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240,367 | c32c8e26872d19cf271732a9bc38980fb5bb9ece | Nazi chief Hermann Goering plotted to attack New York in a bizarre plot involving a manned space rocket dropping a dirty bomb over the Manhattan skyline. Vying for Hitler's attention, the head of the German air-force, Hermann Goering, set up a lab and a team of leading scientists to explore the possibility of the radioactive attack on American soil. Goering read the work of maverick Austrian engineer, Eugen Saenger and particularly his belief that a space plane could be built. New York: The Nazis wanted to attack the U.S. but they lacked long-range bombers capable of covering the distance. They explored a rocked-propelled spacecraft as a way to reach and bomb New York (pictured) The head of the Luftwaffe commissioned him and other leading physicists to explore the plane, which he then wanted to arm with a radioactive bomb capable of doing untold damage to America's most populous city. Leading historians told the Daily Express that Goering may have been gullible for believing the far-fetched plan would work, but much of the research which went into the project paved the way for modern space travel research and the space shuttle program. 'Saenger would greatly influence post-war thinking about space travel in the United States,' Dr David Baker, a space historian, told the British newspaper. 'A whole series of highly classified space-plane concepts were developed based on his theories.' Silverbird: Eugen Saenger (left) devised plans for the aircraft known as the Silverbird (right) that could reach America via space. Goering wanted the craft to be capable of dropping a 'dirty bomb' on New York . 'His work certainly had an influence on aspects of the Space Shuttle programme.' Goering believed the rocket plan would enable the Third Reich to overcome the issue of flying across the Atlantic and ultimately avenge America's entry into the war. Saenger completed a 900-page plan and called the craft the Silverbird. He believed it would be able to clear the lower reaches of space after being fired with rocket engines. Anti-American: The Nazis sought a way to punish the U.S. for entering World War Two. One of the schemes they looked at was a plane which would reach America via space in order to bomb New York . It was expected to reach 13,000 miles . per hour, would have a 100-tonne thrust motor and would reach more than . 80 miles above earth. 'The plan was to wrap the bomb with radioactive sand and have it explode . high above New York casting a radioactive cloud over the city,” aviation historian David Myhra . says. 'It was a kind of prototype dirty bomb.' Losing control: Goering was particularly keen to promote his airforce and saw the plot to bomb New York as an ideal way to win Hitler's favor . 'The standard aircraft of the day could not fly from Europe to the US . because they could not carry enough fuel.' 'But by reaching sub-orbital altitude the Silverbird’s fuel life would be extended allowing it to bomb anywhere in the world.' 'It was wild science fiction' 'But Saenger had worked out all the mathematics. He was certain it would work.' 'Post-war analysis indicated that the space-plane would have burnt up during re-entry but this could have been overcome with thermal shielding. 'The underlying concept was sound but it was many years ahead of its time.' Goering finally dismissed the plan and the Nazis looked at other ways to bomb the U.S. but never succeeded. Saenger fled to France and was later sent for by Josef Stalin who was also interested in the Silverbird concept. He was never found by the Soviet Union and died in 1964. Dr Asif Siddiqi, an . assistant professor in space history at Fordham University said: 'Saenger was the first to look into the technicalities of building a . winged, reusable sub-orbital vehicle.' 'His work . was extremely far-sighted.' Failure to launch: The Silverbird, pictured, was devised by Austrian engineer Eugen Saenger so the Nazis could bomb New York. The ambitious space rocket design wasn't developed beyond planning stage . | Hermann Goering was tasked with overcoming long-range bombing problem .
Much of the research would later pave the way for modern space travel . |
1,643 | 04b39ee42fdc4284e402fbf7cdc7b825748f38b5 | The husband of a jogger found strangled in a park has been charged with her murder, police said Sunday, days after they warned female runners to take extra precautions until the killer was caught. Authorities announced the arrest of 48-year-old Christopher Murray at a Sunday afternoon news conference. His 46-year-old wife, Constance, was found dead Tuesday in Pennypack Park in northeast Philadelphia. The mother of two had been out running the night before. 'The reality was he became a suspect early on and remained a suspect until he confessed,' Lt. Philip Riehl said. Killed: Christopher Murray has confessed to strangling his wife Constance after an argument. Her body was found in a cemetery last Tuesday morning in a Philadelphia suburb . Riehl said Murray has expressed remorse. 'I think it was more of a rage incident more than premeditated,' he said. Investigators say Murray trailed his wife in a car while she went out Monday night, and the two began to argue. Police say Murray continued to follow her, and the pair went to a bench at the park where they continued to fight. 'She went up there voluntarily to talk to him about whatever was going on and things went bad,' Riehl said. Christopher Murray strangled his wife and left her body near the bench, police said. He called police early Wednesday to report her missing, and a woman walking her dog found Connie Murray's body a few hours later. Surveillance video showed Christopher Murray in his vehicle, and he was taken in for questioning Saturday night, police said. Riehl said aspects of his story didn't add up. He failed a lie detector test and then confessed, Riehl said. On Friday a $36,000 reward was offered for information leading to her disappearance. Confession: Police say Christopher Murray, pictured with his wife Constance and the couple's two daughters admitted to strangling her . Connie Murray's headphones and cellphone were recovered in a sewer near to wear her body was found along the edge of a wooded area of Pennypack Park near Holme-Crisp Cemetery. An autopsy revealed she had been strangled. Her funeral was held Sunday. The couple have two daughters, ages 12 and 15. In a phone interview with the Philadelphia Daily News last week, Christopher Murray described his wife's death as 'devastating' and said she was 'a beautiful woman, a loving, caring mother, a fabulous friend.' The married mother was not sexually assaulted but bruising showed that a minor struggle had taken place. A large gathering of friends and family, including her two young daughters, were seen embracing each other outside the Murray home on Wednesday. she was found dead. Local residents have been left stunned in the leafy, suburban community. Court papers weren't immediately available, and it's unclear if Murray has an attorney. Murray was denied bail, and no attorney is listed for him in court papers. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 27. Investigation: Police were initially baffled by the mysterious nature of the crime and struggled to find a motive . | Constance Murray was found dead on Tuesday morning after she was strangled on Monday night while out running .
On Sunday police arrested her husband Christopher Murray after he confessed to killing her .
Murray claims he followed her when she went running, the couple had an argument and he strangled her . |
127,751 | 3121924d5e70fe0c16ddfd1f4562f7ff1d8bdfde | By . Sean O'hare . PUBLISHED: . 07:49 EST, 23 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:49 EST, 23 December 2012 . Facebook channelled profits through a series of tax havens in order to pay just £2.9m of corporation tax on more than £800m of overseas profits in 2011, it has been reported. Like Google and Apple the social networking site is said to have used its headquarters in Ireland to avoid tax liabilities in the UK before directing earnings to a subsidiary in the Cayman Islands. British companies that buy advertising on Facebook must do so via Facebook Ireland Ltd which entitles the company to sidestep HM Revenue and Customs and authorities in other higher-tax jurisdictions, reported the Sunday Times today. Under the spotlight: Mark Zuckerberg's (pictured) Facebook last year funnelled earnings into the Cayman Islands via Ireland in order to pay only a fraction in tax on more than £800million of overseas profits . As a result less than £240,000 was paid to the UK taxman. The Dublin office, with a staff of 400 people showed a gross profit of £840million in 2011. Despite this, Facebook Ireland posted a loss of £15million for the year after hundreds of millions were routed to a subsidiary in the Cayman Islands and to its parent company in the U.S. Labour MP John Mann recently spoke out about the company's actions, calling them 'disingenuous and immoral'. 'They benefit enormously from the country's internet infrastructure but do nothing to fund it. It's like driving a car with no tax. We would stand for it on our roads so why stand for it on the net?,' he said. Accounts for Facebook Ireland revealed that last year £440m was moved into an Irish sister company before being diverted to a subsidiary company in the Cayman Islands. A spokesman for Facebook defended its accountancy and said it complied with all relevant regulations and was acting within the legal bounds of taxation. 'Facebook complies with all relevant corporate regulations including those related to filing company reports and taxation,' he said. 'We have our international headquarters in Ireland that employs over four hundred people and a series of smaller local offices providing support services all over Europe. Dublin was selected as the best location to hire staff with the right skills to run a multi-lingual hi-tech operation serving the whole of Europe.' Facebook reported £620million in worldwide profit last year, 44 per cent of this came from outside the U.S. The news comes in the wake of similar behaviour from other multinational . companies like Starbucks and Google who use loopholes to avoid taxes. Storm in a coffee cup: Protesters are now planing 'creative direct action' against the company . It will renew pressure on the Government to close the loopholes that . allowed the companies to escape making any contributions to Treasury . coffers through corporation tax –despite raking in billions of pounds in . sales. Starbucks coffee chain is facing a boycott by . thousands of customers who are angry over revelations that it has paid just £8.6million in . corporation tax in its 14 years of trading in the UK and nothing in the . last three. Outraged . protest groups have promised ‘direct action’ against the coffee . giant and threatened to try to close some branches. Internet giant Google avoided tax on . £10billion revenue last year by doubling the amount of money put into a . shell company in Bermuda. Google's . decision to move nearly 80 per cent of its pre-tax profits to the . company, which is not subject to corporation tax on the Atlantic island, . saw the company slash its overall tax rate almost in half - avoiding . more than £1billion in payments. Chancellor George Osborne pledged to wage war on multinational companies paying little or no tax. In . his Autumn Statement, he said he would give HM Revenue and Customs a . further £77million to fight tax avoidance by wealthy individuals and . global firms. News . of the American company's latest legal attempt to avoid paying high . levels of tax comes after MPs recently criticised firms including . Google, who they claim are 'immorally' minimising tax bills. Earlier this year Facebook floated $104billion of shares in a initial public offering (IPO). Anger: Web giant Google avoided paying $2billion in tax last year by moving around 80 per cent of its overseas profits to a company in the tax haven of Bermuda . But the much-hyped flotation fell flat by the closing bell, finishing at only 23 cents more than its expected opening price. Some market experts blamed trading problems and an anxiety-filled half hour where traders were having problems placing and cancelling orders for Facebook stocks. Meanwhile, Zuckerberg – who owns 503.6million shares in his company – is worth an estimated $19.25billion and has become one of the wealthiest people in the world in a single day. Zuckerberg, pictured here at Facebook's flotation earlier this year, is worth an estimated $19.25billion and . became one of the wealthiest people in the world when the company went public . | It used Irish office to avoid UK tax liability on earnings from British business .
Less than £240,000 was paid to the UK taxman .
Money was routed from Ireland into Cayman Islands subsidiary . |
46,872 | 840faff46b38d3a149e533324a6dfa95fc326d15 | By . Aaron Sharp . PUBLISHED: . 12:15 EST, 5 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:01 EST, 8 November 2013 . A man who has served ten years of a life prison sentence for murder, has been released after his wife tracked down the true killer. Nguyen Thanh Chan, 52, was given the maximum term for the murder and robbery of a woman in August 2003 despite a lack of hard evidence linking him to the attack. After a failed appeal the Supreme People's Court of Vietnam, the innocent man feared he would spend the rest of his life behind bars. Emotional: Nguyen Thanh Chan, pictured, said he felt as though he had been 'born again' after his reprieve . Reunited: Chan was able to return home to his wife, who secured his release with a ten-year long campaign . But in July this year, Thanh Chan's wife Thi Chien, who has campaigned tirelessly since her husband's imprisonment, gave police the name of the man she believed to be behind the attack. In a petition, she said Ly Nguyen Chung, a 25-year-old from the same village as the couple, was the murderer. Acting on information, police interviewed Chung's step-mother and brother, both of whom said they believed their relative was the killer. Chung, who was 14 at the time of the attack, went on the run in Thailand and China but has handed himself in to a police station in Dak Lak province and pleaded guilty to the murder. President Sang of Vietnam ordered the case be retried and has requested an investigation. Speaking after his release Chan said: 'I feel as if I am born again . 'During the past 10 years in prison, I always hoped that I would be vindicated one day' The trial of Ly Nguyen Chung, begins tomorrow. Because of his age at the time of the murder, will be tried as a child. Official pardon: After Chan was released, above, the Thai president ordered the case to be tried again . Welcoming committee: CHan was greeted by villagers in his home town in Bac Giang Province . | Nguyen Thanh Chan was convicted of the murder of a woman in 2003 .
His wife Thi Chien campaigned for a decade and eventually found the killer .
Her husband was released after the man she named admitted murder . |
255,353 | d684b14925781a68ebb767767479f6ee5f0e3f27 | Predator: The remains of Kevin Patrick Stoeser, 41, who escaped from a halfway house in Austin, Texas, in October 2012 were found in a field more than a year after he fled . A skull found in a Texas field belongs to an Army veteran convicted of a string of child sex offences who escaped from a halfway house more than a year ago, officials have revealed. Kevin Patrick Stoeser fled the Austin Transitional Center in October 2013 just weeks before the completing a 10-year prison sentence for multiple offences. The 41-year-old had sex with girls as young as 13 while stationed at Fort Hood, and was also convicted of abusing five victims as young as 12. The predator was also caught in possession of child pornography. Following his escape Stoeser, who was dishonorably discharged from the Army following his conviction, was then placed on the U.S. Marshal's 15 most wanted list. A $25,000 reward was offered for any information leading to his capture. In September a yellow Labrador brought the skull to its owners front yard two miles away from where Stoeser was incarcerated. The bones were so weathered they were sent to a genetics lab for DNA testing. The results revealed the remains belonged to the former soldier, according to KUVE. His 'wanted' pages on the US Marshals' and Texas Department of Public Safety were changed on Monday, confirming that he was dead. As he came to the end of his sentence, his cellphone was said to have 30 pictures of underage girls. He then managed to escape and was not seen by authorities until his remains were found. Robert Almonte, U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Texas, said in a statement: 'With the untimely death of Stoeser, we can now bring closure to this case.' 'On behalf of the United States Marshals Service, we appreciate the assistance of our law enforcement partners throughout the nation who contributed a great deal of time and energy to see this investigation through.' Stoeser was dishonorably discharged from the Army in 2003 after he pleaded guilty to carnal knowledge of a child between the ages of 12 and 16, sodomy, possession of child porn and indecent liberties with a child under 16. Police are now investigating what happened to the predator. Deputy U.S. John Clifton, the lead criminal investigator on the case, said: 'The physical description of the human skull and where it was found sparked U.S. Marshals interest in the case, because it was very similar to key facts concerning our fugitive investigation for Kevin Stoeser.' End of hunt: Stoeser's page on the Texas Department of Public Safety was updated to say he was 'captured' confirming it was his skull that was found in the Austin field by a Labrador in September . Facility: He managed to escape from the Austin Transitional Center after a member of staff found 30 pictures of underage girls on his cell phone. A nationwide manhunt was launched to find him . | Kevin Patrick Stoeser escaped a Austin halfway house in October 2013 .
Was nearing the end of a prison sentence for numerous child sex crimes .
Possessed child pornography and raped girls while stationed at Fort Hood .
Following his escape, he was placed on the U.S. Marshals' 15 most wanted .
Dog brought his skull back to its owner's front yard in September .
Forensic tests revealed the remains belonged to Stoeser . |
87,920 | f97872d5019d974190394643f54b3025366c1a36 | By . Graham Smith . Updated: . 08:18 EST, 17 February 2012 . How dopey can you get? By anyone's standards, it was a serious lapse of judgement. A privately-owned Cessna aircraft that entered the same Los Angeles . airspace as Marine One while the helicopter was ferrying President Barack . Obama was intercepted by two fighter jets yesterday. But after the small . plane landed at Long Beach Airport, police then discovered it contained . about 40 pounds of marijuana, a law enforcement official said. The Secret Service said the president was never in any danger, despite the emergency procedure to remove the unauthorised aircraft from 'restricted airspace'. Security alert: Marine One with President Barack Obama aboard flies over Long Beach, California, yesterday as two fighter jets intercepted a privately-owned Cessna aircraft that entered the same airspace . Intercepted: The Cessna 182 is met by officials after landing at Long Beach Airport. Police then discovered it contained 40 pounds of marijuana . The North American Aerospace Defense . Command (NORAD) said it scrambled two F-16 fighters from March Air . Reserve Base in Riverside County, California, to intercept a Cessna 182 . over Los Angeles at 2.30pm local time. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Virginia Kice said the . department's Homeland Security Investigations unit questioned the pilot, . who has been turned over to Long Beach police and remains in custody. He will now face local prosecution, Ms Kice said. NORAD spokesman Michael Kucharek declined to disclose how close the Cessna came to Marine One. The . Federal Aviation Administration had notified pilots that there was an . eight-mile radius around Los Angeles International Airport that was . off-limits to air traffic yesterday. Mr Obama steps off Marine One at Los Angeles International Airport following the alert. The Secret Service said the president was never in any danger . The FAA had notified pilots that there was an eight-mile radius around Los Angeles International Airport that was off-limits to air traffic yesterday. The Cessna landed at the nearby Long Beach Airport . It was that radius that the Cessna violated, spokesman Brie Sachse said. Ms . Sachse declined to release the Cessna's tail number, saying the agency . does not identify planes involved in security incidents. After a short wait at LAX, Mr Obama . took off aboard Air Force One to San Francisco - the flight was delayed . by the appearance of the Cessna. The president made it safely to San Francisco, where he was travelling to three fundraisers. On the move: Mr Obama meets cancer patient Jodi Fisher following his arrival at San Francisco Internationl Airport later in the day . Speech: Mr Obama at a Democratic fundraiser at the Nob Hill Masonic Center in San Francisco last night . When . he landed he met Jodi Fisher, a 44-year-old cancer patient who recently . made headlines by handing out free ice cream in her hometown, which was . on her 'bucket list'. Meeting the President was also on the list, so White House staff arranged for her to greet him at San Francisco airport. Air Force One is the name for any U.S. Air Force aircraft which is carrying the President. | Security alert took place in the skies above Los Angeles yesterday .
Secret Service said the president's helicopter was never in any danger .
Pilot of small Cessna aircraft now faces drugs charges . |
246,950 | cb92fd93167825078bf11c8bcc738ac5ffefc841 | (CNN) -- A former security guard told CNN on Monday that he was unjustly fired after he took pictures of President Barack Obama's motorcade during a visit to Atlanta in September. Kenneth Tate worked for a private security firm when President Obama visited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on September 16. He told CNN's Brooke Baldwin in an exclusive television interview that he stuck to his assigned duties and tried to take photos after he was done escorting President Obama. Members of Congress were upset when the media reported last month that Tate had a .40-caliber handgun while in an elevator with the President. That report, coupled with news of an incident in which a man jumped a fence and made it into the White House, led to the resignation of Secret Service Director Julia Pierson. Tate said he was issued a weapon by his security firm on the morning of the President's visit, but no one told him it was a violation of Secret Service protocol for him to carry a gun, he said. Tate's lawyer, Christopher Chestnut, said his client was fired unjustly for leaving his post. "He should never have lost his job for doing what he was supposed to do," Chestnut said. He added that Tate is not a felon, contrary to prior media reports. Tate said he was supposed to take the President to two different floors of one of the CDC buildings. "Those tasks I carried out," he told CNN. He said he also was asked to escort some Secret Service agents to the roof and other locations . A federal official with knowledge of the investigation into the case said Tate was supposed to stay on the elevator and left to take pictures. The CDC asked for him to be reassigned for violating his post order, the official said. Chestnut disagreed with the assertion that Tate violated his duties. "There was no assigned post. His post was for the entire building," the attorney told CNN. The fired worker told Baldwin he only took photos when the detail was over and did not take any images while on the elevator, as had been reported. The New York Times, which also interviewed Tate, reported that when he took pictures of the President's limousine, the Secret Service became upset. So did his bosses, Tate told the Times. They spoke with him to the side and then the Secret Service took him into a conference room. "I was upset. I'm nervous because I'm like, I don't understand what's going on," he told the Times, explaining to the newspaper that he had taken pictures of dignitaries before. He said he deleted the photos and CDC officials took his badge. It had been a great day up to then, Tate told CNN. Like the President, he is from Chicago and he had been very proud to work on Obama's detail. They even shook hands when the President, his aides and their Secret Service detail got on the elevator. Chestnut wouldn't be specific about what legal action they plan to pursue, saying only, "We anticipate seeking justice for Mr. Tate." The CDC didn't comment. CNN also reached out to Professional Security Corporation, the security company that employed Tate, but didn't hear immediately back. Secret Service director testimony omits elevator incident with Obama at CDC . CNN's Vishal Mapara and Mayra Cuevas contributed to this report. | Fired security guard tells CNN he stuck to his assigned duties .
Kenneth Tate only went to take pictures when the detail was over, he says .
Federal official says CDC asked for Tate to be reassigned .
Tate says he carried a handgun that he was given, never took photos of President on elevator . |
39,716 | 701faebeaee244675831f1a244a9c95a7eaf216c | A brain surgeon's carefully planned holiday marriage proposal turned into a calamity when he lost the engagement ring he’d buried in a beach for his girlfriend to find. Dr Steve Carr had hoped to propose to Mary Naam by allowing her to discover the diamond encrusted band while the pair dug in the sand. But the plan went awry when - on the shores of Pelican Bay at Naples, Florida – no ring appeared after they had dug around the pinpointed spot for a few minutes. Blunder: Brain surgeon Steve Carr, with fiancee Mary Naam, who tried to propose by burying her engagement ring on a Florida beach, only to forget where he put it when the time came . Help: After two hours of searching, the couple called in metal detecting expert Larry Spearing, who found it within minutes . Dr Carr, who had travelled with Miss Naam from their home in Denver, Colorado, said: ‘I’d asked her parents’ permission a couple of days before and I wanted it to happen on this trip. ‘It wasn’t very smart. I wouldn’t recommend doing something so risky.’ However, Dr Carr was determined to pop the question properly and recruited a dozen beachgoers and resort workers to help find the sparkling band. But after two hours had passed, Miss Naam stepped in to help the bungling brain surgeon and phoned metal detecting expert Larry Spearing, who dug it up in within minutes. ‘We were digging and digging and I thought there was no way we were gonna find it,’ Miss Naam explained. Happy ending: Dr Carr finally proposes after finding the ring again at Pelican Bay in Naples, Florida . Yes! Miss Naam agrees to the engagement proposal and kisses her new fiance . Staying put: Miss Naam shows off her ring, which she now inisist she won't take off . And, once Dr Carr was finally able to pop the question, his girlfriend happily obliged and they are now engaged to be married. ‘You gotta feel sorry for the guy, digging around in the rain for a couple of hours. How can you say no to that?’ she told ABC7 News. Dr Carr added: ‘I wasn't worried about the expense at all I just really wanted to be engaged to her.’ Once the ring was safely on, Miss Naam said it was ‘never leaving my finger again’. | Dr Steve Carr eventually proposes to Mary Naam after finally calling in metal detecting expert following two-hour search for diamond engagement ring .
Couple had travelled from Denver, Colorado to Naples, Florida so that Dr Carr could carry out his plan . |
143,317 | 455a264dd756aee010025f79024ee0367e76c140 | By . Sam Webb . PUBLISHED: . 12:51 EST, 20 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:00 EST, 20 February 2013 . When a child goes missing, it is the realisation of every parents' worst nightmare. But thankfully for five-year-old Jenson Lorey's parents, the panic was short lived when their son disappeared only to be found sleeping under a beanbag in their lounge. The schoolboy was at the centre of a huge manhunt involving a dozen police officers, sniffer dogs and a helicopter when he vanished. Despite bus drivers alerting one another over their radios to be on the look out for the missing boy, taxi drivers scouring the area and neighbours helping in the hunt, it was down to Jenson's six-year-old sister to find him. Told to stay at the family home while the grown-ups went off hunting for her little brother, she lifted the red beanbag and to the joy of their parents discovered Jenson curled up asleep on the floor. Here all along: Jenson Lorey, five, went missing and sparked a massive police hunt until he was found safe sleeping under a bean bag in his own home . His Mother, Samanatha, 28, said: 'I was out of my mind by then. We were fearing the worst. 'But my daughter moved our big bean bag and there he was - fast asleep underneath it. 'Jenson just looked peaceful but I was screaming with happiness. He was sleeping soundly when we found him under the big red bean bag in our living room. 'We were hugging him but he was completely unaware of what was going on.' Jenson's distraught parents Samantha and Andrew told how they called police when their little boy went missing from the family home in Penlan, Swansea. Relief: Jenson with his sister - and discoverer - Sienna, six, and his parents Sammy and Andrew at their home . Mrs Lorey, an office worker, said: 'I was at the gym with my friend and I came home to realised no-one had seen Jenson for 20 minutes. 'Andrew said he was in the kitchen and when he came out, Jenson was gone. 'I started screaming and running around the street - I thought the worst had happened.' The family praised the police for their swift response to the missing child alert. Andrew, 29, said: 'We had 12 police officers out looking for him, police dogs, and the helicopter. They searched the attic, they searched everywhere. 'Everyone who knew me was out looking but even people who didn't know me were looking too. 'The bus drivers were using their radios, and the taxi drivers were all looking. 'It was just incredible. The support we had was phenomenal.' Jenson disappeared from his home at around 8.15pm on Monday and wasn't found until 9.45pm. Sienna picked up the squashy red bean bag in their living room - but Jenson kept on snoozing. Sammy said: 'I just didn't want to let him go - I can't stop hugging him. 'He cannot have been under the bean bag all that time because it was moved several times. All we know is that was sleeping soundly when we found him.' Andrew said: 'Not even the sound of the sirens woke him up. It was the worst time you can imagine as a parent. 'I don't think he will go under that bean bag again.' Inspector Phil Thomas, of South Wales Police, led the manhunt for the missing child. He said: 'It just goes to show how strong the community spirit can be when faced with situations like this. 'We had a lot of resources and everybody in the area to help out. I'm just glad the little boy was found.' | A massive police search was launched after Jenson Lorey went missing .
Police dogs and helicopters scrambled after parents raised alarm .
After ninety frantic minutes, his sister lifts a bean bag to find him snoozing . |
4,754 | 0da2f7622ceba0ec10a74b2c299f5cfc0669029b | (CNN) -- When "La Bamba" hit movie screens in 1987, audiences flocked to see the true story of singer Ritchie Valens, who died as a teen in an airplane crash almost three decades earlier. "La Bamba" starred Lou Diamond Phillips as singer Ritchie Valens. It's one of 40 films featured in the festival. But it was memorable for another reason. The film was the first box office hit directed by a Latino filmmaker and starring mostly Latino actors, said Chon Noriega, a professor of cinema and media studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. "La Bamba" is part of the Latino Images in Film festival, which begins Tuesday and runs through May on Turner Classic Movies. The event features 40 films that show how Latinos have been depicted on the big screen and is part of the network's "Race and Hollywood" series. (Turner Classic Movies, like CNN, is owned by Time Warner.) Noriega, who chose the films and also co-hosts the festival, talked with CNN.com about what he hopes viewers will take away from the movie line-up. Watch clips from some of the classic films » . The following is a edited version of that interview. CNN: What was your selection process? Chon Noriega: I decided I was going to focus specifically on Hollywood films that look substantively at either Latino characters or the Latino community. I came up with a master list of films, and it's only about 70. There really haven't been that many that have dealt explicitly with the Latino population. And then, from there, we looked at what was available. CNN: When you talk about Latino images, who do you include in that description? Noriega: It's a kind of pan-ethnic, multiracial category. But basically in terms of the series, what it reflects is Mexican-Americans, Puerto Ricans and Cuban-Americans. There really haven't been, as far as I can tell, many Hollywood films that go beyond those three major groups. CNN: What do you hope to accomplish with this movie lineup? Noriega: By and large, these are films that really haven't been seen since their original release. We really don't have an idea of what the history has been in terms of how Hollywood has dealt with or represented what is now a pretty sizeable part of our population. We have an idea of what the stereotypes have been in terms of the kind of expendable characters that emerge within Westerns or action films, background characters like maids. CNN: What do you mean by expendable characters? Noriega: If I'm watching a science-fiction film and there happens to be a Latino character, I know that that character is going to be the first one to die. (laughs) It is almost inevitable. Or in a Western. They're really not there as characters; they're there as foils for the largely white characters that are defining the film and the story. To my mind, it's valuable just to go back and just see that these are the films that at different points represent how not just Hollywood but our society was trying to figure out where Latinos fit within the national culture. CNN: As people watch these movies, from very early Hollywood to the 1990s, what is the progression of Latino characters? Noriega: I don't know that we see a single trajectory of going from either one thing to another or from bad to better. You see certain recurring figures or types. You see different versions of the gangster kind of morphing into the gang member. But it's more or less an urban outlaw type, and that persists. I think you see little shifts in terms of when they're being made and who is making them. You have some of the same characters in "My Family/Mi Familia," but it's being made by a Chicano filmmaker as part of an attempt to show a very diverse view of what a family can be. CNN: What's your take on white actors playing Latino characters? Noriega: Actually, [co-host] Robert Osborne and I kind of went back and forth on that throughout the series because I think there are two views. One is: Actors are actors, and they play make-believe, and they pretend to be different types of characters, and in an ideal world, actors should be able to play anything they are able to do effectively. But when you look at it sociologically, you see it's only working one way, and that's where I think there's a problem. In the history of Hollywood, we're maybe able to identify 70 films that really focus on Latino characters, family or community, and a third of those have white actors playing the Latinos. And Latino actors are not really getting the same opportunity to play other types. CNN: How did the industry try to "transform" actors into Latino characters? Noriega: The Latino population -- and it's part of the irony of this -- it's not a racial group. It's a multiracial, multi-ethnic group. We talk about that in terms of "West Side Story," where everybody's identified how Natalie Wood was in brownface playing a Puerto Rican. But in 1980, there was a revival of it on Broadway, and they actually cast a Puerto Rican actress. In the makeup room, they started putting brownface on her, [because] she wasn't dark enough to meet the expectations of what a Latina character would look like on stage. I've done focus groups with Latino actors in the Screen Actors Guild, and they continually talk about that there are these expectations of what a Latino character is going to look like and more often than not, Latino actors don't look like that. (laughs) CNN: What do you think about how Latinos are portrayed in film today? Noriega: We have a somewhat broader cohort of actors who are known, who are included in films, not always starring, but they get secondary roles in films and so there's in some sense more of a presence. When you look at the statistics in terms of the overall presence of Latinos in film and television, the numbers really haven't changed that much. So it's a kind of a subtle shift. | Turner Classic Movies begins month-long Latino Images in Film festival .
Event features 40 films that show how Latinos have been depicted on the big screen .
Discussion tackles controversial practice of white actors playing Latino characters .
Scholar: Films show how Hollywood tried to figure out where Latinos fit in culture . |
28,913 | 520b8779a3f695b67069dc19cdf01eca1769f5be | (CNN) -- Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams and T.I. have lost the first round of their legal fight over "Blurred Lines," their monster 2013 hit. The three artists have been in a lengthy standoff with the family of soul legend Marvin Gaye, which has alleged that "Blurred Lines" illegally copies Gaye's 1977 hit "Got To Give It Up," among other complaints. Thicke, Williams and T.I. -- whose given name is Clifford Harris Jr. -- filed a pre-emptive lawsuit in August 2013 asking a federal judge in California to declare that "Blurred Lines" doesn't infringe on the copyright of "Got to Give It Up." The Gaye estate followed with a countersuit that accused Thicke of not only ripping off "Got to Give It Up" but infringing on the copyright of Gaye's "After the Dance" and having a "Marvin Gaye fixation." Marvin Gaye heirs sue 'Blurred Lines' artists . This tension came to a head on Thursday as U.S. District Court Judge John A. Kronstadt denied Thicke and Williams' request and ruled that the dispute should be aired out at trial. Though Thicke, Williams and T.I. contended in their suit that "being reminiscent of a 'sound' is not copyright infringement," Thursday's ruling indicates the court believes that's a question for a jury to mull over. Both sides relied on the examination of musicologists to help make their arguments, but Thursday's ruling noted that the Gaye family has made "a sufficient showing that elements of 'Blurred Lines' may be substantially similar to protected, original elements of 'Got to Give It Up.' " According to The Hollywood Reporter, a trial is set for February 10. In a statement, the lawyer for Thicke and Williams said that Thursday's ruling isn't a surprise thanks to the "extraordinary difficulty" of trying to land a win at this stage of the process, "especially where each side offers conflicting opinions from multiple musicologists." That said, the stars' attorney added he and his clients are "gratified" that, per Thursday's ruling, "the jury will need to decide this case ... limited to what is in the written composition, without being influenced by the sound recordings." "Blurred Lines" stayed at the top of Billboard's pop chart for a record 16 weeks last year and sold more than 6 million copies, according to court documents. CNN's Amanda Watts contributed to this report. | The dispute over Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" is heading to trial .
A judge ruled that there's enough evidence for it to be presented to a jury .
But jury will have to focus on sheet composition of the songs versus the recordings . |
11,404 | 206f16961d6d80450bc5137509654fff1032ca94 | (CNN) -- On the record, Pakistan has persistently criticized the United States' use of unmanned drones to attack militant hideouts in its mountainous border region. But diplomatic cables obtained by WikiLeaks reveal that in private the Pakistani government was not unhappy about the strikes and secretly allowed small groups of U.S. Special Operations units to operate on its soil. In a cable sent in August 2008, the U.S. ambassador to Pakistan at the time, Anne Patterson, recounted a meeting with Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. It coincided with a military operation in one of the restive frontier territories. Patterson wrote, "Malik suggested we hold off alleged Predator attacks until after the Bajaur operation. The PM brushed aside Rehman's remarks and said, 'I don't care if they do it as long as they get the right people. We'll protest in the National Assembly and then ignore it.' " On Wednesday, a governing party representative said there was some public support in Pakistan for U.S. missile attacks on suspected militants. "There is a segment in the country who support the drone attacks, and they feel that drone attacks have been helpful in eliminating many of the militants," Pakistan People's Party spokeswoman Fauzia Wahab said. "But of course there is another point of view in the country who do not favor the drone attacks, and they think that drone attacks are intervention and violating our sovereignty," she said. She did not directly answer a question about her party's position on drones. She also said there is some "soft" support for militants in "every institution" in the country, including the military, but said the government did not "support those who are close to the militants." Asked about Wahab's comment that there was some public support for drone strikes, Pakistan's ambassador to the United Kingdom stuck to the government's official line. "No one supports drone attacks by the Americans," Wajid Hasan said Wednesday. But other U.S. records revealed by WikiLeaks make clear that there were meetings between American and Pakistani officials about drones. A U.S. diplomat, based in Peshawar near the border territories, mentions in a 2008 cable a meeting he had with a senior official whose name is redacted. The official "said he wanted to say in an unofficial capacity that he and many others could accept Predator strikes as they were surgical and clearly hitting high value targets. He mentioned that fear among the local populace in areas where the strikes have been occurring was lessening because 'everyone knew that they only hit the house or location of very bad people.'" The same official painted a gloomy picture of the situation, saying, "Our house is on fire and we need to take drastic actions," according to the cable. It seems that Pakistan saw the drone attacks as so effective, it wanted some of its own. At a meeting in Islamabad in June 2009 attended by then-U.S. National Security Adviser Gen. James Jones, President Asif Ali Zardari "made repeated pleas for drones to be 'put in Pakistan's hands' so that Pakistan would own the issue and drone attacks (including collateral damage) would not provoke anti-Americanism," one cable says. Zardari said the technology behind them was "not cutting-edge" and said he had raised the issue with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Similarly, Pakistan has been very sensitive to allegations that U.S. combat forces are at work inside the country. But one cable from Patterson written in October 2009 noted with satisfaction, "The Pakistani Army has for just the second time approved deployment of U.S. special operation elements to support Pakistani military operations. The first deployment ... occurred in September." That cable goes on to say that a request had come from the Pakistani military commander in North and South Waziristan, Lt. Gen. Masood Aslam, for intelligence and reconnaissance assistance from U.S. Special Operations units. That support would "include a live downlink of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) full motion video," it says. Patterson adds that the move "appears to represent a sea change in Pakistani thinking. Patient relationship-building with the military is the key factor that has brought us to this point." But she cautions: "These deployments are highly politically sensitive because of widely held concerns among the public about Pakistani sovereignty and opposition to allowing foreign military forces to operate in any fashion on Pakistani soil. Should these developments and/or related matters receive any coverage in the Pakistani or U.S. media, the Pakistani military will likely stop making requests for such assistance." During discussions on the militant threat, the Pakistani leadership stressed that a short-term victory was unlikely. According to one 2009 cable, Zardari "cautioned that the fight against militant extremism would be a long one, lasting not months but many, many years and that lack of vigilance on the GOP's part would be devastating." In this case, GOP refers to the government of Pakistan. Zardari also did not miss the chance -- in speaking with Jones -- to have a poke at Pakistan's nemesis, accusing "India of providing the precursor chemicals necessary to produce heroin, which he said was funding the Taliban in Afghanistan." At the same meeting, according to the cable, Zardari praised the Indian prime minister, Manmohan Singh, but with reservations. "Singh is an excellent economist," he said, but he added that he thought Singh did not understand the constraints under which Zardari was operating. The cables also reveal great sensitivity on the part of Pakistan to any perceived tilt by Washington in favor of India. A cable prepared this year for FBI Director Robert Mueller says, "Cooperation has frequently been hampered by suspicion in Pakistan's military and intelligence establishment about U.S. intentions and objectives. Among other things, the Pakistanis believe that we have favored India over Pakistan -- most notably, by approving civil-nuclear cooperation with India -- and that we aim to dismantle Pakistan's nuclear weapons program, which, in light of their conventional military disadvantage vis-a-vis India, they consider critical to their national security." Referring to the Pakistani Taliban, the same cable says gloomily, "In the midst of this difficult security situation, Pakistan's civilian government remains weak, ineffectual, and corrupt." Support for strikes . There is some public support in Pakistan for U.S. missile attacks on suspected militants in the country, a governing party representative conceded Wednesday, diverging from the country's official position on drone strikes. There is also some "soft" support for militants in "every institution" in the country, including the military, Pakistan People's Party spokeswoman Fauzia Wahab told CNN. Pakistan's ambassador to the United Kingdom, Wajid Hasan, stuck to the government's official line, that U.S. drone attacks infringe on Pakistani sovereignty, when asked about Wahab's remarks. CNN'S Ravi Agrawal and Luke Henderson contributed to this report. | NEW: There is some public support for strikes, governing party spokeswoman says .
A WikiLeaks cable quotes Pakistan's prime minister supporting U.S. drone attacks .
Yousaf Raza Gilani: "I don't care if they do it as long as they get the right people."
Another cable refers to Pakistani approval of U.S. "special operation elements" |
150,753 | 4ee5b89cb67ca810aec10a7259804c1fb2b29255 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 14:22 EST, 9 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:30 EST, 9 October 2013 . A man in Southwest Florida with a ‘painful’ lump in his breast the size of a golf ball has been denied a mammogram screening because he is a man. Donald Mudd said he's had a painful lump in his right breast over the last several weeks, according to Fox4Now. He went to see his physician who told him he had a mass in his breast and he needed to get a mammogram. Scroll down for video... Breast cancer?: Donald Mudd from Southwest Florida said he's had a painful lump in his right breast over the last several weeks . Check-up: Mudd went to see his physician who told him he had a mass in his breast and he needed to get a mammogram . Mudd does not have insurance, so he tried to get a mammogram at Fawcett Memorial Hospital, which advertises mammogram specials for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. ‘I got transferred a number of times with the same result... that males don't qualify for the mammogram cancer screening,’ Mudd said. Mudd tried six different organisations to see if he could get a screening, but got the same result. Kathy Shepard, Breast Health . Navigator, said it's harder for men to get help because there's a stigma . that breast cancer only affects women. ‘The . majority of the people who are screened and treated for breast cancer . are women but there are more and more men who have breast cancer issues, . and the reality is, not too many people are aware of that,’ Shepard . said. No insurance: The Southwest Florida man said he got turned away from a hospital that is advertising mammogram specials for Breast Cancer Awareness month . Turned away: He said he called at least six different organisations but all denied him access because he was male . Mudd has finally . found help from the Susan G. Komen of Southwest Florida organisation, . which grants money to clinics to offer screenings for uninsured . patients, regardless of gender. He has an appointment tomorrow at . Virginia B. Andes Volunteer Clinic in Port Charlotte, which gets grant . money from Susan G. Komen. About . 2,240 new cases of invasive breast cancer are diagnosed a year, and . about 410 men will die from breast cancer, according to the American . Cancer Society. | Donald Mudd of Southwest Florida has been in pain for several weeks .
His physician told him he has a mass in his right breast .
Mudd was turned away by several organisations to have a mammogram because he was a man .
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month . |
233,394 | ba26b2bb3f7200a5cc591426d74db0eb42da4674 | By . Simon Jones . Crystal Palace, Sunderland and Aston Villa are showing interest in Marseille midfielder Morgan Amalfitano who impressed on loan at West Brom last season. The 29-year-old is available for £2.5m. Eagles manager Tony Pulis has been on a scouting mission at the World Cup whewre he watfched Holland's 5-1 demolition of reigning champions Spain. Pulis watched the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Iker Casillas during Spanish trainer, but it's unlikley that his club's transfer budget will stretch to many of Spain's squad. Most wanted: Morgan Amalfitano has attacted interest from several clubs after impressing at West Brom . Cat in the hat: Eagles boss Tony Pulis was left licking his lips on a scouting mission to the World Cup . Meanwhile, Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni has ended the uncertainty over his future by signing a new 12 month contract to stay at Selhurst Park. The Argentine’s position at Palace has been unclear in recent weeks as his contract was due to expire at the end of the month. Speroni was locked in talks with Palace officials agreed a new deal to take him into his 10th season at the club. | Morgan Amalfitano is on Crystal Palace, Sunderland and Aston Villa's wishlist .
Marseille midfielder impressed on loan with West Brom last season .
Tony Pulis has been on a scouting mission to the World Cup in Brazil .
Julian Speroni has signed a contract extension to stay at Selhurst Park . |
13,816 | 272eae7819b390308be89baa511916d52ff2c924 | Burnley have announced the double signing of striker Marvin Sordell from Bolton and former West Ham midfielder Matt Taylor. Sordell has made his switch for an undisclosed fee, the 23-year-old agreeing a deal that could keep him at Turf Moor until 2017. Dynamic duo: Burnley have signed Marvin Sordell (left) and Matt Taylor (right) ahead of the 2014/15 season . New recruit: Burnley have signed former West Ham midfielder Taylor on a two-year deal . On the ball: Bolton striker Sordell has moved to Turf Moor for an undisclosed fee . He spent last season on loan from Bolton at Charlton, for whom he scored eight goals, and has been capped 14 times for England Under-21s. Sordell previously worked under Burnley boss Sean Dyche at Watford, the club with whom he made his Football League debut. Taylor, 32, has put pen to paper on a two-year deal with the Clarets after the conclusion this summer of his West Ham contract. He is another ex-Bolton man and played for Portsmouth before that. Those arrivals are the second and third this week for Burnley after they announced on Wednesday that former Blackpool goalkeeper Matt Gilks had joined them. The other player to sign for them this summer has been Michael Kightly, who had been on loan from Stoke last term and has now made the move permanent. Burnley are preparing for their return to the Premier League after clinching promotion from the Sky Bet Championship at the end of 2013/14. Safe hands: Burnley also announced the arrival of former goalkeeper Matt Gilks on Wednesday . Permanent deal: Michael Kightly joined the Turf Moor this summer after impressing on loan last season . | Burnley have signed Matt Taylor and Marvin Sordell .
Taylor joins the Clarets on a two-year deal after his West Ham deal expired .
Sordell has penned a Turf Moor contract until the end of 2017 for an undisclosed from Championship outfit Bolton .
