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211,696 | 9e21c14470f337c27c0acdf7d548287ef05d7400 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 22:24 EST, 20 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 01:57 EST, 21 November 2012 . Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the campaign crusader against sugary sodas and fatty fast food, can't be happy now that Burger King is delivering in New York City. Starting in January, the fast food chain is expanding its delivery program into New York City, and expects as many as 10 participating restaurants by end of year that will serve the Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan boroughs. 'We are thrilled to expand the BK . Delivers test program and offer its convenience to our New York guests . in the city that never sleeps,' said Alex Macedo, senior vice president . and general manager of U.S. franchise business for Burger King . Worldwide. Delivery: Pedestrians walk by the Burger King fast food restaurant in Midtown Manhattan. Starting January, the fast food chain is expanding its delivery program into New York City, and expects as many as 10 participating restaurants by end of year that will serve Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan boroughs . 'Our goal has always been to provide excellent service and great tasting food to our guests. After seeing the success this program has experienced...we are excited to bring this convenience to New York.' The service is already available in the Miami and Washington, D.C., areas, as well as Turkey, Mexico, Peru, Colombia and Brazil. People can order by calling a toll-free number or ordering online. Pricing may vary by location, and the delivery operating hours of 11am until 10pm with a minimum order of $10. Mr Bloomberg has a long history of various bans including smoking, sodas and fatty fast foods in moves meant to combat obesity and encourage New Yorkers to live healthier lifestyles. BKNY: Burger King CEO John Chidsey, background center, watches as 'The King' mascot of Burger King Corp., arrives at the New York Stock Exchange . In 2006, the New York City Board of . Health approved Mr Bloomberg's plan to ban trans fat in cooking oils . within the city's 24,000 food establishments. In 2007, Bloomberg introduced an initiative for chain restaurants to display calorie information on menus and menu boards. Mr Bloomberg unveiled a plan 2010 to . cut the amount of salt in packaged and restaurant food by 25 percent . over a five-year period. That same year, he successfully lobbied New . York City's Board of Health to ban the sale of sugary drinks in . containers larger than 16 ounces in restaurants and other venues. Mr Bloomberg proposed a smoking ban in public spaces. Now, it's illegal and carries a $50 fine. | Delivery service will extend to Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan boroughs .
$10 minimum required for home delivery . |
17,000 | 30252da9c9b06f5f7fc36406294089548097b79e | When 23-year-old Rhonda Kristen Casto fell to her death on a hike with her boyfriend six years ago authorities ruled it a tragic accident caused by slippery conditions on the steep trail. The young Portland, Oregon mother's case was reopened last week however, when Casto's then-boyfriend Stephen Wagner Nichols, 40, was arrested at San Francisco International Airport and charged with her murder. Nichols did not appear to be a suspect in his 9-years-younger girlfriend's death when her lifeless body was found at the bottom of an 100-foot embankment on March 16, 2009. Scroll down for video . Killer boyfriend? Stephen Wagner Nichols, now 40 (left), was arrested at the San Francisco Airport on February 12 in connection to the 2009 death of his then-girlfriend Rhonda Kristen Casto, 23 (right). Casto's falling death during a hike was ruled accidental at the time . The victim's mother told FOX 12 at the time that Casto was mother to a young daughter. 'I think about her last moments, and what she was thinking when she fell,' Casto's mother said in March 2009. 'How she's not going to get to see her daughter take her first steps. And how I'm never going to get to see my daughter again.' Not many details were released about Casto's death at the time, other than that a 'male companion' (now identified as Nichols), called 911 around 6pm to say she had fallen off a ledge while they were hiking the Eagle Creek Trail, about 45 minutes east of Portland. The popular hiking destination has been the scene of other accidents in the past, due to a few narrow sections that drop off on one side into a ravine. The trail was even more dangerous that day due to a battering of sleet and hail that made the trail slippery. Consequences: If convicted, Nichols could face 25 years to life in prison for Casto's (pictured) murder . Heartbreaking: Family members say Casto left behind a young daughter, and confirmed that she was dating Nichols at the time of her death . Narrow: At the time, Casto's death was ruled accidental. It was then believed that she slipped of the trail. Pictures of the Eagle Creek Trail show how narrow it becomes at points . Casto was one of four hikers who either fell to their death or died of exposure on Columbia River Gorge trails like Eagle Creek that year. 'The trail is very steep and narrow there, and it's been pretty wet and slippery,' Hood River County sheriff's Deputy Matt English told The Oregonian in 2009. 'There was still snow on the ground down near the parking lot.' It's currently unclear why Casto's case was reopened, and the cause of death switched to homicide. However, authorities say that a grand jury was assembled last April and that they filed a secret indictment for Nichols' arrest on one count of murder. He was arrested February 12 at the San Francisco Airport. It's unclear if the Bend, Oregon man was doing at the airport. Nichols is currently being held without bail, after being arraigned in Hood River Court on Friday. he faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted. His next court appearance is scheduled for March 3 at 11am. | Rhonda Kristen Casto, 23, was hiking with her boyfriend Stephen Wagner Nichols, now aged 40, when she fell to her death on March 16, 2009 .
At the time, Casto's death was ruled an accident due to slippery conditions on the narrow trail east of Portland, Oregon .
Investigators now believe the young mother's boyfriend is to blame, and arrested him on February 12 at San Francisco International Airport .
Nichols faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted . |
252,854 | d33d461962fa7652ec0e0c9ba0b36c7f946151a8 | Washington (CNN)At least three conservative critics of House Speaker John Boehner, say they'll be voting for somebody else when lawmakers return to Washington next week to officially open the new GOP-dominated Congress, previewing some of the conservative opposition that will greet the Ohio Republican. Rep. Ted Yoho was the latest to publicly announce his decision not to support Boehner for his current position, making the news on his social media accounts Saturday night. On Friday, Rep. Jim Bridenstine pointed to Boehner's moves in December to advance a measure favored by President Barack Obama to fund the government for the next 10 months. "Speaker Boehner went too far when he teamed with Obama to advance this legislation. He relinquished the power of the purse, and with it he lost my vote," Bridenstine said in a statement. Rep. Thomas Massie said Saturday he too would not support Boehner and said he opposed the way Boehner steered legislation the House floor, in some instances without a full 72 hours for lawmakers to read enormous bills. "During my first two years as a congressman I discovered a significant source of the dysfunction. I watched the House Leadership," said Massie in a statement. Massie and Bridenstine are unlikely to be the only Republican to vote against Boehner for speaker. In a local radio interview first noted nationally by BuzzFeed, Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) said he'd been talking with 16 to 18 conservatives about identifying an alternative candidate for speaker and rallying around that person. RELATED: Scalise brings back Boehner's familiar right flank hangover . A freshman Alabama Republican, Gary Palmer, said in October that he'd told Boehner personally that he wouldn't be voting for him for speaker. "I told him that if the first thing that I did when I got up there is violate my word to the voters, and break that trust, not only would I lose that confidence, but, immediately in the back of his head, he would be wondering at what point would I break my word to him," Palmer told The Birmingham News. Dropping a few of his own party's votes in the speaker's race isn't new for Boehner. When the last Congress kicked off in 2013, there were nine Republicans -- including Bridenstine -- who voted against Boehner, and three others who didn't vote for a candidate for speaker. Most of them had complained that Boehner isn't enough of a hard-liner. Indeed, in Bridenstine's note Friday, he said "our Constitution is under assault" because Republicans haven't fought strongly enough against Obama's moves to curb some deportations, restrict environmentally-harmful emissions, shift prisoners out of the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba detention facility and strike a deal to ease relations with Cuba. The wake of November's massive midterm victories for Republicans, Bridenstine said, was the best opportunity Republicans had to use their funding authority to rein Obama in. "It seemed Democrats were melting down, Republicans were unified, and all we had to do was buy enough time to get our Republican reinforcements to Washington in January," he said. The position that Boehner should be ousted has backing from Republican voters. Sixty percent said they'd pick someone new over Boehner for speaker, according to a survey commissioned by The People's Poll, conducted by Caddell Associates and released this week. Still, it's not clear that there are enough Republicans willing to reject Boehner to throw the vote for speaker into a second round. The GOP holds 247 seats in the House, and Boehner will need a simple majority of 218 to be elected speaker. That means he can afford to lose 29 votes from Republicans -- assuming no Democrats support him. If 30 or more Republicans do oppose Boehner, that would mean another round of voting, with conservatives hoping Boehner would drop out of the running and Boehner's allies likely heaping immense pressure on the hold-outs. CNN's Ted Barrett contributed to this report . | Rep. Ted Yoho is the latest GOP House member to say he won't back John Boehner for speaker .
Other conservatives are expected to oppose Boehner, too -- just as they did in the 2013 speaker's election .
Boehner can afford to lose up to 29 Republicans and still win another two years in the post . |
149,869 | 4dc25893ae281bd9a6271348811ad44001540030 | The captain of the Dutch national team says his players were subjected to racial abuse at a training session in the Polish city of Krakow this week, just days before the Euro 2012 football tournament was due to begin in Poland and Ukraine. Several hundred people out of a crowd of 23,000 reportedly targeted black members of the squad with "monkey chants" during an open session Wednesday at the Stadion Miejski, the home of Wisla Krakow. "It is a real disgrace especially after getting back from Auschwitz (the Dutch squad had visited the concentration camp on Wednesday) that you are confronted with this," Netherlands skipper Mark Van Bommel told a press conference late Thursday. "We will take it up with UEFA and if it happens at a match we will talk to the referee and ask him to take us off the field." Euro 2012 hosts hit back at racism accusations . When questioned over the incident by Dutch journalists who claimed they did not hear the abuse, Van Bommel replied: "You need to open your ears. If you did hear it, and don't want to hear it, that is even worse," according to ESPN. The Netherlands are due to hold a news conference at 1715 GMT Friday in Poland followed by another training session in front of fans, according to UEFA's official website. "UEFA has now been made aware that there were some isolated incidents of racist chanting that occurred at the open training session of the Dutch team in Krakow. UEFA has not yet received any formal complaint from the KNVB (Dutch football association)," read a UEFA statement. "Should such behavior happen at further training sessions, UEFA would evaluate the operational measures to be taken to protect the players. Blog: Racism overshadows buildup to Euro 2012 . "UEFA has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to discriminatory behavior and has given the power to referees to stop matches in case of any repeated racist behavior." The KNVB released a statement Friday confirming it would not be making a complaint to UEFA. "As at one moment there was a lot of noise coming from a specific stand, the team decided to train at the other side of the stadium, which was much quieter," the Dutch ruling body said of the incident on Wednesday. "A few players have heard sounds, which could be described as possible monkey chants. However, the training staff on the pitch were not aware of this. Although KNVB will not make an official complaint to UEFA, they are more than willing to answer questions of UEFA in this respect." Poland's Sport and Tourism Minister told CNN that the incident was not racist, but involved a small hooligan element. "As far as I know this is a very small hooliganism incident, not a racist one," Joanna Mucha said Friday. "You can be sure that it is very marginal in Poland, you've got hooliganism all over the world in sporting arenas. It will not happen again -- if it does we will react appropriately." Mucha said football supporters should not be afraid to come to Poland for the tournament. "My message is you will be safe and you will feel safe in Poland. There is a huge security operation and we will manage to do it, to make you safe," she said. CNN Special: Racism - It's not black and white . The buildup to the football showpiece, which kicks off in Warsaw on Friday, has been marred by a host of reports highlighting incidents of racial violence in the Eastern European nations. The families of two of England's black players, Arsenal's Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain and Theo Walcott, will not be traveling to Ukraine and Poland, while Italy and Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli says he will walk off the pitch if he is targeted by racists. The England team is scheduled to train in front of 3,500 fans at the same stadium in Krakow on Friday. UEFA president Michel Platini says players must not take matters into their own hands, and that any player that walks off the pitch will be cautioned. Referees will deal with racists . "It is a referee's job to stop the match and he is to do so if there are any problems of this kind. I count on the fans from Western and Eastern Europe to come to participate in a great football feast. If I am here as a UEFA chairman and you all are here it is because we want this to be a football feast, not a problem," he told reporters Thursday. A recent documentary from the BBC featured right-wing supporters from both Poland and Ukraine displaying racist and anti-Semitic attitudes. The "Panorama" episode broadcast footage filmed at matches in both countries that purported to show fans displaying Nazi salutes in the stands and aiming monkey chants at black players. This prompted former England footballer Sol Campbell to warn fans not to travel to either country. However, officials from the co-hosts hit out at the program. Marcin Bosacki, a Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman, told CNN it was "cheap journalism," while Volodymyr Khandogiy, Ukraine's ambassador to Britain, said it was "unbalanced and biased reporting about the situation in Ukraine." But Piara Power, executive director of the Football Against Racism in Europe organization, said there was still plenty of work to be done in both countries. "I think we know the situation in domestic football in both Poland and Ukraine and I'm afraid the documentary hit the nail on the head -- it's a very bad situation," he said. "Nevertheless there is some good work going at grass roots level to make sure that Euro 2012 inside stadiums does not resemble the sort of scenes we saw in the documentary." Aside from allegations of racism, the choice of Poland and Ukraine as hosts of UEFA's European international football competition -- an event which UEFA says will see 1.4 million fans travel to the region and a further 150 million television viewers tune in worldwide -- has drawn criticism from lawmakers of many EU nations, with some refusing to attend the tournament. Concerns have arisen over the treatment of former Ukrainian prime minister and opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko, who was jailed for seven years in October 2011 for abuse of office. Tymoshenko, who was a leading figure in the 2004 Orange Revolution and had been on a 20-day hunger strike until last week, argues she has been victim of mistreatment and politically-motivated imprisonment driven by current president Viktor Yanukovych. The Ukrainian prime minister, Mykola Azarov, denied the claims in an interview with CNN on Thursday. "This is a mistake made by some politicians when they express their opinion without digging into the case. No one accuses Tymoshenko of her political decisions. Tymoshenko is accused of a concrete crime," Azarov said. "There was no government decision which she is referring to when she signed an unfavorable gas contract for Ukraine. She falsified that government decision which means she committed the fraud. So it's not a political decision." The situation prompted the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office to announce they would be effectively boycotting the event: "No ministers will be attending group games at Euro 2012. "We are keeping attendance at later stages of the tournament under review in the light of Ministers' busy schedules ahead of the Olympics and widespread concerns about selective justice and the rule of law in Ukraine," their statement read. Foreign Secretary William Hague went further in an interview with the BBC, saying the UK government did not want its backing of the England football team to be interpreted as "giving political support to some things which have been happening in Ukraine which we don't agree with." Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs told CNN the government will be meeting later Friday with the prime minister to discuss attendance by the nation's lawmakers at the tournament, while a German government spokesman confirmed that chancellor Angela Merkel would not be attending any of the first-round matches due to her time schedule. Austria's Council of Ministers decided on May 2 to boycott all games held in Ukraine as a sign of solidarity with Tymoshenko. | Hundreds of people reportedly targeted black members of Dutch squad .
Team had been training in a public session ahead of Euro 2012 kickoff .
Poland and Ukraine co-hosting tournament amid claims of racism among its fans .
European politicians boycotting games in Ukraine over human rights concerns . |
220,847 | a9e53175a69a50daeded270c47ff5ee6d4649380 | (CNN) -- Roger Federer sent out an ominous message to his rivals by claiming the Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati with a straight sets demolition of Novak Djokovic in the final on Sunday. Federer was getting his hands on his 61st career title after an emphatic win. Federer was playing his second tournament since returning to the ATP Tour circuit after becoming the father of twin girls and was back to his peerless best ahead of the U.S. Open at Flushing Meadow next week. The Swiss maestro swept aside world number two Andy Murray in straight sets in their semifinal match up and afforded Djokovic the same treatment with a 6-1 7-5 victory to claim his 16th Masters crown. Djokovic had played superbly to dispatch former world number one Rafael Nadal in their semifinal and had not dropped a set all week, but had no answer to the world number one. Federer breezed through the opening set, but encountered more resistance in the second, having to save a set point as he served at 4-5 down. But it was saved with a fine service and in the next game he broke Djokovic for the fourth time in the match. Federer duly served out the match to love, claiming his third Cincinnati title as his Serbian opponent netted a return after one hour and 30 minutes. It was his 61st career title. He heads into his defense of the U.S. Open crown having won the last two grand slams at the French Open and Wimbledon to take his tally to a record 15 and as warm favorite. Following his Wimbledon triumph, Federer took an enforced break as his wife Mirka gave birth to Charlene Riva and Myla Rose, but returned to be beaten in the quarterfinals in Montreal by Jo-Wilfred Tsonga. Murray claimed the title, but met his match against a much-improved Federer in Cincinnati. | Roger Federer wins the Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati, Ohio .
World number one beats Novak Djokovic in straight sets in Sunday's final .
Federer bidding for third straight grand slam title at U.S. Open next week . |
159,065 | 599c0fc914068216a599c0827d030708049d2488 | The number of Muslim children in England and Wales has doubled in a decade, according to the most detailed study of its kind. An analysis of 2011 Census data carried out by the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) suggests the Muslim population increased by more than a million in the ten years from 2001, rising 75 per cent from 1.5 million to 2.7 million. The research shows that one in 12 school-age children is now Muslim, and a third of all Muslims are aged 15 and under, with half under the age of 25. A new study undertaken by the Muslim Council of Britain has analysed the 2011 Census to reveal details of Britain's growing Muslim population - as seen in this info graphic . The number of Muslim children in England and Wales has doubled in a decade, according to an analysis of 2011 Census data for the Muslim Council of Britain (file photo) And, due to settlement patterns, in some inner city areas as many as 86 per cent of all children aged between five and 15 are officially classed as Muslim. The British Muslims in Numbers report, led by Dr Sundas Ali of the University of Oxford, was undertaken by the MCB to provide detailed statistics on Muslims in the UK, and the issues affecting them, such as education, employment and health. It also predicts that by 2021, there will be approximately 300,000 Muslim teenagers in England and Wales. Although more than half of all Muslims in the UK were born outside of the country, 73 per cent of those practising the religion said their national identity was British, the report found. It also states that around one in 20 of the population was Muslim. Due to settlement patterns, three-quarters of the Muslim population was concentrated in London, the West Midlands, the North West and Yorkshire and Humber and 46 per cent lived in the top 10 per cent of the country's most deprived areas. In some inner city wards the percentage of Muslim pupils is very high, with more than 60 per cent of children in schools in Tower Hamlets identifying as Muslim. Overall the London borough is 34.5 per cent Muslim. Although 47.2 per cent of Muslims were born in the UK, 73 per cent state their national identity is British . Just 29 per cent of Muslim women aged between 16 and 24 are in employment, compared with around 50 per cent in the overall population . The Muslim prison population is 'disproportionately large', according to researchers, with Muslims accounting 13 per cent of prisoners within England and Wales . Many wards in Birmingham have young Muslims making up more than 80 per cent of a school's intake, such as the Washwood Heath ward where 86 per cent of children are Muslims. The research states there has been a significant improvement in Muslim education - with just a quarter not having any qualifications compared with two in five in 2001 - just one in five was in full-time employment. This compares with one in three of the wider population, with the researchers saying Muslims face a 'double penalty ... in entering the labour market - of racial discrimination as well as Islamophobia'. The report also found that: . The report stated that while the vast majority of Muslims in Britain speak English, six per cent struggle with the language, while 24 per cent of Muslims over 16 are qualified to degree level, compared to 27 per cent of the general population. Although the 2011 Census revealed there were 329,694 Muslim full-time students in 2011 - 43 per cent of them female and 57 per cent male, the study found that 71 per cent of Muslim women between the ages of 16 and 24 were not in employment - compared to 50 per cent of the wider population. In some inner city wards the percentage of Muslim pupils is very high, with more than 60 per cent of children in schools in Tower Hamlets, where this family was pictured, identifying as Muslim . Almost half of Muslims in Britain were born in the United Kingdom or Northern Ireland, according to the study . A third of Muslims in Britain are aged 15 and under, and half are under the age of 25 . Although more than half were born outside of the country, 73 per cent of Muslims said their national identity was British, according to the report . Among women aged between 25 and 49, 57 per cent of Muslim women were in work, compared with 80 per cent of women overall, according to the report. 'There are many stakeholders rightly concerned with the well-being and educational potential of Muslim and BME [Black and Minority Ethnic] youth,' the report states. 'The need of the hour is to address issues such as underachievement, low teacher expectations, high rates of student exclusions, racism and Islamophobia, lack of role models and levels of parental involvement.' Talha Ahmad, a senior member of the MCB, told the BBC the significant rise in the population could be put down in part to refugees from countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq and conversions. Other factors in population growth are the age profile of British Muslims - with more people at an age where they would be raising children - the traditions of larger families within some ethnic groups, the fact there was a better response to the Census's question on religion, and the possibility that numbers may have been under-counted in 2001. 'About one third of Muslims are under 15, it's quite a youthful population,' Mr Ahmad told the broadcaster. 'And also, more striking, is the fact that only four per cent of Muslims are 65 or over.' He added: 'We know there is a growing proportion of the Muslim population who are actually converted Muslims - they are the indigenous white population, the black population - all sorts of people. The significant rise in population can be put down in part to refugees from countries such as Afghanistan, conversions, and the fact that many British Muslims are at an age when they are raising children . 'But we have also seen that during the last decade there have been a number of conflicts that have affected the Muslim community, for example the Somali community is a growing factor. 'You have Iraqis, Afghans and others who are coming here as refugees and so on. There are multiple factors and also many Muslims are moving from European countries. 'It's a youthful population. It's still producing people but the elderly population is still not there to balance it out. It would seem as if they have had a disproportionately larger growth rate compared to the other populations but that is simply because it does not have the older population to balance it out.' The report said: 'There is need for various stakeholders - Muslim civil society, policy institutes, employers, trade unions and the Department for Work and Pensions - to facilitate conditions and opportunities in the labour market. 'Muslim civil society needs to have a better appreciation of the social realities.' Explaining the purpose of the study, Dr Ali told MailOnline described the research as 'ground-breaking', and said it was the first of its kind to be undertaken. Some 65.8 per cent of school pupils in Tower Hamlets, London are Muslim, compared to 34.5 per cent of the wider population . The majority of people living in Britain are Christian, but those who told the 2011 they were Muslim amount to more than those who put down any other minority religion combined . 'The research centres on 94 per cent of the population - that's the largest sample size you can get,' she said. 'It was much needed because there is so much interest in the Muslim community but we didn't have a set of statistics. We had data from the Office of National Statistics, but no one had analysed it before. 'This report covers Muslim life across a number of areas - education, the labour market, deprivation, health.' Dr Ali said the study was released now as it had taken a year to analyse all the data contained in the Census. 'Although the Census was carried out in 2011, they release the data in stages so the data for the 2011 Census was released in 2013,' she said. 'We started analysing it in 2013, it took a year to analyse and consult academics to get their feedback.' Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: 'Taking data from the 2011 Census, this important new report from the Muslim Council of Britain helps give us a snapshot of the socio-economic challenges and opportunities now facing Britain's Muslim communities. 'What's not in doubt is that British Muslims can be proud of the contribution they make to our country. 'Drawing on analysis like this, together, we can help create jobs, drive growth and enable more people to get on - building the stronger economy and fairer society we want for Britain's future.' | A third of all Muslims in England and Wales are aged 15 and under .
Analysis of 2011 Census suggests Muslim population has risen by 75% .
Number in UK increased from 1.5 million in 2001 to 2.7 million in 2011 .
Research was carried out by the Muslim Council of Britain .
In some parts of Birmingham more than 80% of school pupils are Muslim .
The Muslim prison population is 'disproportionately large', according to researchers, with Muslims accounting 13 per cent of prisoners within England and Wales .
There is a higher rate of unemployment among Muslim women compared with the wider population .
Almost half of the country's Muslim population was born in the UK . |
248,215 | cd2d7102d801d6f7fa9a82f4c1108744d1dcdfec | A driver has clocked up more than half a million miles in his second-hand Volvo - and it has never broken down. Simon Marshall, 49, has driven the distance it would take to get to the Moon and back in his silver V70 D5 SE, which he bought six years ago. But despite inheriting 170,000 miles - and clocking up a further 415,000 since - he has never had to call any breakdown services. Astonishing: Simon Marshall, 49, has driven the same distance it would take to get to the Moon and back in his Volvo V70 D5 SE, which he bought for £5,000 in 2008 and has still never once broken down . Mr Marshall, from Sandhurst, Berkshire, said: 'I took a chance on the car, because it was a bargain and I never imagined I would get this many miles out of it. 'I have become very fond of it, and friends refer to it as my Viking Long Boat.' 'It has never left me stranded on the side of the motorway and I have every faith in it getting me from A to B safely.' Mr Marshall racks up around 100,000 miles per year - more than 10 times that of the average motorist. He bought the second hand car for £5,500 and has only spent £3,000 on minor repairs, servicing and tyres. Beaten the odds: Mr Marshall, a driver by trade, scales 100,000 miles a year - 10 times the average motorist. Here, the meter shows he has driven 575,574 miles, and he plans to scale the same again in this car . Pride: The car has the same parts it came with six years ago aside from the gearbox, which is also second-hand . Astonishingly, the 10-year-old Volvo has . most of its original parts including the engine, exhaust, turbo, . alternator and all four brake callipers. The most expensive item he has had to buy for the car is an £800 second-hand gearbox - which has carried him across 400,000 more miles. Mr Marshall uses his Volvo for both business and pleasure, with his job as a private hire driver - but also drives his family around Europe in the car on Summer holidays. He has taken his wife Diane, 44 and his . five teenage children on many holidays in the car to France and Spain . and also up and down the UK. He said: 'One of the things I enjoy is having a good quality car, without paying a fortune for it. Not giving up: Mr Marshall plans to make it to a million miles in his trusty Volvo, which is still going strong . Strong: With just two services in its time, Mr Marshall encourages all drivers to buy a bargain motor . 'I’m not in the business to be buying a Porsche but it doesn’t matter because this car has never let me down and I don’t want anything else. 'If someone wanted a lift to the South of France right now I would have no hesitation in going with this car. It is the most reliable vehicle I have ever known and I have put my complete faith in it. 'Most people have a mental block when they see a car with 100,000 miles on the clock. But I just see it as a way of getting a bargain.' 'I still plan to keep driving the Volvo around as long as I can - it would be such a shame to part with it now.' | Simon Marshall, 49, has only spent £500 on the car since he bought it in 2008 .
Volvo V70 had 170,000 miles when he bought it and it's never broken down .
He drives it across Europe on holiday and uses it in his job as a chauffeur .
He bought the car for £5,500 and has only spent £3,000 on minor repairs . |
272,788 | ed4c2de650bf7f29b143f6ad9a38ef338a456401 | By . Sam Webb . PUBLISHED: . 12:39 EST, 2 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:55 EST, 2 December 2013 . Oh dear - this intruder was caught out when they wandered into a back garden with a tennis court. The small roe deer got his antlers snagged in the net and was found frantically trying to get free by the startled householder. They called the RSPCA and two inspectors were sent to cut free the stricken beast - nicknamed Murray after Scottish tennis star Andy - in Broadbridge Heath near Horsham, West Sussex. McEn-roe: This roe deer got served with a tricky situation after it became trapped in a tennis court net . RSPCA inspector Liz Wheeler said: 'This poor boy had a very frightening experience. 'His antlers were completely entwined in the netting and he was getting frantic trying to free himself. 'There is no way he would have been able to untangle himself without any help. 'Had the owners of the property not been at home to find him and thought to call us, it is likely that the deer may have suffered an injury or starved to death. 'Luckily, Murray escaped with only a minor injury to his leg and was released back into the wild.' Frustration: But the unlucky animal was rescued by two RSPCA inspectors after the homeowner spotted the stricken beast . RSPCA Inspector Wheeler said incidents like this, which can be fatal, can be avoided if nets are put away safely after use . Every year, dozens of deer and other animals are injured and killed after getting caught in man-made netting, with fruit netting being especially deadly to hedgehogs. Inspector Wheeler added: 'The problem is so easily avoidable by ensuring nets are removed and stored, or taken home after a game of tennis and any discarded netting is safely placed in a bin. 'I would ask anyone with a net in their garden to please consider the consequences for animals and birds and make frequent checks so that any trapped wildlife may be freed.' | 'Murray' did not cover himself in glory on the tennis court .
The cute interloper somehow managed to trap himself in the net .
Luckily, he was rescued by RSPCA officers and was soon 'out' and about . |
174,787 | 6e39881758ab8b98ad91cfd83bdfbb48a9f7887b | (CNN) -- Federal prosecutors want baseball legend Barry Bonds to serve 15 months in prison for his obstruction of justice conviction, according to a sentencing memo filed in court Thursday. Defense lawyers argued in their filing that the judge should accept the probation office's recommendation that Bonds be sentenced to two years probation, fined $4,000 and ordered to perform 250 hours of community service. Bonds, 47, is set to be sentenced on December 16 in a San Francisco federal courtroom, less than two miles from the ballpark where he broke Hank Aaron's major league home run in August 2007. Jurors who found Bonds guilty in April said he was "evasive" in his testimony to the federal grand jury investigating illegal steroids use by pro athletes. "Because Bonds's efforts were a corrupt, intentional effort to interfere with that mission, a sentence of 15 months imprisonment is appropriate," the prosecution said in its memo to U.S. District Judge Susan Illston. But jurors, who were deadlocked on three perjury counts, said that it was not proven that Bonds lied when he testified that he had not knowingly used steroids. Prosecutors decided not pursue a retrial. Prosecutors still argued in the sentencing memo that Bonds' denial that he was "taking steroids and human growth hormone were patently false." "Whether his purpose was to protect his drug suppliers or his own reputation, Bonds's pre-testimony efforts to sway the testimony of Giants trainer Stan Conte established that he approached his grand jury testimony with a plan," the prosecution said. "That plan was to evade telling the truth to the grand jury through any means possible, whether through lies, half-truths, non-sequiturs, or simply bluffing his way through the testimony." "Bonds's pervasive efforts to testify falsely, to mislead the grand jury, to dodge questions, and to simply refuse to answer questions in the grand jury makes his conduct worthy of a significant jail sentence," the prosecution argued. Bonds' testimony in December 2003 was part of the BALCO investigation that targeted employees of a California drug testing laboratory and Bonds' personal trainer Greg Anderson. The testimony that led to his conviction came when a grand jury prosecutor asked Bonds if Anderson ever gave him "anything that required a syringe to inject yourself with." Bonds told the grand jury that only his personal doctors "ever touch me," and he then veered off the subject to say he never talked baseball with Anderson. A juror, who identified herself only as Jessica and who would not give her last name, told reporters they agreed unanimously that Bonds was "not directly answering the question, just kind of evading the question." Defense lawyers argued that Bonds' thought the creams and ointments Anderson was giving him were made of flaxseed oils. In their sentencing memo, the defense urged the judge to accept the probation office's conclusion that Bond's "prior history of good works," including "charitable and civic contributions" should factor into the sentencing. "It is believed that Mr. Bonds can use his status, as well as his past record of giving to youth-related causes for some beneficial and significant impact to society," the report said. Also, the conviction "appears to be an aberration when taken in context of his entire life," the probation office report said. The prosecution rejected the probation office conclusions. "Bonds's conduct was not a spontaneous act of aberrant behavior, and his charitable works, while laudable, should not allow him to escape responsibility for his criminal conduct," prosecutors wrote. "The conduct in this case was neither aberrant nor insignificant. To the contrary, Bonds's actions were the product of a calculated plan to obfuscate and distract the grand jury from its role in getting to the truth in the Balco inquiry." Bonds' legal troubles began in 2003 when he was subpoenaed to testify before the federal grand jury investigating the illegal distribution of performance-enhancing drugs to athletes. Bonds was told he was not a target of the investigation, which was centered on the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative, known as BALCO. His personal trainer, Greg Anderson, was a target. "All he had to do was tell the truth," Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Nedrow said in his closing arguments last week. Bonds lied to the grand jury because he knew the truth about his steroids use would "tinge his accomplishments" and hurt his baseball career, Nedrow said. "His secret was so powerful that he couldn't admit it, wouldn't admit it." The grand jury transcript showed that when he was asked about anabolic steroids before the 2003 baseball season, he said he had not knowingly used them. He did acknowledge using substances Anderson gave him known as "the clear and the cream." Nedrow argued that it was "implausible" that Bonds would take drugs "and really not know what they were." A urine sample given by Bonds in the summer of 2003, just months before his grand jury testimony, tested positive for anabolic steroids, but another sample taken weeks earlier tested negative for the drugs. The San Francisco Giants star ended his 21-year major league career in 2007 with 762 home runs. He also set the record for most home runs in a single season in 2001, when he hit 73. | Bonds should get prison for his "corrupt, intentional effort" to mislead, prosecutors say .
The probation office report calls for two years probation, a fine and community service .
Baseball's home run king will be sentenced on December 16 in San Francisco .
A jury convicted Bonds of obstruction of justice in April . |
276,040 | f1a39f360c8f0bdc58f9caeb9331fce7ed874b85 | Istanbul (CNN) -- Western leaders roundly condemned the downing of a Turkish military fighter jet by Syria ahead of a NATO meeting on Tuesday on the issue. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Sunday said she had spoken with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu about Friday's incident. "The foreign minister briefed me on the specifics of the incident, including that the Syrian military shot its plane down without warning," Clinton said in a statement. "The United States condemns this brazen and unacceptable act in the strongest possible terms. It is yet another reflection of the Syrian authorities' callous disregard for international norms, human life and peace and security." The Turkish Foreign Ministry said Sunday it considers the action to be a hostile act. Turkey delivered the message in a diplomatic note to the Syrian consulate in Istanbul, calling the incident "a hostile movement," ministry spokesman Selcuk Unal told CNN. Security Clearance: Can Turkey force U.S., NATO to attack Syria? Turkish search-and-rescue teams found the wreckage of the fighter jet in the Mediterranean Sea on Sunday, about 1,300 meters (4,260 feet) underwater, he said. Syrian TV: Turkish military jet shot down by Syrian artillery . They have not reached the wreck yet, he added. There was no word about survivors of the two-man crew. "We will work with Turkey and other partners to hold the Assad regime accountable," Clinton said of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. "Turkey has been a leader in the international community's effort to address the Syrian regime's violence against its own people." The incident raises the temperature between the two regional powers significantly. Syria gave no warning before shooting down the F-4 Phantom jet which strayed into its territory, Davutoglu said Sunday in an appearance filled with tough talk against Syria. He accused Syria of spreading "disinformation" about the incident. "They have created the impression that Syria felt like it was an act of aggression and they shot it down. ... from our perspective that's not the case," Davutoglu told reporters. The plane in the Friday incident was unarmed, not sending hostile signals, and identifiable as Turkish, he said. "You have to first send a caution, a warning," he said in the first detailed Turkish statement on the international incident. "If the warning doesn't work, you scramble your planes, you send a stronger signal, you force the plane to land. There wasn't enough time to do any of that in the time that our plane was in Syrian airspace." "We have to question how it is that an unarmed, solo flight got this response from the Syrians," he said. He said the fighter jet was in international airspace when it was fired upon. It had strayed into Syrian territory in a "short, unintentional violation," but was notified by the Turkish side that it had crossed the line, and returned to international airspace, Davutoglu said. Turkey will respond "decisively," but within international law, the foreign minister vowed, saying: "It's a fine line." Top Turkish officials in meetings after Syria downs Turkish jet . Turkey took its case to NATO, a spokeswoman for the alliance confirmed. Turkey, a key member of the group, is expected to make a presentation on the incident in Brussels Tuesday. It called for the meeting under NATO's Article 4, which deals with what happens when the "territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened." British Foreign Minister William Hague Sunday called the incident "outrageous" and said he condemned it wholeheatedly." "The Assad regime should not make the mistake of believing that it can act with impunity. It will be held to account for its behavior," Hague said. The plane was participating in a test of Turkey's national radar system, Davutoglu said. Turkish boats and helicopters had been searching for the two-man crew inside Syrian waters, he said. He said the search-and-rescue mission was not a joint operation with Syria, but was being coordinated with Damascus because it is in their territory. Davutoglu has also spoken with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, France, Russia and Iran, and the European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton since the incident, Unal told CNN Saturday. The Syrian military shot down the plane Friday as it flew just off the Mediterranean coast, Syria said. A Syrian military spokesman said anti-aircraft artillery shot down what was an unidentified aircraft that entered its airspace at a very low altitude and high speed. While on fire, the jet fell into the sea 10 kilometers, or more than six miles, from the shore of the town of Um Al-Tuyoor, the spokesman said. Diplomat to world: Raise pressure to stop Syrian violence . On Saturday, Syrian state news agency SANA quoted a military spokesman as saying "the target turned out to be a Turkish military plane that entered Syrian airspace and was dealt with according to laws observed in such cases." The U.N.'s Ban expressed his "deep concern" about the situation and the potential implications for the region during a phone call with Davutoglu on Saturday, the United Nations said. He commended Turkey for the "restraint" it has shown. The Turkish government called an emergency meeting after the warplane went missing near the border. The Turkish military said the plane took off from Malatya Erhac Center and lost radar communication over the sea near Hatay province, which borders Syria. The jet's disappearance could spark an international crisis. Relations between the two neighbors have already deteriorated amid the bloody uprising against President al-Assad's regime. Erdogan has repeatedly called on al-Assad to step down, and Turkey has withdrawn its diplomats from Damascus. Davutoglu pointedly refused to express support for al-Assad on Sunday, saying Turkey stands with "the Syrian people." "This tension is not between Turkey and the Syrian people. There is a regime in Syria which oppresses its people," he said. However, Turkish President Abdullah Gul suggested the two countries were still liaising despite their differences. "We pulled out representatives from Syria because it was not safe. This does not mean we are not in contact with them (the Syrians)," he said Saturday, according to the Anatolia news agency. More than 30,000 Syrian refugees have spilled onto Turkish soil, and Turkey is hosting a number of Syrian opposition groups. CNN's Ivan Watson contributed to this report. | NEW: The United States calls shooting down the plane "a brazen and unacceptable act"
NATO will meet Tuesday under an article dealing with security threats to members .
The military jet is found about 1,300 meters (4600 feet) underwater .
Turkey will respond "decisively," Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says . |
192,991 | 85e0bd3ada317928fab1a77417ea0bb98bff738b | By . Tammy Hughes . PUBLISHED: . 08:41 EST, 17 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 02:26 EST, 18 June 2012 . When Erin McNeill returned from a gig in 2009 she fell asleep oblivious to the fire that was about to rip through her home in a manner of minutes. The attractive young singer woke up in hospital six weeks later having suffered third-degree burns only to be told that she had 'died' five times on the operating table. Erin was forced to learn how to walk again, bend her limbs and eat but sadly her singing voice was damaged beyond repair. Inspirational: Erin McNeill will compete in the finals of Miss International in Chicago next month . Despite the 21-year-old's inspirational show of bravery she still became the target of Facebook trolls who created a page about her saying she was disgusting. Erin, from Alloa, has now decided to fight back by entering an international pageant in an incredible bid to prove that beauty really is more than skin deep. Already named Miss International Scotland, the 21-year-old will compete against other contestants from around the world at the final in Chicago next month. 'Discrimination is not acceptable,' Erin told the Daily Star. Brave: Erin's dreams of becoming a singer were dashed after her vocal cords were damaged by smoke inhalation and feeding tubes . Recovery: Erin suffered horrific third-degree burns after the fire in 2009. This year she was crowned Miss International Scotland . 'I want to show people that it is wrong to judge people on the way they look. 'Maybe in the process I can begin to accept myself again.' Erin was looking at a bright future before her accident and was on the verge of a record deal when the fire broke out. Firefighters believe the blaze was started by a pot that was left on the stove. The house was engulfed in minutes with temperatures reaching 600 degrees. Erin's arms and chest were burned to the bone and the rest of her body left red-raw and blistered. Doctors even considered amputating her arms but eventually performed pioneering surgery using extracts of shark skin, which tricks the body into growing new skin cells. After three weeks doctors stapled on healthy skin, like a graft and the new cells helped her arms to heal and stop leaking fluid. But the accident still left her with an apron of loose skin around her belly and she was forced to endure the discomfort of further surgery to remove it. Erin now volunteers with the fire service and has a boyfriend, Grant, whose dad is also in the fire service. | Erin McNeill suffered third degree burns when her house was ravaged by fire in 2009 - putting an end to her promising singing career .
Despite her inspirational bravery and remarkable recovery she still became the target of internet trolls .
Next month she will compete in the Miss International beauty contest in Chicago to prove that beauty is more than skin deep . |
243,976 | c7cbdae960634b7bc9e733287dea26986f9ec9f7 | Oxford student Charlotte Coursier committed suicide six hours after her boyfriend ended their relationship . A 'talented and gifted' Oxford University student hanged herself after her boyfriend of 11 months ended their relationship. Charlotte Coursier was struggling to cope with a 'campaign of harassment' inflicted on her by a college lecturer, as well as the torment of having aborted a pregnancy. An inquest heard how Miss Coursier was found dead at home by her housemates in June last year. The coroner was told she had been bombarded with 'crazy and rambling' emails sent by Dr Jeffrey Ketland, a former college lecturer, who followed her to Oxford when she moved from Edinburgh. He harassed the 25-year-old after the pair had a sexual relationship, claiming he saved Miss Coursier's life after she overdosed while they were both at Edinburgh University, the inquest heard. Miss Coursier left the Scottish university to study a post-graduate course in philosophy at St Edmund Hall College in Oxford in October 2012. Dr Ketland had also moved to the city, securing a lecturing post at one of the colleges in Oxford, the coroner was told. Three months prior to moving to Oxford, Miss Coursier had started seeing Ben Fardell, from London. A statement by Mr Fardell, read to the inquest, revealed he had recently come out of another relationship when he started dating Miss Coursier. The statement said: 'In the first six months there were . issues of trust and commitment in the relationship. 'But . Charlotte was much better in the new year. Then, in February, . she discovered she was seven weeks pregnant despite taking . contraception.' Lecturer Dr Jeffrey Ketland, (pictured) inflicted a 'campaign of harrassment' on Miss Coursier, bombarding her with 'crazy and rambling' emails . Mr Fardell told his girlfriend that he was not ready to be a father and supported her as she came to the 'incredibly difficult' decision to terminate the pregnancy. After cancelling her first appointment, Miss Coursier's abortion was carried out on March 25 - something she later described as 'murdering her child'. 'She was very low for . weeks after this and she found it very difficult to get over having . murdered her child, as she put it,' said Mr Fardell. 'Although she stopped mentioning it after a while I'm not sure she ever got over it.' Nicholas Graham, assistant coroner . for Oxfordshire, heard that while at Edinburgh University, Miss Coursier had started a sexual relationship with lecturer Dr . Ketland. After the relationship ended and she graduated, Dr Ketland also moved to Oxford to start working at Pembroke College - after holding another post elsewhere. Miss Coursier told Mr Fardell she had contacted Dr Ketland in a friendly manner ahead of going to Oxford and he responded to her in a way that began politely but quickly descended into crazy, rambling accusations. Ms Coursier then shared her concerns with Mr Fardell and showed him the emails she had exchanged with Dr Ketland. 'He thought he saved her life in Edinburgh and in doing so, he managed to destroy his own,' Mr Fardell said. 'She . went to see him in a professional capacity to seek help and advice. His . abuse of her made an already fragile girl even worse. 'She found the whole thing very distressing and disheartening and thought nobody would believe her and that they would take Jeffrey's side.' Miss Coursier reported Dr Ketland to Thames Valley Police on May 19, and raised the issue with the student advisory services at the university. Dr Ketland was issued a warning by police officers, under the Harassment Act. Mr Fardell said he felt the . relationship was holding both he and Miss Coursier back, and after . considering what to do for several weeks, he decided to break up with . her. On June 10, after spending the weekend together in London, Mr Fardell told the 25-year-old he wanted to end their relationship. 'Charlotte . pleaded with me not to break up with her and she talked about how hard . she had been trying to make things better,' he said. 'She was crying and told me "I don't want to live without you".' Pembroke College at Oxford where Dr Jeffrey Ketland works. He moved to Oxford from Edinburgh when Miss Coursier did. An inquest heard the 25-year-old struggled to cope with the unwanted attention from Dr Ketland, as well as the heartache following an abortion months before her death . After parting ways at 11.45am, Miss Coursier sent two text messages to Mr Fardell and tried to call him three times. He was unable to answer the calls as he was on the train, the inquest was told. Miss Coursier's housemates did not see her arrive home but at 9pm found her phone ringing on the sofa. The house phone rang shortly afterwards. Miss Coursier's housemate Brooke Berndtson answered the call, which was from Mr Fardell. She went to the 25-year-old's room, but discovered her body slumped against the wall, lifeless. Fellow housemate Yuukki Ohta rushed . to help and called 999. Despite attempts to revive the philosophy . student, Miss Coursier was pronounced dead at her home shortly after . 10pm. Detective Sergeant Rhian Evans said police discovered no suicide note. A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as hanging. Mr . Fardell said: 'I can't help but feel my breaking up with her was the . tipping point but I understand I am not responsible for her death. 'I deeply regret not picking up the phone when she called. I wish she would have waited for me, I would have come to Oxford.' Assistant coroner, Mr Graham read a statement from Professor Keith Gull, principal of St Edmund Hall, describing Miss Coursier as a 'rising star' and citing references from Edinburgh University lecturers which ranked her in the top five of all undergraduate students they had taught. 'Many thought she was the most gifted philosophy student in her year,' said Professor Gull. 'She was a delight to have in the faculty and is a great loss to us all.' Charlotte's mother, Margaret Marklew from Birmingham, and brother Henry sobbed as Mr Graham recorded a verdict of suicide. | Charlotte Coursier was found hanged at her home in Oxford in June .
25-year-old had faced a barrage of 'crazy and rambling' emails from college lecturer Dr Jeffrey Ketland, inquest heard .
In March last year, Miss Coursier had an abortion, telling her boyfriend Ben Fardell she had 'murdered her child'
Mr Fardell ended their relationship on June 10 last year .
Six hours later when he called, Miss Coursier's housemate answered her phone and discovered her lifeless body slumped in her bedroom .
Assistant coroner recorded a verdict of suicide .
For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here for details.
