 7 . Put himself about well and used his physical presence to disrupt Welsh pack. Good display. George Kruis (Easter 70) – 8 . First start in the Six Nations but played like a seasoned pro. Huge prospect for England. James Haskell – 8 . Carried exceptionally throughout and tackled superbly but will have nightmares about failure to score second-half try. Chris Robshaw (capt) – 7 . Always a tireless worker and led from the front in typically dogged fashion. Huge win for him. Billy Vunipola – 7 . Got more into game as it wore on after looking off the pace early on. Carried very effectively. | England beat Wales 21-16 at the Millennium Stadium on Friday night .
Centre Jonathan Joseph took try brilliantly and tackled superbly .
George Ford kicked important penalties and managed game superbly . |
229,842 | b5a46da3089b3e18c123dc18e6bccd24647f141f | It can cause major problems in water supplies, kill off fish and even give humans nausea, numbness and liver disease. Now the problem of algae in lakes has got so bad, Nasa is using a special sensor on the International Space Station to monitor it from orbit. The space agency has already released a stunning series of images showing the effect algae can have on Earth's lakes. Scroll down for video . A Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean (HICO) image of a massive Microcystis bloom (shown in green) in western Lake Erie, Sept. 3, 2011, as confirmed by spectral analysis. On the right is an image created by scientists to better show off the algae. The Hyperspectral Imager is mounted to the exterior of the orbiting laboratory. It provides a way for researchers to see 90 wavelengths of light not visible to the human eye. This can help with research on harmful algal blooms (HABs) because they, along with other organic materials, have a 'spectral signature.' The biological matter emits a unique wavelength as it absorbs and scatters solar energy, resulting in fluorescence and backscattering. Essentially the light reflects back to HICO, which reads the data like a fingerprint. 'If you've been watching recent news of algal bloom concerns in Lake Erie, you know that the right conditions for algae can lead to contamination of local water sources, potentially impacting aquatic life and humans,' Nasa said. The International Space Station's Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean (HICO) is mounted to the exterior of the orbiting laboratory. It provides a way for researchers to see 90 wavelengths of light not visible to the human eye. This can help with research on harmful algal blooms (HABs) because they, along with other organic materials, have a 'spectral signature.' The biological matter emits a unique wavelength as it absorbs and scatters solar energy, resulting in fluorescence and backscattering. Essentially the light reflects back to HICO, which reads the data like a fingerprint. A Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean (HICO) image of western Lake Erie, Aug. 15, 2014, taken from the orbital perspective of the International Space Station. Researchers can use the information from HICO to 'see' what they're missing with their own senses. With it they study biological and chemical signatures for aquatic and terrestrial materials. This can reveal the presence of microscopic plants, organic compounds, suspended sediments and other factors controlling water quality. The Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean (HICO) as seen aboard the International Space Station, where it is mounted to the Japanese Experiment Module External Facility. 'Historically, blooms have been visually observed by the naked eye due to the discoloration of the water,' said Ruhul Amin, Ph.D., principal investigator for the HICO CASIS-NRL project. 'Now optical sensors can detect these changes in the color of the water and quantitatively measure the spectral radiance changes due to algae blooms.' In the Lake Erie area researchers are looking at phytoplankton and algal blooms that occur regularly in summer months, often in the harmful quantities found this year. Of particular concern are blue-green algae Microcystis spp., which can cause health concerns in humans such as nausea, numbness or dizziness—potentially leading to liver damage. Once airborne in sea spray, the brevetoxin producing HAB Karenia brevis—known as red tide—can go beyond irritating the eyes and lungs of coastal visitors, according to Amin, as it is capable of killing fish, birds and marine mammals. No human fatalities are directly attributed to brevetoxins, he goes on to say, though it is possible to reach fatal toxin levels during K. brevis blooms . 'Unlike conventional multi-spectral images, the high spatial and spectral resolution afforded by HICO enables us to develop new approaches to more fully utilize hyperspectral data to distinguish HAB species from space,' said Amin. 'Conventional multi-spectral ocean color imagery in general does not contain sufficient information to discriminate between bloom species, but HICO's contiguous bands collect information that can enable us to identify the species.' A Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean (HICO) image of western Lake Erie, Aug. 15, 2014, taken from the orbital perspective of the International Space Station. Researchers at the NRL-SSC have used HICO's ability to show visible and near infrared wavelengths to follow the Lake Erie blooms for years. The most recent HICO data collections for the area took place in mid-August as the station passed over the Great Lakes region. This information, in addition to ground data and other resources, can help with developing and validating bloom-detection algorithms. | Scientists are using instrument on ISS to monitor growth of algae .
Huge 'blooms' can kill off fish and even give humans disease . |
263,831 | e1afb971f54476f20828346d9b23ea72b8740d16 | By . Robert Jensen . Last updated at 4:58 PM on 24th January 2012 . These tired seals were spotted snuggling up for a nap in their thousands. The animals had come ashore in California in their hundreds during what is called a 'catastrophic molt', where they shed an entire layer of skin and hair. Robert Jensen stumbled across the bizarre spectacle at the Piedres Blancas rookery. These seals appeared more like sardines when they packed themselves onto a crowded beach for a snooze . The bizarre spectacle took place at the Piedres Blancas rookery, California . Initially mistaking the animals for . driftwood until, the photographer, on closer inspection, realised he'd . stumbled across the huge group of seals. He said: ‘I had been on a family vacation and was looking for driftwood on the beaches with my daughter. ‘As we were returning to our hotel we spotted from a distance what looked like large pieces of driftwood. ‘But when we got a better look we realised the 'driftwood' was moving and it was actually a large group of elephant seals.’ Piedres Blancas is separated in to two beaches and can home as many as 15,000 elephant seals. During Mr Jensen's visit, there were as many as 3,000 lying on the two beaches. Mr Jensen, from California, said: ‘At this time of year the seals are growing new skin and shedding their old skin. ‘The juveniles and females come first, followed by the young males and then the adult males. ‘The elephant seal molt is considered a ‘catastrophic molt’ because, unlike most mammals, it occurs in a short period of time.’ He . added: ‘I had not seen anything like this before, but now that I know . about this place, I will visit it each time I travel up there. ‘It is truly an amazing sight to see so many animals clustered together but it can be quite noisy when they are not resting.' | Thousands come ashore in California to shed annual layer of skin . |
259,540 | dc01ebd16a86707a6aa386eabf009f72488dc40b | By . Jonathan O'Callaghan . Would you live in a parking space-sized house? That’s what one group of students are hoping will solve the housing crisis. Their unique invention could provide urban dwellers with alternative living arrangements. No place like home? The Savannah College of Art and Design has unveiled their miniature houses, called SCADpads, that they say could solve the housing crisis . SCAD stands for the Savannah College of Art and Design, a private university with locations in Atlanta, Georgia in the US, and also Hong Kong and France. The world’s urban population is currently 3.5 billion. It is expected to hit 5 billion by 2035. 81% of the US population lives in urban areas. But there is already a shortage of housing for people in populous cities. There are apparently 105 million parking spaces in the US. That is apparently five spaces for every car. Half of all spaces are vacant 40% of the time. These, the university says, can be used to solve the housing crisis by filling them with SCADpads. It was students from Savannah in Atlanta that came up with this design when they were tasked with making use of a five-storey car park. They came up with these mini-houses that are not only small enough to fit in a parking space but also affordable, each costing an estimated £24,000 (£40,000) to build. ‘As the housing shortage in crowded cities becomes increasingly apparent, President Paul Wallace and SCAD designers have answered the call with the university’s boldest innovation yet,’ the university said in a statement. ‘Branded as a luxury product, SCADpad features an individualised interior, interactive controls and green amenities. ‘The micro homes feature custom exterior and interior elements, modular wall systems, automated home control, sustainable waste management and multifunctional, multipurpose 3-D printed furniture.’ A few students in Atlanta have been selected to trial the SCADpads for a few days to give feedback on the miniature homes. Each of the homes contains all the amenities you’d expect to find in a regular house. The 135-sq ft residences are surprisingly spacious and include a toilet, bed, desk and kitchen. Ultimately, it’s hoped that multiple SCADpads can be used to create small housing communities in unused parking lots. While only in prototype phase at the moment, the university hopes that in future vacant parking lots can be filled with these miniature homes to solve the housing crisis . Each SCADpad comes with most of the things you'd expect from a full-sized home including a desk, bed, bathroom and kitchen . Big problem, tiny solution? Each SCADpad is 8 feet wide and 16 feet long, small enough to fit in a parking space . All electronics in the SCADpad are controlled through an iPad. Lighting can be changed from a deep blue to a bright orange. The windows can be frosted and unfrosted to give you privacy or scenery when you need it. The shelving within is 3D-printed. Some of the homes have interactive wallpaper that plays music when it’s touched. The houses heat up quickly, so not much energy is needed to keep them warm. There is also a filtration system tied into the shower and sink. The windows can't be opened, but the SCADpads do have air conditioning and ventilation fans. According to the university, the global urban population will hit 5 billion people in the next two decades, while 81 per cent of the U.S. population lives in urban areas. But, they say, the world’s most populous cities are struggling to cope with this influx of people and there is a shortage of suitable housing. This project is designed to address the problem by utilising space that is otherwise going unnoticed, in car parks. Three pilot SCADpads have now been developed in a process that took 10 months. But, the university says each unit could eventually be constructed in one to two months. Three 'model homes' are on display at the moment, when they will be lived in by students for a few days to give feedback on what it's like to live in the enclosed spaces . | University students in Atlanta have designed mini-houses for urban living .
'SCADpads' are 8 feet wide, 16 feet long and can fit in US parking spaces .
Each $40,000 abode can be individually tailored and decorated .
The team says half of America's 105 million parking spaces are empty .
And the 'housing crisis' could be solved by filling them with these homes .
Back to Mail Online home .
Back to the page you came from . |
124,110 | 2c6e4e9b84b302dc3358eabbea47efbf23cb7e48 | (CNN) -- An argument before the Supreme Court on October 1 in Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum will have enormous significance. The case concerns the torture of Ogoni leaders in Nigeria, but at stake is the future of the law under which this case was brought, the Alien Tort Statute. The United States stands at a crossroads. At its best, our nation has played a crucial role in championing human rights throughout the world and pioneering human rights law. At its worst, it has abandoned its lofty ideals in the name of realpolitik and supported dictators and policies that were responsible for horrible abuses. Passed in 1789, the Alien Tort Statute was a prescient piece of legislation. It allows foreign victims of human rights abuses in foreign nations to seek civil remedies in U.S. courts, and its animating idea -- that people anywhere should have recourse for violations of the "law of nations" -- was the foundation of our modern understanding of human rights. In the 1990s, Royal Dutch Petroleum (Shell) had extensive oil drilling operations in the Niger Delta in Nigeria, a region long plagued with poverty, human rights violations and environmental disaster. A popular movement of the Ogoni people resisting what they saw as reckless oil development in the region was violently suppressed by Nigeria's military dictatorship. In the suit, the plaintiffs accuse Royal Dutch Shell of helping the former dictatorship in the arrests on false charges and torture of 12 members of the Ogoni tribe, who sought to peacefully disrupt Shell's operations because of the devastating health and environmental effects of unregulated drilling. All the plaintiffs were themselves tortured except Esther Kiobel, who brought her claims on behalf of her late husband, Barinem Kiobel. Kiobel was executed through a sham trial process in which the plaintiffs believe Shell played a central role. The Supreme Court court accepted Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum last fall after a federal appeals court ruled that the statute could not be used to sue corporations. The justices indicated in February that they might question not just the application of the statute to corporations but whether and under what circumstances it applies to any human rights violations, even by individuals, that take place outside the United States. They ordered the case to be re-argued on exactly that question. The case has been brought in the United States because of our nation's historical role in promoting the idea of universal rights and in the development of international human rights law. From Franklin D. Roosevelt's Four Freedoms speech and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that Eleanor Roosevelt tirelessly worked for, to the stirring oratory of Robert Jackson at the Nuremberg Tribunal, mid-century Americans gave voice and visibility to the idea that all people, everywhere, were entitled to certain fundamental rights. Since 1977, the State Department has annually produced Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. The international leadership of the past century is a long way from where we find ourselves now. Our own era is defined by a different legacy: one of waterboarding and "torture memos," extraordinary renditions, indefinite detention at Guantánamo Bay and targeted killings in countries with which we are not at war. "The United States is abandoning its role as the global champion of human rights," Jimmy Carter wrote bluntly in The New York Times in June. Shell Oil must aid Nigeria workers who were tortured, abused . On this grim and morally and legally compromised horizon, the Alien Tort Statute is still one bright spot for human rights advocacy. In a groundbreaking case in 1980, the family of a 17-year-old Paraguayan, Joelito Filártiga, who had been tortured and killed by a henchman of Gen. Alfredo Stroessner, brought and won a civil case against his murderer, Americo Peña-Irala. The young man had been tortured to death because his father opposed the government. The ruling established that the statute could be used to hold modern torturers accountable for their actions, wherever they are committed. In the wake of the case, Filártiga v. Peña-Irala, the Alien Tort Statute developed into a new tool in human rights law. Successful cases were brought against government officials, against non-state actors like Radovan Karadžić in Bosnia-Herzegovina and against multinational corporations before the Second Circuit ruling in Kiobel that disallowed that. It is this legacy that is at stake in the Kiobel case before the Supreme Court. The immediate questions before the court on October 1 concern the reach of the Alien Tort Statute and whether it will continue to be possible for people like the Filártigas and the Kiobels to pursue their tormentors and hold them accountable for their heinous acts, and whether corporations can be held to account. But the larger question is: Does the U.S. want to be a leader or a laggard in upholding international human rights? If the statute is narrowed and its promise of universal accountability curtailed, it will rightly be perceived as yet another step by the U.S. away from its once leading advocacy for human rights. If, on the other hand, the Supreme Court upholds the Alien Tort Statute, it will signal to the world that we do still believe that people everywhere are entitled to certain fundamental rights and that we will help enforce those rights. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Vincent Warren. | Vince Warren: At its best, U.S. has been key in championing universal human rights .
Warren: A longstanding law lets foreign victims of human rights abuse find justice in U.S. courts .
Supreme Court to rule in international human rights case whether law will stand, he says .
