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192,999 | 85e31959aa59aeee3d0a0733c80fa523174ca4f5 | With an election looming, he clearly needs to keep his strength up. But Nick Clegg has revealed that the food that will keep him going through the long campaign slog ahead is a snack full of salt and fat. The Deputy Prime Minister says his ‘staple diet’ at lunch is a Swedish meatball wrap and soup from high street sandwich chain Pret a Manger. Nick Clegg has revealed that the food that will keep him going through the long campaign slog ahead is a Swedish meatball wrap and soup from high street sandwich chain Pret a Manger . The wrap is among the firm’s less healthy choices – containing 636 calories, 35g of fat and 3g of salt . The wrap is among the firm’s less healthy choices – containing 636 calories, 35g of fat and 3g of salt. Keen to show he has a common touch, the Lib Dem leader has become the latest leading politician to wax lyrical about their favourite dining spot. David Cameron said on Wednesday that he would rather eat at Nando’s than a Gordon Ramsay restaurant, while Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls spoke of his love of the Olympic Breakfast at Little Chef. According to Pret a Manger’s website, its Swedish Meatball Hot Wrap contains pork meatballs, sliced Greve cheese, chilli tomato sauce and sliced red onions encased in a tortilla wrap. Its salt content is half the recommended daily amount for an adult man, while the fat content is almost 40 per cent – but the firm says the wrap is ‘high in protein’ with a ‘good mix of the B vitamins’. The salt and fat filled snack favoured by Mr Clegg . Mr Clegg revealed his love of the snack on his regular phone-in show on LBC radio – although he was unable say how much the £4.25 sandwich cost. ‘Can I speak up for the Swedish meatball wrap that Pret do?’ he said. ‘That’s quite a staple diet for me.’ Lib Dem sources said Mr Clegg often chose the South Indian Tomato and Spice soup – a 370g portion of which contains just under 200 calories. A year ago it emerged he had taken up kickboxing in a bid to get fit and slim down for the General Election – even asking for a pair of yellow boxing gloves from his wife Miriam so he could ‘get stuff out of my system’. Aides said his fitness regime had helped him lose around a stone. Mr Cameron spoke about his love of Nando’s in an interview with music station Capital Xtra on Wednesday – also inviting host Andre Wisdom to call him ‘David, Dave, geezer, whatever you like.’ Mr Balls told LBC he liked Little Chef’s breakfast platter, adding: ‘The fried potatoes are just brilliant.’ | Nick Clegg's wrap contains 636 calories, 35g of fat and 3g of salt .
The Deputy PM's dietary revelations follow those of David Cameron .
The PM said he would rather eat at Nando's than a Gordon Ramsay eatery .
And Ed Balls has spoken of his love of the Olympic Breakfast at Little Chef . |
98,744 | 0b2acd0bbd956ef9c2abeecd0a190f0ee0be8aa3 | By . Alison Smith-squire . PUBLISHED: . 17:33 EST, 8 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:22 EST, 9 July 2012 . When pretty Abigail Barragry plummeted 100ft from a balcony, doctors didn’t expect her to survive. Abigail, . 30, faced death after breaking virtually every bone in her body after . falling eight floors from the apartment in Malaysia. And medics warned . her devastated family that even if miraculously she pulled through, she . might never walk. Yet . today – following four months in hospital and 13 operations, Abigail, . from Sheffield, says the terrifying incident has changed her life for . the better. By day, psychology graduate Abigail Barragry worked as an arts therapist with children with special needs. By night she loved to indulge in the vibrant nightlife in Kualar Lumpar, Malaysia . She admits 'Before I had my fall, I was a perfectionist over my looks. I spent hours choosing exactly the right clothes, getting ready to go out and exercised five days a week in the gym.' Abigail fell from the top floor of this tower block in Kuala Lumpur . And incredibly, she credits the . accident – which she believes was a twist of fate – for meeting the love . of her life, surveyor James Coupe, 30. 'Before . I had my fall, I was a perfectionist over my looks,' says Abigail who . now manages to limp with a stick, 'I spent hours choosing exactly the . right clothes, getting ready to go out and exercised five days a week in . the gym. 'Now, . inside my body I have four plates, a screw and a foot long metal rod. I . have scars all over my body and will never be physically able as I used . to be. But having my fall has put my life in perspective and incredibly . I have never been happier in myself. 'I feel so lucky to be alive. If I . hadn’t had this freak accident, James and I never would have met. We . never stop making one another smile and every day I feel lucky to be . alive.' Abigail’s life was . turned upside down on New Year’s Day 2011. The psychology graduate was . working as an arts therapist with children with special needs at a . centre in Kualar Lumpar, Malaysia. She . recalls: “It was 2am in the morning and I’d been partying, seeing in . the New Year with a few drinks with friends. I felt dizzy and ran out of . the apartment onto the balcony. 'All . I wanted was some fresh air but as I reached the balcony, I slipped in . my heels and the next thing I knew I found myself hanging over the . balcony, my hands gripping the rail. Even now I don’t know exactly how I . got there.' For a terrifying few seconds, she felt the world had stopped. Abigail slipped over the railing of her balcony at 2am on New Year's Day last year . She broke virtually every bone in her body and spent four months in hospital undergoing 13 operations . Miss Barragry has been left with four plates, a screw and a foot long metal rod in her body . 'Everything . seemed to happen in slow motion,' she says, 'I remember looking up at . my hands and feeling sheer fleeting panic as I realised they were . gripping the balcony but my body was hanging over the edge. 'Then I saw my hands slipping, It was as if they were not my hands and I realised I was going to fall.'I . later discovered I’d fallen through two canopies and a satellite dish . on the way down. The next thing I remember is waking up on the ground in . the grass. I was lying on my back and passers by were standing over me. 'I couldn’t seem to see their faces. But the last thing I recall is saying to them that my legs hurt before I . was engulfed with pain and passed out.' Abigail . came round as she was being wheeled into hospital. 'The pain was . overwhelming, just indescribable. A friend was at my side and I was . begging him not to leave me. I truly felt I was going to die.' In . fact, Abigail’s condition was so critical that it took surgeons ten . hours in the operating theatre to stabilise her condition. When pretty Abigail Barragry plummeted 100ft from a balcony, doctors didn?t expect her to survive . Because she didn¿t have health insurance, her dad Antony, 60, a business director, shelled out £40,000 savings to pay for treatment. 'My . beloved black satin evening dress was cut off me. I had so many life . threatening injuries that it’s a miracle my body didn’t just go into . shock,' she says, 'My pelvis was cracked in two places, my broken jaw . was wired, my right wrist was crushed and doctors believed they might . have to amputate my right leg. I was in the worse pain I imagined could . exist.' The next two weeks passed as a blur . as Abigail fought for her life in intensive care. Days and nights . rolled into one as she lapsed in an out of a coma. Because she didn’t . have health insurance, her dad . Antony, . 60, a business director, shelled out £40,000 savings to pay for . treatment. Meanwhile mum Pamela, 65, a secretary got on the first flight . available to be with her daughter. Miss Barragry fell through two canopies and a satellite dish during her 100ft fall . Says . Abigail whose parents are divorced but who both spent days and nights . by their daughter's bedside, 'It was the first time I’d seen my dad cry. I went from living and working my dream to fighting for my life. 'Lying in my hospital bed unable to even lift a glass or wipe my own face I wondered if I had actually died and this was hell.' Worse . was to come when doctors explained she could lose her right leg and she . would probably spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair. 'Landing . on a grass area had saved my life,” she explains, “but the bone in my . right leg had shattered on impact and dirt had got into it causing a . nasty infection. It meant whole sections of the bone had to be removed . and my leg held together in a metal case to try to hold it together.' After . four months in the Malaysian hospital she was finally discharged in a . wheelchair but decided to come home to the UK with her mum. 'I . needed so much help. I’d lost over over a stone in weight and was so . frail. At the same time, I needed further treatment and it seemed . easiest to get it in the UK.' Against all the odds Abigail’s leg was saved. But her legs were so badly damaged she could only get around in a wheelchair. 'It . was a terrible time,' she says, 'when I had my fall I’d been seeing . someone but although he was very supportive at the time, what happened . pushed us apart and we finished. I remember thinking that no-one would . want me – someone who is so scarred and in constant pain.' But despite this, she didn’t give up. 'I . was determined to get better. I told myself I still had all my limbs . and I would walk again. I read book after book on pain management and . underwent intense physiotherapy. Doctors said my wrist was so badly . injured I would never write again but I forced myself to use a . computer.' Her determination paid off and gradually Abigail was able to haul herself out of a wheelchair and walk using crutches. Abigail met surveyor James Coupe 11 months after her accident, after a mutual friend introduced them . And in November 2011 – after being persuaded to go to a local pub for a drink - she met James. 'A mutual friend introduced us and I thought he was gorgeous. We clicked straightway.' After talking online for a few days, she was thrilled when James asked her out for a drink. 'I felt incredibly nervous,” she admits, “but he never saw me as the ‘patient’ only as the positive person I still am. I did wonder if he’d be put off by my terrible scars but he simply doesn’t seem to see them. 'We never stop making each other smile and laugh – he’s my soulmate.' Although she faces further surgery to her leg, she believes her near death experience has had a positive effect on her life. 'If you’d told me I’d be happy with all these scars I’d never have believed it,' she says, 'Of course what happened was terrible. But I’ve found joy in the smallest achievements and a new appreciation of how fantastic it is to be alive. 'I am thrilled I can now wash my own hair and make a cup of tea. I am so fortunate I still have my brain in tact and can use that to do anything I want. No I can’t have the life I once had but I can have a more fulfilling one with all that I have learned. 'I’ve been to hell and back but this has made me stronger because I know nothing can ever be as bad or bring me down.' Abigail now intends to go back to work and hopes one day to return to Malaysia. She says: “Before this ripped my life apart I was about to do more studying in counselling and psychology. What’s happened has fuelled my ambition to continue with this to help others. I want to create something really positive from this nightmare.' She hopes telling her story will make others aware of the dangers balconies abroad pose – often they are built much lower than regulations allow in the UK. Last year alone more than a dozen Brits fell from hotel balconies abroad. Meanwhile she is about to go on her first holiday with James to Spain. “I never thought I’d ever be well enough to go anywhere let alone go somewhere without a wheelchair. But recently after 16 gruelling months I finally had my metal case taken of my leg and now I can’t wait to swim in a pool.”She is excited about the future. 'Even the best laid plans can’t stop freak accidents,' she says, 'I will never be the same again but I’m not going to let what happened stop me from doing anything. 'But it wasn’t my fate to die and it’s knowing that which has spurred me on to make the most of living.' | Abigail Barragry fell from the balcony of her apt in Kuala Lumpur while partying on New Year's eve .
She broke virtually every bone in her body but survived .
Spent four months in hospital and underwent 13 operations .
Insists accident helped her meet Mr Right and changed her life for the better . |
118,941 | 25957ae3d9aec7b0806e01a75759acb87b54d940 | By . Lydia Warren for MailOnline . Punk rocker Henry Rollins has slammed Robin Williams for killing himself - and revealed he has 'a little bit of disdain' for everyone who has taken their own life. In a scathing column for LA Weekly that has sparked backlash online, the former Black Flag singer said he didn't understand why the comic would want to traumatize his three adult children. 'How in the hell could you possibly do that to your children?' he wrote. 'I don't care how well adjusted your kid might be - choosing to kill yourself, rather than to be there for that child, is every shade of awful, traumatic and confusing.' He added: 'I think as soon as you have children, you waive your right to take your own life.' Scroll down for video . No sympathy: In an opinion piece, punk rocker Henry Rollins, left, called Robin Williams selfish for killing himself and leaving his three children behind. The opinion has been slammed by fans on social media . In the piece, which also praises Williams for his acting skills and his work with the troops, Rollins said that he lost respect for people - either friends or well-known faces - after they killed themselves. 'I have many records, books and films featuring people who have taken their own lives, and I regard them all with a bit of disdain,' he wrote. 'They have nullified their existence because they willfully removed themselves from life.' He added: 'Almost 40,000 people a year kill themselves in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In my opinion, that is 40,000 people who blew it.' Williams, 63, had suffered from depression and addiction years before taking his life on August 11. Before his death, he had also been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Following the suicide, fans around the world mourned the loss of the comedy great, who won an Academy Award for his role in Good Will Hunting. Unsurprisingly, some of the fans had words for Rollins after his article appeared online. 'Whatever the opposite of a "think piece" is, Henry Rollins just wrote it,' comedian Josh Weinstein wrote on Twitter. Left behind: Williams poses with sons Cody and Zack, then-wife Marsha and daughter Zelda at a screening in 2004. In his piece, Rollins said having children meant Williams had 'waived his right to take his own life' Attack: People took to social media to lambast the article for being judgmental and unsympathetic . Writer Patrick Verel added: 'Still kind of stunned at the lack of empathy from @henryrollins whose opinions I’ve always held in high regard.' Rollins' opinion piece follows anger at Kiss bassist Gene Simmons for his similar lack of sympathy. 'Drug addicts and alcoholics are always, "the world is a harsh place". My mother was in a concentration camp in Nazi Germany, I don't want to hear f*** all about "the world is a harsh place",' Simmons told the music site Songsfact.com. The interview was initially published two weeks before Williams' suicide, but it spread following Williams' death, and Simmons later apologized for the remarks. For confidential support in the U.S., call the National suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-825 . In the U.K., contact the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 or visit a local Samaritans branch. See www.samaritans.org for details . | Punk rocker wrote a column for LA Weekly saying that Williams was selfish for taking his life when he had three children .
He said he had lost respect for friends and stars after they killed themselves .
'40,000 people kill themselves a year - that 40,000 people that blew it'
Hundreds of people criticized him beneath the article and on social media . |
238,779 | c118f2c4c4bdf9362385aaf73fe88ee9f866022b | World No 1 Novak Djokovic destroyed Tomas Berdych in a lop-sided contest to win his fifth China Open crown on Sunday. Top seed Djokovic took 67 minutes to seal a 6-0, 6-2 win against Berdych, who raised his arms in celebration when he won a game to avoid the ignominy of a double bagel with the Serb serving for the match at 5-0 in the second set. Berdych managed to win back-to-back games, but it was just a matter of time before Djokovic sealed an easy win to continue his love affair with the Beijing tournament where he now has a 24-0 record. World No 1 Novak Djokovic poses with the trophy after winning the China Open in Beijing on Sunday . Djokovic lifts his arms in the air in celebration after a dominant straight-sets victory over Tomas Berdych . ‘This was probably the best performance in a final I ever had,’ a beaming Djokovic said after the masterclass. ‘Everything I tried worked, it was incredible.’ ‘Beijing is definitely my lucky place, I enjoy being here,’ he said before throwing his wristbands and towel to an ecstatic crowd. ‘Since my first China win in 2009 I have not lost a match on this court. It keeps on going,’ said Djokovic who belted 19 winners, compared to his opponent’s nine. Berdych conceded he had not experienced such a mauling before. Djokovic dives to his right to reach the ball during the men's singles final at the China Open . Czech Berdych looks dejected as he suffers a humiliating defeat by Djokovic on Sunday . The National Tennis Stadium in China hosts the men's singles final between Djokovic and Berdych . ‘I met somebody in the final who I’ve never seen before,’ said Berdych. ‘The way that he performed today was really outstanding. There is really not much I can add to that because, really, I was just swept off the court. ‘I just said to my coach now that I probably played over 700 matches in my career, and I met guys like Andre (Agassi), Roger (Federer), all those probably in their best times. But I have never, ever experienced anything like that.’ | Novak Djokovic took just 67 minutes to beat Tomas Berdych 6-0, 6-2 in the final of the China Open .
The world No 1 now has a 24-0 record at the Beijing tournament .
Serbian Djokovic served for a double bagel win but Berdych managed to claim two games . |
31,956 | 5ae94fe14794da51f566a5a3603bd5c37467d048 | Just seconds had passed after the final whistle before one thug decided to hop the barriers, charge towards Nottingham Forest’s victorious players and start swinging. The Derby fan threw two punches at defender Kelvin Wilson — failing to land either — before being rugby tackled to the ground by Jamaal Lascelles and then escorted away by stewards. This east Midlands derby is one of the most frantic rivalries in British football but the last thing it needs is idiots like this. The man was arrested and faces a life ban. Stuart Pearce celebrates wildly after Ben Osborn's late winning goal as Forest beat rivals Derby 2-1 . The Derby fan swung a punch at Nottingham Forest defender Kelvin Wilson, who moved out out of the way . A Derby County fan is restrained after running onto the pitch at full-time to confront Forest's Kelvin Wilson . It was an afternoon to forget for home supporters. Their team had surrendered a lead — anyone who has watched Derby this season will know that is a rarity — and lost to their worst enemy. Defeats cut deep and the strife between the two teams continues to grow year-on-year. The roots of this intense rivalry are said to lie in the Industrial Revolution when John Heathcoat from Derby invented a machine that copied hand-made lace but as soon as the patent ran out Nottingham entrepreneurs stole the idea. The hatred was famously stoked by Brian Clough. In 1983, Clough, in his time manager of both clubs but then at Forest, told defender Willie Young: ‘Just do one thing for me, Willie. Play well in this match and I won’t ask another thing of you.’ Forest's Ben Osborn (right) celebrates after scoring his side's winner in injury time . Charlton might be in disarray after the sacking of Bob Peeters, but Watford’s charge under Slavisa Jokanovic continues apace after a 5-0 thumping. Odion Ighalo, who spends his career out on loan from the Pozzo family-owned Udinese, scored twice, with Craig Cathcart, Troy Deeney and Daniel Tozser also finding the net. The Hornets are in the top six, winning five of their last seven Championship games. But Forest lost 2-0 — against a team led by Clough’s old ally Peter Taylor, no less — and the manager lost it in the dressing room. Derby players had been pelted with coins and bottles by fans that day and running battles broke out near the train station. Situations are more controlled now but for Forest manager Stuart Pearce this fixture takes on added importance, much in the same way as it did for Clough. Pearce is the man who says he is ‘entrenched’ in Nottingham and in 1989 claimed he’d rather sign on the dole than play for Derby. ‘No disrespect but I could never work for that club in any capacity.’ Stuart Pearce celebrates as Britt Assombalonga equalises for Nottingham Forest in the second-half . Britt Assombalonga celebrates after equalising for Nottingham Forest after 74 minutes . He was rather more dignified at the iPro Stadium on Saturday after seeing his players fight his corner after an impassioned speech in the hotel beforehand. ‘You’ve either got to play for me to hear a team talk or you’ve got to pay a lot of money to come and listen to me at a leadership conference!’ he smirked when asked to reveal what he said. ‘Otherwise I’m not telling you.’ Pearce might have been telling us the reasons for parting with Forest had he not conjured a response from his players. They’d won just twice since September and were continuing to stagnate with no signs of revival. After securing a late winner, for once Pearce didn’t need to go firefighting. Pearce was under intense pressure after a poor run of results that had seen them slip to 13th in the table . ‘In some ways we might have to build and emulate Derby,’ he said. ‘They are an outstanding side, built over five years, from Nigel Clough’s days. Steve (McClaren) has taken the team on and they are a very good side. They have a fantastic set-up at this club.’ Forest owner Fawaz Al-Hasawi found his tyres had been let down and a number plate ripped off his car afterwards. ‘I don’t mind at all. The three points are more important,’ was his response, though Forest may seek compensation for the damage. There was nothing deflating about the visitors, though, who showed they may have the guts to match their manager’s style. Pearce chose not to celebrate afterwards, adding: ‘I just go inside myself, enjoy the moment, then look to go and win a game on Wednesday. I don’t drink, I gave up 11 years ago.’ He could have done with a stiff one after hauling himself from the brink. Derby could count themselves lucky they were not behind early on. With the score at 0-0, Jake Buxton pulled Michail Antonio to the ground with a tackle more suited to the rugby field, but the referee gave nothing. WHAT'S CAUGHT MY EYE... Scunthorpe suffered the misfortune of losing first-choice goalkeeper Sam Slocombe to a broken arm in their 2-0 defeat against Bristol City, only to find substitute James Severn suffer the exact same fate before half-time. Defender Andrew Boyce ended up in goal for 48 minutes and City only scored their second late on. Yeovil have finally won a game. Their last victory came on December 13 but a winner from Gozie Ugwu, on his debut, saw Gary Johnson’s side record an impressive win against Bradford. Chant of the weekend has to go to the Oldham fans at Fleetwood Town. The hosts were mocked for their fishing heritage, with Latics supporters singing: ‘Pies are sustainable.’ It got worse for Graham Alexander’s Cod Army, who lost 2-0 and are in danger of falling away in mid-table. Scunthorpe defender Andrew Boyce ended up in goal for 48 minutes during the 2-0 defeat against Bristol City . | Nottingham Forest beat Derby County 2-1 in the East Midlands derby .
Ben Osborn rattled home the winner in stoppage time .
The result eases the pressure on Forest manager Stuart Pearce . |
64,437 | b6f3fa0db13205addcb94c60bc324b54bca36d2f | By . Leon Watson . PUBLISHED: . 11:46 EST, 11 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:03 EST, 12 April 2013 . The spectacular stately home given to Sir Christopher Wren as payment for designing St Paul's Cathedral has gone on sale for £4.25million. The famed architect, who also designed Royal Naval College in Greenwich, was handed a 50-year lease on the Hampton property by Queen Anne in 1708, in lieu of salary arrears for building the world famous church that is due to be used for Margaret Thatcher's funeral next week. Wren's former home has an English Heritage blue plaque dedicated to the architect, who was a Royal Surveyor for 49 years. Sir Christopher Wren's former home has an English Heritage blue plaque dedicated to the architect, who was a Royal Surveyor for 49 years . The architect carried out an almost complete overhaul of the house in 1706, which is the only period home on Hampton Court Green other than Hampton Court Palace, with a garden stretching down to the Thames . In 1706, he carried out an almost complete overhaul of the house, which is the only period home on Hampton Court Green other than Hampton Court Palace, with a garden stretching down to the Thames. Matthew Abernethy, director of Savills in Richmond, which is selling the property, said: 'He was owed wages for designing St Paul's Cathedral so rather than paying his salary arrears they gave home a 50 year lease on this property. Sir Christopher Wren was handed a 50-year lease on the Hampton property by Queen Anne in 1708 . The six-bedroom house has three bathrooms, three/four reception rooms, a kitchen/breakfast room, cellars, garage for at least two cars and a river mooring . The estate agent handling the sale said: 'You could not put a contemporary financial figure on it. Now you would say priceless' Architecture wasn't the only discipline Oxford graduate and former Westminster School pupil Sir Christopher Wren put his powers to. Wren was a pioneer across the scientific spectrum and responsible for several inventions. After graduation, Wren worked on astronomy research and . became a Professor of Astronomy at Gresham College in London and later . at Oxford. As an astronomer, he developed exceptional skills working . with models and diagrams, experimenting with creative ideas, and . engaging in scientific reasoning. Wren built a transparent beehive to help study bees, invented a weather clock similar to a barometer, invented an instrument for writing in the dark and developed improvements in the telescope and the microscope. He also experimented with injecting fluids into the veins of animals and laying the groundwork for successful blood transfusion and constructed a detailed model of the moon. 'Houses of this ilk are few and far . between. I can see someone getting emotionally engaged by it, with all . its fabulous historical features.' He . said of the price for Wren's work on St Paul's: 'You could not put a . contemporary financial figure on it. Now you would say priceless.' The study, formerly the dining room, . is panelled in wood by Wren himself, and also includes the same marble . fireplace he put in for King William III in Hampton Court Palace. Mr . Abernethy added: 'He immediately got to work designing and adding . features. He obviously liked the fire place he built for King William . because he straight away built one for himself. 'He did lots of bits and piece on the place and it remains a remarkable property.' He would not say whether the firm had had any interest from well known names, such as the Beckhams, who were house hunting the area last year. He said: 'We never disclose information of that sort. I do however think this property will appeal to a wide range of buyers, well a range of buyers who can afford to spend £4.25m on a property. 'There is a mooring at the bottom of the garden so whoever does buy it will be able to jump on their boat and totter up the Thames to work.' The six-bedroom house has three bathrooms, three/four reception rooms, a kitchen/breakfast room, cellars, garage for at least two cars and a river mooring. | Famed architect was handed a 50-year lease by Queen Anne in 1708 .
Building has an English Heritage blue plaque dedicated to him .
Six-bedroom house has three bathrooms and a river mooring .
Estate agent handling sale says it is a 'remarkable property' |
100,457 | 0d6c48fc2b4300ebe7f53065585c9befb2a4a487 | By . Damien Gayle . PUBLISHED: . 05:33 EST, 30 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:53 EST, 30 July 2012 . A convention centre, sports stadium and performing arts complex are among the landmark projects planned for a new-look Christchurch after the city was levelled by an earthquake last year. Essentially given a blank slate, government planners today unveiled a blueprint for New Zealand's oldest city that replaces office towers with green spaces, urban apartments and innovation 'hubs'. Under the plan, which is hoped will give the city the feel of a college campus, its area will be smaller, with new buildings lower in height and built with better earthquake protection. Clean and bright: This design concept distributed by Christchurch council shows the futuristic new look planned for the New Zealand city after it was devastated by earthquakes last year . Campus vibe: The plan for a revived Christchurch includes better use of green spaces and an overall design that would give more emphasis to the Avon River which winds through the city . It is nearly 18 months since the magnitude-6.1 earthquake struck, killing 185 people and irreparably damaging 1,400 buildings, including the century-old Anglican cathedral in the city centre. 'It will be safe, modern, green and will leave a legacy that makes Christchurch one of the best places in the world to live and work for many generations to come,' said the city's mayor, Bob Parker. The plan has been eagerly awaited, with many residents becoming frustrated at the slow pace of recovery. Hundreds of substantial aftershocks have hampered progress and made insurers wary, while government and city officials, including Mayor Parker, have been accused of dithering and bickering. Ambitious: This computer generated view shows the concept for the Christchurch's new stadium, seating up to 35,000 people, to be built in the city's south-east . New amenities: This image shows the design of the planned new sports centre, which will be situated in south-west Christchurch . Quality of life: According to the plan the central city square, shown here, would be divided into a number of smaller public gathering spots . Culture: A new convention centre with the capacity to hold 2,000 people would overlook the river, according to the blueprint . The planned Cricket Oval: Under the plan, the new-look Christchurch would be bordered with green spaces . A river runs through it: This plan shows how the Avon River will become a central part of the new layout of Christchurch . Old and new: This computer-generated image shows how planners intend to fuse modernity with New Zealand's Maori cultural heritage . Even before the plan was released, some wondered if they would end up footing a chunk of the bill through rate hikes. Yet for many, the plan is a welcome step forward. Some see it as a unique chance to correct problems in the city, such as an excess of older-style office space that was evident even before the earthquake. The plan also comes as the aftershocks appear to be finally abating. However, New Zealand government officials have not yet identified an overall cost for the rebuild or specific funding sources for all the new projects. Nick Bryant, a spokesman for earthquake recovery minister Gerry Brownlee, said that funding will come from a variety of sources, including local councils, private investors, insurance payouts and from the central government, which has so far set aside 5.5billion New Zealand dollars (£2.8billion) for the recovery efforts. Devastation: Rescue workers look for victims on the collapsed Pyne Gould Guinness building after the devastating earthquake struck in February last year . Desperate: Rescue workers search for survivors through debris in central Christchurch after the earthquake struck 5km below the surface . Smashed: A bus covered in building debris in Christchurch . Gutted: The earthquake damaged Carlton Hotel in Christchurch . Crumbling: A building's side is caved in at the side of a street in Christchurch . Search and rescue: Apocalyptic scenes in Christchurch were reminiscent of 9/11 . Rubble: The city's iconic Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament lost its steeple in the quake which measured 6.3 on the Richter scale . Under the plan, the city would be bordered with green spaces and the overall design would give more emphasis to the winding Avon River. An earthquake memorial would be given prominence, as would a Maori cultural centre. The central city square would be divided into a number of smaller public gathering spots. The city would be broken into a series of hubs featuring related activities. For instance, there would be a health precinct anchored by a hospital, a justice precinct with courts and a police station, and a retail precinct with shops. The plan identifies sites for big infrastructure projects including a prominent library and a convention centre with the capacity to hold 2,000 people that would overlook the river. There would also be a covered sports stadium seating up to 35,000 people built in the city's south-east and an indoor aquatic and recreation centre built in the south-west. New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, who grew up in Christchurch, said it was important to identify sites for the major new projects so that private developers could begin planning hotels, restaurants and shopping areas to complement them. 'I am delighted to see this plan for new development and to know that construction will soon be underway to rebuild my old hometown,' he said. | It is nearly 18 months since a magnitude-6.1 earthquake flattened New Zealand's oldest city .
Regeneration plan is hoped to give Christchurch the feel of a university campus .
Overall cost of the city's revival has not yet been calculated, but government has set aside £2.8billion .
Local councils, private investors and insurance payouts are hoped to provide the rest of the funding . |
210,629 | 9ccb6f72186ed4cfc883ca7dc3bfb411ffeeef1d | Condoleezza Rice, former US secretary of state announced on Facebook Saturday that she would not be speaking at the Rutgers University commencement this year, following student protests against her appearance. The students made accusations against her in connection with the war in Iraq. "Commencement should be a time of joyous celebration for the graduates and their families," Rice wrote. "Rutgers' invitation to me to speak has become a distraction for the university community at this very special time." In an open letter to the president of the school, printed in the student paper The Daily Targum on April 30th, "Rutgers Student Protestors" cited "destruction" in Iraq "at the hands of the Bush administration." "Rice signed off to give the CIA authority to conduct their torture tactics for gathering information from detainees as well," the letter continues. "These are clearly human rights issues. By inviting her to speak and awarding her an honorary degree, we are encouraging and perpetuating a world that justifies torture and debases humanity." In 2009, a Senate intelligence report said that Rice approved waterboarding in the questioning of a suspected al Qaeda leader. Rice was National Security Adviser at the time. In publicized minutes of the February New Brunswick Faculty Council Meeting, Robert Boikess presented and moved for adoption a Resolution in Opposition to Condoleezza Rice as Commencement Speaker. "Everything started blowing up when faculty council released their opposition," the editor in chief of The Daily Targum Alexandra R. Meier told CNN Saturday. In an article published Monday, Lin Lan, a staff writer for the school paper, called the 50 plus student sit in at the President's office one of the largest sit ins in Rutgers history. Police, Lan wrote, were called to the scene after a glass door was shattered. In an article published in the school paper Friday, staff writers Lan and Lidia De Los Santos said nearly 100 students gathered at the student center during a senate meeting that day to question the university president. President Robert Barchi posted a statement Saturday on the school website in response to Rice. "While Rutgers University stands fully behind the invitation to Dr. Rice to be our commencement speaker and receive an honorary degree, we respect her decision not to participate in the upcoming Rutgers University commencement, which she clearly articulated in her statement this morning." Rice wrote Saturday "I am honored to have served my country. I have defended America's belief in free speech and the exchange of ideas. These values are essential to the health of our democracy. But that is not what is at issue here. As a Professor for thirty years at Stanford University and as its former Provost and Chief academic officer, I understand and embrace the purpose of the commencement ceremony and I am simply unwilling to detract from it in any way." "We did not see this coming at all" the Meier told CNN Saturday night. She said that the feeling on campus is not one of relief. "From my personal social media people are upset that the protest led to her declining her invitation...and I have seen a petition to get her back." | Rutgers' president 'stands fully behind the invitation' but 'respects' her decision .
Protesters allege the destruction in Iraq and 'torture tactics' for gathering information .
Rice calls invitation 'a distraction for the university community at this very special time'
Some are upset by the protests and want Rice to come, student news editor says . |
237,664 | bf99ace3a5bd8e487ab788f6b2bf6574b3e2afac | Wales manager Chris Coleman believes the pressure will be on for Louis van Gaal to deliver at Manchester United next season. Coleman will pit his wits against the new United boss this week when his Wales side take on Holland in an international friendly in Amsterdam on Wednesday. United have turned to Van Gaal, who is stepping down as Holland coach after this summer's World Cup, to revive their fortunes after a disappointing season under David Moyes. Waiting game: Holland boss Louis van Gaal will take over at Manchester United after the World Cup . Coleman said: 'It will be interesting to see what happens if Manchester United go through next season not winning anything because there is that possibility. 'Regardless of how easy they look on the eye if they haven't won anything what are they going to do? 'They are used to winning things and bossing situations and last season they didn't do that. 'I thought it would be hard for Moysey in the first year or two and I was disappointed as a fellow manager that he only got 10 months. 'I want to see what happens next season because Louis van Gaal is a quality manager but what are we going to say next year if Manchester United have not won anything? 'Is Louis van Gaal going to be out the door because he is going to need time to bed in with his own ideas. 'You are not a magician when you are a manager. Sometimes you go in and have an immediate response and that is good but sometimes you don't and it takes time - if you get the time - to try to mould it and do it your own way. 'That was what David Moyes was trying to do and I was disappointed because he is a British manager and we want to see them do well like Brendan (Rodgers) at Liverpool. He had a season and then he got it right. 'Van Gaal with all his experience I am quite sure he can do well there but it will be interesting to see how it works.' Pressure: Wales boss Chris Coleman is convinced Van Gaal will have to deliver results instantly at United . Coleman has the highest respect for Van Gaal, 62, who has also managed - and won titles with - European giants Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Coleman is hoping his side can give the Dutch a good test in what will be a final run out for Van Gaal's men ahead of the World Cup. Holland are due to fly out to Brazil on Thursday. Coleman said: 'I've never done battle with him, so to speak, but I have been on a couple of seminars when he's been there and he is a good manager. 'He is very innovative. He is one of those managers where it is how it is, that is what he believes and you go along with the ride with him but if you don't agree then you are not on the same journey and I think you find yourself on a different journey pretty quickly. 'I have been doing this for 10 years and it is a hard industry and the ones who are the best managers, the most successful, I look at them and I have a lot of respect and admiration for them. 'He is up there because he has won all the big things and he has been at a lot of big clubs and now he is going to go to one of the biggest clubs and he is someone I respect a lot.' Axed: David Moyes was axed at United after less than a season in charge following poor results . Wales are without some of their main stars, most notably Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, Ashley Williams and James Collins, but Coleman still feels the match is a useful exercise for this squad. The uncapped trio of defenders James Chester and Paul Dummett, of Hull and Newcastle respectively, and Manchester United midfielder Tom Lawrence could be among those to feature at the Amsterdam Arena. Wales' next match in September will be their opening Euro 2016 qualifier in Andorra. Coleman said: 'My point is we need to give all of these guys experience of playing international football because you never know when you are going to have to call on them.' Missing: Wales will be without a host of big names against Holland including Gareth Bale . | Wales manager Chris Coleman upset by David Moyes sacking .
Warns Louis van Gaal he will have to turn United around quickly .
Believes there will be major pressure at Old Trafford to succeed .
Urges Premier League clubs to give managers more time . |
119,782 | 26c3e814a69b6335ab65aeb2c4a1e97015595206 | (CNN) -- As a former U.S. brigade commander of several thousand coalition forces during surge operations in Iraq, it is difficult to watch this country fall apart. When I came home in 2007 after 15 months in Diyala province, I answered questions about what we accomplished there by explaining that we sowed stability and the seeds of self-governance in an Arab country that holds significant strategic interest for the U.S. Now, as the U.S. commits to targeted airstrikes on top of the troops we sent last month to shore up the weakened country, I question everything. Were the losses my command suffered in the volatile Diyala province in 2006-07 worth it? How is it possible that the Iraqi military, well-trained to take over security duties, has performed so poorly? Seven years ago, I would have agreed with the decision to return to Iraq. Today, I feel different. We fought long and hard, spending over $25 billion to train and equip Iraqi security forces. We helped them develop a working government based on democratic principles. And while it might be wholly appropriate for the U.S. to provide humanitarian aid to those under siege, it's the responsibility of the Iraqis to protect Iraq. As someone who helped train these forces, I know they have the capability to stand and fight. The training wheels have to come off. While it is frustrating and painful to watch militants take over a third of the country, we must focus on the here and now. The responsibility is to our soldiers who spent 13 years at war accomplishing what they were asked to do, often at a great cost. I fought to help my Iraqi friends and fellow soldiers establish a rule of law, and we achieved remarkable results. Civilian casualties fell from an estimated 29,380 in 2006 to 4,153 in 2011. In Diyala province, we went from 1,500 violent acts a month to less than 250. What is happening now should not detract from that success. But I came home to my family, my neighbors and my community. We cannot let the chaos in Iraq increase the disconnect between a war-weary American public and those veterans working through their transition back home. The needs in Iraq evolved over time, and they didn't disappear when we left. This is also the case with the needs of our Iraq- and Afghanistan-era veterans and military families. I worry about the future of those who served in these wars five or 10 years down the road when the wars have receded from the minds of the American people. At a time when the need will be greatest, interest will diminish, and they may struggle in a peacetime status quo. We need to focus on this generation, which has spent more than a decade at war. The National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics projects the number of veterans from recent conflicts to jump by 26% by 2016. They want to contribute in the same way to their communities as they did in Iraq and Afghanistan. But even with thousands of organizations operating to help them, a 2012 report from the Center for a New American Security finds that veterans are not receiving the care and services they need to transition successfully. They must have a chance to thrive where they live. This means education to transition beyond battlefield knowledge to private-sector careers and meaningful employment that pulls in a family wage. Along with their families, they require options for wellness and services. Caring for them includes understanding: listening to their service stories and future ambitions. Adm. Mike Mullen, 17th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said, "If you listen closely to the voices of our veterans, you understand that yes, they all returned from war changed, but what never changed is this: They never forgot your generosity. They never forgot the power of opportunity. They never forgot the American dream." As much as it pains me to see Iraq reverting to chaos, that does not mean that we should turn our focus there anew. We now have a stake in supporting the future in front of us: the evolving needs of the phenomenal, confident and self-assured men and women who served in and out of combat for these many years. | David Sutherland, U.S. brigade commander in Iraq, says it's hard to watch country fall apart .
As U.S. begins airstrikes, he questions whether terrible losses from Iraq War are worth it .
He says U.S. spent $25 billion to train Iraq forces. It's time to take off the training wheels .
Sutherland: We need to focus on our own veterans, who have many needs unmet . |
41,643 | 757d11ecfd836cefaa80d3648a1900d360f58a58 | PUBLISHED: . 11:48 EST, 7 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:06 EST, 7 April 2013 . Three members of the same Italian family have taken their own lives after state-imposed austerity measures and mounting debts left them believing there was no way out. Anna-Maria and Romeo Dionisi hanged themselves at their home in the seaside town of Civitanova on the Adriatic coast, becoming the latest victims of the economic crisis. Mr Dionisi, 63, a former builder, had lost his job and was unable to draw a pension after the state raised the retirement age by five years, 16 months ago, as part of a series of Europe-imposed cuts. Pensioners in Italy have been particularly badly hit by the austerity measures brought in by Mario Monti's (pictured) government . The couple were not able to get by on Mrs Dionisi’s pension of less than almost £500 a month and had fallen months behind on their rent and bills. On hearing the news, Mrs Dionisi’s elderly brother, Giuseppe Sopranzi, 78, who lived next door to the couple, threw himself into the sea. Although many are struggling in Italy as the economy falters and cuts bite, the family tragedy has struck a nerve - triggering an outpouring of grief around the entire country. At their funeral on Saturday politicians were mobbed by furious friends and family who denouced the deaths as ‘murder by the state’. The mayor of Civitanova Tommaso Corvatta told the newspaper La Stampa: ‘Such was their dignity that this family preferred to end it all in tragedy, rather than ask for help. ‘In another place a similar situation would have driven people to crime. ‘When politicians debate economic policy in the great palaces of state they need to think on the people like this at the other end of the chain, and remember that.’ The shoe company where Mr Dionisi worked as a clerk had shut five years ago and he had struggled lately to find work. Tommaso Corvatta, the mayor of Civitanova (pictured) has said: 'Such was their dignity that this family preferred to end it all in tragedy, rather than ask for help' Hundreds of Cypriot bank workers protest against the possibility of their pensions being affected should the government decide to restructure Cyprus' two largest banks on Thursday as fears economic fears spread across Europe . The couple owed around £15,000 in taxes and feared their car and furniture would be repossessed. They had become ‘desperate’, local residents said. Mrs Dionisi had completely given up hope, and was very depressed. Neighbours who discovered the couple’s bodies also found a note asking for forgiveness. Mr Sopranzi, a former clerk in a shoe factory, returned from a walk on the beach to find police outside the building. When he heard what his beloved sister had done he cast himself into the harbour. Attempts to revive him failed. Suicides have become increasingly common in the recession, Italy’s longest for 20 years. Pensioners have been particularly badly hit by the austerity measures brought in by Mario Monti’s government. Measures to help some 40,000 of those left without pensions have been brought in but the overall number affected is at least 150,000. | Couple hanged themselves at their home in Italian seaside town .
On hearing the news her elderly brother threw himself into the sea .
The family tragedy has triggered an outpouring of grief around the country . |
265,385 | e3b9ef910b425390fd7a80d09554fbd51451a956 | Communicating with Marion Hedges, 47, 'is like talking to a nine-year-old or a 90-year-old' The mother-of-two technically died at the scene and was revived by a passing doctor . By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 9:30 PM on 13th January 2012 . A New York mother who was critically injured by a falling cart dropped by two teens from four storeys high is struggling with everyday tasks and has had to relearn her own name. It has also just emerged that Marion Hedges, 47, technically 'died at the scene' after the heavy plastic cart crushed her as she shopped for Halloween candy for poor children at a mall with her son. The mother-of-two was brought back to life by a doctor who happened to be passing who carried out first aid on her. Injured: Marion Hedges, 47, pictured here before the prank which left her with permanent brain damage . 'She actually died in the parking lot. There was no pulse, and she wasn’t breathing. The doctor brought her back to life with CPR,' a law-enforcement source told the Post. Guarav Patel, a resident doctor at New York Hospital happened to be shopping with his wife and year-old son, when he stopped to revive Mrs Hedges on October 30. 'She’ll never be the same. They . altered her life forever. She will have cognitive issues,' a . law-enforcement source told the Post. The . prank has left Mrs Hedges unable to take part in the charitable events . she has devoted herself to over the years, however she has said she . forgives those responsible. The source told the Post: 'She's not the same person. Talking to her is like talking to a nine-year-old or a 90-year-old. 'She gets emotional and forgets things quickly. There is short-term memory loss.' Investigation: Police seal off the crime scene and Target shopping cart which struck Mrs Hedges at Harlem Mall on October 30 . Dangerous prank: The heavy plastic shopping cart struck Mrs Hedges on the head when it was thrown from the fourth floor, pictured, leaving her permanently brain damaged . The real estate broker was then rushed to Harlem Hospital, where she was placed in a medically induced coma due to her severe head injuries. Forgiving: Mother-of-two Mrs Hedges said she has no ill feeling towards the two boys responsible for her injuries . During . her painful recovery, Mrs Hedges, who is best known for her charity . work, has had to relearn her name and basic functions. Jeovanni Rosario and Raymond Hernandez, both 12 at the time of the near-fatal prank, have both been charged with the crime. While in custody, the suspects turned on each other at one point, the source told the Post. 'Both of them ratted out each other.' 'For a moment, they were angry [at each other], but they went back to being friends,' the source added. Facing felony assault charges, the pair confessed to the mindless act while laughing about it in police custody. 'Numerous detectives told them to calm down. They thought it was a joke. They calmed down for a moment, but they went right back into it,' the source told the Post. Hernandez is due to appear in Manhattan Family Court on January 17 and Rosario has a on January 26. | Communicating with Marion Hedges, 47, 'is like talking to a nine-year-old or a 90-year-old'
The mother-of-two technically died at the scene and was revived by a passing doctor . |
131,618 | 362dae29b656f49c7003ec625d6b7d71619fd683 | (CNN) -- "Lift Every Voice and Sing" is an uplifting spiritual, one that's often heard in churches and popularly recognized as the black national anthem. Timothy Askew grew up with its rhythms, but now the song holds a contentious place in his mind. "I love the song," said Askew, an associate professor of English at Clark Atlanta University, a historically black college. "But it's not the song that is the problem. It's the label of the song as a 'black national anthem' that creates a lot of confusion and tension." The song and its message of struggle and hope have long been attached to the African-American community. It lives on as a religious hymn for several protestant and African-American denominations and was quoted by the Rev. Joseph E. Lowery at Barack Obama's presidential inauguration. After studying the music and lyrics of the song and its history for more than two decades, Askew decided the song was intentionally written with no specific reference to any race or ethnicity. Askew explains his position in the new book, "Cultural Hegemony and African American Patriotism: An Analysis of the Song, 'Lift Every Voice and Sing,'" which was released by Linus Publications in June. The book explores the literary and musical traditions of the song, but also says that a national anthem for African-Americans can be construed as racially separatist and divisive. "To sing the 'black national anthem' suggests that black people are separatist and want to have their own nation," Askew said. "This means that everything Martin Luther King Jr. believed about being one nation gets thrown out the window." Askew first became intrigued with "Lift Every Voice and Sing" while working on his master's degree at Yale University. He was a Morehouse College music graduate, young, passionate and hungry for knowledge about African-American culture. A fellow classmate suggested Askew explore Yale's collection on James Weldon Johnson, an early civil rights activist who wrote the song decades earlier. Johnson first wrote "Lift Every Voice and Sing" as a poem in 1900. Hundreds of African-American students performed it at a celebration of Abraham Lincoln's birthday at Jacksonville, Florida's Stanton School, where Johnson was principal. Johnson's brother, John Rosamond Johnson, later set the poem to music. By 1920, the NAACP had proclaimed the song the "Negro National Anthem." "I remember methodically going into the Yale library every day and sitting there on the floor, rummaging through 700 boxes of James Johnson's work," Askew said. "I became so fascinated in his life and letters, that I wanted to know more about the creation of the song and how it related to our modern understanding of it." He found letters of appreciation to Johnson from individuals of all different ethnic backgrounds. At that moment, Askew had a revelation: The song he'd known as the "black national anthem" was for everybody. Some will call his perspective on the song a contradiction, Askew said, especially because he works at a historically black college. But he argues that universities like Clark Atlanta accept students of many races and ethnicities; a national anthem for one race excludes others, and ignores an existing national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner" by Francis Scott Key. "Some people argue lines like 'We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,' signify a tie to slavery and the black power struggle," Askew said. "But in all essence there is no specific reference to black people in this song. It lends itself to any people who have struggled." He's not the only one who sees fault in a national anthem just for African-Americans. Kenneth Durden, an African-American conservative blogger, responded to Askew's claims on his blog, "A Free Man, Thinking Freely." He said in an interview that Askew is right to make connections to King's view of one America. "King always appealed to the American dream for all," Durden said. "He was a patriot and he never wanted blacks to deny or separate themselves from being American. I think claiming an anthem for ourselves as black people is doing just that." What troubles Askew more is that the song became an identity marker for African-Americans. "Who has the right to decide for all black people what racial symbol they should have?" Askew said. "Identity should be developed by the individual himself, not a group of people who think they know what is best for you." Hilary O. Shelton, senior vice president for advocacy and policy for the NAACP, said Askew's ideas might be far-fetched. "I don't see anything that is racially exclusive or discriminatory about the song," Shelton said. "The negro national anthem was adopted and welcomed by a very interracial group, and it speaks of hope in being full first-class citizens in our society." "Lift Every Voice and Sing" isn't meant to cloud national identity or persuade African-Americans to be separatists, Shelton said. It's often sung in conjunction with "The Star-Spangled Banner," or with the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance at NAACP events. "His presumption is that this song is sung instead of our national anthem -- that we are less American and we are not as committed to America because we take pride in the Negro national anthem," Shelton said. "It is evident in our actions as an organization and here in America that we are about inclusion, not exclusion. To claim that we as African-Americans want to form a confederation or separate ourselves from white people because of one song is baffling to me." This isn't the first time "Lift Every Voice and Sing" has sparked debate. In 2008, jazz singer Rene Marie substituted the words of "The Star-Spangled Banner" with the words of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" at Mayor John Hickenlooper's State of the City address in Denver, Colorado. Marie said it was a matter of artistic expression, but critics viewed the lyrical switch as disrespect toward the national anthem, a lack of patriotism and an insinuation of racial division. "I think that we often try to separate the black experience from the American experience," said Marc Lamont Hill, an associate professor of education at Columbia University who studies hip-hop culture. "It's a black national anthem, but it's also a quintessential American song because of its message of fighting for freedom. It's not 'lift the black voices,' it's 'lift every voice.'" Askew, though, maintains there's only one national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner," and that "Lift Every Voice and Sing" could take on a new role: a message of victory for all ethnic groups in the United States. "We need to consider eliminating this alternative label of 'black national anthem' in order to promote unity," Askew said. "I know people will probably think that I'm a sellout, but I think it is important that African-Americans nationally understand that we should be moving towards racial cohesiveness." | "Lift Every Voice and Sing" was written by James Weldon Johnson in 1900 .