Dr Ketland has asked us to make clear that he was not asked to give evidence at the inquest and he denies the allegations Ms Coursier made about this conduct. He moved to Oxford before she did and had contacted the authorities over his concern about her mental state. |
135,212 | 3ae363ed32b3d4eea5ea4420f0679d1f5945558d | By . Victoria Woollaston . PUBLISHED: . 11:50 EST, 9 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:14 EST, 9 September 2013 . Microsoft has expanded its Xbox Music streaming service and it is now available for free for everyone to use through a web browser. The service launched in October last year and was initially only available on Windows 8 devices and Xbox game consoles with a monthly subscription. The new free web service is aiming to rival the likes of other music sites such as Spotify, Pandora and iTunes. Microsoft's new Xbox Music service will allow users to listen on the console, computer and phone, and will take on iTunes and Spotify . Microsoft has additionally released Xbox . Music apps for Apple's iPhone and iPad as well as Android devices that . can be used by people with Music Pass subscriptions. A Microsoft Music Pass costs £8.99 a month or $£89.90 a year. It also comes with a 30-day free trial. Xbox Music Pass also allows users unlimited access to thousands of music videos on an Xbox 360 console. These apps directly compete with Google's Music All Access service and the upcoming iTunes Radio, a streaming service for iOS phones and tablets expected later in the year. Microsoft said in a statement: 'Xbox Music Pass brings the catalogue of music to iOS and Android devices. Microsoft has also released Xbox Music apps for iOS and Android devices, pictured, that can be used by people with Music Passes . 'Get unlimited access to the songs . and artists you want at any time with playback across your tablet, PC, . phone and Xbox console. 'With the addition of free streaming on . the web, enjoy on-demand access to 30 million songs globally for free on . the Xbox Music Web player.' The release continues that 'discovering and enjoying . free music is as easy as typing an artist or song name and hitting 'play.' Songs can also be added to playlists . for free and a song added to one device is automatically synced across . all registered devices. The . free service is subsidised by adverts and also sells downloadable . tracks. There is additionally a radio service that generates playlists . based on similar genres or musicians. The free streaming service is available at Xbox Music Web player and after six months streaming is limited to 10 hours per month. When the Xbox One is released on 22 November, users will also be able to play games while listening to Xbox Music simultaneously, a feature that isn't offered on the Xbox 360. The free service is subsidised by adverts and also sells tracks. There is additionally a radio service that generates playlists based on similar genres or musicians. The free streaming service is available via the Xbox Music Web player and after six months streaming is limited to 10 hours per month . | Anyone can stream 30million songs via the Xbox Music Web player online .
For those who want to use the the service on their mobile, Microsoft has introduced iOS and Android apps for Music Pass owners .
Music Passes give unlimited streaming across devices for £8.99 a month . |
118,004 | 2462a1d099ae2bc864ea7be206dc1543c1de9bf0 | How training on his days off, a pep talk from Gary Neville and the stability of still living at home with mum and dad have turned Tyler Blackett into great hope at the heart of Manchester United’s defence . Manchester United are ready to give Tyler Blackett a new contract. The 20-year-old defender is currently earning just £2,000 a week at Old Trafford. Blackett has been playing alongside the likes of Wayne Rooney and Angel di Maria this season — who both earn three times more per week than he does in a year. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Tyler Blackett's thunderbolt free kick in FA Youth Cup . Tyler Blackett is expected to be handed a new £50,000-a-week deal to extend his stay at Manchester United . Manchester United starlet has been handed a number of chances to impress new manager Louis van Gaal . It seems the Dutchman has been pleased with the defender, instructing the board to hand Blackett a new deal . Swansea (h) lost 2-1 - Sportsmail rating 6 . Sunderland (a) 1-1 - 5 . Burnley (a) 0-0 - 5.5 . QPR (h) won 4-0 - 6.5 . Leicester (a) lost 5-3 - 4.5 . Everton (h) won 2-1 - 7 (came on at 70 mins) But United boss Louis van Gaal has recommended to the board that the youngster is rewarded for his breakthrough into the first team with a deal representative of his new standing. This means Blackett will jump up to somewhere near the £50,000-a-week level when he signs his new contract - that's a wage increase of 2,400 per cent. United’s early-season injury crisis thrust Blackett in to the fray and Van Gaal believes he has a future at Old Trafford. The defender has generally equipped himself well in his six Premier League matches so far, although he was sent off in the 5-3 defeat by Leicester. | Red Devils starlet Tyler Blackett is expected to be handed a hefty pay rise .
Blackett has impressed new Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal .
The 20-year-old currently earns £2,000-a-week at Old Trafford .
Van Gaal believes that Blackett is the future at Manchester United . |
98,932 | 0b6aa5493e121e853dff4046b1bdb8814ad17973 | (CNN)The newest additions to Monaco's royal family, month-old baby twins Gabriella and Jacques, made their first appearance before their subjects Wednesday. Their parents, Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco, presented them to a crowd of flag-waving onlookers from the balcony of the royal palace. Each carrying a baby swaddled in white blankets, the proud couple smiled and waved as the crowd cheered and applauded, while church bells rang and a military band played. The infant royals appeared to sleep through the event, for which a public holiday was declared. The twins were born on December 10 at the Princess Grace Hospital in Monaco, a tiny principality bordered on three sides by France and on the fourth by the Mediterranean Sea. Gabriella Therese Marie arrived in the world two minutes ahead of her brother. But in line with Monaco's rules of succession, Jacques Honore Rainier was named the Crown Prince and his sister next in line to the throne after him. The first pictures of the royal babies were released on the royal family's official Facebook account on December 23. "A beautiful Christmas gift to Monaco, friends of the Principality of Monaco and the royal family," said the post. One of the tiny additions to the royal family wears a pink babygrow and the other a blue one. Royal twins born in Monaco . The twins are the first children born to Charlene Wittstock, a former South African Olympic swimmer who married Prince Albert II in 2011. Prince Albert, 56, also has two children born out of wedlock in 1992 and 2003 who are not in line for the throne. He succeeded his father, Prince Rainier III, as Sovereign Prince of Monaco on his death in 2005. At 2.02 sq km (77 sq miles), it is the second smallest state in the world, after the Vatican, and about half the size of New York's Central Park. It sits on the French Riviera and is a popular tourist destination, famous for its casino and luxury hotels. | Baby twins Gabriella and Jacques were born on December 10 .
Jacques has been named the Crown Prince of Monaco . |
191,748 | 844cf2481fd8b37838f708856002cdec1fe2c4a3 | By . John Hall . Police in China have decided not to take action against a mother who savagely beat her six-year-old son with a wire coat hanger after they agreed he had been 'naughty' for not doing his homework. Xiao Bing's injuries were discovered by a teacher at the nursery school he attends in Jiangmen city in China's southern Guangdong province while he was getting changed for a sports lesson. But despite the teacher reporting the wounds to the authorities, Xiao Bing's mother will not face arrest after local police said the injuries were not as bad as they look, adding that they have told the woman not to beat her child so severely in future. WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT . Horrific: Xiao Bing's injuries were discovered by a teacher while he was getting changed for a sports lesson. The six-year-old said his mother beat him with a wire coat hanger for not doing his homework . Shocked by the nature of Xiao Bing's injuries, the teacher took photographs of them on her mobile phone and handed them over to the police. The child said his mother had beaten him with a wire coat hanger because he had not done his homework that day. But a police spokesman said that the . injuries simply looked worse than they were and that it had been enough . to have a word with the mother and to tell her not to be so severe in . the future. 'The boy's mother and father are unhappy . about his performance at school, saying that he is a naughty boy who . often fails to do his homework and needed to be taught a lesson,' police spokesman Hu Lung said. Awareness: The teacher posted the images online to highlight the abuse of children by Chinese parents who put their offspring under enormous pressure to perform at school . 'His mother had hit him after discovering that once again he had not done his homework on time.' Furious that the police had done nothing, the teacher posted the images online to highlight abuse of children by Chinese parents who put their offspring under enormous pressure to perform at school. Police said that the boy had been taken to hospital for treatment, but that the bruises and red marks quickly reduced in size and he was allowed home the same day. Restricted: Last week a family in Jiangxi province admitted chaining their son to his bed as a punishment for constant stealing . Punishment: Wen Yuan, 47, chained up his son, Chuang, 24 (pictured) because he believed his thieving habits had brought shame on the family and was concerned he would soon end up in prison . Last week a family in nearby Jiangxi province admitted chaining their son to his bed as a punishment for his constant stealing. Father Wen Yuan, 47, chained up his son, Chuang, 24, because he believed his thieving habits had brought shame on the family. As a result he tied his son to his bedroom in their house in Xibianban village in south China's Jiangxi province, for fear that if he didn't stop his son from stealing, he would soon end up in jail. | Six-year-old Xiao Bing was beaten with coat hanger for missing homework .
Teacher at school spotted injuries and reported them to the authorities .
But police say mother will escape arrest after agreeing he was 'naughty'
They added that the injuries were not as bad as they looked and said they had told Xiao Bing's mother not to beat the child so severely in the future . |
260,004 | dcab347c8313cf2d53e5ad8b550f570ff5ac972f | Amazing images have emerged of skilled pilots weaving through massive fireballs at the launch of a six-day airshow. The photographs were taken at the Australian International Airshow and Aerospace and Defence Exposition, which is being held from February 24 to March 1. Acrobatic pilots put on a heart-stopping show at the start of the event on Tuesday, performing above a huge fiery explosion. The airshow at Avalon Airfield, northeast of Geelong in Victoria, is a major national and international event which is expected to attract about 800,000 patrons over the duration of the event. Amazing photographs have emerged of skilled pilots diving and weaving through massive fireballs at air show in Australia . The photographs were taken at the Australian International Airshow and Aerospace and Defence Exposition, which is being held from February 24 to March 1 . Aerobatic pilots perform above a huge fiery explosion at the Australian International Airshow . About 180,000 patrons are expected through the gates over the duration of the event . Tuesday was the launch of the six-day airshow which is being held in Avalon, northeast of Geelong in Victoria . The Australian International Airshow, which launched on Tuesday, is a major national and international event . Acrobatic pilots put on a heart-stopping show at Avalon Airfield, southwest of Melbourne . A Singapore Air Force F-16 of the Black Knights (left) and a Royal Australian Army Tiger helicopter (right) Royal Australian Air Force F-18 Hornets perform during the Australian International Airshow . A firefighting jet aircraft performs a water-bombing run at the Australian International Airshow at the Avalon Airfield . | The Australian International Airshow is a major national and international event .
It is being held at Avalon Airfield, northeast of Geelong in Victoria .
The airshow, which runs from February 24 to March 1, is expected to attract 800,000 patrons .
Pilots put on a show at the start of the event on Tuesday above a huge fiery explosion . |
258,215 | da2ff2c96e383eab437bfa46db86f9f2b6690d5d | By . Michael Blackley . and Stephen Johns . Scotland is to join the rest of the UK by agreeing to legalise gay marriage later this week. The Scottish Parliament’s 128 MSPs will disregard massive opposition to the radical plan by voting on Wednesday to allow same-sex couples to marry. The issue has already humiliated David Cameron, with 133 of his Tory MPs trying voting against the proposals in the House of Commons earlier this year. Controversial: Politicians in Scotland are disregarding public opposition by backing same-sex marriage . Now Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond – a passionate champion of same-sex marriage - will also face a rebellion on the issue, with one of his Ministers revealing he will vote against the plans, as well as a clutch of SNP backbenchers. But a survey of all MSPs by the Mail on Sunday has revealed that an overwhelming majority of MSPs will back the proposals when they vote on the issue for the first time on Wednesday evening. Although the Bill will then be subject to additional revision by a parliamentary committee before a final vote at some point next year, securing approval ‘in principle’ is likely to end any doubts about the legislation being passed. Opponents of the legislation will then start to focus on campaigning for appropriate safeguards to be put in place to protect the rights of people who refuse to promote same-sex marriage and ensure that no individual celebrant is forced to hold gay ceremonies against their will. Our survey reveals that 86 MSPs have confirmed they will vote for same-sex marriage, while 11 plan to vote against. However, the rebellion against the move could grow in the coming days, as ten MSPs say they remain undecided and a further 20 have refused to reveal how they will vote on the issue. Leader: First Minister Alex Salmond is one of the MSPs said to be voting in favour of gay marriage . The decision to press ahead with the move comes despite the Scottish Government’s biggest ever public consultation revealing that more than two-thirds of respondents opposed the plan. The issue has led to considerable tension within the SNP. Four Nationalist MSPs say they will definitely vote against the move – including Alasdair Allan, the Minister for Learning, Sciences and Scotland’s Languages, as well as backbenchers Richard Lyle, John Mason and Dave Thompson. Mr Allan, who represents the Western Isles and is a former senior media relations officer at the Church of Scotland, said hundreds of his constituents have been in touch to urge him to back the ‘traditional definition of marriage’. He said: ‘In responding to people, I have pointed out that I am supportive of the existing rights of same-sex couples to civil partnerships, and that I welcome the belated respect which society rightly gives gay people, but that I believe difficult issues are raised around the specific question of marriage. This view has also been informed by the strength of feeling which exists among many people in the islands. ‘Among all these different views, the view which so many of my constituents have expressed to me has a right to be recorded, and for that reason it is my intention to vote against the Bill.’ The Scottish Mail on Sunday survey is the most detailed research ever carried out into the views of Scotland’s MSPs on same-sex marriage. As all MSPs will be allowed to vote on the issue as a ‘matter of conscience’ – without being told how to vote by party whips – the result is less predictable than on most issues in the Scottish parliament, where the SNP has a majority and is normally able to confidently press through its opposition. Split: The Scottish Conservatives were the only party to have more MSPs opposed to the legislation, which is embarrassing to Ruth Davidson, the party's openly gay leader who has been a prominent supporter . The Scottish Conservatives were the only party to have more MSPs opposed to the legislation than supportive of it – with six saying they will vote against the Bill and just four saying they will vote for it. That is embarrassing for Ruth Davidson, the party’s leader, who has been one of the most prominent supporters of the legislation at Holyrood. The Scottish Government is committed to a . Scotland that is fair and equal and that is why we believe that same . sex couples who wish should be allowed to marry as soon as possible . Scottish Government Spokesman . But Miss Davidson said: ‘I believe the forthcoming bill on same sex marriage is an issue of conscience, which is why I have given Conservative MSPs a free vote on the issue. ‘I support same sex marriage and will be voting to pass this bill.’ The four SNP members who have said they will vote against the plans are expected to be joined by more rebels on Wednesday, with four nationalist MSPs saying they remain undecided and a further ten saying they won’t reveal their view before voting later this week. Former SNP leader Gordon Wilson believes that pressing ahead with the legislation will cost the party votes in future elections – and urged MSPs to ensure they get proper protection for religious groups who don’t want to hold same-sex marriages. He said: ‘Bland assurances will not necessarily deal with the realities of supervision of the legislation by the courts. ‘There’s a majority for it but once you get the principle what then happens is it’s about “on what terms”? Like any insurance policy, it’s about the small print – look at what the small print says. That’s my advice to MSPs – even if you’re in favour, look at the small print and what might happen because the courts are outwith your control.’ Following Wednesday’s vote, the Bill . will then return to Holyrood’s equal opportunities committee, which will . consider any amendments which need to be made. It remains on track to be passed in time to allow the first gay weddings to take place in 2015. Opponents . of same-sex marriage want more to be done to ensure that those who . continue to believe in traditional marriage do not suffer discrimination . in their career or have freedom of speech restricted. They fear that some professionals, such as teachers, could be sacked if they fail to promote gay marriage. Freedom: MSPs will be allowed to vote as a 'matter of conscience' when they cast their ballots at Holyrood . A spokesman for the Scotland For Marriage pressure group, which includes representatives of the Catholic Church in Scotland and The Christian Institute, said: ‘The Scottish Government’s promise of sufficient safeguards have been shown to be hollow. Real safeguards set out in amendments to the legislation are required to protect the rights and civil liberties of the majority of Scots who don’t support this law.’ Among those set to vote against the Bill is Tory MSP Alex Johnstone, a member of the Scottish parliament’s equal opportunities committee. He said: ‘There’s been a substantial trend in recent years away from supporting traditional marriage as a basis for the raising of children and providing the cornerstone for society as a whole. ‘At a time when we should have been looking for ways to underpin and reinforce marriage on that basis we seem to be obsessed with pursuing what I believe is an unjustified desire to provide same-sex marriage, so I think it is a step in the wrong direction as far as the support of marriage in society is concerned.’ However, Scottish Tory deputy leader Jackson Carlaw said he would support the Bill – while ensuring that any amendments can provide full protection to religions, faiths and congregations which don’t want to take part. Colin Beattie, Nationalist MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, said: ‘I don’t think the case for making it different for gay people holds much water: everyone should be equal. ‘I’m concerned about the people who are against but if you are a parliamentarian you have to deal with hard facts and logic on whether something should become law and it is hard to take into account religious views on that basis.’ A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘The Scottish Government is committed to a Scotland that is fair and equal and that is why we believe that same sex couples who wish should be allowed to marry as soon as possible.’ | 86 out of 127 politicians in Holyrood say they will vote to pass legislation .
Ten said they remained undecided and 20 refused to reveal their opinion .
Consultation revealed two-thirds of respondents were against plans . |
223,740 | adb0fb7cdc57464498fde46441a5a3c33ccd8483 | A best-selling author fears the manuscript of her new novel has been reduced to ashes by a mystery fire that ripped through her £2.5million townhouse. Daisy Goodwin wept last night as she told how the book was on a laptop computer that had been consumed by flames. She, her husband and their two daughters, Lydia, 14, and Ottilie, 23, were not at their home when the fire broke out on the first floor. At least we’re safe: Daisy Goodwin with her daughter Lydia, 14, who were not at home when the fire began . But their cleaner was in the basement and managed to flee – only to bravely return to rescue the family’s three dogs. A baby and two women in a neighbouring property also escaped after the flames spread to their building via the attic. They were treated for smoke inhalation by paramedics. Sixty fire officers took two and a half hours to extinguish the blaze in West Kensington, London, on Monday. Last night Mrs Goodwin, who penned the historical novels The Fortune Hunter and My Last Duchess, said: ‘It’s awful. I still can’t believe it.’ Earlier she posted on Twitter: ‘So my house has actually burnt down, or half of it. Feel like I am in the Old Testament. London Fire Brigade damp down Daisy Goodwin's home following the fire yesterday afternoon . Saved: Marcus Wilford (left), the husband of author Daisy Goodwin (right), with the dogs that were rescued . ‘I am grateful to the fire brigade for coming so quickly, and to everyone who helped, and I’m glad everyone was alright.’ She was at her local library when her husband, TV executive Marcus Wilford, 54, phoned to tell her about the fire. Neighbours had dialled 999 after seeing smoke pouring from the roof. Mrs Goodwin said: ‘I think the dogs will be fine. I’m worried about my younger daughter’s homework. Her GCSE coursework’s been destroyed.’ She added: ‘I think the novel is backed up somewhere in the Cloud but I just don’t know.’ The family are now in a hotel. London Fire Brigade believe the fire was accidental. | Daisy Goodwin left devastated following fire in West Kensington, London .
Laptop which may have been destroyed held manuscript for her next novel .
Family fear daughter's GCSE coursework and all their clothes destroyed .
Told Twitter followers firefighters who helped put out blaze were 'amazing' |
4,361 | 0c93c780440008075a40d9e4c7ff394c022885c2 | Scroll down for video . A one-year-old baby died in Upstate New York on Tuesday after it ingested liquid nicotine, the chemical used in the popular e-cigarettes. The baby died at its home in Fort Plains on Tuesday and when it was found unresponsive it was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead. ABC reports that police say the death was a 'tragic accident' and that no foul play was involved. Dangerous: Liquid nicotine that could have been for an e-cigarette killed a one-year-old in Upstate New York who ingested the dangerous chemical . It's unclear as to whether or not the liquid was for an e-cigarette but officials expressed their concern about similar accidents happening to children of e-cigarette smokers in the future. 'One teaspoon of liquid nicotine could be lethal to a child, and smaller amounts can cause severe illness, often requiring trips to the emergency department,' the American Association of Poison Control centers in a statement yesterday. They also states that even though liquid nicotine is dangerous for children there are currently no child-proof packaging standards set in place. The American Association of Poison Control Centers made an announcement in November that the number of exposures to liquid nicotine is on the rise. By November 30 there had been 3,638 exposures to the dangerous chemical. That's more than double the 1,543 exposures reported in 2013. In 2011 just 271 exposures were counted. The child's death on Tuesday marks the first death related to the substance since 2012 when a man injected himself with the chemical. Dr.Donna Seger, director of the poison control center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said that even the smallest amount of nicotine can be dangerous for children. 'They’re not that difficult to get into,' Seger said of the vials that contain the nicotine. 'The issue is once the exposure occurs, it could be bad.' ABC spoke with Phil Daman, president of the Smoke-Free Alternatives Trade Association who questioned whether or not the nicotine the child found was in fact the standard liquid used for e-cigarettes. Growing popularity: As the popularity of e-cigarettes increases so does the number of dangerous exposures to -liquid nicotine used in the cigarette . The liquids range in strength from low to high and the one consumed by the child could have been a higher dosage than normal. Daman also said he was, 'saddened to hear the terrible news.' '[We] want to always be mindful to put safe products on the market,' said Daman . He said companies should do their best to 'err on the side of caution.' Symptoms of nicotine exposure are vomiting, nausea, and eye irritation. Children may be more likely to consume the nicotine liquids that are flavored and made to look like candy. 'E-cigarette liquids as currently sold are a threat to small children because they are not required to be childproof, and they come in candy and fruit flavors that are appealing to children,' said U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Tom Frieden in April. As more and more children become exposed, legislators and companies are taking steps to ensure safety. The e-cigarette Vapor World, changed their packaging to make bottles child resistant. Governor Andrew Cuomo of is set to sign a bill in coming weeks that will require child-resistant caps on liquid nicotine bottles. | The baby died at its home in Fort Plains on Tuesday and when it was found unresponsive it was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead .
Police say the death was a 'tragic accident' and that no foul play is expected .
Governor Andrew Cuomo of is set to sign a bill in coming weeks that will require child-resistant caps on liquid nicotine bottles . |
160,545 | 5b8d22b739cc163d5c1d96c64402413d901f33db | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Syria may be in the grip of an unrelenting civil war with its murderous regime facing the threat of impending American intervention, yet on the Syrian Presidency’s Instagram account the county’s first lady is attempting to paint a very different picture of her county. The social media platform is being used by the regime as a sickening propaganda tool as they attempt to sell a lie to the outside world that all is well. The main stooge in this shameless PR exercise is the president’s wife Asma al Assad who it seems is all too willing to try and mask the horrific atrocities being carried out by her husband’s forces. Shameless propaganda: The Syrian government posted this photo op, left, featuring the country’s first lady on Wednesday, while in reality men inspect a site hit by what activists said was shelling by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad . Different worlds: This photo of the President and his wife was posted on the Syrian Presidency’s Instagram account on July 30, the same day that Bashar al-Assad’s forces carried out this attack in the Duma neighbourhood of Damascus . Even as photographic evidence emerges from the country showing what Assad’s regime are doing to his people, the Instragram account attempts to sell an alternative version of events where the president’s wife is photographed smiling as she hugs old women and ladles out soup to refugees alongside mobile kitchen volunteers. In reality the photographs show that British-born Asma al-Assad has become a Marie Antoinette figure, completely out of touch with what is really going on in the country. In some photographs recently posted on Instagram, she is shown wearing a new blue Jawbone UP on her right wrist – a device designed to help wearers keep track of how many steps they take and calories they burn. The Instagram account was opened in July in what an apparent attempt to win back favor across the globe, but it didn't take long before it backfired. In a tasteless photo op: Asma al-Assad ladles out soup to starving refugees wearing her expensive exercise bracelet in this August 4 photo, while the same day a boy stands next to a barricade set up by the Free Syrian Army in Aleppo . No one smiles: British-born Asma al-Assad reaches out to a clearly uncomfortable girl on August 11, while elsewhere in Syria a woman carrying a bag of bread exits a bakery run by the Islamic rebel group ‘Ahrar Al-Sham’ The staged publicity shots are fooling very few and although some users have comment on Mrs al-Assad's 'beautiful soul,' the majority are less forgiving. 'I love ur designer clothes and shoes... paid for by the blood of your people! Seriously, u make Marie Antoinette look like an angel compared to you!,' wrote one Instagram user. Others comment on the 'hypocrisy' of Mrs al-Assad being pictured caring for young people when tens of thousands of children have died in the two-year Syrian war. To date, more than 100,000 men, women and children have been killed and nearly two million Syrians have fled the country since the conflict started in March 2011 . But as millions have fled the fighting to neighboring states, the Syrian regime appear to have stepped up their attempts to show a life-as-normal image for the President and his family. President Bashar al-Assad attempts to maintain an air of respectability on July 28, while at the same time his forces patrol in the battle-scarred Khalidiyah neighborhood of the central city of Homs . Asma al-Assad has become a Marie Antoinette figure out of touch with what is really going on. She is pictured on Instagram embracing an old woman on July 31, while a member of the Free Syrian Army carries an injured civilian after shelling by forces loyal to her husband on the same day . Nadim Houry, deputy director for Human Rights Watch in the Middle East and East Africa, said Al-Assad's Instagram account was something different to previous leaders like the deposed Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. He said: 'I think it is a generational thing, I am not aware older leaders like Mubarak and Gaddafi used social networking, but the Syrian regime has always been keen to show a business-like image to the world. 'I am not surprised by this account, but it is a parallel between the regime attempting to want to show a sense of normality and the reality for the people subjected to the bombs, arbitrary arrests, human rights abuses and violence. 'Bashar Al-Assad is not going to show the millions of people displaced, it's not going to show attacks on civilians.' Photo opportunity: Asma al Assad hands out supplies in this July 24 Instagram image, while boys look at a pool of blood belonging to one of ten victims of shelling at Bustan Al Qasr carried out by forces loyal to her husband on the very same day . The Syrian Presidency’s Instagram account attempts to portray an alternative reality where Bashar al Assad appears presidential such as in this August 8 photo, but meanwhile a Free Syrian Army fighter uses a mirror to monitor the movements of the president's forces elsewhere as the civil war rages on . Amnesty International UK Syria campaign manager, Kristyan Benedict, said: 'On one level you'd have to say that it's not surprising to find any government, even the rigid and oppressive one in Damascus, using social media to broadcast and frame its own narrow world view. 'Image obviously matters in a cult of personality and the illusion of relative stability is important in President Assad's "love me or I'll kill you" strategy. 'Naturally, we'll find no trace here of the horrifying reality on the ground in Syria - of the torture chambers or places of execution. Seeing the Assads in hospitals only reminds you of the fact that Syrian government hospitals have been used as places of torture. 'No amount of photos or tweets or Facebook posts will ever wash away the stain on the Syrian government's record.' Façade: President Assad's arrival at Laylat Al-Qadr Iftar with representatives of the Syrian Societyon August 5, left, while vegetable vendors rest against a bus-turned barricade with visible entrances of sniper bullets . | The Syrian Presidency's Instagram account churns out tasteless photo ops featuring first lady Asma al Assad .
The propaganda images attempt to portray a very different Syria to the grim reality faced by the country's people . |
90,877 | 00e09c382e7a5eee5124988a8103e05544ab391e | It was lost over 100 years ago in what many consider the worst maritime disaster in San Francisco history. On Feb. 22, 1901, in a dense morning fog, the SS City of Rio de Janeiro struck jagged rocks near the Golden Gate Bridge and sank almost immediately, killing 128 of the 210 passengers and crew aboard the ship. The ship was never found - until now. The CodaOctopus 3-D Echoscope sonar images of the SS City of Rio De Janeiro, which reveal it on the seabed for the first time since it sank without trace on Feb. 22, 1901, in a dense morning fog. The ships parts are clearly visible, even though it is in 287 feet of water, positioned inside the main ship channel, and buried in mud. The NOAA and partners today released three-dimensional sonar maps and images of the immigrant steamship. 'We are undertaking this exploration of the San Francisco Bay in part to learn more about its maritime heritage as well as to test recent advances in technology that will allow us to better protect and understand the rich stories found beneath the Bay's waters,' said James Delgado, director of maritime heritage for NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. The images also revealed that the ship did not, as rumoured, contain treasure. City of Rio de Janeiro was rumored to be full of silver treasure, but Delgado said accounts of a shipment of 'Chinese silver' were actually bars of tin. 'Today the wreck is broken and filled with mud, and it is a sealed grave in fast, dangerous waters in the main shipping lanes,' he said. A Present day photo at the entrance of the Golden Gate looking westward with Fort Point at the far left where the SS City of Rio de Janeiro struck the rocks and foundered on February 22, 1901. Where it was found: The area is in the centre of the image, which also shows two other shipwrecks, City of Chester and Fernstream. On February 22, 1901 the SS City of Rio de Janeiro was enveloped in thick morning fog while moving through the narrow entrance of the Golden Gate Bridge. Without warning the ship struck Fort Point. At the time of the stranding, an ebbing tide pushed the steamer back from the bridge and off the rocks. The SS City of Rio de Janeiro built by John Roach & Son in 1878 at Chester, Penn. regularly transported passengers and cargo between Asia and San Francisco, photo taken at Nagasaki, Japan, 1894. It was also used as a military boat, right, when during the Spanish American War, the U.S. Government charted Pacific Mail Steamship Company steamships as troopships. The ship's bulkheads were not watertight, so it rapidly flooded, sinking within 10 minutes. Many of the passengers, most of them Chinese and Japanese emigrants, were asleep in their cabins and died below. Of the 210 on board, 128 lives were lost, making this shipwreck the highest loss of life at the Golden Gate Bridge. The ship is considered by historians as the 'Titanic of the Golden Gate' Fishermen in the area, hearing the ship's distress calls, helped rescue 82 survivors, many plucked from makeshift rafts and floating wreckage. A recovered life ring from the wreck of the SS City of Rio de Janeiro, left, andCaptain William Ward, master of the SS City of Rio de Janeiro at the time of the loss, right. The dead included Chinese and Japanese immigrants as well as the U.S. Consul-General in Hong Kong, who was returning to the U.S. on leave with his wife and two children. The entire family died in the tragedy. City of Rio de Janeiro, launched in 1878, joined the fleet of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, carrying passengers and freight to and from San Francisco, Honolulu, Yokohama, Japan and Hong Kong as America expanded into the Far East and Pacific after the Civil War. Most Americans whose ancestors came to the United States from the Far East in the 19th and early 20th centuries to start a new life arrived on ships like City of Rio de Janeiro. Five officers on board the SS City of Rio de Janeiro. Standing left to right, Joseph Matthews, Chief Engineer, O. K. Freeman, Purser, Harry Kirulff, Surgeon, Caterinich, First Officer, center with dog, J. Tremain Smith, Captain. In November, Hibbard Inshore and Bay Marine Services donated a research vessel and crew, along with a high-powered remotely operated vehicle, to help NOAA pinpoint and map the City of Rio de Janeiro wreck site using sonar developed by Coda Octopus. California-based salvagers found the wreck in the 1980s, but its exact location was unknown as the coordinates they provided did not coincide with any wreck charted by NOAA through years of sonar work. During this expedition, Robert Schwemmer, West Coast Regional Maritime Heritage Coordinator, worked with Delgado and multibeam sonar expert Gary Fabian to locate the wreck site again. They located the site in 287 feet of water, positioned inside the main ship channel, and largely buried in mud. Schwemmer and the Hibbard team captured the first detailed sonar and three-dimensional images of City of Rio resting in the dark, muddy waters outside the bridge. 'The level of detail and clarity from the sonar survey is amazing,' Schwemmer said. 'We now have a much better sense of both wrecks, and of how they not only sank, but what has happened to them since their loss.' The 3-D model generated by the Coda Octopus 'Echoscope' sonar also gave researchers an entirely new perspective on the condition of the wreck site. What they found was a crumpled, scarcely recognizable iron hulk encased in more than a century worth of mud and sediment, lending support to the narrative that the ship sank quickly before many of its passengers could escape. Bay Marine Services LLC, research vessel Eaglet with Hibbard Inshore LLC Saab Sabertooth Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) / Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) equipped with Coda Octopus 3-D Echoscope sonar, which was used to create the amazing images. The expedition team also remapped the S.S. City of Chester,a second nearby wreck that was rediscovered in May 2013 by NOAA's Office of the Coast Survey. In stark contrast to the City of Rio, the Echoscope revealed in great detail the surprising level of preservation of the City of Chester's frame and propulsion machinery, telling a very different story about the circumstances of its sinking. To date NOAA has plotted nine of nearly 200 ships including four never before found vessels. The NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Maritime Heritage Program is engaged in a two-year study to discover and document shipwrecks in Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and nearby Golden Gate National Recreation Area. | Accident dubbed 'Titanic of the Golden Gate' and many consider it worst maritime disaster in San Francisco history .
The ship rapidly flooded, sinking within 10 minutes and killing 128 of the 210 passengers and crew .
3D scans have revealed the wreck in 287 feet of water, positioned inside the main ship channel, and buried in mud .
Images also revealed that the ship did not, as rumoured, contain treasure, but instead tin bars . |
25,716 | 48db16f2626c69607636caf20691586382a31ce8 | One of the world's largest hotel chains has today launched an innovative new device that lets guests unlock their hotel rooms with their smartphones. Starwood Hotels and Resorts, which owns and runs 1,162 hotels worldwide, unveiled the feature at 10 Aloft, Element and W hotels. It is planning to expand the technology, which works via a Bluetooth connection, to 140 more of its properties by the middle of next year. Starwood Hotels and Resorts, which owns and runs 1,162 hotels worldwide, have unveiled an innovative smartphone feature that unlocks hotels doors using Bluetooth technology . The facility is set to revolutionise the check-in process as it means that busy travellers can now by-pass the concierge desk altogether and head straight to their rooms. As well as meaning an end to check-in queues, the new facility could eventually mean the end for key cards and traditional room keys. Hilton Worldwide is the only other hotel chain to publicly acknowledge plans for mobile room keys - which it plans to roll out at the end of 2015 at its US properties including Hilton, Waldorf Astoria, Conrad and Canopy hotels. The move comes after Marriott International launched the ability for guests to check in through a smartphone app at 330 of its North American hotels last year. The facility is set to revolutionise the check-in process as it means that busy travellers can now by-pass the concierge desk altogether and head straight to their rooms . Mobile check-in is already being offered to travellers at the main check-in counter at the Marriott Marquis Times Square hotel in New York . A guest at the Marriott Marquis Times Square hotel in New York after using the mobile check-in facility . By the end of this year, the programme will be live at all 4,000 Marriott hotels worldwide. When a room becomes available, a message is sent to the guest's phone. Traditional room keys are pre-programmed and waiting at the front desk. A special express line allows guests to bypass crowds, flash their IDs and get keys. InterContinental Hotels Group is testing express check-in at 60 hotels. ‘Guests want this because it makes their lives simpler,’ said Mark Vondrasek, who oversees the loyalty program and digital initiatives for Starwood. ‘The ability to go right to your room, gives them back time.’ The innovations are still being tweaked as hotels scramble to catch up to airlines. Fliers today can already use their phones to check in, select seats and as a boarding pass. Hotels envision a similar relationship, with guests ultimately ordering poolside drinks via an app. Marriott International launched the ability to check in through its app at 330 North American hotels last year . Guests who like personal interaction can still opt for a more leisurely check-in, and the hotel companies insist the move isn't about cutting jobs. Brett Cowell, vice president of information technology for Hyatt, which is testing permanent keys for frequent guests at six hotels, explained the decision to introduce the new streamlined check-in process, saying: ‘If you're at the end of a long day, you might want a little less of a chatty experience. ‘But if you're showing up at a new resort, you may want to know what the pool hours are.’ Starwood’s new smartphone facilities require the phone to actually touch a pad on the outside of the door to open it, which the company say prevents guests accidentally unlocking their doors if their smartphones are in their pocket. By the end of this year, the program will be live at all 4,000 Marriott hotels worldwide . Also, an additional security measure means that only one phone can be linked to a room at a time. If two people are staying in the room, they still need to get a traditional key for the second guest. Hotels are currently trying to get more travellers comfortable using their mobile apps to purchase suites, spa treatments and room service though their phones and tablets. It is also hoped that smartwatches will soon be able to perform the same functions, while guests can also use apps on their iPads that are capable of requesting a wake-up call from staff. Marriott guests made $1.25bn in bookings last year through its mobile app, according to George Corbin, senior vice president of digital for the company. Guests who like personal interaction can still opt for a more leisurely check-in, and the hotel companies insist the move isn't about cutting jobs . The new facilities could eventually mean an end to check-in queues, key cards and traditional room keys . Starwood's app to unlock hotel rooms currently requires Bluetooth data connection. Each hotel room needs to have a new lock that can communicate with phones. The top 15 hotel companies have more than 42,000 properties worldwide with a combined 5.2 million rooms, according to travel research firms STR and STR Global. Many hotels have made updates over the past few years, but they remain the minority. Marriott says it is holding off on smartphone keys until all the potential bugs can be resolved. ‘If there was ever a moment that matters,’ Corbin says, ‘it's the moment when you go up to your door and the key doesn't work.’ But for the frequent business traveller, this might just be the time-saver they are looking for. Bruce Craven spends about 100 nights a year on the road, traveling between his California home and New York where he does executive training programs and teaches at Columbia Business School. He's been testing Starwood's smartphone room key since March. ‘If you're traveling all the time, little things can take on a symbolic importance,’ Craven said. ‘This is one less thing that I need to think about.’ | Starwood Hotels and Resorts is the first chain to uses the facility .
Feature currently available at 10 Aloft, Element and W hotels .
Marriott International launched check-in app at 330 of its US hotels last year .
Move could eventually mean the end of key cards and traditional room keys . |
187,298 | 7e8f60cdb580519e4efb0f61e12d073bbcb42dfc | Ten Roman Catholic priests in Spain have been charged with sexually abusing altar boys after the Pope was contacted by an alleged victim. The priests, as well as two Catholic lay workers, are suspected of abusing four teenage boys between 2004 and 2007- with the most serious offences taking place in a house used by the clerics. The alleged abuse came to light after one of the victims, now 24, wrote to the Pope to say he had been molested when he was an altar boy. Archbishop of Granada Francisco Javier Martinez and priests prostrate themselves in front of the altar to seek pardon for sexual abuse in the Church at the cathedral in Granada, southern Spain . Pope Francis has personally telephoned the man to offer his apologies, Spanish news site Religion Digital reported. The head of the Catholic Church then ordered an investigation. Several arrests were made in November but the suspects are now free on bail. If convicted they could each be facing more than 20 years of jail time. The Archbishop of Granada, Francisco Javier Martinez, and fellow priests prostrated themselves in front of the altar of Granada's cathedral to seek pardon for sexual abuse in the Church at the time of the arrests. The Archbishop also removed several priests linked to the case from their duties. A man, believed to be one of twelve Roman Catholic priests and Catholic lay persons charged with sexual abuse, sits in a police car after leaving a police station in Granada, southern Spain, November 24 . Archbishop of Granada Francisco Javier Martinez (pictured) speaks during a mass at the cathedral in Granada, southern Spain after the priests were arrested last November as part of the child sexual abuse case . The victim who appealed for help to the Pope claimed the abuse started when he was 14 and continued up to the age of 17. It is alleged that the boy and a friend, who had served as altar boys in the Diocese of Granada, were invited by a priest to spend time at his parochial house and another property in a suburb of Granada, where the most serious assaults were committed. Abuse survivors have criticised the Church which they claim has failed to punish senior officials accused of covering up scandals in several countries over many years. Pope Francis has promised a policy of zero tolerance for sexual abuse of children by clerics and last year asked for forgiveness for the Church from victims. The Vatican said last year it had defrocked about 850 priests between 2004 and 2013 who had been accused of sexually abusing minors. The Archbishop and priests prostrated themselves after Pope Francis received a letter from an alleged victim of child abuse and instigated an investigation . | Ten Roman Catholic priests in Spain have been charged with sex abuse .
Two Catholic lay workers in the city of Granada have also been charged .
They are suspected of abusing four teenage boys between 2004 - 2007 .
Pope Francis called one of the alleged victims to offer his apologies . |
83,343 | ec649233ceebe12a22122d96716a38ede5986f2a | These four newly hatched tortoises appear more than happy to adjust to their new surroundings from the comfort of their mother's back. Staff at Lake District Wildlife Park, near Keswick successfully bred four baby African spurred tortoises for the first time. And the newly hatched tortoises, named after the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, have wasted little time getting to know their mother who was photographed yesterday giving the four a ride on her back. The babies, named Donatello, Raphael, Leonardo and Michelangelo after the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, take a ride on their mother's back . One of the three-week-old African spurred tortoise babies, pictured on its mother Margaret's back . Staff at Lake District Wildlife Park believe the warm British summer helped the eggs to hatch . Zoo staff now believe the soaring summer temperatures may actually have helped the tiny 2in babies to hatch. Park manager Richard Robinson said Donatello, Raphael, Leonardo and Michelangelo were successfully incubated for 100 days. He said: 'We have had eggs in the past but we never managed to get everything in place. 'I would like to think the wonderful weather we had helped things along. 'We also have a very good reptile keeper who incubated the eggs successfully, so the skill and dedication of the staff had a big influence.' They are African spurred tortoises, also known as sulcata tortoises. They can live to be 150 years old and keep growing - weighing up to 14 stone (90kg). The four babies are still very small and fragile. At the moment they measure about 2in long . A picture of one of the babies hatching from its shell. They were successfully incubated for 100 days . | Four baby tortoises born at Lake District Wildlife Park, near Keswick .
Staff believe the warm summer temperatures helped the eggs to hatch .
The 2in babies were pictured yesterday going for a ride on mother's back .
They are named Donatello, Raphael, Leonardo and Michelangelo . |
167,900 | 652ac9bc6ff947091a6639e512f1d2b4f5d4c429 | Premier League clubs could have signed Alexis Sanchez for as little as £2million had they shown enough belief in him, the man who brought him to Europe has claimed. Udinese president Giampaolo Pozzo, who bought Sanchez from Corbreloa for that price back in 2006, said bigger clubs were aware of the attacking prodigy but he chose to move to Italy because they were the first to show faith in his ability. 'The big clubs, not just English, had sensed the deal but we were good at getting the player first when he was not yet known,' Pozzo told The Sun. 'He wanted to sign for us because firstly, he wanted to come to Europe and then because we were the first to believe in him. Alexis Sanchez playing for Serie A side Udinese during their clash with Lecce back in 2011 . Sanchez was sent out on loan for two seasons by Udinese before returning to their first team . 'Our scouts in South America saw his unquestionable technical qualities. But, from when we started following him, he also had a personality that was out of the ordinary for a boy of that age.' Udinese loaned Sanchez to Colo-Colo and Argentine giants River Plate before finally bringing him back to play in their first team. He flourished in Italy, making his name in three remarkable seasons at the club. One man with first hand experience of playing with Sanchez is Watford striker Matej Vydra, who was at Udinese at the same time. Sanchez scores for Barcelona against Real Madrid in 'El Classico' at the Nou Camp in 2012 . Sanchez competes for an aerial duel with Manchester City defender Gael Clichy last season . He said: 'He will help Arsenal's players. When at Udinese, every day he tried to make his team-mates better and it's good when someone helps you. He was young but was like a coach and wanted to help.' Sanchez's form ultimately saw him picked up by then-European Champions Barcelona, who paid £30m for his services in 2011. And after three seasons with the Catalan club, in which he scored 39 goals in 88 league appearances, Arsenal paid £30m to bring him to the Premier League. Sanchez has excelled since joining Arsenal for £30m during the summer, and is their top scorer . The Chilean forward trains with Arsenal ahead of their clash with Premier League champions City . | Udinese president Giampaolo Pozzo signed Alexis Sanchez for £2m .
Pozzo said they beat bigger clubs because they were first to believe in him .
After three years in Italy, Sanchez moved to Barcelona and then Arsenal .
Former team-mate Matej Vydra said Sanchez is so good he's 'like a coach' |
2,494 | 07483c768fee08cc94b9dbdaa3c0b17d13d128d7 | A 'gangster's moll' who blew more than £75,000 of drugs money on a luxury lifestyle will only have to pay back £800. Natasha Hugh, 28, spent £78,000 on an opulent wedding, top-class dental work and exotic holidays in the Caribbean. The beautician was bankrolled by her boxing champion husband Justyn Hugh, 30, who made £400,000 bringing cocaine into the country from Albania and the Netherlands. Natasha Hugh (left) was bankrolled by her boxing champion husband Justyn Hugh (right) who made £400,000 bringing cocaine into the country from Albania and the Netherlands . She spent thousands of pounds during a four-year spending spree, including £10,477 on her dream wedding at the Vale Resort - a luxury hotel near Cardiff used by sports stars and celebrities. Prosecutor Roger Griffiths said: 'There was a lavish lifestyle which wasn't sustainable on the declared earnings of Mr and Mrs Hugh. 'The majority of transactions were dealt with in cash installments. 'Mrs Hugh knew or should have known the money had come from crime.' The mother-of-two spent £2,260 on dental work and £2,345 on bridal accessories ahead of her wedding to ex-Welsh Light Heavyweight champion boxer Justyn. She also paid £5,000 in cash for a sporty Mini Cooper - which she later upgraded for a £19,570 Mini Countryman. Hugh's luxury lifestyle was paid for by her husband after he trafficked five-and-a-half kilograms of cocaine into South Wales from London. Hugh (pictuted) blew thousands of pounds during a four-year spending spree, including £10,477 on her dream wedding at the Vale Resort - a luxury hotel near Cardiff used by sports stars and celebrities . Judge Stephen Hopkins, sitting at Cardiff Crown Court (pictured), ordered Justyn Hugh to pay back £9,500 while Natasha must pay back £820 . Justyn Hugh, from Newport, South Wales, was caught following an eight-month police investigation and sentenced to 10 years in jail after pleading guilty to conspiring to supply a Class A drug. His wife, also from Newport, was given 18 months in jail after being found guilty of possession of criminal property following trial. A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing was told the couple made more than £400,000 from their criminal activity but would only have to pay back the £10,320 that could be recovered by police. Judge Stephen Hopkins, sitting at Cardiff Crown Court, ordered Justyn Hugh to pay back £9,500 while Natasha must pay back £820. The judge told her he did not believe she had expressed any remorse for what she had done and that she had 'financially benefited' from her husband's drug dealing. | Natasha Hugh spent £78,000 on wedding, dental work and luxury holidays .
