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278,576 | f4dce5a2dc39769d0a3ece2b6f707b649919f1ee | (CNN) -- Inside the Gahaya Links workshop on the outskirts of Kigali, Rwanda's capital, a group of women sit side by side against a brightly-painted wall. Using natural fibers and grasses, they pool their weaving skills to create exquisite hand-made baskets, inspired by the eastern African country's art and tradition. Seeing these women talking, laughing and working together, it's hard to imagine that many of them were once enemies, belonging to warring tribes during the 1994 Rwanda genocide. "[It's] really amazing to see how a small piece of work, how culture can restore values in people, how healing comes through a small basket," says Janet Nkubana, co-founder of Gahaya Links, the company that has made Rwanda's hand-woven baskets internationally famous. "And then people open up, forgive one another and get back together. They say hello, they interact, they visit, they share what they used to share before," adds Nkubana, a master weaver herself. See also: 'African women need a hand-up not hand-out' Women in Rwanda have been handcrafting baskets for centuries, using them as containers to carry food and transport goods or as decorations during weddings and baby christenings. Today, Gahaya Links' baskets have been coined "peace baskets," an embodiment of reconciliation and healing in a country torn by conflict. "If you just meet someone on the streets and go - you don't really heal from what you went through," says one of the women at the workshop. "But through this kind of association where we meet everyday, spending all day together, it makes you understand one another and forgive one another." An estimated 800,000 Tutsis and politically-moderate Hutus were murdered in just 100 days during the Rwanda genocide nearly two decades ago. After the violence ended, many Rwandan women whose husbands, fathers and sons were killed found themselves thrust into the unfamiliar role of being sole breadwinners for their families. At the same time, Rwandans who had fled the genocide and earlier internal conflicts started returning in droves from neighboring countries. One of them was Nkubana -- decades ago, she had fled to Uganda where she grew up in a refugee camp. Upon her return to the country, Nkubana opened a hotel with her elder sister in Kigali. Many traumatized women and children would often come to the hotel to beg for food. See also: Why Ida Odinga is not your average politician's wife . "One thing that struck me one day was [that] after you give somebody food, they would be scared to come back," remembers Nkubana. "A lady walked in with a basket and said, 'can you take this basket and give me something to eat.'" That prompted Nkubana to start encouraging the distressed women to bring their woven baskets to the hotel so they could sell them to the hotel guests. "We started organizing women and we started trying to make the baskets so fine so that they suit in the market," says Nkubana. "And in that sense, they restored their dignity." Nkubana's efforts to empower the underprivileged women of Rwanda cultivated to the creation of Gahaya Links -- the company started operations in 2004 with only 27 women. Today, it has over 4,500 artisans in more than 40 cooperatives across the country. Through Gahaya Links, Nkubana has taken the traditional basket from Rwanda to the shelves of high-end U.S. stores. Under the "Africa Growth and Opportunity Act," which allows Nkubana's products duty-free entrance into the U.S. market, Gahaya Links sells its handicrafts in American department stores such as Macy's, Kate Spade, Anthropologie and Same Sky. The company has helped to break the cycle of poverty for thousands of rural families, by turning a traditional handicraft into a profit-making venture. "Once you earn an income," says Nkubana, "you are economically empowered. You are given a voice, you can argue your values, you can argue your point, you can argue your rights." See also: Teaching 'reconciliation over revenge' At the same time, it has helped to improve the quality of life in the homes of the women . "Where we have married couples, men are embracing it with dignity and appreciation that my wife is really working hard," says Nkubana. "When you look at what women are doing, it is like what men used to do. Because now they earn an income, they provide for homes...It also reduces what we call the domestic violence. "It is a pride for her and she feels respected, she feels dignified and then they feel that it has restored their value as mothers in the house." | Gahaya Links helps Rwandan women make an income by crafting baskets .
Co-founder Janet Nkubana puts their handiwork on the global market .
The company has helped to break the cycle for thousands of rural families .
Women in Rwanda have been handcrafting baskets for centuries . |
252,148 | d256490524637ccbe3a428dcd422cebf1cbe2853 | A New Jersey father is outraged after officials at his daughter's school accidentally released the child to a complete stranger last week. Gemar Mills, 31, from Paterson, says staff at Dale Avenue School put the life of his 3-year-old daughter, Madison, at risk by allowing her to go home with a woman who mistook the toddler for her granddaughter. The grandmother had not seen her granddaughter for nine months when she went to the Paterson school last week to pick up the girl, also named Madison. Scroll down for video . Reunited: Gemar Mills, 31, hugs his daughter, Madison, who last week went missing for 30 minutes after her school allowed another student's grandmother to take her home . Explanation: The administration of Dale Avenue School said the mix-up occurred because the grandmother had not seeing her granddaughter for nine months, and the child was also named Madison . Two staff members at the pre-K school signed off on the toddler’s release and sent her home with the woman, who reportedly kissed and hugged Madison, according to The Paterson Press. It was not until the 3-year-old arrived home that the mix-up became apparent and Madison Mills was promptly returned back to the school. But according to Gemar Mills, his 3-year-old, who suffers from a peanut allergy, could have died in the time it took the other family to bring the child back. ‘The grandmother said, “I took her to the store and I gave her a granola bar,"’ Mills told NBC New York. ‘Well, she has a peanut allergy, so it was a miracle she didn't eat the peanut version.’ Officials at Dale Avenue School realized that Madison Mills was sent home with the wrong person when her mother called the school to say she was coming to pick up the toddler, but was told that the girl already had been picked up by someone else. 'Within minutes, the school principal realized the mistake and she worked quickly to ensure the child was returned safely to the school, which she was (within 30 minutes). Our head of security was notified, and so was the child's mother.' school spokeswoman Terry Corallo said in a statement. Close call: Mr Mills said the woman who picked up his daughter, who suffers from a peanut allergy, bought her a granola bar, which luckily did not contain nuts . Mr Mills, who himself is a school principal at Malcolm X Shabazz High School in Newark, said his young daughter was left shaken by the incident. Furious: Mills, who works as a school principal, said officials at his daughter's school were negligent . ‘She keeps telling me, “I went to the lady's house and then the man yelled out, 'That's not our baby, bring her back,’’ he said. ‘She remembers that stuff.’ Gemar Mills added that little Madison is now afraid to go back to school because she does not want to end up with the other family. According to the father, officials at the Paterson school, which has some 340 students from pre-K to second grade, failed to contact police to report his daughter missing in violation of their own policy, and then contacted the grandmother instead of calling him or his wife first, 7Online reported. ‘How can we trust that they're going to keep any child safe?’ he wondered. The school administration has suspended a security guard and a teaching assistant without pay for allowing letting Madison Mills go home with a stranger. In the aftermath of the mix-up, the school now requires adults to show identification before picking up a child. Mr Mills has reported the incident to child protective services and contacted an attorney. Meanwhile, the school district has hired an investigator look into the matter. | Gemar Mills says his daughter, Madison, could have died had the woman given her peanuts .
The toddler was returned to Dale Avenue School in Paterson, New Jersey, 30 minutes after pickup .
The grandmother had not seen her granddaughter for nine months and did not realize she picked up the wrong girl . |
167,054 | 640aa1b4b59cf437ae631eb9a67a9e430ad1df06 | Madrid, Spain (CNN) -- A Cuban man arrested in Spain this week for alleged ties to al Qaeda was released Friday on provisional liberty, but must report daily to police, a National Court spokeswoman told CNN. The 24-year-old suspect, identified only by his initials J.E.F.M., was released after a 45-minute closed-door arraignment before Judge Fernando Andreu at the National Court, which handles terrorism cases. The court-appointed defense lawyer, Francisco Fernandez Castan, told CNN after the hearing that he argued for all charges to be dropped, saying that police allegations the Cuban had incited terrorism through internet postings was in fact just an example of "freedom of expression." But the judge maintained the charges of alleged links to al Qaeda, while police further analyze the suspect's various portable computers, external hard drives and USB memory sticks that were seized at the time of his arrest on Spain's Mallorca island Tuesday, said the court spokeswoman, who by custom is not identified. The suspect was accompanied by two uniformed police officers outside the judge's chambers, and at times was handcuffed. He wore a black T-shirt, dark ankle-high blue jeans and gray sandals. The judge's order requires him to report daily to the police station nearest his home in Cala Rajada, on the northeast side of Mallorca, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the island's capital, Palma de Mallorca. The Interior Ministry said in a statement that he was wanted for alleged membership in al Qaeda and had 1,120 radical videos on the Internet, mostly produced by him, and that he used the internet for the radical indoctrination of other individuals . Authorities have been investigating the suspect since last year, the ministry statement said. Civil Guards detained him for allegedly recruiting and indoctrinating others for the terrorist group and for distributing public messages aimed at provoking terrorist attacks, the statement added. Spain's Balearic archipelago in the Mediterranean is a popular tourist resort for Spaniards and others from Europe, with large contingents of Britons and Germans visiting or residing there. Since the Madrid train bombings of 2004 that killed 191 people and wounded 1,800 others, Spanish police have arrested more than 400 suspected al Qaeda militants or collaborators, the Interior Ministry website says. Most have been of North African or Middle Eastern origin, with a few from Latin America. | The suspect must report daily to police, a court spokeswoman said .
The judge's order requires him to report daily to the police station nearest his home .
The Cuban national was arrested on the resort island of Mallorca .
Spanish authorities say he was attempting to recruit for al Qaeda . |
76,300 | d864849f2af19ae51ecf837533985abe3be5639c | Lord Dannatt, former head of the British Army, said a vote for independence would be 'letting down' Scottish soldiers who gave their lives preserving the United Kingdom . Scroll down for video . A former head of the British Army has said he fears a Yes vote in the Scottish referendum could be 'letting down' Scottish soldiers who died during fighting in Northern Ireland. Lord Dannatt, who was chief of the general staff between 2006 and 2009, made a personal plea to Scots for a No vote, stating more than 100 Scottish members of the armed forces had fought and died defending the UK during the Troubles. He said: 'Do the families of Scottish soldiers who lost their lives between 1969 and 2007 to preserve the territorial integrity of the United Kingdom now just say, "Well, it no longer matters"? 'I cannot speak for them, but I wonder just how much thought, appreciation and recognition is given to the memory of those who have fought and brought this United Kingdom of ours to where it is today, and where it could be in the future. 'And I really worry on behalf of the wives, mothers and friends of those Scottish soldiers who died to keep Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom. 'I worry particularly about the extent that we will be letting them down if Scotland disappears from our country, just on the whim of a few thousand voters willing to gamble on an uncertain future rather than staying within the United Kingdom, whose track record is second to none in Europe.' Lord Dannatt added in the Sunday Telegraph that he felt defence was the 'weakest link' for an independent Scotland. It comes after a host of senior military figures have raised concerns about independence in relation to the country's defences in the months leading up to the crucial vote, with former Nato commander General Sir Richard Shirreff even branding it 'dangerous'. But Angus Robertson, the SNP's defence spokesman, responded: 'A dangerous and amateurish defence policy would be one that sent troops into an illegal war without proper equipment, while wasting tens of billions of pounds on Trident nuclear weapons that can never be used - that's the UK.' Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander dismissed the remarks. 'I am unyielding in my admiration and respect for the men and women of the British armed forces and the contribution that Scots have played and continue to play in those forces,' he told Sky News Murnaghan programme. 'But many British soldiers have given their lives over the years to defeat fascism and then to defend democracy and let's be absolutely . clear: what we are witnessing here in Scotland on Thursday is an exercise in democracy. 'So I hold no brief for Lord Dannatt this morning.' Scottish Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the former military chief's comments 'bordered on being offensive and insulting'. 'There are mixed opinions across the armed forces as there are across Scottish society.' Veterans of the Black Watch wearing combat armbands as a mark of respect to comrades who have lost their lives in in Iraq during a Remembrance service at the Cenotaph in Whitehall (file picture) Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, seen here on the campaign trail with Alex Salmond, said Lord Dannatt's comments were 'offensive and insulting' Lord Dannatt's intervention comes after five former First Sea Lords warmed that a yes vote in the Scottish referendum would do ‘immense damage’ to Britain’s armed forces. In a letter to the Daily Telegraph, Adml Sir Mark Stanhope, Adml Sir Jonathon Band, Adml Lord West, Adml Lord Boyce, Adml Sir Jock Slater and Vice Adml John McAnally, the president of The Royal Naval Association, said splitting the union would be seen as an ‘act of destruction’ and Scotland might struggle to recruit soldiers. The latest warning follows a string of similar cautions from senior serving and former members of the Armed Forces that independence risks damaging national security for both England and Scotland. They wrote that the ‘grave implications’ of splitting the UK in two in terms of security and employment related to defence had not been spelt out to voters. Jobs would be lost at Faslane and at Scotstoun and Govan, under a split, the letter predicts. Orders for 13 new Royal Navy frigates may well not be placed in an independent Scotland. | Lord Dannatt, who was chief of general staff between 2006 and 2009, urged Scots to vote No .
He said independence would be 'letting down' the more than 100 Scottish soldiers who died in Northern Ireland .
Lord Dannatt: 'Do the families of those who lost their lives now just say "Well, it no longer matters"?
Scottish Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said his comments bordered on being "offensive and insulting" |
23,511 | 42c1dae70901f1e51b404e45bc65fefaeae72237 | A FIFA executive committee member was reported to the world governing body's ethics committee after asking for 'hard cash' in return for votes during bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup - but no action was taken, it has been claimed. Les Murray, an Australian who was on the FIFA ethics committee at the time, says he reported the demand to his superiors after being informed of it by people working for the Australia 2022 bid. Sources with knowledge of the cash-for-votes demand said the unnamed FIFA Ex Co member asked for $5million to build a sports centre. A FIFA executive committee member has been reported for asking for 'hard cash' for World Cup votes . Les Murray (right) reported the demand of the FIFA executive committee member to his superiors . Murray has now questioned why his report of the incident was not mentioned in ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert's findings on the investigation into World Cup bidding. Murray wrote on his blog on the website of Australia broadcaster SBS: 'Three years ago, when I was still on the FIFA ethics committee, I was informed by sources inside the Australian bid team that a member of the FIFA executive committee was asking the Australians for hard cash in return for votes. 'I reported this information up the chain of the ethics committee at the time, as was my duty, but I see no mention of it in Eckert's report.' Eckert and ethics investigator Michael Garcia were due to meet on Thursday after disagreements between the two on the outcome of the investigation. Investigator Michael Garcia is unhappy with FIFA after publication of his report into corruption . The German judge last week cleared Russia and Qatar to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, saying rule breaches by the bidding countries were 'of very limited scope' Garcia responded by notifying FIFA that he intends to lodge an appeal against the decision due to 'numerous materially incomplete and erroneous representations of the facts'. Meanwhile, a broad survey of English fans has found 73 per cent would support an England boycott of future World Cups if it was backed by all UEFA countries. The survey by market research firm Northstar of 420 people interested in football also showed 43.5 per cent backed a boycott if some other European countries took part. Former FA chairman David Bernstein this week called for UEFA to threaten to boycott the 2018 World Cup to drive through change at FIFA. Former FA chairman David Bernstein has called on England to boycott the 2018 World Cup in Russia . | Les Murray says a FIFA executive committee member asked for hard cash .
The unnamed individual wanted payment in return for World Cup 2018 and 2022 votes .
Sources say the member wanted the money to build a sports centre . |
54,837 | 9b52a11e9bb4fc3c12f56d4b6437834733e9701f | GAZA CITY (CNN) -- Gaza's main hospital, already overloaded with Palestinians wounded in the week-long Israeli air assault, has reached critical mass, according to a Norwegian doctor volunteering at Shifa Hospital. A Palestinian father carries his wounded baby daughter into a hospital in Gaza City Sunday. "The injured patients are mainly civilians, a lot of children with dreadful injuries," Dr. Erik Fosse told CNN on Monday, estimating that 20 percent of the more than 500 people dead were children. "This figure is rising, and I think it has to do with the development of the war as it moves into the city," he added. After a weeklong series of air strikes, Israel launched a ground assault Saturday night. Palestinian medical officials said Israeli forces have killed 37 Palestinians -- both civilians and militants -- since moving into the territory. With those deaths, at least 507 Palestinians have been killed in the military operation, including about 100 women and children, officials said. In addition, 2,600 Palestinians have been injured, most of them civilians, officials said. "We've had a steady stream (of patients) every day, but the last 24 hours has (been) about triple the number of cases," Fosse said late Sunday. Fosse said he estimated that about 30 percent of the casualties at Shifa -- Gaza City's main hospital -- on Sunday were children, both among the dead and wounded. The increase in casualties at Shifa followed Israel's ground incursion into Gaza. Fosse said 50 patients were "severely wounded" when an Israeli air strike hit a food market in Gaza City. Watch Palestinians describe fearful life in Gaza » . "We were operating in the corridors, patients were lying everywhere, and people were dying before they got treatment," he said. Most of the casualties were due to the air strikes that preceded the ground incursion. Other hospitals in Gaza could not treat the wounded because of a shortage of supplies and staff. Israel has said the military operation is a necessary self-defense measure after repeated rocket attacks from Gaza into southern Israel by Hamas militants. Israeli leaders say they are trying to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza. Last week, Dr. Eyad El-Sarraj, a psychiatrist who runs Gaza's mental health program, said Gaza was headed for "a major humanitarian disaster" unless the fighting ended soon. Meanwhile, at the Gaza-Egypt border, nearly 25 trucks carrying aid and medical supplies were unable to pass through the Rafah border crossing on Sunday, CNN's Karl Penhaul reported. Egyptian authorities said the guards who were manning the Palestinian side of the border had abandoned their posts. Aid workers and drivers banged on the gate to protest the closure. Watch "absurd" situation at border crossing » . An official with the humanitarian group World Vision also confirmed that report, saying: "Unfortunately today, they closed the border, so no aid entered Gaza today." "There are food shortages ... The health system is overwhelmed. The people here don't have electricity," added Mohammed El-Halaby, program manager for World Vision, adding that several power lines and water pumps were damaged by last week's air strikes. On Saturday -- before Israel launched its ground incursion -- old Palestinian ambulances had carried the wounded across the border, where patients were loaded into modern ambulances. Most of those taken into Egypt were civilians, including a teenage boy with his arm blown off, as well as a 4-day-old baby, who was not injured but needed to be kept on a ventilator and in an incubator. iReport.com: Share reactions to the crisis in the Middle East . About 10 truckloads of donations from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and Greece crossed into Gaza on Saturday. | NEW: Doctor: Some 20 percent of the 500 people dead at hospital are children .
NEW: At least 507 Palestinians have been killed in the military operation .
Doctor: "people were dying before they got treatment"
Some 25 trucks bearing aid could not cross the Gaza-Egypt border on Sunday . |
232,070 | b87f34c2dfbb8c15ada0a14c6480bda93d6d1c56 | Atletico Madrid defender Diego Godin is set to discuss a £27million move to German giants Bayern Munich. The 28-year-old has been targeted by Pep Guardiola as a replacement for Javi Martinez, who has been ruled out for the rest of the year with injury. Martinez suffered cruciate ligament damage during Bayern's defeat at the hands of rivals Borussia Dortmund in the German Super Cup last week. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Bayern Munich match highlights . Battler: Diego Godin tussles for the ball with Wolfsburg's Kevin de Bruyne in a recent friendly . Big moment: Godin celebrates scoring the equaliser at Barcelona that secured Atletico the La Liga title . Replacement: The Uruguayan will be replacing Javi Martinez following his cruciate injury last week . Reversal: Bayern boss Pep Guardiola originally insisted that his transfer dealings were done for the summer . Man for the occasion: He also netted the opener against Real Madrid in the Champions League Final . Guardiola had previously stated that his transfer dealings were done this summer, but the injury to Martinez has forced his hand. Godin was one of Atletico's stars last season, starting 51 games in all competitions and netting the crucial equaliser in their final game away at Barcelona to secure the draw that Diego Simeone's side needed to clinch the La Liga title. And he also played a key role in their run to the Champions League Final, scoring the opener against Real Madrid in their eventual 4-1 defeat. Big man at the back: And started all four games for Uruguay at the World Cup in Brazil . Godin also played all four games for Uruguay at the World Cup, as they crashed out in the last-16 following a 2-0 defeat to Colombia. Simeone has targeted Liverpool's Daniel Agger as a potential replacement should Godin complete a move to the German giants. Agger has told manager Brendan Rodgers he wants to leave having fallen further down the Anfield pecking order following the signing of Dejan Lovren this summer. VIDEO Bayern team isn't fully fit yet - Guardiola . | Godin set to hold talks over £27million transfer to Bayern Munich .
Uruguayan started 51 games for Atletico in all competitions last season .
Scored the equaliser away at Barcelona that secured La Liga title as well as netting in the Champions League Final against Real Madrid .
Pep Guardiola chasing a replacement for the injured Javi Martinez . |
46,308 | 82789be455f3f9394562bcef62ea331b71d7b858 | By . Richard Spillett . He may be able to fly - but this Scottish Superman appears to have trouble finding the shops. Joker Kevin Hannaway was filmed apparently flying along outside the window of a workman's moving van in the stunted-up video shot on a country road outside Cambuslang near Glasgow. The film - which shows the 'superhero' asking for directions - has been viewed thousands of times around the world after it was posted online earlier this week. Scroll down for video . Kevin Hannaway appears to fly alongside a workman's van in a video posted on YouTube . The video shows a van driver motoring along a country road and commenting: 'We've finished our shift. We're quite happy. It's a wee Friday.' The camera then pans to the driver's left to show Mr Hannaway, 24, in a Superman-pose outside the passenger-side window. As bushes and trees hurtle past, he manages to stiffle his giggles as he calmly chats to the driver. He says: 'Excuse me, how do I get to the shops from here, boys?' to which the laughing driver replies 'stick to the left'. Blacksmith Mr Hannaway then says 'All right buddy, is that me then' and 'Cheerio' before appearing to fly off away from the van. The video has since been sent around the world by internet users, attracting scores of comments. Cameron . Church tweeted 'Scottish Humour at its best.... #OneToWatch', Neville . Foster wrote 'Great, just flipping great..Good on you guys..' and Simon . Gilbert added 'hilarious'. Mr . Hannaway has said the van slowed down and he was cycling alongside, but . a frame of the video appears to show the van's side door open and his . hand holding onto the passenger seat's head-rest. Mr Hannaway chats to the driver as the van heads along a country road in near Cambuslang, Scotland. After getting directions to the shops, he bids the driver 'Cheerio' before turning and appearing to fly off . He told the Daily Record: 'We used to make a lot of videos so we just did it for a bit of a laugh. The idea just popped into my head one day and I thought I’d try it out.' But motoring groups have criticised the move, with AA president Edmund King saying: 'Superman should stick to the big screen rather than doing dangerous stunts on rural roads. 'Whether he is going along on a bike or hanging out of the side door, the van would only have to hit a pothole and his super strength would be severely tested.' Following the commments, Mr Hannaway urged others not to copy his act, adding: 'They should leave it to the real Clark Kent.' After the stunt was criticised by safety groups, Mr Hannaway said flying should be left to the real Clark Kent, played here by Christopher Reeve in the 1978 film . | Prankster's film appears to show him flying beside van like superhero .
Kevin Hannaway filmed outside vehicle floating along country lane in video .
The 24-year-old says he loves dreaming up new ideas for funny films .
He says he was on bike but film appears to show him hanging out side door .
Motoring group the AA warn others not to copy the Scottish blacksmith . |
161,548 | 5cdc0debd26983679732c3cae24b13de5ee7346d | Paddy McNair has been backed to make an impression for Northern Ireland and Manchester United by former winger Keith Gillespie. The 19-year-old defender from Ballyclare has enjoyed a rapid ascent having made his United debut against West Ham in September after just 11 under-21s appearances. Gillespie, who believes Northern Ireland have a strong chance of automatic qualification for Euro 2016, hopes McNair seizes his opportunity after being called into Michael O'Neill's squad for the first time for Friday's clash in Romania. Manchester United teenager Paddy McNair has been given his first call up by Northern Ireland . The 19-year-old has been drafted in to United's first team following a spate of defensive injuries . Gillespie, who was speaking at the filming of the new Vauxhall Home Nations Football Show, said: 'He's still very young, still has a lot to learn, but he's done himself no harm in the (United) games that he's played so far. 'They've had injuries at the back and he's taken his chance. 'They've probably looked more solid in the games he's played than they have in the other games when they've been conceding goals. 'He's done very well. There's an opportunity for him there if he continues to progress the way he is.' McNair's rise has, in part, been a result of Jonny Evans' ankle injury. But Gillespie believes O'Neill will find a way to accommodate Evans when the defender is fit. Former Manchester United and Northern Ireland winger Keith Gillespie tackles Wayne Rooney in 2005 . United's Jonny Evans is currently sidelined with injury but will likely have a place on his international return . The 39-year-old, who won 86 caps in a career which began at Old Trafford, added: 'He's a very important player for us. He'll find a position for Jonny somewhere, whether he plays left-back or goes three at the back.' Northern Ireland have already beaten Hungary and Greece to top Group F by two points from Romania ahead of this week's Bucharest clash. Gillespie is optimistic for the qualification campaign. He said: 'When the draw was made I thought we could sneak third place; now I feel as if we could definitely get one of those top two places (and automatic qualification). 'We're in an ideal position, three wins out of three. One thing that's really helped us is three of our first four games are away and they're our hardest games. 'To win our first three games has been an incredible start - Greece away, Hungary away. 'We're capable of beating anyone at home, so I really think we've a great chance. Gareth McAuley celebrates scoring against Faroe Islands as N Ireland top their Euro 2016 qualifying group . 'If we were to qualify, it would be 30 years since Mexico 86. It's a long time to wait for the people of Northern Ireland. 'We've got such great support. I know they'll be going in their thousands to France if we were to make it.' Check out the new Vauxhall Home Nations Football Show with Ian Wright, Keith Gillespie, Kevin Gallagher and Iwan Roberts go to www.YouTube.co.uk/VauxhallFootballTV . | Paddy McNair has been called up to Northern Ireland squad for first time .
Teenage defender has impressed for Manchester United this season .
Michael O'Neill is likely to find a place for Jonny Evans on his return . |
219,984 | a8bcc3524aea50acd8e3e36ff72f02a67cd07c40 | By . Tracey Cox . Sex and relationship expert Tracey Cox says matter outside the bedroom can be just as important to a good sex life . A recent CNN health report showed 40 million Americans are stuck in a sex rut. Most therapists would agree the proportion of population similarly affected in the UK is equally as high. The reasons why we’re all so bored in bed are many: everything from unrealistic expectations to stressed lifestyles. Ask the average worn out parent what they’d most like to do in bed and most will answer ‘sleep’. There's no denying it: great sex is an achievement not a given. Couples who are still enjoying a great sex life after 10, 20 or even 50 years together, aren’t lucky - they’re committed to making sure it’s great, says Relate. I totally agree. Here’s what you can do to turn your sex slump into the start of something rather wonderful: . 1. Stop believing it’s ‘normal’ to not want sex long-term. Yes, desire does fall the longer you’ve been together but it’s a cop out to shrug your shoulders and say ‘Oh well, that’s just what happens’. There’s plenty you can do to stop this happening or reverse the effect. All you have to do is want to try. 2.Your relationship and sex life are connected. Most couples underestimate the affect their sex life has on their relationship and vice versa. Put some effort in the bedroom and your relationship will improve; make an effort out of bed and you’ll have more and better sex in it. 3. Act on impulses. At the start of the relationship, the desire for sex is strong and the feeling hard to miss. Later on, desire feels more like a flickering of flames than a raging fire. Be attuned to it and act on the ‘flicker’ as soon as possible. The longer you wait between first impulse and doing something, the less likely is it you’ll act on it. 4. Visit your GP to check your general health and review any medications which could be affecting your libido. Couples who are still enjoying a great sex life after 10, 20 or even 50 years together, aren't lucky - they're committed . 5. Keep a sex diary. Write down any erotic thoughts and what triggers them. Think back to what you both did in the beginning. Revisit the things you tried that you’ve forgotten you liked. Each come up with five things you miss and used to do together, put the suggestions in a jar and pull one out and action it every week. 6. Take a sex toy to bed together - preferably a good vibrator. Men are more motivated to have sex because it’s easier for them to orgasm. Most women find it easier to orgasm with a vibrator so it increases incentive to have sex if it's there as a 'standby' if all else fails. 7. Up the amount of sex you’re having, even if you don’t really fancy it to start with. When you’re all snuggled up watching telly, who can be bothered making the effort? But if you do, lots find desire kicks in once stimulation starts. Regular sex boosts the body’s production of testosterone which, in turn, makes you feel like sex next time around. 8. Talk about it. Make a pact to talk openly and honestly about your needs and wants and agree never to judge anything your partner suggests. 9. Use erotica: Watch sexy films, read sexy books, look at sexy images. Focusing on sex keeps your libido high. For more tips on how to increase your libido, visit traceycox.com. Read more on Tracey's Mail Online Blog . | Studies suggest millions of us are stuck in a 'sex rut'
Tracey Cox says it's a cop out to say, 'it's just what happens'
Solution? Have MORE sex, not less - even when you're not in the mood .
Take sex toys into the bedroom; revisit the things you used to love to do .
Make note of erotic fantasies and things that turn you on .
Read on for more expert tips... |
260,791 | ddbc18920012f4004c5934e9a5be2ed55da0471d | Stewart Downing believes West Ham have a stronger squad this season as the challenge of juggling league and cup football beckons. Sam Allardyce's side reached the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup last season and start their tilt at the trophy with a home game against Sheffield United on Tuesday evening. Weigh them up: Downing is confident West Ham can balance the Premier League and cup competitions . The Hammers were in the midst of a mid-season injury crisis as they lost 9-0 on aggregate to the eventual winners Manchester City in January - with Barclays Premier League survival the main concern. With a number of first-team players missing at the time, Allardyce was forced to field an inexperienced side in both legs - but Downing, who scored his first goal of the season in Saturday's 3-1 win at Crystal Palace, reckons the summer recruit drive at Upton Park will help significantly on that front. 'I think all the new signings have settled in well and those who have played have made good starts,' said the England winger. 'We have a bit of a stronger squad this season which I think helps the manager. Last season the team had to literally pick itself at times because of injuries. 'We have a lot more options now and can change it around a bit if needed.' Of the seven new acquisitions, Aaron Cresswell, Cheikhou Kouyate and Mauro Zarate have made an instant impact - with the latter opening the scoring at Selhurst Park with a spectacular volley. Balance: West Ham lost in the semi-final of the Capital One Cup to Manchester City last season . Strikers Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho are still working on their fitness, while Carl Jenkinson is injured and young midfielder Diego Poyet has played just eight minutes. With a deeper squad at his disposal, Allardyce is likely to give Poyet - as well as Valencia and Sakho - a chance to work their way into his thinking against the Blades. Downing will also want to be involved against the Sky Bet League One side as he looks to add to his goal on Saturday, which equalled the solitary strike he managed throughout the whole of last season. 'Obviously I am eager as is the manager for me to get more goals this season,' he added. 'To get off the mark second game in, is nice. I want to shoot more, get in the positions I need to be in. With the goal, I had it in my head what I wanted to do and hit it where I wanted to and it worked.' It will be the first meeting of the two sides since West Ham agreed an out-of-court settlement for a fee reported to be in excess of £20million to be paid as compensation to the Blades. Victory: West Ham beat Crystal Palace 3-1 on Saturday, after an opening day defeat to Tottenham . The argument stemmed following Sheffield United's relegation from the Barclays Premier League in 2007 - with West Ham surviving thanks largely to the goals of Carlos Tevez. It was later discovered that Tevez, as well as fellow Argentina international Javier Mascherano, were partially owned by Media Sports Investment, a company run by Kia Joorabchian. The Premier League fined West Ham £5.5million and, after United unsuccessfully appealed to be reinstated to the league with West Ham relegated instead, a two-year legal wrangle ended with the settlement. With plenty of ill-feeling between the two sets of fans, Allardyce insisted on Saturday he would do his utmost to appease West Ham's supporters by winning the fixture. 'I think the reaction is to get a team out there that wins,' he said. 'I'm not so sure how guilty Sheffield United were on it but that's nothing do with me. It's about making sure the fans are happy when I go on Tuesday because they feel aggrieved at what Sheffield United did and if I can do that for them, then great.' | Stewart Downing insists West Ham have a stronger squad this season .
Sam Allardyce's side won their first game of the campaign against Crystal Palace on Saturday, with Downing scoring .
West Ham reached the semi-final of the Capital One Cup last season .
They face Sheffield United in the second round on Tuesday evening . |
211,355 | 9db069948baa688f94d2a19908be5485f5c26b5f | Morgan Schneiderlin's international future may be tied up by being named in the France World Cup squad. The Southampton midfielder, 24, is eligible for England and had previously admitted he would consider a call-up from Roy Hodgson. But French paper L'Equipe reports Schneiderlin may be called up to Didier Deschamps' provisional squad for next month's tournament in Brazil. VIDEO Scroll down for Pochettino: The more players in the England side the better . French fancy: Morgan Schneiderlin (left) is in line for a call-up to the France World Cup squad . Choices: Didier Deschamps is naming his provisional 30-man France World Cup squad next week . Schneiderlin was born in Alsace and played for France at every youth level from Under 16 to Under 21 and captained them at U19s, but has yet to earn a cap for the senior team. That could change when Deschamps names his squad on Tuesday. Schneiderlin has one last chance to impress when Southampton host Manchester United on Sunday, the final match of the Premier League season. Speaking in March, Schneiderlin was open to playing for England, saying: 'The France manager makes his choice and he has his team. He has a group of 30 players that he trusts and will take [to the World Cup] and I'm not part of that. 'I left France very young and maybe because I played in the second division they lost me a bit and prefer other players who play in France. That's not up to me, it's people's tastes. I just do my best. 'More opportunities are given in England. In England if you have two months of playing very well you're ready and on the list to play for England but that's not the case in France.' At the centre of it all: Schneiderlin challenges Swansea's Jordi Amat for the ball last weekend . | Schneiderlin could be named in France World Cup squad by Didier Deschamps .
Southampton midfielder played for France from Under 16 to Under 21 level .
He has never been capped at senior level and is eligible for England .
Schneiderlin has one more chance to impress, vs Manchester United . |
137,511 | 3dd682b03e090e73bdc1f85343cfd54ba914bbbb | Grozny, Chechnya (CNN) -- It has been ten years since my last visit to Chechnya. I knew the place had changed. I didn't realize how much. For a decade, Chechnya was the most violent, hopeless, war-torn corner of Russia. Russia's impoverished, conscript army had been locked in an ugly struggle with Chechen insurgents that left the region's capital, Grozny, a smoking ruin. Much of the civilian population was either homeless or had fled. Meanwhile, even the most courageous reporters and human rights activists thought twice about sneaking into the republic. By the end of the 1990s, Chechen gangs made a lucrative business out of kidnapping and ransom. The kidnappers became quite adept at chopping off hostage body parts on camera, to provide gruesome video incentive for swift payment. Imagine my surprise, then, when Russian government minders pick us up at Chechnya's newly-constructed airport, and then send a busload of foreign journalists to sparkling downtown Grozny without any armed escort. A decade ago, the only illumination in Grozny would have come from tracer bullets and the campfires of traumatized residents whose homes had been destroyed. Today, a giant, Turkish-built mosque glows at the center of a park rigged with rows of retro-style street lamps. Families wander around on sidewalks in the balmy air. There is not a single gunman or soldier in sight. For the next two days of this Kremlin-supervised junket, I strain to find signs of the bullet-holes and shrapnel scars that once seemed to pock-mark every piece of concrete in Chechnya. Instead, in Chechnya's second largest city of Gudermes, I find armies of workers -- including migrant laborers from East Asia -- busily constructing high-rises and roads. Downtown Gudermes is getting an architectural face-lift. Ten years ago, when I wandered off from a Russian military "embed" trip to Gudermes, Chechen locals joked openly about how much I would be worth if they kidnapped me, prompting me to hustle back to my army escort. Today, residents sing a very different tune. "We thought it would take 50 years to rebuild this town," one Chechen man wearing in a wide-brimmed black hat tells me. "It's a miracle how quickly this has happened here!" The Kremlin clearly spent untold billions of rubles rebuilding the most unruly of Russian republics. It also struck a deal several years ago with a brash former rebel fighter named Ramzan Kadyrov. His Chechen security forces began taking the lead in operations against the insurgents. Today, Kadyrov is the president of the Chechen republic. This fiercely loyal supporter of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has adopted the bizarre habits one comes to expect from a Middle Eastern despot. Kadyrov races around his fiefdom driving his own black SUV, dressed in shiny track suits and baseball caps. His mansion, a half hour's drive out of Grozny, has its own horse race track, a show room full of antique guns and sabers, the Cyrillic initials "RK" carved into the building's façade and a private zoo full of lions, tigers and other big, endangered wildcats. The roars of one of these animals echoes throughout the compound as we wait until well after midnight for a press conference with the Chechen strongman. When Kadyrov finally arrives, he makes an announcement of victory. "We are in the final stages of our struggle," he says, and then goes on to claim there are only 187 fighters left in Chechnya's insurgent movement. Most of them, he adds, are foreigners. But peace in Chechnya has come at a disturbing price. For some reason, critics of Kadyrov and his security forces keep getting killed. Last July, Natalia Estemirova, an activist with the human rights group Memorial, was kidnapped in broad daylight in downtown Grozny and later found dead with two bullets to the head. "This crime couldn't have been committed without the participation of some law enforcement agencies," says Dokka Itslaev, the Chechen man who has assumed Estemirova's former position at Memorial. "Certain forces in Chechnya reserve the right to kidnap, kill or torture whoever they want." More recently, police in Austria linked one of Kadyrov's top aides to the January 2009 shooting death in Vienna of Umar Israilov. The former Chechen rebel served in Kadyrov's security forces and later testified against Kadyrov before the European Court of Human Rights. Moments after his murder, Austrian police said one of the suspects called a cell phone in Chechnya believed to belong to one of Kadyrov's right-hand men, Shaa Turlayev. Turlayev visited Vienna and met with the suspect a few months before the murder. Kadyrov denied any links to the murder, while delivering a lengthy monologue. "I knew this guy [Umar Israilov] personally," he said during the midnight press conference. "It would have been so stupid and so obvious to kill people in broad daylight. Why would I do this? Did he kill any of my people? If he did, maybe then I would have considered it." The Kremlin now relies on Kadyrov, along with the many potentially explosive skeletons in his closet, to guarantee peace and stability in Chechnya. But while Chechnya has stabilized, the neighboring Russian regions of Dagestan and Ingushetia have grown more violent then ever, with frequent car bombs and assassinations. Caucasus experts say the Chechen nationalist movement that once challenged Moscow has morphed into a broader Islamist rebel movement that threatens to engulf the Russian North Caucasus. That violence seems worlds' away from the brand-new ice skating rink that we visit in Grozny one night. Dance music throbs as young Chechen men on ice skates crash into each other, laughing; some of them hug the sideboards to avoid collapsing on the ice. It is a silly, wonderful sight to see in a city that had endured so many years of war and hopelessness. But how long can Kadyrov's huge public works projects and scary security forces ensure stability, with so much trouble brewing nextdoor and unemployment still sky high within Chechnya? The cliché that Chechnya is "skating on thin ice," springs to mind -- especially after I notice that one of the Chechen men, teetering comically on the ice, is skating with a pistol strapped to his belt. | Chechnya has seen construction surge in formerly war-torn areas .
Chechan president was rebel fighter .
Activist: critics of president have ended up dead .
Neighboring Russian regions have grown more violent . |
181,389 | 76d55438872f54444cff98b74fdd8fe10e5cab8a | For the past year, he has been dubbed the 'most hated free man in America'. Now, George Zimmerman's family have told of life following their relative's fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida, in 2012 and subsequent acquittal last summer. It involves endless days of paranoia, safe house re-locations and get-rich-quick schemes, as well as 'lots and lots' of guns. It even features the use of a color-coded threat ID system: Code Blue (there is law enforcement at the door), Code Brown (draw your weapons), and Code Black (come out guns blazing). Acquitted: George Zimmerman, pictured at court in 2013, fatally shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida, on February 26, 2012. He was acquitted of second-degree murder and manslaughter last summer . Zimmerman's parents, Gladys and Bob, and younger brother Robert spoke to GQ about their new life with the killer, who was acquitted of second-degree murder and manslaughter last summer. The family, who describe themselves as 'victims', said they already owned at least ten guns before Zimmerman shot to death the unarmed 17-year-old on February 26, 2012. But they said as soon as his younger sister Grace saw the news report on her phone, she screamed, 'We need to get guns!', before buying a new Taurus pistol. As violent threats flooded in and a $10,000 bounty was placed for Zimmerman's 'citizen's arrest', the family then decided they could no longer stay put. Zimmerman, who was not charged with murder until six weeks after the shooting, and his then-wife Shellie went to stay with a federal air marshal friend, while the rest of the family fled to Florida. Robert, who bears a strong resemblance to his brother, was living in suburban Washington D.C. at the time and was seen as especially vulnerable. Parents: Zimmerman's family, including his mother Gladys and father Bob (pictured), have opened up on life following the shooting. It involves endless days of paranoia, safe house re-locations and 'lots' of guns . Hopes: Robert Zimmerman Jr (pictured), who bears a strong resemblance to his brother, reportedly wanted to capitalize on Zimmerman's notoriety by turning him into a reality TV star, like Kim Kardashian . Following the shooting, a special agent from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement reportedly told him he had been identified as a target, saying: 'You need to go, and you need to go now.' The family still live in a safe house in central Florida, where they rarely go out or see Zimmerman, fearing an attack from the public as payback for Mr Martin's killing. 'I am sure there are people, you know, some young kid that has nothing going for him, but he's able to get a pistol, wants to make a name for himself,' Bob, who often sleeps with a gun, told GQ. 'Maybe I'll kill one of the Zimmermans. Maybe George, maybe one of his family members. I'll be famous.' You know? That happens. And that's what worries me.' Court: The Zimmermans, who describe themselves as 'victims', said they already owned at least ten guns before their relative shot to death Mr Martin. Above, George Zimmerman and his then-wife Shellie in court . Victim: Trayvon Martin was shot by Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch coordinator, on February 26, 2012 . As well as living in fear, the family are reportedly battling financial issues, having spent around $35,000 on hotel rooms and safe houses, and Zimmerman owing $2.5million in legal fees. Due to his notoriety, Zimmerman remains unemployed and reluctant to find a job, according to the magazine article, which is published in GQ's October edition. 'When your name, Social Security number, and everything is out on the Internet, it's hard to do anything,' said Bob. Robert, who believes his 30-year-old brother is suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, has come up with a number of get-rich-quick schemes over the past two years. His ultimate aim was reportedly to capitalize on Zimmerman's notoriety by turning him into a reality TV star - like other celebrities have done in the past. He cited John Walsh, who began hosting America's Most Wanted after his young son was abducted and killed, and Kim Kardashian, whose leaked sex tape propelled her to fame, as examples. Since his acquittal, Zimmerman, who claimed he shot Mr Martin's in self defense, has faced several allegations of violence, including one by his ex-wife, who divorced him just weeks after the verdict. Hidden: Zimmerman's parents, Gladys and Bob (pictured), are still living in a safe house in central Florida . Angry: Following the shooting, the New Black Panther Party (pictured) put a $10,000 bounty on Zimmerman . Bob said the former neighborhood watch co-ordinator's biggest fear is that he will now be charged with federal civil rights violations for killing Mr Martin. 'He's worried,' he said. 'That if FBI agents come and kick in his door, he's probably gonna shoot a few of them.' There is an ongoing federal investigation into Zimmerman’s case. | George Zimmerman fatally shot Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida, in 2012 .
He was acquitted of second-degree murder and manslaughter last summer .
Now, his family have opened up on their life following high-profile shooting .
Includes endless days of paranoia, safe house re-locations and lots of guns .
