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13,817 | 272ebb938bdd9216c1616fca141f41081ef4e7e5 | (CNN)A team piloting a helium-filled balloon across the Pacific has set two major ballooning records. On Friday, the Two Eagles balloon, piloted by American Troy Bradley and Russian Leonid Tiukhtyaev, surpassed a gas balloon world record for duration aloft. The record of 137 hours, 5 minutes, 50 seconds was set by Double Eagle II on a 1978 transatlantic flight. According to rules set by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale, the record must be surpassed by 1% in order to qualify as a new record. The Two Eagles reached that point Friday at 10:51 a.m. ET. Officially, the record hasn't been broken. It may be weeks or months before the U.S. National Aeronautic Association reviews and documents it. Friday's duration achievement follows another milestone Thursday, when the balloonists surpassed a 1981 distance record for gas balloons, set by Double Eagle V. Under the same rule, the balloonists had to best the 1981 record of 5,208 miles or 8,382.54 kilometers by 1%. With that distance margin safely surpassed, the balloon is expected to land Saturday on the Baja Peninsula in Mexico, completing its 6,000-mile journey. The Two Eagles balloon launched from Saga, Japan, on January 24. The pilots and the support team on the ground have been tweeting about the journey. | Balloon expedition across the Pacific sets two gas ballooning records .
The balloon is expected to land Saturday in Mexico .
It launched from Japan last week . |
71,713 | cb46333e2d59cdbcbdb9f95db2ecda117882ebc7 | (CNN) -- The words "Whitney Houston died" appeared on my BlackBerry screen. Like many of us living in the digital age, I learned that the pop diva passed away by way of text message. Sent by my 25-year-old daughter, the announcement shocked me but soon triggered fond memories of the days when she and her younger sister would belt out Houston's latest hit along with the radio. Their voices were unleashed in that gleeful, full-throated and uninhibited way that only pre-teen girls seemed to do. (Imagine "and I-eee-I-eee-I will always love you" at earsplitting, hilarious volume). A few of the high notes were clearly out of my girls' easy reach in their spontaneous renditions. But they reveled in emulating Houston nonetheless. I've heard plenty about Houston's troubles during the course of the week. Despite her battles with drugs and alcohol, many people have good memories of her and her songs. So what made "The Voice" so glorious in the transcendent musicianship that Houston displayed in her recordings and concerts? Houston possessed the perfect vibrato. This effect was facilitated by her deceivingly effortless diaphragmic support. Houston belted out chorus after chorus on hit after hit, demonstrating white-knuckled control over this parameter of her "singer's toolbox" with an aplomb that seemed unfair to lesser vocalists. And the sheer stamina it took to achieve this elusive aspect of a singer's art separates the wannabes from the real McCoy. Never noticed that, right? That's because she was so good at it. Houston was famous for having a very wide range. Some of her songs spanned quite a bit of vocal territory, from alto to the highest soprano. What was remarkable is that she hardly ever "bailed out" by flipping into a falsetto voice -- you know, that head-buzzing sound that men emit when they're doing bad imitations of female opera singers. Houston seemingly had no natural break between the high and low registers of her instrument. This unique quality was highlighted because when she did flip into the "head voice," it was employed as a subtle garnish, a precious design element in a phrase. Her impeccable intonation -- just one of the reasons her "Star-Spangled Banner" has become iconic -- instilled a "trust" in her listeners. When every note is perfectly in tune, as they were in a classic Houston performance, we relaxed and gave in to the sheer beauty of music. Beyond the gift of her instrument, Houston's musicianship comprised an uncanny way of handling the material she was given with such expertise and attention to detail that the songs became hers and hers alone. Her sense of musical balance allowed her "crowd" the cadences of a song's key passages with "just enough" sonic information before landing coyly in the next structural part of the song. Although her work grew more melismatic as her career progressed, she never overused this technique like some of her myriad imitators. She mostly executed them in clever twists at the ends of phrases or tossed them off with stunning ease between plainly rendered melodic statements. This allowed many of us to sing along with her at full voice, by ourselves, in the car. (Surely, we've all done this). And she made us feel it. Through musical economy and powerful execution, Houston could shape the emotional contour of a song whether in long concert-versions or on a four-minute record. Her exquisite beauty together with that "come hither/don't take another step closer or I'll call my cousin" camera presence intrigued us. What charisma she had. Certainly, this infectious package of beauty and talent was at least one of the reasons my youngest daughter, now a budding operatic coloratura soprano, is pursuing a life of long, beautiful gowns and very, very high notes. Miss Whitney's ubiquity in the media made that seem like a reasonable dream for many of the young women she mesmerized. Houston became a pop star the old fashioned way -- not through a virile YouTube video or as a contestant on "American Idol." She was discovered, given a record deal, provided material and the rest was lots of hard and endless work. Now that she's gone, we can do nothing but remember: Remember how she and "the voice" seemed like two separate entities. Remember how she performed that voice; how she allowed us to witness it, how she obviously enjoyed it herself. In the end, the voice just couldn't keep up with the extravagances and toils of her life in the spotlight. Follow CNN Opinion on Twitter . Join the conversation on Facebook . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Guthrie P. Ramsey, Jr. | Guthrie Ramsey: Whitney Houston's voice was glorious in its transcendent musicianship .
Houston had a very wide range, from alto to the highest soprano, Ramsey observes .
Ramsey says her impeccable intonation instilled a "trust" in her listeners .
Houston's talent and charisma couldn't outpace the toils of her life, Ramsey says . |
201,365 | 90bb13fd947825fdbe99b1e511288481dd419e9e | Hollywood's ongoing enchantment with politics continues with yet another political TV show; CBS' upcoming "Madam Secretary." The show tested the D.C. waters Thursday night with inside-the-Beltway's media and political elites at a screening at the spacious U.S. Institute for Peace, aptly situated across the street from the real State Department. "No, this show has nothing to do with Hillary or Madeleine or Condoleezza Rice or anybody else we know," said actor Morgan Freeman on the Institute of Peace red carpet. "It's fiction. We made it all up and we will continue to make it up." Freeman's production studio Revelations Entertainment is spearheading the project. They might be making it up, but they clearly borrowed a little inspiration from real-life current events. In the premier episode, Syria as a political flashpoint, social media sabotaging negotiation efforts, the 24-hour news cycle eating away at every staged move, women's roles in leadership, and the inability for "Madam Secretary" to "have it all." There's also the requisite mix of sex and comedic relief in typical Hollywood (and D.C.) fashion. Former Madam Secretary Madeleine Albright attended the premiere, sitting next to CBS' Bob Scheiffer who made a cameo in the premiere episode. CNN's Jake Tapper, NBC's Andrea Mitchell, Politico's Maggie Haberman, and Hillary Clinton's right-hand woman Huma Abedin were all in attendance. There have been two women secretaries of state since Albright served under President Bill Clinton -- Rice and Hillary Clinton -- which means women have made strides with leading roles in two male dominated industries -- politics and TV. There has been a surge in female-centered shows about the nation's capitol. Think "Scandal," "Homeland" and "Veep." Leading lady Téa Leoni looked every bit the part of her on-air persona of Madam Secretary in a slim blazer-pants combo that put other pant suits in the crowd to shame as she fielded questions and picture requests. Actor Erich Bergen, who plays Leoni's comedic lap-dog assistant on the show, weighed in on the L.A. obsession with D.C. "It's already addicting. Before it was on television portrayed fictionally, we were all news junkies, we were all interested in what was going on. I think it's naturally drama -- it's like a hospital, it's like a law firm, anything that has natural drama built in. "We all think we know the U.S. government, we all think we know how it works. We all think we know what happens. We obviously don't, so this sort of gives us fulfills our need to see what's going on inside there." The premise and especially the premiere episode follow the formula set forth by other television dramas like "Homeland": two young men are being dragged through a dank prison, a cacophony of Arabic filling the air. Cut to the lofty campus of University of Virginia, where protagonist Elizabeth McCord leads a leisurely life as a professor. Jump to an untimely demise of the secretary of state that thrusts her into the national spotlight after the President personally begs her to fill the role. The show takes off from there, navigating the hallowed halls of Capitol Hill and the State Department. | CBS debuts a new show Sunday night about a female secretary of state .
It's one of many shows from Hollywood with a Washington focus .
Stars of the show stopped by the nation's capital for its premier . |
240,015 | c2b870cac6b2cbcf2189d6cc1bf54fc3a520e7a5 | As a polio survivor, World Polio Day is more than a date on the calendar -- it's a reminder that we can and must end this crippling disease. I grew up in the Kano state of Nigeria and contracted polio at age 3. This disease often causes paralysis and left me mostly paralyzed and unable to walk. My brothers had to help me move when we traveled long distances; even traveling to and from school was difficult. Living with polio was not easy when I was younger, but I have found ways to cope and lead an active life. And that has given me a lot of strength. For example, I was very interested in soccer when I was young, and I later went on to found para-soccer, a nationally-recognized soccer-style game for people with disabilities in Nigeria. Why polio hasn't gone away yet . While polio has not stopped me, I am determined to stop polio. Children today shouldn't have to go through what I've been through -- especially when a few drops of the polio vaccine can protect them from the disease. I have committed myself to raising awareness and educating people not just about polio, but about the importance of vaccinations. In fact, to mark World Polio Day in Nigeria, more than 300 polio survivors are actively participating in sporting activities across the country. On an ongoing basis, more than 1,000 survivors are actively campaigning for polio eradication in communities. Empowering people affected by polio will strengthen our campaign against the disease and help spread the message that vaccinating our children is the only way to prevent them from similar fates. At the U.N., money backs up vow to eradicate polio by 2015 . Nigeria is the only polio endemic country in Africa and one of only three remaining countries (the others are Afghanistan and Pakistan) that have not been able to stop the transmission of the disease, according to the World Health Organization. If we fail to end polio in these countries, all other countries are at risk. This contagious disease can be imported, paralyzing children in countries that thought they were done with polio. A recent outbreak in the Horn of Africa is a reminder that we must finish the job. In my country, we must make sure more children are vaccinated and overall immunity is higher, especially in the northern states. Every child that does not get polio drops breaks the circle of protection and exposes him or her and others to contracting the virus. Challenges still exist in Nigeria, especially in reaching children in some communities where security is an issue, like Kano, Borno and Yobe. We are helping to fix this by ensuring local ownership by the government and communities themselves. The good news is that we have made progress against polio in Nigeria and around the world. In Nigeria, the government, partners, and survivors are working hard, and polio cases are down right now compared to this time last year. Globally, polio cases have been reduced by more than 99 percent in the past 25 years. Opinion: Don't fall at the finish line in the race to eradicate polio . Thanks to a worldwide effort of governments and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, including the United Nations, the number of polio cases has dropped from 350,000 a year in 1988 to just 223 last year, and the number of countries where polio is transmitted has dropped from 125 to 3, according to the eradication initiative. I look forward to the day Nigeria overcomes the devastation of polio and joins the list of polio-free countries. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative has developed a plan to end polio for good; now is the time for all of us to support this effort, educate our communities, and make sure our children are vaccinated. On World Polio Day, my wish is that one day we end polio in Nigeria and in the world. I made my dream of playing soccer come true, and I believe we can make this one come true, too. | Misbahu Lawan Didi grew up in Kano state and contracted polio at age 3 .
Nigeria reported 223 cases of polio last year .
Didi writes he founded para-soccer in Nigeria and that he always dreamed of playing soccer . |
247,122 | cbcd0b2da03f767c8cb28d39005ac3c9ffea38bb | London (CNN) -- CNN International is today refreshing the design of the home page to bring greater clarity and impact. The new look for the international edition of CNN.com aims to reinforce the CNN network as your source for breaking news, with rapid analysis from correspondents around the world. This update to the home page is the first in a series to emphasize the top stories and add more commentary and video to explain "what's next." You'll see a number of improvements to the navigation to make the day's top stories easier to identify. Video from the CNN network will be more prominent. Recommendations from home page editors in Hong Kong, London and Atlanta will be clearer in the editor's choice, and in collections like "5 stories not to miss." The voices of CNN correspondents around the world will be prominent. From a design point of view, some of the changes reflect trends emerging from our successful iPhone and iPad applications, with judicious use of fonts to add legibility and differentiation between breaking news, features and analysis. Design aficionados may wish to know the fonts are Helvetica for breaking and hard news, Georgia for analysis and features, and Arial for text. As always, we welcome feedback to [email protected] . | Update puts emphasis on the top stories, and adds more commentary and video .
Recommendations of editors in Hong Kong, London and Atlanta will be more obvious .
The voices of CNN correspondents around the world will be prominent .
Judicious use of fonts allows differentiation between breaking news, features and analysis . |
205,274 | 95bb18121500728e39623c226fd9832853f4779a | The man commissioned by the family of Michael Brown to perform a second autopsy on the body is having his credentials called into question, and many wondering if he does indeed qualify as an 'expert' in his field. Shawn Parcells, of Overland Park, Kansas, assisted Dr. Michael Baden in the autopsy of Brown, and briefly became a national figure, appearing on various news programs and being quoted in papers around the country after he revealed his findings. This even though the man is not a doctor, can not conduct an autopsy alone, and is unable to prove his claim that he is a college professor. Scroll down for videos . Expert?: Shawn Parcells (above) assisted in the second autopsy of Michael Brown that was commissioned by his family . Calling into question: Now Parcells, who does not claim to be a doctor, is having his credentials called into question, with the university he claims to teach at saying he has never worked there . The chief medical examiner of St. Louis County, Dr Mary Case, called what Parcells does 'abysmal' back in August, after learning he had been hired to assist on Brown's autopsy. Case, who conducted the first autopsy of Brown, told The Daily Caller, 'He is doing forensic autopsies which may send someone to prison, and he is not a physician, much less a forensic pathologist.' She then added that she was 'shocked by this man and how bold he is to do what he does.' Parcells claims he became interested in death as a child when his grandfather passed away, and began performing autopsies while he was still in high school. He received a bachelor's degree in life sciences from Kansas State in 2003, and he told CNN he was immediately accepted to medical school in the Caribbean, but his wife got pregnant and he wanted her to receive her care in the United States, so he did not attend. He still has yet to attend medical school. He does claim to have master's degree in anatomy and physiology, with clinical correlation, but was unable to verify that with an actual diploma. He also claims to be an adjunct professor at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, something that officials at Washburn have denied. '[Parcells] is not now and has never been a member of the Washburn University faculty," according to a university spokeswoman. Skipping out: Parcells says he decided to not attend the medical school he was accepted to in the Caribbean as his wife (above) became pregnant and they wanted to have the baby in the United States . Then, there are the alleged problems that have come up during his actual autopsies. In 2012, Parcells Regional Forensic Services was hired by Andrew County, Missouri, to conduct an autopsy on Robert Forrester, a man they believe may have died as the result of a brain bleed after he had told officers two days earlier that his grandson had 'knocked me the f*** out.' Two deputy sheriffs in Andrew County say that Parcells presented himself as a pathologist, this even though he is not and must have a medical doctor present in order for the findings in his autopsy to be presented in a court of law. There was no medical doctor present during the autopsy. Making the situation even more odd, the pathologist listed on the autopsy form, Edward R. Friedlander, M.D., refused to comment on the case, and when Parcells was pressed, he claimed that the autopsy was actually performed by Dr. George Vandermark. Dr. Vandermark said he had nothing to do with Forrester's autopsy. 'I see him as a fraud,' said one of the deputies. The sheriffs had been hoping to charge Forrester's grandson with manslaughter, but with no legal autopsy having been performed and no way to present the findings of a medical expert, it has now been two years since the death and they cannot move forward to prosecute. Other claims: One coroner says that Parcells disappeared with a body he was supposed to examine, and two deputy sheriffs in Missouri have labeled him a 'fraud' Then, there is the case of one funeral home, Northern Star Mortuary, Inc, who hired Parcells to perform an autopsy. After waiting over a week for Parcells to come examine an unidentified body, so long that maggots had started to appear, he finally came to collect the body and perform an autopsy. But Lenox Jones, the Pehlps County Deputy Coroner, says it has been over a year since the sutopsy, and he has no idea where the body is and has not heard from Parcells. Parcells grew irritated when presented with Jones' claim, and said the body in is his morgue in Topeka and could be collected at any time. Odd: Another woman says Parcells took her husband's brain, around the time this photo of a brain appeared on his Facebook page . In another odd incident, Judy Walker says she paid Parcells to examine her husband's brain after his death in 2011, and Parcells told her he would send the brain to Harvard to be examined. Three years later she received a report from a doctor in New York. She retained a lawyer, Michael Hodges, and at a deposition Parcells handed over a brain in a bucket saying it was that of Walker's husband. She did not believe him, and Parcells claims the brain is at his Topeka morgue if she ever wants to come pick it up. | Shawn Parcells, the man who assisted on Michael Brown's second autopsy, is having his credentials called into question .
He has a Bachelor's degree in life science, and said he has been interested in death since he was 12, and started performing autopsies as a teenager .
He claims to be a professor at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, a claim they deny .
Two deputy sheriffs in Missouri say he claimed to be a doctor and performed an autopsy they now cannot use .
A coroner in Kansas says that after waiting over a week to collect a body, he disappeared with it and never reported back .
One woman claims he took her husband's brain after she sent it to him to examine for signs of dementia . |
218,067 | a6563439f16dbff100bc005582b40b57f8b364cb | A 2-year-old boy has been struck and killed by a train in southeast Kentucky after he wandered away from his house and out on the tracks with his dog. Trayton Joiner lived in a house just behind the railroad tracks in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. 'He was three months shy of his third birthday,' Hopkinsiville police spokesman Paul Ray said. The CSX train conductor saw the toddler on the tracks and blew his whistle and slammed on the brakes, but could not stop before he hit the little boy - as well as his dog. Scroll down for video . A CSX train, like the one pictured, struck and killed a 2-year-old toddler who wandered onto the tracks on Monday in Hopkinsville, Kentucky . Investigators are still trying to determine why the boy was on his own on the train tracks - and was not being supervised . Neighbors told WTVF that the boy slipped out of the house when his grandmother fell asleep. Police are investigating the incident and have questioned the family about why the toddler was allowed outside alone. The dog that was with Trayton, a pit bull mix, had an injured back but was taken to a veterinary clinic and is expected to recover. Neighbors were shocked that the boy was on the tracks by himself. Trains are a regular fixture in the neighborhood, passing through several days a day at all hours. 'It was heartbreaking to know that a child that young will be wandering around the tracks, but at the same time, someone should have been there to protect him,' neighbor Carolyn Forest told WSMV-TV. Some neighbors said CSX needs to put up a fence around the tracks running through town to prevent children from wandering onto the tracks. Neighbors say the boy slipped out of his home (pictured) when his grandmother fell asleep. The home is right across from the busy railroad tracks . | Trayton Joiner was killed after he was hit on the railroad tracks behind his house in Hopkinsville, Kentucky .
Neighbors say Trayton slipped out when his grandmother fell asleep .
The boy's dog was also hit, but survived . |
97,790 | 09e6b27bf83fc56efae3e41917276136767728f6 | (CNN) -- Rapper Young Jeezy allegedly beat up his teenage son and threatened to kill him during an argument 15 months ago. Jeezy -- whose real name is Jay Wayne Jenkins -- was released on a $45,000 bond on Friday, hours after turning himself into the jail on a grand jury warrant, Fulton County, Georgia, sheriff's spokesman Tracy Flanagan said. The 36-year-old artist is set to appear in an Atlanta court on January 29 on felony charges of battery, terroristic threats and false imprisonment, Flanagan said. His son told police the alleged incident at this Atlanta apartment in September 2012 "stemmed from a text message he sent to his father." His father "walked into the bathroom where he was and slammed his head against the sliding shower door," then "picked him up and threw him into the wall in the bedroom," the police report said. When the teen tried to run downstairs and away, he was blocked by his father's bodyguard, the report said. Jeezy then "pulled him back into the room, threw him on the bed, choked him and stated 'I'll kill you," the son told police. He then allegedly threw him against a wall and onto the floor before kicking him in the head. "The juvenile stated his father stated to him 'I'll put a bullet in your head right now,'" the report said. The boy's mother called police two days later when her son returned to her and she noticed bruising and scratches on his face," the police report said. CNN's Jane Caffrey contributed to this report. | Jeezy -- real name is Jay Wayne Jenkins -- was released on $45,000 bond Friday .
He has a court date for January 29 on for battery, terroristic threats and false imprisonment .
Son tells police dad said: "I'll put a bullet in your head right now" |
179,950 | 74ff17f0eb881f7c29aec759db139d71e4565e45 | Strolling along a country lane in hiking shoes with a rucksack on her back, she makes for an unlikely muse. But this is the woman who inspired one of America’s greatest songwriters and helped launch his career to international stardom. The humdrum life she now leads in a quiet Welsh-speaking village gives little clue that Kathleen Chitty’s name is known to millions worldwide. Kathleen Chitty is the woman who inspired one of America's greatest songwriters and helped launch his career to international stardom . Paul Simon - half of famous duo Simon and Garfunkel - was once so besotted with English teenager that they appeared together on his first record cover. He also mentioned her in several of his greatest hits - including ‘America’ - and immortalised their romance in the haunting ‘Kathy’s Song’. But Mrs Chitty could not cope with the huge attention from music journalists and fans while in a realtionship with Simon. She now lives in a small, detached three-bedoom house on a quiet cul-de-sac, and catches a bus each day to her job as an administrator for a technical college, where she has worked for 25 years. Paul Simon once described his relationship with Mrs Chitty as ‘his most peaceful time’ and it was captured in his care-free lyrics. It is in stark contrast to the singer turmoil he has endured this week as Simon, 72, appeared in court alongside his third wife after police were called to break up a violent dispute at their home. Paul Simon - half of famous duo Simon and Garfunkel - was once so besotted with English teenager that they appeared together on his first record cover . Half a decade on from when he first met Miss Chitty, the 68-year-old grandmother with her grey hair tied back in a bun, still bears a strong resemblance to the teenage girl that won his heart. In 1963, aged just 18, her love of folk music brought her to the nearby Railway Inn folk club, in Brentwood, Essex, where she sold tickets. Simon, who had dropped out of New York law school, had decided to tour England’s pubs and clubs after struggling to make a name for himself in America. Her elfin qualities, huge eyes and aura of gentleness through her shy personality caught his attention and an intense love affair followed. During their relationship he wrote dozens of hits that were later performed alongside his friend Art Garfunkel in Simon and Garfunkel. Kathy is mentioned by name twice in ‘America’ and the song ‘Homeward Bound’ is about returning from a gig in Widnes to see her in Essex. But perhaps the most poignant is ‘Kathy’s Song’ which he wrote about missing her while in New York. It includes the lines: ‘I gaze beyond the rain drenched streets, to England where my heart lies... My thoughts are many miles away, they lie with you when you’re asleep, and kiss you when you start the day.’ But with his initial success, the shy and sensitive Kathy became frightened of the huge attention from fans and returned home from the US in the mid-1960s. Now living on the outskirts of a remote mountain village in North Wales, her partner Kenneth Harrison, whom she has been with for more than 40 years and had three children, said they moved from Essex to ‘escape’ in the early 1970s. ‘She wasn’t very comfortable with it,’ he said. ‘We’re very good friends with Mr Simon and there’s never been a rift.’ Singer Paul Simon, left, holds hands with his wife Edie Brickell at a hearing in Norwalk Superior Court. The couple were arrested on disorderly conduct charges by officers investigating a family dispute at their home . In fact, Mr Harrison, 67, admits that he knew both Simon and Miss Chitty before they met as a musician on the 1960s folk scene. ‘I was there. I was part of that crowd as the second person to meet Paul Simon when he came to Britain in 1963. ‘America is the one [hit song] which we’ll never escape from because it’s a song about America losing its way.’ At 68, Miss Chitty still retains her 5ft4in boyish figure, huge eyes and sensitive features. Her hair is now grey but still cut in the same bob as when pictured sat on cobblestones playing with toys alongside Simon on his first album, The Paul Simon Song Book, released in 1965. Despite being of retirement age, she remains a part-time administrator at a technical college – the same job she has had for more than 25 years. Ironically, she still has requests for interviews from music biographers across the world about her time with Simon, but all they have received is the sound of silence. ‘Kath always was and remains a private person,’ added Mr Harrison, a former local journalist, on her behalf. ‘She has never spoken publicly about her past and while understanding that there is a huge public interest in this matter, has no intention to do so.’ A friend told the Mail: ‘The break-up (with Simon) was very traumatic. It was ultimately a world that didn’t do Kathy any favours. She simply couldn’t cope with the public attention.’ Each morning Mrs Chitty walks the half mile route to the edge of the quiet Welsh-speaking village to catch the bus in a nearby town to work. Miss Chitty has had the same administrative part-time role at a local technical college for more than 25 years. She leaves mid-morning and returns late afternoon while greeting neighbours on the way. Her three children now all live in London. Neighbours say she is still incredibly shy, but friendly to those she has got to know over the 40 years she has lived in the hamlet. Simon married Peggy Harper in 1969, but split after having one son, Ben, in 1975. He then had a two-year marriage to Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher after proposing during a live New York Yankees baseball game in 1983. He has three children, Adrian, Lulu and Gabriel, with Brickell, the singer with the 1980s band the New Bohemians, after marrying in 1992. Police were called to their family home after receiving an emergency 911 call that hung up. They were both arrested when officers saw they had received minor injuries during a dispute last Saturday night. In court on Monday the pair held hands and Simon told the judge ‘the both of us are fine together’. Speaking on Simon’s court appearance in his home town of New Canaan, Connecticut, with rock singer Edie Brickell, 48, Mr Harrison said: ‘There’s nothing to it, but again it’s going to be an embarrassment to him as he is very private.’ Simon has won 12 Grammys both as a solo artist and with Simon and Garfunkel. His hits include Mrs Robinson, Bridge Over Troubled Water and Graceland. Both he and his wife will appear again in court on disorderly conduct charges on May 16. | Kathleen Chitty lives in small, three-bedoom house in Welsh-speaking village .
But her inspiration helped launch Simon's career to international stardom .
Mrs Chitty could not cope with the huge attention from music journalists .
Simon once referred to their relationship as his 'most peaceful time' |
127,576 | 30e61f95161e2dbd769316c20e17f6d1fac84e3b | (CNN) -- One day before U.S. President Barack Obama's Canadian visit last week, Canadian fighter jets intercepted two Russian bombers near Canadian air space, the defense minister said Friday. Canadian jets intercepted Russian TU-95 Bear bomber aircraft last week similar to this one. "At no time did Russian planes enter Canadian air space, but within 24 hours of the president's visit here ... we did scramble F-18 fighter planes from NORAD in Canada command," Peter MacKay said in a news conference in Ottawa. The Russian planes were in international waters, about 118 miles (190 kilometers) northeast of Tuktoyuktuk, in Canada's Northwest Territories. "It was a routine flight over international airspace," Yevgeniy Khorishko, a spokesman at the Russian Embassy in Washington, told CBC news. NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, is a joint U.S.-Canadian agency in charge of aerospace control for the North American continent. "As has been done on previous occasions, (Canadian pilots) sent very clear signals that are understood, that (the) aircraft was to turn around, turn tail and head back to its own air space, which it did," MacKay said. The Russian planes were identified as TU-95 Bear aircraft by NORAD spokesman Michael Kucharek. | Russian bombers were in international waters when Canadian jets intercepted them .
Canadians scrambled the F-18 fighter planes from NORAD in Canada command .
Russian planes identified as TU-95 Bear aircraft, NORAD spokesman says .
"It was a routine flight," Russian Embassy spokesman in Washington says . |
282,961 | fa86909b722045b1620f3cbfdde36129383ed95d | The family of a 9-year-old girl who accidentally shot and killed an Arizona instructor with an Uzi is "devastated" and asking for privacy, according to a statement from a family lawyer. "Words cannot express the family's sadness about the accidental shooting of Charles Vacca," attorney Kevin Walsh said Tuesday. "They are devastated by this accident that turned what was supposed to be a unique and brief excursion from their summer vacation into a life-changing tragedy. They are dealing with this privately as a family," he said. Charles Vacca was shot in the head last month as he showed the New Jersey girl how to fire the Israeli-made 9mm submachine gun. As she pulled the trigger, the gun jumped out of her left hand toward Vacca, who was standing beside her. Authorities said the August 25 death was being handled as an industrial accident, with state occupational safety and health officials investigating. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also was notified. Prosecutors said they expected no charges to be filed. Cell phone video released by authorities shows the moments before the fatal shots were fired, CNN affiliate KLAS reported. In the video, Vacca and the girl are at an outdoor range. The wind blows a target in the distance. Vacca shows the child how to hold the gun and then helps her establish her grip and her stance. She fires one round, and dirt flies above the target. Vacca adjusts the Uzi, places his right hand on her back and his left under her right arm. She fires several rounds in rapid succession, and the gun kicks to the left as she loses control. The video ends before the fatal head shot. In releasing the video, authorities did not identify who made it. The shooting touched off a debate about whether children should be allowed to shoot guns like an Uzi. Bullets and Burgers, the shooting range where the accident happened, is part of a tourism niche offering packages costing up to $1,000 to shoot different high-powered weapons. The range offers bachelorette parties, birthday celebrations and wedding events. The Bullets and Burgers website says children between the ages of 8 and 17 can shoot a weapon if accompanied by a parent or guardian. "Although certain people will seek to use this tragedy for their own partisan purposes and agendas, the family asks all compassionate Americans to pray for their children and the entire Vacca family. Please respect both families' privacy as they seek to deal with this tragic accident," attorney Walsh said. Opinion: Get rid of assault weapons . | Charles Vacca was shot in the head as he showed the girl how to shoot .
"Words cannot express the family's sadness," attorney says .
The shooting occurred at a gun range in Arizona that caters to tourists . |
113,992 | 1f141d46ac0b853aaa71e2b7ba3a6351ff836e80 | By . Rosie Taylor . PUBLISHED: . 06:52 EST, 28 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 06:06 EST, 30 October 2012 . Vanished: Hany Nabil Mustapha, 46, was trying to sailing from Poole, Dorset, to Hayling Island, near Portsmouth . A BUSINESSMAN disappeared at sea only hours after buying a yacht and sailing off to meet his wife. Hany Mustapha was last seen sailing out of Poole harbour with his new purchase on Saturday, the day after he had celebrated his 46th birthday. He was planning to travel 46 miles to Hayling Island, near Portsmouth, where his wife Liz, 44, was to join him the next day. But his yacht, Brigand, was found grounded on a sandbank with the engine still running and one sail up, near Brighstone, Isle of Wight, at 5.15pm on Saturday. Despite an extensive search by coastguard helicopters and RNLI lifeboats, no sign of him has been found and the search was called off on Sunday. Coastguards had received no distress signal from the Brigand and it is believed Mr Mustapha was wearing a buoyancy aid rather than lifejacket when he left the harbour. An experienced yachtsman who is studying for his Master Yachtsman certificate, Mr Mustapha, from Worcester Park, South-West London, is a member of the Thames Motoring Yacht Club. Described as ‘fit and active’ by his surgeon father Nabil, he is also a keen sportsman who cycles ‘everywhere he goes’ and plays cricket and golf. The day before picking up the new yacht, he had celebrated his birthday at a Chinese restaurant in Surrey with his wife, his daughter from his first marriage, Nadia, 19, his parents, his sister May, 47, and her three children. His family said he had been excited about collecting the boat and his trip to Hayling Island. Mystery: 'Brigand', which Hany Mustapha had bought the same morning, washed ashore with nobody on board . Empty: Rescue services began a land, sea and air search after a member of the public found the boat . The small boat was found on the Isle of Wight with its engine running and one of its sails still up . He had driven down to Poole after the meal so he could be ready pick it up in the morning.Mr Mustapha is thought to have paid £750 for the boat, a 21-foot pocket cruiser, that had been advertised on eBay. His relatives are baffled at his disappearance. His mother Laila said: ‘He loves the water and he did it [sailing] impressed when I went on his boat. He is always very careful. If something about the water looked dangerous, he would not do it.’ She described her son and his wife as ‘very close’. ‘He has a very good relationship with his wife,’ she said. ‘She is always with him. She is a great rock for him. She encourages and supports him in every way.’ Beached: The boat ran aground on the Isle of Wight. Rescue workers are searching the area around The Needles (pictured) The birthday meal had been his daughter Nadia’s idea and she had come back from university in Aberystwyth to join the party, which was organised by her grandparents. 'He was so happy.' Mr Mustapha’s mother said. ‘He was joking, asking me if I had to put the 4 and the 6 on his cake. He just said “thanks so much for all of this Mum”.’ Mr Mustapha is director of several IT businesses and was described by family as ‘very successful’ and ‘determined’. His parents are of Egyptian origin but he and his sister were born in Aylesbury.Neighbours in the cul-de-sac where Mr Mustapha and his wife live described him as ‘always smiling’. ‘We are all praying for him,’ said one. ‘He is such a nice person, he was always very friendly and good with the children. He is really lovely.’ A woman answered the door at the couple’s £430,000 semi-detached house but declined to comment. A Solent Coastguard spokesman said: ‘The search has been suspended but if we get any new information that prompts us to an area then we will recommence a search.’ Earlier this month, millionairess Mary Unwin, 65, disappeared on a voyage around Land’s End in her new £32,000 boat, a wedding present from her husband. Hopes of her survival faded after wreckage was found along the coast. | His boat appeared on Isle of Wight with no one on board .
The 46-year-old had bought it the same morning, before heading off from Dorset, bound for Hayling Island .
Massive sea, air and land search finds no trace of skipper .
Anyone with information about Mr Mustapha's whereabouts is asked to call Dorset Police on 101. |
162,697 | 5e5788c414e22073ae956d28399516e6950ee0bd | Dapper in a black button down coat and bowler hat, the Duke of Edinburgh today paid tribute to some of Britain's brave Afghanistan veterans. Prince Philip flew to Germany to meet the tank regiment of the Queen's Royal Hussars and present them with their service medals. During the event, which took place at Athlone Barracks in Sennelager, the royal inspected the ranks, pinning on medals as he went. The Duke visited the tank regiment of the Queen's Royal Hussars at the Athlone Barracks in Sennelager . First deployed in 2011, the regiment worked closely with the Afghan police before handing them control of checkpoints. The regiment returned to the country in 2013, fighting insurgents from their base at Camp Bastion, and were among the last troops to leave the country. The Duke, who is the colonel in chief, addressed more than 300 members of the regiment who took part in a parade, watched by their families, amid chilly conditions at the barracks. Philip told the troops: 'It’s a great pleasure for me to be here again to present these campaign medals and also to welcome you all back again. 'I am quite sure your family and friends are delighted to see you and I hope you all had a good leave and are now back raring to go.' Prince Philip himself served in the Royal Navy, fighting for Britain during the Second World War . Prince Philip walked lines of soldiers in a rather dapper bowler hat, pinning medals onto their uniforms . C Squadron deployed to Afghanistan in June as the Warthog Group - one of the last British combat sub-units in Helmand Province. The Warthog Group was made up of crews from the Queen’s Royal Hussars and dismounted infantry and was responsible for disrupting insurgent activity and for providing security in the province, alongside Afghan security forces, during the drawdown from Camp Bastion. Based in Germany, the Queen’s Royal Hussars (The Queen’s Own and Royal Irish) is the senior Light Cavalry Regiment of the British Army. Soldiers taking part in the parade and receiving their medals spoke of their pride at being among the last combat troops in Afghanistan. Trooper Luke Edwardson, 24, from Newton Aycliffe in County Durham, said of his experiences in Helmand: 'It will never leave me and it was a big part of my life. The Duke seemed in excellent spirits, taking his time to talk to each solider as he decorated them . Prince Philip kept warm during the outdoor service in a black button down coat over his suit . The 92-year-old seems to have been in robust health recently after several bouts of illness . 'It was the last tour so I feel proud to be part of it. There’s not going to be any more combat troops there. 'On the plane and having a quick look behind and thinking no-one’s coming back, I was really proud.' Trooper Edwardson worked as part of a Barma team, carrying out the perilous task of clearing paths and searching for improvised explosive devices (IEDs) with hand held detectors ahead of armoured vehicles. 'It’s really hard,' he said. 'You’ve got to be really switched on. You’ve got the lives of other people in your hands. We had one IED blast but luckily no-one was hurt.' He described today’s medal ceremony as 'one of the best days and proudest days of my life', adding: 'We’re one of the last squadrons to get operational medals from Afghanistan'. Lance Corporal Sami Quinton, 21, from Devizes, Wiltshire, said of her first tour to Afghanistan: 'I’m definitely incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved.' The Duke of Edinburgh is the colonel-in-chief of the regiment and a regular visitor to the German barracks . Philip was on jovial form as he was introduced to the families of troops living at the barracks . He looked thrilled to meet families - and they looked equally pleased to see him . The medic was the only servicewoman to be deployed in the regiment’s Warthog group, echoing the recent BBC1 drama Our Girl which follows a female medic serving in Afghanistan in an all-male team. L/Cpl Quinton said of the television show: 'I’m glad they did it because at least people can see how the job is. 'When you’re in the vehicle, it’s incredibly hot, but when I’m treating people and looking after the lads - I treated a few of the locals as well - it makes me proud that I’m there to look after them.' The soldier, who turned 21 while out in Afghanistan, said of being the only servicewoman in the group: 'It was hard to get used to but because of all the training we do, you do get a good bond with the lads.' Trooper Neil Featherstone, 23, from Westbury on Trym, Bristol, who spent three months in Afghanistan on what was his first tour, said: 'Being the last combat troops - I was definitely proud to be part of it but it’s good to be home.' Last night, the Duke joined the Queen at Chatham House for an evening event . The Queen also made a speech as she helped launch the Queen Elizabeth II Academy . He added of receiving his medal: 'When I was over there I did think about it but it doesn’t massively come into your head, but today standing out on parade is going to be a massive moment for me.' Prince Philip is a regular visitor to the barracks and was himself a member of the Armed Forces, fighting in the Royal Navy during the Second World War. Stationed for several years in Malta following the end of the conflict, he was forced to give up his naval career following the Queen's accession to the throne in 1952 . The flying visit to Germany came in the midst of a busy run of engagements for the 92-year-old, who last night joined the Queen at Chatham House. He also attended the National Service of Remembrance last week alongside the Queen, Prince William and other dignitaries. | The Duke of Edinburgh was at the Athlone Barracks in Sennelager .
Presented Afghanistan veterans with their service medals during visit .
The 93-year-old is colonel-in-chief of the Queen's Royal Hussars . |
86,584 | f5bd90f01f0dd65963a15bfdc9850c8d97d64e30 | A yacht carrying around £40million of cocaine headed for the UK has been seized after a dramatic chase off the Caribbean island of Martinique. The vessel - SY Hygeia of Halsa - was boarded by French customs and two men from Jersey have been arrested after officers discovered around 250kg of the Class A drug. It followed an investigation involving the Metropolitan Police, their French counterparts and officials from the National Crime Agency (NCA). The SY Hygeia of Halsa (pictured) was intercepted as it began a transatlantic crossing and found to be carrying cocaine with a street value of around £40 million . Two men from Jersey, aged 57 and 42, were arrested and could face prosecution by the French authorities . They had been following a London-based organised crime group, with connections to the Caribbean, suspected of being involved in the large-scale importation of class A drugs. Officers accosted the UK-registered ship off the island of Martinique on Monday as it began a transatlantic crossing. Two men, aged 57 and 42, were arrested and now face possible prosecution by the French authorities. Hank Cole, the NCA's head of international operations, said: 'Together we have stopped a huge consignment of cocaine close to source. 'We have no doubt that without this intervention the drugs would have ended up on the streets of the UK where, after being cut, they would have had a likely potential value of between £30-40 million. The haul of cocaine - around 250kg - which was discovered by French customs on board the vessel on Monday . 'Our investigation into the organised crime network involved in this attempt continues.' Detective Superintendent Neil Thompson said: 'It is clear that the drugs recovered would have been distributed throughout the streets of London and beyond, generating further criminality and fuelling gang activity. 'If you deal in drugs in any scale we will find you, we will arrest you, and you will face the consequences of your actions.' This is the second significant seizure of Class A drugs on a sailing vessel destined for the UK in recent weeks. Two months ago, around a tonne of cocaine was seized by the Irish Naval Service acting on information supplied by the NCA. It followed an investigation involving the Metropolitan Police, their French counterparts and officials from the National Crime Agency (NCA) | The SY Hygeia of Halsa was boarded as it began its transatlantic crossing .
Officers discovered 250kg of Class A drug and two men were arrested .
The men, aged 57 and 42 from Jersey, could now face possible prosecution .
It follows an investigation involving Met Police, French Customs and NCA .
They had been following a London-based organised crime group, with connections to the Caribbean, suspected of large-scale drug importation . |
110,208 | 1a185a79765df20e6f993bcb41a12c009e843329 | By . Mark Duell . PUBLISHED: . 14:18 EST, 8 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:42 EST, 9 April 2013 . The manufacturer fought hard to ensure its original Jaffa Cake was a cake, not a biscuit - but they're unlikely to have any trouble with this product. McVitie’s started selling world-famous Jaffa Cakes in 1927 - but now it's producing them as full-sized cakes for the first time. The firm won a celebrated court battle in 1991 to have Jaffa Cakes officially recognised as chocolate-covered cakes. Larger version: The £7 Big One, a cake-sized version of the Jaffa Cake, is now being sold in Asda and Morrisons . New product: McVitie's is now manufacturing Jaffa Cakes as full-sized cakes for the first time, as seen here . The taxman had insisted Jaffa Cakes are biscuits, taxed if they are ‘half or more covered by chocolate’. But the manufacturer insisted they are cakes, which are not taxed. Obscure legal arguments focused on discussions about how a cake is something which starts off soft and goes hard when it is stale, while a biscuit starts off hard and goes soft. A giant Jaffa cake the size of an ‘ordinary’ cake was even produced as evidence in court. Eventually the judge ruled the Jaffa Cake is, indeed, a cake. The £7 Big One, a cake-sized version of the Jaffa Cake, is now being sold in Asda and Morrisons. | McVitie's started selling Jaffa Cakes in 1927 but are now going large .
Firm won 1991 court battle to have Jaffa Cakes recognised as cakes .
Taxman had wanted to make them biscuits so they would be taxable . |
6,684 | 12fd158189558a9ea051ec2b502697dec5d40b8f | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Google co-founder Larry Page has said people shouldn't work as much as they do - because there really is no need. The tech mogul, who spoke alongside fellow Google founder Sergey Brin in an interview with venture capitalist Vinod Khosla, didn't expand on how people could afford to live if they worked less. 'If you really think about the things . you need to make yourself happy - housing, security, opportunity for . your kids - it's not that hard for us to provide those things,' he said in the interview last week. He said the resources we need do not require as much effort to achieve as we think they do, and instead said that we only work to make ourselves feel needed. Scroll down for video . Speaking out: Larry Page, center alongside fellow Google founder Sergey Brin (right) and Vinod Khosla (left), said at an event last week that there is no need for people to work as much as they do . 'I think there's a problem that we don't recognize,' he went on. 'There's a social problem. 'A lot of people aren't happy if they . don't have anythings to do, so we need to give people things to do. You . need to feel like you're needed and wanted.' Instead, he suggested that we should work much less - or split jobs between more people - citing an example set by Virgin's founder, Richard Branson to battle unemployment in the U.K. 'He's been trying to get people to hire two part-time people instead of one full-time, so at least the young people can have a half-time job rather than no job,' he said. Questions: Page, left, said people should work less - without explaining how they could afford to live . 'If you have global unemployment, you just reduce work time.' While explaining his view, Page, who is worth nearly $32 billion, according to Forbes, failed to outline exactly how people would afford to live on fewer hours, and presumably a lesser wage. He added that he had asked many people if they would like to have an extra week of vacation or work fewer days in the week - and most said they would. 'Most people like working, but they'd also like to have more time with their family or to pursue their own interests,' he said. Co-founder Brin said he had to 'quibble' with Page's view. Comfortable: Page, pictured with his wife Lucy Southworth last year, is worth an estimated $32 billion . 'I don't think that in the near term, the need for labor is going away,' he said. 'It gets shifted from one place to another, but people always want more stuff or more entertainment or more creativity or more something.' Page, 41, launched Google in 1996 with Brin after they met while studying for PhDs at Stanford University before starting Google Inc. two years later. He is married to Lucinda Southworth, a former model and research scientist, and together they have two children and live in a mansion in Palo Alto, California. | Larry Page said that because it doesn't take much to achieve the jobs that we need complete, roles should be split or hours should be reduced .
He failed to suggest how workers could afford to live on fewer hours .