The spiritual hymn is recognized as the "black national anthem"
HBCU Professor Timothy Askew claims a national anthem for one race is racially divisive and separatist . |
6,379 | 12159be07f8f26436ad9d60ea4c2dab08eca5286 | More than two decades have passed since her Dallas heyday as Sue Ellen. And now aged 74, time appears not to have diminished Linda Gray's good looks nor her joie de vivre. The actress, who portrayed an alcoholic wife of devious oilman JR Ewing in the BBC series, prompted a flurry of compliments from the Loose Women panellists as she took her seat at the coffee table of the popular lunchtime ITV show yesterday. Scroll down for video . Linda Gray appeared on Loose Women on ITV yesterday and could easily pass for a woman in her 40s . The former model, pictured, appeared on the 1980s hit TV soap opera Dallas . Miss Gray, who played Sue Ellen in the show attributes her good looks to clean living and avoiding fad diets . Miss Gray, who could easily pass for a woman in her 40s, initially laughed off the questions asking her for the secret behind her glossy hair and youthful skin but later joked: 'I've had a facelift.' The star, who is set to make her pantomime debut as the Fairy Godmother in New Wimbledon Theatre's Cinderella, has often credited her healthy lifestyle for helping her maintain her beauty and slender figure. She confirmed on the show that she walks most days and in the past has said: 'I don't do fad things or diets – they don't work. If you have a -delicious piece of bread and you want it, then have it. 'But don't have it every day. I love dark chocolate but I will have a piece just occasionally. 'It is not about being thin. It is about staying healthy and fit. I need to live a long time to fulfil all the things I want to do. I want to be walking around at 90.' Miss Gray, a mother of two, won numerous awards for playing JR Ewing's long-suffering wife Sue Ellen in the American hit soap Dallas from 1978 to 1991 which was shown in Britain by the BBC. The former model reprised the role in a new series of the much-loved American drama in 2011 but the show was axed once more earlier this year. Miss Gray, right, played JR Ewing's long-suffering wife opposite Larry Hagman, left . | Linda Gray told the Loose Women yesterday that she avoids fad diets .
The former model, 74, admitted on the show that she has had a face lift .
She played JR Ewing's long-suffering wife Sue Ellen in Dallas in the 1980s .
Miss Gray said she still wanted to be walking around at the age of 90 . |
139,252 | 400c096c6cc29d520fc47a3a76ea21b289605899 | (Mashable) -- Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss must accept their $65 million settlement from Facebook and move on. A U.S. appeals court ruled Monday that the settlement -- which was featured in the movie "The Social Network" -- still stands, despite the Winklevosses' claim that Facebook did not disclose an accurate valuation. The suit stems from the Winklevosses' claim that Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg stole their idea for the social-networking site. Zuckerberg and Facebook deny the allegations, but agreed to settle in 2008. Since then, the Winklevoss twins have attempted to secure a higher settlement by claiming that Facebook is guilty of securities fraud. "The Winklevosses are not the first parties bested by a competitor who then seek to gain through litigation what they were unable to achieve in the marketplace," Chief Judge Alex Kozinski wrote in today's ruling. "And the courts might have obliged, had the Winklevosses not settled their dispute and signed a release of all claims against Facebook." With both the district court and appeals court in agreement, it seems this may be the end of the Winklevosses' claim to any additional shares of Facebook. "For whatever reason, they (the Winklevosses) now want to back out. Like the district court, we see no basis for allowing them to do so," Kozinski wrote. "At some point, litigation must come to an end. That point has now been reached." © 2010 MASHABLE.com. All rights reserved. | Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss must accept their $65 million settlement from Facebook .
Suit stems from claim that Mark Zuckerberg stole their idea for social-networking site .
Zuckerberg and Facebook deny the allegations, but agreed to settle in 2008 . |
135,698 | 3b91c7e4a759ea46bd84286fa6ea566b29369d62 | (CNN) -- Israel has shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle that entered Israeli airspace near the Syrian border on Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed. The drone was destroyed by a Patriot surface-to-air missile over Quneitra in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said. "In spite of the IDF's sensitivity to recent occurrences in the proximity of the border, we have repeatedly stated that we will respond to any breach of Israel's sovereignty and will continue to act to maintain safety and security to the civilians of the State of Israel," Lerner added. This is the first drone from Syria that Israel has shot down, although the IDF has shot down UAVs from Hamas and Hezbollah before. It's unclear which group in war-torn Syria was operating the UAV and why. It could have been the embattled government of President Bashar al-Assad or any of a number of rebel fighting groups or militant organizations. The downing of the drone is the latest development in the Golan Heights on the Israeli-Syrian border, where United Nations peacekeepers were attacked on Saturday. U.N. officials said they were working to gain the release of dozens of peacekeepers detained by Islamist fighters when the attack occurred. The U.N. has not identified the group responsible for detaining at least 44 peacekeepers, but an Israeli military official told CNN Syrian militants are behind the incident . Al-Nusra Front fighters and other Syrian rebels seized control of the Syrian side of the Quneitra crossing last week -- a capture that represents a new dynamic in a war long feared not only for its deadly effects inside Syria but for threatening to widen into a destabilizing regional conflict. Syria is in turmoil as a bloody yearslong civil war rages on. The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force has been in place in the Golan Heights since 1974 to maintain a ceasefire between Israel and Syria. Israel seized control of the Golan Heights during the 1967 Six-Day War and fought off an attempt by Syria in 1973 to retake the rocky plateau. In 1981, Israel annexed the Golan Heights. It is considered by the international community to be occupied territory. EXCLUSIVE: Boy, 13, witnesses beheadings . CNN's Michael Schwartz contributed to this story. | Israel uses a Patriot missile to take down a drone from Syria in the Golan Heights .
It is the first time Israel has shot down a UAV from Syria .
It's unclear which group was operating the drone and why .
At least 44 United Nations peacekeepers were detained by militants in the Golan Heights . |
206,703 | 97a0822c3e900f2ebec5cea09946d229eb785dfb | In four minutes of playing time against Aston Villa, Andy Carroll contributed more to the excitement of a goalless draw than almost anyone else. It took roughly the same amount of time for Sam Allardyce to explain he will take personal responsibility if this comeback is rushed and ends in yet more pain for the striker. It’s been easy to forget over the five months since Carroll tore ligaments in his left ankle — and West Ham found an exciting attack pair in his absence — that he can cause mayhem with correct service. Andy Carroll was all smiles as he returned to the West Ham United bench for the first time this season alongside Kevin Nolan (left) Carroll replaces team-mate Mark Noble for West Ham to make his first appearance of the season . Stewart Downing provided that on Saturday as Carroll made his first appearance since a pre-season tour of New Zealand ended with a flight to the US for surgery. His cameo was brief but dramatic as he dominated Villa in the air. A draw breaks Villa’s streak of six defeats, yielding their first point since September 13. The challenge now will be his slow reintegration, with Allardyce estimating it could be as many as six games before the 25-year-old is fully fit. ‘Andy is five or six games away from being fit,’ Allardyce said. ‘He is in the (equivalent of) first throes of pre-season. ‘It will take strength of mind as we must not think he is ready now, which he will do because all players do. The towering forward gets up highest to fire in a header at the Villa goal towards the closing stages of the game . West Ham boss Sam Allardyce will not be rushing Carroll back after a quicker than expected recovery . 'It is me having a firm sense of mind by saying, “You are in pre-season, if I bring you on any quicker and you get injured again then that will be my fault”. ‘I am not willing to do that because the squad we have is working fantastically well.’ Allardyce provided a compelling insight into the battle Carroll has endured since suffering his second major injury in just 18 months. He said: ‘I remember him in New Zealand, really distressed, and then flying to Boston to get the repair. ‘That decision was made swiftly so Andy had the op in a few days and he is probably back sooner than expected. | West Ham extended their five-match unbeaten run with a 0-0 draw against Aston Villa on Saturday .
Sam Allardyce's men remain fourth in the Premier League .
Andy Carroll made his first appearance of the season as a substitute .
The towering forward had been out of action for five months prior to that .
However, Hammers boss Allardyce says he will not rush him back .
The 60-year-old says Carroll is 'five or six games' away from being fit . |
99,797 | 0c92bd25f8678f5978cedb631bf5e3fb5411fee9 | Former model Simone Farrow has pleaded guilty to importing crystal methamphetamine into Australia but has denied having being the ringleader of the international drug ring. Instead, the 39-year-old has claimed in court she was unknowingly set up by some employees who had obtained complete control of her bank, phone and email accounts and ran the drug ring behind her back. Despite the former Penthouse Pet pleading guilty at Sydney's Downing Centre District Court, she has requested a contested facts hearing in an attempt to obtain a lesser sentence, according to the Sunday Telegraph. Simone Farrow has pleaded guilty to importing crystal methamphetamine into Australia while in the US pursuing her modelling career . The 39-year-old has requested a contested facts hearing. She claims some of her employees ran a drug ring under her name and behind her back . Ms Farrow's lawyer told the courtthat if buyers believed she was behind the syndicate, it was because her employees would have imitated her way of speaking in order to pass off as her. The Australian Federal Police arrested Ms Farrow in 2012 at the Gold Coast before extraditing her to Sydney. Prosecutors maintain that she controlled the drug ring while pursuing a career in the United States as Simone Starr. Prosecutors claim they have video footage of Ms Farrow smoking drugs and claimed in court she personally intimidated buyers who owed her thousands of dollars by threatening to send bikies to manhandle them. The court also heard from a number of Farrows buyers who claimed they dealt directly with her, paying her $7000 per ounce. The Australian Federal Police maintain that she is behind the international syndicate and claim to have video footage of Ms Farrow smoking drugs . A man said to be her drug dealer and whom he claims she referred to as 'dad' told the court: 'no one would [know to] call me "dad" [besides her] and no one would know the things we know,' the Sunday Telegraph reported. He claimed the former swimsuit model was always asking him for more money and exploited their business relationship. Mr Muratti, another witness from Melbourne who allegedly bought ice from Ms Farrow, and also claimed to have spoken directly to her. He told the court that the drugs were shipped to him concealed as bath salts, although he conceded much of that period was a 'blur'. Both her alleged Australian drug dealer and a Melbourne man who claims to have bought drugs from her, say they spoke to Ms Farrow directly . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Farrow pleaded to guilty to importing a marketable quantity of crystal methamphetamine .
The former swimwear model has requested a contested facts hearing to reduce her sentence .
She claims some of her employees, who had control to her bank and phone accounts, ran a drug ring under her name behind her back .
The court heard evidence from her alleged Australian dealer . |
271,754 | ebff9ccbf02b0c09adc9ec8ea0ba6a99d656c17c | By . Kerry Mcdermott . PUBLISHED: . 23:05 EST, 10 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:48 EST, 11 December 2012 . The organisers behind this year's Nobel awards ceremony in Sweden were said to have been constrained by budget cuts as a result of the economic downturn. But these pictures of a lavish banquet held in Stockholm last night - and attended by more than 1,200 glittering guests including members of the royal family and Nobel laureates - reveal little evidence of cost-cutting. As women in elegant gowns and men in white tie and tails made their way over slippery snow and ice to the dinner in Stockholm City Hall last night, the Nobel Peace Prize was being awarded to the European Union at a separate ceremony in Oslo, Norway. 'Who's who': Members of the Swedish royal family and Nobel Prize laureates file into the lavish Nobel banquet in Stockholm, Sweden . Belle of the Ball: Sweden's Princess Madeleine was among the glittering guests in attendance at the Town Hall in Stockholm . Nobel Prizes in literature and sciences are awarded at the annual ceremony in Sweden, while the Peace Prize is awarded by the Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo. Nobel literature winner Mo Yan was among the speakers at Sweden's most prestigious social event last night, although he chose to steer clear of human rights issues after refusing last week to publicly back a petition by fellow laureates to free jailed compatriot and Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo. 'I am well aware that literature only has a minimal influence on political disputes or economic crises in the world,' the writer said in a translated speech that was prepared in advance and distributed to guests at the banquet. Royal guests: King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden (centre) arrives at the Nobel Banquet in the Swedish capital . Palatial: The Nobel Prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine and Literature are traditionally awarded in Sweden, while the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Norway . Guests: Princess Madeleine was escorted by Nobel Prize in Medicine laureate Professor Shinya Yamanaka of Japan as she arrived for the Nobel Banquet . The Nobel Banquet is Stockholm's most prestigious social event . 'Cuts': The decadent affair betrayed little sign of the cost-cutting measures said to have been forced upon it by the economic climate . The European Union collected this year's Nobel Peace Price at a separate ceremony held in Oslo, Norway . Feast: Guests dined on pheasant with chanterelle mushrooms washed down with wine and Joseph Perrier Cuvee Royale champagne . Silver service: Waiters bearing trays laden with food are seen serving hundreds of guests seated at the Nobel Banquet in Sweden last night . No ordinary dinner party: Touted as one of the world's biggest set dinners, some 7,000 pieces of porcelain and 10,000 items of silverware were used during the Nobel Banquet . Regal: King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden is served by a waiter at the Nobel Banquet . Although organisers talked of unspecified reductions in the expenditure on a night which cost 20 million Swedish crowns - or more than £1.8million - last year, frugality was not a feature that stood out among the fine French wines, cuisine from top Swedish chefs and the trapeze artists who entertained diners between courses. 'There have been some cuts,' Nobel . Foundation Executive Director Lars Heikensten told reporters ahead of . the banquet, but he refused to give any details, adding: 'You will not notice . them.'For . more than a century, the foundation has managed the roughly $450 . million capital that forms the base for the awards, donated in the will . of dynamite inventor Alfred Nobel. But in recent years returns have . suffered amid the global crisis. 'We . are in this forever and we should safeguard it (the prize),' said Mr . Heikensten, a former Swedish central bank chief known for reducing staff . during his tenure. The awards are now worth $1.2 million each, down from around $1.5 million in recent years. Still, . Monday evening's festivities at Stockholm's City Hall - itself . decorated with 11 kg of gold leaf - were never likely to be spartan. Details . of a menu, which included Joseph Perrier Cuvée Royale Champagne and . pheasant with chanterelle mushrooms, were only revealed minutes before . the food was served. Guests at the event touted as one of the world's . biggest set dinners ate from some 7,000 pieces of porcelain using 10,000 . items of silverware and drank from 5,400 glasses. While the Nobel Banquet was held in Sweden, the European Union collected this year's Nobel Peace Price at a separate ceremony held in Oslo, Norway . Contrast: The Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo, also held yesterday, appeared a more austere event by comparison . Guests danced to music including Abba hits played by a live band after the sumptuous meal. The European Union was awarded this year's Nobel Peace Prize at a ceremony in Oslo last night - a win which raised a few eyebrows when it was announced back in October. Attendees heard Nobel Committee President Thorbjoern Jagland praise the EU's role in transforming a European 'continent of war' into a 'continent of peace'. However, the announcement of had caused surprise and controversy in the midst of one of the EU's worst crises and at a time of deep - albeit non-violent - rifts between major member states. Prime Minister David Cameron stayed away from yesterday's event - one of six EU leaders who decided not to attend. Instead, deputy Nick Clegg got his own day of peace, attending alone to represent the UK in the splendour of the Nobel Institute in Oslo. | Sweden's annual Nobel awards were held in Stockholm last night .
More than 1,200 guests attended a banquet in Stockholm City Hall .
Nobel prizes for literature and science traditionally awarded at ceremony in Sweden, while Nobel Peace Prize was presented in Norway . |
165,111 | 617f531c8718a87cbe51cdf636253b7463c162d4 | London (CNN) -- Julian Assange, the editor of WikiLeaks, walked out of London's High Court after being freed on bail Thursday, nine days after he was arrested for questioning about alleged sex crimes in Sweden. His time in solitary confinement prompted him "to reflect on the condition of those people around the world also in solitary confinement ... in positions that are more difficult than those faced by me. Those people ... also need your attention and support," he said. Assange thanked the public, the media, his lawyers, and the British justice system, saying, "If justice is not always an outcome, at least it is not dead yet." Assange, 39, handed himself over to police in London last week. He was sought because Swedish prosecutors want to question him about sex charges unrelated to WikiLeaks. A judge granted him bail on Tuesday, but lawyers representing Sweden immediately filed an appeal, keeping Assange behind bars until the High Court judge decided on the Swedish appeal. Assange won the appeal Thursday. Assange's mother, Christine, said after the ruling that she could "not wait" to see him "and to hold him close." "I had faith that the British justice system would do the right thing ... and that faith has been confirmed," she said outside the court. Assange must stay at the mansion of a supporter outside London, report to the police daily, wear an electronic tag to monitor his location, and put up 200,000 pounds (about $310,000) in bail money, plus two 20,000-pound sureties (about $31,000 each), the judge ruled. Judge Duncan Ouseley said he did not regard Assange as a fugitive and there was no concrete evidence to believe he would abscond. Assange "clearly has some desire to clear his name," the judge said, adding that if he failed to appear in court, the "charges would always be hanging over his head." Assange has the potential to flee, Ouseley found, but said if he did so, it would "diminish him in the eyes of his supporters." Lawyers representing Swedish prosecutors had argued that no bail conditions would be satisfactory, prompting Assange's lawyer, Geoffrey Robertson, to suggest derisively that they saw him as "some sort of Houdini character." Granting bail "does not signify any change in the ongoing investigation," Swedish prosecutor Marianne Ny said in a statement after the ruling, adding that extradition proceedings are in the hands of the British authorities, not the Swedes. Britain's Crown Prosecution Service, which represented Swedish authorities in the fight over bail, said Thursday that Ny "fully supported" their decision to appeal Tuesday against granting Assange bail. Vaughn Smith, who offered his mansion to satisfy court requirements that Assange have a permanent address, said the editor would be able to continue his WikiLeaks work from there. He noted that the court had ordered Sweden to pay the cost of the appeal, "which to me suggests they shouldn't have appealed." And he said the judge was very clear that Assange is not a fugitive. "We're not harboring him, we're just giving him a bed," Smith said. Smith will keep Assange "if not under house arrest, at least under mansion arrest," Robertson said at Tuesday's bail hearing. After his arrival at Smith's Ellingham Hall in Suffolk, Assange told reporters that his "highest task" was to continue his work with WikiLeaks. "Obviously, clearing my name is also important, and I will continue to do that, my legal team will continue to do that," he said. "We will press the Swedish government to provide us with evidence of the allegations, something that has been denied to date. I have yet to receive a single page of anything ever from this investigation." He said his arrest "confirmed to me personally that we are on the right path and has given me enough anger about the situation to last me 100 years." "Obviously there have been serious attempts to take down the content by taking us down as an organization and taking me down as an individual," he said. Cheers of "Julian, Julian, Julian, out, out, out!" and "Exposing war crimes is no crime!" went up from his supporters outside the High Court after the decision was announced Thursday. Prominent left-wing journalist John Pilger, an Assange backer, called the ruling "very good news but it should have happened a long time ago. This hearing was a waste of taxpayers' money." And he warned about "the specter of Assange being extradited to the United States, where he could end up in a maximum security prison." Stephens told journalists as he entered court Thursday that a number of people have offered to help pay Assange's bail, and that the money is "in the banking system." Socialite Jemima Khan and Pilger have previously offered money for his bail. Assange is facing accusations of rape, sexual molestation and illegal use of force stemming from separate incidents in August in Stockholm. He has not been charged, but he could face two years in prison if convicted. His lawyers deny the allegations and have vowed to fight any attempts at extradition. The next hearing in the extradition case is scheduled for January 11. Last week, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said he had authorized "significant" actions related to a criminal investigation into WikiLeaks' publication of thousands of confidential diplomatic cables, but has declined to elaborate. Only a small fraction of the 250,000 U.S. State Department documents WikiLeaks says it has have been released, and more are being published daily. U.S. authorities and other Western leaders say the documents' publication threatens lives and national security. WikiLeaks and its supporters say the public has a right to know what goes on behind diplomatic doors. Earlier this year, WikiLeaks posted thousands of documents related to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. CNN's Atika Shubert, Peter Wilkinson, Jonathan Wald, Per Nyberg and Lianne Turner contributed to this report. | NEW: Assange says he has "enough anger about the situation to last me 100 years"
Being in solitary confinement made Assange think of other prisoners, he says .
Freeing Assange on bail will not affect the Swedish investigation, authorities there say .
Assange is wanted for questioning in Sweden over alleged sex crimes . |
6,035 | 111a968ed2becea88bf6a8f76f13c39373091661 | By . Sarah Dean . A woman is staging a grass roots protest after the council have ordered her to rip up the $10,000 synthetic lawn she planted on land that belongs to them. Gold Coast City council reportedly claimed the fake grass 'could trap someone wearing stilettos'. But Diane Padbury reckons the man-made lawn she installed at a nature strip 'looks great' and is actually helping the environment by saving water from being used. Turf war: Diane Padbury is proud of the $10,000 synthetic grass that she planted but Gold Coast City Council have ordered her to rip it up . Ms Padbury, who lives in Sovereign Island, a very affluent community within the suburb of Paradise Point on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, has vowed to fight the council's decision to get rid of her quirky creation. She believes homeowners should be given control over neighbouring nature strips and that the council could save water with synthetic grass. 'I never watered the previous grass so it was brown and ugly,' she told the Gold Coast Bulletin. 'Now the area looks great and it doesn’t require me to spend any money on water. I was told the synthetic grass was dangerous and could trap someone wearing stilettos. The whole thing is just crazy.' Proud of her work: Ms Padbury was trying to improve her local area of Sovereign Island, a very affluent community within the suburb of Paradise Point on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia . The enthused resident is engaged in a turf war with the council who say she has 'ripped up council land and started developing without any guidance'. Compliance officers are due to assess the unusual dispute towards the end of the week. A spokesman for the Gold Coast City Council said that it comes down to a matter of 'principle'. 'We cannot create a precedent which encourages people to develop council land without even asking,' he said. Councils across Australia have invested in synthetic grass for sports centres and recreational grounds. By 2020 many of the tennis courts on the Gold Coast will be made from the material. Benefits of the fake lawns include no watering, no fertilising, no mowing and no dangerous pesticides and chemicals. | Diane Padbury planted a fake lawn because she never watered the real one .
Lives on Sovereign Island, a very affluent community on the Gold Coast .
Should have asked permission before developing the land, council says . |
50,392 | 8e8eabc3b7cfd7e5bf26a43beb80dd70d04de43a | By . Harriet Arkell . PUBLISHED: . 06:53 EST, 22 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:09 EST, 22 March 2013 . Zero tolerance security guard Darien Long has lost his job after posting online videos showing his tough stance with troublemakers at the mall where he works. Mr Long, who made headlines last month after a video showing him tasering a violent woman outside Atlanta's Metro Mall was posted online – has told how he will be out of a job on April 1. He blamed a host of factors including 'the police', a recent raid at the mall, and the publicity surrounding his no-nonsense approach to his job for him being asked to leave at the end of this month. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEOS . Darien Long said the publicity surrounding his zero-tolerance approach is to blame for him losing his job . Asked why he was losing his job, Mr Long said: 'I think it's the result of a lot of things; the police, the raid that just recently happened... the publicity. 'It's not just one thing, it's all the things.' Meanwhile it was reported today that Mr Long was arrested after he allegedly ran up to a man in the Metro Mall and tackled him to the floor. Yesterday's alleged arrest reportedly came after Mr Long said he had warned the man not to return to the mall but could not prove that he had. Mr Long became an internet sensation worldwide after videos appeared showing him tasering people he decided were troublemakers at the Atlanta mall. One video showed him tasering a woman to . the ground in front of a small child after she shouted abuse, pushed . him, and threatened to 'beat' him. One video shows this woman being tasered after she became abusive to Mr Long at the Atlanta mall . In another, he is shown using a taser . on a man named Marcus Purnell after he refused to leave the mall and . became abusive, telling the guard 'You better watch your back.' Mr . Long has defended his work, saying a tough stance is needed in the . downtown neighborhood where he works, where the mall is popular spot for . drug-dealers, vagrants and thieves. Mr Long, who later told the Huffington Post that his dismissal may be because of revenue issues, predicted that the miscreants will flood back into the mall as soon as he leaves his job there. He said: . 'Within two or three days the drug-dealers will start to come back in, . probably the same day, like April 1 once they know I'm not there, . they'll all come back in.' The security guard, who daily faced threats, abuse and violence in his job, says he may have trouble finding work in the same field and was not sure what he would do next. Tasered: The woman lies on the ground in front of the child she was with after the confrontation with Mr Long . He wore body armor with a video camera strapped onto his chest, and put clips of the aggression he encountered up on the net. After he posted films showing the above encounters, and others similar online, supporters praising his tough approach donated more than . $20,000 in an online campaign. Well-wishers who gave money posted messages on Reddit including: ‘Whatever they pay this guy, it's . not enough’, ‘Guy looks like a family man, looks like he is risking a . lot’ and ‘remind anyone of a sheriff in a wild west movie. One Youtube viewer simply wrote: ‘Why do those naggers keep nagging him? Darien Long predicts that the mall will be flooded with troublemakers as soon as he leaves his job . Reddit editor Ryu Kenya said they started the campaign because Long is a ‘nice guy’. ‘He is a nice guy and that area is very dangerous,' he wrote on the website. 'There is a cop . station around the block but people still sell drugs around there. 'He . has to wear kevlar and has his own mugshot book. He was not too proud . about tasing the woman and wished it could have been avoided.’ And since then more and more videos are emerging of the zero-tolerance guard refusing to give in to violent threats. In the footage, filmed by a camera on Long’s uniform, men are heard warning they’ll follow him home; he is racially abused; spat at; threatened with violence and objects are thrown at him all because he’s asked people to leave the shopping center or to stop hovering outside. VIDEO DARIEN LONG EXPLAINS HIS DISMISSAL FROM MALL . | Security guard Darien Long will leave job at Atlanta's Metro Mall March 31 .
He blames publicity over videos showing him tasering abusive shoppers .
Guard predicts troublemakers will flood back to mall day after he leaves . |
252,964 | d365b2189515573975177304ada4e55f4fa861d7 | His actions have touched many across the world and revitalised the Catholic church . But for Pope Francis, comforting this stricken man after today's weekly audience in St Peter's Square was another simple act of compassion. In scenes strikingly similar to his encounter with the disfigured Vinicio Riva two weeks before, the pontiff first spoke with the worshipper and then put his arms around him, blessing him. The man's identity is not known, nor are the details of what caused such terrible damage to his face. Pope Francis may have been sneaking out of the Vatican at night to give money to the poor on the streets of Rome. Here he is pictured after his weekly Papal audience in St. Peter's Square blessing a severely disfigured man . Together in prayer: The Pope and the disabled man shared a private moment where Francis I gestured up to the sky . Personal connection: Pope Francis leant in to hug and kiss the man and give him his blessing at the end of his audience in the Vatican today . However, his delight at spending a few moments in the presence of the leader of the Catholic church can be imagined. Francis, formerly Jorge Bergoglio, only took office eight months ago but his his iconoclastic style has already had a huge impact on the faithful. He has made personal calls to distraught worshippers, invited the homeless to dine at St Peter's Square and washed the feet of young offenders. However, it was a meeting with Mr Riva, who is covered in growths caused by the incurable condition neorofibromatosis, which moved many to tears. Bringer of joy: Pope Francis has made a habit of dedicating time to greet and bless sick or disabled people at the end of the general audience . The Pope, once again in St Peter's . Square for his general audience, put his hands on the 53-year-old . Italian man, kissed, hugged and prayed with him. Speaking earlier this week, Mr Riva said the pontiff's hug was 'like paradise', adding: 'He didn't even think about whether or not to hug me. 'I'm . not contagious, but he didn't know that. But he just did it: he . caressed me all over my face, and as he did I felt only love.' Mr Riva . recollected: 'He came down from the altar to see the sick people. He . embraced me without saying a word. I felt as though my heart was leaving . my body. 'He was completely silent but sometimes you can say more when you say nothing.' 'First, . I kissed his hand while with the other hand he caressed my head and . wounds. Then he drew me to him in a strong embrace, kissing my face. Act of kindness: Pope Francis (left) comforted Vinicio Riva, a 52-year-old Italian who had travelled to Rome for a audience in Saint Peter's Square in November . Painful: Vinicio Riva with a picture of his late mother Rosaria, who suffered from the same condition he does . This weekend the Pope offered 'boxes of mercy' to pilgrims in St Peter's square. Some 20,000 boxes, designed to look like a packet of painkillers, were illustrated with a human heart and contained a rosary. Addressing the crowd in ST Peter's Square the Pontiff said: 'I now want to suggest a medicine. "What" you ask, "the pope is now a pharmacist?"' The instruction leaflet, available in several languages read: 'Can be used once a day, but in case of emergency can be taken as much as the soul needs. 'My . head was against his chest his arms were wrapped around me. It lasted . just over a minute, but to me it seemed like an eternity.' Earlier this year, Francis tweeted . to his 3.2million followers: ’The Pope must serve all people, especially . the poor, the weak, the vulnerable.’ The so-called 'Pope Francis Effect' has been credited with a 20 per cent rise in Catholic congregations in Britain, and similar boosts around the world. New . and lapsed Catholics are surging back to the confession box 'by the . hundreds or thousands', according to the Italian Centre for Studies of . New Religions. In Italy half of priests have noted a marked rise in support for the church. The . Italian opinion poll Opinioni reported this week that more than four in . five Italians have a 'positive' or 'extremely positive' opinion of the . Pope. Spain, which had been . experiencing a decades-long slump, has also seen attendance figures . begin to climb since the pontiff's appointment. Catholic leaders in France, the USA and Latin America have also reported growth in the numbers of churchgoing Catholics. And . Latin America - already the biggest single source of Catholic pilgrims . to Italy - saw numbers of pilgrims to the centre of the faith rise by 20 . per cent from the same period last year . | Pope Francis paused during his weekly audience to greet disfigured man .
Stopped to speak and hug the man who lacked facial features . |
100,479 | 0d728083aa22f63585d45369d7fdfd74eeae6879 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 9:26 AM on 29th June 2011 . The High Street took a battering yesterday as a host of retailers announced they will be closing stores and with 10,000 jobs facing the axe. Chocolate chain Thorntons said 120 poorly performing shops face the closure while Britain’s biggest floor coverings firm, Carpetright, announced plans to shut 75 outlets, placing up to 200 jobs at risk. The clothing chain TJ Hughes – a Liverpool institution – said it is looking to appoint an administrator, placing 4,000 full and part time jobs in jeopardy at its 57 stores nationwide. Chocolate chain Thornton's said 120 poorly performing shops face the axe . Jane Norman, the women’s fashion chain which called in the administrators at the start of the week, announced 33 stores will shut as it made 400 staff redundant. The gloomy news will transform the fabric of the High Street, as well-known names pull down the shutters on their stores. Retailers are falling victim to plunging consumer confidence across the country. At the tills this translates into hard-up shoppers preserving their cash for all but the most essential of items. It comes as new figures released . yesterday showed a big slump in household savings in the first three . months of the year as families struggle to keep up with rising prices. Jane Norman closed it's doors on Saturday before it was put into administration today . The Office of National Statistics yesterday said stagnant wages meant the savings ratio - . the money they have left to tuck away after paying bills - fell from . 5.1 per cent to 4.6 per cent over the three months to March. At the same time, households - while paying more - are actually buying fewer goods and services. The amount bought . in those months fell by 0.6 per cent - the largest decline since the . depths of the recession in the spring of 2009, according to the Office . of National Statistics. The . ONS revealed the volume of products and services bought has taken its . biggest fall since the depths of the Great Recession but the amount . spent has risen. Homeform, the owner of Moben kitchens, bathroom chain Dolphin and Sharps bedrooms, said last week it intended to appoint administrators, putting 1,300 jobs at risk, while Comet owner Kesa said it was considering selling the electricals retailer after it posted losses of £8.9million. At Thorntons more than 700 jobs are at risk following months of falling sales for the Derbyshire-based confectioner. The company has issued several profit warnings, blaming everything from hot weather to arctic conditions for shoppers avoiding its 599 stores. But the firm has also suffered from a strategy focused on just two key periods during the year – Christmas and Easter. Chief executive Jonathan Hart said: ‘Our objective is to encourage existing customers to visit and purchase more frequently. ‘While Thorntons will always be strongly associated with key selling seasons, we will grow the relevance of other all year round gifting occasions.’ The problems are likely to fan flames on the debate over the coalition government's spending cuts. Labour is lobbying for a cut in VAT payments to help shops battling spiralling rent bills and bring relief to consumers. Habitat:Thirty . stores outside London put into administration. Around 900 jobs . threatened. Homebase and Argos owner, Home Retail Group, bought the . rights to the Habitat brand in the UK, the website and three stores in . central London for £24.5million. HomeForm: . About . 3,000 jobs at risk across 160 showrooms, including 1,500 fitters and . designers. The private equity owned business is behind Moben kitchens, . bathroom chain Dolphin and Sharps bedrooms. Administrators were called . in last week. All Saints:Fashion . chain on the brink of administration until Lion Capital stepped in. Lion owns La Senza and American Apparel and the deal secures hundreds of . jobs in 63 stores and 47 concessions in the UK, Europe, US and Russia. Badly affected by Icelandic banking crisis as Glitnir and Kaupthing held . significant stakes. Focus DIY:Ernst . & Young launched a closing down sale in May as it moved to shut 123 . stores out of the company's 178-strong store estate. The administrator . earlier managed to find buyers for 55 stores, including to Wickes owner . Travis Perkins, but the collapse of the chain left more than 3,000 . workers facing redundancy. Oddbins:The . wine merchant was the latest victim of a declining independent wine . trade in the UK, which also saw Threshers' owner, First Quench . Retailing, collapse in 2009. Oddbins had hoped to push through a rescue . deal but HM Revenues & Customs, which was owed £8 million by the . chain, refused to vote for the scheme. Whittals Wine Merchants bought 37 . Oddbins stores, securing more than 200 store jobs, but this left a . further 52 stores in the hands of administrators Deloitte. JJB Sports:The . sportswear chain was saved from administration after landlords and . creditors backed its second rescue deal in as many years. JJB's latest . company voluntary arrangement involved closing 43 unprofitable stores, . placing a further 46 under review and a move to monthly rental payments. The deal enabled it to raise £65 million from investors and secure a . new banking facility. HMV:The . sale of its Waterstone's book chain for £53 million has been key to . HMV's survival as the deal with Russian investor Alexander Mamut enabled . the high street retailer to negotiate a two-year extension to lending . facilities with its banks. HMV, which has around 260 stores in the UK . and Ireland, is now working on a plan to reduce its estate and focus . more on gadgets such as iPads. Mothercare:Mothercare . unveiled plans in May to close 110 outlets and focus on out-of-town . superstores. Rents will be cut on a further 40 stores, squeezing incomes . for high street landlords even further. The new focus will be on . out-of-town Parenting Centres, which contain its Early Learning Centre . brand. Maureen Hinton, senior retail analyst . at Verdict Research, told the Guardian: 'It feels every bit as bad as . at the height of the credit crunch when Woolworths collapsed. We are . going through a retrenchment that is probably as severe as we have seen . since the war.' She said . supply was outstripping demand and weak operators were at risk of . collapsing. Industry experts said the British retail sector had reached . 'saturation point.' Businesses selling stationary or kitchenware or those which have not diversified are said to be at risk. | 10,000 retail jobs facing the axe .
Thorntons is the latest chain to fall victim .
Savings ratio - cash left after spending - falls by 0.5% . |
47,724 | 86acf0192c82851c5bf3b789ac4606caeb36fc86 | By . John Hall . PUBLISHED: . 08:53 EST, 10 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 14:17 EST, 10 February 2014 . These are the last recorded images of a young man with a mental age of nine who has been stabbed to death by a gang of 'vicious cowards' after getting off a bus to visit a relative. Police say Dean Mayley, 24, would have had no chance of defending himself against the three or four thugs who set upon him in Greenford, west London at 5.20pm on Friday evening. The gang attacked 'vulnerable' Mr Mayley for no reason, killing him with a single stab wound to the chest in Ruislip Road around 50 minutes after he was seen getting off an E9 bus on The Broadway nearby. Last sighting: Dean Mayley was last seen getting off an E9 bus on The Broadway in Greenford. He would usually get off a stop earlier but is believed to have accidentally missed his stop on the day he was murdered . Mr Mayley suffered from learning difficulties related to microcephaly which his family say left him very easily led. The last sighting of him before the attack was when he waved goodbye to the bus driver after missing his usual stop and getting off on The Broadway instead. What happened to Mr Mayley in the 50 minutes between the sighting and the attack in Ruislip Road remains a mystery. After the attack he was taken to St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington where he died later the same evening. Tragic: Dean Mayley pictured with nephew Callum. Their family describe the pair as 'inseparable' Detective Chief Inspector Matt Bonner, of the Metropolitan Police’s Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: 'Dean was a vulnerable young man who had . travelled alone to the Greenford Broadway area to visit a relative.' 'He had made this journey many times before without incident and there was no reason this should have been any different,' he added. 'Sadly that was not the case and Dean was later to die following what appears to have been an unprovoked attack,' Detective Chief Inspector Bonner went on to say. As yet there have been no arrests and police say their inquiries are continuing. Mr Mayley's mother Donna, 51, said: 'I hope there is somebody, somewhere, who knows something. I'm begging you, really - I don't know what to do.' Mrs Mayley said her son was aware of his learning difficulties which meant he struggled with reading and writing. But it also meant he saw the best in everyone and trusted people easily. She said: 'Dean was very vulnerable and easily led he just wanted to please people all the time. He wanted to be an adult - to be like all the other lads... It took me a long time to be able give him that independence he wanted, bit by bit. 'He was a creature of habit - he knew how to get the bus and took exactly the same route every time. But something went wrong that day and he didn't get off at the usual stop,' she added. Mrs Mayley said: 'He was very friendly and I'm sure all the shop keepers in Greenford knew who he was. I just hope someone can help us because we will never get closure without knowing what happened.' 'He was vulnerable and didn't know how nasty the world is. Obviously now we know. What has happened to him is evil - but we need to know what happened,' she went on to say. Mr Mayley was captured on CCTV waving goodbye to the bus driver after getting off the bus at the wrong stop. He was murdered 50 minutes later . Unknown: What happened to Mr Mayley in the 50 minutes between these final CCTV images taken from a bus on The Broadway in Greenford and the knife attack in nearby Ruislip Road remains a mystery . Murder: Dean Mayley (right) pictured with his sister Emma. Mr Mayley had the mental age of a nine-year-old and was described as 'vulnerable and easily led' In a bid to attract witnesses to come forward with information, officers have issued a photograph of Mr Mayley in which he is shown hugging his seven year-old nephew Callum. The family described the pair as 'inseparable'. A postmortem examination to establish . exactly how Mr Mayley died is yet to be scheduled but formal . identification took place at the hospital. Detective . Chief Inspector Bonner said: 'We know he arrived in The Broadway by bus . around 16.25hrs and I am keen to piece together his movements between . then and 17.15hrs when he was assaulted by three or four males further . along Ruislip Road.' Scene: Mr Mayley was killed in Ruislip Road (pictured) in Greenford, west London at around 5.20pm on Friday . 'That group of males are responsible for the assault and death of a vulnerable man who would have been in no position to defend himself from such an attack... The people who attacked him are simply vicious cowards.' Detective Chief Inspector Bonner said Mr Mayley's family are distraught by his murder and urged anyone with information to speak to police. 'Think about the devastation this apparently random act of violence has caused,' he added. | Dean Mayley was murdered in Greenford, west London on Friday evening .
24-year-old described as 'vulnerable and easily led' was stabbed in chest .
He was last seen getting off an E9 bus at the wrong stop 50 minutes earlier .
Mother Donna, 51, said Mr Mayley 'didn't know how nasty the world was'
Police call group of thugs who launched random attack 'vicious cowards'
The incident room can be contacted on 0208 358 0200 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. |
160,698 | 5bbec7e95cfeba8af4768ad5a2f9a0cefe1d3b05 | Washington (CNN)South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, who is toying with the idea of a presidential bid, joked in a private gathering this month that "white men who are in male-only clubs are going to do great in my presidency," according to an audio recording of his comments provided to CNN. In the meeting, the Republican also cracked wise about Baptists, saying "they're the ones who drink and don't admit it," a variation of a joke he sometimes tells in public. Graham's folksy sense of humor and his shoot-from-the-hip style are part of his political appeal, and well-known to journalists and his colleagues in the Senate. But the behind-closed-doors remarks are a departure from the G-rated jokes he tells in public, and another reminder for politicians in the iPhone era that they are rarely far from a microphone, no matter how private the setting. The audio snippets were provided to CNN on Wednesday by two separate South Carolina Democrats who received the recordings from a person using an anonymous Gmail address. Graham confirmed the recordings in an interview Wednesday with CNN. The person didn't provide details on his background but told the Democrats that Graham was speaking to an "all-male club" in Charleston earlier this month, the Democrats said. Both of the Democrats wished to remain anonymous. After CNN contacted his campaign, Graham said in the interview that he made the comments several weeks ago at a meeting of the Hibernian Society of Charleston, the Irish-Catholic charity organization that sometimes hosts big-name politicians for irreverent and frequently bawdy speeches. Graham said the Hibernian Society encourages speakers "to be earthy, to make fun of yourself, to make fun of them. Then you say something serious and sit down. And if you talk over 20 minutes, they throw something at you." In the recordings, Graham, who is favored in his race for re-election next Tuesday against Democrat Brad Hutto, appears to joke about the possible 2016 presidential bid he recently floated in an interview with the Weekly Standard. "I'm trying to help you with your tax status," Graham says in the recording. "I'm sorry the government's so f---ed up. If I get to be president, white men in male-only clubs are going to do great in my presidency." The crowd is then heard laughing. In another clip, Graham asks, "We got any Presbyterians here? We got any Baptists? They're the ones that drink and don't admit it." Again, the crowd chuckles. Contacted about the recording, Graham's campaign arranged for the senator to speak about the remarks by phone from South Carolina. The Hibernian Society hosts an annual St. Patrick's Day banquet that, in the past, has been headlined by top political figures like Vice President Joe Biden and former Vice President Dick Cheney. "I have never been to the Gridiron Dinner, but it's a little like that," Graham said. His October visit to the society was a separate event, he said, but the spirit was the same. "I hope this doesn't reflect poorly on the club," he said. "They are great guys." Graham said he was making fun of the society's all-male membership, joking that they were the last such organization in existence after Augusta National Golf Club admitted women. As for the Baptist riff, Graham said he regularly teases South Carolina audiences about their various religious denominations, before making a larger point about religious liberty in the United States and warning about the threat of radical Islam overseas. | Lindsey Graham spoke at a private club in October .
Graham jokes "white men who are in male-only clubs are going to do great in my presidency"
Graham confirmed recording of jokes . |
283,715 | fb8be462f8eea4456c9911c3f0d6e49cef95ad18 | Louis van Gaal has yet to show concrete interest in signing Norwegian teenage sensation Martin Odegaard, according to Stromsgodset's chief executive. Odegaard is being tracked by the likes of Real Madrid, Ajax, Liverpool and Manchester United, but the Red Devils have not yet tabled an offer for the 15-year-old. The Stromsgodset attacking midfielder is destined for big things and is sure to move to one of Europe's big clubs in the not-too-distant future. Norway wonderkid Martin Odegaard is believed to have the option of signing a five-year deal with Real Madrid . Teenager Martin Odegaard takes a corner during Norway's defeat to Estonia last month . Age: 15 (D.O.B. 17/12/98) Born: Drammen, Norway . Position: Attacking midfielder . Club: Stromsgodset (2014-) Appearances: 24 . Goals: 5 . International appearances: 3 . International goals: 0 . But Stromsgodset's sporting director Jostein Flo told TV2: 'We have not received a bid from Manchester United for Odegaard, so once again this is just speculation. 'It might have come through the mailbox, but it has certainly not reached me.' The youngster has already been shown around Ajax's training facilities and stadium, with Real also believed to have already made an offer for him. Odeagaard only began playing first-team football for the Stromsgodset this year but already has five goals in 24 appearances. He also has three caps for the Norwegian national side after making his debut against the United Arab Emirates in August - all this before his 16th birthday on December 17. Odegaard (left), in action for Stromsgodset, is likely to be one of the game's best young players . Manchester United are yet to table a firm offer for Odegaard, according to Stromsgodset's sporting director . | Martin Odegaard is attracting interest from some of Europe's top sides .