They have even created a color-coded threat ID system to warn of attacks .
Family are also battling financial issues, with Zimmerman owing $2.5million . |
243,917 | c7b8a7ff8d0f77e409b40c1f072b47b672856560 | (Real Simple) -- Visit a bathroom in a home in the Netherlands and you might find a good idea staring you in the face: a list of birthdays important to your host posted opposite the toilet. Why in that spot? To assure that it's viewed regularly. While you may not want to sacrifice your bathroom aesthetics for the sake of remembering key birthdays, the more often you see the dates, the more likely it is you'll remember them. As founder and "Exalted Queen Mother" of the Red Hat Society, an international network of women over 50, Sue Ellen Cooper chooses to keep her long list of reminders in the kitchen. "I have a list of every significant birthday taped to the inside of my pantry door," she says. "It's impossible not to see those dates every time I open the pantry." Whether it's inside a cabinet, on the refrigerator, or bookmarking a page in the novel you're reading, place your list in a spot where you are likely to view it every day and you'll always be aware of an impending birthday. Real Simple: How to handle a milestone birthday . Use a perpetual calendar to remember birthdays . Traditional calendars are less than ideal for keeping track of birthdays, as they require you to pencil in all your important dates each year. A perpetual calendar solves that problem by charting the months without naming the day of the week for each date. Find 5-by-14-inch calendars for $10 at www.galison.com. You can also download a printable perpetual birthday-reminder calendar (for free) at Hallmark.com, or use the Real Simple: Birthday reminder worksheet. Similar to a perpetual calendar but used exclusively for birthdays, a birthday book allows you to jot down birthdays without having to rewrite each date yearly. Keep it somewhere visible, though, such as on top of a coffee table or on your desk, as opposed to placing it on a bookshelf, where it may get lost amid your Steinbecks and Angelous. The 2 3/4-by-4 1/4-inch pocket birthday organizer from Fred Flare ($8) will fit in your handbag, so you can commit dates to memory as you wait for your latte. Track birthdays in your day planner . For some, a day planner or a Filofax is preferable to a wall calendar because it's portable. Erica Ecker, a.k.a. "The Specialist," is a New York City-based organizational specialist who recommends writing birthdays in a day planner with a colored marker. "Pick a unique color," she says, "so that when you go to rewrite the dates for the next year, the birthdays stand out." Ecker also inserts mini Post-it notes as "birthday alarms." Insert one in the planner a few days ahead of the first birthday for which you would like to send a card. This way, you'll get the card in the mail on time. Once you've done that, move the Post-it ahead in the book to a few days before the next important birthday. If rewriting birthdays feels like too much of a chore, jot down birthdays on the tabbed section dividers before each month in your day planner. Then you can simply pull out the dividers the following year and place them before each month in your new planner. Real Simple: Look great in your birthday photos . Remember birthdays with computer reminders . With a free membership at Yahoo!, you can take advantage of the site's calendar feature, which allows you to schedule all kinds of appointments with alarms sent to your Yahoo! Messenger account, mobile device, or e-mail address. If you choose to share your calendar with friends and family, they can view your dates and add their own. Cost: Free. BirthdayAlarm.com . This service features an easy interface, e-mail or text-message reminders, a selection of e-cards, and an option to send flowers. BigDates.com . BigDates will remind you of a birthday via a cell-phone text message or an e-mail with suggestions for cards and gifts. You can even sign up for a service that will send a paper card to someone through the U.S. Postal Service ($3, plus postage). The downside is that it's slightly impersonal; you don't get to compose the message in your own handwriting. HappyBirthday.com . Boasting a tasteful, simple, and thoughtful interface, this site assigns each member her own Web page so she can direct friends and family there to input their birthdays, rather than having to collect the information herself. BirthdayPal.com . Birthday Pal keeps track of as many birthdays as you like and will send up to four different reminders per birthday. It also automates the process of birthday collection by sending an e-mail to friends requesting their dates. Get a FREE TRIAL issue of Real Simple - CLICK HERE! Copyright © 2009 Time Inc. All rights reserved. | The more often you see the dates, the more likely it is you'll remember them .
A specialist recommends writing birthdays in a day planner in bright colors .
BirthdayAlarm.com, BigDates.com and BirthdayPal.com are other helpful sites .
Remember birthdays on your computer calendar for easy changes . |
29,531 | 53f2ab33228a3c80349f86fcb17a0476fa397e96 | A new stage show featuring a cast of plus-size performers is challenging society's stereotypical views about what a dancer's body should look like. Nothing to Lose, a boundary-breaking new Australian production by dance company Force Majeure, shatters the perception that a performer must be slim and taut in order to be beautiful. The company's artistic director, Kate Champion, teamed up with filmmaker and fat activist Kelli Jean Drinkwater in order to explore and celebrate the movement of bigger bodies in the show, which will premiere at the Sydney Festival on January 21. Ms Champion said she was inspired to work with a 'full cast of big-bodied dancers' after noticing that her eyes were often drawn to the movements of larger people whenever she was near a dance floor. Scroll down for video . New ideal: Seven plus-size performers proudly shake and grab their skin in Nothing to Lose, a new dance production premiering at the Sydney Festival in Australia on January 21 . Shake it off: Force Majeure's artistic director Kate Champion collaborated with fat activist Kelli Jean Drinkwater to celebrate the movement of bigger bodies for her final show with the dance company . Be different: The show challenges the idea of what a dancer's body is supposed to look like and celebrates the beauty of larger shapes . 'I thought why aren't we seeing that on stage more?' she said in a YouTube video for the Sydney Festival. The choreographer recalled realizing that she 'needed to find someone who lives in the bigger body' in order to move forward with her idea. She later enlisted Ms Drinkwater to ensure the show wouldn't be voyeuristic or exploitative. 'I had no idea the level of abuse that a lot of [the show's dancers] experience daily and how they have to prepare themselves to go out in public all the time,' Ms Champion said. 'That's quite shocking.' Ms Champion, who will be ending her term as Artistic Director of Force Majeure following this show, explained that she wanted to strip away all the judgement that people have 'around fat bodies'. She added that she hopes to create a space where the audience can view the plus-sized dancers in a 'different way and actually just enjoy the physical form moving’. Dancing queen: The choreographer said she was often drawn to the movements of the larger people on the dance floor, and thought: 'Why aren't we seeing that on stage more?' Mean girls: Ms Champion said she was shocked to learn about the level of abuse that many of her plus-size dancers experience daily . Innovative moves: She also noted that the performers were the ones who showed her that they could use their flesh and shape choreographically . The preview video for Nothing to Lose shows the performers shaking their full figures and grabbing their bellies, and Ms Champion noted that the dancers were actually the ones who first showed her the possibilities of using their flesh and their shape choreographically. Ms Drinkwater added that it has been wonderful to see the transformation of the seven core dancers who star in the show. 'The opportunity to be in a dance theater show as a fat person is incredibly rare, so watching that kind of understanding of self and embodiment has been an incredible joy,' she said. To accompany their stage performance, the dancers were also photographed for a series of still shots, which show them twisting and contorting in front of a grey cement wall. The haunting images, which were taken by photographer Tony Burrows, capture the performers graceful movements and defy viewers' preconceived notions of what a 'dancer's body' should look like. Body acceptance: 'The opportunity to be in a dance theater show as a fat person is incredibly rare,' Ms Drinkwater said . Model ready: The dancers were photographed by Tony Burrows as they stretched and contorted their frames in front of a gray cement wall . Ballet beautiful: The plus-size performers prove that you don't need to be model thin in order to create beautiful movements with your body . Flaunt it: The dancers show off their figures in dresses, leotards and lingerie in the series of still shots . 'I do believe that there is a noticeable groundswell in body positivity and fat activism here in Australia, much more than there was ten or even five years ago, and it’s long overdue,' Ms Drinkwater told Concrete Playground. 'And for sure social media is playing a huge part in that by creating access to communities that encourage each other to critique dominant cultural ideas around fatness. 'It’s like this collective tipping point and I think people, regardless of their size, are sick of feeling pressured by a prescribed standard of ‘physical perfection’, whatever that means.' She added: 'I believe audiences are eager to see a broader scope of bodies on stage. 'That’s what is so refreshing about Nothing to Lose.' Bend and snap: The images celebrate the performers' shapes along with their graceful poses . Time for change: 'I believe audiences are eager to see a broader scope of bodies on stage,' Ms Drinkwater explained . Body revolution: Ms Drinkwater believes that the dance show is a sign that society is becoming more understanding about weight and size issues . Nothing to Lose is another example of how body acceptance movements and campaigns have gained popularity over recent years. Last October, radio producer Whitney Way Thore showcased her amazing dance moves in a series of weight acceptance videos titled A Fat Girl Dancing as a part of her No Body Shame Campaign. Thore is now starring in her own TLC reality series, My Big Fat Fabulous Life, which premiered on January 13. And in 2014, a number of women took to social media to share photos of their bikini bodies after plus-size fashion blogger Gabi Gregg posted a picture of herself in a two-piece swimsuit with the hashtag #fatkini. Miss Gregg has since launched two collections of swimwear for women sizes 10 through 24, with the first selling out within 48 hours. | The Australian dance production, Nothing to Lose, will premiere at the Sydney Festival on January 21 .
Dance company Force Majeure's artistic director Kate Champion said she wants to strip away all the judgement that people have 'around fat bodies'
The choreographer teamed up with fat activist Kelli Jean Drinkwater to create the show, which celebrates the movement of larger figures . |
218,759 | a72e8b16ea36ae0174d81e649edbe5b0e6d7c21e | Washington Wizards point guard John Wall broke down in tears Monday night as he dedicated his win over the Boston Celtics to the little girl he had befriended who died of cancer that morning. In an emotional post-game interview, the athlete was overcome with grief as he spoke about six-year-old Miyah Temaque-Nelson, who had been battling Burkitt's lymphoma. 'This is for Miyah, one of my close friends who I lost', he said. 'It's just tough. To see a little kid that fights so hard against cancer and can't beat it. This game's for her.' Scroll down for video . Wall befriended Miyah Temaque-Nelson last season, and started a social media campaign to help her meet Nicki Minaj and achieve her dream of wearing one of the rapper's famous pink wigs . 'You're never like this. She really touched your heart, didn't she?' asked CSN Washington reporter Chris Miller. Struggling to contain his grief, Wall - who had learnt of Miyah's death that morning via text message - was unable to respond as he began sobbing, and was led from the courtside. Wall befriended the little girl last season, and started a social media campaign to help her meet Nicki Minaj and achieve her dream of wearing one of the rapper's famous pink wigs. On Monday night, playing with Miyah's name on his sneakers, the Wizards guard put on an impressive performance scoring 26 points and 17 assists in a dramatic 133-132 double-overtime win. Six-year-old Miyah Temaque-Nelson died Monday morning. She had been suffering with Burkitt's lymphoma . On Monday night, playing with Miyah's name on his sneakers, Wall put on an impressive performance . 'This game was really meant for her. It would've been an even tougher day to lose it,' Wall said. 'I just went into a mode where I didn't want to lose this game.' 'It was a tough day for him,' said coach Randy Wittman. 'I thought he handled it well, but he was hurting at the end.' That night Wall posted a tribute to Miyah on his Twitter page saying that he would 'definitely miss my buddy', alongside photos of the pair together. He wrote: 'If you were blessed to meet and get to know Miyah you know how special of a little girl she was. I'm saddened by the news but I know that she's in a better place. Keep her family in your prayers. I'll definitely miss my buddy. Rest In Peace Miyah.' Wall posted a tribute to Miyah on his Twitter page saying that he would 'definitely miss my buddy' Wall scored 26 points and 17 assists in a dramatic 133-132 double-overtime win over the Boston Celtics . | Athlete was overcome with grief as he spoke about Miyah Temaque-Nelson .
The little girl was being treated for Burkitt's lymphoma when she met Wall .
Wizards guard started social media campaign to help her meet Nicki Minaj .
He scored 26 points in 133-132 double-overtime win over Boston Celtics .
Wall later posted tribute on Twitter saying he will 'definitely miss my buddy' |
220,461 | a95d1a34b81b160890b42969e1ef6af840336b45 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 08:13 EST, 13 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 08:13 EST, 13 October 2012 . Tragic: Senior Labour backbencher Sir Stuart Bell died this morning after a short battle with pancreatic cancer . Senior Labour backbencher Sir Stuart Bell died this morning after losing his battle with pancreatic cancer. The 74-year-old had been MP for Middlesbrough for nearly three decades and served in key positions in Parliament. Sir Stuart died at home with his family around him. Sir Stuart was the son of a Durham miner, and, after a grammar school education, was briefly a colliery clerk and newspaper reporter before becoming a barrister. Having lived and worked in Paris for a spell, he returned in 1977 to pursue a career in politics. Sir Stuart was elected to the City Council of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1980 and was a member of the council until he won Middlesbrough in 1983. He went on to hold the seat through seven general elections. While never serving as a minister, Sir Stuart was the party's Northern Ireland spokesman during the 1980s. And later in his career he was handed a powerful role on the Commons Commission - the body responsible for running the House. He played a central role during one of Parliament's most difficult periods, as the long-running scandal of MPs' expenses abuses finally emerged in 2009. Public servant: Sir Stuart Bell served as MP for Middlesbrough for nearly three decades . | Sir Stuart, 74, was MP for Middlesbrough for nearly three decades and served in key positions in Parliament . |
27,860 | 4ef5184c8fac8196c2f2464ced7b6ae0e4a94112 | Two people have died after a Tennessee police officer switched off his blue lights before racing through a set of traffic lights and smashing into their car. Danny Floyd, 63, and his passenger, 49-year-old Michelle Sloyan, were both killed when an unidentified officer in a Bartlett Police cruiser hit them as Floyd made a turn on Sunday afternoon. The Memphis-area police department said the officer was not responding to a call at the time but was trying to catch up to another officer, who was attempting to stop a traffic violator. One witness said that the police officer switched off his blue lights before racing through the intersection, WMC reported, but it is not clear if he was speeding or if he went through a red light. Scroll down for video . Smash: An image shows the scene after a police car smashed into another car on Sunday afternoon, killing the pair inside. Danny Floyd, 63, and his passenger, 49-year-old Michelle Sloyan both lost their lives . Authorities are also looking at who had right of way. Police Chief Barry Rikard said he had also received conflicting reports about whether or not the officer's siren was on, but they hope the car's dashboard will show whether they were activated. There are no surveillance cameras at the intersection - or in the whole town of Bartlett - but police said local businesses might have caught the crash on their security cameras, WREG reported. Floyd's nephew AC Husted told WMC that the death of his uncle, a logger and family man, had hit everyone hard. Destroyed: The officer was racing to catch up with another officer who was attempting to pull over a car . Tragic: Floyd and his passenger were both killed after they were hit by the cop as they tried to make a turn . 'He's a good man, he's always smiling, he's always joking,' Husted said. 'He's always doing something for the family.' The officer, whose name has not been released, is on sick leave with minor injuries. Authorities said he had been in the force for six years and had not had any problems in that time. The police chief may turn the case over to Tennessee Highway Patrol or the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. 'I don't want it to be a slap on the wrist,' Husted said. 'That doesn't bring back my uncle.' No additional details have been given into the traffic violation the officer was reportedly heading towards. See below for video . | Danny Floyd, 63, and his passenger Michelle Sloyan, 49, were killed when they were hit by a Bartlett, Tennessee officer's cruiser on Sunday .
The officer was not responding to a call but was trying to reach another officer who was attempting to pull over a traffic violator, cops said .
Witnesses said he had switched off his blue lights .
It is not yet clear if his siren was on or if he ran a red light . |
201,535 | 90f2a2b38c9e16305740c40e0a7e313e112fa77d | (CNN) -- Does "Fifty Shades of Grey's" love affair between a dominant man and vulnerable young woman feel a tad bit familiar? It might if you're a tried and true fan of the "Twilight" series. Welcome to the world of fan fiction, where fans tweak or add to existing series, novels and characters -- oftentimes with a steamy twist. By now you've probably heard about the best-selling e-book "Fifty Shades of Grey," which was released in paperback Tuesday and will soon come to life on the big screen. The novel has readers, primarily grown women, clutching their e-readers under the covers, among other places. "Fifty Shades" has been such a hit that Universal Pictures and Focus Features reportedly shelled out $5 million for the rights to E L James' titillating trilogy, which many sites are referring to as "mommy porn." And while the early "Twilight" novels were decidedly chaste (at first, anyway), writers of fan fiction will tell you there's a huge desire for erotic novels. Fan fiction grew popular in the 1960s thanks to "Star Trek" as fans developed their own story lines to swap with other devotees. And the genre has flourished, allowing fans to adapt beloved stories and tailor existing literature to fit their own preferences, said Francesca Coppa, an English professor at Muhlenberg College and founding board member of the Organization for Transformative Works. That's exactly what James did with "Fifty Shades," which drew inspiration from the insanely popular series by Stephenie Meyer. Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele are loosely based on "Twilight's" Edward and Bella. 'Mommy porn' novel has retro message . James, a TV executive, wife and mother based in London, took a young adult novel and spiced it up, said Sarah Weir, a contributing editor at Yahoo! Shine. Weir said that since a lot of young adult novels have such broad fan bases now, the success of "Fifty Shades" will probably be replicated more and more. As both a writer and a reader, Coppa said she appreciates the freedom fan fiction offers. "Typically I'm happier to write stories that have sex in them than stories that have violence in them," she said. "I like the custom-madeness of it. It's not just the same story with sex in it. But, often, the characters have changed in many ways." "Star Trek" fans familiar with "Kirk/Spock" fan fiction, in which the two male characters engage in a homoerotic relationship, can attest. "A lot of erotic (fan fiction) is actually queer," Coppa said. "A lot of people were writing gay and lesbian scenes at a time when there wasn't much out there." It made sense to write these scenes around "Star Trek," she said, which featured a "very consciously diverse group of people. ... The one conspicuous absence was gays and lesbians. Fans rewrote those stories to put queer people at the table." Coppa added, "The wonderful thing about fandom is that you realize you're not alone." Erotic novel 'Fifty Shades of Grey' goes viral ... for good reason . So many mainstream stories now are about women who have children and balance exciting careers. But if the buzz surrounding "Fifty Shades" is any indication, there are women out there who just want to feel like desired, sexual subjects, Coppa said. James' novel puts them there, providing an outlet for a sort of creativity that hasn't been considered mainstream. Sexual content is often shunned by the publishing world, said Los Angeles Times staff writer Carolyn Kellogg. "People have been really turned on by this book. It's so interesting that something considered dirty and second-rate is being embraced by the industry." However, not all fan fiction is erotic. Erotic book gains popularity in suburbs . "Sometimes fan fiction is about seeing more of a character," Coppa said. "Saying, I want to see her in different environments, or see her in a different time. ... That has a happened a lot with Sherlock Holmes, whether he's in the 1890s or ... contemporary London." But not all authors are on board with fan fiction. "The Wolf Gift" author Anne Rice wrote about the genre on her website: "I do not allow fan fiction. The characters are copyrighted. It upsets me terribly to even think about fan fiction with my characters. I advise my readers to write your own original stories with your own characters. It is absolutely essential that you respect my wishes." However, other writers have embraced it, allowing such stories to expand the demographic of their original work. HLN: 10 things to know about 'Fifty Shades of Grey' Take Pottermore for example. J.K. Rowling's website is a space for Harry Potter fans who don't want those adventures to end. "With Pottermore, (Rowling) has said, 'Yes, you can come in and tell those stories the way you want to," Kellogg said. "I'm not sure there will be a lot of other 'Fifty Shades of Grey,' but the way people deal with fan fiction may be shifting in a real and significant way." | Best-selling e-book "Fifty Shades of Grey" is now out in paperback .
Filmmakers reportedly shelled out $5 million for the rights to the steamy trilogy .
The novel was inspired by Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" characters . |
144,960 | 477ee206fa16380b4dd701d68e7a911024b8df0a | (CNN) -- In Spain, out of economic pain and adversity, opportunity is emerging. The country is in a deep recession and unemployment sits at a painful 26%. But there are signs of a comeback -- in the auto industry, at least. Ford, Renault and Volkswagen have all decided to expand production in Spain because of cheaper labor costs. Japanese automaker Nissan is also expanding, but it's also doing something else quite radical: it's hiring. Read more: Cornish pasties filling hunger for jobs . This month, Nissan Barcelona received $178 million dollars in investment to produce 80,000 cars. The deal will help create 1,000 direct and 3,000 indirect jobs. This agreement would not have been possible had it not been for Nissan's negotiation of new working practices with Spanish trade unions. Read more: Diageo: Europe must be more competitive . Nissan struck an agreement with the unions, limiting wage increases and giving the company more flexibility with its temporary workforce. The difference, believe it or not, is quite substantial. According to the OECD, Spain's labor costs have dropped almost 5% percent from 2009 to 2012. In that same period, France -- where labor costs are a contentious issue -- has seen its costs increase by 4.3%. Germany's, comparatively, have increased 1.9%. Even Italy, where costs have risen 2.7%, and the UK, up 2.2%, haven't adapted to the tough economic times. Read more: Could emerging markets be Lindt's new sweet spot? Frank Torres, director general of Nissan Motor Iberica, told CNN lowering labor costs were an achievement for Nissan Barcelona and for Spain itself -- making it an increasingly competitive location for manufacturing and exporting cars. But labor market reforms are not enough to make Nissan Barcelona competitive on the global stage. Torres said the company needed to make logistical savings to stand out from other automakers and Nissan manufacturing hubs, it needed to make savings on the ground. That's exactly what it did. It now has twenty key suppliers under their roof and a port less than five minutes away from their doorstep. It's this logistical innovation that has enabled Nissan Barcelona to cut costs by as much as 30%; and for an industry that accounts for 10% of Spain's industry, this is a crucial part of Spain's long haul to recovery. | Ford, Renault and Volkswagen expanding production in Spain because of cheaper labor costs .
This month, Nissan Barcelona received $178 million in investment to produce 80,000 cars .
According to the OECD, Spain's labor costs have dropped almost 5% percent from 2009 to 2012 . |
127,154 | 305d6761f5cb8c3d7ddb4f54ab149fe6ce8ed3e4 | By . Sophie Borland . Painkillers taken by millions of Britons may be causing heart attacks, strokes and early death because they contain so much salt, a major study shows. Patients who regularly take soluble forms of aspirin, paracetamol, ibuprofen and other common drugs are 22 per cent more at risk of stroke and seven times more prone to high blood pressure, the researchers found. They were also found to be 28 per cent more likely to die early. Recommended doses of some of the painkillers were found to contain 50 per cent more salt than the safe daily limits for adults. Soluble painkillers taken by million of Britons could be causing early death due to the amount of salt they contain, research shows . The researchers behind the study, carried out by University College London and the University of Dundee, are now warning patients to avoid regularly taking soluble painkillers. And they are urging drugs firms to print labels similar to those on food packaging on the tablets – most of which are sold over the counter – warning patients about high levels of salt. Millions of adults, particularly the elderly, rely on painkillers for long-term conditions such as arthritis, while supplements such as calcium are commonly taken by pregnant women and those going through the menopause. Many prefer taking the soluble varieties as they are easier to swallow and are thought to get to work more quickly as they have already been broken down. But the medicines contain very high levels of salt as it helps them dissolve in water and produce a fizzing effect. During the study, academics monitored patients who had been prescribed soluble forms of paracetamol, aspirin and ibuprofen as well as supplements such as vitamin D, zinc and calcium for an average of seven years. They trawled 1.29million patient records obtained from GP surgeries across the UK. Those taking the soluble pills for any length of time were 16 per cent more likely to suffer a heart attack, stroke or die early. They also found that patients were 22 per cent more likely to suffer a stroke, 28 per cent more likely to die from any cause and seven times more likely to suffer high blood pressure. On average, patients succumbed to these problems only four years after first being prescribed the drugs. Certain painkillers were found to contain 50 per cent more salt than the safe daily limit . Government guidelines state that adults should eat no more than six grams of salt a day. Patients taking eight soluble paracetamol pills a day – the full daily dose – exceed this amount by 50 per cent. The average adult eats about eight grams of salt a day, but experts calculate that if we all reduced that by three grams there would be 30,000 fewer heart attacks and strokes a year. By comparison a packet of ready salted crisps contains half a gram of salt, while a packet of salt and vinegar has one gram. A bowl of cornflakes – the saltiest cereal – contains around 0.4 grams, while two slices of bread have about 0.8 grams. The worst culprits are ready meals, which can contain seven grams per portion, and some ready-made sandwiches, which contain between three and four grams. Professor Thomas Macdonald, of the University of Dundee, said: ‘We were surprised at how much salt there was in some tablets. Researchers behind the study are now urging people not to take soluble painkillers on a regular basis (library image) ‘All the foods we buy we can find out in intricate detail how much sodium (salt) there is but we can’t do that with medicines.’ He added: ‘It’s an avoidable risk and it’s a cardiovascular risk which is the commonest cause of death in Britain. If you take these drugs every day it would be better for your health to take the normal versions, not the soluble ones.’ The researchers only looked at patients prescribed the pills by their GP but they said millions of adults who buy them over the counter were also at risk. Dr Jacob George, also from the University of Dundee, said: ‘These drugs are also available over the counter, they can be picked up in the supermarket. ‘We have no control over how many millions of people are buying these drugs. Heart disease, which includes heart attacks and strokes, is by far the biggest killer in Britain. It claims 180,000 lives a year. Experts pointed out that patients taking the pills occasionally were probably not damaging their health. Dr Mike Knapton, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, said: ‘We know that too much salt is linked to a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. ‘It’s important to remember that this research applies to people who are taking these medicines every day – this does not mean that occasional use could damage your heart health. ‘To give us an idea of whether these risks translate for medicines bought over the counter, we would need to see further research focusing on non-prescription medication.’ ‘This is an important reminder for doctors and patients to carefully consider the risks and benefits of soluble or effervescent (fizzing) medicines at the time of prescription.’ Dr Li Wei, an expert in statistics who specialises in drugs safety at University College London’s School of Pharmacy, was also highly involved in the study. | Millions of Britons could be at risk of early death due to painkillers .
Soluble forms found to have 50 per cent more salt than the safe daily limit .
Researchers behind the study now urging people to avoid the medication . |
27,697 | 4e7e68590ecc37f6fd340435786d22890e933d1e | (CNN) -- Former world number one Jelena Jankovic won her first tournament since last August with a straight sets 6-2 6-4 victory over Caroline Wozniacki in the final of the WTA tournament at Indian Wells. Serbian ace Jankovic has flourished in the Californian desert and dominated Sunday's final to claim a 6-2 6-4 victory, her 12th career title. "It's been a great two weeks for me, really amazing," Jankovic told the official WTA Tour Web site. "I'm so happy and so thrilled that I was able to win this title." Djokovic leads Serbian tennis revolution . Wozniacki had guaranteed she will attain second spot in the world behind Serena Williams in the new rankings with her semifinal victory over Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland. But she was unable to maintain that form against Jankovic, who had beaten her on four previous occasions. Jankovic, who last won a title in Cincinatti, survived some early round scares to ease past Samantha Stosur in the semifinals of the Premier tier event. She had Wozniacki in trouble early, achieving a double break to lead 4-0 before being broken on her own serve as the Dane cut the lead to 4-2. But Jankovic, who topped the rankings back in 2008, broke back immediately and claimed the set on her own service as Wozniacki went long with a forehand. The second set followed a similar pattern with Jankovic gaining an early break before holding her own service throughout. At 5-4, she set up a match point with a backhand winner and sealed it when Wozniacki went long with a service return. | Jelena Jankovic beats Caroline Wozniacki to win WTA title at Indian Wells .
Former world number one Jankovic has won all five matches with Wozniacki .
Sixth seed Jankovic of Serbia was winning first title of 2010 .
Wozniacki will rise to number two in new world rankings this week . |
184,763 | 7b52f610d1f2fa90d0f05ae56cf3a4a7a5a658b0 | (CNN) -- Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer began their grass court seasons with straight-sets victories in the first round of the Gerry Weber Open in Halle, Germany. Nadal, playing in his first singles match since winning the French Open at Roland Garros last week, cruised to a 7-5 6-1 win against Slovakia's Lucas Lacko. The world number two, whose only previous visit to the Halle tournament in 2005 ended in a shock first round defeat to Alexander Waske, was relieved to come though the match after a gruelling clay court season. "Every hour on court works well for me - on grass - because I don't have a lot of time to practice. I'm happy to be through, that's the main thing. In the second set I think I did everything better," said Nadal. He will be joined in the quarter-finals at Halle by Federer, who beat Germany's Florian Mayer. Home player Mayer put up a brave fight against the world number three, with Federer securing a solitary break in each set to seal a 6-4 7-5 victory. Federer will play Canada's Milos Raonic in the last eight, while Nadal takes on defending champion Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany. In another Wimbledon preparation event, the Aegon Championships at London's Queen's Club, it was a miserable day for world number five Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The Frenchman suffered a shock first round defeat to Croatia's Ivan Dodig, during which he suffered a finger injury that could rule him out of Wimbledon. "I think it's serious. I will have a scan, but it sounds very bad. I felt like I broke something or I strained it when I fell," Tsonga told reporters during his post-match press conference. The Frenchman looked out of sorts in a 6-7, 6-3, 6-7 defeat to Dodig, who was making his debut at Queen's Club and is ranked at 69 in the world. | Rafael Nadal wins first singles match since his Roland Garros triumph .
Roger Federer also reaches quarter-finals of Gerry Weber Open in Halle .
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga knocked out of Aegon Championships by Croatia's Ivan Dodig .
Tsonga fears he may have broken finger during defeat and could miss Wimbledon . |
201,799 | 913f6968e4977e48bcf8869819ceff5a986403a5 | (CNN) -- South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford declared a state of emergency Thursday for a coastal county where a wildfire has consumed thousands of acres and destroyed dozens of homes. Scott Vereen sprays water on his family's home Thursday near Conway, South Carolina. "This has already proved to be a devastating event for Horry County, and it isn't over," Sanford said in a written statement. The county includes some of the state's most popular tourist spots, including the Myrtle Beach area. By late afternoon, however, officials in North Myrtle Beach said the fire there was mostly contained. "The fire is very contained on our end right now," said the city's director of public safety, William Bailey. "We have hot spots. I would say we're about 75 to 80 percent [contained]." But as he gestured toward the dark clouds behind him, he told people who had been evacuated: "As you see with the smoke and activity behind us, we still got some issues that we're concerned about. We're doing everything we can to get you home." Authorities began alerting people in the city's Barefoot Resort area early Thursday after the fire jumped a highway and began consuming some houses. As of about 6 p.m. ET Thursday, the fire had consumed 15,500 acres, destroyed 69 homes and damaged 100 others, according to the Horry County Emergency Operations Center. While no fatalities or injuries were reported, some 2,500 people have been evacuated, officials said. About 440 people were in two shelters at the House of Blues and at the North Myrtle Beach Aquatic Center, the operations center said. Both the Barefoot Resort and the Pelican Bay subdivisions had been evacuated. In addition, three schools were evacuated because of heavy smoke. Eight vehicles had been destroyed as of Thursday afternoon, said Mayor Marilyn Hatley. Watch footage of coastal areas in flames » . Bailey said authorities were hopeful the weather would continue to cooperate. Low humidity had persisted for most of the day. "We have the resources, we just need to get a weather break," he said. Authorities said the fire has been unpredictable. "When we got our last report [Wednesday], we had no idea that it would be crossing over into the Barefoot Resort area," Hatley said at the morning news conference. "The fire kind of created its own weather, and it just started the wind spinning." Nick Gentile, 64, told The Myrtle Beach Sun News that he left his Barefoot Resort home around 2 a.m. Thursday. "They came around with a police car with a loudspeaker," he told the newspaper, still wearing his blue-plaid pajamas. "You always read about stuff like this, but you never know when you are going to be in it." Helicopters were conducting water drops over portions of the area, Hatley said. The National Weather Service issued a dense smoke advisory for the county until 3 a.m. Friday. Thick plumes billowed high above buildings, prompting North Myrtle Beach school officials to close school Thursday, CNN affiliate WPDE-TV reported. Officials have not determined a cause for the fire, which began about noon Wednesday in Conway. CNN's Samuel Gardner contributed to this report. | Wildfire has consumed 15,500 acres in Horry County, South Carolina .
Area is home to popular tourist spots, including Myrtle Beach .
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford declares state of emergency in county .
No injuries are reported, but fire damages dozens of homes . |
71,547 | cac91f91402b3a7aac971257b0a0a9d525d3803b | By . Rosie Taylor . They are the programmes that leave viewers enthralled by the wonders of nature. But many wildlife scenes in BBC series are faked, a veteran cameraman admits. In fact, most footage involving small animals is not what it appears, Doug Allan said. Secret's out: Experienced cameraman Doug Allan let slip the fakery in a speech at the Cheltenham Literature Festival . Species ‘smaller than a baby rabbit’ are put in custom-built sets and filmed under controlled conditions, rather than in the wild. Mr Allan’s revelation comes only two years after Sir David Attenborough’s flagship documentary Frozen Planet was accused of fakery for filming the birth of a polar bear in a zoo rather than in the wild. The footage was defended at the time by the veteran naturalist, who compared nature documentaries to ‘making movies’. But Mr Allan – once described by Sir David as the best cameraman he had worked with – said he understood why people felt ‘deceived’. He said: ‘I think the BBC didn’t handle it the best. On their website there was a video showing how it was done, but they didn’t quite bring enough attention to it. It wasn’t obvious.’ Mr Allan defended the use of captive animals in wildlife films, so long as producers make it clear to audiences which shots are not gathered in the wild. Proud: Mr Allan said the BBC should have been open about the fact that some scenes for recent David Attenborough series Frozen planet were filmed in a zoo . Preparing for the new arrivals: The fake nest being built in a Dutch zoo, ahead of the birth of the polar bear cubs . Not as it seems: The 'den' in the wildlife park was constructed out of plaster and wood, built below the zoo's polar bear enclosure. It was fitted with cameras shortly before the birth . ‘You can’t make a film about mice just by going out into a meadow and looking at mice,’ he said. ‘You need to introduce them to a safely built set in which they will be happy. There’s a lot of skill in doing that.’ Asked whether cameramen were worried about filming wildlife on sets, he said they ‘have to do and accept it’, adding: ‘Nobody seemed to be bothered by it.’ Mr Allan was speaking at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, where he is promoting his book Freeze Frame: A Wildlife Cameraman’s Adventures On Ice. He said the BBC should have been proud of the way in which it gathered the Frozen Planet footage rather than hiding the explanation on its website. The sequence showed the new-born polar bears mewling and nuzzling their mother in a cave. Eight million viewers were led to believe the footage was captured by BBC cameramen in harsh sub-zero temperatures. However, it emerged it was actually shot in a Dutch zoo, using fake snow. Moving scene: The pair of two-day-old polar bear cubs shown on the documentary. At this age they weighed less than a kilo, but were filmed in a zoo . New build: The polar bear and cub inside the man-made den fashioned out of wood and covered in fake snow . Faked? What the viewers saw on Frozen Planet turned out not to be filmed in the wild, but in a Netherlands zoo . It was interspersed with real shots of the Arctic, while Sir David’s carefully worded narration led viewers to believe the scene was genuine. The veteran broadcaster, 87, defended the footage at the time, saying: ‘Come on, we were making movies.’ But Mr Allan said the BBC should have flagged up its filming techniques at the end of the programme. He said: ‘Be proud of it, and then I think people would have felt less deceived. I don’t have a problem with that sort of thing – I did it myself years earlier – but the public, some of the public, chose to think that was fakery.’ Mr Allan was not involved in the polar bear scene and does not film small animals. Mixed: The scene was mixed with real footage of polar bears in the wild, which may have misled viewers . He also addressed the future of nature documentaries, saying there would be no one like Sir David on television again and claiming the presenter’s involvement in a programme guaranteed 20 per cent more viewers. ‘There will never be another David,’ he said. ‘As long as David is alive, for anyone else to be called “the next David Attenborough” is a kiss of death. The way television works these days, a presenter is doing well if they last more than ten years. ‘On the BBC, you’ll see a lot of new faces that are being tried out. Some are good, some you see once and then bye bye.’ But if anyone is to follow in Sir David’s footsteps, Mr Allan said, it will be Springwatch presenter Chris Packham because he has ‘integrity’ even though he is not ‘everyone’s cup of tea’. Kept quiet: Mr Allan said it would be impossible to make programmes about small animals like mice entirely in the wild . Mr Allan also praised Professor Brian Cox, but said he only ‘came alive’ when talking about space and physics rather than wildlife. In June, Sir David praised Mr Allan, who has worked with him on Blue Planet, Frozen Planet and Planet Earth. He said: ‘Capturing animal behaviour in extreme and hostile places takes a very special kind of cameraman and they don’t come more special than Doug Allan. 'I’ve had the extraordinary good luck of working with him over many years and no one knows the frozen world better than him.’ | Doug Allan revealed secrets of how BBC makes wildlife films .
He said most small species are filmed in closed conditions .
The cameraman said people felt 'deceived' by the trickery .
But he defended the practice, and said the BBC should be open about it .
He was speaking at Cheltenham Literature Festival to promote his book . |
113,859 | 1ee83856b88d36f2209b300019a5d46ca55b6bdc | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 23:51 EST, 24 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:11 EST, 25 September 2012 . Mitt Romney yesterday led Republicans in another attack on Barack Obama's foreign policy, criticising the President for describing the murder of the U.S. ambassador to Libya as a mere 'bump in the road'. The criticism came as Mr Obama once again changed the language he used to describe the attack, which occurred in Benghazi two weeks ago and which he said was 'not just a mob action' when he appeared on The View with his wife Michelle. The GOP challenger's advisers say the recent unrest in the Middle East has made voters question the President's foreign-policy credentials, an area in which he has until now led Mr Romney thanks to the mission which killed Osama bin Laden last year. The most devastating incident was the raid on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi on September 11 which killed ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans. Scroll down for video . Attacks: Barack Obama, pictured on The View with Barbara Walters, has been criticised for his foreign policy . Mr Romney was not the only Republican to challenge Mr Obama on foreign policy on Monday. Eric Cantor, the House majority leader, said: 'Israel continues to find itself on the receiving end of harsh language by the President and the White House. 'There is a somewhat continued pattern of throwing Israel under the bus when Israel stands as our closest ally.' And the National Republican Senatorial Committee issued challenges to Democratic candidates in several races to 'share their view' on Mr Obama's remarks in an interview with CBS's 60 Minutes over the weekend. Aggression: Mitt Romney said the recent unrest in the Middle East was more than a 'bump in the road' Opposition: House majority leader Eric Cantor argued that Mr Obama should be closer to Israel's government . In the interview, Mr Obama was responding when asked if recent events in the Middle East gave him pause for supporting governments that came to power after the Arab Spring. He said he has long noted that events were going to be rocky, adding that the question itself 'presumes that somehow we could have stopped this wave of change'. 'I think it was absolutely the right thing for us to align ourselves with democracy, universal rights,' he said. 'But I was pretty certain and continue to be pretty certain that there are going to be bumps in the road because, you know, in a lot of these places the one organising principle has been Islam.' He added: 'There are strains of extremism, and anti-Americans, and anti-Western sentiments and you know can be tapped into by demagogues.' Fury: Protests have been raging in the Muslim world over a U.S.-made video mocking the Prophet Muhammad . Mr Romney was eager to talk about the topic, squeezing interviews with three television networks into his schedule and touching on the subject at the beginning of a rally in Pueblo, Colorado. 'I can't imagine saying something like the assassination of ambassadors is a bump in the road, when you look at the entire context, the assassination, the Muslim Brotherhood president being elected in Egypt, 20,000 people killed in Syria, Iran close to becoming a nuclear nation, that these are far from being bumps in the road,' he told ABC. 'They represent events that are spinning out of the kind of influence we'd like to have. We're at the mercy of events rather than shaping the events in the Middle East.' U.S. officials are investigating the deaths in Libya, which occurred when the consulate was breached.In his appearance on The View, the President avoided a direct answer when asked if the attack had been terrorism. 'There's no doubt that the kind of weapons that were used, the ongoing assault, that it wasn't just a mob action. What's clear is that, around the world, there are still a lot of threats out there,' he said. Mr Romney intends to return to the subject of international affairs and discuss foreign aid, trade agreements and international development when he addresses the Clinton Global Initiative in New York on Tuesday, according to a source. The candidate, like Mr Cantor, took a jab at Mr Obama's handling of relations with Israel on Monday.'The president doesn't have time to actually spend time with leaders of these nations, particularly Bibi Netanyahu,' he said. 'I find that very troubling.' | GOP candidate says U.S. administration is 'at the mercy of events'
Eric Cantor slams Obama for 'throwing Israel under the bus' |
1,951 | 05a276f0585912a9dc7a327df9cdc6b9d6d16b62 | Chelsea are close to agreeing the second biggest Premier League shirt sponsorship ever with Turkish Airlines. A £25million-a-year deal is expected to be finalised by Christmas. The negotiations with the big spending airline, famous for its Lionel Messi and Kobe Bryant TV adverts, were first revealed by Sports Agenda last September. The money would be a significant advance on the £18m-a-year Samsung currently pay to have their name on Chelsea shirts and would propel the club above Liverpool and Arsenal in the PL shirt sponsorship table. Scroll down for video . Launch: Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho (left) and then Chief Executive Peter Kenyon at launch in 2005 . Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich wants his club — hot favourites to be crowned champions — to be as dominant on football’s commercial side as they are on the pitch. But the west London club, already deep in talks with Turkish Airlines before former Liverpool chief executive Christian Purslow was brought in to revamp the commercial operation, still lag well behind Manchester United. The Old Trafford shirt sponsorship with Chevrolet, that began this season, is worth £53m annually. Barcelona have had their shirts sponsored by Turkish Airlines in the past . Spreading their wings: Turkish Airlines linked up with Manchester United . Clare Balding could end up spending just 20 days a year presenting racing on Channel 4 when she finally agrees a new contract to accommodate her other broadcasting options. That would mean Balding (below) hosting only the Derby, Grand National, Cheltenham and Royal Ascot. Meanwhile Lydia Hislop, Racing UK’s combative presenter, who resigned from the Horserace Writers’ Association after being criticised at an awards lunch, is on the broadcaster-of-year shortlist despite only HWA members being eligible. Clare Balding could end up spending far less time presenting racing on Channel 4 when she agrees terms . FIFA plan to end live video streaming of the post-executive committee meeting press conferences because of the pounding that president Sepp Blatter subsequently receives on social media. Strangely, online ridicule has not dissuaded Blatter from standing for a fifth term next May. Meanwhile, it looks like the PR agency who get the job of helping FIFA in the build-up to Russia 2018 — Webber Shandwick are favourites — will face a tough task. The video launching the tournament logo has already stirred up trouble by showing the disputed Crimean peninsula as part of Russia. FIFA were angry but the Kremlin were said to be very relaxed. BBC Radio 5 Live, much to the angst of its rugby production team, will give commentary priority today to Manchester United v Hull City, a run-of-the-mill Premier League match. England’s Test against Australia is relegated to 5 Live Sports Extra. However there have been assurances that Six Nations and Rugby World Cup games will be back on 5 Live. Shaky start for Patel . The England Cricket Board’s choice to succeed commercial director John Perera, who brought in $1billion worth of TV rights and sponsorships, has already ruffled a few feathers. Sanjay Patel allegedly made an insensitive comment about committing suicide while on a panel at the Business of Cricket Awards. Patel was responding to a Somerset representative who admitted he was depressed about falling attendances and participation. There were more than 200 people at the event, but an ECB spokesman claimed they heard nothing untoward. The England team are on tour in Sri Lanka and held a two-minute silence for Phillip Hughes on Saturday . The RFU offer to the International Rugby Board to win the right to host next year’s World Cup included an £80million guarantee and half of the 2.3m tickets being sold by the IRB to competing nations, sponsors and corporate hospitality. So although ER (England Rugby) 2015 have only 140,000 of their allocation still to shift, tens of thousands of seats are likely to be returned by the IRB. That will leave ER 2015 to sell the returns at late notice — some for supposedly sell-out matches. The gloves are off already in the battle for the IAAF presidency between Lord Coe and Ukraine’s Sergey Bubka, even with the election not due until next August. Bubka suspects the only way he can win is to fight dirty with his camp planning to use every opportunity to highlight conflicts Coe might have through his many varied roles. | The Blues' shirt sponsorship deal with Samsung is set to come to an end .
