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262,149 | df8c145b9890b0638b4ea7e9d89db027d59030dd | By . Jonathan O'Callaghan . One of Snapchat’s biggest issues to date has been how to make money. The firm famously turned down a $3 billion (£1.75 billion) from Facebook last year, and the reason for doing so may now have been uncovered as trademarks reveal the company is developing a payment system. The move suggests Snapchat may be considering allowing people to transfer money to others within the app in a move to take on services such as Paypal. Los Angeles-based Snapchat (headquarters pictured) is apparently planning to introduce payments. That's according to two trademarks spotted being filed by the company. Exactly what they are planning to do however is not yet known . The two trademarks were uncovered by Tech Crunch. Trademark Serial # 86335306 . 'Computer application software for processing electronic payments to and from others that may be downloaded from a global computer network.' Trademark Serial # 86335307 . 'Electronic transfer of money for others; providing electronic processing of electronic funds transfer, ACH, credit card, debit card, electronic check and electronic, mobile and online payment.' One refers to software that can send and receive payments from a ‘global computer network.’ The other concerns the processing of electronic funds. The trademarks were filed on 11 July by Snapchat’s law firm, Cooley. Snapchat has so far refused to comment on the move. Some had previously thought that the company would introduce advertising and in-app purchases in order to monetise the app. This new move, however, suggests they may instead enable people to make payments through Snapchat, perhaps to other users or companies. By taking a small amount of commission from each transaction, the company would then be able to make money from the numerous transactions. The move could indicate they will allow users to send money to each other. The company has been trying to find ways to monetise their app. By taking a small amount of commission from each transaction, like PayPal does (stock image shown) the company would then be able to make money from transactions . The move follows Snapchat’s recent decision to launch location-specific photo filters. The ‘geofilters’ add a custom sticker to your photo, and are unlocked only when you're in a specific place or city. Experts say the firm could work with major brands to create custom stickers. The new smart filters don’t offer any photo-editing effects, and are clear filters with a graphic overlay. They look similar to they type of stickers that have been popularized by stand-alone photo editing applications. ‘Swipe right on the preview screen to check them out – they’ll change depending on which neighborhoods you’re in!’ the company wrote in a blog post and video announcing the new feature. Snapchat recently unveiled 'geofilters', which add a custom sticker to your photo (pictured) and are unlocked only when you're in a specific place or city. Experts say the firm could work with major brands to create custom stickers . The video features filters from . several neighborhoods around their Venice Beach, California headquarters, as . well as filters for a specific Soul Cycle location, Disneyland, a coffee . shop and cultural institutions like the Los Angeles County Museum of . Art and The Getty. Facebook . meanwhile recently unveiled their own competitor to Snapchat called . Slingshot, which allows for brief sharing of videos and email. The social network giant has hired David Marcus, former president of PayPal, to head up their messaging division. | Los Angeles-based Snapchat is apparently planning to introduce payments .
That's according to two trademarks spotted being filed by the company .
Exactly what they are planning to do however is not yet known .
The move could indicate they will allow users to send money to each other .
The company has been trying to find ways to monetise their app . |
267,526 | e676d92f6e50d2d50871c4b68906c6b1c77f96e5 | By . Michael Zennie, Associated Press and Barbara Mcmahon . PUBLISHED: . 20:39 EST, 9 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:05 EST, 10 October 2012 . The man suspected of fatally slashing a 25-year-old youth soccer coach in one of New York City's busiest neighborhoods has fled to Mexico, after bogus reports that police had a suspect in custody. The suspect has been identified by investigators as Orlando Orea or Orlando Gutierrez, who fled on an Aero Mexico flight bound for Mexico City on Tuesday, two days after the murder. He is accused of stabbing Michael Jones six times and savagely hacking off one of his ears early Sunday morning before leaving him to bleed to death. Scroll down for video . Devoted: Mike Jones, 25, called his girlfriend Bryeanna Murphy, 23, several times the night he was killed . It had previously been mistakenly reported that a 'person of interest' in the case was in police custody. On the night he was killed, Mr Jones had been out with his girlfriend, Bryeanna Murphy, 23, from Mamaroneck, NY, whose father described to MailOnline her devastation at her boyfriend's death. The beloved youth soccer coach from Liverpool, England, spoke with his girlfriend Murphy, 23, on the phone just minutes before he was attacked. Tim Murphy told MailOnline: 'She's devastated. She can't believe it has happened.' Long term: Miss Murphy had been dating Mr Jones for about six months . He described Mr Jones, who had been dating his daughter for six months, as 'a real gentleman.' He added: ' He was a lovely guy. Good mannered, good fun, just the kind of guy you'd want your daughter to go out with.' Mr Murphy said that his daughter last heard from Mr Jones at midnight. She was home by 2am and went to sleep. 'She didn't know anything was wrong,' he said. On Sunday morning, police contacted a mutual friend of the couple, who had been one of the last dialled numbers on Mr Jones' phone. The friend was told to come to a police station and she was informed about the tragedy. She then contacted Miss Murphy. Mr Murphy said that the family has been in email contact with Mr Jones' relatives back in England. He said: 'We expressed to them our sincere condolences. We wanted to let them know we are thinking of them,' he said. The family is planning to go to a memorial service to be held on Wednesday in White Plains. Some members of Mr Jones's family, who are being flown over by the Red Bulls, are expected to attend. Mr Murphy added: 'I hope they catch this guy and get him off the streets.' After getting the suspect's name, the . NYPD tried to put the suspect on a no-fly list on Tuesday afternoon, but it . was too late to stop him. The New York Post reported that the suspect was identified by a bartender near the scene of the murder, who described Orea as a regular. Killer: Jones' murderer is seen calmly walking away after hacking the beloved soccer coach to death . The revelation came as it emerged . that Mr Jones may have been brutally stabbed to death in Greenwich Village in a . tragic case of mistaken identity. Detectives . are looking into a fight earlier in the evening that Mr Jones' suspected killer had over a woman he met in a bar earlier that night, . the Post reported. Beloved: Mr Jones was well-liked by the young players he mentored as a coach in the Red Bulls' Westchester youth league . Police believe Mr Jones had nothing . to do with the woman or the fight, but was instead mistaken for the . murder suspect's nightclub adversary. Officers have ruled out robbery, since Mr Jones' wallet and iPhone were still with him. Surveillance video shows Mr Jones next to his pony-tailed killer about 4.15am on Sunday on West 14th Street, according to the Post. The two men appear to exchange words . and begin to argue. The suspect suddenly pushes Mr Jones against a . building and pulls out a knife. A medical examiner ruled that Mr Jones died of stab wound to his chest and stomach, including a puncture in his heart. Mr Jones and his girlfriend spent out together on Saturday night in the East Village visiting a friend's apartment. He left Miss Murphy about 11.30pm to hit the town at several upscale nightclubs with other friends. Despite . the boy's' night out, Mr Jones dutifully called his girlfriend several . times throughout the evening - including just before he was killed. 'He . coached two of my three sons and was just a great guy. He cared about . what he did, and was very dedicated,' Mark Fischer, who oversees . referees in the Westchester league, told the Post. 'The kids loved him.' Mr . Jones' father Perry, who lives with his wife Carol just north over . Liverpool, told the BBC his son loved living in the United States and . was hoping to move to New York City permanently. 'He . loved New York and he loved the lifestyle and he was working and hoping . to get a visa so he could stay there full time,' the elder Mr Jones . said. He said he and his wife received a Facebook message from one of his son's friends on Sunday telling him to call the NYPD. Happy: Mr Jones, center, loved New York and was hoping to move to the city, his father said . When the couple phoned, they found out their promising young son had been brutally murdered. Mr Jones' body was found at 4:25am, his ear lying a few feet away. Officers . covered the ear with a plastic cup to hide it from passersby and rushed . the man to Bellevue where he was pronounced dead on arrival. 'It was a frenzy. The guy was chopped multiple times,' a police source told the Post. 'He cut the guy's ear off. It doesn't get any more personal than that.' In a statement released on Sunday, . the Red Bulls said: 'We are aware of this tragedy and on behalf of the . entire organization, want to send our most heartfelt condolences to . Michael’s family, friends and loved ones. 'He . was a tremendous individual, a fantastic coach who loved soccer and a . terrific friend for many of us. This is truly a sad day for our soccer . community and we will do our utmost to help authorities in their . investigation of this case. Our thoughts and prayers are with Michael's . family at this time.' Witness said that Jones was so mutilated that they believed it was a prank. 'We thought it was a Halloween joke or something because his phone was . there, so maybe if we tried to get his phone that he’ll pop up or . something,' a witness told CBS News York. Another disturbed witness said: 'I never, ever, ever seen nothing like this. Ever.' Video: Police search for suspect in brutal murder . | Michael Jones, 25, a Liverpool, England, native, coached a New York Red Bulls youth soccer league .
Killer may have mistaken Mr Jones for man he fought with at a bar .
Bryeanna Murphy, 23, had been dating Mr Jones for about a year . |
147,158 | 4a48087830c9f7f79bdc7fb4054a085522b09915 | By . Sara Malm . Swimming champion Ian Thorpe has left a rehab facility and has gone home after spending two days being treated for alcohol abuse and depression, Australian news reports. The five-time Olympic gold medallist has long been battling what he himself called ‘crippling depression’ in his 2013 biography, and was admitted to a Sydney hospital Wednesday. It has been reported that the 31-year-old Australian athlete left hospital early on Friday morning, after being injured in a fall at his parents’ house in a Sydney suburb, where he has been staying since returning to his home country over Christmas. Breaking his silence: Ian Thorpe has taken to Twitter to congratulate Torah Bright for her silver medal at the Winter Olympics . Just last week, Mr Thorpe was seen smiling and joking at model and long-time friend Tahyna Tozzi’s wedding, and celebrated Australia Day at a party surrounded by friends. However, the happy exterior has been hiding several years of trouble, something which Mr Thorpe described in his biography This Is Me: The Autobiography. He revealed that at some of the worst times he turned to alcohol in a bid to quell the thoughts running about his head. 'It was the only way I could get to sleep,' he wrote. 'It didn't happen every night, but there were numerous occasions, particularly between 2002 and 2004 as I trained to defend my Olympic titles in Athens, that I abused myself this way - always alone and in a mist of disgrace.' Thorpe says in the book that he was able to hide the effects of alcohol from team-mates and coaches and continued to enjoy one of the best periods of his career, despite his private battle with depression. Stuggle: Thorpe was seen at the wedding of long-time friend Tahyna Tozzi last week . Back to the start: After spending nearly 18 months in Switzerland, Mr Thorpe returned to Australia just before Christmas and has been staying with his parents in Sydney . Dry side: After failing to make a comeback in the 2012 Olympics in London, Thorpe (centre) became a pundit for the BBC alongside Clare Balding (right) and Mark Foster (left) The swimmer said he also felt the need to stay silent about his depression, thinking it was a 'character flaw'. 'Not even my family is aware that I've spent a lot of my life battling what I can only describe as a crippling depression.’ He admits in the book that he is ready to speak to his parents about his depression, but this is the first time he has been reported to have sought treatment. ‘Yes, it's serious but there's not a lot I can or want to add,’ broadcaster Alan Jones, a close friend of Ian Thorpe told the Herald Sun. ‘Ian is a beautiful person but he has difficulty recognising his problems.’ Australian swimming hero: Five-time gold medalist Ian Thorpe is in an intensive care ward in Sydney, and close associates are gravely concerned for his welfare . The 31-year-old dominated the shorter freestyle distances for several years after winning his first World Championship in 1998, aged 14 . Surgery complications: A report in Sydney's media claims that the swimmer contracted a 'bug' after surgery that threatens the use of his left arm . After becoming the world's youngest male World Champion in the 1998 Perth World Championships, he dominated the shorter freestyle distances for several years. He still holds the records of most Olympic gold medals won by an Australian (five) and became the first person to win six golds in one championship in 2001. He took a break from swimming in 2004, after the Athens Olympics, but failed to make a comeback two years later due to illness and chose instead to retire. He attempted a comeback ahead of the London 2012 Olympics but only made it to the second day of Australia's Olympic Trials in Adelaide, and instead worked as a pundit for the BBC during the games. Shortly after London 2012 he moved to Switzerland, but returned to Australia in December last year. | 'Thorpedo' admitted to Sydney hospital on Wednesday .
Allegedly entering rehab for alcohol abuse and depression .
Former champion has been struggling with mental health for years .
Admitted in 2013 biography that he was battling 'crippling depression' |
26,509 | 4b45b6bae5e2ab83d295027db82cf22420c08277 | Last month, Oscar-winning filmmaker Malik Bendjelloul committed suicide by throwing himself in front of a train at Stockholm's Solna Centrum station during rush hour. Malik Bendjelloul's untimely death at the age of 36 came just a year after he won an Academy Award for his ground-breaking documentary 'Searching for Sugar Man' and initially bewildered many friends. But those close to Bendjelloul witnessed a dramatic change of attitude in recent months, as the Swedish director dealt with his new-found celebrity and struggled to find another passion project. 'I know he had been depressed for a short period and depression is something you can die from,' his older brother Johar Bendjelloul announced the following day. 'But the question of why, no one can answer; it will ache in my chest the rest of my life.' Still, the sudden suicide shocked other friends, like Karin afKlintberg who called Bendjelloul the 'happiest person I knew'. 'If I think of every person I've met in my whole life, he was the least likely to take his life -- the least,' Klinterberg told the Hollywood Reporter. Descent into depression: Swedish filmmaker Malik Bendjelloul committed suicide last month, a year after he won the Academy Award for best documentary. Pictured above receiving the award . End of the line: Bendjelloul committed suicide by throwing himself in front of a train at Stockholm's Solna Centrum subway station. Above, one of the platforms at the station . Last days: Bendjelloul's friends told the Hollywood Reporter how he had become increasingly isolated lonely in his last year of life . While none of his friends or family know what plagued Benjelloul for certain, they did notice changes in his personality following the crazy success of Sugar Man, a documentary about a long-lost South African musical icon found living in poverty in Detroit. Benjelloul poured his heart into the documentary, working on it for five years. But after winning the Academy Award for the film, he didn't know what to do next. Before his death, he had been living for months in New York, writing for a new project on a South African conservationist. But the big city had turned Benjelloul into an insomniac and he confessed to at least one close friend that he felt lonely. Early in May, he returned home to Sweden where he met with Klintberg, and she offered him a new project to work on, which she thought would be a good transition from Sugar Man. He started work on May 5, but the very next day wrote Klintberg saying he wasn't interested in the project anymore. 'I can't come in to do this,' Bendjelloul told her. 'I want to have a small challenge, not too big a challenge.' Bendjelloul would die exactly a week later. Friends believe that it was his challenge finding a new project after such early success that might have caused him to sink into mental illness. 'In [my limited exposure to depression, it's the darkness, it's completely like there's no hope,' Benjelloul's mentor Per Sinding Larsen said. 'I was wondering if there was something that made him go up and down, but which he dealth with through his work, his movie - and suddently there wasn't anything. There was a silent period. And so the darkness comes up.' Up all night: Recently, Bendjelloul had been living in New York working on a new project, but had developed insomnia . There were also certain eccentricities that may have been clues of a deeper, lingering mental illness. Benjelloul had a strict work regimen, involving a lap around his apartment at the beginning and end of the work day. He would also write uninterrupted every day from 8am to noon. And if he slept in, he would turn the clocks back to 8am so he wouldn't be thrown off his routine. These habits extended outside of work as well. Friends say he would eat the same breakfast every day just for the thrill of being able to change the meal after six months. And one time, he broke up with a girlfriend to end the relationship at exactly four years, four months and four days. 'It always seemed totally reasonable when he said it,' recalls Klintberg. 'He was very convincing.' In retrospect, Kilntberg says these habits may have been a way to distract from deeper issues. 'It was like he was creating ways to not be disappointed,' she said, 'so he wasn't disappointed, until now. And when it came, it struck him so hard because he wasn't used to it. I think that this [depression] was a total shock for him and very unexpected. He didn't have the tools to handle this situation. It was like a psychosis, I think. Bendjelloul's Oscar-winning film is about a South African musical legend found living in poverty in Detroit . Searching for Sugar Man, which detailed the life and career of American singer Sixto Rodriguez, won the Oscar for best documentary in 2013. He also won the BAFTA, Director's Guild of America, Producer's Guild of America, Writer's Guild of America and Sundance audience award. Bendjelloul grew up in central and southern Sweden as the child of a painter and a translator. He acted in Swedish TV-series Ebba and Didrik as a child during the 1990s. He studied journalism and media-production at the Linnaeus University of Kalmar in southern Sweden and later worked as a reporter for Swedish public broadcaster SVT. He resigned from that job to travel the world and he got the idea for Searching for Sugar Man during one of his trips. Bendjelloul directed, produced, edited and co-wrote the 2012 film that chronicles two South Africans who set out to find their folk music hero . • For confidential help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or visit http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ . | Malik Bendjelloul, 36, committed suicide on May 13 by throwing himself in front of a subway train at Stockholm's Solna Centrum station .
His death comes just one year after he won an Academy Award for his documentary 'Searching for Sugar Man'
Friends say he had become isolated and lonely while struggling to find a new project to work on . |
136,601 | 3cb40df5fff889bc26f75d5531df89968bf186e1 | By . Jim Van Wijk, Press Association . Caretaker boss Keith Millen does not want Saturday's dramatic late 2-1 defeat at Arsenal to be his last in charge of Crystal Palace. Millen was in temporary charge at the Emirates Stadium following the shock departure of Tony Pulis less than 48 hours before the new Barclays Premier League season kicked off. The well-organised Eagles were left frustrated after taking the lead through a first-half header from Brede Hangeland, one of the few summer signings sanctioned by chairman Steve Parish, as the Gunners fought back to snatch victory in stoppage time through Aaron Ramsey. Job plea: Keith Millen is keen on replacing Tony Pulis on a permanent basis following Tony Pulis' exit . Proud man: Millen was pleased with Crystal Palace's display against Arsenal . Laurent Koscielny flicked in a free-kick from £30million Chile forward Alexis Sanchez to level before the break. Arsenal lacked a cutting edge in the final third, creating only a few half-chances against a side who had Jason Puncheon sent off for a second yellow card - until Ramsey slotted home after Mathieu Debuchy's shot was saved. Millen, who was in temporary charge last season after Ian Holloway left ahead of Pulis' appointment in November, feels he has unfinished business with the club. 'I am proud of the players, of the performance, but am disappointed not to get something which we deserved,' he said. 'When you think what the players have been through in the last couple of days, you are never quite sure how they are going to respond to Tony leaving. 'We said to them before the game "make sure there are no excuses" because I didn't want to have to stand up for them and say their heads weren't right to do a job because of what's happened.' Late winner: Welsh international Aaron Ramsey scored late on for Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium . Millen continued: 'Would I like it to be my last game? No, I would like to continue. 'I enjoy being in charge. Whether it's the right time or not, I will speak to the chairman on Sunday. 'In the last two days the chairman has not had a chance to speak to the players, he's not spoken to me about what his ideas are going forward, he just said "let's focus on today's game". 'On Monday I am sure there will be some more conversations. The players need to know which direction the club is going. Hopefully at the start of the week there will be some more answers. 'If the chairman felt it was right for me I would sit down and talk to him about it. 'I like working at this club and I certainly enjoy working with the players because they are a good honest group that works hard for you. They respect my decisions.' Whoever takes over will have little chance to bring in the required additions before the transfer window closes. 'We have identified all summer the areas we need to strengthen but for whatever reason it's not happened,' said Millen. 'Tony knew what players he wanted and the club do. The new manager who comes in, in two weeks he's got to know which players he wants. It's not ideal if a club chooses them - you need a manager to choose new players.' Mutual respect: Glenn Murray would be happy to play under Crystal Palace's temporary manager Millen . Veteran Palace forward Glenn Murray believes Millen would have the trust of the players to take the club forwards. 'A lot of the players have worked with Keith for a long time and respect him,' said Murray, who joined from Brighton in 2011, helping the club win promotion two years ago and was on the bench at Arsenal. 'We showed in the time when he took over from Ian (Holloway) and again today that we work hard for him and enjoy playing under him. 'It has got to be the right man now, and it will take as long as it takes, that is up to the hierarchy.' | Keith Millen is in charge of Crystal Palace following Tony Pulis' shock exit .
Manager-less Palace lost 2-1 against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium .
Eagles co-chairman Steve Parish will hold talks with Millen on Monday . |
74,859 | d43d3d502c549315f4d9a4bd9f3a7c690c141629 | The heavily armed militants stormed the girls dormitory in the middle of the night, herding more than 200 students on to vehicles and burning down nearby buildings as they made their escape. That was a week ago Monday. Of the 230 students abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School in the Nigerian town of Chibok, about 190 are still missing, one official said. The number of girls taken from the school has been revised by officials several times, and on Monday, CNN spoke with Principal Asabe Kwambura, who said a new figure of at least 230 was determined after reviewing records and taking reports from parents. Isa Umar Gusau, a spokesman for the Borno provincial governor's office, put the number at 234 -- 129 science students and 105 art students. He said in a written statement that the confusion resulted because the art students didn't leave campus as expected on the day of the attack. The head of the dormitory initially didn't count them among the missing. No one knows where the missing girls are. And even more surprising, no one's particularly shocked. "All the community are sympathizing with the parents," Kwambura told CNN earlier. But, she said, "the people in the villages are not surprised." Such is life in the lawless Borno province. Tucked away near the border with Cameroon, with phone services cut off and travel strongly discouraged, this poor corner of Nigeria is no stranger to such brazen, violent acts. For 11 months, the provinces of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa have been under a state of emergency due to relentless assaults blamed on Boko Haram. The Islamist militant group has bombed churches and mosques; kidnapped women and children; and assassinated politicians and religious leaders. Boko Haram -- whose name means "Western education is sin" in the local Hausa language -- says it wants to impose a stricter enforcement of Sharia law across Africa's most populous nation. The group has gone about its misguided mission with such depressing regularity that residents have become somewhat numb. Where's the president? Nigerians marvel that U.S. President Barack Obama traveled to Massachusetts after the Boston Marathon bombings that killed three people last year. Boko Haram-related violence killed 1,500 in the first three months of this year alone. And yet, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has not visited the region recently. Part of it may have to do with geographic divisions. Jonathan is from the predominantly Christian south. That's not just geographically distant but also culturally different from the Muslim-dominated, violence-wracked north. To put things in perspective, none of Jonathan's major political rivals from the north attended his inauguration in 2011. And widespread violence broke out in the north when his presidential win was announced, with some residents claiming the election was rigged. It's the opposite of what happened with Jonathan's predecessor. The previous president, Umaru Yar'Adua, was from the north. During his tenure, violence ravaged the country's oil-rich, southern Niger Delta, with militant groups saying they wanted a fairer distribution of the region's oil wealth. Where's the military? The Nigerian military has been engaged in a brutal, ever-escalating fight with Boko Haram. Rights group accuse both sides of ruthlessness -- Boko Haram of indiscriminate attacks, and the military of extrajudicial killings. But when it comes to the abductions of girls -- and there have been many -- the military has had a difficult time. Last week, the defense ministry erroneously reported that all but eight of the girls from the latest kidnapping were free. It retracted a day later. Lawan Zanna, the father of one of the students, said the government turned from using "blatant propaganda" to making a "blatant lie." Part of the reason the military is loath to respond mightily may be because the girls who are kidnapped are raped, forced into servitude -- but rarely killed. In February, 29 college students in the northern Yobe province were killed after an attack authorities blamed on Boko Haram. All of them were males. The women were spared. In other instances, kidnapped girls were later rescued while working on farms. Many were pregnant or had babies -- the result of rape. The spate of kidnappings began in May 2013 when Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau announced in a video that this was part of its latest bloody campaign. The kidnappings, he said, were retaliation for Nigerian security forces nabbing the wives and children of group members. Those kidnapped, he said, would begin a new life as a "servant." But the latest incident has ratcheted up the pressure on the military. The military said "ongoing, frantic efforts" of security forces, vigilante groups and hunters are attempting to find and free the students. But a week later, the fate of 190 girls remain unknown. | Officials revise total number of girls kidnapped to at least 230 .
This poor corner of Nigeria is no stranger to such brazen, violent acts .
Boko Haram-related violence killed 1,500 in the first three months of 2014 .
The latest incident has ratcheted up pressure on the military . |
222,610 | ac2d06e90e603c7a9738a4c9ced5d786815c61c0 | Manchester United will rely on homegrown talent as they begin their 2014-15 FA Youth Cup campaign with a tie against Bury at Old Trafford on Tuesday night. United are due to field a side in which all but three of the squad have been with the club since the age of seven. The exceptions are defender Timothy Fosu-Mensah, who came from Ajax, Tyler Reid, formerly of Arsenal, and goalkeeper Dean Henderson from Carlisle United. Charlie Scott will be part of a Manchester United squad packed with homegrown talent . Joe Riley will be hoping to feature during United's 2014-15 FA Youth Cup campaign . The line-up will be similar to the one that drew 0-0 with neighbours Liverpool in the U18 League at Altrincham earlier this month. Coach Paul McGuinness said: ‘We’ve got younger players coming up and it’s only going to improve them. We played three or four schoolboys at Liverpool early in the season and it was a shock to the system because they weren’t quite ready for it. ‘Now they’ve had a few games, they are more experienced and we hoped it would be a different story in the home match with Liverpool. Certainly, they’ve improved a lot and I think this team will continue to improve.’ McGuinness spoke to Manutd.com about why he has such affinity with the FA Youth Cup. The U18s coach was in charge of the 2011 side that lifted the trophy and his father, former United player and manager Wilf, won the competition in 1954, 1955 and 1956 and captained the side in the third of those seasons. In total, he played 27 ties and is one of only five players to have earned three winners’ medals. ‘The competition means a lot to me,’ said Paul. I grew up with my dad telling me how he won FA Youth Cups with the Busby Babes. He played more FA Youth Cup games than anybody else - there were only a few of them who played in all the fixtures - and he’s got that record so I grew up with all of that. Dean Henderson is one of just three players not to have come through United's academy . ‘I wanted to play in the FA Youth Cup myself but I only had a brief substitute appearance when I was playing here [against Barnsley in 1984]. I was still at school at the time. ‘In my time as a coach, it’s been great as well. I can honestly say, while the goal is to win the FA Youth Cup of course, it is not the biggest thing. It’s the experience the players gain from having a run in the competition. ‘The year we got to the final when Danny Welbeck was in the team as a schoolboy, the experience he gained there stood him in good stead playing for United and England at the top level. I know that run helped him go such a long way. Axel Tuanzebe in action during United's Under 18 fixture against Liverpool earlier this month . ‘It’s more what the FA Youth Cup can do itself in preparing players for bigger challenges with competitive football and a simulation of first-team football. If you get to the end of it, you deal with big crowds and extra pressure. The most important thing about it is to win it and it’s a massive bonus as it really helps you but it’s the process along the way. ‘You can see them develop in front of your own eyes if they get through each round. The problem can easily be when you go out as it’s a cup competition and you can lose in the first round. Then you miss that opportunity. ‘We’re making some progress by playing matches at Altrincham this season and we need to simulate that kind of game whether we’re in the FA Youth Cup or not. But, in English football, the FA Youth Cup is still one of the most special tournaments to play in. Paul McGuinness is mobbed by his players after winning the FA Youth cup final in 2011 . ‘A number of them are ready to make quite a bit of a breakthrough and it would definitely help to have a little run in the FA Youth Cup.’ Ro-Shaun Williams missed the draw with Liverpool due to injury, with Timothy Fosu-Mensah dropping into defence, while Demetri Mitchell remains sidelined. The cup tie is also live on MUTV as United strive to win the competition for the first time since 2011. United (probable): Henderson; Reid, Tuanzebe, Fosu-Mensah, Borthwick-Jackson; Scott, Redmond; Riley, Gribbin, Dearnley, Rashford. | Manchester United set to field side in which all but three squad members have been with the club since age of seven .
United youngsters take on Bury at Old Trafford on Tuesday night .
Coach Paul McGuinness claims cup competition means a lot to his players . |
146,073 | 48e1ad0acd202978357e757fc76254d11e1f80c3 | By . Mark Prigg . PUBLISHED: . 12:46 EST, 30 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:57 EST, 1 May 2013 . Scientists have embarked on one of the strangest experiments ever - to see whether atoms of exotic antimatter fall up instead of down. Antimatter is weird stuff, being a kind of mirror image of ordinary matter with an opposite electric charge. When an atom of normal matter meets its antimatter counterpart the two annihilate each other in a flash of light. At the Alpha laboratory, antimatter protons - antiprotons - are combined with antielectrons, or 'positrons', to make atoms of antihydrogen . That much scientists already know. What is much less certain is whether antimatter has fundamental properties that are different from normal matter - especially the way it is affected by gravity. A few experts have proposed the outlandish idea that antimatter might be repelled by the gravity - in other words, that it falls up. One reason for the mystery is that antimatter is extremely rare in nature and to date has only been made in tiny quantities in laboratories. Artificially-created atoms of antimatter are suspended in magnetic traps, and nobody has ever looked to see what happens when it is 'dropped'. Now scientists have taken the first steps towards answering this question. A paper reported in the journal Nature Communications describes the first direct measurement of gravity's effect on antimatter. Unfortunately, the results are still too uncertain to resolve the riddle of what happens to antimatter in free-fall. Lead scientist Professor Joel Fajans, from the University of California at Berkeley, US, said: 'This is the first word, not the last. 'We've taken the first steps toward a direct experimental test of questions physicists and non-physicists have been wondering about for more than 50 years. Scientists have embarked on to establish whether antimatter falls 'up'. The question is, does normal hydrogen (left, with a negatively charged electron orbiting a positively charged proton) weigh the same as antihydrogen (a positively charged positron orbiting a negatively charged antiproton)? 'Is there such a thing as anti-gravity? Based on free-fall tests so far, we can't say yes or no. 'We certainly expect antimatter to fall down, but just maybe we will be surprised.' The work was conducted at Cern, the European Centre for Nuclear Research in Geneva, Switzerland, home of the Alpha (Antihydrogen Laser Physics Apparatus) experiment. At the Alpha laboratory, antimatter protons - antiprotons - are combined with antielectrons, or 'positrons', to make atoms of antihydrogen. These can be stored for just a few seconds in a magnetic trap. The scientists set about studying how the antihydrogen falls out of the trap when the magnetic field is switched off. What sounds simple is actually a very tricky operation. When the magnets are turned off, the anti-atoms quickly touch the ordinary matter of the trap's walls and are immediately destroyed. The scientists set about studying how the antihydrogen falls out of the trap when the magnetic field is switched off. What sounds simple is actually a very tricky operation. When the magnets are turned off, the anti-atoms quickly touch the ordinary matter of the trap's walls and are immediately destroyed. To discover the fate of the antimatter atoms it is necessary to pinpoint where and when they are annihilated and to measure their precise location and velocity the moment the trap is turned off. Alpha's magnetic fields do not turn off instantly, and almost 30 thousandths of a second pass before they decay to near zero. Meanwhile, annihilation flashes occur all over the trap walls at different times and places depending on the antiatoms' original but unknown locations, velocities and energies. So far the scientists have been able to determine two things. If an antihydrogen atom falls downward, its gravitational mass can be no more than 110 times greater than its inertial mass. If it falls up, its gravitational mass is at most 65 times greater. Gravitational mass is the mass of a body as measured by its gravitational attraction to other bodies. It generates the 'weight' of a massive body attracted to the Earth. Inertial mass is the mass of a body as measured by how strongly it is accelerated by a given force. Alpha is now being upgraded and should provide more precise data once the experiment resumes next year. 'We need to do better and we hope to do so in the next few years,' said co-author Professor Jonathan Wurtele, also from the University of California at Berkeley. | Experts have proposed the outlandish idea that antimatter might be repelled by the gravity .
Experiment conducted at Cern in Geneva, Switzerland . |
100,132 | 0d0550b259acb4f388df2e918f1e600f00ac589f | By . Marielle Simon for Daily Mail Australia . It's now home to 20,000 crocodiles and less than a dozen people, but a remote area on the border of Western Australia and the Northern Territory has been handpicked by an architecture company as the ideal location for a second national capital. Lake Argle in the East Kimberley, near Kununurra, was created by the block of the Ord River in the 1960s and could potentially be the habitat of 150,000 people if a new northern capital is developed on the shores. The top of Australia remains quite empty, with Cairns and Darwin dominating that region. Currently home to 20,000 crocodiles and less than a dozen people, a remote area on the border of Western Australia and the Northern Territory has been handpicked by an architecture company as the ideal location for a second hypothetical national capital . But now, Landscape architecture company Ecoscape, plans to utilize the vast area, creating an international airport which could connect the East Kimberley with Asian destinations like Jakarta and Hong Kong. 'We just thought here's a perfect opportunity and such beautiful scenery,' Ecoscape environmental scientist David Kaesehagen said. 'It's got industries around it, it's got mining and agribusiness, it's got a whole range of different industries which can attract and hold people, so the place itself has got such intrinsic beauty that works to glue people to place,' Mr Kaesehagen said. The need to more densely popular Australia's north has been a topic of discussion for a while, and now Lake Argyle is the perfect site, with plentiful amounts of water, land and sunshine. Lake Argle in the East Kimbereley, near Kununurra, was created by the block of the Ord River in the 1960s and could be the habitat of 150,000 people if a new northern capital is developed on the shores . But locals are not as enthusiastic about the proposal, insisting remoteness is the beauty of Lake Argyle. 'One side of me says we want to keep it remote, and we don't want an enormous city here, the other side of me says there are big advantages in bringing people into the area," said tour operator Greg Smith to ABC. He believes that it would be a challenge to find people willing to live in the northern part of Australia, with scorching temperatures. Mr Kaesehagen agrees with Mr Smith's comments, suggesting it is a government with a big vision that can make it happen. The need to more densely popular Australia's north has been topic for discussion for a while, and now Lake Argyle is the perfect site, with plentiful amounts of water, land and sunshine . In 2010, demographer Bernard Salt predicted by 2050 Australia will experience a population boom so a plan for a new city, like a Gold Coast of the west is necessary, The Age reported. 'It might be appropriate to look for a new city up north, in the same way that in the last 50 years we've created the Gold Coast,' Mr Salt said. In recent times, Western Australia transformed Karratha a small town in Pilbara into one of Australia's richest regional towns. Due to the mining boom, the city originally with one supermarket was completely transformed into a thriving town, with an average income of $87,000, reports International Business Times. Professor Hugo discusses Australia's approach in the '70s, where a new city was viable due to increased mobility and city infrastructure under pressure. 'Whether it's a new city or development in places less affected by climate change, such as Tasmania, or the northern parts of Australia, all those options have to be on the table,' he said. | An architecture company has chosen Lake Argle in East Kimberley as the ideal location for a new capital in Australia .
Landscape architecture company Ecoscape, plans to utilize the vast area, creating an international airport .
The need to more densely populate Australia's north has been a topic of discussion .
Demographer Bernard Salt, predicted by 2050 Australia will experience a population boom so a plan for a new city is necessary . |
43,275 | 7a08fcbe471bded6f73523c30e5d128092ef56ec | Quel horreur: Rouge Sucette, which means red lollipop, is designed to win new wine fans . A French drinks company is launching a red wine that will have the edge on its competitors - by adding a dash of cola. In a break with tradition Rouge Sucette, French for red lollipop, is made from 75 per cent grapes with water, sugar and cola flavouring making up the remainder. Sure to horrify connoisseurs, it is designed to appeal to the younger 'Coke generation'. Winemakers fear that young people who drink endless spirits and mixers will be difficult to attract if they do not adapt to their sweet palette. The 9 per cent ABV blend is part of a . new range by Aquitaine-based firm Haussmann Famille. They also make fruity . Passion Fruit and Grape Fruit blends. The company recommends serving it ice-cold for the summer weather. It went on sale this week for 2.95 euros a bottle and is hoped to become a feature of French barbeques and summer drinks parties. Pauline Lacombe, Marketing Director of Haussmann Famille, said: 'The result is surprising; the balance between the bitterness of the wine and the sweetness of the cola is perfect.' 'We did a lot of research to elaborate the best recipe and the best mix between wine, water and the aroma. 'The packaging is fun, with a label in the shape of lollipop. 'This kind of product is more dedicated to young adults, and women. Inspiration: Rouge Sucette's bouquet will be flavourings of cola . Young fans: The French company is hoping a wine as sweet as cola will appeal to young drinkers who prefer spirits and mixers . 'We have worked closely with a lab in Bordeaux, specialised in aroma.' Despite having a reputation for their snobbish attitude to wine, the French themselves have actually embraced flavoured wines, drinking a predicted 30 million bottles in 2013. Cola wine could also be a big hit in Britain, as sugar consumption has increased by 31 per cent since 1990, with the average person consuming 700g of sugar a week. | Rouge Sucette is only 75 per cent wine, the rest is sugar, water and cola .
French drinks firm hope it will appeal to young 'Coke generation' drinkers . |
117,768 | 240fe1c9985226953cbb1ceb4d36fcb39bd038fa | By . Sara Nathan . PUBLISHED: . 17:35 EST, 16 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 22:14 EST, 16 January 2013 . Friends and fans fears that Britney Spears will not be able to handle a long-term stint in Las Vegas after being dropped by the X Factor and splitting from her fiancé Jason Trawick all in the space of a week. The 31-year-old star is on the brink of signing a mega $100 million deal with one of the Caesars group . properties - after Jason formally resigned as her conservator. However, sources have told of their fears for Britney, as one told MailOnline: 'I'm not sure just how good an idea Vegas is for Britney right now. If she can't handle the X Factor - how will she be able to perform five days a week in Vegas? Britney confirmed her departure from the talent show on the same day as her split from Jason and the source said: 'She's a homebody, she loves her sons and has her daily routine. At this time, she may need to concentrate on her health and happiness - not rebuilding her career.' Scroll down for video . It's over: Britney Spears has split from fiance Jason Trawick after a year-long engagement . Britney and Jason announced the end of their one-year engagement on Friday and the singer said in a statement: 'Jason and I have decided to call off our engagement. I'll always adore him and we will remain great friends.' Jason added: 'As this chapter ends for us a new one begins. I love and cherish her and her boys and we will be close forever.' The couple were so entwined that Jason accompanied Britney nearly everywhere. Indeed, on the rare occasions she was seen alone it was to go shopping or get coffee near her California home. Hinting at the break-up: Britney was pictured without her engagement ring one week ago during a Los Angeles outing . Indeed, shy Britney only seen in public six times WITHOUT ex-fiancé Jason in the past year . One . source told how Jason had helped immeasurably in helping Britney to get . her life back on track and was a constant by her side during filming on . the X Factor, saying: 'At auditions, Jason would calmly escort Britney . by the hand back and forth to her seat during breaks. He was there for . her.' Painting a . picture of a rather nervous woman, another source recalled being at an . industry party at Soho House in Los Angeles in September where Britney . was a guest, saying: 'Britney stood in a corner and hid. 'She didn't speak to anyone - you wouldn't even have realised she was there. She's a shy, shy girl.' Still friends: The pair were last pictured together last month and their relationship apparently became more of a friendship, with them sleeping in separate bedrooms . Court papers: Official papers reveal that Jason Trawick is no longer responsible for Britney Spears . Britney and Jason had been staying at the W Hotel in Hollywood during the X Factor filming, but a friend told how they had their own rooms as they had become 'just friends'. Britney is now believed to be back at her home in Calabasas with her sons Sean, seven, and Jayden, six, and Jason has moved out. Jason . also acted as Britney's manager, and the pop star has now changed . management to CAA, indicating the pair have also severed ties in their business . relationship. Court papers just release show resigned as Britney's co-conservator, but her father Jamie Spears will remain as conservator. Moved out: Trawick ios no longer living with Britney; he is seen grocery shopping in Calabasas last month . Reports had suggested that Britney's father Jamie had in fact brokered his daughter's break-up with Jason himself, and a friend confirmed: 'I did hear this.' Radar Online reported: 'Jason wanted out, and in the fragile state that Britney is in, it’s not like he could have a rational conversation with her about it, so it was really between him and Jamie. They decided how the relationship needed to end and how to go about the technicalities, such as removing Jason from the conservatorship, when he would move out and how to announce the split. Britney was left out of everything and really didn’t even know what was going on. 'Jason and Jamie wanted to make sure that Britney didn’t lose it, so they had to water things down for her a bit.' Keeping close: Britney assures fans that she and Jason will 'remain great friends' and added that she will 'always adore him' Rare solo outing: Coffee-toting Britney Spears and her sons go shopping for pet supplies in Thousand Oaks, California, in November . On her own: Britney Spears goes grocery shopping, in a rare pictures taken without Jason Trawick by her side, in October . Britney had raked in $15 million for her judging role on the X Factor. Announcing her departure from the Fox talent show, she said: 'I had an incredible time doing the show and I love the other judges and I am so proud of my teens but it's time for me to get back in the studio. 'Watching them all do their thing up . on that stage every week made me miss performing so much! I can't wait . to get back out there and do what I love most.' However, the Grammy winner's team has already begun 'serious talks' for a lucrative Vegas concert deal. Severing all ties: Jason used to act as Britney's manager but the star, seen with Jason in October, has now changed management . According to TMZ, Britney and her . people have been in serious negotiations with one of the Caesars group . properties for 'a while.' The former Mouseketeer is likely . being wooed to star in her own long-running show at the Colloseum at . Caesar's Palace since that is where Cher and Celine Dion also held . residencies. Dion scored $100 million a year to . headline her show and her previous A New Day show grossed more than $400 . million over five years. Cher also struck a lucrative deal with the casino where she performed for three years at $60 million a year. And speaking to E!, Daren Libonati, president and COO of the promotion and production company Justice Entertainment Group, said Britney could earn up to $2 million a week at a place like Caesars Palace. 'It was a very difficult decision': Britney Spears is rumoured to be planning Vegas show after confirming she quit The X Factor on Friday . E! calculated that if she worked 40 . weeks a year, that's $48 million a year for her. And if she signs up for . a Dion-like residency of three years, that's $144 million. Mr Libonati said: 'Deals such as this are based on scale. That's a very basic guess on what such a deal might look like. It could be even more.' However, fans wrote of their dismay at the idea. Writing on MailOnline, one said: 'She couldn't handle 3 months of twice a week X-Factor.. What makes you think she can handle a VEGAS show. She needs to stay home and be a mom! I feel horrible for her!' While, Agnes from Stockholm, Sweden said: 'How ill-advised! If Britney had a chance of seeing such a committment through with Trawick, there's just no chance she'd manage now. 'We are talking about someone who has documented mental issues, someone who has made headlines for just the number of breaks she needed during tje the X-factor auditions. We are talking about someone who lip-sang all through her last world tour despite many of her fans' outrage. 'A Las Vegas residency must be a huge challenge for any performer and the pressure surely must be enough to break even the strongest of characters. 'How will a person as mentally vulnerable as Britney is said to be, manage demanding shows several nights a week, week after week, month after month, for one, or two or three years in a row? I am afraid her paying fans shall have to brace themeselves for a huge and disappointment if such a deal is closed, her critics will have a field day and Britney herself may be pushed over the edge and onto another mental breakdown as a result.' However, a close friend of Britney told MailOnline today: 'She is well and has amazing family and friends who love her. She is dancing five days a week and is in the studio working on her 8th album. She is in demand career wise.' Working on her eighth album: The 31-year-old pop star said she was very proud of her teens but 'it's time for me to get back in the studio' Heading for Vegas? The former Mouseketeer is likely being wooed to star in her own long-running show at the Colloseum at Caesar's Palace since that is where Cher and Celine Dion also held lucrative residencies . Vegas baby! Dion scored $100 million a year to headline her show and Cher earned $60 million a year for three years at the Colloseum . | Sources close to star say they fear she 'can't handle' Vegas .