Stromsgodset sporting director claims United have not made an offer .
Odegaard, 15, has already made three appearances for Norway .
Real Madrid and Ajax among clubs chasing attacking midfielder . |
221,953 | ab49bb862a5ebd4a7103350221d58643a6daca7e | By . Ray Massey, Transport Editor . PUBLISHED: . 18:07 EST, 18 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:58 EST, 19 July 2013 . Five rail bosses are set to receive £11million over three years in an extraordinary deal that critics condemned as rewarding failure. The top executives at Network Rail could share bonuses of £5million on top of their six-figure salaries, despite years of dismal performance and inflation-busting fare rises. The deal was nodded through yesterday. The taxpayer-funded firm is currently facing a £75million fine for missing its punctuality targets for long distance services. Network Rail, a not-for-profit company, has also been dogged by constant complaints over crowded trains and fare rises. Its five bosses were already earning salaries of between £348,000 and £577,000 a year, with annual bonuses worth up to 60 per cent of their basic income. But yesterday a new ‘long-term incentive’ payment was agreed. This additional bonus will be paid at the end of three years and is worth a maximum of a full year’s salary, depending on performance. The new element was rubber-stamped at the company’s annual general meeting in Cardiff. Over three years chief executive David Higgins could earn £3.1million, made up of his basic salary of £577,000, a long-term bonus worth the same again and potential annual bonuses worth £790,490 over three years. The other four directors will earn between £1.8million and £2.1million over the three-year period if they hit performance targets. Before the vote Manuel Cortes, general secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association(TSSA), had written to members – the company’s equivalent to shareholders – urging them to reject the bonus plan. Afterwards, Mr Cortes said the union was ‘bitterly disappointed’ by the plan. ‘Once again public members of Network Rail have put the interests of bosses ahead of passengers,’ he said. ‘These bosses will be on board a very lucrative gravy train while the poor passengers pay through the nose with annual above-inflation fare rises.’ It was voted on by Network Rail’s 44 ‘members’. Their job is to hold the board to account. Top dollar: Financial director Patrick Butcher (left) and Chief Executive David Higgins (right) earn £394,000 and £577,000 respectively. They are to receive £11million over three years with their three fellow executives . Bonuses: The Director of Operations Robin Gisby (left) and strategy director Paul Plummer (right) earn £371,000 and £348,000. Their annual bonuses are worth up to 60 per cent of their basic income . Condemned: Critics say bosses like Simon Kirby (pictured) should not be given the bonuses when they have missed targets and customers are paying more for tickets . But as a company limited by guarantee, its members do not have any financial interest in the company, which is supposed to put its profits back into maintaining the railways. Chief executive of Passenger Focus, Anthony Smith, said: ‘Passengers will wonder why bonuses are being paid if the service is getting worse. ‘We support incentives for improved services, but bonuses should be tied to passenger satisfaction, not be rewards for failure.’ Labour’s transport spokesman, Maria Eagle, also condemned the move. She said: ‘Commuters facing inflation-busting fare rises will be outraged at the scale of the bonus packages being enjoyed by a few at the top of the rail industry. ‘With passengers facing overcrowded services and too many delayed and cancelled trains, it is wrong for Network Rail to be paying out such large sums to its senior managers. ‘It will particularly anger passengers that these bonuses are being paid for a year when Network Rail has failed to meet its own performance target on train punctuality.’ She added that ministers should ‘make it clear that bonuses on this scale are simply not appropriate in a company that receives nearly £4billion of taxpayers’ money every year’. Network Rail has defended the long-term bonus, saying it is intended ‘to recognise outstanding and exceptional performance over the three years to 2015’. It said any future awards would be measured against train performance, savings made for the taxpayer and the successful delivery of congestion easing projects, each of which has ‘tough’ targets. Network Rail chairman Richard Parry-Jones, who does not receive any bonuses, said: ‘Network Rail executives are rewarded only when exceptional performance exceeds tough targets, which have been approved by our members through an open and transparent process. ‘If targets are not met, or safety comprised, no bonuses are made.’ He insisted the firm had made exceptional progress over the past 12 months, with passenger numbers rising to 1.5billion. The annual bonuses scheme already pays bosses up to 60 per cent of their salary provided they meet targets on punctuality as well as train company and passenger satisfaction. Controversial: Network Rail members have approved a fresh lucrative bonus package for its top directors - despite fierce criticism from unions about the firm's performance . But those targets were missed last year, so executives received just 17 per cent rather than the maximum 60 per cent of salary. A spokesman for the Office of Rail Regulation said: ‘Network Rail has a licence requiring it to have a remuneration and bonus scheme to ensure that it encourages high standards of performance. ‘The company is responsible for delivering key UK infrastructure and large investment projects which are of huge value to rail users, taxpayers and the economy. It is vitally important that it is able to secure the right talent and leadership.’ The £40billion high-speed rail line should be ditched because hologram technology will supercede it, Ed Miliband’s new business guru said yesterday. Lord Mitchell said the HS2 line linking London to Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds would be made redundant within 20 years. Holograms uses lasers to create lifelike images in the air. Lord Mitchell suggested businessmen would be able to beam images of themselves to meetings, removing the need for travel. | Network Rail executives could share £5million bonuses on top of their six-figure salaries .
The five bosses earn between £348,000 and £577,000 a year .
Taxpayer-funded firm faces £75million fine for missing punctuality targets .
Shadow transport secretary Maria Eagle condemned the move as commuters face rising train fares . |
76,922 | da2bd5b347f992c0c66faaf92bd46389645ed9e3 | By . Travelmail Reporter . Half of British holidaymakers drink alcohol every day on summer breaks - and one in three of us admit to boozing in the departure lounge. A survey revealed yesterday how Brits hit the bottle as soon as we set off on holidays abroad. Alcohol abuse campaigners warned that 'any ideas about sensible drinking get left at home when we go on holiday.' Down the hatch! Brits hit the bottle as soon as they set off on holidays abroad, research shows . The research showed that more than 30 per cent down at least four alcoholic drinks each day. But it also revealed how 19 per cent of holidaymakers admitted having a 'regrettable experience' as a result of being under the influence of alcohol. A spokeman for Alcohol Concern said, 'Most typically this is an argument with a loved one or a stranger. 'Nearly a quarter said their holiday abroad had been spoiled by someone else's drinking leading to loud or aggressive behaviour.' The survey of more than 500 adults was carried out by the Alcohol Concern in Wales - with over a third said that they started drinking before they had even arrived at their accommodation. The healthy option: Excess alcohol can often cause disruption and misery on holiday as well as wasting valuable leisure time, alcohol campaigners say . It found that half said they drank alcohol 'every day' during their last holiday - with a further 29 per cent drinking on 'most days'. 'These findings show that, when it comes to holidaying abroad, most of us drink more alcohol than we normally do back home,' said the spokesman. 'Free from the constraints of our work and other responsibilities, it seems we are so keen to start drinking that, in some cases, we begin before we've left the departure lounge. 'Yet, far from improving the holiday experience, excess alcohol can often cause disruption and misery, resulting in arguments and ill health, as well as valuable leisure time wasted nursing a hangover. 'Drinking too much alcohol will do us no favours, and that holds true whether we are at home or away on our holidays.' The survey showed 92 per cent drank alcohol on their last holiday abroad, 75 per cent said they drank more on holiday abroad than they would normally at home. The main reasons to drink on holiday were to relax and have fun - yet only 26 per centagreed that holidays would be less enjoyable without alcohol. Fifteen per cent drank more because the drinks were part of an all-inclusive deal. And 34 per cent said that their drinking started before they arrived at their holiday accommodation - with 16 per cent began drinking at the departure terminal. 'We need to change our relationship with alcohol, and whilst, as individuals, we can take steps to moderate our drinking by keeping within recommended guidelines, the lead needs to come from Government. 'We often knock back even more when we holiday abroad, where it seems we have decided that the "normal rules" around drinking don't apply.' | Brits hit the bottle as soon as they are on holiday .
Nearly one quarter had their holiday spoiled by excessive alcohol .
16 per cent of Brits begin drinking at the airport before even flying . |
196,373 | 8a24ff99f83810425a0106cbddc4a6b877141698 | Big Brother 2013 contestant Ben Zabel, 32, is recovering after being admitted to Royal Brisbane Hospital after an overdose on prescription drugs. The reality star on Friday uploaded an image of his hospital admittance wristband, confirming the incident with the message, 'Thank you to all the staff at Royal Brisbane' alongside the hashtags 'depression' 'anxiety' and overdose'. In a statement released on Monday, Ben's representative Jeremy Hansen, said, 'On Saturday evening (15th November) Ben Zabel suffered a prescription drug overdose. He was treated by paramedics on the scene in his apartment and was later transported to the Royal Brisbane Hospital for further treatment. Ben was released from hospital yesterday afternoon and is now home recovering. We ask for privacy for Ben, his family and his friends at this time.' Scroll down for video . Emergency: Big Brother 2013 contestant Ben Zabel is recovering after being admitted to Royal Brisbane Hospital after overdosing on prescription drugs . Ben seemed to be in good spirits in his Instagram post on Sunday, adding the quote, 'As Mark Twain once said —''Reports of my dearth have been greatly exaggerated (sic)". He was also the recipient of support from his friends and family, including Big Brother winner Tim Dormer, Ben’s close friend and fellow Big Brother housemate, told Daily Mail Australia that he hasn't spoken to Ben yet but offers him his support during this difficult time. ‘I’m really shocked and saddened,’ the 30-year-old told DMA. ‘I know Ben has been suffering with depression and anxiety for a long time and I’ve shared that journey with him for the last year since Big Brother.’ Best mates: Tim Dormer and Ben became close in Big Brother 2013 and Tim has publicly supported Ben . 'Sending love and light': Tim sends support to his mate . Support network: Ben's family ask for their privacy during this time - Zabel pictured with his mother Margaret . ‘It’s really sad when people who are suffering with depression feel that there’s no one else out there because there’s a lot of people,’ he continued. ‘I’ve known Ben has a lot of people that care about him,’ he said of his good friend, revealing he communicated with Ben just hours before he was admitted to hospital. He said he spoke with Ben on Friday and he 'seemed fine.' Hoping to speak to Ben again when it is possible, Tim said simply checking in with his mate and reassuring him is his biggest intention. When asked what he will tell Ben, the 2013 Big Brother winner said he’d ask Ben ‘How is he going’ before telling him ‘I’m always here for him when he needs me’. After hearing the news of his overdose, he posted an image of the pair together on his Instagram feed. 'Thinking of my mate and hoping to hear from him soon,' Tim wrote. 'Sending love and light'. Healing: The reality star on Sunday uploaded an image of his hospital admittance wristband, with the message 'Thank you to all the staff at Royal Brisbane' 'Greatly exaggerated': Ben took to Twitter to make a brief statement . Big Brother host, Sonia Kruger has been in contact with Ben and sent him her love, telling DMA: 'Ben is part of the Big Brother family and always will be. We have been in contact with Ben and he is recovering at home and has requested his privacy. We are here to support Ben on his road to recovery.' Fellow Big Brother housemate Tahan Lew who spent time with Ben in the Big Brother house told Daily Mail Australia: 'I have reached out to Ben but like I said to him I know I can't say or do anything to help him.' 'I wish I could but this is something he needs to be strong about and fix on his own with the help of professionals but I did let him know I am there for him if he needs or needs me to do anything,' she said. 'I just hope he can get the help he needs.' Last month, the lovable TV personality spoke to Daily Mail Australia about his struggles with depression and coming to terms with his sexuality and mental illness. 'I don’t know whether I’m happy with my life,' he admitted at the time. 'But it’s fuller and I don’t feel so alone. That’s the great thing about owning something, it allows other people to come forward.' He said going on Big Brother helped him to vocalise his depression, which made him feel like isolated. Recovering: Ben and Tim formed a close friendship on the Australian version of Big Brother in 2013 . Telling messages: Ben has been open about his struggle with depression, even posted though provoking pictures to his social media accounts . 'I struggled in the Big Brother house - Australia saw that. 'It did help though, because acceptance and love is not something I've been showered with in life, and that’s no reflection on my family... who was gay, anxious and a vegetarian in the 90s? 'I grew up just thinking that I was a criminal because you could go to jail for being gay until I was in year 12.' The former housemate has spoken about his battles with mental illness extensively in the past year, revealing that his diagnosis lead to discrimination in the workplace: 'I used to just make a joke and fob the question away, as I was too embarrassed to admit, anxiety and depression got the better of me in the workplace.' Love and support: Tim posted an Instagram message to Ben saying 'Thinking of my mate' after the news broke . Loved: The reality star and comedian built a huge fan base since leaving Big Brother . He was referring to a Facebook post in which he said Virgin Australia had dismissed him from his post because of his condition. He said: 'The main reason I broke my silence (some of you already knew) on how I left Virgin, was that many lovely folks stop me in the street and kindly ask me if I'll ever consider returning to flying, sometime in the future. 'I used to just make a joke and fob the question away, as I was too embarrassed to admit, anxiety and depression got the better of me in my workplace. 'I then felt like I was lying to myself and lying to all of you by not telling you the full story. I pride myself on being genuine & honest and Mum has always said, 'The truth shall set you free'. For confidential help, call Lifeline at 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au/ . Funny and kind: Since leaving the house, the former flight attendant has taken up a career as a stand up comedian . Public Profile: Ben, seen with Big Brother host Sonia Kruger, has spoken about his battles with mental illness . | Big Brother 2013 favourite Ben Zabel overdoses .
His management reveals Ben, 32, overdosed on prescription medication .
He's at home after his release from Royal Brisbane Hospital on Sunday .
Best friend and BB housemate Tim Dormer offers his support . |
44,245 | 7cc65bcf411a7e246f2b69df85ebe7fad699ec48 | BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) -- At least 59 people were killed in a fire that broke out early Thursday at one of Bangkok's most upscale nightclubs, where about 1,000 revelers were ringing in the new year, Thai police said. Rescue officials work at the scene of the fire in Thailand. Most of the dead were Thai, but foreigners have been identified, among them from Australia, the Netherlands, Nepal and Japan, police said. Another 100 people were believed injured. The fire, at a club called Santika, started at about 12:35 a.m. (1735 GMT), police told CNN. The blaze started near a stage where fireworks were being used as part of a performance, according to authorities. Watch the fire engulf the building » . Most of those who died in the building suffered smoke inhalation or were trampled in a rush to get out of the club, they said. British citizen Andrew Jones said he was celebrating in the area when he walked up on the fire. He said he saw victims being rushed out of the fire on stretchers and spoke to witnesses, including a fellow Briton who saw fireworks being lit onstage. "He immediately ran out of the building, but immediately when he'd done that the lights went out and he couldn't see," Jones said. The club is located in one of Bangkok's busiest commercial districts. Its Web site features images of bands and DJs performing on both indoor and outdoor stages, and says that it "innovatively blends the comfort of nature with the excitement of the Bangkok nightlife." The site advertises the club's new year's party, which was named "Goodbye Santika." CNN's Kocha Olarn contributed to this report. | Fireworks were used as part of a performance, authorities say .
Most of those who died suffered smoke inhalation or were trampled, authorities say .
Club is located in one of Bangkok's busiest commercial districts . |
75,930 | d74e6845960eceecd549cbc24c756ca5293e1843 | A controversial ad campaign which says 'hold your breath for six minutes' has been removed and updated amid concerns it promotes an unsafe message to children. To promote the current Dugong exhibition, the Sydney's Sea Aquarium ran a campaign, which included posters, featuring a picture of a Dugong and beside it a young girl holding her breath. It read,' Do like a Dugong: Hold your breath for six minutes'. But the message, although not meant to be taken literally, has sparked worried feedback that continuous breath-holding has been linked to the deaths of Australian children called shallow water blackout. SCROLL DOWN TO VIDEO . This is the controversial ad by the Sydney's Sea Aquarium which sparked concerns for promoting an unsafe message to children . Jack McMillan (pictured with his parents George and Michele) died in January last year from shallow water blackout . Jack McMillan, a healthy 12 year old died from shallow water blackout and now his parents are trying to make aware the dangers of children holding their breath underwater . The family of 12 year old Jack McMillan, who couldn't be revived after he was the victim of shallow water blackout near Wollongong, in January last year, spoke out on 60 Minutes about the dangers of children holding their breath underwater. 'He loved being in the pool, he'd just do lap after lap after lap,' Jack's mother Michele told 60 Minutes. 'He was holding his breath and challenging himself to see how many laps can I do.' Michele jumped in the pool to try and tried to resuscitate him but she couldn't and he died. The tragedy has prompted the family to raise awareness about the deadly and little known condition, which kills four times faster than drowning. Nic Fisher was another healthy young boy who also died of similar circumstances in 2001. His sister, Carly, wrote to Mamamia about the day her brother died. 'I returned home to find my 12 year-old brother Nic’s lifeless body, lying beside the pool,' she said. 'My dad and my aunty were performing CPR.' 12 year old Nic Fisher (pictured) died in 2001 also believed to be from shallow water blackout . There were concerns this poster promoted an unsafe message to children so the entire campaign by Sydney's Sea Aquarium was removed and updated . Shallow water blackout (SWB) is caused by competitive or continuous breath holding or by taking several deep breaths before diving under water . She told Mamamia, Shallow water blackout (SWB) is caused by competitive or continuous breath holding or by taking several deep breaths before diving under water. 'Swimmers pass out due to lack of oxygen and the delayed trigger to breathe means that water quickly fills the lungs.' 'This is how my little brother, a competent swimmer, water skier and healthy young kid, being supervised by two adults, was able to drown so quickly,' she said. A change.org petition last month, which has now closed, called on the aquarium to 'pull down the misleading poster'. 'When the motive of the poster seems to tell children that Dugongs can hold their breath for six minutes, it is undoubtedly very misleading. It is very much accident prone,' said the petition's founder Bulson Lamgade. 'What if, out of excitement and imitation, our children tend to hold their breath for 6 minutes? What can be more fatal and disastrous than this?' Jack McMillan (pictured) was a victim of shallow water blackout . The Sydney's Sea Life Campaign was removed and updated after concerns rose it was promoting an unsafe message to kids, asking them to hold their breath underwater for 6 minutes, like a Dugong . 'Please join me in asking the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium to pull down their poster and not misguide our children.' A spokesperson for the Sea Life Sydney campaign said 'this specific advertisement is a part of a larger campaign, which is certainly not intended to encourage children to take any of the comparisons with the Dugongs literally, including the holding of one's breath for any period of time.' 'The campaign is rather intended for adults and children alike to interpret the comparisons of humans to Dugongs as a fun way to learn about the anatomy, personalities and quirks of our famous Dugongs, Pig and Wuru.' 'However, we do acknowledge this is a real issue and so have taken the steps to ensure our campaign doesn’t contribute further to it.' 'We have updated and removed this particular part of the ad campaign from everywhere except on the bus panels, which we are endeavouring to remove as soon as possible,' she said. | A controversial ad campaign by Sydney's Sea Aquarium has been removed and updated .
The campaign, promoting the Dugong exhibition read, 'Do like a Dugong : Hold your breath for 6 minutes'
The message has sparked concerns it's promoting an unsafe message to children, relating to shallow water blackout .
Shallow water blackout is caused by continuous breath holding or by taking several deep breaths before diving under water .
A spokesperson from the Sea Life Sydney campaign has acknowledged it is a 'real issue' |
159,238 | 59d550f0018a5f04b97cac18264010f2e87b93cf | Lewis Hamilton quickly found himself at home around Sochi's Olympic Park on a day when Formula One attempted to get back to business in the wake of Jules Bianchi's accident five days ago. With Bianchi fighting for his life in a hospital in Japan, for all connected with F1 the swift return to action with this weekend's inaugural Russian Grand Prix has been tough to endure, and especially for his team Marussia. As a mark of respect, the team confirmed ahead of first practice on Friday they would run only one car, that of Bianchi's team-mate Max Chilton. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Nico Rosberg preview the Russian GP at Sochi . Lewis Hamilton was fastest in the second session for this weekend's inaugural Russian Grand Prix . Hamilton, 10 points ahead of Nico Rosberg in the championship, topped the timesheets on Friday afternoon . Formula One is making its inaugural foray into Russia. Hamilton set the pace in the second session . 1. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:39.630 . 2. Kevin Magnussen McLaren 1:40.494 . 3. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1:40.504 . 4. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:40.542 . 5. Valtteri Bottas Williams 1:40.573 . 6. Jenson Button McLaren 1:40.718 . 7. Felipe Massa Williams 1:40.731 . 8. Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso 1:41.108 . 9. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull 1:41.396 . 10. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso 1:41.531 . 11. Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1:41.630 . 12. Nico Huelkenberg Force India 1:41.677 . 13. Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 1:42.061 . 14. Sergio Perez Force India 1:42.090 . 15. Adrian Sutil Sauber 1:42.233 . 16. Romain Grosjean Lotus 1:42.892 . 17. Pastor Maldonado Lotus 1:42.905 . 18. Esteban Gutierrez Sauber 1:43.055 . 19. Marcus Ericsson Caterham 1:44.135 . 20. Max Chilton Marussia 1:44.530 . 21. Kamui Kobayash Caterham 1:44.952 . Despite placing reserve Alexander Rossi on standby to deputise on Thursday, Marussia said their decision was 'the appropriate course of action under the difficult circumstances of the weekend'. The team, however, have still prepared the second car, which is to sit on Bianchi's side of the garage for the remainder of the weekend, and with his name over the entrance. It is understood to have been a tough decision to make for sporting director Graeme Lowdon and team principal John Booth, who remains at Bianchi's bedside at the Mie General Medical Centre in Yokkaichi. Chilton expressed himself to be 'truly devastated' with regard to Bianchi's situation after the 25-year-old sustained brain injuries from a high-speed collision with a recovery vehicle at Suzuka. With all drivers carrying the slogan 'Tous Avec Jules' - All for Jules - on their helmets, they returned to the cockpits of their cars still feeling the traumatic events that unfolded on Sunday. With three successive wins behind him to open up a 10-point cushion over Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg at the top of standings, Hamilton finished the day comfortably ahead of his main title rival. Around F1's newest venue, the Sochi Autodrom that was at the heart of the winter Olympics earlier this year, Hamilton has quickly mastered what appears to be far from a tricky track technically. Nico Rosberg was almost nine tenths down on Mercedes team-mate Hamilton in second practice . The 29-year-old Briton, with the teams switching to the faster soft-compound Pirelli tyres in the afternoon session after running mediums in the morning, posted a lap of one minute 39.630 seconds. Remarkably, it was McLaren's Kevin Magnussen and not Rosberg second on the list, albeit 0.864secs adrift, followed closely by Ferrari's Fernando Alonso. Rosberg, quickest in the morning run, had to settle for fourth, just over nine tenths of a second off of Hamilton's pace. Williams duo Valtteri Bottas, whose first set of Pirellis in FP1 were ruined by an overheating tyre blanket so delaying his maiden foray onto the track, and Felipe Massa, were fifth and seventh quickest respectively. Jules Bianchi's Marussia is vacant this weekend after the British-based team did not enter a driver in his place . Jenson Button provided the filling in that particular sandwich, with McLaren showing a return to form as they are pushing both Ferrari and Williams. Home hero Daniil Kvyat was eighth best in his Toro Rosso, with four-times champion Sebastian Vettel and Jean-Eric Vergne in the second Toro Rosso completing the top 10, the latter nearly two seconds down. Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen has so far struggled to get to grips with the circuit, with the Finn 11th. The only man who can deny either Hamilton or Rosberg the title, Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo, was down in 13th place, with his session over seven minutes from the end due to a mechanical issue with his car. As for the sole Marussia of Chilton, the 23-year-old Briton was 20th of the 21 on track, but nearly five seconds adrift, leaving Caterham's Kamui Kobayashi to bring up the rear. | Hamilton finished ahead of Kevin Magnussen and Fernando Alonso .
His title rival Rosberg was only 4th after setting the pace earlier on Friday .
He was almost nine tenths slower than Hamilton on F1's first visit to Russia .
Marussia running only one car out of respect to stricken Bianchi . |
106,012 | 14b895eb316898b84b4ad06fe2818ec4c3adc083 | (CNN) -- After months of psychological torment by guards loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, when a commotion arose outside the door of his solitary confinement cell in Tripoli's most notorious prison, Matthew VanDyke was sure he was going to be executed. But what happened next is sure to be the Baltimore-based adventure writer's wildest chapter yet. Reached by phone in a safe house in Tripoli, VanDyke, 32, described a harrowing 30 hours that took him from Abu Salim prison to the safe house under the protection of anti-Gadhafi rebels. The freelance journalist and aspiring travel writer had not been heard from since mid-March, shortly before he was arrested in the city of Brega by forces loyal to Gadhafi. He had been without contact with any family member, government official or aid organization since March 12, when he last spoke to his mother. Early Wednesday in Tripoli, he said, he heard prisoners yelling and shouting and banging, not unlike the sounds he had heard as guards rousted out other prisoners during his six months of solitary confinement. As he stared at the white walls where he had ticked off the days until he lost track, he thought, "This is it, they've come to lynch me." A hand opened the small slit in the door where his food was passed through. He heard someone angrily shouting and pointing at verses in an open Quran pushed through the door. Not long after, someone hammered off the lock on the door. At first he thought it was a trap, he told his mother by phone, maybe a ruse to get him in greater danger. But then the realization dawned: He had a chance to escape. "I saw some other prisoners and they were cheering and pointing down the hall," said an exhausted VanDyke. "I knew I was free, but didn't know what to do or what was going on." VanDyke had no possessions to gather up, only a wet and ragged prison uniform. He found a pair of sandals left behind by another fleeing prisoner and then escaped the prison along with hundreds of other inmates. Many of those held in the facility were political prisoners, or had been caught up in crackdowns on rebel sympathizers or on the many battlefields edging closer to the capital. VanDyke joined up with one small group walking through the Abu Salim neighborhood of Tripoli, not knowing that they were in one of the last areas still controlled by Gadhafi loyalists. They could hear explosions and gunfire, but also got news that rebels were taking control of the city. The group made their way to a mosque. There, the imam and other neighborhood leaders were handing out cash, trying to help people desperately short of supplies amid the chaos and electrical blackout in the area. VanDyke said he moved on, to a makeshift hospital where he got some help and directions to a local wealthy person who had access to a working phone. It was there he was able to make his first phone call back to his worried girlfriend, Lauren Fischer, and mother, Sharon VanDyke, back in Baltimore. "I've always known he was OK," Sharon VanDyke told CNN late Wednesday. The retired schoolteacher described the relief and surprise she felt after watching CNN endlessly for days, hoping for news and praying for her son's safety. Now she and Fischer are focused on getting him out of Libya. VanDyke said he was eventually able to hook up with another escaped inmate who had ties to rebel forces and could speak English. The man gained access to a car and two guards armed with AK-47 assault rifles, and they sped through the night past rebel checkpoints. Eventually he arrived at a house once occupied by an American expatriate couple who had hastily fled in the earliest days of the conflict. VanDyke said the home still had food on the counters, remnants from the last-second escape of the last people there, a welcome windfall for him after months of rancid prison food. And the working phone there was a lifeline to the outside, he added. The writer is one of at least four American civilians who have been freed from Libyan prisons, the U.S. government said Wednesday. "We can confirm that all U.S. citizens who were known to be detained in Libya have been released," U.S. State . Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said in a prepared statement: . "The families of those detained individuals have been notified of their freedom and welfare. We remain concerned about the welfare and safety of those U.S. citizens who remain in Tripoli. For safety and privacy reasons we are unable to provide additional details." VanDyke was surprised to hear that other Americans had been held in the prison and was unaware of their escape or current situations. Having traveled to nearly a dozen Middle Eastern and African countries since 2007, VanDyke left for Benghazi in late February. Friends there had told him what was happening in Libya during the early stages of the revolution. "He had a great respect for the people and the country, not the politics," his mother said. VanDyke's loved ones aren't certain why he was arrested, although he had a U.S. passport and press credentials when he was seized on a day trip to Brega. By phone, the exhausted writer said he would have a fuller account to tell of his capture after he was able to sleep and recuperate, but he said his arrest had been a surprise and he did not know the reason for it. VanDyke had been confined in two prisons, including Abu Salim, from which he and the hundreds of others escaped Wednesday, one day after rebels seized Gadhafi's compound in the city. Libyan officials had recently acknowledged VanDyke was in custody. His mother traveled to Turkey in May to seek assistance in his release, but the country had just closed its embassy in Tripoli. His family, which has been assisted by the State Department and U.S. Rep. C.A. "Dutch" Ruppersberger of Maryland, hopes to see VanDyke in several days. "He said he was in good physical health," said his mother. "He was sorry we did not know for sure he was OK." Sharon VanDyke said her son was unaware that al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had been killed by U.S. commandos in May. She and Fischer, 28, expect VanDyke, who first went to Libya in 2008, to complete a book about the people he has met and places he has seen in Mauritania, Iraq, Turkey, Afghanistan, Egypt and other countries. He toured several of those nations by motorcycle. "Despite everything, I have no problems with Libyans," VanDyke said, describing his safety and plans in Tripoli. "But I'll be determined to stay here to see the end of Gadhafi." | Matthew VanDyke had been in solitary confinement since March .
He was arrested in the Libyan city of Brega .
He was freed Wednesday along with hundreds of others from a prison in Tripoli .
The Baltimore resident is a freelance journalist and writer . |
221,227 | aa6172412c0a1e1f59a0420e69a0c931829cb556 | First came rice powder and snail slime. Now, a new wave of Far Eastern beauty ingredients, including fermented porridge oats and coconut jelly, are set to appear on shelves. Among them is PiteraTM, a compound created during the sake (Japanese rice wine) fermentation process, which was discovered after scientists noticed that elderly brewery workers had extraordinarily soft, youthful hands. But the yeast compound, which has since been snapped up by skincare brand SK-II, is far from the only new 'wonder ingredient' to appear. Sake, oats and fermented herbs are among new 'miracle' ingredients appearing in beauty products from the Far East . Other Far Eastern cosmetics crazes include powdered cleansers from Korea that turn into a creamy foam as soon as they come into contact with water, serum sheet masks made with coconut jelly or sea kelp, and fermented porridge oats and rice. The new beauty mists, which are being marketed in the UK and US by Glow Skincare, are also available with other fermented herbs and flowers including chrysanthemum and dandelion - said to help nourish and moisturise the skin. According to the brains behind the products, the fermentation process intensifies the nutrient content. It helps to break down the ingredients, remove any toxins and absorb better into the skin. The fermented ingredients also act a natural preservative, so no extra chemicals are needed. Botanical mists made with an array fermented rice, oats, herbs and flowers (left) and serum sheet masks made of sea kelp are both currently in vogue in Korea . Jun-man Park, the CEO of Whamisa, an organic fermentation cosmetic brand, has been working with fermentation in skincare since 1992. He said: 'Fermentation is a metabolic process where carbohydrates and sugars are converted to skin-loving enzymes and amino acids via the growth of 'good' microorganisms like lactobacillus. 'While extensive research on fermentation in skincare is just starting, there are already studies that show the bio-availability of skin care products are increased when fermented, as ingredients are 'broken down' into smaller, more easily absorbed molecules. 'Fermentation also helps to increase the nutrient density and concentration of ingredients, by breaking down the molecular structure of ingredients - for example, wine has several times the antioxidant content of grapes. 'It also helps to preserve the effectiveness of active ingredients and allows for formulas to use fewer preservatives as fermentation removes 'bad bacteria'. Left: Skincare brand SK-II have incorporated PiteraTM into their luxury products Right: Cate Blanchett, 45, is the brand's ambassador . Asian cosmetics companies, which have pioneered high tech brightening ingredients and cleansing oils along with snail slime, are famous for creating unusual new products. And their efforts haven't gone unnoticed, with A-listers joining the ranks of Far Eastern product fans, among them SK-II ambassador, Cate Blanchett. The actress, 45, swears by the brand and says it is responsible for her 'radiant and clear' complexion. 'My skin has a radiance and clarity it didn't have 11 years ago, which is saying something,' she explains. 'When I first started using SK-II, I was so overwhelmed by the positive results it had – immediately, but then over the years, long-term results - I've become quite evangelical about it with my friends.' | Sake, oats and fermented herbs are among new 'miracle' ingredients .
Powder cleansers that turn into creamy foam are huge beauty trend .
Masks made of coconut jelly or sea kelp are also big trend in Asia . |
15,382 | 2bbb16edfcb47265b3e831cf762685f770509669 | Editor's note: Jane Velez-Mitchell is host of the HLN show, "Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell," a topical event-driven show with a wide range of viewpoints. Velez-Mitchell is the author of "Secrets Can Be Murder: What America's Most Sensational Crimes Tell Us About Ourselves." Jane Velez-Mitchell says tougher penalties are needed to keep sex offenders from committing more crimes. NEW YORK (CNN) -- Early last month, beautiful 25-year-old Laura Garza went missing. Her family holds out hope she is still alive. An aspiring dancer from Texas, Garza moved to New York City to pursue her career. On December 2nd, she went to the posh Manhattan nightclub Marquee to blow off some steam with her friend. Security video shows Garza leaving the club with convicted sex offender Michael Mele, according to the New York Police Department. NYPD officials confirmed that Mele then drove Garza about an hour away toward his apartment. Garza was reported missing the next day. New York state police searched Mele's apartment and court documents indicate officers observed apparent bite marks on Mele's hand and scratches on his back and shoulder. According to court records and state police, large pieces of carpet were missing from his apartment and days later, carpet pieces that seemed to match Mele's were found on the side of a nearby road. Search parties have been combing roads, woods, and swampland, and police divers searched for clues in a nearby lake, but the search has gone cold in recent weeks. Mele is in jail for violating probation and is a suspect, but he has not been charged in Garza's disappearance, according to state police. Laura Garza is still missing more than a month later. Her family has joined search efforts in New York and prays they will find her alive, but police are treating the case as a homicide. The worst part about this tragic story? It may have been preventable. Laura Garza had no idea she was leaving that club with a sex offender. After all, most of them look pretty normal. Few fit the Hollywood stereotype of the creepy guy wearing a trench coat and driving a white van. Laura Garza may have been unaware who she was with that night, but the legal system certainly knew him. Michael Mele previously pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault, including one count of masturbating in front of two women. And he was violating probation. And he had an outstanding warrant for allegedly exposing himself to a woman in a mall parking lot. Mele hasn't been convicted of anything in this case or charged in Garza's disappearance, but even if he is innocent, the larger question of how the criminal justice system deals with sex offenders remains a vital issue. In a sane world, Mele is not a free man on that night, able to allegedly target Laura Garza. But we don't live in a sane world. We live in a world where sexual assault is business as usual. Where's the outrage? The Garza case is a microcosm of a societal problem. As a nation, we must realize there is no such thing as a "minor" sexual offense -- because sex offenders often start small and graduate to more serious crimes. According to a 2003 Department of Justice study, 78 percent of imprisoned sex offenders had prior arrests and 28 percent had prior arrests for sex crimes. According to the same study, one quarter of men serving time for rape and 19 percent of those serving time for sexual assault had been on probation or parole at the time of the offense that landed them in prison. The formula is simple. Sex offenders start off by nabbing the easy prey -- committing the so-called "minor" sexual offenses like flashing random women, or the crimes Michael Mele committed. Then, after getting away with it or receiving a slap on the wrist, they become hungrier and develop into full-fledged predators. And it's only when they sink their teeth into their prey that the legal system finally brings down the hammer. But it's too late. To stop this progression, we must start treating all sexual offenses as major crimes. In the same Justice Department study, on average, the sex offenders served less than half of their sentences. So basically that means Paris Hilton served more of her sentence than the average person convicted of a sex crime does. I'm glad our justice system has its priorities straight. The simple answer is to take all sex offenders off the streets, from the moment they commit the first "minor" offense. I'm not just talking about putting them behind bars. We need to rehabilitate these predators at the earliest stage possible, before their behavior worsens. And if the prisons are too crowded to hold them, how about releasing some of the nonviolent drug offenders to make some room? They can't be worse than sex offenders on the prowl who, compared with non-sex offenders released from prison, are four times more likely to be rearrested for a sex crime, according to a government study. This problem is out in the open. I see it. My viewers see it. But how many Laura Garzas will it take to before politicians and judges see it and are willing to do something about it? The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Jane Velez-Mitchell. | Jane Velez-Mitchell: Sex offenders are often let out on the street too soon .
Victims pay the price for inadequate punishment and rehabilitation, she says .
Velez-Mitchell says we must treat all sex offenses as serious crimes . |
144,710 | 472947055a8b1f7d860c7c3e1481c9948398c95d | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 11:10 AM on 18th August 2011 . The mother of a former Olympic ambassador who turned in her daughter after she claimed she saw her on television during the London riots left court in tears today after seeing her sent down to the cells. Chelsea Ives, 18, will not appear again at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court until September 7 when the case will be committed to the crown court - meaning she will have to spend at least 21 more days in custody. Ives, of Leytonstone, east London, is a former Waltham Forest Council youth Olympic ambassador, and has denied charges of violent disorder, burglary . at Vodafone and Phones4U stores and causing damage to a police car. Difficult time: Adrienne Ives, 47, leaves court after seeing her daughter Chelsea, right, remanded in custody . It is alleged that the talented . singer and athlete hurled a rock through a shop window and then yelled . to a friend: 'This is the best day ever'. If convicted Ives could be facing a jail sentence. A raft of sentences over the last 10 days appear to show the courts abandoning guidelines and locking up looters and rioters for lengthy terms. Chelsea Ives being detained at Westminster Magistrates Court last week . Many are tougher than the ones handed out to muggers, sex attackers and killer drivers – and are evidence that judges are determined to reflect public demands for the strictest possible punishments. This afternoon her mother Adrienne Ives, 47, left the court building weeping, flanked by police officers. She said: 'It is an incredibly hard time,' before getting into a waiting car and being driven away. The court heard that the teenager could face . further charges after it emerged detectives want to question her about . incidents in Hackney, east London, during the rioting. Nathan Paine Davey, prosecuting, told . the court: 'In the course of the last week other information has come to . the attention of the police about the possibility that Miss Ives was . involved in other offences in the London Borough of Hackney and they . wish to question her about it.' Ives arrived at court wearing a grey Nike top and lip . piercing with her blonde and black hair scraped back in a side pony . tail. District Judge, Nina Tempia, remanded . the teenager in custody until September 7th . Judge Tempia said: 'If further charges need to be added to the indictment, all the matters can be taken together.' Last week, Mrs Ives said it was a 'gut-wrenching decision to report her daughter to police, but said it was something any good parent would do. She claimed she had seen her daughter on television with her husband Roger, 54, during the mayhem in Enfield, north London, on the evening of Sunday, August 7. She told the Daily Mirror: 'Any parent who loves their child should find the courage to do what we did.' 'If parents keep their mouths shut these kids will keep rampaging through the streets. Adrienne Ives leaves Highbury Magistrates Court in tears after seeing her remanded in custody . 'As a mother, I love my daughter. It’s not easy, but we hope we’ve done the right thing. It was a hard . decision to make but it was a decision that any good parent would do. These riots happen because good parents do nothing.' 'Roger and I were watching the TV news . and it was absolutely sickening,' she said. 'And then we saw our . daughter. I could not believe it. For a minute we did not know what to . do. 'But then, what could normal honest . parents do? How can you sit there and see that and say, "That's OK". 'I will be portrayed as a bitch – but what are you supposed to do? I had to do what was right. She won't thank us.' Chelsea Ives, pictured, could face . further charges after it emerged detectives want to question her about . incidents in Hackney, east London, during the rioting . | Chelsea Ives could face further charges as detectives want to question her about an incident in Hackney . |
109,850 | 199829e64f81d8ab65f6cc552c2ba1abcd86e80e | By . Sarah Griffiths . PUBLISHED: . 05:45 EST, 4 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:45 EST, 4 October 2013 . A neolithic bow and arrows that could have been used to hunt reindeer thousands of years ago, have been discovered in a patch of melting snow, archaeologists said. The ancient artefacts, the oldest of which is approximately 5,400-years-old, were found in the mountains of Norway. The scientists who came across them, believe the discovery demonstrates the worrying effects of climate change, as precious finds are being exposed. A neolithic bow and arrows that could have been used to hunt reindeer have been discovered in a patch of melting snow. The oldest of the arrows (pictured) is 5,400-years-old. The bow and arrow design is strikingly similar to those found in other frigid locales, such as the Yukon, the archaeologists said . The bow (pictured) made of elm, was about 3,800 years old, the archaeologists said . Martin Callanan, an archaeologist at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, told LiveScience: 'It's actually a little bit unnerving that they're so old and that they're coming out right now. It tells us there's something changing.' Dr Callanan and his team have spent recent summers hiking the Trollheim and Dovre mountains to study the rate of snow melt and trawl the area, south of Trondheim, for artefacts left behind by ancient hunters. They said the mountains tower some 6,200 feet above sea level and at their peaks, only rocks and snow are seen. Over the summers of 2010 and 2011 the team stumbled across a patch of melting snow that gave up an ancient bow and several arrows that had been buried in the hard snow-ice for centuries. Upon closer inspection they found the bow was made from elm wood, which grows at lower altitudes in the mountain range and near the coast, while the arrow tips were made from slate. However, they said in a study, published in the journal Antiquity, that after dating the finds they now believe the bow is 3,800-years-old, while the oldest arrow dates back an incredible 5,400-years. Dr Callanan and his team think the hunting tools were used by Stone Age men to kill reindeer, which keep cool in the summer by staying on the higher parts of the mountain range. The scientists suggest that the animals' cool retreat gave them a break from annoying insects and the heat, but their predictable patterns probably made them a relatively easy target for hunters. While there is no evidence of who the arrows and bows belonged to, but they are similar in design to some found thousands of miles away in similarly chilly environments. Dr Callanan (centre) and his team have spent recent summers hiking the Trollheim and Dovre mountains (pictured) to study the rate of snow melt and trawl the area, south of Trondheim, for artefacts left behind by ancient hunters . In 2010 and 2011, the team noticed that a snow patch that had been there for centuries had melted, revealing an ancient bow and arrows. Callanan and his team think the hunting tools (pictured) were used by Stone Age men to kill reindeer . Dr Callanan said: 'The people in Norway, they didn't have any contact with people in the Yukon, but they have the same type of adaptation.' However, he said that different cultures living in similar environments acted in the same way. While the find is no doubt a valuable insight into how stone age man lived thousands of years ago, another archaeologist who was not involved in the study, E. James Dixon, director of the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico, said that if climate chnage is causing the ancient snow to melt, it is bad for archaeology, . Artifacts can be preserved for thousands of years in the ice, but when it melts they can quickly decompose, he warned. 'For every artifact we find, there are probably hundreds, maybe thousands, that are lost and just destroyed forever,' Dr Dixon said. Other scientists believe global warming is leading to an increasing number of archaeological discoveries in cold and icy regions. Melting . snow has recently revealed a remarkably intact woolly jumper likely . worn by a fashion-conscious reindeer hunter some 1,700 years ago. The . find, which sheds more light on the life of people living in the Iron . Age, was found two years ago in Norway, but has recently been examined . by scientists. Marianne . Vedeler, from the University of Oslo and Lise Bender Jørgensen, from the . Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, told . Discovery News: 'Due to global warming, rapid melting of snow patches . and glaciers is taking place in the mountains of Norway as in other . parts of the world, and hundreds of archaeological finds emerge from the . ice each year.' The tunic was crafted from wool woven in diamond twill, which was apparently fashionable at the time and was made between 230 and 390 AD. It was worn by someone living in the hunting area of the Norwegian Lendbreen glacier, at around 6,560 feet above sea level, where it was found. | The ancient artefacts were found in the Trollheim and Dovre mountains a few hours south of Trondheim in Norway .
Archaeologists from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology believe the discovery demonstrates the worrying effects of climate change .
The bow is made from elm wood that would have been found on the lower part of the mountains, while the arrow tips are made from slate . |
123,813 | 2c108a9bb627fab4a09731e1536ec30e1e32802d | By . Simon Cable . PUBLISHED: . 04:37 EST, 16 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 23:54 EST, 16 September 2013 . Illness: Billy Connolly is being treated for the 'initial symptoms' of Parkinson's Disease and had an operation to deal with prostate cancer . Billy Connolly was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease during surgery for prostate cancer, it emerged yesterday. The 70-year-old comedian underwent an operation in the US which was ‘a total success’ but doctors spotted signs of the shaking disorder. Parkinson’s affects 127,000 Britons and symptoms include tremors while the victim rests, rigidity of muscles, slowness of movement, unsteady balance and memory loss. Connolly’s spokesman revealed that, despite the setback, the star will continue with his work commitments. She said: ‘Billy has been assured by experts that the findings will in no way inhibit or affect his ability to work, and he will start filming a TV series in the near future, as well as undertaking an extensive theatrical tour of New Zealand in the new year.’ Fans were concerned earlier this year when Connolly – nicknamed the Big Yin – admitted he had started to forget his lines during performances. A show at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast in April was marred by forgetful moments where he asked the audience what he was talking about. At the time, the father of five said: ‘This is terrifying. I feel like I’m going out of my mind.’ Connolly is staying at his home in New York. Actor Bob Hoskins, also 70, announced his retirement after he was diagnosed with the disease last year. Back To The Future actor Michael J Fox, now 52, was diagnosed as a sufferer at the age of 30. Parkinson’s is a chronic neurological disorder caused by a loss of brain cells that produce dopamine. There is no cure and scientists have been unable to establish the cause. Happy couple: Billy Connolly and his wife Pamela Stephenson, who have three daughters. The Big Yin has two children from his first marriage . Successful: Billy Connolly, left, filming in Scotland in July and arriving at a Dublin stand-up gig in April . Parkinson's is a chronic neurological disorder, characterised by a deficiency of dopamine. Actor Michael J. Fox and Muhammad Ali (right) are among the most famous people with it. The main symptoms are slowness of movement, stiffness of muscles and shaking. These tend to slowly worsen with time although the rate varies from patient to patient. There is currently no cure. About 5 in 1,000 people in their 60s, and about 40 in 1,000 people in their 80s have the condition. There is no cure for Parkinson's and scientists have been unable to work out why people get it. Symptoms can be controlled using a combination of drugs, therapies and occasionally surgery, but often more care and support may be needed as they progress. Sir Michael Parkinson, also battling . prostate cancer, helped launch Connolly’s career, inviting him to a . record nine appearances on his chat show. He said yesterday: ‘I spoke to . Billy before his surgery to wish my old friend well, and I’m pleased it . has all gone well. ‘I’m looking forward to seeing Billy back doing what he does best – making us all laugh.’ Singer . Bob Geldof said his ‘great friend’ – married to psychologist and . actress Pamela Stephenson – would not be deterred by his illness, . saying: ‘He’s helped me lots in my endeavours. 'Pam and Bill are great mates. He’s as strong as an ox mentally from everything he’s been through as a kid. ‘So I don’t think this will deter him from being that individual that we know.’ Former . television presenter Michael Barrymore added: ‘Thinking of you at this . time Billy, and the times you made me laugh and will again. You were so . kind to me.’ Steve . Ford, chief executive at Parkinson’s UK, said: ‘One person every hour . will be diagnosed with Parkinson’s in the UK. Despite this, it remains a . little understood condition and we salute Billy’s bravery in speaking . out about his condition at this difficult time.’ Coming to his aid: His audience cheered him on throughout the show despite his gaps in memory during this Irish show in April . Old problem: Billy's wife Pamela Stephenson said her husband's heavy drinking in the early stages of his career has contributed to his memory loss . 'There are 127,000 people in the UK, like Billy, living with Parkinson's. 'Parkinson's can be a very difficult . condition to diagnose, as no two people with Parkinson's are the same, . with symptoms - such a slowness of movement or tremor - changing on a . daily, or even hourly basis. 'Many . people, with the right medication, continue to live a full and active . live with Parkinson's, but for some, it can be life changing and it is . vital that Billy gets the support he needs to live with this complex . condition. 'We wish Billy and his family all the best as they come to terms with this upsetting diagnosis.' The disease was identified by - and named after - Dr James Parkinson who wrote An Essay On The Shaking Palsy in 1817 which established it as a recognised medical condition. Connolly was the first superstar of stand-up, but also built a successful career as an actor, starring in a series of blockbuster films. The 70-year-old has also presented some hugely successful travel programmes, often linked to his stand-up tours. Connolly was made a CBE in the 2003 Queen's Birthday Honours and awarded the freedom his home city in 2010. In his pomp: Billy and Michael Parkinson on his chat show, which helped catapult him to stardom. The comedian appeared a record times . Royal approval: The Queen and Billy Connolly at an event at Windsor Castle this year. The star was made a CBE in the 2003 Queen's Birthday Honours list . | Scottish star to continue on TV and stage as operation was a 'total success'
70-year-old's Parkinson's will 'in no way inhibit or .
affect his ability to work'
Comedian admitted earlier this year that he struggled remembering jokes .