Warren: If court upholds the law, the world will see U.S. still supports human rights for all . |
225,565 | b00fb3fcd22c3d2d38fbefc3c130ae09ec7f567b | Washington (CNN) -- The Supreme Court appeared cautiously willing to uphold its decades-old precedent giving labor unions the power to collect dues for collective bargaining from public sector workers, even those who choose not to join the union. That could avoid a major political upheaval in the national labor movement. But a number of justices indicated Tuesday during oral arguments they may rule more narrowly on the case at hand -- and exempt some home-care health providers from being designated "state employees" and forced under Illinois law to pay those fees. It is an economic and legal issue sharply dividing the business community and its allies on one side -- with the unions, some states, and the Obama administration on the other. At issue is whether the free speech and association rights of non-union personal assistants are being violated when Illinois negotiates exclusively with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) over wages, hours and working conditions. The court, as usual, went ahead with its public session despite the rest of the federal government shut down because of the winter weather. Three separate oral arguments took place into the afternoon. The justices almost never cancel them, operating largely on their own schedule, apart from the rest of official Washington. All members of the court were present, and even retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor watched attentively from the sidelines as a spectator in the crowded courtroom. It's called the 'agency shop' Lawyers from both sides faced sometimes withering questioning from the bench. "I'm just going to use the word here, it is a radical argument," Justice Elena Kagan told the attorney for the non-union employees. "It would radically restructure the way workplaces across this country are run." But Justice Anthony Kennedy said the free speech aspect was important, such as the debate over negotiating the size of the government workforce. "I'm talking about whether or not a union can take money from an employee who objects to the union's position on fundamental political grounds. I'm asking the justification for that under the First Amendment," he said. "In an era where government is getting bigger and bigger, this is becoming more and more of an important issue to more people." The Supreme Court has issued a series of incremental rulings over the decades. No worker can be forced to join a union, but the justices have recognized labor organizations carry a legal obligation to represent all employees. Under the "agency shop" dynamic, that means the non-union workforce must still pay their "fair share" for the costs of negotiating and administering binding contracts with the company. The theory is that all benefit from the fruits of collective bargaining, and that allowing individual workers to opt of the contribution -- for financial, personal, or ideological reasons -- would offer no incentive for anyone to pay the fair share fees, called "free riding." And the high court has said that arrangement can be important to maintain a stable workforce and "industrial peace." In 1977, the justices extended its precedents to include public-worker unions. But such fees cannot be used by unions to support purely political activities, such as backing electoral candidates. Forced to subsidize union lobbying? Under the cooperative federal-state Medicaid program for poor and disabled Americans, Illinois decided a decade ago to expand its authority over the estimated 28,000 home-care aides in the state. Illinois lawmakers justified the change by arguing even though the workers are typically employed by the individual patient, they are reimbursed under state-controlled Medicaid funds. Those home-care assistants are considered state workers only for the purposes of collected bargaining, with SEIU the exclusive representative for the separate Rehabilitation and Disabilities programs administered by Illinois. During arguments, William Messenger said his handful of clients -- many of whom provide home health services for their own family members -- were being "forced" to subsidize the union's efforts before the state, which he said was lobbying and "political in nature." "But how does it differ from the typical bargaining that a union does? It asks for a wage rate and it asks for various benefits," said Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, skeptically. "So are you saying that when it's in the public sector, it gets converted into something else?" "What stops the people who oppose the union policy from sending a letter, asking a meeting, expressing their disapproval in any forum they want and in any way they want to whatever policy a union is advocating? Is there anything that stops them from doing that?" asked Justice Sonia Sotomayor. When told there was nothing stopping them, she continued, "So where's the First Amendment abridgement?" Justice Antonin Scalia later added, "So you're essentially destroying not just the [agency] shop, but you're destroying the ability of the union to get money even from the people who don't agree with what it's doing." Justice Stephen Breyer put the question in more practical terms. "You're asking us to overturn a case that's been the law for 35 years... I guess there are millions of instances in which employees and employers and others have relied on it in collective bargaining," he said, wondering "why we should upset reasonable expectations over so long a period of time." But some on the court were concerned these home-care workers were being treated differently than others in the public sector. When pressed by Chief Justice John Roberts, the attorney for the union, Paul Smith, said home-care workers could be forced to pay for the union's efforts to raise its Medicaid rates, but not public school teachers, whose union may be doing the same thing. Smith said since home-aid workers are paid directly through Medicaid, such negotiation and advocacy was "perfectly appropriate." "So the same speech with respect to one union is a speech on a matter of public concern, but with respect to another union, it's not?" Roberts asked, with his hand on his face. State says union representation helps all . The state argues state-compelled union representation has increased wages and benefits, reduced turnover and improved training and supervision for home-care workers who typically do not operate in a centralized workplace. And officials say allowing patients to be cared at home by those aides instead of permanent institutionalization has saved the state more than $630 million in Medicaid costs. But those aides bringing suit say the government has not justified its control, since no one in the state directly supervises them. And they say unions negotiating with the state naturally involve matters of public concern, which deserve greater protection from compelled free speech and association. Among the plaintiffs is Susan Watts, who cares for her daughter, Libby, in their home because of the girl's quadriplegic cerebral palsy, a stroke and numerous surgeries. She says being designated a "state employee" is not proper, since Illinois merely subsidizes a participants costs of hiring a provider for her daughter, which happens to be herself. She attended the arguments and told CNN afterward she was hopeful of prevailing. Near the end of the public session, Justice Samuel Alito raised the elephant-in-the-room issue, the suggestion the state's interest in having the union represent the home-care workers was about political payback. "Do you think that the specific factual background of what occurred here provides a basis for skepticism about Illinois's reason for adopting this?" The federal government's lawyer, Solicitor General Donald Verrilli, replied the state -- as the "manager" of the Medicaid reimbursement program -- should not have its motives questioned. "I thought the situation was that Gov. [Rod] Blagojevich got a huge campaign contribution from the union and virtually as soon as he got into office [in 2003] he took out his pen and signed an executive order that had the effect of putting, what was it, $3.6 million into the union coffers." The current conservative majority on the court has been accused of being overly sympathetic of big business over worker and union rights. Two years ago, in a related case, the court hinted it may be willing to rethink its views on union fees in the larger context of free speech. The question could turn on whether the specific facts in this dispute would be enough to cast aside precedent, and allow a sweeping ruling against the union. The case is Harris v. Quinn (11-681). A decision is due by late June. | Non-union employees challenge Illinois negotiations .
They contend they should not be considered union-covered state employees .
Unions argue all workers benefit from collective bargaining .
Justices appear hesitant about changing precedent . |
81,350 | e67a9b67c2e2cf8334eceb38552da8eeb5ebf0ae | (CNN) -- A former mayor of a city in southeast Wisconsin pleaded innocent Tuesday to charges of child pornography, solicitation of a minor and related counts, a prosecutor said. Gary Becker, former mayor of Racine, Wisconsin, is charged with soliciting someone he believed was a girl. Former Racine Mayor Gary Becker, who was arraigned Tuesday, could face a sentence of up to 164 years if convicted on all counts, District Attorney Michael Nieskes told CNN. He was still in office when he was arrested last month at a shopping mall in Brookfield, Wisconsin. He allegedly tried to meet with a person he thought was a 14-year-old girl after chatting with that person online, said Bill Kosh, a spokesman for the Wisconsin attorney general's office. An officer posed online as the underage girl, according to authorities. Becker's attorney did not immediately return calls for comment. Authorities first launched an investigation after Becker brought his personal computer into the mayor's office for repair. The computer technician hired by his office discovered six pornographic images of girls "possibly under the age of 18 years," according to Wisconsin criminal complaint. The technician reported his findings to local law enforcement officers, and they turned the case over to the state's child Internet crimes task force. Members of the task force swapped out the computer's hard drive so they could investigate without alerting Becker, Nieskes said. Their search uncovered further pornographic images of underage girls and more than 1,800 online chats containing "sexually explicit comments," some of them directed at underage girls, the complaint says. Authorities then set up an online profile for the fictitious 14-year-old girl -- using the name "Hopeyoulikeme14" -- and engaged the mayor in a chat that lasted more than two hours, the complaint says. During the chat, the former mayor agreed to meet the girl at a shopping mall, the document says. Becker, who resigned from office after his arrest, faces six criminal counts: child enticement, possession of child pornography, exposing a child to harmful materials, attempted second-degree sexual assault of a child, use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime and misconduct in public office, according to a January statement from the Wisconsin Department of Justice. | NEW: A former mayor of Racine, Wisconsin, arraigned Tuesday .
NEW: District attorney: Gary Becker could face 164 years in prison if convicted .
Becker is charged with sex crimes, including possession of child porn .
Prosecutors say he used online chat to solicit what he thought was underage girl . |
220,246 | a9133ff3d931a42dc35a50b5ee60f4df50559529 | Many observers point to Moscow's close ties with Damascus going back to the 1950s as a reason for Russia now acting to defend the al-Assad regime in Syria against its many internal and external opponents. What has apparently been forgotten is that Moscow's ties with Syria have been plagued by tensions and disagreements throughout this entire period. Underpinning the Moscow-Damascus relationship for over half a century now has been a common antipathy toward America, Israel, and the moderate Arab states. But they have also differed on many issues. When Soviet-Syrian relations first became close during the mid-1950s, Moscow seemed to hope the then-powerful Syrian Communist Party might at least share power with the virulently anti-Israeli and anti-Western Baath Party. But the Syrian Baathists feared the communists and agreed to the 1958 merger of their country with Egypt and even accepted the leadership of the latter's ruler, Nasser, partly in order to get his help in suppressing the communists. After Nasser helped them do this successfully, he and the Syrian Baathists fell out, and Syria withdrew from their union (officially the United Arab Republic) in 1961. Moscow restored ties with Damascus, but during the 1960s and early 1970s had much closer relations with Egypt, which had allowed the Soviet Union to build up military and naval facilities there. Soviet-Syrian relations improved after Nasser's successor, Sadat, switched Egypt from being a Soviet ally to being an American one, and even made a separate peace with Israel. Moscow was also grateful to Syria for being one of the few Muslim states that did not condemn the USSR for invading and occupying Afghanistan. Nevertheless, Moscow and Damascus disagreed on several issues. Although the USSR supplied arms to Syria, Damascus complained that America supplied better ones to Israel, and that this allowed Israel to best Syria on the numerous occasions when their forces clashed. Moscow responded by saying there was nothing wrong with the quality of Soviet weapons; it was the quality of the Syrian personnel operating them that was deficient. While it broke diplomatic relations with Israel during the June 1967 Arab-Israeli War, the Soviet Union at least recognized Israel's right to exist. Syria, by contrast, did not. As a result, Syria did not cooperate even with Soviet-sponsored Arab-Israeli peace initiatives. In addition, Moscow was not pleased about Syria's intervention in Lebanon's long civil war beginning in the mid-1970's. Moscow and Damascus often found themselves supporting different factions during it. Further, while Moscow (and many Western states) supported Iraq during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War, Syria -- practically alone among Arab states -- supported Iran. Syria was not happy with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev for having improved relations with America, the West, the moderate Arab states, and even Israel. And while Russian relations with America and the West deteriorated during the Yeltsin era (1991-99), this was also a period in which Russia was largely absent from the Middle East and thus did not provide much support for Syria. After Putin rose to power at the very end of 1999, it soon became clear that he wanted to reassert Russia's influence in the Middle East and elsewhere. Even so, Russian-Syrian relations did not improve for several years and were actually quite testy until 2005. Putin was unhappy that Syria was unwilling to repay its Soviet era debt -- some $12-13 billion -- to Moscow. Damascus was unhappy about the improvement in Russian-Israeli relations that occurred under Putin, and about Russia's refusal to sell advanced weapons that Syria wanted but Israel objected to it acquiring. Russian-Syrian relations, though, did improve in 2005 -- the year that Syria withdrew its forces from Lebanon in response to an amazing popular uprising in that country and possibly to Syrian fear of American intervention if it did not withdraw. Moscow and Damascus resolved the debt issue (very much in Syria's favor), Moscow began work to revitalize the use of naval facilities at the Syrian port of Tartus that the Soviet Navy had used during the late Cold War era, and the Russian oil firm, Tatneft, gained a foothold in the Syrian petroleum sector. While the West and the Arab League have condemned President Bashar al-Assad's regime for its violent oppression of the popular unrest against it that arose in 2011, Russia (along with China) has staunchly defended Damascus in the UN Security Council and elsewhere. Many of the previous Russian-Syrian differences, though, remain -- especially ones concerning Russia's close relations with Israel and the inability of Syria to obtain certain Russian weapons systems. Should the al-Assad regime manage to crush its internal opponents and remain in power, it is doubtful that these ongoing Russian-Syrian differences will disappear. Moscow is not defending the al-Assad regime because it has been such a great Russian ally. What motivates the Kremlin instead is the fear that if the al-Assad regime falls, what comes next in Syria will be worse for Russia: either a pro-Western, democratic government that has no further need of Russia, or a radical, Islamist regime that is as anti-Russian as it is anti-Western. In either case, Russia would lose influence in Syria. And since Syria is the last country in the Middle East in which it has strong influence, this means Russia will lose influence in the Middle East as a whole. Compared to this prospect, it is not surprising that Moscow prefers to see the survival of the al-Assad regime despite how difficult and uncooperative a partner for Russia it has proven itself to be. Follow CNN Opinion on Twitter. | Russia has maintained close ties with Syria since the 1950s .
Syria one of few states that did not condemn USSR for occupying Afghanistan .
Russia revitalized their naval facilities in Syrian port of Tartus in recent years .