But others claim she is 'well and has amazing family and friends who love her'
The star is dancing five days a week and back in the studio working on her eighth album .
Shy Britney only seen in public six times WITHOUT ex-fiancé Jason in the past year . |
215,442 | a2dea9f5639136feac98e328457ba32eadc26091 | By . Bianca London . PUBLISHED: . 10:08 EST, 28 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:43 EST, 28 May 2013 . The dapper style of the roaring twenties has returned, with a little help from Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby, and it seems men can be just as inspired as women. Since Leonardo DiCaprio appeared in the character of Jay Gatsby showcasing an ultra-styled, slicked back hair style epitomising the polished 1920s style, one high-street pharmacy has seen sales of men’s hair pomade, wax and gel soar. Sales of VO5 Extreme Style Grooming Hair Pomade have almost doubled, while Fudge Urban Matte Wax has seen sales rise 25 per cent when compared the same time in 2012 at Superdrug. Get the Gatsby look: Since Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire appeared with ultra-styled, slicked back hair, one high-street pharmacy has seen sales of men's hair pomade, wax and gel soar in sales . Sales of Just For Men hair colorant have also benefited from the Gatsby effect with sales rising by a third as men rush out to emulate the film's super dapper stars. Celebrities have also fallen for Gatsby’s slicked back style with stars such as David Beckham and Daniel Radcliffe choosing groomed retro styles. And it’s not just men who are inspired by Gatsby, sales of self-grip small and medium hair rollers are up 24 per cent at teh same retailers as women aim for the finger-curled glamour of Daisy Buchanan played by Carey Mulligan. Sarah Sharp, Senior Buyer of Hair at the high-street store said: 'Our customers love to follow the latest trends and The Great Gatsby is proving to be a huge inspiration for both men and women. Jumping on the hair trend: Celebrities have also fallen for Gatsby's slicked back style with stars such as David Beckham and Daniel Radcliffe choosing ultra-groomed retro styles . 'Today’s men are more confident than ever experimenting with different styles. 'The Great Gatsby look follows last year’s Mad Men 1950s look, showing that for men retro hair remains firmly in fashion.' High-street fashion has also been benefiting from the Great Gatsby effect with the likes of Debenhams seeing sales of vintage-inspired items soar by up to 266 per cent. Big influence: The fashion of the film is having a huge effect on sales of vintage-inspired garments on the high-street . George at Asda has also reported sales of its . glamorous beaded collar blouse and vintage-style lace dress are up as . shoppers are dazzled by the Gatsby film fashion. Strings . of pearls, flower headbands and corsages are also proving popular to . recreate the vintage inspired look, and in response George has stocked . the shelves with plenty to cope with soaring demand. | Sales of VO5 Extreme Style Grooming Hair Pomade have almost doubled .
Fudge Urban Matte Wax has seen sales rise 25 per cent .
Sales of Just For Men hair colorant risen by a third .
David Beckham and Daniel Radcliffe copying the slicked back look too . |
160,065 | 5adf15a320991dd4cee79f365881dbc6a95eae97 | (CNN) -- The long-running battle between a Tennessee Muslim community and its critics over a new mosque took a dramatic turn with a county judge's ruling that could bring construction to a halt. "Everyone is really shocked, many people are crying about this," Imam Ossama Bahloul, leader of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro (ICM), said Wednesday. "We did exactly what other churches in the county did," he said. "We followed the same process that other churches did. Why did this happen? Some people feel like it is discrimination." Chancellor Robert Corlew ruled Tuesday that plans for the new mosque, previously approved by a planning commission, are now "void and of no effect." Opinion: America, how can Muslim-Americans reach non-Muslims? He said the planning commission violated state law by not providing proper public notice. The ruling throws the date of the mosque's completion, scheduled for July, up in the air. Rutherford County Attorney Jim Cope said Corlew did not address the issue of whether work on the mosque has to stop right away. County planners will discuss options and determine an appropriate course of action, he said. Cain: Opposing mosque construction is not discrimination . Bahloul said construction will go on until the Islamic Center receives orders to stop. "The ruling was a bit foggy," he said. "We will do what's right." Sally Wall, a critic of the decision to approve the mosque, said Corlew's opinion was correct "because there was no due process." She told CNN's "AC360" on Wednesday evening that the public knew nothing until "it was a done deal." "It's not a matter of Islamophobia with me," Wall said. "The county government is supposed to operate in a particular way ... People who live in an area where a mosque or anything else is going to be built are supposed to have a right to say something about it." In his opinion, Corlew said he would allow attorneys for those who filed suit over the mosque approval process to prepare an order for his review. Attorney Joe Brandon lodged such an order Wednesday. It will be held five business days, after which the judge can review and sign it. The order says the May 2010 decision by planning commissioners to approve the center's plans failed to meet public notice requirements. It decrees "a permanent injunction is entered against defendant county officials from taking any further actions or permitting any third party from taking any further actions inconsistent with this order." Corlew did not order an immediate stop to construction, Cope argued. "An order is not final for 30 days," the county attorney said. We can't go out there (and stop construction) and then be sued by the ICM. They can file suit against us." The judge's opinion, according to Cope, also could be appealed. "We're very much premature in telling someone to stop something." Corlew, in a statement Wednesday, said he could not comment and the case was still pending, without a final order. Brandon told "AC360" that construction should stop because of the ruling. During the trial, attorneys for the mosque's opposition argued that the county failed to alert the public about meetings before the mosque was approved, CNN affiliate WTVF reported. Rutherford County attorneys said that the meetings were announced in the local free newspaper and on its website and that the notices clearly complied with Tennessee law. The judge, however, said the announcements in a local paper were "in relatively small type near the bottom of a page which contained a number of advertisements and legal notices, most of which were provided by the city of Murfreesboro." Corlew said his decision does not preclude the county from "again considering the same issues at a subsequent hearing when proper notice is given." The Islamic Center has 30 days to appeal the ruling and plans to apply again for a permit, spokesman Saleh Sbenaty said. "Hopefully, this time, the county will make it right," he said. "We followed the process according to the law. There is no question about it. We are singled out just because of our faith." The Council on American-Islamic Relations called on the Justice Department to ensure the religious rights of Muslims in Tennessee. "American Muslim constitutional rights should not be diminished merely because anti-Muslim bigots are able to manufacture a controversy about what would otherwise be normal religious activities," said Gadeir Abbas, staff attorney for the organization, which advocates for Muslim civil liberties. "The judge's ruling is apparently based on a fictitious 'heightened standard' for public notice when Muslims are involved," he said. The mosque expansion gained national attention, including a CNN documentary, because in some ways, it was similar to the proposal to build an Islamic center two blocks from the site of the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York. The Islamic Center of Murfreesboro has existed for more than a decade, but the fight erupted when planning commissioners approved the 52,960-square-foot building on Veals Road. The backlash was stinging and included intimidation, lawsuits and an August 2010 fire that destroyed construction equipment and damaged vehicles at the construction site for the mosque. Police said it was arson. A sign announcing the mosque was spray-painted with the words "Not Welcome." For months, mosque leaders searched for contractors willing and able to do the job. Because of the opposition and threats the project has provoked, the construction job became more complicated. The work now requires more layers of security, including cameras. My Take: This just in, Tennessee court says Islam is a religion . Some contractors weren't willing to take the job. Mosque leaders said contractors told them it had become too much of a hot-button issue and presented too much of a risk to their business and equipment. Several contractors began the bidding process but never finished. Mosque officials said one contractor told them that he needed the work but that the leaders of his own church were against the new Islamic center. In September, Corlew, the Rutherford County judge, ruled that the Muslim group had a right to build the larger facility. In the opinion, Corlew said organizations must be treated equally under current land-use ordinances, but added that some of the county's land use laws are "in dire need of revision." Corlew also wrote that the plaintiffs suing Rutherford County's planning commission can challenge whether the mosque's approval violated open meeting laws. That led to the lawsuit and trial that was decided this week. Opponents of the mosque have also argued that Islam is not a real religion deserving of First Amendment protections and claimed that the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro has links to terrorism, WTVF reported. The judge dismissed those allegations, the affiliate reported. The congregation has outgrown its old facility and worshippers have to pray outside the crowded mosque, said Bahloul, the leader of the Islamic Center. "I am confident that American values will prevail in this," the imam said. "What makes America so special is how it handles freedom. This decision does not seem like it reflects American values." | Attorney criticizes continuation of construction .
Islamic Center imam says construction will go on until the mosque is ordered to stop .
The ruling says the public was not adequately alerted before plans were approved .
The mosque's spokesman says Muslims are being singled out because of their faith . |
185,645 | 7c78c82ffc1864c5bfa8296980adafca43d629ab | At least 10,000 British emigrants are enjoying life in the sun on sickness benefits of up to £94 a week. This could be costing the taxpayer almost £1million a week in a time of austerity. Claimants in the UK are being forced to take new tests to see if they really are as sick as they say. A (taxpayer funded) place in the sun: At least 10,000 Britons living overseas are enjoying handouts thanks to incapacity benefits. (Picture posed by models) But officials admit that 4,000 older recipients of the benefit living in Spain, Jamaica and elsewhere will be able to continue drawing the handout until they reach retirement age. This is because Iain Duncan Smith’s Department of Work and Pensions will not re-test the entitlement of those reaching State Pension age before 6 April 2014. The Government is forced by EU rules to pay certain benefits even if the recipients eventually move abroad. In addition, Britain has reciprocal arrangements with other countries, including the U.S. and Jamaica, to keep up expatriates’ handouts. It emerged last month that expat . pensioners receive £13.4million a year in winter fuel payments – even . though many live in sunnier climes where they seldom need to turn on the . heating. Exemptions: Iain Duncan Smith has decided not to re-test the entitlement of those over 60 . But the cost of incapacity payments going abroad dwarfs that of winter fuel payments – costing up to £49million last year. And even though some of the remaining 5,800 expat claimants will be reassessed, ministers will have to rely on foreign GPs to carry out the assessments, raising questions over whether they will be as thorough as the independent doctors hired by the DWP to carry out the assessments in Britain. The highest rate of incapacity benefit is £94.25, meaning that up to £940,000 is going abroad every week to claimants. If the allowance was initially claimed in Britain, anyone is entitled to continue claiming after moving to any of 30 European countries or their overseas territories. Under European law, benefits acquired in one member state must be paid to those who move to another. The deal also includes Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Switzerland – none of which is in the EU. The UK also has reciprocal arrangements with some non-European countries. Tory backbencher Priti Patel said: ‘These figures are deeply alarming. Huge sums of public money are going to people unjustifiably, and it is all down to EU regulations. ‘British doctors will be strict in reassessing claimants, but we need an assurance that doctors in other countries will be just as strict.’ Emma Boon, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: ‘It is ridiculous that EU rules prevent our government from making our own choices about whether to give benefits to those who have moved away.’ Assessments: IB claimants in the UK face stringent new tests to see whether they are eligible to continue claiming. (Picture posed by models) 'Deeply alarming': Tory backbench MPs Priti Patel and Philip Davies both say the issue of expatriates claiming incapacity benefits must be tackled . A spokesman for the DWP said those who are genuinely too disabled or ill to work are entitled to the new Employment Support Allowance under EU rules. If someone from the UK now living abroad has paid enough in National Insurance contributions, he or she can receive contribution-based ESA subject to the same checks as someone living in the UK. He said: ‘Incapacity Benefit is an outdated benefit which is now closed to new claimants. We are currently reassessing everyone of working age on IB, whether they live in Great Britain or abroad. ‘People from the UK living abroad will only be entitled to ESA if they have paid sufficient National Insurance contributions. If they are found to be fit for work they will have their benefits stopped.’ He said those emigrants on Incapacity Benefit will be reassessed for ESA using exactly the same criteria as those in Britain. The DWP estimates that there are around 10,000 on IB abroad, the majority in Europe with many in Spain and Ireland. About 5,800 living overseas are expected to be reassessed for ESA between February 2011 and April 2014. As in the UK, those who are approaching 60 or more will not be reassessed because they are deemed to be too old to seek work. UK-based sickness benefit recipients will be assessed by DWP-approved doctors. But the DWP will have to rely on foreign GPs to carry out assessments for those based abroad. Tory MP Philip Davies said: ‘I applaud the Government for getting to grips with Incapacity Benefit. But we mustn’t allow people to escape having to be reassessed by moving abroad.’ * In an earlier version of this article we said the Department for Work and Pensions would not re-test those over 60. In fact, the reviews will not affect those people due to reach State Pension age before 6 April 2014. | 4,000 can continue to claim until retirement .
European law forces UK taxpayers to continue to fund handouts . |
117,062 | 231da059ea6916deadc5d5c0ceacb759380d6b1e | (CNN) -- Rescue workers Tuesday recovered the body of a child from debris left by a landslide in China's southwestern Guizhou province, state-run media reported. The child's body was the first to be recovered after a rain-triggered landslide buried 107 people from 38 families Monday afternoon. The child, yet to be identified, was found at 5:50 p.m. under rubble in Gangwu township, a rescue headquarters spokesman told the Xinhua news agency. Chances of survival for the others was "slim," rescue workers said. A survivor described the mudslide's speed, which left little time to escape. "I called the others to flee. But it was too late. I saw some people behind me being buried," villager Cen Chaoyang told Xinhua in a telephone interview. Rescuers had to run three miles to reach the site, which is not accessible by vehicle. Rain and landslides continue to plague the region, Xinhua said. The tourism industry has already been affected by the severe weather. Officials have closed 35 of the top scenic spots in the region, Xinhua reported. | NEW: 107 people buried have slim chance of survival .
Mudslide caused by heavy rain in southwest China .
Survivor fled but saw people behind him buried . |
43,900 | 7bd8200c21891c9e23163418fed7c514718c9327 | A U.S. Marine who vanished from his unit in Iraq and later wound up in Lebanon for eight years will face trial on desertion and other charges, the military said Friday. Maj. Gen. William D. Beydler has referred 34-year-old Cpl. Wassef Hassoun for a general court-martial on charges of desertion, larceny and destruction of government property, according to a news release from the Marines. No date has been set for Hassoun's trial at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, where he is being held. Marine Corps Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun was charged a month ago with desertion in a mysterious case in which he left his unit in Iraq only to turn up in Lebanon . The case began in June 2004, when Hassoun disappeared from a base in Fallujah, Iraq. About a week later, he appeared in a photo purportedly taken by insurgents. Hassoun was blindfolded and had a sword poised above his head. Hassoun, a naturalized American citizen who was born and grew up in Lebanon, turned up days later at the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon saying he was kidnapped by extremists. But the military doubted his story, and he was brought back to the U.S. while charges were considered. He was allowed to visit relatives in Utah in December 2004 when he disappeared again — eventually winding up back in Lebanon. The case began in June 2004, when Hassoun disappeared from a base in Fallujah, Iraq . Defense attorney Haytham Faraj argues that Hassoun was prevented from leaving for years by Lebanese authorities and came back to the U.S. after travel restrictions were lifted. Faraj, himself a former Marine, said he's seen many similar cases dating to the Vietnam era in which the desertion charge was changed to unauthorized absence, and service members were given administrative punishment. To prove desertion, the military must show a serviceman intended not to come back. 'The intent to remain permanently away isn't there,' Faraj said. 'Here we have a clear case of a person who came back.' Faraj has said the report by the military equivalent of a grand jury hearing notes that the case consists mostly of circumstantial evidence and that many witnesses, including some in Iraq, would be hard to find. Hassoun approaches a podium to read a statement to the media July 19, 2004 outside the U.S. Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia. saying he was captured and held against his will by anti-coalition forces for 19 days . Military prosecutors argue Hassoun was unhappy with his deployment and left the Marines in Iraq in 2004. They cited witnesses who said Hassoun didn't like how the U.S. was interrogating Iraqis and that he said he wouldn't shoot back at Iraqis. Military officials say a marriage for Hassoun had been arranged with a woman in Lebanon. They are now married and have a son who has dual U.S. and Lebanese citizenship. Faraj, who maintains the kidnapping story is true, has said his client traveled to Lebanon in early 2005 while on leave and was soon arrested. Faraj argues that court proceedings in Lebanon were triggered by the U.S. charges against Hassoun. Military prosecutors argue Hassoun, seen here with brother Mohamad Hassoun, was unhappy with his deployment and left the Marines in Iraq in 2004 . Marine prosecutors say Hassoun's whereabouts were unknown for eight years. He was returned to the U.S. in 2014 after he contacted officials here. Translated Lebanese government documents provided to the court say Hassoun was arrested in 2005 by Lebanese authorities after Interpol issued a bulletin triggered by his status as a deserter. The documents, which the defense also gave to The Associated Press, say Lebanese authorities released him but took his passport and prevented him from traveling. The documents indicate that Lebanese officials declined to extradite Hassoun and he was eventually fined for theft of military tools — a charge that mirrors the U.S. larceny count. | Cpl. Wassef Hassoun faces a .
general court-martial on charges of desertion, larceny and destruction .
of government property .
The case .
began in June 2004, when Hassoun disappeared from a base in Fallujah, .
Iraq .
One week after his dissapearance he appeared in a photo purportedly taken by .
insurgents . |
213,250 | a029b49fc97ce9c5646372d66f6f131e23cefec7 | A Michigan man has erected a giant bronze sculture of a hand with its middle finger raised in the direction of his neighbor - who also happens to be his ex-wife. Alan Markovitz, 59, a Detroit strip-club entrepreneur, erected the 12-foot-high, spot-lit sculpture in the backyard of his lakefront Orchard Lake home. A person who appears to be the daughter of Markovitz's ex-wife Lea Tuohy tweeted about the sculpture. Flipped: The sculpture stands on the back porch of Alan Markovitz's home . 'How psychotic do you have to be to buy the house directly next to your ex wife and then put a statue up like that?!?! Real classy alan,' Lenka Tuohy tweeted November 11. Stripped bare: Markovitz bought the house directly next door to his ex-wife but says he's totally over her . According to the Detroit Free Press, Alan Markovitz moved into the home with his daughter Tiffany. Markovitz is a well-known character around Detroit. He began opening strip clubs on Detroit's infamous Eight Mile in the 1980s. Since then, he's been shot twice (once in the face), had a Mob contract out on his life, sued by exotic dancers and, according to Real Detroit Weekly, once had an ex-girlfriend drive her Pontiac Fiero through the front door of one of his clubs. A self-penned book about his adventures, Topless Prophet: The True Story of America's Most Successful Gentleman's Club Entrepreneur, was published in 2009. His latest endeavor is am HBO/Cinemax reality show called Topless Prophet, which is slated to air early next year. Deadline Detroit reports that Markovitz was married for two years to a woman who he says was cheating on him with someone he knew. Well-lit: There's no escaping the sculpture, which Markovitz has a spotlight trained on when it's dark . Neighbors: Lenka Tuohy (right) and her mother Lea Tuohy (left) can see the sculpture from their back windows . She reportedly moved in with the man after she and Markovitz had split up. 'I'm so over her,' Markovitz told Deadline Detroit. 'This is about him. This is about him not being a man.' When a friend tweeted that Alan's gesture was making him 'look like an idiot,' Tuohy concurred: 'Like lol someone's not over my momma!' According to Deadline Detroit, the sculpture cost $7,000. But flipping off your ex-wife every single day? For Markovitz, it's priceless. | Strip club entrepreneur Alan Markovitz bought the house next door to his ex-wife's home .
He erected a 12-foot sculpture of a hand with its middle finger raised in his backyard .
The sculpture faces next door and can be seen clearly from his ex-wife's windows .
At night it has a spotlight trained on it .
Markovitz says he's 'so over' his ex-wife . |
23,637 | 431e062d56a122112519546e75aca0b523510b6a | By . Paul Thompson . PUBLISHED: . 14:31 EST, 25 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:43 EST, 25 February 2013 . A man who woke up during the middle of cataract eye surgery has claimed he was the victim of 'torture' after tape was put over his mouth to stop him complaining. Hector Alonso, 69, claims he was forcibly held down and gagged by medical staff after he demanded the surgery be halted. In legal papers filed against his surgeon he claims tape was placed over his mouth and as a result he swallowed one of his teeth. Lawsuit: Hector Alonso claims he was tortured during eye surgery at Tulane University Medical Center, pictured, in Mississippi . Alonso said his treatment was 'torture' and claims the operation was botched leaving him blind in his right eye. He has sued eye surgeon Shehab A. Ebrhim and Tulane University Medical Centre in Mississippi where the operation was carried out. Alonso claims he was admitted to Tulane University Medical Center for a cataract surgery in his right eye but mid-way through the intensive surgery his anesthetic wore off. He said he could see Ebrahim operating on his eye with medical instruments. According to the suit, Alonso begged the surgeon to stop the surgery but he claims the medical personnel put a piece of tape over his mouth and continued the operation with him wide awake. While being 'gagged' and allegedly held down by hospital staff he claims he swallowed one of his teeth, describing his treatment as 'torture.' Surgeon: Alonso has sued eye surgeon Shehab A. Ebrhim, pictured, for medical negligence as well as assault and battery, which he claims took place during cataract eye surgery, like that pictured in the stock photo, left . Alonso is seeking an unspecified amount in damages saying he was the victim of assault and battery as well as medical negligence. He says the defendant failed to properly treat him, failed to take into account the safety of others, didn't use proper procedures, failed to properly supervise employees and failed to properly sedate and monitor him during the operation. Alonso claims the horrific ordeal caused him immeasurable physical pain due as well as mental anguish, annoyance, disability, discomfort and medical expenses. He claims the apparent loss of sight in his right eye caused by the 'botched' surgery has also stopped him from engaging in certain recreational activities and has destroyed his earning capacity. Dr Ebrahim is certified by The American Board of Ophthalmology and is a member of the American Society of Retinal Specialists. The case is being heard in the Judicial District Court in Gretna, Mississippi, before judge John J. Molaison Jr. | Hector Alonso, 69, claims he was forcibly held down and gagged by medical staff after he demanded the surgery be halted .
Suing eye surgeon Shehab A. Ebrhim and Tulane University Medical Centre in Mississippi where the operation was carried out .
Claims tape was placed over his mouth and as a result he swallowed one of his teeth .
Also says the operation was botched and left him blind in his right eye . |
77,423 | db808944e83a179f3344a9e9562f7ec786d803d9 | (CNN) -- Marco Rubio crossed his party again on immigration. The potential 2016 presidential contender from Florida was one of 11 Republican senators joining most Democrats to support a procedural vote this week on legislation aimed at stemming the tide of immigrant children crossing the southern border. The vote for the $2.7 billion Democratic bill aimed at meeting needs of the immigrant families in the surge and kids who arrived on their own, simply allowed lawmakers to begin debate on the measure. But it's significant as the Democrats needed the lofty threshold of 60 votes to move on to the border package that is in line with their priorities and basically those of the White House although it would spend $1 billion less than what President Barack Obama wants. Most in Rubio's caucus opposed, including fellow potential White House hopefuls Rand Paul of Kentucky and Ted Cruz of Texas. And it all took place as House leaders reworked their version in an uncertain bid to attract conservative support to address the situation most consider a humanitarian crisis. The Rubio vote carries unique significance for him, regardless of the proposal's outcome. That's because his aspirations for higher office took a big hit in the Republican Party over his central role in drafting and then voting for comprehensive immigration reform last summer. He later moved away from the legislation, but it was too late, politically. Vocal and influential conservatives panned the measure over their claims it would not secure the southern border and would only create amnesty for some 11 million undocumented immigrants already in the country. The legislation stalled in the GOP-led House, as did Rubio's standing with the right wing of the party. Conservative views are paramount in the presidential nominating contest, and they simply didn't like what the son of Cuban immigrants had done. Senate votes to start debate on emergency border bill . So after all that, and a lot of effort since to rebuild his standing with conservatives, why did he cast his lot with Democrats on an immigration vote again? "I voted to move to the Senate border bill so that we would have the opportunity to vote on and pass amendments that would achieve real reforms," Rubio wrote in a statement. He also said he would not support a final bill unless the Democratic-led chamber did two things that Republicans want: Change a 2008 law to make it easier to deport young migrants from Central America as a deterrent and toss parts of an Obama administration program that eases deportation of other immigrants in the United States illegally. Most Democrats don't want either change, but Republicans blame the influx of young immigrants from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras on what they contend are flawed immigration policies. The message, they say intended or not, is that it's easier to immigrate. This is the first time in the border crisis debate that Rubio has inserted himself in a significant way. While he has given numerous interviews about the nearly 60,000 minors -- many of them unaccompanied -- who have crossed the border in the past 10 months, he has not been instrumental in crafting emergency legislation in Congress to address it. Rubio's vote on Wednesday certainly carries some risk, judging by conservative responses to more Republican-friendly legislation in the House. Erick Erickson, editor of the conservative blog RedState, wrote Thursday that the slimmed down, $659 million House proposal is actually "inexcusable." His problem with it is that it gives money to Obama to disperse to border and other immigration programs without imposing the changes to immigration policy Republicans want immediately. Cruz convinces House to alter border bill . While Rubio's willingness to move forward could be unpopular among conservatives, enough lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and in both chambers are concerned about leaving town Friday for the month of August without doing anything about the border crisis. House members and senators will be spend the rest of the summer amid constituents back home where polls show immigration overall is especially on the minds of voters. In a recent CNN/ORC survey, 39% say it's extremely important for Obama and Congress to deal with illegal immigration in general, up 10 points from last year. "That means that immigration is the only issue tested that has grown significantly more important to the public in the past year," CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said. House GOP seeks cover with slimmer border bill . CNN's Ted Barrett, Deirdre Walsh and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report. | Sen. Marco Rubio was one of 11 Republicans to back a procedural vote on the border crisis .
Fellow potential 2016 contenders, Sens. Ted Cruz and Rand Paul, opposed it .
The House reworked its bill to appease conservatives .
Though it's not clear whether Congress will work out a compromise . |
188,147 | 7fa56a2baf65e644c0c60e1047cd8c69057ead30 | (CNN) -- Looks like it could take awhile for new Twitter user Rupert Murdoch to get the hang of things. For starters, the 80-year-old media mogul, who signed up for Twitter over the New Year's holiday, might want to make sure the people he follows are real. As of Monday, the oft-controversial Murdoch was following a grand total of four people on the social networking site. One of them, at first glance, appears to be Google co-founder and CEO Larry Page. Except that it's not Larry Page but a parody account that's part of a university project. "This is a fake account - part of a series created for @plaidavenger's class at Virginia Tech," the owner of the account tweeted Monday in reply to a follower asking about it after seeing an interaction with Murdoch. It wasn't clear Monday whether the News Corporation CEO was aware of the misunderstanding. The Twitter chat started with "Plaid Larry Page" welcoming the magnate to the site. "Welcome @rupertmurdoch to Twitter! Could Google+ be next?" he wrote Sunday. Murdoch's reply: "Maybe soon, but I'm getting killed for fooling around here and friends frightened what I may really say!" Indeed. Less than a day into his Twitter tenure, Murdoch had been publicly chastised by what appeared to be his wife (fellow Twitter newbie Wendi Deng) for a tweet saying that "maybe Brits have too many holidays for [a] broke country." He quickly backed down, deleting the tweet in question. [UPDATE: Both Twitter and the account owner have acknowledged that the Deng account is a fake not really run by her. Twitter had mistakenly given the account "verified" status shortly after it was created.] . Murdoch tweets support for Rick Santorum . It's hard to figure out what to make of Murdoch's other three follows, other than that he appears to be taking his new venture into Web and social-media culture seriously. Some have ventured it's part of a "charm offensive" after a year in which he was embroiled in a phone-hacking controversy at his now-defunct "News of the World" newspaper. Alan Sugar, a British magnate and reality-TV judge, as well as Twitter nemesis of CNN's own Piers Morgan, is one of them. The other two are Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey and Zynga CEO Mark Pincus -- the man behind such online time-killers as "FarmVille" and "Mafia Wars." | News Corporation's Rupert Murdoch starts Twitter life by following fake "Larry Page"
The account resembles Google's Larry Page but is in fact part of a college project .
So far, the media mogul is following four accounts on Twitter .
Two of the four accounts Murdoch follows are tech CEOs . |
33,868 | 604a9bf2fc81b207fe430bfe2154fcb216624629 | By . Damien Gayle . PUBLISHED: . 06:37 EST, 28 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 07:01 EST, 28 December 2012 . If you are looking for a way to raise more money for charity, science has a simple answer: go blonde. Donors to charities give nearly a quarter more if they are approached by a blonde fundraiser than a brunette, a study claims. But be careful which families you pick. The same research shows that blondes receive significantly lower donations at non-Caucasian households. Money spinner: Blonde hair can increase the amount of donations a woman raising money for charity can solicit by as much as 23 per cent, a study claims . Researchers from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville conducted a study to investigate the effect of hair colour on the generosity of those solicited for charitable donations. 'This study examines how a cosmetic attribute - hair colour - impacts productivity in a door-to-door fund-raising experiment,' wrote Michael Price, assistant professor of economics, in the study published in Economics Letters. Taking into account previous studies which showed how attractiveness affected earnings, Professor Price investigated whether similar returns are correlated with hair colour. He found that blonde women gained much more from their perceived good looks, but that this was only the case when they visited Caucasian households - with non-Caucasian households apparently unaffected by good looking blondes. 'The returns to physical appearance are approximately 71.6 to 76.0 per cent greater for a blonde female than a brunette (minority) counterpart,' Professor Price wrote. 'Interestingly, the returns to beauty for blonde females are driven entirely by Caucasian households. In fact, blondes receive significantly lower donations at non-Caucasian households. 'Yet there is no discernible difference across household types for both brunette and minority females.' Unaffected: The study also showed that the extra . fundraising effect of blonde hair was lost when blonde volunteers . visited non-Caucasians - but that brunettes and ethnic minority . volunteers still received as much . Women charged with murder who plead self defence are more likely to be perceived as guilty if have 'thick lips' and 'smooth and harmonious facial features', says a study. The findings made by a team from the University of Grenada, Spain, contradict the generally held stereotype that beauty deflects criminal responsibility. They found that in the case of a woman claiming self defence in the killing of an abusive husband, police officers were more likely to regard as innocent defendants who were described as unattractive. The findings also showed that women perceived as more independent and in charge of their lives were also more likely to be seen as guilty of murder. Legal processes are ideally conducted without bias, but in reality biases influence all human judgements and looking at how these prejudices shape behaviour should help to minimise their effect. In the past, social psychologists had widely accepted the contention that beautiful people are less likely to be regarded as criminally responsible. The study looked at the amounts of money people living in Pitt County, North Carolina, were willing to contribute to the Center for Natural Hazards Mitigation Research at East Carolina University. Professor Price enlisted 44 volunteers to visit 1,755 potential donor households, 522 of which actually contributed money to the cause. However, for the purposes of the study, the research was restricted to 955 households who were approached by 23 female volunteers. Professor Price and his team took digital photos of each of these female volunteers, divided them into blondes, brunettes and minorities, and asked undergraduate students to rate their attractiveness. They found that households were around 13 per cent more likely to contribute when approached by an attractive female. However, keeping beauty a constant, findings showed that households were 23 per cent more likely to make a donation when visited by a blonde femail than a brunette who was judged just as attractive. However, when blondes visited minority households, findings showed the effects of their attractiveness was muted, with the effect of increasing the beauty of the blonde visitor 509.7 per cent lower than that of a brunette. 'Empirical results suggest that returns to physical appearance are, on average, greater for blonde females but depend critically on characteristics of the potential donor,' Professor Price concluded. | Blondes found to raise 23 per cent more than equally attractive brunettes .
However the 'blonde effect' is entirely driven by Caucasian donors .
Blondes found to receive significantly less from minority households . |
23,228 | 41eacb6da961f9f1b1bedd063100f0321f1b8635 | By . David Derbyshire and Tamara Cohen . PUBLISHED: . 17:52 EST, 30 March 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 06:13 EST, 31 March 2012 . The last drops: The ban on hosepipes and sprinklers in the South and East of England will be the most widespread for seven years . Confusion reigned over the impact of the hosepipe ban last night – as the country endures the worst drought in 90 years. Just days before a ban comes into force millions of householders have been left in the dark over which rules apply following a series of U-turns from water companies about exemptions for pensioners, businesses and gardeners. The ban on hosepipes and sprinklers in the South and East of England will be the most widespread since 2005 with the drought now more severe than the summer of 1976. A large area of Yorkshire is now in a state of drought and groundwater . levels across England and Wales have dropped to the lowest level on the . Government's scale. Experts say that twice the average rainfall will be . required over the coming months to replenish the water table. It was 1921 when the UK last went through a drought as bad as the current crisis. The dry arid conditions thought to have partly inspired TS Eliot's famous poem The Wasteland - although commentators believe it was also an allegory for the First World War. The work was partly written in Margate which that year broke the record for receiving a total yearly rainfall of just 236mm which meant it technically classed as a desert. It is hoped that restrictions by seven suppliers, due to come into effect on Thursday will enable the country to cope with such a severe drought this summer. Consumer groups and MPs yesterday called on water companies to provide clearer, more consistent information. Last month the companies issued an 11-point diktat in an attempt to stop customers flouting the terms, backed up by the threat of fines of £1,000 if they are prosecuted. Three weeks ago, hundreds of . thousands of pensioners were told they would be spared from the ban. But . company bosses scrapped the exemption this week following complaints . from younger customers. Other . water companies told gardeners that drip hoses – which allow only a . trickle of water – were banned. But they have since changed their mind, . and now say irrigation systems are permitted. March . has been particularly dry and warm, with an average temperature of . 8.5C, about 3C above the normal, making it potentially the third driest . March since records began in 1659. Last . week most areas of the UK received less than 1mm of rainfall and the . dry conditions have caused streams and rivers in Herefordshire, . Glouestershire Oxfordshire and Yorkshire to dry up. The Environmental . Agency is now on standby to transfer fish to safety. Taking a dip: The UK is suffering the worst drought since 1921. This photo shows three young women cooling off at Herne Bay in August that year. Inspired: The arid landscape of drought hit England in 1921 is believed to have partly inspired TS Eliot's acclaimed poem The Wasteland. Rules on which businesses are allowed to clean patios, paths and decking in domestic gardens have also changed. A spokesman for the Consumer Council for Water said: ‘It is very important that the companies are consistent in their information to customers about what they can and can’t do.’ Norman Baker, Lib Dem MP for Lewes in East Sussex, which is covered by Southern and South East Water, told the Mail: ‘I am dismayed by the uncertainty which has been created about who is eligible for help and who is not and where the bans are. ‘It is imperative that South East and Southern Water make the situation clear to my constituents.’ The restrictions – imposed by . Southern Water, South East Water, Thames Water, Anglian Water, Sutton . and East Surrey, Veolia Central and Veolia South East – will start . before the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, one of the busiest times of the . year for gardeners. Two . weeks ago South East Water, which supplies two million people in Kent, . Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire, said all customers over 65 . would be spared from the ban. But . this week, the company said: ‘We have revised it as a result of . feedback from other customers who didn’t think it was a fair . concession. It was also confusing because other water companies weren’t . doing the same thing.’ While . more than 250 water abstraction licences have been cut for farmers, the . mild, dry weather has benefited commercial tomato growers who are in . the unusual position of being able to harvest their crop a month early . and 100 tonnes are expected to be picked on the Isle of Wight next week. | Ban on hosepipes and sprinklers the most widespread for seven years .
Restrictions start Thursday, backed by threats of £1,000 fines for breakers .
UK needs double the average spring and summer rain to replenish supplies .
TS Eliot's famous poem The Wasteland inspired by drought of 1921 .
Could be third warmest March since records began in 1659 .
Britain saw less than 1mm of rain last week .
But dry weather is good news for tomato growers . |
96,380 | 080165c7223e61214bf69919809fb376d007b2e9 | New York (CNN) -- An accused international arms dealer, now in U.S. custody for allegedly agreeing to sell millions of dollars of weapons to a Colombian narco-terrorist organization, pleaded not guilty Wednesday in a U.S. courtroom to four counts of terror-related crimes. Viktor Bout, the alleged dealer, could face life in prison if found guilty, the Manhattan U.S. Attorney said. The charges he faces are conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals; conspiracy to kill U.S. officers or employees; conspiracy to acquire and use an anti-aircraft missile; and conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization. In this case, that would be the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC. Bout appeared before U.S. District Judge Shira Sheindin wearing a brown tee shirt, black track pants and black sneakers. He was given headphones for translation to Russian, but Bout, who speaks six languages, spoke English to the judge and his attorney. He stood and said "good day" when the judge entered, and nodded that he understood his rights. The hearing lasted about 10 minutes. "The so-called 'Merchant of Death' is now a federal inmate," said U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara. Bharara said if Bout is convicted on all counts, he'll face a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. Bharara also announced an unsealed guilty plea of an alleged Bout associate, Andrew Smulian, on the charges. The Justice Department said that between November 2007 and March 2008, Bout agreed to sell millions of dollars of weapons to the FARC, called the "world's largest supplier of cocaine" and dedicated to the violent overthrow of the democratically-elected Colombian government. The weaponry allegedly included "surface-to-air missile systems; armor piercing rocket launchers; AK-47 firearms; millions of rounds of ammunition; Russian spare parts for rifles; anti-personnel land mines; C-4 plastic explosives; night-vision equipment; 'ultralight' aircraft that could be outfitted with grenade launchers and missiles; and unmanned aerial vehicles." Drug Enforcement Administration agents led a sting operation by posing as FARC members, and Bout was arrested in Thailand in 2008, where he remained in custody until Tuesday. Bout had agreed to sell the weapons to two confidential sources working with the Drug Enforcement Administration, the government said. In a meeting recorded in Thailand in March 2008, Bout said he could have the materiel airdropped to the FARC and offered to sell two cargo planes as well, the government alleges. Bharara said Bout indicated that he wanted the weapons to be used against U.S. personnel in Colombia. He indicated that the United States was his enemy and that the FARC's battles against the United States were his as well, the government said. He was arrested after that meeting by Thai officials. Bout arrived in New York late Tuesday, after being extradited from Thailand. The Russian citizen and former Soviet military officer is being held in a high-security prison in Manhattan until his trial, the Justice Department said. Bout allegedly began building his arms business as the Soviet Union disintegrated in the early 1990s. He acquired surplus Soviet planes and started shipping arms and ammunition to conflict zones, according to the U.S. Treasury Department. Bout -- who has gone by many other names, including "Victor Anatoliyevich Bout," "Victor But," "Viktor Budd," "Viktor Butt," "Viktor Bulakin" and "Vadim Markovich Aminov" -- is accused of supplying weapons to war zones around the world, from Sierra Leone to Afghanistan. But he has repeatedly said he has broken no laws and that the allegations against him are lies. Attorney General Eric Holder said Bout's "alleged arms trafficking activity and support of armed conflicts in Africa has been a cause of concern around the world." "His extradition is a victory for the rule of law worldwide. Long considered one of the world's most prolific arms traffickers, Mr. Bout will now appear in federal court in Manhattan to answer to charges of conspiring to sell millions of dollars worth of weapons to a terrorist organization for use in trying to kill Americans." The Russian government issued a terse reaction Tuesday on Bout being sent to the United States. "It is very deplorable that the Thai government succumbed to the outside pressure and conducted the illegal extradition of Viktor Bout," Russia's Foreign Ministry said. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said: "We as a country will continue assisting Viktor Bout as a Russian citizen in every possible way." CNN's Sally Garner and Susan Candiotti contributed to this report. | NEW: Viktor Bout pleaded not guilty in court Wednesday .