Chelsea have been sponsored by Samsung since 2005 .
Turkish Airlines are set to be their new shirt sponsor .
A £25million-a-year deal is expected to be completed by Christmas .
This would be a £7m advance on what Samsung currently pay . |
220,229 | a90a3c72e65d9540d58ff54d848d146380dcfeb3 | By . Pa Reporter . The Football Association has asked Chesterfield to launch a full investigation into the alleged racist abuse aimed towards their players at Port Vale on Saturday. The Sky Bet League One fixture was marred by a confrontation between Spireites defender Daniel Jones, a former Vale player, and home supporters as the players left the pitch at the end of Chesterfield's 2-1 victory. It is then that it has been alleged that Chesterfield's black players were the subject of racist taunts from a small section of Vale fans. Scroll down for VIDEOS... Flashpoint: Steward hold back Armand Gnanduillet as he reacts to the Port Vale fans . Anger: Daniel Jones helps officials hold back an angry Tendayi Darikwa . Spireites chief executive Chris Turner said in a statement on his club's website: 'Any form of racism cannot be tolerated. 'We have been asked by The FA to launch a full investigation, which will involve speaking to our players. 'I spoke to Port Vale chairman Norman Smurthwaite after the match and he said they would hold their own investigation. Trampled: The FA have asked Chesterfield to investigate the incident which saw a steward trampled . Furious: Chesterfield's CEO said he would talk to his players but that 'any form of racism cannot be tolerated' 'We will make no further comment on the matter while the investigation is taking place.' Vale were forced to conduct an investigation at the beginning of last season when it was alleged racist chanting took place during the home game against Bradford. Following that incident, anti-racism campaigner Garth Crooks, the former Stoke striker, called for the Railway Paddock part of Vale Park to be closed down if problems continued. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Alleged that Chesterfield's black players endured racist taunts .
Incident followed confrontation between Port Vale fans and former player Daniel Jones .
Chesterfield chief executive says he will speak to players . |
185,825 | 7cabfe350240833aca2f1b68738697be7712f136 | CHARLESTON, South Carolina (CNN) -- Magoline Hazelton is used to people driving by her home just to take a look. She's also known as the "house lady" by her fellow residents in North Charleston, South Carolina. Steel shipping containers, like these at a depot, can be turned into homes. From the outside, Hazelton's home doesn't seem much different from the rest of the neighborhood. But there's one big difference. Her house is made from cargo shipping containers. Using containers to build homes has increasingly become a trend in the past several years because it can be cheaper and faster than using traditional construction methods. There are also plenty of containers at most major ports. About 18 million containers are used worldwide to transport a variety of everyday products, such as cars, toys and food. Because the United States imports more than it exports, many containers end up stacked at ports. See one of the homes being built » . SG Blocks, a company whose name stands for safe and green blocks, has made a business from the container overflow. Co-founder David Cross previously worked as a merchant marine and spent a lot of time at sea, dealing with shipping containers. "As you're looking down the deck of the vessel, you see hundreds to thousands of containers perfectly configured," Cross said. "They were stacked nine high below deck, five or six high on deck, and I just kept seeing hotel after hotel on the deck of our ship." Watch how residents like living in the homes » . Cross also saw value in the strength of the material. "The containers are designed for hostile dynamic life at sea ... capable of carrying 60,000 pounds. It just made imminent sense, that with minor modification, it could become a multi-family living system." In 2003, Cross partnered with engineer Steve Armstrong to help bring the idea to fruition. A year later, Hazelton's house was built in South Carolina. According to Cross, modifying containers into homes uses significantly less energy than melting them down. "These containers weigh about 9,000 pounds, and it takes about 9,000 kilowatt hours of energy to melt down 9,000 pounds of steel," Cross said. "We modify that existing piece of steel with approximately 400 kilowatt hours of energy input. [That's a] 95 percent energy footprint reduction." The energy saved by transforming a single container into a home, rather than melting it down, can power a standard 70-watt lightbulb for up to 15 years. The time it takes to assemble a container home can vary, according to Cross. Hazelton's home took 10 weeks to build. Generally, SG Blocks has found that recycled homes cut construction time in half. "Typical homes can take four to eight months [to build]," Cross said. "For container homes, it's usually two to four months." According to Armstrong, who is president of SG Blocks, the cost of building a single family container home is comparable to a traditional home. "But you get a steel home instead of a wood home," he said. "So, it's more durable and has a lower carbon footprint. It's also water resistant and termite resistant." The construction becomes cheaper as you get into multi-family homes. According to Armstrong, multi-family mid-rise units cost 10 to 15 percent less than typical "stick frame" homes. "That's a lot to do with speed and ease of construction," he said. Companies around the world are using shipping containers as building materials to create offices, army barracks, dorms and even designer homes. "[We] can make these look like anything you want. [We] can put a pretty dress on any skeleton," Armstrong said. "So, if you want it minimalistic, so you can see the container walls, we can do that. If you want stucco or brick or siding, [we] can do that as well." While each container has its own roof, when multiple containers are put together side by side, there are gaps between the boxes. Therefore, a traditional roof is put on top of the entire home, providing additional safety in inclement weather. "When the boxes are joined together, the gaps are sealed, so even if you lose your roof above, you'd have some protection," said Armstrong. The second roof also provides another benefit. Hazelton finds she can't even hear the rain hitting her home when it's pouring outside. Her house has been almost maintenance free since she moved in. "The only thing I've done here is exchanged the hot water heater. Nothing else I've had to do in the last five years ... so far, it's pretty good." | 18 million shipping containers transport goods worldwide; many left at U.S. ports .
Shipping containers are recycled into homes and other structures .
Amsterdam has one of the biggest container structures, housing 1,000 students . |
53,128 | 96b403518837fb001d4eb5d44498e51ec7f7e7dd | (CNN) -- Photographer Thomas Nybo has captured images of some of the toughest issues facing Africa, from child mortality to access to education. He recently visited five countries in 11 days as he traveled around West Africa with New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof. An experience photographer and filmmaker, Nybo has documented life in more than 65 countries including Sudan, Lebanon, Congo and Yemen. A regular contributor to CNN, he's also worked for other organizations including, the United Nations. While in West African countries including Niger and Burkina Faso, Nybo says no matter people's hardships, he found an unbreakable spirit in everyone that shines through in his pictures. The photographer's favorite image from the trip was of a girl carrying her sister to a health clinic. "She was fascinated by the camera and followed me around until I took her photo," he said. At the same center he met a boy who was carrying his sister on his back. Nybo points out that if you look closely at his eyebrows you can see he is wearing make-up. "It was the first time I'd seen a boy of his age in Africa wearing make up," he added. In another of his pictures Nybo also captured a young woman with facial scarification, a common practice in the area. "They typically use a razor blade or a sharp knife to carve different patterns in to the skin," he explained. One of the toughest places Nybo says he visited was a center for malnutrition in Niger. He photographed a family who were camping outside the building because of the stifling heat inside. At the center he photographed a two-year-old baby who was suffering from measles. The baby was starting to go blind from a vitamin A deficiency but doctors were able to save her in time. Nybo says that everywhere he went he met hard-working mothers; one group in particular that caught his eye had started a community garden to feed their children. Watch the video to see Thomas Nybo talk about more of the photographs. | Photographer Thomas Nybo recently visited five West African countries .
Nybo took pictures showing some of the continent's toughest issues .
He says everywhere he went he met hard-working mothers . |
144,546 | 46eed21e484396336cf76c7d47b5be844c0683ea | By . Mark Duell . Last updated at 2:18 PM on 16th February 2012 . The man accused of killing his new bride as they honeymooned in Australia wept as a police interview tape was played out in court, in which he described his failed attempts to resuscitate his wife. Gabe Watson, 34, is accused of drowning Tina Watson, 26, in 2003 by turning off her air supply when they were scuba diving, prosecutors say. During the taped interview, Watson told Townville detectives that he thought other divers in the Queensland vicinity would think 'something odd was going on,' as he struggled to save his wife. Arriving at court: Gabe Watson (centre) and his new wife Kim enter court on the third day of his trial for allegedly killing his wife Tina Watson during their 2003 honeymoon . Horrific death: Tina Thomas Watson is seen lying on the bottom of the sea in this chilling photo as a rescuer rushes to save her in October 2003 - this photo was shown in court . The police interview, recorded five . days after his wife's death, was played to the jury on the third day of . Watson's murder trial underway in Birmingham, Alabama. Watson said during the struggle he was breathing heavily and was attempting to activate his wife's buoyancy control vest. 'In . the back of my mind I was thinking these people could see us, or at . least think something was odd going on,' Watson told detectives. 'I pretty much lost it,' Watson told Townsville detectives. As the court listened to his voice, defence lawyer Brett Bloomston handed Watson a box of tissues and patted him on the shoulder. Watson and Tina Watson married in their home state of Alabama just 11 days before her death. They were in Australia on their honeymoon and were on the first . day of a week long diving trip off the coast of Queensland when she . died. Watson told . police 'five to seven minutes' into their dive over the SS Yongala . shipwreck they struggled against a strong current. He said Tina Watson got into . difficulty and at one point banged his mask and air regulator. He said he thought he kicked his wife with his fin to get some space from her and she floated away from him. Preparing: Gabe Watson, right, talks with his attorney Michael Hanle at the Mel Bailey Criminal Justice Center in Birmingham, Alabama, on Monday. He is accused of killing newly-wed bride Tina Watson . In court: Gabe Watson, with wife Kim, wait in the courtroom for jury selection to begin at the trial on Monday . 'She was out of arm's reach,' Watson said in the police interview. Jewellery: This was the ring being worn by Gabe Watson's new wife Kim outside court on Monday . Watson said he swam down to get her, but decided against chasing her to the seabed and instead headed for the surface. 'I remember shouting through my regulator 'Tina, Tina, Tina',' Watson told police. The jury of eight women and six men also looked at a haunting underwater photo taken by another diver of the death scene. It showed Tina sprawled in deep water as Watson swam to the surface. Prosecutors appeared to attempt to cast doubt on Watson's version of what happened. They believe Watson turned off his . wife's air supply while both were underwater and held her in a bear-hug . until she lost consciousness - before turning the air back on and . letting her sink. They elicited testimony that . Gabe Watson, now 34, was certified as an open water scuba diver, an . advanced diver, rescue diver and specialty diver. Earlier . yesterday, Townsville detective senior constable Kevin Gehringer, who . conducted two taped interviews with Watson, testified from the witness . box. Married again: Gabe Watson, along with his new wife Kim, prepares to enter the Mel Bailey Criminal Justice Center in Birmingham, Alabama, on Monday, ahead of jury selection for his trial . Was it murder? Gabe Watson says his wife Tina Watson died as the result of a terrible diving accident . On the day Tina . Watson died, the detective said Watson became agitated when told police . could not give him back his dive computer. The dive computer, which looks like a large watch, tracks a swimmer's dive. 'At . that stage he became a little agitated about not getting it that . night,' Det Snr Const Gehringer told the Jefferson County courtroom. The . dive computer, which Watson wore on his wrist while diving is . considered key by the prosecution to prove its case that Watson lied to . investigator. Prosecutors . contend that shortly after Watson and his wife entered the water for . their drive, Watson signaled to his wife to return to the boat because . his dive computer was beeping, indicating the battery was incorrectly . installed. He borrowed a coin from someone on the boat to remove the battery and turned it around, and the couple continued their dive. Prosecutors believe that it was a ploy to get his wife away from other divers so he . could drown her. They also argue that a dive computer wouldn't beep if . the battery was installed incorrectly - it would stay silent. Facing closure: Tommy and Cindy Thomas will finally see their former son-in-law tried for their daughter's murder when the case begins Monday in an Alabama courtroom . Watson's . lawyer, Brett Bloomstom, intends to present testimony that the . Australian police never contacted the computer's manufacturer to see if . the dive computer beeps when the battery is in upside down. Watson’s defence team claimed the . prosecution is based on ‘bumbling’ detectives in Australia believing . that a problem with a dive computer on his wrist proved he killed the . woman he loved. That mistake early in the . investigation made police wrongly see innocent actions and circumstances . as proof of a crime, defence lawyer Brett Bloomston told the court in . Birmingham, Alabama. 'Tina trusted her husband,’ Mr Arrington told the court, while Watson’s new wife Kim . Lewis, who bears a strong resemblance to Tina, sat listening. ‘She felt . safe diving with him.’ Rather than being murdered, Tina . struggled and knocked off her husband's air supply and diving mask, . forcing him to resurface without her, Mr Bloomston said. She drowned on . her own, he said. ‘This is a tragic case,’ Mr Bloomston . said. ‘What's even more tragic is the blame Gabe has had to live with . this last number of years.’ He added that Tina’s father was the . beneficiary on her life insurance. That policy was worth only $33,000, . not the $165,000 claimed by prosecutors, he said, and a travel policy . for $45,000 was only to cover the cost of the trip. ‘There was no . financial motive,’ Mr Bloomston said. Mr Bloomston argued that Tina Watson . contributed to her own death by waiving an orientation dive and placing . too much weight in a device meant to help her stay underwater during the . dive. She panicked once during a diving . class in a flooded suburban rock quarry, Mr Bloomston said, suggesting . that she may have panicked again in the fatal dive. 'This is a tragic case. What's even more tragic is the blame Gabe has had to live with this last number of years' Brett Bloomston, defending . Mr Bloomston denied prosecution claims . that Watson was a highly trained rescue diver who should have been able . to save Tina, and instead said they were both ‘very inexperienced’ underwater. Watson initially was charged with . murder in Australia, after Tina’s body was found near Townsville, . Queensland, but he pleaded guilty to a lesser manslaughter charge and . served 18 months in prison. A grand jury in Alabama also indicted . him for capital murder as he allegedly planned his new bride's death . while still in the state. A judge granted a defence motion to have one . murder count dropped. Remarried: Gabe Watson remarried, to Kim Lewis, pictured, after being released from prison in Australia . Honeymoon Horror: The newlyweds were diving at the Great Barrier Reef off Australia when Tina died . Before Australian authorities would . release Watson to the U.S., Alabama had to agree to waive the death . penalty as a possible punishment, prosecutors said. He faces life in . prison if convicted. 'There was no financial motive' Brett Bloomston, defending . Australian authorities performed . exhaustive tests to try to recreate Tina Watson's death, which occurred . soon after the couple's wedding. A coroner’s report threw up some . interesting ideas. Tina was an inexperienced diver and he . had rescue certification, the report said. The Alabama trial poses . logistical challenges, as up to a dozen witnesses will be flown in from . Australia to testify. The state of Alabama has also . subpoenaed people from California to testify about what happened that . day on a dive boat called the Spoilsport, but it's unclear how many will . take the stand. See video here . | Gabe Watson, 34, of Alabama, allegedly drowned wife Tina, 26, in 2003 .
Admitted in police interview other divers may have thought 'something odd was going on' during his wife's last moments underwater .
Prosecution focused on his dive computer - Watson became agitated when police refused to return it to him after his wife's death . |
45,760 | 80ef009a58c0aee4103e734f2ebc2858c2d4361b | (CNN) -- The indictment of NFL star Adrian Peterson on child abuse charges has led to a robust debate about whether hitting, spanking or any other form of corporal punishment is justified and effective in dealing with children. It has also revealed sharp differences in cultural, regional and generational attitudes toward using any kind of physical force to try to teach kids right from wrong. Peterson, through his attorney, has admitted disciplining his 4-year-old son with a switch -- taking an approach to discipline along the lines of what "he experienced as a child growing up in East Texas," said the attorney, Rusty Hardin. In a written statement Monday posted on his Twitter feed, the star running back for the Minnesota Vikings touted his parents' approach as one of the reasons he has reached the professional heights he has. "Deep in my heart I have always believed I could have been one of those kids that was lost in the streets without the discipline instilled in me by my parents and other relatives," he wrote. "I have always believed that the way my parents disciplined me has a great deal to do with the success I have enjoyed as a man." Children who are spanked or given other physical punishments like Peterson apparently was when he was a kid are more likely to spank their own kids, said Elizabeth Gershoff, an associate professor at the University of Texas at Austin who has been studying corporal punishment for 15 years. "We call that intergenerational transmission because our parents are one of our main examples of how to parent," said Gershoff, known as one of the leading researchers on spanking. "So parents do what parents did to them and that's what Adrian Peterson is saying." Gershoff, who has done a systematic analysis of the hundreds of studies exploring the effects of corporal punishment, said the research shows that spanking is more common among African Americans than among other racial and ethnic groups in the United States, including whites, Latinos and Asian Americans. "There are people who say it might be a legacy of slavery, which is a very sad thing to think about but it's possible that having lived for centuries with a culture of violence being kind of (used) against them that they kind of keep it going unfortunately." Parenting advocate Asadah Kirkland, author of the anti-spanking book "Beating Black Kids," also points to a belief held by some African Americans that using physical force to discipline children helps to protect them from the violence of the wider world. She calls it "The Beloved Syndrome," referring to a movie about slavery starring Oprah Winfrey. "If you remember the movie, Oprah Winfrey actually kills her children because she saw the slave master coming and instead of letting him get them, she ended up killing her own children," she said. "That's drastic but it comes from that mentality, but it's not real. It's a myth." Kirkland, who gives workshops to African Americans encouraging them not to discipline with their hands, said the thinking is that if you beat your children, they will be more prepared for any potential "beating up" they'll face in life. "This is not the boxing match. This is you rearing a child so that they should have certain values and certain skills that they can only have if you give (them) to them." Former NBA star Charles Barkley added the regional component to the debate over spanking, when he suggested that a "whipping" is a kind of discipline that many parents in the South "do all the time." Jennifer Alsip, a mom of two, said she comes from a white middle class family in Texas that believes in spankings. "I got 'whooped' and I 'whooped' my daughters (when and if they needed it)," she said. "All I would have to do was threaten to give them a spanking, and they would mind me." Gershoff, the researcher on corporal punishment, said spanking rates are indeed higher in the South than in other parts of the country. Part of that, she said, may be because spanking is more common in families that have a conservative religious background. "Those parents are more likely to say they have very strong beliefs and their interpretation of the Bible leads them to believe that spanking is a good idea, that they need to do it." Other factors driving corporal punishment, she said, include age, education and income: Younger parents, parents with lower levels of education and parents from lower income levels are more likely to hit their children. "Parents with less education may not be aware that there are other ways of disciplining kids," said Gershoff. Peterson, for his part, indicated he wasn't familiar with other parenting techniques to use when children misbehave. "I also understand after meeting with a psychologist that there are other alternative ways of disciplining a child that may be more appropriate," he said. Awareness is crucial, said Gershoff, comparing spanking to seat belts and car seats. We didn't have either in the 60s and 70s when parents let their kids bounce around the backs of station wagons. "They thought that was fine but now we know so much more about what happens in car accidents, and you can't do that anymore," she said. "And I think of spanking in the same way. We know so much more now about the kinds of things that hurt kids and the kinds of things that help them that we really shouldn't spank anymore. We know it's not a good idea." The research, according to Gershoff, is conclusive: spanking does not improve behavior, leads to aggression and other behavior problems like stealing and lying, makes it more likely children will have mental health issues such as depression and anxiety and could lead to learning problems at school. It could also lead to child abuse, she said. "The more parents spank, the more likely they are to physically abuse their children," said Gershoff. "And that's kind of what we see in the Peterson case is that people hit too long or too hard with an object and their intention is to discipline the kid but they're hurting them because they're hitting so hard." Despite all the research we have now on spanking and other forms of corporal punishment, for parents who were spanked a lot as kids, it can be tough not to use it as a form of discipline. Micky Morrison -- a mom of two, author and founder of BabyWeightTV -- said she grew up in rural Tennessee where spanking was the norm. "Interestingly, probably because I was spanked as a child, spanking was often my first reaction to a stressful parenting situation. It's taken a lot of reprogramming to not repeat that pattern," she said. Do you think spanking is an effective form of discipline? Tell Kelly Wallace on Twitter or CNN Living on Facebook. | Children who were spanked are more likely to spank their own kids, according to research .
African Americans are more likely to spank their children than other racial or ethnic groups .
Low-income, less-educated parents are also more likely to spank, according to research .
Spanking leads to negative consequences in children, says a prominent researcher . |
208,586 | 9a1416b09aee6509e1be4e41ed220a1a39cdef8a | A 16-month-old boy died after swallowing iron tablets he thought were his 'mummy’s sweets', an inquest heard. Corbin Littlewood, of Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, took a fatal dose after being given the pills by his toddler sister, who had climbed onto a bathroom sink to reach them from a shelf. When Corbin was taken to hospital after he swallowed the tablets on March 21 doctors also found he was suffering from swine flu. Loss: Corbin Littlewood died after swallowing iron tablets he thought were sweets . The toddler was taken to Calderdale Royal Hospital after Miss Hockham found Corbin vomiting and called an ambulance . He died from a combination of the overdose and swine flu three days later. The inquest in Huddersfield on Wednesday heard how Corbin’s mother, Claire Hockham, had stored the tablets - which she had been given just days earlier to treat her anaemia - on a bathroom shelf out of reach of her three children. But Corbin’s older sister climbed onto the bathroom sink and opened the child-proof bottle before giving him what she called 'mummy's sweets'. They then each took several pills. Doctors discovered that Corbin had extremely dangerous levels of iron in his blood, an overdose of which often causes fatal damage to vital organs . The youngsters were taken to Calderdale Royal Hospital after Miss Hockham found Corbin vomiting and called an ambulance. Doctors discovered that Corbin had extremely dangerous levels of iron in his blood, an overdose of which often causes fatal damage to vital organs, the inquest heard. He was also found to be suffering from the deadly H1N1 variant of influenza known as swine flu and was transferred to the intensive paediatric care unit at Leeds General Infirmary, where he was given anti-viral drug Tamiflu. He was put on drugs which increase the heart’s muscular power to stabilise his soaring blood pressure and help his breathing. But doctors told Miss Hockham and the boy's father Gary Littlewood, who were expecting their fourth child, to prepare for the worst and Corbin died on March 24. Corbin’s sister did not have enough of the iron in her system to cause damage and made a full recovery. The inquest concluded that Corbin had died from bronchopneumonia and lung damage caused by iron poisoning and H1N1 flu. Detective Sergeant Stephen Barnes, of . West Yorkshire Police, told the coroner that the iron tablets could . easily be mistaken for sweets, especially by children. After the swine flu was discoverered Corbin was was transferred to the intensive paediatric care unit at Leeds General Infirmary . He . said: 'Medication for children is normally in syrup form, so although . they wouldn’t understand what a tablet could do they have plenty of . experience of sweets. 'Iron tablets in particular look exactly like sweets.' Coroner Mary Burke said it was impossible to tell whether Corbin had died from the overdose, swine flu or both. Iron tablets are dietary supplements containing iron and are primarily used to treat anaemia or other iron deficiencies. Anaemia is a decrease in the number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of haemoglobin in the blood. A 2012 study found taking supplements for 12 weeks reduced fatigue by almost a half in women who had low iron levels. American doctors say iron overdose has been one of the leading causes of death caused by toxicological agents in children younger than six because they look like sweets. Side effects can include diarrhea or constipation and abdominal discomfort. Recording a narrative verdict, she said: 'The daughter was not of an age to comprehend what her actions could have resulted in. Corbin himself was too young to understand what these tablets were. 'Both regarded their mother’s medication as sweets... and tragically it resulted in Corbin’s untimely death. 'This is a tragic, tragic set of circumstances. I am fully satisfied that Corbin’s parents acted responsibly with regards to Ms Hockham’s medication and took all reasonable measures to ensure the safe placing of it.' She added: 'The combination of the iron poisoning and the swine flu resulted in Corbin’s death. 'He consumed a large number of tablets, tests revealed he had very high iron levels. He had also contracted swine flu. 'I wish his parents the very deepest condolences. The loss of such a young child is undoubtedly very tragic indeed.' Corbin’s parents did not attend the inquest, but Miss Hockham, 24, said afterwards: 'He was the happiest, bubbliest and cheekiest little boy. 'To lose a child is unimaginable.' | Corbin Littlewood, 16 months, was given the pills by his sister, also a toddler .
After he was taken to hospital it was discovered he had swine flu .
A combination of the overdose and virus caused the boy's death .
His mother said he was the 'bubbliest and cheekiest' little boy . |
14,520 | 2930fcaca7aa7a7f4c6c044fc9d2cb124693f3f2 | Goat cafes, rabbit cafes, even loneliness-curing Moomin cafes. The world of the weird cafe has moved on from cats. And yet, while some of these obscure cafes grab headlines for a few days and then vanish, cat cafes have proliferated around the world, to become if not the most novel, certainly the most enduring craze when it comes to themed coffee houses. German philosopher Albert Schweitzer reportedly once said: "The only escape from the miseries of life is music and cats." And so it would appear. Started in Taiwan a dozen or so years ago with a cafe called Cat Flower Garden, the concept was most enthusiastically embraced in Japan where today there are more cat cafes than anywhere else in the world -- around 150 at the last count. Now the rest of the world is cat-ching on. In April the United States saw it's first feline coffee house open in New York, albeit only temporarily, London recently opened its first too and a number of major European cities now also offer purr-fect coffee breaks. Australia is soon to join the fray as well. "My partner and I went to Japan 18 months ago -- going to a cat cafe was an amazing experience and we decided to open our own in Melbourne," says Anita Loughran, owner of Cat Cafe Melbourne, which will open in July 2014. "It's a place where animal and cat lovers can mingle, socialize and be comfortable in a quiet environment that reflects their interests." Cat cafe 101 . For the uninitiated a cat cafe doesn't sound too complicated. It's a regular cafe that happens to have cats walking, or lying, around. But there are nuances that distinguish this kind of cafe from others. You often need to book before you arrive, because a) the cats are liable to walk out as you walk in, and b) the ratio of people to cats needs to be controlled. "We now have a booking system, because 20,000 people wanted to come into a 30-seat cafe all at the same time," says Lauren Pears, founder of Dinah's Cat Emporium in London. Her website says the cafe is fully booked until October 2014. Sanitation and health issues also need to be considered, and have put some people off. "Who wants cat hair everywhere? That would gross me out," says Diana Mullin, a non-customer from Vancouver. But Loughran says there's nothing to worry about: "As the cats are completely separate from the cafe, this is not an issue. And if people still have their concerns they should actually visit a cat cafe first. We would not be able to open if we weren't super hygienic." Most cafes also have a look-but-don't-grab policy, to minimize catty stress and potential clawing of customers. Feline good . After all, the idea is that these cafes provide an almost therapeutic area to chill, as Café Neko owner Takako Ishimitsu in Vienna says. Though she advises any mother visiting the cafe check her pram before leaving: some of the cats can inadvertently turn stowaway, having sought out the warm softness of a baby carrier. Thomas Leidner, owner of the Cafe Katzentempel in Munich, says: "The popularity of these cafes is probably due to the fact that many people are not allowed, or are disinclined to have pets in the city, yet they occasionally feel the need for closeness to an animal. "Life today is busy and hectic, so offering an oasis of calm, where you can relax over a drink and enjoy (vegan) snacks, is important to us." Pears agrees. "I think a lot of our patrons just enjoy coming to play with them. We also find they tend to make conversation with other patrons. The cafe has a nice community feel to it." "What could be better than a black Americano, a good book, and a cat curled up beside you (even better if it's on your lap)?" says Sandi from the UK, one of the trend's enthusiastic fans. "Bliss! The only issue I have is struggling to leave." And so the cat cafe continues to spread across the globe. Look out in the future for KitTea, due to open in San Francisco later this year, and Purringtons Cat Lounge in Oregon hoping to invite people in for a cup before the end of 2014. Cat cafes to check out . London: Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium, 152-154 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch;+44 (0) 207 729 0953 . Munich, Germany: Café Katzentempel, Turkenstrasse 29, Munich; +49 89 2006 1249 . Vienna, Austria: Cafe Neko, Blumenstockgasse 5; +43 1 5121 466 . Tokyo: Nyafe Melange, 1-7-13 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku; +91 3 5449 4024 . Paris: Le Cafe des Chats, 16 rue Michel Le Comte, Marais; +33 9 7353 3581 . Budapest, Hungary: CatCafe Budapest, Revay utca 3; +36 2 0617 3301 . Madrid, Spain: La Gatoteca, Calle Argumosa 28; +34 9 1622 5831 . Dubai, U.A.E.: Dubai Cat Cafe, Jumeirah, Dubai; +971 50 115 4287 . Melbourne, Australia: Cat Cafe Melbourne, 375 Queen Street (opening soon) | Cat cafes started in Taiwan, but really took off in Japan, where there are now reportedly 150 .
New openings this year include cafes in London, New York and Melbourne, Australia .
London cat cafe now fully booked until October 2014 . |
266,163 | e4bedd6abc82b2dd3a96d0987c426ac473be5191 | This is the moment an irate taxi driver makes a citizen's arrest after a woman tried to flee his cab without paying her £25 fare. The brazen woman refused to pay driver Phillip Williams at the end of her 15-mile journey, leaving him with no choice but to restrain her while pleading for passers-by to call the police. The 10-minute altercation was captured on film and shows the angry driver holding the woman's arm in Dudley town centre, West Midlands, and shouting: 'She owes me £25 taxi fare, can someone call the police please.' But rather than help the distressed driver, passers-by confronted him and ordered him to let her go. Footage shows the woman struggling with the man, kicking his car door and grabbing his face as she tried to escape his grip. Scroll down for video . Citizen's arrest: Taxi driver Phillip Williams tries to restrain the 19-year-old woman who tried to dodge a £25 fare and calls for members of the public walking by to help him by calling the police... ...but instead of rushing to his aid the crowd turn on him for holding the woman, with only one elderly lady (right) showing support by asking gathered passers-by whether they will pay the £25 fare if he lets her go . Restrained: Passers-by filmed Mr Williams as he held onto the non-paying passenger . Struggle: The woman pushed and shoved at Mr Williams as he tried to restrain her in a citizen's arrest . The 58-year-old driver who works for Star Cars and Coaches in Erdington, Birmingham, can be heard in the video saying to the woman: 'Show me identification and I'll let you go. All I am asking for is a name and address and I will let you go.' The only support he seems to get is from an elderly woman who asked the crowd of about 50 people which had gathered around him whether they would be prepared to lose the money. She said: 'If he lets her go will you pay her taxi fare? If she owed you money would you let her do one? 'If she owes him money she has got to pay him. How can she have a taxi and not pay?' But after being closed in by the mob, the self-employed driver was forced to let the woman go and was left out of pocket. Footage of the incident, which happened on July 4, has gone viral on Facebook, causing Mr Williams to receive more than 2,000 messages of support saying he was right to apprehend the woman. The 19-year-old passenger, who is not being named publically, had told the driver . she had an exam and needed to get to Dudley Library as quickly as . possible when Phillip picked her up from her home in Erdington, . Birmingham at 2pm. When they arrived she told him she needed to go inside to get the money, which sparked his suspicion. Mr Williams went in with her, fearing she would flee without . paying. She then confessed she didn't have the money and asked him to . drive her to a cash point. But as they arrived at the town centre cashpoint she tried to run, so Mr Williams jumped out to restrain her. Out of pocket: Self-employed Mr Williams has been left short by the incident after it caused him to miss another fare . Today, the father-of-four from Aston, Birmingham, said: 'I grabbed her because she tried to run off. I asked her to give me her name and address but she started screaming blue murder and next thing there were about 50 people videoing me and taking photos. 'I was restraining her and asked if someone could call the police and help me out but no one did. 'One man was insisting I had to let her go and threatened to call the police on me for assault. I thought I was doing the right thing just by restraining her. 'I am an honest man trying to earn a living. It is hard enough in the taxi game now - it is very competitive. 'She said she'd give me her details so I let her go and she ran off. '£25 is a big fare. I can't let people run off without paying. You could not go into Asda and spend £25 on food and not pay. It is not acceptable.It comes straight out my pocket. 'I did not do anything wrong. I lost two hours that day and missed another fare.' The woman has since been identified, been made to pay the fare and banned from using the taxi firm. Mr Williams added: 'We all do foolish things when we are young but people need to know they can't do this to taxi drivers. 'I've been driving 23-years and it's not the first time this has happened and I am sure it won't be the last. Experienced: The father-of-four has been driving taxis for 23 years and has seen several people 'do a runner' Taxi company: Stars Cars and Coaches said it would expect any of its drivers to behave in the same way if someone tried to jump a fare . 'She has since apologised so that is the end of it. I am surprised at how much interest this has generated but it is nice to know people are on my side.' Martin Walker, operations manager of Star Cars & Coaches, said: 'The footage is concerning when you see it because you don't know the full circumstances of what's occurred. When you understand the full circumstances your realise the pressure the driver was under at the time. 'In that situation he was surrounding by members of the public filming him and it was an exasperating position to be in. It is not a nice video to watch. 'At the end of the day it is a happy resolution and nice to know there are so many people on the driver's side. I would expect any of our drivers to react that way.' A spokesman for the firm added: 'This passenger booked a vehicle and did a runner. It was a £25 fare - it was not a short journey. 'It has created such a big thing. It happens every day of the week. It is wrong. It is classed as milking. 'All the older people who are in the video know it is wrong, whereas all the younger ones are on her side.' Mr Williams decided not to press charges after he received his fare. Dudley Police tweeted last week: 'The taxi fair was paid for in the end and local officers have spoken to women and have reassured the taxi driver.' (sic) A spokesperson for West Midlands Police added: 'The taxi fare was paid and there was no prosecution against the girl.' | Phillip Williams restrained the woman, 19, after she tried to jump a £25 fare .
But taxi driver, 58, was confronted by passers-by who said let her go . |
40,973 | 7383ec9f39b531d47f61d9ca7d98ad1395480c25 | Police have identified the mother of 'Baby Hope', a little girl whose body was found dumped in a cooler off a New York highway more than two decades ago. NYPD cold case detectives had renewed their investigation this summer after highway workers in 1991 found the child, believed to be between . three and five years old, tied with rope . and squeezed into a picnic cooler beneath full cans of Coca-Cola, off the Henry Hudson Parkway. New information was revealed today after authorities received a tip from a woman who believes she knows the sister of 'Baby Hope'. Scroll down for video . Missing: Police recently handed out this poster. The first picture is a current, age-progression sketch of Baby Hope, the second is the sketch released in 1991, and the third photo is of the cooler which the child was found inside . Write caption he . Grisly discovery: The cooler containing Baby Hope was found in Washington Heights, on an embankment off the Henry Hudson Parkway . Police have conducted follow-up interviews and confirmed the mother's identity using scientific evidence, a source told the New York Times. No names were being released as the case remains a murder investigation and no charges have been brought so far. In . July, around the 22nd anniversary of the unsolved case, police . circulated the neighborhood around Dyckman Street in Washington Heights . near the wooded area where the child was found, speaking to residents . and offering a $12,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest . and conviction. The little girl had been malnourished and tests showed she had endured sexual abuse and she died of asphyxia. She was naked except for a hair-tie with yellow plastic baubles on it. She had black hair and was white, possibly Hispanic. The child was badly decomposed, making . her facial features unrecognizable, and no one came forward to claim . her. No one had filed a missing persons report and there were very few . clues. According to police sources on Monday, someone called the tip line in July claiming to have spoken to a woman whose sister had been killed. Hopeful: Locals examine a poster put up by police in July 2013 in the area where Baby Hope was found in New York City . Outpouring: (Left) The gravesite of Baby Hope, paid for by the NYPD's 34th Precinct and (right) a sketch of what Baby Hope may have looked like . Even for hardened New York City cops, the case was a sad and grisly one. Detectives named the girl 'Baby Hope', in the hope that someone would come forward and help them find out who she was and what happened to her. Two years after her discovery, Baby Hope was buried in St Hamond's ceremony. The police of the 34th Precinct pooled their money and paid for her gravestone. She was buried in a white communion dress. Years passed, and still no one came forward. In 2007, Baby Hope's body was exhumed to try and extract a DNA sample, but her bones were in such bad condition it was impossible. A second attempt in 2011, using improved technology yielded a complete DNA profile, and police immediately ran a check on all their convicted felon and missing persons databases but came up empty-handed. Changing neighborhood: Washington Heights has one of the lowest crime rates in Manhattan, but in the '80s and early '90s, when Baby Hope was killed, the area was deeply affected by a crack cocaine epidemic and gang activity . 'It's hard for me to believe that nobody knows who she is,' Detective Joseph Neenan told The New York Times in 1991. The officer in charge of the case, he was accustomed to searching for missing persons. 'We have the opposite,' he said. 'We have her. We don't know who she is.' Now, 22 years later, Detective Robert Dewhurst echoes him: . 'I feel somebody knows who this girl was,' he told the New York Daily News. Hope: Police canvass the neighborhood in Washington Heights where the little girl's body was found 22 years ago . Perhaps Baby Hope 'had little girlfriends that are grown now and know something wasn’t right on the block when she was gone'. 'Everything about this case is already out there,' Sergeant Carlos Nieves, a police spokesman, told The New York Times. “They’re hoping that somebody who hasn’t come out sees this.' At the time of Baby Hope's death in 1991, Washington Heights was in the thrall of a crack cocaine epidemic and the area was known for gangs and violence. Now, it has one of the lowest crime rates in Manhattan and families with young children walk the streets with impunity. There are a lot of new faces, but police are optimistic that some of the older members of the community remember the case of Baby Hope. | Girl was found dead in a picnic cooler off a Manhattan freeway in 1991 .
The child had been starved, sexually abused and suffocated to death .
She was never reported missing and no one came forward with any leads as to her identity . |
78,409 | de3ba4e29501a10effcbb5a61e7b9c0ab3721669 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 11:23 EST, 6 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:56 EST, 6 April 2012 . A police officer accused of Tasering to death a black ex-Marine is due to appear before a court in a separate $10million racism and brutality case. Anthony Carelli is accused of attacking Kenneth Chamberlain Sr, 67, after he accidentally triggered a medical alert in his sleep. The former marine was shot by a stun gun and beanbag guns as officers arrived at his apartment in White Plains, New York. He died the same day. Accused: Anthony Carelli who is accused of Tasering to death a black ex-Marine is also facing court in a brutality and racism case . Battered: The injuries Jereis Hatter allegedly suffered as he was 'beaten' by police . Tasered: Kenneth Chamberlain, pictured in his days as a Marine, was allegedly unarmed when he was shot by police . Carelli is also one of six police officers accused of beating two brothers as they were arrested - and describing them as 'rag heads' in 2008, the New York Post reported. Jerry Hatter, who is of Jordanian descent, was left with a black eye after allegedly being beaten by officers in 2008. His brother Salameh Hatter was also attacked. The brutality case - unrelated to the death of Kenneth Chamberlain Snr - is due to go before a court on April 23. The brothers claim they were handcuffed to a pole in a police station and beaten with batons. Although no criminal charges were ever brought, the pair are taking action in the civil courts. The pair claim they did not resist arrest. As it was revealed that Carelli is to appear in court, union officials called for him to . get a fair hearing over the death of Mr Chamberlain Snr who was shot in . the early hours of November 19. Police had withheld Carelli's name since he fired the shots last autumn. He now faces an anxious wait to see if he will be indicted by a grand jury over the shooting. Kenneth Chamberlain's son Kenneth Jnr told the New York Daily News: 'I’m for (Officer) Carelli getting a fair hearing. 'Let the facts speak for themselves. But did my father get a fair hearing? No, he (Carelli) played judge and . executioner right then and there.” The victim, who had also worked as a correction officer, died in hospital hours after he was Tasered. At . first officers said the shooting was 'justified' as self-defence . because the 'deranged' victim had first attacked officers with a hatchet . and knife. But, four months later, a grand jury is now being convened to look into alleged inconsistencies in the record of the involved officers' version of events. Victim: Kenneth Chamberlain Sr, 67, who was shot twice with a Taser by officer Carelli . This is because fresh evidence, in the form of a recording from medical alert company LifeAid purporting to reveal everything said inside the apartment, has come to light. Two videos which capture some of the incident, from a building security camera and also attached to a stun gun used by the police, have also emerged. Lawyers for Chamberlain's son, Kenneth Jr, say police were called to the sleeping 68-year-old's housing project home in the early hours of the morning. He had accidentally triggered his LifeAid pendant and then failed to respond to calls. On arrival he told officers banging on . his door they were not needed. But they heard banging come from the . apartment and thought someone could be in serious danger. An hour-long stand-off ensued and he became more agitated as he saw armed police arriving. On . the recording an officer is apparently heard screaming 'I don't give a . f*** n*****, open the door', a second yells 'I need to use your bathroom . to pee', while others taunted him about his military background. Claims: A chronically ill heart patient died after police officers - called to deal with a medical emergency - burst into his home and Tasered him twice in the chest (file picture) On one of the videos, police are . shown prying part of the door open. A metal object, which could be what . police thought was a hatchet, slips through the gap and falls in the . hallway. They remove the . hinges to the door and, on entering the flat, see Chamberlain standing . in his boxer shorts, with his arms at his side and hands empty. Family lawyer Mayo Bartlett, a former . Westchester assistant district attorney, told the New York Daily News: . 'The minute they got in the house, they didn’t even give him one . command. 'They never mentioned 'putyour hands up.' They never told him to lay down on the bed. The first thing they did . ... you could see the Taser light up ... and you could see it going . directly toward him.' Uproar: The case is similar, some say, to the killing of Trayvon Martin (left) by George Zimmerman (right) which sparked outrage because the latter has never been arrested . Almost 200,000 people have signed an online petition demanding justice in the case. Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore confirmed a grand jury will begin hearing evidence in the case this month. The outrage follows the shooting of black teen Trayvon Martin, 17, who was gunned down by neighbourhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, 28, in February. Zimmerman claims he acted in self-defence after being sucker-punched by the teen in a gated community in Sanford, Florida. The fact Zimmerman was never arrested has sparked outrage across the country and roiled race relations. Tens of thousands of protesters have marched at rallies across the U.S. Confusion now surrounds exactly what happened - with details emerging of the gunman's criminal past, and Trayvon's history of truancy, drugs and graffiti. | Anthony Carelli accused of killing Kenneth Chamberlain Sr, 68, who was allegedly shot by stun and beanbag guns .
Officer to appear before a judge in a police brutality case .
Officers claimed 'self-defence' as he was 'deranged' and 'waving hatchet'
But new evidence claims he was unarmed and racially taunted by police .