He spoke alongside fellow Google co-founder Sergey Brin in an interview with venture capitalist and billionaire Vinod Khosla last week . |
143,649 | 45c1b36ffb11071478886c428fd80e21691aab7b | If you thought it was cold where you are at the moment then a visit to the Russian village of Oymyakon might just change your mind. With the average temperature for January standing at -50C, it is no wonder the village is the coldest permanently inhabited settlement in the world. Known as the 'Pole of Cold', the coldest ever temperature recorded in Oymyakon was -71.2C. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . A woman walks over an ice-encrusted bridge in Yakutsk Village of . Oymyakon, which is considered to be the coldest permanently inhabited . settlement in the world . The thick fur of these East Siberian Laikas puppies keeps them warm: Oymyakon is 750 metres above sea level, which means that the length . of a day varies from 3 hours in December to 21 hours in the summer . The village, which is home to around 500 people, was originally a stop-over for reindeer herders who would water their flocks from the thermal spring . A Communist-era monument marking the record-breaking temperature of -71.2 recorded in the village in 1924. It reads 'Oymyakon, the Pole of Cold' Daily problems that come with living in Oymyakon include pen . ink freezing, glasses freezing to people's faces and batteries losing . power. Locals are said to leave their cars running all day for fear of . not being able to restart them. Another . problem caused by the frozen temperatures is burying dead bodies, which . can take up to three days. The earth must first have thawed . sufficiently in order to dig, so a bonfire is lit for a couple . of hours. Hot coals are . then pushed to the side and a hole a couple of inches deep is dug. The . process is repeated for several days until the hole is deep enough to . bury the coffin. This is the lowest recorded temperature for any permanently inhabited . location on Earth and the lowest temperature recorded in the Northern . Hemisphere . The village, which is home to around 500 . people, was, in the 1920s and 1930s, a stopover for reindeer herders who would water . their flocks from the thermal spring. But the Soviet government, in its . efforts to settle nomadic populations, believing them to be difficult to . control and technologically and culturally backward, made the site a . permanent settlement. Ironically, Oymyakon actually means 'non-freezing water' due to a nearby hot spring. Most homes in Oymyakon still burn coal and wood for heat and enjoy few modern conveniences. Nothing grows there so people eat reindeer meat and horsemeat. A single shop . provides the town's bare necessities and the locals work as . reindeer-breeders, hunters and ice-fisherman. Doctors say the reason the locals don't suffer from malnutrition is that their animals' milk contains a lot of micronutrients. Unsurprisingly, locals are hardened to the weather and unlike in other . countries - where a flurry of snow brings things grinding to a halt, . Oymyakon's solitary school only shuts if temperatures fall below -52C. Farmer Nikolai Petrovich waters his cows at a patch of thermal water on . the edge of Oymyakon. Despite its terrible winters, in June, July and August temperatures over 30c are not uncommon . Cows walk back to their sheds after watering in the Oymyakon thermal spring . Oymyakon village at dawn with a plume of smoke rising from the heating plant. Most people still burn coal and wood . for heat. When coal deliveries are irregular the power . station starts burning wood. If the power ceases, the town shuts down in . about five hours, and the pipes freeze and crack . The village is located around 750 metres above sea level and the length of a day varies from 3 hours in December to 21 hours in . the summer. And despite its terrible winters, in June, July and August temperatures over 30c are not uncommon. There are few modern conveniences in the village - with many buildings . still having outdoor toilets - and most people still burn coal and wood . for heat. When coal deliveries are irregular the power . station starts burning wood. If the power ceases, the town shuts down in . about five hours, and the pipes freeze and crack. Alexander Platonov, 52, a retired teacher, dressed for a quick dash to the outdoor toilet at his home in Oymyakon. Travel companies offer tourists the opportunity to visit the village and sample life in the freezing conditions . A patch of the thermal spring on the outskirts of Oymyakon. The village is known as the 'Pole of Cold'. Daily problems that come with living in Oymyakon include pen . ink freezing, glasses freezing to people's faces and batteries losing . power. Locals are said to leave their cars running all day for fear of . not being able to restart them . A view from the M56 Kolyma Highway into Oymyakon, otherwise known as The Road of Bones. The road has become a challenge for adventure motorcyclists . Oymyakon lies a two day drive from the city of Yakutsk, the regional . capital, which has the coldest winter temperatures for any city in the . world. It is served by two airports and is home . to a university, schools, theatres and museums. Daily problems that come with living in Oymyakon include pen ink freezing, glasses freezing to people's faces and batteries losing power. Locals are said to leave their cars running all day for fear of not being able to restart them. Even if there was coverage for mobile phone reception the phones themselves would not work in such cold conditions. Another problem caused by the frozen temperatures is burying dead bodies, which can take anything up to three days. The earth must first have thawed sufficiently in order to dig it, so a bonfire is lit for a couple . of hours. Hot coals are . then pushed to the side and a hole couple of inches deep is dug. The . process is repeated for several days until the hole is deep enough to . bury the coffin. Travel companies offer tourists the opportunity to visit the village and sample life in the freezing conditions. A toilet on the tundra at a petrol stop on the road to Oymyakon (left) and a young student poses for a portrait at a bus station in Yakutsk. A digger delivers fresh coal to the heating plant in Oymyakon . A petrol station on the way to Oymyakon. Cars are generally left running full time by locals who fear they won't restart if turned off . Oymyakon's only shop caters for the needs of the village's 500 . people . A man leaves his van and walks into Oymyakon's only shop as paper waste is burnt in a 40 gallon drum . A view of Stalin's 'Road of Bones', the route to Oymyakon, on a -50c evening . | Russian village of Oymyakon has lowest recorded temperature for any permanently inhabited .
location .
Nothing grows so locals live off diet of reindeer meat and horse meat but never suffer malnourishment .
Locals keep their cars running all day for fear of them not starting again if turned off .
Digging graves for a funeral can take up to three days as ground has to be thawed with hot coals . |
112,320 | 1ce4460de8405031d2a87eeadc9bda946ac3f915 | It is the world’s most aggressive and venomous spider, normally confined to the tropical forests of South America. But one family was left ‘deeply traumatised’ when a Brazilian wandering spider was delivered to their South London home – by Waitrose. The lethal arachnid had been hiding in bananas when drivers dropped off the online groceries. Scroll down for video . And although dad Tim managed to trap the beast, it ripped off its own leg to escape, sparking a tense hunt as the couple and their two sons, aged seven and eight, fled the house. They were so terrified they couldn’t even spend the night in their own home once the spider had been captured. Tim, who declined to give his surname, said: ‘Although people might think these things are funny, I keep thinking that the spider could have killed me or my son if he had gone to get a banana.’ The Brazilian wandering spider has caused 14 reported deaths, and although an antidote to its powerful neurotoxin has been developed, one pest control expert claimed there was no anti-venom in the UK. Guy’s Hospital in London held stocks, but they expired in 2011. Tim had been cooking breakfast when the supermarket van dropped off their order last weekend. Just as he was unpacking the bananas, he spotted the spider, and, in shock, dropped the bunch into a fruit bowl, trapping the beast by one of its legs. Tim said he had been cooking breakfast when the Waitrose van dropped his shopping off. When the spider was removed they discovered a sac of eggs containing thousands of babies . He took photographs and went online to identify it – discovering it was of a species the Guinness Book of Records calls the world’s most venomous. Tim said: ‘We were terrified. We got ourselves and our kids out of the house straight away.’ He and his wife Lisa called both the supermarket and the RSPCA, which said it was unable to handle such a dangerous animal and advised them to call 999. But police said they, too, could not deal with the spider – whose Greek scientific name translates as ‘murderess’ and whose venom can kill in two hours – and suggested a pest control expert. Waitrose sent a pest expert down to tackle the spider, which he described as 'hardcore' - the creature was eventually locked inside three separate boxes . Meanwhile, a Waitrose worker arrived, armed with just a freezer bag to trap the lethal spider. They went into the kitchen and discovered the creature had disappeared, leaving only its trapped leg behind. Tim said: ‘We had no idea where it had gone.’ And when the Waitrose worker lifted up the bananas, they spotted a sac containing hundreds of spider eggs. It was then that they decided to evacuate the house. Waitrose sent pest expert Steve Trippett to track down the spider he described as ‘hardcore’. He disposed of the eggs – putting them in a freezer to kill them – and, armed with a 3ft stick found the creature at the bottom of the fruit bowl. Rather than scuttling away, the spider became aggressive, standing on its back legs and showing its fangs. Undeterred, Mr Trippett used his stick to manoeuvre it into a heavy plastic box, which was then placed inside two other boxes. It is understood the spider was then taken to a scientific centre abroad. Tim said his family were ‘too traumatised to remain in the house’ so spent the night with friends. Waitrose said: ‘The safety of our customers is our absolute priority. ‘We did everything we could to look after our customer during what was a distressing incident and we’ve apologised personally. Although this is highly unusual, we’re taking it very seriously and will be working with our supplier to minimise the risk of this happening again.’ The supermarket offered the family £150 of shopping vouchers and a family day out in compensation. This is the latest of several incidents of the species finding its way to Britain – which experts say could be down to the trend for organic fruits not treated with chemicals that could kill the spiders. Last month a woman in Essex found eggs in bananas she bought from Tesco. She had to incinerate her vacuum cleaner after using it to clean them up. In March, a family evacuated their Staffordshire home after finding hundreds of hatchlings. Last November, a Tesco store in Kent had to close for several hours after a Brazilian wandering spider was found under a box of bananas. In the same month, a family had their London house fumigated after they bought infested bananas from Sainsbury’s. | Brazilian wandering spider, world's most deadly arachnid, found in bunch of bananas by parents Tim and Lisa .
Store sent worker to trap it, but when they discovered egg sac filled with thousands of babies, they called in expert .
Pest controller described creature as 'hardcore' and said when he tried to trap it, rather than run, it attacked . |
30,705 | 575168f39a74b122ec729644ef512989c0563316 | Gill Barlow says her daughter Jasmin is in desperate need of specialist care after anorexia caused her weight to fall to 6st and destroyed one of her kidneys . A mother says she is in a 'race against the clock' to save her anorexic daughter's life - but fears the NHS will not give her the help she needs. Gill Barlow, says her daughter Jasmin is in desperate need of specialist care after the illness destroyed one of her kidneys and left her weighing just six stone. Despite the devastating effect on her health, she claims mental health officials . have so far failed to arrange appropriate care for her, which has . resulted in repeated emergency admissions to general wards. 'Every day, Jasmine wakes up and asks herself "will I die today",' she said. 'She needs far more help from the NHS or she will die. They’re not giving her the care she needs and this has been going on about two years. 'She’s had about 25 emergency admissions in that time and we’re just going round in circles. 'I feel like I’m racing against the clock to get her the right treatment.' Ms Barlow wants her daughter to be in an eating disorder unit with the right specialists giving her the attention she needs. 'We’ve been told she will definitely need dialysis and a kidney transplant but she’ll need to be in a better physical state before that happens - and she can’t do that without more help,' she added. Jasmin, 26, who lives with her mother in Blackburn, Lancashire, has been under the care of the East Lancashire Eating Disorder Service, but this does not cater for patients with acute problems. Ms Barlow added: 'The eating disorder service just isn’t equipped to deal with cases as complex as Jasmin’s, who is also bipolar and has type two bulimia. 'I think they are starting to realise that she needs proper 24-hour care and they’re now trying to get her into the Priory Hospital in Preston, a specialist unit, but we’re still waiting. 'I’ve heard people say that she should just eat but it’s a mental illness and it’s not that simple.' Despite weighing a healthy 10st before she was diagnosed five years ago, Jasmine’s health has rapidly deteriorated and, at 5ft 5in tall, she now weighs 6st. With a body mass index (BMI) of just 14, which is well below the recommended minimum of 18.5, her condition has become so severe that her stomach automatically repels food. Her mother says she has had to fight untill she was 'blue in the face' for the NHS to provide a peg-feed, which can be inserted through her stomach. But . when Jasmin’s mental state deteriorates, she stops using the feed, . which results in her being rushed to hospital with renal failure, due to . dehydration and low potassium levels. Jasmin said: 'I wake up every day in tears and every morning I ask myself "will I die today?" Jasmin has been admitted to hospital several times and, at times, has to be fed through a tube in her stomach . Ms Barlow said: 'I feel like I'm racing against the clock to get her the right treatment' 'I desperately want help but the hospital doesn't know what to do with me. 'They don’t seem to understand my illness and I feel like they think I’m being selfish and choosing not to eat. 'But it’s not a choice - it’s a mental illness. There’s so much ignorance surrounding anorexia and bulimia and that makes it so much harder to recover. I want nothing more than to get better but I feel so alone. 'Anorexia is a physical illness as well as a mental one and the mental health ward only offers me therapy. 'I need to be in a proper eating disorder unit that specialises in treating people with the illness. If they don’t address the problem soon I will die.' Jasmin said: 'I wake up every day in tears and every morning I ask myself "will I die today?"' Blackburn . with Darwen Clinical Commissioning Group said the Eating Disorder . Service will be a priority in its commissioning plans for 2015/16. In a statement provided to MailOnline, Shelley French, Eating Disorder Team Manager at Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'The Trust’s Eating Disorder service provides assessment and treatment interventions within the community, for people presenting with a primary eating disorder. 'The team works closely with other organisation including the Hospitals Trust to support service users who may require secondary care services. 'We are unable to discuss details relating to an individual’s care due to confidentiality reasons.' For information and advice regarding eating disorders, visit the BEAT charity website. | Gill Barlow says daughter Jasmin is in desperate need of specialist care .
Illness has destroyed one of her kidneys and left her weighing 6 stone .
Mother claims her daughter needs 24-hour care in a specialist unit .
Jasmin, 26, has been admitted to A&E 25 times, her mother says .
She has a peg feed inserted in her stomach, but sometimes stops using it .
Doctors say she will need dialysis and a kidney transplant . |
14,618 | 297c2e9cf646c37c93b57b1121788fcc90ca296a | Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- The Taliban will permit a program of polio vaccination in the volatile Afghanistan-Pakistan border area, their spokesman told CNN in an e-mail Tuesday, after consistent pressure over the issue. The statement comes a day after Afghan President Hamid Karzai called on the Taliban and other insurgents to allow the vaccination teams to help save children from a lifetime of paralysis. It marks the Taliban's latest move to garner respectability amid attempts to get peace talks under way in the region. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said insurgents had been instructed to let the vaccinations take place provided aid workers do not use government facilities. "The polio vaccinators must not use government resources, including vehicles and soldiers, and they should use their own resources so that they impartially execute their program," Mujahid said. He added the Taliban have always backed vaccinations. The statement to CNN came the same day that the presidential palace appealed to the Taliban to let the vital program take place unhindered. "Despite all the past efforts to vaccinate millions against polio, there are still children suffering from the disease on both sides of the Durand Line," Karzai said. The Durand Line is the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The statement from the palace added: "The president appeals to religious scholars, mullahs and community leaders and elders to cooperate with the immunization teams by persuading the opposition to allow vaccinators to administer polio drops to children against the permanent paralysis." According to World Health Organization, there are four countries in which the transmission of polio has never been stopped: Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan. They face a range of challenges, such as insecurity, weak health systems and poor sanitation. Polio could spread from these "endemic" countries to infect children in other countries with less-than-adequate vaccination, the organization says. Reports from the Afghan Ministry of Public Health show a threefold rise in the number of polio cases in 2011 compared with that of 2010. A ministry report that covered 2011 showed 80 cases in Afghanistan, 62 of which were in the south of the country, the government statement said. | Taliban spokesman: "The polio vaccinators must not use government resources"
The spokesman says the Taliban have always supported vaccinations .
Polio remains a problem in both Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan . |
230,031 | b5e153a2432ba62a4eb6e5aafe82b0977cb1510a | The Utah mother who allegedly killed six of her newborn babies before stashing their bodies in her garage has pleaded guilty to six counts of murder. Megan Huntsman, 39, appeared in court in Provo on Thursday and faces between five years and life in prison for each murder when she is sentenced on April 20. In exchange for the guilty pleas, prosecutors said they will recommend that her sentences run concurrently - but the Utah County Attorney's Office still expects she will spend the rest of her life behind bars, the Deseret News reported. Prosecutors had called it a unique case in both its heinousness and in the number of victims. Scroll down for videos . In court: Megan Huntsman, 39, is pictured in court in Provo on Thursday as she pleaded guilty to murder . Distraught: She stayed largely silent in the court apart from to enter the six guilty pleas for killing her babies . The deaths sent shockwaves through the quiet, mostly Mormon community where Huntsman stored the tiny bodies for more than a decade after strangling the newborns. Her estranged husband, Darren West, made the grisly discovery in April 2014 while he cleaned out a garage in the home they had shared in Pleasant Grove, just south of Salt Lake City. He called police to report finding a dead infant in a small white box covered with electrician's tape, and they ultimately found six other bodies. Authorities say the seventh child had been a stillborn. Huntsman told police she either strangled or suffocated the babies immediately after they were born. She wrapped their bodies in a towel or a shirt, put them in plastic bags and then packed them inside boxes in the garage. Police say Huntsman killed the babies over a 10-year period from 1996 to 2006, during a period of her life when she told investigators she was addicted to methamphetamine and didn't want to care for the babies. Scene: Her estranged husband found one of the babies' bodies while cleaning out the garage at her Pleasent Grove, Utah home, pictured, in April last year. He called police, who found six more, including a stillborn . Search: Authorities investigate the crime scene after the bodies of seven babies were found in the garage . DNA results have revealed that all seven newborns were full term and that West was the biological father of the infants. West lived with her during the decade the babies were killed, but he is not considered a suspect in their deaths. West discovered the bodies shortly after he was released from federal prison where he spent more than eight years after pleading guilty to meth charges. In her few brief court appearances, Huntsman has said very little. The day the babies were found, Huntsman told police that were eight or nine dead babies in her home, search warrant affidavit show. But police later concluded Huntsman was confused and was taking a ballpark guess. Discovery: Hunstman, left, was arrested after her estranged husband Darren West, right, found the bodies in her garage. West, who previously served time in prison, is not considered a suspect in their deaths . | Megan Huntsman appeared in court in Provo on Thursday and entered six guilty pleas for murdering her babies between 1996 and 2006 .
Their bodies were found as her estranged husband - the babies' father - cleared out her garage in April last year .
She faces between five years and life in prison for each murder when she is sentenced in April . |
286,745 | ff848fcb5fc0d50da8b5b08bbe69e4d46eab300c | (CNN) -- A South Florida man killed his wife and son with a crossbow, drove 460 miles to try and kill his other son, and then slit his own throat. The violent, long-distance rampage took Pedro Maldonado Sr. from one end of the state to the other. While the Broward County Sheriff's Office continues to piece together a time line, detectives believe Maldonado shot and killed his 47-year-old wife, Monica Narvaez-Maldonado, and their 17-year-old son, Pedro Maldonado Jr., with a crossbow in their Weston townhouse sometime on Monday. Weston is located about 13 miles west of Fort Lauderdale. The sheriff's report says Maldonado, 53, then drove about 460 miles north to Tallahassee in an attempt to kill his older son, José Maldonado, who attends Florida State University. "His dad did try to shoot him with the same handheld crossbow and the arrow hit Jose's ear," Dani Moschella, a spokeswoman for the sheriff's department, told CNN affiliate WSVN. "Then his father tried to choke him, and José luckily was able to get away." José Maldonado never reported the attack to police, but it was his father's confession to a friend on Tuesday that set authorities on his trail. The Broward Sheriff's report says Pedro Maldonado called a friend in Miami and admitted to killing his wife and son. A short time later, authorities found their bodies in the South Florida townhouse. Did Montana newlywed blindfold husband before pushing him off cliff? Later in the day, authorities learned that Maldonado might be in the Lake City area, about 100 miles east of Tallahassee. The Columbia County Sheriff's Office found his SUV at a hotel. After trying to contact Maldonado for hours, they entered his room and found him dead early Wednesday. He slit his own throat, authorities said. Man kills wife, dogs in home . "I knew them. They were good neighbors. I never heard anything from the house -- no screaming, no fighting, nothing," neighbor Ana Maldonado, who is not related to the family, told WSVN. "Terrible. I don't see why parents have to get the kids involved. If you have a problem, solve it. "Do what he did far away, by himself, but leave the family alone." Cops: Husband kills wife with AK-47 . CNN's Carma Hassan contributed to this report. | Authorities say Pedro Maldonado killed his wife and son with a crossbow .
He then drove 460 milles to Tallahassee in an attempt to kill his other son .
Maldonado later called a friend, admitting to killing two family members .
He took his life in a Lake City hotel room, authorities say . |
164,777 | 61112ac3c1f32e7bd9944ba40866e62ef35e7ba4 | By . Simon Tomlinson . PUBLISHED: . 09:33 EST, 8 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:46 EST, 8 January 2013 . British period drama Downton Abbey scored rave reviews and a record 7.9 million viewers for public broadcasting channel PBS as viewers tuned in to watch a wedding and financial calamity during the award-winning show's third season U.S. premiere on Sunday. Fans witnessed the wedding of Matthew and Lady Mary Crawley after two seasons in which viewers were kept wondering if they would ever tie the knot. According to PBS, the ratings for season 3 quadrupled the average viewings for PBS primetime shows, which usually is 2 million viewers, and nearly doubled the premiere of the second season, which kicked off with 4.2 million viewers in January 2012. Everyone loves a wedding! A record 8million viewers tuned in to see Lady Mary and Matthew Crawley tie the knot on the season three premiere of Downton Abbey on U.S. broadcaster PBS on Sunday night . The joy over the wedding was offset by news that Lord Grantham, the owner of the grand estate, had lost his fortune to bad investments. American actress Shirley MacLaine debuted in the role of the feisty Martha Levinson, the mother of Lord Grantham's American wife Cora. She entertained viewers with her witty exchanges with Downton matriarch Violet Crawley, played by Maggie Smith. Downton Abbey, created by British screenwriter Julian Fellowes, has become both a critical success and a cult favorite among its many U.S. fans. It has won seven Emmy awards and will be going into Sunday's Golden Globe awards with three nominations in major television categories including best drama series. Star attractions: The ratings for the season 3 debut quadrupled the average viewings for PBS primetime shows, which usually is 2 million viewers . Vanity Fair, which live-tweets humorous comments during the show, leads a strong online following of fans who discuss aspects of the show ranging from dresses and dances to the dramatic twists. 'The Subcommittee on Preventing Edith's Happiness resolves to kill off her boyfriend, put thumbtacks in her evening shoes," the magazine tweeted, referring to the unlucky-in-love Lady Edith Crawley. PBS said that the show garnered nearly 100,000 tweets during its Sunday premiere. | Quadruples PBS's primetime viewings and doubles second season's debut . |
228,008 | b33ce15f2ec8a483df1ebb1997dc11560f1bdee3 | He has already earned himself a record-breaking 16 Olympic medals and the world will watch as he propels himself through the water for gold in the next few weeks. But American international swimmer Michael Phelps works hard for the enviably strong physique that has garnered him an army of female fans as well as a closet full of medals. The 27-year-old athlete, whose arms span 6ft 7in (201 cm)—disproportionate to his height of 6ft 4in inches (193 cm)— maintains that his performance is down to his highly calorific diet, which sees him feast on a staggering 12,000 calories every day. Precarious: Don't drop that towel Michael. In fact, do, please . Give this man a Speedo campaign: The swimmer shows off his tan lines poolside . Focus: The world champion is preparing for the games with a supersized diet . Water babe: Enjoying a training session before the official start of the London 2012 Olympic Games . He starts the day with a hearty . breakfast consisting of three fried-egg sandwiches, three chocolate chip . pancakes, a five-egg omelette, three sugar-coated slices of French . toast, and a bowl of grits (maize porridge). His . lunch doesn't get much smaller as he devours half a kilogram of pasta . (enriched with vitamins and fibre) over lunch, two large ham and cheese . sandwiches covered in mayonnaise and gallons of energy drinks. For his final meal of the day, he finishes off the remaining kilogram of pasta, followed by pizza and more energy drinks. A pre swim stretch: Phelps' incredible physique stands out from even the buffest of his teammates as they prepare to train today . Michael Phelps achieves his muscular physique by feasting on a whopping 12,000 calories a day . Fellow swimmer Ryan Lochte has an equally epic diet. 'After morning practice I have a big breakfast: pancakes, waffles, cereal, bagels, eggs, everything.' Personal trainer and nutritionist and . weight management expert Jenny Dawes, who has trained athletes, rugby . player and celebrities such as Ulrika Johnson, maintains that although . Michael's diet would be dangerous for a regular person, the athlete needs that . amount of energy for training. 'I . would recommend that a regular competitive male swimmer would need . around 6,000 calories a day but because Michael is at Olympic level he will . be training so hard that he will be burning it straight off. 'His . cholesterol intake is very high but by constantly swimming, there is no . time for the cholesterol to stick to his arteries. But his cholesterol . levels do need to be checked regularly to ensure he is not putting his . body at risk for future cardiovascular disease.' His hard work paid off at the Beijing Games where he took home Men's 200m Butterfly gold medal . Jenny says that Michael's energy drink consumption is necessary for an athlete in order to keep his electrolytes balanced and his muscles hydrated. 'Carb and electrolyte enhance drinks should be taken to replenish glycogen stores in muscles and liver as dehydration can cause muscles to fatigue very quickly. 'But I would always check the sugar content on the bottles.' Phelps' high-calorie diet clearly pays off as his international titles and record-breaking performances have . earned him the World Swimmer of the Year Award six times and American . Swimmer of the Year Award eight times. He has won a total of 66 . medals in major international competition, 55 gold, nine silver, . and three bronze spanning the Olympics, the World, and the Pan Pacific . Championships. His unprecedented Olympic success in 2008 earned Phelps . Sports Illustrated magazine's Sportsman of the Year award. BREAKFAST . Michael eats a whole bag of pasta this size for lunch and then another one for dinner . Three fried-egg sandwiches . Three chocolate chip pancakes . A five-egg omelette . Three sugar-coated slices of French toast . A bowl of grits (maize porridge) LUNCH . Half a kilogram of pasta . Two large ham and cheese sandwiches covered in mayonnaise . Gallons of energy drinks . DINNER . Half a kilogram of pasta . Pizza . Energy drinks . | U.S. swimmer guzzles three fried egg .
sandwiches, choc chip pancakes, a five egg omelette, French toast and .
grits - just for BREAKFAST .
Phelps also consumes a whole kilogram of pasta every day plus ham and cheese sandwiches and pizza .
Athlete, 27, maintains his performance is down to his calorific diet . |
138,861 | 3f95bd131cd079f18d7071b5e17a92251f015355 | Aristocratic bad boy Lord Brocket has failed in his latest attempt to seize £2million worth of antiques and artworks from his family home. The controversial peer sent a fleet of removal vans to Brocket Hall in Hertfordshire, claiming he has a legal right to remove the valuables from the building. However, the lorries were unable to gain entry to the stately home, and were sent away again empty-handed. Removal vans: Lord Brocket yesterday sent a fleet of lorries to Brocket Hall, his family home in Hertfordshire . Denied: Security guards sent the vans away claiming they had no right to access the antiques up for dispute . Lord Brocket, 62, who was jailed for insurance fraud during the 1990s, has leased out Brocket Hall as a conference centre and golf course for nearly 20 years. The home's antiques are leased to a company owned by German hotelier Dieter Klostermann - but Lord Brocket claims the businessman has failed to keep up payments, and is demanding the objects be returned to the family trust which owns them. Among the valuable items at stake in the dispute are a painting by Van Dyck, the table from the home's ballroom and other items of furniture. Earlier this year, a convoy of removal vans was stopped on the motorway after trying to take what Lord Brocket claims he is owed. In yesterday's incident, a fleet of four vans turned up outside the hall demanding to gain entry, but the removal men were ordered to leave by security after a half-hour stand-off - as officials at the hall said they needed the items for a Christmas party attended by the Arsenal football team. Controversial: Lord Brocket, pictured with his wife Harriet, is locked in a legal battle with the company that runs Brocket Hall . Home: But Lord Brocket has leased out Brocket Hall as a conference centre and golf course since 1996 . Lord Brocket, who was not present at the scene of the dispute, said: 'The problem is that this is theft, this is not their furniture. It is mine and they are using it to run a business. They agreed we could go in at 8.30 but yet again they changed their mind.' He added: 'The trustees of the Brocket Estate are criminally liable if they fail to maintain the listed buildings and contents. 'Buildings have collapsed, original fixtures ripped out of buildings and original candelabras made for the ballroom destroyed. In 2012 the tenant was served with a £7.2million bill due to dilapidations. 'On November 20, 2013 the licence to the tenant of Brocket Hall to use the contents of the hall ended following numerous failures to pay rent and damage to various contents. 'The contents are owned by the trustees of Brocket Hall. Since that day the tenant has unlawfully withheld the contents in order to rent out Brocket Hall as a furnished venue and this is regarded as theft.' Fight: The vans were supposed to be picking up £2million worth of art including a painting by Van Dyck . Mix-up: A representative for Lord Brocket said he thought the estate had agreed to allow entry . The company running Brocket Hall has said that some of the objects may legally have to remain in the home because of its status as a grade I listed building. A spokesman said: 'Brocket Hall International have been working closely with Welwyn Hatfield Council and English Heritage with reference to the artwork located in the Hall. 'Both the council and English Heritage are in the process of deciding whether various items benefit from the property’s grade one listing, in relation to their annexation or historical significance. Tycoon: The hall is currently leased to a company owned by hotelier Dieter Klostermann, pictured . 'We have contacted the estate's trustees with regards to the procedure for collection of any items that do not benefit from the listing, however BHI never gave permission for any items to be removed yesterday. 'Lord Brocket wants to operate outside of the law - we are not prepared to do this.' Property manager Stuart Gray, who has been representing the peer in the dispute, told the Evening Standard that he thought there had been an 'understanding' that the removal vans would be given access to Brocket Hall. But Jim Moore, the property's financial director, told the paper: 'We don't owe the trust a penny.' Lord Brocket first had to lease out his ancestral home in 1996, shortly after he was jailed for scamming insurers out of £4.5million over a fleet of classic cars. The property is rented by Brocket Hall International, part of Mr Klostermann's company CCA International, while the contents are leased out under a separate contract. The company did not respond for a request for comment on the legal dispute with Lord Brocket. Brocket Hall was built in 1760, and has previously been home to prime ministers and members of the royal family. Lord Brocket's ancestors bought the home around a century ago, and the current lord took possession when he inherited his title in 1971. The Old Etonian served as an Army officer before gaining a reputation as a playboy and car enthusiast, but was ruined by his five-year prison sentence. In the past decade he has reinvented himself as a television personality, appearing on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and other reality programmes. | Controversial peer, 62, claims property firm is illegally holding antiques .
He sent five removal vans to Brocket Hall to claim valuable artworks back .
But they were sent away again after a half-hour stand-off at the gates .
Lord Brocket has leased out ancestral home in Hertfordshire for decades . |
274,596 | efb4807ea557492f63321ee7a319b66e0d32fcc1 | By . Mark Prigg . New York's attorney general says the car service Uber has agreed to limit prices during emergencies, natural disasters or other market disruptions consistent with the state's law against price gouging. The firm came under fire in December when huge snowstorms left people stranded - and Uber charged up to eight times its normal fare. Under the new agreement, it will set a cap during 'abnormal disruptions of the market,' limited to the range charged in the preceding 60 days and excluding the three highest prices. Scroll down for video . Uber came under fire in December when huge snowstorms left people stranded across the Northeast - and Uber charged up to eight times its normal fare. Customers can see the driver’s name and photo before they arrive and receive an email of their route to ensure they have not gone around the houses. Uber takes a cut, usually 11 to 20 per cent, of the fares, which are taken from customers’ credit cards at the end of the journey — when they can also rate their trip. Journey costs increase during busy periods, but customers are not encouraged to tip because the gratuity is factored into the metered fare. Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said it will apply to UberX, Uber Black, Uber SUV and Uber LUX. 'This agreement represents the thoughtful application of long-established law to new technology,' said Attorney General Schneiderman. 'It provides consumers with critical protections to which they are entitled under the law – and it provides Uber with clarity from government about how the law will be applied to its innovative pricing model. 'This agreement also serves as a model for the kind of effective collaboration that should exist between government and technology companies like Uber.' The firm came under fire following snowstorms in December when ome rides cost 8.25 times the standard price. Salman Rushdie took to Twitter to complain about surge pricingm while digital media expert Tim O’Reilly accused the service of price gouging. Travis Kalanick, C.E.O. and co-founder of Uber, said, 'This policy intends to strike the careful balance between the goal of transportation availability with community expectations of affordability during disasters. 'Our collaborative solution with Attorney General Schneiderman is a model for technology companies and regulators in local, state and federal government.' On Monday, Uber said it is temporarily cutting New York City prices in a bid to compete with taxis.The San Francisco-based company is expected to apply the same cap policy for its services nationally. Snow surge: Under the new agreement, Uber will set a cap during 'abnormal disruptions of the market,' limited to the range charged in the preceding 60 days and excluding the three highest prices. It is already locked in a battle with New York's iconic yellow cabs . The move discounts prices by 20 percent, and follows similar price cuts in a slew of other cities including San Francisco, Chicago, and Atlanta. Uber, which recently raised $1.2 billion in new funding, stressed the new pricing would only be available for a limited time - but hinted they could stay. But 'the more you ride,' the company claimed in a blog post, 'the more likely we can keep them this low!' Uber has expanded around the world at an astonishing rate, taking on cab firms in major cities around the globe. Described as 'one of the most rapidly growing companies ever,' earlier this month it was valued at $18.2bn, one of the highest valuations ever for a Silicon Valley startup. The firm, which relies on an app and software to match riders and drivers, was started in 2010 - and now operates in 128 cities across 37 countries. The firm has raised $1.2 billion from mutual funds and other investors in a funding round valuing the fast-growing rides-on-demand service at $18.2 billion. Uber says its new pricing will undercut yellow taxis across New York, showing these examples . Uber Chief Executive Officer Travis Kalanick announced the funding round on Uber's blog Friday. The funding, eclipsed only by the likes of Facebook Inc before it went public, is a vote of confidence by investors in four-year-old Uber's growth potential. 'Uber is one of the most rapidly growing companies ever, and we believe there are opportunities for continued tremendous growth,' Joan Miller, a spokeswoman for Summit Partners, an investor in the funding round, said by telephone. Investors hope the company, which allows users to summon a ride on their smartphones, can expand globally and diversify into logistics. The investors in the round valued Uber 'pre-money' at $17 billion, the blog post said. The $1.2 billion infusion took the startup's valuation to $18.2 billion. Fidelity Investments put in about $425 million, Wellington Management added $209 million and BlackRock Inc contributed $175 million, according to a person familiar with the matter. Venture firms Summit Partners, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Google Ventures and Menlo Ventures also participated in the round, a person familiar with the matter said. Kleiner's investment came from its Digital Growth Fund, run by former stock analyst Mary Meeker, known for her bullish recommendations during the first dot-com boom. While Uber has grown rapidly since its 2010 launch in San Francisco, it has run into serious regulatory issues. Ordinances keep it out of cities such as Las Vegas, Miami and Vancouver, British Canada. In some places, including Chicago, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., Uber and similar companies face lawsuits from taxi companies hoping to keep the new competition out. In Colorado, Governor John Hickenlooper signed a bill on Thursday that legalized drive-for-hire services in consumers' own vehicles, including UberX. In California, ridesharing is currently regulated through the state's Public Utilities Commission, although taxi drivers and Uber itself are challenging that authority. Her fund has had recent hits, including traffic app Waze, acquired last year for $1.1 billion by Google. Uber, which did not give details about its latest investors, operates in 128 cities across 37 countries. Kalanick said he expected to close a second round of funding from strategic investors of about $200 million. Uber originally started with a luxury town-car service, but in many cities has since added UberX, a low-frills service with nonprofessional drivers using personal cars. Competitors to Uber include Flywheel and Hailo, which connect passengers and taxis; and Lyft and Sidecar, which link passengers and drivers who use their personal vehicles. Uber sometimes offers promotional deliveries, such as roses around Valentine's Day or Christmas trees. Earlier this year, it launched a regular courier delivery service for small packages in Manhattan. | Will set a cap during 'abnormal disruptions of the market,' limited to the range charged in the preceding 60 days and excluding the three highest prices .
Firm operates in 128 cities across 37 countries .
Came under fire in December when huge snowstorms left people stranded - and Uber charged up to eight times its normal fare . |
233,395 | ba26cd95b0b4dbade379f21caa34336075db437a | (CNN) -- Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz will introduce President Obama at the party's Women's Leadership Forum on Friday, a well-placed Democratic source says. "He'll have nice things to say about her," the source said. As for Politico's story on Democratic and White House grumblings about Schultz, the source said "it didn't come from the White House." But nobody at the White House is pushing back on it either, the source added. "As far as I know, she's here to stay ... this too shall pass," the source said, pointing out that it would not make much sense to try to force Schultz out just two months before the midterm elections. "It's not like we're about to dump her," the source added. However, the source said that when the President wants to talk about midterms, he usually reaches out to senators associated with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (Chairman Michael Bennet, Harry Reid and former Chairman Chuck Schumer) and that committee, not Schultz. In part, that's a function of the job. Under Obama, the position of DNC chairman is tough, because that person takes something of a backseat, the source said, to the political operatives who work at the White House. Schultz's term does not expire until January 2017. The source said that after the midterms, however, her future is a question for the party's next nominee for 2016. | Debbie Wasserman Schultz will introduce President Obama at the Women's Leadership Forum .
Grumblings about the DNC chairwoman "didn't come from the White House," source says .
Source: But the White House isn't pushing back against a report of the grumblings .
"It's not like we're about to dump her" so close to midterm elections, the source adds . |
20,802 | 3b041b62ff05f23d8d3a8e4fcb3888b4c9a90c29 | By . Jennifer Newton for MailOnline . Paul Gascoigne has told of his latest alcohol relapse saying he knew if he went to hospital he would stop his latest drinking binge. The former England and Tottenham Hotspur footballer was released from hospital earlier this week after he was seen wandering the streets clutching a bottle of gin and cans of beer after seven months of sobriety. The pictures showed the ex-midfielder, who also played for Lazio, Everton and Rangers, slumped with his head in hands, outside his penthouse apartment in the exclusive Sandbanks area in Dorset. Scroll down for video . Paul Gascoigne, who has spoke of his latest alcohol torment, is pictured at his flat in Sandbanks, Dorset after being released from hospital earlier this week . Mr Gascoigne being led into an ambulance last week after his latest alcohol relapse, which led him to spend four days in hospital . Later looking frail and dishevelled, he was helped into an ambulance by a police officer. It had been said he had been on a three-week binge at his rented apartment in the latest chapter of his long battle with alcoholism. However, he now claims he had only been drinking for a few hours and started because he had been served with an eviction notice from his flat. He was taken from the flat by medics and driven to Poole Hospital, where he underwent a four-day detox. Now the 47-year-old has spoke of the moment of when he saw the ambulance to take him to hospital, saying he knew he instantly had to get inside. In an interview with the Sunday Mirror he said: 'In the past I have had binges that have lasted days, weeks, months. This time I had only been drinking for a few hours but I knew if I went to hospital I would be OK and that I would come through the other side. And I did.' When asked by the newspaper what drove him back to drinking, he explained: 'Being told I had to go left me really low. Last week the former footballer was seen wandering the streets clutching a bottle of gin and cans of beer after seven months of sobriety . 'I started off by just buying a couple of cans of lager. Then that quickly became four cans, and I was off to buy a bottle of gin.' The ex-midfielder, who became a firm favourite with England fans also added that people had been leaving alcohol on his doorstep after finding out he had moved into the flat. It is said that Mr Gascoigne rang the police when people started continually ringing his doorbell and due to them being concerned by his voice, they attended his flat where they found him drunk and distressed and called an ambulance. He is now back at the flat after being released from hospital but only has two weeks left on his lease. On Monday he was pictured leaving the Poole Hospital and seemed in better shape when he appeared in a short-sleeved shirt. He added: 'I know I can overcome this. I am an alcoholic so I am taking one day at a time, but I will get there.' Mr Gascoigne, pictured playing against Belgium at the 1990 World Cup, became a firm favourite with England fans . During his long battle with alcohol, Mr Gascoigne has been to rehab several times and underwent treatment last April at the Cottonwood clinic in Arizona paid for footballing friends such as Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and DJ Chris Evans. It had been claimed that Mr Gascoigne was set to make his return to football after a journey for cigarettes led him to meet taxi driver and Abbey FC manager Chris Foster - who convinced the former England international to sign for the Hayward Sunday League side. Mr Gascoigne, who has been plagued by alcoholism and drug addiction, last played professional football ten years ago when he made five appearances for then-League Two side Boston United. Since his latest relapse, Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp, who also lives in Sandbanks, had offered the ex-footballer a way back into the game by coaching youngsters at the west London club. He said: 'I saw him about a month ago and I said "I will pick you up in the mornings Gazza, come training with me. Do a little bit of work with the kids." QPR boss Harry Redknapp, who says he had offered Mr Gascoigne a coaching job at the club . 'I would love it if he would do that, if he wants to do it I would pick him up every morning at 5:45am at the end of his road and bring him in.' But Mr Gascoigne has said he doesn't think he could take up the offer, which he says he was grateful for, due to Glenn Hoddle's involvement at the club. Mr Hoddle was the then England manager in 1998 who famously dropped the midfielder from that year's World Cup squad. High-profile incidents involving alcohol and Mr Gascoigne include being sacked as manager of Kettering in 2005 after he was accused of being drunk at games. He also appeared at the scene of the stand-off between the police and gunman Raoul Moat in 2010. Arriving in Rothbury, Northumberland, he claimed he was a friend of Moat and said he had brought him ''a can of lager, some chicken, fishing rod, a Newcastle shirt and a dressing gown''. But he is still remembered by fans of the clubs he played for - including Newcastle United, Lazio, Rangers, Everton and Middlesbrough - for his brilliance on the pitch. | Paul Gascoigne says he started drinking after seven months of sobriety .
Blamed latest relapse on being served with eviction notice from his flat .
But says he knew he needed help and knew he needed to go to hospital .
Explained how some fans still leave alcohol for him on his doorstep .
Last week former footballer pictured holding a bottle of gin and cans of beer .