The suspected arms dealer faces life in prison if convicted .
The charges allege his involvement with the FARC . |
229,741 | b5842139c3f6366a83abe48c96ee3b050510d1cd | As the devious Thomas Cromwell, he cuts an imposing figure charting the treacherous waters of the Tudor court. But away from the set of Wolf Hall, Mark Rylance looks a touch less impressive stepping out of his tiny electric car. The 55-year-old actor was spotted zipping around South London in his small blue G-Wiz, which sells for around £10,000. Making a point: Actor Mark Rylance, 55, with his electric car and anti-fracking sticker spotted in south London . The sticker appeared to read ‘The F word is a dirty word’, an allusion to swearing, but smaller print after the F making clear the word was fracking . And the environmentally conscious star of the BBC drama also made his views known by showing an anti-fracking slogan in his back window. The sticker appeared to read ‘The F word is a dirty word’, an allusion to swearing, but smaller print after the F making clear the word was fracking. The process of drilling down into the ground to release natural gas has become a controversial topic among environmental campaigners. Rylance has never been one to hide his strong opinions on such issues. He was the main signatory of a letter to the Guardian in 2012 protesting at BP's sponsorship of the World Shakespeare Festival. Rylance as Thomas Cromwell in the hit BBC series Wolf Hall . It read: 'While the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon spill continues to devastate ecosystems and communities, and the highly polluting extraction of tar sands oil brings us rapidly closer to the point of no return from climate change, we feel that BP has no place in arts sponsorship.' He again set his sights on the oil company when it was announced as a sponsor of the London 2012 Olympic Games, for which he was due to take part in the opening ceremony. Although he eventually pulled out because of the death of his stepdaughter, he admitted to almost pulling out over what he saw as morally dubious sponsorship deals. He told Radio 4's Today programme: 'I thought about it. The conversation about private sponsorship being supported by taxpayer' money, and private sponsorship from companies that are not really necessarily behaving all that ethically, big questions about BP, and big questions about McDonald's and the amount of sugar and obesity that's costing the NHS billions... 'I think those questions are good and I had thought since agreeing that maybe maybe I shouldn't be doing this, and if people feel critical of us who are taking part, I think they've got a point, a very good point. 'On the other hand, all these athletes, the human endeavour aspect of it is so wonderful, I wouldn't want to stop, and I wouldn't want to be a nay-sayer or a chastiser.' | Mark Rylance drives around south London in a £10,000 electric G-Wiz car .
Wolf Hall star, 55, appears to have an anti-fracking slogan in window .
In 2012 protested at BP’s sponsorship of the World Shakespeare Festival .
And again over sponsorship of the London 2012 Olympic Games . |
224,627 | aed50988c6e32035651176e374624524321b0012 | One in five single mothers fall into poverty in the wake of a relationship break-up, research suggests . One in five single mothers fall into poverty in the wake of a break-up, new research suggests. The study by the Institute for Social and Economic Research at the University of Essex found that women and children are those who are hit the hardest following the breakdown of a relationship. Researchers, who analysed data from the British Household Panel Survey between 1991 and 2008, also found that 19 per cent of children fall into relative poverty after their parents split. The study also found that mental health and life satisfaction declines for both men and women in the wake of a split. However, while they return to pre-split levels in the short-term, women are left struggling in the long-term with income and living standards. The study, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, found that on average, it takes two to three years for a woman’s household income to return to its pre-split levels. In comparison, on average, a man’s income rises by around 80 per cent at the time of a split and never falls back to pre-split levels. Women's income is usually helped by meeting a new partner, the study found. The study’s authors, Professor Mike Brewer and Dr Alita Nandi, said: ‘Women and dependent children, on average, see living standards fall more than men after a split. ‘These changes are much greater for those women and children from formerly high-income couples, because the loss of the man’s earnings is in no way compensated for by higher income from alimony, child maintenance, benefits and tax credits, and having fewer mouths to feed. ‘Our research suggests that partnership dissolution has relatively short-term adverse impacts on mental distress and subjective well-being, but can have long-term negative consequences for income and living standards.’ Fiona Weird, chief executive of Gingerbread – a charity providing advice and support to single parents – said the Government must ensure that the number of single parents struggling doesn’t fall any lower. Both men and women experience a decline in mental health and life satisfaction in the wake of a break-up but while these return to pre-split levels in the short-term, women are left with lower income and living standards . She told The Observer: ‘This research chimes with what many of the single parents we work with tell us every day: that they are really struggling to pay essential bills and put food on the table. She said that fewer than two in five of single parents– of whom nine out of 10 are mothers – received maintenance from their child’s other parent, something which she said needed to be addressed urgently. ‘The Government must ensure the changes it is making to the child maintenance system don’t see this figure fall even lower,’ she added. The Government is currently examining whether family breakdown should be considered when measuring child poverty. A child is deemed as living in poverty if the family household income is less than 60 per cent of the average wage. | One in five single mothers fall into poverty in wake of a break-up, study says .
Women are often left struggling long-term with income and living standards .
Mental health and life satisfaction declines in both men and women after split .
Study by Institute for Social and Economic Research at University of Essex . |
115,416 | 20ed5f8b259f6892f99659af795a945b5bfe768e | A Muslim who refused to remove her niqab in court has arrived for her trial where she is accused of threatening a Mosque caretaker who allowed women without veils to enter. Rebekah Dawson, 22, texted her friend saying: 'I'm gonu beat dat man up' just four days before Finsbury Park Mosque worker Daudi Yusuf was allegedly attacked, a jury was told. Texts allegedly showing her intentions were sent by free internet message service, WhatsApp, four days before an alleged incident occurred on June 23 last year. On trial: Rebekah Dawson, 22, arrives at Blackfriars Crown Court, where she has so far refused to remove her veil during her intimidation trial . Dawson told her friend Nadia 'Dat guy frm d mosque dat insulted niqab' and another message said 'I'm gonu beat dat man up' referring to Mr Yusuf, the court heard. Mr Yusuf had taken three Portuguese tourists to view the inside of the mosque. Two members of the party were women who had not covered their heads and Dawson took offence, it was said. Six days later Dawson went to Mr Yusuf's office and demanded to know why he had allowed non-Muslims into the mosque. She was wearing a niqab and the court heard that she became offended when Mr Yusuf asked why she was hiding when he was speaking to her. She then ran off. She was so upset with Mr Yusuf that and returned to the mosque on 23 June with her brother Matthias Dawson, 32, the court heard. Decision: The Muslim woman has been told she will have to lift her veil if she wants to give evidence . CCTV footage played at the trial shows the two defendants entering the mosque together at around 8.45pm and Dawson entering My Yusuf's office alone. Allegations: Dawson allegedly threatened Daudi Yusuf, the caretaker of the Finsbury Park Mosque (pictured), because he let tourists inside . Moments later, Matthias Dawson followed her in to the office and the pair leave at around 8:49pm heading in different directions. This week Miss Dawson became the first defendant to wear the covering at court after a judge ruled ‘freedom of religious expression’ should be recognised. District Judge Peter Murphy ruled: ‘The courts must respect and protect religious rights as far as that can possibly be done. ‘But in my view, it is necessary to the working of the crown court in a democratic society for the court, not the defendant to control the conduct of judicial proceedings.’ Dawson argued that forcing her to remove the veil to give evidence violated her right to a fair trial under the European Convention on Human Rights. But Judge Murphy rejected the application, saying that jurors being unable to see her was contrary to the principle of open justice which overrides religious belief. He invited the defendant to remove the garment, but after a brief adjournment Dawson returned to court still wearing her niqab. Judge Murphy told jurors: ‘I am aware . some people have certain feelings about it [the niqab], but if you have . any feelings you must put them aside completely... She is perfectly . entitled in this country to dress as she wishes.’ Dawson, . of Hackney, east London, and her brother Matthias Dawson, of Sydenham, . south-east London, deny a single charge of witness intimidation. The trial continues. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Rebekah Dawson, 22, is on trial charged with threatening a caretaker .
Jury told she was upset women allowed in mosque without veils .
Muslim has so far refused to remove her niqab while in court .
Judge says she would have to reveal her face while giving evidence . |
283,766 | fb9f5dae1ff7970d29661c2398169a3eac65bea0 | (CNN) -- Facebook announced an update to Graph Search on Monday that will enable users to search for conversation topics within status updates, comments and posts. Some users with Graph Search can now browse Facebook for topics of interest — for example, "posts about Breaking Bad" or simply "Breaking Bad." The update also allows users to search for posts or comments from a certain time period or location (for example, "posts by my friends from last month") or posts that they already composed or commented on. The update makes Facebook much more conducive to real-time conversations, an area where it has been making major strides to compete with the likes of Twitter. The two social networks have been competing for eyeballs during primetime television events like the Emmys, the NFL's Monday Night Football, and Sunday's Breaking Bad finale. When users' eyes aren't glued to the TV screen, Facebook and Twitter want them to be having conversations or voicing their opinions on their respective networks. Opening up Graph Search to enable post and comment searches will help Facebook to do so. When a user logs into his profile during a primetime event, he can quickly scan all conversations about the game or his favorite show — even if he isn't near the top of the News Feed. If a user want to talk about an event hours (or even days) later, he can search for all relevant conversations on Facebook, something users can't easily do using Twitter. Facebook has been working to add partnerships around live media in an attempt to fuel this social conversation. Earlier this month, the social network announced a content deal with FOX Sports to promote Facebook data and conversations alongside live NFL and college football broadcasts. Facebook has also added features like searchable hashtags and verified accounts in an attempt to make finding topics of interest easier on the platform. Facebook reported on its Q2 earnings call that 88 to 100 million people are actively using the social network during primetime television hours — a number that Facebook advertisers will pay close attention to. Twitter is making similar efforts ahead of the company's IPO; the company is expected to file its public IPO papers as soon as this week. Just last week, Twitter announced ad partnerships with both CBS and the NFL, which will bring real-time video into your Twitter stream. Facebook's search update is not yet available to all Graph Search users, according to a company spokesperson. It will be tested starting on Monday with a small group of users and will roll out more expansively after that. Users will only be able to search for content that has been shared with them, in addition to public posts. In other words, your conversations should not appear in a search run by someone outside of your network unless your comments and posts are public. What do you think about Facebook's new Graph Search update to find conversations? Tell us in the comments below. This article originally appeared on Mashable. © 2013 MASHABLE.com. All rights reserved. | Graph Search is Facebook's way of finding content across the network .
System has added status updates and comments .
User can now scan for trending conversations, a la Twitter . |
211,091 | 9d5d70b26d11c4cd71f0524e6bf2368a20dcb9d7 | (CNN)An Iraqi tribal leader said Saturday that ISIS militants are gaining ground in Anbar province, predicting a "collapse within hours" of Iraqi army forces there if tribal forces withdraw. Sheikh Naim al-Gaoud, a Sunni Muslim leader of the Albu Nimr tribe, called for more U.S. intervention -- including ground troops, arming tribes directly or at least pressuring the Iraqi government to give the tribes more firepower. While U.S. officials have said that ISIS, which calls itself the Islamic State, is on the defensive in Iraq and Syria, al-Gaoud says that's definitely not the case where he is. "In Anbar, we are losing ground, not gaining," he said. Thousands of families had been under siege in the town of Jubbat al-Shamiya until getting help Friday from U.S.-led coalition airstrikes and Iraqi forces, according to al-Gaoud. But he said Iraqi troops had pulled out of Jubbat al-Shamiya on Saturday, at which time ISIS was shelling the town. If the Islamist extremist group's fighters go in, al-Gaoud predicted a massacre. Anbar province is just west of Baghdad, meaning a decisive ISIS victory would put militants on the footsteps of the Iraqi capital. It's home to the strategic Ayn al-Assad Air Base, which came under attack Friday. Talking about that battle, Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said 20 to 25 people -- most, if not all, of whom were wearing Iraqi military uniforms and were led by suicide bombers -- attacked the nearly 25-square-mile base. "It looks like (ISIS militants) at least got to the outer base limits," Kirby said. At least 13 Iraqi soldiers died in the assault, said al-Gaoud, which ended with Iraqi ground forces killing all the attackers. U.S. troops were on the base at the time, but "several kilometers" from where the fighting happened, Kirby said. The U.S. military did deploy attack helicopters in that ISIS assault, but the Apaches returning safely without firing a shot, military sources said. American helicopter gunships were also involved in a fight supporting Iraqi ground forces about 15 kilometers (9 miles) north in the Anbar town of al-Baghdadi, according to sources. Al-Gaoud, the Albu Mimr tribal leader, said militants killed at least 25 Iraqi police officers during their assault on that town Thursday and Friday. On Saturday, the U.S. military said al-Baghdadi was "contested," as Iraqi forces fought back. Anbar is important not just for its location, for the al-Assad base or for the Haditha dam, Iraq's second largest. It's significant for its sectarian breakdown -- as a mostly Sunni province in a Shiite-led country. Sectarian divisions have hurt Iraq before, with ISIS' rampage through much of Iraq (as well as neighboring Syria) blamed in part to the country's lack of unity. It's one reason for then-Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's exit last year, replaced by current leader Haider al-Abadi. The U.S. government has gotten involved to address such tensions as part of its anti-terrorism fight, such as President Barack Obama's warning last June -- a few months before al-Maliki stepped down -- that "there won't be a military solution" unless Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds all play significant parts in Iraq's command structure. Years before, in the mid-2000s, the United States recruited and paid Sunnis like members of al-Gaoud's Albu Mimr tribe to join its fight against al Qaeda. Those efforts helped turn the tide in the war. But now, al-Gaoud says, ISIS -- which consists of Sunni extremists -- is making his tribe pay the price. "There are people who will be killed in cold blood, and there will be more massacres," al-Gaoud told CNN in November. "We are getting killed because of our friendship with the Americans. Does a friend abandon his friend like this?" CNN's Laura Smith-Spark and Jim Sciutto contributed to this report. | Tribal leader warns of a massacre if ISIS moves into Anbar province town .
He says ISIS is gaining ground in the Iraqi province, which is just west of Baghdad . |
49,816 | 8cd8f4d95e147557102ddcf7e1cbb190db1beca9 | ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan announced a 10-day cease-fire on Sunday in Pakistan's Swat Valley, a volatile region in North West Frontier Province that is largely controlled by the Taliban. The Taliban says it has agreed a 10-day cease-fire with Pakistani forces in the Swat Valley. The Taliban are holding talks with the North West Frontier Province's government in the town of Timagera in the province's Lower Dir district, he said. Taliban leader Sufi Mohammad is heading negotiations for the militants. There was no immediate confirmation of the cease-fire from the Pakistani government. Swat Valley was once Pakistan's biggest tourist destination until it was overrun by militants led by radical cleric Maulana Fazlullah. The valley boasted the country's only ski resort and was once a draw for trout-fishing enthusiasts. It is believed to be the deepest advance by militants into Pakistan's settled areas -- meaning areas outside its tribal region along the border with Afghanistan. The negotiations are the latest attempt by Pakistan's civilian government -- which took power last year -- to achieve peace through diplomacy in areas where Taliban and al Qaeda leaders are believed to have free rein. Swat has been overrun by forces loyal to Maulana Fazlullah's banned hardline Islamic group, Tehreek Nifaz-e-Shariat Mohammadi (TNSM) which has allied itself with Taliban fighters. TNSM was once led by Sufi Mohammed, Fazlullah's father-in-law who is leading the latest negotiations. Sufi Mohammed was released from jail last year by Pakistani authorities after he agreed to cooperate with the government. He had been jailed in 2002 after recruiting thousands of fighters to battle U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Fazlullah took over TNSM during Sufi Mohammed's jail stint and vowed to continue his fight to impose fundamentalist Islamic law in the region. Last May, Pakistan's government announced it reached a peace deal with militants in Swat Valley. Analysts as well as critics within the establishment have described those talks as a failure that gave the Taliban time to regroup and gain more ground. The Taliban have recently targeted local politicians, including the head of the Awami National Party -- which represents the region -- who was forced to flee to Islamabad. Pakistan is under enormous pressure to control the militants within its borders, blamed for launching attacks in neighboring Afghanistan where U.S. and NATO forces are fighting militants. Pakistan's military operation in the region is unpopular among Pakistanis, but efforts to deal diplomatically with militants have not worked in the past. Pakistan's previous military ruler, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, reached a cease-fire deal with militants in South Waziristan in 2006 which was widely blamed for giving al Qaeda and Taliban a stronger foothold in the region. CNN's Zein Basravi contributed to this report. | Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan announces a 10-day cease-fire in Swat Valley .
Taliban are holding talks with the North West Frontier Province's government .
No immediate confirmation of the cease-fire from the Pakistani government . |
13,996 | 27b07839c030ac5752817091f7cd2afa9f29504e | This is the heart-stopping moment a mechanic narrowly avoided being crushed by a tyre which crashed into the side of his car after coming loose from a 4x4. Thomas Doherty, 23, was about to start working on the vehicle at Kings Heath, Birmingham, when the heavy wheel came careering down the road. The wheel bounced down towards Mr Doherty, whose head would have been crushed if next to the wing mirror when the tyre struck. Scroll down for video . The tyre came loose when a Range Rover was driving down the road next to the garage in Birmingham . It came roaring towards the vehicles lined up at the front of the garage as mechanics inside carry on working . The freak incident at All Electric Garage was captured on CCTV, showing Mr Doherty looking startled as the roars past. 'I had the keys in my hand. If I had been moments later, I would have been in hit. 'It was a big shock. 'As I was walking across, I thought it was a jack rolling across the floor but, before I knew it, there was this massive bang. It was the last thing I expected. 'It did a bit of damage to the car but I was lucky I wasn't beside it.' Garage manager Mark Daniels, 45, was in the building at the time. He said: 'The gentleman was driving down the road in his Land Rover. The tyre bounces over the bonnets of all the cars lined up at the front of the garage where Mr Doherty is preparing to begin work . The 23-year-old looks startled as the car he was moments away from starting work on shakes suddenly . The garage's manager came out to inspect the vehicles after the incident which he said could have killed the young mechanic if he'd been a moment sooner . 'He was about 100 yards away from the garage and then the near side front wheel came off and the car just dropped to the road. 'The wheel hit a kerb, which caused it to bounce up to chest height. It came off one car’s bonnet and then wedged itself into our Skoda. 'It frightened the mechanic out of his skin. It could have killed an individual at the speed it was going at. He was a bit shaken up. 'The Skoda needed a new bonnet, wing and headlamp.' | Thomas Doherty was about to start working on a car at the garage .
The 23-year-old was moving towards the vehicle when tyre appeared .
Wheel came bouncing downhill and crashed into car's wing mirror .
Doherty 'would have been killed' if he had been hit by the tyre . |
168,723 | 6645c6177f06e442fa5f3f5efd20dbbb4b9caa04 | By . Lizzie Edmonds . PUBLISHED: . 08:08 EST, 10 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 13:46 EST, 10 February 2014 . The towns with the most banned drivers in Britain have today been revealed - and top of the list is Smethwick in the West Midlands - which now has the unenviable title of being home to the worst motorists in the country. Banned motorists made up 0.77 per cent of licence holders in the area in 2012, with 160 of the 20,194 motorists in the town disqualified, according to the latest statistics. West Bromwich, also in the West . Midlands, was a close second with 191 of the 26,101 motorists in the . town banned from driving - roughly 0.73 per cent. It . tied with Barking in east London, where 164 out of 22,591 (0.73 per . cent) were disqualified, said the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. A list of towns in Britain with the most disqualified drivers in the country has been revealed - with Smethwick, West Midlands topping the list (library image) A street in Smethwick, West Midlands were 0.77 per cent of drivers have been disqualified . The figures were compiled by motoring magazine Auto Express, which limited the data to towns or cities with at least 20,000 drivers, as ruled by the DVLA. A variety of factors can make one area have more disqualified drivers than others - including the number of speed cameras, crackdowns by police and a nature of recklessness by motorists. Harpenden in Hertfordshire has the most law-abiding drivers. Of the 23,347 motorists there, only 19 picked up a ban in 2012 - a tiny 0.08 per cent. A view of West Bromwich, also in the West Midlands, where 0.73 of drivers have been banned . It was closely followed by Rayleigh in Essex, which had 20 out of 22,606 drivers disqualified in the same year, equivalent to 0.09 per cent. Perhaps unsurprisingly, London was home to the highest total of disqualified drivers in 2012, at 9,336. However, with almost 2.5 million drivers holding licences in the capital, the percentage banned is 0.37. Other areas with higher percentages of banned drivers include Bradford, West Yorkshire, and Dagenham, London. West Bromwich and Barking, London, pictured, were tied for second place in the list . In total, 113, 646 drivers were banned in 2012 across England, Scotland and Wales. England made up the majority of these with 95,965, although it has the largest number of drivers at 32.7 million. More than 10,000 of the 3.1 licence holders in Scotland were disqualified in 2012, while 7,400 drivers out of a possible 1.8 million in Wales were handed a ban. It meant Wales was top of the bad driver league with 0.39 per cent, ahead of Scotland on 0.33 per cent and England at 0.29. 1) Smethwick, West Midlands(160 of 20,194 drivers disqualified - 0.77 per cent) TIED 2) West Bromwich, West Midlands(191 of 26,101 drivers disqualified - 0.73 per cent) TIED 2) Barking, London(164 of 22,591 drivers disqualified - 0.73 per cent) 4 Nelson, Lancashire (162 of 23,942 drivers disqualified - 0.68 per cent) 5 Bradford, West Yorkshire(1084 of 166,171 drivers disqualified - 0.65 per cent) 6 Tipton, West Midlands(131 of 20,736 drivers disqualified - 0.63 per cent) 7 Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan(163 of 26,153 drivers disqualified - 0.62 per cent) TIED 8) Peterhead, Aberdeenshire(131 of 21,872 drivers disqualified - 0.60 per cent) TIED 8) Wishaw, Lanarkshire(130 of 21,769 drivers disqualified - 0.60 per cent) TIED 8) Dagenham, London(308 of 51,576 drivers disqualified - 0.60 per cent) IN TOTAL: 113, 646 drivers were banned in . 2012 across England, Scotland and Wales. England made up the majority of . these with 95,965, although it has the largest number of drivers at . 32.7 million. | Worst drivers in Britain are from Smethwick, West Midlands, data shows .
160 of the 20,194 motorists in the town were disqualified in 2012 - about 0.77 per cent .
Second and third on the list are West Bromwich in the West Midlands and Barking in east London . |
56,008 | 9ec26636034aecea8377f0bc1d99a32a471ba20a | By . Sara Malm . PUBLISHED: . 06:06 EST, 8 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:30 EST, 8 October 2013 . The nine year-old boy who made it past security and onto a flight from Minneapolis to Las Vegas may have been on his way to visit someone he met online. The child made it to at Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport by himself, slipped through a security checkpoint and then . boarded a Delta Air Lines flight before he was discovered by suspicious flight attendants. When Las Vegas police met the boy upon landing he told them that he had a 'video game buddy' who lived in the city who he was there to visit. Leaving: A 9-year-old runaway passed through this security checkpoint at Minneapolis airport without a ticket . A security video shows the boy at the airport terminal on Wednesday, the day before his trip, officials said. He . took a bag from the carousel that did not belong to him and ordered . lunch at a restaurant outside of the security checkpoints, MAC spokesman . Patrick Hogan said. He ate and then told the server he had to use the bathroom, left the bag and never returned to pay. The owner of the bag was identified . and the bag was returned to him, Mr Hogan said. At this point, this is a . Delta and [Transport Security Administration] issue,' he added. 'This . is a rare incident.' In a statement to Minneapolis TV station KARE-11, Delta officials said: 'We are investigating the incident and cooperating with the agencies involved.' Leaving: The runaway boy flew to Las Vegas from Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport on a Delta plane like this one, pictured. It was only discovered mid-air that he had no ticket . KARE-11 reported that authorities believe the nine-year-old boy is a runaway from the Twin Cities. 'He had to pass three levels of security,' said Terry Trippler, an air travel expert with ThePlaneRules.com, to the TV station. 'He had to pass three levels of security. You have the TSA, the gate agents, and the flight crew and a child comes through without even a seat assignment' Terry Trippler, air travel expert . 'You have the TSA, the gate agents, and the flight crew and a child comes through without even a seat assignment.' Mr Tippler said that security introduced after 9/11 obviously still has major flaws. 'While we are safer in the air, this proves there are still gaping holes,' he added. According to a surveillance video, . at 10.37am, the unaccompanied boy arrived at the airport on a . southbound light-rail car. The . boy was then screened at Terminal 1 and granted access to its nine . airlines despite appearing to have never produced a required ticket. Destination: Las Vegas McCarran International Airport, with the 'Strip' in the background. The nine-year-old flew here from Minneapolis without a ticket . The boy is currently in protective custody in Las Vegas after local police filed a missing persons report. Upon contacting Minneapolis services, they discovered that the boy's parents were not aware that he was missing and had to be told by police. The boy's parents told Minneapolis Police they 'hadn’t seen much of him today' when officers arrived at the missing child's residence on Thursday after he was reported having run away, according to CBS Minneapolis. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police spokesman Bill Cassell told ABC News the boy was 'more worldly than most nine-year-old kids.' 'He was able to get onto an airline where he didn't have a ticket and made it five states across the U.S.,' Mr Cassell said. 'If it hadn't been for alert airline employees on our end, he probably never would have been discovered.' According . to local media, the boy's mother works at the airport and her possible . involvement in her son's joyride is being investigated. The Star . Tribune reports that the child is known to social services and has been . the subject of four child protection assessments this year alone. Only . last week the boy stole a utility vehicle from downtown Minneapolis and . made it onto the motorway before he was pulled over. He also has a history of playing truant and sneaking into a local water park without paying entry. The boy remains in protective custody in Las Vegas and authorities are working with his parents. | Boy took Delta flight from Minneapolis to Las Vegas on Thursday morning .
He passed three levels of checks before flight crew got suspicious mid-air .
Nine-year-old said he was visiting an online gaming friend in Las Vegas .
Boy's parents did not know he was missing and had to be told by police .
The family has been subject of four child protection assessments this year .
Tuesday last week the boy stole a car and made it onto the highway .
His mother worked at the airport and her possible involvement investigated . |
54,763 | 9b21428ff3bc94bf83e7473ebbed3762d2db7c39 | By . Grant Miles for MailOnline . David Luiz believes Bastia forward Brandao's headbutt set a terrible example and was unacceptable. Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Thiago Motta has a suspected broken nose from Brandao's headbutt following Laurent Blanc's side's 2-0 victory. Video footage revealed Brandao waitied for Motta in the tunnel after the final whistle, smashing his forehead into Motta's face before running away. Motta had to be held back by his team-mates with blood streaming from his nose following the altercation. Zlatan Ibrahimovic also hobbled off injured during an eventful game shortly before the incident occurred. In control: David Luiz keeps a level head during PSG's win over Bastia on Saturday afternoon . Team effort: Luiz celebrates PSG scoring with his team-mates after making a £50m move . VIDEO: Scroll down to see footage of Brandao heabutting PSG midfielder Thiago Motta . Tunnel vision : Brandao, circled, stands and waits ready to confront Thiago Motta after the final whistle . Flashpoint: The 34 year-old Bastia forward connects with Thiago Motta . Held back: Cavani and PSG security stop Thiago Motta reacting to the unsavoury incident . Nose Bleed: Motta looks stunned with blood rushing down his face shortly after the headbutt . Luiz said: 'We have a great job in the world to show a good example inside and outside the pitch. I think many kids in the world want to be us so they know about everything. 'That is not part of football. I don't agree with this. 'Sometimes on the pitch you are more vulnerable with something and they speak bad things but that's normal in football. 'But when you wait for someone outside the pitch to do a bad thing, I think that's not [acceptable]. That's not part of football. 'So I'm not happy with this because, after that, everyone in the world knows about this and, like I told you, that's so important when you give a nice example for the kids.' Injury woe: Zlatan Ibrahimovic also suffered an injury in the same game and hobbled off . Silva shock: PSG star Thiago Silva notes his disappointment at Brandao's headbutt on instagram . PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi reiterated Luiz's stance and said Brandao should be 'banned for life'. He also added that he would be filing a report to the French Football Federation requesting strong action to be taken against the 34 year old. Thiago Silva also took to instagram to express his desire to see Brandao receive strong punishment for his actions after a history of causing problems off the field. | David Luiz said Brandao set a terrible example and his actions were unacceptable .
Brandao waited in the tunnel for Thiago Motta at the Parc des Princes after PSG's 2-0 win .
The 34 year-old is seen moving towards Motta and then headbutting him .
The forward then runs away in the opposite direction to get away from Motta .
Footage reveals blood streaming from the PSG star's nose .
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi believes Brandao should be banned 'for life'
Thiago Silva also demands strong action to be taken against Brandao . |
262,529 | e01083172f7d17bbfea53fd17ab83338fac0c4ab | The U.S. Government is expanding the number of commercial companies that can legally use unmanned aerial systems, often called UAVs or drones, but efforts to safely integrate them into the national airspace are not moving fast enough for some lawmakers. Wednesday the Federal Aviation Administration granted five new exemptions to four companies to operate the remote controlled aircraft for commercial purposes. The companies that received permission to fly the drones UAS, Trimble Navigation, VDOS Global, Clayco, and Woolpert, will use them to for aerial surveying, construction site monitoring and oil rig flare stack inspections. The drones will be under 55 pounds and must stay within sight of the operator. For decades hobbyists have been allowed to operate the remote controlled aircraft for recreational purposes close to the ground and away from airports, but any legal commercial use requires special exemptions from the FAA. "Unmanned aircraft offer a tremendous opportunity to spur innovation and economic activity by enabling many businesses to develop better products and services for their customers and the American public," Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a press release on Wednesday. "We want to foster commercial uses of this exciting technology while taking a responsible approach to the safety of America's airspace." Earlier this year the FAA issued waivers to allow seven motion picture companies to use drones. The agency says a total of 167 requests for waivers have been received in 2014. In a congressional hearing Wednesday lawmakers criticized the pace of the FAA's efforts to integrate the drones into the national airspace. "Road builders in Germany and farmers in France today are enjoying economic benefits from UAS because safety regulators there have found ways to permit such flights," Congressman Frank LoBiondo said. "I can't help but wonder, that if the Germans, the French and the Canadians do some of these things today, then why can't we also be doing that?" Earlier this week in a letter to the FAA, obtained the Wall Street Journal, Amazon.com warned it could take its drone delivery development outside of the United States. "Without approval of our testing in the United States, we will be forced to continue expanding our Prime Air R&D footprint abroad," Paul Misener, Vice President of Global Public Policy wrote. In Wednesday's hearing the FAA acknowledged that it was not moving fast enough. "We all agree that that project is taking too long," Peggy Gilligan, FAA Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety told the committee. "We are moving forward with UAS integration through rule-making, as mandated by (Congress)." The most significant risk for drone use and the challenge for regulators working to safely integrate them into the national airspace is the potential that one could hit a passenger plane. A drone could strike a wing and cause a fuel explosion or sucked into an engine potentially causing a catastrophic failure. "We have all seen photos of the damage that can be cause to an airplane when a bird strikes in flight," Captain Lee Moak of the Air Line Pilots Association Union told the committee. "Unmanned aircraft can be much smaller or much larger than birds but they harbored added risk in that they carry batteries, motors and other hard metal components." Last month in Oklahoma City a drone came within 20 feet of striking a plane, forcing the aircraft to take evasive action, according to FAA reports obtained by Sen. Diane Feinstein. More than 190 incidents were reported over the last nine months, including two dozen near collisions. And just this week it was revealed that a small drone narrowly missed a commercial airliner in July as it approached London's Heathrow Airport. "I've got a quad copter on Christmas list as I suspect quite a few people do," Congressman Blake Farenthold said at Wednesday's hearing. "I think this is a more dangerous scenario that you guys need to be putting a priority on. There are too many of these out here that are capable of going beyond couple hundred feet but actually going up to 6,000 feet, we've got a problem and our failure to regulate them -- we're going to have a genie out of the bottle issue." | Five companies received permission to fly commercial drones from the FAA Wednesday .
Congress held a hearing that same day to criticize the pace at allowing drone use .
Officials at the FAA agreed with lawmakers that their process was moving too slowly . |
8,921 | 192a61905a3accaa342ceb9cb9b29147ca35921e | By . Tom Goodenough . PUBLISHED: . 09:15 EST, 10 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 01:42 EST, 11 July 2012 . A circus acrobat who starred in Britain’s Got Talent lost his 'Wheel of Death' stunt act after a disgruntled nephew stole it and sold it for scrap, a court heard today. Wayne Vanderwesthuizen, 46, was planning to use the machine after he got through to the second round of the ITV talent show. But it went missing from storage in Blackpool, Lancashire, after a row with his nephew Jeremy, 26, over £3,500 unpaid wages, it was said. The Vander Brothers performing on the Triple Wheel of Death before the act went missing . Jeremy took the 'Wheel of Death' machine to the scrap yard - selling it for just £585 then sold his uncle’s Ford van on eBay to a man in London for £2,500, the court heard. It emerged Wayne had originally paid £3,000 for the act but then added to it adapting it through the years, spending a further £3,500. The fallout occurred last November after South African-born Wayne employed Jeremy to help run his circus act in which three acrobats walk, skip and jump on a set of triple revolving wheels whilst blindfolded. Preston Crown Court heard Wayne spent his winters in South Africa and summers touring around England attending agricultural shows, outdoor shows and festivals with his death-defying act. Jeremy Vanderwesthuizen, pictured left leaving Preston Crown Court is accused of stealing The Wheel of Death, worth £29,000, from his uncle, Wayne Vanderwesthuizen, pictured right also leaving court . The Wheel of Death is a steel construction of two or three wheels connected by spokes which revolve at high speeds . He would occasionally get bookings over New Year and Christmas and Jeremy was paid per event but during 2010 business began to slump and Wayne fell behind paying wages. Wayne told the jury: 'I have been doing it since 1984. Jeremy is my sister’s son. I brought him over in 2005, I trained him up with the hope eventually, one day, he would take over from me. 'I was hoping to keep it in the family, I was hoping to pass it to the next generation. 'I paid him £250 for each performing day and he took care of his own tax situation. 'In the recession, in 2009, bookings were hard to come by and I was struggling a bit, I was in some debt in South Africa as well. The Wheel of Death went missing from its storage location in Blackpool in November last year . Wayne Vanderwesthuizen bought the Wheel of Death in 1984 and has been touring with it ever since . 'I asked if I could pay him back at a later stage. '2010 was worse: I went to work in a traveling circus in Israel because there were no bookings. In 2011 he worked with me from April 25 to July 9. I terminated it (his contract). 'A booking on a triple wheel came up, there was a guy I was using that he didn’t like - but there was a contract. I told him it doesn’t matter whether you like him or not, I need to make sure I fulfil the contract. 'He eventually did agree but (he) said only if he could work the rest of the season and I said as long as you are clean-shaven, but he refused.' Wayne returned to South Africa in the second week of September last year, putting his van and equipment into storage in Blackpool, whilst Jeremy remained in England. Jeremy Vanderwesthuizen denies two charges of theft in relation to the disappearance of the Wheel of Death . Wayne Vanderwesthuizen said that the recession led to a decline in bookings for the Wheel of Death . He said he had been in touch with the man managing the storage to say they would be back in the beginning of the New Year to practice because they had gone through to the second round of Britain’s Got Talent. Wayne said he bought the van in July 2011 for £2,750 and had bought the Wheel of Death in 1987. He said the only communication he had with Jeremy since last July was an email saying that he would clear the debts with any bookings he got, which included the Abu Dhabi Grand prix. Wayne said he had already repaid his nephew £1,100, through £100 pay outs and still owed him £1,300. He has since bought another Wheel of Death from Holland at £5,500 and was still paying it off. The truck has been returned to him after police tracked it down a short time afterwards. Jeremy denies two charges of theft. Paul Hague prosecuting said: 'He accepted that he took it but he felt like he was entitled to do so because he had no money.' 'The question is his honesty. He says he was entitled to do so, or he believed he was entitled to do so - the crown say he told lies that he must’ve known that he was not entitled to scrap this piece of equipment or sell the van to some innocent third party down in London.' The trial continues. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Wayne Vanderwesthuizen, 46, spent £6,500 on the 'Wheel of Death' but his nephew sold the act for just £585, it is alleged .
Court also hears that Jeremy Vanderwesthuizen sold his uncle's van on eBay after claiming he was owed money for performances .
Vanderwesthuizens were set to star in the second round of Britain's Got Talent before the act went missing . |
57,445 | a2c79230bea7dc5962ffe89e0f2a54cda144abdd | By . Steve Robson . PUBLISHED: . 04:50 EST, 30 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:54 EST, 30 November 2012 . Lavish: Drug dealer Ben Brown, 21, sold thousands of bottles of his DIY drug 'liquid Love' to revellers on the Blackpool club scene to fund his lavish lifestyle . A party-loving bodybuilder has been jailed after selling thousands of bottles of a party drug labelled 'Liquid Love' to clubbers to fund his lavish lifestyle. Ben Brown, 21, turned his luxury flat in Lytham St Annes into a drugs den where he mixed class B drug mephedrone with water, blue colouring and vodka to sell in 10 millilitre bottles. A fixture on the Blackpool club scene, the amateur boxer would then target stag and hen parties falsely claiming it was 'Ten Ten Liquid Love' - a lethal combination of the drugs ecstasy and GHB sold in Holland. A landau driver by day, Brown . would take holidaymakers up and down Blackpool sea front in his horse . drawn carriage. But by night he was a drug dealer selling mini bottles of his DIY drug to clubbers in the Lancashire seaside resort. On his Facebook profile Brown proudly boasted of living for the weekends and going to the gym and on sunbeds. He posted endless snaps of himself posing shirtless next to women in night clubs. Others showed him on a day at the races and standing in front of £170,000 Bentley Turbo car. Lancashire Police said Brown had been 'living a good lifestyle ' before they swooped on his plush two-bedroom flat. Officers found designer clothing plus several . cardboard boxes containing 10,000 of his mini bottles. Up to 1,100 of them were made up with . the drug, labelled and ready to hit the resort’s streets. A further . 9,000 empty bottles were also found ready to be filled and sold. Stash: Police found 10,000 bottles ready to be filled with Ben Brown's lethal mix of mephedrone vodka, water and blue colouring at his luxury flat in Lytham St Annes . Busted: Ben Brown, 21, was a fixture on the Blackpool clubbing scene selling his DIY drug 'Liquid Love' before police raided his flat and smashed his operation . There was also a large decanting container . with a tap on the end in one of the bedrooms and bottles of the mix in . the kitchen. When . the tamper proof sealed bottles were tested they were found to contain . the drug mephedrone - more commonly known as 'bubble' - and vodka. Brown . pleaded guilty to possession of a Class B drug with intent to supply and . was jailed for three years at Preston Crown Court in Lancashire. Detective Chris Gallagher of Blackpool CID said: 'You couldn’t hide what was there when we executed the warrant. Party lifestyle: Aspiring ladies' man Ben Brown, 21, poses with a series of young women on his Facebook profile. He was selling revellers bottles of a DIY drug called 'Liquid Love' Crude: Police found 10,000 mini bottles and labels for 'Ten Ten Liquid Love' when they raided Ben Brown's flat in Lytham St Annes. Right, he poses with a friend for a day at the races . Ladies man: Ben Brown, who was selling thousands of bottles of his DIY drug for up to £20 a time, poses in front of a Bentley sports car . 'This is the first case of its kind that we have come across in Lancashire and so it is hard to put a value on the drugs that Brown was selling, but we estimate he was making between £5 - £20 a bottle.' He added that the drug was a 'dangerous mix' for users. DC Gallagher added: 'It was a crude preparation of the drug and a user wouldn’t know what was in it. Deadly: Police found the class B drug mephedrone and decantering equipment when they raided Ben Brown's luxury two-bed flat in Lytham St Annes last year . 'It was not being prepared in controlled conditions. Luckily we seized the best part of it before he had chance to profit. 'Brown had made his own crude mix of ‘liquid love’ and although a user can never be sure exactly what they are taking, they were being misled into thinking they were buying one thing but in fact were being given something entirely different. 'This is incredibly dangerous and the risks to people’s safety that were created by Brown and his business are reflected in the severity of the sentence he has been given.' | Ben Brown, 21, mixed vodka with party drug mephedrone and sold it in bottles labelled 'Liquid Love'
Lived a party lifestyle selling it to Blackpool clubbers .