But a judge at Cardiff Crown Court has ordered her to pay back just £820 .
Beautician was bankrolled by her boxing champion husband Justyn Hugh .
He had made £400,000 bringing cocaine into UK from Holland and Albania .
His wife had spent £10,477 on dream wedding at a top venue near Cardiff .
The 28-year-old also bought a Mini Countryman for £19,570, court was told .
She was jailed for 18 months after being found guilty of possession of criminal property following a trial . |
69,816 | c5ed61c2bb20e7e58a7b3b964e24eb4ac657c514 | Disgraced entertainer Rolf Harris has been stripped of his two Australian honours. The decision was gazetted by Governor-General Peter Cosgrove on Monday. 'It is notified that the Governor-General has terminated the appointments of Officer and Member of the Order of Australia in the General Division made to Mr Rolf Harris,' the notice from Mark Fraser, the Secretary of the Order of Australia, said. The news coming amid revelations that the convicted paedophile could be earning as much as $2500 a day from his prison cell thanks to his shrewd investments. Scroll down for video . Harris, pictured leaving court in June last year with daughter Bindi (right), wife Alwen (second left) and niece Jenny (left), is believed to be earning as much as $2500 a day from his investments . No longer a Member of the Order of Australia. Confirmation that Rolf Harris' appointment has been officially withdrawn by Australian officials . Harris was jailed for five years and nine months last July for sex attacks on children as young as eight between 1968 and 1986. But while fellow inmates at his Category C Stafford prison earn no more than $12 a day performing chores, the disgraced 84-year-old is making a fortune. ‘He is a convicted paedophile and yet he is making a large sum of money,’ a source close to his finances told the Sunday People. ‘All he has to do is sit in his cell and his fortune grows.’ Harris invested much of his multi-million dollar earnings from his long-running career as a TV star, musician and artist. Disgraced entertainer Rolf Harris, 84, is making a fortune from his investments while in jail . At the time of his sentencing, his companies were worth almost $20million, the Sunday People reported. New figures suggest his earnings have shot by more than $500,000, according to the newspaper. His only daughter Bindi, who stood by him during his trial, resigned from her position as director . Harris also owns a home on the River Thames and his total assets could be worth more than $30million. He also earns interest on $4.6million in cash and the stock-market value of $12.4million of shares owned by his firms continues to rise. Harris is one of many celebrities jailed for historic sex crimes in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal. Former glam rock singer Gary Glitter was found guilty of carrying out a string of sex attacks on young girls while at the height of his fame. He was found guilty of of attempted rape, four counts of indecent assault, and one count of sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13. Rolf Harris removal from the Australian gongs list was made official by the Secretary of the Order of Australia, Mark Fraser, on Monday. | Rolf Harris has his Order of Australia gong officially withdrawn .
The Order of Australia secretary delivered the news in a two-line statement on Monday .
Harris was jailed for five years and nine months for sex attacks on children .
While fellow inmates at the Stafford prison earn about $12 a day performing chores, the disgraced 84-year-old is reportedly still making a fortune .
Harris invested much of his multi-million dollar earnings from his career .
New figures suggest his earnings could be as high as $2500 a day . |
18,208 | 338b89f1965396bbc45e54b762b0e5829468859e | By . Shari Miller . PUBLISHED: . 08:02 EST, 16 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:13 EST, 16 August 2013 . Wedding plans: Brian Frain is facing jail for bigamy, but says he wants to marry for a third time to Donna Darwent . A bigamist facing jail, after it was revealed he was married to two women at the same time, says he can’t wait to serve his sentence - so that he is free to marry again. Brian Frain, 36, was rumbled by first wife Anne-Marie Sim when she saw pictures of his second wedding - to Margaret Meredith - on Facebook, seven years after they separated. He claimed that he had married for a second time, because he thought the marriage was automatically voided as they were separated. But even after he was arrested and prosecuted, Frain, from Cleethorpes in Lincolnshire, claims to have fallen in love again. He adds that he can’t wait to marry third wife, mum-of-four Donna Darwent, 33, despite still waiting for his divorces to be finalised. Frain said: 'I will take my punishment, because I know when I come out of prison, I will be with the love of my life. 'I have done the crime, so I have to take the punishment. 'I have held my hands up from day one. I did do it, but I did not do it deliberately. 'I assumed that after seven years apart, the marriage was void. 'I have since learned that it costs £45 and you may have to wait a couple of years if you do not get the person’s consent.' He added: 'Donna has made me grow up a lot. She has helped me through my ups and downs and made me a better person.' Frain married Anne-Marie Sim at Tameside Register Office, Dukinfield, Manchester, in June 1999 after a two-month whirlwind romance. They separated after two months and she moved to Scotland. Five years later she attempted to get in touch with Frain to seek a divorce as she wanted to re-marry. She contacted solicitors and hired a firm to track him down, but they couldn’t locate him. Eventually, . Mrs Frain turned detective herself and hunted him down through Facebook . - where she saw the wedding pictures of his marriage in September 2009 . to Margaret Louise Meredith, whom he had met two years earlier. Waiting for the wedding: Brian Frain, pictured with his new partner, Donna Darwent, must serve a sentence for bigamy before he can marry again . Brian Frain (right) arrives outside Tameside Magistrates court, where he was convicted of bigamy . Frain and Margaret had twins, and then married at the same register office where he had married Anne-Marie, ten years earlier. He told Thameside Magistrates’ Court that he had informed his second wife he had been married before, but the district judge said he did not believe him and accused him of deceiving Margaret Louise. A statement written by Ms Meredith was also read out to the court, which said: . 'Although I had been married before, I was under the impression that . this was Brian’s first marriage. 'The wedding went well. I truly believed that I was his first wife. This has obviously affected me.' Frain's second wife Margaret Louise Meredith . The case was adjourned for sentencing on September 12. Frain admitted he had affairs during his relationship with his second wife and decided to leave her. He said: 'I broke away from Margaret and started a relationship with Donna.' He said he experienced problems with access to the twins born from their relationship. Brian claimed: 'I cut all ties. That is why we moved to Cleethorpes. 'The first I knew there was a problem was in March when I was arrested at Cleethorpes Police Station. 'I am quite nervous. It could mean prison, but I want to move on and once it is all over I plan to marry Donna. 'I regret all that has happened. I have had to cut all ties with my second wife, which means losing the twins. 'But they are going to grow up and know their own minds and make their own decisions when they are older. 'So long as they know I have not abandoned them and what I did was for the best.' He said the strain had taken its toll on the relationship between him and Donna and both have been prescribed anti-depressants. Donna said: 'When this is done with we hope to pick up where we left off and get our lives back. 'I always said I would never marry. But I have never been settled before and never met my perfect partner. 'Then Brian came along and he has changed completely. My kids love him to bits. They see him as their father. I am committed enough to marry him.' Already taken: Brian Frain had not divorced his first wife when he married Margaret Louise Meredith in 2009 . Impact: In a statement read to the court, Margaret Meredith spoke of how her husband's bigamy affected her . Frain added: 'I let everyone know to be very careful and think about what they are doing and not rush into anything. 'Make sure you know your partner and discuss what you both want, otherwise it could be a lot of heartache and trouble, particularly if there are children.' Frain said he is finally getting a divorce from his first wife and has sought legal advice. Tameside Register Office in Dukinfield, Greater Manchester. Frain used the site for both weddings . | Brian Frain, 36, is facing a jail sentence for marrying Margaret Louise Meredith when he was still married to first wife, Anne-Marie Sim .
Now he claims to want to marry for third time to Donna Darwent, 33, but must wait for divorces and has to serve his sentence .
Frain was rumbled when his first wife found pictures of his second wedding in 2009 on Facebook .
He thought marriage was over as they separated seven years before . |
62,048 | b04d2a7c014fd0ba6572315146fbac8f59b1880e | By . Mark Duell . PUBLISHED: . 06:22 EST, 27 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:04 EST, 27 May 2013 . Tribunal: Ashley Roberts, 30, claimed one of the airline's finance managers repeatedly made inappropriate comments towards him . A Virgin Atlantic employee was asked by a gay colleague whether he shaved his genitals or liked performing sex acts, an employment tribunal heard. Ashley Roberts, 30, of Crawley, West Sussex, claimed one of the airline’s finance managers repeatedly made inappropriate comments towards him - and even threatened his job security when he spurned his advances. The employee - identified as 'H' for legal reasons - allegedly told Mr Roberts, who is straight and claims he was the victim of sexual harassment, that he liked performing sex acts. He was also asked whether he shaved his chest and genitals, with H telling Mr Roberts that he did, the tribunal was told. On another occasion H is said to have rubbed Mr Roberts's leg while he was sitting next to him in the office and told him he took Viagra to ensure he was constantly aroused. The tribunal in Croydon, south London, heard how Mr Roberts handed a diary of 29 alleged offences to Virgin's human resources department last June. This included one incident when Mr Roberts said H told him ‘your bum looks nice in those jeans’. And as Mr Roberts bent down to pick something up from the floor, H allegedly said: ‘I like your Calvin Klein underwear’. Mr Roberts claims that the sexual misconduct began back in December 2007, at a Christmas meal out with work colleagues. It is alleged that H sat down beside Mr Roberts and asked him if he would like to sit next to him in the office. H then said he liked looking at Mr Roberts because he was ‘perfect’. Mr Roberts told the hearing: ‘He never asked other staff to sit next to him. They were unusual comments and I thought it was because he was drinking. 'I told a table of work colleagues what he had said and some of the team members said he fancied me.’ In the months after the Christmas meal Mr Roberts said he was often invited outside into the smoking area by H for a ‘catch-up’. But he was regularly asked about his sexual orientation. Mr Roberts said: ‘He asked me if I was single, what I was up to at the weekend, that sort of thing. ‘He told me in the smoking area he was . gay. I told him I wasn't gay, but he obviously did not believe me . because he was making sexual comments towards me.’ During . these conversations the tribunal was told that H put ‘relentless’ pressure on Mr Roberts to go to Mumbai, India, to help train staff. He claims that H said the pair, who both still work for the airline, should share a room on the trip. Allegations: Mr Roberts claimed one of the airline's finance managers repeatedly made inappropriate comments towards him - and even threatened his job security when he spurned his advances (file picture) Mr Roberts said: ‘He said if you don't go to India you're going to lose your job. It was all about trying to make me go to India. When H asked to share a room with me I was mortified.’ However Mr Roberts said he couldn’t go because his mother had cancer - ‘but it was also because of the sexual remarks he made.’ It was after this that Mr Roberts claimed . that H made his time at work ‘difficult’ and often made threatening . comments, even saying he would lose his job. On one occasion H put a bin on Mr . Roberts' desk to highlight the fact he wasn't putting waste in the . correct place, the hearing was told. Another time H organised a meeting to . show staff how to open bags properly, where Mr Roberts's claimed he was . ‘humiliated’ when H told his colleagues that he had been having . difficulties opening the bags. Whilst H admitted both those incidents . happened, he denied all allegations of sexual misconduct. H's solicitor Alexander Robson said Mr . Roberts had made up the claims after his original allegations of . bullying and harassment were rejected due to a lack of evidence. 'I told him I wasn't gay, but he obviously did not believe me because he was making sexual comments towards me' Ashley Roberts . In a witness statement presented to the tribunal, H said: ‘I understood Ashley produced a number of documents together with a statement containing new allegations against me. 'These allegations were that I had made inappropriate comments and actions of a sexual nature towards him. ‘Ashley's allegations that I have treated him less favourably and harassed him on the grounds that I perceived him as gay are entirely malicious, false and have in my opinion been raised with the intention to discredit me. ‘This entire episode has caused me and my team much stress and anxiety over the past 12 months and I would like to finally be in a position to clear my name. I feel like I have been persecuted by Ashley purely on the grounds of my sexual orientation.’ Mr Roberts is claiming sex discrimination and sexual discrimination based on gender and orientation against Virgin Atlantic. The tribunal continues. | Ashley Roberts, 30, of Crawley, claimed job .
security was threatened .
Says airline's employee 'H' told him that he liked performing sex acts .
Was also asked whether he shaved his chest and genitals, tribunal told . |
4,289 | 0c5acf5c0ec0c22ceab38d6c2971c187cafd28fd | (CNN) -- Everyone has their Denzel Washington moment. It might have happened while watching his first Oscar-winning role in 1989's "Glory." Or maybe it was sparked during 1992's "Malcolm X" biopic. It might've even taken you as long as 2001's "Training Day." But whenever it happened, even the most casual moviegoer can point to the movie -- and sometimes, the specific scene -- that made them realize Washington is a singularly gifted actor. Now nearing 60, Washington is still impressing at the box office, as his new action movie, "The Equalizer," is predicted to open at No. 1. Washington has been acting onscreen for close to 40 years and has filled almost every role possible, from icon and soldier to ladies' man and villain. In "The Equalizer," he slips back into the shoes of the avenger, playing a seemingly mild-mannered book lover who's also more than willing to execute bad guys when a young prostitute he has befriended (Chloe Grace Moretz) gets hurt. The movie itself has gotten mixed reviews, but critics agree that it's Washington that makes the running time worth it. "Washington keeps you watching this sleazy stuff -- let's stipulate to that before anything else," said The Wall Street Journal's Joe Morgenstern. For The New York Times, Washington's "craft and discipline endow even exploitative nonsense like this with a center of gravity." "The Equalizer" may not inspire another Denzel moment for fans, but one thing's clear: the gift still stands. | Denzel Washington is back at the box office this weekend .
The actor is said to be one of the best aspects of "The Equalizer"
Going through his filmography, we can all point to a film that made us a fan . |
127,183 | 3065ff957b73b661b6c4a4d7e46899841aadb172 | By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 08:48 EST, 11 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:17 EST, 11 June 2012 . Brave: Nia Haines, from South Wales, scales heights ten times her bigger than her . Scaling expertly up a steep rock face Nia Haines smiles widely as she reaches the top - it was just another adventure for the brave six-year-old who regularly climbs heights ten times taller than her. The youngster from South Wales takes on everything from 40ft cliffs to quarries. Nia just can’t get enough of climbing - be it trees, in the playground or mountain rock faces. She is happiest spending her weekends . away climbing huge rock faces usually tackled by adults, and thinks . nothing of finding her footings to the highest peaks. Nia, from South Wales, caught the climbing bug after accompanying her mum when she first took it up in an attempt to overcome her fear of heights - and she has not looked down since. Sue Haines said: 'She started climbing about three years ago, when I first got into it. 'She would take on anything and has no fear- the higher the better. 'She . likes the idea she’s higher than everyone else and she’ll turn around . when she’s higher than us and say, ‘I’m bigger than you!’ Ms Haines 39, started climbing three years ago to overcome her fear of heights and took Nia and her sister Megan, 9, with her. She . said: 'I have an awful fear of heights which is why I started . rock-climbing in the first place and I only feel safe when I know I’m . strapped to a harness. Plucky: Nia caught the climbing bug from her rockclimbing mum, Sue, and has not looked down since . Great heights: The youngster just can't get enough of climbing - be it trees, in the playground or mountain rock faces . 'Then I went to climbing outdoors and took the girls with me, and Nia just loved it. 'She took to it straight away. Both the girls started with indoor walls and then we started going away on weekends to do the rock faces. 'She now owns her own kit - shoes, harness, helmet. Family hobby: Ms Haines, right takes her children away for the weekends rock-climbing either in the Peak District or to quarries and rock faces in and around Wales . Impressive: Mia scales up to 40-feet high as one of Britain's youngest climbers . 'And it’s not just walls, if there’s a tree nearby she would be up it, or climbing frames in the playground. 'She’s happy doing it and that’s the main thing.' Ms Haines and her partner, Stuart Jamieson, take the kids away for the weekends rock-climbing either in the Peak District or to quarries and rock faces in and around Wales. Ms Haines added: 'She’s quite sporty anyway and like gymnastics and ballet, but none of her friends go rock-climbing. 'She will start classes when she’s seven, which is the age you can begin at our closest centre, but she will be able to skip a few levels.' | Nia Haines caught the climbing bug after accompanying her mother who was trying to overcome her fear of heights .
She can now scale heights ten times taller than herself . |
284,023 | fbf5d5c3fc2d3ef3a5abc7f8b7c304ec686a19c6 | By . John Lee . PUBLISHED: . 21:17 EST, 16 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 22:12 EST, 16 February 2013 . For almost 50 years, he has been the very soul of secrecy and reticence, refusing even to admit he was ever a member of the IRA. But in the two weeks since Gerry Adams joined Twitter, the Sinn Féin TD and former MP and MLA has developed an extreme case of TMI – too much information. His 75 tweets – an average of more than five a day – have a collective embarrassment factor that makes MI6’s dossier redundant. Twit pics: Gerry Adams (pictured with a constituent named as Liam) joined Twitter two weeks ago and has already posted 75 times - an average of five a day . So far his posts have revealed him to be an absent-minded 64-year-old who owns several teddy bears and takes his toothbrush into the Dáil chamber instead of his pen. And he is in danger of being dubbed ‘Ducky ár lá’ after letting slip that he takes his yellow rubber duck in to the bath with him. He has revealed musical tastes that extend from Joni Mitchell to Leonard Cohen to Luke Kelly and has admitted to being a tree-hugger. His dramatis personae includes his favourite teddy bear, Ted; a Shinner called Lightbulb who is a terrible driver; and a trusted aide called RG. But Grizzly’s most embarrassing foray into the Twittersphere so far came last week when he admitted breaking into his own house. First the Twitter ingenu told his followers at 4pm: ‘RG took the car. Took my house keys also. I feel an adventure coming on.’ By 5.35, Gerry was still locked out. He was prepared to shin up the drainpipe but was frustrated by a broken pipe – a shinner clearly unwilling to jump without cast-iron guarantees. ‘RGs phone constantly engaged. Its getting dark. Wud climb in back window but downpipe broken,’ he tweeted forlornly. A little later, Gerry took matters into his own hands. He tweeted: ‘RG traced. Where are u now when we need u? 70 miles away. Im in now. Starving. Need a glazier. Slan.’ Embarrassment factor: In his tweets, Mr Adams mentions frequently his favourite teddy bear Ted (right) and his dog Snowie (left) Since then, it’s all been down hill. Under the name @GerryAdamsSF he revealed: ‘Friday! Yahoo! Getting home 2 . c the small people in my life. Cant wait. Ted will b sasta.’ Included in the tweet was a link to a picture he had taken of four teddy bears of varying sizes, including a yellow one with an Antrim GAA badge on his chest. ‘Sasta’, properly ‘sásta’ is one of the stock national-school Irish phrases that pepper Mr Adams’s tweets. Embarrassingly, he had to be taught how to make a fada on Twitter – and his first effort instead produced a French grave accent. ‘This twitting cud b addictive. And shud not b done under the influence. So sin è. Ah my first tweeted fada. At last. Oiche mhaith. Xo,’ he crowed. Ted is frequently mentioned. On St Valentine’s Night, Mr Adams wrote; ‘Cooking. Oysters romantiq Cog au vin. Jelly & custard Champagne & strawberries. Pity I’m on my ownieoh. Ted is out.’ Proving popular: At the latest count, Mr Adams had amassed more than 10,000 followers . Last week he wrote that he had accidentally brought his toothbrush into Leinster House. ‘In Dáil chamber. Thought I had a pen in my pocket. Discovered it is a tooth brush! Silly me!!!!’ On February 9, he wrote that he had seen some unusual natural behaviour while on an early morning bike ride. ‘Saw the dawn breaking. Grey light. Out on bike. Saw a squirrel chasing a cat. A grey one. The squirrel that is. Glad 2 b alive. So is cat,’ he observed. Party officials confirmed the account is his, and say the tweets show a side of Adams they often see in their dealings with him. ‘He is far more relaxed in private,’ said a Sinn Féin TD. ‘During the years of the peace process, it was a sensitive process and as the leader of Sinn Féin he had to be conscious of people’s feelings. It was a serious business and it didn’t look good to be laughing and joking all the time.’ At the latest count, Mr Adams had amassed more than 10,000 followers. As for the 30 Tweets being followed by Mr Adams, let’s hope they are not of a nervous disposition. | Gerry Adams joined Twitter two weeks ago and has made 75 posts already .
His posts have revealed him to be an absent-minded 65-year-old man .
So far, Mr Adams has amassed more than 10,000 Twitter followers . |
97,921 | 0a0dfa3b7a1dfa8369af4de706d2df0d3686c602 | (CNN) -- Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick lifted a state of emergency Thursday, one day after blizzard conditions pounded his state and created hazardous travel conditions across New England. Hundreds of schools remained closed in Massachusetts as crews continued to clear snow and to salt icy roadways, according to state Emergency Management spokesman Peter Judge. The state's 250 National Guardsmen -- who were mobilized as a precautionary measure on Wednesday -- were relieved from duty by Thursday morning, Judge said. Delta Air Lines canceled more than 200 Delta and Delta Connection flights in an effort to minimize delays, the airline said. It had canceled 1,300 flights Wednesday because of the storm. Amtrak, which had suspended rail service between New York City and points north, resumed full service by Thursday morning, according to Amtrak spokesman Cliff Cole. Officials said snow accumulation in scattered areas across Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Vermont reached up to 30 inches, while most areas received between 8 and 16 inches of snow. Snowfall in the heaviest areas reached rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. Some residents in Brattleboro, Vermont, donned cross-country skis as they traveled down snow-jammed roads, while their neighbors heaved shovelfuls of snow out of driveways and sidewalks, said town resident Caleb Clark. By Thursday, some 1,500 households remained without electricity in Massachusetts, according to the National Grid utility company's website. Tens of thousands of residents had lost power Wednesday evening when high winds and fallen trees knocked out transmission-lines. The hardest-hit areas included Plymouth, Bristol, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk counties in Massachusetts, the utility company said. "This is the second major storm we are battling in less than three weeks," said Christopher E. Root, National Grid senior vice president of electricity operations. "We ask that our customers bear with us and be patient as our crews work in challenging weather conditions to restore service as safely and quickly as possible." New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said only 30 vehicles had been towed as a result of the storm. That number is in stark contrast to the thousands of cars, buses and ambulances left stranded last month after cleanup crews struggled to plow streets days after the storm. Bloomberg, who faced sharp criticism over the slow emergency response, said New York was better equipped to tackle Wednesday's storm. More than 1,700 flights were canceled at the New York area's three major airports, while hundreds more were grounded at Boston's Logan International Airport, officials said. The general manager at LaGuardia Airport, Thomas Bosco, said many airlines pre-emptively canceled flights ahead of the weather to avoid massive delays that plagued airports during last month's holiday blizzard. The storm swept into the Northeast after dumping unusually heavy snow across the South. Every U.S. state except Florida has snow on the ground, including Hawaii, according to CNN meteorologist Sean Morris. In Atlanta, Mayor Kasim Reed pledged city streets will be able to handle weekend crowds at several downtown events, including the NFC divisional playoff game Saturday evening at the Georgia Dome. "The administration, in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Transportation and private contractors, have worked aggressively to clear roads and ensure the safety and welfare of Atlanta residents," his office said in a statement Thursday. Reed came under criticism for the city's planned response to the snow, which arrived Sunday night. The city expanded its fleet of snow response equipment from 10 pieces to 58 Tuesday. By Thursday, more than 115 vehicles were clearing the effects of the largest snow event in at least a decade. | NEW: Atlanta mayor says city will be ready for NFL game .
Massachusetts lifts state of emergency .
1,500 households remain without power in Massachusetts .
Delta cancels 200 flights in an effort to minimize delays . |
255,091 | d62e8a3e539bea2d4e9e432077b3377d985c2f15 | WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Barack Obama on Tuesday praised Congress' decision to extend the payroll tax cut while also pushing legislators to enact the rest of what the administration characterizes as its economic support plan for the middle class. The president declared he is prepared to move ahead with his domestic agenda whenever possible with or without congressional support -- a message with clear political overtones in the current election season. "For a typical middle class family, (the payroll tax cut) is a big deal," Obama said. "Now my message to Congress is don't stop here. Keep going. ... This may be an election year, but the American people have no patience for gridlock (and) reflexive partisanship." Obama outlined a number of proposals believed to have little or no chance of winning approval among Republicans on Capitol Hill, most notably the so-called "Buffett Rule" designed to ensure people earning more than $1 million annually pay at least a 30% tax rate. "Wherever we have an opportunity, we're going to take steps on our own," the president said. "We've got a choice right now. We can either settle for a country where a few people are doing very well and everybody else is having to just struggle to get by, or we can build an economy where everybody gets a fair shot and everybody's doing their fair share and everybody is taking responsibility." The White House believes Republicans are more willing to make deals in the wake of a bruising fight over raising the debt limit last year, according to a senior administration official. Political analysts, however, note that even if Obama's proposals fail to pass Congress, the president can draw a clear distinction between himself and his Republican opponents. Some analysts have speculated Obama is also laying the groundwork for a possible reprise of Harry Truman's successful 1948 campaign against a so-called "do-nothing" Congress. At the moment, however, Democrats are taking a victory lap for the extension of the payroll tax cut. The roughly $100 billion measure, a key part of Obama's economic recovery plan, has reduced how much 160 million American workers pay into Social Security on their first $110,100 in wages. Instead of paying 6.2% had it lapsed, they'll be paying 4.2%, a break worth about $83 a month for someone making $50,000 a year. The measure, which passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate last Friday, also extends unemployment benefits and avoids a Medicare fee cut for doctors for the rest of the year. Obama has promised to sign the bill into law when it hits his desk this week. The payroll tax issue proved problematic for Republicans, who were caught between competing goals of providing the tax cut and paying for it. GOP leaders this month acknowledged they angered voters by initially raising objections to the unpaid tax cut extension. | Obama celebrates payroll tax cut, urges Congress to pass other domestic initiatives .
Obama says he is prepared to move ahead with or without Congress .
The payroll tax cut extension passed Congress last week .
The tax break is worth about $83 a month for someone making $50,000 a year . |
198,195 | 8c8c929be6d5597d5cbe6ae8e40e3e176bbd0fdd | By . Hugo Gye and Helen Collis . PUBLISHED: . 03:22 EST, 2 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:04 EST, 2 October 2013 . The man who allegedly murdered his wife then posted a picture of her body on Facebook could have clashed with her after he slept in and missed a planned date night, it has emerged. Shortly before Jennifer Alonso was shot dead by Derek Medina, she sent a string of messages to a friend expressing anger with her husband and frustration over their recent marriage problems. Medina, 31, has pleaded not guilty to murder, and is expected to argue that he gunned down his wife in self-defense at their home in Miami after she had been abusing him. Turbulent relationship: Troubles in Derek Medina and Jennifer Alonso's marriage are revealed in Facebook messages released by police . Gruesome: Derek Medina was arrested after admitting to killing his wife on Facebook and posting a grisly photo of her body lying on the kitchen floor . Facebook messages between Ms Alonso, 26, and her friend Kelly Barry reveal that the alleged victim was upset with her husband in the hours before her death on August 8, according to the Miami Herald. Shortly after 7am, she wrote: 'Dude... der [Medina] was supposed to wake us up last night. To watch a movie. He promised me... I feel like I'm begging for him to hang out with us. I already know what his excuse is going to be - that his alarm didn't go off.' She added: 'He doesn't give a s***. He called me a b**** LOL... I feel like I want to leave.' After the two friends had discussed the matter for a while, Ms Alonso thanked Ms Barry for calming her down, writing: 'I felt like ripping his face off an hour ago.' She then added: 'He just woke up. He came in the room, and then he walked out. Didn't say anything... I need to calm down because I feel like I'm about to explode.' It is thought that Medina could argue self-defense in the case, claiming that his wife cut him with a knife before he killed her . Domestic abuse: There is speculation Medina's legal team will claim the killing was in self-defense . The messages stopped around 10am, just a few minutes before Medina is believed to have shot Ms Alonso before photographing her body and posting the pictures on his Facebook page. Ms Barry passed a record of the exchange to investigators last month, saying it 'might be helpful to you'. Ms Alonso herself recorded her stormy relationship with Medina - whom she divorced last year before remarrying him three months later - in a diary with the title, 'The mind of an insane woman'. She wrote: 'When we love each other it's GREAT. But when we hate each other we HATE each other.' Home surveillance footage released last month by prosecutors does not show the fatal exchange which happens out of the frame. But Medina claims he shot her in self-defence after she started hitting him 'several times with a closed fist,' according to police documents seen by the Miami Herald. This image was taken from the Facebook page identified as belonging to Derek Medina . The video shows Alfonso in the kitchen at the sink. When Medina enters, the couple move out of the frame, but at one point Medina's head is seen flinching backwards. Medina claims his wife had grabbed a knife and he had disarmed her and put the knife back in a drawer, but then she started punching him. Then the footage shows Medina leave . the kitchen and come straight back. He told police he went upstairs to . get a gun, according to the Miami Herald. Moments later white particles fly past the lens in several clouds, a sign of gunfire. Medina then walks out of the kitchen, comes back holding his phone and pauses in the doorway. As . he walks away again the light from his phone is on. This is when, . police say, he took the photo of the body. All the while Alfonso's . ten-year-old daughter from another relationship was upstairs. She was . unhurt. Medina is seen coming into the kitchen shortly after Alfonso moves away from the sink. A brief exchange is seen in the corner of the frame, before the debris flies past the camera lens . He then gets a jacket and returns to the kitchen entrance and looks again in the direction of the body as he puts it on. Calmly, he leaves the property. The next frame is of police and paramedics arriving at the couple's home. A Facebook post from Medina read 'Rip Jennifer Alfonso' alongside a picture of her slumped backwards on the kitchen floor. He . wrote on his Facebook page: 'I’m going to prison or death sentence for . killing my wife. Love you guys. Miss you guys. Take care. Facebook . people you’ll see me in the news.' Medina . claims his wife was abusive. He wrote on Facebook: 'My wife was . punching me and I am not going to stand anymore with the abuse so I did . what I did I hope u understand me.' Medina's . lawyers have asked to photograph markings such as cuts and bruises on . Alfonso's body. It is presumed Medina will claim the killing was in . self-defence. The diary of . his late wife has also been been seized by police. Some entries are . happy while others highlight the difficult nature of their relationship. She . admits she struggled with feelings of jealousy and believed he was . looking at other women. Her entries also reveal how she struggled with . her confidence and one one occasion 'negative thoughts and memories . plagued her mind'. Smoke and debris: Clouds of gun smoke and debris can be seen on home surveillance footage in the Derek Medina murder trial, in which Medina, who has confessed to shooting his wife, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder . After calmly putting on his jacket, Medina then left the property, captured on a different camera . According to the Miami-Dade affidavit the couple had been squabbling since they woke up on the morning of the shooting. At . about 10am, Alfonso was upstairs, and Medina threatened her with his . .380-caliber pistol. The shooting happened later when Alfonso was in the . kitchen. Medina's father, . Derek, to whom he confessed to shortly after the shooting, told the Herald: 'They are making my son out to be a monster and it was the . other way around. She pushed him to the point of insanity.' Medina was a part-time extra on the USA Network show Burn Notice. The . wannabe star boasted online about his tiny bit-part appearances and . dreamed of fame that he never quite attained. He appeared only as a . background extra with his head-shaved and pouting in two episodes in . 2010. He has also . self-published a number of self-help e-books, one titled: 'How I Saved . Someone's Life and Marriage and Family Problems Thru Communication.' Alfonso was a waitress at Denny's. | Derek Medina, 31, is accused of shooting his wife, Jennifer Alfonso, 26, then posting a picture of her dead body on Facebook .
She told a friend he had slept in despite promise to watch a movie with her .
Facebook messages in which she expresses anger turned over to police .
Medina has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder . |
268,759 | e8223636a88177fabe3dcd05504879242fef7974 | (CNN) -- With many workers stuck at their desks during the late-morning swearing-in of President Obama on Tuesday, more people than ever went online to watch live video of the historic inauguration. A group crowds around a laptop to watch the inaugural events in Washington. News sites, including CNN.com, shattered records for viewers watching live streaming video online. And, sometimes for the first time, news sites carried video feeds on their front pages. About 7.7 million people watched the inauguration on Tuesday online at the same time, according to Akamai Technologies Inc. That likely makes the inauguration the single most-watched event in the history of live Web video, according to the company, which handles Web traffic for more than 150 news sites worldwide, including nytimes.com, Ustream, Viacom, WSJ.com and others. Across the day, nearly 27 million people watched streaming video on CNN.com Live on Tuesday, according to CNN spokeswoman Jennifer Martin. That's more than five times the site's previous record, set on Election Day, when 5.3 million people watched streaming video of the day's events. CNN.com Live estimates that it streamed 1.3 million simultaneous video feeds just before Obama's inaugural address Tuesday. That may be a record for live video on the Internet. YouTube set a record with 700,000 viewers on a variety show on Election Day in November, the Los Angeles Times reported. The record has not been confirmed by third-party sources. The New York Times declined to release its Tuesday numbers, but spokeswoman Stacy Green said nytimes.com saw more streaming Web users than ever. CBSNews.com also reported a record day for online video, said Sarah Cain, a spokeswoman for the network. Sites tried to attract viewers in new ways, linking their news coverage with social media networks like Facebook and Twitter. Obama himself got in on the action, posting this message to his Twitter account after the November 4 election: "We just made history. All of this happened because you gave your time, talent and passion. All of this happened because of you." For some viewers, the inauguration was a first-time experiment with streaming video online, and the high traffic on most sites didn't always make that transition easy. Some news sites' coverage froze during the inauguration, according to Keynote Systems Inc., which tracks Internet performance. Keynote Systems spokesman Dan Berkowitz said the Web's top 40 sites slowed by as much as 60 percent by the time the ceremony started at 11 a.m. On CNN.com, some streaming-video watchers who were pushed into a temporary "waiting room" were shown this tongue-in-cheek message: "You made it! However, so did everyone else." Chris Ariens, editor of the blog WebNewser, said he watched live online video coverage from CNN, MSNBC, ABC and CBS. All froze, leading Ariens to revert back to a television in his office. "I think the bottom line was, while it was great to be able to, from the ease of your desktop, watch some of the coverage, when push came to shove, you had to go back to television," he said. A blogger for CBSNews.com acknowledged trouble with its online video. "Just as massive crowds filled the National Mall in Washington, millions of users flocked to online video feeds," James M. Klatell wrote in a CBSNews.com blog entry Tuesday. "Maybe we're not as far into the Internet Age as we thought." The hiccups in Web video should not be discouraging for viewers or news companies, said Al Tompkins, who teaches broadcasting and online news at the Poynter Institute, a school for journalists in Florida. If anything, he said, the trouble with streaming video should show companies there's great consumer demand for video online. "They need to know that if they build it they will come, and [Tuesday] was a great example that there is a demand for video," Tompkins said. Some viewers turned to radio and other forms of media to fill in the gaps in online video technology. Others gathered around office computers to watch the ceremony online. Tompkins said viewership of Web video was high Tuesday partly because it was available on so many sites -- and because many workers were trapped at their desks during the inauguration. Clint Cantwell, who works in public relations in New York, left his office near Times Square briefly to take in the excitement outside. Then he returned to his desk to watch streaming coverage. The video stalled at times, but the audio worked, and Cantwell said he genuinely enjoyed watching an inauguration for the first time online. "In the past, you pretty much had to be at home or in an office with television to be able to experience what's in Washington," said Cantwell, who also sent photos to CNN's iReport, a public submission site that saw an unprecedented 12,000 entries on Tuesday. Although the inauguration set records for Web video, it's unclear exactly how the ceremony ranked against other news events in terms of total hits online. Globally, Akamai reported, 5.4 million visitors were visiting Web pages per minute at noon Tuesday, with most of the crowd in North America. Four other news events have garnered more Web attention than Tuesday's inauguration, according to Akamai's Web site. The top-ranking news event in terms of views per minute was Obama's election in November, with 8.6 million views per minute. A World Cup match and two basketball games also ranked higher than the inauguration. CNN.com partnered with Facebook, the social networking site, to let online friends share commentary while watching the inauguration live. Facebook reported unprecedented traffic during the event, with the site averaging 4,000 status updates per hour Tuesday morning. The online comments reportedly peaked at 8,500 updates per minute during Obama's inaugural speech. News consumers have been turning to the Internet in increasing numbers for years. Last year, for the first time, the Pew Research Center reported that more Americans said they got most of their national and international news online than in print. Tompkins, the journalism teacher, said it's up to news companies to keep advancing the way they cover big events. | More people than ever go online to watch live video of inauguration .
Nearly 27 million people watched streaming video on CNN.com Live .
Many news sites crashed during online coverage .
Social networks partnered with news sites to increase traffic online . |
18,712 | 34f0a3e5ce9a01b582343fe6637f723700e65bad | (CNN) -- One year after the Syrian conflict began, the numbers are staggering: more than 8,000 killed, tens of thousands detained, and dozens of towns decimated, according to the United Nations. But beyond the statistics, the people of Syria find their tragic struggle often reduced to 45-second fragments on YouTube or static-filled Skype phone calls. The reason? The government's tight constraints on media access. Of the few journalists brave enough to defy the Syrian government's restrictions, at least five paid the ultimate price, including veteran war correspondent Marie Colvin and award-wining photographer Remi Ochlik. One year on, Syria still boiling . The constant danger means the media have been left to rely on official government accounts, as well as a network of opposition activists scattered across Syria and a passionate expatriate community. The opposition details what's happening on the ground through amateur videos, messages describing the latest carnage and eyewitness accounts offered over the phone or Internet. Yet while news organizations go to great lengths to verify such amateur reporting, it is no substitute for independent eyes and ears on the ground. In other conflicts, a handful of media personnel might capture the full-scale horror of violence. A reporter and perhaps his crew may record the moment -- for instance, a young man being shot and killed -- and then edit their content and wrap it into a television piece for air or for a newspaper or magazine story. Journalists missing in Syria . But when it comes to Syria, it seems everyone in the country is on the front lines, witnesses to tragedies large and small. On our Twitter accounts, on our Facebook pages, and in our e-mail inboxes, we are confronted regularly by depictions of mutilated corpses, wailing mothers and the pain of a people under siege by their own government. How will it end? The result is jarring: a world forced to watch as Syrian security forces appear to continually broaden their wrath, with international initiative after initiative faltering in their efforts to resolve the crisis. The uprising began in March 2011, when at least 15 children from the southern province of Daraa were reportedly tortured at the hands of state security. Their crime was defacing a school's walls with anti-regime graffiti, at a time soon after the longtime leaders of Tunisia and Egypt had fallen under the weight of popular revolutions. Many of the young boys and girls came home traumatized, their nails pulled out by Syrian security forces. One video showed a young boy in a red-striped shirt, his face bruised and full of fear. He introduced the world to a regime with seemingly no limits on what they would do, as well as defiant citizens who were willing to confront it. Perhaps no video captured the plight of Daraa's children more than a 2-minute, 22-second clip showing the mutilated corpse of 13-year old Hamza al-Khateeb. After being detained for just a few days by authorities, Al-Khateeb's body was bloated almost beyond recognition. For activists, YouTube a key weapon . More horror stories came out as the months passed by: soccer stadiums packed with detainees in Banyas, hundreds killed in the military assault of Hama during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, thousands fleeing shelling in the border of town of Jisr al-Shughur in hopes of reaching refugee camps in Turkey. With each incident, videos came showing nameless victims pleading, crying or falling silent. President Bashar al-Assad's regime, in statements and through official media, has routinely insisted that "armed terrorist groups" are to blame for the bloodshed. Its forces, they say, are trying to guarantee security even as they act to defend themselves. Leaked e-mails remove al-Assad's veil . Yet the opposition and a growing number of international governments and institutions, including the United Nations, say the government is the aggressor. More recently, and more regularly, they report that security forces have moved from targeting individuals to waging indiscriminate and widespread military assaults on opposition areas. Amidst this broader crackdown, the people of Baba Amr -- a neighborhood in the embattled city of Homs -- made history. They became the first citizens believed to have broadcast their own destruction, live via social media. As Syrian troops pummeled the 5-square-mile area, a small group of activists pointed a live stream camera over their rooftops. Yet many of those activist journalists, among others, have gone silent. For example, amateur photographers Basil Al Sayed and his cousin Rami Al Sayed once had relayed a steady stream of reports before they suddenly stopped. The reason why became evident when YouTube videos showed their bullet-ridden bodies. Many Syrian opposition members, however, said it's not death they fear most. "Those who are dead are in the mercy of God now. But it is those who are alive, who still suffer, that we are worried about," an activist told me as he described the death in detention of his friend Ghiyath Mattar, a peace activist who'd attended demonstrations with a rose in one hand and a Syrian flag in the other. So far, after taking steps like bolstering sanctions and withdrawing ambassadors, other nations haven't managed to end the suffering. Yet Syrians continue to point their camera phones at tanks every day in hopes of getting outsiders' attention, asking, "How many more people have to die before someone helps us?" Early on, a common rallying cry was, "People demand the fall of the regime." Today, as the blood continues to flow, that has been replaced on many Syrian streets with the more ominous chant, "Death and not humiliation." | Syria's government blames "armed terrorist groups" for ongoing violence .
But Syrian opposition, and other nations, say the regime is the aggressor .
Activists use videos and interviews to describe what's happening in Syria .
Few journalists have gotten inside the country, and some have died . |
76,560 | d9264d70e17d9d9e8b8494e4cbe0cd7c4f25be6f | For 30 years a campaign group has been tirelessly gathering photographs of the 58,286 American servicemen and women who died during the Vietnam War. Based in Washington, D.C. the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund was set up by a group of veterans who wanted to create a memorial from the American people for those who lost their lives during the conflict between 1965 and 1973. The result was the 'Faces Never Forgotten' memorial - also known as The Wall - which shows the sheer magnitude of American casualties and serves as a place where family and friends of those who lost their lives can remember their loved ones. U.S. Army Sgt. Bobby Joe Martinez from N.M., who is honored on Panel 58E, Row 23 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Sgt. Martinez was killed on May, 11, 1968 the province of Quang Tin Province, in South Vietnam . U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. James Michael Moore, from Albuquerque, N.M. Pfc. Moore is honored on Panel 25E, Row 74 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. He was killed on August 3, 1967, in Quang Nam in South Vietnam . It has become one of the most visited memorials in the U.S. with an estimated 4.5million annual visitors a year. 'Putting a face to every name is momentous,' said Jan C. Scruggs, founder and president of VVMF. 'These men were real people, who had dreams and aspirations just like the rest of us. When you look at them you can truly humanise what The Wall represents.' The mission of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is to preserve the legacy of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and to educate people about the impact of the war. Sgt James A Hardman was 21 when he was killed in action in Tay Ninh province in November 1968. The soldier was from Alameda County, California, and is honored on panel 38w, row 36 of the memorial . Captain Jeremiah Frederi Costello is honored on panel 1W, row 117 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. He was born in 1943 but was shot down on a combat mission in Cambodia in May 1975. He won a silver star and the distinguished flying cross . Pictured is Thomas Joseph Murphy who died during the Vietnam War. For several years, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund has pursued a 'Faces Never Forgotten' campaign to gather photographs of the 58,286 who died during the war . Ssgt Lester J Brantley from Portsmouth was 33 when he was killed in action in Binh Duong province in August 1969. He is honoured on panel 19w, row 76 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial . The group is still raising money for an education centre which will display more than 400,000 items that have been left in tribute at the base of the wall since it opened. It is hoped the education centre will open in 2015 but in the meantime a searchable database has been created online which features a photograph of every service member who died during the conflict for The Wall of Faces memorial as they come in. A lot of the photographs are military pictures but the group would like family and friends to send in every-day shots of their loved ones. Col. Warren Leroy Anderson, who served in the Air Force, is honoured on panel 6e, row 135 on the memorial. The 33-year-old, from Hillsdale County, in Michigan, was declared missing in action . AMH3 Richard Thomas Pinta was just 21 when he was killed in action in July 1967. The young man from Suffolk County was in the Navy and is honoured on panel 24E, row 39 on the memorial . Sgt Merritt Adams, from Cumberland County, died in action in Binh Dinh province aged just 19. He is honoured on panel 7w, row 51 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial . LTJG David Charles Brostrom was one of only seven members of the U.S. Coast Guard who was killed in action in 1966. The 25-year-old is honoured on panel 9e, row 126 on the memorial . Major Bernard Ludwig Bucher from Woodford County, Illinois, was declared missing in action in Quang Ngai in 1968. He was 46 . SSGT Horace Earle Young from Mercer County, Illinois, served in the U.S. Army and died in 1965 aged 33 . Tim Tetz, director of outreach for the memorial, told The Charlotte Observer: 'That picture tells a different story than the one in his (uniform) on the first day of training. 'It will drive home that that's who served and sacrificed in the war'. It is believed the Memorial Fund has photos for about 32,000 of the 58,286 service members they are looking for. It is its aim to have every photo by the time the education centre opens next year. So far only New Mexico has managed to gather a photograph for every one of its soldiers. SP4 Jimmie W Boggs, of the U.S. Army, from Marlow in Oklahoma, died in action in Long An province in 1968 aged 23. He is honoured on panel 44W, row 14 on the memorial . Captain Terry Lee Ketter, of the U.S. Army was from Exeter, California and died in action in May 1970. He was 29. He is honoured on panel 10W, row 12 of the memorial . PFC David Culp Jr. from Pineville in North Carolina served in the U.S. Army and was killed in action in Kontum in 1968 aged 19. He is honoured on panel 47E row 9 . SP4 John Eugene Leis, known as the Little Farmer to his comrades, died in Quang Tri in 1971 aged 20. The soldier in the U.S. Army from from La Crosse in Wisconsin . SP4 John Eugene Leis, known as the Little Farmer to his comrades, died in Quang Tri in 1971 aged 20. The soldier in the U.S. Army from from La Crosse in Wisconsin . HM1 Bernard Gause Junior was declared missing in action but his remains were brought back to the U.S. and he is burued in Birmingham, Jefferson County. The 34-year-old was in the Navy and is honoured on panel 1W, row 130 of the memorial . U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Francis Xavier Nava, originally from Santa Fe, N.M. Cpl. Nava is honored on Panel 10E, Row 77 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. He was killed on September 8 1966 in the province of Quang Tri in South Vietnam . It began in 1955 and would continue until the fall of Saigon two decades later.The Vietnam War was a bloody Cold War-era conflict that claimed millions of lives and left countless soldiers and natives traumatised by what they had endured. America's involvement in the region was triggered by one belief: that Communism was threatening to expand across the whole of South-East Asia. This photograph was taken by German photojournalist and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Horst Faas. It shows hovering U.S. Army helicopters pour machine-gun fire into the tree line to cover the advance of South Vietnamese ground troops as they attack a Viet Cong camp eighteen miles north of Tay Ninh, near the Cambodian border, March 1965 . 1955: In October, South Vietnam declared itself the Republic of Vietnam (RVN), with newly elected Ngo Dinh Diem as president. He would be executed in a coup eight years later. 1960: An opposing faction, The National Liberation Front (NLF) - also called the Viet Cong - was established there. The NLF, along with and Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) in North Vietnam - under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh - wanted to impose a communist system over the whole nation. The United States, in an attempt to prevent the spread of communism, trained the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) and provided military advisers to help fight Ho's guerillas. 1964: In August, a U.S. warship was attacked by North Vietnamese torpedo boats in the Gulf of Tonkin. Weary: Soldiers from South Vietnam sleep on a U.S. Navy troop carrier following a four-day operation against the Viet Cong . This led Congress to pass the South-East Asia Resolution which allowed President Lyndon Johnson to conduct military operations in the region without a declaration of war. 1965: On March 2, U.S. aircraft started bombing targets in Vietnam and the first troops arrived. 1968: The North Vietnamese and Viet Cong launch the Tet Offensive, attacking about 100 South Vietnamese cities and towns. On March 16, U.S. soldiers killed hundreds of Vietnamese civilians in the town of Mai Lai, later known as the Mai Lai Massacre. By December, America's troops in Vietnam reached 540,000. 1969: In July, President Nixon ordered the first of many U.S. troop withdrawals from Vietnam. 1970: In April, Nixon announced that U.S. troops would attack enemy locations in Cambodia. This news sparked nationwide protests, especially on college campuses. Horror: This iconic image shows police chief Nguyen Ngoc Loan about to execute Viet Cong officer Nguyen Van Lem on the street in Saigon . Agent Orange: War crimes are said to have been committed by both sides and one of the most controversial aspects of the U.S. military effort was the widespread use of Agent Orange - which still damages crops and is said to cause disease in Vietnam today. America's military dumped 20million gallons of the dioxin - which has been linked to cancer, birth defects and other disabilities - and other herbicides on about a quarter of South Vietnam between . 1962 and 1971, decimating about five million acres of forest. 1972: After years of fighting and agonising negotiations, Nixon ordered the Christmas bombings. Agony: A wounded paratrooper grimaces in pain as he awaits medical evacuation from base camp in the A Shau Valley . That offensive paved the way for Nixon's Secretary of State Henry Kissinger to negotiate the January 1973 peace accords that called for a cease-fire and the release of prisoners, some of whom had been in captivity for nearly six years. 1973: U.S. troops are withdrawn. 1974: After a brief period of peace, North Vietnam recommenced hostilities. 1975: North Vietnamese captured Saigon on April 30, forcing South Vietnam’s surrender and reuniting the country with a one-party communist government. Aftermath: The Hanoi government estimate that in 20 years of fighting, 4million civilians were killed across North and South Vietnam and a further 1.1million communist fighters died. U.S. estimates claim that between 200,000 and 250,000 South Vietnamese soldiers were killed and more than 58,000 U.S. soldiers died or were missing in action when the final troops pulled out. The war itself gathered heavy opposition in the States and soldiers have since recalled being told by superiors to remove their uniforms before landing back home to avoid being accosted by campaigners. Vietnam finally normalised relations with the U.S. in 1995. | Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund was set up in 1979 to remember the Americans who lost their lives during the conflict .