Grand Jury convened over 'alleged inconsistencies' over police reports . |
118,772 | 255e4643a15fce097b60d586a6bc35f30aa9bf6a | BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Iraq's government has authorized Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to submit to Washington amendments to a draft security agreement with the United States, an Iraqi government spokesman said Tuesday. Students protest the status-of-forces agreement Tuesday at Baghdad's Mustansiriya University. Ali al-Dabbagh said the Iraqi government approved several amendments that were "necessary, essential and appropriate" to the draft status-of-forces agreement, which would set the terms for U.S. troops in Iraq after the United Nations mandate on their presence expires at the end of this year. "The Iraqi government authorizes the prime minister to bring up these amendments to the U.S. side in order to reach a draft agreement that will preserve the fundamental principles and the sovereignty of Iraq and its high interests," al-Dabbagh said. It is unclear when al-Maliki will submit the changes to the draft document. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates recently said that there was "great reluctance" to make any more changes to the agreement. However, senior U.S. officials -- speaking under the condition of anonymity -- are not ruling out possibly renegotiating parts of the deal with Iraq if the country's parliament does not approve it. The most vocal opponent of the draft security deal in Iraq has been the political party of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, which opposes any U.S. military presence in Iraq. U.S. military helicopters Tuesday flew over Baghdad's Mustansiriya University, where hundreds of students took part in a demonstration organized by the Sadr movement against the status-of-forces deal. "We are against this agreement between the Iraqi government and between the American government because it is against Iraqi sovereignty," said law student Ahmed Fadhil Abbas, one of the demonstrators. Fellow demonstrator and law student Hisham Mohammed said the students plan to organize a sit-in and a strike across universities in Iraq to protest the agreement. The draft status-of-forces agreement, according to a copy obtained by CNN, calls for U.S. combat troops to be out of Iraqi cities and villages by July 30, 2009, and out of the country entirely by December 31, 2011. The agreement allows for an earlier withdrawal or an extension of the U.S. forces' stay in Iraq, by agreement of both parties. It also allows the Iraqi government to ask "the United States government to leave certain forces for training and for support purposes for the Iraqi forces." Legal jurisdiction over U.S. forces in Iraq has been a sticking point in the negotiation, with the U.S. side preferring that its troops and contractors remain immune from Iraqi law. Baghdad had sought the power to arrest and try Americans accused of crimes not related to official military operations, plus jurisdiction over troops and contractors who commit major crimes in the course of their duties. Under the draft agreement, U.S. forces or contractors who commit "major and premeditated murders" while off duty and outside U.S. facilities would fall under Iraqi jurisdiction, according to the copy obtained by CNN. All other crimes -- and murders committed inside U.S. facilities or by on-duty forces -- would fall under American jurisdiction, the agreement says. | Official calls changes "necessary, essential and appropriate" to the draft agreement .
Status-of-forces pact would set terms for U.S. troops in Iraq after U.N. mandate ends .
U.S. has shown "great reluctance" to change pact but hasn't ruled out renegotiations .
Hundreds of students protest status-of-forces deal Tuesday at university in Baghdad . |
209,603 | 9b6ea998f4f4045d41eb8cdf5f9fd5c8333fe6c9 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 06:58 EST, 3 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:02 EST, 3 August 2013 . They say Britannia rules the waves but this photograph shows it rules the skies too. Clouds gathered in the shape of the United Kingdom the day after the future king Prince George was born. Patriotic: This cloud in the shape of the United Kingdom appeared in the sky the day after Prince George was born . The formation was captured by . 23-year-old Amy Abrams, who pulled over to take a photograph on her . iPhone after spotting the unusual clouds while driving with her mother. Lucky: Amy Abrams spotted the unusual cloud formation above Coventry . The shape stayed in the skies above Coundon, in Coventry, for around a minute before drifting apart. The education assistant, who works at Coventry Transport Museum, posted the image on Twitter, describing it as 'Coventry's little present for the new Prince perhaps'. Miss Abrams had been in the car when she saw the cloud shape at around 2.30pm on July 23. She said: 'It was like a gift from the Gods. I think it was very fitting considered that we had just been blessed with a future king of the country. 'I had to do a double take when I saw it, I thought that looks amazing. 'I couldn’t believe it and my friends and family really love the picture. 'It made me quite proud to be British.' | Amy Abrams, 23, took a picture of the unusual cloud on her iPhone . |
56,560 | a045991385fe94abefe6c829c0267742aa4a960f | (CNN) -- The woman who accused three Duke University lacrosse players of rape five years ago was arrested Sunday, suspected of stabbing her boyfriend, police said. Officers responding to a call early Sunday about a stabbing at an apartment in Durham, North Carolina, found a 46-year-old man who had been stabbed in the torso, police said. He was taken to Duke University Hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Officers later arrested the man's girlfriend, Crystal Mangum, 32, at a nearby apartment. She was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury, police said. Mangum was placed in the Durham County Jail without bond. Officers said the stabbing occurred during an argument at the couple's shared apartment. In March 2006, Mangum claimed to have been sexually assaulted by three players on the Duke lacrosse team while performing as a stripper for a team party. North Carolina's attorney general later found no credible evidence that the attacks ever occurred and the charges were dropped. The scandal, however, forced the cancellation of the men's lacrosse season that year and the resignation of team coach Mike Pressler. It also led to widespread criticism of Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong, who was later disbarred for his handling of the case. Mangum was arrested in February 2010 on attempted murder charges after a fight with her then-boyfriend. She was also accused of arson, identity theft and resisting arrest, among other charges. CNN affiliate WTVD-TV reported the arrest happened after she set fire to a pile of the boyfriend's clothes while her children were at home. In a June 2010 interview with the station, Mangum said her boyfriend had attacked her, and that her involvement in the Duke lacrosse case had influenced police handling of the case. "I do feel that I am being unjustly treated because of preconceived notions about my character in the media," Mangum said at the time. In December, a jury found Mangum guilty of child abuse in the case but could not agree on a first-degree felony arson charge, which could have resulted in a seven-year sentence, WTVD reported. | Police charge Crystal Mangum with assault with a deadly weapon .
Mangum is being held in Durham County Jail in North Carolina .
Five years ago, Mangum claimed three Duke lacrosse players raped her .
Authorities later found no evidence the attacks occurred and charges were dropped . |
258,979 | db2f147fe8850e26cf86287f0f0efe97e80b66d3 | By . Mario Ledwith . PUBLISHED: . 11:24 EST, 17 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:15 EST, 18 January 2013 . The idea is simple - destroy as much as possible. Welcome to the Rage Room, where those with something on their chest can go to lighten their load. Developed by two Serbian teenagers, customers are handed a baseball and hardhat, before unleashing on lamps, beds, tables and any other unfortunate piece of furniture. Scroll down for video . Preparing for battle: A customer grips a baseball bat at the Rage Room, in Novi Sad, Serbia, opened by two Serbian teenagers . Off his chest: The customer, wearing obligatory hardhat, protective gloves and glasses, begins his $6 session . The Rage Room has drawn a flurry of . attention since it opened in the northern Serbian . city of Novi Sad in October, where two decades of war, political . crisis and economic hardship have driven many people over the edge. The teenage proprietors were inspired by a similar 'Anger Room' in . Dallas, Texas, who thought a Serbian version would be a surefire way to make money. The Dallas version costs up to $75 per . session and has an array of objects to destroy, including computers and . office furniture. But the Serbian alternative, housed in a refurbished . garage, is much more basic. For $6 customers, who are required to wear protective gloves, glasses and a helmet, can smash a coat-rack, chair, bookshelf, . and other items such as framed photographs, empty cans and plastic . containers. After the destruction, they get to unwind with relaxing music, leaving the clean-up to . staff. Turned to rubble: The Rage Room's proprietors were inspired by a similar venture in Dallas, Texas . Mess: The Rage Room, is housed in a former garage, and customer usually spend five minutes completing their destruction . 'On average, we have one person a day, . enough to keep us going,' says Nikola Pausic, an 18-year-old who runs . the room with a friend. 'Dozens have come so far, people of all ages.' He said that visitors, who have included a number of women, usually need about five minutes to destroy . everything inside. While it may be an easy way to let off . steam, experts warn that projects like this are no replacement for . anger management therapy. Sanja Marjanovic, a psychologist from . Belgrade, said that modern science looks for ways to control . frustrations before they explode into full-blown rage. She explained . that 'venting anger does give you an immediate sense of relief but in . the long run, one becomes accustomed to feeling angry'. Preparation: Nikola Pausic, who runs the company with a friend, arranges furniture and other household items before a demolishing session begins . Medically untested: A sign advertising the Rage Room. After the session customers are given a CD that includes information about professional therapists and how to contact them . 'In a stressful situation, one can . count to ten, or take calm, deep breaths. It's much more . useful to practice yoga.' Pausic said each visitor must sign a . document that includes a clause saying the Rage Room does not aspire to . offer medical assistance. After the session is over, . customers are given a CD that includes information about professional . therapists and how to contact them. After his session, panting customer Savo Duvnjak, 18, says: 'This feels so good!' He adds: 'I feel I let go of all my negative energy. This last year was a tough one and I wanted to end it with a bang.' He said the session helped to take . off some of the pressure that had built up in his studies - adding that . many of his friends felt the same way. 'This is better than getting into a fight,' he concluded. | Venture developed by two Serbian teenagers as a way to make money .
For $6 a session customers can destroy an entire room with a baseball bat .
Visitors usually take five minutes to break all of the furniture before unwinding with relaxing music . |
41,934 | 76430887f0902605aa6a9172f6d787166c82ef63 | Since she was a baby, Danielle Sheehan has suffered painful bouts of eczema. As a child the debilitating condition subsided. But four years ago red patches returned on her arms and around her eyes. The model and dancer's self-esteem crumbled. She stopped booking photo shoots at work and refused to see her boyfriend during flare ups. The eczema around her eyes was aggravated by moisture, becoming particularly painful when she cried. She visited her doctor time and time again, trying tablets, creams, lotions and other remedies. But to no avail. The painful patches persisted, making Miss Sheehan's life a misery. A year ago the 24-year-old visited a cosmetic surgeon to have Botox, curious to see the cosmetic benefits. Scroll down for video . Danielle Sheehan, 24, from Suffolk has suffered painful bouts of eczema since she was a baby. After trying countless treatments including creams, ointments and light therapy she was shocked when Botox appeared to cure the skin condition . The model and dancer said she first had Botox, for purely cosmetic reasons, around 18 months ago. Her eczema was aggravated when she cried, with painful patches around her eyes. But five days after having the cosmetic procedure she noticed the patches had completely cleared up . Not only did the treatment leave her forehead and face without trace of any lines, the procedure appeared to clear up her eczema. Miss Sheehan, from Lowestoft in Suffolk, told MailOnline: 'I've always suffered from eczema, ever since I can remember. 'During my childhood it seemed to get a bit better but then, about four years ago it came back. 'I developed symmetrical patches in the creases of both arms, and then patches around my eyes as well. 'I obviously went to the doctors and tried literally everything - tablets, creams - everything. 'Nothing was working, even three months of light therapy treatment failed to make any difference. 'My self-esteem and confidence was really bad, it dragged me down. Eczema is a dry skin condition. Also known as dermatitis, it is highly individual, and varies from person to person. In mild cases the skin is dry, scaly, red and itchy. In more severe cases there may be weeping, crusting and bleeding. In the UK, one if five children and one in 12 adults have the condition. Keeping the skin moisturised using emollients (medical moisturisers) is key to managing all types of the conditon. Topical steroids are commonly used to bring flare ups under control. Source: National Eczema Society . 'I'm a model and a dancer and so my work really suffered. 'I stopped booking photo shoots, my eyes were so bad I didn't want to see my boyfriend and I used to have to put socks on my hands at night to stop me scratching. 'It had a huge impact on my life.' A year-and-a-half ago Miss Sheehan first had Botox. 'It wasn't something I was doing to actively help my eczema,' she explained. 'I was going along for purely cosmetic reasons.' Shortly after her treatment, Miss Sheehan discovered her then boyfriend had been cheating on her. 'I cried and cried, longer than ever before,' she said. But a day later, around five days after her Botox, Miss Sheehan said her mother was shocked at how fresh faced her daughter looked despite crying so much. 'By then the Botox had started to work,' she told MailOnline. 'It often takes five to seven days. 'My mum was really shocked, I was fresh faced. There was no sign of the red, angry patches of eczema that would flare up after I had been crying.' Miss Sheehan said told MailOnline her eczema was so bad she would cancel work and stop seeing her boyfriend, suffering low self-esteem . Almost overnight her confidence returned, as her eczema disappeared. 'I can't really describe it,' she said. 'It felt amazing. All of a sudden I felt good again. 'For the first time in years I liked how I looked, I liked what I saw in the mirror. 'It was so good. I told my surgeon and she said there is some research to suggest Botox is good for eczema.' Botox is used to help treat a number of different medical conditions. It has been found to help overactive bladder symptoms - the strong need to urinate with incontinence, prevent headaches in those suffering chronic migrane. She said almost overnight her confidence returned. 'For the first time in years, I liked how I looked,' she told MailOnline . It has also been found to help treat increased muscle stiffness in the elbow, wrist and finger muscles, as well as abnormal head positions and neck pain as a result of cervical dystonia. And research has found Botox can help treat eye muscle conditions, including the abnormal spasm of the eyelid in those aged over 12. In 2012, a study published by scientists at Edinburgh University, found Botox may be able to resolve itchy skin and eczema. A female patient who suffered itchy skin on her arms and torso for more than a decade experienced a dramatic reduction in her symptoms following Botox injections to the areas affected. The positive effects of the procedure were noted for a period of six months. Indeed, Miss Sheehan said she has had repeated bouts of the treatment since realising it has proved effective. She urged scientists to invest more time in researching Botox as a cure for the skin condition, in the hope it could be used as a treatment on the NHS in future. 'At £300 a go, it is pretty expensive,' she told MailOnline. 'But it works. I think it should be available free of charge to those people with really bad eczema. 'Obviously I like the cosmetic effects but my eczema is the reason I have Botox now. 'The results are really amazing. Literally everyone says how fresh faced I look now. 'My eczema used to really drag me down but now it's gone. For the first time in a really long time, I like the way I look.' It is thought Botox helps relieve the itchiness caused by eczema in the same way it treats wrinkles. The drug inhibits acetylcholine, a chemical that helps notify the muscles to contract. | Danielle Sheehan has suffered eczema since she was a baby .
It disappeared during her childhood but returned when she was about 20 .
When she was 20 the patches returned on around her eyes and on arms .
She tried everything doctors suggested including creams, tablets, lotions, other natural remedies and light therapy but nothing worked .
18 months ago she had Botox for the first time for cosmetic reasons .
Around five days later she noticed her eczema had suddenly cleared up . |
280,643 | f7951d617bc5d61e8a0ae46576a201536e772139 | By . Brian Viner . One of the BBC’s most familiar voices for four decades, James Alexander Gordon, is bowing out from reading the classified football results on radio after having his larynx removed. The 77-year-old has tantalised, delighted and disappointed listeners on Radio 2 and then Radio 5 Live but his voice is no longer strong enough to broadcast after surgery to treat throat cancer. The presenter - popularly known by his initials as JAG - joined the BBC in 1972 and went on to become one of the most recognisable voices on radio. Hanging up his mic: James Alexander Gordon is one of the most recognisable voices on radio . "It's with great sorrow that I have to give up the most exciting part of my career, the classified football results," said the 77-year-old Scot. "They have been my life." Edinburgh-born Gordon, whose delivery often made it possible for fans to predict the fortune of their team simply from the inflection, has often admitted he knows little about football other than the results. Just last year he said he had no plans whatsoever to step down from his role. 'I keep telling the BBC they will have to carry me out on a stretcher. I’ll die with the microphone in my hand,' he said in an interview. But the BBC said today that although his surgery was successful, 'sadly his voice is now not strong enough to broadcast'. Richard Burgess, head of BBC Radio Sport, said: 'This is desperately sad news for everyone at BBC Sport and we know our sadness will be shared by many millions of listeners. 'It’s not an exaggeration to say that Saturdays at 5pm will never be the same again without the warm, melodious sound of James’s voice just after the Sports Report theme on BBC Radio 5 Live. A voice which is, of course, recognised around the globe through the BBC World Service and a voice which embodies authority, clarity and charm. 'For so many of us, James has been a mainstay in our lives - a reassuring and reliable presence every week. He is a broadcasting legend.' Great voice: Gordon's inflection meant you knew exactly how your team had done . Affectionate: Popular presenter Mark Pougatch said Gordon was recognisble even to those disinterested . Mark Pougatch, presenter of 5 Live Sport, said: 'Even people who don’t really even like football knew who James was, even if they didn’t realise it. 'Such was James’s unique style of reading the classifieds, his wonderful inflections and stresses, that even non-believers of the sport knew the result after the home team’s score. 'Nobody else will be able to say ‘Wolverhampton Wanderers’ with quite such mellifluous tones. 'But enough of this ‘James’. To those of us lucky enough to work at BBC Radio Sport, he is JAG. 'And JAG is an institution, a legend and a gentleman all rolled into one.' Gordon, who contracted polio as a child and had to wear leg supports until his late teens, officially retired from the BBC many years ago but has continued as a freelancer. He joined the BBC as an announcer and newsreader after a career in music publishing. He began reading the results in 1974. | Football League predict that the 77-year-old relaid between 50-60,000 results during his four decades at the BBC . |
158,242 | 58995005fbbb9fe287fee2ca4e41abf5bb5f27d1 | (CNN) -- And now the saga of the Chilean miners -- at least a part of it -- may be about to make a detour to Graceland. Which may not be as bizarre a notion as it sounds. One of the 33 miners who endured more than two months trapped underground, and who was pulled to safety last week, is a devoted fan of the late Elvis Presley. Edison Pena, 34, speaks little English, according to his father. But there is an exception; he knows all the words to most of Presley's biggest hits. It was reported that Pena led Presley singalongs down below, to lift the miners' spirits and to help pass the long and lonely hours. His dad, waiting for all those weeks near the San Jose mine in Chile, fashioned a placard promising his son that, when he emerged from the ground, he would be "bigger than Elvis." So it is that Pena, when he feels up to it, may be embarking on a journey to Memphis, Tennessee, to set foot in the house where Presley lived. The people who run Presley's Graceland mansion have invited the miner to Presley's home. If he goes, he's likely to love it -- take the word of someone who has been a serial visitor to Graceland over the years. I can tell Mr. Pena that if he thought he needed sunglasses to protect his eyes from the light near the mine opening after those months in the dimness, he might do well to bring them along to Graceland with him, too. The place is a little garish. But it's pretty great. I highly recommend that he spend time standing at the entrance to the Jungle Room, the part of Graceland that best portrays Presley's playfulness. As the story goes, he purchased all of the room's eccentric furniture during one 30-minute shopping spree at a Memphis store called Donald's. He outfitted the room with chairs bearing the carved likenesses of animal faces; he had green shag carpeting nailed to the ceiling; he ordered a constantly dripping waterfall to be constructed on one wall -- in many ways the Jungle Room is the soul of Graceland. If Edison Pena pays close attention, there are all kinds of memories to take from that house. On visits over the years, I've jotted notations about Elvis' record collection (even Elvis had to listen to someone other than Elvis -- he had Dean Martin albums, a Peter, Paul and Mary LP, a copy of the once wildly popular "First Family" comedy album, featuring satires of the Kennedy family by impressionist Vaughn Meader); about his gas station credit card (from the Shell Oil Co., issued to "Mr. Elvis Presley," his name typed onto stiff white paper in those pre-plastic credit card days); about the only portrait Presley ever commissioned of himself (by artist Ralph Wolfe Cowan, showing Elvis dressed all in white, standing in clouds against a gold sky background. The framed portrait is an almost exact copy of an old Johnny Mathis album cover. Elvis reportedly saw that album cover, which was also painted by Cowan, and liked it so much that he ordered the same thing for himself). But, after all those awful days and nights trapped in the mine, the main thing that Pena might be justified in taking away from a trip to Graceland is a sense of the grand possibilities that life can offer, and the unexpected joy that may be waiting around the next corner. Elvis Presley wasn't always the man in the mansion; a poor kid from Tupelo, Mississippi, he had no inkling that he would ever end up in the lavish home in Memphis' Whitehaven neighborhood. If Pena should scarcely be able to comprehend that he has made it to Graceland ... well, that is a feeling that the owner of the house understood very well. Presley's friend George Klein (they went to Humes High School in Memphis together) once told me that in the years before Elvis' life turned dark and unhappy, the two of them would arrive giddily back at the mansion after a Saturday night on the town: "Often Elvis and I would be driving through the gates of Graceland, and he would say, 'God, George, do you believe this is real? Do you believe this has happened to me?' " It's a universal feeling, for those who are lucky. And right now, Edison Pena and his 32 fellow miners have a right to consider themselves among the luckiest people alive. See more opinion articles on topics in the news . Which brings us to a message from another singer, who found himself in Memphis one night just as his own young career was on the ascendancy. This was Bruce Springsteen. There is a story that he told from the stage, letting his audiences know about what had happened that night in the 1970s. Springsteen said he had gone to the gates of Graceland, just to look. He had seen a light in a window, and, on an impulse, had climbed over the wall and tried to approach the house. A security guard had stopped him. The guard had said that Presley was out of town, and had escorted Springsteen back to the street. This is a transcript of what Springsteen told a concert audience one night: . "Later on, I used to wonder what I would have said if I'd knocked on the door and if Elvis had come to the door, because it really wasn't Elvis I was goin' to see. But, it was like he came along, and whispered some dream in everybody's ear, and we all dreamed it. And maybe that's why we're here tonight, I don't know. "I remember later, when a friend of mine called to tell me that he'd died. It was so hard to understand how somebody whose music came in and took away so many people's loneliness, and gave so many people a reason and a sense of the possibilities of living, could have, in the end, died so tragically. "And I guess when you're alone, you ain't nothin' but alone." Yet just when a person feels most alone, comfort can somehow come to him. Edison Pena, who speaks little English, is said to have found sustenance in that Chilean mine, for him and for his colleagues, through the music of a man from Memphis he had never met. And if Pena does make it to Graceland, I hope there will be echoes, not just for him but for all 33, of something else that Bruce Springsteen said on that long-ago stage. He was about to sing his own slowed-down rendition of Presley's "Follow That Dream." He said to the audience: . "So, anyway, I'd like to do this song for you tonight, wishing you all the longest life, with the best of absolutely everything." The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Bob Greene. | Edison Pena kept his fellow trapped miners going with Elvis singalongs .
He's been invited to visit Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion .
Bob Greene says he won't be disappointed if he visits the over-the-top house .
He says Presley, who fought loneliness, left us music that helps people cope . |
18,575 | 34851c47ea09b33fb549469eb71fcc2ab8616dfa | Beijing (CNN) -- The Communist Party's 18th National Congress enters its second session Friday, a day after President Hu Jintao warned that a failure to deal with corruption could bring down the party and the state it controls. Hu spoke at a key meeting of top officials who will usher in a new set of leaders of the world's most populous nation. After a decade in power, Hu is expected to hand over the party's top job to Vice President Xi Jinping. "If we fail to handle this issue well, it could prove fatal to the party and even cause the collapse of the party and the fall of the state," Hu said of corruption during his speech at the start of the congress in the Great Hall of the People in the heart of the Chinese capital. China's next leader keeps Iowa close to his heart . His comments to a vast room of delegates stood out in light of the huge political scandal that has rocked the party this year. The controversy involved former high-flying politician Bo Xilai, who is under criminal investigation after being ousted from his posts and the party itself. He is accused of corruption, abuse of power and improper sexual relationships; official news reports have said Bo made "severe mistakes" related to the killing of a British businessman -- a crime for which Bo's wife was imprisoned -- and a diplomatic incident involving his former police chief in Chongqing. More than 2,200 delegates from across China gathered for the congress. They will select the 200-plus members of the party's Central Committee, who in turn appoint the Politburo and ultimately the all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee, the country's decision-makers. But most, if not all, of the outcomes are predetermined after a long period of secretive deal-making between party power brokers. 3 challenges for China's next leaders . The congress itself meets every five years. It is designed to assess the country's progress and set new directions. Every 10 years, it selects the new leadership. This year, the legacy of the Hu years is under the microscope. Under Hu and Premier Wen Jiabao, China's economy has continued to grow, lifting tens of millions of people out of poverty. China is now the world's second-biggest economy and closing fast on the United States. But there have been disappointments and discontent along the way, and Hu's much-vaunted "harmonious society" is showing signs of cracking. Read about what to expect in China-U.S. ties . Chinese leaders have endured a tumultuous year. The veil of secrecy around the party has been lifted, with reports of rifts and infighting. And the fall of Bo brought about China's biggest political scandal in decades. Bo, once party chief of the massive metropolis of Chongqing, is now in disgrace awaiting trial. His wife, Gu Kailai, is in prison, convicted of murdering a British business associate. As major Chinese leadership change begins, questions swirl . China is straddling many fault lines: a widening gap between rich and poor, rising unrest about issues like pollution and land seizures, and a slowing economy that some say is in need of serious reform. Another issue Hu's government has struggled to tackle during its decade in power is the discontent and unrest among Tibetans living under Chinese rule. Authorities were given a grim reminder on Wednesday of the disillusionment and desperation of many Tibetans in western areas of China after four people set themselves on fire to protest Chinese rule. One teenage Tibetan monk died and two were injured after self-immolating in a majority Tibetan region of Sichuan Province, said Penpa Tsering, a spokesman for the Tibetan parliament in exile in Dharamsala, India. And a 23-year-old Tibetan woman died a separate incident in Qinghai Province, Tsering said, citing unidentified people in Tibetan areas. Hu warns of corruption . | Party's national congress in second day .
Thousands of delegates in Beijing for key meeting .
It follows a year beset by scandal for the party .
Four Tibetans set themselves on fire, Tibetan government in exile says . |
42,781 | 78a47302b0ad6868610dae5e50b0b2cd535c9128 | By . Mia De Graaf for MailOnline . A Manchester United fan says his new £90 kit has been 'ruined' after his favourite player Adnan Januzaj switched squad numbers. Eight-year-old James Collins saved up his birthday money to buy the new United home shirt as soon as it hit shops last month. And he even paid to have the name of his idol Januzaj printed on the back and his squad number, 44, on the shorts. Scroll down for video . Devastated: James Collins, left, spent £93.20 on a shirt with the name of his favourite Manchester United player Adnan Januzaj, right, his number 44 when the new kit went on sale. But a month later, he swapped to 11 . But just a few weeks later, the young Belgian winger switched to number 11. The number was left vacant after Ryan Giggs' retirement at the end of last season. However, the club did not inform supporters of the planned change until Sunday, August 17 - exactly a month after the new home shirt had been released. Januzaj has played under number 44 for three years after joining the club as a 16-year-old. His young fan James has now refused to wear the Nike strip, which cost him £93.20 in total, fearing he may be teased about it. And despite pleas from his mother Cheryl, the club's Megastore have told him can't have a new shirt, as any printing is done at the shirt owner's risk. Mrs Collins, 45, has now hit out at the club saying they have let the boy down. The mother-of-three, who lives in Longsight, Greater Manchester, said: 'He's United mad. He has spent all summer at football camp and it's all he ever talks about. Dream dashed: James had spent months waiting to get his hands on the new kit but he says it is now 'ruined' 'He couldn't wait to get the new shirt and kept asking when I was ordering it. 'He'd only worn it two or three times when we found out he [Januzaj] had changed number. 'We emailed and asked them if he could change it and they said no because there was a disclaimer with all printing. 'A few weeks ago the club replaced a shirt where someone had spelt Rooney wrong. That was their error. 'Yet we have done nothing wrong and have been left out of pocket. If we had any idea it was going to change I would have made him wait rather than see him disappointed.' Last-minute change: Januzaj joined the club at 16 in 2011 and played under the number 44 until this summer . A short-sleeved home shirt from the Manchester United Megastore costs £42. But additional lettering costs £9.95. Mrs Collins also bought shorts, priced at £20, with an additional cost of £6 to print the number 44. And socks, which cost £12. She says the system needs to change as James is 'devastated'. 'James wanted the third kit as well but I've put a stop to that now. I'm not going to let him spend money on a shirt that could be out of date straight away.' However, a spokesman for the club insisted that notices were prominently displayed throughout the store making clear that squad numbers were not final until they are registered with the Premier League. | James Collins, 8, spent £93.20 saved from birthday money on new kit .
Personalised it with name of favourite player Januzaj and his number 44 .
But a month after kit went on sale, the club announced he is now number 11 .
Januzaj took the number after it was left vacant by now-retired Ryan Giggs .
The club's Megastore has refused to alter the now out-of-date shirt . |
277,999 | f425249ae6c7ffdec81126476289eef091c65969 | By . Ian Garland . PUBLISHED: . 10:39 EST, 2 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 02:34 EST, 13 June 2012 . Anti-smoking campaigner Duncan Bannatyne was among those targetted for abuse online . Pro-tobacco activists have been accused of harassing and threatening to kill health experts and anti-smoking campaigners - as the government considers banning branding on cigarette packets. The number of online attacks and hate campaigns has risen sharply, since the coalition began consulting experts about plain containers. Some websites have even called on followers to 'shoot' anti-smoking campaigners, listing businessman and Dragon's Den star Duncan Bannatyne among a list of targets. Mr Bannatyne, a former smoker, was named in an blog in March, alongside staff of Action and Smoking and Health (ASH) and Cancer Research UK. The article on freedom-2-choose.blogspot.co.uk also revealed the address of Ash's offices in London, Cardiff and Edinburgh, prompting staff to contact the police.It . It said: 'Snipers could soon snuff out . prohibitionists ... It is time the humble smoker fought back against . this intolerable persecution, for persecution is exactly what it is.' The website - which isn't connected to the campaign group Freedom2Choose - has since removed the article, claiming it was intended to be satirical. But those in favour of harsher regulation on tobacco products say it's not an isolated incident. Bath University has been forced to increase security for its tobacco control research group after staff began receiving threatening phone calls and emails. Group director Anna Gilmore says she received seven calls a day for two months after publishing an article about the illegal trade in smokeless tobacco. Conflict: The government is considering banning all branding on cigarette packets - angering smokers . Mrs Gilmore told The Guardian: 'The ones I answered were intimidatory; the tone was aggressive. Many of my team felt threatened and worried by this.' 'We've had abuse before, over the debate about banning smoking in public places, and I get some of this every time I publish a paper, but it's increasing...This is part of a deliberate attempt to misinform the public and politicians, denigrate our research and to harass, denigrate and undermine us as researchers.' When Stirling University's Linda Bauld published the paper that led to the Government consultation on plain packaging - she was bombarded with abuse. A pro-smoking blogger calling himself Frank Davis told her: 'You should start worrying when bricks start getting thrown through your window or messages daubed on your door.' He added that she should emigrate so she would be elsewhere 'when your old university department gets torched and your old colleagues are strung up from lamp-posts.' And said of Ash director Deborah Arnott: 'I'd have had a hard time preventing . myself from strangling Arnott on the spot and on camera, or bludgeoning . her to death with a microphone stand.' Liberal Democrat MP Stephen Williams, chair of Westminster's all party parliamentary group on smoking and health, has also been subjected to online abuse since he spoke out in favour of plain cigarette packs. Simon Clark, director of Freedom Organisation for the Right to Enjoy Smoking (Forest), has distanced the group from the online abuse. He said smokers had felt disenfranchised since the UK-wide ban on smoking in public places, but condemned the threats of violence. | Smokers encouraged to 'shoot' targets including anti-smoking campaigner Duncan Bannatyne .
Others subjected to abusive phone calls, emails . |
136,014 | 3bf97f7f86b8e61124c8a797aab2e01d95a934f0 | By . Hugo Duncan . PUBLISHED: . 19:06 EST, 12 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 01:56 EST, 13 October 2012 . The planned sale of 316 Royal Bank of Scotland branches to rival Santander collapsed last night in a ‘major blow’ to the state-backed lender. Troubled RBS – 83 per cent owned by the taxpayer after a £45billion bailout – has been working on the deal for two years as it battles to recover from the banking crisis. But Spanish buyer Santander has pulled the plug, blaming the poor quality of RBS’s IT systems, which crashed over the summer. Setback: Stephen Hester hailed the deal to sell branches 'an important milestone' The collapse of the £1.65billion deal . is another setback for RBS chief executive Stephen Hester, who has been . forced to sacrifice his bonus for the past two years. The bank is also braced for a large . penalty for its involvement in the Libor rate-rigging scandal that saw . rival Barclays fined £290million. When the deal to sell the 316 branches was agreed in 2010, Mr Hester hailed it as ‘an important milestone in our restructuring’. The disposals were ordered by the European Commission in return for the UK government’s rescue of RBS in 2008. Sources said the bank is confident a new deal can be reached before the EU deadline at the end of next year. Other potential buyers include Sir . Richard Branson’s Virgin Money – which took over Northern Rock – Tesco, . NBNK and Co-operative Bank, which recently bought more than 600 branches . from Lloyds Banking Group. It is thought RBS may even spin the branches off as a separate company and list them on the London Stock Exchange. 'Major blow': Spanish bank Santander pulled out on the deal to buy the branches, blaming RBS' poor quality IT systems . The collapse will throw into confusion the bank transfers of some 1.8million RBS customers. However a source insisted it was ‘business as usual’. Any customer already issued with a . credit or debit card or account number under the Santander brand will be . able to carry on using them as an existing customer of RBS, the bank . promised last night. It said it is ‘determined that the decision will have no impact on the service available to customers’. Mr Hester said: ‘I can assure all . affected customers that there will be no disruption to the service they . receive. It is business as usual in all of these branches, and customers . don’t need to take any action.’ He went on: ‘While this is a . profitable part of our business that we would rather not part with, RBS . has worked hard to ensure it is substantially separate from our UK . branch network and corporate business and largely ready to be taken on . by a new owner. Much of the heavy lifting associated . with a transfer has already been completed, including separating data . for customers and putting in place a standalone management team. ‘It is of course disappointing that . Santander decided to pull out of this transaction, especially for the . customers and staff involved. ‘However, RBS’s strong progress in our . restructuring plans means we can continue to provide a stable home for . this business and its customers pending a further resolution. RBS will . commence a new process of disposal and will provide a further update in . due course.’ The proposed deal, which involved the . sale of 310 RBS branches in England and Wales and six NatWest branches . in Scotland, has been fraught with problems and delays. The major sticking point has been the . compatibility of the RBS accounts with Santander’s computer systems. The . bank has a poor record in moving other banks’ customer to its own IT . system. Two years ago it bodged the transfer . of five million Alliance & Leicester customers acquired in a . takeover in 2008, and some customers were locked out of their accounts . for weeks. | Prospective buyer blames RBS's poor it system for pulling out of the deal . |
158,724 | 59381c2d78d7272e2e300887ea19ef3ddd207bc0 | A man's relaxing nightly shower sparked a horrific knife attack inside his own home, hospitalising him for four days with life-threatening injuries. Scott Hogan, 19, was stabbed twice in the back with a steak knife by his flatmate Matthew George Chandler, 21, in a 'spur-of-the-moment' attack on February 7 last year. Mr Chandler was reportedly fuming with Mr Hogan over his love of a long hot shower when the brutal incident occurred at their Southport unit on Queensland's Gold Coast. Unlikely attack: A man's relaxing nightly shower at his home in Southport on the Gold Coast, Queensland, turned violent . The court heard that after banging on the bathroom door of the Eugaree Street home to get Mr Hogan's attention, Mr Chandler shouted 'hurry up'. What began as a fairly common falling out between flatmates soon turned nasty. The court heard Mr Hogan first pulled out the knife when hustled out of the shower, confronting his flatmate and saying: 'Do you want some of this?'. Brutal: Scott Hogan, 19, was stabbed twice in the back with a steak knife by his flatmate Matthew George Chandler, 21, on 7 February last year at their Eugaree St home in Southport . The court heard Mr Chandler then battered Mr Hogan with a skateboard, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported. Another flatmate then pulled them apart. But later Mr Hogan charged at Mr Chandler in the kitchen and pinned him by his throat to the wall, Southport District Court heard on Tuesday. Mr Chandler grabbed a nearby steak knife and sunk it twice into Mr Hogan's back, leaving him with internal bleeding, the court was told. Mr Chandler admitted in court to stabbing his flatmate and pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm with a weapon. Barrister Alastair McDougall, who was representing Mr Chandler, explained: 'He’s very remorseful and his prospects of rehabilitation should be viewed as very good.' Judge Clive Wall sentenced him to two years probation and did not record a conviction. The housemates are no longer in contact. | Scott Hogan, 19, attacked after a fight over his evening shower .
Matthew George Chandler, 21, pulled out a knife in February last year .
Men shared a house together in Southport, on Queensland's Gold Coast . |
99,052 | 0b964fd32e90fbbcca7c6bea7684d855e67b9487 | Facing trial: Shrien Dewani arrives at Belmarsh Magistrates' Court to hear he can be extradited to South Africa to stand trial for his wife's murder . Shrien Dewani, the British man accused of murdering his wife on their honeymoon in South Africa, is likely to stand trial after a judge gave the go-ahead for his extradition. The millionaire Bristol businessman, 31, is accused of organising a car-jacking and shooting which left wife Anni, 28, dead in a Cape Town taxi last November. Dewani denies any involvement in the killing and had fought extradition proceedings, arguing that he is suffering from severe post-traumatic stress disorder and is too unwell to be extradited. His lawyers had claimed he was mentally ill and that extradition to face trial would be a violation of his human rights. But District Judge Howard Riddle ruled he can be sent to stand trial in South Africa although the final decision will rest with Home Secretary Theresa May. He said: 'The court must consider the strong public interest in honouring our extradition treaty'. Judge Riddle added he had 'no doubt' that Dewani is suffering from severe post-traumatic stress disorder and depression and is at high risk of suicide or self-harm. But he said he was satisfied he would receive the appropriate levels of mental health care at the hands of the South African authorities. Result: Anni Dewani's parents Vinod and Nilam Hindocha arrive at Woolwich Crown Court . He took more than two hours to read . out his judgment at Belmarsh Magistrates' Court in south east London, . beginning with evidence relating to the serious problems with . overcrowding, violence and sexual violence in South African jails. Murdered: Anni Dewani was killed on the second night of her honeymoon in Cape Town . He . said Dewani, whom he described as 'good-looking, youthful and . physically well-preserved', would be particularly vulnerable to sexual . abuse. He said: 'There has been some suggestion that he may be gay.' But although many South African prisons are ill-equipped to deal with the mentally ill and inmates are at high risk of contracting HIV or Aids, the judge said he was satisfied that Dewani would be held in one with a good level of facilities and be kept in a single cell. Wearing a dark blue sweatshirt and black . trousers, bearded Dewani sat in the dock and stared straight ahead at . the judge throughout the hearing. Members of his family were also in court. On February 20, Dewani, who has been staying at Fromeside Clinic, a secure mental health hospital in Bristol, was admitted to Bristol Royal Infirmary after taking an overdose, and was heard to have said 'I don't want to live'. The judge said he accepted psychiatric evidence that Dewani remains at high risk of suicide but added: 'I'm satisfied that authorities are alert to the possibility and will take appropriate steps to prevent that risk.' He added that Dewani is 'highly intelligent, an advantage not shared by many criminals in courts' and had shown awareness of developments in the country. 'He added: 'I have complete confidence in the South African system of justice.' The extradition proceedings began in May but were adjourned while a psychiatric report was completed. Shrien and Anni Dewani were ambushed by . car-jackers as they drove through a dangerous South African township. initially it appeared to be a random attack. Smiles: Anni and Shrien Dewani pose for a wedding photo with members of their family. He now looks set to be extradited to South Africa to face trial for her murder . The newlyweds were being chauffeured through the dangerous township of Gugulethu when their taxi was hijacked on November 13. Dewani was ejected while his wife was . driven off and shot dead. Her body was found the next morning in the . back of the abandoned cab. Taxi driver Zola Tongo, who has . admitted his part in the crime, claimed in a plea agreement with . prosecutors that Dewani ordered the car-jacking and paid for a hit on . his wife. Dewani denies any wrongdoing and his lawyers had argued he may not be safe if held in a South African prison. But police investigating Mrs Dewani's . murder soon developed a different theory centring on her husband, who . had escaped unharmed. | Home Secretary Theresa May to make final decision over Dewani's fate . |
160,848 | 5beeaf2f2f73b671b9ca5dd691c015cff182f92a | BEIJING, China (CNN) -- When we requested an interview with members of the Communist Youth League, I expected an army of suits with well-rehearsed answers. Instead, we met three students casually dressed in jeans, just 18 to 23 years old. Christina Zhang wants to be a linguistics teacher or professor. She plans to attend graduate school. The interview was arranged by the State Council Information Office, in advance of the upcoming 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Unlike many government-sanctioned shoots, it was not carefully choreographed or closely monitored. The students did arrive with a "minder" of sorts, but he was no older than them and didn't interrupt the conversation. We sat down for tea at Ritan Park in downtown Beijing. My questions seemed to be more sensitive than they expected, but the students remained poised and answered every one. All of the students are members of the Chinese Communist Party and the Communist Youth League, the same organization that launched the successful careers of Chinese President Hu Jintao and many of China's other top leaders. "I think Communism is an ideal state of society that everyone should pursue," said Natalie Chen, an 18-year-old freshman and finance major at Peking University's Guanghua School of Management. "In the Communist society, everything is fair in economics, in politics, in education. Everybody has equal opportunity and that's a great society." "Do you think everything is fair in China?" I asked Natalie. "At present I have to say no," she said. "But, we are of course making progress towards it." Watch Chang's interview with the students » . Young students like Chen are the future of the Chinese Communist Party, which now is the largest political party in the world with 75 million members. It has come a long way. In 1949, the Communist Party was a group of mostly revolutionary farmers, who came to power on the heels of civil war. See how China has changed over 60 years » . "The party was a rag tag organization you might say," said David Shambaugh, a visiting fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and political science professor at George Washington University. "They had no experience in ruling, but a lot of experience in fighting and they were faced with a number of problems of how to set up a government and run the country." The first three decades of Communist rule were tumultuous, marred by backward isolation and a destructive Cultural Revolution. However, the next 30 years transformed China from the inside out, with the implementation of new economic goals and gradual openness to the outside world. The Communist Party now is largely credited with delivering the country from isolation to economic prosperity. Despite this achievement, perhaps the party's most astounding achievement in 60 years is, quite simply, surviving as the one and only political party in a massive country. "To be adaptable and flexible is a path to survival," said Shambaugh. "So this has been a very adaptable, and I would argue, eclectic party, borrowing bits and pieces from different political systems all around the world and studying other political systems." Yet, in being so adaptable, analysts say the party has run the risk of having a lot of slogans and little substance. Slogans such as "the scientific mode of development," "socialism with Chinese characteristics," and "harmonious society" often cannot be explained by the average Chinese citizen. "These are all current slogans, but people are not really sure what they mean," Shambaugh said. Indeed some of the party's youngest members provided vague answers when asked for what exactly the Communist Party stands. "I think we have a goal," said 23-year-old Christina Zhang, an undergraduate in linguistics at Beijing Normal University. "That is to reach a harmonious society. That is our dream ... I believe we are sure to realize our dream." "We discuss science, we discuss thought, we discuss everything," added Lin De-yuan, a 23-year-old first-year graduate student in Marxist studies at the Chinese Youth University of Political Sciences. He also suggested I read "the book by Karl Marx," referring to the Communist Manifesto. China's younger generation has been criticized for caring too much about securing good jobs instead of about policy and politics. These days, it is widely regarded that many young people join the party, not because they share Communist ideals, but because it looks good on their resumes. Chen, Zhang and Lin denied joining the party for personal gain. Chen plans to become a banker or a politician, Zhang aspires to be a teacher and Lin dreams of becoming an NBA referee. However, they do acknowledge joining the party may have some benefits and some members actively use their party credentials to achieve certain career goals. "Admittedly, some people join the party with their own purpose of getting a good job, or getting a promotion," Chen said. "But that's why we are still having a fierce battle with corruption in the party." In fact, corruption is one of the biggest challenges the Communist Party will face in the years ahead. Young Communists like Chen, Zhang and Lin will be responsible for rising to these types of challenges and shaping the party's future. Their generation may determine whether the Communist Party is still China's one and only ruling party 60 years from now. | Unlike many government-sanctioned shoots, this one was not closely monitored .
Young students are the future of the Chinese Communist Party .
Youth have been criticized for caring too much about securing good jobs .