Locked up after police raided his luxury flat in Lytham St Annes . |
200,120 | 8f16b95def09c539460fa5edb2a1bd4a13fe91cd | Brendan Rodgers has defended Steven Gerrard’s form and fitness, insisting the veteran Liverpool captain does not need to be rested more often. Gerrard, 34, has played every minute so far this season, including three games in a week that saw Liverpool lose to Aston Villa and West Ham in the Premier League while stumbling to a Champions League win over the Bulgarian outsiders from Ludogorets when he scored a last-minute penalty. Rodgers and his coaching staff are understood to be concerned that in both league games Gabriel Agbonlahor and Stewart Downing were successfully deployed to stifle Gerrard and stop him distributing the ball from deep. Steven Gerrard looked out of sorts in Liverpool's disappointing 3-1 loss against West Ham on Saturday . Reds manager Brendan Rodgers hands out instructions to his skipper from the sidelines at Upton Park . Liverpool host Middlesbrough on Tuesday in the Capital One cup, with Grant Leadbitter (left) in great form for the North East club . Spanish striker Kike has been in excellent form for Boro and has five goals from seven starts this season . As a result, the former England skipper misplaced 11 passes in the West Ham half on Saturday and gave away possession 14 times. Steven Gerrard was poor against West Ham, as his stats from the game show. Is age finally catching up with Liverpool’s 34-year-old captain? 14 Gerrard lost the ball 14 times. Only Raheem Sterling (20) lost it more for Liverpool. 11 He misplaced 11 passes in the opposition half, more than any Liverpool player. 25% Gerrard won just 25 per cent of his duels, the worst percentage of any Liverpool player. Only six players in last year’s top six squads are older than Gerrard, and most now play bit-part roles. Rodgers has an ideal opportunity to rest Gerrard when Liverpool entertain Middlesbrough in the Capital One cup on Tuesday, although his options have been limited by fresh injuries to Jordan Henderson and Philippe Coutinho. Asked about his captain’s form on Monday, he said: ‘There are no concerns. He is a brilliant player for us. It was a team performance that was not up to scratch. We have managed his recovery really well in the last two seasons even when Steven was playing international football. If you look at his numbers and games it has been as good as ever. ‘He is at the age where we need to treat him individually. We want him to be involved in the big games because of his experience and we will always taper that recovery to allow him to be the best he can be. ‘We will let you know if he will be rested. Some young players will be involved in the squad.’ Rodgers admitted his side have started poorly and new signings like Adam Lallana need time to settle . Liverpool’s run of three defeats from five Premier League games is their second worst start to a top-flight season in 77 years. And Rodgers, who made nine signings this summer, accepts that some of them are struggling to come to terms with playing for a club like Liverpool. ‘What people probably don’t get is the pressure of playing for such a big club,’ he added. ‘The weight of the jersey here is heavy for most players. Once you adapt to playing for Liverpool you become clearer in your thinking. It’s a young group and that adjustment takes a bit of time. When you have that transition there are little bumps along the way. ‘It’s not a great start by any means but that will improve and my team will get better in the second half of the season. ‘When I first came in here we had a lot of new players coming in and at that time there was a new manager as well. We got to where we wanted to be. ‘Of course it’s not all smiles, it’s not a feeling we’ve been used to. But you have to refocus and move on. You have to be able to recover quickly at this level. It’s my job to ensure confidence is retained. ‘We want to win a trophy this season, that is still a key objective for us and this competition gives us an opportunity.’ The Anfield boss leant his support to Mario Balotelli, who was subjected to racist abuse on Sunday . With Merseyside Police continuing to investigate allegations of racist abuse aimed at Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli after he posted a tweet mocking Manchester United’s 5-3 defeat to Leicester City on Sunday, no questions about the issue were permitted at Monday’s conference. But Rodgers took the opportunity to back the Italian amid the first controversy of his Anfield career. ‘Every player is different,’ he said. ‘I’ve really enjoyed working with him so far. He’s a good guy, he wants to do well for the club and he’s shown he cares enough about the club to devote that time to him. For me, he’s not complicated. He’s a football player who wants to do well in his life and career. If he continues to give everything and work tirelessly for the cause there will always be an opportunity here for him.’ Former defender Daniel Agger criticised Rodgers but the Liverpool boss has refused to respond . Meanwhile, Rodgers refused to rise to criticism from former Liverpool defender Daniel Agger who claimed on Monday that he felt unappreciated at Anfield before joining Brondby in the summer. Agger said: ‘Let me put it this way, the manager and me were perhaps not on the same page in all of last season. For most of last season at least. I felt that he didn’t appreciate the things I contributed. When I feel that, then it’s time to move on. Where me and him maybe went wrong was that I’m very direct. I say things as they are.’ | Brendan Rodgers has defended Steven Gerrard’s form this season .
The England captain has played every game so far .
He looked out of sorts in the Reds' 3-1 defeat against West Ham .
Liverpool face Middlesbrough in the Capital One cup on Tuesday and Gerrard is likely to be rested .
Rodgers admits new signings like Adam Lallana need time to settle . |
189,268 | 811917efd54b241e17cfe9b7734b63f81a6ece10 | WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A backlog in processing education benefits has forced the Department of Veterans Affairs to authorize millions of dollars in emergency funds for veterans who need the cash to pay for school. The Veterans Affairs department will give up to $3,000 to students who haven't received funds from education bills . The department announced Friday that it will issue up to $3,000 to students who have yet to receive the funds that the VA's various education bills -- including the recently passed Post-9/11 GI Bill -- provide to help veterans pay for college. "This is an extraordinary action we're taking," VA Secretary Eric Shinseki said in a statement. "But it's necessary because we recognize the hardships some of our Veterans face." The VA estimates there are 75,000 veterans eligible for the emergency funds, including 25,000 veterans who have served since September 11. VA statistics show more than 27,500 vets have already received benefits for housing or books under the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, and hundreds of thousands more have gotten benefits under its other programs. The delay in processing the benefits has created much consternation among veterans, with some worried they would have to drop out of school because of a lack of funds. The lag was caused because some schools have not yet filed for the tuition and because of a backlog at the Veterans Affairs offices, according to a department official. Any money given to eligible veterans will be deducted from the education benefits they are scheduled to receive and can be used for housing and books. The VA has been speaking to schools to ensure that veterans do not get kicked out if their tuition has not yet been paid, said VA spokeswoman Katie Roberts. "Veterans were having a lot of financial issues, and we needed to address them," she said. To help with the influx of applications, the department has hired more than 700 extra processors. Veterans groups said the emergency funds were much needed. "AMVETS is very happy with the swift action taken by the secretary. We suggested a similar solution earlier this month so we are happy to see they're listening," said Ryan Galluci, a spokesman for AMVETS, a veterans' service organization. | Backlog in tuition payments forces VA to authorize millions in emergency funds .
VA estimates 75,000 veterans are eligible for the emergency funds .
Delayed payments makes vets fear they may have to drop out of school . |
9,585 | 1b262ce6751dce1c851c460172b6d183bbd71b94 | By . Suzannah Hills . PUBLISHED: . 03:20 EST, 18 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:21 EST, 18 May 2012 . Chef Kevin Viner, who runs Michelin-starred Viners Bar and Restaurant in Truro, Cornwall, has been the victim of an ongoing dispute with his landlord . A wealthy businessman has been given a suspended prison sentence after refusing to let go of an on-going dispute with an internationally acclaimed chef. Landlord Eric Randle tried to evict chef Kevin Viner from the Michelin-starred Viners Bar and Restaurant based in his multimillion-pound Carvynick Country Club near Truro over a row about rent and utility bills. Randle admitted cutting off electricity to Viners in July last year, forcing the chef to cook on a barbecue during a wedding party, and was ordered to pay the chef's legal bill of £16,781 and given an injunction forcing him not to interfere with the chef's business. But Randle refused to let the matter drop and was witnessed threatening Mr Viner at his restaurant in October, telling him: 'You have no right, this is my f***ing pub. I am going to finish you. 'You don't have the money to fight me. I don't care about the injunction or the police.' Randle also threatened to sabotage a grease trap in the garden of the restaurant which would have forced grease to back up into the kitchen during a busy Saturday service. Mr Viner, who has been named Britain's best chef, took proceedings against his former friend at Truro County Court 'as a last resort' to salvage his reputation and business. The chef said he was 'hanging on by his fingernails' and in fear of Randle who 'had a temper'. He said: 'I was crying all the time. I was in a state. I had put my whole future into the restaurant. I am a reputable chef and my life has been destroyed.' Randle was found to have breached the injunction and given a 28-day jail sentence suspended for two years. Randle, who said he would appeal, was ordered to make an interim payment of £7,500 for legal costs. Judge Barry Cotter, QC, said the suspended jail threat was needed to ensure Randle complies with the injunction but should not be seen as the 'sword of Damocles' hanging over him. Judge Cotter called it a 'sad and protracted case' that was aggravated by Randle's false statements, contempt of court and failure to purge his contempt during the two day hearing. Michelin menu: Kevin Viner, who brought the first Michelin star to Cornwall, said the problems with his landlord had 'destroyed' his life . | Country club owner Eric Randle has avoided jail over campaign of harassment against Kevin Viner .
Dispute started over rent and utility bills . |
52,850 | 95e865faac5bc7c0a8794c5a97d3f5408910b116 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 16:26 EST, 26 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 20:11 EST, 26 May 2012 . Denial: Comedian David Baddiel (pictured) has dismissed a newspaper report that he was going to take the Class A drug MDMA live on TV . Comedian David Baddiel has dismissed a newspaper report that he is planning to take Class A drugs live on TV as part of a scientific study. The Sun said the Three Lions star was going to sample MDMA for a Channel 4 series and then talk about its effects. But Baddiel, 47, has branded the claims a 'lie'. Writing on Twitter today, he said: 'For those congratulating me...I'm not going to be taking ecstasy live on C4. 'I believe it was written in The Sun? So, y'know: it's a lie.' MDMA, a pure form of ecstasy which causes euphoria and reduces anxiety, was made illegal in 1977. Scientists on the C4 show Drug Live are trying to establish if it can benefit people with post-traumatic stress disorder. The series, hosted by newsreader Jon Snow and Embarrassing Bodies presenter Dr Christian Jessen, will be examining the claims and counter-claims made about the effects of recreational drugs by testing them on live television. Channel 4 said individuals will be filmed as they use different substances 'under strict medical supervision and in a controlled clinical environment'. Their physical and psychological effects will then be monitored, as will their social interaction with others as the drugs enter their systems. Other celebrities are said to be taking part, although it is not known if they will be taking substances or merely forming part of the discussions. 'It's a lie': Baddiel's denial on Twitter after being made aware of the report . The four-part series, which airs in July, will also feature politicians, police officers and clergymen. Recreational drugs were used by 2.8million adults in England alone from 2009 to 2010, yet their dangers are disputed, with opinion having been divided between government policy-makers and scientists. The last Government dismissed its own chief scientific advisor and another expert has described the current classification of drugs as ‘a very British farce'. Star: Frank Skinner (centre), David Baddiel (right) and Ian Broudie from the Lightning Seeds who recorded Three Lions anthem ahead of the Euro 96 tournament in England . Specialist Factual Commissioning Editor David Glover says: 'This subject is fraught with controversy and confusion - this series will provide viewers with unmediated access to a live drug trial. 'Viewers will be able to see for themselves the actual effects the drugs have in scientific detail. 'We will work closely with the leading research institutes from across the world. The aim is to bring new clarity to the facts of illegal drug use.' Baddiel shot to fame in 1988 with the Radio 1 show The Mary Whitehouse Experience before teaming up with comedy partner Frank Skinner for the hugely popular Fantasy football League and later the TV series Baddiel and Skinner Unplanned. The duo twice topped the charts with the football anthem Three Lions written for the Euro 96 championships. | Three Lions star brands newspaper claim a 'lie'
Said he was due to take part in scientific study . |
50,283 | 8e3dad79874f5f125d677382e4dc2be54d2402f8 | By . Carl Markham . Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling is one of Europe's best young players who is set for an outstanding future at Anfield, according to manager Brendan Rodgers. The 19-year-old has enjoyed a brilliant second half of the season with some stellar performances which have propelled him into Roy Hodgson's England squad for the World Cup. Sterling's form has been a key factor in the Reds winning 11 successive league matches to take them to the brink of their first title in 24 years. Liverpool face Chelsea on Sunday, when avoiding defeat would bring the Premier League trophy closer. VIDEO: Scroll down to watch Rodgers talk of Liverpool's title challenge . Youth club: Brendan Rodgers rates Raheem Sterling (R) as one of Europe's best young players . Wing man: Sterling has scored 10 goals from wide positions in a sensational second half of the season . 'I made a comment last week that I think he's one of the best young players in European football at the moment and I didn't say it lightly or without thinking,' said Rodgers. 'This is a 19-year-old kid at one of the leading clubs in the world, playing in one of the most competitive leagues in the world. Grown up: The 19-year-old has also matured as a person after some unsavoury incidents earlier in his career . 'And if you look around Europe, you look around the Premier League and at some of our rivals around us, there's no young players playing (at that level). 'You go into Europe and into some of the top leagues, the French, the Spanish and the German, there's not many young players playing. 'Raheem is 19; he's scored 10 goals as a winger. He's been assisting goals and showing a maturity way beyond his years. 'Whether he's playing in front of five supporters or 500,000 supporters, he'll still be the same. 'He is just maturing into a wonderful young man as well as maturing as a footballer. 'Hopefully he can maintain that and keep working towards that, which he is doing. Make us dream! Liverpool are five points clear at the top of the table with three games remaining . 'If he can, we've got an outstanding young player here and will have for a number of years.' At the other end of the scale the 33-year-old Steven Gerrard is driving the side on from a deep midfield role and his significance both in terms of performance and leadership cannot be under-estimated. 'We know what an important player he is for us,' said midfielder Lucas Leiva. 'He drives us on with a lot of positivity and we just have to carry on.' The Brazil international returned to the side last week because of injury to striker Daniel Sturridge, who faces a late assessment to see if he is able to return on Sunday. But there was no time to revel in his recall as they ground out a 3-2 win at Norwich and Lucas knows they have to maintain the same mentality for every one of their last three games. Captain fantastic: Steven Gerrard (C) pushes Liverpool on, says Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva (R) 'Since the beginning of the season we wanted Champions League, now we have achieved that,' he said. 'The fans have been fantastic, they have the belief we can do something special this season. 'From here, we just have to carry on in the same way, otherwise we can be punished. There is no easy match here in the Premier League, people probably thought Manchester City would beat Sunderland and so would Chelsea. 'This just goes to show that the Premier League it is hard to play against all the teams.' | Sterling is one of the best young players in Europe, says Rodgers .
Youngster has scored 10 goals from wide positions this season .
Sterling is expected to be part of Roy Hodgson's World Cup squad .
19-year-old has also matured as a player and has a long, bright future . |
86,354 | f51c05dbbc1d6af4b9f9e805a67d047144fe0e84 | By . Darren Boyle . This is the terrible moment a horse was seriously injured during a bullfight after it was gored by the rampaging animal. As the bull charged, the matador tried to stab it in the back with a spear but the bull continued its run, dropped its head and hit it in the barrel. The matador tried to hang on to his horse as the animal fell onto its side. The horse reared up, and was struck a second and a third time by the bull which had to be lured away from the scene. The shocking incident happened at the Corrida de Toros in Valencia, Spain. However, on this occasion, the picador was too slow allowing the bull a side-on attack. Fans paid between €12 and €120 to attend the show. Luckily, the horse was saved from serious injury and limped from the stadium after its ordeal. Bullfighting has been banned around Barcelona and has reduced in popularity in recent years. A recent opinion poll found that almost three quarters of Spanish people dislike the sport. Scroll down for video . The picador uses his spear in a bid to stop the rampaging bull from charging directly at his horse during the bullfight in Valencia, Spain . Despite being stabbed by the picador, the bull continues his charge, hitting the horse in the side with its long horns, forcing it from its hooves . The horse is twisted around 90 degrees by the force of the bull as the picador attempts to hold onto the reins as his blindfolded ride rears up . The bull continues his attack, aiming his large horns under the horse's two front legs, tearing at the special padding designed to prevent serious injury . The colourful banderilleros try to distract the bull as it continues its attack on the horse who is now lying on its back helpless and unable to see what is happening . The bull attacked the horse for a third time who is trying to curl up and avoid the onslaught as the bystanders are virtually powerless to intervene . Eventually the bull is coaxed clear of the scene allowing staff at Valencia's Plaza de Toros to inspect the horse and see if it has been severely injured by the attack . One of the banderilleros cannot look at the horse as it lies prone on the arena's sand while a worker holds the animal's reins, trying to urge it to stand . Eventually the horse stands upright and is able to slowly stagger from the arena with a heavy limp caused during the encounter with the bull . | Fans paid between €12 and €120 to watch the picador battle the bull while riding a blindfolded horse .
The picador fails to stop the bull as it charges, hitting the horse firmly in the side knocking it to the ground .
The picador jumps to safety, leaving he bull to continue its attack until it is eventually distracted .
The horse is coaxed off the sand and is led from the arena in Valencia, Spain, limping heavily . |
254,623 | d599750ce275f2be21f9988a5cb75a57b23b7935 | LONDON, England (CNN) -- Since it was founded in 1994, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has been instrumental in encouraging innovative research that will combat the biggest health issues affecting the developing world. One Gates Foundation grant aims to help reduce malaria among Nigeria's nomads. The foundation has pledged $100 million in grants to get new scientific research off the ground, as part of Grand Challenges Explorations (GCE). On Tuesday, GCE launched its latest round of grant applications, open to anyone with a unique approach to solving problems in the developing world. The idea is to develop creative thinking from people who may not have traditionally taken part in health research. Begun in 2008, current projects receiving GCE funding include work in Hong Kong to develop flu-resistant chickens and efforts to prevent the transmission of HIV through breast milk. To speed up the grant allocation process, applicants only need to fill in a two-page form and submit it online. Successful applicants get a $100,000 grant and the chance to receive more than $1 million in future grants. The latest round of GCE grants invites applicants to focus on four areas: new technologies for contraception, new ways to induce and measure mucosal immunity, low-cost diagnostics for priority global health conditions, and new ways to protect against infectious disease. Click on the "Explainer" tab above to take a look at some of the groundbreaking research being funded by GEC. | The Gates Foundation has pledged $100 million towards health research .
The latest round of research grant applications has just been opened .
One project receiving funding is working to develop flu-resistant chickens . |
38,847 | 6dcbac680dc0efe9523a998429cd629faf74e26b | Former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb said Tuesday he is 'seriously looking' at a Democratic presidential campaign in 2016, a move that could create a challenge to former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton if she seeks the White House again. Webb said at a speech to the National Press Club that he has talked to respected advisers about a presidential bid and will continue to have those discussions during the next four or five months. 'I'm seriously looking at the possibility of running for president. But we want to see if there's a support base from people who would support the programs that we're interested in pursuing,' he said. Speaking at the National Press Club, Webb told reporters that he's gauging the 'support base' for his policy priorities and that he will decide on a run 'in a few months' Former Democratic Sen. Jim Webb said he's 'seriously looking at the possibility of running for president' Webb, 68, is a veteran of the Vietnam War who served as assistant secretary of defense and Navy secretary during the Ronald Reagan administration. He defeated Republican George Allen in his 2006 Senate campaign and served one term. Clinton is the leading Democratic contender for president if she seeks the White House again but Democrats expect her to face a primary challenge. In addition to Webb, the field could include Vice President Joe Biden, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and others. Webb said Tuesday that U.S. foreign policy has been 'adrift' since the end of the Cold War and the nation's debate over domestic policy has become increasingly polarized. 'Not surprisingly the American people have grown ever more cynical about their national leadership in both parties and increasingly pessimistic about the future,' he said. Webb has made campaign appearances in Iowa on behalf of Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley, who is running for Senate, and state Sen. Jack Hatch, who is challenging Republican Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad. Webb plans to visit New Hampshire, the home of the nation's first presidential primary, on October 20. Webb, a Vietnam veteran and a former Secretary of the Navy, served as a senator from Virginia from 2007 to 2013 . | Former Sen. Jim Webb is 'seriously looking' at a presidential bid .
He declined to critique Hillary Clinton's foreign policy record .
Webb is a former Democratic senator from Virginia . |
26,650 | 4ba67dadac005554b6624fd7d02bff4eb96377c7 | An acrobatic grandmother has proved you're never too old for a change of career after taking up pole dancing at the age of 60 and becoming an internet sensation. Sun Fengqin, of Nanjing, China, decided to try the raunchy sport after watching several videos and becoming fascinated by the beauty and athleticism. She said: 'Pole dancing is a special kind of dance. Scroll down for video . Never too old: Grandmother Sun Fengqin has become an internet sensation after taking up pole dance at the age of 60 . Graceful: Sun Fengqin, of Nanjing, China, took up pole dancing after watching several videos and becoming fascinated by the sport's beauty and athleticism . Despite her fears Sun's husband Cui Lianhua approved of her new past time although he was slightly worried she could aggravate a back injury . 'The dance moves that are done beside the pole are very elegant, especially when a woman dances these moves. 'It's very feminine, enchanting and seductive. It's full of youthful vigor and sexiness.' Because pole dancing is associated with strip clubs in China, Fengqin kept her desire to learn a secret from her family, but word soon got around, and her family discovered her hidden talents. Raunchy: Because pole dancing is associated with strip clubs in China, Fengqin initially kept her desire to learn a secret from her family . Athletic: Grandmother Sun Fengqin wraps herself around the pole in another impressive display . But to Sun's relief they all approved, even her husband Cui Lianhua, although he was concerned because of a previous back injury she had. Her instructor, Shen Ting, said she was a little shocked to be teaching a woman old enough to be her grandmother how to spin around a pole, but was happy to have her as a student. She said: 'After all, pole dancing is a kind of exercise so now, for a 60-year-old like her to be accepting of this and to be able to dance so well, [it shows] anyone can learn pole dancing.' Sun's instructor, Shen Ting, said she was a little shocked to be . teaching a woman old enough to be her grandmother how to spin around a . pole, but was happy to have her as a student . | Sun Fengqin took up sport after becoming fascinated by its beauty and athleticism . |
261,180 | de427c0103cb6f33e05027e5b1284678b7d445d3 | By . Marcus Townend . A week Sir Michael Stoute will probably want to forget might just end with a reminder why the 10-time champion Newmarket trainer is held in such high esteem. Becoming embroiled in the spate of positive tests for Morphine which have hit the sport is hardly the way Stoute would have chosen to prepare for Ascot’s £1million Qipco King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the midsummer highlight of the Flat season. Especially when one of your two horses involved is the headline-grabbing Queen’ s 2013 Ascot Gold Cup winner and 2014 runner-up Estimate. The fact that the blame for the positives appears to lie with a feed manufacturer will hardly have lessened the embarrassment. Bad week: Estimate, trained by Sir Michael Stoute and owned by the Queen, tested positive for morphine . But the reason the Queen turned to Stoute to train her horses was because of his reputation for patiently and successfully producing champions. Five winners in the King George, starting with Shergar 1981, have been sent out from his Freemason Lodge Stables and one more will make Stoute the most successful trainer in the race’s history. In Telescope, the 2-1 favourite, Stoute saddles a Ryan Moore-ridden colt which has been typically given time to find its feet after injury disrupted its 2013 season and prevented a Derby tilt. Defeat on his first two runs in 2014 did not derail the Stoute master-plan and when Telescope streaked seven lengths clear in Royal Ascot’s Hardwicke Stakes his place in this afternoon’s race was sealed. That performance inevitably drew comparisons with Stoute’s latest King George winner, Harbinger, owned like Telescope by Highclere Throughbred Racing, who completed the Hardwicke-King George double in 2010. Favourite: Sir Michael Stoute's horse Telescope is strong favourite for the King George VI . Gold Cup: The Queen and her daughter Princess Anne greet the horse, Estimate . Harry Herbert, racing manager for Highclere, said: ‘Sir Michael has trained him brilliantly to come in his own time. ‘We have had late-maturing horses with Sir Michael. At this time of year, they find their strength and maturity and start improving in leaps and bounds. You just never know how far. ‘Telescope had a very high profile for a long time. It was incredibly public when he didn’t make the Derby and there have been a couple of other issues. Suddenly he got the reputation of being a talking horse. ‘But he has never been out of the first two in his life, was impressive when he won last season’s Great Voltigeur Stakes and would run in the Champion Stakes but got a tiny bone chip in a fetlock joint. ‘He developed mentally and really relaxed and switched off through the winter so Michael said it was going to take a race or two to get him fit and after he was beaten by Noble Mission at Chester in May, Sir Michael said to make sure I told the owners not to lose faith. Feed: Estimate's positive drug test was a result of horse feed contaminated with morphine . ‘At Royal Ascot we saw the blossoming Telescope. In right conditions he is a talented horse.’ One of those owners is ex-Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who might make it to Ascot after a bug prevented him leaving with his former team on their US tour earlier this week. Ferguson is shrewd enough to know Telescope and Stoute’s reputation are built into his odds with strong opponents lining up. They include William Haggas-trained Eclipse Stakes winner Mukhadram and Aidan O’ Brien’s 2013 Breeders’ Cup Turf hero Magician, who looks a big danger. A high temperature has ruled out Andre Fabre’s French hope Flintshire but the heavy showers that fell on the track yesterday turning the going Good have ensured the participation of John Gosden’s King Edward VII Stakes winner Eagle Top. Gosden saddles two other three-year-olds making this the clash of the generations the King George is meant to be. They are Derby third Romsdal and Oaks winner Taghrooda, who receives a significant 15lb from Telescope. A win for any of his trio would be a significant blow in Gosden’s attempts to win a second trainers’ championship. | Sir Michael Stoute trains the Queen's horse, Estimate .
Estimate tested positive for morphine after consuming contaminated feed .
Telescope strong favourite for tomorrow's King George VI at Ascot .
A win tomorrow would make Stoute the race's most successful trainer . |
126,377 | 2f53ab8ac83832c1c00bbeaa919a909ab3dc8efe | By . Steve Nolan . PUBLISHED: . 15:11 EST, 14 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:12 EST, 14 June 2013 . A drunk couple who performed oral sex on each other at a busy rail and bus station while around 40 teenagers filmed them have been jailed for 10 weeks. Jacqueline Holden, 37, and Sam Rowan, 22, had been drinking all day when they played up to the crowd of youngsters who captured the lewd act on their mobile phones at Barnsley Interchange. Rowan even looked to the crowd for encouragement while Holden lay on the ground and he had oral sex with her. Lewd act: Jacqueline Holden and Sam Rowan were jailed after they were filmed performing oral sex on each other at the Barnsley Interchange, pictured . The pair are said to have been horrified at their actions when they sobered up. District Judge John Foster branded the pair's act 'disgusting' and sentenced the pair to a 10 week jail term to act as a deterrent to others. Barnsley Magistrates’ Court heard how passers-by were shocked to see them carry out their raunchy act despite being moved on several times. Chantel Lowery Green, prosecuting, said: 'Rowan was looking around and wanted the growing crowd to know what was going on. - they both played to the audience. 'Holden then lay on the floor and Rowan had oral sex with her.' Holden initially denied any wrongdoing after her arrest and insisted that she would never have been bold enough to have sex in public. Sentence: The pair were jailed for ten weeks at Barnsley Magistrates Court, pictured, after admitting outraging public decency . Philip Howard, defending, said normally Holden would have called the police if she had seen another couple having oral sex in public. The court were also told that Rowan suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome and has other problems that affect his social skills. Sentencing the pair, District Judge John Foster said: 'You both engaged in open sexual contact outside and inside the interchange in front of a crowd you were encouraging. 'The interchange is probably the busiest place in the town and the description of your behaviour has been absolutely disgusting. This demands a deterrent.' Holden and Rowan, both from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, admitted outraging public decency. | Jacqueline Holden and Sam Rowan, 22, were both jailed for 10 weeks .
A judge branded their lewd act at Barnsley Interchange as 'disgusting'
The pair said to have been 'horrified' at their actions when they sobered up .
Both admitted outraging public decency at Barnsley Magistrates Court . |
125,322 | 2e0169973c45c10ff481991a87c97875126c1bef | England captain Chris Robshaw bemoaned the fact his side had to play catch up as they slumped to a fifth defeat on the bounce, losing 31-28 to South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday. The Springboks seized control early on, with tries from Jan Serfontein and Cobus Reinach giving them a 20-6 lead just after the interval. Although Robshaw's pack muscled England back into the contest with tries from David Wilson and Ben Morgan off the back of driving mauls, South Africa kept them at arm's length with a touchdown from Schalk Burger before Brad Barritt closed the gap in the dying moments. England skipper Chris Robshaw points out instructions to team-mates during their match against South Africa . Jan Serfontein wheels away in celebrations as he earns South Africa the first try of the game at Twickenham . 'I think we were a bit reactive today, we allowed them to get ahead of us and then we had to play catch up,' he told Sky Sports 1. 'We had a brilliant patch out there where we got two driving mauls going but unfortunately we allowed them to get their driving maul going too. 'It's tough to take, especially at home, but we'll have to work hard and come back next week.' Stuart Lancaster watches on as his team warm-up prior to the match at Twickenham . Pat Lambie celebrates with team-mate Jean De Villies after kicking a drop goal for South Africa . After the 3-0 series whitewash in New Zealand in the summer and the 24-21 defeat to the All Blacks last week it now means they have suffered a fifth successive defeat for the first time since 2006 - which was also the last year they managed to beat South Africa, who are now unbeaten in 12 matches against England. Like last week against the All Blacks England's set piece worked well, with two tries coming from lineouts, and the scrum was also strong, but Robshaw just feels his side are falling just short of what they are capable of. 'We are probably not doing ourselves justice. We all know the way we train and the way we want to play and we haven't put it on the pitch as well as we would have liked,' he added. | England suffered their fifth consecutive Test defeat against the Boks .
Stuart Lancaster's men suffer second successive defeat in Autumn series .
The hosts battled bravely but fell to a narrow 28-31 defeat at Twickenham .
Skipper Chris Robshaw bemoans slow start which aided to defeat .
Eight years of suffering against South Africa continues for England . |
18,914 | 35873e8b7adfa6af13d8d7b8442bdd3ec775380f | David Cameron showed how deep his support for British Fashion goes – literally - last night at a reception to celebrate the start of the London Collections for Men at Downing Street. Tieless, in a Richard James suit, Charles Tyrwhitt shirt and Oliver Sweeney shoes, the patriotically attired PM also revealed he was wearing M&S pants. But it seems shopping is not his strong point, as he admits he instead of being allowed to browse freely, he is instead banished to the changing rooms. All together now: David Cameron was joined by Dylan Jones, Natalie Massenet, Tom Ford and key figures in the men's fashion world . He said: 'When I go shopping my wife doesn't . allow me to look around the store at all. I am put in a changing room . and things are passed to me like you would pass food to a prisoner.' The London Collections of Men are now in their second year and celebrate the successes of British men’s fashion – a sector that accounts for 50 per cent of the luxury goods market. This year, London has pulled off something of a coup as big name designers Alexander McQueen and Tom Ford – the latter who attended last night's Downing Street event - will both stage catwalk shows in the capital instead of Milan. In the name of fashion: David Cameron hosted a reception at No. 10 Downing Street this evening to celebrate the launch of London Collections: Men . Chatting fashion: The PM chatted enthusiastically to designer Tom Ford ahead of Men's Fashion Week . Celebrating alongside the fashion industry elite last night were singer Tinie Tempah - GQ magazine’s best dressed male of 2012 - and dapper male model David Gandy. And to show just how deep his commitment to the British fashion industry goes, David Cameron divulged: ‘I go to bed every night with a designer; and wake up every morning with a designer. 'The same one, obviously; my wife Samantha.’ Which doesn’t sound like hard work at all. Fashion's famous faces: The likes of designer Tommy Hilfiger and Dee Ocleppo attended as well as popstar Tinie Tempah . In numbers: The fashion industry contributes over GBP 37 billion to the UK economy and provides over 816,000 jobs the largest employer of all the creative industries . | Prime Minister spoke at London Collections for Men fashion party at No.10 .
Tinie Tempah, David Gandy and Tom Ford among guests .
Samantha regularly hosts Downing Street women's fashion week parties .
PM said: 'I go to bed with a designer and wake up with a designer - my wife' |
258,664 | dac4d33c71b44bcda34d206e869d55f10a370624 | Actress and singer Anna Kendrick has added yet another string to her bow by starring in an upcoming fashion campaign for designer Kate Spade. The 29-year-old actress, who will soon be seen starring as Cinderella in upcoming big screen musical Into The Woods, due out on Christmas Day, spent the day in Las Vegas shooting the campaign - alongside eight male models who she revealed spent the day 'cracking her up'. 'There were eight guys on the shoot with me who were just cracking me up!' she told People. 'Mostly in their 50s and 60s but a couple in their 30s, and the photographer kept being like, "Just try to get her attention. Try to get her to laugh." Scroll down for video . Glitz and glamour: The actress revealed that shooting the high-end ad felt 'more like my day job than it did like modeling' Fashion forward: Anna describes her own personal style as 'lazy or classic' Model behaviour: The 29-year-old said she loved the old Las Vegas locations where many of the photos were taken . 'So these guys were just cracking me up.' The upcoming campaign sees the starlet modelling a number of the brand's most luxe looks, including a mini-sized handbag, which Anna revealed is the perfect size for her and her minimal handbag essentials. '[I carry] just [my] wallet, keys and phone,' she said. 'Well, and my retainer.' The holiday campaign is just the start of what will be a year-long collaboration between Anna and Kate Spade; the brand recently revealed named the Pitch Perfect star as the face of their 2015 'The Year of Adventure' campaign,which will see her working on both film and social media projects with the designer. 'It’s the beginning of a yearlong friendship between us and the clever actress and singer, who’ll be be our storytelling muse throughout 2015, too,' a spokesperson for the brand wrote on their website. 'Stay (digitally) tuned over the course of next year as she inspires us to indulge our passions, be the star of our own lives, and with incandescent charm surprise and delight those around us.' Luxe lifestyle: Anna had the chance to model some of Kate Spade's glamorous holiday designs . Flirty fun: The actress spent the day shooting alongside eight male models who she says 'cracked her up' Fear factor: She revealed that she didn't consider the shoot a proper modelling job because the very thought would have caused her to have a 'freakout' 'Me being me': Anna thanked Kate Spade for embracing her quirks and her sass . Despite her obvious talent as a model, Anna, 29, recently revealed in an interview with the Associated Press that she didn't - and couldn't - consider the Kate Spade shoot as a proper modelling job. 'If I had for one moment considered it modeling, I probably would've had a freakout,' she said. 'Weirdly it felt a lot more like my day job than it did like modeling. She added: 'Kate Spade has really embraced me being me, which is great because it would be a lot harder to not be. So you know I'm glad that they don't mind a little quirk and a little sass.' The beginning of a friendship: Kate Spade is set to collaborate on a yearlong campaign with Anna which will see her working with them both in film and on social media . From glamour to grunge: The stunning actress shed red carpet luxury in favour of grime and grunge in order to play the part of Cinderella in upcoming flick Into The Woods (right) | The upcoming campaign was shot in Las Vegas .
Anna, 29, is also the face of Kate Spade's 2015 'The Year of Adventure' campaign . |
266,690 | e57006ef1e4435d91dd44025e6d646014c624a16 | LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Natasha Richardson, the Tony Award-winning stage actress and member of the famed Redgrave acting clan, died Wednesday from injuries suffered in a ski accident. She was 45. Comedian Joan Rivers says actress Natasha Richardson had "such a family." On Wednesday night's "Larry King Live," comedian Joan Rivers remembered Richardson for her marriage to actor Liam Neeson and used her sharp wit to recall her own skiing experience. The following transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity: . Larry King: You knew Natasha Richardson. What was your reaction? Joan Rivers: Oh, [it] shouldn't have happened. We were more acquaintances than friends. But we spent one amazing day on a boat with my whole family and she and Liam and the boys. And they were such a family. King: What was the occasion? Rivers: We were all in the Caribbean, and we all kind of knew each other from dinner parties and so forth. And we met at the airport, and we said, "Oh, let's get together, with the kids." And it was one of those wonderful days. We laughed and talked and had lunch, and the kids were jumping off the boat and we were drinking wine. She was just amazing and darling. King: Have you seen her work on Broadway? Rivers: I've seen her work. I love actresses who go back and forth. I always have such great respect for someone who goes to Broadway and then film and goes back again. I saw her in "The Philadelphia Story" years ago in London when she won an award. She was very young in a musical version of that. King: What was your read on them as a couple that day? Rivers: Totally happy, totally devoted to each other. That's what kills me. I mean [it] just shouldn't have happened. ... And they made such a good-looking couple, too. He doted on what she said, she doted on -- it was just perfect. King: How did you learn of this yesterday? Rivers: One of our mutual friends called me and said, do you know about -- I just saw them recently in the thing that Prince Charles gave in England, and a mutual friend said, did you heard about what happened to Natasha? I said, what are you talking about? And he said, she's brain-dead. Watch King talk to celebrities about Richardson » . King: So you knew yesterday? Rivers: I knew yesterday. And I knew yesterday that she was brain-dead. And I was told, which is, again, so dear, that they kept her alive purposely to bring her back to New York, so that the boys could say goodbye to her before -- . King: Really? Rivers: Yes. King: That's both beautiful and sad. Rivers: Look at this, it gets me crazy. It's sad. King: Do you ski? Rivers: I had a terrible fall about 12 years ago. And I lay there in the snow and I said to myself, "If I get up, I'm not coming back and I got up." King: You're like, "Goodbye." Rivers: Goodbye. And I swear to you, I laid on the ground and I go, "If everything works, that's it. That's it." King: You've heard the doctor. What do you make of this? There must have been something previously. It was a slight fall? Rivers: You don't know; you hit your head wrong. You walk out of your house and it's over. We all know that, especially at this age. You understand that it's over, it's gone. It's just not that [Richardson's] age, not with a good marriage, not with two young boys. It shouldn't be. King: John Kennedy said life isn't fair. Rivers: It isn't. It isn't. And anyone who doesn't get up in the morning and say, "How lucky I am," is an idiot. | Joan Rivers says Natasha Richardson and her family sailed in Caribbean together .
Stage actress and husband Liam Neeson were "totally devoted," Rivers recalls .