'This is f****** terrifying. I feel like I’m going out of my mind,' he said in April . |
248,173 | cd229f0a9beb9a99c67df6041403a136b0057ca7 | Prince Harry's ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy added a touch of glamour to the annual L'Ormarins Queen's Plate in Cape Town over the weekend. The South African-born beauty wore a cobalt dress, in accordance with the prestigious riding event's blue and white dress code, as she joined her brother Shaun and a few friends at a restaurant for a quick drink before heading to the equestrian event. Chelsy, 29, and her female friend complemented each other in similar short blue dresses worn with wedges on Saturday. Scroll down for video . Chelsy Davy met up with her brother Shaun and a few friends at a restaurant in Cape Town for a quick drink before heading out to the annual L'Ormarins Queen's Plate over the weekend . Chelsy showed off her tanned and toned legs in her cobalt blue dress as she made her way to meet her friends (left). She appeared to change handbags and restyle her hair later in the day (right) Stella McCartney draped ruffle front dress (Now $1,242.50) Find a similar style at Farfetch . Visit site . She might not mingle with the Royal Family anymore, but Prince Harry's ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy still has a penchant for all things posh, such as the annual L'Ormarins Queen's Plate in Cape Town. And there's no denying her dress sense is very Duchess-esque. Nude wedge heels and a classic cobalt dress by Stella McCartney? We could be describing the Duchess of Cambridge's wardrobe! We love the flattering frill in front of Chelsy's dress, which features a belted waist and V-neck. It's perfect for styling up or down depending on the occasion, plus the bold cobalt hue is bang on trend this season, with labels like Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga and Victoria Beckham all showing the shade on the runway. Chelsy's version is unfortunately all sold out, but click the link (right) to get a similar long-sleeved number now on sale at Farfetch. If your New Year's resolution is to cut back on clothes shopping, save a few hundred dollars by checking out our edit below. This Asos version is our favourite, or get a bargain at Forever 21. Asos River Island River Island Deep V Peplum Pencil Body-Conscious Dress . Visit site . Foever 21 Crepe Ladder-Cutout Sheath Dress . Visit site . Bobi Knit Boucle Bodycon Dress . Visit site . Tahari Seamed A-Line Dress . Visit site . The group struggled to get a taxi to the races, as the area was congested with road closures while the country's leading political party, the ANC, celebrated their 103rd Birthday party at the nearby Cape Town stadium. Nearly 100,000 people were drawn to the area to join in the celebrations. Chelsy and her group eventually managed to arrange an UberBlack taxi to get them to the races in style. The event, now in its 154th year, is widely regarded as the first prestigious equestrian event of the year and attracts the glossiest locals. As well as 12 races, the illustrious races offer lavish entertainment and after-parties with a strict white and blue dress code. The South African-born beauty wore a cobalt dress, in accordance with the prestigious riding event's dress code, which mandates that attendees wear blue and white, as she joined her friends for a quick drink . Earlier in the day, Prince Harry's ex-girlfriend was seen lugging a suitcase in her race day outfit . The group struggled to get a taxi to the races, as the area was congested with road closures while the country's leading political party, the ANC, celebrated their 103rd Birthday party nearby . Chelsea was last seen out and about in the UK in December where she reunited with Prince Harry at a charity carol concert in Chelsea. Chelsy, who remains a close friend of Prince Harry, heard both Harry and William pay heartfelt tribute to their friend Henry van Straubenzee, who was killed in a car crash in 2002 aged just 18 years old. Since his death, the foundation set up in his memory has raised enough money to support the education of more than 26,000 children in 39 schools across Uganda. Chelsy and her friends attempted to hail a cab to the Cape Town event, which is now in its 154th year . Chelsy, 29, and her female friend wore matching short blue dresses with wedges on Saturday . As well as 12 races, the illustrious event offers lavish entertainment and after-parties . | Prince Harry's ex joined friends for drinks ahead of glitzy racing event .
South African-born beauty, 29, wore a cobalt blue dress and wedges .
The day of 12 races, in its 154th year, attracts a local who's who . |
144,455 | 46d0b41e7a934646967a75e414ea4f498eb9b10d | A couple who trafficked vulnerable young women into the UK and forced them into sham marriages have been jailed for three years . Abdullah Saleem and his wife Anna Styputkowska were the ringleaders of a bogus marriage operation in Slough, Berkshire, where they used false advertisements of well-paid jobs to entice girls from Poland. The girls were then set up with non-EU men who 24-year-old Saleem had lined up. Jailed: Abdullah Saleem (left) and his wife Anna Styputkowska were the ringleaders of a bogus marriage gang, with the latter attracting girls from her native Poland by falsely advertising well paid jobs in the UK . The pair were caught after one of three girls they had brought to the UK, Estera Sztogryn, who believed she was going to be working as a cleaner, escaped from a house where they were holding her. After being arrested and then released on bail, Saleem and 21-year-old Styputkowska tried to flea the country but were apprehended at Dover where officials discovered them hiding in the back of a lorry bound for France. Sentencing the couple at Reading Crown Court, Judge Zoe Smith said arranging sham marriages to get around immigration rules was a very serious offence. Fake adverts were placed on Polish websites and Facebook to tempt girls into moving to the UK. The prosecution said three girls were found when police swooped on houses in Slough, Berkshire, that were part of the ring. All from poor backgrounds and needed money. One of them, 21-year-old Estera, needed money to pay for her mother’s cancer treatment. Escape plan: Saleem and 21-year-old Styputkowska made a bid for freedom but were found trying to smuggle their way out of the country in the back of a lorry in Dover that was bound for France (file picture) She arrived in the UK on August 28 last year, where she was met by the defendants at Luton Airport and taken to a house in Whitby Road, Slough, where Saleem and Styputkowska lived. Prosecutor Wendy Hewitt said: 'At that point she was still under the impression that the employment and accommodation would involve something like cleaning.' She was allowed out of the house at times but only under supervision. Estera first became alarmed about what was going on when she overheard the defendants talking about transferring her to another house and raised her fears with Styputkowska. Miss Hewitt said: 'The conversation goes along the lines of ‘don’t make us angry about this’. 'The following day she is told to pack and the Crown says it is made plain that she is not to argue with them any longer about it.''She became tearful about it. She is told she has to go along with it.' The girl was then taken to a house in Tintern Close, Slough, where she was left with another man, who told her she would have to have sex with her new husband to make the marriage appear real. Estera was able to escape from the house on August 30 and call police, who then raided both addresses. Case: Reading Crown Court heard that Styputkowska had herself originally been brought to the UK as part of a sham marriage arrangement but 'didn¿t like the look of' the man she was expected to marry. At the Whitby Road home they found two other Polish girls, Justyna Hajkowska, aged 18 years, and Barbara Dzielak, aged 27 years. They had originally been going to take part in a sham marriage in Ireland but did not like the arrangements and got in touch with Styputkowska after remembering her advert. The defendants were arrested and interviewed on September 2 before being released on bail. On September 8 they were found with 23 other people in the back of the lorry headed for France and arrested again. 'They were both trying to leave the country before any further steps could be taken in these proceedings,' said Miss Hewitt. The court heard that Styputkowska had herself originally been brought to the UK as part of a sham marriage arrangement but 'didn’t like the look of' the man she was expected to marry. She then met Saleem and they married legitimately. Fake: When police searched an address on Whitby Road in Slough, they found three girls who had become victims of the scam . The prosecutor said there was no evidence any marriages had actually taken place as part of the defendants’ arrangement or that any money had changed hands. Defending a tearful Styputkowska, Kate Hughes said: 'My client is regretful of the choices she has made. 'She looks forward to living a completely crime free life upon release.' Saleem’s defence representative, Stephen Butt, said it had not been a large conspiracy and not many people were involved. At a hearing on December 16 the pair pleaded guilty to conspiracy to do an act to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law. | Abdullah Saleem and Anna Styputkowska were the leaders of operation .
Attracted girls from Poland by falsely advertising jobs in the UK .
Girls were then married to non-EU men who Saleem had lined up .
Tried to flea the UK after being arrested, but were caught at Dover .
Judge at Reading Crown Court condemned their 'serious offence' |
134,677 | 3a2c3a802a6ba947ce0c432c9d99e3c0e69fc18f | (CNN) -- At the Group of 20 summit in Mexico, President Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin had their first face-to-face meeting since Putin resumed the Russian presidency in May. The joint statement they issued afterward indicated several issues (including Iran and Syria) that the two sides would seek to cooperate on, but it did not announce any significant agreements to do so. More telling were the visual images when the two presidents were together; Obama appeared to be doing his best to project an image of warmth and friendliness, while Putin was stiff and reserved, as he usually is with other world leaders. It appeared that Obama was earnestly seeking to befriend Putin, but Putin was not reciprocating. Why would Putin behave this way? It may be because, unlike Obama, he may not be looking for opportunities to cooperate, nor be embarrassed about forgoing them. He appears to have a much more transactional approach to foreign policy, running something like this: Washington wants Moscow to adopt the American approach to Iran and Syria and several other issues. But it is unwilling to make concessions to Moscow to get it. Two such concessions would be abandoning ballistic-missile defense plans that Moscow finds threatening and repealing the Cold War-era Jackson-Vanik Amendment that continues to limit Russian-American trade. But much to Moscow's frustration, Washington is either unwilling or unable to accommodate Russia. So why should Russia accommodate America? News: Obama and Putin discuss Syria, other topics during two-hour talk . The Obama administration would undoubtedly respond that surely Putin does not want Iran to acquire nuclear weapons, and thus should fully cooperate with the international effort to prevent this. And as Benjamin Rhodes, Obama's director for strategic communications at the National Security Council, was quoted as saying Monday about Syria, "We've been working to get the Russians to come in line with, frankly, the broad international community. This is not just an issue between the United States and Russia." Surely Russia would not want to defy the "broad international community" on Syria. Especially when it comes to Syria though, Putin and the Russian foreign policy establishment believe that America and the "broad international community" have missed the point. As bad as Bashar al-Assad's regime may be, Russia believes its downfall will be far worse for everyone, and not just Russia. The Russians believe the most likely consequence would be the rise of a radical Sunni regime or a drawn-out civil war. Either way, far more people will be killed. Nor does Moscow see increasing sanctions -- much less the use of force -- as being effective in resolving the Iranian nuclear crisis. Moscow doesn't see itself as willfully and wrongly defying "the broad international community." It genuinely believes that America and its Western allies are pursuing misguided policies toward Syria and Iran. For Obama to think he can get Moscow to adopt the American approach without compensation is simply an insult to Putin. The Obama administration needs to understand that America cannot have its borscht and eat it, too. If it wants Russia's cooperation on Syria and Iran, it is going to have to make significant concessions to Moscow on other issues. Washington must now decide whether the cooperation it wants from Russia is really worth that. Syria exposes cool spots in U.S.-Russia ties . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Mark N. Katz. | Mark Katz: Obama and Putin said they'd cooperate but didn't say how they would .
He says Obama appeared to want to befriend Putin at G-20, but Putin was stiff and reserved .
He says if U.S. won't accommodate Russia, Russia won't accommodate U.S.
Katz: Russia thinks U.S. mistaken on Syria and regime's ouster will bring worse carnage . |
250,893 | d0b4a2170d1055068361e1a18204ce4649adfa04 | A pensioner who was hit by a car and knocked unconscious was left lying in the road bleeding because an ambulance failed to turn up for 90 minutes. Margaret Freeborn, 69, was walking to a church meeting when she was hit by a car at a pelican crossing in Atherton, Greater Manchester. Police shut the road and an ambulance was called but one did not turn up to help Mrs Freeborn, who was lying on the ground and bleeding from the head, for almost two hours. Mrs Freeborn is still being treated in hospital for her injuries after the accident, which took place more than a week ago. She has been left with torn ligaments and severe bruises. Margaret Freeborn, 69, was left lying in the road waiting for an ambulance for 90 minutes after she was hit by a car while on her way to a church meeting in Atherton, Greater Manchester. She was left with severe bruising . Tania Freeborn-Hulme, Mrs Freeborn's daughter, lives near the site of the crash in Mealhouse Lane in Atherton, and ran out to help her mother. 'No one came, no rapid response, no paramedics - no one,' said Mrs Freeborn-Hulme. 'She was lying on the floor for almost two hours with only witnesses and bystanders to help. 'She was bleeding from her head and unconscious at first. The hospital couldn't believe that she'd not broken anything other than her nose. 'Her ligaments in both legs are torn and she is black and blue all over. 'It was devastating seeing her like that. We are angry that she could be left in the road all that time in pain, the police arrived fairly quickly but couldn't do anything other than stop the traffic. Mrs Freeborn, 69, is still in hospital being treated for her injuries after the accident more than a week ago . Tania Freeborn-Hulme (left) said her mother Margaret, 69, was left lying on the road bleeding after the crash . Mrs Freeborn is still badly bruised more than a week after she was knocked unconscious by the car . The accident happened at about 7.45pm but an ambulance did not turn up until 9.20pm. National targets stipulate that ambulances should respond to 75 per cent of cases deemed as the most urgent, life threatening within seven minutes. Other targets are set locally. North West Ambulance Service also has green categories, where for patients who require an ambulance but are not seen as being in a life threatening condition, paramedics should arrive within 30 minutes. A spokeswoman from the ambulance service said the call was classed as a 'green 2', based on the information given by the caller.Paramedics breached their own target by an hour, as this call requires an ambulance to attend within 30 minutes. Police cordoned off the road but paramedics still did not arrive to help the pensioner for 90 minutes . Mrs Freeborn-Hulme added: 'A witness called an ambulance immediately, yet one did not arrive until around 9.20pm. 'We were told that an ambulance had been allocated at 9.07pm but it still did not arrive until about 9.20pm.' Mrs Freeborn was going to a meeting at Bag Lane Methodist Church in Atherton, when she was hit by a Nissan Juke as she crossed the road on November 19. Her brother Glyn Williams, who also lives nearby but was not able to get through the police road blocks, said: 'There were police everywhere but she was just left there crying in the middle of the road because there was no one else there.' The 69-year-old was taken to Royal Bolton Hospital and then transferred to Salford Royal Hospital where she is still receiving treatment for her injuries. The North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust confirmed that they received the call at 7.47pm but said the crew arrived on scene at 9.07pm. A spokesman said: 'We understand that waiting for an ambulance can be distressing and we are sorry for any upset caused to the patient and their family. 'We take complaints about our service extremely seriously and would urge the patient or family to contact us as soon as possible so we can investigate the reasons behind the delay.' A police spokesman said they were treating it as an accident and they would not be taking any action against the driver. | WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT .
Margaret Freeborn was crossing road in Atherton when she was hit by car .
Witnesses called ambulance but she was left lying in road for 90 minutes .
The 69-year-old was knocked unconscious and broke her nose in crash .
She suffered severe bruising, cuts and torn ligaments from the accident .
Pensioner still in hospital being treated after crash more than week ago .
Ambulance service apologised for 'any upset' caused to her and her family . |
17,563 | 31c459f3319359ae56178d690d43d900099ff276 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . UPDATED: . 22:39 EST, 4 January 2012 . A former middle school teacher surrendered to authorities Tuesday to face a three-year jail sentence after having sex with a student and offering a plea deal to avoid a sex offender label. Kristen Nicole Sullivan, 27, from Broward, Florida, will serve three years in prison followed by five years probation after the 13-year-old boy's girlfriend discovered the year-long relationship from a cell phone Sullivan purchased him for his 14th birthday. During her probation she will not be allowed to teach children though she narrowly escaped being permanently labeled a sex offender with her decision to serve jail time instead. Serious charges: Kristen Nicole Sullivan, 27, will serve three years behind bars after a year-long sexual relationship with a boy, 13 . 'This way, she doesn't have to register as a sex offender, which would follow you the rest of your life,' Sullivan's attorney Bradford Cohen told the Sun Sentinel. Mr Cohen admitted Sullivan 'should have known better,' explaining it as 'a serious lapse in judgement.' Jail time plea: The middle school teacher, 27, made a plea agreement to avoid being labeled a sex offender . Sullivan, charged with two counts of sexual battery on a victim between 12 and 17 years of age by a person with custodial authority, originally faced up to 30 years for these two counts alone. She was also charged, however, with two counts of lewd and lascivious battery on a victim between 12 and 16 years of age that could have been punishable by up to an additional 15 years in prison. She was arrested in April 2010 after . the victim's girlfriend, both students at Lauderhill Middle School, . reported the affair to the police. The teen was in Sullivan's computer class. Near the end of the school year, he . told investigators that Sullivan had his C grade in science changed to a B. Then, . one day in May 2009, he called her and asked for sex, according to the . Miami Herald. She told him they would 'talk about it'. Scene: The teen alleges that they first had sex in a computer room at Lauderhill Middle School which she denies . He claims they then had sex in the computer room the next morning, but she denies this. When . his girlfriend found messages which read: 'I’m tired of being the one . chasing you' and 'Why are you ignoring me?' he confessed that he had a . relationship with her. Police monitored a telephone call between the student and Sullivan on . April 19, 2010, confirming the sexual nature of the relationship, . according to the report. The reason she was given such a light . sentence is because the prosecutors acknowledged that it was the . student and not she who was the pursuer. | Kristen Nicole Sullivan will serve jail time instead of receiving a sex offender label .
Her light sentence was given because the student was identified as the pursuer in their year-long relationship . |
218,340 | a6aa6fdb0f3012177edece518fc59ac09d5cf51a | Manchester United have recalled Reece James from his loan spell at Rotherham United amid interest from Premier League and Championship clubs. The 21-year-old has impressed under Steve Evans at the New York Stadium where he has played eight games since joining on an emergency loan at the end of November. However, his form has alerted other clubs who are looking to strengthen their defence in the January window. Manchester United youngster Reece James (second right) has been recalled from Rotherham United . Evans said: 'He is an outstanding young left back or indeed can be utilised further forward as and when needed.' James had a successful pre-season with United on their US tour, notably scoring twice against LA Galaxy, and excited coach Louis van Gaal, but he has been pushed down the pecking order after injury and the subsequent return of England international Luke Shaw. He is out of contract in the summer and is now considering his options with the next step an important one in his career. James is unlikely to get a chance in the United first team due to the return of Luke Shaw (pictured) from injury . Norwegian side Sandefjord have opened the door for controversial striker Ched Evans to join them - although the Ministry of Justice have said it would be 'difficult or impossible' for him to play abroad, unless he is successful in the appeal against his conviction. This is due to the terms of his licence, which state Evans needs to meet regularly with their offender manager which would be difficult to do abroad.. The convicted rapist is struggling to get a club in England as the adverse publicity and public reaction puts off clubs and sponsors alike. However, former Nottingham Forest and Derby County midfielder Lars Bohinen is manager of Sandefjord and has confirmed he would give Evans a chance. Convicted rapist Ched Evans may be given route back into football in Norway - but only if his appeal succeeds . Bohinen said: 'I believe that when you have served your sentence, then a person should not be punished anymore. You should not be charged for it later. 'Yes, I would not have any problems [signing Evans if he performed during a trial]. It would be terrible if we would not let convicted people get back into the workforce.' Talking to Dagbladet, he added: 'In theory, there should not be any issue with the club's sponsors. But the mechanism of football is such that you can quickly become influenced by sponsors today. 'It will cost society more should convicts not go back to a job. If you have you made a mistake there should not be any obstacle [to returning to work].' Norwegian side Sandefjord's manager has revealed he would consider giving Evans a trial . Roma are weighing up an offer for Tottenham Hotspur striker Emmanuel Adebayor. Coach Rudi Garcia is looking for alternatives as striker Mattia Destro is in talks with various clubs but particularly AC Milan. Adebayor is a player Garcia knows well and Roma have a good relationship with Tottenham. His wages are a concern but Roma are the calibre of club Adebayor would like to join. Roma are weighing up an offer for Tottenham Hotspur striker Emmanuel Adebayor . Tottenham have potential targets in the shape of Burnley's Danny Ings and Carlos Bacca at Sevilla should Adebayor go. They are awaiting bids for Aaron Lennon from Everton, Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion. Spurs also expect more talks with Juventus over Paulinho and offers for captain Younes Kaboul but most of their incomings are being considered for summer. Spurs captain Younes Kaboul (right) could be heading out of White Hart Lane if offers come in . Chelsea winger Mohamed Salah is wanted on loan by Bundesliga side Hamburg but the Egyptian is holding out for a better move. It is understood he has also been offered to Fiorentina, who want to send back Marko Marin and are trying to offload big-earner Mario Gomez in the process, but the Italians have other priorities. Marin is wanted on loan at Wolfsburg, who could look to make the move permanent. Mohamed Salah (right) of Chelsea is wanted by Hamburg on loan but he wants to hold out for a better move . Fiorentina are also looking to offload former Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani. The 30-year-old playmaker is available on a free transfer. Meanwhile, Chelsea youngster Nathaniel Chalobah's proposed loan move to Bordeaux has broken down. Similar to the position of Hatem Ben Arfa, Chalobah had already played Chelsea's Under 21 side, which counts as an official match before going on loan to Burnley. Therefore Bordeaux would be the third, which is against FIFA regulations. The breakdown of the move has been confirmed by Bordeaux president Jean-Louis Triaud. Ben Arfa's case is the subject of an emergency meeting called by France's Legal Affairs Committee of the LFP (Professional Football League) on Thursday afternoon. Nathaniel Chabolah, who has been loaned to Burnley this season, has seen his move to Bordeaux threatened . Lille have had an offer rejected for Ajax’s Icelandic forward Kolbeinn Sigthorsson. The deal is of significance in the Premier League as, should it go through, it would allow Liverpool to bring forward the signing of Divock Origi from Lille. That would then trigger West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace to renew interest in Rickie Lambert. Lille, who are also pursuing Benfica’s Derley, have offered around £4million for Sigthorsson, who was a target for Queens Park Rangers before their budget was slashed. Lille forward Divock Origi's move to Liverpool could be quickened if the French club sign another forward . Stoke City defender Robert Huth is a target for Fulham and Watford. The combative centre back wants to move to a Premier League side but Stoke like the idea of him going to the Championship as it will allow them to recall the 30-year-old should they pick up injuries. The Berlin-born former Chelsea defender would prefer a permanent move however to a Premier League side. Stoke City defender Robert Huth is a target for Championship sides Fulham and Watford . West Bromwich Albion have been mentioned but manager Tony Pulis is reluctant to go back for players from his former club. Fulham boss Kit Symons wants experience to aid the youngsters in his side as they look to jump up the Championship table. West Brom are also among clubs considering a £4m bid for Lokomotiv Moscow's Vedran Corluka. West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis is unlikely to move for his former defender Huth . Santos made a late move to sign Samuel Eto'o on Wednesday night but the Everton striker seems intent on a return to Italy with Sampdoria. The Brazilian club offered five-million euros (£3.8m) over two seasons for the 33-year-old. But, despite the lure of joining such a famous club, he is keen on a return to Italy. Santos made a late move to sign Everton's Samuel Eto'o but he wants to return to Italy with Sampdoria . Brighton & Hove Albion are showing interest in Tranmere Rovers midfielder Max Power after he turned down the offer of a new contract. Power has been at Tranmere since the age of eight but is out of contract in the summer and has drawn attention from various clubs with some eye-catching performances and 10 goals this season, including one against Swansea City in the FA Cup. Celtic, Rangers, Burnley and Sheffield Wednesday have all sent scouts to watch him but Brighton are now also in the race for his signature. Tranmere could sell in this window or take the option of compensation when the 21-year-old leaves in the summer. Brighton & Hove Albion have joined a host of clubs chasing the signature of Max Power from Tranmere Rovers . Bristol City manager Steve Cotterill has confirmed his interest in signing George Saville on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers and will also look to add James Tavernier on loan from Wigan Athletic. Cotterill was dealt a blow when Todd Kane left to join Nottingham Forest but the Bristol City boss has identified former Newcastle United defender Tavernier, 22, as a player who can add energy to his side's promotion drive. Cotterill, who faces West Ham United in the FA Cup, has guided his side to level on points with Swindon Town at the top of League One with a game in hand. Bristol City want to sign George Saville (left) on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers . Orlando City will confirm the signing of Martin Paterson from Huddersfield Town on Wednesday. Barnsley have released midfielder Keith Treacy by mutual consent. The 26-year-old, who helped Burnley win promotion to the Premier League last season before being released in May, was less than six months into a two-year deal with Barnsley. Barnsley have released former Burnley midfielder Keith Treacy (right) | Roma could make an offer for Tottenham Hotspur's Emmanuel Adebayor .
Convicted rapist Ched Evans could be given a chance to play in Norway .
Sandefjord boss Lars Bohinen says he would give the striker a trial .
Hamburg want Chelsea's Mohamed Salah on loan but he is not keen .
Manchester United have recalled Reece James from Rotherham United .
There is a growing interest from Premier League sides in James .
Click here for more transfer news . |
93,981 | 04d54e00c735204d8038be21a1822c3679890ff1 | Researchers have developed the first genetic strain of mice that can be infected with Ebola and display symptoms similar to those that humans experience. The breakthrough could significantly speed up the development of vaccines for the killer virus, researchers say. Until now, researchers have struggled to test vaccines effectively. Researchers were able to breed together eight genetic mouse variants and successfully test a strain of mice to permit active research on potential Ebola vaccines and treatments. Typical laboratory mice usually do not develop human-like Ebola disease, including the severe symptoms that can prove fatal in humans. Researchers were able to breed together eight genetic mouse variants and successfully test a strain of mice to permit active research on potential Ebola vaccines and treatments. This model system more accurately reflected the human experience when infected with the virus. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, work, published in the current issue of Science, will significantly improve basic research on Ebola treatments and vaccines, which are desperately needed to curb the worldwide public health and economic toll of the disease. 'You can't look for a cure for Ebola unless you have an animal model that mimics the Ebola virus disease spectra,' said study co-author Ralph Baric, professor of epidemiology at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and UNC School of Medicine. 'For the first time, we were able to produce a novel platform for rapidly developing new mouse models that replicate human disease for this virus, as well as other important emerging human pathogens.' Typical laboratory mice usually do not develop human-like Ebola disease, including the severe symptoms that can prove fatal in humans. So the researchers asked whether all mice are immune to Ebola, or whether some strains of mice are susceptible; and if some are susceptible, could they harness the power of mouse genetics to figure out what genes make someone susceptible to the disease. Typical laboratory mice usually do not develop human-like Ebola disease, including the severe symptoms that can prove fatal in humans. To find out, the team, including researchers from the University of Washington and the NIH Rocky Mountain National Laboratory, where the research took place, were able to breed together eight genetic mouse variants and successfully test a strain of mice to permit active research on potential Ebola vaccines and treatments. This model system more accurately reflected the human experience when infected with the virus. The team was able to show that a combination of genes were involved in producing a range of disease symptoms, such that the genetic variation of the mice directly led to the variety of symptoms that the disease produced. What's more, the researchers pinpointed a single gene that accounted for much of that variation – a gene responsible for encoding a protein known as TEK. William Fischer II, MD, an assistant professor of medicine who has treated Ebola patients in Africa, said, 'A basic understanding of how our genetics influence susceptibility to viral infections and affect disease development is absolutely critical to creating much needed therapeutic interventions.' Fischer, who was not part of this research project, added, 'We can decrease Ebola fatality rates with intensive critical care but this is difficult to do in places with limited human and material resources. 'Rationally designed treatments and vaccines are desperately needed.' | Researchers were able to breed together eight genetic mouse variants .
New strain can be infected with Ebola and display symptoms similar to those humans experience . |
106,569 | 1571af0da760b5b503fd1de4605824b75f5f8e23 | Glamorous in a tailored grey suit and beige silk shirt, Spain's Queen Letizia was every inch the professional as she toured a tourism fair - even when confronted by a man in fancy dress. The Spanish royal, 42, was visiting the FITUR International Tourism Fair in Madrid when a well-wisher in a grey robe approached, brandishing a map. Ever composed, Letizia and husband King Felipe, who celebrates his 47th birthday on Friday, smiled broadly at the man before inspecting the map and moving on. Scroll down for video . Interesting choice! A well-wisher in fancy dress approached the Spanish royals during a visit in Madrid . Today's visit is the latest in a busy week for the Spanish royal couple, with Letizia yesterday attending the board meeting of FEDER, the Spanish Federation of Rare Diseases. Despite the serious subject matter, the royal appeared to enjoy the event and smiled happily at waiting photographers as she left. The meeting with FEDER was a bit of a departure for Letizia who, until now, has focused her efforts on championing Spanish culture and the plight of disabled people, although latterly, health has become something of a preoccupation. Last week, she compered a meeting of the Spanish Association Against Cancer, an organisation of which she is president. All smiles: Letizia appeared to be on top form as she toured the tourism event and met well-wishers . Sharp: The Spanish queen was glamorous in a sharply tailored suit and neat beige silk shirt . Come to Spain: Felipe made a speech at the event, which hopes to showcase the many beauties of Spain . A day later and she was back on the cultural beat, joining husband King Felipe for the opening of a museum in Pamplona. During the couple's tour of Museum of the University of Navarra, they were shown a contemporary art exhibition which included pieces by a number of Spanish greats, among them Pablo Picasso. Letizia's latest meeting comes shortly after the Spanish royal family was left reeling by news that a woman claiming to be the love child of former king Juan Carlos has come forward. Ingrid Sartiau, 47, has been given the green light to take her battle for recognition by the royals forward to the Spanish Supreme Court - if she can prove her story is true. Listening in: Letizia stood proudly at the edge of the stage as Felipe made his speech . Busy: The Spanish royals have had a busy week so far with plenty of engagements scheduled in . Low key: Spain's Queen Letizia arrives on foot for the board meeting of FEDER in Madrid yesterday morning . No car: She was without a car or flunkies and was accompanied by a single bodyguard . According to Ms Sartiau, she is the product of a three-night liaison between her mother Liliane, a Belgian governess, and the now 76-year-old royal in 1966. Although by then a married 28-year-old father of two, an affair would hardly have been out of character for Juan-Carlos. Throughout his marriage 'Don Juan' is said to have bedded some 1,500 women, including an alleged affair with Princess Diana while on a cruise with their spouses in August 1986. Ms Sartiau herself had no idea of the identity of her father for more than 40 years, only being told his name in 2011. Although Spanish courts rejected her paternity claims twice on the grounds that a monarch could not be subjected to such tests, Juan-Carlos' abdication last year has paved the way for a new attempt. Concerned: Letizia has been championing an increasing number of health related causes in recent weeks . Looking cool: Letizia donned a pair of stylish aviator sunglasses as she made her exit . | The Spanish royals were visiting the FITUR International Tourism Fair .
A well-wisher in fancy dress approached the couple to show them a map .
Royals both looked businesslike in suits and sensible shoes .
King Felipe, who celebrates his 47th birthday on Friday, made a speech . |
135,086 | 3ac070572b5f3d7031e11c3470df4a3f105a3176 | A former Army psychiatrist who killed 13 people in a shooting spree at an army base in Texas has reportedly written a letter to the Pope praising Islamist jihad. Nidal Hasan, who opened fire at Fort Hood on fellow service personnel at Fort Hood in 2009, has apparently composed the letter under the acronym SoA, thought to mean Soldier of Allah. It is believed he has now directed his attorney John Galligan to send on the six-page, handwritten letter to Pope Francis. Scroll down for video . Nidal Hasan, the former Army psychiatrist who killed 13 people in a shooting spree at Fort Hood, Texas. He has now wrote a letter to the Pope, where he praises Islamic jihad . The letter, written by Hasan for the Pontiff, pictured, is reportedly entitled 'A Warning to Pope Francis, Members of the Vatican and Other Religious Leaders Around The World' According to Fox News, who have seen the letter, it is entitled 'A Warning to Pope Francis, Members of The Vatican, and Other Religious Leaders Around the World.' In a subsection titled, Jihad, he praises 'The willingness to fight for All-Mighty Allah'. He also states that 'fighters... have a greater rank in the eyes of Allah than believers who don't fight.' Mr Galligan says the letter reinforces how religious zeal underscores his actions and mental processes. However families of the victims say it is clear that Hasan is trying to use jihad as a way of justifying the Fort Hood tragedy. The letter comes just over a month after it was reported that Hasan also wrote to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Hasan had previously written a letter to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, saying it would be an honour to join the caliphate . In it he said that it would be an 'an honor' to join the caliphate and has made request to be made a 'citizen' of the Islamic State. Hasan is currently on death row at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas after the shooting on November 5, killing 13 and injuring 30 others. During the incident he walked into the Fort Hood medical readiness building carrying two guns and several magazines of ammunition. He shouted 'Allahu Akbar!' - Arabic for 'God is great!' - and opened fire on soldiers awaiting medical tests and vaccines. First responders attend Fort Hood in November 2009, after Hasan opened fire on fellow service personnel, killing 13 and injuring 30 others . Mourners at a memorial service to remember those who died during the gun attack. The families of Fort Hood victims say Hasan is trying to use jihad as a way of justifying the Fort Hood tragedy . He was shot and paralyzed from the waist down in the resulting gunfire and was sentenced to death last year. Hasan described himself at trial as a soldier who 'switched sides' in a supposed war between America and Islam. Government lawyers also said Hasan did not want to go on an impending deployment to Afghanistan. Earlier this year FBI Director James Comey testified that he believed the shooting carried out by Hasan at Fort Hood in Texas was inspired by al-Qaeda. The federal government has termed the attack an incidence of 'workplace violence,' saying that the home-grown Hasan didn't meet the legal definition of an international terrorist. | Nidal Hassan has reportedly written a letter intended for Pope Francis .
In it he writes about Islamist jihad praising those 'who are willing to fight'
Has directed his attorney to send the six-page letter on to the Pontiff .
Comes after another letter he wrote to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi .
Hasan killed 13 and injured 30 in 2009 mass shooting at Fort Hood, Texas . |
192,277 | 84f3be9a5979dfcccaf795b0123f3396b623b98b | Britain has been told to pay more than £10 million in unemployment benefit to eastern European migrants who have left Britain, returned home and now cannot find a job. Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia have demanded that Iain Duncan Smith’s department funds their jobless citizens because they once worked and paid national insurance in the UK. His department has refused because the migrants had not worked in the UK long enough to claim, but the three countries have threatened to issue a diplomatic protest. Czech labour minister Michaela Marksova-Tominova (right) said Britain owed her country £3million in benefits under EU rules but Iain Duncan Smith (left) has refused to pay because the migrants didn't work long enough . Czech labour minister Michaela Marksova-Tominova said Britain owed her country £3million in these benefits under European Union rules. Britain has already paid £800,000 under these rules, but she is writing to Mr Duncan Smith, the Work and Pensions Secretary, demanding another £2.2million. Barbora Petrova of the Slovakian labour ministry said her government was seeking £4.9million from Britain in outstanding unemployment benefits, while Poland is making a multi-million-pound claim but has not revealed the exact figure. It is understood the three countries’ ambassadors have demanded a meeting with Sir Ivan Rogers, the British permanent representative to the EU, to issue an official diplomatic protest. Mrs Marksova-Tominova said: ‘I expect this meeting to resolve the situation.’ If not, the situation could escalate when Mr Duncan Smith attends a meeting of EU employment ministers next month. An EU agreement means that citizens of one country who work in another are entitled to out-of-work benefits if they have paid national insurance for a certain period. In the UK the threshold is two years, but in other European countries it is as low as six months. The three countries claim the situation began two years ago when the rules in the UK changed. If they succeed in getting the money, it could open the doors to claims from other European countries – many of which have high unemployment rates. An EU agreement means citizens of one country who work in another are entitled to out-of-work benefits if they have paid national insurance for a certain period. The threshold is two years in the UK, but lower elsewhere . A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: ‘This Government does not pay benefits to someone in another country when they would not have been eligible for them in the UK. We are working with our counterparts across Europe on this issue.’ Andrew Rosindell, the Tory MP for Romford said: ‘I find this astonishing. People who come here to work should only be paid benefits if they have fully paid into the system for a long time. ‘If they are entitled to go home and then claim more than British citizens can, then the system needs looking at.’ Jonathan Isaby, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: ‘Britain must of course meet legal requirements, but the Government needs to push Brussels to address this ludicrous situation before any more taxpayers’ money is wasted. ‘Taxpayers here will be baffled that it’s apparently their responsibility to pay benefit bills in foreign countries.’ Officials said the Government does reimburse other countries when migrants have paid enough in natural insurance that they would be eligible for unemployment benefit in the UK. Jobseekers Allowance at up to £72.40 a week is just one of the benefits which can be claimed abroad. Child benefit is paid to the children of migrants from the European Union, even if they do not live in the UK. British citizens who live abroad can also claim some benefits including the winter fuel payment, even if they live in a hot climate. The Czech Republic was the first to ask for unpaid unemployment benefits. Employment ministry spokesman Petr Sulek said: ‘Great Britain is the only European union country which does not accept the European regulation and its attitude to the unemployment benefits refund has been very restrictive. This is not a problem only between the Czech Republic and Great Britain. Great Britain’s debts to Poland and Slovakia are even higher.’ Magdalena Gorska, from the Polish Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, said: ‘Poland has asked the UK for a partial refund of the benefits ... to date, the United Kingdom has paid off to Poland for more than half of the requested amounts.’ She said Poland had asked the European Commission to ask the UK to ‘reconsider their position’. Earlier this year the European Commission ruled against the UK on this issue but Mr Duncan Smith refused to pay. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia demanding UK cash for jobless citizens .
Told Britain to pay more than £10m in unemployment benefits to migrants .
Czech labour minister said UK owed country £3m in benefits under EU rules .
Iain Duncan Smith's department has already paid £800,000 under these rules . |
280,631 | f78f39a1f9c85043d4a28fc731eb14d79e61e676 | (CNN) -- Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni slammed the pitch in Colombo after the second Test against hosts Sri Lanka petered out into a high-scoring draw Friday. India were hoping to hit back after losing the first match of the series, Mutiah Muralitharan's triumphant Test farewell, but were frustrated by batting-friendly conditions. Dhoni's team scored a massive 707 in reply to Sri Lanka's 642 for four wickets. Sri Lanka were 129 for three wickets in their second innings when play was called off an hour early with no chance of a positive result. Skipper Kumar Sangakkara was unbeaten on 42 and Thilan Samaraweera was on 10 as they steadied the ship after the early loss of wickets. "This one was very unsporting, there was nothing in it for the bowlers," Dhoni told AFP after a total 1,478 runs were scored and only 17 wickets claimed over the five days. "If there is nothing for fast bowlers in a wicket it should help spinners. This was just for batsmen," Dhoni added. "The bowlers got spanked all around the park." India's massive knock was highlighted by a double century from Test-leading run scorer Sachin Tendulkar, while debutant Suresh Raina made 120 and Dhoni 76. The 37-year-old Tendulkar shows no signs of easing up in his pursuit of yet more records. "As long as you are mentally strong and prepared to go through the grind, age really does not really matter," he said. Sri Lanka will go into the final Test from next Tuesday with a 1-0 series lead after their thumping 10-wicket win in Galle where Muralitharan topped off his incredible career by reaching 800 Test wickets. In other Test cricket action Friday, James Anderson celebrated his 28th birthday with a superb five-wicket haul as Pakistan slumped to 147 for nine on the second day of the first Test against England at Trent Bridge. Anderson swung the ball in trademark fashion to finish with five wickets for 49 runs in 20 overs as Pakistan were left 207 adrift of England's first innings 354 when bad light forced an early close. Young paceman Steven Finn supported Anderson with three for 20 in 11 overs as Pakistan collapsed to 47 for six before Umar Gul's 30 not out at better than a run a ball took them to within eight runs of avoiding the follow-on. Earlier, England had lost their last six wickets for just 17 runs as Mohammad Asif took five wickets for Pakistan. | Second Test between Sri Lanka and India in Colombo ends in high-scoring draw .
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni slams the featherbed pitch .
Sri Lanka lead the series 1-0 going into third and final Test next week .
NEW: James Anderson takes five wickets as Pakistan collapse against England . |
81,738 | e7a7d835587d80dcd20d631387b376cb2893a6cf | By . Suzannah Hills . PUBLISHED: . 06:21 EST, 4 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:39 EST, 4 February 2013 . Theft: Sharon Walker, 46, stole nearly £5,000 from patients while working as an administrator in a care home . A care home worker has been jailed for 16 months after she stole almost £5,000 from terminally-ill patients' funeral funds. Sharon Walker, 46, then used the cash she stole from a cerebral palsy sufferer and a man dying of multiple sclerosis to buy a camcorder and an iPod for her husband. The grandmother stole a total of £4,992.99 from the two patients being cared for at Acres Nook Nursing Home in Kidsgrove, Staffordshire, where she worked as an administrator. The victims had set aside the money to pay for their funeral costs and was intended to be passed onto their relatives when they died. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Walker stole £2,500 from a funeral plan account she set up for a 33-year-old cerebral palsy sufferer, and a further £2,310 from a 61-year-old suffering from multiple scleroisis. Walker's crimes came to light when the patients died and their relatives tried to access the funeral plan money and discovered the accounts were both empty. She pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud and was jailed for 16 months on Friday. Sentencing Walker, Judge Paul Glenn blasted her for preying on 'vulnerable' victims. He told her: 'The courts have a duty to protect those who can't help themselves. 'The residents were elderly patients and young adults with physical difficulties. They had to rely on staff for their care. You took advantage of a lax system. 'The particular vulnerability of your victims is a significant aggravating feature.' The court heard Walker, from Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, rose from her position as a housekeeper in 2006 to become chief administrator of the home in July 2009. Position of trust: Walker rose from her position as housekeeper at . Acres Nook Care Home in Boathorse Lane, Kidsgrove, Staffordshire, to become the chief administrator . She exploited a loophole in the system designed to safeguard residents' cash and siphoned off funds for herself. Prosecutor Howard Searle said: 'The system was subject of potential abuse and she abused the system.' Judge Glenn ordered Walker to repay £4,992.99 by July 29 - or face a further three months in jail. Brian McKenna, defending, admitted the offences were 'mean' but said his client was under 'intolerable' pressure at work as she had no experience of bookkeeping or accounting. The 69-bed care home - which is now run by HC-One - was operated by scandal-hit Southern Cross at the time of the incident. A spokesman said: 'We can reassure residents, their families and our community that the home has been under a new operator for a year now, and we would never tolerate this behaviour.' Vulnerable: Walker stole £2,500 from a cerebral palsy sufferer, aged 33, and £2,310 from a 61-year-old man suffering from multiple scleroisis who were both being cared for at the home . | Sharon Walker, 46, worked as an administrator at Acres Nook Nursing Home .
She stole nearly £5k from a cerebral palsy sufferer and a man dying of MS .
The victims had set aside the money to pay for their funeral costs .