The result was the 'Faces Never Forgotten' memorial which has become known as The Wall in Washington .
Photographs of the servicemen and women have now been uploaded to an online database .
The memorial fund are hoping to have a photograph for every service member who died by 2015 . |
243,655 | c7614150380ef91198bcc06ed3fa2bd495395cdb | A group of fired McDonald's workers claim supervisors repeatedly complained that 'there were too many black people in the store'. They are suing the fast-food giant in the United States for alleged racial discrimination and sexual harassment after they were fired from several restaurants in Virginia. According to the civil rights complaint filed on Thursday, workers at franchised restaurants in the southern state of Virginia were allegedly 'subjected to rampant racial and sexual harassment, committed by the restaurants' highest-ranking supervisors.' A group of former McDonald's workers is suing the fast-food giant in the United States for alleged racial discrimination and sexual harassment after they were fired from restaurants in Virginia . The lawsuit has potentially broad implications because it contends that McDonald's is responsible for the well-being of workers at all its restaurants, even if they are franchises. The plaintiffs - of which, nine are black and one is Hispanic - allege they were fired because the restaurant, operated by a company called Soweva, wanted to 'reduce the number of African-American employees and hire more white employees'. The lawsuit continues: 'Soweva's supervisors were blunt, telling employees that it was "too dark" in the restaurants, and that they were going to hire different workers because they "need to get the ghetto out of the store".' The lawsuit has potentially broad implications because it contends McDonald's is responsible for the well-being of workers at all its restaurants, even if they are franchises. File photo . The lawsuits claims that supervisors repeatedly complained 'there are too many black people in the store'. The fired workers also claim that supervisors inappropriately touched female employees, sent female employees sexual pictures, and solicited sexual relations from them. The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified punitive damages. MailOnline has contacted McDonald's for comment. | Group are suing fast food giant after being fired from Virginia restaurants .
Plaintiffs - of which, nine are black and one is Hispanic - claim bosses wanted to reduce the number of African-American employees .
Lawsuit contends McDonald's is responsible for the well-being of workers at all its restaurants, even if they are franchises . |
34,606 | 62527389e76692ebdffc6efa9b1c94eae9025ef8 | New York's famous bronze bull is a mascot for Wall Street, but when it was dropped off by a guerrilla artist in the middle of the night 25 years ago, it was not quite so popular with traders. The Charging Bull was created by Sicilian immigrant Arturo Di Modica. He wanted his work to be a symbol of strength and hope after the 1987 stock market collapse. Icon: New York's famous bronze bull (pictured) is a mascot for Wall Street, but when it was dropped off by a guerrilla artist in the middle of the night 25 years ago, it was not quite so popular with traders . Outrage: When the bull was removed, the next morning's New York Post, displayed a photo of it being carted away, reading: 'Bah, Humbug!' 'N.Y. Stock Exchange grinches can't bear Christmas-gift bull' Idea: Artist Arturo Di Modica (pictured) stands in front of the Exchange this week. He wanted the bull to be a symbol of strength and hope after the 1987 stock market collapse . He spent $350,000 of his own money to create the three and a half ton beast in his Soho studio - it was designed to be a Christmas gift to the city. After two years of work the casting was final and the final pieces were welded together - the slick, powerful-looking bull measured 18 feet long. At 1 a.m. on Dec. 15, 1989, Di Modica, with the help of 30 friends and a rented crane, lifted his majestic artwork onto a flatbed truck, drove it to the financial district in Lower Manhattan and dropped it off. He had cased the area the day before, selecting a prime site on the sidewalk in front of the New York Stock Exchange and meticulously timing the police officers' patrols to every eight minutes. New additioon: Amazed workers saw the bull as they arrived at the offices in 1989 and a crowd built up as seen in this photo . 'It took us five minutes to drop it off and get out of there,' Di Modica recalled. He was so excited by his present that he stayed behind and watched as amazed workers discovered the massive crouching bull with big horns and flaring nostrils. 'It was love right away,' Di Modica, now 73, told MarketWatch. 'They wanted to touch it, embrace it - it was beautiful. I stood there watching until about noon, when I took a break and went to lunch.' But officials were not happy and they called police who either unwilling or unable to move it. They were so desperate to remove it, that the exchange hired private contractors to pick it up and the statute was transferred to Queens. Protected: During Occupy Wall Street protests police put barricades around the famous bull statue in 2011 (pictured) Worldwide: The bull has gone global and replicas (left and right) have been made for several countries across the world including China . But the bull's mysterious arrival had already made headlines across America and indeed the world. The next morning's New York Post, displayed a photo of the bull being carted away, reading: 'Bah, Humbug!' 'N.Y. Stock Exchange grinches can't bear Christmas-gift bull.' Di Modica could not bear the idea of his bull living its life out in the Queens and was determined to bring it back to Manhattan. Di Modica says he spoke to the Richard Grasso, then president and chief operating officer at the NYSE, who said the bull could return only if it a bear was made to sit alongside it. 'He wanted me to make a bear, too,' the artist said. Lucky bull? How the S&P fared under the watchful guide of the Wall Street bull . 'I told him I was not going to do that - the bear means the market goes down, but I wanted to represent the city getting bigger, stronger, faster.' Di Modica paid for the bull to be brought back to Manhattan. His website states: 'Thanks to then Parks Commissioner Henry Stern, Mayor Ed Koch and Arturo Piccolo of the Bowling Green Association, a permanent home was found for the Charging Bull close by at Bowling Green. 'The Charging Bull stands there to this day, visited by millions of tourists, a talisman for Wall Street traders, and a source of pride for all New York City residents.' It now attracts tourists posing for photographs and investors superstitiously rubbing its horns for good luck. The bull is now seen a symbolic for New Yorkers - it was even temporarily barricaded to protect it from Occupy Wall Street in 2011. Di Modica told MarketWatch that when the market is down, people ask him why it is not working. 'I tell them he's resting, he's tired, but he'll get back to it soon,' he said. | Artist Arturo Di Modica created Charging Bull as a symbol of strength and hope after the 1987 stock market collapse .
In morning of December 15, 1989, Arturo with a few friends dropped the Charging Bull on Broad Street right in front of the New York Stock Exchange .
The sculpture was removed at the end of the day by the NYSE .
But a permanent home was found for Charging Bull at Bowling Green .
Weighs three and a half tons and measures 18 feet long . |
109,936 | 19b77c448d80af8d82f637a5c76eb2ab3299a5ff | LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- While authorities do not yet know what killed Michael Jackson, the possibility that anesthetics -- particularly the drug Diprivan -- might be involved continues to swell with each new revelation. Propofol induces a coma, not sleep, an anesthesiologist told CNN. On Friday, The Associated Press quoted an unnamed law enforcement source saying investigators found Diprivan in Jackson's Holmby Hills home. A nutritionist, Cherilyn Lee, said earlier in the week that Jackson pleaded for the drug despite being told of its harmful effects. Sources close to Jackson told CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta that the singer, who suffered from a sleep disorder, traveled with an anesthesiologist who would "take him down" at night and "bring him back up" during a world tour in the mid-90s. The California State Attorney General's office has now said it is helping the Los Angeles Police Department in Jackson's death investigation. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is also looking into the role of drugs, two federal law enforcement sources said. The drug Diprivan, known by its generic name Propofol, is administered intravenously in operating rooms as a general anesthetic, the manufacturer AstraZeneca said Friday. "It is neither indicated nor approved for use as a sleep aid," said spokesman Tony Jewell. The drug works as a depressant on one's central nervous system. "It works on your brain," said Dr. Zeev Kain, the chair of the anesthesiology department at the University of California Irvine. "It basically puts the entire brain to sleep." However, once the infusion is stopped, the patient wakes up almost immediately. "So if you're going to do this, you'd have to have somebody right there giving you the medication and monitoring you continuously," Kain said. Dr. Hector Vila, chairman of the Ambulatory Surgery Committee for the American Society of Anesthesiologists, said he administers the drug during office procedures such as urology, dentistry and gynecology. It is also the most common anesthetic for colonoscopies, he said. Both doctors said that while they have heard of the drug being abused by health care professionals, who have ready access to it, they had not heard of it being used as a sleep aid medication. "Propofol induces coma, it does not induce sleep," Kain said. "I can put you in a coma for as many days as you want. And, in fact, in intensive care units who have patients who are on a ventilator, that's one of the drugs they use." Dr. Rakesh Marwah, of the anesthesiology department at the Stanford University School of Medicine, said the drug can lead to cardiac arrest without proper monitoring. "Propofol slows down the heart rate and slows down the respiratory rate and slows down the vital functions of the body," he said. Not enough carbon dioxide exits the body; not enough oxygen enters. And the situation can cause the heart to abruptly stop. "[It is] as dangerous as it comes," Kain said. "You will die if you will give yourself, or if somebody will give you, Propofol and you're not in the proper medical hands." Los Angeles police have interviewed Jackson's cardiologist, Dr. Conrad Murray, who apparently tried to revive the singer after he was found unconscious on June 25. They also impounded Murray's car, saying it might contain evidence -- possibly prescription medications. Police did not say whether they found anything. Through his lawyers, Murray has released several statements saying that he would not be commenting until the toxicology results into Jackson's death are released. The tests are due back in two to three weeks, the Los Angeles County coroner said Thursday. "We are treating all unnamed sources as rumors. And, as we have stated before, we will not be responding to rumors or innuendo," Murray's lawyer, Matt Alford said Friday. "We are awaiting the facts to come out and we will respond at that time. " The anesthesiologist who accompanied Jackson during the HIStory tour in the mid-'90s also refused to comment, although he acknowledged Jackson suffered from a sleep disorder. "I'm very upset. I'm distraught. Michael was a good person. I can't talk about it right now," Dr. Neil Ratner said outside his Woodstock, New York, home Thursday. "It's really something I don't want to talk about right now. I lost a good friend." On Thursday, the California State Attorney General's Office said it will assist Los Angeles police in sifting through information in a state database that monitors controlled medication. The database, known as CURES (Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System), contains an estimated 86 million records that list all doctors who prescribe such medication, the amount, the date and the person who receives it. Authorities said the database was used in the investigation after the death of former model and reality TV show star Anna Nicole Smith. A day earlier, federal law enforcement sources said DEA agents would be looking at various doctors involved with Jackson, their practices and their possible sources of medicine supply. A number of people close to Jackson have expressed concern that medication could have contributed to the singer's death at age 50. In 2005, after he was cleared on charges of child molestation, Jackson spent a week at a center run by Dr. Deepak Chopra, a physician who focuses on spirituality and the mind-body connection. During that week, Jackson asked Chopra for a prescription for a narcotic, the doctor said. "I said, 'What the heck do you want a narcotic prescription for?'" Chopra said. "And it suddenly dawned on me that he was probably taking these and that he had probably a number of doctors who were giving him these prescriptions, so I confronted him with that. At first, he denied it. Then, he said he was in a lot of pain." Brian Oxman, a former attorney for the Jackson family who was with the family in the hospital emergency room on June 25, also expressed concern about medications the pop star was taking. "I talked to his family about it, I warned them -- I said that Michael is overmedicating and that I did not want to see this kind of a case develop," Oxman told CNN the next day. Earlier this week, the nutritionist Lee, a registered nurse, said Jackson suffered from severe bouts of insomnia and asked her to find him some Diprivan. "I told him this medication is not safe," Lee said. "He said, 'I just want to get some sleep. You don't understand. I just want to be able to be knocked out and go to sleep.' " Lee, however, said she did not know of any doctors who would have given Jackson the drug nor had she seen him use it. CNN's Danielle Dellorto and Elizabeth Landau in Atlanta, Georgia, and Drew Griffin in Los Angeles, California, contributed to this report. | Anesthesiologist: Diprivan "as dangerous as it comes," without proper guidance .
Sources say Jackson traveled with an anesthesiologist during world tour in 1990s .
Doctor would "take him down" at night and "bring him back up," sources say .
Associated Press: Unnamed law enforcement source says Diprivan found in house . |
176,697 | 70bfccdadb6170bc95504e9fc43598438db7a19e | Nemanja Matic wants to play alongside John Terry for years to come at Chelsea as the pair continue to dominate for Jose Mourinho's Premier League leaders. The Serbia midfielder has become a key member of a squad which Terry continues to lead with great authority. The 34-year-old Blues captain is entering the final six months of his Chelsea contract, which was extended for a year last summer. John Terry pokes home the opening goal for Chelsea against West Ham as Nemanja Matic stands in wait . Matic celebrates as his much-respected team-mate scores another goal for Premier League leaders Chelsea . Chelsea captain Terry, who scored for a second successive game, credits Diego Costa with the assist . Terry, who scored for a second successive game in Friday's 2-0 defeat of West Ham, is bidding to lead Chelsea to a fourth Premier League title in 10 seasons, but a first since 2010. 'John is a big player, he's our captain and he deserves everything,' Matic told Chelsea TV. 'He's one of the best central defenders in England ever. It's good to have him in the team. I hope he will continue for a few more years like this.' Should Terry's form continue it is likely his Chelsea career will be extended in the summer, but his primary focus is on the here and now. So, too, is Matic's ahead of Sunday's trip to Southampton, where Chelsea will bid to finish 2014 on a high and begin 2015 on top of the Barclays Premier League. Matic has become an integral part of Jose Mourinho's Chelsea side in the holding midfielder role . Matic tackles Hammers' dangerous striker Andy Carroll during their Boxing Day clash at Stamford Bridge . 'We are focused always on the next game,' Matic added. 'We look at this like a new challenge, like a new opportunity to show our quality and we will continue like this. 'We had some stretches in the dressing room (after the West Ham win) and we are already focused on Southampton. 'We will try to prepare ourselves for that game and I hope we will continue to win.' Jose Mourinho has no injury concerns or suspensions, but must determine how best to utilise his squad with matches against Tottenham and Watford, in the FA Cup, in the following seven days. Mourinho has the luxury of a fully fit squad as he prepares to take on Tottenham and Watford in the next week . 'They are good. They are strong. They are human,' Mourinho told Chelsea TV. 'We have to try to find this balance between the good condition they have and the human side of it. 'Everyone will be a bit tired, but at the same time smiling you are not so tired. '(Eden) Hazard, (Cesc) Fabregas, Oscar, Willian, Diego (Costa) - they are happy guys on the pitch and they express that happiness in the way they are playing football. 'I think it's not a drama. We have to go for it.' | John Terry scored in Chelsea's 2-0 win over West Ham on Boxing Day .
Nemanja Matic describes Chelsea captain Terry as 'a big player'
Terry's contract is up at season's end by Matic hopes he stays long-term .
Chelsea face Tottenham and Watford, in the FA Cup, in the next week . |
230,905 | b6fbfd98e13b951ff031c224067f964d491457c8 | Nigel Farage yesterday stoked the row over his ‘racist’ attack on Romanians by insisting that they were more likely to commit crime than other immigrants. The UKIP leader said it was ‘perfectly legitimate’ to point out ‘where there are differential crime rates between nationalities’. The defiance came 24 hours after an interview in which Mr Farage, whose wife is German, claimed people would rather live next door to Germans than Romanians. Scroll down for video . Nigel Farage said people 'have a perfect right to be concerned if a group of Romanian people suddenly moved in next door' When asked . what the difference was, in an interview considered so disastrous that . his senior media aide, Patrick O’Flynn, interrupted to try to stop it, . Mr Farage said: ‘You know what the difference is.’ Yesterday, . rather than apologise, the UKIP leader declared: ‘Where there are . differential crime rates between nationalities, it is perfectly . legitimate to point this out and to discuss it in the public sphere.’ He added: ‘Police figures are quite clear that there is a high level of criminality within the Romanian community in Britain. ‘This is not to say for a moment that all or even most Romanian people living in the UK are criminals. ‘But . it is to say that any normal and fair-minded person would have a . perfect right to be concerned if a group of Romanian people suddenly . moved in next door.’ LBC presenter James O'Brien said Farage was 'one of the slickest and most dissembling political leaders in living memory' Mr . Farage emphatically denied UKIP was racist and said his comments about . Romanians moving in were being criticised by media commentators who . lived in ‘million-pound houses and for whom the prospect of such a turn . of events is not a real one’. Meanwhile, . the LBC presenter who conducted the original interview has branded Mr . Farage ‘one of the slickest and most dissembling political leaders in . living memory’. In . an article for The Mail on Sunday, James O’Brien writes today about the . radio interview with Farage, saying that the UKIP leader’s ‘cultivated . “pint and a fag” facade’ had slipped. Mr . O’Brien says: ‘When the man who leads the party lets his mask slip . briefly, it is hardly surprising that people are beginning to ask . questions about his convictions.’ The radio presenter described Mr Farage as a ‘political Pied Piper’ leading blindly dancing followers. To . make matters worse for Mr Farage, the multi-millionaire funding his . party issued a veiled warning that he could walk away unless UKIP won . this week’s European elections. Nigel Farage insisted that UKIP was not a racist political party . Paul . Sykes, who is financing UKIP’s £1.5 million poster campaign, revealed . that he has made no commitments to the party beyond this Thursday. He told The Mail on Sunday: ‘I have told them – I am doing nothing until I see the European results. ‘When . I know the vast majority of people are voting UKIP, have voted to leave . the EU, then I’m going to roll my sleeves up. But we need that first.’ The . frank remarks will send a shiver down the spine of Mr Farage, who will . recall how Mr Sykes spectacularly abandoned the party shortly after the . European election campaign of 2004. The . former member of the Conservative Party, who is worth an estimated . £650 million, dumped UKIP after it announced it was out to ‘kill’ the . Tories. However, . Mr Sykes also stressed yesterday that the UKIP of 2014 was a far more . impressive operation and made clear he is now a ‘lot more’ committed to . the party. Despite . all of Mr Farage’s problems, a ComRes opinion poll last night forecast . that UKIP was still on course to win the European elections. It put UKIP . on 35 points – with Labour on 24 and the Tories on just 20. The Lib . Dems were languishing in fifth place on six points – one behind the . Greens. | Nigel Farage makes the startling claim during a live radio interview .
Farage branded a 'political Pied Piper' by presenter James O'Brien .
UKIP leader said it was 'perfectly legitimate' to highlight crime figures by nationality . |
229,370 | b500c154b9f5e791c32de0108c9372261b610978 | (CNN) -- Bo Xilai, the Chinese politician who fell from grace amid a dramatic political scandal, has been expelled from the Communist Party and relieved of his duties, China's state-run news agency, Xinhua, reported Friday. Bo once was considered a top contender for the Politburo Standing Committee, the team of nine politicians who effectively rule China, but the news report on his expulsion painted a portrait of corruption, abuse of power and improper sexual relationships. The party said Bo made "severe mistakes" in the killing of a British businessman -- a crime for which his wife was imprisoned -- and a diplomatic incident involving a police official, Xinhua said. Investigators cited influence peddling, bribery and womanizing, new details found in the course of the party's investigation. "Bo had or maintained improper sexual relationships with a number of women," the state news agency said. He also took advantage of his power to seek profits and received bribes, Xinhua said. And his family "accepted a huge amount of money and property from others," the news agency reported. The news came a month before China's Communist Party is expected to meet at its 18th National Congress in Beijing to announce who'll occupy the top positions. Bo Xilai saga nears end game . Bo is a charismatic, albeit controversial, politician who launched a "smashing black, singing red" campaign in the southwestern city of Chongqing that promoted Communist ideology and zealously cracked down on organized crime. His economic programs, which included millions spent on social welfare, made him a popular leader in Chongqing. But analysts say his populist policies and high-profile personal style were seen as a challenge to the more economically liberal and reform-oriented faction that dominates the current party leadership. Bo's fortunes changed when news surfaced this year that his wife, Gu Kailai, was suspected to be an accomplice in a murder case. Gu and family aide Zhang Xiaojun were arrested in early April, suspected of poisoning British businessman Neil Heywood. Heywood died in November in Chongqing, where Bo was the Communist Party chief. His death was originally blamed on excessive alcohol consumption. Bo was soon stripped of his top posts for "serious breach of discipline." In August, his wife received a suspended death sentence after a seven-hour trial. Days later, four senior Chongqing police officers were also sentenced to jail for covering up the murder. Opinion: China murder trial a rigged spectacle . Why was Gu Kailai spared? Wang Lijun, the former police chief of Chongqing, set off the Bo story on February 6, when he fled to the U.S. Consulate in Chengdu and told American diplomats that Gu was a suspected accomplice in a murder case. After his request for asylum was turned down, Wang left the consulate and was taken away by Chinese officials. But his accusations rocked the world's most populous nation. Wang this week was sentenced to 15 years for defection, coverup, bribe taking and abuse of power. The party expelled Bo after an investigation of the killing and Wang's visit to the consulate, a trip made "without permission," Xinhua said. The investigators said Bo "bore major responsibility" in the Wang incident and the killing, Xinhua reported, citing the investigation results. Bo Xilai 'implicated' in murder . Bo's fall from grace . "He took advantage of his office to seek profits for others and received huge bribes personally and through his family. His position was also abused by his wife ... to seek profits for others and his family thereby accepted a huge amount of money and property from others," Xinhua said. Investigators determined that his behavior tarnished the party's reputation, Xinhua reported. The investigation discovered "clues to his suspected involvement in other crimes." The party investigators sent their conclusions to judicial authorities. "Bo had affairs and maintained improper sexual relationships with a number of women. He was also found to have violated organizational and personnel disciplines and made wrong decisions in personnel promotion, which led to serious consequences." The trials and convictions have been carefully scripted and apparently timed to "deal" with Bo ahead of the planned leadership transition at the Communist Party's 18th National Congress. Disgraced party chief looms large over China's leadership . Who are the next generation of Chinese leaders? Jockeying for position ahead of China's leadership jamboree . | Investigation finds influence peddling, bribery and womanizing .
Bo Xilai's economic programs made him popular in Chongqing .
He once was considered for the Politburo Standing Committee, a team that effectively rules China .
Bo's fortunes changed when his wife was tied to a murder case . |
12,911 | 2493439cb74e96db86e1ad075152bf688afee7d8 | By . Steve Robson . PUBLISHED: . 06:19 EST, 9 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:25 EST, 9 May 2013 . Fashion retailer Urban Outfitters has been criticised by drugs campaigners for selling shot glasses made to look like prescription pill medication. The chain is selling a number of products, including flasks and pint glasses, with decoration which are marked with an Rx to resemble drug labelling. One flask is marked as 'Boozemin HydroAlki' while a shot glass says 'Prescription shot - take one by mouth until intoxicated. Quantity - as many as you can stomach'. Critics say hip flasks like this one sold by Urban Outfitters are trivialising prescription drug abuse . An online petition has been launched by anti-drug group The Partnership at Drugfree.org which believes the products belittles the problem of teen abuse of prescription drugs. The campaign has been supported by political leaders in the U.S. state of Kentucky where prescription painkiller abuse is rife. Republican Hal Rogers, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, complained that the products trivialise the pain and suffering of people struggling with addiction. 'I fear the sale of these items could have the unfortunate consequence of leading more teens to seek out prescription meds, or even worse, an increase in prescription drug-related overdoses,' Rogers said in a letter to the company. Political leaders have joined a campaign calling on Urban Outfitters to withdraw the products from their shelves . 'I would encourage you to remove these items from the shelves immediately so as not to contribute to this epidemic.' Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway is also supporting the cause. 'These products make light of an . epidemic that kills more than 1,000 Kentuckians each year and is . responsible for more deaths than heroin and cocaine combined,' said . Conway, co-chairman of the Substance Abuse Committee of the National . Association of Attorneys General. 'Combined with alcohol, the misuse and . abuse of prescription medications can be deadly, making the Urban . Outfitter Rx pint and shot glasses and flasks even more disturbing.' Conway said prescription drugs are . now the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, and he . said too many teens are experimenting with them, believing that they are . safer than street drugs. The Urban Outfitters' products, he . said, could reinforce that belief. 'This type of cavalier attitude puts . more teens at risk,' Conway said. Urban Outfitters has not responded to the campaign or request for comment from the MailOnline at the time of publishing. | Anti-drug group says products belittle abuse of prescription drugs .
Misuse of Rx drugs is leading cause of accidental death in the U.S.
Politicians join campaign for them to be removed from shelves . |
89,141 | fd020de344b6d210104e94c5e3c0a5bc54311de4 | Motherwell have confirmed former Scunthorpe and Sligo manager Ian Baraclough as their new manager. Baraclough - who led Sligo to their first Irish title in 35 years - edged out former Fir Park defender Mitchell van der Gaag in the recruitment process. Although van der Gaag was installed as the bookmakers' clear favourite on Thursday evening, it's believed Baraclough had already been chosen as Stuart McCall's successor following discussions earlier in the day. Former Sligo manager Ian Baraclough has been installed as Motherwell's new manager . The 44-year-old will be at Fir Park on Saturday today to watch his new team play Scottish Premiership bottom club Ross County, with Kenny Black remaining in caretaker charge. Baraclough, a former Leicester, QPR and Scunthorpe defender, arrived in Motherwell on Friday night as the club announced they had agreed a deal in principle that would see Well Society backer Les Hutchison assume control in lieu of a planned fans' takeover. The announcement of that deal allowed the club to appoint Baraclough, who has been working as a scout for Huddersfield after parting company with Sligo in June. Baraclough took over as Scunthorpe boss after playing 134 times for the club and has since led Sligo though one of their most successful periods . The club want Black to stay on as assistant, a role he performed for almost four years under McCall, but no announcement has been made on the caretaker's future. Baraclough told the club's official website: 'I am delighted and find myself in a privileged position. I've done some research into the history of the club and I know how well the football club has done, certainly over recent years. 'It will be a hard task to take over from Stuart but one I'm very excited to take up. 'I'm a positive guy and I'm upbeat most of the time. The players will find that and I'll try and get that across to them. I want this club to feel energised and start climbing the table as soon as possible.' Baraclough's exit from Sligo came as a surprise after he led them to their most successful period, which saw them win the FAI Cup and cross-border Setanta Sports Cup as well as the title in his first season in 2012. Baraclough had previously had a six-month spell in charge at Scunthorpe, losing his job in the midst of a relegation battle in the Championship. He had twice helped the club win promotion to the second tier of English football as assistant to Nigel Adkins. It is understood Baraclough, who has also worked as a scout for Watford, impressed Motherwell with his focus on fitness and discipline and emphasis on playing a passing game, as well as his contacts in the English game and his track record of helping develop young players. Former Maritimo manager van der Gaag also hugely impressed the board with his analysis of Motherwell's recent displays and his vision for the club, but with the club facing a battle to get out of relegation danger, Baraclough was seen as the right man for the moment. | New Motherwell boss Ian Baraclough led Sligo to first Irish title in 35 years .
He was picked ahead of former Fir Park defender Mitchell van der Gaag .
Van der Gaag was the bookies favourite for the role on Thursday night .
Motherwell play bottom of the table Ross County on Saturday . |
201,452 | 90d68bd90faaa9bbe412653132c027f948dc8667 | Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has paid tribute to Wayne Goss, describing him as a great Labor man who dragged Queensland out of a decades-long malaise. The former Queensland premier has died at the age of 63 after a long fight against brain cancer. Mr Shorten said the Goss government modernised Queensland, acting against the police corruption that marked the Bjelke-Petersen years, decriminalising homosexuality and creating new national parks. He was a proud Queenslander and 'great Labor man'. Scroll down for video . Wayne Goss has died at the age of 63 . 'His victory in the 1989 state election marked a new era - an end to the malaise and corruption that had eaten away at Queensland's democracy in the final stretch of 32 years of conservative rule,' Mr Shorten said in a statement. Former federal treasurer Wayne Swan - who was Queensland Labor Party state secretary during the Goss years - said he had lost a close friend and Queenslanders had lost one of their finest leaders. Mr Goss was a leader of integrity and discipline, he said. 'Wayne changed Queensland - the state we love - for the better, and he dragged it into the sunlight after 32 years in the darkness.' Goss served as Queensland's premier from 1989 to 1996 . When he was elected he ended the National Party's 32-year grip on power in the state . Peter Beattie, who replaced Mr Goss as Labor leader in 1997, said Queensland had lost a man who returned honesty to the state. 'He was one of those people who made a difference. He was the Mr Clean of Queensland politics,' he told the ABC from New York. 'You can imagine what would have happened to Queensland if Wayne Goss had not run for state parliament. 'The Fitzgerald (corruption) inquiry would have been in vain and Queensland would have slipped back to the bad old days.' Goss, pictured here with former Labor premier Peter Beattie, had undergone surgery for brain tumours in recent years . A plan to run at the federal election in 1998 against Pauline Hanson was scuppered by a brain tumour . Keith de Lacy, who served as treasurer under Mr Goss, said he'd lost a very good friend. 'He had a wonderful sense of humour. It didn't come across all the time to the public and some people thought him a little aloof but that was very misleading,' he said. Mr Goss was in charge of implementing the recommendations flowing from Queensland's landmark corruption inquiry headed by Tony Fitzgerald. Mr Fitzgerald said he greatly admired Mr Goss, and said he was a man of uncompromising integrity. 'After he became premier, Wayne's leadership produced the reforms which transformed the state,' he said in a statement to AAP. 'Like most political reformers, he paid a heavy price. 'We've had little contact over recent years, but happily we shared a simple meal with our wives a couple of months ago when he was already gravely ill.' | Goss had undergone surgery for brain tumours in recent years .
Served as Queensland Premier from 1989 to 1996 .
Ill-health prevent a federal run in 1998 against Pauline Hanson . |
266,107 | e4ad926160d7231f1d3efbebafd98eed66f020fb | By . Daily Mail Reporter . A third person arrested in connection with the house fire in Derby which killed six children last month has been released on police bail. The 45-year-old man is the third person to be arrested following the deaths of Duwayne, Jade, John, Jack, Jessie and Jayden Philpott. The childrens' parents, Mick Philpott, 55, and his wife Mairead, 31, have been charged with their murder. Grief: Mick and Mairead Philpott cried at a news . conference about the fire, which killed six of their children . Service: The funerals will take at the family's local church, St Mary's, in Derby on June 22, followed by a burial at Nottingham Road cemetery in the Chaddesden area of the city . The couple are charged with murder following a blaze at their home in Victory Road in Allenton, Derby, on May 11. Jade, 10, and her brothers John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six, and Jayden, five, all died in the fire. Duwayne, 13, died in Birmingham Children's Hospital two days later. The latest arrest was revealed by Derbyshire Police two days before the funerals of the children, which will take place on Friday. Derbyshire Police confirmed the man arrested has since been released. A force spokeswoman said last night: 'He was questioned by officers and bailed this evening pending further inquiries.' Philpott, said to have fathered 17 children, and his wife are thought to have applied to authorities for compassionate leave to attend the children’s funerals. The funerals will take at the family’s . local church, St Mary’s, in Derby on June 22, followed by a burial at . Nottingham Road cemetery in the Chaddesden area of the city. With feelings running high in the area, police and the prison authorities would have had to assess whether the Philpotts would be safe attending the ceremony. Duwayne Philpott, 13, his sister Jade, 10, and brothers John, nine, Jack, seven, Jessie, six and Jayden, five, all died as a result of the blaze, which broke out in the early hours of May 11. Their parents were charged with murder 19 days later, are currently remanded in custody awaiting an appearance at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday. Family tragedy: Mick Philpott and his wife Mairead are charged with murdering six of their children . Their priest, Father Alan Burbidge, who will conduct the service, said Mr and Mrs Philpott would not be present. He added: 'We have had confirmation this morning that the parents of the six children will not be attending the funeral which will take place at St Mary’s Catholic Church at 11am on June 22. 'The family have chosen that church as a venue because they are Catholic children and they wanted a full requiem mass in a Catholic church.' The couple originally wanted to hold the funeral at Derby Cathedral because of the . amount of people it was thought would want to attend. Earlier . this month a Prison Service spokesman explained to The People that a . full assessment would be undertaken involving police and other . agencies. 'It is a unique situation and we cannot think, right now, of . any other defendants in the past who have been charged with murdering . their children, then wanting to attend their funerals.That is why it . poses such a huge risk.' The spokesperson said that public protection was key and if the risk is too high a private memorial may be arranged. Respect: Well-wishers have left hundreds of cards, flowers, teddy bears and candles after a candlelit vigil . The People reported Mr Philpott's son . Richard, 25, told a friend: 'They want to be at the funerals and need . to be able to say goodbye. Whatever has happened, they are innocent . until proven guilty. The public should not judge them. Let a jury do . that when they know all the facts. Before their arrests, the Philpotts . had started planning the funerals and had arranged for six separate . double-horse-drawn hearses to carry the coffins at Derby Cathedral. The costs of the funeral service will . be met by DJ’s Trust - the D standing for Duwayne and the J for the five . other children - which was set up following the blaze. Organiser Anthony Slater said: 'We . have just over £14,000 in the fund at the moment which will pay for the . burial costs and the headstones. I have spoken to the family and they . still plan for the children to be brought to the service and taken to . the cemetery via horse-drawn hearses. Earlier this month Mairead Philpott wore a white sleeveless dress to court showing her tattoo that bears her dead children's names . 'In terms of money, I think we have hit what we need to hit to cover the funeral costs.' The news comes after the coroner’s office in Derby released the bodies from the mortuary at the Royal Derby Hospital on Tuesday. The six children were asleep upstairs when the fire broke out at the semi-detached house in Victory Road in the early hours of May 11. Derbyshire Police have confirmed that petrol was used to start the blaze. Smoke from the fire travelled upstairs to where the children were in bed. All six died as a result of smoke inhalation, the force has said. An inquest into their deaths was opened and adjourned at Derby Coroner’s Court last month by Coroner Dr Robert Hunter. The hearing was told that John, Jack, Jesse, Jayden and Jade were all certified dead at the accident and emergency department of the Royal Derby Hospital. Duwayne died of his injuries in Birmingham Children’s Hospital two days later. No causes of death were given during the inquest. Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cotterill is leading the murder investigation. He said: 'Our police investigations are ongoing and we are preparing a file for the Crown Prosecution Service.' The Prison Service has not confirmed if the Philpotts applied for leave, but said a risk assessment would be carried out as is standard practice if an application has been made. A spokeswoman said: 'We do not comment on the movements of individual prisoners. 'Prisoners can apply for escorted visits to attend the funeral of a close relative, but it will always be subject to a strict risk assessment where public protection is key.' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | 45-year-old man arrested yesterday has been bailed after questioning, Derbyshire Police confirm .
Mick Philpott and wife Mairead are accused of killing their six children in an arson attack in Allenton, Derby on May 11 .
Their priest, Father Alan Burbidge, who will conduct the service, said Mr and Mrs Philpott would not be present .
Funeral which will take place at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Derby on June 22 .
Family still plan for the children to be brought to the service and taken to .
the cemetery via horse-drawn hearses . |
33,723 | 5fecede2d4ed2c1c2cf35fd6d233e1da29b8342e | Former Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said NFL teams didn't discipline players in 'hundreds and hundreds' of domestic violence incidents during his 30-year career. 'I made a mistake,' Angelo told USA Today. 'I was human. I was part of it. I'm not proud of it.' Angelo was the Bears' general manager from 2001 to 2011. Former Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo says he 'made a mistake' in being part of sweeping under the rug 'hundreds and hundreds' cases of domestic violence incidents during his 30 years in the NFL . He entered the league as a scout with Dallas in 1980, worked as a scout for the New York Giants from 1982 to 1986, and was Tampa Bay's director of player personnel for Tampa Bay from 1987 to 2001. 'We knew it was wrong,' said Angelo. 'For whatever reason, it just kind of got glossed over. I'm no psychiatrist, so I can't really get into what that part of it is. Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (left) faces child abuse charges for allegedly whipping his toddler son with a switch. Ex-Ravens running back Ray Rice (right) was released from the team after video surfaced showing him knocking out his then-fiancee with a punch . 'I'm just telling you how I was. I've got to look at myself first. And I was part of that, but I didn't stand alone.' The Bears on Thursday denied any knowledge of Angelo's claims. 'We were surprised by Jerry's comments and do not know what he is referring to,' the team said in the statement to USA Today. Angelo added to the newspaper: 'Short of killing somebody, there is absolutely nothing worse than abusing a child or a woman. Nothing. And I think everybody understands that now much, much better. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Wednesday met with the full body of team owners to discuss domestic violence and discipline for misbehavior . 'We'll be better for it. Everybody will be better. The players, the NFL, everybody.' On Wednesday, Commissioner Roger Goodell met with the full body of NFL owners for the first time since several missteps by the league involving personal conduct incidents. The agenda was filled with discussion of domestic violence and discipline for misbehavior. 'Our business is to win games,' Angelo said. 'We've got to win games, and the commissioner's job is to make sure the credibility of the National Football League is held in the highest esteem. But to start with that, you have to know who's representing the shield. 'We got our priorities a little out of order.' Two recent incidents have sparked a national debate about how domestic violence involving football players should be punished within the league. Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is facing child abuse charges for allegedly whipping his toddler son with a switch. And ex-Ravens running back Ray Rice has been released from the team after video surfaced showing him knocking out his then-fiancee with a punch. | Ex-Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo says the allegations were 'glossed over' by officials who 'knew it was wrong'
He claims 'hundreds and hundreds' of incidents went undisclosed .
Bears officials denied the claims . |
148,392 | 4be1a3b1b578cdefdfe596f4b92ea21a6d6bdf1b | The editor of The New Yorker magazine has predicted that Hillary Clinton will be running for President in 2016, making him one of the boldest names to do so. With sky-high approval numbers and an empty schedule as soon as she steps down from her position as Secretary of State, the guessing game about Clinton's next move is anything but new. New Yorker editor David Remnick wrote a piece for the magazine's website explaining that he became certain of her future run after attending a conference about the constantly-evolving political landscape of Israel. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Pushing for president: Hillary Clinton appeared at a political conference about Israel where they featured an elaborate- and extremely positive- introductory video of her . Though many have circulated the theory that Clinton will make her second run for the presidency in 2016, Remnick is one of the most-respected pundits to officially stake the claim. He explains that the tipping point was when organizers of the Saban Forum used an extremely positive video to introduce the Secretary before she spoke at the conference last week. 'The film was like an international endorsement four years in advance of the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary,' Remnick wrote. The six-minute film featured an all-star line up of current and former politicians from both sides of the aisle and Atlantic. Internationally, former prime minister Tony Blair sang her praises as did the foreign defense minister of Jordan Nasser Judeh. Given that the conference was focused on Israel, it comes as little surprise that sitting president Shimon Peres and prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke, as did defense minister Ehud Barak and former opposition party leader Tzipi Livni. Positive message: The six-minute video featured praise from a host of international and domestic leaders . Domestically, she was touted by Republican Senator John McCain and former secretary of state Madeline Albright, who served under Bill Clinton during his presidency. As if to drive the point home for any viewers who missed the point of all of this praise, the video concluded with two very clear allusions to a Clinton run. 'As someone who knows a thing or two about political comebacks, I can tell you I don't think we've heard the last of Hillary Clinton,' Netanyahu said, smiling at the camera. 'I just have an instinct that the best is yet to come,' Tony Blair says as a concluding remark for the video. Deflection: Clinton joked that she could watch the video again to simply 'count the hairstyles' As the screen darkened, a conference organizer told the clapping audience to hold on as there was another video tribute to come. President Barack Obama then appeared on screen to praise his 'partner' and 'friend' for all of her hard work. And he continued to do so for two long minutes. Clinton graciously laughed the video off, saying that she needed to sit down before beginning her talk because she was so overwhelmed. 'I prepared some remarks for tonight, but then I thought maybe we could just watch that video a few more times. And then the next time, I could count the hairstyles, which is one of my favorite pastimes,' she said, recycling a joke she has used before a number of times. Send off: The video was followed by a second one made of President Obama praising his 'friend' Hillary . The rest of the conference continued as scheduled, the video showed that many in the international community will volunteer to stump for- if not quite make the Clinton 2016 buttons- Hillary if she chooses to run again. Pundits on MSNBC said that the video could cause problems for the presumptive candidate, however, as she may feel that she is entitled to the nomination and cast her net too late in the game. Looking back on the 2008 race, a similar fault occurred when the household Clinton name was trumped by a newcomer named Barack Obama. In a New York Times article today, it was also revealed that Mayor Michael Bloomberg secretly pitched the idea that Clinton turn her attention from the grand scale to the hyper-local: he suggested that she run for his job after he leaves office next year. The mayor, not minding that she resides in none of the five boroughs, 'told her it was a great job and one the one-time presidential contender should seriously consider,' according to the NY Post. He is not fond of anyone currently running, they add. For now, none of those options seem entirely appealing to Mrs Clinton right now. 'I have ruled (a presidential race in 2016) out,' she told The Wall Street Journal recently. 'It's important for me to step off this incredibly high wire I've been on, to take stock of the rest of my life.' WATCH THE VIDEO HERE . | Mayor Bloomberg suggested Clinton follow him when he leaves next year . |
260,623 | dd7a1af10493a8631f9ee8cf09fb6abdf3de94b4 | By . Jaya Narain . PUBLISHED: . 07:44 EST, 7 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:51 EST, 8 February 2013 . A massive security operation – one of . the biggest seen at a court case in the UK – has been mounted . surrounding a court case into the death of two female PCs. It involves up to 150 officers, many of them armed, with marksmen on the rooftops of surrounding buildings as a court hears the case of Dale Cregan, charged with four murders and four charges of attempted murder. The armed officers bristled with . equipment, including the state-of-the-art Heckler & Koch G36C . assault rifle, capable of firing 600 rounds per minute and boasting an . effective range of almost 800 metres. Equipped: Officers are carrying assault rifles, pistols, CS gas and wearing the latest body armour for protection . Many . were also armed with the Austrian-made Glock handgun, which holds 17 . bullets and is noted for its reliability and accuracy. It was recently . adopted as the sidearm of the UK's armed forces. As . well as firearms, they are equipped with crippling CS gas spray, Kevlar . body armour, helmets and goggles, extra ammo as well as handcuffs and . communications equipment. A killer ambushed two female police officers and sprayed them with bullets – stopping only when he ran out of ammunition, a court heard yesterday. Trial: Dale Cregan (left in police mugshot, right in court today) had evaded a national manhunt when he set a trap, Preston Crown Court heard . After shooting them with a Glock pistol, one-eyed Dale Cregan, 29, threw a grenade at the unarmed WPCs as they lay near each other, it was alleged. Cregan had called police with reports of a fictitious burglary and PC Fiona Bone, 32 and PC Nicola Hughes, 23, were sent to investigate, the jury heard. Yesterday Cregan, who wears a black false onyx eye, appeared in court charged with four murders and four charges of attempted murder. He and nine other defendants appeared in a dock packed with security staff for the start of the trial at Preston Crown Court. The parents of both officers – Susan and Bryn Hughes and Paul and June Bone – sat in court stern-faced as the case was opened against Cregan. The jury was told a wave of violence . that erupted on the streets of Manchester last year was triggered by a . row between two families. Nicholas . Clarke, prosecuting, said: ‘The Short family had been involved over a . number of years in a long-standing feud with members of another local . family, the Atkinsons. 'The families had reached a state of uneasy peace . following a lengthy dispute.’ But the court heard that peace was . shattered when an argument flared between Raymond Young, a member of the . Short family, and Theresa Atkinson, the matriarch of her family. Atkinson allegedly lashed out with a bottle, hitting Young, who . retaliated by ‘back-handing’ her. She responded by shouting: ‘I’m going . to get you done by my sons. You just wait here, you’re dead.’ Scroll down for videos . Deaths: Cregan is accused of killing PCs Fiona Bone (left), 32, and Nicola Hughes (right), 23, and in a gun and grenade attack on September 18 last year . Accused: Cregan sat in the dock flanked by security staff at Preston Crown Court . Days later, Atkinson’s son, Leon, 35, recruited Cregan to attack the . Short family, the court heard. As well as Cregan, others including . Anthony Wilkinson, 33, Luke Livesey, 27, Damian Gorman, 38, Matthew . James, 33 and Ryan Hadfield, 28, were brought in. The jury heard that in May last year the Short family and friends had . gone for an evening out and ended up at the Cotton Tree pub in . Droylsden, Manchester. Mr Clarke QC said last orders had been called and the landlord was . tidying up when the door opened and a man wearing a balaclava stepped . in. ‘The gunman took a single step into the pub and lifted his right . arm,’ Mr Clarke said. ‘In his outstretched hand was a gun. The gun was . fired.’ Drinkers in the pub saw Mark Short fall to the floor and three . more men – John Collins, Michael Belcher and Ryan Pridding – were also . hit. David Short, 46, had gone to the toilet at the time of the shooting and . returned to find his son fatally wounded on the pub floor. Mark Short, . 23, died in his father’s arms. Armed: Policemen stand outside Preston Crown Court as prison vehicles arrive on the first day of the trial . Family: Clare Curran (left), the partner of PC . Fiona Bone, and June and Paul Bone (right), the late police constable's . parents, arrive at Preston Crown Court today . Relatives: Bryn Hughes, the father of PC Nicola . Hughes, and his partner Natalie (left) arrive at Preston Crown Court . with PC Hughes's mother Susan Hughes (right) Less than three months later, David Short himself was shot dead in a gun and grenade attack at his home. Mr Clarke said: ‘David Short was . . . chased through his house, being shot as he ran. ‘He was murdered in a hail of gunfire from two weapons carried by Cregan and Wilkinson.’ He added: ‘David Short had been shot at least nine times to his head and . body. He was chased from his kitchen, into his conservatory and . outside. ‘He eventually fell in an alleyway at the side of his house. A grenade was then thrown on to him, causing massive injuries.’ Protection: An armed police officer stands guard outside Preston Crown Court ahead of Dale Cregan's arrival . Victims: Cregan is accused of the murders of David Short (left), 46, and his son, Mark (right), 23, in the months before allegedly killing the Greater Manchester Police constables . Tests on bullet casings found at the scene of the shooting showed they were typical of those used in a Glock pistol. Mr Clarke said: ‘This was the Glock that Cregan would use again on . September 18, 2012, when he murdered PC Fiona Bone and PC Nicola . Hughes.’ Cregan, originally from Droylsden, Manchester, pleaded not guilty to . four charges of murder, four attempted murders and one of causing an . explosion. Leon Atkinson, Livesey, Gorman, Hadfield, James, Wilkinson, . Francis Dixon, 37, Jermaine Ward, 24, and Mohammed Ali, 26, all pleaded . not guilty to a variety of offences. The trial continues. Convoy: Dale Cregan arrived at Preston Crown Court in the morning under armed police escort and guard . Watching out: Armed police officers stand guard outside Preston Crown Court (identities obscured) Journey: The second of two police convoys drives along the M61 in Bolton towards Preston Crown Court . Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Dale Cregan, 29, had 'evaded nationwide manhunt when he set the trap'
Huge security operation involving up to 150 officers surrounds court case .