Rivers says life can be taken in a flash: "You walk out of your house and it's over" |
118,173 | 249806cca5cca9749be50320b461cf90d0badf88 | There are some debts which can never fully be repaid: the freedom which Britain and her people owe the mighty little Spitfire is one of them. When Britain stood alone against the threat of Nazi Germany, the Spitfires and ‘the Few’ who flew them protected our skies and all that lay beneath. Even today, almost three-quarters of a century after the Battle of Britain, the air-rending thunder of a 1750-horsepower Merlin engine and the sight of those curved wings slicing through the clouds can still lay claim to the heart of the nation. Scroll down for video . Boultbee Flight Academy in West Sussex can offer passenger flights to non pilots in their £2 million Spitfire TR9 aircraft built in 1944 . And now, remarkably, ordinary members of the public can experience the thrill of flying along Beachy Head in this unique aircraft. This is because back in September, the historic rules limiting Spitfire experiences to those who hold a pilot licence were lifted by the Civil Aviation Authority. Boultbee Flight Academy in West Sussex is the only company approved by the Civil Aviation Authority to offer passenger flights in their Spitfire TR9 aircraft, which was originally designed to train fighter pilots. Yesterday I was lucky enough to soar out over the white cliffs of Southern England, the Channel limpid below and the late afternoon light torching into an orange parabola around the wooden propeller. It was an extraordinary experience; the closest any of my generation will come to knowing what the Few knew, that this is flying at its most graceful and elemental. We arced and turned and dived and climbed into the setting sun, the smell of hot grease and engine fuel wafting into the cockpit, the thrumming and throbbing of the plane’s tiny carcass beating into our backs. And as we did so we felt the decades rapidly slip away – for the Spitfire is an icon of aviation, the years have not withered her magnificent power nor her silvery allure. At 280mph – using a mere fifth of the engine’s capacity – and 500ft above the waves, we carved our own little bit of history along the fortress of white cliffs which would once have welcomed Britain’s fliers home. I was flying in Gilda, a Mark IX Spitfire built in 1944 which is worth £2 million – and is one of just seven two-seater Spitfires in the world. The aircraft, which has a 1,750 horse-power Rolls Royce Merlin engine, is one of only seven two-seat Spitfires in the world . The flight in a Spitfire, pictured, could just about be the best Christmas present any Briton might receive for next year . I climbed in behind pilot Matt Jones into a rear cockpit where space is so tight it’s measured in fractions of an inch and there is no floor above the constantly moving controls. As the chocks are pulled away, the flaps lifted for take-off and the canopy closes over your head, it’s almost like the Spitfire claims you. That much was expected, but what came as a surprise was the gentleness of one of the most brilliant war machines ever built; so soft are the controls that the merest movement of the stick up or down or from port to starboard will send it skimming into another corner of sky. After flying over the Channel, we turned inland, reaching 2,500ft as a pale autumn mist rose beneath us. Then we crossed the Thames up into East Anglia towards the Imperial War Museum at Duxford where Gilda is to spend the winter. Shortly before we landed, Matt pulled back the worn leather casing of the joystick, glanced at me in the cockpit mirror and gently pulled the nose up while turning the plane a full 360 degrees: a victory roll. As we turned, pulling 2.5 times the force of gravity (Gs), I watched the world spin on its very axis and waited for my stomach to catch up. A few minutes later we accelerated to 300mph and performed a Half Cuban, a partial loop from which you also emerge in a roll, pulling 3.5Gs, the swiftness and sharpness of the Spitfire’s manoeuvrability giving some small clue to her prowess in battle. Now you can win your own flight in a Spitfire, which could just about be the best Christmas present any Briton might receive for next year – the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. The little plane, which saved so very many lives, gave me the ride of mine. Here's your chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime flight in a Supermarine Spitfire, the most beautiful and iconic aircraft in RAF history. The Mail on Sunday has teamed up with the Boultbee Flight Academy to offer one lucky reader an unforgettable 20- to 30-minute flight over the English Channel – usually worth £2,750. The flight will take place next year on a date subject to availability and conditions. The prize includes an overnight hotel stay for two near the Goodwood Aerodrome. TO ENTER: Phone 0901 553 0697 and leave your details. Calls cost 51p per minute plus any network extras and should last no longer than two minutes. Or text SPITFIRE followed by your first and last name to 65700 (eg SPITFIRE Sue Smith). Texts cost £1 plus standard network charge. Or email your details to [email protected]. Entries must be received by midnight on Sunday, December 14, 2014. The winner will be chosen at random from all entries. Subject to availability. Prize is non-transferable and no cash alternative is available. Prize: One winner to receive a flight as a passenger aboard the two-seat Spitfire TR9 operated by Boultbee Flight Academy and one night’s accommodation for the winner and guest at a local hotel. Winners must be available to take the flight on the appointed day. In the event of the Spitfire being unable to fly, efforts will be made for an alternative flight. Entrants must be 18 or over and residents of the UK. The winner will not be permitted to fly without undergoing a full safety briefing and signing a waiver form. For Mail on Sunday terms and conditions, visit mailonsunday.co.uk/promotions. Phoneline and SMS helpline: 0800 839 173. | A shotgun seat in the back of a World War II Spitfire is the ultimate Christmas present for British aviation fans .
Boultbee Aviation Academy owns one of the seven surviving £2 million two-seat Spitfire TR9s .
The aircraft, which was built in 1944, features the legendary 1,750-horsepower Rolls Royce Merlin engine .
Now readers can get the chance to win their own fantastic flight, worth £2,750, including an overnight hotel stay . |
198,326 | 8cb77928307eb56f7ce8de51eb3bc27a29b48794 | An elderly shopper has died after tumbling to the bottom of an escalator at House of Fraser during a family shopping trip. The freak accident took place while the 87-year-old was on a day trip to Cardiff on Christmas Eve. The incident is believed to have occurred when another shopper tripped near the top of the escalator at the department store, knocking into another woman who was stood below. An 87-year-old shopper has died after tumbling to the bottom of an escalator at the House of Fraser department store in Cardiff, also known as Howells, on Christmas Eve . That woman then fell into the pensioner, who was third in line on the moving stairway. All three women - believed to be known to one another - fell down the escalator at the busy city centre store and were taken to hospital. The pensioner died more than two weeks later from her injuries. Shopper Julian Rice, 48, described how panic unfolded in the busy department store - known as Howells - but that everybody involved 'did everything possible'. He said: 'Myself and my partner happened to be the first at the scene that day and it's bothered us all over the Christmas and New Year. 'There were three women together who were on a day trip from Manchester, the poor lady that died was very badly hurt. 'I did not know her but I have to say that everybody involved that day did everything possible.' The department store's first aider Rachel Dyer, who treated the injured shopper, added: 'I can safely say it was the worst day I've ever known. Something we will never forget. The pensioner was taken to University of Wales Hospital (pictured) along with two other women. She died more than two weeks later from her injures . 'But I've never felt prouder to be a part of a team who pulled together to do everything we could. I just wish the ending had been different.' After the incident, engineers were urgently called to check the escalator, but it was found to be in working order. Police are now compiling a report for Cardiff coroner Christopher Woolley and an inquest may be held. A House of Fraser spokeswoman said: 'It is with great sadness that we have learnt of the death of the woman who was involved in an incident in our Cardiff store on Christmas Eve. 'Our thoughts are with her family and friends. 'We would like to thank our staff for their initial first aid response and care administered to the customer and also the paramedics for their quick response. A Welsh Ambulance spokesman said: 'We were called to reports of three people falling down the escalator at the store. The three people were taken to the University of Wales Hospital.' | Woman, from Manchester, was on a day trip to Cardiff on Christmas Eve .
Another shopper tripped on moving stairwell, knocking the pensioner over .
She was taken to hospital with two other shoppers but died two weeks later .
Store's first aider Rachel Dyer said: 'It was the worst day I've ever known' |
37,962 | 6b6cd454e34d178044f7cffdc01c4aab44d10625 | Night clubbers, beware. An Obamacare evangelist may be coming to a bar near you. On a call outlining its strategy to get people to sign up for Obamacare over the summer, leading Obamacare advocacy group Enroll America said it will get more creative with its outreach tactics – including hitting up night clubs – now that only certain groups of people remain eligible to sign up for health coverage. 'If it's a . health fair, we wanna have a table set up. If it's a long line at a . night club, we want somebody walking up and down it, talking to folks . while they're stuck there,' John Gilbert, National Field Director of Enroll America, told fellow Obamacare recruiters on the call. The group will begin its new outreach operation in May. Pro-Obamacare group Enroll America says it will hit up night clubs, like the one in this file photo, next month to look for people without health insurance . Open enrollment into Obamacare closed on March 31. Among those now eligible for special enrollment are young people aging off of their parents' insurance plans. Under the new rules, insurance companies are required to provide coverage for policyholders' dependents until age 26. Young Invincibles, a youth focused pro-Obamacare group, estimates that 11,500 Americans will turn 26 each day between now and . November when the open enrollment period begins anew. That's 2.6 million young people, according to a recent Young Invincibles report, based on data . from the U.S. Census Bureau, concludes. There's a 'little bit of a "Where's . Waldo?" component' to identifying people who fall into this category, . Enroll America National Field Director John Gilbert said on last week's call. But Enroll America thinks it's figured out a few good places to find and recruit these non-traditional enrollees, including night clubs, court houses and CVS Caremark drug stores. 'If it's a long line at a night club, we want somebody walking up and down it, talking to folks while they're stuck there,' John Gilbert, National Field Director of Enroll America, told fellow Obamacare recruiters on a call . 'We want to go to wherever people are and engage them on their terms,' Gilbert said. The 'terms' on which Enroll America could . find itself with young people waiting in line at the club when it comes . around to lecture them on their health care options might not be good. Young people - who may already be intoxicated - may not be predisposed to discuss serious issues like their health care coverage while they're trying to have a fun evening out with friends. Enroll America did not return a request for further comment on its outreach efforts. 'Obamacare "youth outreach" tactics seem to get funnier as time goes on. Now they plan to ask young people in line at clubs to fork over thousands of dollars for a government program designed to rob us?' said Corie Whalen, a spokeswoman for youth advocacy organization Generation Opportunity, in an email to MailOnline. 'Thinking about it though, it makes sense that they wouldn’t waste their time marketing to us while we’re sober.' Best known for its 'Creepy Uncle Sam' ads that feature the government mascot looming over young people during sensitive doctor-patient discussions about their health, 'Gen Opp' has been encouraging young people to 'Opt-Out' of Obamacare. The group's most effective tactic for signing young people to opt out has been holding college tailgate parties. The group told The Weekly Standard in 2013 that it would consider reaching out to young people at events like concerts during warm weather. Enroll America listed court houses as another place it would target for Obamacare outreach. Among those who qualify to sign up for Obamacare outside of the normal enrollment process are people who were recently released from jail and people getting married or divorced - all of whom would have to visit a court house. A location the group said its had success signing people up in the past that it plans to continue recruiting people from is CVS, as seen here at an Enroll America event at a CVS in Texas . Jenny Sullivan, Director of Enroll America's Best Practices Institute, reminded listeners on the call of the importance of keeping enrollment numbers up throughout the rest of the year. 'It . won't be a very great headline if we get 8 million people connected to . coverage, and we don't keep most of those folks connected to coverage a . year from now or seven or eight months from now, ' she said. A location the group said its had success signing people up in the past that it will continue recruiting people from ahead of the open enrollment period that begins in November is CVS, where it sets up tables on free health screening days. City dwellers looking to avoid Obamacare recruiters need not avoid CVS for the foreseeable future, though. CVS will not hold any more free screenings until a date to be determined this fall. | Enroll America is a leading pro-Obamacare group .
It's key focus is recruiting people to sign up for health coverage .
The open enrollment period for Obamacare is now closed, but certain groups of people, including convicts and young people aging off their parents' insurance, can still apply for health insurance coverage .
Enroll America's National Field Director said it would begin hitting up night clubs and court houses to look for people who fall into that category . |
223,127 | acdb7e9d4242d5385af2829d3e9f3e4256c1a905 | LOCKERBIE, Scotland (CNN) -- Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi's fate hangs in the balance. The Libyan man convicted for the 1988 Lockerbie bombings has terminal prostate cancer and, according to his lawyers, just weeks to live. Mourners at the 20th anniversary memorial service for the victims of the Lockerbie bombing. Scotland's Justice Minister Frank MacAskill is weighing up whether to release him on compassionate grounds so he can die at home; to transfer him to a Libyan jail under a prisoner transfer agreement drawn up between Libya and the UK; or whether to keep him in a Scottish jail for the rest of his days. That is certainly the preferred option of the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who last week wrote to Mr MacAskill urging him not to send Al Megrahi home. In Lockerbie itself, matters of politics seem far removed. George Stobbs was one of the first policemen on the scene when the Boeing 747 crashed into Sherwood Crescent. "I've never talked about the politics of the thing because I had no interest," he says. "People here aren't interested in the politics, they just want to carry on with their lives." Stobbs has vivid memories of the night of December 21, 1988 -- the "shortest and darkest night of the year," he says. "The houses were just slowly burning and more houses were catching fire. The windows were popping, the gutters were burning, everything was burning. It was like hell. I remember seeing a wrought iron gate in the distance and I remember it was dripping like molten butter, drip drip dripping away." At first Stobbs thought it was a military aircraft which had crashed into the town. Then he heard that the nose cone of a 747 had landed in a field three miles from Lockerbie and he knew that he was dealing with far greater numbers of dead. "We were told about the 747," he says, "and we realized we weren't looking for twenty people but for 300. But where were they?" There is a small memorial room beside the little church of Tundergarth, across the road from where the nose cone landed. Inside are inscriptions from visitors commemorating the huge loss of life and photographs of each of the 270 people who died in the Lockerbie bombing. "Gentle Lockerbie" reads one of the inscriptions from a family member who lost a loved one. "Some say the land there is now tainted, I say it is blessed." In the field itself there are no marks to suggest where the nose cone landed. The local farmer points to the horizon across the rolling Scottish hills. "Between here and the top of the hill, here on my father's farm, we found 120 bodies," he says. The force of the explosion and the wind that night blew bits of the plane, personal possessions and body parts across a vast area. Stobbs, and hundreds of policemen and other volunteers combed 845 square meters of land looking for clues as to what brought the plane down. Documents from the plane were even discovered in the North Sea, 60 miles away. The crucial piece of evidence that implicated Al Megrahi was a scrap of clothing wrapped around a part of the device used to detonate the suitcase bomb. It was traced back to a Maltese boutique whose shop-owner recognized Al Megrahi. Lockerbie local John Gair said he was never entirely convinced of Al Megrahi's guilt. "I did feel that some of the evidence was circumstantial," he says. "I think partly out of compassion and partly out of a possible element of doubt, he should be allowed out." As he looks down Sherwood Crescent at the neat rows of houses, not yet twenty years old, he says: "Life goes on and once a tragedy like this is over people pick up the threads of their lives. And they don't forget but they don't dwell on it. Because there's no earthly point in dwelling on any of this." 270 people from 21 nations lost their lives in the beautiful hills around Lockerbie. Some of them had been so badly incinerated no trace of them was ever found, just their personal belongings and the Pan Am passenger list which proved they'd been on board. Twenty years later in the town of Lockerbie, the streets have been rebuilt, the past buried, but not forgotten. | CNN's Diana Magnay travels to Lockerbie, Scotland 20 years on from the air tragedy .
Retired police inspector George Stobbs recalls the scene of devastation .
Hundreds of policemen and other volunteers combed 845 square meters of land .
Lockerbie local John Gair said he was never entirely convinced of Al Megrahi's guilt . |
180,238 | 755d67ae349ff083b283646109118e63f935519e | By . Harriet Arkell . PUBLISHED: . 10:50 EST, 5 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 11:44 EST, 5 March 2014 . Precariously parked speed trap vans are putting drivers' lives in danger, driving safety campaigners have warned. An action group believes that rather than making roads safer, the police road safety vans are increasing the risk to motorists on British roads. The Dorset Speed group has compiled a database of the mobile speed cameras parked in seemingly dangerous locations including roadside verges, hard shoulders and slip lanes. Drivers' lives are being put at risk by precariously-parked speed camera vans like this one, according to road safety group, Dorset Speed . Danger: This photo, supplied by road safety group Dorset Speed, shows a van on the side of the A35 near Poole . Campaigners from the group say that most motorists instinctively brake when they see a speed trap . It has been calling for a ban on speed cameras since the death in 2011 of motorcyclist Timothy Rowsell, 64, who crashed his bike and died after braking too hard when he saw a camera van near Bournemouth. In the latest incident, a police vehicle was spotted parked on a concrete verge in front of a safety barrier along the Dorset Way dual carriageway in Poole, Dorset. Ian Belchamber, from Dorset Speed, said: 'This is something that is not uncommon on our roads - police mobile speed camera vans are often spotted parked in dangerous locations. 'Not only does it put the camera operator's life at risk, but any car that crashed on that road would also be prevented from hitting the purpose built safety barrier.' He added: 'We have seen camera cars in slip lanes, half mounted on verges, in cycle lanes, and sometimes just parked on the side of the road. 'The negative effects of speed cameras far outweigh the positive effects, and the result is that the police are making roads more dangerous, not safer.' This speed camera van was photographed parked on the carriageway in Corfe Mullen, Dorset . Poole, Dorset: The road safety group says police speed camera vans are simply putting motorists' lives at risk . He said everybody's immediate reaction on seeing a speed camera was to slam on the brakes, regardless of the speed they were travelling, and added: 'If something isn't done to stop it then there will be more tragic cases like that of Timothy Rowsell.' A Dorset Police spokesman said: 'Safety camera vans perform their duty at authorised locations.' | Road safety group Dorset Speed says motorists brake when they see vans .
They compiled database of speed van locations they say are dangerous .
Negative effects of vans 'far outweigh the positive effects', the group says .
Timothy Rowsell, 64, died after braking too hard when he saw trap in 2011 . |
220,733 | a9bf2a03aded21a0afde0be1a86fb79ef8ee018e | New York (CNN) -- As the world mourns the untimely conclusion of professional famous person Kim Kardashian's marriage to professional tall person Kris Humphries, how are you coping? Probably not very well, particularly if you watched their televised $20 million wedding (for which they allegedly spent $0 -- various sponsors took care of the costs for this impoverished but hardworking young couple) on August 20. They were so in love. Sports fans and sex fans alike have shed countless tears over the breakup of a man who bounces a ball for living and a woman who once videotaped herself making sexy time with Brandy's little brother. But while we all acknowledge that Kim and Kris are the greatest living beings on Earth or any other planet, we may not all agree on what lessons to take from this sad state of affairs. Fortunately, as the Voice of My Generation, I'm available to explain the five most important things you and your friends ought to learn from Kim and Kris' impending divorce. 1. Providing $400,000 of Perrier-Jouët at one's wedding does not ensure the success of a marriage. You need Cristal for that. 2. Fish and relatives stink after three days, but spouses can last 24 times as long. Have you ever been stuck in a car with your beloved family for more than three hours? It's awful, and you probably love them more than any other folks in the world. Kim and Kris made it work for 72 whole days. That's 1,728 hours of uninterrupted togetherness! Rather than tear them down, let's salute them for their longevity. Considering that they probably ran out of new words after the first day, it's pretty amazing they lasted as long as they did. 3. Contrary to popular belief, it's a bad idea to marry a dude with the same first name as your mom. Especially when Mom describes herself on Twitter as "MOM, MANAGER, MOMAGER, LOVER OF LIFE, LOVER OF CHRIST." 4. If at first you don't succeed ... you'll probably also fail the second time. Like many other members of her generation, Kim fell in love and launched a starter marriage that didn't last so long. I'm talking, of course, about her first marriage -- she married producer Damon Thomas when she was 19 and divorced him four years later. Just remember, third time's a charm. Maybe. 5. One's posterior-to-waist ratio does not correlate to one's marriage-to-divorce ratio. 'Nuff said. And now, let the healing begin. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Sara Benincasa. | Sara Benincasa: Many are trying to cope with news of the Kardashian/Humphries split .
She says fans may not agree on the best lessons to take from the breakup .
She offers five: For one, the wedding needed better champagne for marriage to last .
For another, don't marry someone with the same first name as your mother . |
16,883 | 2fd45ef485603c73de9f2fb529ef3c82f76e39ce | Thug: Jai Falconer has been jailed for six years for beating up his mother Joyce, 69, over £20 . A thug addicted to drugs and alcohol broke his own mother's back because she refused to lend him £20. Jai Falconer has been jailed for six years for the brutal attack on his pensioner mother Joyce, 69, in his childhood home. A court heard the 40-year-old woke his mother up by banging on her door in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire at 7am on June 7. Falconer told his mother he was going to make himself breakfast before demanding to borrow £20. When she refused he punched her in the face before throwing her to the ground and took cash from her purse. Falconer then grabbed his mother by the throat and beat her with a plastic brush as she lay on the kitchen floor. The pensioner managed to struggle to the front door and alerted a neighbour who had already dialled 999 after hearing the disturbance. She was taken to hospital where it was confirmed she had a fractured vertebrae in her back. Yesterday Falconer admitted robbery and grievous bodily harm at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court and Judge Paul Glenn jailed him for six years. He also made him subject to a restraining order, preventing him from contacting his mother and going within 100 yards of her home. Prosecutor Paul Farrow told the court Falconer, stole £60 and Mrs Falconer now wears a supportive brace and may need surgery on her back. He added: 'He looked around the fridge and said he was going to have toast, and wanted £10. Then straight away he said 'no, give me £20'. Shocking: Stoke Crown Court heard that Falconer beat his mother so viciously she broke her back before she crawled to the front door for help . 'She said she didn't have any money. He asked where her purse was in an aggressive tone. 'Using his right fist, he punched her on the right side of the head. This blow knocked her backwards and she said she'd had enough of this. 'He pushed past her and rushed upstairs. His mother followed him. He went to her bedroom, grabbed her handbag and took out her purse. 'He went back to the kitchen and emptied the contents on the table. 'Ms Falconer told him to give her purse back and finally said she had had enough and was phoning the police. 'The defendant reached towards his mother, telling her she wasn't. 'He grabbed her by the throat, causing her to fall backwards and onto the floor. 'She lay on the floor, curled up in a ball. The defendant then began to hit her with a plastic kitchen brush, at least five or six times, striking her all over her body.' Defending Falconer, Anis Ali said: 'It's clear that the catalyst of this offending appears to be his habitual use of illicit substances and alcohol. 'It was a sense of desperation that lead him to be in the situation he found himself. I don't condone what he did. It's a serious situation and unpleasant. 'He does express regret and understands what he did was wrong.' | Jai Falconer jailed for six years for the brutal attack on mother Joyce, 69 .
Addict demanded breakfast before asking her to lend him £20 .
When she refused he punched her in the face and threw her on the floor .
Mrs Falconer crawled to front door to get help despite having a broken back .
On release Falconer cannot contact his mother or visit her home in Stoke . |
108,371 | 17be748eb8c00e3417402ade6015a0a6846c443f | By . Ellie Zolfagharifard . From huge herds of zebras to colossal colonies of penguins, safety it seems, really does comes in numbers. And these creatures have no qualms when it comes to the issue of personal space with often millions travelling together across difficult terrain. Such mass migrations create some of the world's greatest wildlife spectacles revealing the stunning patterns and behaviours of the natural world. Scroll down for video . This breath-taking set of photographs show that some animals take no chances when it comes to safety in numbers. Pictured is a mass colony of king penguins seen in South Georgia . Often creatures huddle together as a way of keeping themselves safe from predators while they trek thousands of miles in their pursuit for food and shelter. Amazingly, this type of behaviour isn't specific to a few types of animals and can be seen across the entire wildlife spectrum, including birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians, insects and crustaceans. But the reason for these epic congregations can vary, with some animals following weather patterns to sustain their supply of food and water while others migrate to return to familiar breeding grounds. A spectacular mass migration sight is that of flamingos in East Africa flying in massive V formations when heading for their preferred breeding area in Tanzania. Huge quantities of female red crabs are pictured after spawning on Christmas Island. Larger males arrive at the sea about 5-7 days before they female, but are soon outnumbered . Blue and yellow snapper fish are seen in moving vast schools along the reef, Fiji. These creatures have no qualms when it comes to the issue of personal space . One of the most impressive mass migrations is that of the zebra. Earlier this year, a population of zebras surprised scientists by making a more than 300 mile (482km) journey across Namibia and Botswana . Often seen during mass migration, these enormous animal groupings can be found in countries all over the world and prove an effective method of keeping themselves safe from predators. Pictured is a huge group of great Indian horseshoe bats nesting in India . The longest insect migration is the monarch butterfly. It travels up to 4,750km. The rarest migrant is the Amsterdam albatross. There are only 70-80 adults in the world. The longest recorded journey in water is a leatherback turtle, which travelled 20,558km in 647 days. Source: Natural History Museum . As many as 2.5 million pink-feathered birds take to the skies for the journey as their breeding season arrives. Humpback whales, for instance, travel further than any other mammal migrants, making a journey of up to 5,300 miles (8,500km) each way. They are found in all of the world's oceans, with most populations following a regular migration route from polar waters for feeding and tropical waters for mating. The most dramatic migrations are often seen in the Serengeti, an area located in north Tanzania and extending to south-western Kenya. Around 750,000 zebras and 1.2 million wildebeests travel from the Ngorongoro area in southern Tanzania to the Masai Mara in lower Kenya following weather patterns. A huge school of salmon seen in the waters of Hawaii. Typically salmon are born in fresh water, migrate to the ocean, then return to fresh water to reproduce . A huge colony of Pacific walrus on Arakamchechen Island in the Northern Bering Sea. Males and females form separate walrus herds during the non-breeding season . The reason for these epic congregations can vary, with some animals following weather patterns to sustain their supply of food and water whilst others migrate to return to familiar breeding grounds. Pictured is a mass of honeybees . A spectacular mass migration sight is that of flamingos in East Africa when heading for their preferred breeding area in Tanzania. As many as 2.5 million pink-feathered birds take to the skies for the journey as their breeding season arrives . A large group of red-bellied Piranha underwater in Venezuela. During attacks on prey, large, hungry shoals can strip flesh from the bones of large animals in minutes . Thousands of Monarch butterflies rest on a tree in North America. Scientists believe these insects have an internal magnetic compass to help them navigate the world . A huge herd of of hippopotamus crowd into a pool at the end of the dry season in Luangwa National Park, Zambia, Africa. Often groups of over 60 can be seen in one spot . But one of the most impressive mass migrations is that of the zebra. Earlier this year, a population of zebras surprised scientists by making a more than 300 mile (482km) journey across Namibia and Botswana. This is the longest big-mammal migration ever documented in Africa and is a rare bright spot at a time when mass movements of wildlife are disappearing because of fencing, land occupation and other human pressures. 'It goes to show us that nature still has some surprises,' said Robin Naidoo, senior conservation scientist at the Washington-based World Wildlife Fund that led the two-year study on the migration. The most dramatic migrations are often seen in the Serengeti, an area located in north Tanzania and extending to south-western Kenya.. Shown here are hundreds of wildebeest crossing a river during migration in Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya . A huge group of grey reef sharks, congregating in Lagoon Pass in Pacific Ocean. Many grey reef sharks have a home range on a specific area of the reef, to which they continually return . A huge herd of African Cape buffalo kicking up dust in Botswana. The core of the herds is made up of related females, and their offspring. The basic herds are surrounded by subherds of subordinate males, high-ranking males and females and old or invalid animals . Tightly packed knots seen in Snettisham, Norfolk, UK. They have one of the longest migrations of any animal travelling from their Arctic breeding grounds to the coasts of Europe, Africa and Australia . An enormous group of long beaked common dolphin hunt fish off the coast of south Africa. Some dolphins will migrate due to seasonal changes, but they usually don’t travel as far as other whale species . | Often animals huddle as a way of keeping themselves safe from predators while they trek thousands of miles .
Amazingly, this behaviour isn't specific to a few types of animals and can be seen across the wildlife spectrum .
Most dramatic migrations are seen in the Serengeti, an area in north Tanzania and extending to south Kenya . |
159,410 | 5a0e4d5e75e539f05668e452477238981b7e0db1 | Two pilots have been suspended from an airline after they allegedly left an Airbus carrying 166 passengers on autopilot and air hostesses in charge while they slept in business class. The Air India flight was travelling from Bangkok to New Delhi when both the co-pilot and the pilot left the cockpit after having spent some time instructing two flight attendants how to fly. But the pair had to rush back and seize the controls of the A-320 after one of them accidentally turned off the autopilot setting, sources said. An Air India official admits the cockpit was in control of the air hostess for 20 minutes . On Friday, the national carrier . suspended a pilot, the captain of the April 12 Airbus A-320 Bangkok- New . Delhi flight, his co-pilot, and two flight attendants who had . accidentally switched off the autopilot in the cockpit momentarily. According to sources, pilot . B.K. Soni and co-pilot Ravindra Nath napped in business class, leaving . flight attendants Kanika Kala and J. Bhatt in charge of the plane. A . senior member of the cabin crew witnessed the entire drama and brought . the matter to the notice of the airline's management. The Directorate . General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has started a probe into the incident. An Air India official admits the cockpit was in air hostess control for 20 minutes, sources say 40, but Director General of Civil Aviation Arun Mishra has said that the air hostesses stayed in the cockpit for the 'larger part of the three-hour flight'. Air hostesses are allowed in the cockpit, but only for the amount of time it takes to serve a cup of tea or a snack. 'It is a serious matter. We are investigating the case,' Mr Mishra said. The flight took off from Bangkok at 8.55 am. Half-an-hour and 33,000 feet into the flight, First Officer Ravindra Nath excused himself from the cockpit to visit the washroom. He asked flight attendant J. Bhatt to occupy the co-pilot's seat in his absence. Minutes after Nath exited, Captain B.K. Soni called Kanika Kala and asked her to take his seat. Soni did not leave the cockpit immediately, however. According to a source, he spent some time teaching the two airhostesses how to operate the aircraft before joining Nath in business class. After the flying lesson, Soni put the plane on auto-pilot, leaving the stewardesses by themselves in the cockpit for around 40 minutes. Auto-pilot does not mean pilots can leave the cockpit. They have to be present to monitor the flight path and can turn off auto-pilot mode if required. A statement issued by Air India on Friday stressed that 'at no point of time was the cockpit left unattended by the cockpit crew'. It then went to say: 'During the incident, due to distraction the co-pilot had touched the auto pilot disconnect button momentarily. But the same was connected back.' Captain Mohan Ranganathan, a member of Civil Aviation Safety Advisory Council, a government-appointed aviation safety panel, blamed the 'lackadaisical attitude' of the DGCA for the increase in air safety violations. 'The DGCA should be held responsible for the increase in such cases as they have failed time and again to effectively enforce safety guidelines,' said Ranganathan. | Air India flight travelling from Bangkok to New Delhi when drama unfolded .
Pilot allegedly instructed flight attendants how to fly before resting up in business class with co-pilot .
Had to rush back when one of the hostesses accidentally turned off auto-pilot setting .
Four crew members suspended as aviation authority launches probe . |
227,968 | b32f1c8c95916bf2128033e1f4e3d2b1a5918fb6 | By . Ruth Styles . PUBLISHED: . 09:50 EST, 20 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 10:43 EST, 20 February 2014 . They might not always come out as expected but with more than a fifth of British adults admitting to having at least one, tattoos are more popular than ever. But although the majority of tattoos heal quickly, not everyone gets off so lightly, among them Gemma Hardy, a 24-year-old hearing clinic assistant from Derby. Miss Hardy's ordeal began after she had a bouquet of flowers tattooed onto her foot - the latest in a series of inkings created by her regular tattooist. Devastating: Gemma Hardy, 24, from Derby, almost had to have her foot amputated after a tattoo got infected . At first, everything seemed fine but when she woke up the following morning, it was to find her foot had swollen to twice the normal size. 'I went home, got up the next day and my foot was two to three times the size it was the day before,' she remembers. Despite the pain and swelling, Miss Hardy decided not to visit a doctor and assumed that the reaction was caused by the location of the tattoo. But two weeks later, feeling increasingly unwell and with her foot still hugely swollen, friends insisted that she see a doctor. Once at hospital, doctors finally had the chance to examine her swollen foot - and Miss Hardy was left horrified by what they found. Painful: Gemma calls the offending tattoo 'the tomato' because of its red and angry appearance . 'They diagnosed me with blood poisoning - septicaemia,' she says. '[Doctors said] if I'd left it any longer, I would have been looking at amputation. She added: 'It was really, really swollen and . infected.They told me . that if I'd left it much longer, the infection could have gone to my . bone and then I would have looked at losing my foot.' The thought of what could have happened left her devastated. 'I was 20-years-old and someone told me I . was running the risk of losing my foot,' she reveals. 'I was absolutely beside myself. I'd got a full time job, I was horse riding, I had a motorbike and I . was about to lose all of that because of a tattoo.' Luckily, doctors were able to save her foot but the once-pretty floral tattoo was left looking hideously angry and red. Fix: Gemma has since had the offending tattoo covered with a picture of a Venus Flytrap . 'I refer to it as "the tomato" because it's angry and red and slightly like a tomato,' adds Miss Hardy. Despite her brush with disaster, Miss Hardy admits that she's still a fan of tattoos and, in a bid to tackle the unpleasant inking, is to have new artwork tattooed over the top. 'I don't really want to sacrifice having a finished, beautiful tattoo because this happened,' she reveals. 'I'm nervous about having my tattoo done . again on my foot just because of how bad the reaction was before but . I'll get past that to get it finished. She added: 'I'm really looking forward to it being . normal and being able to wear the kind of shoes I want to wear; just . showing it off and having it be something I'm proud of.' Gemma appears on Extreme Beauty Disasters, tonight at 8pm on TLC . | Gemma Hardy, 24, from Derby was left critically ill because of infection .
Happened after she had a bouquet of flowers tattooed on her foot .
Doctors said infection was so bad, she was at risk of amputation .
Has now had a new tattoo in same place to conceal damaged skin . |
91,033 | 011220fd7c84df4dcf896398f4a00c8c6f78cb00 | By . Claire Ellicott . PUBLISHED: . 03:02 EST, 21 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:59 EST, 22 August 2012 . Virgin Atlantic will run its first domestic flight service between London and the North, the company announced yesterday. Virgin, founded by billionaire Sir Richard Branson, will operate three daily return flights between Heathrow and Manchester for £95 from March. The new routes will bring it into direct competition with British Airways, which it claims has a monopoly on the route, and analysts say the two companies are poised to begin a price war. Virgin Atlantic will operate three daily flights to Manchester from March next year, it was reported today . Critics yesterday accused Sir . Richard, whose company Virgin Trains lost its West Coast mainline rail . contract last week, of ‘taking revenge’ on his rivals and creating an . air route instead. But Virgin insisted the move was a . response to the BA takeover of bmi last year rather than the company’s . loss of the rail service between the two cities. BA operates 12 return flights a day between London and Manchester – nine from Heathrow – costing from £97. Going north: Virgin's London to Manchester route will pit Sir Richard Branson's airline in direct competition to BA . The equivalent train route, which is . run by Virgin Trains but will pass to FirstGroup in December, costs . £296 for an any-time return. Flights between Heathrow and the North . West will begin on March 31 using leased aircraft, Virgin Atlantic . chief executive Steve Ridgway said. Virgin chief executive Steve Ridgway said the move was aimed at keeping Manchester and London connected with the rest of the world . He added: ‘Since bmi was swallowed up . by BA, the competition that existed on domestic routes and European . routes has disappeared. 'This is part of the process of making sure that . BA doesn’t become a monopolist on all the routes bmi used to fly.’ Virgin already flies from Manchester to Barbados and Las Vegas and to Orlando in Florida. Manchester . Airports Group chief commercial officer Ken O'Toole said today: 'We are . pleased to see Virgin Atlantic increasing their presence in Manchester . and to see competition returning on the London route, as that will be to . the benefit of passengers flying from our airport.' Tickets for the new London-Manchester service went on sale yesterday. | Firm will operate three daily flights from next March .
Chief exec says move is to keep Manchester and London 'connected with the rest of the world' |
283,841 | fbbd9fdd5b872606d042f7ec6cdab26f5d5433e4 | North Korea's leader Kim Jong Il demanded $10 billion in cash and half a million tons of food as a precondition of holding a summit with the South . North Korea's former leader Kim Jong Il demanded $10 billion in cash and half a million tons of food in 2009 as a precondition of holding a summit with the South, a former South Korean president has revealed. Former president Lee Myung-bak said he refused to pay anything for holding talks, despite the fact one of his predecessors, president Kim Dae-jung, held the first summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in 2000. Kim Dae-jung was initially credited with bringing in a period of warming ties between the countries, but that achievement was later tarnished by the revelation that he helped channel $500 million to the North. The two Koreas remain technically at war because their 1950-53 war ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. Lee was president from 2008 to 2013 and says in his memoir, which is to be published next week, in 2009 North Korea began proposing a summit meeting between him and Kim Jong Il. The proposal came after senior North Korean officials visited Seoul to pay their respects to the late Kim Dae-jung, who won a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to reconcile with the North. His efforts were damaged when a close associate was convicted in 2006 of pressuring the Hyundai conglomerate into sending $500 million to North Korea shortly before the 2000 summit. Kim Dae-jung's immediate successor, Roh Moo-hyun, met Kim Jong Il for a second summit in 2007. Lee says one of the North Korean officials who visited Seoul, Kim Ki Nam, told him that Kim Jong Il had said it wouldn't be difficult for the leaders of the two Koreas to meet again if agreements signed during the 2000 and 2007 summits were carried out. Five days after the meeting, Lee claims North Korea called for a 'considerable amount' of rice, fertilizer and other aid shipments in return for a summit. Ex-South Korea President Lee Myung-bak reveleaed the list of demands made by the North in his new book . Lee said: 'The document looked like some sort of standardized "summit bill" with its list of assistance we had to provide and the schedule written up.' Reuters obtained an advance copy of chapters on North Korea today. The book refers to a list sent from the North 'as a condition for a summit' that included 400,000 tons of rice, 100,000 tons of corn, 300,000 tons of fertilizer, asphalt worth $100 million and $10 billion for the establishment of a development bank in North Korea. 'We shouldn't be haggling for a summit,' Lee wrote. In the book Lee claims Kim Jong Il continued to push for a summit with the South before he died in late 2011, but it did not materialize because he refused to acknowledge a 2010 torpedo attack on a South Korean naval vessel. Lee, a conservative who ended a decade of liberal rule in South Korea, pushed Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons programme, left office without ever meeting the North's leader. South Korea's former President Roh Moo-hyun (right) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il (left) shake hands at a welcome ceremony for Roh Moo-hyun in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, on October 2 2007 . Parts of the memoir reveal that senior intelligence officials from the two Koreas made secret visits to each other's countries to explore summit possibilities in 2010, when two deadly attacks blamed on Pyongyang killed 50 South Koreans. The Cheonan was torpedoed in 2010, killing 46 sailors. South Korea blamed the North which denied any involvement. Lee says a North Korea envoy who visited Seoul that year was later publicly executed after returning to the North. Both Kim Jong Il's successor, Kim Jong Un, and current South Korean President Park Geun-hye said this month they were open to the idea of talks. It would be the third summit meeting since the two Koreas were divided 70 years ago, although chances seem low as the countries bicker over the terms for talks. Last Friday North Korea demanded the lifting of sanctions imposed by Lee's government after the 2010 sinking as a condition for resuming dialogue. North Korea's current leader Kim Jong Un (pictured) who is the third son of former leader Kim Jong Il . The first summit in 2000 prompted an era of cooperation between the rivals, but also became a source of criticism in South Korea. Conservatives said Seoul's then 'sunshine policy' of providing generous economic aid to Pyongyang with few strings attached supported the North's nuclear and missile developmen and allowed it to continue staging provocations against South Korea. Lee halted such aid and refused to implement rapprochement projects signed in the second summit in 2007. His actions earned him public loathing in North Korea, where state media called him a 'rat' and a 'traitor.' Lee also saw tension spike sharply after his inauguration. A soldier killed a South Korean tourist in North Korea in 2008, and North Korea staged long-range rocket and nuclear tests in 2009. On the sidelines of a regional conference in Beijing in October 2009, Lee says Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told him that Kim Jong Il had sent a message that he wanted a summit. Lee says he was willing, but didn't want to pay for the meeting and wanted the North's nuclear program on the agenda. Later in 2009, officials of the Koreas met secretly in Singapore, and North Korea insisted on economic aid in exchange for a summit. Prospects for summit talks were further hurt after a South Korea-led international investigation blamed North Korea for torpedoing the South Korean warship in March 2010. The North then launched an artillery strike on a South Korean island that killed four people in November of that year. North Korea has denied involvement in the ship sinking. North Korea's state media did not immediately comment on the contents of Lee's memoir. | Former North Korea leader Kim Jong-Il made demands in return for summit .
List included 400,000 tons of rice, 100,000 of corn and 300,000 of fertilizer .
Also wanted $100 million of asphalt and $10 billion to found a new bank .
Ex-President of South Korea has revealed the list of demands in new book .