The duo follow Matt Gilks and Michael Kightly's arrival at the club . |
6,881 | 138032806bf880767430434b7ca170abc5aae63e | Motoring enthusiasts can now buy a $2 million (£1.2 million) sports car that can be driven underwater. The ‘Submarine Sports Car’, inspired by James Bond's famous sub-Lotus, is powered by an electric motor that allows it to reach a maximum speed of 75mph (121kph) below the waves. It claims to be the only vehicle that drives as well underwater as it does across land. Underwater love? The ‘Submarine Sports Car’ (pictured) is powered by an electric motor which allows it to reach a maximum speed of 75mph (121kph) underwater. It claims to be the only vehicle that drives below the waves as easily as it does across land . The design is inspired by the submarine Lotus Elan in 1977 film, The Spy Who Loved Me, which was more angular in shape. The new version of the submarine car is a convertible that floats when first driven into water. The two-seated vehicle then submerges with the pull of a lever, which sends it deeper underwater. 00-heaven? The design is inspired by the submarine Lotus in The Spy Who Loved Me and it floats when first driven into water . Joy ride: The car is fitted with propellers at the rear and two water jets mounted behind rotating louvers at the front of the vehicle which provide steering and lift. It has two built-in scuba tanks and diving regulators to allow two people to remain underwater for up to an hour . Last year, a submarine car driven by Roger Moore as James Bond in the 1977 film The Spy Who Loved Me sold at auction for £880,800 (£550,000). While it sold under estimate, it can't be driven on the road, but can be used as a submarine. The Lotus was nicknamed 'Wet Nellie' during filming and was built by a former Navy SEAL at a cost of around $100,000 (£62,439) - the equivalent to $500,000 (£312,196) today. Although Roger Moore starred as Bond in the film, the submarine car was driven by retired Navy Seal Don Griffin during underwater filming. Another version of the famous sub-aquatic car is currently listed on Ebay for $1million (£624,393). The car, listed by classic car dealer Hot Rod City, has fins and retractable wheels but no engine. The car is fitted with propellers at the rear and two water jets mounted behind rotating vent-like louvers at the front of the vehicle, which provide steering and lift. It has two built-in scuba tanks and diving regulators to allow two people to remain underwater for up to an hour. The zero-emission vehicle has the same steel chassis used in the Lotus Elise. It has a 54kW 160NM electric motor inside, which is powered by six 48-volt Lithium-ion batteries. They last for 18 miles (29km) on land and provide power for three hours underwater after a four hour charge. The interior in the car is impervious to fresh or salt water and an on-board laser-guided sensor enables it to cruise along autonomously. Measuring 12ft 6inches (3.8metres) long and 6ft 4inches (1.9metres) wide, the car weighs 145 stone (921kg). It can be bought from online retailer Hammacher Schlemmer. The zero-emission vehicle has the same steel chassis used in the Lotus Elise. The famous model starred in the 1977 film, The Spy Who Loved Me. One of the six used in filming is up for sale on eBay . On dry land: The zero-emission vehicle (pictured) has the same steel chassis used in the Lotus Elise.It has a 54kW 160NM electric motor inside, which is powered by six 48-volt Lithium-ion batteries . Iconic: James Bond's car was designed to convert into a submarine when underwater. This diagram shows its special features, including retracting wheels, a periscope, harpoon gun, oil release mechanism, missile launching system and more weapons, which the new imitation lacks . Roger Moore (pictured) made the car famous, which was designed especially for the James Bond film. While there is one currently listed on eBay for $100, it lacks an engine . | The zero emission ‘Submarine Sports Car’ is powered by an electric motor .
It can reach a maximum speed of 75mph (121kph) below the waves .
Vehicle is fitted with propellers and two water jets to provide lift .
Design is inspired by the submarine Lotus in The Spy Who Loved Me .
An on-board laser-guided sensor enables it to cruise along autonomously . |
199,214 | 8de48beca9ffa9b988f38f83f88313daa8555d7e | (CNN) -- It must be a bomb. That was Debbie Wagner's first thought when she heard the boom as she lay in bed overnight Saturday in her home on Indianapolis' Southside. Downstairs, she found a ceiling fan plunged to the floor, glass shattered, and the deadbolt of her front door blown open -- not even knowing then her garage doors had been blown in. Only later did Wagner and her husband Andy learn that, among their neighbors, they were some of the lucky ones. A huge explosion had pierced the nighttime silence and ripped through the streets before characterized by solid two-story homes, garages and lawns. Two adults were killed, while seven others went to area hospitals, due to the explosion and related fires, said Deputy Chief Kenny Bacon of the Indianapolis Fire Department. Aerial video showed the significant material cost as well, with only the foundations remaining of some homes, others left charred, and dozens more homes like the Wagners' suffering damage of all different sorts. "The house felt like it was shaking, your chest was shaking," Wagner told CNN affiliate WISH. "It's like nothing that you've ever experienced." Fire department spokeswoman Bonnie Hensley said early Sunday that two houses sitting next to one another blew up. But hours later, authorities still hadn't determined, publicly at least, why they did. Citizens Energy spokesman Dan Considine said Sunday there were no reports of gas smells prior to the blast. While the personal and physical toll was enormous, some officials are counting their blessings and crediting the prompt, extensive response from public safety authorities -- plus the good fortune that some locals were away for the night -- with preventing even more bloodshed. "It was a massive explosion," said Troy Riggs, the city's director of public safety. "... But it could have been much worse." Soon after it happened, first responders swarmed on the area -- some of them in shorts and tennis shoes, having apparently rushed to the scene right away, said Riggs. At one point, 60 to 70 firefighters were on site to control blazes and prevent more, according to Bacon. Their other primary duty was to round up residents, as crews "did at least a primary, secondary and tertiary search of every home" to clear people out, he said. About 200 neighbors eventually made their way to nearby Mary Bryan Elementary School, where doctors and paramedics checked each one, said Bacon. Wagner described the predominant feeling among her neighbors as sorrow. "People are just ... in shock, because it is such a surreal thing," she said. After the sun rose Sunday morning, the devastation became more stark and painful. Authorities went door to door at 126 properties in the neighborhood, dividing them into a few simple categories: "OK" for those with cosmetic and survivable damage, other designations for those with an uncertain future, or those that were a lost cause. Eighty homes were somehow affected, said Adam Collins, the deputy code enforcement director for the city, causing an estimated $3.6 million in damage. Most of these had minor damage, in the form of broken glass, torn-off siding or garage door damage, that didn't make their homes uninhabitable. Another 31 suffered what Collins called "major damage" -- meaning, for most of them, it's still to be determined if they can be lived in again. Inspectors know for sure that five cannot, as they are "either gone or will require a demolition." Riggs said he expects authorities will discover more damage, and residents will have to deal with more headaches and heartache in the coming weeks. Handing out his cell phone number to those affected, he promised them they wouldn't be alone. "We understand that their lives are upside down," Riggs said. "We're going to do everything we can to help (re-)establish their lives, and go forward." CNN's Jake Carpenter, AnneClaire Stapleton and Greg Botelho contributed to this report. | Seven go to hospitals after the late-night blast in an Indianapolis neighborhood, officials say .
Five of the homes affected are lost, while 26 others may not be inhabitable, an inspector says .
"People are just ... in shock, because it is such a surreal thing," a resident says . |
89,862 | ff37e7ab8b062a465198bfc70367110125b84935 | (CNN) -- If you think you've heard it all, follow this tale of a hungry black bear who went for a ride, literally. Douglas County, Colorado, Sheriff's deputies early Friday got a call about a honking car and a commotion inside. Perhaps it was teenagers or a thief, they thought as they approached Ralph Story's 2008 Toyota Corolla. It turns out it was a thief, albeit the furry variety. The deputies' first clue to something unusual was that the car was 125 feet below its normal parking spot in the driveway of the Storys' Larkspur home, which sits on five acres. Imagine their further surprise when they turned on their flashlights and got a peek inside. It was a full-grown black bear, also known as ursus americanus. The deputies had earlier received a call from a neighbor. She had heard honking and came up to the Story home, where the family was asleep. "Our Toyota was making a heck of a racket and was rocking back and forth," Story said. The neighbor called deputies shortly after 3 a.m., according to spokeswoman Michelle Rademacher of the sheriff's Department in the community 45 miles south of Denver. Story told CNN the bear was probably drawn to a peanut butter sandwich left inside by his 17-year-old son Ben. He said the family didn't realize what was going on until deputies arrived and the neighbor came back and called them. By then the car was no longer in the driveway. Incredulous, Story, his wife and three teen children -- who have lived in Larkspur for 17 years -- rushed outside to see the red Toyota down the hill and near a tree. Somehow, the bear had either opened the unlocked back door or pushed a window down to get inside. Understandably agitated, it bumped into the horn repeatedly and eventually knocked the car's gear into neutral. The Toyota rolled down the hill. The door added to the bear's indignity by closing at some point during the ordeal. A sergeant and two deputies who arrived on the scene "were stymied on how to proceed," Story said. They considered a tranquilizer or shooting the bear, whose gender is unknown. "Public safety is our primary concern," Rademacher said. Finally, the officers decided the best outcome for all would be to keep everyone safe and let the bear live to see more adventures. After taking pictures, one of them tied a long rope to a door handle and pulled. After a few moments, Story said, the bear bounded out around 5 a.m., at least two hours after it had gotten inside. It left a foul-smelling "present" on the front seat. The Toyota was trashed, with its air bags, seats and stereo torn to shreds. It's a total loss. Ben Story said he was scared when the family rushed outside to see the car was gone. "My dad is going to kill me," he thought to himself. "My car is gone. I didn't lock it. He said it was stolen." Rademacher said deputies have enough experience not to be shocked during a day's work. But this will make for a great memory. Ralph Story admitted the incident was pretty comical. He's glad the animal got away and no one was hurt. "There's a bear in the car. Who are you gonna get mad at?" | A bear spends more than two hours in a Colorado car .
The Toyota rolled down the driveway with the bear inside .
The animal trashes the vehicle's interior .
Deputies freed it by tying a rope to the door handle and pulling it . |
243,863 | c7a69c6a544ad4ca1b29fc0ae73077be9fd25eb7 | WASHINGTON (CNN) -- As Supreme Court hopeful Sonia Sotomayor breaks ground for Hispanics, she is poised to add an exclamation point to another historic demographic shift: the move to a Catholic court. If confirmed, Sonia Sotomayor would be the sixth Catholic justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. Sotomayor was raised Catholic and if she is confirmed, six out of nine, or two-thirds of the justices on the court will be from the faith. Catholics make up about one-quarter of the U.S. population. "It's most unusual," said Barbara Perry, a government professor at Sweetbriar College who was already writing a book about Catholics on the Supreme Court when Sotomayor was named as the next nominee. "Presidents used to reserve a Catholic seat and a Jewish seat on the Supreme Court," Perry told CNN Radio. "Now we've moved from a Catholic seat on the court to a Catholic court." Of the 110 people who have served on the Supreme Court, 11 have been Catholic. Five of those justices -- Samuel Alito, Anthony Kennedy, Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Chief Justice John Roberts -- are currently on the court. "It is more than a random selection process that yielded the current five Catholics on the bench," Perry said. The five current Catholic justices were appointed by Republican presidents, which Perry notes may be a key reason why so many Catholics have joined the high court in recent years. "It's their tie to conservative Catholicism which made them agreeable to (Republican) presidents' ideology," she said. Perry sees Catholics as swing voters with a base of socially conservative principles, and therefore naturally attractive for Republican presidents. Catholic League President Bill Donohue goes further, hypothesizing that Catholics have conservative credentials on issues such as abortion, without the political baggage of terms such as the "religious right" or "evangelicals." "Is it safer to nominate a Catholic as opposed to an evangelical to get votes? I think the answer is decidedly yes," Donohue said. Donohue also suggests the vigorous education in Catholic schools during the 20th century produced sharp legal minds. "I think there might be a certain kind of Catholic edge, so to speak, as a residual property of a Catholic education," he said. Roberts, Scalia and Thomas attended Catholic school as children, as did Sotomayor. Watch more about Sotomayor's personal history » . Underlying causes aside, Perry sees the fast shift as a sign that centuries of American concern about Catholics are over. In 1985, a lone Catholic justice, William J. Brennan, Jr., sat on the court. A generation later, that number is poised to become six. "What that tells is that in our politics, religion doesn't matter anymore," Perry said. Then she added: "I don't think our politics are ready for an Islamic justice at this point." The current court is composed of two Jewish members -- Justices Stephen Breyer and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. If Sotomayor joins the bench, Justice John Paul Stevens would be the solitary Protestant on a court once dominated by white Protestant men. Learn about the other Supreme Court justices » . Court observers wonder what, if anything, six Catholic justices would mean for Supreme Court decisions. The five Catholics currently on the bench concurred in a 2007 decision, Gonzales v. Carhart, which upheld a state ban on late-term abortions. Sotomayor has faced few abortion cases, and no tests on issues such gay rights or the death penalty. However, Donohue expects a Justice Sotomayor to lean more left than her fellow Catholics on the court. Read about Sotomayor's record » . "I think she's more reliably liberal," Donohue said. Donohue said he still would like to see Sotomayor join the bench. "Even though I'm a conservative and she is not, there's still a certain way that you do root for the home team," he said. | If confirmed, Judge Sonia Sotomayor would be Supreme Court's sixth Catholic .
Five current Catholic justices were appointed by Republican presidents .
Catholic League president says Sotomayor would lean more left than other justices . |
219,383 | a7f80e611577eb29db3a575a71e096d7ba8b2618 | (CNN) -- A movie that offended almost no one, transgressed no historical fact or sociopolitical milieu and inspired every craftsperson in Hollywood to build his or her own giant pussycat (or some rough equivalent) proved to be the biggest surprise of Sunday night's Academy Awards -- without winning best picture. "Life of Pi" did win four Oscars, including the best director prize for Ang Lee that probably should have gone to Ben Affleck (his movie, "Argo," got the best picture Oscar everyone expected it to get, along with one for best adapted screenplay and one for best editing.) And by the way, here's a flash for you people who think best picture really means best picture. There are, and always have been, two criteria for a movie getting the Academy Awards' top prize and they have little, if anything, to do with whether it's really the year's best movie ... or even a very good movie. Either: . 1. It's a movie whose success will somehow benefit as many people in the movie industry as possible. Or ... 2. It's a movie that somehow reflects Hollywood's best image of itself. When both these factors are in play, the movie is unstoppable. So it should have been obvious from the beginning that "Argo" was going to nab that one, even without its pre-Oscar haul of prizes from such trade organizations as the Screen Actors, Producers and Directors guilds. Its issues of historical accuracy aside (and conceded from the start by Affleck and others), the movie's a crisp little nail-biter that easily sells itself to the international marketplace, which remains the final frontier for American commercial cinema. That takes care of criterion No. 1. And as for No 2 -- well, duh! Movie producers are the heroes who help save the lives of helpless Americans trapped in revolutionary Iran. What's more flattering to Hollywood's self-image than that? Ex-Iran hostages hope 'Argo' win boosts quest for reparations . If not for that, it's entirely possible that Lee's adaptation of Yann Martel's mystical adventure would have picked everyone's pocket Sunday night. Even Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln," whose focus on how the idealistic-but-pragmatic president battled intransigent legislators over constitutional banishment of slavery, carried enough contemporary resonance to make it an early favorite in the year of Barack Obama's re-election. But "Pi's" bargain-basement metaphysics is like organic fruit salad to the collective Hollywood mindset, irrespective of ideology. And the various trades in movie land from the production designers to the boom operators were likely jazzed by "Pi's" technological achievements, notably the digitally enhanced Bengal tiger that even the movie's harsher critics believed to have stolen the movie from its human actors. The only other (mildly) unexpected incident Sunday night came with Quentin Tarantino's Oscar for best original screenplay for his cheeky, incendiary antebellum satire, "Django Unchained." Most of the flak Tarantino caught for the movie came from African-Americans, who believed he was at best presumptuous and at worst defamatory in playing fast and loose with the history of American slavery. Those who stood up to cheer the most emphatically when presenter Dustin Hoffman announced Tarantino's name were African-American actors in the film, including Jamie Foxx and Kerry Washington. As usual, we'll have to wait another 20 years to see which of these movies endures beyond their varied contemporary controversies. Oh and by the by -- Sunday night's Oscar telecast was as embarrassing as it always is, and not even host Seth MacFarlane's attempts to cover up the embarrassments by commenting about how embarrassed he was couldn't conceal the fact that, yet again, the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences has failed to make its annual pageant appealing to younger audiences without alienating its older patrons. It would seem the only way to pull that off would be to play things safe while seeming to be rebellious. And Hollywood's usually pretty good at playing pretend games like that -- except when it's not. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Gene Seymour. | Gene Seymour: It's no surprise Hollywood picked "Argo" for best picture Academy Award .
He says that's because its plot has Hollywood saving the day, stoking industry's self-image .
He says if not for that, "Lincoln" or technologically striking "Life of Pi" might have cleaned up .
Seymour: He says Oscar can't make telecast with youth appeal without alienating older viewers . |
112,462 | 1d13f6bfca59195f8b7b3e6006de7cf06b282c6d | By . Steve Nolan . PUBLISHED: . 07:20 EST, 19 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 07:24 EST, 19 December 2012 . Shamed: Stephen Johnson was struck off the nursing register for life . A shamed senior nurse who performed Nazi salutes in front of a Jewish colleague and groped a female co-worker has been struck off. Stephen Johnson, 54, also sent an explicit photo to the woman at a mental health unit in Colchester, Essex. A Nursing and Midwifery disciplinary panel was told that father-of-two Johnson - a deputy manager at the Severalls House unit - had goose-stepped around a room of patients. He also reduced a patient, who was specifically targeted by Johnson and believed that the nurse of 28 years experience was Adolf Hitler, to tears. Appalled former colleagues told the hearing how Johnson created a 'culture of fear' in the unit, with staff too frightened to reveal what was happening in case they lost their jobs. Eventually two members of staff plucked up the courage to make a complaint but Johnson claimed he had been made a scapegoat by management. But he was found guilty of serious misconduct and struck off the nursing register for life. The panel heard how Johnson grabbed one female colleague several times, tried to kiss her and sent an explicit image to her phone. Staff were regularly shocked by Johnson's behaviour at the rehabilitation centre for adults with serious and long term mental health illnesses. Karen Russell, a healthcare assistant, told the panel how Johnson - who did not like anyone who was not English - encouraged a patient to goose-step and make Nazi salutes. He told one shocked foreign nurse: "BNP, go home" and made a Nazi salute in front of a Polish colleague. She also described how her twisted colleague would regularly fondle the genitals of a male patient. Hospital: Stephen Johnson worked at The Severalls, in Colchester, Essex, pictured . The hearing in London also heard how he made racist comments to a Ukrainian Jewish healthcare assistant, calling him names of Arab terrorist groups. Johnson was reported to the police after one incident where he allegedly attempted to grab the healthcare assistant's genitals but no charges were brought against him due to a lack of evidence. The panel found him guilty of eight charges relating to the incidents which tools place between January 2008 and October 2009. James Spencer, chairman of the disciplinary committee, said: 'Mr Johnson abused his position of power and authority with staff and patients. 'He was guilty of discrimination on racial and disability grounds. Johnson, who had been suspended and later resigned following the allegations, was struck off in order to 'protect the public'. | Stephen Johnson was banned from nursing for life by a disciplinary panel .
The 54-year-old groped a female co-worker and sent her an explicit photo .
He created a 'culture of fear' at Severalls House, in Colchester, Essex .
He was found guilty of eight charges between 2008 and 2009 .
Johnson had already resigned as deputy manager at the mental health unit . |
71,859 | cbb80dc5f569141983e7e7b12efe3911ecb13ea4 | (CNN) -- London has always been a world-class destination, but its hotels have often fallen behind, especially in the 1990s and 2000s, as new American hotel chains rapidly expanded and design-minded resorts in Asia perennially raised the bar on service. South America, Africa and Oceania also saw unprecedented growth. London was a place to escape from, not to escape to; rooms with views were reserved for Paris and Tuscany. But how the times changed. As London prepared for two back-to-back mega events last year, the Queen's Jubilee and the Summer Olympics, its hotel sector began to make some notable strides, the likes of which are still dazzling visitors. The new generation of hotels, all of which opened between 2011 and 2013, includes the work of starchitect David Chipperfield (Café Royal) and big-name designers like Kit Kemp, Tara Bernerd, Anouska Hempel and David Collins also got in on the action. Departures: Best restaurants in London . Here are our favorites. The Ampersand Hotel . London's French-expat scene congregates in Frog Alley, otherwise known as South Kensington, which is home to the Ampersand, a hotel opened in August 2012. All 110 of its rooms feature one of five central Victorian themes: botany, music, geometry, ornithology and astronomy. (Each takes inspiration from the nearby Natural History and Victoria & Albert museums.) Its new patisserie area, an underground cocktail bar, a library, a game room (featuring table tennis) and a high-tech, 24-hour gym bring things up to date. Rooms, from $225; 10 Harrington Rd.; 44-20/7589-5895. Departures: Festive London teas . Belgraves . Thompson Hotels transplanted New York cool to London when it launched the modern, 85-room Belgraves in February 2012 in London's ritzy Belgravia neighborhood near Sloane Square. Though the hotel's designer, Tara Bernerd, is British -- and contemporary pieces from local artists Miranda Donovan and Mat Collishaw hang in the halls -- a combination of new leather, a spacious fitness center and a retro restaurant serving upgraded burgers, shrimp cocktails and pumpkin pie are pure Americana. Rooms, from $350; 20 Chesham Pl.; 44-20/7858-0100. 9 glamorous movie-star hotels . Bulgari Hotel . The pre-Olympics boom of luxury hotels includes this Knightsbridge property, which opened in May 2012 and eschews British florals and Empire-era chintz for a modernized 1920s look. Highlights include a handmade steel balustrade backed by a metallic wall adorned with sketches of Bulgari's early-20th-century jewelry collections, glossy sapele-mahogany woodwork, silver chandeliers and an overall subdued design paying homage to the label's early Italian silvercraft. Surrounded by columns and small cabanas, the 75-foot pool anchors the spa, which is composed of onyx, oak, Vicenza stone and Italian glass mosaics that lead to a vertical fireplace. Rooms, from $770; 171 Knightsbridge; 44-20/7151-1010. Departures: Opulent hotel lobbies . Café Royal . The opulent Louis XVI decor and detailing of Café Royal, which opened in December 2012 and is nestled between Soho and Mayfair, is the work of British architect David Chipperfield. The grandiose property features a Champagne and caviar lounge with live entertainment, a spa and marble hammam and restored ballrooms once frequented by Elizabeth Taylor, the Beatles and Oscar Wilde. Rooms, from $530; 68 Regent St.; 44-20/7406-3333. Lights, camera, vacation! Corinthia Hotel London . This opulent 294-room hotel -- once home to the Ministry of Defense -- reopened in the spring of 2011. Baccarat crystal, colorful flower arrangements and swirls of Calacatta Oro marble punctuate this Beaux-Arts gem, the product of a $488 million renovation. But the spa -- London's largest -- is the real game changer. The four-story, 35,000-square-foot Espa Life at Corinthia spa and wellness center offers 15 treatment rooms, a monochromatic white spa lounge, a sauna encased in glass and a pool lined with steel. Guests can hit the on-site Harrods for a shopping spree and sip cocktails in the David Collins-designed Bassoon Bar before retiring to one of the seven plush suites with literary, drama or world-exploration themes. Rooms, from $500; Whitehall Pl.; 44-20/7930-8181. Departures: Tucked-away city hotels . Dorset Square Hotel . Kit Kemp, founder and chief designer of Firmdale Hotels, brought her signature British style to New York in 2009 with her Crosby Street property. But she got her start here at this tidy 38-room Regency townhouse overlooking a former cricket grounds in Marylebone. Though it was Firmdale's first property in 1985, the dwelling was eventually de-flagged. It returned to the Firmdale family (and to the Design Hotels portfolio) in May 2012 after being gutted and "Kitted" out with chic, slightly eccentric touches like handwoven Argentinean rugs, bespoke wallpaper mocking vintage botanical prints and cricket-ball doorknobs. Two additional Firmdale properties are expected to open in the coming year, another in London and one in New York. Rooms, from $200; 39-40 Dorset Sq.; 44-20/7723-7874. La Suite West . Another Design Hotels member opened in August 2012 in the understated La Suite West in the underrated Bayswater neighborhood, a quiet, leafy residential area adjacent to Hyde Park that is home to some of London's best Asian food. The discreet 19th-century Victorian townhouse lurks behind hedges that make it easy to miss. But once inside guests enjoy an elegant lobby with a minimalist fireplace, relaxing rooms with handsome gray marble tubs, black lacquer shutters and fabrics in deep violet and brown hues, all thanks to British designer Anouska Hempel. Rooms, from $250; 41-51 Inverness Ter.; 44-20/7313-8484. Departures: See more new London hotels . © 2010 American Express Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved. | New hotels opened in advance of London's Olympics and Jubilee events .
South Kensington is home to the Ampersand, which opened in August 2012 .
The Bulgari Hotel eschews British florals and Empire-era chintz for a 1920s look . |
187,351 | 7ea6511fd470b3a28eb2203400ff2b4e1ad24c19 | (CNN) -- Amid the death and destruction of life in Gaza, a spark of hope for the future: A Palestinian couple have married in a makeshift wedding ceremony at the UNRWA shelter which has become their temporary home. Omar Abu Namar, 30, and Heba Fayad, 23, moved to the shelter -- a U.N. school in Gaza City's Shati refugee camp -- after their homes in Beit Lahiya were destroyed in the conflict with Israel, throwing their wedding plans into disarray. Fayad's white dress and other items for the wedding were lost, and she and her husband-to-be faced the prospect of having to postpone their special day indefinitely, before friends, family and others stepped in to help. "I went to UNRWA and told them that I am engaged and asked them if they can help me to do the wedding," Abu Namar explained in an interview with the Watania Media Agency, published on YouTube. "They said yes, we will help you with it. They stood by me, and helped with the wedding from A to Z." UNWRA offered to host the wedding at the shelter, and even paid for the couple to spend their first few nights as husband and wife at a hotel, away from the crowds of thousands of fellow displaced people now living under the same roof. Those crowds -- the couple's new neighbors -- were in attendance as Abu Namar and Fayad celebrated their wedding. For many the party, complete with dancers, music, balloons and cake, offered a much-needed break from the bloodshed, and a chance to forget the troubles of recent weeks. "Now that we are at the wedding, we have a change of spirits: enough depression and melancholy, this is something else," guest Haya Aziz told the Agence France-Presse news agency (AFP). UNRWA spokesman Christopher Gunness told CNN the wedding was a rare piece of good news for Gaza. "It is truly heartwarming that amid the carnage and devastation we have a story of love and humanity -- it is a reminder of the dignity and the destinies that lie behind the statistics." But he added that despite the individual romance of Abu Namar and Fayad's story, "one must never lose sight of the fact that Gaza has seen its worst devastation in recent memory." READ MORE: Gaza cease-fire extension holding . READ MORE: Mideast spiraling in war and terror . READ MORE: What are the prospects for peace? CNN's Carol Jordan, Andrew Carey, Antonia Mortensen and Ali Younes contributed to this report. | Omar Abu Namar, 30, and Heba Fayad, 23, were married in ceremony at UNRWA shelter .
The couple moved to the Gaza shelter after their homes in Beit Lahiya were destroyed .
UNRWA paid for the couple to spend their first few nights as husband and wife in a hotel . |
197,956 | 8c3b299281281ebd967d285a65224ab76a2a57fc | By . Lucy Waterlow for MailOnline . A 20-year-old zoo keeper from Pembroke, Wales, has become the leader of a pride of lions. Rosie Badger will be responsible for the day-to-day upkeep of six African lions at Pembrokeshire Zoo, Folly Farm. At 250kg each, the big cats are four times petite Rosie's own weight and they can reach a height of over 8ft tall when they stand on their hind legs. Rosie, along with the rest of the team at Folly Farm, has undergone extensive training to prepare for the role and said she can't wait to get stuck in. Lion tamer: Rosie Badger gets to work feeding the 250kg animals . Dream job: The 20-year-old has always wanted to work at a zoo . She said: 'I've always dreamed of not only working at a zoo but working with big cats like lions but I never imagined it would become a reality.' 'I've really enjoyed all the training we have done and am totally ready to take on my new role. I literally can't wait to work with such amazing animals on a day-to-day basis. I feel extremely honoured to be given the role and trusted with looking after the pride.' Rosie has been taught about the strict safety procedures she must undertake when entering and leaving the enclosure to ensure the safety and well-being of both her and the lions at all times. She has also learned about the general behaviour of the lions, their diet and how to keep them stimulated. Zoo manager Tim Morphew said: 'I chose Rosie to be one of my lion keepers because when working with lions, trust is fundamental and I trust her explicitly. Not only is she very passionate about lions, she is meticulous and responsible and a proper stickler for routine which is extremely important when it comes to lions. New home: Folly Farm has a new two-acre enclosure for the wild animals . Be prepared: Rosie has an animal science degree and has had full training to ensure the safety of herself and the lions at all times . 'She is a highly capable zoo keeper and will make a brilliant keeper for our new lions.' After spending her childhood dreaming about working in a zoo, Rosie joined Folly Farm in Kigetty in 2012 after completing her Animal Science degree at Pembrokeshire College. Since then she has been working as a carnivore keeper with everything from giraffes to squirrel monkeys, enabling her to gain experience with a huge variety of animals and develop and enhance her zookeeper skills. Rosie will be responsible for feeding the lions as well as cleaning out their enclosure . Having now landed her dream job as a lion keeper at Folly Farm, Rosie will be responsible for feeding the lions as well as cleaning out their enclosure and looking out for their health and well-being. She will also need to ensure that the lions are constantly stimulated by hiding their food and making them hunt for it and providing them with toys to play with. The arrival of the lions at Folly Farm marks the completion of a £500,000 project to build a purpose-built, state-of-the-art two-acre enclosure for the lions at Folly Farm. It will also highlight the valuable work the attraction already does with UK charity Wildlife Vets International as part of its commitment to conservation, raising awareness and funds for in-situ big cat conservation projects. The lion's new enclosure will be made up of four dens and visitors will be able to see the lions clearly in the house due to large glass viewing windows. These 39mm thick, laminated, bullet proof windows also provide clear and unrestricted views of the lions from three vantage points within the perimeter fence surrounding the outside enclosure. Alongside the lion house is an education centre, themed as a fully-equipped ranger's hut, which will provide visitors with information on African lions and the work carried out by rangers in the wild to monitor and protect them. | Rosie Badger will be responsible for upkeep of six African lions .
She has undergone extensive training to prepare for the role .
Says she can't wait to start her dream job . |
61,142 | adabd458fe83b7ad71935e18aa9c53863e674e6c | Sororities at the University of Virginia have been told to stay away from fraternity recruitment events scheduled Saturday. The sororities are part of the National Panhellenic Conference. Conference spokeswoman Michelle Bower tells The Washington Post that the mandate came from the sororities' national presidents. Bower says the conference supports the decision. U.Va. Inter-Fraternity Council President Ben Gorman tells the newspaper that some sororities were told to avoid any social gathering with fraternity members on Boys' Bid Night. Stay away: Sororities at the University of Virginia have been told to stay away from fraternity recruitment events scheduled Saturday. In this Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015 photo, University of Virginia students walk to fraternities at the start of rush week at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville . The university recently lifted a suspension of Greek social activities after fraternities and sororities agreed to stricter regulations. The suspension followed a rocky 2014 at the university. In November, a Rolling Stone article detailed an alleged gang rape at a U.Va. fraternity. Prior to that, 18-year-old student Hannah Graham disappeared in September after a bout of drinking and would later turn up dead. While the Rolling Stone article has been largely discredited and Graham's accused killer is a 32-year-old university employee and not related to a frat, this is not the first effort to curb Greek activities on campus in the wake of the events. Earlier this month, a pair of defiant University of Virginia fraternities capitulated to the school's efforts to impose new regulations on them that stemmed from a Rolling Stone article alleging a culture of rape and denial on the campus. The decision by the local chapters of Kappa Alpha and Alpha Tau Omega to join the other fraternities in signing the new, stricter fraternal organization agreement appeared to be the last piece needed to restore the normal functioning of the campus's Greek life. Despite much of the Rolling Stone article at the root of much of the Greek controversy having been discredited, national leaders of campus sororities say women should simply stay away this bid night . The decision came just hours after the start of rush night. All the U.Va. fraternities' social activities had been suspended following the November publication of the Rolling Stone story, which detailed an apparent gang-rape at a U.Va. fraternity. Though much of the article has been discredited, the school pushed ahead with the new rules to make it easier for students to know how much they're drinking and to make it harder to drug the drinks. The new party rules would ban kegs, require security personnel and ensure at least three brothers are sober. They require food and water at parties and pre-printed guest lists and forbid serving punch premixed with liquor. The university agreed to lift the suspension on the fraternities that signed. The University announced Friday that all the fraternities and sororities had signed the new deal, adding that they would revisit the agreement when it expires in May `'to evaluate any adjustments or improvements that may be warranted.' Earlier this week, Kappa Alpha and Alpha Tau Omega said the agreement would put more liability on them and they wouldn't sign it, even at the risk of losing their affiliations with the university. They criticized the suspensions as well. 'It was simply a rush to judgment in an effort to respond to a PR crisis created by the Rolling Stone article,' said Kevin O'Neill, a Washington, D.C.-based spokesman representing the two fraternities. Bad year: Last year was a conspicuous one for UVA. Not only was the school embroiled in controversy over an alleged campus rape cover-up, but 18-year-old student Hannah Graham became a household name after she went missing in September and was later found murdered . But they reversed course Friday, just hours before a deadline. 'The University has made it clear in writing today that our organizations will remain suspended if we do not sign the new FOA immediately and have rejected our requests for an extension to continue discussing our concerns. Given the threat of further sanctions and retaliation by the University the chapters reluctantly have agreed to sign the FOA so that our students can resume normal operations,' the fraternities said in a joint statement. The fraternities, which have been at U.Va. since the 1800s, said they were still exploring legal remedies and called on Congress and the Virginia legislature to protect them from such regulations. For its part, the university hoped to increase safety by opening a police substation Friday across from The Corner, a popular strip of bars and restaurants sandwiched between the university and fraternity and sorority houses. If there were concerns about the new rules changing the culture so dramatically that it would scare away potential members, it didn't show on the first night of rush Thursday. Large packs of underclassmen in khaki pants and button-down shirts roamed between fraternity houses, many of which they already visited during fall parties. Austin Beane, a 20-year-old second year student from Castle Rock, Colorado, said going through rush is a return to normalcy for the school, after months of media attention focused on the disappearance and death of student Hannah Graham and the Rolling Stone article. 'It was a rough semester for us. We're just trying to get things back to normal,' Beane said. Beane said most of the new rules made sense and won't much change the atmosphere at fraternity parties other than to make them a little safer. The unique situation at U.Va. made the two fraternities' threats to defy the school more realistic. Universities often have on-campus dormitories for fraternities or own the land under fraternity houses, allowing them to evict fraternities that don't follow school rules. But at U.Va., the houses are off campus and privately owned. The university affiliation is tangential, with each fraternity signing an agreement that repeatedly states the university doesn't supervise them. In return, the fraternities get to use a student activity center and university server space, and, more important, adopt a formal relationship with the school required by most national Greek organizations. 'U.Va.'s pretty unique,' said Gentry McCreary, a consultant for the National Center for Higher Education Risk Management who formerly oversaw Greek Life at the University of Alabama. '(Fraternities) operate very independently.' Jakob Scheidt, who was president of Phi Kappa Sigma in the fall semester, said fraternities already have effective risk-management policies in place regardless of the new rules. 'Fraternities have every incentive in the world to make their houses safe, they have every incentive to make sure bad things don't happen all on their own, apart from the university,' he said. `'Anything that happens in your house is on you and fraternities are very aware of that liability.' | Leaders at the National Panhellenic Conference have caused an outcry at University of Virginia sororities with the order .
Many of the 2,000 affected sorority members on campus allege they're being used as leverage to change the behavior of fraternity men .
The university recently lifted a suspension of Greek social activities after fraternities and sororities agreed to stricter regulations . |
116,612 | 228714750e15eeac9196113d6280873b4c561a12 | You spend half an hour putting on your make-up only to sweat it off, do your squats wrong so he'll come adjust your pose and you've spent a fortune on tight new gym gear. Oh dear, fancy your personal trainer? We've all been there. Including Madonna. And rumour has it, Kym Marsh has now got the hots for hers. But as one of Britain's top PTs reveals, as long as you're training together, it's best to keep things in the gym and out of the bedroom... You can't deny Andy's a tasty dish, but Diane had to hold off until their gym sessions ended . By Andy McGlynn, Director of Lifestyle Fitness Personal Training, lsfpt.co.uk and the UK's leading trainer of Personal Trainers. 'During my many years in the business unfortunately I can recount many a tale of personal trainers becoming romantically involved with their clients, and an unsurprisingly 99 per cent of the time it does not end in a loving, lasting relationship. 'If you do become attracted to your client, and vice versa, the only way to pursue it is to terminate the professional contract as soon as you realise you have developed feelings for the other person. 'I first met my now partner, Diane (Jet from Gladiators) when I became her PT. 'It was only later, once we had finished training together that we pursued a personal relationship. I have no doubt that if we had continued our personal trainer and client relationship whilst embarking on something romantic, it would have failed on both counts. He has twelve years of personal training management experience behind him . 'It's such a cliché and any . career-minded PT would never cross that line at work so it's really . frustrating to see the latest headlines about personal trainer Matt . Baker allegedly 'finding romance' with his client, Coronation Street's . Kym Marsh. Once again the actions of a minority threaten to undermine . the credibility of our industry. 'I have been in the personal trainer management business for 12 years and have trained over 1,000 individuals. 'The average age is 26 and so it's quite a young, vibrant industry but there is one very strict rule for every single person I train - 'no sex with clients' - and anyone refusing to agree will be shown the door without exception. 'In the capacity of personal trainer you are being entrusted with your client's health and well-being, and to take advantage of that whilst they're in your care is unacceptable. 'If a patient started seeing their doctor or physician it would be at the very least frowned upon, and would no doubt cause outrage among his peers and other patients, yet it seems the same rules don't apply to our industry. 'There is a stigma around personal trainers and their female clients and there's a tendency to treat it as a bit of a joke. But it's something that not only breaks up marriages, but also casts our industry in a somewhat seedy light. I've worked tirelessly in my career to drive up the credibility of personal training, but this type of behaviour playing out in the media with celebrities and their trainers totally undermines that. 'The problem with so many male personal trainers having relationships with their clients is that it's normally habitual - it becomes the way for them to meet women and the pattern ends up replaying itself over and over again. 'The standing joke in one gym I know is . that if you sign up for sessions with one particular trainer, you . automatically sign up for an affair! hat guy must have some angry . husbands after him, not to mention the trail of ‘heartbroken' women he's . leaving behind. 'But this is the problem. More often than not the . relationship is being treated much more seriously by one party than the . other. A sure sign of this is if the attraction is purely lust-driven . and there is little to no romance or effort being made outside the gym. 'Of course, sometimes there will be more to it than just a spark of sexual chemistry and it may be that you have met your potential soul-mate in your PT. Andy lives with ex-client Diane Youdale (Jet from Gladiators) 'If this is the case the only way for a personal relationship to succeed is if it becomes genuine and the professional training contract is terminated immediately. The couple are then free to get to know each other as with any other potential partner and it removes any need for secrecy or deceit, which are not the foundations for a healthy partnership. 'If the trainer is serious about the relationship he won't want to jeopardise either his career or a possible future with the client, so he will instigate a termination in the contract. 'Sadly though this rarely happens in my experience and it tends to be a fling, an affair or a fumble in the sunbed room or car park. 'I have come across these types of affairs and they do typically end the same way - with the personal trainer coming to see me sheepishly asking for advice on how he can extricate himself from the situation, and the client is often left feeling humiliated. 'So, why does it happen? Clients are attracted to the stereotypical fit-looking male personal trainer. Typically he will lavish her with compliments about her body week in and week out. That attention often fills a gap - giving her the sort of attention that she might not be receiving elsewhere. Before you know it, it's turned into something romantic or sexual. 'I operate a very strict policy in my organisation - the client and the client's partner has to feel happy and reassured that the service is professional and focused on what it should be. If one of my personal trainers refuses to adhere to these rules, they are out. 'Twelve years of personal training management experience behind me and I believe my policy is the only option.' | Andy McGlynn got together with ex-client Diane Youdale (Jet, Gladiators)
Couple soon hooked up and are now living together in Manchester .
Lifestyle Fitness Personal Training Director for past 12 years .
Says he operates professional service and has 'no sex with clients' rule . |
81,669 | e770c55c7693f7bcf9be6fa1475b71d08867ea24 | By . Jaya Narain . PUBLISHED: . 10:37 EST, 30 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:22 EST, 30 May 2013 . A fire chief who swapped explicit pornographic pictures of . children was promoted and given a pay rise while he was awaiting trial. William Wyllie, 49, was suspended from his £46,900 job as a . manager by Cumbria Fire Service after his arrest in October 2011. The married father had been leading a bizarre double life, . swapping indecent images of children and cruising gay dating websites. Disgraced: Fire chief William Wyllie, 49, collected a promotion and £70,000 in pay from Cumbria Fire Service as he awaited trial on charges of distributing sexually explicit pictures of children . He protested his innocence, which meant he could legally . claim his full pay throughout his suspension, and even received a pay increase . when he was promoted. However, he dramatically changed his plea to guilty a . day-and-a-half into his trial last month. Altogether Wyllie is understood to have pocketed around . £70,000 from the public purse during his suspension. He is still being paid until today, the day his resignation . takes effect, even though he pleaded guilty more than a month ago. Online links: Steven King, a serial paedophile with whom Wyllie had exchanged vile images and messages . Last night Matthew Sinclair of the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: . ‘Taxpayers will be astounded that someone could be given a promotion and pay . rise while suspended from his job. ‘The fact that Wyllie ended up admitting his guilt, but not . before trousering tens of thousands of pounds while awaiting trial, will only . add to people’s anger. ‘Whoever was responsible for approving the pay rise and . promotion must be held to account for what amounts to a disgusting waste of . taxpayers’ money.’ Lancaster Crown Court heard that Wyllie, of Barrow, sent . indecent images of children to London-based prolific HIV-positive paedophile . Steven King, who was jailed in 2011 for four years for arranging to have sex . with children as young as five. As a result of the King investigation, Wyllie’s . home and car were searched and laptops, mobile phones and sim cards were . seized. He initially denied nine charges relating to distributing . and encouraging the making of indecent images of children. The jury were told Wyllie claimed the material had been sent . by a malicious hacker attempting to ‘get him in trouble’. But on the second day of his trial he admitted three charges . of sending indecent images of children, two offences of sending indecent moving . images of children and one charge of publishing an obscene article. He was sentenced to a three-year community order, which will . involve three years’ supervision and a sex offender treatment programme. He will be on the sex offenders’ register for five years and . subject to a sexual offences prevention order for the same period. Wyllie started working for Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service . in 2005 after moving from Greenock in Strathclyde where he was working as a . fireman. Cumbria County Council said . he was given his promotion as part . of a force-wide restructuring programme. Wyllie was working as a temporary group manager when he was . suspended and was given an incremental pay increase when his title was made . permanent. Adrian Buckle, Cumbria’s assistant chief fire officer, said . Wyllie was promoted as part of a cost-saving process. He said: ‘As a result of this process, William Wyllie was . substantively appointed into the temporary role that he was undertaking when . originally suspended.’ When contacted Wyllie declined to apologise for claiming his . salary, saying: ‘I do not have any . comment to make.’ | William Wyllie was suspended on full pay after protesting his innocence .
But he dramatically switched his plea a day-and-a-half into his trial .
Court heard how the family man had led a bizarre double life .
He was convicted of five counts of distributing indecent images .