Analysts say the party runs the risk of having many slogans but little substance . |
8,051 | 16c6d19efcf4791bdbead4f663adff091c31693a | Devin Hester set an NFL record with his 20th return for a touchdown, breaking the mark he shared with Deion Sanders. Hester returned a punt 56 yards for a touchdown midway through the second quarter to give the Atlanta Falcons a stunning 35-0 lead over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Devin Hester returns a punt for his record-breaking touchdown as the Falcons routed the Buccaneers . Deion Sanders (left) was all smiles and congratulated Hester for breaking his long-standing record . Devin Hester 20 . Deion Sanders 19 . Rod Woodson 17 . Ronde Barber 14 . He took the punt at his own 44, found a seam up the middle, and zipped around the last man who had a shot at him, punter Michael Koenen. Hester high-stepped the last 20 yards or so, a hand behind his ear - the move that Sanders made famous during his Hall of Fame career. Sanders, now a television analyst, was covering the game and watched his record fall at the Georgia Dome, which he once proclaimed 'is my house.' | Hester returned a punt 56 yards for a touchdown midway through the second quarter .
Hester high-stepped the last 20 yards or so, a hand behind his ear - the move that Sanders made famous . |
107,661 | 16cf919065a81155894094425ff26d87d554bef7 | Hillary Rodham Clinton returned to Iowa for the first time since her failed 2008 presidential campaign on Sunday in an high-profile appearance that drove speculation about another White House bid into overdrive. The former New York senator and first lady did not directly address any potential campaign, but admitted she was ‘thinking about it.’ 'It's true, I am thinking about it. But today, that is not why I'm here. I'm here for the steak,' she joked. Scroll down for video . Hillary Rodham Clinton returned to Iowa for the first time since her failed 2008 presidential campaign on Sunday, but once again refused to confirm if she is planning to stand in 2016 race . 'I'm here for the steak': Former Sec. of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, former President Bill Clinton and U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin work the grill during Harkin's annual fundraising Steak Fry in Indianola, Iowa, on Sunday . 'Hello Iowa. I'm back!' Clinton declared as she took the podium at retiring Sen. Tom Harkin's annual steak fry fundraiser, a fixture on the political calendar in the home of the nation's first presidential caucus. Clinton joined her husband, former President Bill Clinton, in a tribute to Harkin that brought them before about 10,000 party activists who form the backbone of Iowa's presidential campaigns every four years. The couple arrived as anticipation builds over the possibility of another Hillary Clinton presidential campaign in 2014. She told Democrats that voters face a choice between ‘the guardians of gridlock’ and those who push for shared opportunity and prosperity. Later she said that 'too many people only get excited about presidential campaigns. Look - I get excited about presidential campaigns, too.' But she said the upcoming midterm elections would be pivotal for the state's voters. 'In just 50 days Iowans have a choice to make - a choice and a chance. A choice between the guardians of gridlock and the champions of shared opportunity and shared prosperity,' she said, urging voters to elect leaders who would 'carry on Tom Harkin's legacy of fighting for families.' The couple arrived at Sunday's event as anticipation builds over the possibility of another Hillary Clinton presidential campaign in 2014 . Both Bill and Hillary Clinton appeared at the Democrat campaign event which paid tribute to retiring Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin at his final steak fry fundraiser . Following a summertime book tour, Clinton was making her biggest campaign splash in 2014 so far, opening a fall of fundraising and campaigning for Democrats who are trying to maintain a Senate majority during President Barack Obama's final two years. The event also served as a farewell for Harkin, a liberal stalwart and former presidential candidate who is retiring after four decades in Congress. Obama defeated Clinton in the state's leadoff presidential caucuses in January 2008, and the former secretary of state has not returned since. Iowa Democrats said Clinton remained widely popular and predicted she would receive broad support if she chooses to run again. ‘Barack Obama was a phenomenon. He just was. I'll give him credit, he worked hard in Iowa, but so did she,’ Harkin said, when asked if Clinton would do things differently in Iowa if she runs in 2016. ‘I don't think she ran a bad campaign at all. I just think Obama was on a roll.’ The hotly-contested 2008 caucus created a record turnout of more than 239,000 Iowans, far above the 124,000 who participated in 2004. People walk by a bus with a message on it supporting former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the location for Senator Tom Harkin's 37th Steak Fry in Indianola, Iowa, on Sunday . Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton poses for a photo with a supporter at the 37th Harkin Steak Fry in Indianola, Iowa, on Sunday . The Clintons' arrival offered the possibility of a fresh start for the former New York senator and first lady, whose campaign stumbled in the months leading up to the caucuses. Anti-war activists opposed her vote to authorize the Iraq war in 2002 and coalesced around Obama, who had opposed the war as an Illinois state senator. Clinton was often insulated by a large entourage in a state where face-to-face retail politics has long been a hallmark of campaigns. Clinton, who has conferred with Iowa Democrats in recent days, would enter a presidential campaign with a large advantage over potential rivals. Early polls have shown her leading other Democrats by wide margins, including Vice President Joe Biden and Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley. Biden is traveling to Des Moines next week and has not closed the possibility of another campaign while O'Malley has made several visits to the state and dispatched staffers to Iowa this fall. Harkin's final steak fry was expected to be the largest since Hillary Clinton's last appearance in 2007, when she was joined by Obama, Biden and other Democrats running for president. Bill Clinton has appeared at the event three previous times. Clinton told Democrats that voters face a choice between ‘the guardians of gridlock’ and those who push for shared opportunity and prosperity. Hillary Rodham Clinton returned to Iowa for the first time since her failed 2008 presidential campaign, right, while husband Bill had sought Senator Harkin's support back in 1992, left . It was also serving as a pep rally as Democrats try to hold onto Harkin's seat. Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley faces Republican state Sen. Joni Ernst in one of the nation's most competitive Senate campaigns. Clinton is also expected to make the case for Staci Appel, a Democrat running in an open congressional seat against Republican David Young. No woman has ever been elected to Congress or governor in Iowa. Clinton has said she expects to decide on another campaign early next year. The Clintons were attending a private reception for Harkin at Principal Park, the home of Des Moines' minor league baseball team, before traveling to the hot-air balloon field where the senator has held the fundraiser since the early 1990s. The Clintons count Harkin and his wife, Ruth, as longtime friends. Harkin was a vocal supporter of Bill Clinton during the impeachment crisis and Hillary Clinton served alongside Harkin for nearly a decade. Bill Clinton faced Harkin in the 1992 presidential primaries but never competed in Iowa. The candidates bypassed the state because of the Iowa senator's role. Ready for Hillary, a super PAC laying the groundwork for a Clinton campaign, plans to be visible at the steak fry, handing out T-shirts and signing up volunteers. | Hillary Clinton returned to Iowa for the first time since her failed 2008 presidential campaign on Sunday .
High-profile appearance increased speculation about another White House bid, but she once again refused to confirm any plans to stand in 2016 .
'It's true, I am thinking about it. But today, that is not why I'm here. I'm here for the steak,' she joked .
Sunday's event paid tribute to retiring Iowa Senator Tom Harkin at his final steak fry fundraiser . |
102,500 | 1013c938ba5840f79f604d437e69eb2e10f3c9b7 | (CNN) -- Rep. Maxine Waters, D-California, who is under investigation by the House ethics committee, said Tuesday she has not been given due process and she "will not be a sacrificial lamb for anyone." The 10-term congresswoman is alleged to have helped steer federal bailout money to a bank in which her husband had a financial stake. In a radio interview with CNN contributor Roland S. Martin on the Tom Joyner Morning Show, Waters said she is "not guilty of any violations" and she "want[s] to go to trial." The House ethics committee released a report Monday detailing three counts against Waters and rejected her request for the charges to be dismissed. The 71-year-old Waters has been pushing the ethics panel to set a trial date before the midterm elections in November. But she told Martin Tuesday she doesn't expect that request to be granted. "That's one of the issues of not having due process. When in the heck are you going to set up this hearing? We are on break and we don't think it's going to be before the November election," she said. Waters, a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee, helped arrange a meeting in September, 2008, between Massachusetts-based OneUnited Bank and Treasury Department officials, according to ethics investigators. OneUnited Bank ultimately received $12 million in bailout funds. According to the report, Waters' husband owned almost 4,000 shares of OneUnited stock at the time of the meeting. The shares had declined in value from more than $350,000 in June to $175,000 at the end of September -- the height of the Wall Street financial crisis. Waters, according to a separate preliminary report, called then-Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson "and requested that Treasury Department officials meet with representatives from the National Bankers Association," an organization representing more than 100 minority-owned banks. "A meeting was in fact granted, however, the discussion at the meeting focused on a single bank -- OneUnited. Rep. Waters' husband had been a board member of the bank from 2004 to 2008 and, at the time of the meeting, was a stock holder of the bank," the report said. But Waters reiterated Tuesday that "the meeting was set up for NBA -- for all the minority bankers. Just like you have a representative for the chamber of commerce or for the Realtors, etc., that's what the meeting was for." She said Kevin Cohee, OneUnited's chairman and chief executive officer, spoke up at the meeting, "and said, 'I'm an example of what's happening with minority banks' and went on to try and make his case for the fact that OneUnited was losing $50 million that they had invested in Fannie Mae." "It just so happens that some of the officers -- at least one of the officers of OneUnited Bank -- happens to be the chairman of the NBA (National Bankers Association)," the congresswoman said. The report also states that Waters approached Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, D-Massachusetts, to say that she was "in a predicament because her husband had been involved in the bank, but 'OneUnited people' were coming to her for help." Waters, "according to (Frank) ... knew she should say no, but it bothered her. It was clear to (Frank) that this was a 'conflict of interest problem.'" Frank's advice to Waters, the report states, was to 'stay out of it.'" In the Tom Joyner Show interview Tuesday, Waters admitted she had spoken to Frank, but described the circumstances much differently than the report. "I didn't go to him for advice. I went to him and told him, 'These are your constituents. They are headquartered in your district and they are now trying to find TARP. We're representing the National Bankers Association,'" Waters said. "So then I said, 'Perhaps you need to take a look at this' and he said, 'Fine. Don't worry. You don't have anything to do with this. I will take care of it.' And, as a result of that, he started to work on it." she said. The report released Monday stated that Waters "agreed to refrain from advocating on behalf of OneUnited," but failed to instruct her chief of staff, Mikael Moore, from doing so. Following the September 9 meeting between Treasury and National Bankers Association officials, Moore "was actively involved in assisting OneUnited representatives with their request for capital from Treasury and crafting legislation to authorize Treasury to grant the request" for financial assistance, the report said. "Reasonable" people could construe Moore's "continued involvement in assisting OneUnited as the dispensing of special favors or privileges to OneUnited," the report concluded. Waters refuted that allegation as well Tuesday. "If you're going to wrap this all around creating these violations because I failed to supervise my staff, it doesn't hold water, they don't have any proof of that and I maintain that I want to go to trial or whatever they want to call it -- adjudicatory hearing -- because I think I don't deserve this," she said. Waters is the second high-ranking Democrat now facing a public ethics trial this fall. New York Rep. Charlie Rangel, the former chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, has been accused of 13 violations of House rules involving alleged financial wrongdoing and harming the credibility of Congress. The prospect of inquiries into the two high-profile Democrats has compounded the fears of congressional Democrats nervous about their prospects in mid-term elections in November. The growing likelihood of trials for Waters and Rangel also adds the explosive element of race to the political equation. Both representatives are leaders of the Congressional Black Caucus, and OneUnited Bank is one of the largest minority-owned banks in America. Waters alluded to race Tuesday on Joyner's show, which is broadcast over the Internet on BlackAmericaWeb.com. "The OCE (Office of Congressional Ethics) is poorly constructed. You don't know who is charging you with what or brought a claim against you or who brought the information to the OCE... of all the information claimed or accusations brought to them, they think that African-Americans are the only ones who they move further with investigation on," she said. CNN's Alan Silverleib contributed to this report . | Rep. Maxine Waters refutes allegations of ethical improprieties .
Waters has been charged with helping a bank linked to her husband .
Waters says she wants to go to trial .
She is one of two prominent African-American Congressional Democrats facing ethic charges . |
139,370 | 4032a28de5b81c042381172c699bb9b9a28e3bb1 | New York (CNN) -- Despite exceptional security ahead of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, many New Yorkers said they remain undaunted about the potential terror threat. While most were aware of the possibility of danger this weekend, many said they won't allow it to spoil the commemoration of those who lost their lives. "I've lived in New York 40 years," said M. Lou Benard, who works for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as an event planner and lives on the Upper West Side. "I'm not nervous. I don't believe the fear propaganda." "I won't let them win," Benard added. "Right after (the attacks) I was nervous, but now I can't let them win." Ten years ago Sunday, she was on her way to work in Midtown Manhattan. Benard came out of the Chambers Street subway entrance 10 minutes after the plane hit the North Tower at the World Trade Center. "I came out and saw the first tower on fire," she said. "I was in such a state of shock, I thought, who would do that?" Though she says the sight of police wielding automatic weapons makes her nervous, she's glad they're there. "It's good they are vigilant," Benard said. "While I was running away, those guys were running toward it." Lt. Michael Killeen of the New York City Fire Department's Engine Company 23 on W. 58th Street will never forget September 11. The engine company lost six men that day. Killeen takes the threats seriously -- "you'd be a fool if you didn't" -- but said that he and his fellow firefighters are in good spirits. They will hold a memorial Sunday at the firehouse. Across town in Queens, Shawn Foley -- a 33 year-old attorney who works in Manhattan -- says the terrorist threat has not changed his plans for the weekend. "There's so much, not just authorities, but regular people who are aware of (the recent terror threats)." Bill Parker, a researcher for a biotech research company who lives on Manhattan's Upper West Side, agrees that diligence on the part of authorities make him feel safe. "I'm relieved because of the Times Square Bomber," said Parker, referring to the foiled car bombing of Times Square in 2010. The attack was thwarted when two street vendors noticed the bomb, and alerted an police officer. While many talked about memorial events, others said they want to go about business as usual. Miniature replicas of the Statue of Liberty and novelty coffee mugs adorn shelves and I (heart) New York T-shirts hang on racks at a souvenir shop on 7th Avenue in Manhattan. Employee Farhana Mohammad, who works there, said she's seen more tourists than usual over the weekend. "I think people want to show respect to the memorial," she said, "They're not scared, they just want to show support, and I'm not scared either." Rita Silverman, who lives on the Upper West Side, refuses to let the threat of another terror attack scare her. "I'm sanguine," she said. "If something is going to happen it's going to happen. I'd rather not spend my time being tense. "I live in New York." Those in The Big Apple are contending with random police checkpoints that caused major traffic delays and commuter headaches, but Silverman thinks the measures are worth it. "It's annoying in the sense that it slows you down, but for safety, the pleasures of New York outweigh any discomforts or delays," she said. But Erfanu Hoque, a taxi driver from Queens, said the security measures have hurt his business. "I don't make money because I'm stuck in traffic," he said, sitting at a traffic light in Manhattan's Columbus Circle. But "I'm not nervous about this weekend because of the security. Anything (that is) for security ... that's okay." At another light at Columbus Circle, police randomly selected cars out of traffic for searches. Authorities inspected the trunk of the car of Yelena Weinstein, a Brooklyn resident and Manhattan high school teacher. Just after police waived her on from the checkpoint, she said, "I felt scared when it happened, but it's okay. Let them search me." Tim and Marianne Yoder, Midtown Manhattan residents, say they appreciated the security. "I hope people cooperate," said Tim Yoder. His wife said she is not "nervous about this threat, we're just proud to be Americans, and moved by the anniversary. "It's amazing to see the police and firemen doing their jobs, just like they did that day (10 years ago)," she said. As Ken Bronstein, a retired businessman from the Upper East Side, reflected on the past 10 years, he said the security precautions were necessary. "If I were the mayor I'd do the same thing, even if there wasn't a threat." Bronstein was going to the World Trade Center on 9/11 but was held up waiting for a new refrigerator to be delivered to his apartment. "A refrigerator saved my life." | New Yorkers understand the need for heightened security .
"Right after (the attacks) I was nervous, but now I can't let them win," one woman says .
A resident recalls narrowly missing being in the World Trade Center . |
24,859 | 46708386dd1354b71b54adc9340e67736ae9eba1 | An airman who recently returned from the Middle East proposed to his cheerleader girlfriend - during Sunday night's game. Arizona Cardinals squad member Claire Thorton, 23, was performing for fans at the home ground ahead of the Washington Redskins fixture. But the excitement of match day was stepped up a notch when her partner, Air Force Captain Erick Straub, marched onto the pitch - in full airman attire - and got down on one knee. Scroll down for video . Magical moment: A proud Claire Thorton shows off her engagement ring after her Air Force Captain partner's romantic proposal . She said yes! Claire Thorton was in shock when her boyfriend Air Force Capt Eric Straub proposed mid-game . Ecstatic: Her fellow Arizona Cardinals cheerleaders teared up and screamed as the couple embraced . Her fellow cheerleaders can be seen squealing and gawping as he produces a diamond ring. Thankfully, as the crowd roared with excitement, she said yes. The news will no doubt come as a disappointment to Claire's thousands of adoring fans, who have voted her 'cheerleader of the week' numerous times since she joined the squad last year. In love: Capt Straub is believed to have recently returned from a tour of the Middle East . Educator: The cheerleader team posted this photo on Instagram of Claire at work as a first grade teacher . A first grade teacher by day, she studied education at the University of Arizona - where she was also a member of the school's Pom Line. According to her cheerleader biography, Claire has been dancing since she was three years old. She also reveals that she and her fiance are avid travelers. High level: Claire has been dancing since she was three and joined the accomplished NFL squad last year . Excitement: The crowd roared during the routine after the excitement of the proposal on Sunday night . They have been to 13 countries and three different continents. Eric is believed to have returned from a tour in the Middle East. The touching moment came during the first half of the Cardinals' game against the Washington Redskins at home. | Arizona Cardinals cheerleader Claire Thorton, 23, was performing for fans .
During routine, her boyfriend Air Force Capt Erick Straub marched over .
He got down on one knee and produced a diamond ring, she said yes .
Claire, a 1st grade teacher, then resumed cheering ahead of Redskins game . |
5,180 | 0eae663918433679d736dfd895c15697f868dc6d | Military chiefs failed to calculate the potential dangers and the size of the forces needed for the war in Afghanistan, General Sir Peter Wall admitted yesterday, . The former Chief of the General Staff made the damning statement in a BBC documentary ahead of the upcoming withdrawal of Western troops from the country after 13 years of war. Another senior military commander said the UK was ‘under-prepared, under-resourced’ and had no clear strategy to succeed in the conflict. A senior military commander said the UK was ‘under-prepared, under-resourced’ and had no clear strategy to succeed in Afghanistan conflict. File picture . In a scathing critique of the UK’s involvement in Afghanistan, a series of British military commanders admitted a failure to appreciate the size of the task and that mistakes were made in the build-up to the fight. At times, troops were so stretched there was a risk they would be ‘massacred’, it was claimed. Sir Peter, who retired this year, said: ‘We had put forward a plan… saying that… for the limited objectives that we had set ourselves, this was a reasonable force. And I freely admit now, that calculus was wrong.’ The two programmes analyse the muddled decision-making process that led the British government to send 3,300 troops to the country as part of the Nato force in 2006. The documentary revealed that the British military was fully aware it could not wage more than one campaign for any length of time. The documentary revealed that the British military was fully aware it could not wage more than one campaign for any length of time . But, despite being already heavily engaged in Iraq, the UK pressed ahead with a decision to step up its commitment in Afghanistan. In a two-part programme entitled The Lion’s Last Roar?, Brigadier Ed Butler, Commander of the British Forces in Helmand in 2006, said: ‘We were under-prepared, we were under-resourced, and most importantly, we didn’t have a clear and achievable strategy to deliver success.’ His comments reveal a marked difference from his view in 2006 – as the UK stepped up their campaign against the Taliban – when he said that British forces were ‘well-prepared and well-equipped’ to deal with the insurgency. General Lord Dannatt, former Chief of the General Staff, added: ‘We knew that we were heading for two considerable size operations and we really only had the organisation and manpower for one. Therefore perhaps we should have revisited the decision…We didn’t do that.’ In the summer of 2006, some British forces in Afghanistan found themselves effectively stranded in a number of outposts in the north of Helmand province. ‘There was a real danger… that we would find a platoon cut off and potentially massacred,’ said Lord Dannatt. In 2012, David Cameron announced Britain would withdraw combat troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014. General Lord Richards, former Chief of the Defence Staff, said he had fought against the decision to announce this. He said: ‘I felt a deadline of that nature was too trusting in our ability to deliver the outcome required.’ The conflict has raised doubts over whether Britain will take part in similar military operations. Bruce Riedel, an adviser to President Obama in 2009, said: ‘The US has a better appreciation after the war in Afghanistan of the limits on British power. It will be interesting to see if Afghanistan marks the end of Britain as a global military power.’ Soldiers carrying equipment towards a helicopter during the closure of Observation Post Sterga 2 in Afghanistan's Helmand Province . | UK was ‘under-prepared, under-resourced’ and had no clear strategy .
Troops were so stretched there was a risk they would be ‘massacred’
The British government sent 3,300 troops to the country in 2006 . |
142,068 | 43b7ce393f774e5688f625bee8a1e228bd0332fd | (CNN) -- Barcelona have maintained their eight-point lead at the top of La Liga with a 3-1 victory over bottom-placed Almeria at the Nou Camp. The visitors took a shock lead five minutes into the second half when Miguel Angel Corona finished off a counter attack. But the hosts were back on level terms almost immediately as Almeria goalkeeper Diego Alves brought down David Villa with Lionel Messi converting the resulting spot kick. Barcelona did have to wait long for their second as Thiago Alcantara gave them the lead in the 64th minute, and Messi wrapped things up with his second goal, capitalizing on some sloppy defending in injury time. Real Madrid enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao to put their title challenge back on track after the shock defeat to Sporting Gijon last weekend. Two penalties from Kaka -- one in each half -- and a 70th minute strike from Cristiano Ronaldo -- his 28th league goal of the campaign -- ensured Jose Mourinho's team remain within striking distance of the Spanish champions who visit the Bernabeu next weekend. Meanwhile in Serie A, Inter Milan kept up the pressure on leaders AC Milan on Saturday night with a 2-0 win over Chievo at the San Siro. Second-half goals from Esteban Cambiasso in the 66th minute and Maicon six minutes from time saw Inter take all three points to move ahead of Napoli who play Bologna on Sunday. The win also moves them to within two points of Milan, who face Fiorentina on Sunday evening. In Serie A's only other Saturday tie, Roma moved to within one point of fifth-placed Lazio, with a 2-1 victory over fourth-placed Udinese at the Stadio Friuli. The win puts Vincenzo Montella's side back in contention for the fourth Champions League place. Lazio play Parma on Sunday. | Two goals from Lionel Messi help Barcelona to a 3-1 win over Almeria .
Kaka bags brace as Real Madrid coast to 3-0 victory at Athletic Bilbao .
Inter Milan move up to second place in Serie A with 2-0 win over Chievo . |
274,205 | ef298e285292b20ea410739b75f6fe96d87f128c | WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Terrorists increasingly favor using women as suicide bombers to thwart security and draw attention to their causes, a new FBI-Department of Homeland Security assessment concludes. Female suicide bombers can use devices to make them appear pregnant, a security assessment says. The assessment said the agencies "have no specific, credible intelligence indicating that terrorist organizations intend to utilize female suicide bombers against targets in the homeland." But it points out that women have been reported as attackers in the Russian breakaway republic of Chechnya and in India, Iraq, Pakistan, the Palestinian territories, Sri Lanka and Turkey. The notice was distributed Monday to law enforcement officials throughout the United States, and CNN obtained a copy of it. Officials want to make sure security officers are alert to the possibility of female bombers and to familiarize themselves with behavior patterns that such attackers have used in the past. "Even as military and security forces are paying more attention to the use of female operatives, terrorists are adapting their suicide attack tactics to compensate for enhanced security measures," the advisory said. Watch how U.S. authorities profile terror suspects » . The assessment highlighted the February 1 bombings in Baghdad in which two women, who appeared to have Down syndrome, attacked two pet markets. The attacks forced FBI and DHS officials to rethink a belief that those responsible for such incidents had the mental discipline "to accomplish the operation." The two agencies also echo what experts have said before -- that "female suicide bombers may have an advantage over their male counterparts in accessing targets." For example, the assessment points out women can hide explosives in prosthetic devices that mimic the look of pregnancy. E-mail to a friend . | Security agencies warn U.S. police departments about new tactics .
Women increasingly being used in bombings overseas, document says .
No imminent threat of such an attack seen in United States .
Women may gain access to targets more easily, advisory says . |
34,203 | 613377c6f568f9ff1317defac849b94454380d81 | He's the most famous British spy ever, whose iconic role can define an actor's entire career. And while the likes of Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan and Roger Moore will forever be remembered for playing James Bond, there will always be those who narrowly missed the cut as 007. But a newly-revealed photo archive has given a fascinating insight into the men who just failed to land the part as the smooth-talking Secret Agent. The final five: Hans De Vries, Anthony Rogers (top row, left and right), . along with John Richardson and Robert Campbell (bottom row, left and . centre), all failed to land the James Bond role ahead of one-time 007 . George Lazenby (bottom right) Pictures from 1967 show five actors in a casting session for the Bond film, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, where the lead role eventually went to George Lazenby. The Australian actor, succeeding Sean Connery who had just given up the role, landed the lead part in what would be his only Bond appearance. The history of the iconic spy franchise could have been very different, however, if one of the four other aspiring Bonds had landed the coveted main role. Ladies man: John Richardson, a British actor then in his mid-30s, in a casting session for On Her Majesty's Secret Service, which was released in 1969 . Licence to thrill: Anthony Rogers, who had previously appeared in Doctor Who and El Dorado, also tried out for the iconic spy role . Shaken not stirred: Robert Campbell, who faded into complete obscurity after his failed audition, tries his best to channel Bond in this casting session picture . The photos taken for LIFE magazine in . 1967 show aspiring Bonds suiting up, brandishing weapons, sipping 007's . trademark martini and charming beautiful women in his own inimitable . style. Among them is British . actor John Richardson, who is pictured facing a gun from his female . co-star in a typically 'Bond' scenario. Leading man: George Lazenby, pictured with actress Gundel Sargeant, eventually landed the lead role for his only Bond appearance . Other fascinating images show another hopeful, Anthony Rogers, alongside a love interest as he did his best to land the part of the suave spy. The third nearly-man is Robert Campbell, who competed for the role by screen testing in a trademark Bond kissing scene with a female co-star. Lastly is Hans de Vries, who, just like the others who failed to land the part, faded into relative acting obscurity following his rejection. Richardson, a British actor then in his mid-30s who had considerable film experience, was considered to be Lazenby's main rival for the role, but narrowly missed out. The actor, now 78, appears to have taken the rejection in his stride, as he went on to appear in dozens of film in an acting career which spanned until 1994. The same cannot be said for Rogers and Campbell, however. The former had a recurring role in Doctor Who and later El Dorado in 1966, but his acting career stalled after his failed Bond audition. Campbell meanwhile, appears even more . of an enigma, as virtually no information appears to exist about his . acting credentials at all, other than his relation to brother William . Campbell, the prolific TV actor. De . Vries in theory should have stood a decent chance of landing the big . role, having already appeared in a Bond film as an uncredited control . room technician in You Only Live Twice. He . was also overlooked in favour of Lazenby, who said after landing the . role: 'I'm really looking forward to being Bond, for the bread and the . birds.' Leading ladies: Swedish model Agneta Eckemyr (left) and actress Marie Boyer were two of the female finalists for the role of Bond's love interest in On Her Majesty's Secret Service . Lazenby is said to have been cast as . Bond for On Her Majesty's Secret Service after impressing directors in a . screen test fight scene. The . Australian also saw off the competition after appearing at an audition . in a Saville Row suit which had been ordered, but not collected, by his . predecessor Sean Connery. The archive also catalogues the attempts of several female actors in trying to land parts opposite the famously womanising Bond. The . Swedish actor and model was one of five finalists for a role in the . 1969 film, along with other potential Bond girl Marie Boyer, who is also . pictured in the LIFE magazine collection. Bond through the ages: Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan and Roger Moore are three of the most memorable 007 actors from the franchise . The blond Bond: Daniel Craig has become the latest actor to take on the role of 007, having starred in the last two films, as well as the upcoming Skyfall . | Five actors all had final casting session for role which eventually went to George Lazenby .
John Richardson, Hans De Vries, Anthony Rogers and Robert Campbell all tried and failed to land coveted spy role in 1967 .
Lazenby eventually landed part but it was his only ever Bond appearance . |
92,101 | 0274356a7b343b1dbb212d57e4477c61572c45d5 | Sky Sports are to broadcast The Open Championship for five years from 2017 at a cost of over £15million-a-year. The official announcement from the R&A that Sky had won the exclusive rights to the Open after what will be 60 years of BBC broadcasts came on Tuesday afternoon. Sportsmail had revealed on Saturday that Sky had reached an agreement with the R&A at a cost of over £10million – and that BBC would only retain the consolation prize of highlights. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Rory McIlroy sinks putt on the 18th at Hoylake to win The Open . Rory McIlroy holds the Claret Jug having won the 2014 Open Championship at Hoylake . Sky Sports will broadcast Rory McIlroy and Co in the Open Championship from 2016 onwards . Charles Sale broke the story on Saturday that the BBC would lose The Open to Sky... CLICK HERE to read the story . But it’s understood the price that Sky have paid is nearer £15m than £10m giving the R&A almost a 100 per cent increase from the £7m paid by the BBC in their current contract which will end after this year's tournament at St Andrews in July. As Sportsmail also reported, the Corporation have been resigned to losing their flagship golf contract to Sky for some time and had prioritised keeping Match of the Day highlights, which they have done. The 2015 Open Championship, the last to be broadcast by the BBC, will be at St Andrews . BBC's golf team (from left to right) Ken Brown, Hazel Irvine, Peter Alliss and Andrew Cotter . But the R&A’s decision to take the money from subscription TV – chief executive Peter Dawson’s last big move before he steps down later this year – will not do anything to help golf’s falling participation figures and has been widely criticised by numerous big names in the sport, including Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood and Peter Alliss. Speaking in an open letter on the Open's official website, Dawson said: 'We believe this new arrangement, which will see The Open broadcast live on Sky with prime-time highlights on the BBC, will allow golf’s oldest championship to maintain its position as one of the world’s premier sporting events. 'I want to express my gratitude to the BBC, our trusted broadcast partner for 60 years. Our relationship developed through The Open’s renaissance in the early 1960s, golf’s boom years in the 1970s and 80s and more recently the height of its global appeal during the 90s and 2000s. 'We are delighted that the BBC remains a broadcast partner of The Open Championship for 2017 and beyond and, we hope, for a great many years to come.' The ‘crown jewels’ are a list of prestigious sporting events of national importance which may interest non-sports fans. The events are protected under the 1996 Broadcasting Act, which ensures they are shown on free-to-air television — such as the BBC. Delayed highlights of the B-list events also have to be shown on terrestrial television. Crown Jewels: . - Olympic Games . - World Cup and European Championship finals . - English and Scottish FA Cup finals . - The Grand National and the Derby . - Wimbledon tennis finals . - Rugby Union’s World Cup final . - Rugby League’s Challenge Cup final . B-list: . - England Test matches — exclusive UK live coverage on Sky Sports since 2006 . - Wimbledon non-finals play — live coverage on BBC . - All other matches in Rugby World Cup finals — all 2015 matches will be shown live on ITV or ITV4 . - The Open — live on BBC until 2016 . - The Ryder Cup — exclusive UK live coverage on Sky Sports since 1995 . - Cricket World Cup — shown on Sky Sports since 1992, every match live since 2003 . - Commonwealth Games — live on BBC . - World Athletics Championships — live coverage on BBC until at least 2017 . - Six Nations matches involving home countries — live coverage on BBC until at least 2017 . 'We have considered this new agreement extremely carefully and firmly believe that by working with the two leading sports broadcasters for the UK and Ireland we have achieved the best result not just for the future of The Open but for golf as a whole.' Barney Francis, Sky Sports Managing Director, added: 'The Open is the world’s pre-eminent golf championship and we are committed to taking coverage of the event to new levels. 'We offer something for every sports fan and this exciting agreement for The Open means our customers can now enjoy all four Majors live. 'Sky Sports has a passion for golf that has spanned two decades, offering unrivalled commitment, airtime and promotion as well as year-round innovative coverage. Graeme McDowell takes a shot at St Andrews, the venue for the 2015 Open Championship in July . 'We look forward to working with The R&A to entertain and engage new and existing golf fans through our multi-platform coverage and also at the grassroots level via Sky Academy.' The BBC will offer two-hour daily highlights and live coverage on radio and online. Barbara Slater, the BBC's director of sport, said, 'We're obviously disappointed that we were unable to retain live TV coverage of The Open Championship. 'However, we're pleased to be continuing our 60-year partnership with the R&A and feel that a comprehensive two hour highlights programme - a format which has already proven successful - in a prime-time slot over four days will allow us to continue to bring all the best action and key moments from The Open to a large free-to-air audience on TV, radio and online.' | Deal ends the BBC's 60-year ownership of The Open broadcast rights .
Sky will broadcast golf's crown jewel in a five-year deal from 2017 onwards, worth £15million-a-year... BBC left with highlights package .
Move has been criticised by Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood and Peter Alliss .
Match of the Day was seen as more of a priority by the BBC .
Chief executive of the R&A, Peter Dawson, believes new arrangement will 'allow golf’s oldest championship to maintain its position as one of the world’s premier sporting events'
The BBC has secured their MOTD Premier League highlights for £204m . |
205,891 | 968819b78445988381632a5a7914e43b03725e7b | Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- A demonstrator died and several U.S. service members and Afghan police were injured as protests over the burning of Qurans at a U.S. military base turned violent Sunday, said officials. The bloodshed in northern Kunduz province came a day after a gunman killed two U.S. military officers inside their office in the highly secured Afghanistan Ministry of Interior -- one of several incidents targeting allied forces after reports emerged last week that NATO troops had burned Muslim holy books at Bagram Airfield. U.S. officials, including President Barack Obama, have apologized for the burning and called it inadvertent. A military official -- speaking on condition of anonymity, given the sensitivity of the issue -- said the materials were from a detainee center's library and had "inscriptions" that appeared to be used to "facilitate extremist communications." Such statements, or explanations, haven't stopped protests from Muslims in Afghanistan, who believe the Quran is the word of God and so holy that people should wash their hands before even touching it. On Sunday, the sixth day of protests, initially peaceful demonstrators in Kunduz attacked a police chief's office and a U.S. military base, Kunduz police spokesman Sayed Sarwar Hussaini said. Some threw hand grenades at the base, known as Combat Outpost Fortitude, with resulting blasts injuring seven U.S. personnel believed to be Special Forces members, said Hussaini. Capt. David Yaryar, a spokesman with NATO's International Security Assistance Force, said there was an explosion and small arms fire. ISAF did not comment on the number or positions of those hurt, though Yaryar did say those hurt were evacuated for medical care. One protester was killed and three wounded in the violence at the military site, according to Hussaini. Another 16 protesters suffered injuries as grenades, pistols, knives, sticks and stones were used to attack the police chief's office in Kunduz, said Hussaini, the police spokesman. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told CNN on Sunday that such unrest and targeting of Americans has gotten "out of hand and needs to stop." She urged Afghans to abide by the call of their president, Hamid Karzai, for calm. In a televised address, Karzai said the "emotions of our people" over the burned Qurans "are legitimate and valuable." Still, he added that staying calm will help stop "enemies of our peace and stability" from taking advantage and harming people and property. U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, Ryan Crocker, acknowledged "some tough attacks up north" in a CNN interview Sunday, while adding that the "rest of the country ... was pretty calm today." "(Such anger generally) tapers off, and I think we're all hopeful that the appeal for calm that President Karzai made today -- and he did so with the backing of the entire political leadership of the country -- will create a condition in which this diminishes," said Crocker. At least 29 people have been killed and nearly 200 wounded in recent protests, Karzai said. The death of the demonstrator in Kunduz would appear to raise that death toll to 30. They haven't been the only ones killed in the wake of the Quran burnings. Two U.S. soldiers were gunned down last week at a base in eastern Afghanistan by a man wearing an Afghan National Army uniform. And then, on Saturday, a man went to the Afghan interior ministry, signed himself in and then retrieved his gun, according to an Afghan counter-terrorism official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk with the media about the incident. ISAF said that initial reports indicated "an individual" -- whom they did not name -- shot dead two NATO service members, later confirmed by an Afghan police official to be an American colonel and major. The Defense Department on Sunday identified one of the officers killed as U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. John D. Loftis, 44, of Paducah, Kentucky. Loftis was 44. The Afghan official identified the suspected gunman as Abdul Saboor, a junior officer in the ministry's intelligence department who the official claimed had spent two months in a Pakistani religious school. "We believe it was 100% linked to the Quran burning because of the religious background of this junior officer," the counter-terrorism official said. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the shooting, with its spokesman identifying the shooter by the same first name, Abdul, that the Afghan official used. The Afghan official did not say, though, if it was known the gunman was a member of the Taliban. The Afghan interior ministry confirmed the gunman is thought to be one of its employees and that his "whereabouts are unknown." Senior Afghan officials, including the defense and interior ministers, have postponed a scheduled trip to Washington to meet U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and others, Pentagon press secretary George Little said. "(The officials) are consulting this week with others in the Afghan government and Afghan religious leaders on how to protect ISAF personnel and quell violence in the country," said Little. Saturday's killing prompted Gen. John Allen -- the commander of ISAF -- to order the withdrawal of several hundred ISAF advisers from ministries in Kabul as a precaution. Such a move raises questions about a U.S. military plan focusing on the use of small teams of military advisers as it withdraws troops. Yet Lt. Col. Jimmie Cummings, an ISAF spokesman, stressed the advisers are still in contact with Afghan personnel. "We will not let this incident divide the coalition," Cummings said. The United States also pulled embedded civilians out of ministries, said Crocker. And France announced Sunday that it was withdrawing all French public officials in Afghan institutions temporarily to ensure their safety. Amid the protests, ISAF said Sunday that its efforts against the Taliban continue to move forward. In fact, Afghan and coalition security forces captured Taliban leaders in the provinces of Kandahar and Ghazni, ISAF announced Sunday. So too was a commander with the insurgent Haqqani network, in his case in Logar province. Crocker highlighted the progress that's been made in Afghanistan since the U.S. embassy opened more than a decade ago with "nothing -- no institutions, no ministries, no police, no army." Still, he stressed that the stakes remain high in calling for a continued commitment to the country. "If we decide we're tired of it, al Qaeda and the Taliban certainly aren't," said Crocker. CNN's Barbara Starr, Josh Levs and Chelsea J. Carter contributed to this report. | NEW: Top Afghan officials postpone a visit to Washington, a U.S. spokesman says .
1 dead, U.S. service members and police are wounded when a Sunday protest turns violent .
U.S., France pull their civilians from Afghan ministries after the ministry shooting .
30 have been killed, 200 hurt in unrest stirred by NATO members burning of Qurans . |
263,745 | e1933aa3d0681d2ca344a58216adf952ecdca998 | By . Becky Evans . PUBLISHED: . 11:26 EST, 23 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:46 EST, 23 December 2012 . Fears have grown for a man missing since his boat capsized today after an 'intensive' search operation was called off. The alarm was raised shortly before 11am when two people were found clinging to the upturned boat in Poole Harbour, Dorset. They were rescued by helicopter and taken to Poole Hospital and a major operation was then launched to find the third sailor. The 'intensive search' Coastguard search for the missing man was called off this afternoon . Two other men who were on the small boat today were plucked from the water and taken to hospital by the Coastguard helicopter . Portland Coastguard co-ordinated the air and sea search but the man has not been found. The Coastguard has announced it has called off the 'intensive three hour search'. A spokesman said: 'A marker buoy . placed in the location of the capsized boat indicated that a casualty on . the surface of the water would have remained within the harbour area in . the tidal and weather conditions during the search.' The search involved two coastguard . rescue helicopters, RNLI lifeboats from Poole and Swanage, Coastguard . rescue teams and local vessels as well as other members of the emergency . services and the community. Private boats also took part in the major search operation in Poole, Dorset . The Coastguard said they believe any casualty would have remained within the harbour area . The small boat, believed to be carrying the three men, capsized close to Brownsea Island and the alarm was raised shortly before 11am . The small boat capsized this morning near Brownsea Island and members of the public on the shore dialled 999. Dom Fraser at the North Haven Yacht Club at Sandbanks told the Bournemouth Echo he understood the three people had been in a dinghy. He said: 'Around 10.45 I heard people shouting for help. I was about to row over but then the helicopter arrived. 'The water is quite shallow where it happened, to the point where you can stand up.' Local volunteers also helped search the shoreline and a number of private boats are believed to have been helping the Coastguard. | Major rescue operation launched in Poole Harbour, Dorset this morning .
Two men found clinging to capsized boat and taken to hospital .
'Intensive search' for missing third man called off this afternoon . |
118,027 | 246a3c88a62daa6cb9a6d19b1947f499eda5de28 | (CNN) -- After nearly going to war last year over a Colombian military raid inside Ecuador, the two nations seemed to be patching relations when their foreign ministers met a few weeks ago. Then an Ecuadorian judge issued an arrest warrant this week for the head of the Colombian armed forces, pushing relations back one giant step. Colombian Gen. Freddy Padilla, the armed forces chief whose arrest is sought, canceled a meeting scheduled for Friday with Ecuadorian Gen. Fabian Varela. Padilla thought he might be arrested if he traveled to Ecuador. It's not the first pothole on the path to normalization. Ecuador previously issued an arrest warrant for former Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos, who held the post during last year's raid. Colombia has dismissed both warrants, saying Ecuador has no jurisdiction to investigate and judge Colombian officials. Analyst Patrick Esteruelas of the Eurasia Group consulting firm calls Ecuador's actions "schizophrenic." Two former U.S. ambassadors to the area agree this is par for Ecuadorian foreign policy. "That's the history of Ecuador, unfortunately," said Peter Romero, ambassador to that nation from 1993 to 1996. "One step forward, two steps back." Myles Frechette, U.S. ambassador to Colombia from 1994 to 1997, said Friday that "Ecuador is a specialist in bonehead plays. It has been for years. Nothing's changed much." Former Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Heinz Moeller, who served from 2000 to 2003, called the arrest warrant "lamentable." "It's absurd that these things happen," he said Friday. Tension between the two nations has existed for years. The latest enmity started in March 2008, when Colombia bombed a guerrilla base inside Ecuador. The raid killed a top leader for the Revolutionary Armed Force of Colombia, commonly known as the FARC. The Marxist guerrilla group has been waging war on Colombia since the 1960s and often takes refuge on the Ecuadorian side of the border. At least 25 people were killed, most of them said to be FARC guerrillas. Colombian President Alvaro Uribe hailed the attack, saying "terrorism ... does not respect borders." Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa called the attack "aggression" and a "massacre" and severed diplomatic relations with Colombia. Both nations went on war footing but stopped short of military action. Over time, tensions seemed to dissipate and Colombian Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez and his Ecuadorian counterpart, Fander Falconi, met last month. After the meeting, Colombia signed a statement saying it would never attack inside Ecuador again. Friday's meeting between the two nations' top generals was supposed to further repair the damage. Then came the arrest warrant. What happened? Perhaps politics. Definitely one branch of the government acting without the consent of the other. Falconi quickly pointed out that the nation's judicial branch, not Correa's administration, decided to issue the warrant. Analysts agree that it wasn't Correa's doing. "That's not a very coordinated government," said Frechette, the former envoy to Colombia. "The executive branch didn't issue that order." Moeller, the former Ecuadorian foreign minister, said the judge who issued the arrest warrant is "motivated by political criteria." "I don't have another explanation," said Moeller, who also served as president of the Ecuadorian Congress three times. Normalization of relations will be a slow process, Eurasia analyst Esteruelas said. "We're going to see a lot of stops and starts," he said. Alejandro Santos, editorial director of La Semana weekly news magazine in Colombia, said relations will not improve until the two countries "can close the chapter" on last year's bombing raid. "That chapter can be closed when the Colombian government promises not to do that. They have done that (promise)," Santos said. "Now Ecuador needs to start avoiding those types of judicial measures against Colombian officials." Esteruelas said Ecuador felt justifiably aggrieved over the attack and wants to make sure it never happens again. But he also sees another issue at play: Ecuadorian President Correa's plummeting poll numbers and domestic problems with indigenous movements and other political issues. "It's usually convenient to remind everyone that Correa is fighting for Ecuadorian sovereignty," Esteruelas said, adding that such nationalism "resonates very broadly" across the political spectrum. But Frechette said, "Correa really does want to reach some kind of agreement." The problems between the two nations are long-standing and have a lot to do with the 45-year-old war between Colombia and the FARC. From Ecuador's perspective, the war has displaced about 250,000 Colombians who have sought refuge in Ecuador. Those refugees need services and jobs, further straining a poor area that's already on the brink. Ecuador also resents that the FARC have set up camps inside the country, causing security problems for a nation that is not technically at war with the guerrillas. From Colombia's point of view, Ecuador is not doing enough to combat the FARC and is allowing the guerrillas to have a sanctuary that Colombian troops cannot reach. Further complicating the relationship, Ecuador's Correa is politically aligned with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who is no friend of Colombia and its leader, Uribe. Chavez threatened to attack neighboring Colombia after the military raid in Ecuador. "This has been developing for many years," Moeller said. But there are great advantages to normalizing relations, most of them economic. Ecuador, for example, is Colombia's third-largest export market. Walter Spurrier, president of Grupo Spurrier and director of Weekly Analysis in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and Maria Velez de Berliner, president of the Latin Intelligence Corp. in Alexandria, Virginia, talked with the Inter-American Dialog policy institute last month about Colombia-Ecuador economic activity. "Re-establishing relations could lead Ecuador to lift sanctions against Colombian products, which forced many small- and medium-sized businesses to collapse on both sides of the border," Velez told the Washington-based think tank. Said Spurrier, "For Colombia, Ecuador is an important market. Not so the other way around. But the goods Ecuador sells Colombia are difficult to relocate to other markets. Ecuador now attempts to sell Libya and Iran the rice it would have otherwise sold Colombia. Also, Ecuadorian importers have to look for other sources." Moeller, the former foreign minister, wants normalization to get back on track. "We have to close the parenthesis," he said. "I hope this passes ... and that they start talking again." | Ecuadorian judge issues an arrest warrant for head of Colombian armed forces .