Conservative former leader Lee Myung-bak said he refused to pay for talks . |
202,427 | 92101fef4dafe84217948a12ca6fba41f2847677 | By . Sara Malm . PUBLISHED: . 06:57 EST, 6 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 19:57 EST, 6 December 2012 . After decades of embarrassing the neighbours, the scruffiest house in Britain has, well, turned over a new leaf. The previous owner went 20 years without trimming the ivy that covered the outside of the property – until eventually it started to invade the inside too. By the time the house went on the market last year, it had an asking price of just £120,000 in a street where better-kept homes often fetch three times as much. Engulfed: Ivy covered the entire front of the house, including the garden and the wall, and had become a 'tourist attraction' in the area . But fortunately for fed-up residents, the new owner was not so content to rest on his laurels. The house has been stripped of the . ivy, renovated inside and out at a cost of tens of thousands, and is now . up for sale for £350,000. Hard work: Once all the ivy had been removed from the outside and inside of the house, the owner faced thousands of pounds of further refurbishment to make it inhabitable . Extreme home makeover: After massive restoration work, the house is now for sale for £350,000 - nearly three times the original price . One neighbour said: ‘We are so relieved. 'People would stop their cars to . stare at it and whilst it may have looked amusing, I honestly believe it . was having an impact on the house prices along the road.’ It took a team of workmen more than a . week just to strip the ivy from the three-bedroom house in Chelmsford, . Essex, after insurance company chairman Neil Utley bought it in August . last year. At the time, he said: ‘I could not even see the house – just a house shape underneath the ivy. 'There was as much ivy on the inside as well so the house was completely dark, with no lights and no power.’ Then: The ivy-covered house looks tattered and scruffy next to the neighbours . Now: With the ivy removed the house has nearly trebled in value, much to the joy of both owner and neighbours . Before: Neighbours were complaining that the 'Ivy House' was dragging down the value of their properties . After: The house now matches the others built in the same style on the street . | The 'Ivy House' is on the market for £350,000 after makeover .
The Chelmsford property went up for sale for £120,000 last year . |
177,622 | 71f43d0788b98d05d573a435ebb25ffbc35af8b6 | Pretoria, South Africa (CNN) -- Police used lasers to track the path of the bullets that Oscar Pistorius fired through a door, killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, a ballistics expert testified Tuesday. Then they checked his height with and without his prosthetic legs, Police Capt. Christian Mangena said. He was on the verge of revealing his conclusions when time ran out and court adjourned for the day. He had time to say that the height of the four bullet holes in the door ranged from 93.5 cm to 104.3 cm above the floor. Without his prosthetic legs on, the double amputee runner's elbow height is 96 cm, Mangena said as the 12th day of the Pistorius murder trial came to an end. The runner maintains that he was not wearing his prosthetics when he killed Steenkamp, and after suggesting at his bail hearing last year that he was wearing them, the prosecution conceded last week that he was not. The one-time South African national hero admits that he killed Steenkamp on February 14, 2013, but pleaded not guilty to murder, saying the killing was a terrible mistake. He thought she was an intruder in his house in the middle of the night, and mistakenly believed he was defending himself, he maintains. That he was not wearing his prosthetics is a vital part of his defense. He argues he was justified in shooting through a toilet room door because he is particularly vulnerable when he is on the stumps of his legs. Photos of victim's wounds . Pistorius listened to much of Tuesday's testimony impassively, but covered his face with his hands and stuffed his fingers in his ears when Mangena talked about needing to see Steenkamp's dead body as part of his investigation. "I have to see the position of all the injuries sustained," the 20-year police veteran said, before leafing through photos of bullet holes in the black sleeveless top she was wearing, her face, and injuries to her body. Pistorius spent hours throwing up in court last week as Steenkamp's injuries were described by the witness who did her autopsy, and later when pictures of her injuries were briefly accidentally flashed on courtroom monitors. Steenkamp's mother June was in court Tuesday, and appeared to be crying when photos of the bathroom where her daughter died were displayed. A police crime scene photographer was on the witness stand for much of the day Tuesday as defense lawyer Barry Roux tried to show that police photos were not reliable evidence. He got the photographer, Bennie van Staden, to say there was definitely no one else in the bathroom with him when he took pictures of the blood-spattered scene, then produced photographs which he said another police officer took in the same room at the same time. Gory details lend trial a 'CSI' flavor . "You did not see him in the bathroom?" Roux demanded. "I did not see him," van Staden replied. "And how big is this bathroom?" Roux asked incredulously, prompting laughter. "About six meters by five meters," van Staden replied calmly. Prosecutor Gerrie Nel fought back when questioning the photographer later, producing a photograph taken by the officer whom Roux said was in the same room at the same time. "Are you in this photograph?" Nel asked. "No," van Staden replied, eliciting a fresh burst of guffaws. Blood evidence . Roux also introduced a statement from another police officer, blood spatter expert Ian van der Nest, to defend his client. Van der Nest's affidavit said the blood he saw in the house was not only "consistent" with Pistorius' version of events, but was the "most probable explanation." He is on the list of possible prosecution witnesses but has not testified yet. Mangena is the 16th state witness, out of a potential 107. The trial is currently scheduled to run through April 4, take a break, and resume in mid-April. There's no question that Pistorius shot Steenkamp through a bathroom door in his house early on Valentine's Day last year, hitting her with three hollow-tipped bullets, one of which probably killed her almost instantly. Pistorius says he heard a noise in the middle of the night after getting out of bed, did not realize that she had also gotten out of bed, got his gun and shot her by accident. Pistorius first achieved fame as an outstanding double amputee sprinter who runs with special prostheses that earned him the nickname "Blade Runner." The case against Pistorius is largely circumstantial, Nel said in his opening statement on March 3. Pistorius and Steenkamp were the only people in his house when he killed her. Nel has been building a picture of what happened through the testimony of police officers, experts, neighbors who heard screaming and bangs that night, current and former friends of Pistorius' and a security guard who sped to the scene because of reports of gunshots. Neighbors said they heard a woman screaming before the shots were fired. But the defense is proposing that what neighbors thought was Steenkamp screaming in fear for her life was in fact Pistorius when he realized what he had done. And the defense says that the sounds neighbors heard were not the gunshots, but a cricket bat hitting the door as he tried to rescue her. Judge Thokozile Masipa will decide the verdict with the help of two lay people called assessors. South Africa does not have jury trials. In South Africa, premeditated murder carries a mandatory life sentence with a minimum of 25 years. Pistorius also could get five years for each of two unrelated gun indictments and 15 years for a firearms charge he also faces. If he isn't convicted of premeditated murder, the sprinter could face a lesser charge of culpable homicide, a crime based on negligence. The sentence for culpable homicide is at the judge's discretion. CNN's Robyn Curnow, Brent Swails, Nicola Goulding and Emily Smith contributed to this report. | Ballistics expert, police crime scene photographer on the stand Tuesday .
Police checked Pistorius' height with and without prosthetic legs .
Pistorius shot his girlfriend to death last year; the question in court is whether it was intentional .
Judge Thokozile Masipa will decide the verdict; South Africa does not have jury trials. |
26,986 | 4c9345483f4846ce9d4d9a60cc189e7dbe5442b7 | By . Leon Watson . PUBLISHED: . 03:10 EST, 11 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:16 EST, 11 June 2013 . The disgraced son of socialite Brooke Astor will be jailed after New York's highest court turned down his plea for an appeal against his conviction on charges of . plundering his mother's millions. Anthony Marshall, 88, faces up to three years behind bars for attempting to con his late philanthropist mother's estate out of $60million. He had petitioned the Court of Appeals to overturn his 2009 conviction, but Judge Robert Smith denied the appeal, a spokesman revealed. A New York state appeals court has upheld the conviction of Anthony Marshall, who was found guilty in 2009 of siphoning off millions of dollars from the estate of his mother, philanthropist and socialite Brooke Astor . Conviction upheld: Anthony Marshall, son of late philanthropist Brooke Astor, sits in Manhattan Supreme Court where opening arguments were delivered in his trial . Anthony Marshall (left), arrives at Manhattan State Supreme Court for his 2009 sentencing with his wife Charlene, and his attorney Ken Warner while (right) the late New York socialite Brooke Astor is pictured at the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Philanthropy luncheon in New York in December, 2001. Astor died on August 13, 2007, at the age of 105 . The parties were notified by mail last week and Marshall has to surrender for execution of sentencing on June 17. Judge Smith did not explain his decision, the New York Post reported. Marshall, 88, has been outcast by New . York society since he was convicted of conning his philanthropist mother . Brooke Astor out of $60 million in 2009. He and wife Charlene have kept . to a frugal life of solitude in their Upper East Side apartment during the appeals process and they have rarely seen in public . as he awaits his one to three year sentence. A lower court judge wrote in March that he took advantage of Astor 'when they knew her physical and mental condition' were deteriorated. Vast wealth: Brooke Astor's Westchester home - most of the furniture was auctioned at Sotheby's last year and the proceeds went to philanthropic causes in New York City . Taken: While the furniture was initially given to Marshall from Brooke Astor's will, he will now not see any of the money after being found guilty of defrauding the elderly woman . Marshall also gave himself a $2million pay raise and bought a 55ft long yacht with his mother's money. The wheelchair-bound son had begged judges to spare him the jail time given his age, health, military service and lack of prior criminal history. Marshall is in poor health following open heart surgery, is estranged from his twin sons. Setting sail: The Titanic leaving Southampton on her ill-fated maiden voyage on April 10, 1912 . John Jacob Astor IV was a millionaire . and decorated Spanish-American war hero who died in the sinking of the . Titanic in 1912 . John Jacob Astor has become one of the most fabled characters to emerge from the 1,517 passengers who died when the Titanic sank on April 15, 1912. The 47-year-old American tycoon, who built the Astoria Hotel in New York, was returning from his honeymoon on the doomed vessel with his 19-year-old pregnant wife Madeleine. When the Titanic struck the iceberg, Astor helped his wife into a lifeboat but remained onboard. He was last seen smoking a cigarette on the top deck. Half an hour later, the ship slipped beneath the ocean waves. His wife survived. Astor's was one of the 333 bodies recovered on April 22 by a cable ship. He was identified by the initials sewn into his jacket along with his engraved gold watch. Astor's son Vincent inherited the piece and wore it for the rest of his life before passing it on to his son, Anthony. JJ Astor is buried in Trinity Church Cemetery in New York City. Madeleine gave birth to a son on August 14, 1912 who was named after his father. They testified that their father and . stepmother were abusing Astor, withholding medical treatment and leaving . her to lie drenched in her own urine. Marshall was found guilty of . defrauding his mother out of money she had inherited from her . third husband, hotelier and realtor Vincent Astor. Vincent Astor's father John Jacob Astor IV famously died on the Titanic after it sank on April 15, 1912, and he was the one to go claim . his father's body in Nova Scotia after the wreck. Brooke Astor, who died in 2007 aged . 105, had devoted her life to philanthropy, giving eye-watering sums of . money to the St Regis Hotel, the New York Public Library and the . Metropolitan Art Museum. The multimillionaire, who had . Alzheimer's, was left to spend her last days in heart-breaking . conditions - her dogs messing over her Park Avenue apartment while she . napped in her own urine with no one to help, the Post previously . reported. The jury convicted Marshall of 14 counts, including first-degree grand larceny and scheming to defraud. Marshall . did not appear to have learned a lesson from his conviction. In March, . Marshall was allegedly hawking a fake gold watch that he claimed . belonged to his famous relative who died on the Titanic. He and his current wife Charlene made . a rare public appearance three months ago at a lavish party for a new cruise . ship called the Titanic II. At the party, he reportedly showed . guests a gold watch that reportedly belonged to John Jacob Astor and was . trying to sell it for $1million. However, the story was claimed to be . the 88-year-old's latest con, as a California collector has said that he . bought the real watch in an auction over a decade ago. | Fraudster Anthony Marshall, 88, faces up to three years behind bars .
In 2009 he was convicted of plundering his late mother's millions .
But a New York judge refused him leave to appeal the conviction .
Brooke Astor, who died in 2007, had devoted her life to philanthropy . |
175,645 | 6f5ca61e2f0361c47c090704a8bb5e1c6789dd1e | John Henson -- a son of the late, great children's entertainment visionary Jim Henson -- died after a "sudden, massive heart attack," his family's company said. The Jim Henson Company announced the death of the 48-year-old son of its iconic founder in a Facebook post Saturday. He died Friday while at home with one of his two daughters, the post said. John Henson is also survived by his wife, Gyongyi, and his siblings Lisa, Cheryl, Brian and Heather. Two other members of his family had top jobs in their father's namesake company, with Brian Henson as chairman and Lisa Henson as CEO. John Henson is listed prominently as one of five members of "the Henson family" on the company's website. John Henson served as a shareholder and board member of The Jim Henson Company. According to imdb.com, John Henson was active in the family business in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, perhaps most notably for his portrayal of Sweetums, a large, gruff-looking, lovable character on "The Muppets." His father, Jim, died suddenly in 1990, after a celebrated career in which he launched shows like "The Muppets," "Fraggle Rock" and created beloved characters from "Sesame Street" such as Big Bird, Elmo, the Cookie Monster and Oscar the Grouch. Last April, John's mother, Jane Nabel Henson -- who met Jim in a puppetry class at the University of Maryland in 1954 and married him five years later -- died at the age of 79 after a "long battle with cancer." Jane Henson dies of cancer . The Jim Henson Company itself remains busy with fantasy and sci-fi productions as well as children's animated series such as "Sid the Science Kid" and "Dinosaur Train." People we've lost in 2014 . | John Henson dies at home at the age of 48, the Jim Henson Company announces .
He suffered a "sudden, massive heart attack," according to the company .
John was a shareholder, board member with the Jim Henson Company .
His father helped develop "The Muppets," "Fraggle Rock" and "Sesame Street" |
122,810 | 2abb1f92a5deb82a3ecc99efd969147fa8eaf02a | By . Rob Cooper . PUBLISHED: . 10:13 EST, 22 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:35 EST, 22 August 2013 . An artist has created a set of hyper-realistic paintings of famous landmarks around the world which appear to be reflected in the lenses of a pair of sunglasses. The pictures by Simon Hennessey are so lifelike they have often been mistaken for photography. Over the last five years he has painted the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, Tower Bridge, the Guggeneheim museum in New York, the New York City skyline, the seaside at Skegness and Hyde Park. Detail: Unbelievably, these images are not photographs but astonishingly detailed paintings by talented artist Simon Hennessey . Dark mirror: Simon, 40, from Birmingham, said: 'Using the reflection of the sunglasses permitted me to explore the spatial and environmental surroundings in a distorted and warped miniature fashion' To create the lifelike compositions, he takes pictures of the locations and a model wearing sunglasses, before he gets to work on a canvas with an airbrush and acrylic paint. His pieces range in size from 11 by 8 inches to 5ft by 6.5 ft and can take from two weeks to seven months to complete. They range in price from £3,000 to £22,000. Simon, 40, from Birmingham, said: 'In 2008 I made a painting where a model was wearing sunglasses. 'I realised then that using the reflection of the sunglasses permitted me to explore the spatial and environmental surroundings in a distorted and warped miniature fashion. 'All my paintings are based and sourced using the camera, which I use the only to assist me with gathering information. Painstaking: His masterpieces take from two weeks to seven months to complete and sell for up to £22,000 . Prepared: The artist says inspiration can strike at any time and he is always equipped with his camera and a selection of sunglasses . Windows to the soul: In this entrancing image, Tower Bridge is captured on a cloudy day . 'My method involves using multiple source photographs and then throughout the painting process I add or remove detail, alter depth, add textures, form and colour values. 'This allows me to and create an illusion of a reality not seen in any single photographic source, and my paintings therefore appear clearer and more distinct than a photograph. 'Most of my paintings are planned before I visit any locations with the camera, especially the iconic buildings which are instantly recognisable. These include Big Ben, Tower Bridge, the Guggenheim museum or the New York city skyline paintings. 'Inspiration for some paintings can evolve from some unlikely moments. I'm always equipped with my camera and a selection of sunglasses. 'I get mostly positive reactions to my artwork, but there are always some negative responses to contend with. 'The most common being "it looks like a photograph so why bother painting it when a camera can take the picture in less than a second?".' Simon's pictures feature the Guggenheim museum in New York, as well as the city's skyline, the seaside in Skegness and London's Westminster and Hyde Park . Mind-blowing: Mr Hennessy says most people admire his work, but some question why he does it when a camera can achieve quicker results . More real than real: To create the lifelike compositions, he takes pictures of the locations and a model wearing sunglasses, before taking to a canvas with an airbrush and acrylic paint . | Artist Simon Hennessy creates incredible artworks in painstaking detail .
He charges up to £22,000 for each painting and can take up to seven months per piece .
They often feature landmarks - from Skegness to New York - reflected in model's sunglassses . |
209,068 | 9abb3cf3e3d0a7f0080ec71e0870ee3dd8240da5 | For any normal human 50 cents is worthless – for Tony Fernandes it was all he needed to buy his own airline. When Fernandes bought AirAsia in 2001 from Malaysian conglomerate DRB-Hicom for a single Malaysian ringgit – worth about 50 cents at the time – the carrier was in free fall and plunging deeper into debt by the day. But the flamboyant businessman built the small and failing company into a dominant player in south-east Asia with a low-cost model that focused on short and cheap flights. Some years later he started AirAsia X, which focused on long-haul flights. Scroll down for video . AIrAsia CEO Tony Fernandes used a low-cost model that focused on short and cheap flights to make the airline a major player in south-east Asia . Mr Fernandes worked with fellow air tycoon Sir Richard Branson at Virgin Communications London in the late 1980s. They are now firm friends . His cavalier attitude in business and willingness to take a punt on an outside chance made his name. One of his most notable recently was when he bought Premier League football team Queens Park Rangers in 2011. He is currently their chairman and the team is sponsored by AirAsia. A minute's silence was observed at the start of Rangers' Premier League game against Crystal Palace on Sunday for those missing. But the 50-year-old’s renowned self-belief will be severely tested after AirAsia flight QZ8501 between Surabaya, Indonesia and Singapore went missing with 137 adults, 17 children and one infant on board. It’s a nightmare now, but he’d dreamed of operating his own budget airline since he was in school, he told the BBC in 2010. His motto, according to the AirAsia website, is: ‘Believe the unbelievable. Dream the impossible. Never take no for an answer.’ Fernandes’ career in business would seem to reflect this. He had a net worth of $US650 million ($A703.27 million) as of February, according to Forbes, which listed him as the 28th richest person in Malaysia. The entrepreneur, who went to school at Epsom College in Surrey and later studied at the London School of Economics, made sure his first flight with the company – which had just two aircraft when he bought it – was one he was unable to take as a young boy. Mr Fernandes' motto with AirAsia is: ‘Believe the unbelievable. Dream the impossible. Never take no for an answer.’ ‘I always dreamt about doing a long-haul, low-cost airline,’ he said in a 2010 interview. ‘For my first ever flight in Air Asia X, I refused to do the launch to Australia and China and everyone thought it was a bit odd. But I wanted my first flight to be London-Kuala Lumpur. ‘It was very emotional for me 35 years on.’ The multi-millionaire's interests spread even further than the airline industry. As well as buying Queens Park Rangers in 2011, he also owned Formula One Team Caterham until this year. The Asian entrenprenuer bought Premier League football team Queens Park Rangers in 2011 . He previously worked with fellow air tycoon Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Communications London in the late 1980s, before joining Warner Music International in 1989. he adopted the Virgin airline owner's public, larger-than-life persona, and is now seen as the ‘Richard Branson of south-east Asia’. The two are now close friendsn 2013, Branson dressed up as an AirAsiaX female flight attendant after losing a bet to Fernandes over a Formula 1 race. Sir Richard Branson arrives at Kuala Lumpur dressed in an Air Asia flight attendant uniform and is handed a flight attendant graduation certificate by Mr Fernandes. The Virgin mogul had to do the stunt after losing a bet to Fernandes over a Formula One race . He was awarded a CBE in 2011, and is an Officer of the Legion d'Honneur in France, the highest honour a non-national can receive. Today though the devastated AirAsia CEO faces his biggest crisis and all he can do is hope. 'We are very devastated by what’s happened, it’s unbelievable,' he said in a media address in Surabaya on Monday. 'Our concern right now is for the relatives and for the next of kin – there is nothing more important to us, for our crew’s family, and for the passengers’ families. ‘We hope that the aircraft is found quickly, and we can find out the cause of what has happened.’ Mr Branson of Virgin GP and Mr Fernandes of Lotus stand beside their race cars before qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix in 2010 . | Fernandes bought AirAsia in 2001 from Malaysian conglomerate DRB-Hicom for a single Malaysian ringgit – worth about 50 cents .
At this time the carrier was in complete free fall and plunging deeper into debt by the day .
But he made into a dominant player in south-east Asia with a low-cost model that focused on short and cheap flights .
Fernandes had a net worth of $US650 million as of February, according to Forbes, which listed him as the 28th richest person in Malaysia .
The 50-year-old bought Premier League football team Queens Park Rangers in 2011 and is currently their chairman .
After working for Virgin Communications London in the 1980s he later became close friends with their CEO Sir Richard Branson . |
245,926 | ca4f398d2adeb4483f9f57cde98984f9300c439c | (CNN) -- Law enforcement agents began searching the Connecticut home of an alleged mobster on Thursday. But the suspect's attorney says authorities are actually hunting for hundreds of millions of dollars in stolen art that went missing from a Boston museum more than 20 years ago. Ryan McGuigan, an attorney for Robert Gentile, a 76-year-old Connecticut man facing federal drug charges and illegal firearms possession, said it's the second time authorities have scoured the man's home. "Pursuant to the search warrant, they are looking for firearms," said McGuigan. "But they're not really looking for firearms. They're looking for $500 million in (art stolen) from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum on March 18, 1990." Pieces by Rembrandt and Degas were among the artworks stolen in the notorious heist. The U.S. Attorney's office declined to comment on the apparent search. Manchester Police spokesman Chris Davis said law enforcement agents were at the scene and that the FBI had been requested. In an earlier statement, the museum said it "does not have any comments about the Robert Gentile case in Connecticut." "The Museum continues to offer a $5 million reward for information leading to the recovery of the artworks in good condition," the statement read. "Anyone with information about the theft, the location of the stolen artworks, and/or the investigation, should contact the Gardner Museum." Hours after St. Patrick's Day festivities wrapped up in Boston on March 18, 1990, two men dressed as police officers knocked on the museum's side security entrance. Upon entering, the intruders handcuffed the security guards, bound them with duct tape and left them in the basement, authorities said at the time. In less than 90 minutes, the bandits went through the museum's Dutch Room on the second floor and stole three Rembrandts, including the Dutch artist's only seascape, "Storm on the Sea of Galilee," along with Vermeer's "The Concert," five Degas drawings and other items, according to the museum's website. The thieves also apparently tried to steal a fourth Rembrandt but were unsuccessful, the FBI reported at the time. The agency said that their early investigation led authorities to examine several different groups, including members of Boston's organized crime gangs and the Irish Republican Army. CNN's Jake Carpenter contributed to this report. | Authorities search the home of alleged mobster .
An attorney for Robert Gentile said it's the second time authorities have scoured the man's home.
The infamous 1990 art heist resulted in the theft of iconic pieces from Rembrandt and Degas . |
109,579 | 1942d92009bafd2b2b031d07aacc25e0b20af188 | A teenager who allegedly kidnapped and raped a Domino's pizza delivery driver at gunpoint was supposed to be under house arrest and wearing an ankle monitor at the time, authorities have said. Darrion Miles, 17, is facing life in prison after being arrested on eight felony charges including sodomy and robbery following the brutal attack on the female employee in Antioch, California, on Sunday. Police say he approached the 22-year-old with a gun as she drove up to a house in the quiet Blue Bell Circle and told her to get back in the car. He is then believed to have forced her to drive to an undisclosed location where he sexually assaulted her. Scroll down for video . Suspect: Darrion Miles, 17, is facing life in prison after being arrested on eight felony charges including sodomy and robbery charges following the brutal attack on the female employee in Antioch, California, on Sunday. He is being tried as an adult because of the 'serious nature' his crimes . Apprehended: The teenager was arrested a short time after the alleged victim called the police . Miles, who was wearing the GPS tracker for violating probation following a fight last summer, then made the victim drive him home half a mile away before she called the police. The teenager was arrested and booked into jail a short time after the incident, according to East County Today. Contra Costa County prosecutors are charging him as an adult because of the 'serious nature of his crimes' and he is currently being held on $6.4million bail. Authorities have said they will be able to pinpoint his exact location at the time of the attack using the ankle monitor. Darrion Earl Miles, the boy's father, insists his son is innocent. He told KRON News his son does not have a gun and believes there was consensual sex between the pair. He added the boy would not have had time to drive from his home and attack the woman in the time frame that has been reported. 'My son said he didn't do nothing and I'm going to believe him until they prove otherwise,' he said. Brutal: Police say he approached the 22-year-old with a gun and told her to get back in the car. He then demanded that she drive to an undisclosed location where he sexually assaulted her . Defending his family: Darrion Earl Miles, the boy's father, insists his son is innocent. He has disputed the time frame of the attack reported by police and insists the sex between the pair was consensual . In a separate interview with Bay Area News, the father admitted his son wasn't an angel and brushed off questions about gang-related messages posted on his Facebook page. He added: 'I'm not going to give up hope because we got the best lawyer in the world and His name is God. Until my son is proven guilty, I'm in his corner.' Miles made his first court appearance on Wednesday in a green prison jumpsuit. The judge postponed his arraignment until February 18. Domino's vice president of communications Tim McIntyre told the Daily Mail Online that in his 30 years at the company, he has never experienced a similar incident. In a statement he said: We are shocked and horrified by what happened. We couldn’t conceive of something like this happening, especially on a Sunday morning. 'We will be working with the franchise owner to provide the victim with whatever kind of support she needs. It is unthinkable that something like this could happen to an innocent woman, simply trying to earn a living. 'We are grateful for the Antioch Police Department’s swift action and we hope the person who committed this heinous crime is prosecuted and punished to the fullest extent of the law.' Shocked: A spokesman for Domino's (store in Antioch, California, pictured) said the company was horrified by what had happened and 'couldn't conceive of something like this happening, especially on a Sunday morning' | Darrion Miles, 17, from Antioch, California, is facing eight felony charges .
Allegedly approached the 22-year-old employee with a gun on Sunday .
Police say he told her to get back in the car and drive to another location .
He is then suspected of attacking victim before making her drive him home .
Was wearing the GPS tracker after violating his probation last summer .
His father disputes the timing of events and says the sex was consensual . |
36,595 | 67aea8a798e92e6f10b1310cd3bd9e73dbf3d723 | (CNN) -- A Utah judge has ordered a registered sex offender who faces nearly two dozen charges of child sex abuse released on the basis that he is mentally incompetent to stand trial. At a hearing on Thursday, Fourth District Judge James Taylor, who previously ruled Lonnie Johnson incompetent to be tried on sex crime charges, said there were no legal grounds for holding him. "We are at the end of the road...I can't do anything but have him released from the state hospital," Taylor said at Thursday's hearing. Taylor said he was following a Utah statute requiring the release of anyone deemed incompetent to stand trial and who has not been convicted of a crime. Johnson, 38, has been diagnosed with a cognitive disorder. Doctors who examined Johnson found his competency could not be restored. They also said he is not a danger to society and did not qualify for involuntary institutional commitment. Johnson faces five counts of rape of a child, six counts of sodomy on a child and 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, according to court documents. In 2006, he was convicted of raping a teenage girl in Washington State, sent to prison for third degree rape and served less than a year, according to court documents. He is required to register as a sex offender wherever he lives. "I am outraged that a convicted child sex offender, currently facing another round of accusations, could be released without being tried for current charges," Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert said. "It's outrageous for both the victims and the accused that Mr. Johnson won't get his day in court," he said. In November, a status hearing will be held under the judge's orders and he will appoint two new doctors to evaluate Johnson. Prosecutors have also filed a new motion asking the judge to reopen competency hearings in the criminal case. "What I wanted to do was jump over and take care of it myself,'' said Christy Danner, whose daughter is an alleged victim of Johnson. ''But that's not what we can do and that's not the way our system works, and we're going to have to fix this system and then hopefully get him back in the state of Utah and find him competent,'' Danner said on HLN's "Nancy Grace." Danner cited Johnson's previous ability to hold down jobs and earn a living, and said she thinks Johnson is faking incompetence. Johnson allegedly abused Danner's daughter, who was his niece by marriage, for six years, starting at age eight in 1997. She is now 21. Johnson's family has maintained his innocence, alleging the accusations are related to a bitter divorce case. "We kind of knew going in today that he was going to be released so we were able to at least anticipate that," Danner said. "But, yeah, we're not happy and the girls are feeling victimized again and our only thing is that we have to close this loophole." | The judge says he was following a Utah statute .
Johnson has been diagnosed with a cognitive disorder .
He faces numerous counts of sex offenses against children .
Alleged victim's mother says Johnson is faking a mental illness to avoid trial . |
243,484 | c72325b27baefbaa7ef79ab7c529e691a97c84a4 | By . Steve Doughty . PUBLISHED: . 17:42 EST, 18 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 17:42 EST, 18 September 2012 . A gipsy thrown off a campsite after her son threatened other travellers with a gun suffered a breach of her human rights, European judges ruled yesterday. Maria Buckland and her family were evicted after being accused of causing a ‘very substantial nuisance’ and presenting ‘a risk of disturbance and violence’. Despite a series of appeals being rejected by Britain’s highest courts, judges in Strasbourg yesterday ruled the eviction was an ‘extreme’ interference with the 53-year-old’s human rights. 'Nuisance': Maria Buckland, 53, and her family were evicted from Cae Garw caravan park in Port Talbot, South Wales, a local authority site operated by the Gipsy council . They also ruled she should receive £3,400 to compensate her for ‘feelings of frustration and injustice’. The judgment by the European Court of Human Rights could now pave the way for other traveller families to use human rights grounds to fight eviction orders. The Buckland family first moved to the Cae Garw caravan park in Port Talbot, South Wales, in 1999. Six years later the Gipsy Council – the traveller-run organisation which operated the local authority-owned site – obtained a possession order claiming Mrs Buckland and five others were causing trouble. The family were, the Council said, ‘guilty of causing very substantial nuisance’. In November 2007, three Appeal Court judges headed by Lord Justice Dyson upheld a possession order against Mrs Buckland, saying that she had a ‘generally disruptive family’ with a ‘culture of disrespect’ who ‘presented a risk of disturbance and violence’. The European judges admitted that, during another appeal, a Swansea county court judge ‘was satisfied that her son, who resided part of the time with her, had been involved in an incident in which he threatened someone with a gun, although it was not clear whether the gun had been real or an imitation; and had dumped garden refuse’. Ruling: The judgment by the European Court of Human Rights could pave the way for other traveller families to use human rights grounds to fight eviction orders . However they claimed that the only wrong committed by Mrs Buckland herself was the failure to pay a £95 water bill. They ruled that British judges had been wrong to claim the eviction order was beyond challenge, ruling it should have been considered in the light of Article Eight of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees respect for a person’s home, private and family life. They said: ‘The loss of one’s home is the most extreme form of interference with the right to respect for the home. Any person at risk of an interference of this magnitude should in principle be able to have the proportionality of the measure determined by an independent tribunal.’ In total Mrs Buckland - who left the site in May 2008 to live on land owned by her brother, which had no planning permission for residential use – was awarded nearly £7,000 in damages and legal costs. In past cases British courts have ruled against traveller families who have protested that evictions break their human rights, especially when there has been evidence of their disruptive behaviour. Mrs Buckland’s case is thought to have cost taxpayers around £80,000 in legal aid and local authority fees on its way through the British court. Legal aid is not paid by the taxpayer to support cases in Strasbourg. | Maria Buckland, 53, and her family were evicted from a local authority site operated by the Gipsy council .
A series of appeals had been rejected by Britain's highest courts .
Judges in Strasbourg ruled it was an 'extreme' interference with her human rights. |
120,793 | 28244fbff5dfebc7677db256b4ad7905d944ff4a | For more than four decades it has ranked among the largest, most useful planes in the Pentagon's arsenal, but a C-5 Galaxy has never been retired to any museum. That's about to change. The behemoth nicknamed Zero-One-Four arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware Wednesday, where it soon will be handed over to the Air Mobility Command Museum. The giant jet with 90014 painted on its tail made history in 1974 when it became the only aircraft ever to drop and ignite a live, Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile. Yep, that's correct -- it launched the Cold War weapon that was designed to wreak unspeakable nuclear annihilation. Of course, this particular missile was unarmed. If it seems odd that a plane would unleash a gigantic hammer like a Minuteman -- well, it is. These missiles weren't supposed to launch from airplanes. They were supposed to blast off from underground silos. "It was radical," said nuclear weapons expert Hans Kristensen of the Federation of American Scientists. "It broke with anything that had been done with ballistic missiles before -- or since." The idea of launching Minutemen via airplanes was an attempt to protect U.S. missiles from being destroyed by enemy missiles, Kristensen said, because the Soviet Union would have had a hard time targeting Minutemen traveling aboard airplanes like the C-5. With three stages, the Minuteman measured 56 feet and weighed 86,000 pounds. Never before had the C-5 -- one of the biggest planes in the world -- ever dropped such a heavy load. Related: Stalking the world's biggest planes . On October 24, 1974, at Utah's Hill Air Force Base, airmen and crew from manufacturers Lockheed and Boeing, boarded Zero-One-Four. Among them, Chief Master Sgt. James Sims, who watched the whole thing from the C-5's cargo hold -- the best seat in the house. "There was inherent danger in it," said Sims, describing the mission. The Minuteman was attached to a special cradle designed to be released on a track leading out the plane's rear cargo exit. Parachutes would drag the missile out of the plane and then point it upward. A timer, Sims said, would spark the rocket's fiery engines. The risks were significant. If the Minuteman exited the plane incorrectly it could dangerously push the C-5's nose upward, making it difficult to control. Another risk: the missile could accidentally become wedged in the aircraft's infrastructure, shifting the plane's center of gravity and -- in a worst-case scenario -- trigger a crash. As the C-5 reached its test range off California about 20,000 feet over the Pacific, its four powerful jet engines were singing their signature whine. With the drop zone only eight minutes away, the huge rear cargo door opened, exposing Sims and his crew mate, Technical Sgt. Elmer Hardin, to the roaring wind. Soon it was go time. The missile and its cradle were released. Parachutes dragged the 43-ton payload along its track down the 121-foot cargo hold until it toppled off into oblivion. Hardin felt the giant plane begin to tip. "You did come off the floor a bit," he told the Air Mobility Command Museum Foundation's "Hangar Digest" magazine. "It was like dumping a wheelbarrow full of water." The chutes tilted the missile vertical as it fell thousands of feet and disappeared into the clouds underneath. Then, nothing. For a minute Sims thought something was wrong. Suddenly from below, Sims saw plumes of smoke and flame. "It came blasting through the clouds and you got a good view of it," Sims said. It rocketed to 30,000 feet -- 10,000 feet above the C-5, as Sims remembers it. "It looked like a missile launch from Cape Canaveral," he said. It burned for about 25 seconds, he recalled, and then "cascaded into the Pacific Ocean." "Everything worked as advertised," he said. "I was elated. ... It was special." YouTube has Air Force film of the test . Although the mid-air missile launch worked, the Pentagon never adopted the concept. Skeptics likely would have seen the project as "a little crazy," Kristensen said, because it was technically very risky and would have been operationally very expensive to implement on a wider, more permanent scale. It was a "wild card dream," he said. At the time, the idea wasn't really outside the box, said Fritz W. Ermarth, a nuclear strategy expert, ex-CIA analyst and former adviser to President Ronald Reagan. Pulling a missile out of an aircraft "on a sled with parachutes was far from rocket science," Ermarth said. But war planners of the era were expected to invent new options to protect the nation's nuclear weapons arsenal. Kristensen credited the project to a "sort of Cold War euphoria in those days that spurred people to come up with these sort of ideas." Many wonder if the C-5 Minuteman demonstration was simply a stunt intended to show strength at a time when the Soviets were negotiating with Washington over a proposed nuclear arms treaty. It wasn't ever officially announced, said Pat O'Brien, an engineer on the project, "but we felt they were trying to use this as a bargaining tool for the SALT II (Strategic Arms Limitation) Talks." Retired Air Force crew chief Rodney Moore, who helped maintain Zero-One-Four during its Dover heyday, wanted to go on that mission. He asked to take part, but was turned down. "I was disappointed," he recalls. Even all these years later, Moore says he still wishes he had pressed harder for permission. "I loved that airplane," said Moore. As its primary crew chief, Moore inspected the aircraft before each flight. He marshaled it to Dover's runways and then watched it take off. "For a very short period of time, I was a part of that airplane's career," Moore says. "And it was a major part of my life." Moore, who hasn't seen Zero-One-Four in 30 years, looks forward to the jet's dedication ceremony, set for this fall. "I'm going to have some emotions about it," Moore admits. "I know I'm gonna feel pride." "It's going to be like a reunion with an old friend." | Air Force crew recall their launch of a Minuteman ICBM from an airplane .
Expert: It "broke with anything that had been done with ballistic missiles before -- or since"
Minuteman missiles were built to carry nuclear warheads .
The C-5 Galaxy jet will be the first of its type to be retired to a museum . |
166,173 | 62dc20397251fd4b2bbf644ff9c7213c44f21308 | (CNN) -- A federal judge will allow John Hinckley, the man who shot and severely wounded President Ronald Reagan in a 1981 assassination attempt, more time away from a Washington psychiatric hospital to visit his elderly mother in Virginia. HIs periodic visits away from St. Elizabeth's Hospital are currently restricted to 10 days at a time. He now will be permitted 17-day visits to Williamsburg. Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the shootings of Reagan, White House press secretary James Brady, Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy, and police officer Thomas Delahanty. All survived the attack, but Brady was left permanently disabled. Hinckley's caregivers hope he will one day get a part-time job with pay as part of a self-sufficiency strategy that will also involve expanding his ties with the Williamsburg community. His time away from the hospital has been increased gradually over the years. In addition, he has received art and music therapy and has had a volunteer job at another hospital, a lawyer for Hinckley said at a hearing in January that assessed a request for expanded visitation. St. Elizabeth's is required to regularly send reports to the court, outlining Hinckley's movements and activities when he is in Williamsburg. | Hinckley attempted to kill President Ronald Reagan in 1981 .
He and others were shot outside hotel in Washington .
Hinckley is confined to a Washington psychiatric hospital .
He is allowed limited visits to his mother's home in Virginia . |
267,210 | e613bbc064b145ab8a9ee78dee29ebb9ab866cc7 | Rome (CNN) -- Amanda Knox should receive a 30-year sentence for the 2007 killing of British exchange student Meredith Kercher, an Italian prosecutor said at her retrial Tuesday. Prosecutor Alessandro Crini also called for a 26-year sentence for Knox's former boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito. The retrial at an appeals court in the Italian city of Florence began in September . Sollecito and Knox were convicted in 2009 of killing Kercher, 21, who was found stabbed in November 2007 in the villa that she and Knox rented in the central Italian university town of Perugia. Their convictions were overturned in 2011 for "lack of evidence." But Italy's Supreme Court decided last year to retry the case, saying that the jury that acquitted them didn't consider all the evidence and that discrepancies in testimony needed to be answered. Both Knox, 26, and Sollecito have maintained their innocence. The retrial began on September 30 without either of them present in court. The presiding judge, Alessandro Nencini, read out the details of the case, including the conviction of Ivory Coast citizen Rudy Guede for his role in Kercher's murder. In his second day of closing remarks, Crini said both Knox and Sollecito should be convicted and handed a 26-year sentence for homicide, with an additional four years for Knox for slander. The slander charge relates to Patrick Lumumba, a Congolese bartender whom Knox originally accused of Kercher's murder. Lumumba spent several weeks in jail after Knox accused him, and he won a defamation suit against her. On Monday, Crini recapped the evidence against Knox and Sollecito and highlighted what he said was suspicious behavior by Knox after Kercher's killing. Knox has not been in court for the retrial. She returned to her hometown of Seattle after her acquittal and has been living there since. She says she is afraid to return to Italy, where she spent four years behind bars. CNN's Hada Messia reported from Rome and Laura Smith-Spark wrote in London. | A prosecutor calls for Amanda Knox to be given a 30-year sentence at her retrial .
Knox and her former boyfriend are accused in the 2007 killing of a British student .
Their convictions were overturned in 2011, but a higher court last year ordered a retrial .
The prosecutor also calls for a 26-year sentence for Knox's ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito . |
262,473 | dfffdec3f850b61473993b634e64f8991b5bb7f4 | (CNN) -- The conservation group World Wildlife Fund ousted Spain's King Juan Carlos as its honorary president after his Botswana hunting trip sparked an outcry for its extravagance during an economic crisis. The king's private visit came to light this year when he was rushed back to Madrid to undergo hip surgery after falling during the trip. A firestorm ensued, forcing the 74-year-old king to apologize in April. "I am very sorry. I made a mistake and it won't happen again," the king said on Spanish state television as he left the hospital. Spain's king apologizes for African hunting trip . The Spanish chapter of the WWF voted Saturday to abolish the honorary post, which the king has held since 1968. "Although not illegal, the hunting was widely viewed as incompatible with the King's position at the head of WWF-Spain," the group said in a statement. There was no immediate response from the royal palace. Spaniards hold the king in high regard for his service to the nation and his defense of democracy after the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975. The criticism of the trip initially focused on the expensive safari amid the nation's 23% unemployment rate and austerity measures to make up for budget shortfalls. Some critics also wondered how much public money was spent for security during the king's private trip. As the economic crisis was unraveling, the king expressed concern over the impact on Spaniards and urged them to come together to get through the tough times. The royal household has a budget of 8.26 million euros ($10.8 million) this year -- 2% less than last year -- and has announced cuts in salaries of some of its staffers. The safari was the latest in a series of scandals for the royal family this year. In April, the king's 13-year-old grandson shot himself in the foot with a shotgun during target practice with his father. The legal age in Spain to handle firearms, even when accompanied by an adult, is 14. And the king's son-in-law, Inaki Urdangarin is a suspect in a financial fraud scandal in which public funds earmarked for his foundation allegedly were diverted for private use. He denies the charges. CNN's Al Goodman contributed to this report . | King Juan Carlos' hunting trip sparks an outcry over its extravagance .