Cregan is accused of murders of David Short, 46, and his son Mark, 23 .
Also allegedly killed PCs Nicola Hughes, 23, and Fiona Bone, 32, last year . |
76,829 | d9ed24554836d5f4cfd13674008332b50bd29c44 | By . Kerry Mcdermott . PUBLISHED: . 08:16 EST, 7 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:21 EST, 7 June 2013 . A council has been forced to pay a former school technician more than £100,000 after colleagues fashioned male genitalia from Blu-Tack and stuck them to her telephone. Male staff at Baldragon Academy in Dundee also scrawled pictures of penises on drawings devout Christian Margaret Malcolm, 56, had done for her Brownie pack during a 'shameful' campaign of sexual harassment. An employment tribunal in the city also heard that they used 'coarse industrial language' directly in front of Miss Malcolm, who they were aware was deeply religious, and that they regularly baited her. Devout: Christian Margaret Malcolm, 56, was subjected to harassment of an 'obscene and shameful nature' by male colleagues at Baldragon Academy in Dundee, a tribunal heard . The tribunal ruled that the behaviour of three of Miss Malcolm's male colleagues was 'of an obscene and shameful nature', after several episodes dating back from 2001 were recounted at the hearing. A judgement published yesterday found Miss Malcolm had been subjected to 'serious' sexual harassment over a period of several months. The tribunal ruled she should be awarded damages from Dundee City Council. The tribunal was told about another episode with a slogan to do with a Dundee Football Club player from 2001. The judgment published yesterday said a male colleague wrote on a noticeboard 'Caniggia is God' in a reference to the Argentinian footballer Claudio Caniggia, who signed for Dundee in 2000. When she saw it, Miss Malcolm changed 'God' to 'good' but the male colleague changed it back. According to the judgement, Miss Malcolm's colleagues 'decided to conduct a planned campaign of obscene behaviour against Miss Malcolm because they considered that she was a vulnerable individual who was very naive sexually and a devout Christian'/ . The judgement added: 'It was sexual harassment of a serious kind and went on for seven or eight months.' The tribunal ruled that Miss Malcolm should receive £25,000 from Dundee City Council for the injury to her feelings, and remarked that - although she had complained on several occasions to her superior - no satisfactory action was taken by the authority to ensure there was no repeat of the obscene behaviour by the three men. The council was also ordered to pay her £12,500 for psychiatric injury and £25,603 for loss of earnings. The sums amount to £63,103 and the tribunal ruled that she should also receive interest at 8 per cent from as far back as 2001 - plus a sum for loss of pension rights. This puts the total at more than £100,000. 'Long and complicated': Miss Malcolm left her position as a school technician at Baldragon Academy in 2002 . The council accepted that they owed compensation to Miss Malcolm for the unlawful and 'plainly shameful' conduct of their employees between May and December 2001. Miss Malcolm's case has a long history and was returned to the tribunal from the Court of Session in Edinburgh, where a judge said the time and expense involved in Margaret Malcolm's row with Dundee City Council was 'staggering'. The judge Lord Malcolm called for a deal to be reached and chronicled the 'long and complicated saga' which an employment appeals tribunal had described as 'a mess'. Miss Malcolm left her job early in 2002 and in April of that year she went to an employment tribunal alleging sexual harassment by fellow employees and blamed the local authority. After a legal row about whether she had waited too long before going to the tribunal, a series of hearings went ahead but in April 2003 her claims were dismissed. Although the tribunal accepted that the harassment had happened, they ruled that the council was not 'vicariously liable'. In March 2004 the decision was reversed after it was revealed that one of the tribunal members, ill at the time, had fallen asleep. A fresh tribunal heard the case again between March 2005 and November 2006, and there were further hearings in each of the next three years before the case arrived at Scotland's highest civil court. In sending the case back, Lord Malcolm expressed concern that the long and expensive saga had occurred in a system which was supposed to improve efficiency and cut costs. A spokesman for Dundee City Council said today: 'We are studying the details of the judgement thoroughly.' | Margaret Malcolm suffered 'serious' sexual harassment from male colleagues .
Staff at Dundee's Baldragon Academy scrawled male genitalia on her artwork .
Devout Christian complained to her superiors but no action was taken .
Tribunal ruled she should receive damages from Dundee City Council . |
29,317 | 53510cf7a1027bbc13537b99d11d46af6d8864b3 | (CNN) -- More than three out of every 10 smartphone owners don't have a password on the device that could give easy access to their e-mail, bank account, credit card information and other sensitive info. That's one of the findings of a recent worldwide survey by Web security company McAfee. On top of that, 15% of people surveyed said they save password information on their phones to apps and websites they use and more than half (55%) who do have passwords said they've shared those passwords with others. "The unfortunate reality is that everyone loses things, and our devices can get stolen," Robert Siciliano, an identity-theft specialist at McAfee, wrote in a blog post about the findings. " And when that happens to your smartphone or tablet, it can be devastating." In all, 36% of respondents said they don't have a phone password. And women are slightly less likely to password-protect their phones. Some 54% of those who said they don't were women. Guys aren't blameless, though. Out of all the respondents who said they "hide" passwords to websites and apps in the Notes app on their phone, 62% were men. "Many of us use upwards of 10 apps on our devices during a typical week," Siciliano wrote. "The majority of these apps are logged into our most critical accounts including e-mail, text, banking, social media, payment apps and others that are linked to our credit cards. "And because mobile app developers know that we are more apt to use their programs if they are easy to access and convenient to use, a lot of apps are programmed to automatically keep you logged in for days, weeks, months or until you manually revoke access." He offered some basic tips for protecting data on your phone. Among them: . -- Password-protect all your devices and don't use easy ones such as "1-2-3-4" or "1-1-1-1." -- Never use the "remember me" function on sensitive apps or your Web browser and remember to log out of those apps when you're done with them. -- Consider not sharing your password, even with family members. "This might be a tough one," he concedes. -- Predictably, use a mobile security product -- such as McAfee's. | Survey: Three out of 10 of us say that we don't password-protect our phones .
McAfee security says more than half have shared their password with others .
Advice: Never use the "remember me" function on apps, Web browser .
Creating a password? Take a pass on 1-1-1-1 please . |
110,023 | 19d67dc0ff29342e4466325f7572050784abafaa | The South African head of an international aid group, his two children and an Afghan have been killed in an attack on a guesthouse in Kabul. Police chief General Mohammed Zahir said the four were killed in the attack the day before, revising an earlier toll. He gave no ages for the children, and did not identify the organisation. Gen Zahir said one of the three attackers wore a police uniform. The police chief's spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai later confirmed Gen Zahir had resigned his post, without providing details. Burned out: An Afghan policeman keeps watch at the gate of a home in Kabul where an attack by Taliban militants yesterday killed the head of a South African aid organisation, his children and an Afghan citizen . Destroyed: Afghan officials stand amid the remains of the building after the attack by militants last night . Qadam Shah Shaheem, commander of the Afghan army's 111 Military Corps Kabul, said yesterday that one Taliban fighter was killed when his suicide vest exploded and the other two attackers were shot. Eight people, including two foreigners, were rescued from the building in Kabul's western Karte Seh district during the four-hour gunbattle, according to yesterday's reports. Those reports had initially claimed that two people died in the attack. It is not known whether those rescued subsequently died of their injuries or whether more bodies were subsequently found. 'The attackers first shot dead the director as they entered the building,' Gen Zahir said at a press conference. The South African's son and daughter were also killed, as well as an Afghan citizen. After the event, Kabul police spokesman Hashmat Stanakzai told AFP that Gen Zahir had resigned. 'General Zahir Zahir told the interior ministry he no longer wanted to continue his job. The minister has accepted his resignation,' Stanikzai told AFP. Blaze: A member of Afghan security forces arrives at the site of the attack on a foreign aid workers' guest house last night. Three Taliban militants died in the attack, including one who detonated an explosives vest . Fire: Flames lick through the windows of the house in this photo taken as the attack is underway . Treachery: Police chief Mohammed Zahir said one of the three attackers wore a police uniform . Afghan policemen stand guard at the site of a suicide attack at the foreign guesthouse in Kabul . The attack was the second in as many days on guesthouses occupied by foreigners. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed on Twitter that the compound hit on Saturday was that of a secret Christian missionary group and that a meeting of Australian visitors had been hit. 'A spate of deadly martyrdom attacks have rocked important enemy targets in recent days,' Mujahid added. Kabul has seen eight deadly suicide attacks against high-profile targets in the past 16 days, one of the most violent periods in the capital in years. In recent days, four foreigners — including an employee of the British embassy — have been killed, and dozens of Afghan civilians have been killed and wounded. Security: Afghan commandos arrive at the site of a Taliban attack on a foreign aid workers' guest house . Embattled: Police and soldiers stand side by side following the attack in Kabul last night . Fatalities: The dead body of a foreigner lies in the back of an ambulance after the attack last night . The most-recent Kabul attack came as Afghan army soldiers fought Taliban fighters inside Camp Bastion, the major southern base handed over to Afghans by British forces in October. A few dozen Taliban fighters with automatic weapons and suicide vests had attacked the base in Helmand province on Thursday, General Ayatullah Khan, commander of the army regiment in the area, said. 'Some managed to get inside, took position, and started the gunfight,' he said, noting that the insurgents appeared to be holed up in one of the smaller camps within Camp Bastion. At least five soldiers and 26 insurgents were killed on Friday at the base, Omar Zwak, a spokesman for Helmand's governor, said. The Taliban, who were ousted from power by the U.S.-led coalition in 2001, claimed that hundreds had been killed in the attack. The insurgents routinely inflate casualty figures. The attacks point to a still-potent Taliban insurgency, and raise concerns about whether Afghan security forces can control militants after the U.S. and NATO officially conclude their 13-year combat mission this year. Afghanistan's Interior Ministry has launched a public awareness campaign to encourage Kabul residents to help prevent attacks, said its spokesman Sediq Sediqqi. 'We are requesting our people to cooperate with their security forces in identifying suspicious people in their areas and preventing terrorist attacks,' he said. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | South African aid chief, his son, his daughter and an Afghan killed in attack .
Taliban claim responsibility for targeting 'secret missionary group'
Kabul police chiefs stands down after eight deadly attacks in 16 days . |
9,838 | 1be77379938706663685b98f4f7cebaccff693aa | DAVOS, Switzerland (CNN) -- Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has called on the United States to halt its drone attacks against al Qaeda and Taliban fighters on Pakistani soil and warned that the missile strikes were fueling militarism in the country's troubled tribal border region. Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani sat down Wednesday with CNN's Christiane Amanpour in Davos. At least 17 people were killed in two drone strikes near the Afghan border on Friday, according to the Pakistani government, in the first attacks authorized since U.S. President Barack Obama took office last week. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who has remained in the post despite the change of government, said Tuesday that Pakistan was aware of U.S. strikes against militants within its territory -- but Gilani strenuously denied that any agreement existed between Islamabad and Washington. "I want to put on record that we do not have any agreement between the government of the United States and the government of Pakistan," Gilani told CNN's Christiane Amanpour in an interview at the World Economic Forum. "If there are any drone attacks these would be counter-productive... Therefore we ask that if they have credible and actionable information, they share it with our intelligence agencies and we will take action ourselves." Watch Christiane Amanpour's interview with Gilani » . Gilani said that ongoing Pakistani army operations against the militants were backed by the region's local population, but warned that missile attacks jeopardized tribal support for the government and urged President Obama to "respect the sovereignty of Pakistan." "We are successfully isolating the militants from the local tribes," said Gilani. "But when there is one drone attack then you get them united. There is a lot of anti-American sentiment growing in those areas." Dismissing western skepticism of his government's commitment to fighting Islamic militancy on its soil, Gilani said the conflict was fueled by fighters from Chechnya, Uzbekistan and the Middle East spilling over the border from Afghanistan, rather than indigenous militancy. He also said NATO's continuing struggle to establish law and order in Afghanistan proved that neighboring regions that had been dragged into the conflict could not be pacified so easily, and rejected suggestions that U.S. military aid should be performance-related as "counter-productive." "We have the ability and we have even the will but we don't have the capacity," he told CNN. "The world is focusing on Afghanistan; they have the most sophisticated weapons in the world -- and our poor people they are fighting without any arms or ammunition. NATO is having a very, very tough time in Afghanistan. We are also fighting a very tough fight." Gilani's remarks followed an earlier statement from Islamabad in which his government said there was "no understanding" between Pakistan and the U.S. over the ongoing missile campaign and called for "closer cooperation at the operational level" between U.S. and Pakistani forces. "As far as al Qaeda is concerned, Pakistan has done more than any other country. We look forward to working closely with the new U.S. administration on all issues, including in the fight against terrorism," a spokesman said. | Pakistani Prime Minister Gilani: No agreement with U.S. over drone attacks .
Missile strikes fuel militancy by uniting militants, local tribes, Gilani says .
Gilani dismisses western skepticism over Pakistani commitment to fighting militancy .
Gilani urges U.S. President Obama to respect Pakistan's sovereignty . |
220,293 | a925713470649479cbaa0af7b44d3f64af5f903f | (CNN)Fifty-five years after "To Kill a Mockingbird," Harper Lee is publishing a second book, her publisher said Tuesday. "Go Set a Watchman," which Lee completed in the 1950s and then set aside in favor of "Mockingbird," will be published July 14. It follows Scout, the little girl of "Mockingbird," as an adult. The manuscript was rediscovered last year, Lee, 88, said in a statement from her publisher, Harper. "In the mid-1950s, I completed a novel called 'Go Set a Watchman,' " she said. "It features the character known as Scout as an adult woman, and I thought it a pretty decent effort. My editor, who was taken by the flashbacks to Scout's childhood, persuaded me to write a novel (what became 'To Kill a Mockingbird') from the point of view of the young Scout. "I was a first-time writer, so I did as I was told. I hadn't realized it (the original book) had survived, so was surprised and delighted when my dear friend and lawyer Tonja Carter discovered it. After much thought and hesitation, I shared it with a handful of people I trust and was pleased to hear that they considered it worthy of publication. I am humbled and amazed that this will now be published after all these years." "Watchman" is set in the 1950s and is about Scout -- Jean Louise Finch -- returning to her hometown of Maycomb, Alabama (a fictional version of Lee's hometown of Monroeville), to see her father, the upright lawyer Atticus Finch. "She is forced to grapple with issues both personal and political as she tries to understand her father's attitude toward society, and her own feelings about the place where she was born and spent her childhood," the press release said. "To Kill a Mockingbird," which Lee wrote after she moved to New York, made her name. The book, published in 1960, won the Pulitzer Prize and was made into a beloved 1962 film. Gregory Peck won the Oscar for best actor for his portrayal of Atticus Finch. It's a mainstay of high school reading lists and, as of 2006, had sold more than 30 million copies. Lee, who returned to Monroeville several years ago, remembers being caught off-guard by its overwhelming success. "I can't say that (my reaction) was one of surprise. It was one of sheer numbness. It was like being hit over the head and knocked cold," she said in 1964. Until now, it had been her only published novel. Jonathan Burnham, Harper's senior vice president and publisher, called "Go Set a Watchman" "a remarkable literary event." "The existence of 'Go Set a Watchman' was unknown until recently, and its discovery is an extraordinary gift to the many readers and fans of 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' " he said in the statement. "Reading in many ways like a sequel to Harper Lee's classic novel, it is a compelling and ultimately moving narrative about a father and a daughter's relationship, and the life of a small Alabama town living through the racial tensions of the 1950s." Sandy Smith at Monroeville's chamber of commerce said news of the book was "great news." "Our main street director told me and she had heard it from the book store. It's definitely great news," she told CNN. "Everyone has always speculated about a second book. Everyone who read ('Mockingbird') has said, 'Oh I wish she had written another book.' It's good for Monroeville. Her book brings people here every day." However, Smith honored Lee's desire to maintain a low profile. The author has been a quiet presence for years. "Oh, I don't talk about Ms. Lee," Smith said when asked if she ever sees Lee around town. "Our policy is not to comment on Ms. Lee personally." CNN's Dave Alsup contributed to this story. | Harper Lee's new novel is "Go Set a Watchman"
The book will be her first since 1960's "To Kill a Mockingbird" |
152,544 | 511fd43376ea846323434c6e96d178dc81471d33 | By . Anna Edwards, Sam Greenhill and Inderdeep Bains . PUBLISHED: . 09:22 EST, 29 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 17:48 EST, 29 November 2012 . Police investigating the Jimmy Savile abuse scandal yesterday questioned a fifth man. The suspect, in his 80s and from Berkshire, was interviewed under caution on suspicion of sexual offences. It follows the arrests of paedophile . pop star Gary Glitter, comedian Freddie Starr, DJ Dave Lee Travis, and . Savile’s former producer Wilfred De’Ath. All deny any wrongdoing. Police are investigating hundreds of allegations against the late DJ Jimmy Savile . Scotland Yard said the man questioned . yesterday was being treated as part of the investigation that does not . directly relate to Savile’s offences. He was interviewed for five hours by . officers working on Operation Yewtree. On Saturday, police searched a . property in Berkshire. A Metropolitan Police: 'A man was interviewed today by officers working on Operation Yewtree has now left police premises. 'A man in his 80s, from Berkshire, was interviewed under caution on suspicion of sexual offences after attending south London police premises by appointment at midday today. 'He was interviewed by officers working on Operation Yewtree under the strand of the investigation we have termed 'Others'. 'Officers executed a search warrant at an address in Berkshire on Saturday 24 November. 'We are not prepared to discuss further.' Gary Glitter has been arrested and bailed by police as they look into allegations . Dave Lee Travis, the former Radio 1 DJ, (left) and comedian Freddie Starr have both been arrested and bailed as part of . a national inquiry . Before today, four arrests had been . made as part of a national investigation, called Operation Yewtree, into . alleged sexual offences by Savile and others. Gary Glitter and comedian Freddie Starr were arrested and bailed under Operation Yewtree in the strand classed 'Savile and others'. DJ Dave Lee Travis and a man in his 70s were arrested and bailed in November as . part of the operation strand classed as 'others'. Scotland . Yard is leading the inquiry and has said officers are currently dealing . with around 450 potential victims, the vast majority of whom claim they . fell prey to Savile. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Man is being treated as part of investigation not directly relating to disgraced DJ .
Police executed search warrant at Berkshire address last Saturday .
Left police premises this afternoon after being interviewed under caution . |
40,911 | 7358c580561b1ad06125b4da32fb26e2a901cf5b | Jailed: Zaher Somani (pictured), 58, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison after admitting tax evasion and fraud . A disgraced former magistrate who lived a life of luxury on the proceeds of tax fraud and money laundering has been jailed for more than three years. Zaher Somani, 58, built up a huge property portfolio, sent his children to private schools, was a regular at casinos and lived in a £300,000 house in an upmarket village. But HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) discovered Somani, who also ran a taxi firm, was pocketing hundreds of thousands of pounds by lying to officials about his true income. Between 2004 and 2011 Somani, who was serving as a Justice of the Peace at Loughborough Magistrates' Court at the time, fiddled self-assessment tax returns to pocket around £250,000. He was jailed for three-and-a-half years yesterday at Nottingham Crown Court after admitting tax evasion and fraud at the same court in October. Four co-conspirators, including his wife, appeared alongside him and were all given suspended prison sentences. The court heard Somani, of Quorn, Leicstershire, committed the offences while he was the owner of two Loughborough taxi companies, A1 and Charnwood Taxis, which operated 30 private hire vehicles. Family members helped hide his firms' earnings by using bank accounts and assets in Jersey, Canada, India, Turkey and Morocco, the court heard. Somani's wife Ashraf, 43, brother Pyarali, 61, sister-in-law Shabina, 50, and officer manager Darren Green, 44, were also sentenced for their part in the conspiracy. Judge James Sampson said: 'Zaher Somani lied to the bitter end and has been shamed and disgraced. 'The offending spanned many years while sitting as a magistrate, pretending to be a man of integrity and honesty. The hypocrisy could not have been greater.' Stuart Taylor, assistant director of criminal investigation at HMRC, said: 'Zaher Somani was a serving magistrate at the time of these offences, a man supposed to uphold the law. 'Instead, he was stealing from the taxpayer. (l-r) Somani's wife Ashraf, 43, brother Pyarali, 61, sister-in-law Shabina, 50, and officer manager Darren Green, 44, were also sentenced for their part in the conspiracy . Seized: Some of the cash seized from Somani. Between 2004 and 2011 he fiddled self-assessment tax returns to pocket around £250,000 . 'This man and his family lived well beyond their legitimate means, until HMRC uncovered their extensive tax evasion, associated money laundering and benefit fraud. 'Somani and his family failed to pay their full taxes, at the expense of honest taxpayers.' Zaher's wife, Ashraf Somani, 44, of Quorn, was sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work. Along with her husband, she admitted tax evasion totalling £250,000 for self-assessment income tax fraud, unpaid VAT and tax credits fraud. Zaher's brother, Pyarali Somani, 61, of Loughborough, worked as a taxi driver for both companies. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work. He admitted self-assessment income tax fraud and tax credits fraud totalling £60,000. Pyarali's wife, Shabina Somani, 51, of Loughborough, was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 18 months. She was ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work. She admitted tax credits fraud jointly with her husband totalling £16,049. Taxi driver Darren Green, 43, of Leicester, was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and given a nine-month supervision order. He admitted income tax fraud and fraudulently claiming tax credits worth £11,229 and involvement in tax evasion totalling £250,000. | Zaher Somani, 58, had a huge property portfolio and lived in a £300k house .
Children were sent to private schools and Somani was a regular at casinos .
He ran taxi firms and lied to HM Revenue and Customs about his income .
Somani, while a magistrate, fiddled tax returns to pocket about £250k .
Jailed for three-and-a-half years after admitting tax evasion and fraud . |
44,790 | 7e45c37ce856517953c7515224a440350bbcca1d | By . Sean Poulter . Scottish Power has been ordered to pay £750,000 after millions of customers were hit with an extra fee of £180 a year because they paid their bills by cash or cheque. The high charges were part of a drive to persuade customers to pay automatically by direct debit. Customers who opt not to pay by direct debit can be charged a fee to cover the extra expense of processing cheques and cash, but it must not exceed the actual administration cost. Energy watchdog Ofgem said Scottish Power's fees were unfair and amounted to overcharging of £100 a year per bill. The £180 fee is thought to have hit Scottish Power's elderly customers particularly hard, because they are more likely to want to pay by cash or cheque . But the regulator has not told the firm to refund the money. Instead it must pay the £750,000 to the Energy Best Deal scheme, run by Citizens Advice, which helps people cut their bills and shop around for the best tariff. The £180 fee is thought to have hit Scottish Power's elderly customers particularly hard, because they are more likely to want to pay by cash or cheque. It overcharged cheque customers between September 2009 and December 2012, forcing them to pay over the odds at the height of the financial crisis. But Ofgem said the practice had not 'harmed' customers. While Spanish-owned Scottish Power was billing an extra £180 a year, the rest of the industry was charging around £80. Ofgem began investigating the payments in December 2012, at which point Scottish Power cut the fee by almost half to £97 and subsequently to £95. Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said: 'Energy firms are taking advantage of customers when they overcharge for different payment methods. Ofgem began investigating the payments in December 2012, at which point Scottish Power cut the fee by almost half to £97 and subsequently to £95 . 'With fuel bills up a third since 2010, costs are already very high, so people shouldn't be paying more than they have to in order to have a warm home and the lights on. 'With trust in energy suppliers at rock bottom, companies need to be up-front and clear about why prices between alternative payment methods differ and by how much. 'Ofgem is right to hold Scottish Power to account for not sticking to the rules and it is good that struggling consumers will benefit as a result of its action. 'It has taken four years for this issue to be resolved so we hope this action is a sign that Ofgem is getting on with current enforcement cases and can find a quicker way to sort these issues out for consumers.' Sarah Harrison, Ofgem's senior partner in charge of enforcement, said: 'Suppliers need to clearly justify the different prices they set for different payment methods. 'Scottish Power did not have a robust process in place when setting their prices to ensure that the difference between their tariffs complied with Ofgem's rules. We've held them to account for this.' A Scottish Power spokesman said: 'Scottish Power has co-operated fully with this investigation. We recognise that we did not have a robust process in place but we are pleased that Ofgem has concluded its investigation and made no finding that any specific impact on customers resulted.' The firm was ordered to pay £8.5million last year after Ofgem found its sales staff had talked people into switching suppliers by making false claims. Just last week, German-owned energy firm E.ON was fined a record £12million for mis-selling by sales staff on the doorstep and over the phone. Compensation to customers could add up to another £8million. Energy tariff prices are in a constant merry-go-round with suppliers battling to pinch customers - you - from each other. Shrewd consumers can take advantage of this by doing exactly that - moving deals every six months to a year to ensure they are on THE cheapest deal. Even moving every other year will save you significant amounts. Suppliers offer their cheapest rates via online tariffs so if you're ready to switch, it will certainly pay to do so. If you are one of the millions of people who have NEVER switched (i.e. stuck with your original supplier), then you will DEFINITELY save a big chunk of cash, possibly as much as £300 a year. Prices are different all over the country and the cheapest supplier for you will depend where you live. You only need to be interested in the tariff that is going to be cheapest where you live, so do your own comparison to find the best price. | Scottish Power's fees deemed unfair by power watchdog .
But firm will not refund customers, instead paying into an energy scheme .
It overcharged customers by £100 a year - many of them pensioners . |
62,627 | b1f4004fc9840187cf41274873076fbd03e1c8ed | A grand jury has declined to indict a North Carolina police officer who killed an unarmed former Florida A&M football player by shooting him ten times last year. Officer Randall Kerrick, 28, was charged with voluntary manslaughter in the September 14 fatal shooting of 24-year-old Jonathan Ferrell in Charlotte. Ferrell’s family claim that he was in a submissive position – either on his knees or lying on the ground – when he was shot, and filed a wrongful death suit against Kerrick last week. An attorney for the family said the were 'disappointed, shocked, devastated' by the decision, as reported by WBTV. Controversy: Unarmed Jonathan Ferrell (left) was killed in Charlotte last year after being shot ten times by police officer Randall Kerrick. On Tuesday a grand jury declined to indict Kerrick for voluntary manslaughter . Fatal: Ferrell apparently walked about a half-mile to the nearest house at the upscale Bradfield Farm community and was 'banging on the door viciously' to attract attention. Ferrell had survived a car accident and banged on the door of a nearby house in the middle of the night looking for help. On Tuesday the grand jury decided not to indict Officer Kerrick on the charge and asked the prosecutor to submit a lesser charge. But . the state Attorney General's office issued a statement later in the day . saying it would resubmit the case to a full grand jury after learning . that the panel that heard the case was less than a full panel. It isn't yet known whether the attorney general would again seek voluntary manslaughter or a lesser charge. It's also unclear why the grand jury took their decision without their full 18 members. NBC News . reported that the Mecklenburg County grand jurors submitted a . handwritten note saying that there wasn't enough evidence to indict . Kerrick on the original charge. Kerrick's attorney, George Laughrun, said the officer felt like 'the weight of the world has been lifted from his shoulders.' Wrongful death: Ferrell's family filed a lawsuit two weeks ago. Attorney Charles Monnett (left) speaks, his as mother Georgia Ferrell (center), brother Willie Ferrell (standing) and attorney Chris Chestnut (right) look on during a news conference on January 14 . Sadness: A memorial sits at the site of Jonathan Ferrell's death in Charlotte . 'He's extremely relieved that the grand jury members saw fit to keep an open mind and not listen to all the propaganda on all the things he did wrong,' Laughrun continued, as reported by the Charlotte Observer. Chris Chestnut, the family's attorney, told the newspaper that the grand jury's decision was 'highly suspicious and gravely concerning.' The attorney said that the Ferrell family have been left out of the process throughout the investigation. 'There has been nothing to demonstrate that this case has gotten the attention it deserves and needs for the citizens of Charlotte and America,' Chestnut said. 'It's that important a case. This feels like they don't value Jonathan's life.' Charlotte NAACP President Kojo Natambu told WBTV: 'This is one of the most despicable decisions I have ever seen made by human beings.' The wrongful death lawsuit filed by the Ferrell family also alleged that despite him . lying mortally wounded on the ground officers still deemed it necessary . to handcuff him, according to NBC News. The deadly encounter unfolded in Charlotte at about 2.30 a.m. on Saturday September 14 after Mr Ferrell had apparently been in an automobile wreck. A crash so severe he would have had to climb out of the back window to escape. Football star: Jonathan Ferrell (center) is pictured alongside teammates of his Florida A&M University 'Rattlers' football team . Ferrell apparently walked about a half-mile to the nearest house at the upscale Bradfield Farm community and was 'banging on the door viciously' to attract attention. Thinking it was her husband coming home late from work, the woman who lived there opened the door. When she saw Ferrell, she shut it and called police. The authorities subsequently released a tape of her 911 call. A sobbing woman can be heard pleading for police to ‘please hurry’ after telling a dispatcher that a man was breaking into her front door. ‘He’s still there yelling,’ the woman said as the 911 dispatcher told her officers were on their way. ‘He’s yelling. He’s yelling.’ The unidentified woman keeps repeating ‘Oh, my god! Oh, my god!’ throughout the call. She also told the 911 operator that she had a baby in a crib and didn't know what to do. ‘He’s in his bed. I don’t know what to do. I can’t believe I opened the door,’ she said. Later, she said the man was knocking on her door and ‘he's in my front yard yelling.’ When three officers arrived they claim that Ferrell ran towards them. One officer attempted to Taser Ferrell but that didn't work and investigators said Ferrell continued to run towards Officer Randall Kerrick who had his service weapon drawn. Officer Kerrick fired 12 shots at Ferrell, striking Ferrell ten times. CMPD said officers on the scene thought Ferrell was a threat, but Kerrick was the only one who drew his gun and fired. Tragic: Georgia Ferrell, mother of Jonathan Ferrell, holds a stuffed Winnie-the-Pooh bear as she arrives at a news conference in Charlotte on January 14 . Ferrell's family said the former Florida A&M University football player moved to Charlotte about a year ago to be with his fiancee and was working two jobs. He wanted to go back to school and eventually become an automotive engineer. Ferrell's mother said Kerrick had no business being a police officer if he couldn't react properly to a man who needed help. 'I truly forgive him. I pray for him. And I pray that he gets off the police force,' Georgia Ferrell said. His family painted a picture of a bright man with an 'infectious smile' who was always there for his brothers and sisters. 'He was a role model,' said his brother, Frank. 'He had so much love in his heart. And he was always concerned about his family.' 'He had dreams of being an automotive engineer. He wanted to design a car from the very last bolt to the interior,' his brother said. He said he didn't know where his brother was going that night, or why he got into the accident. But he said his brother had never been in trouble before. | North Carolina grand jury decline indict police officer Randall Kerrick who fatally shot unarmed Jonathan Ferrell ten times last September .
Jurors claim there is not enough evidence to indict Kerrick on voluntary manslaughter charges .
Ferrell family attorney said the decision is 'highly suspicious and gravely concerning'
Family are 'disappointed, shocked, devastated'
Charlotte NAACP President said: 'This is one of the most despicable decisions I have ever seen made by human beings' |
32,483 | 5c5c1d40d9f0e2bde462f8a1f60da0cd5b8583e3 | (CNN) -- A court in Egypt has sentenced to death more than 500 supporters of the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood following violence that broke out in the southern city of Minya last August. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry puts the number of those sentenced at 529. A single policeman was killed. Only 147 of the defendants were reportedly in court Monday. Sixteen people were also acquitted at the hearing. Another 683 defendants -- including the Muslim Brotherhood's spiritual leader Mohamed Badie -- appeared before the same judge Tuesday in relation to the unrest. Their case was adjourned until April 28. CNN spoke to its correspondent in Cairo, Ian Lee, independent Egyptian journalist Shahira Amin and Egyptian legal historian Khaled Fahmy about Monday's mass sentence. What happened in Minya? A police officer was murdered during the pro-Morsy riots in Minya last August. The violence followed a deadly crackdown by security forces on two Cairo sit-ins being held by supporters of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsy. Morsy, Egypt's first democratically elected president, had been toppled in a military coup in July 2013. Defense lawyer Khaled El-Komi told CNN the charges against the defendants appearing Tuesday include breaking into a police station, attempted murder, disturbing public peace and public order. The death sentence imposed on 529 people -- will it be carried out? Lee said it was "highly unlikely" that all those sentenced to death would be executed. He said Egypt had a large appeals process and the country's chief Islamic authority -- the Grand Mufti -- also had to approve the death sentences. Many death sentences in Egypt are later reduced, or overturned, Lee said. "When you hear something like this, well it is shocking, but you do have to step back and say there's a lot between the sentencing and the execution." Fahmy also said it was most likely the sentences would be appealed and revised. "With regard those on the run, they automatically have the right for an entire new trial, in addition to the right of appeal following the issuance of the sentence," he said. Ahmed Shabib, a lawyer representing some of those sentenced to death, said that they would appeal the verdict after the Grand Mufti had made his decision allowing the court to announce its final ruling -- set for April 28. How was the trial conducted? The Minya court has been criticized for taking just two sessions to reach its verdict against the 529 people convicted. "Never before has a court issued such a large number of death sentences in such a short period of time -- only two sessions," Fahmy said. The Egyptian news organization Ahram Online said the court had issued its verdict "-- the biggest capital punishment verdict in the history of the Egyptian judiciary -- without hearing the defense arguments." El-Komi told CNN his team of lawyers weren't allowed inside the courtroom. He said they didn't have any time to plead the case or review the evidence as the first procedural session was on Saturday, before being postponed until Monday -- when the verdict was issued. One defendant told CNN he hadn't been summoned for questioning by the prosecution or by the court for the trial. The man, who requested anonymity, said he hadn't been in Minya during the incident. The verdict was "unjust" he said and the accusations "invalid." Another defendant -- who also asked not to be named -- told CNN he had been at home during the violence. He said he believed he had been added to the list of defendants just because he was a member of the anti-coup alliance. Ten members of the alliance had also died that day, he claimed, and no one had been held accountable. How does the sentence compare to others? Fahmy said the court's ruling made a "mockery of the entire Egyptian legal system." "As a historian of the Egyptian legal system, I can confidently say that this court ruling is a travesty of justice," he said. "Never before in Egypt's long history has there ever been a ruling so obscene in its contradiction of the very principles of justice." Fahmy described the ruling as "particularly perverse" as it handed down death sentences against 529 defendants accused of killing a single police officer. Journalist Amin said the sentence was "ridiculous and a grave injustice." "Ridiculous because it's not possible that 529 people can murder a police officer -- which was one of the charges against the defendants. The other charge is less serious of course -- destruction of public property -- and doesn't deserve a death sentence." Amin said the judiciary was displaying double standards. She pointed to the death of Khaled Said in 2010, whose alleged brutal beating by security forces is said to have been one of the factors behind the 2011 revolution that led to the ousting of then-President Hosni Mubarak. "The killer of Khaled Said got a 10-year prison sentence," she said. Meantime, Ahram Online pointed to the sentencing of a police officer to 10 years imprisonment for the deaths of 37 Islamists in a police van last year as a "sharply contrasting verdict." How has the Egyptian public reacted to the verdicts? Amin said the verdict had been received with shock. "The harsh sentence came as a big shock to me and many others including Egypt's liberals, many of whom oppose the Muslim Brotherhood," said journalist Amin. "Morsy's supporters are calling it a 'death penalty for the judicial system in Egypt'," she said. "You still find supporters of the military who say that they deserve it, these are terrorists. That's because the country is extremely and deeply polarized and anyone seen to show sympathy -- even remotely -- for the Muslim Brotherhood is labeled a traitor and accused of being one of them," she said. Fahmy said he had little doubt that the ruling was politically motivated. "It is as if the judge wanted to appease the military rulers of the country who decided to wage a 'War on Terror' and have declared the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization," he said. Fahmy claimed the sentence had made "a mockery of the entire Egyptian legal system," and in the process undermines a fundamental pillar of society -- the very principle that the regime is accusing the Muslim Brotherhood of doing. "In other words, if there is anyone who is undermining the stability of the Egyptian state, it is the judiciary and its incessant desire to appease the military and the police," he said. Amin said it was "clear that courts are being used to settle political scores." "The courts are one more battleground for the political standoff between the military backed authorities and the Islamist group," she said. "So basically, the verdict is a threat to Muslim Brotherhood supporters -- and also to opponents of the regime in general -- that there's zero tolerance for dissent." Lee said the verdict can be seen as part of the ongoing crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood and their supporters in which hundreds have died and thousands arrested. The irony, he said, is that while 529 people were sentenced to death over the killing of one police officer and attempted murder of another, no one has been held accountable for the deaths of hundreds of protesters. How has Egypt's government responded? Egypt's government, through its foreign ministry, stressed the independence of the country's judiciary in a statement to CNN. "The Egyptian government would like to affirm that the Egyptian judiciary is entirely independent and is not influenced in any way by the executive branch of government, as dictated by the democratic principle of separation of powers," the ministry said. The ministry pointed out that the Minya sentence had been issued by an independent court "after careful study of the case; that it was only the first verdict in the trial process; and that the defendants would be able to contest the verdict in the Court of Cassation." What about the Muslim Brotherhood? The Muslim Brotherhood issued a statement saying the sentence "violates judicial norms." "The shocking and unprecedented sentencing of 529 Muslim Brotherhood supporters without due process is evidently inhumane and a clear violation of all norms of humane and legal justice," it said in a statement on its website. "The verdict is yet another clear indication that the corrupt judiciary is being utilized by the coup commanders to suppress the Egyptian revolution and install a brutal regime which has already surpassed decades long of oppression and tyranny in Egypt's history." In December, Egypt's interim government officially declared the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization. It said anyone who was a member would be punished, as would those found to be giving the group financial support. What's happened to Mohamed Morsy? Morsy, the former head of the Muslim Brotherhood's political arm, was elected president in 2012. Shortly after winning, he resigned from the Muslim Brotherhood and its Freedom and Justice Party in an effort to show that he would represent all Egyptians. But he was ousted in a coup in July 2013 amid widespread protests against his rule, with opponents accusing him of pursuing an Islamist agenda and excluding other factions from the government. Morsy and other Brotherhood leaders were rounded up after the coup and now face a variety of counts, including organizing attacks on Egyptian troops in the Sinai Peninsula and fueling "sectarian sedition with the aim of igniting civil war in Egypt." 529 sentenced to death in Egypt . Muslim Brotherhood banned . What is the Muslim Brotherhood . Lawyers in Muslim Brotherhood case seek new judges . | On March 24, an Egyptian court sentenced 529 people to death over violence in the city of Minya .
Last August, a policeman was murdered in riots after a crackdown on pro-Morsy sit-ins .
The sentences need to be approved by Egypt's Grand Mufti and can be appealed .
The length of the trial and severity of the sentences have sparked criticism . |
104,981 | 136ac9e24fbe3af40a25d04874a1c2ed2dc91f9c | A death-defying free runner who scales buildings and mountains without a harness has captured some truly breathtaking images on his travels around the world. Esty Ilabaca from Moreton on the Wirral, Merseyside, has parkoured his way across the globe in pursuit of the perfect shot, and captured on film are the terrifying levels in which the 20-year-old is prepared to go to in order to find it. The video depicts Ilabaca casually strolling along the top of a skyscraper, before leaning out over the edge of it. And despite breathing heavily throughout the clip the young man appears to be completely at home at the terrifying height. Scroll down for video . Top of the world: Esty Ilabaca has explored, climbed and parkoured his way across the globe in pursuit of the perfect vantage point for a stunning photograph . Despite appearing to be a thrill seeker, Ilabaca insists that it is not this that drives his expeditions around the world but the fact that he loves people watching . Ilabaca has travelled as far as America in order to catch the perfect pictures of Los Angeles' Venice Beach and the iconic Golden Gate Bridge . The video also shows the daredevil jumping a barrier to tight-rope along a part of the building's structure, all the while his helmet camera rolls picking up the sights around him. Showcasing his skills in parkour – a discipline that uses movement developed from military obstacle training and translates as 'art of motion' – Ilabaca also makes a jump between two buildings and later completes a double jump from the top of a building to the ground. Despite appearing to be somewhat of a thrill seeker, Ilabaca insists that it is not this that drives his expeditions around the world but the fact that he loves people watching. Taking pictures of his hometown, and capturing it in all its birds-eye beauty, Ilabaca has travelled as far as Chile, Japan, America and France. Taking a break: Ilabaca and a friend take a well earned break in a dangerous location on a mountain at the Yosemite National Park . Translated as 'art of motion' parkour is a discipline that uses movement developed from military obstacle training . Impeccable balance: Ilabaca's friend showcases his nerve and composure while posing for a photograph overlooking Liverpool . Ilabaca has a portfolio of images, including a birds-eye view look at Liverpool and one of the iconic London skyline . And his portfolio of images from around the globe include a picture of Los Angeles’ Venice Beach, a shot overlooking Higashikurume, Tokyo and even an image of his leg dangling from the iconic Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Closer to home, Ilabaca also has a number of photographs that feature friends, including one that overlooks the London skyline as well as a number of shots taken over Liverpool – one of which is truly incredible and features a man balancing himself precariously on top of a narrow pole. Ilabaca documents his urban photography on his Facebook and Instagram pages. | Esty Ilabaca is featured on video jumping a barrier and scaling a building without a harness .
The 20-year-old has travelled to Chile, Japan, America and France in pursuit of the perfect photograph .
His portfolio of images include a birds-eye view look at Liverpool and London .