England fans' favourite has had a long-running battle with alcohol addiction . |
77,634 | dc1de5425215f3efda859ed7896674029b100a20 | Listening to the radio, singing along to the latest chart-topper, people often find themselves red-faced having to mumble a line or two. But, it turns out, struggling to catch every word of your favourite song is nothing to be ashamed of, with 65 percent of people admitting they can’t follow the lyrics of modern pop hits. And it’s not only contemporary groups that have fans straining to hear, with The Beatles, Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie also singled out in a new survey revealing the lyrics that most confuse British listeners. The Beatles song 'I am the Walrus' was voted as having the second most confusing lyrics by 27 per cent of Brits in a survey by Blinkbox music . The line which left the largest number . of people (30%) scratching their heads was, ‘Are we human, or are we . dancer?’ from the song Human by American rock group The Killers, which . reached number three in the UK charts. The band’s lead singer Brandon Flowers has previously said the odd line was inspired by a quote from journalist Hunter S. Thompson: ‘We’re raising a generation of dancers,’ critiquing the conformity of modern society. The frontman told MTV: ‘It’s taken from a quote by Thompson: “We’re raising a generation of dancers,” and I took it and ran. I guess it bothers people that it’s not grammatically correct, but I think I’m allowed to do whatever I want.’ The Killers were voted as having the most confusing lyrics of all in their song with the line 'Are we human, or are we dancer?' from the tune Human . 'What about elephants? Have we lost their trust?': Michael Jackson's Earth Song left 18 per cent of Brits confused . Second . place was taken by The Beatles, with 27 percent of people failing to . grasp the famously confusing line: ‘I am the eggman, they are the . eggman, I am the walrus, goo goo g’joob’, from their 1967 song I Am The . Walrus, the B-side to their number one hit Hello, Goodbye. 1.‘Are we human, or are we dancer?’ – The Killers, Human - 30% . 2.‘I am the eggman, they are the eggmen, I am the walrus, goo goo g’joob’ – The Beatles, I Am The Walrus - 27% . 3.‘What about elephants? Have we lost their trust?’- Michael Jackson, Earth Song - 18% . 4.‘Tom bol li de se de moi ya, hey jambo jumbo’ - Lionel Richie, All Night Long - 12% . 5.‘Before you came into my life, I missed you so bad’ - Carly Rae Jepson, Call Me Maybe -11% . 6.‘Beats so big I’m stepping on leprechauns’ - Black Eyed Peas, Boom Boom Pow - 10% . 7.‘The reflex is an only child, he’s waiting in the park’ - Duran Duran, The Reflex - 8% . 8.‘Club Tropicana, drinks are free, fun and sunshine, there’s enough for everyone, all that’s missing is the sea’ - Wham!, Club Tropicana – 8% . 9.‘Cause you were Romeo, I was a scarlet letter, and my daddy said stay away from Juliet.’ – Taylor Swift, Love Story - 7% . 10.‘Slowly walking down the hall, faster than a cannonball’-Oasis, Champagne Supernova-7% . There . have been several explanations put forward for the unusual lyrics, but . Martin Cloonan, professor of popular music politics at Glasgow . University, said: ‘John Lennon spoke of writing some of this while on an . acid trip, which might help explain things. ‘It is an . exercise in surrealism and word play – a true highlight of UK . psychedelia. Lennon did once declare that ‘The Walrus was Paul’ but it . appears to in fact be a reference to Lewis Carroll’s The Walrus and the . Carpenter and so, a reference to surreal or imaginary worlds.’ Lennon . himself told Playboy magazine in an interview that the song was part of . his ‘[Bob] Dylanesque period’ which was characterised by ‘the trick of . never saying what you mean but giving the impression of something more. Where more or less can be read into it. It’s a good game.’ Michael Jackson completes the top three, . with 18 percent of people struggling with the Earth Song lyrics: ‘What . about the elephants? Have we lost their trust?’ The famously eccentric Jackson wrote Earth Song, which reached number one in the UK charts, as a protest over his concerns regarding animal welfare and the environment but it is branded ‘misjudged’ by Professor Cloonan. Explaining the words 'Tom bo li de se de moi ya, hey jambo jumbo,' in Lionel Richie’s All Night Long, Professor Cloonan said: 'Richie has himself admitted that the lyrics are ‘a wonderful joke’ and an attempt to insert some African dialect into the song, which he couldn’t do in time, so just made up. They have no meaning outside of sounding right in the song.' Gobbledegook: Ever sang 'Tom bol li de se de moi ya, hey jambo jumbo' from Lionel Richie's song All Night Long and wondered what you were saying? If so then you're not alone - 12 per cent of Brits polled said they didn't have the foggiest either . But he admitted he was baffled by the Black Eyed Peas 'Beats so big I'm stepping on leprechauns'. He said: 'Sometimes I think we just have to accept songwriters are strange.' When asked for their reasons for failing to follow the songs, 40 percent of people said it was because they simply could not make out the words, 27 percent said the lack of logic made them think they had misheard the lyrics, while ten percent said the use of slang puzzled them. Almost two-thirds (64 percent) said the problem had become worse over time. Despite the issue, 28 percent said that not understanding all the lyrics to a song would not stop them from enjoying it. This is borne out by the fact that, out of the ten songs voted to have the most confusing lines, nine made it into the UK top ten – the exception is Oasis’s Champagne Supernova – including four number ones. The poll, conducted by blinkbox music, also asked people to vote for the modern pop star with the worst lyrics. Miley Cyrus came first with 17 percent of the vote, followed by the rapper Pitbull, American pop star Robin Thicke, The Voice judge Will.i.am and his group The Black Eyed Peas, Sting, country singer Taylor Swift, Robbie Williams, Duran Duran frontman Simon Le Bon, Noel Gallagher and Brandon Flowers of The Killers. | Poll of 2,000 Brits reveals more than half of us mumble along to songs without knowing what we're singing .
Beatles song 'I Am The Walrus' voted one of the most confusing .
Lionel Richie's 'All Night Long' contains some baffling 'jambo jumbo' which the singer claims is his attempt to add some African dialect into the song . |
261,479 | dea2dbbefec60c97c642aa17b6584eb1fce0bf74 | By . Daniel Miller . PUBLISHED: . 12:18 EST, 22 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:44 EST, 23 November 2013 . Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the EU of bullying Ukraine over the failed free trade deal . Russian president Vladimir Putin has accused Europe of bullying Ukraine after the country's politicians bowed to pressure from Moscow and backed out of a trade agreement with the EU. Speaking in St Petersburg today, Putin said the EU had used 'pressure and blackmail' against Ukraine and denied that he had used his influence to block the deal. He said: 'It will become clear in the next few days whether Ukraine and its leadership will yield to pressure or will be able to resist it and take a pragmatic stance in line with national interests.' Protesters waving British and Ukrainian flags took to the streets of Kiev to vent their anger after the government announced it had ended talks with Europe. Ukraine had been expected to sign the landmark free trade and political association agreement at the Vilinius Summit next week. But negotiations ended after the Ukrainian parliament refused to agree to release the imprisoned former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, one of the terms of the agreement. Tymoshenko, who served as the country's first Prime Minister following the Orange Revolution in late 2004 and early 2005 was jailed in 2011 having been found guilty of abuse of office over a natural gas imports contract with Russia. Speaking from prison today she said she was ready to urge the European Union to drop the demand for her release if that could help persuade the government to sign the agreement. Tymoshenko, whose jailing the West calls politically motivated, also urged Ukrainians to take to the streets to protest the government's decision to shelve the deal and turn to Russia instead. 'She is calling on everybody to come out and express your civic position on the squares of all the cities of the country,' Tymoshenko's lawyer Serhiy Vlasenko said. Following his disputed election victory . in 2004, Ukrainian's Russian-speaking president Viktor Yanukovich was . removed from power by the Supreme Court after one million people took to . the streets. But he was elected president in 2010. Opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk, accused Yanukovych of selling out to Moscow in exchange for cash and ensuring his re-election in 2015. 'This is a well-planned scenario by Yanukovych: how to sell the Ukrainian state and to buy himself a seat of the governor of Little Russia as part of the great Russian empire,' he said. Yatsenyuk called on Ukrainians to join an opposition rally Sunday on Kiev's central square, the epicenter of the Orange Revolution which annulled Yanukovych's fraud-tainted victory in a presidential vote and helped bring his pro-Western opponents to power. Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich, left, was accused of selling out to Moscow after parliament voted not to agree to the EU's demand to release of jailed former president Yulia Tymoshenko . A smaller protest was already underway there. Several dozen activists wrapped in the yellow-and-blue Ukrainian flags hid from rain under umbrellas. 'Europe is our future. In Europe a person is treated with respect,' said Vitaliy Tokaryuk, 25, a real estate agent who had spent the night on the Independence Square. In 2010 presidential elections Yanukovych narrowly defeated Tymoshenko. The next year, Tymoshenko was sentenced to seven years in prison on abuse of office charges. Sunday's rally will test the strength of the opposition, and some say that a large showing may nudge Yanukovych back in the direction of the EU. Meanwhile the European Union's enlargement chief Stefan Fuel said he had 'not fully given up' on Ukraine signing the deal next week, despite Kiev saying it was suspending work on the accord. He said: 'No, we have not fully given up as we were not actually officially informed by the Ukrainian side that the signature is impossible at Vilnius,.' If the deal with Ukraine is not signed next week, he held out hope it could be signed at an EU-Ukraine summit next year. Ukraine's Prime Minister Mykola Azarov sought to defend the decision in parliament Friday, but was booed by opposition lawmakers, who chanted 'Shame!' and threw stacks of papers at his ministers. Azarov said Ukraine cannot afford to lose trade with Russia and suggested the EU did not offer Ukraine any compensation for that. He also complained that the conditions the International Monetary Fund has set for rescuing its struggling economy with a bailout loan were impossible to fulfil. Ukraine's trade is split more or less equally between Russian in the EU: in the first nine months of this year exports to the EU stood at $14.6 billion vs. $21.1 billion to Russia, while imports totaled $22.4 billion from the EU vs. $21.2 billion from Russia, according to Concord Capital, an investment firm in Kiev. | Putin accused the EU of using 'pressure and blackmail' against Ukraine .
Ex-Soviet block nation was expected to sign .
landmark agreement next week .
EU had demanded the release of jailed former president Yulia Tymoshenko .
But Ukraine's parliament voted against the move ending negotiations .
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich was accused of selling out to Moscow .
Protesters waving British and Ukrainian flags took to the streets of Kiev . |
147,120 | 4a3ab3212bdf876300bd85b279db4eee16bb059b | (CNN) -- Chicana author Sandra Cisneros is perhaps best-known for her 1984 coming of age novel, "The House on Mango Street," a story about a young Latina who leaves behind her barrio for a chance at a better life. The novel, also released in Spanish, has sold more than 4 million copies and is a considered a classic of Chicano literature. But not everyone is a fan, specifically the Tucson Unified School District in Arizona, which banned Cisneros' book in its suspension of its Mexican-American studies program. It still bewilders Cisneros and her fans: How can a character who spends most of her time at the library and shares her experiences with her mother and blind aunt offend a school district? Cisneros is on a national book tour this month for "Have You Seen Marie?" a tale about a woman's search for a cat who goes missing in the wake of her mother's death. It's a fable for grieving grown-ups, and at less than 100 pages, she hopes the book will be medicine for hearts broken from loss. California-based artist Ester Hernandez, known for her depiction of Latina and Chicana women through prints and pastels, represented the unique and colorful characters, all based on Cisneros' neighbors. They make up the quirky King William district of San Antonio, Texas, where the story is based. Cisneros tell us what inspired the tale, why she is planning a move to Mexico and how she feels about her famous book being banned. CNN: What inspired you to write "Have You Seen Marie?" Cisneros: I was working on the 25th anniversary tour of "The House on Mango Street." I wanted to make a small book that people could have or give to someone in a place of grief. My mother had just passed, but I still felt the need to create something. My friend and artist of the book, Ester Hernandez, had just lost her mother too, and I proposed that she join me, and she very reluctantly joined the project. CNN: What do you want your readers to take away after reading this book? Cisneros: I hope that they understand that when they are in a time of grief, there is something to be gained during the time, even though we tend to focus on what we've lost. But when you have your heart broken wide, you are also open to things of beauty as well as things of sadness. Once people are not here physically, the spiritual remains, we still connect, we can communicate, we can give and receive love and forgiveness. There is love after someone dies. CNN: Were you surprised to hear that "The House on Mango Street" was the list of banned books in Arizona? Have you ever considered yourself a controversial writer? Cisneros: Gosh, no! I don't think they read the books. They just eliminated the entire whole Mexican-American studies without thinking. It should be called American studies, and all the books should be re-introduced. Then there would be less of an uproar. The fact that there is a hyphen there tells you a lot about our times. And our whole relationship with Mexico, which has always been very controversial, especially now. CNN: There has been talk about you wanting to improve your Spanish; is that true? And por qué? Cisneros: What's always a challenge for me is that my Spanish is not the level of my English. Nor do I read in Spanish the way I read in English. I want my Spanish to be like that of a newscaster. ... That's a different kind of Spanish. I feel comfortable in Spanish, I chat like a parrot, but I don't have the confidence in Spanish that I do in English. I'm perfectly fine in the mercado, and I can make people laugh and tell a story, but my vocabulary is limited. For example, I don't know the Spanish word for "contractor." But I'm going to Mexico to live for a year! This is the first time I'm going to live there. I just need to be in an environment where all I hear is Spanish. CNN: There's a lot of debate of whether or not knowing Spanish makes you a "less Latino." How do you feel about that? Cisneros: It doesn't make you less. You are just missing out on one of your senses if you don't have the language. It's like not having any taste buds. You are missing out on the pleasure of Latino food. The more you speak more languages, the more you understand about yourself. It's like being blind. You aren't less of a person, but you're missing out on wonderful things. CNN: Finally, what you are reading right now? Cisneros: I'm read essays, poetry, fiction, art books and more all at the same time! On my various bookshelves in my home are: "The Five Acts of Diego Leon: A Novel" by Alex Espinoza; "The Distance Between Us" by Reyna Grande and "What You See in the Dark" by Manuel Munoz; "I (Heart) Babylon, Tenochtitlan and Ysteléi" by Richard Villegas Jr.; "Slow Lightning" by Eduardo Corral and "Looking for The Gulf Motel" by Richard Blanco. And I just finished Marie Arana's "American Chica: Two Worlds, One Childhood." Is that a lot? | Chicana author Sandra Cisneros wrote a new book, "Have You Seen Marie?"
Her book "The House on Mango Street" was banned from Tucson schools .
Cisneros is planning to move to Mexico for the first time .
"I just need to be in an environment where all I hear is Spanish," she said . |
10,351 | 1d692f3e3d96fa922d58419300099b494c1d5528 | Said that the year she was a contestant 'everyone was really gagging for it.' 'Dancing is a very flirtatious sexual thing. Every year somebody gets together!' On X Factor rivalry: 'I actually don't think the public give a sh**.' By . Holly Thomas . Last updated at 7:53 AM on 6th December 2011 . She's a picture of professionalism when on duty as a judge during BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. But normally cool and composed Alesha Dixon lost control a little after she was offered a glass of wine on Alan Carr's Chatty Man last night. As she worked her way through the rest of the bottle, the star offered her- extremely frank- . thoughts on Strictly romances, the X Factor, and whether dancers are . better in bed over the course of the rambunctious interview. Loosening up: Normally cool and composed Alesha Dixon lost control a little after she was offered a glass of wine on Alan Carr's Chatty Man last night with Strictly fellow judges Craig Revel Horwood and Brunmo Tonioli . Things kicked off when Bruno accepted . Alan's offer of a rosé, quipping 'Oh if you twist my arm', before . admitting 'I'm anybodies after two glasses.' Alesha took her generous helping with a civilised 'that looks lovely', while Craig demurred 'if it's the rosé'. However things took a turn for the tipsy when Alesha let the boys shoulder most of the burden at the start of the interview, sipping steadily away as she sat between them. The first sign of high spirits came when Alan asked the threesome how close they were to getting Pippa Middleton onto the show. Can I tempt you? Everyone on Alan Carr's sofa was keen to quench their thirst . Alesha emitted a gleeful cackle, leaning back into the chair before agreeing enthusiastically to Bruno's suggestion that Alan should appear on Strictly. Alesha admitted that she thought a 'boy could win this year', candidly saying 'The reality is, all the girls really like Harry.' When Alan said that he felt sorry for aging dancer Anton de Beke Alesha, who'd nearly finished her tall glass of wine within a few minutes - interrupted with 'I don't' before bursting into yet more giggles. Getting into her stride: Alesha drank the bulk of her first glass within minutes . She then plunged into juicier territory, declaring: 'Everybody is really frisky on the show though, you've got to be honest.' She continued: 'Everybody is horny - the year I was a contestant everyone was really gagging for it' - at which point Bruno removed her now empty glass from her hand, exclaiming 'no more drink for you!' Alan gasped 'This is chat show gold!', frantically grabbing the bottle to refill her glass. Going to your head? Alesha was unable to stop laughing as her wine took effect . Two steps ahead, Alesha snapped 'give me the bottle'- seizing it with one hand and taking a long swig- lasting several seconds. As Bruno and Craig collapsed with laughter Alesha picked up where the conversation had left off. The audience still clapping, she ploughed on: 'As I was saying, eight to ten hours a day, rubbing up next to each other, of course you're going to get a bit frisky!' Take it away! Bruno removed Alesha's glass as things started getting rowdier . Alan then pointed at Bruno, exclaiming 'look, he's touching himself!' - to which the Italian replied: 'I can't help it, she gets me going!' Bruno then commented on Alesha's claim, saying 'I've done it for nine years and I've never seen any boner.' Alesha immediately rebuffed him, saying 'dancing is a very flirtatious sexual thing. Every year somebody gets together!' 'This is chat show gold!': Alan couldn't wait to pour Alesha another glass as her answers became increasingly graphic . She then contradicted herself, backtracking 'Well no-one this year, although there's always a rumour. I've not heard anyone this year. Boring.' Alan then asked them whether they thought that good dancers are better in bed - to which Alesha enthusiastically replied: 'Well I should think so Alan!' At this, Bruno removed the (nearly empty) bottle from her hand, and Alan showed the group a unbelievably raunchy clip from the Argentinian version of Strictly Come Dancing. Throwing herself into the debate: Alesha said that the problem with X Factor is 'they focus too much on the drama, and everything else other the singing' His tipsiest guest was stunned into a brief moment of calm by the sight of contestants across the pond gyrating naked on stage, but it wasn't long before she was back on exuberant form. When Alan mentioned X Factor, Alesha gave a little victory jiggle, before diplomatically commenting 'I don't understand why we can't just enjoy both shows, I actually don't think the public give a sh**. It's the producers and the media. The public will just sky plus one and watch it later, they don't care.' Alan commended her saying 'I can't believe Alesha's become the voice of reason after a whole bottle of wine!' Rude not to! Alesha enthusiastically accepted Alan's offer of the whole bottle . He may have spoken too soon however, as Alesha continued 'The problem is Al, they focus too much on the drama, and everything else other the singing.' Alan intercepted with 'You see at this point you've crossed the line from being a fun drunk to a violent one'. Alesha took this in good humour, laughing uproariously once again before excusing herself 'you know what it is, I just feel like I'm at home with my mates having a gossip'. Telling it like it is: When Alan asked whether dancers are better in bed Alesha immediately replied 'Well I should think so Alan!' She then added: 'It's swings and roundabouts, next year they'll be beating us, the year after we'll beat them, who cares! Jog on Christmas.' At this Bruno laughed 'If you can't beat them, join them, and downed his own drink. A more bashful Alesha later took to Twitter to excuse her uncharacteristic behaviour. She wrote: 'Apologies for being pickled on Alan Carr! I did have fun though!' 'I am officially a light weight and clearly a cheap date!!! :) xxx' | Said that the year she was a contestant 'everyone was really gagging for it.'
'Dancing is a very flirtatious sexual thing. Every year somebody gets together!'
On X Factor rivalry: 'I actually don't think the public give a sh**.' |
278,598 | f4e4df811393d6d7a97ebcb79f4905f1073985b7 | By . Paul Sims . Last updated at 11:35 AM on 14th October 2011 . Death plunge: Ryan Guest, 24, died after leaping off the tower in Dubai after a violent row with girlfriend Louise . A solicitor told yesterday how her boyfriend jumped from a 32nd floor balcony during a drunken row, telling her ‘I’m going’. Louise Botham wept as she described the moments before Ryan Guest, 24, leapt 300ft, dying instantly as he landed on a roof below at their luxury beach-front apartment block in Dubai. An inquest heard that minutes earlier, she had gathered up all the presents he had bought her, including teddy bears, and thrown them over the railings, threatening to leave him. Mr Guest, an expatriate engineer, had then stepped out onto the balcony, climbed on a table and turned to Miss Botham, 30, to utter his last words. The successful oil worker had been downing ‘strong cocktails’ with glasses of double rum and coke while also behaving ‘erratically’ when out with friends that evening. She said the couple began to argue as they returned to their £400,000 home and the row continued inside, becoming violent. Miss Botham, from Widnes, Cheshire, had jokingly thrown something at him and he angrily snatched her mobile phone. She said she locked herself in the bathroom as Mr Guest banged on the door and attacked her as she tried to leave. ‘He pinned me down on the sofa and punched me in the arm,’ Miss Botham said. ‘I pushed him off and threw a glass at the TV in anger. ‘I said I was leaving, I hated him. He had hit me and he was never going to see me again. ‘I went into the bedroom and collected up all the presents he had given me, like teddies, and went on to the balcony and threw them all off. He went out on to the balcony, stood on the table and said “I’m going” and then jumped. He just said “I’m going”.’ Tragedy: Ryan Guest jumped on a table, tried to close the patio doors behind him and leapt from the 32nd floor of the luxury flat . Tragedy: Ryan Guest, 24, had just spent a month working on an oil rig when he threw himself from the flat . Fall: The Bahar Tower in Dubai which the geologist jumped from . Miss Botham, who still lives and works in Dubai, said the couple had never rowed before that night in July 2008. She believed alcohol was a ‘primary . factor’ in Mr Guest’s death. ‘He was very impulsive and if he had been a . little bit less drunk, this would never have happened. ‘When other people are drunk they pass out or whatever but Ryan never did. He would get drunk and be totally awake. ‘I think the alcohol was a primary . factor. I do not think he meant to happen what happened.’ Miss Botham . said her boyfriend was a ‘typical binge drinker’ who used alcohol as a . ‘massive stress relief’ from the pressures of work. She had only recently flown out to live with Mr Guest, from Kendal, Cumbria, after they met in North Wales. He worked for Dubai Petroleum and had been there only a few months after living in New York, Oslo and Latvia. A post-mortem said he died from multiple injuries, the inquest in his home town heard. Miss Botham was arrested by police in . Dubai but later released without charge. Mr Guest’s tearful mother . Frances, from Kendal, told the hearing: ‘He did not mean this to happen. ‘This was not him at all. He would not have given it much thought. We will never know what he was really thinking.’ She said her son was ‘full of life’ and moved at a fast pace, doing everything for fun. Recording a narrative verdict, Coroner . Shirley Evans said: ‘Ryan Guest died as a result of his own actions . while not understanding their inevitable consequences because he was . under the influence of alcohol.’ | Partner Louise Botham, 30, had said she was leaving him after violent row .
Ryan Guest, 24, fell 300ft to his death . |
32,440 | 5c3d5a2af02af417ca2f6f67f7528e6b5232d685 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Singer, songwriter ... agony aunt? Taylor Swift is known for turning her heartbreak into hits - but now the 24-year-old is providing personalized love advice to her devoted fans. When lovestruck Hannah asked the Grammy-winning singer on Instagram for tips on unrequited love, Swift quickly responded with heartfelt words of wisdom. Scroll down for video . Agony aunt: Love-struck Hannah wrote to Taylor Swift on Instagram seeking advice and was shocked when the country singer responded . Hannah, using the name 'sherbetswift', posted a picture of herself with a question: 'There’s a guy Taylor, a guy who’s sweet and charming and makes me laugh... 'A guy who I have the biggest crush in the whole wide world on, and he’ll never like me back. (And he has a girlfriend who he adores and she’s pretty and has an amazing figure and is actually nice to me)... @taylorswift can you give me some advice maybe. I love you.' To her amazement, her music idol swiftly responded. 'Hannah. Eyes, eyes, eyes. Woah. You have . the prettiest, widest, most child like eyes. (Composes herself) Okay. About this guy. I think we grow up thinking the only love that counts as . true love is the kind that lasts forever or is fully realized. When you . have a broken heart, the first thing a stranger will ask is ‘how long . were you two together?’ 'As if your pain can be determined by how long . you were with someone. Or if you were with them at all. I don’t think . that’s how it works. 'I think unrequited love is just as valid as any . other kind. It’s just as crushing and just as thrilling. No matter what . happens in this situation, I want you to remember that what you are . doing is selfless and beautiful and kind.' Out and about: Taylor Swift was spotted walking through Central Park in New York on Thursday with a male friend . Swift continued: 'You are loving someone purely . because you love them, not because you think you’ll ever have your . affections reciprocated. 'You are admiring something for its beauty, . without needing to own it. Feel good about being the kind of person who . loves selflessly. I think someday you’ll find someone who loves you in . that exact same way.' Hannah was clearly surprised the 'Love Story' singer replied to her post, writing back, 'I feel like you’re the big sister I don’t have. Thank you, I really did need to hear that from you.' Taylor is no stranger to heartbreak, known for penning songs about her famous past loves - and infamous breakups - including Harry Styles, Jake Gyllenhaal and John Mayer. Romantic: Some of singer Taylor Swift's songs are inspired by love and relationships . The blonde beauty has even compared music to being in a relationship, saying that discovering new artists or albums can be like anything from 'a passing fling' to finding 'the one'. 'Some music is just for fun, a passing fling (the ones they dance to at clubs and parties for a month while the song is a huge radio hit, that they will soon forget they ever danced to),' she wrote for the Wall Street Journal earlier this month. 'Some songs and albums represent seasons of our lives, like relationships that we hold dear in our memories but had their time and place in the past. 'However, some artists will be like finding 'the one'. We will cherish every album they put out until they retire and we will play their music for our children and grandchildren.' | Love-struck fan Hannah asked Taylor Swift's advice on Instagram .
The country singer provided a heartfelt response .
'I think unrequited love is just as valid as any other kind. It's just as crushing and just as thrilling,' Swift, 24, wrote . |
61,914 | afe3ad09d1b71c6ef3989fdc1ef60f24fb17d1b9 | An American couple charged with starving their 8-year-old adopted daughter to death in the Gulf Arab state of Qatar were sentenced Thursday to three years in prison, a verdict that stunned and shocked the family, according to the couple's defense lawyer. Matthew and Grace Huang were jailed in Qatar on murder charges in January 2013, following the death of their daughter, Gloria. They were released from prison last November, but banned from leaving Qatar during the trial. 'We feel that we have been kidnapped by . the Qatari judicial system,' Matthew told reporters outside the . courthouse after the sentencing. 'This is wrong.' The Huangs will appeal the decision and it is unclear whether they will be imprisoned pending appeal. Scroll down for video . Prison: Matthew, left, and Grace Huang, are seen speaking to the press Thursday after they were sentenced to three years in prison in Qatar . Matthew added: 'We . just don't believe that we have been convicted. This verdict . should be overturned immediately and we should be allowed to go home.' The . Huangs' lawyer, Sami Abu Sheikha, said the judge hastily read out the . sentence and failed to say what the couple was guilty of. Matthew . Huang had been working in the booming Gulf nation as part of . infrastructure improvements for Qatar's hosting of the 2022 World Cup. The Huangs say their adopted daughter, . who was born in Ghana, died of medical problems complicated by unusual . eating habits that included periods of binging and self-starvation. Defense witnesses have testified that the girl appeared healthy and . active just days before her January 2013 death. The prosecution had demanded the death . penalty, alleging that the couple had denied food to Gloria and said she . was locked in her room at night. Family: The parents are shown here with their three adopted children before Gloria's death . A . Qatari doctor who conducted Gloria's autopsy found that the child's . hips, ribs and spine protruded and concluded the cause of death was . dehydration and wasting disease. On Wednesday, the State Department . expressed concern that not all of the evidence had been weighed by the . court. It also said it had raised the case with Qatari officials on . multiple occasions. During Thursday's sentencing in Doha, . Judge Abdullah El-Emedy also ordered the Huangs deported from Qatar . after serving the three-year sentence and issued them a fine of 15,000 . Qatari riyals, which is about $4,100. The case raised questions about . possible cultural misunderstandings in a conservative Muslim country . where Western-style adoptions and cross-cultural families are relatively . rare. The couple are suing Matthew's employer for not warning them that their adoptions would not be well thought of in Qatar. Trial: Matthew, left, and Grace Huang, a U.S. couple who were accused of murdering their nine-year-old adopted daughter Gloria, stand outside the entrance of the Court of First Instance after their trial . Happy: The family says Gloria, shown left, was severely malnourished in early childhood and would periodically refuse food for several days and then binge eat or get food from bizarre sources, such as garbage cans or from strangers - a behavior her parents traced to her impoverished upbringing and were trying to address . An investigative report by Qatari police had raised questions about why the Huangs would adopt children who did not share their 'hereditary traits' and raised concerns that the children were part of a human trafficking operation or were 'bought' for organ harvesting, according to the family's website. The Huangs, of Asian descent, have two other African-born adopted children who left Qatar during the trial to live with relatives in the U.S. Matthew Huang described the allegations . as 'ridiculous' and called on President Barack Obama to explain to the . ruler of Qatar 'why American families adopt high-need children.' Gloria, who was severely malnourished in . early childhood, would periodically refuse food for several days and . then binge eat or get food from bizarre sources, such as garbage cans or . from strangers - a behavior her parents traced to her impoverished . upbringing and were trying to address. Wrong: Matthew and Grace Huang of Los Angeles, pictured with Gloria and another of their adopted children, claim the Qatar judge didn't consider all evidence . Adoptions: Matthew Huang described the allegations as 'ridiculous' and called on President Barack Obama to explain to the ruler of Qatar 'why American families adopt high-need children' She would also try to leave the house at night in search of food and pick through the medicine cabinet on late-night binges, according to a report prepared last year in the U.S. by Janice Ophoven, a pediatric forensic pathologist who reviewed the case for the family. When Gloria died, she was in an anorexic episode and had not eaten in as many as four days, Ophoven wrote in her report last year. Eric Volz, managing director of the David House Agency, which is coordinating legal and publicity efforts for the family, told reporters on Thursday that the appeal process takes anywhere from six months to one year. He said the prosecutor's case has 'zero evidence.' | Matthew and Grace Huang, from LA, were jailed in Qatar on murder charges in January 2013, following the death of their daughter, Gloria .
They were released from prison last November, but banned from leaving Qatar during the trial .
Thursday they were sentenced to three years in prison, a verdict which stunned the family .
The case raised questions about possible cultural misunderstandings in a conservative Muslim country where Western-style adoptions and cross-cultural families are relatively rare . |
56,452 | 9ff3c5ab3d1e6bcd4d32ab23edadc21bbad62762 | By . Ellie Zolfagharifard . Massive alien worlds, known as ‘super-Earths’, could be more like our own planet than first thought. Scientists now suggest that tectonically active super-Earths store most of their water in the mantle- the rocky part that makes up most of the volume and mass of the planet. If this model proves to be true, it could mean that our galaxy is home to giant worlds that have a stable climate similar to Earth with potential to harbour life. Super-Earths are giant planets that have between one and 10 times the mass of our world. About 40 per cent of all red dwarf stars - the most common stars in our galaxy - have a super-Earth orbiting in the habitable zone . Super-Earths are giant planets that have between one and 10 times the mass of our world. About 40 per cent of all red dwarf stars – the most common stars in our galaxy - have a super-Earth orbiting in the habitable zone where liquid water can exist on the surface of the planet. ‘Super-Earths are expected to have deep oceans that will overflow their basins and inundate the entire surface, but we show this logic to be flawed,’ said Nicolas Cowan, at Northwestern University in Illinois. ‘Terrestrial planets have significant amounts of water in their interior. Super-Earths are likely to have shallow oceans to go along with their shallow ocean basins.’ Scientists suggest that tectonically active super-Earths store most of their water in the mantle- the rocky part that makes up most of the volume and mass of the planet. The mantle in this image is shown in orange, the crust is in red and the core in yellow . Super-Earths are giant planets that have between one and 10 . times the mass of our world . About 40 per cent of all red dwarf stars – . the most common stars in our galaxy - have a super-Earth orbiting in . the habitable zone where liquid water can exist on the surface of the . planet. The first super-Earths were discovered by Aleksander Wolszczan and Dale Frail in 1992. In April 2007, a team in Switzerland announced the discovery of two new super-Earths around Gliese 581. Both wereon the edge of the habitable zone around the star where liquid water may be possible on the surface. In their model, the researchers treated the intriguing exoplanets like Earth, which has water in its mantle - the rocky part that makes up most of the volume and mass of the planet. The rock of the mantle contains tiny amounts of water, which quickly adds up because the mantle is so large. Because of this, deep water cycle moves water between oceans and the mantle. Water is constantly traded back and forth between the ocean and the rocky mantle because of plate tectonics, the researchers said. The division of water between ocean and mantle is controlled by seafloor pressure, which is proportional to gravity. Accounting for the effects of seafloor pressure and high gravity are two novel factors in their model. As the size of the super-Earths increase, gravity and seafloor pressure also go up. ‘We can put 80 times more water on a super-Earth and still have its surface look like Earth,’ Professor Cowan said. ‘These massive planets have enormous seafloor pressure, and this force pushes water into the mantle.’ And it doesn’t take that much water to tip a planet into being a water world, the researchers said. ‘If Earth was one per cent water by mass, we’d all drown, regardless of the deep water cycle,’ Professor Cowan said. The first super-Earths were discovered by Aleksander Wolszczan and Dale Frail in 1992. In April 2007, a team in Switzerland announced the discovery of two new super-Earths around Gliese 581 (pictured on the right) ‘The surface would be covered in water. Whether or not you have deep water cycle really matters for planets that are one one-thousandth or one ten-thousandth water.’ Professor Cowan admits that there are two major uncertainties in his model: that super-Earths have plate tectonics and the amount of water Earth stores in its mantle. ‘These are the two things we would like to know better to improve our model,’ he added. ‘Our model is a shot from the hip, but it’s an important step in advancing how we think about super-Earths.’ In the study 'Superhabitable Worlds', Professor Heller proposes that tidal heating can create conditions where life could emerge on an icy or terrestrial planet once thought to be uninhabitable. Pictured is an artist's impression of an exoplanet . Last week, researchers in Scotland said that Earth-sized planets can support life at least ten times further away from stars than previously thought. This means that cold rocky planets previously considered uninhabitable may be teeming with life beneath the surface. Academics at the University of Aberdeen and University of St Andrews claim the definition of the ‘Goldilocks’ zone - the area of space around a star, or sun, which can support life – is flawed.They argue this definition fails to take into account life that can exist beneath a planet’s surface. ‘As you get deeper below a planet’s surface, the temperature increases, and once you get down to a temperature where liquid water can exist – life can exist there too,’ said Aberdeen University PhD student Sean McMahon. In a galaxy of 200 billion stars of various types, scientists estimate there are 11 billion potentially habitable planets in the Goldilocks zone as it is currently defined. Factor in smaller, dimmer red dwarf stars, and the number of planets with mild temperatures similar to Earth rises to 40 billion. | Super-Earth's are giant planets with up to 10 times the mass of our world .
They are expected to have oceans that cover the entire surface with water .
Scientists now suggest they may also have abundant water in their mantle .
If this model is correct, a super-Earth could hold 80 per cent more water than Earth but still have a surface and climate similar to our own planet . |
197,186 | 8b37b5b00c2ac268ba6fe55fdbff7c865b6e4526 | A transgender couple are preparing to tell their children when they get get older that their father actually gave birth to them and the person that they call their mother is in fact their father. Bianca and Nick Bowser are a happily married couple and live in Kentucky with their two young sons. Nick, 27, was born a girl, called Nicole, but for the last seven years has lived as a man. Bianca, 32, who is a drag artist, was born as a boy called Jason, and transitioned to live as a woman 11 years ago. Scroll down for video . A transgender couple are waiting for their children to get older before telling them that their father gave birth to them and the person that they call their mother is actually a male. Pictured: Nick Bowser, who gave birth to their two sons with his partner Bianca . Bianca and Nick Bowser are a happily married couple and live in Kentucky with their two young sons , Kai, now three, and Pax, almost one. Nick fell pregnant with Kai in 2010, but struggled to cope with living as a man with a baby bump . The transgender couple still have their original sex organs because they cannot afford reconstructive surgery. The cost of male to female surgery can range from £4,000 to £15,000, while female to male surgery can exceed £30,000. And they insist their children, Kai, now three, and Pax, almost one, will be fine because their upbringing will be loving, supportive, secure, and perfectly 'normal'. Bianca, 32, who is a drag artist, was born as a boy (left) called Jason, and transitioned to live as a woman 11 years ago (right) Nick, 27, was born a girl, called Nicole, (left) but for the last seven years has lived as a man (right) Bianca said: 'The kids currently have no idea. It's not like strangers ever guess in restaurants or at the shops. 'I don't know when we will start to tell them, maybe when Kai is around six, but they will need to be old enough to understand. 'It is important they know because it's a big secret to keep from your children and if they found out another way they could hold huge resentment. 'But I don't worry about how they will react. We will not treat it as a 'bad' thing. And young kids are accepting and non-judgemental.' She adds: 'Being transsexual doesn't define who we are , just as being black or white or skinny or fat doesn't define you either.' Nick says he had always felt that he was different from a young age. The couple pose with Kai their eldest child. The transgender couple still have their original sex organs because they cannot afford reconstructive surgery . He says: 'I was born a girl, but I never felt female. 'I was a tomboy and wanted to dress in jeans and t-shirts. I came out as a lesbian when I was 17, but when I spoke to other lesbians they said they liked being a girl, whereas I hated it. 'My whole life I wanted to look like a boy. 'It was only when I was 20 that I found out about transgenderism and realised I'd been born in the wrong body.' After that, Nick started living as a man and changed his name. He told his parents four years ago and, although they took a while to get used to it, they are now fully accepting. Bianca, who was born Jason, transitioned 13 years ago, and had breast augmentation in 2003, as well as laser hair-removal, but didn't need female hormones because she naturally looks and sounds feminine. She says: 'I knew there was something different and effeminate about me. When I was 17 we had a school pageant and all the boys dressed in drag. I loved it. 'When I was 18 I started working as a drag act. I met lots of transgender entertainers and started transitioning myself. The couple were both open to dating other transgender people and when they met in 2009, they hit it off immediately. Bianca, who was born Jason, transitioned 13 years ago, and had breast augmentation in 2003, as well as laser hair-removal, but didn't need female hormones because she naturally looks and sounds feminine . The couple were both open to dating other transgender people and when they met in 2009, they hit it off immediately . Nick says: 'We talked about having children quite early on in our relationship because Bianca was thinking about having genital reconstruction.' While Nick and Bianca could have used a surrogate, they were reluctant because it's expensive. Nick says: 'We have a healthy sex life and we wanted a biological child - this was the only way we could do it.' Nick fell pregnant with Kai in 2010, but struggled to cope with living as a man with a baby bump. He says: 'I didn't enjoy it. I'm a man and it's just not easy doing something so feminine, but I coped and we were both so happy when Kai came along. 'We always wanted Kai to have a sibling, and the second pregnancy was tough too. I had terrible morning sickness and I was really tired. 'When I had Kai I'd only recently transitioned, so I didn't look so manly and people just thought Bianca and I were lesbians. 'But, when I was a pregnant with Pax, people were really staring at me, which made me feel very self-conscious. 'I couldn't handle the whispering and pointing and by the time of the third trimester I couldn't leave the house. 'I only left for doctor's appointments. People are afraid of what they don't understand. Nick fell pregnant with Kai in 2010, but struggled to cope with living as a man with a baby bump . The pair, who married in a quiet ceremony in November 2011, say they won't have any more children. But only because the two they already have are a handful . 'It was a daily struggle. I hated the way my body was changing. It did not match my inner feelings.' Unable to bear the thought of natural birth, Nick opted for caesarean. 'It cut out part of the very female process of giving birth. 'But It's all been worth it, regardless of how difficult it was.' Bianca did not mind missing that part of being woman. She says: 'I was very happy not to carry the children. It was great to get out of it - the inconvenience, the physical changes, the pain of birth. Bianca says that although they dislike still having their biological genitalia, having sex has never been a problem. 'We have the parts so we will use them,' she says. 'If we could change them we would, and they would be the other way around - but we cannot afford it and the children come first.' Nick says: 'Kai always calls Bianca, Mum and me, Dad. 'And Bianca is definitely the typically clucking and over protective mum - in that respect we certainly conform to the stereotypical parents. 'We'll tell the children the truth when it's the right time - we've got nothing to hide. 'Our family and friends are really happy for us - not least our parents, because when we both came out as transgender they thought they wouldn't have grandchildren!' The pair, who married in a quiet ceremony in November 2011, say they won't have any more children. But only because the two they already have are a handful. 'It's exhausting,' says Bianca, who still works as an entertainer, while Nick is a bar manager. 'But we love raising children. 'Having them is what I always wanted. I just didn't dream I would find anyone to do it with me.' | Nick, 27, who takes on the role as their father, is actually their birth mother .
Bianca, 32 - the woman they called mother - is actually their father .
The couple have two children - Kai, now three, and Pax, almost one .
Still have original sex organs - cannot afford reconstructive surgery . |
266,973 | e5caf80c5ca6abface94d77a00fb626ca65a0249 | (CNN) -- The illegal trade in animals is emptying ecosystems and pushing rare species toward extinction. I know this is a topic you care deeply about, because 13,276 of you voted for me to cover wildlife trafficking as part of CNN's Change the List effort. Those of you who didn't vote should get interested, too. The illegal trade in wildlife is valued at $19 billion per year, according to a 2013 report from the International Fund for Animal Welfare, and it's known to finance the drug trade and illegal arms trade as well. Plus, the trade is fodder for some amazing stories -- stories of desperate poachers, daring park rangers and bizarre little creatures in need of protection. Related: Poachers are prey in the Congo . I asked my Twitter followers last week to help me come up with a list of must-read books and must-watch documentaries on the subject of the global wildlife trade. The start of that list is below. Have other suggestions? Leave a note in the comments and I might add your book, documentary, article or podcast to this list. Related: 99 must-reads on income inequality . And look for more on this soon. The next Change the List project will focus on the illegal wildlife trade. You'll find the stories here at CNN Opinion, at CNN.com/Change, and on my Twitter and Facebook feeds. The books on this list will help inform that story. Until then, here's the list. Thanks for your help in sharing and growing it: . 1. "Shell Games: Rogues, Smugglers and the Hunt for Nature's Bounty," by Craig Welch (From Amazon: "'Shell Games' is a cops-and-robbers tale set in a double-crossing world where smugglers fight turf wars over some of the world's strangest marine creatures.") 2. "Anything that Moves: Renegade Chefs, Fearless Eaters and the Making of a New American Food Culture," by Dana Goodyear (I read this book late last year and loved it. It's not exactly on the wildlife trade, per se, but as Goodyear "sets out to meet the people who are stretching our notions of what is edible," as the The Times put it in a review, she also explores people in the United States who are eating rare and endangered animals, including a restaurant in Santa Monica, California, that was busted serving whale.) 3. "Killing for Profit," by Julian Rademeyer ("On the black markets of Southeast Asia, rhino horn is worth more than gold, cocaine and heroin," the book's site says. This catalogs a "two-year-long investigation into a dangerous criminal underworld.") 4. "The Lizard King: True Crimes and Passions of the World's Greatest Reptile Smugglers," by Bryan Christy (From Amazon: "Imagine 'The Sopranos,' with snakes!") 5. "Black Market: Inside the Endangered Species Trade in Asia," by Ben Davies . 6. "Trading to Extinction," by Patrick Brown (A black-and-white photo book of 10 years of work documenting the wildlife trade.) 7. "Animal Investigators: How the World's First Wildlife Forensics Lab Is Solving Crimes and Saving Endangered Species," by Laurel Neme ("CSI for wildlife.") 8. "The Tiger: A True Story of Vengence and Survival," by John Vaillant (I'm a couple chapters into this and the suspense is gripping and the writing is eloquent -- and it sounds like it just gets better. From The New York Times review: "The structure of John Vaillant's book echoes that of 'Moby-Dick,' alternating a gripping chase narrative with dense explanations of the culture and ecology surrounding that chase. 'Jaws' fans will recognize the dramatic strategy of keeping the beast offstage as much as possible to allow terror to fill in the blanks, as well as a certain lurid detail at the book's end, which I won't reveal.") 9. "Love, Life and Elephants," by Daphne Sheldrick (A memoir by "the first person ever to have successfully hand-reared newborn elephants.") 10. "Conflict Tiger," by Sasha Snow (A documentary that inspired Vaillant's book. "In the forests of the Russian Far East, an inexperienced and foolhardy poacher triggers an infamous series of tiger attacks on people." Watch a preview on Vimeo.) 11. "Battle for the Elephants," by John Heminway (2013 National Geographic special, which you can watch online via PBS.org.) 12. "The Last Rhino," by Jonah Hull (Al Jazeera "examines the poaching industry from South Africa to Asia.) 13. "Ivory, Horn and Blood: Behind the Elephant and Rhinoceros Poaching Crisis," by Ronald Orenstein . 14. "Policing International Trade in Endangered Species," by Rosalind Reeve (Examines the 1973 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, more commonly known as CITES.) 15. "Hope for Animals and Their World: How Endangered Species are Being Rescued from the Brink," by Jane Goodall . 16. "The Last Great Ape," by Ofir Drori and David McDannald . 17. "Behind the Schemes," iTunes podcast by Annamiticus . UPDATE: More must-reads! Thanks to dozens of you for suggesting additions to this list. Some of your picks are below. Keep them coming in the comments section at the bottom of this story. Also, check out a wildlife-trafficking-focused Twitter list I created with your help. 18. "Trafficking: A Memoir of an Undercover Game Warden," by Tony Latham . 19. "Bear Sanctuary," by Victor Watkins . 20. "The Last Rhinos: My Battle to Save One of the World's Greatest Creatures," by Lawrence Anthony . 21. "Game Wars: The Undercover Pursuit of Wildlife Poachers," by Marc Reisner (1993) 22. "Winged Obsession: The Pursuit of the World's Most Notorious Butterfly Smuggler," by Jessica Speart . 23. "Sold into Extinction," by Jacqueline Schneider (A criminologist's perspective) 24. "To Save an Elephant," by Allan Thornton and Dave Currey . 25. "Stolen World: A Tale of Reptiles, Smugglers and Skulduggery," by Jennie Erin Smith . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of John D. Sutter. | NEW: The list grows with more suggested reading .
The next Change the List series will focus on wildlife trafficking .
Readers voted for John Sutter to cover that topic as part of the project .