Walker used the stolen money to buy her husband a camcorder and an iPod . |
180,581 | 75c305c945fee91536a42ea45b81df2172ebf0d1 | By . Associated Press . and Daily Mail Reporter . A New York woman has died getting discount cosmetic surgery in the Dominican Republic. Beverly Brignoni was seeking a less expensive way to enhance her appearance and she did what many other people are now doing: travel abroad for cosmetic surgery. But it went horribly wrong. The 28-year-old died February 20 from what the doctor told her family was a massive pulmonary embolism while getting a tummy tuck and liposuction at a clinic in the Dominican capital recommended by friends. Family members have serious questions about her death and want local authorities to investigate. 'We want to know exactly what happened,' said Bernadette Lamboy, Brignoni's godmother. 'We want to know if there was negligence.' Sad: Beverly Brignoni, pictured, died after cosmetic surgery in the Dominican Republic . The district attorney's office for Santo Domingo says it has not yet begun an investigation because it has not received a formal complaint from Brignoni's relatives. Family members say they plan to make one. Shortly after Brignoni's death, the Health Ministry inspected the Vista del Jardin Medical Center where she was treated and ordered the operating room temporarily closed, citing the presence of bacteria and violations of bio-sanitary regulations. The doctor who performed the procedure and the clinic have not responded to requests for comment. Brignoni's death is unusual, but it is not isolated. Concerns about the booming cosmetic surgery business in the Dominican Republic are enough of an issue that the State Department has posted a warning on its page for travel to that country, noting that in several cases U.S. citizens have suffered serious complications or died. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control issued an alert March 7 after health authorities in the United States reported that at least 19 women in five states had developed serious mycobacterial wound infections over the previous 12 months following cosmetic procedures in the Dominican Republic such as liposuction, tummy tucks and breast implants. There were no reported deaths in those cases, but treatment for these types of infections, which have been caused in the past by contaminated medical equipment, tend to involve long courses of antibiotics and can require new surgery to remove infected tissue and drain fluid, said Dr. Douglas Esposito, a CDC medical officer. Excited: Brignoni's last Instagram picture showed her passport and boarding pass on her way to the Dominican Republic . 'Some of these patients end up going through one or more surgeries and various travels through the medical system,' Esposito said. 'They take a long time typically to get better.' The Dominican Republic, like countries such as Mexico, Costa Rica and Thailand, has promoted itself as a destination for medical tourism, so-called because people will often tack on a few days at a resort after undergoing surgery. The main allure is much lower costs along with the promise that conditions will be on par with what a patient would encounter at home. In 2013, there were more than 1,000 cosmetic procedures performed in the Dominican Republic, 60 percent of them on foreigners, according to the country's Plastic Surgery Society. The Internet is flooded with advertisements and testimonials from people who say they have had successful procedures in the Dominican Republic, and an industry of 'recovery houses' has sprung up to serve clients, along with promoters who canvass for clients in the United States. The price is often about a third of the cost in the United States. Dr. Braun Graham, a plastic surgeon in Sarasota, Florida, says he done corrective surgery on people for what he says were inferior procedures abroad. He warns that even if a foreign doctor is talented, nurses and support staff may lack adequate training. 'Clearly, the cost savings is certainly not worth the increased risk of a fatal complication,' said Graham, past president for Florida Society of Plastic Surgeons. Brignoni was referred to the Vista del Jardin Medical Center by several acquaintances in the New York borough of The Bronx where she lived, said Lamboy and Lenny Ulloa, the father of the 4-year-old daughter she left behind. Probe: Brignoni's family are pushing for an investigation into the clinic and doctor . 'Supposedly, it was a high-end clinic, one of the best in the city,' Ulloa said. The doctor who performed Brignoni's procedure, Guillermo Lorenzo, is certified by the Plastic Surgery Society, but there are at least 300 surgeons performing cosmetic procedures who are not, said Dr. Severo Mercedes, the organization's director. He said the government knows about the problem but has not taken any action. 'We complain but we can't go after anyone because we're not law enforcement,' Mercedes said. The number of people pursuing treatment in the Dominican Republic doesn't seem to have been affected by negative reports, including a previous CDC warning about a cluster of 12 infections in 2003-04. In one recent case, the Dominican government in February closed a widely advertised clinic known as 'Efecto Brush,' for operating without a license. Prosecutors opened a criminal case after at least six women accused the clinic of fraud and negligence. The director, Franklin Polanco, is free while awaiting trial. He denies wrongdoing. There was also the case of Dr. Hector Cabral. New York prosecutors accused him of conducting examinations of women in health spas and beauty parlors in that state in 2006-09 without a license, then operating on them in the Dominican Republic, leaving some disfigured. Cabral pleaded guilty to one count of unauthorized practice of medicine in October 2011 and returned to the Dominican Republic, where he still practices. In 2009, Dominican authorities charged Dr. Johan Tapia Bueno with illegally practicing plastic surgery at his apartment after several women, including a local television personality, accused him of malpractice that left them with infections. Awaiting trial, he has pleaded innocent to charges that include fraud. Juan Linares, a lawyer hired by Brignoni's boyfriend, said he is still awaiting an autopsy report. Because she arrived in the country late at night on a delayed flight and was on the operating table early the next morning, a main concern is whether she received an adequate medical evaluation before the procedure. Graham, the Florida surgeon, said sitting on a plane for several hours can cause blood to stagnate in the legs and increase the risk of an embolism. Brignoni paid the Dominican clinic $6,300 for a combination of liposuction, tummy tuck and breast surgery. Lamboy said she had decided not to have the work done on her breasts and was expecting a partial refund. The woman, who worked as a property manager, had lost about 80 pounds about a year earlier after gastric bypass surgery. Brignoni was clearly excited about the procedure. Her final post on Facebook was a photo she took of her hands holding her passport and boarding pass for the flight from New York to Santo Domingo. 'She wanted it so bad,' her godmother said. 'It felt like she was going to have a better outlook on life, getting this done.' | Beverly Brignoni traveled to the country seeking a less expensive way to enhance her appearance .
But it went horribly wrong, and the 28-year-old died February 20 from what the doctor told her family was a massive pulmonary embolism .
She was getting a tummy tuck and liposuction at a clinic in the Dominican capital recommended by friends .
Shortly after Brignoni's death, the .
Health Ministry inspected the Vista del Jardin Medical Center where she .
was treated and ordered the operating room temporarily closed .
They found presence of bacteria and violations of bio-sanitary regulations .
But a formal investigation into her death has not yet been undertaken . |
178,536 | 732182ba02d74211596d7c7267ee7adfbcce5cfc | By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 07:19 EST, 19 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:31 EST, 19 July 2013 . George Osborne’s plan to raise billions from a tax raid on secret Swiss bank accounts has been cast into doubt by the data watchdog. The nation’s finances had been boosted by the prediction that the Chancellor’s assault on tax dodgers would net an extra £3.2billion. But today the Office for National Statistics said there was now ‘significant doubt’ about how much the plan would secure, and slashed the amount brought in so far to just £342million. Missing millions: There are now serious doubts about whether a tax raid on Swiss bank accounts held by Brits will raise as much as George Osborne hoped . The government has staked both economic and political capital on clamping down on tax avoidance. In 2011 Mr Osborne signed a deal with the Swiss government to introduce a permanent tax for UK citizens with Swiss accounts. There was also a one-off payment imposed on May 31 this year to ‘clear past unpaid tax liabilities’. Mr Osborne received a major boost last month when the ONS said the levy had secured a £3.2billion windfall for the Treasury, narrowing government borrowing from £15.6billion in May 2012 to £12.7billion this year. However it now says there are major questions about whether the money will ever materialise. The Swiss Bankers Association revealed earlier this month that there were fewer untaxed British assets in accounts in Switzerland than previously thought. Now the ONS has said the uncertainty means it will only count the funds raised towards cutting the deficit once it materialises. It means that the £3.2billion figure pencilled in for May 2013 has now been slashed to only £342million. ‘The . recent announcement by the Swiss Bankers Association has cast . significant doubt regarding the amount that will finally be received,’ the ONS said. Blow: Chancellor George Osborne had hoped to secure £3.2billion from the tax levies . ‘This . suggests that a more cautious approach is now warranted and the payments . will be included as and when payments are received.’ But the Treasury said: 'We have always been clear that the one-off payments are just one part of the tax we expected to recover under the Swiss agreement. 'Some people will instead choose to disclose their account to HMRC and pay the tax due, rather than authorise the banks to make a deduction. 'We expect to raise further sums through these direct disclosures, and through those made through other channels such as the Liechtenstein Disclosure Facility.' The . warning came as figures showed the government was forced to borrow an . extra £500million last month in a blow to Mr Osborne's economic plans. Latest figures showed that public sector net borrowing - excluding distortions such as bank bailouts and quantitative easing - increased in June to £12.4 billion from £11.9 billion in 2012. Economists warned the jump in borrowing showed the nation's finances are still a ‘long way from health’ despite signs of a recovery gathering pace. A Treasury spokesman said: ‘The Government is taking tough decisions to deal with the deficit: today's data shows that borrowing fell last year. ‘And while we can and will take nothing for granted, the economy is moving from rescue to recovery: the economy is growing; the deficit and unemployment are falling.’ The independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), set up to monitor the state's finances, expects the deficit to come in at around £120 billion this financial year - which would mark an increase on 2012/13. Higher local government borrowing in June offset a 15.2 per cent increase in tax receipts from businesses and households to drive the underlying monthly deficit higher. But the ONS said figures are likely to be subject to revisions as more data is received from councils. The ONS revised the underlying deficit for the year to the end of March 2013 lower by £2.3 billion to £116.5 billion due to higher tax receipts. That meant the 2012/13 deficit was £2.1 billion lower than in 2011/12, reversing last month's £300 million upward revision to the annual result. James Knightley, economist at ING Bank, said while borrowing was ‘not quite as good as hoped for’, the numbers suggest the Government's full-year forecast remains on track. He added: ‘With economic activity starting to show some positive signs and with employment continuing to grow we would not be surprised to see the full year borrowing figure creeping below this forecast.’ But Martin Beck, UK economist at consultancy Capital Economics, said the UK's public finances remain a ‘long way from health’. ‘While other indicators are pointing to signs of life in the UK economy, the public finances have yet to see much of a boost from the nascent upturn,’ he said. The OBR also warned over the Government's overstretched finances earlier this week, saying the UK's ageing population and strained healthcare system means an extra £19 billion of spending cuts or tax hikes are needed to combat ‘unsustainable’ pressure on its coffers. | Chancellor hoped tax and levies would raise billions to pay down deficit .
But Swiss authorities say fewer Brits have accounts that first thought .
Office for National Statistics says it will only count the cash when it arrives .
Borrowing rises by £500million in June compared to same time last year . |
86,773 | f645100a258b2def61b46add15df02720af48748 | By . Helen Carroll . When Claire Weller found she was pregnant, just a few months after suffering a miscarriage, she felt joy and anxiety in equal measure. While delighted to be expecting again, she was also worried her unborn baby might suffer the same sad fate as the one she had lost 16 weeks into her previous pregnancy. So, when a friend offered to lend her a foetal Doppler - a handheld ultrasound listening device used by midwives at antenatal appointments - to check her unborn baby's heartbeat, she leapt at the opportunity, never imagining the panic it would induce. Twice as nice: Claire Weller with her partner James Reeves and their one-year-old twins Jack and Bobby . 'I thought being able to hear my baby's heart beating would be hugely reassuring,' says Claire, 32, of Chessington, Surrey. 'But I didn't bargain for the terror I'd feel when I was unable to detect a heartbeat. 'This happened several times. Once, seven months into my pregnancy, I got into such a state that my partner, James, had to race me to Kingston Hospital for an emergency scan. 'Everything was fine, but it took a few hours for me to calm down - not ideal when stress in pregnancy poses such a risk to you and your baby.' Indeed, as foetal Dopplers become a must-have piece of kit for mums-to-be, the Royal College of Midwives has issued a warning about the risks they pose. They urge pregnant women to seek medical advice if they are worried about their baby, rather than attempting to self-diagnose with a Doppler. 'We advise against personal Dopplers as it takes considerable training to use them properly,' says Jane Munro of the RCM. 'It can cause needless stress to a pregnant woman when she cannot pick up her baby's heartbeat. It can lead to raised blood pressure in the mother and premature births. 12 weeks: Claire Weller used a personal Doppler to listen to her unborn children's heartbeats . 'More worrying, we've had cases where there has been something wrong with a baby and the mother has been wrongly reassured after hearing her own heartbeat, or the sound of blood pumping through the placenta, leading to a dangerous delay in her seeking medical attention. In at least one instance, sadly the baby died.' So the message from midwives is loud and clear: leave the job to the professionals. Although Dopplers for home use can be picked up for as little as £30 from online retailers including Amazon, the £250 model Claire borrowed from her friend was identical to ones used in hospitals. In fact, it was so sensitive that, at ten weeks pregnant, Claire detected two foetal heartbeats and realised she was expecting twins. 'At my first antenatal appointment I said to the midwife: "I think it's twins,"' recalls Claire, whose partner, James, 38, is a chauffeur. 'She couldn't believe how early I'd picked up the heartbeats.' Claire then used the Doppler every other day, and fought the urge to listen in more often. 'It sometimes took me 40 minutes to find a heartbeat and even longer to pick up two, because you don't know whether you're hearing the same heartbeat twice. I'd get anxious checking and double checking,' she says. 'Later in the pregnancy one of my twins was breech and the other head down, so it was a real struggle locating both of their little hearts. 'I got into a terrible state seven months into the pregnancy because my breech baby was not moving very much and I couldn't pick up a clear heartbeat. Realising how worried I was, James took me to hospital. 'Thankfully the obstetrician who scanned me was able to reassure me that both our babies were fine.' The twins, Bobby and Jack, were born in March last year, each weighing a robust 7lb. Happy families: Bobby and Jack were born in March last year, each weighing a robust 7lb . Although there are no official figures on the number of mums using Dopplers, midwives have reported a huge increase in pregnant women who admit to listening to their babies' heartbeats at home. Dr Thomas Aust, an obstetrician at the Wirral's Arrowe Park Hospital, first raised the alarm in the summer of 2009 after a 27-year-old woman was admitted to his antenatal ward due to reduced foetal movement 32 weeks into her first pregnancy. The unnamed woman told doctors that she had first noticed her baby had become less active two days previously, but had been reassured that all was well after using her own Doppler to listen to its heartbeat. However, concerned by a lack of movement during monitoring, doctors performed an emergency Caesarean later that evening. The baby was so unwell it spent its first eight weeks on the special care unit. While recognising the inevitable anxiety women experience during pregnancy, Jane Munro, of the RCM, questions the ethics of companies which sell and loan personal Dopplers. 'I think it's unethical for retailers to overstate their usefulness,' says Jane. 'It's far more important for mothers-to-be to tune into any changes they notice in their baby’s movements than to encourage them to rely on a gadget.' Pregnant: Kayley Boden (left) takes a selfie of her pregnancy bump, and used a foetal Doppler in the hopes of reassuring herself . That's a lesson that Julie Hainsworth, an NHS receptionist from Leeds, learnt the hard way. While pregnant with her fourth child, Toby, now six months old, she bought a Prenatal Foetal Doppler for £30 on eBay. 'I bought it so that our older children could hear the heartbeat and feel more involved,' recalls Julie, 32. 'But it was such a worrying pregnancy because I discovered early on that his heart rate was quite irregular. 'I'd creep off and listen while my husband, Christopher, was supervising the children's teatime. When I told my midwife about my concerns, she advised me to stop using the Doppler because it was likely to be more stress-inducing than reassuring. 'I couldn't resist the temptation to listen in. However, I couldn't make sense of what I was hearing.' As the pregnancy progressed, Julie was unable to hide her fears from Christopher, 31, a landscape gardener. From the 26th week of pregnancy, Julie was admitted to St James's Hospital in Leeds no less than 12 times for monitoring after she raised concerns about her baby's heart rate. The first prototype ultrasound system was developed in Glasgow in the Fifties . Toby was born at 37 weeks, three weeks before his due date, weighing just 4lb 6oz, but otherwise healthy. 'After all those months of worry, of not knowing whether his irregular heart rate symbolised some underlying problem, it was such a relief to finally hold Toby,' says Julie. When a year later, she became pregnant with her youngest child, Arya, now five months old, she was far more cautious about using her Doppler. 'I picked up her heartbeat nine weeks into the pregnancy,' recalls Julie. 'But then I only used the Doppler a handful of times. Yes, it was hugely tempting, but I couldn't put myself through all that worry again for another nine months.' Kayley Boden is another mother who succumbed to home monitoring, much to her midwife's disapproval. She bought a Doppler for £40, but struggled to detect her baby's heartbeat. 'I finally heard something at 24 weeks, but even then it was hard to detect,' says Kayley, 21, a trainee teacher. 'I thought the Doppler was going to reassure me but in fact it did the opposite. 'I rang my midwife in a state when I couldn't hear anything. She said they don't recommend personal Dopplers. 'She said it didn't help for me to be worried because the baby would become stressed and the heartbeat would be even harder to find. After that, I didn't dare call her again when I couldn't detect a heartbeat so I'd just keep trying and fretting.' Pretty in pink: Kayley Boden with her daughter, six-month-old Erica Grace . Eight months into her pregnancy, Kayley's baby became worryingly still, but she decided not to seek immediate help when her mind was put at rest after checking for the heartbeat herself. 'Because I'd heard the heartbeat, I decided to hold on until the following day when I had an antenatal appointment,' says Kayley. 'But towards evening time, she still wasn't moving so I called my midwife who told me to go straight into the assessment unit.' Kayley's daughter, Erica, was born five days past her due date at Warrington Hospital, weighing 8 lb 2.5 oz. 'She's healthy so there was no need for all that angst,' says Kayley. 'If I have another baby, I won't use the Doppler again - it's not worth all the stress it causes.' How ironic, then, that this is a device marketed with the promise of alleviating anxiety in pregnancy. | Foetal Dopplers become a must-have piece of kit for mums-to-be .
Royal College of Midwives has issued a warning about the risks they pose .
Urge pregnant women to seek medical advice if they are worried about their baby, rather than attempting to self-diagnose .
Gadget makes many women feel stressed out . |
202,289 | 91e64c330823614184663b7df6226ad5bde9491b | Warren Gatland has warned George North that he must make more of an impact at club and international level if he wants to keep his place in the Wales starting XV. The Kiwi coach yesterday fuelled speculation that North, 22, will be named on the bench for the RBS Six Nations opener against England, suggesting that Scarlets winger Liam Williams could be handed the starting jersey . North burst on to the international scene as a teenager and has since started 47 out of his 48 Tests. However, Gatland has hinted he could stick to the winning formula that beat South Africa in November, when North was sidelined with concussion. Wales boss Warren Gatland has said he wants to see more of Northampton's George North on the ball . The 22-year-old has featured in 47 of 48 Wales Tests but could start on the bench against England . Wales captain Sam Warburton (left) and Warren Gatland pose with the 2015 RBS Six Nations trophy . ‘Northampton have the same issues with George, having spoken to [backs coach] Alex King about touching the ball more,’ said Gatland. ‘We want to see more touches and have the ball in his hands. When he does that, he is dangerous and makes some metres for us. ‘If you are a player who has won against South Africa and started the game, then it’s sometimes difficult for that player to be dropped. We won’t sit down as a coaching team until Monday or Tuesday and start talking about a team. We will see how players front up. It’s a nice position for us to be in and we have options.’ North has been a key component in Wales’s physical style of play – commonly referred to as ‘Warrenball’ – while Williams is a much less powerful athlete. Collisions are getting bigger in the Test arena and Gatland admitted that his side will direct their heavy ball-carriers, especially inside-centre Jamie Roberts, towards fly-half George Ford, who is one of England’s smallest players. ‘People target the 10 channel in modern international rugby,’ said Gatland. ‘Outside-halves are physically one of the smallest players on the field. We are no different to anyone else and it’s part of the game now. Jamie Roberts could make a start for Stuart Lancaster's side after impressing against South Africa . ‘Jamie Roberts was outstanding on the weekend against Northampton. One of the positives about our players in France is they have not played too much rugby, so they are pretty fresh and looking forward to the Six Nations.’ Gatland is ‘hopeful’ that tight-head prop Samson Lee will recover from a neck injury in time for the opening Test at the Millennium Stadium. The 22-year-old has emerged as one of the world’s best young scrummagers, with his fitness becoming increasingly important following the shock retirement of veteran Adam Jones. ‘I was surprised at the timing [of Jones’s announcement],’ said Gatland. ‘I thought he might have waited until the end of the season, because the door wasn’t closed for him. He has made the decision and his contribution to Welsh rugby has been immense. ‘What he has achieved in our game is tremendous and there was a time where he was the first name on the team sheet. He has won three Grand Slams, another Six Nations Championship and a Lions tour.’ Plying his trade in France, the Racing Metro 92 player will be fresh heading into the Six Nations . | Warren Gatland wants to see more of an impact from Saints' George North .
Gatland could start the same XV against England that beat South Africa .
North has started 47 of 48 Tests for Wales but could start on the bench . |
246,151 | ca9afe5f709acd9815b49a7f857d5af49742169e | Sam Allardyce admitted he was relieved after West Ham beat Bristol City 1-0 to avoid joining the list of big-name FA Cup fourth-round casualties. Substitute Diafra Sakho broke City hearts with an 81st-minute winner, rising at the far post to beat goalkeeper Frank Fielding after Andy Carroll had done well to cross from the right. The outcome was harsh on the League One high-flyers and Allardyce admitted: 'I expected us to play a lot better than we did. Adrian (left) and his fellow West Ham teammates celebrate the victory on the plane back to London . Sam Allardyce admitted he was relieved after West Ham beat Bristol City 1-0 on Sunday afternoon . 'In the end one moment of quality has put us in the next round and that is the most important thing. All credit to Bristol City for never being overawed and taking their league form, which has been outstanding, into the FA Cup. 'Keeping a clean sheet made all the difference and it was a hard-earned victory for us. They had their best spell in the opening 15 or 20 minutes, but we battled all the way through to make that one bit of quality count. 'With the size Bristol have in their team, we knew we had to protect ourselves as best we could from set-pieces. We put players on each post because we felt at some point they would get headers at our goal and it proved a wise tactic. West Ham striker Diafra Sakho celebrate putting Sam Allardyce's side into a 1-0 lead against Bristol City . The Senegalese striker meets Andy Carroll's cross at the far post to send the away side into the fifth round . 'How far we can go in the competition will depend on the draw. We will have to face Premier League opposition at some point if we progress, but I would rather leave that until the final!' City looked the more threatening side for most of a lively first half and it took two goalline clearances to keep the Hammers on level terms. Mark Noble was on hand to block Matt Smith's fifth-minute header after Aden Flint's power in the air at a corner had set up the chance. And Carroll did even better to divert another Smith header over his own crossbar on 26 minutes, leaving the big City striker holding his head in disbelief after he had connected with a Jay Emmanuel-Thomas cross. It took West Ham until the 37th minute to force a save from Fielding. Then Carroll's close-range shot was straight at the City keeper from a Carl Jenkinson cross. By early in the second period Allardyce had seen enough, sending on Sakho and Morgan Amalfitano for Enner Valencia and the out-of-sorts Alex Song. Bristol striker Matt Smith rises above Winston Reid but but his header flies over the West Ham crossbar . Steve Cotterill shouts instructions to his players as Enner Valencia is left crumpled in a heap . Sakho made the difference. Out of action since suffering a back injury on New Year's Day, the striker grazed the crossbar with a brilliant effort shortly before his goal. But even after the deadlock had been broken, Smith almost earned City a replay with an injury-time header that went inches wide and home boss Steve Cotterill was proud of his side's efforts. He said: 'We have lost to a strong team and a very good club. Sam has done a fantastic job at West Ham and I sincerely hope they now go on to win the competition. 'We are disappointed because we worked hard in the build-up to the game. We needed to score when on top in the first half and had some good chances. 'If I am ultra-critical of my players, I think we could have done better in the second half. But overall I think we showed a national TV audience that we are a decent team. 'Sakho made a difference and was lively from the moment he came on. We can't hope to have that sort of quality on the bench as a League One club. 'We have a big game here on Thursday in the area final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and what has so far been a successful league campaign (is set to) continue so there is a lot to look forward to.' Allardyce said that his superior quality of players saved the Hammers despite a poor performance overall . | West Ham United beat Bristol City 1-0 in the FA Cup fourth round .
Diafra Sakho scored the only goal of the game late on .
Sam Allardyce admitted his team had not played as well as he expected . |
220,670 | a9a6f056fea7756fdf1bfc7aee64a73b7b8e973b | (CNN) -- The comic Gallagher, known for smashing watermelons, is "slowly recovering" from a heart attack suffered just before he was to perform at a Texas club, his promotional manager said Thursday. "We will not know the outcome until sometime tomorrow," Christine Scherrer said. Gallagher, 65, is in stable condition at an undisclosed Dallas-area hospital, Scherrer said. He was about to go onstage Wednesday at Hat Tricks, a Lewisville, Texas, club, when he fell ill and was taken to a hospital by paramedics, she said. "His family is with him and Hat Tricks has been unbelievable with the help and support with everything," Scherrer said. His shows in Texas, Oklahoma and Oregon scheduled through next week have been postponed, she said. CNN's Jane Caffrey contributed to this report. | The 65-year-old comic is listed in stable condition in a Texas hospital, his manager says .
Gallagher's shows are postponed through next week, she says .
"His family is with him," the manager says . |
124,081 | 2c6505725989690c1ac922bdc10b09c9eb1c9aba | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 09:07 EST, 9 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:43 EST, 9 August 2013 . More than 50 animals have died mysteriously in a picturesque boating lake. Duck, rat and plaice bodies have all been found in the family-friendly park. The Environment Agency is carrying out tests at Brooklands Pleasure Park in Worthing, West Sussex, but the deaths remain unexplained. Corpses: More than 50 ducks, rats and plaice have been discovered in a picturesque family boating lake . Brooklands Pleasure Park: A popular park area for families in Worthing, West Sussex . Mysterious: The Environment Agency and local council have yet to discover what lies behind the deaths . Experts have ruled out the theory that deadly blue-green algae is to blame. Worthington Borough Council has also investigated the deaths, but concluded the cause of death was ‘not apparent’. Senior animal rescue officer Billy Elliott, from Worthing and District Animal Rescue Service, said: ‘I have been down to the lake every day for the past three weeks and have had to pull out at least two dead animals a day. ‘The situation has never been this bad before. Our charity is meant to help the animals before it is too late, and I feel like we are letting them down. ‘Just last week a mother came down with her child to feed the ducks, and was horrified to discover dead floating ducklings.' Ruled out: Experts have said deadly blue-green algae is not to blame for the deaths . Joe Giacomelli, at the Environment Agency, said: ‘Our investigations into this incident are ongoing as it is too early to draw any conclusion on its cause. ‘Last week we took water samples and these initial tests ruled out the presence blue green algae at that time. ‘We are awaiting results of further samples to ascertain whether any pollutant caused this or whether it was a natural event.’ A spokesperson at Worthing Borough Council said the council could not afford to dredge the lake. | Experts from Environment Agency and council have yet to explain deaths .
But experts have ruled out deadly blue-green algae as a possible cause . |
2,611 | 079e81fb34f2c8050e787e04a167906f686a1c1f | By . Matt Blake . PUBLISHED: . 07:57 EST, 13 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:16 EST, 13 September 2013 . Whether they are leaping off a cliff, dangling over a ravine or scything through a cranberry field at breakneck speed, these daredevils all have one thing in common... they are happy to put their lives on the line in the name of fun. This eye-watering collection of photographs shows just how far the world's most committed adrenaline junkies are prepared to go in their hunt for the ultimate thrill. Taken in a host of exotic locations across the globe, the pictures not only offer an insight into the outer limits of human endeavour, but also provide tantalising snapshots of some the planet's most beautiful locations. They include bouldering in the Indian Himalayas, Surfing in California, highlining in the Austrian Dolomites, ice caving in Argentina and BASE jumping in Utah. Scroll down for video... Castle Valley, Utah: This picture by Krystle Wright shows BASE jumper Michael Tomchek leap into Castle Valley, Utah. The photographer says, 'What continues to drive me is the love and challenge of documenting unique stories and the incredible privilege to share the athletes' stories with a wider audience' Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique: Jody MacDonald took this picture of paraglider Gavin McClurg. She says, 'My fuel, my drive, my being comes from capturing a precious split second in time - a time and place that shows how amazing this planet is' Himalayas, India (left) and Helmcken Falls, Canada (right) : Ray Demski took this picture of boulderer Bernd Zangerl (left). Ray says he's a 'lifelong athlete and action addict'. Meanwhile Christian Pondella took the image on the right of ice climber Tim Emmett. Christian says his goal is to make viewers 'feel they are part of the action' Glaciar Perito Moreno, Patagonia, Argentina: Juan Cruz Rabaglia took this picture of ice caver Leonardo Cuny Proverbio. Juan says, 'I came across the two passions that would inexorably define my future: Patagonia and photography' They are part of Red Bull’s Illume . photo contest, designed to honour photographers who love nothing more . than to put themselves in harms way to get the most exhilarating and . extreme action shots. 'A . lot of the photographers are going to just as extreme lengths as the . athletes,' says Tarquin Cooper, a spokesperson for Red Bull Illume. 'They’re putting themselves in positions where you’re like, "How can you . even think about taking a picture?"' All . together, 6,417 photographers from 124 countries submitted 28,257 . photographs to the 2013 competition. From that, an international team of . 50 judges shortlisted 250 photos, and then picked 50 winners in 10 . different categories plus an overall winner. And here is a selection of the best. Manitowish Waters, WI, United States: Wakeboarder Ben Horan scythes through a flooded cranberry field by Ryan Taylor. Ryan says, 'Focusing on wakeboarding and snowboarding, I strive to create something new and unique every time I shoot' Namotu Island, Fiji: Surfer Sean Woolnough by Stuart Gibson. Stuart says, 'I'm still learning so much in the photo world but I'm also having so much fun doing it! I truly can't think of a better job' Big Banana Falls, Veracruz, Mexico (left) and Lienzer Dolomiten, Austria (right): Canoeist Rafa Ortiz by Lucas Gilman (left) and highliner Florian Ebner by Martin Lugger (right). Martin says, 'For me, photography is all about the right moment. The right angle, nice light conditions and good vibes are the best recipe for top shots!' Are, Sweden: Stunt motorcyclist Fredrik Berggren. Fredrik says, ' 'Eventually I ended up in Are, Sweden's ski and bike capital. This was about two years ago and I've been photographing ever since' Lahinch, Ireland: Freediver Katerina Hamsikova by George Karbus. George says, 'I'm focused on wild marine mammals, the ocean, waves, surf photography and beautifully lit coastal sceneries' Tamokdalen, Norway (left) and Oberiberg, Switzerland (right): To the left, snowboarder Miikka Hast careers down a mountain by Rami Hanafi while, on the right, snowboarder Philipp Schicker performs a trick for Claudio Casanova. Claudio says, 'Taking pictures of my work during my apprenticeship as a cabinet maker developed my passion for photography' Namotu, Fiji: Surfer Ryan Hargrave dives under a wave for photographer Stuart Gibson . Wildkogel, Austria: Motorcyclist Xavier "Sherwy" Pasamonte by Florian Breitenberger. Florian says, 'Recently I have moved to Innsbruck, Austria to combine my studies with my passion for action sports photography. This step has helped me become a team photographer for the German Salomon Freeski Team . Dahab, Egypt (left) and Ghost River, Canadian Rockies (right): To the left is : Freediver Emilia Biala by Rafal Meszka. Rafal says, 'I was taking . pictures of the freedivers and doing underwater fashion shoots and the . whole thing quickly turned into my biggest passion' And to the right are climbers Jen Olson and Kyle Vassilopoulos by Paul Bride . Turnagain Arm, Alaska: Surfers Mike McCune, Eric Newbury, Dave Calkins by Scott Dickerson. Scott says, 'Alaska is my homeland and the wild places here are the main source of my creative inspiration' Aniak, Alaska: Snowboarder John Jackson by Scott Serfas. Scott says, 'I was one of the few people snowboarding in the late 80s in Vancouver, Canada. I would bring my camera along with me to document my friends riding and as they became better at the sport my photography grew alongside them' | Images are part of Red Bull’s Illume .
photo contest to honour photographers who put lives on line for their art .
They include bouldering in Himalayas, Surfing in California, highlining in Austria, surfing in Fiji, BASE jumping in Utah . |
7,696 | 15cd44bde9381387d8d8840f74cb48d60f1bacce | (CNN) -- Tour de France legend Laurent Fignon has died from cancer in a Paris hospital aged just 50. Fignon won the Tour in 1983 and 1984 but was perhaps most famous for the 1989 contest, when he was beaten by Greg Lemond by only eight seconds -- the smallest winning margin in the history of the race. The Frenchman actually held the lead going into the final stage time-trial into Paris, but he let his advantage slip to allow American Lemond to snatch victory in the most dramatic finish ever seen. As well as his two Tour victories, Fignon won nine stages and held the leader's yellow jersey for 22 days. His other big race successes included two wins in the Milan-San Remo one-day classic and two stage wins in both the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta Espana. Fignon was a colorful character on and off the bike, famous for his flowing blond hair and glasses, and was also regarded as an anti-establishment figure. In his autobiography, "We Were Young and Carefree", Fignon admitted taking amphetamines and cortisone during his career but did not establish a direct link with his cancer. "In those days everyone was doing it," he explained in his book. "But it is impossible to know to what extent doping harms you. "Whether those who lived through 1998, when a lot of extreme things happened, will get cancer after 10 or 20 years, I really can't say." Meanwhile, tributes for Fignon have poured in from the world of cycling. Defending Tour de France champion Alberto Contador led the tributes on his Twitter page, saying: "Today we lost a great champion, Laurent Fignon, after a hard struggle. It was a privilege to share some time with him in Paris. Rest in peace. Lance Armstrong, who himself battled cancer before becoming the greatest Tour de France champion of all time, said on his official website: "I awoke today to the terrible news that my dear friend and legendary cyclist Laurent Fignon has passed away. "I will never forget the early 90's when I first turned pro, of course terrified of the older guys. Laurent was always a friendly face with words of advice. He was a special man to me, to cycling, and to all of France. Laurent, we will all miss you." And fellow-American Lemond, whose name will always be linked with Fignon after their epic 1989 duel, echoed those sentiments. "I will miss Laurent Fignon as a great person and competitor. A truly sad day for everyone whose lives he touched." In later life, Fignon became a consultant for French television and commentated on the Tour de France in 2009 and 2010 despite the treatment he was receiving. | Tour de France legend Laurent Fignon has died from cancer in a Paris hospital .
The 50-year-old won the Tour de France twice in the 1980s and was second in 1989 .
Fignon lost the 1989 Tour to Greg Lemond by eight seconds, the smallest-margin ever . |
207,060 | 981c693eef8357613a6b86e6793feaa7c948ee01 | By . Beth Stebner . UPDATED: . 06:13 EST, 9 December 2011 . A conservative Jewish university in the heart of New York is in uproar after one of the school’s four student newspapers published a first-hand account of an Orthodox woman’s one-night stand. In reaction to the piece, the student council of Yeshiva University pulled funding from The Beacon after the online paper refused to remove it from its website, sparking a campus-wide debate on censorship. The column, called How Do I Even Begin To Explain This, was written by an anonymous 20-year-old Orthodox modern Jewish woman who writes in detail about her one-time Manhattan dalliance . How do I explain? This image accompanied Yeshiva University's essay on an Orthodox woman's account of a one night stand . In the essay, the woman describes her thoughts and feelings as she transforms herself from a self-described ‘Occasionally-Cute-Modern-Orthodox-Girl’ into a ‘Sexually-Appealing-Secular-Woman.’ ‘Between the fumbling, the pain, the pleasure, I convince myself that I’ve learned to make love,’ the woman wrote. By the end of the column, she expressed regret at the hotel tryst. ‘I made a stupid mistake,’ she wrote. ‘The only thing I learn is how to do the walk of shame the day after.’ According to the Wall Street Journal, The Beacon’s website received more than 41,000 hits by Thursday night, 15,000 of those honing in on the anonymous woman’s story. The Beacon co-editors Simi Lampert and Toviah Moldwin met Wednesday with three Yeshiva administrators, as well as the president and secretary of student affairs. Ms Lampert told Fox News that the administrators asked them to remove the column, or at least ‘change some of the wording in it.’ Controversy: The essay sparked campus-wide debate over censorship; The Beacon lost its funding after refusing to take down the article . Neither option was acceptable to the editor. ‘They were offering compromises and we didn’t want to make those compromises,’ she said. ‘We then said we didn’t want to be an official publication of YU.’ 'Between the fumbling, the pain, the pleasure, I convince myself that I’ve learned to make love.' -Essayist from The Beacon . YU then announced it was removing its funding of the paper. ‘After an amicable discussion between the two sides, The Beacon decided to part ways and become an independent publication,’ associate director of media relations Matt Yaniv said. The paper received $500 in funding last semester. A message on the YU Beacon’s website says: ‘In light of recent developments, YU and The Beacon have agreed to separate. Over the next few days, we will update the site to reflect these changes. The Beacon will continue to publish as always.’ Orthodox Jewish law prohibits premarital sex. Yeshiva University is based on the ideals of Torah U’madda, a branch of modern Orthodox Judaism that acknowledges the merit of both religious and secular studies, a difficult line to walk for some students. Torah U'madda: YU says it prides itself in Orthodox and secular knowledge . The university is split into two separate campuses. Stern College in Midtown Manhattan houses the women of YU, while the men attend class about 150 blocks away. Students took to Facebook to debate the article and the nature of censorship. One student, 21-year-old Elan Kirshenbaum, said the article contributed to ‘a sense of moral degradation. He said it would have been more acceptable if the woman had written about the experience ‘in either a theoretical way or a less graphic way.’ Gavi Brown, 19, told the Journal that the article brought up some interesting points on the boundaries of Orthodox Judaism. 'We've kind of become used to the fact that things are going to be censored. I don’t think that’s okay. The basic notion of inhibiting students’ expression, however used to it we’ve become, I think it’s completely unacceptable.’ -Commentator editor Ben Abramowitz . ‘I personally enjoyed the fact that it brought about a conversation,’ he said, adding that he heard one rabbi on campus call it ‘literally pornography.’ Another student newspaper published a report Thursday saying YU intends to install an Internet filter – primarily in men's dorms in an effort to block pornography. School officials acknowledged a plan was underway after initially denying it. ‘We’ve kind of become used to the fact that things are going to be censored,’ Commentator editor Ben Abramowitz, 22, said. ‘I don’t think that’s okay. The basic notion of inhibiting students’ expression, however used to it we’ve become, I think it’s completely unacceptable.’ Though he called The Beacon’s essay ‘cliché,’ he said the newspaper still had a right to run it. | Essay written by anonymous 20-year-old Orthodox Yeshiva University student; depicts one night stand .
Beacon editors met with YU administrators, who pulled $500/semester funding . |
205,099 | 957ab51a2e542e597d28a9c68e5a6b91d3c2421c | (CNN) -- A man who had a relationship with college student Jenni-Lyn Watson was charged Saturday with second-degree murder after the discovery of a body believed to be hers, authorities in Syracuse, New York, said. A massive manhunt for the dance major, who'd been missing since November 19, culminated with the discovery of what are believed to be her remains at 10:30 a.m. at Clay Central Park in North Syracuse, the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office said. On Saturday, Steven Pieper was charged in her killing. Pieper, 21, and Watson, 20, had dated on and off for 18 months, said District Attorney William Fitzpatrick at a Saturday press conference. "Our indication is Ms. Watson desired this relationship to end in early October ... Apparently that message didn't get through to Mr. Pieper," Fitzpatrick said. Authorities believe Watson was killed in her Liverpool residence on the morning of November 19. Her body was "dumped, frankly, like garbage" in a heavily wooded area a couple miles away, Fitzpatrick said. Pieper has been interviewed twice, Fitzpatrick said. "He has denied involvement." The suspect, who was taken into custody Saturday, was arraigned Saturday evening in Clay Town Court, CNN affiliate YNN reported. A judge entered a not guilty plea on behalf of Pieper, who will have a preliminary hearing Friday, YNN said. He is currently being held without bail. Fitzpatrick told CNN Syracuse affiliate WSTM that it appeared someone tried to conceal the body, but that it was not buried. It was behind a utility shed, he said. An autopsy will be conducted Sunday. Watson was last seen at her family's home. She was on Thanksgiving break from Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania. Liverpool is a suburb of Syracuse. "This [disappearance] is extremely uncharacteristic for Jenni-Lynn," Sgt. Robert Marshall said earlier this week. Watson's parents reported her missing the night of November 19. The college junior's purse and other personal items were found at the home, but a Verizon LG enV3 phone was missing. One call was made on the phone from a heavily wooded area near other residences, said Marshall, who declined to provide details. Someone other than Watson made the call, Fitzpatrick said. The phone has not been recovered. Pieper is alleged to have been at Watson's residence on the morning of her disappearance and is believed to be the last to have seen her, the sheriff's department said in a statement. Detectives are looking for anyone who may have seen Pieper's black 2008 Volkswagen Jetta in the vicinity of Watson's home or near the area where the body was found. Fitzpatrick said authorities believe the Jetta carried Watson's body. The district attorney said he spoke Saturday with Watson's parents. "These people are extraordinary people," Fitzpatrick said. "They are now trusting that justice will be done." Simultaneous vigils were held Wednesday for Watson. One of the church vigils was organized by the family; the other was held in a chapel at Mercyhurst College, a Catholic school. About 200 people attended, including members of the football team, which has a NCAA Division II game this weekend. "You felt overwhelming worry, but you still felt there was reason to hope," Mercyhurst spokeswoman Debbie Morton said. Watson was a dance major and ballet dancer at Mercyhurst. "It is a highly disciplined area," Morton said of Watson's field of study. Mercyhurst College will have a Sunday evening prayer service and will offer counseling beforehand. "Our Mercyhurst family poured their hearts and souls into finding Jenni-Lyn in a genuine outpouring of humanity," college president Tom Gamble said in a statement. "Her death is devastating to our entire college community. We continue to pray for her family and extend our deepest sympathies." CNN's Phil Gast contributed to this report. | NEW: A suspect is arraigned in local court .
College plans Sunday evening prayer service .
Remains of woman found in wooded area near Syracuse, New York .
Jenni-Lyn Watson, 20, was home on Thanksgiving break . |
208,741 | 9a4a580780fd91f7cb4ca6b7ab67fbee85a92ec6 | By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 00:12 EST, 16 March 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 00:13 EST, 16 March 2012 . The Manhattan madam is hinting that she’s ready to cop a plea, but is showing some customer loyalty and vowing not to name names. A lawyer for accused madam Anna Gristina who was caught running a multimillion-dollar brothel said Thursday he wants to explore the possibility of a plea deal, though he cautioned that he was only gauging options. Meanwhile, Gristina remained behind bars as she changed lawyers and, with that, the unconventional contours of a plan for her now-prior attorney to put up his downtown Manhattan loft to secure her $2million bond. Plain Jane: Her husband Kelvin Gorr took her new clothes to wear for her third court appearance but even in the black and white dress she looked far from the multimillion-dollar brothel madam she is alleged to be . Third appearance: Anna Gristina, centre, with attorneys Gary Greenwald, left, and Elise Rucker, right, as she appears in State Supreme Court today to be denied bail . Gristina, 44, has been at the center of a New York media furor since news of the case broke last week, two weeks after her arrest and five years into an investigation by prosecutors who specialize in cases that involve allegations against police. Prosecutors say the Scotland-born suburban mother of four provided pricey prostitutes to well-heeled clients for 15 years and touted ties to law enforcement, saying her connections could tip her off if trouble loomed. Alleged accomplice: Jaynie Mae Baker turned herself in as a co-defendant of Gristina though Baker was released on $100,000 bail . So far, only Gristina and Jaynie Baker, 30, her glamorous matchmaking recruiter accused of helping run the alleged prostitution ring, have been arrested; both have pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors have said their investigation is continuing. Gristina's new lawyer, Gary Greenwald, told a court Thursday that he wanted to meet with prosecutors ‘with a view toward a disposition or resolving the matter.’ While plea discussions are common, not all defense lawyers choose to mention publicly that they plan to engage in them, at least not until a trial nears. Mr Greenwald said later that he just wants to find out what kind of plea deal Gristina might be offered. ‘You always ask, “What's the possibility of a plea?”‘ Mr Greenwald said outside court. ‘It doesn't mean we're going to do a plea.’ It's unclear how much either side might be willing to accommodate the other. Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Charles Linehan said during Thursday's hearing that if Gristina were convicted, there might be a good argument for giving her the maximum sentence of up to seven years in prison. Alleged accomplice: Jaynie Mae Baker, 30, . appeared in court on Tuesday with her attorney Robert Gottlieb, left, on a . single charge of promoting prostitution . Appearance: Jaynie Mae Baker, co-defendant of accused 'Soccer Mom' Madam Anna Gristina, in handcuffs just before her arraignment at New York State Court on Tuesday . Meanwhile, Gristina has signaled that . she isn't eager to aid prosecutors' investigation. She told the New York . Post in a jail interview last week that she'd ‘bite my tongue off . before I'd tell them anything.’ Echoing comments his client made to the newspaper, Greenwald said Thursday that authorities pressed Gristina for hours after her February 22 arrest about whether she'd provided prostitutes to certain men, telling her that ‘if you cooperate, you can walk out of here.’ Linehan said prosecutors wouldn't disclose the details of any discussions they had with Gristina. Prosecutors in the police-corruption unit sometimes ‘start with the low-hanging fruit, and they work their way up,’ so Gristina's help - or lack of it - could be key to the direction of the investigation, said Peter E. Brill, a defense lawyer who has represented police officers in such cases. He's not involved in the case against Gristina. One of Gristina's previous lawyers, Peter J. Gleason, told a judge earlier this week that he'd put up his $2.5million downtown Manhattan loft for the bond because he said that she did not have the money to put up her own bond. He also offered to have Gristina and her family move in with him, with her under house arrest and electronic monitoring in her family’s home in Monroe, New York. Prior arrangement: Prosecutors questioned why her former attorney Mr Gleason was so forthcoming and offered to allow her to live in his apartment with her family rather than remain in jail . Old and new: Peter Gleason, left, stepped aside as Gristina's attorney but offered that she and her family use his Tribeca apartment as collateral for her bail, and her new lawyer is Gary Greenwald, right . Prosecutors said the proposal raised ethical questions, and Thursday's hearing was intended to examine the issue. But Gleason said he was stepping down from representing Gristina, though he's still offering his apartment for her bail. ‘I think it's the right thing to do,’ he said after court. The house arrest plan is off the table because the apartment would be too crowded with Gristina’s entire family joining Mr Gleason’s in the apartment, Mr Greenwald said later. Support: Husband Kelvin Gorr, seen with her in a steamy personal photo, visited his wife at Rikers Island yesterday to bring her a change of clothes . Standing by his woman: Kelvin Gorr, husband of . Anna Gristina, who has been charged with promoting prostitution, shows . up at the State Supreme Court in Manhattan today as his wife is denied . bail again . State Supreme Court Justice Juan . Merchan said Gristina's newly hired lawyers, Mr Greenwald and Elise L. Rucker, needed to complete official paperwork before he could consider . the plan. Prosecutors have called Gristina a flight risk. They . say they believe she made millions, has money stashed away to flee and . has shown a willingness to try to run from trouble, once going to . Montreal for a time in 2008 when some other high-profile prostitution . investigations were in the news, including the federal case that spurred . then-Governor Eliot Spitzer's resignation. Mr Spitzer was never charged but publicly identified as a client of a call-girl ring at the heart of that case. New York: The DA's office raided the 'brothel at 304 East 78th Street on the day Gristina was arrested . Double life: The suburban home Gristina and . Kelvin Gorr live in with their son Nicholas and their pigs and dogs in . Monroe, upstate New York, was also raided the day she was arrested . Mr Greenwald tried to persuade the judge to lower Gristina's bond. He called the Canada trip a ‘red herring,’ noting that she had a home there and wasn't facing charges at the time. He noted that her alleged accomplice, Ms Baker, was released on $100,000 bond after turning herself in this week and that both women are facing only a single, low-level, non-violent felony charge. ‘You put (bond) at $2million, under the theory of what?’ he asked Merchan. The judge acknowledged that the bond was ‘fairly high’ for a person who has never been arrested before. But he said he didn't see any cause so far to reduce it. Mr Greenwald and Ms Rucker replaced a court-appointed lawyer, Richard Siracusa. Mr Gleason was working for free since he said Gristina is broke. Mr Greenwald said her relatives and friends were paying his fees. | Anna Gristina will go back to Rikers Island prison .