Animal rights activists join the firestorm after reports emerge that he was hunting elephants .
Spain is undergoing an economic crisis .
"I am very sorry. I made a mistake and it won't happen again," the king says . |
191,984 | 8498ced0005521e8755b1a8cfcb6771862b54c3e | By . Steve Robson . PUBLISHED: . 14:45 EST, 9 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:11 EST, 9 March 2013 . Theresa May has pledged to scrap the Human Rights Act if the Conservatives win the next election . A Conservative government will scrap the Human Rights Act if they win they next general election, the Home Secretary has said. Speaking in front of Tory activists, Theresa May said the party could go even further by pulling out of European obligations on rights altogether. She said the party must 'consider very carefully our relationship' with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), suggesting it was restricting Britain's ability to act in the national interest. She pointed to the case of radical preacher Abu Qatada, who was today ordered to remain in custody following his arrest for allegedly breaching his bail conditions, accusing Strasbourg of constantly moving the goalposts on his deportation. Ms May, who is being touted as a possible future Tory leader, told the Victory 2015 conference staged by website conservativehome, that Britain must stop human rights laws interfering with its ability to protect the nation. The confirmation comes after speculation last week that the Cabinet minister wanted to pull the UK out of the ECHR. Ms May said today: 'We need to stop human rights legislation interfering with our ability to fight crime and control immigration. 'That's why, as our last manifesto promised, the next Conservative government will scrap the Human Rights Act, and it's why we should also consider very carefully our relationship with the European Court of Human Rights and the convention it enforces. 'When Strasbourg constantly moves the goalposts and prevents the deportation of dangerous men like Abu Qatada, we have to ask ourselves to what end are we signatories to the convention? 'Are we really limiting human rights abuses in other countries? I'm sceptical. But are we restricting our ability to act in the national interest? Are we conceding that our own Supreme Court is not supreme? 'I believe we are. So by 2015 we'll need a plan for dealing with the European Court of Human Rights. And yes, I want to be clear that all options - including leaving the convention altogether - should be on the table.' Mrs May said the case of hate preacher Abu Qatada, who was denied bail at his latest hearing today, highlighted the need for Britain to change its human rights laws . Ms May also told Tory grassroots at the London conference that she expects the Conservative's public sector reform agenda to 'become even more radical' and could include allowing companies to make a profit delivering frontline services. The wide-ranging speech, which also touched on industrial revival and banking, is likely to be viewed as a marker of intent by the Home Secretary about possible future leadership ambitions. More private companies and charities should be brought in to run public services to improve quality and end the 'monopoly' of the state, which is too often a 'poor provider', Ms May said. She added: 'In future, I expect our reform agenda to become even more radical. Yes, the state should make sure that public services are available to all and free at the point of use. 'Yes, the state should regulate those services to make sure they're provided everywhere and offer high standards. But too often the state is a poor provider of services, and its monopoly over the delivery of those services must end. 'A future Conservative government should therefore go further in increasing the number of charities, companies and co-operatives that deliver frontline services. And if allowing those organisations to make a profit means we have a more diverse supply side and better outcomes, then that is something we should consider with an open mind.' | Home Secretary was speaking at a Tory conference today .
Said legislation restricts UK's ability 'to fight crime and control immigration'
Could go further and withdraw from European obligations on rights entirely .
'All options on the table' if Conservatives win election in 2015 . |
225,064 | af72c69d41dbf08e2b08dec66df4c35334a2e005 | WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor years ago said she was a "product of affirmative action" when she was admitted to prestigious universities, but defended the contributions she offered as a Hispanic woman to classroom and workplace diversity. "I am the perfect affirmative action baby," Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor said in the 1990s. The statements were part of newly released videos of speeches and panel discussions dating from the mid-1980s that the 54-year-old federal judge provided to the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will begin confirmation hearings July 13. The remarks offer often-candid insights into the New York native's views on the law, growing up poor in a Bronx housing project, juggling a career and a social life, and her 1980s divorce. In an early 1990s panel with two other female judges, Sotomayor talked about her educational background and how it helped her in her job as a federal trial judge in Manhattan. "I am a product of affirmative action," she said. "I am the perfect affirmative action baby. I am Puerto Rican, born and raised in the south Bronx. My test scores were not comparable to my colleagues at Princeton and Yale. Not so far off so that I wasn't able to succeed at those institutions." She said that using "traditional numbers" from test scores, "it would have been highly questionable if I would have been accepted." The female panel members politely objected to her characterizations of how she overcame such obstacles, pointing out she graduated from law school with honors and was on the prestigious law review. Sotomayor countered that those were signs test scores alone do not offer the full measure of a person's capability. Test scores, she said, often can be the result of "cultural biases." In a 1986 interview with ABC News profiling young female professionals, Sotomayor said she constantly had to deal with subtle forms of discrimination, particularly when it came to public perceptions. "I found in my experiences that it's not that men are consciously discriminating against promoting women, but I do believe as people we have self-images about what's good," she said. "What's quote-unquote a 'good' lawyer, doctor, or whatever the profession is. And if you're a male who grew up professionally in a male-dominated profession then your image of what a good lawyer is is a male image." Years later on the federal bench, Sotomayor said she encountered similar treatment from older white men particularly, who seemed to speak longer to her than other lawyers. She said the impression she got was that was because she was a woman and a minority. Sotomayor has been criticized by some conservatives for her remarks on diversity, and her 2001 comment that she "would hope that a wise Latina woman, with the richness of her experiences, would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life." In the legal panel, she rejected suggestions that minorities should accept "selection by merit alone." She noted, "It is critical that we promote diversity" by giving women and minorities more opportunities in the law and the judiciary. "Since I have difficulty defining merit and what merit alone means -- and in any context, whether it's judicial or otherwise -- I accept that different experiences in and of itself, bring merit to the system," she said. "I think it brings to the system more of a sense of fairness when these litigants see people like myself on the bench." As a judge she offered a variety of thoughts on how a judge should act on the bench. "I have to unhook myself from my emotional responses and try to stay within my unemotional objective persona," she told a group of Hispanic lawyers in 2000. She said in 1994 that such an attitude can be hard to maintain, when as a trial judge she had to deal with some defendants and their families. "I watch those mothers cry and I can't help but feel their pain. Does that translate into a passion or compassion that affects my judgment? No, but it makes it much more important for me to be careful when I exercise my judgment." In another panel she noted that she sometimes spoke to some defendants and their families in Spanish in civil cases, to keep them informed of what she was doing. She said she made sure to translate what she was saying into English. In several events she said the life of a lawyer is rarely glamorous. In a 1986 interview she admitted her divorce was caused in part by her commitment to her career, and that her subsequent social life had suffered as a result. And as she grew into her 30s, she lamented her earlier expectations had to that point not been fully realized. "I'm very happy with where I am at this point in my life but I think my expectations were greater in '76," when she graduated from Princeton. "I mean, I really expected to turn the world on fire." | Remarks from an early 1990s panel with two other female judges .
Sotomayor talked about education, background, and how they helped her in her job .
Says her divorce was caused in part by her commitment to her career .
Minority judges bring "to the system more of a sense of fairness," said Sotomayor . |
98,107 | 0a51473d612e9953ed66fa2d09165e5b0d88adcd | Munching on almonds can reduce a person's hunger without increasing their weight . Snacking has become something of a national pastime, with an estimated 97 per cent of people munching their way through at least one snack a day. While this habit may keep hunger at bay, it's fuelling an obesity epidemic. Now new American research may hold the answer - munching on almonds can reduce hunger without increasing weight. Researchers at Purdue University, in Indiana, found that eating 1.5oz of dry-roasted, lightly salted almonds every day reduced volunteers’ hunger, improved their Vitamin E levels and ‘good’ fat intake, and did not cause them to pile on the pounds. 1.50z of almonds is equivalent to 43g or around 30 individual nuts. The researchers conducted a four-week trial to investigate the effects of eating almonds on weight and appetite. The study included 137 adults at increased risk of type 2 diabetes. The participants were divided into five groups - a control group that avoided all nuts and seeds, a group that ate 1.5oz of almonds at breakfast and one that ate the nuts at lunch. There was also a group that snacked on them in the morning, and one that ate them in the afternoon. The volunteers were not given any other rules other than to follow their usual eating patterns and physical activity. The results showed that even though they were eating approximately 250 calories a day in the form of the almonds, they did not eat any more calories overall. ‘This research suggests that almonds may be a good snack option, especially for those concerned about weight,’ said Dr Richard Mattes, professor of nutrition science at Purdue University and the study's lead author. ‘In this study, participants compensated for the additional calories provided by the almonds so daily energy intake did not rise. ‘They also reported reduced hunger levels and desire to eat at subsequent meals, particularly when almonds were consumed as a snack [as opposed to during a meal].’ Almonds have also previously been shown to increase the feeling of fullness in both normal weight, and overweight people. Snacking has become something of a national pastime with an estimated 97 per cent of people munching their way through at least one snack a day . This is thought to be due to almonds' monounsaturated fat, protein, and fibre content. Previous research has shown that eating almonds can cut a person's risk of liver cancer because of the nuts’ Vitamin E content. The Vitamin E in almonds is also thought to protect against heart disease and eye damage in old age. Another study suggested that eating almonds can help prevent diabetes because it can help improve insulin sensitivity and reduce cholesterol levels. | People who ate 1.5oz of almonds - equivalent to around 250 calories - didn't end up gaining weight or eating any more throughout the day .
Eating almonds also improves Vitamin E and 'good' fat intake .
Almonds keep hunger at bay because of their monounsaturated fat, protein, and fibre content . |
214,450 | a1b0e3974c4ed1125c892d535514d164857ed5ef | By . Olivia Williams and Sara Malm . PUBLISHED: . 03:35 EST, 8 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:51 EST, 8 March 2013 . Osama bin Laden's son-in-law and the 'mouthpiece' for al-Qaeda pleaded not guilty today to charges he conspired to kill Americans on 9/11. Sulaiman Abu Ghaith entered the plea through a lawyer just blocks from where the World Trade Center once stood. He has been charged with . participating in a conspiracy to kill Americans in relation to the 9/11 . attacks, according to a newly-unsealed indictment. Ghaith was arrested in a dramatic take-down by CIA officials in Jordan several days ago, and is now being held in a detention facility in lower Manhattan. Scroll down for video . An artist sketch of Suleiman Abu Ghaith from his federal court hearing today where he pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to kill Americans . 'Very significant victory': Al-Qaeda spokesman and Osama Bin Laden's son-in-law Sulaiman Abu Ghaith has been captured in Jordan . Proximity: This map shows the distance between the World Trade Center site and U.S. District Court, where Abu Ghaith will appear today . In 2001, Abu Ghaith is said to have . been imprisoned alongside al-Qaeda’s military director Saif al-Adel and . bin Laden's son Saad, after the leader sent them to Iran in the . hopes that they would be seen as ‘an enemy of my enemy,’ a U.S. official . said. Although the U.S. would not confirm . the conditions of their confinement, Iranian officials told NBC News the . al-Qaeda leaders had been captured shortly after their arrival in the . country in 2001 and had spent time ‘in jail.’ Court papers state that before the 9/11 attacks, bin Laden 'summoned' Ghait to his side and asked for his assistance. Ghaith then warned the U.S. and its allies that 'a great army is gathering against you' and after the terror attacks 'the storms shall not stop, especially the Airplanes Storm.' He is scheduled for his arraignment in U.S. District Court today before Judge Lewis Kaplan. The court is located less than a mile from the World Trade Center towers, which were destroyed in the 9/11 . terror attacks. He is currently being held in the 'terror wing' at the Metropolitan Correctional Center near the federal courthouse, the New York Post said. The prison has previously held such high-value arrests such as radical preacher Abu Hamza al-Masri. Ghaith will be the most senior al-Qaeda member and closest bin Laden associate to face a trial in New York. Day in court: Abu Ghaith's trial will most likely be in U.S. District Court, pictured, less than a mile from the site of the 9/11 attacks . Others, including 'mastermind' Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, are being tried by a military tribunal at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Attorney General Holder said in a statement: 'No amount of distance or time will weaken our resolve to bring America's enemies to justice. 'To violent extremists who threaten the American people and seek to undermine our way of life, this arrest sends an unmistakable message: . 'There is no corner of the world where you can escape from justice because we will do everything in our power to hold you accountable to the fullest extent of the law.' Records compiled by a United Nations . sanctions committee show that Abu Ghaith was born in Kuwait in 1965, but . that he left Kuwait for Pakistan in June 2001. He then married one of bin Laden's daughters, Fatima. 'Ghaith held a key position in al-Qaeda, comparable to the consigliere in a mob family or propaganda minister in a totalitarian regime,' said FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Venizelo. After the September 11 attacks, Ghaith first surfaced as one of al-Qaeda's main spokesmen. Later, . U.S. officials believe he was part of a group of top figures in the . group that included one of bin Laden's sons, Saad, who allegedly . traveled to Iran, where the Iranian government claimed they were 'in . custody.' The Long War . Journal, a counterterrorism blog published by the conservative . Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, reported in 2010 that Abu . Ghaith had been released by Iranian authorities and supposedly had . returned to Afghanistan. Rep. Peter King (R-NY) announced Ghaith's arrest on Thursday, hailing it as a 'very significant victory' in the ongoing fight against al-Qaeda. King, the former chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, said the CIA and FBI had caught Ghaith within the last week. He said the arrest was confirmed by U.S. law enforcement officials. Ghaith had allegedly taken part in the September 11 plot against the World Trade Center and Pentagon. Hunted down: Osama Bin Laden, left, was killed in 2011 in Pakistan after years of searching. The terror leader is shown at right, watching himself on TV in his secret compound . Wanted: Ghaith had been considered 'stateless' since since he lost his Kuwaiti citizenship after videos emerged showing him praising the September 11 attacks . 'Definitely, one by one, we are getting the top echelons of al-Qaeda,' King said on Thursday. 'I give the (Obama) administration credit for this: it's steady and it's unrelenting and it's very successful.' A terrorism analyst called Ghaith a 'big fish' who represents the 'core of al-Qaeda.' 'Ghaith is one of ten guys left that have the financial ties and reputation who might have been able to get the old band back together to execute spectacular international terror attacks,' Dr. Thomas Lynch at the National Defense University told ABC News. Turkish newspaper Hürriyet reported that Ghaith was passing through Jordan, on his way to Kuwait from Turkey when he was apprehended. Terror: After the September 11 attacks, Abu Ghaith first surfaced as one of al-Qaeda's main spokesmen . The newspaper said that Ghaith was initially taken into custody more than a month ago at a luxury hotel in the Turkish capital Ankara. Turkish officials decided he had not committed any crime in Turkey and released him the newspaper reported. A Turkish court reportedly ruled that . Abu Ghaith entered the country illegally from Iran on a fake passport . and was ordered to be deported. As a result of that ruling, Abu Ghaith . was seized in Jordan by CIA agents while en route to Kuwait. Ghaith . had been considered 'stateless' since since he lost his Kuwaiti . citizenship after videos emerged showing him praising the September 11 . attacks. However, Turkish officials refused to confirm Ghaith's deportation or his capture in Jordan to The Associated Press. In Amman, the Jordanian capital, a security official said he had no information on the CIA arrest. U.S. intelligence officials in Washington did not immediately respond to request for information about Ghaith either. 'I trust he received a vigorous interrogation, and will face swift and certain justice,' King added. | Al Qaeda spokesman Sulaiman Abu Ghaith arrested in Jordan last week .
Appearing in New York court charged with conspiracy to kill Americans .
Held in Iranian prison for the better part of a decade, officials say .
Imprisoned in 2001 with bin Laden's son and al-Qaeda’s military director .
He has been 'cooperating' with U.S. officials and has revealed 'key intelligence' about al-Qaeda operations . |
106,150 | 14e6efa882dc2b0cfec57ebba7742a6893f4a0e9 | (CNN) -- Real Madrid could be without star striker Cristiano Ronaldo for the next three weeks due to the Portugal captain's hamstring injury. The world's most expensive player started in Saturday's Madrid derby despite coming off with an injury against Lyon in midweek, but left the field in the second half of the 2-1 win over Atletico. He had returned against the French team after sustaining a thigh injury during Real's 7-0 defeat of Malaga on March 3. Coach Jose Mourinho admitted he had taken a risk by playing the club's 26-year-old top scorer, saying: "I didn't want the championship to end today and Cristiano Ronaldo is very important to us." A statement on Real's website revealed that the former Manchester United player will miss Portugal's home friendly games against Chile on March 26 and Finland three days later, both in Leiria. He is likely to miss Madrid's next La Liga game against Sporting Gijon the following weekend, and is battling to be fit to face English club Tottenham in the first leg of the European Champions League quarterfinal on April 5. "After a medical control and scan at the Sanitas hospital, Cristiano Ronaldo is suffering from a first-grade lesion to the hamstring in his left leg. The player will be out for three weeks," the club said on Sunday. Meanwhile, Villarreal moved up to third place in La Liga with a 1-0 victory at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. Marco Ruben's 58th-minute header put the Yellow Submarine above Valencia on goal difference ahead of the visit by league leaders Barcelona on April 3. Valencia remained on 54 points, 24 points behind Barca, after suffering a third successive defeat, losing 1-0 at home to Sevilla. Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic fired in a left-foot volley in the 70th minute to boost seventh-placed Sevilla's hopes of qualifying for Europe, leaving the club behind Bilbao on goal difference. Valencia, beaten 4-0 by Zaragoza last weekend following the club's Champions League exit, went close to scoring as Brazilian striker Jonas Goncalves hit the post and Juan Mata had an effort pushed onto the bar by Sevilla goalkeeper Javi Varas. Fifth-placed Espanyol suffered a seventh defeat in nine games as Malaga moved off the bottom with a 2-0 home victory. Venezuelan striker Jose Rondon scored both goals to move to 12 this season as his team won back-to-back matches for the first time in 2010-11. Hercules dropped to the bottom after a 4-0 home loss to 10th-placed Osasuna, with the promoted club left level on 26 points with Almeria -- who lost 1-0 to fellow strugglers Sporting Gijon. Racing Santander stayed a point above Gijon after beating Real Sociedad 2-1. Levante joined Osasuna and Sociedad on 35 points with a 1-0 win at Deportivo La Coruna thanks to a last-minute winner by striker Ruben Suarez. | Cristiano Ronaldo ruled out for the next three weeks due to a hamstring problem .
Real Madrid star will miss international matches and possibly a Champions League tie .
Villarreal claim third place in Spain after winning 1-0 against Athletic Bilbao .
Valencia drop to fourth on goal difference after losing by same score at home to Sevilla . |
70,226 | c70f8b796f397adc11d1e3137093047e7c2f6bbf | By . Luke Salkeld . PUBLISHED: . 17:52 EST, 26 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 03:04 EST, 27 December 2012 . A motorist has won a six-month legal battle after he was fined over a £1 parking fee. John Samuels, 56, parked by a Tesco Metro store but was unaware he was liable to pay the £1 charge because the sign was obscured by a pillar. After returning to his vehicle to find a £50 penalty notice, he scoured the car park and eventually saw a blue sign on a wall at ground level, reading: ‘This is a pay and display car park.’ He then sent photographic evidence of the hidden sign and a cheque for the £1 charge to Wiltshire Council and appealed against his fine. John Samuels, 56, parked by a Tesco Metro store but was unaware he was liable to pay the £1 charge because the sign was obscured by a pillar . On much closer inspection the sign was tucked away behind a height barrier . But the council rejected his appeal and he had to attend a Traffic Penalty Tribunal in Bristol – to which the council sent two officials and submitted a 74-page dossier. Adjudicator Deborah Gibson cancelled the parking ticket and ruled the signage was ‘inadequate’. Mr Samuels said his battle had cost him far more than the £50 fine but he had contested it as ‘a point of principle’. Declining to specify the financial loss he suffered in terms of lost time, he pointed out the ‘sheer cost’ to the public of the council’s campaign. He said: ‘Besides a mass of paperwork for the council defence, the council sent out someone to take their own photographs. ‘All this for a missed £1 parking payment which I sent a cheque for on the same day in retrospect, which the council returned and insisted on fining me.’ Mr Samuels had parked at Emery Gate Shopping Centre in Chippenham, Wiltshire, while he attended a brief meeting. He assumed it was free because the area was signposted as ‘Tesco Metro parking’. Mr Samuels, who has now won his case, said his battle had cost him far more than the £50 fine but he had contested it as 'a point of principle' But when he returned to find a penalty ticket on his car he searched for signs stating that it was a pay and display car park. When he eventually found the small blue sign he photographed both it and a white van which was obstructing his view of a ticket machine at the far end of the car park. Mr Samuels, who lives near Glastonbury, Somerset, submitted his photos and a £1 cheque to Wiltshire Council on the same day. But they refused his appeal so the case ended up at the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. In a ruling, the adjudicator said: ‘Mr Samuels produced photographs of other car parks where there were more numerous and clearer signs. ‘I find that relying upon signs at machines at some distance when the entrance is not clearly marked as pay and display but being a Tesco car park is not sufficient. ‘I find that the signage was not adequate and the contravention did not occur.’ The council has since changed the signs, with the sign on the wall at ground level moved so it is no longer obscured by the pillar. A new sign stating that Emery Gate is a pay and display car park is underneath the Tesco Metro sign at the car park entrance. Councillor Dick Tonge, Cabinet member for highways at Wiltshire Council, said: ‘The signage at Emery Gate is continually reviewed as part of the council’s maintenance programme. ‘There is no fee for the Traffic Penalty Tribunal as they are funded by annual fees from local authorities.’ The council refused to state how much they had paid for the case but said the main cost would be officer time. | John Samuels claimed he did not know he had to pay at the Tesco Metro store because the sign was obscured .
He has now won his battle after sending photographic evidence .
Mr Samuels, 56, said the case had cost him more than the £50 fine but he had contested it as ‘a point of principle' |
29,068 | 529140ab19dd0d935029472e91a8d8f53eb6e567 | A compensation package worth £33,000 could be handed to 120 victims of disgraced TV presenter Jimmy Savile, it has been reported. The exact amount is expected to be finalised when high court judge Dame Janet Smith publishes the results of her inquiry, which is looking into the culture and practices at the BBC during the years of Savile’s abuse, later in the year. It is believed the amount will be less than the £4.1million the corporation paid to its senior managers, swollen by controversial ‘golden goodbyes’ for bosses forced out over the handling of the Savile affair. Pay-out: Compensation of £4million or about £33,000, could be paid out to 120 victims of disgraced TV presenter Jimmy Savile, it has been reported . According to The Mirror the amount of compensation paid out to Savile's victims will equate to just under £4million. Alan Collins, a solicitor at Pannone, representing a number of the presenter's victims, said it appeared 'unjust' for the victims to receive less than the BBC's senior managers. He told MailOnline: 'In light of what some of the executives have got it seems wrong - it seems unjust.' A BBC spokesman said: 'The on-going Dame Janet Smith Review is independent of the BBC. 'It is inappropriate for us to comment on any potential allegations relating to Operation Yewtree or the Dame Janet Smith Review. It is believed the amount of compensation paid out to Savile's victims will equate to £33,000 each . 'Separately, the BBC will continue to assist the police with any enquiries relating to Operation Yewtree.' Earlier this month a man of 80 was arrested by police investigating decades-old sex crimes. Report: Dame Janet Smith is expected to publish the findings of her inquiry later in the year . The pensioner, who was held at an address in South London, was the 14th man arrested as part of Operation Yewtree. The controversial investigation was . sparked by the torrent of victims who came forward as Savile was exposed . as the most notorious paedophile in British history. Police said the suspect, who was arrested on suspicion of sexual offences, is linked to the disgraced TV presenter and radio DJ. The man, who was not identified, was later released on bail until an unknown date in October. Last week former Radio 1 and Top Of The Pops presenter Dave Lee Travis vowed to clear his name after he was charged with 12 sexual offences, some dating back to the 1970s. The 68-year-old, one of Britain’s best known DJs, said he was ‘very much looking forward’ to proving his innocence after being charged as part of Operation Yewtree. Earlier that week, former Radio 1 DJ Chris Denning, who was originally arrested in June, had his bail renewed until October. The week before veteran entertainer Rolf Harris, 83, was arrested for a second time. Comedian Jim Davidson, 59, and his friend and DJ Mike Osman, 53, have been told they will not face charges following their arrests earlier this year. Gary Glitter, 69, and Freddie Starr, 70, are both on bail. Two people have been charged. PR supremo Max Clifford 70, is accused of indecently assaulting seven women and girls, and former BBC driver David Smith, 67, is accused of sexually abusing a young boy. They will face trial next year. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | 120 Savile victims could be set to get almost £4million in compensation .
Amount is expected to be lower than the £4.1m paid to senior managers .
Dame Janet Smith is due to publish inquiry results later in the year . |
177,635 | 71f91dc764041a0b3ee4504e5c25d2dbc3aee7cf | Havana, Cuba (CNN) -- Cuban President Raul Castro has granted Pope Benedict XVI's request to make Good Friday a holiday -- at least this year -- Cuban state media reported Saturday. During his visit to Cuba this week, the pope asked Castro to recognize the day Christians commemorate Jesus Christ's crucifixion, a Vatican spokesman said. The government said it would give workers the day off April 6, the first time Good Friday has been officially celebrated since the 1959 Cuban revolution. Previously, the only other religious holiday the government recognized in Cuba was Christmas, which was deemed a holiday in 1997 at the request of Pope John Paul II prior to his visit to the island. According to Cuban state media, Castro told the pontiff on Wednesday that Good Friday would be officially celebrated this year. Whether Good Friday would remain a permanent holiday is still under consideration, the reports said. In a private meeting with Raul Castro, Benedict also requested that the church be allowed to open Catholic schools and air religious broadcasts, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said during a press conference in Havana. So far, the Cuban government has not responded publicly to those requests. | Pope Benedict XVI made visit to Cuba .
He asked Raul Castro to make Good Friday a holiday .
Workers will have April 6 off . |
122,305 | 2a187b359c07a021cc65aa1d4165ed7726cd8b58 | By . David Martosko, U.s. Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 13:48 EST, 7 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:59 EST, 7 October 2013 . President Obama used a photo-op at a Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters to blame Republicans for shutdown-related furloughs at the agency. But his speech made no mention of the veto threat his administration leveled at FEMA funding just three days ago. The latest round of saber-rattling on the federal government's partial shutdown came as Washington, D.C. tangled with 45-mph winds and tornado watches, and as midwestern and Gulf of Mexico states recovered from violent weekend storms and threats of devastation from Tropical Storm Karen. Obama highlighted the government furloughs of hundreds of FEMA employees, including 200 who were called back to work over the weekend – half of whom are likely headed back off the job now that weather cycles have returned to normal. Angel wings or devil horns? Obama chose to focus on the partial government shutdown's impact on FEMA, despite his administration's threat that he would veto a Republican bill specifically funding the emergency agency . They were 'impacted by . the current government shutdown' and 'their job has been made more difficult,' the president told FEMA employees, praising them for working under 'less . than optimal situations.' 'There are enough Republican and Democratic votes in the House of Representatives right now to end this shutdown immediately, with no partisan strings attached,' Obama insisted. 'The House should hold that vote today. If Republicans and Speaker Boehner are saying there are not enough votes, then they should prove it. Let the bill go to the floor and let’s see what happens. Just vote.' But neither the president nor his advisers on the scene addressed a Republican bill that passed Friday . in the House, aimed squarely at restoring FEMA funding. Twenty-three . Democrats joined all 224 voting Republicans in passing the measure . 247-16. The administration had announced six hours earlier that if the Senate should . consider and pass the FEMA funding measure separately from a bill . restoring the rest of government, the president would . veto it. Brendan Buck, a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner, responded to Obama's speech by directing reporters to look at Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for answers. 'The bill . passed the House last week and is awaiting action by Senate Democrats,' Buck said. 'If the president and Washington Democrats want FEMA up and running, they . have the ability to make it happen today.' SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Obama spoke about hurricane preparedness at FEMA, but aimed barb after barb at Republicans for supposedly harming the emergency management agency in the partial government shutdown . House Speaker John Boehner said Sunday on ABC's 'This Week' that there aren't enough disaffected Republicans in his caucus to help Democrats pass an omnibus funding bill in an up-or-down vote . Continuing to fund . FEMA at 2013 budget levels was part of a GOP-led push to promote a . series of piecemeal resolutions. Taken together, those resolutions are designed to take noncontroversial . funding off the table as the White House dug in its heels on negotiating . over funding for the Affordable Care Act, Obama's signature health . insurance overhaul law. 'The president,' White house Press Secretary Jay Carney said Monday, 'is ready, willing and eager to sit down with lawmakers,' but only on a larger solution that includes funding for all of government – including Obamacare. Boehner said Sunday on ABC's 'This Week' program that if a so-called 'clean' funding resolution were to receive a vote on the House floor, it would fail. At least 18 Republicans would need to defect from their leadership in order to break the logjam, something Boehner insisted would not happen even as the nation approaches its debt ceiling limit.' 'The votes are not in the . House to pass a clean debt limit [increase],' he said. 'And the president is risking default . by not having a conversation with us.' A White House official said Monday that Boehner should 'prove that a majority in the House would not vote for the Senate-passed bill to reopen the government by holding an up-or-down vote' on funding for everything, 'including FEMA.' 'Why not vote, right?' Carney jabbed from the White House briefing podium. 'We could resolve this ... if he would simply allow this to come to a vote.' White House press secretary Jay Carney joined in the elbow-poking on Monday. 'Why not vote, right?' he jabbed. 'Why play these games? Just open the government' Tropical Storm Karen came with a whimper, not a roar, but president Obama said storm preparations were affected by a scaled-back FEMA in the wake of the government's partial shutdown . 'Why play these games? Just open the government,' Carney zinged. Obama . himself said Monday that 'my very strong suspicion is there are enough . votes there'' to pass the larger funding legislation that the . Democratic-controlled Senate favors. 'Hold a vote,' the president dared Republicans. 'Call a vote right now. Let's see what happens.' But Rep. Tom Graves, a Georgia . Democrat, said in a Fox News interview after Obama spoke that . Republicans wouldn't allow the president to pick off its members one by . one or threaten them into playing the Democrats' game. 'It . would be very dangerous for him to underestimate the resolve of Speaker . Boehner and the unity of the Republican House Conference,' Graves said. 'We are totally unified in protecting the American people and providing them fairness through this process. I hope that's a message the president gets, because we're going to stand firm.' Graves authored the House bill aimed at defunding Obamacare – the measure that started the shutdown fight last month. The GOP, he said of Obama, wants 'Americans to have the same delays from the mandate to sign up for Obamacare that he's provided to businesses and members of Congress, and the exemptions for insurance companies. That's all we're asking for.' Graves added a jab about Obama's FEMA photo-op, saying that 'he really wasn't being forthright with the American people. ... We . passed a clean FEMA bill just last week and the president ordered a veto . threat against that.' 'He issued the veto threat and ordered Harry Reid not to take it up.' Louisiana GOP Rep. Steve Scalise said Friday that the Obama administration should put politics aside and allow Republicans to fund FEMA regardless of the impact on larger negotiations. 'When you've got a storm in the Gulf of Mexico, this is not a time for partisanship,' he said. | Obama complained Monday that hundreds of FEMA employees had been called back to work from their furloughs over the weekend but would be sent home again this week .
However, Republicans and some Democrats voted in the House on Friday to fully fund FEMA, but the White House threatened to veto the proposal .
Senate Democrats blocked the measure from consideration .
White House insists that if Speaker John Boehner held a vote on a 'clean' resolution that funds the government without Obamacare-related strings attached enough Republicans would defect to pass the bill .
The GOP insists that its conference will rally behind Boehner, and that they are unified in their desire to push back Obamacare's individual mandate . |
220,623 | a996f8e469e4ca823cf3cdeb7eccb837fe35405a | By . Jaya Narain and Amanda Williams . PUBLISHED: . 09:56 EST, 27 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:40 EST, 27 May 2013 . Clifford Clarke, 79, died in his back garden in Clubmoor, Liverpool, on Saturday night after he was mauled by a dog . The family of a pensioner who was mauled to death by dogs have spoken of their heartbreak and called for tougher laws for animal owners. Clifford Clarke, 79, died in his back garden in Clubmoor, Liverpool, on Saturday night. He had slightly burnt the lamb shank he was cooking for his evening meal so he opened his back door. But the smell of the food attracted two large dogs. One – a Staffordshire bull terrier . crossed with a bull mastiff, according to neighbours – jumped at the . retired hospital porter as he stepped out of his back door. The dog’s jaws clamped round one of Mr Clarke’s limbs and dragged him to the ground where he was bitten a number of times. Kenny Clarke, aged 70, Clifford's . younger brother, has now called for tougher laws for dog owners after . the death of his beloved brother. He also released a touching image of . him and his older sibling, posing with a dog. He said: 'Cliff was a very easy-going man. 'He did his own thing and made a point about helping others. 'He loved his local pub - the Farmer's Arms - and had many old friends of his there who will miss him dearly. 'He did not deserve this so please . put your support behind new laws for dog owners because you would not . like any of your loved ones to have this happen to them. 'Our family are heartbroken.' Neighbours heard his screams and . rushed to the three-bedroom terraced house. One of them armed himself . with a golf club and tried to beat the animal away from the pensioner. Clifford Clarke with brother Kenny Clarke who has now called for tougher laws for dog owners after the death of his beloved sibling . Police at the scene removing the dog, that was shot dead by armed police, from the house in Clubmoor . Police forensics officers at the scene carrying out examinations. Richard . Kelly Close is a small cul-de-sac over the road from a public . park . When police arrived, four armed officers shot the dog dead. It took three of them to carry its body away. Mr Clarke’s next-door neighbours – two women, 27 and 28 – were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter then released on bail pending further inquiries. Another neighbour Paul McGlynn, 46, said: ‘I heard his screams – it was horrible. He seemed in a lot of pain. ‘The neighbour tried to beat them back but it was too late.’ Joiner Gary Dignan, 36, said: ‘The . two huge dogs had got out a few hours before and were in people’s . gardens. One [neighbour] was too frightened to go out but called someone . to report it.’ The house in Richard Kelly Close, Clubmoor. It is believed he was attacked in his garden . He added that Mr Clarke walked with a . stick and described him as ‘pretty frail’, adding that he ‘wouldn’t . have stood a chance against such big dogs’. The attack, at 9pm on Saturday in the . Clubmoor district of Liverpool, is the second death by dogs in the past . two months. In March, Jade Anderson, 14, was killed by two . Staffordshire bull terriers and two bull mastiffs at a house in . Atherton, near Wigan. Police say they are powerless to prosecute anyone in relation to Jade’s death, because the attack happened on private property. But when Mr Clarke was killed, he was . on his own property where the dog was not permitted, which constitutes . an offence under the Dangerous Dogs Act. Powerful: A Staffordshire bull terrier crossed with a bull mastiff. File picture . Mr Clarke, who joined the Army in 1954 for National Service, had celebrated his 79th birthday the day before the attack. One friend Susan Carson, 60, who . lives across the road in the quiet cul-de-sac, said: ‘He came round for a . cup of tea at mine just before he died. He called me afterwards to say . he had burnt his tea but said, “I’ll be OK”.’ She added: ‘He’s lived in that house . all his life and told us that he had been born there. It is awful for . him to die in such a senseless way right in his own garden.’ Police said the dog attacked the pensioner in the garden of his home in Clubmoor, Liverpool, just before 8.40pm last night . She said Mr Clarke had complained about the dogs and was going to report them to the police. ‘He said they could attack somebody and was worried that the biggest . dog had been trying to escape and had made a hole in the fence that it . could get through,’ she said. ‘Cliff was in a terrible state when . they brought him out, he was a bloody mess. He was only wearing his . underwear and one slipper.’ It is not clear whether the second dog was involved in the attack. It was not killed but put on a lead. Police were last night questioning the two arrested women on suspicion of manslaughter. Richard Kelly Close, in Clubmoor, is around three miles from Liverpool city centre . Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Brother of Cliff Clarke say he was an easy-going man who helped others .
Armed police called to a house in Clubmoor, Liverpool, on Saturday .
When officers arrived they found body of a man outside his home .
The dog that killed him was out-of-control and had to be shot dead .
Neighbour says he had been cooking when he was attacked .
The two women were first arrested under Dangerous Dogs Act .
They have now been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, and bailed . |
70,837 | c8d7bd50d898e7692b3f3dc92bc8566415c69115 | By . Paul Hirst . Argentina defender Pablo Zabaleta would love nothing more than to win the World Cup in the spiritual home of Brazilian football. When the World Cup draw was made last December, South American football fans dreamed of a Maracana final involving the continent's two super powers. But instead of facing Brazil in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, Argentina will instead take on Germany, who obliterated Luiz Felipe Scolari's men in the first semi-final on Tuesday. Brazilians and Argentina have been bitter rivals ever since the beautiful game was brought to the continent by Brit Charles Miller in 1894. VIDEO Scroll down to see David Beckham predict an Argentina victory . What it means: Pablo Zabaleta says winning the World Cup in Brazil would be particularly special for Argentina . Hard man: Zabaleta goes in hard against Holland's Arjen Robben in their semi-final in Sao Paulo . Argentina detest the fact that Brazil have won three more World Cups than them. There is a never-ending debate in the two countries about who was better - Pele or Diego Maradona - and this summer Neymar and Lionel Messi were branded as big rivals for the Golden Boot. Local fans in Sao Paulo were firmly against Argentina in their semi-final against Holland on Wednesday - and that has been the case throughout the tournament. But such vitriol against the old enemy has been counter-productive as it has only served to fire the Argentinians up during the tournament, according to Zabaleta. 'It's special for us to play in this country,' the Manchester City defender said. 'Especially because Brazilian fans have been against Argentina for this World Cup. 'Sometimes, if you have all the people against you, you feel even stronger. I think that we showed that against Holland and we feel very proud to have made the final.' Even though Argentina is next door to Brazil, some 1668 miles separate Rio de Janeiro from Buenos Aires. That has not stopped thousands of Albiceleste supporters driving to Rio, many of them in camper vans that are parked along the central reservation on the Avenida Atlantica next to the Copacabana. Passionate: If Brazil fans don't see their team win, they certainly don't want Argentina to lift the World Cup . Support: Argentina thank their fans amid jeers from Brazilians after beating Holland in their semi-final shootout . And many more will flood the city this weekend in the hope that they will watch history unfold before their eyes. 'You can imagine people from Argentina selling their cars to come here, even without tickets,' Zabaleta added. 'This is something that happens in Argentina. 'We love football. We know how special it would be for this country to win another World Cup. But obviously we appreciate how Argentinian fans are doing everything to support the team. As a player I feel very proud, everyone feels very proud. Hopefully we can give them another trophy.' Unlike Germany, Argentina only just squeezed through to the last two. Alejandro Sabella's men needed a penalty shootout to defeat Holland and make it through to their first final in 24 years. The bookmakers have Germany as favourites for the showdown after their 7-1 win over Brazil, but that does not faze the Argentinians. 'We are just 90 minutes away,' Zabaleta said with excitement. 'This is special, we have been working really hard for this moment. 'Germany are probably the best team in this World Cup. But as we say in Argentina "we don't play the final, we win the final". This is something that we are thinking about and hopefully we can play a great game and try to win it.' Out in force: Thousands of Argentina supporters have converged on neighbouring Brazil for the tournament . Going through: Jasper Cillessen lay distraught in the goalmouth as Holland are knocked out . Zabaleta's theory does not quite add up. Argentina have lost two of the four finals they have contested. Their last victory came in 1986 when Diego Maradona captained the Albiceleste to a 3-2 win over West Germany. This time it will be the turn of Maradona's heir, Messi, to skipper the side in the showdown. Messi has scored four of Argentina's goals in this World Cup and he also set up Angel di Maria for the second round winner against Switzerland. Zabaleta believes it would be fitting, therefore, for the Barcelona star to lift the trophy this weekend. 'He is our main player, he is the captain of this team, he is the leader of this group of players,' the right-back said. 'We can imagine how special it would be for Messi to lift the World Cup.' Di Maria is Sabella's only injury doubt for the match in Rio. The Real Madrid winger has missed the last two games with a thigh problem, but he returned to training on Thursday and could feature in the final. | The nations have been fierce rivals since football reached South America .