Sutter asks Twitter followers to help him create a list of "must-reads" on trafficking . |
142,410 | 442a0c9f591d7a1fccd356af050da385cca2e832 | (CNN) -- What are we afraid of? That's the one thing I still don't understand; the one question -- nearly a month removed -- I'd love to have answered. What in the world are we so afraid of? In its October 4 issue, Sports Illustrated released a seven-page excerpt from my new book, "Sweetness: The Enigmatic Life of Walter Payton," a biography of the Chicago Bears' running back. The short piece concerned Payton's post-football struggles, ranging from depression to infidelity to suicide threats. It was, admittedly, a jarring look at a man who, to most Chicagoans, served as a beacon of light. Throughout his 13 seasons as a Bear, Payton wasn't merely a phenomenal running back. He was an NFL icon; one of the faces (and blinding smiles) of the league. Hence, to learn that Payton was -- what's the word? -- human, immediately rubbed many football fans (and, in particular, Chicago fans) the wrong way. In 17 years as a journalist, I've never received so many vicious letters, so many confrontational tweets, so many threatening e-mails. The general take (in sanitized terms): How dare you write a book about Sweetness when he's not here to defend himself? How dare you. To be honest, I was initially taken aback. You devote three years to a project, only to be judged on a sliver of a sliver of the full body of work. I felt the need to defend my intentions and stand up for my honor and convince every single naysayer that "Sweetness" was a detailed, exhaustively researched biography that delves into the ... blah, blah, blah. Now, I'm just mad. This is what biographies are supposed to do. From Manning Marable's astonishing "Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention" to Richard Ben Cramer's "Joe DiMaggio: The Hero's Life" to Jane Levy's "The Last Boy: Mickey Mantle and the End of America's Childhood," portraits of our icons should be truthful, fair and--perhaps most important--unflinching. We should want and expect this. They are written neither to love a subject nor loathe a subject, but to fully understand a subject. In other words, to provide a history lesson. In the years I spent trying to grasp Walter Payton, I learned to love -- truly love -- a uniquely giving, empathetic, quirky man. The portrait of Payton that already existed in the popular consciousness had been an overly simplistic (ie: mindless) one: The hard-nosed gridiron warrior who cracked lots of jokes and always had time for the fans. Payton's background? No interest. Payton's motivations? Meh. Payton's struggles and conflicts and pains? No, thank you. So what if Payton's own autobiography, "Never Die Easy," was an ode to the Chip Hilton school of gosh-golly-gee selective storytelling? Hey, it made us smile and sounded awfully good. Well, Walter Payton was so much more than good. Back in the fall of 1970, he was a key peg in the desegregation of the Marion County (Mississippi) School District; he was the black football player who -- by running 70-yard sweeps and walking with a quiet, confident dignity -- convinced skeptical white classmates (many of whom had never before spoken with a black person) that, hey, maybe this will work out OK. He went on to star at Jackson State University, where his brightest moment came not on the football field, but as a finalist on the Soul Train National College Dance Championship (he and his partner, Mary Jones, finished second -- a setback that haunted Payton as much as his failure to score a touchdown in Super Bowl XX). While in college, Payton changed his birth year from 1953 to 1954, inexplicably hoping the extra youth would give him in edge in Heisman Trophy balloting (it worked wonders -- he placed 14th). When he was drafted by the lowly Chicago Bears, he cried in disappointment -- literally, tears streamed down his face. When his father died in a Columbia, Mississippi, jail in 1978 (the police thought he was intoxicated; truth be told, he was suffering from a brain aneurism), he cried in devastation -- vowing to never refer to the place as his hometown again. Walter Payton signed every autograph request. Walter Payton dodged myriad interview requests. Walter Payton desperately wanted to be known as the greatest running back of all time. When Walter Payton became the NFL's all-time leading rusher in 1984, he shooed the media away. Walter Payton wanted people to know he didn't eat red meat. Walter Payton consumed Whoppers and Big Macs like a vacuum cleaner. Walter Payton was elated to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Walter Payton loathed the Hall of Fame induction ceremony -- knowing his wife and girlfriend would both be attending. When he retired after the 1987 season, Payton found himself searching for meaning in places where no meaning could be found. For 13 seasons he had been the toast of Chicago -- an incomparable running back and civic ambassador. Then, suddenly, it was over. His efforts to become an NFL owner fell short. His businesses yielded mixed results. His marriage was merely for show. He was lonely and angry and depressed, and -- at his absolute lowest -- he wrote suicide letters and contemplated taking his own life. The truth is harsh. Painful. Uncomfortable. And yet, it is also beautiful. Throughout his darkest days, when Payton saw no hope and no future, he continued to treat the people of Chicago as if they were his closest friends. On the streets of the Windy City, he'd offer hugs and smiles and pinches to complete strangers. He'd pose for pictures, sign autographs, tell the stories of Super Bowl XX or breaking Jim Brown's all-time rushing record for the 12,471st time. Never complaining. Never moaning. In the final months of his life, Payton was made aware his liver disease had morphed into bile duct cancer, that no transplant would be coming; that he was, quickly, dying. At that time, with nothing to gain, the man known as Sweetness did one public service announcement after another, urging people to save a life and sign up as organ donors. The impact: Thousands of new registers. That's Walter Payton. That's a story worth telling. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Jeff Pearlman. | Jeff Pearlman says he took a lot of heat for the revelations in his Walter Payton biography .
He doesn't get it: Why are people angry, afraid when they learn the truth about their heroes .
He says Walter Payton was complex man of dualities; suffered hardships in early life .
Pearlman: After retiring, Payton adrift but remained open to fans; spoke out for organ donation . |
215,317 | a2bbbca304e91cd32b4a15803fc2c9af74b55042 | Hospital patients are claiming they were left freezing on a cold dialysis ward for two weeks after a boiler broke down. Pensioner Reg Hansell said he and fellow kidney patients had been forced to wrap up in hats and scarves to keep warm after suffering 'unacceptable' temperatures in the Thomas Becket Unit at Kent and Canterbury Hospital. The 70-year-old said up to 40 patients were encouraged to bring in extra duvets and blankets to ward against the cold, which dropped to 15C, and that staff were left shivering when they were told they could not wear extra layers. Pensioner Reg Hansell was forced to wrap on the freezing ward while having dialysis at Kent and Canterbury Hospital because of a boiler breakdown . Mr Hansell, a former council leader, was diagnosed with kidney failure four weeks ago and has dialysis treatment three times a week. He said: 'Dialysis is not a pleasant experience and to endure the cold for four hours at a time in those conditions was uncomfortable to say the least. 'Some of the patients who come in for dialysis are quite frail and it was tortuous for them because it was freezing. Visitors complained about it too. 'The hospital claims the ward was kept at 22 degrees but that's rubbish. My house is kept at that temperature so I know what it feels like and it was definitely much colder - more like 15 degrees. 'My nose was cold and I even considered wearing a balaclava. Some patients even brought in duvets. 'I don't blame the nurses, who were cold themselves and had to give out extra blankets and suggested we bring in our own fleeces. Finbarr Murray, director of Kent and Canterbury Hospital Trust's Estates and Facilities, said the ward is now back to its usual temperature . 'I felt awful for them, they started to wear cardigans but were told they couldn't wear them, I think because of germs.' Mr, Hansell, a retired engineer and ex-leader of Dover District Council, has now received an apology from the ward manager Lesley Alexander this week. The hospital has confirmed the temperature is back to normal but bosses refused to accept the temperature had dropped lower than 20C. Finbarr Murray, director of the Hospital Trust's Estates and Facilities, said: 'We are sorry that our patients in the Thomas Becket Unit at Kent and Canterbury Hospital have been inconvenienced by one of the two heaters serving the unit becoming faulty. 'Renal patients require a higher room temperature whilst undergoing dialysis for four to five hours, three times a week. Mr Hansell has now received a letter of apology from after he complained dialysis patients were left to suffer 'freezing' conditions although the hospital says the temperature did not drop below 20 degrees . 'Our staff have been helping our patients to keep warm during their dialysis with the help of additional blankets for a few days whilst alternative heating was arranged. 'A second boiler has continued to be operational during this time maintaining a temperature of at least 22 degrees with the assistance of portable electric heaters, increasing the temperature of the underfloor heating and turning off of the cold airflow system. 'Our Building Management System sounds an alarm if the temperature drops to 20 degrees or below, which has not happened during this time. We keep spare parts for all our critical equipment; however parts for these boilers must be fitted by a specialist Gas Safe registered engineer which has been the cause of this delay. 'The ward is now back to its usual temperature. We have not received any formal complaint regarding this.' But Mr Hansell, who used to manufacture boilers, claimed the hospital did not have the necessary spares which was why patients had to suffer the cold conditions for two weeks. 'That's no way to run a hospital,' he added. 'The question now is will the hospital buy spares for the next time this happens?.' | Reg Hansell had been undergoing dialysis at Kent and Canterbury Hospital .
When the boiler broke he says up to 40 patients suffered temperatures of 15C .
The 70-year-old said staff were 'shivering' and patients told to bring in blankets .
The hospital has apologised but denies the ward got any colder than 20C . |
211,991 | 9e8b8f2f4a74e7ca44f8427af076a210d997a658 | Shaun Wadey was left needing hospital treatment for whiplash after he was thrown from his seat on a ferry which crashed into a harbour wall . An investigation has been launched into how a cross-channel ferry carrying 320 passengers crashed into a harbour wall, hospitalising four people and leaving others injured. Passengers told of scenes of 'carnage' on board the Dover Seaways ship after it slammed into the dockside during an 8am crossing to Dunkirk yesterday. Photos taken inside the vessel show passengers lying on the floor amid broken chairs and smashed glass after the accident at the Kent port. Shaun Wadey, 25, was left needing hospital treatment for severe whiplash after he was thrown from his seat and into a wall. The sales manager, from Worthing, West Sussex, was supposed to be heading to the French port of Calais with his sister Nikki Brett, 29, and her husband Paul, but they accidentally boarded the wrong ship. He told MailOnline: 'It was going straight for the harbour wall and we were thinking, he's going to start turning now, he's going to turn, oh c**p, he's not. 'I was sitting at an angle. I tried grabbing hold of the table but I flew two metres and landed on a railing next to a window. 'I then got showered in plates and glasses. I don't remember blacking out but my sister says she thought I was unconscious. 'It was carnage on board, with people lying down on the floor, with smashed plates and drinks glasses around them. 'We drove ourselves to a hospital because there was lots of people needing treatment. There was one pregnant woman with two kids who looked like she was hurt.' Mr Wadey was given a CT scan and doctors checked him for internal bleeding but he was given the all clear. He suffered whiplash, which he says is very painful. Four adults were taken to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, Kent, as a precautionary measure, although none were believed to have suffered life-threatening or serious injuries. A disabled woman is believed to be among the injured after she was reportedly knocked unconscious in the smash. Photos taken on the ship show bottles of spirits thrown over the floor of the on-board shop . Witnesses say they thought the ship was going to turn, but it kept going and crashed into the harbour wall . Joan Tiernan, 51, from Godstone, Surrey was heading away for a short break to the Belgian city of Bruges with her husband Paschal, 53. Mrs Tiernan said: 'We were at the back of the ferry at the time. We had only just left the dock. It was all fine but we could see the sea was rough outside the harbour. 'My husband thinks there was a change in engine noise but we weren't going very fast. Then after a few seconds there was a huge crash. It was clear we had hit something very large. 'People were thrown around. There were two disabled ladies sitting next to us. Both of them had multiple sclerosis. 'One of the ladies had gone to the loo with a walking frame. She was knocked unconscious after banging her head. We helped her up and stayed with her until the staff came to help her. 'In the restaurant people had been thrown to the floor. It looked like there had been a food fight in there. It was everywhere. The duty free shop looked like it had been ram raided. 'It was sort of shocking at the time but there was no panic. Everyone was quite calm but a lot of people were bemused because there was no announcements and no information given. Staff were just going round telling everyone it was ok.' Passengers said the shop looked like it has been 'ram-raided', with bottles of spirits and gifts everywhere . Photos from the scene show the damage done to the ship, which was brought back into dock after the incident . Sea conditions in the English Channel were slight to moderate and visibility was good just before the ferry set off on its journey, the Port of Dover said. The Port, which is carrying out its own investigation, said it was likely that the Marine Accident Investigation Branch would also be looking into the incident which was 'normal procedure'. A spokesman said the Port and Dover Seaways had immediately put emergency plans into practice to ensure the safety of those on board. He said: 'Our first priority is always to ensure safety of all those who use the port. Thankfully incidents whilst relatively rare are always professionally and rapidly dealt with.' He added: 'The vessel, Dover Seaways, is safely berthed in the Eastern Docks. We praise all concerned for their swift response. 'Naturally, the incident will be subject to our own internal investigation and that of the appropriate statutory authorities.' Photos later tweeted by the Kent 999s Twitter account show the damage done to the ship's bow by the smash. DFDS said passengers who wished to continue their journey had been accommodated on other DFDS Seaways ferries. A spokeswoman said the ferry was being assessed for repairs but could not say how bad the damage was or when the ship was expected to sail again. A Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) spokeswoman said it had been informed of the incident but that it was being dealt with by Dover Port. She said the MCA was in consultation with a surveyor who would be assessing the damage to the ferry today. Tugboats moved the stricken vessel back into place after the alarm was raised with the port's authorities . The Dover Seaways ferry believed to have been involved in the accident, which is now being investigated . | Dover to Dunkirk ferry collided with dock during 8am crossing yesterday .
Passengers thrown to floor as plates and glasses smashed around them .
Four people taken to hospital but all thought to have avoided serious injury .
Investigation now launched by port authorities, who praise 'swift response' |
185,231 | 7bf0acfa205db1a4a1cd7e2d669645fb6e96872a | By . Jessica Jerreat . PUBLISHED: . 09:14 EST, 30 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:15 EST, 30 July 2013 . Confrontation: James Dyer faces a charge of disorderly conduct after the baseball game fight . The parents of a ten-year-old boy have been cited for disorderly conduct after a fight broke out at the end of a Little League baseball game. James and Jammie Dyer, from Greeley, Colorado, are facing charges after Mr Dyer allegedly confronted the other team's coach after his son was told off for trying to distract players. Footage of the brawl that followed, involving about 18 people, was filmed on a cell phone until Mrs Dyer allegedly knocked the phone to the ground and hit the woman who owned it, witnesses claimed. Jennifer Metzler, who was at the competitive playoff on Tuesday last week, claimed that parents were rolling on the ground and that one man . was kicked in the groin as the parents began fighting. 'The boys were crying; all the boys were crying,' Ms Metzler told 9 News. Although . other people were allegedly involved, only the Dyers have been charged, . because police said they believed the couple had instigated the fight and that the others were only trying to intervene. '[They were] cited for assault, . disorderly conduct and theft, because it was reported that the cell . phone was taken away and that mom had punched several people,' Greeley . Police Sergeant Susan West said. The tension at the Greeley Evans Youth League game began when Mr Dyer approached the coach of the other team, who had allegedly told his son off during the game. 'All of a sudden this guy comes over very aggressively and puts his finger through the chain link fence, throwing m***** f***ing and throwing F-bombs left and right at the coach,' one parent, who did not want to be identified, told 7 News. He added: 'The coach wasn't responding to him and that got him even more angry.' The situation escalated when Mrs Dyer allegedly hit a woman and knocked the cell phone she was filming on to the ground. 'Some punches were thrown. And there was a charge of theft because the woman, Jammie Dyer, took the cell phone away and then refused to give it back to her,' Sergeant Steve Black said. However, the Dyers are fighting the charges and claimed they were the victims. Mr Dyer is facing a charge of disorderly conduct and his wife is facing charges of misdemeanor assault, disorderly conduct and theft. Charged: Jammie and James Dyer have been blamed for starting the fight, which allegedly involved 18 adults . Strikeout: The fight began at a Greeley Evans Youth League game for ten-year-old boys . They told 7 News that Mrs Dyer did take the cell phone, but they were the ones who were attacked, adding that somebody threw a sports drink bottle at Mrs Dyer's head. 'They were just trying to defend themselves,' Nicole Garza, a witness, said. 'The other team's parents circled around him and started kicking and punching him.' The young boys who witnessed the fight are being offered counseling. 'It is embarrassing, and the thing that makes it the most embarrassing is it's about kids and sometimes parents forget that we do this for kids and not for the adults,' Rick Juarez, president of the Greeley Evans Youth League, said. | Couple charged with disorderly conduct after game for ten-year-old boys .
Mother allegedly hit woman who tried to film confrontation on her phone .
About 18 adults allegedly involved in fight after Greeley youth game . |
204,267 | 946fcd85c4a9cbc8f05475aca55133748dfb1395 | UEFA has announced it will prohibit clubs in the disputed territory of the Crimea playing matches in the Russian league. Russia annexed the peninsular in March, following a controversial referendum in Crimea which backed breaking away from Ukraine. European football's governing body has now said Crimea will be designated a 'special zone' until the political future of the Crimea is determined. UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino announced the news at executive committee meeting on Thursday . Infantino said that 'the decision has to be to consider Crimea as a special zone'. UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino told a news conference in Nyon: 'The UEFA executive committee has prohibited clubs from Crimea playing in the Russian Football Union, and the Russian Football Union may not organise any competition in the Crimea. 'We trust the associations will respect these decisions. If one of the associations does not respect this decision then a disciplinary case would have to be opened. 'It is not up to UEFA to determine any political situation. Having discussed this with the Ukraine and Russia and Ukrainian and Russian football authorities, the executive committee came to the conclusion that for the time being the decision has to be to consider Crimea as a special zone.' | Russia annexed Crimea after referendum backing breakaway from Ukraine .
UEFA have prohibited clubs from Crimea playing in the Russian league .
Nor can the Russian Football Union organise any competition in Crimea . |
239,821 | c27766e34f699b4165f8dee666c2351f05c6846e | By . Joel Christie . Police in Ontario had to call in officers from every division to break up a wild house party on Friday night, with 60 cop cars showing up to control the 2,000 people who turned up for the 'monster mansion party'. The raucous Brampton hoedown was discovered by police on Twitter, where it was being promoted under the hashtag #MansionParty. Officers had gone to the still-under-construction home on Stanley Carberry Dr. earlier in the night to warn the mother that her son's party was being touted on social media. She said: 'I told my son he could have some friends over.' Scroll down for video . 'Quiet night with a few friends': Social media snaps show an estimated 2,000 packed into a sprawling home in Brampton, Ontario, on Friday night after it was promoted on social media . The home, which is thought to have been under construction for years, was 'trashed', according to one reveler, with an estimated $70,000 worth of damage . The police who broke up the party said there was a huge potential for problems, mostly likely the balcony and staircases collapsing under the weight of revelers . Some 60 police cars showed up at the scene to break up the party, with officers called in from every division in Ontario . The 5,000-square-foot house has reportedly been under construction for several years . Numerous party goers had no issue posting the damage on Twitter, with this shot showing three young men with holding the house's letterbox . A neighbor who lives across the street from house said the son had informed them about the party on Friday morning. 'He told (us) that they were just going to have a small party,' he told CTV News. But by 9.30pm, the house was completely over-run. One reveler, who identified himself as Nick and said he was 16, said he heard about the party on social media and arrived to a line-up of about 200 cars and a tour bus packed with people. 'I have seen something like this in the movies, but never in real life,' he told The Record. 'There were hundreds of people here. Some people were climbing over ladders and smashing the windows. Some were drinking. Everyone wanted to get inside.' Images posted on Twitter and Instagram show hundreds of people crammed onto the staircases of the sprawling mansion with scores more outside the home. Aftermath: These shots were taken at the scene on Saturday, the morning after the party . Several windows were broken during the #MansionParty . Police said they were called about the gathering on Stanley Carberry Drive, near Goreway Drive and Mayfield Road, about 9.30pm . Surprisingly, no one was hurt, except the house itself . According to Const. Thomas Ruttan, a spokesperson for Peel Regional Police, when police arrived they found the homeowner was present. There were no injuries, but Ruttan said police laid a number of assault and public intoxication charges. 'There was a potential, a real potential for something to happen, something deadly,' Const. Thomas Ruttan told CTV Toronto. According to one party-goer, the home was 'completely trashed'. 'There were a lot of broken windows,' he told CP24 on Saturday outside the home. The estimated amount of damages was $70,000, according to The Record. The 5,000-square-foot house has reportedly been under construction for several years. Several people were arrested for public intoxication and assaulting police officers . No one was hurt, but police estimate about $70,000 worth of damage was done to the house . According to one partygoer, the home was 'completely trashed' | Wild party thrown at a still-under-construction house in Brampton, Ontario, Friday night .
Police said it is remarkable no one was injured .
Several were arrested, mostly for underage intoxication . |
274,251 | ef363d96896a6f8c9eb583542ab4d832fd8c22e3 | By . Amanda Williams, Sam Greenhill and David Williams . PUBLISHED: . 09:40 EST, 6 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 19:42 EST, 6 November 2012 . The Old Harrovian murdered by the wife of a top Chinese politician was spying for Britain after all, it was claimed yesterday. Businessman Neil Heywood,41, was supplying ‘useful’ information to MI6 in the months before he was poisoned, a newspaper has reported. The claim is at odds with William Hague’s attempts to distance the Government from the scandal. Extraordinary report: British businessman Neil Heywood had been providing information to an MI6 officer on top Communist politician Bo Xilai, for at least a year before he died, it has been claimed. Trial: Bo's wife Gu Kailai was given a suspended death sentence in August for poisoning Heywood, 41, with cyanide at a Chongqing hotel. In April, the Foreign Secretary said Mr Heywood was not a government employee ‘in any capacity’. It is a year since Mr Heywood was lured to a hotel in Chongqing, south west China, and given cyanide by Gu Kailai, 53, the lawyer wife of Bo Xilai, who had been tipped as a future leader. Mr Heywood had been friends of the couple for years, after being hired to teach their son English, and had an intimate knowledge of their private affairs. Yesterday’s twist came a few days before the country’s once-in-a-decade change of leadership and could prove damaging to relations with the UK. The report in the Wall Street Journal claims that a person Mr Heywood met in 2009 later acknowledged being an MI6 officer to him. Mr Heywood, who lived in Beijing with his wife and two children, later met that person regularly to pass on information on Mr Bo’s affairs. His death in November 2011 brought down Mr Bo, the former Communist chief of Chongqing, and in August this year his wife was given a suspended death sentence for murder. She claimed Heywood threatened to ‘destroy’ her British-educated son, Bo Guagua, 24, unless he was paid £13million, allegedly commission on a property deal. Mr Bo is expected to be tried for abuse of power and taking bribes.A spokesman for the Foreign Office said it ‘had a long-standing policy that we don’t comment on intelligence matters’. Bo has since been expelled from the party, a move which has stripped him of immunity from prosecution. Mr Heywood's relatives have declined to comment. In a letter to a Richard Ottaway MP on 26 April, Mr Hague moved to end speculation over Mr Heywood. He said that while it was usual government . policy 'neither to confirm nor deny speculation of this sort' that 'given the intense interest in this case it is, . exceptionally, appropriate... to confirm that Mr Heywood was not an . employee of the British government in any capacity ' Bo Xilai, pictured while he was Governor of Liaoning Province. It has been claimed that murdered British businessman Neil Heywood was providing information about Bo to MI6 . The 41-year-old had lived in China from the early 1990s, where he learned fluent Mandarin. One of Heywood's ancestors was Britain's consul general in the northern port city of Tianjin from 1929 to 1935. Chain-smoking Heywood made his living as a mostly self-employed consultant to companies, including the Beijing dealer of Aston Martin, helping them resolve disputes and assisting with due diligence. His grey Jaguar was second-hand, with a license plate ‘N007W3’. He requested and obtained the ‘007’ plate from Beijing traffic authorities as he was a fan of James Bond spy movies and classic sports cars, according to a family friend. Previous reports that he was a spy had been based on the part-time work Heywood had done for Hakluyt, a UK-based private business consultancy founded by former British intelligence officers. The claims were dismissed by family friends at the time. Another source close to the family scoffed at the idea, saying a real spy would hardly advertise the fact by driving around in a car with ‘007’ plates. ‘Who would be so stupid as to carve 007 on his face if he were a real spy?’ the source said. During Gu Kailai's trial it was claimed she killed him over a business deal that went sour. The case first came to light when police chief Wang Lijun fled to the US consulate in February, allegedly after falling out with Mr Bo over the Heywood case. Chinese officials then ordered that an investigation into Mr Heywood's death be reopened. Police had originally said he died of 'over-consumption' of alcohol. Five senior police officers in Chongqing have also been jailed, according to Chinese state media, for covering up the case. | Heywood 'spied on' top Communist politician Bo Xilai, for at least a year before he died, it says .
The 41- year-old , who drove a top of the range Jaguar with a 007 number plate, was poisoned by Bo's wife in November 2011 .
UK Foreign Office said it would not comment 'on intelligence matters' after the claims were made . |
136,181 | 3c2dc507aa1697f878d2380cf5465ab210f66ae6 | Claims: James Kitson, 32, said a Tesco colleague scrawled 'JA Kitson is a deaf c***' on a toilet wall . A Tesco shelf stacker is suing the firm for almost £100,000 after claiming he was hounded out of his job for being deaf. James Kitson, 32, walked out of his job of 15 years over bullying claims - including when a colleague scrawled 'JA Kitson is a deaf c***' on a toilet wall, a tribunal heard. He said senior staff at the Warwick store refused to launch a proper investigation and passed him over for a promotion as part of a catalogue of claims. Mr Kitson appeared before Birmingham Employment Tribunal yesterday at the start of a two-week hearing. Mr Kitson, from Southam, Warwickshire, said senior staff had ignored company policy to take into account his hearing problems, that mean he cannot hear anyone behind him. He is now suing Tesco for £97,400 compensation, claiming emotional distress caused by disability discrimination and bullying that caused him to leave the company. He is also claiming breaches of EU working laws after saying he was forced to work back-to-back shifts less than 11 hours apart. And he claims he was ignored for a new role because he lodged an official complaint against 'vindictive' bosses. He told the hearing he began working at the Warwick branch while doing his A-levels in 1999 and had an exemplary record. He had been promoted to be a team leader, still working on the shop floor, but things came to a head before he walked out in September. 'I would not normally use the men's toilets at work, but due to an abscess I needed to use them to sort it out every few hours,' he said. 'It was a Sunday so the store closed at 4pm that day and only staff were around after that. 'When I went in I noticed the words 'JA Kitston is a deaf c***' scratched into the back of the door. 'It had my middle initial in it, which is only available from official Tesco records so it had to be a member of staff.' Exemplary: The tribunal heard Mr Kitson worked at this Tesco branch in Warwick since leaving school in 1999 . He claimed his name was added to a list of people who needed to attend a meeting for a new contract - but when he turned up he found the name had been added by an unnamed colleague, and there was no contract waiting. Store manager Owen Culshaw admitted he had never launched an official investigation into the graffiti incident. He told the tribunal: 'I asked a colleague to look into it, to make some informal enquiries. 'I didn't see a point making it formal and interviewing everyone, because I did not think the chances of anyone admitting to doing it were very high. 'You are given a handbook when you join about equality. Everyone at Tesco gets one. 'It is not replaced when a new one comes out, but it is on everyone's file digitally so can be accessed. Store manager Owen Culshaw said everyone had an equality handbook, adding: 'I didn't see a point making it formal and interviewing everyone, because I did not think the chances of anyone admitting to it were high' 'We have a disability policy book, but I haven't read it all, it is there to refer to. The book is over 3,000 pages long. 'When Mr Kitson had his last performance review he did not like the findings. I am told he ripped up the documents and walked out of the store there and then.' Mr Kitson, who is representing himself, denied he had stormed out of the store and claimed line manager Paul Fisher had not given him time to prepare for the interview. 'Paul Fisher made the store an offensive environment to work in,' he added. 'I was victimised by Paul Fisher in the review.' A Tesco spokesman said: 'We cannot comment on the specific allegations made against us as the hearing is ongoing. However, we are defending the claim and deny the allegations put to us. We take our responsibilities as an equal opportunities employer extremely seriously - everyone is welcome at Tesco'. The tribunal continues. | James Kitson, 32, worked for supermarket giant in Warwick for 15 years .
But he walked out complaining of victimisation and not being promoted .
One colleague had scrawled 'JA Kitson is a deaf c***' on a toilet wall .
He is demanding £97,400 compensation for emotional distress . |
28,863 | 51f0e796ea2d57cb970f2bc06a5aa27a8a2861d9 | By . Paul Donnelley . The theft of an iPhone began a campaign of bullying that led to the death of a teenage New Yorker and his former best friend charged with his murder. On Wednesday, 14-year-old Noel . Estevez allegedly used a kitchen knife to stab Timothy . Crump, also 14, in the chest three times after school in the Bronx, New York. The two teenagers had been close friends spending their spare time together skateboarding, sharing dirty jokes on Facebook and playing computer games. Scroll down for video . Noel Estevez, 14, has been charged with second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter over the death of his former friend, Timothy Crump . Friends and neighbours say that Timothy accused Estevez of stealing his smartphone and that started a campaign of harassment and bullying that resulted in Estevez trying to kill himself. Estevez's hair was hacked, his sexuality questioned and he was teased over his mother's arrest for drug dealing. Estevez, who friends said suffered . from a speech impediment and Tourette’s syndrome, was terrified of Timothy and a group of his friends who took to urinating up the front door of the Estevez home, chasing him down the . street and leaving him too scared to leave his home. Around 3pm on Wednesday, as Intermediate School 117 on Morris Avenue was being let out the argument between Estevez and Timothy Crump spilled over into bloodshed. Intermediate School 117 on Morris Avenue in the Bronx: One 14-year-old pupil allegedly stabbed another 14-year-old pupil to death there on Wednesday . Witnesses said that they saw Timothy confront Estevez as they left school, before punching him and kneeing him in the nose. Teachers and teaching assistants rushed to the scene to break up the brawl but before they could intervene, Estevez produced a 12-inch kitchen knife and plunged it into his former friend three times. Timothy was rushed to Bronx-Lebanon Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Estevez has been charged as an adult with second degree murder and second degree manslaughter. Noel Estevez tried to hang himself in his own apartment on May 28. His father found him in the closet with a rope . Chailyn Oballe, 12, said that she was leaving classes for the day when she saw a group huddling outside the school. 'And . that's when I saw the boy with the knife,' she said. 'He looked like . he was about to stab somebody else and then he put the knife in his . pocket and covered it with his shirt.' Differing accounts have been given about the boys' relationship.One has it that Estevez had long been bullied by Timothy Crump. Another that they were all part of the same gang but had fallen out. 'He . used to be part of their group, but I think they threw him out and they . started teasing him,' Jorge Guerrero, 47, the porter at the Estevez building on East Clarke Place in High Bridge, said. Dispute: Noel Estevez, left, allegedly stabbed Timothy Crump, right, repeatedly in the chest, killing him, as they left school on Wednesday . He said that on at least four occasions in the last month he had to mop up urine from outside the apartment. He added that he did not recognise Crump as one of the bullies - but others did. 'Timothy is one of the kids that is constantly bullying Noel,' Estevez’s neighbour Stephany Arroyo, 23, said. '[He . would say] things like, "Ha ha, your mum's a crackhead, you're . stuttering, you don't got no food stamps, you're mum’s locked up.' Another family friend Marisol Perez said it was worse than that. ‘They would move their bowels in front of the door, try and set the door on fire,’ she said. ‘Every time the cops would come, the kids would leave, saying there was nothing they could do about it.' Mrs Estevez and Miss Perez were arrested on June 11 for allegedly selling drugs to an undercover policeman. Both declare their innocence. Charged: Estevez can be seen centre being taken in for questioning on Wednesday night. He has now been charged with second-degree murder and charged as an adult, police said . Miss Arroyo said that Timothy 'found it funny'. She said that he and his friends would hang outside Estevez's building, threatening him. The treatment eventually left Estevez suicidal, Marisol Perez, said. 'Two . weeks ago on May 28 he tried to hang himself in his own apartment,' Miss Perez added. 'His . father found him hanging himself in the closet with a rope.' Estevez . was recently released from the hospital and returned to school this . week, even though he told his father he did not want to go because of the . bullies. Arrest: A security guard reportedly stopped the fight outside the school, IS 177, and the boy was arrested . 'His father brought him to school this morning and said, "Don’t worry, just go straight home after school",' Miss Perez added. But Timothy Crump's neighbours at a homeless shelter said that he was a quiet child and that Estevez was the bully. 'He . wanted to make it look like he was the victim,' Tyrone Rivers said. 'He'd say, "I run this block, I’m going to get my gun and shoot you." I’ve seen him say it.' A policeman said that Estevez had borrowed Timothy’s mobile, but was unable to return it. Timothy is believed to have asked for the phone’s return or financial compensation. Crime scene: Authorities gather outside the school where the teenager was stabbed after class . Yesterday, Estevez appeared at a Bronx courthouse. His father, Felix, was not present at the court because, said defence lawyer Eric Poulos, he had been threatened by Timothy’s family, although his aunts and cousins did attend. The hearing lasted around 10 minutes and Mr Poulos described months of harassment and intimidation suffered by his client. The family had repeatedly sought help from the authorities, to little avail, he said. Judge Laurence Busching ordered Estevez to be held without bail and scheduled the next hearing for Tuesday. Fight: Witnesses said they saw Timothy Crump punching Estevez before Estevez pulled out the knife . | Noel Estevez stabbed Timothy Crump, 14, in the chest three times after they left school in the Bronx, New York, on Wednesday .
Estevez borrowed Crump's smartphone but was unable to return it .
Neighbours claimed Crump and his friends urinated and excreted on the Estevez family doorstep .
On May 28, Estevez, who has a stutter and Tourette's, tried to hang himself .
Estevez has been charged as an adult with second degree murder . |
246,705 | cb4852224a2e2435d4ad8d6cdc3f1235852a7198 | Carlo Ancelotti saluted the players who have given him his place in history. The Italian coach becomes only the second manager in history to win three European Cups emulating the feat of Bob Paisley. 'We have thought about this night since the first game of the season and we finally achieved what we set out to do at the start of the campaign. We never lost the faith and we were stronger in extra time.' Ancelotti had seen the game slip away from Real Madrid but he made the changes that changed the game bringing on the outstanding Isco and the scorer of the third goal, Marcelo. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Ancelotti interview interrupted by Madrid players celebrating . Elevated: Carlo Ancelotti has become just the second manager in history to win three European Cups . Winner: Ancelotti also won the Champions twice with AC Milan in 2003 and 2007 . Ecstatic: Sergio Ramos wheels away to celebrate after equalising for Real Madrid in stoppage time . Flying: Ramos climbs highest above the Atletico defence to hammer home a header and level the scores . Do a Mario: Cristiano celebrates after scoring the final goal during Real Madrid's Champions League win . 'It’s . incredible what we have achieved” said the former PSG, Chelsea, Milan . and Roma manager. The coach also defended his goalkeeper Iker Casillas . whose early error could have cost Real their much sought-after Decima . saying: 'Everyone has played their part in the victory.' Casillas . said: 'Sometimes I make mistakes. The team bounced back and we have . been able to do what we set out to do at the start of the season. This . feels like something even bigger than winning the World Cup. 'I . promised this to the fans a long time ago and 10 is a great number. The . fans have suffered waiting for this moment and all this is for them.' Real . Madrid’s president Florentino saluted his last record signing Gareth . Bale. 'His second goal killed them off and we are finally able to bring . the 10 European Cup to our fans. We have done it with seven new signings . at the start of the season. They all came good for us.' It . was Sergio Ramos whose goal brought Real Madrid back into the game in . injury time. 'This goal is not for me it’s for all the supporters, we . have waited for this moment for a very long time.' Vital: Gareth Bale put Real ahead in extra time . Impact: Marcelo came off the bench to score Real Madrid's third . La Decima: Iker Casillas believes that winning Real Madrid's 10th Champions League is bigger than the World Cup . | Real Madrid beat Atletico 4-1 to win their 10th European Cup .
Ancelotti's third triumph in the competition after two with AC Milan .
Bob Paisley only other man in history to achieve the feat with Liverpool .
Iker Casillas believes 'La Decima' is bigger than World Cup victory . |
79,960 | e2a8c31ffc45b108c0967a28c172c7f410a9ef7e | By . Chris Pleasance . Footage has emerged from Russia showing a meteor exploding as it enters the atmosphere and lighting up the night sky. In the short clip, recorded on a car's dash camera, a bright object can be seen streaking across the sky before breaking into pieces and disappearing. The scenes are reminiscent of the 2013 Russian meteor which exploded in the sky over Chelyabinsk, shattering glass in nearby buildings and injuring 1,200 people. Scroll down for video . Dashcam footage has emerged of a suspected meteor exploding over the Russian region of Murmansk . The the footage, shot just after 2.10am local time, shows a bright light appearing in the sky above a road . Some have cast doubt on the new extra-terrestrial object, pointing out that Russia has a military base nearby and it could simply be a missile test, but no long range tests were scheduled for that evening. Witnesses in Russia's northern Murmansk region say that, unlike the previous meteor, there was no audible explosion when the bright object appeared at roughly 2.10pm local time. The Chelyabinsk meteor, which crashed to Earth in February 2013 weighed 10,000 tonnes, according to scientists, and was 55ft wide. When it exploded the force was so great it sent shockwaves around the world twice before punching a 50ft-wide hole in the surface of a frozen lake. The light flares up, illuminating the surrounding buildings, before disintegrating and fading away . While many believe the object to be a meteor, others have pointed out that the Russian military have a base nearby and have suggested that it could be a missile test . The tremors from the explosion above Chelyabinsk city were recorded at around 20 monitoring stations across the world. The stations are part of the International Monitoring System network operated by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation. Collectors were quick to the scene where . they collected fragments of space rock before trying to sell them . online, some reportedly fetching thousands of pounds. Earlier this year Russia included . fragment of the meteor in medals which they handed out at the Sochi . winter Olympics to mark the anniversary of the rock falling to Earth. A meteor occurs when an object from space, usually rock, gets dragged into the Earth's atomosphere by gravity, burning up as it encounters friction. The clip is similar to dashcam footage captured in 2013 of a meteor exploding above Chelyabinsk . On that occasion a huge explosion blew out glass in surrounding buildings, injuring 1,200 people. Witnesses to the latest 'meteor' say there was no sound as the object fell to earth . | Meteor seen lighting up night sky over Russian city of Murmansk .
Object illuminates buildings before apparently breaking apart .
Footage is similar to Chelyabinsk meteor which exploded in sky in 2013 . |
125,364 | 2e0dfa0c68828d39534de09fc17951d08d44a00e | Don't you just hate it when you're having a really good game of football, then Optimus Prime saves your overhead kick from sailing into the bottom corner? Charlton Athletic midfielder Diego Poyet - son of Sunderland manager and ITV pundit Gus - does, as the 19-year-old stars in an advert for the new Transformers film. It starts with the youngster showing off his skills in training, before goalkeeper Optimus Prime controls the ball then crushes it before the England youth's eyes. Ready: Diego Poyet is the standout name of the Transformers advert for the upcoming movie . Air: Poyet shows off his skills in the ad, dribbling around other players before he gets to unleash a shot . Overhead: Poyet, donning number 39 on his kit, gets his shot away at goal... in front of an empty stadium . Goalkeeper: Optimus Prime stops the shot from sailing in with his foot . Crush: Optimus Prime crushes the ball in front of Poyet after saving the shot . Diego Poyet, alongside fellow footballers Gor Grigoryan and Patrick Otte, will hope to carry the same skills he shows in the clip into next season with Championship outfit Charlton. Last season, he won the Charlton Player of the Year award. That came, incredibly, despite the youngster only breaking into the team as a regular in February. Poyet, born in Spain to Uruguayan parents and raised in England, finds himself in a rare predicament. The potential star can play for all three, as he holds a passport for each, but has represented England at U16 and U17 levels, and hopes to break into the U19 team and beyond. He did, however, tell Sportsmail that he would represent Uruguay or Spain if the opportunity arose, saying: 'You never know in the future. Maybe England wouldn't want me and someone else would.' Poyet, donning number 39 in the ad, took to Twitter after @ICON_SPORTSUK posted the video and said: 'This is the new advert I was talking to you about. Hope you like it.' Meanwhile, his dad, Gus, is living it up in Brazil, reporting as an expert on the World Cup for ITV. It seems to be going well, too, considering the cool look the Sunderland boss cut by Copacabana beach in Rio on Sunday. Cool dude: Gus Poyet appeared to be enjoying the afternoon sunshine in his shades . | Charlton's Diego Poyet shows off skills before having shot saved... by Optimus Prime in new Transformers advert .
Poyet won Charlton Player of the Year despite only breaking into team in February .
Born in Spain to Uruguayan parents and raised in England, Poyet can play for all three but has represented the latter at U16 and U17 level .
His dad, Gus, is in Brazil as an ITV pundit for the World Cup . |
190,505 | 82a40d0850fd20cf831a575f3c01c032d23f01ba | By . Bob Graham . PUBLISHED: . 19:24 EST, 14 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:07 EST, 15 June 2012 . A Texan tycoon who defrauded almost £5 billion from investors and used his wealth to bankroll international cricket matches in England was jailed for 110 years yesterday. Allen Stanford, who for 22 years ran investment scams with an estimated 17,000 victims, was once one of the richest men in America, worth more than £1.2 billion. The courtroom in Houston was packed with many of his victims to hear the sentence handed down, the majority of whom were small business owners. Two of the estimated 17,000 victims of Stanford’s fraud were allowed to address the court. Jailbird: Convicted financier Allen Stanford arrives at Federal Court in Houston for sentencing . Jaime Escalona, who represented Latin . American victims, addressed the hearing before turning to stare directly . at Stanford to tell him: 'You, sir, are a dirty, rotten, scoundrel.' The other victims’ spokesman, Angela . Shaw, of the Stanford Victims Coalition, said of the fraudster: 'Allen . Stanford has stolen more than billions of dollars. He took our lives as . we knew them.' She said some 28,000 people had lost money in the scam. Yet, even in his final hour of shame . the former tycoon couldn’t help but deny it all and to blame others. 'I’m not a thief.....I did not defraud anybody,' he said. 'The US government are responsible . ruining the business....they destroyed it and turned it to nothing. Stanford was a real brick-and-mortar global financial empire.' Guilty: Stanford was convicted in March of 13 of 14 counts of fraud . Stanford now plans to appeal against the conviction and sentence even though he was officially declared 'indigent' – penniless. The court has now to appoint lawyers . who will be funded out of a scheme similar to Britain’s own legal-aid . and it is estimated to run into tens of millions of dollars. During sentencing, . Stanford’s 40-minute rambling account was the first time he had actually . spoken to the court about what had taken place during the 22-years his . banking empire existed. He claimed he was a scapegoat and . blamed the federal government and a court-appointed receiver who took . over his companies in 2009 for tearing down his business empire and . preventing his investors from getting any of their money back. He said: 'I’m not here to ask for . sympathy or forgiveness or to throw myself at your mercy but I will tell . you I did not run a Ponzi scheme. I didn’t defraud anybody.' Stanford was once considered one of . the richest men in the U.S., with an estimated personal net worth of . more than £1.2billion. His financial empire stretched from the U.S. to . Latin America and the Caribbean. Calling Stanford arrogant and without . remorse, prosecutors said he used the money from investors who bought . certificates of deposit, or CDs, from his bank in Antigua to fund a . string of failed businesses, bribe regulators and pay for a lavish . lifestyle that included yachts, a fleet of private jets and sponsorship . of cricket tournaments. Stanford added moments before being . led away: 'If I live the rest of my life in prison... I will always be . at peace with the way I conducted myself in business.' Disgraced tycoon Stanford’s schemes . were the second largest in US financial history – second only to Bernie . Madoff, the so-called ‘King of Con’ - who was given 150 years for his . £11.2-billion Ponzi scheme. The majority of the victims were small businesses or private investors, looking to cash-in on interest rates above bank rate. Cricket fan: The then Sir Allen Stanford poses with the England team during the Stanford 2020 Super Series match between England and Middlesex in 2008. He was later stripped of his knighthood . Cheeky: During the 2008 Stanford Super Series, the financier was photographed bouncing the wife of English cricket player Matt Prior on his knee . Happier times: Allen Stanford poses with Stanford Superstars following their victory at the end of the Stanford 20/20 Super Series match between England and Stanford Superstars in 2008 . Mike Bishop, of Houston, Texas, who . lost round £900,000 said outside the court: 'This was a wholesale . failure by government agencies who regulate companies such as Stanford. They are as responsible. 'Here in Texas we believe in capital . punishment but I would not wish it on Stanford, I want him to wake up . every morning in his prison cell and reflect on what he did to us all.' Stanford, ever the showman, entered the courtroom dressed in green prison fatigues and grinning all over his face. When handcuffs were taken off he waved . to his elderly mother Sammie Stanford who sat in the well of the court . alongside Stanford’s daughter Randi. Prosecutors had asked the court for a . sentence of 230 years in prison. The prosecutor told Judge David . Hittner: '230 years will not get anyone their money back but on . sleepless nights they will know that he got the maximum.' In June 2008 Stanford signed a . controversial deal with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for a . series of five Twenty20 cricket games between England and a Caribbean . side nicknamed the ‘Stanford All-Stars.’ The winners would collect a . prize-fund of £13.6-million and the losers would get nothing. Left in the lurch:: Stanford Bank headquarters in Panama City, Panama . From prince to pauper: The man who was once transporting chests filled with cash in his helicopter (left) has been declared indigent and having to rely on court-appointed lawyers . During the tournament, Stanford was . pictured sitting with the England players wives, at one sitting bouncing . the wife of wicketkeeper Matt Prior on his knee. His next trick was to fly into Lords . aboard a personalised helicopter laden with treasure chests of cash. He . planned to be the saviour of English cricket, even though he admitted he . never really understood the game. By the time of his arrest, in February . 2009, the ECB has severed all ties with Stanford and his honorary . knighthood provided by the government of Antigua had been stripped. The jury that convicted Stanford also . cleared the way for U.S. authorities to go after about £212-million in . stolen investor funds sitting in the financier’s frozen foreign bank . accounts in London, Canada and Switzerland. Three other former Stanford executives . are scheduled for trial in September. A former Antiguan financial . regulator was indicted and awaits extradition to the U.S. Prosecutors said Stanford had treated . his victims like 'roadkill'. They had asked for a prison sentence . spanning more than two centuries, calling him a 'ruthless predator' who . stole from investors 'simply to satisfy his own greed and vanity.' | Stanford was convicted in March of 13 or 14 counts of fraud .