Former attorney Peter Gleason offered up $2.5m loft as collateral .
Prosecutors question 'murky relationship' between them .
Defense lawyer Gary Greenwald now on the case . |
59,564 | a92b0bc44545a73d4ead9810ec913cbc687d106b | (CNN) -- From humble feature phones to souped-up tablets, mobile devices have become a major player in America's media landscape. New research from comScore shows that nearly half of all Americans now access some kind of mobile media: browsing the mobile Web, using mobile apps or downloading content via a mobile device. Furthermore, mobile users increasingly own multiple mobile devices that they use in various ways over the course of a day or simultaneously, making them what comScore calls "digital omnivores." "Not too long ago, consumers depended solely on their desktop computer or laptop to connect online," the report says. "Now, a growing number of consumers are likely to access a wide variety of digital content across a multitude of devices on a daily basis. "With smartphones, tablets and other connected devices, consumers have become digital omnivores -- not just because of the media they consume but also in how they consume it. Cross-platform consumption has created a vastly different digital landscape, and it is one that requires insight into both the individual usage of devices as well as the nature of their complementary use." Digital omnivore? Guilty as charged. Here's how this works in my life: . On a typical workday, while I'm making my morning tea, I'm also downloading that day's audio podcasts to my computer. I sync these up with my iPod so I can listen to the news while I make breakfast and hit the gym. While I'm walking to the gym, a podcast news story captures my interest. I stop on the sidewalk for a minute, pull out my Android phone and do a Google search to find the version of that story on the podcast's website. I scan the first few paragraphs and realize I'll want to read the story later in-depth. So from my phone, I share that story to my Instapaper account (a free service that saves and delivers long-format text content in a format easy to read on a variety of mobile devices). Later that afternoon, on my lunch break, I pull out my Kindle and sync it via wi-fi to my Amazon account. The Kindle downloads my latest Instapaper archive: a few articles I've recently saved, including the article from that morning. I read these while having lunch. One story in that Instapaper batch mentions a new film that sounds interesting, a remake of "The Thing." So I pull out my phone, launch the Internet Movie Database app and watch the trailer. I like it so much, I tweet about it and post it to a group of friends on Google+, all from my phone. By then, I've finished my soup, and it's time to get back to work. Notice that I haven't turned on a TV or radio or opened a printed newspaper or magazine at all that day. That's normal for me. Still, I'm accessing comparable (and arguably more useful, flexible and actionable) kinds of content via devices that I can easily carry around anywhere I go. Also: No trees were harmed in the making of this content experience. I don't personally own a tablet (I haven't found one that suits my needs at a price I'm willing to pay), but according to comScore, the emergence of tablets is making the media landscape ever richer and more complex -- and more fragmented. While tablets are still a very small part of the mobile market, comScore says three out of five tablet users get some kind of news on this device, and 25% do so daily or most days. As a journalist, I take that as potential good news -- in the long run. But for now, even though half of Americans are already accessing some kind of mobile content, this contingent is still a long, long way from taking over digital media as a whole. The comScore report notes, "The share of non-computer traffic for the U.S. stood at 6.8% in August 2011, with two-thirds of that traffic coming from mobile phones and tablets accounting for much of the remainder." This traffic measurement includes only browser-based page views -- just a subset of all Internet traffic (which encompasses everything from e-mail to app support to streaming video to cloud computing and storage). But still, 6.8% is a soberingly small figure, considering how much media attention mobile technology is getting. In the big picture, for now, digital media still exist mainly in the realm of computers that rely on wired broadband connections. But this is changing fast: IDC recently predicted that by 2015, more Americans will access the Internet via wireless connections (wi-fi and wireless carriers) than "wireline" connections (cable modem, DSL, etc.). Where is this trend heading? Among its conclusions, comScore notes, "Devices influence the way people consume content and it is important to remember that they do not exist in isolation of one another, but have a complementary relationship in consumers' lives." In other words, it's a bit like drug interactions: different media and communication devices affect us in different ways, especially in combination. For instance, I would have gotten less value from the news podcast on my iPod if I hadn't had my Android phone handy while I was listening -- and less value still if I hadn't been able to read the article I'd encountered that way on my Kindle, when and where that experience was more convenient. (And note that this total benefit did not hinge on me committing solely to any single platform or manufacturer.) In the coming year, I'd expect to see more online publishers, advertisers and service providers experimenting with multichannel cross-platform offerings that support complementary types of engagement through your various (and mostly mobile) devices. Similarly, activists, organizations and communities of all types will develop their own multichannel strategies, both intentionally and organically. We'll probably see some strange bedfellows and blatant missteps along the way. But the ultimate goal will be to create a more coherent yet customized experience that feels ambient, not tied to specific devices. Which is probably good, since this technology keeps changing so fast. The opinions expressed in this post are solely those of Amy Gahran. | Mobile devices have become a major player in America's media landscape .
Mobile users increasingly own multiple mobile devices which they use in various ways .
The emergence of tablets are making the media landscape richer, according to comScore . |
10,850 | 1ede9adb9633e717c0bb09107b557da5ba3d7f0f | If these pictures prove one thing it's that the Huntington-Whiteley clan are one genetically blessed family. For Rosie's younger brother Toby has landed his first ever modelling gig - displaying his enviable abs in a pair of summer trunks. Despite the icy weather Toby showed he's unafraid to get his kit off, to pose semi-naked in a pair of floral board shorts. Toby Huntington-Whiteley showed that good looks run in the family as he posed for Jacamo's SS15 campaign . Toby Huntington-Whiteley looks great in these black and white modelling test shots - he works as a personal trainer and his muscles are clear to see . The personal trainer's muscular frame, coupled with the Huntington-Whiteley good looks, helped him showcase men's fashion chain Jacamo's Spring Summer collection. Martin Roberts, head of buying for Jacamo, said: 'Jacamo is about offering men of all shapes and sizes a choice of fashion that fits, regardless of size. 'Standing at a broad 6ft 4ins tall, Toby was the perfect fit to launch our SS15 product.' This is Toby's first proper modelling gig although if his test shots are anything to go by then he's going to have no trouble picking up more work. Toby looks brooding in a simple white t-shirt and jeans in one of the shots . Toby shows off his personality in the series of shots taken to showcase his modelling talent . In a variety of brooding poses Toby shows off his modelling skills in a selection of black and white and colour shots. Toby says he works as a 'performance specialist' at WORKSHOP at the prestigious Bulgari Hotel and Residences in Knightsbridge. Toby shares his sister's good looks with the same full lips, tanned skin and blonde hair . Toby channels a young Marlon Brando in this moody black and white model shot . Toby has previously posted pictures of himself working out on his Instagram account and has learned the Bodyism method of training. And although he is new to the business, from the looks of it if Toby - who shares his sister's characteristically full lips - carries on the way he started off he'll be well on his way to success. Toby Huntington-Whiteley is represented by Models 1 . Toby's sister Rosie has already become a famous model after first been spotted at the tender age of 15 . | Toby, 24, is following in his older sister's footsteps .
The personal trainer landed his first campaign for Jacamo .
Toby shares Rosie's good looks with full lips and chiseled cheeks . |
46,407 | 82c2a5229c39444df11f849d809b62fc1b64ff46 | By . Eleanor Crooks, Press Association . Dominic Thiem recorded one of the best and one of the worst victories of his life in the second round of the US Open. The 20-year-old Austrian is among the most exciting young talents around and he made the last 32 at a grand slam for the first time by coming from two sets down to defeat 11th seed Ernests Gulbis 4-6 3-6 6-4 6-3 6-3. But it was not a match he enjoyed because Gulbis is his training partner and mentor. Inspired: Dominic Thiem came from two sets down for the first time in his career to beat Ernests Gulbis . Good friends: The pair train together and Thiem says he did not enjoy beating his Latvian friend . The pair share a coach in Gunter Bresnik and travel the world together. They even warmed up together before Friday's match, but that was all that was normal about it. 'I hated the situation,' said Thiem. 'It's something really, really special, it's a really great win for me. It's my first time coming back from two sets to zero, first time five sets. 'But I would prefer it against anybody else.' Gulbis appeared to have the match in his grasp but struggled with cramp in the fourth and fifth sets. He said: 'A lot of my energy went on the mental part, the nerves that started before the match. Probably if I would play somebody else, I would be more relaxed. 'I thought that it's not going to be so difficult, but mentally it was difficult. We were both really nervous throughout the match. We both played far from our best tennis. Eyes on the prize: Diem, 20, stayed strong physically and mentally to reach the last 32 for the first time . Distraught: Gulbis has been unable to replicate his French Open form since reaching the semi-final in Paris . 'The level we play in practice is much higher than we did today. This was not a nice game. But he showed character, so it's really good. It's good for him.' Thiem next plays 19th seed Feliciano Lopez, and Gulbis hopes his friend can keep his run going. 'The positive is that Dominic is in the third round,' said the Latvian. 'He has an okay draw, so I wish him the best. 'I lost. I'm going home. Nothing is positive for me.' Gulbis was once where Thiem is now as a bright young thing of the tour, but he enjoyed life away from the court too much to realise his potential. Over the last two seasons Gulbis has grown up and knuckled down and the results have followed, the highlight being a run to the French Open semi-finals this summer. Since Paris, though, he has won just four matches in five tournaments, slipping out of the top 10 almost as soon as he climbed into it. Feeling the heat: Despite a good start the Latvian was unable to close out the game, blaming mental fatigue . 'At Wimbledon definitely I was a little bit overwhelmed from my Paris results,' he said. 'It was tough for me. 'Afterwards I took some time off. Then I had a good two weeks of practice. 'I did my homework. I was working hard. I was working good. Everything was good. You never know when the results are going to come. 'Unfortunately now is a grand slam. Everybody wishes that his top form is coming for the grand slam. Mine didn't come. 'Now I have to look forward to Asia. If I play really, really well, I still have a chance for the World Tour Finals. I just need to win something big. But it's good. It's okay. A loss is a loss, but it's fine.' | Dominic Thiem comes from two sets down to win .
Austrian reaches grand slam last 32 for the first time by beating Gulbis .
But Thiem says 'I would prefer it against anybody else'
Gulbis has struggled for form since French Open semi-final . |
190,296 | 826406212f5b6a42433a8ea578f4dd7a4689ed2e | Forget the disappearing act in the semi-final. Never mind the stats-men telling us that the only time he touched the ball in Holland’s penalty area was when he got lucky with his middle-of-the-goal spot-kick in the sudden-death shoot-out. Let’s hear it for that team talk. Follow the leader: Lionel Messi (centre) speaks to his Argentina team-mates before extra time . In their premature desperation to proclaim Lionel Messi as the greatest footballer of all time, the Argentinian’s sycophants are citing not the way he played for 120 minutes but what he had to say to his amigos between full-time and extra-time. Look at the pictures, they protest. See how he takes over from manager Alejandro Sabella come the crunch. For heaven’s sake, spare us. Spare him, also. Because they do their own idol a disservice. Not least by ignoring that it was Javier Mascherano - the man who really did most to squeeze Argentina through to Sunday’s World Cup Final against Germany - who picked up the motivation mantle after the Dutch had threatened through the first 15 minutes of the additional half-hour. Messi was literally Little Leo on this occasion. A peripheral figure in a match which, while important in its result, was monumental only by the scale of its tedium. That does not mean Messi is anything less than an exceptional footballer, perhaps the finest of his generation. But if he is to be elevated to the pantheon of Pele, Maradona, Garrincha and di Stefano it will take something other than a spot of tub-thumping in the huddle. Stepping up to the plate: Javier Mascherano led the team talk at half-time during extra time . At his shimmering best, Messi is a delight to behold. As a shooting star in the highest firmament of the club game he may well be entitled to begrudge Cristiano Ronaldo being given his turn as world footballer of the year just because he himself had won that honour so often. As it stands at this moment Messi needs a final-winning spectacular against Germany in the Maracana. Not least because he has disappointed in his previous World Cups. That will sound severe to Messi’s legion of admirers but it is only the most exacting judgement which makes any ultimate accolade worth receiving. This is a challenge to which Messi is capable of rising and it will be sad for him, as well as unfortunate for us all, if suspicions that he may be less than totally fit for the grandest occasion of his life prove well-founded. That way? Messi gestures during the World Cup semi-final between Argentina and Holland . VIDEO When Messi is on form - highlights . There did appear to be a heaviness in the legs and perhaps a favouring of one of them against the Dutch. Also, a hint of fleshiness about the jowels hinted at possible limitations on his training. Certainly, the crisp finishing which had carried Argentina through the earlier stages of the tournament was missing. Although it has to be said that those four goals tended to mask performances which fell rather short of virtuoso splendour. It may well be that the brutal tackling which has provided a nasty undercurrent to Brazil 2014 is taking its toll of Messi. Chilling out: Messi sits down during a training session near Belo Horizonte on Thursday ahead of the final . If so, while the effects may not be as drastic as the crippling of Neymar, they could be debilitating nonetheless. If that is the case, the heart goes out to him. If not, does he deserve as yet to be lacing up the boots in celestial company? Not unless he pulls his socks up on Sunday. Jubilation: Argentina players celebrate after defeating Holland in a penalty shoot-out on Wednesday . VIDEO Team Profile: Argentina highlights . So it’s goodnight from him, the Alan Hansen the twitter trolls love to hate. And it’s goodnight from him, the Alan Hansen whose judgement the more considered BBC viewers seriously respect. The TV football pundit who divides public opinion more sharply than any other is leaving the building for the last time on Sunday night. And it's goodnight from me: Alan Hansen will retire as the BBC's leading television football pundit this Sunday . Hansen made his final appearance before the Match of the Day cameras in May. Quite why, when he is not yet 60, is a matter between himself and his Auntie Beeb. He will disappear from our screens for good – well, with the probable exceptions of occasional guest appearances – when the lights go out in that temporary glass studio on Copacabana beach. Not a bad way to go out, a World Cup Final in Brazil. The BBC are making a fuss about it which has included a documentary programme. Nice of them. But switching off his broadcasting career of 20-odd years does not mark the most significant retirement of Hansen’s life. Most of the younger tele-generation may not realise it but this man’s most profound analysis of the game was expressed on the pitch, when he was one of the most cerebral players of his era. Back in the day: Hansen (left) pictured with Des Lynam (centre) and Sir Trevor Brooking in the 1990s . Having cut his Scottish teeth on helping Partick Thistle win the First Division title, and with it promotion to the Premier League, Hansen’s made his lifetime career move to Liiverpool. The apparently overt elegance and laid-back style which would come to irritate the detractors among his television audience were a source of enormous reassurance to his Anfield team-mates. They called him 'Jockey' but they would have been better sticking to his original nick-name 'Stretch'. That referred to the languorous manner in which he would extend one of those long legs to coax the ball away from opposing forwards and thereby snuff out danger with what looked like effortless ease. Consider the importance of that classy contribution to a golden age of Liverpool domination both at home and in Europe. Euro glory: Hansen (right), Graeme Souness (left) and Kenny Dalglish hold up the European Cup in 1981 . Hansen won three European Cup winner’s medals. He helped Liverpool to eight English league titles and two FA Cups, which included the classic domestic double of 1986 to which he captained them under the management of Kenny Dalglish. To all that, he can add our League Cups, one European Super Cup and six FA Charity Shields. To some extent his abilities went less recognised in his own country. He played only 26 times for Scotland and was dropped from the ill-fated squad for Mexico 86. In part that related to the formidable centre-back pairing of Alex McLeish and Willie Miller which Sir Alex Ferguson had forged at Aberdeen. International duty: Hansen pictured playing for Scotland at the 1982 World Cup Finals in Spain . It may have had something to do, also, with his seemingly aloof demeanour. That was at its most evident after he won the ball and proceeded to build attacks from the back with his calm, unhurried, perceptive passes. If Scotland ever did produce a Bobby Moore, It was Alan Hansen. Enough said. Turn off the lights. And a very good night to him. | Mascherano was the man who picked up the motivation mantle against Holland in the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday .
Messi needs a final-winning spectacular against Germany in the Maracana .
The Barcelona superstar is perhaps the finest footballer of his generation .
Alan Hansen will retire as the BBC's lead television pundit on Sunday . |
264,178 | e22af4fb97a14d4ffe4f73b0ac4999040e6029fc | By . David Kent . Luis Muriel has sought to end speculation about his future by announcing he wants to stay at Udinese next season. The 23-year-old striker, who has been at Udinese since 2010, had been strongly linked with a move away from the Friuli stadium this summer with Liverpool, Fiorentina and Roma reportedly keen to acquire the Colombia international's services. However, Muriel is contracted to Udinese until June 2018 and has expressed his wish to stay put. Going nowhere: Luis Muriel has ruled out a summer move from Udinese despite interest from other clubs . Room for improvement: Muriel managed only four goals in 24 Serie A appearances last season . 'We start again (pre-season training),' Muriel said on his Instagram account. 'I want to thank Udine and Udinese for giving me so many years of joy and just a few disappointments. 'I wish to remain here at Udinese. 'This club has always believed in me and it's here where I want to establish myself as a player. 'I return to train with a lot of enthusiasm and will. 'With the help of my team-mates, I hope we can give the fans a lot of joy this coming season.' Muriel, who was left out of Colombia's final World Cup squad, scored four goals in 24 league appearances for Udinese in the 2013-14 campaign. Loyal: Muriel, pictured celebrating a goal against AC Milan, says he wants to establish himself at Udinese . | Muriel says he does not want to leave Udinese this summer .
The 23-year-old has been linked to Liverpool, Roma and Fiorentina .
The Colombia international has a contract until 2018 . |
50,433 | 8eaa39f7facba274d751edf3a7378634fd159cc7 | Europe is set to suffer more severe droughts due to climate change and increased water use, scientists have warned. By the end of the century, southern Europe in particular will have 80 per cent more droughts than at present. New research by the European Commission predicts that water shortages will be made worse by population growth and increased demand. New research by the European Commission predicts that water shortages will be made worse by population growth and increased demand. It said that in the past 30 years, dry spells have cost Europe over ¿100billion (or £83billion) The researchers predicted that southern Europe will probably be worst hit. Stream and river minimum flow levels . could fall by as much as 40 per cent and periods of drought might . increase up to 80 per cent in the Iberian Peninsula, the south of France, . Italy and the Balkans. Scientists have predicted that dry . spells will be longer and more frequent and warned that the warming . projected for Europe - particularly in its southern regions - is even . stronger. Over the Iberian Peninsula, the average temperature is predicted to increase by up to 5°C by the end of this century. Drought can have a serious economic and social impact and is thought to have cost Europe over €100billion (or £83billion) in the past three decades alone. Researchers used computer models to predict which parts of Europe could be worst hit by increasing temperatures and intensive water consumption. Giovanni Forzieri, a researcher in climate risk at the European Commission's Climate Research Centre said: ‘Our research shows that many river basins, especially in southern parts of Europe, are likely to become more prone to periods of reduced water supply due to climate change. ‘An increasing demand for water, following a growing population and intensive use of water for irrigation and industry, will result in even stronger reductions in river flow levels.’ They analysed climate and hydrological models of different scenarios stretching to the year 2100. Luc Feyen, a hydrologist at the European Commission said: ‘Scenarios are narratives of possible evolutions - up to 2100 in this study - of our society that we use to quantify future greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption by different sectors. Stream and river minimum flow levels could fall by as much as 40 per cent and periods of drought might increase up to 80 per cent in the Iberian Peninsula (Granada is pictured), south of France, Italy and the Balkans . ‘Climate and water-use models then translate the greenhouse gas concentrations and water requirement into future climate and water consumption projections.’ The scientists used these projected conditions to make a hydrological model of all river basins in Europe that mimics the distribution and flow of water. They found that parts of Southern Europe will be the most affected. Stream and river minimum flow levels could fall by as much as 40 per cent and periods of drought might increase up to 80 per cent in the Iberian Peninsula, south of France, Italy and the Balkans. The research, published in the journal Hydrology and Earth System Sciences also found that average global temperatures will increase by up to 3.4°C by 2100. Scientists have predicted that dry spells will be longer and more frequent and warned that the warming projected for Europe - particularly in its southern regions - is even stronger. 'Over the Iberian Peninsula, for example, summer mean temperature is projected to increase by up to 5°C by the end of this century,' Dr Feyen added. | New research by the European Commission .
predicts that water shortages will be made worse by population growth .
and increased demand .
By the end of the century, southern Europe - including the Iberian Peninsula and Italy - will have 80 per cent more droughts than at present .
Stream and river flow levels could fall by as much as 40 per cent in areas . |
145,217 | 47d13a3847fa1dc5f73c073500edb137e0255a43 | By . Russell Myers . PUBLISHED: . 18:29 EST, 23 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 18:29 EST, 23 June 2012 . The BBC privately chartered a plane to fly its team of star presenters to tonight’s game. Gary Lineker, Mark Lawrenson and Alan Hansen made the trip from Warsaw to Kiev yesterday. The trio, who had previously been covering the tournament from Manchester, had taken a chartered flight to Poland on Friday. Flying in style: Pundits Gary Lineker, Alan Hansen and Mark Lawrenson landed in Poland on Friday and travelled from Warsaw into Ukraine yesterday . A BBC spokesman insisted the private charter was saving licence fee-payers’ money because it meant the Corporation could cut down on accommodation costs. She also said there was a shortage of space on scheduled flights. Interest in flights to the Ukraine capital surged yesterday as fans' low expectations were turned around after England won its group stage of the tournament. Fans swamped travel websites to secure their place in the Olympic Stadium when England take on Italy on Sunday. Website CheapFlights reported an 800 per cent increase in inquiries for flights in the three hours before, during and after England's win over Ukraine on Tuesday. The cheapest flights available from London to Kiev - for just under £400 - were those going via other European cities with a stopover. On the road: England fans faced a battle for plane tickets after a reported 800 per cent increase in inquiries on Tuesday . The cheapest direct London-Kiev flight was £577, going out with Alitalia on June 23, the day before the game, and returning with KLM on June 25, the day after the game. Other direct flights available on the same dates were £590 with Luthansa and Austrian Airlines. The cheapest direct flight landing on the day of the game, June 24, was £540 with Swissair. Pricey: The cheapest direct London-Kiev flight was £577, going out with Alitalia the day before the game, and returning with KLM the day after . For those fans willing to spend up to 18 hours travelling, a £394 flight with a stopover and long wait in the airport lounge at Paris was available via flight comparison website Skyscanner. The Football Association's official licensed tour operator Thomson Sport yesterday chartered an extra plane for its £649 per person 24-hour trip for the quarter-final after the package sold out. But this package did not come with a match ticket, so fans had to find one of those on their own. It did include the cost of return flights and transfers between the airport and stadium. Skyscanner reported a massive surge in flight searches to Ukraine late on Tuesday night as Wayne Rooney fired England into the quarter-finals. Overall searches on the day of the big match against Poland were yesterday up 120 per cent compared to the day before, with flight searches doubling between 8pm and 10pm as expectation levels soared. It is flights that are the expensive part - once these have been purchased, England fans can buy tickets to the quarter-final from Uefa's official website for as little as £33. England's victory over Ukraine on Tuesday was watched by 18.5million people on ITV1, the biggest viewing figure of the year so far. The final match of the group stage of Euro 2012 eclipsed the 17million who tuned in to watch the Diamond Jubilee concert earlier this month. The BBC will now be hoping to set a new 2012 record when it airs England's quarter-final match against Italy on Sunday. Prince William could be heading to Euro 2012 if England beat Italy tonight. Palace aides confirmed they have been in touch with the Foreign Office, whose advice they must seek before the Prince travels, and the situation is ‘under review’. The semi-final is in Warsaw on Thursday. BBC pundit Alan Hansen was told to borrow a shirt from colleague Mark Lawrenson after his luggage went missing. TV anchor Gary Lineker tweeted: ‘Slight hiccup at Warsaw airport. Alan Hansen’s luggage didn’t show up. He could always borrow one of Lawro’s shirts.’ Match Of The Day presenter Gary Lineker, the face of Walkers crisps in the UK – which are called Lays in many countries – tweeted: ‘Early flight to Kiev. Just saw Polish Walkers/Lays advert at the airport. It stars Szczesny, the Arsenal goalie. Don’t get any ideas Mr Hart.’ Italy's Alessandro Diamanti takes his own hairdryer to every match, earning the nickname ‘The Hairdryer’ from teammates. It’s one better than England’s Wayne Rooney – who celebrated scoring the winning goal against Ukraine by ‘spraying’ hair gel on his £30,000 hair transplant. Hundreds of fans claim they are victims of fraud after booking online hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation in Donetsk and Kiev that did not exist. A spokesman for Booking.com acknowledged the complaints and said: ‘We have moved to resolve these matters as quickly as possible.’ England striker Jermain Defoe – now back with the team after his father’s funeral – has suffered a second family tragedy. His 16-year-old cousin Shervon Poleon died from a head wound after an alleged attack at his school in St Lucia. Defoe lost his father Jimmy, 47, to throat cancer. | Gary Lineker, Mark Lawrenson and Alan Hansen made the trip . |
18,683 | 34de2757974b95e40e3b8eceb8e04437f54786db | Police have launched a murder investigation after a 35-year-old father of two was stabbed near a restaurant in Northampton. Jon Casey was stabbed close to the Lazeez restaurant on Barrack Road in Northampton at 5.30pm on Friday. Mr Casey collapsed at the scene and was raced to Northampton General Hospital where he was declared dead less than an hour later. Jon Casey, 35, was stabbed to death near the Lazeez restaurant in Northampton, pictured, on Friday night . Police said that Mr Casey had suffered stab injuries although his body has been transferred to Leicester, where a Home Office pathologist will complete a post mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death. Detective Inspector Mark Brayfield of Northamptonshire Police said that detectives were following a number of lines of inquiry. Officers have been searching the area around the crime scene looking for the murder weapon. Several drains have been inspected, with roadside grilles lifted to see if the killer stashed the knife nearby. DI Brayfield said: 'This was a brutal and ultimately fatal attack and we would urge anyone in the area at the time and who may have seen anything suspicious to come forward. 'We are very keen to know of Mr Casey’s movements in the hours leading up to his death.' It is understood that the killer ran off after stabbing Mr Casey, leaving him for dead on the side of the street. A woman passerby who was taking her seven-year-old son to a martial arts class said she saw Mr Casey lying on the floor and called for an ambulance. Mr Casey was rushed to Northampton General Hospital, pictured, where he died shortly afterwards . She raced over to him and attempted to cover his wounds until paramedics arrived. She said: 'I was really shocked. I did all I could to help him.' A police spokesman said: 'Detectives have launched a murder investigation following the fatal stabbing of a Northampton man. 'Jon Casey, a 35-year-old father-of-two, from Ecton Brook, Northampton, was found stabbed in Barrack Road, close to the Lazeez restaurant, shortly before 5.30pm on Friday January 16. 'Paramedics transferred Mr Casey to Northampton General Hospital where Mr Casey sadly died of his injuries just before 6.25pm.' | Jon Casey, 35, from Northampton was fatally stabbed on Friday night .
The father-of-two died after being attacked near the Lazeez restaurant .
Police investigating the murder described the killing as 'a brutal attack'
Mr Casey died in Northampton General Hospital an hour after the stabbing . |
23,264 | 420b565b34d5361a8bbbdf0561ef8c869623a72c | World Cup TV host Gary Lineker said more in hope than expectation on the eve of Brazil 2014 that its biggest stars had to deliver. He was well aware the most-hyped players in South Africa four years ago - Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Kaka, Fernando Torres and Robin van Persie - managed just two goals between them, and the entire World Cup had flopped as a result. But, to the delight of Lineker and millions of armchair fans, this time has already been different – and how. VIDEO All Star XI: Ronaldo . Biggest stage: Lionel Messi celebrating his goal that crucially put Argentina 2-0 up against Bosnia & Herzegovina at the Maracana on Sunday . Clincher: Mario Balotelli netting the header that gave Italy a 2-1 victory over England on Saturday . Local hero: Neymar celebrates with Brazil team-mate Hernanes after scoring the penalty that gave his side a 2-1 lead in the World cup opener against Croatia on Thursday . Time to shine: Now it is Cristiano Ronaldo's turn to deliver as Portugal prepare to face Germany . The greatest players in the world have set the stage alight in the first few days with brilliant goals from Neymar, Karim Benzema, Mario Balotelli, Messi, van Persie, Arjen Robben, and a midfield masterclass from Andrea Pirlo as Italy broke passing records against England. If anything is going to get the current best player on the planet Cristiano Ronaldo in the mood as he makes his long-awaited first appearance in Brazil against Germany on Monday evening, it’ll be the sight of his peers getting so much acclaim and adulation in a stunning start to the tournament. For all the talk of Messi’s attempts to emulate Diego Maradona this summer, Ronaldo has the ego to believe he should leave Brazil this summer as the greatest player of all-time by leading Portugal to their first World Cup – something even Eusebio couldn’t manage. He’s had to overcome a torn thigh muscle and tendonitis in his knee in the build-up to the World Cup, in less than four weeks after helping Real Madrid win the Champions League. But surely nothing will stop the £80million world footballer of the year trying to put on a special show in Portugal’s opening game in Group G against Germany in Salvador. Ronaldo was actually applauded into the media room as he finally arrived an hour late on Sunday to talk about the Germany clash. He tried to be modest but it didn’t really work. Finisher: Karim Benzema scored two as France beat Honduras in their opening game on Sunday . The Flying Dutchman: Robin van Persie netted a brace as Netherlands beat Spain 5-1 . Sprinter: Arjen Robben was also amongst the goals in their demolition of the world champions . ‘I'm 100%,’ he assured them. ‘I'd like to be at 110%. If I'm not feeling well, I'm the first to tell the coach I can't play. If I feel anything during the match, I'm the first to tell the coach. I come first. ‘I can make a difference, but I can't carry the whole team. I just want to help. On Monday we have a match against a favourite to win the World Cup, Germany. 'Look at my statistics and my CV – I have nothing to prove. My career has been great so far and I just want that to continue.’ Until now the game’s biggest names haven’t let the World Cup down. It started on opening night when Brazil’s No10 Neymar rescued the hosts after they trailed to Croatia, equalising with a shot that fizzed in-off the post and then scoring a match-winning penalty. Struggle: Ronaldo and Messi had a difficult time of it at the last World Cup, with the Portuguese forward managing just a single goal against North Korea and the Argentine failing to score . Strife: Wayne Rooney had a terrible time of it in South Africa, failing to score in four appearances, whilst Kaka saw more red cards for Brazil than he managed goals . If that was impressive, what Robben and van Persie did to holders Spain on Friday was nothing short of sensational. They scored twice each – van Persie’s looped header will be talked about for years to come – as Holland won 5-1. Over the weekend, it was more of the same. Mario Balotelli headed Italy’s winning goal against England – why is it always him? At 35, Pirlo was man-of-the-match as Italy recorded a pass completion rate of 93.2 per cent, the highest ever in a modern World Cup game. Benzema scored twice for France, and then Messi lit up the Maracana after a sluggish start with a tradsemark solo slalom to score against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Argentina’s 2-1 victory. Pass master: Andrea Pirlo recorded a pass completion rate of 93.2 per cent against England . All smiles: Ronaldo was in high spirits during a press conference ahead of the crucial opening game . Expectation: But he knows there will be real pressure on him to deliver the goods . It will be extremely difficult to top – but it’s Ronaldo up next and anything is possible. He's the most expensive footballer in the world at £80million. He's the current world footballer of the year, ahead of Messi. But taking the World Cup by storm would top it all and he knows it, regardless of the state of his body. | Messi, Balotelli and Neymar have all delivered so far at the World Cup .
The Argentine superstar scored a stunning goal in their 2-1 victory over Bosnia & Herzegovina .
Balotelli scored Italy's winner in their 2-1 victory over England in Group D .
Neymar netted two vital goals as Brazil beat Croatia 3-1 on the opening day .
Ronaldo is now set to enter the fray as Portugal take on Germany on Monday .
Many stars such as Wayne Rooney, Fernando Torres and Robin van Persie struggled to perform at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa . |
243,000 | c6864a7b78347f5dd05117cfc5908557eb73f4ed | By . Mia De Graaf . Two men escaped with their lives when their car flipped in the air and hit a house before being skewered by a tree. The Toyota Starlet lost control at the road's central reservation and flew onto the grass verge. Three ambulances were called to break the driver and passenger from the wreckage at 2.40am today in a quiet street in Crawley, West Sussex. Miracle: The two men in this Toyota Starlet escaped with their lives after losing control on a quiet suburban street in Crawley, West Sussex, at 2.40am today. They flew off the road and became impaled on a tree . 'Bang': A witness heard screeching tyres, two thuds and a bang before seeing the wreckage . Both men, in their 20s, were rushed to the Royal Sussex Hospital in Brighton, where they are being treated for severe injuries. A witness described hearing 'tyres screeching, two thuds, then a massive bang' before residents emerged from their homes to investigate. Others posted on the Spotted Crawley Facebook page that the passenger appeared to be conscious but the driver was not. Police have confirmed no other vehicle was involved in the crash and no damage was done to the house. Emergency: Three ambulances pulled the men in their 20s from the car and rushed them to hospital . The driver, 21, is being treated for spinal injuries. His passenger, 25, suffered wounds to his abdomen . Investigation: Police claim no damage was done to the house in a street in Crawley, West Sussex . Sussex Police said in a statement: 'Police are appealing for information about a serious collision which happened in Crawley in the early hours of Wednesday morning (June 18). 'Anyone with information or saw what happened is asked to contact police on 101 or email [email protected] quoting Operation Packard.' | Toyota Starlet flew off road in West Sussex, hit house, landed on tree .
Driver, 21, and passenger, 25, survived with spinal and abdomen injuries .
Three ambulances pulled them from wreckage, took them to hospital .
Witness heard 'tyres screeching, two thuds, massive bang' at 2.40am today . |
35,730 | 65826077d28f172fb677b78063ea31a420da75f5 | Washington (CNN) -- Bill Clinton, while on the campaign trail in 1992, attacked the George H.W. Bush administration for collaborating with "the butchers of Beijing." If he won the White House, Clinton promised, he would put human rights first when dealing with the People's Republic of China. But six months after assuming the Oval Office, Clinton tossed those promises out the window, and dealing with China returned to "business as usual," according to William Galston, a former Clinton policy adviser. Clinton isn't alone. Candidates, once elected, usually struggle to live up to their rhetoric on foreign policy. The reason is simple, according to a cadre of international affairs experts: The view from inside the Oval Office is much different from the view from outside. "It is very difficult for presidential candidates to know even a fraction of the facts and the texture of diplomatic relations between the United States and other countries," said Galston. "Once you get inside the White House, the world looks very different." With foreign policy about to take center stage on Monday during the last presidential debate of the 2012 cycle, experts say Republican challenger Mitt Romney should be cautious about over-promising. But some say he already has. In Romney's October 8 foreign policy address, the Republican candidate promised to increase sanctions on Iran, help arm Syrian rebels who "share our values," and close the "daylight" between Israel and the United States. Robert Pastor, a professor of international relations at American University and a former national security adviser to President Jimmy Carter, said Romney joins a long line of candidates who promise too much. "He will have to wake up if he were elected," Pastor said. "It would be irresponsible for him to implement" some of those promises, and "I suspect his new secretary of state would tell him that." If Romney wants proof of the pitfalls of foreign policy promises, all he has to do is look across the table at Monday's debate at the man he is trying to unseat. During the 2008 campaign, then-candidate Barack Obama advocated for regional conferences with Syria and Iran, said his administration would enter diplomatic talks with governments that his predecessor, President George W. Bush, would not, and pledged to eliminate North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Syria has fallen into a long civil war, Iran continues to be a provocateur in the Middle East, and North Korea is still developing its nuclear program. Possibly Obama's biggest broken promise is the one to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. "I have said repeatedly that I intend to close Guantanamo, and I will follow through on that," Obama told CBS News' Steve Kroft in 2008. Guantanamo remains open, even though Obama signed an executive order to have it closed two days after he took office in 2009. The issue has largely been put on the back burner in light of issues on the economy. Governing on foreign policy is more difficult than talking tough on it, Galston said, because it hinges on the instability of the globe and can change in the blink of an eye. "I think this is the reality of political campaigns," Galston said. "You can say things (on the campaign trail) in good faith, based on consulting with experts -- and it is rarely the case that candidates say things about foreign policy that they know not to be the case. The issue is once you get inside the White House, the world looks very different." Pastor, the former Carter adviser, says these unmet foreign policy promises can be broken up into three distinct groups. There are the promises that are sincere but difficult -- or impossible -- to meet because they require action from other governments. "Secondly, there are promises that are sincere but cannot be implemented because the political opposition makes it impossible," Pastor said. Lastly, according to Pastor, are promises that are made because they are political expedient but prove irresponsible once the ramifications are understood. Presidential history is littered with promises that fall into these categories. During the 2000 campaign, then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush promised to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, a promise that many of his predecessors had also made. The embassy, however, to this day remains in Tel Aviv. Upon assuming office in 1981, Ronald Reagan promised to get tough and stop the Sandinistas, a left-wing Nicaraguan political party that swept across Central America. The Sandinistas were still around when Reagan left office in 1989 and to this day continue to hold political power in Nicaragua. In 1960, then-Sen. John F. Kennedy used soaring foreign policy rhetoric to help catapult him to the White House at the young age of 43. According to the State Department's Office of the Historian, Kennedy failed to live up to his rhetoric on international affairs. "The execution of Kennedy's foreign policy did not quite live up to the stirring rhetoric of his inaugural speech. ... In fact, his foreign policy was marred by a string of failures," reads the State Department website. In April of 1961, Kennedy had only been in office for a short three months when he called for a meeting with Dwight D. Eisenhower, his predecessor in the office. The Bay of Pigs invasion, a carryover from the Eisenhower administration, had been a massive failure that month and an early blunder by the Kennedy presidency -- even though many attributed the failure to Eisenhower. The Kennedy-Eisenhower relationship had been frosty, at best, after the young senator defeated the former general's vice president, Richard Nixon, in the 1960 campaign. Even though Eisenhower had long viewed Kennedy as naive -- he referred to Kennedy as "Little Boy Blue" -- the two put their chilly relationship aside and the sitting president invited the former general to Camp David to review the mistakes in Cuba. According to Eisenhower's notes from the meeting and a number of media reports, the conversation between the new and former president previewed the pitfalls of foreign policy campaign promises: . Kennedy: "No one knows how tough this job is until he's been in it a few months." Eisenhower: "Mr. President. If you will forgive me, I think I mentioned that to you three months ago." | Candidates often struggle in office to live up to foreign policy promises .
Romney has promised to help arm Syrian rebels, talked tough on Iran .
Much of Obama's foreign policy agenda from 2008 campaign hasn't been realized .
Presidential history is littered with unmet promises from the trail, experts say . |
85,996 | f3e8e27b49cb7d05852e1b79b3840edb3fb403d4 | Bethesda, Maryland (CNN) -- When Jonathan Legg of Bethesda, Maryland, got a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes at 39, he was shocked. "I had always been pretty active," said Legg. "But it was a big wake-up call, that what I was doing and my current weight were not OK." That was two years ago. Since that time, the Morgan Stanley executive decided to make some changes and reverse his diabetes. Although his doctor recommended he go on medication to control his illness, Legg took a different approach. Instead of meds, he began to exercise every day and changed his diet, cutting out alcohol, fatty foods and watching his carbs. Do you have diabetes? How well are you managing it? "I wanted to be able to know the changes I was making were making a difference, and it wasn't the drug," said Legg. According to new statistics just out from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25.8 million people, or 8.3% of the U.S. population, are affected by either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Most, like Legg, have type 2 diabetes, which in many people develops later in life. Caused primarily by genetic makeup, a sedentary lifestyle and poor eating habits, type 2 diabetes can be reversed in some cases. By making changes to their lives such as adding exercise and improving their diets, many type 2 diabetics can drop their glucose or sugar numbers back to the normal range, reversing their condition. "We have seen numerous people reverse their condition," says Dr. Michelle Magee, director of the MedStar Diabetes Institute in Washington. "But it takes a real dedication for the rest of their lives," she notes. So why do exercise and diet help reverse diabetes? To answer that question, we first need to know why people get diabetes in the first place. Diabetes is caused when there is too much glucose or sugar in the body. We get sugar from the things we eat. The body is designed to process sugar so it can enter our cells and provide energy. But glucose can't enter our cells without insulin, which is a hormone produced by the pancreas. If you have diabetes, your body isn't making any or is not making enough insulin -- or it can't properly use the insulin it is producing. As a result, too much sugar stays in the blood. If this occurs for a long time, it can lead to serious problems. Tips for dealing with diabetes . Type 1 diabetes was once known as juvenile diabetes because it's usually diagnosed in children and young adults. About 5% to 10% of all people with diabetes have this type, which is not reversible because the person's pancreas is not producing insulin at all. The remainder have type 2 diabetes. For these people, their body can no longer process insulin correctly. Although genetics plays a part, obesity is a major reason people develop type 2 diabetes. "We know that excess body weight adversely affects every organ system in the body," says Dr. Gary Foster, director of Temple University's Center for Obesity Research and Education in Philadelphia. "So it shouldn't be surprising that as obesity increases, as it has over the past 30 years, that medical conditions, especially conditions like type 2 diabetes, will also increase." People who carry excess weight, especially in their midsection, are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes because the fat in their tissues causes an imbalance of insulin in the body. The condition is called insulin resistance. If they can eliminate that fat by exercising and limiting carbohydrates and alcohol, then many can drop their glucose levels. And for some, they can drop them back into the normal range. This is also true for people who are prediabetic. According to the CDC, 79 million Americans are prediabetic, which means their glucose readings fall between 100 and 125 while fasting. According to the American Diabetes Association, normal glucose readings are 100 and below when a person has not eaten anything. Numbers above 125 while fasting are considered to be in the diabetic range. So when you're prediabetic, it's easier to turn those numbers around. And that's important, because once you become a diabetic, even if you drop your numbers, you will always be classified as a diabetic, making it difficult to acquire good insurance. "Once you fall into that glucose range, you are considered at high risk for developing the condition again," says Magee. "That's why we are working on a program right now that goes into the community and reaches those who are at risk of being prediabetic or diabetic," Magee said. "The results have been so positive, the CDC is looking at the program as a possible protocol for other hospitals to follow." As for Jonathan Legg, his numbers are no longer in the diabetic range. He's lost 40 pounds and watches everything he eats. "I educated myself, I read the labels," said Legg. "I enjoy what I eat. I met with nutritionists, and they helped me build a game plan." His physician, Dr. Lucy McBride of Foxhall Internists in Washington, D.C., says it's more than just diet; it's also the types of foods that Legg eats. "He cut out significant amounts of sugar and carbs in his diet, really changed how he ate," says McBride. "He's increased fiber, increased protein, cut back on alcohol, which is really sugar." But McBride notes Legg needs to be tenacious. "I told him, encouraged as I was, and proud and pleased [but] he's got to keep up those lifestyle habits for things to stay in the right direction," McBride said. "Without exercise, without diet and without weight control, the diabetes will come back. It's something he will need to manage his whole life." That's something Legg says he would rather do than live as a diabetic. | Jonathan Legg began to exercise every day, changed diet to reverse diabetes .
Diabetes is caused when there is too much glucose or sugar in the body .