Abroad Ilabaca has scaled the Yosemite mountains and dangled from the Golden Gate Bridge . |
220,404 | a94cae8a00a93c3d00f1894ec36b978d76fd6692 | Dakar, Senegal (CNN) -- The aliens have landed -- and they look rather fabulous. Centuries rolled forward and outfits got quirkier in the heart of Dakar late last month as Senegalese fashion designer Selly Raby Kane showed off her futuristic creations for her latest collection, "Alien Cartoon." Set in 2244, the dazzling show transformed Dakar's 100-year-old deserted train station into a whimsical space where humans co-existed alongside strange and mysterious creatures -- from alien invaders and giant metallic insects to a massive inflatable octopus whose glowing tentacles stretched throughout the historic building. "Alien Cartoon is a story about an African invaded city where weird, fantastic and sci-fi creatures evolve among human beings," says Kane. "My collection is an answer to what the consequences of the invasion would be on women's and men's wardrobes, on music, on architecture -- what would that city look like? What would its inhabitants wear?" 'Surreal universe' The answers were both eye-catching and grandiose. More than just a fashion show, "Alien Cartoon" brought together nearly 120 models, actors, musicians and art performers who created an otherworldly experience for some 2,000 spectators. Read this: Luxury shoes put sparkle in your step . Amid the giant installations, streams of models in translucent parkas, quilted tops, full-length jumpsuits, leather prints and LED accessories paced up and down the runway to the sound of hypnotic electronic beats. Blending urban culture with strong pop art influences, Kane's structured creations nodded to the fantasy worlds staged by directors like Tim Burton, while being firmly rooted in Dakar. "It was important to confront the Senegalese audience with a fashion point of view that is alternative, playful and inhabited by that surreal universe," says Kane. Passion for fashion . The talented designer is part of an exciting and ambitious generation of young Senegalese artists that want to share their creative visions both locally and internationally. A member of the artistic collective "Les Petites Pierres," Kane first started drawing clothes at a young age while growing up in Dakar. After high school, she went on to study business and law but her love for fashion never wavered -- in 2008, Kane created her first collection and two years later she headed to France for fashion studies. She then returned to Senegal and in 2012 Kane presented her "Be Street" collection, a massive urban decor production that paid tribute to street art through music and cinema. "I have very strong cinematographic references," says the young designer on a hot May afternoon, sitting inside the Les Petites Pierres compound in a dusty neighborhood of southwestern Dakar. "I am addicted to everything that makes me leave Earth and discover other things, other realities," adds Kane. "From my first fashion show and the first time I've presented my collection there has been a small evolution and everything is going to that path; that fantastic and surreal approach of what a garment is." 'This is who I am' That journey culminated last month with "Alien Cartoon" and now Kane says she's determined to continue developing her brand and collaborating with other artists. Yet, the road has not always been free of hurdles. "Fashion in other countries is more organized," says Kane. "When you are a young designer [abroad] you know where you have to go, where you have to produce your pieces, where you can distribute it. Everything is organized, and here you have to do it yourself." She quickly adds, however, that these challenges only serve to motivate her to push her boundaries and work harder. "This is who I am, this is where I live and it's important for me to do it here," says Kane. "I have the feeling it really matters -- it really inspires other people and I am inspired as well by the people surrounding me," she says. "It makes sense to do it here, on the continent, and after, maybe when we get bigger, go somewhere [else] -- but we have a duty to develop things from here." Read this: Luxury shoes put sparkle in your step . More from African Start-Up . | Selly Raby Kane is a young Senegalese fashion designer based in Dakar .
Her latest collection, "Alien Cartoon," was unveiled inside the city's old train station .
The work features striking creations with a quirky futuristic edge .
Kane is part of an exciting crop of Senegalese artists that want to have their voices heard . |
237,380 | bf3ca670ee0b99c6f271bf1fb34b090993fb5174 | (CNN) -- FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke has admitted to flaws in the ticketing system for the World Cup in South Africa and vowed not to make the same mistakes for the 2014 event in Brazil. Tickets for the 2010 World Cup were slow to sell after FIFA's rigid internet-based system alienated South Africans, who are more accustomed to buying tickets at the stadium. With fewer foreign fans making the trip than expected, FIFA belatedly introduced an over-the-counter system in order to attract more local support, but only 45,000 tickets were sold to African countries outside the host nation. In an interview with CNN, Valcke said the key lesson for the sport's governing body was to engage more with the local culture before deciding on the ticketing system. "Let's check first how Brazilians are being tickets," he said. "We arrived in South Africa using the internet. It was the wrong system. "If the internet is working in Brazil let's use the internet. But let's just make sure we understand exactly how it works before we decide the system we put in place." Valcke said the key difference between South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014 would be the strength of the host nation. While South Africa became the first host nation to be eliminated at the group stage, five-time champions Brazil will be expected to go all the way on home soil. "In South Africa the goal was not to win the World Cup, the goal was to organize," said Valcke. "In Brazil the goal will be to win the World Cup at home for the first time." | FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke admits South Africa 2010 ticketing errors .
Internet-system was wrong way to sell tickets to African fans, Valcke says .
Valcke says FIFA will engage with Brazilian culture before deciding system for 2014 . |
102,046 | 0f847bfd38d8f65f54ed5ccc9210f528e313f84e | By . Margot Peppers . PUBLISHED: . 13:16 EST, 17 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:28 EST, 18 May 2013 . A new Urban Outfitters store opening soon in Brooklyn, New York, will also have a bar inside. According to the Brooklyn Community's Monday night board meeting notes, the new Williamsburg location was among the borough's bars and restaurants applying for a full liquor license. And it's not the first time the retailer has expanded to food and drink; a shop in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has a cafeteria-style eatery inside, and the company's Westport, Connecticut, location serves up fancy dishes like lamb merguez and striped sea bass at its in-store restaurant. Shop and drink: A new Urban Outfitters location coming soon to Brooklyn, New York, is applying for a full liquor license for an in-store bar - and perhaps a restaurant, too . Wendy McDevitt, president of Terrain - the outdoor living company run by Urban Outfitters - said adding food to the retailer's repertoire will be a guaranteed way of getting more business. 'Food is becoming bigger and bigger in terms of entertainment value,' she told New York Magazine. The new restaurant-cum-clothing store trend was initiated by Tommy Bahama, whose flagship Manhattan shop also has a full bar and a tropical-themed restaurant. Installing the restaurant in their shop has not only been convenient for shoppers, but it has also been a very lucrative move for the clothing company. In fact, chief executive officer Terry Pillow told Bloomberg Businessweek that Tommy Bahama's restaurant-stores generate two-and-a-half times the sales per square foot of their locations without food. J.C. Penney is also reportedly looking to get in on the craze by adding juice bars to hundreds of its locations over the next few years. Doug Wood, president of Tommy Bahama, says a bar within a shop is risky, but worth it. 'It's challenging to operate but if you execute it right it's magic,' he explained. It has not yet been revealed when the new Urban Outfitters shop will be open to the public. | The Brooklyn Community's .
Monday night board meeting notes reveal that the chain's new Williamsburg location was .
among the local bars and restaurants applying for a full liquor .
license . |
116,002 | 21b9e3426cb1972de26f63a9a9d4076f1e556fd9 | Kathmandu, Nepal (CNN) -- After more than seven months of political gridlock, Nepal's parliament Thursday elected a 60-year-old leftist leader as the country's new prime minister. Jhala Nath Khanal, chairman of the leftist Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), received 368 votes in the 601-member parliament. His nearest rival, Ram Chandra Poudel of the Nepali Congress, got 122 votes and Bijay Kumar Gachhedar of Madhesi People's Rights Forum (Democratic) got 67 votes. Before the vote, Khanal said in parliament that resolving the political complexities of the country would be his first priority. Khanal faces the challenge of preparing -- with the support of other parties -- a new republican constitution by a May 28 deadline and finalizing an agreement on the future of nearly 20,000 Maoist combatants. The country had been without a proper government since outgoing and caretaker prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal resigned in June. Sixteen rounds of voting in parliament since July failed to produce a prime minister since none of the parties had a majority. Nepal's biggest party, the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), decided to withdraw its own candidate earlier Thursday and back Khanal. He becomes the third prime minister since Nepal became a republic in 2008, ending centuries of monarchy rule. He replaces Nepal, who was also of the same party but had the support of Nepali Congress, the second biggest party in parliament. The Maoists fought a 10-year insurgency to end the monarchy and signed a peace deal in 2006 in which the combatants were to be integrated into the security forces, but the exact process of how that will be accomplished has yet to be agreed upon between the parties. The U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu congratulated the people of Nepal on the election. "We look forward to working with incoming Prime Minister Khanal and continuing the warm and constructive relationship between the United States and Nepal," a statement from the embassy said. "We are hopeful that today's election will give renewed momentum to the peace process and constitution drafting." United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also praised the election, according to a spokesman. "He congratulates the Prime Minister-elect and reaffirms the support of the United Nations to all efforts to complete the peace process and to adopt a new constitution," a statement from Ban's spokesman said. "He believes this development will give a significant boost to efforts to fully implement their outstanding commitments under the Comprehensive Peace Accord and the interim constitution, notably the integration and rehabilitation of the Maoist combatants, democratization of the army and adoption of a new constitution." Earlier Thursday, Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' withdrew his candidacy for the prime minister race, saying that his party would concentrate on the constitution and the future of the combatants. He said he realized he was not going to win and the country needed a proper government. "There is a need for sacrifice to resolve the problems," Dahal said. "The Maoists, since it is the biggest party, should take this responsibility." The communist leader said that if parliament could not elect a prime minister again, people would throw shoes at the politicians -- a high insult in certain cultures. There has been widespread discontent among the Nepalese about the political stalemate. Last month, prime minister-elect Khanal was slapped in the face by 52-year-old man at a political rally, who accused the politicians of being selfish. Nepal's political crisis began when Dahal resigned as prime minister in May 2009 after the ceremonial president, who is the supreme commander of the army, reinstated the army chief Dahal had fired. | NEW: U.S., U.N. praise the election of the prime minister .
On its 17th try, Nepal's parliament elects a new prime minister .
Khanal must prepare a new constitution .
He's the third prime minister since the end of the monarchy in 2008 . |
231,184 | b75091e103b6661cd124c2a00a1a0c7bf49c8b9e | Host commentator . It's all over in Belgrade and Partizan have been well worth their point this evening. Kane smacked the crossbar in the early stages, but that was to be the closest Tottenham would come. The home side were dangerous on the counter-attack and caused Spurs a few problems without ever seriously testing Lloris. 88mins: Lloris is on course for his fourth clean sheet in seven games here as the game slowsl into a canter. The crowd are still bouncing up and down but it hasn't quite been enough to sing their side to victory. Spurs play the ball around the back before Kane loses an aerial battle. THREE minutes to go. Sami Mokbel: Just clocked a worrying banner amongst the Partizan supporters that reads: 'Only Jews and P******' - a play on words on Only Fools and Horses. Surely one for UEFA to look at in the coming days. 85mins: Luka is shown a yellow card after a late challenge on Capoue. The substitute was unlucky as he looked to have won the ball but Capoue's play-acting was enough to convince the referee. 82mins: Kane fires a tame free-kick into the Partizan wall as Spurs look to gain an advantage in the closing stages. Salzburg are level and it's thanks to a beautiful free-kick from Soriano. Gordon was left scrambling in his goal as Soriano lifted the strike up and over the wall. 73mins: Ilic blazes over after the ball falls kindly at the edge of the Tottenham box. If there's going to be a winner in Partizan, it looks likely to be the home side. 65mins: Lamela has injected a bit of pace into the Spurs attack, but Partizan continue to frustrate the away side. Lazovic wins a controversial corner after a tackle from Lennon. Pressure on Spurs here. The returning skipper has put his side ahead with a 25-yard volley! Unfortunately, it's not quite as wonderful as it sounds as Brown's scuffed strike took a deflection before bobbling in. But the Celtic fans won't care! Petrovic comes on for Volkov as Partizan make the first change of the game. 52mins: Partizan are starting to put pressure on Spurs during the early stages of the second half. Dricic looks lively and almost puts his side ahead after brilliant work from Pantic on the left. Luckily for Spurs, his shot was tame and Lloris could collect easily. 48mins: Ben Davies is shown a yellow card for a late tackle on Dricic, but the free-kick comes to nothing as Lloris clears. We're back underway in Partizan and Salzburg as the two British clubs look to grab their first three points of the season. Sami Mokbel: Not many positives for Spurs after that first-half. They lacked ideas going forward. Ben Davies struggled at left back and Andros Townsend picked up a needless booking for dissent. It can only get better for Spurs after that. The scores are level at half-time as both Tottenham and Celtic are held by Partizan and Salzburg respectively. Tottenham's best chance came after just three minutes as Kane smashed a left-footed shot against the crossbar. At the other end, Lloris has been forced into action on several occasions after quick counter-attacks from the Partizan frontline. 42mins: Tottenham are having lots of controlled possession, but they've been unable to turn that into chances. Partizan look threatening on the counter-attack and Spurs may be happy to see the half-time break as Lloris saves a shot from Grbic. Many eyes will be on Federico Fazio this evening to see if the debutant can help plug gaps in a Tottenham defence that never quite replaced Ledley King. So far the combination with Jan Vertonghen looks no better or worse than solid, although Fazio was rather fortunate to see Partizan have a chance blocked from point blank range after completely mid-judging a headed clearance. Andros Townsend has just been booked for dissent, with Pochettino now feeling the need to come to the touchline to overlook his now struggling side. And it's all square in Salzburg as Alan scores for the home side. The strike took a huge deflection off Celtic's Efe Ambrose. 34mins: Andros Townsend is shown a yellow card for losing his temper with the linesman after a foul on Volkov. Moments later, Townsend looks to have led with is elbow as he comes together with Volkov once again. The winger needs to calm down here. 30mins: The ball bobbles around the Partizan box before the ball drops kindly to Kane. The young striker lines up a left-footed volley, but can only blaze his effort over the bar. At the other end, Ilic volleys over after an attack along the right leaves Spurs looking a bit light defensively. 0-0! 26mins: Concern for Spurs as Partizan come close to taking the lead before Hugo Lloris pulls off a point blank save to deny Lazovic. Danny Rose's last trip to Serbia wasn't a pleasant one, and his replacement this evening in Ben Davies is not quite enjoying it neither - albeit for different reasons. Davies has already given the ball away a couple of times, and Partizan are finding it a little too easy to breach the Spurs back line by attacking the right flank. Tottenham are starting to wobble after a good opening 10 minutes. 21mins: Over in Belgrade, Tottenham have survived one Partizan scare after a good cross from Ilic was cleared to safety. At the other end, it's been slim pickings for Spurs as Townsend looks lively. The Bhoys have the lead thanks to a brilliant left-footed strike from Wakaso. He found space in the Salzburg penalty area before rifling the ball past the Salzburg goalkeeper. 10mins: The first 10 minutes are up in in Salzburg and Celtic are putting a bit of pressure on the home team. A Commons free-kick results in a Celtic corner before Salzburg manage to clear. Good start for the Bhoys . 7mins: Townsend bombs down the right before finding Paulinho who gives the ball away. The crowd are getting right behind their team as the game settles down inside the first 10 minutes. 3min: Tottenham have their first chance of the game and it's Harry Kane with a strike against the crossbar. He worked the ball well onto his left foot inside the penalty area before thundering a striker onto the upright. That certainly would have silenced the crowd early on... And we're underway in Serbia and Tottenham take kick-off. The Partizan fans are already creating quite an atmosphere despite the running track between themselves and the pitch. There's just 150 travelling fans here in Belgrade today, perhaps the potential for supporter clashes has something to do with the lack of numbers. One Partizan supporter has just whipped out a Scotland flag! It's a big issue where ever you go. The teams are out as we prepare to get this evening's 6pm kick-offs underway. Tottenham (all in yellow) step out onto the Partizan pitch as the local fans send a few jeers their way. Speaking to ITV4 ahead of kick-off, Pochettino says: 'We have a strong sqaud and I said on the first day that we believe in all of our players. For different reasons some players are in London. 'It's important for the team and this is my first game in the Europa League. We expect a good performance. Getting three points is the most important thing.' A look back at 1991 from a football perspective conjures up memories which give a stern reminder of just how much football really has moved on. (Sir) Alex Ferguson still hadn’t won a league title with Manchester United, the class of ’92 were still yet to rip through the youth level of the game and the Premier League didn’t exist. In addition, an English manager was about to win the top flight title with a now second tier club and even the England team were actually rather good. Click here to read more... Celtic XI v FC Salzburg: Gordon, Ambrose, Denayer, van Dijk, Izaguirre, Brown, Johansen, McGregor, Commons, Wakaso, Scepovic . Mauricio Pochettino has claimed winning the Europa League is a priority this term, so he's done what any manager looking to back up his claims would do... make 10 changes. Only Hugo Lloris features from Spurs' 2-2 draw at Sunderland with defender Federico Fazio making his debut, and Benji Stambouli in the team for his first start. It's a gloriously warm and sunny evening in Belgrade and the PA system in the ground is doing its best to kick the home fans into a frenzy. Heavy rock music is playing around the ground - but with the capacity yet half full, it's not really having the desired effect. Spurs vs FK Partizan: Lloris, Naughton, Fazio, Vertonghen, Davies; Bentaleb, Stambouli; Lennon, Paulinho, Townsend; Kane . Hello and welcome to Sportsmail's live coverage of tonight's Europa League action as Tottenham travel to Partizan Belgrade and Celtic face Salzburg. Follow minute-by-minute updates from myself and our team of reporters as Spurs look to kick-off their European campaign in style. We'll have team news and much more very shortly... Follow Sportsmail's live coverage of the Europa League's opening night as Tottenham are held by Partizan Belgrade. Tottenham began their Europa League Group C campaign with a difficult tie in Serbia against a Partizan team who were edged out on away goals in the third qualifying round of Champions League by Ludogorets, who performed so impressively against Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday. Click here to read Sami Mokbel's MATCH REPORT . | Tottenham held by Partizan Belgrade in Europa League Group C clash .
Harry Kane hits crossbar for away side .
Spurs XI vs. FK Partizan: Lloris, Naughton, Fazio, Vertonghen, Davies; Bentaleb, Stambouli; Lennon, Paulinho, Townsend; Kane .
Referee: Alon Yefet .
Celtic take on Salzburg in Group D .
Celtic XI v FC Salzburg: Gordon, Ambrose, Denayer, van Dijk, Izaguirre, Brown, Johansen, McGregor, Commons, Wakaso, Scepovc .
Wakaso gives Celtic early lead .
Salzburg striker Alan levels for home side in 36th minute .
Scott Brown puts Celtic back in front with deflected volley .
Soriano pulls Salzburg level once again with 20-yard free-kick . |
172,533 | 6b49f0118cae52880a008d6bff160d1b498b01f0 | (CNN) -- Spain has finally asked for a bank bailout from its eurozone peers, to weather the financial crisis that hampered its finances during recent months. Although Spain's Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, has stressed that there are no austerity conditions attached to it, the statement from the Eurogroup made clear that supervision over the country's budget will be strengthened. The budget deficit aims may mean the Spanish government will implement further structural reforms, such as a reducing the country's unemployment benefits, or raising the retirement age. As a result, we may see public disaffection shifting from the streets to the political arena. Unlike other countries -- such as Greece, for example -- in Spain public disaffection with the economic crisis has not yet had a significant impact on the country's traditional political forces. Instead, Spanish citizens have mainly channeled their anger and frustration over austerity measures through social mobilization, while the political landscape has remained virtually the same. Although there has been shift in power -- the Popular Party (PP) took over after general elections in November 2011 -- the political arena continues to be dominated by the two largest parties, PP and the Socialist Party, PSOE. The striking aspect of the emergence of the Spanish indignados movement was that it came about in a country which has, traditionally, had low levels of civic engagement and social participation. While the indignados have been discredited by the right-wing mass media as being a marginal force mainly followed by perroflautas (Spanish slang to describe wandering minstrels), the movement -- which had its anniversary on May 15 -- has shown no signs of fading away. Indeed, a majority of Spanish citizens sympathize with its aims and support its goals. Recent studies show the indignados are not just a movement of the young and marginalized. Many participants are middle-aged, highly-educated and employed, and a majority of them consider their current financial situation relatively good. At the same time, many share a concern about their future financial situation. For a short period the indignados managed to get a reform of the electoral system, that would improve the chances of small parties to be represented in parliament, on the policy agenda. But they have not yet achieved any significant policy goal. Now, some proposals to improve democracy and control corruption have been pushed aside as focus turns instead to the deteriorating economic situation. The movement's current demands focus on the unbalanced distribution of economic costs due to the austerity measures. This does not mean that the indignados have failed, as their most important success indicator is the activation of the protest "muscle" in Spanish society, particularly among the network of social organizations at the local level. But if the bank rescue results in further reductions of social welfare funds, or if it is a prelude to the bailout of the state, the government risks unleashing social protest in a way existing social movements may not be able to channel. Public discontent may then shift from the streets to the political stage. This could ruin the leverage of the traditional political forces and, in turn, the capacity of the political system to manage the economic crisis. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Sandra León. | Sandra León: Spain's political landscape has been relatively calm despite the austerity measures .
But the Spanish indignados movement have gathered support in a country with low civic engagement .
León says a majority of citizens sympathize with the aims of the indignados .
Public discontent may shift from the streets to the political stage should this bailout not be enough . |
103,479 | 1171368a424a6cf09f63643cf94db3cf96937e14 | By . Nick Enoch . As ramshackle houses sit in the bleak snowy wasteland of Siberia - frozen clothes laid out across fenceposts - a train comes to a stop in plain sight. For the townsfolk of Kun ('Valley of snow'), comprising only a handful of families who have no running water, the train is their lifeline. But this is no ordinary transportation. It is the Matvei Mudrov medical facility. These stunning pictures of the mobile GP surgery, as it travels from village to village, were taken by William Daniels for National Geographic magazine. The Matvei Mudrov train - a mobile GP surgery - pulls into Kun, a remote village in the far east of Russia. For the handful of villagers who live in the ramshackle settlement, it is the closest they'll ever get to professional healthcare . The facility is not equipped to carry out even basic surgery but its strengths lie in diagnosis - it has heart monitors, ultrasound and x-ray machines - as well as recommendations for treatment. Above, staff take an after-hours break in the frozen wastelands of Siberia . Operated by the Russian state railways agency, the Matvei Mudrov has around 15 doctors, examination rooms and basic medical equipment. Above, two staffers celebrate the birthday of medical director Vera Scherbakova. In the background is a portrait of Matvei Mudrov, a pioneering 19th-century physician who is the train's namesake . Operated by the Russian state railways agency, it has around 15 doctors, examination rooms and basic medical equipment. The facility is not equipped to carry out even basic surgery but its strengths lie in diagnosis - it has heart monitors, ultrasound and x-ray machines - as well as recommendations for treatment. The images are from the June issue of National Geographic magazine . And there is a lab which can analyse urine and blood samples. Patients also have access to a neurologist, Alexander Komarov, who became a doctor in the 1980s. Among those who have come for advice is Mikhail Zdanovich, a 61-year-old repairman who dislocated his shoulder three years ago at the rail depot where he worked. Hailing from the town of Berkakit (population 4,500), further up the line, he has his right arm in a sling. Zdanovich has an appointment booked at a surgery - months away - in Khabarovsk, 1,000 miles from his home. But wants to know now whether he can continue to work. Another man, from Khani (population: 742), fell down some stairs and has broken both ankles. Most of the consultations take place onboard, but doctors do occasionally make house calls. It is the closest many of the villagers in isolated parts of eastern Russia will get to professional healthcare. Conditions in the region are harsh: in winter, temperatures can drop to as low as -45C, and there are few roads. Built in . the late 1970s, the Matvei Mudrov runs along the Baikal-Amur Mainline . (BAM), 400 miles north of, and parallel to, the Trans-Siberian railway. The train - named after a 19th century Russian physician - makes about ten trips a year, each lasting two weeks as it visits dozens of small settlements along the thousands of miles of wilderness. The images are from the June issue of National Geographic magazine. | Matvei Mudrov - a mobile doctor's surgery - visits remote settlements in far east of Russia .
Operated by Russian state railways agency, it has around 15 doctors, examination rooms and basic medical equipment .
Train equipped with heart monitors, ultrasound and x-ray machines - and a lab to analyse blood and urine . |
44,292 | 7ce31cd64b3077156beb30969b98e6e13e59e063 | Joe Biden held an ‘emotional one-on-one meeting’ with Barack Obama and ‘apologized profusely’ after announcing his support for gay marriage in May, according to a new book. The Vice-President also accused Jim Messina, the Obama campaign manager, of ‘throwing him under the bus’, an e-book published by Politico has revealed. Obama tried to calm Biden down, saying: ‘Look, Joe, there are people who want to divide us. You and I have to be on the same page from now on. You and I have to make sure that we don’t get divided.’ Bond: President Obama and VP Joe Biden last pictured together in May at the White House. A new book has revealed that despite bumps in the road, they are intent on a united political front in the run up to the elections . After Biden’s ill-judged utterance, Obama was forced to bring forward his own announcement of support for gay marriage, which he had planned to make at the Democratic convention in Charlotte, North Carolina this month. The incident underlines the extent to which Biden’s garrulous manner and inability to stick to a prearranged message has become a problem for the White House and the Obama campaign. It also highlights, however, Obama’s apparent loyalty to Biden, whom he picked as his running mate even though he had failed to win a single state in two presidential campaigns 20 years apart. Biden had served 36 years in the Senate and was lampooned for his long-winded nature even in an institution renowned for the excessive self-regard and verbosity of its members. Last week, there was dismay among . Democrats and jubilant cat-calling, coupled with some genuine outrage, . from Republicans after Biden told supporters, including many blacks, at . an event in Virginia that Republicans wanted ‘to put ya’ll back in . chains’. Forced: President Barack Obama had to bring forward his announcement in support of gay marriage after Biden's comments . The deeply-reported e-book, called Obama's Last Stand, also lays bare how a spat between David Axelrod, Obama’s chief strategist, and Stephanie Cutter, the high-profile deputy campaign manager, left them ‘barely on speaking terms’. It also reveals concerns within the Obama campaign about the abrasive Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz after private polling was commissioned as to how various leading Democrats were perceived and she ranked least popular . Obama was reportedly furious that Jim Margolis, an ad consultant, had sought to burnish his own image in a newspaper profile, and livid that a campaign stunt in Boston engineered by Axelrod had backfired. There is also criticism from Messina over the president’s high-minded criticism of super PACs following the 2010 Citizens United decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. Messina reportedly said of Obama and Axelrod: ‘We’re going to lose this f****** thing. Why don’t they get it?’ | Obama had planned to announce support for same-sex marriage this month at Democrat National Convention .
President met with Biden after gaffe and told him they had 'to be on the same page' |
282,678 | fa20c0ec5a5ec158d1691962ccd7b9239707be06 | By . Lizzie Parry . PUBLISHED: . 11:56 EST, 4 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 11:56 EST, 4 January 2014 . The bodies of 13 men were today dragged from the wreckage after a five-storey building collapsed in a coastal village in Goa, India, police said. The residential building, which was being built, caved in this afternoon as around 50 labourers worked at the site. 'We have got 13 bodies from the wreckage,' said Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. 'We expect the death toll to rise.' The bodies of 13 people have been dragged from the wreckage of a five-storey building, which collapsed in the village of Canacona in Goa on Saturday . Rescuers pull an injured labourer from the crumpled building. Police said seven people have been confirmed dead so far, while dozens of workers are feared trapped . Seven people have so far been confirmed dead, while dozens are feared trapped in the rubble, police said. Authorities are trying to . determine how many people were at the construction site when the . structure crumpled, police superintendent Shekhar . Prabhudessai said. Rescue workers used cranes and bulldozers, shovels and their bare hands as they struggled to lift the concrete slabs and other debris to free the workers. The desperate rescue attempt was witnessed by hundreds of onlookers in the seaside village of Canacona, south of Goa's capital, Panaji. 'It was like an earthquake . when the building fell,' witness Ramesh Naik said. 'You could not see . what exactly had happened because of the dust.' Rescue teams used cranes, bulldozers, shovels and their bare hands in a desperate attempt to help their injured colleagues . It is understood around 50 people were working on the construction site when the building gave way . Initial reports said the building that collapsed was five stories high. The building collapse was the latest in a string of deadly construction accidents in India, in recent months. Fire and emergency services crews rushed to the spot and chief minister, Mr Parrikar said military reinforcement had been called in. 'We will immediately arrest the builder, the contractor and municipal officials involved in sanctioning this construction site,' he said. 'I am personally monitoring the situation.' The bodies were moved to a morgue at a nearby hospital. Mr Prabhudessai said the cause of the collapse has not yet been determined. The building collapse happened in the seaside village of Canacona, south of Goa's capital Panaji, pictured . | Five-storey building collapsed in the seaside village of Canacona .
Police said seven people have been confirmed dead so far, with that toll expected to rise while dozens are feared trapped in the debris .
Rescuers desperately tried to free labourers using cranes, bulldozers, shovels and their bare hands . |
137,907 | 3e590d4d4665b2d2f7c444e7050468843be56f36 | By . Chris Pleasance . PUBLISHED: . 13:20 EST, 3 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:25 EST, 3 December 2013 . Lizzie Jennings, 54, has set up a free festive 'drunk tank' in the beer garden of her pub in Worcestershire . It is the time of year to eat, drink, and be merry, but many people who over-indulge can be faced with a dilemma over how to get home. Except revellers at the Drum and Monkey in Worcestershire, who can simply sleep it off in one of eight tents which have been set up in the beer garden. Landlady Lizzie Jennings, 54, is providing her punters with a free Christmas 'drunk tank' including luxury sleeping bags, foam mattresses, and even a bacon sandwich and a cup of tea when they wake up. Lizzie - who has run the rural pub for eight months - said she came up with the idea for the mini campsite with regular and tent maker Daniel Walton, 37. She said: 'We were talking about the Christmas period and drink driving and ways we could curb it this year. 'There was so much interest in paid-for drunk tanks earlier this year and we thought it was a good idea to offer customers a chance to put their heads down. 'But I wanted to offer my customers a free facility as it's the season of goodwill after all. 'Dan said he would lend me some tents, which was really nice of him. 'I'll even be offering my overnight guests a mug of hot tea and a bacon buttie the next morning before sending them on their way. 'We want people to come and have a good night and this way they can stop for an extra glass of wine if they want to. Between December 3 and January 1 up to 19 drinkers who over-indulge can sleep in one of the eight tents which come with luxury sleeping bags, foam mattresses, and even a heater to keep warm . In the morning, after sleeping off the worst of it, Lizzie is even offering a bacon butty and a cup of tea to help people deal with the hangover . Lizzie came up with the idea with pub regular and tent-maker Daniel Walton who loaned her the tents for free . 'We are cut off a little bit from public transport here so we hope this can deter people from getting in their cars after a few too many and keep themselves and others from harm. 'Most of the customers are farmers so they rely on driving, so we wouldn't want them to risk getting banned. 'This way people don't have to go far to get the experience of camping after a night out in a traditional British country pub.' Daniel, who runs an online tent manufacturing business, has loaned eight of his tents to the drinking establishment for the Christmas period. Mr Walton, 37, (pictured) says he hopes the idea will catch on and deter people from drink driving . Ms Jennings, who has been in charge of the rural pub for eight months, explained that drink driving was a particular problem for her customers as the bar is cut off from most public transport . He said: 'Family and friends a can stay in their own tent, we have an eight berth, four berth and a six berth tent so there is a lot of room for everyone. 'The area is quite rural, so it does attract campers and walkers. 'We do have heaters in there and it is very warm, the tent is completely sealed and is very snug inside with pillows, sleeping bags and night-lights. 'I hope the idea will catch on - it will hopefully deter people from drink driving, which is always a problem this time of year.' Punter Craig Walker, 30, added: 'It's like going camping with your mates except you don't have as far to stumble back to your tent in the dark after you've had a few - it's brilliant.' Customers can stay in the tents at the pub for free between December 3 and January 1. | The Drum and Monkey in Worcestershire is offering a 'drunk tank'
Eight tents with space for 19 have been set up in the beer garden .
They come with sleeping bags, mattresses and heaters .
In the morning there is even a bacon sandwich and a cup of tea .
Lizzie Jennings, the landlady, hopes it will cut down on drink driving . |
119,732 | 26b171896d2c4e6cc47c0dc5d86edd77a818ede4 | The family of the black teenager shot dead by a policeman in St Louis are haunted by the image of him holding his hands up at the moment he was killed, a family member claimed today. Ty Pruitt said that the mental picture of Michael Brown surrendering was stuck in his relatives’ minds as it showed he was ‘killed like an animal’. Pruitt spoke out at an emotional Sunday church service during which Brown’s mother Lesley McSpadden sobbed and wiped the tears away from her eyes with a tissue. His father Michael Brown Sr stood grim faced whilst wearing a T-shirt with his son’s picture on it and the slogan: ‘No Justice, No Peace’. Scroll down for videos . Cousin: Ty Pruitt, cousin of Michael Brown, raised his hands at the podium and said 'This was the last action that our family member made before he went to rest' Emotional: Lesley McSpadden, mother of slain Michael Brown, wipes away a tear at Greater Grace Church on Sunday . Parents: Michael Brown Sr. and ex-wife Lesley McSpadden sit next to one another at the service . The service was the first time the family had attended church on a Sunday since the death of Brown, 18, who was killed on August 9th. He was shot in Ferguson, a suburb of St Louis, Missouri, by officer Darren Wilson, 28, even though witnesses claim he had his hands up and was giving up. Brown's death has sparked seven nights of protests and rioting in Ferguson after it ignited long standing racial tensions between African American residents and the mostly white police force. Protesters around the world have been putting their hands up and chanting: ‘Hands up, don’t shoot’ in what has become their trademark gesture. The service at a the Greater Grace church just north of Ferguson was packed with 1,000 people and another 500 outside who were unable to get in. Among the guests was Missouri State Highway Patrol captain Ron Johnson, who is in charge of policing the riots, and civil rights campaigner Rev Jesse Jackson. McSpadden sat next to Brown Sr, her ex-husband, wearing sunglasses, a white shirt and dark trousers. On their right was the Rev Al Sharpton. Addressing the crowd Pruitt, Brown's cousin, said: ‘What I want you all to remember is that Michael Brown was not just some young black boy. He was a human being, he was a younger cousin, he was a son, he was an uncle, a nephew, he was not a suspect, he was not an object, he was not an animal - but that’s how he was killed.’ Victim: Michael Brown's Aug 9 death has been followed by protests criticizing the Ferguson police department . Heartbreak: Speaking about the image of Brown holding his hands up, Pruitt said 'This will be stuck in my family's memories for the rest of our lives' Exchange: Rev. Al Sharpton, far left, speaks with Michael Brown's mother Lesley McSpadden, as Brown's father, Michael Brown Sr, looks on . Holding his hands up, he said: ‘This was the last action that our family member made before he went to rest. ‘This will be stuck in my family’s memories for the rest of our lives’. The family were also represented by their lawyer Benjamin Crump, who was the attorney for relatives of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed black teenager shot dead in Florida by a neighbourhood watch coordinator. Crump told the crowd that there was ‘nothing that can justify the execution style murder in broad daylight’ of Brown. He also accused the Ferguson police department of trying to ‘smear’ Brown by putting out a CCTV video that apparently showed him robbing cigars from a grocery store minutes before he was killed. As Brown Sr cheered, Crump said: ‘They tried it with Trayvon, now they’re trying it with Michael.’ Taking a stand: Brown's parents stood at the podium, alongside their attorney Benjamin Crump. Crump previously represented the parents of Florida shooting victim Trayvon Martin . Impassioned: Pruitt said in his speech that his cousin Michael Brown was 'was not an animal - but that's how he was killed' Police: Missouri State Highway Patrol captain Ron Johnson appeared at the service and said he felt for Brown's parents . The service came against a background of ongoing unrest in Ferguson. On Saturday night Missouri governor Jay Nixon imposed a midnight curfew but a crowd of 200 defied the order and stayed on West Florissant Avenue in Ferguson. Heavily armed SWAT teams fired on them with tear gas and caused them to run into the nearby housing estate. During his speech Johnson won three standing ovations and addressed Brown's family directly. He said: 'My heart goes out to you. I wear this uniform and I should stand up here and say that I'm sorry'. Thomas Jackson, the embattled Ferguson police chief, has so far refused to apologise. Speaker: The Rev. Al Sharpton also appeared at the service at Greater Grace Church . A woman looks on as another woman covers her face during the church service . Controversy: Brown's death has sparked seven nights of protests and rioting in Ferguson after it ignited long standing racial tensions between African American residents and the mostly white police force . Women in the audience on Sunday danced at one point during the emotional service . Arms wide open: A woman prays at Greater Grace Church . | Ty Pruitt, a relative of slain Ferguson teenager Michael Brown, 18, said the mental picture of Brown surrendering was stuck in his relatives’ minds as it showed he was .
‘killed like an animal’
Pruitt spoke out at a Sunday .
church service during which Brown’s mother Lesley McSpadden sobbed and .
wiped the tears away from her eyes with a tissue .
Brown was shot in the St. Louis suburb officer Darren Wilson, 28, even though witnesses .
claim he had his hands up and was giving up . |
200,996 | 90386381f0f1973c2b2d06cf387eae63dcd229a8 | Republican Rep. Vance McAllister - aka the kissing Congressman - won't be on the ballot this fall, but that doesn't mean he won't seek elected office ever again. 'No, I wouldn’t rule it out,' McAllister told Politico on Wednesday. 'I’d just have to see what’s right for me and my family at the time. … For future politics, I don’t know what it holds, but if there’s a possibility that the people want me to do another political office, again, maybe I’ll do it.' Louisiana Republican Vance McAllister, left, says he's not quitting his job, even though he got caught cheating on his wife Kelly, right, because she doesn't want him to . Video of the Congressman and his scheduler smooching in his Louisiana Congressional office created headaches for the Congressman and the aide, Melissia Peacock, after a local news station aired their dirty laundry . McAllister, a married father of five, was infamously caught on camera kissing his scheduler, who is also married, just months after he was elected. The Louisiana businessman was swept into office in a special election to replace Rep. Rodney Alexander after the latter left vacatred his seat to go work for Loisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. Video of the two smooching in McAllister's Louisiana Congressional office created headaches for the Congressman and the aide, Melissia Peacock, after a local news station aired the Congressman's dirty laundry. McAllister said he now knows the leak came from within and the staffer responsible no longer works for him. He's not telling reporters the person's name, though. 'I don’t want to bring anyone else down,' McAllister told Monroe, Louisiana, news station KTVE/KARD this week. Local media have speculated the Congressman's Monroe district office director Leah Gordon was the culprit because she submitted her resignation amid the scandal, and McAllister's description of the leaker all but confirmed it was Gordon. Vance McAllister poses for a photo with Duck Dynasty star Willie Robertson and Willie's wife Korie ahead of McAllister's ahead of the president's State of the Union address in January . Prior to his affair, McAllister's claim to fame was that he had received the endorsement of Duck Dynasty star Willie Robertson. When the scandal broke, McAllister says Robertson told him to 'put politics in the back seat and take care of your family first.' 'We’re you’re friends and we still love you,' Robertson reportedly said. Fellow philandering Louisiana politician David Vitter also stuck by him when things turned south. 'We talked a couple times by phone and through text message and [his . message] was just support: like, "Keep your head up," "Thinking about . you and your family,’" "‘I know times are tough," that kind of stuff… that . this is not the end of the world,' McAllister told Politico. Other political players were not as kind. Governor Jindal, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and the Louisiana Republican Party vocally called on McAllister to resign. McAllister told KTVE/KARD that the same Louisiana politicians calling on him to quit never had his back - even before the scandal-'so that's really no big surprise and shocker.' As for House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, McAllister agreed with KTVE/KARD reporter interviewing him that Cantor was 'maybe a little bit' out of line in calling for his resignation. The two talked in the wake of the scandal soon after McAllister resumed his duties and returned to Washington, D.C., McAllister said. At that meeting Cantor again called for his resignation, but 'it was more as a friend to friend.' 'There's no ill will between me and Eric,' McAllister said . 'It is what it is, and we'll be fine, and we've got a job to do, so we'll move on from there.' Maybe one day: McAllister has no plans to run for Congress again, but says, 'I¿d never rule anything out, to be honest with you, whether it be the small of volunteer status for a community organization or national politics, who knows?' Upon returning to D.C. McAllister said he would not step down because he didn't want to leave his district unrepresented in Congress in the interim. He still stands by that decision. 'They didn't elect me to quit,' McAllister said. A major factor in his refusal to resign is that his wife told him not to, McAllister said. McAllister says his wife Kelly told him he 'wasn't a quitter' and 'that's not what the people want.' She understands the importance of his work, he said, 'And that's what it's all about.''It's not about this glitz and glamour, and showing up to this event and being in the newspaper, which Lord knows I've had my fair share of that lately,' he said. If McAllister ever did run for office again, it probably wouldn't be Congress. It would be 'something more local, or maybe statewide to be able to help Louisiana,' he said. 'I’d never . rule anything out, to be honest with you, whether it be the small of . volunteer status for a community organization or national politics, who . knows?' he added. The filing deadline for McAllister's congressional race is not until August. He could still change his mind about quitting his re-election race, too. But McAllister says a political campaign is not in the cards at this time. 'For this race, I’m not a candidate,' McAllister told Politico. 'I have to think of my family.' | Louisiana Congressman Vance McAllister recently got caught cheating on his wife with his scheduler .
The Congressman didn't resign over the scandal but said he wouldn't seek re-election this fall .
McAllister still says he won't make a play for his Congressional seat now, but he's not ruling out anything in the future .
'If there’s a possibility that the people want me to do another political office, again, maybe I’ll do it,' he said . |
281,552 | f8b6ccb1ce7d2fd83936b8f77e2b3915f8b7c9f4 | By . Alexandra Klausner . PUBLISHED: . 21:40 EST, 28 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 21:47 EST, 28 January 2014 . It may be war-torn but it's still hot on the housing market. Now you can own the backdrop from the film Zero Dark Thirty for $7.5 million. The Blue Cloud Movie Ranch in California's Santa Clarita Valley specializes in sets that look like Afghanistan during time of war and are almost entirely accurate. The ranch has also been used as a backdrop in Iron Man and some episodes of True Blood in addition to the film Zero Dark Thirty, reports curbed.com. According to the LA Times, the set is so realistic that, 'the U.S. military uses it for training purposes.' The man who currently owns the property is a former stuntman named Rene Veluzat and he gets lots of requests to purchase the property so it will probably sell. 'I get 50 phone calls a day,' he told the L.A. Times last year. The land has multiple movie backdrops called the 'Foreign Courtyard,' 'The Cave,' 'Army Camp,' 'Helicopter Crash,' '50s Town,' and 'Third World Country.' Now these dilapidated sets can belong to you. It may look broken but it's rather expensive to purchase the Afghanistan inspired set . It's only $7.5 million to reserve a permanent space in this broken down home . The property is equipped with totaled vehicles and plenty of sharp rocks . The land stretches 100 acres and has numerous sets also used in True Blood and Iron Man . The sets are almost entirely accurate and are used as training grounds for the U.S. Army . This photo from Zero Dark Thirty shows Navy SEALs seen through the greenish glow of night vision goggles, as they prepare to breach a locked door in Osama Bin Laden's compound . Some of the sets are dilapidated and some are more reminiscent of per-war times . The sets are extremely detailed and visitors may actually believe they are in Afghanistan . Each corner of this $7.5 million piece of history is crumbling more than the last . This cave is man made and was the backdrop of a major motion picture . The middle east is known for having oil and this gas station is an almost exact replica of one in Afghanistan . Sets with props like a soccer ball and wooden chairs show just how no detail was spared in the creation of the elaborate backdrops . Buyers may have to battle over the property for which the owner receives '50 calls per day' | The set has been used for Zero Dark Thirty, True Blood, and Iron Man .
The Afghanistan backdrop is so realistic that the U.S. Military uses it for training purposes .
The set is at the Blue Cloud Movie Ranch is California's Santa Clarita Valley . |
84,167 | eeb52b1af297a989bb288476af14d9ee95fea980 | (CNN)She will be remembered as the would-be bomber whose device failed to detonate in a string of otherwise deadly terror attacks at Jordanian hotels in 2005. Sajida al-Rishawi was sentenced to death for that attempt, and Jordan executed her early Wednesday. ISIS had demanded her release, threatening to kill two hostages if Jordan didn't comply. ISIS carried out those killings, and Jordan carried out al-Rishawi's execution. But just who was she? And what's her connection to the new radical Sunni group that controls big swaths of Syria and Iraq? Al-Rishawi was referred to as an "imprisoned sister" of the terrorist group in a message purportedly posted online by a known ISIS supporter. The message proposed a swap of al-Rishawi for Japanese hostage Kenji Goto. In the video, Goto was seen holding a photo of what appeared to be beheaded compatriot Haruna Yukawa. The online posts, which CNN could not verify independently, appeared four days after an ISIS video demanded that the Japanese government pay $200 million within 72 hours for the hostages' release. In the latest recording, the voice of a person claiming to be Goto was heard in English blaming Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for Yukawa's death. Forgoing the money, the voice then issued a new ISIS demand: the release of al-Rishawi. "They are just demanding the release of their imprisoned sister Sajida al-Rishawi," the voice said. Al-Rishawi, who was being held by authorities in Jordan, was not seen publicly in nine years. In a televised confession in November 2005, al-Rishawi calmly recounted how she tried to take part in a string of terror attacks at Jordanian hotels that month that killed at least 57 people. "My husband detonated his bomb, and I tried to detonate mine but failed," al-Rishawi said on Jordanian television, showing no emotion. "People fled running, and I left running with them." In 2006, al-Rishawi was sentenced to death, but that same year, Jordan imposed a moratorium on the death penalty. Executions resumed last month. Wearing a white head scarf and black dress during the confession, al-Rishawi displayed a belt rigged with explosives and crudely held together with tape. Jordanian authorities said al-Rishawi, now in her 40s, joined her husband, Hussein Ali al-Shamari, to carry out the suicide bombings at the Radisson hotel. His explosives went off, killing 38 people attending a wedding reception in the ballroom. Three male bombers and 57 bystanders were killed at three hotels in the series of attacks. She said she was an Iraqi who lived in Ramadi and, using fake passports, traveled to Jordan with her husband. She told Jordanian authorities that her husband taught her how to use her explosives belt. In the confession, al-Rishawi said, "My husband is the one who organized everything." Jordanian authorities at the time said the attacks were orchestrated by the terrorist group al Qaeda in Iraq, which was led by Jordanian-born Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Al-Zarqawi was killed in a U.S. strike in June 2006. A post on a website used by al Qaeda in Iraq claimed responsibility for the Jordan attacks. Deputy Prime Minister Marwan Muasher said after the attacks that al-Rishawi was the sister of Zarqawi's "right-hand man," who was killed in Falluja, Iraq. He did not identify the lieutenant. ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was a lieutenant of al-Zarqawi, retired Lt. Col. James Reese, a former U.S. Delta Force commander, told CNN. "There's a link back to this woman," Reese said of the alleged prisoner swap. "This is just another way to help them (ISIS) bring these people back and help with their propaganda." In February 2014, al Qaeda renounced ties to ISIS after months of infighting between ISIS and another group, al-Nusra Front. ISIS started in 2004 as al Qaeda in Iraq with the aim of creating an Islamic state across Sunni areas of Iraq and in Syria. After the Jordan attacks, Muasher told CNN that al-Rishawi was not wearing an explosives belt when she was apprehended, but two belts were found with her. One was filled with the explosive RDX, the other with ball bearings, a technique used by the other bombers. "The aim was to inflict the largest number of casualties," he said. Muasher said Jordanian authorities had information that al-Rishawi's husband "asked her to step out of the room" when her explosives failed to detonate. In her confession, al-Rishawi said she and her husband stood at opposite sides of the room for the double-bombing. "There was a wedding ceremony in the hotel," she said. "There were women, men and children." | Sajida al-Rishawi was named in a proposed swap for Japanese hostage Kenji Goto .