Russia fears losing influence in its biggest Middle East ally if the al-Assad regime falls . |
8,627 | 18565de60a3da497f26c7998339cfa29817ae305 | By . Ruth Styles . The Queen is famous for her love of horses and so are Zara Phillips and Princess Anne. But it seems they aren't the only royals with a passion for all things equine. Sophie Wessex, a keen rider in her own right, was among the racing aficionados to turn out for the first race of the day at Newmarket - and even had a runner. Unfortunately for the royal, her horse, Zilber, failed to make the grade and could only manage a third place finish in the Alex Scott Maiden Stakes, well behind the winner, Provident Spirit. Enjoying the day: A casually dressed Sophie Wessex chats to jockey Adam Kirby ahead of the first race . Staying ahead in the style stakes: The Countess of Wessex teamed her tweed suit with chic patent boots . Despite the disappointing result, the Countess appeared on good form as she enjoyed the sunshine and a chat with co-owner, the Countess of Derby, and Zilber's jockey Adam Kirby. The day out at the races is a break from what has been a very busy schedule for the Earl and Countess of Wessex, with more engagements to follow next week. Next week will see the royal couple tour Gloucestershire, with visits to the Clearwell Caves and Three Choirs Vineyard in Newent pencilled in. The following day, the couple are scheduled to visit a number of historic churches in Oxfordshire, before the Countess continues on alone to a local packaging factory. Briefing: The Countess of Wessex and the Countess of Derby talk tactics with jockey, Adam Kirby . Runner up: Zilber, pictured right, took third place behind the eventual winner Provident Spirit, centre . All smiles: A well wrapped up Sophie Wessex appeared to be enjoying her day out in the sunshine . Passion for horses: Although not as committed as the Queen, Sophie Wessex is also a horsewoman . For now, and with the Easter break to look forward to, the Countess appeared relaxed and happy as she watched the races in the bright Suffolk sunshine. And although she didn't quite manage to take home the trophy, she did at least fare better than the Queen, who last week saw her filly Enliven trot into a lowly seventh place in the Coln Valley Stud Bridget Maiden Fillies Stakes at Newbury. The monarch couldn't conceal a grimace as she watched her horse, who had been introduced to President Higgins of Ireland the day before, slope across the finish line. The Queen's career as a racehorse owner spans more than 60 years and began with the handful she inherited on the death of her father George VI. Like her father and grandfather before her, the Queen's horses race in purple and scarlet silks enlivened with gold braiding. During her long association with racing, the Queen has triumphed in more than 1600 races and has won every one of the British Classics, with the exception of the Epsom Derby. Last year, Estimate, a filly owned by the Queen, romped home to take the prestigious Gold Cup at Royal Ascot - much to the delight of the monarch. While Sophie Wessex regularly appears in the carriage alongside the Queen at Royal Ascot, she, unlike her mother-in-law, is yet to win a race there. Thrilled: Frankie Dettori jumps for joy after riding Sandiva to victory in the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes . Close call: Frankie Dettori's Sandiva (left) narrowly squeaks past Silvestre de Sousa on Majeyda . | The Countess of Wessex co-owns a bay thoroughbred colt named Zilber .
Zilber finished the Alex Scott Maiden Stakes at Newmarket in third place .
Countess and Zilber's co-owner, the Countess of Derby, both watched race .
Despite the result, both appeared to enjoy the day and glorious sunshine . |
117,609 | 23db6ffc2d54a5c43e7ea964bcdeeb4f7b37cf15 | Under threat: An undated photo of businessman Neil Heywood who was murdered in November last year . A bodyguard who protected Neil Haywood during his affair with his alleged murderer Gu Kailai has spoken of how he fought off three Chinese assassins in an attempt on the old Harrovian’s life. Michael Wright and his team were protecting the couple during the time they shared a flat in Bournemouth and revealed that the exposure of the affair led to a serious threat to Neil Heywood's life when three men tried to break into their home. His interview comes the days after . Gu Kailai appeared in court in China accused of killing Neil Heywood after he made a threatening . demand for £13million from her playboy son. Mr Wright said the team were surprised . by three Chinese henchmen under orders to kill Mr Heywood after a spy, . posing as a cook, has exposed the affair in 2001. He said the three men attempted to break into the flat using martial arts. ‘They didn’t speak any English but . they wanted to get upstairs to the flat where Neil and Mrs Gu was . hiding,’ Mr Wright told The Mirror. ‘They were under orders to kill . someone and it was my job to stop them. I was confronted by one of the . guys at the front and wrestled him to the ground to restrain him.’ ‘It was brutal. Those guys wanted . blood. Eventually we got the better of them and they didn’t want the . British police turning up so they jumped in a car and sped off.’ The attempt on his life terrified Neil Heywood and Mrs Gu was ‘shaking like a leaf’. Mr Wright also revealed that despite the . attempt on his life Mr Haywood and Mrs Gu became increasingly relaxed . about their affair and would enjoy romantic dates at local restaurants calling . themselves Neil and Gu Horus for protection. Mr Wright described Neil Heywood as a . nervous ‘old English colonial’ in linen suits who would chain-smoke at . least three packs a day. Gu Kailai has admitted to Chinese police in a pre-trial interview that she lured her former lover to a hotel room where she got him drunk and then laced his drink with cyanide. Facing trial: Gu Kailai, 52, and aide Zhang Xiaojun, 33, are escorted into the Hefei City People's Court . No contest: Gu and Zhang did not raise any objections that on November 13, 2011, they went to Heywood's hotel room and, after getting him drunk, administered a fatal poison . The . alleged motive behind 41-year-old Mr Heywood’s grisly death was . revealed at the murder trial of Mrs Gu, dubbed the Jackie Kennedy of China. Her lawyer even argued that affable Mr Heywood, a father of two young . children, ‘should bear some responsibility’ for his own murder. Mrs Gu appeared in court on Wednesday alongside her co-accused – family . bodyguard Zhang Xiajun, 33, who is alleged to have prepared the poison – . where they both entered pleas but they did not contest the murder charge against them. The court heard the Jaguar-driving . Englishman had fallen into an ‘economic dispute’ with Mrs Gu’s party-loving . son Bo Guagua, 24, whom Mr Heywood had once mentored to secure a place . at his alma mater, Harrow School. Mr Bo, known for a love of champagne . and shisha parties while studying at Oxford University, was allegedly . told by Mr Heywood: ‘If you do not give me £13million, you will be . destroyed,’ the judges heard, according to a reliable source who was in . the courtroom. Political scandal: Gu Zailai, left, with her husband - former Chongqing Municipality Communist Party Secretary Bo Xilai. The murder case is one of China's biggest political scandals . These threats, in an email or letter, were said to have been forwarded by Bo to his mother. International media were banned from . the highly-politicised trial, which concluded in less than seven hours . in the Intermediate People’s Court in the eastern Chinese city of Hefei. The source added that the court heard it was not the first . assassination plot on Mr Heywood, with Mrs Gu having previously conspired to . kill him with a local police chief. Implicated: The official allegation against Gu suggests Heywood might have been making threats against her son Bo Guagua, 24 . The court’s deputy director Tang Yigan . announced: ‘Gu Kailai believed that Neil Heywood had threatened the . personal safety of her son Bo and decided to kill him.’ Gu summoned him to Chongqing, the . mega-city in southwestern China where her husband was Communist Party . Secretary, on November 13 last year. They drank tea and wine together in . room 1605 of the ‘Lucky Holiday Hotel’, before Mr Heywood became drunk . and was sick. After he had vomited, Gu, 53, helped . him drink a glass of water – which she had mixed with a lethal draft of . potassium cyanide. A . student who was allowed to witness the case said Gu had appeared . ‘calm’, despite the possibility she could be sentenced to death. ‘There . were no tears. Both looked quite calm, peaceful. Both said they accepted . the court’s authority,’ said the student. Mr Tang said prosecutors . believed the facts of the ‘brutal’ crime were clear and backed by ‘ample . evidence’, and that ‘Gu Kailai is the main culprit and Zhang is the . accomplice’. Gu had reportedly made a full . confession to police, which it was in her interests to do because it . will act in her favour during sentencing deliberations. The judges . reserved their verdict to an unspecified date within the next 30 days . She will almost certainly be found . guilty, but could be spared the executioner’s bullet because of her . defence that she was only trying to protect her son. In a bid to further . lighten her sentence, Gu was said to have made accusations about ‘other . people’s crimes’, although no details were given. | Michael Wright protected Bournemouth flat where the murdered businessman lived with Gu Kailai .
Neil Heywood lived in fear after affair with 'China's Jackie Kennedy' was exposed .
Gu Kailai appeared in court on Wednesday where her lack of objection has been considered an admission of guilt .
Foreign media denied access, blogs deleted, online searches disabled .
Guilty verdict may lead to the death penalty . |
171,443 | 69e97796e92e7340bdfbaf1391721fcfdb5f26b6 | For rogue foreign currency traders hoping to rig the system, there was a 60-second window to cash in. At 4pm, the most important part of their day, they used internet chatrooms to share confidential information about orders from clients for foreign currency. The corrupt bankers knew they could make hundreds of thousands of pounds profit for their firm – and so boost their bonuses – in a matter of seconds. Scroll down for video . UBS, Citibank, HSBC, RBS and JP Morgan were fined £2billion and Barclays will also be fined at a later date . For it is when rates for a wide range of currencies are set in a market where trillions of dollars change hands every day. So they would would conspire with each other to move the rate of a currency up and down by placing huge orders and persuading others to follow suit. Because foreign exchange is a global 24-hour market, with institutional clients such as pension funds, big companies and hedge funds placing huge orders for currencies, banks take a snapshot of how much is being bought and sold during a 30-second period just before and after 4pm. This is known as the 4pm WM Reuters Fix and is used as a peg for determining the rates clients receive when they order currency. Traders pushed the ‘fix’ currency rate up or down by submitting a rush of orders during this 60-second window. This skewed the market’s impression of supply and demand, so changing the price. Traders placed their own orders before 4pm to profit from the subsequent movement in prices. Typically they ganged up with traders at other banks as it is easier to move rates up or down if they worked together. In the hours before 4pm, tight-knit groups of traders would share confidential information about client orders to buy or sell a particular currency. Messages were typically exchanged in internet chatrooms, often given colourful nicknames such as Three Musketeers, the A-Team and the Co-operative. Punishment: Five of the world's biggest banks, including HSBC, have been fined a total of £2bn for colluding to make money from the foreign exchange market. They used a 60-window in the trading day to rig rates . When they failed to make a killing, they would berate each other. One HSBC employee complained to a trader from another bank who had not disclosed a large order in advance: ‘You are useless… how can I make free money with no ****ing heads up.’ One bank would typically take the lead if it had received a large order from a client asking to buy a certain currency at the 4pm fix rate. Shameful: New evidence published by the FCA reveals the bragging messages sent by bankers online . If the bank sells the currency to the client and then the rate goes up at 4pm it stands to lose money. But traders managed this risk by buying currency in the market to sell to clients later. If the rate goes down at 4pm then the bank makes money. To ensure this happens the trader would work with counterparts at other banks urging them to push through sales of currency during the 60-second window at 4pm to drive the rate lower. In one example, HSBC colluded with traders from at least three other firms to attempt to drive the sterling-dollar rate fix lower. Shocking: One conversation between traders led to a deal that made giant UBS $513,000 and one trader joked about how a colleague bragged about his bonuses . The Financial Conduct Authority said traders had shared confidential information about client orders prior to the fix, and then used this information to attempt to manipulate the fix downwards. The sterling/dollar exchange rate fix fell from £1.6044 to £1.6009 in this particular example, making HSBC a £100,000 profit. Afterwards, traders congratulated themselves, saying: ‘Loved that mate... worked lovely... pity we couldn’t get it below the 00’, ‘there you go.. go early, move it, hold it, push it’, ‘nice works gents..I don my hat’ and ‘Hooray nice teamwork’. In another case RBS generated a profit of £390,000 in seconds. One trader involved in the scam commented later: ‘We ******* killed it right... [another firm], myself and RBS.’ Royal Bank of Scotland was fined a total of £399million including £217million by the FCA and £182million by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). HSBC was fined £389million including £216million from the FCA and £173million from the CFTC. Swiss bank UBS was fined a total of £503million including £234million by the FCA, £182million by the CFTC and £87million by the Swiss regulator FINMA. America's Citibank was hit with penalties of £420million including just under £225.6million from the FCA and £194.6million from the CFTC. JP Morgan Chase was fined £417million including £222million by the UK regulator and £195million from the CFTC. However Barclays, the third British bank expected to be fined, said it was 'in the interests of the company to seek a more general coordinated settlement' with more investigations from other authorities still to come. | RBS, HSBC, JPMorgan Chase, UBS and Citibank fined in UK and U.S.
Barclays bank will also be fined but it is still negotiating its punishment .
Bankers were rigging the £3.5trillion-a-day foreign exchange markets .
Anyone found guilty of manipulating the Forex market could face jail .
Traders used 60-second window to strike deals and cash in on profit . |
101,279 | 0e898ba6eebbcec645799f0724163803a3d7fe2e | A callous thief stole a pot of money belonging to a severely disabled man by posing as his carer. Patrick McKinlay, 25, who has spina bifida and uses a wheelchair, accidentally left his pot of money at the Tesco Extra café in Barrow, Cumbria. Staff at the store, where Mr McKinlay is a regular, noticed the pot had been left behind on the table and put it behind the counter for safe-keeping. The pot contained between £8 and £9. A thief stole a pot of money belonging to Patrick McKinlay, 25, who has spina bifida, after he left it on the table at a Tesco café in Barrow, Cumbria. He is pictured with his personal support worker Andrea Foster . Staff at the store, where Mr McKinlay (pictured with his mother) is a regular, noticed the pot had been left behind and put it behind the counter for safe-keeping, but a man falsely claimed to be the young man's carer . But, minutes later, a thief tricked staff into handing over the money, by claiming he was Mr McKinlay's carer. The man even gave a detailed description of the pot in order to convince staff that the item should be handed over. He then left the store. The young man's mother Carole McKinlay, 58, said it was 'frightening' to think that the thief could have been watching her son and his carer before carrying out the crime. Carole McKinlay, 58, said it was 'frightening' to think the thief could have been watching her son before the incident . She said: 'Patrick has a little pot of money that he carries with him whenever he goes to town so he can buy DVDs or a bag of chips or a cup of tea. 'It's his little thing that he does. It upset him because he couldn't get the DVD that he wanted because he didn't have the money. 'He couldn't understand that he didn't have the money any more. 'I was quite frightened that someone would pretend to be his carer, they must have been watching him. 'I was quite disgusted that someone could do that to be honest.' The suspect is described as a slim white male with black hair. The incident occurred between 2.30pm and 3pm on Friday, November 14. Mrs McKinlay has now urged any witnesses to come forward. She said: 'I'd just like to say if anyone knows anything about it or if they were there on the day and might have seen something please come forward.' Sergeant John McIntosh of Barrow Police said: 'What makes this crime so unusual is the impact it's had on the victim. 'Hopefully this appeal to the members of the public will help bring the perpetrator to justice.' Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Cumbria Police on 101 and ask to speak to PC 2063 Callum Lennox. A Tesco spokesman said: 'We were sorry to hear about this incident and we value Patrick as a regular visitor to our store. We’ll be helping the Police with their investigation.' | Patrick McKinlay, who has spina bifida, visited Tesco Extra café in Barrow .
25-year-old accidentally left money pot, containing around £8, on the table .
Staff put money pot safely behind the counter until Mr McKinlay returned .