Argentina face Germany in the World Cup final on Sunday at the Maracana .
Man City defender Zabaleta said it is 'special' for his team to play in Brazil .
Thousands of Argentina fans have made it to neighbouring Brazil with numbers set to swell ahead of the final . |
75,036 | d4bd32892f055d17f5eede402be5aeef6da92059 | TV's Judge Joe Brown was jailed on a contempt of court charge issued by a Tennessee juvenile judge Monday, according to a court spokesman. Brown, 66, was sentenced to five days in jail after he became "pretty raucous" and "challenged the authority" of Magistrate Harold Horne, another judge told CNN. He was later released on his own recognizance, CNN Memphis affiliate WMC-TV reported, citing the Shelby County Sheriff's Office. Brown, a former Shelby County criminal judge, was in court to represent a client in a child-support case. He apparently became upset when he was told the case was not on the afternoon docket, Chief Magistrate Dan Michael said. Horne, who "is a real laid-back guy," gave Brown several chances to calm down before finding him in contempt, Michael said. Horne held Brown was in contempt five times "before they were able to get him out of the courtroom, Michael said. The court staff and judges "were all kind of floored" by Brown's behavior, Michael said. Brown was booked into the Shelby County jail in Memphis Monday afternoon, sheriff's spokesman Chip Washington said. Brown presided over a syndicated reality TV show based on court case arbitration for 15 years until it was canceled last year. He announced his candidacy for the Shelby County district attorney post last month. CNN reached out to Brown's representatives but has not yet received a response. CNN was first alerted to Brown's arrest by a Twitter posting. | Brown is released from jail on his own recognizance, CNN affiliate reports .
Brown was booked into the Shelby County, Tennessee, jail in Memphis Monday .
The former judge was in court to represent a client in a child-support case .
Brown presided over a reality TV show based on court case arbitration for 15 years . |
271,205 | eb4e6f9dc775b1fed3958b881abaee1dba0786e5 | Hundreds of letters between a couple who were struggling through a long-distance romance in the 1950s are being brought back to life by a university student for her final-year dissertation. Sophie Abbott, 21, from Cullingworth, West Yorkshire, is using the ups and downs of the British couple's relationship for her final-year photography exhibition and dissertation. The romantic box of letters tells the love story of long-distance couple - April and RAF member Ron, between 1952 and 1955. Sophie Abbott, 21, from Yorkshire is sorting 300 long distance letters between 'Ron and April' for her university dissertation. The couple corresponded between West Germany and London in the 1950s . The letters, which start in 1952, highlight the couple's desire to keep their relationship alive, despite living over 400 miles apart. At the time, Ron was fighting for NATO within the British Army of the Rhine in Oldenberg, Germany, while April was living in Edmonton, London. The letters, which stop suddenly in 1955, were found by a friend of Sophie's at a car boot sale years ago. Sophie, who studies photography at the University of Huddersfield, said: 'I remember him bringing them into school one day. 'Recently, I was contemplating over an idea for my final project and I remembered about these love letters. 'I asked my friend if I could borrow them and luckily he was happy for me to borrow them.' The letters, which start in 1952, highlight the couple's desire to keep their relationship alive, despite living over 400 miles apart . At the time, Ron was fighting for NATO within the British Army of the Rhine in Oldenberg, Germany, while April was living in Edmonton, London . She continued: 'Now my everyday life is focused on going through these 300-400 letters. 'It is pretty much a constant chore of delving further into Ron and April's story.' As well as letters, the box of correspondence also holds Valentine's Day cards and comic strips that the couple exchanged. One typical note shows Ron 'very excited' after his girlfriend suggested the idea of moving into a houseboat on the Thames. He often expresses his affection for April by writing 'I love you' several times on the same page. Miss Abbott said: 'I want this project to be a realistic insight into a turbulent relationship. 'Like any normal couple, the letters highlight their highs and lows while they were forced to spend time apart. 'As the letters are all dated, you can see some were actually sent quite close together. 'Because of this, they were often struggling to think of what to write to each other but they still persisted in keeping up regular contact.' As well as letters, the box of correspondence also holds Valentine's Day cards and comic strips that the couple exchanged. In one letter, April draws a map of the area near her new home . Sophie is planning on revealing more information about the couple in an exhibition for her university course . Through her research, Miss Abbott managed to find out what happened to Ron and April after the letters stopped. She added: 'Throughout the letters, the topic of marriage came up regularly. 'They often talked about getting married in April 1955 and settling down together. 'I have now found out they did get married as planned in the letters and eventually had three children.' Although Sophie has discovered that April has since died, she has so far failed to find any information on what happened to Ron. She is planning on revealing more information about the couple in an exhibition for her university course. She is also hoping to write a book about the letters. Ron often expresses his affection for April by writing 'I love you' several times on the same page . The letters, which stop suddenly in 1955, were found by a friend of Sophie's at a car boot sale years ago . At the moment, Ron and April's full identity is being withheld from the public, as Sophie wants to behave in a sensitive manner towards any remaining members of their family. However, she is currently looking to get in touch with April and Ron's children, who she believes are called Nicholas, Steven and Kay in order to find out more. Once the letters have been successfully scanned, which is expected to take weeks, Sophie will visit all of the places the couple discussed during their correspondence and will photograph them in their current state. Sophie has already visited April's London Home in Edmonton, but she is also planning a trip to Germany, where Ron was stationed, and France, where April lived later in the correspondence. She raised the funds for her trip through a 'Kickstarter' campaign, called 'Do You Still Love Me Darling?' | Sophie Abbott from Yorkshire is sorting 300 letters between 'Ron and April'
The couple corresponded from West Germany and London in the 1950s .
The pair eventually married and had three children together . |
128,921 | 3295c3cf400e2758e6f6974f21ea70c9ccfafbaa | As the woman to finally tame the world’s most eligible bachelor, Amal Alamuddin has been the subject of much discussion among George Clooney’s family. But his relatives were left disappointed when work commitments kept the stunning human rights lawyer in the UK when the Oscar winner, 53, made his annual trip to Augusta, Kentucky last week - while his parents Nick and Nina had even painted their house in preparation. However, many of the Clooney clan will soon have their chance to meet Amal, 36, as the star's aunt Starla Clooney today exclusively confirms to MailOnline the couple WILL wed in Italy in September. Mrs Clooney revealed the actor's parents are now planning a trip to Italy in the next week or two to 'scope out some stuff' - as she revealed it's likely that A lister Brad Pitt will be Clooney's best man. Scroll down for video . Family ties: George Clooney joins his parents Nina and Nick, to the left of him, and sister Adelia, next to him, as he donates costumes from his hit movies to the Rosemary Clooney House Museum in his hometown of Augusta, Kentucky . Kind: Clooney has donated his costume from The Monuments Men and Leatherheads to the museum dedicated to his aunt, singer Rosemary Clooney. His dad, Nick, stands by holding the family dog in his arms . Work commitments: HIgh-profile human rights barrister Amal Alamuddin - who has represented Wikileaks founder Julian Assange - missed her fiancé's family reunion in his Kentucky hometown last week. She's pictured here at the global summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict in London on June 12, alongside Clooney's good pal Brad Pitt, his fiancée Angelina Jolie and British Foreign Secretary William Hague . Starla lives in Hamilton, Ohio, with her husband Joe, 60, who is George’s uncle, where she works as a non-denominational minister, officiating events including weddings in prisons at the nearby Lebanon and Warren Correctional Institutions. And asked about the wedding, she said: ‘I did hear Cincinnati, since it’s not that far from Kentucky - that’s one of the places they were considering - but apparently Cincinnati didn’t win, it's not going to be the place. ‘I do know that Nick and Nina are planning a trip over to Italy in the next week or so to, I guess, scope out some stuff.' Starla also thinks the actor and producer will choose one of his Hollywood friends over a family member when it comes to picking a best man, saying: 'I would say he’d choose Brad Pitt for his best man. They are good friends, I would think that’s who he’d choose.’ But she offered her services to preside over a local service if Clooney and Amal decided to have another ceremony in case family can't travel to Italy, adding: 'Sure, I'd do it in a heartbeat!' Around . 200 of the star’s extended family descended on the town and nearby . Maysville for a weekend of get-togethers - eager to meet the newest . member of the clan. However, Amal was in London where days later she attended the global summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict in London, alongside Clooney's good pal Brad Pitt, his fiancée Angelina Jolie and British Foreign Secretary William Hague. Ben . Breslin, 55, a cousin of George’s, who hosted a big party on Saturday . night, told MailOnline: ‘When he came in the front door, I was looking . around asking 'Where is she?' ‘He . explained she’s a lawyer and apparently she’s across the sea somewhere . working on a case, off saving the world. It was a shame because I would . have liked to have met her.’ When asked . if he was looking forward to welcoming a Brit into the family, Ben . laughed: ‘Not a problem – if she can put up with us, we can put up with . her. Nina say she’s a lovely girl and if she likes her, she’s in.’ George’s . parents, retired broadcaster Nick, 80, and Nina, 74 - who runs her own . shop in the town - had even had their house REPAINTED ahead of the . occasion. It's love: The first glimpse of Clooney and Amal as they dined together in London last October . Happy hug: Oscar winner Clooney cheerfully hugs a woman at his family reunion last week . Reunited: George Clooney was happy to see his relatives in Augusta, Kentucky . Clooney clan: Family flocked from far and wide to see Oscar winner George at the family reunion in Kentucky over the weekend of June 7 . Family . friend Ronnie French said: ‘At one time Nick and Nina’s house used to . be bright green, real bright green and it was completely surrounded by . shrubs. ‘So . this year, they hired a person, they repainted it and redecorated the . outside and took all the shrubs down, and now you can see it.’ He added: ‘His . family seem to be very pleased about him getting married again. This . lady he’s marrying seems to me to be an equal to him. And she doesn’t . have anything to do with the movie business, which is good. His wife, Diana, added: ‘I thought maybe it was because [Amal] was coming in, but she didn’t. She had business. 'Where is she?!' George Clooney's cousin Ben Breslin, pictured in Augusta, KY, said Amal was the talk of the family reunion and everyone had expected to meet her - but Clooney said she was 'off saving the world' When . he is in town Clooney usually stays at either his parents’ house or . another property they own down by the banks of the Ohio River. The . Gravity actor can also show his fiancée some of the local delicacies, . such as the famed transparent tarts from Magee’s Bakery, or the General . Store café in Augusta’s main street, a favourite hang out with the . locals, where his parents dine most weekends. A . little further down from the luxury property is the Rosemary Clooney . House, a museum dedicated to the star’s late aunt, the singer most famous . for starring in the 1954 film White Christmas. However, . one of the rooms is rapidly filling up with props from Clooney's movies . and on Saturday, June 7, he unveiled two new additions, the costumes . he wore in O Brother Where Art Though and Monuments Men. Before the event, Clooney's sister Adelia Zeidler hosted a . small garden party for the family reunion at her house where she served . up homemade quiches. Today, she remained tight-lipped when asked about her brother's wedding - even declining to say whether she had met Amal. But . judging by these exclusive photos from the event the brother and sister . – born just a year and four days apart – are as closer as ever as the . big day approaches, despite her speaking out 18 months ago to say she . couldn’t see him ever walking down the aisle for a second time following . his failed marriage to Talisa Balsam that ended in 1993. Later . in the evening they all dined at the family’s favourite restaurant, . Capronis, down by the water in Maysville. Ronnie . is connected to the family via his daughter Heather French - former Miss America 2000 - who was a . close friend of Rosemary Clooney and bought her house when she passed . away, turning it into the museum. Chez Clooney: The newly painted home of Nina and Nick Clooney in Augusta, Kentucky . Amore: George Clooney's Italian home, Villa Oleandra, lies on the shores of Lake Como. He is tying the knot with Amal Alamuddin in Italy in September - but is not believed to be holding the ceremony at his estate . He said: ‘We’ve . had several people from England that lived in Augusta and they loved . it. He might show her that we don’t all go around barefooted in . Kentucky!’ ‘I think his family . are just glad he wants to get married. I think his parents are pleased . he’s finally settling down. He’s 53, 54 and he’s not getting any younger . … If he’s going to be a father then I think its now or never.’ | The Oscar winner traveled to Augusta, Kentucky last week - his parents Nick and Nina Clooney .
had even painted their house in preparation for the annual get together .
Work commitments kept the stunning human rights lawyer in the UK .
Starla Clooney reveals actor's parents are traveling to Italy in week to help with plans for star's wedding to Amal .
She reveals Brad Pitt will likely be Clooney's best man .
Oscar winner's cousin Ben Breslin says everyone was looking forward to meeting Amal last weekend .
He said 'George explained she’s a lawyer and apparently she’s across the sea somewhere .
working on a case, off saving the world' |
281,862 | f91db112804dc480d27207c542e4ac85c7907263 | By . Gerard Couzens . The Spanish mayor of a popular expat town has come under fire for posting pictures of a pretend military invasion of Gibraltar on his Facebook page. Fransisco Perez Trigueros was branded a 'fool' after using a mocked-up image of Spanish Army soldiers marching over Gibraltar's runway while fighter jets fly overhead. The image also shows a Spanish flag flying over the British territory and an Osborne bull - Spain's unofficial national symbol - halfway up the Rock. Controversy: Fransisco Perez Trigueros was branded a 'fool' after using a mocked-up image of Spanish Army soldiers marching over Gibraltar's runway while fighter jets fly overhead . Critics last night attacked the nationalist mayor of Callosa de Segura near Alicante. Gibraltarian Jonathan Manasco said: 'It is fools like this that encourage others to violence and hatred.' Ernest Romero told Trigueros to 'go to hell' on the website of a Gib-based activist group which flagged up his use of the picture. And Robert Menez, urging the right-wing mayor to stop using Gibraltar as a smokescreen to deflect attention from Spain's 4.7 million unemployed, added ironically: 'He could be taken seriously by some. 'After all, if he rounds up all the unemployed he could probably invade China.' Dispute: Simmering tension over the Rock escalated at the start of the month after Gibraltar dumped 70 concrete blocks in the sea to create an artificial reef and stop Spanish fishermen entering its waters . Trigueros, a member of the governing . Popular Party which is at loggerheads with Britain over Gibraltar, got . himself into hot water last month over an attack on nationalists living . in Spain's Catalan region. After the booing of Spain's . national anthem at the opening of the Barcelona swimming world . championships, he went on Facebook to rant: 'Lets give these s**** their . bloody independence now so they leave us be. 'But build a 30-foot-high wall so we don't have to see them again.' He later withdrew his comments and insisted he was only attacking the sort of Catalans who burnt the Spanish flag. Political rivals accused him of behaving like a fascist and called on him to resign. Anger: Spain responded by trying to choke Gibraltar with six-hour-long border queues and threatening to charge motorists £43 a time to cross the frontier . Callosa . de Segura, home to around 18,000 inhabitants, is a 30-minute drive . inland from the Costa Blanca resort of Torrevieja, nicknamed 'the Costa . del Yorkshire' by some holidaymakers. Its . stunning setting at the foot of the Callosa de Segura mountains draws . thousands of tourists to the town every summer and has attracted . hundreds of expats fleeing the more-built up Costa resorts. The town hall website can be read in eight languages including English, Romanian and Russian. Simmering . tension over the Rock escalated at the start of the month after . Gibraltar dumped 70 concrete blocks in the sea to create an artificial . reef and stop Spanish fishermen entering its waters. Spain has never recognised the three nautical miles of sea around the British territory as Gibraltar's. Spain . responded by trying to choke Gibraltar with six-hour-long border queues . and threatening to charge motorists £43 a time to cross the frontier. Gibraltar's Chief Minister Fabian Picardo responded by accusing Spain of acting like international pariah North Korea. An emergency phone call between Prime Minister David Cameron and his Spanish counterpart Mariano Rajoy failed to defuse the situation. Britain is now threatening legal action against Spain. Mr Picardo was due to fly to London today for meetings with Mr Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague in the face of continued pressure from Spain at the border with Gibraltar. Sporadic Guardia Civil checks caused tailbacks into and out of Gibraltar at peak times over the Bank Holiday weekend. | Fransisco Perez Trigueros branded a 'fool' for putting picture on Facebook .
Mr Trigueros is nationalist mayor of Callosa de Segura near Alicante .
The image shows Spanish Army soldiers marching over Gibraltar's runway .
He came under fire last month for a Facebook rant over Catalonia . |
181,156 | 7680f0be8e5ae3a33f84fc299e6ae303ad6a2b2f | Amman, Jordan (CNN) -- Jordanians completed voting Wednesday in a landmark election that one outside observer said was free of any violations, the state-run news agency Petra said. As their country undergoes political strains and electoral reforms, about 1.3 million Jordanians went to the polls, representing 56.6% of registered voters, said Independent Elections Commission spokesman Hussein Bani Hani. David Martin, head of the European Union's Election Observation Mission in Jordan, praised measures taken by a newly created commission in managing the elections and said there were no violations. The mission will hold a press conference Friday morning. Official results will be announced by noon Thursday, Hani said, according to Petra. In the 17th time Jordan has gone to the polls to elect a parliament since becoming a nation in 1946, Wednesday's balloting was an election of firsts. For the first time, the country has allowed observers. It was the first time that an independent election commission oversaw polling. "These elections today are the culmination of a constitutional process, the beginning of a new phase of reforms. It is a continuing process," said Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said he had not yet submitted his resignation to King Abdullah II until elections are completed, Petra reported. Jordanians who are part of the Muslim Brotherhood were said to be boycotting the election -- an action Ensour described as not democratic, Petra said. Voting is a duty, he said. If voter turnout is deemed weak, Ensour said, it will be mainly due to people's frustrations with the performance of former parliaments and the suspicion that surrounded previous polls. Still, Jordan could be a model for the Arab world in holding free and fair elections, Ensour said. "Fair elections cannot only be ensured by the government and its agencies but also by candidates, voters and civil society institutions," Ensour said, adding that the government and the Independent Elections Commission did their utmost to fight any electoral corruption. The king has stated in discussion papers that the new prime minister will be designated based on consultations with the parliamentary bloc that has the majority, Ensour said. The deliberate steps at transparency are crucial for a country that's under a great deal of political strain -- and whose stability has ramifications for the world outside its borders. Recent events have threatened the fragile monarchy to the point that some analysts are warning of collapse. What began with protests by the Islamic Action Front, Jordan's branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, has given way to broader unrest led by tribal factions known as al-Hirak (the movement). Al-Hirak demands an end to corruption and calls for a new era of political reform in Jordan in which Islamists are almost sure to dominate. In an effort to quell the protests, Jordan's ruler, King Abdullah II, dissolved parliament last year and amended election laws. In a region rocked by Arab Spring upheavals, Jordan has been relatively stable and is one of the few friends Israel has. It is amid this backdrop that most Jordanians went to the polls. Opposition groups boycotted it. "Elections have been fairly smooth so far," said David Martin, chief observer of the European Union Election Observing Mission. Some polling stations reported minor technical glitches, but there had been no "signs of intimidation," he said. Security and observers . Wednesday's balloting took place under the watchful eye of 47,000 police officers and another 7,000 election observers. "Opening the door to observers -- international, Arab and local -- is proof that we trust ourselves and that there's nothing to hide," said Samih Maaytah, a government spokesman. "The Jordanian Parliamentary Elections are under the scrutiny of the entire world. And we're in the time of the Arab Spring and nobody's afraid to say anything." Judeh, speaking Wednesday to CNN, said his country had "anticipated the Arab Spring," so the king began reforms "many years ago." But he acknowledged that protests in the region expedited the changes inside Jordan. More than 3 million Jordanians were eligible to vote for candidates to the new 150-member House of Deputies, officials said. A field of more than 1,400 candidates vied for the seats. "Nothing undermines the legitimacy of any election except the lack of participation by the electorate, by the people who are eligible to vote," Judeh said. Muslim Brotherhood opts out . The reforms made by the Jordanian government were not enough to satisfy the Muslim Brotherhood, which felt the new electoral laws favored the monarchy. Despite their rejection, the government continued to encourage them to take part in the process. "We told the Brotherhood members who are boycotting that we invite you to exercise the same logic that your brothers in Egypt with the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood exercised when there was a dispute over the constitution and not the law," Maaytah said. "They invited Egyptians to the ballot box. So we invite you to the ballot box here." In a discussion paper posted on Jordan's U.S. Embassy website, Abdullah said the country is transitioning to a parliamentary government and has "enhanced the separation of powers, the checks and balances of our governance system, the independence of our judiciary and the inalienable rights of our citizens." Jordan has amended one-third of the constitution and established a constitutional court, the king said. "These actions empower the Jordanian people to shape the country's future in a way that is more transparent, fair and inclusive than ever before," Abdullah wrote. "Crafting a modern democratic society will be the product of our learning and developing together over time, not a single moment or set of reforms." Time for a change . The United States has said it supports both the king's road map for reform -- which gradually shifts more power to the elected parliament -- and demands for a more inclusive political process. But the two may not be compatible. The tribes don't want to see the largely urban Muslim Brotherhood -- which derives much of its support from Jordan's Palestinian population, which makes up about half the country -- gain power at their expense. Pinched by an economic crisis that has left the government virtually bankrupt and unrest in neighboring countries, Abdullah faces a challenge that may not be satisfied by all the firsts represented in this election. CNN's Ed Payne and Hamdi Alkhshali contributed to this report. Mohammed Jamjoom and Samira Said contributed from Amman; Michael Martinez, from Los Angeles. | NEW: Official results expected around noon Thursday .
Turnout is 56.6% of registered voters, official says .
King Abdullah II says reforms will make Jordan "more transparent, fair and inclusive"
Voting is completed with no reports of electoral violations, officials say . |
230,117 | b5f9bd1e6ca68050dd9cc21d838ad98b836d2a87 | By . Glen Owen . PUBLISHED: . 19:51 EST, 29 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 19:53 EST, 29 September 2012 . Liaison: Sir John Scarlett is helping 'soothe concerns' at No 10 . The row over the controversial merger of defence giant BAE with the Franco-German aerospace group EADS took a fresh twist last night after it emerged that Tony Blair’s former spy chief is helping to broker the deal. Sir John Scarlett, the ex-head of MI6 who played a key role in the infamous ‘dodgy dossier’ on Iraq, has been engaged on the £29 billion deal by investment bank Morgan Stanley – which stands to earn millions if it is approved. His role will fuel critics’ fears that the proposed merger between the British arms company and EADS is being ‘stitched up’ by high-level Whitehall figures using inside knowledge and connections. MPs have already called for Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood’s role in the deal to be scrutinised. Sir Jeremy, a former head of Morgan Stanley’s UK Investment Banking Division, has held a series of private meetings with the bank, BAE and EADS over the past 15 months to discuss the plan – a level of personal involvement described by Tory MP David Davis as ‘highly unusual’. The Commons Defence Select Committee is investigating the merger. Opponents argue that the new conglomerate would cut costs by slashing jobs, while national security could be placed at risk if it fell under the sway of the French and German governments. The Mail on Sunday understands that Sir John, 64, is ‘liaising’ between the bank and the Government to help ‘soothe concerns’ in No 10 about the risks. Oxford-educated Sir John became chief of the Secret Intelligence Service in 2004, retiring five years later. He then took up a portfolio of lucrative City jobs, including an advisory role at Morgan Stanley. Morgan Stanley buildings in Canary Wharf. The company stands to earn millions if the deal is approved . Last night, asked whether Sir John had sought Whitehall clearance to work on the sensitive deal, a Cabinet Office spokesman said: ‘His appointment with Morgan Stanley was approved on the advice of the independent Advisory Committee on Business Appointments that he should be subject to the condition that, for 12 months from his last day of service, he should not become personally involved in lobbying UK Government Ministers or Crown servants, including special advisers, on behalf of his new employers or their clients. Sir John observed that condition.’ A Morgan Stanley spokesman declined to comment. | Merger of defence giant BAE with aerospace group EADS took a fresh twist .
Tony Blair's former spy chief is helping to broker the deal, it has emerged . |
16,032 | 2d7054da9a960e43172d2ce02e75ecc703ccbc5e | (CNN) -- Toby Keith opened his seventh Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill in suburban Detroit earlier this month as the latest in a long line of celebrities who've tried to sell a meal with their A-, B- or C-list name. Many celebrities invest in restaurants -- Ashton Kutcher, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, to name a few -- they just don't always put their name above the door. The celebrity moniker can be both a blessing and a curse when it comes to starting a restaurant. For every Kenny Rogers Roasters -- which at one point boasted 350 franchises -- there is a Mickey Rooney's Delicious, Mickey Rooney's Weenie World or Mickey Rooney's Star-B-Q. Remember them? Neither does anyone else. "There's definitely value in a popular celebrity's name," Laurie Jacobson, author of "Dishing Hollywood," tells CNN. "So if someone is well-liked by the fans, seeing the celebrity's name above the door of a restaurant just might make you go in." The eponymous celebrity restaurant has its roots at the beginning of the Hollywood movie industry. In the 1920s and '30s, stars such as Frances X. Bushman, Clara Bow and Selma Todd lent their names to eateries. "It" girl Bow was so famous, she called her restaurant simply "It Café." "Most people didn't have to be told who the 'It' girl was," Jacobson says. And just like today, scandal could destroy a celebrity's restaurant. Fatty Arbuckle's Plantation Restaurant crashed and burned along with his acting career following allegations of rape and murder by the portly comedian. He "was eventually acquitted, but not in time to save his career," Jacobson says. In those early days, the star who had his or her name on the menu was often in the joint, available to sit and have a drink with other famous pals. By the 1950s and '60s, though, celebrity restaurants became more business ventures than vanity vehicles. Dean Martin licensed his name for Dino's Lodge on the Sunset Strip. "Celebrities' names were slapped up on signs but they were rarely seen in those establishments and it was simply the name value that they hoped would draw in that celebrity's fans or tourists who hoped to see other celebrities there," Jacobson says. Then there are those celebrities who've extended their time in the limelight with an eatery. The skipper from "Gilligan's Island" greeted guests at Alan Hale's Lobster Barrel and Steak House, and vaudevillian Dave Chasen's chili recipe launched his career as a restaurateur in Beverly Hills, Jacobson says. The allure continues to reel in diners, hungry for a star sighting, be it fans of Toby Keith or Carlos Mencia. "Sometimes it's just the thrill of grabbing that ashtray, that book of matches," Jacobson says. "And isn't it more fun to go back to Iowa and say I ate at [so-and-so's] restaurant instead of saying I ate at an Italian restaurant? It just gives it a little more oomph." | Celebrities and restaurants are a good business mix .
Stars like Ashton Kutcher, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake invest in restaurants .
Others put their names on restaurant, like Michael Jordan's Steak House .
Author: Tourists love to go home and say they ate at celebrity's restaurant . |
146,185 | 4907cd6d7266cf0d99c847748979c8f40005f2ab | I have heard that Chelsea right back Branislav Ivanovic can lift other players above his head in the gym. He likes to be the strongman and he likes to express that in games. His physique is more akin to a centre half, but he’s become one of the best right backs we’ve ever seen. Take a look at full backs playing today; they are becoming more dainty. Pablo Zabaleta, Kyle Walker and Nathaniel Clyne are quick and direct, but they’re not powerhouses. Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic has become one of the best right backs we’ve ever seen . They need to be quick to get up and down the flank. But Ivanovic is like a tank; everything bounces off him and he fires missiles too. A defender, by nature, is always very reliable in his performance but when he starts scoring too you start regarding him as really special. Lauren was like that at Arsenal. When we seemed pushed into a corner; when we were in trouble in games, he could come up with something. Defenders are usually tough and switched on at the back. When they go beyond that, they get out of their comfort zone. Ivanovic is happy to do that time and again, producing big moments when they are most needed. His build sets him apart from other decent right backs of the Premier League era such as Gary Neville and Lee Dixon. Ivanovic is a danger man, producing big moments and scoring important goals . Neville was a leader at Manchester United and he set an example by his performances on the pitch. Dixon was also strong and consistent. But Ivanovic matches them defensively and is much better going forward. Not in the conventional way that some fast full-backs are great at dribbling down the flank and getting in crosses. You won’t see Ivanovic beat a man with a bit of skill or glide past someone on the wing, but then you won’t see him get beaten either, however fast the opposition player is. No, when Ivanovic gets in that penalty box he is a bull. He charges around, thrashing out at opponents and muscling them aside to make space. From set-pieces he’s difficult to get hold of. He gets into dangerous positions and when he gets the better of an opponent he punishes them. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho sees a lot of himself in Ivanovic . Jose Mourinho would look at him more than anyone else at Chelsea and say: ‘That’s me on the pitch.’ We all saw his bloodied white boot after the League Cup semi-final win against Liverpool. Mourinho said he had the mentality of a champion after he headed the winner. A manager wants steely determination in his players — and Ivanovic is the epitome of that. When you’re in trouble he is the sort you want with you, fighting for the cause. While Mourinho creates that them-versus-us mentality around the club, which he likes to do, Ivanovic is his general on the field. Ivanovic has made a massive contribution to Chelsea since £9m arrival from Locomotiv Moscow in 2008 . Since Ivanovic signed from Locomotiv Moscow for £9million — a steal — in January 2008 he has played 202 Premier League games, crunched 423 tackles, made 309 interceptions and booted away 976 clearances. On top of that he’s weighed in with 19 goals -— crucial ones included. His only weakness, I find, is he can get caught up in the strongarm tactics at times. We saw him explode against Everton and clash with James McCarthy, putting his arms around his neck and pushing his head into him. He escaped punishment for that, but he won’t always get away with them. It could cost him bookings and suspensions. Ivanovic is becoming irreplaceable in that Chelsea team and they can ill afford to lose him. | Branislav Ivanovic has become one of the best right backs we've ever seen .
He is like a tank, everything bounces off him and he fires missiles too .
Jose Mourinho would look at him and say: 'That’s me on the pitch' |
190,723 | 82f4cebd7ba7a10f0d6686a1cc262773474f6f2d | (CNN) -- It will be Shakespeare as nobody has seen it before. Over six weeks next spring, London's Globe Theatre will present all 37 of the Bard's plays in 37 languages, performed by companies from as many countries. Theater groups from the newly independent nation of South Sudan and conflict-torn Afghanistan, as well as the Balkans, China, New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, France, Russia and Belarus will be among those taking part. One play, Love's Labour's Lost, will be performed entirely in British Sign Language (BSL), used by the deaf community, while the Q Brothers from Chicago will stage Othello in hip hop. Tom Bird, festival director for the Globe to Globe event -- which will run from April to June as part of the "cultural Olympiad" ahead of the London 2012 Olympics -- told CNN it was the most ambitious project of its kind. Between a third and a half of the plays to be staged had already been adapted into the various languages, but the festival's organizers also traveled widely looking for talented theater groups to create new adaptations. They were "completely bowled over" by the enthusiasm shown for the project by countries around the world, he said, and had to make some difficult decisions about who would make the cut. "The tricky thing is we can't get everyone in, so we thought a little bit about the languages that are spoken in London, like Urdu, Yoruba and Polish," Bird said. "We also looked at countries that have a great long history of performing Shakespeare, like Georgia and Armenia, and finally if there was a very good show, we could take that anyway." Some of the groups chosen to take part face "incredible obstacles that no European or Western theater company would have to put up," he said. The actors from Afghanistan had been rehearsing in the British Council compound in the capital, Kabul, that was attacked last month, leaving eight people dead and twice as many injured. "Luckily they weren't there on that day, but it was really a very, very lucky miss," Bird said. The Afghan actors cannot currently get visas for Britain in Kabul, so will have to rehearse The Comedy of Errors in India and then travel to London from there, he said. Acting involving both men and women, the latter not always covering their heads, also presents a cultural challenge, he added. The theater company from South Sudan gave its first performance at independence day celebrations this summer, as the new nation emerged from decades of civil conflict. The group will perform William Shakespeare's Cymbeline in Juba Arabic, in what will be "a great moment in the history of the country," Bird said. The three plays of Henry VI, about England's first great civil war of the 15th century, will be staged as a Balkan trilogy by the national theaters of Serbia, Albania and Macedonia, whose actors can draw on the region's recent turbulent past. Globe to Globe's statement points to the Belarus Free Theater -- which will perform King Lear -- as "the world's bravest theater company" for its work, "which it does in spite of the threat of state persecution." The Palestinian group Ashtar Theater, from Ramallah, will present Richard III in Palestinian Arabic, while the Israeli National Theater company Habima will perform The Merchant of Venice in Hebrew. Bird hopes the range of languages represented will bring a new audience to the Globe, a reproduction of the original Elizabethan theater on the banks of the River Thames in which William Shakespeare himself had a stake. An estimated 60,000 Bangla speakers live in London's inner city Tower Hamlets area, he said -- and the festival organizers hope many will want to see The Tempest performed in that tongue. Some of the 130,000 Brazilians in London could also flock to the Globe to see Romeo and Juliet performed in Brazilian Portuguese by a troupe from Belo Horizonte. As for those theater enthusiasts who don't speak a myriad of languages? They won't find a line-by-line subtitling of each play, Bird said, but a synopsis will be provided so people can follow the gist of what is happening -- and performances will be limited to no more than two-and-a-quarter hours in length. Audiences can also enjoy experiencing performance styles, costumes and music from the four corners of the world. "We want people to really listen to the language, even if they don't understand it," Bird said. "We hope they will enjoy hearing these familiar stories in an unfamiliar language." Tickets will be on sale to the public from October 17. The Globe to Globe festival starts April 23, William Shakespeare's birthday. | Shakespeare's plays will be presented in 37 different languages .
Theater companies from all over the world are taking part .
Among them are groups from South Sudan, Afghanistan and the United States .
The Globe to Globe festival is part of London's Olympic build-up . |
70,810 | c8c54263c355a00549c4d3b2199d5dec678340a1 | By . Martin Robinson . A suspected drink driver has been publicly shamed by police who published a picture of his car after he drove off the road and plunged into a canal. Giles Bond, 24, was rescued after he managed to climb out onto the roof as his vehicle started to sink into the murky water. Afterwards the motorist suffered further embarrassment when officers in Cheshire tweeted a picture with the title: 'Drink driver finds himself in the drink', and added that his car 'wasn't a Morris Marina'. Shamed: An alleged drink driver had to be rescued after plunging into this canal in an incident publicised by police on Twitter . The post led to responses like: 'It looks like he is in deep water' and was he driving a 'Renault Lagoon-a?' Police and two fire crews were called to the scene at Sanbach Canal in Hall Lane, Ettiley Heath, in Cheshire on Sunday. Firefighters used a canal boat to reach Bond, from Hassall, Cheshire, before taking him back to the canal tow path. Officers then arrested him and he has since been charged with drink driving. Poking fun: Officers in Cheshire tweeted this picture of Giles Bond's car and joked he wasn't driving a Morris Marina . A Cheshire Fire and Rescue spokesperson said: 'We have water vessels in Warrington and Chester because that is where they are primarily used. 'But on this occasion firefighters took the decision to commandeer a canal boat to cross the water and rescue the man, as time was a factor.' Bond is due to appear at Macclesfield Magistrates Court, in Cheshire, on April 10. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Giles Bond, 24, was found sat on roof and had to be rescued by boat .
Arrested on suspicion of drink driving and will appear in court in April . |
286,459 | ff2b48436085194df62dce76925acea0da02ddca | (CNN) -- Schalke moved to within a point of German Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen after winning 2-0 away to fellow title hopefuls Werder Bremen on Saturday night. Kevin Kuranyi and Jan Moravek scored in the second half to put Schalke a point above third-placed Bayern Munich, who earlier crushed lowly Bochum 5-1 to cap a memorable week. Former Germany striker Kuranyi put Schalke ahead two minutes after halftime and midfielder Moravek ensured Bremen's first league defeat since the opening day of the season with his 72nd-minute goal. Bremen could also have closed to within a point of Leverkusen, who were held 2-2 at bottom club Hertha Berlin on Friday night, but ended the night two points adrift of Bayern. Louis Van Gaal's Bayern, runners-up to Wolfsburg last season, briefly reached their highest league position since he took over as coach in the summer as Mario Gomez continued his recent scoring run with the opening goal at Bochum and strike partner Ivica Olic netted twice. Bayern, who crushed Italian giants Juventus 4-1 in midweek to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League, moved to within two points of leaders Bayer Leverkusen, . Olic set up Gomez's 23rd-minute header for the opening goal, and Mergim Mavraj put through his own net 10 minutes later as the Germany international tried to repay the favor to the Croatian. Olic got on the scoresheet two minutes before halftime from Bastian Schweinsteiger's cross and made it 4-0 four minutes after the break with a header from Holger Badstuber's delivery. Danijel Pranjic extended the lead five minutes later after fullback Phillip Lahm surged into the box and squared the ball to him, while Christian Fuchs scored a consolation free-kick for Bochum in the 76th minute. Fifth-placed Hamburg joined Bremen on 28 points, winning 4-0 at Nuremberg to end a run of seven games without a win. All the goals came in the second half as Eljero Elia's 47th-minute strike opened the floodgates, and he helped set up Marcell Jansen for the second on the hour mark. Tunay Torun made it 3-0 six minutes later with a fierce rising effort after cutting in from the left, and Elia wrapped it up on 74 from Jansen's pass. Sixth-placed Hoffenheim failed to keep pace with the teams above them, drawing 1-1 at home to Eintracht Frankfurt, and have now won just once in five league outings. Sejad Salihovic opened the scoring for the hosts in the ninth minute with a penalty after Selim Teber fouled Vedad Ibisevic, but Pirmin Schwegler equalized for Frankfurt on 61 when his long-range effort hit Luis Gustavo and ballooned over goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand and into the net. Borussia Moenchengladbach triumphed 5-3 at home to Hannover, who conceded three own-goals and had a player sent off in an incredible mid-table clash. Defender Karim Haggui twice put into his own net -- the first an lucky rebound from goalkeeper Florian Fromlowitz's attempted clearance in the 15th minute to open the scoring, and he also contributed the game's eighth goal with his second faux-pas. Constant Djakpa also conceded at the wrong end to give the hosts a 3-1 lead in the 59th minute, while Hannover's Didier Ya Konen scored in each half before being dismissed for his second yellow card on 84. Cologne edged away from the relegation zone with a 0-0 draw at Freiburg as Germany international striker Lukas Podolski -- who has not scored in the Bundesliga since September 13 -- hit the woodwork twice for the visitors. | Schalke move to within a point of German Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen .
Kevin Kuranyi and Jan Moravek score in second half of 2-0 win at Werder Bremen .
Fourth-placed Bremen suffer first league defeat since the opening day of the season .
Bayern Munich claim third place, two points behind Leverkusen, after crushing Bochum 5-1 . |
96,449 | 081a630e96c42a7b9b7095b51801ea3ceaad1686 | (CNN) -- Alexandre Vinokourov claimed Kazakhstan's first medal at the London Olympics with gold in Saturday's men's cycling road race. Much fancied home favorite Mark Cavendish finished a disappointing 29th as the British team struggled to meet pre-race expectations. Colombia's Rigoberto Uran took the silver, while bronze went to Alexander Kristoff from Norway. The 38-year-old Vinokourov, who served a two-year ban for blood doping between 2007 and 2009, announced after the race that he may retire from the sport after Wednesday's cycling time trial. "I will still race in the time trial on Wednesday but I have the gold medal I wanted and after that I will consider retiring," said the Kazakh cyclist. World champion Cavendish had been strongly tipped to finally claim the Olympic medal that had eluded him at the 2008 Games in Beijing, where he was the only member of Britain's track cycling team to return from the games without a medal. Despite the British team having control of the peloton throughout the race, they struggled to close the gap on the lead group and Cavendish was nowhere in sight as Vinokourov out sprinted Uran to the finish line in front of Buckingham Palace. "There was a group of 22 who got away and we couldn't pull them back," said Cavendish. "I can be proud of how the lads rode. They have got nothing left in the tank. Cavendish's hopes appeared to have been boosted when rival Swiss sprinter Fabian Cancellara crashed, but the peloton could not close on the leading group. With just under 10km to the finish line -- and a handy time advantage of 50 seconds -- the leading pack looked to be preparing for a sprint finish, but Uran made a break for it, and surprisingly Vinokourov was the only rider to respond. As the two riders rounded the final corner, the Kazakh made the most of his rival slowing to look back to check for pursuers and launched a sprint to the line. It was quickly clear that the Colombian had no answer to the Kazakh's attack and Vinokourov had a big enough lead to ride across the line with his arms aloft. | Kazakhstan's Alexandre Vinokourov wins gold .
Colombian Rigoberto Uran claimed silver, Norway's Alexander Kirstoff bronze .
World champion Mark Cavendish finishes a disappointing 29th . |
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