Colombian Gen. Freddy Padilla cancels trip to Ecuador for fear of arrest .
Tensions between neighbors stem from FARC rebels taking refuge in Ecuador . |
143,427 | 457f5bfeca345bfec9141e94772f9beea85d2af3 | Arsenal might want to spend a little time with their noses buried in Nigel Pearson's book of on-field wrestling holds. They had Leicester by the throat on Tuesday night thanks to goals from Laurent Koscielny and Theo Walcott, but somehow relaxed their grip and turned what seemed like a procession into a nail-biter. Pearson would never make an elementary mistake like that as James McArthur can testify. Leicester replied through Andrej Kramaric, with his first goal since signing last month, and produced the aggression and spirit which will make their manager proud, and offer some hope for the relegation scrap ahead. Theo Walcott celebrates his first and Arsenal's second goal at the Emirates against Leicester on Tuesday night . Leicester City's Marcin Wasilewski (left) and Arsenal's Olivier Giroud get into a tangle in what turned into a spirited encounter . Leicester's Andreaj Kramaric struck back as Leicester continued to fight for their manager until the final whistle . Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Ospina 6.5; Bellerin 6.5, Mertesacker 6.5, Koscielny 7, Monreal 6.5; Coquelin 6.5, Rosicky 6.5; Walcott 7 (Ramsey 73), Cazorla 6.5, Ozil 7.5; Sanchez 6.5 (Giroud 68). Subs not used: Szczesny, Gibbs, Gabriel, Flamini, Welbeck . Scorers: Koscielny 27, Walcott 41 . Booked: Rosicky . Manager: Wenger - 7 . Leicester (3-5-2): Schwarzer 6; Huth 6.5, Upson 6 (Wasilewski 59, 6.5), Morgan 6; Simpson 6.5, Konchesky 6.5; James 6.5, Cambiasso 7; Mahrez 7, Schlupp 6.5 ; Kramaric 7. Subs not used: Drinkwater, King, Albrighton, Hamer, Ulloa, Nugent. Booked: Wasilewski . Scorer: Kramaric . Manager: Pearson - 7 . Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire) - 6.5 . MOM - Mesut Ozil . See our Match Zone for the calamitous lead-up to Leicester's goal and more great stats . They pushed for the equaliser, Kramaric missed a wonderful late chance and they probably deserved to take a point, but they left with none and remain rock bottom of the Barclays Premier League. Arsenal moved almost apologetically into the top four, for at a day at least, responding to defeat in the North London derby as Tottenham dropped points at Liverpool, but this made for uneasy viewing at times for Arsene Wenger. It was a seventh win in eight games since New Year's Day but not the first time this season his team has panicked at the first sign of trouble. They surrendered the lead at Spurs, not to mention Anderlecht and Liverpool. In fact, it has happened a little too often for a side with pretentions of challenging for major honours; a character flaw which remains despite the impressive win at Manchester City last month. There were added concerns with injuries to Alexis Sanchez, who returned after a hamstring injury but hurt his knee and was under-par until replaced, and Aaron Ramsey lasted only nine minutes before succumbing to a third hamstring strain of the campaign. Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha shakes hands with embattled manager Nigel Pearson ahead of the match at the Emirates . Pearson (centre left) watches the first half from the stands after escaping an FA charge over a clash with Crystal Palace's James McArthur . Arsenal's Francis Coquelin times a sliding challenge on Leicester's Matthew James during the lively opening minutes . Wes Morgan tackles dangerous Gunners forward Alexis Sanchez at the Emirates Stadium in north London on Tuesday night . Sanchez can only toe the ball away as he's held by Foxes' defender Danny Simpson . 'I cannot say it is not a worry,' said Wenger; a double negative within the overall positive of clinging onto the lead. 'It is not good news.' Sanchez later delivered a cryptic tweet hinting that his injury may have been more than a 'knock' as the manager claimed. On a night when Hull and QPR won, there was some encouragement for Pearson and his chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who is thought to have sacked the manager on Sunday before a change of heart. The manager said he had lunch with the owners but didn't offer to pay and sat just behind the Thai owner in the first-half before moving down to the touchline for the second-half revival. Pearson said he had spoken to McArthur on the eve of the game and apologised after a text message from the Crystal Palace midfielder and received a warm post-match handshake and words of support from Wenger. Riyad Mahrez threatens the Arsenal goal in a promising start for Leicester but can't give the relegation threatened side a lead . Sanchez gets in front of Leicester defender Paul Konchesky (right) despite the distinct height difference and heads towards goal . Arsenal's Theo Walcott shoots but can't beat Leicester's recently signed veteran keeper Mark Schwarzer this time . Laurent Koscielny (third from right) strikes first time from a corner to open the scoring for the Gunners . Koscielny's strike makes its way toward the bottom corner of Leicester's goal . Leicester's Australian keeper Schwarzer fails to get his left boot to the ball as Arsenal take the lead . Koscielny falls on his front - and Schwarzer on his back - after finding the back of the net to make the score 1-0 after 27 minutes . Koscielny find his feet to begin his celebrations after the opener for Arsene Wenger's side as Walcott raises his arms in triumph . 'I am surprised they are bottom of league and they want to get rid of their manager,' said the Arsenal boss. 'If they keep quiet, don't panic and stick together, they will get out of that. They are one of better teams we've played.' Leicester's performance will have offered great satisfaction - certainly more appealing than the Canadian folk band he endured on Sunday as speculation raged about his future at the club. Playing well and losing is not a good habit to be in but the players are working hard for him, none more than Riyad Mahrez, who was outstanding on the right wing and gave the Arsenal problems all game with his energy and direct style. Mahrez opened with a dangerous low cross, almost deflected into his own net by Koscielny, and an effort which clipped David Ospina on the knee and flashed wide. Matthew Upson's flying tackle collects Alexis Sanchez as the Chilean marksman gets airborne . Sanchez soars spectacularly into the air after the challenge from Upson . The ball escapes both players as Sanchez is upended while attacking the Leicester goal . The cryptic tweet from Sanchez after the match that suggests his injury before substitution may be more than a 'knock' Theo Walcott takes in his acclaim from the Emirates faithful as he gives the Gunners a 2-0 lead . Mesut Ozil's long-range strike was too hot for Schwarzer to handle leading to Walcott's goal . The former Fulham and most recently Chelsea custodian Schwarzer parries the shot from the German attacker . Walcott beats the Foxes defence to the loose ball to drill it into the back of the net beyond the keeper . Schwarzer dives in vain as Walcott picks his spot to perfection . Walcott shows his appreciation to the Gunners crowd that he has seen less than he'd hope this season due to injury . Ozil (right) gets appropriate credit for the lead-up to the second goal from scorer Walcott (left) and Hector Bellerin . Pearson had tweaked his usual system to deploy wing-backs and three central defenders, including debuts for Robert Huth, signed on transfer deadline day, and Matthew Upson, signed last summer but absent until now with ankle problems. Unfortunately for Upson, he did not last the game and came soon after the break, although the manager claimed it was 'precautionary'. Wenger's team, however, were soon in control. Mark Schwarzer stood up to block with his chest from Walcott and Mesut Ozil danced through a crowded penalty box before forcing another save. Schwarzer tipped Ozil's effort wide and from the corner, taken by the German, Arsenal went ahead. Koscielny caught Wes Morgan napping and met the low, in-swinging set-piece on the half-volley, sweeping it inside the post from six yards. Before the break, Schwarzer was unable to hold a fierce drive by Ozil and parried the ball towards Walcott on the right, who adjusted superbly well to the rebound, arriving at pace to thump a first-time drive into the far corner. Andrej Kramaric hits the loose ball beyond David Ospina as Leicester's fight back continued . Ospina is beaten at his near post as Arsenal fail to put the game to bed and are forced into a nail-biter . Francis Coquelin was Arsene Wenger's everywhere man in the midfield - click here for more heat maps in Sportsmail's Match Zone . Ozil's influence since his return from injury has been impressive. Although not always in the thick of the action, he has made telling contributions in front of goal and his creative juices were flowing again. Arsenal looked capable of matching the five they put past Aston Villa in their previous home game but were forced back and wobbled under this pressure. Kramaric pulled one back as the home side claimed Esteban Cambiasso had handled as the ball was trapped under his body in a scramble following a corner they failed to clear, but no free-kick was given and the goal was fired through a crowd by the £9million Croatian, signed in January. Anxiety washed around the stadium and Wenger sent on substitutes and Pearson sent on the strikers he had left on the bench. Mahrez went close again and Kramaric was clean through and attempted to chip Ospina. It was an ambitious move – a bad decision - and he did not clear the goalkeeper. Pearson and his staff threw up their arms in collective dismay. It would be their last chance of the night. Pearson shows some trademark emotion after making his way to the sideline for the second half . Upson, who signed last summer but has had ankle problems, limps off the pitch soon after the interval . Sanchez's departure after 68 minutes won't bring Gunners fans a whole lot of joy given the Chilean's prolific form this season . | Laurent Koscielny volleyed home from a Mesut Ozil's corner for the opener in the 27th minute .
Theo Walcott was on the spot to drive open Mark Schwarzer's parry after a blistering Ozil shot .
Andrej Kramaric pegged one back for bottom-placed Leicester City just after the hour mark .
Alexis Sanchez hurt his knee and Aaron Ramsey lasted nine minutes after coming off the bench . |
51,898 | 92fe7fd28191bbc552871cf7bcfa1cf73a481331 | By . Matt Blake . PUBLISHED: . 04:51 EST, 25 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 08:34 EST, 25 May 2012 . Tony Blair will face the Leveson Inquiry on Monday, three days before embattled Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt takes the stand, it was announced today. Calls have been growing for the former Prime Minister to answer allegations that News International had 'unique access to Downing Street' during Labour's 13 years in power. MP Tom Watson told the the probe into press ethics this week that Mr Murdoch even tried to halt his anti-phone hacking campaign by asking Tony Blair to 'call him off'. Close? Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, right, and Rupert Murdoch, News Corporation Chairman and CEO, left, speak during a news conference held in conjunction with the Atlantic Council's 2008 annual awards dinner in Washington . And last week Peter Mandelson admitted that Mr Blair and Mr Murdoch had become 'closer than was wise'. He denied, however, there was a 'Faustian pact'. Labour's former chief spin doctor Alistair Campbell also sought to douse claims there was a cosy relationship between News Corp and the party, telling the inquiry: 'I don't think on policy anything was ever traded with Rupert Murdoch or with any other media owner.' Unfazed: Jeremy Hunt put on a show of confidence this morning when he went for a jog near his London home . The inquiry will seek to uncover the degree of contact between News International and the Labour Party in the run up to the 1997 general election in which Mr Blair took power for the first time after The Sun famously switched its allegiance from the Tory Party. In one of the most crucial - and potentially explosive - weeks of the inquiry so far, Mr Hunt will on Thursday respond to damaging allegations surrounding his own links to News Corp during its controversial takeover bid of BSkyB last year. He will also be challenged over whether his cheerleading for the £8-billion bid was entirely impartial since he was bestowed quasi-judicial powers by Prime Minister David Cameron. Today, Mr Cameron defended his decision to hand responsibility to Mr Hunt, who is facing fresh calls from Labour to resign over his handling of the bid. 'I don't regret giving the job to Jeremy Hunt, it was the right thing to do in the circumstances, which were not of my making,' Mr Cameron told ITV's This Morning. 'The crucial point, the really crucial point, is did Jeremy Hunt carry out his role properly with respect to BSkyB and I believe that he did.' No date has been set for the Prime Minister's appearance at the inquiry, but he said he was 'looking forward to giving evidence', as was Mr Hunt, so 'all of this will be out in the open'. It emerged yesterday that Jeremy Hunt privately urged David Cameron to back Rupert Murdoch’s BSkyB takeover bid just weeks before the Prime Minister put him in charge of ruling on the issue, it emerged last night. In a bombshell email, the Culture Secretary lavished praise on the bid. Mr Hunt said it would allow Mr Murdoch’s son James to create ‘the world’s first multi-platform media operator’ and insisted that if it was blocked the ‘media sector will suffer for years’. The Premier will now face tough questions over why he gave Mr Hunt responsibility for the bid, despite knowing that he had been privately cheerleading for the Murdochs. Critics will also question the wisdom of Mr Cameron joining Mr Murdoch and News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks for a cosy Christmas lunch just a month later where the bid was discussed. I can't wait: David Cameron said he was 'looking forward to giving evidence' so 'all of this will be out in the open' while appearing on ITV1's This Morning . Controversial: David Cameron, right, today defended his decision to put Jeremy Hunt, left, in charge of dealing with BSkyB bid after Vince Cable lost the role . Harriet Harman led the charge against Mr Hunt today telling BBC Breakfast the evidence of his wrongdoing was 'absolutely massive', arguing that instead of judging the Murdochs’ bid, he was backing it. 'There are two bits of evidence, actual straightforward evidence, that Jeremy Hunt was not impartial, he was meddling before he even took over the bid and was on the side of the Murdochs,' she said. Admission: Adam Smith revealed that Mr Murdoch's fixer 'bombarded' him with information about the media giant's bid to take over BSkyB . 'The first was that he had to be warned off by the civil servants not to have any more meetings with Rupert Murdoch but he kept up the contact through his special adviser, and secondly he wrote a memo to the Prime Minister.' The Culture Secretary’s message, revealed in evidence to the Leveson inquiry into media standards yesterday, told Mr Cameron it would be ‘totally wrong to cave in’ to critics of the bid, including BBC director-general Mark Thompson, Channel 4 and the Guardian newspaper. Mr Hunt said James Murdoch was ‘pretty furious’ that Business Secretary Vince Cable had referred the bid to media regulator Ofcom. He asked for a meeting with Mr Cameron, Mr Cable and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to discuss the handling of the deal. The disclosure appears directly to contradict Mr Hunt’s insistence to MPs last month that he had made ‘absolutely no interventions seeking to influence a quasi-judicial decision that was at that time the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Business’. It piles pressure on both Mr Hunt and Mr Cameron in the row over the Government’s handling of the BSkyB bid, which other media organisations argued would hand the Murdoch empire an unassailable dominance in Britain. Revelations: Mr Hunt said James Murdoch, left was ‘pretty furious’ that Business Secretary Vince Cable, right, had referred the bid to media regulator Ofcom . Downing Street admitted that the then Cabinet Secretary Gus O’Donnell was not made aware of the private message when he was asked to determine weeks later whether Mr Hunt could act as an impartial judge of the deal, given his previous statements of admiration for Mr Murdoch. Challenge: Harriet Harman led the charge against Mr Hunt today telling BBC Breakfast the evidence of his wrongdoing was 'absolutely massive', arguing that instead of judging the Murdochs' bid, he was backing it . Mr Cameron handed Mr Hunt responsibility for determining the bid after Mr Cable, who had previously been in charge of the issue, was caught on tape boasting that he had ‘declared war’ on News Corporation. The Culture Secretary’s representations had already been the subject of legal warnings from his own department, according to the counsel to the Leveson inquiry, Robert Jay. He said the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s legal director had advised that although it was not illegal for him to attempt to intervene, to do so would be ‘unwise’. A picture of the cosy relationship between the Murdoch empire and the department emerged at the inquiry yesterday, with evidence that News Corp’s chief lobbyist Frederic Michel exchanged more than 1,000 phone calls, emails and texts with the Culture Secretary’s team during News Corp’s BSkyB takeover bid . Most were to and from Mr Hunt’s special adviser Adam Smith, who has already had to quit, admitting his contacts with News Corp went beyond what had been authorised by the Culture Secretary. Also giving evidence in one of the most crucial weeks of the inquiry will be Business Secretary Vince Cable, who was stripped of the role of deciding whether the bid could proceed last December after he was secretly recorded saying he had 'declared war' on Mr Murdoch. After that, Education Secretary Michael Gove and Home Secretary Theresa May will appear on Tuesday and Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke, after Mr Cable, on Wednesday. Tragic: stabbed seven times, and subjected to a gruesome sexual assault when she was dead or dying outside her home in Blenheim Crescent, Croydon, in September 2005 . Lewis Sproston, the boyfriend of murdered model Sally Anne Bowman, has become the latest to sue over the phone hacking scandal. Sproston, dropped Miss Bowman, 18, off at her home in the early hours of the morning, and was initially arrested after her murder before DNA evidence quickly eliminated him as a suspect. Now Sproston, a plasterer, is demanding damages from News Group Newspapers, publishers of the now defunct News of the World, and disgraced private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, High Court listings reveal. News Group Newspapers is part of News International, the media empire headed by Rupert Murdoch. Pub chef Mark Dixie, 42, was later jailed for at least 34 years after being convicted of murder at the Old Bailey in February 2008. He had denied the killing, saying he had come across her dead body outside her home, and explained the presence of his DNA by saying he had had sex with her although she was dead. She had been stabbed seven times, and subjected to a gruesome sexual assault when she was dead or dying outside her home in Blenheim Crescent, Croydon, in September 2005. Dixie had a string of previous convictions for sex offences, and was arrested by change nine months later after a minor fracas in a pub. His DNA was taken and matched to the murder when it was put on the police national computer. Mulcaire, 41, a former professional footballer nicknamed Trigger, was jailed for six months in January 2007 after pleading guilty to illegally intercepting phone messages, while the News of the World’s royal editor Clive Goodman was given four months. News International has already settled many claims brought by individuals who claimed their mobile phone messages had been intercepted. | Jeremy hunt will give evidence on Thursday .
'I don't regret it': Cameron defends decision to hand BSkyB decision to Hunt .
Harriet Harman says the evidence of Hunt's wrongdoing was 'absolutely massive'
'If we block it our media sector will suffer for years,' Mr Hunt told Cameron .
The document also adds James Murdoch was 'furious' with Vince Cable over his handling of the bid .
A source close to Mr Hunt said the memo did not mean he couldn't make an independent decision . |
206,156 | 96dc2498a68fa6999fb38ffc9095324ee20554c3 | (CNN) -- Tuvalu, the fourth smallest nation on the planet, has announced it aims to be totally powered by renewable energy sources by 2020. Tuvalu hopes to set an example to bigger nations by relying totally on clean energy by 2020. Located between Hawaii and Australia, the tiny Pacific nation is one of the world's climate change hotspots and many believe it is already seeing the negative affects of rising sea levels. The highest elevation on the island is just 4.5 meters (14.8 feet), and king tides have become increasingly damaging over the past 10 years, threatening the homes and livelihoods of its 12,000 inhabitants. The government of Tuvalu is working with the e8, a consortium of 10 energy firms from the G8 nations that was set up after the 1992 Rio Earth Summit as a non-profit organization. The Tuvalu government estimates that it will take around $20 million in investment to reach the goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2020. The first stage of the project has seen the roof of the country's largest football stadium covered in solar panels, which supplies 5 percent of the electricity needed by the nation's capital, Funafuti. According to e8 figures, after 14 months in operation the solar stadium has reduced consumption of generator fuel shipped from New Zealand by 17,000 tons and saved 50 tons of CO2 from being released in the atmosphere. A further benefit is the reduced risk of diesel spills around the atoll's reefs. "There may be other larger solar power installations in the world, but none could be more meaningful to customers than this one," said Takao Shiraishi, general manager of the Kansai Electric Power Company that helped implement the scheme. "The plight of Tuvalu versus the rising tide vividly represents the worst early consequence of climate change. For Tuvalu, after 3,000 years of history, the success of UN climate talks in Copenhagen this December may well be a matter of national survival," he said in a press statement. The next scheme is building a solar power system for a secondary school on Vaitupu, one of the outer islands. "We thank those who are helping Tuvalu reduce its carbon footprint as it will strengthen our voice in upcoming international negotiations. And we look forward to the day when our nation offers an example to all -- powered entirely by natural resources such as the sun and the wind," said Kausea Natano, Tuvalu's minister for public utilities and industries. | Tuvalu in Pacific Ocean threaten by rising sea levels from climate change .
With consortium of G8 energy companies plan to use only renewables by 2020 .
Most of Pacific island nation is less than one meter above sea level . |
233,929 | bada252b13abcc83b6215e2bd3924ef5738fc7f8 | By . Ellie Zolfagharifard . PUBLISHED: . 10:33 EST, 13 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 10:47 EST, 13 January 2014 . The seemingly placid appearance of the sun in our skies hides its true nature as a hot fireball of plasma in constant turmoil. In reality a complex network, invisible to the naked eye, surrounds the solar disc, with cells of hotter and colder plasma merging and disappearing within hours of each other. The boundaries between these constantly moving cells are hectic places. Powerful jets of plasma are often launched whenever the cell pattern changes. There was something about this bright coronal mass ejection (cropped but un-retouched) on 27 February 2002 that suggested the splash of colour found in a flower petal, especially when copied into a circular pattern. Add an extreme ultraviolet image of the sun, and the artists suggests a recreation of oneness in the universe . The extreme ultraviolet images come to Earth from the SOHO spacecraft in black and white. Then they are consistently colour coded for easy identification. For this May 1998 image, the nearly simultaneous images from three different ultraviolet imagers were each given a colour code (red, yellow and blue) and digitally merged into one . SOHO stands for Solar and Heliospheric Observatory and is a satellite that studies the sun 24 hours a day, 365 days a year without interruptions. It is currently in orbit between the Earth and the sun. It is about 150,703,456 km (92 million miles) from the sun. The spacecraft has 12 scientific instruments collecting information about the sun ranging from activity in the sun's corona to vibrations deep in the sun's interior. These changes may happen as a result of variations in the magnetic field – known as ‘magnetic reconnection’. To learn more about these reconnection jets and what causes them, scientists observe the sun at different wavelengths using a variety of techniques. These images, published under the title ‘The sun as Art’, reveal a series of scientific observations performed with the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) to understand our star. One image, which looks more like an . abstract painting that a scientific study, shows 60 frames taken with . the ultraviolet spectrometer SUMER on SOHO over 10 minutes. This image shows a coronal mass ejection (CME) headed right towards Earth. A CME is a massive burst of solar wind and magnetic fields rising above the solar corona or being released into space. An extreme ultraviolet image of the sun is shown here with an expanding cloud of particles heading out on all sides of the star. The cloud impacted Earth about two days later . This image, which could be mistaken for a piece of abstract art, shows a series of observations performed with the ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) to study the evolution of reconnection jets on a small patch of the sun's surface. The individual frames were taken every 10 seconds, so each row of snapshots corresponds to almost three and a half minutes of observations . This coronal mass ejection (CME) from 26 November 2000 is blasting billions of tonnes of matter at millions of kilometres per hour. An ultraviolet image of the sun has been superimposed onto the image. Colours have been altered, but nothing else has been added. The large white speckles and longer streaks are high-energy protons hitting the SOHO imager after being blasted at nearly the speed of light by the solar storm . The individual frames were taken every 10 seconds, so each row of snapshots corresponds to almost three and a half minutes of observations. Each frame shows a spectrum of the light coming from a small patch on the solar disc: the height of each frame measures 84 000 km, which is about a sixteenth of the sun’s diameter. In the first few frames of the series, the shape of the central bright region is roughly vertical, a sign that the underlying boundary was in a quiet state. After only a couple of minutes, however, the situation changed dramatically: towards the end of the first row and at the beginning of the second row, the shape of the bright region appears stretched towards the right. A pair of images taken the same day by different ultraviolet imagers are sandwiched together to make a kind of alien-shaped spacecraft. What appear to be shafts of light are in fact particles of the solar wind streaming out into space along open-ended magnetic field lines . A particularly complex and large coronal mass ejection on 4 January 2002 made even seasoned solar physicists gasp with awe. The LASCO C2 instrument observed the particles blasting out. Areas of white indicate the greatest intensity of matter; the reds somewhat less; blues, even less . Extreme ultraviolet images taken by the SOHO spacecraft come back to Earth in black and white. Then they are consistently colour coded for easy identification. One stunning image, taken in May 1998 image, shows a coronal mass ejection (CME) headed right towards Earth. A CME is a massive burst of solar wind and magnetic fields rising above the solar corona or being released into space. An extreme ultraviolet image of the sun is shown here with an expanding cloud of particles heading out on all sides of the star. The cloud impacted Earth about two days later. This image of a rainbow was created by scientists attempting to measure the sun's interior. Tones of oscillating sound waves from the sun produce surface change on the star around every five minutes. The nature and source of these oscillations was a mystery for many years after their discovery in 1962 . This is a wraparound 360 degree image of solar winds in the whole sky. Maps such as this can help scientists understand how solar winds behave at different altitudes . Another image shows a CME blasting billions of tonnes of matter at millions of kilometres per hour. The large white speckles and longer streaks are high-energy protons hitting the SOHO imager after being blasted at nearly the speed of light by the solar storm. A particularly complex and large coronal mass ejection on 4 January 2002 made even seasoned solar physicists gasp with awe. Scientists observed the particles blasting out. Areas of white in the image indicate the greatest intensity of matter; the reds somewhat less; blues, even less. This series of images, taken across nearly two decades, reveal the rapid changes in our sun in all its beauty and are now helping scientists understand what the future of our star might hold. The sun in extreme ultraviolet light is superimposed on a wide view of the sky around the sun. With the bright sun itself blocked, the star field beyond it comes into view. In this image, you can see bright plumes of solar wind and streamers emerging on both sides . A close-up of the filaments in this coronal mass ejection surprised scientists by exhibiting distinct twisting as they roared away from the sun in a tightly controlled pattern . | 'The sun as Art' images reveal scientific observations taken by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory .
They unveil a hectic world of powerful and constantly moving plasma cells appearing on the surface of our star .
One image shows the sun blasting billions of tonnes of matter towards the Earth at millions of kilometres per hour .
Another reveals dramatic changes on the sun by superimposing images of the star from three different .
UV cameras . |
112,681 | 1d6286c05d38b7fc57efc3ca57ea3acb3f9e2eb0 | Washington (CNN) -- When Mitt Romney is agitated, his arms flail. President Barack Obama has a tendency to drone on and on. Debate experts say both should keep those quirks in check during the upcoming presidential debates. That's because in the world of political theater, nobody likes a ham or a know-it-all, said Melissa Wade, a debate professor at Emory University. So Romney should keep that whiteboard full of facts and figures under wraps. And Obama should keep the lecturing to a minimum. "It's the generation of Twitter and Facebook and efficient language choices are persuasive," Wade said. Both candidates are considered skilled debaters -- Romney's campaign called Obama a "universally acclaimed public speaker," and Romney was lauded for his performance during the Republican presidential primary debates. However, there's a lot more to effective debating than clever rhetoric. 10 questions you would ask at the presidential debate . Delivery, tone and body language -- almost as much as substance -- convey a lot to would-be voters, political experts say. Over the next three weeks, voters will have plenty of opportunities to watch the political posturing unfold. Wednesday night's debate in Denver is the first of three between the president and Romney. The first debate focuses on domestic policy, so exchanges are bound to be lively, debate experts say. "Romney and Obama will disagree with the foundation of what caused our economy to go south," said Todd Graham, director of debate at Southern Illinois University. John King: Debate all about trust for Romney . The two men will also mix it up over their different proposals for trimming the nation's debt and entitlement spending, addressing tax rates, and reforming the nation's health care system. For voters keeping score at home, pay attention to "things like argument depth, trying to get beneath the surface of the argument. They've become quite skilled at not answering the question. They'll repeat the question and then the next few things out of their mouths don't answer the question," Graham said. Also, "Look for inconsistencies ... things they have or have not said before," he said. Vice President Joe Biden and Romney's running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, will face off once on foreign policy matters. And like their top-of-the-ticket counterparts, the veep candidates also have some habits to watch out for. "Ryan has so much less experience that he's going to be on talking points for the ticket," Wade said, and that could make him seem a bit stiff. On the other hand, "Biden has to be careful to not be glib about it and assume his superior knowledge." Voters have already handicapped the presidential candidates' performance. According to an ABC News/Washington Post national poll released Monday, 55% of likely voters say they think the president will win the debate, with 31% saying the former Massachusetts governor will be victorious. The findings on this question from the new survey are in line with a CNN/ORC International poll conducted right after the Democratic Convention last month, where likely voters predicted by 59% to 34% that Obama was more likely than Romney to prevail in the October showdowns. The campaigns spent the bulk of last week downplaying expectations. Romney debate challenge: High stakes, lowered expectations . However, there's still plenty of room for surprises. "The mistakes the presidential candidates have made over the years are numerous. Poor body language has been a common blunder. As much as candidates focus on perfecting the substance of what they say before the cameras, a large number of Americans are really most interested to see how they say it," CNN contributor and history professor Julian Zelizer wrote for CNN. Despite weeks of preparation and practice with debate sparring partners, candidates often revert to nervous tics under the harsh glare of spotlights. During a 2008 debate, Sen. John McCain paced on stage; in 1992, President George H.W. Bush glanced at his watch; and in 1960, Vice President Richard Nixon was sweaty and cast furtive glances. Both Obama and Romney have similar habits -- "tells" that signal that they're nervous. The mistakes candidates make in debates . "Romney is more aggressive, he talks with his hands more and is more animated. That's not a good thing," Wade said, adding that at times Romney seems irritated when pressed. "He's a smart man ... but because he is not fully consistent in his message, it shows in his face." Such behavior could come across as impatient, Wade said. "The best thing he could do is shove those hands in his pocket," she said. "Even if he were to put one hand in the pocket it would calm ... his body and face down." Why debate is crucial for Obama, too . Obama may have a reputation as "cool, calm, collected and very comfortable in his body," Wade said, but he too has his own set of body language challenges. The town hall format -- such as the one scheduled for October 16 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York -- is Obama's nemesis. It offers a looser, more classroom-like setting, one in which the former law school lecturer tends to slip into the role of an academic. "It's his worst format," Wade said. "It was not as pronounced as McCain wandering around. Obama in a town hall is more long-winded. He just can't help himself." Getting ready for Wednesday's showdown . Both candidates tend to fare well in settings in which they are standing behind podiums. "The setup with lecterns and longer questions and answers allows for more direct exchange," Wade said. "They're looking at the moderator and the audience, but they're also able to look at each other." But there's also a psychological disadvantage to this, said SIU's Graham. "When seated, the candidates become less aggressive," he said. For viewers, that's a good thing, Graham added, saying that voters tend to see aggressive debating tactics as bullying. "For God sakes, don't actually debate. If you actually debate you tend not to do well in the polling the next day," he said. "The public tends to think they were too aggressive and mean and they don't like them." In Ohio, Romney praises debate partner Portman . Even things like height differences alter perception and the types of gestures a candidate should use, Wade said. "Most of the presidential primary debates were the standard format of the line of humans behind lecterns. It generates some power dynamics in size difference," she added. "We associate height with power. It's a subtle stereotype that goes on." So someone smaller, like Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, "had to use larger hand gestures to compensate with size," Wade said. At 6-foot-1 and 6-foot-2 respectively, Obama and Romney are on an even footing. Romney: Debates aren't about a win . CNN's Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report . | Voters pay close attention to what is said and how it is said during debates .
Body language tics have hurt presidential candidates in the past .
Both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney have "tells" to watch out for in stressful situations . |
268,122 | e73e754c952f21e9d1b83ed5c7eea30b25c7ce8b | By . Mark Duell . Last updated at 9:48 PM on 23rd December 2011 . The lawyer and accountant for reclusive mining heiress Huguette Clark have both lost out on an $8million payday each after a judge suspended them from handling her $400 million estate. Attorney Wallace Bock and accountant Irving Kamsler committed ‘shocking’ tax fraud which meant Miss Clark, who died aged 104 in May, had an IRS bill of $90million, ruled Judge Kristin Booth Glen. The duo are being probed criminally over the Montana heiress’s unpaid federal gift taxes and penalties, a court in Manhattan, New York, heard. Investigators warn this is the ‘tip of the iceberg’. Reclusive: Huguette Clark, who died aged 104 in May, was a U.S. senator's daughter who owned the largest residence on Fifth Avenue in New York City - and mansions in California and Connecticut . Mr Kamsler said he planned to resign on Tuesday but has not done so yet. The duo are beginning to tell conflicting stories about the handling of the last 15 years of Miss Clark’s life, reported MNSBC. A remaining estate official said he is trying to get back the gift of a $5million cheque to Miss Clark's registered nurse, Hadassah Peri, which Mr Bock allegedly had no authority to give her. This was part of a $26million gift given to the nurse even before she left her more than $30million in her will. Neither Mr Bock nor Mr Kamsler have been charged with doing anything illegal. But now the estate will be managed only by public administrator lawyers who alleged the fraud earlier this week. Judge Glen slammed the duo for wasting money and called them ‘unfit to serve’. Suspended: Attorney Wallace Bock, left, and accountant Irving Kamsler, right, committed ‘shocking’ tax fraud which meant Miss Clark, who died aged 104 in May, had an IRS bill of $90million, ruled Judge Kristin Booth Glen . Angry: Judge Kristin Booth Glen called them 'unfit to serve' Mr Bock and Mr Kamsler allegedly did not file federal gift tax returns for Miss Clark from 1997 to 2003 when she gave gifts worth $56million, reported MSNBC. The taxes would have been $41.5million. The duo also made her pay for tax returns that were not filed and did not tell her about unpaid taxes or possible penalties even though she could have afforded them, the court heard. They were also said to have lied to the IRS and the public administrator and submitted tax returns which they knew were fraudulent. This raises the possibility of criminal charges being brought. Mr Kamsler, 64, of the Bronx, New York, is a registered sex offender who tried to distribute ‘indecent materials’ to teenage girls in an AOL chat room. Mr Bock, 79, is from Queens, New York. Vacant: The mysterious Clark estate in Santa Barbara, California, which has been empty since 1963. It is worth more than $100 million . For sale: Le Beau Château, in wealthy New Canaan, Connecticut, is only an hour from New York City but Miss Clark had never visited the property . Windfall: Hadassah Peri received a staggering multi-million payment from Miss Clark when she died . The duo were paid thousands of dollars a month for responsibilities that included dealing with the heiress's taxes. But earlier this week they denied doing anything wrong over Miss Clark’s affairs. ‘Their entire, decades-long handling of her affairs was an ongoing effort to protect and preserve her chosen lifestyle and on her explicit instructions,’ said lawyer John Dadakis, representing the duo. Miss Clark was a U.S. senator's daughter who owned the largest residence on Fifth Avenue in New York City - and mansions in California and Connecticut - but chose to live for decades in hospitals. It emerged last month that Miss Clark had signed two wills within six weeks in 2005 - the first leaving most of her estate to great-nephews and great-nieces. Holed up: Miss Clark rarely left her 42-room New York apartment overlooking Central Park in 70 years . With dad: Former U.S. Senator William A. Clark, centre, joins his daughter, Huguette, at the Easter Parade in New York, in April 1922. He built one of America's biggest fortunes of its day by mining copper . The second benefitted mainly her nurse and charity, creating an arts foundation that Mr Bock and Mr Kamsler would oversee and leaving them each $500,000. Her father, Senator William A. Clark, built one of America's biggest fortunes of its day mining copper, building railroads and founding Las Vegas, Nevada. Born in Paris to the 67-year-old U.S. senator and a 28-year-old Michigan woman, Miss Clark was married briefly in her 20s to a bank clerk. They parted after only nine months. She died childless. After her mother's death, Miss Clark's once lively life amid New York's cultured world became more solitary, and she rarely ventured from her home. She moved into a hospital in the 1980s. | Montana mining heiress Huguette Clark died in New York in May aged 104 .
But Wallace Bock and Irving Kamsler's 'mistakes gave her IRS bill of $90m'
Owned mansions in California and Connecticut and huge New York property .
But spent last few decades in hospitals and left millions in will to her nurse . |
72,328 | cd09f0d8e759bc18a7cbad5ff0f4c9aecc7f6c07 | By . Associated Press . Last updated at 9:16 PM on 6th December 2011 . Patricia Dunn, the former Hewlett-Packard chairwoman who authorised a boardroom surveillance probe that ultimately sullied her remarkable rise from investment bank typist to the corporate upper class, has died after a long bout with cancer. Ms Dunn, 58, died on Sunday at her home in Orinda, California, surrounded by her family. Her sister Debbie Lammers said Ms Dunn's ovarian cancer had returned. Once one of the most powerful women in corporate America, Ms Dunn saw her career tarnished in 2006 when she was ousted from HP and brought up on criminal charges - which were ultimately dropped - for approving the company's plan to snoop into the private phone records of board members, journalists and HP employees to catch people leaking to the media. Scandal: Former Hewlett-Packard Chairwoman Patricia Dunn attends a hearing at Santa Clara County Superior Court in October 2006 . The scandal unfolded as Ms Dunn continued to battle a disease that had haunted her through a sparkling investment banking career and a stormy nine-year stretch on the board of HP, one of the world's largest technology companies. She had spent time on philanthropic matters in the years since the scandal, Ms Lammers said. She said she wanted people to remember her sister's 'incredibly influential rise in her professional life and her courage and valiant battles over the course of her treatments'. Ms Dunn's time at HP coincided with some of the most contentious and challenging periods since the Palo Alto-based company was founded in 1939. She joined HP's board in 1998 and was instrumental in the hiring and firing of chief executive Carly Fiorina, whose flamboyant personality and ferocity in securing the 19 billion-dollar purchase of Compaq Computer Corporation ultimately helped hasten her departure amid a sagging stock price and disappointing results from the combined company. Ms Dunn was the one who announced Ms Fiorina's sacking in February 2005 and named her low-key successor, Mark Hurd, previously CEO of NCR. Mr Hurd himself was ousted last year after an investigation into a sexual harassment claim found inconsistencies in expenses reports filed. Ousted: Patricia Dunn, left, with Mark Hurd, former president of HP who was suspended from the company last year following inconsistencies in expenses reports filed . Ms Dunn also assumed Ms Fiorina's role as chairwoman at the time. But she was forced out of that role in September 2006 in an embarrassing scandal involving spying on the telephone records of board members and journalists to ferret out the source of leaks to the media. Just a month later, California's attorney general charged Ms Dunn and four others with four counts each of conspiracy, fraud, identity theft and illegally using computer data. That came just two days before she started chemotherapy treatments for advanced ovarian cancer. The criminal charges against Ms Dunn were eventually dropped, as prosecutors said she had little involvement in the actual 'pretexting' - the ruse used by investigators to view private telephone records by pretending to be someone else - and because of her ailing health. Charges against the other defendants were also dropped, with a Santa Clara County Superior Court judge calling their . conduct 'a betrayal of trust and honour' at worst that was not criminal . behaviour at the time it occurred. Once . an aspiring investigative reporter, Ms Dunn, a graduate of the . University of California, Berkeley, found more immediate and lucrative . work in the financial world and made her mark in investment banking. After . working briefly as a part-time reporter for a community newspaper in . San Francisco, she began her corporate climb by capitalising on a . temporary typist job that she landed at an investment firm in the 1970s. Public address: Patricia Dunn speaks, after being inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Bay Area Council, during a dinner in San Francisco . She was able to turn the two-week typing assignment into full-time work and managed to quickly rise through the ranks by earning a reputation as a hard-edged businesswoman. That reputation eventually helped her earn the promotion to CEO of fund management behemoth Barclays Global Investors in 1995. But Ms Dunn's life had been far from charmed. Financial difficulties dogged her family throughout her childhood and her father, a vaudeville actor, died of a heart attack before she was a teenager. After his death the family moved to Marin County, north of San Francisco, and her mother's emotional health deteriorated. She later died of breast cancer. It was at the height of Ms Dunn's corporate success when she was diagnosed with cancer herself, forcing her to step down in 2002 from her role as Barclays CEO to fight breast cancer and melanoma. Two years later she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and in autumn 2006 she underwent surgery for a metastasised tumour - three weeks before the public learned of the HP investigation that spawned congressional investigations, criminal probes and forced Ms Dunn's resignation. Ms Dunn is survived by her husband Bill Jahnke; three adult children, Janai Brengman, Michelle Cox and Michael Jahnke; 10 grandchildren; a brother, Paul Dunn, and sister Ms Lammers. | Career tarnished in 2006 following criminal charges over allegedly approving HP's plan to .
hack into phone records of employees and journalists to catch whistleblowers .
Survived by husband, three children and 10 grandchildren . |
188,553 | 803005d5bef01a88f47aa6100295de852ab0ef4c | This is the moment a police officer kills a 22-year-old student in Brazil after leaning out of his patrol car and firing off 11 shots with his assault rifle as he thinks she is in a stolen vehicle. Haissa Vargas Motta, 22, died soon after arriving at hospital, having been shot in the ribs during the incident. A camera in the cop car captured the amazing scenes on the streets of Nilopolis, near to Rio de Janeiro. Marcio Jose Watterlor Alves is now facing a murder trial. Scroll down for video . Marcio Jose Watterlor Alves was captured on camera shooting at a car he wrongly believed to be stolen . But the car was not stolen, and was filled with a group of friends driving back from an evening at a concert hall in Brazil . The shots fatally wounded one of the girls, Haissa Vargas Motta, 22, who died shortly after arriving in hospital . He shouted 'stop' after firing off eight shots with his powerful weapon because the white Hyundai HB20 they were pursuing was a make of car that was often being stolen. Haissa's distraught friends - who were returning from a concert hall - can be heard shouting out for help after one of the bullets pierced a back seat and hit her in the ribs. Calm Alves, blamed for killing three people in four years as a police officer, insists: 'You don't do that', as one pal later sobs in the back seat of the patrol car with her head between her hands. His patrol colleague then asks her why they didn't stop before admitting: 'Nothing justifies opening fire like that, okay?' He go on to try to excuse his colleague's actions as they follow the car they had just shot at to hospital by claiming they had been previously been involved in a shoot-out with other vehicles and were feeling 'tense'. The video, which was released on Saturday, also captures the aftermath of the shooting - including the horrified reaction of Haissa's traumatised friends, who end up travelling in the back of the police car . The officers are heard questioning the friends on why the car didn't stop - the driver later revealed they thought the police were chasing a motorbike behind them . The male driver of the car Haissa was in told officers in a statement he didn't stop because he thought they were chasing a motorbike travelling behind them. An investigation is ongoing into the actions of the officers, who have been put on gardening leave since the August incident. MP Paulo Teixeira is one of the main backers of a new law which hopes to curb the number of people killed by police officers in Brazil - who are responsible for about 2,000 deaths each year . Security specialist Paulo Storani told a local paper: 'This shows a model of policing based on searching for criminals and not protecting honest citizens. 'The use of lethal force is only justified when lethal force is used against police officers. This hasn't happened here at any point. 'It was a mistake and a good example of how not to act.' Brazil's police are responsible for at least 2,000 deaths every year, and nearly 550 people were shot by police in the state of Rio alone last year. Figures from the Brazilian forum of Public Security NGO show on and off-duty Brazilian police officers killed 11,197 people in the five years to the end of 2013, compared to 11,090 people in the US in the past 30 years. The victims are generally recorded as having been 'killed while resisting arrest'. A draft law currently going through Brazil's parliament is seeking to allow more scrutiny of these 'acts of resistance', which protect police who kill in the line of action, and pave the way for detailed probes of their actions. A recent study discovered 60 per cent of 'acts of resistance' were false. MP Paulo Teixeira, one of the main backers of the new law, said: 'They were shots to the neck, the back, from behind.' Alexandre Ciconello, a human rights adviser at Amnesty International Brazil, added: 'The Brazilian police is one of the forces that most kills in the world.' | Marcio Jose Watterlor Alves fired off 11 shots at a car in August last year .