She was a failed bomber in a string of terror attacks at Jordanian hotels in 2005 .
In 2006, al-Rishawi was sentenced to death in Jordan . |
24,018 | 4429f98292249ccc527a138fea2a40236ccbb4e8 | If you are looking for a once-in-a-lifetime holiday and have a lot of cash to spare, a tour operator is prepared to take you on a fascinating trip around the world. Luxury lifestyle website VeryFirstTo is offering a month-long trek to see ten of the world’s wonders for the tidy sum of £77,500. Holidaymakers will be taken to destinations in countries such as India, Finland, China and the US by a travel company that once offered an elaborate two-year holiday visiting all 962 World Heritage sites across the globe. Scroll down for video . The trip will begin with a visit to Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Finland where guests will be able to see the spectacular Northern Lights while staying in a glass igloo . Billed as a trip ‘like no other’, it has been arranged by luxury travel specialists Hurlingham Travel, who have just been shortlisted for The Luxury Travel Agency of The Year Award. The itinerary will begin with a trip to the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Finland where guests will be able to see the spectacular Northern Lights while staying in a glass igloo. From there it is off to Petra in Jordan, the only ancient city in the world that is part hewn from rock wall. It is iconic and instantly recognisable in part due to its starring role in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Petra in Jordan is instantly recognisable after featuring in 1989 film Indian Jones and the Last Crusade . The next stop on the journey is Turkmenistan’s ‘Door to Hell’ - the world’s only burning natural gas field. It was created after Soviet geologists, who were drilling at the site in 1971, tapped into a cavern filled with natural gas. In an effort to prevent the poisonous gases escaping they set it alight in the hope of burning it off. It is still burning more than 40 years later. The fourth destination is Madagascar and a visit to see the unique and endangered Adansonia Grandidieri tree. The tour will then travel to the Keibul Lamjao National Park in India, giving travellers the chance to see the rare and endangered Sangai deer, before a trip to see China’s Terracotta Army. The collection of sculptures that depict the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China, is a form of funerary art that was buried with the emperor in 210–209 BCE and wasn’t rediscovered until 1974. The tour will include a trip to see China’s Terracotta Army, sculptures that depict the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China . Turkmenistan’s ‘Door to Hell’ - the world’s only burning natural gas field. In an effort to prevent the poisonous gases escaping, geologists set it alight in 1971. It is still burning more than 40 years later . The eighth destination on the list is Japan with a visit to the spectacular wisteria tunnel located in the Kawachi Fuji Gardens . The journey will continue onto the island of Komodo - the only place in the world to see the magnificent Komodo dragon in its natural habitat. The eighth destination on the list is Japan with a visit to the spectacular wisteria tunnel located in the Kawachi Fuji Gardens. Guests are then flown to South Dakota in the US to visit the Corn Palace, the only one in existence. The tour ends at Mexico’s San Juan Parangaricutiro, a town buried by the eruption of the Volcan de Paricutin in 1943. The ruins were featured in Henry Hathaway's 1954 Western, Garden of Evil . The fourth destination is Madagascar and a visit to see the unique and endangered Adansonia Grandidieri tree . Guests are flown to South Dakota in the US to visit the only Corn Palace in existence . The tour ends at Mexico’s San Juan Parangaricutiro, a town buried by the eruption of the Volcan de Paricutin in 1943. The ruins were featured in Henry Hathaway's 1954 Western, Garden of Evil. The trip will include stays at luxury hotels including China’s Shangri-La, the W Hotel in Minneapolis and the Jayakurta Suites in Komodo, while all flights will be business class. Those who splash out on the round-the-world trip will also be able to buy a set of ten shirts, designed by clothing company 1 Like No Other and with fabric selected ‘from the finest European Mills’. The shirts have been specially created to suit each destination. A donation of £1,000 will be made to The Prince’s Trust charity each time the trip is purchased. Other holidays recently offered by VeryFirstTo include the TCS Global Icons Private Jet Tour, which flies travellers to 35 of the world's most iconic landmarks by private jet at a cost of £54,000. | The adventure starts in Finland and stops off in ten countries over 30 days .
Trip will see travellers flying in business class and staying in luxury hotels .
Journey includes stops in China, the US, India, Japan and Madagascar . |
284,800 | fd08e3289a7621977c97e9da26a2fc90b889ad8b | HUNTINGTON, Utah (CNN) -- Rescuers trying to find six miners will begin boring a sixth hole down into Utah's Crandall Canyon mine Friday, and the search will stop if no signs of life are found, the coal mine's co-owner said. Bob Murray, CEO of Murray Energy Corp., says he is hurt by criticism he did not do enough to find the miners. "This is the last hole," Bob Murray, CEO of Murray Energy, said Wednesday evening. "If we don't find anybody alive in that hole, there's nowhere else that anyone ... would know where to drill." Murray said work on the sixth hole, which will go down into the area where the miners were known to be working when the mine collapsed August 6, should be completed by Saturday. However, he expressed little optimism that the effort would be successful, saying it was "totally unlikely" any signs of the miners will be found. Murray also said that he has already filed paperwork with federal regulators to permanently close and seal the Utah mine. "I will never come back to that evil mountain," he said. Earlier Wednesday, a fifth hole drilled down into the mine found just six inches of open space left between the roof and rubble in an 8-foot-high tunnel, said Jack Kuzar, a district manager with the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration. Kuzar said the fifth hole would be tested for oxygen, and a camera may be lowered down the shaft, although the small amount of space may limit its usefulness. Cameras lowered into previous holes drilled into the mountain turned up no signs of the miners, and tests showed that oxygen levels in parts of the mine were too low to sustain human life. Watch how the safety record at Murray's mines stacks up » . An effort to send rescuers through the collapsed mine tunnel to attempt an underground rescue was suspended last week, after a new cave-in killed three rescuers and injured six others. A panel of experts brought in to examine the mine after the second collapse determined that it was too unstable to resume the underground rescue. Both the mine owners and federal officials also ruled out trying to find the miners by lowering rescuers in a capsule through a hole drilled down into the mine, saying the dangerous maneuver wasn't justified absent any signs of life. The news was a blow to the family members of the missing miners, who have been holding out hope for a miracle and criticized Murray for not at least trying the rescue capsule. Signs reading "Bring them home" and "Bob Murray keep your promise" were posted overnight at the rescuers' command post. Kuzar said he met with the miners' families Wednesday, "and they're holding up very well." "They're very strong people," he said. Earlier Wednesday, in an interview with CNN, Murray said plans were under way to establish a memorial for the missing miners at the site after the mine is closed. "We're already discussing how we might go about to honor the trapped miners and make this a site for perpetuity," he said. Friends and family have identified the six missing miners as Luis Hernandez, Manuel Sanchez, Kerry Allred, Carlos Payan, Brandon Phillips and Don Erickson. E-mail to a friend . | A sixth and final bore hole will be drilled starting Friday .
Mine co-owner Bob Murray discussing how to honor miners "for perpetuity"
Wednesday rescuers completed boring a fifth hole in the mine . |
153,642 | 528c468107c648f5e48038c5f7fa258c44afce24 | (CNN) -- Many have criticized the body mass index, or BMI, as being a poor indicator of obesity and of obesity-related health risks. Critics say BMI is too simple to be accurate, that it doesn't take into account a person's muscle mass or where the body fat is located. Americans, therefore, may be tempted to brush off the easy-to-access statistic -- and the possible need for lifestyle changes -- if they don't like their results. Alternative methods such as waist-to-height ratios or body composition testing may be more accurate in measuring an individual's body fat percentage. But BMI is just as good at providing information about your health risks and can be easily, reliably and cheaply used by clinicians and patients to provide a useful snapshot of how someone's weight compares to healthy standards. Your BMI can be calculated online with a simple formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in centimeters squared. In pounds and inches this formula becomes weight in pounds divided by height in inches squared, multiplied by 703 to account for the metric conversion. A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 indicates a normal weight; a BMI between 25 and 29.9 indicates a person is overweight; and a BMI of 30 or above indicates obesity. There are always exceptions to any rule, but when it comes to predicting obesity-related health risks, BMI is among the strongest predictors, regardless of what critics say. Memphis, most obese U.S. city, moving from fat to fit . Even when compared with other measures such as waist circumference, waist-to-height-ratio, percent body fat, fat mass index or fat-free mass index, the science shows that BMI is just as good at predicting obesity-related health risks. My research team at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health examined cross-sectional measurements of height, weight, waist circumference, percent body fat, blood pressure measurements, cholesterol levels and fasting glucose levels for more than 12,000 adults using information from EHE International's database of patients. The numbers showed that BMI is the strongest predictor of blood pressure, and the measurement is comparable to other measurements at predicting cholesterol levels. BMI also performed admirably against other measures in predicting fasting glucose levels, which are an important part of diagnosing diabetes. It's tempting to write off BMI as overly simplistic when it delivers news about our weight and health that we don't like. But the bottom line is that it's time to start using this easy-to-access measure and heed its warnings about your health. If your BMI is high, chances are good it's because you have excess fat tissue, which means you're at risk for other health problems, including heart disease related to high blood pressure or high cholesterol, and diabetes. Instead of blindly rejecting BMI, more patients and doctors should be embracing it as a screening tool. Individuals who know they have a high BMI should talk to their doctor about what they can do to get their weight into a healthy range. Doctors should be confident in making lifestyle change recommendations based on an initial BMI measurement. By accepting reality, focusing on preventive care and heeding the warning signs of a dangerous weight, patients and doctors can work together to build healthy lifestyles, instead of treating the results of unhealthy ones. Obesity rate may be worse than we think . | Doctor: Body mass index is useful snapshot of how weight compares to healthy standards .
A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 indicates a normal weight .
Doctor's study shows BMI is helpful in predicting obesity-related health risks . |
277,564 | f39615fc9b214944136a782dab8272de8d4703ee | Wales international prop Paul James will rejoin the Ospreys next season from Aviva Premiership club Bath. The Ospreys have confirmed a two-year deal for James, who left the Welsh region for Bath in 2012. James, 32, has won 55 caps and is part of the Wales squad for next month's Tests against Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and South Africa. Wales international Paul James will rejoin the Ospreys from Aviva Premiership club Bath on a two-year deal . James made 180 appearances for the Ospreys during a nine-year stint with them before moving to the west country. And the Ospreys' swoop bucks a recent trend of top players heading out of Wales. Ten member of Wales coach Warren Gatland's current squad play their club rugby in either England or France. 'A lot has changed at the Ospreys since I was last part of the set-up, but the team has started the season well and has impressed me,' James said. James revealed he is impressed with the current Ospreys set-up and admits much has changed at the club . 'It's obvious that there is a bigger picture that everybody is working towards, and that's important. 'There are some really exciting front-row players coming through the system who I am looking forward to working with, and while I can give them my experience, playing and training alongside them will also help me as well. 'I've had a great few years at Bath. I have really settled in well and the club has been great to me, so I want to finish on a high there this season before I head home for the next chapter.' Ospreys chief executive Andrew Hore added: 'Although circumstances dictated that we have lost players over the last few years that we didn't want to release, we have always clearly said that when the business was on a more stable footing we would look to bring selected personnel back to the region, and this is exactly what we have done with Paul. Prop James has made over 55 appearances for Wales after making his debut back in 2003 . 'Now that the Rugby Services Agreement (with the Welsh Rugby Union) has been finalised and we have the additional finances that come with the new European Rugby Champions Cup, enabling us to bring Paul back next season, the next challenge is to look to secure the future of the young players that we have here at the region.' James will be a loss to Bath, having established himself as part of an impressive front-row alongside England internationals Rob Webber and David Wilson. 'Paul has been an outstanding competitor for the club since his arrival,' Bath head coach Mike Ford said. 'He is a great leader, a guy who turns up to training with the right attitude every day and gives you everything he's got on match-day. We wish him the best of luck with his move.' | Paul James set to re-join Ospreys from Aviva Premiership club Bath .
James left the Welsh outfit for Bath back in 2012 .
The Wales international is set to return on a two-year deal . |
235,808 | bd40218be815e471482e4bc5550f13a2777e2b15 | By . Emma Reynolds . PUBLISHED: . 09:39 EST, 29 March 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:39 EST, 29 March 2012 . A student jailed for mocking . footballer Fabrice Muamba on Twitter after a near fatal heart attack . could be released as early as tomorrow. Liam Stacey, 21, sobbed as he was taken . away in handcuffs on Tuesday after being jailed for 56 days for admitting . inciting racial hatred. But a High Court judge in Swansea, South . Wales, will tomorrow hear an appeal against his sentence which could win his immediate release if . successful. Shame: Liam Stacey is led away in handcuffs outside Swansea Magistrates Court . The Swansea University biology student triggered revulsion after the . Premier League star’s collapse when he posted: 'LOL (laugh out loud). F*** Muamba. He’s dead!!!' His reviled tweet came at a time when the Bolton midfielder's plight was attracting a . wave of sympathy around the world. Football fans watched in horror as Muamba, 23, collapsed after suffering a heart attack during an FA Cup match on March 17. Millions witnessed the incident at White Hart Lane as Bolton's clash with home team Tottenham Hotspur was screened live on television. Stacey, seen arriving at the court earlier in the morning, posted a series of vile tweets about footballer Fabrice Muamba . But after a drunken Stacey received a deluge critical replies to his distasteful tweet, he responded with a torrent of racist abuse on the website. Support for Stacey’s jail sentence was widespread on the day it was handed down, and widely debated on Twitter. But a significant minority criticised his punishment and claimed it was politically motivated to make an example of him. His legal team will tomorrow launch an appeal against his sentence at Swansea Crown Court. The hearing, which is expected to last at least one hour, will go before High Court judge Mr Justice Wyn Williams. The messages were forwarded to the police by several members of the social network, including former England striker Stan Collymore, himself a victim of abuse on Twitter. Stacey initially claimed his account . had been accessed by somebody else, but later pleaded guilty to racially . aggravated harassment, and was sent to prison to ‘reflect the public . outrage’ at his comments. As he spent his first night . behind bars, the two teams replayed the . fixture that was called off when the midfielder came close to . death. Tottenham and Bolton met again at White Hart Lane, with the home team cruising to a 3-1 victory. It means Muamba's club are now out of the FA Cup, but this hardly seemed to matter to the fans and players treating the match as a chance to pay tribute to him. Team-mate Sam Ricketts was seen to wipe a tear from . his eye before kick-off. It was a difficult return for the entire Bolton . squad, and manager Owen Coyle commended them for their bravery. Players from both sides wore T-shirts . bearing messages of thanks to those who supported Muamba, while the . whole of the Tottenham stadium erupted in applause for him. Stacey, meanwhile, faces expulsion from . Swansea University. The third-year biology student had hoped to become a . forensic scientist. Describing his tweets, prosecutor Louise Barron . told the court: ‘The offence is clearly racially aggravated. ‘There was sustained and gratuitous . racism. These were unprovoked comments and persistent abuse. The . recipients were disgusted.’ Jailing the student at Swansea . Magistrates’ Court, District Judge John Charles said: ‘Not just the . footballer’s family, not just the footballing world, but the whole world . were literally praying for Muamba’s life. Your comments aggravated this . situation. ‘I have no choice but to impose an immediate custodial sentence to reflect the public outrage at what you have done.’ Applause: Everybody clapped for Muamba at the start of the match (and below) Stacey made his comments about the . Bolton midfielder while celebrating the Welsh . rugby team’s Six Nations grand slam victory earlier this month. The judge added: ‘You committed this . offence while you were drunk and it is clear you immediately regretted . it. 'But you must learn how to handle your alcohol better.’ Stacey, from Pontypridd, South Wales, . told police following his arrest at his student home in Swansea: ‘I was . at the bar when I heard what had happened to Muamba. 'I don’t know why I . posted [the comments]. I’m not racist and some of my friends are from . different cultural backgrounds.’ He later sent a text message to a . friend saying: ‘I said something about Muamba that I shouldn’t have and . tweeted back to some people who abused me. 'Getting police on me now . which isn’t good at all.’ Solidarity: Bolton's Nigel Reo-Coker (left) and Tottenham's Jermain Defoe shake hands . Another read: ‘Been bawling my eyes out on the phone to my mother for the last hour, really can’t be dealing with this.’ Gareth Jones, defending, said Stacey . ‘does not bear [Muamba] any grudge and is glad he is making a good . recovery’. He continued: ‘My client simply lost his head and posted . these disgusting comments to the bitter shame of himself and his . parents. 'For a moment of madness, his career has now gone.’ Upsetting: Fabrice Muamba is treated by medical staff after collapsing. Liam Stacey, 21, posted mocking tweets as the midfielder was treated on the pitch . Stacey’s . father Neale, 49, and mother Hayley, 46, were visibly shocked when the . details of his comments were read aloud yesterday. Jim . Brisbane, chief crown prosecutor for CPS Cymru-Wales, said: ‘Racist . language is inappropriate in any setting and through any media. 'We hope this case will serve as a warning . to anyone who may think that comments made online are somehow beyond . the law.’ Muamba is said to be . continuing to make good progress at the London Chest Hospital, where he . was visited by his Bolton team-mates ahead of their rescheduled . match against Tottenham. The game was abandoned on March 17 following Muamba’s collapse. Happier time: Shauna Magunda, right, Muamba's fiancee, urged fans to keep the Bolton . player in their prayers as he recovered from his life-threatening collapse . VIDEO: Everybody's thoughts and prayers are with him. Bolton manager Owen Coyle credits those who have lent their support to Muamba and his family . | Swansea University student pleaded guilty to a racially-aggravated public order .
offence to incite violence .
21-year-old was given 56-day jail sentence on Tuesday .
Appeal at High Court could win his immediate release .
His abusive message on Twitter was posted moments after the Bolton player collapsed .
Biology student admitted to police he had sent the tweets after getting drunk watching .
Wales v France in Six Nations rugby match .
Bolton and Tottenham have replayed the FA Cup match that was called off when Muamba's heart stopped . |
39,700 | 7017797230c3e16fde5923655c03f741c5e3c8b9 | The death of Richard Simmons' beloved pet dog is reportedly the reason behind his depression. Yesterday reports emerged the fitness fanatic had become a recluse in his Hollywood mansion and has not been seen in public for months. And it was the death of his Dalmatian Hattie aged 17 in January - within days of his last public sighting - that drove him to despair, a source told TMZ. He had several Dalmatians but Hattie had been the last survivor. The source added Simmons, who never had any children, would take the dog out with him in Los Angeles and treated him like a child. But his housekeeper has denied claims that he's suffering from 'debilitating depression' and says he is 'perfectly fine'. Scroll down for video . Richard Simmons posted this picture of his Dalmation captioned 'Look at my Hattie.............xoxoxoxo' on Twitter in April last year . On Thursday, TMZ reported that eighties fitness guru Richard Simmons hasn't been seen in a year and has been spent that time holed up in his Los Angeles home, depressed over a knee surgery that could leave him without the ability to exercise. Pictured above in November 2013 at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade . It has also been said that Simmons is in desperate need of a knee replacement and risks never being able to exercise again if he continues to avoid the routine procedure. A source told TMZ: 'Doctors told Richard he needs a left knee replacement and if he doesn't get it he will never be able to exercise again.' Simmons is allegedly 'paralyzed with fear and depression' as pressure grows to have the operation which sparked his reclusive behavior in 2014, TMZ say. However a housekeeper who lives on the property insists there was nothing to worry about regarding Simmons' physical or mental health when speaking to MailOnline today. The housekeeper, named Teresa Reveles, is allegedly tasked with turning friends or associates away when they come to visit him, said: 'He's perfectly fine. He's home and he's fine.' It comes as Simmons himself took to social media to thank fans for their 'outpouring of love and concern' following the surprising news of his well-being. In a post on his official Facebook page he said: 'I am so touched by the outpouring of love and concern that I have received today. I have had a tough time dealing with this injury, as it is keeping me from doing what I truly love to do and that is to teach classes around the world.' Reynold Gideon, who lives directly opposite, tells MailOnline exclusively that Simmons' housekeeper is adamant the sparkling fitness fanatic is merely 'resting'. MailOnline talked to Simmons' housekeeper outside his Los Angeles (above) home on Thursday, and she said he is 'perfectly fine' and not depressed as reported . A woman stands behind a gate at Simmons' Los Angeles mansion on Thursday, November 13 . Mr Gideon confirmed that Simmons had issues with his knee but believes he's doing well and is most likely to be working on something new, he understands from many conversations with the gym guru's staff. Mr Gideon explained: 'I think he's working on a new project, he's constantly recreating himself because the man has so much energy. He's a wonderful neighbor to have.' 'He told me about a knee problem months ago but I've not seen him since so I don't know of any updates with it,' Mr Gideon explained. One concerned neighbor pulled over their vehicle to ask MailOnline if the dazzling star had died, such is his absence in the community. The woman, who declined to be named, enquired: 'Is he dead? We're all quite worried, nobody has seen him in months. It's so out of character but nobody knows what to do.' An unidentified man arrived at the property to hand-deliver documents in an 8.5 by 11-inch brown envelope, received by Simmons' housekeeper, but refused to comment regarding the nature of his visit. Simmons pictured at a students' exercise symposium in 2004, wearing his trademark shorts and tank top. The eccentric entertainer hasn't been seen in public for almost a year . Simmons was last seen in public on January 11 at a charity event and has avoided his own famed studio 'Slimmons' in Beverly Hills for several months. Since his 80s heyday Simmons has constantly sought to regain his faded fame, and can be easily recognized in LA by his bushy hair and trademark exercise shorts and tank top. In 2011, the fitness guru had Dancing With The Stars viewers talking about his seemingly slimmed down build whist appearing on the show to coach celebrity contestant Chaz Bono. The 63-year-old's smaller frame sparked speculation that something was awry, and perhaps he might even be ill - though this speculation was later quashed by his agent. Simmons continues to run the Beverley Hills exercise studio, called Slimmons Studio, that he established in 1974. MailOnline reached out to Simmons for comment. | Today, reports surfaced saying eccentric fitness guru Richard Simmons had not been seen in public for months .
He is in a state of depression over much needed knee surgery, it's claimed .
His housekeeper told MailOnline that he's 'perfectly fine' at home .
Simmons responded by thanking his fans on Facebook for their support .
But a source reveals it was death of Dalmation Hattie that drove him to depression . |
189,426 | 814eb8ee29875df3cee2d2401795c40df0b2c7fc | (CNN) -- Moments after the explosion, as he lay in a canal in rural Afghanistan, Cpl. Todd Nicely screamed twice at the top of his lungs. He was hurt so badly, his right leg blown away, his left one barely hanging on, but then he thought of two things. His wife and his men. He didn't think of dying. He wanted to concentrate on getting home, and before that, he didn't want his squad's last image to be its leader wailing in pain. "I just [told myself] keep breathing, keep breathing. If you do that you'll make it back to your wife," he said recently by phone. "I knew I was injured. It was whether I could bring myself to remain calm and not freak out and cause my vitals to go crazy." What Nicely, who had stepped on the pressure plate of a roadside bomb, didn't realize at the time was that he had lost more than his legs. His arms also would need to be amputated. In another war, another time, Nicely would have died on the battlefield. Truth be told, there's a strong chance his heart did stop at some point on that day in March 2011. But thanks to modern body armor and a helicopter that arrived in just six minutes -- as well as quick reactions by his fellow Marines -- Nicely lived and became just the second quadruple amputee to survive battlefield injury wounds. They are a small group, the quadruple amputee combat vets -- just five of them. There are also 40 triple amputees. When they come home, they have their own set of issues, but many face the problems of every wounded vet. They start their new lives together. "When you are out on the battlefield, you don't realize how many amputees there are because you are not there and you don't see them," Nicely said. "But when you are in the hospital and see all the amputations. ... But it's like one big support group. It doesn't matter whether you are a quad or missing one leg, it doesn't matter, everybody is in it together and it's like one big family in there." For many wounded service members, the process of moving from military life back to civilian life can be confusing and fraught with delays. For Nicely, it was the frustrating wait for his discharge paperwork. For many injured troops, it can be getting their benefits straightened out. "Despite the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs' best efforts, oftentimes the transition feels like you've been thrown off a cliff," said Jonathan Pruden, who as an Army captain lost a leg in Iraq in 2003 and now works for the Wounded Warrior Project. Organizations step up . On September 11, 2001, an off-duty New York City firefighter named Stephen Siller found the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel blocked to traffic during the chaos after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Siller, who was headed to play golf that morning, instead returned to his firehouse to grab his 60 pounds of gear, put it on and run the three miles to the burning towers, where he was killed. Stiller's brother Frank created the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Last year, he heard the story of Brendan Marrocco, a 22-year-old soldier from his Staten Island neighborhood, who was the first quadruple amputee wounded in war. "We know that we've been at war because of what happened on 9/11, so we knew that we had to take care of our military," Siller said. Siller went to visit Marrocco at Washington's Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where he promised the Army specialist his organization would help with one of the soldier's greatest needs, a home with smart technology. Siller's organization worked with other groups, including a foundation headed by actor Gary Sinise, to raise more than $800,000 for the home, which has special features like stoves and sinks that move up and down, elevators, heated outdoor wheelchair ramps (to melt snow) and appliances that Marrocco controls by computer. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has agreed to build homes for the other quadruple amputees and -- it hopes -- for triple amputees. The foundation plans to build 11 houses this year. YouTube: Watch as Todd Nicely visits his future home . "When you meet these kids they are so inspiring," Siller said. "They are incredible. Their spirit, the way they work so hard to get back to living every day in what is their new normal." Nicely said his new home, being built in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, will lift a big burden. "Having to rely on my wife to do a lot of things for me kinda takes a toll," he said. "When you're not able to do things for yourself it kind of sets you back a little bit, so getting in there and getting to run at everything with a full head of speed is going to be pretty nice." Other organizations, like the Veterans of Foreign Wars, also help wounded service members face obstacles. The VFW helps veterans file disability claims. Dawn Jirak, VFW assistant director for veterans' health policy, said agents from the organization scour medical records to find everything a veteran should claim. They also explain to vets what conditions cannot be claimed as related to their time in the military. The agents also explain what to look for in the future. "There are certain presumptive conditions for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan that may pop up in one year or five," Jirak said. "But if no one tells them, they won't know." More than 624,000 veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan have filed disability claims, Military Times reported in January. More than two-thirds of all applications for benefits take the VA more than 125 days to process. Pruden, the former Army captain who is an alumni manager for the Wounded Warrior Project, is concerned that as wars end, Department of Defense funds for the severely wounded will dry up and the VA will struggle to fill the void. "Our big concern is that the VA is not prepared to fill those shoes either in research or long-term rehab care," Pruden said. "Additional funding, additional staffing and ongoing oversight from Congress are important." The next steps . Nicely, who now walks with prosthetic legs, plans to go back to college soon, after he and his wife, Crystal, move into their new home. He thinks he'll end up working for Tunnels to Towers one day when it opens an office in St. Louis. He wants to raise public awareness on the plight of this new kind of veteran, the triple or quadruple amputee, and help them get homes that work for them, he said. He also wants to counsel other wounded troops. Recently he met with Army Staff Sgt. Travis Mills, who lost his four limbs in a similar way. Nicely wanted to actually walk into a room at Walter Reed and show Mills something important. "There's life after the hospital bed," he said. "You just have to put in the time and energy." | More troops surviving bad wounds thanks to battlefield medicine, body armor .
Badly wounded vets find help via special organizations .
One group raises money to build special homes for triple, quadruple amputees .
Expert: VA needs staff, money to handle growing wounded population . |
228,341 | b3a8beae6d8c249c59650e4fb4b023d534fc414b | (CNN) -- First came the revelations, then the anger, then the resounding victory. After an emotional few days, the Los Angeles Clippers emerged from a dark cloud with a much-needed playoff win Tuesday night. Fans cheered and chanted "We are One" as the team defeated the Golden State Warriors, 113-103. Hours before, Clippers owner Donald Sterling had been banned for life from the NBA for racist remarks revealed over the weekend. The focus now turns to whether Sterling will sell the team, something he indicated he would not do -- but that was before he was banned. With the Clippers' win, an ugly situation turned into a rebirth. The team lived up to the impromptu "We are One" slogan, printed in stark, black-and-white letters on its website. "You think it's just the players; it's the fans, too. Everybody was going through this," Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said after the game. "It was almost like everybody wanted to exhale tonight, and it was good." Audio of Sterling's conversation with a female friend was released Friday night, triggering a firestorm that led to his lifetime ban and a $2.5 million fine. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver detailed Sterling's punishment at a news conference eight hours before the Clippers' fifth game of the playoff series with the Warriors. NBA owners, players and others had called for swift, firm punishment since TMZ posted the audio featuring the incendiary comments. "I hope that every bigot in this country sees what happened to Mr. Sterling and recognizes that if he can fall, so can you," said Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, a former NBA All-Star. Johnson led the players union's efforts on this matter. Under the lifetime ban, Sterling is prohibited from NBA games or practices, stepping foot inside any Clippers facility, taking part in business or personnel decisions, or having a role in league activities such as attending NBA Board of Governors meetings. Silver said he'd do anything in his power to compel the NBA Board of Governors to force Sterling to sell the Clippers. He said he was hopeful he'd get the needed three-quarters of the league's owners -- meaning at least 23 -- to back the move. Sterling could fight any such move in court. Before the punishment was announced, Jim Gray of Fox News reported that he spoke with Sterling and that the owner told him the team is not for sale. At the time, Sterling did not know what his fate would be. Silver did not lay out a detailed timetable for action but said the league would start using its advisory finance committee to bring the issue before the owners "immediately." If Sterling does sell the team, he'd profit considerably: He bought the Clippers for $12 million in 1981, and the team is now worth $575 million, according to Forbes magazine. 'Now the healing process begins' Sterling's inflammatory sentiments came packaged in a 10-minute recording that TMZ said occurred during an April 9 conversation with his girlfriend V. Stiviano. On the recording, a man and woman argue about photos posted to Instagram in which she appears with African-Americans. The man says he doesn't want the woman bringing any black people to games with her. The sports website Deadspin on Sunday posted five additional minutes of what it said was part of the same audio recording. Neither website has said how it obtained the recordings; the law firm representing Stiviano said she didn't release them to TMZ. Clippers President Andy Roeser suggested Saturday that the audio was aimed at "getting even" with Sterling over a lawsuit. Last month, Rochelle Sterling filed a lawsuit against Stiviano, who she said was having an affair with her husband. She accused her of going after extremely wealthy older men. Roeser said that the offensive comments are "not consistent with, nor does it reflect (Sterling's) views, beliefs or feelings." At the time, he cast doubt on whether Sterling made the comments. Silver expressed no such doubts Tuesday, saying the Clippers owner "acknowledged it was his voice on the tape." Asked whether he expressed any remorse, the commissioner said, "Mr. Sterling has not expressed those views directly to me." The Clippers applauded Silver's decision. "Now the healing process begins," the team said. CNN's Jill Martin and Steve Almasy contributed to this report. | Fans cheer and chant "We are One" as the team defeats the Golden State Warriors .
Hours before, Clippers owner Donald Sterling had been banned from the NBA .
"It was almost like everybody wanted to exhale tonight," Clippers Coach Doc Rivers says . |
114,331 | 1f8561e5010212406a36c8c16fdae59ab1e59772 | By . Sam Webb . PUBLISHED: . 11:15 EST, 28 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:37 EST, 28 May 2013 . One of the men shot by police in the . wake of the murder of soldier Lee Rigby has been discharged from . hospital, Scotland Yard said. The 22-year-old, understood to be Michael Adebowale, from Greenwich, . south east London, was taken into custody at a police station in south . London this afternoon. He was arrested on suspicion of the murder of Drummer Rigby on May 22, . and this afternoon was further arrested on suspicion of the attempted . murder of a police officer. Drummer Lee Rigby, 25, was killed in Woolwich, South London, last week. A 22-year-old was arrested in connection with his murder and is now in police custody . He will now be interviewed by detectives from the Metropolitan Police Service Counter Terrorism Command. Adebowale and Michael Adebolajo, 28, have been recovering in hospital after they were both shot by armed police in the immediate aftermath of Drummer Rigby's murder. The family of Adebolajo today expressed their 'profound shame and distress' over the 'senseless killing' and sent their 'heartfelt condolence' to the soldier’s relatives. The young soldier was hacked to death near Woolwich barracks in south-east London last Wednesday, and since his death detectives have arrested 10 people. These include Adebowale and Adebolajo, as well as a 50-year-old man who was held in Welling, south-east London yesterday and is currently being questioned. A 22-year-old man arrested in Highbury, north London, on Sunday, and three men detained on Saturday over the killing have all been released on bail, as has a fifth man, aged 29. Suspect Michaeal Adebolwale, 22, who was in hospital after being shot by armed police. He has now been arrested on suspicion of murder and the attempted murder of a police officer . Suspect Michael Adebolajo, 28, remains in hospital . Two women, aged 29 and 31, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder but later released without charge. In the wake of the attack it emerged that Adebolajo and Adebowale were both known to MI5. Adebolajo was also arrested by Kenyan authorities three years ago because they feared he was attempting to join an al Qaida-linked militant group, the country's anti-terrorism police said. The murder has sparked a flurry of activity by far right group the English Defence League, and yesterday more than 1,000 supporters marched to Downing Street chanting 'Muslim killers off our streets' and 'There's only one Lee Rigby' in tribute to the soldier. Warrior: Drummer Rigby firing a machine gun during his tour of duty in Afghanistan . Tribute: Hundreds of mourners have laid flowers at the site of the soldier's death . Drummer Lee Rigby wearing a Help For Heroes sweatshirt two days before he was killed . A massive police presence kept them . separate from a smaller group of anti-fascist activists, with officers . making 13 arrests in total for a range of public order offences. Two of those arrested have since been charged with public order offences, with a third charged with possession of a bladed article and another charged with possession of Class A drugs. Five have been released without charge and a further four have been released on bail pending further inquiry. A further four arrests were made following alleged anti-social behaviour in Leicester Square. Police are still trying to identify others involved. Forces . charity Help for Heroes announced it will not accept any donations . raised by EDL leader Tommy Robinson or other members of the group, or . any political party. Police are now investigating two attacks by vandals on the RAF Bomber Command memorial and the Animals in War memorial in London. Both were daubed with graffiti and although the words written on the two memorials have now been covered up, it is thought 'Islam' had been written on each of them. Respect: A girl lays flowers at the site of the murder. Hundreds of people turned the area in to a sea of flowers . Rage: The murder has also sparked angry protests from the English Defence League and counter demonstrations held by the group Unite Against Facism . Home Secretary Theresa May has strongly indicated she would seek to revive legislation giving security agencies access to public communications data. She told the BBC's Andrew Marr show: 'We are now working through across the Government what action we can take but I'm clear, the law enforcement agencies, the intelligence agencies need access to communications data and that is essential to them doing their job.' Her disclosure came after Downing Street confirmed the launch of a new terror taskforce to crack down on extremism. The group, comprising Cabinet ministers and top police and security service officials, will focus on radical preachers who seek out potential recruits in prisons, schools, colleges and mosques. Defaced: The Animals in War Memorial on Park Lane, central London was sprayed with the word 'Islam' yesterday in the wake of the murder . Hate: The Grimsby Mosque which has been attacked twice following the brutal killing . Mourning: Lee Rigby's heartbroken fiancee Aimee West, 22, wept uncontrollably while visiting the spot where he was murdered . Loss: Rebecca Rigby (centre), the estranged wife of murdered British soldier Lee Rigby, reacts as she stands with her mother Sara McClure (right), after laying a wreath . Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Michael Adebowale had already been arrested on suspicion of murder .
Now arrested on suspicion of the attempted murder of a police officer .
He is currently in custody at a south London police station . |
237,704 | bfa9cbe0c4479ff86c7c0e902ed4080bb830276f | (CNN) -- "It is so ordered." Four words, used by the Supreme Court of the United States, that set loose a cascade of public policy. Few phrases are as powerful and precise. On June 25, when Justice Anthony Kennedy closed the court's majority opinion regarding Arizona's anti-immigrant law, S.B. 1070, with these words, the court lifted a burden off the shoulders of local law enforcement as well as millions of immigrants across the country. Last Tuesday, the ripples reached Indiana: The state's Republican attorney general, Greg Zoeller, said portions of his state's Senate Bill 590 could not be defended. "The Supreme Court made clear that immigration enforcement is a federal government responsibility," Zoeller acknowledged. Elements of Indiana's law resemble those the Supreme Court struck down in Arizona's, including provisions giving local police unprecedented power to make warrantless arrests based on assumed immigration status. Zoeller saw the constitutional writing on the wall and freed his enforcement resources from an expensive court battle the state of Indiana was sure to lose. The court's ruling on S.B. 1070 made it clear that state laws authorizing local law enforcement to make warrantless arrests of people for immigration violations are unconstitutional. Opinion: Don't deport the 'tamale lady' The court struck down three parts of the law, including the murky section that authorized state officers to arrest people based on "probable cause" that they had committed an offense that could lead to deportation. The court allowed a fourth section, the troubling "papers please" provision, to go into effect, but it left the door wide open for further legal scrutiny. Lest you think otherwise, Zoeller is no shrinking violet when it comes to immigration enforcement and keeping our nation safe. He is an active member of the Alliance Partnership of the Conference of Western Attorneys General, in which attorneys general across the United States partner with their colleagues in Mexico to strengthen the legal systems of both countries and reduce crime. As Zoeller wrote in 2011, "Greater cooperation, trust and information sharing between law enforcers and judicial officers on both sides of the border creates a more peaceful backdrop against which the U.S. government can work to improve an immigration system that clearly needs fixing." Working collaboratively across state lines and international borders to fight human and drug trafficking, money laundering and consumer fraud is a far better use of law enforcement resources than arresting landscapers and nannies. Zoeller is not alone in thinking there is a better way to enforce immigration law. Last year, he joined a bipartisan group of business, law enforcement and religious leaders in signing the Indiana Compact, a set of principles to guide the state's immigration debate. The compact affirms that immigration enforcement should be handled at the federal level, not the state level. The signers of the Indiana Compact joined like-minded leaders in Utah and Iowa — neither of which is a liberal stronghold — who signed compacts of their own calling upon the administration and Congress to work together to create a common-sense immigration process. But Congress has failed to muster the will to craft legislation, and President Obama is reduced to making administrative changes to an antiquated system. Sadly, the Supreme Court's ruling on S.B. 1070 is all we have to work with when it comes to federal guidance on immigration. Opinion: Why 'illegal immigrant' is a slur . But the winds of the immigration debate are changing. From the Mountain West to the Southeast to the Midwest, people who wear badges, run businesses and carry Bibles are building a new consensus on immigrants and America. The consensus is that immigration policy is a human issue. Documented or undocumented, people have freedom that we protect. That is one of the ideals on which our nation is built. Leaders such as Zoeller are doing what they are constitutionally required to do: Enforce the law. Zoeller must and will protect the residents of Indiana, regardless of their federal immigration status. To do so, he will direct all his resources toward tracking down those who would perpetrate crime on these residents and bring them to justice rather than dedicate scarce resources toward enforcing federal immigration law. The Supreme Court has ordered that the federal government pre-empts states when it comes to immigration law. It is time the other branches of our federal government heeded that order and created a rational immigration process that allows law enforcement officials to do their job: keep us safe. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Ali Noorani. | Indiana's attorney general has declared most of the state's new immigration law indefensible .
He cited the June Supreme Court ruling on Arizona in his announcement, says Ali Noorani .
Indiana is not alone in thinking there is a better way to enforce immigration law, Noorani says .
Noorani: It's time for the federal government to create a rational immigration process . |
117,738 | 24065a81c65f64b5b1fc1b3de93309bba5cca4af | Police have named the five people found dead at a Georgia home on Saturday, while they continue to seek missing Thomas Jesse Lee, 26, who has been named by police as a ‘person of interest’ in the case. The dead included his wife Christie Lee, 33, her daughter Bailey Burtron, 16, her parents William Burtron, 69; and Sheila Burtron, 68, and family friend Iiaonna Green, 18, who’d only recently moved into the La Grange home. The bodies of four females and one male were found inside the LaGrange home shortly after 10 p.m. on Saturday. Police are seeking Thomas Lee, right, after they discovered five dead bodies at a Georgia home on Saturday night including Lee's wife Christie, center, and her daughter Bailey . The dead also included Christie Lee's parents Shelia Burtron, 68, and William Burtron, 69 . The bodies were discovered after someone called 911, asking for deputies to check on the home's occupants, said Troup County sheriff's Sgt. Stewart Smith. The 911 caller reported that he hadn't seen anyone come or go from the home in a while, Smith said. The bodies were discovered after the employer of one of the victims called 911 and said the man had not shown up for work for several days, Woodruff said. Troup County Sheriff James Woodruff speculated the slayings may have occurred on Wednesday, although the victims’ bodies would need to be transported to the state medical examiner’s office for autopsy to determine the exact time of death. After finding all the exterior doors locked, deputies used a breach kit to enter the home through a rear door. What they found was a grisly scene throughout the entire home, Woodruff said. The five bodies were found inside this LaGrange home shortly after 10 p.m. on Saturday night . Police say the bodies were found in different rooms in the home, report WSBTV. Four of them had been shot, according to police. 'In law enforcement, you see bad things every day,' Woodruff told The LaGrange Daily News. 'But I've never seen a crime scene like this in my 25 years or so in law enforcement — never a scene with five victims inside a home.’ The home is about 80 miles southwest of Atlanta, just east of the Alabama state line. Sgt. Stewart Smith, with the Troup County Sheriff's Office, said of Lee: 'He is not here at the home and we understand there may have been a dispute or something between one of the victims here. 'We have not been able to make contact with him at all. Police have named Lee as a ‘person of interest’ in the murder case. The other victim was family friend Iiaonna Green, 18, who’d only recently moved into the La Grange home . 'We're doing any tracks we can on the cell phone, any internet searches, social media searches for him and kind of coming up with a dead end right now. 'Definitely if anyone knows anything about him, please call the sheriff's office or our crimestopper's number.' Lee is described as a white male, blue eyes, about 6-foot-3, and 190 pounds, . He may be driving an olive green Mazda Tribute with Georgia license plate number BRN0785. The home is in LaGrange, a small city about 80 miles southwest of Atlanta and just east of the Alabama state line. Police said Lee may have be driving an olive green Mazda Tribute (similar to the one above) with Georgia license plate number BRN0785 (stock photo) | Police are seeking 'person of interest' Thomas Lee .
He is believed to be driving an olive-green Mazda Tribute with a Georgia tag .
were all found dead on Friday night .
Bodies were only discovered after the employer of one of the victims called 911 and said the man had not shown up for work for several days . |
206,596 | 977a793405ca0e4f1bfacbdb7fe1f1309e0493ef | (Coastal Living) -- There's a stillness that permeates the streets -- and the water -- in Irvington, Virginia. The glasslike surface of Carter's Creek is so calm you can't help but touch it to see if you'll cause a ripple. The scent of warm, dry grass fills the air. Colors appear softer. It feels almost magical. Irvington, Virginia, is three hours from Washington, D.C., and 90 minutes from Richmond and Norfolk. But wander around a bit and you'll discover something more: an energy beneath the quiet facade. A former steamboat port, Irvington is reestablishing itself as the hub of the state's Northern Neck. Just three hours from Washington, D.C., and 90 minutes from Richmond and Norfolk, the town that George Washington called the "Garden of Virginia" still serves as a quiet getaway from the city. But now it also offers two fine inns, several upscale restaurants and trendy shops. The Dandelion -- once a church parsonage -- fills its two floors with apparel, accessories and gifts. Across the street, Avolon specializes in hip designer clothing, and, two doors down, Khakis offers way more than neutral slacks. River Cottage's 19th-century building is as captivating as its merchandise: Check out the wavy-glass windows and original flooring from Washington, D.C.'s historic Willard Hotel. Owner Paul Carlson welcomes clientele to browse his hodgepodge of Peacock Alley linens, Maine Cottage furniture, Zekiah stained glass and Hobie kayaks. At The Bay Window, Nancy Drake, Candy Terry and Mary Ragland provide knitting supplies and classes. "It's so quiet here," Mary says. "This is truly country." She's right. Locals spend time outdoors. Nightlife consists of gazing at stars in the velvety sky. It also consists of dining at Irvington's sophisticated but playful social mecca, Trick Dog Cafe. Many patrons return for homegrown dishes, prepared by chefs Jeffrey Johnson and Tony Filiberti and flavored with ingredients harvested within 10 to 15 miles of town. Although still largely undiscovered, Irvington revels in its new identity as a destination -- thanks in part to the Tides Inn. Renovated in 2002, the 480-acre resort features 106 rooms overlooking Carter's Creek and a 64-slip marina. Four on-site restaurants include the Chesapeake Club for local seafood and regional cuisine. Guests can golf, bike, play croquet, and take sailing lessons at the resort's Premier Sailing School. For a more eclectic getaway, The Hope and Glory Inn's recently refreshed accommodations comprise seven rooms in an 1890 schoolhouse, plus six cottages. Owner Dudley Patteson says he encourages guests to "step away from what's going on in life and reconnect." That's easy to do this time of year, when autumn brightens the town's trees, and straw-color mums decorate Victorian porches on King Carter Drive. Irvington, even with its metropolitan touches, offers its visitors a low-key respite from daily life. In this "Garden of Virginia," the harvest may just be peace and quiet. If you go ... For general information, visit townofirvington.com. Sweet Dreams: Rates at the Tides Inn start at $210; 800/843-3746 or tidesinn.com. Rates at The Hope and Glory Inn start at $165; 800/497-8228 or hopeandglory.com. Cuisine: The Chesapeake Club at the Tides Inn (reservations recommended); 800/843-3746 or tidesinn.com. If you stay at The Hope and Glory Inn on a Saturday, make reservations at the Chef's Table for a four-course meal paired with wines selected by the chef; 800/497-8228 or hopeandglory.com. The Trick Dog Cafe (reservations recommended); 804/438-1055. The Local serves gourmet coffees and sandwiches, and doubles as an Internet café; 804/438-9356. Shops 'n' Such: Avolon; 804/438-6793. The Bay Window; 804/438-6636. The Dandelion; 804/438-5194 or thedandelion.com. Khakis; 804/438-6779 or khakisofirvington.com. The River Cottage; 804/438-9007 or therivercottage.net. Local Attractions: Try your hand at grape harvesting during the Irvington Stomp, September 1 this year; 804/438-5559 or irvingtonstomp.com. The Steamboat Era Museum gives visitors a glimpse into vessels that helped shape cities and towns along the Chesapeake; 804/438-6888 or steamboateramuseum.org. For a more reverent experience, visit Historic Christ Church, a restored Colonial-era church and national landmark; 804/438-6855 or christchurch1735.org. E-mail to a friend . Enter to win a monthly Room Makeover Giveaway from MyHomeIdeas.com . Copyright © Coastal Living, 2009 . | Irvington, Virginia, is just three hours from Washington, D.C.