Also pleaded guilty to a further count of publishing an obscene article . |
273,513 | ee505a3d496a6cccc160fcf84539314ab5173202 | Fort Hood, Texas (CNN) -- The only question left for the jury considering the case of Army Maj. Nidal Hasan is whether he will live or die for targeting Afghanistan-bound soldiers in one of the largest mass killings of military personnel on a post on U.S. soil. Jurors deliberated less than seven hours over two days before finding Hasan guilty Friday on 13 counts of murder and 32 counts of all charges in connection with the November 5, 2009, shootings at a deployment process center. The Army psychiatrist admitted to targeting soldiers, saying previously he wanted to protect the Taliban and its leaders from the U.S. military. The court-martial moves on Monday to the penalty phase, where Hasan -- acting as his own attorney as he did during the trial -- will have the opportunity to address the jurors considering whether he should be executed for his actions. The big question is whether Hasan will take the stand in the penalty phase after declining to testify himself, cross-examine witnesses or give a closing statement. The American-born Muslim has indicated in documents leaked to the media that the death penalty would allow him to become a "martyr." For a family member of at least one of Hasan's victims, the death penalty "would be too lenient." Fort Hood victims feel betrayed . "I would much rather see him sit in prison for the rest of his life. He shouldn't be allowed to dictate what happens. He wants to motivate other terrorists," Joshua Gadlin told CNN by telephone. "...We need to stop him from being martyr" to terrorists. Gadlin's wife, former Army Pvt. Amber Bahr Gadlin dragged a wounded soldier out of the deployment processing center as Hasan targeted people in uniform with his laser-mounted weapon. He shot her in the back. Today, the outer wounds have healed. It's the unseen ones -- the emotional scars of that day -- that haven't, Gadlin said. 'Remember the day' At this sprawling 350-square mile Army post in central Texas, the case has routinely dominated the headlines of the local newspaper and television stations. For many here, there was life before the rampage, one where there was the reality that loved ones could die or be wounded while fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. Then there was life after -- after loved ones were gunned down by a fellow soldier. "You don't hear people talking about it all the time, but you think about it," said Paula Wells, who said works on the Army post in a civilian capacity. "I remember the day it happened, and it was shocking. Here the guys go to war and come back, and they get killed here. It isn't supposed to happen that way." But it did, for those who survived and the families of those who did not. Soldier on soldier attacks . In Lacey, Washington, tears rolled down Autumn Manning's face when she learned that Hasan was found guilty of shooting her husband, Staff Sgt. Shawn Manning, six times. "I've been crying all day, like most of the victims have, but it's a sense of relief. This is just the start for the victims because we have sentencing," she told CNN by telephone. Manning's husband was one of the nearly 90 witnesses who testified for the prosecution during 12 days of testimony, delivering a horrifying account of the massacre as Hasan stared at him. Manning, 37, was in the deployment processing center, texting his wife as he awaited his turn, when someone in front of him shouted "Allahu akbar" -- Arabic for "God is the greatest" -- and began firing. He described his bullet wounds, including one that pierced part of a lung. "I figured the shooter would finish me off," Manning said. The two -- Hasan and Manning -- locked eyes as the staff sergeant identified the major as the man who shot him. Manning's wife, who watched the testimony from the gallery, said there was a relief when it was over. Much had been made about whether Hasan, who was acting as his own attorney, would cross-examine the witnesses, including her husband. "I was pretty angry. I was anxious all week not knowing if he was going to cross-examine my husband or not, and not sure how my husband will deal with that," she said. "I noticed he was making eye contact with my husband, and that just infuriated me." Inside the courtroom, shortly before the verdict was delivered, the judge cautioned the spectators in the gallery against outbursts. Hasan stroked his beard as the jury -- a military panel of 13 senior officers -- filed into the courtroom. He then looked at the head of the jury -- a colonel -- who affirmed a verdict had been reached. Hasan showed no emotion as the verdict was read, a contrast to a handful of some of family members who cried or gave one another brief hugs. 'A first, small step down the path of justice' "Today's guilty verdict, rendered almost four years after the attack, is only a first, small step down the path of justice for the victims," said attorney Neal M. Sher, who represents victims and families of those killed in a compensation claim against the government for failing to stop the attack. Almost immediately after the attacks, there were widespread questions about how Hasan was evaluated, promoted and transferred to Fort Hood with plans to deploy to Afghanistan despite questions about his actions, including giving an academic presentation on the value of suicide bombings. Sher renewed the call for the government to reclassify the shootings as a "terror attack" rather than workplace violence. "Justice for the victims of Fort Hood will be done only when the government admits its mistakes, keeps its promises to 'make the victims whole' and comes clean about Fort Hood, " Sher said. " The victims, and the American people, are owed nothing less." As has been done nearly every day in the three-week court-martial, the judge asked Hasan if he had reconsidered defending himself as the case enters the penalty phase. Jurors "will decide whether you live or die," the judge, Col. Tara Osborn, told Hasan after reconvening the court Monday afternoon as part of the penalty phase preparation. "...I think it is unwise for you to represent yourself." Hasan told the judge he intended to continue representing himself in the case. 'Jihad duty to kill' On Thursday afternoon, the judge handed the case to the jury after Hasan declined to make a statement during closing arguments that followed 12 days of testimony. The prosecution urged the jury to convict, saying the evidence showed that Hasan believed he had a jihad duty to kill as many soldiers as possible. For more than 90 minutes, the prosecutor took the jury methodically through the evidence in the case, meticulously piecing together how he said Hasan prepared and planned for the attack. Prosecutors have maintained that the American-born Muslim underwent a progressive radicalization that led to the massacre at the sprawling central Texas base. "He did not want to deploy, and he came to believe he had a jihad duty to kill as many soldiers as possible," Col. Steven Henricks told the jury. Hasan picked the day -- November 5, 2009 -- because it was when the units he was scheduled to deploy with to Afghanistan were scheduled to go through the processing center, he said. Hasan rested his case without calling a single witness or taking the stand to testify on his own behalf. His decision not to offer a defense was an anticlimactic end to the trial in which prosecution witnesses, primarily survivors, painted a horrific picture of what unfolded inside a processing center during the attack. During closing arguments, prosecutors showed a graphic FBI video of the crime scene hours after the rampage, where bodies, blood and bullets still covered the floor. As the video was shown to the jury, some of the family members of those killed fought back tears. One woman laid her head on her husband's shoulder, tears streaming down her cheeks, while another woman, a wife of a victim, left the courtroom. For his part, Hasan watched the video, appearing to pay close attention . Hasan's defense . Much has been made of Hasan's defense or, as his stand-by attorneys have said, the lack of it. The judge, Osborn, declined a request by Hasan's attorneys to drop out of the case. The attorneys argued that Hasan was helping the prosecution put him to death. There may be something to that claim. Hasan took credit for the shooting rampage at the outset of the trial, telling the jury during opening statements that the evidence will show "I was the shooter." Osborn barred Hasan from pleading guilty at the start of the court-martial. Under military law, defendants cannot enter guilty pleas in capital punishment cases. The judge refused to allow Hasan to argue "defense of others," based on his claim that he carried out the shootings to protect the Afghan Taliban and its leaders from U.S. soldiers. Perhaps as a way around that ruling, Hasan in recent days has leaked documents through his civilian attorney to The New York Times and Fox News that offer a glimpse of his justification for carrying out the attack. Among the documents was a mental health evaluation conducted by a military panel to determine whether Hasan was fit to stand trial. "I'm paraplegic and could be in jail for the rest of my life. However, if I died by lethal injection, I would still be a martyr," he told the panel, according to pages of the report published by The New York Times. The judge excluded much of the evidence that the prosecution contends goes to the heart of the motive for the attack, including e-mail communications between Hasan and Anwar al-Awlaki, the U.S.-born cleric who officials say became a key member of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. He was killed in a U.S. drone strike in 2011. | The jury that convicted Nidal Hasan in the Fort Hood shootings will decide his fate .
The penalty phase begins on Monday .
Death penalty "would be too lenient," says the husband of one victim .
Hasan has indicated the death penalty would allow him to become a "martyr" |
193,898 | 86fda578540caea8526193aff6c7523ba63d93a3 | (CNN) -- New Sunderland owner Ellis Short insists that he will not interfere on the football side following his takeover of the English Premier League club. Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn, left, and new owner Ellis Short at the club's final game of the season. The American billionaire will buy out the controlling interest of the Drumaville Consortium headed by club chairman Niall Quinn, upping his stake from 30% to 100%. Based in Texas, he has made the North-East club the fourth in the Premier League to have American owners, alongside Aston Villa, Manchester United and Liverpool. His move came hot on the heels of news on Wednesday that Portsmouth owner Alexandre Gaydamak had agreed to sell his club to United Arab Emirates businessman Dr Sulaiman Al Fahim -- who was previously instrumental in the Abu Dhabi United Group's takeover of Manchester City. Short, who saw Sunderland avoid relegation on the final day of the season last weekend, told the club's Web site that he will be sticking to the financial side of the business and allowing former Black Cats striker Quinn to deal with football operations. "Niall runs the club," the 48-year-old said. "Niall is a very smart footballer, very smart about the Premier League and is a wonderful chairman of the club who knows more about football than I ever will, so I will be in the background and Niall will be running the show. "I will be involved in things like finance. With me coming in, you get all of these other good ingredients that are already in place at the club and can add to that a streamlined decision making process, a streamlined board and with some financial ability to make some moves -- and we think that is the missing piece that this club has needed." Short funded Sunderland's transfer business last summer, with former manager Roy Keane spending large before surprisingly quitting in December after a poor run of results. His replacement Ricky Sbragia stood down last weekend after guiding the team to safety, and Sunderland have now been linked with a move for Wigan boss Steve Bruce. Short said he was prepared to further invest money in new players for next season. "It's a very big club with a lot of fans, a big stadium and a lot of revenue -- and when you are in a position where we are, trying to improve it, it takes money," he said. "But if that money is invested wisely, and the personnel decisions that you make are good ones, then I'm not worried at all. I fully expect that Niall will be able to make good personnel decisions going forward." Sunderland announced on Thursday that veteran Dwight Yorke was one of seven players to be released ahead of next season. The 37-year-old Trinidad and Tobago international, who is out of contract, will depart the Stadium of Light along with striker David Connolly, midfielder Arnau Riera, goalkeepers Darren Ward and Nick Colgan and young defenders Peter Hartley and Niall McArdle. Meanwhile, prospective Portsmouth owner Al Fahim has told fans he intends to build a "great football club" once his takeover is completed. Pompey have accepted an offer from the Arab property magnate, and a period of due diligence will take place in the next few weeks. "Everything I have seen makes me sure that we can build a great football club in the years to come," he told arabianbusiness.com. "Portsmouth has incredible history, and its fans are some of the most loyal in the world of football. I look forward not just to working with them, but listening to their views on how they want to take the club forward. "I am the investor, but this is their club and their community -- and it is a privilege to be taking charge." | New Sunderland owner Ellis Short insists he will not interfere with football matters .
American billionaire will leave chairman Niall Quinn to run that side of club .
Sunderland release seven players including veteran Dwight Yorke .
Portsmouth's prospective new owner outlines his dreams for the club . |
189,695 | 81a5ce8b5c3390af786e90e14e181db4ffcaf38f | Denver Marchant was the police officer in charge of the crime scene in 1965 when a dead baby was found packed and posted to Darwin in the mail . Almost 50 years ago retired policeman Denver Marchant stood in a Darwin post office, investigating the shocking case of a dead newborn baby who had been posted in the mail. The case was never solved, but it always stayed in the back of Mr Marchant's mind. Last Friday, the 73-year-old who now lives in Queensland returned to Darwin for a rugby league reunion, and his partner Marilyn booked him into a hotel on Knuckey Street in the city centre. He was shocked. It was at the exact same address of the old post office, built on top of the crime scene of one of Darwin's most notorious cold cases. The scene unfolded on May 3 in 1965, when postal worker John Polishuk noticed a foul smell coming from a package that had been sent from 'JF Barnes' in Mentone, Victoria. He opened the uncollected package, sent to 'J Anderson', and was horrified to find a dead baby boy that still had part of his umbilical cord attached. For Mr Marchant, returning to the same spot so many years later brought all his old frustrations back. 'I've witnessed hundreds of post mortems over the years,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'But for some reason that one stuck with me because it was so bizarre. 'I guess it shocked us and something like that I think is unparalleled in Australia.' He has decided to speak out for only the second time since 1965 to reveal a new detail about the case, in the hope it will inspire someone to come forward with information that will solve it. The dead baby made headlines when it was discovered in 1965 . Melbourne and Darwin police worked together to try and solve the mystery . Clippings from museum archives show the inquiry into the babies death in the 1960's . Mr Marchant said the baby boy was found with a stocking wrapped tightly around his neck, ruling out the possibility that he was stillborn. 'It was as tight as you could get it, it took a long time to get it off,' Mr Marchant said. 'For that child to have been murdered it must have taken a breath. 'There was no reason to put that stocking around the child's neck if it was stillborn.' Mr Marchant also still has photos of the badly decomposed body, but he says they are too gruesome to make public. He remembers the day he got the call to attend an incident at the post office just 200m away from the police station in central Darwin. 'You just take your camera and walk down, you have no idea what you're going to find,' he said. 'When I got there the post office staff had already opened it up but not fully up, it was only partly opened. Mr Marchant pictured (left) in 1962 when he first started working for the Darwin police and (right) in 2013 . 'The first thing we did was put it in a plastic bag and send it straight to the morgue.' A couple of days later the post mortem was carried out, and Mr Marchant watched on but he suspected the doctor performing it was inexperienced. 'I got a feeling that the doctor had not done many post mortems,' he said. 'That's not decrying what the gentleman did, he did his best. 'It's probably a fair comment to say the doctor was very distressed - he was not a young man and my bet was he had kids as well.' The case was eventually passed onto Victorian police, because the crime was committed there and not in Darwin. Mr Marchant said many people had come up with theories over the years, but he thinks it was most likely a crime committed by a mother with post-natal depression. Inside the Darwin Central Hotel on Knuckey Street, which is built on top of the crime scene of one of Darwin's most notorious cold cases . He remained a superintendent in Darwin until 1995 when he retired, and spent some years as an advisor to the rural Papua New Guinean police before eventually settling in Hervey Bay in Queensland. Mr Marchant said times had changed since he was a police officer and he was aware that the public now is able to play a more active role in solving crime. 'At one stage policing was a closed shop and you didn't tell anyone anything,' he said. 'But with social media out there and all sorts of things you never know, it might jog someone's memory. 'You might have someone make a confession on their death bed – it's not likely but it can happen.' Mr Marchant is cautiously optimistic the case might get solved after all these years. 'You've got to remain positive with these things, you can't just say nothing will ever happen,' he said. 'I guess it's probably the copper in me but you really do like to see something happen. 'It's a matter of personal satisfaction.' | In 1965 postal worker John Polishuk opened a foul-smelling package .
He was horrified to find a dead baby boy who still had his umbilical cord .
The package had been sent to Darwin from a fake address in Victoria .
The policeman in charge of the crime scene has never been able to put the notorious cold case out of his mind .
Denver Marchant is releasing new details that he hopes will solve the case . |
21,479 | 3d08963fc89bae4ee2cfd4ab25d2402f1bbc6f51 | By . Lucy Crossley . Rejected: Former Lostprophets singer and convicted paedophile Ian Watkins has had his appeal bid against his sentence turned down . Former Lostprophets singer and convicted paedophile Ian Watkins has had his appeal bid against his sentence turned down, despite arguing his sex crimes were 'not the worst'. The 37-year-old singer's defence lawyer had told Court of Appeal judges sitting at Cardiff Crown Court that Watkins had been unfairly treated when he was given a 29 year jail term. The 13 sex offences he pleaded guilty . to last November included the attempted rape of an 11-month old child as well as . encouraging a fan to abuse her baby via webcam. Police also found a stash of child porn videos - some of which he had made himself. Originally, Watkins had pleaded his innocence to a string of offences - despite a damning video evidence. He . changed his plea at the last minute - averting a trial - but then . complained he had not realised that his guilty plea had made him 'look . guilty'. While awaiting . sentencing last December, he was recorded by prison officials saying the whole thing . was 'megalolz' during a telephone call to a friend. Although 37-year-old Watkins did not . challenge his 13 sex offence convictions, the disgraced rock star . complained he was treated too harshly by sentencing judge Mr Justice . Royce when he was handed a 29 year jail term as well as an additional six years on licence. As he sentenced the singer, the judge called him a dangerous sexual predator and told the now grey haired Watkins: 'The public and, in particular, young females need protection from you.' Sally O'Neil QC told the court that Watkins had spared witnesses and jury members from taking part in what would have been a 'distressing' trial, but had not been given enough credit for his guilty plea. She said: 'This case causes a very . disturbing reaction for anyone who has has anything to do with it. We . accept these matters are very serious. Scroll down for video . Argument: Sally O'Neil QC had argued on Watkins's behalf that he had not been given enough benefit for pleading guilty . 'But by pleading guilty my client . averted the need for a most distressing and unpleasant trial for all . those concerned, especially a jury. 'He did not have to plead guilty and if he had done so the consequences would have been shocking. 'I . am not trying to minimise the gravity of these offences, just simply . make the observation that a sense of proportion needs to be maintained. 'These offences, however bad, are not the worst.' However, the appeal judges failed to be swayed by the argument and ruled they would not grant leave for appeal. Watkins' two female accomplices, who can only be referred to as Woman A and Woman B for legal reasons, were jailed for 14 years and 16 years respectively. Woman B also had her appeal bid turned down. Hearing: Court of Appeal judges (left - right) Mr Justice Griffith Williams, Lord Justice Pitchford and Mrs Justice Simler turned down his appeal and said his 29 year jail term had been appropriate . 'Shocking': Lord Justice Pitchford said that Watkins's offences had been of 'shocking depravity', and required a lengthy prison sentence . But Lord Justice Pitchford said the sentences handed to Watkins and his female accomplice were appropriate. Although . a full judgment will be handed down in writing next week, Lord . Pitchford said: 'These offences against children were of shocking . depravity...a very lengthy prison sentence was demanded.' The . Court of Appeal also said Watkins did not demonstrate that his 29 year . prison sentence was “not unduly manifestly excessive” and the sentencing . judge had “reached the appropriate conclusion”. Watkins was not present at the hearing and also chose not to appear from HMP Long Lartin via video link. Deparvity: The musician, pictured during a performan in 2011, pleaded guilty in November to a series of sexual offences, including trying to rape a baby . | Court of Appeal judges turn down singer's request for a shorter sentence .
He had argued he was treated too harshly when given 29 year jail term .
Defence lawyer says 'offences are however bad, are not the worst'
Watkins, 37, admitted 13 offences including attempted rape of a baby .
He also pleaded guilty to encouraging fan to abuse child via webcam .
One of his two female accomplices also has appeal bid turned down .
Appeal judge describes crimes as being of 'shocking depravity' |
72,094 | cc517c3a35833b6a5c6a884420e87f154a03a076 | By . Meghan Keneally . PUBLISHED: . 12:39 EST, 4 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:39 EST, 4 September 2012 . Severe weather, protesters and gaffe-filled speeches are always a worry at political conventions, but unfavorable hotel reviews hint that bed bugs may also be an issue for the Democratic delegates this year. According to a bed bug complaint website, nine of the hotels being used by convention delegations have had bed bug sightings in recent months. Even though county health officials said that they inspected all of the hotels in question in July, some of the complaints from angry visitors allege that the problems may not have been fully exterminated. Pesty past: The Charlotte Marriott City Center had the highest number of complaints on a bed bug message board site but their spokesman said that they maintain strict cleaning schedules . Nice exterior: The Holiday Inn Center City, which is hosting the Illinois delegation, had previous complaints about the insects but they deny that it is a problem . The Bedbug Registry, an online message board where hotel guests can write reviews of their various visits, shows that of the 21 hotels in Charlotte that have had complaints, nine of those were assigned to various delegations including the ones from Minnesota, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. Florida delegates may be in the most trouble, however, as their Charlotte Marriot City Center location had the highest number of complaints on the website. Of the hotel's six complaints, the most recent was logged at the beginning of August, one month after the county officials said they checked for bedbugs. The hotel denied these allegations, telling The Washington Times that they maintain 'strict cleanliness standards, which includes constant monitoring and routine assessments of guest rooms and public space.' Up close: Bed bugs can bite unsuspecting guests who may accidentally carry them to other places . Another hotel that was given a poor pest review was the Holiday Inn Center City, which received three complaints and has received representatives from the Illinois delegation for the past few days leading up to tonight's kick off. While a hotel representative declined to give MailOnline a statement, she denied that they have bedbugs and said that the web claims alleging otherwise were wrong. Bed bugs aren't the only problem plaguing the traveling delegates, as seven of the rooms reserved for California representatives were deemed unsafe after a large portion of stucco from the Blake Hotel fell off on Friday. Local station WSOCTV reported that nine stories of stucco fell from the side of the uptown building and required quick construction to be fixed in time. Appealing to the masses: On his way down to North Carolina, President Obama appeared at a campaign rally at Norfolk State University Tuesday afternoon . The event: The convention is being held in the Time Warner Cable Arena which begins Tuesday night . The Sacramento Bee said that state senator Ted Lieu tweeted his complaints about how he had to switch rooms five times in the first two days he was in the hotel because of broken locks, a 'funny smell' and- in keeping with the insect theme- cockroaches. Adding to the list of complaints that is sure to grow and the convention continues, delegates from Texas, Maryland and Tennessee all woke up on the wrong side of the morning when the fire alarm at the Great Wolf Lodge went off at 3am on Tuesday, prompting an evacuation. Once it was determined that it was a false alarm, some of the upset early risers jokingly tweeted that it might have been a Republican prank. | Nine of the 21 hotels being used by Democratic delegations have complaints lodged against them on a message website about bed bugs .
The hotels denied the claims .
Other Charlotte, North Carolina hotels have had construction problems and false fire alarms disrupt their political guests . |
199,743 | 8e91b15f6ec3632a95b353841a6253b56cf056de | (CNN) -- A firearm trade group based in Newtown, Connecticut, has filed a lawsuit against Gov. Dannel Malloy and other state lawmakers in hopes of reversing the state's recently passed strict gun control law. In the lawsuit filed Monday, the National Shooting Sports Foundation alleges the Connecticut bill that made history for its tough measures on gun control -- including a ban on the sale and purchase of high capacity magazines -- was illegally introduced and rushed through legislation by Malloy and other lawmakers. The NSSF alleges the bill is in violation of Connecticut's constitution, which states that printed copies of proposed bills must be provided to legislators two days before a vote can take place. Five things to know about guns . The bill, which passed on April 3 and was signed into law by Malloy the following day, banned more than 100 types of assault weapons, called for background checks on all weapon sales -- including private sales -- and created the nation's first dangerous weapon offender registry. "A 139-page bill was assembled behind closed doors, bypassing both the public hearing and committee processes, and quickly sent to floor votes on the same day in both the House and Senate, where legislators did not have adequate time to even read the bill," Lawrence G. Keane, senior vice president and general counsel of the NSSF, said in a news release. States tighten, loosen gun laws after Newtown . "Our suit focuses on this abuse of process that has resulted in enacted law that does nothing to improve public safety, while resulting in adverse effects on law-abiding citizens, manufactures, retailers and sportsmen's organizations." The NSSF, whose headquarters are less than 3 miles from Sandy Hook Elementary School where 26 students and adults were killed by a gunman on December 14, 2012, wants the laws repealed. Has the moment passed? Why gun control push fizzled . Andrew Doba, Malloy's spokesman, issued a statement saying, "We've known for some time that groups opposed to the new gun violence prevention law would be filing suit against it. We believe the bill improves public safety, and we will work with the attorney general's office to defend it. "Let's not forget that this has happened before. In prior instances where Connecticut has passed common sense restrictions on firearms, there have been challenges. They have all been unsuccessful." Asked if he thinks the laws will be upheld, Doba responded, "That's for the courts to decide." The lawsuit also names as defendants state legislature leaders J. Brendan Sharkey and Donald Williams Jr.; state Attorney General George Jepsen; Chief State's Attorney Kevin Kane; and Reuben Bradford, commissioner of public safety. Connecticut school shooting: Fast Facts . | The National Shooting Sports Foundation says constitutional procedure wasn't followed .
The law bans more than 100 types of assault weapons, among other provisions .
The governor's spokesman says the challenge was expected . |
77,108 | daa2e7c8cb34f9eae8bb2f89dfa7587e19e43663 | (CNN) -- For decades, comic books have had major shake-ups in their pages, with varying degrees of fan support -- and outrage. In 1992, well before the advent of social media, Superman was killed and comic books went flying off the shelves. In 2007, social media like Facebook and Twitter were in their infancy when Captain America died. And now -- due in part to the abundance of social media and the intense interest in Spider-Man's alter ego, Peter Parker -- a firestorm has erupted, after Marvel revealed that Parker will die, and the role of Spider-Man will be taken over by his archenemy, Doctor Octopus. The just-released "Amazing Spider-Man" #700 marks the end of one of the most popular comic book series of all time after 50 years. All parties involved maintain that the changes are quite permanent, and next month the saga begins anew with the release of "The Superior Spider-Man" #1, with the Doc, Otto Octavius, stepping into the Spidey suit. Otto believes that with the combination of his intelligence and Parker's inherited memories and spider powers, he can be an uber-Spider-Man. He can live Parker's life better than Peter could -- from fighting crime to getting back together with on-again, off-again girlfriend Mary Jane Watson. When issue #700 was leaked early, fan reaction -- both positive and negative -- went into overdrive, with a few death threats directed at the issue's writer, Dan Slott. Slott reacted on his Twitter and Facebook by saying he would report any threats: "Reality check: There is NO such thing as a 'funny death threat.' Especially if you TAG someone in it." Slott later noted that the reactions were getting more civil, as time went on. Comic book reader calls the new Spider-Man 'inferior' CNN spoke separately to Slott and to Marvel editor Stephen Wacker about the controversial comic. CNN: Why did you choose Doc Ock as the next Spider-Man? Dan Slott: When we first met Peter Parker, he was a teenage bespectacled nerd who resented all the other kids. One of his first lines was, "Some day I'll show them all! Some day they'll be sorry they ever laughed at me." That's not something a hero would say. If Peter had never learned the lesson of "great power and great responsibility," there's every chance he would have become a supervillain. And then you have Otto Octavius, a bespectacled scientist who, after his radioactive accident, became the eight-legged Doctor Octopus. For all intents and purposes, he was the adult Peter could have become, Spider-Man's dark reflection. So what if we flipped it? What if we gave him a second chance? Peter's final, heroic act was giving Doc all the memories and experiences that kept him on the right path. But is that enough? Can that overcome Ock's true nature? CNN: How did this idea originate? Stephen Wacker: This was an idea Dan had when he came onto the book. It changed shape as we went. It wasn't originally going to be in the 700th issue, but as the story grew, we realized maybe it was time to change up the makeup of Spider-Man for good, to make a permanent change. With that and the fact that the 50th anniversary was approaching, we thought, let's go out with a bang. CNN: Did the word spread around Marvel quickly when this was first discussed? Wacker: Three times a year we have editorial retreats, where we bring in our writers and discuss every single book. Anytime we talk about Spider-Man, it's a big deal. There were certainly some loud opinions in the room. Our editor-in-chief, Axel Alonso, was one of the louder voices not buying it originally. All the things Axel poked at toughened the story up and made us look at things differently. CNN: Was that a sneak preview of how fans might react? Wacker: The fan reaction never really surprises me. Anything you do with any of our characters, there's a big vocal fan base, particularly online. It gets more magnified with Spidey. You find people of all stripes reacting -- people who have been reading it for 50 years and love it, and others who say they're quitting Marvel forever. I keep all the fan mail. You can see some of the same people who have written about six things over the past six years that made them drop Marvel forever. There are not a lot of storytelling opportunities in the world where you get such an immediate, visceral reaction. That's a part of the job I like. Slott: I've actually gotten a fair amount of "This is awesome!" (reactions to the story), but it's been very polarizing. No one has a middling review. No one has a take of, "It was all right." People are very split. I got an angry tweet saying, "I don't like seeing bad things happen to good people." I'm like, good luck reading Charles Dickens, Mark Twain -- anything in literature! Now people are saying, "Nooooo! Why are you being mean to (Peter)?" The answer is two words: "Dra. Ma." CNN: Have you learned anything in dealing with the reaction to this particular issue on social media? Slott: We have the most passionate fans in the world! Everyone knows who Spider-Man is-- and everyone cares about him! In the world of comics, thanks to (newspaper publisher) J. Jonah Jameson, everyone thinks he's a menace. But in our world, he's beloved. Now we're going to flip that too. The readers are Jonah. They aren't ready to cut this guy a break. They think he's a menace! This is going to be the most meta Spider-Man of them all! And going from everything I've seen on social media, I am so up for that challenge! | "Amazing Spider-Man" #700 is latest comic book to court controversy .
The just-released issue has plot developments that radically change the Spidey-verse .
'Amazing' writer has received extreme reactions, positive and negative, from fans online . |
137,355 | 3da6602c5fbc833e4f0ee6f6e3e26ff9717098da | Washington (CNN) -- President Barack Obama said Tuesday that he invited Democratic and Republican leaders from both chambers of Congress to the White House for a meeting Thursday to discuss deficit reduction and the need to raise the federal debt ceiling. Obama said he wanted the meeting to "build on the work that's already been done and drive toward a final agreement" that would address expanding federal deficits and bring congressional approval for increasing how much money the government can borrow. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who earlier invited Obama to come to Congress to discuss the issue, will attend the White House meeting, his office announced. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid also plans to attend, and House Speaker John Boehner indicated that he will take part but warned that Congress will not accept tax increases sought by Obama and Democrats. "I'm happy to discuss these issues at the White House, but such discussions will be fruitless until the president recognizes economic and legislative reality," Boehner, R-Ohio, said in a statement. He added, "I'm pleased the president stated today that we need to address the big, long-term challenges facing our country." According to Obama, who made an unscheduled appearance in the White House briefing room, talks on deficit reduction over the Fourth of July weekend with congressional leaders from both parties made progress, but "we still have to work through some real differences." Both parties need to come out of their "comfort zone," Obama said. But "this should not come down to the last second." White House spokesman Jay Carney later said Obama believes that everyone knows the issues involved in forging a comprehensive agreement to reduce federal deficits by as much as $4 trillion in the coming decade. Now it is time make hard decisions, with both sides compromising in order to reach an agreement that benefits the nation as a whole, Carney said. "The ideal will never become law, whether you're a conservative House Republican or a liberal Democrat or the president of the United States," Carney said. "You're never going to get everything you want, because our system doesn't work like that." The Senate returned to work Tuesday, cutting short the planned weeklong Fourth of July recess, with its leaders resuming their tough talk on negotiations to cut federal deficits amid a looming deadline to raise the government's debt ceiling. The three-day Fourth of July weekend did little to change the rhetoric of recent weeks over deficit reduction talks and the need for Congress to increase the amount of money the government can borrow. In his opening remarks after the Senate reconvened, Reid, D-Nevada, accused Republicans of putting the nation's economic recovery at risk by threatening to oppose an increase in how much money the government can borrow. McConnell, R-Kentucky, followed Reid by accusing Democrats of wanting to increase spending to solve a deficit problem. Before Obama's invitation, McConnell repeated an invitation for Obama to come to Congress and hear from Republicans why they won't support any agreement that includes tax increases. Reid said his side was willing to compromise but would not allow Republicans to put the needs of "a few millionaires and billionaires" ahead of the rest of the country. With House members scheduled to return Wednesday, congressional leaders remain at sharp odds over what sort of conditions should be attached to a hike in the current $14.3 trillion ceiling. Republicans are refusing to go along with any increase unless it includes deep spending cuts and avoids any tax increases. Democrats are trying to minimize the impact of cuts to social services and are calling for the elimination to certain tax breaks and loopholes benefiting wealthier Americans. Treasury Department officials and leading economists have warned of potentially catastrophic consequences if the ceiling is not raised by August 2, at which point the country could default on its debt obligations. Among other things, the country could face skyrocketing interest rates and a plummeting dollar. Increasing the debt ceiling will allow the government to borrow more money in order to pay for spending already accrued. Given the short time frame, Congress and the White House may be forced to agree to a relatively small increase in the debt ceiling covering only a few months. Such a compromise -- including cuts already agreed to on both sides of the aisle -- would give leaders more time to negotiate serious budget reforms, including possible changes to popular entitlement programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. However, Obama said he's opposed to a short-term increase in the debt ceiling. "I don't think the American people sent us here to avoid tough problems," Obama said. The debt ceiling dispute is a "'unique opportunity to do something big" and put the "economy on a stronger footing for the future." Over the weekend, top Democrats and Republicans gave no public indication that a potential compromise is in the offing. Talks led by Vice President Joe Biden recently collapsed over the tax dispute. "The principle of not raising taxes is something that we campaigned on last November, and the results of the election was the American people don't want their taxes raised and they wanted us to cut spending," Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union." "They don't want compromise." Various frameworks for a possible deal have been floated. Conservatives demand deep spending cuts, caps on future spending and a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution in return for their support to raise the debt ceiling. Both the House and Senate are planning votes on a balanced budget amendment in coming weeks. However, with such an amendment requiring approval from a two-thirds majority in both chambers and then ratification by at least 38 states, eventual approval is unclear in a process that can take years. For his part, Obama has chided congressional Republicans for refusing to make "tough decisions" at odds with their conservative base. He calls for what he characterizes as a balanced approach to deficit reduction that includes more revenue for education, infrastructure and clean energy, areas he considers critical to long-term economic growth. The Democratic position includes spending cuts elsewhere, including the military, as well as reforms to popular entitlement programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, the government-run health care programs for senior citizens, the disabled and the indigent. Republicans seek more sweeping entitlement reforms that Democrats contend would eliminate the safety net the programs were intended to provide. CNN's Tom Cohen, Alan Silverleib, Kate Bolduan and Ted Barrett contributed to this report. Watch State of the Union with Candy Crowley Sundays at 9am ET. For the latest from State of the Union click here. | NEW: House Speaker Boehner reiterates opposition to tax increases .
NEW: White House spokesman says neither side will get everything they want .
Senate leaders renew tough talk as the chamber reconvenes .
Officials warn debt ceiling must be increased by August 2 to avoid risk of default . |
70,757 | c8927b7424d71e0681875ae748f62601e154e690 | Little girls do, in general, grow out of their obsessions with dolls. But Orit Fox never did. The 34-year-old Israeli model's ambition is to turn herself into a lifesize plastic Barbie doll using cosmetic surgery and hold off ageing at the same time. To do it, she has her plastic surgeon on call 24 hours a day and visits whenever she spots a wrinkle or is feeling less than happy about her looks. 'I like beauty,' she explains. 'Visually, I look like Barbie, like a doll. Men love my body. It's like a dream, a fantasy.' Scroll down for video . Glamour girl: Orit Fox says she loves looking like a Barbie and has plastic surgeon Dr Klein on call at all times . Orit, who is hugely famous in her home country, gained global notoriety in 2012 when a video of her being bitten on the breast by an angry snake during a photo shoot went viral. Rumours that the snake had died thanks to its silicone-filled snack followed, but according to Orit, the reptile is still alive and none the worse for its 15 minutes of fame. 'It was so funny and amazing,' she chortles of her Youtube superstardom. 'The snake bit me on the breast and now the whole country talks about my breast! 'There was a rumour that the silicone killed the snake,' she adds, 'but he survives. It didn't do damage. It's like a cat scratch. It was one month I had scars from the snake.' Despite the best efforts of the snake, Orit says she has no plans to wind down her career - or her plans for more surgery. 'I cannot stop this obsession to my beauty,' she insists. 'It's not healthy, it's unhealthy. Four times I do surgery to my breasts. I do silicone in the face... Barbie: Orit says men are enchanted by her doll-esque looks but admits she is terrified of ageing . Painful: Orit visits her plastic surgeon Dr Klein whenever she spots a wrinkle or something she doesn't like . 'Sometimes I feel an empty spot in my face and I fill with silicone. My teeth... I ask for the most white they have. 'I think I'm more beautiful now because I keep my beauty. It's very important to keep my beauty.' Appearing in Channel 5 documentary, 200 Nips and Tucks and I Want More, she's seen visiting her surgeon Dr Klein - the man responsible for her unique look. 'If I have a bad day, I run to Dr Klein to see if he can do me something to make me happy,' she explains. 'If I feel sad, I feel ugly. It's in my head.' 'Whenever she spot a wrinkle in the mirror, she is coming,' adds Dr Klein. 'She doesn't want wrinkles, she hate wrinkles, so we do everything so she is happy.' Despite the painful nature of most of the procedures, Orit says she's willing to put up with just about anything to keep her looks. Car: Orit says she sees herself as the human equivalent of a ferrari that needs to be kept beautiful for the road . Plans for the future: Orit hopes that she will look as good as Sophia Loren when she finally gets old . 'Pain for my beauty, I accept,' she claims. 'He [Dr Klein] do a great job, it's like an art.' 'She doesn't want to be old,' adds Dr Klein. ;She want to be young, forever young. So we treat it, little by little. She is not addicted, she doesn't have too much. She just wants to be young.' So what does Orit think she'll look like when she really is old? According to the model, looking like Sophia Loren in the plan. 'Look at Sophia Loren,' she exclaims. 'She's beautiful. She keeps her beauty. I am high maintenance like a ferrari, a lamborghini. I have to take care of myself so I can be pretty on the road.' See Orit in action on 200 Nips and Tucks and I Want More, available to watch now on Demand 5 . | Orit Fox, 34, from Tel Aviv, is an Israeli model famous for her doll-like looks .
Says if she has a bad day she goes immediately to her surgeon Dr Klein .
Believes she is more beautiful now as she has preserved her youth .
She is so afraid of being old that she is trying to stall the process .
Shot to fame in 2012 when video of her being bitten by a snake went viral .
Happily, both the model and the errant reptile survived the experience . |
236,934 | bea9f5d98c79ebe0b7dae9967f9d952dc6ec69b0 | U.S. officials have deported a woman believed to be the daughter of Mexico's most wanted drug lord. Alejandrina Gisselle Guzman Salazar was deported on Tuesday, her lawyer said, a day after she pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of a false visa. Shortly after Guzman Salazar's arrest in October, a U.S. federal official told CNN that she was the daughter of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, who authorities have said heads Mexico's Sinaloa cartel. On Wednesday, her lawyers declined to comment on whether she was related to the accused drug lord. "I don't know the answer to that, and it wasn't part of the case. ... We never asked, because it wasn't relevant, whether it was true or not," attorney Guadalupe Valencia said. Read more: Mexican police deny accused drug lord's government corruption claims . Another attorney for Guzman Salazar, Jan Ronis, said he watched her cross into Tijuana, Mexico, on Tuesday, but he declined to comment on where she headed after that. In October, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents arrested Guzman Salazar at the international crossing in San Ysidro, California. A spokeswoman for the agency declined to comment Wednesday on whether she had been deported, citing privacy rules. U.S. District Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo ordered her released on time served after a hearing Monday, according to court documents. In a plea agreement, she admitted to possessing and attempting to use a fraudulent visa to gain entry to the United States. Guzman Salazar is between seven and eight months' pregnant, Valencia said. She entered with a false visa in October because she wanted to give birth in the United States, he said. "All these facts were part of the public record that she wanted to come and have her baby here," he said. "We live in the greatest country in the world, and people want to come here to live and give their kids an opportunity to be here, so that was it." Guzman Salazar is a doctor working as a general practitioner, he said. "When she's back in Mexico, hopefully she can go on living her normal private life," Valencia said. "El Chapo" Guzman is the boss of the Sinaloa cartel, one of Mexico's most powerful drug trafficking operations. His nickname, which means "shorty," matches his 5-foot-6-inch frame, though he has climbed to great heights in the drug smuggling business. Forbes magazine has estimated "El Chapo" is worth $1 billion. The U.S. Treasury Department has declared him the most influential trafficker in the world, and Mexican authorities have been on his tail since his 2001 escape from a Mexican prison in a laundry cart. 17 killed in attempted prison break in northern Mexico . Antique shotgun puts former Marine behind bars in Mexico . | Alejandrina Gisselle Guzman Salazar was deported Tuesday, her lawyer says .
A U.S. federal official says she is the daughter of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman .
Attorney: Guzman Salazar is pregnant and wanted to give birth in the United States .
Authorities say "El Chapo" Guzman his the head of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel . |
2,321 | 06c84b3782fd35f895e59d6d021c624046f18469 | Donald Graham murdered millionaire heiress Janet Brown and got his girlfriend to pose as her so he could steal hundreds of thousands of pounds from her family . The married lover of a millionaire heiress murdered her before getting his dinner lady girlfriend to pose as the dead woman so he could steal hundreds of thousands of pounds from her family. Donald Graham murdered Janet Brown in 2005 and went on to steal £585,000 from her estate, which he used to fund his lavish lifestyle and pay for sports cars. After killing Miss Brown, with whom he had been in a long relationship despite being married to someone else, Graham got a third woman to pose as her so she could ask the dead woman's father for more cash. Miss Brown's body has not been found. After murdering Miss Brown, Graham plundered the dead woman's savings and sold her assets - which he used to treat himself to a Ferrari, a Porsche and an Alfa Romeo. He then turned his greedy intentions on her elderly parents and started siphoning their cash, Newcastle Crown Court heard. Days after murdering Miss Brown, he met school dinner lady Elizabeth Todd and used some of the stolen money to buy her a house. When the killer's string of lies looked like they were about to unravel, Graham convinced Todd, who was today sentenced for fraud, to write two letters to Miss Brown's father's bank, posing as the dead woman, to request a cash transfer into his account. The 52-year-old mother, who lived in a council flat before she met Graham, also made two telephone calls under the guise of Miss Brown to a care home where a friend of hers worked and left messages under the dead woman's name in a bid to keep up the claim she was still alive. Miss Brown vanished in May 2005 and Graham convinced her friends and loved ones she had moved away abroad to start a new life. It was almost a decade later, after both of her parents died, that the sad truth of what happened to her emerged. Graham is currently serving a life sentence, with a minimum term of 32 years, for her murder. After killing Miss Brown (left), Graham got his girlfriend Elizabeth Todd (right) to pose as her so she could ask the dead woman's father for more cash . Todd, of Seaton Deleval, North Tyneside, pleaded guilty to fraud and perverting the course of justice. Judge John Evans sentenced her to six months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, with supervision. The judge said: 'It is a tragic tale of repeated manipulation, naked exploitation, betrayal and greed which befell Janet Brown and ultimately her vulnerable parents at the hands of a ruthless killer. 'It ended with the untimely death, the cold-blooded murder, of Janet Brown. 'Your part in this appalling tale was, I accept, as do the crown, limited. 'It needs to be recognised, it is accepted you did not know the truth about Janet. Had you done so, had that been established, I would have had to approach the question of sentence on a very different basis.' Judge Evans said he accepted Todd was 'vulnerable and naïve' when she 'blindly carried out his directions'. Glen Gatland, defending, said Todd could have been preyed on by the callous killer because of her physical resemblance to Miss Brown. Mr Gatland said: 'There is evidence he tired to persuade Elizabeth Todd, very shortly after their first meetings, to have her hair dyed to the same colour.' The court heard Todd believed Graham, who would profess his 'love and devotion' to her, would one day marry her - a belief that was backed up when he bought two engagement rings. Mr Gatland added: 'He was a very, very skillful conman, he was able to lead Elizabeth Todd up the garden path. He is skillful at using women. 'Elizabeth Todd believed Janet Brown was overseas and working. She genuinely believed what Donald Graham was telling her.' Graham is currently serving a life sentence, with a minimum term of 32 years, for Miss Brown's murder . Graham, 60, who lived with his wife Denise, sent letters and cards to Miss Brown's parents after he killed her, claiming to be Janet and telling them she had settled in Europe. He then went about gaining the trust of her parents, giving him access to banking information and personal documents. After the death of Janet's mother, Graham even took her father shopping each week while defrauding the family of hundreds of thousands of pounds. During the murder trial, the court heard he created a fake will for Janet's elderly father Eric Brown, which would leave his estate - Plane Trees Estate, in Hexham, Northumberland, to Graham. Eric Brown's will originally left all of his assets to Janet, but in the circumstance that he outlived her everything would be left to the Guide Dogs for the Blind charity. The court how Janet Brown and Elizabeth Todd had both been listed as witnesses on the fake will in which Graham forged Eric Browns signature. Skipton Building Society noticed suspicious activity on Eric Brown's account in 2009 and stopped the transaction of a cheque from Eric Brown to Donald Graham's account. This led to Graham writing letters to the bank claiming to be Eric and Janet Brown, although they were both dead. Todd admitted writing two of the letters, claiming to be Miss Brown and requesting cash be transferred immediately. When Graham was interviewed by police he claimed he was the joint executor of Eric Brown's will with Janet Brown. Donald Graham, of Elsdon Avenue, Seaton Deleval, Northumberland, was charged with 19 offences in September 13, 2013, nearly four years after the investigation began. He was charged with murder, two counts of obtaining a money transfer by deception, 13 counts of fraud, forgery, conspiracy to commit fraud and perverting the course of justice. Todd pleaded guilty to fraud and perverting the course of justice and was handed a suspended sentence at Newcastle Crown Court (pictured) He first appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on September 17 2013 and pleaded not guilty to all charges on January 10 2014. Graham changed his plea on March 14 and admitted 18 fraud offences against Janet Brown and her parents. He denied murder and preventing the course of justice but a jury at Newcastle Crown Court found him guilty of both counts on June 19. The total amount that Graham gained during the fraud was £585,000. Janet Brown lived with her elderly parents Olive and Eric Brown in a converted barn on her parents estate Plane Trees Farm, near Hexham, Northumberland. She had been planning to go on holiday in June 2005 to France with Graham, her lover of eight years. Graham cancelled at the last minute falsely claiming his wife was too ill for him to leave her. Janet told a friend that Graham had 'let her down'. However Graham had secretly met another girlfriend - Todd - and was no longer interested in Janet Brown, only her finances. Janet disappeared before she went on holiday and has not been seen since. | Married Donald Graham murdered millionaire heiress Janet Brown in 2005 .
Graham took £585,000 from her estate and spent it on sports cars .
He got his girlfriend Elizabeth Todd to pose as her to steal cash from family .
She called a care home posing as Brown to keep up pretence she was alive .
Todd was today given a six-month suspended sentence for fraud .
Judge ruled that Todd did not know Miss Brown had been murdered .
Graham was jailed last year for murder and will serve at least 32 years .