Alves believed student Haissa Vargas Motta, 22, was in a stolen car .
In fact, she was returning from a concert hall with four friends .
Bullets tore through back seat before hitting Haissa in the ribs .
The student died soon after arriving at hospital in August last year .
Officers are captured on film blaming the shooting on feeling 'tense'
Police officer Alves is now facing a murder trial . |
45,180 | 7f56bf85353f2e580c269fbc925310c7a1e6b6bd | (CNN) -- Crews in Southern California struggled to get the upper hand on a fast-moving wildfire in Santa Barbara County early Tuesday. Known as the White Fire, the blaze had already charred some 1,000 acres after getting its start Monday afternoon, U.S. Forest Service spokesman Andrew Madsen said. The flames were 5% contained. The Forest Service expects to have 700 personnel in place Tuesday morning. The Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department evacuated up to 6,000 people from the popular White Rock Campground at the end of the busy Memorial Day weekend as the wildfire advanced, public information officer Kelly Hoover said. Although the fire caused minor damage to a ranger station, it quickly moved deeper into Los Padres National Forest, away from homes and structures, according to Madsen. No injuries or fatalities have been reported. Santa Barbara is located about 85 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. | The White Fire covers 1,000 acres and is 5% contained .
Up to 6,000 people were evacuated from a popular camping area .
The wildfire is moving away from homes and structures, authorities say . |
181,697 | 773fd30b6cf351d3d49119c8cdaa4d0c85cbd1b8 | (CNN) -- Some athletes will go to any lengths to get their hands on an Olympic gold medal. Marion Jones and Ben Johnson are just two examples of champions whose achievements have been scrubbed from the record books due to drug scandals. But competitors who want to run the risk of taking performance-enhancing substances before or during this year's Summer Olympics will face the most sophisticated anti-doping operation in the history of the Games, according to London 2012 organizers. More than 6,250 samples of blood and urine will be tested during both the Olympics and Paralympics -- four years ago in Beijing that figure was around 4,500 -- with around 150 scientists on duty around the clock. For the first time in Olympics history, a private sponsor -- pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) -- will be aiding the effort, providing the facilities for the scientists to carry out their work. The $30 million state-of-the-art laboratory in Harlow, Essex is a short distance from the Olympic Park in east London and is fully accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). "I think it's a significant involvement," WADA's director general David Howman told CNN. "The laboratory will have everything it could possibly need in terms of equipment. If athletes go to London, they know if they are cheating they are likely to be caught." Professor David Cowan, director of King's College London's Drug Control Center and chief scientist for the Games, is delighted that GSK is helping out. "These laboratories are the most high-tech labs in the history of the Games, analyzing more samples than ever before," Cowan said. With GSK's support, Cowan and his colleagues have been able to develop "super-fast, super-sensitive technologies" capable of detecting prohibited substances. "Across the range of instrument in the lab, we reckon we can pick up things you haven't even thought of," Cowan said. "I think we'll soon be away from the days where designer drugs beat the analyst. I'm hoping this will be the Games that actually prove that." Howman says the list of banned substances runs to 10-15 pages, with hundreds of drugs currently prohibited. "The fight continues and the sophistication continues on both sides. You find that athletes and those that advise athletes are more sophisticated in what they do than they were 10 years ago," he said. But he says the London 2012 program is "very, very good," reiterating that drug-takers will be found out. "If they are not caught now they can be caught within the next eight years because samples can be re-analyzed." Things have moved on significantly since the Olympics' most infamous case of drug taking, he says. "I don't think Ben Johnson would even get to London nowadays -- I think he would be picked up in advance, and many athletes now who think they can get there will be swept away by pre-Games testing," Howman said. "There were 80-90 athletes who didn't go to Beijing because of pre-testing and I presume that the same sort of number might arise this time around." After winning the 100 meters final in Seoul in 1988, a reporter asked the Canadian sprinter what was more precious: a world record or the gold medal? Johnson chose the latter. "Why?" the reporter asked. "Because it's something nobody can take away from you," he replied. The message coming from London 2012 organizers this year is, "Yes we can, and we will." | London 2012 organizers enlist help of state-of-the-art laboratory for drug testing .
Partnership with GlaxoSmithKline will see more than 6,000 blood and urine tests during Games .
Head of World Anti-Doping Agency says drugs program in London is "very, very good"
"Fight continues with sophistication continuing on both sides," says WADA chief . |
1,965 | 05adfe596aae1d42896b329858e6e3164248772a | By . Beth Stebner . PUBLISHED: . 20:52 EST, 9 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 23:08 EST, 9 April 2013 . Looks like there are too many cooks in the White House kitchen. White House assistant chef Sam Kass, who cooks weekly for President Obama, said Tuesday that he is facing a furlough brought about by crippling federal budget cuts. The chef, who is also the president’s senior nutrition policy adviser, is one of nearly 500 White House employees who are expected to receive furlough notices because of the so-called sequester. On the chopping block: Assistant White House Chef Sam Kass, pictured in 2009, is one of 480 White House staffers facing furloughs . Staying active: Mr Kass, right, was named a Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives in 2010, working with First Lady Michelle Obama on her 'Let's Move!' initiative to reverse childhood obesity . Speaking with food reporters Tuesday, Mr Kass said: ‘We’re being furloughed,’ according to Reuters. A White House spokesman who accompanied Kass to the press briefing declined to comment on the matter. News of the possible White House staff furloughs comes days after several members of the Obama administration announced that they would return a portion of their salaries to the federal government as a sign of solidarity to the austere days ahead in Washington. The chef cooks dinner several times a week for the president and while he likely won’t be preparing all of the president’s meals in the coming weeks, the New York Times’ Caucus blog cheekily notes that it is unlikely the president will miss any meals. Make our garden grow: First lady Michelle Obama waters wheat seedlings during the spring planting of the White House garden last week; Kass helped create the vegetable garden on the South Lawn . It is unclear whether notices have gone out to other Obama aides informing them that they must take days off without pay. Mr Kass, who was trained in Chicago and Vienna, joined the White House Kitchen staff in 2009 and was named a Senior Policy Adviser for Healthy Food Initiatives a year later, working with First Lady Michelle Obama on her ‘Let’s Move!’ initiative to reverse childhood obesity. He also helped create the vegetable garden on the South Lawn that has yielded 3,000 pounds of fresh produce for the first family. Mr Kass told reporters that effort won't be affected, according to the Associated Press. The sequester – which consists of $85 billion in cuts – went into effect last month after Congress failed to stop it. Hundreds of thousands of workers . could be forced to take unpaid leave if those on Capitol Hill don’t . reach an agreement to undo the cuts. Tough times: President Obama, pictured yesterday leaving the Oval Office, will give five percent of his salary back to the federal government as a symbolic gesture that all of government has been hurt by the sequester . Reuters and AP contributed to this report. | White House assistant chef Sam Kass told reporters Tuesday that he is likely to be asked to take time off without pay .
One of around 480 White House staffers who are likely to get furlough notices .
Comes as Washington feeling sharp effects of sequester . |
128,528 | 321704c689e1a289793e02a9f48fc12fcaff99bb | By . Meghan Keneally . PUBLISHED: . 12:44 EST, 23 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:49 EST, 23 September 2013 . Victim: Matthew Shepard was a 21-year-old college student when he was beaten and left to die in Laramie, Wyoming in October 1998 . New claims have been made about the murder of gay college student Matthew Shepard in 1998 saying that his death was not actually a hate crime like it has so often described. Journalist Stephen Jimenez claims that Shepard was pistol whipped, beaten and tortured before being tied to a fence and left to die not because he was gay but because his attackers were high on meth and wanted to take his money. Attackers Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson were both given life sentences and spoke out in 2004 saying that they had been on methamphetamine fore days before the October 6, 1998 beating in Laramie, Wyoming but gay rights activists have blasted the book for being an attempt at re-writing history. Jimenez maintains that over the course of more than 100 interviews with people with connections to the case he discovered that Shepard was made into a gay rights martyr after the fact. He claims to have found a previously-sealed letter in the court filings on the case where a local male hustler wrote that Aaron McKinney 'really did like having sex with gay guys, that he wasn't unfamiliar with homosexuality and the gay world'. If that claim is true, it would dent the argument that the beating death was based around the attacker's fear of homosexuality. In earlier interviews, Jimenez says that . McKinney and Henderson believed that Shepard was going to trade them . drugs in return for sex and that they decided to rob him. Attackers: Russell Henderson (left) and Aaron McKinney (right) both received to two consecutive life sentences for Shepard's murder and the case prompted the creation of national hate crime legislation . New theory: Now journalist Stephen Jimenez (left), who is gay himself, has written a book claiming that Shepard was killed because the two attackers were high on meth and wanted to rob him . Though he told FoxNews that he maintained 'rigorous journalistic standards' during the investigation, this is not the first time that Jimenez has caused controversy on this topic. Left-leaning site Media Matters said that Jimenez initially prompted outrage when he produced a news segment for 20/20 where he interviewed McKinney who said that the attack was fuelled by his recent meth binge. 'Sometimes when you have that rage going through you, there’s no stopping it,' McKinney said during that interview. 'All I wanted to do was beat him up and rob him … Seemed like a good idea at the time.' The press release accompanying the book painted Jimenez as an unbiased journalist, saying that 'his aim was to write a screenplay on what he, and the rest of the nation, believed to be an open-and-shut case of bigoted violence,' going on to mention that 'as a gay man, he felt an added moral imperative to tell Matthew’s story'. Controversial: The case garnered national attention because of the belief that the murder was caused by homophobia, but now this new book claims to debunk that theory . National action: President Obama signed the Matthew Shepard Act into law in 2009 which made hate crimes a federal issue . One key connection that was left out is that Jimenez is a friend of attacker Russell Henderson's defense attorney, Tim Newcomb. The death of Matthew Shepard- who was found in a coma after being left on the fence for 18 hours and subsequently pronounced dead six days later- was a major turning point for gay rights and hate crimes prosecution across the country. In 2009 President Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law, making it a federal crime to attack someone based on their actual or perceived gender or sexual orientation. The Matthew Shepard Foundation has blasted all of the assertions in Jimenez’s book, writing them off as ‘innuendo, rumor or conspiracy theories’. 'Attempts now to rewrite the story of this hate crime appear to be based on untrustworthy sources, factual errors, rumors and innuendo rather than the actual evidence gathered by law enforcement and presented in a court of law,' the group said through a statement. | Murder of gay college student Matthew Shepard in 1998 caused national outrage and led to creation of federal hate crime laws .
New book now claims that the two attackers were not motivated by his sexuality but were high on meth and wanted to rob him .
Both of the attackers are still in jail on double murder charges . |
251,173 | d114d44b557eb812a34f0e9103ba936f99e81eaa | By . Simeon Gholam . Follow @@SimGholam . Mario Mandzukic is set for a £17.5million move to Atletico Madrid, according to reports from Germany. German newspaper Bild have reported that the Bayern Munich forward is on the verge of signing a five-year deal with the Spanish club. The 28-year-old signed for the German giants in 2012, and went on to score 48 goals in 88 games over two successful seasons. VIDEO Scroll dwon to watch Mario Mandzukic's horror tackle in training on Schweinsteiger . Moving on: Mario Mandzukic has left Bayern Munich for Atletico Madrid . Finisher: The forward scored 48 times in 88 games for the club . But, following the arrival of Robert Lewandowski from Borussia Dortmund on a free transfer, Mandzukic decided that his time in Munich has come to an end. The 28-year-old indicated his desire to leave the club earlier this summer, telling Croatian newspaper Sportske Novosti before the World Cup: 'I met (Bayern chairman) Karl Heinz Rummenigge before the (German) cup final and told him I wanted to leave the club. 'I've had a fantastic time at Bayern. It's a great club and I never thought I'd want to leave, and especially not at this point in time. 'But, let's be honest, I cannot play to my strengths under Guardiola's style - no matter how hard I try. 'I realised that after the 1-0 defeat by Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final first leg and, that being the case, it's best for all parties that we go our separate ways. 'Guardiola is an outstanding coach and I wish him and everyone else at the club all the best in the future. 'Bayern and the club's fans will remain the best and most emotional chapter in my career.' Celebrations: Mandzukic won a host of trophies during his two seasons at the club . Differences: But he felt that manager Pep Guardiola's tactics did not suit his style of play . VIDEO Transfer round up . Mandzukic's most recent action came for Croatia at this summer's World Cup. He was suspended for their 3-1 defeat in the opener against Brazil, but returned to score twice in their 4-0 mauling of Cameroon. Unfortunately, though, a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Mexico in their final group game meant that they failed to progress from Group A. | Mandzukic on verge of £17.5m move to Atletico Madrid .
28-year-old set to sign five-year deal with the club, according to Bild .
Departure comes following the arrival of Robert Lewandowski .
Indicated his desire to leave the club earlier in the summer . |
273,197 | ede50aeca0c263db82501ef5ca7acaf328ad91c3 | By . Nick Mcdermott . PUBLISHED: . 18:56 EST, 20 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:57 EST, 20 March 2013 . An end to the ban on hunting with dogs has been called for by Environment Secretary Owen Paterson. Speaking in an interview, he said ‘no-one is more keen than me to see the Hunting Act repealed because I believe in the management of wildlife’. Last year, Mr Paterson, 56, said he was not expecting a vote on the issue in 2013, because it was clear the Government would lose. But speaking to Country Life magazine, he made his views on the controversial matter perfectly clear.Hunting with dogs was outlawed by Labour in 2005. Stance: Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has called for the ban on hunting with dogs to be scrapped . But in their 2010 manifesto, the Conservatives promised a free Parliamentary vote on whether to overturn the ban, but many doubt it will happen because of Liberal Democrat opposition. A keen rider, Mr Paterson, the Tory MP for North Shropshire, is seen as the Cabinet’s leading supporter of hunting and other country sports. To the delight of the farming community, he has controversially given the go-ahead for two pilot badger culls later this year, despite widespread opposition from conservationists and wildlife charities. Speaking on the issue, he said: ‘You’re talking to the only MP who had a pet badger as a child, but in October [when the cull was first postponed], the situation was being portrayed as an either-or-vaccine or cull - and I was a bloodthirsty idiot. Hunt: Mr Paterson says the ban should be repealed because he believes in 'the management of wildlife' ‘The vaccine is 10 years away and we’re heading for total costs to the taxpayer of £1billion. We all respect the science, and the best examples of that is how culling has worked in Ireland-where the disease is at an all-time low-New Zealand, Australia and America.’ He has also come out as keen proponent of genetically-modified (GM) crops and argues they should be sold in Europe, despite consumers concerns about ‘Frankenstein foods’. It is understood he has the firm backing of Chancellor George Osborne, who believes GM food could provide opportunities for British farmers. The Environment Secretary says culling has worked in Ireland and other developed countries . But the Mail has highlighted concerns over GM-foods for years - dismissed by Mr Paterson as ‘complete nonsense’ - amid fears that tampering with their genes could damage natural ecosystems or even affect human health. Mr Paterson yesterday vowed to fight to wean farmers off subsidies as part of a massive overhaul of Europe’s costly agriculture policy. After late-night talks in Brussels, Mr Paterson has called for a reduction on EU support in a bid to make the sector more competitive. He said: ‘I’m pressing for further progress towards an open market that makes farmers less dependent on subsidies.’ The full interview appears in this week’s Country Life. | Owen Paterson says he believes ban should be overturned .
Also expresses support for managing animal levels .
Reveals in interview that he is a proponent of GM crops . |
176,252 | 7029841d5de35cdc58ddf51a0201f09b5e2dacf5 | The world’s longest prehistoric animal dung is set to go up for auction next week. The fossilised excrement dates back to the Oligocene and Minocene Epochs, which makes it anywhere from 5.3 to 33.9 million years old. Found in Lewis County, Washington State the giant dung is expected to reach £4,700 to £5,800 ($8,000 to $10,000) when it goes under the hammer on 22 July . The longest ancient animal dung on Earth (shown) is going up for auction in Los Angeles. It measures 40 inches (one metre) in length and has a pale brown-yellow colour. Auctioneer I.M. Chait expects it to reach up to £5,800 ($10,000) when it goes under the hammer on 22 July . The lack of vast amounts of fossilised dinosaur feces has baffled scientists for years. However, Slovakian researchers believe the answer lies in the diet of cockroaches, which might have dined on dinosaur waste millions of years ago. Using cutting-edge imaging methods, the scientists discovered particles of wood inside an ancient cockroach’s gut, which they think came from dinosaur feces. Researchers from the Slovak Academy of Sciences in Slovakia said that dinosaurs certainly must have produced a lot of feces, and yet fossils of the waste are not very widely discovered. ‘Although appearing trivial, cockroaches, one of the dominant insect orders during the Mesozoic, were never examined as representing top candidates for partial processors of dinosaur dung,’ they wrote in their study. The dung is what is known as coprolite, fossilised feces that can provide information about an animal’s diet rather than just its appearance. It is described by Beverly Hills auctioneers I.M. Chait as an ‘eye-watering 40 inches [one metre] in length’. However, research has failed to reveal what animal the excrement originated from. ‘This truly spectacular specimen is possibly the longest example of coprolite - fossilised dinosaur feces - ever to be offered at auction,’ said Josh Chait, spokesman for the auctioneer. 'It boasts a wonderfully even, pale brown-yellow colouring and terrifically detailed texture to the heavily botryoidal [globular] surface across the whole of its immense length. ‘The passer of this remarkable object is unknown, but it is nonetheless a highly evocative specimen of unprecedented size.' He continued that the specimen was 'presented in four sections, each with a heavy black marble custom base, an eye-watering 40 inches [one metre] in length overall.’ Despite being many millions of years old the excrement is not thought to have belonged to a dinosaur though, as these animals existed only up until 66 million years ago. Also for sale are a selection of five stool-shaped specimens thought to have come from a Miocene turtle, 23.03 to 5.332 million years ago, estimated to sell for £2,300 to £3,500 ($4,000 to 6,000). 'Although it is often impossible to tell which species produced these fascinating petrified feces, it is supposed that the fine examples found in a small area of Washington State are from a Miocene turtle,' said Mr Chait. 'It is also suggested that rather than being coprolites, they are in fact cololites, internal casts of the intestine.' Also for sale are a selection of five stool-shaped specimens thought to have come from a Miocene turtle, 23.03 to 5.332 million years old, estimated to sell for £2,300 to £3,500 ($4,000 to 6,000). Pictured is the collection of the cololites (fossilised intestinal cast) thought to be from the turtle's intestine . | Longest prehistoric animal dung on Earth up for auction in Los Angeles .
It measures 40 inches in length and is 5.3 to 33.9 million years old .
Auctioneer I.M. Chait expects it to reach $10,000 when under the hammer .
Fossilised feces of this sort if is known as coprolite and can reveal diet info .
However researchers aren't sure what dinosaur it originated from . |
199,857 | 8eb8eea8880cfa20a9db187c0f765a53ad38e00c | By . Alex Greig . PUBLISHED: . 16:26 EST, 21 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:26 EST, 21 December 2013 . A California police department has received a 37,000 armored truck that was once used in military training exercises. The Salinas Police Department took ownership of the hulking tank-like vehicle on December 17 and parked it in front of the town's Rotunda for public viewing. The $650,000 truck has caused quite a stir in the town, with many residents questioning why a military armored vehicle would be needed in civilian situations. New toy: (left to right) SWAT officers Detective Rivera, Detective McKinley, Sergeant Murray, Chief McMillin and Detective Fors pose in front of the new vehicle . The truck provides protection from handgun and rifle fire as well as explosions. It will be used for the Salinas SWAT team and can transport eight to 10 officers at a time. In a press release, Police chief Kelly McMillin said the department was in desperate need of a replacement for the 1986 Ford money carrier officers used as a rescue vehicle. 'For some time the converted armored car has been in very poor condition; the roof leaks water and the vehicle has been in constant need of mechanical repair. Due to its low ballistic rating the armored car never truly provided adequate protection,' reads the release. McMillin says the vehicle came to the department free of charge as part of the 1033 program which reallocates government equipment for use by law enforcement agencies. It has never been deployed abroad. A picture posted of the vehicle on the Salinas Police Department's Facebook page garnered varied responses, from enthusiastic support to suspicion. 'That armored vehicle is a disgrace to cops,' wrote one commentator. '...What happened to courage, honor, integrity. That vehicle is made for war. Do not use my safety to justify that vehicle. To better protect me, it's a joke. Come clean and tell the truth. The Salinas Police Department is just a bunch of cowards that want to use that vehicle as intimidation and to terrorize the citizens of this city.' Bigger parking spot: The huge military truck is the newest addition to the police department's fleet of vehicles . Another said, 'The Salinas Police Department shows courage, honor and integrity each day they go out on the streets to protect us. This vehicle will not intimidate any law abiding citizens. If it offends gang members.....GOOD! McMillin says the vehicle, while imposing, will only be used to protect citizens and officers, but some members of the community feel that such a war-like vehicle is unnecessary. 'To stop gang members? Hmmm gang members don't riot in mass numbers. It's right in front of our faces and we don't see it. Why would the ARMY!!! give something like that for FREE!!! Let's think for once people,' said a Facebook commentator. Another agreed: 'And Obama said we don't need military weapons in hands of citizens!' Chief Kelly McMillin responded on the Salinas Police Department's Facebook page. 'I have been reading with great interest the comments of those who feel strongly about this vehicle and the implications it has as regards the policing of Salinas,' he wrote. 'Every man and woman in the Salinas Police Department took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. We take that oath seriously. I thank God we live in a country where we can have this conversation, challenge each other, and challenge the government on how it does its job. Even though I may not agree with all of you, thanks for having a civil discussion.' According to KSBW, the truck's height has already helped the force arrest a dangerous suspect, who was spotted by police running from several blocks away. | The armored truck was given free of charge to the department as part of the 1033 program that reallocates government equipment .
Some residents believe that the imposing vehicle is a military weapon with no place in civilian life .
Police Chief Kelly McMillin says the vehicle will only be used to protect officers and citizens . |
257,256 | d8f1896050aa722fd471f3aa15c4131bb9fbb5ac | PUBLISHED: . 15:44 EST, 30 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 15:50 EST, 30 November 2012 . The original Batmobile is to go under the hammer for the first time, 47 years after its designer built it from an old Lincoln Futura - that he bought for $1. American car customiser George Barris transformed the banger into the sleek black vehicle that starred in the legendary film and TV series in 1966. Now the 87-year-old, who has owned it ever since, has decided to sell the caped crusader’s company car - which he today called the 'most valuable car in the world'. The 'most valuable car in the world': George Barris (pictured) has decided to sell the original Batmobile 47 years after he built it from an old Lincoln Futura . It will be auctioned off by Barrett Jackson on January 19 at its sale in Scottsdale, Arizona with both auction house and owner tight-lipped on the car’s reserve. However both parties expect the 19ft long piece of automotive history will sell for 'multiple millions'. The Batmobile started out as a 1955 Lincoln Futura which Barris bought from Ford in 1965 for a nominal $1. He then spent 15 days and $15,000 transforming the concept car into the one-of-a-kind Batmobile to be driven by actor Adam West. Appealing: The Batmobile (pictured with Adam West as Batman) uses a V8 engine and automatic gearbox. It's unmistakeable design and famous history will appeal to collectors . Making history: Adam West, in full Batman costume, drives the original Batmobile, which is really a 1955 Lincoln Futura concept car weighing nearly three tons . George said yesterday: 'I think it is . the most valuable car in the world and the public really get a kick out . of it when they see it. 'I . designed and built the Batmobile and I have shown it all around the . world but now I think it is time that someone else can enjoy it. 'Over . the years I have built many cars and I always get attached to them and . it will be sad to see it go but I would like someone else to enjoy it . now. 'When I created it I wanted to make it a star like Adam West and Burt Ward. It was not just a car.' The Batmobile uses a V8 engine and . automatic gearbox but it is its unmistakable design and famous history . which will appeal to collectors. And if it sells for the £2 million Barrett Jackson hopes, it will rank among TV and film’s most valuable cars. The . Aston Martin DB5 driven by Sean Connery’s James Bond in Goldfinger sold . at a London auction in 2010 for £2.6 million while the Ford GT40 used . by Steve McQueen in 1971 film Le Mans fetched £6.5 million earlier this . year. Holy moley! Batman, Robin, the Green Hornet and Kato discuss the merits of the Batmobile and Black Beauty on a corner in Gotham City . Dream team: Adam West, and Burt Ward as Batman and Robin in the Batmobile. Mr Barris spent 15 days and $15,000 transforming the concept car . Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson, said: 'The Batmobile is true Americana and it’s hard to put a dollar figure on something like that. 'The difference is that this is the real deal, the original and the only one to have been on the Batman series - it’s been in George Barris’ garage for all these years and that is invaluable. 'This vehicle not only marks the significant Bat logo that sits on the middle of its door, but a time in television history where they defied the odds of making a car the real star of the show. 'It revolutionised an entire industry that followed in its footsteps and we couldn’t be prouder to have it cross our block in Scottsdale as it goes up for sale for the very first time. 'We expect plenty of enthusiasts and fans to come out and wouldn’t be surprised if the car sold for multiple millions.' | American car customiser George Barris .
transformed a Lincoln Futura for the legendary film and TV series in .
1966 and has owned it ever since .
He bought it from Ford in 1965 for a nominal $1, then spent 15 days and $15,000 transforming it into the Batmobile, driven by Adam West .
It is expected to fetch over $2million at auction on January 19 in Arizona . |
189,924 | 81e9847447079231f3262f631b6a6ffe50a3f305 | A father told last night of his anguish and betrayal after discovering a friend had stolen his wife and his identity... and vanished for 25 years. Martyn Foster was left to bring up his two young children alone when his wife Susan went missing in 1988. The trail remained cold until police took a second look at the missing persons inquiry two years ago and traced Mrs Foster 150 miles away in Kent – where she was found living with Mr Foster’s former friend Michael Evans – a wanted paedophile. Michael Evans was due to stand trial for child sex offences in May 1988, when he ran away . At the time his wife had gone missing, Mr Foster did not realise his friend had also vanished. But he began to wonder whether they could be together and his suspicions were confirmed in 2007 when he found out by chance Evans had applied for a passport in his name. Yesterday, Mr Foster spoke of his ordeal after Evans was finally convicted of the historical sex offences for which he had fled justice. Mr Foster, 59, said: ‘In all those years I never once heard from my wife and neither did my children. We had no idea where she was. ‘All I could do was get on with my life, which was very difficult with two children under six.’ Evans – then known as Michael Kime – fled with Susan in May 1988, three weeks before he was due to stand trial for ten child sex offences. Susan Foster, now Evans, ran off with her best friend's husband and left her two young daughters behind . The pair, both now 61, changed their surnames by deed poll to Evans. Mr Foster, from Grantham, Lincolnshire, told how officials missed an opportunity to bring the couple to justice seven years ago. By then, long after suspecting the pair were together, Mr Foster had remarried for a second time. Susan Evans also took her husband's Gibson SG guitar, which was similar to this one owned by the former Beatles star, George Harrison . He applied for a passport to go on holiday with third wife Carole, 63, but was told a document had already been issued in his name. When officials printed off a picture of the man who obtained the passport, Mr Foster confirmed it was Evans. But it appears Passport Office officials failed to report the matter to police, allowing the couple to remain on the run. Lincoln Crown Court heard last month how Evans – who had abandoned a girlfriend and daughter when he fled – worked on farms in Kent picking fruit. He used Mr Foster’s birth and marriage certificates to obtain a passport to travel to Crete to pick olives. He later also obtained a driving licence in Mr Foster’s name. Mr Foster heard nothing about his former wife until a cold case review tracked her to Margate in 2012. Evans was formally arrested the following year. He stood trial for the historical sex offences last month, after the pair had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to pervert the course of justice from 1988 to December 2013. They will be sentenced next month. After Evans was arrested, his victim made a fresh statement detailing how she was abused by him from the age of eight. Mr Foster believes his wife met Evans while working at a bar, but said he had no inkling they were having an affair. He said: ‘One night Susan told me she was going to a party. We had a babysitter as I was going out to the pub. When I came home she wasn’t back. 'The next morning I realised some of her clothes were gone. 'Whatever Evans has done, she has gone along with him for the last 25 years. I hope they have a nice time in jail.’ Evans’s daughter described her father as a ‘complete monster’. Toni Charlton, 30, said: ‘I was five when he went missing. All I can remember is he put on his big boots and was gone. 'All I would want would be to ask why. Why did you walk out on us, why did you abuse your victim? He is a bad, bad man.’ | Martyn Foster's wife Susan disappeared with his best friend in May 1988 .
He had no idea where she was and had to bring up their daughters alone .
It was weeks before Michael Evans was to stand trial for child sex offences .
Police discovered the couple living together in Kent just two years ago .
Evans was convicted of ten sexual offences against an eight-year-old girl .
Couple also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to pervert the course of justice . |
9,508 | 1af2ea4ae9caffa06f9b47bdfcbfbe55f41a09ca | (CNN) -- Costa Rica's appeal against its recent 1-0 defeat by the United States played out in a snowstorm has been blown away by soccer's global governing body FIFA. The Costa Rican Football Federation complained to FIFA following last week's 2014 World Cup qualifier in Colorado, which was played in blizzard-like conditions. Costa Rica argued the markings on the pitch were not visible, while also suggesting the snow affected the "physical integrity" of the players and hampered the movement of the ball. But the protest has been dismissed by FIFA on the grounds that Costa Rica failed to follow official regulations in its protest, meaning the U.S. team's first win of the North and Central American and Caribbean qualification competition is secure. Pedro's Point of View: Juventus Europe's dark horses? "FIFA received a letter via email from the Costa Rica FA on 24 March 2013 with regards to the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier played on 22 March between USA and Costa Rica," said a FIFA statement. "FIFA has examined the content of the letter and, taking into consideration article 14, paragraph 4 of the 2014 FIFA World Cup regulations, has confirmed that the conditions established in the regulations for an official protest have not been met by the Costa Rica FA. "Therefore, the result of the match played on 22 March stands and is considered as valid." The Costa Rican federation had also called for the officials at the match at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City to be sanctioned. The win was vital for U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who had come in for criticism following a 2-1 defeat to Honduras last month. The victory lifted the U.S. into second place, behind leaders Honduras. The U.S. face another huge match on Tuesday against southern neighbors Mexico in Mexico City. The Americans first ever win in Mexico came in a friendly match last August. The top three countries from the group will qualify directly for next year's tournament in Brazil, while the fourth-placed team will play off against the Oceania group winners New Zealand. Costa Rica are bottom of the North, Central America and Caribbean group with just one point. | FIFA rejects Costa Rica's appeal over 1-0 defeat to United States .
Costa Rica unhappy with the snowstorm conditions in Colorado .
The win was the U.S.'s first of the 2014 World Cup qualifying competition .
Jurgen Klinsmann's team play neighbors Mexico on Tuesday . |
136,240 | 3c3ed46b7fada1ccdbdfe5f28db91ab7841795e9 | (CNN) -- It's National Pet Week and Be Kind to Animals Week -- yes, our fuzzy overlords are so powerful, they now get simultaneous celebratory weeks. Whether fluffy or smooth, scaly or wet, here are some facts about our animal friends, by the numbers. 55.53 billion - The estimated number of dollars to be spent on pets in the United States in 2013. 82.5 million - The number of U.S. households with pets in 2012. 63.2 - The percentage of pet owners surveyed in 2011 who considered their pets members of the family. 70 - The percentage of Americans who considered themselves "dog people," according to a 2006 Gallup Poll. 20 - The percentage who told Gallup they liked cats better. 70 million - The number of pet dogs in the United States in 2012. 74.1 million - The number of pet cats in the United States in 2012. Less than 1% - The estimated percentage of dogs and cats in the United States that are covered by pet insurance. 14 - The average number of dollars spent annually on veterinary care for pet birds. 75 - The maximum number of years a parrot is likely to live. Types of parrots include macaws, cockatoos and lovebirds. 56 - The percentage of dogs in the United States that sleep in bed with their owners. For cats, it's 63%. Almost 12 - The number of inches a regular-sized aquarium goldfish can grow after being returned to the wild. 25 - The number of years microchips will last when implanted in pets. The chips can help recover lost pets. 5-7 million - The number of pets entering U.S. shelters every year. About half are strays and half are surrendered by their owners. 12.4 million - The record-setting number of "unique viewers" who watched Animal Planet's ninth annual "Puppy Bowl," on February 3, 2013. 2-4 million - The number of puppies born each year in U.S. "puppy mills," as of 2012. 8 - The average number of years a pet snake lives. 7 - The number of states that don't regulate or restrict potentially dangerous captive wildlife as pets, including big cats, large reptiles or bears. 4 - The number of dollars it cost to buy a "Pet Rock" in 1975, possibly one of the easiest pets to take care of, ever! Follow @CNNLiving on Twitter or on Facebook! | This week is National Pet Week and Be Kind to Animals Week .
Americans will spend more than $55 billion on pets in 2013, an industry group says .
Industry group: Almost 83 million U.S. homes had pets in 2012 .
Gallup: 70% of Americans call themselves "dog people" |
233,942 | badcd04262957c4013c90863d31b2709f6164079 | A second juror has been dismissed in the murder trial of former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez. Superior Court Judge Susan Garsh said Wednesday she had dismissed a juror for personal reasons that have nothing to do with the case. That's the same explanation she gave to jurors last week when she dismissed another juror. The judge said that juror had discussed evidence in the case. That female juror allegedly discussed the case outside the courtroom and attended more Patriots games than she told the court. Another one gone: A second juror was dismissed from the Aaron Hernandez murder trial on Wednesday (Hernandez pictured in court on Wednesday) No explanation: Superior Court Judge E Susan Garsh did not elaborate on why another juror was dismissed from the trial on Wednesday. Pictured above in court on February 6, 2015 . Garsh started Wednesday's session by saying she received a note from a juror about an issue. The lawyers, Hernandez and then the juror were brought in to discuss the issue with the judge - though it's not clear what they talked about. When the judge ordered the jury back into the court room, there were 16 jurors left - the one who was questioned was among them. Garsh did not give more details Wednesday. She ended the session for the day after about two hours, citing unspecified scheduling issues. The panel is now made up of 10 women and six men. Twelve will ultimately decide Hernandez's fate. Alternates will be selected randomly immediately before deliberations. Hernandez is accused of the June 2013 killing of Odin Lloyd, who was dating his fiancée's sister. Yesterday, Hernandez's 25-year-old fiancée Shayanna Jenkins was granted immunity in the trial - a move likely made so that prosecutors can call her to testify. The grant of immunity may mean that the football player's girlfriend will not be able to invoke her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination if she takes the witness stand. Prosecutors have said Jenkins lied to a grand jury dozens of times including when she said she didn't know what she did with a box she took from the basement of their home. They say it contained possible evidence leading to Mr Lloyd's killer. Jenkins has pleaded not guilty to perjury. Jenkins still lives in Hernandez's North Attleborough mansion with their 2-year-old daughter. | The juror was dismissed Wednesday morning in the murder trial of the former New England Patriots player .
Judge discussed issue with lawyers, Hernandez and another juror .
When jury was brought back into court room, the pool was down one and the juror who was previously talking to the judge was present .
Judge would not explain why a juror had been dismissed .
On Tuesday, court granted immunity to Hernandez's fiancée Shayanna Jenkins .
Hernandez is on trial for allegedly murdering the boyfriend of Jenkins' sister in 2013 . |
182,728 | 78a3ef3f84cff834603de0a84d9f0bd4ca1d2b7f | By . James Temperton, Computer Active Magazine . PUBLISHED: . 19:02 EST, 4 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 11:02 EST, 5 March 2014 . Hundreds of NHS websites have huge security flaws that could see them taken over or defaced by hackers. During investigations, more than 2,000 vulnerabilities have been found, with experts warning criminals could use these flaws to easily infect people’s computers and steal their personal information. There are said to be around 5,000 NHS domains - covering everything from GPs' surgeries to sites that help people give up smoking or offer advice on breastfeeding. However, because there’s no central body responsible for the security and maintenance of these sites, many are abandoned, making them easy prey for hackers. Read the full story in Computer Active magazine, out now . More than 2,000 vulnerabilities have been found during a Computer Active investigation into NHS websites. There are around 5,000 NHS domains, but because there's no central body responsible for the security and maintenance of these sites, many are abandoned making them easy prey for hackers . The majority of these flaws are caused by outdated versions of WordPress. Around 400 ‘.nhs.uk’ websites run WordPress - a popular website-building tool - but fewer than 50 of these use the latest, most secure version. Five NHS websites run a version of WordPress that was last updated in 2008. The investigation was carried out by a security researcher and Computer Active magazine, pictured, on sale now . Outdated versions of WordPress are constantly targeted by hackers. In September 2013, security experts estimated 70 per cent of all websites running WordPress were vulnerable. In addition to old versions of WordPress, many of the NHS sites run outdated plug-ins. The vast majority of these websites also use unsecured administrator login pages. This means that when a website . administrator logs in, their username and password are sent without . encryption, making them vulnerable to interception by a hacker, who . could gain complete control of the site. Terence Eden, an independent . security researcher uncovered the flaws and has informed the NHS. He likened the situation to someone 'walking past a house and seeing a wide . open window. 'An attacker . could use the site to host viruses - or automatically redirect users to . convincing-looking fake sites. An attacker could also change the site to . look like the NHS is endorsing and selling dodgy pills and potions,' Eden explained. Eden said that bugs on old versions of . WordPress could also let criminals steal passwords and other personal . information, which in turn could compromise the integrity of the NHS. 'If . people are not able to trust the information present on their local . hospital’s website, they are less likely to trust the NHS.' Is visiting NHS sites going to infect my computer? Any website could be compromised by hackers, but poorly coded websites running outdated and vulnerable code are easy targets. At . the moment hackers aren’t targeting these NHS websites - but the . security flaws uncovered show that they would be alarmingly easy to . attack. Is it dangerous for me to visit any WordPress site?Absolutely . not. In the same way you’d keep software on your PC updated, a . website’s security also needs to be kept up to scratch to protect it . against attack. WordPress is a popular tool for building attractive and . easy-to- use websites, with nearly 76 million sites using it. Why are old versions of WordPress so vulnerable?Just . as you keep software on your computer up to date, websites also need . regular updates to keep them safe. This is where some NHS websites have . failed. Of the 5,000 or so websites using the ‘.nhs.uk’ domain about 400 . of them run WordPress. What’s worrying is that fewer than 50 are . running the latest version, WordPress 3.8.1. Even more alarmingly, some . sites – such as a stop smoking advice website for Somerset NHS – are . running versions of WordPress that were released in August 2008. You . wouldn’t run a computer that was last updated five years ago - the same . applies to websites. What is ‘cross-site scripting’ and why is it dangerous?Also . known as XSS, cross-site scripting allows a hacker to exploit the ‘user . input’ part of a website, such as a search box, to run malicious code. This vulnerability means anyone with the right know-how can make images, . links, text or video appear on a website. By doing this a hacker could . add anything they wanted to an NHS website. Most websites block this . code from running, but poorly designed websites don’t. One . NHS website, which offers advice on breastfeeding, contains a . cross-site scripting vulnerability that lets anyone add their own . images, videos, text and links to pages. To . demonstrate this, Eden added a video of a bear fishing for . salmon to this NHS webpage. In the hands of a criminal this could easily . be a pornographic video or link to a malicious website that steals your . personal information and infects your computer. Since Eden hacked this site, Liverpool city council’s Public Health department, which has responsibility for it, has fixed the issue and said it is 'satisfied the site is now secure.' In another example, Eden showed that a website about improving the quality of NHS leadership and patient care could easily be altered to contain links to websites selling fake sexual aids. The majority of the flaws are caused by outdated versions of WordPress. Around 400 '.nhs.uk' websites run WordPress but fewer than 50 of these use the latest, most secure version. Five NHS websites, including this stop smoking service from Somerset NHS, run a version of WordPress last updated in 2008 . The Health and Social Care Information . Centre (HSCIC), which processes applications for ‘.nhs.uk’ domain . names, said that responsibility for upkeep lay 'with the organisation . running each website or service.' After being made aware of the security . flaws HSCIC said it was 'drafting some additional guidance' that will . be issued to anyone using an NHS domain. Despite this, nearly all the flaws highlighted are still present and exploitable. In . most cases, GP surgeries and local NHS bodies outsource the development . of their websites to specialist private companies, with many seemingly . never updated. Bill Douglas, head of Applications at the Cheshire and Merseyside Commissioning Support Unit, explained that while the main NHS Choices website is maintained by a central IT team, local websites merely had to follow 'some general guidelines.' To demonstrate the flaw, security researcher Terence Eden added a video of a bear fishing for salmon to an NHS webpage, pictured. Liverpool city council's Public Health department has now fixed the issue on this site and said it is 'satisfied the site is secure' One software company, responsible for . the development of 'many hundreds' of NHS websites for GP surgeries, added that once a website had been developed it was the surgery’s . responsibility to keep it updated. Computer Active also found a number of security flaws in many of the company’s NHS . websites that left them vulnerable to a cross-site scripting attack via . HTML injection. This can make it easy for hackers to change how a site . looks by adding their own images, videos, text and links. This flaw has . now been fixed. Simon Edwards, head of Dennis Technology Labs said that because people are more likely to trust NHS websites, they were a very attractive target for criminals. 'The old advice about avoiding pornographic websites, cracked software and other dubious parts of the internet still holds, but threats are not limited to these places,' he warned. 'When we test security software it’s common to find that the malicious software is stored and downloaded from innocent websites that have been hacked.' | Security researchers found more than 2,000 vulnerabilities in NHS websites .
There are 5,000 NHS domains but no central body is responsible for security and maintenance .
The majority of flaws are caused by outdated versions of Wordpress .
Five NHS websites run a version of Wordpress last updated in 2008 .
Many of these websites also use unsecured administrator login pages .