He had been running his Ponzi scheme for two decades .
Prosecutors sought maximum sentence of 230 years .
Stanford was once considered 605th richest man in the world .
Organized series of high-paying cricket matches between England and a Caribbean .
side . |
190,500 | 82a183f3d8c829dfdd9514ef916f7006a1cef84e | Britain's government lifted its ban on a controversial mining process known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, Thursday, allowing companies to continue their exploration of shale gas reserves. Energy Secretary Edward Davey said the decision was subject to new controls to limit the risks of seismic activity. A halt was called to fracking last year after two small earthquakes in Lancashire, northwestern England, where Cuadrilla Resources was exploring for shale gas. The process involves pumping millions of gallons of water and chemicals into shale formations deep beneath the Earth's surface, causing the fracturing of the rock and the release of natural gas. It has proved controversial in the United States, where supporters say it provides cheap energy but critics are concerned about the potential for chemicals to seep into the drinking water supply. The new controls imposed by the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change include a requirement to carry out a seismic survey before work starts. Firms involved must also draw up a plan showing how the seismic risks will be limited, and monitor seismic activity before, during and after the exploration. Cuadrilla Resources said Thursday's decision to allow fracking to resume marked a significant step for Britain's future onshore gas industry. "Today's news is a turning point for the country's energy future. Shale gas has the potential to create jobs, generate tax revenues, reduce our reliance on imported gas, and improve our balance of payments," chief executive Francis Egan said in a statement. In an interview with CNN, Egan insisted that fracking could be done "safely and sensibly" in Britain and that there are huge reserves to be exploited. The company believes there is about 200 trillion cubic feet of gas under the ground just within its license area in Lancashire. To put that figure into context, the United Kingdom uses about 3 trillion cubic feet of gas a year, Egan said. He said he could understand that people are concerned but pointed out that the two tremors triggered in April and May of last year "were not major events." The website of the British Geological Survey shows it has recorded nine tremors of a similar magnitude in the past two months, he said. "They are not life-threatening events or damage-inducing events, but they do cause concern, so as a consequence the fracking was suspended," he said. Cuadrilla has done a lot of work since then, he said, including carrying out 3-D mapping of the area. Extensive arrays will be installed around the wells to monitor seismic activity, he added. As for concerns about how the liquids used in fracking will affect water supplies, Egan said the company uses only one friction-reducing chemical, in small quantities. He said it is not hazardous and the government oversees its use. The strong regulatory environment in the United Kingdom "will stand us in good stead," Egan said, although he acknowledged it would mean the pace of exploration may be slower than in the United States. The process has sparked opposition in the United Kingdom. The government announcement marks "the start of a major battle over what sort of world we will leave to our children," said Lilly Morse, an activist with the Frack Off campaign group. "The government and industry's promises of cheap, abundant gas are deluded," she said, adding that in the United States, "the gas bubble has already burst" and some fracking companies are on the verge of bankruptcy. "The government's strategy of relying on fracking to fuel a new wave of gas-fired power stations is utterly insane. Fracking is dirty, destructive and extremely expensive, and could never deliver the quantities of gas envisaged." | Fracking can be done "safely and sensibly," the chief executive of Cuadrilla says .
Measures must be put in place to limit the risk of triggering earthquakes, government says .
Fracking was halted last year after it caused two small tremors in northwestern England .
Opponents: It's a dirty process, and promises of cheap, abundant gas are "deluded" |
237,333 | bf2abef20cd56bd1fa869505206c5af4ffeb92a0 | By . Suzannah Hills . PUBLISHED: . 08:21 EST, 4 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:23 EST, 4 February 2013 . Tragic accident: Michael Leslie Jones, 59, choked to death on a piece of chewing gum near his home . A father choked to death on a piece of chewing gum as he made his way home from a night out with friends. Michael Leslie Jones, 59, collapsed outside his home in what a coroner described as 'an awful, tragic accident that could have happened to anyone'. Mr Jones was found lying in the road by his neighbours after an evening with friends at the Dolphin Pub in Mold on July 22. A postmortem examination found a 2cm length of chewing gum obstructing the trachea. Nicola Jones, deputy coroner for Wales North East and North Central, said: 'He had a drink but he wasn't drunk. 'He was steady on his feet and he hadn't complained of feeling unwell.' But Mr Jones, a darts and dominoes player, later collapsed in the middle of the road by his home. Next door neighbours Ellen Mulhearm, . told of how she tried to save her neighbour as he lay in the street. She said: 'My . boyfriend phoned me. He said "Les is outside on the floor". I checked for his pulse but there was nothing.' An ambulance was called and neighbours rallied to save him by performing CPR. Paramedics shocked him three times before he arrived at Wrexham Maelor Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Alcohol in his blood was said to have been a moderate amount of 154mg per litre. 'So your father probably had less than four pints, not a great deal of alcohol,' Ms Jones told his children at his inquest in Mold on Monday. Heartbroken: The daughter of Mr Jones, Trisha, pictured, thought her father had died from a heart attack . Recording a verdict of misadventure, Ms Jones said: 'It's a very unusual case and if this serves to prevent it happening again, hopefully, people will be more aware of the dangers of chewing gum, especially for children.' Mr Jones' 19-year-old daughter Trisha Jones said: 'We've been thinking for the last six months that he's had a heart attack. It's such a shock.' Following the inquest, she described her father as loving and caring. She said: 'He would always put people before himself. He was always fun and would make jokes out of everything.' Mr Jones played dominoes and darts at the Cross Keys in Sychdyn. Son John Jones, 20, said: 'He was a good man. He was always there for us.' Family man: A coroner has ruled that Michael Leslie Jones died from misadventure . | Michael Leslie Jones, 59, collapsed near his home after night out with friends .
Neighbours found him unconscious in the road and tried to revive him .
Family thought Mr Jones had died from a heart attack on July 22 .
Coroner ruled death by misadventure after a postmortem examination found a 2cm length of chewing gum obstructing the trachea . |
51,434 | 9196bf19f742ccd4609ac6cfb0400a678efef7d9 | (CNN) -- So what really goes on at the world's busiest airport? Since midnight Tuesday, a team of more than 30 journalists from CNN has descended on Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport -- the world's busiest by volume of passengers -- to find out. CNN is looking at the areas we never see when we travel -- behind-the-scenes luggage screening with the Transportation Security Administration, on the ramp with Southwest Airlines ground crews and more. And we're looking at the stories behind the people who pass through and work in the airport every day. The resulting project will publish later this year, but you can follow along by searching the hashtag #ATL24 on Twitter or Instagram or by following this Twitter list from @CNNTravel. Here's a collection of some of the most interesting posts so far. Tweet with #ATL24 or post a comment to let us know what you'd like to learn more about at the world's busiest airport. . | Team of 30-plus CNN journalists descends on world's busiest airport .
Follow along by searching hashtag #ATL24 on Twitter or Instagram .
CNN explores areas and people that few travelers see in an airport . |
280,662 | f7999d885f4054a761a150dfeca5a636de60b8d7 | By . James Nye . Busted: Metropolitan Airports Commission spokesman Patrick Hogan says Jarrett was taken into custody at around 12:30 pm . Fox News anchor Gregg Jarrett has been released after his arrest at a Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport bar for refusing to cooperate with airport police who were called to the scene, an airport official said. Jarrett was taken into custody at around 12.30pm Wednesday at the Northern Lights Grill in the airport's main terminal. He remained in Hennepin County Jail until around 1:30 a.m. Thursday. Officers were called to the scene after reports of an intoxicated man. They arrived to find Jarrett drunk and said he acted belligerent and refused to follow orders, according to Metropolitan Airports Commission spokesman Patrick Hogan. Jarrett, . 59, was booked on a preliminary charge of . obstructing the legal process by interfering with a peace officer, which is a misdemeanor. His . bond was set at $300. Records show he's due in court on June 6. A representative of Fox News issued a statement Thursday morning about the arrest at the airport bar. The bar is shown below in a picture supplied by RSP Architects. 'We were made aware late last night that Gregg Jarrett was arrested in Minneapolis yesterday and charged with a misdemeanor,' the network spokesperson said. 'He is dealing with serious personal issues at this time. A date at which Gregg might return to air has yet to be determined.' On May 12, Jarrett, who has two daughters with wife Catherine Kennedy Anderson, requested time off from Fox News for 'personal reasons,' according to TV Newser, and the network granted his request. Jarrett recently covered the murder trial of George Zimmerman and the crash of Asiana Flight 214 at the San Francisco Airport. The Los Angeles-born broadcaster joined the Fox News Channel in November 2002. He attracted attention on April 14 after appearing intoxicated on the air and slurring his speech during a broadcast segment about the IRS tea-party targeting scandal. Forty minutes into a dinnertime broadcast, he left the show and didn't return. Scroll down for video of Jarrett slurring his speech on the air . Reporter: Jarrett, 59, pictured, was booked on a preliminary charge of obstructing the legal process by interfering with a peace officer, which is a misdemeanor . Fox News anchor Gregg Jarrett rehearsing, in New York, for the debut of Fox News Radio's five-minute newscast in 2005. Jarrett was jailed Wednesday May 21, 2014 after being arrested in a bar at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport . He . is co-anchor of the weekend newscasts with Heather Childers and serves . as a substitute anchor weekdays for America's Newsroom (in for Bill . Hemmer), Happening Now (in for Jon Scott), and Studio B for (in for . Shepard Smith). Jarrett . is also a correspondent for the network's one-hour documentaries, and . he serves as a legal analyst for both FNC and the Fox Business Network. The 59-year-old earned his law degree in 1980 from the University of California, Hastings College of Law. Scene: Jarrett was arrested at the Northern Lights Grill, pictured, in the Minneapolis airport . Married: Jarrett has been married to Catharine Kennedy Anderson, left, since 1993 and they have two daughters . He worked as a defense attorney in San Francisco for the Gordon & Rees LLP law firm before turning to journalism. He has anchored and reported for the stations in San Francisco, Salisbury, Maryland, Raleigh, North Carolina and Wichita, Kansas. He also worked for MSNBC. His latest tweet was in February. 'You could use a little experience and maturity,' the anchor said, concluding an eight tweet rant about CNN's Don Lemon. | Fox News anchor Gregg Jarrett appeared intoxicated according to police after his arrest at 12.30pm on Wednesday .
Booked into Hennepin County Jail on a $300 bond and later released .
Recently requested time off from the news network for 'personal reasons'
Has been married to his wife since 1993 and has two daughters . |
218,294 | a6982d46616121f9c2b7abd1cb6e8ad7fee42b9f | By . Nazia Parveen . PUBLISHED: . 19:07 EST, 18 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:08 EST, 18 November 2013 . Inspirational: Victoria Rathmill has become the world¿s youngest stem cell donor . At the age of just 16, Victoria Rathmill has become the world’s youngest stem cell donor. The British schoolgirl was spurred on to donate her cells after a family friend was tragically diagnosed with leukaemia earlier this year. Without her parents knowledge the A-level pupil signed up to the Anthony Nolan bone marrow register in February when she was just 16. In just a few months she was . identified as a perfect match to a patient suffering from blood cancer . and made a donation at a London Clinic last month. This . selfless act made the teenager from Macclesfield, Cheshire, the . youngest ever person in the world to provide stem cells to a . non-relative. Miss . Rathmill, who is now 17 said: ‘At first I was like: "I’ll join when I’m . 18, I’m not going to make any difference", but then a friend of our . family got ill and so I felt the need to join up.’ The All Hallows Catholic College student confessed that she did not tell her surprised parents about her plan to donate. She . said: ‘It was only a couple of weeks after I signed up that I told my . mum. Anthony Nolan sent the spit kit out to me and she asked me what it . was. ‘Though she was taken aback a bit at first, she thought it was a nice thing to do, especially given our friend’s experience.’ After registering with the charitable organisation the youngster received a phone call in October- just six months later- telling her that she had been matched to a patient. ‘After I signed up I just stopped thinking about it really. You just don’t expect to get the phone call within six months of registering,’ she said. She added: ‘It’s quite shocking to think I’m the youngest-ever - you’re never the first to do anything nowadays, it’s all been done already.’ Miss Rathmill revealed that she would happily donate again describing the process as being similar to giving blood. She said: ‘It’s just like giving blood really. I would do it again because it’s not that difficult. It’s just a couple of days out of your life to save somebody else’s - and I got a free trip to London.’ The teenager’s proud mother Paula described her daughter as being a headstrong and determined individual. Selfless: Without her parents knowledge the A-level pupil signed up to the Anthony Nolan bone marrow register in February when she was just 16 . She said: ‘It never really occurred to me to try and stop her from helping another person in their hour of need. It makes me very proud. ‘Yet even though she’s strong, what she’s doing takes courage and she’s still only 17. I didn’t want her to feel bad if it doesn’t work out for the patient, which it might not. ‘But she’s level-headed and after having gone through the donation process, she knows she couldn’t have done anymore.’ Mrs Rathmill has now urged other parents to encourage their children to donate their cells. She added: ‘To others who go through this I would say look it up, get involved and then encourage your child as much as you can. ‘I personally feel you have to trust your children to make the right decisions. ‘While it’s up to each family to decide for themselves, the question I asked myself was ‘what if Victoria was ill and a 17-year-old donor could help save her life?’ If the boot was on the other foot, I know what I would want.’ The charity’s bone marrow register is just one of two in the world that accept under-18 donors. Anthony Nolan chief executive Henny Braund said the teenagers’ donation was ‘genuinely impressive.’ He added: ‘It shows both what a special young woman she is, and how teenagers can be sufficiently mature, caring and engaged with the world around them to help save an unwell stranger.’ | Victoria Rathmill signed a bone marrow register when she was just 16 .
Within months she was matched to a blood cancer sufferer .
Miss Rathmill, from Cheshire, is now the youngest person in the world to donate stem cells to a non-relative . |
232,258 | b8be2e7d275ccab23b34aa4871260c979c317502 | By . John Stevens . Schools will be shut down if they fail to promote British values under plans to root out extremism in the classroom to be unveiled this week. Education Secretary Michael Gove will announce all pupils must be taught about democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those of different beliefs. Schools will also be banned from forcing Muslim girls to wear the veil or sit apart from boys as part of an outlawing of discrimination. Education Secretary Michael Gove will set out the plans for teaching British values this week . They will be required to challenge parents, teachers or pupils who express support for radical Islamic practices or other forms of extremism. Overhauled Ofsted inspections will check that schools are meeting the new requirements. Headteachers and governors could be sacked or the school closed if they are found not to be. Before now, academies and free schools had to show they ‘respect’ the nation’s ‘fundamental’ values, but the new rules, which will apply to all schools, will be strengthened to require the ‘active promotion’ of them. The new rules, which will come into effect from September, are being introduced in the wake of the ‘Trojan Horse’ allegations of a takeover plot in Birmingham schools by hardline Muslims. Head teachers told Ofsted there was an organised campaign to impose a ‘narrow, faith-based ideology’ at some schools in the city. It placed five of the city’s schools in special measures after ‘deeply worrying’ findings. The Golden Hillock School and Nansen Primary School were both branded 'inadequate' in new Oftsed inspections ordered in the wake of concerns about teaching in Birmginham schools . Governors at Satley School were accused of 'refusing to accept that the school is in a state of crisis' while governors at Oldknow Academy used the school's budget to subsidise a trip to Saudi Arabia for only Muslim staff and pupils . Reports found music lessons had been removed from the timetable at one school, where Muslim pupils exhibited ‘limited knowledge’ of other religions. Raffles were banned at one primary school because they were considered ‘un- Islamic’ as they promoted gambling and one academy’s Christmas special assembly was also cancelled. In addition, inspectors found the terms ‘white prostitute’ and ‘hellfire’ were used in assemblies. A consultation will be launched this week setting out the details of the new rules. A Department for Education spokesman said: ‘Keeping our children safe and ensuring schools prepare them for life in modern Britain could not be more important. This change is an important step towards ensuring we have a strong legal basis for intervening in those schools where this is an issue. ‘The vast majority of schools already promote British values - this is about making sure we have the tools we need to intervene if children are being let down.’ | Education Secretary Michael Gove to set out new rules for England .
Includes lessons in democracy, rule of law, individual liberty and tolerance .
Schools to be banned from forcing Muslim girls from wearing the veil .
Follows review in the wake of 'Trojan horse' plot in Birmingham schools . |
9,360 | 1a9181d0edc217d3d16bac4338a916babcfa1e55 | New York (CNN) -- The man who rescued an 11-year-old girl lost in a dense Florida swamp said Wednesday that God led him directly to her and that finding her was no surprise. James King said he set out on his own to look for Nadia Bloom on Tuesday, trusting that he was going in the right direction even when that meant through water or dense brush. "I was expecting to hear her voice," King told CNN. "So I'm yelling, 'Nadia!' and at one point, I yell, 'Nadia!' and I hear 'What?' And I said that way -- right there." Tanya Bloom, Nadia's mother, said later Wednesday that the family is "so fortunate God used him to bring her back." "She's doing remarkably well," Bloom said. "She has swollen feet and lots of bug bites and scratches, but she's doing great." Dr. Mary Farrell, who treated the girl when she arrived at the hospital, said that Nadia was in good shape but that she would remain hospitalized a little longer because of a bacterial infection. "When she got here, she was a little bit dehydrated but she had been resuscitated pretty well," Farrell said, "and she looked remarkably well considering she had been out for four and half days." King said he was surprised at the good shape Nadia was in. She had been missing since Friday. Shoeless and covered in insect bites, she was in otherwise good condition, he said. "She was not panicked. She looked like she had been sitting there, waiting on me," he said. The two of them then stayed in the swamp, near Lake Jesup in central Florida, while King called authorities. When he got hold of the 911 dispatcher, he put Nadia on the phone. "Hi. This is Nadia. I'm the girl who got lost," came the little girl's voice. King said it took him "two hours of rough time" trekking through the swamp to find Nadia. He said he figures it took Nadia just as long to reach the same spot. She told King that she had gone on a nature walk and simply got lost. "We are so, so grateful," Nadia's father, Jeff Bloom, said. "I can't even express how we felt when she was found -- beyond words." The swamp was so dense, King said, that the rescuers who carried Nadia out on a black cloth stretcher Tuesday had to use machetes to cut through the brush, bushes and trees. "I see it as an answer to a lot of people's prayers," King told CNN. "I'm just very thankful, I'm thankful that God used me as a part of it to be able to find her. It's definitely a miracle. "I didn't know where she was. The only person who knew where she was was God, and I asked him and he led me directly to her, straight -- well, as straight as you can go through the swamp." King said he prayed the whole time he was searching, even when it seemed like he was going in the wrong direction. In one case, he said, there was water all around and he didn't know where to go. "He said, 'Go that way.' And I'm looking at water. I said, 'Lord, are you sure?' He said. 'I got ya.' And as soon as I start walking, the ground under the water is solid. It's only about a foot and a half deep. He took care of me all the way there." The disappearance of Nadia, described as mildly autistic, had sparked an Amber Alert that was canceled when King found her. Both King and Nadia's family at one time attended the same church, Metro Church in Winter Springs, Florida, but they didn't know one another -- though King said Nadia did seem to register him as a friendly face when she was found. The church held an open-air thanksgiving service to celebrate Nadia's return Tuesday evening. "Give the glory to God," Nadia's father told reporters after seeing his daughter Tuesday. King had brought trail mix and drinks to give to Nadia if he found her, but he also brought another important item -- toilet paper. The swamp vegetation was so thick that the helicopter that came to retrieve Nadia and King couldn't see them on the ground. King said he heard the chopper overhead and tried to give the dispatcher directions for the pilot, but it still didn't work. "I had brought toilet paper for signaling, and so I covered the top of a couple of bushes that were in more of an open area than I was in," King told CNN. "They still had a hard time finding me, but I used that on the top (of the bushes) and they finally were able to locate it." Authorities questioned King after they got to safety, something King said was unexpected but understandable, especially given his ability to find Nadia so quickly. "They also have a job to do," he said. "They have a responsibility to the community to make sure there is no foul play. And so I understand that, I understood it completely." Coming out of the swamp was a blur with lots of hugs and praise, King said. He said he hopes to be able to see the Bloom family again, and that Nadia even hinted he'd be welcome: "She said she might invite me to her pizza party." | NEW: "She's doing remarkably well," says Nadia Bloom's grateful mother, Tanya .
James King said he set out on his own to look for Nadia on Tuesday .
It took him "two hours of rough time" trekking through swamp to find 11-year-old .
He was surprised by the good shape girl was in, said she wasn't panicked . |
88,655 | fb9ea45799b21efa99504213d58fe333972c3105 | (CNN) -- The New York governor's proposal to decriminalize the public possession of marijuana is drawing high praise from some politicians and police, black and Hispanic activists and backers of pot legalization. "It is a step in the right direction," said the Rev. Al Sharpton, a prominent African-American political activist. But some voices issued warnings about the proposal, with one group, the Drug Free American Foundation, arguing that it is not the time "to be backing off the marijuana law." New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo unveiled the proposal Monday and said the law would end a double standard that has disproportionately hurt black and Hispanic youth. In 1977, New York's legislature reduced the penalty for possessing 25 grams or less of marijuana to a non-criminal violation carrying a fine of no more than $100 for first-time offenders, as long as the marijuana was in private possession and not in public view. If the marijuana is out and viewable in public -- as it might be when someone is asked to empty his or her pockets during a police "stop and frisk" -- it becomes a Class B misdemeanor and can lead to arrests and jail. The "stop and frisk" policy allows police to stop and search anyone they deem suspicious. In 2011, more than 50,000 arrests were made for small amounts of marijuana, the governor's office said. Half of those arrested were under 25 years old, and 82% were black or Latino. Less than 10% were ever convicted of a crime. Selling and smoking or burning marijuana is still a crime, and Cuomo is not suggesting changing that. "If you possess marijuana privately, it is a violation. If you show it in public, it's a crime. It's incongruous. It's inconsistent the way it has been enforced," Cuomo said in Albany on Monday. As a result, thousands of young people have wound up "with a permanent stain on their record for something that would otherwise be a violation. The charge makes it difficult for them to find a job," Cuomo said. His proposal won praise from some legislators, police, the Manhattan district attorney and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. But some say the proposal is counterproductive. David G. Evans, special adviser to the Drug Free America Foundation and a criminal defense lawyer in New Jersey, said the group is "very very concerned with this latest development." "This can be seen by the young people as approving the use of marijuana, and they will most likely use marijuana. Marijuana of today is much more addictive and much more potent, and it poses health and criminal problems." New York State Assemblyman Brian Kolb said he doubts legislators will back the proposal because of "pushback" from the community. He argues that marijuana possession is a federal crime, and "it does not make sense to pass guidelines at the state level that contradicts federal laws." "This is a wrong message to send across the country," he said. "This should be a decision at the federal level to be interpreted for all the 50 states." He said the Food and Drug Administration should make sure the plan follows the proper protocol. "This is not a states-rights issue. This is a drug issue. In this case, this is a controlled-substance issue," he said. But Sharpton, president of the National Action Network, said the proposal would address police abuse. "We have been convinced, given the data, that Stop and Frisk does not alleviate crime but instead increases the racial profiling exposure of mostly young Blacks and Hispanics," he said in a statement. Allen St. Pierre, executive director of the NORML Foundation, which supports legalizing marijuana, said he expects legislators to "faithfully embrace" the proposal. He also said the proposal is "a political no-brainer" because most Americans will someday back "marijuana possession in small amounts." He said Cuomo, who might one day might have presidential aspirations, is positioning himself as the "marijuana law reformer." Lester Grinspoon, a psychiatrist, retired professor at Harvard University and expert on drug policy, said Cuomo's move is "a step on the way of what is inevitable." "Adults should be allowed to use marijuana responsibly, in much the way we use alcohol," he said. "It's not just because it's a civil liberties issue. It is very important to furthering marijuana as a medicine." He said marijuana has been used in the treatment of cancer, multiple sclerosis, AIDS and glaucoma. Robert MacCoun, professor of law and public policy at the University of California at Berkeley, said a dozen states have decriminalized small amounts, usually up to an ounce for a first-time possession, and most of the legal changes took place in the 1970s. An expert on marijuana laws, MacCoun said the "decriminalization label has mattered less and less" over time. "First, the other 38 states have become less and less likely to send convicted marijuana possession felons to prison. Second, states that have 'decriminalized' -- like New York -- still make lots of arrests for marijuana. Few of those arrested will end up in prison, but they may do a short jail stint." And echoing concerns about the stain of an arrest for marijuana, he said, "there is a lasting effect on their records, which hurts their employability." MacCoun said the "big change" over the past 10 years "is the partial legalization of medical marijuana in many states." "Recent polls suggest that roughly half of American voters now support some form of legalization; if current trends continue, I think we'll see a state legalize marijuana soon, perhaps even this November. But there will be a thorny conflict with federal laws that prohibit marijuana," he said. He points out that medical marijuana or decriminalization can't be confused with "true legalization." He called decriminalization a "sensible reform" and not a "risky" legal change. "Marijuana possession sanctions have almost no measurable effect on levels of marijuana use. So it is not clear whether any valid purpose is being served by all the marijuana arrests in New York, and people of color are much more likely to be arrested even though they are not more likely to be marijuana users," he said. "Legalization is more complicated, because the steep drop in prices would be difficult to offset with a sustainable tax, and so consumption would probably increase." Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. said, "the human costs to each defendant charged with a misdemeanor are serious." "The simple and fair change proposed by Gov. Cuomo will help us redirect significant resources to the most violent criminals and serious crime problems, and, frankly, it is the right thing to do." The governor's office said 94% of arrests for small amounts of marijuana in the state are in New York City, and Bloomberg, the New York Police Department and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly have come under fire in recent years for the department's "stop and frisk" policy. Last year, Kelly issued a policy order directing officers to issue violations, rather than misdemeanors, for small amounts of marijuana discovered during street searches. On Monday, Bloomberg issued a statement in support of Cuomo's comments. "The governor's proposal today is consistent with the commissioner's directive and strikes the right balance by ensuring that the NYPD will continue to have the tools it needs to maintain public safety -- including making arrests for selling or smoking marijuana," he said. "Thanks to the NYPD, our city has come a long way from the days when marijuana was routinely sold and smoked on our streets without repercussions." Kelly said Monday, "I was asked to respond to criticism by some members of the (City) Council that the Police Department was making 'too many' arrests for small amounts of marijuana. And my response to them was, 'Well, your option is to go to Albany and get the law changed.' Better that than having New York City police officers turn a blind eye to the law as it was written, and as it is still written." And, with the backing of the mayor and the governor, it's hard to fathom any significant opposition to the proposal will arise, said Peter Moscow, an associate professor in the Department of Law and Police Science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. "It's a positive move," he said. CNN's Chris Boyette contributed to this report. | One expert says the move is a step toward the "inevitable": legalization .
The proposal has a good chance because Bloomberg and Cuomo support it, a professor said .
A marijuana arrest hurts a person's chances for employment, the governor says .
An anti-drug group official says marijuana "poses health and criminal problems" |
77,075 | da8d56222e027b2ed1c87e2ae76045ea6b59e273 | A college student is still missing after he vanished in the middle of the night while on a surfing trip with friends. Scott Fippinger, 20, of San Diego, California, was at a campsite near campsite near Rosarito Beach in Mexico, just south of the American border, when he got up and left the tent at around 3:30a.m. last Wednesday morning. That is the last time anyone saw the young man. Vanished: Scott Fippinger (above) went missing while on a Mexican surfing trip with friends . Now, Scott's father, Eric Fippinger, is revealing that he and his wife believe their son likely fell to his death off one of the steep cliffs in the area. 'We are assuming that he went over the cliff, into the ocean and got swept out by the tide,' Eric told U-T San Diego. A friend says he saw Scott's light go on when he left the tent, and assumed the young man was going to the bathroom. The following day his phone and a piece of clothing possibly from his pajamas was found in the area between the tent and a nearby cliff. Assuming the worst: Scott's parents (Dad Eric and mom above) believe the young man may have fallen to his death off a cliff . There were unusually high winds that evening, and dirt on the side of the cliff seemed to show an impact spot the next day. High tide happened at 3:38am that morning as well, meaning Scott's body, had he fallen, would have quickly been taken out to sea. Now, his parents are just holding out hope that they can find their son's body. 'We are basically using all the resources we can and relying heavily on all the fishermen and local population to keep an eye out,' said Eric. A former pilot, Eric has now begun searching for his son from an aircraft. | Scott Fippinger of San Diego, California, vanished from his campsite at around 3:30am last Wednesday .
The 20-year-old college student was on a Mexican surfing trip with friends at Rosarito Beach, just south of the American border .
His parents now believe he likely fell to his death of a cliff and was swept out to sea . |
257,286 | d8fbf84c40000e219153297b6b3b10aaef8ce393 | By . Alex Greig . PUBLISHED: . 00:09 EST, 28 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 00:33 EST, 28 January 2014 . Multi-millionaire venture capitalist Tom Perkins has appeared on Bloomberg TV to address the outrage over his comments in an op ed to the wall Street Journal comparing the 'progressive war on the one percent' to the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany. The appearance was less an apology and more a re-assertion of his viewpoints, with some bragging about his wealth thrown in. Perkins said he 'regrets' using the word Kristallnacht but said he does not regret the message 'at all.' In danger: The 'creative one per cent' says Perkins, is being threatened . After mentioning that he had spoken to Abe Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League - twice - Perkins said that Kristallnacht was a 'terrible word to have chosen,' but apparently did not regret the broader comparision of the 'demonization' of the one per cent with Nazism. Perkins said he used the word because during Occupy San Francisco, 'they broke the windows at Wells Fargo bank, they marched up to our automobile strip and broke all the windows in the luxury car dealerships.' He noticed police standing by watching, he said, and thought, 'Well, this is how Kristallnacht began.' Interviewer Emily Chang questions Perkins as to the relevance of the analogy, to which Perkins responds: . 'The Jews were only one per cent of the German population. Most Germans had never met a Jew. And yet Hitler was able to demonize the Jews,' he said. 'My point was that when you start to use hatred against a minority, it can get out of control. 'The creative one per cent are threatened.' Useful: Perkins with his 'underwater airplane' He goes on to say that his friend and former business partner Eugene Kleiner, who fled to Austria to escape the Nazis, would have agreed with him - if he was still alive. When asked what should be done to improve the lives of 'the 99 per cent,' Perkins said, 'I think that the solution is less interference, lower taxes, let the rich do what the rich do — which is get richer, and along the way they bring everybody else along with them, when the system is working.' Bafflingly, Perkins took the opportunity to point out that his watch - a Richard Mille - 'could buy a six-pack of Rolexes' and smugly corrected Chang on his 'underwater airplane.' The final nail in his coffin may have been when he spoke of the reason for his inflammatory letter in the first place: someone called his ex-wife romance novelist Danielle Steele a 'snob.' This offensive slight sent the self-described 'classical self-made man' into defense mode. 'So I thought since I'm a knight - I'm a literal knight of the Kingdom of Norway - I would get on my horse and charge forth in her defense,' he told a bemused Chang. 'Six pack of Rolexes': The incredibly expensive Richard Mille watch - yours for the price of a family home - that Perkins wears . Shining armor: Perkins didn't appreciate his former wife Danielle Steele being labeled a snob - so wrote an inflammatory letter comparing the one per cent to persecuted Jews in WWII . Perkins, who repeatedly spoke of his 'message' helpfully boiled it down to the viewer to this: . 'It's absurd to demonize the rich for doing what the rich do, which is get richer by creating opportunity for others. 'I think the solution is less interference, lower taxes, let the rich do what the rich do.' The California one per center was widely ridiculed after the Wall Street Journal published his letter comparing criticism of the super-rich to the Holocaust. He wrote another letter Sunday, this time to Bloomberg, in which he compared the 'Occupy' movement to pre-Nazi rise to power fascism in Germany. 'In the Nazi area it was racial demonization, now it is class demonization,' wrote the Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield and Byers venture capital firm co-founder. He also expressed 'shock' over the windows broken at luxury dealerships and banks in San Francisco while the press 'focuses its wrath on the one per cent. The letter was written as a KPCB spokesperson immediately moved to distance itself from Perkins. 'Tom Perkins has not been involved in KPCB for years,' the firm tweeted. 'We were shocked by his views expressed today in the WSJ and do not agree.' Today, Perkins suggested the firm had 'thrown him under a bus,' and hinted that it was suffering in his absence. 'As I’ve distanced myself from the firm, there’s been a corresponding decline in the firm,' he told Chang. Not backing down: Billionaire Tom Perkins clarified his Saturday Nazi reference by comparing the 'Occupy' movement to pre-Nazi rise to power fascism in Germany . The second letter was written after Bloomberg contacted Perkins to clarify what he meant in his original letter to the Wall Street Journal, according to Business Insider. Perkins opened his letter to the Journal: 'Writing from the epicenter of progressive thought, San Francisco, I would call attention to the parallels of fascist Nazi Germany to its war on its "one per cent," namely its Jews, to the progressive war on the American one percent, namely the "rich."' Mr Perkins describing the hatred attracted by Google workers in San Francisco and an incident in which his former wife author Danielle Steele was branded a 'snob' in the San Francisco Chronicle in a row over the height of her hedge. 'This is a very dangerous drift in our American thinking. Kristallnacht was unthinkable in 1930; is its descendent "progressive" radicalism unthinkable now?' he continued. Kristallnacht translates as 'The night of broken glass' and refers to coordinated attacks on Jews in Germany on November 9 1938, as authorities looke on and did nothing. Superyacht: Mr Perkins commissioned the $150m yacht Maltese Falcon which he later sold . Mr Perkins, 82, was educated at MIT before gaining an MBA from Harvard. He founded Venture capitalist firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers in 1973 and has served as a director on boards of companies including Compaq. He recently spent $150 million building a super yacht called Maltese Falcon and lives on a 60th floor, 5,500ft penthouse overlooking San Francisco Bay. Before that, he was a general manager . credited with building Hewlett Packard into the huge company it is known . as today and started a successful laser company based on his own . invention. Comparisons: Mr Perkins referenced the Kristallnacht attacks on Jews in Germany in 1938 . Protests: Mr Perkins also discusses the protests in San Francisco against Google buses and tech workers driving up the area's cost of living . His comments comparing criticism of the rich to the Nazis persecution of the Jews that resulted in six million deaths raised many an eyebrow. 'The parallel of Nazi Germany and some people getting kind of annoyed by the tech bro dudes is exactly ZERO,' Kaili Joy Gray wrote on the Wonkette blog. Author and New York Times writer Steven Greenhouse tweeted: 'As someone who lost numerous relatives to the Nazi gas chambers, I find statements like this revolting & inexplicable.' | Thomas Perkins, 82, appeared on Bloomberg TV to address his controversial op ed letter to the Wall Street Journal .
He compared the 'progressive war on the one per cent' to the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany .
He also likened Occupy San Francisco with Kristallnacht .
Perkins said he 'regrets' using the word Kristallnacht but is not sorry for his 'message'
'My point was that when you start to use hatred against a minority, it can get out of control,' he said .
The minority in question, one percenters, are 'threatened'
Perkins added that we should just 'let the rich do what the rich do - get richer and create opportunities for others'
Perkins is worth $8 billion and recently built a superyacht worth $150 million . |
269,716 | e954b513a2b16188cfe60a41ebd06a3f754317fd | A Perth man has been left baffled after being handed a contract detailing extensive rules for living in the share house he rents with two other people, leaving friends comparing the strict agreement to the Big Bang Theory's Sheldon Cooper. The 28-year-old was searching for a new home in Perth when he stumbled across an ad for a share house on a Gumtree, and agreed to move into the residence without meeting the people he would be sharing with. After living in the house for four months, he was presented with a two-page contract to sign by his female housemate, full of rules and regulations which included using headphones 'when watching tv for a long period of time', and no noise after 10pm. 'While I was aware that she had been planning to draft a house agreement, I had no idea that it would be this full on. When I got it I was so taken a back at how intense it was,' he said. Scroll down for video . A Perth man has been left baffled after being handed a contract detailing strict and extensive rules for living in the share house he rents with two other people . The contract states that the extensive list has been constructed in order that 'housemates can get on with enjoying peaceful lives', and that rules allows 'clear expectations' so that 'misunderstandings are minimised'. 'I've been living there for four months, and knew that she was very clean. I could tell from her emails even before I moved in, so I guess I knew what I was getting myself into, but at the same time I couldn't believe that she felt she needed to do this,' he said. 'It's not even her house, it's a share property. She's on the lease, which is why she probably feels like she can say 'this is how it's going to be if you want to live here,' he said. Doors are always to be 'closed gently', especially before 6am after 10pm, as 'the living area is a large open space where all sound is transmitted easily'. After living in the house for four months, the 28-year-old was presented with a two-page contract to sign by his female housemate . One Facebook user asked 'Are you living with Sheldon Cooper?', in reference to the Big Bang Theory's 'roommate agreement' One Facebook user asked 'Are you living with Sheldon Cooper? Did he sign the roommate agreement? 'Obviously over time little things can annoy people, but I thought we had a pretty good working relationship. The other girl we live with moved in about two months ago, and for some reason she decided to let us both know how it was going to be,' he said. 'It wasn't even just being given the contract, but she felt she had to explain it to me. We must have spent 45 minutes going through it line by line, she elaborated on everything in detail,' he said. After receiving the contract, he showed the the document to his brother, who took to social media to poke fun at the extensively detailed list. Photos of the contract to Facebook with the caption 'You think your housemates are bad?', sparking outrage and satirical comments from his friends. One Facebook user asked 'Are you living with Sheldon Cooper? Did he sign the roommate agreement?', in reference to the Big Bang Theory episode where two of the sitcoms flatmates sign a document when they first move in together. The Roommate Agreement has multiple sections with bizarre clauses that uptight character Sheldon Cooper uses to his advantage throughout the series. The rules include wiping the bench after every use, emptying the sink strainer every time food is collected, and the use of headphones for watching television for extended stretches of time, unless 'negotiated' otherwise. 'I knew she was clean, so I really did my best to mirror that. Obviously things will build up over time but this has been taken to the next level,' he said. Several commentators labelled the rules 'outrageous', 'intense', 'extreme', and 'hilarious'. The Roommate Agreement has multiple sections with bizarre clauses that uptight character Sheldon Cooper uses to his advantage throughout the series . Several commentators labelled the rules 'outrageous', 'intense', 'extreme', and 'hilarious . According the house rules, no friends were allowed to sleep on the property's couches, and parties must end at midnight. If parties did take place, all the cleaning up must be completed by the next day, and dishes were to be put in the dishwasher 'immediately' after being used. There are no drugs allowed ever, 'anyone, anytime', the list states. The rules also stated that while recycling would not be 'enforced', if potential housemates were confused as to what items were recyclable, there was a list on the bin to aid them in their pursuit. One social media user poked fun at the vacuum having a name, with the rules stating 'run Thomas' when the floor needs to be cleaned. 'I thought Thomas must have been their slave', joked one Facebook user. The Perth man said that Thomas was quite a presence in the house, and had even been mentioned in the Gumtree ad for the property. One social media user poked fun at the vacuum having a name, with the rules stating 'run Thomas' when the floor needs to be cleaned . The rules also go beyond housekeeping, and include a section of 'mechanism for keeping peace'. One of the rules state, 'before bringing something up, consider whether it was an isolated incident or an ongoing issue; and consider the level of impact of the situation on all housemates/neighbours'. Notes alerting other housemates to an issue are strictly banned, with all communication to be done face to face, or during a house meeting. A 'proactive, problem-solving approach' with 'mutually agreeable outcomes' are desired. At the end of the rules the writer states that if differences of opinion can't be settled, it may 'signal that people might be better off and happier living with like-minded others'. The 28-year-old said that this might end up being the case, and that he now feels like he's 'done his run'. 'Now that she's given us the rules, things have definitely changed. I got a text last night from her because I was watching TV past 10pm, which said 'it's bedtime',' he said. 'It's just such a strange situation, really crazy. I've tried my hardest to accommodate her, but I think I'm done.' | A Perth man was presented with a detailed contract for his share house after living at the property for four months .
The list was posted to Facebook under the heading 'You think your housemates are bad?'
The 28-year-old said he couldn't believe the situation had reached this level .
Rules for the house include wiping the bench after every use, and watching TV with headphones on unless 'negotiated' otherwise .
Sleeping on the couch is banned and parties must end at midnight .
Social media users called the rules 'intense', 'outrageous', and 'extreme'
One commentator poked fun at the request of the owner to use a vacuum called Thomas to clean the floors . |
241,161 | c4341983b7ebb24df4174e20ba9a0bd2ebdd9fa7 | A school is having food delivered by taxi to comply with Nick Clegg's free meals policy. Under the £1billion Coalition scheme introduced last month, all pupils aged four to seven must be given lunch. Lacking adequate facilities, Sheepscombe Primary is paying a driver to bring in cold meals such as bagels from a nearby secondary. Sara Bennion, headmistress of the 33-pupil school near Stroud in Gloucestershire, said: 'We have tried lots and lots of ways to provide the hot meals. It has become quite problematic because obviously we want to be working towards hot food.' Pieter-Jon Alliss from Country Cabs pictured delivering the school meals to Sheepscombe Primary . Sheepscombe Primary (pictured), in Gloucestershire, is struggling to adhere to the free school meals policy . She said the meals policy was proving a strain on the school's finances. The Government provides £2.30 per child for a daily hot meal but Sheepscombe must pay £2.95 for the cold meal option – not including the £15 a day taxi charge. The school is making up the deficit with cash from the Small Schools Transitional Funding pot. Other schools have been reported ordering takeaway pizzas, giving pupils fruit and biscuits until late food arrives, shipping sandwiches in from pubs and seating children in classrooms and music rooms. Miss Bennion said: 'It is a great initiative but the kinks haven't been ironed out. We're hoping that negotiations with the local authority can help us find a solution.' The Liberal Democrat policy means 1.9million children can now access a free meal in reception, year one and year two. David Laws, who is the party's schools minister, has already declared the scheme a 'massive success'. Deputy Prime Minister Mr Clegg says giving children hot lunches can be better for their learning than extra English and maths lessons. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg pictured during the Liberal Democrats conference in Glasgow. His free school meals policy has put a strain on the finances of Sheepscombe Primary in Gloucestershire . But critics dispute these benefits and say many schools are struggling to cope. In August, the Local Government Association revealed that councils are being forced to raid other funds because they have been left more than £25million out of pocket. Last month, it emerged that children aged four were served just one chicken nugget each at a school in Birmingham. They were rationed according to their age. The city council said it was investigating the incident at the unnamed school. The Government expects pupils to be routinely offered a hot meal option. Schools not in a position to do this straight away should be working towards it 'as soon as possible'. Mr Laws yesterday denied the policy had been implemented too quickly. | Gloucestershire primary forced to pay driver to bring in students' cold meals .
Headmistress Sara Bennion said policy was straining the school's finances .
Sheepscombe Primary School pays for cold meal option and £15 for delivery .