Miss Brown's body has not been found . |
200,720 | 8fd33ee8ee3737827fd27e25e71df58ee2a56a36 | When they're sleeping soundly the precious darlings look their most angelic. But one artist has managed to make a group of snoozing newborn babies look even more precious by dressing them up and positioning them for a unique photo shoot. Professional photographer Joanne Collins, 39, who is based in Sittingbourne, Kent, waits until the babies are in a very deep sleep so she can move them about without them waking. The heart-melting pouts and smiles, though, are all their own doing. Scroll down for video . The babies are positioned while in a very deep sleep.The heart-melting pouts and smiles, though, are all their own doing . The babies are so tiny and precious and the utmost care is required so they are safe, secure and content . Joanne specialises in capturing newborns posed as they slumber, and is an expert at handling them from a very early age. She says that it is best to photograph the youngsters at between just five to ten days, before they lose their foetal-like poses. The babies are seen snuggled into warm blankets and cushions, some adorned in cute woollen hats or cosy in baby baskets in the adorable pictures. Joanne says: 'I have truly been captivated by the world of photography since the young age of twelve. I began by photographing children and families, but my portfolio grew rapidly to incorporate newborn babies, weddings, commercial, fine art and more. 'This is one of my most favourite aspects of photography. Photographing newborn babies under 14 days is truly wonderful and sentimental. 'The photoshoot takes four hours and requires patience and true dedication. The babies are so tiny and precious and the utmost care is required so they are safe, secure and content. The first step in the four-hour photo shoot operation is to ensure they have a very full tummy and that the room is warm . The colour toning with the chosen props need to harmonise beautifully and the lighting must be perfect . 'This is fundamental to achieving the special and very cute poses. It really is an absolute honour and privilege to be able to photograph these little miracles. 'There are a few principals to photographing newborns. 'The first is to ensure they have a very full tummy and that the room is warm as the babies do not, at this age, like for their clothes to be removed. 'I use a special beanbag with plentiful blankets, as well as props, such as backdrops, baskets, hats and hairbands. 'The colour toning with the chosen props need to harmonise beautifully. The lighting must be perfect and the correct lenses and camera settings used. 'Specific newborn photography requires specialised training in order to understand how to manage and photograph the babies. Joanne uses a special beanbag with plentiful blankets, as well as props, such as backdrops, baskets, hats and hairbands . The joy experienced when the special poses are captured is second to none and I adore it like nothing else, says Joanne . Every parent is always so pleased that they went ahead with their photoshoot, the experience is unbelievable, she says . 'The first steps are to ensure the baby is in a very deep sleep, so that they are lovely and relaxed enough to position into the poses. Understanding the correct way to hold and soothe babies is paramount to ensuring they feel secure enough to sleep. 'These photos are really a once in a lifetime opportunity, as once they pass the 14 days they tend to be more awake and less fetal like. Five to ten days is the ideal time to photograph your baby. 'The joy experienced when the special poses are captured is second to none and I adore it like nothing else. I enjoy taking photographs that cannot be re-captured, making them ever more memorable and extra special for the family to relive over and over again. 'Every parent is always so pleased that they went ahead with their photoshoot, the experience is unbelievable and the pictures to be kept close to their hearts forever. 'Almost all of my work comes from recommendations, which I am happy to say, speaks for itself!' These photos are really a once in a lifetime opportunity, as once they pass the 14 days they tend to be more awake . Joanne enjoys taking photographs that cannot be re-captured, making them ever more memorable . Understanding the correct way to hold and soothe babies is paramount to ensuring they feel secure enough to sleep . It really is an absolute honour and privilege to be able to photograph these little miracles, says Joanne . She says photographing newborn babies under 14 days is truly wonderful and sentimental . Babies in buckets (l) is one of Joanne's specialities. The photographer (right), has carved out a unique niche for herself . Joanne says that it is best to photograph the youngsters at between five to ten days, before they lose their foetal-like poses . The babies are seen snuggled into warm blankets and cushions, some adorned in cute woollen hats or cosy in baby baskets . Twin babies cuddle up as they sleep for Joanne Collins's cute baby portraits, taken in her studio in Sittingbourne, Kent . | Joanne Collins, 39, who is based in Kent, waits until the babies are in a very deep sleep before positioning them .
Takes beautiful posed portraits of tiny babies aged between five and 14 days old during sessions lasting four hours .
Specific newborn photography requires special training to understand how to manage and photograph the babies . |
42,837 | 78d022e186cd167726c50d902d5916d9647c094b | An Olympic silver medalist who dedicated his win to his dead mother and sister has been charged with two counts of assault following a late night brawl in Birmingham. The 23-year-old boxer will appear before Birmingham Magistrates' Court on April 17 following an alleged incident in the city in the early hours of February 23. Evans, from Old St Mellons, Cardiff, was arrested the same day and charged. Boxer and Olympic silver medalist Fred Evans has been charged with two counts of assault following a late night brawl in Birmingham . Evans was bailed to appear for an initial hearing before Birmingham Magistrates' Court, and is due in court again on April 17. The charge comes after the Welshman was awarded a silver medal for his performance in London 2012. After the win, Evans' granfather, also Fred Evans, 78, said that the family were 'proud as can be'. He described his grandson as a 'very quiet but a nice lad'. At London 2012, the boxer dedicated the medal to his dead mother and sister. The Welsh boxer, who was brought up in Pyle, near Bridgend, on a caravan park, lost his mother, Tracy, 39, and four-year-old sister Scarlett when they were killed during a car crash in 2006 in Cardiff. Fred Evans (left) in action at London 2012 boxing against Kazakhstan's Serip Sapiyev. Evans, 23, from Wales, took home a silver medal after the Olympics . Regarding the charges, a spokeswoman for West Midlands Police said: 'We arrested a 23-year-old from Old St Mellons, Cardiff, on February 23, who gave his occupation as a boxer. 'He was charged later that day with two counts of assault in Birmingham City Centre in the early hours.' A spokesman for the British Amateur Boxing Association said: 'We are aware of impending legal proceedings concerning a member of the GB Boxing Podium squad and are in the process of conducting an inquiry into this as part of our athlete disciplinary procedure.' The Welsh Amateur Boxing Association declined to comment. Evans' grandfather also Fred Evans, 78, described the boxer as a 'very quiet but a nice lad' Evans joined the Great Britain squad in 2009. He reached the finals at the London 2012 games but lost 17-9 to Serik Sapiyev, from Kazakhstan. The 23-year-old said that he boxed despite being urged to stay out of the ring after doctors warned that his hands were too badly damaged. He became Wales' first boxer to win Olympic Silver. Dedicating the medal to his sister and mother he said: 'They would be over the moon for me and this medal is for them. 'I feel mixed emotions when I go into the ring. I know my mum is watching over me and will have been watching every fight here in London. 'All the hard work has paid off and made it all worthwhile.' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Evans, 23, from Wales, won silver which he dedicated to mother and sister .
Mother Tracy and sister Scarlett, 4, died in a 2006 car crash .
He is alleged to have assaulted a person in Birmingham on February 23 .
Will appear in court next month charged with two counts of assault . |
273,790 | eea9bcb879c67d8ef8ecb03871a87958b44e1829 | Private health companies are pocketing a record £18 million each day from the NHS budget as more and more health contracts are passed over to the private sector. New figures from the Department of Health show that last year £6.6 billion was taken from the NHS coffers to pay private health providers - a 50 per cent rise from before the coalition took power. Critics of the coalition Government's health reforms say this trend of allowing private companies to cream off NHS cash is set to increase. Campaigners are also concerned that independent providers could be putting patients at risk as they strive to safeguard profits, which is cash sucked out of the NHS system. But the Department of Health said charities, social enterprises and other providers have played a vital role in delivering free healthcare to patients for years. The statistics, from the Department of Health in answer to a written question, show that in the year before the ConDem coalition took power £4.1 billion was spent with private providers. Private health companies are pocketing a record £18 million a day from the NHS budget as more health contracts are passed to the private sector. New figures show last year £6.6 billion was taken from the NHS coffers to pay private health providers (file image) This has now risen steadily through their term of office from £4.8 billion in their first year of office to last year's figure of £6.6 billion. It means that around £1 in every £20 of the NHS's total £113 billion budget ends up in the hands of private health care providers. In January, shadow health secretary Andy Burnham claimed the NHS would be sunk by a toxic mix of cuts and privatisation under the Tories, while Labour leader Ed Miliband said the service would be gone within five years under Conservative management. Speaking on the issue last month Mr Burnham said: 'I believe we [Labour] let the market in too far and it's my view that if you carry on with this experimentation with the market in the National Health Service, you will in the end destroy everything that is precious about it.' Last year it emerged that private providers were being paid to do one in five NHS knee ops, one in six hip operations and one in 10 cataract surgeries. In one case a batch of outsourced cataract operations in Somerset left dozens of patients in severe pain from botched surgery. Andy Burnham MP, Labour's Shadow Health Secretary, said: 'These figures blow apart Jeremy Hunt's claim that NHS privatisation isn't happening' The contract was brought to a halt after NHS medics saw a complication rate from the surgery of 10 times the expected amount. A total of 37 of the 62 cataract patients seen by Vanguard Healthcare Solutions needed follow-up care. Two patients suffered burns, six lost pigment in their irises and four were left with microscopic shards of metal in their eyes after being operated on at the private facility. Andy Burnham MP, Labour's Shadow Health Secretary, said: 'These figures blow apart Jeremy Hunt's claim that "NHS privatisation isn't happening". 'It is happening and it is happening on his watch. 'This is because contracts are being forced out onto the open market by David Cameron's Health Act. Labour believes in protecting the public NHS and will repeal the rules that are fragmenting and privatising it. 'The NHS of the future demands more integration. The problem with this Government's policy is that it's taking it in the opposite direction, towards more fragmentation. 'These figures show what is at stake at the coming election. David Cameron's Government is stealthily hiving off NHS services without the permission of the public.' A Department of Health spokesperson said: 'Official NHS accounts show that use of the private sector amounts to only six pence in every pound the NHS spends. 'Charities, social enterprises and other providers of healthcare play an important role in the NHS, as they have done for many years.' Answering the written question, requesting the figures, health minister Daniel Poulter, added: 'Independent providers, both for-profit and not-for-profit, have long through successive governments been providing care to National Health Service patients. 'Under this Government competition between providers of NHS services has been pursued on the basis of competition for quality through a system of fixed national tariffs. 'Our position on who should provide services is taken to ensure patients receive the best possible services and outcomes. 'These decisions are taken by the local clinicians, who are best placed to act for the benefit of their patients.' | Figures from Department of Health show in 2013-14 £6.6 billion was taken from NHS coffers to pay private health providers .
Marks a 50% rise from before the coalition Government took power .
Equates to around £1 in every £20 of NHS's total £113 billion budget .
Department of Health say charities, social enterprises and other providers of healthcare have played important part in NHS for years . |
20,937 | 3b6ef0943307165f67d355ee3335caa0adcdfaaa | By . Damien Gayle . The bridge which carried interstate traffic through downtown Cleveland fell in a matter of seconds when engineers detonated explosives in a military-style demolition. Nearby neighbourhoods shook as the Innerbelt Bridge's remaining skeleton of steel girders collapsed after more than 50 years of holding up the main artery into the north-east Ohio city. Nearly a thousand locals who had gathered at East 14th Street and Broadway to watch the demolition cheered as the landmark was obliterated in a millisecond. Scroll down for video . Demolition engineers take a last look at the Innerbelt Bridge before blowing it up . Someone presses the magic buttons and charges detonate at 88 crucial spots around the steel frame . With its weight-bearing joints destroyed, the bridge begins to collapse . A cloud of dust is kicked up as, after 55 years, the massive bridge collapses onto the ground below . The 55-year-old bridge, which had aged faster than expected, is to be replaced with two new bridges, the first of which has already been built and the second of which is due for completion in 2016. At around 6am on Saturday morning, engineers pressed the button to detonate 182lbs of explosives placed at 88 crucial spots which, in half a second, sent the remaining 5,000 tons of tumbling to the ground below. Shortly before, a smaller 'scare charge' had been let off to scatter any peregrine falcons or other birds roosting in the superstructure. The spans on each end of the bridge, and over the Norfolk Southern railway and Cuyahoga River, which couldn't be blown up, had already been manually dismantled, leaving five of the nine spans for explosive demolition. The Innerbelt Bridge had carried Interstate-90 traffic in and out of downtown Cleveland since 1959. It was taken out of use last November, with traffic transferred onto the first of the dual bridges that will replace it, which are named after retired Ohio senator George Voinovich. Baltimore firm Controlled Demolition handled the razing of Innerbelt Bridge. Its president, Mark Loizeaux, told Cleveland.com's Alison Grant that for him it was 'just another day at the office'. | The Innerbelt Bridge carried traffic into downtown Cleveland since 1959 .
It is to be replaced by two new bridges, the first of which is already built .
182lbs of explosives were used to bring down the 5,000 tons of steel . |
166,010 | 62ab4f31a4878b7543755a694796a80875f2a4c1 | By . Anthony Bond . PUBLISHED: . 17:37 EST, 27 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:40 EST, 28 November 2012 . They are photographs which heap shame on some of the world's biggest multi-national companies. As Bangladesh struggles to come to terms with the deaths of 111 workers in the deadliest blaze in the country's history, new photographs have emerged showing how some of the West's biggest firms had their clothes made at the factory. Garments made in the Tazreen factory for major multi-nationals have been found by people searching through the wreckage of the fire. The blaze has provoked anger among campaigners who want better safety conditions in Bangladesh's garment factories. Evidence: The Director of The Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity Kalpona Akter poses with a garment with the logo 'Faded Glory' owned by Wal-Mart. It was found in the Tazreen factory . Discovery: This garment found in the aftermath of the blaze which killed 111 workers shows a garment with with the logo Enyce, which is owned by hip hop star Sean Diddy Combs . According to Quartz, companies which appear to have been using the factory include Enyce, Dickies, C&A, Wal-Mart and Sears. The photographs emerged as protesters took to the streets for a . second day and garment factories across the world's . second-biggest clothes exporter stopped work to mourn. Saturday's fire has put a spotlight on . global retailers which source clothes from Bangladesh, where the cost of . labour is low - as little as $37 a month for some workers - and rights . groups have called on firms to sign up to a fire safety program. Among the lables found include those of Faded Glory, which is Wal-Mart's main fashion line. Speaking to Quartz, Wal-Mart said, . 'The Tazreen factory was no longer authorized to produce merchandise for . Wal-Mart. Fury: This garment shows the 'Dickies' label. The blaze provoked anger among people who want better safety conditions in Bangladesh's garment factories . Found: These 'Enyce' clothes lie within the burnt out garment manufacturing building in Dhaka . 'A supplier subcontracted work to this factory without . authorization and in direct violation of our policies. Today, we have . terminated the relationship with that supplier.' Enyce is owned by hip hop star Sean Diddy Combs who bought it in 2008 from Liz Claiborne. Quartz said requests for comments from Enyce and Sean John - another fashion line owned by Combs - were not returned. Dickies is a popular brand which sells work clothes and is based in Fort Worth, Texas. Speaking to Quartz, a spokesman said it had concluded its production schedule with the factory earlier this year. C&A, a European discount clothing . retailer, confirmed the destroyed factory was producing an order of . 220,000 sweaters for its operations in Brazil. One of its brands is . called ACE. It said in a statement it feels a deep sense of solidarity with the families who lost relatives in the fire. U.S. retailer Sears Holdings Corp said . its clothing was not meant to be made in that textile factory, and was . investigating reports that one of its brands had been found in the . charred debris. Other brands, such as Esprit Holdings Ltd , continued to . deny any connection and distanced themselves from the disaster. Sears also . suggested something illicit may have taken place. Tough task: A firefighter tries to control the fire at a garment factory in Savar, outskirts of Dhaka . 'Any merchandise . found at that factory should NOT have been manufactured there and we are . currently investigating further,' the company said in a statement. Tough task: A firefighter tries to control the fire at the garment factory in Savar, outskirts of Dhaka . Horrific: The Bangladesh government said today that the fire was sabotage . Tough task: A firefighter tries to control the fire at a garment factory in Savar, outskirts of Dhaka . The International Labor Rights Forum, in a . statement on Sunday, said evidence discovered in the factory suggested . Sears' True Desire line may have been manufactured there, as well as . other prominent brands. The country's worst-ever industrial blaze . consumed a multi-story building of a Tazreen Fashions factory. More . than 150 workers were injured. The interior minister, Mohiuddin Khan . Alamgir, said that, according to a preliminary inquiry, the fire was . the result of arson. He promised to bring the culprits to justice. 'We . have come to the conclusion that it was an act of sabotage. We are . finding out as of now who exactly the saboteurs are and all culprits . will be brought to book,' Alamgir said. Earlier, Prime Minister . Sheikh Hasina said she suspected the fire was an act of sabotage, but . she did not identify any suspect or say why she thought the cause might . have been arson. As of Tuesday afternoon, a petition on . Change.org calling on major retailers to join an industry fire safety . program for suppliers had more than 13,000 supporters. Representatives of the Tazreen Fashions factory, including the owner, were not available for comment. Two further incidents outside Dhaka - a fire at a factory on Monday morning and an explosion at a factory on Tuesday evening - had local manufacturers worried that their industry was being deliberately targeted. Horrific: The bodies of some of the victims of a deadly fire in a garment factory are lined up on the ground prior to burial at a graveyard in Dhaka . Annisul Huq, former president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said that the series of incidents naturally raises questions. Bangladesh . has about 4,500 garment factories and is the world's biggest exporter . of clothing after China, with garments making up 80 percent of its $24 . billion annual exports. Working conditions at Bangladeshi factories . are notoriously poor, with little enforcement of safety laws. Overcrowding and locked fire doors are common. More than 300 . factories near the capital were shut for almost a week earlier this year . as workers demanded higher wages and better conditions. At least 500 . people have died in garment factory accidents in Bangladesh since 2006, . according to fire brigade officials. More than 1,000 workers, some . carrying black flags, demonstrated Tuesday in the Ashulia industrial . belt on the outskirts of the capital where the factory is located. They . blocked traffic moving on a highway and vowed to avenge the deaths of . their colleagues, witnesses said. 'Never shall we give up demands for punishment for those responsible for the tragedy,' one worker said. Dhaka . district police chief Habibur Rahman told Reuters his men were . investigating complaints from some survivors that factory managers . stopped workers from running out of the building when a fire alarm went . off. The pictures were provided to Quartz by the International Labor Rights Forum ( ILRF) which campaigns for better working conditions in a number of countries, including Bangladesh. According to ILRF, the photographs were taken by the Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity and the Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation. | Garments found in the wreckage of the fire show the labels of some of the world's biggest multi-national companies .
Firms which appear to have been using the factory include Enyce, Dickies, C&A, Wal-Mart and Sears . |
24,415 | 45456307405a09b93b28b44e3c30882630ab81ef | For Royal Marine Andy Grant an operation to amputate part of his leg after he stepped on a bomb in Aghanistan had a surprising consequence. The Liverpool fan from Plymouth in Devon woke up to be told by his doctor that while the operation to remove his leg below the knee had gone well, his tattoo in tribute to the football club had suffered. Instead of reading 'You'll Never Walk Alone', the father-of-three discovered it now had the word 'Alone' missing after a flap of his skin had to be moved. Scroll down for video . Former Royal Marine Andy Grant had his leg amputated after he stood on an IED in Afghanistan and doctors had to move a flap of his skin to cover the bone, changing his Liverpool tattoo to read 'You'll Never Walk' But rather than let the amputation hamper him, Mr Grant said he was inspired by the 'You'll Never Walk' tattoo to become a medal-winning runner and plans to compete in the paralympic games. He also uses the anecdote in motivational speeches. 'It is ironic that it says I will never walk as I have gone on to run 10k in 40 mins,' said the 26-year-old. 'At the moment I am just two minutes off a record for the 10k for a single leg amputee and I have that in my sights. 'It is bizarre and I just laugh about it. But it adds to my story I guess. 'The fact is that regardless of what the words says, the operation allowed me to walk and run and do so much else. You have got to see the funny side of it.' As well as completing several runs Mr Grant won gold medals at the Invictus Games and has abseiled down the shard. Mr Grant (right) recalls the conversation with his surgeon Commander Anthony Lambert (left) after the operation when he told the former Royal Marine that his tattoo had been changed following the amputation . The tattoo, originally reading 'You'll Never Walk Alone' now reads 'You'll Never Walk', which the father of three said he finds funny and has used to inspire him to try and complete record-breaking runs . Mr Grant had the operation four years ago and endured vigorous rehabilitation sessions for 18 months. In 2009 he was serving with 45 Commando when he accidentally stepped on an IED. This severed his femoral artery and took out a 'big chunk' of his thigh. He broke both the fibula and tibia in his right leg and lost 6cm of bone. But two years after he decided to have his right leg amputated after watching comrades with similar injuries enjoying activities with their prosthetic legs. He can still recall the conversation he had with surgeon Anthony Lambert when he woke up. Mr Grant suffered was a 20-year-old commando in Afghanistan when he stepped on the IED . The blast severed Mr Grant's femoral artery, took out a section of his thigh and broke bones in his lower leg . Mr Lambert told him: 'Well, we had to raise a flap of skin on your leg to cover the bone ends... and it's meant that your Liverpool Football Club tattoos are a bit messed up. 'The Liver bird is a bit all over the place, and your tattoo now says "you'll never walk."' The date of his blast, February 3, and the date of his amputation, November 25, are both anniversaries that Andy marks. He said: 'I am very proud of my achievements and like to turn my story around to try and inspire other people about what they can achieve in the face of adversity. Mr Grant had the amputation in 2010 and now competes in 10k races and does motivational speaking . The former Royal Marine is a Liverpool fan and is pictured with one of his idols, Robbie Fowler (right) The Liverpool motto 'You'll Never Walk Alone' appears on the gates at Liverpool's ground at Anfield . 'I am all about looking forward. I cannot undo what happened and I have no regrets. I am all about making the best of a bad situation.' Mr Lambert now works as an inspirational speaker, going to events around the world. He has also determined to keep up his fitness. He added: 'I have three children and an amazing family, I'm looking to row across the Atlantic, and I'm hoping to be picked for the Paralympics next year. 'My life has moved on in an amazing way and it's all down to what happened. 'It's given me more of a life than I probably would have had.' | Andy Grant was a Royal Marine on patrol in Sangin in Afghanistan in 2009 .
He accidentally stepped on an IED, shattering his leg and severing artery .
Father-of-three decided to have his leg amputated because of injuries .
After operation his surgeon told him his Liverpool FC tattoo was changed .
Flap of skin had to be moved so motto now reads 'You'll never walk'
Mr Grant saw funny side and became inspired to train for running .
He won medals at Invictus Games and has almost broken amputee record . |
151,122 | 4f65c2e8bffc25eff6b45b3ff82144144fe8cec2 | Dinamo Zagreb believe they are close to agreeing terms with Arsenal over the sale of midfielder Marcelo Brozovic. Talks have been ongoing since October with Arsenal jumping back and forth to various targets but Zagreb say they received an offer of £6million on Monday and are inching towards their valuation. Zagreb are in the process of finalising a permanent £1m transfer for Manchester United striker Angelo Henriquez, who has been on loan this season, and the cash from Arsenal for Brozovic will go towards that deal. Dinamo Zagreb say midfielder Marcelo Brozovic (left) is close to joining Arsenal for £6million . Zagreb are finalising a £1m move for Manchester United's Angelo Henriquez, currently on loan at the club . Zagreb manager Zoran Mamic is keen to use the money from Arsenal to fund buying United's Henriquez . 2010-2011: Hrvatski Dragovoljac (22, 1) 2011-2012: Lokomotiva (33, 5) 2012-NOW: Dinamo Zagreb (56, 9) 2009-2010: Croatia U18 (4, 0) 2010-2011: Croatia U19 (1, 0) 2011-2012: Croatia U20 (5, 3) 2011-2013: Croatia U21 (12, 7) 2014-NOW: Croatia (6, 1) Brozovic is a tall, rangy playmaker-type but Arsenal see potential in him playing a deeper role. He has six caps for Croatia and Arsenal have already had one offer turned down. They are also discussing terms with Legia Warsaw over teenage midfielder Krystian Bielik ahead of Hamburg's interest. Legia Warsaw have accepted a revised offer from Arsenal and it's now up to the 17-year-old to decide. On United striker Henriquez, Zagreb boss Zoran Mamic said: 'We have bought him outright for €1m (£775,000). We have already signed a contract with him for the summer. There is no doubt it is ours and deal is resolved. 'Taking Henriquez depends on us, not on Manchester United,' Mamic told HRSport. 'We took him with the right of first refusal, which stands at around €1.5m (£1.1m), and we have already signed a contract with him for the summer. There is no longer any doubt, he is ours and the story is resolved.' The Chilean forward was signed by United in 2012 from Universidad de Chile, and was loaned to Zagreb. The 20-year-old has already scored 15 times for the Croatian club. Meanwhile, Olympiacos have made another attempt to take Joel Campbell on loan. The Arsenal striker also has offers from Real Sociedad and Villarreal. Greek club Olympiacos have made another attempt to take Arsenal striker Joel Campbell on loan . Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger could let Campbell go on loan with Real Sociedad and Villarreal also interested . Sunderland striker Jozy Altidore will return to the MLS as part of the £7m deal that takes Jermain Defoe to the Stadium of Light. Toronto remain favourites as they have a greater allocation ranking than the other two rivals - Portland Timbers and New York Red Bulls - for Altidore's signature. The player's registration will be held by the MLS. Toronto turned down a similar offer for Defoe from QPR last summer. Jozy Altidore will return to the MLS as part of a £7m deal that takes Jermain Defoe to the Stadium of Light . Defoe has landed in Sunderland as the striker nears his return to the Premier League . Burnley have made a move for Bournemouth defender Steve Cook but face competition from West Brom, Crystal Palace and Leicester City. The 23-year-old only signed a three-year extension in the summer and is happy at Bournemouth. The ambitious Championship leaders hope to persuade him he would best staying on the south coast where they hope to end up in the Premier League in the summer anyway. Burnley want Bournemouth's Steve Cook (right) but West Brom, Crystal Palace and Leicester also want him . Samuel Eto'o will discuss Sampdoria's offer on Wednesday after his agent received an outline contract proposal for the Everton striker. Roberto Martinez confirmed, as Sportsmail reported, that Everton have a number of interested parties in Eto'o and the player is keen on a return to Italy where he played for Inter Milan. Sampdoria's offer is around £700,000 short of what Eto'o was asking but they will try and generate more funding via sponsorship. Eto'o has already spoken to Sampdoria's eccentric president Massimo Ferrero on the phone. Samuel Eto'o will discuss Sampdoria's offer on Wednesday after his agent received a contract proposal . Sampdoria's offer is about £700,000 short of what Eto'o was asking but they will try to get more funding . Crystal Palace have made an offer for Liverpool left back Jose Enrique and he is considering the move to London. West Bromwich Albion are also understood to have an interest in the Spaniard but a move to London plus more regular game time appeals to the 28-year-old. Crystal Palace have made an offer for Liverpool left back Jose Enrique to move to the London club . Palace have made enquiries for Swansea midfielderJonjo Shelvey and left back Neil Taylor - who also has interest from West Bro. Swansea are understood to be asking £9m for former Liverpool player Shelvey. The Swans have been offered the chance to sign former Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez but the 29-year-old is on £60,000 a week AFTER tax at Fiorentina and has said he only wants to join a top-four club. Crystal Palace have made enquiries for Swansea's left-back Neil Taylor (left) and Jonjo Shelvey . Swansea have been offered the chance to sign former Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez from Fiorentina . Gomez is on £60,000 a week after tax at Italian club Fiorentina and says he is only interested in a top-four club . Juventus met with Tottenham directors in Milan to discuss their offer for Paulinho. Another meeting is planned within the next 24 hours to further discuss terms. A £17m buy from Corinthians, Paulinho is in Tottenham's squad to face Burnley on Wednesday night, as is captain Younes Kaboul who has attracted attention from Besiktas. Juventus have met with Tottenham Hotspur directors in Milan to discuss their offer for Paulinho . Meanwhile, QPR midfielder Adel Taarabt is keen to return to Italy this month following his loan with AC Milan last season. Lazio and Torino have shown an interest and Taarabt was mentioned in initial discussions over a possible swap with Yann M'Vila at Inter. He said: 'I've always said I want a change of scenery, and I repeat that. There's been contact with some Italian clubs, let's see.' QPR midfielder Adel Taarabt is keen to return to Italy following his loan spell with AC Milan last season . Brentford have had a £500,000 bid rejected for Southend goalkeeper Daniel Bentley. The 21-year-old has been watched closely by Bristol City, Nottingham Forest, Watford and Leeds but Brentford have tried to sign him to bolster their Championship promotion push. Southend manager Phil Brown insisted on Tuesday: 'There have been no bids for Daniel and it's not true we've turned down an offer from Brentford for him.' However, Sportsmail understands the bid was made last week though Brentford are now considering looking elsewhere. Bentley has kept four clean sheets in his last five games. Brentford, meanwhile, have signed Josh Laurent from Queens Park Rangers on an 18-month development squad contract. Brentford have had a £500,000 bid rejected for Southend's 21-year-old goalkeeper Daniel Bentley . Sheffield United have offered a new contract to teenage prodigy Diego de Girolamo. The Italy Under 20 international is out of contract in the summer. Scouts were in attendance to see the 19-year-old score a hat-trick on Monday as Sheffield United Under 21s ran out convincing 7-0 winners against Coventry City. De Girolamo has been on loan at York City twice this season under the stewardship of Russ Wilcox and has scored four goals in eight games. United have had two offers turned down for Dundee United winger Gary Mackay-Steven. The former Liverpool trainee is attracting interest from Celtic also. Sheffield United have offered a new contract to their highly-rated teenager Diego de Girolamo . Sheffield United have had two offers turned down for Dundee United winger Gary Mackay-Steven . Bristol City are in talks over a loan for former Chelsea midfielder George Saville. The 21-year-old joined Wolves on a permanent deal last summer and signed a three-year contract but the move has failed to work out. He hopes a switch to Steve Cotterill's high-flying League One side will rejuvenate his career. Bristol City want to take former Chelsea midfielder George Saville on loan away from Wolves . Hull have made an enquiry for Blackburn Rovers striker Rudy Gestede. The 26-year-old has also been the subject of interest from West Brom but Tony Pulis does not believe he is worth Blackburn's £6m valuation. Hull also have an interest in Sunderland's Steven Fletcher but Gestede would be cheaper. Hull are also interested in Maritimo left-back Ruben Ferreira after Andy Robertson picked up an injury. Hull have made an enquiry for Blackburn Rovers striker Rudy Gestede but his £6 price is putting sides off . Hull also have an interest in Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher but Gestede would be cheaper . | Dinamo Zagreb say they have received a £6m offer for Marcelo Brozovic .
Olympiakos make another attempt to take Arsenal's Joel Campbell on loan .
Jozy Altidore will return to the MLS as Jermain Defoe joins Sunderland .
Everton striker Samuel Eto'o will discuss Sampdoria's offer .
Juventus met with Tottenham directors in Milan to discuss Paulinho .
QPR's Adel Taarabt is keen to return to Italy following his loan with Milan . |
122,045 | 29c5da847388894e4ce7fc03420560f662faa45c | Three fathers who have taken on the unusual challenge of wearing 33lb pregnancy suits have declared they have new found respect for pregnant mothers. Jason Bramley, Steve Hanson and Jonny Biggins are taking on the challenge of pregnancy to honour mums in the run-up to Mother's Day. Appearing on ITV's Lorraine the men complained of trouble sleeping, walking and tying shoe laces. Steve Hanson, Jonny Biggins and Jason Bramley (left to right) who have taken on the unusual challenge of wearing 33-pound pregnancy suits for a whole month appeared on ITV's Lorraine . 'It’s the little things that become mammoth tasks - dropping a pen or taking a plug out,' Steven Hanson (left on sofa) alongside Jonny Biggins and Jason Bramley told Lorraine Kelly (far left) Perched on the sofa with their legs akimbo and hands on their fake babies the men told host Lorraine Kelly about the pain of the last 10 day. 'It's been tough, really tough,' said father-of-one Steven, 46, who came up with the crazy idea to help promote a new personalised Mother's Day book by the threesome's publishing company, The Book Of Everyone. 'It's hard in the morning and hard at night, but the most difficult part is walking to work,' he said. 'We’re allowed a 15 minute shower. But it’s the little things that become mammoth tasks - dropping a pen or taking a plug out.' Fellow pregnant dad Johnny added: 'I've given up doing up my tying shoe laces.' The men, who confirmed that the novelty of having breasts wore off on day one, are ten days into their month-long challenge, which in real life would mean they still have 284 days to go. Scroll down for video . Dads Jonny Biggins (left), Steve Hanson (middle) and Jason Bramley (right) are discovering exactly what it's like to have a baby on board by wearing pregnancy suits for an entire month . 'Every day things like putting on your socks becomes a monumental task,' says Steve, 46, (left) who has a 12-year-old son Saul with his wife Kate . But already the challenge is taking it's toll. ‘On the physical side, carrying this thing around not easy,' said Johnny. Patting his bump, dad Jason, 44, added: 'And we don’t have all the hormones and everything else going on – just this weight.' The publishing directors, are charting the ups and downs of impending parenthood in an online diary. Steve, who is married to Kate and has a 12-year-old son, called Saul, said: 'Every day things like putting on your socks becomes a monumental task.' The trio are wearing their bumps to work, to the pub and to bed and are only allowed to remove them to wash . The trio, who are from England but all work at an office in Barcelona, are wearing their bumps to work, to the pub and to bed and are only allowed to remove them to wash. Jason, who is a father-of-one mused on day five: 'I wonder why pregnant women don't use wheelchairs. 'I have a chair in the office with wheels and this is a blessing. I can glide effortlessly across the office to my desired destination.' 'On day three I didn't sleep a wink, I just couldn't get settled,' says company director Steve, from Doncaster, pictured on his laptop while wearing the belly . Steve's son Saul is pictured resting his head on his fake breasts, making for quite the funny sight . The 'empathy belly' comes complete with fake breasts and weighs two and a half stone - the average weight of a full term baby bump. It is designed to put pressure on the bladder, stomach and lungs, and cause abdominal distention and the inability to get comfortable. 'On day three I didn't sleep a wink, I just couldn't get settled,' said company director Steve, from Doncaster. 'My boobs, which at first were quite a pleasurable novelty, soon became about as welcome as a fart in a spacesuit,' said Steve (pictured in his 'empathy belly') 'I wonder why pregnant women don't use wheelchairs,' dad-of-one Jason, 44, (pictured) wrote in his diary . The suit weighs 33lb, the average weight of a full term baby, and is designed to cause abdominal distention and put pressure on the bladder, stomach and lungs . 'I tried to make a small city out of pillows around my bump. My boobs, which at first were quite a pleasurable novelty, soon became about as welcome as a fart in a spacesuit,' he added. 'They were way too warm and hung on my arm, sending it to sleep and waking me at the same time.' By day three the constant swinging motion of his belly forced Jonny, 45, from Surrey to visit his local pharmacy and seek medical help. 'I unzipped my jacket, exposing my belly and explaining my predicament to the woman behind the counter,' says Jonny, dad to Enzo, five, and Leo, one. 'I expected her to crack a smile or reel back in shock but she nodded professionally like she's seen it all before, opened a drawer and placed an elastic waist strap on the counter. Despite the trials and tribulations caused by faking pregnancy, the Steve, Jonny and Jason said it has made them appreciate what their wives have had to go through . 'A few minutes later, with belly strapped firmly in place, I waltzed out of there with a new-found spring in my stride. It was wonderful, I could move again.' Yet despite the trials and tribulations just one week in Steve admits to bonding with his 'baby'. He told his diary: 'It seems to be taking on a personality. It has a name, and its name is Bump. I cradle it, pat it, rub it and I just caught myself talking to it while patting it.' As well as writing down their experiences the dads are also uploading videos of their pregnancy journeys to their online diaries - and all three are looking forward to Mother's Day when they can remove the suits for good. 'Huge respect goes to all you pregnant mums out there. Every single one of you,' said Steve. | Jason Bramley, Steve Hanson and Jonny Biggins are faking pregnancy .
The fathers are wearing their baby bumps for a month .
Idea is to honour mums in run-up to Mother's Day on Sunday, March 15 .
Admitted they've had trouble sleeping, walking and tying shoe laces . |
269,850 | e9823fa4fc8168199f8f7d9b72a3f41f4f125f82 | By . Hugo Gye . PUBLISHED: . 10:45 EST, 16 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:01 EST, 16 May 2013 . Troubled oil giant BP was today forced to deny that it was seeking help from David Cameron as it fights for its future in the wake of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico three years ago. The company says it is facing a flood of false claims relating to the spill, and commentators have said it may have to pay out so much compensation it could be taken over by a competitor. Reports even suggested that the firm had appealed directly to the Prime Minister, asking him to raise the issue with the U.S. government in an attempt to limit BP's losses. However, Government officials today insisted that Mr Cameron had not been approached by BP, adding that the firm's troubles did not come up at a recent meeting with Barack Obama. SOS: Reports have claimed that BP is seeking the help of David Cameron to avoid a slew of compensation claims . BP has sought an injunction to stop payouts to companies which are allegedly claiming fraudulent or inflated losses from its $8.2billion (£5.4billion) pot of compensation for the disaster. An appeal document recently filed by BP in the U.S. courts claims that businesses from the Gulf coast have been handed millions of dollars for 'non-existent, artificially calculated losses'. The blow-out of the Deepwater Horizon well off the Louisiana coast in 2010 claimed 11 lives and damaged fishing and tourism industries as well as marine and wildlife habitats, forcing BP to agree a multi-billion-dollar compensation deal in April 2012. But BP warned that it would be 'irreparably harmed' unless the compensation system is reformed. The oil giant has said the cash drain could put its dividend at risk, and some experts feel this will make it vulnerable to a takeover. Disaster: The oil spill at the Deepwater Horizon rig, pictured, has led to billions in payouts from BP . BP said it has 'been ordered to pay . hundreds of millions of dollars - soon likely to be billions - for . fictitious and inflated losses'. The . claim adds: 'If this travesty is allowed to continue, BP will be . irreparably harmed and future defendants will be reluctant to settle . because they cannot be confident that settlement agreements will be . construed textually and fairly.' In its first-quarter results published last month, BP warned that compensation may be 'significantly higher' than the $8.2billion it has set aside, because it had underestimated the number of claims it would receive. BP also emphasised that the compensation settlement is 'uncapped except for economic loss claims related to the Gulf seafood industry'. Appeal: But Mr Cameron did not raise the issue of BP's troubles during his recent meeting with David Cameron . The complaint centres on the claim that businesses are allowed to compare earnings before and after the spill in ways which appear to inflate their losses. It mentions a $9.7million US dollar (£6.4million) payout to a construction company based 200 miles off the coast of Alabama, even though 2010 was in fact its best year on record. The company has already sold $38billion (£25billion) of assets to cover the known costs of the disaster. BP and fellow oil giant Shell also face a European Commission investigation into price-rigging claims, after investigators raided several companies in the sector. | Firm claims it is targeted by inflated compensation claims over Gulf oil spill .
Reports suggested it had asked David Cameron to crack down on claims .
Government sources denied BP had sought help from the Prime Minister . |
188,887 | 80a4598d78f9bc104b5936512544092685f37236 | (CNN) -- Ivorian-born businessman Tidjane Thiam is all too familiar with the daily challenges of setting the strategy and overseeing the operations of a global company. Over the last three years, the London-based executive, who served as a government minister in Ivory Coast in the 1990s, has been at the helm of Prudential, a life insurance giant and financial services group with a 160-year history and more than 26 million customers in Asia, the U.S. and the UK. But for Thiam, the first black CEO of a FTSE 100 company, being a cabinet minister in Ivory Coast was much tougher than heading a global company. "The difficulty you have when you work in an emerging market is you never have enough," he says. "It's very tough because it's like being asked to choose between cutting your right arm or your left arm. So every decision is very painful, engages lives, has a huge impact on how people live, whether they live or not, and if you take that responsibility seriously it can be quite heavy." Related: Ivory Coast seeks chocolate fairness for farmers . Born in 1962, Thiam spent his childhood in Ivory Coast and Morocco before relocating to France for studies. He made his first professional steps in Paris and New York and in 1994 he returned to Africa to be in charge of Ivory Coast's infrastructure projects. But in 1999, while Thiam was abroad, a military coup overthrew Ivory Coast's government. Thiam returned to the country and was initially put under house arrest. He was then asked to work for the new regime but Thiam refused the offer and returned to Europe to work in the private sector. Thiam spoke to CNN's Robyn Curnow about Prudential, Ivory Coast and what it takes to be a good leader. An edited version of the interview follows. CNN: Being the first African to run a big FTSE 100 company, that kind of discussion that comes back at you a lot, doesn't it? Tidjane Thiam: It does -- I try to stay away from it and to move away from it, but fundamentally it's not a real issue. Fundamentally I think you just have to be yourself, that's the only thing you can do anyway and that's the only way to live your life. CNN: Prudential is very much a multicultural organization. What are the tricks to running a global business in today's environment? TT: The the only thing you can do is to be authentic. People have their own filters to look at you and to decode what you are saying or what you are doing according to their own cultural references, but I think one thing people can read across cultures is whether you're being genuine or not. Read related: Oil vs. cocoa: Why Ivory Coast isn't like Libya . CNN: You've told me before it's harder being an African minister in a government, than a CEO of a large company. TT: It's very different. The difficulty you have when you work in an emerging market or emerging economy is you never have enough. For instance, often I had to get involved in the public investment process and frankly if I added all the requests we had when we did the budget every year, it was between 50 and a 100 times the resources we had. In the West, when you budget you're going to get 20, 30% more than what you have, not 50 times or a 100 times, and frankly I think each and every one of those requests were legitimate. So if you have to go from 50 to one, it's very tough because it's like being asked to choose between cutting your right arm or your left arm, so every decision is very painful, engages lives, has a huge impact on how people live, whether they live or not, and if you take that responsibility seriously it can be quite heavy. The consequences of the decisions you make are of a completely different magnitude on a human level. CNN: You very much charted a new road in terms of privatizations, that was in a way revolutionary in West Africa. TT: It's not complicated, we had no money, as the President put it. The first challenge he gave me was. "look ... we have a drought, the dams are empty, we need a power plant but we have no money so I need you to build a power plant." That was my first job, so yes, I think if you don't have money, you have to be creative. So it was actually very exciting. We had to go out and innovate, frankly it's as much out of necessity that we went and raised private capital. Watch: Rebuilding Ivory Coast's cocoa trade . CNN: You rejected the military regime's offer. I've read that you've said that the period after the coup was a very lonely time. TT: I have to say the coup was popular, people did not understand my position, my position was a position of principle ... A lot of so-called democrats were applauding the coup and I'm saying this is really short-term thinking and it's very poor thinking -- because it is bad for democracy that in one of the few countries in Africa where there had never been a coup and I was absolutely convinced that it was all going to go wrong and there was no stopping it. Watch: How a coup made a CEO . Because in countries with weak institutions once you've allowed someone to take a minister or cabinet member and make him crawl with his AK-47, that's it -- it's going to happen over and over and over again. It's always wrong to build your power on military might...because someone will always have a bigger gun than you. There's always someone who's got a bigger muscle than you or a bigger stick than you, a bigger baseball bat and he can always break your skull, that's why we have a rule of law, that's why we have civilization. CNN: You get angry, don't you? TT: Yes, it's just unnecessary. We are the poorest, we are the weakest, we are divided -- if on top people are going to fight each other, what chances do we have? I go to Asia, you get to Bangkok, Hanoi, Manila, Hong Kong, Singapore, I challenge you to see a difference between Sunday and Monday -- there are seven days in a week and they use those seven days to work and to produce. So if we spend our time fighting each other while others are working together toward a goal, we shouldn't be surprised if we fall behind. | Ivorian-born Tidjane Thiam is the chief executive of Prudential .
Thiam is the first black chief executive of a FTSE 100 company .
He worked as a minister of planning and development in Ivory Coast in the 1990s .
He left the West African country in 1999 after a military coup . |
228,501 | b3de5dbe811e16f4db6f565d3aa241a60f2fbebb | Carl Singleton (left), 41, from Millom, Cumbria, has been released without charge pending an inquest into the death of student Ashley Agumbi (right), 22 . A British man accused of murdering his girlfriend has been freed after 11 days of 'hell' in a Kenyan jail. Carl Singleton, 41, from Millom, Cumbria, has been released without charge pending an inquest into the death of student Ashley Agumbi, 22. He was arrested on November 23, on suspicion of having flushed the insulin for her diabetes down the toilet. Miss Agumbi died in hospital of diabetic hypertension and respiratory failure days after making accusations against Mr Singleton. He flew out to be with her six months ago, after they met on Facebook. Mr Singleton said he'd lost two stone during his time in prison, surviving on a bowl of porridge a day. Kenya Police said he is 'free for now' after he appeared in court in front of magistrate Hannah Kaguru on Wednesday December 3. He described the ordeal in which he slept on the jail floor as 'hell'. He said: 'I was just shocked at first when I was arrested. I was in jail for 11 days that was hell, had to sleep on the floor, just one drink a day and one meal a day. Conditions were hell. 'You sleep on the floor and the jail was so dirty. No shower for 11 days or a shave.' The 6ft 6in, 20-stone former van driver said: 'I was not given much food just ugali (a dish of maize flour cooked with water to a porridge). I lost about two stone in 11 days.' He also said he was only allowed to use the phone once to call his family. He said: 'I was just upset because I lost the love of my life. But I had to stay strong for my family back home. 'We were so much in love with each other.' Harsh: Singleton said he'd lost two stone during his time in prison, surviving on a bowl of porridge a day . He said of the accusation: 'It felt bad when she was my world, my life, my everything.' He also said when he met her he 'knew it was love'. He added: 'I was so happy when I saw her at the airport. As soon as I saw her I knew she loved me. 'She was a very kind and caring young lady.' Divisional criminal investigation officer for Gigiri, Nairobi, police senior superintendent Daniel Kandie said: 'The matter will be further investigated by the court with an inquest. 'He has been released by the court pending the inquest. He has been released without charges. For now he is free pending the outcome of the inquest.' Tragic: Miss Agumbi, shown in a Facebook picture, died in hospital of diabetic hypertension and respiratory failure days after making a report to police accusing Singleton of flushing her medicine down the toilet . Finding love online: Singleton met Agumbi six months ago, after they met on Facebook . His brother Steven Singleton, 21, of Market Street, Millom, said a 'huge weight' had been lifted off the family's shoulders. He said: 'If anything it feels like a huge weight has been lifted off of all our shoulders. Good to finally get some positive news. Just can't wait for him to get home now really.' Mr Singleton met his girlfriend Ashley Agumbi online through Facebook two years ago before flying out with a tourist visa to meet the University of Nairobi student six months ago. Miss Agumbi, who was studying at Lower Kabete campus in the University of Nairobi, is said to have died in hospital following an alleged incident on November 19. Mr Singleton is due to fly back to the UK early next year. | Carl Singleton from Cumbria was accused of murdering his girlfriend .