Criminals could hack these trusted sites, add malicious links, steal personal information or even advertise dangerous drugs . |
118,195 | 249d034cd689ef5104356b55ed4a05b8cb99a4dc | The great escapes of a paratrooper who survived a firing squad, escaped from a prisoner of war camp and was shot four times in battle have emerged after his medals were put up for auction. Lieutenant Percy 'Clem' Clements became one of the most highly-decorated soldiers of the Second World War for his heroics and acts of bravery. Now the Nottingham-born soldier's medals, along with a map he used to escape from the Italian camp, a diary he kept while on the run and a memo written as he lay injured in the 1944 Battle of the Bulge have been put up for sale by his family, with the awards expected to sell for £40,000. Great escapes: Second World War Paratrooper Lieutenant Percy 'Clem' Clements survived a firing squad, escaped from a prisoner of war camp and was shot four times in battle . Medal haul: Lt Clements became one of the most highly-decorated soldiers of the Second World War for his heroics and acts of bravery, receiving the Distinguished Conduct Medal, Military Cross and Military Medal . Lt Clements was a founding member of the airborne SAS and was involved in the very first British paratroop drop over Italy in 1941. A group of 35 men, including Lt Clements, were captured after the successful mission to blow up an aquaduct. They were stripped and lined up against a wall in front of 20 irate civilians armed with shotguns. However, just as the order to fire was about to be given, an Italian army officer arrived on horseback and put a stop to the summary execution that would have been in breach of the Geneva Convention. Lt Clements then spent two and a half years in a PoW camp during which time he established clandestine communications between fellow captured officers and the War Office. He managed to escape in 1943 and spent 22 days walking more than 100 miles to reach the advancing Allied forces in Italy. Troop: Clements is pictured in the back row, immediately to the right of the parachute hole, alongside his comrades from Xi Troop, 11 SAS Battallion at Tatton Park in Cheshire before their deployment . Lt Clements rejoined his battalion and went into the Ardennes Forest in Belgium during the infamous Battle of the Bulge in December 1944. Heavily outnumbered and facing German Tiger tanks in one action, he led his men in a fighting withdrawal and was shot four times, in the stomach, arm and leg. His two stretcher bearers were killed as they carried him but he continued to direct the retreat while lying down until he passed out from blood loss. Lt Clements won the prestigious Distinguished Conduct Medal, Military Cross and Military Medal for his bravery, with the medal group being sold at London auction house Spinks later this month. Tools: A tiny Escaper's Compass, used by Lt Clements during his escape from the prisoner of war camp . Being auctioned alongside it is a tiny compass in the form of a button, a covert map he used during his escape in Italy and the diary documenting his escape. There is also an incredible note Lt Clements started to write as he lay wounded in the Ardennes. The message was to summon an ambulance for injured comrades but he passed out before he could finish it. 'Clem Clements’ medals are very rare group, quite possibly unique in terms of the combination of gallantry awards,' said Mark Quayle from Spinks. 'He was one of the most decorated airborne troops of the Second World War who never knew when he was beaten. He kept coming back for more up until the point he was wounded four times on the same occasion. 'The fact that he survived a fire squad tells you just how remarkable his story of survival was.' Lt Clements, from Nottingham, joined the army in 1928 and following the outbreak of the Second World War volunteered for special service. The British airborne unit was formed at the behest of Winston Churchill and carried out Operation Colossus in February 1941. After blowing up the Tragino Aqueduct, the group were sent to meet up with a Royal Navy submarine off the coast 80 miles away. But they were hunted down by a mob of 250 civilians, and a member of the raiding party shot and killed two Italians before the soldiers surrendered. Lt Clements said in an interview later: 'We were marched over to a bare patch where the bodies lay and a very hysterical civilian with two pistols assumed charge of a firing squad of 12 civilians armed with some ancient double and single barrel shotguns.' One ringleader incited the crowd to avenge the death of the two locals and show no mercy to the British troops. He reached the point of raising his arm to command the firing squad to take aim. 'What saved us was the fact the hysterical chap liked to hear himself talk and while he was still raving a W.O of the carabinieri came up and took over,' Lt Clements wrote. After his escape and march to freedom while being pursued by the Germans, Lt Clements was awarded the DCM for his ‘gallant and distinguished service’ as a PoW and subsequent escape. Prisoners: 'X' troop prisoners at Sulmona Camp, where Lt Clements was held for two and a half years, during which time he established clandestine communications between fellow captured officers and the War Office. He managed to escape in 1943 . He was commissioned into the 12th Parachute Regiment in August 1944 and four months later was sent in to Belgium. His platoon were ordered to occupy a hill overlooking the town of Bure but found themselves virtually surrounded by German forces. Lt Clements gave orders to withdraw but was shot in the stomach. Despite the severity of his wound he continued to give orders and successfully extracted his men before he was hit three more times and eventually passed out. He was awarded the Military Cross for leading his men with distinction against heavy armour and was later awarded the Military Medal for his outstanding leadership. After the war, Lt Clements took up a civilian post with the Ministry of Defence in Shropshire, where he moved with wife Eileen. He died in 1998. His son is Brigadier David Clements who served in Iraq as deputy to American general David Patraeus. 'His wounds (which he only survived because of his exceptional fitness) meant that he had to leave the Army after his recovery and he then worked until his retirement as a Civil Servant in the Ministry of Defence,' wrote Brig Clements in a piece for historical website ParaData. 'Clem Clements was a modest man and was embarrassed to be regarded as one of the most highly decorated members of the airborne forces he helped found. 'All who served with him paid tribute to his courage, determination and inspirational leadership. Younger men on the parachute raid, and later in the POW Camp, came to value his advice, assistance and irrepressible humour. All agree that he was indeed "a man among men" and one of the great fighting soldiers of the British Army.' The auction takes place in London on November 20. | Lieutenant Percy 'Clem' Clement was one of WW2's most decorated men .
He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, Military Cross and Military Medal for his bravery during the conflict .
Medal group is now being sold at auction and is expected to sell for £40,000 .
Also on sale is covert map he used during his escape from Italian POW camp .
His diary from his time on the run and a compass will also be sold .
Sale includes note Lt Clements wrote while wounded in Battle of the Bulge . |
229,418 | b513e88bfceaa5778188ed2deb6fb18be77a8285 | Washington (CNN) -- Talk about a tall order. A Congress that can agree on little has 12 scheduled work days to forge a compromise on one of the most volatile issues -- immigration -- before going home for all of August. Failure to find agreement in the next three weeks means no immediate help for a U.S. immigration system overwhelmed by tens of thousands of children from Central America illegally entering the country in recent months. Republicans and Democrats are refining their opening positions this week as officials scramble to keep up with the unprecedented influx amid the hyperpartisan political climate of a congressional election year. Both sides appear supportive of spending more money. The sticking points involve how much to spend on what, as well as the broader policy issue of who gets deported and how fast. What's happened so far . Facing chronic violence at home and motivated by the belief they won't get sent back by the United States, an unprecedented surge of unaccompanied minors from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador continues traveling through Mexico to cross the border into Texas. Administration officials told a congressional hearing last week that almost 60,000 arrived since October 1, with up to 30,000 more expected by the end of the current fiscal year on September 30 -- well over twice the figure of the previous year. They face an immigration limbo of overcrowded holding centers, followed by transfer or release to await deportation hearings that can take months or years to happen and many don't attend. President Barack Obama last week requested $3.7 billion in emergency funding from Congress to respond to what his administration calls an urgent humanitarian situation. The request includes $1.8 billion to provide temporary care for children while they are in government custody, and $1.6 billion to bolster customs and border efforts while cracking down on smugglers. Another $300 million would help Mexico and the Central American governments discourage desperate parents from paying smugglers to get their children into the United States. Also, the Department of Homeland Security announced Monday it had sent about 40 recent arrivals including adults and children back to their home country of Honduras. It said more deportations to the three Central American nations were expected soon. First group of Hondurans deported from new U.S. facility . Republicans contend Obama created the problem by halting deportations of some child immigrants in recent years, a move they say invited more to come. They want any additional resources now to bolster border security and swiftly send back the new arrivals. Democrats argue that additional resources should speed up the processing of the child immigrants, with faster hearings to determine if they have the right to stay and quicker deportations if a judge issues a removal order. Meanwhile, the divisive issue plays out on streets in some affected areas, with protesters in one California town blocking buses transporting new arrivals to temporary facilities. The House . A Republican working group appointed by House Speaker John Boehner to come up with recommendations for legislation reports back Tuesday, with its findings expected to outline the GOP negotiating stance. Boehner already is under pressure from Obama and Democrats to bring up a broad Senate-passed immigration reform measure that would boost border security while providing a path to legal status for millions of longtime undocumented immigrants in the country. Conservatives oppose the Senate plan as an amnesty, knowing it would add millions of likely Democratic voters to election rolls. However, moderate Republicans fear continued GOP resistance to immigration reform supported by a broad coalition of business, faith and social leaders undermines the party's chances to increase its popularity with Hispanic Americans -- the nation's largest minority and an increasingly crucial election demographic. Boehner and other Republican leaders may consider the current border crisis an opportunity to show their willingness to agree on a narrow immigration measure while avoiding the sweep of comprehensive reforms pushed by Obama and Democrats in the Senate proposal. The 2008 trafficking law . Republicans and some Democrats appear focused on changing a 2008 law designed to crack down on child trafficking. The William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Action Act requires deportation hearings for child immigrants who show up at the border from all countries except for U.S. neighbors Mexico and Canada. It distinguished between neighboring and non-bordering countries because Mexicans or Canadians turned back at the border are in their home country, unlike those from Central American nations and elsewhere. Bipartisan border bill proposed . A proposal by two Texas legislators -- Republican Sen. John Cornyn and Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar -- would remove the hearing requirement, treating child immigrants from all countries the same. To address Democratic concerns, the measure also would allow children who are the victims of human trafficking or have a credible threat of persecution to appear before a judge to seek asylum in the United States, with a decision required within 72 hours of a child's claim. It was unclear if the Cornyn-Cuellar proposal would gain support from House Republicans, while a group of conservative southern House Democrats planned to meet Monday night with Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson to discuss the issue. No Senate Democrats have signed onto the Cornyn-Cuellar plan, with several party leaders including Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin of Illinois, Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy of Vermont and Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez of New Jersey expressing skepticism at the concept. Durbin set two conditions for his support: legal representation for child immigrants at deportation hearings, and proper social conditions back home if they get deported. The Cornyn-Cuellar proposal relies on existing law that calls on the Department of Health and Human Services to seek out pro bono legal counsel for the child immigrants, but it contains no requirement that they have legal counsel. "I think that would be a disaster for our immigration system," Cornyn said, warning of a prolonged hearing process that would "serve the goal of some of the people who want to come because it would be years before they were ever deported." At the White House, spokesman Josh Earnest said Monday that talks with legislators continued on possible revisions to the 2008 law, or leaving it intact while coming up with a separate proposal to give Johnson more flexibility. Earnest made clear that the administration wants arriving immigrants to get a full determination of their legal right to stay in the country. "We certainly would ensure that they receive the due process to which they are entitled," Earnest said. "But once that due process has run its course, if it's found that those individuals do not have a legal basis for remaining in the country, we would like the secretary of homeland security to be able to exercise the discretion necessary to repatriate that individual or those individuals." Political fallout . With all 435 House seats and about a third of the Senate up for election in November, both parties seek maximum political advantage from the issue. Republicans criticize Obama's policies for causing the border crisis and complain his administration has been slow to react. Some Democrats joined Republicans in saying the President should have gone to the Texas border to witness the situation for himself when he visited the Lone Star State last week. Obama and Democrats argue the broad reforms they support, which House Republicans have blocked after the Senate passed them, demonstrate their commitment to the plight of immigrants. Earnest noted that Obama proposed his $3.7 billion emergency funding request last week, with no substantive response as yet. "We've seen a lot of talk from Republicans about how urgent and pressing the situation is, but not a lot of action when it comes to acting on ... a detailed proposal that the President put forward eight days ago," he said. In a display of the high stakes involved, the White House planned to meet Wednesday with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to discuss concerns over expedited deportations, and also provide a briefing on Obama's funding request to the Senate. Use 'safe zones' to end immigrant crisis . CNN's Leigh Ann Caldwell, Ted Barrett and Deirdre Walsh contributed to this report. | NEW: Texas legislators unveil a proposal to hasten some deportations .
Divided on immigration, legislators tackle the surge of Central American children .
President Obama wants $3.7 billion to bolster an overwhelmed system .
U.S. government sends about 40 recent immigrants back to Honduras . |
148,461 | 4bfa956000f0ec0ce452afa5412bb57faa737aaf | (CNN) -- April 19 was perhaps the most harrowing day in the history of Watertown, Massachusetts -- the suburb where the manhunt for Boston Marathon bombing suspects Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev came to separate, bloodied conclusions. The numerous law enforcement agencies involved in the pursuit of the Tsarnaevs tracked the brothers to a residential Watertown neighborhood in the early-morning hours. The ensuing shootout ended with older brother, Tamerlan, dead, transit officer Richard Donohue seriously wounded and another 15 police officers injured. A wounded Dzhokhar Tsarnaev surrendered later that evening from a boat parked in a Watertown yard. Countless news cameras and smartphones captured images of the fear, valor and elation experienced in Watertown on that Friday; and now officials are looking for the best of those images for a 2014 calendar. "While we will never be able to put into words our gratitude for what our police did, we can try to let the photos from that night in April speak for themselves," Watertown Police Foundation board member Steve Messina said in a statement. "This calendar is meant to capture the best of those `snapshots' all in one place while also continuing to raise funds for the work that our police do." The foundation's website invites Watertown residents to submit photos of the "dramatic confrontation with the Marathon bombing suspects, pursuit and arrest." Leaked photos of the younger Tsarnaev's capture landed a Massachusetts State Police photographer in hot water back in July. Sgt. Sean Murphy provided Boston magazine with the unauthorized photos after Rolling Stone magazine put Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on its cover. Murphy called the cover "an insult" because, in his view, it didn't portray Dzhokhar Tsarnaev the right way. He was briefly suspended and has since been reassigned. His actions are being investigated. The foundation website also suggests photos of "the cheering afterwards, the tributes, parades, prayers, hugs and celebrations since. Interesting photos, compelling photos, preferably positive photos of the pride we all have in our Watertown Police and our town." Proceeds from the $13 calendar will go toward "worthwhile projects that support the work of the Watertown Police," according to a press release. The deadline for photo submissions is September 30. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev pleaded not guilty to killing four people and wounding more than 200. He is charged with 30 federal counts stemming from the April 15 attack, when a pair of bombs went off near the finish line of the packed course. A Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer was killed three days later at the start of the dramatic chase that led to Tsarnaev's capture. | Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was captured in Watertown; brother died in shootout .
Police foundation wants photos from that April night .
Calendar planned for 2014 . |
10,653 | 1e495349782540d85b6970a768dd55efbe195994 | Former boxer Eugene Maloney has spoken of his shock at learning his brother Frank was now a transexual called Kellie. Earlier this month the 61-year-old – who guided Lennox Lewis to the world heavyweight title – revealed he is undergoing a sex change and his ex-wife Tracey Maloney told of the breakdown of their 20-year relationship following the revelations. Eugene has told of the moment he learned through a newspaper article that his older brother had been living a double-life. Scroll down for video . Eugene Maloney, left with boxer Matt Skelton middle, has told of his shock at learning his brother Frank Maloney, right, was now a transexual called Kellie . Frank having underground a transformation to become Kellie, right, looks on before the IBF Cruiserweight World Championship fight in Germany on August 16 . He told the Sunday Mirror: 'I was shocked, I began shaking. 'I . couldn't believe what I was seeing. I went to buy my Sunday newspaper . and there it was, right in front of me - I saw my brother is now living . as a woman.' Eugene, . 58, and Frank had always been very close. They . shared a passion for boxing and chasing women, and as boys sung together in . their local, south London, church. After . learning of his brother's secret, Frank said he went home and took down photographs . he had of the pair together. In a state of shock, he said he cut the pictures up, as looking at them was too hurtful. Frank celebrates in the ring with Lennox Lewis who he guided to the world heavyweight title . Eugene . said he had no inkling his brother was unhappy as a man, saying: 'There . was no inkling at all that he ever seemed like he didn't want to be a . man. It's unbelieveable.' He . told how his brother was always a great lover of women. He had married . twice, always had girlfriends when he was younger, and would fly women . from around the world to spend time with him. Frank has two daughters, aged 17 and 13. Eugene said Frank's revelations have had a knock-on effect on the wider family. Last week three men confronted him as he waited for a bus, asking if he was 'that perv's brother',before punching him to the ground. He said their mother, Maureen, was taking the news hard. 'My . mum was always love her three sons, she will. But she's hurting. I . don't want to go into exactly what her thoughts are but she is in . shock.' | Eugene Maloney learned of his brother's sex change via a newspaper .
And was so saddened by the news he cut up pictures of the two together .
Last week he was attacked by three men at a bus stop over the revelations . |
260,980 | ddfffe975602dd65e4592f9fe6a45527acd6dc45 | A grandmother was left astonished after a photo posted on Facebook from her granddaughter’s christening appeared to show the ghost of her late husband. When Heather Sewell, 50, first saw the picture she immediately spotted the apparition, bearing a striking resemblance to her late husband Terry. The black and white face can be seen above the church font hovering over baby Mia-Bella Kennett and the rest of the family. Familiar face: The photograph taken at St.Martin's Church in Canterbury was posted on Facebook. Only later did grandmother Heather Sewell notice the face, circled, bearing a striking resemblance to her late husband Terry . The bizarre image was caught on camera at St Martin’s Church, Canterbury, Kent by Mrs Sewell's son Jamie, 29, on his mobile phone. It was only when the grandmother-of-two was looking through the photos online later that she spotted the familiar face beside the family. Outline: Mrs Sewell said she was shocked when she noticed the face in the picture taken during her granddaughter's christening . Mrs Sewell, from Petham, Kent, said she could not believe the likeness to her late husband. Terry Sewell, who worked as a labourer, died 17 years ago after committing suicide aged 41. Mrs Sewell, who works as a taxi driver, said it was 'upsetting' to see her husband's face. She said: ' I tried to convince myself . that it was not Terry - but it is so convincing that I believe it is. 'Terry had a long face and so does the ghost and it has the same hair style as Terry had. 'The ghost is also the same height as Terry was - about 5ft 8in. 'I am quite a superstitious person, but I am not over-the-top. 'I do believe there is something out there - there are too many things in the world we cannot explain.' She added: 'I was so shocked when I saw it, as we all were. 'It looks very much like Terry. I know there has been no photo trickery so it is all very spooky and perhaps not what you want to see at a christening. 'I was in the pub afterwards when I first saw the Facebook page and everyone was stunned because it’s so clear.' St Martin’s is the oldest church in the country that is still in use for religious services, but a ghostly encounter has never been reported previously at the church. Heather's daughter Gemma Sewell, 27, and her partner Jamie were joined by their older daughter Jaiden, 5, and two sets of godparents for Mia-Bella Kennett's Christening. | Heather Sewell noticed familiar face hovering over family in photo .
Grandmother shocked as face looks 'very much' like late husband Terry .
Picture was taken at St Martin’s Church in Canterbury . |
270,290 | ea0e790fd4ec66fa6d09025bb9f8c3f4395dd347 | (CNN)ISIS has seized even more Assyrian Christian hostages after taking over nearly a dozen Assyrian villages in northeastern Syria in the past few days, an activist said Thursday. The Sunni extremist group now holds 262 Assyrians captive, said Osama Edward, founder of the Assyrian Human Rights Network. "ISIS is taking over more and more Assyrian towns," he said. The number has climbed steadily, from an initial estimate of between 70 and 100 people seized on Monday to 150 as of Wednesday, with women, children and the elderly among them. The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the number of Assyrian hostages seized over three days at 220, in a statement released Thursday. They were taken from 11 villages in the Tal Tamer area in al-Hasakah Province, the monitoring group said. Its information indicates that ISIS has taken them to the Mount Abdelaziz area, southwest of Tal Tamer. Edward, who is based in Sweden but has family in the area attacked by the terror group, said Wednesday his information was coming from the Assyrian Human Rights Network's team on the ground. Edward has said he fears the hostages may face the same fate as as Assyrians targeted in Iraq and the more than 20 members of Egypt's Coptic Christian minority slaughtered by ISIS in Libya last month. Besides those captured by ISIS militants, thousands of families have been forced to flee their homes, he said. After years caught up in the middle of a civil war, many of these Assyrians lack food, water, blankets and other basics. Sharlet and Romel David, in Modesto, California, told CNN affiliate KCRA that 12 of their family members in Syria are believed to be among those kidnapped by ISIS early on Monday, and they fear for their safety. "We pray, we pray all the time," said Romel. "What we've heard is it was like a sea of black uniforms marching through all the villages, burning down the churches, desecrating the crosses and wreaking havoc." Sharlet said her 59-year-old brother had left his job as a car salesman in Modesto two years ago for Syria, to try to bring his son and family back to the United States. Instead, they are thought to be among those held. The Davids are not naming their relatives for fear it could put them in greater danger. "I just want them to be safe," said Sharlet. The Assyrians are a proud people who've overcome a lot in their history. They can trace their roots back some 4,000 years to the time of Mesopotamia, considered one of the cradles of civilization and birthplace of writing and literature. While their first religion was Ashurism, Assyrians have been predominantly Christian since the third century. "How can Syria be Syria without the Assyrians?" Edward said. "We gave the country our name." ISIS has proven, time and again, its willingness to ruthlessly go after minority groups which don't subscribe to its extreme take on Islam. Some of their targets -- the Assyrians included -- have taken up arms in an attempt to defend their communities, fighting alongside Kurdish militia, which have made some recent gains against ISIS in Syria's northeast. But ISIS has faced some opposition. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, members of the Kurdish YPG -- or People's Protection Units -- had taken control of 70 villages in al-Hasakah Province as of Wednesday. They're on the cusp of taking some inhabited by Assyrians and were clashing with ISIS forces around Tal Tamer, the monitoring group reported. CNN's Salim Essaid and Mohammed Tawfeeq contributed to this report. | "We pray, we pray all the time," says a relative of a dozen Assyrians feared kidnapped .
Assyrian activist says ISIS now holds 262 Assyrian Christians hostage .
The extremist group has seized 11 Assyrian villages over three days, says monitoring group . |
177,494 | 71c0d5d5cb2916e623c201e2a44fe21c225d67d1 | By . Andy Dolan . PUBLISHED: . 11:38 EST, 18 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:43 EST, 19 April 2013 . A sound-proofed cinema, a botanical garden, a grotto-style swimming pool … not to mention a garage for ten cars screened by a waterfall. It’s a mansion fit for a James Bond villain. Or, in this case, a 24-year-old painter and decorator and his wife who scooped £45million on the lottery. Newlyweds Matt and Cassey Topham have lodged plans for their dream house, a £5million eco-home called Serenity. Scroll down for video . Bolthole: Matt and Cassey Topham hope to build this home in the Nottinghamshire countryside . The futuristic property has four wings or ‘hubs’, which are covered in solar panels and arranged around a sunken courtyard. Designed to shield the couple from . prying eyes, it will also boast a snooker room, gym, jacuzzi, . acoustically-sealed pods and even staff quarters. It’s certainly a very long way from their old home, a £89,950 ex-council house in Stapleford, Nottinghamshire. Just after their Euromillions . windfall, in February 2012, Mr Topham told a press conference: ‘I have . often painted these huge houses and wondered what it would be like to . live in one. Now I can find out.’ Serenity’s architects describe the property as a ‘21st century update of the traditional country house’. Artist's impression: The house will have eight bedrooms plus a swimming pool and private cinema . Estate: The property is set in a country park which the couple bought for £1.2million . Change of scenery: Matt and Cassey Topham were living in this semi-detached house in Stapleford when they won their fortune . The plans involve demolishing a 1930s mansion overlooking a country park, which the couple bought for £1.2million last year. Its most remarkable feature is its . underground garage, built to accommodate the couple’s growing collection . of cars. After their windfall they swapped their Peugeot 107 city car . for a Jaguar XKR-S and Range Rover Evoque, worth a combined £150,000. Mr Topham is also said to have also splashed out on a Porsche and Aston . Martin DB9. The cars will be glimpsed through a waterfall, created from rainwater which will collect in a pool at the centre of the house. This will cascade into a second pool . below, producing a ‘water curtain’. In a statement released through . their architects yesterday, Mr Topham and his 23-year-old wife, a former . Iceland supermarket supervisor, said: ‘Must-haves [for the new house] . included five bedrooms, a dramatic sweeping staircase, a large garage . and a grotto-style pool. Jackpot: Mr and Mrs Topham won £45million on the EuroMillions lottery last February . Generous: The pair have paid off relatives' mortgages and given millions away to close friends . ‘We also spent a lot of time debating . with the architect how the rooms would be used and the split between . open plan and entertaining spaces versus cosy, snug rooms. We were very . clear we didn’t want to live in a glass box. At the very top of our . wish list was a strong desire to keep the design contemporary yet . familiar, and flexible enough to accommodate a future family.’ They told London-based architects Baca the new home had to be ‘luxurious, environmentally-friendly and playful.’ The four hubs will be divided into ‘a . formal entertaining hub, a family hub, games hub and an annex’, with a . half-storey of steps between each. Richard Coutts, of Baca, said: . ‘Visitors arrive via a grand hall where a majestic staircase sweeps up . to a cinema room and study, contained in two acoustically sealed pods . hovering above a drawing room.’ The Nottinghamshire project is likely . to be one of the most ambitious new homes built in the UK. Baca . submitted an application yesterday, but planners are unlikely to . consider it until the summer. Last night Mr Topham’s father, Brian, . said the couple were enjoying an extended touring holiday in America. He . said they had had a ‘lot of input’ into the design of their planned . home, adding: ‘I’m not going to say where the house will be built but it . is quite local. ‘Matt has no plans to move – all his friends are around here.’ | Matt and Cassey Topham apply to build new home in Nottinghamshire .
House will have eight bedrooms, a swimming pool and a private cinema .
Couple were inspired by combination of Iron Man and V&A Museum . |
121,991 | 29b3c468b2775d0e4358983560c3b526fdfbc2dc | Swiss citizens have voted to impose some of the world's strictest controls on executive pay. Early returns in a referendum revealed 68 . per cent backed plans for shareholders to veto executive pay and for a . ban on big rewards for new and departing managers. The clear majority came as a surprise given fierce opposition and intense campaigning by business lobby group Economiesuisse, which warned the proposals will damage the country's competitiveness and scare away international talent. Support for the move was sparked by anger over the big bonuses blamed for fuelling risky investments that nearly felled Swiss bank UBS, as well as outrage over a proposed $78 million payment to outgoing Novartis chairman Daniel Vasella. Claude Longchamp, of pollsters Gfs.Bern, . said the public outcry last month that forced Novartis to cancel . Vasella's 'golden goodbye' helped drive the campaign. The Swiss vote for stricter rules on execuitve pay was sparked by outrage over a proposed $78 million payment to outgoing chairman of drugs company Novartis Daniel Vasella (pictured) 'It emotionalised and it mobilised,' he said. Thomas Minder, the businessman-turned-politician behind the campaign, says his proposals are aimed at ending a culture of short-termism and rewards for managers of badly-run companies rather than just capping salaries. Despite threats from some executives, Switzerland is unlikely to see an exodus of big companies who have previously been drawn to the country by low taxes, stable politics and business-friendly laws. And companies will seek ways around the new rules to reward executives, just as banks in Europe are looking to soften the impact of a cap on bonuses for top staff agreed by European politicians on Thursday. The Swiss vote comes as the European Union . tries to push through a proposal which will mean bankers bonuses will be capped at a year's pay and a perk of two years' salary could only be paid if a majority of shareholders agreed to it. Downing Street said Prime Minister David Cameron had . ‘real concerns’ about the plans and warned it must not be allowed to . stifle Britain's role as a global banking centre. Chancellor George Osborne (left) is expected to argue against the European Union's plans to cap bankers' bonuses at a year's pay. Prime Minister David Cameron (right) said he had 'real concerns' about the plans . The deal must be signed off by EU . governments before coming into force next year but Chancellor George . Osborne is expected to argue against it at a meeting of European finance . ministers next year. Boris Johnson joined the chorus of British opposition, branding the plans 'deluded' and 'self-defeating'. The London Mayor warned it would . simply play into the hands of the City of London's overseas. Mr Osborne is expected to try to block the plans, claiming it would prevent City firms hiring the best staff, prompting an exodus of top talent to New York. The deal must still be signed-off by EU governments before coming into force in 2014 but the UK is struggling to convince other countries it is a bad idea. If Britain loses its showdown with Brussels, it would mean the most draconian clampdown on fat cats' perks since the financial crisis of 2008. Swiss companies accounted . for five of the top 10 best-paid chairmen in Europe in 2011, but only . the heads of Novartis and Roche made it into the continent's top 10 for . chief executives. While anger at multi-million dollar . payouts for executives has spread around the globe since the financial . crisis, the Swiss system of direct democracy means populist proposals . have a greater chance of implementation. Swiss citizens get to vote on a range of topics in up to four national referendums each year. A few other countries, including the . United States and Germany, have introduced advisory 'say on pay' votes . in response to anger over inequality and corporate excess. Britain is also planning to give shareholders a binding vote on pay and 'exit payments' at least every three years. The near collapse of flagship bank UBS in 2008 stoked anger among Swiss who blamed its heavy losses on rewarding bankers to make risky bets . Thomas Minder's initiative in Switzerland forces binding votes on compensation every year as well as on board composition and would also ban bonus payments to managers if their companies are taken over. The plan also includes possible jail sentences and fines for breaching the new rules. While Switzerland has fared relatively well through the financial crisis, the near collapse of flagship bank UBS in 2008 stoked anger among Swiss who blamed its heavy losses on rewarding bankers to make risky bets. Last year, more than one third of UBS shareholders rejected the bank's plans for executive pay - including a 4 million franc signing-on fee for new German chairman Axel Weber - after a sub-par 2011 profit and a $2 billion rogue trading scandal. The centre-left Social Democrats are already pushing for another referendum on even tougher curbs on executive pay - they want to limit the annual compensation of top managers to just 12 times that of their lowest-paid worker. | People in Switzerland have voted for strict controls on executive pay .
68 per cent backed plans to veto pay-outs to bosses .
Move sparked by anger over the big bonuses blamed for fuelling risky investments .
It comes after the EU announced plan to cap bankers' bonuses at a year's pay . |
197,897 | 8c2685573ae7f06891968cbcefe94b82416d4010 | Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- Heavy rains and flooding in Pakistan's southeastern Sindh province have killed some 226 people over the past month, the National Disaster Management Authority said Tuesday. The dead include 34 children and 59 women, said an agency summary. In all, 5.3 million people have been affected by the flooding, and 1.19 million homes have been damaged, the authority said. The flooding has inundated more than 4.5 million acres and damaged an estimated 80% of crops. And the heavy rains are not over. "Meteorological conditions indicate that a strong weather system is developing over central parts of India that would cause widespread heavy rains in Pakistan during the coming week," said a weather advisory posted on the disaster agency's web site. "Heavy to very heavy rainfall may generate severe flooding in lower Sindh," as well as flash flooding in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkwa and Balochistan provinces, the advisory said. The United Nations was making arrangements to provide food supplies to half a million people for the next month in Sindh, and it was also set to supply 20,000 tents this week, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported Monday. A U.N. team was visiting Pakistan in response to a phone conversation between Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the news agency reported. Aid is also flowing in from other countries. On Monday, the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan presented a $50,000 check to the National Disaster Management Authority and has also promised $4.7 million in aid to flooded areas as well as tents, the authority said on its web site. Also, the interior minister of Iran, Mostafa Mohammad Najar, said Sunday Iran will donate $100 million in aid to Sindh, the Associated Press of Pakistan said. Najar said he will take a planeload of relief goods to Pakistan within a week. And Pakistan's Finance Division has established a Prime Minister's Relief Fund for flood victims in Sindh and elsewhere, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan. Donations can be made by domestic and international donors, according to the report. CNN's Nasir Habib and Aliza Kassim contributed to this report. | Some 5.3 million people have been affected .
A strong weather system could bring more heavy rains .
China, Iran have donated aid to flooding victims . |
196,672 | 8a8501cfd85652d42def4b8ac68ecc3e6242b748 | By . Hugo Gye . A group of Romanian squatters have been discovered living in a disused public toilet for at least two weeks. As many as 15 men were found in the small brick building by a council official who went to examine the property before it goes up for auction. The squatters had transformed the toilets in Edgware, north-west London, into a home by installing a divan bed in the space where the urinals are - as well as a fridge, microwave and cooker. They managed to tap into the public electricity supply and install plug sockets, while they also carpeted over the floor tiles. Home: Around a dozen Romanian men were found living in this public toilet in Edgware, north-west London . The group of men were discovered by an officer from Harrow Council who was visiting the former toilet, which is about to go on sale with a reserve price of £300,000. When he arrived the squatters promptly left, but they returned a few days later and the building eventually had to be boarded up to keep them out for good. Pictures from inside the squat show filthy living conditions, with clothes and rubbish strewn everywhere. A makeshift shelf running along the length of the urinals boasts a mouldy laptop and a DVD boxset of Rich Man Poor Man, as well an Orthodox Christian icon and a small sewing machine. A television aerial and clothes can be seen hanging off washing lines and one of the cubicles appears to have been used as a storage cupboard, while they have kept the other as a toilet. Filth: The counters were covered in the men's possessions and they had crammed a bed into the urinal space . 'At one point we were getting reports that there were up to 15 people coming and going,' a council spokesman said. 'We didn't find any passports but found some papers with names suggesting they were Romanian. 'The situation came to light because one of our officers went to make the property ready for marketing, not because we had received any complaints from residents.' Local residents and businesses seemed largely unaware that the building had been converted into an impromptu home said. Pharmacy assistant Nilam Morjaria said: 'It's shocking to think that they are so desperate that they want to live in the toilets. But I didn't know anyone was squatting in the building. 'I haven't heard anything about them - nothing about them causing trouble or being a nuisance. 'It shouldn't have been left empty and boarded up so long. It should either have been torn down or sold sooner.' Enterprising: The men tapped into the electricity supply and installed a cooker, fridge and microwave . A local newsagent said she had seen people going in and out of the public toilet, but added: 'I didn't realise that they were actually living there.' Council leader Susan Hall said: 'This was a public convenience, but it was not meant to be quite that convenient for the squatters who have evidently turned it into a one-bedroom flat. 'What this shows is that the pressures of Eastern European migration are rippling out into suburbia. 'People may be desperate to resort to these measures, but this is a building the council needs to sell to put money into services. As it is, the taxpayer is going to be left spending more than a penny to repair the damage done at this site.' The building is set to be sold at auction later this month. | Council official discovered the men living in a toilet in north-west London .
They had installed a bed and kitchen after tapping into electricity supply .
The property has now been boarded up as it goes on sale for £300,000 . |
169,923 | 67e8b648e05430d28762854f70467bdf52496633 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . and Ap . Fans screamed 'Go Spurs Go!' in unison at the slightest glimpse of a San Antonio Spurs' player or coach floating down the River Walk. It was reminiscent of last season when the Spurs walked off their team charter to those chants, except the tone Wednesday night was much sweeter. Scroll down for video . Celebration: NBA champion San Antonio Spurs celebrate their championship by floating down the San Antonio River as thousands of cheering fans fill the adjacent Riverwalk . Kid-friendly: Tim Duncan holds the NBA Championship Trophy as well as his daughter Sidney . Phones out: Nearly everyone has their phones out to record the moment the Spurs went floating by . Proud papa: Manu Ginobli holds his son during the river parade celebrating the Spurs' fifth NBA title . The victory parade for Spurs' fifth NBA title was part celebration and part exorcism. 'It is soaking in, but I'm still going to live it up for about the whole summer,' NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard said. '(I haven't slept) very much. I've been trying to live the moment. It's been hard to sleep still. Thought I would get some sleep after we won the finals, but I'm still celebrating. "Go Spurs Go! San Antonio!'" After falling 25 seconds shy of capturing the title last season only to fall in seven games to the Miami Heat, the Spurs made another run to the NBA Finals. Except this time, they closed out the Heat in five games for the team's first title since 2007. 'I cried (last year). I think the rest of the city cried, too,' Spurs fan Rosalinda Gonzalez said. 'How they lost, that was bad. It made this year's victory even more sweet, sweet. (And) the way we did it. All the games that we won were by a billion points. It was awesome. Great comeback.' Super fans: Jake, Zach and Luke Garcia cheer on their team from the banks of the San Antonio River . Champs: Manu Ginobli celebrates his fourth Championship as a member of the Spurs . Given a chance to celebrate what they couldn't last year, Spurs fans endured 90-degree heat to line the River Walk and stand outside of the Alamodome up to five hours before the festivities began. The City of San Antonio estimated about 100,000 people attended the River Walk parade and more than 60,000 were at the Alamodome. And the fans soaked up the moment as if it was the city's first championship. As fans awaited the team's arrival at the Alamodome, a replay of Game 5 of the finals was shown on the large video screens. As the game came to an end, the crowd erupted in cheers as if the moment was just happening. The fans booed loudly when a replay was shown of Heat star LeBron James walking off the court and they screamed joyously when Leonard was announced as MVP. Selfie: Spurs center Antonio Green snaps a selfie as he and his teammates float through San Antonio celebrating their fifth NBA title . MVP: Kawhi Leonard holds the Championship Trophy following a terrific season that ended with him winning the MVP Award in the NBA Championship series . Desperate Point Guards: Former Mr. Eva Longoria, Tony Parker, celebrates his fourth championship with the Spurs . Mastermind: Ginobli credits the championship to Coach Gregg Popovich, saying 'we owe it all to Pop' Even usually cantankerous Spurs coach Gregg Popovich fully embraced the moment, smiling and waving at the crowd as the barge he rode on floated along the River Walk. Popovich raised one finger with a puzzled look before counting off two, three, four and nodding his head when he reached five, raising an outstretched hand to symbolize how many titles the franchise has won. 'We owe it all to Pop,' Spurs guard Manu Ginobili said as his barge made a stop. 'He had us playing great basketball at the right time.' The celebration included former Spurs players David Robinson, Avery Johnson and Malik Rose, all members of the team's first NBA title in 1999. The Spurs face an uncertain offseason with up to six possible free agents, but that wasn't even a consideration for the players or the fans Wednesday. After waiting a year, they all got to exhale and celebrate another title. | The Spurs closed out the Miami Heat in five games to win the NBA Championship .
San Antonio lost to Miami in last year's Finals .
An estimated 100,000 people attended the River Walk parade along the San Antonio River .
This is the fifth championship for the franchise .
Prior to 2014, the team hasn't won the championship since 2007 . |
228,203 | b37d45a546c00f01f031593c90a445ca0ef223e0 | By . Jo Macfarlane . PUBLISHED: . 18:48 EST, 5 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:48 EST, 5 January 2013 . A devastated couple are suing a top NHS hospital for £300,000 after doctors failed to identify that their unborn child was severely disabled. The case is highly controversial because the couple claim they would have made the heartbreaking decision to abort the pregnancy if they had known their daughter would be so profoundly disabled. But instead, the child will now require a lifetime of round-the-clock care after two separate specialists at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital failed to spot the significant problems during routine ante-natal scans. The parents are now suing the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Oxford, for £300,000 after scans missed their baby's disabilities . The little girl is described in documents filed at the High Court as having ‘extremely severe disabilities’ with several crucial bones missing. Because she is still very young, the full extent of her disabilities ‘is not yet known’. The documents say: ‘It is the Claimant’s case that, had foetal abnormalities been detected during the course of foetal ultrasound scanning, as they ought to have been, then the First Claimant together with the Second Claimant would or should have been offered to terminate the pregnancy.’ Abortions carried out because of a risk of the child being born disabled – known as ground E abortions – can take place at any time during pregnancy. About 2,300 abortions were carried out for this reason in the UK last year, most for chromosomal conditions such as Down’s syndrome. All pregnant women are offered two ultrasound scans at between 11 and 14 weeks to date the pregnancy and again between 18 and 23 weeks to detect any abnormalities. Both can pick up severe disabilities at an early stage. Some campaigners argue that a child can still live a relatively full life despite substantial disability. Josephine Quintavalle, from Campaign for Reproductive Ethics, said: ‘Being born disabled is not necessarily incompatible with life.’ A spokeswoman for the Family Planning Service said parents had a right to be fully informed. ‘If there are foetal abnormalities, women can choose to have an abortion. It’s a fundamental decision about family life.’ The couple were concerned during the pregnancy after the mother unwittingly had surgery under general anaesthetic, but an ultrasound at the hospital found no cause for concern . The couple, who are in their 40s and have two older children, needed counselling about the child’s disabilities. The little girl’s condition was particularly devastating because the couple had raised concerns during the pregnancy that their unborn baby may have suffered deformities. The mother unwittingly had surgery under general anaesthetic before realising she was pregnant, which is not recommended because of potential risks to the child. But they were reassured after an ultrasound at the John Radcliffe found no cause for concern. A second scan, supposed to detect any abnormalities, including missing bones, also failed to pick up any problems. The sonographer wrote in the notes that there was ‘no evidence of a foetal abnormality’. A hospital consultant later wrote in the woman’s medical records: ‘I have explained that we would normally expect a defect of the type affecting XX to have been detected at the anomaly scan stage and that our failure to do so is very disappointing to all concerned. I have apologised to them for the failure.’ The court documents say: ‘Damages are claimed for their own personal injury, loss and expense that they have each suffered, and by both Claimants for the additional cost of raising XX attributable to her disabilities.’ A spokeswoman for the hospital said she was unable to comment. | Parents claim they would have aborted pregnancy if disabilities were known .
Their little girl will require round-the-clock care for life after problems missed .
The couple are now suing John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, for £300,000 . |
149,848 | 4dbe7084f20f17013091206ac5a6786186b0a2a9 | By . Amanda Williams . PUBLISHED: . 08:19 EST, 22 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:15 EST, 22 November 2012 . To six-year-old Aston Bradford-Disney, big brother Dane has always been a hero. But now it looks like the 10-year-old could truly be a life saver, after donating his bone marrow to his little brother who has leukaemia. All of Aston's family, from Church Gresley, in Derbyshire, were tested to see if they could help him, but it was Dane who turned out to be the best match. Dane Bradford-Disney (left) was a perfect bone marrow match for his little brother six-year-old Aston, who has leukaemia . Aston is still desperately ill in hospital and his family are by his bedside anxiously waiting to see if his body will accept the tissue. The family described Dane as 'a total hero' after the operation went ahead at Sheffield Children’s Hospital last week. Aston needed a bone marrow transplant to give him a chance of going into remission after a programme of chemotherapy failed to beat the childhood cancer. After family members flocked to offer their assistance Dane proved to be a perfect match, and gave up his bone marrow in an operation last week. Little Aston remains in hospital, with his father, Mark Disney, a constant presence at his side. The boys’ aunt, Sharon Hussain, from Burton, said: 'Aston has handled it all amazingly and doesn’t moan or complain about anything. He’s a little superstar. 'When we were told he would need a donor we all said straight away we’d do it. It turned out two of his brothers were a perfect match, so we chose the eldest. 'Dane is a total hero but he just wanted to make his brother better. I’m sure when they are older they will really appreciate each other. 'For . all the chemotherapy he’s had Aston has done really well, and was in . remission and out running around before his operation, so to see him at . the weekend and how poorly he was, it just made me cry.' Family support: Aston with his aunt Sharon Hussain, father Mark and Mrs Hussain's niece Genna Walton . The family say Dane is 'a total hero' after the operation went ahead at Sheffield Children's Hospital (pictured) last week . While Dane is now out of hospital, the family are anxiously monitoring Aston’s condition at Sheffield Children’s Hospital. Mrs Hussain said: 'His body has got to accept the bone marrow into the system, because it’s a foreign body. It’s just a waiting game now.' Diagnosed with leukaemia in June, the youngster has spent most of the past five months on the children’s cancer ward at Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre, and his family are planning a series of fund-raising efforts to thank the staff there who cared for him. Anyone who would like to donate to the fundraising effort can do so online at www.justgiving.com/team-aston . | All of Aston Bradford- Disney's family were tested to see if they were a match for the little boy .
Thankfully 10 year old big brother Dane was perfect .
The family are now desperately waiting to see if the six year old's body will accept the marrow . |
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