Critics say many schools are struggling to cope with the Lib Dem policy . |
229,675 | b56d712ff3a6f333a7bcec61488d033a01d31daf | By . Lucy Waterlow . PUBLISHED: . 11:21 EST, 24 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 11:50 EST, 24 January 2014 . Bored of painting your nails and looking for a solution that's both chip-free and funky? Then look no further than this 3D nail art created by New York digital artists Sarah C. Awad and Dhemerae Ford. The pair operate under the name The Laser Girls and show off their fun and unusual nail art on their Tumblr page. Work of art: The 3D nails have been designed by digital artists Sarah C. Awad and Dhemerae Ford . From the computer your your fingertips: They bring their designs to life with a 3D printer using materials including plastic and brass . Get the look: The stick-on designs can be purchased from shapeways.com and should stay on for around three days . They design the innovative press on nails on the computer and then bring them to life with a 3D printer from materials including plastic and brass. Their creations have been on display this month at the Museum of Art and Design in New York and have created such a buzz, they are now on sale via the website shapeways.com. For a special occasion: Another design features a more intricate pattern . Creative: The design duo print off the nail designs and also create jewellery such as rings . The nails are adequately shaped to fit the thumb to little finger . They also come in an array of colours and cost £5 to £30 depending on the design . Prices range from £5 to £30 depending on the style and materials used. The sellers describe the nails as 'ideal for special events, costumes, and any short-term occasion' as they are not designed for extended wear. Once applied with a thin layer of glue, they should stay on for around three days if care is taken to look after them. The Laser Girls say they are 'overwhelmed' by the response they have had so far to their product and even count The Help actress Emma Stone as a fan. As well as nails, the duo also create jewellery including rings. | 3D nails created by digital artists Sarah C. Awad and Dhemerae Ford .
They create them on the computer .
Then bring them to life with 3D printer .
Now available to buy online . |
273,698 | ee87211ec28dc9b90b0b8f4529efbb0123a65104 | By . Emily Allen . UPDATED: . 06:01 EST, 6 December 2011 . Thugs who dumped huge chunks of concrete on to passing cars could be linked to 30 separate incidents on the same stretch of road police have revealed. Officers said they were looking into a string of attacks on the A12 near Brentwood, Essex, in the past two years, including one in 2008 where a bucket-shaped piece of concrete smashed through the roof of a Landrover Discovery after it was dropped from Fryerning Bridge near Ingatestone. Three teenage boys from Chelmsford were . arrested and eliminated in 2009 but Detective . Chief Inspector Keith Davies from Essex Police said he would be . speaking to them again as part of an investigation into two attacks last week. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Scene: The attackers threw the rock from this bridge in Ingatestone onto Miss Horne's car. Police are now investigating 30 other incidents since 2008 . Last Thursday, a 1ft-wide slab of concrete was hurled from the same bridge on to Lisa . Horne's car and 40 minutes later a similar attack happened three miles . away which left a woman fighting for her life. Both incidents are being treated as attempted murder. Mr Davies confirmed officers had pinpointed 30 similar incidents since 2008. He told the Daily Mirror: 'It would be foolish . to not consider that these latest incidents are in some way linked to . some of the attacks in 2008. 'They are similar because of both the bridge used and the type of missile.' Lucky: Lisa Horne, left, with her mother Stella who was also in the car with her when it was hit by a concrete block. Both women astonishingly escaped uninjured . The . block landed on the back seat of the 51-year-old David Ackland's Discovery where his . grandfather usually sat. No one was charged over . the incident, but it caused £5,000 of damage. At the time, Mr Ackland, from Romford, Essex, accused the police being 'flippant' in their investigation. This week officers were examining clues from a . forensic examination of both bridges. The force has increased patrols in the area and is appealing for information from the public. David Ackland's discovery had £5,000 of damage when a bucket-shaped piece of concrete, left, smashed through the roof, right in 2008. Fortunately no one was injured but no one was charged for the incident either . Mr Davies said: 'Even a stone thrown from a bridge . can be fatal, but when you look at the size of this concrete, it is . amazing that the consequences were not far, far worse.’ Yesterday, Miss Horne told how she felt lucky to be alive following Thursday's ordeal. The 26-year-old was on the A12 heading home after Christmas shopping with her mother when the block slammed into her bonnet and shattered the windscreen. Weapon: This is the 1ft x 1ft rock which hit Lisa Horne's Vauxhall Astra when it was thrown from Fryerning Bridge near Ingatestone . Damaged: This is the Vauxhall Astra at the roadside after it was hit by the rock while travelling at 55mph. It damaged the bonnet and shattered the top of the windscreen but did not penetrate it so Lisa and Stella escaped uninjured . Speaking for the first time yesterday the mother-of-two said: ‘I was . very lucky to have walked away from it. If I had been travelling 1mph . faster it might have come straight through the windscreen and things . would have ended differently. ‘The police are right to describe it as attempted murder.’ She added: ‘I can’t understand how anybody could do something like that. They need to be caught to prevent it happening again. 'I . was running low on petrol so I wasn’t driving very fast. 'It was as if someone had put their hands over my eyes and I heard a bang and my windscreen just shattered. Second attack: The interior of the Nissan which was hit by a second concrete block last Thursday on the same stretch of road. A 57-year-old woman is still in hospital after that attack . Smashed: The full extent of the damage to the Nissan car and shattered windscreen can be seen here. Police are treating both attacks as attempted murder . 'It . was the loudest bang I’ve ever heard. I swerved across the road and . luckily I had my mum in the car. She said “Lisa get over to the hard . shoulder”. 'I couldn’t work out what had come off the bridge. A few cars went past and hit it.' Miss Horne went on: 'The policeman who was . there said "You’re very lucky to have walked out of this". Somebody was . looking down on us that night. 'I’m scared it’s going to happen to someone else and I want them caught. I certainly won’t be driving in the dark.' Heavy weight: The bucket-sized piece of concrete dropped from the A12 bridge . Mindless: The concrete block was flung from West Hanningfield Bridge pictured . She . said: 'I cannot understand why someone would do that. I just cannot . understand they are just not normal people to do something like that. 'It is not fair, you could have taken peoples' lives away and left my children without a mum.' Her mother Stella told the press conference that she could not understand the mentality of the thugs who hurled the rock. 'I just don't know how they went home that night and slept,' she said. 'They could have killed four people within half an hour. 'I just don't understand how people could do that. I cannot sleep thinking about it.' Scene of attack: Police on West Hanningfield Bridge over the A12, where the second concrete block was thrown onto a Nissan car . Appeal: Police and press at West Hanningfield Bridge in Essex after the second attack last Thursday. Police are calling on witnesses with any information to come forward . The second attack, less than three . miles away, left a 57-year-old passenger from Harold Hill, east London fighting for her life with head . and chest injuries. She is now stable in hospital. Essex Police said the block, which . smashed through the windscreen of her and her husband's Nissan from West Hanningfield bridge, near Galleywood, may have been used as a bollard at a . nearby house. On Sunday evening, the road was closed again after someone thought they saw someone throwing a block from a nearby bridge. Danger area: The red pin at Ingatestone is the scene of the first attack . and the second red pin is the bridge at West Hanningfield. The blue pin . indicates where a suspected attacker was seen on Sunday but this has . now been discounted . However, after finding nothing suspicious during a search of the area, police later reopened the road. A spokesman from Essex Police said: 'This was a genuine report and we would encourage such calls. 'We . are sorry for the disruption. But motorists and the surrounding . communities understand that safety is of paramount importance as is . catching the perpetrators behind these attacks.' Meanwhile, police in Shrewsbury . launched an investigation after concrete blocks were dropped from a . bridge on to a road in the town. A West Mercia Police spokesman said: . ‘Fortunately, no one was hurt.’ Terrified: Lisa Horne and her mother Stella fear that if they had been travelling faster than 55mph on the dark road they could have been seriously injured. Miss Horne says she will no longer drive in the dark . | Last week Lisa Horne, 26, was driving when she heard a loud bang and her window shattered .
She says she was 'lucky to be alive' after walking away uninjured .
Mother Stella says: 'I don't know how they can go home and sleep... they could have killed four people'
57-year-old woman still in hospital after second concrete block attack 40 minutes later .
Almost identical incident on same stretch of road reported in 2008 .
Three boys arrested at the time will be contacted by police again . |
170,080 | 681f20380b8ee273cbffba8112450071eabcf831 | A four-wheel drive has crashed into a Sydney cafe during rush hour and injured seven people while it was trying to park. Police were called to the Wild Basket cafe on Grosvenor Road, Neutral Bay on the city's north shore, after reports of the accident at about 9am on Wednesday. One female patron, who was dragged to the back of the business by the speeding car, was trapped under the vehicle for 20 minutes before being freed by Fire and Rescue personnel, according to Detective Inspector Mike Birley. Scroll down for video . Seven people were injured after a 4WD (pictured) smashed into a North Sydney cafe . Four people were rushed to hospital including one woman who suffered severe leg injuries . She was rushed to hospital with severe leg injuries but is in a non-life threatening condition. The driver of the 4WD, a man aged in his 50s, has been taken to Royal North Shore Hospital to undergo mandatory blood and urine testing, police have said. '[He was] attempting to park his vehicle as he inadvertently accelerated into the café hitting seven people who were situated inside having coffee,' Detective Insp. Birley said. 'The speed at which the car reversed into the café didn't allow people to get out of the way, so we are very fortunate that they were not more seriously injured.' The other six customers at the Wild Basket cafe only received minor injuries . The seven people who were injured had been sitting at tables inside the cafe . The driver was taken away on crutches by police and is believed to have been suffering from a disability. Witnesses said he was 'incredibly apologetic' about the incident. Three other people were also rushed to hospital with non life-threatening injuries, according to an ambulance spokesperson. The other six customers received only minor injuries and are all in a stable condition. The driver of the car, a man aged in his 50s, has been taken to Royal North Shore Hospital to undergo mandatory blood and urine testing . The car, a silver Lexus, could be seen parked on the footpath outside the cafe after being removed from the scene. A large scratched dent could be seen on the side of the vehicle, with the rear-view mirror hanging on precariously. An emotional cafe owner was at the scene and police are investigating the damage to the cafe, where scattered stools and broken glass can still be seen outside. Residents in the flat above were escorted out of the building and police have closed the road to cars. An emotional cafe owner was at the scene and police are still investigating the damage to the cafe . Jenni Heads, the owner of Woodlands Kitchen Bar next door to the Wild Basket café, said she has been left 'shaken' after the accident. Ms Heads arrived 20 minutes after the incident occurred, to see her friend's business closed off with police tape. 'It's a very tight knit community here and we know the guests who come in to the restaurant every day, so she [the café's owner] would have known the people who were quite seriously injured. It's a horrible thing to have happened,' she told Daily Mail Australia. | A 4WD, driven by a man in his 50s, has smashed into a Neutral Bay cafe in Sydney's north .
Seven people who were sitting inside Wild Basket cafe have been injured .
Four people were rushed to hospital including a woman who had suffered severe leg injuries .
The driver has been taken to Royal North Shore Hospital to undergo mandatory blood and urine testing . |
26,278 | 4a79b87297d848e57928540741d4a56d24c0b98a | Eoin Morgan has promised to ‘do it my way’ as he takes charge of England in Sunday’s fourth one-day international against Sri Lanka. With Alastair Cook suspended after presiding over a slow over-rate during Wednesday’s win in Hambantota, Morgan has the chance to lead his adopted country to an unlikely series-levelling victory. And Morgan, who is without a half-century in his last 15 one-day innings, backed himself to end a slump that has prompted Kevin Pietersen to blame what he views as the relentless coaching of Peter Moores — or, as KP referred to him in a recent tweet, the ‘woodpecker’. Eoin Morgan prepares to catch the ball during an England nets session in Colombo . The man who will captain England against Sri Lanka on Sunday takes a rest during training . Morgan prefers to put his mediocre form down to two factors: a loss of focus on his own game during the first half of the summer against the Sri Lankans and the excellence of India’s one-day bowling. He said: ‘With the turnaround in all the backroom staff at the start of the summer, and guys having different inputs, as a senior player you want to be involved as much as you can. I probably neglected my side of the game. I’d spent a lot of energy off the field.’ Now, he is hoping the captaincy will act as a catalyst, as Moores put it on Thursday. England opener Alex Hales talks to some fans outside the R Premadasa Stadium . Joe Root, who helped see England home on Wednesday, walks to the nets . Moeen Ali gets ready to take a catch . Morgan, pointing out that it wasn’t in his nature to fret, added: ‘In the fashion that I play, I don’t think I can, simply because I have to play an aggressive type of game. ‘It’s the way I’ve played since I was a kid and it works for me. ‘So there’s no use going into my shell or not playing any more shots. I’m a gambler and I’d say I’m due to get a score. I’ve got to stay true to myself.’ The good news for England is that he has an impressive record with the bat while leading the side. In seven one-dayers as captain he has scored 365 runs at 73 — roughly twice his career average. ‘I’ve always enjoyed captaining,’ he said. ‘Having not been a bowler since I was about 17, it gives you another string to your bow. ‘It also takes a bit of attention away from your batting so maybe it will contribute to me getting some runs.’ Before Wednesday’s five-wicket win, any talk of England winning the series would have been greeted with incredulity. But Morgan said: ‘You can see the belief in the guys’ eyes. They gained a lot of confidence from the other night.’ The slot in the line-up opened up by Cook’s absence could go to Nottinghamshire’s middle-order batsman James Taylor, the only member of the 15-man squad yet to get a game here. Off-spinner James Tredwell is likely to return after being left out at Hambantota. Ben Stokes, who has looked out of sorts, could make way. There is genuine excitement at the prospect of Moeen Ali — the star of the tour so far — opening the batting with Alex Hales. Morgan’s one-game ascent to the captaincy may not have come at the worst time. Teams for the fourth one-day international between England and Sri Lanka at the Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, on Sunday, starting at 4.30am: . ENGLAND (possible): EJG Morgan (capt), MM Ali, AD Hales, JWA Taylor, JE Root, RS Bopara, JC Buttler (wkt), BA Stokes, CR Woakes, JC Tredwell, ST Finn . SRI LANKA (possible): A Mathews (capt), T Dilshan, K Perera, K Sangakkara (wkt), M Jayawardene, L Thirimanne, T Perera, J Mendis, R Herath, D Prasad, A Mendis. Umpires: S Davis (Aus) and R Martinesz . Third umpire: S Fry (Aus) Match referee: D Boon (Aus) TV: Sky Sports 2, 4.15am, Sunday. Radio: 5 Live Sports Extra. | Alastair Cook banned for fourth ODI so Eoin Morgan will captain England .
Morgan admits he lost focus on his own game over summer .
Irishman: I'm a gambler and I'd say I'm due a score .
Morgan has scored 365 runs at 73 when captaining England in ODIs .
James Taylor could come into the England side for Cook . |
187,537 | 7edbf898f97749d6a614ed2d823a947d6df6c0f6 | (CareerBuilder.com) -- Baby boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, are nearing retirement age. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that there are 78.2 million boomers, and that every hour, 330 of them turn 60. That means an entire generation of workers might leave the work force in the coming years. But they might not. Many baby boomers are choosing to postpone retirement and stay at their current jobs or find new ones. Some can't afford to retire, but many want to explore new avenues. After decades of working in jobs that paid the bills but didn't fulfill them, they're moving to different industries. For their book "225 Best Jobs for Baby Boomers," authors Michael Farr and Laurence Shatkin decided to comb through data to discover what the best jobs are for baby boomers. They looked at salaries, projected job growth and the number of openings to calculate which jobs have the most promise. Farr and Shatkin break down their findings in more than 70 lists, ranging from the best-paying jobs to the best jobs for boomers age 45-54. Whatever your criteria are, Farr and Shatkin have the job for you. Below you'll find the list for the 25 overall best jobs for all baby boomers: . 1. Management analysts What they make*: $67,005 Projected annual openings**: 78,000 . 2. Teachers, post-secondary What they make: $68,456 Projected annual openings: 216,000 . 3. Logisticians What they make: $44,563 Projected annual openings: 162,000 . 4. General and operations managers What they make: $93,594 Projected annual openings: 260,000 . 5. Registered nurses What they make: $66,427 Projected annual openings: 215,000 . 6. Anesthesiologists What they make: $310,132 Projected annual openings: 38,000 . 7. General internists What they make: $351,307 Projected annual openings: 38,000 . 8. Obstetricians and gynecologists What they make: $285,254 Projected annual openings: 38,000 . 9. Family and general practitioners What they make: $198,221 Projected annual openings: 38,000 . 10. Psychiatrists What they make: $191,080 Project annual openings: 38,000 . 11. Surgeons What they make: $322,281 Projected annual openings: 38,000 . 12. General pediatricians What they make: $181,764 Projected annual openings: 38,000 . 13. Medical and health services managers What they make: $94,269 Projected annual openings: 33,000 . 14. Financial managers, branch or department What they make: $101,963 Projected annual openings: 71,000 . 15. Treasurers, controllers and chief financial officers What they make: $172,946 - $240,588 Projected annual openings: 71,000 . 16. Chief executives What they make: $382,705 Projected annual openings: 63,000 . 17. Government service executives What they make: $167,766 Projected annual openings: 63,000 . 18. Private sector executives What they make: $169,570 Projected annual openings: 63,000 . 19. Pharmacists What they make: $108,499 Projected annual openings: 23,000 . 20. Lawyers What they make: $116,810 Projected annual openings: 53,000 . 21. Education administrators, elementary and secondary school What they make: $150,467 Projected annual openings: 31,000 . 22. Administrative services managers What they make: $86,666 Projected annual openings: 40,000 . 23. Sales representatives, agricultural What they make: $53,034 Projected annual openings: 44,000 . 24. Sales representatives, chemical and pharmaceutical What they make: $88,049 Projected annual openings: 44,000 . 25. Sales representatives, electrical/electronics What they make: $51,105 Projected annual openings: 44,000 . *Salary figures based on data from CBsalary.com, powered by SalaryExpert.com . **Projected annual openings figures based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. © CareerBuilder.com 2009. All rights reserved. The information contained in this article may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority. | Census: Every hour, 330 of the 78.2 million baby boomers turn 60 years old .
Many will retire in the coming years, but some may continue working .
Authors Michael Farr and Laurence Shatkin detail best jobs for boomers .
School administrators, doctors, teachers and sales representatives in top 25 . |
16,121 | 2db312c63d748c3858285097f98c165231636779 | By . Matt Blake . PUBLISHED: . 08:02 EST, 1 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:29 EST, 1 October 2012 . A lorry driver has admitted causing a £250,000 train crash - with hundreds of bales of hay. Oswald Davies, 49, risked the lives of passengers after driving his truck pulling two giant hay trailers onto a busy train line as it travelled from West Wales to Manchester. Seven passengers were injured in the smash as bales of hay were scattered across the track after the train hit the lorry. Absolute Hay-hem: Seven passengers were injured in the smash as bales of hay were scattered across the track after the train hit the lorry in Whitland, Carmarthenshire, in December last year . He was crossing the rail-line in his lorry pulling the two trailer when the safety barrier came down on the other side. The engine driver travelling from Milford Haven in West Wales to Manchester could not stop in time after spotting the lorry across the lines. Expensive mistake: Oswald Davies, 49, left, risked the lives of . passengers after driving his truck pulling two giant hay trailers onto a . busy train line as it travelled from West Wales to Manchester, right . Collision: Up to 60 people were on the crowded commuter service between Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, and Manchester . The train was travelling at 60mph at Whitland, Carmarthenshire, on December 19 last year. Davies pleaded guilty at Swansea Crown Court to endangering the lives of passengers. The . court heard the cost of the incident so far has been estimated at . £250,000 - with damage to the train and the cost of diverting other . services. The court was told some of those injured still had 'ongoing difficulties.' Team effort: Emergency services had to clamber over the hay bales in order to get to the train and passengers inside . Emergency: Fire and ambulance crews tend to passengers, many of whom were suffering from shock . Hurt: Seven passengers were injured on the train which was carrying families and elderly travellers . Helping hand: A rescuer takes injured passengers' luggage to safety . Miles Bennett, defending, said he believed maintenance workers from Network Rail had lowered the safety barrier as a prank. He said: 'The barrier came down dramatically quickly and not only did he think his own life was in danger he thought the Network Rail people were mucking about. 'He got out of one side of his cab to remonstrate with them. Had he got out the other side he would not be here today.' He accepted that he did not notice a sign telling drivers of certain classes of vehicle to telephone the crossing signaler for the go ahead to cross. He said a railway accident report mentioned that his view of the track was obstructed by . Network Rail vehicles parked alongside the crossing, and the lights on . the railway crossing were not properly aligned. Davies, . of Castell Pigyn, Llanboidy, was accused of endangering the lives of . people using the railway after his Scania lorry towing two hay trailers . came into contact with a train at the Henllan Amgoed Crossing, Whitland. Davies released on bail to be sentenced later this month. | Oswald Davies, 49, pulled two giant hay trailers onto a busy train line as it travelled from West Wales to Manchester .
Seven passengers were injured in the smash as bales of hay were scattered across the track .
Davies pleaded guilty at Swansea Crown Court to endangering the lives of passengers .
Cost of the incident estimated at .
£250,000 - with damage to the train and the cost of diverting other .
services . |
24,286 | 44e8c70c88b530d12bda82805c1e8d72670630de | Snared: Wayne Corkhill, 23, was caught by a father posing as his 10-year-old daughter on Facebook . A concerned father posed as his own 10-year-old daughter online to snare a paedophile, a court heard. Cyber predator Wayne Corkhill used Facebook to try and befriend the child and invited her round to his flat for 'cuddles,' telling her she was gorgeous. Unknown to the 23-year-old he was not talking to the little girl, but was actually messaging her father. When the father contacted police, Corkhill who was already on bail waiting to be sentenced for a string of sex offences, claimed his computer had been hacked. He was handed an extended prison sentence of six years and seven months by a judge at Preston Crown Court. Corkhill had admitted five charges of sexual activity with a child, plus two of meeting a child following sexual grooming and one of attempting to meet a child following grooming. Judge Robert Altham was told that the most recent offences took place in June, the same month he pleaded guilty. Sue Carter, prosecuting, said his behaviour with the 13-year-old began with kissing and progressed to touching. He pleaded guilty to the offences, which occurred last year, and was on bail awaiting sentencing when he met up with two girls, aged 11 and 12. Corkhill, from Blackpool, Lancashire., was smoking and he walked with them towards the chip shop where he worked. He met up with them a second time near Central Pier, where he is said to have hugged them both. The court heard he then touched the leg of one of the girls. He contacted one of them online to say that she and her friend should go to his house and have sex, said Miss Carter. Around this time, he made contact with the ten-year-old on Facebook, prompting the girl's dad to exchange messages with Corkhill while pretending to be his daughter. Miss Carter said: 'He made it clear she was ten. 'The defendant said she was gorgeous and asked her to go to his flat for cuddles and gave her his telephone number.' He went on to claim to police that his Facebook account must have been hacked into. Wayne Corkhill, 23, was jailed at Preston Crown Court (pictured) for six years and seven months . Waheed Omran-Baber, defending, said the girls had suffered pain, hurt and anxiety. He said: 'There was a degree of naively and immaturity in his actions. 'There were, however, no threats, violence or intimidation by him. 'The defendant accepts what he has done is wrong. He expresses remorse.' Judge Robert Altham told the defendant he had clearly had the most serious sexual interest towards girls and said an extended sentence was necessary for the protection of the public. He added: 'I have no doubt that had he been left to his own devices these girls would have suffered extremely serious harm at his hands.' Corkhill will be on the sex offenders register for life. A sexual offences prevention order will apply indefinitely. He will serve half his term behind bars before being released on extended licence for eight years. | Wayne Corkhill given extended prison sentence of 6 years and 7 months .
The 23-year-old was already on bail when he tried to befriend the child .
He claimed that his computer had been hacked when arrested by police .
Judge says he has the 'most serious sexual interest towards girls' |
66,325 | bc279c3826d805b9cc620c96330019fecf23369f | Harassed: Campaigner Justyna Pasek . Pro-life campaigners have been threatened with arrest under a draconian ‘riot law’ for holding prayer vigils outside an abortion clinic. Police used legislation which is commonly used to disperse rioters and football hooligans to force three campaigners to move away from the clinic on two separate occasions over the past six weeks. Officers issued the group, who try to persuade women to keep their unborn babies, with Section 14 Public Order Act notices. The strongly worded notice, which was used on both occasions, read: ‘I believe the intention of the organisers is the intimidation of others with a view to compelling them not to do any act they have a right to do.’ The Scotland Yard inspectors said they thought the group posed a ‘serious risk of disruption to the life of the community’. The group was then ordered by police to continue its vigil on the other side of the road, which meant protesters were unable to talk to any of the patients at the British Pregnancy Advisory Service clinic. Staff at the BPAS clinic have called the police on several occasions to complain about the ‘intimidating behaviour’ of the campaigners. They say the Catholic group is harassing pregnant patients by showing them large photographs of embryos at various stages of pregnancy. However the pro-life campaigners, from the Good Counsel Network (GCN), claim they are acting within the law and only speak to women who are willing to talk. Last night the Metropolitan Police admitted its officers had made a mistake and said the ‘riot law’ should not have been used. But Justyna Pasek, 33, a pregnancy adviser for GCN, said she felt like a criminal when her small team was stopped by the police. ‘We hand out leaflets to pregnant women and speak to women who want to speak to us,’ she said, adding: ‘We don’t chase after women, we don’t stop anyone from going into the clinic and we never block the gates. ‘We just pray all the time and hand out leaflets. But we were made to feel like criminals when the police forced us to move away from the clinic. The officers were very aggressive and I felt very harassed and mistreated by them. ‘I thought this was a free country, but this reminds me of the communist rule I used to live under when I was a little girl in Poland.’ Miss Pasek, who is originally from Wrocław in West Poland, and her colleagues have been holding daily vigils between 8am and 2pm outside the BPAS abortion clinic in Twickenham, West London, since September last year. The GCN also campaigns at two other . clinics in London, and was the first group founded in England to hold . US-style demonstrations outside abortion clinics. But the police have been called on various occasions after staff at the clinic, patients and local residents complained. Clare McCullough, a director at GCN, said: ‘I think the clinic instigated a lot of these complaints. GCN campaigners have been holding daily vigils between 8am and 2pm outside the BPAS abortion clinic in Twickenham, West London, pictured, since September last year . ‘They hate us being there because we see girls coming out and being sick on the pavement and we have seen girls being marched in by parents and boyfriends. ‘The girls sometimes tell us that they don’t want the abortions but they are being forced into them. The clinic just doesn’t like us seeing what they’re doing.’ However last night the pro-life group faced criticism over its tactics. A neighbour of the Twickenham clinic, who asked not to be named, said: ‘I find their behaviour deeply worrying. They are pestering women who are at a difficult time in their lives. ‘What these women need is support – not harassment. I’m pleased the police tried to intervene.’ And BPAS spokesman Clare Murphy said: ‘It is very disappointing that these protesters continue to stand outside clinics. ‘Women tell us that the protesters make them feel intimidated and upset on what is already a very difficult day for them. ‘These vigils are not about helping women, they are about stopping women’s access to abortion.’ She added: ‘BPAS respects the right to protest but asks that protesters respect the rights of women to access legal healthcare services free from harassment. We regularly receive calls from residents who are concerned about the vigils. ‘Everyone, whether they are clinic staff, local residents or pregnant women has the right to contact the police if they feel frightened or intimidated by strangers.’ And she went on to say: ‘Women take the decision to end a pregnancy extremely seriously, and most will talk it over with their partner, a relative or a close friend. ‘They do not want to discuss it with a line of ideologically motivated activists as they are entering a clinic.’ A Scotland Yard spokesman said: ‘We have acknowledged the concerns raised by those affected by our actions. Following a review of the decisions taken on those days, we now acknowledge that the implementation of Section 14 notices under the Public Order Act 1986 was incorrect. ‘The Metropolitan Police Service respects the right to lawful assembly and freedom of speech. ‘But we will take action, where it is appropriate to do so in accordance with legislation, so that we can protect the rights of others not to be intimidated.’ | Campaigners holding vigils at BPAS clinic in Twickenham, West London .
Police used legislation commonly used to disperse rioters and hooligans .
Issued Section 14 Public Order Act notices to three campaigners .
Met Police admitted mistake and 'riot law' shouldn't have been used . |
155,654 | 5534077c4b54292d21680b6e2a874a56621f2dfd | By . Will Stewart In Moscow . A ‘rent-a-killer’ website was still operating in Russia today after officials claimed it had been banned. The sinister site offers 'assassination services' and breaking the bones of targets in a catalogue of services said to be suitable for wives seeking revenge on cheating husbands. One option is throwing targets in a car boot and driving them to a remote location where they are threatened and attacked. Shocking: Zakazat-killera.com offers services such as 'physical elimination' on their site which was live tonight . The Russian Interior Ministry told a senior lawmaker that the site had been blocked, but tonight it was still accessible both in Russia and abroad. 'The website contained commercial offers of illegal services - physical elimination or transportation to a forest for a talk,' complained Ruslan Gattarov, a Russian senator, who called for its blacklisting. 'There is a detailed description of every service, such as the restraint of a target with ropes, handcuffs or sticky tape, the transportation of the target to a remote place and his beating with clubs, legs or fists.' The attacks are carried out by mafia gangsters, or ex-soldiers or sportsmen, it is claimed. 'Ideal for angry wives': The header touts the company's services as a good service for jealous wives . Assassinations: The company gives 'basic options' for services and says clients will not be troubled by police . Banned? Russia's interior minister claimed the site was banned but tonight it was accessible . It offers 'mercenaries for dealing with uncooperative partners, cheating husbands, rogues, thieves and the rest'. Clients are 'guaranteed' no problems with the police as the shadowy forces behind the site 'have links with the law enforcement agencies'. They are also provided with a photograph from the scene of the attack, it is claimed. The cost of assassinations are negotiated depending on their complexity, explains the site. For a 'slight shaking' of a victim, the site lists a tariff of £611, a more serious attack with bruises, teeth broken but bones intact costs £917, and causing serious injury, including broken limbs, is £1835. International: The website lists locations of Russian offices and says they can carry out their services in other parts of the world including the USA, Europe, Asia, South America, Iraq and Afghanistan . It also offers 'protection services' for businesses and brothels. The website - called zakazat-killera.com - is anonymously registered through a Chinese company and located in the former Soviet republic of Moldova, claimed Russian Deputy Interior Minister Mikhail Vanichkin. Russian police regularly detain men and women who have ordered contract killings on relatives or business partners. | Russian Interior Minister claimed site was blocked but it is still accessible .
Website offers services such as physical elimination or 'a talk in the forest'
Clients guaranteed 'no problems' with police who 'have links' with company . |
35,426 | 64b195f5231506bfabcef55dd139baf7c556ebb9 | A Mormon mother from Phoenix is being falsely held in a Mexican prison for smuggling marijuana after the family failed to bribe a judge soon enough, they have claimed. Yanira Maldonado was returning home with her husband after attending her aunt's funeral in Mexico last week when their bus was stopped and police claimed drugs had been found beneath her seat. When she was hauled into a prison, an attorney told her husband Gary to raise money to give to a judge because 'that's how it works here', her family said. But when the couple, who have seven children and two grandchildren between them, scraped together $5,000 for her release, they still refused to free her. Separated: Yanira Maldonado was with her husband Gary, both pictured, when they were stopped in Mexico and accused of smuggling drugs. Mr Maldonado remains in a Mexican prison . Her family is now seeking the help of their state Senator and hoping to raise awareness of her plight, in the hopes it will lead to her release. They claim that the Mormon mother, who does not drink or take drugs, is innocent. Maldonado and her husband were returning to Phoenix from her aunt's funeral when their bus was stopped at a military checkpoint near Hermosillo. When the federales searched the bus, they claimed they found drugs under a seat where the couple - the only Americans onboard - had been sitting. They initially charged Mr Maldonado but then let him go before charging his wife instead. 'Never in our lives deal with drugs or do drugs,' Mr Maldonado told Fox 10. 'Everybody from the very beginning was telling us, "We know you guys aren't guilty, but this is just the process".' 'Innocent': The Maldonados, who are Mormon, said they do not even drink and have never taken drugs . Family: The couple, who have seven children between them . He called it 'the most frightening feeling you could ever imagine', adding that fellow passengers saw them board the bus without packages, so he is hopeful that justice with prevail. A Mexican attorney told the couple to raise cash, Mrs Maldonado's brother-in-law Brandon Klippel told CBS 5. 'His attorney had talked to the prosecuting attorney there and came back . to him and said, "You know how it works in Mexico, right?"' Klippel said. 'He said, "No I don't." The attorney said, "Well, if we . bribe the judge – then he'll let you go".' But when they took the money to them, they were told it was no longer about the money. 'Bribes': The couple were told they could pay off the judge because 'that's how things work here' A couple of days after her arrest, she was transferred to a women's jail in Nogales, but the family was not informed. When her husband went to visit her, he was told she had been sent elsewhere. 'He panicked,' his brother, Klippel, . said. 'He told me terror struck him. And he thought, for that period of . time, that he'd never see his wife again.' But on Saturday, he tracked her down to the holding cell and visited with one of their sons. 'She had a rough night,' Klippel said. 'Their interrogation included putting her in a non-air-conditioned room . and waking her up several times in the middle of night – trying to get . her to sign documents that she said she couldn't read.' Stopped: The couple were returning from a funeral when they were stopped at a checkpoint (file picture) Family members said Mrs Maldonado had started crying during the visit, but said that she had faith others would help. Senator Jeff Flake's office said he is personally monitoring the situation and has spoken with the deputy Mexican ambassador. Yanira Maldonado has an attorney and will appear at a hearing in front of a judge on Monday. 'In Mexico, I guess you're guilty until proven innocent,' said Klippel. 'So, it's just been a real nightmare for them.' The family is providing updates on their Facebook page. | Yanira Maldonado and her husband were stopped at military checkpoint on her way back to the U.S. from a funeral last week .
Police 'found marijuana under her seat' and charged her with smuggling .
Attorney 'told them to raise funds to bribe their way out of the situation'
Mrs Maldonado, who does not drink or take drugs, has a hearing Monday . |
30,229 | 55e5537709a75984bdb958f1cafa2bdb0b2d6038 | She's an actress, director, producer, fashionista - oh, and did we mention she's one half of Hollywood’s most iconic and influential couples? Jada Pinkett-Smith, who is married to Will Smith and is mother to two equally famous children, may be 42 but she's looking better than ever - just take a look at her latest fashion shoot if you don't believe us. The A-lister has been treated to a high-fashion makeover for Net-a-Porter's The Edit and can be seen posing in an array of figure hugging dresses shot on a balcony in New York by Miranda Kerr's favourite photographer, Chris Colls. Scroll down for video . Will Smith is one lucky man! Jada Pinkett Smith, 42, has been given a seriously slick makeover for The Edit's latest edition, within which she opens up about female empowerment and her marriage . Although she displays an enviably toned physique in the new imagery, Jada maintains that she takes a relaxed approach to her fitness. 'I look better than ever and I work out less. I’m never . in the gym for [more than] 45 minutes,' she said. 'As I’ve gotten older, . I’ve learned that it’s about being physical every day. You don’t have to . go to the gym if that’s not your thing. You can go outside your door . and walk around your block.' One thing that Jada was keen to open up about in the interview with the magazine was her husband, Will Smith, explaining that their relationship is stronger now than ever, despite the rumours that have persistently dogged their 17-year romance. Better than ever: Although she displays an enviably toned physique in the new imagery, Jada maintains that she takes a relaxed approach to her fitness and never works out for longer than 45 minutes . Relaxed approach to fitness: Jada says that as she has gotten older, she's learned that it's about being physical every day - even if that means going for a brisk walk . Strong bond: Over the years, she and Will have been accused of unfounded infidelities, of having an 'open marriage' and have even had their sexualities questioned, all of which she shrugs off . 'Will, to me, encompasses everything. It’s almost as if calling him "my husband" is too small of a word for what he means in my life,' she said. Married for 17 years, she reveals how their relationship has changed over time. 'We used to have all these rules, [but] as you go on in your relationship, you just get into a flow… I had a very stuck idea of what a husband looks like, what a wife should be. 'Once I broke all of that, a whole new world opened for me and man, oh, man, I got to see him in all his glory. And so that’s what it’s evolved into. And I’m just ecstatic about it.' Over the years, the couple have been accused of unfounded infidelities, of having an ‘open marriage’ and have even had their sexualities questioned. Jada shrugs off these rumours, saying: 'The coping technique is knowing what the truth is - there’s no better technique…It’s kind of entertaining. We can laugh because it’s so ridiculous. I don’t take it personally.' Female empowerment: Jada puts her fame and power to good use - she once visited Washington to testify on sex trafficking and now she's working with CNN on a documentary about it . As well as the state of their own marriage, the Smith’s were at the centre of media scrutiny earlier this year when 13-year-old daughter Willow found herself amidst controversy when an Instagram picture of herself in bed next to topless 20-year-old actor Moises Arias went viral. The . 42-year-old star insisted there was 'nothing sexual' about the snap, which . was noticed on one of Kylie Jenner's Tumblr accounts on Tuesday. Speaking in a video on TMZ, . she said at the time: 'Here's the deal. There was nothing sexual about that picture . of that situation. You guys are projecting your trash onto it … and . you're acting like covert paedophiles and that's not cool.' Speaking out: Jada says that being a woman in an industry that has a voice made her feel this enormous amount of responsibility to speak out about female empowerment . Aside from her duties as a mother and actress, Jada has always been a huge advocate of female empowerment. In 2012, she visited Washington to . testify on sex trafficking and now she's working with CNN on a . documentary on the subject. 'A lot of people want to believe it only . happens to poor girls, and that’s not true. It’s a people problem,' she says. 'Being a woman in an industry . that has a voice, I just felt this enormous amount of responsibility to . at least let other people know. "Guess what guys? It’s not just . happening over there. It’s happening right here." I just had to get that . word out.' Family first: Jaden Smith, Willow Smith, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith . | Jada, 42, says she is looking better than ever, despite working out less .
Opens up about her soulmate Will and parenting their children .
Strong advocate of female empowerment and works with lots of charities . |
62,847 | b288e6fbdaed1a5e313b5b3d55e1cb2f37a6e8ae | (CNN) -- A second woman in Southern California is alleging sexual abuse by a teacher who resigned last week after being confronted by another alleged female victim on a YouTube video, she said Thursday. The second alleged victim filed a complaint this week accusing the Val Verde Unified School District of negligence when the girl, then a 14-year-old middle schooler, was allegedly sexually abused by the teacher during the 2009-2010 school year, the complaint said. The woman, who appeared at a press conference with her attorney on Thursday, is now 18 years old. "This should have never happened, and I don't wish this upon anybody. My mother was the first victim by convincing my mother that she would do great in my life, and she turned my thinking that, that all I need was her," the woman told reporters. "There was a lot of manipulation in the time. This should (have) never happened if the district would (have) done their job," she added. The claim seeks unspecified monetary damages and charges that the school district "knew about (the teacher's) propensity to sexually abuse and/or sexually harass students before the claimant was injured and damaged by being sexually molested." Officials with the school district, based in Perris, about 65 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, declined to comment on the allegations. "We are not making any comments but we did receive a claim. We are cooperating with authorities," said Chris Wynn, chief of security. The girl has also filed a complaint against the nearby Riverside Unified School District for "negligently" providing "positive information" about the teacher when she applied for a job with Val Verde. The teacher once worked for the Riverside school system. Riverside school officials acknowledged the claim. "We did receive the claim, but we are not commenting," said spokeswoman Jacquie Paul. The teacher has not responded to CNN's phone and e-mail requests for comment. The educator resigned Friday from her most recent job as an administrator with the Alhambra Unified School District after a woman, now 28, posted a YouTube video in which she accused the educator of abusing her at age 12. The video features the alleged victim on camera and the teacher's voice on a phone. In the video, the teacher can be heard acknowledging the abuse. In that case, police have launched an investigation, but the statute of limitations may be an issue, Riverside Police Lt. Guy Toussaint said. It all depends on what the investigation reveals and what crimes may have occurred. On Thursday, the Riverside Police Department confirmed a second alleged victim in its investigation into the educator. "On January 17, RPD started our initial investigation from the YouTube video. During the investigation during some point a second victim came forward and the detectives are now looking into the second victim's allegations. And at this point it's an ongoing investigation," said Lt. Val Graham of Riverside Police Department. The alleged second victim's attorney, Luis A. Carrillo of South Pasadena, said he and the girl will speak with Riverside police on Friday to file a formal complaint about the alleged sexual abuse. "We are cooperating with the investigation and that's why she can't speak about the details about what happened," Carrillo said. "Something good has to come out of something bad, and that's why we want changes, positive changes in the law." The first alleged victim said the abuse took place "off and on" between the ages of 12 and 18. She said she didn't come forward as a teenager because the teacher had brainwashed her. "She told me that my family didn't love me. She told me that nobody cared about me and that she was the only one that loved me and the only one that was there for me," she said. "She made me believe that she was my only friend, and that I could trust her." She said she didn't want a physical relationship, but the teacher threatened her multiple times. "She said that she would kill herself if I ever left. And I believed that," she said. | Second alleged victim accuses teacher of sexually abusing her in middle school .
"This should have never happened," woman, now 18, charges .
Teacher quit most recent job after another alleged victim confronts her on YouTube .
Police are investigating second alleged victim's accusations . |
163,303 | 5f292cc3630be33e0e17d7489e3030cf78d73e05 | Prime Minister Tony Abbott has dismissed claims of any instability within his government after it emerged MP Warren Entsch lodged a formal complaint with chief whip Philip Ruddock. Speaking to 9 News, Tony Abbott said he refused to be drawn into 'insider gossip' regarding his members of cabinet and believes the Australian public have grown tired of government bickering. 'People are sick of insider gossip and I'm not going to indulge in any' Mr Abbott said. ‘I'm not going to be distracted by it, I'm just getting on with the job.' Scroll down for video . In the candid interview, the Prime Minister also discussed his broken promises, including the controversial decision to cut funding from the ABC. Mr Abbott explained his decision grew from the Labor Party's 'budget black hole' deficit of $30 billion. 'When circumstances change, you do have to change your position, so yes, we did break that commitment,' he said. Mr Abbott said the ABC had been flying under the budget radar for years and had entirely escaped an efficiency dividend for the past 20 years. 'We discovered, when we looked at the ABC, that unlike every other media organisation which has had to tighten it’s belt dramatically in the last few years, the ABC was basically getting more money from the government every year,' Mr Abbott said. His comments come after MP Warren Entsch hit back at the Prime Minister's claims of sexism within the Liberal party, after Mr Abbott labelled recent criticisms of his chief-of-staff Peta Credlin as motivated by gender. Queensland Liberal MP Warren Entsch has hit out against the statement, lodging a formal complaint against the Prime Minister and accusing Mr Abbott of undermining cabinet ministers . Along with longstanding Federal MP and former Attorney-General Philip Ruddock, Mr Entsch lodged a formal complaint against Mr Abbott, defending concerns about Ms Credlin's level of power. 'It's not about her bloody gender for God's sake. Let me tell you, it doesn't matter if her name is H-A-R-R-Y or D-I-C-K,' Mr Entsch said. 'To suggest there's an issue because of gender I find offensive. He (Mr Abbott) has basically said, "If they don't like it they are sexists". If he thinks our legitimate concern...is trivialised to suggest we are sexist is mind-boggling,' he told The Sunday Telegraph. Statement: Prime Minister Tony Abbott has the attacks on his chief adviser Peta Credlin are motivated by sexism . 'He needs to be very careful because there's a lot of cabinet ministers who have a problem with how the Prime Minister's office is operating. It's as bad as it's ever been,' Mr Entsch said. The MP's comments follow Mr Abbott's slap down of members of his own party on Friday amid growing reports of tension between Peta Credlin - his top adviser - and coalition ministers. 'Do you really think that my chief of staff would be under this kind of criticism if her name was P-E-T-E-R as opposed to P-E-T-A?' Mr Abbott asked. 'They're like two Siamese fighting fish in the same tank': Earlier this week, that is what a Liberal frontbencher reportedly said about Ms Credlin, left, and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop . Mr Abbott said on Friday that if people had a problem with his office they should bring the complaints to him, and was backed by supporters who said that unhappy ministers should confront Ms Credlin, rather than air grievances through the media. 'If they've got any balls, they would go and talk to her herself,' said junior minister Jamie Briggs, calling his colleagues 'gutless', The Age reported. Mr Entsch appears to have taken this advice to heart, lodging a formal complaint against the Prime Minister and hitting out at structural issues within the government. Ms Credlin's husband currently holds the position of Liberal Federal director, making it difficult to discuss internal problems with either figure, who have held their respective roles for the past two elections. On Sunday morning, Mr Abbott continued with his Prime Ministerial duties, visiting Queenscliff Surf Life Saving Club on Sydney's north shore . Earlier in the week reports emerged that Foreign Minister Julie Bishop had decided not to take any orders from Ms Credlin. 'They're like two Siamese fighting fish in the same tank,' a senior Coalition source told The Australian newspaper on Tuesday. Ms Bishop told The Sunday Telegraph that she had a positive relationship with Ms Credlin, declining to comment on Mr Abbott's 'sexism' claims. Ms Bishop said that she never sought to define issues through the 'prism of gender'. The Prime Minister spoke to Surf Life Saving Australia's president Graham Ford (right) at the launch of the National Coastal Safety Report . 'Peta Credlin and I have fought battles together and will continue to do so. I have a positive and professional relationship with her,' said Ms Bishop. Mr Entsch also criticised the public display of Ms Credlin, who frequently appears in photographs with Mr Abbott, labelling it unusual behaviour. Mr Abbott's claims of sexism has already set the Twittersphere tittering as the prime minister has long been targeted by critics over his apparent 'women problem.' Some commentators have alleged that Mr Abbott's comments were made to distract from the decline in popularity of his leadership. Colleagues: Julie Bishop took issue with Tony Abbott's decision to 'chaperone' her at the United Nations conference and now there are claims she is at odds with his chief of staff, Peta Credlin . Target: Prime Minister Julia Gillard, pictured here, rounded on Mr Abbott in her famous 'misogny' speech . Mr Abbott continued his official duties on Sunday morning, attending the launch of the National Coastal Safety report, despite admitting last week that the government had been performing in a 'ragged' way recently. The Prime Minister was still convinced of the ability of his office, however, and said that it remained a solid force. 'This is the same office which ran a very effective opposition, it's the same office which has got an enormous amount done this year sometimes under very difficult circumstances,' he said. Mr Abbott is no stranger to accusations of sexism, having been famously savaged by then Prime Minister Julia Gillard when he was Opposition Leader. 'I will not be lectured on sexism or misogny by this man,' Ms Gillard said of Mr Abbott's perceived attitudes to women in a speech that soon went viral. 'I shouldn't have done it, Karl': Mr Abbott later apologised after he winked at a radio presenter when a caller announced she was a sex worker . Mr Abbott's appearance at a 2011 anti-carbon tax rally in front of signs reading 'Ditch the witch' and 'Julia is Bob Brown's b****' was similarly controversial. And in May, Mr Abbott was forced to apologise after he winked at ABC Radio presenter Jon Faine when a talkback caller announced she was a sex worker. Late last week, the Australian Financial Review reported that Ms Bishop 'went bananas' at Mr Abbott when she was not consulted about a plan for a male colleague to 'chaperone' her to a climate change conference in Lima, Peru. It was claimed Trade Minister Andrew Robb was accompanying Ms Bishop to ensure Australia did not over-commit on his climate change policy promises. The bust-ups have overshadowed a significant announcement in Lima by Ms Bishop that Australia will contribute $200 million to a global fund to help poorer nations tackle climate change. | Tony Abbott has dismissed rumours of any instability within government .