Type 1 diabetes was once known as juvenile diabetes; it's usually diagnosed in children . |
216,224 | a3e9139b8a2ce5fbcfa156ec3053e264f9f2157b | Daniela Vargova, (pictured) whose heart is too weak to pump blood around her body, is being kept alive by hi-tech equipment in her handbag . A young woman whose heart is too weak to pump blood around her body is being kept alive thanks to hi-tech equipment in her handbag. Daniela Vargova, from Chippenham in Wiltshire, almost died when her heart began to fail. The 30-year-old now relies on a battery-powered pump to operate her bionic heart and keep her alive. Having to keep the device with her at all times means Ms Vargova carries the life-saving pack in her handbag. She will rely on the pump, which is known as a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) until a donor heart becomes available, after suffering a series of cardiac arrests. ‘Sometimes I find it tough carrying the LVAD around with me all the time,' she said. 'It’s quite weird knowing that it’s thanks to something in my handbag that I’m alive. ‘But I know how lucky I am - I’ve been given such a great chance to live that not everyone has. ‘I wouldn’t get the opportunity to do all those little things in life that people love if it wasn’t for my LVAD.’ She said that because the device is stashed away in her handbag, people fail to realise she has heart problems and it enables her to spend time with her husband, Feliks Rahuoja, 29, and family. In August 2013, Ms Vargova underwent almost 4 hours of surgery to be fitted with the LVAD at the Harefield Hospital in London. She also received treatment closer to home at the Bath Royal United Hospital. ‘It’s been a long road but now I get to live life normally,’ she said. ‘The LVAD is fitted internally - so there is a wire that goes from the external pack into my groin and travels up to my chest. ‘The external part are the batteries that keep the pump going - which is the part I carry in my bag. The 30-year-old must keep the power pack for her bionic heart with her at all times, so she carries it around in her handbag (pictured) In August 2013, Ms Vargova (pictured) underwent almost four hours of surgery to be fitted with her LVAD at Harefield Hospital. 'It's been a long road to but now I get to live life normally,' she said . ‘It weighs about two and a half kilos, so it’s pretty tiring to carry it around all day. ‘I have to change the batteries every six hours so I always keep two spares too. ‘There is no limit to how long I can have it in - there are some people I know who have had an LVAD for several years. ‘It’s hard to live with sometimes but it certainly does the trick. I could have quite easily died last year, so I just feel so lucky that I’m alive.’ Ms Vargova was fitted with her LVAD after suffering a life-threatening cardiac arrest in July last year, having had problems for around six months. She first began to become unwell in December 2012, when she suffered with a severe cough and chest pains. ‘I knew something was seriously wrong because I was just so ill all the time - I could hardly do basic day to day things,’ she said. ‘Eventually we went to hospital and on the way there I had a cardiac arrest. Ms Vargova (pictured left) said that because the device is stashed away in her handbag, people cannot guess she has heart problems and it enables her to spend time with her husband, Feliks, and her family . Ms Vargova’s surgeon, Mr André Simon, director of transplantation at the Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘A ventricular assist device (VAD) is a mechanical blood pump that is used to support the function of a failing heart. ‘They are used in patients like Daniela, whose only option is a heart transplant and this is known as a ‘bridge to transplant’. ‘The VAD enables patients to leave hospital and continue to live their life until a much-needed donor heart can be found. ‘Many people are able to go to work, school or university and we even have patients who travel abroad with their VAD. ‘Unfortunately there is a severe shortage of donor organs and many patients are living with a VAD for several years before receiving a transplant.’ ‘I was diagnosed with ventricular arrhythmia - an abnormal heart beat - and we were told that it was fairly easy to manage and I would be fine - I was given an ICD [a type of pacemaker] and we thought that would be the end of it. ‘But the symptoms came back and that’s when I was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy…which meant my heart was too weak to pump the blood around my body. ‘I was told my only option was a heart transplant and was transferred to Harefield Hospital. ‘It was just so unexpected and overwhelming - I’ve never heard of anyone having a transplant before.’ Ms Vargova’s heart was only functioning at 10 per cent and after three months in hospital she had a cardiac arrest. ‘Doctors told Feliks that I had a very low chance of survival and he should call my family as it was unlikely I would make it,’ she said. ‘I was rushed to theatre because the ICD hadn’t kicked in and my heart function was below one per cent. Ms Vargova's problems began six months before she was fitted with the LVAD. She was given a pacemaker but was later diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and had a cardiac arrest. Doctors told her husband Feliks (pictured with Ms Vargova) she had a 'very low chance of survival' ‘I was in theatre for almost 10 hours and came out the next morning on ECMO – a type of life support. ‘It was really touch-and-go but luckily I managed to come around nine days later.' After she woke up from the operation, Ms Vargova was told by her cardiac surgeon that she would be given an LVAD. ‘Feliks and I had seen some other patients with them, and the nurses had told us about them, so we knew how incredible they were - we couldn’t believe that I might actually be given one. It was fantastic,’ she said. Mr Rahuoja said: ‘When Daniela had her cardiac arrest I was told that she probably wouldn’t make it out of theatre. ‘I had to wait in a little room whilst she was in surgery for almost ten hours. I can remember that room perfectly - it was a horrible time. ‘But luckily, she made a wonderful recovery and she’s doing so well now. It’s been amazing.’ Ms Vargova said: ‘It’s [The LVAD] given me my life back and I couldn’t be happier. ‘I want to say a big thank you to everyone in Harefield and Bath RUH Hospitals, especially my cardiologist Rob Lowe, my cardiac surgeon - or superman – Mr André Simon, and the transplant and VAD teams. Without them, I wouldn’t be here.’ 'The LVAD is fitted internally - so there is a wire that goes from the external pack into my groin and travels up to my chest. The external part contains the batteries that keep the pump going - which is the part I carry in my bag,' (pictured) Ms Vargova said . | Daniela Vargova, from Chippenham, Wiltshire has a bionic heart and relies on a battery-powered pump to keep her alive .
The ventricular assist device (VAD) - necessary until she gets a heart transplant - includes a large battery pack, which she carries in her handbag .
She was fitted with the device after suffering a .
life threatening cardiac arrest in July last year, having had heart .
problems for around six months .
The 30-year-old first fell ill in December 2012, when she suffered a severe cough and chest pains .
After her first cardiac arrest she was diagnosed with an abnormal heart beat and fitted with a pacemaker .
The problems persisted and she was told she had dilated cardiomyopathy .
She had another heart attack before being fitted with a VAD .
Ms Vargova, who had another heart attack before being fitted with a VAD, said the device has given her a new lease of life . |
142,717 | 449497f7144c7d14ddf44af2723db2d151c1ad45 | An experienced climber from Oklahoma died in a freak accident on Monday morning, while mountaineering in a national park. Mary Margaret Bilyeu, known to her friends as Mimi, was on a guided ascent of the Grand Teton mountains in Wyoming when she fell. By the time rescuers reached the 44-year-old, who has two teenage children, she was unresponsive and could not be revived. Loss: Mary Margaret Bilyeu, known as Mimi to her friends, fell to her death while climbing in a national park . Hike: Bilyeu, who has two teenage children, fell during a guided ascent of the Grand Teton mountains on Monday . Family and friends were shocked to hear that the avid climber, who had tackled Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro earlier this year, had died in an accident. 'It was . unimaginable that this could happen,' her brother and climbing partner John Conley told OK News. 'She was a very . advanced climber. She was an all-around fitness buff.' When she wasn't tackling summits, Bilyeu was described as a devoting mother and wife, who was always willing to help a friend in need. She had taken her daughter Kyndal with her to Kenya earlier this year to spend time at an orphanage. The friends she made there were also saddened to hear of Bilyeu's death. Adventurous: The mom-of-two had traveled to Kenya earlier this year to help at an orphanage . Experienced: Bilyeu was an avid mountaineer who had been tackling summits for decades . Jennifer Whitener, of Maisha International which organized the Kenya trip, said she was shocked to hear of the accident. She told the Edmond Sun the mother had died doing what she loved best, and that the foundation was talking about ways to reach out and help her family. A spokeswoman for the national park Bilyeu had been hiking in when she died said an investigation into the events leading up to the mother's fall has been started. | Mary Margaret Bilyeu was hiking in the Grand Teton mountains .
44-year-old was an experienced mountaineer, family say . |
19,291 | 3698740d45764f576f128513924d3f332288fbd7 | (CNN) -- Hey Star Trek fans, how much do you know about Capt. James Kirk? Were you aware that he was born in Bethesda, Maryland, and raised in Hershey, Pennsylvania? That he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy? Doesn't sound familiar? We're talking about the real James Kirk, who, like the fictional Star Trek character James T. Kirk, commands a ship of the most cutting-edge technology. Shields up! Scientists work to produce 'Star Trek' deflector device . Capt. James A. Kirk will be commander of the Navy's new USS Zumwalt, the first of the DDG-1000 class of destroyers. It is longer, faster and carries state-of-the-art weapons that will allow it to destroy targets at more than 60 miles away, according to the Navy. Much of the ship's superstructure is wrapped in a huge canopy made of lightweight carbon fiber composite. Navy owes $1.5 million for damage to reef, Philippines says . The Zumwalt can't travel into deep space like the Starship Enterprise, but it does have a feature that the fictional Capt. Kirk coveted. On the television series, the captain once stole a "cloaking device" from a Romulan ship that effectively made the Enterprise "disappear" from their enemies' eyes. While the Zumwalt cannot completely disappear, its canopy and the rest of the ship is built on angles that help make it 50 times harder to spot on radar than an ordinary destroyer. When its begins missions, the Zumwalt will be the largest stealth ship in the Navy. This man cost the Navy a submarine . CNN's Larry Shaughnessy and Brad Lendon contributed to this report. | Capt. Kirk is commanding a new ship .
It's not a spacecraft, but a new Navy stealth destroyer .
Navy Capt. James Kirk shares a name with the Star Trek character . |
275,172 | f0779ac0d46449acd31d001c1ea2104d4468adbf | Just over a month ago, Dieter Gruschwitz dialled Jurgen Klopp’s mobile number, not the first to be quite unsure whether he was about to be deafened with a sonic boom of anger — or to be treated to ‘Kloppo’s’ quick-witted and generous bonhomie. The programme director of German TV station ZDF needed to make the peace. Klopp had taken umbrage at the ‘stupid question’ of ZDF front-man Jochen Breyer in the aftermath of Real Madrid’s clinical 3-0 destruction of Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League quarter-final first leg. ‘That’s the tie over?’ Breyer asked the notoriously volatile and edgy Dortmund manager. ‘How can I accept my salary this month if I stand here and say that’s us out?’ Klopp reasonably demanded. ‘It’d be just as stupid of me to say we are definitely going to hammer them. I can stand here and give stupid answers to stupid questions but I’m not going to any more,’ Klopp finished before calmly walking off. Complex character: Borussia Dortmund's coach Jurgen Klopp did not hold any grudges against the TV station . Gruschwitz discovered that Klopp bore no malice. That he’d ‘forgotten’ about the whole thing. Two things emerged from the incident. Dortmund roasted Real Madrid 2-0 in the return leg, not taking the tie to extra time for the simple reason that Iker Casillas played miraculously well. Secondly, that was the low point of a brutally testing season. The 3-0 defeat to a team which the previous season they’d beaten twice, eliminated from the Champions League semi-final and scored a grand total of eight goals against must have felt like the straw which crippled the camel. Instead it was a point of inflection. They have rallied — winning 3-0 at Bayern 10 days later and qualifying for the German Cup Final next Saturday in Berlin... against Bayern. Set against the backdrop of sudden disharmony in Munich (Pep Guardiola’s methods under question, an inability to properly value a Bundesliga title won in record time and a 4-0 home thrashing by Madrid in the semi-final second leg) Dortmund are already finishing their season with a more optimistic vibe than seemed possible at any time from September onwards, let alone after the 3-0 Madrid rout. Klopp admits: ‘It’s been a tremendously difficult season, since the beginning, full of extraordinary challenges and what is, in my experience, an unprecedented injury crisis. ‘But I’ve always said that it’s not necessary for us to be the “best” team in the world, just that we are capable of beating the “best” team in the world.’ His point is well made. Of the 10 most-used Dortmund players in the Bundesliga last term (Marco Reus, Robert Lewandowski, Roman Weidenfeller, Kevin Grosskreutz, Lukasz Piszczek, Marcel Schmelzer, Mario Gotze, Ilkay Gundogan, Mats Hummels and Jakub Blaszczykowski) only five feature in the top 10 this season. Bad night: Gareth Bale helped Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 3-0 . Of the others, Gotze is gone (to Bayern), Gundogan has effectively missed the season, Piszczek and Blaszczykowski have played fewer than 24 league games between them and mainstay central defender Neven Subotic, 41 matches last season, has played 16 times this. Add to the mix that, in January, Lewandowski confirmed he’d be moving to Bayern, too — and it’s tough to imagine more hostile working conditions. Saying his goodbyes: Robert Lewandowski will leave Dortmund this summer . This time last year Klopp was comparing Bayern to ‘a Bond villain’, in which case there were stages this season when Double-0-Kloppo, licensed to lose his temper, was strapped to the lab table and Auric Bayern-Finger’s laser was cutting up close to his nether regions. Shocking. So, ahead of the big showdown with Smersh next Saturday, how has he coped? Shaken, but not stirred it seems. Getting better: Dortmund have won more points than last season . Plenty to play for: Dortmund face Bayern in the German Cup final . Dortmund have more points than last season, have conceded fewer Bundesliga goals, came through the hardest Champions League group (Arsenal, Napoli, Marseille), earned around €25million by reaching the quarter-finals, won the German Supercup that they lost to Bayern last term and, if they regain the Cup (from which the super-villains also eliminated them with a back-post goal from Ernst Stavro Blofeld and a toe-poke from Rosa Klebb last season), there will be the double joy of pleasing the 80,000 yellow-and-black clad fanatics who are travelling to the German capital, ticket or no ticket, and ruining Bayern’s summer. Should his Dortmund side inflict its third win of the season over Guardiola’s Bayern and lift the Cup in Berlin then, who knows, Bond may be asked over to the ‘dark’ side in Munich this summer. Uncomfortable to think of him saying ‘yes’, isn’t it? But then, you only live twice. | Klopp aims to end Dortmund season on a high with Cup win over Bayern .
Dortmund have won more points and conceded less goals than last season . |
282,284 | f9a025c67fd92c41894e8d5fdeb5291d4d3a9a51 | Havana, Cuba (CNN) -- Cuban-state media on Sunday published photos of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro meeting with former Cuban leader Fidel Castro in Havana. Maduro arrived Thursday in Cuba to attend celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the start of the Cuban revolution. Castro wasn't at the ceremony, which was officiated by his brother, Cuban President Raul Castro. Fidel Castro has made infrequent public appearances following an intestinal illness in 2006 that forced him to step down. According to the official Cuban government site Cubadebate, Maduro gave Castro a painting by former Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, who died in March of cancer, and Castro gave Maduro a letter for the heads of state who had attended the anniversary of the revolution. In the letter titled "I Lived to Fight," Castro mentions the recent scandal involving Cuban weapons discovered hidden on a North Korean freighter trying to cross the Panama Canal. "In recent days there were attempts to defame our revolution," Castro wrote, according to the Juventud Rebelde newspaper, which published the text of the letter. "Trying to make our head of state and government appear as if they were tricking the United Nations and other heads of state and were guilty of being two-faced." After Panamanian authorities seized the North Korean ship, Cuba admitted to sending MiG fighter jets, missiles and anti-aircraft systems aboard the ship, which also carried 10,000 tons of Cuban sugar. The arms, Cuba's Foreign Ministry said, were "obsolete" weapons to be repaired in North Korea and returned to the Caribbean island for defensive use. Panama has asked for assistance from the United Nations, United States and Britain to determine whether the shipment violated a U.N. ban on sending weapons to North Korea. | Ex-Cuban leader Fidel Castro greets Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, state media say .
Castro has made infrequent public appearances since illness forced him to step down in 2006 .
Castro dismisses recent controversy of Cuban weapons found on North Korea freighter . |
120,545 | 27c79f36b54bc463f2dc62a1c21ee554aaf032b8 | Andrea Pirlo has revealed he will continue playing for Italy. The 35-year-old had hinted he would retire after the World Cup but says he changed his mind after a conversation with new Italy boss Antonio Conte. Pirlo is not with the Italy squad preparing for Juventus' game against Sampdoria this weekend, but says he hopes to be part of the next squad. Midfield maestro: Andrea Pirlo has confirmed he will prolong his international career with Italy . Class act: Pirlo remains one of the most accomplished midfielders in world football . ‘I spoke to Conte, he asked me to be part of the Azzurri family again and I accepted. So hopefully I’ll be with them for their next training camp,’ he told Gazzetta TV. ‘It was a difficult decision for me. I wanted to quit playing for Italy, but then Conte came to me and asked me for help. I’m happy to do so and I hope we’ll do well.’ Pirlo also backed former boss Conte – who led Juventus to three successive Serie A titles to turn Italy’s fortunes around after a disappointing World Cup that saw them beat England 2-1 but fail to qualify for the second stage. Still got it: Pirlo impressed for Italy in the World Cup despite their disappointing group stage exit . Vision: Pirlo's technically ability is one of the best from across the world . ‘He has everything he needs to be successful,’ the Juventus’ playmaker added. ‘He gave his team a new identity in just a few days, and that was very difficult after such a devastating World Cup. ‘He needs time, one match isn’t enough to evaluate a team, but Conte and his staff are working to create a national team that makes the fans proud and happy to watch their games.’ Pirlo is currently the fourth most-capped player in ltaly history with 112 appearances but is currently sidelined with a hip injury. | The midfield maestro has revealed he will play on for Italy .
The 35-year-old hinted that he would retire after the World Cup but after talks with Antonio Conte opted against doing so .
Pirlo hopes to be part of Italy's next squad for the two Euro 2016 qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Malta next month . |
109,175 | 18b8a101ed1c34fa896f5b5e4c4334ef6d0a3ac4 | Beneath the Regency splendour of Sussex Square in Brighton is a little-known tunnel that connects the square’s private gardens to the seafront. When writer Lewis Carroll used to visit Brighton, the ivy-strewn tunnel fascinated him and, according to some, was the inspiration for the hole through which Alice fell in Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland, so starting her escapades with the Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts and the Cheshire Cat. Now, 150 years since the publication of the children’s classic, which will be marked with a number of special events, literary fans have the rare chance to buy a complete Regency townhouse just above the tunnel. Regency splendour: The Alice in Wonderland townhouse in the exclusive Lewes Crescent in Brighton . The house, which inspired author Lewis Carroll, comes with a west-facing balcony and a 65ft Italianate rear garden . The Grade I listed five-storey property in exclusive Lewes Crescent carries a £4.25million price tag, making it one of the most expensive homes ever to have come to market in the seaside city. Lewes Crescent sits at the bottom of Sussex Square on the seafront in the Kemp Town area. The house itself was designed by Charles Busby and Amon Henry Wilds in the 1820s and built by Thomas Cubitt. According to Brighton Heritage Department, it is one of only a few Regency properties that has not been converted into flats, and it comes with access to the private gardens and incredible unobstructed sea views. Musician Nick Cave and his model wife Susie Bick live nearby in Sussex Square, and when fellow Australian Cate Blanchett bought a house there in the Noughties, the road had to be closed while an enormous new bath was winched into her home. Price: £4.25million . Location: Kemp Town, Brighton . Bedrooms: Six . Unique features: One of the city's few Regency houses, cinema room, iPad-operated lighting . Barry Grogan, 59, who owns the Lewes Crescent property, says it was in a dilapidated state when he bought it with two business partners last January. The property developer adds: ‘We befriended the former owner when we worked on a nearby property in 2010. He was an art dealer who had lived here for about 40 years. A large, vaulted room with roof lights at the top of the building was probably a former studio, but latterly he just lived on the lower ground floor. He loved the place and had no intention of moving, but he sadly passed away in January 2013.’ Barry has since brought the 4,600ft six-bedroom house up to date, adding a cinema room, steam room and state-of-the-art Helvar lighting system that is operated via an iPad. He even managed to gain permission to add a double-height glass conservatory. Revamp: The Grade I listed home's modern kitchen maintains its intricate coving . The ivy-strewn tunnel outside the home is said to have provided Carroll with the inspiration for the hole Alice falls through at the start of the book . There are grand Doric pillars at the entrance, four reception rooms, three bathrooms, a fantastic sweeping staircase, a west-facing balcony and a 65ft Italianate rear garden. There are parquet floors throughout the ground floor, high ceilings, intricate coving and original fireplaces. The lower ground floor has underfloor heating and a huge family room, while the highlight of the first floor is the ‘grand lounge and library’, which has three floor-to-ceiling French windows opening on to the large balcony. New skylights on the top floor flood the bedrooms with light and there are views from the back to the Sussex Downs. Explaining the high asking price, Barry says: ‘It is like a new build dressed up in Regency clothing. None of the other complete Regency properties has had such a thorough redevelopment.’ Apart from the Alice connection, the property is rich in history, having been the original home of Roedean girls’ school. So who does Barry think the house will suit in the future? ‘We’d love it to be a family house so that all of its many delights are fully used. However, it would just as easily suit being a weekend or holiday home. ‘It would be good if the buyer was from Brighton, but they will more likely come from London or overseas.’ Or maybe the new owner will be a big fan of Alice who fancies a new adventure down by the sea… . brandvaughan.co.uk, 01273 683111 . | Mansion which inspired author Lewis Carroll is up for sale for £4.25million .
Ivy-strewn tunnel outside home was inspiration for hole Alice fell through in Alice in Wonderland .
Five-storey Regency townhouse is situated on exclusive Brighton crescent .
It is one of the most expensive homes ever to have come to market in city . |
51,561 | 91fcab5bdd9793003af251ca9dd1cb5963f9b705 | By . Lizzie Edmonds . and Christian Gysin . PUBLISHED: . 05:42 EST, 23 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:32 EST, 23 December 2013 . This is all that remains of a high-performance car after it crashed into a lorry and erupted into a fireball, killing the three men inside. Such was the intensity of the blaze that the car was reduced to this lump of molten metal. Police are investigating whether the car was racing a Vauxhall Astra, when the crash happened in the early hours of yesterday on London’s North Circular near Arnos Grove. Extinguish: A fireman works to put out the burning wreckage of the car . The two men in the Astra were later arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. Eyewitnesses told how they tried to reach the men in the Subaru Impreza as it was consumed by flames, but were beaten back by the intense heat. Last night there were suggestions the Impreza may have been fitted with a nitrous oxide kit to make it go faster, a modification used by some of the cars in the Fast And Furious film series. Paul Walker, star of the films, was killed in a high-speed car crash in Los Angeles last month. Two of the dead men were understood to be in their early twenties, while the third man is said to be in his early thirties. The three victims are thought to have all been men. A second car, a Vauxhall Astra, was also involved in the crash and two men have been taken to hospital with minor injuries. One was discharged and then arrested. The second was also arrested but remains in hospital. The lorry driver also received minor injuries . Smash: This horrifying picture shows the 'fireball' crash which killed three in the early hours of this morning . Tragedy: The remains of the car, left, and the lorry, right, could still be seen on the road until around 8am . According to some reports, the car may have been fitted with a nitrous oxide kit to make it go faster - in the style of the cars in The Fast and The Furious. Police said this afternoon they are having difficulty formally identifying the three people killed due to the nature of their injuries. They believe they know the identities of the deceased but cannot issue details until they have confirmation. Only then after next of kin have been told will they release the names and ages of the three. Claims: One witness has suggested the car could have been fitted with N20 gas - which makes the vehicle go much faster than it is usually capable of . Wreckage: Fire service members, pictured around the remains of the car, work to clear the road . Death: Police are struggling to identify the victims of the crash as their bodies are so badly burnt . Neos Sofianou, 72, who lives opposite the scene, said the road has been long-plagued by boy-racers speeding down the road at speeds of 100mph. Describing the crash Mr Sofianou said: 'I had been in bed and when I heard a really loud band and thought it must be the cars crashing. 'I ran to see what was happening and when I saw the car was on fire I tried to help with fire extinguishers. 'But we couldn’t get close enough to the car because of the flames and it was just so hot. It really was a terrible sight because we knew they were in the car and knew they were burning. Emergency: Fire crews, ambulance and police at the scene of the collision in north London . 'Two cars were racing. One hit the other, which hit the curb of the central reservation and it went over to the other side of the road. 'A lorry was coming in the opposite direction and it hit the car head to head before it went up in flames. We had to wait for the emergency services to arrive because we just couldn’t do anything. 'The impact of the head-on collision with the lorry caused the car to be crushed to a quarter of its size, and then it was surrounded in hot, orange flames. I have never seen anything like it before. 'It made me jump when I heard the impact, but I knew it would have been the cars we heard racing. 'It was not a pretty sight and is such a waste of life. I feel bad for the families, especially this close to Christmas. It’s lucky that no one was standing at the bus stop.' He added: 'We have this problem every night with boy-racers. My son called the police even before the impact - he heard the screeching of the brakes and the engines revving and the cars racing. Scene: The passengers of the Subaru Impreza were killed when they smashed into a reservation on the North Circular, pictured, before colliding with the lorry . 'I have complained many times about this racing and have suggested a speed limit or cameras but nobody listens. 'Every night they are here doing 80, 90, 100 miles and hour. It was only a matter of time before something like this happened. 'The road was supposed to be improved to accommodate more cars, but this has just caused more problems. Mr Sofianou’s son Marios, 47, who was visiting his parents from Cyprus, said: 'There were at least two cars that were racing, three guys in one and I think one guy in the other car. Crash: Two people have been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving following the crash, scene pictured . 'Then the car on the outer lane hit the middle, flew over the barrier and hit a lorry. One car came up here unharmed. 'We had to watch the three of them burn, it was horrible.' A local businessman has written to transport bosses warning them of speeding drivers on the stretch of road where three men were killed in a crash last night. Harry Frang, who runs the Take @ Break cafe opposite the bus stop that the lorry crashed into, said he had written to Boris Johnson and TfL warning them of the perils of the road. He said: 'I have sent letters from solicitors to Boris Johnson and TfL telling them about this racing and asking them to do something, but nobody listens and they think I'm mad. 'All the time there are boys in their cars and on motorbikes speeding past here, sometime more than 100 miles an hour. 'Fireball': The driver of the lorry, pictured being removed from the scene this morning, suffered minor injuries . 'I told Boris Johnson and TfL it was a death trap. There have been other crashes here before but nothing this serious or horrible - maybe now somebody will listen to me.' Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a chemical compound used as an oxidizing agent in engines. It increases the internal combustion in an engine by allowing more fuel to be burned that normal by introducing more oxygen. This propels the car forward at a greater speed than it is usually capable of. Usually . a kit, which can be bought online or through specialists, improves . car power by 30 - 50 per cent and costs around £400 to install. It . is perfectly legal to drive cars with nitrous fitted - but many . conventional insurers will not cover cars that have the modification. Nitrous-fitted cars feature heavily in The Fast and The Furious films. They are often in car-racing video games such as Need For Speed also. Mr Frang added: 'They have moved the bollards that were outside and if the bus stop hadn't been there the cars and lorry would have come straight into my shop. 'It's just not safe enough and they drive so fast. All they need is a speed camera to slow people down. The changes to the roads have only made it worse between the two sets of traffic lights.' Some witnesses are reported to have suggested the car was equipped with a nitrous oxide kit. Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a chemical compound used as an oxidizing agent in engines. It increases the internal combustion in an engine by allowing more fuel to be burned that normal by introducing more oxygen. Usually a kit, which can be bought online or through specialists, improves power by 30 - 50 per cent and costs around £400 to install. It is perfectly legal to drive cars with nitrous fitted - but many conventional insurers will not cover cars that have the modification. Investigators are examining the scene. The road was closed west-bound until 8am and eastbound until 9. The Metropolitan Police said: 'Reports suggest that the Subaru was traveling westbound and hit the central reservation before colliding with the lorry travelling eastbound. The car then caught fire. 'Officers believe that three people have died. All were in the Subaru Impreza. Police: Officers at the scene on Bowes Road, north London this morning. The Met is appealing for witnesses . Dangerous: A wide shot of the area - described by a local businessman as a 'death trap' 'A Vauxhall Astra was also involved in the collision. Two men have been taken to hospital suffering from minor injuries. Next of kin have yet to be informed. 'One [A] was subsequently discharged and then arrested; the second [B] was arrested but remains in hospital at this time. Both were arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. 'The driver of the lorry only suffered minor injuries. 'A complex examination of the scene is underway and both lanes are closed. The road will remain closed for the morning's rush hour and drivers are advised to take alternative routes.' | Three people, believed to be men, died in crash on North Circular last night .
Subaru Impreza hit central reservation before colliding with a lorry .
Car burst in to flames killing all three passengers, police have said .
'It really was a terrible sight because we knew they were in the car and knew they were burning,' eyewitness said today .
'We had to watch all three of them burn, it was horrible' said another .
Vauxhall Astra also involved in the crash and its two passengers have been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving .
Road closed westbound for eight hours and eastbound for nine .
Witness reports suggest car could be fitted with nitrous oxide booster . |
242,948 | c6763d1aa22c265dadb1c1008a50783af77e4837 | By . Amanda Williams . Summer bank holidays could be moved to winter to give people a day off in the run up to Christmas, in plans touted by a government think tank. Government wellbeing officers are considering moving some of the national days off in order to spread them out across the year. At present, there are two bank holidays in May, often shortly after the Easter break, and one at the end of August - leaving the country without another day off between the summer and the four months until Christmas. Summer bank holidays could be moved to winter to give people a day off in the run up to Christmas, in plans touted by a government think tank . In a blog on 'Wellbeing and why it matters' Lisa Ollerhead, from the Government's wellbeing unit, said that a break could be good for the country, and added: 'After a few more years of data we might even consider moving a bank holiday into early winter when the nights are drawing in and we're feeling low.' The paper also looked at who was happiest in their careers - with publicans, care escorts and construction workers scoring the lowest levels of satsifaction. It said: 'While highly-paid Chief Executives and senior officials do well, take-home pay doesn’t seem to be the only important factor. Occupations like publicans and members of the clergy, which have similar income levels, seem to have very different levels of wellbeing.' The bank holiday could be moved to just before Christmas 'after a few more years of data' has been collected . Churchmen and women topped the league table, joined by farmers, fitness instructors and school secretaries in enjoying a modest salary but high personal satisfaction, according to the breakdown prepared by a think-tank. At the other end of the scale, the most miserable workers in the country are pub landlords – and their bar staff are not far from them at the bottom of the league table of job satisfaction, the report reveals. Those who go to work with a heavy heart also include debt collectors, industrial cleaners, call centre salespeople and security guards. The table was drawn up by a group led by former Cabinet Secretary Gus O’Donnell, who persuaded David Cameron to spend £2million a year collecting statistics on our happiness. Lord O’Donnell believes politicians should make decisions based on people’s level of well-being as well as on economic benefit. The breakdown takes into account both pay and the sense of achievement and personal reward. To be happy, a worker must have a clear idea of what is expected of them, some freedom and control, feel valued by their boss and achieve the best balance between work and family time. ‘Not all jobs are a bed of roses,’ said the report published by the Legatum Institute think-tank. ‘Job satisfaction is on a long-term downward trend in most advanced countries, and people rank time spent with their manager as among their least happy moments in the day.’ | Government wellbeing officers considering moving some national days off .
Moving bank holiday from May to December would make country 'happier'
At present, there are two bank holidays in May - shortly after Easter break . |
273,598 | ee6c412740e1d06b31aa0fbf54bf8595f54fa80a | By . Louise Boyle . PUBLISHED: . 23:09 EST, 18 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 23:09 EST, 18 February 2013 . Millions of dollars earmarked for those struggling to get back on their feet after Hurricane Sandy has been held back from those in need because of banks' red tape. More than $200million of insurance money is being held back at some of America's biggest financial institutions, according to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's office on Monday. Letters have reportedly been sent to Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Citibank and JP Morgan Chase by state officials telling them to speed up the release of funding. Scroll down for video . In need of help: A man stands on the debris of homes devastated by fire and the effects of Hurricane Sandy in the Breezy Point section of the Queens borough in New York . Ravaged: Insurance claims adjusters pick their way through the burnt out homes of Breezy Point, New York. Many victims of the disaster have not yet received much-needed funding, NY Governor Cuomo revealed today . According to CNN, thousands of homeowners are waiting on checks amounting to around $208million. Governor . Cuomo released a statement which said: 'Families need to be . able to return to their homes and the state economy, which took a hit . from Superstorm Sandy, needs the boost from spending on repairs. 'After . insurance companies have sent homeowners checks to pay for repairs, the . money should not be sitting with the bank because of red tape.' One reason for the hold up appears to be that banks often have to . endorse a check that comes from insurance companies, according to Cuomo. Putting the pressure on: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has asked several large banks to release money faster to those still suffering in the wake of Hurricane Sandy . The banks involved have not immediately commented. Hurricane Sandy caused at least 53 deaths in New York City and wreaked an estimated $42billion in damage. Around 100,000 homes suffered storm damage with more than 2,000 being declared uninhabitable. Across the U.S., Sandy is blamed for more than 130 deaths and tens of billions of dollars in property damage. Last month, President Obama signed a $50.5billion emergency measure for Sandy victims. The money is urgently needed to start rebuilding homes, businesses, public transportation facilities and other infrastructure damaged by the October 29 storm, one of the worst to strike the Northeast. | Hurricane Sandy hit in late October causing $42bn damage to NY . |
104,316 | 1299ede033f981464e69d3d26fbd943bc07156b8 | The ex-husband of a woman accused of murdering their daughter while under the spell of her lesbian lover choked back tears as he told a court how his wife had become 'possessed'. Afsar Ali said he enjoyed a happy marriage with Polly Chowdhury before their next door neighbour Kiki Muddar spun a fake cancer story to engineer her way into their home - and evict him from the marital bed. Chowdhury, 35, and Muddar, 43, are on trial at the Old Bailey accused of murdering Mr Ali's daughter Ayesha, at the family house in Chadwell Heath, Essex, in August 2013. Afsar Ali pictured at the Old Bailey today, where a court heard he was left 'devastated' after being evicted from his martial bed by his wife's lesbian lover . Polly Chowdhury (pictured) is on trial at the Old Bailey accused of manslaughter and causing or allowing the death of a child after her daughter was found dead in August 2013 . The Old Bailey has heard how Muddar formed a deep hatred for the child as she controlled and seduced Chowdhury by making up alter egos 'Jimmy' and 'Skyman' who only existed on Facebook and text. Giving evidence for the prosecution, Mr Ali described how he uprooted his family and moved house to get away from his neighbour Muddar after she befriended his wife. He told jurors: 'She would often disagree and she would say 'let's ask Kiki's opinion', what she thinks about certain things, which it really in a way made me a bit angry and upset because it was my family. I wanted to get away from Kiki. I wanted my family to be away from her.' They left the neighbourhood but Muddar came to stay in the autumn of 2012, sleeping in his bed with his wife - a situation which eventually led him to leave the family home within months. On her arrival, he said: 'I questioned as to what Kiki was doing at the property. 'I was told Kiki was on high doses of medication and the cancer was getting worse and she needed Polly's help, that she needed our family's help to support her. 'I was kicked out of my room because Kiki apparently wanted to sleep in the bedroom in bed. 'At first she said to me it would be easier. Kiki said it would be convenient for me to get up in the morning to get to work.' Asked by prosecutor Richard Whittam QC how he felt about it, Mr Ali said: 'I was devastated. I was really, really upset. 'One of the reasons I moved was to get away from this horrible lady and yet she is back in my property. I was angry, upset. I felt I was let down by Polly. I just did not know what to do. 'I made it very clear to her that I wanted Kiki out but I agreed with Polly she could stay for a few days because I did not want Polly to be upset. 'She would have this barrier. Polly is the type to support people. She's good - a good heart - and she wanted to support her but she wasn't listening to me. She did not acknowledge what I wanted.' Polly Chowdhury, 35 (illustrated left) is accused of murdering her own daughter together with Kiki Muddar (right) after Muddar allegedly assumed a set of alter egos which turned the mother against the young girl . Cross examining, Chowdhury's lawyer Ali Bajwa QC asked: 'Something change when Kiki came into your life?' Mr Ali's voice cracked as he replied: 'Everything changed. Everything.' Referring to his witness statement, Mr Bajwa said: 'You say this - "it was like she was possessed". Is that true?' The witness agreed. The court heard how the couple met when Mr Ali was serving a jail sentence at Feltham Young Offenders Institute and Chowdhury was working in administration for a firm of solicitors. They had both experienced unhappy arranged marriages and he helped her run away to a new life with him. They had an Islamic marriage in 2001 but after Muddar moved in, he moved out on December 13, 2012 - Ayesha's birthday. Then on August 29, 2013, Ayesha was found dead in her bedroom after suffering more than 50 injuries to her head, body and limbs, including carpet burns and a bite mark on her shoulder, jurors were told. On guard: Police at the scene of Chowdhury's flat in August 2013, where Muddar had been living with her . That morning, Muddar had dialled 999 and reported Chowdhury had tried to kill herself at the family home in Chadwell Heath, Essex, and that Ayesha was dead. Muddar, of Ilford, Essex, and Chowdhury, of Chadwell Heath, Romford, Essex, deny murder, manslaughter and causing or allowing the death of a child between March 1 and August 29 2013. Later, the court heard about Muddar's carefully constructed cast of 'cyber' characters who communicated with Chowdhury via Facebook and some 40,000 text messages - all from the same number. Around 15 different alter egos linked to Muddar's mobile phone were used to prop up her lies about having lung cancer and facilitated her sexual relationship with Chowdhury, the court heard. They included Muddar's fictional boyfriend 'Dave'. He was based on a real person she met through working at St John Ambulance who, in her fantasy world, died in the London riots and then began texting Chowdhury from beyond the grave, the court heard. The real Dave O'Meara gave evidence in court to confirm he was alive, had never been in a relationship with Muddar, nor was he hit with a brick during the riots. A central character in Muddar's made-up acquaintance was Jimmy Chowdhury, who began a 'sexting' relationship with Chowdhury in 2012. He asked her about her 'lesbian fantasy' and she sent him a picture of her breasts. Muddar attached to 'Jimmy' a host of fictitious family members and friends and even a rival girlfriend, 'Priya', to make Chowdhury jealous, the court heard. She also created an influential Muslim spirit called 'Skyman' who, in August 2012, texted Chowdhury that she should stop having sex with her husband. He went on to help Muddar become intimate with Chowdhury. Instructions on how to ease her medical problems developed into rubbing her breasts and hugging her at night, Mr Whittam said. Muddar's friend, Joanne Sharrard, initially believed her stories about cancer and being pregnant by her dead boyfriend 'Dave' but later suspected she was 'living in a fantasy land', according to a statement read to the court. She described her as a 'heterosexual tomboy' who she thought 'just needed as much attention and support as possible'. Chowdhury's older sister, Julie Ahmed, gave evidence that Chowdhury had changed in the months leading up to Ayesha's death. After her marriage with Mr Ali broke down, she became thin and withdrawn, she said in a written statement. She described Chowdhury's tragic daughter as being 'very intelligent for her age', 'a little madam but in a nice way', a 'bossy boots' and a 'chatterbox' who always had something to say. But when she spoke to the little girl over the phone shortly before her death, she too had become 'withdrawn', Mrs Ahmed said. The trial continues. The pair are on trial at the Old Bailey (pictured), where Mr Ali told the court he was left 'devastated' after being kicked out of his marital bed . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Afsar Ali said neighbour spun fake story to engineer her way into his home .
His wife became the lesbian lover of the next door neighbour, he claimed .
He told a court today how Kiki Muddar evicted him from his marital bed .
Muddar and his ex-wife Polly Chowdhury are on trial at the Old Bailey .
They are accused of murdering Mr Ali's eight-year-old daughter Ayesha .
Muddar alleged to have created fictitious alter-egos to prop up lies . |
154,973 | 5448b173cf0ee4474a2c3559b85105b0eaf35b2c | (CNN) -- Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho is under fire from a Muslim leader in Italy after his criticism of Sulley Muntari for fasting during Ramadan. Mourinho was unhappy with the performance of Muntari and his team on Sunday. Ghana midfielder Muntari was taken off after just half an hour of Inter's disappointing 1-1 home draw against Bari as they began their defense of the Serie A title on Sunday. Mourinho pulled no punches in the post match press conference when he implied that the former Portsmouth star had played poorly because he lacked energy due to his fast. "Muntari had some problems related to Ramadan, perhaps with this heat it's not good for him to be doing this, " Mourinho told reporters. "Ramadan has not arrived at the ideal moment for a player to play a football match." The former Chelsea manager, who is renowned for his outspoken comments, even suggested that Muntari would be dropped for this weekend's derby match against city rivals AC Milan. But his comments were seized on by Mohamed Nour Dachan, president of the union of Islamic communities in Italy. "I think Mourinho could do with talking a little less," he told SKY TV. Dachan said that Muntari would gain mental strength from his Muslim beliefs to help him overcome the handicaps of fasting during daylight hours. "A player who is a believing Christian, Jew or Muslim is certainly calmer pyschologically and that improves his performance," he claimed. Whether Mourinho carries out his threat to drop Muntari is open to questions because Sunday's match in the San Siro kicks off after sundown in Italy, leaving the player some time to rehydrate. Meanwhile, the Egyptian team preparing for the under-20 World Cup in their home country have turned down the chance to break their fast. The country's religious authorities gave the squad members permission to avoid fasting during Ramadan, but the team ignored the instruction. The competition starts just a few days after the end of Ramadan, but the team is in strict training in a bid to claim the prestigious title. | Jose Mourinho in hot water over remarks about midfielder Sulley Muntari .
Inter boss claimed Muntari's fasting for Ramadan had affected his play .
Muslim leader in Italy says Mourinho's comments are ill-informed . |
260,294 | dd13055f8f53a41dc392f111bf3dded7f4b9e27d | There's never a doll moment in Sue King's household at Halloween ... especially in the dead of night. For that's when her collection of porcelain playthings come alive with the mischievous souls of deceased children, she claims. The 52-year-old grandmother, from Toledo, Ohio, has amassed 200 dolls in three years, and believes each one is haunted by the spirit of a dead youngster. 'It might sound creepy,' she says, 'but I genuinely believe that my dolls have been possessed by the ghosts of children who have passed away.' So instead of bobbing apples and trick-or-treating tonight, Sue will be dressing up her porcelein babies in costumes of the undead while keeping an eye out for their pranks. Never a doll moment: Instead of bobbing apples and trick-or-treating, Sue King, 52, from Toledo, Ohio, will be doting on her porcelain dolls - who she believes are haunted by the spirits of dead children . Fanatic: Sue, who also has eight grandchildren, first began collecting haunted dolls in 2011 after spotting one at a flea market. She now has more than 200 . 'They're really naughty and are always playing tricks on me,' she said. 'The radio will come on in the middle of the night, or the oven will switch off while I'm cooking. 'Once, when I was doing the washing up in the kitchen, all the cupboards flew open and then I heard a tiny giggle from another room. 'On another occasion, one of them bit me in the shower. 'It's hard to stay angry at them though, because I love them so much.' She says it's her supernatural instinct that has brought her closer to the figurines - who she says she loves just as much as her eight real-life grandchildren. 'I've always been spiritual, and I just have a sense for these kinds of things,' she adds. 'I believe it is my destiny for these dolls and I to be family. I love my dolls as much as I love my own grandchildren, and I know they love me back.' This year, Sue will be continuing her annual tradition of treating her dolls to a spook-tacular Halloween. Once a year, she decks out her house with creepy decorations including spiders, ghouls and hand-carved pumpkins so her dolls can join in on the fun. Once a year, she decks out her house with creepy decorations including spiders, ghouls and hand-carved pumpkins so her dolls can join in on the fun . Scary: Sue even makes her dolls scary vampire outfits and paints their faces . Confident: She says she felt instantly drawn to her first doll, who she claims later confided in her that her name was Hazel . According to Sue, each of the dolls has their own story, which often includes an unhappy childhood . Sue even makes her dolls scary vampire outfits and paints their faces. She said: 'Halloween is my favourite time of the year, and I like to make sure that my dolls enjoy it too. They love it.' Sue, who also has eight grandchildren, first began collecting haunted dolls in 2011 after spotting one at a flea market. She says she felt instantly drawn to the doll, who she claims later confided in her that her name was Hazel. Sue said: 'As soon as I saw her, I knew she wasn't just an ordinary doll. There was something so mysterious about her. Tragic: She says every doll has its own tragic story - often they were abused, or were unloved by their parents . Three years later, Sue has amassed an impressive collection of more than 200 porcelain dolls - spending a total of £5,000 . Most of them are bought on eBay, whilst she also spots them at local flea markets and charity shops . 'I took her home with me and as I was settling her down on the couch, I heard a little voice say 'Help me'. 'I looked her straight in the eye, and then she told me that her name was Hazel. 'From then on, I knew that there were other dolls like her out there, and I wanted to help them.' Three years later, Sue has amassed an impressive collection of more than 200 porcelain dolls - spending a total of £5,000. Most of them are bought on eBay, whilst she also spots them at local flea markets and charity shops. To keep her ghostly grandchildren happy, Sue and her boyfriend of 13 years, Gilbert, 55, treat them to parties and strolls in a pram. Sue even cuts them a slice of cake on their birthday . According to Sue, each of the dolls has their own story, which often includes an unhappy childhood. She said: 'Every doll I take in has its own tragic story - often they were abused, or were unloved by their parents. 'I just want to give them the happy childhood that they never had.' To keep her ghostly grandchildren happy, Sue and her boyfriend of 13 years, Gilbert, 55, treat them to parties and strolls in a pram. Sue even cuts them a slice of cake on their birthday. However, Sue admits that they can also be mischievous. Sue intends to adopt more dolls in the future. | Sue King, of Toledo, Ohio, decks out home with Halloween decor each year .
She's been collecting since 2011, when one told her its name was Hazel .
She believes they are possessed by dead children who were often abused .
She says they often play tricks on her, like turn on radio in dead of night .
She also has eight real grandchildren who she says she loves just as much . |
205,775 | 9663441b383d6c818afbb38a95329a9506fc2aee | 'Forced out': Stephen Clements, 51, is suing Lloyds Banking Group for £1 million in lost earnings . A senior Lloyds executive was forced out of his job because he blew the whistle on 'shocking' failures in the bank’s IT systems that would have cost £200 million to fix, a tribunal has heard. Stephen Clements, 51, the former head of the business continuity at Lloyds Banking Group, alleges there was a . deliberate cover-up to stop the flaws being dealt with due to the cost of repairing the problem and the potential damage to the bank's reputation. Mr Clements claims he discovered 'startling' failures in the bank’s IT Disaster Recovery back-up system that left the bank vulnerable to failures that could bring it down. The problems were so severe they threatened to 'destabilise the British economy', it was said today. But he said that when he tried to flag up the worrying deficiencies to his boss last March he was told to 'burn the paper' it was written on and the issue was effectively buried. Mr Clements says he was forced from his job as the senior executive in charge of protecting Lloyds’ systems from crises just four months after raising his concerns. He had already been warned he could be moved to another post, and he alleges the unwanted move was because of his age and the boss’s desire to replace him with a woman. The bank denies his allegations. The father-of-three from Bristol, who earned £130,000 a year in pay and benefits, is suing the bank for £1 million in lost earnings. He alleged whistleblowing and sex and age discrimination. In documents submitted to the Central London Employment Tribunal, the 51-year-old said he was 'startled' to discover that only a third of the bank’s systems had undergone crucial testing, leaving 'very serious gaps in our ability to recover critical IT systems'. Mr Clements said the failure to undertake the risk assessments could have a potentially catastrophic impact on the country’s economy. He said the impact would dwarf a similar glitch at the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) last June that left millions of customers unable to access their accounts. He said: 'The LBG issues are much bigger and could potentially send the bank out of business, thereby destabilising the British economy. I raised a really serious concern.' However, when he told his boss Jonathon Shawcross, director of group security and fraud, about his fears in an email in March 2012, he claimed the executive 'took great exception' and told him to 'burn the paper and never bring it out again’. 'Failings': Mr Clements claims to have discovered deficiencies in Lloyds Banking Group's IT back-up system . Mr Clements added: 'Effectively this issue was buried. Jonathon had responsibility for ensuring these [assessments] were carried out. The statistic that only 37 per cent of systems had a BIA (business impact assessment) completed is both startling and shocking. 'It was the responsibility of information risk to ensure that these essential risk assessments were being carried out and it had failed to do so.' Mr Clements claims he repeatedly wrote to his manager urging him to tell other senior executives of the urgent need to strengthen these security tests. But when he confided his fears in another senior employee at Lloyds, Mr Clements claims he was told that top executives at the state bailed out bank were engaged in a cover up because they feared the cost of rectifying the problem would cost a staggering £200million. In his statement he said Cheryl Newton, a peer of Mr Shawcross and equally responsible for IT Disaster Recovery at Lloyds, told him of the cover up. He said she 'told me that if she had escalated this issue up the line, she 'would lose [her] job’ because Mark Fisher (Director of Operations), Alan Peacock (IT Service Delivery Director) and Jonathan wanted the problem 'covered up’, not only because of the potential cost to remedy the problems (over £200m) but also because of the extensive damage to the public’s confidence in the bank.' Potential: Mr Clements said the impact would dwarf a similar glitch at the Royal Bank of Scotland last June . A Lloyds employee for more than 20 years, Mr Clements was a successful executive with a string of achievements to his name. But he claims his job turned sour in 2011 and believes his boss was scheming to out him from his job so he could give it to a woman, Nicola Nicols, who Mr Shawcross had worked with at RBS. Mr Clements alleges he was ordered by Mr Shawcross to place Miss Nicols as his possible successor on an internal document - despite major concerns about her lack of experience. Former employee: The former head of the business continuity earned £130,000 a year . In his statement he said: 'In April 2011 Jonathon instructed me to include Nicola’s name against my name/role in the 0-2 years column. 'I replied that I did not think she was ready to take over in my role within that time. Jonathan leant across the table and said aggressively 'I will be the judge of that’. That was the end of the conversation and her name was duly included.' Nine months later in his yearly assessment meeting on January 5 2012, Mr Clements claims his boss subjected him to a litany of ageist comments and told him: 'It is difficult for you because you are not 25 anymore' and 'you have been here too long'. He claims Mr Shawcross then told him he wanted to remove him from his post within the next two months and get in a 'fresh pair of eyes' to take up his job. Following two failed grievance hearings against his boss, Mr Clements resigned in July last year.Lloyds and Mr Shawcross strongly deny any wrongdoing and insist that Mr Clements was treated properly. In a statement Mr Shawcross said: 'I categorically deny any suggestion that I have treated Steve detrimentally on the basis of his gender or his age and there is no truth in Steve’s suggestion that I ought to replace him with Nocola Nicol. 'I further strongly refute any suggestion that Steve has been treated to his detriment by me or Lloyds in any way as a result of either raising a grievance, filing litigation or raising concerns surrounding the ITDR report. 'I am very regretful that the situation has come to this.' A Lloyds banking group spokesman said: 'We take the continuous provision of service to our customers very seriously. 'As this is the subject of an ongoing employment tribunal it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.' The tribunal continues. | Stephen Clements told a tribunal he had raised the issue with his boss .