A thief later claimed the pot by pretending he was the young man's carer . |
240,203 | c2f3cac6bc01ecf007c4d1d767111029d4fe1f3c | A woman has died and 84 people have been hospitalized after smoke engulfed a train carriage and a station platform during a huge electrical malfunction on the Washington D.C. Metro on Monday afternoon. Around 200 people were evacuated from L'Enfant Plaza at 3.20pm after the thick cloud of smoke barreled through the carriages, leaving hundreds of commuters in need of medical attention and causing chaos during the city's rush hour. A woman on the train - which had stopped 800ft short of the platform when the smoke began pouring in - was taken to hospital after paramedics arrived on the scene. She later died. It was the first fatality on the Metro system since a 2009 crash that killed eight passengers and a train operator. Others on the train started choking and lost consciousness as they waited for help to arrive as the smoke billowed from the malfunction deeper in the tunnel. Two people are said to be in a critical condition at George Washington Hospital. An initial investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the smoke had been caused by an 'electrical-arcing event'. An arcing occurs when electricity from the third rail comes into contact with another substance that conducts electricity, such as water, and may generate smoke. Scroll down for video . Engulfed: Smoke is seen hovering over L'Enfant Plaza Metro station in Washington D.C. after thick smoke filled one of the tunnels and a station platform on Monday afternoon. One woman died as a result and more than 80 people were taken to hospital . Caught-up: Two men who were in the station when it started to fill with thick smoke wait outside. One is given an oxygen mask by firefighters to combat smoke inhalation . Trapped: Terrified commuters crouch onto the floor of the smoke-filled train. Some said they were left inside for as long as an hour . Horrifying: A man is seen being dragged from one of the carriages by firefighters holding flashlights . While there was water in the tunnel, NTSB investigator Michael Flanigon said the cause of the arcing was not yet known. 'The third rail is high-voltage direct current, and if that current starts arcing to another conductor that it is not designed to connect with, you get a flash,' Flanigon said. 'In certain cases, that arc can start sort of feeding on itself, and it actually generates gases that are more conductive.' Forty of the injured were transported by bus to Howard University Hospital, and between 20 and 25 people were taken to Washington Hospital Center. As well as the 84 people who were hospitalized, 200 people are being evaluated, authorities said. One firefighter was also said to have been hurt, but does not have life-threatening injuries. Panicked commuters described how they lay on the floor of a pitch-black train for 40 minutes in a bid get away from the smoke while announcers told them to 'stay calm'. Others said they waited up to an hour, while some passengers left the trains on their own. 'It started to get scary pretty quick,' passenger Jonathan Rogers told The Washington Post. 'People started praying. Smoke was coming in pretty steadily.' Those who caught up in the smoke were seen walking away from the station with black soot under their noses. Emergency workers escorted smoke inhalation victims to medical aid buses to receive oxygen. Adjoa Adofo, 30, a public relations worker who was on her way to Virginia, told the Washington Post: 'People were panicking. We didn't know what to do and and we weren't getting a lot of information.' She also described how one man suffered a seizure while another terrified man started banging on the closed doors. Dense: A man is seen lying on the floor of the dark carriage as smoke flows through the closed doors . Evacuation: Firefighters are seen guiding passengers through the blackened subway tunnels to safety . Response: A woman is taken into the back of an ambulance. As many as 200 passengers were being evaluated after the incident . Alec Dubois, a freshman at Gonzaga University, told CNN affiliate WJLA: 'People were freaking out, going everywhere. The conductor was telling us to stay calm. He said he was trying to get our train back to the station. 'We had no cell service. I was trying to call my parents. And then there was black stuff everywhere, it was all over my pants, too. It was under our noses. We have no idea what it was.' There were huge delays on the Metro system as a result with a number of lines stopping services or diverting journeys as the smoke was ventilated out of the surrounding tunnels. The yellow line remained shut down Tuesday morning, and the system's orange, blue and silver lines were on a reduced schedule. Service on the green and red lines was normal. NTSB railroad accident investigator Mike Flanigon told the DailyMail.com: 'Just after 3 pm ET today, a six-car Yellow Line train, traveling southbound from L'Enfant Metro station, stopped about 800 feet inside the tunnel leading towards the Pentagon. 'About 1100 feet in front of the train there was an electrical arcing event involving the trackside power cables (the third rail). The tunnel was filled with smoke. Passengers on the train self-evacuated. The train did not derail. There was no fire on the train. 'The NTSB will be finishing up its on-scene work tonight and releasing the site to WMATA. Investigators will conduct a post-recovery examination of the train tomorrow to document the equipment. Taking cover: The station was evacuated on Monday and one person - a female passenger - later died . Help: Firefighters assist a man and set up mass casuality procedures to treat the passengers who were exposed to the smoke . Aftermath: Two men caught up in the smoke hold their hands on their chests as they are led onto a bus . Attention: Commuters who were inside the downtown Washington D.C. station at the time are led to a bus to receive medical treatment . Personnel: A Metro Transit Police officer walks up the escalator at L'Enfant Plaza Station in Washington . Support: A firefighter puts his arm around a woman and guides her to a bus so she can receive medical attention . Investigative groups will include train operations, survival factors and emergency response, and fire science. D.C. Firefighters union Local 36 described the incident as a 'Mass Casualty' event, meaning additional resources were needed because it was such a large-scale incident. In response to the tragic death, Metro General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Richard Sarles said in a statement: 'There was a woman who was in distress on that train, and I'm sorry to say she's passed away.' According to WUSA 9, there was a track fire at the same station last Wednesday. A piece of debris was caught in a light grate, filling the station with smoke. L'Enfant Plaza is near several government buildings, office complexes and restaurants. Washington's Metro system serves five million people in a 1,500-square-mile (3,885-square kilometer) area, which includes transport to neighboring Virginia and Maryland states. The trains and buses provide about 2.3 million trips per year, according to WMATA. Concern: Two firefighters speak with a victim following the evacuation. The smoke caused chaos for commuter's in the nation's capital . Law enforcement: An FBI Medic, center, helps people onto a bus after they were evacuated from a smoke filled Metro subway tunnel . Area: A woman coughs hard as she and another woman speaks on the phone during the evacuation of people from the smoke-filled Metro subway tunnel in Washington . City: The scaffolding surrounding the top of the U.S. Capitol is seen in the background with a number of police cars parked in front of L'Enfant subway station . | L'Enfant Plaza was evacuated on Monday afternoon after thick smoke filled the station .
Terrified passengers described being stuck inside a pitch-black train for up to an hour with some lying down to avoid the smoke .
A woman was taken to hospital after paramedics found her unresponsive and she later died .
Two other passengers are said to be in a critical condition at George Washington Hospital .
Initial probe by the NTSB said smoke had been caused by an 'electrical-arcing event', which occurs when electricity from the third rail comes into contact with another substance that conducts electricity, such as water .
The yellow line remained shut on Tuesday morning, and the system's orange, blue and silver lines are on a reduced schedule . |
146,763 | 49c9c2e9e43584e61086d06c81371d8737be5373 | By . Mark Duell . PUBLISHED: . 16:01 EST, 4 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:42 EST, 5 June 2013 . Smuggler: Russian guards show a cat which they caught on a clandestine mission at the Komi prison . Prison inmates been known to bribe guards so they can smuggle in mobile phones. But - for the second time in five months - a cat appears to have been used as an accomplice. Guards patrolling a prison colony in Russia's north saw a cat on the fence that was apparently carrying something. On a closer look, they found two mobile phones and chargers taped to the male cat's belly. The federal prison service said the incident happened last Friday evening at Penal Colony No 1 near the city of Syktyvkar in Komi province, 600 miles north-east of Moscow. It was not immediately clear how the cat was supposed to drop off its loot. A spokesman for the jail said: ‘Two packages were taped to the animal’s back. ‘When the packages were unwrapped, guards found objects prohibited in the penitentiary facility - two cell phones with batteries and chargers. 'Obviously we can’t question the cat, but someone somewhere knows who he was delivering these items to and we will hold him until we find out.’ It follows an incident in north-east Brazil in January when a cat carrying a saw and mobile phone was 'detained' as it entered a prison gate. Brazil incident: A cat carrying a saw and a mobile phone was 'detained' in January as it entered a prison gate at the jail in Arapiraca city, in the state of Alagoas . Guards at the jail in Arapiraca city, in . the state of Alagoas, were surprised when they saw a white cat crossing . the main gate of the prison, with its body wrapped with tape. A closer look showed the feline also carried drills, an earphone, a memory card, batteries and a phone charger. 'It's tough to find out who's responsible for the action as the cat doesn't speak,' a prison spokesman said following the incident on New Year's Day. | Cat was caught last Friday at Penal Colony No 1 in Komi province, Russia .
Packages were unwrapped by guards who discovered two mobile phones .
Comes after cat tried to smuggle phone and saw into Brazil jail in January . |
275,312 | f0ab22964cd3c1862bf5a96a9ed30d8a1a67427e | Across the world, people are crammed around their television sets, eagerly watching the $42million spectacular of London’s Opening Ceremonies. But those watching stateside will be forced to wait until 7:30pm EST, when NBC will broadcast the show, three and a half hours from the actual start of the ceremony, adjusted for time differences. The network, which has sole rights to broadcasting the Olympics in America, has chosen to delay their broadcast to the chagrin of viewers hoping to catch a live glance of the elaborate ceremonies. Click here to watch highlights from the opening ceremony . Delayed: The live broadcast of the Opening Ceremonies in London are being held by NBC, and will be broadcast instead at 7:30pm EST tonight; here, the performance has already started . Satire: Journalism professor and TV commenter Jeff Jarvis tweeted this topical thought . Further, they chose not to stream the events online, the Wall Street Journal said. An American in London: Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, right, is at tonight's ceremony . This means that those wanting to watch on the West Coast must wait a full six and a half hours before seeing the commencement of the 2012 Olympic Games. Journalist and former TV critic Jeff Jarvis was among many who voiced their anger over the delay in the games. Mr Jarvis tweeted: 'Without NBC live streaming of the Olympics opening ceremonies, I'll have to rely on Mitt Romney's tweets.' Mr Romney has been doing damage control after questioning if Britain was capable of handling the Olympics. The presidential candidate has been on a high-profile tour of the country, and is attending the night's ceremonies. NBC, which has owned the American broadcasting rights to the Summer Olympic games since 1988, most likely held the broadcast so it would hit square in prime time. Advertisers pay more for time slots in such programming. According to Ad Week, NBC purchased the rights to the Olympics from 2014-2020 for a staggering $4.38billion. They were awarded the right by the International Olympic Committee. The site said that NBC lost $223million in its broadcast of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic games, and is slated to lose even more in the London broadcast. Isolation: This Twitter user (hyperbolicly) said he would turn off every form of social media ahead of tonight's delayed events . Tony Metcalf, the Editor-in-chief of New York City paper Metro called NBC’s actions a ‘clueless, arrogant disgrace.’ The jilted editor wrote in an editorial that he and his staffers had planned an office party, complete with drinks and pizza. When he realised that the pizza orders had to be cancelled, he wrote: ‘America's reputation at the Games has already taken a hit thanks to the brainless gibbering of Mitt Romney in the last few days.’ He continued: ‘And the notion that the NBC's audience figures are more important than the Olympic Games just supports stereotypes that Americans are insular, arrogant and could not care less of about anything that happens beyond the country's borders. I know they are not.’ Today show host Matt Lauer, along with . the rest of the popular morning show, have been broadcasting live from . the English capital and will continue their broadcast from London’s . Olympic Park for the duration of the two-week games. NBC affiliates like NBC Sports, NBC News, and CNBC will all broadcast events. NBC earlier told the New York Times’ Media Decoder that it has collected $1billion in Olympics advertising, including digital and cross-platform adverts. Included in that are apps for mobile and tablet devices, and a 3-D channel. A full list of tomorrow's events may be seen here. How do you feel about the delay? Let us know in the comments section. Britain opened its Olympics with a royal entrance like no other. London greeted the world in a celebration of Old England that was stunning, imaginative, whimsical and dramatic - and cheeky - even featuring a stand-in for Queen Elizabeth II parachuting into Olympic Stadium. Moments later, the 86-year-old monarch herself stood solemnly while a children's choir serenaded her with 'God Save the Queen,' and members of the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force raised the Union Jack. Fighter jets streaming red, white and blue smoke roared over the stadium, packed with a buzzing crowd of 60,000 people, at 8:12 p.m. - or 20:12 in the 24-hour time observed by Britons. Ringing in: The Olympic rings are illuminated with pyrotechnics as they are raised above the stadium . Foggy day: A storm cloud is suspended over the stadium, giving a cheeky nod to the country's notoriously grey summer . An explosion of fireworks against the London skyline and Paul McCartney leading a singalong were to wrap up the three-hour show masterminded by one of Britain's most successful filmmakers, Oscar winner Danny Boyle. He led off his spectacular in his favoured medium, with a high-speed flyover of the Thames, the river that slices like a vein through London and was the gateway for the city's rise over the centuries as a great global hub of trade and industry. The rush of images showed a cricket match, the London Tube and the roaring, abundant seas that buffet and protect this island nation - set to a pulsating soundtrack including snippets of the Sex Pistols' more irreverent cover of 'God Save the Queen.' To open the ceremony, children popped balloons with each number from 10 to 1, leading a countdown that climaxed with Bradley Wiggins, the newly crowned Tour de France champion. Wearing his race-winner's yellow jersey, Wiggins rang a 23-ton Olympic Bell from the same London foundry that made Big Ben and Philadelphia's Liberty Bell. Idyllic: Artists perform a scene in pastoral wear . Good health: Actors perform in a sequence meant to represent Britain's National Health Service (NHS) perform . Its thunderous chime echoed around the 80,000-seat Olympic Stadium. Bells in Britain have traditionally pealed to celebrate the end of war and the crowning of kings and queens, and now for the opening of a 17-day festival of sports. The show then shifted to a portrayal of Britain that Britons cling to - a place of meadows, farms, sport on village greens, picnics and Winnie-the-Pooh, A.A. Milne's fictional bear who has delighted generations of British children tucked warmly in bed. But the British ideal - to quote poet William Blake, of 'England's green and pleasant land' - then took a darker, grittier turn. The set was literally torn asunder, the hedgerows and farm fences carried away, as Boyle shifted to the industrial transformation that revolutionized Britain in the 18th and 19th centuries, the foundation for an empire that reshaped world history. Belching chimneys rose where only moments earlier sheep had trod. Dickensian: Artists arrive on a horse and carriage, a nod to a bygone era of top hats and waistcoats . Variations on British themes: Danny Boyle drew inspiration for the show from British culture, including Alice in Wonderland, James Bond and Harry Potter, as well as Shakespeare . Country affair: Performers carry instruments during a segment of the ceremony . The Industrial Revolution also produced terrifying weapons, and Boyle built a moment of hush into his show to honour those killed in war. 'This is not specific to a country; this is across all countries, and the fallen from all countries are celebrated and remembered,' he explained to reporters ahead of the ceremony. 'Because, obviously, one of the penalties of this incredible force of change that happened in a hundred years was the industrialization of war, and the fallen,' he said. 'You know, millions fell.' Olympic organizers separately rejected calls for a moment of silence for 11 Israeli athletes and coaches slain by Palestinian gunmen at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Regal: Looking festive in a pale coral, Queen Elizabeth II, right, and Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee, right, appear at the festivities . Two of the Israelis' widows appealed to audience members to stand in silence when International Olympic Committee chief Jacques Rogge rises to speak later at Friday's ceremony. The Israeli culture and sport minister planned to do just that. Since then, 8,000 torchbearers, mostly unheralded Britons, have carried the flame on a 70-day, 8,000-mile journey from toe to tip of the British Isles, whipping up enthusiasm for a $14 billion Olympics taking place during a severe recession. The identity of the last torchbearer, the one to light the cauldron, was kept secret - remarkable given the intense scrutiny at what have been called the first social media Olympics. Speculation focused on Roger Bannister, the first man to run a four-minute mile, in 1954, and on rower Steve Redgrave, among others. Royal spectators: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge enjoy the atmosphere ahead of the ceremony . Majestic: The Red Arrows fly over the Olympic Stadium at sunset, leaving plumes of red, white, and blue in the sky . Boyle's $42 million show, with 15,000 volunteers, promised to take the expected global television audience of 1 billion on a rich and textured journey through British history. In the center of the stadium, where athletes like Usain Bolt will star in the coming weeks, Boyle constructed a giant set portraying a romanticized vision of a green and pleasant Britain. Smoke wisped from the crooked chimneys of a homely thatched cottage. Meadows of perky pink flowers, spreads of real grass, fake fluffy clouds and live animals - including 40 cream-colored sheep - transported spectators from the East End of London to a rural idyll so dear to English hearts. That was later to give way to darker, grittier segments dwelling on the industrial might upon which Britain built a global empire and shaped world history. Not so happy: Spectators pass along a huge inflatable ball during the Opening Ceremony; many in the U.S. are upset they won't see the ceremony 'live' Full house: Thousands of spectators - an estimated 60,000 - take their seats ahead of the ceremony . Boyle's challenge was daunting: To be as memorable as Beijing's incredible, money-no-object opening ceremony of 2008. He drew from Shakespeare, British pop culture, literature and music, and other sources of inspiration that will speak to - but perhaps at times baffle - not just Anglophiles but people across the globe. One segment featured the actor Daniel Craig as James Bond, and former Beatle Paul McCartney was to lead a sing-along. For Jacques Rogge, it was his last time as president of the International Olympic Committee to watch the Olympic flag being raised at an opening ceremony. He will step down in 2013 after completing the maximum two terms. Besides the thousands of athletes and performers, 60,000 spectators were expected to pack Olympic Stadium. Political leaders from around the world, U.S. first lady Michelle Obama and her daughters, and a sprinkling of European and celebrity royalty were also attending. | NBC network delaying broadcast of tonight's Opening Ceremonies until 7:30pm EST, three and a half hours after they began .