He met student Ashley Agumbi on Facebook then met up with her in Kenya .
Singleton was arrested on suspicion of flushing her insulin down the toilet .
Agumbi died in hospital of diabetic hypertension and respiratory failure .
The 41-year-old survived on a bowl of porridge a day in a Kenyan jail .
He has been released without charge pending an inquest into the death . |
141,937 | 438ca390d96a985cb6c5b8a6913f28ce6258c792 | (CNN) -- After two days of talks, North and South Korea are inching towards restarting operations at the joint Kaesong Industrial Park. The manufacturing complex run by North and South Korea, sits just north of the DMZ that separates the two countries. It housed operations of more than 120 South Korean companies and employed 53,000 Northern workers, before souring relations halted operations this spring. The last remaining South Korean workers left the facilities in May, although work had been winding down amid tensions. Workers left with belongings strapped onto their cars. For the first time since then, South Korean business personnel will be permitted to visit the complex and inspect their equipment Wednesday. On the same day, the two nations will hold another round of talks aimed at preventing such an outage and normalizing operations at Kaesong. South Korean businesses will be permitted to take their products as well as raw materials out of Kaesong. The North agreed to ensure safe passage for South Korean personnel, according to KCNA, North Korea's state-news agency and a statement from South Korea's Ministry of Unification. In its nine years of existence, the Kaesong Industrial Complex has served as a bellwether of North-South ties and the remaining vestige from the "Sunshine Policy," when the two Koreas had an unprecedented level of engagement (1998-2008). North Korea has barred South Korean workers from entering the complex before in 2009 and 2009. "We clearly pointed out that the recurrence of sudden stoppage by the DPRK's unilateral action must not happen," said Kim Hyung-suk, spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification. "It also implies the expression of the government's will to normalize the Kaesong Industrial zone constructively in the future." Kaesong is considered to be an important source of hard currency for Kim Jong Un's government as more than hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of goods are produced each year. Opinion remains divided on the potential restart for Kaesong. An editorial in the Wall Street Journal said that South Korea's president, Park Geun-hye is "repeating one of the worst mistakes of the misbegotten 'Sunshine Policy' of a decade ago." It warned that, "Temporary closures of Kaesong are part of the Kims' toolbox. Shutting the complex down for good can't solve the problem entirely, but it should diminish their leverage and hasten the regime's eventual collapse." Another editorial published during weekend in South Korea's JoongAng Daily, urged keeping Kaesong, saying that the venture must be kept alive to "solve other inter-Korean problems." Meanwhile, North Korea marked the 19th anniversary of the death of its founder, Kim Il Sung, Monday. KCNA reported that Kim visited the hall where his grandfather lies as well as his father, Kim Jong Il at Kumsusan Palace of the Sun. In recent weeks, North-South relations appear to have thawed. North Korea agreed to high-level talks with the South in June, though those talks were called off at the eleventh hour after disagreements about the level of the delegates who would represent each side. This weekend's talks occurred after North Korea restored a communication hotline with the South, which had been cut off repeatedly over the past four months. Pondering Pyongyang: Beijing's problem child . Freelancer Soo Bin Park contributed to this report from Seoul, South Korea. | North and South Korea agree to allow South's businesses inspect equipment .
Kaesong Industrial Complex suspended after tensions this spring .
Koreas agree to further talks on normalizing Kaesong operations Wednesday . |
168,597 | 66161ad24a8b71d54de2da174e0f11b43ecdbe5a | Investigations into the shooting of Michael Brown continue, despite a grand jury decision not to indict police officer Darren Wilson, the US Attorney General has said. The Justice Department will continue to pursue two investigations, one into potential civil rights violations by Officer Wilson when he shot dead 18-year-old unarmed Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and one into the practices of the Ferguson Police force. The Attorney General also addressed the violence which has followed the St. Louis County jury’s decision saying ’it does not honour Michael Brown’s memory to engage in violence or looting’. Scroll down for video . It's not over: Federal investigations into the shooting of Michael Brown will continue despite grand jury decision, Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement on Monday . Violent riots broke out in Ferguson late Monday night, and protests have been held across the country, following a grand jury decision not to indict white Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in the August shooting of black teenager Michael Brown. However, the FBI and the Justice Department are continuing to investigate the shooting for potential civil rights violations by Officer Wilson, and a broader inquiry has been launched into the police practices of the overwhelmingly white Ferguson force, which operates in a predominantly black community. Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement following the conclusion of the grand jury proceeding, that the federal inquiry has always been independent of the one in the St. Louis County, and will remain so. ‘While the grand jury proceeding in St. Louis County has concluded, the Justice Department’s investigation into the shooting of Michael Brown remains ongoing,’ Attorney General Eric Holder , 63, said. ‘In addition, the Department continues to investigate allegations of unconstitutional policing patterns or practices by the Ferguson Police Department.' The Justice Department are investigating whether it can be shown that Officer Wilson (right) willfully deprived 18-year-old Michael Brown (left) of his civil rights when he shot him several times while he was unarmed . Violence: Police gather on the streets of Ferguson as protesters react after the announcement of the grand jury decision not to indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in the death of Michael Brown . The Justice Department will continue to pursue two investigations, one into potential civil rights violations by Officer Darren Wilson when he shot Michael Brown and one into the practices of the Ferguson Police force . Tears: A female protester uses milk to counter police pepper spray after a group of demonstrators attempted to stop traffic on Interstate 5 in Ferguson, Missouri . Attorney General Holder added: 'Michael Brown’s death was a tragedy. This incident has sparked a national conversation about the need to ensure confidence between law enforcement and the communities they protect and serve. 'Though there will be disagreement with the grand jury's decision not to indict, this feeling should not lead to violence. 'Those who decide to participate in demonstrations should remember the wishes of Michael Brown's parents, who have asked that remembrances of their son be conducted peacefully. It does not honor his memory to engage in violence or looting. 'In the coming days, it will likewise be important for local law enforcement authorities to respect the rights of demonstrators, and deescalate tensions by avoiding excessive displays—and uses—of force . Federal investigators would need to satisfy a rigorous standard of proof in order to mount a prosecution against Officer Wilson. Whereas the county grand jury could consider multiple charges, Justice Department lawyers have a single focus: whether it can be shown that Officer Wilson willfully deprived 18-year-old Michael Brown of his civil rights. That is a difficult burden to meet, especially considering the wide latitude given to police officers in using deadly force. Riots in the streets: Policemen clash with protesters in Ferguson after mass riots broke out overnight . Missouri Burning: A car on fire outside the Ferguson Police Department on Monday night . Two sides: Protesters confront black police officers during a march in Ferguson . A group of protesters vandalize a police vehicle after the announcement of the grand jury decision . The inquiry into the practices of the entire Ferguson Police department is focusing on stops, searches and arrests and generally looking for patterns of discrimination within the overwhelmingly white department. It has the potential to require major changes in the policing methods of the Ferguson force. Such broader reviews typically rely on data and interviews in the community and can take far longer than a criminal investigation. The Justice Department has initiated roughly 20 investigations of troubled police departments in the past five years, or more than twice the number undertaken in the five years before that. And regardless of the outcome of the criminal investigation, there's also the potential that Michael Brown's family could file a wrongful-death lawsuit against Wilson. The Attorney General said he expects the federal investigation into the shooting to be concluded before he leaves office, a move which is expected to be imminent as Obama picked his choice of replacement earlier this month. Brooklyn federal prosecutor Loretta Lynch, 55, was announced as the President’s choice over two weeks ago, but needs to be confirmed by the Senate. If she is confirmed, Ms Lynch would make history as the first black woman to serve as attorney general. What other investigations are underway? The FBI and the Justice Department are continuing to investigate the shooting for potential civil rights violations. Investigators would need to satisfy a rigorous standard of proof in order to mount a prosecution. Whereas the county grand jury could consider multiple charges, Justice Department lawyers have a single focus: whether it can be shown that Wilson willfully deprived Brown of his civil rights. That is a difficult burden to meet, especially considering the wide latitude given to police officers in using deadly force. Some other past high-profile police shootings, including the 1999 killing of Amadou Diallo in New York City, did not result in federal prosecutions. What about broader allegations of racial insensitivity on the part of the Ferguson police department? Beyond the shooting itself, the Justice Department is conducting a wide-reaching investigation into the practices of the entire department. That investigation is focusing on stops, searches and arrests and generally looking for patterns of discrimination within the overwhelmingly white department. It has the potential to require major changes in the policing methods of the Ferguson force. Such broader reviews typically rely on data and interviews in the community and can take far longer than a criminal investigation. The Justice Department has initiated roughly 20 investigations of troubled police departments in the past five years, or more than twice the number undertaken in the five years before that. And regardless of the outcome of the criminal investigation, there's also the potential that Brown's family could file a wrongful-death lawsuit against Wilson. How long might these other investigations go on? The Justice Department has not set a timeline for either investigation, though outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder has said he expects the federal investigation into the shooting to be concluded before he leaves office. He said late on Monday that that investigation was independent of the local probe, and that "we have avoided prejudging any of the evidence." How will authorities deal with any protests? President Barack Obama appealed for calm and understanding Monday after the no-indictment announcement, saying the country needed 'to accept that this decision was the grand jury's to make.' Holder, too, said the decision should not lead to violence. Even so, within minutes of the announcement, crowds in the streets of Ferguson shattered windows, vandalized cars and taunted police while officers released smoke and pepper spray to disperse the gatherings. In anticipation of the protests, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon pre-emptively declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard. Gun sales surged before the grand jury decision and some shop owners boarded up their stores. A federal law enforcement team has been working with top commanders in Ferguson and from neighboring police departments to help reduce tensions and build trust. Are there longer-term efforts to deal with underlying problems? Nixon several days ago named 16 members to a panel aimed at helping the community heal after the shooting. The commission, which will study underlying social and economic conditions, is expected to make recommendations in a report due by September 2015. | Attorney General Eric Holder said federal investigation continues .
Spoke after grand jury declined indicting police over Michael Brown death .
One investigations is looking into civil rights violation by Officer Wilson .
Second inquiry launched into police practices of the Ferguson force .
Holder said he expects both to be concluded before he leaves office . |
34,193 | 612b48b9f2123bdd158f85f03093785c037a7b98 | (CNN) -- A man who for 20 years has lived near one of six men accused of sexually abusing young relatives said he finds the allegations "absolutely unbelievable." Bob Ramsey, a retired Graceland University chemistry professor and David Mohler's neighbor in Lamoni, Iowa, said he knows most of the Mohler family. Burrell Edward Mohler Sr., 77, and his sons Burrell Edward Mohler Jr., 53; David A. Mohler, 52; Jared Leroy Mohler, 48; and Roland Neil Mohler, 47, were arrested Tuesday on suspicion of sexually abusing children. A sixth family member, Darrel Wayne Mohler, 72, was arrested Friday as he pulled into the driveway of his Silver Springs, Florida home. Darrel Mohler, the younger brother of Burrell Edward Mohler Sr., is being held in jail in Marion County, Florida, charged with two counts of rape in a Missouri arrest warrant. The six alleged victims -- all now adults -- came to law enforcement authorities with stories of sexual performances, mock weddings, rape with various objects and a forced abortion during their childhoods, according to court documents obtained by CNN affiliate KSHB in Kansas City, Missouri. None of the accused in the case has entered a plea and it's unclear whether they have legal counsel. "David was one of the kindest people I know in this town," Ramsey said. "I find it absolutely unbelievable. That's my honest opinion." Ramsey said he and Burrell Edward Mohler Sr., 77, attended college together 50 years ago. Ramsey said he spent a lot of time with the family because his wife had taught piano to two family members. "They were in and out of our home quite a bit, and there was absolutely never any indication of abuse," he said. The employer of one of the suspects said, "Everybody is still in shock ... disbelief," as news of the arrests spread through communities where several of the suspects live in western Missouri. "He was a good medic," Corbin Allred said of Roland Mohler, who has been employed at Saline County Ambulance District No. 3 since 2006. Mohler has been suspended, Allred said, and further action may be taken at the next board meeting. Allred described Roland Mohler as outgoing and said, "He blends in with everybody else." Roland Mohler was on duty when Missouri State Highway Patrol officers arrested him, Allred said. Paramedic Sharon Roscher was also shocked about allegations that one of their own could be involved in something so horrific. "You eat, you sleep, you do everything with people for 48 hours," she said. "Oh my gosh, it's just a shock." Roland Mohler's father, Burrell Edward Mohler Sr., also worked for a time in emergency services as a firefighter in Independence, Missouri, the fire department confirmed. A spokesman would not comment further. Burrell Mohler Sr., David Mohler and Jared Mohler are lay ministers in the Community of Christ, the organization said. "Leaders and members of the Community of Christ in the greater Kansas City area are prayerfully upholding those families that are touched by the recent arrests of five members of the Mohler family," the statement said. Lay ministers are volunteers who do not receive compensation, and none of the three served in leadership roles or worked with children, according to the organization, which is based in Independence, Missouri. "We have a very strict code of ethics when it comes to the safety of our youth," said the organization's spokeswoman, Linda Booth. Burrell Mohler Sr. did go through the group's registered youth worker program, but "his youth worker registration has been terminated and we understand he had no contact with children or youth in church programs," the church said. Some lay ministers might help take care of the church, Booth said, while others might speak at services. "Immediately, I went to the rolls and had their priesthoods suspended because that's what we do in the Community of Christ when there's any word of something like this. We suspend their priesthoods," Booth said, referring to a church designation for male members. "If this goes to trial and they are convicted, then they will be what we call silenced, and they can no longer represent the church in any way," Booth said. The Community of Christ is an offshoot of the modern-day Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It split off from the Mormon church in the 1800s, and in 2000 changed its name to Community of Christ from the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "I personally feel grief for these families, all the families that are involved in this," Booth said. "I feel concern for the congregations." She said she is also "concerned about the greater church, the Community of Christ who represents nations and communities based in love and peace and joy." CNN's Mallory Simon contributed to this report. | Six men have been charged on sexual abuse allegations dating back to mid-1980s .
Neighbor of suspect David Mohler calls the allegations "absolutely unbelievable"
The sixth family member was arrested Friday at his Florida home .
Three of the men are lay ministers with the Community of Christ organization . |
191,182 | 83932c9314e4ceaaf22382df6882fa47e5555bf2 | Fire investigators have determined sunlight reflecting off a makeup mirror was the most likely cause of a devastating blaze in a £3.5 million house last month. Six fire crews attended the fire at the house in Caversham, Berkshire on Sunday, December 28. The property is owned by Darren Browne, chief executive of the Pertemps employment agency. The £3.5 million property, pictured, suffered extensive damage when it caught fire on December 28, 2014 . Six fire crews attended the scene of the fire which destroyed the first and second floors of the house . Fire investigators believe that the blaze started when strong sunlight reflected off a make-up mirror . At the time, Mr Browne told Get Reading that the family had been out of the house at the time, but declined to make any further comment. An investigation by officers at the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service has found that sunlight reflecting off a mirror onto curtains in a south-facing upstairs bedroom resulted in the fire, which caused serious damage to the first and second floor of the property, as well as its roof. Station Manager Sean Keeley, who conducted the fire investigation, said: 'Cases of reflected light triggering fires in homes are rare, however we would urge the public to be aware of the potential danger of reflective surfaces intensifying the sun's rays. 'To minimise the risk of fire, please make sure reflective items such as mirrors are not placed in direct view of sunlight in the home - particularly during the winter months when the low-lying sun can shine on fixed surfaces for a prolonged period.' Station manager Sean Keeley said that cases of reflected light from a mirror triggering a fire are rare (file pic) Fire officers warned that the low sun during winter can reflect off a mirror causing a fire . Shortly after the blaze neighbour Jenny Steven, from Warrenside flats, said: 'The first I saw was a plume of smoke and I thought it was a bit strange somebody having a bonfire going. 'It was only when I went to walk into town that I realised it was a bit more than that.' She continued: 'It was burning for hours and hours. I went to bed at midnight last night and there were still flames. Stuart Van Dort, who lives nearby said he initially feared it may have been his home which was destroyed: 'I felt very sorry for the poor people. 'A friend from a property behind sent a text message saying smoke was coming from this area which was a bit scary but we were OK. 'We know it was close but the fire brigade did a remarkable job because it was pretty fierce through the roof.' | Six fire crews battled to save the £3.5 million luxury home in Berkshire .
The house caught fire on December 28 when there was a strong winter sun .
Fire officers said the sunlight reflected off a make-up mirror in a bedroom .
The intense light started a fire which quickly spread destroying the home . |
78,556 | de98785db36abdbe49bcb3cd1822033acdffccd1 | By . Ian Birrell . Outside the occupied Ukrainian police station, sandbags were being piled for protection as a car slammed to a halt. Out jumped four men, wearing military uniforms and carrying a range of weapons including rifles, pistols and knives. One held a Kalashnikov by the nozzle in each hand. Another had an assault rifle slung over his shoulder, a pistol in his belt and a radio listening device in his right ear. Ian Birrell interviews a soldier in front of a Ukrainian government building occupied by pro-Russian forces . As the sun bore down on Slavyansk, a small industrial city emerging as a front line in the struggle convulsing this shattered country, I persuaded this pair to talk. Who were they, I asked? ‘We are in the world army,’ said one, his eyes hidden by sunglasses. Cryptic conversations have been commonplace during this conflict between Moscow and Kiev – but he spoke with a strong Russian accent. Loosening up, he confessed to coming from Sevastopol – the Crimean city that is home to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet and which was used as a launchpad for the region’s recent annexation. So what did he think would happen here? ‘There will be war,’ he said. ‘The West has invested too much in Ukraine. Nato will end up fighting us so we must be ready.’ It was a chilling threat – not least since the man identified himself later as a marine officer who had served in Chechnya and a parachutist with more than 1,600 jumps. Hours earlier I heard self-styled separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine insist there were no arms at any seized buildings. Yet I had already watched eight more gunmen enter the station; another six arrived soon after with bed mats. A protestant minister leads prayers to pro-Russian activists who are occupying the Donetsk Regional Administration building in Ukraine . Moscow claims that pro-Russian activists such as this man (pictured) want a referendum on the future of Ukraine . These menacing forces undermine President Vladimir Putin’s claims that Russia is not involved in this insurgency. Yesterday, as they openly patrolled outside Slavyansk, Putin confirmed extra troops had been deployed on the border as a ‘precautionary’ measure. When I said the West did not want war, the officer in sunglasses pointed out Britain had not wanted bloodshed in Afghanistan either. ‘But look what happened – you ended up fighting there for years.’ He pointed at the glinting golden domes of an Orthodox cathedral nearby when I asked why he would risk his life for this cause. ‘We are fighting for our religion like the Muslims,’ he said. Ukraine is divided not just by language but by two strands of Orthodox religion, with one looking to Kiev and the other to Moscow. Putin is stoking up deep-seated cultural, historic and religious divisions. Officially, there are no Russian forces in this part of the country –the president himself said so last week. But then he also finally ended his charade over the stealth invasion of Crimea, admitting all those silent troops in unmarked uniforms who popped up across the peninsula before annexation were Russian. Ukraine is a deeply divided country with many ethnic Russians who look towards Moscow . For one month, I watched that slow strangulation of Crimea – and these events in eastern Ukraine seem to bear a startling similarity as separatists occupy key strategic sites, then demand a rapid referendum on ‘independence’. Some soldiers in Slavyansk even banter over being in Crimea. Ironically, both sides of this struggle really want the same thing: an end to the corruption and economic stagnation blighting Ukraine since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Amid the instability stirred up by Moscow’s machinations following the ousting of former president Viktor Yanukovych, the economy has crashed and Ukraine’s currency has lost two-fifths of its value. Some see hope for salvation in the fledgling democracy in Kiev – but others seek the old certainties of their Soviet past. ‘I want to rejoin Russia for a better life with stability and a more competent government,’ said Sergei Melnik, a miner whose salary has fallen 60 per cent. ‘I used to be paid on time but these days I do not know if I will be paid at all.’ Some pro-Russians resent that wealth created by east Ukraine’s mines and steel mills has been frittered away. ‘We give other regions so much money but they just look down at us like we are second-class citizens,’ said Emilia, a young mother volunteering as a medic on the Slavyansk barricades. ‘The truth is we speak Russian, think Russian and even dream in Russian.’ Yet recent surveys found two-thirds of the country’s Russian-speaking population want to remain in united Ukraine, while three-quarters say they do not feel under pressure because of their language. Only 27 per cent favour unity with Russia. ‘I have lived under Moscow before,’ one academic told me. ‘The last thing I want is to do it again and see my freedoms curtailed.’ On Thursday night, the Ukrainians fought back with a rally in a Donetsk park. Politicians promised to ‘eliminate the terrorists’ in their midst as couples danced to folk music. Afterwards, young men told me they were ready to die for their country – yet for all the impassioned bravado, there is naivety about their faith in the future, just as with their counterparts in Crimea. Ukraine is a weak nation run by an inexperienced interim government, with one of the world’s best equipped armies massed on its border. When its decrepit forces fought back last week, six armoured personnel carriers were seized instantly by pro-Russian militia. As the protest finished, news arrived of a deal to ‘de-escalate’ this volatile crisis following talks between Russia, Ukraine, the United States and the European Union in Geneva. But within hours, it seemed to be falling apart. It is feared that the conflict could quickly escalate as a large number of pro-Russian activists, such as these men pictured with black and orange ribbons, are heavily armed . On Friday morning, I passed through more barricades, noticing the usual piles of Molotov cocktails and anti-American posters, to a chaotic press conference in the captured regional government building. First speaker was a bearded man I had seen the previous day direct two busloads of supporters – some stinking of drink – to take over the airport after complaints Russian journalists were being barred entry. Denis Pushilin, chairman of the self-declared Donetsk People’s Republic, said they would not leave the building as agreed under the deal until the ‘illegal’ government in Kiev quit. Putin’s popularity has surged during this crisis, despite economic wobbles. This pugnacious president has never hidden his desire to restore Russian hegemony over the former Soviet Union states. In 1999, in his first speech as prime minister, he said Russia was a great power with ‘legitimate zones of interest’ in former Soviet lands. Now we have a new Cold War with the first annexation of territory in Europe since 1945, followed by stirring of revolt in eastern Ukraine. This armoured vehicle patrolling Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine is under the control of pro-Russian activists . Putin has devised a new form of warfare fought with blatant lies, balaclava-clad stooges and a barrage of propaganda. The key question is whether a weak and divided West will prevent this expansionism or just abandon the people of eastern Ukraine as they did in Crimea. And then whether another nation – perhaps even a member of Nato – might be targeted next. ‘This all began when we asked to join Europe,’ said Maxim, a young engineer I met at the Ukrainian rally. ‘In return, Europe talks tough but will do nothing to help at our time of need.’ It was hard to disagree, watching as his homeland slides once again towards Russian subservience. | Pro-Russian forces in Ukraine claim 'there will be war' with the West .
One solider claimed 'The West has invested too much in Ukraine'
Vladimir Putin claims his government is not behind the current crisis .
Russian troops moved to Ukrainian border as 'precautionary' measure . |
201,222 | 9083f1685139b36a568cd8f22a73ebc2f87e5c7b | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 19:13 EST, 30 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 06:31 EST, 1 October 2012 . Bonnie and Clyde have been dead 75 years, but their days of emptying bank vaults aren't over. On Sunday an anonymous buyer shelled out more than half a million dollars to purchase two pistols the infamous robbers were carrying when they were gunned down by police in 1934. Bonnie Parker's .38-caliber Colt Detective Special and Clyde Barrow's .45-caliber Colt Model 1911 were the biggest-ticket items in a $1.1million auction of 134 artifacts in Nashua, New Hampshire. Bonnie get your gun: The Colt .38 snub-nose detective special revolver, let, was found taped to the thigh of Bonnie Clyde after she was shot by Texas and Louisiana police officers. Clyde Barrow was carrying the Colt.45 Model 1911 Government Model Semi-auto pistol, right, in his waistband . Crime spree: Bonnie and Clyde became infamous as they traveled across America's Midwest and South, holding up banks and stores with other gang members . About two-thirds of the auctioned . items were from Bonnie and Clyde, but items also came from other . notorious criminals, including Al Capone, Pretty Boy Floyd and John . Dillinger. Bonnie's snub-nosed Colt revolver was . discovered taped to her thigh when she was killed in Louisiana. It drew . the highest bid and sold for $264,000, said Bobby Livingston, vice . president of RR Auction in Amherst, New Hampshire, which held the . auction. Clyde Model 1911 automatic sold for $240,000 to the same bidder, who didn't want to be named, Mr Livingston said. 'When rare items like that come up . for sale you expect this kind of enthusiasm,' Livingston said. 'There . was some serious bidding going on.' Many of the auction items came from . the estate of the late collector Robert Davis of Waco, Texas, with the . remainder coming from various other collections. Most of the items came from famous . gangsters and outlaws, but some were linked to law enforcement officials . including Elliot Ness and Texas Ranger Frank Hamer, who led a posse . that tracked down and killed Bonnie and Clyde in Louisiana. Clyde's pocket watch sold for . $36,000, Mr Livingston said. A 1921 Morgan silver dollar that was found . in his pocket after he was killed sold for $32,000 . Also in the auction was a letter that Clyde wrote to his brother L.C. Barrow on the back of a photo showing a house on a platform surrounded by water. He signed it "bud," his code name when he was on the run. A .45 cal Colt U. S. Army New Service Model 1909 revolver recovered from the body of Clyde Barrow after he and Bonnie Parker were killed . The nickel-plated Colt Army Special .38 Caliber revolver , left, was used by Clyde Barrow, while the Colt .25 Pocket Auto pistol, right, was owned by Al Capone . Notorious: Bonnie Parker, playfully points a shotgun at her partner Clyde Barrow in 1932 . FBI files say Bonnie and Clyde met in Texas in 1930 and were believed to have committed 13 murders and several robberies and burglaries by the time they died. Law enforcement officials were among their victims. The duo became infamous as they traveled across America's Midwest and South, holding up banks and stores with other gang members. Texas Ranger Frank Hamer led the posse of six lawmen who carried out the ambush, and auction officials said authorities gifted him the guns from the lovers' bodies as part of his compensation for the operation. Jonathan Davis, whose book "Bonnie & Clyde & Marie: A Sister's Perspective on the Notorious Barrow Gang" is expected out shortly, befriended Marie Barrow in the early 1990s and is acting as an advisor for the auction. Clyde Barrow's 10 Karat gold 1925 Elgin pocket watch, found on his body the morning of his death . He said Thursday that people are drawn to Bonnie and Clyde memorabilia because of the romantic aspect of their story and because there's always an interest in outlaws. L.J. Hinton, the son of a Texas deputy sheriff who was part of the ambush, shared a similar view Thursday. Besides the outlaws' love story, he said people also have been fascinated by Bonnie and Clyde because they became Robin Hood-like characters by robbing banks during the Depression. The 78-year-old retired law-enforcement official manages the Bonnie & Clyde Ambush Museum in Gibsland, Louisiana, the town where the takedown happened. He predicted the September auction will attract a lot of interest. 'Just hang on to your hat, because it will be a bidding war,' he said. A Colt .45 SAA revolver that belonged to Robert LeRoy Parker, better known as Butch Cassidy . A .45-caliber gun once owned by Butch Cassidy has sold at auction in Southern California for $175,000. The private seller said that the Colt Single Action Army revolver went to an anonymous online bidder. The gun is accompanied by a black leather shoulder holster and two binders filled with documentation verifying the revolver's authenticity. Cassidy, the infamous Old West bank robber, bought the revolver in a hardware store in Vernal, Utah, in 1896. He turned it over to Utah authorities in early 1900 in an unsuccessful attempt to gain amnesty. Known as the 'Amnesty Colt,' it is the most documented of Cassidy's guns. The outlaw was immortalized in the 1969 film 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. 'He was played by Paul Newman. Sunday's sale was held by California Auctioneers of Ventura. | Butch Cassidy’s gun also sold at auction for $175,000 . |
58,864 | a6f893dcf5cfd51029bbaa7a1e7c605d0a2879dd | (CNN) -- Texas and Oklahoma suffered through their warmest months on record as persistent heat scorched central and eastern states from May to July. Temperatures averaged 88.9 degrees in Oklahoma -- the warmest monthly statewide average temperature ever recorded -- and 87.1 degrees in Texas, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Monday. The heat wave resulted in the fourth-warmest July on record for the United States. In Dallas, temperatures exceed 100 degrees for 30 of July's 31 days. And there was no relief in sight. Temperatures are forecast to remain high in Texas and Oklahoma through the end of the week. Parts of the two states could cool off by the weekend, but temperatures are likely creep back up by next Monday. If temperatures continue to hit 100 degrees or more by Saturday, Dallas will have set a record -- becoming the first city to mark 43 consecutive days of temperatures above 100 degrees. Residents of nearby Kemp, Texas, were reeling from no water in the midst of the wretched heat. As temperatures soared to the triple-digits for the 37th consecutive day Sunday, city officials made an emergency decision to shut off the town's water supply. "Right now our water towers have no water in them at all," said Mayor Donald Kile. "According to the weather forecast we got no relief coming. We're believing and we're praying for rain." In the meantime, Kile said the water supply could remain shut off for days while the towers refill. A combination of high water demand and old pipes caused major ruptures along waterlines and forced the city to resort to emergency procedures, Kile said. The city will continue to provide bottled water to residents at city hall until the water supply is restored. But for Kay Bloomfield, 57, it was not enough. "I've got two grandkids I had to bathe in the sink in there!" she told CNN affiliate WFAA-TV. "It's a necessity, you have to have water." On Twitter, some Texas and Oklahoma residents were beseeching followers to do a rain dance for the parched states. "I think I need to google how to do a rain dance, because we haven't seen rain in TX and OK for two months," Vincenzo Moretti tweeted. CNN's Chelsea Bailey and Dave Alsup contributed to this report. | NEW: Temperatures averaged 88.9 degrees in Oklahoma .
NEW: The heat wave resulted in the fourth-warmest July for America .
NEW: There are more hot days in store in the near future .
One Texas town turns off the water because of shortage . |
237,775 | bfc82f6f3b5d2248dff4e338890efd1b420305bd | By . Neil Ashton . Follow @@neilashton_ . Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard can become part-time England players under Roy Hodgson’s plans for the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign. Captain Gerrard and Lampard are considering their international futures, but Hodgson revealed they can pick and choose their games if they prolong their England careers. Hodgson wants their experience around the squad following England’s dismal showing at the World Cup. Plenty still to offer: Steven Gerrard has the option of continuing to play for England as they embark on qualifying for the 2016 European Championships . Carry on, Frank: Lampard has also been given the opportunity of postponing his international retirement . End game? Lampard and Gerrard in action for England in their final World Cup group game - the 0-0 draw with Costa Rica in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday . The manager said: ‘I’m not asking them to do anything they don’t want to do. If the question is, "could they still play a part?" then obviously the answer is "yes". ‘They probably could, but they are under no pressure whatsoever from me and I will accept whatever decisions they come up with. ‘It would be nice if they don’t formally retire because when players do they disappear from England selection. ‘There could be dialogue, perhaps, whereby at any moment I could speak to one of them and say, “do you want to play in this game, are you up for it?" That’s how I’d really like to see it.’ Hodgson has been given the FA’s full backing to continue as manager, despite finishing bottom of Group D, and maintains he has never considered walking away from the most prestigious job in English football. Out of the frying pan: Manager Roy Hodgson faces a long summer of soul-searching after England's abject performance since leaving for Brazil . Going nowhere: Roy Hodgson has been given assurances from the FA top brass that he can stay in his post until 2016 . He added: ‘The FA have asked me to continue. They want me to continue. I’m very happy that they want me to continue. ‘I think there is an interesting group of players here to work with. I get no feeling that any of them will want me to resign. I have no reason to do so. I have no intention of doing so. I think I’ve stood up to the criticism, to the comments and that’s as much as I can do. ‘The reason I’m staying on is that I’m not a quitter. I believe in this team and that the FA seriously want me to keep doing this job, as do the players, therefore I’ll continue to do it and I’ll try to lead the team to Euro 2016 and try to get some good results.’ Impact: Hodgson also confirmed that psychologist Dr Steve Peters, speaking here with Steven Gerrard, will continue to work with the team going forward . Hodgson confirmed he will take psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters to Euro 2016 if England qualify for the tournament. ‘He’s been very, very good,’ Hodgson added. ‘He hasn’t played a major part in terms of global team talks — what he has done is he’s been very good with individual players.’ | Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard will have option to be part-time players in European Championship qualifying campaign .
Both are considering their international futures after World Cup debacle .
Roy Hodgson reasserted that he has FA's full backing to carry on as England manager . |
275,124 | f06641a63fd0bbab90355b7ccfea14a6b284c30a | By . Rob Cooper . PUBLISHED: . 09:54 EST, 20 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:07 EST, 20 June 2013 . A father who has the same birthday as his son was left stunned when his second child was born on exactly the same day again - at odds of 133,224 to one. Anthony Reading, 26, now has no excuse for forgetting either Tyler or Joey's birthdays because they were all born on June 8. Anthony, from Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, was amazed when he welcomed his first son Tyler into the world exactly 24 years to the day since his own birth. Triple celebration: Anthony Reading, 26, with his two sons Tyler, aged two, right, and Joey on the day that he was born. All three celebrate their birthday on June 8 . Originally due at the end of May, the youngster actually arrived two weeks late but perfectly in time to share his father's special day. Having had a double celebration for the past two years, the 26-year-old then went on to defy astounding odds and make the day a triple celebration after his second son Joey was born, like his father and brother, on June 8. Dr Adam Johansen, at University of Warwick, said the odds of two children being born with the same birthday as their father were 133,224-1. 'If you assume these things are completely independent, then the probability that the father's first son is born on the same day as him is one in 365,' he said. 'The probability of his second son being born on the same day is again one in 365. You then have to multiply the two figures together to give you odds of 133,224 to one that all three are born on the same day.' Birthday brothers: Tyler, aged two years, holds his new baby brother Joey. They were both born on the same day, June 8 . Father and son: Anthony Reading holds his newborn son Joey. The father was expecting the baby to be born on June 6, but he actually arrived two days late . Anthony said: 'Having a child is a wonderful thing and I felt really blessed when Tyler was born healthy and happy back in 2011. 'The icing on the cake was the fact he came along on my birthday as it meant we would always be able to celebrate the day together. 'Unfortunately things didn't work out with Tyler's mum but we have stayed in contact and are still really good friends, which means I see him regularly.' He has since found happiness with current partner Katy Porter and the pair could barely believe it when baby Joey showed up on both Anthony and Tyler's birthday less than two weeks ago. Happy family: Anthony Reading, his partner Katy Porter, and their newborn baby Joey . Talking about receiving his second unexpected birthday present, Anthony, who works night shifts at Asda, added: 'Joey was actually due on July 6 so myself and Katy never really thought there would be a chance of us all being born on the same day. 'It seems Joey had other ideas though and he ended up coming four weeks prematurely on both Tyler and my birthday. 'We were both completely stunned and pretty much everyone who I have told since thinks I'm joking or trying to wind them up because it's so unbelievable. 'After he was born, Joey suffered from jaundice and had to undergo a lot of tests before he was allowed to leave the hospital but now he is back at home and we're enjoying every minute. 'I couldn't ask for anything more than to share my birthday with my two favourite boys. A day that was already special has become even more so now. It's the best present in the world and more than I could ever ask for.' Happy couple: Anthony Reading with his partner Katy who gave birth to his second child earlier this month . | Anthony Reading and sons Tyler, two, and baby Joey are born on June 8 .
Odds of all three being born on the same day are 133,224 to one . |
133,169 | 382dc940f659d833c7710c5e2ba9252e64589192 | By . Mark Prigg . Fears of a 'premium internet' where providers are forced to pay more for faster access were growing today after a U.S. appeals court rejected federal rules that required Internet providers to treat all web traffic equally. The Federal Communications Commission's open Internet rules, also known as net neutrality rules, required Internet service providers to give consumers equal access to all lawful content without restrictions or varying charges. But the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit struck down the regulation, which was passed in late 2010 and challenged in court by Verizon Communications Inc. A U.S. appeals court has rejected federal rules that required Internet providers to treat all web traffic equally . Current net neutrality rules require Internet service providers to give consumers equal access to all lawful content - be it web sites of streaming video. There are now fears Internet providers such as Verizon or Comcast would begin to charge content providers for faster access or slow down or even block access to particular sites. The largest providers on Tuesday pledged that they would not restrict how customers use the web, but consumer advocacy groups are concerned that in the future providers may begin charging content companies such as Netflix, Facebook or ESPN for faster Internet speeds. Two judges, with partial support from a third, said the FCC did have authority to regulate broadband access, but the agency failed to show that it had authority to impose the anti-discrimination rules on broadband providers. The ruling is a victory for Verizon and other broadband providers, who saw the FCC rules as government overreach into how they operate their networks. The largest providers on Tuesday pledged that they would not restrict how customers use the web, but consumer advocacy groups said they worried that providers may begin charging content companies such as Netflix, Facebook or ESPN for faster Internet speeds. The FCC had classified broadband providers as information service providers as opposed to telecommunications service providers, like telephone companies, and that distinction created a legal hurdle for the FCC's authority over them. This was the second time the court struck down the FCC's net neutrality rules. The FCC now could appeal the ruling to the full appeals court or to the U.S. Supreme Court, something FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said he is considering as he looked at "all available options" to ensure Internet networks remained free and open. The regulators could also try to reclassify broadband providers so they fall in the same category as traditional phone companies, a step that would give the FCC more oversight power. Public interest groups have urged the FCC to do so, but the move would face staunch opposition from Republicans and broadband providers. 'Unless Congress acts, we should stay our hand and refrain from any further attempt to micromanage how broadband providers run their networks' Republican FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai said. Democratic leaders in Congress on Tuesday urged the FCC to take advantage of the oversight power the court did recognize over broadband and offered support in rewriting the rules. Republicans urged the FCC to stay hands-off. One of Google's data centers where internet traffic is routed . Wheeler recently has also suggested he could use existing FCC power to go after particular Internet service providers who violate the open Internet principles on a case-by-case basis. Former FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, who oversaw the adoption of the open Internet order in late 2010 and is now at investment firm Carlyle Group, declined comment on Tuesday. Supporters of the FCC rules worry that now Internet providers such as Verizon or Comcast Corp would begin to charge content providers for faster access or slow down or even block access to particular sites. 'That's just not the way the Internet has worked until now,' Matt Wood, policy director at public interest group Free Press, told Reuters. But opponents say the rules inhibit investments and are not necessary to ensure open access to Internet content. 'Today's decision will not change consumers' ability to access and use the Internet as they do now,' Randal Milch, Verizon's general counsel and executive vice president for public policy, said in a statement. U.S. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler testifies before the House Communications and Technology panel on Capitol Hill in Washington December 12, 2013 as part of the net neutrality hearings. 'Verizon has been and remains committed to the open Internet which provides consumers with competitive choices and unblocked access to lawful websites and content when, where, and how they want.' 'This will not change in light of the court's decision,' Milch said. In the case against the FCC, Verizon had argued the open Internet order violated the company's right to free speech and stripped control of what its networks transmit and how. Prominent Internet providers Comcast and Time Warner Cable Inc also issued reassurances of their commitment to open Internet principles on Tuesday, as did the Broadband for America coalition representing various Internet service providers and CTIA, the wireless industry association. But content providers remained uneasy. 'Trust but verify,' said Michael Beckerman, president and CEO of the Internet Association that represents content providers including Netflix Inc, Google Inc, Facebook Inc and Amazon.com Inc. 'With the Internet and our member companies growing and changing and startups constantly popping up, protections do need to be placed for consumers.' Net neutrality supporters warned that the decision could indeed open the way for ISPs like Verizon to compromise Web access. 'The biggest broadband providers will race to turn the open and vibrant Web into something that looks like cable TV,' Craig Aaron, president of the advocacy group Free Press, said. 'They'll establish fast lanes for the few giant companies that can afford to pay exorbitant tolls and reserve the slow lanes for everyone else.' | Net neutrality rules currently require Internet service providers to give consumers equal access to all lawful content .
Rules today overturned by appeals court as part of longstanding row .
Fears providers may now begin charging content companies such as Netflix, Facebook or ESPN more for faster Internet speeds . |
196,496 | 8a4d37fe0a611d70f5c69825ce824a7207d85add | By . Lydia Warren . and Louise Boyle . and Hayley Peterson . The parents of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects have left their home in Dagestan for another part of Russia and the suspect's father is no longer planning to fly to the U.S. later this week to bury his eldest son and cooperate with the FBI investigation into the attacks. The suspects' mother, Zubeidat Tsarnaev, told CNN that that her husband, Anzor Tsarnaev, is indefinitely delaying his trip to the U.S. because of health reasons. She claimed she had to call an ambulance for him on Thursday but did not elaborate on what happened. Zubeidat told Fox News that on Friday he is was planning to go to a Moscow hospital to treat 'nerves, head, stomach and elevated blood pressure.' She was never planning to accompany her husband to the U.S. because she faces felony shoplifting charges here. Scroll down for video . Defiant: Zubeidat Tsarnaeva, the mother of the two Boston bombing suspects, speaks at a news conference as the suspects' father, Anzor Tsarnaev listens in Makhachkala . Staying put: Anzor Tsarnaev says he is postponing a trip to the United States because of poor health . News of the parents' apparent flight . from Dagestan comes one day after a bizarre press conference in which . they claimed that the gruesome carnage of the Boston attacks, which kill . three people and injured more than 200, was staged by the government. 'America took my kids away from me,' she cried. 'I’m sure my kids were not involved in anything.' The mother of the suspected bombers, . Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, went so far as to . claim that the blood covering the streets after the blasts was in fact . paint. The couple's eldest son, Tamerlan, was killed . in a police shootout last Friday and Dzhokhar was taken into custody - alive, but badly injured - less than 24 hours later in Watertown, Mass. following a massive manhunt. After spending nearly a week in a Boston . hospital recovering from gunshot wounds sustained during a firefight . with police, Dzhokhar was transferred . to a prison facility on Friday. He has been charged in the marathon attacks and is facing a maximum sentence of the death penalty or life in prison. Enraged: Anzor Tsarnaev and his wife Zubeidat gesture at the gathered journalists at the press conference alongside the bombing suspects' aunt Patimat Suleymanova . Hysteria: Zubeidat Tsarnaeva, the mother of the two Boston bombing suspects, speaks at a news conference as her sister-in-law, Mayam, looks on . The Tsarnaev family emigrated to the U.S. a decade ago, but both parents returned to Russia last year. The father said Thursday that he was planning to travel to the U.S. as soon as Friday, but hadn't yet bought a plane ticket. Banging the table in front of him, . Anzor said: 'I am going to the United States. I want to say that I am . going there to see my son, to bury the older one. 'I don't have any bad intentions. I don't plan to blow up anything. 'I am not angry at anyone. I want to go find out the truth.' Zubeidat also described a figure known only as 'Misha' - who has been pinpointed as a source of radicalization for her son Tamerlan. She said that he was a 'very nice man', of Armenian origin and living in Boston. 'Misha' is also apparently a convert to the Islamic faith. Suspects: Dzhokhar, right, and Tamerlan Tsarnaev are accused of planting the Boston bombs at the historic race on April 15 . It is almost a week since the Boston bombers' reign of terror came to an end. The suspects' father . has already been interviewed by Russian and American authorities - and . would face further interviews if he is still planning to fly to the U.S. Speaking out on Wednesday, Mrs Tsarnaev launched into a bizarre rant in . which she claimed she would not care if she or her youngest son were killed . by U.S. authorities. 'If they are going to kill him, I don't . care,' she told CNN of Dzhokhar. 'My oldest one is killed, so I don't care. I don't care is my . youngest one is going to be killed today. I want the world to hear this. And I don't care if I am going to get killed too. And I will say . Allahu akbar!' She said that . the only reason her sons were targeted was because they were Muslim, . adding that she saw footage of Tamerlan being killed 'really cruelly.' U.S. authorities are on their way to speak with Zubeidat Tsarnaeva in the aftermath of the bombings. Busted: Mrs Tsarnaeva, 45, was arrested last year after she allegedly stole $1,600 worth of clothing from a Massachusetts Lord & Taylor store . ABC News reported on Tuesday that Mrs Tsarnaev failed to show up at a court hearing stemming from a July 2012 arrest. If she returns to the U.S. to visit her hospitalized son or make burial arrangements for the other, she . could be arrested on an outstanding warrant. Mrs Tsarnaeva, 45, allegedly stole $1,600 worth of clothes from a Massachusetts Lord & Taylor store. She was charged with two . counts of malicious/wanton damage and defacement to property after . allegedly swiping the merchandise from the retailer's Natick, . Mass. location in June 2012. She was due in court on October 25 for a hearing in the case, but never showed up. The Lord & Taylor location is . not the same as the one on Boylston Street in Boston, where a . surveillance camera captured what police say is her younger son . dropping a pressure cooker bomb that was hidden inside a backpack. The family's lawyer Heda Saratova, asked for the family to be left alone and said that the parents had just seen . pictures of the body of their elder son and were not up to . speaking with anyone. Grief: Zubeidat Tsarnaeva is pictured outside her home in Dagestan, a predominantly Muslim province in Russia's Caucasus . 'The mother is in very bad shape,' Saratova said. 'She watches the video and cries.' The images and video she is referring to were taken by a resident of Watertown, Mass. and posted on his blog. They appear to show two men taking shelter behind a vehicle and taking aim at police . officers. The men are then . seen hauling out a pressure cooker bomb from a car and detonating it, filling the . street with smoke. The photographs, taken on the . eyewitness's phone from a third-floor bedroom overlooking the . scene, are the first images giving insight into the fraught battle that . left one man dead. Authorities say Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ended the firefight when he jumped in the car . - which the suspects had allegedly stolen earlier - and barreled towards the police barricade, making a narrow escape. Authorities said that he also ran over his brother Tamerlan. Their mother told Channel 4 on Tuesday that her sons had nothing to do with the terrorist attacks. 'What happened is a terrible thing but I know my kids have nothing to do with this. I know it, I am mother,' she said. She added to CNN that she had spoken . to Tamerlan after the bombings and he told her he missed her and loved . her, and she said her 'loving' son even inquired about the cat. Also on Tuesday, the bombers' sister, . Ailena and Bella Tsarnaev, released a statement to the media, saying . that they 'don't have the answers' about their brothers' alleged crimes. The statement read: 'Our heart goes . out the victims of last week's bombing. It saddens us to see so many . innocent people hurt after such a callous act. Taken down: Tamerlan Tsarnaev was killed in a gunfight with police on April 19. Dzhokhar, who was injured, was captured that evening . 'As a family, we are absolutely devastated by the sense of loss and sorrow this has caused. 'We . don't have any answers but we look forward to a thorough investigation . and hope to learn more. We ask the media to respect our privacy during . this difficult time.' The mother is from Dagestan, while the suspects' father is from neighboring Chechnya. Their . sons had spent little time in either place before the family moved to . the U.S. a decade ago, but the elder son was in Russia for six months . last year. See below for video . | Parents of Boston bombing suspects have apparently left their home in Dagestan, Russia, for another part of the country .