He said the Australian public are 'sick of insider gossip'
Warren Entsch lodged a formal complaint against Mr Abbott .
Mr Abbott said any criticism against his chief-of-staff was sexist .
Mr Abbott's remarks came amid reports of tensions in his cabinet .
He also said the ABC has been going under the budget radar for 20 years . |
191,565 | 84140e8f48c025d725be5be95ef0b27d1fd7e2c7 | Baghdad (CNN) -- A brazen insurgent attack inside a provincial council building in Baquba killed at least 12 people Tuesday, Iraqi Interior Ministry officials said. Also Tuesday, gunmen used pistols equipped with silencers and shot dead Ahmed Hassan, the head of the legal department in Baghdad's provincial government, Interior Ministry officials said. The attackers intercepted Hassan's car Tuesday morning as he was driving to work in the al-Alawi area in central Baghdad. In Baquba, the militants were shooting randomly from the roof of the Diyala provincial council building at Iraqi security forces who surrounded the structure, said the officials, who did not want to be named because they are not authorized to release information to media. The assault began with a suicide blast at the checkpoint to the compound, followed by a car bomb a few feet away, the officials said. When security forces rushed to the scene to help the wounded, four insurgents forced themselves into the building and held people hostage. By Tuesday afternoon, however, security forces regained control of the building and the hostages were freed. U.S. troops, who were on routine patrol in the area, assisted with an initial search of the building at the request of Iraqi police and later assisted with security, said spokeswoman Maj. Angela Funaro. U.S. helicopters scanned the area and provided information to the Iraqis. Funaro said a number of U.S. tactical vehicles were also in the area but they were part of the routine convoy and were not called in as a response force. The 12 fatalities included four attackers; at least 28 others were wounded in the incident, officials said. Baquba, in ethically mixed Diyala province, is about 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of Baghdad. "It's a tragic incident," said Hasan al-Saneid, who chairs a security committee in parliament, speaking with Iraqiya state television. "All terrorist sleeper cells must be eliminated and the security plan in the province must be reviewed again," he said, adding that Tuesday's attack "bears the hallmark of al Qaeda" but cautioned that no conclusions be drawn until an investigation is completed. Diyala was a stronghold of al Qaeda during the peak of Iraq's sectarian violence between 2005 and 2007. In March, armed militants took over a government building in Tikrit in northern Iraq and held hostages. At least 56 people died and 98 others were wounded in that attack, which also ended after Iraqi forces launched a raid to take back the building. Overall violence in Iraq has plunged over the past three years, and the insurgency there has received devastating blows. But the assaults Tuesday and in March are evidence of the instability that still plagues the nation. The latest wave of violence raises concerns over the capabilities of the Iraqi security forces as U.S troops prepare to leave the country by the end of 2011 under the terms of a bilateral security agreement. A new Iraqi government was formed in December but key positions that oversee security forces remain vacant amid political wrangling. | NEW: A government official is shot dead in Baghdad .
At least 12 people are killed, including four attackers .
The militants shot randomly at security forces, officials say .
The assault began with twin blasts . |
187,533 | 7edb553c64de05831d288343135a6167624992b0 | By . Chris Hanlon . PUBLISHED: . 07:58 EST, 1 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:31 EST, 1 May 2012 . US fighter pilots have asked not to fly the military's 190 F-22 Raptors because of oxygen problems with the $143million (£88m) stealth fighter, an Air Force leader has revealed. Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia, told reporters that a 'very small' number of pilots have asked not to fly the fifth-generation fighter jets or to be reassigned. 'Obviously it's a very sensitive thing because we are trying to ensure that the community fully understands all that we're doing to try to get to a solution,' Hostage said. Air attack: Pilots have asked not to the fly the latest F-22 model because of fears of blacking out over lack of oxygen despite it being one of world's most advanced . Top speed: Above mach 2 with afterburners: greater than 1,317mph (2,120km/h). Kill ratio: F-22 pilots demonstrated that its higher cruise altitude has given it a major combat advantage over US 4th/4.5th generation fighters and have an unblemished kill ratio against other . US fighters in training maneuvers. Problems: The oxygen system was suspected as being behind a crash in which an F-22 pilot was killed in November 2010. Overview: The F-22 Raptor is primarily an air-superiority fighter but is also capable of ground attack and electronic warfare, and signals intelligence roles. Despite a costly development period, the United States Air Force considers the F-22 the key component of US air power, and claims that the aircraft is unmatched by any known or projected fighter. However its high cost, lack of clear air-to-air combat missions because of delays in the Russian and Chinese fifth-generation fighter programs resulted in calls to end production. The final F-22 of 187 came off the assembly line on 13 December 2011 during a ceremony at Dobbins Air Reserve Base. He would not provide exact figures on the number of pilots who have asked not to fly the jets and said each pilot's request would be handled individually. Air Force officials insist the airplane is safe to fly - Hostage noted that he'll fly soon because he won't ask a pilot to do something that he will not. 'I'm going to check out and fly the airplane so I can understand exactly what it is they're dealing with. 'The day we figure out what the problem is I will stop flying (the plane) because we don't have enough sorties for all of our combat aviators to get as much training as they need,' he said. The nation's F-22 fighter jets were grounded for four months last year after pilots complained of experiencing a lack of oxygen that can cause dizziness and blackouts. Air Force officials said they have taken steps against the problem, but still haven't pinpointed what's causing the hypoxia - when the body doesn't receive enough oxygen. Stealth: Iran has complained about the fighters being stationed in the Middle East . An Air Force panel is meeting weekly to investigate the problem and has enlisted the help of NASA and the Navy to learn more about what happens to the body under extreme conditions. Hostage spoke during a media day event at the base, highlighting the nation's most advanced fighter plane. After being introduced in 2005, the last of nearly 190 jets are scheduled to be delivered to the Air Force this week. At a price tag of $143 million each, the Raptor has come under some criticism for not being used in place of older and less-sophisticated jets in Iraq or Afghanistan. Hostage said the plane is critical to maintaining the nation's air superiority in the future and that he wishes he had more of the jets at his disposal. On Monday, Iran's defense minister said that reports of the stealth fighter jet being deployed to the United Arab Emirates would damage regional security, the semiofficial ISNA news agency reported. Without saying which country in the region the F-22s were deployed to - or which base or bases they were deployed from - Hostage said there's a reason other nations take note of the plane's movements. 'People pay attention to where this airplane goes and what it does because, regardless of the furore in our press and public about the suitability or the safety of the airplane, they're very worried about its capability.' he said. The planes are stationed at five other bases besides Virginia: Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii; Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada; Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico; and Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. | Military has almost 190 of the craft, classed as the most advanced at the country's disposal .
Pilots report dizziness and blackouts while flying .
Airforce general insists there is no problem and that the fighter strikes fear into hearts' of America's enemies . |
173,685 | 6cc27c5410265d87f00072ea4abe4dd3abb1b7ec | (CNN) -- Just over a week ago, they were two little boys living with their grandparents and the family dog, Nati, in Tampa, Florida. That was then. First, police say Chase and Cole Hakken's father broke into the home and tied up the boys' grandmother before whisking the two children away -- one day after he and the boys' mother officially lost their parental rights. The 2- and 4-year-old boys ended up sailing to Cuba with their parents, triggering an international manhunt that ended this week. Chase and Cole are now back in Tampa, trying to resume their life with Nati and their grandparents. "Right now, we're just looking forward to sitting, getting them in our arms, hugging them and being with them and getting them home where they will be safe again," the boy's maternal grandfather, Bob Hauser, said overnight Tuesday, just hours before being reunited with the boys. The boys' mother and father, meanwhile, could be calling prison home for some time. Josh and Sharyn Hakken spent most of Wednesday in Hillsborough County jail. They're set to make their first court appearance Thursday morning, on charges of kidnapping, auto theft and child neglect. Josh Hakken faces an additional charge of false imprisonment. Florida abduction: A libertarian washed ashore in the worker's paradise . Given Florida sentencing guidelines, a conviction on the kidnapping charges alone could mean the Hakkens will spend the rest of their life behind bars. Police: Parents talked of 'journey to the Armageddon' The Hakkens' ordeal began last June when Josh and Sharyn and the their two sons were staying together in a hotel in Slidell, Louisiana. Responding to a call, police officers found the parents "acting in a bizarre manner," Slidell police said in a statement. Inside the room were their two boys, as well as narcotics and weapons. "They were talking about 'completing their ultimate journey' and were traveling across the country to 'take a journey to the Armageddon'," police said about Josh and Sharyn Hakken. Louisiana authorities took Chase and Cole from their parents following that incident. About two weeks later, their father showed up at a foster family home "with a firearm demanding the return of his children," Slidell police said. Josh Hakken fled after the foster parents called 911. Over the subsequent months, Josh and Sharyn Hakken "did not participate in the system," Hillsborough County, Florida, Sheriff David Gee said late Tuesday, without offering much detail. "As a result of that, the authorities in Louisiana gave custody to the grandparents," the sheriff added. That transfer became official April 2, when a Louisiana judge terminated Josh and Sharyn Hakken's parental rights. The next day, at 6:30 a.m., Patricia Hauser told police that Josh Hakken saw his boys once again -- when he entered her Florida home, tied her up, then sped away with Chase, Cole and the family dog in a silver 2009 Toyota Camry. They met up with Sharyn Hakken, who was waiting in a pickup truck, sheriff's investigators said. They drove to a parking garage, and eventually ended up on a 25-foot sailboat named Salty. Josh Hakken had purchased that boat from a person, who later tipped off authorities after word got out about the brothers' abduction. That's the boat they took south -- leaving their Florida port just ahead of a storm that challenged authorities looking for them. "A small boat in a big ocean, it's really tough," Gee said. It was at the Hemingway Marina, on Tuesday, that CNN found the family -- hunkered inside the boat, under the watch of Cuban security forces. That morning, U.S. officials in Havana told CNN that they were afraid Cole and Chase could be in danger from their parents. Armed Cuban security agents, meanwhile, watched over the Hakkens most of the day -- until the family was led away, peacefully, that afternoon. Boys' 'fine, happy and sleepy' on return to U.S. Cuba and the United States are divided by far more than the Straits of Florida. But this week, on this case, U.S. officials repeatedly expressed their appreciation for the Cuban government's "extensive cooperation." The Cuban foreign ministry said the Hakkens' boat pulled into a marina just west of Havana in bad weather on Sunday. "From the first moment," the two governments began exchanging information. To that point, FBI spokesman Dave Couvertier said the U.S. State Department learned about the Hakken family's whereabouts from Cuban authorities. That all led to the return of Hakkens, and the family dog, to the United States. But this time, they flew -- and were accompanied by Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office detectives, as well as U.S. federal and state law enforcement authorities. U.S. diplomatic officials waited with the family at Havana's airport until a plane carrying American law enforcement officials arrived to bring them all back to Florida. Checked out by a medic, Chase and Cole were "fine, happy and sleepy" as they boarded the plane, the sheriff's office said. The aircraft touched down around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday at Tampa International Airport. Some time later, the boys and dog were reunited with the grandparents. Their parents, no longer on the lam, are being held away from the general population of the Florida jail. CNN's Patrick Oppmann, Kim Segal and John Zarrella contributed to this report. | NEW: Sheriff says parents "did not participate" as courts weighed child custody .
NEW: The person who sold a 25-boat to Josh Hakken later tipped off authorities .
The Hakkens are accused of abducting their sons, sailing with them to Cuba .
The two boys are back with the boys' maternal grandparents . |
241,663 | c4c7609e46b30881d48a69d741a951c54e29027b | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Bad news, Instagramers: The selfie is officially played out thanks to an entrepreneur in San Francisco who has just raised the bar for ego-inflating, self-photography. Behold: The 'dronie' is upon us. Amit Gupta, the founder of the photography accessory store Photojojo, has been experimenting with taking the ultimate aerial self-portraits for months - and it appears he's successfully snapped the first 'dronie.' 'Dronie': Internet entrepreneur Amit Gupta (left) has officially raised the bar for selfies . Gupta and New York Times reporter Nick Bilton (left) took the drone to Bernal Heights Hill in San Francisco to take the world's first 'dronie' Selfie: The queen of selfies, Kim Kardashian, has become somewhat infamous for her shameless use of selfies she shares on social media . Gupta and New York Times technology business columnist Nick Bilton last week took a DJI Phantom drone with a remote controlled camera attached to it to Bernal Heights Hill in San Francisco to attempt the first documented 'dronie.' Apparently, it is tougher than it looks. 'The first thing I learned during my flight lesson is that Mr. Gupta has a . lot more patience than I do,' Bilton wrote in his Times column on Wednesday. 'Instead of starting the drone and just . taking off immediately, we started it, set it on the ground, and waited. Nice view: The drone is able to capture panoramic views from a fairly high altitude - in addition to snapping dronies, of course . 'The . trick with the drones that have GPS built-in is to ensure that it has . activated before flying — in the case of the DJI Phantom drones, a . series of lights under the propellers flash green when it is ready to . go. Once this is done, the drone knows where you are, where it is, and . if it’s windy, it will stay in place rather than float away. If it gets . lost, it will now know where it started its trip and return. 'When . it was finally time to take off I had to tell my inner 12-year-old to . slow down and not attempt to go as far away as I possibly could.' Ultimate dronie: That speck in the middle of the shot is Gupta and Bilton as they take the world's first 'dronie' According to Bilton, once the drone was ready for flight, it hovered in front of the group for about 10 seconds, at which point Gupta told everyone to smile. Gupta then 'shot the controls forward and up and zoomed the drone backwards into the sky, shooting it about 800 feet away from us. While this took a few takes to get right, the result, as you can see in the video above, is breathtaking.' | Photography entrepreneur Amit Gupta attached a remote controlled camera to a drone .
Gupta and a New York Times columnist played around with the device at Bernal Heights Hill in San Francisco last week .
The result is birth of the 'dronie,' aerial selfies taken by a camera mounted on a drone . |
102,297 | 0fd7c07d3c31a34a7c0679990515e4de51d79f66 | (CNN) -- Two breath tests estimated pop star Justin Bieber's blood-alcohol content was below .08% after his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence in Florida, a source close to the investigation said Friday. The tests indicated contents of .011% and .014%, the source said. Both would be below the general .08% legal limit for drivers and Florida's .02% limit for drivers under the legal drinking age of 21. Bieber is 19. It's not clear how soon after the arrest the tests were given. And an alcohol level by itself wouldn't necessarily clear a defendant of DUI, as Florida law also says people can be convicted if controlled substances -- not just alcohol -- impair the driver's "normal faculties." Police said Bieber admitted to drinking, using marijuana and taking prescription pills before his arrest early Thursday in Miami Beach. He also failed a field sobriety test, Miami Beach police said. Bieber was pulled over after a Miami Beach officer saw him driving a yellow Lamborghini in a race against a red Ferrari in a residential area of Miami Beach, city Police Chief Raymond Martinez said. Thursday's incident marks the first time the teen singer has been arrested, although he is the subject of a felony vandalism probe on allegations of egging his California neighbor's home. Officers suspended in Bieber escort probe . Bieber's arrest came three days after he arrived in the Miami area -- a visit that also has put the behavior of a separate police department's officers in the spotlight. Three Opa-Locka police officers have been suspended in connection with allegations that officers escorted Bieber's caravan early in the week, the city's manager said Friday. The city has been investigating reports that Opa-Locka officers escorted Bieber from the city's airport to Miami strip clubs Monday. Opa-Locka Deputy City Manager David Chiverton said the three officers would be suspended with pay, pending an investigation. Chiverton said he didn't know how the escort arrangement was initiated. The arrest . Bieber was pulled over just after 4 a.m. Thursday after a police officer saw Bieber and the other driver speeding at about 55 to 60 mph in a 30 mph zone, said Martinez, the Miami Beach police chief. The officer stopped Bieber's car, but the singer was "was not cooperating with the officer's instructions," Martinez said. "At first, he was a little belligerent, using some choice words questioning why he was being stopped and why the officer was even questioning him," he said. "What the f*** did I do? Why did you stop me?" Bieber asked the police officer who stopped him, according to the arrest report . He allegedly ignored a police officer's request to keep his hands on the car while he did "a cursory patdown for weapons," the report said. "I ain't got no f***ing weapons," the arresting officer quoted Bieber as saying. "Why do you have to search me? What the f*** is this about?" The arrest report describes Bieber as having a "flushed face, bloodshot eyes, and the odor of alcohol on his breath." Two black SUVs blocked the traffic at 26th and Pine Tree Drive, which "facilitated an open road" for the two cars to race on Pine Tree, the report said. Bieber was booked into jail after failing the field sobriety test, police said. Police said a urine test was taken; results are expected in two to three weeks. The Ferrari's driver, identified as 19-year-old Def Jam recording artist Khalil Sharieff, was also arrested on a drunken driving charge, police said. Bieber was released Thursday from a Miami jail an hour after he made a brief appearance through a video link before a Miami judge, who set a "standard" $2,500 bond that afternoon. CNN's Alan Duke and Jason Hanna and CNN en Espanol's Adriana Hauser contributed to this report. | Source: Tests indicated Bieber's BAC was .011%, .014% .
Both would be below .02% limit for drivers under legal drinking age of 21 .
Test checks only for alcohol; DUI law also prohibits impairment by controlled substances .
Chief: Bieber said he drank, smoked pot, took prescription medication before driving Thursday . |
5,735 | 104a2d5c4fe33c8c98804f6440e4286f167aa838 | By . Luke Augustus . Follow @@Luke_Augustus29 . and Associated Press . Antonio Conte has left as Juventus manager by mutual consent after four years in charge of the club. The 44-year-old leaves the Old Lady after guiding them to three successive Serie A titles. The Italian, who captained the club during his playing career, also led the Turin outfit to a record points haul of 102 points as they won their 30th official league title. VIDEO Scroll down to Watch the moment Antonio Conte announces he is leaving Juventus . Gone: Antionio Conte has quit as Juventus manager by mutual consent after four years in charge at the club . The announcement was made on Juventus' website, in a shock move just as the Italian club begins preparations for next campaign. There had been speculation toward the . end of last season that Conte wanted to leave but then he had . appeared to change his mind. He had one year remaining on his contract with Juventus but announced his decision to leave via a video message on the club's website. Serial winner: Conte (second left) led Juventus to three successive Serie A titles and two Italian cups . VIDEO Antonio Conte leaves Juventus . 'I have decided to terminate my contract with Juventus,' he said. 'I have matured with time and my feelings led me to make this choice. It may be more difficult to keep winning with Juventus. 'An enormous thank you for what you have given to me as a player and as a coach. I have always been close to you. I want to say that the journey taken in recent years has been historic. 'Winning is difficult. It comes with a lot of effort, especially in a club like Juventus where there is the obligation of victory, but I showed I'm a winner.' While the job of Italy national team coach is open after Cesare Prandelli resigned following the Azzurri's group stage exit from the World Cup, Conte wouldn't give any clues to his next move. 'Right now I'm thinking about the present and the decision taken,' he added. Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon called it 'a serious loss' and had no explanation for the coach's move but suggested the departure will not greatly affect the squad's performance. History makers: Conte's (centre) final season in charge saw Juve reach a record points tally of 102 in Serie A . 'We've lost a great coach but great players and a smart club remain in place,' the goalkeeper said. 'Now we need to stay together even more and show what we're worth, disregarding Conte.' President Andrea Agnelli delivered a passionate tribute to Conte, thanking him for his time at the helm of the club. 'Dear Antonio, you have been a great leader and this news saddens me greatly,' he wrote on Juve's official site. Sad: Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon described Conte's exit as a 'serious loss' to the club . 'Three years together have led us to write history with three consecutive titles and two Italian cups. 'You have given a group of highly talented professionals who will be at the disposal of the new coach to continue writing the future. 'You are in the history of the Bianconeri colours and whatever choice you make, a Juventus victory will always make you smile. 'Antonio, thank you for everything. Til the end.' Captain fantastic: Conte (left) played over 500 appearances for Juventus as a player, winning five league titles . Conte, a former Italy international, joined Juve from Siena in 2011 and returned to Turin to a fanfare owing to his standing as one of the club's greatest ever players. He made over 500 appearances in black and white and won five league titles. That Midas touch continued as he won Serie A at the first attempt with his side going unbeaten throughout the league season. A second title duly followed but the summer of 2013 saw him embroiled in a corruption row after he was charged with failing to report attempted match-fixing during his time with Siena. Conte pleaded innocence but was banned for 10 months - a sentence reduced to a four-month touchline suspension last August. On the move? Arturo Vidal (left) and Paul Pogba (right) have both been linked with transfers away from Juve . He returned to the dugout midway through last season leading Juve to another title. Conte signed a new deal through to the summer of 2015 earlier this year but now appears to be the man destined to fill Prandelli's shoes in charge of the Italian national side. He leaves amid fevered speculation regarding the future of key players Paul Pogba and Arturo Vidal. Former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini and ex-AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri are already being linked with his position at Juventus. In the running? Roberto Mancini has already been linked to replace Conte as Juventus manager . | Antonio Conte has left Juventus by mutual consent .
44-year-old guided Juventus to three consecutive Serie A titles .
Juventus went on an astonishing 49 game unbeaten run under Conte .
Conte played over 500 games for Juve, also captaining them as a player . |
214,753 | a208ef01883fbcb503158d3001685fd57197b944 | Chloe Valentine was just four when she died of massive head injuries . A four-year-old girl who was surrounded by drugs and squalor died from severe injuries after being forced to ride a 50kg motorbike despite repeatedly crashing it, an inquest has heard. Tragic Chloe Valentine, from Adelaide, died in January 2012 from injuries sustained over a three-day period in the backyard of a home at Ingle Farm, in the city's northeast. Chloe's grandmother, Belinda Valentine, has pleaded pleads for changes within Families SA, calling for specialised staff training to prevent such deaths. Despite Families SA receiving 20 notifications of Chloe's dreadful circumstances, she was never removed from her drug-using mother. Chloe's short life was marred by chronic neglect, an inquest was told today. Reports were made of rats in one squalid residence; old nappies, rotting food and bugs in another; drug use and violence in Chloe's presence; and her being left in front of the TV for long periods. Counsel assisting the coroner, Naomi Kereru, on Monday gave an overview of the case at the start of the inquest into the death of Chloe in January 2012. She died after being forced to ride a motorbike that repeatedly crashed over a three-day period in her Adelaide backyard. Ashley Polkinghorne, 22, and her then-partner, Benjamin McPartland, 28, are in jail after pleading guilty to manslaughter through criminal neglect. They waited more than eight hours before calling an ambulance after Chloe eventually became unconscious. 'The pain she must have endured in the last few hours of her short life is difficult to comprehend,' said Ms Kereru. She outlined the extensive involvement of Families SA, dating back to when Polkinghorne became pregnant at 15, and its responses to numerous neglect notifications from family, friends and other agencies. One concerned friend recorded a conversation with Polkinghorne which was passed on to Families SA. Chloe died at the hands of her parents in Adelaide in January 2012 . She was repeatedly forced to crash the motorbike over a three-day period . The four-year-old suffered massive head injuries and her mum and partner were later jailed for neglect . 'Miss Polkinghorne claimed she was a better mother when she took amphetamines, as she would pick up Chloe and feed her and change her nappy ... as opposed to when she was drunk, when she would prop Chloe's bottle up to her mouth and leave it there,' Ms Kereru said. Polkinghorne was reported as having told her crying daughter: 'shut up you bitch', and having her child in her arms when a partner punched Polkinghorne twice. When questioned about this, Polkinghorne said Chloe had not cried 'as she had got used to violent incidents'. Drug user Ashley Polkinghorne was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to manslaughter for the criminal neglect after the death of her daughter . Polkinghorne said Chloe had not cried 'as she had got used to violent incidents' Polkinghorne's partner Benjamin McPartland was also jailed for criminal neglect . She was often visited by Families SA workers, but usually on scheduled dates when they found Chloe's living conditions acceptable. One friend who contacted Families SA about her concerns, said: 'This is one that will slip through the cracks, Ms Polkinghorne can be a very convincing liar'. Police advised they found Chloe in the care of a 15-year-old who was drinking in a park on a cold night and on another occasion at a shopping centre, while Polkinghorne was in a nearby liquor shop. Chloe died of 39 different injuries in 2012 . Belinda Valentine told The Advertiser the inquest which started today should not turn into a 'witch hunt'. She said: 'We can't change what happened to Chloe but, as a society, we have to learn from the tragedy of her death to prevent more children being damaged.' The coroner will hear evidence from numerous witnesses, including those who notified Families SA and the organisation's workers. | Chloe Valentine from Adelaide died at the hands of her neglectful mother Ashley Polkinghorne and her partner Benjamin McPartland .
Inquest into death revealed she lived in squalor surrounded by drugs and bugs .
She died of 'severe injuries' after being forced to ride a 50kg motorbike and repeatedly crashed it .
Families SA received more than 20 notifications between 2007 and 2011 about Polkinghorne and her treatment towards her daughter . |
31,281 | 58ea49211ab10db850ebd039734279aae1253547 | Mehdi Benatia will be staying at Roma according to the Italian club's boss Rudi Garcia. The Moroccan defender has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester City or Barcelona after an impressive debut season at Roma but Garcia insists the 27-year-old will not be leaving the Stadio Olimpico. Going nowhere: Roma boss Rudi Garcia has said defender Mehdi Benatia will not be leaving the club . '[Miralem] Pjanic's contract renewal . is a signal. We will keep our players and reinforce,' the former Lille . manager told L'Equipe. 'Benatia has four years left on his contract and no release clause. He will remain with us next term. 'It's logical that clubs are interested in him, looking at the season he had.' Benatia is valued at £25million and is favoured by new Barcelona boss Luis Enrique as the man to bolster their backline. Strong at the back: Manchester City and Barcelona are considering a move for Roma's Benatia (left) City . are considering their options in light of last week's Financial Fair . Play ruling with Stoke City's Ryan Shawcross another possible target . because of the 'homegrown' factor. The . Premier League champions need to boost their allocation with Joleon . Lescott, Micah Richards, Scott Sinclair, James Milner and Jack Rodwell . all expected to leave with the latter two attracting attention from . Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle. The . Etihad outfit have developed their interest in the centre-back after . defensive target Eliaquim Mangala has done little to endear himself to . City fans after saying he would prefer a move to Chelsea instead. The Porto defender came close to moving to Manchester in January but the clubs could not agree a fee. When asked which club he would rather . join, the France international told BeIn Sports: 'City or Chelsea? Chelsea because it is London. 'It is true that I love the Premier League because it is a spectacular championship,' Mangala added. Sharp shooter: Benatia is considered one of the best defenders in Italy after impressing at Udinese and Roma . 'In January, there were discussions with City but it fell through because the two clubs could not reach an agreement. 'My goal now is the World Cup. We will see what happens after that. I told [agent] Jorge Mendes that I don't want to know anything about the transfer window until then. 'Every player wants to play in the biggest clubs. I am an ambitious player and the team that can help me win titles is the one that interests me.' Targeted: Roma defender Benatia is favoured by Barcelona coach Luis Enrique to bolster their defence . | Medhi Benatia won't be leaving Roma according to boss Rudi Garcia .
Barcelona and Manchester City have been linked with a move for Benatia .
The Moroccan defender is valued at £25million by Serie A side Roma .
Luis Enrique is interested in bringing the 27-year-old to the Nou Camp .
Eliaquim Mangala is also a defensive target for City .
Stoke City's Ryan Shawcross may be another target for the Premier League champions due to Fianancial Fair Play's ruling . |
1,626 | 04a88b95c706618349284632f17b23fb9fe5b7a6 | (CNN) -- On a cold, rainy night in late November, Douglas Wright sat amid brambles and thick East Texas underbrush, watching over the body of his 28-year-old son, Alfred, who had disappeared almost three weeks earlier. "His spirits got to me: 'Daddy, I knew you would find me,'" Wright says, recalling the relief that had washed over him. Sabine County sheriff's deputies had searched for Alfred Wright but didn't find him, and volunteer searchers later found his body, his family says. A medical examiner says the death was accidental, but the family rejects that notion, citing what a different pathologist says appears to be "severe trauma" to his body. The Texas Rangers and FBI are investigating. Alfred Wright was last seen around dusk on November 7. The physical therapist was on his way to treat a patient. He had been having trouble with his pickup and pulled into CL&M Grocer, one of the few stores along an isolated stretch of Route 87. He called his wife, Lauren, and gave her directions to the store. Because their two young sons were home sick, she called his parents, who immediately left on the hourlong drive. What happened next changed everything. "The last time I called him, I just heard heavy breathing. He was in distress of some sort. He was not responding to anything I was saying," Lauren Wright says. Around 6 p.m., Alfred Wright disappeared from where he was last seen alive. When his parents arrived about 20 minutes later, his truck was in the parking lot, but he was nowhere to be seen. His father asked the store clerk what happened. He says she told him that she was out having a smoke when Wright "all of a sudden put his cell phone in his sock and took off like the truck was going to blow up." The clerk did not want to be interviewed on camera but did tell CNN that Wright "left on his own free will," a phrase she repeated several times. The next day, his personal effects, including his watch and ID, turned up on a nearby ranch. Deputies searched the property with cadaver dogs. His family says it was told by the deputies that Wright's scent had "disappeared" at a nearby creek. Four days after Wright vanished, Sabine County Sheriff Thomas Maddox called off the search, telling the family, "Your son's just a missing person. My guys are tired. We've exhausted our resources and funds. We're done," family lawyer Ryan MacLeod says. Family members say the sheriff told them that "there was no foul play" and that Wright's disappearance was probably "drug-related," most likely related to methamphetamine. The sheriff's daughter and Wright apparently knew each other through their health care jobs, which made the sheriff's actions even more surprising to the Wrights, who were left to search for their son on their own. He had been missing for 19 days when, during Thanksgiving week, dozens of volunteers did their own search in the cold and rain. Wright's body was found nearly three weeks after his truck broke down, in an area of the ranch supposedly already searched by deputies. 'He was neatly laid' Walking to the spot, Douglas Wright describes the position in which his son lay: "His head was in this area, and his feet was back here. He was just, if I might say, he was neatly laid. He was neatly laid." Alfred Wright was wearing only boxer shorts, tennis shoes and a single sock, inside of which was his cell phone, just as the clerk had described. The second sock was under the body. "I was told by the mortician at the autopsy that when they pulled off his left sock, his keys was under his left foot in his shoe," his father says. "What was weird about his sock," says his father, is that it "was clean, and his sock was pulled up with his phone stuck in it as if he was in a Sunday school class. Neat. His tennis shoes was very clean." And not just the position of the body seemed strange. "This is the first thing I noticed -- how smooth his forearms and his back was. No scratches at all," his father says. After just one day, he and the other volunteers were caked in mud and their clothing torn from brambles, he says. Alfred Wright was missing an ear, two front teeth, and his throat appeared to be cut. The medical examiner attributed the trauma to "animal and insect activity." What's more, in an echo of the sheriff's prediction, the coroner's toxicology report described Wright's body as filled with drugs -- cocaine, meth and amphetamines. His death was ruled "accidental" due to a "combined drug intoxication." His family doesn't believe it. Family members say they never saw him do drugs, nor had his personality changed to suggest he was using drugs. They say he was the fun-loving, hardworking father he had always been. They want to know if the drugs entered his body while he was missing. Suspicious of the investigation, the family hired their own pathologist, who ultimately did a separate autopsy and, contrary to the medical examiner, found what appears to be "severe trauma to the neck and head." A month after Wright's body was found, Maddox handed the investigation over to the Texas Rangers. They have called the death "questionable" and say the autopsy is just one part of an active investigation. The week CNN was in Sabine County, the Texas Rangers announced they had called in the FBI to assist. After Alfred Wright's death, wife Lauren went through bank records. She found three charges her husband made at local hotels when she and the children were away the month before he died. Texas Rangers are pulling video from one of the hotels to review it for possible evidence. Feds, family seek answers a year after teen's mysterious death . CNN's Ross Levitt contributed to this report . | Alfred Wright was missing for almost three weeks before volunteers found his body .
A coroner's report says his body was filled with drugs, and his death was ruled accidental .
Family members say they never saw him do drugs, nor did his personality suggest that he did .
Texas Rangers say the death is questionable and have called in the FBI to help investigate . |
78,410 | de3ce9dc63d65253c982385332a68460a641039d | By . Steve Doughty, Social Affairs Correspondent . PUBLISHED: . 20:06 EST, 3 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:06 EST, 3 March 2013 . Drop: Private sector wages in Europe have fallen faster than almost everywhere else in Europe . Wages in Britain have fallen faster than almost everywhere else in Europe, analysis shows. Private sector pay dropped 3.2 per cent between autumn 2010 and autumn last year after taking account of inflation, it found. Only the Netherlands, Cyprus and Greece fared worse. The analysis by the House of Commons Library for the Labour Party used UK figures and those of EU statistics arm Eurostat. It bears out recent Eurostat findings that UK living standards are falling. The figures show German private sector wages have gone up by 2.4 per cent since 2010 and those in Austria by 2.3 per cent. Sweden and the Czech Republic saw gains of 3.4 and 3.3 per cent respectively. The biggest improvements were in Bulgaria and Romania, up by 12.2 per cent and 5.8 per cent. However the two newest European countries continue to have the lowest pay levels in the EU, and the increased standards do nothing to change the 'pull factor' of wealth western economies like that of Britain to their workers when their citizens acquire freedom to work in Britain next year. These figures show just how far Britain is falling behind the rest of Europe under this government. Late last year an official analysis found that the amount a typical household is able to pay to cover all its necessities and luxuries has dropped by nearly 10 per cent since the onset of the recession. Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls said: 'We are losing in the global race. Families, pensioners and businesses cannot afford another two years of falling living standards. 'A flatlining economy under David Cameron . and George Osborne over the last two years has made British people . worse off, but families, pensioners and businesses cannot afford another . two years of falling living standards.' 'Flatlining': Chancellor George Osborne is coming under increasing pressure over the economy . He added: 'Urgent action is needed in the Budget to kick-start our stagnant economy and help people on middle and low incomes struggling with the rising cost of living. 'Stagnant': Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls said 'urgent action is needed' 'David Cameron and his downgraded . Chancellor must heed the warnings and act or Britain will face more . years of falling living standards and more long-term damage to its . economy.' Chancellor George Osborne is under pressure to take measures to improve growth in his Budget later this month, and there is a growing backbench demand for tax cuts. However, ministers are now squabbling publicly over whether the spending of their departments should be cut. Defence Secretary Philip Hammond called this weekend for cuts to . benefits and welfare spending to protect defence from further . sacrifices. The figures underline the deepening pressure on ordinary families brought by the recession and the Coalition's inability to improve living standards. They will deepen David Cameron's troubles in the aftermath of the disastrous Tory performance in the Eastleigh by-election and the fractured response to it of Tory figureheads. Late last year an official analysis found that the amount a typical household is able to pay to cover all its necessities and luxuries has dropped by nearly 10 per cent since the onset of the recession. An average home in Britain had almost £50 a week less to spend last year than it did in 2006, once inflation has been taken into account, according to that breakdown from the Office for National Statistics. | Only the Netherlands, Cyprus and Greece fared worse in 2010-11 .
Figures show how far Britain is falling behind rest of Europe .
German private sector wages have gone up by 2.4 per cent .
The biggest improvements were in Bulgaria and Romania .
Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls said UK is 'losing global race' |
71,901 | cbd4d0cdb5738c3ccdcec8e4859f75cf3718ac59 | By . Mia De Graaf . Bizarrely-placed election signs proved an unlikely internet hit today as voters went to the polls. Twitter was inundated with placards placed in amusing spots - including bins, skips and roadworks. One sign on a bin was shared with the comment: 'David Cameron has set up a special polling station for Ukip voters'. In an election marked by voter apathy and bad weather, the pictures threatened to become a symbol of the public's damning view of politicians. Spoof: Twitter users shared photos of bizarrely-placed polling station signs on voting day, including this work site . The photos of signs stuck by dog bins were perhaps a comment on how they felt the election would go . This was accompanied by the comment: David Cameron has set up a special polling station for UKIP voters . This sign for a polling station in County Durham appears to be leading voters to yet another bin . Other messages were slightly more cryptic, including this photo of a sign on a gun and one on a car . This voter found the sign posted next to this toilet amusing as the country voted in their Europe MEP . Finally, one joker tried to confuse voters in Teesside with a sign on a lone tree . | Images of signs placed on bins, work sites, and toilets shared on Twitter .
One sign by a bin was billed as 'Cameron's special station for Ukip voters'
Photos presented by users as a symbol of the public's view of politicians . |
20,065 | 38f423ac4360c4638273deb41ec08ac6a2e54cc8 | By . Sam Webb . PUBLISHED: . 13:24 EST, 6 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:41 EST, 7 February 2013 . Plans are underway to recreate the famous Flanders fields of poppies to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War - in England. The Belgian battlefields, which saw some of the conflict's bloodiest fighting, were immortalised in Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae's iconic war poem. And the image of fields strewn with graves and poppies 'row on row' became an international symbol of remembrance for all those who died. Remembrance: The stunning fields of poppies in Flanders. Plans are underway to recreate the famous scene in Gosport, Hampshire . Now England is set to get its own version, as civic leaders in Gosport, Hampshire, plan to fill a country park with the blood-red flowers. They already have bought thousands of poppy seeds and are looking for an historic aircraft to scatter some of them in a fly-past next year. It's hoped the idea would serve as a poignant reminder of those who sacrified their lives in the 'war to end all wars' from 1914 - 1918. And it could boost tourism as people flock to pay their respects. Gosport Borough Councillor Derek Kimber is leading the project. Cllr Kimber said: 'Having our own Flanders Field this side of the English Channel would be wonderful. 'It's in the very early stages at the moment but Hampshire County Council would like to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of the war. 'Here in Gosport we are keen to be involved with that, especially since we have a great number of veterans amongst us. Killing fields: The Belgian battlefields saw some of the conflict's bloodiest fighting and were immortalised in Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae's iconic war poem . 'We've identified an area in the Alver Valley where we would like to plant some poppy seeds. 'And we've made enquiries about possibly getting an aircraft to drop more poppy seeds in a ceremony as well. 'I will be talking to various groups and organisations over the coming months to see how we can go about taking the idea further.' The town of Gosport has the highest ratio of veterans in the country - with 68 veterans per 1,000 people, Local Government Association figures reveal. Gosport has a rich military history and is the home of the Royal Navy Submarine Museum . Cllr Kimber, a Falklands Royal Navy veteran, said: 'We have a higher than average number of veterans, having been a garrison town for over 250 years. 'All the Armed Forces have operated from Gosport at one time, so there's quite a background and I want to make sure they're looked after. In Flanders fields the poppies blowBetween the crosses, row on row,That mark our place; and in the skyThe larks, still bravely singing, flyScarce heard amid the guns below.We are the Dead. Short days agoWe lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,Loved and were loved, and now we lieIn Flanders fields.Take up our quarrel with the foe:To you from failing hands we throwThe torch; be yours to hold it high.If ye break faith with us who dieWe shall not sleep, though poppies growIn Flanders fields. 'I believe it's extremely important that we don't forget the millions of people who gave their lives from 1914 - 1918. 'And also those people who subsequently suffered a miserable life after fighting.' Cllr Kimber has already had an offer of a Sopwith Pup, a single seat bi-plane, to take part in the flypast and drop more seeds and poppies, but more could join in. Cllr Kimber said 'I am sure that a lot of people in Hampshire will have fairly historic planes and would like to take the opportunity to fly over this area. 'The idea of our own Flanders Field is a truly exciting prospect.' The proposals form part of a 10 -15 year project to revitalise the 150-plus hectare Alver Valley site, which has two lakes and three walking areas. National plans to mark the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War One include a five million pound education programme for schoolchildren. They include trips to the battlefields in Belgium and Northern France. And there's backing for an overhaul of the Imperial War Museum, south London, Prime Minister David Cameron has said. The Heritage Lottery Fund is also inviting applications for support to mark First World War centenary events. | A town in Hampshire will recreate the Belgian battleground's landscape .
Thousands of poppies will be planted in a park as an act of remembrance .
The act will commemorate the centenary of the Great War . |
101,665 | 0f08531071f194eb6e6086247f9f5f93b3802cd1 | ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Seventh graders at Ron Clark Academy became an overnight sensation during the presidential election when their YouTube performance of "You Can Vote However You Like" catapulted them to online stardom. "The higher the expectations, the higher the results," says Ron Clark, seen here with his students. Now, their creative and scholastic talents have proved the students to be more than just "one hit wonders." Academy students showcased their poetry and writings for CNN's documentary "Black in America 2," hosted by Soledad O'Brien. Cultivating student creativity is just one of the goals of academy founder Ron Clark, an enigmatic educator known for his unconventional teaching methods. Under his strict tutelage, students at Ron Clark -- who are predominantly African-American -- are expected to excel in all subjects and maintain a high standard of respect for their peers and teachers. "I'm teaching an eighth-grade curriculum to fifth-graders," says Clark. "Some people say my expectations of the kids, academically, is too high, but the higher the expectations, the higher the results." Watch Clark's students perform their original poetry » . But with high academic expectations come an equally high quotient for fun. It's become one of Clark's trademarks: singing and dancing to popular rap and R&B songs during class to get the kids engaged. "My first day at Ron Clark Academy, I thought all the teachers were psychopaths," says seventh-grader Jai Springs. "I thought Ron Clark was going crazy. He was up in front of the kids on desks, he was dancing. ... I never saw a teacher get up on a desk and dance. But now I'm used to it, so I get up on the desk and dance too," says Jai. Clark, formerly a schoolteacher from North Carolina, founded the academy with money he earned from his book titled The Essential 55, which detail Clark's 55 golden rules for success -- in and out of the classroom. Clark was invited to be a guest on the Oprah Winfrey show after winning Disney Teacher of the Year Award in 2001. Oprah believed so much in the well-mannered Southern school teacher from South Carolina that she encouraged him to write the book. Later she promoted The Essential 55 on her show, prompting it's ascension to New York Times bestseller list. Together with co-founder Kim Bearden, Clark transformed a decaying factory in a rough part of Atlanta, Georgia, into a state-of-the-art educational model for middle schools across the country. See newsmakers and iReporters on race, challenges, solutions for black America . Soon after the school opened its doors in 2008, a Christmas package from Winfrey arrived for Clark in the form of a $365,000 grant, or "a thousand dollars for each day of the year," as Oprah referred to it in the letter. Then came the elections, with a tight presidential race between Sens. Barack Obama of Illinois and John McCain of Arizona. Inspired by rapper T.I.'s hit song "Whatever You Like," Clark's seventh grade class penned their own lyrics and dance moves. The students' performance carried a message: Cast your ballot because you support a candidate's policies rather than just his skin color. When they perform the song, half the seventh grade class touts the virtues of GOP's McCain while the other half root for Democrat Obama: "Obama on the left. McCain on the right. We can talk politics all night. And you can vote however you like." The students "can talk politics with the best of them," says Clark. Video clips of the kids performing have garnered over 15 million hits on YouTube. "We got lots of media attention. But when the media arrived to the school they realized the song is not the story, it's the kids," says Clark. One of Clark's credos is teaching a "global curriculum" with a heavy emphasis on current events. Himself an avid world traveler, Clark believes it's essential for his students to travel to other countries to develop an understanding and appreciation of the world in which they live. Through Delta's corporate sponsorship of the school, administrators have been able to send all 100 of their fifth to eighth grade students abroad before they graduate. "I'm not nearly as shy as I used to be," says seventh-grader Chi Chi Kasarachi after her first year at the academy. "My knowledge of the world has improved, I know more about what's going on in other countries and I'm more curious about things. ... I'm just hungry for knowledge," says Chi Chi. In fact, the students at Ron Clark Academy are better versed in current events and politics than many adults. "I never thought I'd be interested in watching the news," says seventh-grader Osei Avril. "Now I find it interesting because I have learned the stories behind the news," he says. Osei -- who pronounces Iranian President Ahmadinajad's name perfectly -- says he's interested in learning about world issues such as the Iranian elections, the Taliban in Pakistan, and the Palestinian- Israeli conflict. "At the beginning," says Clark, "the kids will say something like 'I've been to East Point [a suburb of South Atlanta]. After a few years they've been to Kenya, Japan, or South Africa, or England. ... They've become very comfortable with understanding the country and understanding themselves." But it's not just the travel or even the singing and dancing to rap music that make the school so special, say the students. It's the academy teachers' creative ways of instilling education, solid values, and a passion for learning. "They want you to pass the people at the top," says Jai. "To be at the top nonstop, be at your fullest, to be creative, to think out of the box." But school isn't all fun and games, she says. Clark is a strict disciplinarian that expects -- and enforces -- model behavior from all of the students. "I love Mr. Clark with all my heart, he's like a father to me," says Chi Chi. "He might fuss a lot, but I know he's doing it for our own good." | Ron Clark Academy students' '08 YouTube rap performance got millions of hits .