Outraged Olympic enthusiasts took to Twitter to voice complaint .
NBC has owned exclusive rights to air Summer Olympics in U.S. since 1988 .
Reports $1B in ad sales for 2012 coverage . |
269,728 | e959a11169ef426ae44b2402d72d888829bdc75e | Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany believes Frank Lampard's dramatic equaliser against former club Chelsea could prove to be a pivotal moment in the title race. Lampard's late volley against the side he represented for 13 distinguished years kept City within five points of the leaders rather than an imposing seven. 'Ever since I have been at this club, seasons and big moments have been decided on small events like this one so I will never underestimate what it could mean to our season. It could be crucial,' Kompany said. Frank Lampard's goal against former club Chelsea could be key to the title race, says Vincent Kompany . After 13 years at Chelsea, Lampard's celebration was muted out of respect after he scored the equaliser . 'Frank brings quality. The goal he scored you would have seen from him for the last 15 years in the Premier League. 'He is clever and still extremely motivated. 'He brings experience. It is not a word you make up, it is something that helps and it is like his goal: keeping your head cool in a moment when you are under pressure and down to 10 men - how many players would have scored that goal? 'He has proven it himself in only a few minutes, which is good.' Lampard will not be around when the title race is settled, with a new life at New York City waiting for him in the new year, but Kompany believes both parties are getting a good deal from his short-term loan arrangement. Lampard beat former team-mate John Terry to a ball in the box before beating keeper Thibaut Courtois . Manchester City fans celebrate as Lampard walks away following his 85th-minute goal . 'I think it goes both ways. He needed what we can offer him and I think we needed what he can bring to us,' said the Belgium skipper. 'If you talk to him I reckon that's how he sees it as well and his goal was just the icing on the cake. 'Ultimately you play so many competitions you need all the guys to be there and he is another who will clearly make our team stronger.' The nature of the MLS schedule does offer the tantalising prospect of a future return for Lampard, though at 36 this would appear to be his farewell to English football. Kompany does not know if the chance will come again but has no doubts Lampard is still up to the task. 'That is not for me to judge, I think he has his personal plans as well, but I can base things on what I see day in, day out on the training ground and he is one of the better players,' the City skipper added. 'That is as simple as it is. The rest is not up to me.' City captain Kompany (left challenging Chelsea's Ramires) says titles can be decided by little moments . On loan from New York City, Lampard is congratulated by his Manchester manager Manual Pellegrini . | Frank Lampard scored against Chelsea for Manchester City in 1-1 draw .
Lampard found the 85th-minute equaliser after coming off bench .
City captain Vincent Kompany said goal could be crucial to title race .
City remain within five points of Premier League leaders Chelsea .
On-loan Lampard leaves City in January to join New York City . |
180,039 | 751c4871d65b6e06e64fa3357f7dbbc07c2a6931 | By . Steve Robson . PUBLISHED: . 07:59 EST, 8 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:38 EST, 8 January 2013 . A daughter is facing a court battle after she was fined £167 for stopping in a bus lane for seven seconds while she let her elderly father get out of her car. Susan Hatton pulled over at the end of a bus stop in Eastwood Road North, Leigh, Essex, to let her 84-year-old father, Ken, out. But she was spotted by Southend Council's spy car and slapped with a £35 ticket. Enraged: Driver Susan Hatton has contested the fine from Southend Council and says she will take her fight to court if necessary . Mrs Hatton has contested the fine, which has since risen to £167, and says she is prepared to take her fight to court. Mrs Hatton, 61, said: 'My father was 84 at the time and six weeks later he was in hospital with pneumonia. He has emphysema in both lungs and he can't walk that far. I thought why get a blue badge as he only goes up the road. 'I didn't even get out the car.' The fine came through the post stating she had been watched for one minute pulling over in the bus stop. It also included two pictures of the . incident - one with the passenger door open taken at 11.21am and 38 . seconds and another at 11.21am and 45 seconds when he was completely out . of the car. Mrs Hatton, who lives in Leigh, appealed but it was rejected and bailiffs instructed to chase her for the bill. Snapped: Parking bosses sent these images to Mrs Hatton of the incident which show she stopped for seven seconds in the bus lane . She said: '£167 for all of ten seconds or less. We are talking about a few seconds and I wasn't parked - I'd stopped to let him out. 'I'd like to go to court, I want to have my say. It doesn't seem at all fair that it can go on for a year and I haven't been taken to court. 'It must have cost them a fortune to do this.' Derek Kenyon, Southend Council's parking manager, said the council had rejected the challenge. He said: 'However - as with all our correspondence- when we sent our response we also included details of the next stage of the process, if the objector wished to take the matter further. 'The latest communications we have sent to the resident also give information about the procedure. If the resident wishes to continue with her challenge we would strongly advise the follow the steps given in the details provided.' | Susan Hatton spotted by Southend council's spy car in Leigh, Essex .
£35 ticket has now spiralled to £167 after she contested it .
'I don't think it's fair - I didn't even get out the car,' she said . |
65,984 | bb42e8cb66fc1294ea632aa2db878ad74c36f105 | Lieutenant John Thornton, 22, of 40 Commando, wrote the diary in the days leading up to his death . Poignant extracts from the war diary of a Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan have revealed he predicted his own death in a roadside bomb blast. Lieutenant John Thornton, 22, of 40 Commando, wrote the diary in the days leading up to his death. His vehicle struck a roadside bomb in the Kajaki area of Helmand Province in March 2008. The spiral bound memoirs, detailing every moment of his six month tour, have now been published in a new book entitled ‘Helmand: Diaries of Front-Line Soldiers’, after his mother Linda painstakingly typed up his scribbled notes. It opens with an emotional account of him writing his 'death letters' to his family and friends and goes on to reveal his growing fear that the prevalence of improvised explosive devices was rendering survival a numbers game. He writes: '... it has dawned on me just how high the threat is from an IED strike within our area. I think it's the same for most when I say it is not the bullets that scare me but the cowardly bombs.' He was so convinced he would die, that during a patrol on December 27 he organised for an ambulance to follow behind him because he was convinced there would be an explosion, the Sunday Times reports. He writes: 'I apologise for writing my last entry as if I was about to die. I genuinely thought that I would.' The book features dramatic details of battles and attacks by enemy insurgents, with one episode leaving him feeling 'physically sick' after one of his troop fired three grenades which landed close to another group of British soldiers. The marine pictured with Daily Mail Defence Correspondent Matthew Hickely in Helmand Province, Southern Afghanistan in December 2007. He died in an IED explosion on Sunday 30 March 2008 . It also notes the sometimes absurd . nature of war. In one entry he describes watching what he thought was an . insurgent for five hours, but turned out to be a large owl. He was told by his . superiors that his men were constantly singing his praises and that he . was in line for a mentoring job at the commando training centre in . Devon. The book also includes an tribute from the Reverend Stuart Hallam, who was with Thornton - nicknamed JT - when he died. He said he held his head as the operating theatre was 'awash with his blood'. But he added: 'JT just lay there looking utterly peaceful- he was in a better place - certainly a better one than the rest of us.' He then describes having to find a room and weep alone at the young man's death, before breaking the news to a group of marines who had gathered outside the hospital. In 2011 Thornton’s brother, Ian, deployed to Afghanistan in command of 9 Platoon from the 1st Battalion, to an area of Helmand province not far from where he fell. Ian’s diaries are also included in the book to highlight the vast progress that has been achieved in Helmand since his brother’s deployment. The 31-year-old - who carried his brother's death letter inside his body armour when he went on patrol - spoke of his determination that he should not die on duty for his family's sake. All royalties from sales of the book being split equally between the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation and the Royal Marines Charitable Trust. | John Thornton, 22, wrote the diary in the days leading up to his death .
His mother Linda has now painstakingly typed up his scribbled notes .
Includes an emotional account of him writing his 'death letters' to family . |
131,412 | 35ef500d4d86a200bb6ab4649e0db8d2960757e3 | Buenos Aires, Argentina (CNN) -- A former Miss Argentina died Sunday after complications arising from plastic surgery, the official Telam news agency said. Solange Magnano, 37, died in a hospital after being transferred from a clinic where she underwent an elective surgery on her buttocks on Wednesday, the agency reported. Magnano ran her own modeling agency in Argentina, and had been a model and Miss Argentina in 1994. She also was the mother of 7-year-old twins. The cause of her death was under investigation, authorities said. News of her death shocked her fans. By Monday, a tribute page on the social networking site Facebook had more than 830 members. "This is a horrible day. We will miss you, Sol," one Facebook poster wrote. "You couldn't be any more beautiful than you already were," another person added. "You had to pay with your life." Magnano's most recent project was a runway show to be held in December in her hometown of San Francisco, Argentina, according to Telam. In recent years, Argentina has become an international destination for plastic surgery. The costs of such procedures there are much lower than in other countries. Estimates say that 1 in 30 Argentines has gone under the knife, making surgeons here some of the most experienced on the globe. Medical tourism has seen a huge jump over the past decade, and is projected to be a $100 billion global industry by 2010, according to the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. | Solange Magnano, 37, died Sunday following elective surgery on buttocks .
Magnano ran her own modeling agency, had 7-year-old twins .
Argentina has become popular destination for plastic surgery .
Around 1 in 30 Argentines estimated to have gone under the knife . |
256,397 | d7dce668d95fac57ab23246ba073b18cc8fc2ab7 | Police are investigating the rape of two female students and a serious sex assault of a third at the prestigious Royal Agricultural University. Three male students have been arrested in connection with the alleged attacks on the night of a summer ball to mark end-of-year exams. A university source told The Mail on Sunday that the alleged attacks took place at a private property in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, after the group had spent the night celebrating at the May Ball. The three victims were aged 19, 20 and 21. The university confirmed that three male students have been suspended. The Royal Agricultural University in Gloucestershire, known as the Oxbridge of the countryside, where the alleged attacks are said to have taken place . A university source, who did not want to be named, said: ‘The ball was, as usual, a riotous occasion, with everyone throwing a considerable amount of alcohol down their throats.We’ve got 1,200 students here and a good many of them were at the ball, as well as quite a few ex-students and staff. There’s never any trouble normally, beyond people letting their hair down and having a good time. ‘We are all extremely shocked by what has happened.’ The internationally renowned university, which until 2013 was known as the Royal Agricultural College, is rated the Oxbridge of agricultural studies and is often attended by the sons and daughters of wealthy and titled landed gentry. The ball was hosted by the university’s student union, which describes the annual event on its website as ‘the biggest ball of the year and the main event in the social diary’. It adds: ‘With live bands and top DJs, a funfair and partying from dusk ’til dawn.’ A police spokesperson said: ‘Three students from the Royal Agricultural University were arrested on Sunday May 25 in Cirencester in connection with an investigation into alleged sexual assaults. They have been bailed respectively until July 29, 30 and 31 to return to a police station as part of the investigation.’ Prince Charles congratulating a student, not connected with the case, at the Royal Agricultural University . The Royal Agricultural University, founded in 1845, is ranked by the influential Complete University Guide as the fifth safest in the UK. It was the first agricultural college in the English-speaking world. Former students include political commentator Jonathan Dimbleby, Princess Anne’s ex-husband Captain Mark Phillips, the late champion horse trainer Sir Henry Cecil and racehorse trainers Nicky Henderson and Andrew Balding, who is the brother of TV and radio presenter Clare. The university provides more than 30 land-based undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses for students from almost 50 countries worldwide and is, according to the Complete University Guide, often described as ‘the Oxbridge of the countryside’. On the Royal Agricultural University website, ex-student union chairman Nick Pain is quoted as follows: ‘The Student Union motto is Work Hard, Play Hard!, and Ciren students certainly live up to the hype!’ The historic university’s main quadrangle sits alongside a 16th Century tithe barn and farmhouse, in 25 acres of manicured grounds. The university operates two farms in the area. Students can study a range of courses rooted in agriculture, business, food production and equine management to Masters degree level. The university motto is ‘Avorum Cultus Pecorumque’, meaning ‘Caring for the fields and the beasts’. Since 2008, the university has seen a 49 per cent rise in applications and is ranked top in the UK for investing in campus facilities. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Alleged attacks took place at the Royal Agricultural University after May ball .