The suspects' mother, Zubeidat Tsarnaev, says her husband is indefinitely postponing his trip to the U.S. due to health issues .
News comes following bizarre press conference in which the mother claimed her sons were framed for the blasts . |
51,399 | 91844c99566efb187d5a1587d0fcd9c3e81d9210 | When it comes to taking the best photographs, there's nothing better than torrential rain. New research from Nikon reveals that images of weather beat family, food and weddings as the most impressive pictures online. Travellers aged 25-34 year olds are most likely to take 'wethies' (weather photos) with half taking one at least once a week and one in ten every day. Scroll down for video . Dramatic: A purple and pink skyline makes a beautiful backdrop for a fishing boat on shingle bank at sunset at Dungeness, Kent . Close to the action: Professional storm chasers monitor an approaching tornado in western Kansas on May 8, 2008 . The poll found two in five Brits say they are more impressed by friends' pictures of the weather, versus photos of their family (13 per cent), weddings (6 per cent) or food (5 per cent). More than a third admit a good weather photo is one of their favourite things to see online and 40 per cent say they are more impressive because of the high level of skill necessary to take. However, despite sunsets (52 per cent), snow (39 per cent) and rainbows (31 per cent) topping the list of most photographed weather, three in five feel that their pictures don't do the natural phenomenon justice. When asked which weather condition would be hardest to photograph, over half of respondents agreed on lightning. All the colours in the rainbow: A multicoloured streak across the sky frames a barn in Elmley Marshes National Nature Reserve, Kent . Sometimes the calmest weather shots can be the most spellbinding. Here is Corfe castle and village in Dorset in morning mist . A stab in the dark: This incredible image shows cloud-to-ground lightning bolts striking a field in eastern Wyoming . Across the country, Londoners were found to be the most likely to shoot the weather, with 41 per cent taking pictures up to seven times a week; this drops to just 24 per cent in Scotland and 26 per cent in the East Midlands. One in ten Brits now say they only take weather photographs when they're on holiday. Nikon weather photography expert, Jim Reed says: 'I've been photographing weather for over 30 years and it never ceases to amaze me. It is an ever-changing subject and has the ability to take your breath away with its beauty and power. 'It's great to see people investing in their pictures and more and more people using DSLRs to capture the weather in all its glory - especially as we are seeing more extreme weather phenomena around the world.' Light and dark: Multiple tornadoes are captured illuminated by lightning in a memorable shot by weather photographer Jim Reed . Perfectly simple: Cattle grazing below the perigee moon or supermoon, in the North Kent Marshes . Nikon analysis of Twitter conversations confirms that weather is a growing topic for discussion amongst Brits. Conversation peaked in early August and early October, most likely due to the unusually warm spells, with mentions of 'cold' and 'weather' increasing by more than 800 per cent in one week between September 27th and October 6th. Out of Twitter weather mentions, research shows that sunsets were more than twice the amount talked about than sunrises. If all this talk of weather inspires you to want to get out there with your camera, weather photographers, Robert Canis and Ross Hoddinott provide their top tips forgetting the perfect shot: . Misty seascape: This was taken in March this year at sunset at Trebarwith Strand with an incoming tide . Stormy seas: Waves explode over a seawall and into Galveston, Texas as Hurricane Ike approaches on September 12, 2008 . 1. Weather (41 per cent) 2. Family (13 per cent) 3. Weddings (6 per cent) 4. Night out (5 per cent) 5. Food (5 per cent) 6. Sports events (3 per cent) 7. Babies (3 per cent) Sunsets: Keep a mental note of locations and subjects close to home or your work place that would look good at sunset. Head out when there is medium cloud cover and don't fill the frame with just the sky, look for silhouettes that allow light to pass through its details allowing the subject to be recognisable such as a leafless tree or pier. Mist: To capture mist, an early start is essential. Longer focal lengths will help compress perspective and allow you to highlight subjects and shapes shrouded in the mist. Sunrise: Often the best dawn colour is a good 15-30 minutes before the sun actually appears. In this type of low light, exposure time will be slow, so always use the stability of a tripod to ensure your images are shake free. Rainbows: Try attaching a polarising filter - using one can help saturate the rainbow's colours and make it standout out even more. Use the filter with care, though; as they can also have the reserve effect and make them disappear if rotated incorrectly! Storms: Keep a close eye on the forecast for strong winds, sunshine and showers and remember to pack something to cover your camera in case of a deluge. Be safe. In the case of lightning avoid open areas as metal objects such as tripods and camera don't mix! Fog: Fog acts as a giant diffuser and simplifies the scene so look for narrow streets and alleyways or an avenue of trees in the local park. Shoot into the sun and if you are lucky try to get the rising sun burning through the fog . | New research by Nikon found that nearly half of 25-34 year olds take at least one weather snap a week .
Two in five are more impressed by friends' pictures of the weather than family, food or wedding photos .
Londoners are most likely to shoot the weather, with 41 per cent taking pictures up to seven times a week .
We showcase weather photographers' most spectacular shots and two experts give their tips on getting the perfect pic . |
83,129 | ebb26ebf09451885ecd474f814cdfc233cdaac0e | (CNN) -- Her character on "The Big Bang Theory" could never discuss the rings of Saturn, but there's one ring actress Kaley Cuoco knows all about. According to People, Cuoco has wed boyfriend and tennis pro Ryan Sweeting. On Wednesday, she posted a picture of herself on Instagram, decked in a pink Vera Wang gown, and kissing Sweeting with the caption: "Yep :) #thesweetings." The pair had a whirlwind romance, getting engaged after just three months of dating. The actress said at the time that while she knew it was unconventional, the couple have a lot in common. "It's been magic," Cuoco said. "We grew up with the same people, we just never met, so I kind of feel like I've known him my whole life. I know it seems a little crazy on paper, but it's what works for us." Cuoco plays Penny, a waitress who is part of a group of friends including extremely educated scientists on the hit CBS show. She was previously linked romantically with "Man of Steel" actor Henry Cavill and her "BBT" costar Johnny Galecki. | The actress is one of the stars of "The Big Bang Theory"
She got engaged after three months of dating .
Cuoco said their whirlwind romance was "magic" |
212,851 | 9f9cfb7348a2071b4220d1aa74a7752500f03884 | By . Simon Tomlinson . PUBLISHED: . 06:06 EST, 17 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:59 EST, 17 December 2013 . Fast & Furious actor Paul Walker did not die from the impact of the crash alone - he also burned alive, his death certificate has confirms. The 40-year-old's official cause of death was given as the 'combined effects of traumatic and thermal injuries' by an LA County Coroner. Walker's official 'Certificate of Death' was released to the public today for the first time. The death certificate for the driver of the 2005 Porsche Carrera GT, Roger Rodas, says he died from 'multiple traumatic injuries' but does not mention burns as a factor. Tragic: Paul Walker's death certificate, released to the public for the first time, lists his cause of death as the 'combined effects of traumatic and thermal injuries . Fast & Furious actor Paul Walker (left) and his friend and driver Roger Rodas (right) died 'rapidly' in a crash in Los Angeles last month, their death certificates have confirmed . Inferno: Paul Walker burned alive in this $500,000 Porsche super car after it crashed with him in the passenger seat on November 30 . Both documents, obtained by TMZ, reveal the men's deaths were 'rapid'. Mr Walker and Mr Rodas were killed on November 30 when their Porsche lost control and burst into flames in Santa Clarita, Los Angeles, on their home from a charity event. Rodas, 38, and Walker had to be positively identified through dental records because their bodies were so badly burned. The cause of the crash is under investigation, but experts believe plastic road markers known as Botts' Dots may have caused the car to hydroplane and lose control. The death certificate spelled out how Walker died on November 30, 2013 . Tributes: The emergence of the death certificates came as Mr Walker's family and friends gathered to say a final farewell to the actor at a Santa Barbara beach memorial on Sunday . The emergence of the death certificates . came as Mr Walker's family and friends gathered to say a final farewell . to the actor at a Santa Barbara beach memorial on Sunday - one day . after he was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. The star's 15-year-old daughter Meadow joined his 25-year-old brother Cody, his father and his mother as they laughed and remembered the actor the best way they could - by playing football and enjoying the warm weather. Also beachside to reminisce about his life was Tyrese Gibson, who co-starred with Walker in the Fast & Furious franchise. | Document confirms star, 40, died from combination of the impact and fire .
Driver Roger Rodas died from 'multiple traumatic injuries' but not burns . |
278,478 | f4be72001b0c9b7dcc9dccf5f46964aff73ab4f5 | (CNN) -- As the world reels from its deadliest Ebola outbreak, health experts are fast-tracking tests for various vaccines, and hope to have millions of experimental doses by next year. There is currently no cure or vaccine for Ebola, which continues to spread in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. The virus has killed nearly 5,000 people -- mostly in those three nations -- and infected twice that number. Scientists racing to stop the epidemic are trying various experimental drugs on patients, including ZMapp and TKM-Ebola. In addition to drug development, there's a scramble to develop vaccines, with scores of companies working on experimental doses, the World Health Organization said this week. Health care workers in affected nations will get the first opportunity to try the experimental vaccines. GlaxoSmithKline and the Public Health Agency of Canada are already conducting the first phase of clinical trials for two experimental vaccines, according to the WHO. The latter hopes to have 12 million experimental doses by the first quarter of next year. The GSK vaccine is being tried on healthy volunteers in the United Kingdom and Mali; the Canadian one is undergoing testing on healthy volunteers in the United States. "If the vaccines are determined to be safe, tens of thousands of doses could be used in West African trials beginning in January of next year," the WHO said. Other vaccines in the works include those by Protein Sciences and Inovio, and another one by Russian scientists. According to the latest WHO figures released Saturday, there have been at least 10,141 cases of Ebola -- with 4,922 reported deaths -- as of Thursday. Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea account for nearly all the cases. All but one district in Liberia and all districts in Sierra Leone have reported at least one case of Ebola since the start of the outbreak in March, the WHO said. About 450 health workers have caught the virus worldwide. Of those, 244 have died. Ebola is spread by direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person. The push for vaccines came as new cases of Ebola were confirmed in New York and Mali, the latter the first case in that nation. Complete coverage on Ebola . CNN's Jen Christensen and journalist Katarina Hoije contributed to this report. | NEW: As many as 55 people quarantined in Mali after girl's death .
Latest WHO figures put total death toll at 4,922 as of Thursday .
There is currently no cure or vaccine for Ebola .
Scores of international companies are working on experimental vaccines . |
51,738 | 9282f5f4dec2f30246b237e4318a21faee7a5849 | WASHINGTON (CNN) -- For Lilly Ledbetter, it was a day of vindication over a decade in the making. President Obama stands with Lilly Ledbetter shortly before he signed the bill bearing her name Thursday. More than 10 years after first filing a gender discrimination claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the beaming retired grandmother from Alabama stood in the East Room of the White House, watching the president of the United States sign a landmark piece of pay-equity legislation bearing her name. "I cannot begin to describe how honored and humbled I feel today," Ledbetter said Thursday. "When I filed my claim ... never, never did I imagine the path that it would lead me down." Under the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act, victims of pay-based discrimination will now have the right to file a complaint to the government within 180 days of their most recent paycheck, as opposed to within 180 days of their first unfair paycheck. The law's supporters argue the change was necessary because, under the old standard, an employer merely needed to hide unfair pay practices for a few months before being able to continue them, without penalty, forever. Ledbetter's contribution to the long struggle for women's rights and equal pay did not come easily. It took three presidential campaigns, years of arguing and persuasion in the halls of Congress, and seemingly endless rounds of litigation. It also took the help of a stranger. "I did not learn of the pay discrimination until late in my career," Ledbetter, a former employee with Goodyear Tire and Rubber, said during an interview with CNN. "Someone left me an anonymous note in my mailbox at work showing my pay versus three males. And we four were doing the exact same job." Ledbetter retired after 19 years working for Goodyear in Gadsden, Alabama. She filed a complaint with the EEOC in March 1998, alleging that men in her plant doing similar work were paid 15 to 40 percent more. The records backed her up. Ledbetter proved that she was being paid $6,000 less than men doing the same work, including those who were the lowest paid in their job duties. Ultimately, both the EEOC and a jury ruled in her favor. Ledbetter was awarded $360,000 in back pay. Ledbetter's fight, however, was just beginning. A federal appeals court later threw out her claim, limiting her lawsuit to discrimination that may have happened in the six months prior to her initial complaint with the EEOC. A three-judge panel also dismissed the pay discrimination allegations during that 180-day window. Ledbetter's case increasingly gained the attention of politicians and the public as it climbed the legal ladder. By the time the Supreme Court weighed in with a ruling in 2007, the case was a political football. Most Democrats used it to rail against sexual discrimination; many Republicans warned the case could harm employers. In a narrowly divided 5-4 ruling, the high court sided with Goodyear, concluding that Ledbetter had only a federally mandated 180-day window in which to make her initial claim. Such a "filing deadline protects employers from the burden of defending claims arising from employment decisions long past," concluded Justice Samuel Alito. In strongly worded dissent, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg accused her conservative colleagues of being "indifferent" to victims of pay discrimination. If women sued only when the pay disparity became steady and large enough to enable them to mount a winnable case, they would be cut off at the court's threshold for suing too late, Ginsburg argued. Her legal options cut off, Ledbetter turned to Capitol Hill. Democrats pushed for legislation -- bearing Ledbetter's name -- to overturn the Supreme Court's ruling and change the 180-day window. They made little headway with the Bush White House. During the 2008 campaign, the Ledbetter Act proved to be a significant point of contention between then-Sen. Barack Obama and Republican nominee Sen. John McCain. Obama emphasized what he called the plan's benefits to working women, while McCain criticized it as a boon for trial lawyers. When Obama won the presidency, congressional Democrats put a reversal of the high court's ruling near the top of their agenda. On Thursday, that piece of the agenda was completed. The Ledbetter Act was the first bill signed into law by Obama. "It is fitting that with the very first bill I sign ... we are upholding one of this nation's first principles: that we are all created equal and each deserve a chance to pursue our own version of happiness," Obama said at the bill's signing ceremony. "If we stay focused, as Lilly did -- and keep standing for what's right, as Lilly did -- we will close that pay gap and ensure that our daughters have the same rights, the same chances, and the same freedom to pursue their dreams as our sons." First lady Michelle Obama also made clear her support of the new law and Ledbetter personally. "Anyone who meets Lilly can't help but be impressed by her commitment," the first lady said at a reception shortly after her husband signed the bill into law. "She knew unfairness when she saw it and was willing to do something about it because it was the right thing to do, plain and simple." For Ledbetter, the signing was emotional. "To watch (the president) sign a bill that bears my name -- the bill that will help women and others fight pay discrimination in the workplace -- is truly overwhelming," Ledbetter said while standing next to the first lady. "Goodyear will never have to pay me what it cheated me out of. In fact, I will never see a cent from my case. But with the president's signature today, I have an even richer reward. I know that my daughter and granddaughters ... will have a better deal. That's what makes this fight worth fighting." With this win, Ledbetter concluded to a rousing ovation, "we will make a big difference in the real world." | Signing of pay-equity law brings woman's 10-year fight to victorious end .
Workers no longer have to file complaint within 180 days of first unfair check .
Law named for ex-Goodyear Tire worker who sued over gender discrimination .
Lilly Ledbetter law is first bill signed into law by President Obama . |
217,089 | a51174cb49e5c937594f04549301c8ccdb514d72 | Peter Capaldi was favourite to win with punters, but others were not so enthralled by the decision. His official unveiling as the new Doctor Who during a live programme on BBC1 led many online to dub the seasoned actor 'too old' for the role. The 55-year-old actor is the same age as first Doctor William Hartnell was when he made his debut in the role in 1963. One . Twitter user wrote: 'One of sons just said of Peter Capaldi: "Is that . the new Doctor? He's old, he'll die quicker than the 11th Doctor"'. Capaldi, the bullying Malcolm Tucker . in political satire The Thick Of It, was unveiled on Sunday night as the 12th . actor to play the lead role in Doctor Who. Scroll down for video . Debate: Fans of Doctor Who have sparked an ageism row as some have branded the twelfth Doctor Who Peter Capaldi, too old, at age 55 . No surprises: Veteran actor Capaldi, who is best known as politico Malcom Tucker from satire The Thick Of It, was the favourite to be unveiled as the new Doctor . And the new Doctor is... Peter walked out to rapturous applause by the studio audience . Some users on the social networking . site described his announcement as ‘exciting’ and ‘perfect’, but others . were more critical – one wrote: ‘Peter Capaldi is not attractive because . he’s old’, while another posted: ‘I’m not watching Doctor Who any more. Peter Capaldi is too old.’ It's ME! Peter Capaldi arrives home after it was announced he's to become the 12th Doctor Who . The unveiling caused a flurry of comments on MailOnline, with many expressing their views on the new Doctor's age. Cdst20, from Cardiff wrote: 'Needed to be someone younger and more attractive to keep Dr Who relevant as did reader Leeb, of Nottingham: 'I think younger would have been better, to be honest I think this is a bad choice. Katty . of Bournemouth said: 'I want to say i am going to stop watching Doctor . Who, however, i love it too much. So i am going to give it a go but i . don't want the doctor to be a old guy.' 'Too old. Same age as the first Dr in 1908. All the others were more than 10yrs younger, shirley1919. 'Very very disappointed! The Doctor meant to be someone young, both matt and David were very cute and funny doctors, and now they give us an old guy, no offence to the new guy he may be an amazing actor but he just doesn't fit the part,' Fara23. But show boss Steven Moffatt defended . his choice saying: 'The Doctor just chooses a face off the rack. He . doesn't care whether he's young or old.' And despite the many comments dismissing him as too old, Capaldi did get some support from fans and celebrities alike. '55 looks a lot younger and healthier now than it did in William Hartnell's time. And yes, I do go back to the original William Hartnell series,' write Day Javue on MailOnline's comments section. Quince 57 called Capaldi a 'Great choice,he is very attractive and so much more watchable than the last Doctor.' And Emma from Lincoln: 'I love him! So glad they've cast an older gentleman, although the fangirls are probably throwing fits about not having a young pretty boy to squee over.' Former Doctor Who assistants Karen Gillan called Capaldi, a 'superb choice. Swear I've seen him in Pompeii', and Freema Agyeman tweeted: 'Peter Capaldi! The show is in safe hands. Great choice #newdirection.' Big secret: The BBC are said to have gone to great lengths to keep the identity of the new Time Lord a secret in an operation they nicknamed 'Houdini' The . Scottish star had been the odds-on favourite to become the next . inhabitant of the Tardis, and it appears the result may have been known . three days ago, when a flurry of bets led to bookmakers suspending . betting on him and lowering his odds from 40-1 to 5-6. They now stand to lose around £100,000. Familiar face: Capaldi as a Roman merchant alongside the 10th Doctor David Tennant in 2008 . Joe Crilly, a spokesman for William . Hill, said: ‘We have seen people trying to back Peter Capaldi as much as . possible at every price available.’ Is Peter Capaldi the right choice for Doctor Who? Is Peter Capaldi the right choice for Doctor Who? Now share your opinion . That raised questions last night . about whether someone at the BBC had leaked the name – despite the . corporation going to great lengths to keep the identity of the new Time . Lord a secret in an operation it had codenamed Houdini. Some 400 Doctor Who fans, some dressed as their favourite characters, were in the audience last night to see the announcement. Capaldi, who appeared in a 2008 . episode of the series alongside tenth Doctor David Tennant, told . presenter Zoe Ball of his excitement at taking on the role. ‘It’s so wonderful not to keep this . secret any longer,’ he said. ‘For a while I couldn’t tell my daughter . who kept on looking on the internet and kept seeing people saying so and . so should be the Doctor and she got rather upset. ‘But it has been absolutely fantastic in its own way, so many wonderful things have been happening.' Big reveal: The BBC spent half an hour building up to their big announcement- which was a foregone conclusion to most. Departing Doctor Matt Smith gave words of advice to his successor . Out of this world: Freya Lightfoot came dressed for the occasion as she waited outside the BBC Centre in Elstree . In costume: Fans dress as the tenth Doctor Who and his loyal assistant Rose, as they wait to hear the big announcement . A lifelong fan of the show, Peter Capaldi even wrote a letter to the Radio Times about the Daleks when he was a teenager. In . the letter, the then 15-year-old who attended the Glasgow School of . Art, wrote: 'Your Special has certainly made the year for Dr Who fans. 'A rather sad year due to the untimely death of the Master, alias Roger Delgado. 'But . I hope that in 15 years' time, in 1988, you will publish another . Special to celebrate 25 years of wandering in time with the Doctor.' Lifelong fan: A 15-year-old Peter wrote to the Radio Times about Doctor Who . 'It was quite hard because even . though I’m a lifelong Doctor Who fan, I haven’t played Doctor Who since I . was nine in the playground. I downloaded old scripts from the internet . and read those.’ Capaldi will appear briefly in a . Christmas special as the current Doctor, played by Matt Smith, leaves, . and his first series will be broadcast late next year. Speaking in a . pre-recorded video, Smith said: ‘I know what’s coming and he’s gonna . have a blast.’ The live unveiling came after weeks of speculation about who would be the next Doctor. Suggestions included Harry Potter . star Rupert Grint, James Bond actors Ben Whishaw and Rory Kinnear, and . Homeland actor Damian Lewis. Comedy star: Peter won a BAFTA and British Comedy Award for his portrayal of Malcolm Tucker in The Thick Of It . Oscar winner: Peter won an Academy Award for Live Action Short Film for Frank Kafka's It's Wonderful Life in 1995 . Starting the legacy: The First Doctor William Hartnell (1963-1966) Second and Third: Patrick Troughton (1966–1969) and Jon Pertwee (1970–1974) Fourth and Fifth: Peter Davison (1981–1984) and Tom Baker (1974–1981) Sixth and Seventh: Colin Baker (1984–1986) and Sylvester McCoy (1987–1989, 1996) Eighth and Ninth: Paul McGann (1996) and Christopher Eccleston (2005) Tenth and Eleventh: David Tennant (2005-2010) and Matt Smith (2010-2013) Video courtesy BBC . Family man: Peter, his wife Elaine and their daughter Cecily in 2004 . Capaldi was born in Glasgow in April 1958 to an Irish mother and Italian father. He enrolled at the Glasgow School of Art, but was also a member of the Antonine Players during high school. During his studies at the School of Art, he fronted a punk band called Dreamboys, whose drummer Craig Ferguson, is now an actor and chat show host. He made his big screen debut in 1983 film Local Hero and appeared in an episode of Minder two years later. Over the past three decades, roles followed in Dangerous Liaisons, Peep Show, Waking The Dead, The Crow Road and The Devil’s Whore. However, it was his role as Government spin doctor Malcolm Tucker in BBC comedy series The Thick of It which earned him the most acclaim. The Scottish star won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Male Performance in a Comedy Role for The Thick Of It in 2010. Acclaim: Peter with his BAFTA TV Award in 2010 . The same year, he won the first for two Best TV Comedy Actor accolades at the British Comedy Awards for the show, followed by a second in 2012. As well as TV and film, Peter has also starred on stage, starring in The Ladykillers in the West End last year. However, Peter is equally talented behind the camera and in 1995 won an Oscar for Best Short Film (Live Action) for Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful Life. He has also written Soft Top, Hard Shoulder, which won the audience award at the London Film Festival in 1993. Recently, Peter starred alongside Brad Pitt in World War Z and BBC2 series The Hour, for which he received a BAFTA nomination. He has already filmed roles in the forthcoming films The Fifth Estate and Maleficent and is currently shooting BBC drama series The Musketeers. Peter lives in North London with his wife Elaine Collins and their daughter Cecily. | Peter Capaldi, 55, dubbed 'unattractive, too old' and a 'bad choice' by fans .
'The Doctor meant to be someone young, both Matt and David were very cute... now they give us an old guy' said another .
Show boss Steven Moffatt said: 'The Doctor just chooses a face off the rack. He .
doesn't care whether he's young or old'
Actor had been the odds-on favourite to play the part .
Flurry of bets led bookmakers to change his odds from 40-1 to 5-6 .
Suggestion that the choice for the coveted role was leaked by BBC insider despite top secret campaign . |
66,793 | bd6e9437dc3914229017748de5998a4bda5ffc4d | BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The U.S. military closed its detention facility in southern Iraq on Thursday after a plane carried the last remaining prisoners to another facility in Baghdad. Iraqi detainees walk around Camp Bucca detention centre on May 20, 2008 . The United States has been releasing detainees or transferring custody to the Iraqi government, a goal spelled out in the bilateral security agreement negotiated last year between the two nations. Since February, the Americans have released about 750 detainees from its detention facilities and transferred 200 more to Iraqi authorities each month, the military said. Camp Bucca, in the southern port city of Basra, was one of three prisons operated by U.S.-led forces in Iraq. The other two are Camp Cropper, adjacent to the Baghdad airport, and Camp Taji, just north of the capital. Both camps are scheduled to be handed over to the Iraqis next year. The last 180 detainees from Bucca were airlifted by military transport early Thursday morning to one of those two other facilities. A total of 8,305 detainees still remain in U.S. custody, about half the number at the start of the year. "I'm pleased to say the Camp Bucca detention facility is now closed," said Brig. Gen. David Quantock, the commander of the task force handling the detainee releases and transfers. | U.S. miliary closes Camp Bucca, a detention center in southern Iraq .
Last remaining prisoners were transferred to another center in Baghdad .
Closure is in accordance with bilateral security agreement negotiated last year .
Two remaining camps set to be handed over to the Iraqis next year . |
35,966 | 661854c3d974d0463d6d64c2c1feb9b5964bd011 | (CNN) -- He's back. Having kept a relatively low profile since being forced to step down as Italy's premier last year, Silvio Berlusconi, the bad boy of Italian politics, has decided to run for the fourth time as the centre-right's prime ministerial candidate in a keenly awaited parliamentary election likely to take place in February. Italy needs a Berlusconi comeback like it needs a hole in the head. The scandal-plagued Berlusconi, who was recently sentenced to four years in prison for tax fraud but has a knack of successfully appealing against his convictions, epitomizes the dysfunctional nature of Italian politics, with its discredited leaders and unstable governments. Read more: Is the eurozone crisis almost over? Over the past year or so, Mario Monti, Italy's respected technocratic prime minister, has drawn attention away from these failings by restoring credibility to Italian policymaking. The problem was that Monti, who took over from Berlusconi in November 2011 in the face of a bond market crisis, was always dependent on the parliamentary support of Berlusconi's People of Liberty (PdL) party to govern. He now no longer has the PdL's backing and says he'll resign as soon as next year's budget is passed. So what next for Italy, and is a "Berlusconi sell-off" in the bond market in the offing? To be sure, Berlusconi's comeback is not entirely unexpected and is more about the implosion of, and dramatic loss of support for, the PdL (not to mention its dependence on Berlusconi for most of its funding) than anything else. Read more: The eurozone's reluctant leader . The real question, therefore, is whether investors have become too complacent about Italy in their expectation that policy continuity under the next government - which may yet include Monti - is more or less assured. I suspect they have to a degree and are now staring at the uncertain prospect of a post-Monti political landscape in Italy. Fortunately for Italy, the bond-buying programme of the European Central Bank (ECB) is providing a powerful counterweight to concerns about Italian politics. If Berlusconi's party had withdrawn its support for Monti's government before ECB president Mario Draghi promised in late July to "do whatever it takes" to save the eurozone, Italian yields would have already risen sharply. This is not to say that investors won't start to reprice Italian credit risk in the coming days and weeks. Rather, it suggests that the scope for a sharp and disorderly sell-off akin to the one Italy suffered in November 2011 is quite limited. Still, Monti's decision to stand down as premier once parliament approves the 2013 budget provides the first big test for Italy's bond market since the ECB-driven rally in Italian debt began in late July. Having shone mostly on Spain over the past few months, the spotlight of the markets is now shifting to Italy. The most important priority for Italian policymakers is to maintain confidence in the country's huge stock of government debt, the largest in the eurozone in absolute terms and the second-largest as a share of GDP after Greece. This is why Italy's upcoming government bond auctions will be scrutinized for any sign that investors are losing confidence in Italian debt - particularly since foreign buyers of Italian debt are already few and far between. Perhaps the most salient point about the latest developments in Italy is that investors should start paying more attention to idiosyncratic, or country-specific, risks. Just because the ECB is prepared to intervene forcefully in Italian and Spanish bond markets does not mean that the underlying problems of the eurozone's third and fourth-largest economies respectively are being addressed. Indeed, quite the opposite. Italy remains mired in recession and now faces weeks of political uncertainty at a time when it can least afford it. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Nicholas Spiro. | Silvio Berlusconi is making a fourth run for Prime Minister in Italy's upcoming parliamentary elections .
Monti leaving is the first big test for Italy's bond market since the ECB vowed to save the eurozone in July, Spiro says .
Spiro says developments in Italy show investors should start paying more attention to country-specific risks . |
227,505 | b2913cc18598eae9c4a75044b36c3ad1eab4a7c8 | Kirstie Alley is said to be 'livid' with her former friend Leah Remini after she ended her association with the Church Of Scientology last week. The 62-year-old actress looked unusually downcast as she headed out in LA's Los Feliz over the weekend following the King of Queens star's dramatic exit from the controversial organization. Scientology journalist Tony Ortega, who was the first to report Leah's defection on July 8 on The Underground Bunker, claims the long-time Scientology devotee spent hours in crisis talks with fellow celebrity Church members on July 10 after Leah made the decision to dissolve her union with the controversial organisation. Crisis talks? Actress Kirstie Alley was deep in conversation as she walked through Los Feliz over the weekend, following reports she's furious at friend Leah Remini's betrayal . Cryptic tweets: Kirstie posted these messages on July 10 . Huge furore: Leah is understood to have left the controversial Church . In a series of no-holds-barred, . cryptic tweets posted on July 10, Kristie appeared to slam her friend of 30 years for spreading . what she called 'malicious gossip'. 'When . faced w malicious gossip I take a moment to experience the loss of the . person I thought was my friend... Then I say f*** em..:)' she posted to . her more than one million followers. Six hours later, she followed up with 'the sweetest poison is often served with a smile...beware syrup' as she allegedly arrived at long-time Church member Melinda Brownstone's home for crisis talks. Melinda was said to have been Leah's oldest and best friend, having met when she first moved to LA at the tender age of 13, however, all members have allegedly been instructed to 'disconnect' from the star immediately. Former King Of Queens star Leah joined . the Church with her mother in the 1970s after relocating to Los Angeles . from Brooklyn to pursue her acting dream. The way they were: Pictured together on an episode of King Of Queens, Kirstie and Leah have known each other for years . Long history: Kirstie has been a very vocal supporter of the Church Of Scientology since discovering the organisation in 1979 . Leah . reportedly called time on her association following years of interrogation for questioning the . whereabouts of leader David Miscavige's wife, Shelly, who hasn't been . seen since 2007. In a statement released to People magazine on July 11, the 43-year-old thanked the public for supporting her decision to cut ties with the controversial church. 'I . wish to share my sincere and heartfelt appreciation for the . overwhelming positive response I have received from the media, my . colleagues, and from fans around the world. I am truly grateful and . thankful for all your support.' Meanwhile, deep in conversation on . her phone as she made her way to the Mustard Seed Cafe in Los Feliz on . July 13, Kirstie wasn't able to muster a smile as she seemingly had the . weight of the world on her shoulders. The mother-of-two appeared not to have ran a comb through her hair or put on a lick of make-up. A good distraction: The 62-year-old is currently busy working on a new sitcom, aptly titled Kirstie's New Show, which will premiere in the fall . Kirstie has been a very vocal supporter of the Church of Scientology since she became affiliated with them through a Narconon program that based its techniques on their beliefs and practices in 1979. She credits the Church with helping her overcome her cocaine addiction. 'To tell you the honest-to-God truth: without Scientology, I would be dead. So, I can personally highly recommend it,' she says . Other famous long-time celebrity Scientology devotees include Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Jenna Elfman and Juliette Lewis. MailOnline has reached out to Kirstie's spokesperson for comment but is yet to receive a response. Emergency meeting: A-list members of the Church Of Scientology's Celebrity Centre International in Hollywood allegedly gathered on July 10 to discuss how to deal with Leah's defection . | Kirstie tweeting about experiencing 'the loss of the person I thought was my friend' on July 10 .
Leah releases statement July 11 thanking public for their support after it was revealed she had left the controversial organisation after more than three decades .
Scientology journalist Tony Ortega claims Kirstie assembled celebrity Church members for crisis talks hours before Remini went public with her statement . |
138,856 | 3f93e0c8d9d4dd6b4d692467c465ae2688bc8ada | By . Simon Jones for the Daily Mail . QPR have agreed an £8million fee with Norwich City for defensive midfielder Leroy Fer. Manager Harry Redknapp has been pursuing the Holland international throughout the summer. He had an initial £4m offer turned down and then a further proposal of cash plus midfielder Karl Henry. Fer, 24, was part of Holland's World Cup squad under Louis van Gaal and is keen on a return to the Premier League. Big move: Leroy Fer is closing in on a big money move to Harry Redknapp's Queens Park Rangers . Key target: QPR boss Redknapp is looking to bring in a few more signing before the transfer window shuts . He signed for Norwich last summer after missing out on a move to Everton the previous January following a knee injury. QPR have spoken to Lokomotiv Moscow about Lassana Diarra but he would need to take a pay cut to move to Loftus Road. QPR have also joined Arsenal by showing an interest in Napoli's Chile international striker Eduardo Vargas. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Julio Cesar is poised to sign for Benfica. The 34-year-old Brazil goalkeeper has a contract until 2016 but he has not been part of the club’s plans for more than a year. Benfica opened initial talks in July prior to the World Cup but were struggling to agree his £100,000 a week wages. Now they have returned with a compromise and hope to ratify the signing over the coming days. | Harry Redknapp is desperately trying to sign Norwich's Leroy Fer .
QPR have had an initial £4m bid turned down for Fer by Norwich City .
The west London outfit are also keen on signing Lassana Diarra . |
17,386 | 3134ec4cd8c2810e85b870b33578d9b8e6973518 | PUBLISHED: . 07:13 EST, 22 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:11 EST, 22 October 2013 . This chart shows how much time internet users lose carrying out different offline activities in favour of spending time online . Sites including Facebook and Twitter are a procrastinator's dream, but new research has revealed the true extent of how these sites directly affect our lives. Research conducted by the Technology Policy Institute in Washington has found that every hour spent online equates to, on average, 16 fewer minutes working. The sites also affect our sleep - we lose seven minutes sleeping for each hour online; spend 17 minutes less outside in the real world and miss out on a staggering 18 days seeing friends. For his paper, What we are not doing when we're online, economist and researcher from the institute, Scott Wallsten studied eight years of government data about Americans online from 2003 to 2011. The act of replacing real-world time with online time is referred to by Wallsten as 'crowding out.' Each minute of time spent online, according to Wallsten, directly correlates with 0.27 fewer minutes working, which over an hour equates to 16.2 minutes. Over the course of a day, this adds up to 388.8 minutes, or around six and a half hours, which over a year means employers lose around 8 days a month. Wallsten said: 'This research is a small step forward in understanding the economic effects of the Internet. 'The data clearly show that time spent and the share of the population engaged in online leisure isincreasing. 'The analyses suggest that new online activities come at least partly at the expense ofless time doing other activities.' Over the course of five years, from 2006 to 2011, the amount of time people spend socialising with friends has dropped. For every minute people spend online, research claims they lose 0.05 minutes socialising, which works out at around 18 days each year . People watch 0.28 fewer minutes . watching television, to each minute of online activity. This is 16.8 . minutes an hour, or almost 7 hours a day, on average. Surfers . spend 0.12 fewer minutes sleeping and 0.05 fewer minutes socialising . with friends. Over the course of a year, this means we lose 18 days . seeing loved ones. The trend also has an adverse affect on the eduction of young people, in particular, according to Wallsten's research. The younger an internet user, the more time they spend online compared to studying and 'education-related tasks'. People aged between 15 and 19 crowd out almost 0.3 minutes worth of studying in place of going online and using social networks. This is almost seven hours a day, on average. Wallsten concluded that the loss of real-world time could have an affect on the economy but further research needs to be done into how damaging this could be. According to research from Washington's Technology Policy Institute, browsing social networks including Facebook and Twitter is now the most common activity online, at 22.5 per cent. Online games are second. Videos and movies make up just 4.4 per cent . | For each hour spent online we spend 16 fewer minutes working .
Browsing sites including Facebook means we sleep less each night .
Hour of online activity makes us lose quarter of an hour in the real world .
Since 2006 we now spend 18 fewer days socialising with friends . |
185,017 | 7babf3937d7fee994b1a2b910bd114998bcd0278 | By . Sara Malm . PUBLISHED: . 12:37 EST, 17 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:42 EST, 17 January 2013 . It appears that friends who Bunga Bunga together, stay together, as two of the women linked to Silvio Berlusconi’s infamous sex parties were seen lingerie shopping together earlier today. Barbara Guerra and Alessandra Sorcinelli tried on a number of lacy outfits in what appears to be an Agent Provocateur store in central Milan, parading in barely-there threads in full view of passers by. The girls were pictured on the same day as an Italian court agreed to postpone Berlusconi’s wiretap leaks trial until after the February national election in which he is a prime ministerial candidate. New man: It appears Silvio Berlusconi's girls have moved on to another leader as they sport Barack Obama t-shirts before trying on lingerie . Barbara Guerra and Alessandra . Sorcinelli’s shopping trip saw them flaunt their bodies in black . underwear and reach for various erotic toys, including a . rhinestone-encrusted whip. As well as the corsets and knickers the girls also, somewhat bizarrely, went for a pair of Barack Obama t-shirts. Both . girls were among the 30-odd women who appeared in court documents as . authorities investigated Silvio Berlusconi’s sleazy parties in 2011, and have also been connected to him prior to the probe. Ms . Guerra began her ‘career’ in a reality-TV show on Berlusconi’s . television network after which she is alleged to have stayed in a Milan . apartment belonging to the former Italian PM in exchange for attending . his ‘Bunga Bunga’ parties. Pairing up: Barbara Guerra struts her stuff in a corset as she helps her friend and fellow Bunga-girl Alessandra Sorcinelli in the changing room . Silvio's girls: Barbara Guerra and Alessandra Sorcinelli, Italian television stars famous for attending Silvio Berlusconi's Bunga Bunga parties shop for underwear . Full view: Barbara Guerra, left, and Alessandra Sorcinelli, right, made little effort to cover their behinds . Bare Barbara: The unabashed ladies tried on several outfits whist perusing the other items on offer in the store . The 32-year-old model and showgirl was first linked to Berlusconi in July 2009, when she was said to have stayed at a health centre in November 2008, where Berlusconi was treated for back pain. As for weather girl Alessandra, 27, bank records uncovered by Italian prosecutors in January 2011 showed that Berlusconi paid her more than £100,000 for attending his infamous sex parties - money disguised as a 'non-interest-earning loan' paid to 'help with studies'. The payments started in 2010 and averaged . £8,500 a month – a figure Ms Sorcinelli refers to in a text . message to Mr Berlusconi’s aide, Giuseppe Spinelli, which read: ‘May I . urgently remind you of the 10,000 euro bank transfer.’ Silvio Berlusconi announced last month that he intends to run for Prime Minister for the fourth time in the February elections. Thanks ladies: The girls' convenient show in the lingerie shop came on the same day as it was announced that Silvio Berlusconi's wiretap trial was postponed until after the general elections in February . Dressed again: The girls leave with their new kit, including the Barack Obama shirts . Today an Italian court accepted a request from his defense team and agreed to postpone the wiretap leaks trial until March. Prosecutors have asked for a one-year jail sentence for Berlusconi for his alleged role in the publication of wiretap transcripts in a newspaper owned by his media empire and three years for his brother Paolo, the publisher of Milan newspaper Il Giornale. The ruling was in contrast to the decision by another court, which rejected Berlusconi's bid to halt his sex-for-hire trial. That ruling makes a verdict likely before the vote. Berlusconi says he is innocent of all charges. | Barbara Guerra and Alessandra Sorcinelli visited Agent Provocateur in Milan .
Pair were both alleged guests at Silvio Berlusconi's Bunga Bunga parties .