Clark teaches "global curriculum" with heavy emphasis on current events .
"I'm teaching an eigthth-grade curriculum to fifth graders," says Clark .
Student: "My knowledge of the world has improved. ... I'm hungry for knowledge" |
18,408 | 34179cf9296973958a42507104731029f1ee8ff9 | By . Louise Boyle . and Lydia Warren . Tragedy: Authorities have confirmed that the remains Avonte Oquendo, 14, have been found . Human remains found washed up on a New York beach do belong to missing autistic teenager Avonte Oquendo, the New York City medical examiner's office has confirmed. The identification of the remains, using DNA taken from the 14-year-old's family, was made as his mother, Vanessa Fontaine, said she plans to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the city. Attorney David Perecman said he will file . the legal claim on behalf of the family of Avonte, whose . remains were found at the edge of the East River last week. A decomposed torso, left arm, legs and a sneaker . were found on a northern Queens beach last Thursday and authorities said . the clothes were similar to those worn by the 14-year-old when he went . missing in October. The city's medical examiner's office announced on Tuesday that the remains belong to Avonte, but said it needed further time to determine the cause and manner of his death. Mr Perecman said Ms Fontaine was inconsolable after being notified of the findings on Tuesday afternoon. The news brings the three-month search for the missing student to a devastating conclusion for his family, who had rallied hundreds of volunteers to try to find him after he ran away from Riverview High School in Long Island City on October 4. The family first said in October that they would sue the city claiming he was not supervised properly. On Monday, the family said that, if the body was identified as Avonte's, they feared foul play because it was wearing unfamiliar underwear. The family's lawyer, Mr Perecman, told the New York Post that he is concerned about the large Fruit of the Loom underwear found on the remains because Avonte didn't wear 'large' and wore only the Hanes brand. Scroll down for video . Search: An arm, torso and legs were discovered along the Queens shoreline on Thursday and authorities said the clothes found were similar to those worn by Avonte when he vanished three months ago . Investigation: The skeletal remains were removed by the medical examiner (pictured) last week, but further investigations are needed to determine the cause and manner of the boy's death . Avonte Oquendo disappeared from his Long Island City school, New York on October 4. The remains were found on a Queens beach nine miles from where he was last seen . 'If it is him, what that indicates to . me is that something happened,' Mr Perecman said on Monday, before the . confirmation of identity. 'Someone got a hold of him, moved him. I can't . say they harmed him, but why would the underwear have gotten changed?' The remains were found at least nine miles from where the child was last seen. For months, the boy's family organized search parties to scour the city for him, placed missing . posters on the subway and in stores and raised a $95,000 reward. In . particular, subway tunnels were hunted as the teenager was fascinated . with the transit system. A recording of his mother's voice was even . played over tannoys in the hope of reaching the boy. Runaway: CCTV footage shows Avonte running through the corridors of his school on October 4 . On camera: Avonte left his school on October 4 through a security door that had been left open . Unknown: Avonte is seen on the street outside his school on October 4 before he turned the corner and disappeared out of sight. After his disappearance, his family launched a massive search . The . 14-year-old was thought to be particularly vulnerable because his type . of autism left him unable to speak and in need of 24-hour care. There were a few sightings of . teenage boys who closely resembled Avonte, raising the family's hopes as they continued to search. A Department of Education investigation was also launched into how the autistic boy managed to get out of his special needs school and how teaching staff handled his disappearance. Avonte's . mother, along with police, were not informed of his disappearance until . at least an hour after he ran from the school building. Vanessa Fontaine, left, Avonte's mother, arrives at a vigil for her son on October 11 in Queens. The missing boy's family have been informed of the discovery of human remains . The . school failed to go into lockdown mode and none of the administrators . had passwords to access the surveillance cameras at the school on the . day of Avonte's disappearance, according to Capital New York. Without . access to the security footage, school officials originally believed . Avonte 'ran back up another staircase' and remained in the building. The family first said in October that . it would sue the city. At the time, Education Chancellor Dennis Walcott . declined to respond to the family's criticisms. The city's law department didn't immediately comment Tuesday, but it has previously called the matter distressing. | The New York City medical examiner's office has confirmed that the remains found Thursday night in Queens belong to Avonte Oquendo .
But the office said it does not yet know how the 14-year-old died .
His family has said they fear foul play as the body was wearing different underwear than the type Avonte wore .
He had not been seen since running away from his school on October 4 . |
269,179 | e8abe31bc4d7815480a84c7ffd9cb78fbc6fa463 | NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- More than a dozen trucks loaded with fruits, spices and other goods Tuesday crossed the line dividing Kashmir as India and Pakistan opened a symbolic trade route in the disputed region for the first time in more than 60 years. Kashmiris watch as Indian trucks cross into the border town of Chakothi in Pakistani-administered Kashmir. To cheers and band music, the first trucks rumbled from the Pakistani side across a white bridge to a brightly decorated trade center festooned . Apple-laden Indian trucks heading the other way were also warmly welcomed. It is hoped the move will ease tensions in the troubled Himalayan region, which has been a conflict flashpoint between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan who both lay claims to the territory. "Today, we have regained our lost market," said Ghulam Rasool Bhat, president of the Kashmir fruit growers' association. Watch more about the historic day » . "We are sending the sweet Kashmir apple as the first consignment. This is sure to sweeten the relation between the two neighbors. The beginning of the trade between the two Kashmirs will further improve the relations and lead to a peaceful resolution of the bitter problem," he said. The trucks were subjected to thorough security checks before they crossed the bridge, one of the few crossing points in the heavily militarized 742-kilometer (460-mile) Line of Control, the de facto frontier that divides the region. Kashmir has been a major source of dispute between India, and Pakistan since the two countries were partitioned at the end of British rule in 1947. Muslim Kashmiris sided with Pakistan to the north, while the Hindu south joined India. For the past 18 years, Kashmir has been wracked by a bloody separatist campaign. Authorities say up to 43,000 people have died, but rights groups and non-governmental organizations put the death toll at twice that. Violence had dropped off since the countries began a peace process in 2004, but it surged after the state government in Indian-controlled Kashmir announced plans in June to donate land for a Hindu shrine. Muslim protests following the decision prompted a government U-turn that triggered Hindu demonstrations calling for it to be restored. Subsequent violence left 40 dead and hundreds wounded. It is hoped Tuesday's route opening will bolster the peace agreement and combat lingering mistrust between India and Pakistan. A bilateral cease-fire has been holding in the region for more than four years. A bus service connecting the divided Kashmir began amid much fanfare in 2005 but struggled under the weight of elaborate security checks and stifling bureaucracy. "This is a great emotional moment, as it brings to mind my grandfather, who used to drive lorries on this road," said Muzhar Hussain Naqvi, who drove the leading Pakistani truck. CNN's Sara Sidner and Mukhtar Ahmad contributed to this report . | Trade route between the two sides the first in six decades .
A heavy military presence occupies strip of land known as the Line of Control .
Kashmir a source of bitter dispute between India and Pakistan since 1947 .
Trade meant to bolster a 2004 peace accord between the South Asian rivals . |
79,614 | e1c243ad15907b618adca7ec0e97f44d155e2a10 | By . Harriet Arkell . PUBLISHED: . 09:38 EST, 3 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:38 EST, 3 December 2012 . Artists are known to find inspiration in drink: Vincent van Gogh famously drank absinthe and Salvador Dali enjoyed a glass of Champagne. But a British artist currently taking the world by storm relies on drink - to paint with. Carne Griffiths, 39, uses tea to create his fantastical pictures, which he then sells for up to £4,000 apiece. How refreshing: Artist Carne Griffiths used washes of tea to create the colour effects in this work, entitled 'Find Yourself' The Liverpool-born artist has been . drawing since he was a young child and has spent years perfecting his . technique using the unusual medium. Mr Griffiths said: 'I love to involve drawing in my work, and using ink and tea allows me to create repeating layers of drawing which I then wash away partly with tea, and make new drawings from what appears beneath. 'I don’t like to be idle, I suppose drawing is a form of meditation for me so I get my relaxation at those times in the studio. 'I think if you are passionate about something, it will find its way into everything you do.' Mr Griffiths previously worked producing gold wire embroidery for the military, which sparked his desire to move into using textiles with his work. He said: 'Experimenting with new materials and liquids means that the work is constantly facing new challenges. Detail from 'Comfort' by Carne Griffiths . Carne Griffiths, 39, in his studio in London . Detail from 'Warrior' by Carne Griffiths . 'I am currently working with different alcohols to create portraits using brandy, whisky and vodka to create layers within the work. 'I try not to get bogged down too much in process. There are certain elements which are common to all pieces such as washes of tea, expressive graphite marks, detailed areas in fountain pen ink, the foundation to all this is drawing.' Mr Griffiths says his personal life provides inspiration for his art - and has drawn his baby twin children in tea. The work of art on the left is called 'Connection' and the one on the right is 'Ivy' He graduated from the Kent Institute of Art and Design in Maidstone in 1995. He . moved to London and did an apprenticeship as a gold wire embroidery . designer before beginning a 12-year career drawing embroidery designs . for clients including the Prince of Wales, Tom Ford, Asprey, Burberry, . Chanel and the Sultan of Oman. Mr . Griffiths set up his own studio in 2010. Since then he has exhibited . in the UK at the Royal Academy's London Original Print Fair and the . London Art Fair. He has also shown his work in Ibiza and New Orleans, . and has recently collaborated with the British photographer Rankin for a . feature in Hunger Magazine. 'Order', on the left, has green hues while 'Flight', on the right, features shards of glass . The image on the left is entitled 'Christ Crucified' while on the right is a detail from 'Mortal' He . said: 'I am excited about 2013, with a number of opportunities to show . work throughout the UK and overseas in Hong Kong, Italy and the States. 'I am looking forward to producing some floral designs for a clothing designer in Spring and am always flexible about the direction my work takes, providing it allows me to do what I enjoy most.' 'Devoured', on the left and 'The Miracle', right are among Mr Griffiths' popular masterpieces . Sensuous: 'Rankin 3', left, and 'Metamorphosis', right show where the liquid has washed down . Both 'Emerge', on the left, and 'Beautiful Decay', on the right, feature an enigmatic-looking woman . On the left is a detail from 'Closer' and 'Burst', on the right, has vibrant colour washes . | Carne Griffiths, 39, uses tea as a wash on his ink and graphite drawings .
He also uses vodka and brandy for his pictures which sell for up to £4,000 . |
8,747 | 189f1927f8d2156d840579c46d2fc32974ece90f | A New York City teacher got so frustrated with the rowdy students at the back of her classroom that she fantasized out loud about stabbing them. Investigators heard that Jacqueline Baffoni, 32, kept a knife for slicing fruit in her desk drawer. When her eighth-grade children wouldn't stop talking, Ms Baffoni said: 'I feel like stabbing some of these kids - I have a knife here.' The teacher had been warned just a day earlier that her probation period might not be extended at the Collaborative Academy of Science Technology and Language Arts on Manhattan's Lower East Side, and she was fired in June 2012. Exasperation: Jacqueline Baffoni (left) joked she would stab her eight-grade students with a fruit knife . The New York Post reported that Ms Baffoni made the comments during last school year. The incident came just after receiving written notification that the school was considering 'discontinuing' her probation. Another teacher at the school told the Office of the Special Commissioner of Investigation (SCI) that this warning 'might have prompted' Ms Baffoni's outburst. It is as yet unclear why her probation was under threat - Ms Baffoni had been teaching at the school since 2009, but lost her job before the investigation could take place in mid-October last year. A second student told the SCI that the teacher reacted to students' bad behavior by saying: 'I have a knife in this room, and I wish I could stab them!' Ms Baffoni sent an email to the Post defending herself from what she describes as 'false allegations' and 'slanderous rumors.' She claims she was highly dedicated to her students and that: 'I would never wish to cause harm to any of my children.' 'Slanderous rumors': Ms Baffoni describes the reports as 'false allegations' Indeed, Ms Baffoni had used the website Donors Choose to raise over $400 worth of books for her students. During these efforts she spoke proudly of her children, claiming: 'Many teachers may tell this tall tale, but I really do teach the best students in New York City!' Tracy Wu, a former flatmate of Ms Baffoni, who is also a teacher, told the Post that this outburst was most likely due to her friend just venting her exasperation. 'I can understand her saying something like that in the heat of the moment while being stressed out,' said Ms Wu. 'She is incredibly dedicated to her job and to her kids - probably more than she should be,' Wu added. 'For some of the kids’ birthdays, she holds barbecues... and she spends her own money on them. She really makes them feel like family.' | Jacqueline Baffoni, 32, kept a knife for slicing fruit in her desk drawer at Manhattan school .
When eighth-grade students wouldn't stop talking, Baffoni said: 'I feel like stabbing some of these kids - I have a knife here.'
Ms Baffoni sacked in June 2012 . |
129,764 | 33c007dcd0cc6bd2ca1372ac6a2c2c74cc8a3c74 | By . Bianca London . PUBLISHED: . 08:26 EST, 4 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 04:37 EST, 6 February 2014 . With 24m Twitter followers and 85m Facebook fans, there's no doubt that Rihanna is one of the world's most influential stars. And now, the Barbadian singer is using her popularity to raise awareness for AIDS. Rihanna, 25, is the new face of Viva Glam by MAC - a make-up collection that donates every penny of the selling price to help women, men and children living with and affected by AIDS. Viva Glam: Songstress Rihanna, who already has her own range of cosmetics with MAC, is the new face of the charity collection which donates all proceeds to help fight AIDS . The singer showcases her platinum cropped locks in a topless campaign - wearing nothing save for a slick of red Viva Glam lipstick. Speaking about her new campaign, Rihanna said: 'I'm honored to join forces with the MAC Aids Fund and UNAIDS in the fight against AIDS. 'I want to help reach as many young people around the world as I can.' Red hot: Rihanna has created a £15 lipstick and £14 lipglass in two strikingly bold shades of red that 'perfectly captures her fearless, confident style', says the brand . Speaking about the £15 lipstick and £14 lipglass, a spokesperson for MAC said: 'Rihanna launches our new MAC Viva Glam with two strikingly bold shades of red frosted lipstick and lipglass, perfectly capturing her fearless, confident style.' The MAC makeup brand was established by . two gay men from Toronto back in 1985. They added the Viva Glam campaign in 1994 to raise . money for some dying friends, according to Estée . Lauder, which bought MAC in 1995. Beauty and brains: Rihanna has unveiled several collections with the beauty giant, which have all sold out in record time . Rihanna follows in the footsteps of her famous friends Nicki Minaj and Lady Gaga, who have also fronted the charitable campaign. A spokesperson for the cosmetics giant says they hope having Rihanna on board will boost awareness. It seems like they'll have no trouble if the singer's recent collaborations are anything to go by; her cult red RiRi Woo lipstick sold out in just three hours. | Singer, 25, is new face of Viva Glam .
All proceeds go to AIDS charity .
Says she wants to reach out to as many young people as she can .
Beauty brand was founded by two gay men in 1985 . |
229,642 | b55f1ade5e5dbcef03e40ac7966cb97283aa4fbd | Southampton's superb start to the season continued as they saw off the challenge of QPR on Saturday. Click here for his stats and all the players' heat maps in our brilliant Match Zone. Ronald Koeman admitted even he is shocked by the scintillating start to Southampton's season after a win against Queens Park Rangers kept them second in the table. How the scoreline was not greater was miraculous after twice the woodwork and busy QPR goalkeeper Rob Green kept them at bay until two well-worked moves ended with him beaten. Thirteen points from their first six league games is their best ever start to the Barclays Premier League and leaves them just three of first-place Chelsea. Graziano Pelle makes the perfect connection from a cross to score in spectacular fashion as Southampton go 2-1 ahead against QPR . Southampton (4-2-3-1): Forster 5; Clyne 5.5, Fonte 5, Alderweireld 5.5, Bertrand 6.5; Wanyama 5.5 (Cork 69 5), Schneiderlin 5; Mané 7.5 (Long 67 5), S Davis 5.5, Tadić 7 (Targett 90); Pellè 7. Goals scored: Bertrand 54, Pelle 68. Subs not used: K Davis, Mayuka, Reed, McCarthy. Manager: Ronald Koeman 7.5 . Booked: Clyne, Mane . QPR (4-3-1-2): Green 7; Isla 5, Ferdinand 5, Caulker 5, Traore 5; Phillips 5 (Hoilett 58 5), Sandro 5 (Henry 11 5), Kranjcar 5; Fer 5; Austin 6, Vargas 5.5 (Zamora 77). Goals scored: Austin 66 . Subs not used: McCarthy, Hill, Onuoha, Dunne. Manager: Harry Redknapp 5 . Booked: Henry . Koeman said: 'I'm a little bit surprised, normally you have to wait after a lot of changes in the team. We had some difficult moments in the club, a lot of people were a little afraid and there questions about relegation. But we know what our qualities are. 'We like to enjoy our offence. Football is to be enjoyed. I believe in a way of playing that will bring points and that is our ambition. It's going well.' Graziano Pelle's overhead kick in the 68th-minute was a strike worthy of winning any game. Substitute Shane Long crossed from the right, Dusan Tadic nodded the ball back to Pelle who took a touch to flick the ball in the air then sent it into the far top right corner with an acrobatic effort. It was the striker's fifth goal in eight games since his £8million summer move from Feyenoord. Just two minutes before it had seemed that Charlie Austin's equaliser would be the best goal seen at St Mary's yesterday [SAT]. The QPR striker produced a sublime moment when he plucked a firm ball by Eduardo Vargas out of the air with his back to goal, spun around and beat Fraser Forster with a low shot. That they were level was a surprise. The home side were relentless going forward, but had to wait until the 55th minute to finally break the deadlock. Tadic switched the ball from right to left, Sadio Mane was on to it in a flash and played a deft back-heel into the path of Ryan Bertrand, the left-back on loan from Chelsea, who fired in first-time under Green. Their first effort off the upright came in the 19th minute. The bright Mane, making his first Premier League appearance, crossed from the right, Pelle cushioned a header back to Tadic who controlled the ball with his chest before hitting a shot which beat Green via a deflection off Steven Caulker but came back off the left post. Pelle celebrates in front of QPR forward Eduardo Vargas as the Saints regain the lead within minutes of Austin's equaliser . Ryan Bertrand scores his first goal for Southampton as the Saints take the lead against QPR on Saturday . The on-loan Chelsea full-back finishes clinically from close range as Steven Caulker looks on helplessly as the ball flies past Rob Green . Charlie Austin celebrated putting QPR back on level terms against Southampton in the second half . The former non League forward expresses his delight towards the travelling Rangers supporters after scoring his second of the season to make it 1-1 at St Mary's . Austin runs away in delight as strike partner Vargas follows him in celebrating QPR's second half leveller at St Mary's . Graziano Pelle scored Southampton's winner with his only shot on target against QPR... and what a goal it was as Saints remain second in the Premier League table. For more of these stats check out our brilliant Match Zone. The move that ended with Southampton's winner against QPR as Graziano Pelle scored with a sensational close range goal from Dusan Tadic's lay-off . Southampton manager Ronald Koeman looks on during the first half of his side's match with QPR at St Mary's . QPR midfielder Leroy Fer goes in for a challenge with Southampton's Steven Davis . Sandro is forced off with an injury during the first half of QPR's game at Southampton . Rio Ferdinand - skippering the Hoops for the first time - tussles for the ball with Southampton's Dusan Tadic . Pelle put a shot inches wide of goal as a relieved Steven Caulker looks on during the first half of Southampton's home clash with QPR . Pelle looks on after missing a golden opportunity for Southampton against QPR during the first half . Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin attempts to play the ball during the first half of Southampton's game with QPR . Austin uses his power to gets the better of Tobi Alderweireld during the game at St Mary's on Saturday afternoon . The QPR striker expresses his frustration after going agonisingly close to levelling proceedings at St Mary's . Niko Kranjcar lays off the ball while Vargas chases down Dusan Tadic during QPR's clash with Southampton . Saints boss Ronald Koeman signals some instructions to his players during the second half as they look to hold onto their goal advantage going into the final stages . Harry Redknapp expresses his frustration as QPR go 1-0 down to former club Southampton at St Mary's . Koeman celebrates with his brother Erwin, also the Saints' assistant manager, after Southampton secured a fourth straight league win at the expense of QPR . Southampton players come together at the final whistle to celebrate another win as they remain second in the Premier League table - just three points behind Chelsea . The second came in the 70th minute, after the barrage of goals, when Steven Davies sent a first-time curler from 25 yards crashing off the post. And Green was sharp again on 79 minutes to rush from goal to block Long's effort when Davies played him through on goal with an audacious first-time ball curved into his path. Niko Kranjkar struck a 20-yard free kick off the underside of the bar in the final 10 minutes, but the equaliser would have been unfair on Southampton. QPR manager Harry Redknapp said: 'It was a great finish from Charlie Austin, he's scored two league goals now showing he can do it at this level. There's still lots to work on with the team.' MINS PLD KM MILES . Southampton 112.7 70.0 . Morgan Schneiderlin 90 12.2 7.6 . Steven Davis 90 12.0 7.4 . Dusan Tadic 89 10.8 6.7 . Queens Park Rangers 108.7 67.5 . Niko Kranjcar 90 11.5 7.1 . Karl Henry 79 11.2 6.9 . Mauricio Isla 90 10.7 6.6 . | Graziano Pelle's fourth goal for Southampton earned them all three points against QPR in a tight encounter .
Saints dominated the first half but Harry Redknapp's stood firm as the game remained goalless at half time .
Ryan Bertrand gave Southampton the lead with his first goal since joining on loan from Chelsea .
Charlie Austin equalised for Rangers with a superb finish as they got themselves back into the game .
Ronald Koeman's side were to be denied though as Pelle's outstanding goal from close range gave them victory . |
153,443 | 52460d8798037beddf4cf74baa07bf71d0fb545e | By . Sara Malm . PUBLISHED: . 04:03 EST, 17 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 07:43 EST, 17 September 2012 . A man and his teenage son were shot dead in their photography store in broad daylight. Paul Petras and his son Andrew, known as AJ, were killed on Saturday afternoon after holding a photography class. Mr Petras, 56, employed his 19-year-old son AJ at May’s Community Photography in La Crosse, Wisconsin. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Victims: AJ Petras, 19, and his father Paul, 56, were shot dead on Saturday inside their family's photo store . According to family friends AJ, who . graduated from the local La Crosse Aquinas High School last year, had . announced his plans to take over the store, much to his father’s . delight. ‘You could see . pride in Paul’s face,’ Diana Hundt told the La Crosse Tribunal from . outside the Petras’ home on nearby French Island. ‘Paul . was just a good, decent man, and A.J. had turned into a kind, gentle, . wonderful young man who was going to take over the business.’ Local police believe the shootings took place at some point between 2pm and 5.15pm on Saturday, but they have released no other details into the case as they are still calling for help from the public. The large window for the possible timing of the crimes shows that police are still trying to pinpoint key facts about the murders. Happy guy: AJ's friends painted a picture of a friendly teen who enjoyed water sports, skiing, and hanging out . Unusual: Police say that AJ and his father were shot sometime between 2pm and 5pm but normally the pair left the store promptly at 2pm on Saturdays . Steve Rose, who owns Rose Jewelers next door to the Petras' film store, said that it was highly unusual for either Paul or AJ to still be in the store on Saturday afternoons because May's closes at 2pm. Mr Rose told the local paper The Winona Daily News that his son may have been one of the last people to see AJ alive when the boy went into May's to get a soda and he was waited on by AJ. At the time, everything seemed fine. 'We closed at 3,' Mr Rose told the paper. 'My son left at 3.05 and I left at 3.15. My son said he remarked to himself that it was peculiar that Paul's car was still there. Usually, they were out at 2- boom.' Erin . Almquist, bar manager at Fat Sam's Main Street Bistro across the street . from the store, said a man and his daughter were eating at one of the . bistro's three sidewalk tables about 5pm when they saw someone run out . of the camera shop screaming for somebody to call 911. ‘The man came in and asked to use the phone and called 911,’ Almquist said. ‘Within two minutes, the street was filled with fire trucks and cop cars,’ she said. On . Saturday night AJ Petras’ Facebook page began filling up with tributes . to the young man one of his friend’s called ‘the nicest kid I ever met’. Crime scene: Emergency vehicles outside May's Community Photography yesterday where Paul Petras and his son AJ were shot on Saturday afternoon . No arrests: Investigators deep in conversation at the scene whilst the street in downtown La Crosse, Wisconsin remained closed on Sunday . One female friend wrote: ‘The times we shared together I'll never forget. I'll miss you like crazy. 'Summer . isn't going to be the same without seeing you every day. You were truly . an amazing friend and would've done anything for any one of them.’ AJ was a keen snowboarder and member of his high school ski team and one friend posted a commemorative photo of the 19-year-old with his arms full of snowboard jackets. The caption read: ‘Taking down other people's coats in the freezing cold at state; ultimate act of selflessness. Especially because I know those are girls coats. True gentleman. I'll join you on the slopes on the other side eventually. Miss you homie.’ La Crosse police are appealing for witnesses to the incident or suspicious behaviour in the area on Saturday afternoon. Captain Robert Lawrence, La Crosse Police said: ‘Somebody running away or driving away fast - even if it seems insignificant.’ Murders are a rarity in La Crosse, and the deaths of the Petras pair bring the city's murder count up to four this year. No arrests have been made. WATCH THE VIDEO HERE . WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports | . | Paul Petras and 19-year-old son Andrew 'AJ' Petras killed in La Crosse, Wisconsin on Saturday afternoon .
The pair were shot in their family owned photography store .
Facebook tributes to 'true gentleman' AJ poured in over the weekend . |
252,948 | d361179febea3b4f6244216bebebbb7a958be4c3 | "Good Morning America" anchor Robin Roberts used a Facebook post to acknowledge what friends and co-workers have long known: She's gay. Roberts, 53, has been very open about her health battles, but she has not previously spoken publicly about her sexuality. First lady Michelle Obama tweeted her support to Roberts Monday: "I am so happy for you and Amber! You continue to make us all proud. -mo" In an end-of-the-year message posted on her Facebook "like" page Sunday, Roberts wrote: "I am grateful for my entire family, my long time girlfriend, Amber, and friends as we prepare to celebrate a glorious new year together." While Roberts did not give her girlfriend's last name, People magazine identified her as Amber Laign, a licensed massage therapist from San Francisco whom she met through mutual friends a decade ago. It was ABC's Roberts whom President Barack Obama chose in May 2012 for his landmark interview to acknowledge his support for same-sex marriage. Roberts has kept few secrets about her health. She wrote and spoke extensively about her battle with breast cancer in 2008 and again in 2012 when she underwent a bone marrow transplant to treat a rare blood disorder called myelodysplastic syndrome. Sunday's Facebook posting came on the first anniversary of the 100th day of her recovery from the transplant. "At this moment I am at peace and filled with joy and gratitude," she wrote. "I am grateful to God, my doctors and nurses for my restored good health. I am grateful for my sister, Sally-Ann, for being my donor and giving me the gift of life. I am grateful for my entire family, my long time girlfriend, Amber, and friends as we prepare to celebrate a glorious new year together. I am grateful for the many prayers and well wishes for my recovery. I return every one of them to you 100 fold. On this last Sunday of 2013 I encourage you to reflect on what you are grateful for too." | First lady Michelle Obama tweets: "I am so happy for you and Amber!"
Roberts has not previously spoken publicly about her sexuality .
The ABC anchor thanks "my long time girlfriend, Amber" in a Facebook message Sunday .
"At this moment I am at peace and filled with joy and gratitude," she writes . |
164,002 | 60154215d23499ae39ec308a6abff6a3d419fb73 | The PGA of America president referred to Ian Poulter as a little girl on two social media accounts for his criticism of the jobs Nick Faldo and Tom Watson did as Ryder Cup captains. Faldo, who won six majors and is regarded among Britain's greatest players, was captain of the last European team that lost the Ryder Cup in 2008. Watson, who has five British Open titles among his eight majors, was captain of the US team that lost at Gleneagles last month. Poulter, a European stalwart with a 12-4-2 record in the Ryder Cup, criticised both in his book, 'No Limits,' which was released this week. Ryder Cup star Ian Poulter has been slammed for his criticism of Nick Faldo and Tom Watson . PGA President Ted Bishop was with Faldo on Thursday at The Greenbrier for the 'Faldo Series' junior program when he tweeted to Poulter: 'Faldo's record stands by itself. Six majors and all-time RC points. Yours vs. His? Lil Girl.' In a separate posting on his Facebook page, Bishop lamented that athletes who had 'lesser records or accomplishments in a sport never criticised the icons.' He mentioned Watson's eight majors and 10-3-1 record in the Ryder Cup, and Faldo's six majors and record with most Ryder Cup points in history getting 'bashed' by Poulter. 'Really? Sounds like a little school girl squealing during recess. C'MON MAN!' USA's Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson has come under fire from Poulter for his performance at the Ryder Cup . The PGA of America said Bishop 'realised that his post was inappropriate and promptly removed it'. Bishop said in an email Thursday night: 'Obviously I could have selected some different ways to express my thoughts on Poulter's remarks. Golf had always been a sport where respect was shown to its icons. That seems to have gone by the wayside.' Poulter had tweeted before leaving for China: 'I guess we can only have opinions if you won a major or 6.' He was not aware of Bishop's tweet until he landed and was inundated with messages. Poulter said in a brief telephone interview that he was disappointed in Bishop's tweet and that he would comment later. Nick Faldo, skipper of the last European team that lost in 2008, has also come in for some stick . Watson benched Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley for both sessions on Saturday at the Ryder Cup as the Americans fell behind. He also played Webb Simpson, one of his captain's picks, only once. Europe won 16 1/2-11 1/2, its eighth win in the last 10 Ryder Cups. Mickelson indirectly criticised Watson in the closing press conference by saying the Americans had strayed from a winning formula and there was no room for player input under Watson's captaincy. Watson later wrote an 'open letter' accepting responsibility for his style. Poulter in his book said that Watson's decision-making 'completely baffles me'. He was referring to benching Mickelson and Keegan Bradley on Saturday. Ted Bishop (right) called Poulter a 'lil girl' on social media, but later deleted the posts . Faldo stirred up the European team on Friday when he said during his Golf Channel commentary that Sergio Garcia was 'useless' in 2008 during the European loss at Valhalla and that he had a 'bad attitude'. Faldo later explained in an interview with the AP that Garcia has emotional and physical problems and at one point told Faldo he didn't want to play. 'Faldo has lost a lot of respect from players because of what he said,' Poulter said in his book. He noted that it was Europe's only loss in the last 15 years and Faldo was the captain. 'So who's useless? I think Faldo might need to have a little look in the mirror.' Poulter was a captain's pick that year. Bishop's two-year term as president expires next month at the PGA annual meeting. Bishop chose Watson as the Ryder Cup captain - at 65, the oldest in Ryder Cup history. He recently announced a task force to help solve America's recent losing streak in the Ryder Cup. | Ian Poulter slammed Nick Faldo and Tom Watson .
Englishman criticised the way they captained their teams .
PGA President Ted Bishop has spoken out against Poulter .
Bishop hit back at Poulter and branded him a 'lil girl' |
92,761 | 035284925b6001340000daf1819ee7c40e398f64 | By . Martin Robinson . A university student has been jailed for 28 months after he left a heavily pregnant woman in a coma when he undertook at 47mph in a 30mph zone and smashed into a taxi she was travelling in. Wei Liu, 30, was still unconscious when her baby was delivered in hospital after the crash and she only learned she had a son when she woke up three days later. Manchester Crown Court heard Zain Iqbal, 21, drove his VW Golf into her cab leaving her in a critical condition, and her partner Geng Yu, 24, also seriously injured. New mother: Wei Liu, 30, was still unconscious when her baby was delivered in hospital after the crash and she only learned she had a son when she woke up three days later . Shocking: New mother Wei Liu in a coma after a dangerous driver smashed into a taxi, forcing doctors to deliver her baby while she was unconscious . Criminal act: Zain Iqbal, left, has been jailed for 28 months today at Manchester Crown Court for the injuries Wei Liu and others suffered. The new mother only met her son Lucas when he was three days old after her coma . Medical care: Wei Liu with a sleeping Lucas in Manchester Royal Infirmary shortly after the horrific accident . Iqbal was speeding on Great Ancoats Street in Manchester when he attempted to undertake a car that had slowed down to allow a taxi to pull out, only to plough into the cab. Ms Liu was taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary in a critical condition and her son Lucas was delivered after an emergency caesarean a month early. Victim: Her partner Geng Liu with baby Lucas, who was warned after the crash he might have to choose between his girlfriend's life or his son's . She was also left with a catalogue of devastating injuries, including a severed artery above her heart, fractured ribs which had pierced her liver and a shattered pelvis along with a fractured cheekbone, broken foot and a gash on her head which needed 48 stitches. The shop assistant for Hermes in Selfridges in Manchester city centre also had to spend a total of 40 days in hospital before finally being allowed home. She is still in a wheelchair. In Miss Liu's victim impact statement . she said: 'I'm still having medical treatment and still trying to . recover from the injuries. I still have treatment for my head injury. I . get dizzy when I try and sleep I need to take sleeping tablets. I . constantly have headaches and I still have a bleed on the brain. 'I . still have pain to my heart, it starts like heartburn, I have to have a . scan every year for my heart injury. I am very emotional, at first I . thought it was my hormones with having my son Lucas. There is still not a . bond, there seems to be no connection, like you can take him away and . no bond would be broken. It is very upsetting. I have no memory of . giving birth. He is doing fine and is a healthy baby. 'I . have a large scar on my scalp which needed 48 stitches and a 10- 12 cm . scar on my stomach. I have a scar on my left cheek which I have to . constantly cover up with make up. Since the collision I haven't gone . back to work. It would not be possible as I am unable to stand for too . long and get tired very easily. The crash has ruined my life and the . start of my family life.' New born: Lucas Liu sleeps in hospital - where his mother stayed for 40 days after the crash . In a wheelchair: Ms Liu was taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary in a critical condition and her son Lucas was delivered after an emergency caesarean a month early . Happy ending: The trio all survived the horror crash but Wei Liu is still in a wheelchair nine months on . Her partner Geng needed surgery for a punctured lung, broken ribs and also suffered injuries to his feet. A pedestrian was also injured in the accident after being crushed between the taxi and a barrier. Today Iqbal, who is studying for an accountancy degree at Manchester Metropolitan University, was jailed for 28 months and banned from driving for four years at court. He had earlier pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and also had to pay a £120 victim surcharge. Emergency: Some of Wei's stitches after the crash. She says she still has headaches and says what happened has ruined her life . At court prosecutor Brian Berlyne said a witness spotted the VW Golf being driven at speed behind him. Mr Berlyne said: 'He described Mr Iqbal as "blasting past him" and driving at excessive speed. He described him as wobbling along all over the place and looked unsteady. 'A short distance ahead travelling in the same direction was Nicola Ferney who observed the black cab travelling in the opposite direction. 'She heard a loud revving noise and saw that Mr Iqbal had overtaken her on her nearside. In her words it was quite fast and then the driver was in collision with the rear near side of the taxi, it started to spin around rapidly. 'Gary Booth was a pedestrian, the taxi collided with him and trapped him against a set of steel railings.' He said Mr Booth suffered a fractured tibia, fibula, femur and deep wound to his calf and had to have a skin graft to his thigh. one month after the accident he was still unable to walk unaided. He had been a healthy fit young man. In his victim impact statement he said: 'Owing to all the injuries I sustained I had to change the type of vehicle I drive. I lost my job prior to Christmas owing to the injuries as I was unable to carry out the role. I had been a skiing instructor in Switzerland and was hoping to go back into this, it is very unlikely after this.' Simon Gurney, in mitigation for Iqbal said: 'The defendant is fortunate that it was not more serious. He accepts full responsibility for his conduct that night for his standard of driving and accepts that it was dangerous. It is accepted that it passes the custodial threshold. Anger: Wei says not seeing her son born has robbed him of a good start to life and says they have struggled to bond . Upset: The couple told Manchester Crown Court how their lives have suffered after Iqbal's crime . 'He is 21, of good character coupled with the previously clean driving licence. He maintains he had not seen the taxi. He was driving a vehicle with too much power. 'He was driving far too quickly and in a manner that was inappropriate. The defendant doesn't seek to blame any other party for what took place that night.' Passing sentence Recorder Neville Biddell said: 'You have caused a significant number of people very, very serious injuries, but arguably, the level of your dangerous driving is not of the most dangerous level. 'At about 10:30pm you were driving your friend home having been out for the evening. 'You clearly didn't have the experience to drive it properly, it may have been that you were showing off. 'Ahead of you was Miss Fernley she was able to see the taxi coming towards her, you missed all that and were concentrating on getting back on the inside so you could basically undertake Miss Fernley, whizzing past her. 'You were clearly driving dangerously and 50 mph was a dangerously excessive speed. 'You were cutting in and out of traffic not allowing yourself to see other traffic on the road. 'You drove into the taxi, I have seen the video and photos it is the consequences of what you did, the causing of serious injury. 'Mrs Liu she was pregnant within one month of delivery. Happy couple: The pair show a scan of unborn baby Lucas a few months before the accident . 'She sustained extremely serious injuries to her head, neck face and throat to the extent that she was unconscious. 'That had a devastating effect to her, she had to go to MRI to have an emergency Caesarean. 'Fortunately the baby was delivered. Her husband was in the taxi as well and sustained serious injuries and a friend sustained bruising.' | Zain Iqbal, 21, jailed for 28 months after smashing into taxi at 47mph .
Wei Liu left in a critical condition when man crashed into a cab she was in .
Pregnant woman, 30, still unconscious when she gave birth to her son .
Only learned she had a baby boy when she woke up three days later .
She is still in a wheelchair after spending more than 40 nights in hospital .
'The crash has ruined my life and the .
start of my family life,' she said . |
114,243 | 1f662f86aaba904b44cbf66ee3244cdc9754687d | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 2:56 AM on 12th July 2011 . Gaffe: U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told troops they were fighting in Iraq because of the 9/11 terror attacks . The new defense secretary was left red-faced today after he told troops in Iraq that they were stationed there because of the 9/11 terror attacks. Leon Panetta made the gaffe as he addressed around 150 soldiers at the Camp Victory base in Baghdad. That explanation was initially used by the former Bush administration to justify the invasion of Iraq in 2003, but has since been firmly dismissed by President Obama and the 9/11 commission. He told troops: 'The reason you guys are here is because of 9/11. The U.S. got attacked and 3,000 human beings got killed because of Al Qaeda. 'We've been fighting as a result of that.' The previous administration originally linked the September 11 attacks to former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein. Mr Panetta's spokesman, Doug Wilson, moved quickly to correct the mistake, and added that his boss is a 'plain-spoken secretary', the New York Daily News reports. He said: 'I don't think he's getting into the argument of 2002-2003.' 'He has made clear that the major threat to this country is coming from Al Qaeda and terrorist groups, and he has also made clear that wherever we are in the world today, that [Al Qaeda] is a principle reason for a military presence.' When pressed by reporters, he tried to explain his remarks by saying: 'I wasn't saying, you know, the invasion - or going into the issues or the justification of that. First-hand experience: U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta flies over Baghdad in a Blackhawk helicopter alongside Lieutenant General Lloud Austin, Commanding General of U.S. Forces in Iraq . 'It was more the fact that we really had to deal with Al Qaeda here, they developed a presence here and that tied in.' In the same address, he said that the U.S. will take unilateral action against Shi'ite militias armed by Iran who threaten . American troops. Last month 14 service members were killed in hostile incidents, the highest monthly toll in three years. Mr Panetta said: 'We are very . concerned about Iran and the weapons they are providing to extremists . here in Iraq.' Despite U.S. forces officially ending . combat operations in Iraq last August, troops have come under increasing . fire in recent weeks. American officials blame Shi'ite militias armed by Iraq's Shi'ite neighbour Iran for most of the recent attacks. Rallying the troops: Panetta addressing the troops in Baghdad . At . least three U.S. service members have been killed this month, including . one on Sunday, the day Panetta arrived in Baghdad on his first trip to . Iraq as defense secretary. Washington . still has about 46,000 troops in Iraq more than eight years after the . 2003 invasion overthrew Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein. Forces are due to be withdrawn by the end of the year under a security pact between the two countries. In . today's address, Mr Panetta said: 'In June we lost a hell of a lot of . Americans as a result of those attacks. And we cannot just simply stand . back and allow this to continue to happen.' Panetta said Washington's first effort would be to press Iraq to go after Shi'ite groups responsible for the attacks. He is scheduled to meet Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki later on today. Referring to the right of U.S. forces to defend themselves on Iraqi soil, he said: 'Secondly, to do what we have to do unilaterally, to be able to go after those threats as well, and we're doing that,' Hungry work: Panetta reaches for mustard and relish to go with his hotdog during lunchtime at Camp Victory in Baghdad . General . Lloyd Austin, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, declined to comment . on what specific measures unilateral action might . involve. He said: . 'I think what the secretary was pointing to was we'll do what's . necessary to protect ourselves and that could include a host of things . ... so we'll just leave it at that,' Hours after Panetta's . arrival, . militants fired three Katyusha rockets into Baghdad's heavily fortified . Green Zone, home to the massive U.S. embassy complex and Iraqi . government buildings, according to an Iraqi Interior Ministry source . Officials, including Panetta, have . been pressing Baghdad to decide whether it wants U.S. forces to stay . beyond the year-end deadline. Maliki has said he will abide by a . decision of the majority of Iraq's political leaders. Shake on it: Secretary of Defence with troops at Camp Dwyer, Kabul, Afghanistan . Forces in Iraq now operate . largely in the background, training and assisting Iraqi police and . soldiers against a weakened but still lethal insurgency that launches . hundreds of attacks each month. Mr Panetta, who as CIA director helped . oversee the covert raid that killed Osama bin Laden, said his number one . priority since becoming defense secretary was to defeat al Qaeda. He . told Congress last month there were still 1,000 al Qaeda fighters in . Iraq. His earlier blunder was not the first in his new job. During a visit to Afghanistan on . Saturday, he told reporters that America plans to keep 70,000 troops . there until 2014 - despite Mr Obama's announcement last month that he . would immediately begin to withdraw troops. Mr Panetta's office quickly retracted the remark. | 14 U.S. servicemen killed in June and rockets hit Green Zone within hours of his arrival .
Panetta tells troops U.S. won’t sit back and allow Iran to arm militants in Iraq . |
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