Three male students have been arrested in connection with the attacks .
The students have now been suspended from the college .
Victims are aged 19, 20 and 21 and had been celebrating end of exams .
University's former students include Jonathan Dimbleby and Captain Mark Phillips . |
139,468 | 4056a809cb011374dbab139dba70aefc7c5f473b | CLICK HERE to read Martin Samuel's match report on heartbreak for City at the Allianz Arena . There are certain, unavoidable signs of a centre forward lost in a haze of low confidence and Robert Lewandowski exhibited them in spades on Wednesday night. Heavy first touches, weak finishing, failure to get the head up and utilise peripheral vision. You could easily have put the Bayern striker’s name all the way down the checklist. It can be painful to watch, whoever you support. Down the other end of the field, Manchester City’s Edin Dzeko must have looked on and winced. He knows what it feels like to see the goal shrink to the size of a waste paper bin but the Bosnian also knows what it’s like to come out of the other side of a confidence crisis. Dzeko survived his own issues at Manchester City and surely Lewandowski will survive his own here in Bavaria. Robert Lewandowski looked low on confidence as Bayern laboured to a goalless draw with Manchester City . Lewandowski was outshone by his Manchester City counterpart Edin Dzeko (R) at the Allianz Arena . With Dzeko – who arrived at City on the back on bundles of goals for Wolfsburg in January 2011 – it was the demands of life in a new league and environment that foxed him. That and a very modest relationship with his manager at that time, Roberto Mancini. With Bayern’s Polish striker Lewandowski, it would appear to be the challenges of playing for a really big club that is vexing him after his move from Borussia Dortmund. He has actually scored five goals this season already, the only problem is that four came in one game for Poland last week. Lewandowski skewed his opening shot just wide after being smothered out by Joe Hart in the first half . The Poland international was unable to find any joy from his tussles with Vincent Kompany . Prior to this game, every one of the talkers at a Bayern press conference – coach Pep Guardiola and players Philipp Lahm and Jerome Boateng – was asked about Lewandowski’s poor form by journalists. The replies were all positive, of course, but only goals really matter when it comes to hushing chatter about centre forwards in press rooms and bars and cafes. Lewandowski has one for Bayern in the Bundesliga so far but it came away at Schalke. He hasn’t scored at the Allianz Arena yet and, until he does, the chatter will go on. On Wednesday he certainly had his chances an opening half that Bayern dominated. Had he been wearing the yellow of Dortmund rather than the famous red of Bayern then he perhaps would have scored twice early in the game. The first opening looked made for him as he moved in to space on to a pass on the edge the penalty area but as Bayern supporters shuffled towards the edge of their seats in anticipation a first touch so heavy as to be almost violent took the ball away from him. Lewandowski battles with Manchester City defender Martin Demichelis for the ball but couldn't get his goal . City defenders rush into challenges as Lewandowski makes his way into the danger area . Soon after he did manage to guide the ball around Joe Hart but, from a tight angle, the ball was subsequently directed rather meekly in to the side netting. That is what low confidence does. It turns things that normally come naturally in to challenges that, all of a sudden, can’t be met. Certainly this was a different Bayern team last night than the one that we are used to. Take Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben out of this side and the whole pattern – the whole rhythm – of the play changes. With Bayern’s two scampering wide men flying down either side and – when the mood takes them – cutting inside, it must be a dream to be a number nine. However, the play was a little narrower and one can only imagine that when Ribery and Robben do return from injury Lewandowski’s life will become rather easier. Here against City Bayern’s chances came in a flurry early on and Hart had to be somewhere near his best to keep his team in the game. Dzeko was chosen to start ahead of Sergio Aguero and led City's line with a commanding performance . Dzeko has overcome his early teethinbg problems at the Etihad after winning Manuel Pellegrini's trust . As City gradually improved, so Dzeko was able to exert himself on the contest, though. Such is his standing at City now that it was not such a surprise to see the 28-year-old handed a starting berth ahead of Sergio Aguero. With Alvaro Negredo allowed to go back to Spain at his own request last month, City coach Manuel Pellegrini will rotate his three remaining strikers all season long. Dzeko, at last, looks capable of more than holding his own. On Wednesday his running was intelligent and his hold-up play astute. One run on to a David Silva pass – that led to a shot to the near post – looked almost intuitive. When players don’t think too much, good things just happen. | Manchester City lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich in Champions League opener .
Former City defender Jerome Boateng scored a late winner .
Robert Lewandowski still struggling after move from Borsussia Dortmund .
Poland international is yet to score a goal at the Allianz Arena .
By contrast Edin Dzeko has overcome his early problems at with Blues . |
185,174 | 7be06feac0c00b2e4c548634f44c900c3098d47a | It is the happiest day of a couples life but can also be one of the most expensive, seeing many people saving for years in order to afford their perfect wedding. However one thrifty bride has proved that a magical matrimony needn't require draining your bank account or taking out a second mortgage. Shelley Richmond, 30 from Terrington in Yorkshire created her dream day all for less than £4,000 which although is still a large amount of money it's a snip considering that last year the average wedding cost was £21,939. Cheap and cheerful: Shelley and Paul's wedding cost just £3, 800 . The scrimping bride made whopping savings by making her own wedding dress costing just £115 with shoes. She purchased her bridesmaids' dresses on Ebay with the cheapest costing just £7. Incredibly, spendthrift Shelley spent just £600 feeding all 120 guests, working out at just £5 a head. However, there was one area that Shelley wasn't prepared to scrimp on with her wedding drinks being her biggest set back. Her total bar bill was £1000 making sure her wedding went off with a bang. Bargain bride: Shelley's wedding dress and shoes set her back just £115 . Shelley's venue cost a bargain £400 making her total spend for her ideal wedding just £3,800. For Shelley and her partner Paul, an lavish bash wasn't an option as the couple had just bought a house together so were running low on funds but they didn't want to cut corners on their special day. She and Paul had been together eight years before getting engaged on holiday in Scotland in . August last year. 'We were staying in our little camper van and had just been out for a meal at our favourite restaurant. Paul . tricked me by saying he could see a pod of dolphins in the sea, but . when I turned back round he was holding a beautiful shiny ring.' Shelley saved money on her bridesmaids' dresses by purchasing them on Ebay with the cheapest costing £7 . Shelley and Paul (centre) met eight years ago and got engaged while on holiday in Scotland last year . Shelley who works as a painter and photographer, says that she was able to save so much by calling in favours from friends. 'The main way we cut down on costs was skill swapping, so my friend's band played the reception, and I'll be shooting their wedding photos, friends did the catering and I set them up a website for their new business. 'My dress I made from fabric bought through a wholesaler for around £75. Shelley called in favours from friends to avoid spending a fortune. Her friend did her hair and makeup for her . Pennies make pretty: Shelley created her own floral decorations for her wedding (left) Shelley and Paul held a cake competition at their wedding (right) Creative saver: Shelley paid her waiters in booze in order to save on cash . Shelley was able to feed her entire wedding party for just £5 a head and made her own liqueur for the toasts . 'I bought all my bridesmaid dresses on eBay or as samples from a friend who works in fashion, so they were free. The most expensive one was £7.' Shelley saved further by getting creative, designing and making her own floral decorations rather than relying on a pricey florist. 'We picked flowers from a . family friend's garden, just topping them up with a few from the . supermarket. We all made our own bouquets and my bridesmaids did the buttonholes for the men too.' Not-so-pricey party: Shelley's venue came in at a snip for just £400 . Shelley and Paul couldn't afford an overindulgent wedding as the pair had just bought a house together . Despite having stretched to a slightly dearer bar bill, the bride still found ways to cut the costs when it came to drinks. 'I . made flavoured liqueur for the toasts, served in shot glasses from . charity shops. Everyone had a different glass which was lovely, but now . I've got 120 shot glasses I don't know what to do with.' Say Shelley who even managed to sort cheap accommodation for her large group of guests. 'We had 120 . guests at the wedding who didn't have to pay for anything. We bought the . alcohol at wholesale prices from a local supplier, then I arranged for . everyone to be able to camp at the village hall to save them paying for a . pricey hotel.' Shelley's bridesmaids helped her create her budget wedding by skill-sharing . Shelley went for a vintage feel at her country wedding and the experience has inspired her to set up a money-saving crafty blog - Pretty Thrifty . Shelley even got creative when it came to means of paying seeing her waiters work for something other than tips. 'Our catering was done by our friend Kenny, and we used students for waiters - they will work for beer.' For . the dessert Shelley and Paul held a cake-making competition, which was . so successful they still have cake in their freezer now. Shelley says that no one would be able to tell it was a budget wedding unless they had already known . Shelley doesn't think that her wedding suffered at all despite her clever cost-cutting. 'I think unless you knew it was cheap, you wouldn't have guessed.' The experience has even led Shelley to turn her skills and passion into a profession running her own blog called Pretty Thrifty where she shares DIY tutorials, money-saving tips and shares other budget weddings and common sense wedding planning advice. For more details go to www.prettythrifty.co.uk. Fabric for dress: £75 . Printing for invites, save the dates etc: £100 . Shoes: £40 . Bridesmaids dresses:£20 . Headpiece: £7 . Flowers: £20 . Rings: £250 . Circus tent: £1,000 for three days . Church: £400 . Village hall rental for the weekend for camping, Friday night party and Sunday morning breakfast: £180 . Food: £600 . Drink: £1,000 . Decorations: £100 . TOTAL: £3,792 . | Shelley Richmond spent just £3, 800 on her dream wedding .
She had to cut costs as she had just bought a house with her partner .
The thrifty bride found creative ways to save money by skill-sharing .
Her waiters kept costs down as she paid them in beer .
Shelley now has her own blog to inspire other budget brides . |
212,580 | 9f41d6b14148650d6c43a73cd7615963a0c87630 | A celebrity hairdresser whose clients include the Duchess of Cambridge has been fined £40,000 after one of his stylists suffered third degree burns in a fire at his salon. Stylist Gail Purcell received serious burns after an accident at the boutique owned by Daniel Hersheson, who has styled the hair of countless celebrities at the salon over the years, when her skirt was set alight by a candle used to create atmosphere. Hersheson is the head of a family beauty dynasty which includes wife Ruth, son Luke and daughter Lauren, and whose clients have included Kate Middleton, socialite Tara Palmer Tomkinson, model Pixie Geldof and actress Sienna Miller. Accident: Gail Purcell suffered third degree burns when her clothes caught fire at the salon in West London . According to statements gathered by London Fire Brigade safety inspectors, Ms Purcell had to run to different parts of the building in Conduit Street trying to find water and help to put the fire out. Hersheson spends most of his working time at the Conduit Street branch but also works one day a week at Harvey Nichols. No fire alarm sounded, no one appeared to know what to do and no first aid was given before paramedics arrived at the blaze in 26 May 2009. Ms Purcell was taken to Chelsea and Westminster hospital following the fire and was found to have suffered third degree burns. London Fire Brigade were not called to the blaze but attended the flagship boutique on 29 May 2009 to conduct a fire safety inspection, where a number of serious safety concerns emerged. The salon of celebrity stylist Daniel Hersheson (left) was fined £40,000 after a hearing at Southwark Crown Court attended by the hairdresser's wife Ruth (right) They found fire doors at the luxury salon were propped open, storage was blocking some of the corridors, fire alarms were faulty and there was a substandard fire risk assessment in place. Rudan Ltd, trading as Daniel . Hersheson, pleaded guilty to two offences under the Regulatory Reform . (Fire Safety) Order 2005 - failure to make a suitable and sufficient . fire risk assessment and failure to provide staff with adequate and . regular safety training. The . company was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court today yesterday and . ordered to pay a fine of £10,000 for each of the two offences and . £20,000 costs. The injured stylist was employed by celebrity . hairdresser Daniel Hersheson, whose clients include the Duchess of . Cambridge (left) and Tara Palmer-Tomkinson (right) Famous faces: The model Pixie Geldof (left) and the actress Sienna Miller (right) have been clients of Mr Hersheson's company . LFB’s Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Fire Safety Regulation Lee Phillpotts said: 'Business owners have a clear responsibility under fire safety law to ensure that both the public and their employees are safe from the risk of fire. 'This verdict sends a clear message that if these responsibilities are ignored we will not hesitate in prosecuting and serious penalties are likely to be imposed. 'People should always be extremely careful when using candles. You should never leave them unattended and keep them well away from any flammable materials.' | Gail Purcell's clothes set on fire at London salon after accident last year .
Daniel Hersheson's salon is used by Kate Middleton, Pixie Geldof and Sienna Miller . |
113,965 | 1f0bcfd7269c8eb08e34c8f4ddd2e5bdfd44a3ff | (CNN) -- Residents of one of Syria's most war-ravaged cities demanded answers Thursday after a pair of devastating explosions killed dozens of children. The bloodshed Wednesday spurred mourning residents to demand the ouster of the Homs governor and his assistant, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. It spurred a Syrian official, Hilal al-Hilal, to visit the wounded and offer condolences to loved ones of the dead at the direction of President Bashar al-Assad. "(These) heinous crimes against innocent children reflects the cowardice of the terrorists who have sought to kill science," al-Hilal said, according to the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency. An earlier SANA story said that an explosives-packed car was detonated minutes before a suicide bomber blew himself up in front of a school. The blasts were timed to coincide with students leaving school, to inflict maximum casualties, that report said. Horrifying video shows pieces of bodies lying on the street afterward, amid the injured and the scared. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London-based monitoring group, said Thursday that at least 53 were killed in the blasts in Homs' Ekrima neighborhood, adding, "the number of the dead is likely to rise (due) to the serious injuries." Those killed include 46 children, most of them less than 12 years old; the United Nations reported that at least 30 of the dead were schoolchildren between the ages of 6 and 9. The neighborhood that was attacked is predominantly Alawite, a religious minority that is a Shiite offshoot to which al-Assad belongs. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called "an act of the utmost depravity." Whomever is to blame, the blasts shows that Homs is once again in the middle of war. For much of Syria's 3½-year civil war, the ancient city has been known as the capital of the uprising against al-Assad -- and it became a prime target for his forces as a result. U.N. humanitarian chief Valerie Amos estimates that as of September 30, the ongoing war has killed more than 190,000 people, and thousands more were thought to be trapped in a siege dating to June 2012. Yet the situation appeared to stabilize this spring after a truce between government and rebel forces. Since then, Homs has been firmly under government control and relatively quiet. But Wednesday's blasts shattered that sense of security and stability. Syrian rebel groups unite to fight ISIS . | Group says at least 53 killed -- including 46 children -- in twin explosions in Homs .