Purchased lingerie same days as Berlusconi's wiretap trial is postpones . |
209,557 | 9b5f1afd8aa4e2cd10fb00fa893544563b01d976 | (CNN) -- A state trial judge on Monday blocked New York City's plan for a maximum 16 ounce size for a high-sugar beverage. The ban would have included sodas, energy drinks, fruit drinks and sweetened teas. But it would have excluded alcoholic beverages and drinks that are more than 50% milk, such as lattes. The ban would have applied to restaurants, movie theaters, stadiums and mobile food carts. But it would not have applied to supermarkets and convenience stores, such as 7-Eleven. Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposal was met with fierce opposition by the industry and public outrage at the loss of "liberty," the so-called "nanny state" run amok. Beyond all the hype, the industry's vociferous arguments, now adopted by a trial court, are badly flawed. In fact, the Board of Health has the power, indeed the responsibility, to regulate sugary drinks for the sake of city residents, particularly the poor. News: Mississippi governor reviews 'Anti-Bloomberg' bill . Would the ban work? Nearly six out of 10 New York City residents are overweight or obese, as are nearly four out of 10 schoolchildren. This cannot be acceptable to our society, knowing that obesity is such a powerful risk factor for diabetes, cancer and heart disease. No one would disagree that government should act, but how? There is no single solution, but many ideas that would work in combination. One of those solutions is to control portion size and sugar consumption. Why? First, the ever-expanding portions (think "supersized") are one of the major causes of obesity. When portion sizes are smaller, individuals eat less but feel full. This works, even if a person can take an additional portion. (Most won't because they are satiated, and it at least makes them think about what they are consuming.) Second, sugar is high in calories, promotes fat storage in the body and is addictive, so people want more. The so-called "war on sugar" is not a culture war, it is a public health imperative backed by science. Opposing view: 'Anti-Bloomberg' bill stops overregulation . So, there is good reason to believe New York's portion control would work. But why does the city have to prove that it works beyond any doubt? Those who cry "nanny state" in response to almost any modern public health measure (think food, alcohol, firearms, distracted driving) demand a standard of proof that lawmakers don't have to meet in any other field. When a law is passed to increase jobs, spur the economy or subsidize a corporate sector (oil, for example), we don't insist that lawmakers prove it works. At least public health officials rely on science and try to craft rules that have a chance of working—if not in isolation, then in combination with other obesity control measures such as food labeling, calorie disclosures, trans fat restrictions and access to affordable fruits and vegetables in schools and poor neighborhoods. Is the ban consistent? The industry stoked the fires of public discontent with its campaign against the "inconsistencies" in the soda ban. Why doesn't the ban apply to milky drinks, why can 7-Eleven sell large sugary drinks, and why not ban refills? Justice Milton Tingling Jr. bought both industry arguments: It won't work and it is inconsistent. He went so far as to call the ban "fraught with arbitrary and capricious consequences" and filled with loopholes. Again, we find a double standard. Bloomberg did what every other politician does: balance public health and safety with realpolitik. Consider one of the judge's major arguments: balancing public health and economic considerations is "impermissible." This judicial reasoning makes no sense. If policy makers could not balance economic consequences, virtually every law in America would be flawed. There is another huge problem with this argument. It assumes that unless public health does everything, it can do nothing. The whole art of politics is compromise. The mayor gets a lot of what he seeks to fight obesity, but not everything. Does the Board of Health have the power? Admittedly, the soda ban would have been better coming from the city's elected legislature, the City Council. But the Board of Health has authority to act in cases where there is an imminent threat to health. Doesn't the epidemic of obesity count as an imminent threat, with its devastating impact on health, quality of life and mortality? In any event, the Board of Health has authority over the food supply and chronic disease, which is exactly what it has used in this case. Members of the Board of Health, moreover, are experts in public health, entitled to a degree of deference. The fact that the proposal originated in the mayor's office does not diminish the board's authority and duty to protect the public's health. Many health proposals arise from the executive branch, notably the Affordable Care Act. Should industry have an outsized influence on public health policy? The fingerprints of the food and restaurant industries, with their clear economic conflicts of interest, are all over the public and judicial campaign to block the soda ban. Industry undertook a multimillion-dollar campaign, flying banners over the city and plastering ads over the subways. They immediately filed suit and hired the most elite law firms. Rather than recognize the public health effects of large sugary drinks, they chose to fight, reminiscent of Big Tobacco. What is worse, the public (and now a judge) fell for the industry's manipulations. Most New Yorkers oppose the portion ban, while politicians in other states are scrambling to show their disapproval. Mississippi is about to pass a law forbidding portion control. Imagine that in a state with the highest obesity rate in America! We are used to fierce lobbying for personal gain in America, but that doesn't mean we should be duped by industry propaganda. Is a portion limit really such an assault on freedom? It doesn't stop anyone from buying soda. If consumers really want, they can buy several smaller drinks. It doesn't stop companies from giving refills. There is really no great burden posed on individuals, only a little nudge in the right direction. At the same time, it could make meaningful changes in the drinking habits of New Yorkers. Why is the industry fighting this so fiercely? Because when it is shown to be successful in New York, it will be emulated in major cities in America and worldwide. Isn't that exactly what we need to stem the tide of obesity? The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Lawrence O. Gostin. | A New York state judge blocks the city's plan to limit the size of sugary drinks .
Lawrence Gostin: A portion limit is not an attack on freedom; people can still buy soda .
He says like Big Tobacco, industry has spent millions to fight this effort to combat obesity .
Gostin: The Board of Health has the power to regulate sugary drinks; portion control can work . |
169,471 | 674b20cc387de8d8f3eecd7fcf8c7096cff1fc3a | A West Virginia lawmaker has apologized over recent comments he made about childbirth resulting from rape. Republican state legislator Brian Kurcaba said on Thursday that women who are raped should not be able to abort their pregnancies, and that the child that comes as a result is 'beautiful.' This as he argued in favor of a bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Republican state legislator Brian Kurcaba said on Thursday that women who are raped should not be able to abort their pregnancies, and that the child that comes as a result is 'beautiful' 'For somebody to take advantage of somebody else in such a horrible and terrifying and brutal way is absolutely disgusting,' said Kurcaba in his speech according to WOWK. 'But what is beautiful is the child that could come as a production of this.' He quickly issued an apology however following public outrage over this belief. 'I apologize to anyone who took my comments about the sanctity of human life to mean anything other than that all children are precious regardless of circumstances,' he said in the statement. 'It is unfortunate that the only portions of my statement were publicized resulting in misrepresentation. As always, I will ensure that my focus continues to be on making West Virginia a better place to create jobs and raise a family.' Kurcaba, from Morgantown, West Virginia, is a financial adviser who was supported in his race by West Virginians for Life, an anti-abortion group. | Republican Brian Kurcaba said women who are raped should not abort their pregnancies and that the child that comes as a result is 'beautiful'
The West Virginia lawmaker was trying to get support for a bill that would ban abortions in the state after 20 weeks .
He apologized for his comments later, saying he simply meant 'children are precious regardless of circumstances' |
24,011 | 44253cfe3a8084620b2baa5acea01aee4e3f8b58 | By . Tamara Abraham . PUBLISHED: . 18:25 EST, 6 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:20 EST, 7 February 2013 . A cast of women aged between 65 and 92 have been chosen to model the new Karen Walker eyewear collection. The New Zealand-based designer enlisted the help of New Yorker Ari Seth Cohen, the photographer behind hit fashion book and blog Advanced Style, to help select and shoot the four seniors. Joyce Carpati, Linda Rodin, Lynn Dell and Ilona Royce Smithkin were all photographed in their own homes (against some rather extraordinary wallpapers) in statement shades from Ms Walker's latest eyewear offering. Statement look: Lynn Dell, 78, from New York City, is one of the four women chosen to model the new eyewear collection from New Zealand-based designer Karen Walker . Unique style: One-time opera singer Joyce Carpati, 80, (left) wears her hair in braids, while Ilona Royce Smithkin, 92, (right), is distinctive for her vibrant orange crop . They certainly make for sensational . models, working the vintage-inspired shapes and bold hues to better . effect than many of the current crop of catwalk models. Joyce . Carpati, 80, from New York City, for example, wears her . glitter-embellished shades with effortless nonchalance. In another . frame, she makes a fan-shaped headpiece look easy to pull off. Ilona . Royce Smithkin, 92, is distinctive for her vibrant orange crop - and . the fact that she could be decades younger than her years. The acclaimed artist and performer shows . no fear of clashing hues, teaming a red feather boa with a neon yellow . pair of frames, or a colorful polka dot cardigan with oversized pink . shades. Sense of play: Stylist Linda Rodin, 65, carries herself with the elegance of a supermodel . Fun with color: Dell works a monochrome turban and scarlet lipstick (left) while Rodin strikes a pose in a searing orange pair of frames (right) Stylist Linda Rodin, 65, carries . herself with the elegance of a supermodel, though each of her looks have . a brilliant sense of play. And boutique-owner Lynn Dell, 78, is pure glamor in her turban headbands, scarlet lipstick and glossy dark gray locks. The idea behind the campaign is to demonstrate that 'Karen Walker is for everybody, of all ages,' a press release explains. Bold personalities: Royce Smithkin shows no fear of clashing hues (left), while Dell does the grande dame thing in feathers and giant wrist cuffs (right) From sophisticated to sensational: Carpati in tortoiseshell and leopard (left) and Royce Smithkin in a red feather boa with a neon yellow pair of frames (right) Showstopping signatures: Carpati makes a fan-shaped headpiece look easy to pull off (left), Rodin works octagonal frames with a sequined top (right) It certainly doesn't hurt that Ms Walker is a huge fan of Mr Cohen's work. 'What I've always loved about Ari's images, and his ladies, is the sense . of looking to the future rather than the past,' she says in the release. 'There's an optimism and excitement for the moment in his women . that I applaud.' | Joyce Carpati, Linda Rodin, Lynn Dell and Ilona Royce Smithkin are all aged between 65 and 92, and were photographed in their own homes . |
255,744 | d70288e3dd9fff4a51a70a4e4f9aa74e66519a87 | ARLINGTON, Virginia (CNN) -- The honors were late but still well-received Wednesday for members of the first all-African-American, all-female unit to serve overseas in World War II. Mary Crawford Ragland said when they came home from service, there were no parades for them. During the war, nearly 1,000 women from the "Six-Triple Eight" Central Postal Battalion moved mountains of mail for millions of American service members and civilians that clogged warehouses in England and France. Their service to their country had been overlooked for years, starting with when they returned to the United States from assignments overseas. "There was no parade," said Mary Crawford Ragland. "We just came home." The 82-year old was among those gathered Wednesday at the Women's Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, where a U.S. Army support group called the Freedom Team Salute presented them with certificates of appreciation, timed with Black History Month. Watch women receive their honors » . The group also gives a letter of appreciation signed by the Army Chief of Staff and the Secretary of the Army, an Army lapel pin and an Army decal. For Alyce Dixon, 101, it was worth the wait. "They asked me because I'm one of the oldest survivors, and I can still talk," she said with a smile. Nearly 800 women that were part of the 6888th were first stationed in Birmingham, England, for three months, moved to Rouen, France, and finally settled in Paris, according to the Army's Web site. They were responsible for redirecting mail to more than seven million people -- all U.S. armed forces in the European Theater of Operations, including Army, Navy, Marine Corps, civilians and Red Cross workers. As Army units quickly moved throughout Western Europe and into Germany, a massive mail snag occurred because of a manpower shortage. Soldiers continued to move, fighting battles across the continent, but weren't getting their mail. Morale began to drop. That's when the Army turned to the "Six-Triple-Eight" When Dixon and the other women arrived at a warehouse in early 1945, they found the building had no heat. Inside the warehouse, the windows were painted black to keep the light from coming out at night against bombing raids. Because there was no heat, the women donned long johns and anything else they could layer on. But the temperature was nothing compared with the daunting challenge of sorting the mail. When they walked inside the warehouse, it was stacked to the ceiling with undelivered packages and letters. "They had 90 billion pieces of mail," Dixon told CNN, some of it from hometown friends and family addressed only to "Junior, U.S. Army or Buster, U.S. Army," she said. "We had to figure it out," she said. Even when there were complete names, it wasn't easy. There were 7,500 soldiers named Robert Smith in the European Theater of Operations, according to the Museum of Black WWII History Web site, and the women had to keep them straight. Because all undeliverable mail passed through them, they were charged with keeping information cards on everyone in the European Theater of Operations, according to the Army site. Because frontline soldiers were often moved frequently, the women often had to update information several times a month. While it was an arduous task, the women knew the importance of their job. For soldiers in the field, letters from loved ones brought important personal connections that kept their morale going. So they kept on sorting. Eight hours at a time, three shifts per day, seven days a week, they kept on sorting. And because of them, 65,000 letters went out each shift to soldiers across Europe. On Wednesday, the favor was finally returned. | Women were enlisted to help with backlog of mail that was decreasing morale .
They worked in freezing conditions but sorted 65,000 letters a shift .
Women had to find who letters addressed to "Buster" or "Junior" were for .
Women responsible for mail for more than 7 million service members and civilians . |
2,485 | 0741d99a66393c7712299ac5cd124b679a173122 | By . Anna Hodgekiss . PUBLISHED: . 04:34 EST, 11 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:50 EST, 11 December 2013 . This remarkable video shows the dramatic transformation in a mother with cerebral palsy after she smokes cannabis to relieve her symptoms. Jacqueline Patterson, from Kansas City, Missouri, has a severe stutter and suffers incredible pain because of her condition. She has found that marijuana is the only thing that really helps - but each time she buys or smokes it, she runs the risk of losing custody of her four children. Despite marijuana being legal for medical reasons in 20 states, it is not legal in Kansas City where Ms Patterson lives. But because of her debilitating symptoms, she says using the drug actually makes her better mother. Before she smokes cannabis, she seriously struggles to speak. Afterwards, she speaks calmly and with no problems at all. In the video, she explains: 'I was born with cerebral palsy and a severe stutter - which has got to be one of the most stigmatising disabilities invented by God. It's very humiliating. 'My right side of my body is much noticeably weaker than my left and my right arm is always painfully tense. 'I went through my entire childhood in pain because I couldn't move my muscles.' She realised from the first time she smoked cannabis that it eased her symptoms. In a letter to the Kansas City Star, she said: 'I . was born with cerebral palsy and discovered early on that cannabis . mitigated the most painful physical and emotional manifestations of my . disorder. Ms Patterson has found that marijuana is the only thing that really helps her symptoms. Despite it being legal for medical reasons in 20 states, it is not legal in Kansas City, Missouri, where she lives (file picture) 'I later learned that cannabis can help stutterers speak more clearly and that decades ago, doctors discovered the herb’s ability to alleviate muscle spasms, from which I also suffer.' In the film, viewers meet Ms Patterson when she hasn't smoked marijuana for three days. Her stutter means it can take several seconds for her to pronounce a word. Driving into downtown Kansas City to look for the drug, she explains: 'I smoke to be the mother my children deserve - they are really cool kids. 'Being a good mother to my children is the most important thing in the world to me. Cerebral . palsy is an umbrella term used to describe damage to the brain that . occurs before, during or after birth. birth. It is a condition that . affects muscle control and movement. People with cerebral palsy often . have other related conditions or problems, including: difficulties . speaking or understanding other people speak, incontinence, learning . difficulties, visual impairment and hearing impairment. 'I hate the way I stutter and it's the most effective treatment I have found. 'But if I were to get busted buying or smoking marijuana there is a possibility I could lose my children.' Back home, after three hits of the drug, she is able to speak completely normally. Speaking about the remarkable difference, she says: 'The third hit is when I begin to feel the tension dissipate. 'It really helps my speech - I feel much calmer, much less rushed and I feel like I can control the muscles that I couldn't before I smoked. 'It's kinda nice and I don't make as many funny faces.' While there is little scientific evidence for the benefits of marjuana in cerebral palsy, it is used by some . people living with multiple sclerosis to relieve pain, tremor, and . muscle spasticity to provide a feeling of 'looseness'. | Jacqueline Patterson, from Kansas City, Missouri, has a severe stutter and suffers incredible pain because of her condition .
She has found that smoking marijuana is the only thing that really helps .
But each time she uses it, she runs the risk of losing custody of her children .
Video shows her going from having severe stutter to speaking easily . |
186,835 | 7dfc086e3e45f294c00c9e23527e2e998c2eb464 | By . Martha Kelner . Follow @@marthakelner . Joe Hart denied that he will be motivated by revenge when England face Italy in the first game of the World Cup after Andrea Pirlo tricked him with a ‘Panenka’ penalty at Euro 2012. The Italian playmaker turned the quarter-final penalty shootout on its head when he stepped up to the spot with his side trailing 2-1 after Riccardo Montolivo had missed, while Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney had both scored for England. Pirlo claimed that seeing Hart ‘doing all sorts on the line’ encouraged him to dink the ball over Hart and straight into the middle of the net, in the style originated by Antonin Panenka for Czechoslovakia against West Germany in the final of the 1976 European Championship. Scroll down for videos... In safe hands: Joe Hart is not worried about facing another penalty from Andrea Pirlo at the World Cup . Panenka: Italy's Andrea Pirlo (L) beat Joe Hart with a cheeky chip penalty at Euro 2012 . Hart had been jumping repeatedly on his line and screaming at the penalty-takers in an attempt to make them too flustered to score. ‘I made my decision right at the last second, when I saw Joe Hart, the England goalie, doing all sorts on his line,’ Pirlo said in his autobiography. ‘As I began my run-up, I still hadn’t decided what I was going to do. And then he moved and my mind was made up. It was all impromptu, not premeditated. ‘The only way I could see pushing my chances of scoring close to 100 per cent. There was absolutely no showboating about it — that’s not my style.’ Hart will come face to face with Pirlo in Brazil for the first time since that quarter-final in Ukraine which ended in defeat for England. Although there will be no shootout in England’s first group game in Manaus on June 12, Pirlo may be favoured by Italy to take a spot-kick. Hart claimed it was not weighing heavy in his mind. Italian job: Andrea Pirlo claimed he only tried the Panenka after Joe Hart's histrionics on the line . Shock to the system: Joe Hart learned humility after being dropped at Manchester City earlier this season . ‘He scored,’ said Hart. ‘I don’t think he did it to embarrass me. He just tried to get it in the net and they won the shootout. That’s it.’ Hart said he had learned humility this season after he was dropped at Manchester City in favour of Costel Pantilimon for seven Premier League games and one Champions League match. The 27-year-old reclaimed his place in Manuel Pellegrini’s first XI but said he had learned a lesson which will benefit him in his England career. ‘I have learned a lot this season, that football definitely does not revolve around myself,’ said Hart. ‘There are other great keepers all over the world. I am at a very good club who have three good keepers. I am part of an England squad that have five or six to choose from. I just know I have to work hard to get to the best level I can be and be the best option for the manager.’ Hart is Roy Hodgson’s first-choice goalkeeper, ahead of West Brom’s Ben Foster and Celtic’s Fraser Forster. But he said he would not be taking anything for granted, having been in the World Cup squad in South Africa in 2010 when Rob Green lost his place to David James. Green made a howler in the opening group game to gift the USA a 1-1 draw. Take nothing for granted: Rob Green lost his place at the 2010 World Cup after a howler in 1-1 draw with USA . Waiting in line: Ben Foster (L) and Fraser Forster (R) will be England's reserve keepers at the World Cup . ‘I’m not there yet, I’m still pushing hard,’ said Hart. ‘We have two great goalkeepers in the squad. We have some fantastic talent. Ben has had a fantastic season and Fraser has kept clean sheet after clean sheet at Celtic. I’m fully aware of what’s around me and it’s an enjoyable position to be in. I’m just fighting to keep it. ‘In South Africa, we were all there working as a unit and we supported Greeny for the first game. He came out and Jamo went in and we supported Jamo, that is how it is, it is nothing personal, you have to do your best for England. ‘That’s the same for me, whether I am playing or not playing I will be doing my best for England. | Joe Hart is not worried about facing a penalty by Andrea Pirlo at the World Cup in Brazil .
The Italian fooled him with a cheeky Panenka when Italy beat England on penalties at Euro 2012 .
England No 1 has learned humility after being dropped by Manchester City .
Hart is taking nothing for granted after seeing Rob Green lose his place at the 2010 World Cup after his howler against USA . |
189,352 | 8137e1e1172efc717aba2f947c575cfd4d238b2d | Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Afghan elders will decide whether any U.S. military who stay in the country after 2014 will be granted immunity from prosecution, President Hamid Karzai told reporters Monday in his palace. "The issue of granting immunity to American soldiers is not a decision that could be made by Afghan government. This is a decision that the Afghan people can make," he said. "This is a decision that should be made by the Afghan people in a Loya Jirga: whether they are granting immunity to them or not; if yes, how and under what conditions." A Loya Jirga is a gathering of elders and peoples' representatives. Karzai was referring to a comment made last week during his meeting in Washington with U.S. President Barack Obama, who told him that the continued presence of any U.S. troops in Afghanistan after the planned withdrawal of NATO forces in 2014 would depend on their being granted immunity from prosecution by Afghan courts. "The United States already has arrangements like this with countries all around the world, and nowhere does the U.S. have any kind of security agreement with a country without immunity for our troops," Obama said. But there is little doubt about what decision the Loya Jirga will reach, Karzai said Sunday in an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour. "I can tell you with relatively good confidence that they will say, 'All right, let's do it,'" Karzai predicted. "I could argue for it, I could sell it, and I'm sure they would understand. Loya Jirga is always reasonable." Karzai said there was little chance the United States would remove all of its troops from Afghanistan after the pullout is completed at the end of 2014. "The United States will continue to have the use of facilities in Afghanistan and, in order to run those facilities well for the purposes of continuing to fight al Qaeda and train and equip Afghan forces, the United States will need to have a limited number of forces in Afghanistan." How many will remain is a decision that rests with U.S. officials, he said. But he predicted that domestic forces would prove capable of handling the responsibility. "We have to provide for our own security; we have to provide for our own bread and butter, and I'm sure we are able and the Afghan people are willing overwhelmingly to do that." Already, he said, stability has improved in areas vacated by departing international forces. Karzai also said that Afghanistan has turned the corner in terms of battling the Taliban. He predicted Islamic fundamentalists will not regain the strength to enforce their radical agenda, which has included the closing of girls' schools and the subjugation of women. "I think there is now a critical mass in Afghanistan of the educated, of the Afghan people who want a future of progress and stability. And I think, also, that the Taliban have recognized that the corner has been turned." CNN's Samuel Burke contributed to this report . | The Loya Jirga, a gathering of elders, will decide on immunity, Afghan President Karzai says .
Karzai says he thinks the Loya Jirga "is always reasonable" and will grant immunity .
Karzai says he is confident that Afghan troops can provide security after NATO leaves . |
12,904 | 249097130b9b9d304da79047d926a12565cf5bb9 | Cartagena, Colombia (CNN) -- Regional summits are most often perfunctory events where presidents share their visions, sign agreements and pose for photographs. At the sixth Summit of the Americas, some Latin American leaders hope to sway -- or at least challenge -- the priorities of the hemisphere's largest power, the United States. The leaders of some Latin American countries are expected to challenge the conventional wisdom that the way to deal with illegal drug trafficking is with firepower. Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina and others are offering serious alternatives, such as legalization. "My position is -- let's discuss it," said Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, who is hosting the event. "We must ask each other, are we doing the best we can? Sometimes the answer is no. The consumption is going up in many countries." Santos said that Latin America wants to pull Washington's attention toward the region. The United States needs to realize that its long-term interests are not in places like Afghanistan, but in Latin America, Santos said. "What I hope that can come out of this summit is that the U.S., but not only the U.S. government, the U.S. businessman, the U.S. public opinion, starts to look at Latin America with different eyes, as an opportunity, not as an area full of problems." Presidents from the Western Hemisphere arrived Friday in the coastal Colombian city of Cartagena, ahead of several days of discussions on such topics. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's attendance remained uncertain Friday night, when he told Venezuelan National Television, "In reality, that won't be decided by me, but by the doctors." Chavez said he would return Saturday to Havana for more cancer treatment. But he said a Venezuelan presence was required in Colombia to answer "American imperialism" and protest Cuba's exclusion from the summit, adding that Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro might represent Venezuela in his place. Santos recommended the United States seek closer relations with Havana. "I think that, by embracing Cuba, one would be in a better position to press for reforms and more democracy and more freedom in Cuba," the Colombian president said. Asked whether he was going to press Obama on that issue, he said, "It's a very sensitive issue in states like Florida. I understand his reluctance to discuss this at this moment." While the balance of power between the United States and the rest of the hemisphere will be a certain talking point, Santos also laid out an agenda for Latin American countries to tackle among themselves. They include fighting poverty, improving access to energy, building infrastructure, preparing to better respond to natural disasters and increasing access to technology. "What I would prefer more besides this is a new way of talking to each other, more as partners, more as equals, and more conscious of the need that we have of each other," he told a reporter. There is no dogma or specific type of government that can ensure development, Santos said. It takes a moderate approach in the mold of leaders such as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair or former American President Bill Clinton who governed from the middle, he said. Some recent Latin American leaders, such as Ricardo Lagos of Chile and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, advanced their nations by also following the centrist, so-called Third Way. "If we play our cards right, with a long-term vision, and thinking big, being ambitious, we can finally say ... that the future is here," Santos said. U.S. President Barack Obama arrived Friday. On a quick visit to Tampa ahead of his flight to Cartagena, Obama spoke with small-business owners about his own agenda. "In Latin America alone in the last decade, tens of millions of people have stepped into the middle class," he said. "That means they have more money to spend, we want them to spend more money on American-made goods." "While I am in Colombia talking to other leaders, I am going to think about you," Obama added. "I want to sell our stuff and put Americans back to work." The goal of the summit is to "unite against the ills of the 21st century. Like poverty, terrorism and global warming," Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said. "And also, to unite to achieve the great goal that America has to conquer -- and it is the responsibility of our generation -- to make America a developed continent without poverty, with opportunity for all." More than 7,600 police officers and thousands more troops were expected in the walled colonial city as part of stepped-up security for the summit, which started Monday with a youth conference. The summit has brought a different vibe to the tourist destination. The number of tourists has dropped tremendously this week, locals said. Tourism has fallen by "90%," street vendor Alcides Escobar said. "Who we have here is just people from the summit and their security." CNN's Patrick Oppmann and John Helton contributed to this report. | Western Hemisphere leaders arriving at Cartagena, Colombia, for sixth Summit of the Americas .
Leaders of some Latin American nations are hoping to challenge U.S. priorities .
Colombian president says Latin America wants to draw U.S. attention toward region .
U.S. President Barack Obama arrives Friday . |
45,733 | 80de915f2a795288988ae2b92d8d16d12b1a78cd | A suspected drug trafficker who was captured by Guatemalan police has been humiliated after armed officers paraded him around an Air Force base without a shirt or shoes. Jairo Orellana, known as El Pelon or the 'Bald One', was arrested in his hometown of Dona Maria Gualan, roughly 90 miles east of Guatemala City, after a shootout that left three dead. The 40-year old, who has ties to the powerful Mexican cartel Los . Zetas, is on a list of Central American drug kingpins and is accused of shipping large amounts of cocaine to the US. Scroll down for video . Embarrassed: Jairo Orellana, 40, known as El Pelon or The 'Bald One' was paraded around an Air Force base in Guatemala City without a shirt after being captured by police . As he touched down at the base in Guatemala City, he was dragged from a helicopter by armed guards and was shown off to waiting cameras at a news conference. Two of his security guards and one police officer were killed in the clash, while eight other alleged members of Orellana's gang were also arrested. After he was apprehended, Orellana was taken to the capital for his first hearing and now faces extradition to the US. Authorities placed him on a list of Central American drug kingpins, prohibiting US citizens from doing business with him. Kingpin: The suspected drug trafficker was arrested after two security guards and a police officer were killed in a shootout . Arrest: Orellana has allegedly shipped a large amount of cocaine to the US and is on a list of wanted Central American drug kingpins . He narrowly escaped a brazen attempt on his life in 2012 when gunmen, disguised as police officers, attacked a health clinic in the capital city, killing seven men. The small Central American nation of roughly 15 million people is one of the world's most violent and the government has struggled to contain powerful drug gangs. Orellana was captured as authorities in Mexico arrested a man suspected of being the main migrant smuggler for the Zetas cartel. Escort: Orellana was also forced to walk around the Air Force base in bare foot . Fernando Martinez Magana, 42, is accused of coordinating the smuggling of Mexican and Central American migrants into the United States from his base in Nuevo Laredo, across the border from Texas, said federal police chief Monte Alejandro Rubido. Martinez Magana was arrested in the northern city of Monterrey, where he had fled to as authorities closed in, said Rubido. The Nuevo Laredo-native is also wanted in the US, where investigators say his criminal cell kept dozens of migrants in stash houses or apartments across San Antonio. Martinez Magana had replaced a Zetas leader in Nuevo Laredo who was arrested in December 2011 and took over his nickname of 'Z16,' Rubido said. Dragged: Armed officers pull him from a helicopter. The 40-year old now faces extradition to the US . | Jairo Orellana, 40, was arrested by Guatemalan police after gun fight .
Drug trafficker has links to the infamous Mexican drug cartel Los Zetas .
Two of his security guards and a police officer were killed in the stand-off .
He now faces extradition to the US for shipping large amounts of cocaine . |
263,970 | e1e21158adb8aa3a66aab9417fbdd43f6c13e68f | Is this elderly conservative crusader the best radio talkback caller of the year? 2GB's Alan Jones received a call from a blue-rinse listener named 'Barbara' on Thursday morning and she left quite a lasting impression on the veteran broadcaster. She called to express her dismay at seeing Prime Minister Tony Abbott and former PM John Howard booed by the crowd at Gough Whitlam's memorial service in Sydney on Wednesday. Scroll down for video . 2GB's Alan Jones received a call from a blue-rinse listener named 'Barbara' on Thursday morning and she left quite a lasting impression on the veteran broadcaster . But what started out like the average host-listener chat quickly turned on its head when Barbara, who may not have been all she said she was, had to pause the live conversation to put her cat out. 'Did you see those idiots booing our prime minister and John Howard and his wife as they went into the hall,' she told Jones. 'I did. Cheered Julia Gillard,' he replied. 'Absolute disgrace. You see 'em there with their scarves and their soy lattes and their problems that they have with their university funding. Go out and get a job,' she said. What started out like the average host-listener chat quickly turned on its head when Barbara, who may not have been all she said she was, had to pause the live conversation to put her cat out . Amused people took to Twitter following the call in a bid to find out if Barbara really was who she said . Barbara's rant had Jones in a laughing fit from the very second she opened her mouth . But Barbara wasn't finished yet and her rant already had Jones in a laughing fit. 'All our tax dollars are being munched up by them, they all look well fed too, with their organic cookies and their products they get from the bloody organic home-grown such and such, you know,' she said. 'Places that they have down there in those left wing sides of town, it really upsets me Alan when we're struggling to get a slice of bread. 'Drop a bomb that's what I say. What a perfect place to drop a bomb.' She called to express her dismay at seeing Prime Minister Tony Abbott and former PM John Howard booed by the crowd at Gough Whitlam's memorial service in Sydney on Wednesday . Jones only managed to get in one word as he told Barbara she was 'brilliant'. 'Who's the little fat fella? The Palmer man... he's okay, I don't mind him but I think he needs to go on a diet,' she continued. 'Jenny Craig, Jenny Craig could help that man, I think. 'Tony Abbott's just got to stop winking at people! I mean, he's an attractive man. He's been doing the fun runs or whatever they call them.' | 2GB's Alan Jones received a call from a listener named 'Barbara' on Thursday morning .
She called to complain about Prime Minister Tony Abbott and former PM John Howard getting booed at Gough Whitlam's memorial .
Barbara took aim at 'organic cookie eating' university students who were angry about rising fees . |
44,854 | 7e6ede02dcde178affaa6cd20bd45d995bffb089 | By . Emily Kent Smith . Most women are happy to powder the nose they were born with while a few feel the need to give it a modest cosmetic tweak. But Cindy Jackson is so obsessed with ensuring hers remains the height of fashion she has given it a new look THREE times. Now she proudly displays what is currently the most sought-after in the industry - a Kate Middleton/Angelina Jolie hybrid. Cindy Jackson, 58, pictured now, after her third 'Angelina/Kate' nose job, (l) and at 22, before any surgery (r) To create her perfect nose, Cindy, 58, travelled to Croatia where, she says, talented surgeons operate for lower fees. She took pictures of Kate Middleton and Angelina Jolie's noses and 'Photoshopped' versions of her own nose 'erasing the bridge and lifting the tip' to show the surgeon the desired outcome. After having the procedure last month, Cindy has now finally announced: 'This will be my last nose job.' The bill for her three nose operations amounts to £10,000. She had her first one when she was 34, deciding to replace her original nose - 'which she never liked'. But it failed to leave her looking 'any different' so she went under the knife again two years later to get a 'scooped' nose modelled on Nicole Kidman's. Her contentment lasted 22 years until Cindy decided it was 'too Eighties' and began planning something more 'elegant' and 'timeless'. Cindy aged 35 after one nose job (l) and after her second surgery, aged 58, just before getting her new nose (r) Cindy, who is a cosmetic surgery adviser, says she is not alone in wanting a nose like Kate or Angelina. 'I do have clients that repeatedly want Kate Middleton noses. They say I want Kate Middleton's nose, I want Angelina Jolie's nose, and, I'm thinking, so do I.' Cindy, a farmer's daughter from Ohio, said as a young girl she soon realised 'that guys and girls with a certain look had more power'. She has now had 57 cosmetic changes - at a total cost of £67,000 - including a jaw re-shape, cheek implants, an eye lift and a chin bone reduction. In fact, she has recreated every part of her body apart from her feet and arms, but says: 'The arms are next.' The Duchess of Cambridge (l) and Angelina Jolie (r) have sought-after noses . The Mail on Sunday has been campaigning for tougher regulation of the cosmetic industry since last year. Through the Stop Cosmetic Surgery Cowboys campaign, this newspaper has called for measures including a minimum standard for surgeons, proper regulation for those practising cosmetic surgery and an end to hard-sell tactics that see special offers and glossy advertising undermine the seriousness of the procedures involved. Interviewed after an Intelligence Squared debate last week, held for the Selfridges Beauty Project, Cindy said: 'There's a lot of really glossy and seductive information on the internet and people use it.' | Cindy Jackson, 58, is finally happy after her third rhinoplasty .
Kate Middleton/Angelina Jolie hybrid is 'most sought-after nose in industry'
Cindy's had 57 cosmetic changes - worth £67,000 - including jaw re-shape . |
209,769 | 9bad44310f9f17a6f3558bb0382c2d1a37bd1e2d | As Sony Pictures struggles to recover from one blow after another related to the devastating cyber attack, one may overlook the fact that its parent company in Japan has been a popular target of hackers for years. Three years ago, in April 2011, Sony's PlayStation network was shut down for nearly a month when hackers stole the personal information of an estimated 77 million people. That same year, in June, hackers released 150,000 Sony Pictures records including usernames and passwords and claimed to have compromised the private information of more than one million people. In October 2012, hacker group "The Three Musketeers" released a security key that allowed PS3 users to run pirated games. Despite those incidents, a group with suspected ties to North Korea calling itself "Guardians of Peace" was able to infiltrate Sony's computer system, steal an incredible amount of data, and use it to launch the most vicious cyber-attack in history on an American corporation. Former Sony employees are suing the company for failing to protect their privacy. Many are asking what lessons -- if any -- Sony learned from those previous hacks. Asia Strategist Keith Henry says Sony was taken by complete surprise last month when the cyber-terrorists successfully stole massive amounts of data and used it to devastate the company. "They can inflict damage. Immense amount of damage to corporate America," Henry says. They posted personal information like addresses and social security numbers, private emails that contained embarrassing revelations about top executives and Hollywood stars, insider information about the studio's tactics, and they even posted five Sony movies on file-sharing websites. Tokyo-based cyber security firm LAC is the only line of defense for about 850 clients. It has a confidential list of private companies and government agencies. "The hackers are always getting more advanced," says LAC Chief Technology Officer Itsuro Nishimoto. And they are sometimes too far ahead of those trying to keep up. Nishimoto says a devastating hack like the one on Sony Pictures can penetrate even the best cyber-defense. He says the Sony network may be more vulnerable because of the large amount of users with varying degrees of access. Sony appears to be trying to avoid further provoking North Korea, the prime hacking suspect, telling CNN simply "the investigation is ongoing." The Japanese government is also distancing itself. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs tells CNN the hack is a "United States issue." Henry says the world is coming to terms with the new reality of cyber-terrorism. "One of the reasons nobody is willing to make a statement is because they don't know what to say," Henry says. Jeff Kingston, a professor of Asian Studies at Temple University in Tokyo says the attack reveals lax cyber-security among Sony's ranks. But he suspects it is a more widespread problem in Japan. "I think this is a wake-up call for Japan that this is a problem. This is a huge vulnerability. And they're not really managing this risk very well or very aggressively," Kingston said. "It does suggest a certain level of corporate complacency." Defector: North Korea has vast hacker network . 5 lessons from the Sony hack . | Sony in Japan has been a popular target of hackers for years .
PlayStation network was shut down in April 2011 when hackers stole information of 77M people .
Former Sony employees are suing the company for failing to protect their privacy .
Analyst says attack reveals lax cyber-security among Sony's ranks . |
91,817 | 021d6bcb245caa0c48b498839a3f269b98dca209 | Nicki Allwright died after her Mitsubishi sedam hit a tree on Gawler-One Tree Hill Road at Yattalunga . An outpouring of condolences have flooded social media for a family of a teenage girl who was killed after she swerved to miss a duck in Adelaide's north. University student Nicki Allwright died after her Mitsubishi sedan hit a tree on Gawler-One Tree Hill Road at Yattalunga on Friday. The horrific accident came just two days before she and her family were planning to jet off on a 10-day holiday to Bali. Ms Allwright - who was studying human movement at the University of South Australia - was eagerly counting down the days to the Indonesian island getaway. 'We've had a countdown going - 100 days, 80 days, 60 days and the last fortnight she was so excited, saying, "Bali, Bali" all the time,' the 19-year-old's mother, Marion, told The Advertiser. Mrs Allwright said her daughter was loved by all and shared a special bond with her 21-year-old sister, Sam. 'Nicki just loved her family, as we loved her,' she said. 'She loved being with Sam... they just adored each other. It's just so tragic — everybody just loved her.' Ms Allwright's siblings - 26-year-old Joel and Sam - and boyfriend of three years, George Blackett, have paid tribute to 'beautiful smiley Nicki' by changing their profile pictures to a photo of themselves and the teenager. The touching gesture sparked an outpouring of condolences for the family. Nicki's mother said the 19-year-old (right) shared a special bond with her 21-year-old sister, Sam . 'Your gorgeous little sister [was] a very welcome visitor at our house. Always with a smile on her face - gentle and kind, but gone too soon,' one friend wrote on Facebook. Another wrote: 'We are all in shock and disbelief, beautiful smiley Nicki. Sending you, Sam, your mum, dad and the whole family so much love xx.' Ms Allwright's parents have also called for the speed limit on Gawler-One Tree Hill Road to be lowered to 80km/h from 100km/h. Alan and Marion Allwright said too many young people had done along that stretch of road. Family photo: An outpouring of condolences have flooded social media for the teenager . | Nicki Allwright died after her sedan hit a tree at Yattalunga on Friday .
The university student occurred just two days before she and her family were planning to jet off on a 10-day holiday to Bali .
Friends and family swamped social media with condolences . |
250,698 | d07217e7c817a9e60b46e2ea91ccad478643eedf | The brutal murder of a 17-year-old girl, who was gang-raped, horrifically mutilated and left to die on a building site, has sparked a national outcry in South Africa. Anene Booysen was discovered by security guards on the site in the sleepy town of Bredasdorp, 80 miles east of Cape Town. According to a Health Department spokesman, her injuries were so severe that her family asked authorities not to release the details. National outcry: Hundreds of mourners gather for the funeral of 17-year-old Anene Booysen who was brutally raped and murdered in a crime that has shocked south Africa . However it was later revealed that her stomach had been slit open down to her genitals and that she had died from her injuries in hospital. She managed to identify one of her attackers before her death and two men have appeared in court charged with rape and murder. Jonathan Davids, 22, and Johannes Kana, 21, covered their faces to hide from television cameras and photographers as they made their way into the courtroom. The magistrate ordered the pair court to remain behind bars until Feb. 26 when their bail application will be heard. They face a maximum life sentence if found guilty. Police freed a third man arrested after the incident due to lack of evidence linking him to the crime, but said they were investigating whether there were others also involved. A crowd of 100 people protested outside . the courthouse in Bredasdorp, carrying placards saying 'Show no . mercy to rapists' and 'No bail to murderers'. Booysen's brother told local media he knew one of the suspects. He said: 'He was a friend of mine, we went to school together, stayed in one house, we were like brothers.' The girl was attacked in the sleepy town of Bredasdrop where two men have been charged with her rape and murder . On . Friday, hundreds of people marched through Bredasdorp, chanting 'enough . is enough' and hundreds attended the funeral on Saturday. Hundreds . of mourners, including politicians, packed a church in the town of . Bredasdorp, while a tent was set up to accommodate those who couldn't . fit inside. The killing . echoed the gang rape of a student on a New Delhi bus last year, and has . focused attention on South Africa's high rates of sex crime. Booysen was found by security guards lying a short distance from her house after partying at a bar last Friday evening. The Women's League of the ruling . African National Congress is trying to mobilise the public into similar . action to the protests against anti-female violence that took place in . India after the New Delhi attack. On . Saturday, South African media reported police had arrested a . Johannesburg pastor for luring a woman into his church and raping her. President . Jacob Zuma expressed shock and outrage, calling for the harshest . possible sentences for the killers and a concerted campaign 'to end this . scourge in our society'. According to a Health Department spokesman, Booysen's injuries were so severe that her family asked authorities not to release the details . South Africa's women's minister called on Tuesday for the toughest possible to be imposed. Minister of Women Lulu Xingwana, who has met with the victim's family said: 'We are saying to the court today there must be no bail for these criminals and monsters.' 'We expect the toughest and the harshest sentence that can act as a deterrent to other criminals that abuse and kill our women and children.' 'As an activist I strongly push that there should be no bail for these monsters. What would they do if this happened to any of their family members?' said Faraah September. South Africa has the highest number of reported rapes per head of population of any Interpol member country, with more than 64,500 reported in 2011/2012. A rape is said to be committed in South Africa every four minutes. Even when suspects are caught, only 12 percent of cases end in conviction and sex crimes seldom cause much public concern. | Murder of teenager Anene Booysen sparks national outcry .
Two men have appeared in court and remanded in custody .
Hundreds march through town of Bredasdorp, chanting 'enough is enough'
South African president Jacob Zuma expresses shock and outrage .
In South Africa, on average, a woman is raped every four minutes . |
62,500 | b1899533bd0f9e610c2e655d3c1d52f8260140a2 | PARIS, France (CNN) -- Truly appreciating the beauty of Paris is a pleasure that can't be hurried. Stop, breathe, appreciate and perhaps kiss in the romantic city of Paris. Take time to wander down its wide boulevards, savour every sip of strong, black coffee and resist the temptation to fall into step with the throng of tourists and sightseers. Our advice to anyone who finds themselves with 24 hours to spare in the French capital is to stop, breathe, appreciate and indulge. Start the day with a walk down the Champs-Élysées. For some, it retains the title of the world's most beautiful avenue. For others, the road's historical charm has been blighted by the arrival of global brands, traffic and tourists. Sunrise offers the history without the hurry. Take a leisurely stroll down its expansive pavements and look up for impressive architecture without fear of bumping into shoppers. Treat yourself to breakfast at one of Paris' oldest tea salons. Ladurée was founded as a family business in 1862 and now appears in luxurious locales in London, Monaco, Switzerland and Japan. The original, Ladurée Royale on Rue Royale, doesn't open until 8:30am (and later on Sundays), so for early morning pastries drop into the Champs-Elysees store which opens at 7:30am every day. The queues at Paris' most famous art gallery, the Louvre, are notorious so impatient visitors are advised to go to the Musée de l'Orangerie, set in the historic Jardin des Tuileries. You won't see the Mona Lisa, but the gallery does boast a collection of Claude Monet's Water Lilies. The queues are shorter the earlier you go and to really beat the crowds pre-book your time slot online. Head north to have your own images sketched by street artists in Montmartre, a former stomping ground for famous names including Salvador Dali, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso and Vincent van Gogh. Drop into the Basilique du Sacré Coeur to pray, light a candle or simply enjoy the spectacular views over Paris. From there, visit Rue Lepic where you will find Café des Deux Moulins, where actress Audrey Tautou waited tables in the 2001 film "Amélie." Note that when you ask for a coffee in France, you'll automatically receive a black espresso. If you'd like something bigger and milkier, ask for a café au lait (already popular elsewhere) or café Americain (filter coffee) with milk (lait). Further down Rue Lepic you'll find Au Virage Lepic, a quaint bistro dripping in traditional Parisian atmosphere. It's usually crowded with locals so book in advance. Getting around is easy in Paris. Take a bus or the Metro or join the legion of cyclists on hugely popular Vélib rental bikes. Pick up your own bike at one of the service points scattered around the city. You'll need a credit card to register for a one-day subscription, or to speed up the process pre-book a one-day ticket online. It'll cost you one euro and the first 30 minutes of every journey for the next 24 hours is free. After than, any additional time will be charged to your credit card until you return the bike to any stand in the city. In the afternoon, walk -- or cycle -- down Boulevard Saint-Germain on the historic Left Bank. Discover your inner intellectual over a coffee or dinner at Les Deux Magots, a former meeting place for Paris' great literary minds including Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre. From Boulevard Saint-Germain, walk down Rue Saint-Sulpice, past Saint-Sulpice, a striking church founded in the 1646 and brought to a new audience as one of the buildings featured in Dan Brown's best-selling novel (and subsequent film) "The Da Vinci Code." Wander further on to Rue de Sèvres where you can batter your credit card with some upmarket shopping at Le Bon Marché and La Grand Epicerie. In the evening, soak up some Parisian chic at the De La Ville Café on Boulevard Bonne Nouvelle, or indulge in the opulence of Hotel Costes on Rue Saint-Honore. Both serve food and close at 2am. Treat yourself to a glass of champagne and start planning your next sojourn in Paris! | It's difficult to truly appreciate Paris with one eye on your watch, so slow down!