But he claims he was told to 'burn the paper it was written on'
51-year-old said there was deliberate cover-up due to cost of fixing problem .
He said he discovered the bank's back-up IT system was vulnerable .
The father-of-three is suing the banking group for £1m of lost earnings . |
168,513 | 65f5e35193414c2998a1b5de2f959cc785f1fd6c | By . Associated Press Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 00:00 EST, 14 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:08 EST, 14 January 2013 . Suicides in the U.S. military surged to a record 349 last year, far exceeding American combat deaths in Afghanistan, and some private experts are predicting the dark trend will grow worse this year. The Pentagon has struggled to deal with the suicides, which Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and others have called an epidemic. The problem reflects severe strains on military personnel burdened with more than a decade of combat in Afghanistan and Iraq, complicated by anxiety over the prospect of being forced out of a shrinking force. Pentagon figures obtained Monday by The Associated Press show that the 349 suicides among active-duty troops last year were up from 301 the year before and exceeded the Pentagon's own internal projection of 325. Army Reserve Soldiers honor fallen soldiers at Fort Bragg, North Carolina on Jan. 10, 2012. Suicides in the U.S. military surged to a record 349 last year, far exceeding American combat deaths in Afghanistan . Statistics alone do not explain why troops take their own lives, and the Pentagon's military and civilian leaders have acknowledged that more needs to be done to understand the causes. Last year's total is the highest since the Pentagon began closely tracking suicides in 2001. It exceeds the 295 Americans who died in Afghanistan last year, by the AP's count. Some in Congress are pressing the Pentagon to do more. 'This is an epidemic that cannot be ignored,' Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said Monday. 'As our newest generation of service members and veterans face unprecedented challenges, today's news shows we must be doing more to ensure they are not slipping through the cracks.' Military suicides began rising in 2006 and soared to a then-record 310 in 2009 before leveling off for two years. It came as a surprise to many that the numbers resumed an upward climb this year, given that U.S. military involvement in Iraq is over and the Obama administration is taking steps to wind down the war in Afghanistan. Libby Busbee stands in her living room with a photo over her late son U.S. Army Spc. William Busbee, who committed suicide in March of 2012 . 'Now that we're decreasing our troops and they're coming back home, that's when they're really in the danger zone, when they're transitioning back to their families, back to their communities and really finding a sense of purpose for themselves,' said Kim Ruocco, whose husband, Marine Maj. John Ruocco, killed himself between Iraq deployments in 2005. She directs a suicide prevention program for a support group, Tragedy Assistance Programs, or TAPS. The Army, by far the largest of the military services, had the highest number of suicides among active-duty troops last year at 182, but the Marine Corps, whose suicide numbers had declined for two years, had the largest percentage increase — a 50 percent jump to 48. The Marines' worst year was 2009's 52 suicides. The Air Force recorded 59 suicides, up 16 percent from the previous year, and the Navy had 60, up 15 percent. All of the numbers are tentative, pending the completion later this year of formal pathology reports on each case. Suicide prevention has become a high Pentagon priority, yet the problem persists. Matt and Cheryl Ecker hold a photo of their son, Army veteran Michael Ecker, who committed suicide at age 25 in front of his father . Ecker is pictured with his parents. He raised a gun to his head after saluting to his father and shot himself . 'If you have a perfect storm of events on the day with somebody who has high risk factors, it's very difficult to be there every moment, fill every crack, and we just have to continue to be aware of what the risk factors are,' Ruocco said. David Rudd, a military suicide researcher and dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Utah, said he sees two main categories of troops who are committing suicide at an accelerating pace: Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans suffering from depression, post-traumatic stress or substance abuse, and those who have not gone to war but face troubled personal relationships, money problems or legal woes. He is not optimistic about a decline soon. 'Actually, we may continue to see increases,' he said. The Pentagon says that although the military suicide rate has been rising, it remains below that of the civilian population. It says the civilian suicide rate for males aged 17-60 was 25 per 100,000 in 2010, the latest year for which such statistics are available. That compares with the military's rate in 2012 of 17.5 per 100,000. Officials say they are committed to pursuing ways of finding help for service members in trouble. 'Our most valuable resource within the department is our people. We are committed to taking care of our people, and that includes doing everything possible to prevent suicides in the military,' Pentagon spokeswoman Cynthia O. Smith said Monday. Two retired Army generals, Peter W. Chiarelli and Dennis J. Reimer, have spoken out about the urgency of reversing the trend. The Army had the highest number of suicides among but the Marine Corps had the largest percentage increase . 'One of the things we learned during our careers,' they wrote in The Washington Post last month, 'is that stress, guns and alcohol constitute a dangerous mixture. In the wrong proportions, they tend to blow out the lamp of the mind and cause irrational acts.' Joe Davis, spokesman for the Washington office of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said war veterans have faced difficulty adjusting to the less intense environment of their home bases. Others struggle with leaving the military in search of work in a tight civilian job market. 'It's difficult to come back from a war footing to garrison life,' he said, where more mundane problems intrude on troops who had been focused almost entirely on their war mission. Suicides in the U.S. military among active-duty troops surged to a record 349 last year. The number, an increase of 48 suicides compared to 2011, represents a record high since the military began tracking suicides in 2001. The number also exceeds the 295 . Americans who died in Afghanistan last year. The Army, by far the largest of the military services, had the highest number of suicides among active-duty troops last year at 182, but the Marine Corps, whose suicide numbers had declined for two years, had the largest percentage increase — a 50 percent jump to 48. The Marines' worst year was 2009's 52 suicides. Each year the Pentagon performs an in-depth study of the circumstances of each suicide. The most recent year for which that analysis is available is 2011, and among the findings was that those who took their own lives tended to be white men under the age of 25, in the junior enlisted ranks, with less than a college education. The analysis of 2011's 301 military suicides also found that the suicide rate for divorced service members was 55 percent higher than for those who were married. It determined that 60 percent of military suicides were committed with the use of firearms — and in most cases the guns were personal weapons, not military-issued. That study also found that most service members who attempted suicide — about 65 percent — had a known history of behavior problems, whereas 45 percent of those who actually completed the act and killed themselves had such a history. One such case was Army Spc. Christopher Nguyen, 29, who killed himself last August at an off-post residence he shared with another member of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C., according to his sister, Shawna Nguyen. 'He was practically begging for help and nothing was done,' she said in an interview. She said he had been diagnosed with an 'adjustment disorder' — a problem of coping with the uncertainties of returning home after three deployments in war zones. She believes the Army failed her brother by not doing more to ensure that he received the help he needed before he became suicidal. 'It's the responsibility of the military to help these men and women,' she said. 'They sent them over there (to war); they should be helping them when they come back.' | The number, an increase of 48 suicides compared to 2011, represents a record high since the military began tracking suicides in 2001 .
The number also exceeds the 295 Americans who died in Afghanistan last year .
The Army, the largest of the military services, had the highest number of suicides among active-duty troops last year at 182 .
The Marine Corps, whose suicide numbers had declined for two years, had the largest percentage increase . |
116,514 | 22620cd0edfe473fb5f1e249c2f594333a2e14dc | Sacked coach Jagoba Arrasate insists he is departing Real Sociedad with a clear conscience even though he leaves with the team stuck in the Primera Division relegation zone and already out of Europe. Arrasate was handed his marching orders on Sunday night following a miserable start to the season that has seen Sociedad pick up just six points from a possible 30 in La Liga. That has left the Basque club - who finished fourth in 2013 and seventh last term - in 19th place in the standings and two points from safety ahead of next weekend's daunting visit of champions Atletico Madrid. Jagoba Arrasate leaves a press conference at Real Sociedad's Zubieta training complex having been sacked as the club's manager following a poor start to the season . Sociedad were also knocked out of the Europa League before the group stages following a humiliating defeat to Russian side Krasnodar in August. Nevertheless, Arrasate, who enjoyed a decent first season in charge last term having previously been a youth team coach and then a first-team assistant to his predecessor Philippe Montanier at the Anoeta, feels he can leave with his head held high. He said at a press conference on Monday: 'I'm sad to be going, but with a clear conscience. Arrasate admitted being upset over leaving Sociedad with the club stuck in the relegation zone in La Liga . 'I understand the board's decision, they maintained their confidence in me until the last moment. What hurts me most is to leave La Real in this situation. I will be relieved when the team is much higher. 'I've been proud to have been coach of La Real, it's been a privilege . 'There were a lot of demands after the fourth-place finish, last year I think things went well, despite the bitter-sweet end to the season, and this season things haven't gone as we hoped.' Former Manchester United boss David Moyes has been linked with the Real Sociedad post . Former Manchester United boss David Moyes has been linked with the vacancy, along with ex-West Brom and Real Betis boss Pepe Mel. On the subject of his successor, Arrasate said: 'I'm sure that whoever comes in will be well prepared and I wish them the best. I believe in this squad, the key thing is that the team needs to loosen up and recover their confidence and their football. 'I think that the new person can do that. There is the potential here to be much much higher.' | Jagoba Arrasate dismissed from Sociedad with club in relegation zone .
Arrasate 'hurt' to see club struggling and wishes best for successor .
Former Manchester United boss David Moyes linked with vacant post . |
258,971 | db2cd6df33fb3cfb580306523ee358f43aa2f16d | (CNN) -- HBO's new political docudrama "Game Change" isn't just any made-for-TV movie inspired by reality. The film explores the behind-the-scenes decision-making process that guided the 2008 McCain/Palin presidential ticket, and the human qualities of both candidates. Director Jay Roach ("Austin Powers," "Meet the Parents") didn't want to just rehash the story lines that dominated the news that fall. In addition to some of the widely publicized stories -- from the vetting process to the Katie Couric interview and the "Saturday Night Live" sketches -- "Game Change" shows how the campaign staffers, particularly Steve Schmidt (played by Woody Harrelson), tried to control the candidates' perceptions of themselves and counter Barack Obama's platform. "It's interesting that politicians are forced to study perpetually their own media depictions as well as focus on the issues and what they actually care about," Roach told CNN. "I'm fascinated by the spin doctors. That whole culture of behind-the-scenes, occasionally dark art, or message management and campaign strategy is just fascinating. I hope this film could tap into (it), and raises questions about it." "Game Change," which premieres Saturday at 9 p.m., stars Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin and Ed Harris as John McCain. Here's what Roach told CNN about the film: . CNN: Palin and McCain associates have labeled the film as an inaccurate attack. Why would they say this? Jay Roach: No, that's the big question. It's tough to even respond when you hear people criticize something they haven't seen. Obviously they've seen the trailer and read the book, so it's not a huge surprise that they'd take issue with it. I wish they'd see the film because it has a very evenhanded tone to it, in trying to get the story right and allow anybody with any prejudices against the main characters to go past the media iconography and see them as human beings. They are human beings who are trying to do what they think is right. They have strengths and they have weaknesses. One of the things that makes McCain more relatable is the fact that he curses a lot. I thought so. Even when I was reading the book I had that reaction. You don't get to see behind the scenes. I've been around enough people in politics that it's not that uncommon. But it is jarring when you see a senator for decades go off like that. I asked ("Game Change" authors) Heilemann and Halperin if that was for real and were they just spicing up their book. They said, "No, no. We might be under-representing it." Keep in mind, he's a fighter pilot. He grew up in a military family. I agree with you, it did make him seem more human. The film presents the idea that politicians are constructed by mass media and that's what makes or breaks them. We're all in a culture where we all are increasingly putting out a media version of ourselves, whether on Facebook or our tweets. It is unique in politics how much it's become about managing an avatar version of the candidate in the public. You have to be fascinated by what the contrast is to that: the iconic version of that person versus what they're dealing with as human beings. In certain ways, they're even more transparent because they're being followed 24 hours a day. But in another way, they're much less transparent because their guard is so much up and the image makers are so busy adjusting it. That's what hooked me so much to this film. Tina Fey famously spoofed Palin during the election cycle. Did you and Julianne consult with her at all about playing Palin? No, we didn't. We made a deliberate choice to separate what Julianne was going to do from what Tina had done. What (Fey) did was powerful and kind of brilliant. Often using Sarah Palin's own words, she was able to point out that Palin wasn't prepared well and she didn't have time really to get properly schooled, if you will. We were also constantly aware of people's perception that we may go somewhere towards the Tina Fey version. Some people were very critical of Palin. Was it important to you to understand those people who did connect with her? Many members of my close family are Sarah Palin fans. In fact, I got e-mails from them when it was announced and they said, "Don't pick on Sarah." So I had access to a number of people who were not just admirers, but fully committed, devoted people. (Palin) spoke to people's disenchantment with politicians in general, how things work in government and feeling, to some extent, cut off from being able to do anything about it. That's understandable. There were things about her in 2008 that were impressive. She had 80% popularity. She did take on oil interests in Alaska and raised taxes on the oil companies and was able to give checks back to people in Alaska. She really was a maverick, a charismatic mother of five, and was sending her son off to Iraq. She really was a person who started her political career fighting for local issues she cared about. There were a lot of things that drew people to her immediately. And once you're hooked on that, then it was completely understandable that people became followers. | "Game Change" explores the decision-making process of the 2008 GOP ticket .
Director Jay Roach: "(Sarah Palin) spoke to people's disenchantment with politicians"
Roach: "There were a lot of things that drew people to (Palin) immediately" |
108,945 | 187069e278b20c240ac434605df84c984c02bc7f | By . Joshua Gardner . WWE superstar The Ultimate Warrior has died in Arizona at the age of 54. The former pro wrestler, whose given name was James Brian Hellwig, collapsed in front of his Arizona hotel room and was pronounced dead at hospital. He died just three days after he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of Wrestlemania weekend. Scroll down for video . Recently honored: Legendary WWE wrestler The Ultimate Warrior collapsed and died Tuesday just days after he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the most recent Wrestlemania Week . The wrestler was walking to his car with his wife just before 6pm when he fell to the ground, TMZ reported. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. Hellwig, . who started in the ring in 1987 and counted Hulk Hogan among his many . victories, legally changed his name to Warrior in 1993 to match the name . of his neon-faced, wild-haired alter-ego. He . became a household name after besting the Hulk in 1990's Wrestlemania VI, the . highlight of a 13-year career in professional wrestling that included . three stints in what was then known as the WWF. Legend: Born James Brian Hellwig, Warrior legally assumed his stage name in the early 1990s after his meteoric rise to fame following his defeat of champion Hulk Hogan in 1990 . Ultimate Champion: The Ultimate Warrior pictured after taking the WWF Championship belt from Hulk Hogan after their epic battle at Wrestlemania VI in 1990, an event which was probably the highlight of his career . Victorious: Warrior carries off the belt as he is cheered by the crowd, in the heyday of professional wrestling . Despite . a long feud with WWE management, which included several lawsuits, . Warrior was inducted into the organisation's Hall of Fame on Saturday. On . Monday, less than 24 hours before his collapse, he appeared in the ring . at WWE Raw in New Orleans, where he gave a poignant speech that . appeared to foreshadow his own death. After . pulling on a mask that looked like the facepaint he wore at the height . of his career and switching into the voice of his wrestling alter-ego, . he said: 'No WWE talent becomes a legend on their own. 'Every . man’s heart one day beats its final beat. His lungs breathe their final . breath. And if what that man did in his life what makes the blood pulse . through the body of others and makes them bleed deeper and something . larger than life then his essence, his spirit, will be immortalized. By . the story tellers, by the loyalty, by the memory of those who honor him . and make the running the man did live forever. 'You, . you, you, you, you, you are the legend makers of Ultimate Warrior. In . the back I see many potential legends. Some of them with warrior . spirits. And you will do the same for them. You will decide if they . lived with the passion and intensity. So much so that you will tell your . stories and you will make them legends, as well. I am The Ultimate . Warrior. You are the Ultimate Warrior fans and the spirit of Ultimate . Warrior will run forever.' News of Warrior's death was met with an outpouring of grief on Twitter. 'Saddened . to announce the passing of the Ultimate Warrior. Icon and friend. My . sympathy to his wife Dana and his daughters,' wrote WWE COO Triple H. Dwayne . Johnson, aka The Rock, posted: 'Loss always has a way of reminding us . to live and love as greatly as we can. My prayers and strength to his . family. 'RIP Ultimate Warrior.' Hulk Hogan said simply: 'RIP WARRIOR. Only love.' WWE.com . released a statement, it read: 'WWE is shocked and deeply saddened to . learn of the passing of one of the most iconic WWE Superstars ever, The . Ultimate Warrior. 'Warrior . began his WWE career in 1987 and quickly went on to become one of the . biggest stars in WWE history. Warrior became WWE Champion at . WrestleMania VI, defeating Hulk Hogan in an epic encounter. 'We . are grateful that just days ago, Warrior had the opportunity to take . his rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame and was also able to appear . at WrestleMania 30 and Monday Night Raw to address his legions of fans. 'WWE . sends its sincere condolences to Warrior’s family, friends and fans. Warrior was 54 and is survived by his wife Dana and his two daughters.' Watch the 1990 match in which Warrior defeated Hulk Hogan... | Warrior dies just three days after his induction into WWE's Hall of Fame .
Made his final appearance in front of a crowd on Monday Night Raw .
He was one of the most prominent professional wrestlers of the 1990s .
His death is met by outpouring of grief on Twitter from wrestling stars . |
23,864 | 43b85ddeaebfe188154cb7150bdcb19b5d9267f9 | Manchester City, reeling after being forced to admit they and their sister club in New York misled fans on both sides of the Atlantic over Frank Lampard, are having their financial accounts scrutinised by UEFA to assess whether an attempt has been made to mislead the European governing body over the full extent of the club’s financial losses in 2013-14. The Mail on Sunday can reveal UEFA are examining whether the creation of a set of subsidiary companies by City’s ‘parent’ company, City Football Group (CFG), allowed City to under-report the club’s losses for 2013-14. Two particular subsidiary companies alone had costs, including wages, of £36.7million in the year to the end of May 2014, and posted combined losses of £25.9m in that period. Most of their business was done effectively on behalf of Manchester City FC in that period. Manchester City have admitted that they have misled fans and New York City over Frank Lampard . City had wrongly claimed that Lampard signed for New York City last summer before agreeing a loan move . CITY FOOTBALL GROUP (CFG) Parent company to Man City, New York City, Melbourne Heart, Yokohama Marinos, Man City Women, City Football Marketing and City Football Services (among others). Turnover to end of May 2014: £347m. Operating expenses: £407m (including wages £228m). Loss: £63m . MAN CITY FC . Turnover to end of May 2014: £346.5m. Operating . expenses: £366m (including wages £205m). Loss: £23m. CITY FOOTBALL MARKETING LTD . Turnover to end of May 2014: £6.4m. Operating expenses: £19.2m (including wages £5.5m). Loss: £12.8m. CITY FOOTBALL SERVICES LTD . Turnover to end of May 2014: £4.5m. Operating expenses: £17.6m (including wages £7.7m). Loss: £13.1m. City’s club accounts for 2013-14, revealed last month, showed City had halved their own losses from a year earlier to post an annual deficit of ‘only’ £23m. But UEFA could judge City’s accounts should more accurately have included more of the subsidiary companies’ losses, in which case City would be in danger of breaching UEFA’s FFP regulations for a second year running. UEFA have confirmed checks are being made ‘of all relevant accounts and related-party activities as part of [the] Financial Fair Play (FFP) investigations’. For breaching FFP rules the first time, City were hit with a £49m fine (two-thirds of it suspended), have a reduced 21-man squad for this season’s Champions League and had a spending limit imposed on summer and January transfer activity. City have strenuously insisted throughout that they have done nothing wrong, their accounts are in order and that they expect to pass all FFP requirements. City sources say they will co-operate fully with any UEFA inquiry. The rule breach last time stemmed from sales of ‘intellectual property’ by City to two companies owned by CFG in deals that UEFA ruled artificially inflated City’s income in 2012-13. When the deals were not allowed, City’s losses without them meant a breach of FFP. Lampard smiles during his press conference after it was announced he would be joining the MLS club . The Mail on Sunday can reveal the same two subsidiaries are involved in the new scrutiny. One is City Football Marketing Limited (CFML), self-described in their own financial accounts as providers of ‘commercial and marketing services to professional sports clubs and organising bodies’. Their main client in 2013-14 was Manchester City FC. Their minor clients were City’s sister clubs in New York and Melbourne. The other relevant subsidiary to UEFA’s probe is City Football Services Limited (CFSL), described in their own accounts as providing ‘scouting services, performance analysis and other sporting advice to professional sports clubs and organising bodies’. Their main client in 2013-14 was Manchester City FC. Their minor client was City’s sister club in New York, NYCFC. Although MCFC in Manchester paid a total £10.1m combined to CFML and CFSL in 2013-14 for ‘services’, the key issue will be how much of the smaller firms’ costs of £36.7m were incurred on MCFC business. One of the quirks of City’s accounts for 2013-14 was that they apparently shed 135 staff in a year but, in fact, most of them simply became employees of the subsidiaries. UEFA will ask City and parent company GFG to clarify details of various company accounts in the group. Certainly there appear to be some errors, inadvertent or not. The former Chelsea man pictured in action during City's Premier League clash with Sunderland . Manuel Pellegrini was reduced to a 21-man squad in the Champions League this season . One example is MCFC reporting a different value for intellectual property sold to CFML, whose own accounts have a slightly smaller value on what they paid MCFC for the same item. Another example is CFG and MCFC’s accounts both saying former midfielder Javi Garcia was sold last summer to Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine, whereas in fact he was sold to Zenit St Petersburg in Russia — notwithstanding a strange move that has remained hitherto secret. The most logical explanation for these anomalies and others, City sources say, is simple mistakes, also cited by the club on Friday as the reason for multiple misleading statements on Lampard. City’s various entities were forced into an embarrassing admission that Lampard had never signed for NYCFC, as claimed last summer, when that occasion was used to sell season tickets and shirts; nor that he had ever been on loan at City. Even in ‘clarifying’ the situation, City at first claimed Lampard had had a contract at City only until December. Under pressure from the Premier League, they then confirmed he signed ‘permanently’ last summer on a year’s deal. More worrying for City’s owner Sheik Mansour, it has damaged the credibility of City and NYCFC . The Lampard episode has caused outrage in the US among NYCFC’s fans, many of whom feel duped. More worrying for City’s owner Sheik Mansour, it has damaged the credibility of City and NYCFC — his flagship sports ventures — and called into question the integrity of his whole organisation. There is no specific timeframe to when City might discover whether they are in the clear over the latest accounts. A UEFA spokesman told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Manchester City, like all clubs which have signed settlement agreements [after breaching FFP previously], are subject to ongoing monitoring, and any case of non-compliance with the terms of their agreement will be automatically referred to the Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) Adjudicatory Chamber as per Article 15 (4) of the Procedural Rules governing the CFCB. ‘UEFA undertakes thorough checks of all relevant accounts and related-party activities as part of its Financial Fair Play investigations.’ | Manchester City forced to admit they misled fans over Frank Lampard .
UEFA are now scrutinising their accounts to to see if they've been mislead .
Club were found guilty of breaching Financial Fair Play rules last season . |
205,790 | 966677dfd0df3efdb99dc0394dbe618805312e6d | The so-called war on women that Democrats love to talk about on the campaign trail may be losing some of its luster. The attack line -- aimed at painting Republicans as out of sync with women on contraception, abortion and other issues -- isn't resonating like in 2012, when Democrats hurled it at the GOP with a devastating effect. Instead, Republicans have improved their standing among women during this election cycle, narrowing the gender gap in key races that could decide control of the Senate. The dynamic reflects the painstaking efforts among Republicans to avoid the mistakes of 2012. This time around, there aren't any candidates talking about "legitimate rape" or "binders full of women." And the GOP put up strong female candidates in states like Iowa and Michigan, making it harder for Democrats to attack them as opposed to the interests of women. The strategy seems to be paying off. "The gender gap is smaller when Republicans don't make mistakes," said Jennifer Lawless, director of the Women and Politics Institute at American University. "Republicans this time have managed to neutralize their deficiencies in this area so the war on women rhetoric does not resonate so much." Terry O'Neill, president of the National Organization for Women, said Republicans are riding a "perfect storm" in Senate races in red states as they enjoy the knock-on effect of national factors like Ebola and ISIS, which have overshadowed social issues. "They have learned their lessons from 2012," she said. Still, Democrats aren't toning down the rhetoric. An attack ad by Democratic Sen. Mark Udall warns that the only place his opponent Cory Gardner will take Colorado women is backwards, and accused him of waging an "eight year crusade that would ban birth control." Another Udall spot features a female gynecologist and obstetrician complaining that Gardner sponsored harsh anti-abortion laws. The barrage has prompted Republicans backing Gardner to brand Udall "Senator Uterus" — a phrase that was even picked up by a moderator in a Colorado Senate debate this month. Despite the attacks, polls show abortion and contraception are not decisive issues in their tight race — reflecting data that shows the core Democratic constituency of young unmarried women often tune out the mid-terms. In a Quinnipiac University poll last week, women picked Udall by 45% to 41%. But men back Gardner by 51% to 38% giving the Republican a five point lead in the race overall. It's a similar story in Arkansas, where the incumbent Mark Pryor is tied or just behind among women with Republican Tom Cotton, but is down about 15 points or more among men. The Democrat launched a "Women for Pryor" tour through the state this month, and has put up YouTube videos slamming Cotton for "insulting" views on women. In June, a Pryor ad featured a woman identified as "Courtney"who asked "Who is this guy and what has he got against women?" In Iowa, Republicans are savoring the strong showing of Joni Ernst, who leads Democrat Bruce Braley despite assaults on her position on abortion, which she opposes. Ernst, a Harley-Davidson riding Army veteran has built a tough political persona after turning around her campaign in an ad in which she spoke of castrating hogs on an Iowa farm. Recent polls reveal a "reverse gender gap" as the male candidate Braley leads the female Ernst among women but trails further behind among men. Ernst knew what was coming: "soon we'll be hearing about the war on women," she predicted after winning her primary, and warned Democrats she knows what real war is like. Terri Lynn Land, a Republican Senate candidate in Michigan, also went on the offensive. "As a woman, I might know a little bit more about women than Gary Peters," Land said in an ad, as she sat in a living room and sipped from a coffee cup. In Kentucky, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell showcased his wife, former Labor Secretary Elaine Chao as he parried claims by Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes that he is anti-women. In a new McConnell ad this week, young women hammer Grimes with the message: "She thinks I will vote for the candidate who looks like me, rather than the one who represents me." In the latest Bluegrass Poll for the Courier-Journal, McConnell is in a statistical tie with Grimes among women voters while maintaining a one point lead overall. Republicans have not closed the gender gap everywhere. And where they are struggling, the Democratic focus on women's economic issues may be the reason. WATCH: These nerds can elect anyone . In North Carolina, Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan slammed her Republican foe Thom Tillis for branding federal equal pay legislation a "gimmick." Her lead among women was 11 percent in a margin-of-error race, according to a Survey USA poll last week. Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state and potential 2016 presidential contender, hit women's issues hard when she campaigned with Hagan in Charlotte on Saturday, beseeching an 1,800 strong crowd to reach out to "every single woman." "Women's rights are the canary in the coal mine. If you don't protect women's rights here at home and around the world, everybody's rights are lost," Clinton said. In Georgia, Democrat Michelle Nunn highlighted workplace fairness to widen her attack on Republican David Perdue's business record. A new CNN poll released . Friday put her lead among women voters at a gaping 18 percent. In each of these races, the rhetoric aimed at women is often more focused on pocketbook issues as opposed to the more hot-button subjects of abortion and contraception. Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for Women and Politics at Rutgers University, said women voters may simply not be seeing enough from Democrats to get them out to vote. There's a paradox here. Obama's low approval ratings are dragging down vulnerable Democrats. But the fact he's not in the national spotlight drawing a clear choice on women's issues with an opponent like Romney is making it more difficult to crystallize the arguments. "The bigger challenge that the Democrats are facing this time may or may not be about whether the Republicans are appealing more to women — but the Democrats are not inspiring or turning out the women," said Walsh. While Republicans may be doing better— it's too early to say that they are winning back what will be a decisive demographic in 2016. In the 2010 midterms. the gender gap was smaller than usual in many races but the party fell back again when the White House was on the ballot. Republican prospects may also suffer if Democrats nominate Clinton, a candidate with historic possibility even for some women who may otherwise balk at voting for Democrats. "Her mere presence signifies the women's issue," said Lawless. And sometimes, Republican rhetoric towards women still seems a little dated. In a digital ad aimed at young women this month, the College National Republican Committee compared picking out a gubernatorial candidate to choosing a wedding gown. The Democratic Governors Association said that proved Republicans "still have no idea how to communicate with women voters." | Democratic rhetoric aimed at women isn't resonating as well as it did in 2012 .
Republicans are avoiding the mistakes they made with women in 2012 .
The GOP is putting up strong female candidates in states like Iowa and Michigan . |
137,363 | 3da87b2b57f73fad80b244f90697c4e0d8c390ab | Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev will be formally sentenced to death on June 24 at a hearing that will offer survivors of the 2013 attack and family members of the three people who died an opportunity to confront him. The same federal jury that found Tsarnaev, 21, guilty of killing three people and injuring 264 in one of the highest-profile attacks on U.S. soil since Sept. 11, 2001, last month voted to sentence him to death. On Thursday U.S. District Judge George O'Toole announced that he will formally hand down the sentence on June 24. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev will be formally sentenced to death on June 24 . The June 24 hearing will offer survivors of the 2013 attack such as Celeste Corcoran, left, Marc Fucarile, center, and Rebekah Gregory, right, together family members of the four people who died an opportunity to confront him . Prosecutors say at least 20 victims of the explosions have asked to speak at the sentencing hearing. Tsarnaev, who did not testify in his own defense during the guilt or sentencing phases of his trial, will also have the right to speak, though he is under no obligation to do so. Tsarnaev's trial evoked memories of the darkest days in recent memory in Boston as victims testified of being hurled through the air by the twin pressure-cooker bombs, struggling to save the lives of those who had lost limbs amid screams of pain and fears that additional explosions would follow. Martin Richard, 8, 23-year-old Chinese exchange student Lingzi Lu and 29-year-old restaurant manager Krystle Campbell were killed in the attack. Tsarnaev was also convicted in the slaying of Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer Sean Collier, 26. His family will also get an opportunity to speak at the sentencing. Meeting his fate: This court sketch shows Tsarnaev, emotionless, listening to a Boston jury sentencing him to death earlier this month . Victims: Eight-year-old Martin Richard and Krystle Campbell, a 29-year-old restaurant manager, were among the victims of the bombing . Killed: Chinese student Lingzi Lu, 23, (left) also died in the bombing, while Somerville police officer Sean A Collier (right) was killed in a firefight with the Tsarnaevs days later . Defense attorneys, who are expected to appeal the death sentence and conviction, argued that Tsarnaev was the junior partner in a scheme hatched and driven forward by his 26-year-old brother, Tamerlan, who died four days after the bombing following a gunfight with police that ended when Dzhokhar inadvertently ran his brother over with a stolen car. O'Toole has given Tsarnaev's lawyers until August 17 to file any post-trial motions along with all supporting material. Just three of the 74 people sentenced to death in the United States for federal crimes since 1988 have been executed. The first was Timothy McVeigh, put to death in June 2001 for killing 168 people in his 1995 attack on the federal government office building in Oklahoma City. No federal prisoners have been put to death since 2003. Several court cases related to the bombing are due to draw to a close over the next month. Three college friends of Tsarnaev who were found guilty of impeding the investigation into the attack are due to be sentenced next week. Confession: Tsarnaev's defense do not dispute that he (left in white cap) and his brother Tamerlan (right in black cap) carried out the bombing . Destruction: One of the two explosions at the marathon is pictured above. Three people died from the bombs and hundreds were injured . Tsarnaev may not be executed for his crimes for another 18 years, experts have claimed. At 21, he is the youngest inmate on Death Row. But he could be 40 by the time he put to death by lethal injection. This is due to the appeals process, which will likely take years for Tsarnaev's legal team to exhaust. Indeed, the bomber's defense attorney has already indicated she wants to take full advantage of it. Judith Clarke has argued it was prejudicial to her client to hold the trial in Boston, Massachusetts, and that her team was given 'insufficient time' to prepare their arguments against the death penalty. Legal expert Jim Fedalen said of Tsarnaev's time on Death Row: [He] may be the youngest inmate on death row at 21 but he could be pushing 40 by the time they march him to the death chamber. ‘We are looking at 18 years, possibly longer, before his appeals process is exhausted. By then, who even knows what the legal landscape on federal executions will look like?’ Robert Dunham, the executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC), added: 'Because there is a death verdict, there will be a thorough appeals process. 'If he had gotten a life sentence, this would be over with.' The jury's decision does not mean that Tsarnaev's death is imminent. U.S. District Judge George O'Toole, who presided over the trial, will formally sentence Tsarnaev to death at a yet-to-be-scheduled hearing sometime in the next few months. Defense attorneys are likely to appeal the decision, which will trigger more legal wrangling before any sentence can be delivered. The death penalty remains highly controversial in Massachusetts, which has not put anyone to death in almost 70 years and abolished capital punishment for state crimes in 1984. Tsarnaev was tried under federal law, which allows for lethal injection as a punishment. Polls had shown that many Boston residents opposed executing Tsarnaev. Opponents included family members of victims Martin Richard and Sean Collier. Just three of the 74 people sentenced to death in the United States for federal crimes since 1988 have been executed. The same jury which today sentenced Tsarnaev to death found him guilty last month of all 30 federal charges brought against him - 17 of which were eligible for capital punishment. They are listed below. Those highlighted in bold were those on which the jury delivered the death penalty: . | Tsarnaev will be formally sentenced to death on June 24,U.S. District Judge George O'Toole announced on Thursday .
Survivors of the 2013 attack and family members of the three people who died an opportunity to confront him .
Prosecutors say at least 20 victims of the explosions have asked to speak at the sentencing hearing .
Tsarnaev will also have the right to speak, though he is under no obligation to do so .
Legal experts estimate that the 21-year-old could be 40 years of age before he is eventually executed for his crimes . |
103,832 | 11faae7053d5facc8c21b95a319603260ed3d02f | Queensland's premier says Russian President Vladimir Putin isn't welcome at this year's G20 conference in Brisbane unless he co-operates with a probe into the MH17 disaster. Flags across the state will fly at half mast on Saturday in tribute to the seven Queenslanders who were among 298 killed when a Malaysia Airlines plane was shot down in eastern Ukraine. Suspicion has fallen on Russian-backed rebels armed with Russian artillery but Mr Putin has said Ukraine bears responsibility for the crash which left 298 people dead, including 28 Australians. Scroll down for video . Queensland Premier Campbell Newman (left) says Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) is not welcome to Brisbane for the G20 Summit in November . He has blamed that country's crackdown on separatist rebels for stoking tensions. On Saturday, Queensland Premier Campbell Newman called on Mr Putin and the Russian government to fully co-operate with an independent international investigation. 'If Mr Putin's not prepared to do that, well frankly I believe that Queenslanders don't want him here at the G20,' Mr Newman said. 'He has the opportunity to demonstrate some good faith and that can be done by properly getting behind international efforts to get to the bottom of what is clearly, in my view, a crime, a terrible crime.' Mr Newman said the Russian president's presence at the summit was ultimately Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott's decision, but he felt he was speaking for Queenslanders. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten echoed these views and says Mr Abbott should consider uninviting the Russian President from the Brisbane meeting over his government's 'reckless and stupid' actions leading up to the MH17 disaster. Mr Abbott wouldn't comment on his stance regarding Mr Putin's attendance to the international gathering. The crash site of MH17 in eastern Ukraine which killed 298 passengers and crew members, including 28 Australians . Opposition Leader Bill Shorten also says Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott should consider uninviting Mr Putin . 'For an outside nation to have supplied these Ukrainian rebels with this weaponry of war and murder is a very, very reckless and stupid act,' Mr Shorten said on Saturday. 'It is in the interests of resolving what has happened that all of the great powers, including the Russian Federation, support what was said at the United Nations Security Council last night.' The council called for a thorough investigation of the crash. Mr Shorten said the Australian government should consider barring Mr Putin from the upcoming G20 meeting in Brisbane if the country did not support the investigation. 'If the Russian Federation will not co-operate to help resolve and get to the heart of what has happened here, I don't think Australians would welcome them coming to the G20,' he said. Sydney protesters are holding two anti-Putin protests on Saturday, calling for the Russian APresident to be banned from coming to Australia in November. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to attend the Brisbane G20 Summit in November .
Flags across Queensland will fly half mast on Saturday in tribute to seven residents killed in the MH17 disaster .
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten also urged Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott to consider uninviting Mr Putin . |
230,777 | b6d6866e203ac0016448ad0b67ffdc69ee53ff14 | LONDON, England -- Formula One drivers spend a lot of time talking about the gym and going jogging. Toyota's Timo Glock has to spend a lot of time in the gym to be fit enough to race. Even when they're on holiday there is a gym close at hand -- in fact many list fitness as a hobby, which is a little on the sad side. However, they're exercise obsessed for a good reason: without being in peak fitness they would not be able to handle the stresses of driving a Formula One car at 350kmh. It's perhaps the one situation where sitting down for up to two hours is actually very, very tiring. According to Toyota, their drivers -- Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock -- would not last a race without getting sweaty in the gym. "The highly-efficient carbon brakes slow a car down so rapidly and the downforce generated by current aerodynamics is such that a driver experiences a peak of around 5Gs under braking and in high-speed corners," the team said. "This affects the whole body but has its most dramatic consequence on the neck and chest." The team said for a "typical person" the forces were almost unimaginable, the closest comparison they could make was with a rollercoaster -- though that is some way off. During a race, most drivers had an average heart rate around 170 beats per minute -- higher than most other athletes -- with a peak of 190, Toyota said. Moreover, this season -- with traction control removed -- the drivers heartbeats had increased up to 10 beats a minute. Glock said Formula One was unique when it came to the fitness requirements. "I would say it's completely different to any other sport because you have a heartbeat average of 170 over an hour and a half and you never see that in another sport," Glock said. "That makes it completely different. That's the reason why you have to be really fit as a Formula One driver." Toyota team doctor Riccardo Ceccarelli said the drivers had to have a very high aerobic fitness level. "They go jogging, cycling, all sports that involve aerobic area. The second part of the training is specific for the neck. They need a very strong neck because every corner puts a load of around 20-25kgs on the neck, and obviously a strong upper body and forearms." Ceccarelli said keeping the brain in top condition was also important. "The brain is just like a muscle and you can train it." He has developed computer simulations which could test -- and improve -- reaction times, multi-tasking and spatial awareness. Trulli said he used the above to ensure he was mentally prepared for a race. "We do mental preparation with some of these simulations which have been developed through the years. I can easily do them at home or even during the Grand Prix weekend using my computer. "It's all about keeping concentration and trying to be fit and concentrated for a race distance, which is not so easy in a Formula One car because obviously it's very quick." Ceccarelli said studies had shown a marked difference between how racing drivers and normal people responded to the tests. "The difference is that the driver is much more economical in managing this performance, so his brain is working in an economical way compared to a normal person. "That means he is able to carry on this performance for a longer time compared to a normal person. That is the important point we have to consider in the training." | Formula One drivers' hearts beat up to 190 times a minute during races .
Heart rate is above most other athletes, making aerobic fitness very important .
Drivers have to deal with forces of up to 5Gs during races . |
12,345 | 22f9667453cf7ea8a39080edde645776d5edc6f7 | (CNN) -- Only 20 minutes so far? I can't keep sitting on this bike. It hurts. I'll just leave class and use the restroom. I don't need to go to the bathroom, but it will give my rear end a break. What if everyone stares at me? Oh no, now my toes are going numb! These thoughts flew through my head during my second spin class a few weeks ago. Recently, our Fit Nation workouts have picked up in intensity. I have tried new activities and pushed myself beyond my physical comfort zone. When this journey began, I envisioned the biggest obstacle to my success would be physical. But after seven weeks of training, I have become acutely aware of the body part that needs the most conditioning. And much to my surprise, it's not my abs, triceps or quads. It's my mind. I've come to the conclusion that wanting to stop mid-workout has little to do with my body and everything to do with my mind. I know many folks who experience negative self-talk, where that little voice in your head tells you all the reasons you can't do something. My internal dialogue seems to be less focused on telling myself I can't do it and more concerned with developing and executing a workout exit strategy. My brain doesn't say, "You can't." It says, "You shouldn't." Oh, but I should. And I am. Change your mind, and your body will follow suit. But how do you change your mind? That's the million-dollar question. T-shirt tales: The athlete I used to be . It turns out some cliches are true. The first step is admitting you have a problem. Hi, my name is Tabitha, and I can talk myself out of a workout before I start. I had a long day at work. It's raining. I need to put gas in my car. It's Monday. Venus is in retrograde. You get the idea. Excuses and justifications are the path of least resistance. Here are some other cliches that have proved true during my training: . Listen to your body, not your head. I've been in the middle of many workouts when I desperately wanted to stop. But when I focused on what I was doing, I could ask myself, "Do I want to stop because I am in pain? Or am I just uncomfortable because I'm sweating, breathing hard and making my body stronger?" If I am honest with myself, the answer every time has been "I'm just uncomfortable." And guess what? I have finished every workout I have started. Get fit and others will follow . The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. I recently read the amazing book "Finding Ultra" by Rich Roll. In it he writes, "There's only one cure for fear. Faith." That line resonated with me. It helped me understand that as an adult, fear has prevented me from realizing my full physical potential. In the past, fear is what has stopped me from even trying. So now, if I find myself dragging my heels about a workout, I try to identify the why. Usually, it's something silly such as fearing the embarrassment of sharing a lap lane and slowing down another swimmer. Now when I go to pool and find myself in this situation, I simply watch the swimmers for a few minutes. I try to identify someone close to my speed and skill level. I then ask if I can share the lane and tell him or her upfront that I am new to training. This has worked every single time. The real key to overcoming these fears, as Roll pointed out, is faith. Have faith in your journey, in the universe and in yourself. Why being part of a team matters . A picture is worth a thousand words. Everyone, even the toughest endurance athletes, occasionally struggle during workouts. Sometimes the only way I get through particularly tough workouts is visualization. At times, it's remembering the two years I spent in nearly constant pain as I battled ulcerative colitis. Compared with that, the aches and weariness of triathlon training pale. More often, I like to visualize my eventual triathlon success. I envision myself crossing the finish line on a warm, breezy day in Malibu, California, this September. I see myself running into the arms of my husband, daughter, parents and sisters. I imagine that magical mixture of physical exhaustion, elation, pride and disbelief that I actually did it. And it keeps me going. Oh, and that spin class? I did not stop. I finished the class without stopping. And then I ran for 20 minutes afterward. Follow McMahon on Twitter @TriHardTabitha. | Wanting to stop mid-workout has little to do with your body, Tabitha McMahon says .
McMahon: Train your mind, and your body will follow suit .
Triathlete in training visualizes herself crossing the finish line on tough days . |
34,238 | 614b6abd86985f0141fcedba24d3cc0926c089d8 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 16:09 EST, 7 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 15:53 EST, 8 July 2012 . A former police officer with the U.S. Marines befriended his teenage girlfriend’s alleged rapist to retrieve a video that the assailant had filmed of the horrific attack. Elric Shawn Millner, 24, is said to have plied a 17-year-old girl with copious amounts of alcohol and raped her on August 3, 2010 in Webster, Texas. The teen had no recollection of what had taken place until Millner showed her videos of himself, and others, sexually assaulting her while she was intoxicated and pleading with them to stop. Defendant: Elric Shawn Millner, 24, is said to have plied a 17-year-old girl with copious amounts of alcohol and raped her on August 3, 2010 in Webster, Texas . In the footage, she can be witnessed urinating and vomiting on herself and can be heard saying ‘no’ while Millner laughs. The victim protests that she is in pain but her assailant tells her that he knows that she likes it and continues attacking her. But the woman maintained her silence and the crime went unreported, according to KHOU.com. That is until the woman, now 19, whose name has not been released to protect her identity, started dating a former-Marine MP. Location: The assault allegedly took place at this Clear lake apartment complex where the suspect lived . She confided in her new boyfriend about . what had happened, much to his horror. He made it his mission to . retrieve the footage to use it as evidence against the attacker. He feigned a friendship with Millner and made disparaging remarks about the woman in question in an attempt to win his trust. Millner ended up confirming the allegations and showing the woman’s boyfriend the videos. But rather than taking his own revenge, the man encouraged his girlfriend to report Millner’s vile acts to the police. Millner was arrested and charged with sexual assault on Thursday. His bond was set at $50,000, according to KTRK. The video will be used as evidence against the man. | Elric Shawn Millner, 24, filmed himself and others assaulting the 17-year-old girl .
In the footage, the intoxicated teen can be seen urinating and vomiting on herself, while pleading with her attackers to stop . |
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