Mourning residents called for the ouster of Homs' governor .
Syrian official blasts "heinous crimes against innocent children," state news says .
Homs had been a focal point in Syria's civil war but was relatively quiet in recent months . |
83,226 | ebf92fed59fb47b9c0c5f4c4fde247cd512f4a6f | By . David Mccormack . PUBLISHED: . 23:35 EST, 2 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:33 EST, 3 March 2013 . For squeamish people and picky eaters the appearance of a rainbow-like sheen on roast beef and processed ham has long been taken as confirmation that the meat is spoiled or tainted. But this commonly held food myth is in fact false. Over the years there has been enough speculation about the safety of rainbow beef that the Department of Agriculture has sought to set the record straight once and for all. Beef Rainbow: The USDA has explained that when light hits a slice of meat it splits into colors like a rainbow it is called 'diffraction grating' and is due to the elements present in the meat . On the USDA website under the heading ‘Iridescent Color of Roast Beef’, this strange phenomenon is explained to be in fact perfectly natural and caused by iron and fat that exists in meats such as roast beef and processed ham. According to the USDA, when light hits a slice of meat it splits into colors like a rainbow due to the elements present in the meat and this is called a ‘diffraction grating’. There are also various pigments in meat . compounds which give it an iridescent or greenish cast when exposed . to heat and processing. The same thing essentially occurs when light waves bend or spread around a surface and create a pattern, such as when the light hits the surface of a DVD. Since the main color created by meat . diffraction gratings is green, perhaps it isn't surprising that many . people have traditionally viewed the color as a sign of spoilage. In . Dr. Seuss's Green Eggs and Ham, the character 'Sam I Am' pesters an . unnamed character to taste a dish of green eggs and ham. The unnamed . character declines, claiming to dislike the dish until eventually he . gives in and tries it and discovers he likes it after all. Light waves scattered by the regularly spaced protrusions and microfibrils in the meat send colored light in particular directions . The rainbow on beef is similar to that found on a CD or DVD, while green has traditional been associated as a color of food gone bad through children's book like Green Eggs and Ham . The rainbow effect is most commonly . seen in cooked beef because this is typically sharply sliced against the . grain of the muscle fiber, which, coupled with the moisture in it, . creates an excellent surface for producing rainbows. ‘The . reason it shows up in roast beef is because the cuts of meat that are . used in most roast beef are more prone to iridescence, particularly in . the round,’ Dr. Thomas Powell, Executive Director of the American Meat . Science Association, told The Atlantic. So . the next time you turn your nose up at a cut of beef in your local deli . or that's been in your fridge for a couple of days remember it's . probably fine. The real signs that meat has gone off are if it was slimy . or sticky and have a bad odor. Next time you turn your nose up at a cut of beef in your local deli because you can see a rainbow on it don't worry it's probably fine for you to eat . | USDA sought to set the record straight about the integrity of rainbow beef .
A rainbow-like sheen doesn't mean it has gone off and is perfectly normal .
The real signs that meat has gone off are when it is slimy or sticky and has a bad odor . |
59,765 | a9b9cd2e9192431fff305d70ded3dc4d9847f487 | A New Hampshire state lawmaker has called a Democratic congresswoman 'ugly as sin' and said that her opponent is one of the most attractive women in politics. Representative Steve Vaillancourt, a Republican from Manchester, compared U.S. Representative Annie Kuster to a drag queen in a clueless blog post on NH Insider last week. He explained that he was inspired to write the post after hearing 'some polling data which went by too fast for me to write down' and which he later could not track down on Google. The poll revealed that 'an attractive candidate can have as much as a seven to ten point advantage over a less attractive (or even an unattractive) candidate,' he wrote. Scroll down for video . Clueless: Rep. Steve Vaillancourt, pictured, called a Democratic congresswoman 'ugly as sin' in a blog post . A candidate needs to be attractive to win, but can't be 'so drop dead gorgeous as to intimidate those watching', he explained. He then asked what this might mean for Kuster's re-election race against her opponent, Republican Marilinda Garcia, in New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district in November. 'Let's be honest. Does anyone not believe that Congressman Annie Kuster is as ugly as sin? And I hope I haven't offended sin,' Vaillancourt wrote. But by contrast, 32-year-old Garcia, is 'one of the most attractive women on the political scene anywhere, not so attractive as to be intimindating [sic], but truly attractive', he wrote. He said that Garcia is so attractive that Democrats have struggled to find a bad picture of her. 'If looks really matter and if this race is at all close, give a decided edge to Marilinda Garcia,' he wrote. Cruel: He said Rep. Annie Kuster, pictured left, looked more like a drag queen than most men in drag. By comparison, he said that her Republican opponent Marilinda Garcia, right, was 'truly attractive' But he doesn't stop there. He then tells a bizarre story of a 'rather attractive drag queen' whom he saw outside a bar named Mados during a recent trip to Montreal and said he thought of Kuster, 58. 'By now you probably know why I think of Annie Kuster whenever I walk by Mados,' he said. 'Sad to say, but the drag queens are more atrractive [sic] than Annie Kuster.' He concluded: 'Annie Kuster looks more like a drag queen than most men in drag.' He seemed to be aware that his disgusting comments might upset a few readers as he had prefaced the comments with a warning, saying: 'The subject matter, although very real, may prove uncomfortable for some of my more sensitive readers.' Kuster's campaign has declined to comment on the blog post. But Garcia said the 'sexist' comments 'have absolutely no place in political discourse'. 'Both Rep. Kuster and I have experienced this unfortunate reality of being a woman in politics,' she said in a statement, CBS said. 'I hope that as time moves forward and more female candidates run for political office around the country, people will focus on the content of our ideas rather than what we wear and how we look.' Leader: Kuster, right with a supporter, was elected to New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district in 2013 . Fan: Marilinda Garcia (pictured) should win November's race if looks have a part to play, Vaillancourt said . Readers of the blog apparently had the same stunned reaction. Beneath the post, they lambasted his rant, branding him a 'bully' and calling for his resignation. 'You never mentioned qualifications for either women,' one said. Vaillancourt has refused to say if he stands behind his comments. The lawmaker is no stranger to controversy. In 2012, he was forced to publicly apologize for saying 'Sieg Hiel' and giving a Nazi salute during a heated floor exchange. Although one recent independent poll by WMUR puts Garcia ahead, Kuster has long been leading the polls, results show. Kuster, a mother-of-two, was elected to office in 2013. | In a blog post, Republican Steve Vaillancourt wrote that Representative Annie Kuster 'looks more like a drag queen than most men in drag'
By contrast, her opponent Marilinda Garcia is 'truly attractive', he wrote .
He said he was inspired to write the blog post after hearing a poll revealing that attractive candidates can have a 10 point lead over unattractive ones .
Garcia said the comments 'have absolutely no place in political discourse' |
7,354 | 14d4a457e39d9e2d3aecba8f58c7c6d62a1d3e89 | By . Graham Smith . Last updated at 3:22 PM on 20th January 2012 . A teenager who became the youngest person in Britain to have a full sex change is hoping to be crowned Miss England. After four suicide attempts, Jackie Green, 18, from Leeds, underwent surgery to become a woman on her 16th birthday. Ever since she was a toddler, Jackie - who was . born a boy and named Jack - always acted like a girl . and insisted on wearing feminine clothes and playing with girls’ toys. Teenage dreams: Jackie Green, pictured on TV show Lorraine Live today, hopes to be crowned Miss England just two years after she underwent a full sex change operation . Her parents came to terms with the . fact she was really a girl trapped inside a boy’s body and spent, in . total, £28,000 on her treatment. At her lowest point, the teenager even threatened to cut off her own genitals with a knife. Now Jackie has her sights set on a model future as she dreams of a place in the Miss England semi-finals. She said: 'It’s a little strange because there are so many other really gorgeous girls in the competition. 'It would be amazing to win and I just hope it makes other people see that there is a lot more to life than getting bullied.' New life: Jackie Green was the youngest person in Britain to undergo a sex change two years ago . Prayers answered: Jackie, pictured just before surgery, had her operation on her 16th birthday in Thailand . She added: 'When I was younger I never really . had anyone else to look up to in the same position. I would have never . imagined this, not in a million years.' Her supportive mother Susie added: 'If she went on to win I would be very proud of her. 'She has stuck herself out there and knew she would get flak for it. Some comments on websites haven’t . been very kind but she is aware of that and thinks why should that stop . me, I’m the same as anyone else.' Jackie is currently leading the public vote in her heat of the popular beauty contest. When she was Jack: Jackie, pictured with her mother Susie (left) , knew she was a girl trapped in a boy's body from an early age. She now dreams of following in the footsteps of Miss England 2011 Alize Mounter (right) The top three will then go through to a . judging panel before a lucky model is given the coveted spot in the . semi-finals of Miss England. A spokesman for the competition said: 'There's not much we could do legally to stop her entering. 'We did agonise over it, but as she is a woman she fits the bill and is an affable young lady.' Jackie underwent a seven-hour sex change operation in Thailand, where under 18s can have the surgery, two years ago. After years of bullying and torment, she now claims to lead a normal life and has a boyfriend. | Jackie Green - formerly Jack - underwent surgery to become a woman in Thailand on her 16th birthday . |
237,372 | bf395eacdf4045de0b2335555af1d3d87f9b9a69 | Manchester United player Marcos Rojo has sparked widespread anger after posting a picture of notorious Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar on a social media site. The Premier League defender posted a photo of Escobar on his Instagram page on January 3 along with a quote attributed to the drug baron, who was linked to thousands of deaths during the bloody drug wars of the 1980s and 90s. Instagram users have now lashed out at the 24-year-old, branding him 'ignorant' and suggesting supporting Escobar was like supporting violence. Rojo's Instagram post (pictured) featured Pablo Escobar and a quote which translated to: 'The only people I will let eat at my table are those who go through hunger with me and never bend at the bad times in life' Rojo (pictured) transferred to Manchester United for a £16million fee last summer . Despite the uproar, the picture remains on Rojo's (pictured) Instagram page and attracted 700 comments . The quote below the picture of Escobar reads: 'The only people I will let eat at my table are those who go through hunger with me and never bend at the bad times in life.' While the quote on its own could be interpreted as harmless, attributing it to Escobar prompted fury. One Instagram user stated it was 'incredible' the Argentinian - who earns £200,000 a week - had posted the picture, saying it was disrespectful to all Colombians who still suffered from the bloody drugs wars Escobar triggered. At the height of his criminal enterprise, Escobar was believed to be worth a staggering $3billion. His wealth was almost entirely generated through large scale drug smuggling, primarily to the U.S., where his Medellin cartel was responsible for 80 per cent of the cocaine distributed throughout the country. Jaime Ortega said: 'S***** Argentines. They dignify Escobar because they didn't suffer the decades of pain our country experienced,' The Sun reported. Andres Gonzalez added: 'Simply seeing Escobar's picture is enough to generate disagreements because of the deaths he caused.' Despite the uproar, the picture remains on Rojo's Instagram page and continues to generate fierce debate. The 24-year-old transferred to Manchester United in the summer for a fee of £16million from Portuguese team Sporting Lisbon. One Instagram user said the picture posted by Rojo (pictured) was disrespectful to all Argentinians . Pablo Escobar (pictured) became one of the wealthiest criminals in history after forming a enormous cocaine smuggling empire . Born in 1949, Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria started his criminal career on the streets of Medellin in Colombia as a teenager, selling contraband cigarettes and stealing cars. When he was gunned down by Colombian National Police on December 2 1993 he was one of the wealthiest criminals in history, worth a staggering $30billion. After working for a short time as a bodyguard in the early 1970s Escobar moved on to cocaine trafficking. His operation became so successful that he was able to buy 15 planes and six helicopters to help smuggle the drugs, mainly to the United States. Escobar amassed so much cash that he had to spend around $2500 a month on rubber bands to keep the piles of notes neatly stacked. His Medellin Cartel inevitably attracted the attention of the authorities, but Escobar dealt with them mercilessly. He either bribed them or had them assassinated, which is where the likes of John Jairo Velasquez came in. Escobar was eventually gunned down in 1993 by Colombian police, who found him in a middle-class home in Medellin, with the help of U.S special forces, after a 15-month-long investigation. He was shot while trying to escape across nearby roofs with his bodyguard, Alvaro de Jesus Agudelo, who was also shot and killed. | Marcos Rojo posted a picture online with a quote by notorious drug lord .
The quote stated that only those who stood by Escobar could eat with him .
Fans and Instagram users have reacted with fury at Escobar's depiction .
One user said posting the photo was disrespectful to all Colombians . |
26,703 | 4bd0a027a90d977c880116add99d3472612f944f | Each year, the prettiest rodeo enthusiasts across the United State gather to compete for the title of Miss Rodeo America. The pageant, held in Las Vegas, Nevada, in conjunction with the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, critiques contestants in the areas of appearance, horsemanship, and personality. And, of course, how good they look in a cowboy hat. Miss Rodeo Washington reapplies her lipstick . One of the contestants shows that they clearly know how to handle a horse . Miss Rodeo Colorado, Miss Rodeo California and Miss Rodeo Arkansas have a chat before being judged . The winner of Miss Rodeo America, Paige Nicholson, Miss Rodeo Mississippi . Then, there is the trivia. Miss Rodeo America must know everything from the signs of colic in horses, the past winners of every major rodeo on any given year, and anything than else that has to do with the classic cattle herding sport. Some of the ladies who help out during the Miss Rodeo America pageant . A horse and a gun . Miss Rodeo America shows off her crown . Some of the contestants bond while showing off their bedazzled jeans . Brooklyn-based photographer Gabriela Herman captured the 27 women who competed in the most recent pageant, hoping to wina grand prize of $30,000 in scholarship money and prizes - not to mention one very nice crown. From there it is a year of photo shoots, appearances and a whole lot of hand shaking for the winner. A pair of hand painted cowboy boots and a painted vest with beaded jeans . A few of the contestants in the 2013 Miss America Rodeo pageant show off their photos . Miss Rodeo Oregon Nicole Schrock tending to her horse . A glittery horse with a large bouquet carried a contestant while one shows off an evening gown and a 10-gallon hat . Herman specifically followed Nicole Schrock, the 24-year-old Miss Rodeo Oregon, who can ride a horse just as well as the boys but looks far, far better in a pair of bedazzled chaps. Take a look at these beauties who are smart, athletic, beautiful and very, very good with a gun. | The Miss Rodeo America pageant occurs every year in Las Vegas, Nevada, and critiques contestants in the areas of appearance, horsemanship, and personality .