Wander through its historic areas, still popular with artists and intellectuals .
Treat yourself to breakfast at Ladurée, end the day with champagne . |
113,345 | 1e4cd0d6067566747b145fcc99836f9cecb076d9 | By . Louise Boyle . The 12-year-old girl who was stabbed 19 times in a violent attack by two classmates and left for dead has thanked the thousands of people who sent heartfelt messages of support and thousands of dollars towards her recovery. A photo was released this week of the girl's hands holding a homemade card covered in purple hearts which simply read 'thank you'. She was surrounded by some of the hundreds of messages sent from supporters around the world. The other picture showed a collage of these notes arranged on her bedroom wall. The unidentified middle-schooler was lured into the woods in Waukesha, Wisconsin on May 31 . by 'friends' Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier, also 12, who planned to . kill her in order to gain access to the world of the mythical 'Slender . Man'. Scroll down for video . A picture of the 12-year-old girl who was stabbed 19 times by two classmates last month was released this week. Her identity is protected bu the little girl holds a simple thank you message with a purple heart amid some of the thousands of messages of support she has received . A local artist decorated the 12-year-old's bedroom at her Waukesha, Wisconsin home with just some of the thousands of support letters she has received following the so-called 'Slender Man stabbing' last month . The girl survived the brutal stabbing . and was able to crawl out of the woods and to safety where a bicyclist . found her and called 911. Along with the messages of love that have been sent to the little girl to aid in her recovery, the public has also donated $50,000 towards her medical expenses through a fundraising page. The family said in a statement: 'Our family would like to thank everyone who has supported our daughter on her miraculous road to recovery. 'Our little girl has received thousands of purple hearts from numerous countries and from most continents. We simply cannot put into words how grateful we are for the prayers, packages and heartfelt messages. We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support.' Her family spokesman told ABC that she is making a slow but steady recovery and had recently gone to watch a Disney movie with her dad. The family statement added: 'Together as a family, we continue to . adjust to our ''new normal''. She has a courageous heart and bravely deals . with both the physical and emotional challenges since the attack.' The parents of the 12-year-old victim of the 'Slender Man' stabbing said their daughter's condition is slowly improving. The girl is pictured being transported to the hospital after being stabbed 19 times by two classmates last month . Geyser and Weier have since been charged . as adults on counts of first-degree intentional homicide, and police . say they had been plotting the crime for month. Geyser's attorneys have asked that she receive a mental health evaluation. Weier and Geyser, are due back in . court on July 2. Neither has so far entered a plea. Both suspects told police they tried . to kill their friend because of their obsession with Slender Man, a . character they discovered on a website called Creepypasta Wiki, which is . devoted to horror stories. Geyser's obsession with the mythical . man was something her parents seemed to be aware of as well, as her . father proudly shared a crayon drawing his daughter drew of Slender Man . while they were out to dinner one night. But . far from being alarmed by the disturbing sketch, Morgan's father Matt . seemed to find it amusing and posted it on his social network account. Beneath the picture he wrote: 'Only Mogo (Morgan) draws Slenderman in crayon on a napkin when we are out to dinner'. Charged as adults: Morgan Geyser (left) and . Anissa Weier (right), both 12, face 65 years in prison after admitting . to police that they stabbed the classmate in hopes of joining the cult of the 'Slender Man' In . an official police report, Weier said Slender Man is the ‘leader’ of . Creepypasta, and she needed to kill to show their loyalty. She . explained Geyser told her they needed slaughter their friend in order to become ‘proxies’ of Slender . Man and gain access to his mansion, which they believed was located inside northern Wisconsin's Nicolet National Forest. They . planned to kill the victim and then walk to the mansion. Geyser . was allowed to have two friends over for her birthday, and she and Weier planned the murder for that Friday night. But . they changed their plans and they decided to kill her in a . bathroom at a nearby park the next morning. Weier told police she knew . there was a drain in the floor for the blood to go down. When they left for the park the next morning, Geyser hid the knife tucked away in her waistband. They planned to play . hide and seek with the victim and then kill her when they were out of . sight, in the trees. The Slender Man is a prevalent internet myth . that has been a viral sensation since it emerged online in 2009. On the left, a depiction of Slender Man and on the right, a drawing . Geyser drew of 'Slender' that her dad proudly posted on Instagram . It was in the seclusion of the woods that one of the girls held down the victim while the other frantically stabbed 19 times. Weier said the victim was so badly injured she couldn't breathe, see or walk and that they left her lying on the ground in a pool of blood. But the fighter pushed on, and crawled out of the woods to safety where she waved down passing bicyclist Greg Steinberg. On Wednesday, audio of Steinberg's 911 call was released, in which he can be heard comforting the 12-year-old victim while paramedics rushed to the scene. Steinberg told the dispatcher that the girl had been stabbed, but was conscious. Morgan Geyser (left) and Anissa Weier (right) had planned to stab their classmate as a sacrifice to Slender Man . 'Yes, she's breathing,' he told the operator. 'She says she can take shallow breaths. She's alert.' Suspects . Geyser and Weier were arrested several hours later at a furniture store where police found Weier had a five-inch blade in her backpack. If convicted as adults, the girls face up to 65 years in prison. Geyser's family members broke into tears several times during her first court appearance on Monday. ‘The family is very horrified at what has happened,’ attorney Donna Kuchler said. If . moved into juvenile court and convicted, the girls could be held at . most until they were 25 years old, Waukesha County District Attorney . Brad Schimel told Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. ‘It's a very shocking incident. There's no two ways about it,’ he added. Matt Geyser is pictured decked out in Green Bay Packers clothing with his now-accused murderer daughter in a photo posted on his Instagram account . | A photo was released this week of the girl's hands holding a homemade card covered in purple hearts which simply read 'thank you'
She miraculously survived being stabbed 19 times by two classmates after a sleepover in Waukesha, Wisconsin last month .
A family spokesman said she is making a slow but steady recovery and recently went to see a Disney movie with her dad .
Suspects Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier, also 12, were arrested and have been charged as adults with first-degree intentional homicide .
The victim's parents have set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for her medical bills and have received $50,000 as of this week . |
30,676 | 574000376409d8f9782aa20e94345349e05c90ef | Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said he was shocked and saddened at the reception former Southampton skipper Adam Lallana was given on his return to St Mary’s. The 26-year-old midfielder, who spent 14 years at Southampton, left for Liverpool last summer and was roundly booed by home fans — as was defender Dejan Lovren, who also left at the end of last season. Striker Rickie Lambert, an unused Liverpool substitute, was given a better reception back at his old club. Adam Lallana (left) was booed on his return to former side Southampton for current employers Liverpool . The midfielder skippered the team during his final two years of his Saints career . Brendan Rodgers was unhappy with the reception that Adam Lallana got against former side Southampton . Sportsmail's graphic of Philippe Coutinho's thunderbolt to give Liverpool the lead . Rodgers said: ‘Today was always going to be difficult for the likes of Dejan and Adam. I was a bit disappointed for Adam. 'He was captain here for two years, gave incredible service and could have left a number of times and didn’t. To get the reception he did was disappointing. ‘There was nothing in the match programme referencing his time here. No mention for Lambert as well. Lallana - who spent 14 years at Southampton - was an excellent servant to the south coast side . Lallana with Michail Antonio, Papa Waigo and Rickie Lambert after winning the Johnstone's Paint Trophy . 'Those two guys gave their heart and soul to Southampton and were big supporters of this club. They’ve moved to one of the biggest clubs in the world. Those two guys were wonderful servants. ‘It was a massive decision for them to come to Liverpool. For former servants or players, there’s always appreciation. But nothing here. ‘For me, that’s a wee bit sad. I was thinking of them today looking at the programme before the game. Everything they gave to this club to get them here today, and not a mention.’ In fact, Lallana and Lambert were referenced more than 20 times in the programme. | Liverpool secured a crucial 2-0 win against Southampton on Sunday .
Goals from Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling were enough for a win .
Former Southampton midfielder Adam Lallana was booed by home fans on his return to St Mary's .
Reds boss Brendan Rodgers was unhappy with the reception Lallana got .
Dejan Lovren and Rickie Lambert were also returning for the first time since leaving the club in the summer .
There were only small mentions of the trio in the matchday programme . |
121,623 | 292e6b908e3ba35aa44455afb257c9a7de654cfd | A truck driver's dash-cam has captured the heart-stopping moment a car travelling next to him slammed into the front of his vehicle after spinning 180 degrees onto oncoming traffic. Driving along the Calder Freeway in Victoria, a dark blue vehicle can be seen travelling in the same direction as the truck in the lane to its right. The car in front of it is then seen slowly coming to a halt as traffic builds up in the lane. Scroll down for video . A truck driver's dash-cam captured the heart-stopping moment a car travelling next to him on the Calder Freeway in Victoria, slammed into the front of his vehicle after spinning 180 degrees onto oncoming traffic . However this detail is clearly missed by the blue vehicle's driver, who continues on at the same speed. They then attempt to break quite suddenly, with smoke seen streaming from the tires. However the move came far too late, forcing the driver to swerve to his left while still travelling at a high speed, in order to avoid the vehicle in front of them. It's at this point that the driver loses complete control of his vehicle, which spins a complete 180 degrees, and begins to travel towards oncoming traffic. It happened just after the driver failed to notice a car slowing in front of him on the highway, and swerves to avoid it at the last moment . Within six hours of being shared online, the shocking video accumulated over 1500 likes and almost 300 comments after being viewed over 99,0000 times on Facebook . The truck driver, known only as Paul, is heard swearing loudly as the car collides head first into his vehicle's right hand side before being thrown backwards into the road's barricade. Within six hours of being shared online, the shocking video accumulated over 1500 likes and almost 300 comments after being viewed over 99,0000 times on Facebook. Dash Cam Owners Australia, which shared the video on their page, assured that the driver had not sustained any serious Injuries. It also noted that the truck's FUPS (Front Underrun Protection System) stopped the car from being dragged under the truck. | A truck driver's dash-cam captured the heart-stopping moment on the Calder Freeway in Victoria .
The car is seen spinning 180 degrees onto oncoming traffic before it collides head first with the right side of the truck .
It happened just after the driver failed to notice a car slowing in front of him on the highway, and swerves to avoid it at the last moment .
Dash Cam Owners Australia, which shared the video on their page, claims the driver did not sustain any serious Injuries . |
134,270 | 399d1186b78a23a4ce0688e4973a7e8ae493a217 | London (CNN) -- Few shows can claim such an audience. As the dramatic spectacle of the Olympic Games opening ceremony in London unfolded Friday night, organizers estimated a billion people around the world would be glued to their television sets to see it, either live or delayed by a few hours. Tens of thousands more were lucky enough to have a seat inside the Olympic Stadium, the centerpiece of Olympic Park in east London. Dubbed "Isles of Wonder," it was quite a show -- fast-paced and diverse, with everything from people dancing in period costumes to a pseudo house party. It featured tributes to the British countryside and the Industrial Revolution (complete with smokestacks emerging from the ground), showcased the "Chariots of Fire" soundtrack as well as pop music staples from the Beatles to Amy Winehouse, and even comedy bits featuring Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson), actor Daniel Craig and even Queen Elizabeth II herself. The queen was among the more than 80 heads of state attending the event, which sets the scene for the Games to come. London cheers Olympic torch as opening day nears . The organizers of the London Games were well aware they had a tough act to follow after the Beijing extravaganza four years ago, which featured thousands of drummers, acrobats, martial artists and dancers performing under a light display at the soaring "Bird's Nest" Stadium. Some details of the £27 million show were released in advance, but many more remained closely guarded secrets. A Twitter hashtag, #savethesurprise, started by Olympic organizers to appeal to those in the know not to spoil the show for others, had been embraced by many, although not all. The 10 coolest tech stories of the 2012 London Olympics . Giant screens also displayed the message within the stadium during the two rehearsals. Those who opted not to play along incurred the social-media wrath of many who did want to "save the surprise." The show, masterminded by artistic director Danny Boyle, best known for the Oscar-winning film "Slumdog Millionaire," drew part of its inspiration from Shakespeare's "The Tempest." It began at 9 p.m. (4 p.m. ET) with the tolling of the largest harmonically tuned bell in Europe, cast by the nearby Whitechapel Foundry, which also produced Big Ben and the Liberty Bell. The sound echoed the peals of bells that rang out across the country for three minutes Friday morning, Big Ben among them, to set the nation's Olympic spirit racing. The show's opening scene -- dubbed "Green and Pleasant," after a line from a poem by William Blake -- then unfurled, presenting an idyllic view of the British countryside. The elaborate set comprised rolling hills, fields and rivers, complete with picnicking families, sport being played on a village green and real farmyard animals: ducks, geese, 12 horses, three cows and 70 sheep, plus three sheepdogs to keep them in line. Chasing the gold-dust of 'Brand Olympics' The flower of each of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom also were represented -- the rose of England, the Scottish thistle, Welsh daffodil and flax from Northern Ireland. Boyle also lined up fake clouds to shade his pastoral scene. Other set pieces paid tribute to Britain's National Health Service, children's literature (showcasing characters from the evil Lord Voldemort of Harry Pottery infamy to magical nanny Mary Poppins) and popular music. It was all a mammoth production involving not just Boyle and his technical crew, but also a cast of 10,000 adult volunteers and 900 local schoolchildren. Then there was a heavy-duty flying system, nearly 13,000 props and an array of technological wizardry. After these performances, the athletes -- who, after all, are the real stars of the Olympic show -- entered the stadium, team by team in alphabetical order, apart from Greece, which enters first in recognition of its status as the birthplace of the Games, and Great Britain, entering last, the position reserved for the host nation. Why gritty East End is London's gold standard . After speeches from Olympic officials -- including Sebastian Coe, head of the London organizing committee and himself a former gold medalist -- the queen officially declared the Games open and the Olympic flag was later hoisted above the stadium, where it will fly throughout the competition. The grand finale saw five-time gold medalist rower Steve Redgrave carry the torch into the stadium, where he handed the flame off to seven promising young athletes. They then lit parts of the large cauldron, triggering a chain of events that culminated in small flames converging in the sky above the stadium. This capped the torch's 70-day, 8,000-mile relay around the United Kingdom -- weeks that had been marked with anticipation. Is the Olympics worth more than Google? Spain suffers shock defeat to Japan . CNN's Chris Murphy contributed to this report. | NEW: Young athletes light the Olympic cauldron after the queen opens the games .
Performances pay tribute to British history, literature and music .
The Greek delegation leads the parade of athletes into the stadium .
Organizers had sought beforehand to keep the event's details secret . |
46,376 | 82b0ecaffe4fb9da0d0c5247d90a90a30b1ec4e1 | By . Snejana Farberov . In 14 short months, Texas teacher Roni Tarver went from size 22 to size 6 after shedding 100lbs - and all thanks to the power of dance with a dash of self-discipline. Tarver, 29, teaches agriculture science and lives in Hurst, Texas, with her husband of two years, Tom. Just over a year ago, the 5-foot-6 woman weighed 235lbs and was suffering from chronic lower back pain, which she medicated with 15 ibuprofen tablets a day. 'I cried every time I went shopping for clothes because I kept having to buy bigger sizes,' she wrote online. Extreme makeover: In a matter of 14 months, Texas teacher Roni Tarver went from size 22 (left) to size 6 (right) Heavy load: Tarver, pictured left and right with her husband, Tom, started out weighing 235lbs and suffering from chronic lower back pain . Speaking to CNN this week, Mrs Tarver said what made the situation even worse is that her husband never remarked on her drastic weight gain, which left her feeling guilty about letting herself go. One night in November 2012, Tarver was crying herself to sleep when she made the decision to turn her life around and lose weight. The next day, the high school teacher got down to work tracking her caloric intake, walking and riding a stationary bike. A couple of months later, Tarver mustered enough courage to go to a local gym, where she discovered Zumba - an increasingly popular form of exercise that incorporates dance and aerobics. Not before long, the gym's fitness room that hosted dance classes became her second home where Tarver spent most evenings cutting a rug to the sounds of Latin beats. ‘You really feel like you're in a club, dancing with people, but you don't have a hangover in the morning,’ she described the fitness regimen to the cable news network. Let's dance: Determined to get in shape, the 29-year-old high school teacher (right) discovered Zumba - a fitness regimen combining dancing with exercise . Incredible shrinking woman: Traver spent most evenings cutting a rug to the sounds of Latin beats - and watching the pounds melt away . A daughter of an aerobics dance instructor, Tarver took to Zumba like a fish to water. After 10 exhausting but productive months, her instructors at the gym suggested that Tarver should get certified and teach classes herself. Roni Tarver followed through, and for the past four months she has been teaching Zumba at the Fitness 200 gym in North Richland Hills. In an effort to get healthy, the 29-year-old also quit smoking and radically changed her eating habits, shunning fast food and all dairy - which was the hardest part of the process since she loved cheese. With the help of a calorie counter app she downloaded on her smartphone, Tarver monitored her food consumption, making sure her daily intake does not exceed 1,700 calories. Most days, her menu featured fruits and vegetables, a breakfast protein shake and a low-calorie frozen dinner. Success story: By the time Roni Traver (right) was done, she managed to lost 100lbs off her 5-foot-6 frame . Her weekly cheat meal of choice was two bacon and egg taquitos from a national fast food chain. When Roni Tarver set out on her quest for a slimmer body, she tipped the scales at 235lbs and wore size 22 pants. Just over a year later, the agriculture teacher slimmed down to 135lbs and was buying size 6 clothes. For her husband, Tom Tarver, a dispatcher at a valet service, Roni has always been beautiful, but he says her weight loss has made his wife healthier and happier. On her Facebook page Tuesday, Roni Tarver wrote that some people commenting on her story on CNN's website have been extremely cruel, but she was pleasantly surprised to discover that women she has never met were quick to come to her defense. 'It's a great day to be a woman,' she gushed. | Roni Tarver, 29, a teacher from Texas, started out weighing 235lbs and wearing size 22 pants .
Tarver turned to Zumba classes and healthy eating, shunning fast food and dairy products .
After 14 months, the 5-foot-6 teacher shed 100lbs dancing and became a Zumba instructor herself . |
196,138 | 89d7a0e028bdece8d6191519a0d5671a2a670236 | By . Siddika Khalique . PUBLISHED: . 08:04 EST, 25 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:58 EST, 26 June 2013 . TV chef Jamie Oliver has admitted that he has just finished reading his first book.....at the age of 38. Jamie, who is the world’s wealthiest chef with a fortune of £150million, admitted that he has just finished reading Catching Fire, the 391-page sci-fi sequel to Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. The pukka chef, who has written almost 20 cook books, said he had ‘never got through a book’ before reading Catching Fire because of his dyslexia. TV chef Jamie Oliver has just finished reading Catching Fire, the 391-page sci-fi sequel to Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins . Speaking at the weekend, when asked what . the last book was he read, the father-of-four said: 'I’m dyslexic and . until recently I’d never got through a book. 'But I read Catching Fire. I loved disappearing into a story. Catching Fire takes up the story where Hunger Games left off. Teenagers Katniss and Peta have just risked their lives to win the annual televised fight to the death in the fictional nation Panem. The victory means they have won themselves and their families a life of safety within the harsh regime run by the Capitol. But a rebellion is brewing and the teenagers have been made the faces of the uprising. 'The one book I nearly finished was Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain,' said Jamie Oliver . Jamie had previously admitted that he ‘got bored easily’ when reading, and said: 'I’ve never read a book in my life, which I know sounds incredibly ignorant but I’m dyslexic and I get bored easily. 'The one book I nearly finished was Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain. 'But then the author came to Britain and didn’t stop slagging me off for five years. 'So on principle I threw it on the fire. 'He’s since apologised and we’ve made up. 'I should probably read the rest now.' Jamie also admitted that he ‘secretly collected driftwood’ to make chopping boards, which he said cost a ‘small fortune’ in shops. He said: 'I secretly collect driftwood. 'It might sound a bit mad, but a solid bit of driftwood makes for a perfect chopping board, the kind you’d pay a small fortune for in a department store.' Describing his own schooling, at Newport Free Grammar School, in . Essex, the multi-millionaire said: 'It was with great regret that I . didn't do better at school. 'People just thought I was thick. It was a struggle. 'I never really had anyone to help that understood dyslexia and who could bring out my strengths.' | Chef read 391-page Hunger Games novel Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins .
Previously said he got 'bored easily' when reading . |
144,292 | 469c018dba4bd36a0cd8778b76afc010fd2ea84f | After the first hat-trick of his professional career, Danny Welbeck was on rock-solid ground as he launched into a defence of his goalscoring record. Three in the Champions League for Arsenal against Galatasaray took his tally to six in 10 games for club and country this season, all scored from a central position, which he insists is the key to an extended run in the goals. ‘Nobody can really criticise my finishing because they don’t really see me playing in a forward position too often,’ said Welbeck. Danny Welbeck scored a hat-trick for Arsenal in their 4-1 win against Galatasaray on Wednesday . Danny Welbeck chips the on-rushing Fernando Muslera to complete his Champions League hat-trick . ‘But now I’m getting into these positions I want to be sticking the ball in the back of the net. ‘I’m sure it’s the same with every other striker. People can say I’ve not scored enough goals, but you stick the best strikers on the wing in a four-man midfield and see if they score goals. ‘If you’re getting goals and getting a run of games in your preferred position, your confidence is going to grow and performances are going to grow. That’s something I’m looking forward to doing, building on those performances. Danny Welbeck's hat-trick and Alexis Sanchez's striker were enough for Arsenal to beat Galatasaray . England manager Roy Hodgson watched the action from the stands at the Emirates . ‘Maybe beforehand I wasn’t getting through on goal if I was coming from midfield. It’s difficult to leave your position to go and get goalscoring opportunities, but I’m getting into these positions much more regularly now, and I’m looking forward to sticking the ball in the back of the net.’ Former Arsenal manager George Graham was among those who criticised Welbeck in front of goal. ‘Welbeck is a very willing boy,’ said Graham. ‘He works his socks off for the team. He’s got to improve his finishing a lot though.’ Two for England against Switzerland last month was a good start and three against Galatasaray on Wednesday even better, but the £16million signing from Manchester United has to prove he can be just as clinical in the big games against the big teams, starting against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Arsenal had an awful record away from home against the best teams in the Barclays Premier League last season. They were beaten 6-3 at Manchester City, 5-1 at Liverpool and 6-0 at Chelsea. Olivier Giroud, in 15 games against those same three teams, has scored only twice. Welbeck’s record is similar, with one goal in 23 games against the same opposition for Manchester United and Arsenal, although some of those appearances were on the wing or from the bench. Danny Welbeck wasn't given a run of games as a central striker during his time at Manchester United . Danny Welbeck scored both goals for England in their 2-0 win over Switzerland in Basle . He has made a promising start to his Arsenal career, rekindling memories of Thierry Henry with his finishing style on Wednesday, but this is the challenge he must rise to if he is to develop like Henry into a truly great striker. England boss Roy Hodgson was at the Emirates to see Welbeck’s hat-trick before confirming his place in the squad yesterday for next week’s Euro 2016 qualifiers against San Marino and Estonia. ‘It seems to me in the days of very large transfer fees that £16million does seem a fairly reasonable price to pay,’ said Hodgson. Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud is currently on the sidelines as he recovers from an ankle injury . England manager Roy Hodgson at a press conference announcing his next international squa . ‘But it is up to Daniel to show he is worth that money. If he continues to do so well that people are writing “this was a steal” or “this was a great piece of business” even better still. ‘With Daniel, we need to be careful. He is getting more responsibility in the Premier League and Champions League and so far it seems to be going very, very well but let’s not put too much pressure on him. ‘I hope it works out at the end of the season and I hope people say this was a good piece of business for Arsenal and they got a very good player at a good price.’ Like our Arsenal Facebook page. VIDEO Welbeck 'electric' - Wenger . | Danny Welbeck scored hat-trick in Arsenals' win over Galatasaray .
England striker has scored six times in 10 matches so far this season .
Welbeck left Manchester United for Arsenal in a £16m deal .
23-year-old frustrated at lack of opportunities at Old Trafford . |
164,159 | 604a206ad9de8e6b3501f35b47e2d14005313479 | A promising way to stop a deadly disease, or an uncomfortable step toward what one leading ethicist called eugenics? U.S. health officials are weighing whether to approve trials of a pioneering in vitro fertilization technique using DNA from three people in an attempt to prevent illnesses like muscular dystrophy and respiratory problems. The proposed treatment would allow a woman to have a baby without passing on diseases of the mitochondria, the "powerhouses" that drive cells. The procedure is "not without its risks, but it's treating a disease," medical ethicist Art Caplan told CNN's "New Day" on Wednesday. Preventing a disease that can be passed down for generations would be ethical "as long as it proves to be safe," he said. "These little embryos, these are people born with a disease, they can't make power. You're giving them a new battery. That's a therapy. I think that's a humane ethical thing to do," said Caplan, the director of medical ethics at New York University's Langone Medical Center. "Where we get into the sticky part is, what if you get past transplanting batteries and start to say, 'While we're at it, why don't we make you taller, stronger, faster or smarter?' " But Susan Solomon, the director of the New York Stem Cell Foundation, said there are no changes to existing genes involved. "There is no genetic engineering. It isn't a slippery slope. It's a way to allow these families to have healthy children," said Solomon, whose organization developed the technique along with Columbia University researchers. "What we're doing is, without at all changing the DNA of the mother, just allowing it to grow in an environment that isn't sick," she added. A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel concluded two days of hearings into the procedure Wednesday. The panel discussed what controls might be used in trials, how a developing embryo might be monitored during those tests and who should oversee the trials, but no decisions were made at the end of the session. Mitochondrial disorders are inherited from the mother. In the procedure under discussion in Washington, genetic material from the nucleus of a mother's egg or an embryo gets transferred to a donor egg or embryo that's had its nuclear DNA removed. The real reason behind the multiples baby boom . The new embryo will contain nuclear DNA from the intended father and mother, as well as healthy mitochondrial DNA from the donor embryo -- effectively creating a "three-parent" baby. In June, Britain took a step toward becoming the first country to allow the technique. One in 6,500 babies in the United Kingdom is born with a mitochondrial disorder, which can lead to serious health issues such as heart and liver disease. Caplan said the same technology could be used to modify an embryo to "making super babies," a practice he said amounted to "eugenics." "The big issue over the next 5 to 10 years is going to become how far do we go in pursuit of the perfect baby," said Caplan. "Do I think we're going down that road? Yes. Does it creep me out? Yes. Are you going to be able to draw a clear line? I don't think so." But Solomon said the procedure is closer to an expansion of in vitro fertilization, which has been available for nearly 40 years. "It's a complicated science, so people need to understand the particulars of the biology and not jump to calling it something it isn't," she said. The last thing she would want, she said, "is for the New York Stem Cell Foundation to be involved in anything like designer babies." "I have children and grandchildren, and I can't imagine anything worse." Record number of women using IVF to get pregnant . | A 3-person embryo could circumvent mitochondrial diseases .
The procedure is "not without its risks," says ethicist Art Caplan .
Genes aren't altered in the technique, says a stem cell expert . |
236,095 | bda17b3b7f6d4a42d089786ff125adbbdd4033d7 | The naked rambler Stephen Gough, 53, arrives at court in Fife after being arrested for walking around naked . The man known as ‘The Naked Rambler’ has yet again been arrested for breaching the peace, this time for walking close to a children's play park wearing nothing but his birthday suit. Stephen Gough appeared before court today following his arrest on Friday in Dunfermline, Fife. He was released from prison less than a week ago. The 53-year-old gained his nickname after he trekked from Land’s End to John O'Groats wearing no clothes after leaving his job as a lorry driver. The former Royal Marine arrived at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court in Fife in his own security van amid tight security with great care being taken to shield him from curious locals. However, as he was unloaded from the van, Mr Gough stopped and waived to the waiting photographers. The charge against Mr Gough, 53, said he conducted himself in a disorderly manner and committed a breach of the peace by walking naked in Cairncubie Road, close to the play park, and refusing to put on clothing or move away from the park. Mr Gough, from Eastleigh, Hampshire, chose to represent himself rather than be represented by the duty solicitor during his appearance at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court in Fife, and pleaded not guilty. In the hearing, which lasted only three minutes, Mr Gough explained his refusal to be represented by citing bad past experiences. Gough has spent most of the last six years in solitary confinement at HMP Perth. He has repeatedly been arrested seconds after walking free from the jail in the city's Edinburgh Road. 'Naked Rambler' Stephen Gough has been arrested three days after being released from prison . Upon his release from maximum security Perth Prison last week he said that he planned to walk to England to see his family. Wearing just a backpack – he vowed to continue walking around Britain without any clothes on – albeit away from busy main roads. Gough celebrates reaching John O'Groats following the completion of his naked walk from Land's End in 2004 . Speaking to the Sun he said: 'It is nice to be standing here feeling the breeze. 'I haven't been outside a building in the last six years and it is nice to smell the flowers and see the greenery. Predicting his arrest he went on to say: 'I don't know what I am going . to do. I could get arrested when I go round the next corner,' before . adding: 'This is my job. This is my vocation in life at the moment. I have absolutely no regrets.' 'To conform with everyone else is the easiest way but when you conform . you compromise your principles. I am not going to give up. Stay naked is . the word.' Last August he was jailed for 657 days for breach of the peace and contempt of court. The . breach was for leaving HMP Perth naked at the end of a previous . sentence, while he was found in contempt for representing himself at the . city's sheriff court while naked. He . was arrested multiple times during his hike from Land's End to John . O'Groats which began in 2003 and served four months in Inverness Prison, . eventually reaching John O'Groats in 2004. He . returned home but on a flight back to Scotland in May 2006 he was . detained once again for a breach of the peace after he went to the . toilet and removed his clothes. At the hearing for his latest breach today he did not appeal for bail and was remanded in custody. A trial date was set for August 23, with an intermediate date on August 10. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Stephen Gough is charged with breach of the peace after he walked naked near a children play area and refusing to put clothes on .
Freed from prison less than a week ago .
Re-arrested last time just 60 seconds after leaving prison gates . |
243,142 | c6ac74014e96528ffa88c8d01a8c1f756c18e83b | By . Amanda Williams . PUBLISHED: . 04:54 EST, 11 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:31 EST, 12 March 2013 . Princess Lilian was the commoner wife of Prince Bertil, who died in 1997. She died on Sunday at the age of 97 . The British-born Swedish princess whose secret 33-year romance with her royal husband became Sweden's best-known love story, died on Sunday at the age of 97. Princess Lilian was the commoner wife of Prince Bertil, who died in 1997. Their story, which began in London during World War Two, and saw the lovestruck couple keep their relationship secret for decades for the sake of the crown and to avoid a constitutional crisis, gripped the hearts of the Swedes. The royal court said in a statement that the princess, born Lillian Davies in Swansea in August 1915, died peacefully in her sleep in the afternoon at her home in Stockholm. The princess, the daughter of William Davies and his wife, Gladys Mary Curran,originally spelt her name with two 'l's, but changed to Lilian when she embarked on a career as a fashion model, ballerina and singer. Her first marriage was in September 1940, to a Scottish actor called Ivan Craig. But he went to Africa during the war and the couple divorced after a long separation. During the Second World War Lilian worked at a factory making radios for the Royal Navy, and also at a hospital for wounded soldiers. There are several versions of how she met . Prince Bertil of Sweden in 1943. Some . claim she met him at a party held to celebrate her 28th birthday, some say . they met at a club, and others have written they met on the London . Underground. Prince Bertil, Duke of Halland, with his fiance Lilian Craig on October 15, 1976. The lovestruck couple kept their relationship secret for decades for the sake of the crown and to avoid a constitutional crisis . Enduring love: Lilian Davies with Prince Bertil in a portrait from 1953 - ten years after they met in 1943 . She later wrote of him: 'He . was so handsome, my prince. Especially in uniform. So charming and . thoughtful. And so funny. 'Oh, how we laughed together.' She and Prince Bertil had to keep . their love secret as Bertil's elder brother and heir to the throne, . Prince Gustaf Adolf, had died in a plane crash in 1947 while the next . brother, Sigvard, waived his right to the throne by marrying a commoner. That left Bertil next in line until his infant nephew, Crown Prince Carl Gustaf came of age. If . Prince Bertil had married a commoner he would have had to renounce his . right to the throne, probably sparking a constitutional crisis. It . was not until after the crown prince became king in 1973, and married a . few years later, that Prince Bertil and Lilian could finally get . married themselves and appear in public. Prince . Bertil married Lilian on December 7 1976 at the Palace Church of . Drottiningholm in the presence of the King and the Queen. They were both . in their 60s when they were finally given the blessing to marry. The couple holidayed in Kenya to celebrate. Princess Lilian (left) with Swedish King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia. The British-born Swedish princess's secret 33-year romance with her royal husband became Sweden's best-known love story . Sweden's Royal family pose for photographers with President Mandela and his wife Graca Machel in 1999. Princess Lilian (left) was the commoner wife of Prince Bertil, who died in 1997 . Prince Bertil died aged 84 on January 5 1997, with his wife by his side. The couple had no children. The royal . palace did not give a cause of death for the Princess, but Lilian suffered from Alzheimer's . disease and had been in ill health for several years. On her 80th birthday in 1995, she said: 'If I were to sum up my life, everything has been about my love...He's a great . man, and I love him.' A great lover of practical jokes, when asked what the secret to her long life was she put it down to laughter - rather than exercise - keeping her young in mind. She said she felt the same wish to help as her husband did. King Carl Gustaf, centre, and Queen Silvia, Italian President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, second left, and far right is Scalfaro's daughter Marianna, standing beside Princess Lilian. The princess, born in Swansea in 1915, died peacefully in her sleep in the afternoon . | Princess Lilian was the commoner wife of Prince Bertil, who died in 1997 .
They met and fell in love in London during World War Two .
'Secret' 33-year romance was Sweden's best-known love story .
Royal Court said she died peacefully in her sleep at her home in Stockholm . |
75,375 | d5b2b9cd4393728c7e88aa566c7af6b5e4657972 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 00:19 EST, 17 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:40 EST, 17 January 2013 . Detectives on Long Island, New York are investigating the mysterious death of a 4-year-old boy just one mile from the scene of the notorious Amityville Horror killings of 1974. Suffolk County police say Adonis Reed was found at a home on Ketcham Avenue at 4pm Wednesday and taken to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip where he was pronounced dead shortly before 6pm. The circumstances surrounding the death are still unclear. Police are looking for a man who called 911, but was not in the home at the time they arrived. Adonis Reed (pictured left and right with an unidentified relative) has been identified as the victim of a murder in the infamous town of Amityville, New York after he was discovered by emergency workers at his home . The home on Ketcham Avenue in Amityville, Long Island, where police were called to assist a four-year-old boy who later died and whose death is being treated as suspicious . A Suffolk County police officer andsearch dog look for evidence outside a home in Amityville, New York, today . When police arrived, they discovered a young boy lying unconscious on a . couch in the living room. No adults were present in the apartment. The child had visible signs of trauma. The Medical Examiner will determine his cause of death. The autopsy will be performed on Thursday, reports ABC. Investigators said Reed’s body was covered in bruises. The child was 'a victim of violence,' said Suffolk police Det. Lt. Jack Fitzpatrick, confirming there were visible signs of harm. He said the children was a student at a local school, which he would not identify, but they did not attend class Wednesday. Police units outside the home in Amityville where a four-year-old boy was found unconscious and later died from his injuries . The boy has a 6-year-old sister who apparently also lived in that home, but it's not clear where she is right now. An autopsy is planned for Thursday at the Suffolk County medical examiner's office. No further information was immediately available. Suffolk police said that they believe that 911 emergency call reporting the child was made from the home, but they declined to disclose any details for the caller. Det. Lt. Fitzpatrick said that the caller is incredibly important to their investigations and added that police were trying to contact family members and friends of the child's parents. The neighborhood is described as a quiet residential street made up of single-family homes. The 4-year-old was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip, where the child was pronounced dead, police said . A map shows that the distance between the scene of Wednesday's tragic death and the infamous 1974 Amityville killings is approximately 1 mile . Amityville is best known as the setting . of the novel The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson, which was published in . 1977 and had been adapted into a series of films made between 1979 and . 2011. The book was based on a true story, in December 1975, George and Kathy Lutz and Kathy's three children moved into 112 Ocean Avenue, a large Dutch Colonial house in Amityville - which is 15 minutes walking distance away from the scene of yesterday's crime. Thirteen months before the Lutzes moved in, Ronald DeFeo, Jr. had shot and killed six members of his family at the house. After 28 days, the Lutzes left the house, claiming to have been terrorized by paranormal phenomena while living there. Amityville is best known as the setting of The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson, which was published in 1977 and then adapted into a series of films . In this Nov. 14, 1974 file photo, police and members of the Suffolk County Coroner's Office investigate the murder of six people found shot in Amityville, N.Y in the notorious DeFeo murders - which would later become part of The Amityville Horror novel series . The Amityville Horror: A True Story is a multi-million selling book by Jay Anson first published in September 1977.It is reported to be based on the real-life paranormal experiences of the Lutz family at 122 Ocean Avenue, a large Dutch Colonial house in the Long Island town of Amityville, New York.The story is supposedly about the horrifying events the Lutz family endured over a period of 28 days after moving into a home where Ronald DeFeo Jr. had shot and killed six members of his family inside the home 13 months prior to their purchase.In December, 1975, George and Kathleen Lutz bought the home one year and one month after the DeFeo murders for what they considered to be a bargain price of $80,000.They moved into the six bedroom home with their three children, Daniel, 9, Christopher, 7, and Melissa, 5 and their Malamute/Labrador cross called Harry.Because of the terrible past of the home, the Lutz's arranged for the home to be blessed and when the Catholic priest flicked holy water across the room, he heard a male voice deman that he 'get out'.After that and for the next 28 days, the Lutz's experienced many different and frightening episodes all linked to the paranormal.George would wake up around 3:15 every morning and would go out to check the boathouse. Later he would learn that this was the estimated time of the DeFeo killings.Kathy had vivid nightmares about the murders and discovered the order in which they occurred and the rooms where they took place.While tending to the fire, George and Kathy saw the image of a demon with half his head blown out. It was burned into the soot in the back of the fireplace.George would wake up to the sound of the front door slamming. He would race downstairs to find the dog sleeping soundly at the front door. Nobody else heard the sound although it was loud enough to wake the house.Kathy would feel a sensation as if 'being embraced' in a loving manner, by an unseen force.The book was written after Tam Mossman, an editor at the publishing house Prentice Hall, introduced George and Kathy Lutz to Jay Anson.However, soon after its publication, the Lutz's version of events came to be quesioned and speculation was rife that the entire novel was a work of fiction.George Lutz maintained that events in the book were 'mostly true' and denied any suggestion of dishonesty on his part. In June 1979, George and Kathy Lutz took a lie detector test relating to their experiences at the house, which they both passed.In May 2010, the house was placed on the market with an asking price of $1.15 million. In August 2010, the house was sold to a local resident for $950,000 . Video: 4-year-old Amityville boy's death ruled a homicide . | Adonis Reed, a four-year-old boy found unconscious at home at 4 p.m. on Wednesday in the infamous Long Island town after an anonymous 911 call to police .
No adults were at home when emergency services arrived .
The boy was pronounced dead when he arrived at Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center . |
49,162 | 8adb64d9c64f1e41b6f483d0b6ea6ec5dd2bf114 | By . Steph Cockroft . A controversial judge who jailed a rapist for just 45 days has stepped down . from the case after saying the 14-year-old . victim 'wasn't the victim she claimed to be'. Defendant Sir Young, 20, was given the 'lenient' sentence for raping a fellow pupil at Booker T. Washington High . School in Dallas, America - despite a possible 20-year jail term for the crime. But State District Judge Jeanine Howard caused further outrage when she appeared to make comments about the girl's promiscuity - even though Young had pleaded guilty to the rape. Dalls Judge Jeanine Howard (pictured) has stepped away from a rape case after sparking outrage by saying the 14-year-old victim 'wasn't the victim she claimed to be' Now the judge - who also came under fire for giving Young community service in a rape crisis centre - has removed herself from the case. The judge had told The Dallas Morning . News: 'She wasn't the victim she claimed to be. He is not your typical sex offender. 'There are rape cases that deserve life. There are rape cases that deserve 20 years. 'Every now and then you have one of those that deserve probation. This is one of those and I stand by it.' Prosecutor Josh Healy said Young's . victim, who is now 17, had been left in tears by the ruling. He said she . and her family told him they were 'shocked' and 'extremely . disappointed'. But Judge Howard told the newspaper she gave the sentence because medical records indicated the . girl had three sexual partners and had given birth to a baby - something the victim's family denies. Rapist: Defendant Sir Young, 20, pleaded guilty to the rape of a fellow student at Booker T. Washington High School, Dallas, when he was 18 and she was 14 . Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins said his prosecutors had pushed for five years' prison time. He . also said the judge did not order Young to follow standard sex . offender requirements, such as attending treatment, undergoing an . evaluation or staying away from children. Prosecutors will now ask the new judge on the case to re-evaluate Young's probation, potentially giving him stricter conditions, according to the paper. Judge Howard's outspoken comments were not the first time she had been criticised over the case. The judge was also forced . into an embarrassing U-turn after the chief of the local rape crisis . centre refused to allow Young to carry out the community service portion . of his sentence there. Bobbie Villareal, executive director of the Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center, told WFAA.com: 'I’m sure she probably thought that it was his way of giving back perhaps. 'But it’s just not an appropriate place for him to do his community supervision.' Ms . Villareal slammed the 'lenient' conditions passed down by Judge Howard, . who is known in legal circles for her creative approach to sentencing. She said: 'It is a deterrent to all survivors when you see a very lenient sentence like this passed down. We won't have him: Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center refused to allow Young to volunteer, with its executive director saying 'it's just not an appropriate place for him to do his community supervision' 'It . sends a devastating message to survivors of sexual assault. That . victim’s family definitely didn’t feel like there was justice for her . and for other survivors of sexual assault.' Young's sentence of deferred adjudication probation means that if he meets various terms laid down by Judge Howard, he will not have a permanent criminal record. As well as the community service order, he must also spend 45 days in jail and a further 24 hours in jail every October 4 - the date of the rape - for the duration of his probation. Changes: Booker T. Washington High School has since added a window to the room where the rape happened . The court heard that the pair were kissing in a practice room at the performing arts school, but that she had told him to stop when he began rubbing her body, the paper reported. Ignoring her pleas, he instead pulled off her leggings and raped her. 'I didn’t want to do anything other than kiss,' the victim told the court. She said she had told Young 'no' and 'stop' before and during the attack. Booker T. Washington High School has since added a window to the room and installed CCTV cameras. | Sir Young, 20, admitted raping a 14-year-old girl at a school when he was 18 .
Young faced a 20-year prison sentence but was jailed for just 45 days .
The Dallas judge also gave Young community service at a rape crisis centre .
She said the girl 'wasn't the victim she claimed to be' and was sexually active .
Judge Jeanine Howard has now stepped down from the case after backlash . |
110,726 | 1aba8138d3b7f083dda7c5274940e3318d6bd2de | By . Mia De Graaf . David Bailey, Cecil Beaton - and lemurs? They are not known for their photography skills. But this cheeky group of primates at Twycross Zoo in Warwickshire displayed a surprising enthusiasm when a photographer left her camera in their paddock. Scroll down for video . Strike a pose: The little lemur stares intently at his subject as he stands behind a camera left in his paddock . The next David Bailey? Their approach to photography was unusual as they soon took to climbing on the tripod . Eyeballing the state-of-the-art Canon, left on its tripod, the three lemurs leaped from a branch to investigate this unusual toy. And one of them seemed intense and serious as he directed the camera at his chosen subject. However, their approach quickly descended into something more... unusual. One climbed on top of the camera, before jumping down in a bid to pull off the lens cap. Eventually one looked like he was going to take a snap - but thought better of it and started swinging around the tripod. Fascinated: The group seemed perfectly content twisting the lens of this state-of-the-art Canon camera . Should you be doing that? This one was perhaps too comfortable clawing at the expensive equipment . Lemurs are an old group of primates which evolved in near isolation after Madagascar split away from the African mainland. They filled the ecological niches occupied by monkeys, the dominant primates, on mainland Africa. As there was no competition from monkeys on Madagascar, lemurs soon came to dominate its rainforests, until boats started to arrive around 2,000 years ago and human hunters arrived. Lemur size ranges from the world's smallest primate to - until fairly recently - some of its largest, the sloth lemurs, which rivalled gorillas in size. Budding snappers: The animals surveyed the camera ahead of the zoo's annual photography competition . Yesterday's display of photography from this collection of lemurs comes as the zoo prepares for its annual photography competition, which closes at the end of August. Judges include Bill Oddie, Chris Breen and Alice Roberts. For more information and to enter, visit www.twycrosszoo.org. | Group of lemur monkeys at Twycross Zoo left intrigued by camera .
Leaped off their branch to investigate the bizarre apparatus .
One looked serious and intense directing the camera at its chosen subject .
But decided to climb it and play with the lens instead of taking photos . |
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