The former steamboat port is drawing more weekend visitors .
The 480-acre Tides Inn resort is one reason for Irvington's higher profile . |
118,691 | 2540fa7e4bfbe9c46ff06eecd906d2987e010f06 | Los Angeles (CNN) -- Whitney Houston's mother wants "to set the record straight" about her daughter with a memoir to be published in February, a HarperCollins executive said Tuesday. The book written by Cissy Houston will "go behind the headlines to show the true, human side of this strong, successful yet complicated musical icon," Lisa Sharkey said in the publisher's announcement. Cissy Houston, who is a Grammy-winning singer in her own right, said she wanted to "give her fans something to treasure, the way we all treasured Whitney." "When I lost my daughter Nippy, the world lost one of the most beautiful voices and an extraordinarily beautiful and charitable woman," Houston said. Whitney Houston drowned in a hotel tub February 11, with "effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use" as contributing factors, the coroner ruled. The book will explore Houston's turbulent marriage to singer Bobby Brown and "her misunderstood struggles with drug abuse with a candor, honesty and respect that have long been missing in numerous accounts of her daughter's life," the HarperCollins statement said. Watch: Houston's family plans reality show . "Cissy Houston is known for being so guarded and so caring that until now she has never spoken about her daughter," Sharkey said. "But she is also so determined to set the record straight about her beautiful 'Nippy' that she decided to write this book." It will "undoubtedly be the definitive book by the only person capable of telling the true inside story of Whitney Houston's life, her phenomenal successes, her desperate struggles and her private passions," she said. Some of the profits from the untitled book, which is set for publication February 15, will go to New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey, where Cissy Houston served as minister of music for 50 years, the publisher said. | Cissy Houston's book to "show the true, human side" of the singer .
She will explore Houston's marriage, "misunderstood struggles with drug abuse"
The untitled book is set for publication on February 15 .
Whitney Houston drowned in a hotel tub on February 11 . |
7,292 | 14a8623198a62f308394ba5b460249ad5cce9cee | By . Helen Brown . H IS FOR HAWK by Helen MacDonald (Jonathan Cape £14.99) Five months after Helen Macdonald’s father died, she found herself pacing anxiously up and down a Scottish quayside, a cigarette in one hand, a can of Irn-Bru in the other, and an envelope containing £800 in £20 notes stuffed into her back pocket. The shy poet and historian felt like a drug dealer. Then she saw the man she’d come to meet, struggling with an enormous cardboard box that was lurching and thumping strangely in his arms. As he leaned forward to open it, she saw dried blood around a nasty gash on his wrist. And, suddenly, the female goshawk she had ordered burst out, in a furious clatter of wings and talons. Author Helen Macdonald in happier times in Scotland with a Gyrfalcon, the largest of the falcon species . Macdonald’s heart jumps sideways. To her, the bird is ‘a conjuring trick. A reptile. A fallen angel’. She hopes that the intense concentration required to tame such a wild creature will help cure her grief. Bereavement happens to everyone, notes Macdonald, but you feel it alone. She likens it to somebody walking into a room containing your whole family, and punching each member individually, hard in the stomach. ‘So, the thing is, you all share the same kind of pain, exactly the same, but you’re too busy experiencing total agony to feel anything other than completely alone,’ she says. Macdonald’s father, Alisdair, was a successful photo-journalist, ‘a quiet man in a suit, who had set out each day in search of things that were new, who had captured the courses of stars and storms and streets and politicians’. In 2007, he set out to photograph storm-damaged buildings in Battersea, and died of a sudden heart attack. The last photo on his camera is blurred, taken from a low angle, far too low, in an empty, London street. A young Helen ooking at a parrot with father Alisdair . A few days later, there’s a strange family outing as Helen, her mother and brother walk the streets, looking for his car. It has been towed. They must provide his death certificate before the fine can be waived. This is the car she drives to Scotland to collect her goshawk: his equipment still rattling around in the boot. From him, she’s inherited her ability to wait patiently and pay attention to the details of the world around her. As a small child, she would hide beneath a rhododendron bush on the hill behind her house and watch the world like a tiny sniper: ‘basking in the fierce calm that comes from being invisible, but seeing everything’. Macdonald says this drive toward ‘watching, not doing’ has not served her well in life. ‘Not with people and loves and hearts and homes and work. But in the first few days with a new hawk, making yourself disappear is the greatest skill in the world.’ She trained her first raptor — a kestrel called Amy — when she was 13, then moved on to merlins and peregrine falcons. Before becoming a Cambridge academic, she’d trained birds for Arab sheiks. But she’d always stayed away from goshawks — historically disdained by aristocratic falconers as the ruffians of the bird world, hunting in short, inelegant stabs and unfussy about their prey. Bigger and bulkier than the sparrowhawks that snatch pigeons from suburban lawns, goshawks are the ‘dark grail’ of the bird- watcher’s world. Helen with female Goshawk Mabel. The pair have an unusual relationship, with Mabel serving as the companion to her grief, Helen found the bird of prey to be as brutal as her emotions . Although gamekeepers persecuted them to extinction in the UK by the end of the 19th century, they were successfully reintroduced in the Sixties. The females are so fearsome that breeders have to keep them in separate aviaries to the males — they will slay them if introduced at the wrong moment. In choosing a female goshawk as the companion to her grief, Macdonald is seeking a creature as overwhelmingly brutal as her emotions. But the bird she christens Mabel turns out to be a remarkably calm hawk, settling into life in urban Cambridge with admirable ease. It is bizarre to picture such a cool-eyed predator taking her first meat from her new trainer in a brightly-lit lounge with ’Allo! ’Allo! on the television. Although there is one terrifying scene, in which Mabel’s talons cause blood to gush from between Macdonald’s eyes, the hawk also surprises the human by playing — retrieving balls of crumpled- up paper in her deadly, Baker- lite beak. Mabel looking regal perched on Helen's hand . The 21st-century woman’s account of her mutually successful cohabitation with Mabel runs parallel to her sensitive analysis of T. H. White’s celebrated 1951 memoir The Goshawk. In that, the author of The Once and Future King (the Arthurian classic Disneyfied as The Sword in the Stone) retreats with fantasies of primitive survivalism from an unhappy existence as a schoolmaster to hole up in rural isolation with a goshawk. While Macdonald admits she wants to learn from her hawk how to become ‘numb to the hurts of human life’, White locked himself into mutually destructive battle of wills with ‘Gos’, — replaying the shame and terror of a traumatic childhood, during which both his parents made regular threats to kill him. He drives himself half-mad trying to stay awake for days on end with his bird, spoils the hawk with too much meat, and tries repeatedly to break the spirit he so admires. He becomes his own sadistic father. At times, he even feels he has become a hawk. During one chase, his hawk grabs a rabbit, and White pins the animal’s skull to the grass with a hunting knife. ‘Think of Lust,’ wrote White, who struggled to ‘cure’ his homosexuality with psychotherapy. ‘Real blood-lust is like that.’ But for Macdonald — who understandably prefers hawk-caught meat to the flesh of sad, battery-raised animals — the kill is the point where bird and woman separate. ‘Hunting makes you animal,’ she writes, ‘but the death of an animal makes you human.’ Unlike White, she has friends and family to help her through her distress. And she takes anti-depressants. She ends her exquisitely written book safe in the knowledge that her pain is a separate thing from her bird. Mabel’s talons have left thin, white scars on her hands. But hands, she realises, ‘are for other human hands to hold. They should not be reserved exclusively as perches for hawks.’ | After losing her father Alisdair, Helen MacDonald buys a goshawk to help her deal with the grief .
Helen began training birds of prey at the age of 13 and even trained birds for Arab sheikhs .
The hawk, called Mabel, is playful but cannot be tamed . |
17,775 | 325d323c69aefbe97ef7f7eb69225fc3637dc395 | It is a statistic that haunts Everton fans – the last time their club beat Liverpool at Anfield was 1999. A lot has changed since that fiery Monday night fifteen years ago when Everton escaped from their rival's home with a 1-0 win and only 19 players finished the match. Everton's Francis Jeffers and Liverpool goalkeeper Sander Westerveld were sent off for fighting in the second half. Kevin Campbell scored the winning goal last time Everton beat Liverpoool at Anfield back in September 1999 . Goalkeeper Sander Westerweld and Everton striker Francis Jeffers were sent off after coming to blows . A 19-year-old Steven Gerrard then came from the bench to be shown a red card in stoppage time for a waist-high challenge on goalscorer Kevin Campbell, who netted what turned out to be the winner in only the fourth minute. Michael Owen, also 19, was lucky not to be dismissed for a similarly ugly challenge in a ferocious Merseyside derby. But what became of the players who featured that night? Sportsmail takes a look at where they are now... Campbell stands with physio Steve Hardwick and gives a thumbs up while Nick Barmby also celebrates . LIVERPOOL . Sander Westerveld, 39 . The Dutch stopper, who played for both Liverpool and Everton, is a goalkeeper coach at South African club side Ajax Cape Town. His long playing career, spanning almost two decades, eventually ended at the Cape Town club last year. Steve Staunton, 45 . Currently involved in recording a TV show in which the best young football prospects from Saudi Arabia have the chance to come to England. His most recent job in football was as a scout for Sunderland. Sami Hyypia, 40 . The towering Finn has embarked on a career in management after ending his playing days in 2011. He spent two years in charge at Bayer Leverkusen and after that ended badly joined Championship side Brighton in the summer where he is struggling in 18th. Liverpool defender Steve Staunton was forced to go in goal following Westerveld's dismissal . Vegard Heggem, 39 . Heggem has taken the not-so-common route after football as owner and manager of a salmon fishing business called Aunan Lodge on the river Orkla in Sør-Trøndelag. He also regularly returns to Anfield to watch games. Jamie Carragher, 36 . Developing a reputation as hard-hitting as his defending days working as a columnist for Sportsmail and pundit on Sky Sports. Patrick Berger, 40 . The Czech attacking midfielder has still not given up playing – at 40. After his seven-year stint at Liverpool he stayed in England with Portsmouth, Aston Villa and Stoke before ending his professional career at Sparta Prague in 2010. Four years later he is still playing, turning out for Dolni Chabry in the sixth-tier of Czech football. Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher watches on as Campbell shoots at goal to score in the fourth minute . Vladimir Smicer, 41 . One of the Czech Republic's most successful footballers, he ran for their parliament in May representing an obscure party called Vize 2014 – pledging to sort out obese kids – but was unsuccessful. He is still a coach for Slavia Prague. Dietmar Hamann, 41 . Hamann is a regular on TV screens since he retired three years ago. He has appeared as a pundit on Match of the Day, Sky Sports and is a regular part of the team on Irish TV channel RTE. Jamie Redknapp, 41 . Thrown himself into talking about the game as passionately as he played it, working as a columnist for Sportsmail and on Sky Sports. Michael Owen, 34 . The prolific England striker became a commentator and pundit for BT Sport when his career came to an end and owns a stable of race horses. Liverpool frontman Michael Owen attempts to get the better of Everton midfielder John Collins . Robbie Fowler, 39 . One of the most natural goalscorers to be born in England, Fowler is attempting to pass that on to Liverpool youngsters coaching at their academy. He applied for the vacant Leeds manager job earlier this month but was unsuccessful. Steven Gerrard, 34 (came on for Hamann) Fifteen years later from that game, he is still going strong. The 34-year-old is the heart and soul of the Liverpool team, and was, too, for England before he retired in the summer. Titi Camara, 41 (came on for Smicer) Now in charge of the Guinea national football team, a job he has had since 2009. Camara was captain of the African side and won 38 caps for them. Erik Meijer, 45 (came on for Fowler) The striker is an assistant coach at Dutch second division club MVV Maastricht, the club where he first broke through in the Dutch top flight. Steven Gerrard is shown red for fouling Everton striker Campbell having come on as a substitute . EVERTON . Paul Gerrard, 41 . The stopper had a long career in the lower leagues and has ended up as Doncaster Rovers' goalkeeper coach. Richard Gough, 52 . Became one of the first British exports to America when he played in the MLS for Kansas City Wizards a year after the league was established in 1997. He now lives in San Diego where he is a property developer. Richard Dunne, 35 . Even at 35 he is still attempting to ply his trade in the Premier League. The centre-back helped QPR win promotion back to the top flight last season, although he has slipped down the pecking order with the arrivals of Steven Caulker and Rio Ferdinand. Everton's Richard Dunne (centre) climbs highest to beat Sami Hyypia as Don Hutchison also challenges . David Weir, 44 . The 44-year-old is assistant manager at Championship side Brentford. Alongside Mark Warburton he helped lead the club to promotion last season. Michael Ball, 34 . Ball, one of the most promising defenders to come through Everton's academy, never reached his potential and retired in 2012. He now spends time bringing up his family and tweeting regularly about football. Abel Xavier, 41 . Known more for his remarkable barnet and facial hairstyles and colours, it is remarkable he has not yet released a range of male grooming products. Xavier dabbled with management, taking charge at Portuguese side Olhanense in 2013, but is out of work. John Collins, 46 . The Scot took up the role of assistant manager at Celtic this year, a club he played more than 200 games for in the early stages of his career. Everton's Scottish midfielder Collins takes on Liverpool's Dietmar Hamann in the middle of the park . Don Hutchison, 43 . The well-travelled midfielder, 43, has forged a career as pundit on TalkSPORT and Al Jazeera since he left the game. He also does work from Premier League TV. Nick Barmby, 40 . Most recently manager at Hull until he was sacked in 2012. According to reports he is coaching at his local junior team Westella and WillerbyJuniors and enjoying time with his family. He has two sons, George and Jack. Jack plays for Leicester City. Kevin Campbell, 44 . Once a prolific marksman, his job is now concentrating on defending. Campbell is co-owner of security firm T1 Protection which provides bodyguards for the rich and famous when they are abroad. He also does punditry work. Francis Jeffers, 33 . The 33-year-old, who would move to Arsenal for £8m two years after this match and go on to have one of the most disappointing careers in the game, has still not officially hung his boots up. He last appeared at League Two side Accrington Stanley in 2013, but did not find a club last season. Francis Jeffers, only 18 and a boyhood Blue, celebrates Campbell's strike which turned out to be the winner . | Everton have not beaten Liverpool at Anfield since September 1999 .
Kevin Campbell scored the Toffees' winning goal after just four minutes .
Sander Westerveld, Francis Jeffers and Steven Gerrard were all sent off .
Sportsmail looks at what became of the men who played that evening .
The two rivals meet in the Merseyside derby on Saturday lunchtime . |
186,685 | 7dd16f72497ea558bfdce617d3cdbeb09e3af1a0 | (CNN) -- North Korea may be on the brink of another famine as a result of last year's devastating floods, the worldwide increase in food prices, and a malnourished population, the United Nations warned on Thursday. According to a U.N. report, nearly 40 percent of young children are "chronically malnourished." "North Korea ... faces a dire food shortage," U.N. World Food Program spokesman Paul Risley said at a Bangkok, Thailand, news conference. "Because of high global food prices it will be very difficult for the government of DPRK to purchase food on global markets to make up the difference." The Democratic Republic of North Korea is still recovering from a famine in the 1990s that is believed to have killed about a million people and left many children permanently stunted, according to the New York-based Human Rights Watch. Nearly 40 percent of North Korea's young children remain "chronically malnourished," according to a recent survey by the WFP and UNICEF. And this year, the isolated communist country is expected to see the largest harvest deficit since 2001, according to the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization. "We're very concerned that this year the food shortfall of 1,600,000 tons of rice and wheat will mean that malnutrition will increase and that children will receive less food than they are really needing to receive," Risley said. Potatoes and eggs are luxuries for most people in North Korea, who must spend a third of their monthly income for two pounds (1 kilogram) of rice, according to the WFP. The price of rice and other staple foods has doubled over the past year, it said. "Its harvest in the past year was virtually destroyed by floods that occurred in August of 2007," Risley said. "What this means is the country now does not have enough food to feed its people and it has not received substantial contributions from South Korea as it has in past years." Part of the problem is that North Korea's reclusive government led by Kim Jong Il has refused outside aid and regularly denies that his country has suffered from famine. The WFP said Pyongyang significantly cut the U.N. group's operations in 2006. Before the cut, the program had been assisting more than 6 million North Koreans; now it can only help a little more than a million of the most vulnerable population, mostly women and children. "The food security situation in the DPRK is clearly bad and getting worse," said Tony Banbury, WFP's regional director for Asia. "It is increasingly likely that external assistance will be urgently required to avert a serious tragedy." E-mail to a friend . | World Food Program warns of looming food crisis in North Korea .
Agency says prices have doubled as state rations are dwindling .
Food shortages believed to have been caused by flooding last year . |
109,854 | 19995319f5f0eea8373089d2eb11ab1fca03cd1f | By . Louise Boyle . A woman who suffered from a rare condition which made her grow into a 6ft 11ins giant has died suddenly at the age of 34. Tanya Angus, from Las Vegas, spent the last 12 years trying to find a cure for her acromegaly, which meant she couldn't stop growing. Until the age of 21, Tanya was just 5ft 8ins tall and weighed 130lbs. She rode horses, went dancing and had a boyfriend. Scroll down for video . Rare disorder: Tanya Angus was a slender 5ft 8 and 130lbs as a teenager, pictured here in 1995 (left). By 2010 (right), she was 6ft 6in and more than 400lbs. She died suddenly today at the age of 34 . An inspiration: Tanya Angus celebrates her 34th birthday with a friend on November 27, 2012 . Struggle: Miss Angus has died at the age of 34 after her heart failed due to her extreme size . But a tumour became wrapped around her pituitary gland, causing massive amounts of growth hormone to be released into her body. Tanya, . who became wheelchair-bound, had the most extreme form of acromegaly . ever seen, growing to nearly 7ft tall, and more than 400lbs. Ms Angus, who had been working as a . supervisor at a Walmart in Michigan, was fired from her post when her condition worsened, and was dumped by her boyfriend when his parents . questioned whether she was a man. But . she never gave up searching for a treatment to halt her incredible . growth and hoped she could one day have a more normal life. In . August last year, it seemed like Tanya and her family had finally seen a . breakthrough, when a blood test revealed that her growth hormone levels . had fallen at last. Tanya's . mother Karen Strutynski said at the time: 'For the first time ever, . Tanya's blood level for her disease is in the normal range. 'It gives us renewed hope and will give other people renewed hope.' Sorrow: A message was posted on Tanya Angus's website that she had sadly passed away on January 14 . New treatment: The 34-year-old was given renewed hope for her condition last year but it was not to last . The . good news was short-lived. Tanya's Insulin-like Growth Factor levels, . which had fallen from 3,000 at the worst of her condition to just 283, . had started to creep back up into the 500's. The normal range for a . healthy person is around 250. It is thought the extreme pressure on her body, caused by 12 years of coping with her huge size, caused her heart to fail. Acromegaly, which affects 20,000 people in the U.S., is usually caused by a non-cancerous tumour on the pituitary gland. Ms Angus had undergone radiation and surgery three times in an effort to have hers removed, but, as it is wrapped around her carotid artery, it has proved too difficult. If left untreated, acromegaly can be life-threatening, as it causes organs such as the heart and lungs to grow along with height and weight. Sufferers are at higher risk of developing diabetes and high blood pressure, while the pressure on their joints causes swelling and early onset of osteoarthritis. A . notice on Tanya's website, which has inspired and helped acromegaly . sufferers around the world, reads simply: 'It is with deep sorrow that . we announce the passing on of our beloved Tanya Angus at 12.25am on . January 14, 2013, due to her heart and TIA. RIP dear one' Transient . Ischemic Attack (TIA) is a type of mini-stroke, caused when the blood . flow to the brain stops for a period of time. Tanya had suffered a . number of TIAs in recent years. Describing . her acromegaly last year, Tanya said: 'Sometimes I feel really down . about it but to me the most important thing is that I have to tell . people about it. 'I read . emails that people send in saying: ''You're my inspiration,'' or, ''You . are so strong.'' 'If I am helping other people, I feel I can do . anything.' Tanya, whose . condition caused her to spend many hours sleeping, found her outlet . through her website, which helped her gain friends around the world. Last . year, she was able to meet some of them for the first time at an . Acromegaly Conference in Las Vegas, where fellow sufferers told Tanya . how hearing her story had caused them to seek early treatment, and . possibly saved their lives. During . the last 12 years, Tanya underwent three operations to attempt to . remove her tumour, but several different surgeons were unable to reach . part of the growth, as it was wrapped around her inner carotid artery. Her heart, lungs and the joints of her limbs continued to grow as she gained weight and height, causing huge strain on her body. Change: Photographs of Ms Angus ages 17 (left) and 31 (right) reveal how acromegaly has affected her face . Healthier times: Before her acromegaly diagnosis, Ms Angus was a keen horserider . Her . mother Karen and stepfather Allan continued to search for new ways of . tackling her condition, and last year doctors finally agreed to double . the dose of Tanya's growth inhibitor medication, which was administered . by painful injections into her spine. The treatment seemed to finally be . working, until the sad news in October that her growth hormone levels . were rising again. Tanya, . talking in 2009 about the slow onset of her growth said: 'I couldn't . understand why, as I wasn't eating more. What was strange was that my . feet seemed to grow as well. My face also started to swell and was . changing. 'I felt unhappy . with my appearance and spent a fortune on make-up. My figure also . started to change and become more manly and my voice became deeper.' The . 34-year-old, who loved jewellery and enjoyed regular swimming sessions . which helped her body feel weightless, continued to remain hopeful . throughout her life. 'Without hope you don't have anything,' she is quoted as saying. 'I hope they can stop me growing one day.' Helping hands: Ms Angus pictured with her medical team and her mother (in white) in 2010 . To learn more about Tanya Angus and acromegaly, visit her website, Tanyaangus.com . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Tanya Angus, from Las Vegas, suffered rare pituitary disorder acromegaly .
She was just 5ft 8in and 130lbs at the age of 21 before her diagnosis .
A message on her website reads: 'It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing on of our beloved Tanya Angus at 12.25 am January 14, 2013, due to her heart and TIA. RIP dear one' |
141,756 | 435286b76387861cec5d99b5e7ebb90dee14d832 | Cherie Blair was accused of ‘irresponsible scaremongering’ today after claiming legal aid cuts would make it easier for the state to take children into care. The barrister wife of former Prime Minister Tony Blair attacked the coalition’s plans to remove £220 million from the legal aid budget by 2018-19. She claimed parents would be in ‘trouble’ defending themselves against state moves to remove children, but the claims were angrily dismissed by the Ministry of Justice. Barristers and solicitors listen to speeches during a demonstration outside Parliament . An effigy of Justice Secretary Chris Grayling was carried through the streets around Parliament in protest at his cuts to legal aid . The government is pressing ahead with plans to cut £220 million from the legal aid budget by 2018-19 . Hundreds of lawyers today marched on Westminster in protest the cuts as thousands of barristers stage a second walkout at courts in England and Wales. Barristers have chosen not to attend proceedings at major crown courts in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool, among others. Justice Secretary Chris Grayling is pressing ahead with fee cutting fees for well-paid barristers and solicitors to save millions. Scaremongering: Cherie Blair claimed parents would find it harder to stop their children being taken into care as a result of the cuts . But Mrs Blair, a QC, warned it was triggering a ‘real crisis’. She told Sky News: ‘Our criminal system doesn’t work unless each side is properly represented. ‘And the legal aid cuts, which could be as much as 30 per cent at the moment, mean it’s going to be more and more difficult for people where the state is taking you to court, whether it’s about a criminal offence or perhaps the state its taking your child into care, if you don’t get proper representation then you’re going to be in trouble defending yourself.’ However, the government hit back, insisting legal aid would still be available to cases involving children. A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: ‘Our reforms present no change to the current system where anyone charged with a crime, or subject to criminal investigation, is provided with a qualified lawyer through legal aid. ‘We are only proposing average 6 per cent or 2 per cent changes to most barristers’ fees. After our reforms we will still be spending around £1.5 billion a year, meaning it will still be one of the most generous legal aid systems in the world. ‘As for claiming children will be taken into care without a lawyer being involved, that is just irresponsible scaremongering. ‘We have specifically ensured legal aid is, and will remain, available for these types of cases.’ Outside Parliament, banners were raised reading ‘Access to Justice RIP’ and ‘Save Legal Aid’. Janis Sharp, whose son Gary McKinnon narrowly avoided extradition to the United States, Blur drummer-turned-solicitor Dave Rowntree and Paddy Hill, one of the Birmingham Six, were among those speaking at a rally opposite the Houses of Parliament. At the Old Bailey, only five out of 18 of the criminal courts were sitting today . A barrister uses a mobile phone to take a photograph of the demonstration against cuts . Hundreds of protesting barristers in their full court dress of wigs and gowns posed the Chris Grayling effigy and a Magna Carta scroll which was later delivered to the Ministry of Justice . A barrister holds a sign accusing Mr Grayling of 'killing justice' Actress Maxine Peake, who plays a TV barrister, joined the protests. The star, who plays QC Martha Costello in BBC1’s Silk, carried a placard declaring: 'Defend justice. Not just for the rich.' She has warned: 'We have to send a message to this Government that we will no longer stand for their ferocious bullying of the poor.' At the Old Bailey, only five out of 18 of the criminal courts were sitting today. The hacking trial and that of Nicky Jacobs for the murder of Pc Keith Blakelock were among those to resume on Monday. Nigel Lithman, chairman of the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), said: ‘If these cuts are not addressed, then the British justice system, which is held in such high esteem around the world, will cease to exist as we know it and the British public can no longer expect true justice to be delivered. ‘It is simply expected that the criminal Bar will accept cuts unparalleled in any other sector of the wider community. ‘The Bar cannot and will not accept these unnecessary and crippling cuts and will continue to fiercely oppose them at every opportunity until our reasonable requests have been met with the appropriate levels of consideration.’ Barristers refused to attend court for the first time in January, causing widespread disruption to criminal justice. The CBA and London Criminal Courts Solicitors Association (LCCSA) claim fee cuts are financially unnecessary, will cause significant damage to the criminal justice system, and drive skilled and experienced lawyers away from publicly-funded criminal work. There are already a number of crown court cases emerging in which defendants have been unable to secure a barrister. It is the second time that barristers have staged a walk out on the cuts, after the first in January . The protesters were joined by a woman dressed as the 'Lady of Justice', from the dome of the Old Bailey, holding a sword and the scales of justice . It is claimed that as a result of the changes junior barristers face rates as low as £20 a day . The Ministry of Justice has previously . said it is vital to scale back 'one of the most expensive' legal aid . schemes in the world and insisted it will remain 'very generous' even . after the changes. But the CBA said many junior barristers face rates . as low as £20 a day, once the hours of preparation, time in court and . chambers’ fees are factored in, as well as receiving no holiday pay, no . pension provision and no sickness or maternity benefits. | Barrister wife of Tony Blair backs walkout by barristers over cuts .
Claims parents will be 'in trouble' if defending themselves in cases .
BBC actress Maxine Peake from Silk in front line of march against savings .
But Ministry of Justice hits back against 'irresponsible scaremongering' |
189,308 | 812a94834836545c7d6621870ec61d1459f93950 | By . Graham Smith . PUBLISHED: . 07:34 EST, 13 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 07:44 EST, 13 September 2012 . For many people it might sound like the dream diet. But for one mother who exists solely on tea and biscuits, due to a rare condition which paralyses her stomach, it is a reality. Suzanne Kettle, 28, can only drink three cups of tea and eat a handful of biscuits a day after developing gastroparesis. The condition prevents her stomach from contracting to digest food, meaning it takes her eight hours to process a meal - six times longer than a normal person. Losing weight: Suzanne Kettle, 28, can only drink three cups of tea and eat a handful of biscuits a day after developing gastroparesis . The mother-of-one has dropped three stone in weight and has had to give up her shop selling baby clothes because of her condition. She has been forced to live on a tea and biscuit diet as she immediately begins to feel unwell if she eats or drinks anything else. Mrs Kettle, from Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, Scotland, said her condition means she is left exhausted by walking her son Matthew, four, just half a mile to school. She said: 'Most days, I can only manage a tea and biscuit without feeling ill. I have lost so much weight. 'On a good day, I can only manage a cup of tea and a biscuit for breakfast, the same again for lunch and maybe two tablespoons of mashed potato for dinner. 'It’s difficult. I had to give up my business, I have no energy and I’m constantly in hospital. 'I can’t keep anything down and food is always getting stuck in my oesophagus and I have to make myself ill to get it back up again. 'I have gone from a size 14 to a size 10 in the last year because of the lack of food. 'It’s a good job I wasn’t a skinny girl to begin with, otherwise there would be nothing of me left now. I can’t go on like this, I need a pacemaker.' Mrs Kettle with her husband Gary in 2009, before she contracted the disease. The mother-of-one has since dropped three stone in weight . Mrs Kettle was forced to give up her shop selling baby clothes because of her condition and is desperate to have a special stomach pacemaker fitted. But she must go through a rigorous testing process to find out whether she is eligible for the £25,000 surgery on the NHS. She first began to suffer nausea and pains in her stomach three years ago and went to A&E at Glasgow Royal Infirmary when the symptoms worsened. She was then hospitalised dozens of times and was misdiagnosed with gallstones, liver problems and even a psychiatric illness. In January last year, frustrated Mrs Kettle was given 20 injections directly into her stomach to relieve the pain but the effects were only temporary. She was left to suffer for another 18 months, not knowing what was causing her illness. Mrs Kettle, who lives with husband Gary, 29, said: 'I started getting bad stomach pains and feeling tired all the time. I kept ending up in hospital which was hard for my son because he always worried I would never come out again. 'Eventually the specialist at the Royal said he didn’t know. Basically a person’s stomach normally contracts to digest food but my just doesn’t. The food sits there like a lead weight. 'If I have eaten even a tiny amount of rice the night before I still feel full the next day.' Another cuppa: Mrs Kettle is desperate to have a special stomach pacemaker fitted, which will use an electric charge to stimulate the stomach muscles . Mr and Mrs Kettle with her son Mathew in 2009. She must go through a rigorous testing process to find out whether she is eligible for the £25,000 surgery on the NHS . In May this year, Mrs Kettle’s confusion came to an end when she sought a second opinion from doctors at Glasgow’s Stobhill Hospital and was finally diagnosed with gastroparesis. She said the origins of the condition remain a mystery in her case, with it normally affecting diabetes sufferers. But despite her illness, Mrs Kettle is determined to beat the condition and in two weeks’ time will have a temporary pacemaker fitted through her nasal passages. The pacemaker will use an electric charge to stimulate the stomach muscles. The machine will be used for a week to monitor how it affects her diet and then consultations will begin for a permanent pacemaker to be placed in her stomach. Mrs Kettle said: 'The pacemaker stimulates the muscles to contract, which I need because it can take me 500 minutes to digest a small amount of plain rise or potato. 'The operation is not covered on the NHS and I don’t have £25,000 lying around so I don’t know what I am going to do. 'We’ll see what the effects of the temporary effects are and we’ll go from there. 'I just want my quality of life back and a permanent pacemaker can give me that.' A spokeswoman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: 'Before we carry out a permanent gastric pacemaker operation, patients undergo an extensive assessment including being fitted for a temporary pacemaker to help to evaluate the potential benefits of the device. 'The reason for this extensive assessment is the highly specialist nature of the procedure and the need for the input of a very full multi-disciplinary team both prior to the procedure and during the operation itself.'* Mrs Kettle is holding a charity fashion show at Centre Cafe in Cumbernauld on Sunday to raise money for charity Gastroparesis UK, which provides support and advice for sufferers and their families. | Suzanne Kettle, 28, suffers from gastroparesis, a rare condition that prevents her stomach from contracting to digest food . |
6,716 | 130fc55be6be43a15e310bf4d7e0475f14291624 | KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Afghanistan's opium production dropped dramatically this year partly because of new aggressive drug-fighting tactics in the country, a United Nations study found. Afghan police officers use tractors to destroy poppy crops in Helmand province earlier this year. According to the report from the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime, production dipped by 10 percent this year, while cultivation fell by 22 percent. "At a time of pessimism about the situation in Afghanistan, these results are a welcome piece of good news and demonstrate that progress is possible," said Antonio Maria Costa, the office's executive director. The United Nations notes that drugs originating in Afghanistan have "catastrophic consequences." "They fund the activities of criminals, insurgents and terrorists in Afghanistan and elsewhere. Collusion with corrupt government officials is undermining public trust, security and the rule of law. "Widespread money-laundering is harming the reputation of banks in the Gulf and farther afield," it said. Watch U.N. official discuss concerns about opium stockpiles » . The report, released this week, attributed the decrease to better government leadership, aggressive counter-narcotics tactics, a push for farmers to grow legal crops and pressure from NATO-led soldiers. This was the second year that the production of the opium, used to produce heroin, had dropped in Afghanistan. The study found 20 of the 34 provinces in Afghanistan were now free of opium farming. The most significant drop this year was in Helmand province, the volatile southern region where NATO-led forces are battling with militants. In that opium hotbed, cultivation dipped from 103,590 to 69,833 hectares (255,976 to 172,561 acres). But even with this seemingly good news, some fear that drug traffickers in Afghanistan are preparing to fight back. According to the report, researchers found evidence strong drug cartels, similar to ones seen in Colombia, were being formed by participants in Afghanistan's drug trade. "A marriage of convenience between insurgents and criminal groups is spawning narco-cartels linked to the Taliban," Costa said. Incentive programs giving local farmers seeds and training in growing legal crops represent a key tactic in the fight against drugs. Local farmers in Helmand are being trained at a facility ran by the U.S. Agency for International Development. Farmers like Abdul Qadir said programs like this one are key to bringing peace to war-torn Afghanistan. "These countries that are here, why are they with guns and bombs? If you can just help the people of Afghanistan in this way, the fighting will go away, these Taliban and other enemies of the country will also disappear," Qadir said. CNN's Atia Abawi contributed to this report. | U.N.: Drugs originating in Afghanistan have "catastrophic consequences"
Success attributed to aggressive drug-fighting tactics in the country .
Report: 20 of 34 provinces in Afghanistan now free of opium farming .
Local farmers also encouraged to grow legal crops . |
94,195 | 051153f84324ed765ef751496f70912990216433 | By . Damian Ghigliotty . PUBLISHED: . 21:34 EST, 30 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:02 EST, 1 December 2012 . Move over Bono, Bon Jovi, Jay-Z, and several other celebrities that one might expect to be named the highest paid musician this year. Rockstar-status hip-hop producer Dr. Dre landed the number one spot on Forbes‘ 2012 list of top earners in the music business. The other four big earners were Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, Elton John, U2 and British boy band Take That. MailOnline’s personal favourite, Justin Beiber, 18, just made into the top ten, tying with Toby Keith. Scroll down for video . Made man: Dr. Dre tops this year's list of the highest earners in the music biz . Made man: Dre's big earnings in 2012 are largely due to the success of his self-titled headphone brand . Dre, 47, a former member of the controversial rap group NWA and Eminem’s primary mentor, came in first this year with earnings of $110 million (£68.7 million), largely due to the success of his luxury headphone line, ‘Beats By Dr. Dre.’ The Compton California native, born Andre Romelle Young, and Interscope Geffen A&M Records Chairman Jimmy Iovine started the company Beats Electronics in 2006 and debuted the highly profitable headphone line in 2008. The company is headquartered in Santa Monica, California. Hi-fi wire company Monster was granted exclusive rights under a 5-year contract to manufacture and develop the Dre-branded headphones. ‘The brands are so aligned, Dre and Beats, it’s just who he is,’ Kevin Liles, former president of Def Jam Recordings, told Forbes. Dre co-founded the record label Death Row Records in 1991 with Marion ‘Suge’ Knight Jr. and then left Death Row in 1996 to establish his own label, Aftermath Entertainment. He signed Eminem two years later. Dre has released two solo albums throughout his music career and has produced beats for dozens of artists, including Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Toni Braxton, Kendrick Lamar and Rakim. We're not in Compton anymore: A 'Beats by Dr. Dre' celebration party for the launch of the Lil Wayne Edition Pro headphones in Hollywood, California on September 6, 2012 . New addition: Luke Wood, Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre launch the wireless Beats by Dr. Dre Pill at the Beats Store in Soho, NY on October 16, 2012 in New York City . Dre was the only U.S. native among the top five earners in 2012. The Irish rock group U2 led Forbes list of the richest in the music business in 2011 with $195 million (£121.8 million) and in 2010 with $130 million (£81.2). Forbes’ estimates were based on total earnings from May 2011 to May 2012, including the amount of money each artist and band made from record sales, touring, endorsements, merchandise sales and other ventures before subtracting management fees, legal costs and taxes. Knocked down a notch: U2 came in second place on Forbes' list for the first time since 2009 . | Dr. Dre, born Andre Romelle Young, 47, topped Forbes' list of highest paid musicians this year with earnings of $110 million .
His high earnings were largely due to the success of his luxury headphone line, ‘Beats By Dr. Dre' |
234,658 | bbc97521a52dc739409fc9a0baacda8f94496d51 | WASHINGTON (CNN) -- With tensions rising between the United States and Turkey over a resolution that labels the World War I-era massacre of Armenians by Turkish forces "genocide," many are asking why the House is debating the resolution now. Rep. Tom Lantos says passage of the genocide resolution would help restore America's moral authority. The House Foreign Affairs committee voted 27-21 Wednesday to approve the nonbinding resolution, which declares that the deportation of nearly 2 million Armenians from the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923 -- resulting in the deaths of 1.5 million -- was "systematic" and "deliberate," amounting to "genocide." The Democratic leadership has not scheduled a final vote. Administration officials have lobbied against the resolution, saying good U.S-Turkish relations are vital to U.S. forces in Iraq. The Pentagon says 70 percent of the military's cargo heading into Iraq either flies into or over Turkey. But House Democrats view the resolution as part of their mandate to restore America's moral authority around the world. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Thursday said arguments that Turkey is too vital an ally to alienate has delayed the resolution for too long. Watch Speaker Pelosi defend the timing of the debate » . "I've been in Congress for 20 years. And for 20 years, people have been saying the same thing." Pelosi said Thursday. "There's never a good time. And all of us in the Democratic leadership have supported... reiterating the Americans' acknowledgement of a genocide." "As long as there is genocide, there is need to speak out against it," she added. And one of the chief supporters of the resolution, House Foreign Affairs Chairman Tom Lantos, D-California, was unmoved by the administration's arguments that Turkey would block the use of U.S. airbases on Turkish soil. "The Turkish government will not act against the United States because that would be against their own interests," he told CNN. "I'm convinced of this." Lantos, the only member of the House who is a Holocaust survivor, says passage of the resolution would also help to bring a moral dimension back to U.S. foreign policy. "One of the problems we have diplomatically globally is that we have lost our moral authority which we used to have in great abundance," Lantos said. "People around the globe who are familiar with these events will appreciate the fact that the United States is speaking out against a historic injustice. This would be like sweeping slavery under the rug and saying slavery never occurred." But Democrats are not united behind the measure, Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton, D-Missouri, has sent a letter to Pelosi on Thursday opposing the resolution, saying the resulting backlash threatened by Turkey could disrupt "America's ability to redeploy U.S. military forces from Iraq," a top Democratic priority. And the top Republican in the House, Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Thursday that bringing the resolution up for a final vote would be "totally irresponsible." "The fact is that Turkey is a very good ally of the United States. They are critical to our security, not only her to but our troops oversees," Boehner said. "Let the historians decide what happened 90 years ago." E-mail to a friend . CNN's Dana Bash contributed to this report. | Resolution labels 1915-1923 massacre of Armenians in Turkey "genocide"
House Democrats say resolution will help restore America's moral authority .
Administration says resolution would hurt relations with Turkey, a key ally . |
98,853 | 0b5103825f8308408a551dcaa73143c4fdb84778 | They know Russian tanks would make short work of their ramshackle defenses and shallow trenches. But with U.S. and Europe shrinking from the fight, this rag-tag band of civilian volunteers know they could be the first, last and only line of defense if Moscow rolls into this corner of northeast Ukraine. "We can't expect help from anybody else. Our own government is too passive. But hopefully we can rely on support from ordinary Ukrainians," Vladimir Fedorok told CNN on a blustery morning close to the Ukrainian border village of Senkivka. In more peaceful times, Fedorok runs a farm supplies company. Now, with Russia estimated to be massing up to 88,000 troops just across the border from Ukraine's eastern frontier, he finds himself marshaling a newly formed self-defense committee. They're setting up an outpost along the highway that cuts from the Ukrainian-Russian border to the Ukraine's interior. Klitschko pulls out of presidential race . He and his closest aides, Younis and Olec, are clad in British Army-issue uniforms from the Iraq "Desert Storm" campaign. They still bear the Union Jack insignia on the left sleeve. "We picked them up at the bazaar. I've no idea how they got there. Including my boots, I paid around 100 euros," Fedorok said. Other members of his self-defense unit are sporting surplus combat jackets and pants from other European militaries. All of the volunteers say they have some army training from time spent doing military service. Fedorok said they've also been getting refresher courses from friendly Ukrainian army officers in recent days. Two members of the group claim -- like an unspecified number of other Ukrainian nationalists -- to have fought alongside Muslim insurgents against the Russians in Chechnya. Best hope is to slow any advance . But if the Russians roll into eastern Ukraine, it will be very different from the house-to-house urban combat that has previously taken place in the Chechen capital of Grozny. This region is home to sweeping expanses of farmland and scattered forests, classic terrain for a tank war -- the kind of scenario both Soviet and NATO forces drilled for during the Cold War years. Fedorok and his patriots have encircled their dilapidated outpost with piles of old car tires. The plan: If the Russians stream down the highway en route to the district capital Chernigov, they'll burn rubber and set up a smokescreen. They say they have no real weapons, but this band of brothers has made up a stash of Molotov cocktails, with rags stuffed into old vodka bottles. The few yards of trenches that stretch into a nearby tree line are only a fallback position, and hardly constitute a sturdy defensive line. "As much as anything else, we're put here making a political point. We know this outpost is only an effort to slow down the Russians," Fedorok said matter-of-factly. "I shouldn't be telling you this but our plan is to break down into five-man units and we will launch a guerrilla-style partisan war against the Russians," he added, declining to specify how many volunteers he has under his command. But these paramilitary militias may not be entirely alone. Fedorok drives a few kilometers up the highway closer to the border to introduce us to a detachment of Ukrainian soldiers. For now, they're coordinating operations. A fresh-faced army major with a Russian-made AK-74S assault rifle slung over his shoulder told us his men are on high alert. "These are military times," he said as he showed us a little of his hardware: three armored personnel carriers mounted with heavy-machine guns, dug into the earth and camouflaged with branches from birch trees. A few yards away stood a Russian-made T-80 tank. The major said there were more tanks half buried behind berms in the forest. 'Looking toward our brothers' All the vehicles are pointing toward a bridge. The major, who declined to give his name, said the order was to defend the bridge or blow it up if the Russians advanced across the border. But unlike the civilian self-defense militias, these soldiers seem a little unsure when I asked whether they would really stand and battle the Russians. In Ukraine's Crimea region, the Ukrainian army confined itself to barracks or surrendered. Earlier this week, the Defense Ministry in Kiev said a full 75 percent of its force in Crimea either defected or simply went AWOL when the Russians moved in. Here at the eastern border, the major in charge of this armored detachment shook his head slowly. "I prefer to say that we are not pointing our tanks at the Russians but merely looking toward our brothers in case they advance in friendship," he said. The major said he could scarcely believe he was on high alert to battle troops from Moscow. "We trained in the same military academies during Soviet times and after that. We see them as our brothers," he said. The Pentagon's latest figures put the number of Russian troops massing just over the border at about 40,000. The Ukrainian government's National Defense and Security Council estimates the figure at 88,000, but that estimate may include units a little farther from the border region that could be deployed as a second wave in the event of an invasion. Moscow has insisted it is only carrying out drills. And in televised comments Saturday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov insisted his forces had no intention of crossing into Ukraine. However, in a telephone conversation with President Barack Obama Friday night, Russian President Vladimir Putin once again reportedly raised concerns about ethnic Russians living in eastern Ukraine. He suggested Ukrainian ultra-nationalists had been threatening ethnic Russians and driving them out of their homes and businesses -- the same accusations that Moscow used as a pretext to intervene in Crimea. Standing tall and surveying his trench lines, self-defense commander Fedorok was in no mood to listen to any assurances from Moscow. He said he was in no doubt: "The Russian hordes are coming." Crimea's military dolphins "to switch nationalities" OPINION: Is Obama weak against Vladimir Putin? Maidan -- protest heart, crime scene, political stage . | Tens of thousands of Russian troops amass on border with eastern Ukraine .
Band of overmatched Ukrainian volunteers has vowed to fight any Russian advance .
Moscow insists it is only conducting military drills, but has pledged to protect ethnic Russians . |
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