This year, the 27 women competing for the crown were followed by photographer Gabriela Herman, who took stunning photos of the ladies .
Herman spent most of her time with Nicole Schrock, the 24-year-old Miss Rodeo Oregon . |
142,659 | 447f9bf2816a2551777c03e16732932fed2c698a | This adorable photo shows a tiny baby limosa harlequin frog sat on an American quarter. The endangered frogs have been given a new lease of life after The Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project successfully bred the frogs for the first time. The rescue project is raising nine healthy frogs from one mating pair and hundreds of tadpoles from another pair. Cute! This picture shows a tiny baby limosa harlequin frog, an endangered species native to Panama, sitting atop a U.S. quarter coin. Researchers have successfully bred the chevron-patterned variety for the first time . 'The last hope for their species': The Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project is raising nine healthy frogs from one mating pair and hundreds of tadpoles from another pair . Threatened: Habitat loss, climate change, pollution, and a virulent fungal disease called chytridiomycosis are all thought to have contributed to the loss of 94 of 120 frog species since as late as 1980 . 'These frogs represent the last hope for their species,' said Brian Gratwicke of the Smithsonian Biology Institute, international coordinator for the conservation project, in a statement. 'This new generation is hugely inspiring to us as we work to conserve and care for this species and others.' With nearly one-third of the world's amphibian species at risk of extinction, the project aims to save frog species in Panama, one of the world's last remaining strongholds for amphibian biodiversity. Habitat loss, climate change, pollution, and a virulent fungal disease called chytridiomycosis are all thought to have contributed to the loss of 94 of 120 frog species since as late as 1980. Rescue efforts: The Panama rescue project currently cares for 55 adult limosa harlequin frogs of the chevron-patterned form and a further ten of the plain-coloured form at two research centres . Complicated needs: Each species requires its own special care to thrive and breed, with researchers having only limited success in encouraging the plain-coloured form to multiply . It is hoped that methodologies may be developed to reduce the impact of the amphibian chytrid fungus so that one day their captive communities can be returned to the wild . The Panama rescue project currently cares for 55 adult limosa harlequin frogs of the chevron-patterned form and a further ten of the plain-coloured form at two research centres in the Central American country. Each species requires its own special care to thrive and breed, with researchers having only limited success in encouraging the plain-coloured form to multiply. Both kinds need highly oxygenated, gently flowing warm water between 22C and 24C for their tadpoles to survive. Their natural food is algal film growing on submerged rocks, which researchers replicated by painting petri dishes with a solution of powdered spirulina algae and then allowing it to dry. It is hoped that one day the teams working for the project may develop methodologies to reduce the impact of the amphibian chytrid fungus so that one day their captive communities can be returned to the wild. | Limosa harlequin frogs are under threat from habitat loss and disease .
Panama is one of the world's last remaining strongholds for amphibian biodiversity . |
333 | 00fe9bc7ef1fa3e5d4dd7f09871e7165ace17aaf | You may not have noticed how tricky it is to snap a single strand of dried spaghetti in half, but the phenomenon has baffled leading physicists for decades - including a Nobel Prize winner. But now one engineer has filmed spaghetti fracturing at 250,000 frames per second (fps) to explain why this happens. The YouTube star found that vibrations do not cause the spaghetti to shatter - as previously suggested. Instead, as it tries to ‘straighten itself out,’ the pasta forms cascading fractures and rapidly breaks into multiple pieces as its bent. Scroll down for video . Break point: An engineer has filmed strands of spaghetti being snapped at 250,000 frames per second (pictured) in order to explain why it doesn't ever snap in two halves, when it's bent from the tips. It seems that the fracturing is like a chain reaction of destructive un-twisting of the pasta . This theory applies to a single strand of spaghetti that is held at each end before being bent. If the hands are moved closer together on the strand, the outcome can differ. On his YouTube channel, Smarter Every Day, Destin Sandlin set out to explore why a single strand of spaghetti doesn’t break in half, but instead shatters into at least three pieces when bent from the tips. Generally, rods - such as a pencil - eventually break into two if they are bent. This happens when the top of the rod exceeds the maximum allowable tensile stress, which is the state of stress that leads to expansion. When a piece of spaghetti was bent to breaking point, and the process was filmed at 250,000 frames per second, it was revealed that smaller broken pieces of pasta rotate away from the first fracture, and the ‘back’ of a piece of spaghetti moves 'downwards'. Engineer Destin Sandlin explained that the spaghetti strand is trying to straighten itself out, because it twists when it is bent into a curve. When a first break occurs, the piece that breaks off from the main strand untwists, but the remaining longer section is more twisted than before, triggering one or more fractures - causing it to break into more than three pieces. ‘With every break, the process starts once again, which is called a cascading fracture,' he explained. So the fracturing is like a chain reaction of destructive un-twisting . This theory applies to a single strand of spaghetti that is held at each end before being bent. If the hands are moved closer together on the strand, the outcome can differ. But spaghetti’s unusual shattering process has stumped scientists for years, including Nobel Prize winning physicist Richard Feynmann, who worked on the Manhattan Project. If you snap a strand of spaghetti, you feel a tiny vibration on your finger as it curves, leading Dr Feynmann to suggest the vibration may 'excite' the spaghetti enough to cause a secondary fracture. This means that he thought an elevation in energy levels at a molecular or atomic level was to blame. But, upon testing this theory under water to dampen the vibration, the spaghetti still broke in the same way - discounting this theory. Since his efforts, some physicists and mathematicians have worked to solve the mystery. In 2006, two physicists from the Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris, won the Ig Nobel Prize for Physics for their work in explaining spaghetti shattering. They applied a mathematical calculation called the Kirchoff equation, which explains how waves travel through an object that's under stress. The physicists found that that spaghetti fragmentation is caused by 'flexural waves' (bending waves) traveling through the pasta after the first break. This causes a wave to travel down the remaining strand of spaghetti before it can relax and un-twist. Mr Sandlin began filming pasta snapping at 18,000 fps using a high-speed camera to test the theory, but at this speed, both fractures seemed to happen simultaneously within a millisecond, giving him few clues. Destin Sandlin (in the video) noticed that the smaller broken pieces of pasta seem to rotate away from the first fracture, and the ‘back’ of a piece of spaghetti held horizontally, appears to break downwards, after he flexed a strand to break it . At 40,000 fps - 10 times faster than previous research - it was possible to see which fracture occurred first in a ‘snap,’ leading him to say: ‘It appears that the longer rods aren’t vibrating on the same timescale.' He noticed that the smaller broken pieces of pasta seem to rotate away from the first fracture, and the ‘back’ of a piece of spaghetti held horizontally, appears to break downwards. 'It's almost as if the spaghetti is trying to straighten itself out but it can't overcome its own mass,’ he explained in the video. He found that a strand of spaghetti twists as it is bent, making it bend into a deep curve. ‘When a break occurs, the piece near the side near the break is free from torque,’ Mr Sandlin said, which means, it is no longer twisted. ‘It starts to straighten itself out from left to right, rotating up and straightening out along the way.’ In the video, the longer piece of spaghetti which is yet to break, is still curved and twisted and at the point that the first fracture occurred, the spaghetti is even more curved than it was before, causing another fracture almost immediately. ‘With every break, the process starts once again, which is called a cascading fracture,’ he said. So the fracturing is similar to a chain reaction of destructive untwisting, which leaves the spaghetti broken into pieces instead of snapping in two. His video confirms the work by the physicists at Marie Curie University. | Destin Sandlin filmed spaghetti snapping at 250,000 frames per second .
He noticed broken pieces of pasta rotate away from the first fracture .
Engineer confirms fracturing occurs because the pasta is trying to un-twist .
Leading physicists have previously been baffled by the phenomenon . |
78,514 | de7f2452a380fa997215a488354d89c440ab63d8 | (CNN)When Thomas Cristofoletti walked into the Hyperstar supermarket in Shiraz, Iran, he was stopped at the door. He had his camera over his shoulder, and the international-style grocery store was built inside a large mall with a strict policy against photography. "They almost wouldn't even let me bring the camera inside," Cristofoletti recalled. He was able to bring his camera inside, however, and when he saw a woman shopping in a colorful, patterned headscarf he made a surreptitious click of the shutter. "I was able to take that one without looking," he said of an image he made for his series exploring Western-style consumerism in Iran. A former advertising director in Italy and Spain, Cristofoletti left the profession behind four years ago and moved to Cambodia to pursue photography. He founded RUOM, a collective of journalists who specialize in social reportage in Southeast Asia. Last year, Cristofoletti got the opportunity to visit friends working as graphic designers in Iran and he jumped on the chance to see what daily life is like there. "I've always been interested in closed countries," he said. "I got this great opportunity to be there with locals. You are able to see things in a very different way." During Cristofoletti's monthlong stay in Iran, he began to notice the differences in the way Iranians live their public and private lives. He realized that daily life in Iran contradicted the way Iran is typically portrayed. "The perception we have (about Iran) is not real," he said. "My idea was to try to see with my eyes what is the reality of Iran." Cristofoletti chose to show this new reality by documenting the increasing presence of Western-style consumerism in a country steeped in tradition. His photos juxtapose typical Iranian markets with modern, brightly lit shopping malls. "Even if traditional grand bazaars continue to be the favorite places to shop for regular Iranians, they now face competition from huge shopping malls, which were erected in the outskirts of major cities across the country," Cristofoletti said. The malls feature supermarkets, international brands and vibrant video game arcades as a kind of alternative entertainment. "I was really surprised to see these kind of modern stores and malls," he said. "Shopping has become a near-obsessive ritual for young people." Cristofoletti notes that for women especially, some aspects of Western culture are particularly alluring. He found that because Iranian women are prohibited from showing any part of their body except for the face, they have taken to buying high-end beauty products and undergoing plastic surgery to make their features look more European or American. It is through these measures, Cristofoletti said, that women are able to "rebel" against government-imposed restrictions. Cristofoletti was aware of certain constraints to life in Iran, and he consulted with a journalist there before his trip who advised him that it was safer to go as just a tourist rather than as a journalist. Social media . Follow @CNNPhotos on Twitter to join the conversation about photography. "He said it could cause a problem for the person (in Iran) that is helping you," Cristofoletti said. Consumerism was a feasible subject because it was right in front of him. "It just popped into my mind when I started seeing it," he said. "It was a natural process. I spent a lot of time in the malls and just acted like a normal tourist. (The authorities) don't see you as a problem." Cristofoletti wants his project to change the way people around the world think about Iran. "It's no different from our country," he said. "There is this will of the people to be free. They want to express themselves. "You just need to find the right angle," he added, "and see everything in perspective." Thomas Cristofoletti is an Italian photojournalist and videographer based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. You can follow him on Facebook and Twitter. | Thomas Cristofoletti traveled to Iran earlier this year and stayed for a month .
He thought daily life in Iran contradicted the way the country is normally portrayed .
"I was really surprised to see these kind of modern stores and malls," he said . |
265,200 | e37c8627ae850e946264954565d665efea89cc51 | By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 05:45 EST, 23 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:47 EST, 23 November 2012 . Four ministers sacked in September's reshuffle were given knighthoods by David Cameron . David Cameron has been criticised by a powerful Commons committee for giving knighthoods to ministers given the boot in this year’s reshuffle. The Prime Minister is accused of ‘politicising’ the honours system by MPs who say they were left ‘perplexed and disillusioned’ by his decision to give gongs to middle-ranking ministers told to return to the backbenches. After September’s reshuffle James Paice, Edward Garnier, Nick Harvey and Gerald Howard were all recommended by for knighthoods by Mr Cameron. Sir George Young was made a Companion of Honour after being sacked as Commons leader, but within weeks returned to government as Chief Whip. The awards sparked outrage because more senior women – including Cabinet ministers Caroline Spelman and Cheryl Gillan – were dumped from government without being offered an honour. It follows a major row in August when it emerged that a secret quota system meant three times as many civil servants could receive honours than medal winners at the London Olympics. Ministers have now agreed to release full explanations for of why honours are given to remove any suggestion of politicial interfeefence or corruption. The public citations will be trialled in the New Year’s Honours List. But today the Commons Public Administration Select criticised giving knighthoods to former ministers and accused Mr Cameron of going against earlier assurances that honours would not be made for political reasons. Committee chairman Bernard Jenkin took the unusual step of releasing a letter he sent to Mr Cameron warning the knighthoods for ex-ministers appeared ‘inconsistent’ with evidence given to the committee by the head of the Civil Service, Sir Bob Kerslake, during its inquiry into the honours system. Going, going, gong: Knighthoods were given to Edward Garnier, former Solicitor General, and Jim Paice, former farming minister . Lib Dem Nick Harvey and Tory Gerald Howarth were both knighted after leaving the Ministry of Defence . Mr Jenkin, a senior Tory MP, wrote: ‘If it is the policy of the Government that the Prime Minister should retain the right to award honours at his personal behest, why was this not apparent from the Government's submissions to our inquiry? ‘The honours you have announced may well reward “exceptional service”, but there is a danger that they will appear to the public to be political 'consolation prizes' for the ministers concerned.’ Sir George Young left the government in the reshuffle and was awarded the Companion of Honour - but within weeks he was back as Chief Whip . The committee’s report, published today, said the PM had to explain himself if he intended to take political control of the honours system. ‘Without questioning the public service of those selected, by the Prime Minister, to receive honours at the end of their ministerial career, we are concerned that awarding honours in such a manner will further reduce public confidence in the honours system. ‘Again, if the Government supports such political control of the award of honours in certain circumstances, it should be prepared to justify that.’ The committee warned that the credibility of the Parliamentary and Political Service Honours Committee was also in danger of being undermined by the decision to include the chief whips of the three main political parties. It said that their presence left it open to the charge of ‘political manipulation in the interest of party leaders’. Mr Jenkin added: ‘If honours are to retain any meaning and value they must be awarded to genuinely deserving recipients who have contributed to their communities above and beyond the norm, through a transparent system where people can see the value of the honour and what it was awarded for.’ In his reply Mr Cameron insisted that he had only made a ‘very limited number’ of awards, adding: ‘I am determined that these special cases will not affect the integrity of the wider honours system.’ | Commons committee accuses David Cameron of politicising the honours system .
Nick Harvey, Gerlad Howarth, Edward Garnier and Jim Paice all knighted after reshuffle .
Sacked Sir George Young received Companion of Honour - but was back in government within weeks . |
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